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Monday, 24 September 2012

Malaysian Indians Anger On Hinduism Insultation By Zakir Naik



URGENT URGENT URGENT. All Indians please like this page below to protest against a man who insulted Hinduism. Please share with your friends.
Click Here http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kami-Bantah-Drzakir-ke-Malaysia/207042426092502 

An Indian Muslim preacher deliberately blaspheming Hinduism in his facebook. Mr.Zakir is about to give lectures around Malaysia. Many Hindus are protesting his entry to Malaysia.

Hindus are urging the government to stop the program and send Mr.Zakir away. Many are also thinking Malaysian government is practicing double standard. Muslims demonstrated front of America Embassy against the movie 'Innocent of Islam' but the majority Malay Muslim people are government failing to stop Hinduism insults.

Few NGOs including NIAT playing their part to stop the preaching of Zakir Naik.
Here is the Chronology of NIAT and other NGOs

Issues : Dr Zakir Naik's Talk Series in Malaysian starting 28th September till 4th October 2012: - Feared to be deragatory to HINDUS, HINDUISM and to all true believers in OMNI GOD the Almighty in Msia and all arround the world.

Chronology Events :-
Sept 20th 2012
- NIAT - Arun Dorasamy brought to the attention of MHS President Mohan Shan, Inter...religious Counicl/Mhs Dr Bala
- NIAT also sent sms to all NGO leaders including the Political about the concern. Like what we have expected – No reply or Acknowledgement. Meanwhile, we had so many postings in Facebook and Tweet about the issue.
Sept 21st 2012
- Spoke to The Organizer Mr Shah Krit of the concerns over the Dr Zakir's Talk :- He agreed in principle to issue an official letter of undertaking guaranteing & full responsibilities to the HINDU PUBLIC in Msia and arround the World that his talk or tour will not in any form or shape, directly or indirectly, implicitly or explicitly derogate to HINDUS, HINDUISM or any other religion for that matter that will result in discomfort to Malaysian of many faiths : Mr. Arivu spoke to Mr. Mohan Shan of president of MHS – learned that he is still in the dark about the issue. Well Done MHS.

Sept 21st 2012
- NIAT issued a condemnation to all acts of violence-derogatory towards any religion in the name of FREEDOM or OPINION or PERSONAL Experience : NIAT, MIETA, MIYC jointly issued joint effort in condemning "Innocence of Muslims" Film and Dr Zakir Naik's recently and past action that resulted in public talk bans in Singapore, UK and part of India.
- Dato Thasleem issued a YOU TUBE Statement of his strong opposition to any form of deragatory acts or intention to any religion to all Indian Malaysian of many faiths.
- NIAT also spoke to various other NGOs of possible action against Dr Zakir's Tour in Msia on "so called" Harmony and Religious comparison.
- NIAT and other NGO decided to wait and give the organizer time to fulfill their promises
Sept 22rd 2012
- NIAT 1pm : issued sms/fb statement and calling all GOOD HINDUS & Indian based NGOs/Groups to meet at Lotus Jln Gasing PJ 2pm : 23rd September 2012-Sunday
- NIAT 2pm : received 2nd promise from "infamous" Mr. Shah Krit with some excuses that he will issue the guarantee letter and also offered to have Hindu Youths to have a meeting with Dr Zakir Naik. I made clear to him not to pile up promises but deliver the first promise of the letter of under taking responsibility and guaranteeing before offer us goodies to meet Dr Zakir. However, we will take up the opportunity to meet and dialog to resolve this issue in highest order of Humility and Firmness. NIAT is pushing for the meeting Monday Afternoon – info will be announced as it become available.
- NIAT is meeting MIETA to strategize the Sunday meeting – 10pm
SEPTEMBER 23rd
Meeting:- 2pm : Jln Gasing Lotus Pj : sunday
NIAT - is organizing meeting tomorrow 23rd Sept 2012 : 2pm : Lotus Jln Gasing inviting all the stake holders
Agenda:
1) Explain the issue - detail
2) Update the dynamic of development of the issue so far & gage the ground sentiment and Public Feedback
3) Potential Solution
4) Action plan
5) Team made of various NGOs.
Who should Attend: All Hindus - Indian Msian - Leaders - NGOs Reps - True Believers of any religion of Peace & Love.
SEPTEMBER 24th
- Evaluate the Sunday Meeting 7 Follow Up Action Based on latest development on ground and issue.
- Proposed Meeting with JAKIM – Authority
- PRESS CONF – on the Issue by NIAT
- Meeting with Dr Zakir Naik & Organizers
SEPTEMBER 25th
- NIAT & Our NGOS Partners looking forward concluding this issue in very amicable way. God Willing

Arun Dorasamy - NIAT - Former MHS National Youth Leader

Christian Families in North Sinai Face Threats, Refuse To Leave


An Egyptian Christian shouts as he holds up a pendant of Jesus Christ during a protest against recent attacks in front of the state television building in Cairo May 15, 2011. (photo by REUTERS/Amr Dalsh)
Christian residents of Egyptian border towns Rafah and Al-Arish have so far refused to leave the city, as a local church had advised, after they received leaflets containing messages threatening to blow up their property if they do not leave within 48 hours.

Rev. Gabriel Habib, priest at the Church of the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Michael in Al-Arish, said Christian residents had refused to leave temporarily to avoid fulfilling the extremists’ goal of forcing them out of their city.

Habib added that some Christians told him, “Even if we die, we are not better than the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the sake of their homeland and religion,” adding that they will stay with their Muslim neighbors.

Seven Christian families saw leaflets posted on the walls of their shops or homes, commanding them to leave within 48 hours or else have their property destroyed.

Habib said, “The church of Rafah was destroyed during the January revolution [of 2011] and has not been renovated yet.” He added that “prayers have stopped there, because of the security situation in the Sinai.”

Rev. Carlos Victor, secretary of the diocese of North Sinai, quoted security sources as saying that investigations have shown that [the warnings to Christians] were random and no organizing group was behind them, and that it is likely that these leaflets were distributed by Muslim residents angry at the film that insults Prophet Muhammad.

Ethiopia woman lived modern day slavery at hands of Dubai couple


Ethiopia woman lived modern day slavery at hands of Dubai couple.

ADDIS ABABA: Women’s rights groups in France successfully rescued an Ethiopian woman who had been living in modern day slavery by a Dubai couple vacationing in Paris, Trust Law reported.

According to the Committee Against Modern Slavery and the Women’s Association United, the woman was rescued after hotel workers contacted the two groups, who in turn alerted French police of the situation facing the young woman.

According to women’s groups in Ethiopia, who spoke to Bikyamasr.com of the woman’s situation, she faced physical and verbal abuse by the Dubai couple at the Paris hotel.

“After this, police investigated and found gross violations at the hands of the couple and have removed the woman from the situation, which can be summed up as slavery,” a women’s group representative confirmed to Bikyamasr.com on Saturday in Addis Ababa.

According to a report in the Paris daily newspaper Liberation, the incident that sparked the police investigation took place in mid-July, “when the family— parents, eight children and the Ethiopian maid — had checked into the Hotel Concorde Opera for an extended stay,” Trust Law reported.

The 24-year-old domestic worker told an Ethiopian employee in the hotel that she wanted to get away from the family, “who had not paid her for the 18 months since she worked for them and had confiscated her passport.”

Trust Law reported: “According to the police report viewed by Liberation, the young woman exhibited bruises on her forearms and told police a story that is not uncommon in the world of modern slavery. She said that after the death of her mother, an uncle took her to the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa where he made her sign up with an employment agency.”

She said one child routinely threatened her that if the household work was poorly done, “You will never return to Ethiopia. I’ll cut your throat.”

The incident highlights why the Ethiopian government has banned women from heading to the Gulf to work as domestic workers as sexual abuse, violence and situations like the one uncovered in France show.

Penduduk berang air kumbahan melimpah dalam rumah

Penduduk mendakwa masalah ini sudah berlarutan sejak setahun yang lalu dan sejak enam bulan lepas keadaan semakin tidak terkawal.

SENAWANG: Lapan keluarga dari Taman Tuanku Najihah di sini berang apabila air kumbahan dari lubang tandas di rumah mereka sering kali melimpah dan memenuhi kediaman mereka.

Penduduk mendakwa masalah ini sudah berlarutan sejak setahun yang lalu dan sejak enam bulan lepas keadaan semakin tidak terkawal.

N Sarojah, 58, seorang surirumah berkata walaupun aduan pernah dibuat dengan Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd beberapa kali, tetapi masalah tersebut masih berlarutan.

“Memang ada pekerja dari Indah Water datang dan menjalankan kerja berkaitan di saluran najis utama di luar kawasan rumah, tetapi masalah limpahan air kumbahan dari lubang tandas hanya selesai untuk seminggu dua sahaja, selepas itu air kumbahan tetap melimpah dan membanjiri dapur saya. Keadaan menjadi lebih teruk kalau hari hujan, kerana lagi cepat air kumbahan ini akan melimpah.

“Bayangkan keadaan dapur rumah sudah dipenuhi air najis. Bagaimana hendak bersihkan? Kerana tidak tahan dengan masalah ini saya telah membelanjakan RM2,000 untuk meninggikan paras lantai tandas rumah saya, untuk mengelakkan air ini melimpah masuk ke dalam kawasan dapur,”, kata Saroja.

Tiong Fook Moi, 74, pula mengadu salah satu saluran najis utama di taman perumahan itu yang hanya terketak lebih kurang dua meter daripada rumah beliau sering melimpah.

“Ini membuatkan kami hidup dengan keadaan yang tidak selesa kerana terpaksa menghidu bau busuk.

“Tidak kira hari hujan atau tidak, air kumbahan dari saluran bawah tanah ini sering kali melimpah dan mengeluarkan bau yang amat busuk,” ujar beliau.

Sementara itu Soo Tian Loo, 70, pula mengadu masalah tembok longkang di hadapan rumah beliau yang runtuh dan longkang tersebut menjadi sarang sampah sarap.

“Tembok ini sudah runtuh sejak enam bulan yang lalu. Maka longkang ini turut tersumbat. Sampah sarap yang dibawa di dalam longkang ini kini tersangkut di bahagian runtuh ini dan menjadi sarang sampah sarap pula.

Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri DAP-Senawang, P Gunasekaran yang membawa rombongan wartawan meninjau permasalahan dan mengatur pertemuan dengan penduduk setempat berkata, beliau telah mengutarakan masalah yang dihadapi oleh penduduk kepada Majlis Perbandaran Nilai (MPN) dan Indah Water.

“Saya sudah lama menulis surat kepada MPN dan Indah Water. Walaupun Indah Water ada menghantar pekerja untuk membuat kerja penyelengaraan tetapi ia tetap tidak menyelesaikan masalah air kumbahan melimpah.

“Saya meminta pihak Indah Water menghantar pegawai mereka dan datang berjumpa dengan penduduk untuk benar-benar memastikan apakah masalah di sini. Indah Water perlu membuat sesuatu agar masalah limpahan air kumbahan ini tidak membelenggu penduduk di sini.

“Sementara MPN pula harus menjalankan kerja-kerja membaiki longkang dengan segera kerana masalah longkang tersumbat ini boleh mengundang masalah pembiakan nyamuk Aedes pula. Saya kesal MPN masih tidak mengambil serius masalah longkang sumbat ini” katanya.

Suaram, Scorpene, Altantuya dan dana asing

Suaram ada isu yang besar yang di ketengahkannya dan ia melibatkan pemimpin dan kroni dalam isu komisyen pembelian Scorpene yang besar itu.
COMMENT

Oleh Aspan Alias

Isu Suaram (Suara Rakyat Malaysia) dengan tuduhan terhadapnya mendapat bantuan dana asing hebat dimainkan oleh pihak Barisan Nasional (BN). Selepas ini tidak tahu apa pula yang akan dihadapi oleh Suaram dan NGO-NGO yang lain yang tidak sebulu dengan pihak yang berkuasa.

Najib berkata biarkan pihak yang berkuasa melakukan penyiasatan. Katanya, lagi kurang kita bercakap lagi baik.

Tindakan berkuasa terhadap Suaram bukanlah satu isu mengejutkan kerana Suaram membuatkan ada pihak yang ‘mandi tak basah dan tidur tidak lena’ di buatnya.

Suaram ada isu yang besar yang di ketengahkannya dan ia melibatkan pemimpin-pemimpin dan kroninya dalam isu komisyen pembelian Scorpene yang besar itu. Isu komisyen itu menghasilkan pembunuhan Altantuya Shaariibu, seorang wanita jelita yang dikatakan berkaitan dengan pemimpin besar negara kita.

Isu Altantuya tidak dapat tidak terpaksa dibongkar. Isu pembayaran komisyen Scorpene dan Altantuya itu kait mengait dan kedua-dua isu itu tidak dapat di pisahkan jika kita mahu menyiasat salah satu darinya.

Siasat satu akan melibatkan lagi satu isu dan kedua-dua isu itu merupakan isu yang akan membabitkan tindakan jenayah pihak-pihak tertentu yang berada di atas pesada kuasa negara kita.

Jika isu penyaluran dana asing itu benar-benar salah ia mestilah ada peruntukan yang menunjukkan yang penerimaan itu salah mengikut undang-undang kita. Saya bukan seorang peguam dan saya tidak tahu untuk membuat komen terhadap isu penyaluran dana asing itu.

Tetapi Suaram mesti teruskan meneliti tentang penyaluran wang rakyat terhadap penerima rasuah dan kroni kepimpinan yang terlibat seperti yang di sebut-sebut bukan sahaja oleh kita tetapi juga oleh masyarakat antarabangsa.

Tamak haloba

Isu Scorpene dan Altantuya ini juga satu penyaluran dana dari kantung rakyat kepada kumpulan yang tamak haloba yang sanggup menjahanamkan wang rakyat yang bersusah payah membayar cukai kepada perbendaharaan negara.

Jika Suaram menghadapi isu ini, ia adalah di sebabkan tindakannya untuk membongkar penyelewengan dan jenayah negara.

Malahan isu yang di bawa oleh Suaram sehingga ke negara Perancis, negara yang membekalkan kapal selam Scorpene itu adalah lebih penting, apatah lagi jika ia membabitkan isu kehilangan nyawa seorang wanita yang berkait dengan pembelian kapal selam yang suatu ketika dahulu tidak dapat menyelam itu.

Orang ramai merasakan oleh kerana ketelusan pentadbiran kerajaan Perancis itu maka tidak ada apa-apa yang akan di lindungi dan ia akan membolehkan kita menyelami segala isu-isu yang berbangkit tentang jenayah yang berlaku dalam skandal besar ini.

Rakyat jangan terbawa-bawa dengan tindakan pihak berkuasa di sini kerana tindakan terhadap Suaram itu tidak lain dari isu hendak memalingkan pandangan dan tumpuan rakyat terhadap isu yang sangat sensitif ini.

Kita dapati Suaram mendapat sokongan moral dari banyak NGO-NGO tanahair kerana Suaram begitu berani untuk membongkar isu Scorpene ini hingga ke akar umbinya. Rakyat mahu tahu apa sebenarnya yang menyebabkan isu ini timbul dan kenapa sampai ada nyawa yang melayang kerananya.

Pembunuh kepada Altantuya telah pun mendapat keputusannya iaitu, mereka di jatuhkan hukuman mati, tetapi apa yang tidak langsung di sebut dalam perbicaraan itu ialah ‘motive’ pembunuhan itu.

Kita mahu tahu apa sebenarnya yang berlaku. - http://wwwaspanaliasnet.blogspot.com

The forgotten meaning of Islam

This whole video issue has been blown out of proportion.
COMMENT

I received this text on my mobile device which read:

“From today and for three days, Muslims will stop using Google and YouTube. Because they refused to stop showing the film that made fun of our Prophet SAW. Take less than 5 min to 4wrd ths msg so tht we can answr Allah SWT wen he asks us wat action we took wen his beloved SAW was made fun of? USA is losing; pls dnt let ths mail stop in ur inbox.”

So I responded and said, “Hey, I am sorry, I am not forwarding this ridiculous message coz firstly I don’t want to be like the masses, and secondly, I don’t even know who the originator is. For all you know, it’s someone who has taken advantage of this ‘film provocateur’ to make a fortune out of the entire chain of messages being sent.”

What I really wanted to say was : Hey, don’t tell me you bought this, you smart ass? I can’t survive without Google. My world basically revolves around this damn search engine and I couldn’t give two hoots about forwarding this message!

I must say that the anti-Islam video has done an excellent job in provoking Muslims. The current count is 30 dead in seven countries in the riots and violence that broke out, and the figure is rising.

This well publicised story is driving me insane and the stories over my flatscreen TV is spinned ad nauseam, so I came to a conclusion that I should do my bit for society and that I should remind my fellow brothers and sisters in Islam on the basic teachings of our Prophet SAW (PBUH).

That’s what I want to do – it takes more time and effort than just forwarding that silly message over watsapp.

So, yeah, I googled away (disrespecting the text msg I got this morning ) and discovered that the US has spent US$70,000 for air-time across seven channels in Pakistan as it tries to stem the outrage over the American-made movie.

The adverts, which aim to calm the protests, show President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton denouncing the anti-Muslim film. The president said: “There is absolutely no justification to this senseless violence. None.”

Well, guess what? I tend to agree with this man, although I reckon that this time around, Obama Obama is definitely not proud of his “Made in America” stamp!

Then the French vulgar caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad added more fuel to the fire, further inflaming global tensions, prompting France to step up security at embassies and French schools abroad. Sigh, another drama!

Truth be told, when this video was released and created a commotion in the Muslim world, resulting in worldwide protests, that gave content to the likes of CNN, I took no interest in it. For a very simple reason: we already live in a complicated world. Let’s not make it more complex than it already is.

Besides, negativity is bad for the brain. So I avoid bad stories and all types of negative vibes. Besides, this is not the first attempt at insulting the world of Muslims, therefore it is no longer “breaking news” in my books.

Missing the real meaning

My grandfather’s name is Khan and I am not a terrorist. I stand guided by the basic principles of Islam, which carries the meaning “peace” in English. Some examples include Assalamualaikum, May Peace be Upon You, Peace be upon him, May Allah pray on him and grant him peace”, May Allah grant peace and pray on him and his family – some regular expressions when greeting each other, expressions that follow after saying the name of a prophet, one of the archangels, or name of Prophet Muhammad, SAW ( PBUH ).

Islam in itself means Peace, but unfortunately, in today’s world, the real meaning has escaped the minds of many. I am far from being a political analyst and neither am I an economist by training. But pure intelligence tells me that this whole video issue has been blown out of proportion.

It breaks my heart to see all this violence, disruptions and bloodbath.

At least, Tunisia’s ruling Islamist party, Ennahda, condemned what it called an act of “aggression” against Muhammad but urged Muslims not to fall into a trap intended to “derail the Arab Spring and turn it into a conflict with the West”.

So, all hope is not gone.

In communication, we call this tossing the red herring. Now that Osama Bin Laden is dead, the Arab Spring still heated up, and Islamic finance seems to be taking the world by storm, let’s try and break their current focus and maybe let’s give Obama a new headache too!

Lo and behold, the birth of a video which had well achieved its primary objective, generally annoyed some 1.6 billion people on this planet, got some people killed, and raised the billings in advertising and commercial airtime. Why not?

On a more serious note, I stopped to reflect and imagine how the Prophet SAW (PBUH) would have reacted should he be alive today. For one of the marvellous qualities of the beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was his infinite patience. God is certainly with those who patiently persevere (Al Baqarah 2:153 ).

Let me share a few stories of Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) Inexhaustible Patience so that you understand what Islam really advocates and teaches its followers.

1. An incident at the Prophet’s mosque in Madinah demonstrates how lenient and kind the Prophet was to ignorant people. Abu Hurairah reports: “A Bedouin urinated in the mosque and some people rushed to beat him. The Prophet said, ‘Leave him alone and pour a bucket of water over it. You have been sent to make things easy and not to make them difficult’ (Al-Bukhari).’”

2. Once a man approached the Prophet seeking advice, and the Prophet said, “Do not get angry.” The man asked for advice several times and the Prophet replied every time, “Do not get angry” (Al-Bukhari). The questioner was probably one disposed to a quick temper, and so the Prophet was stressing the need to control his anger. The Prophet also said, “He who is deprived of forbearance and gentleness is, in fact, deprived of all good” (Muslim).

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH ) once said: “The strong man is not one who is good at wrestling, but the strong man is one who controls himself in a fit of rage”.

Dear Muslims, let us all not forget the real meaning of Islam, the real meaning of Peace.

May Peace be Upon Everyone and May we all be granted with strength and patience of a true believer. Amen.

Sairana Mohd Saad is currently the Director of Corporate Communications, for SME Corp Malaysia, an agency under MITI.

Pakistan minister places bounty on anti-Islam filmmaker


(AFP) - A Pakistani official on Saturday placed a US$100,000 bounty on the head of the maker of an anti-Islam film that has sparked a wave of violence and anger, as Muslims mounted fresh protests worlwide.
Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour also called on the Taliban and Al-Qaeda to join the hunt and help accomplish the “noble deed.”

Bilour spoke to reporters in the northwestern city of Peshawar a day after violent nationwide demonstrations against the “Innocence of Muslims” film left 21 people dead and more than 200 injured.

“I announce today that this blasphemer who has abused the holy prophet, if somebody will kill him, I will give that person a prize of $100,000,” Bilour said, urging others to shower the killer with cash and gold.

“I also invite Taliban and Al-Qaeda brothers to be partners in this noble deed,” he added. “I also announce that if the government hands this person over to me, my heart says I will finish him with my own hands and then they can hang me.” Protests against the low-budget film, which mocks Islam, have erupted across the Muslim world, leading to more than 50 deaths since the first demonstrations on September 11.

A French satirical magazine’s publication this week of cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammed has further stoked anger.

The producer of the film, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, is reportedly a Los Angeles-based 55-year-old Egyptian Copt and convicted fraudster, currently out on parole.

US media reports say Nakoula wrote and produced the film, using the pseudonym Sam Bacile before being identified. Police questioned him before he went into hiding with his family.

Thousands of Islamist activists in Pakistan staged demonstrations again Saturday but there was no repeat of the previous day’s widespread violence.

More than 5,000 protesters, including hundreds of women, marched towards the parliament in Islamabad chanting “We love our Holy Prophet” and “Punishment for those who humiliated our Prophet”.

Some 1,500 people from the hardline Islamist Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Sunni religious groups rallied in front of the US consulate in the eastern city of Lahore, chanting “The US deserves only one remedy — jihad, jihad”

Smaller protests took place in the southwestern city of Quetta, as well as in Peshawar, where six people died in Friday’s protests, and in the southern port city of Karachi, where 15 people were killed Friday.

Witnesses estimated that more than 45,000 people joined Friday’s nationwide rallies, mainly members of right-wing religious parties and supporters of banned terror groups.

Those numbers, however, were still considered small in a country of 180 million.

Four more people died overnight from wounds they received during the protests, taking toll of those killed across Pakistan on Friday to 21, health officials said.

The combined total of wounded in Karachi, Peshawar and the capital Islamabad was 229.

In Nigeria, meanwhile, tens of thousands of people protested in the second city of Kano, burning images of US President Barack Obama and stomping on the American flag.

The procession of men, veiled women and children stretched for several kilometres (miles) through the city, the largest in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north.

They shouted “death to America, death to Israel and death to the enemies of Islam”. There were no reports of violence.

The demonstration was organised by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, a pro-Iranian group that adheres to the Shiite branch of Islam.

In Lebanon, thousands of supporters of the Shiite Hezbollah movement took to the streets in the southern town of Bint Jbeil.

Women in black chadors carried colourful Islamist flags alongside young children holding the Koran, the Muslim holy book.

Hezbollah parliamentary representative Nawaf al-Moussawi told the crowd the film was “... not merely a trivial creation carried out by a group, but American politics intended to be disseminated to the Western world.”

He also warned against reprisal attacks on the Christian community.

In east Jerusalem about 500 Palestinians, accompanied by a marching band, protested against both the film and the cartoons in the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.

In Germany, 1,500 people staged a peaceful protest in the western city of Dortmund, a day after similar demonstrations in other German cities.

A German far-right group’s threat to screen the video has prompted heated debate over whether or not the authorities should ban the film on security grounds.

In neighboring Austria, about 500 people protested outside the US embassy in the capital Vienna.

In France, riot police were out in force in several parts of Paris to enforce a ban on protests, a week after an unauthorised demonstration against the film led to 150 arrests.

Social networks had been awash with appeals for French Muslims to defy the ban and hold fresh protests.

French police have arrested a man in the western city of La Rochelle for having allegedly called on a jihadi website for Stephane Charbonnier, chief of satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, to be decapitated.

Soros: Blamed for Dr M's currency gambling, now bogeyman for Najib's Scorpenes


Soros: Blamed for Dr M's currency gambling, now bogeyman for Najib's Scorpenes Trapping Suaram (Suara Rakyat Malaysia) for whatever reasons is alike plodding on a dangerous path for UMNO and this will further dip Barisan’s hopes in the next general election.

Suaram is a body that is apolitical and operates on the basis of social justice for all Malaysians. Founded in 1989 the aims and objectives are for the protection and promotion of human rights and the development of public awareness in Malaysia.

As reported, UMNO leaders have insinuated that the American non-governmental organisation (Open Society Institute presently called Open Society Foundation) that funded Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) is linked to currency speculator George Soros.

To promote democratic government

It was alleged that Open Society Institute (OSI) channelled funds in excess of US$ 180,000 (RM558, 556.92) to Suaram the period 2007 to 2010.

By virtue of this – the Soros factor – UMNO is beating the political drum to dupe the rakyat that it is “immoral” for Suaram to accept money from the organisation.

Suaram cannot be blamed even if it has received the funding. The network of Open Society Foundations or OSF (named Open Society Institute or OSI until 2011), is a grant making operation started by George Soros, aimed to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform.

OSF works to build alliances across borders and continents on issues such as combating corruption and rights abuses. This is far from any anti-money laundering or pro-terrorism activity that can be classified under the Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.

Suaram has no record whatsoever of being a body that promotes terrorism. Neither is Suaram in cahoots with Soros to damage the country. Yet, to some UMNO leaders Soros was alleged to have “damaged” the country’s economy in the past.

Soros was never the “devil”

For political reasons, the chorus calling for the demonising of Suaram has included many other pro-UMNO NGOs and also the former prime minister, Mahathir Muhammad. They feel that it’s wrong to accept aid from any organisations that are connected to Soros.

Little do these armchair politicians or proponents of virtues realise that Soros was never the “devil” that caused the 1997/98 Asian Financial Crisis that involved Malaysia. As for Malaysia the real “devil” could have been leaders from among UMNO’s rank and cronies.

Soros was politically perceived by Mahathir as the perpetrator of the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis. Soros was the individual who sabotaged the country’s economy, so was the allegation by UMNO leaders echoing what Mahathir had said about Soros during the financial crisis.

Both Soros and Mahathir were actually into currency speculation but the former was too nifty for the latter. In fact, currency speculation was nothing new during Mahathir’s tenure as prime minister.

The Malaysian economy was actually incapacitated a few times by local currency speculators more than what Soros had done in Asia.

It was bad governance; an economic bubble and the involvement of local currency speculators who made Malaysian economy vulnerable and the country lose billions when Bank Negara started the FOREX business well before 1997.

Soros is a businessman

Soros is a businessman who knows about the economy and of course the prime interest of any businessman is to make money. Mahathir was a politician who knew little about the economy but tried hard to become one.

But being economically handicapped at the time he had to depend on some of his trusted “expertise”. When politicians and their inept cronies get into business, more often than not they damage the economy.

It was alleged that more than US$6 billion was lost in the FOREX market during Mahathir’s tenure as premier. Malaysia's foreign reserve was gambled away in 1992-1993. In fact it was alleged that Bank Negara, during Mahathir’s time, was involved in global speculative activities tacitly as early as in the 1980s.

Mahathir’s penchant for mega projects

Mahathir’s penchant for mega economics projects did not work either. It only exacerbated the situation when investors had low confidence of the nation’s economy. Investors trickled in only for quick gains.

More than RM6 billion was unnecessarily spent to build Telecoms tower in Kuala Lumpur and the high rise PETRONAS buildings that did not benefit the country much. The multi-billion ringgit national car project went awry and the buying of the RM300 million Lotus racing car plant did not bring much benefit to the national car industry.

The billions spent on the MSC (multimedia super corridor) venture was more hype than accomplishment. The abandoned Bakun project in Sarawak brought colossal loss to the economy.

The bailing out of failed companies and Bank Bumiputera perpetually dented the nation’s coffer at the time. Billions of Employee's Provident Fund and PETRONAS dollars were used to bail out projects given out to cronies at inflated prices without tenders and all this incurred a big financial loss to the country.

Non-performing loans

More than a billion was lost for the “purchase” of the Skyhawks from the US that was not delivered to the country. RM6 billion was lost in Perwaja Steel Mill. More than RM3 billion was burnt in the BMF scandals.

Cronies were allowed to borrow millions from local banks without collaterals that ended up becoming non-performing loans.

More than RM3 billion was lost from the London Tin scandal when the US released their Tin Stockpile. From 1992-93 the country experienced more than US$6 billion FOREX lost by Bank Negara. The list goes on.

As usual, the economic buffer was the hard-earned PETRONAS dollars – without which the country would have gone bankrupt.

Both shared a common desire

Just before the financial crisis economists warned Mahathir that if Malaysia did not manage its economy and finance right, it would suffer the same fate as countries that had observed their currencies tumbling.

In 1992 the battleground between Mahathir and Soros was the London foreign exchange market. Britain’s FOREX market was the focus of many speculators who wanted to profit from the market instability at the time.

Both expected that they were going to make money from the British.

Mahathir expecting the pounds to appreciate gave the green light using billions of US currency from Bank Negara’s foreign reserves to speculate on the British pound sterling.

Soros – the global FOREX player – expecting the fall of the pound borrowed 10 billion pounds from British banks and changed the money to German Mark.

Malaysian speculator, Mahathir lost

On Sept 16, 1992, unable to stand the economic and market pressure on its overvalued pound, Britain, instead of floating the pound, officially devalued its currency causing the pound to fall.

Soros, who took the loan from the British banks, repaid it in pounds which was then cheaper and pocketed the difference of more than US$1 billion.

While the Malaysian speculator Mahathir lost about US$4 billion.

As reported, later in 1993, Bank Negara again lost another US$2.2 billion in speculative activities. Malaysia’s total loss by this time stood at US$6.2 billion. The actual figures for Bank Negara losses were never revealed, though.

Both the “gamblers” had the same desire – to make money. But in the end when Mahathir failed, Soros made the money. The stark difference here was that when Mahathir used the nation’s money to bet, Soros used his own fund. The latter of course was more righteous in this game of FOREX gambling.

Why then demonise Soros and his charity work? The only reason must be because he was perceived by none other than Mahathir that he was a currency speculator. For political reasons, leaders within UMNO have forgotten and forgiven Mahathir for his past “gambling” habit.

Lack of investor confidence

Soros earned a billion dollar profit from speculating against the British currency in 1992. Malaysia got her fingers burnt.

Preceding the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis the annual economic “growth” rate of Malaysia was reported to be 8.5 percent for 6 years – from 1990 to 1996.

But a lack of investor confidence soon attributed to a wave of currency depreciation in the inflated economies of Asian countries at the time. Soros being a shrewd currency speculator could foresee the economic collapse of a few Asian countries.

In mid-1997, when the Thai Baht depreciated his fund managers sold US$10 million of Thai baht to make a fortune. He did not sell Malaysian ringgit or any other currencies. The depreciation of the Thai Baht was enough to lead to a domino effect on some other Asian economies, including Malaysia.

It only showed that the economies of these countries were not resilient enough.

Short-term investors pulled out their funds in droves resulting in the economic crisis in Malaysia. The value of the Malaysian currency fell by more than 50 percent from RM2.50 to RM3.80 to US$. The stock market index dropped and at one point hovered around 300 points.

The “Mahathir factor” too affected the stock market then. The country’s stock market fell each time after Mahathir spoke against the economic market system.

To Soros, currency speculation is a business. He confessed that he had no time taking part in currency speculation for political purposes.

A serious business

Before June 1997, there were already signs on the wall that Malaysia would face with economic problems but this was ignored by Mahathir citing “sheer jealousy” of western countries as the reason.

During the crisis it was the low confidence level of investors in the country that led to huge capital flights sensing that the economic bubble was going to burst. Even prior to this crisis the economy of the country did not justify to the confidence of markets – a reality that Mahathir did not want to admit.

After being badly mangled, the aftermath of the financial crisis made Mahathir say that currency trading is unnecessary, unproductive and immoral during the IMF and World Bank meeting in Hong Kong which took place in mid-September 1997.

But the same was not mentioned after Bank Negara lost US$6 billion or more in FOREX trading. UMNO leaders cannot be too naïve not to comprehend this setback to the nation’s economy.

To Soros, currency trading is business and weak governments have to be cautious not to create a bubble burst upon being tested by currency traders. Managing a nation is a serious business.

Singapore, Brunei and Japan, for instance, were the least affected during the 1997/98 financial crisis because of their economic resilience.

Finding scapegoats

Other UMNO leaders did not dare question or speak up against Mahathir, instead danced to the master’s tune in blaming Soros for the latter’s self-made debacle.

UMNO is always good at finding scapegoats. Instead of opening up the case relating to the Scorpene Scandal the leaders are trying to strike Suaram with the “Soros factor” – exploiting on the fund Suaram received from OSI.

However, the rakyat are not that irrational to buy UMNO’s political ploy. They are just fervently waiting for the French court to reveal the truth about the Scorpene Scandal that involves UMNO, the country’s top leadership and his cronies.

Malaysia Chronicle

PM’s blinkered views — Jaleel Hameed



SEPT 20 —Mr Prime Minister sir, where have you been these past few weeks? Why are you still harping on whether your political foes want to change the Jalur Gemilang?

Where are you, sir, when Bernama insulted your popularity by photo-shopping a crowd at your event? Why didn't you admonish them, sir?

Do you need this kind of magic to show how popular you are? Do you need to talk about the non-story of the opposition trying to replace the national flag?

Why don't you respond to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, sir, who talks about how close you are to buying votes with your programmes like BR1M?

Is the flag issue more important? Or you have been losing the plot and have a delayed reaction to events that has happened in the past two weeks?

Bernama made you look bad, Dr M made you look bad but you want to talk about the flag?

"We see the flag as a symbol of purity and sovereignty of a country.

We harshly condemn anyone involved in such acts," you said today.

But you don't condemn those who make you look bad?

Take charge, sir. We need a good leader for Barisan Nasional to win the next elections. At the rate things are going, sir, it doesn't look that way.

And despite saying Barisan Nasional will score big, there isn't any sign of an election in the offing. Your Umno general meeting is in November and you are talking about a flag.

We need someone forthright, sir. We need someone on the ball. We don't need someone who goes on about a flag. That's an old story, sir.

We don't need you to be an old story, sir, or with blinkered views. Come on, take charge, Mr Prime Minister.

* Jaleel Hameed reads The Malaysian Insider.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

Anti-Islamic Film: Perkasa Burns Effigy Of Nakoula Besseley

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- Muslims here continue to voice their anger against the anti-Islamic film, 'Innocence Of Muslims', which ridicules Prophet Muhammad and Islam, by burning an effigy of its producer, Nakoula Besseley, here Sunday night.

The effigy was lit by Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali before some 200 residents of the Desa Tun Razak People's Housing Project here at a gathering held in conjunction with the Malaysia Day celebration.

Speaking to reporters later, Ibrahim said the burning of the effigy was to symbolise the Muslims' anger for the production of such a film by Nakoula Besseley.

Pas makes courtesy call to new Penang Bishop

A delegation of about a dozen Pas representatives made a courtesy call to new Penang Diocese Bishop Sebastian Francis at his office at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit yesterday to congratulate him on his recent appointment.
Penang Pas ulamak chief Soib Mohd Amin saying a prayer of peace together with Bishop Sebastian Francis inside the bishop’s office at the Cathedral

The delegation comprising mainly Penang Pas representatives was led by Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa.
Also present were College General seminary rector Fr Gerard Theraviam and Cathedral parish priest Fr Bernard Paul.
Ustaz Soib Mohd Amin said a prayer for peace and for closer Muslim-Christian relations.
Bishop Sebastian reciprocated by saying the Bapa Kami (Our Father) as a prayer for the nation. The new bishop also stressed the importance of cultivating a deep spirituality – an aspiration shared by people of other faiths – in forging closer Muslim-Christian ties.
Both sides pointed to their common Abrahamic heritage,  which could serve as a foundation to promote better interreligious understanding.
The Pas delegation then presented the Bishop with a book and a ‘good luck’ cake.
congratulatory cake from pas to new penang bishop sebastian francis
“This is specially baked for you”: Mujahid Yusof Rawa (left) and Tasik Gelugor Pas information chief Abdul Rahman Kasim presenting a cake to Bishop Sebastian.
Bishop Sebastian then hosted tea and refreshments for the visitors.
The meeting yesterday was initiated by Mujahid and Pas representatives, who had sent a letter to the Bishop informing him of their desire to make a congratulatory visit.