Bible Society on a wing and a prayer

It wishes that the 1988 enactment will be rescinded but mindful of realities, it hopes authorities would stick to the 10-point agreement signed in 2011
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PETALING JAYA: The…

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It wishes that the 1988 enactment will be rescinded but mindful of realities, it hopes authorities would stick to the 10-point agreement signed in 2011
VIDEO INSIDE

PETALING JAYA: The Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) is hoping against hope that the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988 will be repealed.

Its president Lee Min Choon, however, admitted that the removal would cause another set of problems.

“I would like to see the state law repealed. This is also the stand of the Bible Society. People co-existed peacefully until 1988,” said Lee.

“There are many people, politicians and bloggers who have called for the removal of the enactment but it would create another set of problems,” said Lee, a lawyer by profession.

“As such we have no plans to call for the removal of state law but we can hope,” he said.

Yesterday, Lee and his general secretary, Reverend Simon Wong were arrested by the police in a raid conducted by Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais).

Jais officials confiscated about 300 copies of the Al-Kitab (Malay Bibles) and 20 copies of Bup Kudus (Iban Bibles) catering mainly for Christians from Sabah and Sarawak.

The raid was conducted in accordance with the 1988 enactment.

The Bible Society of Malaysia was established in 1985 to provide Bibles in various languages to the Christian community.

Prior to that, Christians obtained their bibles from the Bible Society Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

Lee told FMT that the enactment was actually an off-shoot of Operasi Lalang in 1987.

He said there were inter racial issues in Terengganu in 1981 and the Terengganu BN was the first to table such an enactment. However after Ops Lalang, all the states began to follow suit.

‘Democracy is not rule of the majority’

Lee added that the authorities should just stick to the 10 point agreement made in 2011 as a solution to the current debacle.

“We have been in discussions with the officials at the Home Ministry since 2004 until 2011. We even agreed to print the cross on the bible on the cover and state it is a Christian publication,” he said.

Lee was also asked to comment on the Selangor Sultan’s decree which prohibits non-Muslims from using ‘Allah’ in November 2013.

“It puts a burden on Christians. The word ‘Allah’ has been used by indigenous Christians in this region for the past 400 years.”

When asked if the state government has done enough to protect the interests of Christians, he gave a philosophical reply.

“Democracy is not rule of the majority. When people don’t understand this, it becomes tyranny of the majority.

“The state and federal governments have an obligation to protect human rights of the minority. That

is the hallmark of a democracy,” said Lee.

The question about the role of the state government was raised because Jais comes under the purview of the state as provided for under the Federal Constitution.

At 12 noon, Lee had a meeting with two representatives from the Prime Minister’s Department.

“The officials from the Prime Minister’s Department understood our position. We told them about the raid. They have requested for more time and space to resolve the issue,” he said.

Meanwhile, three DAP Selangor lawmakers, Yeo Bee Yin (Damansara Utama), Rajiv Rishyakaran (Bukit Gasing) and Lau Weng San (Kampung Tunku) said they would propose that amendments be made to the enactment.

“It should not be used to restrict anyone from practising and professing their own religion in their preferred language,” the trio said in statement, adding that the amendments would also ensure that Muslims continue to be protected from proselytisation.

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Non-Muslim residents of Lyari afraid of returning home

KARACHI: “There were five of them,” she said while holding her young child with one arm and hiding her face with the other.

That’s how the young mother of three,…

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KARACHI: “There were five of them,” she said while holding her young child with one arm and hiding her face with the other.

That’s how the young mother of three, and a victim of gang-rape, started narrating her ordeal at a press conference called at the Karachi Press Club by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Thursday.

On Dec 10, Human Rights Day, she was on her way to her uncle’s place near Moosa Lane when she was stopped by the men who demanded she call her brother. “When I didn’t comply, they kidnapped me and took me to my sister’s old place at Slaughter House in Baghdadi. The place was vacant. My sister had fled her home a couple of months ago. That was where they tortured me while threatening me with guns and grenades. It went on for over two hours,” she said.

Later, she said, she managed to flee when the men were talking to each other while shifting her to a torture cell somewhere else.

The incident was the aftermath of the Oct 26 attack when Lyari gangsters had entered Slaughter House, which was until then considered a peaceful abode of Christians and Hindus, to beat up its residents.

Today, some 500 families who lived there don’t have a roof over their heads.

“We shift from one relative’s home to another because we can’t return to our own,” said Rubina Yusuf, whose husband, Yusuf Iqbal Masih, was murdered that day. “He was a poor kabari who cared for his community. He tried to solve the problems of all coming to him for help but now he is no more. And his four young boys and wife are left homeless,” she wept.

“The men came at around noon. The children were at school then and I was about to go to pick them up when four to five men banged at our door asking for my husband. He went out to speak with them but they dragged him away. Later I heard gunfire. A little boy then came to our place to tell me that they had killed Yusuf.

“Meanwhile, all the other houses in the vicinity were also being ransacked. While all this was happening our children were stuck at school as no one could go to pick them up from here. We were trapped here and they there. Some of us managed to run for help to the Rangers already present there due to the Lyari operation but they said they didn’t have orders to intervene. We were on our own. Somehow we escaped from there through the garbage dump. We left behind all our valuables and belongings.

“Slaughter House has been occupied by Christians and Hindus since 1916. I was born there as was my late husband and our parents,” she said. “We have seen good times here, too, but besides what happened the prettier of our girls are also being forced to marry Muslims against their will. If they don’t agree they face rape and even murder. I am grateful to God that He has given me sons, not daughters, as it is no longer safe to bring up girls here,” she said.

Amar Nath Motumaal, vice chairperson of the HRCP Sindh, said that earlier there were as many Hindus as Christians in Lyari but 25 per cent of the Hindus quietly migrated to India. “There are now 90pc Christians and 10pc Hindus at Slaughter House but after Oct 26 people from both communities have scattered all over Karachi,” he said while pointing out that Slaughter House was valuable property being eyed by Lyari gangs as well as some law-enforcement agencies.

“In 2001, the Karachi Municipal Corporation [KMC] wanted the block for itself. We had to go into

litigation to get a stay order to stay there. The trial went on for three to four years and finally the verdict was in the favour of religious minority residents. Now it looks like this, too, is linked to grabbing the property,” he added.

“Being members of minority groups, the displaced, who have been staying with relatives in places such as Akhtar Colony, Baldia, Manzoor Colony, Korangi, Landhi, Malir, etc, are afraid to come out to talk of the injustices they are facing. After throwing them out, the gangs of Lyari are using their homes for storing weapons,” said HRCP chairperson Zohra Yusuf.

“Though we have no proof of this but we see the Sindh Rangers, too, as having a part in the injustice carried out on minority families on Oct 26 as they did nothing while remaining bystanders,” she added.

Peter Bernard, who said he represents the Christian community of Lyari, recalled that he with the HRCP help wrote to the government, the director general of Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, and also police chief but no action was taken against the criminals. “Our people, getting constant threats, have also not been provided with any kind of security to enable them to return home and resume normal lives. Their children are missing school. They are a burden on the families they have moved in with. Killing our men and raping our women is a grave violation of human rights but nothing is being done to prevent it,” he said.

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Woman murdered for bearing six daughters

The Lahore High Court on Thursday took notice of a report of a woman murdered by her husband for giving birth to six girls. PHOTO: FILE

LAHORE: The Lahore High…

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The Lahore High Court on Thursday took notice of a report of a woman murdered by her husband for giving birth to six girls. PHOTO: FILE

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday took notice of a report of a woman murdered by her husband for giving birth to six girls.

The Complaints Cell ordered the Sheikhupura district and sessions judge to probe the matter and submit his comments and a report on the steps taken by the police.

Police said Amir had argued with his wife for bearing six daughters and a son.

They said he had previously drowned a 10-day-old daughter in a bucket of water, but the wife had not reported the matter.

The LHC Complaints Cell took notice and directed the D&SJ to look into the matter and submit a report in a week.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2014.

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Bar says Jais has no power to regulate other faiths, its raid on the Bible Society was illegal

The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) has no powers to regulate other faiths and any encroachment is unconstitutional, the Malaysian Bar said tonight amid outrage over the state agency seizing…

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The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) has no powers to regulate other faiths and any encroachment is unconstitutional, the Malaysian Bar said tonight amid outrage over the state agency seizing Malay and Iban Bibles yesterday.

Malaysian Bar president Christopher Leong (pic) said Jais' action was "unnecessarily provocative and unwise" at a time when Malaysians should be working towards national reconciliation and harmony.

"It is alarming that the religious body or enforcement agency of one religion would purport to have jurisdiction or purview over other religions. This is not what is envisaged under the Federal Constitution," he said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur tonight.

His comments came a day after Jais raided the office of the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) and confiscated more than 300 copies of the Alkitab (Bahasa Malaysia bible) and Bup Kudus (Iban bible), and arrested the organisation's president and officer manager.

Both men are now scheduled to present themselves to Jais on January 10, 2014.

Leong noted that Jais had taken action under the Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Amongst Muslims) Enactment No 1 of 1988 of Selangor which provides that state law may control or restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons professing the religion of Islam.

"The purpose of the said Selangor Enactment is therefore an enactment against the propagation of other religions to Muslims or the proselytisation of Muslims," he said.

He cited section 9(1) of the Selangor enactment that says a person commits an offence if he, in any published writing, or public or broadcast speech or statement, uses any of the words listed in Part I of the Schedule “pertaining to any non-Islamic religion,” while section 9(2) provides that a non-Muslim commits an offence if he uses any of the expressions listed in Part II of the Schedule. Part I lists 25 Arabic words and Part II lists 10 Arabic phrases.

It is apparent that the provisions of sections 9(1) and (2) are general in nature and ambit, and are not confined to the purpose stated in the preamble of the said Selangor Enactment and to the limits proscribed in Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution, he added.

Leong said these provisions purport to make it an offence to use the listed words or phrase and are general blanket prohibitions and offences, irrespective of whether the words or phrases are used in the course of, or for the purpose of propagation of a non-Islamic religion to Muslims.

"In such circumstances, resort to sections 9(1) and (2) would be ultra vires the said Selangor Enactment itself, as they go beyond the purpose and ambit of the said Selangor enactment as set out in its preamble, and as self-evident in its title.

"The impugned provisions are unconstitutional, inasmuch as they are unsupported by Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution," he said.

The lawyer said Article 11(3) of the Federal Constitution provided for each religion to be self-regulatory to facilitate inter-religious harmony.

"It is therefore, unconstitutional for JAIS, an Islamic body or enforcement agency to have jurisdiction, powers and ambit over other religions or persons professing other religions.

"This encroachment is, in any event, against the spirit of the Federal Constitution," said Leong.

This meant, he said, that any authorisation under section 10 of the enactment, or any notification or gazette purporting to vest Jais with such jurisdiction or powers, "would be repugnant to the Federal Constitution".

In effect, Leong added, the raid, seizure and arrest by Jais was unconstitutional and illegal. - January 3, 2014.

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Muslim-Christian ties deteriorate while extremists celebrate

 

Muslims at a protest against the use of the word ‘Allah’ by Catholic churches in Kuala Langat yesterday. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, January 4, 2014.…

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Muslims at a protest against the use of the word ‘Allah’ by Catholic churches in Kuala Langat yesterday. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, January 4, 2014.

 What's up with the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais)? This seems to be the catch-all phrase when describing its raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia office on Thursday where some 300 Bahasa Malaysia and Iban Bibles were seized.

And the more some leaders and pundits struggle to come up with answers through the fog of silence that shrouds Jais, the more it looks like “politics” instead of “law” emerges as an explanation.

This latest incident also highlights (again) the persistent contradictions and problems in the ruling Barisan Nasional’s (BN) handling of the “Allah” issue.

Also, it reflects a deep gap in the understanding of Islam, not just among Muslims, but also the authorities who are supposed to be in charge with regulating its practice.

A cursory look at the case and the 1988 Selangor enactment that was used by Jais to justify the raid reveals some problems, a law expert told The Malaysian Insider.

Associate Professor Dr Azmi Sharom said that the enactment, which prohibits the use of 35 Arabic words and phrases, including “Allah” and “nabi” by non-Muslims, was to prevent proselytisation or attempts to convert Muslims.

This is evident in the title of the enactment itself: Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation among Muslims) Enactment 1988.

“Books lying in a building are not evidence of proselytisation, even if they contain the term ‘Allah’,” said Azmi of Universiti Malaya.

To prove proselytisation, there has to be an act of one person giving the Bible to another with the expressed intent to convert, he added.

But even such an act can be challenged.

“Anyone can still go into a bookstore to buy a Bible. Muslims can also read the Bible if they need to study it. So how is Jais going to make this distinction?”

Azmi also pointed out that there was no federal law banning the use of “Allah” in Christian holy books.

The October 14, 2013 decision by the Court of Appeal to affirm the home minister's right to ban the use of the term “Allah” by Christians only applies to the Catholic weekly Herald.

As had been pointed out on numerous occasions by politicians and lawyers, Bibles of all languages, including Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia, could still be imported and used in the country.

The term “Allah” appears in Bahasa Malaysia Bibles widely used by the Christian Bumiputera communities of Sabah and Sarawak, who worship in Bahasa Malaysia.

Also, it was unclear whether Jais, as an organisation that regulated the practice of Islam, has any jurisdiction against non-Muslims, said Azmi.

“Going by the reports, Jais did not even have a warrant to conduct the raid.”

For PAS leader Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Jais' contradicting behaviour in the raid further tarnished the image of Islam among non-Muslims.

“Unless Jais comes up with firm evidence that Christians were propagating to Muslims, then the whole raid was an act of stupidity and ignorance.”

And instead of promoting “true” Islam he said, the authority which was supposed to regulate the faith, risked further confusing Muslims themselves.

“When there is misunderstanding, people in the extreme right take advantage the issue,” said Mujahid, who is also Parit Buntar MP.

Mujahid has been actively going around churches to explain the “Allah” ruling on the Herald and how the decision did not reflect true Islam.

As he and other PAS leaders have consistently argued, “Allah” cannot be a term exclusive only to Muslims.

However, both he and the party agree with the Federal Constitution’s ban on preaching to Muslims.

Just as Jais has to clear the air on the raid, Christian leaders, Mujahid argued must come out strongly and state that there has been no intention of converting Muslims.

Although Jais’ motives are still unclear, their effect on Muslims and Christians are not.

Christians are livid while Muslims, such as Azmi, Mujahid and prominent preacher Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin are shaking their heads in disbelief.

The only ones elated by the whole episode were the Malay supremacists and right-wingers, said Mujahid, such as Perkasa, Isma and elements within Umno.

Though these groups have insisted that the ban on “Allah” was to protect the sanctity of the faith, Mujahid argued that it was a stand taken more out of political interest.

Mujahid’s and PAS’ position on Allah has been echoed and supported by numerous well-regarded Muslim scholars worldwide.

Christian communities in the Middle East and in Indonesia continue to use “Allah” with no prohibitions.

It is a mystery as to why officers and experts within institutions such as Jais and ministers in the BN government continue to differ with world opinion on the use of “Allah”.

After all, if Malay Muslims can still be confused by the use of “Allah” by Christians, then what have they been learning for 11 years in primary and secondary school?

Wouldn’t they have learnt something as basic as this in all those compulsory classes? So that when Malay Muslims reach adulthood, they know Islam and its relation to the other Abrahamic faiths, such as Christianity and Judaism?

And if Malay Muslims are so vulnerable to be led astray can Umno – which has been responsible for religious education for the past 50 years – claim that it has really served the interests of Malay Muslims?

“If there is true ignorance, we can explain to them (Malay Muslim authorities),” Mujahid said. “But I feel the motives (behind not solving the ‘Allah’ issue amicably) are determined by emotions and politics.” – January 4, 2014.

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Join protest, bloggers, social media urged

Soldariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) has urged all media practitioners, including bloggers and proponents of the social media, are urged to take part in the Angry Media Movement’s (Geramm) 'red…

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Soldariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) has urged all media practitioners, including bloggers and proponents of the social media, are urged to take part in the Angry Media Movement’s (Geramm) 'red pencil' protest tomorrow.

Geramm’s propaganda director Edy Noor Reduan (left) said in a statement today that all media practitioners are exposed to "iron fist punishments" handed out by the authorities following the indefinite suspension of news weekly The Heat that was imposed on Dec 19.

In the protest that starts in front of the Bar Council on Lebuh Pasar Besar in Kuala Lumpur at 2pm tomorrow, the group of media personnel and other supporters will demand for press freedom and for revocation of the suspension order on The Heat.

The weekly was suspended shortly after it ran a story about the spending traits of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor, though the Home Ministry has denied that this was the reason for its suspension.

Edy said that if a report from any media outlet is inaccurate, affected parties have avenues to pursue legal action.

"The suspension of The Heat is discrimination against media personnel and closes the space for other media outlets to relay the truth. If The Heat can get suspended, others too can suffer a similar fate," he added.

Bring red pencils along

Geramm has encouraged those who wish to join the protest tomorrow to wear red and also to being red pencils, the theme of the protest, with them.

Participants will gather along the sidewalks and restaurants near the Bar Council before the protest starts with a prayer recital, followed by the declaration of Geramm's eight demands for press freedom.

The ‘red pencil’ protest is to act as a symbolic message to convey the opposition of journalists to restrictions on press freedom that exist in the country.

In a separate statement, Geramm also advised those taking part in the protest to refrain from making partisan slogans during the event, as all calls should correspond to the battle for press freedom.

"All slogans should correspond to the call for press freedom, not to provoke any party," it said.

All editors, journalists and columnists in the industry are invited to join the protest, with civil society members and supporters also welcome.

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Police 'assure safety' of The Herald editor

Following intimidation from Muslim groups intending to stage a protest outside a church in Klang, police have given the editor of the Catholic weekly the Herald, Father Lawrence Andrew, “an…

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Following intimidation from Muslim groups intending to stage a protest outside a church in Klang, police have given the editor of the Catholic weekly the Herald, Father Lawrence Andrew, “an assurance of safety”.

Contacted by Malaysiakini, Father Lawrence said he was called up by a Special Branch officer at 9.40am today and subsequently he went to police district headquarters in Klang.

“Three officers were there... We had a little chat for about 30 minutes and they gave me an assurance of my safety,” he said.

Father Lawrence (right) said the officers were calm and friendly during the short meeting.

The Klang District Muslim Solidarity Secretariat is reported to have said that its members will march to the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Klang on Sunday to deliver a protest note should Lawrence fail to withdraw his statement over the continuous usage of the word 'Allah' by Christians in the country.

Father Lawrence in his Dec 27 statement had said churches in Selangor will continue to use the word Allah, despite the intention of the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) to send the churches a reminder against its use by non-Muslims.

The Klang District Muslim Solidarity Secretariat also urged him to apologise to Muslims and Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah on Sunday, as demanded by several other Muslim groups as well.

No probe by the police

Father Lawrence urged churchgoers to remain calm and attend the weekend service on Sunday as usual.

He also refuted claims that the police were investigating his statement on the use of the word ‘Allah’ in churches in Selangor.

“There is nothing to be investigated. I was just stating what the Federal Constitution states,” he stressed.

Father Lawrence was quoted as saying that the word ‘Allah’ would be used in Catholic churches in the state in its weekend services in Bahasa Malaysia, as Article 11(3) (A) of the constitution prescribes that every religious group has its right to manage its own religious affairs.

To this, Selangor police chief Mohd Shukri Dahlan, too, denied that the police were calling Father Lawrence to record statement.

“I told them (reporters) that police will investigate every report lodged, and the relevant people related to the cases will be called for investigation.

“But I did not say that we are looking for Father Lawrence,” Shukri said.

Churches lodge reports against Umno, NGOs

In a related development, about 20 churches in the Klang Valley have lodged numerous police reports against Umno and several Muslim non-governmental organisations that have threatened to hold protests outside the churches on Sunday.

A spokesperson for the churches and lawyer Annou Xavier said the purpose of lodging the reports was to ensure the safety of those attending the Sunday service.

“We want to ensure the safety of the parishioners and those who attend the Sunday service.”

“The church is also concerned over a possible repeat of churches being targeted for arson attacks, as what happened to the Metro Tabernacle Church on Jan 8, 2010. We also want to avoid any similar untoward incident from taking place,” Annou told Malaysiakini.

The arson attacks on the churches and other places of worship followed a decision made by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Dec 31, 2009, in declaring the Home Ministry's ban on the use of ‘Allah’ in Catholic weekly the Herald as wrong and unconstitutional.

It was reported that several Umno members and NGOs have lodged police reports against the Herald editor Lawrence Andrew over his statement that the Catholic Church in Selangor will continue to use the word ‘Allah’ in the Bahasa Malaysia service.

They gave Father Lawrence until tomorrow or the groups will protest outside the churches on Sunday.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has also criticised Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin for allegedly supporting the protest by Selangor Umno.

Annou also advised Christians and churchgoers to remain calm and not to engage with the protesters.

“The Christians are urged to welcome these protesters with an open heart and perhaps even invite them for morning tea as these people are ignorant and considered lost ‘sheep’,” he said.

Meanwhile, Utusan Malaysia quoted Shukri as saying police have recorded statements from ten individuals over Lawrence's call for the continued use of ‘Allah’ by Christians in the state.

However, he added that Lawrence was not among the ten.

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'PM jetting around in new luxury aircraft?'

 

Amid austerity measures, pro-Umno bloggers are questioning whether Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is now jetting across the country in a new luxury aircraft.

In blog postings by, among…

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Amid austerity measures, pro-Umno bloggers are questioning whether Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is now jetting across the country in a new luxury aircraft.

In blog postings by, among others, Big Dog and RockyBru, they pointed to an Airbus ACJ320 with tail number 9H-AWK using the call number, "Perdana 2" or "NR2" - which incidentally are similar to Najib's initials.

The aircraft is registered in Malta and leased from aviation group Comlux.

According to aviation news website Aviation Week, Jet Premier One (M) Sdn Bhd, the company which manages flights for VVIPs in Malaysia, including Najib, had indeed leased the Airbus ACJ320 from Comlux.

The lease was supposed to be a temporary replacement for the regular aircraft Najib uses, an Airbus ACJ319, being refurbished by Comlux Aviation Services.

The Airbus ACJ319 with tail number 9M-NAA operated under the call name “NR1” or “Perdana 1” and is the official aircraft for the prime minister, similar to that of the US president’s Air Force One.

It first came under the spotlight in 2011 when Najib flew on the Airbus ACJ319 to Perth, Australia, apparently on holiday.

In a press release by Comlux May last year, the company had announced it had won a contract to rework the VIP area of the Airbus ACJ319 as well as handle scheduled maintenance works for six years.

The company did not specify the value of the project.

In the interim, Comlux leased an Airbus ACJ320 with tail number 9H-AWK to Jet Premier One.

It took over the call name of  “NR1” and "Perdana 1" and was spotted taking off from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Oct 6 to Denpasar Internatonal Airport, Bali, according to flight enthuasist site Jet Photos.

Najib left for Bali on Oct 6 for the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (Apec) Summit.

'RM27k an hour operate'

The aircraft comes with a lounge, a private room equipped with personal bathroom and has wifi and phone access while in the air.

Comlux did not reveal how much the plane was leased for but according to the company's brochure, the approximate operating cost for its Airbus ACJ320 flight is US$8,350.31 (RM27,501.75) per hour.

In another press statement in October last year, Comlux announced that it has completed refurbishing the “head of state of Malaysia aircraft” Airbus ACJ319 after working on it since its arrival at its US base in June that year.

Despite the return of the plane, the lease for the Airbus ACJ320 appears to be still active and has been spotted jetting around in Malaysia.

The Airbus ACJ320 changed its call name to "NR2" or "Perdana 2" while the ACJ319 took back its call name "NR1" or "Perdana 1".

According to air traffic tracker website Flight Radar 24, the Airbus ACJ320 with tail number 9H-AWK last took off from KLIA under the call name "NR2" on Dec 31.

The site also recorded the Airbus ACJ319 with tail number 9M-NAA taking off from KLIA on Dec 26 under the call name "NR1".

In a parliamentary reply on Nov 7 last year, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Shahidan Kassim revealed that the government spent RM14.95 million for fuel and RM160.08 million in maintenance for VVIP flights in 2012.

The government aircraft include a Falcon, Global Express, Boeing Business Jet, Blackhawk, two Augustas and a Fokker F28.

However, that reply did not mention either the Airbus AC319 or Airbus ACJ320.

‘PMO says aircraft lease over’

In an immediate response, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the lease of the Airbus ACJ320, which started on Feb 1, 2013, ended on Dec 31 that year.

The PMO added that the lease of the Airbus ACJ320 was necessary due to a shortage of government aircraft.

Prior to this, it said the government had five aircraft, namely the ACJ319, BBJ, Fokker F28, Global Express and Falcon 900.

“In August 2012, the Fokker F28 aircraft was decommissioned as it was over 30 years old and was not replaced.

“Last year, the BBJ and ACJ319 were scheduled for compulsory maintenance. The BBJ went through maintenance between January to July 2013 while the ACJ319 went through maintenance between June 15 to Oct 8, 2013.

“As such, the PMO which is responsible for special government aircraft took the decision to lease the ACJ320 to overcome the shortage of aircraft,” it said.

The PMO added that the aircraft were not exclusively for Najib but is also used by the Agong, sultans, yang di-pertuas, ministers, deputy ministers, foreign guests to the federal government, senior government officials and VIPs.

It added that the aircraft allowed these individuals to move in and out of the country safely and helps with their busy schedule.

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Jais ‘forgot’ to inform state govt

No consultation was made with the state exco and the Menteri Besar prior to the raid yesterday.

PETALING JAYA: Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) forgot to inform the state exco…

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No consultation was made with the state exco and the Menteri Besar prior to the raid yesterday.

PETALING JAYA: Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) forgot to inform the state exco before conducting the raid on Bible Society of Malaysia, said Selangor state exco on Islamic affairs Sallehen Mukhyi.

“They said it slipped their mind and the raid was done as Jais felt that there was a breach of the 1988 enactment on the use of the word ‘Allah’. They did it without consulting the Menteri Besar’s Office and me,” said Sallehen when contacted today.

Sallehen was asked to comment on his meeting today with Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) director Ahmad Zaharin Mohd Saad.

“Ahmad Zaharin would be submitting his report to me. I am expecting it by the end of the day.

Yesterday Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) raided the Bible Society of Malaysia and confiscated 300 Malay and Iban language Bibles.

The society’s president Lee Min Choon and general secretary Simon Wong was arrested by the police and released yesterday.

The bibles were confiscated in accordance with the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988.

Today Lee and Wong had meetings with officials from the Prime Minister’s Department.

On the confiscated Al-Kitab and Bup Kudus, Sallehen said he was unsure whether the Bibles would be returned.

“I am not sure since a police case has been filed.”

On proposals to amend the state amendment, he said: “It is a big sensitive issue. It would be best if the proposals by DAP lawmakers are discussed in the Pakatan Rakyat presidential council.”

He said this in response to proposals from three DAP state assemblymen to amend the enactment so that it also protects the interests of the non-Muslims.

The trio are Yeo Bee Yin (Damansara Utama) Rajiv Rishyakaran (Bukit Gasing) and Lau Weng San (Kampung Tunku).

Tags: Sallehen Mukhyi, Jais, raid, Bible, Bible Society of Malaysia, DAP, Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988.

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Differing views on Jais’ authority to raid

While one legal expert says it is not empowered to conduct a search with or without a warrant, another says anyone can be arrested when it is an offence under…

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While one legal expert says it is not empowered to conduct a search with or without a warrant, another says anyone can be arrested when it is an offence under the 1988 enactment.

PETALING JAYA: Legal experts were mixed in their opinions on whether the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Jais) had the right to conduct a raid against the Bible Society of Malaysia.

Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee chairman Firdaus Husni said the Selangor’s administration of the religion of Islam only applies to offences committed by Muslims.

“In fact, the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988 does not at all empower Jais to conduct a search with or without warrant.

“Unless expressly provided, we should not read more than what is provided under the enactment,” she told FMT.

Jais yesterday raided the Bible Society and confiscated 16 boxes containing 320 Malay Bibles (Al-Kitab) and Iban language Bibles (Bup Kudus) which were largely purchased from Indonesia Subsequently Bible Society president Lee Min Choon, general-secretary Simon Wong and office manager Sinclair Wong were taken to the Damansara Utama police station to have statements recorded.

Lee claimed that Jais officials were harsh and had conducted the raid without a warrant.

Constitutional law expert Syahredzan Johan, on the other hand, cited Section 11 of the 1988 Enactment, where offences under the enactment were classified as seizable offences.

“As such, a person connected with the commission of such an offence may be arrested without a warrant,” said Syahredzan.

‘It’s a criminal act’

When asked on the position of a person who did not breach the enactment, he said: “Jais will just argue that there is reasonable suspicion to justify the arrest.”

Meanwhile, Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) adviser Latheefa Koya said Jais did not even have the right to get a warrant in the first place.

“It’s impossible for them to get a warrant. On what basis will they get a warrant? The only way is when they are looking for a Muslim who has breached the enactment.

“As far as we are concerned, it was a criminal act. The Bible Society should lodge a police report and Jais should be pressed for charges,” said Latheefa.

She stressed that such incidents have to be put to a halt since they will only create more tension between religions.

“The raid is a manifestation of a bigger problem. I think it was part of a sinister agenda in the making,” she said.

She also called on the Selangor state government to define the power it wields over Jais.

“There is confusion if Jais falls under the jurisdiction of the federal or state government. Although it is technically under the Selangor government, it does not come under its directive,” she said.

Selangor exco Sallehan Mukhyi who holds the religious affairs portfolio told The Malay Mail Online that he was not informed of the raid and could not confirm if it was ordered by the Sultan or otherwise.

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Kampung Hakka village head arrested

The village head and the PSM co-ordinator's intention was to make a police statement but it ended up with both being arrested.

PETALING JAYA: Kampung Hakka village head Chong Tze…

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The village head and the PSM co-ordinator's intention was to make a police statement but it ended up with both being arrested.

PETALING JAYA: Kampung Hakka village head Chong Tze Yaw and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) co-ordinator R Gandhi were arrested at the Mantin police station, this morning, when they went to give a statement following a protest that took place in November.

The protest by residents of Kampung Hakka,Mantin, was held in front of the developer, Mega 9 Housing Sdn Bhd’s office to show their unhappiness over the demolition of their houses in Oct. Both men were arrested under section 506, act of criminal intimidation.

PSM secretary general S Arutchelvan told FMT over the telephone, that according to the Mantin police station officers, a report had been lodged against Chong on Dec 30 by the developer.

The next day eight police officers went to Chong’s house in the middle of the night but Chong was not at home.

“When asked, the police informed us that it was just to take a statement from Chong.

“ So, today Chong accompanied by Gandhi went to the Mantin police station, whereby both of them were arrested and taken to Lengeng and Proga police station respectively.

“The police are misusing their powers, yet again,” he said.

Arulchelvan went on to say that if they had been informed earlier, by the police, regarding Chong’s impending arrest then they would have ensured that a lawyer was present.

“Now the villagers are making a counter report against the developer.”

He said that they were not sure as to the basis of the arrest as they have yet to meet the investigation officer.

In Oct, Arul claimed Mantin police officers arrested 12 villagers and hurt others in a brutal way when the villagers were trying to stop the demolition of their houses by the developer.

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Pemilihan PKR: Rafizi tanding Naib Presiden?

Dalam analisis ini, saya buat andaian siapa yang layak jadi Naib Presiden PKR yang kini disandang ahli parlimen Lembah Pantai, Nurul Izzah Anwar; ahli parlimen Batu, Tian Chua dan ahli…

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Dalam analisis ini, saya buat andaian siapa yang layak jadi Naib Presiden PKR yang kini disandang ahli parlimen Lembah Pantai, Nurul Izzah Anwar; ahli parlimen Batu, Tian Chua dan ahli parlimen Kuantan, Fuziah Salleh.
ANALYSIS

PETALING JAYA: Pada tahun lepas Umno, MCA, MIC, Gerakan, PAS, DAP , PBS, Upko sudah mengadakan pemilihan baru para pemimpinnya untuk menghadapi pilihanraya umum yang ke 14. Kini tiba pula giliran PKR mengadakan pemilihannya pada hujung bulan ini.

Tumpuan tertarik kepada pemilihan pemimpin utama. Adakah Ketua Pembangkang, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim akan mengambil alih jawatan Presiden PKR dari tangan isterinya, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail? Apakah Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim akan menentang ahli parlimen Gombak, Azmin Ali bagi jawatan Timbalan Presiden PKR?

Dalam analisis ini, saya buat andaian siapa yang layak jadi Naib Presiden PKR yang kini disandang ahli parlimen Lembah Pantai, Nurul Izzah Anwar; ahli parlimen Batu, Tian Chua dan ahli parlimen Kuantan, Fuziah Salleh.

Tiga orang Naib Presiden ini dipilih oleh perwakilan manakala ada juga Naib Presiden yang dilantik seperti Dr Mansor Othman, Datuk Seri Chua Jui Meng dan N. Surendran.

Adakah Dr Mansor, Chua dan Surendan berminat merebut kerusi Naib Presiden PKR? Takkan mereka berpuas hati sebagai Naib Presiden yang dilantik sahaja? Dr Mansor bekas setiausaha politik Anwar Ibrahim ketika beliau menjadi Timbalan Perdana Menteri.

Tidak dapat dipastikan sejauh mana kekuatan Dr Mansor jika beliau bertanding kerusi Naib Presiden PKR kerana sepanjang beliau menjafi Timbalan Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, beliau tidak menonjol. Malah di parlimen pun sebagai ahli parlimen Nibong Tebal beliau tidak hebat seperti Rafizi Ramli atau lain-lain ahli parlimen PKR.

Chua pula bekas Menteri Kesihatan yang kalah di Segamat di tangan Datuk Dr S. Subramanima. Jadi kalau perwakilan PKR memilih beliau sebagai Naib Presiden, beliau tidak dapat bersuara di parlimen. Manakala N Surendan ahli parlimen Padang Serai amat aktif di parlimen sehingga diarah keluar dari Dewan oleh Yang Dipertua Dewan Rakyat, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.

N. Surendan mampu menang Naib Presiden PKR jika beliau ambil keputusan mempertahankan jawatan itu melalui pertandingan. Tiga penyandang jawatan dijangka mempertahankan kerusi masing-masing.

Nurul Izzah dilihat sebagai pengganti Anwar Ibrahim apabila beliau bersara dari politik. Dua kali memenangi kerusi parlimen Lembah Pantai, Nurul Izzah dilihat bakal Presiden PKR di masa akan datang. Soalnya adakah rakyat Malaysia bersedia menerima wanita sebagai Perdana Menteri.

Inilah kelebihan PKR kerana memiliki dua orang wanita sebagai Naib Presiden manakala Umno belum bersedia memilih wanita sebagai Naib Presiden. Jika Pakatan Rakyat memerintah Malaysia 10 tahun lagi, adakah PAS bersedia menerima Nurul Izzah sebagai Perdana Menteri Malaysia?

Seperti kata Azmin Ali, jika Anwar bersara dari politik, PKR tetap hidup kerana sokongan rakyat kepada PKR bukan kerana Anwar tetapi kerana isu yang menyentuh hati rakyat yang dibawa oleh PKR.

Fuziah Salleh sebagai ahli parlimen Kuantan agak menonjol di parlimen. Mampukah beliau mengekalkan kerusi Naib Presiden? Usul tergempar mengenai banjir yang dibawanya di Dewan Rakyat tetapi ditolak oleh Yang Dipertua Dewan Rakyat melonjakkan nama Fuziah.

Tian Chua juga tokoh kontroversi PKR. Beliau sudah pasti mempertahankan kerusi Naib Presiden PKR.

Siapa lagi yang layak bertanding kerusi Naib Presiden? Bagi saya, ahli parlimen Pandan, Rafizi Ramli yang paling layak bertanding kerusi Naib Presiden PKR. Beliau selaku Pengarah Strategi PKR banyak membawa isu. Salah satunya isu PTPTN yang mahu menyenaraihitamkan peminjam PTPTN. Bantahan Rafizi disambut Ketua Pemuda Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin yang akhirnya kabinet mendengar suara Khairy di atas desakan Rafizi.

Rafizi dilihat sebagai pemimpin PKR di masa hadapan. Oleh itu jika beliau bertanding kerusi Naib Presiden, beliau ada peluang untuk menang. Alangkah ruginya kalau perwakilan PKR tidak memilih orang sebijak Rafizi sebagai Naib Presiden.

Sekurang-kurangnya lima orang dijangka bertanding kerusi Naib Presiden PKR pada hujung bulan ini iaitu Nurul Izzah, Tian Chua, Fuziah Salleh, N Surendran dan Rafizi Ramli. Terulanglah kepada perwakilan PKR untuk membuat keputusan.

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Let's see some nation-first leadership

ONE thing you learn from driving school is to plan your journey before you set off.

This good advice holds for any journey really, including Malaysia's route to 2020 –…

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ONE thing you learn from driving school is to plan your journey before you set off.

This good advice holds for any journey really, including Malaysia's route to 2020 – the year it aims to be a developed and high-income nation. Not only is proper, comprehensive and goal-oriented planning needed, but some precise navigation is required as well. And bipartisan consensus, which is what Parliament – if it works properly – is meant to secure for the country.

What is the best route to take to get there from here? What are the hindrances?

The fact is that Malaysians are still fighting over where it is they are actually going. Is the country working towards the creation of a "Bangsa Malaysia" or an Islamic state? Towards a Malay-first polity that must lean towards religion in global orientation or a pluralistic society easily adaptive of the region's ethnic diversity? Towards becoming a bright example of multicultural vigour or being held hostage by racial populism?

Nation building, I am sure most people would agree, is about developing a rational and practical discourse alongside economic policies that deliver common goods to citizens. It is also about creating a strong sense of national togetherness and common purpose as well as inculcating an understanding of the country's effective place in the world at large.

Malaysia's economy is, and has always been, global in orientation, yet its domestic politics has not only been introverted but also advertently divisive. This irony may have had limited consequence in the days of the Cold War when the whole world was also aggressively divided into two. Malaysia benefited politically from this much larger global split, and economically from the fact that communist countries in the region were in no position to compete with it.

Those days are gone and the game has changed. Malaysia must now deal with numerous countries for foreign direct investments now, and the dissonance between internal politics and external economics now reverberates very loudly. The country had been developing, no doubt, but it now finds itself caught in the middle-income trap. But one cannot remain there indefinitely – the mobility of capital and human resources is simply too easy now.

What Malaysia needs on the last stretch towards 2020 is a strong consensus on what the goals for the country are, and how to get there. It boils down to the government taking serious steps to minimise social tensions, closing the income gap, improving governance, and enhancing economic growth – and doing these all at once.

Fifty years after Malaysia was founded, it is a time for nation builders to take the lead again. The demagogues need to be relegated into a corner.

Since the Cold War ended, Malaysia has been caught in a pendulum swing between broad developmental goals and partisan politics, and with every swing, some momentum is lost. A day of reckoning draws near.

In 1991, then premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad came up with a commendable and elaborate list of goals towards which the country was to work over the coming three decades. These were, however, forgotten after the 1997/98 financial crisis hit the region and the country.

Five years after that, Tun Abdullah Badawi, who took over as premier, profiled himself as a reformer and even propounded an approach to Islamic thinking that would minimise tensions between religious dogmatism and democratic governance.

This proved a big hit and he won a landslide victory in the 2004 general election. Soon after that, however, the pendulum started swinging back, and already in 2005, both his ambitious reforms and his advocacy of Islam Hadhari were being silenced by a sharp rise in Malay ethnocentrism within his own party.

Voters reacted strongly to this change and Barisan Nasional suffered bad results in the election in March 2008, and Abdullah forfeited the leadership of his party the following year.

Reading the ground correctly, his successor Datuk Seri Najib Razak took on Abdullah's original mantel and also styled himself a reformist prime minister. "1 Malaysia" was his all-encompassing slogan.

Over the next four years, he had a hard time trying to force the pendulum to go his way. Try as he would with slogans and transformation programmes, his lack of consistency was too glaring for him to steer the political direction the country was heading in. Bipartisanism had become total. Grounds for consensus across the coalitional divide no longer existed, as was seen in the 2013 election, which split the electorate into two equal halves.

The year 2020 is now only six years away. What are the milestones to mull over? Only one federal election need to be called before that, and that is not before 2018. The wider context to note is that Malaysia will be Asean chair in 2016, in face, the morning after Asean officially becomes an integrated economic community.

The global balance of power will continue to shift in the meantime. China and India will continue to grow in influence. The US will revert to a white president which will, in all probability, lessen the institutional trauma and paralysis that the country's democracy seems to have been suffering from since Barack Obama, against all odds, became president in 2008.

Regional powers like Japan and South Korea will be manoeuvring their way in between the bigger powers, and Indonesia's economy will expand substantially before it hits expected limits.

Malaysia has one last shot at realising the potential most people have always thought it had. What it needs now is the kind of old-school consensus-seeking, eye-to-the-ball, nation-first leadership exhibited by the country's first generation of leaders.


Ooi Kee Beng is deputy director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. His latest book is Done Making Do (Genta & ISEAS, 2013). This article was published in The Edge Malaysia Dec 30-Jan 5 issue.

Read more: http://www.fz.com/content/lets-see-some-nation-first-leadership#ixzz2pNbE8vpd

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Of mad mullahs and mangled muftis

When will we ever see people respecting each other for what they believe in and to pray by whichever way they feel safe, at peace, and connected as what 'religion'…

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When will we ever see people respecting each other for what they believe in and to pray by whichever way they feel safe, at peace, and connected as what 'religion' derived from the Latin 'religio' means, i.e. connectedness (to a higher and greater consciousness)?

Why can't the Shiites and Sunnis stop fighting? Why can't we focus on larger issues such as the future of our children through the fixing of our education system, or to make sure that our streets are safe, to bring back local elections so that our democracy will be stronger, or to ensure that our leaders are doing what they are supposed to be doing since they are servants to the people they begged votes from?

But what do we still have? Pathos, thanatos, and the loss of eros. Of hubris and hamartia. Of poetic injustices year after year. That's what we have. Another year of diabolical doings left undone.

Malaysians are ushering into a new year not with renewed hope to make things better for intercultural, inter-religious relations, nor to make it a time of reflection and reconciliation but to read more of the ridiculousness of ethnocentrism and religious bigotry renewed with bigger dose of insanity, threatening to make 2014 another Malaysian year of living dangerously.

Why do we see Christians being persecuted more and more these days, in regard to the recent threats to arrest those who give their sermons using the word 'Allah' to refer to the Almighty those of the monotheistic faith share in reverie?

Why must we read about the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) threatening to raid churches that still want to use the word 'Allah' in the prayers they had been using even before the country gained independence?

And why must we read about the raid in the Bible Society of Malaysia and the confiscation of the holy books that will help Malaysians too become less and less violent, corrupt, and living a life of immorality, having 'Allah' too as a guide to the "siratul mustaqim" or the path of righteousness of the followers of the teachings of Isa/Jesus?

Utterly ridiculous raid is it not? Or because it is Malaysia, that anything ridiculous can happen in this half-baked modernised society?

Is there a secret plan to drive the Christians underground so that they may then pray to the same god only in secret? I hope there is none - because there will still be sane Muslims who will protect the rights of the Christians from being trampled by insane Muslims.

Why must we read about Umno Youth's plan to protest in all churches that are suspected of using the holy word to designate God; words used by Christians in the Arab land, even before Muhammad declared Islam as a renew religion and use the word 'Allah' too, to unify the Muslims and to craft a campaign of empire-building the world over?

‘What a way to start the new year’

And more ridiculous, as recent as yesterday, why are we reading yet another reiteration of a fatwa by this mufti from Perak who has nothing better to do than vomit nonsensical declaration that those who protested against the ridiculous price hikes can be called traitors and should be waged war against in the form of 'jihad fisabilillah' (holy war in the name of Allah).

The protesters were not armed with bombs strapped on their waist, were they? The protesters weren't running around amuck-latah carrying machetes, parang panjang, kapak siam or machine guns, were they?

Weren't they armed with anything dangerous except the call for the government not to further trample them with more hardships so that few in power can enjoy celebrating New Year with more champagne worth thousands of dollars to blow just that one night?

Isn't jihad supposed to be about speaking truth to power and wishing for a peaceful change through such a peaceful and legal gathering as what was demonstrated on the night the rakyat came down - to 'turun and turn' so that everything, prices and people intoxicated with power will bow down to the will of the rakyat?

Isn't that what Islam and all religions promoting the peaceful middle path call for?

What a mufti Perak has and what a way to force him to resign before he does any damage to Muslims too. But what will it take to force him to do that?
                              
What a way to start the new year!

As in a play in a French absurd theatre ala Oriflamme' and Metamorphosis, looks like another Kafka-esque year of sweeping dead corpses under the national carpet and shoving more skeletons in the closet of a sinking ship as we see more and more filth being revealed in the way the leaders-elected-on-a-minority-mandate try to hide their massive secrets of corrupt practices, conspicuous consumption, idiotic pride, nauseating arrogance, and sub-intelligence at a time when the rakyat is getting more and more impatient with everything they see, read, hear and feel about the way the country is governed.

Instead of Auld Lang Syne, at the stroke of midnight, we Malaysians should have chanted these verses in Dataran Merdeka:

Tahun Baru Gila

Tahun Kegilaan Baru

Crazy New Year!

Renewed Crazy Year!

Let us remain hopeful though and in our own way, work towards peaceful change. We must continue to light the candle and not curse the darkness.

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DR AZLY RAHMAN, born in Singapore and grew up in Johor Baru, holds a Columbia University (New York City) doctorate in International Education Development and Masters degrees in four areas: Education, International Affairs, Peace Studies and Communication. He has taught more than 40 courses in six different departments and has written more than 350 analyses on Malaysia.

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Leaders appeal for calm

Malay Mail 
by FAIZAL NOR IZHAM

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 — Political leaders from both sides of the divide urged the public to remain calm following yesterday’s raid by…

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Malay Mail 
by FAIZAL NOR IZHAM

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 — Political leaders from both sides of the divide urged the public to remain calm following yesterday’s raid by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) at the Bible Society of Malaysia’s (BSM) premises here.

Copies of both the Malay-language and Iban Bibles that contained the word ʻAllah’ were seized during the raid.

The society’s chairman, Lee Min Choon, and office manager, Sinclair Wong, were taken to a police station for questioning, then released on bail.

 

MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said enforcement groups should not take action without valid reasons as they could create an uproar.

“We still do not know the reasoning behind this and so I urge the relevant authorities to investigate. I’m concerned about this and will look into it myself,” he said.

Former Temerloh MP Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah also asked the people to keep calm while the matter was being handled.

“Malaysians are generally sensible people but when such actions are taken, people become unhappy,” he said.

“We are still getting information as to why Jais has conducted the raid.”

He said two ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department — Tan Sri Joseph Kurup and the minister in charge of Islamic affairs Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom — were in contact with each other over the issue. 

“Also, the National Unity Consultation Council, launched in November, will have its first meeting on Monday. As a member, I will bring up this matter.”

PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli asked the people to remain calm. 

“This is a delicate issue and it is important to look at it with the facts in hand,” he said.

Local churches also appealed for intervention from the federal and Selangor governments following the raid.

In a statement, the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) said the governments should step in and prevent a repeat of such actions.

“The CCM also calls on the prime minister, the menteri besar of Selangor and all Christian lawmakers to act immediately to stop such actions and future raids,” the statement, signed by the council’s secretary-general, Rev Dr Hermen Shastri, said.

It also noted that the raid had taken place “right at the beginning of the new year” and that it believed “Islamic bodies lack the powers to inspect non-Muslim places”.

“The CCM believes that Islamic authorities do not have the authority in law to enter the premises of non-Muslim religious establishments for inspection,” it said.

It also pointed to the guarantee of freedom to practise and regulate one’s own faith, a right enshrined in the  Federal Constitution.

“The Federal Constitution guarantees by Article 11 (3) the right of religious communities in Malaysia to establish and maintain institutions and premises to freely profess and administer their affairs,” it said.

“The CCM further calls upon the churches in the country to stay calm, and pray that the proper authorities will act with wisdom and sensitivity and protect religious rights as provided under the Federal Constitution.”

Health Minister and MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam hoped the matter could be resolved amicably. 

“Religion is a sensitive and emotional issue. The nation has been built on the basis of understanding, tolerance and mutual respect. I hope all parties will exercise restrain and remain calm,” he said.

“I believe the present situation can be resolved in the spirit of national unity.”

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Government Will Continue To Provide Best Public Transport System - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the government will continue to provide the best public transport system for the people.

"We will continue to…

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KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the government will continue to provide the best public transport system for the people.

"We will continue to strive to provide the best public transport system," the Prime Minister said in his Tweet tonight.

He was commenting on the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) annual report that public transport usage in the Klang Valley continues to rise.

The report said the number of trips during morning peak hours rose 9 per cent to 5.7 million trips in 2013 compared to 5.3 million trips in 2012.

According to SPAD, the number of passengers during the morning peak hours daily rose to 827,000 in 2013 compared to 635,000 in 2012.

The report also found that city rail passengers surpassed bus passengers as rail accounted for 52 per cent of public transport users.

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