WSJ publishes letter ‘confirming’ Jho Low-owned Good Star

US financial daily The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) claims that Bank Negara Malaysia wrote a letter confirming that Good Star Limited was owned by tycoon Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low.

This contradicts the government’s assertions that Good Star Ltd, which has since been dissolved, belonged to former 1MDB joint-venture partner PetroSaudi International.

A copy of the letter was tweeted by WSJ and re-tweeted by its Asia chief editor Tom Wright this morning.

However, Malaysiakini is unable to report its contents as the letter has been marked ‘classified’ due to prohibitions under the Official Secrets Act 1972.

The status of Good Star's ownership is important because it will determine whether 1MDB's funds had been siphoned away or that it was indeed used for investment.

1MDB had sent US$1.83 billion abroad for its joint-venture activities with PetroSaudi but US$1.03 billion of this sum was diverted to Good Star.

The diversion would not be an issue if Good Star was owned by 1MDB's joint-venture partner PetroSaudi, as claimed by the government, but would raise serious concerns if it is owned by individuals or entities unrelated to the joint-venture - in this case, Jho Low, as claimed by WSJ.

PetroSaudi had previously refused to confirm the actual ownership of Good Star.

According to the WSJ report today, the Bank Negara letter, dated April 6, was addressed to Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson Hasan Arifin.

“Mr Hasan also didn’t inform the parliamentary committee of evidence from a senior central bank official - transmitted in an April 6 letter to Mr Hasan - that US$1 billion (RM4.06 billion) in 1MDB funds had been transferred to an offshore company owned by a close associate of Mr Najib (Jho Low)," it reported.

It attributed the above statement to Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua (photo) and an unnamed member of the ruling party in the PAC.

“They said Mr Hasan never shared with the committee any of the contents of the letter, a copy of which was reviewed by the Journal,” the report said.

Pua is one of the 14 members of the bipartisan committee. Jho Low is an associate of Najib and has denied links with 1MDB.

Lines removed from report

Previously, Pua had raised issue about several lines regarding Bank Negara’s information that had been removed from the final PAC report on 1MDB by Hasan, without the committee's consent.

“This finding is crucial to the entire investigations of 1MDB because the company and its executives have testified to PAC that Good Star is a subsidiary of PetroSaudi," Pua said in a statement on April 20.

In a parliamentary reply, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said stated that the lines were expunged because the matter is classified and not meant for public consumption.

“The PAC chairperson received Bank Negara's information which stated all the information given was 'confidential for the purpose of intelligence only and not for court usage or public report'.

“For your information, all PAC members had been informed of the matter via a letter penned by the PAC chief to the deputy governor of the central bank on April 6.

“Given that PAC report is for public usage, the information should not be included in the report," Azalina told Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, who had asked the question, on May 16.

Malaysiakini has contacted Hasan and Bank Negara regarding the WSJ report and is awaiting their response.

Precedent set, MIC leader moots bill on unilateral conversion

A MIC leader urged all lawmakers to take advantage of the government’s openness since a precedent had been set with the fast-tracking of the controversial Hudud Bill.

What transpired during the last Dewan Rakyat sitting for the May session, according to S Vell Paari, had opened the door for others.

“Since the bill set a precedent, other members cannot be denied from proposing bills to protect the rights of all Malaysians,” he added in a media statement to Malaysiakini.

The MIC central working committee member suggested a bill on the contentious issue of children being unilaterally converted to Islam by one of their parents who embraced the faith.

“Table bills to further strengthen and protect the rights of vernacular schools in Malaysia.

“Also a bill calling for serious punishment against those who continue to criticise communities in Malaysia for exercising their democratic right to vote whom they choose such as the Chinese community,” he said.

“When these bills are tabled, I hope they too will be fast-tracked in line with the current openness to such matters,” he added.

Vell Paari was responding to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said who said the government fast-tracking Hadi's bill proved its openness and commitment to parliamentary reforms.

The proposal to bring forward the motion yesterday was brought by Azalina and seconded by Deputy Works Minister Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin.

Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia had allowed the proposal to lift the motion listed as number 15 or the last item in the Parliament's order paper despite objection from DAP lawmakers.

The debate, which was slated for the afternoon, was postponed after Hadi requested for more time to allow MPs to prepare themselves.

Meanwhile, Vell Paari expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Azalina over the government’s commitment towards parliamentary reforms.

As for Hadi’s bill, the MIC leader said being a MP, the PAS president had the right to propose a bill which is in line with the policies of the Islamic party.

“But for those who are against it like me, it is also our democratic right to oppose the bill. We should call upon our representatives to lobby other MPs to vote against the bill,” he added.

Hadi’s bill seeks to amend the law governing the jurisdiction of the Syariah Courts to allow for the implementation of the Islamic penal code in Kelantan.

MCA and other BN component parties have also voiced their objection.

Dr M: I’m not concerned about Mukhriz’s future

Dr Mahathir Mohamad is often accused of masterminding a campaign against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to orchestrate his son Mukhriz’s political ascension.

However, the former premier denied this, claiming that he is acting in the interest of the nation.

“I am not concerned about Mukhriz’s future. I am more concerned about stopping Najib from destroying this country,” he said in his latest blog post.

Mahathir accused the prime minister's “henchmen” of repeating this allegation to divert attention from the alleged wrongdoings of their boss and no amount of explanation would stop them.

He also claimed that when Najib was unable to solicit unqualified support from Mukhriz, the prime minister “engineered” his removal as Kedah menteri besar.

“I could have easily helped Mukhriz by ignoring Najib’s wrongdoings and continuing to support him. But I did not do this...,” he added.

Mahathir also pointed out that he could have allowed his sons to contest for office in Umno or become election candidates when he was prime minister and party president.

“But Mukhriz could not even become a member of Umno because the Kubang Pasu division of which I was head, refused to accept him.

“It was after the Umno headquarters directed the division that he was admitted as a member, just before I retired,” he said.

Mahathir pointed out how his son stood for a parliament seat in 2008, and was appointed as a deputy minister following his victory.

“At that time, Kedah had a PAS government because Umno under Mahadzir Khalid lost the state in 2008.

“In the 2013 (general) election, Mukhriz chose to contest for a state seat.

“Kedah people believed if he would be appointed menteri besar, BN would defeat PAS and regain Kedah. Najib apparently agreed.

“BN won Kedah in the 2013 election. Mukhriz was appointed menteri besar,” he said.

However, ties began to strain and subsequently severed between Mahathir, his son and Najib when the 1MDB issue erupted.

“When the 1MDB scandal exploded I stopped supporting Najib. Mukhriz did not show full support for Najib.

“He was critical of Najib’s explanation about the RM$2.6 billion in Najib’s private accounts,” said the former premier.

The prime minister has denied abusing public funds for personal gain, and blamed such allegations on those conspiring to topple him from power.

Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali has also cleared Najib of any wrongdoing.


Read more: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/343260#ixzz49tRm2xay

Hare Krishnan not at police HQ when Dharmendran died

Witness says police inspector’s movements were traced using telephone number mapping, as provided by the service provider.

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here was today told that Serious Crimes Branch (D9) Operations Officer Inspector S Hare Krishnan, who is charged with murdering N Dharmendran in a police lock-up, was not at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters on May 21, 2013.

Kuala Lumpur police staff officer (Investigation/Planning) (D8) ASP Koh Fei Chow, 47, said this was based on Hare Krishnan’s telephone number mapping, as provided by the service provider.

“In the morning, it was detected near the headquarters.

“After that, the location was mostly in the Cheras area and only in the evening, it was near the headquarters.”

He said this during examination-in-chief by lawyer M Athimulan, representing Hare Krishnan, in the defence proceedings before Judge Kamardin Hashim.

Koh said he, however, could not remember the actual time when Hare Krishnan was at the headquarters.

Athimulan: If I put it to you that in the evening it was about 5 pm. (Do you) agree?

Koh: Yes, approximately.

Athimulan: The one in the morning was about 11 am?

Koh: My Lord, I cannot remember exactly the time, but it was in the morning.

Hare Krishnan, 43; Sergeant Jaffri Jaafar, 46; Corporal Mohd Nahar Abd Rahman, 47, and Corporal Mohd Haswadi Zamri Shaari, 34, are charged with murdering Dharmendran, 32, in the D9 interrogation room on the 7th floor of the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent headquarters in Jalan Hang Tuah between May 18 and 21, 2013.

(Dharmendran, who was detained for attempted murder, complained of chest pains and collapsed at 4.25pm on May 21, 2013 while in the police lock up.)

The policemen are charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code and face the death sentence upon conviction.
On Dec 2, 2014, Kamardin acquitted all four of them of the murder charge at the end of the prosecution case, without calling for their defence.

However, on Feb 26 this year, the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court’s acquittal and ordered the four policemen to enter their defence.

On April 28 this year, the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC), set up to investigate Dharmendran’s death, found that the detainee’s death was due to the use of physical force by the police.

The hearing continues tomorrow.
– BERNAMA

Mahathir never interfered in my work, says ex-IGP

Former inspector-general of police Rahim Noor has claimed that Dr Mahathir Mohamad never interfered in his work, despite allegations of the former premier having a tight control on key agencies and institutions during his tenure.

According to Rahim, he felt comfortable working with Mahathir because the latter was a professional.

“For 10 years that I was director of the Special Branch and IGP, I always felt at ease.

“There was no interference or disruptions, Mahathir understood that what I was doing was for the country and security (purposes),” he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.

Rahim said this included the infamous Operasi Lalang as well, which saw scores of opposition leaders and activists detained under the now defunct Internal Security Act.

In early 2014, Mahathir had denied that he was the home minister at the time, adding that he was also abroad during the 1987 crackdown.

Following this, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, who was among those arrested, accused the former premier of suffering from “selective amnesia” and attempting to disavow his role in the incident.

Mahathir later admitted responsibility, although he denied masterminding the arrests, which critics claimed was an abuse of power to silence dissent.

“Even if the decision was made by somebody else, it is in the cabinet and I accept responsibility. What we did was to ensure stability and peace in this country,” he had said.

Mahathir and Lim have since buried the hatchet and joined hands in the Citizens’ Declaration against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Meanwhile, Rahim, who was appointed police chief in 1994, was forced to resign five years later after being found guilty of assaulting ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim in custody.

When Anwar appeared in court with a black eye then, Mahathir, who sacked him in 1998, had speculated that the injury could have been self-inflicted to gain public sympathy.

“It's not impossible because he will get plenty of mileage if he showed he was abused by police,” he had said.

Other panellists at the forum titled ‘Siapa lebih berkuasa: Pentadbir atau ahli politik? (Who is more powerful: administrators or politicians?’) included former Dewan Rakyat speaker Adam Kadir and former Malaysia Airlines chief executive officer Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman.

Former top cop lodges second police report against AG

Former Kuala Lumpur CID chief Mat Zain Ibrahim has lodged a second police report against attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali, alleging Apandi gave false evidence in clearing Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak of wrongdoing in the RM2.6 billion deposited into Najib’s personal bank accounts.

The police report was lodged last Friday, and it comes after Apandi, the highest legal officer in the country, having not shown any evidence, such as bank statements, to prove the claim that the money came from a Saudi Arabia prince and that US$620 million, and not US$650 million, had been returned to the prince by Najib.

Mat Zain said there were conflicting or confusing material facts if one were to compare the flowchart of the transactions and the statement of the transactions obtained and reproduced by international and local media, such as The Wall Street Journal, together with Apandi's statement.

He gave an example of where the flowchart specifically showed the transfer of US$681 million from Tanore Finance Corp, through Falcon Private Bank, Singapore branch, to Najib's private account, that was made between March 21, 2013, and March 25, 2013.

However, Mat Zain in his police report, said Apandi at the press conference in clearing Najib, had said the deposits took place between March 22, 2013, and April 10, 2013, with these dates being different from the flowchart

“The detailed and accurate transaction of the sender, the bank that sent the funds, the recipient, amount and date as well as time of the deposit and withdrawal, can be seen through the bank statements. The AG has the right and power to check on the statements.”

“The flowchart shows the transfer back of US$650 million on Aug 30, 2013, from Najib's personal account to the original sender through Falcon Private Bank, Singapore branch, which is owned by Tanore Finance Corporation. On that same day, Najib closed his AmPrivate Banking account,” Mat Zain said.

“However, Apandi's press statement said a fund of US$620 million was transferred. There is a difference of US$30 million, or roughly, close to RM100 million. The chart shows US$650 million returned to Tanore Finance Corporation but Apandi said it was US$620 million, without specifically saying how it was returned,” the former top investigator said.

A high-profile investigator

Mat Zain, well known for being the investigating officer of the black-eye incident on Anwar Ibrahim in 1998, and other high profile financial cases, further said there were also questions as to whether Najib obtained Bank Negara's approval to transfer the huge sums of money outside the country.

Last Friday, Special Affairs Department director-general Puad Zarkashi claimed that Najib had obtained Bank Negara approval to bring in the US$681 million, which has introduced another version to the RM2.6 billion saga.

Mat Zain said Apandi verified that the donor was an Arab prince, who is the son of a Saudi king, and not the Saudi Arabian king or the Saudi government.

In his last police report against Apandi last March, Mat Zain debunked the AG's claim that a Saudi prince was the donor, as only four Saudi Arabian princes have made the Forbes 2013 rich Arabs list - Prince Alwaleed Talal who then had a reported fortune of US$20 billion; Prince Sultan Mohammed with US$2.6 billion; Prince Abdullah Musaad with US$144.5 million; and Prince Mutaib Abdulaziz with US$110.1 million.

Of the four, only Prince Mutaib is the son of a king, but his US$110.1 million net worth is far less than the US$681 million donated to Najib.

Pulau Batu Puteh analogy

Using the Pulau Batu Puteh case as an analogy, where Singapore in November 2007 proved to the International Court of Justice that the Malaysian team used a doctored picture from a blog to show the disputed island's proximity to Johor, Mat Zain said the same thing could have been done here.

He said Apandi should come out with an in-and-out flowchart on the US$681 million, which must be verified by AmPrivate Banking as well, to correctly show that the fund came from the Arab prince.

“Apandi's inability to submit such documents has resulted in public suspicion over the credibility and transparency of his statement. It further strengthens the trust in the chart coming out from WSJ, which other news portals have also carried.

“Based on the above, it shows that the flowchart produced by WSJ is more credible, if compared with Apandi's statement. If the chart is false or confusing, the Money Authority of Singapore would have taken action on WSJ or other parties that are named, so as to safeguard the credibility of its financial institutions,” Mat Zain said in his police report.

This was more so, the former top cop said, because the transfer of US$681 million and the remittance of US$650 million were done through Falcon Private Bank, Singapore.

Based on this information, and read together with his previous report, Mat Zain says there are grounds for a detailed investigation to be made against Apandi for falsifying evidence with his statement on the RM2.6 billion alleged donation.

“The investigations can be done under Section 193 of the Penal Code, as was with his previous report,” he told Malaysiakini when met recently.

Mat Zain also pointed out that the Pulau Batu Puteh doctored photograph was revealed when then prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, was in Singapore, attending the Asean-European Union meeting. No response was given to this.

The ICJ delivered its decision on May 23, 2008 and the former top cop said that if Malaysia wanted to appeal, it still has two more years to do so.

Johor Sultan Ibrahim Mahmud Iskandar had on May 29, 2014, said the state wants the disputed island back and Menteri Besar Khaled Nordin said the state has set up a committee to study this.

Taj Mahal's white marble walls are under threat... from insect excrement: Monument to love is being turned green by bugs from nearby polluted river

The Taj Mahal's stunning white marble walls and decorative interior attracts millions of tourists to India every year but now the site is facing a disgusting new threat - from green insect excrement.

Authorities have ordered an investigation after green-tinged patches began appearing on the back wall of the monument to love, which stands on the banks of the heavily polluted Yamuna river.

The world famous tourist attraction has previously been damaged by India's air population, caused by decades of heavy industry in nearby cities.

Environmentalists believe the pollutants in the river have caused a rise in levels of algae, which has in turn led to a surge in the numbers of the insects which feed on it.

India's National Green Tribunal, which hears cases related to environmental protection, raised the issue last week. Now the state government of Uttar Pradesh, home to the world's most famous tomb, has ordered an inquiry.

'The state government is extremely concerned about this issue. People can rest assured that we will let no harm come to the Taj Mahal,' said the chief minister's spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary.

He said the chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav, had ordered officials to find urgent solutions.

The alert was sounded by environmental activist DK Joshi.

'Three types of insects breeding in the stagnant and polluted waters of the Yamuna flowing behind the Taj Mahal are causing the problem,' he told AFP.

'They're attracted to the white sheen of the marble and the swarms are leaving behind greenish-black faeces, which is discolouring the ancient monument.'

Authorities have taken steps in recent years to try to protect the 17th-century monument from pollution from the nearby busy city of Agra, including banning local coal-powered industries.

The Taj - India's top tourist attraction - was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth in 1631.

It has drawn a string of world leaders and royalty including former US President Bill Clinton, while Diana, the late British princess, was famously photographed alone on a marble seat there in 1992.

District officials in Agra said they had not yet heard of the chief minister's directive but would take any action deemed necessary.

Smoking during pregnancy raises the risk of the baby developing schizophrenia in later life

Mothers-to-be who smoke during pregnancy increase the risk of their children developing schizophrenia, a study has revealed.

Researchers found that the more women were exposed to nicotine the greater chance they had of having a child affected by the severe mental illness.

Signs of heavy nicotine exposure in a mother's blood were associated with a 38 per cent increased likelihood of the condition.

Scientists analysed data on 1,000 schizophrenia patients and matched their birth and health records with those of non-affected 'control' individuals.

They assessed their smoking habits by looking at levels of a nicotine marker, cotinine, in their blood.

Based on this measurement, 20 per cent of mothers of schizophrenia patients were found to have smoked heavily while pregnant, compared with 14.7 per cent of mothers of controls.

Smoking when expecting is known to contribute to significant problems in the womb and following birth, including low birth weight and attentional difficulties.

Nicotine is known to cross the placenta easily and enter the foetal bloodstream, leading to neurodevelopmental abnormalities.

Senior researcher Professor Alan Brown, from the University of Columbia, New York, said: 'To our knowledge, this is the first biomarker-based study to show a relationship between foetal nicotine exposure and schizophrenia.'

Women participating in the study had been recruited into the Finnish Prenatal Study of Schizophrenia.

Blood tests were carried out during the first and early second trimesters (three month periods) of pregnancy.

Professor Brown said: 'These findings underscore the value of ongoing public health education on the potentially debilitating, and largely preventable, consequences that smoking may have on children over time.'

Further studies could shed light on exactly how nicotine affects a foetus' brain, he added.

'Finally, it is of interest to examine maternal cotinine in relation to bipolar disorder, autism, and other psychiatric disorders. '

In a previous study, Professor Brown and his colleagues showed that offspring of mothers who smoked while pregnant have an increased risk of bipolar disorder.

The research was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

MP seeks PM assurance on 2009 Cabinet unilateral conversion issue

KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 — Claiming confusion, opposition lawmaker M Kulasegaran wants Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to provide assurance that the 2009 Cabinet decision against unilateral religious conversions of children by one parent still stands.

The Ipoh Barat MP described Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom’s recent remark that unilateral conversion to Islam by one parent was constitutional, was a “U-turn” of the Cabinet decision for minors to be raised in the original religion practised by their parents at the time of their marriage should one spouse later convert.

“The PM must step in to clear the air and assert that the 2009 Cabinet directive on unilateral conversion is very much intact,” Kulasegaran said during a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

“He should be bold enough to ask Jamil Khir to withdraw the new stand which is unfair, illogical and unreasonable,” he added.

Jamil Khir, in a parliamentary written answer yesterday, said that any law banning unilateral conversion would be “unconstitutional”.

“The public is shocked by this answer which is a set back on promised reforms in this area,” Kulasegaran said.

Despite the Cabinet directive, Putrajaya has yet to introduce laws regarding unilateral conversion.

Last year, a five-man Cabinet committee was set up to deal with interfaith custody and conversion.

“So is the parliamentary answer provided by Jamil Khir the latest and new policy stand taken by the Cabinet committee?” Kulasegaran asked.

The DAP legislator and lawyer insisted that the word “parent” under Article 160 (1) of the Federal Constitution mentioning the conversion of a minor should mean consent of both parents and not just one parent.

“It is obvious and clear that the 2009 Cabinet ruling on this issue was correctly decided and in line with the interpretation aspect,” he said.

Ex-loan shark gets death for burning wife

GEORGE TOWN: A former loan shark was sentenced to death after a High Court found him guilty of setting his wife on fire that resulted in her death about three years ago.

Judicial Commissioner Datuk Nordin Hassan ruled that prosecution had succeeded in proving its case against Chiam Nguang Huat beyond reasonable doubt.

Chiam, 42, was charged with murdering Lai Siew Fong, 36, at their home in Taman Bayu Mutiara, Bukit Mertajam, at around 4pm on June 24, 2013.

Lai's three siblings were present in the court.

Counsel Y. Anbananthan represented Chiam while DPP Amir Hamdzah Othman prosecuted.

Dr M: We must act like we have no parties to defeat Najib

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has called on the opposition and the public to cast aside their identities as party members in the upcoming twin by-elections to ensure Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's defeat.

Speaking after a meeting with several opposition MPs in Putrajaya, Mahathir said this was because some of Najib's policies, such as the goods and services tax, have burdened all regardless of political allegiances.

"We are agreed that in these by-elections we must behave as though we don't belong to any party.

"We are a people's movement... Everyone regardless of whether they are with BN or the opposition should support whoever is fighting against Najib," he said.

Most of the MPs attending the meeting were from DAP, namely Steven Sim, Zairil Khir Johari, Lim Lip Eng, Thomas Su, and Julian Tan.

Also in attendance were Amanah's Khalid Samad, Mujahid Yusof Rawa and Raja Kamarul Bahrin, Mahfuz Omar from PAS, and Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin from PKR.

They came in their personal capacities to discuss the upcoming by-elections.

However, they did not discuss which party should contest in Sungai Besar or Kuala Kangsar.

Mahathir said this would be discussed at another meeting involving those who signed the Citizens' Declaration during its launch, as well as the opposition.

Asked about the possibility of three-cornered contests, Mahathir expressed confidence that the issue could be dealt with.

"...two-, three- or five-cornered, we have our ways to deal with this."

No plan to hurt or kill Dharmendran, police inspector tells court

The Serious Crime Branch (D9) operation officer, Inspector S Hare Krishnan told the High Court here today that he and three others did not plan or intend to hurt or kill N Dharmendran, who died in a police lock-up in 2013.

Hare Krishnan, 43, who was then attached to the D9 Branch of Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent headquarters, said he did not even cause any form of injury to Dharmendran, who was detained on suspicion of attempted murder involving firearms.

The police inspector, who is currently on suspension, also denied that he and the three others were involved in Dharmendran's murder.

He said this during the examination-in-chief by his counsel M Athimulan in the defence proceedings before Judge Kamardin Hashim.

Hare Krishnan said that in the investigation of Dharmendran's case, he did not interrogate Dharmendran as the task was carried out by the interrogation team and he did not give any instruction for his men to interrogate Dharmendran.

Responsibility of lock-up officer

On Dharmendran's safety in the lock-up, Hare Krishnan said it was the responsibility of the lock-up officer and the 24-hour police officer on duty, and not his.

When asked how did he learn about Dharmendran's death, Hare Krishan said he learned about through a telephone call from the 24-hour police officer on duty, Corporal Nizam, at 4.30pm on May 21, 2013.

He said at that time, he had just reached home in Cheras after taking a statement from a shooting victim at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital (HUKM).

Meanwhile, during cross-examination by deputy public prosecutor Suhaimi Ibrahim, Hare Krishnan said he never went to see Dharmendran in the lock-up even though he had access to do so.

Hare Krishnan, Sergeant Jaffri Jaafar, 46, Corporal Mohd Nahar Abd Rahman, 47, and Corporal Mohd Haswadi Zamri Shaari, 34, were accused of killing Dharmendran at the D9 interrogation room on Level 7 of the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent headquarters in Jalan Hang Tuah between May 18 and 21, 2013.

They face the death sentence in convicted under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

On Dec 12, 2014, Kamardin acquitted the four policemen from the murder charge at the end of the prosecution case without calling for their defence.

However, on Feb 26, 2016, the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court acquittal of the policemen over the murder of Dharmendran and ordered them to enter their defence.

On April 28, 2016, the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) set up to investigate the death of Dharmendran found that he had died due to the use of physical force by the police.

The trial continues tomorrow.

- Bernama

'Jamil Khir’s stand on unilateral conversion defective'

The government is wrong in citing the Subashini case to say that it is unconstitutional to ban unilateral conversions, says the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST).

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom in a parliamentary reply yesterday said a ban on unilateral conversions contravenes Article 12(4) of the Federal Constitution.

Jamil Khir said this is affirmed in the R Subashini vs T Saravanan case.

However, MCCBCHST chairperson Jagir Singh said this view is defective, given the facts of the Subashini case.

“The MCCBCHST reiterates that if a single parent is allowed to convert a child, then there will be no justice and finality in the matter and it will have the effect of ignoring the constitutional provisions.

“If a single-parent-can-convert-a-child approach is taken, then this matter will persist even for the next 100 years, with justice being denied to the non-converting spouse and the matter can never be put to rest,” Jagir said.

The case cited involves Hindu mother R Subashini’s challenge of her son’s conversion to Islam by her estranged husband after he embraced Islam.

Jamil Khir said the Federal Court case’s dismissal of Subashini’s application affirmed that the word ‘parent’ in Article 12(4) means a single parent can change the religion of the child.

However, Jagir (photo) said Jamil Khir is mistaken because the court dismissed Subashini’s application on a technicality.

Subashini had filed for divorce before three months had lapsed since her estranged husband T Saravanan’s conversion to Islam, but the law states it could only be filed three months after the conversions have lapsed.

Jagir also cited constitutional law professor Shad Saleem Faruqi, who had then observed that the Federal Court’s 2-1 judgment did not change the word ‘parent’ to mean singular instead of plural.

The highest law

In the dissenting view, Justice Abdul Aziz Mohamed also states that the wife has equal right in preferring that the child is not converted to Islam, Jagir said.

“In view of the above, it is wrong for anyone to quote the Subashini case as authority for allowing unilateral conversion by one parent.

“If Article 12(4) were to be so interpreted, then it (Federal Constitution) being the highest law, a single parent could one day convert a child to one religion and the next day the other parent can convert the same child to a different religion. This would be absurd,” he said.

Furthermore, he said, it would be equally absurd to later say that a child who has been converted to Islam by a single parent cannot convert to another religion due to syariah law.

“Religious law cannot override the constitution,” Jagir said.

On March 9, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri said the drafting of laws pertaining to the unilateral conversion of minors has been completed.

“From the aspect of civil (law), we do not have much problems, but this also relates to syariah (law),” Nancy said then.

From the syariah law aspect, she said, Jamil Khir has been obtaining feedback from the state religious bodies.

“A series of consultations with the states have been conducted,” Nancy said.

The cabinet had set up a five-member special committee in its latest attempt to deal with the interfaith conversion dispute and custody matters.

No scientific evidence of Hinduism-Buddhism in Bujang Valley?

Prominent Malaysian archaeologist Prof Mokhtar Saidin came out with two important findings during the two-day Old Kedah conference in Sungei Petani, recently.

One was that animism, rather than Hinduism or Buddhism, was the dominant form of worship in the Bujang Valley more than 2,500 years ago. Second, that Bujang Valley stands no chance of being gazetted by Unesco because there is no scientific research to date to verify that the temple ruins were Hindu or Buddhist.

I am not sure whether the two statements have any relationship with one another, or whether Mokhtar is trying to say that since there exists no solid proof of the existence of Hinduism or Buddhism, chances are that the religious worship could even be animism.

Anyway, in days or months to come, I hope Mokhtar can prove to the satisfaction of the international researchers that animism was indeed the dominant practice among the ancients.

He laments the fact that widespread existence of Hindu and Buddhist temples in the valley have yet not be proven. There is lack of scientific objectivity and rigour in establishing the truth about the Bujang Valley.

Mere presence of artifacts and architectural comparisons about Hindu-Buddhist temples do not reflect scientific integrity. Even the candi (either temple or burial ground) have been reconstructed from the stones and bricks in the vicinity.

Mokhtar said that no efforts have been made, both in the past and the present, to protect the temple sites in the valley. One candi was completely demolished by a developer in 2013, without any consideration for the heritage status of the land.

Mokhtar’s analysis of the heritage status of the Bujang Valley in the recent international conferences raised a number of questions that need to be addressed, both by archeologists, historians and those in the government.

Already acclaimed as Hinduism-Buddhism site

First, Bujang Valley has been internationally acclaimed as an ancient site of Hinduism-Buddhism, that is, before the advent of Islam. If there exists no evidence, whether scientific or not, then there is need to explain how this valley received such an acclaim.

Second, Mokhtar is well-known as an archaeologist and researcher, but for him to say that there is no scientific evidence to prove that the Hindu-Buddhist status of the Bujang Valley raises questions as to what our local researchers have been doing all the while.

Many excavations have been done in the past and many more are being planned, so, can I ask what is the purpose?

Third, colonial structures in Malacca and Penang have received the heritage status from Unesco. Is it really true that Unesco is withholding the conferment of heritage status on the Bujang Valley because there is no scientific evidence to authenticate the Hindu-Buddhist origins?

If other ancient sites around the world have received Unesco heritage status, what is preventing Bujang Valley from receiving such an award?

Fourth, apart from the lack of scientific rigour or evidence, who is responsible for initiating the area or place to be designated as heritage and what is the role of the state and federal governments?

Is the federal government dragging its feet on this matter simply because it is politically not conducive to do so?

Fifth, if local researchers do not have the technology or the skills, then maybe it is necessary to bring in foreign experts to determine whether there was such a thing as Hindu-Buddhist presence in the Bujang Valley.

Sixth, Saidin wants to prove that animism was widespread in the Sungei Batu area of the Bujang Valley more than 2,500 years, a site older than Borobodur and Angkor Wat.

As I have argued earlier, this might be so. It does not prove that Hinduism-Buddhism was non-existent but all these religions could have co-existed before the rise of monotheism.

Seventh, is there a relationship between the presence of animism and the lack of evidence on Hinduism-Buddhism?

P RAMASAMY is Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang and the state assemblyperson for Perai.

Mahathir to hit campaign trail against BN, says ex-Umno man

In what might be an unprecedented turn of events, the opposition campaign in the upcoming by-elections could receive a boost from Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, former Batu Kawan Umno vice-chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan confirmed that the former premier would be hitting the campaign trail in both Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar.

Asked if this meant Mahathir would campaign for the opposition, he said: "It looks like that because Tun (Mahathir) is very consistent. He said BN must be defeated at whatever cost."

On whether this included supporting PAS candidates, he said: "Tun said if it is PAS, then we have to support PAS."

Recently, Mahathir urged the opposition parties to combine their efforts in order to prevent BN from retaining the two parliament seats.

His remarks drew flak from various Umno leaders, including Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

The prime minister said Mahathir and his family had reaped enormous benefits from Umno and BN, and his remarks were akin to a stab in the back.

Whereas Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said Mahathir had made it clear that he wanted to kill the ruling coalition.

The latest development comes amid a warning from jailed former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to PKR on the dangers of working with Mahathir.

Anwar reiterated his caution this morning, saying that while he did not object to PKR joining hands with Mahathir on the Citizens’ Declaration, he however did not want the former premier to dictate the agenda.

The launch of the Citizens' Declaration two months ago witnessed opposition and civil society leaders, who were once critical of Mahathir, sitting at the same table with him.

Observers have also noted that following his incarceration, Anwar's influence had began to wane while Mahathir is appearing to usurp his role as opposition leader.

The by-elections, which would be held simultaneously on June 18, were called following the death of its incumbents Noriah Kasnon (Sungai Besar MP) and Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad (Kuala Kangsar MP).

The two were among six people who perished in a helicopter crash during the recent state election campaign period in Sarawak.

Nomination day has been fixed for June 5.

Lorry driver slashed to death outside restaurant

A MAN was found dead with multiple slash wounds in a drain in front of a restaurant in Batu Maung, Penang, Tamil dailies reported.

The body was discovered by passers-by at about 6am on Sunday.

The victim was identified as lorry driver R. Jegathiswaran, 27.

Police also found three cars at the scene with the interiors smeared with blood.

Several of Jegathiswaran’s fingers were believed to have been cut off during the attack and were found 28m from the body.

He was reportedly seen talking to some men the night before in the same area.

Police have detained two men in connection with the murder.

Kelantan cops on hunt for Indira Gandhi’s ex-spouse, border teams on alert

PUTRAJAYA, May 23 — Kelantan police today said they are already searching for M. Indira Gandhi’s fugitive ex-husband and have asked border authorities to be on the lookout for him.

Kelantan’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Assistant Commissioner of Police Mohamad Fakri Che Sulaiman said the state police are working with the Immigration Department to “monitor the movement” of Muhammad Riduan Abdullah.

“Kelantan Police has informed all the districts in Kelantan and the districts close to the border plus the marine police to be on the alert,” the officer in charge of criminal investigation under the Kelantan police contingent told Malay Mail Online in an email response today.

Indira and her lawyer M. Kulasegaran had previously voiced fears that Muhammad Riduan may have or is planning to flee across over the Malaysian border from Kelantan to other countries such as Thailand.

Kulasegaran had said Muhammad Riduan’s last known location in 2014 was in Kelantan’s Kota Baru.

Today, Mohamad Fakri noted that Indira’s ex-husband has been put on the wanted-list by the Perak police and said the Kelantan police will “follow through”.

“To date there (has) been no information as to the whereabouts of Muhammad Riduan in Kelantan,” he told Malay Mail Online.

He confirmed the Kelantan police have already initiated the search as directed by the federal police.

He said anyone with any information on Muhammad Riduan’s whereabouts can directly contact Ipoh police headquarters’ senior investigation officer Assistant Superintendent of Police Kamariah Jamaludin (016-5249091) or Pasir Mas district’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Deputy Superintendent of Police Samsulmuddin Sulaiman (012-998 2027).

In a protracted legal battle, the Ipoh High Court had in 2010 granted Indira custody over all three of her children and later ordered Muhammad Riduan to return the youngest child he had snatched away in 2009.

But Muhammad Riduan did not comply with the 2014 order to return Prasana Diksa, resulting in the Ipoh High Court’s order the same year for his arrest over his contempt of court.

The Ipoh High Court also issued a mandamus order the same year to compel the police to arrest him and return Prasana Diksa to Indira.

On April 29, the Federal Court upheld the order to compel the police to arrest Muhammad Riduan and said the Ipoh High Court will monitor the progress of the execution of the arrest warrant.

The apex court said then however that the Ipoh High Court should not have asked the police to recover the youngest child due to conflicting child custody orders from both the civil courts and Shariah courts.

On May 4, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said that he had instructed his officers to locate and to arrest Muhammad Riduan for contempt of court from the day the Federal Court gave its decision, adding that there was no information to show that he had left the country.

Police report against Dr M over King ‘house arrest’ claim

KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 — Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim has lodged a police report against Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad over his claim that the King and other Malay rulers have been placed under house arrest.

He said the former prime minister’s allegation was “false and mischievous”.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission adviser noted that several news portals had reported on this.

He said Dr Mahathir alleged the house arrest was to prevent the King from receiving the 1.4 million people’s signatures that he (Dr Mahathir) claimed to have collected.

“By effectively accusing the government of placing His Majesty under house arrest, Tun Mahathir has gone too far, far beyond the bounds of propriety,” he told reporters at the Dang Wangi police headquarters here today.

He also rapped Dr Mahathir over his attempt to involve constitutional rulers in politics, as well as partisan politics to his advantage.

Tunku Abdul Aziz said Dr Mahathir’s action had caused confusion and could undermine public order and security, and urged the authorities to take immediate action against the former prime minister. — Bernama

Good Samaritan saves mother and daughter on KTM Komuter

PETALING JAYA: A Good Samaritan came to the aid of a woman and her daughter, protecting the two from a group of robbers on the KTM Komuter train.

In a Facebook post, Reena Peter claimed that she was set on by a group of young thugs while travelling via Komuter to KL Sentral on Saturday evening.

The boys, she claimed, had attempted to rob Reena and her daughter in the train, which was emptier than usual.

However, the robbery was thwarted by the Good Samaritan.

In an attempt to save Reena and her daughter, the man engaged in a fight with the mob and knocked out the leader of the group.

After the fight, the thugs got left at the next station. However, Reena and her daughter, who were in shock, did not have time to say thank you to their saviour.

Not wanting to let the good deed go unnoticed, Reena shared her experience and expressed her appreciation to the man in a Facebook post.

Her post has since been shared over 300 times.

Below is her recollection of the encounter:

“First I would thank the guy in the above picture for saving my daughter and me. This (Saturday) evening my daughter and I were travelling to KL Sentral. Since it’s a Saturday, there were less people in the KTM.

“A gang of boys came to us and knowing we were alone, started to misbehave with my daughter and me. They even threatened us and asked us to give them all of our money and phones. The guy in the photo attached came in like an angel and fought with the mob.

“The head of the mob collapsed and the rest got down at the next point with their head. We were in an a trauma after the attack and were not able to ask this angel’s name or say thank you. But my daughter got his picture on her mobile. If any one know this guy please share that Ms Reena and her daughter said thanks.”

Attempts to reach Reena for further comment have been unsuccessful.

The Star is also working on identifying the Good Samaritan.

Discourse on religion’s role in poverty fight needed

KUALA LUMPUR: There needs to be a new discussion on the role of religions in allevia­ting poverty.

This was the consensus reached at the inter-faith dialogue titled “Religion and the Poor: An opium or Liberator?” yesterday.

Organised by the Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF), the dialogue featured National University of Singapore Assoc Prof Syed Farid Alatas, Christian Federation of Malaysia executive committee member Dr Patricia Martinez, Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism honorary secretary-general Prematilaka K.D. Serisena and Pusaka founder and director Eddin Khoo as speakers.

Prof Syed Farid said there was a lack of critical thinking when it came to discussing religion’s role in poverty in the country.

“For example, there is no critical thinking on what exploitation means.

“We need to draw upon intellectual traditions in Islam and other religions to start a discourse,” said Prof Syed Farid, adding that a critique of Islamic economics was that many of the ideas were bourgeois.

Khoo felt a major issue in the country was the lack of deep dialogue on important topics.

“A major problem (with us) is that we have hardly intellectualised anything,” he said, giving as example the often-cited theory that terrorism was linked to poverty, but failing to discuss the fact that there were terrorists from middle-class backgrounds too.

Dr Martinez said the discussions on the topic should be inclusive, adding that there was a socialist premise in the Bible itself.

IRF research fellow and spokesperson for the event Imran Mohd Rasid said the dialogue was meant to introduce a new dimension to the role religions played in poverty.

“There is always a conversation about the poor, especially in religious narrative, in that as individuals we have to give charity.

“But the poor are a product of social injustices, so the job is not to just give them charity but to liberate them (from poverty),” Imran told The Star, adding that the IRF wanted to raise awareness on this.

The dialogue was held at University of Nottingham’s Chulan Tower branch.

Zahid: No need to amend law for stateless children issue

There is no need for the government to amend the law to resolve the citizenship status of stateless children, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

Zahid said this is because the Federal Constitution has stipulated the provisions and conditions with regard to applying for citizenship.

"It is the parents' obligation to refer to their countries of origin if a child is born in Malaysia, to secure travelling documents and identification documents," he added in a parliamentary written reply.

Zahid, who is also home minister, was responding to Ramkarpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor), who asked the home minister if the government intended to amend the law to allow stateless children to be registered automatically as legal citizens.

It is reported that Malaysia has 150,000 stateless children.

Zahid disagreed with the terminology "stateless children", saying that they are not stateless as the information suggested their parents are foreigners.

Jamil Khir: Law that bans unilateral conversion is unconstitutional

While the government is in the midst of drafting laws to prevent unilateral conversion of minors, Islamic affairs minister Jamil Khir Baharom has claimed that any legislation to ban unilateral conversion is unconstitutional.

“In the context of the law system and judiciary in Malaysia, the court, be it civil or syariah, upholds the principle of justice in ensuring that the parties of the unilateral conversion are protected.

“For this issue, legislation that bans unilateral conversion contradicts Article 12 (4), which allows the father or mother to decide the child’s faith,” Jamil Khir said in a parliamentary written reply.

The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department cited the Federal Court’s ruling in R Subashini’s interfaith conversion case.

“The Federal Court had decided that the faith of the child below 18 years old can be decided by the father or mother,” he said.

He was responding to M Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) who asked when the government would table legislation that bans unilateral conversion.

On March 9, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri said the drafting of laws pertaining to the unilateral conversion of minors has been completed.

“From the aspect of civil (law), we do not have much problems, but this also relates to syariah (law),” she said then.

From the syariah law aspect, she said, Jamil has been obtaining feedback from the state religious bodies.

“A series of consultations with the states has been conducted,” she said.

The cabinet had set up a five-member special committee as its latest attempt to deal with the interfaith conversion dispute and custody matters.

Mangsa cabul rayu hakim ringankan hukuman bapa saudara

Mangsa yang kini berusia 15 tahun mengakui dirinya turut bersalah dan dia sudah memaafkan lelaki itu, justeru dia meminta hakim memberi hukuman ringan kepada tertuduh.

FMT

PETALING JAYA: Seorang mangsa yang dicabul bapa saudaranya bertindak menulis surat kepada hakim merayu tertuduh dijatuhkan hukuman ringan.

Dalam surat itu, mangsa yang kini berusia 15 tahun mengakui dirinya turut bersalah dan dia sudah memaafkan lelaki itu, justeru dia meminta hakim memberi hukuman ringan kepada tertuduh.

China Press melaporkan, tertuduh yang kini berusia 22 tahun itu mengaku bersalah terhadap tiga pertuduhan, termasuk melakukan serangan seksual terhadap anak saudaranya mulai 2011 hingga Januari 2015.

Menurut fakta kes, tertuduh yang berkongsi bilik dengan anak saudara lelaki dan perempuan serta kakaknya pada 2011, bertindak mengambil kesempatan ketika anak saudaranya sedang tidur nyenyak dengan menyentuh bahagian sulit mangsa sebelum mencabulnya.

Mangsa yang ketika itu berusia 10 tahun bagaimanapun tidak menolak mahupun mendedahkan perbuatan bapa saudaranya dan tertuduh kembali mencabul mangsa sebanyak dua kali lagi pada Januari 2015.

Perkara itu hanya terdedah ketika gadis itu mendapatkan khidmat nasihat kaunselor mengenai masalah cinta.

Timbalan Pendakwa Raya memohon mahkamah menjatuhkan hukuman penjara 21 hingga 24 tahun kerana tertuduh menyalahgunakan kepercayaan yang diberikan kakaknya, selain dia turut mempunyai teman wanita ketika itu dan aktif dalam seks.

Hakim menetapkan 22 Jun ini sebagai tarikh untuk menjatuhkan hukuman.

Nabbed IS supporter a safety expert on Malaysian VIP flights, says security official

PETALING JAYA: One of the 15 suspected Islamic State (IS) supporters arrested in Malaysia has been revealed as a senior aviation technician for a firm that serviced aircraft used by the nation’s corporate and political leaders.

The suspect, aged 49, is a former flight engineer for the Royal Malaysian Air Force, a regional security source told the South China Morning Post.

“The suspect is a senior technician whose responsibility was to check that an aircraft is safe for use. He is the person who gives the green light whether an aircraft is safe to take off or not,” said the security official.

The aircraft maintenance company services chartered aircrafts for domestic flights for so-called “VVIPs”, a term often used to describe passengers who are corporate and political leaders. The suspect worked there for 13 years, according to the official.

He was arrested in late March along with 14 other suspects in an operation covering six states as well as the capital Kuala Lumpur.

The other 14 suspects have all been charged in court, but investigations into the aviation engineer are continuing.

“He has conducted religious classes where he propagated ISIS ideology,” said the official.

“He is known to actively support IS via his Facebook account. He has shown IS videos on his mobile phone to his friends with the aim of promoting IS.”

An Airbus A321 operated by Russia’s Metrojet crashed in the Sinai in 31 October 2015, killing all 224 people on board. Russia and Western governments have said the plane was likely brought down by a bomb, and the IS militant group said it had smuggled an explosive on board.

Reuters reported in January that an EgyptAir mechanic, whose cousin joined Islamic State in Syria, is suspected of planting the bomb, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The official said the Malaysian technician’s links to ISIS “was very worrying.” “He could easily sabotage an aircraft. He could also put bombs or smuggle weapons onto a plane,” said the official.

Counter-terrorism experts described the technician as a potential “insider threat”.

“This is a matter for concern because this is precisely what I and others have referred to as the ‘insider threat’ of transnational terrorism,” said Associate Professor Kumar Ramakrishna, head of policy studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Singapore.

The “insider threat” is dangerous as it enables IS to attack targets from within the system, by recruiting already self-radicalised individuals in sensitive jobs, said Prof Kumar.

“Such a person would have the ability, at least in theory, to sabotage an aircraft with VVIPs on board either through by deliberately tampering with onboard systems, causing them to fail in mid-flight, or by placing an improvised explosive device onboard, assuming that he can gain access to one, or has the ability make one himself,” said Prof Kumar.

Such an insider also had the potential to directly assassinate a target, “because the person presumably would have the necessary security clearance already and would hence be less likely to attract attention. This is why enhanced and more regular security screenings are required in certain sensitive sectors,” he said.

The engineer is the second suspect in the aviation industry to have been arrested by Malaysian police over their alleged support for IS.

Last year, an armed auxiliary police officer who handled the screening of explosives and dangerous goods at the KL International Airport was arrested.

He is alleged to have helped facilitate his brother-in-law’s departure to Syria to fight for IS by escorting him to immigration, where the officer’s presence helped ensure there would be less scrutiny paid to the passenger’s final destination.

To date, Malaysian police have arrested more than 160 IS suspects. At least 19 Malaysians are known to have died in Iraq and Syria fighting for IS, some of them as suicide bombers.

Comango: Malaysia regressing in some human rights

PETALING JAYA, May 20 — Malaysian NGOs accused Putrajaya today of not doing enough to improve human rights in the country as pledged with the United Nations Human Rights Council.

According to the Coalition of Malaysian Non-Governmental Organisations (Comango), of the 150 human rights recommendations accepted by Malaysia in 2014, 60 of them were measurable and the situation was regressing in 57 per cent of these.

“We are seeing increasing violations of human rights and trend of growing impunity.

“For instance, instead of repealing the Sedition Act, we see an increasing trend of use of this Act for political motives since 2014,” Comango representative Sevan Doraisamy, who is also Suaram executive director, told a press conference on the coalition’s mid-term report on Malaysia’s progress in implementing its human rights pledges.

Sevan also said instead of taking steps to promote the rights of journalists and bloggers to freely exercise their rights to freedom of expression, Malaysia was strengthening laws to silence the media.

“The proposed amendments to the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 will likely aim at controlling or even stifling political content online rather than facilitating freedom of expression and information,” he said.

Another Comango representative, Jerald Joseph, from human rights group Pusat KOMAS, said the country also showed little or no improvement in terms of national unity and social cohesion.

“When there was a racial riot in the Low Yat incident, we saw a raced-based IT mall built and this also does not gel well with the 1Malaysia concept that the government is championing,” he said.

Mohd Rizal Rozhan, of Selangor Civic Community Association (Empower), said Malaysia has five years to fulfill its recommendations that are aimed at improving the human rights situation on the ground together with some 193 members of the United Nation.

He said the recommendations comprise eight sectors—international obligation; civil rights; economic, social and cultural rights; marginalised groups; national mechanisms on human rights; trafficking in persons; national unity and human rights education.

Asked if it was fair to penalise the government given that it still have another two years to fulfil these, Jerald said it was up to Putrajaya to explain.

“We hope and wish for the government to call us in to work on these recommendations together but to date, we have not received any such invitation,” he said.

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/comango-malaysia-regressing-in-some-human-rights#sthash.SpRaJL0h.dpuf

Kho Jabing hanged

SINGAPORE, May 20 — A Malaysian murder convict was hanged in Singapore today, police said, hours after the city-state’s highest court rejected a final bid for him to escape the gallows.

“A 32-year-old male Malaysian national, Jabing Kho had his death sentence carried out on 20 May 2016 at Changi Prison Complex,” the Singapore Police Force said in a statement.

Kho, who was sentenced to death in 2010 for the murder of a Chinese construction worker, had been due to hang in Changi Prison at dawn today, but was granted a brief last-minute reprieve after his lawyer filed a challenge.

The Court of Appeal heard the latest plea this morning but said it raised no new arguments about the 2008 robbery gone wrong, clearing the way for the execution.

“This case has been about many things but today, it’s about the abuse of the process of the court,” said Court of Appeal Judge Chao Hick Tin.

Allowing Kho to continue with legal challenges would throw the judicial system “into disrepute,” he added.

Executions in Singapore are normally carried out by hanging at dawn on Fridays.

After Kho was sentenced to death in 2010, Singapore amended its mandatory death penalty for murder, giving judges the discretion to impose life imprisonment under certain circumstances.

Kho’s case was reviewed and he was re-sentenced to a life term in 2013. But state prosecutors appealed that ruling and his death sentence was reinstated in January 2015.

He was scheduled for execution on November 6 last year but another last-minute appeal saved him.

Kho’s accomplice in the crime had his conviction for murder overturned and got more than 18 years in prison and 19 strokes of the cane.

Singapore, which has rejected calls by rights groups to abolish the death penalty, executed four people in 2015, one for murder and three for drug offences, according to prison statistics.

Malaysia also uses capital punishment, executing murderers and drug traffickers by hanging, a system which, like that in Singapore, dates back to British colonial rule. — AFP

Dr M wants one-to-one contest but cautious about PAS candidacy

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said PAS' insistence on contesting in the Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar by-elections leaves the people with no choice but to back the Islamic party if they want to see BN under Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak defeated.

However, he raised concerns that PAS' insistence for a one-on-one battle against BN may just be a ploy for the Islamic party to withdraw at the eleventh hour and allow a walkover victory for BN.

"PAS may be pretending to nominate a candidate and when the rakyat do not put up their candidate, PAS will then pull out so that BN can win uncontested," he said in a blog posting today.

Mahathir had emphasised on the importance of a one-on-one contest in the by-elections to ensure BN is defeated.

The former premier, who had been accused of colluding with the opposition, was careful to refer to Pakatan Harapan as the "rakyat".

"The rakyat should only put up a single candidate. Unfortunately, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang wants to put a PAS candidate and BN will benefit if the rakyat put up another candidate.

"In order to avoid a split among the rakyat, if PAS puts up a candidate, the rakyat will need to give full support to PAS so that PAS can win big and BN will lose big," he said.

Mahathir said that even if PAS won, it would not be able to form the government and would remain a "slave" to BN which has superior numbers.

Pull out at the eleventh hour

However, Mahathir's reservation that PAS may pull out at the eleventh hour remained.

"We will not be surprised if PAS does this. (PAS president) Abdul Hadi Awang appears to have accepted 'cash is king' Najib even though the world perceives Najib as corrupt.

"That is Hadi's choice and his right. That was why PAS has split," he said.

Mahathir noted that Najib had tried to take credit for BN's thumping win in the Sarawak election even though he claimed it was due to the state's popular Chief Minister Adenan Satem.

A such, he said, BN's defeat in the by-elections was necessary to ensure that Najib cannot claim he has the people's backing.

Mahathir also emphasised that the bid to remove Najib is a people's movement and not merely an opposition's movement as the prime minister is trying to paint it.

"Only after Najib is no longer prime minister can democracy be restored and all the demands of parties be championed for.

"After democracy is restored, the rakyat can make any demands they want and on who will lead the country," he said.

Video: Slim River Tamil school parents and activist disappointments

Slim River Tamil school parents fear for their children’s safety

Parents of SRJK (T) Slim River school students are incredibly dissapointed by authorities lack of urgency to fix the schools termite problem that had been reported in 2011.

The Malaysia Times (TMT) today spoke to some of the concern parents outside the school, where they voiced their concern over their children’s safety.

Jayshree, 40, said that it has been five years since a complaint was made and four years since the Public Works Department (JKR) has reported that the building is not safe to be used.

“My son is now nine years old and still in danger, how long do they expect us to sit and wait,” Jayshree told TMT.

Meanwhile, Pooveneswary, 33, vented: “Are they waiting for something bad to happen to one of the children before they start doing their job.”

She said that even though the kindergarten children have been moved to the library, everyone still has to use the canteen, so they are all still in danger.

Arulmany, 38, said that the school had made the reports initially but after a couple of years had become less aggressive to get the building rebuilt.

S. Jeevaratnam said that he has personally funded the school as well to fix their minor things, but said that as this is a government building it can’t be demolished and rebuilt by just anyone.

“It’s worrying when things are out of your hands and your child’s safety is corn , it is very worrying,” he said.

“I have a cousin whom studied in the school almost 16 years ago and she said that the canteen is the same since she started studying,” said Arulmany.

The kindergarten and canteen building in the school has been labeled as unfit as it is infested by termites by the Public Works Department (JKR) in 2012,and that the building should be demolished.

200 student and 35 kindergarten students and several other teachers and staff currently accommodate the school.

Chinese make up 90% of those who gave up citizenship

ALMOST 90% of the 56,576 Malaysians who renounced their citi­zenship over the past decade were Chinese.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed that 49,864 Malaysian Chinese gave up their citizenship from 2006 to April this year.

In a written reply to Ramkarpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor), Dr Ahmad Zahid also said in that pe­­riod, 834 Malays, 1,833 Indians and 4,044 others had done the same.

On a separate question by Kasthu­riraani Patto (DAP-Batu Kawan), Dr Ahmad Zahid said 43,453 foreigners were granted citizenship since 2006.

“The largest numbers were from Indonesia, India and Thailand,” he said.

Court: Hindu mum ‘can question validity of children’s conversion’

PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has allowed Hindu mother M. Indira Gandhi to question if her children’s unilateral conversion to Islam is valid.

Panel chairman Chief Judge of Malaya Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin granted leave for appeal, allowing three questions to be posed by Indira Gandhi’s lawyers.

Her counsel K. Shanmuga had originally posed eight questions, while Senior Federal Counsel (SFC) Shamsul Bolhassan agreed with two of those questions.

The two questions were whether the Civil court has jurisdiction to review the Registrar of Muallafs’ actions; and whether a minor must recite the affirmation of faith in order to have their conversion registered.

The third question allowed was whether both parents of a child must consent before a certificate of conversion can be issued.

The three-man panel, which also included Justices Abu Samah Nordin and Aziah Ali, refunded the deposit though they did not set a date for the full hearing.

Indira Gandhi was supported by a team of lawyers which included Shanmuga, M. Kula Segaran, Aston Paiva and Fahri Azzat, while SFC Shamsul acted for the Federal Government and lawyer Hatim Musa acted for Indira’s ex-husband Muhammad Riduan Abdullah.

On Dec 30, 2015, the Court of Appeal reversed the quashing of Indira Gandhi’s children Prasana and Karan Dinesh’s conversion certificates but made no ruling as to Tevi Darshiny, as she was now above 18 years of age.

In a 2-1 majority decision, the panel ruled that the children’s conversion was under the jurisdiction of Syariah Court.

On July 25, 2013, the Ipoh High Court quashed the three children’s certificates of conversion, declaring it null and void.

The legal saga began in April 2009, when Riduan took their youngest child, Prasana, then 11 months old, and converted the three children to Islam.

The two older children – Tevi, then 12, and Karan, then 11 – remained with their mother.

On Oct 29 the same year, Riduan obtained a Syariah Court order that awarded him custody of the children.

In a custody battle that ensued, the Ipoh High Court granted Indira Gandhi full custody of all three children and on March 11, 2010, the father was ordered to return Prasana to Indira.

On April 29 this year, a different Federal Court panel affirmed that Riduan should be arrested for not returning Prasana, though the police were not obliged to recover the child.

Dharmendran’s family sues IGP, government over custodial death

The wife of N. Dharmendran today filed a civil suit against the Malaysian government, the Inspector-General of Police and several police officers over the “unlawful death” of her husband who was purportedly beaten to death by several police officers. 

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/dharmendrans-family-sues-igp-government-over-custodial-death#sthash.C4U0yjHD.dpuf

Widow sues police, govt for husband’s death

The Court of Appeal has ordered four cops implicated in the murder of N. Dharmendran to face charges in the High Court.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: Widow Marry Mariay Susay, whose husband N. Dharmendran died in police custody in 2013, sued the police and government on Friday over his death.

Housewife Marry, 29, is suing for damages over assault, battery, breach of duty, negligence, false imprisonment and conspiracies.

She is also seeking a declaration that the police and government had acted recklessly, unlawfully and in bad faith and were in breach of Dharmendran’s fundamental rights.

The suit was filed at the High Court.

Marry’s lawyer N. Surendran expressed the hope that the lawsuit will send a message to the authorities that changes need to be made.

“After the EAIC (Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission) report last month found that Dharmendran died because of acts of violence, there was not even a statement promising action by the government and police,” he said.

Surendran, who is also Padang Serai MP, said he had asked for statistics on the number of deaths in custody in this Parliament session.
“I hope to get it next week,” he said.

Marry, who was present with her son Santosh and family members, hope “for the best” outcome from the civil suit.

“I am happy the EAIC report confirmed my husband did not die because of any disease. The Commission proved police beat him up,” she said.

On February 26, four policemen who were freed of the murder of Dharmendran, were ordered by the Court of Appeal to enter their defence.

The appeals court set aside the High Court’s decision in acquitting Inspector S. Hare Krishnan, Sargent Jaffri Jaafar, Coporals Mohd Nahar Abd Rahman, and Haswadi Zamri Shaari, on charges of allegedly murdering Dharmendran.

The panel ordered Hare and three others to be remanded till the disposal of the case in the High Court.

On December 12 last year, the High Court freed Hare, Jaffri, Nahar, and Haswadi for the death of Dharmendran in custody at the end of the prosecution case. It ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the motive in the case.

The four cops were charged with murdering Dharmendran at the Kuala Lumpur Police Headquarters interrogation room on May 21, 2013.