'Tudung' singer accepts apology in the spirit of Chinese New Year

Jabhat al-Nusra Insists on Destroying the Cherubim Monastery in Saidnaya

Militants from Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Qaeda) in collaboration with the Ghuraba' (Foreigners) Brigade have attacked the Cherubim monastery in Saidnaya, located on the highest hilltop in the Qalamoun mountain range. The militants have unsuccessfully been trying to sneak into and attack the monastery for the last couple of months. This time, they were able to start destroying the monastery, while aiming to bring down what they perceive as the "idolatrous" statue of Jesus.

Polygamist politician with FOUR wives thrashes out in divorce in UK court

A foreign politician is involved in a divorce cash fight in a London court after his marriage to one of his FOUR wives broke down.

The foreign national was ordered to pay £20,000 a month after wife number four moved to UK following break up of marriage

The man, who is in his 60s but was not named, has four wives because polygamy is permitted in his home country. Wife number four is an Egyptian who moved to the UK with the couple's two children following the failure of their marriage.

The woman, who had run up legal fees of more than £200,000, asked for £38,000 a month. But judge Mr Justice Mostyn said that was "disproportionate" and said she should get £20,000 a month until the next hearing - due to be held on February 21.

He also ordered the man to pay the children's school fees due this month.

Details of the divorce have emerged in a written ruling by Mr Justice Mostyn in the Family Division of the High Court following a pre-trial hearing.

The judge said relations between the couple were "so antagonistic" that they could not agree on how much money the woman should get for herself and the children prior to the next scheduled hearing in February.

Mr Justice Mostyn said the couple had enjoyed a "high, possibly very high" standard of living.

He did not say where the man came from, but outlined some of his background.

"The husband is a foreign national, aged 62," said Mr Justice Mostyn in the ruling.

"He has four wives by virtue of polygamy being permitted in his home country, of which this wife is number four, who he married in 1999.

"In the 1990s, his involvement in politics in his home country led to self-imposed exile.

"He later returned, was tried and convicted and confined in prison until 2004, when he was released on house arrest, and released therefrom in 2006."

Group denies involvement in Tamil daily fracas

 

 Rajayoga Power Transcendental Meditation Centre Sdn Bhd, or better known as RPT, has today denied it was involved in yesterday’s attack at daily Tamil Malar's office.

The RPT support team, in an email reply to Malaysiakini, expressed shock over the incident and said it should not have happened.

“RPT is not involved in anyway with the incident at their (Tamil Malar) office as we are a law-abiding entity. We do not condone any such acts of violence as we believe in moderation.

“RPT strongly denies any involvement in the incident, and any attempt to link us to it is merely for some cheap publicity,” they said.

The new Tamil daily's office at Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, was attacked by three-parang wielding men at 11am yesterday.

Following the incident, Tamil Malar's managing editor SM Periasamy lodged a police report, in which he stated he suspected RPT of being behind the attack.

Mulling legal action against daily

RPT, founded by V Balakrishan, who is widely known as 'Datuk Seri Guruji' or 'coat-suit Guruji' as he always pictured in a suit.

Tamil Malar's editor Rajeswary Ganesan (left)  also claimed the attack was not the first experienced by the daily after exposing the alleged Guruji “cult”.

She alleged the daily has been harassed and threatened by an unidentified man through phone calls, warning them to stop writing about ‘Guruji’.

“However, we will not stop writing about it. Today we wrote that Guruji could come to sue us if he did not agree with what we write, but until now he still has not shown up,” Rajeswary was reported to have said.

RPT noted that the daily has been publishing articles against it, meant the tarnish its reputation.

“We have sought legal guidance pertaining to this matter and our solicitors are in the midst of preparing the legal paper work,” they said.

Palanivel’s leadership puts MIC in a dilemma

A party insider alleges that Palanivel is hard headed and never listens to any suggestions brought forward by members and fellow leaders

PETALING JAYA: The widespread criticism against the MIC President G Palanivel over his leadership style has put the party in a dilemma.

And it is not only the Malaysian Indians in general that have criticised him for his ‘silence is golden’ stand but also members from his own party.

In reality many MIC members are of the opinion that he should step down as the president after losing his voice within the federal government and at party level too.

“He should make way for his deputy Dr S Subramaniam for the sake of the party which is already divided into two camps,’ said a party insider.

In remaining anonymous, the party’s former central working committee (CWC) member stressed that Palanivel is too weak to handle MIC, the nation’s largest Indian-based party.

“He just do not care about the party since he took over the leadership from former president S Samy Vellu,” he told FMT.

“On numerous occasions, he put his own interest above the party’s benefit.

He also said that the CWC meetings chaired by Palanivel were just for namesake instead a forum to discuss the community’s woes.

“He just never listens to any ideas which are brought up in the CWC meetings,” he said.

“For example, during the 13th general-election, the party’s CWC gave a mandate to Palanivel not to give up any parliament or state assembly seat to BN component parties,” he said.

“However, Palanivel overruled the mandate by letting Umno grab two state assembly seats belonging to the Perak MIC, and in return the party was awarded an extra senatorship post,” he added.

Later, MCA allocated one of their state seat (Jelapang) ‘on loan’ to MIC, but MIC lost all their state seats it contested.

“During another CWC meeting, Palanivel shot down a proposal by S Vell Paari, who suggested the candidates in Penang.”

According to him, during the meeting Vell Paari had suggested the former youth treasurer J Dheenagaran and incumbent CWC member Henry Benedict Aasirvaatham be given the opportunity to contest under the BN banner in Bagan Dalam and Perai state seat respectively.

“Vell Paari also said that by fielding both the leaders it would give a tough fight to DAP.”

“However, Palanivel immediately dismissed his suggestion by claiming that MIC should not ‘disturb’ the DAP in Penang.”

“We, the CWC members, were shocked when Palanivel said DAP is doing an excellent job in Penang and let them remain in power,” added the former CWC member.

“Worse still, Palanivel added that he is a close friend of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Deputy Chief Minister (II) P Ramasamy. Thus, it is unprofessional for him to put strong candidates in Penang,” he added.

Contacted later, Vell Paari confirmed with FMT that his suggestion was turned down by Palanivel.

“I cannot remember which CWC meeting. But, I still remember that he rejected my view by saying that MIC should not disturb DAP in Penang,” said Vell Paari.

Selangor diancam bahaya sabotaj dalaman

Inilah masanya rakyat nak luahkan kemarahan mereka kepada BN khususnya kerajaan Pusat

PETALING JAYA: Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) dinasihati supaya tidak meletakkan calonnya bertanding dalam Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) N25 Kajang

Ahli Parlimen Shah Alam Khalid Samad berkata, PSM sepatutnya memberi laluan kepada PKR bersemuka dengan BN sekaligus dapat menumpukan usaha memenangkan Pakatan Rakyat.

“Seruan kepada PSM biarlah ini merupakan satu referendum antara Pakatan Rakyat dan Barisan Nasional (BN).

“Inilah masanya rakyat nak luahkan kemarahan mereka kepada BN khususnya kerajaan Pusat mengenai persoalan kos hidup dan harga barang,” katanya dalam sidang media di Pejabat Parlimen Shah Alam di sini hari ini.

PSM sebelum ini dalam laporan media tidak menolak kemungkinan akan bertanding di Kajang atas dorongan orang ramai yang mahu parti itu ‘memberi pengajaran kepada PKR’.

Sementara itu, Khalid turut mempertahankan tindakan bekas Adun Kajang Lee Chin Cheh meletakkan jawatan atas alasan mahu menyelamatkan Selangor daripada ancaman sabotaj dalaman.

Khalid berkata, pihaknya dimaklumkan PKR bahawa parti itu merasakan Selangor berada dalam ancaman kerana dua faktor utama.

Ancaman utama ialah wujudnya cubaan Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) merampas kembali Selangor dalam apa jua cara sekalipun termasuk usaha sabotaj daripada pihak tertentu yang mahu menggagalkan prestasi kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat.

Antaranya beberapa projek kerajaan negeri yang tak bergerak walaupun bajet sudah diluluskan.

“Ada juga tanah yang sepatutnya diberi kepada Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB) dan sudah diluluskan Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi Selangor (MTES) tapi tak ditukar-tukar namanya lebih setahun.

“Ini semua kerja-kerja sabotaj yang sedang berlaku atas sebab tertentu untuk menghalang keberkesanan dan akhirnya rakyat jadi marah…ini persoalan yang perlu ditangani,” katanya dalam sidang media di Pejabat Parlimen Shah Alam di sini hari ini.

Dakwanya, isu rampasan Bible juga merupakan salah satu isu sabotaj yang sengaja direka untuk mencalarkan imej pentadbiran negeri.

Selain itu, krisis dalaman PKR itu sendiri antara Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim dan Timbalan Pengerusi PKR Azmin Ali yang memerlukan penyelesaian cepat dan segera.

Ahli Jawatankuasa PAS Pusat itu berkata, soal perebutan Menteri Besar tak timbul kerana jawatan itu tidak boleh ditentukan oleh mana-mana parti.

Katanya, PKR, DAP, atau PAS tidak ada yang memperoleh 29 kerusi majoriti.

“Kalau nak ada perubahan Menteri Besar ia mesti mendapat sokongan 29 ADUN dan bagi PR ianya mesti dapat persetujuan Majlis Presiden Pakatan Rakyat.

“Jadi tidak ada apa cara PKR boleh tentukan Menteri Besar seorang diri,” katanya.

Beliau turut menyeru kepada semua ahli PAS membantu memenangkan Ketua Umum PKR Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim kekalkan kemenangan kerusi DUN Kajang dan akan bersama jentera PAS Shah Alam turun padang untuk membantu.

“Walaupun ada yang tak setuju tapi kita lebih tak setuju kalau kerusi Kajang jatuh ke tangan BN,” katanya yang menganggap kemarahan akar umbi PAS itu berpunca daripada khabar angin.

Beliau yakin ahli PAS perlahan-lahan akan terima Anwar sebagai calon DUN Kajang jika arahan diberikan pemimpin Pusat.

“Itu (kemarahan) luahan tertentu kerana kita tahu PAS akhirnya akan akur arahan pimpinan,” katanya.

Statewide polls could be triggered if Khalid steps down, claims lawyer

(MM) - The ongoing drama surrounding the Kajang by-elections could get much worse, with the possibility of statewide elections if swirling rumours that PKR may want to replace current Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim prove true, a lawyer claimed today.

By vacating his seat, Khalid would leave a void in the state’s executive arm and going by the state constitution, the entire executive council would be required to leave along with him, said human rights and constitutional lawyer Edmund Bon.

In his latest post on loyarburok.com, Bon said the Sultan of Selangor as head of state has the power to dissolve the assembly and pave the way for fresh elections if he isn’t convinced that there is a suitable replacement for Khalid who commands majority confidence in the state assembly.

“Given the intra-party factionalism in PKR, it would be unlikely His Royal Highness appoints the MB from PKR. Anyway, PKR is in the minority in PR,” he said, referring to the state’s ruling Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

PR is facing widespread criticism after PKR’s Kajang assemblyman, Lee Chin Cheh, abruptly quit the state assembly, giving an opening for his party’s de-facto chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to become a member of the state legislative assembly.

Lee’s sudden resignation came hot on the heels of media speculation that a state by-election was in the offing to make Anwar a Selangor lawmaker, qualifying him to take over the post of mentri besar from Khalid.

Kajang Folks please use your brain

No Democracy and Good Governance in PKR, only Cloak and Dagger Stuff

Nathaniel Tan, Malaysia Flip Flop

For years I defended Anwar Ibrahim. For years I defended PKR. I defended and I defended, until the day came where it became impossible to defend the indefensible. People always like to speculate whether people change their positions due to money. In all honesty, I think that’s a healthy speculation.

After yesterday’s article, more than one person asked about the profits I made working for the Selangor government. I had a good run, and earned a similar amount as the people I went to school with, for the three years I was with Selangor.

In the middle of last year, I was informed my services would no longer be required. They did not explain why at length (except perhaps to hint that I was costing too much), and I did not really ask or pursue the matter. My last day of work was around November 2013, and I have not had any professional engagement with them since.

Given the abrupt dismissal, perhaps people would have been less surprised if I had turned on Abdul Khalid Ibrahim instead of Anwar Ibrahim.

In any case, let’s get to it. Many people are throwing about words like ‘tactics’, ‘strategy’, ‘Mahathirism’, ‘racial and religious incitement’, ‘strengthening Pakatan Rakyat’, etc, etc.

I’ll spend a few words on all those later, but for my money, they have nothing to do with the most important implication of what is going on.

The murky game of cloaks and daggers

To me, the real problem pivots on how Anwar and his associates are running PKR in a manner that is completely bereft of transparency, accountability and democratic principles.

Let’s carry out a simple thought exercise: How did the decision to carry out the Kajang plan come about? I don’t know, do you? Many have speculated (myself included), many claim it happened one way or another, but the truth is: nobody outside the nebulous ‘inner circle’ has any idea.

PKR has a large supreme council that is mostly democratically elected, and a smaller political bureau. Can we say with confidence that members of both were given an opportunity to voice their opinions, much less be made fully aware of what was going on? Are there official minutes perhaps, that we might refer to?

Beyond PKR, there are the leaders of PAS and DAP, and there are the representatives of the Selangor State Assembly – all democratically elected as representatives by party members, and by the rakyat. How many of them had a say in the decision that would so heavily influence who would be the number one person in the Selangor state government? Were there broad consultations among party leaders, elected representatives, and (God forbid) the rakyat? Or was it presented to the world as a fait accompli?

The day Lee Chin Cheh (left) resigned his seat in Kajang, someone theoretically in the top 10 ranking of PKR leaders messaged me, saying: “I guess I’m always the last to know. Sigh” If he or she is the last to know, what more the rest of us?

This is the latest – and by my reckoning the last straw – in a culture of cloak and dagger politics within PKR that for too long now has circumvented transparency and democracy in favour of whispered deals made in backrooms that no one is privy to.

I suppose it was stupid of us to expect democracy from a party whose ‘de facto leader’ has no democratic mandate whatsoever. These issues have not been the focus of public attention, but in my mind, the implications of this style of politics continuing to spiral out of control is the most significant factor in the entire crisis.

‘The bigger picture’

All these years, I felt that despite these problems, it was important to maintain unity in order to fight the bigger enemy: UMNO. It’s a sad day when you turn around and realise that the people you’ve been fighting for have come to live and breathe so deeply the culture you thought you were fighting against.

Over the years, I have spent countless words trying to fight cynicism against politics, and speaking out against armchair critics who seem fueled mostly by self-righteous anger, and who never seem to get their hands dirty.

I did this because, like so many others, I wanted to concentrate on the big picture. I desperately wanted a Malaysia free of UMNO. On Tuesday, I realised how far some politicians would go in abusing and manipulating this desperation.

For too long now, I think Anwar, PKR and Pakatan have become convinced that they can get away with murder, because they believe those of us who hunger for change simply have no other options.

They assume we truly, truly will vote for Pakatan (and Anwar) no matter what, as long as no alternative (like another party, or say, Khalid) exists. I had always thought there was a limit as to how far they would go. It would appear not.

READ MORE HERE

Selesai segera isu kaum dan agama

Pelbagai pihak kini sedang memerhatikan dengan cemas segala perkembangan yang berlaku di tanah air, yang dilihat sangat membimbangkan.

Ini akibat segala isu yang berbangkit menuju ke arah maraknya api perkauman dan pertentangan agama sedang dibakar oleh pihak tertentu yang mempunyai pelbagai kepentingan dan keadaan ini sangat mencemaskan.

Isu berbangkit yang mana tidak diheret ke lembah perkauman dan pandangan agama sempit? Isu kangkung turun harga, isu kalimah Allah, GST dan keputusan PRU13 lalu di mana ada pemimpin negara menganggap sebagai 'tsunami Cina' berikutan kebanyakan pengundi bandar, khususnya pengundi Cina, menolak calon Barisan Nasional. Semuanya diheret menjadi isu perkauman.

Kini selepas lebih enam bulan PRU13, isu perkauman masih dimainkan dalam pelbagai variasi dan bentuk. Semuanya ini sangat membimbangkan.

Sehubungan itu, NGO Islam mengalu-alukan usaha Pakatan Rakyat untuk duduk bersama Umno/BN bagi membincangkan isu perkauman dengan segera bagi mencari formula terbaik demi memelihara kesejahteraan rakyat negara ini.

Presiden Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim), Amidi Abd Manan, berkata saranan Pakatan Rakyat itu wajar disambut oleh BN sekiranya mereka benar-benar ikhlas mahu menjaga kesejahteraan rakyat negara ini.

Katanya, Umno terutamanya wajar menerima cadangan itu kerana sering dilihat membakar api perkauman, jika benar-benar memikirkan kesejahteraan negara.

Beliau berkata, emosi rakyat sedang dibakar dengan api perkauman, maka sebelum ia menjadi tidak terkawal wajar pihak yang terlibat terutama pemimpin parti politik duduk bersama berbincang.

Menurut Abim, cadangan Pakatan Rakyat itu adalah satu tindakan yang menunjukkan kematangan berpolitik dan wajar disambut oleh Umno BN.

Sementara itu, Setiausaha Agung Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia (Ikram), Zaid Kamaruddin, berkata walaupun saranan ini 'overdue' tetapi ia satu usaha yang bagus kerana memperlihatkan kemuafakatan parti politik demi menjaga kepentingan negara dan rakyat.

Kelmarin, Majlis Pakatan Rakyat sepakat mengajak Umno BN untuk duduk bersama membincangkan isu perkauman yang dilihat semakin dijadikan modal oleh pihak tertentu bagi menimbulkan suasana tegang di kalangan rakyat.

Keadaan ini berikutan ada pihak cuba menimbulkan provokasi seperti menimbulkan ancaman berulang peristiwa 13 Mei setelah tidak berpuas hati apabila rakyat mengadakan demonstrasi 'kangkung' sebagai bantahan terhadap kenaikan harga barang di Pulau Pinang. PAS berpendapat masalah perkauman ini mesti diselesaikan segera.

Timbalan Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu, berkata demonstrasi 'kangkung' itu tiada kaitan dengan isu perkauman sebaliknya adalah isu ekonomi iaitu kenaikan harga barang yang membuatkan rakyat semakin terhimpit.

Sementara itu, jika kita melihat kepada sejarah Melayu itu sendiri, menunjukkan bahawa sejak zaman penjajah lagi, pertentangan bukan saja berlaku di antara Melayu dan bukan Melayu disebabkan hasutan penjajah, tetapi antara sesama Melayu.

Sejarah Melayu memaparkan bahawa 'peperangan' banyak berlaku di antara penduduk daerah di Semenanjung untuk merebut hasil cukai dan lain-lain. Penguasa daerah di zaman itu sanggup mengerakkan para 'panglima'nya menyerang daerah sempadan untuk menguasai hasil.

Oleh itu, tidak hairan jika elemen mempertahankan kaum berlanjutan hingga kini dan kita wajar memahami sejarah Melayu - perwatakan Melayu dengan mengelus kata-kata Hang Tuah 'Takkan Melayu hilang di dunia', sebuah kata-kata yang entah benar, entah tidak disebutkan. Namun, kata-kata ini menjadi sesuatu yang sangat menghibur dan menyenangkan hati orang Melayu.

Persoalannya di sini ialah apakah orang Melayu, walaupun menjadi kaum majoriti di negara ini mampu menghadapi pelbagai cabaran yang ada sekarang untuk bersaing dengan bangsa lain di negara ini dalam pelbagai bidang kehidupan.

Adakah orang Melayu mampu menghadapi cabaran dengan hanya mengelus emosi, nostalgia masa lampau dan menjeritkan suara perkauman tanpa melakukan persiapan untuk bersaing, terutama di segi pendidikan, ekonomi dan politik moden.

Itulah sebabnya adalah tidak wajar kita bermain atau melayani semangat perkauman untuk memastikan kelansungan hidup bangsa Melayu, tanpa berusaha memperkukuh kedudukan orang Melayu di segi yang saya sebutkan itu.

Sehubungan itu, menjadi kebimbangan banyak pihak jika isu perkauman terus dijeritkan, ia akan mengundang bahaya besar kepada negara, kerana kesannya akan menimpa seluruh kaum di negara ini. Islam sendiri dengan tegas menentang sebarang bentuk perkauman, malah Nabi Muhammad sendiri menegaskan bahawa Baginda tidak mengakui umat mereka yang meneriakkan perkauman.

Oleh itu, sangat wajar pelbagai pihak berusaha mengurangkan ketegangan kaum ini dengan mengadakan rundingan dan apa-apa bentuk wacanapun untuk mengatasi krisis yang berat ini.

Saya kira, pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat mengambil sikap yang jujur, ikhlas dan tepat pada masanya, dengan mengajak semua pihak, khususnya antara Pakatan dan Barisan Nasional untuk berbincang mengendurkan ketegangan ini.

Tidak ada siapa atau pihak yang untung dengan mengapi-apikan semangat perkauman kecuali samseng dan petualang politik yang tidak bertanggungjawab, kerana mereka tidak mengambil kira bahaya perkauman itu sendiri.

Pemimpin politik berjiwa besar, yang tidak hanya memikirkan kemenangan pilihan raya partinya saja, tetapi keselamatan negara dan rakyatnya, akan tampil untuk bersama-sama menyelesaikan masalah perkauman ini.

Saya fikir akan ramai lagi NGO dan rakyat prihatin yang akan tampil menyokong usaha mengadakan rundingan menyelesaikan persoalan ini dan nampaknya pemimpin PAS dengan fikiran terbuka sudah sangat bersedia menyokong sebarang usaha ke arah terebut.

Jangan dibiarkan negara ini 'hangus' dibakar oleh api perkauman dan pertentangan agama kerana ia suatu kejahatan. – 30 Januari, 2014.

* Ini adalah pendapat peribadi penulis dan tidak semestinya mewakili pandangan The Malaysian Insider.

Putrajaya condoning racial and religious tension, says Ambiga

 

The Church of Assumption at Lebuah Farquhar, Penang, where a Molotov cocktail bomb exploded at its compound on Monday morning. A former Bar Council chief says the Najib administration should take a firmer stand against those inciting racial and religious tension in the country. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain – January 29, 2014.

Putrajaya is condoning the raging racial and religious tension in the country, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said last night, hitting out at the prime minister for not taking firm action to stop those inciting hatred among Malaysians.

The former co-chairman of electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 said Datuk Seri Najib Razak , together with the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, have the power to stop the escalating tension.

"This situation between the races is being condoned by the leadership. That's my inference because as far as I am concerned, you can stop it and if you don't, you are condoning it," she said at a forum organised by DAP in Kuala Lumpur.

Criticising Najib, who had called on Malaysians to remain calm after a month of high tension, Ambiga said he should have taken firmer action by warning those who incited religious and racial tension that they would face the full brunt of the law.

Najib and his government, the former Bar Council chief said, should set the tone and standards and make a firm stand of zero tolerance towards those who incited racism and hatred.

"That's what he should say instead of asking people to 'keep calm'. That's nonsense."

The senior lawyer expressed concern over Putrajaya's lack of decisiveness in dealing with those who stoked racial and religious tension, saying this had emboldened irresponsible groups.

"These groups have become bolder because they know they are beyond the law, they can say or do anything they want and nobody touches them.

"That's what I am concerned about and it is created by the country’s leadership,” she told a crowd of about 50 at the DAP headquarters.

As such, Ambiga welcomed Pakatan Rakyat's offer to Barisan Nasional for a bipartisan dialogue to cool down the current temperature, but noted if the talks failed to take off, then the opposition pact should hold a special meeting and invite the public to participate and give their views.

"Let them set the agenda for the country and show leadership because we have a leadership void and someone has to fill it."

She said there was nothing to lose if the government accepted the offer, noting that instead, it would show that there was leadership in the country.

"There is nothing to be afraid of, nothing's wrong with talking and listening, that's what makes a fine leader."

Ambiga called on Malaysians to take a stand and say "in the strongest term" that they did not tolerate any provocative acts.

"Speak up! If you do not speak up against it, then you condone it. You are part of it, you are encouraging it."

Veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, who was also at the forum, said he was afraid of another May 13, 1969 racial riots, not because he had experienced it, but because he did not want to see the country in ruins.

"Everyone will suffer and the country will go down the drain. So yes, I am afraid of May 13 and I am not ashamed to admit it," he said, adding that no one benefited if the country was in an upheaval.

Tension reached a high when two Molotov cocktails were thrown into the compound of the Church of the Assumption in Lebuh Farquhar, Penang, two days ago.

One of the bombs exploded while the other fell on the grass and did not explode in the incident which occurred early Monday morning.

Initial police investigation revealed two men on a motorcycle committed the crime.

The day before, a number of banners, which read "Allah is Great, Jesus is the son of Allah", were hung outside five churches in Penang – the Victory Lutheran Church, St John Britto Catholic Church, the Church of the Immaculate Conception and the Church of the Assumption on the island and the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Butterworth.

The churches have denied they put up the banners and have lodged police reports over the matter.

Tension between Muslims and Christians has been on a high since 2009, after the Home Ministry banned the Catholic weekly Herald from using the word “Allah” in its Bahasa Malaysia section.

In 2010, several churches nationwide and a Catholic school were attacked at the height of the “Allah” controversy, following the High Court's ruling which overturned the ministry's ban on the use of the word “Allah” by the Herald.

The Metro Tabernacle church in Kuala Lumpur suffered the worst damage after arsonists torched its premises in Desa Melawati, Kuala Lumpur, leaving its ground floor destroyed.

The church subsequently moved to a new building in Batu Caves.

In August 2010, the Sessions Court found siblings Raja Muhammad Faizal Raja Ibrahim and Raja Muhammad Idzham Raja Ibrahim guilty of the arson attack. – January 29, 2014.

Reject Any Form Of Threat, Violence Or Extremism - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has called on Malaysians to reject any form of threat, violence or act of extremism that would strain the harmonious relationship shared and enjoyed by the various races in the country.

The prime minister, in his Chinese New Year greetings, said that while people rejoiced in welcoming the Year of the Horse, the unity and racial harmony that Malaysians had enjoyed so far must be upheld.

"I believe we should all listen to the voice of reason. It is therefore incumbent upon us to act sensibly and to listen to each other's views.

"In Malaysia's cultural melting pot, we must respect the rules of law and proceed with sensitivity toward other people's beliefs," he said in a post on his www.1Malaysia.com.my blog.

He pointed out that despite the transformation advances that had been made, there was still a long way to go and much work to do.

Najib said the transformation programmes needed support from the people from all walks of life - especially so from the Chinese community who are known for their entrepreneurial skills.

He said that there were countless initiatives being undertaken to improve the livelihood of the people, such as ongoing programmes like the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M), 1Malaysia People's Shops (KR1M), 'Ops Harga' against the arbitrary raising of prices and many others to help mitigate the pinch of global inflationary forces.

Prime minister said there were also ongoing consultative meetings and discussions that were focused solely on addressing the issue of easing the people's burden and that the efforts would go asunder without the support of the people.

"Together, we must remain resilient in the face of economic challenges to sustain stability and progress for our future generation," he said.

Najib also expressed his appreciation for the nation-building role played by Malaysian Chinese since independence.

Narendra Modi meets Mr. Waytha Moorthy, Deputy Minister in Malaysia’s Prime Minister Office

On Thursday 30th January 2014 Shri Narendra Modi met Mr. Waytha Moorthy, who serves as the Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office in Malaysia.

The two leaders discussed avenues of cooperation between Gujarat and Malaysia and they spoke of a youth exchange programme between India and Malaysia. The Minister also shared the message of the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

‘Wake up from your slumber, Pakatan’

Former PKR member Zaid Ibrahim says it is important for Pakatan Rakyat to act as a united political entity.

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat leaders should wake-up from their slumber and start acting as a single organised group.

Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim in his blog today said that “it is not too late for the opposition coalition to do so”.

With regards to speculation that PKR want to replace the present Selangor menteri besar, Zaid said it was easy for the Selangor Sultan [Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah] to reject any request to remove Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

“Had the Pakatan Rakyat acted as a single and united political entity, then the change would have been an issue worth fighting for.

“It would have been a matter of the people’s democratic choice of a representative government and the role of the constitutional monarch plays in that choice. The people usually win such contests but the opportunity was lost,” he said.

Zaid said that it was Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s desperation with Khalid rather than his ambition which has led him to engineer the coming Kajang by-election.

He however said that the by-election’s outcome was unclear.

“Anwar might lose in Kajang; and even if he were to win, what makes anyone think the Sultan will appoint him menteri besar?” he said.

Therefore, Zaid reasoned that Pakatan’s top leaders must seek an audience with the Sultan, who will certainly not refuse them on such an important matter of state.

Zaid said they should also provide the Sultan with a list of prospective candidates for menteri besar post and the list should also not be limited to only PKR.

MB candidates

Other than Anwar and Azmin, Zaid recommended former International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) lecturer Abdul Aziz Bari and Shah Alam MP Khalid Abdul Samad as well as DAP’s Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz as potential candidates for the post.

“As such, Pakatan leaders must start trusting one another. They must behave like an alliance in fact, not just in name. In this sense, it doesn’t really matter which party ultimately contests the Kajang by-election.

“His Highness will also be required to make a stand on the matter, and any acceptable candidate will have a good chance of winning the by-election,” he said.

Although acknowledging that Anwar has sacrificed a great deal for the country, Zaid said the former deputy prime minister must first change his style of leadership to be successful.

“He must learn to trust his Pakatan Rakyat team and he must know that he cannot beat the Barisan Nasional by pandering to narrow party interests.

“He must galvanise the forces of change, for the rakyat will provide its support only if his intentions are clear,” he said.

He then urged Selangor Pakatan Rakyat to speak with one voice.

“It should ideally propose only one candidate for menteri besar and not lobby for different names from PKR as is being done now,” said Zaid.

He however pointed out that Selangor Pakatan Rakyat members must be prepared to break ranks in order to forge real political unity.

“Neither Anwar nor the Pakatan Rakyat can survive without that unity,” he said.