COMMENT
By threatening to revoke the citizenship of Ambiga Sreevaasan, former
PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad continues his tirade and insults all Indian
Malaysians. Earlier, Mahathir irked Malaysians when he was caught
denying his alleged key role for 20 years in the illegal issuing of blue
ICs and granting voting rights to illegal immigrants to Sabah.
To
divert attention from and to justify his illegal act, he accused first
prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman of giving out citizenship to one
million legal residents of Malaya. To Mahathir, Umno makes the law and
everybody else should just follow, regardless of how unjust the law
could be.
Historically, one million Chinese and Indians were
offered citizenship as a precondition to independence by the Alliance
government of Malaya in 1957 to develop this blessed nation and the
Chinese and Indian Malaysians sacrificed and slogged with blood and
sweat to build the economy of this nation.
Ungrateful Mahathir
and his hardline Umno/Perkasa followers have forgotten the contribution
of non Malays to this country. Mahathir himself had once said that 90
percent of taxes are paid by non-Malays, especially Chinese. This same
Mahathir allegedly once ordered shooting to deter the coming of
Vietnamese boat people.
Mahathir
allegedly allowed illegals from Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesian
and even Indian Muslims get citizenship overnight. However, about
300,000 Malaysian-born Indians and Chinese are awaiting blue identity
cards which Mahathir did not solve during his tenure as premier.
In
the October 2012 parliament sitting, the MP for Pasir Salak proposed
that Ambiga should be hanged for committing treason against the king for
organising Bersih 2.0 and Bersih 3.0. Umno leaders just could not
accept the fact that Ambiga, an Indian Malaysian lady, could organise
such mammoth gatherings that challenged the unjust, anti-national and
subversive activities of Umno.
Malaysia will be ruined if BN regains a two-third majority as requested by Mahathir Mohamad.
All
Indians with dignity, pride and honour will never support the political
parties that support Mahathir and his apartheid policy. Mahathir could
justify and find nothing seditious when Ibrahim Ali urged his supporters
to burn the Malay Bible. But he could not accept Ambiga’s appeal for
clean and fair election and deems it treacherous.
Impotent and subservient
BN
component parties MIC and MCA have become too impotent and subservient
to stand up against the like of Mahathir and Umno hardliners’ chronic
abuse of power.
Under Mahathir’s rule, lawyers allegedly fixed
cases and cronies were the chosen people to obtain contracts and high
positions. Responsible citizens like former auditor-general Ahmad Nordin
and Lord President Salleh Abbas were removed for allegedly being a
hindrance to Mahathir’s designs. Yet Umno continues to hero worship him.
If
Mahathir has any respect for the rule of law, he must retract his
statement and apologise to Ambiga and the nation. Ambiga is a
distinguished and honourable citizen who led a public awareness campaign
on the urgent need for clean and fair elections, while Mahathir, on the
other hand, keeps spewing venom and racially instigating statements to
divide the country with race and religion.
Mahathir is the one
who should be stripped of his citizenship for betraying all Malaysians
by giving citizenship and instant bumiputera status to illegal and
unqualified immigrants.
Not one MIC or MCA leader has come out to
condemn Mahathir’s urging to strip Ambiga of her citizenship. No
sensible, sane, thinking Malaysians will ever support BN in the 13th
general election.
S RAMAKRISHNAN is a former senator.
If Prime Minister Najib Razak had heard the crowd at the back on the field, he would have been rather disappointed.
In
the midst of his speech at the Penang state BN Chinese New Year (CNY)
open house held at the Han Chiang College field today, he said he did
not want the day to be serious as everyone was expecting a great show by
top Korean pop star Psy.
"Are you ready for Psy?" Najib asked about four times and the crowd responded loudly "Yes!".
He then asked "Are you ready for BN?" but the crowd at the back shouted "No" and laughed.
They
also laughed when Najib mispronounced Han Chiang as "Han Niang", when
he announced that the college will be upgraded to University College
status.
The crowd also laughed when the emcee invited Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor to sing a Chinese New Year song.
She was accompanied by several BN leaders including Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen. Speech in Mandarin
Before his speech, Najib's son 'Jiping' gave a speech in Mandarin.
Najib, who took over from him, started his speech with "Lu ho bo? Lu bo ho?" (Hokkien for "are you okay?").
He yelled 1Malaysia and asked the crowd to clap for former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who was present.
He said he felt fortunate and happy that he managed to do what he never did before - to celebrate CNY with Penangites.
"Thank you for giving me and my wife and family a rapturious and warm welcome to Penang.
"I want you to feel we are here for you, to make Penang the Pearl of the Orient and give the best for Penang in the future.
"This is a government that cares for all Malaysians, fair and all inclusive and has real plans for the future," he emphasised.
Najib
said in the last four years, Malaysia had seen real change and progress
and asked Penangites to give BN a chance to make the country better and
truly developed by 2020.
"We want to listen to people and by
coming here, I am listening to people. You want more affordable housing,
I commit myself and BN to provide Penang with 20,000 affordable homes
in next five years," he added.
Najib also promised a monorail to resolve Penang's traffic and transport problems.
He asked people to rely on this government, shouting "janji di tepati and insya Allah, we will deliver".
UK LGBT Muslim activists continue push against Islamic law.
Britain’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists are lashing out at the potential of applying Sharia, or Islamic law, in the United Kingdom. Muslim LGBT activists have told Bikyanews.com that any semblance of Islamic law would threaten their rights in the European country and hope that the government will understand that any implementation of Islamic law would threaten their rights.
“I think this is something that really isn’t going to happen and we shouldn’t worry about it, but as a Muslim gay man and a British citizen, the talk is worrying,” said David Hamid, a 41-year-old of Pakistani heritage who believes that until Islam becomes more tolerant, any Islamic law would be a threat.
“We are an open society and have just passed marriage equality laws, so this is hopefully a moot point at this time in Britain’s history,” he told Bikyanews.com.
Leading Muslim gay LGBT activist and rights advocate Omar Kuddus has also spoken out publicly over the matter.
Kuddus, who is also a Gay Star News contributor and director and founder of GayAsylumUK believes that the introduction of Sharia law into Britain would put LGBT people’s safety and civil rights at risk.
Appearing on the UK’s Channel 4 – 4Thought program, he argues religion should have no part in civil law.
He further explains that as he understands Islam, being gay is not a sin.
He said: ‘I do not believe being homosexual is sinful, because Islam is an interpretation of what we as Muslims need to make of our lives’.
In contrast he asks, “have religious fanatics got so obsessed with homosexuality that they have forgotten the true meaning of our religion?
“Our religion is about peace and love, it is their duty not to persecute, not to judge, have they lost the plot along the way? That is the question that needs to be asked.”
It is a question that has arisen in the UK over its large and growing Muslim population and the role the UK government will play in LGBT relationships and the rise of conservative Islamic sentiments in the UK and abroad.
LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Christian relief workers rushed to a volatile district in Pakistan's Punjab province Saturday, February 9, after security forces and Muslim hardliners allegedly abused Christian women and raped at least one Christian girl.
"Yesterday some Muslims and some [undercover] police men raided Kaila Masih's house" in the town of Pattoki [where they] "beat and tortured Christian women Zareena Bibi,Hameedan Bibi and Sharifan Bibi," said the Legal Evangelical Association Development (LEAD), an advocacy and aid group.
It was the second such incident in Punjab's Kasur District within about two weeks, according to LEAD investigators. On January 25 a 15-year-old Christian girl, Fouzia Bibi, was raped by two influential Muslim men in the district's village of Roday, LEAD Chief Sardar Mushtaq Gill told BosNewsLife.
Gill said he met a local pastor and victims and helped to register a criminal case against the alleged attackers of the women, including "police officials and other Muslims."
INDEPENDENT POLICE?
LEAD also demands that the rape case be moved to more independent police in Pattoki amid concerns that authorities are reluctant to investigate the crime because of pressure from influential Muslims in the region.
Though police "arrested" one suspect, "he was not yet sent to jail", complained LEAD investigators.
Another alleged rapist "is free and making threats to Christians of the area," LEAD said, adding that both men should be jailed.
Local Pastor Saleem Gill said in published remarks that he wasn't surprised about the slow police investigation. "Our people are poor that's why they are treated like this," he reportedly said.
MORE ATTACKS
These are no isolated incidents.
Church groups say minority Christians have been targeted in several areas of Pakistan in attacks fueled by Islamic extremism.
LEAD said however that it would continue to work "with children,families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice".
"As followers of Jesus, we are motivated by God's grace and love to serve all people regardless of race,religion gender or ethnicity," the group added.
If there is anyone who is gearing up for an 'Arab Spring', it is none other than Mahathir himself, going by his anti-Malaysian rants and racist nature.
COMMENT
He may have ruled the country for 22 years before reluctantly calling it quits but Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who holds the record as the country’s longest serving prime minister, has no intention whatsoever of doing his bit to promote peace and harmony on Malaysian soil.
Instead, Mahathir is doing the reverse; he is accusing arch enemy Anwar Ibrahim of plotting an ‘Arab Spring’ to overthrow the Barisan Nasional government.
And the former premier regrets that regressive laws like the Internal Security Act and the Emergency Ordinance are no longer in use.
Mahathir is also supportive of the move by Malay-rights group Perkasa to burn bibles with the word Allah saying it was natural to torch banned books and that Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali was merely expressing his opinion.
No wonder why Ibrahim has the audacity to continuously humiliate and threaten the non-Malays, for he has the ‘blessings’ of his patron Mahathir in all that he does.
When electoral reform activist Bersih took to the streets on July 9, 2011, Mahathir condemned the move saying it was politically motivated and aimed at repeating the 2008 election tsunami and tarnishing the BN government’s name and police.
If there is anyone who is gearing up for an ‘Arab Spring’, it is none other than Mahathir himself, going by his anti-Malaysian rants and racist nature.
Save Malaysia before its’s too late
Should people like Ibrahim and Mahathir continue with their scandalous views, it will not be long before the rakyat decides to take matters into their hands.
The fact that police brutality sees no end in sight, racism is at an all-time high and corruption continues to reign does not worry the leaders of this country; on the contrary they worry if the votes are split and if the opposition continues to win support from the people.
Just who do these politicians want? Or what really is their agenda that veteran leaders like Mahathir and the current batch of politician-leaders seem to be forgetting the real purpose of their serving the rakyat?
Truth be told, it is these politicians who have jeopardised the good name of Malaysia and threatened the tranquility of this nation boasting of multi-faiths.
Claims that the opposition coalition of Pakatan Rakyat is out to paint a bad image of the federal government has no basis; if anything, Pakatan is doing damage-control to all the wrongdoings undertaken by the BN government prior to 2008.
Before matters get out of hand and tragedies become a daily occurence, something has to be done to save Malaysia from being prostituted further by unscrupulous politicians.
Bigotry, hypocrisy must be dealt with
Mahathir very conveniently justified Perkasa’s move to ban bibles using the word ‘Allah’ but he and his band of racist politicians cringe when an award-winning actor dares to tackle the subject of terrorism, as happened to actor-director Kamal Haasan’s movie “Vishwaroopam”.
A day after it was screened at the local theatres, the film was banned after a protest by the Indian Muslim League in Penang and a memorandum submitted by the Indian Muslim Youth Movement to the Home Ministry – their claim was that “Vishwaroopam” portrayed Muslims in a negative light.
But when racist utterances are made and acted against the non-Malays of this country, no one comes to their rescue, forcing them to act accordingly to defend their respective faiths.
Looks like the independence achieved in 1957 has not taught the politicians of this country the importance of perserving harmony among the people. Nor have these leaders made any effort to improve for the benefit of the country and the rakyat.
In this respect, one such example would be Mahathir who after two decades of lording over the country has failed to shine as a leader worthy of respect.
Allowing dissenting voices from the Mahathir camp to continue is a confirmed recipe for disaster, one worse than the Arab Spring. Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist.
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's suggestion yesterday to ignore all Deepak Jaikishan's allegations has stirred the hornet's nest as the controversial carpet dealer today promised more revelations in his second book.
Titled "Black Rose 2.0: Black Magic Women", the 47-page book will discuss rituals used in the country"s administration.
"i will be launching my 2nd book BLACK ROSE 2.0 'BLACK MAGIC WOMEN' where d names, photos, address, payments made & rituals ... will be published in this 47page book," Deepak (picture) announced in a text message here.
Early last month, the launch of Deepak's first 26-page book "Black Rose 1.0" was derailed after PKR's Rafizi Ramli made his revelation alleging Deepak's involvement as a jewellery middleman for a local dignitary.
Yesterday, Dr Mahathir had advised Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to not entertain any accusations put forward by Deepak.
The longest-serving prime minister said that Najib should expect various allegations to surface while holding a political post, drawing parallels to his time in administration.
Deepak has been in the limelight of late, lobbing repeated accusations against Najib and Umno leaders, and has promised to dish more dirt on other scandals linked to other politicians.
On Wednesday, Deepak had announced that he will seek immunity under the Witness Protection Act 2009 before exposing further alleged power abuse involving the country's top leadership.
PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar had promised to look into the carpet dealer’s request for protection after Deepak claimed he had been a victim of government intimidation.
The carpet dealer had recently admitted that he helped private investigator P. Balasubramaniam repudiate the latter's earlier statutory declaration on the 2006 murder, including finding two lawyers to draft the new statement.
A cloud of mystery has hung over the identity of the lawyer who drew up Balasubramaniam's second SD, dated a day after his first on July 3, 2008, regarding Altantuya's 2006 murder, for which two elite police commandos have been convicted and are facing death sentences.
Deepak's first book claims to tell the true story behind Balasubramaniam's second statutory declaration (SD), and can be found online for free.
(Bernama) - The police will not hesitate to act against any interference from foreign parties during the upcoming 13th general election.
Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Salleh Mat Rasid said police were monitoring the possibility of such situations.
“So far there is no information on such interference,’ he told reporters after a briefing on road safety at the district police head quarters here today.
Also present were Kelantan deputy police chief Datuk Mazlan Lazim and district police chiefs.
He was commenting on fears by certain parties of the possibility of foreign interference in the 13th general election due to the current political scenario.
On concerns that the opposition may cause an “Arab Spring” if it loses in the general election, he was confident such a thing would not occur as people were increasingly aware of the importance of national security.
He added that the police were prepared to face the general election and will co-operate fully with the Election Commission.
The police also needed the co-operation of the people for the general election to proceed smoothly, without any untoward incidents.
SABAH 11 Feb: Beberapa tokoh pemimpin Umno Sabah termasuk mantan Ketua Pemuda Umno Negeri isytihar sertai KEADILAN di majlis yang dihadiri Ketua Umum, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Turut berbuat demikian, mantan Ketua Penerangan Umno Tuaran dan bekas Setiausaha Akhbar Menteri Kerajaan Tempatan dan Perumahan Sabah, Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor.
Kemasukan itu sempena lawatan Anwar ke Sabah pada sambutan Tahun Baru Cina.
Pengisytiharan itu dibuat pada Majlis Makan Malam Perayaan Tahun Baru Cina anjuran KEADILAN Sabah di Restoran Putera Ballroom, Kota Kinabalu, malam tadi yang dihadiri lebih 1,500 orang.
Selepas itu, Anwar berdialog bersama anak muda dan profesional di Hotel Megah D Aru, Tanjung Aru dalam forum bertajuk Kembalikan Autonomi Sabah.
Panelis lain adalah Pengerusi KEADILAN Sabah, Tamrin Jaini, Pakar Perlembagaan, Profesor Dr Aziz Bari
dan peguam rakyat, Ansari Abdullah.
Terdahulu, pada sebelah petang, Anwar menyampaikan ceramah perdana di Kampung Panginatan, Ranau.
Ketibaan Anwar disambut meriah oleh penduduk dengan laungan ‘Ini kalilah!’.
Tamrin, Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin, Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing, Senator Maijol Mahap dan Christina Liew turut berceramah.
Diikuti Forum Perdana Suara Anak Sabah (Suasa) di Restoran Pelancongan, Keningau.
Sambutan Tahun Baru Cina diteruskan Anwar ke Sarawak pada hari ini.
Program dimulakan dengan ceramah Anwar ‘Solusi Baram’ di Beluru Bazaar, Beluru, Bakong.
7.00 malam ini, Anwar bersama pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat meneruskan program Makan Malam Gong Xi Fa Cai di Restoran Cina Mega Hotel, Miri.
Acara diakhiri dengan Ceramah Perdana Gong Xi Fa Cai di Waterfront Commercial Centre, Miri bermula jam 8.00 malam.
Selain Anwar, penceramah dibarisi, Pengerusi KEADILAN Sarawak, Baru Bian, Ali Biju, See Chee How
dan Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng.
The people of Penang woke up on Chinese New Year Day on Sunday, February 10, 2013 to ten thousand 1Malaysia flags lining the routes which would be used by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his two-day CNY visit to Penang from Penang Airport to Han Chiang School which would feature the Korean pop star Psy to Georgetown heartland areas around Komtar.
But can the South Korean K-Pop sensation give life, spirit and soul to Najib’s 1Malaysia policy with the 10,000 1Malaysia flags arrogantly, haphazardly and dangerously planted along the main Penang thoroughfares – showing utter contempt for the welfare, safety and the by-laws in the state as well as highlighting the abject failure of Najib’s key 1Malaysia transformation programme?
It is pathetic that after four years as Prime Minister, there is only one out of 68 Ministers and Deputy Ministers who dare to openly go against the UMNO/Barisan Nasional mainstream and publicly declare that he is Malaysian first and Malay second.
Is there a second UMNO Minister who dare to emulate what the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, did in September 2010 in declaring that he is a Malaysian first and a Malay second, in line with Najib’s 1Malaysia signature policy as distinct from Najib’s own public declaration?
I say “in line with Najib’s 1Malaysia signature policy as distinct from Najib’s own public declaration” for the Prime Minister, as far as I can recollect and I am prepared to stand corrected, had never said a single time in the past four years that he is a Malaysian first and a Malay second!
Najib said in Penang yesterday that “I don’t believe in promises that I can’t deliver”.
Has Najib delivered his 1Malaysia promise in the past four years apart from flooding Penang with 10,000 1Malaysia flags in conjunction with Psy’s Gangnam Style performance?
If Najib does not believe in promises that he can’t deliver, why is he not going up and down the country in the past four years to promote the 1Malaysia Policy to create a Malaysian nation where every Malaysian regard himself or herself as a Malaysian first and race, religion, region or socio-economic status second, and putting himself as an example of a Malaysian leader who is “Malaysian first race second” for all Malaysians to emulate?
However, in the past four years, Najib has signally failed to get the UMNO/Barisan Nasional Supreme Councils and the Cabinet to endorse his 1Malaysia Policy, ever since his Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin did not mince his words in March 2010 when he repudiated the 1Malaysia policy by publicly declaring that he was “Malay first, Malaysian second” – which Najib dared not reprimand or contradict in the past four years.
In fact, in July 2011, Najib dodged the question when asked at the Malaysian Students Leaders’ Summit whether he was prepared to state that he was Malaysian first and what he thought of Muhyiddin’s infamous remark of being “Malay first and Malaysian next”.
Najib did not answer the question, saying: “I don’t want to respond in a way that will divide me from my deputy. 1Malaysia is our guiding philosophy. It does not matter what you say, just as long as you follow (the 1Malaysia concept).”
Most ominous of all, Muhyiddin had the support of the UMNO eminence grise, Tun Dr. Mahathir who publicly said he did not understand Najib’s 1Malaysia concept and that “Malaysia has become more racial than ever”.
And in the recent months, when Mahathir seemed to have emerged as the real force behind the UMNO throne, the former Prime Minister has put into practice his concept that “Malaysia has become more racial than ever” as seen by his recent utterances:
• Questioning the citizenship qualification of one million non-Malays which he falsely claimed had been granted by Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman before Merdeka although “unqualified” – as justification for his treasonous act in the “citizenship-for-votes” scam in Sabah during his premiership;
• His racist rant that Malay politicians in both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat have become “political beggars” in alleging that their scramble to be Prime Minister has led them to plead for support from the country’s minority races;
• His seditious incitement that UMNO/Barisan Nasional would need two-thirds parliamentary majority to strip Bersih co-chairperson S. Ambiga’s citizenship.
Is Najib prepared to speak up to deplore all these three latest instances of rank racism and “perverse Mahathir illogic” which are completely inimical to the concept of 1Malaysia where Malaysians regard themselves as Malaysians first and race, religion, region and soci-economic status second?
At the recent UMNO General Assembly where UMNO delegates stood in silence and shed tears touched by an overseas UMNO club student representative’s rendition of ‘Anak Kecil Main Api’, a song that bemoans the fate of Malays for being sidelined in their own land.
The song, which was written by former National Civics Bureau (BTN) chief, was taught to all those who attended the BTN courses, which is compulsory for students before attending local public universities or going overseas on government scholarships.
The questions raised by this episode include:
• 55 years after Merdeka, 42 years after the New Economic Policy and half a century of UMNO political hegemony, who must bear responsibility for the fate of the Malays marginalised in their own country? Shouldn’t the UMNO-putras bear the greatest responsibility?
• With 1Malaysia concept and policy, shouldn’t the focus be on the marginalised and discriminated among all Malaysians in their own country, whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Orang Asli, Kadazans or Ibans, and not just one community?
• Is this not the best proof that Biro Tata Negara has become the chief agency in government sowing anti-1Malaysia concept?
These critical questions can only be answered by Najib himself and not by spending millions of ringgit and flying ten thousand 1Malaysia flags inviting Psy to perform Gangnam Style in Penang.
KUALA
LUMPUR: For nearly 10 years, Kpl S. Selvakumar had been in and out of
court – and even moved from cell to cell – to fight against his
detention over a robbery charge.
Yesterday,
it all came to a happy ending with the High Court awarding him damages
of nearly RM1mil for over 800 days of unlawful detention.
“I
am overjoyed with this decision after more than nine years of going to
court,” the jubilant policeman told reporters after senior assistant
registrar Catherin Nicholas handed the ruling.
Nicholas awarded him RM779,000 in damages and an additional RM200,000 for aggravated and exemplary damages.
The
ordeal for Kpl Selvakumar, now 33, started on Feb 16, 2003 after he was
detained by the Ipoh police for allegedly being involved in a robbery
at an electronics factory in Seremban.
Between
July 24 and Sept 8, 2004, he was moved from various police stations –
including in Shah Alam, Malacca and Johor – in what seemed to be a
police “road show” for the purpose of detaining him.
On Nov 5, 2004, he was served a detention order and sent to the Simpang Renggam detention centre in Johor for two years.
However,
Kpl Selvakumar filed a habeas corpus application at the Johor Baru High
Court which, on Oct 24, 2005, declared his detention was not valid and
ordered his immediate release.
He
was, instead, re-arrested by the Kluang police and, on March 29, 2006,
served a second detention order on the same charge as the first time he
was detained, then taken again to Simpang Renggam for a seven-month
detention.
On Oct 28, 2006, he was released after he succeeded in an originating summons to challenge a restriction order.
On Nov 11 of that year, he was taken back into employment with the police force.
Nicholas held that Kpl Selvakumar had proven his claim that he had been detained in mala fide (bad faith) without any basis.
She
found his re-arrest and detention in March 2006, which was based on the
same facts as his previous detention order, was not proper, baseless
and an abuse of power.
GUA MUSANG, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- Since introduced in 2006, the issue of Ladang Rakyat (People's Estates) has haunted residents in Hulu Kelantan and yet to be resolved.
In fact the issue is give rise to more questions that need explanation from the PAS-led Kelantan government.
There were residents who claimed that their lands which for decades had become their source of livelihood were taken away without any compensation and explanation.They included memebrs of the Orang Asli community, who claimed that they customary land that had been reserved for them.
In recent developments, Ladang Rakyat participants themselves complained and demanded that the state government especially the Ladang Rakyat Development Authroity fulfill promises its made since 2008.
For 56 Ladang Rakyat participants in Paloh 4 near hear, involving 400 hectares of land, they have been waiting in vain to be given four hectares each and a plot of land to build a house, which had been promised to them.
They were also promised a monthly salary of RM750 and other incentives which were considered sufficient for them to continue life with their families.
Hopes for the second and third generation also seemed to diminish when their farms planted with oil palm trees became more like 'ghost farms' because of poor maintenance since the last three years.
What is more perplexing is that there are only five to six local and foreign workers assigned to take care of the expansive farms.
Mustafa Mohd Daud, 60, one o those affected, said his hopes to see his children and grandchildren be given certificates stating that they are the second and third generation participants by the authority appear remote.
"I think this was all a lie. Lying to my children means lying to me too. All these were for politics, deceiving us when the land was taken, purportedly it was for us too," he said, adding that the promises were made just to sooth their anger apart from fishing for votes during the 12th general election.
"Tok guru (Menteri Besar Kelantan Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat) said the land is God's right and anyone can explore it. I might be ignorant but I know the 'halal' and 'haram' of not fulfilling promises," added Mustafa.
Paloh 4 Ladang Rakyat participants head Mohd Fauzi Mohamad, 43, said all the settlers who received the participants' certificate were once strong supporters of the opposition.
"We were interviewed by the state's executive councillors (excos) at that time to be chosen as settlers. They promised that after three years we will get all these. Where are their promises? The farm is turning into a bush," said the Gua Musang Angkatan Muda Keadilan former chief.
He and other settlers plan to lodge a police report and drag those who had made those empty promises to justice, including bringing the issue to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
"We do not believe the state government led by PAS anymore. Enough of them in deceiving us," he said.
Meanwhile, Paloh assemblyman Datuk Nozula Mat Diah claimed that the not only the settlers were mistreated by the state government's sub-division of the land, but also government agencies, especially the The South Kelantan Development Authority (Kesedar) was its mercy.
"The state government assumes the land belongs to it even though the premium is paid by Kesedar, and the premium was not paid just a year or two, but decades, by right the mad is supposed to belong to Kesedar," he said.
He said the state government shoud have given the Ladang Rakyat development to Kesedar or Felda if it cannot afford to manage or implement its development programmes, so that the participants could benefit.
Meanwhile, Young People United Against Corruption (Ombak) president Wan Khairul Ihsan Wan Mohamad said they are ready to help the settlers, who felt that they had been cheated, in bringing the case to justice.
He alleged that this issue one of the clear failures on the part of the Kelantan government.
Rome (CNN) -- The spiritual leader of 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI, surprised the world Monday by saying he will resign at the end of the month "because of advanced age."
It's the first time a pope has stepped down in nearly 600 years.
"Strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me," said Benedict, 85, according to the Vatican.
The news startled and shocked the Catholic world and led to frenzied speculation about who would replace him.
Analysts and experts immediately began debating the merits of naming a pontiff from the developing world, where the church continues to grow, versus one from Europe, where it has deep historical roots.
Cardinals will meet to choose Benedict's successor sometime after his official resignation on February 28, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman, said at a news conference.
"Before Easter, we will have the new pope," he said.
Benedict won't be involved in the decision, Lombardi said. But his influence will undoubtedly be felt. Benedict appointed 67 of the 118 cardinals who will make the decision.
CNN Senior Vatican Analyst John Allen said that means the next pope, no matter where he is from, will probably continue in Benedict's conservative tradition, which has seen the church take a firm line on issues such as abortion, birth control and divorce.
The pope, born Joseph Ratzinger, is likely to retire to a monastery and devote himself to a life of reflection and prayer, Lombardi said. He won't be involved in managing the church after his resignation.
In a sign of just how rare an event this is, church officials aren't sure what the pope will be called after he leaves the office.
One possibility, Allen said, is "bishop emeritus of Rome."
Read the full text of Pope Benedict XVI's declaration
Resignation
Benedict will become the first pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415. In that case, Gregory quit to end a civil war within the church in which more than one man claimed to be pope.
In this case, it wasn't external forces but the ravages of time that forced Benedict's hand. After months of consideration, he concluded he just wasn't up to the job anymore, Lombardi said.
"It's not a decision he has just improvised," Lombardi said. "It's a decision he has pondered over."
2005: Pope Benedict's first Mass
Pope cites 'advanced age' in resignation
Pope explains why he's resigning
Abuse by priests mars pope's legacy
Benedict had been thinking about resigning for some time because of his age, a family friend in Regensburg, Germany, told CNN on Monday. He has discussed the resignation with his older brother, the Rev. Georg Ratzinger, according to the friend, who asked not to be named because he does not speak for Georg Ratzinger.
Several years ago, Benedict had suggested he would be open to resigning should his health fail, Allen said. But no one expected him to do so this soon, he said.
According to Lombardi, Benedict will step down as pope at 8 p.m. on February 28 in Rome, then head for the pope's summer residence. He will probably move to a monastery in the Vatican after that, Lombardi said.
After the resignation takes effect, cardinals will gather in Rome to select a successor. It takes at least two-thirds plus one of the 118 voting cardinals to elect a new leader for the church.
Benedict announced his resignation just before the start of the church's Lenten season, which begins with Ash Wednesday.
"We must trust in the mighty power of God's mercy. We are all sinners, but His grace transforms us and makes us new," Benedict said Sunday on Twitter, which the pope's office joined only in December.
Talk Back: Why is atheism on the rise in America?
Benedict's legacy
Benedict took over as pope in 2005 as the church was facing a number of issues, including declining popularity in parts of the world and a growing crisis over the church's role in handling molestation accusations against priests around the world.
Given his age at the time -- 78 -- he was widely seen as a caretaker pope, a bridge to the next generation following the long reign of John Paul II, a popular, globe-trotting pontiff whose early youth and vigor gave way to such frailty in later years that he required assistance walking and was often hard to hear during public addresses.
As an aide to John Paul, Benedict served as a strict enforcer of his conservative social doctrine. To no one's surprise, he continued to espouse a conservative doctrine after taking the office himself. He frequently warned of a "dictatorship of relativism."
"In a world which he considered relativist and secular and so on, his main thrust was to re-establish a sense of Catholic identity for Catholics themselves," said Delia Gallagher, contributing editor for Inside the Vatican magazine.
Where John Paul wowed crowds around the world with his mastery of numerous languages, Benedict took his training as a college professor to the Vatican and will be seen at his most influential in years to come with his writings, Gallagher said.
Allen called Benedict a "great teaching pope."
Benedict also worked to advance religious freedom and reduce friction among adherents of various faiths, said Bill Donohue of the U.S. Catholic League.
"The pope made it clear that religious freedom was not only a God-given right, it was 'the path to peace,' " Donohue said.
But Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, said Benedict's legacy will be mixed.
"His Papacy will be sadly remembered from the Muslim world by his distortion and attack on Islam as he came to the Papacy," Shafiq said in a statement. "This sadly meant the hard work of his predecessor Pope John Paul II was tarnished and required extensive work to rebuild ties between Christianity and Islam. That is something he has tried to do over the past eight years and we do wish it could have started better than it did."
Sex abuse scandal
Benedict became pope at the height of the molestation scandal involving Catholic priests, with complaints of sexual abuse and lawsuits over the issue tearing at the church.
Abusive priests had "disfigured their ministry" and brought "profound shame and regret" on the church, Benedict said in 2010, the same year he issued new rules aimed at stopping abuse.
The rules included allowing church prosecution of suspected molesters for 20 years after the incidents occurred, up from 10 years previously. The rules also made it a church crime to download child pornography and allowed the pope to remove a priest without a formal Vatican trial.
"No one did more to successfully address the problem of priestly sexual abuse than Joseph Ratzinger," Donohue said.
But Barbara Blaine, president of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said Benedict has not had any significant impact on the issue.
"I would hate for him to be remembered as someone who did the right thing because from our perspective, Pope Benedict's record has been abysmal," she said.
In 2010, The New York Times reported that church officials, including Ratzinger, had failed to act in the case of a Wisconsin priest accused of molesting up to 200 boys. The Times reported that church officials stopped proceedings against the priest after he wrote Ratzinger, who was at the time the cardinal in charge of the group that oversees Catholic Church doctrine.
Ratzinger never answered the letter, according to the Times, and church officials have said he had no knowledge of the situation. But a lawyer who obtained internal church paperwork said at the time that it "shows a direct line from the victims through the bishops and directly to the man who is now pope."
Also in 2010, the Times reported that the future pope -- while serving as the archbishop in Munich -- had been copied on a memo informing him that a priest accused of molesting children was being returned to pastoral work. At the time, a spokesman for the archdiocese said Ratzinger received hundreds of memos a year and it was highly unlikely that he had read it.
In a statement issued Monday, Blaine said the church should choose a new pope dedicated to preventing sexual abuse by priests.
"For the Church to truly embody the spiritual teachings of Jesus Christ, it must be led by a pontiff who demands transparency, exposes child-molesting clerics, punishes wrongdoers and enablers, cooperates with law enforcement, and makes true amends to those who were hurt so greatly by Catholic priests, employees and volunteers," Blaine wrote.
Victims' groups are pressing the International Criminal Court to prosecute Benedict in the sex abuse scandal, and say the resignation won't change that, according to Pam Spees, of the public policy law firm Center for Constitutional Rights, which is helping SNAP pursue the case.
World reaction
Benedict's decision surprised world leaders and everyday Catholics.
Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, said the decision "shocked and surprised everyone."
"Yet, on reflection, I am sure that many will recognise it to be a decision of great courage and characteristic clarity of mind and action," he said in a written statement.
Archbishop Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Bishops, said he was startled, and sad, to see Benedict resign.
"The Holy Father brought the tender heart of a pastor, the incisive mind of a scholar and the confidence of a soul united with His God in all he did," he said in a written statement. "His resignation is but another sign of his great care for the Church."
British Prime Minister David Cameron said Benedict "will be missed as a spiritual leader to millions." Cameron's Irish counterpart, Enda Kenny, praised Benedict for decades of leadership and service, as well as his decision to resign.
"It reflects his profound sense of duty to the Church, and also his deep appreciation of the unique pressures of spiritual leadership in the modern world," Kenny said in a prepared statement.
U.S. President Barack Obama said he and his wife "warmly remember" their 2009 meeting with Benedict, and wished cardinals well as they prepared to choose a successor.
Life before the papacy
Benedict was born Joseph Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, in Marktl Am Inn, Bavaria, a heavily Catholic region of Germany.
He spent his adolescent years in Traunstein, near the Austrian border, during the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler.
Ratzinger wrote in his memoirs that school officials enrolled him in the Hitler Youth movement against his will in 1941, when he was 14.
He said he was allowed to leave the organization because he was studying for the priesthood, but was drafted into the army in 1943. He served with an anti-aircraft unit until he deserted in the waning days of WW II.
After the war, he resumed his theological studies and was ordained in 1951. He received his doctorate in theology two years later and taught dogma and theology at German universities for several years.
In 1962, he served as a consultant during the pivotal Vatican II council to Cardinal Frings, a reformer who was the archbishop of Cologne, Germany.
As a young priest, Ratzinger was on the progressive side of theological debates, but began to shift right after the student revolutions of 1968, CNN Vatican analyst Allen said.
In his book "Cardinal Ratzinger: The Vatican's Enforcer of the Faith," Allen says Ratzinger is a shy and gentle person whose former students spoke of him as a well-prepared and caring professor.
Pope Paul VI named him archbishop of Munich in 1977 and promoted him to cardinal the next month. Ratzinger served as archbishop of Munich until 1981, when he was nominated by John Paul II to be the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a position he held until his election as pope.
He became dean of the College of Cardinals in November 2002 and in that role called the cardinals to Rome for the conclave that elected him the 265th pope.
In his initial appearance as pope, he told the crowd in St. Peter's Square that he would serve as "a simple and humble worker in the vineyards of the Lord."
He was the sixth German to serve as pope, but the first since the 11th century.
Korean superstar Psy handed Malaysia's ruling party a slap in the face when he declined to come onstage to toss the traditional 'yee-sang' with Prime Minister Najib Razak and other top members of his BN coalition at a gig to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
In Penang to sing his signature Oppa Gangnam-style, Psy lived up to his fame and his purported RM2mil fee. He had the crowd singing and strutting along with him and his troupe of sharp and incredibly good-looking dancers.
For four minutes, the tens of thousands of Penangites who came to watch him at the Han Chiang school field simply went crazy. They demanded an encore and he gave them what they wanted. More Gangnam!
No politics for Psy!
But sadly for the BN, Psy wisely swerved away from being used to promote Najib's 1Malaysia brand of politics. The Malaysian leader had moments earlier announced to the crowd that Psy had a surprise for them - Oppa BN style.
It was not to be. Najib, wife Rosmah Mansor, son Norashman, former premier Abdullah Badawi, Gerakan chiefs Koh Tsu Koon, Teng Chang Yeow and Tourism minister Ng Yen Yen were among those left red-faced on stage after Psy's aide told the organizers the star would not be joining them for the 'yee-sang' tossing ceremony.
Crest-fallen, the BN team dissembled, returning to their VIP tent. Only Norashman stayed back, joining the main box below the stage and just a few feet away from where the Malaysia Chronicle team was to watch Psy's astonishing performance.
Not ready for BN & Han Chiang not Han Yang
'Yee-sang' is a raw fish salad tossed by Malaysian Chinese during the Chinese Lunar Year to signify good luck and success. The BN's 5-year mandate to rule will end on April 28, 2013 and Najib is widely expected to call for the 13th general election within weeks.
However, the signs so far are that BN may lose its 55-year stranglehold on the federal government, with the Pakatan Rakyat led by Anwar Ibrahim rated as having an even chance of pulling off the country's first-ever regime change.
To survive an ouster from within his own Umno party, Najib needs a convincing victory and to ensure this, he needs to claw back the lost support of voters, in particular the Malaysian Chinese community, who have been disgusted and frustrated by the endemic corruption and scandals of the BN elite.
Despite the millions spent on this showcase event, Najib may have 'blown it' for himself and the BN when he blundered several times during his speech.
The dull response from the Penang audience was unmistakable when the PM was unwise enough to ask them - three times no less -, "are you ready for BN". The 'Nos' drowned out the ayes. Yet when Najib had asked if the audience was ready for Psy, they had gone wild, screaming 'Yes' with all their might.
Worst was yet to come for Najib. In his speech, he mistakenly called the Han Chiang College 'Han Yang' several times, drawing loud boos. The implication that he was not sincere was clear and from then on, there was no way for him to win the crowd back to his side.
Even his announcement that the BN would build 20,000 new affordable houses for Penangites was greeted with lukewarm applause, and his assurance that he would "bring the best for Penang" was marred by shouts from among the crowd for him to "finish lah" and "we want Psy".
When Najib rehashed a promise first made by former premier Mahathir Mohamad that the federal government would allocate funds to build a monorail for the Penang island, there were few claps although several sarcastic shouts of "build first lah" could be distinctly heard.
Psy was "smart and fair"
In the countdown to Psy's much-awaited performance, many Malaysians had pleaded with Psy on his Facebook to turn down the BN's invite which they viewed as an 'election gimmick' to get Psy to 'recommend' voting for the BN.
"Psy's response shows he is on the ground with the Malaysian people. They want to come and watch him sing and dance but do not want to be used by Najib and Gerakan to show support for BN. Who to vote for is a serious matter not a public relations circus for Chang Yeow to show off his organizing skills or to butter up to the Najibs," Tan Kee Kwong, a senior Opposition leader in Anwar's PKR party, told Malaysia Chronicle.
"I am glad Psy was smart and fair. There is no reason for him to support the BN. It is not known for decent politics or for reform. They tried to use him, so why should he support such insincere politicians."
Norashman to the fore, Badawi pushed to the side
Indeed, Gerakan leaders as well as Najib's advisers did try their best to use the occasion to shore up Najib's dwindling popularity. At 63%, Najib has the lowest approval rating of all prime ministers so far going into a general election.
Just a day ago, Najib had told the press he wanted to do something new this year. Indeed, his strategy of wearing a crimson-red Chinese jersey in CNY banners hung across the nation had raised eyebrows among the conservative faction in his Malay-based Umno party.
The fact that Najib was photographed alone and brought along his son Norashman on his CNY functions also did not pass un-noticed. There is talk that he has been advised to keep his scandal-tainted and unpopular wife Rosmah in the background.
Be that as it may, the protocol breach apparent on Monday was the manner in which Badawi, who was the 5th prime minister of Malaysia, was sidelined and given a spot in the 'second row'.
Najib's priority and willingness to spend government funds on promoting himself and his family has already created rumblings in Umno. The sudden flocus on Norashman may raise alarm bells and prompt talk that he and Rosmah are setting the stage for Norashman to take over from Mahathir Mohamad's son Mukhriz.
Mahathir was the 4th prime minister and has openly admitted his ambition to see his son follow in his footsteps, defying public distaste for Umno's elitist and closed-door internal politics.
Rosmah flubs her lines
However, it may be easier said than done to suppress the brash-natured Rosmah, who has borne the brunt of negative publicity for her lavish spending, love of super-sized diamond rings and ultra-expensive Birkin bags.
On Monday, the crowd was polite when she was led up the stage to join her husband and son to lead in the singing of two Chinese New Year songs. Her demeanor was defensive, suggesting she was aware of the public's dislike of her and was prepared to be booed. But to Penangites' credit, the crowd was well-behaved and the look of relief on the faces of her husband and son was apparent to those standing nearby to the stage.
Sad to say, Rosmah flubbed her lines and there long moments of silence when she failed to vocalize the lyrics, embarrasing Najib and the BN lineup.
Perhaps, Rosmah was lucky because the crowd was itching to see Psy and she escaped a public scolding for rude manners and laziness to remember the lyrics to a song meant to convey Umno's wish to be more multiracial and less antagonistic towards the Chinese community. .
No 'oomph' Chang Yeow
As for Gerakan's Chang Yeow, if he is to take over the presidency from the timid Tsu Koon, the future for the embattled party that used to take its rule of Penang for granted appears bleak.
Try as he could, Chang Yeow lacked the 'oomph' to capture the hearts and minds of the new generation of Penangites who are well-educated and much more demanding in the areas of democracy and human rights than their forefathers.
In his speech, Chang Yeow promised that "the best was yet to come for Penang" and that BN was the only vehicle able to transform the state. He also tried hard to rouse applause for Najib, whom he reminded had traveled all the way to celebrate CNY with Penangites. But he failed.
While the crowd was willing to cheer for a united Malaysia, they hardly clapped or cheered when asked to do so for Najib. Further embarrassment was saved only by the quick-thinking of the emcee, who diverted attention with shouts about Psy's imminent appearance on stage.
Sneaky BN? No need for Guan Eng, PR to worry
Chang Yeow's arch rival, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, was absent as he had to welcome the Malaysian Queen, Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Haminah, who arrived at the Bayan Lepas International Airport at 11am.
There was also little show of the red, green and yellow T-shirts symbolizing support for the anti-Lynas, pro-environment groups or the Bersih movement for free and fair polls at the event as Lim had suggested. However, this may have been due to the warning from pro-BN police chiefs who had warned there may be "trouble" if Penangites wore such colours to the concert as a show of support for Guan Eng and PR.
Nonetheless, it looks like the Opposition need not have worried. Najib, Chang Yeow and BN shot themselves in the foot.
Overall, the verdict on Psy's magical first gig in Malaysia is a resounding victory for the Penang folk. And a big and perhaps well-deserved slap for the BN for trying to make use of the Korean star as well as the Penang people to further its own political motives.
The last word from Psy is that he will back in Malaysia in April to promote his new single. Hopefully by then, the Malaysian general elections will be over and the Korean mega-star won't have to be so on guard for a sneaky leadership wishful to leverage on his phenomenal global reach and popularity.
Stop just looking at the bigger agenda. BN and Najib must also know how to sort out the smaller issues if they want to win over voters.
COMMENT
By K.Kabilan
(Vishwaroopam in Tamil means the true face. It is also the title of a Tamil blockbuster which is still awaiting release in Malaysia due to its supposedly controversial theme.)
Sometimes one does wonder if the government is really concerned about the peoples’ wishes. Is it even listening to what the people are saying?
It appears as though the government is more interested in doing things which it thinks will be good for the rakyat.
Najib Tun Razak’s earlier clarion call that his government was not one which subscribed to “government knows it all” seems like a half-baked lie right now.
Take, for example, the decision to fly down South Korean megastar Psy for the Barisan Nasional Chinese New Year open house in Penang. A cool RM3 million was reportedly spent for this.
Of course, it was not the rakyat’s money as the Gangnam ride was reportedly sponsored by private parties. Still, that much for a singer who has only one known mega hit? And at a time when people are complaining of not getting real value for their money?
What about the Ponggal festival at Dataran Merdeka on Feb 2? Of course, it was deemed to be a mega success, by MIC standards. It would surely be if RM5 million was reportedly set aside to get the crowd.
Word has it that almost 1,400 buses were chartered to bring in Indians to the capital city to show that they all love our prime minister. In return, they did get a full meal of nasi briyani, courtesy of the BN government.
Is this how Najib wants to get the people to back him and BN again? This method seems so archaic, but it must be working for them to be doing it repeatedly!
But it goes back to the main question once again. Isn’t Najib interested in what the people really want? Does the rakyat still want the government to dictate what’s good for them?
The death of a security guard
Two ongoing issues reveal how ignorant the government can be in misreading the pulse of the voters, especially the Indian voters that Najib wants so much.
The first is the death of security guard C Sugumaran who died after allegedly being beaten by policemen and
members of the public on Jan 24.
The first post-mortem stated that he had succumbed to a heart failure. The family wants a second post-mortem and that’s where things have started to break down.
Sugumaran’s body still lies in a mortuary while his family wants the know the true cause of his death. Very simple request. Any caring government, or a home minister, or prime minister, would have made the all-important call so that truth and justice are served.
But what we have here is the prime minister asking for a forensic report to be passed to him, and then even 10 days later, making no decision on the matter. In the meantime, the home minister sits quietly, letting the police handle the matter.
The police, on their part, want to follow rules and regulations to the letter while not doing anything conclusive at all.
It’s a merry-go-round with a family still waiting for answers, and closure as a result of the death.
Is there an easier way to solve this problem? Yes, there is. It is actually as easy as Najib going to the local radio stations and trying to impress the Chinese voters with his Mandarin. But will he take the easy way to solve this problem? I doubt it!
The movie ban
The second small issue, but one that may have deeper implications as far as the Indian voters are concerned, is the indecisiveness of the Home Ministry on the status of Tamil movie “Vishwaroopam”.
Is it still banned? If yes, why? If not, why hasn’t it been released? Who has been aggrieved by the movie? Why the delay in allowing it to be shown even as it has been approved for release in Tamil Nadu?
Is this a case of the home minister sitting in the dark, not knowing the full details? Or is it a case of him knowing the full details but keeping the movie in the cans for political reasons? Should there be political reasons for movie releases in the first place?
This looks like another case where BN is making things complicated for itself.
By keeping totally mum on the status of Vishwaroopam, the government’s message to the Indian community seems to be this: enjoy the song and dance performances that we give you, enjoy the food that we provide at these events, clap hard to the various promises that we make, smile proudly when the PM utters a word of Tamil here and there, BUT stop making any demands, even if it concerns only a Tamil movie!
You still think people will fall for these? Hmmm!
To win the hearts and minds of the people, the leaders, from the prime minister right down to his platoon chiefs, must show that they trully care for the people. The moment they slip up and show that it’s all a political game for them, that’s the end really.
Missing the wood for the trees, they say. Be careful, Mr Prime Minister, if you miss the small details, you risk losing the big votes.
Nablus, West Bank (CNN) -- Dalal al-Ziben holds her son and kisses his head. Al-Ziben never thought she would have another baby considering her husband has been inside an Israeli prison for 16 years and will likely never get out.
"When they arrested my husband I was 18 years old," she says.
As is expected from her in conservative Palestinian society she says she has been faithful to her husband. She has simply been waiting, hoping her husband may one day be released from incarceration.
READ: All prisoners on hunger strike will end it, Palestinian official says
It hasn't happened and likely never will because he is serving 27 life sentences and an additional 25 years for helping plan a deadly bombing in a Jerusalem market. An act of violence she says he has admitted to.
Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are not allowed conjugal visits, but some Israeli prisoners are. The man convicted of assassinating Israel's Prime Minister Yitzah Rabin was allowed conjugal visits.
Al-Ziben says she got pregnant by her husband because he managed to have his sperm smuggled out of a high security prison.
"Why does the wife of a prisoner have to suffer and stay like this without children and a family? It is our right to meet our husbands and our right to have children," Al-Ziben says.
The mother-of-two is one of five Palestinian women making the same claim. In an examination room Rimah Silawi, 32, stares at the tiny black dot on the baby monitor as the technician tells her she is one month pregnant.
Her husband is also serving multiple life sentences and she too says she received In Vitro fertilization using sperm smuggled from inside an Israeli prison.
She and the other women will tell you all about their babies, but not a word about how exactly their husband's semen was smuggled out of a high security Israeli prison leaving enough time for the semen to still be considered viable.
"I'm not going to tell so I won't ruin it for other people," Rimah Silawi whispers in response to our question.
The Razan Medical Center for Fertility and IVF in the West Bank town of Nablus is performing the artificial inseminations. Doctors say they have dozens of samples they are told are from prisoners.
The samples come in at all hours of the day and night and are handed over in all sorts of containers according to the doctors who tell us some samples are viable while others have to be thrown away.
"A lot of things, many things maybe in cups, in ointment containers," Dr. Salim Abu Khaizaran, the head of the fertility center, says while describing the methods used by the prisoners.
While doctors at the center say they can't verify the sperm is actually from their husbands in prison, they require close relatives from both the wife and husband's side of the family to sign papers saying the sperm belongs to the husband in prison.
Dr. Abu Khaizaran also encourages the women to spread word of their plans to use artificial insemination in their community so they do not face ridicule or more sinister repercussions if they are suspected of cheating on their imprisoned husbands.
"We are a male dominated society, we are an eastern society. Our women, whose husbands have been given long sentences, they have no choice but to wait for their husbands to get freed and as you know the female productive life is really limited," Dr. Abu Khaizaran says.
The doctor claims prisoner's wives face this dilemma because they will never have children or more children if their husbands are imprisoned for life, and if they do get out it may be too late to conceive and the husbands may even leave them for another woman who can.
He says he has seen the latter happen.
"Really the one who pays the price the heavy price is the woman. If I can do anything to help these women I will do it," the doctor says.
He and his staff are giving prisoners wives the fertility treatment for free, calling it an act of humanity.
Israeli prison officials say they doubt the validity of the women's story. A spokesperson for the Israeli Prison Authority told us officials very much doubt the technical ability for sperm donation because of the strict controls and security inside the prisons. They said it was hard to fathom, but "who knows?"
Fertility specialists in the U.S. told us it is actually possible for sperm to survive anywhere from a few hours to up to 48 hours in clean unconventional containers if kept at room temperature.
The women say what is most important to them is that they and their families and communities know the truth.
They still hope, one day, sperm smuggling from prison won't be necessary either because their husbands will be allowed to come home or the prison system will allow conjugal visits.
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 7: A Sri Lankan expatriate was arrested recently in Ishbiliya for having an adulterous relationship with a Sri Lankan woman.
According to security sources, when a Kuwaiti woman saw her Sri Lankan housemaid kissing the Sri Lankan driver of her neighbor in the garden of her house in Ishbiliya, she rushed to the police station of the area to inform securitymen. Meanwhile, the housemaid ran away from the house after realizing that her sponsor caught her kissing her boyfriend and went to the police station to report against her.
Security men arrested the driver and investigations with him revealed that they were involved in a love affair.
He was detained in police custody while securitymen are carrying out investigations to arrest the female suspect.
Indian held with liquor: An Indian expatriate was arrested recently in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh for possession of 50 bottles of locally brewed liquor.
According to security sources, while Farwaniya securitymen were patrolling Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, they noticed a vehicle parked on the side of the road. They approached the vehicle and checked the details of the driver to discover he is an Indian expatriate. They checked the vehicle and found 50 bottles of locally brewed liquor.
He revealed that he was on his way to a compatriot to deliver the liquor bottles.
He was arrested and referred with the items to the concerned authorities for necessary legal action against him.
Puzzled fans are demanding that Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein explain the continued ban on Vishwaroopam.
GEORGE TOWN: The banned Kamal Haasan blockbuster spy-thriller Vishwaroopam is allegedly now available as pirated CDs.
The uncensored and crystal clear version, which is being sold secretly at RM15, has however left diehard Kamal Haasan fans here livid.
They want want Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to explain why the censored version of the movie was still being banned in cinema halls while pirated CDs were making its way into households.
“Why has the Home Ministry not heeded our call to lift the ban on Vishwaroopam?
“Is the government tacitly backing sales of pirated CDs on the banned movie?
“Is the government gaining tax revenue from sales of pirated CDs?” asked Penang Kamal Haasan Fans Club president S Mahendran after leading a 20-minute protest outside the Penang Odeon cinema today.
The fans, who held a similar demonstration last week, reiterated their call on the Home Ministry to immediately lift the ban.
Written, co-produced and directed by Kamal Haasan, Vishwaroopam’s screening was banned in local cinema halls on Jan 25, a day after it opened following complaints to the Home Ministry by Indian Muslim groups.
The groups have alleged that the movie contained scenes and dialogues undermining Muslims and Islam.
The Malaysian ban followed bans in Singapore and in Tamil Nadu.
However, the movie, after several cuts on alleged “sensitive” scenes and dialogues, has resumed screening in Singapore and in Tamil Nadu.
Malaysia now is the only country banning it.
Local film distributors and cinema hall operators were hopeful that Vishwaroopam will be allowed screening this week after the movie underwent 16 scene-cuts.
But this did not materialise.
Fans puzzled
Meanwhile it was learnt that Hishamuddin has refused to meet with local distributors on the issue yesterday.
Penang Odeon manager A Mohan Dass said Tamil movie fans were calling the cinema hall daily to know when the movie will be screened.
He said fans were puzzled as to why the movie was being banned in Malaysia when it was being screened all over the world.
“It’s sheer hypocrisy. It defeats the whole purpose of the ban,” chided Mohan Dass.
Critics have argued the ban on Vishwaroopam was detrimental against freedom of artistic expression and cine professionalism.
They also criticised the Home Ministry for being inconsistent in protecting religious sensitivities of various communities in the country as it did not ban movies such as ‘Love Guru’, which hurt Hindu sentiments, and ‘The Da Vinci Code’, which allegedly questioned the fundamental myth of Christianity.
They have insisted that the movie illustrated the reality of international terrorism and its operations, and did not hurt religious sentiments.
The former close associate of Rosmah once again wants the prime minister and his wife to come clean on the many accusations he had hurled against them.
PETALING JAYA: Carpet dealer Deepak Jaikishan today once again urged Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor to reveal publicly their alleged links with Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.
“Will Najib, Rosmah and others come to the court as witnesses if subpoenaed over the matter? Will they tell the truth under oath?
“Of course, this can only happen if the police and the MACC investigate my claims on the matter against them. Will this be done?” asked Deepak today.
Speaking to FMT, the former close aide of Rosmah said he had made countless accusations against Najib, Rosmah, their lawyers as well as certain Umno leaders but so far no one has responded to rebut him.
“The police have not started any investigations on the criminal breach of trust case involving a Defence Ministry land and an Umno senator.
“Likewise, no action seems to be forthcoming on my accusations about Altantuya’s death. Everyone concerned seems to be acting like a demigod and pretend not to have heard anything that I have said,” he added.
He said that he was confident nothing would be done as long as Najib and Umno remained in power.
He added that Umno under Najib was completely paralyzed with party leaders and ministers end up being part of a lame duck government.
“I only hope that truth and justice will prevail under a new Malaysian administration,” he said.
Recently Deepak sought immunity from Pakatan Rakyat for him to turn state witness if Pakatan forms the next government after the general election.
Pakatan on its part said that the Whistleblower Act 2010 and Witness Protection Act 2009 were sufficient in according protection to Deepak and urged him to write to the Attorney General to provide him with the necessary legal protection.
Deepak is currently providing statements to the MACC on Najib and Rosmah’s alleged links to the 2006 murder of Altantuya.
Deepak had previously alleged that he paid a substantial sum of money to the premier’s family to be a party in a defence project deal headed by Selangor Wanita Umno chief Raja Ropiaah Raja Abdullah.
The businessman also claimed that Rosmah had asked his help in persuading private eye P Balasubramaniam to repudiate his first statutory declaration implicating Najib in Altantuya’s murder.
Today, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad urged Najib not to entertain Deepak’s accusations.
“When you are the prime minister, people say all sorts of things. When I was prime minister also they accused me of corruption … I don’t have to respond,” he said.
Najib had previously dismissed Deepak’s claims on the grounds that he (Deepak) was not credible.
FMT also learnt that Deepak would be holding a press conference next Wednesday at the AG Chambers in Putrajaya along with his lawyers.
Bersih says Dr Mahathir Mohamad should not make threats to revoke S Ambiga's citizenship.
PETALING JAYA: Bersih wants former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to retract his statement that the federal constitution must be amended to revoke the citizenship of “errant lawyers” like Bar Council leaders and Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga.
Bersih, a coalition of non-governmental organization fighting for free and fair elections, said Ambiga did not deserve such a comment.
“What did Ambiga do to deserve such comments. There is nothing wrong in wanting a free and fair election. We just want for the government to deliver what the rakyat want,” Bersih steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah told FMT.
Earlier today, the former prime minister said the government needed to amend the constitution if it wanted to strip off the citizenship of lawyers such as Ambiga who go against the government.
“To strip a person’s citizenship, you need to amend the constitution. And to amend the constitution you need two-thirds majority in Parliament. So, I ask that you give two-thirds majority to the BN government,” said Dr Mahathir.
He said this in response to a question after a talk on national security and the constitution at a forum.
Mahathir was asked how the government could strip the citizenship of errant lawyers like Bar Council leaders and Ambiga, who were persistent in challenging the government and questioning the federal constitution.
Maria said it was very unbecoming of Mahathir to make such a statement.
“He is no better than Ibrahim Ali (Perkasa president). We want Dr Mahathir to retract and apologise to Ambiga and the Bar Council.
“The statement is actually very racist in nature. Dr Mahathir should not put himself so low as to want to strip people of their citizenship. They are not terrorist or did anything to endanger the lives of fellow Malaysians.
“We are fighting for the better Malaysia. We are trying to do good for the country and her people…so Dr Mahathir should not use us as political pawns to win votes for the ruling Barisan Nasional,” she said.
He said Dr Mahathir should not use race as a tool to divide and threaten Malaysians.
At the same forum, the former Prime Minister also urged Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak not to entertain accusations made by carpet dealer Deepak Jaikishen, in connection with the death of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.
The businessman has been hurling accusation after accusation against Najib over the last two months and has promised to expose scandals linked to other politicians and the Prime Minister’s family members.
“I don’t think he should do anything,” Dr Mahathir said referring to Najib.
Mahathir, who holds the record as the country’s longest serving Prime Minister todate, said Najib must be accustomed to all sorts of accusation hurled against him.
“When you are the Prime Minister people say all sorts of things. When I was prime minister also they accused me of corruption … I don’t have to respond,” he said.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should not waste his time rebutting
allegations thrown at him and his family by controversial
businesspersson Deepak Jaikishan.
"Najib doesn't have to
respond," former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad told a press
conference in Cheras, Kula Lumpur, today. As
the prime minister, Mahathir added, Najib would be accused of
everything under the sun, and he went on to recount how he himself had
his share of accusations when heading the government.
Pressed
further on the serious allegations that Najib's family members accepted
cash in return for governmental favours, Mahathir said such accusations
should be taken to the proper venue, such as the courts, which could
decide the matter.
The carpet trader recently raised serious
allegations against the prime minister and his close family members,
accusing them of covering-up in the murder case of Mongolian national
Altantuya Shaariibuu
Deepak
made it clear that he only came forward because he had been cheated in a
land deal by Selangor Wanita Umno chief Raja Ropiaah Raja Abdullah.
Most
recently, Deepak accused Najib of ordering the Lembaga Tabung Amanah
Angkatan Tentera-owned Boustead Holdings Bhd to buy him out from his
company involved in the said land deal.
In an immediate reaction,
Deepak said today that the police had not acted on Raja Ropiaah's
alleged criminal breach of trust or the corruption in the Bukit Raja
land deal.
"We all know that's never going to happen, but still I
will take Tun Mahathir's advice and hope that both truth and justice
will prevail under a new Malaysian administration," he said in an SMS
message.
'Exercise wisdom'
Meanwhile,
asked about the recent protest by workers of national car maker Proton
over the uneven pay rise made to address the minimum wage of its lower
paid staff, Mahathir said it was up to the management to do what it
thought was best, but he believes wisdom must be exercised.
"The implementation must be done wisely."
The
Proton workers yesterday held protests at the car maker's plants in
Shah Alam and Tanjung Malim to protest uneven wage increments.
Workers
earning RM600 were given a RM300 raise to reach the RM900 minimum wage
scale, while those already earning RM900 to RM1,200 are only given
increments of between RM30 and RM40.
It would not be possible to raise the wages of all Proton staff, Mahathir said, as it would financially burden the company.
"RM300
out of RM600 is a 50 percent increase. You can't give the same increase
to all, from the lowest to the directors. (Proton will go) bankrupt,
lah."
But the opposition coalition must first endorse Hindraf’s blueprint on alleviating the Indian community’s problems.
PETALING JAYA: Hindraf has offered Pakatan Rakyat “thousands of volunteers” which it says is crucial for the opposition pact to overthrow Barisan nasional in the upcoming general election.
The ‘carrot’ however comes with a catch.
Pakatan must endorse the group’s six-point blueprint to “bring the Indian marginalized and poor into the mainstream of National Development”, said Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy.
“We are no doubt willing to make Pakatan’s dream to capture Putrajaya a reality but we have a dream too – we dream to find a permanent solution to the problems of the Indian poor and marginalized.
“Hence it is crucial that Pakatan endorses the Hindraf Blueprint which encompassed this dream before we activate thousands of our volunteers to go nationwide to campaign for Pakatan,” Waythamoorthy said in a statement yesterday.
The movement had previously said that it would support any political organisation that would agree in writing to adopt the blueprint, which recommends a five-year programme aimed at the betterment of the Malaysian Indian community.
The six points of the blueprint are:
1) Stop displacing Indian plantation workers and provide reasonable compensation as well as offer skills training to them;
2) Resolve Indian stateless issue;
3) Provide equal education opportunities to all Indian students via meritocracy;
4) Provide equal job and business opportunities to Indians;
5) Stop police brutality and death in custody, and set up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC); and
6) Stop institutionalised racism and ratify United Nations convention against racial discrimination.
But the blueprint appears to have been largely ignored by parties from both sides of the divide since it was launched on Nov 25 last year.
Thus far only Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), a Pakatan-leaning party, has announced its support for the six demands.
“It is in the interest of PR (Pakatan) to sign the blueprint soonest rather than hoping that Hindraf would compromise on its Blueprint program at the last minute,” said Waythamoorthy.
“We are ready to activate our machinery and start joint campaigns with Pakatan the moment there is a signed agreement,” he added.
Indians on the fence
Waythamoorthy added that almost 50% of Indian voters were still undecided on whom to cast their ballots for, and said this was because Hindraf had not declared its support for any party.
“Hindraf is not a political party which has to make empty promises just so it can be popular. We are a peoples’ movement desiring to bring about political changes for the benefit of the people. .
“We seek permanent solutions and practical solutions to the problems that have plagued the Indian community for almost 150 years,” he said.
It is common knowledge that Hindraf was one of the major factors for Barisan Nasional’s historic loss of its two thirds majority in the 2008 general election.
In 2007, Hindraf led an estimated 20,000 Indians to the city’s capital to protest against Barisan Nasional’s treatment of the Indian community during Abdullah Badawi’s administration.
But since Najib Tun Razak took over the government’s reigns in 2009, his direct and recurring engagement with the Indian community appear to have borne fruit among the country’s minority, which form 1.8 million out of the 28 million population in Malaysia.
The government’s lifting of the four-year ban on Hindraf on the eve of Thaipusam is also seen as a strategic move to placate the community in the run up to the general election, which must be held by June this year.
Earlier this week, Najib rolled out a list of pro-Indian policies before a cheering crowd of tens of thousands of Indians, including the pledge to increase Indians’ economic equity in the country to 3%.
Hindraf will also decide this month whether to hold talks with Najib to find permanent solutions to the socio-economic problems plaguing Indians.
Meanwhile, sources have told FMT that many of Hindraf’s grassroots members are dissatisfied with the performance of Pakatan state governments in championing the cause of marginalized working class Indians.
But opposition members have consistently highlighted the issue of stateless Indians in the country, which they claim number to 300,000, and have lead numerous protests on the issue.
The rising cases of Indians dying or beaten up in police custody, the most recent being C Sugumaran, also threaten to undermine Najib’s efforts to win back the Indian community.
They are not doing this with East- timor delegates but it is just piece of low class mentality that they want to show other. This country will appear as Pakistan , Sudan and Somalia one day.
Mahathir
allegedly allowed illegals from Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesian
and even Indian Muslims get citizenship overnight. However, about
300,000 Malaysian-born Indians and Chinese are awaiting blue identity
cards which Mahathir did not solve during his tenure as premier. 
They
also laughed when Najib mispronounced Han Chiang as "Han Niang", when
he announced that the college will be upgraded to University College
status.
He yelled 1Malaysia and asked the crowd to clap for former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who was present.
Najib
said in the last four years, Malaysia had seen real change and progress
and asked Penangites to give BN a chance to make the country better and
truly developed by 2020.
As
the prime minister, Mahathir added, Najib would be accused of
everything under the sun, and he went on to recount how he himself had
his share of accusations when heading the government.
Deepak
made it clear that he only came forward because he had been cheated in a
land deal by Selangor Wanita Umno chief Raja Ropiaah Raja Abdullah.