Tuesday, 18 February 2014
Day after ceasefire hint, Taliban behead 23 troops
Samiul Haq, chief of Taliban panel, had a ‘sleepless night’ after news of the attack
State negotiators withdrew itself from the meeting that was supposed to be held on Monday 17th February, saying circumstances relating to negotiations with the Pakistani Taliban were not heading in the right direction. Irfan Siddiqui, coordinator of the government committee formed to hold peace talks with negotiators representing the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), said after the killing of 23 Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers, holding talks with the group was a futile enterprise.
In a statement, Siddiqui said an emergency meeting of government dialogue committee has been summoned tomorrow. He said the meeting will discuss the current situation and future course of action. Siddiqui said the committee has deplored and condemned the killing of FC personnel saying such incidents will hamper the process of serious and result-oriented negotiations.
In a video statement sent to media last night, Mohmand Agency Taliban chief Umar Khalid Khurasani said that they killed the FC soldiers on Sunday to avenge what he said was the custodial killing of Taliban fighters in Pakistan. The soldiers were kidnapped in 2010 from Shongari checkpost in Mohmand Agency.
The TTP statement lamented that on the one hand the government has initiated the process of talks, on the other it continues to target TTP members. “The killing of FC personnel is the revenge for the blood of our associates,” it said. “We want to make it clear to the government that we know very well how to avenge the killings of our members,” the statement said, warning “if the government did not change its trend, our reaction will be more severe in future”.
The group also stressed that they will soon release another video showing the killing. The video emerged hours after local media reports said the TTP was ready for a ceasefire, which they said would be announced within 24 hours. The Pakistan government and the Taliban are engaged in peace talks in a bid to end the decade-long insurgency that has gripped the country.
Meanwhile, Maulana Yousuf Shah, who acts as contact person for the TTP, said news of the attack on FC personnel had given Maulana Samiul Haq, chief of the Taliban negotiating team, a “sleepless night”. He deplored the incident and said the sentiments of the TTP committee over the issue were no different from those of the government committee.
Shah added that Haq would soon hold a meeting with the top leadership of the TTP and that the Taliban negotiating committee would soon issue a statement over the attack. Shah expressed his disappointment over the government committee’s decision to postpone today’s meeting with Taliban negotiators.
Bhagat Singh’s home, school get, , school get Rs 80 million for restoration in Pak
Legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh’s ancestral house, school and his village in Punjab province in Pakistan will be restored under a Rs 80-million project.
“We have allocated Rs 80 million for restoration of the house and school of Independence war hero Bhagat Singh. The amount will also be spent for the uplift of Singh’s village where clean drinking water is not available and drainage system is in bad shape,” Faisalabad District Coordination Officer Noorul Amin Mengal told PTI.
Mengal said the people living in Faisalabad “take pride in the fact that Bhagat Singh was the son of their soil” and want the place to be known as “the town of Bhagat Singh”.
Hindus in Pakistan angered over forced conversions to Islam
[DNA] The Hindu community in Pakistan is reportedly angered by the rise in forced conversions to Islam.
At a recently concluded seminar titled ‘Hindus in Pakistan-issues and solutions,’ held at the Karachi Press Club, people belonging to the Hindu community aired their grievances with the increased level of forced conversions to Islam.
Uncle of a girl Rinkle Kumari, Raj Kumar revealed that a six-year-old girl, Jumna, along with her 10-year-old sister, Pooja were also being forced to change religion had the media not raised their case, Dawn News reports. Jumna’s mother Soma revealed that one day her girls didn’t return from their daily door-to-door selling of clay toys and after several reports in the media about them, they were found to be staying with a man named Rajab Pathan. She further revealed that the police of Akhtar Colony in Mirpurkhas area later produced the girls in court as Muslim children.
Chairman of the All Hindu Rights Organisation, Kishan Chand Parwani, said that it was sad to see the problems of minorities in Pakistan multiplying instead of decreasing. He said that in his five terms of serving as an MNA in Pakistan, he knew that the rights of Hindus have never remained a priority, adding that the Marriage Act for Hindus was never passed by the assembly as the government finished its term and now underage Hindu girls were being forcibly converted to Islam and married to Muslim men.
Parwani further said that Hindu community in Pakistan was facing harassment at every level.
Meanwhile, politician Dr Riaz Chandio said that they would have had no problems with their daughters converting to Islam if they did so of their own free will. Former senator Safdar Abbasi said that it was a sad reality that not just Hindu temples but also mosques, Imambargahs and churches were not safe in Pakistan these days, the report added.
At a recently concluded seminar titled ‘Hindus in Pakistan-issues and solutions,’ held at the Karachi Press Club, people belonging to the Hindu community aired their grievances with the increased level of forced conversions to Islam.Uncle of a girl Rinkle Kumari, Raj Kumar revealed that a six-year-old girl, Jumna, along with her 10-year-old sister, Pooja were also being forced to change religion had the media not raised their case, Dawn News reports. Jumna’s mother Soma revealed that one day her girls didn’t return from their daily door-to-door selling of clay toys and after several reports in the media about them, they were found to be staying with a man named Rajab Pathan. She further revealed that the police of Akhtar Colony in Mirpurkhas area later produced the girls in court as Muslim children.
Chairman of the All Hindu Rights Organisation, Kishan Chand Parwani, said that it was sad to see the problems of minorities in Pakistan multiplying instead of decreasing. He said that in his five terms of serving as an MNA in Pakistan, he knew that the rights of Hindus have never remained a priority, adding that the Marriage Act for Hindus was never passed by the assembly as the government finished its term and now underage Hindu girls were being forcibly converted to Islam and married to Muslim men.
Parwani further said that Hindu community in Pakistan was facing harassment at every level.
Meanwhile, politician Dr Riaz Chandio said that they would have had no problems with their daughters converting to Islam if they did so of their own free will. Former senator Safdar Abbasi said that it was a sad reality that not just Hindu temples but also mosques, Imambargahs and churches were not safe in Pakistan these days, the report added.
Singapore DPM says security breach at Woodlands checkpoint not acceptable - Bernama
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean (pic) says the security breach at the Woodlands checkpoint last month involving a Malaysian woman and the subsequent action resulting in her arrest three days later are 'not acceptable'.He said the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore (ICA) and police ground commanders had made an error of judgement and classified the incident, which occurred on Jan 17, as a less serious one - an immigration offence.
In an oral reply to parliamentary questions on the matter, Teo, who is also the co-coordinating minister for national security, said appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against the officers and their supervisors.
Relating the incident, Teo said that on January 17, 2014, at 1.58 pm, a 27-year-old woman arrived at the Woodlands checkpoint in her Malaysian car.
The woman, from Pendang, Kedah, drove past the ICA officer without going through the mandatory checks by tailgating the car in front of hers, and slipping past the drop-arm barrier, he said.
She was then detained for crashing through the security barrier at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 20, he added.
"The ICA and police ground commanders made a serious error of judgement in deciding to treat this intrusion as a less serious immigration offence, instead of a serious breach of border security, as required in the protocol.
"This was a major reason for the subsequent inadequate response which resulted in the vehicle and driver not being detected and arrested much earlier," Teo said, adding that both ground commanders had been redeployed to non-operational posts pending disciplinary action.
He said that if a vehicle made an unauthorised exit from the checkpoint, there was a security protocol for the police and ICA to treat the incident as a breach of border security and issue a high-priority alert to all ground resources.
In this case, however, he said, the ICA and police ground commanders did not follow the protocol.
Teo said the ICA and police did not issue a heightened and persistent alert, with the description of the car and driver, that would have alerted all ground forces to continue looking for them when they conducted vehicular searches, checks and screening. - Bernama, February 17, 2014.
NGOs explain reasons for chicken slaughter - Malaysiakini
VIDEO | 32.48 min
The infamous chicken slaughter protest against DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok has been described by the protest organisers as a way to stop a series of attempts to "provoke" the Malay community.
Islamic Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) chief Nadzim Johan (left in photo) said the protest has managed to "apply the brakes" on such provocations.
Nadzim said the alleged provocative acts against Malays would not have happened if various communities settled their differences on the negotiation table in the past.
"Yes, discussions should have been held in the past. Unfortunately, there were no such efforts. What we have now is criticisms (against the Malay community). Thus, we have to apply the brakes.
"If the government doesn't do it, we have to. We put our foot on the brakes. This (protest) is our brake (pedal)," he said, during an interview last week with Malaysiakini and KiniTV.
On Feb 6, several Muslim NGOs protested at Jalan Tun Perak, Kuala Lumpur against Kok for producing a Chinese New Year video message, which they claim contained elements which insulted Malays and Islam.
Four
chickens were slaughtered and their blood spilled on a banner depicting
Kok, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, DAP secretary-general Lim
Guan Eng, and Machang Bubuk state assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon. A RM500 reward was also offered to anyone who would slap Kok on video.
Kok's video message was a satire piece, featuring three characters in the likeness of several colourful BN personalities. She had argued that in no way had the video insulted Malays or Muslims.
When questioned, those involved in the protest have not been able to pinpoint exactly which part of the video was insulting to Muslims and Malays.
Another group that was involved - Martabat Jalinan Muhibbah Malaysia (MJMM) - said it has to do with the Rosmah Mansor spoof, complete with handbags, diamond rings, and designer handbags.
'Weak government'
MJMM's leader Abdul Rani Kulup Abdullah, who also participated in the interview, said that what Kok did was illegal and expressed disappointment with the police for failing to take action.
Citing the example of how swiftly the police acted against Raja Noor Jan Shah Raja Tuah (left),
the self-proclaimed sultan of Malacca, last month, Abdul Rani said all
it took was three or four police reports to get things moving.
"But in this case, why is the government so weak and scared to take action against someone who (allegedly) insults (Malays and Muslims).
"Throwing insults is akin to slander, and slander is even worse than murder," he stressed.
He said the federal government must take stern action to prevent the alleged insults from happening, or else the social fabric will be torn apart.
He added that during the reign of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, such incidents would not have happen because the Chinese then were "afraid" of the Malays.
"After Mahathir, (came) Pak Lah (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi). (And everything) hancur (crumbled)," he noted.
The infamous chicken slaughter protest against DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok has been described by the protest organisers as a way to stop a series of attempts to "provoke" the Malay community.
Islamic Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) chief Nadzim Johan (left in photo) said the protest has managed to "apply the brakes" on such provocations.Nadzim said the alleged provocative acts against Malays would not have happened if various communities settled their differences on the negotiation table in the past.
"Yes, discussions should have been held in the past. Unfortunately, there were no such efforts. What we have now is criticisms (against the Malay community). Thus, we have to apply the brakes.
"If the government doesn't do it, we have to. We put our foot on the brakes. This (protest) is our brake (pedal)," he said, during an interview last week with Malaysiakini and KiniTV.
On Feb 6, several Muslim NGOs protested at Jalan Tun Perak, Kuala Lumpur against Kok for producing a Chinese New Year video message, which they claim contained elements which insulted Malays and Islam.
Four
chickens were slaughtered and their blood spilled on a banner depicting
Kok, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, DAP secretary-general Lim
Guan Eng, and Machang Bubuk state assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon. A RM500 reward was also offered to anyone who would slap Kok on video.Kok's video message was a satire piece, featuring three characters in the likeness of several colourful BN personalities. She had argued that in no way had the video insulted Malays or Muslims.
When questioned, those involved in the protest have not been able to pinpoint exactly which part of the video was insulting to Muslims and Malays.
Another group that was involved - Martabat Jalinan Muhibbah Malaysia (MJMM) - said it has to do with the Rosmah Mansor spoof, complete with handbags, diamond rings, and designer handbags.
'Weak government'
MJMM's leader Abdul Rani Kulup Abdullah, who also participated in the interview, said that what Kok did was illegal and expressed disappointment with the police for failing to take action.
Citing the example of how swiftly the police acted against Raja Noor Jan Shah Raja Tuah (left),
the self-proclaimed sultan of Malacca, last month, Abdul Rani said all
it took was three or four police reports to get things moving."But in this case, why is the government so weak and scared to take action against someone who (allegedly) insults (Malays and Muslims).
"Throwing insults is akin to slander, and slander is even worse than murder," he stressed.
He said the federal government must take stern action to prevent the alleged insults from happening, or else the social fabric will be torn apart.
He added that during the reign of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, such incidents would not have happen because the Chinese then were "afraid" of the Malays.
"After Mahathir, (came) Pak Lah (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi). (And everything) hancur (crumbled)," he noted.
10 under probe by MIC panel
The party's disciplinary committee will watch them for two months before deciding on any action.
PETALING JAYA: The MIC disciplinary committee will keep 10 members under surveillance for two months before deciding whether they deserve to be suspended or expelled from the party.
The committee’s chairman, KS Nijhar, said this today without disclosing the names of the 10 or saying why they were being monitored.
However, sources inside the disciplinary committee told FMT that the 10 had been issuing press statements criticising MIC president G Palanivel over alleged irregularities in party elections last November. Most of them were divisional and national leaders, they added.
“In fact, their statements were all directed against the president, but the constitution states that action can be taken only if they have said anything detrimental to the party,” said one source.
“So, the disciplinary committee construed criticisms against the president and statements on the running of the internal polls in November last year as statements detrimental to the party.
“This two-month period is just to ensure they keep their mouths shut. If they keep silent for the next two months, they will be let off. By that time, calls for a re-election would have died down.
“The party leadership is just buying time and hoping that with time these leaders will go silent and stop asking questions about the running of the election.”
Nijhar told FMT the committee met for three hours today at the MIC headquarters here.
“Ten cases were discussed and no final decision was taken,” he said in a text message.
“The disciplinary committee will meet again in about two months’ time to finalise if any disciplinary action should be taken against any of them and whether they should be expelled from the party or suspended for a specific time period.
“The names are confidential until a final decision is made.”
The other members of the committee are party secretary-general A Prakash Rao, Perak MIC chief R Ganesan, Kedah MIC chief S Ganesan and Central Working Committee member Randhir Singh Johl.
Earlier, there was speculation that the committee would be issuing show-cause letters to leaders who had openly criticised the running of the November polls.
Several leaders, including former treasurer-general Jaspal Singh and former youth chiefs SA Vignesvaran and T Mohan, had asked the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to direct the party to hold a re-election.
They had also urged the party leadership to do the same.
Last week, former Puteri MIC chief Usha Nandhini added her voice to the criticism, lodging a report with ROS in which she complained that the party had yet to conduct elections for its Puteri wing.
PETALING JAYA: The MIC disciplinary committee will keep 10 members under surveillance for two months before deciding whether they deserve to be suspended or expelled from the party.The committee’s chairman, KS Nijhar, said this today without disclosing the names of the 10 or saying why they were being monitored.
However, sources inside the disciplinary committee told FMT that the 10 had been issuing press statements criticising MIC president G Palanivel over alleged irregularities in party elections last November. Most of them were divisional and national leaders, they added.
“In fact, their statements were all directed against the president, but the constitution states that action can be taken only if they have said anything detrimental to the party,” said one source.
“So, the disciplinary committee construed criticisms against the president and statements on the running of the internal polls in November last year as statements detrimental to the party.
“This two-month period is just to ensure they keep their mouths shut. If they keep silent for the next two months, they will be let off. By that time, calls for a re-election would have died down.
“The party leadership is just buying time and hoping that with time these leaders will go silent and stop asking questions about the running of the election.”
Nijhar told FMT the committee met for three hours today at the MIC headquarters here.
“Ten cases were discussed and no final decision was taken,” he said in a text message.
“The disciplinary committee will meet again in about two months’ time to finalise if any disciplinary action should be taken against any of them and whether they should be expelled from the party or suspended for a specific time period.
“The names are confidential until a final decision is made.”
The other members of the committee are party secretary-general A Prakash Rao, Perak MIC chief R Ganesan, Kedah MIC chief S Ganesan and Central Working Committee member Randhir Singh Johl.
Earlier, there was speculation that the committee would be issuing show-cause letters to leaders who had openly criticised the running of the November polls.
Several leaders, including former treasurer-general Jaspal Singh and former youth chiefs SA Vignesvaran and T Mohan, had asked the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to direct the party to hold a re-election.
They had also urged the party leadership to do the same.
Last week, former Puteri MIC chief Usha Nandhini added her voice to the criticism, lodging a report with ROS in which she complained that the party had yet to conduct elections for its Puteri wing.
IGP warns those who insult Jakim’s sermon
Police have identified the person who denounced last week's Friday prayer sermon urging Muslims to avoid celebrating Valentine's Day.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said police have identified the person who denounced the Islamic Development Department’s (Jakim) Friday prayer sermon urging Muslims to avoid celebrating Valentine’s Day.
Khalid said police would not hesitate to use its most hardest law to punish those who insulted Islamic teachings.
Several people had commented on news report on Jakim’s Friday sermon asking the Muslims to not celebrate Valentine’s Day as it would only generate more social woes such as premarital sex and baby-dumping.
“For a diverse country like Malaysia I don’t think it is appropriate for others to talk about Islam.
“That is not the way to criticise because it will only cause more anger among the people. We should not be questioning the faith of others,” Khalid told reporters today.
However, he declined to comment on the identity of the person as an investigation was being carried out.
Khalid also hit out at the “Onederful Malaysia” production team for planning to turn the Cantonese version of the video clip into Bahasa Malaysia.
He warned the production team not to make any more satirical clips that would cause national instability.
“Please do not change it to Bahasa Malaysia. Enough is enough. There is nothing more to prove.
“By doing it, you are only planting hate in our harmonious community,” he added.
Last week, Jakim claimed that the celebration of love weakened the Muslim identity and threatened the future of Islam as a whole.
The Islamic body has consistently opposed Valentine’s Day and has carried out campaigns to warn youths about the celebration.
In 2005, the National Fatwa Council Committee for Islamic Affairs decided to ban the global celebration as claiming it was rooted from Christianity.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said police have identified the person who denounced the Islamic Development Department’s (Jakim) Friday prayer sermon urging Muslims to avoid celebrating Valentine’s Day.Khalid said police would not hesitate to use its most hardest law to punish those who insulted Islamic teachings.
Several people had commented on news report on Jakim’s Friday sermon asking the Muslims to not celebrate Valentine’s Day as it would only generate more social woes such as premarital sex and baby-dumping.
“For a diverse country like Malaysia I don’t think it is appropriate for others to talk about Islam.
“That is not the way to criticise because it will only cause more anger among the people. We should not be questioning the faith of others,” Khalid told reporters today.
However, he declined to comment on the identity of the person as an investigation was being carried out.
Khalid also hit out at the “Onederful Malaysia” production team for planning to turn the Cantonese version of the video clip into Bahasa Malaysia.
He warned the production team not to make any more satirical clips that would cause national instability.
“Please do not change it to Bahasa Malaysia. Enough is enough. There is nothing more to prove.
“By doing it, you are only planting hate in our harmonious community,” he added.
Last week, Jakim claimed that the celebration of love weakened the Muslim identity and threatened the future of Islam as a whole.
The Islamic body has consistently opposed Valentine’s Day and has carried out campaigns to warn youths about the celebration.
In 2005, the National Fatwa Council Committee for Islamic Affairs decided to ban the global celebration as claiming it was rooted from Christianity.
I’m so sorry, Waytha tells Indians
The Hindraf leader and ex-deputy minister in the PM's Department concedes he is unable to fulfill any of the pledges he made prior to the 2013 General Election.
PETALING JAYA: Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy today apologised to Malaysian Indians for not being able to fulfill the promised socio-economic reforms, based on the MoU he signed with BN before the 13th GE last year.
In a press statement, Waythamoorthy admitted that Hindraf was not able to fulfill any of the pledges made to the Indian poor during the elections.
“We know this will be disappointing to many of the poor people who had trusted us and voted for the BN, hoping positive changes will happen in their lives if BN won the May 5, 2013 general election.
“Before the election we called on the poor and marginalised Indian people to vote BN. They responded, and the BN won narrowly,” said Waythamoorthy, who resigned as deputy minister last week.
Waythamoorthy was appointed senator in June last year and was subsequently appointed deputy minister. He relinquished both the positions on Feb 10.
According to him, Hindraf entered into an MoU with the BN in the sincere and earnest hope that it could bring changes to the lives of the Indian poor who have suffered for generations.
“At that time we thought we would be able to carry out various socio economic programmes with the necessary budget and unit,” he added.
Waythamoorthy took full responsibility for this failure to deliver on the pledges.
“I have for the last eight months patiently worked with the PM to roll out the programmes consented to in the Agreement, but have not been able to move with any of the items stipulated in the agreement.
He also hoped the Indian community will accept Hindraf’s apology and move into the next chapter in their struggle for fairness, equality, justice and dignity.
PETALING JAYA: Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy today apologised to Malaysian Indians for not being able to fulfill the promised socio-economic reforms, based on the MoU he signed with BN before the 13th GE last year.In a press statement, Waythamoorthy admitted that Hindraf was not able to fulfill any of the pledges made to the Indian poor during the elections.
“We know this will be disappointing to many of the poor people who had trusted us and voted for the BN, hoping positive changes will happen in their lives if BN won the May 5, 2013 general election.
“Before the election we called on the poor and marginalised Indian people to vote BN. They responded, and the BN won narrowly,” said Waythamoorthy, who resigned as deputy minister last week.
Waythamoorthy was appointed senator in June last year and was subsequently appointed deputy minister. He relinquished both the positions on Feb 10.
According to him, Hindraf entered into an MoU with the BN in the sincere and earnest hope that it could bring changes to the lives of the Indian poor who have suffered for generations.
“At that time we thought we would be able to carry out various socio economic programmes with the necessary budget and unit,” he added.
Waythamoorthy took full responsibility for this failure to deliver on the pledges.
“I have for the last eight months patiently worked with the PM to roll out the programmes consented to in the Agreement, but have not been able to move with any of the items stipulated in the agreement.
He also hoped the Indian community will accept Hindraf’s apology and move into the next chapter in their struggle for fairness, equality, justice and dignity.
Subra: Fight dengue together
Health Minister appeals for all parties to play their roles in fighting dengue and not just to expect the ministry to do all the work.
PETALING JAYA: The ‘war’ against dengue must be fought by all agencies and also the community by large, as it cannot be handled by the government alone, says Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam.In explaining this to FMT during a recent interview, Subramaniam said the local governments should also take serious responsibility and proactive stand towards fighting the dengue menace.
Nevertheless he disagreed with the idea that the government, and in particular the health ministry, has failed in their efforts to curb the rise of dengue cases in the country.
“The situation could have been far worse if the government had not taken any measures to control the dengue in the nation,” he said.
Dengue fever is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. It is transmitted by several species of mosquito within the genus Aedes, principally A. aegypti.
Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles.
As there is no commercially available vaccine, prevention is sought by reducing the habitat and the number of mosquitoes; and limiting exposure to bites.
“Everybody must contribute towards reducing the breeding grounds for mosquito that enables larvae to populate.
“If we all work together we can reduce the number of breeding places as one way to control dengue,” said Subramaniam.
Subramaniam also stressed that our climate and geographical features had made it tougher to fight the spread of dengue.
“We use multiple methods such as insecticide fogging to kill the adult mosquito and also biological control methods in reducing the mosquito and larvae population,” described Subramaniam.
Types of dengue
There are five different types of the dengue virus, but according to Subramaniam, so far his ministry has only identified four types in Malaysia; namely serotype 1,2,3 and 4.
He further confirmed that at present the serotype 2 has been more prevalent and virulent compared to the others and it can cause death.
“As there is no available vaccine or effective anti-viral treatment at the moment, we are doing our best and all that is possible to manage the situation,” he said.
He also stressed that it was vital to detect the disease early to initiate appropriate treatment for those inflicted with dengue.
As of Feb 10 this year, the Health Ministry has recorded almost 11,000 dengue cases with 22 fatalities.
Commenting on the project that had used genetically modified mosquitoes (GM mosquitoes) to control the spread of active dengue mosquitoes, he said, “it is an expensive affair for the government to use that method in our country due to its vast area to cover.”
“If we have a smaller geographical location like an island, then it will be possible to use, but bigger location, it’s very expensive and cost millions of ringgit.
“The cost of getting the mosquito and larvae from a firm in UK and the scientific proprietary rights which belongs to them needs us to pay a huge sum to obtain them,” he added.
When asked on some recent reports of the serotype 5 of the dengue, Subramaniam said that at the current moment it was still not a confirmed case.
His ministry officials have yet to obtain more information and details from the claims made by some parties.
Are we heading for emergency rule?
From P Ramakrishnan, via e-mail
It was reminiscent of the lawless Wild West when rough-necks went on a rampage to assert their authority over the helpless town folks. There was nobody brave enough to stand up to the mayhem they created. There was no Sheriff, no Deputy and no hero to take on these hooligans.
That was what happened last Thursday, Feb 6, 2014, when troublemakers took to the streets in a frenzy of hatred to incite and provoke Malay extremists to partake in acts that would threaten our peace and harmony. It was no ordinary gathering; it was a gathering of racists and bigots out to create mischief.
In blatant defiance of the law, these members of several Muslim NGOs gathered in the afternoon near the busy Puduraya bus terminal and government offices at Jalan Tun Perak in Kuala Lumpur.
Some participants stomped on the banner bearing the faces of DAP and PKR representatives. They then slaughtered four chickens and smeared their blood on the faces of Teresa Kok, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and Machang Bubok assembly member Lee Khai Loon (PKR) in a ritual intended to cause calamity in the country.
This bloody act was committed by these trouble-makers claiming to belong to the Council of Islamic NGOs as proclaimed in the banner to “Protest against insults of Malay leadership, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Islam and Malay dignity by a splinter of politicians, leaders and Chinese chauvinists”.
These claims are clearly far-fetched without any justification. Who in their right minds would want to insult the Yang di-Pertuan Agong? He is the national symbol of our unity. He is respected and held in high esteem.
But these mischief-makers blatantly claimed that the Yang di-Pertuan Agung was insulted. Can they provide concrete evidence when this insult was perpetrated and by whom?
Who would want to insult Islam? Malaysians are peaceful people and are sensitive to the ethos of the different communities and traditions. Who would want to court trouble consciously and disturb our harmony by being disrespectful? What Malay leadership was insulted? Please don’t lie if you are truly a believer in the true sense of your religion.
Disagreeing with the policies and criticising leaders of the government doesn’t constitute an insult to the Malay leadership. In any case, the government may be dominated by Umno but essentially it is a coalition government albeit without MCA representation. But there are Chinese ministers and others from various communities in the cabinet which would suggest that the disagreement and criticism is not aimed solely at the Malay leadership but against the Barisan Nasional.
But these trouble-makers deliberately twisted the facts to give a racial angle to arouse the emotions of unthinking people who can be easily misled. What was said was clearly and deliberately provocative and inciting.
Zulkifly Sharif from Pertubuhan Permuafakatan Majlis Ayahanda Malaysia (Permas) told Malaysiakini that “the chicken slaughter and blood smearing ritual was a hark back to the ‘bloody’ May 13, 1969 racial riots”.
“The blood represents the May 13 incident…It should be easily understood,” he said.
In other words, he is actually threatening a repeat of the May 13 incident. This is clearly seditious; it is an incitement; it is definitely a provocation. It had the potential to spark chaos and disturb our harmony. Things could go out of hand to the detriment of the nation. It should have been nipped in the bud. The full force of the law should have landed on them so that it would not encourage similar provocative demonstrations and protests elsewhere.
But that was not the case. Where was the AG? Where were the police, the guardians of law and order? Above all, where was the Prime Minister, the supreme leader of the nation? Why did none of them criticise this act of lawlessness? Why were these racists and bigots not condemned for their reckless irresponsibility?
It is this lack of response from the keepers of the law that encourages this unbecoming behaviour. For it can be construed with justification that they will not face the wrath of the law and that they have the implicit backing of the law enforcement agencies.
This demonstration was held apparently as a reaction to Seputeh MP Teresa Kok’s New Year video entitled ‘OnederfulMalaysia CNY 2014’. Various claims and accusations were made in connection with this video. But what was it all about? Was there any disrespect shown to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong? Was Islam insulted in this video?
It is very disturbing for Zulkifly to state with reference to the slaughtering of the chicken, “It is symbolic of the bloody incident, meaning May 13, this means we are sending a serious warning to Teresa Kok not to provoke and create something that threatens the peace and feelings of the Malays.”
Mischief-makers
Was he correct in what he stated? Did Teresa “provoke and create something that threatens the peace and feelings of the Malays”? It seems that the video was in Mandarin. Do these rabble-rousers understand Mandarin? Could it be possible that while translating misrepresentation could have occurred?
Why not broadcast this video over TV so that the truth can be unveiled and facts revealed to the entire nation before things get out of hand through misunderstanding and misrepresentation? This is what should be done if we are really interested in the truth. But would the BN dare to do this? Or will it take advantage of this mindless reaction for its own political purposes?
These mischief-makers went beyond threatening. They even offered a bounty to anyone who is willing to slap Teresa. Just like in the Wild West when rewards were offered to bring in the outlaws “dead or alive”, and bounty hunters would take up the offer and go after their quarry. Similarly, in this instance, a reward of RM500 was offered which was later increased to RM1,200.
Imagine if one stupid hothead goes up to Teresa and slaps her, what would happen? Perhaps those with her may react and assault him which could in turn lead to a racial conflict. Is this what they want to happen? Is it a ploy to create unrest and unleash an ethnic clash that would benefit the BN?
The situation was so serious and yet there was no urgency to address it. Even Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi foolishly and flippantly trivialised the whole episode by claiming that it was not a threat to Teresa and unbelievably stated that it would have amounted to nothing except if a death threat had been issued against Teresa. For a Home Minister not to see the danger in this emotionally-charged affair is mind-boggling.
Not to be outdone in foolishness, the Housing and Urban Wellbeing Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan also criticised Kok, saying that she should not play victim when threatened by Muslim groups as the DAP had “relentlessly attacked the position of Malays and Muslims…The DAP had also insulted the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Islam”.
If that was the case, how did the DAP garner so many Malay votes, make a break-through in the Umno fortress of Johor, and get its Malay members elected as members of parliament? Without Malay votes, this could not have been possible.
How ridiculous they are can be seen when Zulkifly accused the politicians whose faces adorned the banner of manipulating the price hike issue. According to him, “The increase of prices of goods has been turned into a kind of propaganda to bring down Malay leadership. They are trying to provoke hatred and belittle Malay leadership.”
The lives of Malaysians have become a nightmare because of price hikes which have made life very difficult for people. It is felt by everyone on a daily basis and their sufferings are nation-wide. It is not confined to any ethnic community.
To blame these four leaders as manipulating the price hike to bring down the Malay leadership is grossly unfair and wrong. It is utter nonsense! The price hike demonstration organised by various NGOs in Penang effectively debunked the atrocious statements and the sweeping claims made by the trouble-makers.
More than 1,000 turned up to oppose the price hikes and the implementation of the GST. The crowd was largely Malay with good support from the Chinese and the Indians. What transpired was heart-warming and encouraging. It showed that whatever ploy that is used by Umno and its henchmen to drive a wedge between the Malays and non-Malays will not work.
The Seberang Jaya Municipal Councillor Zulkifli Saad said the gathering was a show of solidarity among Malays, Chinese and Indians.”We are not racists, this is a gathering of people.” Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) spokesperson Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, asked who were the Malays who felt insulted by Lee’s act of stuffing kangkung into a replica of Najib.
“Hello! Who says Malays are insulted? We are insulted because we have a PM who cannot manage the country,” he said. He also warned groups who threatened violence and racial riots, saying that their non-Malay brothers and sisters would be protected even if “one hair of yours is disturbed”.
Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli said that anti-price hikes groups would protest in all the states, culminating in a massive protest in Kuala Lumpur on 1 May, themed Gasak Sampai Tumbang (GST).
Rafizi emphatically said: “There is also no link between race and price hikes. It is just their way of putting fear in us as they are racists.”
“If there is one Chinese youth among us who is threatened, 10 Malays among us will be there to protect him,” he assured, followed by shouts of support.
Afif Bahardin, the Seberang Jaya representative, drove home a valid point rather forcefully, “The price hike is suffered by not only DAP, PKR or PAS but by Umno members as well.”
It is this kind of solidarity building up that is worrying Umno. Their usual divide-and-rule policy is no longer working. Race and religion can no longer be an effective campaign strategy to retain power. So, it seems, an unrest is necessary for emergency rule and is that why no action is taken against these trouble-makers?
It was reminiscent of the lawless Wild West when rough-necks went on a rampage to assert their authority over the helpless town folks. There was nobody brave enough to stand up to the mayhem they created. There was no Sheriff, no Deputy and no hero to take on these hooligans.
That was what happened last Thursday, Feb 6, 2014, when troublemakers took to the streets in a frenzy of hatred to incite and provoke Malay extremists to partake in acts that would threaten our peace and harmony. It was no ordinary gathering; it was a gathering of racists and bigots out to create mischief.
In blatant defiance of the law, these members of several Muslim NGOs gathered in the afternoon near the busy Puduraya bus terminal and government offices at Jalan Tun Perak in Kuala Lumpur.
Some participants stomped on the banner bearing the faces of DAP and PKR representatives. They then slaughtered four chickens and smeared their blood on the faces of Teresa Kok, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and Machang Bubok assembly member Lee Khai Loon (PKR) in a ritual intended to cause calamity in the country.
This bloody act was committed by these trouble-makers claiming to belong to the Council of Islamic NGOs as proclaimed in the banner to “Protest against insults of Malay leadership, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Islam and Malay dignity by a splinter of politicians, leaders and Chinese chauvinists”.
These claims are clearly far-fetched without any justification. Who in their right minds would want to insult the Yang di-Pertuan Agong? He is the national symbol of our unity. He is respected and held in high esteem.
But these mischief-makers blatantly claimed that the Yang di-Pertuan Agung was insulted. Can they provide concrete evidence when this insult was perpetrated and by whom?
Who would want to insult Islam? Malaysians are peaceful people and are sensitive to the ethos of the different communities and traditions. Who would want to court trouble consciously and disturb our harmony by being disrespectful? What Malay leadership was insulted? Please don’t lie if you are truly a believer in the true sense of your religion.
Disagreeing with the policies and criticising leaders of the government doesn’t constitute an insult to the Malay leadership. In any case, the government may be dominated by Umno but essentially it is a coalition government albeit without MCA representation. But there are Chinese ministers and others from various communities in the cabinet which would suggest that the disagreement and criticism is not aimed solely at the Malay leadership but against the Barisan Nasional.
But these trouble-makers deliberately twisted the facts to give a racial angle to arouse the emotions of unthinking people who can be easily misled. What was said was clearly and deliberately provocative and inciting.
Zulkifly Sharif from Pertubuhan Permuafakatan Majlis Ayahanda Malaysia (Permas) told Malaysiakini that “the chicken slaughter and blood smearing ritual was a hark back to the ‘bloody’ May 13, 1969 racial riots”.
“The blood represents the May 13 incident…It should be easily understood,” he said.
In other words, he is actually threatening a repeat of the May 13 incident. This is clearly seditious; it is an incitement; it is definitely a provocation. It had the potential to spark chaos and disturb our harmony. Things could go out of hand to the detriment of the nation. It should have been nipped in the bud. The full force of the law should have landed on them so that it would not encourage similar provocative demonstrations and protests elsewhere.
But that was not the case. Where was the AG? Where were the police, the guardians of law and order? Above all, where was the Prime Minister, the supreme leader of the nation? Why did none of them criticise this act of lawlessness? Why were these racists and bigots not condemned for their reckless irresponsibility?
It is this lack of response from the keepers of the law that encourages this unbecoming behaviour. For it can be construed with justification that they will not face the wrath of the law and that they have the implicit backing of the law enforcement agencies.
This demonstration was held apparently as a reaction to Seputeh MP Teresa Kok’s New Year video entitled ‘OnederfulMalaysia CNY 2014’. Various claims and accusations were made in connection with this video. But what was it all about? Was there any disrespect shown to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong? Was Islam insulted in this video?
It is very disturbing for Zulkifly to state with reference to the slaughtering of the chicken, “It is symbolic of the bloody incident, meaning May 13, this means we are sending a serious warning to Teresa Kok not to provoke and create something that threatens the peace and feelings of the Malays.”
Mischief-makers
Was he correct in what he stated? Did Teresa “provoke and create something that threatens the peace and feelings of the Malays”? It seems that the video was in Mandarin. Do these rabble-rousers understand Mandarin? Could it be possible that while translating misrepresentation could have occurred?
Why not broadcast this video over TV so that the truth can be unveiled and facts revealed to the entire nation before things get out of hand through misunderstanding and misrepresentation? This is what should be done if we are really interested in the truth. But would the BN dare to do this? Or will it take advantage of this mindless reaction for its own political purposes?
These mischief-makers went beyond threatening. They even offered a bounty to anyone who is willing to slap Teresa. Just like in the Wild West when rewards were offered to bring in the outlaws “dead or alive”, and bounty hunters would take up the offer and go after their quarry. Similarly, in this instance, a reward of RM500 was offered which was later increased to RM1,200.
Imagine if one stupid hothead goes up to Teresa and slaps her, what would happen? Perhaps those with her may react and assault him which could in turn lead to a racial conflict. Is this what they want to happen? Is it a ploy to create unrest and unleash an ethnic clash that would benefit the BN?
The situation was so serious and yet there was no urgency to address it. Even Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi foolishly and flippantly trivialised the whole episode by claiming that it was not a threat to Teresa and unbelievably stated that it would have amounted to nothing except if a death threat had been issued against Teresa. For a Home Minister not to see the danger in this emotionally-charged affair is mind-boggling.
Not to be outdone in foolishness, the Housing and Urban Wellbeing Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan also criticised Kok, saying that she should not play victim when threatened by Muslim groups as the DAP had “relentlessly attacked the position of Malays and Muslims…The DAP had also insulted the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Islam”.
If that was the case, how did the DAP garner so many Malay votes, make a break-through in the Umno fortress of Johor, and get its Malay members elected as members of parliament? Without Malay votes, this could not have been possible.
How ridiculous they are can be seen when Zulkifly accused the politicians whose faces adorned the banner of manipulating the price hike issue. According to him, “The increase of prices of goods has been turned into a kind of propaganda to bring down Malay leadership. They are trying to provoke hatred and belittle Malay leadership.”
The lives of Malaysians have become a nightmare because of price hikes which have made life very difficult for people. It is felt by everyone on a daily basis and their sufferings are nation-wide. It is not confined to any ethnic community.
To blame these four leaders as manipulating the price hike to bring down the Malay leadership is grossly unfair and wrong. It is utter nonsense! The price hike demonstration organised by various NGOs in Penang effectively debunked the atrocious statements and the sweeping claims made by the trouble-makers.
More than 1,000 turned up to oppose the price hikes and the implementation of the GST. The crowd was largely Malay with good support from the Chinese and the Indians. What transpired was heart-warming and encouraging. It showed that whatever ploy that is used by Umno and its henchmen to drive a wedge between the Malays and non-Malays will not work.
The Seberang Jaya Municipal Councillor Zulkifli Saad said the gathering was a show of solidarity among Malays, Chinese and Indians.”We are not racists, this is a gathering of people.” Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) spokesperson Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, asked who were the Malays who felt insulted by Lee’s act of stuffing kangkung into a replica of Najib.
“Hello! Who says Malays are insulted? We are insulted because we have a PM who cannot manage the country,” he said. He also warned groups who threatened violence and racial riots, saying that their non-Malay brothers and sisters would be protected even if “one hair of yours is disturbed”.
Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli said that anti-price hikes groups would protest in all the states, culminating in a massive protest in Kuala Lumpur on 1 May, themed Gasak Sampai Tumbang (GST).
Rafizi emphatically said: “There is also no link between race and price hikes. It is just their way of putting fear in us as they are racists.”
“If there is one Chinese youth among us who is threatened, 10 Malays among us will be there to protect him,” he assured, followed by shouts of support.
Afif Bahardin, the Seberang Jaya representative, drove home a valid point rather forcefully, “The price hike is suffered by not only DAP, PKR or PAS but by Umno members as well.”
It is this kind of solidarity building up that is worrying Umno. Their usual divide-and-rule policy is no longer working. Race and religion can no longer be an effective campaign strategy to retain power. So, it seems, an unrest is necessary for emergency rule and is that why no action is taken against these trouble-makers?
Melayu, Islam dihina di Tanah Melayu!
Azman Anuar, Utusan Malaysia(TMI) - Sejak “pengunduran” pemimpin Melayu yang berani dan disegani beberapa tahun lalu, semakin menjadi-jadi pula kalangan bukan Melayu tertentu menghina orang Melayu dan agama Islam.
Mereka lupa taraf kerakyatan yang diterima oleh datuk, nenek dan ibu bapa mereka 56 tahun lalu adalah atas dasar sikap tolak ansur orang Melayu yang tidak dapat ditemui di mana-mana di dunia ini.
Sekarang, bila sudah kaya dan kuasai ekonomi serta pengaruh politik kian bertambah, itupun diberi oleh orang Melayu juga, sikap bukan Melayu semakin berani “bermain dengan api”.
Orang bukan Melayu bukan sahaja dilihat tidak mahu memahami adat, bahasa dan budaya orang Melayu, tetapi mereka tanpa rasa takut cuba “menjolok sarang tebuan”. Tidak tahulah bila agaknya “tebuan” yang cuba mempertahankan sarangnya daripada diceroboh akan bertindak menyerang balik.
Setakat hari ini, kumpulan tebuan belum keluarkan sengat, mereka sekadar “buat bising” dan acah-acah serang supaya penceroboh rasa gementar.
Itulah yang dibuat oleh orang Melayu yang masih bersabar yang entah peringkat apa darjah kesabarannya. Tapi kalau melampau, si tebuan tidak akan berdiam diri. Apatah lagi, jika sarangnya terus diceroboh dan dibakar semata-mata madunya hendak dibawa lari.
Tawaran ganjaran wang untuk ‘menampar’ muka Ahli Parlimen berkenaan dan menyembelih ayam di atas gambar beberapa pemimpin DAP dilihat satu amaran keras daripada segelintir orang Melayu yang teramat marah dan geram. Itulah bibit-bibit yang tidak ingin kita lihat, tetapi itulah orang kata “berani buat, beranilah tanggung”.
Hakikatnya kini, bukan lagi bulan demi bulan, tetapi hari demi hari bukan Melayu semakin berani menghina orang Melayu, agama Islam dan Raja-raja Melayu. Tindakan mereka sekarang bukan sembunyi-sembunyi. Bacalah dalam komen di dalam blog laman sosial.
Kedudukan Melayu dan Islam semakin dicabar. Baru-baru ini guru besar Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) mengarah guru mualaf membuka tudung jika ingin terus mengajar di sana, kemudian guru lelaki Cina di SJKC melayan dua murid Islam seperti lembu dengan memakaikan loceng pada leher mereka dan menyuruh makan rumput.
Sebelum itu banyak orang Melayu kecewa dengan layanan diberi kepada individu Cina yang mempersenda orang Islam dan Melayu. Langsung tiada tindakan berkesan.
Terbaharu, Ahli Parlimen Seputeh, Teresa Kok dan tiga pelakon Cina menghina pemimpin negara dan perajurit di Lahad Datu dalam video sempena Tahun Baharu Cina.
Sentimen perkauman yang dahulu cukup dijaga, hari ini ditelanjang, dihina dengan semahu-mahunya tanpa peduli perasaan orang Melayu dan Islam. Mereka lupa agaknya, Tanah Melayu ini majoritinya ialah Melayu. Langsung tiada rasa hormat lagi kepada pribumi negara ini.
Salah orang kita juga terlalu tolak ansur, takut ambil tindakan terhadap orang yang menghina bangsa dan agama. Akhirnya kita pula dilihat seolah-olah mereka tuan tanah dan kita kaum pendatang dan minoriti dalam negara sendiri.
Pemimpin Cina, Sikh dan India dalam DAP sudah tidak takut pada undang-undang sebab mereka tahu ada kelemahan yang mereka boleh terlepas. Apatah lagi akta-akta yang mereka benci dan takuti dahulu sudah dimansuhkan. Sebab itu kepak mereka semakin berkembang.
Tambahan lagi pemimpin Melayu di sebelah sana pula buat pekak bila agama Islam, hak istimewa orang Melayu, Raja-raja Melayu dalam Perlembagaan dipersenda dan dipertikaikan. Malah ada orang Melayu sendiri yang ghairah mahu tukar kerajaan lalu menggalakkan pula kontrak sosial yang menjadi syarat persetujuan untuk bukan Melayu mendapat kerakyatan itu- dilanggar dan diasak semahu-mahunya.
Hari ini kalau orang Melayu ambil tindakan terhadap pencabar kedaulatan Perlembagaan yang di dalamnya ada institusi Melayu dan agama Islam, orang Melayu pula dipersalahkan. Mereka yang mula bermain api itu dengan bangga mendakwa mereka tidak melakukan apa-apa kesalahan.
Atas nama kebebasan bersuara, pihak yang menghina Melayu dan Islam itu dilihat terus bergerak bebas tanpa rasa takut, malah macam-macam lagi penghinaan dan provokasi dikeluarkan mereka.
Punca utamanya, undang-undang yang ada bagaikan tidak dilaksanakan. Sudah banyak isu penghinaan dan provokasi ke atas Melayu dan Islam berakhir tanpa apa-apa tindakan yang memuaskan hati orang Melayu. Itulah hasil beribu-ribu siri aduan dan demonstrasi di depan Balai Polis.
Undang-undang negara bagaikan tiada kuasa untuk menghukum golongan itu. Maka entah untuk sekian kali ke berapa, mereka akan terus-terusan bermain dengan api. Api itu makin lama makin marak dan membakar sebahagian orang Melayu. Kita bimbang akhirnya Melayu akan terbakar rentung.
Aduh, sampai bila kita harus biarkan bangsa Melayu dan agama Islam dihina dan dicerca di Tanah Melayu ini.
Fiasco Looms for Malaysia’s Ruling Coalition
Post-election public support drops steeply amid growing calls for PM Najib to take actionOne of Malaysia’s most respected polling organizations is expected to release figures over the next few days showing that support for the ruling Barisan Nasional from all three of the country’s major ethnic groups is dropping steeply, to the point where if an election were held today, the national coalition would be buried in a landslide.
The loss of support is not just from ethnic Indians, whose approval figures for the Barisan have dropped from 45 percent to 30 percent, or the ethnic Chinese, only 8 percent of whom support the coalition, but from ethnic Malays, the mainstay of the coalition. Support has dropped from 61 percent to 50 percent, according to sources who have seen the figures. In Penang, the poll reportedly shows that the Barisan wouldn’t win a single one of the 40 state seats and 11 parliamentary ones.
That has led to deepening concern over the performance of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, with growing calls for him to either step down in favor of another UMNO figure or to take dramatic steps to revitalize his leadership. Even the mainstream press, all of it owned by Malaysian political parties, is becoming increasingly emboldened to criticize his performance.
Reportedly, according to political sources in Kuala Lumpur, he is increasingly being ignored within his own coalition, most recently by Sarawak strongman Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is stepping down as chief minister. Taib named his former brother-in-law, Adenan Satim, as his own replacement despite a promise during a meeting in London that he would heed Najib’s wishes in naming the new chief minister.
With both national and intraparty elections out of the way last year, Najib gambled that he could drastically cut subsidies for sugar, petrol and rice in a bid to put the country’s fiscal condition back into shape, with the fiscal debt running close to the maximum permissible limit of 55 percent. But with the cost of living soaring upwards, he faces growing outrage. He has since been forced to back away from a sharp rise in highway tolls. And, while anecdotal evidence in the markets indicates that prices are climbing inexorably upwards, critics say the controlled press is continuing to report that there is no cost of living problem.
One of the issues that won’t go away is a government decision to ban use of the word Allah to mean God in Malay-language Bibles, which has infuriated Christians and moderates, who point out that throughout the Arab world, Christians use the word as a proper noun. Najib has come under fire for making moderate statements when he is out of the country, but refusing to take a stand on the issue, or to rein in vocal Malay supremacy organizations such as Perkasa, headed by Ibrahim Ali, whose intemperate racial statements have increasingly poisoned the political atmosphere.
Within UMNO, Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, has become a lightning rod for those who see her as flaunting excess wealth including designer handbags, watches and jewelry at a time when the country is facing cost of living problems. Many blame her for decisions that the prime minister is – or is not – making.
Najib is said to be shaking up his staff, replacing his long-time chief of staff with a younger, more dynamic individual. Reportedly he is also expected to call a party retreat to seek to convince party division chiefs and others within the United Malays National Organization that he has a plan to revitalize the political situation. Party leaders complain that 10 months after the narrow parliamentary victory – and popular vote loss – that left the Barisan in charge, Najib has still not called for a post-mortem of the way the race was run.
With US President Barack Obama scheduled to visit the country on a state visit in April, it is imperative to get moving, say political analysts in Kuala Lumpur. Behind Najib is the ever-present specter of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who has taken no public position against Najib but who clearly has unleashed bloggers who are hounding the prime minister on all sides. Sources within the Mahathir wing of UMNO told Asia Sentinel that Mahathir is after Najib’s head.
It had been thought that, having emasculated Najib’s economic plans after the election, the Mahathir wing would be content to leave the weakened prime minister in his place until the next election. The two most viable candidates to replace him would be Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who has reportedly said he is too old and tired for the job, and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is regarded even by many UMNO figures as too mercurial and polarizing for the job.
However, A. Kadir Jasin, former chief editor of the New Straits Times and a close confidant of the 88-year-old former premier, in his blog,”The Scribe,” on Saturday suggested that Muhyiddin might not be so tired, or that a third candidate, Hishamuddin Hussein, Najib’s cousin and the party’s third-ranking vice-president, might be a possible alternative.
Thus, despite denials on all sides, the political picture is beginning to resemble that in 2008 and 2009, when growing forces coalesced to drive Najib’s predecessor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, from the premiership. The growing drip of blog comments is an indication that Najib must take action or face a serious revolt.
Liow-Wee MCA leadership probably the worst in 65-year MCA history orchestrating political statements and moves even the least honorable past MCA leaders would not do
The Liow-Wee MCA leadership which had been in control of the “7-11” party for the past two months is probably the worst in terms of lack of principles and convictions in the 65-year MCA history, orchestrating political statements and moves even the least honorable past MCA leaders would not do.
Today, the MCA newspaper Star carried a big story entitled “MCA dares Kit Siang to explain fear of confronting UMNO” stating that “MCA wants DAP to publicly explain why he is afraid of directly offending UMNO” over the DAP National Vice Chairperson and MP for Teresa Kok’s controversial “Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014” video – which thanks to groups like UMNO, MCA and Gerakan making a hue and cry has received over 650,000 hits on YouTube in less than three weeks.
Instead of personally making charges against me, the Liow-Wee leadership got a lowly flunky to issue the statement so that both Liow Tiong Lai and Wee Ka Siong can disclaim responsibility for the lies, innuendos and insinuations in the statement.
What a pathetic Liow-Wee MCA national leadership who only dare to throw stones from being curtain and stupid enough to believe that their involvement could be kept secret.
Why Liow or Wee dare not put their name to the MCA statement today challenging me to “explain fear of confronting UMNO”?
Because they know it is a stupid statement which could be shred into tatters for its lies and baseless innuendos and insinuations!
The statement of the lowly MCA flunkey said my “apparent fear (of UMNO) was reflected in the way he had attacked MCA over DAP’s Teresa Kok video” and that my accusation that MCA was behind UMNO’s criticism of the video was “unwarranted”, declaring: “Lim is blaming MCA out of desperation because he is afraid of UMNO”.
There was also the accusation that I had not “directly criticized UMNO” ever since the controversial video was uploaded on YouTube.
Are Liow and Wee prepared to end their political cowardice and declare that this attack on me in the name of the lowly MCA flunkey have their full authorization and endorsement so that I could give a proper reply, as it would otherwise not worth any attention when it is a statement which the MCA President and Deputy President would not even give their public blessings.
I am fully prepared to reply to the wild and baseless allegations, lies, innuendoes and insinuations in the statement of the lowly MCA flunkey provided that Liow and Wee give their full endorsement to the statement.
I await response from the new Liow-Wee leadership of the “7-11” political party in Barisan Nasional. Their silence would be a very eloquent answer indeed!
(Media Statement in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, 17th February 2014)
Today, the MCA newspaper Star carried a big story entitled “MCA dares Kit Siang to explain fear of confronting UMNO” stating that “MCA wants DAP to publicly explain why he is afraid of directly offending UMNO” over the DAP National Vice Chairperson and MP for Teresa Kok’s controversial “Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014” video – which thanks to groups like UMNO, MCA and Gerakan making a hue and cry has received over 650,000 hits on YouTube in less than three weeks.
Instead of personally making charges against me, the Liow-Wee leadership got a lowly flunky to issue the statement so that both Liow Tiong Lai and Wee Ka Siong can disclaim responsibility for the lies, innuendos and insinuations in the statement.
What a pathetic Liow-Wee MCA national leadership who only dare to throw stones from being curtain and stupid enough to believe that their involvement could be kept secret.
Why Liow or Wee dare not put their name to the MCA statement today challenging me to “explain fear of confronting UMNO”?
Because they know it is a stupid statement which could be shred into tatters for its lies and baseless innuendos and insinuations!
The statement of the lowly MCA flunkey said my “apparent fear (of UMNO) was reflected in the way he had attacked MCA over DAP’s Teresa Kok video” and that my accusation that MCA was behind UMNO’s criticism of the video was “unwarranted”, declaring: “Lim is blaming MCA out of desperation because he is afraid of UMNO”.
There was also the accusation that I had not “directly criticized UMNO” ever since the controversial video was uploaded on YouTube.
Are Liow and Wee prepared to end their political cowardice and declare that this attack on me in the name of the lowly MCA flunkey have their full authorization and endorsement so that I could give a proper reply, as it would otherwise not worth any attention when it is a statement which the MCA President and Deputy President would not even give their public blessings.
I am fully prepared to reply to the wild and baseless allegations, lies, innuendoes and insinuations in the statement of the lowly MCA flunkey provided that Liow and Wee give their full endorsement to the statement.
I await response from the new Liow-Wee leadership of the “7-11” political party in Barisan Nasional. Their silence would be a very eloquent answer indeed!
(Media Statement in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, 17th February 2014)
NGO offers to help EC improve electoral system
fz.com
by Meena Lakshana
by Meena Lakshana
PETALING
JAYA (Feb 17): A citizen-based electoral reform project has proposed the
establishment of a separate body independent of the Election Commission
(EC) to oversee the constituency re-delineation process.
Speaking
at the forum entitled ‘Towards a Fairer Electoral System’, Projek Beres
coordinator Syahredzan Johan said yesterday a Boundaries Commission
should be set up independently of the EC to deal with the delimitation
process.
In
his presentation at the forum organised by the Bar Council and Tindak
Malaysia, Syahredzan said the commission will also operate independently
of Parliament, where Dewan Rakyat would have no power to amend or
reject the final determination of boundaries by the commission.
Its
members will be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, in consultation
with the Conference of Rulers and the concurrence of the Opposition
Leader.
“The Boundaries Commission may increase or decrease number of constituencies according to delimitation criteria,” he said.
The
EC will assume the role of the Registrar of Societies (ROS) by handling
the registration and regulation of political parties and political
organisations, which would give licence to the commission to oversee the
parties during election.
The appointment of EC members is similar to the Boundaries Commission.
To
keep the Boundaries Commission and the EC in check, Projek Beres also
proposed that an Election Ombudsman inquire into, review and address
complaints and grievances with respect to the conduct of the EC and the
Boundaries Commission.
The
Election Ombudsman will also issue orders for corrective action to be
taken and recommend the removal of members of a caretaker government.
All
members of all bodies will be disqualified if found to be a member of a
political party. Also, all members are not allowed to be elected
representatives of the people.
Projeck
Beres also proposed that an interim Prime Minister (PM) lead the
caretaker government once Parliament is dissolved to pave the way for
elections.
The
interim PM will be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, but is
subject to the approval of the outgoing PM and the Opposition Leader.
These are some of the 20 proposals drawn up by Projek Beres, a citizen-initiated electoral reform group.
‘Plans to engage with political parties’
Syaredzan
said the group hopes to initiate discussions on the proposals with both
Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat “as soon as possible.”
“We
want to engage with the stakeholders, EC and both sides of the
political divide. Ultimately, they may have different ideas,” he said.
“But
at least, we can talk about these things, because it involves
amendments to the Federal Constitution, and for that, we need both sides
of the political divide to agree to this,” he said.
However, Syahredzan said the group may have to wait until after the Kajang by-election.
He said at the moment, the group also lacks funding but is hopeful that they will receive help.
“The thing is, it is not civil society’s job to do all of these things,” he said.
“We are doing this because the State has failed us and we are just a bunch of concerned citizens.
“So, similarly, the funding will come because there are concerned citizens who will step forward to help us,” he added.
More information on the group and its efforts can be found on its Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/ProjekBeres.
Government To Continue Emphasise On Growth Of Creative Sector - Najib
PUTRAJAYA, Feb 17 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the government will continue to emphasise on the development of the creative industry which can potentially contribute to a higher gross domestic product (GDP) going forward.He said currently, the Malaysian creative industry only contributed 1.3 per cent to the GDP compared to developed countries, such as the US, South Korea and Japan, which contributed up to seven per cent to the GDP.
Therefore, Najib, who is also finance minister, said the government has approved an allocation of RM200 million in the 2012 Budget to boost the local creative industry.
"I see that the creative industry has a really big potential to contribute to the GDP.
"In today's event, we are giving soft loans amounting to RM21 million to 15 companies. This is only the first phase. The second phase will follow at the end of this year," he said at the financing scheme presentation ceremony to 15 companies at the Perdana Putra Complex in PUtrajaya, Monday.
The 15 companies are ArtCube (visual art), Clothier Creation - Khoon Hooi (fashion), Akarkarya (music), MyPAA (performing arts), Accurve Studios (video games), DragonSlate (film), Comoddity (fashion), Pearly Wong Collection (fashion), Point College (creative academy), Fern Design (fashion), dUCK (fashion), Platinum Unik (indigenous Asli handicraft), Masakini Theatre (performing arts), Legau Sudin (creative content) and Melinda Looi International (fashion).
Also present were MyCreative Ventures Sdn Bhd (MyCreative) Chief Executive Officer, Johan Ishak and MyCreative Chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Farid Ridzuan.
MyCreative is a government investing arm which aims to boost the local creative industry to a higher standard through strategic and innovative financing, either in the form of equity or loan.
Besides contributing to the GDP, Najib said the creative industry would also introduce the identity of a country to the outside world.
Giving an example, he said, South Korea, which focused on high technology in its culture and creativity sector, has succeeded in positioning the K-Pop in the world.
"We can achieve the same status. I am sure what we are doing today is not a starting point, but also a continuous effort towards achieving what we are hoping for, which is to position the creative industry to a higher level," he said.
Najib said the government chose to support and assist the creative industry in order to help translate the creativity of Malaysians into a sustainable industry and based on a business model which could give good returns.
"Although it is risky, we have to give the opportunity and take risks to develop the talent of local youth," he said.
Meanwhile, Johan was confident the RM200 million financing scheme would be disbursed to applicants the latest by next year, but it would depend on the business plan presented to the committee.
"Since its inception, MyCreative is still reviewing and analysing more than 100 applications received.
"We are willing to be flexible to allow interested applicants do this business," he said.
--BERNAMA
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