Monday, 29 December 2014
Retreating of the Queen's Guard: End of an era as palace sentries fall back in face of mounting fears of new 'lone wolf' terrorist attack
- Security bosses have withdrawn Royal Guards from posts outside palaces amid fears of a 'lone wolf' terror attack
- Elite soldiers of the Queen's Guard no longer allowed on sentry duty alone and are accompanied by armed police
- But the measures have been described as a ‘retreat’ for the Guards, known the world over for their bearskin caps
- Changes confirmed at sites including Clarence House, St James’s Palace, Windsor Castle and Horse Guards Parade
Security chiefs have taken the dramatic step of withdrawing Royal Guards from their high-profile posts outside palaces amid mounting fears of ‘lone wolf’ terrorist attacks.
Elite soldiers of the Queen’s Guard have pulled back from public positions at many landmarks in response to possible threats from Islamic extremists.
For the first time since the height of the IRA’s terror campaign, the soldiers are also no longer allowed on sentry duty alone, and are now accompanied by armed police.
The move to more secure positions behind gates or railings is a direct response to attacks such as the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby and the killing of a sentry by a lone gunman at the Canadian Parliament two months ago.
But the measures have been described as a ‘retreat’ for the Guards, known the world over for their bearskin caps.
Retired officer Major Iain Dalzel-Job of the Scots Guards told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I think this is a big shame.
'The reason people know we’re around is because they can see us. But I suppose the changes are necessary as there is a significant threat.’
This newspaper has confirmed the changes to the Guards’ security at sites including Clarence House, St James’s Palace, Windsor Castle and Horse Guards Parade.
At Clarence House, the official residence of Prince Charles, the guardsmen who used to stand in front of the gates on The Mall, a public road, have now been relocated, along with their sentry boxes, behind metal gates.
Tourists, who love to pose with the Guards, can now barely see them. Police officers confirmed changes had been made for security reasons.
At St James’s Palace, the London home of Princess Anne and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, two Guardsmen used to perform sentry duties beneath its famous clock tower on Pall Mall.
These guards and their sentry boxes have now been moved into a secluded courtyard inside the perimeter, leaving no visible presence at the clock tower gate.
In Horse Guards Parade, two sentries still stand guard where tourists can pose for photographs with them. But four armed police officers now guard the soldiers.
The officers carry Heckler and Koch carbine rifles, pistols and Taser guns – in contrast to the Guards, who just carry ceremonial swords.
A Metropolitan Police officer on duty there told our reporter: ‘Yes, we are a recent addition here. It’s us guarding the Guards. I think there’s a Latin phrase for that.’
At Windsor Castle, up to three armed officers now stand next to the lone sentry on guard duty on the Western side of the castle.
The tightening of security to levels unseen since the height of the IRA terror campaign comes in the wake of fanatics from the so-called Islamic State based in Iraq and Syria threatening Britain.
Al-Qaeda groups have also called on would-be terrorists to launch ‘lone wolf’ attacks against UK soldiers and police.
On Christmas Eve, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) encouraged Muslims to launch attacks in the West on their own.
It published a magazine that gave instructions for a home-made bomb, and urged its readers to use such a device to blow up an airliner or other Western target.
Former soldiers said last night that the changes were needed as sentries felt vulnerable to attack.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2888716/Retreating-Queen-s-Guard-End-era-palace-sentries-fall-face-mounting-fears-new-lone-wolf-terrorist-attack.html
‘How to Stab a Jew’ Going Viral on Palestinian Authority Social Media [video]
Arab terrorists have released a "How to kill a Jew" video, and its going viral.
By: Tzvi Ben-Gedalyahu
A clip from"How to Stab a Jew," the latest hit on Arab social media.
Photo Credit: Screenshot
The “resisters of occupation in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem” are spreading on Arab social media a frightening video demonstrating tactics on how to stab a Jew to death quickly and efficiently.
The 1-minute and 13-second video, as seen below, shows the “teacher” calmly walking up to a “victim,” stabbing him, and walking away.
One of the tactics appears to imitate the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) method of beheading.
The guide to killing Jews teaches that after stabbing the victim, the knife should be twisted to maximize wounds and cause death.
The Palestinian Authority and anti-Israel Arabs in Jerusalem do not need terrorist cells when “resisters” use social media to reach hundreds of thousands of Arabs in Jerusalem as well as in Judea, Gaza and Samaria, with a single simple post.
Israel needs to find the source of whoever posted this video and arrest him or them.
All of Israel is paying a heavy price, the price of life, for a decade of conducting “negotiations” with the Palestinian Authority while it has incited an entire generation to hate Jews and then murder them.
Until the Palestinian Authority halts all incitement, and until Mahmoud Abbas starts condemning terrorists in Arabic as well as in English, and until the Obama administration understands that Israel means what it says, the government needs to stop all contact with Ramallah.
Arab stabbing attacks on Jews have increased significantly this year, and every Israeli is a potential victim when “resisters” educate every Arab to be a murderer.
By: Tzvi Ben-Gedalyahu
A clip from"How to Stab a Jew," the latest hit on Arab social media.
Photo Credit: Screenshot
The “resisters of occupation in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem” are spreading on Arab social media a frightening video demonstrating tactics on how to stab a Jew to death quickly and efficiently.
The 1-minute and 13-second video, as seen below, shows the “teacher” calmly walking up to a “victim,” stabbing him, and walking away.
One of the tactics appears to imitate the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) method of beheading.
The guide to killing Jews teaches that after stabbing the victim, the knife should be twisted to maximize wounds and cause death.
The Palestinian Authority and anti-Israel Arabs in Jerusalem do not need terrorist cells when “resisters” use social media to reach hundreds of thousands of Arabs in Jerusalem as well as in Judea, Gaza and Samaria, with a single simple post.
Israel needs to find the source of whoever posted this video and arrest him or them.
All of Israel is paying a heavy price, the price of life, for a decade of conducting “negotiations” with the Palestinian Authority while it has incited an entire generation to hate Jews and then murder them.
Until the Palestinian Authority halts all incitement, and until Mahmoud Abbas starts condemning terrorists in Arabic as well as in English, and until the Obama administration understands that Israel means what it says, the government needs to stop all contact with Ramallah.
Arab stabbing attacks on Jews have increased significantly this year, and every Israeli is a potential victim when “resisters” educate every Arab to be a murderer.
Indonesia halts search for missing AirAsia flight QZ8501
Indonesia called off until first light a search for an AirAsia plane with 162 people on board that went missing today after pilots asked to change course to avoid bad weather during a flight from Indonesia's Surabaya city to Singapore.Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ8501, an Airbus 320-200 carrying 155 passengers and seven crew, lost contact with Jakarta air traffic control at 6:17am. No distress signal had been sent, said Joko Muryo Atmodjo, an Indonesian transport ministry official.
On board were 155 Indonesians, three South Koreans and one each from Singapore, Malaysia and Britain, plus a French pilot, the airline said in a statement, correcting earlier information.
Tatang Kurniadi, head of Indonesia's National Committee of Safety Transportation, expressed hope of locating the aircraft quickly and said it was too early to detect any of the so-called electronic pings from its black box recorder.
"We are using our capacity to search on sea and land. Hopefully we can find the location of the plane as soon as possible," he told a news conference.
"What I need to emphasise is until now, we have not found out how the plane fell or what kind of emergency it was."
Indonesia AirAsia is 49% owned by Malaysia-based budget carrier AirAsia, which has had a clean safety record since it began operating 13 years ago. The AirAsia group also has affiliates in Thailand, the Philippines and India.
The aircraft had accumulated approximately 23,000 flight hours in some 13,600 flights, according to Airbus.
The pilots of QZ8501 "was requesting deviation due to en-route weather before communication with the aircraft was lost," the airline said in a statement.
 |
| Louise Sidharta (centre), an Indonesian whose fiancé was onboard the AirAsia flight QZ8501 |
Singapore, Malaysia, Britain, South Korea and Australia offered to help in the search and any investigation. Malaysia said it was sending vessels and a C130 aircraft while Singapore had also sent a C130. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said a P3 Orion aircraft was on standby if needed.
Flight QZ8501 was between Tanjung Pandan on Indonesia's Belitung island and Pontianak, in West Kalimantan province on Borneo – almost halfway between Surabaya and Singapore – when it went missing. There was bad weather over Belitung at the time and the aircraft had been flying at 32,000 feet before asking to fly at 38,000 feet to avoid clouds.
In both Surabaya and Singapore, anxious relatives of people on the plane awaited news.
Louise Sidharta was at Singapore's Changi Airport waiting for her fiancé to return from a family holiday.
"It was supposed to be their last vacation before we got married," she said.
A man named Purnomo told TVOne in Surabaya of a lucky escape.
"I should have been on the flight," he said. "We, seven people, had planned to go to Singapore for vacation but this morning I had an emergency. I had my passport in hand."
Tony Fernandes, chief of Malaysia's AirAsia, said he was heading to Surabaya.
"My only thoughts are with the passengers and my crew. We put our hope in the SAR (search and rescue) operation and thank the Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysian governments," he said on Twitter.
AirAsia swapped its distinctive bright red logo for a grey background on its website and social media accounts.
The incident comes during a troubled year for Malaysia-affiliated airlines. Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 went missing on March 8 on a trip from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew on board and has not been found.
On July 17, Flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board.
Indonesia AirAsia has a fleet of 30 Airbus A320s. The missing plane has been in service for just over six years, according to airfleets.net.
All AirAsia-branded airlines operate aircraft made by Airbus, which has orders for several hundred planes from the group. AirAsia is considered one of the European planemaker's most important customers.
Flight QZ8501 had asked to fly at a higher altitude of 38,000 feet from its original 32,000 feet to avoid clouds.
AirAsia Indonesia, on Twitter, confirmed that flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with the air traffic control at 7.24am today.
The flight was carrying 155 passengers on board, including 16 children and one infant, as well as seven crew members.
The passengers comprise 149 Indonesians, three South Koreans, one Singaporean, one Malaysian and one Briton.
The seven crew members consisted of two pilots, four crew members and a technician. The first officer was French while the pilot and the rest were all Indonesians.
The airline has set up an emergency call centre for family or friends of those on board the aircraft at +62 21 2985 0801.
Updated information will also be posted on AirAsia's special QZ8501 website, crisis.airasia.com. – Reuters, December 28, 2014.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/indonesia-halts-search-for-missing-airasia-flight-qz8501#sthash.N85RTUT7.dpuf
AirAsia boss: This is my worst nightmare
QZ8501 An AirAsia aircraft with 155 passengers and seven crew members on board has gone missing.
The Airbus 320-200 took off from Surabaya, Indonesia at 5.20am local time (6.20am Malaysian time) and was due to arrive in Singapore two hours later, but has lost contact with air traffic control.
Malaysiakini brings you the live updates of information as it comes in.
Latest developments
Report sighting in Kuching, cops urge
11.49pm: Kuching police want those who claim to have seen an AirAsia plane flying low near Kampung Buntal there to lodge a report.
Plane had no issues, no oil slicks found
9.50pm: Air Asia group chairperson Tony Fernandes says the missing Airbus 320-200 cleared all checks last November.
"The aircraft had gone through all checks at the end of november. It followed all proceduers needed and was good condition. it never had problems," he says at a press conference at the Juanda International Airport, Surabaya.
He urges all not to speculate on the fate of the plane.
Separately, Indonesia's Detik reports that the SAR team did not spot any oil slick in the 50 nautical miles it seached today.
Aircrafts often attempt to dump fuel before emergency landings to reduce risk of fire.
SAR chief Sulistyo tells also tells the Detik that there is no distress signal from the aircraft.
"The Emergency Locater Transmitter (ELT) is still on the plane," he says.
ELTs are distress radiobeacons which are either water-activated or activated through G-force, upon impact.
Malaysian security forces send help
8.34pm: The Malaysian security forces is assisting SAR efforts.
The follow assets are deployed to join the SAR efforts when they resume tomorrow morning.
The Indian Navy is also on standby with three ships and a maritime surveillance aircraft, Indian media reports.
Two ships are at Port Blair, the capital of the Indian teritory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, while an offshore patrol vessels is on the way there from Chennai.
My worst nightmare, says AirAsia boss
7.30pm: AirAsia group CEO Tony Fernandes has described today's ordeal to be his "worst nightmare" but vows not to stop.
In a series of tweets, Fernandes asks all his staff "to do their best for all guests".
Malaysian on board identified as Sarawakian
6.35pm: The sole Malaysian passenger on board AirAsia flight QZ8501 has been identified as Sii Chung Huei.
According to New Straits Times, Sii is a Jakarta-based businessman who hails from Kuching.
The daily quoted his relatives confirming they have been informed by AirAsia about Sii being on the missing flight.
The search and rescue operations has yet to provide any update on the progress of their efforts or conclusions about the plane's fate.
6.24pm: In an unrelated incident, NST reports another AirAsia flight AK6242 from Penang to Langkawi has turned back due to technical difficulties.
5.50pm: The flight manifest released by the Indonesian Transport Ministry shows that 23 people who were supposed be on the plane did not board.
Out of the original manifest of 177 passengers, only 154 passengers boarded the plane, according to British news website Mirror.
All the 23 who missed the flight did not check-in for their flight.
5.30pm: In a statement, flight manufacturer Airbus says the flight was delivered to Air Asia in October 2008, making the flight six years old.
"Powered by CFM 56-5B engines, the aircraft had accumulated approximately 23,000 flight hours in some 13,600 flights. At this time no further factual information is available," it says.
The company says that it will provide "full assistance" to those investigating the incident.
"The Airbus A320-200 is a twin-engine single-aisle aircraft seating up to 180 passengers in a single-class configuration. The first A320 entered service in March 1988. By the end of November 2014, over 6000 A320 Family aircraft were in service with over 300 operators.
"To date, the entire fleet has accumulated some 154 million flight hours in some 85 million flights," it further says.
It also puts on record its thoughts with those affected by incident.
5.20pm: Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai says Malaysia has deployed a C-130 Hercules craft and three vessels to aid with the search and rescue operations.
He adds that Malaysia has established a Rescue Operations Centre (RCC) at the Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre (ATCC) to aid with the rescue coordination.
Jokowi prays for best
4.40pm: Indonesian president Joko Widodo says he hopes for the best for flight QZ8501.
"We are all praying, I and all of the people of Indonesia.
"We pray for the safe return of all the passengers and crew of AirAsia QZ8501, which has lost contact," Tribunnews quotes him saying.
In a related development, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says he is saddened by the incident.
Lee adds he has spoken to Jokowi to offer Singapore's help, according to a Twitter posting.
He adds Singapore has two C-130 search and locate aircraft on standby to assist Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Reuters reports that US president Barack Obama, who is on holiday in Hawaii, has been briefed on the situation.
AirAsia group CEO heads to Surabaya
4.20pm AirAsia group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes announces he is en route to Surabaya to monitor the situation.
"On my way to Surabaya where most of the passengers are from as with my Indonesian management," he says on Twitter.
He adds his thoughts are with the passengers and crew of the missing aircraft.
"We put our hope in the search and rescue operations and thank the Indonesian, Singapore and Malaysian governments," he tweets.
3.40pm: Indonesian government officials are denying reports they have confirmed the plane crashed east of Belitung as some media have reported, saying the information is still not verified.
Astro Awani reports based on Indonesian Aviation and Communications Ministry director, Djoko Murjatmodjo's comments that the team is still looking for signs of wreckage around the area where the plane was last reported to have been seen.
3pm: According to CCTV News quoting Indonesian authorities, there is "no possibility" for QZ8501 to continue flying hours after losing contact as it only had fuel to last four and a half hours.
The flight lost contact midway through its route to Singapore, during which it was flying mostly over water.
2.40pm: Indonesian national news agency Antara reports that the plane crashed about 145km from Belitung island.
The news agency had quoted a National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) official as saying so, according to Jakarta Post.
The A320 is believed to have circled around in order to avoid a storm before experiencing severe turbulence and then crashing into the sea.
2.35pm: Transport Minister Liow Tong Lai arrives at AirAsia's headquarters.
In a Twitter posting, Liow says he is there to show is support for the airliner.
"Currently at AirAsia headquarters to support our team in this moment of crisis. Let us lend our support to them," he adds.
Liow says Flight QZ8501 is an Indonesian plane lost over Indonesian airspace and therefore the country will take the lead.
Nonetheless, he says that Malaysia is prepared to give its support.
Liow is also expected to hold a press conference later.
2.30pm: Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak tweets that he is "very sad" to hear that AirAsia Indonesia QZ8501 is missing.
"My thoughts are with the families. Malaysia stands ready to help," he adds.
2.25pm: China's CCTV News tweets that a plane wreckage has reportedly been found in the east of Belitung Island in Indonesia.
No details have been divulged in the tweet, and there has been no confirmation from AirAsia or any authorities on this matter.
1.30pm: In an updated statement, AirAsia says the aircraft requested deviation from its flight path due to weather conditions before communications with the Indonesia Air Traffic Control (ATC) was lost.
It also confirmed that the flight had 162 people on board, with 155 passengers, two pilots and five cabin crew.
As for the breakdown, 156 of them were Indonesians (including two cabin crew), three South Koreans, one Singaporean, one French national and one Malaysian.
The Indonesian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is spearheading the search and rescue operations.
"The captain in command had a total of 6,100 flying hours and the first officer a total of 2,275 flying hours," the statement says.
"The aircraft had undergone its last scheduled maintenance on 16 November 2014," it adds.
1.25pm: Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai's media officer has denied that the minister will be holding a press conference on the lost of the aircraft.
AirAsia group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes in a text message says the aircraft involved is AirAsia Indonesia and therefore the press conference will be held in Jakarta.
In Jakarta, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's Air Transport director Djoko Murjatmodjo says Flight QZ8501 went missing shortly after informing air traffic control that it was facing thick clouds.
He said the aircraft, which was flying at 32,000 feet, turned to the left to avoid the thick clouds, according to the press conference streamed on Kompas TV.
PM: Chances are something bad has happened
1.20pm: Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak says Malaysia is prepared to aid Indonesia in its efforts to locate the plane.
"Chances
are, something bad has happened to the plane. That's all we know for
now and we will help to find out what had happened to the plane," he
says, according to a Bernama report.
Meanwhile, AirAsia founder and group CEO Tony Fernandes says AirAsia will be releasing another statement on the plane's disappearance soon, and that he thanks people for their support and prayers.
His tweet has since drawn widespread support from the online community.
1pm: According to aviation tracking website FlightRadar24, Flight QZ8501 disappeared from the radar northwest of the Java Sea.
The nearest land mass ahead of its trajectory are Pulau Belitung and Pulau Bangka.
According
to the flight tracker portal, the aircraft with registration number
PK-AXC had previously taken off from Kuala Lumpur at 8.45pm (local time)
last night and landed safely in Surabaya at 10.20pm (local time).
However, the aircraft appeared to face trouble in its subsequent flight the next morning to Singapore.
The status of the aircraft on the website is now listed as unknown.
12.50pm: CNN Indonesia reports that the last known location of the plane is believed to be around the island of Belitung, off the east coast of Sumatra.
It lies roughly a third of the distance to Singapore from Surabaya along the flight path.
This is according to Indonesia's Transportation Safety Commission official Tatang Kurniadi, who says that the authorities are now zeroing in on the flight's exact last known location.
A team of search and rescue operators are on their way towards Belitung right now, he adds.
12.35pm: Indonesian news agency Kompas.com is reporting that there have been sightings of a plane having crashed off the island of Belitung, Indonesia - though the exact location has not yet been verified.
A village chief in Beltim reportedly received a call from one his villagers about a flight crashing off Belitung island, and he has notified authorities regarding the news.
162 people on board
12.24pm: The following is the statement released by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore:
An Indonesia AirAsia aircraft, QZ8501, scheduled to arrive at 0830 hours local time from Surabaya, lost contact with Jakarta air traffic control at 0724 hours local time today.
Singapore air traffic control was informed of this loss of contact at 0754 hours by Jakarta air traffic control.
The aircraft was in the Indonesian Flight Information Region (FIR) when contact was lost, more than 200 nm southeast of the Singapore-Jakarta FIR boundary.
Search and rescue operations have been activated by the Indonesian authorities from the Pangkal Pinang Search and Rescue office.
The Singapore Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC), managed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and supported by various agencies, including the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), has also been activated and has offered help to the Indonesian authorities.
Two C130s are already on stand-by for this purpose. We remain ready to provide any assistance to support the search and rescue effort. The CAAS and Changi Airport Group (CAG) Crisis Management Centres have already been activated. We are working with the airline’s crisis management team.
A waiting area, and all necessary facilities and support have been set up for relatives and friends of the affected passengers at Changi Airport Terminal 2 (Level 3).
Further updates will be provided once more information is available.
12.12pm: According to the Straits Times, the flight has 162 people on board, with 155 passengers.
There are seven crew members - one pilot, one first officer, an engineer and four flight attendants.
In addition, AirAsia has notably changed its Facebook profile picture to black and white shortly after confirming that it has lost contact with the flight.
The move has been followed by other AirAsia regional Facebook pages, such as AirAsia Korea and AirAsia Philippines.
11.43am: AirAsia Indonesia issues a statement on the disappearance:
AirAsia Indonesia Flight QZ8501
AirAsia Indonesia regrets to confirm that flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with air traffic control at 0724 hours this morning.
The aircraft was an Airbus A320-200 with the registration number PK-AXC.
At this time, search and rescue operations are in progress and AirAsia is cooperating fully and assisting the rescue service.
AirAsia has established an Emergency Call Centre that is available for family or friends of those who may have been on board the aircraft. The number is: +622129850801.
AirAsia will release further information as soon as it becomes available. Updated information will also be posted on the AirAsia website, www.airasia.com.
[More to follow]
The Airbus 320-200 took off from Surabaya, Indonesia at 5.20am local time (6.20am Malaysian time) and was due to arrive in Singapore two hours later, but has lost contact with air traffic control.
Malaysiakini brings you the live updates of information as it comes in.
Latest developments
-
Air Asia boss Tony Fernandes says plane was in good condition
-
No oil slicks found, Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) not sending signal
-
Search and rescue (SAR) ends for today, resumes tomorrow morning
- Malaysia deploys one military aircraft and three vessels, with helicopters on board for the search
- Malaysian on board identified as Sarawakian businessman
- Indonesia denies confirming reports plane has crashed off Belitung island yet, still checking
- AirAsia says aircraft requested flight path change due to weather conditions
- Indonesia, Singapore launch search and rescue operations
Report sighting in Kuching, cops urge
11.49pm: Kuching police want those who claim to have seen an AirAsia plane flying low near Kampung Buntal there to lodge a report.
Plane had no issues, no oil slicks found
9.50pm: Air Asia group chairperson Tony Fernandes says the missing Airbus 320-200 cleared all checks last November.
"The aircraft had gone through all checks at the end of november. It followed all proceduers needed and was good condition. it never had problems," he says at a press conference at the Juanda International Airport, Surabaya.
He urges all not to speculate on the fate of the plane.
Separately, Indonesia's Detik reports that the SAR team did not spot any oil slick in the 50 nautical miles it seached today.
Aircrafts often attempt to dump fuel before emergency landings to reduce risk of fire.
SAR chief Sulistyo tells also tells the Detik that there is no distress signal from the aircraft.
"The Emergency Locater Transmitter (ELT) is still on the plane," he says.
ELTs are distress radiobeacons which are either water-activated or activated through G-force, upon impact.
Malaysian security forces send help
8.34pm: The Malaysian security forces is assisting SAR efforts.
The follow assets are deployed to join the SAR efforts when they resume tomorrow morning.
- Royal Malaysian Air Force's C130 aircraft
- Royal Malaysian Navy ships KD Pahang, KD Lekir and KD Lekui, with Fennec helicopters on board
The Indian Navy is also on standby with three ships and a maritime surveillance aircraft, Indian media reports.
Two ships are at Port Blair, the capital of the Indian teritory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, while an offshore patrol vessels is on the way there from Chennai.
My worst nightmare, says AirAsia boss
7.30pm: AirAsia group CEO Tony Fernandes has described today's ordeal to be his "worst nightmare" but vows not to stop.
In a series of tweets, Fernandes asks all his staff "to do their best for all guests".
"As your group CEO I will be there through these tough times," he says.
"Our priority is looking after the next of kin for all my staff and passengers," he adds.
Search and rescue ends, to resume in morning
7.30pm: The Indonesian authorities have ended today’s the search and rescue (SAR) operations as night falls, Indonesian vice president Jusuf Kalla is reported saying.
Harian Metro reports the SAR operations will resume tomorrow morning.
Weather at the SAR area is also reportedly getting worse, hampering the team's efforts as the year end northeast monsoon is at full blast.
At this juncture the Indonesian authorities have still not confirmed the fate of the passenger craft.
Search and rescue ends, to resume in morning
7.30pm: The Indonesian authorities have ended today’s the search and rescue (SAR) operations as night falls, Indonesian vice president Jusuf Kalla is reported saying.
Harian Metro reports the SAR operations will resume tomorrow morning.
Weather at the SAR area is also reportedly getting worse, hampering the team's efforts as the year end northeast monsoon is at full blast.
At this juncture the Indonesian authorities have still not confirmed the fate of the passenger craft.
Malaysian on board identified as Sarawakian
6.35pm: The sole Malaysian passenger on board AirAsia flight QZ8501 has been identified as Sii Chung Huei.
According to New Straits Times, Sii is a Jakarta-based businessman who hails from Kuching.
The daily quoted his relatives confirming they have been informed by AirAsia about Sii being on the missing flight.
The search and rescue operations has yet to provide any update on the progress of their efforts or conclusions about the plane's fate.
6.24pm: In an unrelated incident, NST reports another AirAsia flight AK6242 from Penang to Langkawi has turned back due to technical difficulties.
5.50pm: The flight manifest released by the Indonesian Transport Ministry shows that 23 people who were supposed be on the plane did not board.
Out of the original manifest of 177 passengers, only 154 passengers boarded the plane, according to British news website Mirror.
All the 23 who missed the flight did not check-in for their flight.
5.30pm: In a statement, flight manufacturer Airbus says the flight was delivered to Air Asia in October 2008, making the flight six years old.
"Powered by CFM 56-5B engines, the aircraft had accumulated approximately 23,000 flight hours in some 13,600 flights. At this time no further factual information is available," it says.
The company says that it will provide "full assistance" to those investigating the incident.
"The Airbus A320-200 is a twin-engine single-aisle aircraft seating up to 180 passengers in a single-class configuration. The first A320 entered service in March 1988. By the end of November 2014, over 6000 A320 Family aircraft were in service with over 300 operators.
"To date, the entire fleet has accumulated some 154 million flight hours in some 85 million flights," it further says.
It also puts on record its thoughts with those affected by incident.
5.20pm: Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai says Malaysia has deployed a C-130 Hercules craft and three vessels to aid with the search and rescue operations.
He adds that Malaysia has established a Rescue Operations Centre (RCC) at the Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre (ATCC) to aid with the rescue coordination.
Jokowi prays for best
4.40pm: Indonesian president Joko Widodo says he hopes for the best for flight QZ8501.
"We are all praying, I and all of the people of Indonesia.
"We pray for the safe return of all the passengers and crew of AirAsia QZ8501, which has lost contact," Tribunnews quotes him saying.
In a related development, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says he is saddened by the incident.
Lee adds he has spoken to Jokowi to offer Singapore's help, according to a Twitter posting.
He adds Singapore has two C-130 search and locate aircraft on standby to assist Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Reuters reports that US president Barack Obama, who is on holiday in Hawaii, has been briefed on the situation.
AirAsia group CEO heads to Surabaya
4.20pm AirAsia group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes announces he is en route to Surabaya to monitor the situation.
"On my way to Surabaya where most of the passengers are from as with my Indonesian management," he says on Twitter.
He adds his thoughts are with the passengers and crew of the missing aircraft.
"We put our hope in the search and rescue operations and thank the Indonesian, Singapore and Malaysian governments," he tweets.
3.40pm: Indonesian government officials are denying reports they have confirmed the plane crashed east of Belitung as some media have reported, saying the information is still not verified.
Astro Awani reports based on Indonesian Aviation and Communications Ministry director, Djoko Murjatmodjo's comments that the team is still looking for signs of wreckage around the area where the plane was last reported to have been seen.
3pm: According to CCTV News quoting Indonesian authorities, there is "no possibility" for QZ8501 to continue flying hours after losing contact as it only had fuel to last four and a half hours.
The flight lost contact midway through its route to Singapore, during which it was flying mostly over water.
2.40pm: Indonesian national news agency Antara reports that the plane crashed about 145km from Belitung island.
The news agency had quoted a National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) official as saying so, according to Jakarta Post.
The A320 is believed to have circled around in order to avoid a storm before experiencing severe turbulence and then crashing into the sea.
2.35pm: Transport Minister Liow Tong Lai arrives at AirAsia's headquarters.
In a Twitter posting, Liow says he is there to show is support for the airliner.
"Currently at AirAsia headquarters to support our team in this moment of crisis. Let us lend our support to them," he adds.
Liow says Flight QZ8501 is an Indonesian plane lost over Indonesian airspace and therefore the country will take the lead.
Nonetheless, he says that Malaysia is prepared to give its support.
Liow is also expected to hold a press conference later.
2.30pm: Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak tweets that he is "very sad" to hear that AirAsia Indonesia QZ8501 is missing.
"My thoughts are with the families. Malaysia stands ready to help," he adds.
2.25pm: China's CCTV News tweets that a plane wreckage has reportedly been found in the east of Belitung Island in Indonesia.
No details have been divulged in the tweet, and there has been no confirmation from AirAsia or any authorities on this matter.
1.30pm: In an updated statement, AirAsia says the aircraft requested deviation from its flight path due to weather conditions before communications with the Indonesia Air Traffic Control (ATC) was lost.
It also confirmed that the flight had 162 people on board, with 155 passengers, two pilots and five cabin crew.
As for the breakdown, 156 of them were Indonesians (including two cabin crew), three South Koreans, one Singaporean, one French national and one Malaysian.
The Indonesian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is spearheading the search and rescue operations.
"The captain in command had a total of 6,100 flying hours and the first officer a total of 2,275 flying hours," the statement says.
"The aircraft had undergone its last scheduled maintenance on 16 November 2014," it adds.
1.25pm: Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai's media officer has denied that the minister will be holding a press conference on the lost of the aircraft.
AirAsia group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes in a text message says the aircraft involved is AirAsia Indonesia and therefore the press conference will be held in Jakarta.
In Jakarta, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's Air Transport director Djoko Murjatmodjo says Flight QZ8501 went missing shortly after informing air traffic control that it was facing thick clouds.
He said the aircraft, which was flying at 32,000 feet, turned to the left to avoid the thick clouds, according to the press conference streamed on Kompas TV.
PM: Chances are something bad has happened
1.20pm: Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak says Malaysia is prepared to aid Indonesia in its efforts to locate the plane.
"Chances
are, something bad has happened to the plane. That's all we know for
now and we will help to find out what had happened to the plane," he
says, according to a Bernama report.Meanwhile, AirAsia founder and group CEO Tony Fernandes says AirAsia will be releasing another statement on the plane's disappearance soon, and that he thanks people for their support and prayers.
His tweet has since drawn widespread support from the online community.
1pm: According to aviation tracking website FlightRadar24, Flight QZ8501 disappeared from the radar northwest of the Java Sea.
The nearest land mass ahead of its trajectory are Pulau Belitung and Pulau Bangka.
According
to the flight tracker portal, the aircraft with registration number
PK-AXC had previously taken off from Kuala Lumpur at 8.45pm (local time)
last night and landed safely in Surabaya at 10.20pm (local time).However, the aircraft appeared to face trouble in its subsequent flight the next morning to Singapore.
The status of the aircraft on the website is now listed as unknown.
12.50pm: CNN Indonesia reports that the last known location of the plane is believed to be around the island of Belitung, off the east coast of Sumatra.
It lies roughly a third of the distance to Singapore from Surabaya along the flight path.
This is according to Indonesia's Transportation Safety Commission official Tatang Kurniadi, who says that the authorities are now zeroing in on the flight's exact last known location.
A team of search and rescue operators are on their way towards Belitung right now, he adds.
12.35pm: Indonesian news agency Kompas.com is reporting that there have been sightings of a plane having crashed off the island of Belitung, Indonesia - though the exact location has not yet been verified.
A village chief in Beltim reportedly received a call from one his villagers about a flight crashing off Belitung island, and he has notified authorities regarding the news.
162 people on board
12.24pm: The following is the statement released by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore:
An Indonesia AirAsia aircraft, QZ8501, scheduled to arrive at 0830 hours local time from Surabaya, lost contact with Jakarta air traffic control at 0724 hours local time today.
Singapore air traffic control was informed of this loss of contact at 0754 hours by Jakarta air traffic control.
The aircraft was in the Indonesian Flight Information Region (FIR) when contact was lost, more than 200 nm southeast of the Singapore-Jakarta FIR boundary.
Search and rescue operations have been activated by the Indonesian authorities from the Pangkal Pinang Search and Rescue office.
The Singapore Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC), managed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and supported by various agencies, including the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), has also been activated and has offered help to the Indonesian authorities.
Two C130s are already on stand-by for this purpose. We remain ready to provide any assistance to support the search and rescue effort. The CAAS and Changi Airport Group (CAG) Crisis Management Centres have already been activated. We are working with the airline’s crisis management team.
A waiting area, and all necessary facilities and support have been set up for relatives and friends of the affected passengers at Changi Airport Terminal 2 (Level 3).
Further updates will be provided once more information is available.
12.12pm: According to the Straits Times, the flight has 162 people on board, with 155 passengers.
- 149 Indonesians
- 3 Koreans
- 1 British
- 1 Singaporean
- 1 Malaysian
There are seven crew members - one pilot, one first officer, an engineer and four flight attendants.
In addition, AirAsia has notably changed its Facebook profile picture to black and white shortly after confirming that it has lost contact with the flight.
The move has been followed by other AirAsia regional Facebook pages, such as AirAsia Korea and AirAsia Philippines.
11.43am: AirAsia Indonesia issues a statement on the disappearance:
AirAsia Indonesia Flight QZ8501
AirAsia Indonesia regrets to confirm that flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with air traffic control at 0724 hours this morning.
The aircraft was an Airbus A320-200 with the registration number PK-AXC.
At this time, search and rescue operations are in progress and AirAsia is cooperating fully and assisting the rescue service.
AirAsia has established an Emergency Call Centre that is available for family or friends of those who may have been on board the aircraft. The number is: +622129850801.
AirAsia will release further information as soon as it becomes available. Updated information will also be posted on the AirAsia website, www.airasia.com.
[More to follow]
Najib's insurance excuse 'irrelevant', says PAS
The government's excuse that it is not declaring
emergency in the states which have been badly affected by the floods,
displacing about 190,000 people, to enable the victims to file insurance
claims is "irrelevant", PAS Youth's legal bureau said today.
PAS Youth legal and human rights bureau (Juham) director Noorazmir Zakaria, in a statement today, noted that any individual who files for insurance claims would need to do one specifically for floods beforehand, otherwise they would not be able to claim insurances, emergency or otherwise.
Similarly,
he added, even if they had bought such policies before, they could
still file for insurance claims because the flooding had occurred before
the emergency was declared.
"The excuse is completely irrelevant," Noorazmir (left) pointed out, in rebutting the statement made by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak yesterday.
Juham also poured cold water on allegations that a declaration of emergency would mean the federal government would be taking over the state government's powers.
"Declaring emergency for natural disasters has nothing to do with state administration. It only pertains to managing the disaster, and not about transferring any power," Noorazmir noted.
'People do not want political rhetorics'
He further said that the people do not want "political rhetorics" at this point in time, and questioned why the federal government appears reluctant to move all federal assets to aid those suffering from the floods.
"I hope the media gives as much coverage to the floods as they did for MH370. People want the latest information on what is happening," he stressed.
Meanwhile, Kelantan flood victim Farish Aziz questioned the excuse as well, seeking "advice" as to whether individuals who did not buy additional coverage for perils such as flooding could still claim such insurance.
"It would be a form of cruelty if those who bought additional flood coverage would still have to pay the premium, yet can't claim damages because an emergency has been declared," he said in a statement.
"I represent the flood victims who would also seek your help in the form of advice regarding our claims for the damages we have suffered," he added.
PAS Youth legal and human rights bureau (Juham) director Noorazmir Zakaria, in a statement today, noted that any individual who files for insurance claims would need to do one specifically for floods beforehand, otherwise they would not be able to claim insurances, emergency or otherwise.
Similarly,
he added, even if they had bought such policies before, they could
still file for insurance claims because the flooding had occurred before
the emergency was declared."The excuse is completely irrelevant," Noorazmir (left) pointed out, in rebutting the statement made by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak yesterday.
Juham also poured cold water on allegations that a declaration of emergency would mean the federal government would be taking over the state government's powers.
"Declaring emergency for natural disasters has nothing to do with state administration. It only pertains to managing the disaster, and not about transferring any power," Noorazmir noted.
'People do not want political rhetorics'
He further said that the people do not want "political rhetorics" at this point in time, and questioned why the federal government appears reluctant to move all federal assets to aid those suffering from the floods.
"I hope the media gives as much coverage to the floods as they did for MH370. People want the latest information on what is happening," he stressed.
Meanwhile, Kelantan flood victim Farish Aziz questioned the excuse as well, seeking "advice" as to whether individuals who did not buy additional coverage for perils such as flooding could still claim such insurance.
"It would be a form of cruelty if those who bought additional flood coverage would still have to pay the premium, yet can't claim damages because an emergency has been declared," he said in a statement.
"I represent the flood victims who would also seek your help in the form of advice regarding our claims for the damages we have suffered," he added.
AirAsia flight turns back after technical problem
An AirAsia flight has turned back after facing technical problems, according to Berita Harian.
The Langkawi-bound flight from Penang took off at around 4.30pm and was due to arrive at 5.05pm.
However, the report quoted a passenger as saying that Flight AK6242 made a turnback some 10 minutes into the flight.
E Subash, the passenger, said the captain informed them that there was a technical problem.
According to flight tracker portal FlightAware, the aircraft was about halfway through to Langkawi before circling south of the island and turning back to the Penang International Airport.
The report noted that the flight has since been rescheduled and took off at around 6pm.
The same flight tracker portal showed the aircraft having landed safely in Langkawi at 6.44pm.
String of air disasters
Air turnbacks are not uncommon in commercial air travel, but a string of air disasters has created jitters among travellers.
AirAsia Flight QZ8501 - which was bound for Singapore from Surabaya, Indonesia - lost contact with air traffic control this morning.
At writing time, the aircraft with 162 passengers and crew on board has yet to be found.
Indonesian
authorities have deployed assets to the vicinity of Pulau Belitung in
between Singapore and Sumatra to verify unconfirmed reports that the
aircraft had crashed there.
The aircraft belongs to AirAsia Indonesia, though its parent company is Malaysian.
The lost of the aircraft follows twin disasters involving Malaysia Airlines (MAS).
MAS' Flight MH370 - bound for Beijing from Kuala Lumpur - disappeared without a trace in March and is believed to have crashed in the Indian Ocean after drastically deviating from its path for unknown reasons.
To date, the wreckage has yet to be found.
In July, MAS' Flight MH17 - bound for Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam - was shot down over Ukranian airspace as Russia-backed rebels battle government forces in the region.
The Langkawi-bound flight from Penang took off at around 4.30pm and was due to arrive at 5.05pm.
However, the report quoted a passenger as saying that Flight AK6242 made a turnback some 10 minutes into the flight.
E Subash, the passenger, said the captain informed them that there was a technical problem.
According to flight tracker portal FlightAware, the aircraft was about halfway through to Langkawi before circling south of the island and turning back to the Penang International Airport.
The report noted that the flight has since been rescheduled and took off at around 6pm.
The same flight tracker portal showed the aircraft having landed safely in Langkawi at 6.44pm.
String of air disasters
Air turnbacks are not uncommon in commercial air travel, but a string of air disasters has created jitters among travellers.
AirAsia Flight QZ8501 - which was bound for Singapore from Surabaya, Indonesia - lost contact with air traffic control this morning.
At writing time, the aircraft with 162 passengers and crew on board has yet to be found.
Indonesian
authorities have deployed assets to the vicinity of Pulau Belitung in
between Singapore and Sumatra to verify unconfirmed reports that the
aircraft had crashed there.The aircraft belongs to AirAsia Indonesia, though its parent company is Malaysian.
The lost of the aircraft follows twin disasters involving Malaysia Airlines (MAS).
MAS' Flight MH370 - bound for Beijing from Kuala Lumpur - disappeared without a trace in March and is believed to have crashed in the Indian Ocean after drastically deviating from its path for unknown reasons.
To date, the wreckage has yet to be found.
In July, MAS' Flight MH17 - bound for Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam - was shot down over Ukranian airspace as Russia-backed rebels battle government forces in the region.
Kelantan hudud tweaks meaningless without Parliament nod, PKR sec-gen says
The PAS led-state government has however postponed the state legislative assembly’s special sitting to table and pass amendments to the Kelantan Shariah Criminal Code Enactment II on Monday, amid a flood crisis that has left thousands of victims stranded across eight states.
But despite this, Rafizi pointed out that any amendments to the state enactment are inconsequential as the final arbiter on whether the state can implement the Islamic penal law is the Federal Constitution that can only be changed in Parliament.
“Legally, this does not mean anything,” he told Malay Mail Online when contacted, referring to the Kelantan state legislative assembly’s December 30 special sitting on hudud which has now been postponed to a later date yet to be announced.
“Even if the state assembly passes the amendment, it does not change anything as far as the implementation of hudud is concerned… the hudud equilibrium remains status quo, hudud still cannot be introduced,” the Pandan MP explained.
Rafizi pointed out that many PR leaders within PKR, DAP and even PAS were clueless about the proposed amendment plans on hudud, despite having asked for a copy of the document ahead of next week’s assembly sitting.
The secrecy with which PAS is forging ahead is putting its partners PKR and DAP in a quandary, he added. Both parties have been vocal in their criticism of their Islamist partners plan, especially the secular DAP.
“PAS’s refusal to share (the amendments) has complicated the relationship in Pakatan,” Rafizi said.
DAP is increasing the pressure on PAS to abandon its pursuit of hudud, with leaders alternately telling the latter to quit Pakatan Rakyat or for the pact to suspend ties with the Islamists over their insistence on enforcing the Islamic penal code.
PKR and DAP both maintain that hudud is not part of the PR common policy framework and PAS should not pursue its implementation as long as it remains a part of the pact.
Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob told Malay Mail Online yesterday that the postponement was because many state assemblymen were currently busy with relief efforts in their respective constituencies.
“It is a difficult time. We have postponed the sitting to a later date which will be announced,” he said when contacted on the phone.
The special assembly was to have allowed PAS to initiate its plan to table in Parliament a private member’s bill to amend the Federal Constitution, which would subsequently allow Kelantan to implement hudud law in the state.
In Islamic jurisprudence, hudud covers crimes such as theft, robbery, adultery, rape and sodomy.
Punishments for the crimes are severe, including amputation, flogging and death by stoning.
Experts say ‘something serious’ happened to AirAsia flight
Theories abound that it may not be simply bad weather that caused flight QZ8501 to go missing.
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: Various aviation experts and correspondents closely following news of the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 have said that something very bad must have occurred to result in it going off the radar.
With so little factual information currently available except for the extreme weather conditions, aviation expert Doug Maclean told Sky News that all the evidence currently suggests that “something very serious” had happened to flight QZ8501.
Another air crash search and rescue expert William Waldock from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University meanwhile zeroed in on the aircraft’s crew requesting for an unusual route, remarking that this was surprising because the weather, although previously described as extreme, “didn’t seem to be anything unusual”.
Meanwhile Singapore’s Sunday Times reported: “No distress signal was sent, said the Indonesian air transport authorities.”
According to an AFP report, Indonesian officials are sticking to the theory that extreme weather conditions were most likely the cause of the aircraft now having gone missing.
An official from Indonesia’s transport ministry said the pilot asked to ascend 6,000 feet to 38,000 feet to avoid heavy clouds.
“The plane is in good condition but the weather is not so good,” Djoko Murjatmodjo told a press conference at Jakarta’s airport, addressing reports of severe storms in the area where the jet went missing.
The Indonesian air force has since despatched two of its planes to scour an area of the Java Sea, southwest of Pangkalan Bun in Kalimantan province.
“The weather is cloudy and the area is surrounded by sea. We are still on our way so we won’t make an assumption on what happened to the plane,” said Indonesian air force spokesman Hadi Cahyanto.
KUALA LUMPUR: Various aviation experts and correspondents closely following news of the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 have said that something very bad must have occurred to result in it going off the radar.
With so little factual information currently available except for the extreme weather conditions, aviation expert Doug Maclean told Sky News that all the evidence currently suggests that “something very serious” had happened to flight QZ8501.
Another air crash search and rescue expert William Waldock from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University meanwhile zeroed in on the aircraft’s crew requesting for an unusual route, remarking that this was surprising because the weather, although previously described as extreme, “didn’t seem to be anything unusual”.
Meanwhile Singapore’s Sunday Times reported: “No distress signal was sent, said the Indonesian air transport authorities.”
According to an AFP report, Indonesian officials are sticking to the theory that extreme weather conditions were most likely the cause of the aircraft now having gone missing.
An official from Indonesia’s transport ministry said the pilot asked to ascend 6,000 feet to 38,000 feet to avoid heavy clouds.
“The plane is in good condition but the weather is not so good,” Djoko Murjatmodjo told a press conference at Jakarta’s airport, addressing reports of severe storms in the area where the jet went missing.
The Indonesian air force has since despatched two of its planes to scour an area of the Java Sea, southwest of Pangkalan Bun in Kalimantan province.
“The weather is cloudy and the area is surrounded by sea. We are still on our way so we won’t make an assumption on what happened to the plane,” said Indonesian air force spokesman Hadi Cahyanto.
‘Possible air crash location in waters near Belitung’
It is believed the plane circled the sea near Belitung to avoid a storm before experiencing severe turbulence and crashed.
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: An Indonesian search and rescue team has headed for the waters near Belitung island and a possible crash location of 03.22.46S 108.50.07E where a missing AirAsia aircraft might have gone down.
The Indonesian national search and rescue agency Basarnas was reported by Antara news agency to have sent a team to Belitung. The crash location is believed to be around 80-100 nautical miles from Belitung, said Supriandi, a spokesman for Basarnas in Pangkalpinang.
However the Aviation and Communications Ministry director, Djoko Murjatmodjo, would only say that the team is still looking for signs of wreckage around the area where the plane was last reported to have been seen.
SAR officials had said earlier that they believed the Airbus A320 could have circled over the sea near Belitung to avoid a storm before it experienced severe turbulence and crashed into the ocean. The Air Asia flight QZ8501, is reported to have had 155 passengers on board, of whom 16 were children.
An unconfirmed radar plot leaked to a professional pilots’ online forum purports to show that the aircraft was last tracked on radar climbing at 36,300ft but at only 353 knots.
This was slower than a nearby Emirates aircraft that was tracked at 503kts. A professional airline pilot speculated that the AirAsia aircraft’s slower speed could have been due to the plane’s rapid climb rate possibly coupled with strong headwinds.
The purported radar plot would be consistent with an official account that the pilot of QZ8501 requested clearance to climb to 38,000ft.
The sequence of events on Saturday morning, as reported at an Indonesia National SAR official briefing:
(all times local)
05:36 QZ8501 departed Juanda airport, Surabaya
06:12 Contacts Jakarta centre 125.70 at FL320, requests weather deviation left of M635 airway and climb to FL380
(The aircraft contacted Jakarta air traffic centre while at 32,000ft and requested a deviation leftwards of the M635 airway, and permission to climb to 38,000ft)
06:16 QZ8501 still observed on radar
06:17 Radar contact lost. Radio contact lost. Only ADS-B signal remained.
06:18 All contact lost. Only flight plan view on radar screen.
07:08 ATC declares INCERFA (aircraft position uncertain)
07:28 ATC declares ALERTFA (emergency alert)
07:55 ATC declares DETRESFA (emergency distress)
KUALA LUMPUR: An Indonesian search and rescue team has headed for the waters near Belitung island and a possible crash location of 03.22.46S 108.50.07E where a missing AirAsia aircraft might have gone down.
The Indonesian national search and rescue agency Basarnas was reported by Antara news agency to have sent a team to Belitung. The crash location is believed to be around 80-100 nautical miles from Belitung, said Supriandi, a spokesman for Basarnas in Pangkalpinang.
However the Aviation and Communications Ministry director, Djoko Murjatmodjo, would only say that the team is still looking for signs of wreckage around the area where the plane was last reported to have been seen.
SAR officials had said earlier that they believed the Airbus A320 could have circled over the sea near Belitung to avoid a storm before it experienced severe turbulence and crashed into the ocean. The Air Asia flight QZ8501, is reported to have had 155 passengers on board, of whom 16 were children.
An unconfirmed radar plot leaked to a professional pilots’ online forum purports to show that the aircraft was last tracked on radar climbing at 36,300ft but at only 353 knots.
This was slower than a nearby Emirates aircraft that was tracked at 503kts. A professional airline pilot speculated that the AirAsia aircraft’s slower speed could have been due to the plane’s rapid climb rate possibly coupled with strong headwinds.
The purported radar plot would be consistent with an official account that the pilot of QZ8501 requested clearance to climb to 38,000ft.
The sequence of events on Saturday morning, as reported at an Indonesia National SAR official briefing:
(all times local)
05:36 QZ8501 departed Juanda airport, Surabaya
06:12 Contacts Jakarta centre 125.70 at FL320, requests weather deviation left of M635 airway and climb to FL380
(The aircraft contacted Jakarta air traffic centre while at 32,000ft and requested a deviation leftwards of the M635 airway, and permission to climb to 38,000ft)
06:16 QZ8501 still observed on radar
06:17 Radar contact lost. Radio contact lost. Only ADS-B signal remained.
06:18 All contact lost. Only flight plan view on radar screen.
07:08 ATC declares INCERFA (aircraft position uncertain)
07:28 ATC declares ALERTFA (emergency alert)
07:55 ATC declares DETRESFA (emergency distress)
Did our money go into 1MDB, asks bank union
NUBE calls for full open inquiry into how workers' money has been invested
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: The bank workers’ union has called for a comprehensive and open inquiry into how workers’ savings are being invested or used, in the light of the current controversy over the finances of government-owned investment company 1Malaysia Development Bhd which has accumulated debts of RM49 billion.
Describing the recent reports and controversy about 1MDB as shocking, the general secretary of the National Union of Bank Employees, J Solomon, demanded transparency in how workers’ savings were being invested or used.
He warned that the government was in danger of losing the trust of the labour force and urged the authorities to have a dialogue with the Malaysian Trades Union Congress for an accountable government and for workers’ interests to be protected.
Solomon said the public must be informed if EPF funds, workers’ monies, or public funds had been invested in, or used for, 1MDB, or companies acting against the interests of workers or which are anti-union.
Solomon also called for transparency on how the government was investing workers’ retirement contributions to the EPF, as well as to the labour compensation fund Socso.
“Any decision on investment of EPF funds should be made by EPF contributors themselves,” Solomon said in a statement, pointing to widespread concern surrounding 1MDB, which he said “points towards a lack of governance and proper regulation of public funds”.
He said workers who contribute towards the EPF have no real say on how their funds are being invested and called it “stripping the rights of Malaysian workers” to know how their money is being used.
Solomon accused government authorities of an abuse of trust and pointed to Bank Negara Malaysia’s approval of an extension of non-performing loans as an example of “corporate interests being protected at the expense of the Malaysian public”.
He said large corporations were passing their risks to the public.
“It appears that there is no risk for large corporations to bear,” Solomon said.
Bank Negara, he said, “seems to be working for large corporations and at their mercy”.
Solomon pointed to reports that Malaysia has one of the biggest income inequalities in the region and said this was reflective of the failed policies of authorities entrusted with the well-being of Malaysians.
He also pointed to the low dividends of EPF compared to some other government funds such as Permodalan Nasional Berhad and Amanah Saham Bumiputera, despite EPF funds having larger funds and having been around for many more years.
KUALA LUMPUR: The bank workers’ union has called for a comprehensive and open inquiry into how workers’ savings are being invested or used, in the light of the current controversy over the finances of government-owned investment company 1Malaysia Development Bhd which has accumulated debts of RM49 billion.
Describing the recent reports and controversy about 1MDB as shocking, the general secretary of the National Union of Bank Employees, J Solomon, demanded transparency in how workers’ savings were being invested or used.
He warned that the government was in danger of losing the trust of the labour force and urged the authorities to have a dialogue with the Malaysian Trades Union Congress for an accountable government and for workers’ interests to be protected.
Solomon said the public must be informed if EPF funds, workers’ monies, or public funds had been invested in, or used for, 1MDB, or companies acting against the interests of workers or which are anti-union.
Solomon also called for transparency on how the government was investing workers’ retirement contributions to the EPF, as well as to the labour compensation fund Socso.
“Any decision on investment of EPF funds should be made by EPF contributors themselves,” Solomon said in a statement, pointing to widespread concern surrounding 1MDB, which he said “points towards a lack of governance and proper regulation of public funds”.
He said workers who contribute towards the EPF have no real say on how their funds are being invested and called it “stripping the rights of Malaysian workers” to know how their money is being used.
Solomon accused government authorities of an abuse of trust and pointed to Bank Negara Malaysia’s approval of an extension of non-performing loans as an example of “corporate interests being protected at the expense of the Malaysian public”.
He said large corporations were passing their risks to the public.
“It appears that there is no risk for large corporations to bear,” Solomon said.
Bank Negara, he said, “seems to be working for large corporations and at their mercy”.
Solomon pointed to reports that Malaysia has one of the biggest income inequalities in the region and said this was reflective of the failed policies of authorities entrusted with the well-being of Malaysians.
He also pointed to the low dividends of EPF compared to some other government funds such as Permodalan Nasional Berhad and Amanah Saham Bumiputera, despite EPF funds having larger funds and having been around for many more years.
Plenty of smoking guns on illegal migrants in Sabah
Some people have claimed that a lot of activities associated with the illegal immigrants in Sabah represent an industry, and present opportunities and temptation for corruption. Corruption is a big problem in this country. It is also very costly.
I also hear of illegal immigrants becoming victims of enforcement personnel. They become part of the problem rather than the solution. Their vulnerability is often taken advantage of. I have heard stories that very often, enforcement personnel, usually towards the end of the month, demand to inspect the purses of illegal immigrants and take away some or all their monies.
Let me briefly make some comments on the RCI and its report. The RCI is the latest attempt by the federal government to show the public that it is doing something to resolve what is perceived to be a government-created problem for Sabah. Perception, being what it is, could be real or imagined.
But
in the Sabah case, there are many signs of smoking guns. The problems
associated with the illegal immigrants are often described as the mother
of all problems.The unusually large population of foreigners, both legal and illegal, has permanently changed the economic, social, cultural, political and demographic landscape of the state. Many of them were initially illegal but became legal, rightly or wrongly.
By my reckoning, there are in Sabah more foreigners than locals, who feel fearful and threatened. I have some indicators for this but time does not permit me to elaborate. This is not surprising because this issue has been in the making for more than 30 years.
There appears to be lack of political will on the part of the government to resolve the problem once and for all. More and more Sabahans are convinced that this is a deliberate move or agenda for Sabah by the federal government.
Double standard?
During the late 60s and early 70s, plenty of Vietnamese refugees landed in the peninsula. They were confined to Pulau Bidong, off the coast of Terengganu. Within two years, they were all deported to other countries. The government was very pro-active.
At about the same time, illegal immigrants from the southern Philippines and Indonesia also started to come to Sabah. Unlike the Vietnamese, they are still in Sabah today. There appears to be double standard in the treatment between the non-Muslim Vietnamese and the mostly Muslim Filipinos and Indonesians.
Malaysia is neither a state party to the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951, nor the 1967 Protocol. This being the case, all refugees are treated as illegal immigrants.
All the moves, actions and pronouncements by government leaders have so far not produced the desired results. At one time the government declared an amnesty. It was extended several times so much so that the illegal immigrants did not take it seriously. No review was carried out to assess its effectiveness.
From
time to time, you hear of some illegals being arrested and placed in
the temporary detention centres. They have now become temporary on a
permanent basis. Occasionally you hear of raids and deportations but the
number of illegal immigrants appears to increase rather than decrease.There is no basis to blame the illegal immigrants for being in Sabah. As human beings, they are looking for a better life and opportunities. They have human rights, no more and no less than any Malaysian. Their human rights must be respected. Human rights have no borders.
The question many genuine Sabahans ask is - why are or were they allowed to enter the state illegally and move around with impunity? It is believed that hundreds of thousands of them have been granted citizenship as well as the right to vote, in return for their support for the Umno-dominated BN government.
Former chief minister Yong Teck Lee had to vacate his Likas state assembly seat because he won it in 1999 with the help of phantom voters. Justice Muhammad Kamil Awang said that the 1998 electoral roll for the constituency was illegal, and the election held in March 1999 was null and void. The judge, among others, stated that the evidence adduced represented the tip of an iceberg.
The logical and correct move by the government would have been to rectify the tainted electoral roll. Instead, the Election Act was amended whereby once the electoral roll was gazetted, it cannot be challenged in any court of law. This is bad law and inconsistent with democratic principles.
Why should a responsible government be unwilling to clean a tainted electoral roll if it has no sinister motive?
Flawed RCI report
As the 13th general election was approaching, the government finally announced the establishment of the RCI on Feb 8, 2012, but without the terms of reference. I found this rather odd. It was like putting the horse before the cart.
The terms of reference were announced much later. The eight terms of reference were all investigative and not corrective in nature. The RCI was not assigned the task of identifying the real people responsible for the problem and the action to be taken against them.
Initially, the RCI was given six months to come up with the report. It had been the hope of many Sabahans that the report could be known before the general election. In the event, it was extended for another six months.
The general election took place on May 5, 2013.
The report was submitted to the Agong on May 14 this year. It was finally released in Kota Kinabalu on Dec 3 by the chief secretary to the government. As a civil servant, it was surprising for him to conclude that there is no political motive involved, despite all indications to the contrary. Even the RCI was silent on it. The chief secretary did not back his contention with hard evidence. One gets the impression that he was playing politics.
The public expected the report to be tabled and debated in Parliament.
Despite the reservations shown by many towards the RCI, the evidence adduced from the witnesses had endorsed what many Sabahans have suspected all along but denied by government leaders. What was disclosed by witnesses was not surprising. What is surprising is that the government appeared to be uncaring and insensitive to the welfare and interests of Malaysians in Sabah by placing the interests of foreigners over theirs.
In short, the RCI has cleared the real culprits - the government and political parties - of any wrongdoing. Instead, the RCI pointed the finger at civil servants. This is very surprising. The main function and responsibilities of civil servants is to translate government decisions and policies into action. They operate under the principle of ‘I am your obedient servant’.
Even if they are doing wrong, either deliberately or inadvertently, surely they cannot escape from government notice and attention for over 30 years.
Experience and events also indicate that the government was aware of what was happening. For example, the decision to establish the federal task force was made by the PM himself. I was present when the decision was made. I welcomed the move but I was disappointed that it took about one year just to create the post of the head of the task force. Yet the task force was supposed to resolve the issue once and for all.
That is why I am convinced that the federal government is not serious in solving the problem. There is so much disconnect between declared intention and actual action. It has been said ‘a man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds’.
I believe the task force is still in existence but so is the problem, only bigger and more complex.
In so far as the ‘Projek IC’ is concerned, the RCI concluded that it “probably existed” despite the availability of hard evidence to suggest that it definitely existed. The question of probability should not arise. The existence of ‘Projek IC’ is an open secret to the ordinary Sabahans.
Report not signed
Right-minded Sabahans who were looking for relief and justice would be shocked and disgusted with the report. It is a very disappointing report, to say the least.
It
looks odd that in the report the term ‘royal commission of inquiry’
appears, yet on the cover it is being referred to as report of the
'commission of enquiry'. The chairperson and the commissioners also did
not sign the report. Other reports which I have seen are much more
dignified.The RCI agreed with the proposal by the National Registration Department (NRD) workshop to establish a permanent secretariat supported by a management committee on foreigners. It is surprisingly a very short recommendation and not even original.
Only time will tell whether or not this is the last of illegal problems in Sabah following the release of the RCI report and the implementation of its recommendations. In government circle, it is not unusual that when no one is brave enough to take tough decision involving strong political will, a committee would be formed.
That committee, in turn, forms sub-committees. Responsibility is diluted. More often than not, it is taken over by the passage of time.
I am reminded of the story of four people: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. It ended that Everybody blamed Somebody when actually Nobody asked Anybody.
Finally, you may then ask - what should be done? The illegal immigration issue is a national problem. They should be equally distributed among all the 13 states. It is not fair that Sabah alone shoulder the burden.
Some suggestions
- Illegal entry into Sabah should immediately stop.
- Sabah identification cards should be issued to all genuine Sabahans. Only Sabahans with Sabah ICs should be allowed to vote.
- Names on the electoral rolls without the Sabah ICs should be taken out from the electoral rolls.
I realise this will be a massive exercise but it is necessary. A massive problem requires a massive solution. It is the government which made its bed, it must be prepared to lie on it. This is responsibility and accountability.
If the federal government was pro-active right from the beginning by not allowing illegal entry into Sabah, we would not be saddled with this problem today. But it was allowed to happen and continue for more than 30 years. I will not be surprised if many of the illegal immigrants have moved to other parts of the country in search for better opportunities.
Sabah is their entry point into Malaysia and to the rest of the world, courtesy of the federal government.
SIMON SIPAUN is former state secretary of Sabah and former Suhakam commissioner. The above speech was given at the Bersih/Pacos forum on the RCI report in Kota Kinabalu on Dec 13.
Vanishing Of QZ8501 "A Massive Shock" - Tony Fernandes
KUALA
LUMPUR, Dec 28 (Bernama) -- AirAsia group chief executive officer Tan
Sri Tony Fernandes said the company was still in the dark over what
happened to AirAsia Indonesia Flight QZ8501 which went missing Sunday
morning.He told a press conference in Surabaya, Indonesia, the point of departure of the Singapore-bound Airbus A320-200, that the plane was in good condition and had undergone scheduled maintenance in November.
"This is a massive shock to us...unbelievable," said a sombre-looking Fernandes at the media conference which was telecast live over Indonesian television monitored here.
To a question, Fernandes said he did not want to speculate on what happened to the missing plane with 162 people aboard, stressing that "we don't know what went wrong".
The Malaysian aviation magnate said he left it to the search and rescue operation teams to locate the six-year old aircraft, which left Surabaya at 5.35 am but lost contact with Indonesian air traffic control at 7.24 am. It was scheduled to reach Singapore at 8.20 am, all local times.
Those on board comprised 155 Indonesians, three South Koreans, one Singaporean, one Malaysian, a French national and one Briton.
Fernandes said the priority now was looking after the next-of-kin of QZ8501's passengers and crew.
In a series of tweets earlier, he said:
"I, as your group CEO, will be there through these hard times. We will go through this terrible ordeal together."
Fernandes also said he was touched by the massive show of support, especially from fellow airlines.
"This is my worst nightmare," said the entrepreneur as he was making his way to Surabaya "where most of the passengers were from as with my Indonesian management".
Sunday, 28 December 2014
ISIS blows up Catholic church in Mosul
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—Islamic State (ISIS) militants blew up a Catholic church in the al-Arabi district of Mosul on Friday, a Pastor told Rudaw.
“Members of the extremist organization (ISIS) cleared the Church of Virgin Mary of its contents in al-Arabi area, north of Mosul and blew it up after few hours,” said Pastor Behnam Raad.
Local sources said that the militants had sealed off the church and planted the bombs on Thursday.
The majority of Mosul’s Christian population fled the city when ISIS took over in June. The group has since demolished a number of Christian, Shiite and Yezidi shrines in and around Mosul among them the ancient shrine of Jonah (Nabi Yunus).
Chilling tales of brutality unleashed by IS on Yazidi women documented in Amnesty report
The Amnesty USA Report on “Torture and Sexual Slavery in Islamic State captivity in Iraq” makes for difficult and brutal reading. Amnesty spoke to some of the 300 women and girls, from the Yazidi community who had managed to escape the IS, and the accounts of systematic brutality, torture and rape of girls and women are laid out in a matter of fact manner, that makes it even more impactful.
Narrative after narrative focuses on the utter dehumanisation of prisoners and the treatment meted out to them.
A 15 year old girl Arwa, had this account :
“In Rambussi we were held in a house with five other girls. There they did to me what they did to many other girls. I was raped. My cousin was not molested; they wanted to take her to marry her to a man but in the end they left her with us and then we managed to escape. One of the girls said she was not raped but I don’t know if it is true; I hope it is true. Another did not talk about what happened to her. The others were raped. The men were all Iraqis. They said that if we killed ourselves they would kill our relatives.”
A 16 year old, Randa, had this account:
“I was taken to Mosul and kept there all the time. First in a building which they called the maqarr (headquarters). We were about 150 girls and five women. A man called Salwan took me from there to an abandoned house. He also took my cousin, who is 13 years old; we resisted and they beat us. He took me as his wife by force. I told him I did not want to and tried to resist but he beat me. My nose was bleeding, I could not do anything to stop him. I ran away as soon as I could. Luckily they did not do anything to my cousin, did not force her to marry, and she escaped with me. I went to a doctor here, who said that I was not pregnant and didn’t have any disease, but I can’t forget what happened to me.”
Girls were raped, sold into slavery, sold into ‘marriage’ – the report is unclear as to what happened to the men. It is estimated that hundreds of men were killed in the battle, or forced to convert under the threat of death. The 300 women and girls who escaped, are the lucky ones. It is estimated that 1000’s of women and girls are still being held by the Islamic State and most are facing brutality and violence on an ongoing basis. Most of the women were taken captive in August 2014 when the IS invaded the Sinjar regions of North West Iraq. According to Amnesty, most of the families in this region have at least one family member missing.
The IS preferred women and girls who were ‘beautiful’, as they did girls who were virgins. One of the accounts by a girl who escaped : ““They kept bringing prospective buyers for us but luckily none of them took us because we are not beautiful and we were always crying and holding on to each other.”
Another escapee said, “My sister and I told them we were married but they said they would bring a doctor to examine us and those who were virgins and had lied about being married would be punished, so we admitted that we were not married. If we had known that they were going to kill us we would have continued to lie but we were afraid that we would be raped....”
However, being married was no protection from being raped or sold: “I had my little boy with me and my pregnancy was very visible already but one of the guards chose me to be his wife. He said that if I did not consent to marrying him he would sell me on to another man who would take me to Syria. I let him believe that I would marry him and managed to run away before he could carry out his threats ” is the testimony of 19-year-old Abla, who was pregnant when she was taken prisoner. Many of the young women committed suicide rather than face a life of sexual slavery. The accounts of their death are chilling.
“Jilan killed herself in the bathroom. She cut her wrists and hanged herself. She was very beautiful. I think she knew that she was going to be taken away by a man and that is why she killed herself.”
Not all suicide attempts were successful. Wafa, 27, talks about her unsuccessful attempt at suicide: “The man who was holding us said that either we marry him and his brother or he would sell us. At night we tried to strangle ourselves with our scarves. We tied the scarves around our necks and pulled away from each other as hard as we could, until I fainted. Two girls who were held with us woke up and stopped us and then stayed awake to watch over us. When they fell asleep at 5am we tried again, and again they woke up and stopped us. I could not speak for several days after that.”
The women who escaped are so traumatised by their experience that relatives fear that they may never heal, and watch over them in case they commit suicide. The men who ‘purchased’ Yazidi girls and women, were Iraqis and Syrians and from other Arab nations. They were not necessarily fighters. And, the ‘marriages’ were registered at a shariah court. One of the escapees said of her husband’s family “His wife was very nice to us and felt sorry for us. She cried with us and wanted to help but she couldn’t.” This is a tragedy on so many levels that it is going to take generations of sustained work to restore some form of rights to women in the region.
While the world collectively wrings its hands and wonders what can be done, the IS is cutting a swathe through the region with tactics like this, that spread fear. And, if we believe that this is against just the Yazidi , we would be wrong. As the Amnesty report points out, the IS kills everyone who is not like it and doesn’t support the Islamic state – which means pretty much all sane people. IS “ carried out a deliberate policy of ethnic cleansing in northern Iraq. It forced hundreds of thousands of members of ethnic and religious minorities, who had lived in the region for centuries – including Shi’a (who are a minority in northern Iraq),Assyrian Christians, Turkmen Shi’a, Shabak Shi’a, Yazidis, Kakai, and Sabean Mandaeans – to abandon their homes and villages”.
The report makes for hard reading. But, read it, we must, because if nothing else we owe it those who died, who are still in captivity, who are slaves in a modern world. What the IS has committed, is war crimes. But, how do you deal with a force that refuses to recognise the basic rules of the modern world, and is hell bent on burning and destroying everything that is not in the image of its own distorted view of the universe? In a world where most modern Nation States are bound by basic rules, which they may bend but not break, how do you deal with an entity that follows none? The more one reads on this, the great fear is that, the rest of the world has to sink to the same brutal levels to put an end to this
Najib's diplomatic feat turns sour
Najib teeing off with Obama on Christmas eve was meant to show the premier's close relationship with the leader of a superpower, but any sign of admiration quickly drained and was replaced with an outpouring of anger.
Najib managed to show off his diplomatic clout as his golfing session with Obama was splashed in the US media.However, the subsequent angry responses in Malaysia was also quickly picked up the following day.
"A world leader is under fire for playing golf in Hawaii at a time of national crisis. Only this time, it's not President Obama," reported the Washington Post.
The US-based media picked up local reports of angry comments on Najib's Facebook page which urged the premier to return home to deal with the crisis.
The New York Times also picked up an Associated Press report that Najib was "under fire".
"Najib has come under fire for going on holidays in Hawaii, where he was seen golfing with President Barack Obama.
"People have posted messages on his Facebook page, urging him to return home as the flooding worsened," it said.
Managing international coverage
Even the regional US press had highlighted the anger at the prime minister.
"Facebook users told Najib not to be a prime minister in absentia during this time when the country needs him the most as the flood situation worsened in five states," reported Indianapolis Post.
The bad international publicity was made worse by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin (right) who said there was "no need" for the prime minister to return home and that he deserved a break."The PM has worked very hard. Be fair to him. He's a human being too," he said on Thursday.
However, Najib quickly responded to the public outcry, posting a photograph of him on the phone with Muhyiddin on Facebook hours later.
"In the conversation, I asked that he step up the operation to distribute aid to flood victims," he said in the posting.
The posting, which garnered over 10,000 comments, did not help, as netizens mocked the prime minister for his golfing session.
'To be with the people'
A day after that, the Prime Minister's Office in a statement announced that Najib will be returning home to oversee the emergency response of flood-hit states.
“While I have been away, I have been in constant contact with the National Security Council and the National Disaster Management and Relief Committee, who have assured me that they are doing everything they can to help those who have been affected.
"But I want to see the situation for myself and be with the people," said Najib in the statement.According to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, the prime minister's Airbus A319 aircraft with the call sign 9M-NAA departed Hawaii for Los Angeles, before arriving in Indianapolis at 6.52pm Malaysian time yesterday.
However, the aircraft remains in Indianapolis and it is unclear if Najib is using another aircraft to return to the country or that the signal from the jet has been turned off.
It is understood the premier will be flying directly into Kota Bharu and is expected to have arrived at noon today.
As of this morning, a total of 132,000 people have been displaced by the floods which is now affecting eight states and shows no signs of abating.
Hudud imbroglio – where is Anwar when he is needed now?
Pakatan Rakyat may split three ways if the Kelantan PAS-dominated State Legislative Assembly special sitting tables and passes amendments to the Syariah Criminal Code Enactment (2) 1993 to pave the way for the implementation of hudud in the state.
The proposal to implement hudud was passed by the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly 21 years ago and again through the enactment.
Amendments have to be made and passed to enable the PAS government to table a private bill in Parliament as provided under Article 76A of the Federal Constitution
It appears even the worst floods in decades in the state now cannot wash away the drama and tension surrounding the special assembly sitting scheduled to be held on Dec 29.
One wonders if the rising flood waters will delay the sitting, but that’s only a wish as the 45 elected assemblymen are likely to go ahead with their debate on the amendments.
And outside, it is Pakatan who will be discussing their future.
All of the Kelantan assembly members are Muslims, thereby bonded by the principle that hudud must be upheld.
The enforcement of hudud becomes imminent after a delay of nearly three decades when it was first promised as an electoral incentive by an energetic ulama Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat who was campaigning in the 1980s.
Today, Nik Abdul Aziz is ailing, but his vision or rather the struggle of PAS as an Islamist party can be realised if the assembly passes the proposed amendments to enforce hudud.
Barisan Nasional (BN) though Umno has only 15 state seats so it cannot stop PAS from passing the amendments.
It is after all, God’s law and in principle, no practising Muslim can ignore the adoption and observation of the set of laws aimed at deterring crime and other sinful acts.
Be mindful that religious matters come under the purview of each state where the respective state rulers chair their religious councils. For Penang and Malacca, the King is the head.
There are federal agencies entrusted with the task of overseeing certain management aspects of Islam, but each Malay heartland state holds sway in enacting Syariah laws and enforcing them.
A fine example is Selangor.
Can the secularism-based DAP co-exist with Islam-driven PAS?
As PAS and DAP head into a collision course, it is with great regret to observe that Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is conspicuously missing.
His party, PKR, only managed to delay it by saying they want a draft of the proposal before making a decision on whether to support PAS, side with DAP or abstain.
It is believed that Anwar is the glue in Pakatan.
But of late, there are telling signs that PR is moving apart. Where then is the Permatang Pauh MP when the opposition coalition needs his leadership now?
Anwar has to step up his game, and prevent PAS and DAP from ruining whatever goodwill festive spirit is emanating now. Granted that Anwar has been through a lot, and is heading into the New Year with much uncertainty.
But he is seen as an alternative leader to BN by many Malaysians, so he needs to rise to the occasion.
He should convince PAS and DAP to work together and prevent the six-year-old alliance tearing apart.
Former PAS Supporters Club Congress’ president Hu Phang Chaw claimed that he was informed by Kelantan’s Deputy Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah that hudud was being embraced for political reasons.
If it is political, surely there can be a political solution.
And strong leadership is not just confined to Pakatan, BN should also weigh in on finding a solution.
In other words, this is where our leaders earn their keep, trying to overcome obstacles so the citizenry can continue to live in a progressive, peaceful and most importantly, tolerant nation.
- See more at: http://www.theantdaily.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=21666#sthash.FRetHwY8.dpuf
RM500 million in aid for flood victims announced
Prime Minister Najib Razak announces that special aid, managed by the National Security Council be distributed to flood victims.
FMT
KOTA BAHARU: Prime Minister Najib Razak today announced a special aid of RM500 million for flood victims in the states affected by the disaster.
He said the fund would be managed fully by the National Security Council (MKN) and it would be disbursed after the conclusion of the floods.
“The aid will be distributed through the MKN based on the criteria to be specified,” he told reporters after making an observation by air in the districts severely affected by the floods such as Tumpat and Tanah Merah.
Najib also announced that the payment of the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M), which is scheduled for disbursement at the end of January, will be speeded up to the middle of the month.
In addition, in a move to ease the burden of the people affected, the prime minister also urged financial institutions and agencies managing loan funds to reschedule the repayment period of the borrowers.
Najib today also visited several areas that were severely affected by the floods in the state.
The PM boarded a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) helicopter to observe the affected areas which included Pasir Mas, Tumpat, Rantau Panjang and Tanah Merah.
He also met flood victims at the Temporary Relief Centre (PPS) at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Kubang Batang, Tumpat, and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Belimbing PPS in Tanah Merah.
Brushing aside protocol, Najib ate and drank with them lending them an ear as they told of their misery because of the floods.
- BERNAMA
KOTA BAHARU: Prime Minister Najib Razak today announced a special aid of RM500 million for flood victims in the states affected by the disaster.
He said the fund would be managed fully by the National Security Council (MKN) and it would be disbursed after the conclusion of the floods.
“The aid will be distributed through the MKN based on the criteria to be specified,” he told reporters after making an observation by air in the districts severely affected by the floods such as Tumpat and Tanah Merah.
Najib also announced that the payment of the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M), which is scheduled for disbursement at the end of January, will be speeded up to the middle of the month.
In addition, in a move to ease the burden of the people affected, the prime minister also urged financial institutions and agencies managing loan funds to reschedule the repayment period of the borrowers.
Najib today also visited several areas that were severely affected by the floods in the state.
The PM boarded a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) helicopter to observe the affected areas which included Pasir Mas, Tumpat, Rantau Panjang and Tanah Merah.
He also met flood victims at the Temporary Relief Centre (PPS) at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Kubang Batang, Tumpat, and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Belimbing PPS in Tanah Merah.
Brushing aside protocol, Najib ate and drank with them lending them an ear as they told of their misery because of the floods.
- BERNAMA
Najib heads straight into disaster briefing
Back from criticised Hawaii trip, but Met warns of more storms ahead
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak headed straight for Kota Baru from his cut-short holiday in Hawaii as more people fled their homes in the worst monsoon floods in decades and weathermen forecast more rain in the week ahead.
Najib arrived at 1.40pm today and went immediately into a briefing by the National Security Council, Bernama reported. More than 132,000 are now in relief centres in eight states of the peninsula, with the East Coast, particularly Kelantan, most affected.
The government has allocated about almost RM50 million to manage relief centres, with Najib’s deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, saying rescuers were facing challenges with power failures and roads being washed away.
Najib has faced flak for being away in Hawaii for a surprise private visit to US President Barack Obama and photographs of him playing golf with the US president drew immediate criticism as heavy rains and higher than usual tides caused widespread inundation.
Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman was another politician who cut short an overseas trip, after also facing opposition criticism. He returned on Friday evening from his ‘umrah’ (minor pilgrimage) trip. He said he had made plans for the trip a long time ago and had also planned to fulfill a vow made over the then political instability in Terengganu and for his ailing (now late) father.
Parts of Kota Baru resembled a vast, muddy lake, with row after row of rooftops peeking out of the murky waters, news wires reported.
Air drops of supplies planned
With major roads cut off, including portions of the East-West Highway, the National Security Council said air drops of food and drinking water might be needed to aid the thousands of stranded flood victims.
The council’s disaster management secretary Mohd Ariff Baharom said the authorities were unable to enter flooded areas by helicopters due to the lack of landing of space, the New Straits Times reported. “Most of the time, rescuers know exactly where the victims are but the place is either inaccessible or unsafe for them to go (by boat) due to the strong currents. So before we are able to reach them and bring them to safe zones, we can at least provide them with food by doing an airdrop,” he was quoted saying.
There have been reports of flood victims looting homes for food and drink.
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak headed straight for Kota Baru from his cut-short holiday in Hawaii as more people fled their homes in the worst monsoon floods in decades and weathermen forecast more rain in the week ahead.
Najib arrived at 1.40pm today and went immediately into a briefing by the National Security Council, Bernama reported. More than 132,000 are now in relief centres in eight states of the peninsula, with the East Coast, particularly Kelantan, most affected.
The government has allocated about almost RM50 million to manage relief centres, with Najib’s deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, saying rescuers were facing challenges with power failures and roads being washed away.
Najib has faced flak for being away in Hawaii for a surprise private visit to US President Barack Obama and photographs of him playing golf with the US president drew immediate criticism as heavy rains and higher than usual tides caused widespread inundation.
Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman was another politician who cut short an overseas trip, after also facing opposition criticism. He returned on Friday evening from his ‘umrah’ (minor pilgrimage) trip. He said he had made plans for the trip a long time ago and had also planned to fulfill a vow made over the then political instability in Terengganu and for his ailing (now late) father.
Parts of Kota Baru resembled a vast, muddy lake, with row after row of rooftops peeking out of the murky waters, news wires reported.
Air drops of supplies planned
With major roads cut off, including portions of the East-West Highway, the National Security Council said air drops of food and drinking water might be needed to aid the thousands of stranded flood victims.
The council’s disaster management secretary Mohd Ariff Baharom said the authorities were unable to enter flooded areas by helicopters due to the lack of landing of space, the New Straits Times reported. “Most of the time, rescuers know exactly where the victims are but the place is either inaccessible or unsafe for them to go (by boat) due to the strong currents. So before we are able to reach them and bring them to safe zones, we can at least provide them with food by doing an airdrop,” he was quoted saying.
There have been reports of flood victims looting homes for food and drink.
Cabinet’s silence on bigotry is endorsement of bigotry – Ravinder Singh
Sorry about it, but the call by the MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai to Malaysians “to heed the advice of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak on the issue of moderation and not be influenced by racial and religious extremist ideology disseminated by irresponsible groups” comes to me as a joke.
Similarly with the Prime Minister’s call on Malaysians “to come together in the spirit of harmony, acceptance and respect in celebrating Christmas”.
Liow is reported to have said that “Malaysia can continue to develop and progressonly when we learn to trust and respect each other and live together in peace and harmony”. This is an insult to Malaysians, for Malaysians had long ago accepted the various cultures and religious beliefs found in this land, and had been living in peace and harmony. It is not as if this is something new that they have to learn.
What is new is the extremist, Talibanist ideology that is being forcefully brought to bear upon people who have been living in peace and harmony for ages, with the objective of destroying the goodwill, peace and harmony between the races and religions in the name of defending Islam. This is totally contrary to what the Prophet had taught, which means the bigots, who claim to be defending Islam, don’t even have respect for the Prophet.
So who has to learn what in 2014 or 2015? Isn’t it a joke and an insult to ask the huge majority of Malaysians of various races, cultures and religions who had been living in peace and harmony with each other all these past decades to “learn to trust and respect each other and live together in peace and harmony”?
The few vociferous racist bigots are like big school bullies. So what do you do – advice the rest of the students to keep away from them, or take the bullies by the horns and throw them to the ground so that bullying stops? When the few school bullies are not reigned in, they create more bullies resulting in even the teachers fearing them. Finally the bullies take control of the schools and teachers dare not take any action for fear of retaliation by the bullies. This has happened in real life, in Malaysia.
This is the scenario that the nation is facing with the bigots given freedom to continue their Talibanist activities in the name of freedom of expression, while the government advises the rest of the people to “learn to trust and respect each otherand live together in peace and harmony”.
Could Liow, Joseph Kurp and Abdul Rahman Dahlan, who have made public statements on this pressing issue, please tell us how many times they have raised this issue in the Cabinet meetings. If they have, what is the Cabinet decision? “Sulit”, is it?
So long as the Cabinet as a whole, through the voice of the Prime Minister, does not condemn the extremist ideology being preached by the few bigots, and order that action be taken to stop the “bullying”, the bullying is going to go on because the bullies interpret that “silence is consent”. So the Cabinet’s silence tantamounts to government’s endorsement of bigotry. For what reason, only the Cabinet wouldknow.
Why is the Cabinet abdicating its duty of ensuring that extremism is not allowed to raise its ugly head to destroy “the peace and harmony that have been achieved since the country’s independence”, in the words of the PM?
The Penal Code very clearly limits freedom of expression. It does not extend to making racist statements and carrying out actions that are “likely to cause disharmony, disunity or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will” or “likely to prejudice maintenance of harmony or unity”.
No right-thinking person will dispute that this restriction of expression is not an infringement of the democratic right of freedom of expression. Only those with evil intent will claim that these Penal Code provisions infringe their democratic right of expression.
Racist bigotry and extremism are not going to stop until and unless the Cabinet takes a strong stand to put them down. Why is the Cabinet not doing it? – December 26, 2014.
* Ravinder Singh is a reader of The Malaysian Insider.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/cabinets-silence-on-bigotry-is-endorsement-of-bigotry-ravinder-singh#sthash.JteCQPEN.dpuf
Similarly with the Prime Minister’s call on Malaysians “to come together in the spirit of harmony, acceptance and respect in celebrating Christmas”.
Liow is reported to have said that “Malaysia can continue to develop and progressonly when we learn to trust and respect each other and live together in peace and harmony”. This is an insult to Malaysians, for Malaysians had long ago accepted the various cultures and religious beliefs found in this land, and had been living in peace and harmony. It is not as if this is something new that they have to learn.
What is new is the extremist, Talibanist ideology that is being forcefully brought to bear upon people who have been living in peace and harmony for ages, with the objective of destroying the goodwill, peace and harmony between the races and religions in the name of defending Islam. This is totally contrary to what the Prophet had taught, which means the bigots, who claim to be defending Islam, don’t even have respect for the Prophet.
So who has to learn what in 2014 or 2015? Isn’t it a joke and an insult to ask the huge majority of Malaysians of various races, cultures and religions who had been living in peace and harmony with each other all these past decades to “learn to trust and respect each other and live together in peace and harmony”?
The few vociferous racist bigots are like big school bullies. So what do you do – advice the rest of the students to keep away from them, or take the bullies by the horns and throw them to the ground so that bullying stops? When the few school bullies are not reigned in, they create more bullies resulting in even the teachers fearing them. Finally the bullies take control of the schools and teachers dare not take any action for fear of retaliation by the bullies. This has happened in real life, in Malaysia.
This is the scenario that the nation is facing with the bigots given freedom to continue their Talibanist activities in the name of freedom of expression, while the government advises the rest of the people to “learn to trust and respect each otherand live together in peace and harmony”.
Could Liow, Joseph Kurp and Abdul Rahman Dahlan, who have made public statements on this pressing issue, please tell us how many times they have raised this issue in the Cabinet meetings. If they have, what is the Cabinet decision? “Sulit”, is it?
So long as the Cabinet as a whole, through the voice of the Prime Minister, does not condemn the extremist ideology being preached by the few bigots, and order that action be taken to stop the “bullying”, the bullying is going to go on because the bullies interpret that “silence is consent”. So the Cabinet’s silence tantamounts to government’s endorsement of bigotry. For what reason, only the Cabinet wouldknow.
Why is the Cabinet abdicating its duty of ensuring that extremism is not allowed to raise its ugly head to destroy “the peace and harmony that have been achieved since the country’s independence”, in the words of the PM?
The Penal Code very clearly limits freedom of expression. It does not extend to making racist statements and carrying out actions that are “likely to cause disharmony, disunity or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will” or “likely to prejudice maintenance of harmony or unity”.
No right-thinking person will dispute that this restriction of expression is not an infringement of the democratic right of freedom of expression. Only those with evil intent will claim that these Penal Code provisions infringe their democratic right of expression.
Racist bigotry and extremism are not going to stop until and unless the Cabinet takes a strong stand to put them down. Why is the Cabinet not doing it? – December 26, 2014.
* Ravinder Singh is a reader of The Malaysian Insider.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/cabinets-silence-on-bigotry-is-endorsement-of-bigotry-ravinder-singh#sthash.JteCQPEN.dpuf
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