Hindus must be aware of disguised Islamist like Shahrukh Khan and allies….

DETENTION OF SHAHRUKH KHAN AT NEW YORK AIRPORT BEFORE LAST WEEK.
Narain Kataria from New York.

 

Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) is not only a controversial but also a suspicious character. Many people in India believe that SRK is well connected with fishy characters and underworld dons. He has a soft corner, respect and regard for the most dangerous terrorists. In addition to that he is distantly related to present ISI chief and is endowed with Pakistani mentality.

Many people may not be aware of the fact that SRK is a supporter of world’s most dangerous terrorist late Osama Bin Laden. SRK was deeply saddened at the death of Osama Bin Laden. He is an anti-American guy. Shahrukh had described Osama’s death by America’s a “heinous act”!

SRK has great reverence for fanatic Islamic preacher Dr. Zakir Naik who has been banned from entering

U.K. for glorifying terrorism. SRK watches his videos with great zeal and devotion.

Even though almost all the terrorist acts were conducted by radical Islamists all over the world in the name of Allah, this fellow came out with a grossly misleading nonsensical twaddle that “terrorists has no religion”! Readers also should note that SRK and his ilk have never condemned Islamic terrorists who murdered 3000 New York, 200 in Mumbai, 200 in Madrid, 200 in Bali, Indonesia; and 350 in Beslan in Russia.

He is a very good friend of Bollywood Producer Karim Morani whose name recently surfaced in the charge sheet filed by CBI in 2G spectrum scam and was subsequently arrested by the Police.

People in India are in a state of shock after the Times of India reported the new that ISI chief Lt. Gen. Zahir-ul-Islam has tenuous links with SRK. A Pakistani defense analyst Ikram Sehgal told PTI that Zahir-ul-Islam’s father who was a brigadier in the Pakistan Army and Shah Nawaz Khan, who happened to be a major general in the INA led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, was his uncle. SRK is said to have feeble relationship with ISI chief through his late mother Lateef Fatima who was the adopted daughter of Shah Nawaz Khan.

It is very easy to hoodwink Hindus. But it seems that American government knows it very well this guy is playing Al Taqiyya with them. (Al Taqiyya is a part of Islamic doctrine of deception which enjoins on all the Muslims to blatantly lie and cheat non-Muslims in furtherance of Islam.)

SRK is a die hard Islamist. In Feb, 2010, SRK demonstrated Pakistani mentality when he openly supported inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in IPL. He backed out only when his house was attacked and he was asked to leave for Pakistan.

Moreover, the name “Khan” itself is enough to infuriate and raise one’s hackles, taking into account the memories of 9/11 in which radical Islamists crashed their planes into the World Trade Center!

The USA government must be maintaining a dossier on SRK. They may have some secret information about SRK which they may not like to disclose. SRK will be detained every time at least for two hours whenever he comes to USA no matter what the Government of India does.

Indian Americans also believe that Government of India’s over reaction in this matter was utterly unwarranted, foolish, immature and uncalled for.

Narain Kataria,
Writer can be reached at Katarian@aol.com &
(718) 478-5735

Insult to Islam accused's lawyer refers to dictionary in trial

ABU DHABI // The lawyer of an engineer jailed for insulting Islam by referring to "damn" mosques asked the Appeals Court today to look up the word in the Oxford English Dictionary.

The case of JM, a Briton who was working for Abu Dhabi Municipality, is being heard by the Appeals Court for a second time after the Cassation Court ruled its first trial was invalid as there was no translator present.

The engineer, who was in charge of a municipality project to build gardens around mosques, was reported to police by a colleague who claimed he asked: "When will we finish with the damn mosques?" during a meeting.

Yesterday the engineer's lawyer presented an Oxford English Dictionary to the judging panel and asked the court translator to look up the word 'damn'.

"The first meaning for the word 'damned' says: 'According to Christianity, a damned (person) is someone who God is angered with forever... the second meaning says 'damn' can be used for strong criticism in an unofficial way and is a way of expressing anger," read out the translator.

"You were accused of saying 'damn mosques' during a meeting, what do you say about that," the Appeals Court judge asked the engineer.

The defence lawyer interrupted, saying the evidence was invalid and that the case should be dropped.

"We have to carry out our procedures and ask the defendant," the judge replied. "Are you afraid he will say something now that will give us proof? He has already been questioned in court before."

The engineer pleaded not guilty to insulting Islam, insisting he respected the religion. He was originally sentenced to a month in prison by the Misdemeanour Court. At his first appeal trial he said he did not mean to insult Islam or mosques. "I said it out of concern for the project because I wanted to be ready as soon as possible," he said. However the Appeals Court upheld the sentence and the case went to the Cassation Court before being referred back to the Appeals Court.

The Appeals Court will announce its new verdict on April 30.

Lady Gaga warned about offending Muslims during world tour

One Indonesian leader calls on Lady Gaga not to wear provocative outfits.

Lady Gaga has been warned about her provocative outfits ahead of her tour of Indonesia in June.

The multi-million-selling artist, who is on a 110-date world tour to promote her album Born This Way Ball, is currently in South Korea.

Indonesia is the world's biggest Muslim nation and Islamic leaders have said her risque outfits will not be tolerated.

"I call on Lady Gaga to respect our cultural and traditional values. Most people here are Muslims and we cannot tolerate her revealing outfits and sexy performances," the Indonesia Ulema Council leader Amidhan told AFP. "It's better for Lady Gaga to cancel her show in this country if she has no willingness to respect our demand. Please do not destroy our nation's morality and ruin our dignity.".

Lady Gaga - Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta - has courted controversy for appearing clad in outfits made of raw meat or on high heels. Big Daddy, the promoters for the concert in Jakarta, said tickets began selling in early March and were sold out within two weeks.

"We have informed Lady Gaga's management (about these concerns), and they said that they will respect the country where she will perform", said Hanny Marpaung, corporate secretary for Big Daddy.

But he added "we still don't have any clue" about what she will wear.

In the Philippines, a youth organisation urged people to stay away from Gaga's May 21 concert, saying it poses a threat to moral values in Asia's largest Catholic nation.

Laurence Pintero, head of the Manila-based Youth for Christ, criticised the government for allowing the concert to take place. "If the government thinks she is a threat, first and foremost they should stop it," he said. "I think we should be bold. We discourage (people from) attending her concert."

Dataran Merdeka locked down for the next 48 hours

File picture of Dataran Merdeka taken April 24, 2012.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 — Dataran Merdeka will be closed off to the public for the next 48 hours from 6am tomorrow as the authorities move to prevent the Bersih 3.0 sit-in in the historic square this Saturday.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) issued the order after unconfirmed reports said that police have obtained a court order today preventing the use of Dataran Merdeka for a rally.

The move against the electoral reforms movement is seen as a sign that the hawks in Putrajaya have won the day despite their confidence that the rally has no traction.

KL mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail said in a statement that the restriction will be enforced based on Local Government (Dataran Merdeka) (Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur) By-Laws 1992 and Section 65 of the Local Government Act 1976.

He said the restriction will be lifted at 6am on Sunday morning.

DBKL has already barricaded the historic square in the capital city but the electoral reforms group have said it will gather there this Saturday as time was too short to consider other venues.

Putrajaya and DBKL have offered several stadiums, including Stadium Merdeka which was ironically cordoned off during last July's Bersih 2.0 rally.

The police have taken a hands-off approach towards the latest rally with DBKL taking the lead role as it runs the square. The city authorities have just evicted a group of activists calling themselves Occupy Dataran this week, two weeks after they set up a daily camp there.

A similar order last July galvanised a larger turnout in the capital city, with organisers saying nearly 50,000 gathered to walk past road blocks and policemen who shut down the city. But police said only 6,000 took part in the rally and nearly 1,700 were arrested.

Another such order this weekend could push more support for Bersih, which launched the protest as some of their demands were not met when a parliamentary select committee (PSC) made 22 recommendations to reform the electoral process.

The bipartisan panel was formed following the July 9, 2011 rally for free and fair elections that saw tens of thousands flood into the streets of the capital.

The Najib administration was widely condemned for a clampdown on the demonstration in which police fired water cannons and tear gas into crowds during chaotic scenes that resulted in over 1,500 arrested, scores injured and the death of an ex-soldier.

Bersih’s eight demands are: a clean electoral roll, reform to postal voting, the use of indelible ink, a minimum campaign period of 21 days, fair access to the media, the strengthening public institutions, a stop to corruption, and an end to dirty politics.

PR has pledged its full support for this Saturday’s rally, promising to mobilise thousands of supporters to attend the event.

Students charged over flowers, tombstone demo

They will face Universiti Malaya’s disciplinary board on May 3.

KUALA LUMPUR: Three students are facing the wrath of University Malaya authorities for demonstrating with garlands of flowers and a tombstone.

The three—third year Islamic political science student Mohd Syahid Zaini (photo), third year Islamic education student Safwan Anang and first year law student Haziq Abdul Aziz—will face the university’s disciplinary board on May 3 to defend themselves against charges of causing public disorder and embarrassment to the university.

Syahid told reporter today that all three faced the same two charges.

They were among students who participated in Abolish PTPTN protest at Dataran Merdeka last April 14. A group of them marched to an area near the Sogo shopping complex, shouting anti-PTPTN and anti-Barisan Nasional slogans.

They placed on the ground framed pictures of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Noordin, wrapped a garland around each and stuck a tombstone between them.

Syahid is chairman of the Malaysia Bangkit student movement. Safnan and Hazik lead Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia, another student activist group.

“The university is claiming that our actions resemble a Hindu ritual,” Syahid said.

The university is charging them under Section 16c of the Universiti Malaya Methods (Student Regulations) 1999.

Surendran snubs MIC delegation

The PKR vice president was absent from his office when a MIC Youth team went there to collect information about stateless Indians.

PETALING JAYA: A delegation from MIC Youth turned up at PKR headquarters today to collect information about stateless Indians from PKR vice president N Surendran, but left empty handed.

Surendran was not in his office and did not turn up during the half hour that the delegation of five waited for him.

The delegation’s leader, MIC Youth councillor M Saravanan, questioned Surendran’s sincerity in his claim of concern for the plight of stateless Indians.

Last Thursday, Surendran, leading a demonstration at the Parliament gates, said the number of stateless Indians in Malaysia was 300,000, a claim that MIC has scoffed at.

MIC secretary-general S Murugessan, while disputing the figure, offered to work with PKR for the benefit of Malaysian Indians who have been denied their citizenship rights. Saravanan’s delegation went to the PKR office today under his orders.

Saravanan told reporters that only Puchong PKR chairman S Murali was there to greet his team.

“We were informed that the details about stateless Indians are not in the PKR office,” he said.

Saravanan reiterated the MIC position that 300,000 was a grossly exaggerated figure, and he described as “weird” Surendran’s recent statement that he would submit the details to the federal government instead of to MIC.

“It seems like Surendran is living in a jungle and is not aware that MIC is part of the governing coalition,” he said.

“We think he is stressed out after making a false statement to gain Indian support and seeing it backfire.”

He said MIC was ever ready to help anyone facing “MyKad and birth certificate problems”.

According to the National Registration Department, there are 40,000 undocumented Indians in Malaysia.

However, MIC says it has identified only about 15,000 Indians without citizenship documentation since it launched its MyDaftar campaign on Feb 23 last year. Out of that number, 9,529 submitted the relevant application forms and nearly 6,000 have received their documents, party leaders have said.

Jeffrey hails Hindraf chief’s return from exile

P Waythamoorthy will be able to contribute a lot in a personal capacity, says the STAR chairman.

PETALING JAYA: State Reform Party (STAR) chairman Jeffrey Kitingan today welcomed the reported return of P Waythamoorthy, the Hindraf Makkal Sakthi supremo, from five years of exile in London.

Jeffrey said he was looking forward to meeting the latter in Malaysia “to catch up on the last five years”.

“I am sure that he will still be able to contribute a lot in a personal capacity even though he has decided to relinquish the stewardship of Hindraf,” he said. “We need people like him to help create a third force in Parliament.”

He added that Waythamoorthy was a master strategist “able to penetrate and navigate anywhere” and would be an invaluable person in the fight for a better Malaysia.

Jeffrey was commenting on Waythamoorthy’s statement on Tuesday that he was ready to return to Malaysia by Nov 25, or earlier, although he had no valid travel papers to do so.

He was speaking on the sidelines of meetings in Kuala Lumpur with Sabahans and Sarawakians to update them on the political situation back in their home states.

On Waythamoorthy’s passport, Jeffrey urged the Home Ministry to “let bygones be bygones” and re-issue the Hindraf chief with a new international passport.

“The Home Ministry should not have cancelled his passport and leave him stranded overseas,” he said. “It was a desperate act by a desperate government to stop him from speaking out against it in international forums.”

He pointed out that the ploy backfired since the British government granted him political asylum as a human rights advocate and issued him with a UN-sanctioned travel document.

Blessing in disguise

On Waythamoorthy’s decision to hand over stewardship of Hindraf to a new leadership line-up, Jeffrey said that the move “may be a blessing in disguise”.

“Waythamoorthy is more than welcome to join STAR and help set up an autonomous Peninsular Malaysia chapter,” he said.

“STAR in Peninsular Malaysia will be free of political interference and control by STAR in Sabah and Sarawak.”

STAR’s stand was unlike that adopted by Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat in Sabah and Sarawak, he added.

“They are only interested in grabbing our seats in Parliament to further strengthen their political power at our expense.”

STAR deputy chairman Daniel John Jambun, who is also in Kuala Lumpur with Jeffrey, also said Waythamoorthy’s return was a good development.

The mayor’s Bersih 3.0 headache

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail seems to be caught in a dilemma and expressed his frustration to FMT in an interview last night.
INTERVIEW

KUALA LUMPUR: In the game of “chicken”, two drivers would accelerate towards each other on a collision course: one must swerve – and be deemed a coward – or both may die in the crash.

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail, who likened the current deadlock over the use of Dataran Merdeka for the Bersih 3.0 sit-in rally on Saturday to the popular game theory, said that City Hall (DBKL) has already conceded defeat.

“If this was a chicken game, we [City Hall] have already chickened out, because we want to avoid chaos. But they [Bersih 3.0 organisers] are so hardcore. What if anything untoward happens? They’ll blame the government, ” Ahmad Fuad told FMT in an interview last night.

Yesterday, Bersih organisers met with Ahmad Fuad but remained hell-bent on using Dataran Merdeka to hold the protest despite the government’s suggestion to use four different stadiums (Stadium Cheras, Stadium Titiwangsa, Stadium Bukit Jalil or Stadium Merdeka) as alternatives instead.

Ahmad Fuad confirmed that City Hall officers could make arrests if protesters go to Dataran

Merdeka. However, the chief of the city’s local authority took pains to explain that he was, and is still, trying to avoid such a confrontational situation.

“I don’t want to use the word arrest, it’s a very strong word. Plus, I don’t want to pre-empt what’s going to happen on Saturday. Maybe we can still try to talk them out of it, there may be those who are not so kepala batu (stubborn),” he said.

On what to expect on Saturday, Ahmad Fuad said “just wait and see. What will happen… I believe there will be a confrontation. We will take action then.”

He again questioned why the organisers were so adamant in sticking to one location despite his offers to negotiate.

“I told them not to rally but they argued that they can guarantee it to be peaceful. When I asked them how ‘can you really guarantee safety? Anything can happen’. They claimed to have 6,000 personnel who will manage the crowd.”

“But at the same time when we suggested four other alternative locations, they say there’s not enough time to inform their people, and that it’s hard to explain to their people and they can’t control their people. Aren’t those two statements contradictory?”

Distorted information

“They said it’s too late, but we replied on the same day we received their letter. They said they announced it much earlier in the media, but to me, it’s like I told everybody I have a kenduri but I don’t state the venue and time and don’t send out invitations,” he said.

“I’m not convinced by their argument; it’s full of distorted information,” said Ahmad Fuad.

“Why not Stadium Merdeka? They say that Dataran Merdeka is chosen because of its historical relevance, but Stadium Merdeka was where Tunku Abdul Rahman shouted ‘Merdeka’, that’s where you have the spirit of independence,” he argued.

Ahmad Fuad lamented that the organisers turned down his offer of an alternative site despite his willingness to work with the police to help manage the crowd, provide ambulances, parking spaces at the stadium, and even to announce together with Bersih to the media.

“But they insisted [on Dataran Merdeka]. They said that if we don’t agree, they will sit on the roads.”

“Is that what you call peaceful? You would disturb others if you sit on the road; cars could ram into you or would have to avoid you. It’s causing fear. DBKL’s responsibility is not to disrupt the daily lives of people, including those who are not interested in Bersih,” Ahmad Fuad said.

“Why do you want to do things that would cause trouble? Why do you want to break the law? Does it mean that [just because] you have a massive crowd, you can do illegal things en masse? Is the law like that? Unless we [the authorities] close one eye and ignore it,” he said, referring to the Local Government (Dataran Merdeka) (Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur) By-Laws 1992.

The by-law specific to the iconic site prohibits assemblies at the premises and violators can be fined up to RM2,000 or jailed for a year, or both.

He also pointed out that there is the new Peaceful Assembly Act, which officially came into force on April 23, though the enforcement of the law comes under the police.

Racial incidents

Ahmad Fuad said there are those who called him “barua” (idiotic) but he dismissed it, saying: “Yes, I’m a government servant, but you think I have no principles? There are laws. And I’m in charge of enforcing them. If you think the laws are no good, when you [opposition] take over [the government] you can change it.”

“The 1992 by-law is not new. Nobody questioned it. Now suddenly you tell me it’s an irrelevant law or merely a ‘undang-undang kecil’ [by-law]. A small law is still a law,” Ahmad Fuad said.

“I’ve been a career officer for 36 years. My job is to make sure the city is bersih [clean]: how to beautify it, how to keep business going, how to make it work fast. Anybody who takes power, I will do the same thing. There is no difference.”

“Why am I doing all this? I feel responsible, I don’t want unwanted things to happen. You say there won’t be a repeat of racial incidents like we’ve seen in the past, but maybe now it’s not the races clashing but two sides with all races – Malay, Chinese, Indian – who don’t see eye to eye,” he said.

“How can you guarantee there won’t be outside forces? There may suddenly be people who come and sabotage your gathering. Someone start throwing punches, people get angry… We never know and we hope this won’t happen,” he said.

Ahmad Fuad said there are people who are opposed to the Bersih rally, including traders and taxi drivers, and they are the “majority”.

“For me, you need to think of the traders, the person who sells fish. He doesn’t earn much in a day. Rich people never mind, they aren’t affected, but the fish seller would lose his day’s earnings,” he said.

Ahmad Fuad said the gathering would also cause traffic havoc along roads going into the city like Jalan Kuching and Jalan Raja.

‘Don’t provoke people’

“It’s very straightforward, but they [Bersih organisers] are manipulating it. We’ve talked with the advisory council, and as far as we’re concerned, it’s a no for Dataran Merdeka.”

Referring to the Occupy Dataran movement, Ahmad Fuad said that if he had allowed students and activists to stay there, there will be ‘tonnes’ of homeless who will start to sleep at Dataran. “Very syok [nice] you know, then what shall we do?”

He said the same applied to Bersih. “If we allowed this [sit-in at Dataran Merdeka], then all the other NGOs would want to start assembling there. We had actually turned down the anti-gay and Perkasa protests and didn’t even give them any alternative sites.”

Ahmad Fuad also dismissed claims by Bersih that it was apolitical, saying: “You see posters saying we must bring down the government, is that not political?”

“Don’t provoke people. It’s not healthy and not good for the country,” he said.

“But if they are stubborn, we are also stubborn. Everyone wants to show how powerful they are, but ordinary people who don’t want to get involved are affected,” he said.

Ahmad Fuad also described the current situation as “lose-lose”.

“It’s like the prisoners’ dilemma… where two person plotted and stole chickens and both got caught. If they cooperated together, both sentences can be reduced, but if both betray each other, it’s a lose-lose situation. We wanted to avoid this lose-lose situation, but…”

“They [Bersih organisers] claim this is for the rakyat, and that there are over 80 NGOs, but there are other rakyat who are against this. I don’t care if it’s the whole world you represent… you can’t do something that goes against the law. There are repercussions if you break the law. If we don’t care about it, then there might as well be no government,” he said.

‘Achamillai’ Najib sets 5-year target for Indians

During an interview with local Tamil radio station THR Raaga, the premier says he hopes to see vast improvement in the statust and welfare of the community over the next five years.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said today he hoped to see a vast improvement in the status and welfare of the Indian community in the country over the next five years.

Najib said he also wanted to see the Indian community fully integrated into the mainstream of national economic development.

“I hope that within (the next) five years, we will see the improvement of the Indian community,” he said during an hour-long interview with deejays Aanantha and Uthaya on the “Kalakkal Kaalai” breakfast show over THR Raaga radio.

“As you know, our target is to double our income level by 2020, basically to about US$15,000 per capita,” he told the listeners.

“We target better and better, and we will deliver what we promise,” he said.

Responding to a question from a listener, Najib said the government had achieved much for the Indian community over the last two years and there was greater recognition and awareness of problems faced by Indians.

He said new approaches were taken in recognising and tackling these problems, even from the time when he was the deputy prime minister and chaired the Cabinet Committee on Indian Affairs.

“Some of the things done include the allocation for Tamil schools, where it is the largest ever in our history. The latest decision, for example, is (providing) 1,000 additional places in our matriculation colleges, starting from this year. Previously, it was just 500,” he said.

Najib said this was very significant because the percentage of Indians entering universities was rather low, and he hoped that it would go up to a more acceptable level.

“I also announced that 100 top Indian students will be given scholarships to continue their studies at Masters and PhD levels,” he said.

‘Ore Malaysia’ and ‘Nambikai’

Asked by a deejay of the popular Tamil radio station what Tamil words he knew, Najib said he had very basic knowledge like everybody else in that language but he progressed on his own when he introduced 1Malaysia.

“I had to know what 1Malaysia is in Tamil. So, I learned “Ore Malaysia” (means 1Malaysia). When I started engaging more with the Tamil community, and the engagement became very frequent, I picked up other words such as “Nambikai”, which means trust.

“You know, you must have the trust of the community, so that we can move forward together. When I went to the Sri Murugan Centre (SMC), I heard a part of their slogan “Acchamillai” which means, no fear, we must overcome any obstacle to success.

“When I launched the Barisan Nasional convention, I used the Tamil expression, which is a proverb that means to give them a sense that this is a winning team. If this team can’t win, other teams cannot win. And I love to learn more,” he said.

On beating stress and soccer

Answering a question from a caller on the main challenges that he faced daily as the prime minister, he said there were many challenges but time management was critical since there were many demands that needed to be fulfilled.

“You just have to be able to prioritise and be able to cope with the multitude of demands on your time, in terms of appearances, in terms of being in the office, in terms of people wanting to see you, and try to get in a day the maximum amount of work that can be done and results that can be achieved,” he said.

Najib said he wanted to ensure that everything could be translated in terms of productive work, although in politics it did not quite work out that way.

He said that prayers, exercising regularly and doing things that he would really enjoy — like watching his favourite football team play and reading a good book — was his way of combating daily stress.

He also said that the most important thing was to try to block out whatever that was troubling when at home, especially when about to go to sleep.

“Don’t bring problems in the office to the home, and find things that really will relax you and put you in a very relaxed state of mind,” he said.

Asked to comment on the English Premier League (EPL) match between Manchester United and Manchester City on April 30, Najib, who is a great fan of the Red Devils, said it would be a very tough game because the Citizens were also a good team.

Asked about the European Champions League final clash between Chelsea and Bayern Munich, he said it would be a tough match as well.

During the show, the prime minister also took part in the “Battle of the Sexes”, a competition in the programme that requires participants, both male and female, to answer questions and compete with the deejays in a quiz on football.

- Bernama

Ambiga: Our youth have awakened

The Bersih co-chairperson says that the youth movement is a 'wonderful phenomenon'.
EXCLUSIVE

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian youth have awakened and are now bolder in demanding their rights compared to their peers in the past, Bersih 3.0 co-chairperson S Ambiga said.

She said this today during a live interview on FMT RAW by journalist Stephanie Sta Maria in response to a question from a reader.

She was asked if Bersih 3.0 was in any way linked to the two youth movements, namely the students protesting against National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan scheme and the activists who called themselves “Occupy Dataran”.

The two groups have been camping at the historical site for the past two weeks.

“We’re not [linked to them], but I support what they’re doing. This is an exuberance of

youth at its best,” said Ambiga, referring to the determination of the two groups to stay on at Dataran Merdeka despite repeated attempts by the authorities – as well as thugs – to break them.

“My generation – I’m 55 now – has failed the next generation. We didn’t fight hard enough, during our time, when abuses were taking place and when we were losing our rights.”

“The youth now are not waiting, they are fighting for themselves. It is a wonderful phenomenon. I fully support them,” she said.

Ambiga said that “the years of repression in our educational system” could still produce students like this who are prepared to stand up for their rights.

On another matter, she denied a rumour that Bersih 3.0 has been paying people to come for the rally.

“The facts speak for themselves; why do we need to do that when we are selling T-shirts? Let me assure you, we don’t need to pay anyone to turn up. We don’t have the money to do that anyway.”

‘Come with courage’

Ambiga noted that the Bersih 3.0 T-shirts have been selling like hot cakes, but was coy when asked if Bersih 3.0 could really achieve its 500,000 target.

“We never know. We said it’s 500,000 worldwide. Our T-shirts are going out at 1,000 a day, and there are others selling them too,” she said.

Ambiga said that there are now 70 countries worldwide supporting Bersih 3.0 compared to 32 last year, adding that there is a big jump in the number of supporters this time.

“Come in the spirit of Bersih and you won’t be disappointed. Come with courage, don’t worry, and don’t miss out.”

Asked by a reader if the public should boycott the coming general election in a worst-case scenario, Ambiga firmly said: “No”

“I don’t believe in boycotting elections. No matter what happens.

“In fact, we should be coming out in bigger numbers to vote… we want to push for 100% voter turnout because this will mitigate some of the faults in the system. Boycott is not an option.”

Asked about the possibility of Bersih 4.0, Ambiga said the electoral reform group would want to see the government’s responses first.

“What we sincerely want is this: Please, delay the 13th general election until full reforms take place. If we work very hard from now on, putting in some safeguards, we should be able to do that by the end of this year.”

On whether she has considered contesting as a candidate in the coming general election, Ambiga said: “I’ve been asked 50 times, the answer is no. So now the 51th time, it’s still the same.”

Why not? “I’ve never been interested in politics and I will not change my mind on that.”

Is this God’s law?

Whose law is this? Is this God’s law? Or is this man-made law? And if there is no specific verse in the Quran or a specific Hadith that forbids someone from preaching or talking about Islam, can we be subjected to such laws, in particular when these laws are imposed in the name of Islam and action is taken in the Islamic or Sharia court?

NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin

MP charged with teaching Islam without credentials

(Bernama) -- Shah Alam Member of Parliament Khalid Samad was charged in the Syariah Lower Court with teaching Islam without credentials at a surau in Kapar near here in August last year.

Khalid, 54, pleaded not guilty to the offence after the charge was read out to him before Syariah Judge Norafizi Fitri Ab. Manaf.

He was charged with committing the offence at a surau in Taman Seri Sementa, Jalan Taman Seri Sementa, between 10 pm and 11.50 pm on Aug 16 last year. 

Khalid, who is also Selangor PAS deputy commissioner III, was charged under Section 119 (1) of the Selangor Islamic Law Administration Enactment which provides for a fine of up to RM3,000 or a maximum jail term of two years, or both, upon conviction.

Syariah prosecuting officer Mohd Saufi Mastorlani of the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) proposed bail of RM2,500 but Norafizi allowed bail of RM1,500 in one surety and set June 7 for mention of the case. 

Khalid was represented by counsel Muhamad Burok. 

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SEE HERE: Sheikh Imran Hosein Malaysia Lecture Series

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PUBLIC LECTURE BY KAREN ARMSTRONG ON "THE ROLE OF RELIGION IN THE 21ST CENTURY"

As you may be already aware the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) together with International Movement for a Just World (JUST), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) are co-organizing the above lecture on Saturday 16 June 2007, 10.00 am at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

Admission is free.

If you and your friends are interested in attending the above lecture please contact Puan Shazatul (IDFR) – Tel: 21491018 / 21491000 Email: shazatul@idfr.gov.my .

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Now let me get this right.

If you are an ex-Mufti, if you preach or talk about religion, and if you do not have a certificate to do so, you can get arrested. In fact, Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, the previous Mufti of Perlis, did suffer such a fate.

If you are a Member of Parliament, in particular from the opposition, if you preach or talk about religion, and if you do not have a certificate to do so, you can get arrested. In fact, from the above report by Bernama, the Shah Alam Member of Parliament, Khalid Samad, did suffer such a fate.

 

Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani 

 

Dr. Zakir Naik 

But many people, many of them international religious leaders and/or renowned scholars such as Yusuf Islam, Yusuf Estes, Sheikh Imrah Hosein, Karen Armstrong, the late Sheikh Ahmed Deedat, Dr. Zakir Naik, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani, etc., have been coming to Malaysia to preach and talk about Islam. 

And these people did not have any certificate to do so. Yet they were not arrested, mainly because they are not members or leaders of any Malaysian opposition political party.

Are not people like ex-PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, PM Najib Tun Razak, DPM Muhyiddin Yassin, MP Zul Nordin, MP Ibrahim Ali, State Assemblyman Hasan Ali, Senator Ezam Mohd Nor, and many, many more such people not also talking about religion? The list is endless. Why were these people, who also do not possess any certificate, not also arrested?

So what is the issue here? Is the issue about the absence of a certificate or is the issue really that these people are anti-Umno and anti-Barisan Nasional?

You might argue that only Malaysian citizens need a certificate. You might argue that foreigners who come to Malaysia do not need a certificate. You might argue that only those who are anti-Umno and anti-Barisan Nasional need a certificate. You might argue that this is what Malaysian laws dictate. Whatever it may be: is this what is stated in the Quran? Whatever it may be: is there a specific verse in the Quran that dictates this? 

Whatever it may be: is there a specific Hadith that dictates this?

Whose law is this? Is this God’s law? Or is this man-made law? And if there is no specific verse in the Quran or a specific Hadith that forbids someone from preaching or talking about Islam, can we be subjected to such laws, in particular when these laws are imposed in the name of Islam and action is taken in the Islamic or Sharia court?

There is this story about Omar, the second Caliph after Prophet Muhammad, who was one day patrolling the streets of Medina when he saw a youth talking about Islam to a small group of people. Omar called the youth over and asked him to recite the verse, Fatihah. The youth did, to which Omar replied: go ahead and preach but make sure you preach only as much as you know and not more than that. Even Omar, the strictest of the Prophet’s comrades, who used to walk around with a cane and would cane offenders, allowed one to preach Islam, but not to talk beyond what knowledge one possesses.

Man invents these rules and then claim that these are God’s rules. But God never said such a thing. These are all creations of man. However, most times, man invents things and then blame God for it.

And this has been going on for thousands of years. And millions have been killed in the name of God over those thousands of years by people who claim that this is what God wants whereas God had nothing to do with these so-called rules.

Hishammuddin: Police Will Take Necessary Action if Assembly Held at Dataran Merdeka

(Bernama) - Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein said the police would take the necessary action from the security aspects if the organisers of a planned rally at Dataran Merdeka this weekend are adamant about proceeding with it.

"We have already compromised and offered alternative venues to them...but if they choose to be stubborn, it will be up to the police (to take the necessary action," he said.

He said it was the police's responsibility to ensure public order was not threatened by anyone.

"I hope the organisers can assemble at the alternative venues offered in the spirit of political transformation and changes brought about by the government.

As such, all parties should contribute towards building a healthy and mature democracy in the country," he told reporters here today.

Asked on the actions police might take if the rally planned by non-governmental organisations with the support of opposition parties goes ahead at Dataran Merdeka, Hishammuddin said:"It will depend on the actions of the organisers." 

He said police had been instructed to be fully prepared to face any eventuality based on past experiences on similar assemblies.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has denied permission to the organisers to hold the assembly at Dataran Merdeka citing that the square is reserved for national events and instead offered Stadium Titiwangsa, the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium and Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium as alternative venues.

Hishammuddin added that he hoped the organisers of the rally could accept the alternative venues as there was still time to switch locations.

Delegasi antarabangsa bimbang 3 isu p'raya M'sia

 

 Delegasi antarabangsa untuk misi siasatan pilihan raya di Malaysia hari ini mendapati terdapat tiga isu utama kekurangan dalam sistem pengundian negara ini.

Senator Nicholas Xenophon dari Australia berkata, antara isu yang dikenalpasti mengenai tempoh berkempen yang pendek selama 10 hari.

Di Australia kempen sekurang-kurangnya selama 33 hari dan di India dan Pakistan 90 hari, yang mana lebih lama berbanding di sini," katanya pada sidang media selepas mengadakan pertemuan bersama Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz di Parlimen, pagi tadi.

Government urged to facilitate peaceful assembly

The Malaysian Bar calls on the Government — Polis DiRaja Malaysia (“PDRM”) and Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (“DBKL”) in particular — to cooperate with the organisers of the upcoming BERSIH 3.0 assembly in order to facilitate a peaceful gathering this Saturday, 28 April 2012.

 

We reiterate that we support and defend the principle of any individual or group’s fundamental freedom to speak, assemble or walk in order to publicly and openly promote and publicise a cause, if that freedom is exercised responsibly and peacefully.  The right to gather and to speak is not fully respected if it is shunted into the confines of a stadium.  

 

PDRM has demonstrated on various occasions in the past four months, and even prior to that, that it can work with organisers of public assemblies to monitor routes and manage traffic flows to allow participants to walk, and openly and outwardly express their viewpoints to members of the public, in safety.   We commend these positive and salutary examples.  It is thus evident that, with proper liaising and cooperation, it is possible for PDRM and the organisers of the BERSIH 3.0 event, and any other events, to work together to allow for the public to exercise their fundamental rights in a peaceful and responsible manner.

This occurs regularly in more mature democracies, and it has happened in Malaysia.  We urge the Government to take measures to allow, and encourage, such practices to continue.  Let us take this opportunity to promote, enhance and celebrate democracy.

From lessons observed worldwide, it is clear that the voice of the people cannot be silenced.  Our Government (and this includes the Government-appointed DBKL leadership) ignores the wishes and resolve of the people at its peril, and should, instead, rise to the occasion, to embrace and protect its people’s freedoms and rights consistent with a true democracy.  Only then can we have a world-class democracy practising internationally-accepted human rights standards and respected by all.

The Malaysian Bar therefore calls on PDRM to permit all walks and public assemblies, and the activities leading up to them, to take place peacefully and with minimal intrusion and disruption, while ensuring public order and protecting the safety of all participants.

Bar Council will send a team to monitor events on the ground on Saturday.  In addition, a team from the Bar Council Legal Aid Centre (Kuala Lumpur), led by the following lawyers, will provide legal assistance in the event of arrests:

(1) Rajesweri Paramasevam  (012-275 1660)

(2) Lim Chi Chau  (016-228 8142)

(3) Adora Yusof  (019-317 8347)

   

Lim Chee Wee

President

Malaysian Bar

Policeman Shot Dead By Colleague At Istana Anak Bukit

ALOR SETAR, April 26 (Bernama) -- A policeman on duty at Istana Anak Bukit here was killed, believed to have been shot by his colleague, at the guard post of the main entrance to the palace compound Thursday.

Constable Mohd Sobri Mohd Sidek, 22, from Melaka, died at the scene in the 5.45pm incident, due to shot wounds on the face and chest.

He was believed to have been shot with a M-16 rifle.

Kedah police chief Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim said another policeman who heard the shot went to check and saw the victim lying in a pool of blood in front of the guard post.

"The suspect was seen leaving the palace compound in a car," he said when met at the scene.

Ambiga vs Khairy Debate 26 April 2012

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

[Kompilasi] Demi sebuah pilihanraya adil & bersih

Gov't classifying stateless Indians as 'foreigners'

Chegu Bard in Selayang

Fears of Rough Justice in Sampang Blasphemy Trial

   

Shiite leader Tajul Muluk, center, is facing blasphemy charges after reportedly telling students of his Shiite Muslim boarding school that the koran — as they knew it — was not the original text. Legal experts are trying to get his case moved to Jakarta over fears that the trial will spur sectarian violence on East Java's Madura Island, an area prone to Sunni/ Shiite violence. (Antara Photo)

 
The Supreme Court must move the blasphemy trial of a Shiite religious scholar off East Java’s Madura Island to prevent fueling further violence there, a rights group said on Tuesday.

The Alliance for Solidarity Over the Sampang Case, a gathering a legal organizations, said the trial should be moved to a more neutral location.

“We are proposing to the Supreme Court to move the trial to Jakarta. If moved to Jakarta there would be more advocacy groups, media and nongovernmental organizations that could monitor the case,” said Hertasning Ichlas, the coordinator of the alliance.

He said the minority Shiite community in Madura Island’s Sampang district had long felt vulnerable to attack from the large Sunni population there.

More than 300 members of the Shiite community were displaced when a mob of 500 people attacked and burned Shia houses, a boarding school and a place of worship there in December.

On Jan. 1, the Sampang branch of the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) issued an edict describing the teaching of Tajul Muluk, the head of the Shiite Muslim boarding school there, as “deviant.” Two days later one of his relatives, Rois Al Hukuma, reported him to the police for blasphemy.

On March 16, the East Java Police charged Tajul with blasphemy and committing an “offensive action.”

Hertasning said that holding the trial outside Madura would minimize intervention by outsiders, including the Sampang district chief.

“We found that the Sampang district chief used hatred against the Shiite as a campaign tool and this is worrying,” he said.

The alliance also wants the Judicial Commission to monitor Tajul’s trial, he said. The trial opened at the Sampang District Court on Tuesday with the reading of the indictment.

In their indictment, the prosecutors accuse Tajul of blasphemy and insulting Islam, including by telling his students that the sacred Koran was not the original one. He face more than five years in jail if found guilty. The trial resumes next week.

“From the detention to the opening hearing, we felt that there were many irregularities. We also saw a lot of intervention and pressure,” Hertasning said after meeting Judicial Commission members in Jakarta.

He cited among the irregularities the intimidation of judges, witnesses refusing to testify in court and the defense counsel’s work being hindered.

Hertasning said the commission had agreed to sent a team to monitor the trial.

Indonesia: 'Two politicians' sex tape circulated online

Jakarta, 24 April (AKI/Jakarta Post) - A sex tape purportedly featuring two lawmakers from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle is being widely circulated online.

The sex tape was initially published on Tuesday on kilikitik.net, which was suspended shortly after the rumor widely spread.

The male politician reportedly comes from the Central Java electoral district, identified as A.B., while the female politician is from West Kalimantan.

The House of Representatives’ ethics council chairman M. Prakosa, also from the PDI-P, said that he had heard the rumors but has not seen the video.

“It is only rumor. I have only heard it from journalists. It is not clear yet who they are,” he told reporters at the House.

However, the council will further investigate the video to confirm the identity of the couple on the video, he said

“We have to be very careful because this issue is related to someone’s good name,” he added

'Zahid, M'sians will pay your way to Paris'

The defence minister should not cite expenses to dodge testifying at the Scorpene submarine inquiry in Paris, says human rights watchdog Suaram, which filed the case in 2010
Secretariat member Cynthia Gabriel (right) said Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s priority should be accountability and transparency, as Malaysian taxpayers are deprived of this when it comes to military spending.
"Commitment to the truth should be the minister's first and foremost reason to testify in this case, not money," Gabriel told Malaysiakini.
"Besides, he has reneged on his words. Earlier, he said he was willing to testify, but he has changed his mind now. We would like to know what happened to make him sing a different tune.”
The travel expenses would at most be about RM10,000 per night, she said, made up of:

• RM5,500 for the return flight, but not on Malaysia Airlines;

• RM600 per night for accommodation; and

• RM200 for food in a restaurant

Asked if Suaram would pay the expenses, Gabriel said "we are encouraged to learn that Malaysians are willing to raise funds for this case".
French submarine builder DCNS is alleged to have paid illegal commissions to Malaysian officials in the RM7.3 billion purchase of two Scorpene class submarines.
Yesterday, Ahmad Zahid (left) had said that no official or representative of the Defence Ministry will fly to Paris to attend the inquiry.
Bernama had quoted Ahmad Zahid as saying: “Who will pay for ... air tickets, food and hotel accommodation in France?”
However, he said the Malaysian ambassador and military attache in Paris will closely monitor the case.
He added that both he and premier Najib Abdul Razak - who was defence minister at the time of the purchase - are not obliged to comply with orders of the French court, unless a subpoena comes from a Malaysian court.
Najib had snubbed questions when asked if he would testify, saying "I don't need to comment...I don't want to comment, thank you".
‘Something to hide?’
Gabriel said Suaram is "very disappointed" that Najib did not respond properly to the question, while in Penang on Sunday.
"To say he does not need or want to comment shows that he has something to hide," she claimed.
"We reiterate the hope that the Malaysian government will give us its fullest cooperation in this case.
"To know the truth about whether there had been corruption and to seek justice for the death of a Mongolian national on our soil is the right of every Malaysian taxpayer.”
Last Thursday,  the Paris Tribunal de Grande Instance accepted Suaram’s witness list, which names Najib, his close ally Abdul Razak Baginda and Ahmad Zahid.
Najib has previously denied being involved in the case which is allegedly mired in corruption and the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu by members of his security detail then.

DBKL: Bersih to blame for any ‘chaos’ at Dataran Merdeka

The mayor said DBKL would deal with Bersih attendees as it has the Occupy Dataran activists. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 — Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) threatened today to forcefully bar demonstrators from using Dataran Merdeka for this Saturday’s Bersih 3.0 sit-in protest for electoral reforms, with Mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail dismissing the activists as unreasonable.

Both sides stuck to their guns today in an hour-long meeting at City Hall, with Bersih leaders insisting that it was too late to change the venue of the protest from the historic square to Stadium Merdeka.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Bersih representatives, Ahmad Fuad also pointed out that he would hold Bersih responsible if chaos ensued this Saturday.

“Action was taken against those students at Dataran Merdeka. The same action will be taken against (Bersih) if you do the same.

“If there is chaos, blame Bersih,” he said.

Yesterday, City Hall enforcers detained four Occupy Dataran activists, hours after evicting the movement from Dataran Merdeka.

DBKL officers had earlier seized tents and camping equipment belonging to the activists, and put up steel barricades to stop them from camping there.

Occupy Dataran’s stated aim is to reclaim public spaces for the purpose of promoting participatory democracy.

Earlier, Bersih co-chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said the movement was still hopeful that City Hall would changed its stand.

“We have a grave problem here with time; we cannot change the location because it is already Wednesday. Even if we make an announcement by tomorrow, that leaves two days,” Ambiga told a press conference today.

“We believe that if we change the place now, it’s going to cause a bigger confusion. People will gather here (Dataran Merdeka) as well as Stadium Merdeka,” she added.

Ambiga stressed there would be less likelihood of chaos if the rally were to go ahead at Dataran Merdeka as planned.

“If there is any change now, there will be more chaos. There is just too little time to inform people.”

However, Ahmad Fuad dismissed Ambiga’s justification as “unreasonable”.

“If their problem is not having enough time to inform their supporters, we can hold a press conference together to make sure the public knows about our mutual understanding,” he said.

Reiterating the offer of Stadium Merdeka as an alternative venue, Ahmad Fuad said the site has more “historical value” as well as “bigger space, more parking, and seats for them to sit on”.

“Stadium Merdeka is a win-win situation for all.”

Bersih said yesterday it would consider calling off Saturday’s rally if Datuk Seri Najib Razak can guarantee the electoral reform movement’s demands are met before the next federal polls.

The movement said early this month a third rally was necessary to warn Malaysians that the country is about to face its “dirtiest” polls to date.

The coalition said it was disappointed by the recently concluded Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reforms, saying that despite Putrajaya’s repeated assurances and promises, the panel had failed to introduce meaningful reforms to the election system.

The bipartisan panel was formed following the July 9, 2011 rally for free and fair elections that saw tens of thousands flood into the streets of the capital.

The Najib administration was widely condemned for a clampdown on the demonstration in which police fired water cannons and tear gas into crowds during chaotic scenes that resulted in over 1,500 arrested, scores injured and the death of an ex-soldier.

Bersih’s eight demands are: a clean electoral roll, reform to postal voting, the use of indelible ink, a minimum campaign period of 21 days, fair access to the media, the strengthening public institutions, a stop to corruption, and an end to dirty politics.

Dendam kepada Anwar tidak pernah padam

Tibai akan mengulangi siri kegagalan yang dilakukan oleh individu dan NGO yang mahu melenyapkan tokoh pembangkang itu.
COMMENT

PETALING JAYA: Dendam bekas rakan-rakan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim kepada tokoh pembangkang itu tidak pernah padam.

Pelancaran sebuah NGO yang dikenali sebagai Tolak Insan Bernama Anwar Ibrahim (Tibai), Ahad lalu tidak lain tidak bukan untuk menyerang Anwar sebagaimana sebelum ini.

Program yang dirasmikan Presiden Perkasa Datuk Ibrahim Ali dihadiri bekas orang kuat Anwar seperti Ezam Mohd Noor, Zahid Mat Arip, Datuk Zulkifli Nordin, Ng Lum Yong, Abdul Ghani Haron, S Gobalakrishnan serta Datuk S Nallakarupan.

Mereka merupakan bekas penggerak utama PKR sejak ditubuhkan pada 1998. Ezam adalah ketua Pemuda pertama; Zahid (naib ketua); Ng (pengasas). Begitu juga dengan Nallakarupan dan merupakan Zulkifli yang pernah menjadi peguam dalam kes liwat 1.

Sebaik Anwar dipecat serta dipenjarakan, mereka menjelajah ke seluruh negara memberitahu rakyat bahawa bekas timbalan perdana menteri itu tidak bersalah dan konpirasi jahat Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, mantan perdana menteri waktu itu.

Mereka melawan Dr Mahathir melakukan apa sahaja untuk menumbangkan Dr Mahathir dan BN. Ezam dan Abdul Ghani pernah dipenjarakan melalui Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri atau ISA pada 2001.

Bagaimanapun, seorang demi seorang meninggalkan Anwar. Ezam, Zahid, Abdul Ghani menyertai Umno manakala Nalla menjadi senator BN.

Ringkasnya, mereka menjadi penentang Anwar dan menggunakan pelbagai platform untuk menjatuhkan bekas pemimpin pujaan mereka sebelum ini. Kawan sudah menjadi lawan.

Ezam sudah lama mengadakan siri jelajah melawan Anwar. Dalam setiap pilihan raya kecil, bekas setiausaha politik itu tampil membantu calon BN melawan Pakatan Rakyat.

Kawan jadi lawan

Dalam pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu, Ezam mendedahkan surat Anwar kepada Dr Mahathir sejurus selepas dipecat dari kabinet pada 2 September 1998.

Persoalan yang timbul sekarang ialah adakah Tibai akan menyebabkan Anwar lenyap dalam radar politik negara selepas pilihan raya umum 13 yang kini menghitung hari?

Jika dilihat dari usaha untuk melenyapkan politik Anwar sebelum ini yang tidak pernah berjaya, penubuhan Tibai hanya sia-sia.

Tibai akan mengulangi siri kegagalan yang dilakukan oleh individu dan NGO yang mahu melenyapkan Anwar.

Apa sahaja keburukan Anwar telah didedahkan sejak 12 tahun lalu. Anwar pernah dituduh agen Amerika dan yang terbaru menjadi tali barut Yahudi.

Waktu ini rakyat sekalipun bukan semuanya tidak lagi percaya tuduhan terhadap Anwar. Mereka melihat Anwar lebih baik dari sesetengab pemimpin kerajaan yang terbabit dengan salahguna kuasa dan rasuah.

Rakyat membandingkan Anwar dengan Ketua Wanita Umno Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. Syarikat NFC milik suami beliau disiasat atas dakwaan salah guna wang kerajaan RM250 juta.

Beberapa idea Anwar jelas lebih baik dari BN. Pemansuhan PTPTN dan penurunan harga minyak umpamanya sangat disokong rakyat.

Slogan menawan Putrajaya dalam pilihan raya umum 13 akan menenggelamkan Tibai yang akan mengalami nasib NGO-NGO lain.

Poser over RM4.7m Tamil school

A former member of the Midlands Estate Action Committee wants the Selangor government to reveal how much it sold the 'gazetted' Midlands Tamil school land for.

SHAH ALAM: While Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is going around promising to upgrade Tamil schools, the Selangor government has built one – complete with a 1,000 capacity convention centre, 24 classrooms, laboratories and a library. The cost: an “overpriced” RM4.7 million.

According to Klang Consumer Association president A Devadass, the Midlands Tamil school was not constructed in the interest of poor students and was just another project to enrich Pakatan Rakyat cronies.

“In 1995, the previous Barisan Nasional state government agreed to allocate four acres of land in Section 7, Shah Alam, where the I-City is now located.

“But nothing happened although the land was gazetted to the school,” said Devadass, who was at that time a member of Midlands Action Committee which was set up in 1991 to represent the Midland Estate plantation workers.

Then in 2008 after Pakatan took over the Selangor government, I-City developers who had already secured the surrounding areas in Midlands Estate offered to buy the gazetted land from the government.

The school administration accepted the state government offer of an alternative four-acre site and a RM3 million grant to build a new school. The site offered was the spot where they were already occupying with temporary classrooms.

According to the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) chairman M Kumaravel, the Selangor government gave them a grant for RM3 million and the school raised the balance RM1.7 million needed to complete construction.

“But the issue now is why did the Pakatan government only award the school RM3 million when it is rumoured that the land at I-City was worth over RM20 million?

“So where is the balance money? Also, we know it was not the state government that gave the school RM3 million… the money came from I-City. So who’s pocketed the rest of the cash?” Devadass asked.

(According to real estate agents here, the current price per sq foot in I-City is RM150 per sq ft.)

He also urged the state government to be transparent and reveal the details of the sales and purchase agreement with I-City so “everyone will know who really benefited from the project”.

Crony contractor


Meanwhile, MIC Youth chief T Mohan has challenged Selangor state executive councillor, Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, to explain the high cost of construction of the school and why the convention centre was leased to a private company.

According to him, the total construction should not have exceeded RM3.5 million.

“There is something not right here. Also, why was the convention centre built and privatised to a company?

“I am told that the deal with the company is that they will take 70% of the profits from private functions for 10 years.

“This is something unusual. Not even the Chinese schools practise this. Most of the Chinese school halls are funded by private companies,” he added.

Mohan also urged Jeyakumar to explain why the state did not call for an open tender for the school project and had instead awarded the deal to an individual allegedly close to Jeyakumar.

He said that the individual operates a “sole proprietorship” and undertook all contract projects involving Tamil schools in Selangor.

“We want Xavier (Jeyakumar) to clarify why such a privilege is given to this individual,” said Mohan.

Asked if he thought Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim was involved, Mohan said “no”.

“I don’t think the menteri besar knows of this internal agreement between Xavier (Jeyakumar) and the individual,” he said.

FMT’s request for comment from Jeyakumar has gone unanswered for more that two days now.

The exco’s aide said that Jeyakumar would respond after seeking advice from Tamil educationist groups which are advising the state government on Tamil schools.

Stateless Indians: PKR shows proof

A census taken in 1991 revealed that 200,000 of them went 'missing', says Subang MP R Sivarasa, and the figure could be much higher now

PETALING JAYA: PKR today provided a document to substantiate its allegation that there were about 300,000 stateless Malaysian Indians in the country.

Speaking at a press conference at the party headquarters today, Subang MP R Sivarasa provided a census report made in the 1970 by then chief statistician of Malaysia, R Chander.

“Chander is a renowned statistician not only in Malaysia but also in the region,” Sivarasa said.

Also present were PKR vice-presidents Nurul Izzah Anwar, N Surendran, supreme council member Khalid Jaafar and Kapar MP S Manickavasagam.

Also at their side were several Indian families who were denied citizenship by the National Registration Department (NRD).

Sivarasa explained that Chander’s projection for the population increase for 1990 for the Malay and Chinese communities was accurate.

“Chander projected that the Malay population would increase from 8 million to 8.9 million in 1990. In 1991, the census showed the Malay population was about 8.5 million.”

Sivarasa added that the Chinese population was about 4.6 million in 1991, which was in the range of Chander’s projection of between 4.5 million and 5.4 million.

“Chander projected that Indians would be between 1.4 million and 1.6 million in 1990 but the census showed that there were only about 1.3 million Indians. What happened to the rest?”

He attributed the lower figures to the mechanism used when the census was done in 1991, saying that the government only counted those with blue identification card.

“It’s already 2012 and I believe Surendran’s 300,000 estimate is a conservative figure. It could be much more now,” Sivarasa said.

He said the government should look into the matter as a Malaysian problem, adding that the right to citizenship is guaranteed under the Article 14 and 16 of the Federal Constitution.

MIC hoodwinking Indian community

Meanwhile, Surendran said that the stateless Malaysian Indians were victims of a systematic effort by the authorities to deprive the latter of their basic rights.

“And there are two groups here. One is those carrying red MyKads and the rest who have no birth documents whatsoever,” Surendran said.

Criticising the MyDaftar programme, he said the programme was an attempt by the MIC to hoodwink the Indian community.

He produced a letter from the NRD addressed to MIC secretary-general S Murugesan where the former rejected an application of citizenship from one G Vasantha Lakshimi, under Article 19 of the Federal Constitution.

“Why did the MIC apply citizenship for Vasantha under Article 19? That legislation is for foreigners. Vasantha was born in Kuala Lumpur. So, has the government been treating her as a foreigner all this while? asked Surendran.

In a related matter, Nurul said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein must explain the matter with immediate urgency.

“And MIC must stop making this into a racial issue. This is a Malaysian problem and the bureaucracy is a hindrance to resolve this issue,” she said.

Last Thursday, Surendran led a protest at the Parliament gates urging the government to solve the stateless Indians issue urgently.

In a related development, Murugesan said that he will send his officer tomorrow to PKR headquarters to collect information from Surendran over the matter.

“This is not about partisan politics. Let’s work together to help the Indian community,” he said.

Court orders Hisham to clarify Bersih ban

The Home Minister now has to clarify why his stance on Bersih, which was declared illegal last year, seems to have changed.

PETALING JAYA: The Kuala Lumpur High Court today ordered Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to provide further clarification on the outlawing of the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) last year.

High Court (Appellate and Special Powers Division) judge Rohana Yusof asked for an explanation as the minister’s recent statements about the Bersih 3.0 rally did not seem to be in line with his original decision to declare Bersih 2.0 an illegal movement before the July 9 rally last year.

Recently, Hishammuddin said that the government did not regard Bersih 3.0 as a “security threat”.

He said that a rally would be allowed if it did not break any laws and he even pledged to assist the electoral reforms group to procure a suitable venue for its rally this Saturday.

Lawyer Aston Paiva, who is representing Bersih in challenging the government ban, told FMT that Rohana today ordered senior federal counsel Azizan Md Arshad and federal counsel Najwa

Bistamam – representing the government – to have Hishammuddin file an affidavit by May 10.

The judge made the order when meeting both parties in chambers today, he said.

“Basically what she said was that she is taking notice of the fact that there are Bersih activities taking place this week and that the minister’s response seem not to be in line with the original order that it is an unlawful society. She wanted him to clarify his position on Bersih,” said Aston, with lawyer Honey Tan.

Aston said that the judge has also fixed May 15 for her to decide on an application to cross-examine Hishammuddin and Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar.

She would also decide on a request by the Bersih lawyers to obtain additional documents, mainly the 1,706 police reports lodged against the Bersih 2.0 rally.

Said Aston: “It is not actually something odd; she [Rohana] did the same thing for the Lynas matter recently, ordering the Atomic Energy Licensing Board to file an affidavit to explain themselves. It’s just to assist her. I’m sure she wants to reach the right decision.”

Ulterior purposes

Bersih’s other lawyers, K Shanmuga and lead counsel Tommy Thomas, were not present today.

In the main case, Bersih 2.0 is seeking to quash the order declaring it an unlawful society in the judicial review it filed on July 8 last year.

The applicants are 14 members of the movement’s steering committee, including S Ambiga. The respondents are the Home Minister, Inspector-General of Police and the government.

On Sept 28, the High Court granted leave for a judicial review.

Bersih 2.0 is seeking an order of certiorari to quash the Home Minister’s order dated July 1, last year declaring Bersih 2.0 an unlawful society and a declaration that the order is null and void and of no effect.

Bersih 2.0 had argued that it is a coalition of 62 NGOs and civil societies and had no political parties in the coalition.

As such, the Registrar of Societies (ROS) could not deem Bersih 2.0 illegal as it was a “movement” and not a society by virtue of the fact that it was a coalition with no fixed membership, Bersih 2.0 said.

In the application, Ambiga and the others stressed that Bersih 2.0 aims to achieve electoral reforms peacefully and therefore could not be considered a threat to national security.

The application accuses Hishammuddin of using his powers for ulterior purposes rather than out of a genuine desire to preserve public order.

‘I will ink a contract with the voters’

Should he be nominated as a candidate, MIC's S Vell Paari is offering a corporate twist to politics, calling it a self-imposed KPI.
INTERVIEW

KUALA LUMPUR: His father ruled MIC with an iron fist for three decades. Despite the numerous controversies during his tenure, he was still considered a master politician by both allies and adversaries alike. The former works minister appeared invincible.

But four years ago, on his birthday, S Samy Vellu became one of the casualties in the political tsunami that swept across the peninsula.

Now, his only son, Vell Paari, is being touted as a possible candidate to wrest back his father’s former fortress, the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat in Perak.

Like his father, the 50-year-old businessman and MIC central working committee member has had his fair share of bad press. Among others, he was accused of mismanaging the party’s investment arm Maika Holdings.

But the most damning allegation, which Vell Paari himself admitted continues to haunt him, was being implicated in the death of his former staff, K Sujatha.

However, an inquest later absolved him of any wrongdoing but did little to salve the damage inflicted on his reputation.

Speaking to FMT on the possibility of being named as a candidate, Vell Paari said politics in Malaysia had evolved and politicians must discard their antiquated mindset and learn to adapt.

“Malaysians have become more aggressive and I don’t mean that in the violent sense. There is greater political aggression now in terms of a more knowledgeable and sophisticated electorate who are aware of their rights.

“A poignant example would be the YouTube video which went viral depicting a lorry driver lashing out at a policeman for hurling obscenities at him.

“This would not have happened in the past, but now even a lorry driver knows his rights as a citizen and that the policeman had crossed the line,” he added.

Corporate twist to politics

In view of this, Vell Paari is offering voters, what he termed, a corporate twist to politics.

“If I am nominated as the candidate, I would sign a legally binding contract with the voters of Sungai Siput. Consider this a self-imposed KPI (Key Performance Index),” he revealed.

Explaining, Vell Paari said the contract would stipulate that if he failed to achieve 50% of his election pledges within two and a half years of being elected, the voters could demand his resignation.

“The crux of it is that a referendum would be held to appraise my performance and if my employer vis-a-vis the voters feel that my work has not been up to par, I would resign. There would be no loopholes or words in fine print and that is my undertaking,” he added.

On the same note, Vell Paari stressed that he was not losing sleep over the candidacy issue, pointing out that the final decision was with MIC president G Palanivel.

“I did not ask for this. After my father stepped down (as MIC president), I decided to concentrate on my business in Australia. But I was told to come back home and become more involved in party matters by the new leadership.

“Many promises were made but being someone who was born in a political household and with politics running in my veins, I took these promises with a pinch of salt.

“But let me make one thing clear. I am not going to beg or bend over backwards for a seat. I am more interested in serving the people and I could do this with or without a position,” he added.

‘Who doesn’t have baggage?’

As for the talk that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had reservations about naming him as the candidate because of his political baggage, Vell Paari conceded that he too had heard this from the grapevine.

“Who doesn’t have political baggage? Even the prime minister has been accused of numerous things… and what about the opposition leader (Anwar Ibrahim), he too has been accused of this and that.

“But what is most important is that an inquest cleared me (in Sujatha’s case) and as for Maika Holdings, I have explained the issue numerous times,” he said.

Vell Paari was also confident that Sungai Siput, which fell to Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) leader Dr Michael Jeyakumar, was a winnable seat for Barisan Nasional.

According to him, the people were frustrated with Jeyakumar, who lacked the resources to address their woes.

“With all due respect to the good doctor, he is more suited for an urban seat and not a constituency like Sungai Siput, where the people rely heavily on their MP for numerous aids,” he said.

Vell Paari also believes that Najib’s leadership had won the hearts and minds of the people, especially the Indian community.

The prime minister, he said, was unafraid of acknowledging the shortcomings in the system and was genuinely attempting to usher in positive changes.

“We now have a prime minister who is willing to admit and apologise for mistakes made in the past. If the people could forgive Anwar for his past mistakes during his stint with Umno, why not extend the same kind of sentiment to Najib?” he added.

Asked if it would mark the end of his political aspirations should he not be named as the candidate for Sungai Siput,Vell Paari laughed: “I would cross that bridge when I get there… But who knows, I might even have a Plan B.”

Quizzed on this Plan B, the MIC leader smiled and brushed it aside with a shrug. “Let’s keep that for another day,” he said.

Deadlock over Dataran

Bersih 3.0 and Kuala Lumpur Mayor are unable to reach an amicable settlement on the venue for the Saturday rally.
VIDEO INSIDE

KUALA LUMPUR: Bersih 3.0 organisers and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail emerged from an hour-long dicussion this morning still in a deadlock over the use of Dataran Merdeka for the sit-in rally this Saturday.

Bersih 3.0 – represented by S Ambiga, Maria Chin Abdullah and Hishamuddin Rais – told the media at the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) headquarters here that although Ahmad had offered them the use of Stadium Merdeka it was too late to change the rally’s venue.

“We told the mayor that switching venues just two days before the rally would only cause a bigger confusion,” Ambiga said. “So although the mayor has made himself clear, we appeal to him to reconsider his decision.”

“We have already assured him that if he changes his mind we are ready to work together with DBKL and the police on safety issues. As we have said before, we want a peaceful rally.”

Ahmad, who called for an immediate press conference, however, told the media that Bersih’s excuse of a short timeframe did not hold water.

“I even offered to hold a joint press conference with them to annouce that the venue would be changed to Stadium Merdeka,” he said.

“And if all you media present today put that announcement on the front page, even those abroad would know of the change in venue.”

Ahmad also shot down Bersih’s complaint that DBKL had dragged its feet in responding to Bersih’s application for Dataran Merdeka. He produced the application letter dated April 16 which he said Bersih had claimed to have faxed but which DBKL never received.

A copy of that letter was later delivered by hand on April 19 and Ahmad said DBKL had responded to it that same day.

“So we were not slow at all,” he pointed out. “Then Bersih said it had announced the rally on April 4 but that was just a statement in the media so how can we accept that as notification? It’s not official, just a statement of intention.”

Unsuitable elements



Ahmad then produced a second letter by Maria Chin, dated April 24, requesting a meeting with him to discuss his rejection of the use of Dataran Merdeka.

“I was given short notice but I still cancelled my meetings today to see them because I felt it was important,” he stated. “And despite us offering them an alternative venue they still want to use Dataran Merdeka.”

According to Ahmad, three other groups – Perkasa, Puncak Silat and the Lesbian, Gays, Bisexual and Transsexual (LGBT) – had applied for the use of Dataran Merdeka on separate dates even before Bersih had done so and all three had been rejected due to “unsuitable elements”.

He said that if it was freedom of expression that Bersih wanted, then Stadium Merdeka would better fit the bill since the Declaration of Independence had taken place there.

He added that not only was the stadium walking distance from Dataran Merdeka, it was also a convenient drop-off point for taxis and offered ample parking space for buses.

“It is a win-win situation,” Ahmad said. “I have told Bersih that if they agree to Stadium Merdeka, I will speak to the police about protecting the supporters from any untoward incidents.”

“I have already warned Bersih of possible confrontations in Dataran Merdeka but they want to use the venue. And even if they are just sitting quietly, they are inciting feelings of disgruntlement so how can this rally be peaceful?” he asked.


Asked if DBKL would cordon off Dataran Merdeka, Ahmad replied that as its caretaker it would not allow anyone to misuse the place.

He, however, declined to indicate what action would be taken this Saturday against those who attempted to enter the area.

“When the time comes we will know what to do,” he said. “This isn’t our first time. We are ready for them so leave it up to us to do our jobs.”

Have these folk been taken for a ride?

The poor families of Batu Kawan say they were promised free houses by BN in 1999 and by Pakatan in 2008.

BATU KAWAN: Forty poor families in Batu Kawan have accused both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat of falsely promising to provide them with free double-storey homes.

The families, whose ancestors had been plantation workers since colonial days, live on land formerly called Ladang Batu Kawan. The Penang Development Corporation (PDC) bought it from Taiko Plantation in 1998.

They claim that the promise of free homes came from BN during the campaign for the 1999 general election and from Batu Kawan MP P Ramasamy and Bukit Tambun assemblyman Law Choo Kiang in the run-up to the 2008 election. Ramasamy is now one of Penang’s deputy chief ministers and Law is a state executive councillor.

Last April 2, the Ladang Batu Kawan Residents’ Rights Committee reminded Pakatan of its promise in a memorandum addressed to Ramasamy and Law, with copies to Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, DAP chairman Karpal Singh, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman and Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow.

The committee, headed by M Mahendran, 34, is still waiting for a response.

Law has told FMT that the issue was under the purview of a special committee headed by Ramasamy. Ramasamy has not responded to text messages or phone calls.

Batu Kawan lies in the southern part of Seberang Perai, surrounded on three sides by the sea and separated from the mainland on the east by Sungai Jawi. Bukit Tambun is adjacent to it.

Some 6,000 acres of land, including the estate land, have been earmarked for a new township.

According to the memorandum, PDC’s takeover of the estate land in 1998 spelled the beginning of trouble for the Tamil-speaking residents. PDC promised to provide each of about 60 affected estate families a house worth RM25,000, with a RM10,000 discount as monetary compensation.

But during the 1999 election campaign, the memorandum said, BN leaders told them they would get double-storey homes, instead of low-cost homes, and they would not even have to pay anything for them.

They waited for the promise to be fulfilled until, in 2003, developer Abadi Naluri Sdn Bhd offered to build the houses and sell them to the residents for RM25,000 each with a RM10,000 discount. The developer also promised that the houses would be ready within 24 months. (The project was in fact completed only this year.)

After the 2004 election, Abadi Naluri raised the price to RM52,000 with no discount.

“Due to all these empty promises by the BN administration, we voted for a change in 2008,” Mahendran said. He said the residents were especially encouraged by the promise of free houses from Ramasamy and Law.

Businesses and jobs

According to the memorandum, Ramasamy’s promise had a caveat: he would try to get the houses for free, but if he could not, he could definitely get a RM15,000 discount for each house as well as loans from PDC for the purchase. The repayment would be RM150 a month.

The memorandum also claimed that Ramasamy promised to provide the residents with business and employment opportunities.

The residents alleged that a month after being elected to office, Ramasamy, accompanied by several unknown faces, visited Batu Kawan and vowed to fulfil all his promises.

Late last year, some residents entered into a sales and purchase agreement with Abadi Naluri for houses costing RM52,000 each.

Mahendran said those who signed the agreement were compelled by fear of never getting the houses they were promised.

But the rest—about 30 families—were either too poor to qualify for the bank loans or felt they could not afford to service the loans. They still reside in their old estate houses.

“Even those who secured loans can’t service them,” Mahendran said. “We hope the state government would look into our plight.”

Some residents who had not serviced their loans regularly have received notices of forfeiture.

One resident, D Veeeramuthu, 34, claimed that Abadi Naluri officials forged his and his wife’s signatures to secure loans for them last November. “Now I’m in debt to a bank without my knowledge and consent,” he said. He has lodged a police report.