Sensitive – what is sensitive. Is Hindraf’s articulation of violation of the Federal Constitution sensitive?

Let me begin by quoting two articles of the Malaysian Federal Constitution as I elaborate and explain Hindraf’s position about the recent Sultan of Johore’s statement – what seems to be a veiled support to encourage the neo-fascist movement PERKASA.
:
Equality
8. (1) All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law.
(2) Except as expressly authorized by this Constitution, there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender in any law or in the appointment to any office or employment under a public authority
Reservation of quotas in respect of services, permits, etc., for Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak
153. (1) It shall be the responsibility of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other communities in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
Safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and to ensure the reservation for Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak of such proportion as he may deem reasonable
1) of positions in the public service
2) of scholarships
3) of educational or training privileges
4) of permits and licenses.

Here are my comments :
Employment in Government services today is overwhelmingly Malay.
Scholarships are provided almost entirely to Malays
Places in Public Universities are disproportionately for Malays
Permits and licences are awarded almost entirely to Malays.


What about the legitimate interests of the other communities in all these areas? Is this not an issue in this country?

What is the Monarch’s role here? The Federal Constitution is abundantly clear that the Monarch has an equal role in taking care of the legitimate interests of the “others” as he has in safeguarding the special position of the Malays and the people of Sabah and Sarawak. These are the two limbs to Article 153. Two parts to the question of allocation of the national resources. The second limb seems now not to matter.

Is it Ok to say that questioning this ignoring of the second limb is a sensitive matter just because it involves the Monarch.

Is it Ok to say you cannot draw attention on the involvement of the Monarch to safeguard the provisions in the supreme document of the country, that’s a sensitive matter.

The implicit thinking within UMNO circles is that everything in this country is Malay property and it is out of the goodwill of the Malays that the non-Malays get anything at all here in Malaysia. This is a totally unconstitutional position.

But UMNO chooses not to care, they have stolen the whole show and want to keep it that way, by threatening that this is sensitive or that is sensitive and therefore you should not touch it. The constitution has laid out a basis for the allocation of the national resource (vague as it is – still a basis) but nowhere does it say, take it all. UMNO has chosen to ignore this provision and has in the last 40 years taken it all.… However the current day politics prevents UMNO from continuing to mouth this position of “it is our right to take it all” any more, so enter PERKASA as their outsourced mouthpiece.

Then the Sultan of Johore comes out in defence of this outsourced UMNO mouthpiece PERKASA.

Do we just take all this. This convoluted logic of PERKASA has to be eliminated once and for all. Hindraf is just speaking up for all of us who do not subscribe to UMNO’s version of Article 153. So, what has to be said is said. The cat needs to be belled.

let the rakyat decide the truth of the matter.

To continue with this story as there has been an innocuous extension – a few days later Najib in the MCA conference says that the Chinese cannot be described as “pendatang’ and his erstwhile de facto Law Minister Nazri echoes it “"The mothers of Indians born in Malaysia have spilled their blood on the soil of the nation when they delivered them into this world , hence they are the sons of the Malaysian soil, as sung in our national anthem negara ku, tanah tumpahnya darahku. It is the Indonesians who come to our country (legally or illegally) who are the immigrants and not you Indians who were born here."

They have just abandoned the Johore Sultan’s position themselves and are by extension questioning the support of the Johore Sultan for PERKASA. Najib and Nazri are saying the nons are not pendatangs any more, which means now they are all equal to the Pribumis and then there is no more the issue of “this is all ours, why do we need to give it to them” – an intrinsic position of PERKASA that the Sultan supported . Ask Ibrahim Ali – he will tell you more.

Should not UMNO Johor have a demonstration against them as well?

But we know Najib’s and Nazri’ statements are nothing more than useless rhetoric. And we also know that UMNO Johore will not be heard from again on this issue. And we also know this kind of antic has to go and wisdom has to prevail for our nation to emerge as a great nation – trapped in by this syndrome “of us and the pendatangs”.

For our part we will continue to lay out on the table for discussion all those things which maintain this undesirable status quo that keep us in this trap. We will continue to raise those issues which have been considered taboo or “sensitive” for discussion, for it is past due to review and to re-evaluate.

Naragan

20101011 Puchong soalan jawab lisan ditolak tentang Perkasa dan surat khabar Utusan Malaysia

New issue of magazine offers jihadists terror tips

The second issue of "Inspire" magazine includes an article on using pickup trucks to "mow down the enemies of Allah."

 

(CNN) -- The second edition of an online al Qaeda magazine has surfaced with frank essays, creatively designed imagery and ominous terror tips such as using a pickup truck as a weapon and shooting up a crowded restaurant in Washington.

The magazine is called "Inspire" and intelligence officials believe that an American citizen named Samir Khan, now living in Yemen, is the driving force behind the publication.

The latest edition was emerged on the 10th anniversary of the suicide attack on the guided missile destroyer USS Cole -- struck as it refueled in Aden, Yemen. The first edition came out in July.

Christopher Boucek, a Yemen expert with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said the timing is no coincidence.

"It also comes on the heels of a busy week for al Qaeda in Yemen. They released an hourlong video last week. There was also an attack on a British Convoy in Sanaa [Yemen's capital] last week. And an audiotape was released two days ago. Al Qaeda in Yemen is good at amplifying its message and that shows the organization is still active, that they're still able to function," he said.

An article titled "The Ultimate Mowing Machine" calls for using a pickup truck as a "mowing machine, not to mow grass but mow down the enemies of Allah."

The article says that such a plan could be implemented in countries where people back the "Israeli occupation of Palestine, the American invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq or countries that had a prominent role in the defamation of Muhammad."

It said a four-wheel-drive pickup truck is needed -- "the stronger the better."

"To achieve maximum carnage, you need to pick up as much speed as you can while still retaining good control of your vehicle in order to maximize your inertia and be able to strike as many people as possible in your first run," the article says.

Another tip in the magazine includes the use of firearms.

"For this choose the best location. A random hit at a crowded restaurant in Washington DC at lunch hour, for example, might end up knocking out a few government employees.

"Targeting such employees is paramount and the location would also give the operation additional media attention."

An idea in the first edition, "Make a Bomb in the Kitchen of Your Mom," is touched on again.

"The pressurized cooker should be placed in crowded areas and left to blow up. More than one of these could be planted to explode at the same time. However, keep in mind that the range of the shrapnel in this operation is short range so the pressurized cooker or pipe should be placed close to the intended targets and should not be concealed from them by barriers such as walls."

Adam Raisman, senior analyst at SITE Intelligence Group, said the "very well-presented magazine" covers a variety of topics, is meant to reach a wider audience, and tries to be tongue-in-cheek in its presentation.

"The magazine has suggestions, ideology it attempts to instill in the reader, and it includes tips for technology," Raisman said.

Boucek said the "big takeaway" is that the magazine is focusing on what the individual can do.

"The message to the lone actor is to be patient -- that you can do it -- you can participate in this," he said.

There are writings in the magazine by Yemeni-American cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who U.S. authorities have linked to the failed attempt to blow up a U.S.-bound jetliner in December. Samir Khan wrote an article titled "I Am Proud to be a Traitor to America."

There is also recycled material. The latest issue includes recent commentary from Adam Yahiye Gadahn, who is an American, about President Barack Obama.

Aminul’s position different from that in police photos, says paramedic

SHAH ALAM, Oct 13 — The Sessions Court here was told today that shooting victim, Aminulrasyid Amzah’s body was found in a different position than what was photographed and tendered as evidence in court.

Klang hospital’s Muhamad Sahid Abdul Karim was the first emergency aid worker to reach the car crash scene in Section 11’s Jalan Makyong on April 26, at 2.23am.

“When I got there, the victim was not like that,” the trial’s first non-police personnel testified, after scrutinizing a set of pictures handed to him by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar.

Muhamad Sahid, however, did not elaborate how the position was different.

But he said he remembered because the shorts worn by the victim that morning was “colourful”, different from the shorts in the photograph.

The photographs he was asked to look at — pasted on an A4-sized sheet of paper in a folder — could not be seen from the public gallery.

Muhamad Sahid said he saw the victim, whom he described as a young man, lying face down outside the crashed car, a white Proton that was pinned between a tree and a fence.

“I saw a man lying down outside a car with his legs stretched straight out and his head on the car seat. I didn’t see his face,” he said and got down on his hands and knees, burying his face straight into a cushioned chair next to the witness stand, to demonstrate what he meant.

He added he did not remember how the hands were positioned.

The paramedic immediately pulled out a penlight to check on the victim’s body for signs of life and injuries. He found none – no wounds and no vital signs – from a cursory check on the back of the body.

He did it twice to be sure, using a stethoscope to listen for breathing sounds. That’s when he pronounced the victim had passed away and informed the police.

“So I stopped. Then I saw my hand, which had been gloved, had blood on it. It was the hand that had been supporting the victim’s forehead,” Muhamad Sahid said, adding he tried to turn the victim over to check for injuries but was blocked by a policeman.

”There was a policeman who forbid me from moving or shifting the victim from his prone position,” the witness said.

He was told to wait for the police investigating officer to arrive first before making any further move on the body.

Muhamad Sahid also said he had not been informed there was a shooting when he received the order from the hospital’s emergency call centre at 2.02am to attend to a road accident in Section 11.

It took him about 20 minutes to reach the crash site from the Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah in Klang, he said. He had taken a wrong turning and had to ask for directions from the call centre.

He left to return to the hospital after spending about 20 minutes at the scene but without taking the body in the ambulance back with him.

Teenager Aminulrasyid had been hotly pursued by two police patrol cars in the early hours of April 26 morning.

The 14-year-old had snuck out with his elder sister’s white Proton to go for a joyride with his pal, Azamuddin Omar, without a driving licence.

Yesterday, police photographers testified that two live bullets and 17 spent shells were recovered from the around the crash scene.

Ibrahim denies being disrespectful, blames media

Ibrahim Ali

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — Datuk Ibrahim Ali lambasted the opposition and the media today for accusing him of disrespect when he failed to rise during a one-minute silence tribute to the late Batu Sapi MP, asking if he would be attacked next for “farting or coughing”.

“I stood up, only a bit late so what is the problem?

“Next time, if I fart or cough also it will be a problem. Now, Ibrahim Ali has become a problem... especially to people like you, Malaysian Insider, FMT, Malaysiakini,” he charged at reporters in Parliament this morning.

Two days ago, the Pasir Mas MP was accused of disrespect when he allegedly failed to stand up and was even seen talking on his mobile phone when the House observed a minute-long silence to show respect to Batu Sapi MP Edmund Chong Ket Wah who passed away in an accident recently.

Ibrahim defended himself today however, explaining that he stood up a little later than the other MPs for he was unwell and had a “numb” leg.

“I am not shy. I have diabetes now and I am under treatment so I am quite sick.

“Since I am under treatment, my eyes are a little watery, whenever I sit, if I do not have a friend with me, I tend to sleep, you know.

“Like when I sit in the LRT, when the train reaches my stop, I won’t be standing up immediately to leave,” he said.

He however did not deny that he had been talking on the phone during the tribute.

“I had my phone in my hand... when an important call comes about an issue from him, then how?” he asked.

Ibrahim also accused the opposition of using him as a “punching bag”, claiming they were bankrupt of ideas to use as accusations against him.

“But I feel good... I tell you, I feel much stronger and stronger because as I said, I am quite sick now. But you have to be resposible, choose better issues to use against me,” he said.

He welcomed the opposition to attack him if they found him guilty of any wrongdoing.

“If Ibrahim Ali committed corruption, or abuse of power, or if I committed sodomy, then attack me on that, no problem with me. If you found that I have done wrong, if it will make a big impact, attack me, but not when I fart or cough,” he said, triggering laughter among the press members gathered around him.

Pakatan MPs demand RCI on Musa’s ‘third force’ claims

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MPs demanded today that a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) be formed to probe allegations of a “third party” exerting pressure on the police force.

The Home Ministry revealed yesterday that it did not intend to investigate Tan Sri Musa Hassan’s claims of “third party meddling” in police affairs.

Musa, who is the former Inspector-General of Police, had alleged excessive interference by “third parties” in police business, naming the home ministry among others.

PR lawmakers, however, remained unconvinced with Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin’s reply.

They said that the dismissal of Musa’s claims by the ministry was “unbecoming” as the allegations were made by the country’s former top cop.

“It’s a complete mockery for the Home Ministry to make light of this situation. An independent commission must be set up to investigate his claims. Although this may sound redundant, but the best option now would be to set up a RCI,” said DAP’s Tony Pua.

The DAP national publicity secretary told The Malaysian Insider that the ministry’s reply indicated that they doubt Musa’s credibility.

“This essentially means that the Home Ministry is saying that the former IGP’s claims are not credible, that the IGP is likely to be lying, and does not warrant further investigation.

“This man was an IGP. Of course his allegations warrants investigation. One of the highest ranking officers has claimed interference within the police force,” said Pua.

PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub echoed Pua’s remarks, saying that the ministry cannot afford to just “dismiss” the issue.

“I strongly support the suggestions for a royal commission of inquiry, and I will personally be taking the matter up in Parliament,” Salahuddin told The Malaysian Insider.

Another alternative, according to the Kubang Kerian MP was to set up a “bi-partisan” caucus to look into Musa’s claims.

“A bi-partisan caucus should also be formed to pressure the authorities to investigate the matter,” he said.

PKR MP Datuk Johari Abdul said that Musa’s claims should be taken lightly as there were “definitely” some element of truth to it.

“Maybe the Minister is taking this lightly, but this is an issue which involves national security. At the end of the day, Musa has admitted experiencing difficulties in discharging his duties as IGP.

“We want to know what’s happening. Who is this third force? Why are they given the power to meddle with police matters? To what extent is this interference? [Has been] interference [in] any high-profile cases?

“We are talking about the issue of national security here,” the Sungai Petani MP told The Malaysian Insider.

In a written reply yesterday to Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, Hishammuddin said that the ministry did not plan to take any action on Musa’s claims.

“At this present time the Home Ministry does not plan to investigate the claims of the former IGP about third party interference in the police force.

“The ministry is also not planning to take any action on the claims,” said the written reply.

The reply did not state the reasons for not investigating Musa’s allegations.

The home ministry has consistently denied it had meddled in any police matters, saying that its involvement with the police was limited to weekly meetings with the force to discuss resource allocations and to review case files.

Following Musa’s allegations, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers had urged the top cop to lodge reports with an ombudsman, the Public Complaints Bureau and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to eradicate such problems from the police force.

Amendments to curtail BN bosses' power

By RK Anand - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: Several controversial amendments to be tabled at next month's Barisan Nasional convention is set to cause ripples in the ruling coalition.

FMT learnt that some BN component party leaders were seeing red over the amendments as it would curtail their powers and render them as mere figureheads.

If approved, a BN source said the amendments would also rob component party leaders of their say on who to field during elections.

According to the source, there would be no allotment of seats to various political parties as practiced in previous general elections.

“The seats could be allocated to independent members to contest,” he added.

The source said a committee would decide on the candidate for a particular parliamentary or state seat.

Since the formation of the Alliance, BN's predecessor, in 1974, it had been the practice for component party leaders to nominate their choice of candidates for a particular seat.

Consensus system to be abolished

Meanwhile, the source said the consensus system in BN, which was practiced since its formation, would be abolished and replaced with majority-based decision.

The source warned that the move would likely meet with stiff resistance from BN component parties.

“This means that if a component party does not agree to the inclusion of another party into BN, it would be meaningless as the decision will be based on a majority vote,” he said.

Currently, political parties intending to become a BN component must have the consensus of all coalition members.

If any one party were to object, the application would be rejected.

The other amendments included the direct admission of individuals, clubs, non-government organisations and political parties into the coalition.

A secretariat would be formed to look after the direct membership, the source said.

The BN convention would be held here on Nov 28.

KONSPIRASI UNTUK MENGHALANG NURUL IZZAH DARI BERTANDING SEBAGAI TIMBALAN PRESIDEN?

KENYATAAN AKHBAR

Kami tidak pernah dimaklumkan mengenai tarikh akhir penyerahan nama-nama calon adalah pada 10 Oktober 2010 dan adalah tidak adil untuk menidakkan kelayakkan Nurul Izzah untuk bertanding sebagai timbalan presiden.
 
Pandangan umum rata-rata melihat PKR tidak mampu menguruskan pemilihan dalaman parti dan tindakan menolak pencalonan yang dibuat oleh cabang dilihat memburukkan lagi keadaan. Kami tidak pernah dimaklumkan mengenai tarikh akhir penyerahan nama-nama calon adalah pada 10 Oktober 2010 dan adalah tidak adil untuk menidakkan kelayakkan Nurul Izzah untuk bertanding sebagai timbalan presiden. Adakah ini satu konspirasi untuk menghalang Nurul Izzah daripada bertanding?
Kami mengharapkan agar pihak parti dapat menerima pencalonan yang telah dibuat di peringkat cabang, bukan sahaja bagi memastikan ketelusan pemilihan dalaman parti, tetapi juga membuktikan bahawa parti ini benar-benar memilih untuk melaksanakan demokrasi dan bukan hanya bergerak sebagai batu loncatan bagi individu-individu tertentu melaksanakan agenda peribadi.

Lokman b. Uri
Ketua Cabang Semporna
Parti Keadilan Rakyat
Tel: 012 8644060

Kelantan palace revokes Ibrahim Ali's datukship

(The Star) KOTA BARU: Kelantan palace Wednesday revoked the datukship of Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali and former state secretary Wan Hashim Wan Daud.

The revocation of Ibrahim’s datukship came several days after he visited the former Sultan of Kelantan Tuanku Ismail Petra.

After the visit on Friday, Ibrahim was quoted by the media as saying that the former Sultan was very happy to see him and that he remembered their shared experiences years before.

Wan Hashim is the private secretary to the former ruler.

When asked for a comment in Parliament, Ibrahim said it was not a big deal.

He said he was not surprised with the revocation of his datukship but stressed that it had nothing to do with his role as Perkasa president.

He said he was still a datuk as he has two other awards which carried such a title from Selangor and Malacca.

Ibrahim said he was still in the dark as to the reason why his award from the Kelantan Palace was revoked.

But he said he had visited the former Sultan on Friday as he is very close to Tuanku Ismail Petra.

Sex and RPK

By batsman

Is our hero undergoing male menopause? All this sighing and banging on drums is a little foreboding. With PR shaky and fractious, a strong hero to lean on is not a bad thing. Hopefully RPK will be able to charge up and rally the forces in good time. Still, we are all human and Mandela himself admits he went through some very bad times.

Anyway, RPK’s “crossroads” article seems to reflect his sense of gloom and shows some distraction. There is altogether too much emphasis on lousy politicians and not enough attention paid to civil servants. In line with his assertion that UMNO rules very much like communists, there should be some discussion of the role of civil servants in contributing to Malaysia’s malaise.

Communism is the rule of bureaucrats in cahoots with politicians and as Micah says – one party rule will result in politicians of low caliber. This can only mean that the way is open for abusive and power hungry bureaucrats to strut their stuff.

This is clearly reflected in Malaysia with the loss of the original idealism of UMNO and the rise to power of abusive judges, policemen, MACC officials, state secretaries, etc. After all, Perkasa claims that many of its VIP members are ex-army chieftains, and former top directors in the civil service. These are the “hidden” forces of conservatism and abuse of power along with those currently “serving”. UMNO has allowed the civil service to turn corrupt and abusive and these corrupt bureaucrats are now the power base and pillars of UMNO’s strength.

All this is inevitably going to reflect on the PR’s ability to undertake reforms. It is not as if we are in a revolutionary situation where revolutionary justice holds sway and corrupt bureaucrats can be dragged out and shot. We are a reform movement and we still have to stick to the rules of the game however biased and violent they are against us.

When the ANC took power in S Africa, there was a reconciliation effort and white supremacists were allowed to roam free in spite of past abuses. Similarly, when Cambodia opted for peace, the Khmer Rouge were not only given amnesty, but many of them were incorporated into the Cambodian armed forces and some even became ministers.

So it has to be in Malaysia. Besides – the people have no stomach to drag out corrupt an abusive bureaucrats for punishment since the people themselves seem to be apathetic and politically immature.

MACC’s famous NFA policies and attitudes are a case in point. There is hardly a ripple of indignation among the voters. RPK himself says that Mat Zain Ibrahim’s letter would have brought governments in civilized countries to the brink of collapse, but not so in Malaysia. Apparently we are still politically uncivilized – among other things.

So the apathy and political immaturity of the people has also to be given some attention too since this will impact on the ability of the PR to undertake reforms. Reforms must be pushed from the bottom as well as from the top for better chances of success. If we rely only on the top politicians for reform initiatives and depend on abusive and corrupt bureaucrats to implement reforms, then we are dead ducks.

But does that mean there is a need for a 3rd force? Well, yes and no. There is a need for a 3rd force to act as counter balance – some sort of check and balance against abuse and sin in the ranks of both the government and the opposition. However, a 3rd force organized as a separate entity in competition with the PR will be an exercise in distraction and dissipation at this time. Concentration is still needed to force a breach in the power of abuse, sin and corruption. We still need to win basic freedoms and we need to get rid of the disease before we can struggle to maintain a healthier lifestyle.

Masses of people have to be galvanized and organized to push for reforms. This requires money, organizing skill and sacrifice. After all, the People’s Declaration is just a piece of paper with words written on it. For it to be translated into reality a lot of things have to be done. If the People’s Declaration needs a year to be written down, it will probably take 10 years for it to be at the beginning stage of implementation.

Similarly, RPK’s writing is genius in verse, but for them to be translated into reality money, organizing skill and sacrifice from a great many people need to be liberally consumed in copious amounts. I am sure RPK’s writings will be legendary in time to come, but it may be decades before this happens. I hope will be able to overcome his gloom as Mandela did.

Writing with regards to reform is like sex with regards to marriage. Sex is a few hours of pleasure while marriage is a lifetime of commitment. I think women more than men will be able to understand this better.

To have a good life, women in the past had only themselves to offer as wives and mothers. This meant a lifetime of sacrifice as flesh and labour in the bedroom and kitchen. Women yearned to be able to express themselves and their identity emotionally and intellectually, so there was a women’s liberation movement. Unfortunately, after much time and sacrifice, women still find that their efforts and talent face difficulty finding acceptance and the avenues for progress are actually tiny narrow little lanes blocked by corruption and filth. So sex and motherhood is still the major part of what a woman can offer especially so since commercialism and modern mass media exploits sex as an avenue of progress.

This means that women in the main have little taste for women’s liberation these days since the promises far outweigh the reality. It is the same with people’s attitude towards reforms. This does not mean that women resign themselves to be sex objects or that people forego reforms. It just means that it will be a harder, more complicated and more painful sacrifice than what most people expect and will take a much longer time to achieve.

At this time, I would like to link the discussion of sex with PAS to break the boredom. PAS works in a tireless and patient manner. For its pains, it is able to win 2/3 of the seats it contests. People can draw lessons from this – that one has to work tirelessly and patiently, and that PAS is the most stable and most disciplined of the 3 components parties of the PR since it is armed with some very serious ideals, but there is still another lesson to be learnt.

In spite of PAS’s efforts, it still cannot win 90% of the seats it contests. This is life. In a way it is saying UMNO controls the civil service and the mass media and these are forces to be reckoned with and not to be taken lightly. So it is not all the fault of the PR.

Politics is a serious matter, but there will inevitably be opportunists who will crowd around for personal gain. Writing is also a serious matter, but unless and until masses of people truly believe its arguments and reason and are willing to take action for their own as well as for other people’s progress, and until great leaders rise from the ranks of the masses to lead them, the road will continue to be long and arduous, maybe even a little gloomy.

So please don’t prey, prey on the drums too much or for too long. heeheehee

Mobilising moderate Malaysia

By KJ John

PM Najib Abdul Razak argued at the UN that the mainstream moderate majority must be mobilised to reflect and protect universal values of common day civility. He repeated the same call at the Asem Meetings in Brussels.

Coincidentally, Raja Petra Kamaruddin (RPK) also made the same call in London at a Friends of Pakatan event; calling for the more significant role of the Third Force in Malaysian politics.

Actually these two leaders agree on the strategy forward for their nation. The only difference is that one is the leader of the formal system working within the UN system of nation-states and the other a civil society leader working via informal networks within his own country. One is elected, the other anointed by a specific calling.

It is good that they do actually agree on something. That allows and promotes a common ground for a virtuous dialogue on how to grow a 1Malaysia into a Bangsa Malaysia.

The current problem in Malaysia though, and actually anywhere in the world in the Global Village of McLuhan, is that the public interest does not seem to be the responsibility of anyone in particular any more.

Too many people and the large majority are only interested in their pet agendas and very few have interest in the common grounds of the public interest. These used to be called the commons. Today even the public service functions focus on rationalising their self-survival and existence rather than serving the public interest.

Let me quote a real-life example. This morning as I went walking I came across two young Malaysians on a motorbike at a traffic light. I stopped as I was crossing the lights and asked them their ages. One was ten and the other eight.

I asked who gave them permission to be on the road. The older one replied that he was only going to buy things for his mother from a grocery shop. I asked him if he knew the law. He simply looked down and pretended that “I should close one eye on the matter, presumably while waiting for the light to change.”

I instructed him to turn around and go home or I would report him to the police. He did turn around and I pray that he went home and never rides the motorbike illegally again. But, please do not hold your breath!

Whose responsibility is it?

Whose responsibility is it then to make sure that “our public space morality is not violated in casual ways?” Whose responsibility is it to make sure that “young boys like these do not become the Aminulrasyids of the world who consequently get killed after a police chase?” Is it then only the responsibility of the police to monitor and enforce such public space morality? What is the role and responsibility of the average Malaysian moderate mainstream human being?

The grand mufti of Syria who spoke on ‘The challenges of the 21st century Muslims’ at the Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies also had this reminder to all his listeners. By his definition and articulation, all Malaysians and all human beings, not just Muslims, faced the same set of challenges in the 21st century.

His talk was refreshing and very inclusive. I left encouraged that there are great Muslim leaders like him who are moderates and are speaking for the large majority. He also challenged me to review my rather limited views on some aspects of universality.

Furthermore, the PM at the launch of the Razak School of Government (RSOG) at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) recently while making the inaugural ‘Razak Perdana Lectures’ argued that there are four benchmarks for public service, if Malaysia does not want to become a failed state.

The Prime Minister argued that “world class leadership was not merely about leading but also about inspiring others to follow suit. It required the ability to make the right decision on informed reasoning and an outcome-driven mentality.” Such a mentality had four benchmarks. They are:

1. Through ensuring transparency and accountability, such leadership must provide for the demands and expectations of the public but also include them in decision-making processes.
2. Learning to be receptive to change such leadership must make competitiveness their second nature. Competition is the only way for self-improvement.
3. Merit-based advancement within the civil service should be based on individual capacity and potential.
4. Lifelong learning must become a way of life for our public service.

Again, the grand mufti and Najib said similar things although focused on different issues and concerns. Najib concluded with the statement that the nation needed to have a society-centric government, where the peoples’ voice is heard by the civil service and wherein listening is the most accurate assessor of the ability of the public services and her performance.

Role of third parties

RPK argued had that his ‘party in England’ was instrumental for insisting on public sector reforms through their moderated hung Parliament negotiations. RPK’s argument was also that it was civil society made up of NGOs, Bloggers United, ordinary citizens and academics with integrity that were the third force in the last general election of March 8.

He cautioned and warned that if the PKR leadership refused to keep the Barisan Rakyat manifesto (the words are a coinage by the combination of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat) this would be the last GE wherein the Third Force would support Pakatan.

During my last Intan course for promotions, I wrote a paper on the need for a Citizen-led Action Movement or CLAM in 1999. In fact, I even took a half-day off to present the paper to the then Deputy IGP, a very good friend from Sarawak and former First College mate in UM. He commented that I sounded like an NGO; although while still in the public service of the government. I retorted that was why I had taken a half-day off just to meet up with him.

As argued by the grand mufti of Syria, Najib and RPK (left in pic) the modern world needs a third force of influence which will articulate moderate and good civic values of a universal nature to collaborate and work for the common ground issues and concerns.

Unlike with the “use of force” this movement must be a knowledge-based civil society engagement with values of a universal nature and agreed to by all faith systems in the world. The world has no other real choice. May God bless Malaysia to choose this path of righteousness and the way of a virtuous cycle of prosperity; without beggaring our neighbour.

KJ JOHN was in public service for 29 years. He is now dean of the Faculty of Economics and Policy Science at UCSI University, Malaysia. The views expressed above are truths that matter to him as an individual citizen wearing private and civil society hats and therefore are not opinions of the university or faculty. Do send feedback to him at kjjohn@ohmsi.net

Halal? Haram? Heck if I know…

By Hafidz Baharom

It’s really surprising that people want to talk about halal and haram, but not just in Penang. It’s truly impressive, in Penang, how a bunch of geriatrics say that they don’t want money from any source that is considered haram.

It seems as if we are back to the same holier-than-thou mentality in politics that was visible in the 70s, where even graveyards and grieving for a dead relative were politically segregated. This was the age when Umno and PAS supporters were so passionate to the point that the arguments clearly extended after death.

There should be no paranoia when it comes to the question of halal and haram. Not in this nation where we are opening up to the rest of the world to prove that we are, in fact, truly a moderate Muslim majority nation that in all honesty respects the rest of the population as equals. That was the true Malaysian goal.

What we have now in the 1 Malaysia campaign, is a farce. A cover-up of gigantic proportions. All talk and no “meat”, per se.

The scary part of all this is that it is becoming more and more like 1 IslamicConservativeMalaysia, where everyone and everything is merely discarded as being non-Malaysian, plus the constant criticism and censorship.

Seriously, we can’t drink, we can’t eat, we can’t even talk without looking over our shoulders for fear of offending someone.

This is what makes me believe that we are now all truly non-Malaysian.

Past Malaysians were curious to seek out knowledge. They were confident. They were jovial with one another to the point where racist jokes were nothing more than a laughing matter.

Yes, they do sound like Russell Peters.

They were helpful and courteous with one another and everyone else. They were the kind of people who would never look at someone’s dress, or hair, or even contact lenses and think that the people were not proud to be Malaysian or Muslim or Malay even.

We have moved away from that.

The Malays are not to be trusted and lazy, the Chinese are too greedy, the Indians know nothing better than to get drunk and beat up women. And even worse, if you’re from Sabah and Sarawak, you’re not even Malaysian.

These are all the exemplary statements and notions that are flying all around the nation. I’ve heard of them and I am sure all of you have too throughout the days, months and years of your lives.

The very purpose of having the Sedition Act was to undo these perceptions that were being spread purely for political motives, dividing the people using a quote by Goebbels, the Nazi propagandist.

If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.

Perhaps so many times that it becomes ingrained in your mindset.

With all that being set, what has been done by Umno in Penang is open a can of worms. The whole idea that welfare money comes from gambling, drinking or even the sale of cigarettes, which are also haram by fatwa, goes to show just how little Muslims truly know about halal and haram.

Honestly think about it, Muslims, devout or liberal alike.

What should you do should you gain haram money, in Islamic teachings?

You give it away to the poor and needy. All of it.

Be it orphans, widows, single mothers or the elderly.

So, for the state of Penang at least, who else would be more needy than paranoid geriatrics who obviously skipped a few lessons in Pendidikan Islam to allow themselves to be taken advantage of by opportunistic politicians?

People so desperate for salvation but who are miseducated to believe that gambling money would send them to Hell. This is what Umno in Penang has done.

They have somehow taken the idea to people who feel they are so close to death, so afraid to lose the promise of a better life after death, that by taking this money to help them live their lives with a little more comfort, will damn them for all eternity.

This, of course, coming from people who themselves gamble. Look at the elections. If you do not get a certain number of votes, you lose your deposit. Now isn’t that in itself a gamble?!

This just goes to show another Muslim teaching in parable. Knowledge is power. The faithful are those who not only seek knowledge, but propagate and question it in order to gain deeper knowledge, thus leading to piety and the honest fact that we, as mere humans, were never meant to understand everything thus leading to the belief in a higher power guiding us.

Call that power whatever you like, be it Allah, Jesus, God, Yahweh, Guan Yin, Shiva, Guan Yu, Kali et cetera.

And yes, that’s as spiritual as you will get me to ever admit in a column.

Lawyer and three others charged with Sosilawati murder

The Star 
by LISA GOH and NURBAITI HAMDAN

BANTING: Lawyer N. Pathmanabhan and three others have been jointly charged with the murder of cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three others, Wednesday.

They were charged before Magistrate Hurman Hussain. The charge against Pathmanabhan was read in Bahasa Malaysia while the charge against the rest were read in Tamil.

They were charged with the murder of Sosilawati, 47, CIMB Bank officer Noorhisham Mohammad, 38, personal lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abd Karim, 32 and driver Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44.

Others who were charged with Pathmanabhan are T. Thilaiyalagan, R. Matan and R. Kathavarayan.

The offence was allegedly committed at Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjung Layang, Tanjung Sepat, Banting between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Aug 30.

It was reported that the four had gone missing on Aug 30 after telling family and friends that they were going to Banting to discuss a land deal.

More than a week later, they were discovered to had been murdered.

Their bodies were believed to have been burnt and their ashes thrown into a river near a farm owned by one of the brothers.

The accused are also being probed for the murders and disappearance of several others including Indian millionaire A. Muthuraja, 34, local businessmen Mohd Shafiq Abdullah, 37 and 44-year-old housewife T. Selvi.

No plea was recorded and the court fixed Dec 16 for mention of the case.

The accused were represented by Amer Hamzah Arshad and Ravi Nekoo while prosecution was by Deputy Public Prosecutors Ishak Mohd Yusoff (lead), Saiful Edris Zainudin and Idham Abd Ghani.

Anxious moments for Dutch Muslims

After four months of political uncertainty, the Netherlands has a new government - a centre-right coalition that includes the far-right Freedom Party of controversial poltician Geert Wilders.

Although the Freedom Party will hold no cabinet seats, the new government has said it will support one of Wilder's demands, a ban on the full face veil.

This has made the country's Muslims anxious.

Al Jazeera's Charlie Angela reports from Rotterdam, Netherlands' most multi-cultural city with a sizeable Muslim population.

Source: Al Jazeera

PKR No. 2: Azmin shocked that Khalid wants in

'Sg Besi airbase deal inked without letter of intent'

PM: Chinese not 'pendatang', but loyal citizens

PKR duo: Wee Choo Keong witnessed signing of SD

(Malaysiakini) PKR turncoat and current independent MP Wee Choo Keong has been named as witness to the statutory declaration signed by party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's former aide, Rahimi Osman.

The two PKR lawyers Rahimi accused of "coercing" him into signing the SD - party information chief Latheefa Koya and Kedah Youth chief Saiful Izham Ramli (right) - said the contentious SD was signed in front of Wee, then the PKR Wangsa Maju MP.

"Rahimi signed the first statutory declaration on June 29, 2008, at the Quality Hotel in Shah Alam. He signed it voluntarily in front of lawyer, Member of Parliament and Commissioner of Oaths Wee Choo Keong.

"The allegation that we 'confined' him in Quality Hotel is ludicrous and totally untrue. He was there on his own free will at all times and volunteering information to assist us with Anwar's case," Latheefa said in a statement given to the police.

Before sending a copy of her statement to reporters as well, she and Saiful Izham were this morning questioned by the police for close to an hour at the Commercial Crimes Investigation Department in Kuala Lumpur.

Three years' jail if found guilty

They were also accompanied by their respective lawyers, N Surendran and Rashid Ismail.

They were questioned under Section 199 of the Penal Code for allegedly making a false statement in any declaration receivable by law as evidence.

If found guilty, they face a jail term of up to three years and a fine.

Rahimi (left) gave his statement to the police on Friday.

In his explosive revelation on Oct 6, Rahimi had claimed that he was forced into signing two SDs in 2008, implicating Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor in Anwar's current sodomy trial.

He said both Latheefa and Saiful Izham had "detained" him at a hotel for several days after that.

Nazri: Indians are rightful citizens

(Malaysiakini) All Indians who are born in Malaysia are not immigrants but rightful citizens of the country and they are eligible to enjoy their rights like other citizens, declared an outspoken senior Umno leader.

"The mothers of Indians born in Malaysia have spilled their blood on the soil of the nation when they delivered them into this world," Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said.

"Hence they are the sons of the Malaysian soil, as sung in our national anthem negara ku, tanah tumpahnya darahku (My country, the soil where my blood was shed)," explained the Padang Rengas MP.

"It is the Indonesians who come to our country (legally or illegally) who are the immigrants and not you Indians who were born here," the de facto law minister added.

Nazri (left) was speaking at a health programme for the Indian community in Padang Rengas, organised by the Malaysia Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP) on Saturday evening.

He was trying to rebut accusations by certain quarters that described the Indians in Malaysia as labour immigrants, not citizens.

He was also promoting Premier Najib Abdul Razak's 1Malaysia concept whereby people of all races born in the country are citizens with equal rights.

Nazri was the first Umno leader to publicly declare that he is a Malaysian first and Malay second.

He is Umno's political watchdog to ensure that the 1Malaysia concept is successfully implemented, and has also spoken out against the Malay rights NGO Perkasa for running down the concept.

He assured the 40 Indian participants at the function that Umno does not support the racist stance of Perkasa and that it would safeguard the interests of the Indian community.

Nazri also challenged Perkasa to become a political party and show its true strength to Malaysians, instead of leaning on Umno for its membership.

Prove your political strength, Perkasa told

He explained that Perkasa should not recruit Umno members as supporters if it became a political party as Umno prohibited its members from having dual political party membership.

Turning itself into a political party would prove the true political strength of Perkasa as the majority of its members at present were from Umno, said Nazri, who has been having a running verbal fight with Perkasa on the 1Malaysia concept.

Nazri's blunt and direct speech was well received by the Indian crowd.

He also called on Indians who were not happy with the MIC to join MMSP as an alternative platform to support the Barisan Nasional.

He assured the crowd that the 2008 general election had taught the BN a bitter lesson for not attending to the needs of the Indian community and that the coalition was now concentrating on building constructive bridges with the community.

When told that MMSP was now split into three factions, each claiming to be the legal party supporting BN, Nazri said Umno may hold talks with the three factions to unite them as one party for the benefit of the Indian community.

Lecture on Hindraf @ Monash University by Dr. Vijay Devadas, Senior Lecturer, University of Otago New Zealand.

The speaker had lived and researched on the Indian poor plantation workers in Kajang. Sees the demolishment of Hindu temples, forced syariah laws on Hindus, racism as the cause of the Indian poor uprising against the racist Malay-sian semi democratic regime.

Hindraf Adviser Pathmarajah, P. Uthayakumar and W. Sambulingam attended this research findings lecture at 12.00 p.m today 12/10/10.

The talk covered the Hindraf Rally arising out of lack of progress of the Malaysian Indians on 25/11/07 but strategically at the KLCC Petronas Twin Towers the symbol of Malaysia’s prosperity.

Among the main points were:-

The carrying of the banner of Queen Elizabeth and Gandhi was deemed an astute move politically.

How the peaceful rally was treated with brutal and oppressive force in semi democratic Malaysia.

How the Sedition Act and ISA was used on the Hindraf lawyers.

How the said Hindraf Rally led to BN losing their 2/3 majority in Parliament.

The Hindraf Rally marks the failure of the state in managing the Indian poor problem.

The speakers theoretical sampling, border production and cross border production was outlined.

One of the most powerful dissatisfaction used by Hindraf supporters in the blogosphere was they being the “anak tiri” (step child) in Malaysia.

That the Indians did not choose themselves to (born) non bumis in Malaysia and why this racism.

The presence of common solidarity, examining the gap of institutional structures and corresponding racism.

There was a question and answer also by a number of foreign students on the Hindraf uprising and it’s cause and effect.

The Hindraf uprising becoming world news as it was extensively covered worldwide media including, BBC, CNN, ABC and Al Jazeera.

After the talk P. Uthayakumar met for another 1 ½ hours and conveyed P. Waytha Moorthy’s request for an independent study on the Malaysian Indian poor by the speaker and another doctorate student researching on Hindraf for submissions to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and the European Parliament in Brussells vis a vis the European Convention on Human Rights, European Communities, The Worlds Court and the International Criminal Courts.

P. Uthayakumar

The School of Arts & Social Sciences cordially invites you to SASS Seminar Series 18 /10 :
Speaker: Dr Vijay Devadas

Title: The Unfinished Business of Postcolonialism in Malaysia: Hindraf, New Media & a Future Cosmopolitanism

Date: 12th October 2010, Tuesday

Time: 12.00noon – 1.00pm

Venue: Communication Lab 9508, Level 5, Building 9, Monash University, Sunway Campus

Speaker’s Profile:

Vijay Devadas is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Media, Film & Communication, University of Otago, New Zealand. His research focuses on media, culture & society, drawing from political economy, textual analysis, archival research, & ethnography. His most recent work has been on media & the war on terror, new media & democracy, & Tamil cinema. He is co-editor of the international journal borderlands and recently co-edited Cultural Transformations: Perspectives on Translocation in a Global Age (Rodopi, 2010). He is currently a Visiting Senior Research Fellow in the Cultural Studies Cluster at the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore.

Abstract:

This paper explores the emergence of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), the formation of a solidarity around the notion of makkal sakthi (people’s power in Tamil) and its impact on political life in Malaysia. This is the name given to a solidarity that has made significant inroads in the 2008 elections in the country. While the election results are undoubtedly a manifestation of a complex network of concerns and allegiances, the paper will focus on the Hindraf effect and the use of digital networks and networking to intervene into the democratic texture of Malaysia.

See you there!

Warmest Regards,

Cynthia Ng

Executive Secretary

School of Arts & Social Sciences

Monash University

Sunway Campus, Malaysia

Tel: +603-5514 6054 (46054)

Fax:+603-5514 6365

In UMNO’s 1Malaysia, it is not “SENSITIVE” to insult Hinduism. Did UMNO Johor demonstrate when the rascal in this video insulted Hinduism??

In UMNO’s 1Malaysia it is not “sensitive” to insult Hinduism. But it is “sensitive” to request the Monarch for equanimity on the two limbs of Article 153 of the Federal Constitution. Did UMNO Johor demonstrate when the rascal in these videos insulted Hinduism. Worse , this event happened with State sanction.
The word “sensitive” in 1Malaysia has lost its meaning. I guess “sensitive” in 1Malaysia means that you do not speak up against the big burly guys because they have the force of might behind them – plain and simple. It is not what you do that defines “sensitivity”, it is who you speak up against, that defines “sensitivity”.
That interpretation of what is “sensitive”  and that often reminder of that thing that is “sensitive” is nothing but bullying behaviour of the big burly  supremacists. The supremacists completely turn a blind eye to that which is really "’sensitive”, not out of ignorance, but out of impunity.
Watch the 2 videos and you decide if what this rascal is saying is sensitive and if the reactions to it (which is zero from the authorities, anyway) is out of ignorance or out of impunity . Video 1 shows the setting of the ceramah. Video 2 shows the rascal spewing bigoted inanities about Hinduism and Hindus.



 

Govt says no to Race Relations Act

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 – Despite growing criticisms for not acting against several racist civil servants, the government insisted today that it would not enact a Race Relations Act.

In a written reply to Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) in Parliament today, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of unity affairs Senator Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon explained that this was because the country had enough laws to govern race relation issues.

He also pointed out that the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan had already issued a general service circular to all heads of government departments on October 1, reminding their officers to refrain from making statements touching on racial and religious sensitivities.

“The suggestion to enact the Race Relations Act rose following several sensitive issues and racial statements that have been hotly debated by many individuals and given wide coverage in the print and electronic media since the middle of 2008.

“The objective of this Act was to prevent and take action against individuals or groups whose remarks or behaviour destroys the relationship between the races,” he said.

Koh noted that the National Integration and Unity Department was tasked by the Cabinet to study and make comparisons between similar laws in different countries as well as to hold roundtable discussions with the Institute of Ethnic Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, academicians, NGOs and both the private and public sectors.

“Based on the summary of the department’s report, the Cabinet, in January 2009 already decided that there was no need to enact a Race Relations Act because the existing laws of the country were sufficient to handle these issues.

“If need be, the current laws can be revised, examined, clarified and amended, as well as carried out more effectively and fairly,” he said.

Koh claimed that in making this decision, the Cabinet had also taken into consideration that the Federal Constitution was the country’s official platform that clearly took into consideration the interests of all the races in the country while the Rukunegara was its guiding principles.

“Additionally, it was found that laws alone cannot force a person to like another. Hence, it is more important to prioritise the application of moral values and a change of attitudes through education and socialisation as it might bring about more effective and sustainable results,” he said.

Koh also underscored several programmes introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak since he took office like 1 Malaysia, the Government Transformation Programme and the Economic Transformation Programme, which he claimed further helped to strengthen unity in diversity.

“However, as a result of recent incidents of civil servants uttering statements that touched on racial sensitivities, the Chief Secretary to the Government issued the circular on October 1 to state the government’s stand on preventing statements and actions that could destroy the relationship between the races.

“The circular also explained on principles and disciplinary actions that would be taken to deal with such cases. Any further suggestions on how to improve these actions can be considered,” he said.

The government has come under fire in recent days for failing to act quickly on several civil servants including an official from the government’s National Civics Bureau and two school principals for allegedly uttering racial slurs.

The BTN official Hamim Husin had, during a recent closed-door Puteri Umno function, referred to the Chinese and Indian communities as “Si Mata Sepet” and “Si Botol” respectively when asking Puteri Umno members to approach the non-Malays for votes.

“The ‘si mata sepet’ that has never gone to a mosque or surau only has one vote. The ‘si botol’ that only knows how to go up to Batu Caves up and down only has one vote,” Hamim told the closed-door gathering, as reported in The Malaysian Insider.

Siti Inshah Mansor, the principal of SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, had allegedly told students during an assembly that the Chinese could return the China and likened Hindus to “dogs” because of their prayer strings.

“Pelajar-pelajar Cina tidak diperlukan dan boleh balik ke China ataupun Sekolah Foon Yew. Bagi pelajar India, tali sembahyang yang diikat di pergelangan tangan dan leher pelajar nampak seakan anjing dan hanya anjing akan mengikat seperti itu,” she had allegedly said.

Another principal in Kedah had allegedly told off several Chinese students and accused them of disrespecting the Muslims by eating in the school canteen during fasting month.

When speaking on the issues today, Mohd Sidek said that the government would follow proper procedures in dealing with the two racist principals and a National Civics Bureau official for allegedly making racial remarks. He however did not say whether the three had been found guilty or whether they had already been disciplined.

“There are rules and regulations in which we have to follow and I will make sure that they are followed,” Mohd Sidek told reporters after attending a seminar at the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM).

Yesterday Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin refused to allow a debate in Parliament over the alleged racial slurs made by two school headmistresses, claiming that action had already been taken against them.

Pandikar did not, however, provide any details on the supposed action taken against the two.

Asked today about the case involving the BTN assistant director Hamim Husin, Mohd Sidek replied: “The same [as for the two principals].”

He declined to comment further.

Called a criminal, Aminulrasyid’s family waits for apology

 

Neighbour Monaliza Mokhtar accompanied Aminulrasyed's mother to court for moral support. — Picture by Choo Choy May

SHAH ALAM, Oct 12 — Anger appears to have buried grief as the primary emotion at the start of trial today probing the shooting to death of Aminulrasyid Amzah.

The 14-year-old’s family and friends are still waiting for Putrajaya to formally apologise for calling Aminulrasyid a “criminal”, six months after policemen on duty pulled their guns on the joyriding youngster and his best buddy Azamuddin Omar, causing the duo’s car to crash.

“We want justice for Aminulrasyid. We want them to retract the statement calling him a robber, a criminal,” said Monaliza Mokhtar on behalf of the dead schoolboy’s 60-year-old mother, Norsiah Mohamad.

Norsiah had declined to speak when approached earlier.

“Nothing to say at this point,” the single parent told The Malaysian Insider in a soft voice, and gestured to ask Monaliza for comment.

Monaliza said she had accompanied the upset family to meet with Home Ministry officials following police statements claiming the boys were suspected felons and that a parang (machete) had been discovered in the boot of the car driven by Aminulrasyid.

“We went to KDN. They didn’t want to say sorry. They just said ‘Just follow the process. Wait for the trial to be over,” said the neighbour whose teenage daughter was close friends with Aminulrasyid and Azamuddin, referring to the Home Ministry by its Malay initials.

The businesswoman, who is also a committee member on Azimuddin’s school parent-teacher association, smiled grimly and said they would follow the Home Ministry’s words to the letter.

“We’ll come to court every day. We will see if justice will be done,” Monaliza said.

Aminulrasyid died instantly that April 26 morning.

His best buddy, Azamuddin, 15, survived the shooting and is now the star prosecution witness in the trial of police patrolman Corporal Jenain Subi, 48.

Azamuddin had made startling allegations against the patrolmen in hot pursuit of them that morning when he recounted the events leading to and after the car crash in a press conference last May 4.

He denied that there was a machete in the car driven by Aminulrasyid.

The son of a policeman, Azamuddin had also accused the cops on duty – including Jenain – of repeatedly shooting at their car and assaulting them after they crashed into a tree, metres from their Section 11 home here.

But the patrolmen have given a vastly different account of the encounter.

Six police personnel testified in court today. The trial is set to resume tomorrow at 9.30am.

Home Ministry says no plans to probe former IGP’s claims

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 — The Home Ministry revealed today that it did not intend to investigate Tan Sri Musa Hassan’s claims of a “third party” meddling in police affairs.

Musa, who is the former Inspector-General of Police, had alleged excessive interference by “third parties” in police business, naming the home ministry among others.

“All kinds of people interfere. People from the ministry itself, outsiders, people with vested interests like those who want to do things that are not right — they will try to interfere,” he had said.

In a written reply today to Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said that the ministry did not plan to take any action on Musa’s claims.

“At this present time the Home Ministry does not plan to investigate the claims of the former IGP about third party interference in the police force.

“The ministry is also not planning to take any action on the claims,” said the written reply.

The reply did not state the reasons for not investigating Musa’s allegations.

The home ministry has consistently denied it had meddled in any police matters, saying that its involvement with the police was limited to weekly meetings with the force to discuss resource allocations and to review case files.

Following Musa’s allegations, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers had urged the top cop to lodge reports with an ombudsman, the Public Complaints Bureau and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to eradicate such problems from the police force.

Umno is beginning to look better than PKR

These shenanigans have got to stop. PKR is starting to look like a party of slime-balls and scumbags. Are they so scared of Nurul Izzah that they need to play dirty to disqualify here?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Nurul fails in bid for PKR deputy presidency

(Free Malaysia Today) - Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar was unsuccessful in her bid for the PKR deputy presidency when she failed to get enough nominations.

She needed two nominations to pull through but had only one nomination to contend with.

Confirming the nomination results, PKR election committee member Wong Hoy Cheong said candidates must obtain at least two nominations but Nurul Izzah had obtained only one -- from Keningau, Sabah, at the close of nomination on Sunday.

The PKR Lembah Pantai division had nominated PKR central committee member Zaid Ibrahim for the deputy presidency.

Wong said according to the nomination list, three candidates will vie for the PKR presidency and seven for the deputy presidency.

He declined to disclose details.

Twenty-seven candidates have enough nominations for seven vice-president posts and 209 for 20 central leadership council posts, he said.

The list of those who qualified to contest party top posts are being filtered before their names are announced on Saturday, he added.

Besides Nurul and Zaid, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, PKR vice-presidents Mustafa Kamil Ayub and Mohamed Azmin Ali, and Zaid have entered the fray for the deputy presidency.

The party polls will be held from Oct 31 to Nov 21 while the national congress from Nov 26 to 28.

***************************************

PKR announced that Nurul Izzah obtained only one nomination. And since she requires at least two she is therefore not eligible to contest the party deputy presidency. What they did not announce is that she obtained another two nominations on Monday. So that makes three nominations that she obtained.

The party also announced that she received the one nomination as at the closing date on Sunday. Therefore, the two that she obtained on Monday, which the party did not mention, does not count.

But who decided that nominations close on Sunday? Was this a party supreme council decision or was it the decision of an individual or ‘committee’?

I suppose they will now say that the supreme council decided to give the mandate and sole discretion to one person or to the election committee. Therefore, whatever this one person or committee decides becomes ‘law’.

Alright then, if this is the case, was this ‘law’ gazetted? All laws must be gazetted before they become law. In other words was an announcement made informing everyone that the closing date for all nominations is Sunday and that all nominations received after this date will be rejected and will regarded as null?

A check with a few divisions reveals that they never received any gazette or circular from the party headquarters informing them that the closing date for nominations is Sunday.

Was it a ‘silent law’? Or did they expect everyone to read the minds of the people in the party headquarters? Mental telepathy maybe?

And when did they decide that Sunday is the closing date for nominations? Was this decided the following day, on Monday, after two more nominations for Nurul Izzah came in? In other words did they decide on the Sunday closing date on Monday when they realised that Nurul had received an additional two nominations and that this would therefore qualify her to contest the party deputy presidency?

I smell a rat here, a dead rat. And the smell stinks to high heaven. It appears like PKR is even dirtier than Umno. Now, even Umno is looking better than PKR.

These shenanigans have got to stop. PKR is starting to look like a party of slime-balls and scumbags. Are they so scared of Nurul Izzah that they need to play dirty to disqualify here?

Rules are fine. We need rules or else all hell will break loose and chaos will reign. But changing the rules, practicing unwritten rules, not informing players of the rules and then catching them unexpectedly, and moving the goalposts halfway through the game to win by fraud is just not on.

Play fair. Let Nurul contest. If she losses she must learn how to manage defeat. That would be a good lesson for her. And if she wins then it is the members’ choice. But disqualifying her because of a rule that no one knew about are things Umno does and not something that PKR should ape.

Sigh…I expect when ex-Umno people head PKR then we should not be surprised when they use Umno tactics in PKR. A leopard never changes its spots. So why should the ex-Umno people in PKR change their Umno habits as well?

I suppose we can always just sit back and watch PKR self-destruct. Then, come the next election, we can choose either DAP or PAS to vote for. Of course, there is always PSM or PRM in the event that DAP or PAS are not contesting in that particular constituency. Or we can persuade Gerakan to change its outdated and expired shelf-life leaders and then leave Barisan Nasional whereby we can all rally behind Gerakan as the new Third Force and multi-racial party like how it started out back in 1968.

I think I will go join Gerakan if they promise to revamp the party and change its leaders and leave Barisan Nasional to start life anew as a Third Force for all Malaysians fed up of both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.

Moles in MACC

1. The NST published a story where it was reported that MACC lodge a police report over the release of confidential investigation papers from their safekeeping. These papers are related to the news leak that appears on Malaysia Today. For those who appreciate the value of national interest and national secrets, MOLES are considered dangerous. They can be considered as traitors to the organization that they represent and to the nation.
   
    
2. Only God knows how much RPK knows and how much materials in the police strong room, MACC super duper confidential cabinets are actually in RPK possession. Only god knows what type of documents and the level of importance of the documents out there that is within RPK access. I wonder how many of the materials out there are of relevant to national interest.
   
   
   
3. While security organization worldwide finds ways to weed out moles, it appears that our security organization is breeding them. These new breed of moles risk their lives in revealing detail information that does not normally meets the public eye. Whether they gave it out for free or for a fee, it is something that people should consider. My assessment based on the selective disclosure by RPK for many years, it appears that these are good moles. Moles with conscience that had no choice but went public with their information because they felt the system that they are in are rotten and cannot defend the right and the weak. The system that they are in is neither neutral nor professional in approach.
   
   
   
4. In my assessment, I find RPK has been equally responsible in his releases. He is very careful in not release any security papers that has an impact on the nation but rather has been releasing information about people in the service that has abused their positions in the government service. For this RPK deserves more than a praised. He deserves to be knighted.
   
   
   
5. My only worries are that our system is so loose that there could be MOLES that is selling the nation secrets to foreign countries. Valuable information is a commodity and neighboring nations willing to pay top dollar for it. Money is never an object for these countries as valuable information can bring greater value. For example it can be use as collateral information is solving long standing bitter issues between two nations. It also can compromise the nation security.
   
   
   
6. While we reward the good moles, we need to be careful about the bad moles. I feel the government should focus on these bad moles. The good moles should be rewarded. In my case, I have several moles on my belly.-  by drrafick

10 people a day go missing in Malaysia

ASP Suresh himself proudly admitted that he used to work in the police assassination squad and had assassinated a number of people. And ASP Suresh personally knows the two police officers now on death row for the murder of Altantuya. They used to be his colleagues -- or should I say, his partners-in-crime.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

10 people a day go missing in Malaysia, said the Home Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein. And 60% of the cases have been solved. This means 40% of the cases involving 14,000 people have not been solved.

Considering that Malaysia’s population is only 27 million, 10 cases of missing people a day is quite a large number. That is the same as the number of people who die on Malaysian roads every day -- about 10.

So 10 people die every day in Malaysia due to traffic accidents and another 10 just disappear. And how many more die due to Malaysia’s poor health care system? Maybe the Health Minister can answer that question. Thousands die because of a poor health care system while billions of ringgit is wasted on white elephant projects and study tours.

Let me say it again: corruption kills people.

And how about the large number of people who die in prison, while ‘resisting arrest’, or at the police station while being interrogated? Add that to the list and the death toll is very high indeed.

But what I really want to ask is: how many of those missing persons are actually victims of police hit squads, or what we can consider as assassination targets? Yes, that kind of thing happens in Malaysia.

ASP Suresh himself proudly admitted that he used to work in the police assassination squad and had assassinated a number of people. And ASP Suresh personally knows the two police officers now on death row for the murder of Altantuya. They used to be his colleagues -- or should I say, his partners-in-crime.

Why do you think they were sent to meet Razak Baginda in the first place if not for the fact that they are experts in eliminating people? And did they not admit, in their meeting with Razak, that they have already killed a number of people? That was, after all, what Razak claimed in his Affidavit, which was submitted to the court to support his application for bail.

Even the judge, Justice Segera, shook his head in disbelief and said that the Affidavit convinced him even more that Razak is guilty. Of course, after that they removed the judge and replaced him with a judicial commissioner.

More than 35,000 people have gone missing over the last ten years. And 14,000 of those cases remain unsolved. Do you need to be a rocket scientist to figure out why?

**************************************

Police not being selective, says Hishammuddin

Husna Yusop, The Sun

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 11, 2010): Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has refuted allegations that the police are being selective when investigating reports made by the public, including that of missing persons.

He said of 35,473 missing person cases reported from 2000 until August this year, the police have resolved 21,344 cases or about 60% of the cases, including bringing those responsible to court.

He told Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) it was not true that the police did not act against the two lawyer brothers who were the main suspects in the murder of cosmetic millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three of her associates.

"For your information, six police reports have been lodged against the main suspects in Sosilawati’s case. All of them were related to fraud.

"The six reports made at the Banting police station were on Aug 19, 2005, Oct 20, 2005, Feb 20, 2009, March 18, 2010, Sept 13, 2010 and Sept 14, 2010," Hishammuddin said.

Investigations on the first and second reports have been completed while the third report has been closed because the complainant has withdrawn the report.

The three remaining cases were now under police investigation, he added

He also said there was only one previous report made on the disappearance of Indian businessman A. Muthuraja who was linked to the main suspect – dated March 29, 2010, at the Klang police station.

"This case has been investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code because the facts of the case have led to cheating. The suspect here was not among the main suspects in Sosilawati’s case or the three others.

"The report on Muthuraja’s disappearance was made only on Sept 8 by his wife Usharani Sthuraman after Sosilawati’s case has been discovered, as well as other cases exposed by the mass media," he said.

To Lim’s claim that police inaction has gravely undermined public confidence in police's professionalism, Hishammuddin said the police have carried out their duties responsibly, efficiently and professionally.

He added that the question of the eroding public confidence in the police force did not arise.

He also agreed with Datuk Muhammad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) that it was a misperception concocted by the opposition that the police only investigated missing person cases when they involved big names.

Khalid Samad (PAS-Shah Alam) then butted in, saying Hishammuddin should not be so proud of having solved only 60% of the 35,473 cases.

However, Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said Khalid should just accept the minister’s reply although he may not be satisfied with it.

Hishammuddin then added that the public should not dismiss the police contribution in maintaining peace and order and sensationalise certain cases.

Salahuddin Ayub (PAS-Kubang Kerian) then asked how much longer do the police need to complete the investigation papers which have been returned by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

To this, Hishammuddin said: "There are two agencies involved here, namely the police and the AGC. Both of them are working round the clock now to ensure the matter would be brought to court as soon as possible. I cannot report to you now."

Later at the parliament lobby, Hishammuddin asked the media to obtain the correct facts from the police media centre so as to avoid speculation because "sensational news could interfere with the investigations".

‘IGP and AG lied about Mahathir probe’

Former CID chief Mat Zain
says Musa Hassan and Gani Patail
destroyed criminal justice system

Musa Hassan and Gani Patail were accused today as being the cause of the destruction of the criminal justice system by having allowed falsified evidence against Anwar Ibrahim in 1998 and later lying about an investigation of Mahathir Mohamad for abuse of power.

In an open letter published at Malaysia Today, former Kuala Lumpur CID chief Mat Zain Ismail disclosed that he had written in May this year to Ismail Omar, then deputy IGP, and to Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, the home minister, for a review of the investigation into false evidence produced against Anwar in the “black eye” case of 1998.
(Mat Zain headed the investigation into the case and recommended that the Inspector-General then, Rahim Noor, be tried for criminal assault on Anwar Ibrahim in the lockup at police headquarters. Rahim was found guilty and sentenced to two months’ jail.)
He said Musa and Gani had claimed in press reports that investigation papers on the Mahathir case had been sent to the Attorney-General in February 2000 and the AG (the late Mohtar Abdullah) had decided that there was no case.
Mat Zain said the statements were absurd. The investigation papers in the Mahathir abuse of power case were only opened in June 2000 and sent to the AG’s Chambers in November that year.

Questions raised in Shafee Yahya book

In his letter dated 8 October, Mat Zain accuses Musa, recently-retired as Inspector-General of Police, and Gani, the Attorney-General, of lying about the Mahathir investigation.
Mahathir, then prime minister, had been accused of abuse of power by ordering a halt to corruption investigations against Ali Abul Hassan bin Sulaiman, head of the Economic Planning Unit, during which RM1000,000 in cash was found in his office.
Mat Zain made these revelations in a letter to Datin Kalsom Taib, wife and biographer of Shafee Yahya, former head of the Anti-Corruption Agency, in response to questions asked in her book of her husband’s life and career.
She had asked: “What happened to the probe on Dr Mahathir?”
Mat Zain quoted from the book, which referred to press statements by Musa and Gani about the investigation:

“

The IGP confirmed that an investigation on Dr.Mahathir was carried out. (NST 9 April 2008)
“Our recods show we had submitted the investigation papers to the AG Chambers on 15 February 2000. The decision made by the AG at that time (the late Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah) was that there was no case.”
In The Star of the same date (9 April 2008), it was reported that Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail confirmed,
“The Chambers received the investigation papers from the police sometime in February 2000 and after studying it carefully, found no evidence to suggest that Dr. Mahathir had interfered in the investigations”

Mat Zain said the statements by the two men did not make any sense and were false.

It is impossible for the investigation papers to be sent to the Attorney General’s Chambers on 15 February 2000.

Gani Patail and Musa Hassan: they destroyed the criminal justice system, says Mat Zain

“The investigation papers were only opened on June 13, 2000 based on a police report made by Anwar Ibrahim on that date.
“In fact, the investigation papers together with ACA investigation papers seized from the agency were only sent to the Attorney General on 9 November 2000.”
Mat Zain suggested that maybe the IGP and AG meant the 15th of February 2001.
However, even if Musa Hassan and Gani had said 15 February 2001, it would be even more unreasonable.
Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah could not have examined and dismissed the case on that date as he was no longer the Attorney General.
He had been succeeded by Datuk Ainum Mohammad Said on January 1, 2001.
Mat Zain suggested that Musa Hassan and Gani Patail had not bothered to amend the date because the person named, Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah, had since died. “The dead cannot speak. Maybe they forgot that many of those are still alive who know these things and can question the fact.”
“If Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Tan Sri Gani Patail did not make the absurd statement then this case will not be sustainable. The fact is it is they who have opened the flood-gates for more questions to be raised about the integrity of the police investigation,” Mat Zain said.
They both had undermined police investigations in this case, he said, as well as having allowed falsified evidence in the Anwar Ibrahim “black eye” case when Anwar was beaten up in the Bukit Aman lockup by Rahim Noor (righta), then the Inspector-General.
Mat Zain decided to retire from the police force in 2001. He has since been embroiled in suits involving the several Anwar Ibrahim cases, and has also alleged that he is being victimised by the police force.

---

MAT ZAIN’S LETTER IN FULL:
» Part 12: Surat terbuka Dato Mat Zain bin Ibrahim

---

RAJA PETRA’S 2008 REPORT
The AG-IGP tag-team fabricated evidence
Reproduced at CPI

---

MAT ZAIN: GANI INTERFERED IN ‘BLACK EYE’ CASE
Affidavits in Mat Zain’s defamation suit against Anwar Ibrahim
Malaysiakini report (at ckcounterpunch blog)

---

10th October deadline? Since when? Yesterday?

Malaysiakini reports today that according to election administrator Raden Shamsulkamar Raden Shamsudin, all divisions had to officially submit their nominations by last Sunday, 10th October.

A quick check with divisions in Selangor, Penang and Sabah had many responding that this was the first they were hearing of this cut-off date.

Raden has also claimed that none of the 35 divisions that missed the deadline nominated candidates who had not yet qualified, including Nurul Izzah.

Is this correct?

Keningau, Sabah sent in its nomination results to HQ before 10th October.
The nomination that Nurul got for the post of deputy president and the only nomination for her which the party HQ acknowledges was from the Keningau division.

This is the one nomination that Aidila Razak spoke of in her Malaysiakini report yesterday.
Yesterday, the Semporna division, one of the 35 divisions referred to by Raden,  faxed their division’s nomination results to the party HQ.

Nurul for deputy president.

Today, Selangau, Sabah Sarawak, another one of the 35 divisions referred to by Raden, faxed in their nomination results.

Nurul for deputy president.

Both these divisions claim not to have been notified of the cut-off date.
The results of one more division where Nurul was nominated for the position of deputy president, also from Sabah, will soon be faxed to party HQ, I am told.

HQ has of course been tracking these results and is aware of them, even if official confirmation has not been received.

The documents from the Semporna and Selangau divisions faxed to party HQ are reproduced below.
To my ‘Is Nurul Izzah being stonewalled…’ post yesterday, Troy sent in a comment and, amongst other things, asked :

“If you have proof , provide it. If not, stop the rumor mongering-it is unprofessional as a representative of the Peoples’ Parliament”.
Is this proof enough for you?

Page 1 of the Semporna document faxed to PKR HQ

Page 2 of the Semporna document faxed to PKR HQ

Page 1 of Selangau document faxed to PKR HQ

Page 2 of Selangau document faxed to PKR HQ