UTM to fix erroneous claims on 'dirty' Hindus

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia will amend a teaching module which includes erroneous claims about Hinduism and Sikhism, said Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanthan.

He said the vice-chancellor admitted there were mistakes and the module would be "corrected expeditiously".

"I also asked him to please ensure that such errors are not repeated as they can cause confusion and hurt in some segments of students besides not being factual.

"He has totally agreed to my suggestion," Kamalanthan said in a statement on his Facebook page.

This comes after screenshots of the module slides bearing UTM's logo went viral on social media.

The slides showed that UTM students were taught that Hindus preferred to be "dirty", and that the presence of Islam taught former Hindu followers "manners in life".

It stated that "some Hindu followers believe dirt on the body is a form of ritual which could lead to the attainment of nirvana".

Another slide claimed that Sikhism is a combination of Hindu and Islam, but its founder had a shallow understanding of Islam.

While it is not stated on the slide, it is believed that this is part of the Tamadun Islam and Tamadun Asia (Islamic and Asian Civilisation) module compulsory for all undergraduates at public universities.

If Najib can deliver, why need MIC?

Why is the MIC still on the political scene? It has miserably failed Indians in the decades following independence and there is no guarantee that the party is in position to deliver goods for the Indian community.

By P Ramasamy

Najib Tun Razak, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, has learnt one thing while in office; that he cannot trust or depend on the MIC to deliver goods to the Malaysian Indians.

He might have been besieged by the controversy surrounding the 1MDB issue and the “unaccountable” money that went into his private accounts, but still he knows who can be trusted in the Barisan Nasional.

The MIC might be around for a long time, but the leadership of the party is in a complete disarray. It has lost its direction and the purpose of its existence.

The recent actions of Najib convey the idea that he does not trust the MIC leaders. This is the reason why, under him, funds meant for the Indian community are not given directly to the MIC or its leaders. Rather in the last few years or so, funds are allocated directly to the Indian NGOs through the Prime Minister’s department.

He knows very well that the MIC, given the intense infighting within, is unable to deliver goods to the Indian community. Whatever funds allocated to the Indian community via the MIC have not reached the target group – the poor and neglected Indians.

Yesterday, Najib, in his campaign speech in Kuala Kangsar, announced special allocations for the Indian community there.

He allocated: RM100,000 for the upgrading the upgrading of the wall of the SJKT Ghandi Memorial; granted 0.6 hectares of land for a playing field; RM750,000 to the local Indian Association for a new building; RM115,000 to repair the fences and pave the road to a crematorium; and urged the Perak state government to resolve the housing problem of 20 Indian families in Bukit Merchu.

Following this, he asked the Indian community to support the BN candidate for Kuala Kangsar in the coming by-elections.

If this is the attitude of senior Umno leaders towards the MIC, then what is the purpose of the MIC? The party has miserably failed Malaysian Indians in the decades following independence and there is no guarantee that the party is in a position to deliver goods for the Indian community.

Shouldn’t the MIC quit the political scene?

P Ramasamy is Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang.

Mahathir pleads for an Amanah victory

Ex-premier woos Kuala Kangsar voters with another public appeal to kick out Najib.

KUALA KANGSAR: After spending the whole day campaigning in Sungai Besar, Selangor yesterday, the 90-year-old former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad hit the roads of Kuala Kangsar today, appealing again for a victory for the Amanah candidate.

At a forum on 1MDB and Najib Razak’s Donation, organised by the opposition Pakatan Harapan alliance, Dr Mahathir urged voters to back Dr Ahmad Termizi Ramli of Amanah.

“I appeal to all of you to support Termizi. He comes from a prominent family, and is a wise man. He is a matured and capable leader. (Though) he has a bit of white hair, but not as young as me,” he said, drawing laughter from about 300 people present.

He reiterated his campaign purpose of driving Najib Razak out of office as Umno president and prime minister.

“Give (Termizi) the victory, so that we can prove that Najib is not needed by the people,” he added.

Termizi, 61, is a nuclear physics professor and a sixth generation descendant of Perak’s Maharaja Lela who launched a rebellion against the British Resident JWW Birch in the 19th century.

Dr Mahathir also spoke to reporters about his meeting with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang,

Mahathir said he had met Hadi to explain about Najib’s weaknesses which, he claimed, Hadi had also acknowledged.

“I explained to him about Najib’s doings in detail, about Najib and foreign powers, 1MDB and the money. All this is a waste of public funds. He said there is truth in it,” Dr Mahathir said.

However, now that PAS was on its own, after the breakup of Pakatan Rakyat, the previous opposition alliance, Hadi had come to favour Najib and the PAS’ struggle had become one to defend Najib, Dr Mahathir said.

He had earlier said that it would be impossible for PAS to defeat BN on its own, and the party’s latest strategy was to befriend Najib.

Dr Mahathir’s decision to openly campaign against Barisan Nasional in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar was criticised by Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein yesterday. Hishammuddin said he did not understand why the former premier could make such a decision as he had been among the most respected leaders in BN.

Dr Mahathir was prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and headed Umno and the Barisan Nasional during that time.

Ministry awaits police report in Syed Alman probe

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has concluded its investigations into the death of Syed Alman Zain Syed Alwi, son-in-law of deputy prime minister.

Health minister Dr S. Subramaniam said today the ministry was awaiting an investigation report from the police which is expected to be completed by next week.

Syed Alman, 44, died after undergoing treatment at a dental clinic in Bangsar on June 1.

Subramanian said that after the respective reports were completed, the ministry would decide on the next course of action under the Health Ministry’s jurisdiction while the police will decide on any action based on the criminal procedure code, Bernama reported.

Syed Alman was the husband of Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid, 37, eldest daughter of the deputy prime minister. He was reported to have fallen unconscious after the treatment and was taken to the University of Malaya Medical Centre where he was pronounced dead.

Mahathir: Dump Najib and I may return to Umno

Return the original Umno and I'll consider it, he says after Ahmad Zahid's offer.

KUALA KANGSAR: Dr. Mahathir Mohamad will consider rejoining Umno – if Najib Razak is no longer head of the dominant political party.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir gave reporters his response when asked about an offer by Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday.

“Tell him to get rid of Najib first, then I’ll think about it. Return the original Umno and I’ll consider it,” he said.

Earlier this year, Dr Mahathir formally left Umno, for the second time under one of his successors, after heading the party and being prime minister for 22 years from 1981-2003.

He left Umno in 2008 in protest against the policies of his immediate successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, although he did not resign, but formally resigned on Feb 29 after a campaign to oust Najib Razak, who had taken over in 2008.

It was the third time in his life that he had left Umno. In 1969, he was expelled after circulating a poison-pen letter against first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra.

Yesterday, Dr Mahathir openly campaigned for the opposition Pakatan Harapan and Amanah party candidate in the Sungai Besar parliamentary by-election, and did so again here for the Amanah candidate in Kuala Kangsar.

Ahmad Zahid had expressed regret at Dr Mahathir’s appearance at an opposition campaign event and said Umno would be willing to accept him back “if he does not stab us in the back”. However, Zahid said he believes Mahathir will not ask to return to Umno for the time being.

Today, Dr Mahathir attended a Citizen’s Declaration forum organized by NGO Selamatkan Malaysia at Taman Chandan Puteri, together with Amanah candidate Ahmad Termizi Ramli and former Wanita Umno information head Hamdiah Osman.

Cover up during Ramadan, Kelantan mufti tells non-Muslims

The Malay Mail

KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — The Kelantan Mufti today urged non-Muslims to dress conservatively throughout the fasting month of Ramadan as provocative attire could be haram for surrounding Muslims.

Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad explained that while non-Muslims have the freedom to dress however they liked, they should be “considerate” and dress appropriately to prevent Muslims from forfeiting their fast.

“They (non-Muslims) should respect Muslims and dress appropriately.

“It is not wrong for them to dress how they like but they must be considerate because when Muslims, particularly men, bump into them at public places, it is considered haram,” he was quoted as saying to local daily New Straits Times.

He also urged non-Muslims to refrain from “eating or drinking in front of Muslims during the fasting month.”

Additionally, he said Muslim women specifically should also “dress appropriately” as well as to watch their behaviour and language.

“This is part of religious teachings. Islam also teaches Muslims not to waste their money when shopping at Ramadan bazaars. A simple meal is sufficient for the breaking of fast,” he said.

Separately, local daily The Star quoted Kelantan Islamic Affairs Department’s enforcement chief Mohd Fadzuli Mohd Zain as saying that 31 Muslim women were detained for either not donning a headscarf or wearing tight outfits since the start of Ramadan on Monday.

According to mainstream Islamic teachings, a woman’s “aurat” is defined as the whole body, except for the face and palms, while for men, it is the part between the navel and knees.

During the fasting month of Ramadan, Muslims would eat before dawn and fast throughout the day, breaking their fast only after sunset.

Iron Lady talks about Mahathir the fun guy

Former minister Rafidah Aziz lets her hair down with comedian Harith Iskandar on his new talk show

PETALING JAYA: Showing off her lighter side on television last night, former cabinet minister Rafidah Aziz shed her Iron Lady image as she sat down with comedian Harith Iskander on his new talk show.

Aired on Astro Awani, Rafidah told Harith she enjoyed listening to sentimental music, and that despite being dubbed the Iron Lady, she was actually a “jelly inside”.

Listening to her sharp wit and funny side, it was easy to forget that the former Umno leader is 73 years old.

“I’ve seen it all,” she said, referring to her more than 50 years of being in politics.

Harith asked Rafidah to revisit the major episode in Umno history, when party president Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced his resignation live on television.

Rafidah recalled how her high heels broke as she knelt down in front of Mahathir, in trying to convince him to retract his resignation.

She said after some 40 minutes of talking to the former premier, when she got up, she realised her high heels had broken off, which then led her to being barefoot when she was interviewed on television by RTM later.

Speaking more on Mahathir, Harith asked if she had ever told him off if she wasn’t happy with something.

“If I’m not happy I give him the silent treatment,” she said, noting how a person can’t simply tell off an old man, out of respect.

But she said she knew Mahathir as “a fun person”, elaborating that, however, the fun person only came out sometimes.
She also related how she had once arm-wrestled with Mahathir.

“I arm-wrestled him and he lost,” she said, telling the audience and Harith, that they were initially having a men-versus-women argument about strength and she had told Mahathir she was once an arm-wrestling champion in school.
She said Mahathir didn’t believe her and that was how they ended up arm-wrestling.

Also on the show with Rafidah was actor and singer Sean Ghazi who dazzled the audience with his rendition of Tony Bennet’s The Way You Look Tonight.

Harith’s show, Obviously Harith Iskander, airs on Astro Awani every Saturday at 9.30pm.

Couple caught with syabu in biscuit tins

KULAI: A plan to smuggle about RM670,000 worth of syabu as biscuits crumbled when alert policemen at Senai International Airport saw through the ruse.

The two auxiliary policemen became suspicious of a couple waiting to catch a flight at 6am on Friday.

They had the couple’s suitcase scanned and saw what looked like two biscuit tins amongst articles of clothing, said Kulai OCPD Supt Razak Md Said.

The couple refused to open the luggage for inspection and started giving all sorts of excuses, he said.

They were taken to the airport police station where the suitcase was pried open. Supt Razak said there were six plastic packets, believed to contain 5.99kg of syabu crystals, inside the tins.

The husband and wife, both locals, were arrested.

He said the 52-year-old man had taken his wife, 35, to the airport where she was supposed to board a flight to Kota Kinabalu.

Alleged Tioman rape victim lodges police report

KUANTAN: The girl who claims to have been sexually assaulted in Pulau Tioman has lodged a police report against a Customs Department officer for allegedly raping her.

The 17-year-old girl alleged that the officer, who goes by the name of Kamil, was one of four individuals who raped her.

"On March 18, 2016, at daytime, I was called by Kamil to a room at the jetty Customs office. He told me to keep a rape committed against me the day before a secret.

"After that, he took off his shirt and forced me to give him a massage. A few minutes after that, Kamil took off his pants and forcefully removed my clothes," she said in her report filed here Saturday.

The girl claimed she tried to fight back but failed and Kamil proceeded to rape her.

She alleged that Kamil then told her not to lodge a police report or he would take action against her and her father.

It was reported that the series of sexual assaults took place between March and May after the girl took up a part-time job at the Kampung Tekek jetty.

The Form Four student claimed that she became semi-conscious after taking a soft drink given by a security guard on March 17 before she was gang-raped by four people at the jetty toilet and the Customs office.

She also claimed that a female neighbour sexually assaulted her on May 7 when she went to her house.

She alleged that the neighbour also took nude pictures and a video of her, which were then uploaded onto the Internet.

She then claimed the neighbour's brother proceeded to rape her after that.

Rompin OCPD Deputy Supt Muhammad Aidil Roneh Abdullah had said that six people, including a woman, were detained for investigations, but denied the involvement of a Customs personnel.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had assured that there would be no cover-up in criminal cases involving Government officers and no one would escape punishment if there was evidence of a crime.

Dog chokes to death in bid to get free

NIBONG TEBAL: A dog owner tied up his two pets with wire before he left for work but in the dogs’ struggle to get free, one mongrel died while the other escaped.

A neighbour E. Vasudeean, 56, who is a security guard, said the owner living in Lorong 6, Taman Merak, Simpang Ampat, had tied up both the dogs before he left yesterday morning.

“He is a dog lover and would usually leave the dogs to roam freely in his compound. He would play with them when he comes back from work.

“If the dogs go missing, he would search for them in the neighbourhood and bring them back home.

“I do not think this is a case of abuse but more towards carelessness,” he said.

Animal activist Ravee Dharmen-dra Govindasamy, who came to the house upon hearing the news, said the owner probably did not realise the aluminium wire could become tighter when the dogs try to free themselves.

“I feel that the dogs should be allowed to roam freely,” said Ravee.

“This should serve as a lesson to all dog owners not to take safety for granted.”

Ravee said a report had been lodged at the Simpang Ampat police station.

The dead dog has been sent to the state Veterinary Department in Bukit Tengah for a post-mortem while the other dog was rescued and taken to Penang island with the aim to find shelter for it.

“We will try to find a home for it as quickly as possible,” Ravee said.

At press time, the owner could not be contacted.

As PM’s wife, Rosmah’s right to hire jet - Annuar Musa

No one should question the right of Rosmah Mansor’s hiring of a private jet as it is her right and duty as the prime minister’s wife, said an Umno leader.

“Don’t (expect) the wife of the prime minister to travel on a normal flight schedule, I don’t think there is a leader in the world who does this.

“So, let’s not deny the right of a prime minister’s wife or prime minister by saying or trying to give the impression that (the flight) had been hired for private use,” Umno information chief Annuar Musa told Malaysiakini.

He was asked when met after breaking fast in Manong, Kuala Kangsar yesterday during the by-election campaign, to comment on PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli’s continued expose on Rosmah using a private jet for a trip to Istanbul.

Rafizi last Wednesday revealed that Rosmah flew in the hired aircraft to Turkey to accept the 3G Children Welfare Award on behalf of early childhood programme Permata.

The PKR leader alleged the plane had been chartered for two months, and estimated it would have cost the government RM86.4 million.

Annuar, who is an Umno supreme council member, said there is no abuse of power in the case the jet trip.

“There is a difference between private business and the duties of the wife of a prime minister, and the duties of the prime minister’s wife must be respected.

“It must be given right and status, along with what she is eligible for.

“Therefore the question of wrongdoing doesn’t arise at all,” he said.

'Don't go overboard'

He called Rafizi’s claims “baseless” and done in bad taste especially in the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims are fasting.

“I believe we should exercise some restraint although we want to play politics, let’s do it with care and base it on certain values in accordance with good Muslims,” he said.

“That jet can be rented out to anyone, and anyone can hire it, that’s all,” he reiterated.

Dr M: Charge me in court, and I'll ask if true Rosmah boarded private jet

K KANGSAR POLLS Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad today declared that he will answer questions that were previously posed by the police in court.

Mahathir, who is in Kuala Kangsar in support of Parti Amanah Negara’s (Amanah) candidate in the by-election, lamented how people today do not know if they would be arrested or not for lodging police reports.

Previously, he said, police would investigate whether a particular report had basis or otherwise, but the same cannot be said today.

Mahathir said he was ‘lucky’, too, in that he had been called for interrogation thrice.

“They asked me many things, but perhaps because I'm stupid, I didn't answer,” said Mahathir in his trademark cheeky humour at an event organised by Pakatan Harapan here today.

“If you want me to answer, charge me and I will answer in court,” he added, to applause from some 300 attendees at the event.

Once in court, Mahathir said he, through his lawyer, had the right to ask Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor on the authenticity of a picture depicting the latter boarding a private jet.

“I want to ask whether the picture is authentic, with 12 people carrying big bags.

“If we want to ride planes we have Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and we can go anywhere, but she has to rent a jet which costs RM80 million and then they say they have no money,” he said.

Mahathir’s dig was in reference to the expose made by PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli who had revealed that Rosmah used a private jet for an overseas trip to Istanbul.

In response to Rosmah’s aide Rizal Mansor, who said that the jet was chartered for two months, Rafizi estimated that RM86.4 million, therefore, was spent to rent it.

Mahathir had been questioned by police over remarks he made against Umno branch leaders as well as attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali.

After leaving Umno, Mahathir spearheaded the Save Malaysia movement which urges, among others, the resignation of Najib.

Lone ranger PAS needs support from Najib, claims Mahathir

SG BESAR POLLS Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has claimed that PAS is now courting Umno as it requires support after being left as a stand-alone party.

"PAS is now alone. That is why they want support from (Umno president) Najib (Abdul Razak) in particular.

"PAS will not criticise Najib. As as stand-alone party with no more support, they need to seek help from Najib. Help in what form, I don't know," said Mahathir at a press conference after delivering the keynote address at a DAP-organised forum in Sekinchan.

He said this when asked whether he would also support PAS Sungai Besar candidate Dr Abdul Rani Osman if the Meru assemblyperson endorsed the Citizens' Declaration to call for Najib's resignation.

Mahathir earlier pledged his support for Amanah's Azhar Abdul Shukur who had signed the Citizens' Declaration.

Mahathir reiterated the two by-elections would not result in a change of government or its policies, but would make a statement.

"This by-election is a referendum.

"It is a move to show Najib that the rakyat have rejected him," he said.

Cuts both ways

Asked whether a victory for BN would then be seen as an endorsement for Najib, Mahathir said, "If you have a referendum you have to follow what the results are."

He, however, warned that it would lead to further destruction of the country's administration.

"People who support Najib either don't know what is happening, or they have dedak (animal feed) in their mouths.

"Whatever that may mean," he quipped.

Dedak is a metaphor for being obligated to the hand that feeds one.

PAS' campaign in both Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar have been shadowed by claims of future cooperation with Umno, although it has been repeatedly denied by the party's top leaders.

However PAS Youth chief Nik Abduh Nik Aziz was today reported in Sinar Harian suggesting otherwise, saying if Umno walks the Islamic path, "there would come a time when we can all unite".

Dr M hits campaign trail, declares support for Harapan candidate

SG BESAR POLLS Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has declared his support for Parti Amanah Negara Sungai Besar candidate Azhar Abdul Shukur.

This is after Azhar today signed the Citizens' Declaration to support the call for prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's resignation.

"I am now no longer a member of any party. Not Umno and not any other party. I am here as a concerned citizen.

"That is why I am here. To support an Amanah member who signed the Citizens' Declaration to remove Najib," said Mahathir in his keynote address at a DAP-organised forum on 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion scandal.

This is the first time Mahathir has openly campaigned for Pakatan Harapan after previously stating that he is against Najib and BN.

Even after several months since the Citizens' Declaration was launched, Mahathir said he still felt "awkward" sharing the stage with his former enemies.

The forum was attended by about 500 people who mostly wore Amanah's orange-coloured T-shirts.

In explaining reasons why Najib should be rejected, Mahathir insisted that never in his 22 years as prime minister did he receive as much as RM2.6 billion.

"I used to be the prime minister and I never received that much money.

"Even if I did, such donations must be rejected because we would have to 'sell ourselves' to foreigners," he said.

Najib and 1MDB have consistently denied all wrongdoings raised against it, despite ongoing probes by several foreign authorities.

Among other speakers at the forum include Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua, corruption watchdog C4 executive director Cynthia Gabriel and constitution expert Prof Abdul Aziz Bari.

Azhar is running against PAS' Dr Abdul Rani Osman and BN's Budiman Mohd Zohdi for the Sungai Besar seat.

The moment one woman ditched the symbol of ISIS oppression by throwing off her niqab after her village is liberated in Syria

By SARA MALM FOR MAILONLINE

• Several towns and villages in northern Syria, liberated from ISIS this week
• ISIS's strict dress code dictated women be covered head to toe in black
• Women are celebrating by wearing colours and ditching the niqab
• See more Syria news as liberated Syrian ditches symbol of ISIS oppression

This is the joyful moment a woman literally casts off ISIS rule by taking off her terrorist-imposed black niqab in front of fellow liberated villagers in northern Syria.

The strict dress code implemented by ISIS in their conquered areas in Syria and Iraq dictates that all women be covered from head to toe in black, covering their faces with a veil.

Images of women celebrating their freedom by no longer covering their faces in black veils are flowing out of Aleppo, where several villages and towns have been liberated from ISIS this week.

The unnamed woman is seen cheering as she removes the full-face black niqab to reveal a bright purple hijab underneath.

Other women in the village on the outskirts of Manbij, Aleppo, stand next to her, all wearing coloured dresses with their hands and faces exposed.

On Thursday, Khadija Abdu Al-Muotee from liberated Abu Qalqal, south of Manbij, also cast off the ISIS rules, and swore to never wear black again.

'Now I will only wear red!' an exhilarated Mrs Abdu Al-Muotee told Ara News after her town in northern Syria was freed from ISIS this week.

Celebrating the freedom of her home, Mrs Abdu Al-Muotee can be seen wearing a red leopard-print hijab decorated with flowers over a leopard-print dress with red patterns.

'They forced us to cover our faces with the Islamic veil and threatened to kill us,' she adds.

Video from Abu Qalqal shows women and children dressed in colourful clothes and adults no longer covering their faces in full niqab.

The crowd can be heard chanting 'We are freed! We are freed!'

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a U.S.-backed Kurdish and Arab alliance, have liberated several villages and small towns on the edges of Manbij, cutting of an important supply route.

Manbij is strategic town held by IS that serves as a waypoint between the Turkish border and ISIS's self-declared 'capital' of Raqqa.

ISIS has come under growing pressure on various fronts in Syria and Iraq, where it established its self-declared 'caliphate' in 2014.

The extremists lost control Friday of a vital supply artery when Arab-Kurdish forces completely surrounded a key jihadist-held town.

'The SDF cut off the last road from Manbij to the Turkish border,' said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group.

Manbij lies at the heart of the last stretch of territory along Turkey's border still under IS control, and was a key point on the jihadists' supply line from Turkey.

Other secondary roads to the frontier are more dangerous and difficult to access, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said.

The US envoy to the anti-IS coalition backing the SDF, Brett McGurk, confirmed the road had been severed.

'ISIL terrorists now completely surrounded with no way out,' he wrote on Twitter, using another acronym for ISIS.

This week the SDF, backed by coalition air strikes, cut the road north out of Manbij to the IS-held border town of Jarabulus, which the jihadists had used as a transit point for fighters, money and weapons.

The SDF also blocked the road south out of Manbij heading to IS's de facto capital of Raqa.

'For the jihadists to reach the Turkish border from Raqa, they now have to take a route that is more dangerous because of regime troops nearby and Russian air strikes,' Abdel Rahman said.

Russia launched air strikes in support of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria in September.

Thousands of residents have fled Manbij - held by IS since 2014 - but jihadists who evacuated their families stayed to defend the town, the Observatory said.

About 20,000 people are still living in the town, which had a pre-war population of about 120,000 -- mostly Arabs, but about a quarter Syrian Kurds.

Last month, the SDF launched attacks on two fronts from the north of Raqa province towards Manbij and in direction of the IS-held town of Tabqa on the same vital supply line further south.

Regime troops backed by Russian air strikes have also pushed an offensive to the southwest of Tabqa.

Moscow and Washington -- despite backing different sides in Syria's five-year conflict -- have both focused efforts on fighting the jihadist group.

Syria's war has killed more than 280,000 people and displaced millions since it started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

13 passengers, 7 crew, Rosmah's aide tells Rafizi to do luggage math

An aide to Rosmah Mansor has dismissed the latest allegation concerning the luggage on board a private jet which flew the prime minister's wife to Istanbul.

According to Rizal Mansor, this was another miscalculation by PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli, who questioned the excessive number of bags and their contents this morning.

"The prime minister's wife is not the only passenger on the flight. The plane also carried 13 other passengers and seven crew members. Are you saying they all do not have any luggage?

"This is a long-range flight. So it means they would have to change clothes.

"Which is why the bags were hand-carried. They also carried their own food on board," he said in a Facebook post.

Rizal (photo) also accused Rafizi of attempting to cover up a previous miscalculation over the Istanbul flight hours.

"That is why he is now talking about the number of bags for the entourage of the prime minister's wife to Istanbul," Rizal said.

He said Rafizi's allegation that the plane had ample cargo space for baggage storage stemmed from the PKR parliamentarian's misunderstanding or lack of knowledge about aircraft specifications.

First of all, he explained, the particular plane's cargo space was not as large as others of the same model or make.

"YB (Rafizi) can check the term ACT - 'additional centre tank' with his friends in the airline industry. The plane's cargo compartment has been modified to accommodate a larger fuel tank to increase its flight range," he said.

Rizal also said that the cargo space had been used to transport equipment and costumes for Permata's performance troupe, which had accompanied Rosmah on her trip on an invitation.

"For your information YB, the cargo compartment for executive aircraft is also not the same as those of commercial flights.

"In the case of this flight, the cargo compartment was used to carry the costumes and props for the Permata Seni performance group, which was invited to perform over there (Istanbul)," he said.

Rizal claimed that Rafizi, who is also the MP for Pandan, had ill-intentions and wanted to incite hatred against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife.

"Maybe, in the Pandan constituency, there are no longer any public concerns that he needs to fight for, and that is why he is minding other people's business," he said.

While campaigning for the Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar twin by-elections, Rafizi had accused Rosmah of using a private jet for her overseas trips.

However, Rizal denied any wrongdoing, stressing that Rosmah was legally accorded the privilege as the prime minister’s wife and when travelling on national matters.

Meanwhile, Rosmah, who was with her husband in his full day campaign in Kuala Kangsar, stayed mum when asked to respond to Rafizi's allegations.

She visited Hospital Kuala Kangsar this evening before leaving for the BN candidate Mastura Mohd Yazid's house.

Her security came to block journalists who tried to take video footage of Rosmah on their handphones.

Earlier, before her arrival, two police personnel had told the journalists to refrain from interviewing her.

Man hacks FB account to ask for breast photos

Compiled by NEVILLE SPYKERMAN and CRYSTAL CHIAM SHIYING

A SINGAPOREAN man was arrested after he hacked into a woman’s Facebook account and got several of her friends to send him photographs of their breasts, on the pretence of doing a breast cancer awareness project, Kwong Wah Yit Poh reported.

Police arrested the 27-year-old man near Orchard Road at about 10.30pm on Monday after several women lodged reports.

One of the victims said she received a Facebook message on May 2 from her friend who told her she was doing a breast cancer awareness project and wanted to collect breast photographs from women.

“At first I felt it could be a scam and rejected the request. I also felt uneasy to show my body to others. However, she insisted and told me that she would pay me S$500 to S$600 (RM1,500 to RM1,800) as an allowance.

“After some discussion, I agreed to help my friend finish the project and I also told her that she didn’t have to pay me,” said the victim, who subsequently sent her breast photograph to her friend’s account by Facebook Messenger.

She said she later found out that she was cheated after her friend posted a message on Facebook telling all friends that her account was hacked.

She then called her friend and lodged a police report together with another victim who she found out was also scammed.

MyWatch's Sanjeevan, woman inspector questioned in khalwat raid

PETALING JAYA: MyWatch chairman Datuk R. Sri Sanjeevan and a police inspector were caught during a khalwat (close proximity) raid at a luxury hotel in Seremban on Friday.

Sanjeevan and the inspector, reported to have been transferred, have not been arrested nor anything seized from them.

According to a report filed by Bukit Aman’s Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (JIPS), the raiding team comprising officers from JIPS and Negri Sembilan Islamic Affairs Department, went to two connecting rooms at the hotel at 1.30am.

After identifying themselves, the team waited for 10 minutes before the occupant of Room 1002, who was the inspector attached to the Jempol station, opened the door.

They found the officer fully dressed and wearing a headscarf, while a brassiere was left on a chair, the report said.

The team then went to the other room, 1003, and found Sanjeevan alone and fully clothed. No woman’s clothes were found in the room.

The report said the inspector told police she was there to meet Sanjeevan but denied any intimate relationship.

Seremban OCPD ACP Muhammad Zaki Harun confirmed the report. He said the suspects did not commit any crime.

On the transfer of the inspector, he said it was unrelated to the case and transfers were normal procedures in the force.

Sanjeevan, in a WhatsApp reply to The Star Online, confirmed that he was in the hotel but “nothing inappropriate happened.”

“All I know I was alone in my room,” he said.

Mass yoga session on June 19 at Dataran Merdeka

Malaysia Hindu Dharma Maamandram (MHDM) is organising a mass yoga session on June 19, 2016 (Sunday) in conjunction with International Yoga Day, as acknowledged and designated by the United Nations General Assembly.

This event is organised by MHDM with the partnership of MyPPP National Youth Wing as co-organiser and supported by Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan, Polis DiRaja Malaysia (PDRM), Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), Hindu Youth Organisation (HYO), Malaysian Ceylonese Congress (MCC), Telugu Association Malaysia (TAM), ISCKON, Yayasan MyNadi and many more.

Last year (2015) being the maiden celebration of the event, we managed to attract 2,200 participants on June 21, 2015 at open ground of Sri Subramaniar Swamy (Batu Caves), Selangor. This was far beyond our initial estimate of 1,000 participants. Motivated by last year’s success we are targeting 5,000 participants to congregate at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur and perform basic Yoga postures simultaneously.

Malaysia Hindu Dharma Mamandram, which is also generally known as ‘Maamandram’, is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to serving Hindus in Malaysia. With 35 active branches all over the country, MHDM is focused mainly on religious education and spiritual development as well as social service.

Founded in 1982, MHDM recently celebrated its 30th year of service. Maamandram aims to expand its service to the community even further and move forward in these modern times. Taking the motto ‘Service to the community through religion’ as inspiration, the Malaysia Hindu Dharma Maamandram continues to help Hindus in Malaysia strive for excellence and prosperity.

MHDM believes in adapting Hinduism to fit our lifestyle yet still holding on to what matters most - our roots and values. Our approaches are modern with conservative values. We hope to expand our scope further and also hope this website will help to enlighten you about our organisation.

We always seek volunteers who are willing to serve the community through religion which justifies our constantly widening Maamandram family. The MHDM family welcomes you to join us.

Another Hindu Temple in Penanti attacked, this time 'more severely'

Another century-old Hindu temple in Penang has been broken into, and its deities destroyed, this time “more severely” than last week's attack on a nearby temple.

Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said the Sri Dharma Munisverar temple, which is located about one kilometre away from the Muthumariamman Temple in Penanti Estate, was vandalised around midnight.

“The previous incident in Penanti happened exactly one week ago, on Thursday. Today, we found that the deities were destroyed more severely than the previous ones,” Ramasamy told Malaysiakini.

He said the intruders entered the temple and appeared to have thrown a large stone at the three deities, smashing them into pieces.

The committee that oversees both temples was shocked by the incidents and unable to accept the desecration of their places of worship.

Ramasamy spoke to Penang chief police Abdul Ghafar Rejab, who reportedly said the matter would be thoroughly investigated.

“However, police are still uncertain whether the damage was caused by an insider or outsider. The police must be more alert from now on and must send their patrols to monitor the affected areas,” he said.

“With two related temples, looked after by the same committee being vandalised over a matter of one week, it looks as if the culprits are trying to send a strong message,” the Perai assemblyperson added.

“Is it the work of extremists or is this revenge?”

Only last week, several deities in the Muthumariamman Temple in Penanti Estate in Arakuda were destroyed by unknown attackers who are believed to have used a wooden pole to break the statues.

This followed a similar incident in Ipoh last month, with Ramasamy speculating that it may be due to the country's "heated political situation".

Najib announces RM500 aid for rubber tappers, smallholders

KUALA KANGSAR: Some RM194mil will be given out to rubber estate smallholders and rubber tappers in light of the commodity's drop in prices.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak made the announcement during a presentation ceremony at Dewan Jubli here Friday, and said the money would be distributed to 307,770 smallholders and 80,000 rubber tappers.

He said each individual would receive RM500.

He added that this was the third year the assistance had been given out.

Housewife among four charged with terror-related offences

KUALA LUMPUR: A housewife has claimed trial in a High Court here to possessing items related to terrorist activities in March this year.

Siti Nor Intan Shafinaz Johari, 27, was brought before High Court judge Justice Azman Abdullah to have the charge read to her.

She allegedly committed the offence at a house in Kampung Ujung Tanjung, Kuala Perlis, Kangar at about 8.15am on March 22 and was charged under Section 130JB(1)(a) of the Penal Code.

She later claimed trial to the charge Friday. The court then fixed June 29 for mention.

Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalam was the deputy public prosecutor while counsel Farida Mohammad appeared for the accused.

In Judicial Commissioner Ab Karim Ab Rahman's court, the court has fixed June 24 for mention of a case involving businessman Muhammad Saiful Hashim, 35, who was charged with having items related to terrorist activities.

The offence, under Section 130JB(1)(a) of the Penal Code, was said to have committed at a house in Jalan Sekolah Derma, Kangar, Perlis, on March 22.

He also faces another charge of having six fake RM10 notes at the same place, day and time and was charged under Section 489C of the same Code.

Meanwhile, Judicial Commissioner Mohd Nordin Hassan fixed Aug 9 as the next mention date for a case of policewoman Kpl Jusninawati Abdul Gani, 35, who was accused of intentionally omitting information on terrorism acts at the Petaling Jaya police station between 2015 and March 22.

She was charged under Section 130M of the Code.

The other accused, Anuar Ab Rawi, 40, was charged with possessing items related to terrorism activities at Taman Manir Indah in Kampung Banggol Tuan Muda, Manir, in Kuala Terengganu at 8.48am on March 22.

Ex-MIC Youth leader cleared rubber plantation against court orders, claim settlers

While waiting for a court decision over his village’s land disputes with alleged owner Thamarai
Holdings company, Kampung Gatco settler John Cantius was shocked to find strangers entering his village area to clear the rubber trees in parts of the disputed 4,932-acre land in Bahau, Negeri Sembilan.

The settlers were so displeased with the incident that they included it as one of their demands to MIC in the memorandum handed yesterday (today) at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday (today).

Accompanied by about 50 fellow settlers who held protest banners and placards, John alleged that “in March, 2015, the former Negeri Sembilan MIC Youth chief, M Thirunaukarasu, had trespassed into the plantation and chopped off about 500 acres of rubber estate land and brought out the trees and produce.”

“This is trespassing and theft because Thamarai Holdings has admitted it was not involved in timber production. So, who is this Thirunaukarasu? Not only did he chop and steal the trees, he brought ‘gangsters’ to attack the settlers, to hurt us, and used the police’s help to attack us when they were stealing,” John alleged.

“How can they enter? Because at the time, the case was still in discussion at court, and the court had declared that nobody can enter the plantation – it can’t be sold, can’t be bought, can’t be pawned, can’t be divided.

“So how did Thirunaukarasu enter? How did Thamarai Holdings allow the division of lands to state government? How can the state government give (settlement offerings) to settlers? It shows they are defying the court’s orders,” John said.

“We urge MIC to conduct a thorough investigation on Thirunakarausu, and take disciplinary action on him,” he added.

When contacted by Malaysiakini, Thirunaukarasu said: “They (settlers) failed to justify that the land is theirs in the previous 10 years (that the case has dragged on).

“I’ve got no right to get into their details, I’m not in a position to comment on behalf of Lotus or anybody” Thirunaukarasu added.

“I was there (at the place of the incident) as a contractor appointed by Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri, Negeri Sembilan (PKNNS). And I have all the documents to prove it.

“I was there to clear the land (and) surrender back to the PKNNS in order for replantation, because 1,206 acres were given by Lotus to the state government,” he said.

He also stressed that the incident had nothing to do with MIC, reiterating once again that he was there in his individual capacity as a contractor.

The other demands made in the Kampung Gatco settlers’ memorandum to MIC were:

• To ask MIC to intervene and ensure that eight acres of land (as was agreed upon in the original agreement in the 1970s) are given to every Gatco settler;
• To discuss with Thamarai Holdings Sdn Bhd so that the company would return the particular land rights to Gatco settlers (the settlers claimed the company had attained the rights unlawfully); and
• To discuss with the Negeri Sembilan government so that the rights of Gatco settlers are protected and they are given the right to their respective eight acres of land.

The memorandum also stated that MIC also needs to stress that the Negeri Sembilan government’s offer of between two and four acres of land to each Gatco settlers was unfair and the state government should abide by the Federal Court’s decision.

Rafizi reveals video in latest jet expose, expects lawsuit

For the third consecutive day, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli continued his expose on Rosmah Mansor using a private jet for a trip to Istanbul.

He revealed a two-minute video which purportedly showed Rosmah boarding the plane owned by Emirates Airline (Emirates) while her officers were carrying bags into the aircraft.

Speaking to reporters here, Rafizi questioned the number of officers who accompanied Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's wife on the trip as well as the contents of the bags.

Claiming that he had "lost count" of the number of bags, the Pandan lawmaker asked the reason for the bags not being placed in the designated luggage area.

"Since this is a private jet, it has ample space to store bags without affecting comfort onboard the jet. What's the use of renting a luxurious jet if it is full of luggage?" he queried.

"What's inside the bags? If they are full of clothes, are they so valuable that they can't be stored at the proper luggage area?" he added.

Rafizi, who has been sued by the prime minister and his wife previously, said he expected to be dragged to court again over his latest allegations.

"I will wait for the lawsuit, I'll see you in court," he added.

K KANGSAR POLLS For the third consecutive day, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli continued his expose on Rosmah Mansor using a private jet for a trip to Istanbul.

He revealed a two-minute video which purportedly showed Rosmah boarding the plane owned by Emirates Airline (Emirates) while her officers were carrying bags into the aircraft.

Speaking to reporters here, Rafizi questioned the number of officers who accompanied Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's wife on the trip as well as the contents of the bags.

Claiming that he had "lost count" of the number of bags, the Pandan lawmaker asked the reason for the bags not being placed in the designated luggage area.

"Since this is a private jet, it has ample space to store bags without affecting comfort onboard the jet. What's the use of renting a luxurious jet if it is full of luggage?" he queried.

"What's inside the bags? If they are full of clothes, are they so valuable that they can't be stored at the proper luggage area?" he added.

Rafizi, who has been sued by the prime minister and his wife previously, said he expected to be dragged to court again over his latest allegations.

"I will wait for the lawsuit, I'll see you in court," he added.

“She can sue me, (she) can say anything, but with social media, those are the questions that the public will ask after looking at the video."

Meanwhile, responding to Rosmah’s aide Rizal Mansor who said she did not live in the clouds for two months, Rafizi said the to-and-fro flight from Subang to Istanbul would have cost RM1.5 million.

“And this is only one trip, what if she had gone on 10 trips? Millions were still wasted in two months.

“If RM86 million is too much, then give us the (real) figure. I couldn't have plugged the figure out of thin air, my basis was on the fact that RM60,000 was spent per hour,” he said.

Rafizi on Wednesday revealed that Rosmah flew in the aircraft to Turkey to accept the 3G Children Welfare Award on behalf of early childhood programme Permata.

He had claimed that the two-month lease of the Airbus ACJ319 would cost the government approximately RM86.4 million.

Rizal however said that Rafizi had tried to give the impression that Rosmah had lived in the clouds for two months on the aircraft

Malaysiakini has contacted Rizal and is awaiting his response on Rafizi’s latest expose.

NGOs: AG must explain ignoring rulers in leap toward dictatorship

Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali must explain the reason for ignoring concerns raised by the rulers over the National Security Council (NSC) Bill, said a coalition of NGOs.

This was after the legislation was gazetted as law on Tuesday without royal assent.

"The attorney-general had confirmed there were no amendments to the bill despite promising scrutiny of some provisions after his meeting with the rulers in February.

"It is now incumbent on the attorney-general to disclose if any provisions were scrutinised at all and the reasons why no amendments were made nevertheless," said #TakNakDiktator representative Ambiga Sreenevasan in a media statement today.

On Feb 17, the Conference of Rulers asked that the NSC Bill, which would give the National Security Council headed by the prime minister emergency-like powers, to be refined.

However, according to the national gazette, the NSC Bill was automatically assented the following day on Feb 18 under Article 66(4A) of the Federal Constitution.

The provision granted automatic assent to any legislation if the Yang di-Pertuan Agong does not provide his assent within 30 days from when the legislation is presented to him.

"Whilst this is constitutionally permissible, serious questions arise as to why the government acted so hastily and in defiance of the concerns raised by the Conference of Rulers particularly as the bill directly impinges on the powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

"More so, as they have acted in complete disregard of the valid concerns raised by the public with regard to the ramifications of this act," said Ambiga.

'A leap towards dictatorship'

Ambiga said Putrajaya's move to ignore the Conference of Rulers' concerns should trigger alarm bells.

"In this exercise, this government has behaved as if they are accountable to no one, neither the rulers nor the people.

"The fact that there were no amendments to the bill is proof of this. If this is not a dictatorship, then what is?" she said.

She warned that the NSC Act represented an extremely dangerous step for Malaysia as it concentrated extraordinary powers in the hands of the prime minister and NSC.

"No person or entity should have such absolute and unfettered powers. Concentration of power leads to abuse, particularly in times of political crisis.

"The NSC law represents a leap towards a dictatorship and a military-police state with little or no safeguards," she said.

She added that the law was unconstitutional and a grave abuse of power.

"Malaysia does not need such a law which goes against all principles of democracy and undermines the rule of law in the country," she said.

The #TakNakDiktator coalition comprises Amnesty International Malaysia, Bersih, Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism, National Human Rights Society, Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia (Ikram), Institut Rakyat, Lawyers for Liberty, Society for the Promotion of Human Rights and Suaram.

Jobless man gets 14 months jail for exposing self to woman teacher

Programmer who last month alleged he sold 900,000 signatures to the Save Malaysia Movement, has now penned a second SD retracting his first one.

PETALING JAYA: The programmer who last month alleged fraud in the Citizens’ Declaration petition is now singing a different tune.

Azharuddin Othman has purportedly made a second Statutory Declaration (SD) retracting his first one (which alleged the fraud), citing “mistakes” in the latter, a report in news portal Malaysiakini said.

In the original SD, Azharuddin had alleged that he sold a database of 900,000 names to Syarul Ema Rena Abu Samah aka Ratu Naga, to be provided to the Citizens’ Declaration.

The latest SD is being circulated in several Facebook pages, such as Otai Bersih and Kelab Mukhriz Mahathir, said the report.

He said he signed the new document to avoid legal action, and that it was done willingly and without coercion.

“I would like to state that I do not know the person known as Ema (Ratu Naga) and never had any dealings with her.

“Before this, I was hired to hold a press conference based on the text given by the person who hired me, which is Badrul Hisham Shaharin (Chegubard),” he said. The SD bore a commissioner of oath’s stamp based in the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya, said the report.

The portal contacted Badrul Hisham, who claimed the new SD was fake.

“You guys seem to be happy spreading false SDs,” he commented on the two Facebook pages which ran the post.

He also told Malaysiakini the new SD was “slander by (former premier Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad)’s team.” He is also expected to hold a press conference on the matter tomorrow.

Johor sultan can pardon crown prince's critic, say lawyers

The Johor sultan has the power to pardon the teenager who was sentenced to jail for making rude remarks about Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, according to lawyers.

The power to pardon is provided under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution, which states that the ruler of a state "has power to grant pardons, reprieves and respites in respect of all other offences committed in his state", they said.

"In light of Tunku Ismail's previous statement, it is apt that this case be considered for pardon," lawyer Eric Paulsen told Malaysiakini today.

Paulsen was referring to the crown prince's request that the police not arrest his critics and instead let them "say what they want to say" to his face.

Muhammad Amirul Azwan Mohd Shakri, 19, was on Tuesday sentenced to a year in jail by a Sessions Court in Johor Baru, after he pleaded guilty to 14 counts of making insulting comments with the intent to offend the Johor royalty.

This prompted civil societies and human rights lawyers to question why the teenager was given the maximum sentence and was not represented.

Lawyer New Sin Yew told Malaysiakini that while the Johor sultan could pardon Amirul, the teenager did not need to seek pardon right now.

"There's no need to seek pardon at this juncture. The boy can still appeal against the sentence.

"The Sessions Court judge was clearly wrong in his sentencing," he said.

Usually, New added, people only sought pardon when all avenues of appeal had been exhausted.

However, Paulsen said he did not think Article 42 of the Federal Constitution prevented an indivudual from applying for pardon even if he or she had not exhausted all appeals.

"Of course, the power of pardon is exercisable on advice of the Pardons Board, which may require exhaustion of appeal," he said.

Amirul was sentenced to jail for making the insulting comments on Facebook between March and April this year under the pseudonym 'Miyo Castello'.

At least three people have been arrested in the last two weeks for allegedly posting rude remarks against the crown prince.

Noh Omar flays DAP for disrespecting Amanah

SG BESAR POLLS Putting up inflammatory billboards without Amanah's approval shows that DAP doesn't respect anyone, said Selangor BN chief Noh Omar.

"If there was no permission from Amanah, this shows that DAP never respected Amanah and will do as they please.

"Maybe DAP thinks PAS and Amanah are the same. DAP never respected PAS and now it's proven they don't respect Amanah," Noh told Malaysiakini after attending an event in Sungai Besar today.

He was commenting on the billboards bearing Amanah's logo that DAP had put up in Sekinchan yesterday, which attacked BN, PAS and Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos.

The billboards, which among others bore a quote by Jamal saying it was not wrong to say 'Cina babi' (Chinese pigs) caused a stir and was promptly taken down by the Election Commission.

Noh said besides disrespecting Amanah, the billboards clearly showed that DAP was a racist party.

"DAP wants to create provocation, and play racist sentiments in this by-election. "

Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua had defended the banners, saying these were issues they wanted to highlight.

Amanah communications chief Khalid Samad however said he has sorted it out with DAP, and that they would not put up any more provocative billboards.

Amamah is facing both BN and PAS in three-cornered fights for the Sungai Besar parliamentary seat, as well as in Kuala Kangsar.

Both constituencies will go to the polls on June 18.

WSJ issues correction, says 1MDB bond funds went to Switzerland

The Wall Street Journal has issued a correction, stating that the US$3 billion bond fund Goldman Sachs raised for 1MDB went to BSI Bank in Switzerland and not Singapore as initially reported.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc wired US$3 billion in proceeds from a March 2013 bond issued by Malaysia’s 1MDB to the state fund’s account in Switzerland at BSI SA, according to a person familiar with the matter.

"An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the money was sent to 1MDB’s account at the private bank’s Singapore branch," said the WSJ in a footnote to the original article published on June 7.

The WSJ issued the correction after the Monetary Authority of Singapore denied that 1MDB's bond funds was transferred into banks in the city state.

The prime minister's aide Tengku Shariffuddin Tengku Ahmad had yesterday jumped on the mistake, accusing the publication of lying and trying to destablise the Malaysian government.

“By presenting the unverified lies of the government’s opponents as facts, the WSJ has become their willing tool – in their openly declared campaign to unseat a democratically elected government, using 1MDB as an excuse.

“It should be investigated why the WSJ is publishing so many proven lies about one country, and why an international newspaper is taking sides in Malaysia’s internal affairs,” he had said.

However, the WSJ stood by the allegation that part of the US$3 billion sent to Switzerland (and not Singapore) ended up in offshore accounts that eventually landed in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's personal bank accounts.

The report, titled 'Goldman probed over Malaysia fund 1MDB', said the bank was being investigated if it broke any laws in its dealings with 1MDB.

The WSJ had in July last year revealed that US$681 million (then RM2.6 billion) entered Najib's personal bank accounts from an offshore entity called Tanore Finance.

Najib later admitted to receiving the funds but claimed that it was an Arab "donation".

He denied taking government funds for personal gain.

Australia-based ABC News in March later revealed that the total sum entering Najib's personal bank accounts from multiple sources amounted to over US$1 billion (RM4.2 billion).

Malaysian attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali accepted the explanation that the funds were a "donation" and cleared Najib of wrongdoing.

Apandi also cleared Najib of receiving multi-million ringgit transfers from state-owned SRC International on grounds that he was unaware about the deposits.

U.S. returns $100 million of stolen artifacts to India

(CNN)It's taken a while, but India is finally welcoming home some long-lost national treasures.

The U.S. has handed back more than 200 ancient artifacts, valued at more than $100 million, that were stolen from religious sites in India and smuggled out of the country.

The artifacts included religious statues, bronzes and terracotta pieces, some of them dating back more than 2,000 years. They were returned to the Indian government Monday at a Washington, D.C. ceremony attended by U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"On behalf of President Obama, it is my great privilege to return these marvelous objects to the people of India," Lynch said.

Most of the pieces were seized during Operation Hidden Idol, an investigation that began in 2007 after Homeland Security special agents received a tip about a shipment of seven crates destined for the United States and labeled as "marble garden table sets."

Examination of the shipment in question revealed numerous antiquities. The shipment was imported by Subhash Kapoor, owner of Art of the Past Gallery in New York. The investigation found that Kapoor allegedly created false provenances to disguise the histories of his illicit antiquities, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Kapoor was arrested in 2012 and currently awaits trial in India.

The stolen treasures were recovered as a result of a massive collaborative effort between U.S. customs officials, New York and federal prosecutors, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs.

"Today, more than 200 antiquities and cultural artifacts that speak to India's astounding history and beautiful culture are beginning their journey home, where they can be studied and reflected upon for generations to come," Lynch added.

"It is my hope -- and the hope of the American people -- that this repatriation will serve as a sign of our great respect for India's culture."

Prime Minister Modi thanked the U.S. for returning the national treasures to their rightful home.

Among the pieces is a statue of Saint Manikkavacakar, a Hindu mystic and poet from the Chola period (circa 850 AD to 1250 AD), that was stolen from the Sivan Temple in Chennai, India. It's valued at $1.5 million. Another is a bronze sculpture of Hindu god Ganesha, which is estimated to be 1,000 years old.

Since 2007 the U.S. has returned more than 8,000 stolen artifacts to 30 countries, including paintings from France, Germany, Poland and Austria; 15th to 18th century manuscripts from Italy and Peru; and cultural artifacts from China, Cambodia and Iraq.

Here are pictures of some of the artefacts. pic.twitter.com/Q4PWMOee2X

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 7, 2016

Dr M to speak at DAP's 1MDB events at twin polls

The last time Dr Mahathir Mohamad hit the campaign trail was during the 2013 general election, where he, among others, went to Gelang Patah in Johor to urge voters to place DAP strongman Lim Kit Siang’s political career six feet under.

Much has changed since then.

Now, the former premier is set to make his first appearance in the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections at DAP-organised events over the weekend.

Mahathir is slated to deliver the keynote address at a special colloquium on 1MDB and the multi-billion ringgit deposits in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's bank accounts.

Announcing this, DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua said the two-day event is titled: "Special Colloquium: 1MDB & Najib's Donation: The Straw that Breaks the Camel's Back?"

"In conjunction with the twin by-elections in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar, DAP is organising a special two-day colloquium to discuss the impact and implications of the RM55 billion 1MDB and Najib’s mysterious US$1 billion ‘donation’ scandals.

"Mahathir has kindly agreed to deliver the keynote opening address of the colloquium in both Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar,” he added in a media statement.

Lim would be closing both sessions.

Mahathir had said he is prepared to speak during the by-elections on the Citizens' Declaration platform if any party was willing to organise such an event.

To date, he has yet to make an appearance.

Pua said the event would be held at Dewan Restoran Hao Xiang Chi in Sungai Besar and Dewan Restoran Chun Ji in Kuala Kangsar concurrently beginning at 9.30am until 2pm on June 11 and 12.

He said the events would discuss whether the scandals were merely a storm in the teacup as claimed by Najib's supporters or would ultimately be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

"The by-elections in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar will also measure the people's endorsement of Najib's involvement in the 1MDB’s global financial scandal which has already brought down a 143-year-old Swiss BSI Bank," he said.

He said the speakers for Sungai Besar include Cynthia Gabriel, Abdul Aziz Bari, Dzulkefly Ahmad, P Gunasegaram, Zaid Ibrahim, Clare Rewcastle Brown (via skype) and Pua himself while the panellists in Kuala Kangsar include Ambiga Sreenevasan, Husam Musa, A Kadir Jasin, Maria Chin Abdullah, Nga Kor Ming and Khalid Samad.

The event would be conducted in both Malay and English.

Najib has denied abusing public funds for personal gain, and blamed such allegations on Mahathir and those in cahoots with the former premier to engineer his downfall.

Rosmah used private jet to receive award in Istanbul, claims Rafizi

In his latest exposé, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli claimed that Rosmah Mansor had used a private jet to attend an event in Istanbul.

On May 27, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s wife received the 3G Children Welfare Award on behalf of Permata and this was reported by the mainstream media.

However, Rafizi said how she went there was not mentioned in these reports.

“I can confirm that she had used a private jet - an Airbus A-319 – owned by Emirates Airline (Emirates),” he alleged during a press conference in Kuala Kangsar this afternoon.

Rafizi had used phone application 'Plane Finder' to trace the jet's flight path.

Furnishing screen captures of the flight paths, he said the jet had departed to Subang from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on May 23 before returning to the UAE from Subang two days later.

The jet then departed for Istanbul from the UAE on May 25.

Although the dates were stated otherwise, Rafizi reminded that the dates were in accordance to where the jet was at the time as opposed to local Malaysian time.

According to Emirates Airlines' website, its versions of the twin-engined aircraft can carry up to 19 passengers, and sleeps up to 15.

It features 10 private suites with a 32" TV in each room, as well as a lounge area.
The jet, Rafizi claimed, was chartered and leased especially for the particular trip.

Since Rosmah received the award on behalf of Permata which is a public-funded project, he said it was therefore only fair to ask who paid for the flight.

“She has to answer this since she was the one who took the flight and Najib too has to answer because he has to be responsible for this,” he added.

The PKR vice-president also questioned why Rosmah did not use a commercial flight for her trip to Istanbul.

“Even if she took a first-class flight, I’m sure it would be much cheaper than renting a whole private jet,” he pointed out.

Apart from who was responsible for paying for the flight, Rafizi also wanted to know the identity of the person who made the reservations.

“Also, why was Rosmah, a member of the public, given the leeway to use the Subang airport which is a military base - it's not like she’s going to war,” he said.

Rafizi, meanwhile, confirmed that he would make daily exposé on the matter until Friday.

“The prime minister, Rosmah, BN’s candidate Mastura (Mohd Yazid) and PAS candidate (Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad) can keep quiet on the matter, but the more you try to avoid this issue, the more voters can see your (lack of) honesty in defending their rights,” he said.

The vocal parliamentarian also expressed hope for PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s feedback on the matter.

“I want an open public rebuke from Hadi against our prime minister for failing to guide his own wife.

“This will also be the acid test - which party will be brave to stand up to defend the rakyat’s rights,” he said.

Therefore, he said voters should be in a position to gauge which party was the most vocal and sincere in fighting for the rakyat.

“I hope voters in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar will be convinced that Amanah and Pakatan Harapan are the most sincere in fighting for them," he added.

This is not the first time that Rosmah has been criticised for using a private jet for visits abroad.

She allegedly used a government jet to also received an award in Padang, Indonesia in 2014.

Rosmah had, however, defended her use of private jets, saying they were for work and not leisure.

Malaysiakini has contacted Rosmah’s aide Rizal Mansor for comment on this allegation.

Two visitors with conflicting visions

By Lim Teck Ghee

Recently we had two distinguished Muslim visitors to our shores. The first, Zakir Naik, is a preacher and founder of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) who gives talks on Islam and compares it with other world religions to showcase its merits, relevance and answer to all the problems of society.

His forte appears to lie in his photographic memory of the Quran and Hadith literature, and his espousal of the superiority of Islam over other religions as well as his critical anti-western views which has made him popular with Muslims all round the world. On his second tour of the country in April this year, he apparently received a rapturous reception in his public lectures.

Both the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister had meetings with him. Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Minister of Home Affairs and responsible for the country's security, defended or chose to ignore the preacher's controversial views - which included a call made during a 2006 lecture for "every Muslim to be a terrorist" - and described him as a "very wise man".

The second visitor, Abdullahi An-Na'im, is a Professor of Law from Emory University, Georgia, USA, and internationally recognised as a scholar of Islam and advocate of human rights. He is the author of 'Islam and the Secular State' which has been translated into various languages.

Media coverage of his talks gives the impression that this, more academically qualified and more distinguished, scholar was only able to attract a small audience. His smaller following among Malaysian Muslims - and the failure of any prominent member of the Government to meet with him - indicates that both the country's Muslim community and the Government have little time for him or his reformist views.

As an example of his position on contentious issues, the distinguished professor has argued that Muslims have no religious obligation to support hudud law as it was not mentioned in the Quran. He has also pointed out that more than 40 member countries of the United Nations with predominantly Muslim majority population do not implement hudud in their legal system.

“Where is the hudud among all these Muslims? Why is it a priority in this country (Malaysia) when it has not been a priority in the vast Muslim majority countries?" he has asked.

In contrast, Zakir who has been labelled as "perhaps the most influential Salafi ideologue in India" is more extreme and conservative in his views on Islam, its stance on human rights, religious freedom, the secular state and a host of other issues. He has also been very vocal on what he would like to see for the political development of Malaysia.

According to him, a coalition government of Umno and PAS will be better for Malaysia as it will propel the country forward and strengthen Islam.

“I’m not saying that both parties (Umno and PAS) should make it as one party, but if they can make it, Alhamdulillah...(if not) you can keep your party, you can keep your identity, but when you have a coalition government, it should be a coalition of the Muslims.”

Putrajaya and Muslim masses' response

What explains the difference in Putrajaya's treatment of the two visitors is obvious. Together with other recent measures aimed at appealing to its Malay voters base, Umno is clearly stretching the boundaries of previous political acceptability and tolerance arising from its dominance within the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition, by using religion to shore up its political position.

But this alone does not explain the response of the larger Muslim community to the two visitors and the messages that they are articulating.

That message espoused by Abdullahi An-Na'im is a more humanistic and intellectually more rational and defensible Islam in keeping with the country's traditionally moderate Islamic values and mores. One would have expected a more enthusiastic response to it as compared with the more radical and hard line version propagated by Zakir Naik.

Why is it that these two visitors and their messages are resonating differently with the Malay Muslim masses is a crucial question to ask. A later article will attempt to answer this question.

For now, it will be useful to reproduce the concerns of Dr Azhar Ibrahim, in the conclusion of his article, "Secularism as Imagined in the Malay-Indonesian World: Resistance and its Muted Counter Responses in the Discursive and Public Realms”, published just a few days ago.

Most importantly, the timidity to scrutinise the very idea of secularism as commonly perceived, at both elite and public level, would mean that important concepts and ideas are considered outside the realm of discourse for Muslims to engage, grapple and contest. A critical and confident progressive Muslim discourse in scrutinising and engaging the Islamists’ anti-secularism rhetoric is therefore imperative. To remain silent and ambivalent about this issue will be naïve; if not tragic.

It is therefore not too far-fetched to say that anti-secularism sentiments are disruptive to a healthy development of democracy, human rights and civil liberties. It is not simply Muslims’ responses against the effects of modernity – deemed as secular – but an exclusivists’ response that insist on their supposedly authentic Islamic model, be it in the realms of politics, culture, education, social and economy. Loaded and justified with religious sanctions, often made in absolute terms, there will be hardly any space for other paradigms or models to be appropriated. In such a situation only the Islamists position stands. The very attack on the imagined secularism eventually will have deep consequences on democracy, human and legal rights, civil liberties, plurality and the like.

(Disclaimer: The opinions and comments expressed by the writers are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of The Heat Malaysia.)