Bukit Jalil Tamil School today held a protest for not building the Annex building at the present site.

SRK(T) Ladang Bukit Jalil has existed at the present site for over the last 80 years which was initially owned by Bukit Jalil Estate Agencies. In 1980, Bukit Jalil estate…

More ► More ▼

SRK(T) Ladang Bukit Jalil has existed at the present site for over the last 80 years which was initially owned by Bukit Jalil Estate Agencies. In 1980, Bukit Jalil estate had been acquired by the Federal government for development.

One of the PIBG committee members, V.Shanthi, said that the committee were kept is dark by the Education Ministry, DBKL and the Wilayah Minister on the supposed extension building to be build at present school site.

At the proposed new site:-

1) With One acre only it is insufficient for future expansion.

2) The classrooms are much smaller then the standard size.

3) There is no space for school field.

4) There is a future plan to build a LRT station nearby. This will cause a massive traffic jam and it is unsafe for the children.

5) There is no proper planning by DBKL because it involves a Tamil School. But when come to Malay and Chinese schools they will take into consideration the future expansion. These are the injustices that we are against.

Meanwhile at the present site, there is around 26 acres of reserved land and it is in a safe place for children away from main roads. Why can’t the UMNO government give 6 acres out of the 26 acres land to this Bukit Jalil Tamil School? They will have enough places to build a school field, an assembly hall for children and for future expansion.

When the Deputy Prime Minister Muyhiddin Yasin came and visited this school after being appointed as Education Minister he had pledged RM2 million for this Tamil school as reported in ( 24/4/09 The Star, Tamil Nesan, Makkal Osai and Nanban). What happened to his promises? As usual this UMNO Minister is playing mere “paper politics” and cheating the Indians.

Going back to history, when Bukit Jalil was slated to build a mega Sports Complex there RM Billions was for Commonwealth Games in 1998. During that time the UMNO government spent Billions building the Stadium, sports complexes, apartments, schools and etc but when it comes to this 80 year old Tamil school UMNO did not bother to upgrade as they had done for the Malay schools. This is because the Indians have no political clout and we have to build this political clout for our future generations as per Malaysian Indian Political Empowerment Strategy – The Way Forward by P.Uthayakumar.

S.JAYATHAS

HRP Information Chief

www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com

November 8, 2009 Bukit Jalil Tamil School today held a protest for not building the Annex building at the present site.

▲

RPK Speaks His Mind - ISA and the Hunger Strike

Five robbers killed in shootout with police

By Christina Tan,

KLANG: Police shot dead five suspected robbers in a shootout after a high speed car chase in Taman Klang Utama at 12.30am Sunday.

The five, believed to…

More ► More ▼

By Christina Tan,

KLANG: Police shot dead five suspected robbers in a shootout after a high speed car chase in Taman Klang Utama at 12.30am Sunday.

The five, believed to be dangerous and high on the wanted list, were involved in at least 10 robberies in Selangor and the Klang Valley for the past one year.

Selangor CID chief Senior Asst Comm II Datuk Hasnan Hassan said a team from the Klang district serious crime division spotted the five men in a Perodua Kelisa in Lorong Sungai Keramat around 12 midnight.

Realising that they were being followed, the robbers tried to forced the police car off the road while firing a few shots at them.

The police then returned fire while giving chase.

The suspects’ car seemed to have gone out of control and crashed into a monsoon drain, said SAC Hasnan.

It is believed that the five were killed in the car during the shootout.

▲

Some Interesting Issues Raised by the Asri case

By Marina Mahathir,

My blogbro Rapera has brought up some very interesting issues related to the Asri case here. Indeed, it affects more than just Dr. Asri.

Meanwhile, the…

More ► More ▼

By Marina Mahathir,

My blogbro Rapera has brought up some very interesting issues related to the Asri case here. Indeed, it affects more than just Dr. Asri.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Professionals Forum/Islamic Renaissance Front have come out with this statement which I happen to think is an excellent one:

2009-11-05

The arrest of former Perlis Mufti, Dr Asri Zainul Abidin by officials of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) at a private function in a residential area on November 1 brings into question again the intellectual freedom in Malaysia, vis-à-vis Islam.

The excuse given by JAIS that Dr Asri did not have the religious credentials from JAIS to teach Islam runs counter to the spirit of intellectual freedom in the history of Islam. It also gives ammunition to JAIS’s detractors and critics over the years that the Department is nothing more than a tool of a small group of religious scholars who are bent on imposing their views on others. By raiding a religious talk by someone who was once a government Mufti, and who, to say the least, has the necessary academic qualifications to explain Islamic beliefs, JAIS has only shown that it is ill-equipped to take on its critics on an intellectual platform, and has to resort to high-handed tactics.

We also regret that certain quarters have been too liberal in labeling and branding Muslim scholars on the basis of their opinions, with a view to disparage the person instead of countering their opinions with proofs and arguments based on the Qur’an and Sunnah. By invoking the age-old argument of protecting the Muslim community in Malaysia from confusion, these groups have exposed their inability to grasp the spirit of Islam and have only created a hole for them to hide into every time they are intellectually challenged.

If one were to look back into history, the reason the Islamic world flourished during the earlier period was an early emphasis on “freedom of speech”, as summarized by al-Hashimi (a cousin of Caliph al-Ma’mun) in the following letter to one of the religious opponents he was attempting to convert through reason:

"Bring forward all the arguments you wish and say whatever you please and speak your mind freely. Now that you are safe and free to say whatever you please, appoint some arbitrator who will impartially judge between us and lean only towards the truth and be free from the slyness of passion and that arbitrator shall be Reason, whereby God makes us responsible for our own rewards and punishments. Herein I have dealt justly with you and have given you full security and am ready to accept whatever decision Reason may give for me or against me. For "There shall be no coercion in matters of faith" [2: 256] and I have only invited you to accept our faith willingly and of your own accord and have pointed out the hideousness of your present belief. Peace be with you and the blessings of God!"

Every person has the right, guaranteed by the Qur’an, to freely follow and express his convictions, irrespective of whether he is right or wrong. By emphasizing people’s right to follow their conviction, the Qur’an reiterates a long standing position, which it traces back to one of the earliest known Prophets, Noah: “Said [Noah]: O my people! What do you think? If [it be true that] I am taking my stand on a clear evidence from my Sustainer, who has vouched safe unto me grace from himself – [a revelation] to which you have remained blind – [if this be true] can we force it on you even though it be hateful to you? [11:28]

Muslim Professionals Forum and Islamic Renaissance Front call upon JAIS to be sincere in discharging their duties as protectors of faith. Otherwise, JAIS will be just another among a long list of official institutions that need to be thoroughly revamped in order for Islam to reclaim its rightful status as a religion of reason and knowledge. We also call upon Muslim groups to respect the right to dissent and to uphold freedom of expression, and to argue based on wisdom and not on hearsay or personal attacks, as it is the only Islamic way of dealing with issues affecting the Ummah.

Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa

Dr Sheik Johari Bux

Manan Razali

Dr Mazeni Alwi

Dr Musa Nordin

Dr Jeffrey Hassan

Ali Ghazali

I congratulate MPF for this statement.

Meanwhile, Sisters in Islam issued this statement yesterday:

Media Statement SIS assisting police investigation on the Kartika issue

Two representatives from Sisters in Islam (SIS) gave their statement to Bukit Aman today in respect of a police report lodged against SIS in Kuantan on the Kartika issue.
SIS Executive Director Hamidah Marican and SIS board member Zainah Anwar were called in to give their statements for an investigation under Section 4(i)(a) of the Sedition Act (1948) by the Criminal Investigation Department at 10.35am.
The two, accompanied by lawyers Amer Hamzah Arshad, Edmund Bon Tai Soon and Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, spent almost two hours giving their statement at CID's Legal Prosecution Division (D5), Bukit Aman.
The police have also asked that SIS programme manager Mas Elati Samani give her statement at later date.
According to media reports, 14 non-governmental organisations in Pahang, in referring to a Sinar Harian report of a press conference held on Sept 30, 2009, urged the authorities to punish those who questioned Kartika's caning sentence.
SIS hopes that after recording these statements, the police will recommend that no further action be taken against the organisation.
We would like to reiterate that within the framework of a democratic society, there must be an open, responsible, rational and respectful dialogue on Islam and its impact on our lives, both private and public.
SIS believes that freedom of expression is a universal value guaranteed by the Federal Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and upheld by the teachings of Islam.

Sisters in Islam
Nov 4, 2009

I sure hope that, since both SIS and MPF stand for the same principles and given that the NGOs that issued a memo against Dr Asri are the same ones who have lodged police reports against SIS, MPF will also issue a statement of support for SIS.

▲

Nato probes deadly Afghan air raid - Al Jazeera

Soldiers called in the Nato air raid after they came under attack from Taliban fighters [AFP] An investigation has begun on whether a Nato air raid was to blame for…

More ► More ▼

Soldiers called in the Nato air raid after they came under attack from Taliban fighters [AFP] An investigation has begun on whether a Nato air raid was to blame for the death of Afghan soldiers and foreign troops during a joint operation in the northwest of Afghanistan. Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said the attack on Friday killed or injured more than 25 foreign and Afghan soldiers in the province of Badghis. Nato officials blamed Taliban fighters for the attack, but later said it was possible that the soldiers were hit by a Nato-led air raid. Mohammad Zahir Azimi, the spokesman for Afghanistan's defence ministry, told the AFP news agency there was no doubt Afghan personnel had been killed and injured by their international partners. "It was an erroneous air strike which caused casualties to friendly forces," he said. The troops had apparently called in air support after they became involved in a battle with Taliban fighters while searching for two missing US paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division. It was not immediately clear how many of the casualties were Afghan and how many from the international forces. Fate in the balance Afghan officials earlier said the two missing paratroopers had drowned while trying to recover airdropped food packages from a river. The Taliban said that international forces had played down the actual toll from the air raid. "There was ... a firefight between Taliban and Afghan and foreign forces in Murghab district of Badghis province. The fighting lasted for hours and was very intense, at a close distance," Qari Yusuf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, said. "By the end of the day, foreign forces bombed the area where the clash was going on and due to their own bombing, 32 foreign and 43 Afghan soldiers were killed." Badghis is one of several provinces in the previously quiet west and north of Afghanistan, where Taliban activity has increased dramatically in recent months.

▲

PAS: No more talk of unity with Umno

POLICE BRUTALITY CONTINUES …

By MPKapar,

It seems Royal Malaysian Police changed their strategy after Kugan’s brutal murder while under their custody. Along with Home Ministry KPI to reduce street crime by 20% ,…

More ► More ▼

By MPKapar,

It seems Royal Malaysian Police changed their strategy after Kugan’s brutal murder while under their custody. Along with Home Ministry KPI to reduce street crime by 20% , the police now keep firing towards those they suspect as Criminals. The latest in Kapar Parlimentary where 5 suspected robbers was shoot killed around 1230-0100am.

What puzzle me why do we need Parliament and Court then? How do Police ascertain their are criminals that need to be killed? And why do , those shot killed has to be Indians, are all Street Criminals are from this category of people? And knowing well Kapar , why there isn’t Police beats like elsewhere especially in Iskandar region? Busy protecting the rich probably.

Wait for more update…

▲

Holding PAS to its Islamic line

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 — It used to be easy to differentiate between PAS and Umno but the Islamist party seminar yesterday showed its members are now concerned over a…

More ► More ▼

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 — It used to be easy to differentiate between PAS and Umno but the Islamist party seminar yesterday showed its members are now concerned over a blurring of lines and its future direction in the Pakatan Rakyat.

Some 1,000 PAS delegates at the special seminar to strengthen the party and affirm its place in the Pakatan Rakyat concluded that the party must stick to its Islamic line even at the expense of the federal opposition pact.

But they were uninamously adamant to also keep clear of political rivals Umno. “We want PAS to replace Umno, not unite with them,” party vice-president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said succinctly.

That was the last nail in the coffin of unity talks with Umno, which has persistently used that point to drive a wedge among PAS leaders.

Party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had once talked up the idea but yesterday conceded PAS’s future lies with Pakatan Rakyat due to the political reality of wooing both Muslim and non-Muslim voters.

He also showed that he could take and dish out criticisms, referring to UIA law professor Dr Abdul Aziz Bari who had castigated the party leadership from straying from its principles to hold unity talks with Umno.

Although a handful were hurt by Abdul Aziz’s criticism of the leadership, most took it in their stride unlike the stage-managed support shown in Umno conventions.

An unrepentant Abdul Aziz stirred up the seminar when he wondered why some still wanted to flirt with Umno despite overwhelming support for PAS to remain in Pakatan Rakyat and strike its own path to power.

But the delegates remained wary of Pakatan Rakyat despite spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat’s endorsement for the pact, saying they were suspicious what role Islam can play with allies DAP and PKR.

They wanted the party to stick to its Islamic line, which has been blurred by Umno’s active Islamic campaigns that have included enacting laws such as caning for alcohol consumption and even the latest clerical row between the Selangor Islamic authorities using a Barisan Nasional-era rule to stop popular ex-Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin from preaching.

PAS has been actively courting the maverick cleric to join them, with Umno just as enthusiastic that the man popular with the young and non-Muslims can help swing votes their way.

For PAS, getting the young is now a priority for the next general elections and they were gratified to learn Nik Aziz was more popular among the youths in Election 2008 than president Abdul Hadi, the fiery cleric who has now grown into a placid politician hankering for Malay unity in the mold of political rival, former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

However, to their consternation, the delegates also learnt only three other PAS leaders had any brand-name recognition, ousted Perak mentri besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, the popular Mohamed Sabu and Kedah mentri besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak.

They blamed it on poor coverage and support by the media, including their own Harakah newspaper, and noted the role of new media to shape perceptions about their leaders and the party.

But they know its a rocky road ahead to the next general elections and their work has just begun, especially in clarifying the PAS brand with their rule over two states, Kelantan and Kedah.

UM professor Dr Abu Hassan Hasbullah made that point clear for them, saying that the trend to support the opposition could change in the next general elections.

“The days of ABU, Anything But Umno, is over,” he said bluntly.

And that is something PAS and its allies DAP and PKR will have to think deeply going into their second year running four states.

▲

Tee Keat gets No 2 to lead unity plan

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 — MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has directed the immediate setting up of the MCA Greater Unity Plan (GUP) taskforce to come up with…

More ► More ▼

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 — MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has directed the immediate setting up of the MCA Greater Unity Plan (GUP) taskforce to come up with an action plan to execute swift plans on three main thrusts.

The main objectives of the plan are uniting the party, healing, transforming and re-branding the MCA.

Ong in his www.ongteekeat.net blog said that the taskforce would be headed by deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and several other leaders as its members.

Other members include the party’s four vice presidents, Youth chief, Wanita chief, the secretary-general, Heng Seai Kie, Gan Ping Sieu, Datuk Chong Itt Chew, Loh Seng Kok and Simon Lim.

Ong said that the MCA’s GUP that was announced two weeks ago had received overwhelming support from leaders and grassroots, including backing from two-thirds of the Central Committee (CC) in writing.

“MCA members at all levels are eager to see the GUP take shape and translate into action. Now is the time to make the GUP work,” he said in his post yesterday.

Ong said he would be monitoring the progress of the taskforce closely and expect periodic and detailed feedback.

“Translating the GUP from mere words into action and subsequently delivering them is of utmost importance now.

“This includes a retreat involving party top brass to brainstorm on how best MCA should move forward from now on and to mobilise local leaders to explain what the GUP is all about,” he said.

Ong stressed that the MCA has had enough distractions over the past one year and cannot waste any more time to regain public support ahead of the next general election.

“I am sure when the GUP takes shape — right down to the divisional and branch levels — skeptics to the Plan will change their minds. They will be able to see that the healing process cannot be delayed any longer,” he said.

“I am also confident they will realise that at the end of the day, winning back support from the community is more important than winning posts in the party,” Ong said.

Meanwhile, MCA Special Task force Bureau chairman Simon Lim said that the call for an EGM on Nov 28, had no valid reasons as it contravened with the party constitution.

The EGM, the party’s second in less than two months, will see the tabling of two resolutions — to dissolve the CC and hold fresh elections and to nullify any changes made to the party positions, including new appointments or sackings after the Oct 10 EGM.

“There have been notices, advertisements published in Chinese newspapers calling for an EGM to be convened. The reasons for calling the EGM stated therein contained statements which are untrue, false and malicious against Ong,” Lim said in a statement here.

▲

‘Ninja’ cops patrol Johor streets

JOHOR BARU, Nov 8 — Johor police have formed a special squad, dubbed the Ninja Squad by the public, to curb roadside robberies such as snatch thefts in the city.…

More ► More ▼

JOHOR BARU, Nov 8 — Johor police have formed a special squad, dubbed the Ninja Squad by the public, to curb roadside robberies such as snatch thefts in the city.

The unit, equipped with nine Kawasaki KLX250 scrambler motorcycles, patrol the streets wearing full-faced helmets, jeans and boots.

Chief Inspector Mohd Saufi Mohd Kassim, who leads the team, said “many members of the public started calling the team ‘ninja’ probably because of their full-faced helmets and appearance”, adding that the name has since stuck.

The squad was formed three months ago. Chief Insp Mohd Saufi said squad members dress casually in order to move about easily.

He said the 16-man team from the Johor Baru (South) district police headquarters is usually deployed at crime hot spots around Larkin, Pelangi and the city area.

“The squad was created to combat street crime within the crime-prone areas in the city,” he said.

“The idea of the squad was mooted by Johor Baru (South) Officer in Charge of Police District, Assistant Commissioner Zainuddin Yaakob.

“He takes the team deep into the jungle once a week for training exercises with their machines.”

The training is important because squad members must be able to adapt well to their high-powered motorcycles.

Assistant Commissioner Zainuddin said the motorcycles cost around RM23,000 each and can be ridden on different terrain.

“Our team has been very successful in tackling crime as we have apprehended snatch thieves and other criminals,” he said.

His team is also the pioneer in the country in using scrambler bikes to tackle crime.

He added that the success of the team has prompted state police chief Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff to look into setting up similar teams in other districts. — Straits Times

▲

MCA Still Pushing For Direct Presidential Election

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- When Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat was elected MCA president over a year ago, he had proposed for a direct presidential election for the party…

More ► More ▼

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- When Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat was elected MCA president over a year ago, he had proposed for a direct presidential election for the party but the plan became disrupted following some internal bickering.

And now with the party problems being resolved, Ong said he hoped that the agenda to realise the proposal would be back on track again.

"In order to win back support from the people, we need to revamp and rejuvenate the party. We mean business but unfortunately we have to admit this has been disrupted. Nonetheless, we choose to soldier on.

"I welcome any move in that direction. Whether we are the first or not to hold direct presidential elections is secondary as every party has its own priorities and problems to tackle," he told Bernama in a interview.

In explaining the delay, Ong said the party's membership list needed to be verified and audited first as there had been allegations of non-existent members.

He said there was also resistance to change within the party as some were still "deeply entrenched" with the thought that the party delegates should be the ones who elected the leaders and not any other members.

However, he regarded all this as "the labour pain of reform".

Ong also explained that in order to have a direct presidential election, the party must first embark on a revamp of the party machinery at the constituency level, which includeed registration of party members as voters.

"They may claim that they have x number of voters, but most of them are not there to vote. This will not serve any purpose," he said.

Therefore, he said, the party would continue to gather as much feedback as possible before finalising the mechanics of the direct election.

"Like many other political parties, MCA has all along adopted the proportional representation system. Larger divisions have more delegates represented in the general assembly compared with smaller ones. This has given rise to many powerful local leaders, or what some would term as "warlords", he said.

Ong said while the direct presidential election school of thought centred around the "one man one vote" principle, the party also needed to address the problems of logistics and come out with several other alternatives.

"We need to empower the members. When we explore the alternatives, perhaps we can do it in stages, before we can fulfill the one man one vote idea in the true sense. Maybe for a start, we can have a bigger base of electors.

"This is going to be finalised as soon as possible as it is crucial to the reform of the entire party," he said.

Ong said MCA had managed to achieve some progress in formulating and implementing party programmes, despite the tribulations in the party.

"It has been a bumpy year, not withstanding the leadership going through tests. Nonetheless, the party still managed to translate certain ideas into action.

"They include the implementation of the HOPE and the TRAINS programmes," he said.

HOPE is a higher education initiative granting a second chance to those who cannot enter public universities to study in selected private colleges and universities at a discounted price.

TRAINS is a vocational initiative programme designed for early school leavers and those who are less academically inclined to take up technical courses.

"This has been gaining momentum," Ong said.

Apart from that, he also said that the party had initiated "Town Hall" meetings where the leaders listened to the peoples' woes -- such as fishermen complaining about the diesel quota and the palm oil windfall tax that affected smallholders.

These matters were then relayed to the Cabinet, said Ong.

▲

Murugiah Has Proposed That Moral Studies Be Replaced With 1Malaysia

KUANTAN, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk T. Murugiah has proposed that Moral Studies be replaced with 1Malaysia to inculcate unity…

More ► More ▼

KUANTAN, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk T. Murugiah has proposed that Moral Studies be replaced with 1Malaysia to inculcate unity values among students of various races.

He said the 1Malaysia concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak should be introduced as a subject in the syllabus for primary schools.

"The time is ripe for us to replace Moral Studies with 1Malaysia which encompasses unity, nationhood, patriotism and the Rukun Negara," he said when closing the Patriotic Song Choir Final 2009 here Saturday night.

Murugiah said he would be writing to Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin soon on the proposal.

▲

PRS 30 Will Be Party's Future Flag Bearers - Masing

KUCHING, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), a state Barisan Nasional (BN) component party, will spearhead its move to recruit and groom young people as…

More ► More ▼

KUCHING, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), a state Barisan Nasional (BN) component party, will spearhead its move to recruit and groom young people as future flag bearers following the launch of PRS 30.

Its president Datuk Seri Dr James Masing said the party's supreme council agreed that there was a need to groom young leaders to take over from the current ones, mostly veteran politicians who had gone through the baptism of fire and survived to tell the tale.

"In keeping them interested in our struggle and recruiting them into the youth and the women wings of the party, they will be PRS flag bearers for the future," he said at the launch by Chief Minister and state BN chairman Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud in conjunction with the party's 5th anniversary here last night.

He was confident that the succession in PRS would continue uninterrupted in the years ahead as the young people would then replace the current leaders, thus filling the vacuum.

This group of young Sarawakians, below aged 30, were not only educated but highly motivated, and if given the correct environment and directions would be real assets to the nation in a very positive way, he said.

"Some of these young people are sons and daughters of PRS members and former members, products of Sarawak government scholarships, recipients of Bakun Trust Fund while some are beneficiaries of Yayasan TERAS."

Dr Masing said PRS 30 would also be the party's launching pad to recruit and register young people as voters and provide the venue for it to harness and exploit their talents to develop Sarawak.

"A look at the Election Commission's electoral roll shows that Sarawak has no less than eight percent or 74,470 voters are below 30."

PRS, said Dr Masing would play a very critical role, especially in defending rural seats during the coming state election not later than July 2011.

"I believe, the rural seats will be part of the main battle grounds on which the fate of BN in Sarawak will rest as they will determine whether BN will remain relevant," he said, adding that PRS must retain all nine state seats if it wanted to remain credible and continue to play a role in the next BN government.

▲

Heavy clashes at Saudi-Yemen border - Al Jazeera

Heavy clashes have been reported at the Saudi-Yemeni border as Saudi forces battle Yemeni rebels for the fifth straight day.

Saudi commanders said troops were shelling suspected Houthi position…

More ► More ▼

Heavy clashes have been reported at the Saudi-Yemeni border as Saudi forces battle Yemeni rebels for the fifth straight day.

Saudi commanders said troops were shelling suspected Houthi positions on Saturday and plumes of smoke could be seen rising above the Jebel al-Dukhan peak that marks the frontier near the border town of Al-Khubah.

A medical official said seven Saudis, four of them women civilians, had been killed and 126 people wounded since the fighting erupted on Tuesday.

The Shia Houthis, fighting their own government over alleged discrimination, had also claimed to have captured some Saudi soldiers on Friday.

Mohammed Abdel-Salam, a spokesman for the Houthis, told Al Jazeera that the men were seized after Saudi ground forces crossed into Yemeni territory.

If such a ground incursion were proved true, it would indicate a deepening involvement by Saudi Arabia in a battle that is being viewed as a proxy conflict with regional power Iran.

Abdel-Salam said the captured soldiers would be interviewed. "They will be treated with respect," he added.

He also urged Riyadh to end the "unjust Saudi aggression" and to stop Yemeni forces from using bases inside Saudi territory to attack the Houthis.

Saudi Arabia has not commented on the claim, but has previously said that its operations against the Yemeni fighters have been limited to air raids and artillery strikes.

Saudi support

Khalid al-Dakhil, a political analyst at the King Saud University, said that it is impossible for Saudi Arabia to ignore the conflict between the Houthis and the Yemeni government.

In depth

"The Houthis seem to be very determined in pinning down the Yemeni army and the Saudi government cannot afford to just sit by and watch what is happening. They have to support the Yemeni government", he told Al Jazeera.

"The co-operation between Yemen and Saudi Arabia runs for a long time now, even before the Houthis.

"I don't think the Houthis have any chance of succeeding in the end. They will be isolated, they will be squeezed between two armies and I think eventually they will run out of any luck."

The Yemeni government accuses the Houthis of seeking to restore an imamate overthrown in a 1962 coup that sparked eight years of civil war.

The Houthis insist they are fighting to defend their community against government aggression and marginalisation.

Focused on infiltrators

The Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday that the kingdom's attacks were "focused on infiltrators in Jebel al-Dukhan and other targets within the range of operations within Saudi territory".

"The entry of the gunmen to Saudi territory, the aggression against border patrols ... and presence on Saudi soil is a violation of sovereignty that gives the kingdom every right to take all measures to end this illegitimate presence," it said, citing an official source.

The Yemeni army launched an offensive against the Houthis in August [EPA]

Saudi government officials said on Thursday that at least 40 Houthi fighters had been killed as Saudi forces recaptured an area close to the border which had been seized by the Yemeni group.

At least one member of the Saudi security forces was killed and 11 others injured as the Houthis crossed the border.

A government adviser in Riyadh told the AFP news agency on Thursday that there had also been air raids in Yemen, but the government in Sanaa denied that Saudi fighter jets had crossed in its territory.

Saudi Arabia, which the Houthis accuse of providing support to Yemen's military, has become increasingly concerned about the violence along its southern border since it flared up in August.

There have been claims that Iran, the predominantly Shia rival of Saudi Arabia for power in the region, has been providing assistance to the Houthis.

Sanaa said on October 28 that it had arrested five Iranians on a boat loaded with weapons allegedly destined for the Houthis.

But the group denies receiving any help from Tehran, which has offered to mediate in the conflict.

Houthi denial

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the Houthis' leader, told Al Jazeera that there was no way for Iran to get weapons to his men in the far north of Yemen. "Weapons are largely available in Yemen," he said.

He said his fighters had also seized arms from the Yemeni army, including those taken from captured security posts.

Al-Houthi said his group had no ambitions to target territory in Saudi Arabia. "Saudi Arabia has always co-operated with Yemen, but this co-operation has now taken a new shape," he said.

Hundreds of people have died in northern Yemen since the country's army began its offensive against the Houthis on August 11.

The fighters, concentrated mainly in the Saada and Amran provinces, are known as Houthis after their late leader, Abdul-Malik's brother Hussein Badr Eddin al-Houthi, a Zaidi leader who was killed by the Yemeni army in September 2004.

An offshoot of Shia Islam, the Zaidis are a minority in a predominantly Sunni Arabian peninsula but form the majority in northern Yemen. Only a small minority of Zaidis are involved in the Houthi uprising.

▲

Spectator video captures SL Police, SLA kill mentally ill Tamil youth

Sri Lanka Police and Sri Lanka Army soldiers beat a mentally ill Tamil youth and forced the youth to drown near the sea near Bambalapitya, Colombo, railway station Thursday. The…

More ► More ▼

Sri Lanka Police and Sri Lanka Army soldiers beat a mentally ill Tamil youth and forced the youth to drown near the sea near Bambalapitya, Colombo, railway station Thursday. The youth was identified as Balavarnam Sivakumar, 26, of Ratmalana, according to media reports in Colombo, which belatedly listed the youth's identity. "The entire country [Sri Lanka] watched in horror, as a group of heavily built men attacked the mentally unstable [Tamil] youth with wooden poles while he pleaded for mercy, when it was telecast on several news bulletins on Thursday night," Daily Mirror said.

Video snapshots from an onlooker (Courtesy: Daily Mirror)

Police spokesman Nimal Mediwake said the Police and Army personnel who had allegedly assaulted the youth had been identified and would be arrested.

The youth has had mental depression for nearly two years and had received medical treatment in a mental hospital, Sivakumar's brother told the media.

Sivakumar had the habit of throwing stones at vehicles, and the Thursday killing followed a series of incidents involving similar actions by Sivakumar, according to the media.

A video broadcast by Channel-4 allegedly showing Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers extra-judicially executing Tamil captives stripped naked and hands tied behind their back, has drawn worldwide attention, and independent forensic analyses in UK and USA are ongoing to rebut Colombo's cavaliar dismissal of the video as fake, according to reports. Two editors of Sunday Leader have received death threats for covering developing stories on the Channel-4 video.

▲

Asri: I am fundamentalist and progressive

Asri: I am fundamentalist and progressive

Penang DAP DCM 2 Indian Mandore doing an MIC staunt by dishing out peanuts hampers and one wheelchair.

Penang DAP DCM 2 Indian Mandore doing an MIC staunt by dishing out peanuts hampers and one wheelchair. After colluding with Kapitan Cina Lim Guan Eng in demolishing the last…

More ► More ▼

Penang DAP DCM 2 Indian Mandore doing an MIC staunt by dishing out peanuts hampers and one wheelchair. After colluding with Kapitan Cina Lim Guan Eng in demolishing the last traditional Indian heritage Kg.Buah Pala village in Penang,and to justify his DCM 2 position, he now does what MIC has been best doing for over the last 52years since independence- peanuts and paper politics.

This DCM 2 Indian mandore should instead get his Kapitan Cina to grant Penang state government land. This can be done by the Kapitan by the mere stroke of his pen by virtue of Section 76 of the National Land Code and read with Section 3 of the Land Aquisation Act and provide a wholesome solution for:-

1) All 28 Tamil School in Penang.

2) All Hindu temples in Penang

3) All crematorium in Penang

4) All the poor homeless and landless in Penang.

Shame on you Prof!

Editor

▲

Hadi tidak akan letak jawatan Presiden Pas

Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang hari ini menegaskan bahawa beliau tidak akan meletakkan jawatan walaupun dikritik hebat dan didesak berbuat demikian.

"Pemimpin dipilih melalui muktamar parti dan ia…

More ► More ▼

Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang hari ini menegaskan bahawa beliau tidak akan meletakkan jawatan walaupun dikritik hebat dan didesak berbuat demikian.

"Pemimpin dipilih melalui muktamar parti dan ia adalah amanah...saya tidak akan membuang baju amanah ini,” katanya semasa menggulung hujah pada Seminar Khas Memperkasakan Parti PAS di Markas Tarbiyah Pusat parti itu di Taman Melewar di sini.

Beliau berkata sebagai pemimpin, seseorang itu perlu bersikap profesional dan menerima sebarang kritikan dengan hati terbuka walaupun ia pedih.

"Pemimpin PAS ibarat pemain bola dan kita perlu berjiwa besar dalam menghadapi masalah.

"Walaupun ada teguran yang keras...suruh pecat kapten, buang pengurus dan pemain, tapi kita belum habis separuh masa pertama...kita pemain profesional, bukannya pemain kampung,” katanya.

▲

Hadi declares seminar a success for bright PAS future

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani - The Malaysian
Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 – In closing the seminar, party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang told the delegates that there…

More ► More ▼

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani - The Malaysian
Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 – In closing the seminar, party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang told the delegates that there will be a light at the end of the tunnel even though many are arguing that his party is facing a leadership crisis.

He compared his party to a football team and stressed that the first half is far from over.

“Just imagine that PAS is like a football team and we have a manager who guides them. Then, we also have the commentators who critique the way we play.

“We should remember however, that there are also people who like to provoke us with throwing firecrackers to the field when we play. But we don’t ever throw the firecrackers back at them,” he said taking a jab at Dr Abdul Aziz Bari's earlier comment.

Aziz Bari had said that the delegates should not criticise him because he was “only a spectator watching a football match.”

He also stressed that the party should not reject the heavy criticism but should be willing to accept them.

“We need to be professional, we are not kampung football players. We should instead thank those who have given us constructive criticisms,” he said.

Earlier PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub announced the proposed five point resolution as the delegates were waiting in darkness as a power cut caused to black out half of the building.

The first point is that PAS should strengthened its pact with Pakatan Rakyat and be prepared for the next general election by always being proactive in allowing and sincerely PR to fulfil its promises.

The delegates also wanted the party to be more aggressive in making PAS supporter’s club more active in non-Muslim majority areas.

The proposed resolution also asked the party leadership to solidify party’s stance based on research and ensure that it reaches the grassroots.

The party leadership should also set a clear KPI for the party’s youth and the women’s youth wing to gain support from the young voters.

Finally, the delegates want the party to engage the people and launch a national “PAS for Everyone” campaign.

All the delegates then stood up in show of support and shout, “Allah is great!”

In a press conference held later, Hadi claimed the seminar was a huge success.

He believes that seminar proved that the party is democratic and is willing to accept any criticism.

“The seminar showed that PAS is democratic because it did not only allow party members to give constructive criticism but accepted the advice from non-party members and others,” he said.

He added the delegates showed great spirit and hoped that this would help the party to face future challenges.

“Today we have shown a great spirit when the delegates were able to conduct a lively discussion which was not out of control,” he said.

Hadi also stressed that the issue of unity government is now closed and the party is concentrating on its new partnership with Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

“We are consistent to be with Pakatan Rakyat because we believe in this new ship that we have built and should be further strengthened.

“We no longer want to be with a sinking ship (Umno). It won’t be brought up again because it has been closed, this is PAS and Pakatan Rakyat’s stance,” he said.

He pointed out that the party leadership will never reject the voice of its members but warn that there are “true and false” criticism.

“We are matured to accept criticism. However there is true criticism, and there is false criticism, we will take the true and question the false,” he said.

Hadi rejected pressure from certain groups calling for his resignation over the unity government fiasco.

“We will take full responsibility. Today we received the support and confidence from the delegates from across the country, this will help strengthen our stance,” he said.

He added that Datuk Nik Aziz Nik was not able to attend because he had to go to the hospital.

▲

Time For MCA To Ask Najib To Step In – Hishammuddin

KLUANG, Nov 7 (Bernama) — The time has come for MCA to ask Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to step in to resolve the crisis the…

More ► More ▼

KLUANG, Nov 7 (Bernama) — The time has come for MCA to ask Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to step in to resolve the crisis the party is facing, said Umno vice president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

Hishammuddin said he believed the Prime Minister would not hesitate to assist MCA in trying to resolve its problems as the BN was also affected by what was happening in the party.

“I do not want to interfere in MCA’s internal matters but I am concerned about our (Umno’s) friends. If previously the BN chairman only gave advice, now it is time he stepped in to help out.

“I feel the public also feels the same way. Umno is also not happy with the turn of events in MCA. The people in the end will become bored with us (BN component parties) and look elsewhere for leadership, which will not only be a loss for MCA but the BN overall,” he told reporters after attending a youth carnival here on Saturday.

Hishammuddin, who is also Home Minister and the MP for Sembrong, said all MCA leaders need to be concerned about the overall interests of the party and the BN and not act according to emotions.

The MCA, which is the second largest party in the BN coalition, has been embroiled in a leadership crisis for over a year now. An extrordinary general meeting was held by the party on Oct 10 to resolve the impasse but the feuds amongst the warring factions took numerous twists and turns since then and have only caused it to be mired in deeper trouble.

▲

Azmin Ali

By The Nut Graph team
thenutgraph.com

Azmin Ali PARTI Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Azmin Ali is an intriguing character, to say the least. Here is a…

More ► More ▼

By The Nut Graph team
thenutgraph.com

Azmin Ali PARTI Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Azmin Ali is an intriguing character, to say the least. Here is a man who rose from being a minister's special officer to becoming a Member of Parliament (MP) and vice-president of an emerging opposition party.

In Malaysian political culture, loyalty is often, though not always, rewarded. But Azmin's loyalty to one man has brought him far. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, then the Education Minister and an Umno leader, took on Azmin as a special officer when the latter was just 23. He kept Azmin as private secretary throughout his Umno career, as Finance Minister and then as Deputy Prime Minister, until his sacking in Septermber 1998.

The two men share a long-standing working relationship that has opened them to character assassination and insinuations of all kinds. Azmin is alleged to be receiving "special treatment" from Anwar. Questions are raised about why the two are so close, and why it appears as if Azmin is the only one Anwar listens to.

Azmin has attempted to answer these speculations in his blog, but he largely brushes them off as jealousy. Mostly, he passionately defends Anwar, comparing and contrasting him with Anwar's nemesis, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Elizabeth Wong

But what are these speculations worth, really? What The Nut Graph feels is that we know little about Azmin's principles and too much about the rumours swirling around him. What is more important than the salacious innuendos about him is whether Azmin is a credible and principled leader.

It is worth nothing that Azmin appeared to be the lone voice in ever-so-subtly condemning PKR colleague and fellow Selangor assemblyperson Elizabeth Wong over the circulation of intimate pictures of her. While other PKR leaders were swift to defend Wong's privacy and label the leaked photos a Barisan Nasional attack, Azmin demanded for explanations instead. He also hinted at disciplinary action if Wong was found guilty of having posed or was involved in the taking of the pictures.

Wee Choo Keong

Azmin also sparked uproar among Pakatan Rakyat (PR) colleagues when he publicly called on Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim to reshuffle the state executive council. His call drew sharp reactions from Teresa Kok, with whom he traded barbs in the assembly hall. Azmin kept up the ante when he supported PKR Member of Parliament Wee Choo Keong who asserted that a Selangor exco member had underworld links. Azmin said Wee should be allowed to explain his allegation, while Wee supported Azmin's call for an exco reshuffle.

Other PKR members and Khalid's aides have shrugged off the outburst, choosing to view it as constructive criticism. But is there a stronger undercurrent? Azmin has denied rumours that he wants the Selangor MB's post for himself.

Anwar

For now, all that surrounds Azmin, really, are rumours and speculation by disgruntled former Anwar aides. Keeping a wry silence or issuing a denial does little to make speculations go away. Detractors also say that having come from Umno, Azmin still carries his former party's political culture. How much has really changed? Perhaps Azmin's real testing has yet to come.

What do readers think about Azmin? Do we know enough about him, considering the amount of power he holds in PKR by virtue of his loyalty to Anwar? Share what you think, or want to know about Azmin, in six words only. Here are some of The Nut Graph's attempts:

Ding Jo-Ann:

Don't know much about this guy.

Deborah Loh:

Who is Azmin Ali without Anwar?

What's in store for Azmin's loyalty?

Jacqueline Ann Surin:

Ambitious enough to become prime minister?

But what exactly are his principles?

Did he defend Eli Wong's privacy?

Favourite whipping boy within and without.

Umno to PKR, has anything changed?

How come so powerful in PKR?

Is his influence real or imagined?

Shanon Shah:

New party. Old feudalisms. Same difference.

Maybe they are very good friends?

Compare his stands: Eli vs Anwar.

Perhaps PKR needs an internal revolution.

We need to hear his side.

▲

Let’s talk a walk down memory lane

From Malaysia Today

In a sex crime, the sole testimony of the alleged victim is not sufficient but corroboration is required. In the case against Anwar Ibrahim, however, there was…

More ► More ▼

From Malaysia Today

In a sex crime, the sole testimony of the alleged victim is not sufficient but corroboration is required. In the case against Anwar Ibrahim, however, there was no corroboration other than the sole testimony of the alleged victim.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Some of you may have been too young in 1998 to remember the first Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trial. With the latest court ruling on Anwar’s second sodomy trial (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/28387/84/), maybe it is time I take you for a walk down memory lane so that you can get a better understanding of how the first sodomy trial was conducted.

I will try to make it as simple as possible without too much legal jargon and ‘lawyer talk’. What you need to understand is how the trial was conducted and why I say it was a sham trial in a kangaroo court.

Anwar was found guilty and sent to jail for six years and seven months whereas in any other country the court would have thrown the case out without even requiring him to defend himself in a trial. In other words, in any other country the trial would not have gone on but instead Anwar would have been discharged without the defence being called.

Let us first see what was revealed in the trial and then in part 2 we shall look at the other issues:

1. The police admitted that no police report was ever made against Anwar and that the basis for launching the prosecution were unfounded rumours and the contents of a book.

2. The alleged victim, Azizan, had been ‘turned over’ to say that Anwar sodomised him (the term used for ‘coercing’) – which is the ‘normal’ practice of the Malaysian Police, the court was told.

3. The Special Branch had earlier sent the Prime Minister a report saying that the allegations against Anwar are lies and fabricated by conspirators trying to bring Anwar down.

4. The alleged sodomy act was supposed to have occurred ‘one day in the month of May 1994’. The police testified that this date was based on the information obtained during the interrogation of the ‘victim’, and this was what the first charge read.

5. The so-called victim then testified that the sodomy act never occurred after May 1992, only before that, so the ‘May 1994’ charge suddenly became defective. The charge was then changed to ‘May 1992’ to fit this testimony while ‘typographical error’ was cited as the reason for the amendment to the charge.

6. Anwar then file his Notice of Alibi proving that in May 1992 the Tivoli Villa, the alleged scene of the crime, was still under construction and was not completed yet, so it could not have happened at that time, date and place in question.

7. The ‘victim’ was then interrogated a second time to ‘help him remember the correct date’. After he ‘remembered’ the ‘correct date’, the charges were then, again, amended to ‘one day between 1 January 1993 and 31 March 1993’.

8. When the defence argued that the law requires the charge to specify, precisely, the time, date and place of the alleged crime, and when Anwar managed to provide an alibi for the entire 90 days from 1 January to 31 March 1993 to prove he was never at the scene of the crime, the prosecution argued that ‘from time immemorial, dates have never been important’. Though they cannot pinpoint the precise time and date the alleged crime was supposed to have occurred, argued the prosecution, this does not matter as long as they can pinpoint the place.

9. The trial judge would interview the defence before any witnesses are called to find out what they will be testifying. The judge would then rule those defence witnesses irrelevant and would not allow them to be called.

10. Halfway through the defence witnesses giving their testimony, the trial judge would cut them off and dismiss them without allowing them to complete their testimony.

11. The trial judge would rule certain evidence not relevant and would expunge them from the records whenever the prosecution was not able to rebut this testimony and it looked like it would damage the prosecution’s case.

12. In a sex crime, the sole testimony of the alleged victim is not sufficient but corroboration is required. In the case against Anwar, however, there was no corroboration other than the sole testimony of the alleged victim.

13. When the defence asked that the so-called victim be sent for a medical examination to determine whether he had indeed been sodomised – as there was still time to do so – the prosecution refused, saying that a medical examination is not conclusive anyway.

14. Anwar’s alleged partner-in-crime, his adopted brother Sukma, who was jointly-charged with him – and earlier sent to jail for six months for ‘allowing Anwar to sodomise him’ – was examined by a doctor, Dr Zahari Noor, who testified that he found no evidence he was ever sodomised. In fact, he suffers from piles due to an extremely small anal passage so it would have been impossible for Anwar to have sodomised him – he had to be operated upon to widen his anal passage so that he could move his bowels. (Anwar’s adopted brother was convicted and jailed on the strength of his ‘confession’ that was obtained under police torture).

15. Witnesses came to court to testify that various people in high places had bribed the so-called victim and his co-conspirator to fabricate evidence against Anwar. However, the prosecution refused to call these people to court to rebut or confirm this allegation, and when the defence tried to subpoena them instead, the court would not allow it to do so. The judge then ruled the testimony of these witnesses as ‘hearsay’ – since it was never confirmed or denied – and refused to consider it.

16. The prosecution witnesses contradicted themselves and changed their testimonies all along the way. The court, however, ruled that though they may have been inconsistent, ‘these inconsistencies have been explained’ and the court was satisfied. The court also said that no one human can be expected to be 100% consistent and that everyone, however honest and truthful he may be, will be inconsistent.

17. A prominent lawyer and one-time Malaysian Bar Council Chairman, Manjeet Singh Dhillon, testified and signed a Statutory Declaration alleging that the Attorney-General and the Chief Prosecutor had blackmailed his client with the death sentence unless he (the client) testified that he had procured women for Anwar. No action was taken against them and they continued to head the prosecution against Anwar. No action was taken against the lawyer for ‘malicious lies’ either, so the allegation remains undisputed.

▲

1Malaysia: 12 years of advocacy to teach Tamil at UM

by Nathaniel Tan

Terlebih dahulu, semoga Tok Guru Nik Aziz cepat sembuh, insyallah.

Lots to comment on (see the article on the bridge?) but got a wedding down south…

More ► More ▼

by Nathaniel Tan

Terlebih dahulu, semoga Tok Guru Nik Aziz cepat sembuh, insyallah.

Lots to comment on (see the article on the bridge?) but got a wedding down south to get to, and much work, so just a short one:

A comment to my post on teaching Japanese generated some interesting comments. One hypothesised that it was to support scholars who studied in Japan and now couldn’t get jobs.

This story by Senthil Arjunan (whose brother I think I know) I found particularly worth sharing. Truly an inspiring struggle! -

nat, On my personal experience in USM, for more than 30 years there were many many languages in the pusat bahasa. This including arabic, french, thai and many more foreign languages.

for some reason there were no tamil language and when enquired , the Dean said no indians will support or lack of support from students etc.

To prove a point, students volunteers became part time teacher to teach other students as a trial for this program. Mind it, it was on personal basis as no clubs even indian society not willing to undertake this issue.

So, after the 1st year with many students, the Dean said, We need to see statistics, please show us statistics. so 2nd year was full of paperworks while the students-cum teachers ran their classes on fridays 12- 3pm ( University lectures free period) for an entire year .When presented the statistics to the Dean , she simply said , you did not have exams for the students so its not proof the teaching was done properly.

3rd year and 4th year the volunteer teachers and volunteer students kept on with the private classes without fail and even streamlined 4 different levels and had exams for the students. All these were happening while they themselves had their own coursework and degree to think about. after the 5th year rejection, They realised that the authorities were simply delaying the approval so those eager for this implementation will have themselves graduated and left the varsity compound- hoping this matter will die down.

Nevertheless, the torch was passed from Seniors to Juniors who kept the work going and even recruiting chinese students at class level zero and working their way each year to the whims and fancy of the management of Pusat bahasa.

I was among those who came in year 6 and stayed on till year 9 and seeing the dedication of the teachers and unsupportive University authorities, pushed the matter to Vice-chancellor who again told us to meet the Dean. Some students even graduated and continued with their masters just to ensure the success of this project but to no avail.

No arguments were valid with them, they gave us all kind of excuses including the economic value of Thai and japanese compared to Tamil, unsupportive students once the language is offered (ironic it is because they never tried offering it in the first place). They even had the knack to say, Students with Tamil in SPM might score high results due to low standard in the exams..

after 12 years of non-stop effort today Pusat bahasa in USM has accepted Tamil language as a paper and officially classes are run. This should have been their effort from the start , only proves that we have to struggle for what should be given to us in the 1st place.

▲

Najib: No Alternative Party Comparable To BN

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said there is no alternative party that can challenge the Barisan Nasional (BN) in…

More ► More ▼

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said there is no alternative party that can challenge the Barisan Nasional (BN) in Sabah especially in terms of development.

He said only the BN could bring further development to the state.

"What is needed is the people's support for the BN in Sabah. We will make a difference. BN is committed to develop Sabah and we will deliver," he said when opening the 24th congress of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), here Saturday night.

Najib, however, reminded the BN component party to avoid disputes among themselves which could have a negative effect on BN.

"Let us not fight among ourselves because we are one family," he said.

Najib said the encouraging public confidence in the state government would strengthen Sabah as a "fixed deposit" for the BN.

"If the fixed deposit remains...insya Allah the returns will increase, and I see the latest political development in the state has given me more confidence that Sabah is the blue state for BN," he said.

However, he said Sabah should not be complacent about its position because the state governance was no longer as before.

"It is not business as usual. We hope the people in Sabah and Sarawak understands the situation where the people are now more educated and have a greater expectation from the BN which holds the state administration," he said.

Najib said the result of the 2008 general election should be taken as a lesson for the BN to endeavour to regain the party's strength.

▲

Nik Aziz dan Aziz Bari dikecam, Hadi kukuh penguasaan PAS

Oleh: ROSLAN BIAN

Lupakan cerita tentang kerajaan peraduan atau kerjasama UMNO – PAS kerana Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang pada Sabtu mengulangi bahawa parti itu menutup pintu rapat-rapat…

More ► More ▼

Oleh: ROSLAN BIAN

Lupakan cerita tentang kerajaan peraduan atau kerjasama UMNO – PAS kerana Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang pada Sabtu mengulangi bahawa parti itu menutup pintu rapat-rapat mengenai kerjasama itu.

Malah dalam Seminar Memperkasakan Parti bagi menggantikan cadangan Muktamar Agung Khas (EGM) di Markas PAS Pusat Taman Melewar Gombak, beliau menegaskan, PAS akan terus bersama-sama dalam pakatan DAP dan PKR dengan matlamat menang besar dalam pilihan raya umum ke 13.

Namun apa yang menarik dalam seminar julung kali itu, Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari serta Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat dikecam dan dikritik gara-gara isu mahu menyingkirkan beberapa pemimpin kanan parti itu termasuk menggantikan Abdul Hadi.

Abdul Aziz, Pensyarah Kanan Undang-Undang UIAM melalui tulisannya di sebuah akhbar harian dan interbiu dengan sebuah portal berita mengkritik kepimpinan Abdul Hadi.

Beliau turut mencadangan supaya Naib Presiden, Nasaruddin Mat Isa, Setiausaha Agung, Datuk Mustafa Ali dan Pesuruhjaya PAS Selangor Datuk Dr Hasan Mohi Ali dikenakan tindakan kerana tindak tanduk yang dilihat tidak membantu mengukuhkan kedudukan PAS dalam Pakatan Rakyat.

Pandangannya kemudian mengheret Mursyidul Am PAS itu yang menulis perkara sama di blognya yang mahu ‘dua tiga kerat’ pemimpin tersebut dihukum hingga tercetus desakan supaya EGM diadakan.

Sebahagian besar perwakilan di seminar itu mengecam Dr Abdul Aziz yang dianggap orang luar parti tetapi dianggap sengaja mencetuskan polimik dalaman parti itu.

Ada antara mereka menganggap beliau mahu menjatuhkan presiden PAS dengan kritikan, tuduhan dan penghinaan.

Ramai juga perwakilan melenting kerana dalam seminar itu Dr Abdul Aziz membuat kenyataan tidak sama seperti dilaporkan akhbar dan portal berita tersebut apatah lagi beliau turut menyalahkan media.

Tersepit dengan asakan perwakilan, beliau cuba menarik simpati dengan menyatakan kini dirinya sudah hilang kawan kerana orang UMNO sudah mula menjauhinya dan sekarang ini, PAS pula menimbang untuk menerimanya ataupun tidak.

Beliau turut menafikan dakwaan kritikannya terhadap Abdul Hadi Awang sebagai satu penghinaan kepada presiden parti itu yang disifatkan bertaraf ulama.

"Saya tidak menghina ulama ataupun presiden parti. Siapalah saya untuk persoalkan perkara ini. Saya hanya sentuh kedudukannya sebagai kapten yang mengemudi parti," katanya sambil menambah bahawa beliau hanya melontar semula cakap-cakap dalam PAS mengenai Hadi, Nasaruddin dan Dr Hasan.

Kejutan lain apabila perwakilan negeri Johor, Suhaizan Kayat menegur Nik Aziz kerana menunjukkan sikap kurang baik dalam struktur organisasi dengan penulisan di blog peribadinya menghentam ‘dua tiga kerat’ tersebut dengan menyiarkan nama mereka.

Bagaimanapun, Menteri Besar Kelantan itu tiada ketika perbahasan dan hanya hadir kira-kira sejam pada perasmian dan ucaptama presiden pada sebelah pagi .

Beliau yang dijadualkan menutup seminar yang dijadiri kira-kira 1,000 perwakilan pada sebelah petang tidak hadir kerana uzur dan masih kurang sihat selepas keluar Institut Jantung Negara, semalam.

Seminar yang pada awal dijangka memberi tamparan hebat kepada Hadi, Nasaruddin dan Dr Hasan itu juga sebaliknya menjadi gelanggang perwakilan menyatakan rasa tidak puashati dengan parti sejak bersama pakatan pembangkang.

Perwakilan dari Negeri Sembilan, Khairul Anuar Wafa mahu PAS menentukan hala tuju parti itu dalam pakatan rakyat kerana ketika ini PAS tanpa matlamat berbanding parti mempertahankan Islam sebelum ini.

Lebih perit katanya, sejak PAS bersama PKR dan DAP, ruang parti itu bercakap hak Melayu Islam juga sudah terhalang.

Kesimpulan seminar ini menjadi senjata yang makan tuan kepada Nik Aziz yang mahu PAS memantapkan kerjasama dalam pakatan pembangkang begitu juga dengan Abdul Aziz yang mahu Hadi dan beberapa pemimpin lain dihukum.

Sebaliknya, hasil seminar itu memberi keuntungan kepada Hadi dan barisan kepimpinan beliau yang di pilih pada Muktamar Agung PAS Jun lalu kerana kedudukan mereka semakin mantap jika keputusan seminar tersebut diteliti.

Isu Nasaruddin dan Mustafa langsung tidak berbangkit kecuali Dr Hasan apabila dijadikan rujukan berkaitan hubungan tegang pakatan rakyat di Selangor kerana kenyataan beliau mengenai isu penjualan arak dan Selcat.

Keyakinan Hadi dengan barisan pimpinannya jelas diluahkan beliau dalam penggulungan seminar itu apabila menegaskan, beliau tidak akan meletak jawatan walaupun terdapat gesaan beberapa pihak agar berbuat demikian.

Katanya, sebagai pemimpin yang dipilih secara sah, beliau tidak akan sekali-kali meninggalkan tanggungjawab yang diamanahkan kepadanya untuk memimpin PAS.

"Pemimpin dipilih melalui muktamar parti, pemimpin adalah amanah.

"Saya tidak akan membuang baju amanah ini... insyaAllah kita akan mengharungi gelombang perjuangan ini," katanya.

Menjawab kritikan terhadap pimnpinannya, Abdul Hadi berkata, “ "Kita ibarat orang-orang yang ada di medan atau padang bola, yang lain daripada kita adalah penonton dan pengulas.

"Walaupun ada teguran yang keras, suruh pecat kapten, buang pengurus, buang pemain, kita belum lagi habis separuh masa pertama.

"Kita adalah kalangan profesional dalam bidang ini, bukan pemain-pemain kampung," katanya.

Dalam sidang media selepas seminar itu berakhir, Abdul Hadi sekali lagi berkata sokongan yang diberikan oleh para perwakilan yang hadir dari seluruh negara menambahkan lagi keyakinannya untuk berkhidmat kepada parti.

"Kita akan terus memikul tanggungjawab yang sepenuhnya, hari ini kita mendapat kepercayaan daripada perwakilan yang datang dari seluruh negara, ini menambahkan lagi keyakinan," katanya.

Apa yang mahu dilihat selepas ini, apakah kumpulan yang mahu melihat Hadi, Nasaruddin dan beberapa pemimpin lain tersingkir daripada saf kepimpinan parti dapat menerima keputusan seminar tersebut.

Jika tidak, PAS pasti bergolak selagi kumpulan Erdogan yang pro Anwar Ibrahim belum dapat menguasai parti itu.

▲

Kg Buah Pala - BN and PR Blame Game