Friday, 27 December 2013
Plea against Islamic varsity in Tirupati
Security personnel deployed at the Heera Islamic University campus at Thondavada on Friday. Photo: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar
Committee formed to formed ‘to protect the sanctity of the Seven Hills’
The…
Security personnel deployed at the Heera Islamic University campus at Thondavada on Friday. Photo: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar
Committee formed to formed ‘to protect the sanctity of the Seven Hills’
The campaign against the Heera International Islamic University, established by Shaik Nowhera near Thondavada at the foot of Tirumala hills, has been renewed with a group of Hindu seers demanding its demolition.
At an event billed as Hindu Garjana, organised under the banner of the Tirumala Tirupati Pavitratha Samrakshana Vedika, a platform of pontiffs and activists was formed “to protect the sanctity of the Seven Hills.”
Presiding over the meet, Saiva Kshetra Peetadhipathi Siva Swamiji said the Vedika was not against local Muslims, who he said were in the dark on the issue.
Their opposition was to the way some people from other regions were seeking to build the institution in an inappropriate location.
He blamed the ‘minority appeasement’ policies of politicians, and the unquestioning consent by officialdom, for the problem.
Violation of norms
He said a six-storey structure had been built in the ‘Pushkarini’ (tank) of the dilapidated temple of Thimmappa (as Kannadigas know Lord Venkateswara), in violation of building and urban development norms.
Swaroopanandendra Saraswathi, pontiff of the Sarada Peetham in Visakhapatnam, said seers had to take up the issue as political leaders had failed to address it.
He saw a looming security threat to the shrine in Tirumala. “Hindu temples enjoyed better patronage during the British rule.”
He said a Srivari Dandu (Lord’s army) would be formed to remove the structure.
Hindu Temples Protection Movement founder Kamalananda Bharathi saw a pattern in the periodic attempts by politicians to divide Hindus and Muslims.
“Hindus visit dargahs in Kadapa and Kasumur and participate in Rottela Panduga in Nellore, while many Muslims visit Tirumala. But the politicians are playing mischief.”
Vedika vice-president Srinivasananda, secretary Gouraiah, treasurer Chetan Janardhan, national secretary Ramesh Shinde and spokesperson A. Krishna Kishore took part in the event.
Saudi Blogger Raif Badawi Sentenced to Death for Apostasy
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| Saudi blogger Raif Badawi |
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| Saudi blogger Raif Badawi |
In July, Raif was sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 lashes for creating a website deemed offensive to Islam. The apostasy charge, however, had to be handled by a higher court. CNN is reporting that Raif was found guilty by the higher court and has been sentenced to death.
Once again, we see the consequences of pretending that Islam doesn't teach what it obviously teaches. When Rifqa Bary was on trial, politicians, the media, and Muslim organizations assured us that Islam doesn't promote the death penalty for apostasy (in spite of Muhammad's clear commands to kill anyone who leaves Islam). How many bloggers must die before we face the truth?
(CNN) — Raif Badawi, a blogger in Saudi Arabia who has been imprisoned for violating the nation's anti-cybercrime law, has been given the death penalty for apostasy by a higher court, his wife told CNN on Wednesday.
Badawi founded the Free Saudi Liberals website and was originally given a seven-year sentence in July. A Jeddah criminal court found Badawi, who has been in prison since June 2012, guilty of insulting Islam through his website and in television comments.
A district court found him guilty of apostasy, his wife said.
"It is an emotion I cannot describe. I never imagined this would happen," she said. "I thought maybe they would reduce the sentence but this is unimaginable. The whole thing is about a website." (Source)
***UPDATE***
CNN posted a correction to their story this morning. Badawi's wife clarified that he has been recommended for trial for apostasy, which carries the death penalty.
(CNN) — A judge in Saudi Arabia has recommended that imprisoned blogger Raif Badawi go before a high court on a charge of apostasy, which would carry the death penalty upon conviction, according to Badawi's wife.
Ensaf Haidar initially told CNN on Wednesday that her husband had been sentenced to death. She later clarified to CNN that a judge has recommended he be tried for denouncing Islam, or apostasy. Apostasy carries the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, according to Amnesty International.
For a discussion of apostasy in Islam, see this video:
Labels:
Apostasy,
Middle East
Islamic report: Sharia science proves dogs can’t be kept as pets
Their wildly popular Ask the Scholar section tackles the age old question if it's permissible for Muslims to own dogs as pets.
House consultant Yusuf Al-Qaradawi takes a long distance dedication from Muhammad, in which the inquisitive Sharia-complaint Muslim queries:
I heard that Shari`ah disallows keeping dogs without valid reasons? Does science support Shari`ah in this regard?"Qaradawi cites "the prominent Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi."
In what was described as the Sheikh's "well-known book," The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam, the scholar of everything Islam cites an enigmatic German scientist in the person of Dr. Gerard Finstimer.
Unfortunately, with the exception of a handful of Islamic-centered websites also citing the mysterious Herr Doktor, there is precious little of any source of reference to a specific German scientist by the name of Dr. Gerard Finstimer.
What He Said...
Nevertheless, the proof of science supporting Islamic Sharia Law is paragraph after paragraph warning humans not to allow domesticated dogs to lick plates and kitchen utensils "clean" and then for the humans to use them at meals sans a run through the dishwasher.
Quite eye-catching was Sheikh Qaradawi citing the percentage of tapeworms in human digestive tracts.
Referencing a handful of Western nation that keep dogs as pets, Qaradawi states that inflammation from tapeworms in the North Atlantic nation of Iceland "has reached the rate of 43 percent."
Going into gruesome detail, the learned Sheikh warned possible dog owners of the inflammatory consequences they may face by having a pooch on the porch:
In humans and in other animals they appear as lesions and abscesses completely different from the tapeworm itself. In animals the size of an abscess may reach that of an apple, while the liver of the infected animal may grow from five to ten times its normal size. In human beings the size of the abscess may reach that of a clenched fist or even the head of an infant; it is filled with yellow fluid weighing from ten to twenty pounds. In the infected human it may cause diverse kinds of inflammations in the lungs, muscles, spleen, kidneys, and brain, and appears in such different forms that specialists, until very recently, had difficulty in recognizing it.If lugging around a 20 pound sack of infectious yellow fluid attached to any number of your internal organs isn't your idea of a good time, Qaradawi doubles down by claiming modern medicine has no cure, to include chemotherapy.
Those Sickly Icelanders...
Quite possibly the Sheikh referenced the scientific research book The Flukes and Tapeworms of Cattle, Sheep, and Swine, with Special Reference to the Inspection of Meats written by Dr. Charles W. Stiles of the US Department of Agriculture.
Dr. Stiles noted that tapeworm infection in Iceland very well could be as high as a full one third of the population.
The Icelandic sheep population, that is.
Dr. Stiles' work was published in 1898.
The same year William McKinley occupied the White House, Congress authorized a volunteer force of horse-mounted cavalry to be assigned to the US Army, and the Spanish-American War was fought.
Right about Islam, Christianity’s common ground, but who seeks to keep Allah exclusive?
Prime Minister Najib Razak waving to visitors during the Christmas open house celebration in
Padang Kota, Penang. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, December 26, 2013.…
Prime Minister Najib Razak waving to visitors during the Christmas open house celebration in
Padang Kota, Penang. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, December 26, 2013.
Faith in Malaysia has become a trickier issue in the past few years, first with the authorities insisting that the word Allah is exclusive to Muslims, and finally that Muslims must be Sunni, and not Shia.
The preoccupation with faith and the policing of it is perplexing to say the least when it has never been a bone of contention for the most part of the country's independence. If anything, the economy and the salaryman's pay packet has always been a greater issue.
But the usually taciturn Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak finally broke his silence on Christmas Day to speak about Islam and Christianity amid the Government's battle to keep the Arabic word Allah only for Muslims.
He spoke of common origins for both religions and called for mutual respect, saying "Although in terms of faith, we have our differences, for example, the concept of God. In Islam the concept of God is quite different.
"But if we are always quarrelling on this, then we will be distancing the Muslims from the Christians."
He is right, of course. Except that it has been the Government that has been quarrelling about this and finally coming up with its Solomon-like ruling that Christians in Sabah and Sarawak can use Allah but not in the peninsula.
Perhaps, the Kuala Lumpur Catholic Church Archbishop emeritus Murphy Pakiam put it succinctly when he said yesterday, "What did he say? Even if the world talks and laughs about this 'Allah' issue, Malaysia will not allow (its use by non-Muslims), we (Government) will defend the exclusivity of its use.
"This is not a man who was educated in our Catholic school. By talking like that, you are just a bickering politician. I am praying that Allah will enlighten him to become a statesman."
The Government's directive to the Church's weekly, Herald, to refrain from using the word in its Bahasa edition has been the subject of a court case that saw a 2009 High Court decision to allow the usage, only for the Court of Appeal to overturn the ruling last October.
The latest ruling and Putrajaya's opposition to a new appeal has caused outrage among the country's Christian community, particularly those who worship in Bahasa. Christians form 9% of Malaysia's 29 million population.
"You think I am not angry? But he is the prime minister, so I have to pray to God to please help him do his duty for the whole country and not just Umno," Pakiam said at the Christian Federation's Christmas Day celebrations where a minister represented Najib.
The anger is palpable for Christians who feel the prime minister has pretended to be moderate and reasonable on a world stage, but is nothing like that when he returns to government business in Malaysia, pandering to the Malay far right, which seeks economic and religious dominance.
But at least the likes of Malay rights group Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali and controversial lecturer Dr Ridhuan Tee Abdullah are straight about their aims.
With the two of them, it is what you see is what you get. They do not pretend to be champions of multiracial politics, unlike the prime minister and politicians from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).
This includes the Christians who choose to remain as ministers, deputy ministers and MPs in the Najib administration – while making polite noises to their community but remain silent in government – being just grateful that there is some financial aid or extra holidays for the festivities.
As DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said today, Najib has to prove he is a moderate by deed and conviction and not be a political chameleon who alternates between moderation and immoderation in his speeches, depending on the crowd and occasion.
The thing is, Najib and BN have constantly hammered Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for being a political chameleon. But the reality is this: Anwar and many Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders are secure in their faith as Muslims, and have not played politics on the Allah issue.
In the run-up to the election, Anwar supported the right of Christians to continue using the word Allah, stumping Terengganu and other Malay-belt states.
The same cannot be said for Najib and his ministers who have been chameleon like in their dealings with other communities, especially on religious issues. The Shia are now feeling the heat although Malaysia has cordial ties with Iran, the world's most populous Shia nation.
If anything, the only Malaysian prime minister with religious credentials has been Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, although it was under his time that Putrajaya began enforcing the exclusivity of Allah for Muslims.
Yet, he was also the man who signed the Amman Message that agreed Sunni and Shia are legitimate branches of the faith.
For Putrajaya however, politics come first rather than interfaith harmony even if the prime minister did say, "I had mentioned before that I am not interested in winning an argument. I'm only concerned about preserving peace, harmony and stability in this country. This is my responsibility as Malaysia's prime minister."
That peace, harmony and stability means he needs to keep his vote bank happy. With the next election years away, he and BN have dropped their act of being good to every community, focusing only on one.
After all, the Allah appeal was only decided after the general election. And in time, perhaps people will forget that, and even forget prices only rose after the polls.
But there is no reason to despair.
Just understand that this man is just a politician, not a leader or statesman.
Just another politician. And they all come and go. Right? – TMI
Labels:
Allah issue
Pakiam was rude and insulting to Najib, says Islamic NGO
Defending Najib as a leader with responsibilities, Isma president Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman warned the outgoing head of the Catholic Church not to belittle the prime minister for doing his job.
“Pakiam’s statement is rude and insulting. It is an insult to an Islamic leader."Pakiam (left, with Najibb in 2011 Christmas function) needs to be clear that as a leader, Najib has the burden to uphold the fight for religion, race and country," Abdullah Zaik said.
During the annual Christmas celebration at his official residence yesterday, Pakiam pointed out to reporters that Najib obtained his early education at St John's Institute, which is located adjacent to the archbishop's official residence.
Pakiam used Najib's experience in school as example of how the Christian community had helped Najib as a boy in a Catholic school and respected his Muslim faith.
Therefore, Pakiam said, he had expected Najib to do the same, that Najib would serve the country and not just work for Umno by insisting that ‘Allah’ was exclusive to Muslims alone.
Pakiam expressed his particular disappointment with Najib's hardline speech on the Allah issue in his Maal Hijrah speech in November.
Abdullah Zaik also claimed that Pakiam's words had a sinister intention to win Najib over to the cause of the Church.
Labels:
Allah issue,
Christianity,
ISMA
Kg Railway demolition begins although 13 still remain
As Sentul Raya Sdn Bhd (SRSB) moves in to tear down houses for
re-development, about 13 Kg Railway residents are today still pleading
for a few more days.
These 13…
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These 13…
As Sentul Raya Sdn Bhd (SRSB) moves in to tear down houses for
re-development, about 13 Kg Railway residents are today still pleading
for a few more days.
These 13 families only got a letter from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) offering them new temporary homes on Monday, said Vinesh Nair, PKR Batu communications manager.
Vinesh
was on the ground to help keep peace between the residents and
contractors from SRSB, a subsidiary of YTL Corporation. The contractors
had moved in since last week and were prepared to demolish the houses.
"What we are asking for is some humanitarian grounds here ... just a few days," Vinesh told Malaysiakini. "The 13 residents are not ready to move out after receiving a stupid letter... the letter is dated Dec 20 and it says they should have moved out by Dec 15."
As a major developer for the area, YTL last year won a court case granting it the land, which also ordered 140 families staying on it to move out.
But for over a year, Batu MP Tian Chua (left) has fought for the Kg Railway residents,
who refused to live elsewhere as they argued their ancestors have been
living there for a century until the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB)
land was privatised to YTL Corporation in 1993.
As SRSB refused to negotiate with the residents, DBKL had stepped in to provide temporary living arrangements for them, until SRSB re-develops the area.
After a long stand-off, the residents agreed earlier this month to vacate their houses on conditions of rent-free temporary housing in Bukit Jalil for the next three years and discounts for new houses in the development project.
YTL had also agreed to pay each family RM18,000 as soon as they vacate Kampung Railway.
Another week grace period
All parties also agreed on the Dec 14 deadline.
However, Vinesh explained that this deadline was not met by all as many logistical issues were still being sorted out.
Apart from the fact that many were given temporary flats in Bukit Jalil, some 10-15 kilometres away, many were also forced into units that had no power supply, he said.
"Would they move into houses without electricity? Even though they are poor and from the lower income group, nobody wants to live like that," Vinesh said.
Meanwhile, YTL sources said that the company was tired of repeated failed attempts to reclaim the land.
Last month, it resorted to getting a court injunction as participants, including many opposition MPs, held a Deepavali celebration there without YTL's permission.
YTL contractors came last Thursday to demolish the Kampung Railway houses, but stopped work after Tian Chua negotiated a grace period of one week.
Vinesh said that the 13 remaining residents, who live in five houses there, were asking for the demolition to be postponed until Sunday.
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These 13 families only got a letter from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) offering them new temporary homes on Monday, said Vinesh Nair, PKR Batu communications manager.
Vinesh
was on the ground to help keep peace between the residents and
contractors from SRSB, a subsidiary of YTL Corporation. The contractors
had moved in since last week and were prepared to demolish the houses."What we are asking for is some humanitarian grounds here ... just a few days," Vinesh told Malaysiakini. "The 13 residents are not ready to move out after receiving a stupid letter... the letter is dated Dec 20 and it says they should have moved out by Dec 15."
As a major developer for the area, YTL last year won a court case granting it the land, which also ordered 140 families staying on it to move out.
But for over a year, Batu MP Tian Chua (left) has fought for the Kg Railway residents,
who refused to live elsewhere as they argued their ancestors have been
living there for a century until the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB)
land was privatised to YTL Corporation in 1993.As SRSB refused to negotiate with the residents, DBKL had stepped in to provide temporary living arrangements for them, until SRSB re-develops the area.
After a long stand-off, the residents agreed earlier this month to vacate their houses on conditions of rent-free temporary housing in Bukit Jalil for the next three years and discounts for new houses in the development project.
YTL had also agreed to pay each family RM18,000 as soon as they vacate Kampung Railway.
Another week grace period
All parties also agreed on the Dec 14 deadline.
However, Vinesh explained that this deadline was not met by all as many logistical issues were still being sorted out.
Apart from the fact that many were given temporary flats in Bukit Jalil, some 10-15 kilometres away, many were also forced into units that had no power supply, he said.
"Would they move into houses without electricity? Even though they are poor and from the lower income group, nobody wants to live like that," Vinesh said.
Meanwhile, YTL sources said that the company was tired of repeated failed attempts to reclaim the land.
Last month, it resorted to getting a court injunction as participants, including many opposition MPs, held a Deepavali celebration there without YTL's permission.
YTL contractors came last Thursday to demolish the Kampung Railway houses, but stopped work after Tian Chua negotiated a grace period of one week.
Vinesh said that the 13 remaining residents, who live in five houses there, were asking for the demolition to be postponed until Sunday.
Labels:
Indian Settlements
Disclose gov't funds spent on Perkasa, Najib told
PKR has urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to declare the full
extent of public funds that have been spent to support the right wing
pressure group Perkasa.
This follows…
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PKR has urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to declare the full
extent of public funds that have been spent to support the right wing
pressure group Perkasa.
This follows the group's admission yesterday that it has received funds from government agencies such as the Special Affairs Department (Jasa), National Security Council (MKN) and National Civics Bureau (BTN).
"Perkasa is an extremist group that is notorious for hate speech and racial incitement.
"Why are government funds and resources being used to assist and promote such an organisation?" PKR vice-president N Surendran asked in a statement today.
"Perkasa's admission is shocking and without precedent. It is clear proof that Najib, Umno and the BN are actively supporting hate speech, incitement and racism," Surendran said.
"We urge Najib to urgently explain the full extent of the NSC, BTN and Jasa's involvement with Perkasa, and the amount of government monies spent on Perkasa.
"The Malaysian public is entitled to know."
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This follows the group's admission yesterday that it has received funds from government agencies such as the Special Affairs Department (Jasa), National Security Council (MKN) and National Civics Bureau (BTN).
"Perkasa is an extremist group that is notorious for hate speech and racial incitement."Why are government funds and resources being used to assist and promote such an organisation?" PKR vice-president N Surendran asked in a statement today.
"Perkasa's admission is shocking and without precedent. It is clear proof that Najib, Umno and the BN are actively supporting hate speech, incitement and racism," Surendran said.
"We urge Najib to urgently explain the full extent of the NSC, BTN and Jasa's involvement with Perkasa, and the amount of government monies spent on Perkasa.
"The Malaysian public is entitled to know."
Cut costs, don't raise prices, Dr M tells gov't
In…
In a blog posting, and citing the "cost down" principle, Mahathir said when a business is faced with competition or its cost of production reduces its profits, it can either increase prices or reduce costs.
"To
a certain extent the price can be increased. This might cause a
reduction in sale and also profits. It is far better to reduce costs and
maintain or minimise the increase in price."When a business exercises cost down, what it does is to examine everything it does that contributes to the cost of doing business.
"It examines the efficiency of the process, the material costs, the reduction of wastage and the speed and volume of production. Invariably, some costs can be reduced.
"The same can be done by the government. All its costs can be examined to determine which are truly necessary, which costs can be reduced, which services can be curtailed or modified," Mahathir emphasised.
Why all increases at the same time?
The people are facing the prospect of an electricity hike, and possibly an increase in toll hikes next month, amidst a rise in sugar and petrol prices as a result of cuts in subsidies.
Mahathir also questioned the need to introduce all the rises in cost of living around the same time, and said the better way would be to introduce the hikes in stages.
"We must accept that the government needs more money with the passage of time. But should the increase be as big as the government says? Should the taxes and rates come all at the same time?" he asked.
He also said that the government "often wastes money" because it appears not concerned about the returns to its expenditure.
"Every year the auditor-general reports on wastage through improper procedures and carelessness. Usually, not much is changed so as to benefit from the auditor-general’s criticism," he said, noting that changing procedures too can save costs.
Mahathir then proceeded to remind the government that re-examining the new rates could do it good in the next general election.
"But with due consideration for the cost to people and business, the government should really examine the tax rates to be introduced. It will not hurt the government too much, but it will gain a lot of goodwill from people," he said.
"They might even remember this in the next election."
Several NGO groups, such as Turun and Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM), have teamed up to hold a rally against the price hikes in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 31.
Labels:
Tun.Mahathir
MIC’s assets remain a mystery
The MIC owns several properties, including land, all over the country but are not mentioned in the annual reports for about 15 years now and the status of the assets…
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The MIC owns several properties, including land, all over the country but are not mentioned in the annual reports for about 15 years now and the status of the assets remain a mystery.
KUALA LUMPUR: Some burning questions have popped up over properties belonging to MIC, which are worth millions of ringgit.
A check by FMT revealed that MIC’s properties, some of which bought 30 years ago, remained a mystery.
According to the MIC’s 27th annual report in 1980, which was prepared by former deputy president S Subramaniam who acted as the party secretary-general at the time, MIC owned several buildings and lands.
The report also indicated that SK Ponnambalam has been appointed as property manager to look after matters concerning assets.
For about 15 years, the properties have not been mentioned in the annual reports.
It is also learnt that MIC delegates cannot raise any matter concerning the properties because of instructions from top leadership.
In the recent party annual general meeting, Palanivel urged the government to allocate RM3bil to upgrade the lifestyle of the Indian community.
But is the MIC concerned about the development of Indians? Are they transparent with their community?
Who is keeping the record of the properties since there was no more property manager in MIC?
Why are the properties details not in party’s annual reports?
According to the 1980 annual report, MIC owned seven buildings and 27 pieces of land all over the country.
Among the MIC buildings are Wisma Tan Sri Manickavasagam in Kuala Lumpur, two storeys in Jalan Ipoh, seven storeys in Johor Baru, two storeys in Penang, five storeys in Mentakab and four-storeys in Ipoh.
In the 1980 report MIC had planned to put up buildings in Kuala Pilah, Port Dickson (Negri Sembilan), Kuantan (Pahang), Kluang, Batu Pahat (Johor) and Klang (Selangor).
Land belonging to MIC are in Batu Kurau, Malim Nawar, Tanjung Malim, Grik, Buntong (Perak), Skudai, Pontian, Segamat, Kulai, Yong Peng, Pasir Pelangi, Buloh Kasap (Johor), Alor Star (Kedah), Pekan, Raub (Pahang), Air Kuning Selatan, Gedok (Negri Sembilan), Port Klang, Kapar, Puchong, Sabak Bernam and Rawang (Selangor).
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KUALA LUMPUR: Some burning questions have popped up over properties belonging to MIC, which are worth millions of ringgit.A check by FMT revealed that MIC’s properties, some of which bought 30 years ago, remained a mystery.
According to the MIC’s 27th annual report in 1980, which was prepared by former deputy president S Subramaniam who acted as the party secretary-general at the time, MIC owned several buildings and lands.
The report also indicated that SK Ponnambalam has been appointed as property manager to look after matters concerning assets.
For about 15 years, the properties have not been mentioned in the annual reports.
It is also learnt that MIC delegates cannot raise any matter concerning the properties because of instructions from top leadership.
In the recent party annual general meeting, Palanivel urged the government to allocate RM3bil to upgrade the lifestyle of the Indian community.
But is the MIC concerned about the development of Indians? Are they transparent with their community?
Who is keeping the record of the properties since there was no more property manager in MIC?
Why are the properties details not in party’s annual reports?
According to the 1980 annual report, MIC owned seven buildings and 27 pieces of land all over the country.
Among the MIC buildings are Wisma Tan Sri Manickavasagam in Kuala Lumpur, two storeys in Jalan Ipoh, seven storeys in Johor Baru, two storeys in Penang, five storeys in Mentakab and four-storeys in Ipoh.
In the 1980 report MIC had planned to put up buildings in Kuala Pilah, Port Dickson (Negri Sembilan), Kuantan (Pahang), Kluang, Batu Pahat (Johor) and Klang (Selangor).
Land belonging to MIC are in Batu Kurau, Malim Nawar, Tanjung Malim, Grik, Buntong (Perak), Skudai, Pontian, Segamat, Kulai, Yong Peng, Pasir Pelangi, Buloh Kasap (Johor), Alor Star (Kedah), Pekan, Raub (Pahang), Air Kuning Selatan, Gedok (Negri Sembilan), Port Klang, Kapar, Puchong, Sabak Bernam and Rawang (Selangor).
Labels:
MIC
NGOs planning protest against ‘Guruji’
A protest has been planned by several NGOs against Rajayoga Power Transcendental Meditation Centre and its founder,V Balakrishnan, for misleading the people in the name of yoga.
PETALING JAYA: Several…
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PETALING JAYA: Several…
A protest has been planned by several NGOs against Rajayoga Power Transcendental Meditation Centre and its founder,V Balakrishnan, for misleading the people in the name of yoga.
PETALING JAYA: Several disgruntled NGOs have planned a protest against Rajayoga Power Transcendental Meditation Centre (RPT) and its founder,V Balakrishnan, at Batu Caves on Jan 5.
The organising committee secretary, known only as Muniandy, said they were disappointed with Balakrishnan, who is better known as ‘Datuk Seri Guruji’, for misleading the people in the name of yoga.
RPT is a meditation centre conducting yoga programmes on how to harness spiritual energy (yoga sakthi) for material and spiritual benefits.
However, Muniandy said RPT programmes were against Hindu religious beliefs.
Balakrishnan came under heavy criticism in the social media over his programmes two weeks ago.
“We picked Batu Caves as the venue because Balakrishnan always celebrates his birthday at the temple.
“We have received overwhelming support from the public for the protest,” said Muniandy.
He said they would meet the temple committee for permission to carry out the protest.
Meanwhile, RPT is suing Tamil Malar, a Tamil daily, for defamation in relation to a series of articles published last week.
In its statement of claim, RPT said the articles implied that the Guruji was a conman who charging an exorbitant amount of money for his programmes.
Balakrishnan is seeking, among others, an injunction to prevent the defendant from further defaming him, an apology to be published in the daily, cost and other relief deemed fit by court.
Tamil Malar managing director SM Periasamy said he was ready to face RPT in court.
“We will not apologise since we have enough evidence to defend our news report,” he told FMT.
“I have been in the news industry for 25 years and defamation suits are not something new for the paper,” he added.
Tamil Malar had carried a series of reports on Balakrishnan and his centre from Dec 18 to Dec 24.
It was also reported that Periasamy lodged a police report after four men claiming to be from RPT, barged into the daily’s office in Jalan Ipoh and created a ruckus.
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PETALING JAYA: Several disgruntled NGOs have planned a protest against Rajayoga Power Transcendental Meditation Centre (RPT) and its founder,V Balakrishnan, at Batu Caves on Jan 5.The organising committee secretary, known only as Muniandy, said they were disappointed with Balakrishnan, who is better known as ‘Datuk Seri Guruji’, for misleading the people in the name of yoga.
RPT is a meditation centre conducting yoga programmes on how to harness spiritual energy (yoga sakthi) for material and spiritual benefits.
However, Muniandy said RPT programmes were against Hindu religious beliefs.
Balakrishnan came under heavy criticism in the social media over his programmes two weeks ago.
“We picked Batu Caves as the venue because Balakrishnan always celebrates his birthday at the temple.
“We have received overwhelming support from the public for the protest,” said Muniandy.
He said they would meet the temple committee for permission to carry out the protest.
Meanwhile, RPT is suing Tamil Malar, a Tamil daily, for defamation in relation to a series of articles published last week.
In its statement of claim, RPT said the articles implied that the Guruji was a conman who charging an exorbitant amount of money for his programmes.
Balakrishnan is seeking, among others, an injunction to prevent the defendant from further defaming him, an apology to be published in the daily, cost and other relief deemed fit by court.
Tamil Malar managing director SM Periasamy said he was ready to face RPT in court.
“We will not apologise since we have enough evidence to defend our news report,” he told FMT.
“I have been in the news industry for 25 years and defamation suits are not something new for the paper,” he added.
Tamil Malar had carried a series of reports on Balakrishnan and his centre from Dec 18 to Dec 24.
It was also reported that Periasamy lodged a police report after four men claiming to be from RPT, barged into the daily’s office in Jalan Ipoh and created a ruckus.
Labels:
Hindu,
Malaysian Indians
MIC changes its tune
While the former MIC sec-gen said complaints regarding party poll irregularities would be heard by party's election steering committee, the new sec-gen says the CWC to review all complaints.
PETALING…
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PETALING…
While the former MIC sec-gen said complaints regarding party poll irregularities would be heard by party's election steering committee, the new sec-gen says the CWC to review all complaints.
PETALING JAYA: The newly minted MIC sec-gen A Prakash Rao confirmed having received complaints on irregularities regarding the recent party polls held on Nov 30, in Malacca.
“All appeals with regards to the election results will be heard in the upcoming Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting which is a normal process and any undue statements are uncalled for,” said Prakash in a press statement issued today.
However the sec-gen did not specify or set a date for when they would be holding the CWC meeting.
Previously, after receiving complaints of party poll irregularities, the former MIC sec-gen A Sakthivel had stated that the complaints would be reviewed and heard by party’s election steering committee.
At the time of initial rumblings, the former sec-gen had confirmed that the party had received five official complaints on alleged irregularities in the polls and said the complaints would be passed on to the election steering committee for further investigations.
This was stated by Sakthivel before the announcement of new line-up by party president G Palanivel on Dec 16.
‘Setup independent body’
On Monday, a group of disgruntled former MIC leaders submitted a memorandum, demanding that fresh elections be conducted for the party’s CWC positions.
The delegation of 20 candidates who contested the polls, led by former MIC youth chief T Mohan, handed their memorandum of demands to MIC’s deputy president Dr S Subramaniam.
They urged the party leadership to set-up an independent body to investigate claims of irregularities, said to have occurred during party polls, last month.
Mohan stressed, “it would be the best way to investigate the electoral discrepancies in the party polls, by forming an independent body.”
MIC had held its internal elections to select three vice presidents positions and 23 CWC member positions.
A total of eight candidates contested in the vice president race while 88 aspirants fought for the 23 CWC seats.
The polls were marred by various alleged irregularities with some candidates going public with their grouses.
▲
PETALING JAYA: The newly minted MIC sec-gen A Prakash Rao confirmed having received complaints on irregularities regarding the recent party polls held on Nov 30, in Malacca.“All appeals with regards to the election results will be heard in the upcoming Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting which is a normal process and any undue statements are uncalled for,” said Prakash in a press statement issued today.
However the sec-gen did not specify or set a date for when they would be holding the CWC meeting.
Previously, after receiving complaints of party poll irregularities, the former MIC sec-gen A Sakthivel had stated that the complaints would be reviewed and heard by party’s election steering committee.
At the time of initial rumblings, the former sec-gen had confirmed that the party had received five official complaints on alleged irregularities in the polls and said the complaints would be passed on to the election steering committee for further investigations.
This was stated by Sakthivel before the announcement of new line-up by party president G Palanivel on Dec 16.
‘Setup independent body’
On Monday, a group of disgruntled former MIC leaders submitted a memorandum, demanding that fresh elections be conducted for the party’s CWC positions.
The delegation of 20 candidates who contested the polls, led by former MIC youth chief T Mohan, handed their memorandum of demands to MIC’s deputy president Dr S Subramaniam.
They urged the party leadership to set-up an independent body to investigate claims of irregularities, said to have occurred during party polls, last month.
Mohan stressed, “it would be the best way to investigate the electoral discrepancies in the party polls, by forming an independent body.”
MIC had held its internal elections to select three vice presidents positions and 23 CWC member positions.
A total of eight candidates contested in the vice president race while 88 aspirants fought for the 23 CWC seats.
The polls were marred by various alleged irregularities with some candidates going public with their grouses.
Labels:
MIC
‘M’sia has good ties with Vatican’
Politics was cast aside as both sides of the divide joined the Malaysia Christmas open house held in Penang last night.
GEORGE TOWN, Dec 25 (Bernama) — Minister in Prime…
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GEORGE TOWN, Dec 25 (Bernama) — Minister in Prime…
Politics was cast aside as both sides of the divide joined the Malaysia Christmas open house held in Penang last night.
GEORGE TOWN, Dec 25 (Bernama) — Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Joseph Kurup lauds Malaysia’s diplomatic ties with the Vatican and the federal government’s RM15 million allocation for Christian mission schools nationwide under the 2014 Budget.
He said the move would benefit a lot of people, especially the Christian community.
“We need to be grateful to have Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as the prime minister who believes in diversity and upholds the freedom of religion,” he said at the Malaysia Christmas Open House here today.
The open house was graced by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. Also present were Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Joseph, who represents the Christian community, said there was so much more to Christmas than Santa Claus and exchanging presents.
“It’s about the spirit of love for God and our fellow men, joy, peace, goodwill, mutual understanding, respect, unity in diversity, as well as remembering those who had served and sacrificed for the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lim said the Christmas open house organised today proved the Federal Constitution which stated that although Islam was the Federal religion, other religions could be practised in peace and harmony.
“We hope Malaysians, regardless of their race and religion, can nurture unity and friendship to live in peace and harmony while respecting one another,” he said.
Lim also commended the organising of the open house, saying that it showed that the relations between the federal and state government could come to a matured, healthy and constructive stage.
“We are so proud as our state has been chosen as the location for the national-level Christmas open house,” he said.
- Bernama
▲
GEORGE TOWN, Dec 25 (Bernama) — Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Joseph Kurup lauds Malaysia’s diplomatic ties with the Vatican and the federal government’s RM15 million allocation for Christian mission schools nationwide under the 2014 Budget.He said the move would benefit a lot of people, especially the Christian community.
“We need to be grateful to have Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as the prime minister who believes in diversity and upholds the freedom of religion,” he said at the Malaysia Christmas Open House here today.
The open house was graced by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. Also present were Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Joseph, who represents the Christian community, said there was so much more to Christmas than Santa Claus and exchanging presents.
“It’s about the spirit of love for God and our fellow men, joy, peace, goodwill, mutual understanding, respect, unity in diversity, as well as remembering those who had served and sacrificed for the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lim said the Christmas open house organised today proved the Federal Constitution which stated that although Islam was the Federal religion, other religions could be practised in peace and harmony.
“We hope Malaysians, regardless of their race and religion, can nurture unity and friendship to live in peace and harmony while respecting one another,” he said.
Lim also commended the organising of the open house, saying that it showed that the relations between the federal and state government could come to a matured, healthy and constructive stage.
“We are so proud as our state has been chosen as the location for the national-level Christmas open house,” he said.
- Bernama
Labels:
Najib
Zaid: Crackdown on conversions the way out of ‘Allah’ impasse
(MM) - Stronger anti-conversion and proselytisation laws will let Putrajaya address Muslim apostasy and allow the Christian use of “Allah” to end a growing standoff over the Arabic word, former…(MM) - Stronger anti-conversion and proselytisation laws will let Putrajaya address Muslim apostasy and allow the Christian use of “Allah” to end a growing standoff over the Arabic word, former minister Zaid Ibrahim said today.Accusing Putrajaya of having taken the “lazy way out” in 1988 by banning non-Muslims from using the Arabic word for God, Zaid said the government could still return religious ties to how they were before the now-soured interfaith relations and “widespread animosity” between the Muslim majority and the Christian community here.
“If Christians say ‘Allah’ is integral to their Scriptures and their faith, then let’s accept that and move on. Equally, Christians should affirm that they will respect the rights of Muslims to practise their faith undisturbed,” the former Umno leader wrote in a blog posting today titled “The way to end the ‘Allah’ row”.
“No one should engage in deceitful, coercive or unlawful activities to convert anyone else — it’s not only illegal but morally repugnant,” he added, acknowledging fears by the Muslim community of alleged conversion attempts directed at them.
Earlier in his blog post, Zaid said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should recognise that “Christians consider the use of ‘Allah’ to be integral to their faith despite the ‘finding of fact’ by the Court of Appeal that it was not”.
Najib should also have a special sitting with the Malay rulers to solve the “Allah” controversy and revisit the 1988 decision to ban non-Muslims from using the Arabic word for God, Zaid said.
Pointing to the “repeated public display of utter confusion” by the government on the effects of the ban, Zaid said the conflicting opinions amounted to “international embarrassment” and needs to be stopped with clear discussions by the country’s leaders.
“The prime minister and the Malay rulers must discuss this issue with detachment and clarity. They should begin by returning to the pre-1988 status quo,” he wrote.
The former law minister said that a review of the then Home Minister Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar’s reports and consultation of the religious departments in different states would show that there was “real concern” prior to the 1988 ban that certain Christian evangelists “were aggressively converting Muslims”.
The ban only served to treat the symptoms rather the real problem of Muslim conversion, he said, referring to the federal government and the state religious authorities’ ban.
“It merely gazetted a few regulations banning the use of some words and thought the problem would go away. The state religious authorities took a similar route by passing laws to prevent ‘Allah’ and other words of Arabic origin from being used by non-Muslim. They thought this would stop the process of conversion,” he said.
Anticipating the outrage of the Muslim community over the reversal of the 1988 ban, Zaid suggested that the prime minister bolster his move by beefing up anti-conversion measures.
“The prime minister and the Malay Rulers can make this point to Muslims: that in exchange for the use of the word ‘Allah’ by the Christians in their prayers, publications and the Malay Bible, Christians in turn will support the enactment of special laws and enforcement mechanisms to protect the Muslims from any conversion,” Zaid said.
Earlier, he said that most Christians respect the country’s laws and would likely not mind a “special task force” by the government to look into conversions of Muslims.
The tussle over “Allah” arose in 2008 when Catholic newspaper The Herald was barred by the Home Ministry from using the Arabic word. The Catholic Church had contested this in court and won a High Court decision in 2009 upholding its constitutional right to do so.
Putrajaya later appealed the decision and successfully overturned the earlier decision when the Court of Appeal ruled this October that “Allah” was not integral to the Christian faith.
Since the ruling, churches in Sabah and Sarawak have become more vocal in pressing for their right to use the term that they say is entrenched in the 20- and 18-point agreements with the two states, insisting they will continue their age-old practice of referring to God as “Allah” in their worship and in their holy scriptures.
Islamic groups and authorities have of late also stepped up their “vigilance” against non-Muslims over their use of the word “Allah”, with a closed-door Christian event in Selangor now reportedly the subject of an investigation by the state Islamic religious department.
The Catholic Church has since appealed to the country’s top court for clarity on the religious row that has drawn deep lines between Malaysia’s non-Muslim minorities and its 60 per cent Muslim population, with the Federal Court fixing February 24 next year to hear the application for appeal.
Labels:
Allah issue,
Zaid Ibrahim
Catholic Church news website hacked
(MM) - Herald Malaysia, the local Catholic Church’s news website, was disabled by attacks today on the heels of a strongly-worded statement from Archbishop Emeritus Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam urging…(MM) - Herald Malaysia, the local Catholic Church’s news website, was disabled by attacks today on the heels of a strongly-worded statement from Archbishop Emeritus Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam urging Putrajaya to drop its case against “Allah” for Christians.Herald editor, Rev. Father Lawrence Andrew, confirmed today the site was hacked, and suspects the attack may be related to remarks made yesterday by Pakiam during the Christmas tea party organised by the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) and which the retired archbishop hosted.
“I would imagine, after the statement from the Archbishop, some people may not have been happy,” he told The Malay Mail Online when contacted, before adding: “But I’m not sure about that.”
Andrew declined to elaborate until he receives the full report from the Herald’s website administration team, which is based in India.
He said they had traced the attack to an Indian company, but noted the host server was located in the United States.
This is not the first time the Herald website has been attacked, the priest said.
“The first time was when judge Lau Bee Lan gave a verdict in our favour,” he said, referring to the landmark High Court judgment that ruled the Herald could publish the word “Allah” to refer to God in Christian context in the Bahasa Malaysia section of its newspaper as the Arabic term was not exclusive to Muslims.
Lau had delivered the judgment in the High Court on December 31, 2009.
“That was a New Year gift, this time was on Christmas day,” Andrew said.
The website was inaccessible when The Malay Mail Online visited it at about 8am today, displaying only a three-word text on the page: “emma was here”.
The website then went to reduced functionality mode, showing only the headlines of December 24 and several pictures, which were mainly of Pope Francis.
By 2pm, the Herald website was restored to its regular service.
In a rare moment of frustration yesterday, Pakiam asked the prime minister to cement his own call for an end to Muslim-Christian hostility by withdrawing Putrajaya’s legal challenge against the Catholic Church’s use of “Allah”.
While the church won its case at the High Court, the Court of Appeal reversed the decision in October this year when it decided the Arabic word was “not integral” to the Christian faith.
Pakiam, who is currently the administrator of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, was responding to Najib’s earlier speech at the National Christmas Open House in George Town, Penang—also yesterday—in which the latter called for followers of the two faiths to set aside their differences and instead seek common ground.
The religious row has drawn deep lines between Malaysia’s non-Muslim minorities and its 60 per cent Muslim population, with the Federal Court fixing February 24 next year to hear the Catholic Church’s application for appeal.
Labels:
Christianity
Najib – Time to prove he is a moderate by deed and conviction not a political chameleon who alternates between moderation and immoderation in his speeches depending on the crowd and occasion
The speeches by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday – one delivered by him at the national-level Christmas Open House in Penang and the other read out for…
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The speeches by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday – one delivered by him at the national-level Christmas Open House in Penang and the other read out for him in Kuala Lumpur by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Paul Low, at the Christian Federation of Malaysia’s Christmas Hi-Tea – should have been received in elation by all reasonable and moderate Malaysians but this time, they failed to evoke such a response.
Why? Is it because men and women of reason and moderationn in Malaysia have become extremists rejecting the sentiments of moderation, harmony and co-existence preached by Najib in his two Christmas speeches yesterday?
This cannot be so and it is not so.
In his address at the National Christmas Open House celebration in Penang, Najib said both Christianity and Islam have common roots and are Abrahamic religions.
He noted that the Muslims may not be able to accept the Christian interpretation on the concept of God and vice versa for the Christians.
“So, rather than choosing this path of fighting over these differences, it is better that we find a common ground to preserve the peace, harmony and stability of the country.”
He told both groups to understand the sensitivities of each others’ religions so as not to offend one another.
“Muslims should not hurt the feelings of Christians and likewise, Christians should not hurt the feelings of Muslims.”
Very correct and commendable sentiments. Why should Malaysians be divided by an issue which had not been a cause for contention, dissension and division for the first half-century of the nation’s life?
In his speech prepared for the Christian Federation of Malaysia’s Christmas Hi-Tea, Najib said that a moderate and rational approach was needed to keep Malaysia peaceful and harmonious.
“I always believe that differences in religious faith is not a weakening factor in our society, but rather a strong element in nation building for it serves as a constant reminder that we have so much to share in common, the values which are universally accepted like patriotism, peace, love, kindness, helping the poor and needy, social justice and so on.
“We may differ in our faiths, but we are not divided.”
Men and women of reason and moderation have always been guided by these sentiments and values expounded by Najib yesterday, and they should have been very relieved that the Prime Minister is on the same page with them on the need for national policies to be guided by these principles.
Why then have the reaction to the two Najib speeches yesterday been less than adulatory, if not highly suspicious?
This is because the time has come for Najib, in the second term and fifth year as Malaysia’s sixth Prime Minister, to prove that he is a moderate by deed and conviction and not a political chameleon who alternates between moderation and immoderation in his speeches depending on the crowd and occasion.
For instance, when Najib took aim at politicians accused of stirring controversy for political gain and without regard for peace and harmony, Malaysians of reason and moderation fully agree with him – except they would disagree on the identity of the “irresponsible politicians” being referred to.
Najib said that he is aware of disagreements due to misunderstanding on certain issues among the people.
“Time and again, these have tested our resolve to remain a tolerant and peaceful nation. Like all tests that have come before, we have been exercising restraint in our responses yet resolute in defending our moderate and harmonious way of life.
“Irresponsible politicians who only seek short-term fame at the expense of harmony, will constantly evoke the sensitivities and fault lines to portray oneself as a hero for political mileage.
“I have always frowned upon such irresponsible conduct and I trust all citizens will view this conduct nothing but a folly.”
To Malaysian men and women, these “irresponsible politicians” described by Najib are mostly to be found in UMNO, and on a number of ocasions not excluding Najib himself, which are clearly not the people the Prime Minister has in mind.
This illustrates the wide gulf between the thinking and perceptions of the Prime Minister and Malaysins of reason and moderation.
How can Najib be the national and even international spokesman of moderation when he has to prove to Malaysians of reason and moderation that he is one of their number?
Najib has said that he is not interested in winning an argument or in winning a legal argument as his main concern is on pursuing harmony, peace and stability for the country.
This is a good basis for the ending of the recent worsening religious fault lines in our plural society and I fully endorse the proposal by the Archbishop Emeritus Tan Sri Murphy Pakian urging the Prime Minister to cement his own call for an end to Muslim-Christian hostility by withdrawing Putrajaya’s legal challenge against the Catholic Church’s use of “Allah”.
The ball is in Najib’s court to act on the message of moderation, harmony and co-existence of his two Christmas speeches yesterday. Will he or won’t he?
▲
Why? Is it because men and women of reason and moderationn in Malaysia have become extremists rejecting the sentiments of moderation, harmony and co-existence preached by Najib in his two Christmas speeches yesterday?
This cannot be so and it is not so.
In his address at the National Christmas Open House celebration in Penang, Najib said both Christianity and Islam have common roots and are Abrahamic religions.
He noted that the Muslims may not be able to accept the Christian interpretation on the concept of God and vice versa for the Christians.
“So, rather than choosing this path of fighting over these differences, it is better that we find a common ground to preserve the peace, harmony and stability of the country.”
He told both groups to understand the sensitivities of each others’ religions so as not to offend one another.
“Muslims should not hurt the feelings of Christians and likewise, Christians should not hurt the feelings of Muslims.”
Very correct and commendable sentiments. Why should Malaysians be divided by an issue which had not been a cause for contention, dissension and division for the first half-century of the nation’s life?
In his speech prepared for the Christian Federation of Malaysia’s Christmas Hi-Tea, Najib said that a moderate and rational approach was needed to keep Malaysia peaceful and harmonious.
“I always believe that differences in religious faith is not a weakening factor in our society, but rather a strong element in nation building for it serves as a constant reminder that we have so much to share in common, the values which are universally accepted like patriotism, peace, love, kindness, helping the poor and needy, social justice and so on.
“We may differ in our faiths, but we are not divided.”
Men and women of reason and moderation have always been guided by these sentiments and values expounded by Najib yesterday, and they should have been very relieved that the Prime Minister is on the same page with them on the need for national policies to be guided by these principles.
Why then have the reaction to the two Najib speeches yesterday been less than adulatory, if not highly suspicious?
This is because the time has come for Najib, in the second term and fifth year as Malaysia’s sixth Prime Minister, to prove that he is a moderate by deed and conviction and not a political chameleon who alternates between moderation and immoderation in his speeches depending on the crowd and occasion.
For instance, when Najib took aim at politicians accused of stirring controversy for political gain and without regard for peace and harmony, Malaysians of reason and moderation fully agree with him – except they would disagree on the identity of the “irresponsible politicians” being referred to.
Najib said that he is aware of disagreements due to misunderstanding on certain issues among the people.
“Time and again, these have tested our resolve to remain a tolerant and peaceful nation. Like all tests that have come before, we have been exercising restraint in our responses yet resolute in defending our moderate and harmonious way of life.
“Irresponsible politicians who only seek short-term fame at the expense of harmony, will constantly evoke the sensitivities and fault lines to portray oneself as a hero for political mileage.
“I have always frowned upon such irresponsible conduct and I trust all citizens will view this conduct nothing but a folly.”
To Malaysian men and women, these “irresponsible politicians” described by Najib are mostly to be found in UMNO, and on a number of ocasions not excluding Najib himself, which are clearly not the people the Prime Minister has in mind.
This illustrates the wide gulf between the thinking and perceptions of the Prime Minister and Malaysins of reason and moderation.
How can Najib be the national and even international spokesman of moderation when he has to prove to Malaysians of reason and moderation that he is one of their number?
Najib has said that he is not interested in winning an argument or in winning a legal argument as his main concern is on pursuing harmony, peace and stability for the country.
This is a good basis for the ending of the recent worsening religious fault lines in our plural society and I fully endorse the proposal by the Archbishop Emeritus Tan Sri Murphy Pakian urging the Prime Minister to cement his own call for an end to Muslim-Christian hostility by withdrawing Putrajaya’s legal challenge against the Catholic Church’s use of “Allah”.
The ball is in Najib’s court to act on the message of moderation, harmony and co-existence of his two Christmas speeches yesterday. Will he or won’t he?
We must exterminate threats to our society!
The Star
A Humble Submission by SYAHREDZAN JOHAN
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A Humble Submission by SYAHREDZAN JOHAN
We
Malaysians are beset by threats from within Malaysia and outside of the
country. We are under siege, the very fabric…
The Star
A Humble Submission by SYAHREDZAN JOHAN
▲
A Humble Submission by SYAHREDZAN JOHAN
We
Malaysians are beset by threats from within Malaysia and outside of the
country. We are under siege, the very fabric of our society may be
unravelled if we these threats remain unchecked. If we do not clamp down
and control these dangerous elements, Malaysia as we know will cease to
exist.
At
least, according to the politicians and politicians masquerading as
non-governmental organisation (NGO) and religious leaders.
First
and foremost, there are the Jews. The Elders of Zion, guided by their
protocols, are always envious of successful Muslim countries such as
ours. They want to see our Government, a good government imbued with
wholesome Islamic principles, fall. But they will not do so openly.
Instead, the Jews, being masters of subversion, do it through their
agents, purportedly here in Malaysia.
They
also do so through the importation of Hollywood and Lady Gaga,
distracting us from the righteous paths through Miley Cyrus' twerks. We
are always reminded of the Jewish threat, so that we must always be ever
vigilant.
Closely
connected to the Jews are, of course, the Americans. No, I am not
talking about the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement. That is not a new
form of American imperialism, because it is sanctioned by our
Government. Our Government knows how to deal with Americans. No,
American neo-imperialism comes in the form of elements such as "human
rights", "LBGT rights", "pluralism", "liberalism", and fast food and
brewed coffee chains. These foreign elements do not fit our Malaysian
culture, just like how debating also does not fit into our Malaysian
culture. Beware of the stars and stripes, my fellow Malaysians.
Communism
is another nemesis of ours. An old enemy, one which we have defeated
but keeps coming back to us like that pesky cockroach in our kitchen
which never wants to just die. Chin Peng may have died, but his ideas
live on in young, foolish students with Che Guavera t-shirts and a
romantic view of Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez. The Government is doing
its part to crush these un-Malaysian views and that is why we must stop
Chin Peng's ashes from coming into this country at all costs. We must
understand, it is not the ashes that the Government is concerned with.
It is the ideas. Remember, communism is only good when it comes in the
form of trading and investments in China.
Another
dangerous "C" are the Christians. There are quite a number of
Malaysians who are Christians. Which makes the "Kristianisasi" threat
even more dangerous. These Christians are always trying to convert the
Muslim faithful by confusing them, so that their faith will be shaken,
they will abandon it and one day embrace the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit. Equipped with talking and solar-powered Bibles, Christians
want to install a Christian Prime Minister and change the religion of
the Federation into Christianity (it is not stated which denomination,
however), according to "revelations" by some bloggers and one Malay
daily.
Closely
connected to Communists and Christians are our neighbours down south.
We now have "information" that Opposition politicians want to win the
Parliament so that they can sell Malaysia to Singapore. It is unclear
why Singapore would actually want to control Malaysia when they are
doing so well and it is also unclear the legal mechanisms to make this
possible, but hey, if it is in the blogs, then it must be true. Only the
Government should sell land to Singaporeans and let Singaporeans invest
here, because they know how to deal with these kiasu people (see
Americans above).
There
are many more bogeymen in this country. But the ones listed here are
the most dangerous. We must therefore render our fullest and
unquestioning support for the Government's efforts to exorcise these
bogeyman so that we can live as one in a moderate Muslim country.
> The views expressed are entirely the writer's own.
Malaysian Meteorological Department Says JMA Did Not Issue Tsunami Warning In Borneo As Claimed
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 (Bernama) -- The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) had never issued a warning of an imminent tsunami within the next 36 hours in the Borneo, as reported…
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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 (Bernama) -- The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) had never issued a warning of an imminent tsunami within the next 36 hours in the Borneo, as reported in the social media.
According to a spokesman from the National Tsunami Early Warning Centre of the Malaysian Meteorological Department, the agency did not issue such a warning or detect any earthquake in the region.
"We had checked with JMA and they did not issue such a warning whether on tsunami or earthquake," he told Bernama Thursday night.
The spokesman however, did not rule out the possibility of strong winds and heavy rain in Sabah.
Meanwhile, Sabah Meteorological Department director Abdul Malek Tussin said the department had also not issued any warnings of a tsunami.
"I do not understand how such a report has come out," he said.
The social media was abuzz with news that there would be a tsunami in Borneo within the next 36 hours, causing panic among people living in Borneo, especially Sabah.
The Facebook posting was still around when Bernama carried out a check on the internet.
▲
According to a spokesman from the National Tsunami Early Warning Centre of the Malaysian Meteorological Department, the agency did not issue such a warning or detect any earthquake in the region.
"We had checked with JMA and they did not issue such a warning whether on tsunami or earthquake," he told Bernama Thursday night.
The spokesman however, did not rule out the possibility of strong winds and heavy rain in Sabah.
Meanwhile, Sabah Meteorological Department director Abdul Malek Tussin said the department had also not issued any warnings of a tsunami.
"I do not understand how such a report has come out," he said.
The social media was abuzz with news that there would be a tsunami in Borneo within the next 36 hours, causing panic among people living in Borneo, especially Sabah.
The Facebook posting was still around when Bernama carried out a check on the internet.
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