Sindhudurg : Devout Hindus lodge complaint against Dr. Zakir Naik at 2 places

Kudal (Maharashtra) : Devout Hindus have lodged complaint with Kudal and Malawan police stations in Sindhudurg district against so-called Islamic Thinker Dr. Zakir Naik. Police Inspector (PI) Sanjay Sable from Malawan Police Station said that further action would be taken after discussing the matter with senior police officers. PI Gopinath Rathod of Kudal Police Station said while accepting the application that it was wrong to insult Shri Ganesh and the Government should have taken action by now.
Malawan Police first refuse to register complaint

1. PI Sanjay Sable from Malawan Police Station first refused to accept the complaint application.
2. PI Sable said, “We cannot register the complaint here. A complaint is lodged where the incident takes place.”
3. On this the devout Hindus said, “Complaints were lodged against M F Husain. If an incident hurting our religious sentiments occurs in America, should we go there to lodge complaint? Will we not lodge complaint in India?”
4. After this, Sable accepted the complaint and promised to make inquiry and take action.

Buddhists, Hindus protest Bangladesh attack

Siliguri: Hundreds of people demonstrated against the recent burning of Buddhist monasteries and Hindu temples in Bangladesh by Muslims, who complained that a Buddhist man had insulted Islam.

General Secretary of Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association, Siliguri, Sonam Lhundup Lama urged the central government and the United Nations, Human Rights Commission, to intervene the matter. Lama added that many people sustained injuries and many houses of locals were burnt.

Buddhist monks, social activists along with school children took out to streets holding photos of injured monks, vandalised temples’ and raised slogans against the atrocities being done against the Buddhist people in Bangladesh.

Hate Jihad in Kerala: Youth Set Ablaze, Succumbs to Burns

A Malayali youth Jithu Mohan, who was doused with petrol and set ablaze for being in love with a girl of the

Muslim community succumbed to death today. The boy was invited to the girl’s relative’s house on the pretext of peaceful discussions. But he was allegedly bathed in petrol by an Inspector named Wahab, Police Officer of AR Camp and set ablaze. Jithu succumbed to death at Amrita Hospital, Ernakulam. He is the third victim of Jihadi terrorism in Kerala in short span of time, his death following that of Vishal, Chengannur and Sachin, Kannur.

The Vice Captain of Kerala Junior football with bright future, Jithu was in love with Shabana, a Muslim girl hailing from Chunakkara. On getting a whiff of the relationship, the girl’s relatives opposed it and smuggled her to another relative’s house. Following this Jithu filed a habeas corpus in the Kerala High Court, following which the girl was produced before the court. She was, however, allowed to leave the place with her relatives. The attack on Jithu took place soon after the court hearing.

The testimony of Jithu being taken forcibly to the girl’s relative’s house was given by his friends. They said that Jithu made frantic calls for help as he was being attacked. “He was forcibly taken to the house of Shabana’s sister who resides in Kodungallur by her brother in law. Also in league with is an inspector Wahab. The incident of setting Jithu afire took place in Wahab’s house,” said sources.

Hindu organisations have called for a hartal tomorrow in Kodungallur and Mavellikara. They have demanded the arrest of Wahab and the others involved in the crime.

Police 'extorted' wife of death-in-custody victim

(Malaysiakini) Police asked the wife of death-in-custody victim P Chandran to pay RM300 when she sought information about her husband at the Cheras district police headquarters just before his death.

This is stated in a police report filed by the victim's brother-in-law, R Rajan Naidu.

Rajan says in the report that Chandran's wife, N Selvi, told him a police officer asked her to pay RM300 before disclosing information about her husband.

"She told me that the police officer had sought RM300 for information on her husband, and told her that police were taking him to court," the police report lodged says.

The report says Selvi had to "sleep under a bridge" during the two nights she stayed in Kuala Lumpur to check on Chandran, and to pass him his hypertension medication.
The victim, a lorry driver, and his family which consists of six daughters aged 17 and under, are based in Simpang Renggam, Johor. His youngest daughter is a toddler.

However, the victim’s brother, P Gunalan, today told reporters in the Parliament lobby that Selvi was not allowed to see her husband to pass him the hypertension medication.

Dang Wangi police chief Zainuddin Ahmad was reported by Bernama as saying that Chandran died from heart disease in the Dang Wangi police station lock-up on Sept 10.

Family suing gov’t, police

According to PKR’s Kapar MP S Manickavasagam (left), the family has engaged a lawyer and will be suing the government and police for neglect.

Gunalan said his brother was arrested for suspected kidnapping in Cheras, and the family had gone to the Cheras police headquarters thinking that he was held there.

"We were not told that he was actually held in Dang Wangi," he said.

After his brother was found dead, Gunalan said that the police had quickly arranged for a post-mortem and sent the remains to Simpang Renggam.

In a separate police report, Gunalan said that one ASP Nazri had given RM200 to Selvi, and that the expenses for sending the remains to Simpang Renggam was borne by Cheras OCPD ACP Mohan Singh.

He also claimed that Chandran’s friends, who were also remanded with him, informed the family that the magistrate had instructed police to take Chandran to the hospital as he was shaking during the remand hearing.

“But they didn’t,” he said.

He added that his brother was remanded over the alleged kidnapping of a baby born to an Indonesian woman, “but police say the woman has been sent back to Indonesia”.
Manickavasagam and the victim’s family had today also sent a memorandum to inspector-general of police Ismail Omar on the matter.

It was received by police public relations personnel Zolkipli Abu Hassan.

“We are not here because an Indian died. Malays, Chinese, Indians have all died in custody. It’s not a racial issue but a national issue,” the MP said.

Religious schools need more funds

About 500 people turned up at Parliament today demanding the government increase allocation to religious schools.

KUALA LUMPUR: An Islamic school NGO submitted a memorandum at Parliament today demanding the government increase allocation for religious schools in the country.

The Selangor Islamic Education Solidarity Council, led by its chairman Zainal Abidin Kidam, arrived with nearly 500 supporters at the Parliament lobby at 9am.

He claimed to be representing nearly 100 religious school in Selangor and other Islamic NGOs.

Also present were Selangor executive council members Halimah Ali, Ronnie Liu and PAS education bureau chairman Abu Bakar Chik.

The representative of the huge crowd later submitted the memorandum to Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub.

Speaking at a press conference later, Zainal Abidin said that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s allocation of RM100 million for public religious schools was pale in comparison to their student numbers.

He claimed that currently, there are about 800,000 students studying in religious schools nationwide.

“That is about 30% of the students studying in the country. The allocation is only for government- aided religious school but what about all state-run schools and private religious schools nationwide?

“We estimate that there 2,300 of such school in Malaysia,” said Zainal Abidin.

He also said that due to funding contraints, many parents had to fork out a lot of money to send their children to study in religious schools.

“In rural areas, parents have to spend about RM200 monthly to send their children to religious schools. Parents in urban areas have to fork out between RM700 and RM800 monthly,” said Zainal Abidin.

He urged the government to match the allocation given to religious schools to that of national schools.

“The government should also increase grants for textbooks and teachers. A special allocation is needed to train teachers to teach in religious schools,” said Zainal Abidin.

‘Religious schools not sidelined’

On whether he would submit a copy of the memorandum to Najib, Zainal said,” We will do it later.”

Sharing his views, Liu said that Pakatan Rakyat’s policy is to provide support for all types of schools in the country.

“We will strengthen all religious and vernacular schools when we take over Putrajaya,” said Liu.

Salahuddin also reiterated Pakatan’s stand to provide free education to the people if the opposition bloc wins the federal government in the general election.

The crowd dispersed peacefully at about 11am.

Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister Mohd Puad Zakarshi dismissed allegation that the government had sidelined religious schools in the country.

He also said that there 382 such schools in the country but only 156 of them are registered with the ministry.

“The schools registered with the ministry obviously are given all the aid needed. Even the ones unregistered, the government pays for the teachers’ salary and other perks,” said Puad.

He claimed that some of these religious schools were reluctant to register fearing that they would lose their influence in their schools.

“The school managament gives all sort of problems out of fear that they will lose influence among the students and parents.

“But we do pass some allocation for these unregistered schools via the state governments. We let the state government to decide how to disburse the funds to them,” said Puad.

‘Stop harassing Ambiga, Bersih leaders’

WargaAman also wants the immigration department and the Home Ministry to reveal the list of NGO leaders who will face similar treatment.

PETALING JAYA: The authorities must cease harassing Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga and the electoral watchdog’s steering committee members, demanded a coalition of NGOs.

WargaAman secretary-general S Barathidasan also called on the Home Ministry and Immigration Department to reveal the names on their “to be stopped for 10 minutes at the airport” list.

“We want to know who are the NGO leaders on this list and the reasons why they are being subjected to such harassment,” he told FMT.

Barathidasan was responding to news reports of how Ambiga was stopped at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s auto-gate for 10 minutes without reason before boarding a flight to Australia on Tuesday night.

Previously, several other Bersih steering committee members were also subjected to a similar treatment when travelling abroad.

Barathidasan reminded the authorities that Bersih leaders were not enemies of the state but rather those struggling to uphold democratic principles for the betterment of this nation.

“The movement has made eight demands but only one, the use of indelible ink has been accepted by the Election Commission.

“These demands are not Bersih’s alone but that of the rakyat, the tens of thousands who participated in the rallies and the millions more who were there in spirit,” he said.

Barathidasan said also questioned how immigration officers, with all their sophisticated equipment, let fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin and private investigator P Balasubramaniam slip out of the country.

“If these officers are so vigilant, then it is beyond me how people like Raja Petra, Balasubramaniam and a host of wanted criminals could board flights without any hassle,” he added.

The WargaAman leader pointed out that such unwarranted harassment against eminent individuals like Ambiga tarnished the nation’s image and lent a blow to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s reform credentials.

“Furthermore, such mindless actions will only anger the rakyat more and Barisan Nasional will have to bear the consequences in the coming general election,” he warned.

Similarly, MIC central working committee member S Vell Paari also criticised the harassment against Ambiga and other Bersih leaders.

He questioned if there was a directive from the Home Ministry to the immigration department to stop these individuals at the airport or was it the work of “little Napoleans” on the ground.

“As I have said before, we should engage Ambiga in a discussion regarding electoral reforms and not subject her to such rude treatment,” he said.

Transgenders lose bid to challenge dress ban

The High Court says that it is undisputed that the four applicants are Muslims and therefore subjected to the Syariah law that bars men from dressing in women's clothes.

PETALING JAYA: The Seremban High Court today dismissed an application by four transgender individuals to challenge the ban on Muslim men to dress and pose as women under Section 66 of the Syariah Criminal (Negeri Sembilan) Enactment.

The four, who had been either arrested or penalised by the Negeri Sembilan Islamic Religious Department before, were applying for a judicial review to declare Section 66 unconstitutional.

Justice Siti Mariah Ahmad, in her judgment, said that it was undisputed that the four applicants were Muslims and hence Section 66 applied to them.

According to the applicants’ lawyer Aston Paiva, Siti Mariah had relied substantially on the Islamic views given by a mufti.

“She ruled that Part 2 of the Federal Constitution, which guarantees fundamental liberties to an individual, is exempted from Section 66,” he told FMT.

“She grants no order to cost, but she said the Islamic religious authorities must work with (NGO) Pt Foundation to give counseling to the transsexual community.

“She also said the Islamic authorities must act more prudently (lebih berhemah),” he added.

Paiva said he would be advising his clients to appeal the decision.

The four applicants, Adam Shazrul Mohammad Yusoff, Mohammad Juzaili Mohammad Khamis, Shukur Jani and Wan Fairol Wan Ismail, argued that Section 66 violated the Federal Constitution on freedom of expression.

They also claimed that the syariah laws should not apply to them as they had been diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder.

Activist Thilaga Sulathireh, who helped the four to take their case to court, said she was disappointed with the judgment.

She said the four applicants were emotional, and not available to comment on the judgment immediately.

[Photo of Adam Shazrul Mohammad Yusoff courtesy of Rahman Roslan of the International Herald Tribune]

Ex-Pakatan man revives ‘Christian Malaysia’ report, shows ‘proof’ in Parliament

Zulkifli refused to release the photographs to the media. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 — An independent federal lawmaker today sought to revive last year’s “Christian Malaysia” allegations against the DAP, revealing in Parliament what he claimed was photographic evidence of an alleged plot by party leaders and foreign clergymen to turn the country into a Christian state.

Zulkifli Noordin (IND-Kulim Bandar Baharu) urged Putrajaya to investigate the matter, saying the Malay community, as the country’s dominant ethnic group, have compromised too much over the years.

“Imagine if it was revealed that imams and mosque authorities had helped Barisan Nasional (BN) to win the polls... what would have happened then? They (opposition) would not have kept silent,” he told the House when debating Budget 2013 this evening.

The former PKR lawmaker said he was in possession of photographic proof of a thanksgiving held in Penang last year on May 5, shortly after the Sarawak state election on April 16, where DAP leaders and a group of local and foreign clergymen had prayed to install a Christian Prime Minister and turn the country into a Christian state.

Listing those in attendance, which he said included priests and pastors from United Kingdom and South Africa, Zulkifli said it was also admitted during the dinner that foreign churches were willing to channel funds to help the opposition’s political struggle here.

“The priest from South Africa said he was invited to observe the Sarawak polls, and that he was disappointed in how the Christians have been sidelined in Malaysia, especially on the AlKitab Malay language bibles issue.

“He requested that something is done to help spread Christianity here and said that money is not a problem and that the churches in Africa are ready to help.”

The independent lawmaker had raised the matter when attempting to draw links with the latest claim by PAS MP Nasharuddin Mat Isa, who had alleged of a similar thanksgiving ceremony in Sarawak.

Speaking at a press conference later, Zulkifli maintained that his remarks were based on actual proof of the dinner function, which he said he had obtained from “sources”.

“My main concern here is on the involvement of foreign clergymen in our country’s politics. Not only are they involved in terms of their physical presence in our country, but they have also promised funds to the opposition.

“This is direct interference and this is my concern.”

He, however, refused to release the photographs to the media, but denied that it was because he was afraid to be sued by the DAP.

“Why don’t you go back and ask your boss — is Zulkifli Noordin a coward?

“Put it in that way you know... do not spin. I am never one who is afraid of anybody,” he retorted to the reporter who asked for the photographs, adding later a challenge to DAP leaders to deny his remarks today.

Zulkifli’s revelation today was first exposed in May last year in a front-page article on Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia headlined “Malaysia negara Kristian? (Malaysia a Christian country?)”.

The Malay daily reported that “Malam ini pula, akan diadakan satu majlis di Pusat Kristian (Katolik) Pulau Pinang di sini dan satu ceramah perdana pula dianjurkan esok. Pertemuan itu dikatakan dianjurkan setiap tahun”.

[“Tonight, there will be a function at the Penang Christian Centre (Catholic) here and the public lecture will take place tomorrow. The convention is organised every year.”]

Several Muslim organisations, including right-wing Malay rights group Perkasa, lodged police reports after reading the Utusan report, which was based entirely on allegations by several anonymous bloggers known to be pro-Umno.

The bloggers have accused the DAP of sedition in an alleged conspiracy with Christians to change the country’s highest law to put a Christian in place of a Muslim as prime minister.

To back up their allegation, the bloggers pointed to a grainy photograph showing what they described to be a secret pact between the DAP’s Jelutong MP and pastors at a closed-door dinner party in a Penang hotel yesterday.

The DAP has vehemently denied the allegations and its secretary-general, Lim Guan Eng, has directed its members to file police reports to counter them.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein later claimed there was some element of truth in the story after DAP member Mohamed Razali Abdul Rahman lodged a report with the police and claimed that he had been present at the event.

Raja Nazrin: Desecrating flag an attack on nation’s sovereignty

(Bernama) - The Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah today likened the act of desecrating the national flag, Jalur Gemilang, which is one of the national symbols, as an attack on the nation’s sovereignty.

“Whatever our political or ideological differences, our national symbols belong to all citizens. By allowing these symbols to be trashed, we are opening ourselves up to a host of consequences, including the possibility of inflaming passions, inviting tit-for-tat retaliation and so forth.

“Hate and anger are some of the most powerful human emotions. When they take hold of society, they are difficult, and oftentimes impossible, to control.

“Our national symbols should therefore be placed above the political fray,” he said at the launching of the “Brand Transformer” and Malaysia Brand Forum 2012, here, today.

Raja Nazrin said the act of desecrating a flag was more than one individual’s statement of disrespect and criticism.

“The act is deliberately designed to insult what many others treasure and consider a source of pride and joy. Whatever one may think of the rights of individuals to express themselves, the larger consequences of their actions cannot and should not be ignored.”

Raja Nazrin said some countries had enacted specific laws to protect their national symbols, such as Austria, France, Germany and Switzerland which had imposed specific penalties for the desecration of their national flags.

“Other countries protect their national symbols under existing general laws aimed at ensuring law and order, preventing subversion and hate crimes.”

Raja Nazrin also expressed concern over the tendency of some quarters to discredit and undermine the national symbols that play such an important role in Malaysian national life.

“I am also concerned about the extent to which some are pushing against the institutional pillars that are holding up this nation.”

He said there were at least two reasons why this might be the case.

One, is a fundamental misunderstanding of how individual rights and freedoms are to be exercised within the context of a nation. The other is the impact of generational change in eroding the significance, meanings and value of nation building and its symbols.

Raja Nazrin said human beings had always craved for freedom, however, “if boundaries are disregarded in the exercise of individual freedoms, we will end up weakening rather than strengthening the bonds that bind us as a nation”.

“We need to instil in our young a sense of responsibility and community”.

As with generational change, he said: “With each passing generation, people become less familiar with the circumstances around which this country was formed and built.

“That is why I cannot over-emphasise enough the need for both well-thought and well-taught history in our schools.

“In this way, our students can better appreciate and respect the national institutions and symbols around us. This appreciation and respect are clearly missing when national symbols are deliberately desecrated.”

Raja Nazrin said as a mutlicultural and multireligious country, Malaysia’s national symbols such the Jalur Gemilang, National Coat of Arms or Jata Negara, the royal institution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the nine Malay Rulers, were important as more than just cultural artefacts and reminders of historical traditions.

“The national symbols we have constructed with such care and invested with such great social meaning play a much larger and critical function to this nation.

“That function is to serve as an anchor for us to hold on to, and a guidepost to give us direction, whenever we face challenges and crises as a nation.

“They therefore do not just belong to the past but are relevant — even essential — to our nation’s present and future. They are, if you like, the ‘Template of the Nation’.”

Raja Nazrin also said that good nation-building was all about political, economic and social inclusiveness, and the national symbols that had been devised were specifically designed to promote this inclusiveness.

“They must therefore be cherished, respected and protected, as their aim is to unify rather than keep apart, to integrate rather than to segregate,” he added.

Belanjawan 2013: Perbendaharaan Mengakui Ketepatan Anggaran Kos Program Pakatan Rakyat

–Kenyataan Media–
Kenyataan Dato’ Seri Husni Hanadzlah, Menteri Kewangan II yang disiarkan oleh The Sun[1] disambut baik oleh Jawatankuasa Manifesto dan Dasar Pakatan Rakyat yang bertanggungjawab merangka Belanjawan Pakatan Rakyat 2013.
Ia mengesahkan bahawa Kerajaan Persekutuan memandang serius segala cadangan dan penyelesaian ekonomi yang dikemukakan oleh Pakatan Rakyat. Ini membayangkan juga bahawa keupayaan pentadbiran Pakatan Rakyat dan kemampuannya merancang ekonomi negara turut dihormati dan digeruni oleh Barisan Nasional.
Oleh sebab itulah, sepanjang bermulanya persidangan Parlimen sesi ini, ahli-ahli Parlimen Barisan Nasional lebih gemar menghabiskan masa yang diperuntukkan membahaskan Belanjawan Pakatan Rakyat 2013. Mereka lebih takutkan pengaruh dan perbandingan dasar yang dibawa olehBelanjawan Pakatan Rakyat 2013 sehingga mereka mengabaikan terus belanjawan yang dibentangkan Perdana Menteri sendiri.
Tidak cukup dengan itu, menteri-menteri kanan seperti Dato’ Seri Husni Hanadzlah sendiri mengerah kakitangan awam di Perbendaharaan dan jabatan-jabatan lain bekerja lebih masa untuk mencari bidasan bagi menjawab cadangan dasar yang dibuat Pakatan Rakyat, seperti yang dibacakan oleh beliau semalam.
Walaupun ini satu perkembangan yang baik, kami ingin mengingatkan bahawa kerahan seluruh jentera kerajaan untuk mencari bidasan kepada cadangan dasar Pakatan Rakyat adalah satu salahguna kuasa berbentuk partisan, memandangkan perkara-perkara berikut:
1.      Jawatankuasa Manifesto dan Dasar Pakatan Rakyat tidak diberikan akses sama sekali kepada semua data, angka dan statistik yang diperlukan sepenuhnya untuk membuat unjuran yang membolehkan kami berdepan dengan pukulan curi seperti yang dibuat oleh Dato’ Seri Husni hanadzlah
2.      Jawatankuasa Manifesto dan Dasar Pakatan Rakyat hanya dianggotai oleh 12 orang dan dibantu oleh sekumpulan sukarelawan yang kecil berbanding keseluruhan jentera kerajaan
3.      Jabatan dan jentera kerajaan seperti pegawai-pegawai Perbendaharaan tidaklah boleh diarah untuk menjadi kakitangan parti pemerintah seperti Umno dalam menjawab cadangan-cadangan dasar. Tugas itu wajiblah dipikul oleh kakitangan ibupejabat Umno sendiri, seperti yang diamalkan oleh Pakatan Rakyat
Oleh yang demikian, untuk merancakkan lagi amalan demokrasi di negara ini, kami mengesyorkan supaya sebuah Pejabat Belanjawan Parlimenyang bebas dan tidak berpihak ditubuhkan. Pejabat ini bertanggungjawab menyediakan analisis perbelanjaan/belanjawan dan maklumat ekonomi kepada ahli-ahli parlimen secara objektif supaya perbahasan dasar dan keputusan kewangan boleh dibuat secara telus, bebas dan tepat.
Pun begitu, analisa yang dibuat oleh Perbendaharaan dan digunakan oleh Dato’ Seri Husni Hanadzlah sebagai bidasan ternyata memakan diri sendiri kerana ia mengesahkan bahawa anggaran kos yang digunakan oleh Pakatan Rakyat bagi membiayai program-program ekonominya adalah tepat.
Angka-angka anggaran kos bagi program-program Pakatan Rakyat seperti yang diumumkan Perbendaharaan adalah hampir sama dengan angka-angka anggaran yang digunakan Pakatan Rakyat selama ini. Malah, angka-angka terbaru mengikut analisa Perbendaharaan dan digunakan oleh Dato’ Seri Husni Hanadzlah adalah jauh berbeza dengan pelbagai angka yang digunakan oleh Barisan Nasional sebelum ini.
Kami merumuskan perbandingan kos ini di dalam Jadual 1 seperti berikut:

PROGRAM PAKATAN RAKYAT	ANGGARAN PR (RM bilion)	ANGGARAN PERBENDAHARAAN[2] (RM bilion)	ANGGARAN BN TERDAHULU[3]
Menghapuskan tol	6.0	6.0	50.0
Kos menyediakan pendidikan percuma	4.0	5.0	18.5
Kos menghapuskan hutang PTPTN	2.0	Tidak diperincikan, tetapi RM30b boleh dibayar dalam tempoh 20 tahun pada kos RM2b setahun
Pelarasan gaji kakitangan awam untuk melaksanakan gaji minima RM1,100	2.0	4.4	Tidak dinyatakan
Caruman Wanita Nasional	3.0	Tidak dibantah, maknanya bersetuju	Tidak dinyatakan
Bonus Warga Emas	3.0	Tidak dibantah, maknanya bersetuju	Tidak dinyatakan
Kenaikan royalti 20% kepada negeri-negeri pengeluar minyak	12.5	Tidak dibantah, maknanya bersetuju	12.5
Pengurangan duti eksais secara berperingkat untuk menurunkan harga kereta	2.0	Tidak dibantah, maknanya bersetuju	8.0

Jadual 1: Perbandingan anggaran kos tahunan program-program Pakatan Rakyat

Mengambil kira bahawa Perbendaharaan telah diarahkan supaya mengkaji cadangan dasar Pakatan Rakyat dan setiap anggaran kos dengan teliti, angka-angka yang dikeluarkan oleh Perbendaharaan menunjukkan bahawa ia (Perbendaharaan) bersetuju dengan anggaran kos yang dibuat oleh Pakatan Rakyat selama ini. Malah, ia juga membuktikan bahawa segala angka yang digunakan oleh pimpinan Barisan Nasional selama ini adalah tidak tepat dan cubaan menakut-nakutkan rakyat semata-mata.
Jawapan kami kepada persoalan-persoalan khusus yang ditimbulkan oleh Dato’ Seri Husni Hanadzlah adalah seperti berikut:
1.      Peruntukan RM56 bilion bagi gaji kakitangan awam akan menyebabkan 72,000 kakitangan awam hilang pekerjaan
Pakatan Rakyat telah menjelaskan bahawa kenaikan peruntukan gaji kakitangan awam sebanyak RM4 bilion atau purata 8% adalah mencukupi bagi menampung kenaikan gaji semua kakitangan awam, dengan syarat peruntukan bagi gaji ditambah dan peruntukan bagi faedah-faedah bukan kewangan berjumlah RM1 bilion disemak semula untuk menjimatkan kos.
Pakatan Rakyat percaya bahawa kenaikan peruntukan sewajarnya diagihkan terus dalam bentuk penggajian kepada kakitangan awam, bukannya tenggelam di dalam kenaikan kos bukan gaji yang disembunyikan di dalam angka besar.
Lagipun, rekod pentadbiran Pakatan Rakyat menunjukkan bahawa tidak ada seorang pun kakitangan awam yang terpaksa diberhentikan apabila Pakatan Rakyat mengambil alih pentadbiran di negeri-negeri Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak dan Selangor. Malah, bonus tahunan yang dinikmati di negeri-negeri seperti Selangor dan Perak adalah lebih baik berbanding bonus persekutuan.

2.      Tiada peruntukan dibuat bagi dasar-dasar tertentu
Dato’ Seri Husni Hanadzlah menuduh kononnya tiada peruntukan dibuat bagi membiayai pembatalan PTPTN, penghapusan tol, Bonus Warga Emas dan pelaksanaan gaji minima RM1,100 kepada kakitangan awam.
Sebenarnya, peruntukan sepenuhnya telah dibuat di dalam Belanjawan Pakatan Rakyat 2013 bagi program-program, seperti yang diperincikan di dalam Jadual 2:

PROGRAM PAKATAN RAKYAT	ANGGARAN KOS (RM bilion)
Menghapuskan tol	6.0
Kos menyediakan pendidikan percuma	4.0
Kos menghapuskan hutang PTPTN	2.0
Pelarasan gaji kakitangan awam untuk melaksanakan gaji minima RM1,100	2.0
Caruman Wanita Nasional	3.0
Bonus Warga Emas	3.0
Kenaikan royalti 20% kepada negeri-negeri pengeluar minyak	12.5
Pengurangan duti eksais secara berperingkat untuk menurunkan harga kereta	2.0
Suntikan dana perumahan rakyat melalui Perbadanan Perumahan Negara	5.0
Elaun khas perguruan RM500 sebulan	2.4
JUMLAH	41.9

Jadual 2: Peruntukan Belanjawan Pakatan Rakyat 2013

Peruntukan ini dibuat dengan mengambil kira bahawa potensi penjimatan dengan menghapuskan rasuah, ketirisan dan kronisme adalah besar dan mampu membiayai program-program tersebut.
Berdasarkan Belanjawan BN 2013, perbelanjaan-perbelanjaan berikut adalah perbelanjaan berbentuk perolehan, agihan melalui sistem tidak telus yang ditentukan oleh kerajaan atau pun caj hutang akibat keborosan berhutang – yang berpotensi untuk dipotong atau dijimatkan melalui pentadbiran yang telus:

JENIS PERBELANJAAN YANG DIKAWAL KERAJAAN SETIAP TAHUN	PERUNTUKAN (RM bilion)
Belanja Mengurus: Perkhidmatan dan Bekalan	33.7
Belanja Mengurus: Pembelian aset	1.1
Belanja Mengurus: Caj Perkhidmatan Hutang	22.2
Belanja Mengurus: Subsidi dan Bayaran Tetap	37.6
Belanja Mengurus: Kos perolehan badan kerajaan melalui geran kerajaan	7.0
Belanja Mengurus: Lain-lain	14.8
Belanja Pembangunan: Projek, infrastruktur, suntikan dan lain-lain	50.0
Perbelanjaan perolehan, kontrak dan pelaburan oleh PETRONAS dan syarikat-syarikat kerajaan	50.0
JUMLAH	216.4

Jadual 3: Perbelanjaan tahunan yang dikawal kerajaan persekutuan

Atas sasaran penjimatan 20% ke atas semua perbelanjaan tahunan yang dikawal kerajaan persekutuan ini dengan menghapuskan pembaziran, menghentikan ketirisan dan mencegah rasuah, Pakatan Rakyat percaya potensi peruntukan yang boleh digunakan untuk membiayai program pro-rakyat adalah RM43 bilion. Jumlah ini lebih tinggi dari kos untuk menampung program-program Pakatan Rakyat yang dimasukkan di dalam Belanjawan Pakatan Rakyat 2013 iaitu RM41.9 bilion.
Lagipun, kerajaan-kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat telah membuktikan bahawa penjimatan 20% ke atas perbelanjaan kerajaan boleh dicapai. Kerajaan Selangor di bawah pimpinan Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim misalnya telah mencatatkan penjimatan 24% atau RM106 juta bagi kontrak-kontrak kejuruteraan awam dalam tempoh 9 bulan pertama 2012.
Penjelasan panjang lebar ini selari dengan anggaran kos yang dibuat oleh Perbendaharaan mengenai program-program Pakatan Rakyat. Batu penghalang kepada pelaksanaan program-program pro-rakyat adalah keborosan dan kecenderongan Barisan Nasional bergelumang dengan rasuah.

Bagi pihak
Jawatankuasa Dasar & Manifesto Pakatan Rakyat
RAFIZI RAMLI
PENGARAH STRATEGI KEADILAN
YB LIEW CHIN TONG
AHLI PARLIMEN BUKIT BENDERA
YB NURUL IZZAH ANWAR
AHLI PARLIMEN LEMBAH PANTAI
YB DR DZULKIFLY AHMAD
AHLI PARLIMEN KUALA SELANGOR
11 OKTOBER 2012

Cops fired tear gas at trapped protesters, lawyer tells Suhakam’s Bersih inquiry

The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 – Riot police fired tear gas at protesters trapped in a narrow road here during the April 28 Bersih rally, a Bar Council observer told the Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) inquiry today into official violence at the electoral reforms rally.

Senior lawyer Christopher Leong’s testimony at the SUHAKAM inquiry is the latest in a series of eyewitness accounts of what appeared to be high-handed and frequently violent and aggressive action taken by police to break up the rally attended by thousands of Malaysians.

Leong was observing the protest on April 28 for the Bar Council.

He testified today that the police fired rounds of tear gas even though it was clear protesters could not disperse from Jalan Melayu, a narrow road near the Masjid Jamek LRT station.

Leong said the protesters could not move away as ordered by the police earlier because another group of demonstrators had approached the area from behind them.

“I saw the police approaching the protesters and firing tear gas right in the middle of the crowd. At the time, I was standing in the middle.

“We couldn’t leave. We couldn’t move at all. It was impossible to back away.”

Bersih has repeatedly argued that police had fired tear gas with the intention of harming participants of the April 28 rally for free and fair elections here, and used excessive force to make arbitrary arrests.

The electoral reforms group had previously submitted a report to SUHAKAM to back its claims with video and other documentary evidence.

Bersih had added that the police used indiscriminate, disproportionate, unjustified and excessive use of force against participants who largely did not display any act of provocation or misbehaviour.

The Bersih report added that participants who were having meals at restaurants were also arrested or assaulted.

Thousands of Malaysians gathered in the city on April 28 to mount a protest demanding free and fair elections.

The demonstration turned chaotic after police fired tear gas and protesters were unable to disperse because of the huge crowds choking the narrow streets.

The current inquiry is headed by Suhakam vice-chairman Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee and aided by commissioners Professor Datuk Dr Mahmood Zuhdi Abdul Majid and Detta Samen.

930 prisoners on death row yet to serve sentence

The Sun 
by Karen Arukesamy

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 10, 2012): A total of 930 prisoners are on death row in Malaysia pending their appeals, the Home Ministry said today.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Abu Seman Yusop said of this number, 725 have appealed to the courts while the remaining 205 have submitted their appeals to the Pardons Board.

"Every prisoner on death row has the right to appeal. They have yet to serve their sentence because of the appeals," he told the Dewan Rakyat.

According to the Prison Department statistics, the 930 are charged for various crimes including drug trafficking, murder, weapon, kidnap and national security.

“The death row convicts can appeal under Rule 114 of the Prison Regulations 2000.

“The Prison Department will assist the death row convicts if they wish to make the appeals and submit them to the State Pardons Board for further consideration,” Abu Seman said in reply to Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor).

Karpal had asked the Home Ministry to state the number of prisoners in death row in the country as of Aug 31.

Abu Seman said since the implementation of the Prison Regulation in 2001 till Aug 31, 2012, 41 prisoners in the death row have been pardoned.

“Their sentences have been reduced to natural life sentence for six prisoners, life imprisonment for 33 prisoners, early release for one prisoner, and immediate release for one prisoner,” he said.

Puan Badariah aka Jo Kukathas on our cultural, spiritual interdependence

Jo Kukathas as Puan Badariah delivers a message of profound importance for Malaysians wondering what has happened to the spiritual and cultural soul of our nation.