Parents, Islamic Extremists Beat Young Woman in India

NEW DELHI, March 20 (CDN) — A young woman was thrown out of her home this month for daring to give thanks for healing in Christ’s name in a predominantly Muslim village in India’s West Bengal state, and then her parents helped Islamic extremists to beat her nearly unconscious.

The attack on Rekha Khatoon, 22, took place on March 9 in Nutangram, Murshidabad.

“I boldly told those who beat me up that I may leave my parents, but that I will not leave Jesus,” Khatoon said. “Jesus has healed me, and I cannot forget Him.”

In a village where hard-line Muslims have threatened to kill the 25 families who initially showed interest in Christ, leaving only five frightened Christian families, Khatoon was returning from worship with Believers Church at Al Hamdulillah Hall when her parents and Muslim extremists attacked her, she said. They called her a pagan, among other verbal abuse.

The mob also harassed the Christian woman who encouraged Khatoon to trust Christ as Lord, Aimazan Bibi, said Bashir Pal, pastor and founder of the village Believers Church.

“On the same night, Rekha Khatoon’s father, Nistar Shaike, and about 20 Muslim radicals surrounded Aimazan’s house, shouted anti-Christian slogans, threatened to harm her and her family and falsely accused her of ‘luring’ Rekha to convert to Christianity,” Pastor Pal told Compass.

After finding herself alone on a road after the beating, Khatoon had taken refuge in Aimazan Bibi’s home.

Khatoon had met Amaizan Bibi last year and told her about a reproductive ailment that caused her to bleed heavily, and the older woman had shared both the gospel of Christ and His healing power with her, Pastor Pal said.

“After Rekha Khatoon came to know about her ailment, she met one of our church members, Aimazan Bibi, and she shared her physical problem with her and told her that her illness was getting worse as she was not able to purchase medicines anymore,” he said.

Aimazan Bibi also invited Khatoon to attend church. On Dec. 23, Khatoon came to the worship center, where Christian women laid hands on her, he said. The pastor and congregation prayed for God’s healing touch in Jesus’ name.

“She received healing from Christ, and thereafter she attended the worship services whenever she could,” Pastor Pal said. “On Jan. 17, Khatoon attended one house church meeting in her village and once again testified that Jesus has healed her, and that she had not taken any medicine since Dec. 23.”

He said the Muslim extremists warned Khatoon not to have contact with Christians. West Bengal is 25.2 percent Muslim, with Hindus in the predominantly Hindu country making up 72.5 percent of the population in the state, according to Operation World. The state, which borders Muslim-majority Bangladesh, is only 0.6 percent Christian.

Upon learning that she was attending Christian worship meetings, her parents had strictly warned her not to have any relationships with Christians and not to attend their fellowship, Aimazan Bibi said.

“However, she told them that she cannot forget Jesus and His love for her,” she said.

Pastor Pal’s wife, nurse Anasea Pal, added that at another house church meeting, Khatoon brought her sister and talked about the healing she had received from Christ.

Khatoon has since relocated to another area, where she lives largely confined for her own protection.

Khatoon and her mother had attended worship services at the church previously; they began there in 2009 until area Muslims, furious to hear that several women were attending worship services, warned them to cease all contact with Christians or else they would face harm. The local mosque then offered Khatoon’s mother a job carrying food for the local Islamic leader to ensure she stopped all contact with Christians.

She also stopped Khatoon from attending Christian meetings.

Tensions prevail in the area, with enraged Muslim radicals threatening to hurt the five Christian families on the slightest pretext. In addition to harassing Aimazan Bibi, Islamic extremists have ruined her son Sirajul Shaike’s business, throwing away all his vegetables and chasing him out of the village market.

“It is very difficult for them now, since selling vegetables was the main source of income for the family,” Pastor Pal said.

Christians in the village have endured all manner of physical torture and social boycotts at the hand of Muslim extremists, Pastor Pal said. He added that the extremists are not allowing Christians to enter the village.

c. 2012 Compass Direct News. Used with permission.

Publication date: March 21, 2012

Man held for taking obscene pictures of women devotees in temple

Madurai: A Muslim man was arrested here for allegedly taking pictures of women devotees inside the famous Sri Meenakshi temple using his mobile phone, police said on Tuesday.

Following a complaint from a devotee from Kerala that she saw a man taking pictures of women devotees, police detained him on Monday.

The pictures on his phone were found to be obscene, police said adding the man belonged to Keezhakarai in Ramanathapuram district.

Police seized the phone and produced him before a court which remanded him in judicial custody.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/man-held-for-taking-obscene-pictures-of-women-devotees-in-temple-188227&cp

Kamalanathan: Selangor State gov't has misled Hindus

Subramaniam: Malaysians must prepare for life without maids

The minister said a day may come when foreign maids will no longer “want to come and work here.” — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 — Malaysians must be prepared to “do their own work” should the time come when foreigners no longer wish to work as domestic help here, Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam said today.

The human resources minister said while foreign maids were readily available now, economic growth in source nations may mean foreigners will one day prefer to work in their home country instead.

“We have to learn how to do our own work. We have opened it so long as there is availability, it’s fine.

As countries evolve, we may not need maids or maids may not want to come and work here

“But... as countries evolve, we may not need maids or maids may not want to come and work here,” he told reporters at Menara Perkeso here.

He was responding to questions about the ongoing talks with Indonesia to send maids to Malaysia.
Jakarta banned its citizens from working as maids in Malaysia in June 2009, after numerous cases of maids being abused by their Malaysian employers.

Indonesia withdrew the moratorium on December 1 last year.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak met with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Bali at the end of last year as part of efforts to resolve the issue amicably.

But Jakarta has yet to start allowing the return of Indonesian domestic helpers to Malaysia despite rescinding the moratorium, leading to confusion here.

Subramaniam added today that the government was strengthening “support mechanisms” for Malaysians now with an eye to a possible maid supply crunch in the future.

However, he did not elaborate on the support mechanisms in question.

Tamil school aid: Whither the millions?

The government has promised millions to upgrade Tamil schools, but one pertinent question remains.

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has promised millions of ringgit to upgrade Tamil schools in the country but one question still remains.

Would the millions really be spent on the reconstruction of these schools or would it go to crony contractors; or be channeled back to the government?

The lack of transparency in releasing the funds had raised heckles from non-governmental organisations, who wanted a system to streamline funds to ensure it reached the “target” group fast.

Commenting on this, Malaysian Consumer Advisory Association (MCAA) president G Varatharajoo said apart from the Public Works Department (JKR), the Education Ministry and MIC were also to be blamed for the “improper” administration of the RM100 million set aside as special allocation for Tamil schools under the 2012 Budget announced by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who is also finance minister, last year.

He said the Finance Ministry had yet to release the money to the affected Tamil schools because the Education Ministry was in the final stages of approving over 230 Tamil schools identified to receive the aid.

FMT learnt that all qualified Tamil schools were divided into three categories — relocation, additional building and upgrading of existing infrastructures.

According to documents furnished to FMT, about RM40 million had been allocated to 16 schools under the relocation plan, 20 schools stood to get RM38.3 million for additional buildings while another 173 schools would receive RM18 million for infrastructure upgrade.

Varatharajoo said although the Malaysian Indian community welcomed the government’s assistance with open arms, it was concerned over the delay in disbursing these funds and the estimated cost quoted by the JKR.

“The estimated cost set by the JKR is really absurd… for example JKR has fixed RM1.5 million for an additional building with six classrooms. This means each classroom costs around RM250,000 which is really too much,” he said.

“When we checked with a few private contractors, we found that a classroom will only cost between RM70,000 and RM75,000. So it is clear that the JKR quoted prices that have been ‘jacked-up’ three fold than the actual cost,” he added.

He said going by these estimates, in actual fact the government would only complete work amounting to RM33 million out of the RM100 million set aside under the 2012 Budget.

“This is because the relevant authorities especially JKR has quoted three-fold prices. While work will be done for RM35 million, the remainder of the allocation will either go back to the government or into the pockets of contractors or cronies given the contracts,” he added.

Set up board of governors

Negeri Sembilan Tamil School Board of Governors (LPS) coordinator R Sathiaseelan felt that the government should channel funds to a particular school’s board of governors instead of allowing JKR to deal directly with appointed contractors.

“LPS is the best way to channel the money. The board consists of representatives from the Education Ministry, the schools’ parent-teachers association, former students, the public and the headmaster or headmistress. They will know how to spend the money wisely,” he added.

He said efforts were underway to form a board of governors in all Tamil schools as they could act as the conduit between the government and the school.

“As the Negeri Sembilan coordinator, I visited all the Tamil schools in the state and received good response from parents and the public on this suggestion,” he added.

He also lashed out at MIC, touted to be the largest Indian based political party in the country, as it did not favour the setting-up of the board of governors in Tamil schools nationwide.

“With the LPS set-up, MIC feels it would lose its grip on Tamil schools as the government would be dealing directly with the LPS and not through MIC,” he added.

He said the Education Act stated that a school’s LPS would be the authority when it came to matters relating to the infrastructure of a school.

There was also a need Najib to clarify his claim recently that RM440million had been spent on Tamil schools from 2008 to 2012.

The prime minister must reveal details of how the money was spent and which school benefited from the huge allocation.

Human organs harvested in M’sia

When a body organ 'agent' offered to buy his kidney, destitute and desperate Bangladeshi Mohsin Abdul's only thought was: “I could live with one kidney and having two of these will not help me ease my debts".

It’s a scenario that has taken many forms. It could be something we would have first heard many years ago from a friend who’d heard it from another friend, whose mother swore it happened to a distant cousin.

In that version, the victim — we’ll call him Bill — was on a business trip alone somewhere in Europe, and went out to a bar one night to have a cocktail. He wakes up the next morning in an unfamiliar hotel room with severe pain in his lower back.

He is taken to the emergency room, where doctors determined that Bill, unknowingly had undergone major surgery the night before. One of his kidneys had been removed, cleanly and professionally.

This is a chilling tale. With minor variations, the same story has been retold thousands of times by different people in many varied locales. And it’s always based on third-, fourth-, or fifth-hand information.

But while the ‘tale’ may be an urban legend for the rest of us, for 33-year-old Mohsin Abdul, it’s his story.

Mohsin had his kidney harvested almost 10 years ago when he was a 24-year-old farmhand in an obscure Dhaka village called Joypurhat in Bangladesh.

Joypurhat was featured in a report on illegal organ trafficking published by Bernama Online in September last year.

The report named Malaysia as one of the countries implicated in an investigation by Bangladeshi police into an international syndicate allegedly involved in the illegal kidney trade across several countries in Asia.

The news article also said that investigators were focusing on a reputable international hospital with a presence in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and India.

Initial investigations had revealed that donors from remote villages in Bangladesh had been flown to the various destinations to have their kidneys harvested.

Organ ‘agent’ offered plenty

Joypurhat Superintendent of Police, Mozammel Haque, told Bernama Online that each victim was paid between US$2,000 (RM6,000) and US$3,000 (RM9,000) for a kidney, but could not confirm the organ’s eventual black market price.

He added that at least seven cases involving the illegal sale of kidneys had been reported in the Joypurhat area in northern Bangladesh so far.

This is also where Mohsin is from and where he earned meagre wages toiling the land as a Bangladeshi farmer. Adding to this, was his struggle with repaying a series of loans worth about RM2,500.

This he said, was what made him take the advice of an acquaintance from a nearby village to sell one of his kidneys and get in return at least 130,000 takas (approx US$1,728 or RM5300).

He was told that there was an “agent” who was looking to buy kidneys and that he would be taken to a country called Malaysia where the surgery would be performed. Mohsin was informed that he would be paid half the amount before the surgery and the balance would be given upon his return to Bangladesh.

“I thought to myself that I could live with one kidney and having two of these will not help me ease my debts. With the amount they were going to pay me for one of my kidneys, there was so much I could do.

“To be honest, I didn’t spend a lot of time thinking about it because I was convinced that this was a once a in a lifetime offer.

“I was actually afraid that the agent would go away and I would never see him again. I was desperate. Anyone who has ever been destitute and desperate will know what I’m talking about,” he said with unflinching frankness.

Kidney harvested in Malaysia

When asked if he was aware that it’s illegal to sell human organs and that violation of the law can lead to jail terms of three to seven years and fine of 300,000 takas (approx RM11, 200), Mohsin shakes his head in the negative.

So Mohsin flew to Malaysia, was picked up from the airport and brought to a house, which had a room converted into a surgery area. He remembers waking up the next day and being given RM500.

He was told that in three days, someone would come over with the plane ticket and take him to the airport where he would also be given the balance of the money owed for his kidney.

In three days, someone did come, but there was no plane ticket and most certainly no ride to the airport. He was left outside a 24-hour convenient store in an area Mohsin would later come to know as Chow Kit.

He was never paid the balance of what he was promised for his kidney.

Today, he works at a carwash and in a gas station.He also does other odd jobs to save up for a plane ticket home. It was one full year after his kidney’s were harvested when he was able to contact his family in Dakka.

A decade on, and his dreams of home are as vivid as ever, but the same is unfortunately true of the harrowing experience he encountered.

We are now in a tiny flat he shares with 15 other Bangladeshi immigrants, and the heat is stifling more so because all his flatmates are in for the day.

Mohsin winces at the noise. It’s on days like this, he said, that he misses home even more and said that if all goes according to plan, he might be able to go home in a year.

His friend Abdal Musiri tells him, in laboured tones, that he will do this.

US$50 million industry

Abdal was also a victim of a harvested organ and with all he has encountered, Mohsin considers his fate better than Abdal’s.

Formerly a factory worker, Abdal sold part of his liver to a wealthy recipient in Kuala Lumpur. Abdal admits that back then, he did not know what a liver was. But the fact the broker told him the sale would make him rich was all the convincing Abdal needed.

After the transplant Abdal received only part of the money he was promised and is now too sick to work, walk long distances or even breathe property. He thinks often of killing himself, Mohsin said.

The illegal world of human organs trade was valued at around US$50 million in 2008, and involves a range of source countries.

Due to extreme poverty and high profits, illegal organ transplantations have risen in India and Pakistan over the past two decades.

The people selling their organs are exploited by unethical brokers and recipients who are often Bangladeshi-born foreign nationals living in places such as the United States, Europe and the Middle East.

Because organ-selling is illegal, the brokers forge documents indicating the recipient and seller are related and claim the act is a family donation.

Even so, like so many urban legends fueled by irrational fear and ignorance, the organ theft story continues to spread from person to person and place to place, changing and adapting to its surroundings over time like a very savvy and smart mutating virus.

And unlike many other urban legends, unfortunately, this one has put real people’s lives at risk.

Hindraf submits ‘racism’ memo to UN

Hindraf is asking the United Nations to help end institutionalised racism in Malaysia.
VIDEO INSIDE


KUALA LUMPUR: Hindraf Makkal Sakthi submitted a memorandum today to the United Nations (UN) office here calling the world body to help end institutionalised racism in Malaysia.

About 12 Hindraf members, led by its national coordinator W Sambulingam, were taken into the premises by UN representative Devendra Patel for a five-minute meeting.

The memorandum, signed by Hindraf supremo P Waythamoorthy, called upon UN secretary- general Ban Kim Moon to engage with the Malaysian government to address the woes plaguing the local Indian community due to institutionalised racism.

The Hindraf leader also said that Malaysia was probably the only country in the world that practiced an affirmative action policy for its majority instead of its minority.

“And the institutionalised racism in Malaysia has accelerated to such an alarming stage that it continues to deprive Malaysian Indians even basic human rights,” said Waythamoorthy.

He added that the discrimination against the Indian minority in Malaysia was also unconstitutional as Article 8 of the Malaysian Federal Constitution guaranteed equal rights to all its citizens.

“But the New Economic Policy mooted in the 1970s, though mooted to eradicate poverty irrespective of races, was hijacked by the ruling government,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sambulingam criticised the UN officials for allowing the Malaysian Special Branch officers to be present at the meeting, although it was supposed to be between Hindraf and the UN staff.

“The security guards at the UN office didn’t allow us to register our presence in the attendance book. They told us to write our names on a piece of blank paper instead,” he said.

‘Back Sri Lanka and lose our votes’

Protesters warn the Najib administration that if it voted against the UN resolution to probe the war crimes in Sri Lanka, they will vote against BN.
UPDATED

KUALA LUMPUR: Some 50 people staged a protest outside the Sogo shopping complex here and warned the Najib administration that they will not vote for Barisan Nasional if it did not vote in favour of the United Nations probing the war crimes in Sri Lanka.

The protesters were from the Malaysian Tamil Progressive Team (Matsap) and several other NGOs.

“Vote for Sri Lanka and you will lose our vote. Our sentiments should be respected,” said Matsap chairman A Kalaimugilan during the protest.

He also justified the call for supporting the UN resolution that would be tabled on Friday on the ground that majority of the 1.8 million Indians here are ethnic Tamilians.

Kalaimugilan added that currently Asian countries, including Malaysia, were having sentiments to vote against the resolution simply because Sri Lanka was an Asian nation.

He warned the government of another Indian uprising akin to the Hindraf rally in 2007 if the sentiments of the Malaysian Tamils were not taken into consideration.

“Don’t make us rise again like we did in 2007,” he said.

Kalaimugilan also chastised the Najib administration for supporting a resolution in favour of Sri Lanka in 2009 shortly after Sri Lanka won the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

“If (Prime Minister) Najib (Tun Razak) was concerned about the Tamils, why would he support (Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda) Rajapakse then?” he asked.

In a related development, MIC, MCA, Gerakan and PPP sent a joint memorandum to the Foreign Ministry calling for the Malaysian delegation to vote for the UN resolution.

Another group led by Malaysian Indian Transformation Action Team (MITRA) handed over a memorandum to the High Commission of India, urging New Delhi to also support the UN resolution.

UN must investigate

Meanwhile, a group of non-governmental organisations today submitted a joint memorandum to the United Nations office here, urging the world body to investigate the war crimes of the Sri Lanka government during its offensive against the country’s Tamils.

The group led by Suaram president K Arumugam and Teluk Intan member of parliament M Manogaran handed over the memorandum to the UN representative Devendra Patel.

Also present were Charles Santiago, the Klang MP, Micheal Jeyakumar(Sungai Siput), M Kulasegaran (Ipoh Barat), A Sivanesan (Sungkai, Perak state assemblyman), M Ravi (Port Dickson Negeri Sembilan state assemblyman), town councillors and leaders from Pakatan Rakyat.

Speaking to reporters, Arumugam said the UN Panel of Experts (PoE) report on the issue stated that war crimes were indeed committed by the Sri Lankan military killing tens of thousands of Tamils during its offensive against the LTTE, which has now been disbanded.

“UN as an international body has an obligation to investigate the findings of the reports,” he said.

Indians back in BN, really?

What's suave Federal Territory and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Nong Chik doing with political operative Bangsar Bala?

COMMENT

Barisan Nasional must be really desperate. They have resorted to reading tea leaves and in some places, chicken entrails. Some whispers here and there are taken and read as signifying real and substantial progress.

Hence for example, some casual and insouciant intimation that Indians are coming back to support BN is treated as orgasmic news.

What are we to make of these innocuous remarks?  Should they be taken seriously?

The Indians are coming back into the fold of BN. Yes indeed, there are so many of them.

The Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) says it has one million members. That’s the figure from the president M Kayveas’ faction. T. Murugiah (formerly with PPP) said he commanded 600,000 members.
The MIC says, they have two million Indians. The Indian Progressive Front ( MG Pandithan’s party) says it has another 700,000.

Then we have the number claimed by the newly minted Senator KS Nallakarupan.
Geez! I am thinking, these parties must have counted those Malaysian Indians still in the womb.
Otherwise, how do you account for so many of them?

Bala, the operative

These encouraging numbers must have in turn encouraged and motivated thamby Najib (Tun Razak) to participate as a devotee in this year’s Thaipussam

This was also the information passed on by Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Nong Chik to former economic advisor Tun Daim Zainudin, who attended a overtly political function organised by the Lembah Pantai Umno last month.

And where does Raja Nong Chik get his source of information?

From Bangsar Bala – friend to RPK (Raja Petra Kamarudin) and resident politician at Plan B, in Bangsar village.

Yes indeed – the same Bala who mobilized thousands of Indians to press palms with Anwar Ibrahim when he came over to Brickfields the other day.

The same Bala who organized a large number of Indian NGOs to meet Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
I know Mr Bala personally and am aware of his capabilities as a political operative.

The sting of my mention of  Bala isn’t Bala, but Raja Nong Chik.

Raja Nong Chik  doesn’t fraternize with people like Bala, and when given casual assurance that the Indians are back with BN, is easily over enthused.

His exuberance leads him to generalise on the thinking of Malaysian Indians.

Smart move

Anecdotal evidence on the other hand indicates that Malaysian Indians are not for BN.
But we’ll let the illusion permeate the BN camp.

If Raja Nong Chik contests in Lembah Pantai, that will be his Waterloo. As for the smart cookie Bala, he is hedging his bets.

And what Bala says, is taken as significant by Raja Nong Chik and surprisingly by Daim.

Personally I found it odd, the slippage on the part of Daim. Usually he takes statements and information as preliminary ‘noises’.

He will then investigate further by sending out the Baker Street Boys or the Baker Street Irregulars like Sherlock Holmes did.

It was unusual for Daim to accept what Raja Nong Chik tells him.

Daim, I thought, must be either be fatigued or looking out for his business interest that can be affected by the decisions of the FT minister.

It was a smart move I thought for Raja Nong Chik to bring on Daim, a real firepower.

Daim sought after

It can serve as an endorsement from the elusive Daim, whom many had discounted prior to the 2008 elections. In those days,  no one batted an eye lid about what Daim said.

Indeed many said he was a spent force and one past-shelf-life politician.

In 2008, Daim cautioned the government that it would lose five states. Umno people, in return lambasted him for saying those things.

The elections came and BN lost five states and its seats in Wilayah Persekutuan were almost decimated.
After that, people sit upright and at attention whenever Daim speaks.

Indeed, people are now desirous at wanting Daim to say something energizing about BN.

The writer is a former Umno state assemblyman and has now joined DAP.

Racial discrimination bleeding talent

Proham chief Simon Sipaun calls on the government to ratify United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s institutionalised racial discrimination is bleeding the nation of talent, said human rights group Persatuan Promosi Hak Asasi Manusia (Proham) chairman Simon Sipaun.

In view of this, the former Suhakam vice-chairman said it was important for the government to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

“If Malaysia ratifies the convention, it would show the world that we do not condone racial discrimination.

“What we have in this country is institutionalised discrimination and it has triggered things like the brain drain because meritocracy isn’t practiced,” he said at Proham’s first anniversary bash here yesterday evening.

Currently, 175 countries were parties to the UN convention. Only 16 countries had not signed or ratified the convention. Malaysia was one of them alongside Angola, North Korea, Myanmar and Singapore.

Launched exactly a year ago on March 21, Proham celebrated its first birthday with several youths from around the world calling for an end to racism.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on this day, in memory of the 1960 massacre when police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid pass laws.

Proclaiming the day in 1966, the United Nations General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.

The Proham event saw the participation of 20 youths representing countries such as India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Cyprus and also Malaysia.

Songs, poems, statements and declarations were used to voice their stand against racial discrimination.

Sipaun said the end to racial discrimination was a mission that youths should take up, adding that while racism was still very much alive in many countries, hope remained in the collapse of the Nazi and Apartheid rules.

‘Look at the company we keep’

Speaking at the same event, Suhakam vice-chairperson Prof Dr Khaw Lake Tee opined that if anything, Malaysia should lead the much needed awareness for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination but instead there had been hardly a mention of it.

“There is a saying which goes that we reflect the company we keep. And if you take a look at the other countries that have not ratified the convention, you will realise that it’s nothing to be proud about,” she added.

Committee member Denison Jayasooria added that the presence of young people might do well in bringing about the said awareness with their savvy use of various social media avenues.

“The youth present at this gathering today will use Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to share their views on the importance of ending racial discrimination.

“We have these young people who have made a commitment to the cause and their dedication to it should inspire the rest of us to do all we can do to ensure equality for all,” he asserted.

Valerie Siganga (photo), a 19-year-old Kenyan, perhaps summed up all the hopes and aspirations for an end to racial discrimination when she said: “I am against racism because I believe in open opportunities of love, sharing, education, resources and community for all.”

“I wish that political leaders around the world would realise that the colour of my skin, my religious background or my language do not mean I understand less.

“My background, my opportunities and my ethnic orientation do not prevent me from having feelings. I am like all people, I can give of myself and of my heart, and I can share love with everyone.

“Your race will not stop me from giving you a hug when you are sad, or for praying for your country when you are at war, or for celebrating with you in your times of joy. Let us learn that it really is okay for us to accept one another for who we are.”

Young voters want leaders from their own age group

FRESH BLOOD: Youth prefer leaders who can empathise with them

(New Straits Times) - YOUNG Malaysian voters have spoken up -- they prefer leaders from their age group.

In a survey by Universiti Sains Malaysia last year, more than half of the 1,500 respondents believed leaders of a similar age could easily relate to and understand them, said political analyst Associate Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian.

"This does not mean they no longer respect the older leaders, however," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

Sivamurugan said younger Malaysians just wanted to be included and consulted on certain issues.

Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng shared similar views, too.

"Gone are the days when seniors would say, 'I know best and you had better listen to me'.

"At the end of the day, younger voters want responsible and responsive leaders," he said.

Khoo said the leaders had to reach out to the younger generation at places where they usually "hang out", such as at shopping malls.

He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had done his best to get close to the youths, but he could only do so much, adding that everyone else must do the same.

United States President Barack Obama, said Khoo, managed to woo the youths because he touched on matters that concerned them, such as employment issues.

He said he felt the youths' voices in Malaysia had yet to be well represented.

Cheras Umno Division chief Datuk Syed Ali Alhabshee, meanwhile, when asked if he would let go of his post in favour of young blood, said: "I am ever so ready to do so if there is an interested and willing younger individual to take over the division chief post."

The veteran politician, who has dabbled in politics for about 30 years, since he was 19, said his main concern was to serve the people and not if he would be rewarded for what he had contributed.

Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran said it was an individual's choice whether to make way for younger blood in politics.

But, he quickly added a caveat, saying this was so long as the leader was still relevant to the party and the people.

Politicians, said Kulasegaran, must be able to attend to the country's needs and understand the people's issues.

He said to be a politician, the only qualification needed was honesty.

India Grapples with Nuclear Fears

India's protesters say NIMBY

India protesters say no to nuclear power
India’s nascent nuclear power program, begun with great anticipation after the United States government lifted sanctions on the country during the Bush administration, is stalling out as emotional protest gets in the way.

In a sign that all is not well, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has alleged that American and European NGOs are funding protests against building nuclear plants, particularly at the yet-to-be operational and already-delayed Kudankulam plant in South Indian state Tamil Nadu.

“The atomic energy program has got into problems because these NGOs, mostly I think based in the United States, don't appreciate the need for our country to increase the energy supply,” Singh said in an interview to an international magazine last month.

It is not unusual for Indian politicians, including Manmohan, whose government is accused of massive corruption scandals, to blame “external factors” or a “foreign hand” to cover for their own failings and frustrations.

On a broader political level, New Delhi’s attempts to push reforms, including in the energy sphere, have been severely hampered by the intransigence of coalition partners, reducing the government to near lame-duck status. Defeats in the round of state elections this month, including the politically vital Uttar Pradesh, could turn the Congress Party-led government inward and to try and pass on its inadequacies to others, real or imagined.

Although New Delhi has ordered investigations into nearly 80 NGOs operating in India in the wake of the Manmohan assertions, the allegations have not found resonance with many. Rejecting Manmohan’s charge, a group leading the anti-Kudankulam protests has demanded that the charges be substantiated.

The US meanwhile has denied any role. In a statement, the US State department said: “We are supportive, as a government, of India's investment in civil nuclear power. That's not what we support NGOs to do in India. Our NGO support goes for development and it goes for democracy programs.”

Indeed, there may or may not be a basis for Manmohan’s allegations, but they definitely point towards deeper problems the country continues to encounter in the atomic field, especially concerning safety of nuclear reactors.

It is apparent that India’s political leadership has failed to convince its own people about the efficacy of atomic power as a clean and safe source of power, especially in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima crisis last March. If NGOs are involved in creating a negative atmosphere, as Manmohan has claimed, they can only fan angst and fears that already exists.

Tens of thousands of people in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Haryana where major new NPPs are planned have taken to the streets vehemently opposing atomic power generation. The concerns are about safety, adequate long term compensation for land acquisition and ensuring re-habilitation.

Among the plants that have been stalled include the two 1000MW Russia-backed Kudankulam NPPs. Frustrated with the delays, Russia's ambassador to India, M Kadakin, said last month: “We cannot allow our scientists to remain idle endlessly. For months together, they are without work.”

Meanwhile, concerned about the mounting protests, France has assured the most stringent standards at Jaitapur, Maharashtra, where a 9900MW French-backed mega atomic park is planned. Currently, French major Areva is in the initial process of building the first two 1650MW reactors in Jaitapur.

The Way Ahead

Last month, India’s commerce minister Anand Sharma said that the country hopes that US$100 billion in foreign investment will pour into the nuclear power sector in the next two decades, with a quarter coming from France.

Given its big electricity needs and in order to reduce dependence on coal, India has announced plans to raise nuclear power from current 3 percent of total power generated to 25 percent by 2050. By 2032 India’s nuclear power capacity has been targeted at 63,000MW from current 4,500MW.

India has found support for its atomic plans internationally, with companies from America, France, Russia, in particular looking to tap big business opportunities. New Delhi has meanwhile also signed civil nuclear deals with Namibia, Mongolia, Canada, Angola, Australia, Kazakhstan, South Korea and the European Atomic Energy Community.

The Manmohan Singh government has handled well the diplomatic aspect of India as a global “nuclear exception” despite being a non-signatory to proliferation treaties, to allow the country to trade in dual use atomic material and technology.

Further, Manmohan has reiterated, including in the latest controversial interview, that his government will continue its atomic energy push. In a reflection of such a mood, India's nuclear operator, the state-controlled NPCIL said last month that it expects normalcy to return at Kudankulam and the project would be commissioned by August this year.

NPCIL has also ensured that the routine annual International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection at Kudankulam last month was completed as scheduled. India has also officially assured France that it remains committed to Jaitapur.

But all is not going well on the domestic front. New Delhi has failed to convince its own people in a transparent manner of the efficacy and utility of nuclear power in India’s energy mix.

Local populations are clearly uncomfortable about plants being set up at their backyards, fearing radiation hazards to their families and the consequences of any mishap. Blaming NGOs is clearly an attempt to escape the real issues.

(Siddharth Srivastava is a New Delhi-based journalist. He can be reached at sidsri@yahoo.com)

Governing without a majority

The Star
REFLECTING ON THE LAW By SHAD SALEEM FARUQI

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, when launching the Foreign Correspondents Club on Monday night, said a hung Parliament would be the worst possible result for the country. What does a hung Parliament entail?

In political science, the term hung Parliament refers to a fragmented parliament in which no party or coalition secures an absolute majority. In the context of Malaysia, an absolute majority would mean 112 out of the 222 seats in the elected Dewan Rakyat.

Hung parliaments are the norm in many democracies. In Britain, hung parliaments occurred in January 1910, December 1910, 1929, 1974 and May 2010. Australia has a parliament with no clear-cut majority for any party.

A legislature with no overall control by any party can also arise when a slim government majority is eroded by deaths, resignations, by-election defeats or by defection of government MPs to opposition ranks. This happened in Britain in mid-1978 and in 1996.

What happens if there is such a stalemate after the next general election in Malaysia?

The Constitution provides very little guidance about the murky world of government formation. A few tentative generalisations about Commonwealth conventions can be made.

First, the government that took the country into the election remains in the saddle during the interim period, but only in a caretaker capacity and with the implied understanding that its job is to hold the fort and not to undertake any radical initiatives.

Second, there is no strict rule that a defeated Prime Minister must resign immediately. In 1974, Ted Heath, and in 2010 Gordon Brown, though not victorious, stayed put in Downing Street while they attempted to forge coalitions with the Liberals.

In Australia last year, Prime Minister Julia Gillard hung on despite failing to secure an electoral triumph. Ultimately, however, she was able to strike a deal with independent MPs to keep her government afloat.

The Commonwealth convention seems to be that in a stalemate, the government in office gets first choice to form the government.

Third, if this effort to cobble together a new coalition fails, then the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may install a “minority government” that, while lacking a majority, will rely on ad hoc support from willing MPs to survive no-confidence motions, pass budgets and secure essential legislation.

Minority governments are, understandably, weak governments and generally lead to early dissolutions and fresh polls.

Fourth, if neither side succeeds in making an agreement with cross benches, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may allow the caretaker PM to continue until he is defeated on the floor. In that case, a new election will be ordered.

Fifth, an untested and untried possibility is that if no party can put together a working majority, the King may exercise his influence to bring together a unity government of all parties to run the show for an interim period pending new elections.

In such a case, the PM must be from the previous Dewan Rakyat and must cease to hold office unless he is also an MP in the new Dewan Rakyat.

In a country with a hung parliament, can the King assume political control of the nation and rule by decree during such times?

Alluring though this proposition is, one must be reminded that in our system of constitutional monarchy, the King is not expected to rule in person.

He must have an interim caretaker government to advise him on all matters other than the limited areas of personal discretion permitted under Article 40(2).

The appointment of a prime minister is one such discretionary area. The advice of the previous or caretaker PM is not binding on the King.

However, the royal discretion is not absolute. Under Article 43(2)(a), the PM must be a member of the Dewan Rakyat who in the judgment of the King is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House.

In making his choice, the King must act impartially. He is not obliged to choose the leader with the largest number of Dewan Rakyat seats if the leader of any other party is able to forge a working majority.

In selecting the PM, the King is not required to take the percentage of electoral votes into consideration. It is the percentage of seats in the elected House that matters.

Under our winner-takes-all system, it is entirely possible that a party may have more or a majority of the popular vote, yet a minority or a lesser number of the seats in the House of Representatives.

Who decides when the new House sits? How and when is the new parliament convened?

The Constitution in Article 55(4) requires that the newly-elected parliament must be convened no later than 120 days from the date the previous parliament was dissolved.

This means that the defeated caretaker government is not obliged to throw in the towel immediately after the results. It may wait for negotiations to be completed before submitting its resignation.

New elections: After an inconclusive election result, can an immediate new election be called? Article 55(4) is explicit that after an election, parliament must be convened.

Only if the deadlocked parliament has met and the appointed PM has lost a confidence vote must the new House be dissolved and fresh elections ordered.

These are some of the issues a hung parliament may throw up. Of course, life is larger than the law and who knows what other interesting issues may crop up to challenge our imagination?

> Shad Saleem Faruqi is Emeritus Professor of Law at UiTM and Visiting Professor at USM. He is the author of ‘Document of Destiny: The Constitution of the Federation of Malaysia’.

Hindu conversions: Families plead for meeting with their daughters

The chairperson of the Pak-Hindu Welfare Association, Mangla Sharma said that they would appeal to the federal Shariat court against the “brainwashing” of Hindu girls. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD SAQIB/ EXPRESS 

KARACHI: On Monday, Lata and Rinkle Kumari’s families wept and appealed to the government to let them meet their daughters, while 15-year-old Asha’s family demanded that the authorities should find and rescue their missing daughter.

While speaking in Sindhi at a press conference at Karachi Press Club, Rinkle’s mother begged and pleaded for an opportunity to meet her daughter. According to Asha’s mother Reshma, her daughter went missing 18 days ago from Jacobabad. While wiping her tears with her dupatta, she said that it was cruel that the authorities had not found her as yet. While talking to The Express Tribune, Asha’s brother Vinod Kumar said that he used to drop and pick his sister from the parlour where she was doing a course. “When I went to pick her up on March 3, the parlour owner told me that she had already left,” he said. “She was so tired of the course. She did not want to go there anymore but I kept pushing her to do so.”

The family registered the FIR and nominated the parlour owner. So far the case is still under investigation.

According to Lata Kumari’s father, the Hindu doctor who converted to Islam, his wife was in the hospital because of what had happened.

The patron of the Pakistan Hindu Council, Ramesh Kumar, spoke out against the recent incidents of abduction and forced conversion in the Hindu community. “Girls from our peace loving community get scared when they see a bullet,” he said. “Imagine how Rinkle felt when she went to court with 500 people carrying weapons! Can we ever say that her statement was recorded of free will?” He added that if Asha was not rescued soon, 20 days later they would find out that she had also converted.

According to Ramesh, the country’s economy was dependent on the minorities. “There are eight million Hindus in Pakistan, out of which seven million live in Sindh,” he said. “Their current state is forcing them to leave their homes. So far 200 to 250 families have moved from Jacobabad. We don’t want to leave the country.” The chairperson of the Pak-Hindu Welfare Association, Mangla Sharma said that this was not the first time the community had to step forward to raise their voice against injustice. Sharma added that they would appeal to the Federal Shariat Court against the forced conversions. “Our girls are being brainwashed,” said Sharma. “They need counselling.”

Rinkle’s uncle Raj said that protests were being held by religious extremists every day in Mirpur Mathelo. “They are threatening us that if Rinkle returns home, four Hindu women will go missing,” he said. “What will we do now? Where will we go now?”

According to Qadir Khan, a lawyer, under Article 36 of the Constitution minorities should be protected but were not given security.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s wing chief in Sindh, Michael Javed said that a judicial commission should be set up to look into these cases. The patron of the Pakistan Hindu Council clarified that they were satisfied with the court proceedings but wanted a judicial inquiry of the policeman who mishandled the cases in Ghotki. He said that it was no use to approach the minority parliamentarians as they were not representatives of the minorities. “We prefer to lodge our complaints with top government officials,” he said. “However, it is only the Supreme Court that takes notice of such cases.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2012.

Ex-ISA detainee Yazid says he met Osama

Top 100 Indian students should be sent to top 100 universities

Senator S. Ramakrishnan

The prime minister announced that top 100 Indian students with 1st class honors will get to do post graduate studies with local universities. Well Mr. PM why only top 100 can do their post graduate studies with local universities. Any Indian or Malaysian with 1st class honors should be given the opportunities to do their post graduate degree. Mr. PM why not send the top 100 Indian students to at least one of the top 100 universities to do their post graduate studies and offer important positions when they return so that they can be actively involved in nation building. But on the other hand, if an Indian student can get 1st class honors, he or she will be offered more post graduate opportunities by MNCs or Singapore government. They don’t discriminate like your BN government.

For the information of our Prime Minister, I would like to highlight the plight of Malaysian Indian medical students in Indonesia. Many Indians along with Malay students are studying for medicine in universities in Sumatra and Bandung. As we all know many of the Indians are from poor economic background. Quiet a number of students pay their upfront fees payment and enter the universities. After that their parents apply for loans all over to pay the balance. Some manage to get but there are also some don’t get the support anywhere. I was told by the Malaysian student’s association committee members whom I met during my recent visit to Indonesia that every year 5/6 Indian students dropped after year 3 or 4 due to non-payment of fees. All the payments made for the first few years wasted. There are students doing part time work in Indonesia for living expenses. Overseas students are not eligible for PTPTN. Some of these students are disgruntled because of the financial predicament. Mr. PM Can you please look into financial support for overseas medical students?

There is one student struggling all the way to pay college fees, but now has reached year 6. He may not be able finish his medical studies because he owes the Bandung University about RM40000. His father passed away due to depression and worries while looking for loan for his son. Poor Indian parents go through hell to see that their children get proper education. They don’t have any one place to turn to. Can you Mr. PM resolve this issue of loan or scholarship that haunts the poor Indians year in year out when SPM and STPM results are announced? How can the Indians support you when your government openly discriminate them?

Every year many top Indian students are denied PSD scholarships. It’s only after March 2008 election results that the PM without UMNO’s support going to Indians to offering election goodies. Indian community is not overwhelmed by one off offers but looking for inclusion in policies. Indian students’ intake in local university is only 2.6% last year. In terms of basic rights Malaysian Indians are regressing every year. Mr. PM please improve our fundamental rights and needs before Indian community walk with you.

‘Singh is not king for Indians’

A group of furious Indian opposition supporters is calling on the DAP stalwart to quit because he has become a liability.

PETALING JAYA: Lashing out at DAP national chairman Karpal Singh, a group of Pakatan Rakyat Indian supporters has called on the veteran politician to resign.

Speaking at an emotionally-charged press conference here, PKR member K Saminathan said Karpal has now become a liability to DAP and the opposition.

“Because of his vengeance towards (DAP deputy secretary-general) P Ramasamy, Karpal is indirectly bringing down DAP and Pakatan.

“He may be a ‘King’ to the Sikh community but not to the Indian community,” he said, alleging that the DAP stalwart had overlooked the woes of the Indian community over the past 40 years.

Samy also said that a nationwide road show would be organised to pressure Karpal to step down.

The press conference was held in response to Karpal’s criticism of the DAP disciplinary committee for letting Ramasamy, who is also Penang deputy chief minister, off the hook.

Ramasamy, who had been embroiled in a recent verbal salvo with Karpal, was accused of masterminding a demonstration against Karpal in last December.

Pro-Karpal assemblymen rapped

Meanwhile, Malaysian Tamil Students’ Development Organisation representative A Kalaimugilan took Penang DAP assemblymen A Thanasekaran (Bagan Dalam) and RSN Rayer (Seri Delima) to task.

He said the duo, who are known to be aligned to Karpal, were “traitors” of the Indian community.

He said when Pakatan won Penang in the 2008 general election, DAP had offered two exco posts to the Indian community.

“While Ramasamy was given one of the posts, both Thanasekaran and Rayer refused to accept the other post due to conflict of interest that might arise with their respecetive legal practice,” he said.

“Because of their selfishness, the Indian community lost a golden opportunity (of having another exco) in Penang,” he added.

MIC Youth chief T Mohan also came under fire during the press conference for interfering in Pakatan’s internal issue with regard to the spat between Karpal and Ramasamy.

“He is a ‘toothless tiger’ in his party. He should concentrate on MIC’s problems,” said Kalaimugilan.

‘If you can’t solve, we’ll throw you out’

Residents of Kampung KTM Railway Line in Sungai Buloh want Selangor MB to issue solve their 20-year-old housing problem swiftly.



SHAH ALAM: About 25 former residents of the Kampung KTM Railway Line in Sungai Buloh arrived at the Selangor state secretariat (SUK) yesterday to compel menteri besar, Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to give them plots of land promised by the state government in 1992.

The group, which arrived at about 9am, was led by 61-year-old S Muniandy.

Speaking at a press conference later, Muniandy said that 229 families of the former railway line residents were promised plots of land by the then menteri besar Muhammad Muhammad Taib, before being asked to move to longhouses in Rawang.

“The then state government told us that it was a six months transition period. Twenty years have passed but we have not seen our lands yet,” said Muniandy.

After waiting at the SUK for about four hours, Selangor exco for housing Iskandar Abdul Samad met the residents and promised to get them a meeting with Khalid on March 29.

Disappointed by Khalid’s absence, Muniandy accused the current Pakatan Rakyat state government of being no different from the previous administration.

“We will not give up. We will change the MB if Khalid fails to resolve our woes,” said Muniandy.

Catch more in our video.

An example of bad damage control

This is just like how Ibrahim Ali and Perkasa talk. Who are you? You are nothing. You Chinese and Indians are pendatang. This country belongs to the Malays. Don’t be so sombong. If you don’t like it you can go back to China or India. Don’t try to demand this and that. Stop asking to be treated equal. You are not equal. Malays are first-class citizens. Chinese and Indians are second-class citizens.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

The PKR people are embarking on some serious damage control. And to cover their arses they are distorting what really happened in the hope that they can confuse the people. See what Chua Jui Meng, N Surendran, and S I Tan said below. These were all carried in Malaysiakini, The Malaysian Insider, Harakah, as well as pro-opposition Blogs, Din Merican’s included.

Here we are screaming about the lies and distorted news from Umno and the government- and Umno-controlled mainstream media. Then we find the opposition doing exactly the same as what they accuse Umno and the government- and Umno-controlled mainstream media of doing.

This is what I mean when I say that the opposition must walk the talk. How can a priest stand up in the pulpit during Sunday mass and scream that you must be a good Christian and then go and bugger the choirboys and bonk the nuns? Wouldn’t this be called hypocrisy?

Chua Jui Meng is allegedly a Born Again Christian. I don’t know when he died (maybe when MCA kicked him out) but he got born again when he joined the opposition and decided to fight corruption. Considering he was the most corrupted Health Minister Malaysia has ever seen, I can appreciate that he, of all people, would be the expert when it comes to corruption. Would you not employ the best robber to advise you on how to prevent robberies?

The only problem is when he decided to become born again and then join the opposition to fight corruption he refused to give back all the money he robbed when he was the Health Minister. Aiyah! How can you keep all those millions and then whack others for being corrupted? You must first give back all the money you stole before talking about how corrupted other people are.

Chua Jui Meng, N Surendran, and S I Tan are from Chinese and Tamil schools or what? How come they can’t understand a simple thing like the difference between a debate and an interview?

‘Debate’ means two or more people take opposite positions on an issue and they argue and defend the position they have taken. ‘Interview’ means one person asks another person questions and you reply to those questions.

So, Chua Jui Meng, N Surendran, S I Tan, don’t get confused. More importantly, don’t try to mislead others. That is something Umno and the government- and Umno-controlled mainstream media are supposed to do. The opposition people are supposed to be honest, sincere and trustworthy. If you all also act just like Umno people then why the need to vote opposition? We might as well just vote Barisan Nasional. We want to vote opposition so that we can get something different and something better. But now you all are acting just like Umno -- lying and distorting things.

How many times must I repeat the same story before you can understand? Aiyah! Chinese and Tamil schools so bad one or what? Anyway, let me for the umpteenth time tell you what happened.

Wikileaks is producing a documentary and they are interviewing many people for the documentary. Many people mah! Two of these people are Anwar Ibrahim and me. The issue is, do they interview Anwar and me in separate sessions or can they kill two birds with one stone and interview us both at the same time?

When they asked me I said no problem, can do both at the same time. When they asked Anwar he said big problem, must do separate interviews. So the decision was it would be two separate interviews. When they asked me who shall go first, I told them to interview Anwar first and I will take the next session.

So, where got debate one? Why do you keep saying I invited Anwar to a debate? I never invited Anwar! Wikileaks invited Anwar. And it is not a debate between Anwar and me. It is an interview. Julian Assange asks questions and you reply. Simple!

Anyway, whether it is a debate or interview is one issue. But why so sombong one? Why are you all talking like Umno and Perkasa?

Wah! Garang! Who is Raja Petra Kamarudin? He is nobody. Anwar is somebody, a great man. How can Raja Petra want to share the same stage with Anwar? Anwar is way up there. Raja Petra is way down there. Raja Petra is not the same level as Anwar. Raja Petra is just a Blogger. Anwar is the opposition leader.

Imagine if I talk like that.

Who are Chua Jui Meng, N Surendran, and S I Tan? They are just Chinese and Indians. They are pendatang. They are not even Bumiputeras. I am from the Selangor Royal Family. My cousin is the Sultan of Selangor. My uncle was the Agong. My grandfather was the Governor of Penang. Why you call me RPK? Bad manners mah! You must address me as Yang Mulia, not RPK.

Is that the way to talk? Sound sombong or not?

Now the NFC directors refuse to appear before the PAC. They have snubbed the PAC Committee. Who are you? You are just a Committee. Why must we appear before your Committee? We are Directors of the NFC. We are bigger than you. You are nothing. We are orang besar. We have Umno backing. We can walk in to the PMs and DPMs office any time. No need to even make an appointment. We no need to layan you one. We can just snub you.

Can you see how many Malaysians have this same attitude?

Siapa awak? Awak ni rendah. Awak tahu saya siapa? Saya Datuk. Saya Tan Sri. Saya Tun. Saya wakil rakyat. Saya Yang Berhormat. Saya ada kuasa. Saya orang besar. Awak apa? Awak ni Blogger saja. You are nobody. I am somebody.

When I walked into the police station in 2001, Bakri Zinin, the current CID Chief whacked me for no rhyme or reason (he just likes whacking people). When I stood up and asked him why he beat me up, he charged at me and wanted to beat the shit out of me. Luckily three of his officers held him back while my wife held on to me. If not I would have killed him.

“I am the OCPD here!” Bakri Zini screamed.

That’s right. Another case of who are you? I am the OCPD here. I am a big man. You are nothing!

Later, when they looked at my IC, they discovered who I was. To cover their mistake, they arrested and handcuffed me and threw me into the lockup. When I demanded to know under what charge, they replied that they are going to arrest me first and then decide later what to charge me with.

So you see how this ‘who are you, I am a big man’ works?

No lah. Don’t act like this. This is a very sombong attitude. Umno also talks like this. In March 2008, the voters punished Umno for talking like this. So don’t make the same mistake like Umno or else the voters might also punish you like they punished Umno in 2008.

This is just like how Ibrahim Ali and Perkasa talk. Who are you? You are nothing. You Chinese and Indians are pendatang. This country belongs to the Malays. Don’t be so sombong. If you don’t like it you can go back to China or India. Don’t try to demand this and that. Stop asking to be treated equal. You are not equal. Malays are first-class citizens. Chinese and Indians are second-class citizens.

Sound sombong or not? Well, this is exactly how you also sound. So be careful how you talk. If everyone also talks like you, you don’t like it. You will scream that we are all equal. We are all Malaysians. Where got first-class and second-class citizens?

Got! Raja Petra Kamarudin is second-class, maybe even third-class. He is just a Blogger. He not the same taraf as Pakatan Rakyat leaders. Pakatan Rakyat leaders are higher class. How can Raja Petra Kamarudin share same stage as Pakatan Rakyat leaders?

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Chua Jui Meng: Raja Petra bukan taraf Anwar untuk di ajak berdebat

“Bukan takut rahsia bocor tapi bukan taraf Anwar (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim). BN (Barisan Nasional) cuba ubah isu kerana orang yang sepatutnya berdebat dengan Anwar adalah Najib (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak),” kata Pengerusi PKR Johor, Datuk Chua Jui Meng.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas berkenaan kenyataan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yang melabelkan Anwar sebagai penakut kerana keengganannya berdepan dengan pengendali portal Malaysia Today, Raja Petra Kamarudin.

"Saya yakin BN sengaja mengubah topik kerana mahu mengelak kerana khuatir banyak rahsia mereka bakal terbongkar sekiranya menerima pelawaan itu.

“Sekarang kita cabar pula sama ada Najib berani menyahut cabaran untuk berdebat dengan Anwar. Kenapa pula mengubah isu Raja Petra dengan Anwar? ini bukan soal keberanian tetapi kita mahu individu yang layak,” katanya semalam.

Dalam perkembangan lain, Jui Meng enggan mengulas sama ada beliau akan bertanding di Parlimen Gelang Patah kerana menganggap ia masih terlalu awal, selain menyerahkannya kepada kepimpinan Pakatan Rakyat untuk memilih.

“Sama ada DAP atau PKR yang bertanding di kerusi itu bukan masalahnya. Hubungan kami masih mesra seperti dulu, malah terus bekerjasama erat untuk menang dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang,” katanya.

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Anwar shouldn't debate Najib by proxy, says PKR

PKR vice-president N Surendran is bemused by the flap arising from his party supremo’s imputed refusal to debate maverick blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK).

“I’m amused as to how the controversy has enabled two escape artists to evade the more pressing compulsions for debate,” allowed the busy lawyer-politician in remarks made to Malaysiakini.

“One, of course, is RPK himself: Has there been a more compelling need for the two diametrically opposed parts of him to debate each other, seemingly absurd as that may sound,” offered Surendran.

“On the one hand, the public had for years seen the part of him prior to February last year, just before the Sarawak state elections, when he was a significant voice in the medley that was for reform and change in the country,” he continued.

“After an astonishing statement he made last February, the man struck an about-face, a turnaround which he has sustained to this day, thus showing a face radically different to the one he held up to Malaysian netizens prior to February 2011,” observed Surendran.

Surendran, a likely PKR candidate for the 13th general election, argued that since there has been no distinct change to the political structures of the nation, RPK’s volte-face - its mystery, its puzzle - is prime material for a public airing.

“Seriously, a public debate between the two sides of RPK’s persona is a way to dispel that mystery, though I’m afraid it would give political ventriloquism a bad name.

“But can that be any worse that what he has given to the crusading reformist spirit on the net with his astonishing somersault of the last year,” queried Surendran.

The PKR veep held that the other escapee from the contretemps over Anwar Ibrahim’s imputed refusal to debate RPK was Prime Minister Najib Razak.

“The PM has chosen to ride pillion in this matter by imputing cowardice on Anwar’s part but it is he who is ducking out of a debate with Anwar,” charged Surendran.

“His remarks to foreign correspondents yesterday had plenty of allusions to the American political scene but he missed the elephant in the room which is the prevalence of public debates between leading contestants,” he asserted.

“He wants Anwar to debate his proxy, RPK, which is typical of the rentier culture he represents,” quipped Surendran. -- Malaysiakini, 20 March 2012

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Why the hell should Anwar debate RPK? — S I Tan

Why should the Leader of the Malaysian Opposition debate a discredited blogger?

In any democracy, the incumbent PM debates the leader of the Opposition, not some blogger who has illusions about his own influence.

Raja Petra Kamarudin may think that he is worthy of acclaim but he is not. He has not stood for elections and is not representing any constituency. In fact, he is just another blogger who owes his loyalty to himself and whoever gives him the time of day.

If you layan him, he is very happy and will be friendly towards you. But if you don’t listen to his advice, then he gets all worked up.

Of course, some people argue that he has crossed over to BN and that is his choice. Maybe they find him more useful in bringing down the Opposition but he is nothing more than someone who puts his views across on his blog.

He is not the Leader of the Opposition, an Opposition which has managed to shake BN’s hegemony. Anwar is the leader and therefore the PM should show some spine and debate him.

But asking Najib Razak to show some spine would be asking too much. So Najib now takes this side issue of Anwar not debating the blogger as his escape route.

After more than 50 years, this is what Malaysia has been left with: a prime minister unable to act prime ministerial and constantly looking for his script from public relations advisors. -- The Malaysian Insider, 19 March 2012

MONEY

1. I wrote recently on the financial problems of Europe at the invitation of the Financial Times. Of course it is not erudite as would those who studied economics and finance would write. Strangely some people agreed with my views.

2. During the financial crisis of 1997-1998 I was forced to read up on the subject. Today I know a bit more about money and finance. But the most important thing about money which everyone of us knows without need to be an economist or financial expert is that if you spend more money than you have you will be in trouble. Simply put, if you have one hundred Ringgit but you spend one hundred and ten Ringgit, you will be in debt to the amount of ten Ringgit. But if you have 100 RM and spend 90 RM you will not face trouble.

3. No big deal. But when you have a million or a billion, your 10% overspending will put you in debt to a level which you may not be able to pay and the person you owe money to may not be so ready to forgive.

4. Greece is now bankrupt. The reason is simple enough, Greece overspent. It borrowed more money than it is able to pay. The sums are big, running into billions of Euro. The creditors cannot forgive.

5. Why did Greece borrow beyond what it could pay. Well, Greece is a member of the European Union, a collection of developed countries. So it must live by the standards of the European Union. It must practice the welfare state principles of the European countries.

6. The revenue of the Greek Government was not enough to support the high standards of living, the high pay, pension and other benefits of the Europeans. So the Government borrowed money to cover the high salaries, short working hours and days, early pensions, unemployment benefits and other perks that European Governments offered their workers.

7. The private sector had to follow the Government, which results in raising the cost of production until the products of their labour are no longer competitive and either they earn less profits or became unsaleable altogether.

8. Loans unfortunately have to be paid when matured. When the loans amounting to hundreds of billions cannot be paid, the Greek Government, the borrower, must be made bankrupt.

9. Somewhere in the story of Greece, there is a lesson for other countries. The lesson as I pointed out earlier is very simple. When you spend more than the money you have, you will become a debtor. And when you cannot pay your debt you will become bankrupt.

10. Once upon a time when I was Prime Minister I had the responsibility of approving the budget before it was presented to Parliament.

11. Roughly I knew I had to make provision for operation, for debt servicing and for development. Despite allegedly being profligate, I managed not to overspend. In fact the reason why we did not go down during the financial crisis was because we had no big debts to pay.

12. Of the three elements of the Government budget, only development spending can be reduced. Debt servicing and operations (salaries, pensions and other statutory expenditure must be paid on time if we are not going to default). If we increase salaries too much, and we have more than a million Government employees, there is a likelihood that we will not have enough for even minimal development.

13. We may announce a big development budget but there will simply be not enough money to implement them.

14. We may borrow. But there is a limit to borrowing. When you borrow the debt servicing charges will increase. A point will be reached when we will not be able to service debts or pay the lender when the loans become mature.

15. All these elementary things must be known to the Government. So we will not become like Greece. But people do not seem to know about this. Demands for pay increases, for higher non-taxable pensions, for abolition of tolls ( the Government has to make up for the loss of revenue by toll concessionairs), more holidays, more subsidies etc will continue to be made.

16. The opposition, wishing to become popular and win elections will always support these demands. Not having to be responsible for the overspending and the possible bankruptcy of the nation, it is easy for them to support. I hope the people will see through their lack of a sense of responsibility to the nation.

17. The incumbent Governments cannot be irresponsible and try to be popular always. The people must understand this.

18. When a demand is made the Government has to examine the implication not only to the Government in terms of its capacity to meet the demand, it must also consider the effect on the whole nation. If the Government cannot approve the demand it must be because it does not want to bankrupt the nation.

Islam membenarkan bapa kahwin anak kandungnya?

ADAKAH Islam membenarkan seorang bapa mengahwini anak kandungnya? Menurut sesetengah pendapat Mazhab Shafi’e, begitulah. Anak yang dilahirkan di luar pernikahan, boleh dikahwini oleh bapa kandungnya sendiri.

Di Malaysia, yang lebih memberatkan pendapat Mazhab Shafi’e, Fatwa Kebangsaan Malaysia 1971 menyatakan bahawa anak tak sah taraf tidak boleh dibin atau dibintikan bapanya dan bapanya tidak boleh menjadi wali untuk anaknya. Ini bermakna bapa kandungnya dianggap bukan muhrim anak itu. Di Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN), walaupun kedua ibu bapa mengakui bayi itu anak mereka, pegawai-pegawai masih tidak akan mencatat nama bapa di sijil kelahiran anak tersebut.

Isu anak tak sah taraf ini dibincangkan semasa forum dianjurkan Sisters in Islam bertajuk Apa Ada Pada

Dr Juanda Jaya (Wiki commons)

Nama. Ketua Hakim Syariah Terengganu Datuk Ismail Yahya dan mufti Perlis Dr Juanda Jaya adalah antara panelis. Mereka memanggil untuk penamaan anak tak sah taraf disemak semula kerana dikatakan tidak menepati konsep Islam serta mengaibkan. Mengapa di Malaysia masih tidak boleh membenarkan seorang bapa mengakui anak kandungnya sendiri di sisi undang-undang?

Nasab yang penuh kekeliruan

Dr Juanda Jaya (Wiki commons)

Semasa saya sendiri memperbaharui kad pengenalan di Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara baru-baru ini, di papan kenyataannya ada keratan akhbar soal jawab bersama Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim). Ia menerangkan bahawa tujuan anak tak sah taraf tidak boleh dibin atau dibintikan bapanya ialah agar tidak wujud kekeliruan dalam nasab keturunannya.

Alasan kekeliruan itu menjadikan saya keliru. Takut keliru nasab keturunan, tapi tidak takut kalau anak itu terkahwin dengan bapa kandungnya sendiri? Atau dengan adik beradiknya sendiri, iaitu anak-anak bapanya dengan isteri lain, atau dengan adik beradik bapanya? Bukankah itu lebih huru-hara jadinya?

Mungkin saya saja yang keliru. Jakim sepertinya tidak keliru. Dengan jelas, Jakim menerangkan bahawa anak yang dilahirkan di luar pernikahan dianggap bukan muhrim bapa kandungnya dan juga bukan muhrim pada ahli keluarga bapa kandungnya.

Maka, oleh kerana secara perundangan fiqah, mereka tiada pertalian keluarga, bermakna dari segi hukum Syariah di Malaysia, seorang anak boleh mengahwini bapa kandung atau ahli keluarga bapa kandungnya.

Orang Islam takut ilmu?

Orang Islam suka benar petik hadith Nabi “Carilah ilmu sampai ke negeri Cina”. Nak tunjuklah betapa Islam cintakan dan meraikan ilmu pengetahuan. Tapi, apakah yang memetik hadith itu sendiri sebenarnya mahu mengikut saranan Nabi ini? Sepertinya ramai yang tidak.

Ramai orang Islam di Malaysia seolah-olah takut dengan ilmu. Seperti ada ilmu yang halal dan ada ilmu haram, ada ilmu yang datang dari Allah dan ada ilmu yang bukan datang dari Allah.

Jadi bila ada masalah dalam masyarakat, yang dicari hanyalah “sumber-sumber Islam” iaini kitab-kitab lama dan pendapat ulama zaman silam yang hidup beratus atau lebih seribu tahun dahulu.

Itu pun ditapis lagi, iaitu yang diambil sebagai sumber rujukan hanyalah ulama yang dia setujui sahaja. Jadi, jangankan nak baca buku-buku dan pendapat sarjana dari Cina, India atau Barat, malah kitab-kitab tulisan dari mazhab-mazhab lain dalam ahli sunnah wajamaah sendiri pun dia takut nak rujuk. Takut terkeliru.

Ulama Islam dulu pelajari pemikiran Barat

Ibnu Rushd (Wiki commons)

Umat Islam juga suka benar berbangga tentang kehebatan saintis-saintis Islam, yang semuanya hidup di zaman silam, seperti Ibnu Sina dan Ibnu Rushd. Tapi mereka lupa bahawa ramai saintis Islam agung itu juga menimba ilmu dari Barat seperti Yunani (Greece) atau kerajaan Rom. Ramai ulama besar seperti Imam Ghazali dan Al-Farabi juga mempelajari falsafah Aristotle, Plato dan Socrates. Sama ada mereka setuju dengan kesuluruhan pemikiran ahli falsafah Barat itu atau tidak, itu hal kedua. Yang penting, mereka tidak sensor atau mengharamkan diri mereka atau orang lain dari terdedah pada pemikiran Barat yang hebat.

Berapa ramai agaknya tokoh agama di Malaysia yang pernah baca dan pelajari ilmu falsafah Barat?

Saya pernah mengunjungi Formaci (Forum Mahasiswa Ciputat), sebuah persatuan mahasiswa di Universiti Islam Negeri, Jakarta dan bertemu dengan beberapa mahasiswa di sana. Saya rasa nak menangis bila melihat di papan putih mereka tersenarai jadual diskusi yang membincangkan buku pemikir-pemikir hebat seperti Plato dan Aristotle dan juga Karl Marx, Friedrich Hegel, Immanuel Kant dan sebagainya. Mahasiswa dari pelbagai jurusan bertemu beberapa hari sekali untuk berdiskusi kerana mereka mengatakan semasa di pesantren (madrasah), mereka hanya terdedah pada ilmu-ilmu keagamaan. Maka, bila sudah di universiti mereka mahu mengambil peluang untuk memahami dan terdedah pada pemikir-pemikir hebat dari Barat.

Maka tidak hairanlah mengapa Indonesia boleh mempunyai pemikir dan sarjana yang hebat seperti Cak Nur (Nurcholis Majid) dan Gus Dur (Abdur Rahman Wahid). Mereka tidak takut pada ilmu.

Membolehkan anak dibin atau dibintikan bapanya

Ulama dahulu bukan saja tidak takut mencari ilmu, tapi mereka juga tidak gentar atau cepat keliru dengan perbezaan pendapat.

Ramai ulama besar dalam Mazhab Maliki, Hanbali, dan Hanafi yang berpendapat anak yang dilahirkan di luar pernikahan boleh dibin atau dibintikan bapa kandungnya. Mereka juga menggunakan dalil-dalil agama yang kuat.

Apa berani kita mengatakan mereka salah atau ilmu mereka cetek? Mengapa tidak kita kaji apakah hujah-hujah yang mereka utarakan? Manalah tahu ada antara pendapat mereka lebih bersesuaian dengan konteks masyarakat kita di Malaysia sekarang ini. Lagipun, banyak juga pendapat mazhab lain yang turut digunapakai di Malaysia seperti dalam hal pembayaran zakat fitrah.

Bukankah Islam meraikan kepelbagaian pendapat, dan objektif utama Islam ialah untuk memudahkan dan mencapai keadilan?

Hak asasi anak

Jakim dan undang-undang Mahkamah Syariah di Malaysia menetapkan bahawa bapa kandung anak tak sah taraf tidak dipertanggungjawabkan untuk menafkahi anaknya. Tanggungjawab memberi nafkah, saraan dan penjagaan kanak-kanak tak sah taraf adalah semata-mata pada ibu dan saudara mara ibu. Anak tak sah taraf juga tidak boleh mewarisi harta bapa kandungnya.

Adilkah undang-undang ini terhadap anak yang tidak berdosa?

Bukankah orang Islam sendiri yang selalu kata setiap bayi yang dilahirkan itu suci bersih? Dia tidak berdosa dan tidak menanggung dosa orang lain.

(agastecheg / sxc.hu)

Setiap bayi yang dilahirkan di dunia ini mempunyai banyak sekali hak-hak asas. Di peringkat antarabangsa, inilah yang dinamakan sebagai hak asasi manusia. Antara hak-hak asas setiap bayi atau kanak-kanak di muka bumi ini ialah hak untuk mendapatkan:

perlindungan dan kasih sayang;
makan dan minum;
pendidikan;
kehormatan diri (self-dignity);
perlindungan dari penganiayaan;
keadilan.

Jadi, jika anda mengatakan hak asasi itu ciptaan Barat dan merupakan sesuatu yang asing dalam Islam, maka bermakna anda sendiri yang mengakui sememangnya Barat lebih hebat dari Islam.

Teladan Indonesia

Alhamdulillah, tidak perlu menoleh ke Barat, negara jiran kita pun telah mengambil langkah berani dalam memberi keadilan kepada anak yang berstatus tak sah taraf.

Pada 17 Feb 2012, Mahkamah Konstitusi Indonesia telah meminda undang-undang perkahwinan Indonesia. Pindaan itu mengiktiraf hubungan darah dan hubungan sivil antara anak tak sah taraf dengan bapa dan keluarga bapa kandungnya, yang boleh dibuktikan berdasarkan ilmu pengetahuan, teknologi atau alat bukti lain.

Ketua Mahkamah Konstutusi Mahfud MD berkata bahawa dengan itu, beban bukan lagi ditanggung oleh ibunya saja tetapi juga bapa anak itu. Ia juga bermakna bahawa anak tak sah taraf juga mempunyai hak penuh sebagai anak kandung, termasuk hak waris.

Bilakah Malaysia mahu melangkah ke depan seperti Indonesia?

Masyarakat Islam Malaysia masyarakat penghukum?

Bila ada kes perempuan buang bayi, maka berteriaklah sesetengah orang Islam mencaci maki dan mahu menghukum perempuan yang membuang bayinya. Marahlah juga mereka pada rumah-rumah perlindungan untuk wanita-wanita yang hamil di luar pernikahan kerana dikatakan menggalakkan zina.

Apabila ada wanita yang belum berkahwin hamil, masyarakat terus menghukum dan tidak peduli apakah mungkin wanita itu telah diperkosa, diperdaya atau terjebak dalam pemerdagangan manusia. Tiada langsung belas ihsan. Mereka juga tidak mahu mempertanyakan mengapa mahkamah syariah tidak mempertanggungjawabkan bapa kandung anak itu untuk menafkahinya.

Orang Islam suka kata Islam itu adil, tapi masalahnya ialah ramai antara kita sendiri yang tidak tahu bagaimana menterjemahkan keadilan itu. Tambah celaka lagi bila kita yang tidak berupaya memahami dengan mendalam dan merealisasikan keadilan itu mengatakan “inilah Islam”.