Wednesday, 6 August 2014
Muslims Hack Off Christian Man's Head After Forcing Him to Deny Jesus Christ and Salute Mohammed as 'Messenger of God'
The incident was caught on video for the world to see and broadcast as a warning to "everyone like him".
In the video that was posted to YouTube with translated captions, the helpless Christian man is surrounded by armed militants wearing masks and he is heard reciting as instructed: "There is no God but God and I testify that Mohammed is the messenger of God."
An apparent leader in the group of militants is then heard instructing the group: "No one will shoot him now, do you understand? He will not be killed by shooting because it is merciful for him."
"He will be beheaded because he is Kaffir, non-Muslim, sided [with] the government and was not praying at all. Everyone like him will have the same end, beheading," said the militant.
A militant armed with a machete then grabs the defenseless man by the hair and begins to cut his head from his body as the group cries "Allahu Akbar…there is no God but God."
The 2014 report from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom highlights Syria among several countries where being a Christian can be extremely hazardous due to terrorist and extremist Muslim threats.
[WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO, click here]
"Extremist groups and terrorist organizations, including al-Qaida and ISIL, also are perpetrating egregious religious freedom violations. They espouse violence and the creation of an Islamic state with no space for diversity, and have carried out religiously-motivated attacks and massacres against Alwaite, Shi'a, and Christian civilians," explained the document in highlighting conditions in Syria.
"NGO's report that several different anti-regime opposition groups have established Shari'ah courts in areas they control. Recently ISIL, a terrorist organization not aligned with the internationally-recognized opposition, announced that the approximately 3,000 Christians in Raqqa province must either face death, convert to Islam, or be treated as dhimmis (non-Muslim citizens of an Islamic state) who must pay a tax for their 'protection' and obey serious restrictions on their religious practices," it continued.
The report further noted that Bishop Boulos Yazigi of the Greek Orthodox Church and Bishop John Ibrahim of the Assyrian Orthodox Church are still missing since they were kidnapped by unknown assailants in the Northern province of Aleppo in April 2013.
Some 13 nuns and three workers from a Greek Orthodox monastery in the Christian village of Maaloula, who were kidnapped by the al-Nustra Front in late November 2013, were finally freed on March 9, 2014.
Al-Nusra took over Maaloula in September 2013 and their fighters reportedly attacked Christian homes killing at least a dozen people, and burning down a church. Those who remained were forced to convert to Islam according to the report.
Isil militants execute dozens from Yazidi minority
Fears mount for thousands from minority groups fleeing insurgent onslaught amid retreat by Kurdish forcesBaghdad: Militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) executed dozens of people from Iraq’s Yazidi minority who refused to embrace Islam, witnesses said.
Witnesses told a news agency that 67 young men were shot dead by the militants in the northern town of Sinjar, which the militants stormed on Sunday, driving off hundreds of families who had been residing in the area.
The men had been detained by the Isil militants since Sunday, witnesses added.
The Kurdish Bas News Agency reported that 88 Yazidis had been executed.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people, many of them from Iraq’s Yazidi and Turkmen minorities, are in dire need of help after fleeing the militant takeover of Sinjar, rights activists said on Monday.
According to the UN, up to 200,000 people fled the northern town when the Isil militants moved in and Kurdish peshmerga troops retreated on Sunday.
Many were Yazidis, a small community that follows a 4,000-year-old faith and has been repeatedly targeted by militants who call them “devil-worshippers” because of their unique beliefs and practices.
Sinjar was the main hub of the Yazidis in Iraq but the town of 300,000 fell to the Isil, which took the main northern city of Mosul on June 10 and this weekend secured much of its hinterland.
“What Daash [the Arabic acronym by which Isil is known] has done against the Yazidis in Sinjar is ethnic cleansing,” said Khodhr Domli, a Yazidi rights activist based in the Kurdish city of Dohuk.
“There are still thousands of people heading to Dohuk but thousands are also trapped in the Sinjar mountains,” he told AFP.
“There are old people among them, children. They have no food nor water, some have died already.”
“We last we had contact with them was last night [Sunday] but this morning we have not been able to make contact,” Domli said. “They face a double threat: nature and Daash.”
As Kurdish fighters struggled to hold back the onslaught of the militants on Iraq’s north, some 40,000 Yazidis fled the northern towns of Sinjar and Zumar, said Jawhar Ali Begg, a spokesperson for the community.
“Thousands of Yazidi people have been killed,” he said. The militant group gave the Yazidis, who follow an ancient religion with links to Zoroastrianism, an ultimatum to convert to Islam, pay a tax or face death, Begg added.
The United Nations said last month that more than 500,000 people have been displaced by the violence since June, bringing the total this year to 1.4 million, including more than 230,000 Syrian refugees.
Sinjar was also home to hundreds of families from the Turkmen Shiite minority who had fled to the nearby city of Tal Afar in the early days of the militant offensive nearly two months ago.
Ali Al Bayati, a Turkmen rights activist, said he was receiving very alarming reports about the people who had been forced back on the road on Sunday.
“Out of the 500 Turkmen Shiite families who had to flee, about 100 or more were able to reach a cement factory located about 15 kilometres outside Sinjar,” he said.
“They are still there and have nothing. They need help,” he said.
Bayati said that a larger group fleeing the raids was intercepted by Isil militants, who executed many of the men.
“The terrorists took the women as slaves and are now holding a large group at Tal Afar airport.”
The UN on Sunday expressed “grave concerns for the physical safety of these civilians” who fled Sinjar.
There was no information immediately available on the fate of the displaced from Iraq’s federal government or the autonomous Kurdish government.
What sets the Yazidis apart
The Yazidi minority faces a struggle for survival in Iraq after their bastion Sinjar was taken over by Isil militants on Sunday, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee. The existence of the small Kurdish-speaking community on its ancestral land is now critically endangered. Here are a few facts about the Yazidis:
The largest community is in Iraq — 600,000 people according to the highest Yazidi estimates, but barely 100,000 according to others — while a few thousand are also found in Syria, Turkey, Armenia and Georgia. They are mostly impoverished farmers and herders.
They follow a faith born in Mesopotamia more than 4,000 years ago. It is rooted in Zoroastrianism but has over time blended in elements of Islam and Christianity. Yazidis pray to God three times a day facing the sun and worship his seven angels — the most important of those angels being Melek Taus, or peacock angel.
Yazidis discourage marriage outside the community and even across their caste system. Their unique beliefs and practices — some are known to refrain from eating lettuce and wearing the colour blue — have often been misconstrued as satanic. Muslims consider the peacock a demon figure and refer to Yazidis as devil-worshippers.
As non-Arab and non-Muslim Iraqis, they have long been one of the country’s most vulnerable minorities. Persecution under Saddam Hussain forced thousands of families to flee the country. Germany is home to the largest community abroad, with an estimated 40,000.
Massive truck bombs almost entirely destroyed two small Yazidi villages in northern Iraq on August 14, 2007. More than 400 people died in the explosions, the single deadliest attack since the 2003 US-led invasion.
— AFP
The largest community is in Iraq — 600,000 people according to the highest Yazidi estimates, but barely 100,000 according to others — while a few thousand are also found in Syria, Turkey, Armenia and Georgia. They are mostly impoverished farmers and herders.
They follow a faith born in Mesopotamia more than 4,000 years ago. It is rooted in Zoroastrianism but has over time blended in elements of Islam and Christianity. Yazidis pray to God three times a day facing the sun and worship his seven angels — the most important of those angels being Melek Taus, or peacock angel.
Yazidis discourage marriage outside the community and even across their caste system. Their unique beliefs and practices — some are known to refrain from eating lettuce and wearing the colour blue — have often been misconstrued as satanic. Muslims consider the peacock a demon figure and refer to Yazidis as devil-worshippers.
As non-Arab and non-Muslim Iraqis, they have long been one of the country’s most vulnerable minorities. Persecution under Saddam Hussain forced thousands of families to flee the country. Germany is home to the largest community abroad, with an estimated 40,000.
Massive truck bombs almost entirely destroyed two small Yazidi villages in northern Iraq on August 14, 2007. More than 400 people died in the explosions, the single deadliest attack since the 2003 US-led invasion.
— AFP
Racism will flourish if leaders do nothing, say civil society, lawyers
Malaysians are getting bolder in displaying religious and racial hatred as the Barisan Nasional-led government has failed to act against extremists, says former Bar Council chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan.She said condoning such acts were now a licence for others to make disparaging remarks.
"People think they can do this now because others are have done it and have gotten away with it."
Ambiga (pic, left) was responding to calls to punish Kelvin Yip and Shahul Hamid Seeni Mohd who had made derogatory remarks that offended Muslims and Hindus.
Yip had posted a profane comment on his Facebook on the volume of the early morning azan, or the Muslim call to prayer.
On the other hand, Shahul was seen in a viral video telling Muslims to boycott curry powder made by "Hindu companies" such as Alagappa's and Baba's.
"If you go to the Alagappa's factory near Permatang Pauh, you will see a statue (goddess) at the entrance, and the tongue is out. Why is the tongue out? Because the goddess must taste all the curry powder before they sell it," Shahul said during a "halal and haram" forum.
Both men have apologised for their comments. But, there are calls to charge them with sedition or under the Penal Code.
Ambiga said the Sedition Act should not be used against those uttering insensitive remarks on race and religion, unless they are harmful.
"We should all condemn it in the strongest terms and that should be the end of it. To gun for them to face prosecution is not, in my view, a proportionate response."
She called on Malaysians to stop extremists from setting the tone for the country.
"I also believe that people who are in a position to mould public opinion like the Uztaz (Shahul Hamid) should be more responsible."
She said the fault lies squarely with the leadership as they allowed this to happen when they did not act against those who had encouraged racial and religious hatred.
Ambiga, who is a patron of Negara-Ku, said leaders must set the example and show that such comments were unacceptable.
"We are now witnessing unbridled racism that we have allowed, and now we want to punish them."
Lawyers for Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen (pic, left) said comments by Yip and Shahul were petty and “we should just relax and chill”."Instead of asking the state to punish, we must engage this people for making insensitive and ridiculous statements."
Civil rights lawyer Syahredzan Johan said Yip and Shahul Hamid were reflections of a generation who were not given the opportunity to experience different religions and cultures.
"Our education system had divided us as some went to national, vernacular and private schools."
Syahredzan, a member of the Malaysian Bar Council, said he agreed with a proposal by the National Unity Consultative Council that those who utter such insensitive remarks be referred to a tribunal, instead of dragging the police and the public prosecutor into this.
"We should be more tolerant and forgiving in order to make Malaysia a better place to live and work."
Law expert: Sultan needs to call state polls in S'gor
Aziz (left)
said the sultan risks being accused of “favouring” one of the
conflicting parties if he chooses to exercise his discretion to appoint a
new government, and thus a state election would be the best way to
resolve the problem.“It is just difficult for the sultan to appoint a new menteri besar in this scenario. It is difficult to see who is having majority support in the House.
“Even PKR seems to be divided, given that the Azmin (Ali) faction has yet to give their support (to Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail),” the law professor added.
“The better way is to let the people decide through an election in the state.”
Khalid appears to be 'losing his grip by the day'
Aziz said the people in Selangor desperately needed someone “in charge” and Khalid appeared to be “losing his grip by the day”.
“It is the sultan’s duty to end this stalemate and this can only be done by him allowing the people to decide,” he added.
Aziz said the sultan could either ask Khalid to produce a letter requesting for a state assembly dissolution or, if Khalid remained adamant, the sultan could dissolve the House on his own.
“It is incumbent on the sultan to make the constitutional process work,” he said.
Aziz explained that it is not arbitrary for the sultan to dissolve the state assembly without a request from the menteri besar.“It is true that in an ordinary situation, the sultan needs a request before he can dissolve the House. But if the sitting government refuses to do so and the situation gets worse, the sultan must act to save the state from deteriorating into further confusion and uncertainty,” he said.
“As of now the only way to have a government that commands the majority is through a general election.”
Aziz said that Khalid, the only person who could make a request for the dissolution of the state assembly, did not seem to be ready to do it, and this would lead to further problems in Selangor.
“Here comes the duty of the sultan to remove the clog. Admittedly, it is drastic and unprecedented. But this seems the only way.
“One needs to remember the Perak crisis of 2009, where the refusal to dissolve the House eventually dragged the palace into the mud as it denied the rakyat a say on the critical matter,” he added.
Pressured on 'racist' issues, AG fingers police
Yesterday, Sinar Harian printed on its front page in bold red and white type, ‘AG, do not sleep’, to highlight Umno Youth leaders picking a fight with Gani over what they said was selective prosecution.
The debate was kicked off by Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who complained in a Facebook posting last Friday that charging road rage perpetrator Siti Fairrah Ashykin Kamaruddin, or Kiki, without also hauling others to court may have a racial ring to it.
Khairy was commenting on a youth, Kelvin Yip, who on Facebook had angrily complained of the volume of morning prayer recitals in his vicinity during the Hari Raya celebrations, but has so far not been hauled up by the police. Umno Youth then jumped on the issue.
However, after calling the AG repeatedly, Sinar Harian said that it only received a curt response from the man himself.
Police have begun probe on Yip
“You are better off asking the police... I don’t want to answer anything,” Gani is quoted as saying by the Malay daily today.
In a related development, Kuala Lumpur police chief Tajudin Md Isa said police have began their investigation on Yip for his Facebook posting on Hari Raya prayers and called for calm.
The pressure continues to mount as more NGOs and Umno Youth members voiced out their frustrations in multiple Sinar Harian and Utusan Malaysia reports today, including a police report against Kelvin Yip being made in Malacca.
“This is not play-acting. We are not doing it for fun but to show that we are really furious as Malays,” Malacca Umno Youth vice-chairperson Rohaizam Bakar is quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia in a news report quots Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi (right) as saying that it was time for Gani to go because he is incompetent. Puad said this was his personal opinion.Puad also questioned why the case against DAP Sri Delima assemblyperson RSN Rayer was dropped.
“Why no new charges brought against Rayer for repeating his insult during a speech (outside the state assembly)? Because of that, for me Abdul Gani is incompetent and his time is up,” Mohd Puad told Utusan.
Others who voiced out in the Malay press asking Gani to take a harder stance included leaders from the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim), Permim, Pekida and the Penang Malay Congress.
Tell that to the Chinese and Indians
NO HOLDS BARRRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
RPK seems to be so involved in Malaysian politics. When he was in Malaysia, he was well respected for his open comments. But then he absconded to UK for fear of being arrested under ISA. The best thing for him to do would be to thank God that he has been given a second life to lead and mind his own affairs. It does not look right when someone who has no guts to face the music in his own country, runs to another country and starts preaching. In my opinion, he should stay out of Malaysian politics as he doesn’t belong here. I doubt many people would be bothered by his comments these days anyway.
Chandrah Na · Honolulu University of Arts & Science
************************************************
Dear Chandrah Na, thank you so much for your valuable advise. I certainly take it in the spirit of the good faith and noble intentions that it was intended. I would, however, like to reciprocate and offer you some of my own advice.
You need to be very careful with what you say because not everyone is as magnanimous as I am. Sometimes my magnanimity even amazes me myself and I wonder how I can have such a big heart unmatched by those others of my station in life.
I mean, in spite of my breeding and my standing in society, I still waste my valuable time to read what you say and give you my reply when thousands of others may find you unworthy of even the time of day, as if you are mere dog shit on the sole of their shoe.
I say be careful because Muslims might get very offended with what you say and you never know what an angry Muslim is capable of. They might feel you are insulting Prophet Muhammad who ran away from Mekah instead of staying put so that his enemies can kill him.
Together with Abu Bakar, Muhammad sneaked away in the middle of the night and hid in a cave while his enemies went all over looking for him. And then, when the coast was clear, he escaped to Yathrib, now called Medina, and stayed there for ten years until he managed to build a huge army and return to Mekah to occupy it.
The Christians, too, might get offended with what you say. The night the Romans came to arrest Jesus his 12 disciples all ran away and abandoned him. In fact, one Roman soldier recognised Peter, the man who Jesus said his church would be built upon. The Roman then asked Peter whether he was one of the machai of Jesus and Peter replied, “Who, me? A kunchu of Jesus? No way man!”
So the Christians might think you are saying that the 12 disciples are cowards for running away and for not daring to surrender to the Roman and also die on the cross like Jesus. I mean, the Christians read the books written by these people who abandoned Jesus and ran away every Sunday and they might feel very offended by your allegation.
The other people who might take offense are Malaysians of Chinese and Indian descent. From 1850 to 1920 their ancestors also ran way from China, India and Ceylon because life was very difficult in those countries.
No doubt they were economic and not political immigrants or refugees but they, too, were cowards who could not endure the hard life in their own country. Many died of starvation so they ran away from their own country to settle in British Malaya that was booming because of tin and rubber.
Today, about one million descendants of those people who ran away from China, India and Ceylon to come to British Malaya have themselves run away to other countries such as Canada, America, Australia, New Zealand, England and so on. Some even ran away to non-English speaking countries such as France, Germany, etc.
Of course, they ran away from Malaysia because they can earn better salaries in these other countries and, therefore, enjoy a better life compared to life in Malaysia. In a way they are not loyal Malaysians because they would rather migrate for a better life instead of suffering in their own country.
On top of that, many of these Chinese and Indians who abandoned Malaysia, the country of their birth, have joined ABU, SABM, Bersih, and so on, to protest against the Malaysian government. Since, as you say, they have already run away, why are they so kaypoh about what is happening in Malaysia?
As you have rightly pointed out, they should “stay out of Malaysian politics, as they do not belong here.” Just stay quietly in your new adopted country and jangan sibuk sangat about Malaysia. So I support your spirit of if you do not live in Malaysia then stay the fuck out of Malaysian politics, especially those Chinese and Indian Malaysians living overseas whose ancestors ran away from their own country.
If you were to study the last 500 years history of Europe you will know that many French ran away to England and many English ran away to France because of politics. If not they would have been killed in their own countries.
Even in modern times we had people like Dr Sun Yat-sen, Leon Trotsky, Vladimir Lenin, Ruhollah Khomeini, Fidel Castro and his brother, Raúl, all heroes of the revolution, who ran away and went into exile to continue their struggle instead of staying in their own country and face arrest. Only when it was safe did all these people return to their country.
As I said, Chandrah Na, I am open to criticism because I was raised in a very different manner than, say, you. But not many people are as civilised as I am and they will certainly be very offended by what they might view as your insult. So be very careful lest they take what you say the wrong way.
Oh, and do reply because I really do not mind engaging you in an intelligent and intellectual discourse. I do not want people to interpret your silence as a coward who runs away from a debate because he did not know his history and is not able to respond to what I have said.
Till we talk again, take care and do read up a bit on history if you can find the time.
Oh, and one more thing. You said I should thank God. Which of your many Gods should I be thanking? Or should I thank the whole lot of them?
Pakatan ready to face snap polls, says Anwar
(The Star) – Pakatan Rakyat is ready to face the electorate in snap polls in the event one is called, said opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic).
In a statement on Tuesday, Anwar said that while there were no objective reasons for such an election, he was confident that the people would vote in the opposition pact again.
Anwar said he was confident that the leadership crisis plaguing Selangor could be resolved amicably in the “true Pakatan spirit” either through a smooth transition, vote of no-confidence or even, snap elections.
In the May 8 General Elections last year, Pakatan won 44 state seats in Selangor with Barisan Nasional winning the remainder 12 seats.
Pakatan is currently facing a tough test as the Selangor Mentri Besar crisis plays out.
While PKR have officially backed Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to take over the Mentri Besar’s post currently held by Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, PAS’ senior leaders have publicly said that they do not see any need for Khalid to be replaced.
Khalid has previously said that he will not step down although he does not have the backing of his party.
The issue is seen as a litmus test for Pakatan, with some even predicting the split up of the opposition pact.
Anwar said that the Pakatan leadership had an understanding as to whose call it was to appoint the Mentri Besar, just as they had respected the right of other parties to make that decision in other states.
“That understanding must be adhered to,” said Anwar.
Anwar also said that Pakatan would not break up over the Mentri Besar issue but it can and will break up if its component parties compromise on core principles of integrity, transparency and accountability in government.
“It was on these principles that Pakatan Rakyat was formed to provide an alternative choice of government for the people,” he said.
He added that Pakatan was built on commitment and conviction and it was this strength that had propelled the coalition partners to fight side-by-side in the last elections.
Anwar said the coalition must therefore consolidate this strength to remain together and resist all attempts to break it apart.
“Each member party of the coalition must therefore respect collective decisions made after consultation. Failure to respect and honour this principle of adherence may warrant some difficult decisions to be made,” he said.
Anwar also added that they were equally concerned at the divisive and racist tone by some minor Pakatan leaders that “completely violated” the core values of the coalition.
“We believe the appropriate disciplinary action should be directed against such members,” he said.
He said that any tough decisions made will be in the best interests of the rakyat and for the sake of the rakyat.
“Whether or not we lose support for the stand we take, we will be forever committed to the goal of a just, corruption-free and truly democratic Malaysia,” he said.
Southeast Asia Supplying Jihadists to Middle East?
Growing trickle crosses borders to help found the CaliphateBy Asia Sentinel,
Southeast Asian governments with large Muslim populations are concerned that the nascent Islamic State of Iraq and Sham, better known by its initials ISIS, or its Islamic rival the al-Nusrah Front, are recruiting a trickle of young for battle and raising funds throughout the region.
“Basically we have had them going to Syria since late 2012,” said Sidney Jones, the director of the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis. “Mostly their purpose was to provide humanitarian aid, but it has started to metamorphose into joining the fighting. Asians have gone into the main camps, fighting in Syria and Iraq.”
In Indonesia, Malaysia and to a lesser extent the Philippines, networks are growing involving dozens, perhaps hundreds of people where support for ISIS, including fundraising oath-taking, takes place, Jones said. But so far the numbers making their way to the battle front remain small and the governments are trying to block social media from exhorting the young to join. Malaysia is actively using its Securities and Special Measures Act, its successor to the infamous Internal Security Act, to arrest and hold potential terrorists. In April and May, officials arrested 11 people who were accused of fundraising for ISIS.
Possibly 100 to 150 young fighters have made their way to Syria or Iraq from Indonesia since the attempt to overthrow the Bashir regime in Damascus, authorities think, although they have the names of only 56. There are perhaps 30 to 50 from Malaysia, Jones said, far from the 11,000 to 12,000 fighters that other organizations believe have made their way from Europe and Australia. Southeast Asians mostly don’t speak Arabic, creating a language barrier, while Australians and Europeans tend to be from expatriate Arab families. The young also tend to find themselves more isolated and alienated in western societies unlike in Asia, where they are more connected to their families and to society.
A story in the Straits Times of Singapore put the number of Malaysians in Syria at 100. The Syrian permanent representative to the United Nations reported in June that 15 had been killed in Syria after joining jihadist outfits. But that can’t be confirmed and it’s thought to be exaggerated and Malaysian authorities haven’t been able to find the names of any of them.
“Despite what we are seeing in some corners of the local media, there is unlikely to be an exodus of Filipino Muslims leaving their homeland to take up the cause of ISIS outside of the Philippines,” said Matt Williams, with Pacific Strategies & Assessments n Manila. “The Abu Sayyaf, who once maintained links with Al Qaeda, are now criminally motivated and lack the fanatical ideology that drives organizations like JI or ISIS. The greater concern is that the recent wave of ISIS success may spark renewed ideological zeal in the coming generation of Abu Sayyaf members and a return to a terrorism agenda. At present, Muslim extremism in the Philippines is about clan warfare, insurgency and criminal enterprise as opposed to global terrorism.”
Malaysia awakened to the problem with a bang on May 26, when a quiet 26-year-old former factory worker named Ahmad Tarmimi Maliki drove an SUV filled with tons of explosives into the headquarters of Iraq’s special weapons and attack team in al-Anbar Province, killing himself and 25 Iraqi soldiers. ISIS, with its scrupulous attention to furthering its exploits via social media, featured his photograph on its official website with the title, “Mujahidin Malaysia Syahid Dalam Operasi Martyrdom” (Malaysian Muhahidin Martyrdom Operation).
Indonesia’s first recorded death was in November of last year, when Syrian rebel forces of the al-Izz Brigade said Riza Fardi, a 2006 graduate of radical Indonesian imam Abu Bakar Bashir, had been shot and killed by Syrian forces. Like Ahmad Tarmimi, he has since been called a martyr and his bloody body has been displayed on social media across the region.
The Jakarta Globe in mid-July reported that Indonesians who joined the fighting across the Middle East have since returned to establish ISIS branches in Jakarta and West Nusa Tenggara. Indonesia has carried on a ruthless and largely effective campaign to rid the country of radical Islamists for years, killing many of them.
Nonetheless, as with Tarmimi and Reza Farmi, Jones said in a Skype interview, ISIS has shown uncommon dexterity with social media to raise funds and seek recruits. Indonesia has responded by attempting to block YouTube videos featuring calls to local Muslims to sign up and by threatening to designate anybody who declares allegiance to ISIS as stateless, suspending their passports. Communications and Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring said earlier this week that the videos were uploaded late last month.
“We will immediately follow up on the result … concerning the ISIS videos,” Tifatul told reporters. “We will immediately block the videos.”
The concern on the part of Southeast Asian leaders is that the young, as they did during the Afghan War against the then-Soviet Union, would come back to take on their own governments. Many of them came back from Afghanistan battle-hardened to take on the Suharto government and successive governments in both Indonesia and the Philippines. But, Jones said, the young going to the Middle East are heeding the call to establish a Muslim kingdom across the region, not to fight their own governments.
Thus the battle for Syria, Jones said, carries special resonance with young Muslims because of a prediction, contained in the hadith, or sayings by the Prophet Mohamad not contained in the Quran that Greater Syria, or Sham, is where the battle for control of the world will begin at the end of time, and that Islam will be victorious. ISIS’s ambition is to re-establish a caliphate across much of the Middle East, an ambition that has filled the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the oil rich states with dread. It is opposed by Iran, whose Shia government is in bitter conflict with majority Sunnis who make up most of the Islamic world.
The Sunni roots of ISIS raise further concerns when the young who aren’t martyred in the Middle East return home, Jones said. There are tiny Shia minorities in Indonesia and Malaysia, where authorities already prohibit them from practicing their faith. Whether the Sunnis will attack the minority Shias is a growing danger.
There is a bitter split, however, between ISIS, which emerged from the al-Qaeda insurgency in Iraq led by the late Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, according to a report by Jones’ Institute for Policy Analysis, and the al-Nusrah Front. The two have squabbled over leadership of the effort to bring down Syrian head Bashir Ahmad. That has spilled out into Indonesia, where. In 2006, it became the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI). Abu Bakr al-Bagh dadi became its leader in 2010. In 2013, al-Baghdadi announced that the al-Nusrah Front was ISI’s front in Syria and that the two groups would henceforth work together as the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS), which he would head.
The al-Nusrah Front wanted no part of this, especially when members were ordered to swear allegiance to al-Baghdadi, and the split became deep and dangerous. At that point, al-Nusrah associated itself more explicitly with Osama bin Laden’s designated successor, Aiman az-Zawaheri.
“So far, Jones said, “we no evidence that the ISIS central command is providing funds or trainers throughout Southeast Asia, but the real concern is that it could be imminent. There is persistent discussion on social media about ISIS personnel coming to Indonesia, but we don’t think we have seen any yet.”
Pakatan tidak akan berkompromi pada prinsip-prinsip dasar
5 OGOS 2014
Pakatan tidak akan berkompromi pada prinsip-prinsip dasar
Banyak telah diperkatakan semenjak beberapa minggu lalu akan kemungkinan pecahnya Pakatan Rakyat akibat pergeseran di antara PKR dan PAS berkenaan dengan pilihan calon Menteri Besar Selangor.
Ingin saya menegaskan bahawa Pakatan Rakyat tidak akan berpecah semata-mata kerana pilihan calon Menteri Besar. Sebaliknya, PR boleh dan akan hanya berpecah sekiranya ada parti komponennya yang sanggup berkompromi dalam prinsip-prinsip dasar seperti kewibawaan, ketelusan dan kebertanggungjawaban di dalam pengurusan kerajaan.
Atas prinsip-prinsip inilah Pakatan Rakyat dizahirkan sebagai sebuah kerajaan alternatif untuk rakyat. Prinsip-prinsip ini juga telah dicabuli oleh kerajaan BN ketika ianya berkuasa pada lima dekad yang lalu.
Keputusan PRU ke-12 pada 8 Mac 2008 telah menunjukkan dengan jelas bahawa perjuangan PR yang berpaksikan di atas prinsip-prinsip ini telah diterima baik oleh rakyat yang rata-ratanya mengharapkan sebuah kerajaan yang bersih, berprinsip dan bersungguh-sungguh dalam membela kepentingan rakyat.
Dalam usaha murni ini, gabungan Pakatan bersama dengan semua yang menyokong usaha ini telah bersama-sama menggembleng tenaga pada PRU ke-13 dalam menghadapi cabaran amat hebat untuk terus memberikan harapan kepada rakyat Malaysia. Usaha kita tidak sia-sia, kerana kita telah memenangi jiwa dan minda majoriti pengundi Malaysia walaupun kita dihalang daripada membentuk sebuah kerajaan.
Perkara penting yang perlu difahami adalah sebuah pakatan pembangkang yang kuat telah berjaya menekan kerajaan untuk menjadi lebih bertanggungjawab dan mengekang sebahagian daripada keborosan mereka. Bagaimanapun, perjuangan untuk sebuah kerajaan yang benar-benar bersih dan telus masih perlu diteruskan.
Kekuatan ini tidak boleh dibina atas dasar keinginan dan impian semata, lebih bahaya lagi sekiraya kekuatan ini dilandaskan dengan perasaan curiga, dendam dan irihati. Ianya perlu dibina atas iltizam dan kenyakinan, dan inilah kekuatan yang telah mendorong rakan kongsi PR untuk berjuang bersama-sama pada PRU 13 yang lalu.
Justeru, kita perlu menyatukan kekuatan ini untuk terus kekal bersama dan terus menolak sebarang percubaan untuk memecahbelahkan kita. Setiap parti di dalam gabungan ini wajib menghormati sebarang keputusan yang dicapai selepas rundingan bersama. Kegagalan untuk menghormati dan menunaikan kewajipan ini bakal memaksa kita membuat beberapa keputusan yang sukar.
Persefahaman akan hak lantikan MB Selangor telahpun wujud di kalangan pimpinan PR, sepertimana PKR juga telah bersetuju akan hak parti-parti lain dalam membuat keputusan yang sama di negeri-negeri lain. Persefahaman ini wajib dipatuhi.
Kita yakin bahawa isu MB Selangor ini akan diselesaikan dengan baik sesuai dengan semangat Pakatan Rakyat, samada diselesaikan melalui proses peralihan yang lancar, undi tidak percaya mahupun pilihanraya. Namun begitu, tidak ada sebarang keperluan untuk mengadakan pilihanraya kerana Barisan hanya ada 12 kerusi di kalangan 56 kerusi DUN dan PRU-13 hanya diadakan kira-kira 15 bulan yang lalu.
Walaubagaimanapun, sekiranya pilihanraya terpaksa dilakukan, Pakatan telah bersedia untuk menghadapi para pengundi dan berkeyakinan penuh bahawa rakyat Selangor akan sekali lagi menyokong kita.
Kita juga bimbang akan nada perkauman dan perpecahan yang disuarakan oleh segelintir pimpinan kecil Pakatan yang jelasnya mencabuli nilai-nilai asas PR. Kami berpendapat bahawa tindakan disiplin yang sewajarnya perlu diambil ke atas golongan ini.
Rakyat perlu diyakinkan bahawa sekiranya beberapa keputusan sukar perlu dibuat, ianya akan dibuat hanya setelah mengambilkira kepentingan rakyat dan dibuat untuk maslahah atau kepentingan rakyat. Samada kita hilang sokongan akibat pendirian yang kita ambil, kita akan terus beristiqamah dan komited dengan matlamat untuk membentuk Malaysia yang lebih adil, bebas korupsi dan benar-benar demokratik.
Jaminan kita adalah bahawa kita tidak akan sesekali menyimpang daripada nilai-nilai asas dan kita akan terus memastikan kepentingan rakyat tetap didahulukan.
Kita yakin dan percaya bahawa peristiwa ini akan terus mematangkan dan memperkasakan kita. Rakyat telah menaruh kepercayaan kepada kita dan kita wajib memastikan kita wajar dipercayai dan kepercayaan rakyat jangan kita khianati.
Walau apapun yang bakal berlaku, Pakatan, bersandarkan tekad rakyat, akan terus bertahan! Insya Allah!
ANWAR IBRAHIM
On authorities’ alleged selective prosecution – Lim Chee Wee
Recent attempts to question the authorities’ purported inaction over cases involving non-Muslims’ alleged disrespect for Islam will only heighten racial tension. This is most irresponsible and unnecessary at a time when we can do with more goodwill among the different races.
On Sunday, Mingguan Malaysia in a column by Awang Selamat and Federal Territory Umno Youth chief, Mohd Razlan Muhammad Rafii had suggested that the authorities practiced selective prosecution by not acting against those who had insulted Islam. The argument was that Islamic preacher Shahul Hamid was swiftly picked up for questioning after a video of him insulting Hindus went viral on social media. Meanwhile, two individuals who had made disparaging remarks about Islam are still on the loose.
Such comments raise two issues: firstly, prosecutorial discretion and secondly, what is the solution to interfaith differences. It is a universally accepted practice and policy that not all suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution. The dominant consideration is whether it is in the public interest to prosecute and another consideration is whether there are mitigating circumstances such as admission of guilt/apology. Sometimes, prosecutorial discretion is perceived to result in double standard prosecution.
Neither Mingguan Malaysia nor Mohd Razlan provided empirical evidence to back its argument about rise in anti-Islam behaviour and how Singapore was swift in managing interfaith differences. Such emotive generalisation does not serve to improve the discourse. Perhaps, they have forgotten that Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee were charged last year under the Sedition Act for insulting the Muslims.
On the second point about solution to interfaith differences, it is time for us to move beyond prosecution and punishment. We must start debating the role of education, understanding, engagement, mediation and civil law remedy in resolving interfaith differences. – August 8, 2014.
*Lim Chee Wee is the co-president of Centre For A Better Tomorrow.
*This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
On Sunday, Mingguan Malaysia in a column by Awang Selamat and Federal Territory Umno Youth chief, Mohd Razlan Muhammad Rafii had suggested that the authorities practiced selective prosecution by not acting against those who had insulted Islam. The argument was that Islamic preacher Shahul Hamid was swiftly picked up for questioning after a video of him insulting Hindus went viral on social media. Meanwhile, two individuals who had made disparaging remarks about Islam are still on the loose.
Such comments raise two issues: firstly, prosecutorial discretion and secondly, what is the solution to interfaith differences. It is a universally accepted practice and policy that not all suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution. The dominant consideration is whether it is in the public interest to prosecute and another consideration is whether there are mitigating circumstances such as admission of guilt/apology. Sometimes, prosecutorial discretion is perceived to result in double standard prosecution.
Neither Mingguan Malaysia nor Mohd Razlan provided empirical evidence to back its argument about rise in anti-Islam behaviour and how Singapore was swift in managing interfaith differences. Such emotive generalisation does not serve to improve the discourse. Perhaps, they have forgotten that Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee were charged last year under the Sedition Act for insulting the Muslims.
On the second point about solution to interfaith differences, it is time for us to move beyond prosecution and punishment. We must start debating the role of education, understanding, engagement, mediation and civil law remedy in resolving interfaith differences. – August 8, 2014.
*Lim Chee Wee is the co-president of Centre For A Better Tomorrow.
*This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
Harmony bill needs study, not ready this year, says minister
The Malaysian Insider
The
National Harmony Bill, among the laws being proposed to replace the
Sedition Act 1948, may not be ready this year as it needs more scrutiny
before it can be tabled in Parliament, said a minister.
"We
need to really consider...(it) is better to have something that is
really useful to the people, something that will help (to unite) the
people instead of causing more break ups among the people. You see that
what is happening now is provocation through the social media," Minister
in the Prime Minister's Department, Nancy Shukri (pic), was quoted as
saying by Bernama.
The
bill is among two other bills proposed to replace the Sedition Act
1948. They are the Racial and Religious Hate Crimes Bill, which outlaws
hate speech, and the National Harmony and Reconciliation Commission
Bill, which sets out the scope of the body which will hear
discrimination disputes before they go to court.
The
three bills have been submitted to Nancy by the National Unity
Consultative Council's Policies to Promote National Harmony and
Legislation Committee.
Some quarters have voiced reservations about the bill while calling for Sedition Act to be maintained.
Last month, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he wanted certain elements in the Sedition Act to be incorporated.
"Racial, religious and cultural issues should be comprehensively covered in the National Harmony Act," said Zahid.
Nancy
said it was difficult to set a time frame for the completion of the
bill's draft, adding that the Attorney-General's Chamber was still
studying feedback from various parties, and working with the National
Unity Department. – August 5, 2014.
Police shoots teenager dead
The Sun Daily
by Charles Ramendran
by Charles Ramendran
PETALING
JAYA: A suspected teenage robber was shot dead by police when he
confronted them with a parang following a chase in Taman Medan here
today.
The
19-year-old teenager who was driving a stolen car had earlier made a
robbery attempt on a man on Jalan PJS1/2 at about 4.30am.
He sped off empty handed with an accomplice on seeing several passer-by coming to the victim's aid.
Police
were alerted and were on the lookout for the suspects when two
detectives on patrols spotted the suspect's car at Jalan PJS3/1.
On realising the police were on their trail, the suspects pulled over, jumped out of their vehicle and fled on foot.
Selangor
police CID chief SAC Datuk Mohd Adnan Abdullah said a policeman managed
to catch up with a suspect but the teenager whipped out a parang and
repeatedly swung it at him.
He
said on seeing the policeman was in danger, his colleague pulled out
his pistol and fired a gunshot which hit the suspect in his abdomen.
The
suspect died on the spot minutes later and a hunt for his accomplice
who managed to escape is ongoing. It is learnt that the suspect's
accomplice was arrested by police just weeks ago for an undisclosed
offence and was freed on bail.
Checks
by police showed that the suspect's vehicle, a Toyota Alphard was
fitted with false registration plates and was reported stolen in Puchong
last week.
Meanwhile,
it is learnt that dissatisfied family members of the suspect who showed
up at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre mortuary to claim his body
had accused the police of high-handedness in handling the case.
They
claimed that the suspect was a good person but mingled with bad company
and that the police should not have opened gunfire to kill but only
disarm the suspect.
11 Appointed To Education Advisory Council For 2014-2016
PUTRAJAYA,
Aug 5 (Bernama) -- Eleven people prominent in various fields have been
appointed as members of the National Education Advisory Council (MPPK)
for 2014-2016, effective Aug 1.They are Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Pro-Chancellor and former director-general of education Tan Sri Dr Abdul Rahman Arshad, who will also chair the council; National Council of Professors chairman Tan Sri Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid; National Population and Family Development Board chairman Tan Sri Napsiah Omar; Islamic Dakwah Foundation of Malaysia president Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki; Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan; Gazprom Marketing & Trading Pte Ltd (Singapore) Asia Pacific managing director Datuk Mohammad Medan Abdullah.
Universiti Tun Abdul Razak founder Datuk Hassan Harun; Universiti Malaysia Sabah vice-chancellor Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah; Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) principal research fellow Datuk Prof Dr Teo Kok Seong; UKM Institute of Ethnic Studies principal research fellow Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria and Sekolah Menengah Sri KDU principal Datin Ong Guan Siew or better known as Datin A.K. Chan.
Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin handed them their letters of appointment in Putrajaya, Tuesday.
At the event, Muhyiddin said the roles of MPPK would be standardised, which also saw the increase in the number of its members to 11 from nine previously, in line with the merger of Education Ministry and the Higher Education Ministry.
He said the council would play a role in providing advice on matters concerning national education, right from pre-school to tertiary level, compared to only up to secondary level previously.
"It is hoped that these new MPPK members, with their various backgrounds and expertise, will be able to give their professional opinions and advice in education-related matters to assist the ministry in ensuring success of the National Education Blueprint (PPPM) 2013-2025 and the National Higher Education Strategic Plan (PSPTN)," he said.
The deputy prime minister said the importance of the setting up of the council was stipulated under the Education Act 1961 and was further emphasized under Section 10 of the Education Act 1996 (Act 550).
He said he would personally chair the council's meeting for at least twice a year to listen to their views and advice concerning national education, especially on the implementation of PPPM and PSPTN, as well as on the continuity of education from primary, secondary and up to tertiary level.
"We practise quite an open concept. Although we have certain policies which we implement upon Cabinet approval and based on the law, we always remain open because education is a very dynamic process and it changes everytime," he said.
Muhyiddin said the ministry had also carried out review on PSPTN, which would be renamed as the Malaysian Higher Education Blueprint 2015-2025 and scheduled to be launched at the end of this year.
The deputy prime minister also expressed appreciation to former members of the council led by Tan Sri Dr Wan Mohd Zahid Mohd Noordin, who he described as having made a huge contribution when they submitted the memorandum for a review on the national education and the setting up a committee that came out with the PPPM.
Meanwhile, Abdul Rahman described his appointment as a huge challenge since various problems and issues in the education sector need to be addressed.
Abdul Rahman, who is also Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Pro-Chancellor, said this would include the effort to put a balance in the distribution of aid to schools in urban and rural areas across the country.
"I see this as a huge challenge and may take some time, but I also see the council comprises people prominent in various fields.
"We will try to improve and give our level best (to the effort)," he told reporters after receiving his letter of appointment from Muhyiddin.
Abdul Rahman said the scope of their duties was huge as they must look into educational issues from the pre-school level up to higher education level and the continuity at each level.
The former director-general of Education also said that among the issues that should be given extra attention were school curriculum and trainings for teachers.
"Education must have several objectives, including developing national economy, social and humanitarian, as well as spiritual and responsibility. So, this must be given more emphasis," he said.
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
Man held for torching wife over ‘not having son’
The suspect, however, denies the allegation and alleges the woman attempted self-immolation following a domestic row.
A case has been lodged against the suspect under sections 324, 147 and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the report of Muhammad Sarwar, the victim’s brother. The police have arrested the suspect.
According to the FIR, the suspect, Jameel, who had two daughters -- one some three years old and the other one-year old — would often quarrel with his wife Asma Bibi over not bearing a baby boy. Following such a quarrel on Sunday he poured kerosene on her and set her on fire.
The injured woman was immediately shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Kharian, from where she was referred to the Mayo Hospital, Lahore, in critical condition.
According to police, the suspect refuted the allegation of burning his wife, claiming she attempted self-immolation following a domestic quarrel.
Police were yet to record the victim’s statement and were waiting for her to be stable.
Published in Dawn, Aug 4th, 2014
http://www.dawn.com/news/1123165/man-held-for-torching-wife-over-not-having-son
Meerut on boil over alleged gang-rape, forced conversion
By Ajith Vijay Kumar
Meerut: Even before communal embers get extinguished in Saharanpur, tension gripped neighbouring Meerut after a young madrasa teacher alleged gang-rape and forced conversion into a community.
The 20-year-old, who was a regular teacher of Hindi and English in the Sarawa village madrasa in Kharkhauda, alleged that she was abducted on July 23 and taken to a madrasa in Hapur and later shifted to another one in Muzaffarnagar. She claimed that she was gang-raped and later forced to adopt the religion of a particular community and her named changed.
The woman managed to escape from captivity on August 2 and contacted her family who rescued her and later filed a complaint with the police.
Of the four persons named in the FIR, village chief of Sarawa and a madrasa official have been arrested and a hunt is on for the other two. The SHO of Kharkhauda has also been removed from his post.
The victim later claimed that she had seen 40 more girls in the Muzaffarnagar madrasa. She said they have been kept in captivity in a secret underground room.
With tensions rising and BJP leaders demanding complete probe, the UP Police searched the said madrasa only to find – reportedly – around 15 girls who had been registered there as having come there on a vacation. The police also failed to find any trace of a secret cellar.
The girl was taken for medical examination yesterday. She has claimed that her stomach was sliced, fuelling fears that the whole issue may be linked to a organ transplant racket.
The district administration is maintaining a strict vigil in the area.
Police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel were deployed in the area after members of a particular communities attacked and pelted stone at the houses of members of another community last night in Kharkhauda and Atrada areas.
According to Superintendent of Police (rural) Captain MS Begh, the 20-year-old woman's father had lodged a complaint last night in Kharkhauda police station against Village Pradhan Nawab Khan, cleric Sallaullah, his wife and daughter Nishant for abduction and rape, as per PTI.
Begh said, the woman managed to escape and returned to her house on July 30 and narrated her ordeal to her parents.
He said the woman's medical examination has confirmed rape and cuts were found on her abdomen. He rejected media reports that the girl's kidney had been removed.
Meerut District magistrate Pankaj Yadav today said that Sallaullah, his wife and daughter have been arrested. Since the incident occurred in Hapud, he said the final decision post magisterial inquiry into the matter will be taken by Hapud district magistrate.
A magisterial inquiry into the incident will be conducted by Deputy District Collector SP Singh, who will submit a report within a week, District Magistrate (Hapud) Rajesh Kumar Singh said.
With PTI inputs
Students speak about extremism, racism and role in national unity
It was lively discussion, where the youth, encouraged by the informal setting and Saifuddin’s willingness to respond to their questions, spoke on issues that mattered to them, including national unity, and listened attentively as he addressed their concerns.
As Saifuddin said later: "Their questions are a reflection of what young people are thinking about today.”
A student from a private university asked Saifuddin what youth could do to push for national unity in Malaysia.
Saifuddin suggested that they could join non-governmental organisations such as Friendship Group for Inter Religious Service (FGIS) which fostered unity through understanding each other’s religion.
"This is one good group to join. The message is to do things together. Discussing issues is also important but doing something together is more important," he said at the roundtable yesterday held at Sunway University.
The roundtable on national unity was organised by Selangor MUN, the first independent Model United Nations (MUN) programme in Malaysia and GMMF.
The roundtable was part of its third annual conference for more than 200 youths from Malaysia, the United Kingdom and Singapore.
At MUN conferences, students role-play world leaders to simulate proceedings at the various UN affiliated organisations.
Another student asked if identifying themselves by race could be synonymous with national unity while several wanted to know why non-Muslims had to convert to Islam when marrying a Muslim, to which Saifuddin said that it was a law of Islam.
Many of the youth pointed out how race-based policies were seeping into education, with scholarships and places in public universities being prioritised for certain races first and asked what the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) was doing about this.
Saifuddin, who is also the NUCC's law and policy committee member, said that it had decided not to include education as one of its areas to work on because at that time, the National Education Blueprint had just been introduced.
"We wanted to give it time to take into effect. So we decided not to include it," he said.
Addressing concerns over introducing one stream for all schools, the former deputy higher education minister admitted that although that was the ideal to foster unity, in practicality, "choice was better".
"So, we need to balance between the national curriculum and the choice we allow parents to make on whether or not to send their children to national schools or vernacular schools," he said.
"My take is, unity is not about uniformity. If we have to live with two systems in Malaysia, so be it. It doesn't mean we cannot achieve unity if we also have vernacular schools.”
A student, a basketball player, said how sports played a big part in bringing Malaysians together.
"There is that unity when people get together to support Malaysian teams competing in international games," he said.
Saifuddin agreed, adding that sports were the best area to foster national unity.
"When we go to a stadium to support Harimau Malaya (Malaysia's football team), we wear the team's colours and we are united in cheering them on," he added.
Several students also told Saifuddin that they were disturbed by the voices of extremists, such as Perkasa and Isma, which were getting louder than those of the moderates, with some saying that such issues have been sensationalised by the media.
"I only wish there is some platform where all religious authorities can sit down and address these issues," Saifuddin said.
He later said the issues highlighted by the student leaders had been raised in dialogues organised by the NUCC.
"They were quite candid in their observations. One or two issues that might normally be considered sensitive were raised but in a civil manner.”
Sacking of Khalid discussed at PKR meeting - Malaysiakini
Abdul Khalid Ibrahim may be sacked as a PKR member if he continues to cling on to his Selangor menteri besar post, a party insider said today.
The possible sacking of Khalid from the party was discussed at the PKR political bureau meeting at its headquarters in Tropicana, Petaling Jaya, last night, the source said.
"Although we see this as one of the ways to make Khalid vacate the post, it will look bad on the party," the source told Malaysiakini on condition of anonymity.
However when asked about this today, party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told Malaysiakini there was no mention of the word "sacking" in the meeting.
Khalid's defiance to the request by PKR to vacate the post of menteri besar has irked PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim (above), who appears to be in a quandary now.
This is especially so with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and the Islamic party's spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat expressing their support for Khalid to stay in his post.
The position taken by the PAS leadership has also opened the possibility of a split in Pakatan, although Anwar has dismissed this, saying there was no indication of this and that all the member parties were committed to the coalition’s spirit of cooperation.
Just before the Hari Raya Aidil Fitri celebration, Anwar announced that his wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (right) will be new Selangor menteri besar, but this was not taken well by some factions within the party, even though no one defended Khalid to stay on.
The July 19 announcement came after an intense and heated meeting of the PKR leadership, including MPs and state assemblypersons from all over the country.
The source said last night’s meeting, which ended at midnight, also discussed putting up an alternative name for Khalid's replacement.
Azmin's name too comes in
The party, he said, would, besides Wan Azizah, propose another name as well for the post to the Pakatan Rakyat leadership council.
Gombak parliamentarian Azmin Ali, who is leading the race for the post of PKR deputy president, would be the other person the party would propose to its allies - DAP and PAS - so that the two parties can come to a decision on the matter in their respective central committee meetings on Aug 10.
The source said PAS would most likely accept Azmin, as the party has shown resistance toward putting up Wan Azizah as the head of the Selangor government.
He said DAP leaders had no problem with either Wan Azizah or Azmin, as long as Khalid was replaced.
The source said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng's latest statement that all parties must first decide if they can accept a woman to be menteri besar, showed the party was open to another candidate.
"The decision to name Azmin as an alternative is based on the fact that his name was proposed by seven people at the last special meeting PKR held at its headquarters before Hari Raya," the source said.
"One of the leaders who proposed Azmin's name is Penang PKR chief Mansor Othman, who is closest to Anwar in the northern region," the source added.
He said the party may not have a choice but to propose two names, in order to appease the various factions in DAP, PKR and PAS that supports Azmin (above).
He added that these factions feel Azmin would be best to replace Khalid due to his loyalty to the party since 1998 - during the reformasi days - and due to his support from PKR grassroots especially in Selangor, considering his performance at the party's internal polls.
Azmin has remained in the lead for the deputy president post against Khalid and Saifuddin (right).
This group feels that Selangor needs an MB who can come out strongly against arch rival Umno, and that Azmin is the best person to do so as he has led Pakatan Rakyat to victory in the 2008 and 2013 general polls.
Speaking in his capacity as secretary-general, Saifuddin today dispelled talk of alternative candidates, insisting that Wan Azizah is the sole candidate and Azmin has endorsed this.
Azmin himself has been very quiet about the whole Selangor MB fiasco and has declined requests for interviews with the press.
However, it is learnt that Azmin, since he returned from a 10-day pilgrimage to Mecca, has held serious and private discussions with Anwar, DAP and PAS leaders to find a solution to the Selangor problem.
- See more at: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/270519#sthash.D3gKTlJQ.dpuf
The possible sacking of Khalid from the party was discussed at the PKR political bureau meeting at its headquarters in Tropicana, Petaling Jaya, last night, the source said.
"Although we see this as one of the ways to make Khalid vacate the post, it will look bad on the party," the source told Malaysiakini on condition of anonymity.However when asked about this today, party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told Malaysiakini there was no mention of the word "sacking" in the meeting.
Khalid's defiance to the request by PKR to vacate the post of menteri besar has irked PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim (above), who appears to be in a quandary now.
This is especially so with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and the Islamic party's spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat expressing their support for Khalid to stay in his post.
The position taken by the PAS leadership has also opened the possibility of a split in Pakatan, although Anwar has dismissed this, saying there was no indication of this and that all the member parties were committed to the coalition’s spirit of cooperation.
Just before the Hari Raya Aidil Fitri celebration, Anwar announced that his wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (right) will be new Selangor menteri besar, but this was not taken well by some factions within the party, even though no one defended Khalid to stay on.The July 19 announcement came after an intense and heated meeting of the PKR leadership, including MPs and state assemblypersons from all over the country.
The source said last night’s meeting, which ended at midnight, also discussed putting up an alternative name for Khalid's replacement.
Azmin's name too comes in
The party, he said, would, besides Wan Azizah, propose another name as well for the post to the Pakatan Rakyat leadership council.
Gombak parliamentarian Azmin Ali, who is leading the race for the post of PKR deputy president, would be the other person the party would propose to its allies - DAP and PAS - so that the two parties can come to a decision on the matter in their respective central committee meetings on Aug 10.
The source said PAS would most likely accept Azmin, as the party has shown resistance toward putting up Wan Azizah as the head of the Selangor government.
He said DAP leaders had no problem with either Wan Azizah or Azmin, as long as Khalid was replaced.
The source said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng's latest statement that all parties must first decide if they can accept a woman to be menteri besar, showed the party was open to another candidate.
"The decision to name Azmin as an alternative is based on the fact that his name was proposed by seven people at the last special meeting PKR held at its headquarters before Hari Raya," the source said."One of the leaders who proposed Azmin's name is Penang PKR chief Mansor Othman, who is closest to Anwar in the northern region," the source added.
He said the party may not have a choice but to propose two names, in order to appease the various factions in DAP, PKR and PAS that supports Azmin (above).
He added that these factions feel Azmin would be best to replace Khalid due to his loyalty to the party since 1998 - during the reformasi days - and due to his support from PKR grassroots especially in Selangor, considering his performance at the party's internal polls.
Azmin has remained in the lead for the deputy president post against Khalid and Saifuddin (right).This group feels that Selangor needs an MB who can come out strongly against arch rival Umno, and that Azmin is the best person to do so as he has led Pakatan Rakyat to victory in the 2008 and 2013 general polls.
Speaking in his capacity as secretary-general, Saifuddin today dispelled talk of alternative candidates, insisting that Wan Azizah is the sole candidate and Azmin has endorsed this.
Azmin himself has been very quiet about the whole Selangor MB fiasco and has declined requests for interviews with the press.
However, it is learnt that Azmin, since he returned from a 10-day pilgrimage to Mecca, has held serious and private discussions with Anwar, DAP and PAS leaders to find a solution to the Selangor problem.
Anwar: Bad move to gag bank notes bribery case
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has slammed Australia for making a bad move in its bid to hide the names of high-ranking Asian government officials in a bribery case before courts in that country.
The PKR leader said such a ruling by the Australian court against the reporting of this case was bad governance, akin to hiding the truth and raised suspicion if it was aimed at protecting the interests of a powerful few.
No less than three generations of Malaysian prime ministers were named in the case, which alleges that several Securency and Note Printing Australia (NPA) agents had given millions of dollars in inducements to secure contracts to supply polymer banknotes to Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and other countries.
'It will serve to protect vested interests'
The Supreme Court of Victoria's “unprecedented” suppression order, dated June 19, was leaked on the anti-secrecy group Wikileaks’ website on July 29. However, the order can only apply to Australia.
“We fail to see how such a prohibition would advance the cause of good governance, aside from serving to protect certain vested interests.
“In this regard, the continued pursuance by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the gag order must be seen as condoning corruption in high places,” Anwar said in a press statement.
Apart from violating a fundamental principle of press freedom, the suppression order also runs counter to the practice of good governance, Anwar said.
This, he added, would involve transparency in dealings among public officials and accountability for their actions.
Both Australians and Malaysians have a legitimate right to all relevant facts and details on this case, Anwar said.
Malaysiakini has published the full list of 14 top Asian government and banking officials mentioned in the case in this article.
- See more at: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/270569#sthash.zZ3ltIWy.dpuf
The PKR leader said such a ruling by the Australian court against the reporting of this case was bad governance, akin to hiding the truth and raised suspicion if it was aimed at protecting the interests of a powerful few.No less than three generations of Malaysian prime ministers were named in the case, which alleges that several Securency and Note Printing Australia (NPA) agents had given millions of dollars in inducements to secure contracts to supply polymer banknotes to Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and other countries.
'It will serve to protect vested interests'
The Supreme Court of Victoria's “unprecedented” suppression order, dated June 19, was leaked on the anti-secrecy group Wikileaks’ website on July 29. However, the order can only apply to Australia.
“We fail to see how such a prohibition would advance the cause of good governance, aside from serving to protect certain vested interests.
“In this regard, the continued pursuance by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the gag order must be seen as condoning corruption in high places,” Anwar said in a press statement.
Apart from violating a fundamental principle of press freedom, the suppression order also runs counter to the practice of good governance, Anwar said.
This, he added, would involve transparency in dealings among public officials and accountability for their actions.
Both Australians and Malaysians have a legitimate right to all relevant facts and details on this case, Anwar said.
Malaysiakini has published the full list of 14 top Asian government and banking officials mentioned in the case in this article.
ISMA desak SPRM siasat AG dan IGP
Mereka seolah-olah mengamalkan pendakwaan terpilih apabila melibatkan kes penghinaan yang dilakukan oleh orang bukan Islam.
PETALING JAYA: Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) di minta untuk menyiasat Peguam Negara,Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail dan Ketua Polis Negara,Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar berikutan kegagalan mereka untuk mengambil tindakan terhadap kes menghina agama atau kaum di negara ini seperti yang didedahkan media tempatan.
Menurut Presiden Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (ISMA), Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman, mereka seolah-olah mengamalkan pendakwaan terpilih apabila melibatkan kes penghinaan yang dilakukan oleh orang bukan Islam.
“Berapa banyak kes sehingga hari ini yang tidak di ambil sebarang tindakan jika ianya melibatkan orang bukan Islam. Sebaliknya jika orang Islam dan Melayu yang melakukan perkara itu, dengan pantas dan segera diadakan siasatan.
“Jadi apakah sebenarnya yang menghalang Ketua Polis Negara dan Peguam Negara daripada tanggungjawab ini sehingga menyebabkan mereka yang bersalah dilindungi?” soalnya.
Abdullah turut menjelaskan beberapa pendedahan yang dilakukan oleh akhbar tempatan dan portal media mengenai kes penghinaan terhadap agama yang masih belum diambil tindakan.
“Contohnya seperti pemilik akaun ‘Facebook’ Smallfield Benjamin, Alvin Tan Jye Yee dan Vivian Lee yang kesnya sehingga kini masih tergantung, begitu juga kes penyanyi rap Namewee yang sudah lebih tujuh tahun masih tiada tindakan di ambil ke atasnya,” ujarnya.
Selain itu Abdullah turut menerangkan bahawa, Pengerusi Pertubuhan Seni dan Budaya dan pemilik akaun ‘Facebook’ David Orok, pemilik akaun Facebook Kwang Yung, dan yang terkini Kelvin Yap serta ramai lagi yang terlibat masih bebas tanpa di ambil sebarang tindakan.
Dalam pada itu, status 30 laporan polis yang dibuat ISMA ke atas parti chauvinis DAP dan pemimpinnya Lim Kit Siang juga sehingga kini masih tiada maklumbalas mahupun tindakan di ambil oleh pihak yang berkenaan.
“Ini berikutan Lim Kit Siang telah memfitnah ISMA semasa himpunan di Dataran Merdeka sempena ulang tahun pertama PRU13 pada 4 Mei lalu dan ucapan tersebut telah disiarkan di Youtube pada 7 Mei 2014,” katanya.
Menurut Presiden Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (ISMA), Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman, mereka seolah-olah mengamalkan pendakwaan terpilih apabila melibatkan kes penghinaan yang dilakukan oleh orang bukan Islam.
“Berapa banyak kes sehingga hari ini yang tidak di ambil sebarang tindakan jika ianya melibatkan orang bukan Islam. Sebaliknya jika orang Islam dan Melayu yang melakukan perkara itu, dengan pantas dan segera diadakan siasatan.
“Jadi apakah sebenarnya yang menghalang Ketua Polis Negara dan Peguam Negara daripada tanggungjawab ini sehingga menyebabkan mereka yang bersalah dilindungi?” soalnya.
Abdullah turut menjelaskan beberapa pendedahan yang dilakukan oleh akhbar tempatan dan portal media mengenai kes penghinaan terhadap agama yang masih belum diambil tindakan.
“Contohnya seperti pemilik akaun ‘Facebook’ Smallfield Benjamin, Alvin Tan Jye Yee dan Vivian Lee yang kesnya sehingga kini masih tergantung, begitu juga kes penyanyi rap Namewee yang sudah lebih tujuh tahun masih tiada tindakan di ambil ke atasnya,” ujarnya.
Selain itu Abdullah turut menerangkan bahawa, Pengerusi Pertubuhan Seni dan Budaya dan pemilik akaun ‘Facebook’ David Orok, pemilik akaun Facebook Kwang Yung, dan yang terkini Kelvin Yap serta ramai lagi yang terlibat masih bebas tanpa di ambil sebarang tindakan.
Dalam pada itu, status 30 laporan polis yang dibuat ISMA ke atas parti chauvinis DAP dan pemimpinnya Lim Kit Siang juga sehingga kini masih tiada maklumbalas mahupun tindakan di ambil oleh pihak yang berkenaan.
“Ini berikutan Lim Kit Siang telah memfitnah ISMA semasa himpunan di Dataran Merdeka sempena ulang tahun pertama PRU13 pada 4 Mei lalu dan ucapan tersebut telah disiarkan di Youtube pada 7 Mei 2014,” katanya.
Pakatan sending wrong signals to public
The spat among parties in Pakatan Rakyat is creating doubt among the people over whether they really pose a serious challenge to the ruling government.
KUALA LUMPUR: The bickering in Pakatan Rakyat (Pakatan) over the Menteri Besar issue has made them look vulnerable in the eyes of the public while showing up their lack of credibility as an alternative to the ruling government, Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy said today.
Waythamoorthy also said a united opposition was essential to maintain a proper check and balance on the current administration.
“The recent spat between the parties is seeding a lack of confidence among the public,” he said in a press statement today.
He added that the in-fighting seemed more a clash of differing personalities and personal agendas rather than Pakatan’s collective aspirations for the public.
Waythamoorthy said a public pressure organisation like Hindraf was there to ensure that political parties from either side of the equation maintained their drive based on the will of the people as opposed to individual interests.
He said a loose alliance like Pakatan was built on the consensus of a civil society that had been evolving and accepted by the current generation.
He added that although the parties within Pakatan had different political ideologies, they must arrive at a consensus for the common good of the public.
“This current episode seems to be a constructive political attempt to remove the current Selangor Menteri Besar, which not only robs the community of a viable opposition but creates doubt on the ability of Pakatan if they are to come into power,” said Waythamoorthy.
He said Pakatan parties should get their act together and continue to participate in the political front as a credible and viable opposition.
Waythamoorthy also said a united opposition was essential to maintain a proper check and balance on the current administration.
“The recent spat between the parties is seeding a lack of confidence among the public,” he said in a press statement today.
He added that the in-fighting seemed more a clash of differing personalities and personal agendas rather than Pakatan’s collective aspirations for the public.
Waythamoorthy said a public pressure organisation like Hindraf was there to ensure that political parties from either side of the equation maintained their drive based on the will of the people as opposed to individual interests.
He said a loose alliance like Pakatan was built on the consensus of a civil society that had been evolving and accepted by the current generation.
He added that although the parties within Pakatan had different political ideologies, they must arrive at a consensus for the common good of the public.
“This current episode seems to be a constructive political attempt to remove the current Selangor Menteri Besar, which not only robs the community of a viable opposition but creates doubt on the ability of Pakatan if they are to come into power,” said Waythamoorthy.
He said Pakatan parties should get their act together and continue to participate in the political front as a credible and viable opposition.
Loss of direction
By TAY TIAN YAN
ONE MORE WEEK to go before August 10. On that day, not only will the fate of Selangor's MB be ascertained, the destiny of Pakatan Rakyat will also be hooked on it.
So far we have still yet to see any side trying to back down/ Although the three parties making up the opposition pact has issued a joint statement refuting their discord, the war smoke is still detectable behind that statement.
PKR has wanted its grassroots to declare their stands, and branch leaders have applied pressure on Khalid Ibrahim to step down from office.
At the same time, DAP suddenly voiced its support for a female MB while also asking other Pakatan component parties to explicitly state their positions, in an obvious move to pave way for Wan Azizah to helm the state administration.
Meanwhile, PAS has issued a gag order for party leaders to voice dissident ideas, but that does not stop the party leaders from uncompromisingly supporting the decision of the party's central leadership.
All relevant quarters remain insistent as they fight to achieve their own goals. Personal and party agendas have overridden the Pakatan Rakyat agenda, and many people begin to doubt whether the Pakatan agenda is still relevant, if there is any.
Pakatan Rakyat supporters as well as die-hard defenders of two-party system are completely dejected. They have no clue which way will the three-party pact be headed to in the future. Will the country's two-party system suffer a fatal blow because of the current impasse?
For the sake of securing state and even federal administrations during the past elections, these three parties came together as they targeted specifically their common foes. However, now that the elections are over, the begin to move on their own ways.
IT'S NOT A BAD thing discovering the problem of three-horse chariot early.
I am not trying to say anything negative about Pakatan Rakyat. As a matter of fact, I absolutely approve the development of democratic politics. We must have different parties that can be pitched against others, and I insist that there must be different political roadmaps that the electorate can assess and compare.
The emergence of Pakatan Rakyat marked a big step forward in the country's political development. But this journey should be one that is constantly steered forward, never going back to the old way.
The problem is, having come this far, Pakatan is now losing its sense of direction, and momentum as well. As it couldn't even be certain which way it is headed to, how do we expect it to lead the country towards the future?
The chaotic situation within the opposition pact should rightly sound an alarm bell. Pakatan will need to learn how to grow itself and how to tackle the many trials and setbacks. The current gridlock should serve as a unique opportunity for the three parties to reflect on themselves and identify the root of their problem. They must rectify their own fallacies and deficiencies before they can move on from here.
PAKATAN'S EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS came as an unexpected surprise and without much effort from 2008 through last year's GE13.
To be honest, the support rate gained by the pact had not been a consequence of the great initiatives of the three parties to a very large extent, but one that was handed out generously by the masses.
Many people were sick of the decades-old political model and were yearning for change so that their voices could find an effective outlet and their own rights be respected and defended.
Calls for greater democracy as a result of globalization made Malaysians feel that they too could make it to the forefront of real political progress.
Right then the three parties came together and formed a political alliance offering Malaysians a new option.
UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN AS the voters cast their votes in favor of Pakatan Rakyat candidates and pinned their hopes on them in 2008 and 2013, they appeared to have failed to reciprocate the people's mandate.
What followed were a string of ill-intentioned designs to advance the personal political agendas of individual leaders, and never-ending populist tricks as well as accentuated ideological wars.
The success of Pakatan Rakyat has not been built upon the promotion of democratic politics, economic development and social harmony. Instead, it is engrossed with the hudud law, tackling the mass media, and playing tricks that are geared towards public favor.
People are beginning to get sick of all these, and the Teluk Intan by-election should serve as a good indicator.
Before Pakatan ruins its own future, perhaps it should take a retrospective look at the attributes that put the parties together back then, i.e. democracy, clean governance and reform, and resolutely make over.
ONE MORE WEEK to go before August 10. On that day, not only will the fate of Selangor's MB be ascertained, the destiny of Pakatan Rakyat will also be hooked on it.
So far we have still yet to see any side trying to back down/ Although the three parties making up the opposition pact has issued a joint statement refuting their discord, the war smoke is still detectable behind that statement.
PKR has wanted its grassroots to declare their stands, and branch leaders have applied pressure on Khalid Ibrahim to step down from office.
At the same time, DAP suddenly voiced its support for a female MB while also asking other Pakatan component parties to explicitly state their positions, in an obvious move to pave way for Wan Azizah to helm the state administration.
Meanwhile, PAS has issued a gag order for party leaders to voice dissident ideas, but that does not stop the party leaders from uncompromisingly supporting the decision of the party's central leadership.
All relevant quarters remain insistent as they fight to achieve their own goals. Personal and party agendas have overridden the Pakatan Rakyat agenda, and many people begin to doubt whether the Pakatan agenda is still relevant, if there is any.
Pakatan Rakyat supporters as well as die-hard defenders of two-party system are completely dejected. They have no clue which way will the three-party pact be headed to in the future. Will the country's two-party system suffer a fatal blow because of the current impasse?
For the sake of securing state and even federal administrations during the past elections, these three parties came together as they targeted specifically their common foes. However, now that the elections are over, the begin to move on their own ways.
IT'S NOT A BAD thing discovering the problem of three-horse chariot early.
I am not trying to say anything negative about Pakatan Rakyat. As a matter of fact, I absolutely approve the development of democratic politics. We must have different parties that can be pitched against others, and I insist that there must be different political roadmaps that the electorate can assess and compare.
The emergence of Pakatan Rakyat marked a big step forward in the country's political development. But this journey should be one that is constantly steered forward, never going back to the old way.
The problem is, having come this far, Pakatan is now losing its sense of direction, and momentum as well. As it couldn't even be certain which way it is headed to, how do we expect it to lead the country towards the future?
The chaotic situation within the opposition pact should rightly sound an alarm bell. Pakatan will need to learn how to grow itself and how to tackle the many trials and setbacks. The current gridlock should serve as a unique opportunity for the three parties to reflect on themselves and identify the root of their problem. They must rectify their own fallacies and deficiencies before they can move on from here.
PAKATAN'S EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS came as an unexpected surprise and without much effort from 2008 through last year's GE13.
To be honest, the support rate gained by the pact had not been a consequence of the great initiatives of the three parties to a very large extent, but one that was handed out generously by the masses.
Many people were sick of the decades-old political model and were yearning for change so that their voices could find an effective outlet and their own rights be respected and defended.
Calls for greater democracy as a result of globalization made Malaysians feel that they too could make it to the forefront of real political progress.
Right then the three parties came together and formed a political alliance offering Malaysians a new option.
UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN AS the voters cast their votes in favor of Pakatan Rakyat candidates and pinned their hopes on them in 2008 and 2013, they appeared to have failed to reciprocate the people's mandate.
What followed were a string of ill-intentioned designs to advance the personal political agendas of individual leaders, and never-ending populist tricks as well as accentuated ideological wars.
The success of Pakatan Rakyat has not been built upon the promotion of democratic politics, economic development and social harmony. Instead, it is engrossed with the hudud law, tackling the mass media, and playing tricks that are geared towards public favor.
People are beginning to get sick of all these, and the Teluk Intan by-election should serve as a good indicator.
Before Pakatan ruins its own future, perhaps it should take a retrospective look at the attributes that put the parties together back then, i.e. democracy, clean governance and reform, and resolutely make over.
Do Umno Baru men fear women?
The WikiLeaks ‘RM5 banknote gagging order’ has revealed that we cannot look to the West (read Australia) for an example of a nation which upholds democratic values, rule of law and a free press. Similarly, Malaysians cannot look to some men, principally Malay men in Umno Baru, as role models for equality, fairness and justice.
Last month, an Umno Baru constitutional law ‘expert’ said that PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail could not become menteri besar because her menstruation was an “obstacle which would prevent her from accompanying the sultan, at functions”.
A few decades ago, when working in the petroleum industry, some men tried to discourage women with comments such as, “How can you go offshore, or climb ladders? Your clothing is an ‘obstacle’.”
These men had not heard of overalls. In their opinion, high-flying women were either stenographers or shop assistants. Things have not progressed much, in Malaysia.
Perhaps, Umno Baru men are trapped in a time warp, in which women are subservient and docile. Do they hanker for the good old days when a woman was a maid at home, a cook in the kitchen and a whore in the bedroom? We are not living in an Islamic caliphate nor are we living in the dark ages.
Umno Baru lawyer Mohd Hafarizam Harun (left), Umno Baru Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) lecturer Shamrahayu Abdul Aziz forget how they arrived in this world. For nine months, women carry a foetus, suffer weeks of morning sickness, have eating and sleeping problems, to climax in the pain of delivery.
Even if miracles could be performed, these men would not be willing to sacrifice nine months of their lives, nor endure the pain of childbirth.
In many families, the son receives preferential treatment. He gets the choice cuts of meat, the more expensive present and he need not do the chores. He gets to go out and party. Girls learn the meaning of tolerance and the importance of sharing. They experience the effects of discrimination from an early age.
Women know how to make others feel good, and bring out the best in people. See how girlfriends mollycoddle their boyfriends. Observe how mothers whip up the best meals for the son-in-law, when he visits.
As girls help their mothers to cook and keep the house clean, they learn about deadlines, such as preparing meals on time. They keep to a budget, when buying groceries. They observe healthy eating habits and realise the importance of cleanliness. One needs to look into one’s teenage son’s room, to realise that males have a different concept of tidiness.
Good at multi-tasking
What happens at home is translated to the workplace. Perhaps, that explains why government departments, which invite potential bidders for a tender, usually lay on a good spread before the meeting. Women would get straight to the point and hold the meeting, to thrash out the job requirements. Women celebrate after a job has been done well, not before.
Girls learn to feed their younger siblings whilst loading the washing-machine, the curry is simmering and the rice is cooking. They may be busy, but all the while, their minds are on the complex algebra which teacher has set them for homework. Women are good at multi-tasking.
The boy who parties late, is not up on time for school. He bullies or bribes his sister to finish his homework. Girls love mental challenges. This may explain why girls perform better at school and college. At university, more women take up professional courses like engineering, science and medicine. Malay men prefer religious studies courses.
After years of helping in a busy kitchen and answering to a mother who demands excellence, girls handle stress better than their brothers. Dealing with a demanding mother also equips women with good survival instincts.
With better communication skills, women make better listeners than men and tend to speak their minds. To get the job done, they may have to scream and shout, a lot. Men mistake this for nagging. Women call it constructive criticism.
Women are not afraid of tackling difficult situations. The housewife who wants a particular do-it-yourself (DIY) job done, or wants to know how her husband got a lipstick stain on his collar, knows that men can be very evasive.
Women have very good memories. Just ask any man who has just been nagged by his wife. She will remind him that he made the same mistake 20 years previously, or that he forgot her birthday 32 years ago.
Women pay regular visits to their doctors, because they know that if they fall ill, the whole household suffers. Men are reluctant to address their health issues. Men don’t just have a common cold, they have ‘man-flu’ and are at death’s door.
Older women have learnt to manage their time. Many are childminders for their grandchildren, they control the family finances and retirement fund, besides organising the annual holidays. They dread the day when their husbands retire, because after a lifetime of being told what to do at work, newly retired men act like lost puppies. They follow the wife around and are a nuisance, questioning her every move.
The woman who is unlucky to be someone’s first wife, can expect the arrival of her husband, when he has been chucked out of the youngest wife’s house. The arm-candy wife may be good to look at, but she cannot cope with her husband’s dementia, his double incontinence nor his demand for ‘soft-foods’.
On top of this, the menopausal woman who cannot sleep, can cram additional items into her schedule and get more work done.
Despite all this, Umno Baru men have the cheek to say that a woman is incapable of becoming a menteri besar. Why don’t they simply change the constitution and bar women from holding the highest office in the state, and the nation? Do Umno Baru men fear women, or just Pakatan women?
MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army and president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO).
- See more at: http://www.malaysiakini.com/columns/270501#sthash.i6JdAFAK.dpuf
Last month, an Umno Baru constitutional law ‘expert’ said that PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail could not become menteri besar because her menstruation was an “obstacle which would prevent her from accompanying the sultan, at functions”.
A few decades ago, when working in the petroleum industry, some men tried to discourage women with comments such as, “How can you go offshore, or climb ladders? Your clothing is an ‘obstacle’.”
These men had not heard of overalls. In their opinion, high-flying women were either stenographers or shop assistants. Things have not progressed much, in Malaysia.
Perhaps, Umno Baru men are trapped in a time warp, in which women are subservient and docile. Do they hanker for the good old days when a woman was a maid at home, a cook in the kitchen and a whore in the bedroom? We are not living in an Islamic caliphate nor are we living in the dark ages.
Umno Baru lawyer Mohd Hafarizam Harun (left), Umno Baru Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) lecturer Shamrahayu Abdul Aziz forget how they arrived in this world. For nine months, women carry a foetus, suffer weeks of morning sickness, have eating and sleeping problems, to climax in the pain of delivery.Even if miracles could be performed, these men would not be willing to sacrifice nine months of their lives, nor endure the pain of childbirth.
In many families, the son receives preferential treatment. He gets the choice cuts of meat, the more expensive present and he need not do the chores. He gets to go out and party. Girls learn the meaning of tolerance and the importance of sharing. They experience the effects of discrimination from an early age.
Women know how to make others feel good, and bring out the best in people. See how girlfriends mollycoddle their boyfriends. Observe how mothers whip up the best meals for the son-in-law, when he visits.
As girls help their mothers to cook and keep the house clean, they learn about deadlines, such as preparing meals on time. They keep to a budget, when buying groceries. They observe healthy eating habits and realise the importance of cleanliness. One needs to look into one’s teenage son’s room, to realise that males have a different concept of tidiness.
Good at multi-tasking
What happens at home is translated to the workplace. Perhaps, that explains why government departments, which invite potential bidders for a tender, usually lay on a good spread before the meeting. Women would get straight to the point and hold the meeting, to thrash out the job requirements. Women celebrate after a job has been done well, not before.
Girls learn to feed their younger siblings whilst loading the washing-machine, the curry is simmering and the rice is cooking. They may be busy, but all the while, their minds are on the complex algebra which teacher has set them for homework. Women are good at multi-tasking.
The boy who parties late, is not up on time for school. He bullies or bribes his sister to finish his homework. Girls love mental challenges. This may explain why girls perform better at school and college. At university, more women take up professional courses like engineering, science and medicine. Malay men prefer religious studies courses.
After years of helping in a busy kitchen and answering to a mother who demands excellence, girls handle stress better than their brothers. Dealing with a demanding mother also equips women with good survival instincts.
With better communication skills, women make better listeners than men and tend to speak their minds. To get the job done, they may have to scream and shout, a lot. Men mistake this for nagging. Women call it constructive criticism.
Women are not afraid of tackling difficult situations. The housewife who wants a particular do-it-yourself (DIY) job done, or wants to know how her husband got a lipstick stain on his collar, knows that men can be very evasive.
Women have very good memories. Just ask any man who has just been nagged by his wife. She will remind him that he made the same mistake 20 years previously, or that he forgot her birthday 32 years ago.
Women pay regular visits to their doctors, because they know that if they fall ill, the whole household suffers. Men are reluctant to address their health issues. Men don’t just have a common cold, they have ‘man-flu’ and are at death’s door.
Older women have learnt to manage their time. Many are childminders for their grandchildren, they control the family finances and retirement fund, besides organising the annual holidays. They dread the day when their husbands retire, because after a lifetime of being told what to do at work, newly retired men act like lost puppies. They follow the wife around and are a nuisance, questioning her every move.
The woman who is unlucky to be someone’s first wife, can expect the arrival of her husband, when he has been chucked out of the youngest wife’s house. The arm-candy wife may be good to look at, but she cannot cope with her husband’s dementia, his double incontinence nor his demand for ‘soft-foods’.
On top of this, the menopausal woman who cannot sleep, can cram additional items into her schedule and get more work done.
Despite all this, Umno Baru men have the cheek to say that a woman is incapable of becoming a menteri besar. Why don’t they simply change the constitution and bar women from holding the highest office in the state, and the nation? Do Umno Baru men fear women, or just Pakatan women?
MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army and president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO).
Constitution literacy programme to educate the public
The Star
by LOSHANA K. SHAGAR
by LOSHANA K. SHAGAR
PETALING
JAYA: A Constitution literacy programme in schools, tertiary
institutions and the public sector is one of the proposals to be put
forward to the Prime Minister by the National Unity Consultative Council
(NUCC) in its first national unity report.
NUCC’s
Law and Policy committee member Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said the
programme was needed to provide Malaysians with the appropriate
interpretation of the Federal Constitution.
“This
is because we have even come across people who are part of the
decision-making process who do not understand the Constitution.
“We
do not want people to interpret the Constitution wrongly,” he said
after attending a roundtable discussion on national unity by the
Selangor Model United Nations (Selangor MUN) last week.
Saifuddin
stressed that the programme need not be a formal subject in schools and
that it would help people understand that there may be laws and
enactments contradicting the Constitution.
“They
will then also understand the need to reconcile by amending these Acts
or state enactments that contradict the Federal Constitution.
“The
last objective of the proposed literacy programme is to ensure there
will be no rewriting or amending the Constitution through other
channels,” he added.
As
there were already groups promoting Constitution literacy, the NUCC is
proposing to work with these groups to further spread awareness on the
subject.
An
example Saifuddin referred to was the MyConstitution (MyConsti)
campaign by the Bar Council, which has been running in Malaysia since
2009.
The
group run by Malaysian lawyers was developed from the initial idea of a
two-year campaign to educate the public about constitutional awareness,
their rights as citizens of Malaysia as well as the way the country is
run.
On
another issue, Saifuddin said his committee was also compiling feedback
on the proposed harmony bills, which the NUCC had been mandated by
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to prepare.
Consisting
of the National Harmony and Reconciliation Bill, the National Harmony
and Reconciliation Commission Bill, and the Racial and Religious Hate
Crimes Bill, the bills are part of a blueprint to strengthen national
unity and integration.
Najib Congratulates Commonwealth Games Athletes
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
congratulated all the Malaysian athletes who competed in the 20th
Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, particularly those who had won
medals.
The Prime Minister said in his blog www.1malaysia.com.my today that the Malaysian contingent had shown strong commitment and spirit in the games that began on July 23 and ended yesterday.
"The strong fighting spirit of our athletes had succeeded in grabbing six gold medals through weightlifter Mohd Hafifi Mansor, world squash champion Datuk Nicol David, local talents in the mixed squad, the national badminton men's and women's doubles pairs, as well as rising diving star Ooi Tze Liang," he said.
Malaysia ended in 12th spot with six gold, seven silver and six bronze medals at the second biggest sports meet in the world.
Najib said Malaysia must also undertake proactive measures to improve and enhance performance in sports, and continue to live based on the culture of excellence.
"I believe that we should aim to focus on achieving stellar results in future tournaments.
"As such, I call upon all Malaysians of different backgrounds, to continue standing behind our athletes.
"Together we can hold our heads high and strive for better in the future," he said.
The Prime Minister said the Malaysian contingent managed to win six of the seven gold medals targeted by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).
"We set our goals more realistically because some of the games in which we won gold in the previous Commonwealth Games in New Delhi were not contested in Glasgow, as well as the fact that our athletes are not competing in some of the games and events this time," he said.
Najib said it was, however, uplifting to see Malaysians from all walks of life coming together in solidarity with the MH17 victims.
"...Nowhere is this unity better on display than at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
"We had a sombre start to the Games, where our Jalur Gemilang was flown at half-mast. Commonwealth nations also stood in solidarity with Malaysia, observing a minute's silence during the opening ceremony," he said.
Flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17 as it was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with 283 passengers and 15 crew on board. The Boeing 777-200 aircraft is believed to have been shot down over the troubled country.
The Prime Minister said in his blog www.1malaysia.com.my today that the Malaysian contingent had shown strong commitment and spirit in the games that began on July 23 and ended yesterday.
"The strong fighting spirit of our athletes had succeeded in grabbing six gold medals through weightlifter Mohd Hafifi Mansor, world squash champion Datuk Nicol David, local talents in the mixed squad, the national badminton men's and women's doubles pairs, as well as rising diving star Ooi Tze Liang," he said.
Malaysia ended in 12th spot with six gold, seven silver and six bronze medals at the second biggest sports meet in the world.
Najib said Malaysia must also undertake proactive measures to improve and enhance performance in sports, and continue to live based on the culture of excellence.
"I believe that we should aim to focus on achieving stellar results in future tournaments.
"As such, I call upon all Malaysians of different backgrounds, to continue standing behind our athletes.
"Together we can hold our heads high and strive for better in the future," he said.
The Prime Minister said the Malaysian contingent managed to win six of the seven gold medals targeted by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).
"We set our goals more realistically because some of the games in which we won gold in the previous Commonwealth Games in New Delhi were not contested in Glasgow, as well as the fact that our athletes are not competing in some of the games and events this time," he said.
Najib said it was, however, uplifting to see Malaysians from all walks of life coming together in solidarity with the MH17 victims.
"...Nowhere is this unity better on display than at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
"We had a sombre start to the Games, where our Jalur Gemilang was flown at half-mast. Commonwealth nations also stood in solidarity with Malaysia, observing a minute's silence during the opening ceremony," he said.
Flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17 as it was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with 283 passengers and 15 crew on board. The Boeing 777-200 aircraft is believed to have been shot down over the troubled country.
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