Temple chairman rebuts Ku Nan, rubbishes 'liquor finding'

PKR MP ejected from Parliament over temple demolition motion

Before CHOGM, the Largest Hindu Organisation of the World VHP warned Sri Lankan Govt to stop attack on Tamil Hindus and Hindu Temples to avoid ‘counter reaction’.

Attack on Hindu Temples in Sri Lanka may invite worldwide Counter reaction by Hindus: Dr Pravinbhai Togadiya, Int.President, VHP. 

Upananda Brahmachari | New Delhi | 9 Nov 2013::  As Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) has received complaints from Dr. N. Kumar Guruparan,Western Provincial Councillor and the Deputy Leader of Democratic Peoples’ Front and Spokesman for the Hindu Front of Sri Lanka against demolition of Goddess Bhadrakaali Amman Temple at the historically inhabited Tamil area of Dambulla in Sri Lanka by Government forces  in night of 28th Oct. last, Dr Pravinbhai Togadiya, International President of VHP condemned such attack upon Hindu Temples and Tamil Hindu culture through a strong press statement issued today.

Earlier Dr Guruparan’s reported the following points inviting particular attention:

 1.     Hon’ble Sri Lankan Parliamentarian R. Yogarajan and Dr. N. Kumar Guruparan both appealed to His Excellency Mahinda Rajapakse, President of Sri Lanka, to ensure the safety of the Bhadrakaali Amman Temple at Dambulla;

2.     When Government forces in civilian dress along with the monks went for demolition, the Temple Trustee Smt. Lechhumi Ammah requested them to give time till Wednesday for performance of prescribed religious rites for the closure of the temple. But they did not pay heed to this reasonable request and went ahead with their demolition drive immediately on 28^th October, 2013 night. [https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/30-year-old-dambulla-badhrakaali-amman-kovil-completely-demolished-last-night/]

The Hindu Existence Forum also highlighted the demolition of age old Bhadrakaali Kovil (Temple) through a worldwide publicity under its reporting and authenticated video footage under the caption : 30 Year Old Dambulla Badhrakaali Amman Kovil (Hindu Temple) Completely Demolished by Buddhist Fanatics in Sri Lanka.

This press statement has been released by Sri Prashant Hartaltak, Central Secretary, VHP has an immense importance before the commencement of CHOGM in Sri Lanka  on 15-17 Nov 2013.

 The press statement deeply expressed its concern over the attack upon Tamil Hindu People by a dint of destroying  Hindu Temple Culture of Sri Lanka.

“During the long civil war hundreds of Hindu temples have been demolished in Sri Lanka. Now the civil war is over. Even in this peace time we are hearing of destruction of Hindu temple which is very disturbing and provoking.” – the statement narrates on.

In a strong protest against the premeditated pulling down of a living Hindu Temple in Sri Lanka, the Working President of VHP Dr Pravinbhai Togadiya said, “Vishva Hindu Parishad is deeply distressed to hear news reports that Mother Goddess Bhadrakaali Amman Temple at the historically inhabited Tamil area of Dambulla in Sri Lanka has been completely demolished and uprooted by design. VHP strongly demands from the Sri Lankan Government authorities that immediate steps be taken to reconstruct and restore the sanctity of the temple.”

Dr Togadiya said, “As both Hindus and Buddhists are brothers in Dharma, we do not expect such offense and transgression from our Buddhist brethren committed on a Hindu place of worship. The message has gone all over the world that Hindu Temple has been demolished by government forces along with Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka. We take serious note of this wrongdoing and request the Government of Sri Lanka to refrain from such sacrilege against Hindu places of worship and ensure that such acts are not repeated in future anywhere in the Island Nation, otherwise the Sri Lankan Government will be responsible if such acts invite counteractions by the Hindus.”

In his strong note Dr Togadiya pointed out the offensive steps so far taken against the Tamil Hindu Culture and the Hindu people in Sri Lanka by an arrogant  Sri Lankan Government and some irresponsible and inhumane Buddhist monk may create counter attacks on the tree of the offenders if not ceased to produce its poisonous fruits further.

As a matter of fact, thousands of Lankan Buddhist people come to Hindu Majority Bharat to visit the holy Buddhist shrines amidst the warm reception of their Hindu counterparts. But, these same Buddhist people do not show any concern to protect the old and heritage Hindu temples in Sri Lanka anyway.

The probable ”counteractions by the Hindus’ as a consecutive chain of agitation against Sinhala tourist or the Buddhist people in general  may vitiate the Hindu-Buddhsit traditional  bondage in this sub-continent. This may be a headache for the Indian delegates reaching CHOGM 2013 in Colombo. Tamil people and political parties have already condemned and protested the participation of Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, in the CHOGM. Some of them pointed out that Dr Singh should follow the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper who has already boycotted CHOGM over the issue of SL Govt’s negation on the probe on killing of 40,000 Tamil civilians by the Sinhala Army in the LTTE wartime.  The estimates of Tamil Hindu Genocides in Sri Lanka by various agencies touch a unbelievable lot of 1,40,000 so far.

Arab Spring nations backtrack on women’s rights, poll says

Protesters, who are against Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, react in Tahrir Square in Cairo July 3, 2013. (Reuters)

Arab women played a central role in the Arab Spring, but their hopes the revolts would bring greater freedom and expanded rights for women have been thwarted by entrenched patriarchal structures and the rise of Islamists, gender experts in the countries say.

Almost three years after popular uprisings toppled autocratic leaders in one of the most conservative corners of the world, a Thomson Reuters Foundation poll on 22 Arab states showed three out of five Arab Spring countries in the bottom five states for women's rights (for the methodology behind the poll, please see http://poll2013.trust.org).

Egypt emerged as the worst country to be a woman in the Arab world today, followed closely by Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Egypt scored badly in almost every category, including gender violence, reproductive rights, treatment of women in the family and their inclusion in politics and the economy.

Arab Spring countries Syria and Yemen ranked 18th and 19th, respectively - worse than Sudan, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories and insurgency-hit Somalia, which scored better on factors such as political and economic inclusion, women's position in the family, reproductive rights and sexual violence. Libya and Tunisia came in 9th and 6th.

But while the situation is dire, some activists saw reasons for optimism. For one thing, the revolts led more poor women and those on the margins to be aware of their rights.

Women's rights have traditionally been a concern of the “intellectual elite” in Egypt, where many are illiterate and live below the poverty line, said Nihad Abul Komsan, head of the Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights.

“We used to suffer from the fact that talk of women's rights came across as talk ... limited to the creme-de-la-creme ladies of society,” she told Reuters.

“But the big challenge women faced led to women's issues being discussed on the street by ordinary women and illiterate women.”

Iranian Musician Kills Indie Band Members in New York

Members of indie band the Yellow Dogs, (left to right) Soroush Farazmand, Koory Mirz, Siavash Karampour and Arash Farazmand are shown at The Gutter bowling alley in Williamsburg neighbourhood in New York in 2011, in this picture released to Reuters on November 11, 2013. An Iranian rock musician shot dead three people, including two members of the Yellow Dogs, and wounded a fourth man before killing himself in Brooklyn, authorities said on Monday. Victims Soroush and Arash Farazmand, who were brothers, were the guitarist and drummer in the band that formed in Iran and performed covertly before its members sought political asylum in the United States in 2010, their publicist Ashley Ayers said. The suspected gunman, whose identity police had not confirmed, was an Iranian musician in another band and knew the Yellow Dogs from Tehran before they had a falling out, Ayers said. (Reuters Photo)

New York. An Iranian musician allegedly opened fire on members of an Iranian rock band in New York overnight, murdering three men and wounding a fourth before killing himself, police said Monday.

News reports said at least two of the deceased were brothers who belonged to the Yellow Dogs, an indie group that was formed in 2006 in Tehran and who came to the United States three years ago.

The musicians were found dead in a three-story Brooklyn building where the band reportedly lived and rehearsed.

Police said the shooter was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on the roof next to a rifle.

Officers were called after multiple shots were fired inside the building on Maujer Street in East Williamsburg shortly after midnight, police said.

A 22-year-old man was rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds in his right arm but is in a stable condition, police said.

Three men were found dead in the house, a 27-year-old man shot in the chest on the second floor and two other men, one of them 35 years old, shot in the head on the third floor.

No age was given for the third victim or the shooter, and New York police did not comment further on the men’s identities.

A spokesman initially said the victims appeared to have been members of the band.

New York police commissioner Ray Kelly was later quoted by local media as saying the shooter appeared to have been an Iranian-American musician, possibly from another band.

Yellow Dogs described itself as a dance-punk-psychedelic band and they perform in English, playing at notable venues on the circuit in New York and providing warm up for other acts.

Fans took to the band’s Facebook page to express shock and grief.

“What the hell! I’m still in shock. Can’t wrap my head around this tragedy,” wrote Faranak Karimpour.

“Horrible what’s happened to you. RIP,” said Roberta Rodriguez.

East Williamsburg is noted for its bohemian artists, middle class families looking to buy, students and recent immigrants.

Three members of the band spoke of the troubles they had faced in Iran and their joy at living in New York on a video interview recorded last year and posted on YouTube.

“We want to travel and play music. That’s actually our passion I think,” said singer and guitarist known as Obash.

They met as teenagers and started playing as a hobby, but feared for their safety after taking part in a 2009 documentary about Iran’s underground music scene that won an award at Cannes.

The Islamic republic considers rock music against Islam.

The band said they used to soundproof their room in Tehran as well as they could but admitted they were lucky not to have been caught during performances for their friends.

“Brooklyn, I feel I fit in perfectly. You don’t feel like a foreigner in New York City at all,” Obash said on the video.

Unable to go back to Iran, they also spoke sadly about how their parents had never seen them play.

Agence France-Presse

Jamil Khir: Penguatkuasa agama akan dibekalkan senjata api

Pegawai penguatkuasa jabatan agama akan dibekalkan dengan senjata api ketika bertugas, kata Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom (gambar).

Beliau berkata, ini merupakan antara cadangan yang akan dipertimbangkan oleh Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) dalam usaha memastikan keselamatan pegawainya terjamin.

Katanya, usaha mempertingkat tahap keselamatan lebih penting kerana pegawai penguatkuasa perlu diberi kenyakinan mengenai keselamatan mereka.

"Senjata api akan dibekalkan kepada pegawai penguatkuasa ketika mereka bertugas, tetapi bagaimana pula ketika pegawai ini berada di rumah.

"Jakim sedang melihat kepada semua aspek ini termasuk rondaan secara berkala oleh kereta peronda polis di kawasan kediaman bagi memastikan keselamatan mereka terjamin," katanya dipetik daripada laman Mstar Online.

Jamil berkata demikian ketika mengulas mengenai kematian Ketua Penolong Pengarah Penguatkuasaan Jabatan Agama Islam Pahang (Jaip), Ahmad Rafli Abdul Malek.

Ahmad Rafli, 49, ditembak mati di hadapan rumahnya di Indera Mahkota 2, Kuantan pada Ahad.

Mangsa ditembak dari jarak dekat oleh suspek yang berpakaian jubah hitam dan berkopiah sebaik sahaja menjawab salam daripada suspek.

Pengikut kumpulan ajaran sesat, Tuhan Harun dipercayai terlibat dengan kes pembunuhan berkenaan.

Jamil berkata, sekurang-kurangya lapan kumpulan ajaran sesat dikenal pasti masih bergiat aktif di negara ini namun tidak ada yang berbahaya seperti kumpulan yang didakwa terlibat dalam pembunuhan Ahmad Rafli.

"Mereka (lapan kumpulan) tidak terlalu agresif," katanya.

Beliau berkata, kumpulan tersebut bergerak secara sulit dan sukar untuk dikesan.

"Kebanyakannya menggunakan pendekatan yang lembut untuk mendapatkan pengikut dan sukar untuk mendakwa mereka kerana bukti tidak mencukupi serta kekurangan saksi.

"Mereka (kumpulan ajaran sesat) ini seperti penyakit, kita juga tidak tahu bila mereka akan muncul," katanya. – 12 November, 2013.

Waytha to Ku Nan: You've no business in Hindu affairs

Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia chairperson P Waythamoorthy has lambasted Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor for defending the demolition at the Sri Muneswarar Kaliyamman temple, saying Tengku Adnan has “no business in interpreting what amounts to a shrine or temple”.

Coming out of his long silence, Waythamoorthy (left), who is a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said Tengku Adnan has "no business to issue public statement on matters pertaining to the Hindu religion".

"As a federal minister he should respect the feelings and sensitivities of Hindus, instead of justifying an unconscionable act by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL)."

Waythamoorthy was referring to  Tengku Adnan's statement yesterday that he ordered DBKL to go ahead with a plan to seize back state land after surveying the temple, located along Jalan P Ramlee, in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

The federal minister claimed that only a handful of devotees had gone to the temple during Deepavali last month and a Hindu priest, who was sent to scout the temple, found that it was not up to Hindu specifications and alleged bottles of liquor were kept there.

He further claimed that the structure in question was a "shrine" and not  a "temple", as proper Hindu practices were not incorporated into its construction, such as the lack of a water source.

The temple's legal adviser hs since rubbished the allegations of the minister that it was used for shady activities and liquor was found on site.

In a second such sting operation in three months, DBKL officers on Nov 10 destroyed the annexes of the temple to seize back a slither of land for developer Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd for its skyscraper next to the temple.

'Ku Nan must apologise over demolition'

In his statement today, Waythamoorthy demanded an apology from Tengku Adnan (right) for the demolition.

"Having demolished the temple, it is a double insult to say it was demolished to beautify and make it a tourist attraction.

"It has also come to our attention that the DBKL under Tengku Adnan has issued more than 20 other demolition orders," Waythamoorthy claimed.

"These temples should have been either given land titles during the colonial period or they should have been gazetted as Hindu temples by the government upon achieving independence in 1957. Both were not done, hence the problems faced today."

He urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to stick to his promise to Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia to help find a permanent and comprehensive solution to the long-standing problems of the Indian community.

Ironically, it was Tengku Adnan, who is also BN secretary, who was a witness to the signing of the pact between Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Waythamoorthy's association in April, during the 13th general election campaign periodl.

The pact later thrust Waythamoorthy from a grassroots leader to being made a senator and given a deputy minister's post, after BN retained power in Putrajaya.

'Marina, resign from SIS to distance self from Comango'

Marina Mahathir has come under fire from Muslim groups for threatening legal action for being labelled a “mastermind” behind human rights coalition Comango, with one pressure group challenging her to resign from Sisters in Islam (SIS).

In a statement, National Muslim Youth Association (Pembina) expressed doubt that being on the board of directors, Marina could truly be ignorant of such a “big decision” by SIS with regard to its involvement in Comango.

As such, Pembina president Ibrahim Mohd Hasan said, if Marina's claim was true, she should resign from that post to prove her claim.
"We urge Marina to resign from SIS if she is not involved in Comango. This action will be consistent with her threat to sue Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) for saying she is behind the Comango demand," Ibrahim said.

"We are puzzled as to why she, as an SIS board member, said she was not involved in such a big issue like Comango and how she can still remain in it. We also ask what Marina's job is, as a board member."

If Marina is not involved in Comango, Ibrahim added, "we challenge her to resign from SIS".

Isma defends flyer distribution

Meanwhile, Isma in a separate statement defended its action in distributing flyers on the Comango issue after it sent its report to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Its deputy president, Aminuddin Yahya (left), said the demands sought by Comango, which included freedom of religion, including becoming apostate, abolition of Malay rights, removing syariah laws, recognising the rights of the lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders and freedom to propagate Shi'ite are serious matters that would affect Islam and the sovereignty of the country.

"As a board director in SIS, Marina has to be directly accountable for its action. It is impossible that a board director does not know the activities of its organisation.

"Marina's threat to file a suit against Isma represents her hypocrisy in the issue of freedom of rights. When it befalls on her, she says she will sue," Aminuddin said.

Marina in a statement yesterday said she was mulling legal action against Isma for accusing her as one of the masterminds behind Comango.

Isma claims to have ample proof to show Marina's support for the Comango movement.

Comango has earned the wrath of several Muslim pressure groups for submitting a critical human rights report to the United Nations' Universal Periodical Review (UPR) in Geneva in September.

Surendran ejected from Parliament, again

PARLIAMENT MP for Padang Serai and PKR vice-president N Surendran has been ejected from the Dewan Rakyat for the second time this session by speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.

This came after Surendran tried to raise an emergency motion on the demolition of the annexe of the Sri Muneswarar temple in Jalan P Ramlee on Sunday.

The MP's attempt was rejected on technical grounds by the speaker

When Surendran tried to explain his reasoning, he was asked to leave the House by Pandikar for delaying the proceedings for the day.

On Sept 25, he became the first MP to be ejected from the current session of Parliament when trying to raise under a Standing Order a petition querying the death in custody of P Karuna Nithi.
Surendran raised his motion under Standing Order 18(1), but Pandikar cut him off before he could finish explaining his motion, rejecting it on technical grounds.

Pandikar (left) said that the Standing Order provides for a motion to be raised to generate discussion in the August House and not to make a decision, pointing out that Surendran’s motion was done with the intent of urging the House to make a decision on the matter.

Pandikar then went on to personally explain the government’s stand on the issue, saying that only the structure around the temple was demolished and that the land belongs to the government in the first place.

“Don’t drag me into a political issue. I don’t want to be seen as a speaker who is not responsible, and someone who favours the government,” Pandikar said.

When Surendran tried to refute the version of events Pandikar had referred to, based on explanations by the Federal Territories Ministry, he was asked to leave, while other Opposition MPs who stood up were asked to sit down without being given an opportunity to speak.

Surendran later described the version of events mentioned Pandikar as an “utter lie” and said that only a small part of the temple remains now.

He also criticised the speaker for taking the government’s version of events as facts.

“This has never happened in any Commonwealth country. The speaker may not agree, but the speaker always allows the MP to finish speaking first. Here, we are not allowed to even speak,” he said.

Fellow PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar said that the speaker was supposed to be independent and should allow for an explanation in the House itself from the relevant minister.

Watch your words, Waytha tells Adnan

Both the Hindraf chief and the DAP sec-gen tick off the Federal Territories Minister for being insensitive to the Hindus with his comments on the Sri Muneswarar Kaliyaman Alayam demolition.
UPDATED

GEORGE TOWN: Civil rights movement Hindraf ticked off Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor for allegedly insulting Hinduism and Hindus by interpreting on what constituted a Hindu shrine or temple.

The movement’s chairman and Deputy Minister in the PM’s Department P Waythamoorthy said Tengku Mansor should stay away from Hindu religious matters since the minister had no knowledge on practices and beliefs of Hindus.

He called Tengku Adnan to immediately apologise to the Hindu community for the demolition of the 101-year-old Hindu temple, Sri Muneswarar Kaliyaman Alayam, at Jalan P.Ramlee in Kuala Lumpur, merely a week after the Deepavali festival, and also for his unwarranted interference with Hindu religious affairs.

Waythamoorthy said Tengku Adnan should respect Hindu feelings and sensitivities of Hindus instead of justifying an unconscionable act by the Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) to demolish a century-old Hindu temple.

He reminded Tengku Adnan that temple demolition and later insulting Hindus in the name of “forced beautification of temples” was blatant violation of fundamental human rights.

“Having demolished the temple, it is a double insult to say it was demolished to beautify and make it a tourist attraction.

“Hindraf is appalled with Tengku Adnan’s interference in the affairs of Hindu religion.

“He has no business in interpreting what amounts to a shrine or temple.

“We find his explanation of what amounts to a temple, that it has to have water, dome and facing, east, etc is an insult to the Hindu religion.

“Hence, he has no business to issue public statement on matters pertaining to the Hindu religion.

“He should immediately apologise,” said Waythamoorthy whose outburst against a cabinet member is set to invite criticism from Umno leaders.

Waythamoorthy, who was included in the BN government after the May GE following a historic MOU between Hindraf and BN, had in recent months been told to toe the line and not to criticise minister and government policies..

More demolition notices

Waythamoorthy said he had received numerous phone calls from devotees across the country expressing their anger and frustration against yet another unconscionable act of temple demolition.

“They are sick with the attitude of politicians justifying such acts,” said the Hindraf chief in a statement today.

Waythamoorthy said he learnt that the DBKL, which comes under the purview of Tengku Adnan’s ministerial, had issued more than 20 other temple demolition orders.

He said the Indian community wanted to know whether Tengku Adnan, who signed on the behalf of BN the memorandum of understanding with Hindraf to implement the five-year Indian Blueprint, was committed to honouring the agreement.

He said Indian community was curious to know on whether Tengku Adnan was committed to find permanent and comprehensive solutions to various issues including Hindu temples, or he would continue to ignore the MoU and carry on demolishing the Hindu temples in Kuala Lumpur.

He said Hindraf signed the MoU with the BN upon the ruling coalition’s commitment to correct historical wrongs committed against the Indian and Hindu community for centuries.

By right, he said these temples should have been given land titles during the colonial period or they should have been gazetted as Hindu temple sites by the post-independence government.

“Both were not done hence, the problems faced today,” Waythamoorthy said.

He insisted that Hindraf forged a win-win alliance with BN hoping that the federal government would make good its promises to the Indians.

During the MoU signing, he said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak publicly apologised to Indian Malaysians for BN government past lapses, and promised to work closely with Hindraf to find a permanent and comprehensive solution to the long standing problems faced by the community.

The issues included the 800,000 displaced estate workers, the admission of Indians to public educational institutions, upgrading the dilapidated and ill-equipped Tamil schools, better business and job opportunities as well as resolving the estimated 300,000 stateless Indian issue.

“The agreement must be honoured,” Waythamoorthy stressed.

DAP slams temple demolition

In another development, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng slammed the federal government for demolishing parts of the 101-year-old temple, saying that the “beautification” reason given was unacceptable.

“The DAP feels that there should have been negotiations before the temple was demolished…we don’t understand how they can use the excuse that they are beautifying the temple when it is obviously a demolition,” Lim said.

Speaking at a press conference at the Parliament lobby, the Penang Chief Minister and Bagan MP said the excuse was “suspicious” as it had been used by the federal government before in Penang.

He claimed that the government had demolished a port in Penang for “beautification” purposes, but years later, it had yet to rebuild the port.

“The deputy health minister himself made the guarantee that it was to be reconstructed, yet even until today, there has been no work done,” said Lim.

“So we saw this happen in Penang already, and now it’s happening again,” he noted.

Lim was responding to Tengku Adnan’s remarks yesterday that the DBKL will renovate and beautify the temple to highlight its century-old heritage.

“We plan to make the shrine like the famous Buddha statue in Hong Kong. It will become a tourist attraction,” he was quoted as saying at a press conference yesterday.

No ‘pukau’ in Ambank murder, says police

The CPO dismisses theories that the suspect involved in the robbery cum murder case was under any sort of hypnosis.

SHAH ALAM: Selangor police chief, Senior Deputy Commissioner Shukri Dahlan has discredited a Malay daily’s report claiming that Laode Ardina Laode Rasila, the security guard who brutally murdered a bank officer in Subang Jaya last October, was under hypnosis during the robbery cum murder incident.

The newly appointed police chief added that police investigations are all based on facts and the crime committed by the suspect.

“No, there is no such thing. Our investigations are all base on facts and what we have gathered from the interrogation,” he said.

“We look at the crime that was committed. Pukau or hypnosis or whatever you want to call it is not going to be accepted in court,” Shukri affirmed.

Today, a Malay daily reported that the prime suspect who shot and killed Norazita point blank was hypnotized prior to the incident, and was asked to hand over the large amount of money to his accomplice who is known as Joemar.

Meanwhile, Shukri said Joemar is a close friend of Laode Ardina who also works as a security guard at a non financial company and had been in Malaysia for more than a year.

“Joemar is a close friend of the prime suspect who is also a security guard but they are not working at the same place or at the same company’

“We believe that both of them shared similar background and he is still in the country,” Shukri said.

Shukri then said that the case is almost over as he believed that police will be able to apprehend Joemar anytime soon.

“Our focus is now trying to locate the whereabouts of the suspect’s friend and the remaining money which is still missing,” he said.

Last Sunday, a group of special police force from the Ops Cantas unit barged into a house in Kampung Belungkor, Kota Tinggi in Johor Bharu at 7am, and arrested the main suspect involved in killing Norazita Abu Talib, the 37-year-old bank officer.

Yesterday, Selangor police recovered the pump gun used by Laode Ardina during the robbery.

The murder weapon was found in a drain about 500 metres away from the bank.

It is believed that Laode had dumped the weapon soon after the robbery in order to get rid of the evidence.

On Oct 23, Laode Ardina escaped with RM450,000 worth of cash from the bank’s vault after killing Norazita with a shot in the head.

With the arrest of Laode Ardina, a total of 12 people have been apprehended in relation to the case..

Hospital slammed for ‘losing’ surgical ward patient

A patient found missing was later located by his neighbours and sent home, and hospital tells the wife to send him back to hospital using her own transport.

PETALING JAYA: A nine-month pregnant Ratha was shocked when she received a call from University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) advising that her husband was missing from the hospital ward.

S Sashi Kumar from the longhouse settlement in Petaling Jaya had been admitted to UMMC surgical ward and was under the care of a neurosurgeon for head injuries following an accident on Nov 5.

After two days in the intensive care unit (ICU), Sashi Kumar was transferred to the normal surgical ward upon regaining consciousness.

“I received a call from the hospital yesterday at 6pm asking me if I knew of my husband’s whereabouts. I was shocked as his friends who visited him earlier told me his condition had improved although he could not remember what had actually happened,” said his wife, Ratha.

Ratha, a housewife said she was unable to visit her husband as she is due to deliver her baby anytime now and needs to tend to her ten-month-old baby, as well.

When she received the call, Ratha immediately asked people in her neighbourhood for help and they went on a search for Sashi Kumar.

“The hospital is approximately four kilometres from the house and his friends spotted him somewhere nearby. He however, could not remember anything due to (his) head injuries,” she said.

Ratha blames the hospital for being negligent and said that she will take further action against the hospital.

She had intended to deliver her baby at the same hospital so that being in the same building would make it easier for her to visit and tend to her husband, if required.

Now, that her husband is no longer earning his daily wages due to his condition, she is left with no choice but to deliver her baby at home and hopes there will be no complications

“My husband is a loving man and has never left me and my baby alone. He works in a scrap metal factory and gets paid on a daily basis,” Ratha related her ordeal to FMT.

No ambulance to transport patient

Having located her husband, Ratha was happy that he was safe and all she wanted was to get him back to the hospital.

However when Ratha called the UMMC, she was advised that she would need to send him back to the hospital using her own transport facilities.

“We can’t afford a taxi and everyone is afraid should anything happen to the patient (Sashi Kumar) along the way, they do not want to be responsible,” she told FMT.

Ratha said that the hospital should be responsible as they were the ones who ‘lost’ their patient due to negligence.

“We found him, the hospital should be responsible for transporting him back,” she said.

When asked whether she was able to garner support from her parents or in-laws, Ratha said that her marriage was based on love and without the blessings of parents from both sides.

Therefore the couple’s parents are not getting involved in their ordeal. She is currently surviving with food provided by her neighbourhood and expects to deliver her second baby soon.

“We have no choice but to seek treatment from the government hospital as we can’t afford treatment from the private hospital. Now, it has reached a point where we can’t trust the government hospital,” she said in tears.

Ratha intends to pursue the case further after her delivery and says that she demands an explanation from the hospital regarding this incident.

When contacted UMMC said they were currently investigating the matter.

Mega 9 disyaki tiada lesen majukan Kg Hakka

Semalam mereka semak Mega 9 tak wujud dalam rekod. Kemungkinan pegawai terlepas pandang, jadi hari ini mereka akan semak sekali lagi untuk pengesahan, kata Setiausaha PSM.

PUTRAJAYA: Pemaju yang bertanggungjawab merobohkan rumah penduduk Kampung Hakka dan membangunkan projek Bandar Baru Mantin, Negeri Sembilan berkemungkinan tidak mempunyai lesen yang diiktiraf kerajaan Pusat.

Syarikat Mega 9 Sdn Bhd ketika disemak dalam data Kementerian Kesejahteraan Bandar, Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan Malaysia (KPKT) tiada dalam rekod, pegawai kementerian memberitahu.

“Semalam mereka semak Mega 9 tak wujud dalam rekod. Kemungkinan pegawai terlepas pandang, jadi hari ini mereka akan semak sekali lagi untuk pengesahan,” kata Setiausaha Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) S Arutchelvan kepada FMT hari ini.

Perkara itu dimaklumkan dalam pertemuan empat mata antara wakil penduduk Kampung Hakka Chong Tze Yaw, Ketua Komunikasi Korporat KPKT Jessylina Mat Lazim, serta Atutchelvan di sini hari ini.

“Sekiranya benar didapati tiada lesen berdaftar yang sah dibawah kementerian, maka kredibiliti pemaju dan kerajaan negeri boleh dipertikaikan bagaimana penyelewengan kuasa secara berleluasa boleh berlaku dan kita mahu perkara ini segera dihentikan,” katanya.

Dalam pertemuan itu, menurut Arutchelvan, pihak KPKT turut memberikan jaminan, antaranya berjanji untuk mengaturkan satu pertemuan antara wakil penduduk, pemaju, pihak kerajaan Negeri Sembilan, dan Pusat duduk berbincang bagi mencari jalan penyelesaian bersama.

Turut hadir ke KPKT sebilangan 40 penduduk Kampung Hakka antara golongan berumur dua tahun hingga warga emas 76 tahun datang menaiki bas menghantar memorandum tuntutan kepada Menteri Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

Namun, Abdul Rahman mahupun Timbalannya, Datuk Halimah Mohd Saddique tiada di pejabat ketika ini dan memorandum diserahkan kepada wakil kementerian.

Memorandum itu antara kandungannya merayu kepada menteri supaya campurtangan dan menghentikan pengusiran paksa yang jelas satu pencabulan hak asasi manusia seperti yang termaktub dalam Deklarasi Habitat Agenda 1992, Agenda 21 dan Resolusi Suruhanjaya Persatuan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu mengenai Hak Perumahan 1993.

Penduduk dalam memorandum itu berkata, mereka tidak lagi mempunyai kepercayaan terhadap kerajaan Negeri Sembilan yang bersekongkol dengan pemaju dan tidak menjaga kepentingan mereka.

“Kami datang dengan harapan Datuk Menteri akan mengambil tindakan sewajarnya untuk campurtangan dan menggunakan kewibawaan politik dalam isu ini serta menyelesaikan masalah kami yang semakin kritikal,” katanya.

Merujuk kepada isu Kampung Buah Pala di Pulau Pinang, mereka mahu tindakan sama dilakukan apabila isu perumahan dapat diselesaikan dengan campurtangan kerajaan negeri dan Pusat walaupun kes sudah diputuskan di mahkamah.

Mereka juga turut merujuk kepada isu Kampung Meru Tin pada tahun 2005 apabila kerajaan negeri Perak membatalkan hak milik tanah tersebut daripada Syarikat Wise Fair Sdn Bhd.

Sementara itu, Arutchelvan berkata buat masa ini penduduk kampung tradisi itu mendapat bantuan dana dan sumbangan daripada orang awam dan beberapa NGO untuk membina semula rumah yang telah dirobohkan ditapak sama.

Pada 30 September lalu, sebanyak tiga buah rumah dirobohkan dan 13 orang termasuk aktivis ditahan polis, manakala pada 31 Oktober lalu,lagi sembilan rumah dan sebuah dewan komuniti dirobohkan dan 19 orang termasuk Ahli Parlimen DAP-Seremban Anthony Loke ditahan polis.

Kampung Hakka, asalnya dikenali Kawasan Merah Kampung Atap wujud sejak tahun 1860 wujud ketika zaman penjajah British membawa masuk buruh dari negeri China untuk bekerja di lombong bijih timah berdekatan.

Berstatus Geran Tanah Lesen Menduduki Sementara (TOL) sejak lebih lima generasi, kini hanya tinggal 45 keluarga masih tinggal di perkampungan tersebut kerana enggan menerima pampasan berjumlah RM1500 hingga RM7500 (ikut jenis kediaman).

Families of slain youths sue cops

Families of three teenagers gunned down in their prime in 2010 seeking to hold the police accountable for their actions

SHAH ALAM: In 2010, three teenagers were shot dead by a group of police officers after they were said to be allegedly involved in a crime syndicate known as ‘Gang Minyak’.

Their deaths caused an uproar among human rights activists who claimed that the three teenagers were killed by trigger happy cops in an execution style.

Today, the bereaved family members of all three victims has filed a civil suit at the Shah Alam High Court in an attempt to seek justice for their loved ones.

Prominent human rights lawyers, Latheefa Koya and Eric Paulsen, filed the suit on behalf of the families at 9.30am.

They named the Shah Alam district police chief, former Selangor police chief, former Inspector General of Police, the Malaysian government and the unknown police officers involved in the shooting.

Latheefa slammed the police force for not conducting a thorough investigation as to what had happened on the night on Nov 13, 2010, saying it was a cover up for the misconduct of individuals in the force.

“We want a fair trial and that is why we filed in a civil suit today. For three years, the family members were kept in the dark. They were not told what really happened to their children,” said Latheefa.

‘I want my son’s name cleared’

Paulsen added that the case was a serious matter as all three of the victims were defenseless and gunned down in a cold-blooded manner.

He reiterated that an independent police commission be established get to the bottom of the matter and to avoid a similar tragedy.

“There is no clear answer. It’s easy for the cops to say the three were in a robbery gang. Look at the autopsy report… what we have said is supported by the evidence of how they were killed,” said Paulsen.

Meanwhile, the mother of Muhammad Syamil Hafiz Shapiei who was only 15 when he was killed expressed regret over the action carried out by the cops.

Norhafizah Mad Razali said all she wanted is for the police to clear her son’s name.

“All of us here want justice, we have waited for three years but we received nothing. We want the police to clear their names,” said Norhafizah.

Muhammad Syamil Hafiz Shapiei, 15, Mohd Hairul Nizam Tuah, 20, Muhammad Hanfi Omar, 22, were gunned down by the police after a reported high-speed car chase in Glenmarie, Shah Alam.

In the 4am incident, all three were shot in the head and chest. They were alleged to have attacked the officers with machetes and were involved in robberies at Bukit Subang and Monteres near Shah Alam.

Maria is next Bersih chairperson

As the only one nominated to contest for the top post, Maria Chin has won uncontested.
VIDEO INSIDE

KUALA LUMPUR: Come December Bersih steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah will take over the helm from current co-chairpersons S Ambiga and A Samad Said with no one else nominated for the post.

Elections for the steering committee is on Nov 30.

Announcing the details of the elections today, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall secretary-general Stanley Yong said Maria was the only candidate nominated for the top post and that she had won uncontested.

Other than Maria, four other national level Bersih steering committee members will be elected on Nov 30 in the Petaling Jaya Community Library while six regional representatives will be elected after the national level election.

Sixteen representatives from Bersih’s endorsing organisations will be electing the five individuals as office bearers.

Each endorsing organisation is eligible as one voter and is required to name one voting representative who will cast the ballots on its behalf.

“Each organisation may also send up to two observer delegates to accompany the voter,” said Yong.

As for the nominees, Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) founder Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa will face Pemantau coordinator Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh for the vice chairperson post.

Sisters in Islam (SIS) board member Masjaliza Hamzah and Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia (Ikram) central executive committee member Nahar Md Nor will vie for the treasurer position.

Five people have been nominated for the steering committee members with portfolio positions. However, only two will be elected.

These people include Suaram chairperson K Arumugam, Tindak Malaysia’s Ng Chak Ngoon, Suaram Ops Scorpene Team committee member Farhana Halim, Bersih steering committee member Hishamuddin Rais and lawyer New Sin Yew.

Transparent election

Meanwhile, three individuals sit on the committee that will oversee the polls.

Other than Yong, senior human rights lawyer Roger Chan and former member of the Human Rights Commission Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah will oversee the running of the national level steering committee election.

Members of the committee act as individuals and not as representatives of their affiliated organisations.

Chan said that it was important for them to be independent and non-partisan.

“We will treat all candidates fairly and equally. The committee is premised upon integrity.

“We will therefore conduct the election without fear or favour and with complete transparency,” he promised.

Yong then declared that the campaign period for the national level election is thus open and must end at midnight, Nov 29.

He added that postal voting is also available for endorsing organisations in Sabah and Sarawak whose voting representatives cannot be physically present at the polling centre on Nov 30 due to financial constraints.

“Postal ballots will be mailed today and returned ballots must reach the secretariat before Nov 30,” he said.

Short biographies of the nominees and a list of endorsing organisations are available at the Bersih website www.bersih.org.

Rescue public discourse from ‘mass stupidity’, Zaid urges Putrajaya

(MM) - As a growing chorus of extremism threatens to dominate public dialogue, former minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said Putrajaya must coax reason and sensibility back into local politics for Malaysians of all races to once more communicate intelligently with each other.

Saying that political discourse has devolved into “mass stupidity”, the former de facto law minister warned of the consequences of allowing public exchanges to be dictated by those whom he described as aloof to views and ideologies different from their own.

“Today, the prime minister cannot expect Perkasa and Utusan (Malaysia) to talk intelligently to the public on many issues. They are not interested in engaging those with whom they disagree,” Zaid said, who added that the Malay rights group has so far responded to his previous invitations for a public debate by calling him names.

“I hope the prime minister realises the dangers posed by mass stupidity and the lack of reason in political discourse. He must know that in Europe today, the fascists are doing essentially the same thing as Utusan and Perkasa.”

In an essay made available to The Malay Mail Online, Zaid enumerated instances of creeping fascism in Europe that he likened to his examples of the Malay rights group and Umno-owned newspaper Utusan Malaysia.

“Geert Wilders in Holland leads the Party for Freedom. His popularity is increasing and he became famous worldwide when he threatened to ban the Quran and expel Muslims because he thought they were responsible for the present difficulties of Europe,” he said.

Zaid also pointed to Greece’s Golden Dawn party, which he said openly blamed the country’s economic problems on Muslims and migrant workers while ignoring the effects of extravagant policies, an overdependence on tourism, corruption and a bloated civil service.

Another example was the storm in a teacup caused by Danish People’s Party leader Kristian Dahl over an apparent ban on pork meatballs in the country as a sign of respect for Muslims.

“He (Dahl) said that this was an example of how Denmark was losing its identity. He didn’t reveal that only a small number of cafeterias had stopped serving pork — but he wants to be a hero, so logic and sensibility are discarded,” said Zaid.

The former Cabinet minister is outspoken on the matter of growing extremism in Malaysia, having previously warned of the seductive dangers of fascism.

He said such groups often preyed on the young and disenfranchised by offering them the easy escape of blaming others for their own situations, which he likened to the Nazism behind the Second World War.

Yesterday, Zaid urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to grasp the menace of extremism in Malaysia and take steps to rein in the vitriol that is becoming the norm.

“He needs to slowly teach the art of being reasonable to his supporters in Utusan and elsewhere, and how to use their heads when faced with problems.

“The country must learn to engage the various issues of the day in an open and friendly way. We need to learn that our problems affect us all and that we must overcome them by peaceful discourse together,” said Zaid.

Coincidentally, Najib earlier yesterday called on the country’s “silent majority” to drown out the voices of extremism, and said diversity should be celebrated and the right to co-exist should be defended.

“We cannot afford to allow voices of extremism to dominate the political discourse. It is time for the silent majority to drown out the calls to violence, to reject extremism,” he said during his keynote address at the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council/ ISIS Malaysia: Dialogue on Diversity, Diplomacy and Peace here at the Marriott Hotel.

Malaysia is generally peaceful, but pockets of political as well as race- and religion-based groups purporting to defend their individual interests have caused tension among the country’s multicultural community.

Although critics have dismissed these as fringe elements and not an embodiment of the largely moderate Malays, political observers and analysts noted that rights groups such as Perkasa has muscled into political significance in the country.

An ongoing legal tussle over the Arabic word “Allah” between Muslims and Christians has also served to magnify the apparent religious friction and provide a platform for self-professed defenders of faith to gain traction for their apparent fight for religion.

Changes to law to give children more rights

The New Straits Times

KUCHING: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will propose amendments to the Child Act 2011 to give children more rights.

Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said the ministry also wanted children's participation in implementing policies related to their development.

"We would like to hear from the children and their aspirations," she said after the launch of National Children's Day at Borneo Convention Centre here yesterday.

Rohani said the measure also aimed to defend children from discrimination.

"We can never neglect the rights and roles of children as Malaysia has 10 million children, which is one third of the nation's population."

The ministry is in talks with stakeholders to discuss the proposed amendments.

"We have submitted the draft of the amendment to the Attorney-General's Chambers for review and expect to table it at Parliament next year."

Earlier, state Family, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said Sarawak lacked pre-schools and kindergartens for disabled children.

"We only have six such pre-schools and a kindergarten in the state and it is not enough to cater to the needs of the disabled children," she said.

Meanwhile, the Tunas Jaya awards were given to six children, including two disabled ones, for their achievements.

More than 4,000 children gathered at the BCCK for the one-day event.

Based on present redelineation, Pakatan Rakyat should aim to win 135 parliamentary seats in 14GE to capture Putrajaya with PKR, PAS and DAP each winning 45 seats , with a parliamentary majority of 48

Based on present redelineation, the Battle for Putrajaya in the 14GE will depend on the outcome in 80 marginal seats – 51 presently held by Barisan Nasional and 29 from Pakatan Rakyat.

Taking more than 55 per cent vote secured in the 13GE as a “safe” seat, BN has 82 safe seats while Pakatan Rakyat has 60 safe seats.

In the 13GE, Pakatan Rakyat won the popular vote but robbed of Putrajaya as Barisan Nasional is the federal government with the majority of seats – 89 for Pakatan Rakyat as against BN’s 133 seats.

If Pakatan Rakyat had won another 23 seats in the 13GE, PR would have the simple majority of 112 out of 222 seats.

In the 14GE, apart from retaining all our 89 parliamentary seats, Pakatan Rakyat should not just aim at winning 23 of the 51 BN marginal seats, but should aim to double this target to win over 46 out of the 51 BN marginal seats so that the Pakatan Rakyat can win a total of 135 out of 222 parliamentary seats with a parliamentary majority of 48 – with the seats evenly distributed among the three Pakatan Rakyat parties, i.e. PKR, PAS and DAP each having 45 parliamentary seats.

At present, DAP has 38, PKR 30 and PAS 21 MPs. This means DAP has to win another seven parliamentary seats, PKR another 15 and PAS another 24.

I do not think this is too tall an order, considering that PAS had won 27 parliamentary seats in 1999 general elections – when the Barisan Alternative was first formed – and PAS almost quadrupled its previous parliamentary score of seven MPs in the 1995 general elections.

PAS would not need to quadruple or increase four-fold its parliamentary numbers in the 14GE to increase from 21 parliamentary seats in the 13GE to 45 parliamentary seats in the 14GE.

The performance of the Pakatan Rakyat parties in the 2008 and 2013 GEs have shown that the three component parties have their basic strengths and if we are prepared to persevere in a common patriotic cause to save the country from corruption, cronyism, abuses of power and exploitation of the poor and the downtrodden regardless of race, religion or region, extremism and intolerance and put in place good governance, public integrity, accountability, respect for democracy and human rights, moderation and tolerance, we have no reason to be pessimistic about the future of the country or the outcome of the 14GE.

Last Thursday, the country’s former top diplomat Tan Sri Razali Ismail warned that Malaysia will lose its competitive economic edge if its politics continue to cater to racial and racial extremes, as his international friends have of late started to question the divisive goings-on in the country.

He cannot be more right and the rhetoric and politics of extremism and intolerance have never been so rancorous and polarising in the nation’s history than in the past six months after the 13GE despite the Prime Minister’s talk of national reconciliation and his promotion of the Global Movement of Moderates.

The battle for the 14GE has started and concerns have rightly been expressed that taxpayers money will be raided for the Umno/BN war chests to fund a cyberwar via the social media against the Pakatan Rakyat.

Even after the 13GE on May 5, the cyberwar against the Pakatan Rakyat parties have not abated. I was recently accused of being part of the “Illuminati”, the so-called secret global organisation of the most powerful and influential elite to exercise political and economic control of the world. After the allegation in the Umno cyberblogs, I have to search the Internet to learn about the so-called Illuminati conspiracy.

Recently, a Malay woman came up to me at a local airport when I waiting for my luggage, extending her apologies to me. I was taken by surprise and I asked her what it was all about. She said that for the first 18 years of her life, she hated me as a racist and an evil person as all that she had learnt about me was that I was anti-Malay and anti-Islam, but when she entered society and have access to information on the Internet, she found that what she had learnt about me were completely untrue.

This episode should be a source of inspiration for all of us, whether in DAP, PKR or PAS, who are targets of vicious lies and falsehoods seeking to divide and split the PR parties and leaders.

The information revolution will help Pakatan Rakyat to liberate minds which Umno/BN propagandists and cybertroopers are seeking to poison and imprison.

What is important is that Pakatan Rakyat parties must stay the political and electoral course until we succeed in bringing about political change for Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region or class to achieve the common Malaysian Dream – a Malaysia for all Malaysians where there is democracy, good governance and socio-economic justice and where every Malaysian can achieve his or her fullest potential for the collective good and greatness of the nation.

(Kit Siang Speech at the Pakatan Rakyat fund-raising dinner at Empire Hotel Ballroom, Subang Jaya at 9.30 pm)

Mahathir Appeals For Teaching Of Science And Mathematics In English

PETALING JAYA, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today reiterated his appeal for the teaching of science and mathematics be in English.

He said science and mathematics were now the most important knowledge Malaysians must have if Malaysia wished to make progress and become a developed nation.

"May I once again appeal for the teaching of science and mathematics be in English. Let us be realistic. Malay is not yet the language of science and mathematics."

Dr Mahathir said this in his keynote address at the 2nd International Conference on Teacher Education in the Muslim World organised by the International Islamic University Malaysia, here, Tuesday.

He said if Malaysians did not have a good command of English, especially in science and technical subjects, they would not be able to keep up with advances taking place in this field all the time.

"Students will not be employable even. Most of the jobless graduates are not proficient in English. It would be sad if students do well in school but they are rejected for employment because of poor or inadequate command of English."

Dr Mahathir said Malaysians needed to be pragmatic. "The language nationalists may think that nationalism is about being able to speak the national language well and that's wrong.

"Nationalism is about becoming successful in all fields of life, being able to contribute towards the growth and development of your country and your race, being respected and admired by others, being leaders in whatever field you enter and being able to stand tall. That is true nationalism," he added.

Later, at a press conference, Dr Mahathir said he found the government not interested in science and mathematics be taught in English.

He said science evolved all the time with new research done and new knowledge discovered, and the unexpected introduced but 98 per cent of the research papers were written in English.

"If students don't study science and mathematics in English, it would be difficult for them to catch up with the developments and be competitive for Malaysia to become a developed nation.

"I am a Malay. I love my language but the knowledge acquired by my people is priority for me so that we don't lag behind and unable to compete with others.

"Being able to speak Malay is not enough if you don't have the knowledge. There's rapid advancement in knowledge but the Malays will not be able to keep up as the knowledge does not come in the Malay language," he said.

-- BERNAMA