Kekeliruan jumlah pindaan sebenar Interlok terjawab

Sejumlah 106 pindaan, kesemuanya saranan ahli panel pindaan Interlok edisi murid dikemukakan wakil masyarakat India.

KUALA LUMPUR: Kekeliruaan tentang jumlah pindaan sebenar dalam novel Interlok telah terjawab, kata mantan ahli panel bebas Interlok yang mewakili masyarakat India, Uthaya Sankar SB hari ini.

Beliau menjelaskan sebanyak 106 pindaan akan dibuat ke atas buku Komsas, Interlok edisi murid dengan persetujuan Timbalan Perdana Menteri merangkap Menteri Pendidikan Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Uthaya berkata, dari jumlah tersebut, sebanyak 19 pindaan melibatkan sensitiviti masyarakat India, 84 kesalahan bahasa dan fakta manakala enam lagi berkaitan Sasterawan Negara Abdullah Hussain.

Dari 19 pindaan itu, tiga pindaan melibatkan penggunaan kata kasta “Paria”, satu berkaitan pemaparan isteri Maniam, satu berkaitan adegan lembu dan satu lagi melibatkan adegan perkahwinan. Terdapat enam pembetulan manakala baki tujuh lagi melibatkan errata.

Beliau memberitahu bahawa Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) diarahkan membetulkan kesemua kesalahan bahasa dan fakta dalam mesyuarat panel bebas pada 23 Mac lalu di DBP di sini.

Walau bagaimanapun, secara peribadi Uthaya melahirkan rasa sedih kerana pindaan melibatkan bab cerita masyarakat Melayu dan Cina tidak dikemukakan.

“Sebagai Presiden Kavyan saya berasa sedih kerana pihak yang menyenaraikan “sensitiviti” masyarakat Cina dan Melayu pada 4 Mac lalu menarik balik senarai pindaan mereka,” kata Uthaya ketika taklimat Interlok anjuran MIC di Dewan Tan Sri KR Soma pada pagi tadi.

Seorang lagi ahli panel, G Krishnabahawan memberitahu hadirin bahawa pegawai khas Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, P Ravin memberi jaminan bahawa Najib akan membaca edisi pindaan sebelum diedarkan.

Masyarakat Melayu, Cina perlu bantah

Isu pendirian MIC yang tidak menentu turut dipersoal hadirin di dalam sesi taklimat kerana pada peringkat awal, MIC bertegas mahu penggunaan novel ini dihentikan tetapi kemudian akur kepada kehendak Muhyiddin untuk melaksanakan pindaan.

Ketua Pemuda MIC, T Mohan memberitahu hadirin bahawa MIC berjaya dalam isu berhubung kontroversi Interlok.

“Kita berjaya kerana semua bahagian cerita yang tidak menyenangkan masyarakat India telahpun dipinda.

Uthaya mengakui bahawa Presiden MIC, G Palanivel dan timbalannya Datuk Dr S Subramaniam meminta agar buku tersebut tidak digunakan semasa pertemuan dengan Muhyiddin.

Berkenaan isu pendirian partinya yang mahu Interlok edisi murid ditarik balik, Mohan berkata: “Desakan untuk penarikan buku tersebut harus datang daripada masyarakat Melayu dan Cina.”

Usaha menggugurkan Interlok diteruskan

Bagaimanapun pindaan ke atas Interlok yang mengambil kira pandangan masyarakat India tidak memuaskan hati beberapa pihak.

Pengerusi Badan Bertindak Interlok Kebangsaan (Niat), Dato Haji Thasleem Mohamed bertegas dengan pendirian mahu penggunaan Interlok ditarik balik berasaskan surah Al-Quran.

Sehubungan itu beliau melontarkan cabaran kepada pihak tertentu kerana gagal melihat isu ini dari perspektif agama.

“Saya cabar Muhyiddin, ahli parlimen Melayu – Islam dan Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan untuk membuktikan bahawa budaya lebih penting berbanding agama.”

Beliau turut mengutarakan pandangan bahawa selaras dengan konsep 1Malaysia apa-apa perkara yang sensitif kepada satu kaum sepatutnya sensitif kepada semua kaum kerana kesemua mereka terdiri daripada rakyat Malaysia.

Sehubungan itu, Thasleem memberi jaminan bahawa Niat akan meneruskan usahanya sehingga Interlok digugurkan daripada sukatan mata pelajaran.

Ahli Niat, A Rajaretnam turut senada dengan Thasleem berasaskan hujah bahawa pindaan perkataan tidak mengubah intipati watak dalam novel Interlok.

Hindraf will not let Interlok rest

The movement's chairman P Waythamoorthy also slams Muhyiddin Yassin for using high-handed tactics to silence the critics.

PETALING JAYA: Hindraf Makkal Sakthi has vowed not to close the chapter on the Interlok controversy until the government withdraws the book from schools.

In a statement, its chairman P Waythamoorthy also took Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to task for using “high-handed” tactics to silence the critics.

“Muhyiddin, with the the support of his toothless allies encourage segregation of Malaysians by retaining such sardonic literature in the school curriculum for juveniles.

“By using media tools such as Utusan Malaysia and Malay Mail to defend its act, it shows that Umno is adamant in perpetuating its ‘master and slave methodology’ between the Malay supremacists and the minorities,” he said.

Upset that the government rejected reasoning and concerns voiced by various NGOs, Waythamoorthy called on the public to rise against the blatant disregard for the feelings of the minorities.

“And we must ensure that the minorities’ future generations will prosper in tandem with the majority instead of having their sacrifice hijacked by a fascist Umno,” he said.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, announced that the government had either dropped, changed or substituted 19 parts considered offensive by the Indian community from the novel.

He explained that the changes were made following the recommendations by the independent panel set in January to review the controversial novel.

Among the words substituted was the word “tuhan” with “dewa” and also the dropping of the phrase “orang berkulit hitam” (dark-skinned people).

The remaining 87 parts recommended were not considered offensive by the government.

Unhappy with the outcome, DAP’s Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran traded verbal blows with Muhyiddin in Parliament when the latter said the novel would continue to be used in schools.

Muhyiddin defended his decision by saying that even MIC had agreed to the amendments.

NATO announces agreement on enforcing no-fly zone over Libya

(CNN) -- NATO agreed Thursday to take command of enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya and was considering taking control of the full U.N.-backed military mission, Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told CNN.

Rasmussen's announcement fell short of what U.S. President Barack Obama has sought, and it was unclear if concerns by Turkey and some other NATO allies over coalition airstrikes on Libyan ground forces would prevent NATO from agreeing to expand its command over the entire mission.

"What we have decided today is that NATO will enforce the no-fly zone," Rasmussen said in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "We are considering whether NATO should take on overall responsibility. That decision has not been made yet."

Rasmussen said he expected NATO to take over full control of the no-fly-zone enforcement in a few days, and to decide on the issue of broader responsibility "within the coming days."

However, a senior administration official said that in fact, NATO reached an understanding that it will control the rest of the mission, with details on the extent of the mission still being worked out.

The administration official, who spoke to reporters on condition of not being identified by name, said NATO ambassadors actually made two decisions Thursday. One was to take over command of the no-fly zone, and the other was a political decision to take responsibility for enforcing the full U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing the military mission.

"That latter part, we are still completing the operational planning and expect to be completed by this weekend," the administration official said.

The U.N. resolution authorizes a no-fly zone, enforcement of an arms ban, and other steps as necessary to protect Libyan civilians. So far, the U.S.-led coalition has interpreted that to include airstrikes on Libyan ground forces threatening the rebel stronghold of Benghazi and in other areas.

Thursday's agreement was reached in a conference call between U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her counterparts from Britain, France and Turkey, according to the senior administration official and diplomatic officials who spoke on condition of not being identified by name.

At NATO headquarters later, the meeting of ambassadors extended long past its expected conclusion. NATO sources said a major sticking point involved the rules of engagement for coalition forces enforcing the U.N. resolution, with Turkey raising concerns over details.

When Rasmussen finally emerged to announce an agreement, it was clear that questions over the rules of engagement remained unresolved.

Asked if the announcement revealed a split in NATO over the mission, Rasmussen said no. However, he also acknowledged that if unaltered, the agreement would mean the overall Libyan mission would have two parts, with NATO enforcing the no-fly zone and arms blockade, and the U.S.-led coalition that launched the mission handling other necessary civilian protection.

Rasmussen said NATO would use the mission's already established chain of command for enforcing the no-fly zone. The NATO supreme commander, an American, would be in charge, but the mission would be under NATO control, Rasmussen noted.

In addition, non-NATO partners including Arab countries would participate, Rasmussen said.

After Rasmussen's announcement, Clinton told reporters that all 28 NATO allies authorized military authorities to develop a plan for NATO to take on the broader mission of civilian protection under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973.

"NATO is well-suited to coordinating this international effort and ensuring that all participating nations are working effectively together toward our shared goals," said Clinton, who took no questions. "This coalition includes countries beyond NATO, including Arab partners, and we expect all of them to be providing important political guidance going forward. We have always said that Arab leadership and participation is crucial."

Clinton also said she will travel to London on Tuesday to attend an international meeting on Libya that will include NATO allies and Arab partners in the Libya mission.

NATO sources told CNN that the shift in command for enforcing a no-fly zone was expected by Sunday night.

According to the sources, NATO has sent a directive to NATO's military chain of command asking for a plan on how to execute an expanded role for enforcement of U.N. Resolution 1973. Under the expanded role, called "no-fly plus" by some officials, NATO might be given more robust rules of engagement to ensure that civilians are protected, the sources said.

One proposal for "no-fly plus" would allow some coalition forces to withdraw from certain missions, the sources said.

So far, U.S. forces have taken on the bulk of the Libyan mission, according to figures provided by the Pentagon. Of a total of 175 Tomahawk missiles fired, 168 were from the United States and seven from Great Britain, the only two countries to possess them, while U.S. planes have flown almost two-thirds of the sorties and U.S. ships comprise more than two-thirds of the total involved.

The U.S. aerial involvement will ease once NATO assumes full operational control of the no-fly zone, officials say. It was unclear whether the number of U.S. Navy ships taking part also would decrease, as well as what role U.S. forces would play in the civilian protection part of the mission.

Obama has repeatedly said that the United States will turn over control of the Libya mission to allies within "days, not weeks." While he specified that would mean no U.S. planes in the air over Libya, Obama left open the possibility of U.S. naval vessels playing a role in blockading Libya against arms shipments.

Much ado over a sex video few have seen

'If these jokers are sure that Anwar is the man in the video, they could have just uploaded it on the Internet or make VCD copies and distributed them.'

Zaid: I saw the sex video, too

KBE: Many are asking for an independent body to verify the video's authenticity. We should not miss the point here.

Proving the video's authenticity simply means the video was not doctored or tampered with. But it does not prove that the person in the video is Anwar Ibrahim. The video could be authentic, but the person in the video may not be who it's alleged to be. The video's authenticity and the authenticity of the person in the video are two different things.

Another thing which does not make sense is why the perpetrator, after going to such trouble and pains to set up four video cameras, and allegedly arranging for Anwar to visit the spa to set him up, did not use better quality cameras with HD colour to capture the act. That way, the identity of the person will be undeniable.

Instead, as reported in the press, we have a video in monochrome, filmed in low lighting and mostly grainy. Obviously, the low quality video is to hide the shortcomings of the actor playing Anwar.

Singa Pura Pura: Dear Zaid Ibrahim, is it really of such great consequence if Anwar had consensual sex with a woman or man outside of his marriage?

But rape is different. Statutory rape is different. Murder is different. Abuse of executive and administrative power is different. Pecuniary corruption is different. Policies of deliberate racial segregation are different, as is the promotion of inter-religious animosity. These are the real deals that truly and deeply hurt the people and the nation.

You said Kita is an issue-based political prodigy, right? It seems to me like it's just a little, Anwar-whipping creature for now. Is this Carcosa Seri Negara issue, whether true or false, worth Kita's fuss? Was the alcohol issue worth Hulu Selangor's fuss? For the life of me, I cannot accept the sort of man you have turned into.

On your toes: I guess you can never see your own prejudices and biases, Zaid. Honestly, what you alluded to is about right. But right now, I don't even care whether or not Anwar did commit those acts.

You see, this country is being ruled by people no better than him, even if he had done those things. Our years of emphasis on religiosity and "holier than thou" indoctrination have made us numbed to the larger issues confronting this nation. We pride ourselves on what we can eat, how our prayers are seen and heard in public, what we should wear, how close we can sit beside an opposite sex and how we should behave even privately.

But right in our hearts, we are a hapless and depraved people - we live in total oblivion of immense injustice, double standards, abuse of power, corruption, greed, and arrogance of power right in our midst.

If Anwar is bad, and if he ever come to power, we the people will change him, you don't have to worry about that, Zaid.

It is not for Anwar to prove his innocence; it is for those morons to prove that the tape is authentic before they show it to the public. What about secret video recording, isn't that a crime? To set up an elaborate recording needs lots of resources and connection. Who is financing and doing all these?

Chuath: Why do we care if Zaid has seen the video or not unless he can add some facts to the matter? It appears that Zaid is merely trying to get media exposure.

Ferdtan: For a man who is supposed to be intelligent, Zaid, you are missing the wood for the trees. As you had claimed to have seen the sex video, we expect you to comment on whether the man in the video is Anwar. You could have said: yes it's him; or no, it's not him; or at best, I'm not sure.

Instead, you said neither: you just echoed the Umno lines, calling for investigation and testing on the authenticity of the tape.

Zaid, you are a hypocrite. I am ashamed of myself for believing in you before, and that's why my anger in you is greater than the other 'kataks'. If you were to pass my path, you can be sure that I shall withheld my breath until you had passed as the air has been fouled.

I have come across a word, 'nifaq', in the Arabic language which means deception, scheming and presenting an outward appearance of good while concealing its opposite. Are you one?

WikAdam: Oh, dear. Many of these Anwar followers really think that shouting down the messenger will bring the truth nearer to their side. If anything, their behaviour is bringing them closer to the Umno/BN way of doing things. Some of them in their frenzy to protect Anwar's reputation have even gone to the extent of saying it's okay for Anwar to sleep with prostitutes.

Yes, protect Anwar even to the point of being insensitive to his wife's feelings. If these are the kind of idiots supporting Pakatan, BN has nothing to worry about.

Michael Angelo: If these jokers are sure that Anwar is the man in the video, they could have just uploaded it on the Internet or make VCD copies and distributed them throughout the country, like the Chua Soi Lek video.

They know it is not Anwar but just want to drag his name through the mud and create a negative perception of him.

Malaysiawatch4.blogspot: Calling in international experts will cost a lot of money just like the Sodomy II case. Does it serve any purpose except to prove that many powerful forces want to weaken the opposition?

Kannan MSakti: Now we know why the 'Datuk T' team recommended Kita's Zaid as one of the panellists for the royal commission of inquiry. Zaid can be a member as he is one of PKR/Anwar's new enemies.

Nicholas Lim: I was right all along to support Azmin Ali as deputy president of PKR instead of this pompous lawyer Zaid, unlike many commentators who seemed to have been dazzled and frazzled by Zaid's nice sounding speeches and sop to the rakyat.

Imagine if this man were the deputy president of PKR now. He would be destroying Pakatan Rakyat from the inside out. At least now, harimau sudah tunjuk belang (the tiger has shown its stripes) and we don't want to listen to your speeches on governance, democracy and human rights anymore.

Fat Cat Ros: In Islam, is it perfectly legal to make and show in public pornographic movies? Why is it there is no noise from the religious authorities over the screening of this video by the Datuk T trio, all of whom, incidentally, are Muslims?

From sex video, a galvanised Pakatan

Anwar addresses a crowd at his Segambut home, March 24, 2011. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 — At Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s home last night, former Abim president Datuk Siddiq Fadhil gave an impassioned sermon to a 400-strong crowd of mostly Muslims. But a quick survey of the compound saw more than half of the men clad in robes or baju Melayus absorbed in reading a chronological account of events in the sex video saga where Anwar is allegedly shown having sex with a prostitute.
Curiosity, especially within the Malay public, has been piqued and this is viewed positively by Pakatan Rakyat (PR), who will be holding a series of rallies in the coming week that will see it go on the offensive, accusing Umno of gutter politics.

Umno has moved to keep Rahim at arm’s length.

“The sex video is shrouded in doubt. This has opened the way for us to reach the public, especially the Malays who want to find out more,” PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution told The Malaysian Insider. Last night, Anwar held prayers at his home and had catered for 250 Muslims to come for a night of sermons, but the opposition leader later had to apologise to the 400 who came for being ill-prepared for the crowd.
If the video is — as PR claims — an Umno ploy, then it may well backfire as pact now appear to have been galvanised.
Anwar is in his element when under siege and issues quickly become platforms for the PKR de facto leader, as was seen when tens of thousands protested his 1998 sacking as deputy prime minister.
His party has responded swiftly  to seize the initiative since the video first surfaced on Monday, alleging Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s involvement with the trio, collectively known as “Datuk T”, behind the 21-minute tape.
PKR’s claims of dirty politics by Umno has gained credence when Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, who had to resign in 1994 as Malacca chief minister after accusations of statutory rape, admitted that he was part of “Datuk T.”
Umno, too, has seen the potential damage and has been quick to distance itself from its former Youth chief, insisting that Abdul Rahim was acting in his personal capacity.
Significantly, even PAS now seems to be firmly by Anwar’s side after talk of uneasiness with PKR following a string of by-election defeats in Malay-majority seats.
When a reporter asked Anwar on Tuesday if he should swear on the Quran that he was not the man in a sex video that surfaced the day before, it was PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang who insisted on fielding the question.
“Let me answer this,” he told Anwar at the press conference, before launching into a short sermon on Syariah law.
“We were surprised. Hadi is usually very reserved but I think he has had enough,” said PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.

Hadi has found an unusual fervour for defending Anwar.

The normally calm Abdul Hadi has been on a warpath since. In a sermon that night in Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya, he spent over 20 minutes of a fiery speech claiming that the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) was indulging in gutter politics to bring down Opposition Leader Anwar, who is also facing an ongoing sodomy trial.
According to Saifuddin, the ceramah drew a crowd of 5,000 — over 20 per cent more than expected.
“Yes, we’ve noticed that Hadi has become very fierce since the video came out,” said former PAS secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar.
Abdul Hadi has been seen as being cool about his Islamic party’s relationship with Anwar, unlike the “Erdogan” camp in PAS that is said to support the embattled PKR de facto leader at all cost.
Anwar finding an unexpected champion in Abdul Hadi to fight the latest allegation of sexual misconduct is the clearest sign that the opposition coalition still has plenty of puff left in it.
Azmin’s sister, Ummi Hafilda, who has accused Anwar of sexual misconduct over the past 13 years, has claimed that there are 18 more sex videos of the Permatang Pauh MP.
But as Badrul Hisham Baharin, a PKR Youth leader, put it last night, “They can have 188 more sex videos and it would not matter.”

Release sex video to NGOs

A Penang PKR leader says the video should be given to groups who are seen as impartial and respected by society.

SUNGAI PETANI: Penang PKR leader Jason Ong has called on the group which possesses the alleged Anwar Ibrahim sex tape to release it to organisations regarded as impartial and respected by society.

He said this would ascertain a degree of truth instead of it being “someone’s word against another’s.”

The clip was now with the cops and one wonders how long they would take to finalise their investigation, he added.

Anwar is alleged to be the protagonist in the 22-minute clip, which depicts someone who resembles the opposition leader, having sex with an unidentified woman, believed to be a prostitute.

Ong said that perhaps some quarters believed it was Anwar but he questioned the manner how the matter was managed.

He said the secretive move where selected media members were invited to view the video in a hotel with no regards to criminal laws such as viewing pornographic material in public, gave rise to suspicion that it was a conspiracy.

It showed that no effort was done to produce the alleged evidence of Anwar’s wrongdoings in a transparent way, he added

Ong, who is the Kebun Bunga state assemblyman, said this led to the public losing faith in the accusers, especially when some of them had a tainted past.

“Right now, the silent majority is quietly thinking conspiracy,” he added.

In another development, a former top news editor of a mainstream newspaper, said the media including the alternative media should report what they see, hear or smell but cannot interpret it for others as the media would then be seen as bias.

In a pressure-cooker environment surrounding the media, the ex-editor who preferred not to be named, said they should just report and let the public make conclusions.

The media, he stressed, cannot become judge, jury and executioner.

MCLM severs alliance with Snap

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) today announced that it was severing ties with Sarawak National Party (Snap) due to the latter’s alleged engagement in dubious practices.

MCLM president Haris Ibrahim explained that the objective of the alliance was to end the plight of marginalised Sarawakians by ending Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s 30-year reign, and to establish a pro-rakyat federal government.

“We have received reports that the Snap candidates and some of their ‘privileged’ leaders had suddenly come into significant funds that were being made available by operatives from Kuala Lumpur acting under the directions of BN, ” Haris said in a press conference today.

“There is no absolute conclusive evidence but in situations like these you rarely see conclusive black and white evidence. If this information is true, then it is a betrayal of the worst kind to a people who have been subjected to oppression for the last 30 years,” he added.

In late February, MCLM announced their partnership with Snap, saying that they would assist the party in screening prospective candidates and organise polling and counting agent training for its members.

Haris revealed that early last week “we were informed by Snap that the training was cancelled under further notice”.

MCLM was then told on March 16, 2011 that Snap had chosen 16 candidates without consulting them.

All of these candidates were deemed by MCLM to be “high-risk, integrity-wise”.

One week later, a further 11 candidates were named. “Again, information we have received of these latest candidates is not favourable.”

Haris said that despite seeking an explanation for their actions from Snap, none had been forthcoming.

He promised, however, that MCLM would not be deterred by this unfortunate episode, and continue to pursue the forging of workable alliances with any opposition party who shared common goals.

‘Number 2 enemy’

Yesterday, Sarawak-based Move for Change Sarawak (MoCS) also similarly cut off all ties with Snap, labelling the party as being the ‘number two’ enemy for Sarawakians.

MoCS chairman Francis Siah claimed that Snap had deviated from its original intention with the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

“Snap has deviated from its original intention of working together with PKR, DAP, PAS and MoCS.

“For this reason, we from MoCS will field candidates and fight Snap in Marudi, Bukit Saban, Krian and Machan.

“We will work together with DAP, PKR and PAS to wrest these areas, ” Siah said.

Snap however has denied having a “secret” arrangement with BN or Umno.

Describing the accusation as a “fabrication of the worst order”, Snap secretary-general Stanley Jugol said there was “never” any meeting between Snap leaders and Umno information chief Ahmad Maslan.

Press statement on Joseph Salang's statement that Sarawak Christians “should not make fools of themselves

Joseph Salang’s statement that Sarawak Christians “should not make fools of themselves” reveals the arrogance typical of Barisan Nasional leaders drunk with power

By Teresa Kok

Parti Rakyat Sarawak Vice President Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum’s statement that Christians in Sarawak “should not make fools of themselves” over the impounding of the al-Kitab is appalling but not surprising. He merely demonstrates the arrogance typical of Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders who are so drunk with 53 years of unbroken power that they have become completely cold and oblivious to the suffering of the people on the ground.

According to The Malaysian Insider*, Joseph Salang made that heartless statement with regard to Sarawakians attending prayer rallies organised by Sarawak Ministers Fellowship to pray for the release of the al-Kitab. The first rally held at the Christian Accumenical Worship Centre in Kuching on 23 March 2011 drew nearly 3,000 Christians, which indicates the gravity of this issue. (* http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/christians-should-not-make-fools-of-themselves-over-alkitab-says-sarawak-bn-leader/ )

In making that statement, Joseph Salang shows that he couldn’t care less about Malaysians’ constitutional right to freedom of religion and that he has absolutely no sympathy for Sarawak Christians’ grievance. Their al-Kitab has been impounded by the Home Ministry for over two years, defaced with a “For Christians” stamp and then a “For Christianity” stamp, and until recently threatened with being stamped with serial numbers as well.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein even had the gall to mock the Christians when he said, “You (Christians) can even say the Bibles are smelly after being kept for so long,” during his press conference on 17 March 2011.

As for Joseph Salang, his statement reveals himself to be lacking in culture despite being the Deputy Minister for Information Communication & Culture. If he had any culture, he would be able to appreciate that the al-Kitab, in whatever language, is the holy book for Christians. Human decency tells us that holy books must be accorded due respect, regardless of what one’s personal religious convictions may be.

Thus, the oppressive manner in which the Government has restricted access to and defaced the al-Kitab exposes 1Malaysia for the fraud that it is. No amount of justification by the Government can make this transgression right. Joseph Salang’s cruel statement only adds salt to the wound.

I urge Joseph Salang to wake up from his stupor of BN power, recognise the pain that BN is causing Christians throughout the country, and apologise unreservedly for his most arrogant statement.

I further urge all the BN component parties in Sarawak – Parti Rakyat Sarawak, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, Sarawak United People's Party, Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party – to wake up from their coma, denounce outright the impounding and defacing of the al-Kitab, call for their immediate unconditional release and the removal of all restrictions upon future imports of the al-Kitab, as Pakatan Rakyat leaders have done.

Failing which, the people of Sarawak will plainly see that the BN component parties in Sarawak have yet again kowtowed to BN leaders in Putrajaya and sold out their fellow Sarawakians for political gain.

Of political desperados, dingoes and demons

By Martin Jalleh

The PM and Umno are desperate, very desperate indeed. It has dawned very hard on them that they could soon be driven out of Putrajaya and into political oblivion.

Anwar Ibrahim, the man who has been the drawing and driving force behind the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat (PR), must be destroyed at all cost. Never before has anyone posed such a danger to Umno.

They had tried very hard to do his political career in with a sham sodomy trial but he bounced back even more determined, and with his coalition, dealt them a severe blow in the last general elections.

They had once dismissed him as a has-been and irrelevant. But Anwar just refused to disappear. Now they are convinced he must be demolished forever and then Pakatan Rakyat will definitely disintegrate.

Umno would launch relentless dastardly attacks on his reputation with the help of spin doctors in the mainstream media and online cyber-troopers and ceaselessly attempt to damage his credibility and integrity.

They would incessantly drum it into the minds of the citizens of Bolehland long and loud enough that he is a man of dubious character, one who will do anything to be the PM of Malaysia.

They would demonise him as a loyal friend of the Zionists, denigrate him as a spy for the US, defame him as a CIA agent, disparage him as a political chameleon and denounce him as a traitor.

They would deploy anyone to demolish him, whether they be in Umno, Apco or a bozo in the police, AG’s Chambers and especially the judiciary, people who would dance to their tune at the drop of a hat.

They would get deserters, detractors and disgruntled leaders of his party and within the coalition to discredit him with their stale and silly exposé and to derail the process of change that the PR wants to bring about.

A “Doctor in the House” joins in the diatribe against Anwar with his memoirs – a “doctored” memory of the past by a supposed statesman who prefers to live in the present on self-deception, delusion and denial.

Such is their desperation, they would even resurrect characters who played a “vicious role” in the conspiracy of Sodomy I, one of whom was described in a court transcript as being “disowned by her own father”.

They would even deny Anwar a place in parliament for six months with the help of the Speaker whom Tunku Abdul Aziz (a respected public figure) described as a “total disgrace”.

Sodomy Script

Politically bankrupt and devoid of political principles, they would dish out yet another sodomy script. Once again they would ruthlessly drag his and his family’s good name through the mud.

Prosecution star witness Saiful would not disappoint in the judicial circus. He contradicts himself and even has a sex liaison with a DPP in the case! The Court confirms it did happen but refuses to dismiss the case.

The AG and the judge would deny Anwar access to the details that are as a norm furnished to the defence at the start of a trial. But the AG would disclose all documents to the defence in the Ling Liong Sik’s case!

A chemist acknowledges that DNA found in Saiful’s rear end could have come from as many as 10 different people – including himself! Saiful gives new meaning to the phrase “go f**k yourself”! (Asia Sentinel)

The prosecution is at a point of desperation when the AG’s Chambers and the police commit a plethora of mistakes regarding DNA evidence. They should be aptly dubbed the “DNA” – Desperate n Asinine team.

Courage deserts the judge as he overturns his own decision made during a trial-within-a-trial (which is very rarely done). Anwar says he is not surprised. The judge may be pressured and directed to stick to the script.

Umno has even contingent plans to dispose of Anwar. They come up with a new video tape showing a man alleged to be Anwar having sex with a female Chinese prostitute.

From the feedback of reporters who saw it and the glaring questions that have arisen as to how, where and when it was shown, one can only deduce that it is but doctored trash.

Najib parrots Hishamuddin and denies that the police are involved in the making of the sex tape. The public remembers how he had denied that he had ever met Saiful but later admitted that he did meet Saiful after all.

De facto law minister Nazri Aziz, who is reputed for his temper tantrums, theatrics, threats, taunts, and twisting the truth declares that the showing of the “blue film” (his very own words) is legitimate!

Nazri asks the public not to shoot the “messenger”. Datuk T is no “messenger” but a “Terrorist” employed to assassinate Anwar’s character!

Distractions & Diversions

Umno’s alleged sex scandals by opposition members are not only a conspiracy to destroy Anwar, but they are meant to distract the nation from the failures of the BN government and Umno.

The sex video is shown on the very day the Sarawak state assembly is dissolved. Do Sarawakians want to deliberate and decide on their future or waste their energy over the salacious contents of a doctored tape?

When the nation is sex saturated, and the people enjoy their daily sex diet, this is what Umno and the BN government wants to do:

Distract the rakyat from the damning evidence that the country is going to the dogs and that we are living in a “sham democracy” (Tengku Razaleigh).

Divert the people’s attention from the reality that we have a dead constitution (courtesy of the judiciary), a divided nation, decaying institutions, a dour economy and a disturbing diaspora rate!

Deflect the public’s attention from Umno’s rampant corruption, exacerbating internal divisions and that the Umnoputras are bleeding this country dry.

Deceive the nation with Najib’s “performance” consisting of nothing but public relations, publicity stunts, political rhetoric, populist slogans, propaganda puff, a pipe-dream and a pie in the sky!

Downplay the successes of the PR States. Deny, delay and distribute discriminately federal funds they are entitled to, whilst hiding the fact that some of the BN states are near debt or in deficit.

It is very evident that Umno has not changed! It has plunged to such depths that it is only adept at churning out sex stories to destroy its enemies, the No.1 being Anwar! It has no sense of decency or shame left.

It has to resort to dirty politics (no matter how despicable and disgusting) in order to survive. It will one day reap what it now sows and bury itself in the very grave it has dug for Anwar today.

It would no doubt be an “unmitigated disaster” if the rakyat were to vote for BN and (Najib) in the next general elections!

'Country on right track in human rights'

The New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is on the right track in its commitment to create a better human rights culture in the country when it ratified the Rome Statute recently, Amnesty International Malaysia said.

Its executive director, Nora Murat, said the move would see the country becoming a part of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

"However," she said, "Amnesty International Malaysia calls on the government not to stop at this.

"Rather, the opportunity should be taken to review other restrictive laws, such as the Internal Security Act, Emergency Ordinances, Printing Presses and Publications Act and laws which allow for corporal punishments and death penalty.

"Merely putting our names to a document is not evidence enough to show us as championing human rights. We must also ensure that the practices and laws of the country uphold the spirit and intention of the Rome Statute."

The ICC was set up to deal with the most serious crimes known to humankind such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression.

Malaysia had sanctioned the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms Of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, but with certain reservations despite ratifying these treaties.

Police To Set Up Centre, Database To Curb Cyber Crime

By Noraidah Abdul Karim

KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Bernama) -- The police force plans to set up a one-stop centre to curb commercial crimes, especially cyber crimes quickly, said Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Wira Syed Ismail Syed Azizan.

He said the centre would be modelled after the Taiwan Cybercrime Prevention and Fighting Centre which managed to control fast growing cyber crimes and threats on the Internet.

The setting up of the centre will help speed-up commercial crime investigations as time is crucial, he told reporters in an interview in conjunction with the 204th Police Day celebration on Friday.

"For example, when a customer is duped by an online banking scam, he must contact the centre quickly to enable to the police to tell the bank to block the transaction," he said.

He said besides the one-stop centre, the Commercial Criminal Investigation Department (CCID) was also planning set up a database on white-collar criminals, including their modus operandi through police intelligence and complaints from victims.

"At present, the data is done manually and an application for facilities to set up the database had been submitted to the Logistics Department. We hope it can be set up in June or July," he said.

Cases involving misuse of information and communication technology (ICT) kept growing since 2000 and transcended national boundaries, he said, adding that they had changed with times from merely slanders, instigations and intimidations.

He said CCID officers were sent to attend training on crime trends, especially cyber crimes as the increase in the number of Internet users by 45.42 percent over the last 10 years had resulted in cyber criminals unleashed new scams at every opportunity.

In retrospect, he said corporate, financial, insurance and cooperative frauds began to emerge in 1980s followed by organised credit card, ATM, Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and share scams which transcended across border in 1990s.

He said fraud, criminal breach of trust and cyber crimes took a turn for the worst in 2009 with 24,590 cases involving the loss of RM1.4 billion reporters followed by in 2010 (24,023 cases involving the loss of RM918 million).

He said the CCID, which boasted 1,400 personnel, was previously under the ambit of the Crime Investigation Department before it was elevated to the present status in 2005.

Rakaman Forum : Revolution Eqypt

Cops quiz Rahim, Eskay over sex video

Pakatan MPs disagree with DPM on Interlok

Chong Eng: "Melayu pun pendatang"

Turkey backs NATO command of Libya operations

Command of military operations in Libya will be transferred from the US to NATO within a day or two, Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey's foreign minister, has announced.

Turkey had helped to implement a naval blockade of Libya, but had earlier expressed concern about the alliance taking over operational command of the UN-backed no-fly zone from the US.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Davutoglu said: "Compromise has been reached in principle in a very short time. "The operation will be handed over to NATO completely."

Davutoglu said this would happen as soon as possible, within one or two days.

He said agreement had been reached in a teleconference with his counterparts from the US, France and Britain.

NATO will take command of the international coalition's military operations in Libya on Monday or Tuesday, a
diplomat told the AFP news agency on Thursday.

"NATO countries are in agreement to launch final planning enabling it to take over the command from the coalition Monday or Tuesday," said the diplomat, who asked not to be named.

The US had been keen to hand over operational control to the military alliance as soon as possible.

Davutoglu's announcement followed a fouth days of talks over the issue at a NATO summit in Brussels.

All 28 members of NATO needed to back any agreement and Turkey had previously rejected backing any plan unless it was given assurances that the operation would be limited to protecting civilians, enforcing an arms embargo and a no-fly zone, and providing humanitarian aid.

US admiral James Stavridis, NATO's overall commander, was in Turkey on Thursday to convince leaders there to back the agreement on the alliance's role.

Critical voices

The need to forge a consensus on Libya that involved Turkey and retained Arab support had becomes more critical each day, after NATO talks began on Monday.

Along with Turkey, Germany had also proved to be an obstacle to any agreement, abstaining from the UN Security Council vote that initially approved the no-fly zone, and reportedly refusing to help enforce the international arms embargo on Libya on Wednesday.

China, India and Russia, which all abstained from the Security Council vote, have repeatedly criticised the military action, and remaining in the lead role had exposed the US to their disapproval.

China's foreign ministry reiterated its call for a ceasefire on Thursday, warning that the conflict could escalate and "worsen the situation region-wide".

"We believe that the objective of enforcing the UN Security Council resolution is to protect humanitarian [objectives] and not to create an even bigger humanitarian disaster," spokesman Jiang Yu said.

The three nations, as well as South Africa and Brazil, are expected to raise their concerns at a Security Council meeting on Thursday, where Ban will deliver a briefing on the operation.

Jacob Zuma, the South African president, said his country "rejected any foreign intervention, whatever its form".

Thought some observers thought South Africa would abstain at the Security Council last week, it voted in favour of resolution 1973.

In an interview on Thursday, Ban rejected concerns that the operation would stall or reach a quagmire.

"I think this is different than other situations," he said. "I believe that the international coalition will have a successful operation."

Source:Al Jazeera and agencies

Racist and biased UMNO Court of Appeal led by C.J Tun Zaki Tun Azmi clears Malay-sian police murderers of G. Francis Udayappan at Malay-sian police station – killing fields of Indians. See gruesome photos below.

Francis Udayappan was murdered at the Brickfields police station and thrown into the Klang River behind that very same police station.
It was the clearest case ever of the Malay police murdering this soft target Indian youth.
P. Uthayakumar, S. Jayathas and ten others were arrested for holding a peaceful assembly and carrying a mock coffin to the Brickfields police station in April 2005.
Francis’ body was kept at the P.J University Hospital for nearly 2 years. Francis head with injuries was destroyed and only parts of the skull and a highly decomposed flesh and bones were handed over to his mother Sara Lily and that too about 2 years later.
We had no confidence in the Inquest at the K.L magistrates Court and heard by Malay muslim coroner Mohd. Sham.
And now the 95% Malay muslim dominated Malay-sian Judiciary and in the Court of Appeal Judges Datuk Hasan Lah, Datuk Abdul Malik Ishak & Datuk Mokhtaruddin Baki after 6 years decides that the police did not murder Francis.
So who murdered Francis then? And right in the heart of the UMNO Malay muslim police station killing field of in particular Indian youths.
(see Utusan Malaysia 24/3/2011 at page 33)
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice

Interlok: Text and context

by KJ John,

I am not a formal student of the philosophy of science; the study and appreciation of the field of epistemology. But I had a very good teacher from whom I learned some key concepts and ideas from this field.

The most important principle I learned from this teacher, is that we cannot separate text from context, or mix up the two. Therefore, today I say categorically: there is never text without a context.

Why this beginning for my next column? The core issue I want to discuss in this column is the 'Interlok' mouth-wagging war that has been going on; on all sides.

Four local literature laureates have given their voice to state that no editing of this literary work should be entertained.

I agree. My reasons are given below.

Now, to practice what I preach, first the context of the text. What then are the real knowledge domains related to the 'Interlok' issue?

First is literature. Second is language, and the third is education.
Can we get confused by all these three domains and related concepts; if we are not clear about them? Surely.

Literature (from Latin litterae (plural); letter) is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources (although, under circumstances they can be exempt). Literally translated, the word literature means "acquaintance with letters" (as in "arts and letters"). The two most basic written literary categories are fiction and non fiction.

Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication. The scientific study of language in any of its senses is called linguistics.

Education in the largest sense is any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual.

In its technical sense, education is the process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills and values from one generation to another.

Etymologically, the word education is derived from educare (Latin) "bring up", which is related to educere "bring out", "bring forth what is within", "bring out potential" and ducere, "to lead".

With the above as the three domains contexts, let us review the text of our issue or concern.

Socio-political discourse

The 'Interlok' issue, like most things Malaysian, is now convoluted into a socio-political discourse, much like the argument between Indonesia and Malaysia whether the song 'Terang Bulan,' which is now our national anthem, is originally Malaysian or Indonesian or merely Melayu!

Who really cares? I think the Good Lord inspired some artist to write it and we are not even paying any royalty for it, as far as I know!

Moreover, the Melayus come from the Melayu River in Indonesia and is only one of the 200 plus ethnic groups in that great nation and our neighbour!

Therefore, my definition of our context of the issue is that we need to separate and segregate the key issues and topics from the fused nature of Asian thinking!

Fred W Riggs called for such movement from fused to the differentiated ways of rationally breaking down the core issues to their component parts, so we develop as a nation.

In his theory, we all start as a fused agrarian society and then slowly 'develop' to become a diffracted and differentiated industrial society.

While his views are not exact social science, his perspective is valid for our review and consideration.

Therefore, if we diffract the issue like when you use a prism to break light into colours, the core issues in our 'Interlok' text are language, literature and education. Sorry, but the so-called national unity dimension is a totally non-starter, except maybe for the author himself; by his intentionality for his piece of art.

'Interlok' is a pure fictional piece of Malay literature of a Malayan variety and quality. One must understand Malay culture and values to truly appreciate it, I believe.

Neither was the author seeking to win any global awards either! But, we must be proud of our literature in the Malay language and we should never ask the author to change or edit his words. Even as a columnist, I do not allow Malaysiakini to edit out my words and meaning!

Nuances more important

Moreover, while any form of literature can be taught in the Malay Language class, surely learning the language and its nuances are more important than "teaching about how to achieve a united or fixed mental model of external reality," and what others say about life and living!

Learning about others and their worldviews is a life-long mission and process. Finally also, 'Interlok' is both literature and language, but most importantly these must surely exist to educate all of us, and never to make us more stupid or more ignorant.

Let us therefore simply put text back in context; obviously 'Interlok' is not a good and solidly acceptable example of literature for Form Five students; because of unresolved sensitivities in our society.

As Shamsul AB would say it, "it will merely keep tongues wagging!" Therefore, let us not insult the author and ask him to moderate the language of what he really and truly meant in its art and craft form!
He already wrote what he meant!

The current book is no more his original work, but a version owned and distributed by Dewan Bahasa for yet other motives.

Therefore, let us simply cut the crap. The policy makers failed in choosing a good and usable book, within the context of post March 8th Malaysia.

Simply do not use the book any more although we should encourage all Malaysians to read it!

Neither is this a Ketuanan Melayu issue but it's really about how to teach 17 year olds the Malay language and teach them to love the language and learn to use it well in life; full of its finer nuances!

May God give our leaders wisdom to know the difference between knowledge and ignorance! That too is an education!

KJ JOHN is dean of the Faculty of Economics and Policy Science at UCSI University and they are currently seeking good students for a Master's in Public Policy to be offered in May 2011. UCSI is also a regional centre for Blue Ocean Strategy which teaches Value Innovation processes.

Interlok karya propaganda Umno

Menurut Lee Ban Chen, ia juga menonjolkan semangat Ketuanan Melayu.

KUALA LUMPUR: Kolumnis Malaysiakini dan Merdeka Review, Lee Ban Chen menyifatkan karya Sasterawan Negara Abdullah Hussain Interlok ‘berunsur politik dalam kerangka Umno’.

“Ia mempertahankan dasar ideologi Umno yang diwarisi daripada penjajah British. Ideologi ini dipupuk agar kerajaan negara ini menjadi kerajaan boneka British,” kata Lee pada forum bertajuk “Interlok: Antara Kesusasteraan, Pendidikan dan Hubungan Kaum” di sini malam tadi.

Ideologi Umno, jelasnya adalah berteraskan Ketuanan Melayu, pro-British, anti-rakyat dan anti-komunis.

Beliau turut mengecam gambaran tentera komunis yang digambarkan sebagai perogol.

“Komunis bukan perogol. Mereka cukup berdisiplin. Apakah kita lupa bahawa mereka membela negara ini?,” Lee menyoal sambil menegaskan bahawa keadilan mesti diberikan kepada tentera komunis anti-Jepun dan anti-British.

‘Karya tempang’

Profesor Dr Chong Fah Hing dari Fakulti Bahasa dan Komunikasi, Universiti Putra Malaysia pula menyifatkan Interlok sebagai ‘karya tempang’.

Dari sudut ilmiah, karya Abdullah Hussain ini juga tidak menepati definasi sastera dunia ketiga yang menitikberatkan nasionalisme.

“Abdullah Hussain hanya melihat nasionalisme Melayu dan menekan nasionalisme masyarakat lain lantas menjadikan novel ini tempang.”

Dalam analisanya terhadap kontroversi ini beliau telah menempelak pendirian Persatuan Penulis Nasional (Pena).

“Alasan Pena ialah Interlok edisi murid perlu dikekalkan untuk menjaga maruah Melayu? Apa kena-mengena Interlok dengan menjaga maruah Melayu?,” Chong menimbulkan persoalan.

Pandangan empat Sasterawan Negara yang mempertahankan Interlok atas alasan karya ini membicarakan aspek kemanusiaan turut disangkal sebagai kaedah mengaburkan permasalahan sebenar yang menekankan aspek imigran.

Beliau menambah bahawa Interlok juga merupakan karya bermasalah kerana condong kepada politik Umno-Barisan Nasional dan prejudis terhadap pergerakan nasionalisme kiri.

‘Rasisme wujud dan diinstitusikan’

Sementara itu, pensyarah undang-undang dari Universiti Malaya, Profesor Madya Azmi Sharom berhujah bahawa anugerah Sasterawan Negara tidak bermakna karya yang dihasilkan adalah bagus.

Beliau turut menjelaskan bahawa karya-karya berbaur perkauman boleh diterbitkan di Barat kerana masyarakat di sana menolak perkauman atas alasan bahawa ia adalah salah.

“Masalah kita adalah kita belum sampai ke tahap di mana masyarakat kita mengatakan rasisme adalah salah kerana ia wujud dan telah diinstitusikan.”

Beliau turut menyifatkan negara ini gagal mengambil pendekatan intelek untuk menyelesaikan permasalahan berkaitan Interlok kerana sikap hipokrasi.

Selain mereka, forum ini turut disertai Presiden Persatuan Kavyan, Uthaya Sankar SB dan Pengerusi Badan Bertindak Interlok Kebangsaan (Niat), Dato’ Thasleem Mohamed Ibrahim.

Ketika berhadapan dengan persoalan mengapa kerajaan liat untuk menarik balik Interlok, Azmi berkata, “kerajaan takut berhadapan dengan kumpulan pendesak perkauman Melayu seperti Perkasa.”

Selain daripada Ahli Parlimen Ipoh Barat M Kulasegaran, forum turut dihadiri Ahli Parlimen Bukit Mertajam, Chong Eng dan M Manogaran (Telok Intan). Ketiga-tiga mereka dari parti DAP.

Kira-kira 70 peserta menghadiri forum anjuran Pusat Pembangunan Kebudayaan (LLG), Dewan Perhimpunan Cina Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor, Niat dan pertubuhan hak asasi Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram).

Court throws out ex-ISA detainees’ RM200m suit

Former ISA detainees M Manoharan and P Uthayakumar lose their bid to sue Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and five others.

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here today dismissed a RM200-million suit brought by former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees M Manoharan and P Uthayakumar against Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and five others.

Judicial Commissioner Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal allowed the application by Najib and the five others to strike out the suit after hearing submissions from Manoharan, who represented himself and Uthayakumar, and senior federal counsel Najib Zakaria and Azizan Md Arshad who appeared for Najib and the others.

The five others are former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan, the Taiping detention centre superintendent and the government.

Azizan told reporters the judge allowed the application with RM5,000 costs.

When asked for the grounds on which the application was granted, Azizan said there was no issue to be tried in the suit filed by the two ISA detainees.
He said he had submitted that the claim and the damages sought by the plaintiff in the suit could not be sustained as the High Court had ruled in their habeas corpus application that their detention was lawful.

Manoharan said he would appeal against today’s outcome.

In the striking-out application, Najib and the five other defendants said the suit filed by Manoharan and Uthayakumar on Dec 9 last year was frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of the court process.
They said the suit was directly related to a case which had been disposed of by the High Court and Federal Court.

In their suit, Manoharan and Uthayakumar had sought RM100 million each in damages and an annual interest of 8% on the grounds that they had been wrongfully detained for 514 days from Dec 13, 2007, to May 9, 2009.

-Bernama

Kula, Muhyiddin trade barbs over Interlok

The DAP leader's grading of DPM's reply as 'low standard' causes a commotion in the dewan

KUALA LUMPUR: Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran traded barbs with Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin over the Interlok controversy, ranking the latter’s reply as ‘low standard’

This occured when Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, insisted that the novel won’t be withdrawn by the government and will continue to be used in the secondary school sylllabus.

Muhyiddin claimed that the independent panel had agreed to the proposed amendments, one of which is to remove the word ‘pariah’, a word deemed insensitive to the Tamil community.

Kulasegaran, who is also DAP vice-chairman accused Muhyiddin of taking a simplistic solution to the problem.

“Your answer was very low in standard,” said Kulasegaran which caused an uproar among several backbenchers.

Muhyiddin shot back, saying Kulasegaran did not understand his reply as even the MIC had agreed to the amendments.

“The majority of the Indians want the book to be out from schools,” said Kulasegaran, and called MIC a party without backbone for being in cahoots with Muhyiddin over the matter.

The dewan became heated up when Sri Gading MP Mohamad Aziz accused Kulasegaran of trying to be a hero and several backbenchers joined in the fray.

It took Deputy Speaker Ronald Kiandee nearly 10 minutes before he could control Kulasegaran from continuing with his verbal tirade.

“Muhyiddin is ignoring the Indian community’s demand to remove the novel from schools to protect the ‘little Napoleans’ in his ministry,” he said at in a press conference later.

“And what is most shocking is the MIC keeping mum about it. It tells Tamil dailies that it wants the book to be removed but it supports Muhyiddin’s stand,” said Kulasegaran.

He said Pakatan Rakyat wanted the book to be removed as a textbook in the literature component of the Bahasa Malaysia subject for Form Five students as it smacks of racism.

Teluk Intan MP M Manoharan reminded the government that the controversial novel even degraded the Malays.

“Page 39 of the book says Malays need not go to school as religious studies were sufficient for them to earn a living.

“This can cause problems when students who are naïve use this to tease the Malays,” he said.

Najib, Rosmah may be called as witnesses

Najib and wife will be asked to testify as witnessess should Anwar be ordered to enter his defence in his Sodomy II trial.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor will be called as witnesses should Anwar Ibrahim be ordered to enter his defence in his Sodomy II trial.

“I think calling them as witnesses would be necessary,” said lead defence counsel Karpal Singh after the court had adjourned.

The prosecution, led by solicitor-general II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, released a list of 71 witnesses to the defence team, and among them were Najib and Rosmah.

Investigating officer Supt Jude Pereira revealed during cross-examination two weeks ago that statements were taken from Najib and Rosmah in relation to Anwar’s sodomy charge.

The statements had been recorded on July 17, 2008. However, the officer denied meeting Najib over the case.

Pereira had also recorded statements from Rosmah’s close friend Mumtaz Jafaar, former PKR Youth chief Ezam Mohd Nor, and Anwar’s former aide Rahimi Osman.

These names, too, are on the prosecution’s witness list being offered up to the defence team.

The trial adjourned today after a turn of events that Anwar called “disappointing but not surprising”.

Items taken from Anwar’s cell the morning after his arrest were today admitted as evidence in the trial, despite being expunged during the trial-within-a-trial earlier.

Relying on DNA

Former crime scene investigation chief Supt Amidon Anan was called back to the witness stand, where he related how he took four items from Anwar’s cell: a strand of hair, mineral water bottle, toothbrush, and towel on July 17, 2008.

Following this, government chemist Nor Aidora Saedon was called to the stand, where she identified the items and admitted to examining them.

She told the court she had received the items from Pereira. The prosecution is relying on the DNA taken from these items to link Anwar to the alleged sodomy.

Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah said the reason for reversing the ruling was that when the original decision was made, the court did not have the testimony of Pereira and arresting officer Supt Ahmad Taufik Abdullah.

This was despite a submission from the defence team, which applied to have a review of the review, claiming that the judge had not looked at other aspects of their argument, specifically the lock-up rules.

Court will reconvene in three weeks, with Zabidin fixing April 18 as the date for submissions.

Anwar, 63, is charged with sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari, 25, at the Desa Damansara Condominium in Bukit Damansara between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008. If convicted, Anwar can be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years jail.

Several PKR MPs to jump ship?

Following the sex video disclosure, a party source claims that several MPs are planning to abandon PKR and are now under strict surveillance.

PETALING JAYA: Several PKR MPs are allegedly planning to jump ship following the disclosure of a sex video implicating party supremo Anwar Ibrahim.
A party source revealed that PKR is “facing an acute internal problem” and its top leadership is monitoring several MPs, whom it fears may abandon PKR just ahead of the April 16 Sarawak polls.
The source said while Anwar’s sex-video has become the buzzword nationwide, Umno appears bent on luring several PKR MPs to leave the party to become either independent pro-Barisan Nasional MPs or Umno MPs.
Yesterday, admitting that he and two others were behind the release of the video, former Malacca chief minister Rahim Thamby Chik said several PKR MPs asked for RM1 million each to jump ship after watching the video.
He claimed that Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul was first shown the video and the PKR lawmaker admitted that the person in the video was Anwar.
Rahim also alleged that Johari asked for RM100,000 as “wang pelincir” (lubricant money) as an initial payment to facilitate the exodus.
However, at another press conference yesterday, Johari (photo above) alleged that Rahim offered RM1 million for every MP who crossed-over and that it was not Anwar on the sex tape.The PKR MP was also said to have wanted to bring seven party comrades to meet with Rahim.
The source claimed that the five PKR MPs taken by Johari to view the video were Kamarul Baharin Abbas (Teluk Kemang), Rashid Din (Merbok), Azan Ismail (Indera Mahkota), Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid (Kuala Langat) and Amran Abdul Ghani (Tanah Merah).
Why did they target Johari?
The source said he is puzzled as to why Johari decided to come-out with a statement only two days after he watched the video and not immediately after viewing it.
“There are some questions that need to be answered. Party members are confused with certain things. Firstly why did the ‘Datuk Trio’ (Rahim and two others namely Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and Shuib Lazim) target Johari?
“Why didn’t Johari inform the party leadership of the attempt? Why did he bring the other five MPs for the second screening? Why did he hold a press conference on March 23, when he saw the video on March 21?”
The source, however, remained confident that the person in the sex-video was not Anwar but a conspiracy to tarnish his reputation and to bring disrepute to PKR.
“On the day the video was said to be recorded and during that time (9pm to 12 midnight), Anwar was with his brother Roslan at his (Anwar’s) house,” he said.
The source also noted that Umno and BN needed only another five MPs to defect in order for the ruling coalition to obtain a two-thirds majority in Parliament, and the sex video was aimed at luring PKR MPs to cross over.
Despite numerous attempts, Johari could not be reached for comment.

Does it feel like a bunch of gangsters are running this country?

By Naragan,


The most recent act by UMNO to try and kill off Anwar with a lowly sex video moved me to write this article. Because it increasingly feels like we are living in a country run by gangsters.
What characterizes gangsters? Is there any difference between what gangsters do and what UMNO is doing?
Use of force, fear, bribes, threats, violence, deceit, unchallengeable positions, indulgence, and parasitic existence and not worrying about appearances would be a reasonable answer to the first question.
To answer the second question “Is there any difference?” I will examine how UMNO performs in many of these dimensions to answer that question.
1) Force –The Police, the Attorney General’s office, the Courts (I will call them the Unholy Trio from now on) are the instruments of force of UMNO.
You see them figuring prominently in all occasions where UMNO’s lawlessness are questioned. Being involved with Hindraf Makkal Sakthi, I can tell you that, without batting an eyelid– our people are constantly threatened with detention under ISA, or with charges of sedition, or are charged with being involved in an illegal organization after UMNO unconstitutionally and unlawfully outlawed Hindraf. The form of force used and the way it is administered may vary in specifics between the gangsters and UMNO but in essence they are the same – UMNO and the gangsters equally resort to force because that is the sole source of their power. UMNO has lost its moral legitimacy in its claim for power and hangs on to power only because of the control of the instruments of force – the Unholy Trio being the prime instruments. The gangsters never had moral or legitimate basis for claims to power, their claim to power hinges only on one thing – the use of raw and brutal force.

2) Fear – UMNO so readily instills fear just like the local gangsters.
UMNO uses the Unholy Trio along with the Media, and when necessary the underworld members to achieve this. The Police have a special unit the Special Branch just for this – the Malaysian Gestapo. Every so often we see battalions of the Light Strike Force or the Federal Reserve Units to disallow, to disrupt, to frighten off citizen’s gatherings. You should have seen the hundreds at the anti –Interlok forums throughout the country and the thousands at KLCC for Hindraf’s Solidarity March against UMNO’s racism. This is exactly what the local gang boss. Putting in the fear of god they say. What the gang boss does is what UMNO is doing.

3) Threats – The laws enacted by UMNO – ISA, Publishing and Printing Presses Act, Official Secrets Act, Seditions Act, Police Act and even the MACC are all actually devices crafted by UMNO that threaten all those that dare cross the line.
This is the primary purpose of these acts and organizations, though more noble intentions are proffered to legitimize them. But the true intentions of these are to act as a sword over the heads of any that dare. The Media for its part carries statements from time to time from the Ministers, from the IGP, from the Attorney General,from UMNO stalwarts, from Right wing Perkasa or carries images and reports of the Police overpowering any attempts to challenge them or of right wing demonstrations threatening the rest. But the purpose is one – to pre-empt potential trouble makers. The gang bosses just use outright threats, they do not need these more sophisticated devices. As the saying goes, cut the throat of one chicken in front of all the monkeys so the monkeys will behave themselves. In that sense the devices of threatening may be different but both UMNO and Gangsters use threats to remain in power.

4) Violence – What happened in Kampung Medan in 2005 is a clear example of the workings of the Unholy Trio, the Media and the underworld in the meting out violence whenever they see a need.
A little further back we had the May 13th riots and May 13th is still a keyword for violence . Hundreds of police killing and maiming continue till today in UMNO’s Police Stations. The Police in the fore and the Armed Forces at the back are nothing more than UMNO’s killing machines. The threat of violence that UMNO can unleash, should it decide to, is what holds much of the opposition back. Violence is the bread and butter of gangsters and it is the bread and butter of UMNO. UMNO and the gangsters understand this very well.

5) Bribes – When expediency requires and it is wiser, then UMNO bribes to clear their way of trouble makers.
They buy up leaders of groups outside their circle of influence. They make “mafia offers”. They use skeletons in cupboards to assist them, as we see regularly happening in buying up of the opposition members of the legislature. Other forms of bribe, we see at election times. There is a free flow of gifts, goodies and promises. These are tidbits used to corrupt and remove obstacles or create perceptions while UMNO walks away with the loot – to UMNO these bribes are nothing more than the cost of doing business. Gangsters for their part use bribes to share their bounty when attempting to get at very large bounties. It is a cost of doing business for them too.

6) Unchallengeable positions – UMNO’s positions on issues are unchallengeable, just like it is with the local gangster. You challenge at the risk of losing everything.
When you challenge they fight tooth and nail so you do not get what you seek, on the contrary they make you lose further with intense vindictiveness. Case in point is the Interlok novel. The book remains in the curriculum and the rest who voiced dissatisfaction get beaten up and charged in courts for speaking up, but the book remains in the curriculum.
Another clear case in point is what UMNO is doing to Anwar Ibrahim. He gets all kinds of s*** thrown at him and with increasing frequency just because he dares to challenge the UMNOPutras. Challenge at great personal risk – they will ruin you if they can. Their position must not be challenged. This is very clearly the ways of gangsters too. The hallmark of a gangleader is one who has overcome all those who have challenged him and anyone who challenges the leader must lose or the leader loses his basis to continue
as a leader. Exactly the case with Najib –ala UMNO and UMNO ala the people.

7) Deceit – “Biji setelor, rio sekampung” as the Malay proverb goes. UMNO throws a tid bit here, a tidbit there and the media steps in and creates perceptions of a totally benevolent and caring UMNO.
UMNO holds the reins of the media tight. UMNO is able to manufacture perceptions in people that are so far removed from the truth that the lies are more real the reality itself. You speak the truth and no one listens to you, for they think you distort, for personal advantage. UMNO has established monopoly over their minds and UMNO will do with it what they want. They deceive the people and leave the rest of us biting the mud.

UMNO caught between getting the non-Malay votes and increasing their appeal to the Malays use their outsource vehicle, Perkasa to create a perception of the Malays losing out to the non-Malays because the Malays are split. The reality is both the Malay And non-Malay people are losing out to the UMNO leaders and their Non-Malay elite accomplices as they use this perception to delude the people and walk off with the loot. No one really listens to this truth, they think it is distorted for personal use. This is a very refined deceit-making machine that we are up against.

On this count UMNO has improved over the gangsters, recognizing they have to operate within a community of nations and have to be seen to be in accord with norms of civilization. They worry about how they will be perceived, they need to legitimize their position, the gangster does not have to.

So, except for this last point there is really not much difference between gangsters running this country and UMNO running this country. UMNO is nothing short of being dignified gangsters. This truth may look far- fetched, but you think about what I have said, deeply. Just think about it.

If you agree, then do not be the person UMNO, the gangster wants you to be, the meek and powerless person. Look at what is happening in Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen. When all the people get together, the empire crumbles, because the true sovereign is the people united. We have to move out and into the light, to a future based on competence, not on force.

The people have to get out from the grips of gangsters.

I, Too, Saw The Video

By Zaid Ibrahim,

I did not see the the Chua Soi Lek sex tape. The former Health Minister, against all odds, overcame the embarrassment and the trauma of his infidelity. Kudos to him for his resilience. What I admire most about him was his public admission of his mistake. His willingness to come out to his supporters. To admit to the error of his ways. To ask for forgiveness from his family. Despite his private failings, he eventually regained acceptance in the wider MCA community and they re-elected him as their party president.

We politicians aren’t perfect. But the least we can do when caught with our pants down is to come clean and be honest about our failings.

All across the world, and throughout history, there have many public figures who have been implicated in these kinds of sexual scandals. They either resigned on their own volition or were forced to do so as the public expect some degree of good conduct from their leaders. Because irrespective of one’s beliefs about the interconnectedness of our private and public lives, it is an inescapable fact that it is not in the interests of the nation to have leaders who are not able to observe some degree of discipline in their personal lives. They must have the respect of the people as well as that of their colleagues, both foreign and domestic, in order to discharge their duties well. When a leader is implicated in scandal after scandal, he or she will eventually lose the respect of the people and forfeit their legitimacy as a leader.

Every time there are allegations of sexual impropriety or misconduct involving the Opposition Leader (and there are many), his allies in DAP and PAS will protect and stand by him. Due to their marriage of convenience, DAP and PAS do not demand any explanation at all from Anwar. By doing this, PKR’s partners in the Pakatan electoral pact are indicating that Anwar does not need to account to anyone for his behaviour. Instead, they will continue to accuse UMNO & BN, the Police and his political opponents as being responsible for the mischief. The folks in Pakatan are even clamouring for four qualified Muslim witnesses to the act. The sidestepping and spin carried out by Anwar’s followers is telling of the political culture that he has engendered. Anwar continues to be the subject of political conspiracy and false charges. That Anwar can do no wrong. That he is the perpetual victim.

Over the last few days, I have been reading a lot of comments from the Malaysian public about this latest sexual encounter caught on tape between a Malay politician and an unknown woman. The commentators have said many things. They believe that the tape was likely doctored. They say that it was motivated by the vengeance of Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik. They say that it’s physically impossible for a man with a “bad back” to have that kind of vigorous sex; adding that the shape of his stomach will absolve him. They believe that this revelation comes too close to an election to be anything other than a political setup. For the most part, they are content to assume that it’s all fake and merely made up to discredit Mr Opposition.

Yes, there are questions. And they should be answered. But the most important question is whether the video is authentic or if it has been doctored? Heaping presumptions upon assumptions, we find ourselves either not wanting to know or just uninterested in finding out the truth.

When the famous VK Lingam tape episode surfaced, Mr Lingam was quoted to have said “He looks like me, sounds like me; but its not me.” It was something the Malaysian public could not accept that as true. “Impossible”, they exclaimed. “Lies.” “Unacceptable.” But of course, when Anwar and his supporters respond in similar fashion, the public somehow embraces the explanation as good enough. Difficult as it may be to accept, the same standards of scrutiny towards public figures and national figures must apply, irrespective of where you stand on the political divide.

Unlike many Malaysians who have not seen the tape; I am in a better position to form an opinion. And I put forth that the authenticity of the video must be determined. Due to the skepticism of our institutions, of our own forensic labs and experts, let us ask for an independent international panel of experts: Scotland Yard, the FBI, even the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – together with PDRM to certify whether the tape is genuine or fake.


Once the video has been authenticated and observed impartially, there will most certainly be a consensus on one major issue: such as who is that Malay politician in the video. If after all of this, our opinions on the matter still differ and we wish to continue with the polemics (like the size of the belly and other parts; who was in the connecting room, who was that third person, at which point was the Omega watch taken away, etc.), at least we can do so and further the discussion in an informed manner, not one based on speculation and uncertainty.

Can IGP Ismail Omar give a categorical assurance that there would be no cover-up in the Carcosa sex tape investigations as happened in 1998 when results of Anwar Ibrahim black-eye police investigations were initially suppressed?

By Lim Kit Siang,

The Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar should give a categorical assurance that there would be no cover-up in the Carcosa sex tape investigations as happened in 1998 when results of Anwar Ibrahim black-eye police investigations were initially suppressed.

More than a decade after the event, the former Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigations Department chief Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim, who was the investigation officer in the Anwar “black eye” assault case, revealed that he had right from the beginning found out that it was the then Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Rahim Noor who had committed the offence but this information was initially suppressed and it was only finally forced out publicly in a Royal Commission of Inquiry four months later.

A special police team to investigate into Carcosa sex tape caper lodged by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will not inspire much confidence unless the Inspector-General of Police can give such an assurance as well as explain why the police had been so slow in springing into action following news of the Carcosa sex tape video caper on Monday.

In fact, the IGP should explain whether the police had previous information of the Carcosa sex tape caper as it would reflect most adversely on the competence, efficiency and professionalism of the Special Branch – undoubtedly one of the most if not the most efficient units not only in the police force but of the entire government service – if police intelligence had failed completely to alert the authorities of the Carcosa sex tape caper.

And if the police had prior information, why police had allowed the Carcosa sex tape caper to take place and furthermore why it had waited more than 24 hours later when Anwar had lodged police report before taking action?

Furthermore, why up to now, despite the public confession by the culprits admitting that the “Dato T” comprised one Tan Sri and two Datuks, viz. Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik, Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and Datuk Shuib Lazim, why the police have not yet arrested and charged them in court for various crimes including Section 292 of the Penal Code for “publicly exhibiting any obscene or pornographic material” liable to a jail term of three years or Section 5(1) of the Film Censorship Act 2002 where a person is liable to be fined up to RM50,000 or jailed up to five years or both.