Tony Fernandez: We can build fantastic stadiums, but can't maintain a field

Pak Lah: I will never abandon Umno

Curfew imposed in more areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Omar Abdullah appeals to people, Army called in, leaders denied entry

 Paramilitary soldiers patrol during a protest against the state government after rival communities clashed in Kishtwar, Jammu on Saturday. (AP) 

 

Jammu/Srinagar: Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti were among the leaders who were stopped by authorities from visiting Kishtwar district which has been hit by communal violence in the past few days.

J-K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah appeals to people not to fall prey to rumours about situation in violence-hit Kishtwar.

Curfew today clamped in three more districts of Udhampur, Samba and Kathua in Jammu region and Army staged flag marches as tension prevailed following outbreak of communal violence in Kishtwar on Friday that left two persons dead and scores of others injured.

While Kistwar remained curfew bound for the third consecutive day today, curfew was imposed in Jammu and Rajouri districts and Army called out after some incidents of arson and violence last night.

"Army has also been deployed in the areas to assist local administration", Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shantmanu told PTI. "The situation is tense but under control. There are no reports of any untoward incident today. Army has staged flag marches in several areas."

Omar assures action, bans political leaders

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah appeals to people not to fall prey to rumours. He assured swift action on inquiry report on Kishtwar incident and asked people not to allow political parties to exploit their sentiments.

Government will ensure most severe punishment to those responsible for death and destruction in Kishtwar, he said.

Omar also said that politicians including Arun Jaitley will not be allowed to visit the violence-affected areas.

BJP slams leaders detention

Jaitley was detained as he arrived at the airport in Jammu on his way to communal violence-hit Kishtwar, which was made out of bounds for political leaders by J-K government.

BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Avinash Rai Khanna, who was to accompany Jaitley to Kishtwar, was also detained by police while he was trying to enter Kathua this morning.

Narendra Modi, who is Hyderabad for an election campaign rally, immediately tweeted, "Heard that Shri Arun Jaitley & other Opposition leaders are not allowed to go to Kishtwar. This is undemocratic."

BJP condemned the detention of its leader saying while separatist leaders roam free, opposition leaders are undemocratically detained.

"We strongly condemn the detention of Arun Jaitley ji at Jammu airport.He was going there to ensure peace,its unfortunate," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.

Have duty towards people: Mufti

"A police team has been deployed outside the main gate of my residence and we are not being allowed to leave the premises," Mehbooba told PTI.

The PDP president said she along with some other party colleagues wanted to visit Kishtwar town, which has been hit by communal violence since Eid on Friday.

The PDP president said she had a duty towards the people of the state as she is the leader of the opposition in the state assembly.

"I have some duty towards the people as leader of opposition. Our visit to the area was with the aim of calming the frayed tempers. We are a responsible party," she added.

Shoot at sight ordered in Kishtwar

Following renewed violence, the authorities have issued shoot-at-sight orders and the Army on Saturday again staged a flag march through the streets of Kishtwar town.

The SPs of Udhampur, Kathua and Samba districts are monitoring the situation round-the clock. Pathankote-Jammu-Srinagar highway, which is the only surface link between Kashmir and rest of the country is being kept open by the authorities amid deployment of additional forces.

Restrictions have been imposed on assembly of people in areas other than under curfew, police said. Authorities imposed curfew and deployed army in the Jammu and Rajouri districts last night after some incidents of arson and communal tension.

Public transport was off the roads but few private cars and autorickshaws were seen plying.

The authorities have kept police and paramilitary personnel on the stand-by to meet any eventuality in the city and other vulnerable areas of the Valley, official sources said.

Geelani, who described the situation in Kishtwar town, as "grave" had said "the future course of action will be decided after reviewing the situation in the affected areas."

Syrian Child Raped and Brutalized by Jihad

According to the “Largest Syrian Christian Group on Facebook,” the above is a picture of a young girl in Syria, before (L) and after (R) the U.S.-sponsored jihad reached her.  The Arabic caption along with the picture reads: “Syrian child, tortured, raped, her face disfigured at the hands of the Saudis and others from among the psychos and criminals of the revolution.”

In fact, as many as 95% of the “freedom-fighters” in Syria are foreign jihadis trying to carve out an emirate — as they always do — justified by fatwas permitting rape and other perversities in the name of jihad.  Meanwhile, it is the average, indigenous Syrians, such as this child and countless others, who suffer in silence.

Agents: 44 gunned down in Nigeria mosque

By HARUNA UMAR and MICHELLE FAUL
Associated Press

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) - Suspected Islamic militants wearing army fatigues gunned down 44 people praying at a mosque in northeast Nigeria, while another 12 civilians died in an apparently simultaneous attack, security agents said Monday.

Sunday's attacks were the latest in a slew of violence blamed on religious extremists in this West African oil producer, where the radical Boko Haram group, which wants to oust the government and impose Islamic law, poses the greatest security threat in years.

It was not immediately clear why the Islamic Boko Haram would have killed worshipping Muslims, but the group has in the past attacked mosques whose clerics have spoken out against religious extremism. Boko Haram also has attacked Christians outside churches and teachers and schoolchildren, as well as government and military targets.

Since 2010, the militants have been blamed for the killings of more than 1,700 people, according to a count conducted by The Associated Press.

The news about Sunday's violence in Borno state, one of three in the northeast under a military state of emergency, came as journalists received a video featuring Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, who gloats over recent attacks, threatens more, and even says his group is now strong enough to go after the United States.

The mosque slayings occurred Sunday morning in Konduga town, 35 kilometers (22 miles) outside Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria's Borno state.

A state security service agent and Usman Musa, a member of a civilian militia that works with the military, said Monday they counted the bodies at the mosque after the attack. Musa said four members of his group - known as the Civilian Joint Task Force -also were killed when they reached Konduga and encountered "fierce resistance from heavily armed terrorists."

Musa and the security service agent said the attackers wore military camouflage uniforms used by the Nigerian army, which they may have acquired in one of their attacks on military bases.

On their way back from Konduga, the security forces came upon the scene of another attack at Ngom village, 5 kilometers (3 miles) outside Maiduguri, where Musa said he counted 12 bodies of civilians.

Twenty-six worshippers at the mosque were hospitalized with gunshot wounds, said a security guard at the emergency ward of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. He and the state security agent both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to give information to reporters.

Nigeria declared a state of emergency in much of the northeast on May 14 to fight the onslaught after Boko Haram fighters took over several northeastern towns and villages in this nation of more than 160 million people, which is divided almost equally between the predominantly Muslim north and the mainly Christian south.

In the video received by journalists Monday, Shekau brushes off any gains asserted by the security forces.

"You soldiers have claimed that you are powerful, that we have been defeated, that we are mad people," Shekau says, speaking in the local Hausa language. "But how can a mad man successfully coordinate recent attacks in Gamboru, in Malam Fatori, slaughter people in Biu, kill in Gwoza and in Bama, where soldiers fled under our heavy fire power?

"We have killed countless soldiers and we are going to kill more."

He further insists the extremists' "strength and firepower has surpassed that of Nigeria. ... We can now comfortably confront the United States of America."

Shekau also said Nigeria's military is "lying to the world" about its casualties. "They lied that they have killed our members, but we are the ones that have killed the soldiers."

He apparently was referring to Aug. 4 attacks on a military base at Malam Fatori and a police outpost in Bama, both near the border with Cameroon. Joint Task Force spokesman Lt. Col. Sagir Musa told reporters 32 extremists, two soldiers and one police officer were killed. But when the Borno state governor called on the head of the task force to commiserate, Maj. Gen. Jah Ewansiah told him in front of reporters that they lost 12 soldiers and seven policemen. Nigeria's military regularly lowballs casualty figures of civilians and military.

Under orders from the military, cellphone and Internet service has been cut in Borno, making communications difficult. The military says the extremists were using cellphones to coordinate attacks. But some government officials argue that the lack of communication prevents civilians from informing them of suspicious movements and getting help when they are attacked.

“Berapa Tuhan orang Hindu?”

Jika anda seorang penganut agama Hindu, berumur lebih 20 tahun dan merupakan warganegara Berhala Dewa Ganesha dalam pelbagai rupa dan bentuk sangat terkenal di Bali. 12 Ogos, 2013.Malaysia, tidak mustahil bahawa anda sudah sekurang-kurangnya seratus kali ditanya, "Orang Hindu ada berapa Tuhan?"

Situasi seperti ini sudah saya lalui sejak usia kanak-kanak tetapi tidak pula membuatkan saya marah. Sebaliknya pertanyaan itu membuktikan bahawa rakan-rakan yang bertanya mahu tahu tentang budaya/amalan kita. Bukan pula bermakna rakan itu mahu memeluk agama Hindu! Sebaliknya mahu tahu supaya lebih mudah untuk bergaul dalam konteks masyarakat majmuk di negara bertuah ini.

Berdasarkan pengalaman saya, pertanyaan "Orang Hindu ada berapa Tuhan?" biasanya dikemukakan oleh rakan-rakan Melayu beragama Islam. Sejarah membuktikan bahawa pada zaman dahulu, sebelum kedatangan Islam, penduduk Melayu di negara ini beragama Hindu. Malah, budaya agama Hindu masih menjadi sebahagian daripada budaya Melayu (bukan "budaya Islam").

Pertanyaan ikhlas yang dikemukakan bukan bermakna rakan-rakan Melayu cuba memperlekeh atau mempersenda amalan penganut agama Hindu. Malah, jangan terkejut bahawa mungkin ramai juga penganut agama Hindu sendiri yang sering bertanya dan tertanya-tanya soalan "Orang Hindu ada berapa Tuhan?"

Dialog dan perkongsian maklumat mengenai pelbagai budaya dan agama bukan sesuatu yang baru. Satu-satunya pemimpin Islam yang paling saya kagumi ialah Nabi Muhammad dan Baginda amat menggalakkan dialog seperti ini. Semasa pemerintahan Empayar Mughal di India, Akhbar (1556-1605) yang buta huruf turut menggalakkan dialog antara agama.

Namun, pada masa kini di Malaysia, seperti didedahkan dengan penuh berani oleh presiden Majlis Perundangan Malaysia Agama Buddha, Kristian, Hindu, Sikh dan Tao (MCCBCHST), Jagir Singh, pemimpin agama Islam di negara ini nampaknya menganggap kedudukan mereka "lebih tinggi dalam agama, jadi mereka tidak boleh duduk sama taraf dengan Bukan Islam" (The Malaysian Insider, 1 Ogos 2013).

Mujurlah Kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) mewajibkan mata pelajaran Tamadun Islam dan Tamadun Asia (TITAS) di Institusi Pengajian Tinggi Swasta (IPTS) mulai September 2013. Seperti kata pensyarah Pusat Pengajian Kerajaan, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Datuk Dr Zainal Kling, TITAS bertujuan "meningkatkan kefahaman dan rasa hormat antara rakyat serta menguatkan perpaduan dan persefahaman antara anggota masyarakat" memandangkan "disebabkan kurang pendidikan maka banyak kejadian tidak diingini berlaku kerana anak muda 'kosong' tentang ilmu pengetahuan tamadun lain di negara ini" (Utusan Malaysia, 23 Julai 2013).

Selaras dengan niat murni Kerajaan BN dan TITAS "meningkatkan kefahaman dan rasa hormat antara rakyat" saya juga terpanggil untuk berkongsi pengalaman saya sejak kanak-kanak dalam menangani pertanyaan "Orang Hindu ada berapa Tuhan?"

(Mana-mana individu yang lemah pegangan agama dan luntur keimanan dinasihatkan supaya tidak meneruskan pembacaan makalah ini.)

Memandangkan rakan-rakan yang bertanya adalah Melayu-Islam, maka saya akan berusaha menggunakan sudut Islam untuk membantu menjawab kemusykilan mereka. Secara paling asas, saya akan nyatakan hakikat bahawa agama Hindu diakui sebagai agama tauhid yang pertama di dunia.

Jawapan itu sepatutnya sudah cukup untuk menjawab pertanyaan berkaitan "berapa Tuhan" tetapi selalu juga rakan-rakan kurang faham - entah tidak faham makna "tauhid" dalam konteks agama atau jawapan saya terlalu ringkas dan sukar dicerna.

Maka, biasanya saya akan menjelaskan bahawa makna "tauhid" yang saya maksudkan adalah sama seperti dalam ajaran agama Islam. Saya akan nyatakan konsep "Eka Aneka" yang juga biasanya membuatkan orang terkebil-kebil.

Eka Aneka, Asamaul Husna

Sesungguhnya "Eka Aneka" adalah istilah Sanskrit tetapi sudah diserap masuk dalam Bahasa Malaysia. "Eka" bermakna "satu" atau "tunggal" - atau selalu disebut sebagai "Esa" dalam konteks Islam. Maka, dalam agama Hindu - agama tertua di dunia - Tuhan adalah Eka/Satu/Tunggal.

Istilah "Aneka" pula difahami dalam konteks Bahasa Malaysia sebagai "pelbagai" (dari Bahasa Tamil!) atau "bermacam-macam". Tuhan yang berciri "Eka" (Tunggal/Satu/Esa) juga bersifat "Aneka" iaitu dikenali dengan pelbagai nama mengikut sifat-Nya.

Maknanya, walaupun dikenali dengan pelbagai nama yang berbeza, Tuhan dalam agama Hindu tetap Esa. Mana-mana pihak atau individu yang mengatakan sebaliknya ternyata bukan bercakap mengenai agama Hindu. Sebaliknya mungkin bercakap mengenai suatu ajaran sesat yang dia sendiri cipta bagi menduakan Tuhan!

Sekiranya rakan saya yang beragama Islam masih kurang faham, maka saya terpaksa pula mengambil contoh daripada Asamaul Husna iaitu 99 sifat Allah yang pasti diketahui setiap orang Islam.

Sejumlah 99 nama itu tidak pula bermakna Allah hanya memiliki 99 sifat! Atau lebih parah jika ada pihak yang beranggapan bahawa terdapat 99 Tuhan selain daripada Allah dalam agama Islam! Atas sebab inilah juga saya amat menggalakkan dialog antara agama; supaya dapat merungkaikan apa-apa salah tanggap yang mungkin wujud dalam kalangan masyarakat pelbagai agama.

Antara nama yang digunakan berdasarkan sifat-sifat Allah ialah Al Khaaliq iaitu Maha Pencipta, Al Waliyy iaitu Maha Melindungi dan Al Mumiit iaitu Maha Mematikan. Kalau diperhatikan dalam konteks agama Hindu di mana Bahasa Sanskrit digunakan, sifat Tuhan yang Maha Pencipta dirujuk sebagai Brahma, Maha Melindungi dirujuk sebagai Vishnu dan Maha Mematikan dirujuk sebagai Shiva.

Ketiga-tiga nama dalam contoh mudah di atas - dalam Bahasa Arab dan Sanskrit - tidak merujuk Kunjungan ke sebuah kuil oleh peserta Konvoi Rumah Ibadat pada 2 Mei 2011. kepada tiga Tuhan yang berbeza; sebaliknya Tuhan yang Maha Esa tetapi memiliki sifat yang Aneka.

Penerangan ini tidak bertujuan menyesatkan sesiapa tetapi untuk membantu memudahkan pemahaman. Daripada pengalaman saya menjelaskan perkara-perkara di atas berikutan soalan "Orang Hindu ada berapa Tuhan?" tidak seorang pun rakan-rakan saya yang terus berminat meninggalkan agama asal dan memeluk agama Hindu. Saya gembira kerana mereka kekal dengan agama asal.

Ada pihak yang menolak penyiaran cerpen saya dengan alasan kononnya saya cuba menyebarkan agama Hindu menerusi cerpen Bahasa Malaysia. Bagaimanapun, tiada laporan mana-mana pembaca meninggalkan agama asal dan "masuk" Hindu. Sebagaimana tidak ada orang Melayu yang memeluk agama Hindu walaupun tergila-gila menonton filem-filem Shah Rukh Khan sejak tahun 1990-an.

Kalaulah perbincangan, dialog dan perbandingan antara agama, tamadun dan budaya menjadi suatu kebimbangan dan ketakutan dalam kalangan puak fanatik, pentaksub, ultra kiasu, rasis dan etnosentrik, pasti mereka akan "mati muntah darah" jika berpeluang mendalami mata pelajaran TITAS di IPTA dan IPTS.

Berbalik pada topik perbincangan, ada juga rakan-rakan yang bertanya mengapa ada begitu banyak berhala dan rupa dewa-dewi yang pelbagai pula. Secara mudah, saya akan cuba menjelaskan bahawa berbeza dengan agama Islam (juga Buddha, Sikh dan sebagainya), ajaran Hindu tidak menghalang "sifat-sifat" Tuhan yang berciri "Eka Aneka" digambarkan secara visual.

Maka para penganut agama Hindu sejak dahulu menggunakan bakat kesenian untuk "mevisualkan" sifat-sifat Tuhan menerusi lukisan, berhala dan seumpamanya. Seni khat dan kaligrafi - sebagaimana digunakan orang Arab, Cina dan Islam - turut digunakan orang Hindu untuk merakamkan (record) sifat-sifat Tuhan yang berciri Eka Aneka.

Sebagai agama tauhid yang pertama di dunia, ajaran Hindu tidak menghalang/menolak mana-mana agama atau ajaran lain. Semua agama menuju kepada Tuhan (Maha Esa) dan terpulang kepada setiap individu untuk memilih jalan (agama/ajaran) yang diingininya. - 12 Ogos, 2013.


Peserta Konvoi Rumah Ibadat di Seremban (17 Februari 2013) mendengar penerangan tentang kuil.
* Ini adalah pandangan peribadi penulis.

Low teaching quality: ‘Ministry’s fault’

NUTP claims the extra data entry work and the new teaching system hinders quality teaching.

PETALING JAYA: Teachers are unable to provide quality education to students and the fault lies squarely on the Education Ministry which appears to be bogging them down with paper work.

The National Union for Teaching Profession (NUTP) president Hashim Adnan in a phone interview with FMT said that teachers today are given more paper work because ministry officials are interested in obtaining data.

Hashim said that teachers are required to do data entry by keying in individual marks which is not only time consuming but stresses them up too.

“This exercise is on-going and teachers do it until 3 or 4 in the morning to meet a dateline. Any delay by individual teachers would affect the entire group of teachers because students’ cumulative grades cannot be obtained,” he explained.

He criticised the system as a “bad system that promotes plagiarism” among teachers.

Teachers are also required to teach and finish the syllabus without the benefit of having replacement teachers.

Under a system called Melindungi Masa Instructional (MMI) that began in April this year, a teacher must complete the syllabus for the year without having the benefit of a replacement teacher.

“Who is going to teach students if teachers are required to attend meetings and sports? Under MMI, teachers have to rush and complete teaching their syllabus.

“This system hinders teachers from developing young minds.

“Without the MMI, teachers have promoted quality education and this can be seen from the number of students who went on to further their tertiary education abroad,” said Hashim.

He also had a message for the Education Ministry.

“If you want us to provide quality education, leave the teaching to teachers and do not burden or mess us up with other things. A teacher’s duty is to teach, not do data entry.”

Moving at snail’s pace


When asked if the union is meeting the ministry to raise these issues, Hashim revealed that the ministry is rather reluctant to obtain feedback from the union.

“Our meetings move at a snail’s pace and there are very little chances for possible changes. The ministry officials must be bold and open hearted in accepting our input.

“Only then can they develop a system that works. We can tell them what works and what don’t,” said Hashim.

He added that while NUTP is willing to work with the ministry to enhance the quality of education in schools, it is the ministry that has to call the shots.

“If the ministry decides not to consider our feedback, there is nothing that we can do.”

Batu Caves dress code draws mixed reaction

While some devotees and a stall operator are against it, several joggers lauded the move and said they will abide by the regulation.

KUALA LUMPUR: The dress code imposed by the Batu Caves Sri Subramaniar Temple committee drew brickbats from joggers and devotees alike.

While some argued that it may affect tourist arrival, one even gave spiritual reasons to back his argument.

D Ponranggan, a senior citizen who frequents the temple for prayers, said a man of faith would not be perturbed by people wearing shorts or any other attire.

“Are you telling me that our people are so weak in faith that a man or women in shorts would distract them while praying?” he asked.

Ponranggan, a permanent resident in Malaysia, argued that imposing such a guideline would not give foreigners a good impression of Malaysia as a developing country.

“Our body itself is a temple and God lives in everyone. So, are we still going to stop ourselves from seeing people in shorts and skirts wherever we go? I think this is not logical,” he said.

Yesterday, FMT reported that the temple committee has imposed several prohibition on the visitors such as no smoking, running up the steps and spitting as well as barring them from wearing shorts, skirts and having pets with them.

Temple committee chairman R Nadarajah claimed that devotees were feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable to see people wearing shorts and working out in front of the temple when prayers were being conducted.

Ponranggan, however, believes that spitting and littering should be prohibited not only in a temple compound but in all areas.

Another devotee who frequents the temple, Tamilselvi Renggan, was more vocal against the ban. She said many devotees visit the temple may be wearing traditional attire but of the revealing type.

“Even the saree blouses and other traditional clothing worn by these devotees are very revealing.

“If you are going to impose this ban on tourist, how do you expect tourists to know all this when they are not aware of our culture?” asked the 36-year old homemaker.

Rent out proper attires

E Iyappan, a 26-year old Indian national, said he feared such a ban would affect tourists visits to the temple.

He suggested that the temple committee follows the rules of the temples in India where the temple committee provides stalls selling or renting out proper attire for worship.

“How do you expect tourists to know the temple regulations? In India, there are temples which practices strict dress codes but they do have stalls which sells or rents out proper attire,” said Iyappan.

M Krishnan, 54, supported Iyappan’s argument, saying that the temple committee should place stalls providing attires such as dhotis and sarees if they want to impose the ban.

“But these people (temple management) are just making things worse for tourists who are taking the trouble to learn our religion and culture,” he said.

Meanwhile, Abu Lais, 56, a frequent jogger at the area lauded the temple management’s ban and said everyone should abide by the regulations imposed.

“One must always remember that although it is a favourite area for many to workout, it is still primarily a place of worship. Hence, joggers and visitors should respect the code of conduct of any places of worship they step into,” said Abu.

However, he believed that tourists should be given some leeway due to cultural differences.

Another jogger, who wished to be only known as Noraida, said she would abide by any regulations imposed by the temple as a sign of respect.

“I will respect any regulation in a place of worship. However, I don’t think it is logical to impose the ban on tourists as they may not know the rules,” said the 46-year-old.

A florist, who declined to be named, also said the new regulation may affect his business as many tourist purchase garlands, flowers and prayer items from him.

“This ban will affect my business as tourists may stop coming to this place,” he said.

Meanwhile, a check by FMT this morning found that the signboard informing of the ban has been removed by the temple committee.

When asked, the temple committee honorary secretary RT Sundram said they are planning to replace it with a new one to better inform the public.

“The original depicted a person in business attire and many thought devotees had to wear a suit to enter the temple. So, we need to put a better and accurate picture so as to not mislead the public.”

No spitting, no shorts: Dress code at Batu Caves

The Batu Caves Sri Subramaniar temple has come up with a dress code for visitors and joggers after receiving several complaints from devotees.

PETALING JAYA: A dress code for visitors, especially morning joggers, to the Batu Caves Sri Subramaniar temple has been put up at the foot of the 272 steps due to complaints made by temple devotees.

Temple committee chairman R Nadarajah said devotees came to pray as early as 7am and they were especially embarrassed and disturbed to see people exercising in front of the temple when prayers were being conducted.

“People cannot exercise in front of the temple in shorts. We have been receiving complaints every week,” said Nadarajah.

He said joggers in shorts would be told to exercise in the field nearby.

Nadarajah said this when asked to comment on a Chinese daily report on six dress code prohibitions imposed by temple management committee.

According to the Sin Chew Daily’s front page report, visitors to Batu Caves are not allowed to smoke, run up the 272 steps, spit, wear shorts, wear skirts and bring pets.

Temple’s works committee chairman N Sivakumar said devotees wearing shorts and carrying kavadis during Thaipusam would however be allowed.

“They are coming here for a religious purpose and there will be no restrictions for tourists during Thaipusam,” he said.

He added that competitions such as the Tanggathon Batu Caves could still be held provided that the participants were properly attired and inform the temple committee in advance.

“We can allocate one or two flight of steps for the participants without inconveniencing and endangering devotees,” he said.

More than 800,000 locals and foreigners visit the temple every year.

French judges 'meant to process' Altantuya's murder

The question of Altantuya Shariibuu’s murder is “meant to be processed” by the French judges currently conducting an inquiry into alleged corruption in the Scorpene case, said French lawyer William Bourdon.

As such, Bourdon (left), who is representing human rights NGO Suaram in the Scorpene case, said that the testimony of lawyer Americk Sidhu would help to reveal its connections to supposed “corrupt activities”.

Americk had prepared the explosive first statutory declaration (SD) by private investigator P  Balasubramaniam, better known as PI Bala, in 2008 pertaining to the murder of the Mongolian national.

Bourdon was responding to a statement made by negotiator Jasbir Singh Chah, the ‘architect’ of the Scorpene deal, on Saturday that Altantuya had no role in the negotiations and that the French courts were not looking at her death.

“...For the possible links between the circumstances around Altantuya's death and corrupt activities, even if the French judges are not seized of Altantuya's murder directly, this question of her murder is meant to be processed by the French judges.

“Accordingly, the testimony of Americk Sidhu should help to reveal the different connections that should be made with corrupt activities, as well as other testimonies that would likely be received by judges very soon,” Bourdon said in a statement today.

Altantuya was said to be a French interpreter for defence analyst Abdul Razak Baginda (left), with whom she was believed to be have romantic links. He was a central figure in the sale of two Scorpene submarines to Malaysia.

Altantuya was, however, found dead in October 2006, having been blown up with C4 explosives in a jungle clearing in Shah Alam.

Perimekar contract 'in line with commercial norms'

Bourdon also stated that as steps to hear Jasbir as a witness at the inquiry in France are still ongoing, “only statements made under oath before the judges will count”.

He added that results of the investigations will only be made known upon its completion, but the two judges are still in the midst of research and verifications in the case, including on Malaysian consulting company Perimekar Sdn Bhd, which had received money from the Malaysian government in the deal.

In 2006, deputy defence minister Zainal Abidin Zin stated that the commissions were paid "voluntarily" to Perimekar by the French parties in the deal.

However, in 2008, then defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told Parliament the 114.96 million euros was paid out to to Perimekar, for "coordination services" and not as commissions.

According to the national news agency Bernama on Saturday, Jasbir in a statement had said that the contract between the Malaysian government and Perimekar was in line with commercial norms and that the payments fell within the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines.

He also noted that the price negotiated was “attractive” as the price for a single Scorpene Class submarine today was around RM6 billion while two were purchased by the government for less. at about RM4.2 billion.

He also said that Perimekar was nominated as the local vehicle to spearhead the project.

Hong Kong-based Terasasi Sdn Bhd, he added, was brought in as the external service provider to assist French company Thales International, also known as Thint Asia, which sold the submarines in a deal inked in 2002 when Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was defence minister.

Abdul Razak Baginda is one of the directors of Terasasi.

Sanjeevan's dad wants Negri cops off the case

The father of injured anti-crime activist R Sri Sanjeevan wants the Negri Sembilan police off the case and for those from the headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to take over investigations.

The probe into the attempt on Sanjeevan’s life on July 27 is currently being conducted by the Bahau police station and Seremban district police headquarters, because the shooting took place in Negri Sembilan.          

P Ramakrishnan, 64, noted that his son had levelled corruption allegations against police personnel in the state.

"My son has lodged a few police reports against officers and personnel in Negri Sembilan, so there could be conflict of interest,” he said  in a police report lodged at Travers police station this morning.

"Therefore I ask that the case be (taken over) by officers from Bukit Aman ..."

He said the police in Kuala Lumpur should work with the special team led by Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department chief Hadi Ho Abdullah that was set up to look into the incident.

Met outside the police station, Ramakrishnan said he is still concerned for his son's safety.

"I have full confidence in the police - that is why I came here to lodge a report - to safeguard my family and my son's interests," he said.

Anti-crime NGO MyWatch co-founder and adviser S Gobikrishnan, who was present, said Sanjeevan's family has yet to be informed of any progress in the investigations.

"The family wants all the investigation papers (in the hands of the Negri Sembilan police) to be handed over to Bukit Aman," he said, adding that the family will seek a meeting soon with Hadi.

‘Condition unchanged’

In July, Sanjeevan had brought forward a drug pusher who claimed he had paid a monthly bribe of RM30,000-50,000 to the Malacca and Negri Sembilan police.

Sanjeevan, who is MyWatch chief, was shot by two men on motorcycle while he was driving in Bahau.

He survived the attack after speeding off but the single bullet damaged his lungs.

Gobikrishnan (left) also updated the media on Sanjeevan's condition when Ramakrishnan lost his composure and became teary-eyed.

"He is still being induced and cannot breathe on his own. He needs a respirator. There has not been much change," he said.

He added that doctors have said the bullet has yet to be removed as it is not an immediate threat, and surgery now may even endanger Sanjeevan's life.

Resort owner remanded over 'Buddhist meditation in surau'

The 45-year-old owner of a resort in Johor where a group of Buddhists were shown meditating in a surau has been remanded for four days.

According to The Star Online, he was brought to the Session's Court in Kota Tinggi at about 9.30am today before court registrar Hairul Azhar Mohamad, who approved the remand order until Friday.

The owner of the resort in Tanjung Sedili Besar, who is a Singaporean with Malaysian permanent resident status, was arrested on Sunday.

The case is being investigated under Section 295 of the Penal Code for injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class.
                                      
Previously, the Johor Islamic Affairs Council (MAIJ) had urged that stern action be taken.

"We need to be more stern by using existing laws to blacklist the group from entering the country. This should not happen as they should know Malaysian law.

"Their act has not only hurt the feelings (of Muslims) but also insulted Islam," said MAIJ adviser Noh Gadut.

He was referring to a YouTube video uploaded on Aug 10 which showed what appeared to be a monk inside the surau, leading a group in meditation in front of a portrait of Buddha.
              
The 63-second video entitled: 'Chinese Buddhists pray in surau; surau becomes temple' was uploaded by one "Sebastianphiu" and has generated over 10,000 views.

Meanwhile, the resort owner had earlier defended the decision to allow the Buddhist group from Singapore to use the surau.

"The group said they wanted to use the hall for meditation but we could not fulfill the request as the hall had already been booked by others earlier on.

"So we allowed them to use the surau in the resort but their bringing other religious items into the surau was done without my knowledge," he was quoted as saying.

'Custody death victim's hand was clinging to cell bar'

Death in policy custody victim Cheah Chin Lee was found holding on to a cell bar although he had reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a cell at the Tanjong Tokong police station, the inquest into his death heard today.

The lawyer conducting a watching brief for Cheah’s family, M Visvanathan, said photos taken by the police after Cheah’s death showed his left hand clinging on to a bar.

“There are two possibilities. One, someone forced him up and he held on to the bar, grasping for dear life, or he went up there, did the act on his own, with no assistance from anyone,” said Visvanathan while cross-examining forensic expert Bhupinder Singh.

“If he did it on his own and wanted (to commit) suicide, why would he still cling on to the bar? It’s not a very good suicide attempt then,” said Visvanathan.

Visvanathan said the photos depicting him in the position “tell a thousand stories” and it appeared as if Cheah was trying to break his fall.

However, Visvanathan complained that all the photos taken of Cheah by the police were not good at all as they do not show the bruises clearly.

Visvanathan then asked Bhupinder (left) to state his opinion on the findings in the photograph of Cheah hanging from a bar.

In response, Bhupinder said he did not agree to the suggestion that Cheah could have been put up on the bar.

He then asked, “Where is the CCTV recording of the incident?” to which Visvanathan thanked him for asking, saying he would get it and inform Bhupinder.

Bhupinder said Cheah was hanging from the bars with his feet off the ground by a distance of two feet and his left hand firmly gripping the bar.

He was hanging with his cell clothes in a loop around his neck.

“It is not possible to put someone of his size up there without a struggle and without sustaining any injuries,” said Bhupinder.

‘Not for us in forensics to decide’

Bhupinder said he could only ascertain the deceased’s death was caused by asphysxia due to hanging, but could not decide on the circumstances of how he died.

“It is not for us (in forensics) to decide whether it is suicide or homicide,” he said.

Coroner Umadevi Loganathan presided over the inquest, which was held since yesterday, while the conducting officers are Mohd Faisal Md Noor and Edward Chan.

Cheah, 36, was found dead in the cell at about 5.30am on Aug 13, after he was arrested for suspected motorcycle theft at about 12.30am.

An autopsy report indicated that he died of asphyxia due to hanging but his family members, who were in court, refused to accept that Cheah had died due to suicide.

'Buddhists meditating in surau have insulted Islam'

The action by a group of Buddhists to use a surau for meditation has insulted Islam, said the Johor Islamic Affairs Council (MAIJ).

"We need to be more stern by using existing laws to blacklist the group from entering the country. This should not happen as they should know Malaysian law.

"Their act has not only hurt the feelings (of Muslims) but also insulted Islam," MAIJ adviser Noh Gadut was quoted as saying in a Berita Harian report today.

He was referring to a YouTube video uploaded on Aug 10 which showed what appeared to be a monk inside the building, leading a group in meditation in front of a portrait of Buddha.

The 63-second video entitled: 'Chinese Buddhists pray in surau; surau becomes temple' was uploaded by one "Sebastianphiu" and has generated over 10,000 views.

The opening of the video also bore the words: "Surau tainted by heresy" and stated its location as Tanjung Sedili, Kota Tinggi, Johor.

Meanwhile, Berita Harian quoted Johor Religious Committee Abd Mutalip Abd Rahim as saying that the Johor Religious Department (JAJ) has initiated an investigation over the matter including visiting the site.

According to the daily, the surau is at a Kota Tinggi resort owned by a Singaporean Muslim who has permanent residence in this country.

'No intention to offend'
It quoted the resort's 45-year-old manager, without naming the person, defending the decision to allow the Buddhist group from Singapore to use the surau.

"The group said they wanted to use the hall for meditation but we could not fulfill the request as the hall had already been booked by others earlier on.

"So we allowed them to use the surau in the resort but they bringing other religious items into the surau was done without my knowledge," he was quoted as saying.

The manager further said that he had no ill intention in allowing the Buddhist group to use the surau as he himself is a Muslim.

"I did not think that allowing followers of other religion to use the surau was wrong because they were only using it for meditation.

"I had no intention to hurt the feelings of any parties. My intention was just to show that Islam was a universal and tolerant religion," he said.

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Perkasa kecam tindakan Pak Lah

PERTUBUHAN Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) hari ini mengecam tindakan Bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Pak Lah) yang dikatakan telah mengeluarkan dakwaan negatif terhadap pertubuhan tersebut serta mengkritik Bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Dalam sebuah kenyataan akhbar yang dikeluarkan oleh Setiausaha Agung Perkasa Syed Hassan Syed Ali, beliau menyifatkan buku Awakening: The Abdullah Badawi Years in Malaysia merupakan sebuah buku penafian semata-mata.


Malah, beliau selaku Timbalan Presiden Kelab Chedet turut berdiri untuk mempertahankan Tun Mahathir kerana beliau menyifatkan kritikan Pak Lah terhadap Tun Mahathir jelas tidak benar sama sekali.
Syed Hassan menjelaskan, tindakan Pak Lah yang mengecam Perkasa kerana dikatakan cuba untuk mengambil hak kaum lain demi kepentingan Melayu adalah tidak benar kerana tujuan pertubuhan tersebut hanyalah untuk mempertahankan kepentingan Melayu dan Islam dimana telah termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Negara.

Beliau turut memberi contoh berkenaan pengurangan peruntukan Biasiswa Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) dimana daipada 90% peruntukan kepada kaum Melayu akhirnya hanya tinggal 55% sahaja di penghujung zaman kepimpinan Pak Lah.
Bukan itu sahaja, Syed Hassan turut mengingatkan Pak Lah bahawa kegagalan Barisan Nasional dalam mendapatkan majoriti 2/3 kerusi Parlimen pada Pilihan Raya Umum 2008 bukanlah disebabkan oleh Perkasa kerana pada 2008 Perkasa belum ditubuhkan.

Beliau menyifatkan kepimpinan Pak Lah gagal mengurus ekonomi negara dengan baik hingga menyebabkan kaum Cina menghadapi kesukaran dalam perniagaan.
Selain itu, Syed Hassan turut mempersoal kenyataan Pak Lah yang mengatakan ekonomi negara bakal muflis jika projek-projek Tun Mahathir diteruskan.
“Negara boleh muflis jika teruskan projek-projek Tun M rancangkan? Sebelum zaman Tun M negara kita negara kayakah? Projek-projek mega yang Tun M telah siapkan sudah membuatkan negara muflis kah?

“Saya nak tanya Pak Lah, Tun M habiskan banyak wang negara yang hasilnya dari mana tu sebnarnya? Wang negara dari sebelum Tun M jadi PM kah? Sebelum Tun M jadi PM sudah banyakkah wang negara?,” jelas Syed Hassan dalam kenyataan akhbar yang dikeluarkan beliau hari ini.

Tambah Syed Hassan, tahun-tahun paling malang kepada rakyat Malaysia adalah semasa pentadbiran Pak Lah sebagai Perdana Menteri iaitu dari Oktober 2003 hingga April 2009.
“Kononnya menyelamatkan negara dari muflis jika melayani desakan Tun M meneruskan projek-projek yang telah Tun M rancang sebelumnya seperti landasan berkembar kereta api padahal negara rugi besar bila projek tersebut disambung semula oleh Pak Lah setelah beliau memberhentikannya untuk beberapa tahun. Itu fakta yang Pak Lah jangan nafikanya,” ujar Syed Hassan.
Berikut merupakan kenyataan akhbar penuh yang dikeluarkan oleh Perkasa: