Masalah teknikal: Pengundian AJK PAS Pusat ditangguh esok

'Illegal' floors of Islamic university facing demolition

Despite permission accorded by the TUDA for a G+1 structure, the authorities built a G+6 building

District Collector K. Ramgopal has instructed the revenue and police officials to demolish the unapproved floors of the building that houses the Heera International Islamic University in Thondavada village of Chandragiri mandal.

Shaik Nowheera, president of the Madarasa-Niswan Isha-Atul-Islam-Urdu and the Arabic Development Society Trust, had sought permission from the Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) in 2010 for the construction of a G+1 structure. She, however, ended up constructing up to G+6 floors, in spite of the notices issued by the Panchayat secretary of Thondavada on February 25 and May 28 last year.

Land row

The institute was in the eye of a storm a couple of months ago, when the BJP raised a hue and cry that the structure was coming up on tank ‘Poramboke’ land and in the land belonging to the now-dilapidated Thimmappa (Venkateswara) temple. Basing on a report submitted by the Tirupati Divisional Panchayat Officer to the effect, Mr. Ramgopal gave the nod to the Panchayat Secretary, who is also the enforcing authority, for demolition of the floors constructed in violation of the norms.

He also directed the SP (Tirupati Urban) to arrange police ‘bandobust’ during the demolition.

BJP State spokesperson G. Bhanuprakash Reddy appreciated the order and said that the pertinent issues raised by the party stood vindicated by the Collector’s order. He appealed to the authorities to take the issue to the logical end by ensuring demolition at the earliest. Hindu Jana Jagruti Samstha spokesperson Akula Krishna Kishore and Adi Hindu Parirakshana Samithi president Kalluri Chengaiah, who held a joint demonstration at the TUDA office in the past, called it their ‘first victory’ and announced to continue their tirade.

Aguilar weds teenaged girlfriend in Muslim rites

Freddie Aguilar and his bride during their Muslim wedding rites. Photo by Allan Nawal

BULUAN, Maguindanao – The crowd waiting inside BBMG Restaurant here turned toward the doorway as the emcee announced the arrival of Freddie Aguilar.

In dark sunglasses, the folk singer strode in, wearing a tubao on his head and a silky white long-sleeved shirt accented with black and gold. He and his retinue headed straight to a stage where he waited for his bride, a 16-year-old girl from Oriental Mindoro.

It was 4:36 p.m., more than an hour behind schedule for the Muslim wedding which the 60-year-old folksinger agreed to be officiated here after he and his girlfriend converted to Islam so they could get married. Philippine law requires a girl to be at least 18 years old to get married whereas Muslim Sharia law requires only that a girl be in puberty.

Freddie Aguilar and his bride during their Muslim wedding rites. Photo by Allan Nawal

Aguilar, according to Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, will be known henceforth as Abdul Fared while his bride also adopted a Muslim name—Sittie Mariam.

Mangudadatu said he had personally suggested to Aguilar that the wedding be held here.
At about 4:45 p.m., the bride arrived and was fetched by Mangudadatu, who acted as the “wali” or godfather. He also earlier adopted Sittie Mariam as his daughter so he could give her away to the groom in the absence of the girl’s parents.

Wearing a gold-colored silk gown and a Thai-inspired headdress, a beaming Sittie Mariam casually walked toward the stage, where Aguilar waited.

“She’s really in love with Freddie,” a woman murmurred as the bride moved closer to the stage.
At about 4:55 p.m., the ustadz assisting in the wedding of Aguilar asked Mangudadatu if the union had the blessings of the girl’s parents.

In response, Mangudadatu took out a piece of yellow paper, which he said contained the consent that the bride’s parents had written.

“If it was not for this, this marriage would have not taken place,” Mangudadatu, smiling at the crowd.

The couple listens as an ustadz recite koranic verses and deliver sermon as a prelude to the wedding. With them is Godfather and maguindanao Gov Esmael Mangudadatu. Photo by Allan Nawal Inquirer Mindanao

“They have our support and blessing,” Mangudadatu quoted the girl’s father in the note.
Aguilar was obviously ecstatic and replied “yes” after Mangudadatu asked if he had come voluntarily to wed the girl and if he was serious about his marriage.

Sittie Mariam said she was willing, too, and nobody had forced her.
Asked if she would be a good wife, she responded, “Insha Allah (God willing).”
It was five minutes past 5 p.m. when Aguilar planted a kiss on Sittie Mariam’s cheek. The crowd cheered.

In less than 30 minutes, Aguilar and Sittie Mariam were legally married – under Islamic rites.
Aguilar was thrown back into into the limelight when he broke the news he had a teenaged girlfriend and that they planned to get married. He was widely criticized as a child exploiter and was even charged by a private lawyer with the little known crime of “qualified seduction.”

Under Philippine civil law, a 16-year-old girl is not allowed to marry. But Maguindanao second district Rep. Sajid Mangudadatu said that in Islam, girls who have reached the age of puberty are allowed with their their parents consent.

“When a girl menstruates, it means she can already marry,” Representative Mangudadatu said.
In earlier news reports, Aguilar, who claimed to be a “born-again” Christian,  said he would do “whatever it takes even if it would mean converting into Islam” to marry his girlfriend.

He was also quoted as saying he had no problem changing religions because his fans and “big names” in the Muslim community had always been supportive of his controversial affair.

Aguilar was quiet most of the time during the wedding and did not comment on his choice of Buluan as venue for his marriage. He had said in an earlier news report that his grilfriend’s family had only one request, and that was that the wedding be in their hometown.

Aguilar had divorced her second wife, Antonette Martinez in 2005. His first wife was Josephine Ponce Queipo, with whom he has six children.

They lived together for 22 years before divorcing in London.

Governor Mangudadatu said he could not say where the Abdul Fared-Sittie Mariam relationship was headed  but he was hopeful that it would last.

He said he agreed to solemnize the wedding under Presidential Decree 1083 because he believed in the relationship of the lovers.

Mangudadatu said he also believed  that Aguilar’s conversion to Islam was for real and not just to be able to marry his girlfriend.

“Even as early as 2011, he already had an inclination to embrace Islam. That was prior to meeting the girl,” he said.

Mangudadatu said Aguilar would be accountable to God if his conversion to Islam was just for convenience.
 Originally posted: November 22, 2013 | 1:07 am

Read more: http://entertainment.inquirer.net/121883/freddie-aguilar-converts-to-islam-marries-16-year-old-girlfriend#ixzz2lQ0Ed8BS

Fatal suspicion: Brothers accused of burning sister

 

Police said the girl was tied to a tree at her home in Chak 151/10-R in Jahanian and set on fire. PHOTO: FILE 

MULTAN: An 18-year-old girl suspected of having an affair was burnt allegedly by her brothers in Khanewal on Thursday. She was taken to Nishtar Hospital, where she was reported to be in critical condition.

Police said her brothers have denied the allegations. They said she had tried to commit suicide.

A case has been registered against four people. The eldest of the brothers was detained for a while. The suspects have been told not to leave town until investigations are completed, police said.

The only sister of four brothers, police said the girl was tied to a tree at her home in Chak 151/10-R in Jahanian and set on fire.

Police said some neighbours rushed to her rescue on hearing her cries and found the house locked. They said one of her brothers, Imran alias Langra, came to the door and told them to leave saying “it is a family matter”.

A few hours later, police said, they were informed by a dispenser in the neighbourhood, Abdur Rehman, that the men had called to the house and asked him to give the girl an injection so that she should stop shouting. He said they did not mention their intentions of setting the girl on fire. He said he refused to give her the injection and left. He said shortly after he had left the house, he heard the girl’s screams. The entire neighbourhood gathered in front of the house.

He said he later learnt that they had also called a quack, who, too, fled on seeing the girl tied to the tree.

Police eventually broke into the house and took the girl to the Khanewal district headquarters hospital. She was later sent to the burn unit at Nishtar Hospital in Multan. Doctors treating her said she had 70 per cent burns.

Jahanian Station House Officer Asif Shaheen said that initial investigations had revealed that one of the brothers had found her talking over a cell phone on Wednesday night. They said they had tied her to the tree in the night and left here there overnight. On Thursday morning, they said, some neighbours who had seen them beating her tried to intervene, but were turned away.

Police said Imran, the eldest brother, was detained for some time. He told police that the girl had tried to commit suicide. He said she had been asking them (brothers) for new clothes and accessories, which, he said, they could not afford.

Police said they had traced robbery cases against the brothers. They said Imran was shot by police while fleeing after a robbery. He had lost his leg in the shooting.

The SHO said they had added an anti-terrorism section in the FIR. He said further investigation was underway.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2013.

They cried, they hugged me, says woman who helped Malaysian and two others escape “slavery” in London

The Malaysian woman and two others who were freed from "slavery" in London have thanked a charity that helped them regain their freedom.

Aneeta Prem of Freedom Charity said the three women are relieved to be out but face a difficult rehabilitation period.

"They're quite traumatised... but they're very relieved to be out. When I met them, it was a very humbling experience.

"They threw their arms around me, cried and thanked the charity for helping them," Prem told The Guardian newspaper.

Prem, the founder of Freedom Charity, told ITV's Daybreak programme she met the three women on Thursday.

The 69-year-old Malaysian, a 57-year-old from Ireland and a 30-year-old who had had no contact with the outside world, were freed from a house in south London last month.

They are now believed to be in a safe house in London.

The women were rescued after the Irish woman saw Prem on a TV documentary and contacted the charity for help.

Prem said it would be "a very long journey" to rehabilitate the women.

A couple, who have not been named, were released on bail after being arrested on Thursday on suspicion of being involved in forced labour and domestic servitude.

They are not British citizens, and are both 67.

Police and campaigners said the horrifying case highlighted a growing problem of slavery in Britain.

Prem said: "If you have spent your entire life in captivity and know nothing different, then even the smallest freedom, the smallest things, you have no knowledge of.

"It's going to be a difficult process. Bear in mind these ladies have left with absolutely nothing at all. The charity is going to have to try to help and support them through this difficult journey."

The Irish woman contacted Freedom Charity on October 18 to say she had been held against her will for more than 30 years, and that two others were held with her.

She and the British woman met charity workers and police on October 25 before returning to the address and rescuing the Malaysian woman.

Prem said: "The ladies had seen me on various news channels throughout a period of the summer when we were doing a campaign about forced marriages and young girls going missing.

"They said they felt they could trust me because they had seen me on the TV."

After a "traumatic and very difficult" first call to Freedom Charity staff, Prem arranged a single point of contact for the women and began "secret negotiations" to bring them out.

She said: "We did it in a very slow way to gain their trust, because after 30 years of people being held in very difficult circumstances, one of the things we didn't want to do was to add any more trauma."

Police delayed the arrest so they could work sensitively with the victims to establish the facts of the case.

Investigating officers said they had "never seen anything of this magnitude before" but there was no evidence to suggest anything of a sexual nature.

The charity's chief executive, Vineeta Thornhill, was put in charge of contact with the Irish woman, who would telephone at pre-arranged times.

Speaking to the National News agency, Thornhill said: "The operator was very upset about what the woman was saying and just told me the woman may try and call me in a few days and she had been given my personal number. I just waited for the phone call."

She described her first contact with the woman.

"I asked what her situation was and what we could do to help her. She was not forthcoming, she was just afraid and did not want to give anything away.

"She did not say anything about coercion or violence. They just wanted to get out," Thornhill said, adding "they were afraid for their lives, it's fair to say. The Irish woman, she gave very little away."

She added: "They would obviously make calls when they could. It took time to build up trust. They were not sure if they would get found out making the calls. It was quite secretive phone calls and obviously when the people were not there to overhear.

"They were very secretive about what they were telling us. We tried to reassure them, to let them know we would get them out.

"We would never know if the call would come. Until the day we got them out, it was on tenterhooks."

She said her helpline had never heard of a case like it.

"It was harrowing. We were jumping with joy when we found out it went well."

Andrew Wallis, the chief executive of the charity Unseen, which helps victims of trafficking, said the case highlighted an increase in "modern-day slavery".

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, he said: "It is horrendous in terms of the length of time these women have been held in slavery. It is indicative of a growing problem in the United Kingdom and around the globe.

"Two hundred years ago we had iron shackles that control slaves. Now we have the psychological shackles that control these people. It's an industry – an illicit trade with low risk of being caught and high return with a human being turned into a commodity, bought and sold and exploited."

Shaun Sawyer, the chief constable of Devon and Cornwall police and the national policing spokesman on migration, agreed.

He said: "There is a growth in this area within the UK that is simply unacceptable." - November 22, 2013.

Kindergarten teacher Indira Gandhi’s hopes of being reunited with daughter today dashed

Indira Gandhi with her lawyers Kulasegaran (right) and Aston Paiva in court today. The Malaysian Insider pic, November 22, 2013.

Kindergarten teacher M. Indira Gandhi's hopes of being reunited with her 5-year-old daughter were dashed today when her ex-husband did not turn up in court with their youngest child.

His lawyer Hatim Musa informed Ipoh High Court judicial commissioner Lee Swee Seng that his client, Muhammad Ridzuan Abdullah, needed more time to make a decision to return the child.

"I spoke to him two days ago, he needs more time. He stays in Kelantan," the lawyer said.

When questioned by Lee how long was needed, Hatim said "about one month".

Indira Gandhi's lawyers, M. Kulasegaran and Aston Paiva said they had no objections to the request.

Hatim also made an application to recuse Lee from presiding over the case further, but did not present a formal application.

As such, the court gave him two weeks to file the application and fixed January 24 for hearing.

State legal adviser Norazura Mokhtar, when asked if she agreed with the recusal application, said she needed to refer to her superior while government lawyer
Noorhisham Ismail said he took a neutral stand.

Previously, Muhammad Ridzuan had violated the High Court order of November 2011, in which custody of the couple's three children was awarded to the kindergarten teacher.

Muhammad Ridzuan has been holding on to their 5-year-old daughter Prasana Diksa since April 2009 following his conversion to Islam and separation from Indira Gandhi.

The child was 11-months-old at the time.

Two other children, Tevi Darsiny, 16, and Karan Dinish, 15, are with their mother.

In July, Lee quashed Muhammad Ridzuan's move to convert the three children to Islam.

The following month, Muhammad Ridzuan, the director of the state Islamic Religious Department and the Registrar of Converts applied to stay the High Court ruling made by Lee.

This meant that they were applying for the children to remain as Muslims until the Court of Appeal hears and decides on their appeal against the High Court ruling.

Today was fixed for the stay hearing, which was postponed to January 24.

Lee had previously said that if Muhammad Ridzuan wanted to address the court in the stay application, he needed to appear in court with the child.

Lee had previously also granted leave for contempt proceedings against Muhammad Ridzuan, and the hearing of this has been fixed for January 6.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters later, Kulasegaran said that in chambers today before court proceedings, state lawyer Norazura had mentioned that a stay was necessary because conversion cases at the Perak syariah court were pending given Lee's decision.

"She said that of 16 conversion cases since this case was decided, only 10 involving Orang Asli went through as both parents were present. Six have not gone through because only one parent was present in each of those cases according to her," Kulasegaran said referring to Norazura.

Lee in his July decision, had ruled that the certificates of conversion were null and void and unconstitutional as they were given without the presence and consent of the mother of the children. - November 22, 2013.

Azmin: Not first time Rosmah flew solo on gov't jet

The Qatar-UAE trip was not the first time prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor travelled on the government jet on her own, without accompanying PM Najib Abdul Razak, PKR claims.

"This is not the first time she has done it. I am exploring this and getting more information about it," PKR deputy president Azmin Ali said when contacted.

Azmin said his sources at Malaysia Airlines (MAS) also confirmed that neither Rosmah or Najib had never flown on the national carrier since Najib took office in 2008.

Azmin, (right) who is also Gombak MP, said the trip raises two main issues - eligibility of the PM's wife to use the government jet on her own and whether she can represent the government on official business.

During her Nov 10-14 trip, Rosmah had, among others, met with the Qatari prime minister to extend Najib's invitation to him to travel to here for the Visit Malaysia 2014 programme.

"This is not the role of the PM's wife. Any invitation from the prime minister should be extended by the foreign minister or the PM himself. So who is the foreign minister now?" he asked.

Azmin, who was aide to now PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim when Anwar was a deputy minister, said at that time, only the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Raja Permaisuri Agong, prime minister and deputy prime minister qualified for this privilege.

However, the PM and deputy prime minister's wives can fly on the jet when accompanying their spouses.

"Have the rules changed since then?" Azmin asked.

All alone on the jet?

He said the reply from Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Shahidan Kassim (below) in Parliament that the cabinet approved the use of the government jet implied that Rosmah was not entitled to this facility.

"Our second question was who chaired the cabinet meeting (that approved the trip)? But he declined to answer, saying this is cabinet matter and cannot be disclosed," Azmin said.

He pointed out that this was a crucial matter as conflict of interest would arise if Najib was the one who gave the approval.
Pengerang MP Azalina Othman, who admitted to being part of Rosmah's entourage on the trip, yesterday told the House that it was Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin who chaired the cabinet meeting.

"But we still don't have an official reply from the government on this," Azmin said.

He added that he would be submitting a parliamentary question asking for details of the trip, including how many people joined the trip and if they all flew on the government jet or the government had to foot the bill for commercial airline fares as well.

"Then we will know if the jet was only for Rosmah," he said, noting, however, that the reply would only be obtained at next year's parliamentary sitting.

Quizzed by reporters yesterday, Rosmah refused to comment on this controversy, beyond saying that that she is "happy" and that she would continue to "do (her) work".

"I don't talk, I don't comment, I don't go down to that level," she reportedly said before directing reporters to her special officer Siti Azizah Sheikh Abod.

Siti Azizah then said that Rosmah was invited to speak in Qatar not for "personal reasons" but went "for the sake of the government's interests".

Shahidan flayed over 'grandma remedy' for Indians

Shahidan Kassim has received a razor-sharp rebuke from an MIC leader, who called on the minister not to prescribe his grandmother's remedies to treat the woes afflicting the Indian community.
                      
Senator Jaspal Singh (left) launched the acerbic salvo in response to Shahidan's statement in Parliament yesterday that Indians should help themselves as opposed to finding fault with government policies.

Among others, the minister in the prime minister's department, had urged successful Indians to aid in the elevation of those trapped at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder.

Commenting on this, Jaspal asked: "Where did Shahidan get the idea that those who are doing well would help those who are not? Is it one of his grandmother's remedies?"

"There would be no need for governments if Shahidan's silly system could work in the real world," added the MIC treasurer.

Jaspal, who also zeroed in on the minister's argument that Indians were successful based on the high number of doctors and lawyers the community produced, dismissed Shahidan's remarks as "callous, irresponsible and tinged with racism."

"Shahidan's statements are nothing more than naive, uninformed coffee shop talk.

"If there are a significant number of Indians who are doctors, it is because Indian parents have an almost chronic obsession with educating their children in the medical profession," he said.

Jaspal noted that the majority of Indians who graduated as doctors were funded by their parents, not by the government.

"Their parents skimped, saved and sometimes sold their houses to educate their children. It has absolutely nothing to do with the overall economic condition of the Indians.

"In statistics, we would call this an outlier, an aberration, and it cannot be used to conclude anything," he added.

Statistics reveal otherwise
Jaspal said that as a minister in the BN government, Shahidan (right) should not be standing in front of Parliament engaging in coffee shop talk and offering anecdotal evidence.

"Precisely what economic theory is Shahidan basing his preposterous proposals on? The answer is none, of course. Shahidan appears to have been saying whatever popped into his head," he added.

The fact was, Jaspal said, Indians owned less than 1.5 percent of the nation's equity, despite forming 7.3 percent of the Malaysian population.

"Is this Shahidan's idea of the Indians doing well?" he asked.

Jaspal also pointed out that the Inland Revenue Service collected higher taxes from those with larger incomes.

"These taxes are the monies that are used to run the country. Therefore those Indians who are successful, whether they are doctors, lawyers or from any other profession, are already contributing to their less successful countrymen," he noted.

What about the bumiputera?
The MIC leader also questioned why Shahidan did not apply the same standard with regard to the bumiputera community.

"There are now many rich bumiputera, with a significant number of them being beneficiaries of the NEP. There are also many bumiputera doctors, exceeding the number of Indian doctors, educated at the state’s expense.

"The NEP (New Economic Policy) has existed for 40 years. Yet the prime minister felt it necessary to implement the BEE (Bumiputra Economic Empowerment Plan) just two months ago to help the bumiputera progress economically.

"Is Shahidan saying that the prime minister does not know what he is doing?" he asked.

Jaspal said that Shahidan had displayed great disrespect for the Indians, in particular the poor Indians in Malaysia.

"The comments he made, coming from someone who has spent his entire life living off the state, is laughable.
"Has Shahidan considered how hurt the feelings of the Indians, particularly those who voted for the BN are by his foolish comments?" he added.

The critical first step, according to Jaspal, would be to admit to the mistakes and omissions of the past which had resulted in the current marginalised state of certain communities.

"The Indians are one of those communities who have been left behind. We must acknowledge this and work together to help the community succeed," he added.

Detractors often accuse MIC of having failed in its role to effectively represent the Indian community, contributing to the current dismal state of affairs.

Apart from allegations of corruption, MIC leaders were also criticised for being kept on a tight leash by Umno, which does not regard the BN component as an equal.

Malaysian Examination Board lacks HOTS

By Ravinder Singh,

The Malaysian Examination Board’s rubbishing of the claims that it had made a sudden change in the format of the Moral Studies SPM examination paper for this year is a load of rubbish in itself.

The official who defended the action saying that “they only introduced a system called Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS), which requires students to think critically before answering questions” has himself exposed himself as lacking Higher Order Thinking Skills or HOTS.

If he had any HOTS and was able to think out of the box himself, he should have realised that framing questions that required children to “think out of the box” without having first taught them to think out of the box throughout the year, was an act of hitting the children below the belt.

The idea of teaching critical thinking skills in our schools has been bandied about since 1990. For the 23 years that have passed, what has the Ministry of Education to show? How critically are the children passing out from the normal schools able to think not just to answer exam questions but to engage in their daily activities?

It is true that “most students just memorise the 16 ‘nilai murni’ for Moral Studies”. Is that their fault or that of the system which required them to do so? Did they have a choice of not memorising and regurgitating the word-for-word answers that they were required to give?

No one disagrees that children must be taught to think. This was being done very well in the 50s and 60s when children had to give reasoned answers. The teachers who taught the children to think were themselves excellent thinkers. All this changed since the 70s.

Starting in the 70s, candidates taken into teacher training colleges were no longer those who had done well in their Forms 5 or 6 exams. They were those who could not get into institutions of higher learning and as a last resort applied for teacher training. This was the beginning of the decline and the rest is history that everyone knows.

Another justification given by the Examinations Board is that Under the National Education Blueprint 2013-2025, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said that SPM exams will have 50% questions on critical thinking skills by 2016.

Heaven forbid if this is the way the Blueprint is going to be implemented – hitting children below the belt, i.e. expecting them to perform a miracle of “critical thinking” without first teaching them to think!

The ministry and the exams board must get their act together. First teach children to think out of the box. This cannot be done overnight. It is a slow process as it needs a lot of practice. And before that can be done, train teachers to be thinkers.

Teaching children thinking is not like teaching a mathematical formula. How is thinking to be taught if a child goes to a teacher with a question and the teacher reprimands the child “don’t disturb me”, or some other such answer that discourages the child from asking any more questions?

The justifications given by the Examinations Board are untenable and smack of a lack of Higher Order Thinking Skills. Thinking out of the box is much needed at this level before it can filter down to lower levels.

Taking the rakyat for granted

Pak Samad hopes for the sake of the country's wellbeing, Mahathir should cease meddling and let premier Najib Tun Razak manage the nation.
COMMENT

Malaysian politicians are a recalcitrant bunch. Not only do they refuse to pay heed to the rakyat’s sentiments, they continue to insult the intelligence of the people time and again.

Be it the nation’s longest serving prime minister or the current crop of politicians, they are all guilty of taking the rakyat for granted in more ways than one.

In the case of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, his one too many opinions on just about everything seem to have ‘overstayed their welcome’. His brags about what is best for the country and her people have turned into nagging pricks and as national laureate A Samad Said has voiced out, it is time Dr Mahathir learns to put a stop to his political career in a respectable manner.

Exasperated and perhaps overwhelmed by Mahathir’s raves and rantings, Pak Samad as the novelist-poet-activist is fondly called, in all earnest said Mahathir’s actions of having a say on issues was akin to criticising but with no solid backing.

“Whatever issue there is, he wants to comment. He should learn to end his career as a leader in a respectable manner. It is better to say less, as long as it has substance,” Pak Samad was quoted by an online portal as saying.

Before tongues wag accusing Pak Samad of being vindictive, it is best to understand just why the octogenarian is tired of Mahathir’s opinonated ways.

Recently, Mahathir called on the Barisan Nasional government to revert to English the teaching of Science and Mathematics, blaming Pak Samad for influencing Putrjaya to reverse an earlier decision.

Mahathir did not stop there. He took another dig at Pak Samad, saying that the latter was only a scholar and was an expert in the Malay language and had no expertise in science.

Volunteering himself as example, Mahathir said he was an expert in Science and English and could also communicate in Malay.

But then as Pak Samad sees it, the rhetoric is merely Mahathir’s way of paving the way for son Mukhriz, a former deputy minister and today the menteri besar of Kedah, to one day become prime minister of Malaysia.

Will Dr Mahathir listen?

In the meantime, Pak Samad would only be too happy if Mahathir could mend his ways and this includes stop creating conflicts using the local leaders.

“Try to name one leader whom Dr Mahathir has not fought with. He has fought with Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Hussein Onn, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

“It can’t be that everyone else is always wrong, they would have been right at some point. Also because the press entertains him, that gets him more excited.”

Pak Samad hopes for the sake of the country’s wellbeing, Mahathir should cease meddling in the manner current premier Najib Tun Razak managed the nation.

“He should stick to bigger international issues, as for internal issues, leave them to government leaders.”

The question now is – will Mahathir pay any heed to what the nation’s celebrated artist has said?

Overdose of power

Whilst Mahathir continues to choke the rakyat with his schisms, the scenario involving the wife of prime minister Najib has reached alarming levels.

Rosmah Mansor has no qualm whatsoever how she squanders away the nation’s wealth. From her obsession with ‘all things luxurious’ to milking the most the opportunity of being the prime minister’s wife, Rosmah is guilty on all counts of robbing the nation and its people.

Rosmah’s intoxication with wealth and power has created an abhorrence in the hearts of the rakyat.

When she recently once again created controversy, this time by jet-setting her way to Qatar to attend to personal affairs, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Shahidan Kassim justified Rosmah’s jet travel as in ‘the best interest of the country’.

While opposition MPS in Parliament on Monday protested Rosmah’s use of the private jet, insisting that she should have paid for her travel to Qatar and not dig into taxpayers’ monies, the founder of the early childhood programme Permata said she could not care less.

“I’m happy, I’m just going to do my work. I don’t talk, I don’t comment, I don’t go down to that level,” Rosmah responded.

Rosmah’s special officer Siti Azizah Sheikh Abod from the Prime Minister’s Department was left to do the damage control. All Siti Azizah could do was to ‘aye’ after boss Rosmah.

Siti Azizah said the trip to Qatar was done in the name of national interest.

“It was not for personal reasons. She was invited by the International Women’s Association. (While) she does not represent the government, but she went there for the sake of the government’s interest.

“She is the Prime Minister’s wife, she went to give the keynote address. So she made the address not as a government representative, but in the name of national interest,” said Siti Azizah.

What is disturbing is the revelation by Siti Azizah that the Cabinet had consented to Rosmah’s application to jet-set her way to Qatar which was made via the Foreign Ministry.

The issue is that according to the government circular, usage of private jet [is allowed for] any VIP depending on cabinet approval.

Since the cabinet has always been so generous and gracious towards Rosmah, will it accord the same respect, magnanimity and urgency to the opposition VIPs who need to use the private jet for the sake ‘national interest or does the Cabinet work on the basis of pilih kasih or favouritism?

Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist.

Fairer than mother, so no MyKad for daughter

The Perak National Registration Department has told both mother and daughter to undergo a DNA test to prove their kinship.
UPDATED

PETALING JAYA: A 12-year-old girl and her mother in Perak was told by the National Registration Department (NRD) to undergo a DNA test before getting her a MyKad.

The reason; she looked fairer than her mother.

The mother, V Kamala, 60, told Tamil daily Tamil Nesan that the Perak NRD asked her to undergo a maternity test to prove that she is the biological mother of S Mahalachemi, due to the difference in skin complexion.

“I was shocked when the so called officer asked(me) to do maternity test just because we have different skin colour,” she said.

However, Kamala refused to comply on the matter and questioned NRD on the need for the test when they have all the documents required to apply for a MyKad.

She added that the NRD is deliberately delaying the application for unknown reasons.

“Why would they require us to do a DNA test for a MyKad when my daughter has a valid birth certificate?” Kamala asked.

On the wide age gap between her and Mahalachemi, Kamala said that she gave birth to Mahalachemi when she was 47 years old.

Contacted later, Buntong assemblyman A Sivasubramaniam claimed he witnessed how NRD treated Kamala.

“I was the one who brought the family to the NRD department after the latter seized the daughter’s birth certificate in their previous visit.

“However, we managed to get a new birth certificate for Mahalachemi. During the second visit, the deputy director, known as Premah, told the family to undergo a DNA test before applying for MyKad,” he added.

Sivasubramaniam urged the NRD to issue the MyKad immediately as Mahalachemi would be attending secondary school next year.

NRD: No such thing

Meanwhile, NRD public relations officer Jainisah Mohd Noor dismissed Kamala’s accusation, saying NRD never told the latter undergo a DNA test.

“NRD has no need for such a test since Kamala is Mahalachume’s biological mother (according to birth certificate),” she told FMT.

She added that Perak NRD is prepared to give Mahalechume her MyKad as her mother has produced all the necessary documents.

On related matter, Malacca PKR vice chairman G Rajendran urged NRD to conduct a proper investigation on matter.

“Who told Kamala mother to undergo maternity test? This needs to be investigated,” he said, referring to the officer known as Premah, who is a deputy director of NRD at the Ipoh branch.

Bangla voters: ‘No surprise in Ambiga backing Anwar’

Yuktes recalls that Ambiga had even threatened to hold a mammoth rally against the Election Commission on the 40,000 Bangladeshi issue.

GEORGE TOWN: Outgoing Bersih co-chairman S Ambiga’s denial that the election watchdog had ever mentioned 40,000 Bangladeshis voted in the last general election was expected , said ex-aide of the Opposition leader .

Former Anwar aide Yuktes Vijay said Malaysians were neither surprised nor amused by Ambiga’s statement that was clearly outlined to back Anwar.

Anwar had already denied that he had ever stated 40,000 Bangladeshis voted in the May 5 polls, a denial that had drawn widespread criticism in the social media.

He reminded Ambiga that Malaysians were expecting her to issue such a statement and she wrongly believed that Malaysians would be swayed and influenced by her statement to substantiate Anwar’s denial.

Yuktes lodged a police report on Wednesday night against Anwar’s U-turn on the “40k Bangla” issue.

He recalled that Ambiga had even threatened to hold a mammoth rally against the Election Commission on the 40,000 Bangladeshi issue.

He said Ambiga also echoed Anwar’s allegations of blackouts on polling day.

“The blackout incidents never happened,” he added.

He said Bersih should have remained non-partisan and impartial but had been made a proxy of Anwar.

‘There is no monarchy system in Islam’

A religious teacher claims that the monarchy system is never part of Islam.

PETALING JAYA: An outspoken religious teacher courted controversy today by saying that the monarchy system has no Islamic roots, and thus it does not represent Islam.

“Monarchy does not exist in Islam; how come they (sultans) can be appointed as the head of religion (ketua agama Islam). This is wrong,” said Ustaz Wan Ji Wan Hussein in an interview with FMT.

“Prophet Muhammad himself never claimed such title (head of religion) but during the reign of Caliph Umar Al Khattab, he used the term Amirul Mukminin meaning ‘leader of the Muslims’, not the leader of Islam,” he added.

Wan Ji then explained that he had to voice out his concern over the matter as it was wrong in Islam for a Ruler to be appointed as the head of Islam.

“I am responsible to speak out over this matter. If they are not using the term ‘head of religion’ then I’ll not voice out my concern but they are using it and it is wrong,” he said.

The young preacher also said that the concept should be read through the historical context where it was first established by a man called Muawiyah after the death of the last Caliph Ali bin Abi Talib.

Wan Ji outlined the history by recalling that Muawiyah created the Umayyad dynasty which later led to the creation of Abbasiyah and Uthmaniyah dynasty.

“Muhammad once said before his passing, the first man who twisted my preaching came from the Umayyad clan. The prophet was referring to Muawiyah who turned the Islamic government run by the caliphs into a monarchy,” he said.

Wan Ji who graduated from two foreign Islamic schools from Pakistan and Egypt continued by saying that in Islam, to be selected to lead the community, one needs to be picked by qualification and not paternal linage.

“Islam does not teach you that way,” he said.

Adding to his thoughts, he also said that the Malay rulers should not solely rely on people’s money (which is paid by the government) as their source of income .

“That is unfair and un-Islamic,” he said.

The Malay rulers, by convention and in accordance with the federal and state constitutions, play the role of the guardian of the Islamic religion for their subjects. This has been in practice since the time Islam started in this country. The Sultans are also considered the protectors of the Malays.

MIC, NGOs blast Shahidan for downplaying PSC need

MIC leaders and Indian-based NGOs are peeved by Shahidan's reply in parliament that there is no necessity for a PSC to tackle Indian community problems

PETALING JAYA: Former MIC Youth leader T Mohan lashed out at Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim for downplaying the problems faced by the Indian community.

In a response at parliament yesterday, Shahidan had said that Parliament Select Committee (PSC) for the Indian community will only be formed if and when there is a necessity.

The Arau MP reasoned out that Indians are still prominent as lawyers and doctors and only a small fraction of dropout Indians get into social delinquency.

The former youth leader who is vying for MIC’s veep position said that Indian families had to fork out their hard earned savings to realise their children’s dreams to become professionals.

“There are even poor Indian families who had to borrow monies and at times they get into huge debts to assist their children’s education needs,” said Mohan.

He also added that only a small percentage of assistance was given by the government to Indians to excel in professional fields like medicine and law.

Mohan also pointed out that 80% of those involved in crime are Indians as per the statistics provided by the police. This shows that the Indian youths need serious intervention from the government, he added.

“The formation of PSC will show the strong will by the government towards tackling the social problems faced by Indians,” said Mohan.

Mohan also said that the government should address the social problems of a community collectively and not race-based.

Meanwhile, the newly elected MIC Youth chief C Sivaraajh shared similar views, stating that Shahidan should look into the social problems faced particularly by Indian youths, thus the need for the PSC.

He also said that the government should focus in empowering the youths socio-economically to address the issue at hand.

“PSC will certainly help in addressing and finding a solution for the problems faced by Indians.

“No doubt, we also thank the government for the RM200 million allocation for temples since 2009.

“In coming years MIC Youth believes priority should be given to empower youth on entrepreneurship as it will help the country to attain higher income agenda,” he said.

Don’t emulate Mahathir’s style

Meanwhile, Indian NGO, Malaysian Tamilan Today slammed Shahidan for following former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s footsteps in brushing off a PSC for Indians.

The NGO’s national secretary, K Gunasekaran said that Indians faced many problems apart from being involved in crime such as citizenship status, healthcare and others.

“Few months back, Indian youths were the target of police in Ops Cantas Khas.

“Looks like the police only wants to weed out Indian gangsters but never find a way to address and rehabilitate the gangsters or even to find out the rootcause of the problem,” he said.

He also added that if the government was serious in tackling the crime problem among Indian youths, one of the way was to form the PSC to address the issue.

Malaysian Indians Progressive Association’s (Mipas) sec-gen S Barathidasan also joined the chorus in slamming Shahidan for the nonsensical reply in parliament.

Selangor Opposition leader thrown out of Assembly

(The Star) - Selangor Opposition chief Datuk Shamsudin Lias (BN-Sg Burung) was thrown out of the state legislative assembly for unruly behaviour during debate time.

Deputy Speaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad ordered Shamsudin to leave the house when he came in defence of his Barisan counterpart Halimaton Saadiah Bohan (Kota Damansara) who was taken to task for allegedly making an erroneous statement when debating.

Halimaton Saadiah had said rental of government low cost flats had been increased from RM124 to RM 250 since June this year.

"My constituents have been complaining about this and the increase is a burden to senior citizens and the disabled," said Halimaton Saadiah.

This raised the hackles of the Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen as the rental was in actual fact raised in 2007 and not in 2013 as alleged by Halimaton Saadiah.

Elizabeth Wong (PKR-Bukit Lanjan) stood up and said that the issue had already been explained.

Halimaton Saadiah was then told to retract her statement but the first term assemblyman refused to do so.

The Kota Damansara assemblyman was then told that she would be referred to the Rights and Privileges Committee for creating ill intent by misleading the house if she was adamant in her refusal to retract.

This irked Shamsudin who stood-up and lambasted the Pakatan Rakyat representatives for always saying the Opposition had ill intent towards the state.

Nik Nazmi ordered Shamsudin to leave.

Later at a press conference, Shamsudin said he was fed-up with the Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen's regular citation of bad intent whenever the Opposition addressed an issue.

"I was ordered out because the deputy Speaker said I breached the standing order. I accept that," said Shamsudin.

He added that all he wanted was a healthy debate.

Later, Nik Nazmi told a press conference that he ejected Shamsudin for disregarding his position as Speaker under Standing Order 44 (2).

He said Shamsudin had stood-up in defence of Halimaton Saadiah after she had refused to retract her erroneous statement.

"He did not cite any Standing Order in spite of me giving him many opportunities to use a Standing Order," said Nik Nazmi.
He added that he had suspended Shamsudin for only a day.

How Tengku Razaleigh saved the construction industry: Practicing the 10 Golden Political Principles

By Koon Yew Yin


The Perak Academy has invited Tengku Razaleigh to give a talk in Ipoh on the 23rd Nov. 2013 and he wishes to talk about ‘The economic reality in Malaysia today’. Many of you will remember that Tengku was here about a year ago to launch my book ‘Malaysia: A Road Map For Achieving Vision 2020’. Previous to this occasion, the Perak Academy also invited him and he talked about his 10 golden political principles on which I wrote and published an article.

Although I am not a politician, I have long been an admirer of Tengku Razaleigh. In the last two years I have tried to draw the attention of the public on several occasions to his stand in Malaysian politics which I believe contains values and principles that are superior to the manifestos and principles of other leading politicians in the country.

Key amongst what are Tengku’s “Ten Golden Political Principles” to ensure the survival and progress of the nation in the difficult years ahead is the need for all political parties to include in their constitutional objectives the equality of citizenship as provided for in the Federal Constitution. He has also emphasized that political parties must not propagate economic or political policies that discriminate against any citizen and called on all parties to include and uphold constitutional democracy and the separation of powers as a fundamental principle.

He has also insisted that it shall be the duty of all political parties to adhere to the objective of public service and to refrain from involvement in business, and to ensure the separation of business from political parties.

To my mind, this is the principle which is being transgressed all the time and which needs all political parties and politicians, especially from the Barisan Nasional side to observe it scrupulously.

It is with respect to this principle of selfless public service and the need for politicians and political parties – while helping the private sector thrive – to stand apart from it that I most remember Tengku, especially since I was privileged to witness him personally practice it

At that time more than 30 years ago Tengku Razaleigh was the Minister of Finance in the late 70′s and early 80s. I was already an established businessman having founded Mudajaya and IJM. I was also the Secretary General of the Malaysian Contractors Association as well as being a member of the Board of Engineers and a member of the SIRIM Committee that was responsible for drafting the Malaysian Standards for Cement and Concrete.

From my key position in the construction industry during that period, I had various meetings with Tengku on emergency issues and developments that affected this important component of the Malaysian economy.

Price fluctuation clause for building materials

Perhaps the most serious challenge to the construction industry occurred during the fuel oil crisis in the early 1980s when the prices of all building materials shot through the roof and contractors were caught in a jam. They all could not fulfill their obligations under the terms of their contracts. Many of the material prices went up more than 100%; for example the price of cement went up from RM 3.50 to Rm 8.50 per bag of 50 kg.

How could contractors complete the contracted work when their original bids were made on the basis of much cheaper priced materials? As a result of this crisis, all schools, hospital, highway and other public construction projects came to a standstill.

When I met the Tengku, I told him that existing construction contracts did not have a provision for material price adjustment. I also pointed out that if clients – such as the Government – were not obliged to reimburse contractors for any additional construction cost arising from the fuel price hike, contractors who could not afford to lose so much money to complete their contracts would simply walk away from the projects.

I told him that the only fair way was to introduce a price fluctuation clause in all the construction contracts. This would ensure that clients and employers were obliged to compensate contractors for the additional cost when the material price went up whilst reductions and adjustments to progress payments could be made when the material prices went down.

I remember vividly that as a result of our meeting, Tengku Razaleigh immediately instructed his top treasury officials to work out the details for the price fluctuation clause and for its immediate implementation.

Tengku’s Character

Not only did this reveal Tengku to be a man of decisive action but there was no hemming and hawing on how difficult it was to introduce the reform.

Neither was there any attempt to extract personal benefit or advantage from it for himself or his party as now appears to be the accepted practice in Malaysia when politicians deal with the construction industry.

Without the introduction of this critical escalation cost clause, I am sure that many contractors such as Yeoh Tiong Lay (presently of YTL fame) as well as I myself would have gone bankrupt.

As a result of Tengku’s decisive action in introducing the price fluctuation clause, our construction industry was able to survive the crisis period of the 1980s in relatively good shape. Since then, the construction industry has grown from strength to strength and has gone global, competing on competitive tenders in other countries including India and China.

I have no doubt that it was Ku Li’s understanding and practice of the economics of moral and material development during the late 70s and 80s that has provided the crucial ground work for the prosperity and affluence that we take for granted today.

The best tribute that we can pay to someone who has the longest record of selfless public service to the nation is to ensure that his Ten Golden Political Principles become the template for our future development.

Hamas Senior Leader Among Eminent Figures Attending Umno International Forum 2013

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 (Bernama) -- The presence of a Hamas senior leader at the Umno International Forum 2013 on Dec 2 and 3 in conjunction with the party's General Assembly is seen as a signficant recognition for Malaysia, Umno and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Umno executive secretary Datuk Ab Rauf Yusoh said Hamas political bureau chief, Khalid Meshaal would be among four eminent political figures sharing their views at the two-day forum.

"We see the Hamas leader's willingness to attend the forum as a recognition for the Malaysian prime minister's leadership and appreciation for the latter's visit to Palestine (Gaza in January, this year)," he said, here, Friday at a news conference on the upcoming Umno General Assembly.

Among the figures who have confirmed their attendance at the forum are former Kenya vice-president Stephen Kalanzo Musyoko, who is also Kenya Wipper Party leader, and Indonesia's presidential candidate from the Golkar party, Aburizal Bakri.

Rauf said for the first time, Singapore would be sending a representative from the PAP with the status of minister to the forum, which also for the first time would be attended by a US ambassador to Malaysia, in this case by the new ambassador, Joseph Y. Yun.

Ab Rauf said the eminent figures attending the forum themed, "The Politics of Moderation Accommodates and Balances Competing Principles That Leads to Peace and Stability", were also invited as foreign observers to the Umno General Assembly.

He said the foreign observers were invited through the political parties with established relations with Umno, giving them the opportunity to discuss and exchange views with their counterparts.

After the international forum, there will be the Umno president's briefing on Dec 3 and at night, Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will open the delegates conference of the party's three wings.

The Wanita, Youth and Puteri delegates conference will be held the next day and the General Assembly from Dec 5 to 7.