Way to Brotherhood

We living entities are all sons of God, but we have forgotten this, and therefore we are fighting. In a happy family, all the sons know, "Father is supplying food to us all. We are brothers, so why should we fight?" Similarly, if we become God conscious, the fighting in the world will come to an end. "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am Russian," "I am Chinese" — all these nonsensical designations will be finished. Real consciousness and understand that everything belongs to God. The children in a family all have the right to accept privileges from the father. Similarly, if everyone is part and parcel of God, if everyone is a child of God, then everyone has the right to use the property of the father. That right does not belong only to the human beings; rather, according to Bhagavad-gītā, that right belongs to all living entities, regardless of whether they are in the bodies of human beings, animals, trees, birds, beasts, insects, or whatever.

We do not think, "My brother is good, and I am good, but all others are bad." This is the kind of narrow, crippled consciousness we reject. We look equally toward all living entities. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (5.18):

vidyā-vinaya-sampanne
brāhmaṇe gavi hastini
śuni caiva śvapāke ca
paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ

"The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater [outcaste]."

One who is paṇḍita, one who is learned, sees all living entities to be on an equal level. Therefore, because a Vaiṣṇava, or devotee, is learned, he is compassionate (lokānāḿ hita-kāriṇau), and he can work in such a way as to actually benefit humanity. A devotee of the Lord feels and actually sees that all living entities are part and parcel of God and that somehow or other they have fallen into contact with this material world and have assumed different types of bodies according to different karma.

Those who are learned (paṇḍitāḥ) do not discriminate. They do not say, "This is an animal, so it should be sent to the slaughterhouse so that a man may eat it." No. Why should the animals be slaughtered? A person who is actually God conscious is kind to everyone. Therefore one tenet of our philosophy is "No meat-eating." Of course, people may not accept this. They will say, "Oh, what is this nonsense? Meat is our food. Why should we not eat it?" Because they are intoxicated rascals (edhamāna-madaḥ), they will not hear the real facts. But just consider: if a poor man is lying helpless in the street, can I kill him? Will the state excuse me? I may say, "I have only killed a poor man. There was no need for him in society. Why should such a person live?" But will the state excuse me? Will the authorities say, "You have done very nice work"? No. The poor man is also a citizen of the state, and the state cannot allow him to be killed. Now, why not expand this philosophy? The trees, the birds, and the beasts are also sons of God. If one kills them, one is as guilty as one who kills a poor man on the street. In God's eyes, or even in the vision of a learned man, there is no discrimination between poor and rich, black and white. No. Every living entity is part and parcel of God. And because a devotee sees this, he is the only true benefactor of all living entities.

Amnesty International Annual Report 2010

Dear Friends,
Amnesty International’s 2010 Annual Report, published today,  again documents abuses in countries worldwide. The two entries of particular note to us follow, illustrating  AI’s overall concern that a global justice gap is being made worse by power politics — despite a landmark year for the working of the International Criminal Court.  Numerous governments are srill blocking advances by standing above the law on human rights, shielding allies from criticism and acting only when politically convenient.  The full report is accessible at www.amnesty.org  and www.amnesty.ca
Margaret John

Coordinator for Singapore and Malaysia

Amnesty INternational Canada
MALAYSIA
Head of state: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal
Abidin
Head of government: Najib Tun Razak (replaced Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi in April)
Death penalty: retentionist
Population: 27.5 million
Life expectancy: 74.1 years
Under-5 mortality (m/f): 12/10 per 1,000
Adult literacy: 91.9 per cent
Freedom of expression was restricted, with bloggers
prosecuted and peaceful demonstrators frequently
arrested. At least two people died in police custody.
Migrant workers, refugees and asylum-seekers faced
arrest, detention, and ill-treatment in detention
camps. Malaysia rejected recommendations made
under the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
to guarantee the right to peaceful assembly, and to
ratify the UN Refugee Convention and the UN
Migrant Workers Convention.
Background
Najib Tun Razak became Prime Minister in April.
Political tensions increased in Perak state, located
north of the capital Kuala Lumpur and formerly
controlled by the opposition People’s Alliance (PA),
following three defections from the party. After a
meeting with the Prime Minister, the Sultan of Perak
ordered the PA Chief Minister to resign in February.
During a state assembly session in May, when the
National Front government representative Zambry
Abdul Kadir was expected to be appointed as the new
Chief Minister, the opposition Speaker V. Sivakumar
was forcibly removed by police officers. Dozens of
short-term arrests were made before and after the
assembly session.
Freedom of expression
Freedom of expression was severely curtailed, with
the authorities using various laws, including the
Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA
1998), to crush critical opinion.
_ Independent news portal Malaysiakini reported on
and posted two videos of a protest held in August by
Muslims against the relocation of a Hindu temple to
their neighbourhood. The government’s internet
regulatory agency ordered Malaysiakini to remove the
videos, threatening to prosecute them under the CMA
1998, alleging offensive content. Charges against them
remained pending.
_ Following a nationwide crackdown on bloggers in
March, eight bloggers faced imprisonment and fines
after being charged under the CMA 1998 for posting
critical comments against the Sultan of Perak over the
Perak political crisis. An opposition parliamentarian,
Karpal Singh, was charged under the Sedition Act for
threatening to sue the Sultan, claiming that the Sultan
breached the State’s constitution. One blogger pleaded
guilty with the remaining cases still pending. All were
freed on bail.
_ Mohamad Asri Zainul Abidin, a religious leader, was
charged in November under the Selangor Islamic
Administration Enactment for conducting a religious
discourse without government authorization. His trial
remained pending while he was freed on bail. If
convicted, he faces two years’ imprisonment and/or
fines of up to 3,000 Malaysia Ringgit (US$873).
_ In October, several police reports were lodged
against Sisters in Islam, a women’s rights organization,
after they criticized caning as a punishment for
Muslims. At least two of their leaders were questioned
by police under the Sedition Act.
Arbitrary arrests and detentions
The authorities arrested hundreds of peaceful
demonstrators, detaining them for up to 24 hours, in
an attempt to stifle dissent.
Five prisoners of conscience – leaders of the Hindu Rights Action
Force (HINDRAF) detained under the Internal
Security Act (ISA) – were released. Ten other ISA
detainees were also released. Nine people reportedly
remained in detention under the ISA.
_ Wong Chin Huat was arrested in May under the
Sedition Act after calling for a protest against the
government over the Perak crisis. That same month,
Mohamad Sabu, the Vice-President of the opposition
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), and at least 14
others, were arrested for participating in or planning
protests over the Perak crisis. Five lawyers representing
the latter 14 were also arrested. They were all released
after being held overnight.
_ In August, almost 600 people were briefly arrested
following an anti-ISA rally. Sixty-three were held
overnight, including PA Vice-President Sivarasa Rasiah.
_ In September, 16 members of HINDRAF, including
former ISA detainee P. Uthayakumar, were briefly
detained while attempting to hold a candlelight vigil in
Kuala Lumpur.
Deaths in custody
_ Extensive signs of torture were discovered on the
body of Kugan Ananthan, who died in police custody in
January. In October, one police officer was charged
with causing him grievous bodily harm.
_ In July, Teoh Beng Hock, political secretary to an
opposition leader, died after falling from an upper floor
of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Selangor
headquarters. The previous evening, the police had
taken him for questioning as a witness in an
investigation into the abuse of state funds by the
opposition state government. An inquest into the death
was ongoing.
Violence against women and girls
Reports of sexual abuse, including rape, by timber
company workers against Penan women and girls in
Baram village, Sarawak state, formed the basis of a
report published in September by a government task
force investigating the issue. The report confirmed
that women and girls as young as 10 had been raped
by timber company employees. However, state
officials denied the involvement of company
employees in the rapes and police dropped further
investigations.
Cruel, inhuman and degrading
punishment
People continued to be caned for various offences.
_ In June, the government announced that since 2002
they had sentenced 47,914 migrants to be caned for
immigration offences, with 34,923 canings already
carried out by 2008.
_ In July, the Shariah High Court in Pahang state
sentenced Kartika Dewi to six strokes of the cane and a
fine for consuming alcohol. In September, Nazarudin
Kamaruddin was sentenced to six strokes of the cane
and one year’s imprisonment for drinking alcohol.
Mohamad Shahrin and Nadiah Hussin were sentenced
by the Selangor state Islamic court to six strokes of the
cane for trying to have premarital sex. All were Muslim.
Refugees and migrants
Migrants, including asylum-seekers and refugees,
were often arrested and detained for long periods.
The government made no distinction between migrant
workers, asylum-seekers and refugees. UNCHR, the
UN refugee agency, had registered 49,000 people of
concern as of May. Eighty-nine per cent were from
Myanmar. An estimated 45,000 asylum-seekers
remained unregistered.
Conditions in detention centres remained far below
international standards. Reports of insufficient food,
poor nutrition, poor sanitation and physical abuse
persisted.
_ In May, two inmates from Myanmar died from
leptospirosis, a bacterial infection caused by contact
with water contaminated by animal urine, at the Juru
Immigration Depot. In August, a detainee at the KLIA
Immigration Depot died after contracting the H1N1 flu
virus. Other inmates were hospitalized in both
instances.
Death penalty
At least 68 people were sentenced to death by the
High Courts while the number of executions was
unknown. Malaysia did not support UN UPR
recommendations to introduce a moratorium on the
death penalty or abolish it. It also did not disclose the
number of executions carried out.
Amnesty International visits/report
_Amnesty International delegates visited Malaysia in July and August.
_ Malaysia: End caning as a punishment for all offences
(ASA 28/006/2009)

Impossible to drop Khalid as MB, says Khir Toyo

KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 — Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has turned out to be an unlikely believer in Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, saying the embattled Selangor mentri besar will remain in power despite reports of a internal coup within PKR to unseat him.

Former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has turned out to be an unlikely believer in Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim — file pic

Khir claimed that PKR lawmakers had been dissatisfied with Khalid’s running of the state for some time, but said the rebellion would not amount to anything as the mentri besar had the support of allies DAP.

“It will quite impossible to remove Khalid as mentri besar. First of all Khalid’s support in Selangor is strong, very solid.

“Khalid is there because of DAP, not because of PKR. There is full support from Khalid to remain as MB. Several DAP leaders have confirmed that with me,” Khir told The Malaysian Insider in an interview.

The former Selangor Mentri Besar went on to say that PKR did not call the shots to the governing of the state, and claimed that the position of MB was subject to the approval of DAP.

“DAP is in control. They want him (Khalid) to remain as MB, because he has allowed himself to be used by DAP. As long as Khalid allows himself to used by DAP, he will remain in power,” said the state opposition chief.

Khir claimed that the PKR MPs were divided into two factions — those aligned to party vice-president Azmin Ali and those who were Khalid loyalists.
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“You take the Khalid loyalists and you add DAP MPs who support Khalid, and you will see why the revolt won’t work,” claimed the Umno man.

Khir scoffed at the idea of PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stepping in to resolve the conflict at this weekend’s party retreat.

“Even with Anwar coming in, nothing can be done, Khalid is quite solid as boss,” he said.

The Umno man added the impending revolt were signs of PKR losing grip on Selangor.

“Khalid is too corporate. He must balance between making profit and giving welfare to the public.”

He said that it was not surprising of talks that Azmin was behind the coup, as he had always wanted to become mentri besar.

“Azmin always wanted to be MB. I saw his face when Khalid was sworn in as MB, he was crying,” laughed Khir when referring to the Gombak MP and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman.

But the state opposition leader remained cautious about BN’s chances in regaining the state, despite obvious cracks in Pakatan Rakyat state government.

“Unfortunately in Selangor, the opposition is in a weak position. Umno is still weak... but we are moving ahead structurally, we are preparing, when the time is right we will strike.

“For now, I would say it is still a 50/50 chance between PR and BN in Selangor,” Khir said.

Khalid has dismissed the alleged revolt by 15 PKR MPs against him as mere speculation but called for a meeting last night which sources said was related to the issue.

PKR has been thrown into disarray since two of the party’s lawmakers recently confirmed that a “coup” to remove Khalid from office was being led by Teluk Kemang MP Datuk Kamarul Bahrain Abbas, who has denied the accusation.

The alleged revolt is believed to have started from Azmin’s resignation in the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) three days ago.

Khalid had dismissed the revolt as mere speculation.

PSD scholarships – to scrap or not to scrap

KUALA LUMPUR: Every year around the months of May and June, hundreds of “straight A” SPM students receive the news of not being offered the “illustrious” Public Service Department (PSD) scholarship.
Thousands of complaints are made by various parties, the issue becomes politicised and many people start crying out about the injustice and inequality existing in the system of allocating scholarships.
Recently, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announced that PSD scholarships would be phased out over time, and he was promptly supported by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Nazri Aziz, who said that the move is an effort to “reduce brain drain” and that the government “lacked capacity” to fund students.
FMT has made an indepth study into the arguments surrounding the PSD scholarship issue, and we leave it to the public to make up their mind on what’s right and what’s wrong.
Allocating scholarships based on SPM results
Many parties have questioned the suitability of using the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) as a benchmark for PSD scholarships.
PJ Utara MP, Tony Pua, questioned the process of awarding scholarship at SPM level and instead suggested that students be picked based on their pre-university qualifications.
“The problem now is, we have too many top scorers for only 1,500 scholarships on offer. We should use pre-university qualifications as the benchmark as it is of a higher threshold and students would have then gained admission into top-class universities.”
“What we are doing now is, we are pre-determining whether one is suitable for courses like Medicine and Law based on the SPM results without the students receiving any offers from universities to pursue these subjects,” he added.
Pua also criticised Nazri for linking the phasing-out of scholarships to an effort to reduce the brain drain.
“It is nonsense to say that phasing out scholarships can actually reduce the brain drain. We all know foreign institutions are capable of developing talented leaders in their various fields,” he said.
Meanwhile, some also question the quality of obtaining an A+ in SPM level subjects.
An admininistration manager from a private company in charge of recruiting employees said: “Some of these students with an A1 (A+) in English cannot even converse fluently in English. The grade simply cannot be trusted.”
A number of teachers interviewed said that for some subjects like Physics, students had to score only 60% to obtain an A+ in SPM.
“There is a graph which shifts every year so that there is a 'consistent' trend of straight As students year after year,” a SPM examiner who refused to be named said.
To make matters worse, there have been medical student hopefuls who obtained the PSD scholarship and yet failed to make the grades at A levels to qualify for medical school in the UK.
These students obtained woeful results at A levels, failing to obtain the 3As necessary to qualify for medical school.
A typical PSD scholarship interview
Many high-flying Malaysian students “seasoned” in scholarship applications felt bemused by how PSD actually screens the 7,500 candidates it receives year after year.
“It is merely a five-minute face-to-face interview with the assessors and all they do is ask general questions,” a student said.
“I really doubt they would be able to differentiate the candidates based on merit in such interviews. If you compare that to the ones carried out by government-linked companies (GLCs), the latter are so much more wholistic and serious about the matter,” the student said.
As to the amount allocated to scholars, the sum each scholar receives a year via these scholarships is worth eight times Malaysia’s national average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of RM24,661 per year.
If it is broken down further, these scholars take home a whopping RM15,200 a month -- a sum of money which would be categorised as high-income level, a feat achieved by only 2% of Malaysians.
Lee Lian, who applied for the PSD scholarship, said, “I applied for medicine because, after all, it is 'the prestigious course' in this country and you make tonnes of money.”
“After all, it's free money from the scholarship. Money is good; the scholars can travel to Italy during their summer holidays on taxpayers' money, and get Italian men. It’s not that bad a deal considering that I only had to go through three months memorising things like respiration,” she added
Only 16% of scholars serve the bond
When Pua asked the prime minister a year ago on how many scholars actually served their bond, it was reported that only a meagre 4,932 of them served while 314 were released from their contracts out of the 30,832 scholarships awarded between 2003 and 2007.
That amounted to a loss of RM12.95 billion in taxpayers' money -- an amount enough to build 16 new parliament buildings.
When alerted to such statistics, Lembah Pantai MP, Nurul Izzah Anwar, said, “The PSD should be more efficient in monitoring past scholars as public funds cannot just go down the drain.”
A number of these scholars told FMT that they were not offered a job in the PSD upon graduation and were told to look elsewhere.
These scholars were released from bond, and some of them have gone on to work in the US and the UK, having obtained permanent residency (PR) status there.
In comparison, most scholars from Singapore, upon graduation, end up in all sorts of jobs in the public service ranging from teachers to administration managers.
“Singapore has specially allotted teaching scholarships where these teachers are sent to prestigious universities such as Oxford and Cambridge. Upon returning, they end up teaching in junior colleges,” Pua said.
“In Malaysia, we are not maximising our human capital and this is a clear case of PSD’s ineffectiveness,” he added.
When FMT looked through an advertisement published in the Singapore’s Straits Times, we found one good example.
Ng Hui Min, who obtained a Singapore Ministry of Education scholarship in teaching, currently teaches at Catholic Junior College. She has previously obtained a degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and a Masters from the University of Oxford.
Such are the examples of human capital Singapore is managing to build in comparison to Malaysia.
What about Mara scholarships?
Nazri in recent weeks said that only 56% of the PSD scholarships were allocated to Bumiputeras while 44% were allocated to non-Bumiputeras this year, an amount seemingly fair and transparent considering that in previous years the allocations have gone 80:20.
However, one other government scholarship which has always been overlooked in these ratios is the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) scholarships offered only to Bumiputeras.
Mara offers as many as 1,500 scholarships a year, bringing the ratio of scholarships based on race to 78:20 this year, with 2,340 of the 3,000 scholarships going to Bumiputeras.
It is also worth pointing out that Mara scholarships come without a bond and will not be phased out in the coming years unlike PSD scholarships.
The bond-free policy has caused a substantial number of scholars who pursue tertiary education costing as much as RM1 million in Australia, UK and US to abscond.
Those who absconded either pursued higher degrees elsewhere, or settled in their new-found country for good, which essentially means they have been given a free ride on taxpayers' money.
A Mara scholar who pursued Medicine at the University of Newcastle in Australia said, “In Newcastle, we already have a lot of Mara scholars who have chosen to reside here permanently instead of returning to Malaysia to serve.”
“The pay is better, the living conditions are better and the weather nicer. All we have to do to is to report to Mara upon graduation and then we’ll be free to go,” she added.
Phasing out PSD scholarships
Many parties in recent weeks have expressed outrage and disappointment over the phasing out of PSD scholarship.
Even political parties have taken a bipartisan stand, with leaders from MCA, MIC and Pakatan Rakyat all opposing the idea of doing away with the scholarships.
Nurul Izzah, for one, said “phasing out such scholarships would spell disaster for the future”.
“Under Barisan National, human capital means nothing. They can consider phasing out scholarships while announcing to build a RM36-billion MRT project. It clearly goes to show that there has been no change of mindset within the government.”
“What should be done instead is to keep the PSD scholarships going while revamping PSD to ensure only deserving Malaysians receive them and improving the monitoring system on these scholars,” she added.
Facing the reality of PSD scholarships
Professor James Chin, a professor of Political Science in Monash University who recently wrote in The Malaysian Insider on the issue of PSD scholarships, openly said that PSD scholarships in Malaysia are a political tool to reward supporters and cement political support.
“It never has been, and never will be anything to do with enlarging the human capital of this country or to help bright students from poor families.”
“A former Chinese minister, on retirement, openly said (in the bad old days of Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s rule) that non-Malay applications for PSD scholarships would end up in the rubbish bin,” he added.
Chin also said that the reason the names of PSD scholars are not published is that some of the students who obtained the scholarships have titles and connections.
“Some of the students, shall we say, have parents who are Tan Sris and Datuks, who actually own real estate in London and Perth. Or you have children of politicians and businessmen who can easily pay the tuition fees in the UK or Australia.”
FMT leaves it to you, the readers, to decide whether PSD scholarships should be scrapped or not.

Sports betting: Guan Eng wants MCA, MIC to apologise

By Hawkeye

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is demanding an apology from MCA and MIC over the latter’s apparent move to roundly criticised him over Penang’s contentious decision to ban sports betting.

The retraction by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had liberated Pakatan Rakyat which had earlier condemned the move to legalise sports betting and took action when Penang and Selangor ban any gaming outlets from offering betting packages.

He said that he together with Pakatan became victims of baseless and wild accusations when Penang was the first state to ban sports betting.

With Najib’s decision, “it is only fair that the detractors such as MCA and MIC apologise to the Penang government including me”, Lim said.

Najib yesterday revoked an earlier decision by the Finance Ministry to legalise sports betting in the country, which was approved on the pretext of controlling illegal gaming activities which had reportedly ballooned to RM10 million in the underground economy.

“It is an unprecedented move. A shocking move! Najib seems to support Pakatan on this matter. It is a good decision. We (Pakatan) did not see this coming as earlier MCA, MIC and former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad had supported the move to legalise sports betting,” Lim told a press conference.

On how to reign in the lucrative illegal betting industry, Lim said the only answer is through enforcement.

“We cannot simply legalise something which is wrong. We have a sand-mining issue recently where some folk had illegally exported sand to Singapore from Johor. Should we legalise sand mining then? We have some Umno leaders who speak from one side of the mouth but think another thing. These are double standards and we cannot condoned this,” Lim said.

He hopes Najib’s move would put an end to the issue as it is clear that majority of the people do not support the move to legalise sports betting.

Chopper crashes in Sarawak jungle, killing American pilot

MIRI: A Sikorsky-type helicopter belonging to a logging company based here crashed deep in the jungle near Long Pelutan, Baram, yesterday, killing its American pilot, police said.

Another American, believed to be the co-pilot of the ill-fated aircraft, suffered injuries in the incident at about 5.30pm near a logging camp set up at the rural settlement about 50 nautical miles southeast of here.

Marudi OCPD DSP Abu Bakar Mokthar said the surviving crewman had been sent to a private hospital in Miri and that the extent of his injuries had yet to be known.

The body of the pilot was still in the wreckage, he said.

A police team had been deployed to the site to retrieve the body and to carry out investigation, he added.

Other than by chartered helicopter, which takes about an hour of flight from Miri, Long Pelutan can only be reached from here via a logging road with a travel time of about 10 hours.

- Bernama

Anwar seeks critical US eye on Malaysia

By Shaun Tandon - Free Malaysia Today

WASHINGTON: Malaysian Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, who faces a return to prison on controversial sodomy charges, is asking the United States to temper its enthusiasm for building ties with his country.

On a visit to Washington, Anwar welcomed the attention paid to Malaysia by President Barack Obama but said the administration needed to be careful not to be "condoning the excesses" of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's government.

"Just because we have a prime minister coming here and agreeing with whatever Obama wants him to do or to say does not erase or protect him from the crimes committed at home," Anwar said.

Najib visited Washington in April for a major summit on nuclear security and backed Obama in opposing any move by Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

Some Malaysian officials saw Najib's visit as a breakthrough after years of rocky ties. Veteran former leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad was a strident critic of US foreign policy, although the countries have long been major trading partners.

The Obama administration has put a renewed focus on Southeast Asia, believing it was overlooked under former president George W Bush, and on reaching out to the world's moderate Muslims.

'Stench in our own backyard'

"What do you mean by a moderate Muslim country? Does that mean you can detain people without trial, deny basic freedom, you can ill-treat and discriminate against religious minorities?" Anwar said.

"We can be very tolerant, we can condemn the Iranians -- can that cover the stench in your own backyard? I don't believe so."

Anwar is accused of sodomy by a 25-year-old former aide, who said Anwar propositioned him at an apartment in 2008.

Sodomy, even among consenting adults, is illegal in Malaysia. If convicted, Anwar could face up to 20 years imprisonment.

Anwar, a 62-year-old father of six, previously spent six years in solitary confinement on separate sex and corruption counts after being sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998 following a falling out with Mahathir.

In prison, Anwar said he read the complete works of Shakespeare four times.

Legal manoeuvres

The Malaysian government says that the court is independent and obliged to pursue lawsuits filed by any individual

But Anwar said the trial amounted to "political assassination" by Najib to prevent him from taking power. The opposition made major strides in 2008 elections, stunning the Barisan Nasional coalition that has been in power for half a century.

Anwar has lost a series of legal manoeuvres in his trial, including failing to win access to medical reports and to statements by his accuser.

He said he appreciated support from the United States but found the Obama administration's overall record on human rights "disappointing".

"We expect them to do more than Bush -- these people who believe in freedom, human rights, the rule of law," Anwar said.

'Completely insane'

Anwar met in Washington with senior policymakers including Kurt Campbell, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian affairs, who promised in April that the United States would closely scrutinise Anwar's trial.

Anwar was in the US capital at the invitation of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, where he delivered a lecture arguing that democracy was compatible with Islam in Southeast Asia.

In his public remarks, Anwar strongly criticised a former Malaysian government ban on non-Muslims using the word "Allah" as a translation for "God".

A court struck down the ban on Dec 31 last year, after which assailants attacked a number of churches.

"It's completely insane and ridiculous to suggest that you can impose on others, non-Muslims, a law denying them a right to call their God whatever name," Anwar said.

"This can only come from a ruling establishment or clique that is myopic, racist, clearly intolerant and undemocratic," he said.

- AFP

PKR stirs mixed feelings in Sabah

By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today

KOTA KINABALU: PKR vice-president Jeffrey Kitingan is a tired man. Not due to a heavy workload but because of numerous failed attempts to get the ear of his Peninsular Malaysia colleagues. In other words, Jeffrey has lost faith in PKR.

So when PKR supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim criticised PKR's lack of a credible leadership structure in an earlier interview with FMT, Jeffrey didn't hesitate to voice his agreement.

“We need credible leaders,” he emphasised. “I can't speak for Selangor but Sabah and Sarawak are in dire need of a stronger leadership structure. We need iconic leaders to restore the people's faith in PKR and right now, we don't have them.”

According to Jeffrey, PKR has only itself to blame for its floundering structure in Sabah and Sarawak.

“The party fielded any Tom, Dick and Harry for the constituencies without a thought of their capabilities,” he said. “And because they were not credible or recognisable leaders, they have lost the people's support and confidence.”

Jeffrey has a right to his resentment. An ex-BN leader, he crossed over four years ago to fight for a different set of beliefs. But he said “PKR's disinterest in its leaders in Sabah and Sarawak” has left him frustrated and disillusioned.

Last October, he reached the end of his tether and threw in his resignation. However, it was rejected by the party leadership and he was persuaded to stay with the assurance that things would change.

“I am still waiting for that change,” he said in frustration. “It seems like leaders in Sabah and Sarawak are made to wait for KL leaders to act before we can. The party is not moving in Sabah. All the other leaders are also disheartened.”

“I used to take the initiative to launch my own activities but then I received snide remarks from my KL counterparts for being 'too smart'. So I stopped. Now I'm being criticised for not making the effort. I can't win.”

In observing the current turbulence within PKR in Selangor, Jeffrey said that once again PKR seemed to be bogged down with issues of party leadership and party members.

“We are in a crisis here and the leadership is not the least bit bothered,” he said. “The Sarawak election is coming up and it doesn't seem like any preparations are underway. They are not focused at all on mobilising the party machinery here.”

“I decided to quit the party once before because the leadership was not serious about taking the views of Sabah PKR leaders. Nothing has changed since then. I am even more demotivated and want to move on.”

People are ready for PKR

Meanwhile, Kalakau Untol's audit of PKR stands in stark contrast to Jeffrey's. Also an ex-BN leader, Kalakau boarded the PKR ship in March this year and is working hand-in glove with Jeffrey as well as the Kadazan, Dusun and Murut (KDM) leaders. What he observed is that the KDM and the Chinese in Sabah are ready for a change.

“That change is PKR,” he said confidently. “The current leadership is fine as it is and I look forward to it gaining in strength after the December party elections. PKR has enough good leaders to create a strong leadership structure.”

Kalakau expressed hope that the party elections would give birth to more formidable leaders who would grant Sabah the change for which it yearned.

“For this to happen, the state leadership constitution has to be implemented,” he stated. “Whatever takes place in accordance with the constitution will also be the aspiration of Sabah.”

When asked whether he faced the same challenges as Jeffrey in getting the attention of KL leaders, he disagreed.

“I have been in touch with (PKR de facto leader) Anwar (Ibrahim) a few times since I joined the party and so far I have had a good response from him.”

“Speaking of Anwar, however, I think it is high time he took on the presidential role. There is no such thing as a de facto leader.”

Please pack up and go, PKR

We have had enough of your high-browed haughty leaders who hurl accusations and insults and humiliate one another and members of the coalition. Enough of your hypocrisy! You cannot get your own house in order and yet have high hopes about controlling Parliament House!

By Martin Jalleh

Once again we hear of trouble, turbulence and turmoil in a political party that talks every other day about taking over the government in the next general elections. We will tolerate their nonsense no more. Yes, even if it means throwing out the baby with the bath water!

Please, please PKR stop pushing your fanciful dreams about occupying Putrajaya when you are in such a pathetic and pitiful state with your prima donna politicians parading their shameless petty and puerile politics in public.

As a party you have become laughable; and as RPK predicts, you could be facing your last days! Your political representatives are resting on their laurels and the increasing number of loudmouths and loose cannons are just longing to blast the party into oblivion!

Your endless intra-party squabbles, spats and skirmishes and splintered groups sicken those of us who once supported, voted and stood steadfastly by you. The strong and solid support many of us showed you have now turned into scorn.

We are fed up of your internal feuding and festering that has resulted in a fragile and faltering coalition and a farcical government-in-waiting! Your foolhardy ways will only be a fast-forward to your self-destruction. All Umno needs to do is gleefully watch you finish off each other!

We are tired of your MPs and Assemblymen’s threats to resign, their taunts to one another to quit and their theatrics and tantrums to be turncoats. Truly, we have never seen such a dysfunctional horde of politicians! We will not take any of you seriously nor treat the party with respect anymore!

We have had enough of your high-browed haughty leaders who hurl accusations and insults and humiliate one another and members of the coalition. Enough of your hypocrisy! You cannot get your own house in order and yet have high hopes about controlling Parliament House! Take a hike, PKR!

Your disunity is disgusting. Your politicians delight in washing dirty linen and in denigrating each other in public. They are an absolute disgrace. Please have some dignity and decency, and dismiss yourselves. You do not deserve our confidence.

Your politicians are made up mainly of clowns who crap, crow, clamor for and cry aloud about change but cling on to their political charades, chicanery, claptrap and conspiracies, instead of collaborating at all costs in your professed commitment to bring about concrete change.

We are not interested in the reasons and root causes of your grievances against each other. Two years and more after the last General Elections and you are still unable to get your act together. Yet you make grand claims of being ready to govern this nation. Get real, PKR!

At times you look like a bunch of incompetent idiots, no different from the several insolent imposters who chose to insult our intelligence by leaving the party to be independent of party discipline and the wishes of the people in the last General Elections, out of purely selfish interests and greed.

Please spare us your excuses. The manipulative mainstream media and the maneuvering of key institutions of democracy by a desperate malevolent Umno are to be expected. But at the end of the day your erratic, eccentric and egoistic representatives are to be blamed. Enough is enough!

Instead of translating into reality the promise of a “revolution in the (country’s) political culture” you “reward” the rakyat with your never-ending rumblings, rancor, political roguery and now a “rebellion” in Selangor by your MPs. Is this what “reformasi” amounts to? Sheer “rubbish”!

Yes, go for your weekend retreat PKR leaders. I hope you will prove me and many others wrong but my guess is that you will still be a party weak, wavering, wobbling, wandering and wanting to do each other in ... as you chart your way into political wilderness!

The road to Putrajaya requires stomach, stamina, synergy, solidarity and the sacrifice of personal agendas for the larger national agenda. Sadly, this journey has been stymied by your somnolent, selfish, self-centered and supercilious political representatives, whom Bolehland can do well without.

Sultan Of Johor Wants New Bridge To Replace Causeway

JOHOR BAHARU, June 26 (Bernama) -- The Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar has called on the government to reconsider reviving the bridge project to replace the Johor Causeway.

He said the causeway was very important to the people and the Johor sultanate since previous rulers had always be supportive of efforts to upgrade the causeway.

"Looking back, there is no doubt that the causeway is very important to the people.

"As such, the ancestors of my family since the late Sultan Ibrahim till my father, the late Sultan Iskandar had always been supportive of efforts to upgrade the causeway," he said when opening JB Sentral and launching the Kembara Mahkota Johor 2010 here Saturday.

The proposal to build an S-shaped bridge, widely dubbed the 'crooked bridge', was mooted by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad but was scrapped by his successor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2006.

On JB Sentral, Sultan Ibrahim said he was confident that the people were delighted with the successful completion of JB Sentral although the main component of the complex, that is, a bridge had yet to be implemented.

He said the opening of JB Sentral was historic event as his late father, Sultan Iskandar had opened the Sultan Iskandar Building which housed the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex on Dec 1, 2008.

According to Sultan Ibrahim, he himself was involved in the Sultan Iskandar Building, JB Sentral and bridge projects, which were approved in 2003, by offering his views.

"When the government encountered a problem in finding a suitable site in Johor Baharu to relocate the residents of Lumba Kuda and Bukit Chagar flats, my late father gave permission for 27 acres of the Johor Sultanate land in Kampung Bakar Batu to be used to resettle the residents affected by the projects.

"This is an indication of the palace's support to enable the projects to get off the ground in the interests of the people," he said.

While commending the federal government and state governments for the successful completion of Sultan Iskandar Building and JB Sentral, Sultan Ibrahim also expressed his pleasure as both projects were completed as schedule by Bumiputera contractors from the state.

He hoped more government projects would be awarded to Bumiputera contractors from the state as they had proven their ability to develop mega projects.

Sultanah Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris, Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ismail, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman were present.

Non-Muslim rights: What Rais can do

The Nut Graph 
by Teo Nie Ching

THE Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim was right to say that the social rights of non-Muslim Malaysians were contained in the Federal Constitution. However, he was extremely wrong to claim that the government must issue the sports betting licence for non-Muslim rights to be recognised and respected.

In a recent Anti-Gambling at Internet Cafes signature campaign organised by the Klang and Kapar MCA divisions, more than 2,000 signatures were collected in two hours. That seems to contradict Rais’s view that gambling is a precious part of “non-Muslim culture”.

If Rais was serious about recognising the rights and lifestyles of non-Muslims, [who are predominantly non-Malays in Malaysia], there is something he can do immediately in his capacity as information, communications and culture minister.

Currently, Finas incentives in the form of the Compulsory Screening Scheme and a 20% tax rebate only apply to films with 70% of the dialogue in Bahasa Malaysia (BM). Malaysian-made films in other languages do not enjoy these incentives.

As such, local Chinese- and English-language films like Tiger Woohoo, Ice Kacang Puppy Love and The Malay Chronicles (The Chronicles of Merong Mahawangsa), though fully produced in Malaysia, are not entitled to the exemption on entertainment duty.

Since the rights of non-Muslim Malaysians are contained in the Federal Constitution, then all Malaysian-made films, irrespective of the language used, should be entitled to the same incentives.

The Chinese-language movies Tiger Woohoo and Ice Kacang Puppy Love proved that Malaysian productions can compete with films from Hong Kong and China. Both movies collected more than RM5 million at the box office — the most successful non-BM films in Malaysia to date.

There is a market for locally-made non-BM films. Unfortunately, not many producers are willing to make them because of the risks involved. Giving non-BM films the same incentives will definitely help to promote the local non-BM film industry, spur local creativity and inspire budding filmmakers to greater heights.

Umno leaders should stop pretending that they are sensitive to Chinese [Malaysian] rights. There are sufficient gambling avenues available to non-Muslims to indulge their habits. The non-Muslim communities have never requested for more opportunities to gamble.

Since Rais has admitted that the rights of non-Muslim Malaysians are constitutional, he should immediately abolish the restrictions on locally-made films which do not adhere to the “preferred language” condition.

He should also stop pretending he is an expert on non-Muslim lifestyles and stop using non-Muslims as scapegoats to pursue the government’s move to legalise sports betting.

---------------------------------------------------

Teo Nie Ching is Serdang Member of Parliament and DAP assistant national publicity secretary.

Turmoil in PKR over Selangor

The way I look at it, the tussle in PKR over the leadership of the Selangor state government is essentially between a party which was elected to power to serve the people’s interest and a faction within that party that appears more interested in personal ambition.

Some politicians – and they can be found in all political parties – are in the game for self interest. This type is always on the prowl, on the look out for contracts, positions of power, largesse. Serving the rakyat takes second place. They have gone into politics not primarily to serve the public but to serve their own interests and personal ambitions. These are the types who think political party workers and leaders must be rewarded for their efforts through the award of contracts and appointments to positions of influence or power.

Within PKR, there are obviously some who have not discarded the old Umno or BN mentality. Just by looking at their demeanour and body language and reading their statements and comments, you can almost sense whose interest they are out to serve.

How many of the gang of 15 (if there are really 15) are actually from Selangor in the first place?

This is not to say that MB Khalid’s leadership is not without its shortcomings or pressing issues of contention. There are some who say he is a one-man-show, soft on the civil servants etc, and these are areas that must be addressed.

But are those who are offering themselves as an alternative likely to be better overall and more effective in the leadership of the state? I somehow doubt it.

If they are more interested in serving their own personal ambitions it is best for them to quit the party rather than betray the voters’ aspirations for real change and meaningful people-centred reforms.

Blunt Switzerland bow out

Bloemfontein proved to be the graveyard for Switzerland's FIFA World Cup™ hopes as their bid to reach the last 16 ended in a frustrating goalless draw with Honduras. While the Swiss would rue their impotence in front of goal, the Central Americans were guilty of missing a host of gilt-edged chances on the night, as the curtain came down on their South African experience.

All four sides in Group H could conceivably still have qualified heading into this clash at the Free State Stadium, although Honduras, still without a win or a goal, had a huge mountain to climb. In simple terms, both sides needed a win. A thoroughly uninspiring opening spell was, thankfully, brought to an end in the tenth minute when Switzerland, who entered the match still with a chance of finishing top of their group, began to take the initiative. A neat one-two between Gokhan Inler and Tranquillo Barnetta sliced open the Honduras defence but the latter could only drag his shot wide of the target.

The game had finally started to awake from its slumber and the Swiss No7, Barnetta, in for the suspended Valon Behrami, was playing a key role in that. Honduras, for their part, were lacking any real shape and when Reinaldo Rueda's side did attack, they were guilty of overplaying their passes, with their limited opportunities regularly fizzling out as quickly as they had begun.

Barnetta switched flanks on the half-hour to try his luck against Mauricio Sabillon, but still Switzerland were unable to make any headway. They did, at least, have chances to break the deadlock – Barnetta's cross found the feet of Derdiyok, but his half-hearted swing at the ball allowed the attack to be easily swallowed up by the Honduras defence. Then, two minutes from the break, Derdiyok was given the opportunity to make amends, this time turning provider, but Blaise Nkufo got it all wrong at the far post.

The second half thankfully heralded a more positive spell of play, and Honduras could have edged themselves in front after 53 minutes, when Edgar Alvarez dropped a delightful ball onto the head of David Suazo. But the bustling striker failed to find the target with what was arguably the best opportunity of the match. Derdiyok should have done better with a right-foot shot shortly after the hour, as the Swiss stepped things a gear, largely thanks to the half-time introduction of Hakan Yakin.

That said, it was Honduras who carved out the next real chance of the game when Suazo, breaking at pace, picked out Alvarez's forward burst, only for the Honduran's strike to be brilliantly tipped over by Diego Benaglio. Switzerland were leaving themselves vulnerable to the counter-attack as they piled forward in numbers in search of the goal that would see them through to the last 16, and were thankful for some poor finishing on the part of the Central Americans, with Alvarez as guilty as anyone.

As the game opened up, twice substitute Alex Frei went close for the Swiss, while Stephan Lichsteiner was not far away with a fierce right-footed shot. Honduras, who could claim to have had the better chances in a frustrating second period, almost profited from some good work from Georgie Welcome in the dying minutes, but in the end neither side could break the deadlock before the final whistle sounded on their FIFA World Cup dreams.

Spain edge Chile, both go through

Spain beat ten-man Chile 2-1 to finish top of Group H and book a Round of 16 meeting with Portugal, while their opponents' courageous display was rewarded with a date with Brazil.

Goals from David Villa and Andres Iniesta, coupled with Marco Estrada's dismissal, appeared to give the European champions an impregnable lead at the break, but Rodrigo Millar's deflected strike got the South Americans back into a game they were desperate to win to guarantee a place in the knockout phase. As it transpired, Switzerland's inability to beat Honduras ensured Marcelo Bielsa's side advanced – something the Chilean players discovered, to their immense relief, after their faces had been pictures of desperation upon the final whistle in Tshwane/Pretoria.

A capacity crowd at Loftus Versfeld Stadium anticipated a beguiling duel between two footballing sides, whose players swiftly began satisfying those expectations. Chile's Alexis Sanchez drew gasps from the spectators with an eye-catching drag-back, while Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta served notice of his return to fitness and form by nonchalantly side-stepping two opponents and freeing Villa.

The contest's first chance fell to Fernando Torres, who raced in behind the Chile defence but, under pressure inside the area, blazed over. A better one then fell to Mark Gonzalez. Jean Beausejour squared the ball across goal and, although it was marginally behind the 25-year-old winger, he will have been disappointed at his failure to get a decent connection on a close-range shot.

Chile continued to push the pace until the 24th minute. That was when the Europeans took the lead. And that was when Villa became the first Spaniard to reach ten goals in major international competitions. Xabi Alonso started the move, robbing Jorge Valdivia of possession and launching the ball forward. Torres gave chase, outstripping the last Chilean defender and forcing Claudio Bravo to race from his line and, while sliding, divert the ball away from the Liverpool striker's path. Unfortunately for the Real Sociedad goalkeeper, his clearance dropped into the path of another clinical Spaniard and Villa, from 40 yards, duly curled the ball into the unguarded net.

Thirteen minutes later, Spain moved into a two-goal lead. Alonso carried the ball through the midfield and fed Villa, who broke into the area and, after drawing two opponents to him, cut the ball back for Iniesta to effortlessly pass it into the bottom-left corner of Bravo's goal. The referee, Marco Rodriguez, then red-carded Estrada, who had tripped Torres as he was galloping into the penalty area seconds before the goal.

Logic said that it was curtains for Chile. Bielsa, their indomitable coach, said otherwise. He remodelled his tactics, electing to attack through the centre rather than from the wings, introducing Millar and Esteban Paredes for Valdivia and Gonzalez in an adventurous double substitution. It immediately reaped dividends. Two minutes after the restart, Millar's shot deflected off Gerard Pique and looped over goalkeeper Iker Casillas and into his net.

Thereafter, however, Chile struggled to unravel their opponents' tactics and, when they did, Parades wasted half-chances. Villa fluffed better ones, his touch deserting him twice in quick succession around the hour mark. Vicente del Bosque's side then intelligently played possession football. Gradually, they exhausted their adversaries, who were already a man down. Bielsa bellowed instructions from the touchline, but Spain's impeccable ball retention left the Chileans unable to execute their coach’s orders.

There were looks of relief and delight from the Spaniards upon the final whistle. There were ones of uncertainty from the Chileans. That was until they heard the news: they were through to the Round of 16.

Elephants' roar not enough

Yaya Toure and Romaric scored first-half goals and Salomon Kalou added a late third as Côte d'Ivoire defeated Korea DPR in Nelspruit on Friday, yet Portugal's 0-0 draw with Brazil ensured the west Africans still ended the afternoon eliminated. With four points, the Elephants finish one behind the Portuguese, while Brazil top Group G with seven and the Koreans go home after three defeats.

Going into the match knowing they needed to make up at least nine goals on the Portuguese, the Ivorians attacked from the start at a raucous Mbombela Stadium as Kader Keita forced a good save from Korea DPR goalkeeper Ri Myong-Guk in the opening minute. The always-dynamic Gervinho looked to have done enough to open the scoring in the 11th minute when he collected the ball on the byline and pulled it past the goalkeeper and across the face of an empty net, but no Ivorian was on hand to take advantage.

But the Elephants were ahead just three minutes later as full-back Arthur Boka's ball sliced through the defence and found Yaya Toure in space on the edge of the area. The Barcelona man calmly brought it under control and curled a right-footed shot past the diving keeper. Midfielder Romaric tickled the outside of the post with a speculative shot shortly after before doubling the lead on 20 minutes. Didier Drogba made the goal with a fabulous bit of skill, holding off a defender, bringing the ball down and then smacking a shot off the underside of the bar. While appeals were made that the ball had crossed the line, Romaric kept his concentration and coolly nodded the ball through a group of defenders.

When the North Koreans threatened it was from the pace and industry of Japan-based striker Jong Tae-Se on the counter or from free-kicks, with captain Hong Yong-Jo's curling effort in the 24th minute the best they produced. But it was Côte d'Ivoire creating most of the opportunities, and Gervinho had two good openings before the half-time break. In the 38th minute, he broke onto a through-ball in the box but his shot skimmed the bar with the goalkeeper at his mercy. Then, just before the interval, he could only loop a header from Drogba's cross straight at the goalkeeper.

Korea DPR held onto the ball more in the second period, and Jong threatened with a low shot to Boubacar Barry's near post in the 51st minute. Drogba could have increased the Elephants' lead in the middle of the half with two headers but he failed to keep either on target. Côte d'Ivoire coach Sven-Goran Eriksson brought on forwards Aruna Dindane and Kalou in the 64th minute in the quest for more goals, but they left themselves more open at the back and Jong had two chances to score in the 81st minute, with the Korean sharpshooter denied only by some desperate defending. Just a minute after that, Côte d'Ivoire finally found their third – merely a consolation at that point – as Kalou managed to touch in Boka's cross ahead of the charging goalkeeper.

Brazil stalemate suits Portugal

The Brazilian carnival rolled into Durban on Friday, turning the sunny Indian Ocean coastal city into Copacabana beach for a day. However, the South Americans were unable to reward their vociferous support with goals, drawing 0-0 with Portugal – a result that takes both sides through to the Round of 16.

Brazil had the first chance of a cagey, stop-start first half with a long-distance effort from the tireless Dani Alves, featuring in place of the injured Elano on the right flank. But the Barcelona star hardly troubled Portugal goalkeeper Eduardo as his try trickled harmlessly wide of the post. He had another chance on the quarter-hour mark from a similar distance, with the keeper collecting easily.

Those efforts set the tone for much of what would follow. With Robinho on the bench and Kaka suspended, Brazil were reduced to trying their luck from long range as Juilio Baptista proved unable to get much going in the space behind strikers Nilmar and Luis Fabiano. Up the other end, Cristiano Ronaldo was ploughing a lone furrow in a defensive scheme set up by Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz. Fabio Coentrao was the most dangerous man on the park for the Portuguese, bursting up the left flank and delivering inch-perfect crosses that caused the Brazilian defence some concern in the opening period. Neither Tiago nor Ronaldo could take advantage of the best chances the Benfica wide man carved open, however.

The half-hour mark brought the clearest opening of a hard-fought first half, which produced seven yellow cards. A sneaky ball across the six-yard box from Luis Fabiano found Nilmar lurking at the back post. He rounded Ricardo Carvalho only to be denied by the upright from a tight angle. Seven minutes before the break Luis Fabiano then had a golden chance with a header from a similar position, but was unable to do justice to Dani Alves's cross.

Real Madrid ace Ronaldo, who got the biggest roar from the crowd at the start, began to get himself into some dangerous areas after the restart, forcing the Brazilian back line – captain Lucio in particular – into some last-ditch tackles. His deflected free-kick from distance in the 51st minute had the fans in yellow feeling a little nervous as Portugal began to look more positive in their approach. With substitute Simao pulling the strings, Queiroz's side nearly took the lead on the hour. Ronaldo broke free on the right of the area and when Lucio made the tackle, the ball fell for Raul Meireles, who could only manage to fire wide from close range.

In the end, though, a 0-0 draw was enough for both sides to move on, Brazil as Group G winners and Portugal as runners-up, pipping third-placed Côte d'Ivoire by a point. The Brazilians will now meet the second-placed team from Group H – in action later in the day – with Portugal taking on that section's winners.

HINDRAF PRESS STATEMENT : Sand and pebble eating poor and hungry Indian Children “Imprisoned”.

PRESS STATEMENT
Sand and pebble eating poor and hungry Indian Children “Imprisoned”.
Absurd and immoral action by Welfare Department.
It is absurd and ludicrous that the government has decided to place those children who were recently highlighted for eating sand and pebbles due to their poverty in welfare home.   
The social welfare department of Malaysia established in 1946 has gone through many transformation but in essence its role towards children taken into their care are those who have been abused, discriminated, exploited and orphaned.
Although the government is a party to The Convention On The Rights Of The Child (CRC) 1994 & Bali Consensus On Partnerships With And For Children In The East Asia And Pacific Region (2005), they seem to have breached their consensus whereby rather than keeping the family together, they rather separate the family unity in the pretext for their political agenda.
The state of the children that was highlighted was not because the parents neglected them but due to poverty that is inbred in thousands of Malaysian Indian families for systematically discriminate practice even from the welfare department.   
The Welfare Department similar to other organs of the UMNO led government seems to do as they like without regards to the welfare of the children or the family unity. Instead of helping these families who suffer in poverty they abjectly decide arbitrarily to deprive the children of their parents without a single thought for family unity.  Isn’t it not the duty of the welfare department to utilise the hundreds of millions of ringgit allocated to its department to help those categorised as hardcore poor? In the case of this family the father earns a mere RM 400 per month and the mother is a housewife. What is preventing the Welfare Department from immediately giving them financial welfare aid to resolve the immediate problems and then work out a formula to place this family under the welfare program of its department?  
The plight and cry of the children taken forcefully to stay with their parents "We love our mummy and … please let us go "
The welfare Department has de facto imprisoned these poor and helpless children for eating sand out of hunger. This is not the way to tackle the problem.
There seems to be no moral justification in taking the children into welfare care, when there are other options and avenues to maintain the unity of the family by other social programs that are mandated by law to provide for families such as this that face abject poverty rather than dividing the family unity. 
Why the government resorts to such methods really baffles HINDRAF when it seems to only involve the Malaysian Indians. Is it because there is nobody to question them or do they have a hidden agenda to ensure that the Malaysian Indians remain as the new under classed society of Malaysia?
What is widely reported by HINDRAF /HRP on the plight of this family is only the tip of the iceberg. There is close to 500,000 Indian born generation displaced population from the plantation engineered by Dr Mahathir when he came into the picture in the 80’s who continues to face such predicament in silence.
HINDRAF cannot sit quietly and absorb such outright practice by neither the UMNO government nor the silence of the opposition political parties for fear of their political agenda against the voiceless Malaysian Indians who suffer in silence.
Thank you.
P.Waytha Moorthy
CHAIRMAN
HINDRAF.   
Poor and hungry soil eating Indian girls now denied mum’s love, care and attention and to be converted to Islam at the Welfare Home.

UMNO MIC mandores modus operandi in demolishing hindu temples. To make way for a local park! And offers kosong 20×20 temporary relocation hindu temple land. And the excuse is to build a local park as if there is no other place to build the park in huge Malaysia which is 329,845 square kilometers. And this hindu temple sits on a mere 0.0001km.

In the latest case of hindu temple demolishments is the Perior hindu temple Setapak KL, demolishment today (24/6/10).
UMNO and MIC Mandores operandi:-
Step 1
The UMNO DBKL local authority serves a notice of demolishment to the hindu temple pursuant to racist, religious extremist and supremacist policies.
Step 2
The local Division level MIC Mandores move in and write token kosong and wayang kulit letters with the opening Salam Satu Malaysia to the UMNO DBKL local authorities. (See sample of wayang kulit letter attached hereinbelow). The local hindu community are given false hopes.
Step 3
Hindraf, HRP taking up this matter is sabotaged by also convincing the temple people that an alternative land would be given ( See HRP letter dated 10^th February 2010 enclosed herewith).
Step 4
MIC Mandores do wayang kulit Tamil media propaganda of a new alternative land for this temple. They even do a propaganda ceremony and is ably carried by the Tamil press. The MIC Deputy Minister mandore graces the occasion. (See newsreport enclosed herewith).
Step 5
One fine day a few months later the UMNO bulldozers move in and demolish the hindu temple.
Step 6
UMNO demolishes this and hundreds of hindu temple unchallenged with impunity because PKR, DAP, PAS, NGOs’, Malaysiakini.com, Indian elite, Bar Council and the rest of the Malaysian civil society matches silently this “blood letting” as the victims are merely and only the poor and powerless Indians. Even the 11 PKR, DAP and PAS Indian mandore MPS’ turn a blind eye and refuse to champion this cause as they may lose the malay muslim votes!
Step 7
The MIC mandores get some peanuts sub sub sub contracts, projects or allocations royal award in exchange for their mandorist arrangements.
Step 8
UMNO gets to implement their 53 year old racist, religious extremist nad supremacist agenda by systematically ‘ethnically cleansing” these hindu temples and also similarly hindu cemetaries, tamil schools and Indian settlements.
Step 9
The Indian victims suffer in silence with no one to wipe out their tears and fears. The PKR, DAP and PAS state government have also ably aped UMNO and have started demolishing hindu temples (e.g Ampang hindu temple Selangor), hindu cemetaries (e,g Ladang Batu Pekaka Kuala Ketil Kedah hindu cemetery and Indian settlements Kg. Buah Pala, Penang.
Step 10
At the next general elections PKR, DAP and PAS knowing that the 2.5 Million Indians not having a single Indian majority Parliamentary and State constituency would have no alternative but to vote for PKR, DAP and PAS.
Conclusion
     This does not happen to any masjid, Chinese temple, Church in Malaysia. Only hindu temples, cemetaries, Tamil schools and Indian settlements.
HRP’s project 15/38 is the creation of 15/38 Indian majority Parliamentary and state seats and winning the same in the 2012/2013 general elections is the only way forward.
P. Uthayakumar

HRP briefs U.N Rapporteurs on false Hindraf LTTE link by UMNO to justify ISA arrest of Hindraf lawyers, ASP Vasanthakumar planted to destroy Hindraf under Ops Padam Hindraf.

On 15/6/10 at 1.30p.m after the 13A protest in Parliament, P. Uthayakumar, Hindraf and HRP adviser N. Ganesan and Hindraf National Coordinator W. Sambulingam rushed to the U.N. office at Jalan Dungun, Damansara K.L.

     Here we were met by Mr El Hadji Malick SOW Chairperson – Rapporteur Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, Miguel DE LA LAMA Secretary Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Special Procedures Divisions, Claudia DE LA FUENETE Associate Human Rights Officer Special Procedures Branch/ Civil and Political Rights Section Office of the United Nations High Commisioner for Human Rights, Roberto GARRETON Member of the working Group on Arbitrary Detention Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council all from Geneva, Switzerland. This delegation all from was in Malaysia as a result of the intense UN and International lobby by Hindraf Chairman P. Waytha Moorthy and the persistent Hindraf supporters public lobby.

P. Uthayakumar briefed the U.N Rapportuers on:-

1) The false UMNO/BN allegations linking the Hindraf lawyers to terrorist LTTE to actually justify their detention without trial under the ISA .

2) The above done to divert attention away from the critical Indian problems some of which are as per the Malaysian Indian Minority & Human Rights Violations Annual Report 2009 Malay-sia Truly Racist 7^th – 9^th January 2010.

A copy of this annual report was presented to the aforesaid UN Rappoteurs.

3) The unlawful and unjustified arrest and detention of the four Hindraf lawyers without trial or conviction.

4) The rapporteurs were briefed on how these four lawyers with up to 20 years standing as active legal practitioners running up and about to up to three to four courts in one day could be linked to the LTTE terrorists.

5) That the UMNO led Malaysian government suddenly did an about turn and dropped this LTTE allegation when P. Uthayakumar had filed a civil suit against the (liar) Attorney General and government of Malaysia. In their Statement of Defence they now had the cheek to say that they never referred the LTTE terrorist allegation to P. Uthayakumar despite P. Uthayakumar being the most recognizable face in Hindraf. We had specifically requested UN to independently investigated this Hindraf LTTE link allegation by UMNO and publish their findings in the UN journals and also the U. N. General Assembly.

6) How police operative ASP Vasanthakumar was planted into Hindraf to create Confusion, appearance division and a split in the leadership of Hindraf under Ops Padam Hindraf.

7) About 60% of the inmates detained at the Simpang Renggam Detention Centre without trial are Malaysian Indians. This includes even a 17 year old juvenile who should have been in some corrective home.

That the police find the easy way out short cuts and detain without trial thousands of Malaysian Indians without putting them on trial in a court of law. With no money to pay lawyers these Indians languish in jails for four to six years and/or being banished to a remote town thereafter.

9) Because of this arbitrary detention the real criminals we believe are on the loose with police being partners in crime and with the crime rate escalating so much so that Malaysia has become one hundred times more dangerous to Singapore within a span of the last 20 years.

10) P. Uthayakumar also “tipped off that all the other NGO, Suhakam anti ISA groups, Malaysian civil society groups, Bar Council, Indian elite, PKR, DAP and PAS that were present would never also champion issues when the victims are Malaysian Indians the latest being top and high achieving Malay-sian indian students being denied scholarships in JPA, Petronas, Mara, Khazanah, GLCs’, Shell, Sime Darby, 13 yayasan Negeri’s, PTPTN scholarships, public University and Matriculation places.

And finally that the above organizations never went out of their way to campaign for our freedom from ISA. And if not for the Hindraf supporters relentless public campaigns, the Hindraf lawyers would still be languishing in jail even right up to date.

P. Uthayakumar

UMNO Permata Kindergarden segregates and excludes Indian children.

The Permata programme focuses on early childhood education and care for children aged between one and five whose parents earn below RM 1,500 and who live in rural areas.
But 90% of Tamil school children do not get to attend pre school (The Star 15/3/10 at page N 46) because of poverty and neither does Permata set up Kindergardens in Indian neighborhoods or allow Indian children into these Kindergardens.
Arising out of this 42% of standard one pupils in Tamil schools cannot read and write at all because they sis not attend kindergarden. (MO 10/3/10 at page 3). Their almost all one bedroom homes are not conducive for studying and they cannot afford kindergardens.
But all this can only happen in UMNO Prime Minister Najib Razak’s apartheid One Malay-sia. Malaysia today is the world’s most racist and only supremacist country.

RM 3 Billion KNM export business. Indians excluded

(See NST Business Times 24/6/10 at page B3)
This is just the tip of the iceberg.
Thousands of Indian businessmen have been denied licences permits and APs’ to import and export UMNO Prime Minister Najib Razak’s One Malay-sia.
P. Uthayakumar

UMNO denies Kaliamah alternative jasmine flower land. Kosong MIC mandore politics until it is wiped out.

Kaliamah’s 25 year old livelihood as a jasmine flower grower is ruthlessly wiped out by the UMNO controlled One Malay-sia Najib Razak led racist, religious extremist and supremacist government.
UMNO has given out ten acre land ownership schemes to 442,000 almost all or 99.9% malay muslim in Felda, Felcra, Risda, Fama Agropolition etc land schemes.
UMNO gets the MIC deputy Minister mandores to write kosong and wayang kulit letters to create the illusion that the Indians cause is indeed being championed.
P. Uthayakumar

Who is MIC mandore deputy minister Saravanan? Asks lowest level UMNO DBKL enforcement constable. MIC has zero power in B.N. Indian mandore MPs have zero power in P.R.

The DBKL yesterday demolished the Perianna Hindu temple Setapak and the adjoining Jasmine flower garden.
When the temple caretaker Kasiamma showed a letter by MIC Deputy Minister Saravanan, even the lowest level UMNO DBKL civil servant asked “who is Saravanan?” meaning “which MIC mandore”. (TN headlines 25/6/10).
This is the 53 year old reality of how the desperate MIC, PPP and IPF mandores are treated by even the lowest level UMNO civil servants. Right from the MIC Minister mandore to the MIC Deputy Minister, MIC, Exco and MIC Councilor, they have no power and this is exactly how the Malay Muslim UMNO authorities have treated them in the last 53 years. This latest case of mandore Saravanan is just the tip of the iceberg of MIC having zero power in BN.
In return for this mandore role, these MIC, PPP and IPF mandores get some small sub sub sub contracts or projects, royal awards and other peanuts.
This is exactly how the PKR, DAP and PAS eleven Indian MP Mandores Exco and DCM II mandores in Kedah, Penang and Selangor, ADUN, Councilor, JKKK and Ketua Kampong Indian mandores are being treated by the PKR, DAP and PAS state governments in Kedah, Penang and Selangor. Like the MIC, the Indian MP, DCM II, Exco, Adun and Councilors in PKR, DAP and PAS have zero powers in Parliament Opposition bench and the state governments of Penang Kedah and Selangor. The top tuan, tuan haji and towkay in PKR, PAS and DAP are not going to care for the poor and powerless Indian’s welfare and well being.
The 3 MIC mandores and the 11 Indian MP mandores in P.R is powerless to raise or put an emergency motion on this latest Hindu temple demolishment issue or the 7As’ to 13As’ SPM top and high achieving students being denied scholarships in JPA, Mara, PETRONAS, Khazanah, Sime Darby, 13 state Yayasan, PTPTN loans public University and matriculation places.
What more the scores of other critical problems which they are pretending does not exist especially as daily highlighted in our website www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com
Project 15/38 Indian creation of 15 and 38 Indian majority seats, Indians vote for Indians in the said 15 & 38 Indians majority seats is the only way forward.
P. Uthayakumar

Professor Ramasamy’s last term in Prai and Batu Kawan for failing to raise in Parliament or champion up to 13A Indian students denied scholarships and University places.

This was the message Human Rights Party (HRP) Secretary General P.Uthayakumar gave some 300 HRP and Hindraf supporters at the launch of the Tawan Prai and Batu Kawan HRP bilek gerakan for the 2012/ 2013 general elections.

P.Uthayakumar asked why even a prominent scholar like Professor Ramasamy, who appears to be the best person to talk about educational issues, failed to raise or move an emergency motion in Parliament on the issue of bright and top scoring Indian students from especially poor families being denied JPA, Petronas, Mara, TNB, Shell, Khazanah, Sime Darby, 13 Yayasan Negeri scholarships, PTPTN loans etc and entrance into local and overseas Universities, Scholarships and Matriculation places. There was pin-drop silence among the crowd. They were listening very attentively. The silence was very intense! This was the same silence that we saw shortly before the 12^th General Election, which subsequently translated into the disastrous tsunami!

P.Uthayakumar expressed regret that despite there also being 11 Indian mandore MPs’ from PKR, DAP and PAS in Parliament, not a single MP raised this issue or put in an emergency motion in Parliament against these UMNO atrocities. Let alone for the scores of the other critical Indian issues.

P.Uthayakumar thereafter launched the HRP’s Project 15/38 as the only way for forward and said that Prai and Batu Kawan will be the first seats to be won by HRP. These two seats are very special to P.Uthayakumar as Prai is P.Uthayakumar’s birth place.

In his speech P.Uthayakumar said that HRP has had had five think tank meetings to train our very own HRP MPs’ and ADUNs’. So that our HRP MPs’ and ADUNS can also fight for these 7As’ to 13As students right up to Parliament, Inter Parliamentary Union, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the United Nations, European Union and other international forums. With their status as elected representatives they would become politically empowered. These future HRP MPs and ADUNs will do nationwide campaigns without fear or favour of losing Malay votes or the tuans, tuan hajis or towkays in PKR, PAS and DAP.

The MIC, PKR, DAP and PAS Indian MPs and ADUN mandores are powerless because they fear losing Malay votes and will not speak up for the Indians. Their tuan, tuan haji and towkays in PKR, PAS and DAP will not allow them to raise Indian issues because they fear losing Malay votes.

Because in these proposed 15 and 38 seats they would all have won on Indian majority seats our HRP MPs and ADUNs will become politically empowered.

The Prai HRP bilik gerakan opening ceremony commenced with the reciting of Thevaram. This was followed by the Hindraf and HRP flag raising ceremony, raised in a solemn and timed motion that the flag reached the top as the Hindraf/HRP theme song, “Tholvi Nilaiyena Ninaithaal” ended. Every time this song is played or sung at the Hindraf/HRP functions, it never fails to touch the audience to their deepest core. What a song this is, so powerful, moving, and connecting everyone present. The end of the song, much to everyone’s delight, was greeted by a spectacular display of fireworks to the roaring thunder of cheers and claps from the swelling crowd.

The atmosphere was further enhanced by an interesting video show entitled, “The Teh Tarik Session” scripted and acted by the Penang HRP team on police ASP plant K.Vasanthakumar planted into Hindraf to create confusion, division and to break up Hindraf under Ops Padam Hindraf and now claims to be a Hindraf leader. The Hindraf accounts being made public, P.Uthayakumar’s Project 15/38 and Hindraf Chairman P.WaythaMoorthy’s International campaigns.

HRP and Hindraf coordinator Mr. Sambulingam roared to the crowd first spilling the 1001 problems inflicted upon the Indian society in this country by UMNO from womb to tomb. The Indian mandore’s in the Opposition parties were chided for failing to raise these pertinent problems in Parliament for which they were voted in by the Malaysian Indians on Hindraf’s political directions. Instead of championing this 13A issue this Professor makes time to question irrelevantly the Hindraf accounts that was cleared in Parliament by the Home Minister himself. To this, the crowd responded, “kick them out in the next election!” Mr. Sambulingam continued, “come what may, Hindraf and HRP’s struggle will continue until justice is served to the Indians in this country!”.

Next, was a very touching and poignant event. A group of people representing various problems laden in this society presented Hindraf’s 18 point demands to Uthayakumar and urged him to lead, guide and free the society from the gross injustices they are trapped in.

HRP and Hindraf National adviser Mr. N. Ganeson explained that this was the third state office opened after Puteri Wangsa in Johor and Sri Andalas in Selangor apart from the HRP HQ in Jalan Bangsar, and four more offices opened nationwide to facilitate HRP’s and the poor and powerless Indian struggle. He also explained HRP’s progress thus far since its official launching in July last year. Further stressed upon the importance of having the real political power via Project 15/38 to find solution to the society’s many plights!

Finally, Mr. P. Uthayakumar officially launched the 15/38 Project, accompanied by another spectacular display of fireworks. This was followed by three loud shouts of “Naam Namakke Vaakalipom” or “We Vote for Ourselves” by Mr. Sambulingam. The curtains of the ceremony finally fell with once again, singing of the Hindraf/ HRP theme song by all.

Later a press conference was held in the office before dinner was served to all.

S.Jayathas