MCA hides behind constitution when grilled on Umno support for hudud

Chibok abductions: Nigeria girls' taken abroad' - BBC

Boko Haram has often targeted educational establishments

Some of the schoolgirls abducted by suspected militant Islamists in northern Nigeria are believed to have been taken to neighbouring states, a local leader has told the BBC.

Pogo Bitrus said there had been "sightings" of gunmen crossing with the girls into Cameroon and Chad.

Some of the girls had been forced to marry the militants, he added.

Mr Bitrus said 230 girls were missing since militants attacked the school in Chibok, Borno state, two weeks ago.

The Islamist group Boko Haram has been blamed for the night-time raid on the school hostel in Chibok town. It has not yet commented on the allegation.

Mr Bitrus, a Chibok community leader, said 43 of the girls had "regained their freedom" after escaping, while 230 were still in captivity. This is a higher number than previous estimates, however he was adamant it was the correct figure.
'Slavery'

The students were about to sit their final year exam and so are mostly aged between 16 and 18.

"Some of them have been taken across Lake Chad and some have been ferried across the border into parts of Cameroon," he told the BBC.

The girls were seized from their hostel late at night

 

Mr Bitrus said there were also reports that the insurgents had married some of the girls.

"We learned that one of the 'grooms' brought his 'wife' to a neighbouring town in Cameroon and kept her there," he told the BBC.

I'm crying now as community leader to alert the world to what's happening so that some pressure would be brought to bear on government to act”

Pogo Bitrus Chibok community leader

"It's a medieval kind of slavery," he added.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau first threatened to treat captured women and girls as slaves in a video released in May 2013.

It fuelled concern at the time that the group is adhering to the ancient Islamic belief that women captured during war are slaves with whom their "masters" can have sex, correspondents say.

Mr Bitrus said everyone in the community felt as though their own daughters had been abducted.

Men were "braving it out", but women were "crying and wailing", he said.

"Whether it is my niece or whoever it doesn't matter. We are all one people," Mr Bitrus told the BBC.

"That's why I'm crying now as community leader to alert the world to what's happening so that some pressure would be brought to bear on government to act and ensure the release of these girls."

The government has said the security forces are searching for the girls, but its critics say it is not doing enough.

Boko Haram has staged a wave of attacks in northern Nigeria in recent years, with an estimated 1,500 killed in the violence and subsequent security crackdown this year alone.

Bersih 2.0 dedah kepada Obama, Najib punca ekstremis kaum dan agama berleluasa

 

Dalam perbincangan dengan Presiden Amerika Syarikat Barack Obama, Pengerusi Bersih 2.0, Maria Chin Abdullah mendedahkan kepincangan pentadbiran Datuk Seri Najib Razak. – Gambar The Malaysian Insider, 28 April, 2014.

Pengerusi Bersih 2.0, Maria Chin Abdullah mengambil kesempatan pertemuan dengan Presiden Amerika Syarikat (AS) Barack Obama untuk mendedahkan kepincangan pentadbiran Datuk Seri Najib Razak sebagai punca ekstremis agama dan kaum berleluasa di Malaysia.

Maria yang turut aktif dalam gerakan hak asasi manusia di Malaysia berkata, slogan demokratik dan kesederhanaan yang dilaungkan oleh Najib hanya topeng semata-mata.

"Saya ambil peluang ini untuk menegaskan Malaysia bukan sebuah negara demokratik dan tidak sederhana, saya beritahu beliau (Obama)," kata Maria kepada The Malaysian Insider di Kuala Lumpur malam tadi.

"Kami berbincang dalam tempoh 50 minit... perbincangan berkenaan undang-undang dan akta tekanan, termasuk tahanan tanpa bicara seperti Akta Hasutan.”

Dalam pertemuan itu, Maria juga sempat berkongsi dengan Obama bagaimana pentadbiran Najib bermain politik agama selepas gagal mendapatkan sokongan majoriti rakyat Malaysia.

"Kerajaan sedia ada ini adalah sebuah kerajaan minoriti, dan kerana tidak mendapat sokongan kerajaan, terpaksa membina asas berdasarkan agama Islam hingga menyebabkan ekstremisme agama berlaku," kata beliau.

Maria juga menerangkan mengenai kemelut dalam isu kalimah Allah, serbuan dan serangan ke atas gereja dan mengenai usaha Najib menyokong pelaksanaan hukum hudud.

"Jika tiada perubahan yang tulen sekarang, ia pasti akan membawa kepada perpecahan dalam negara kerana isu agama dan kaum," katanya.

"Dalam isu ini, kerajaan mesti menghentikannya jika mereka mengiktiraf masyarakat yang pelbagai kaum, tetapi mereka tidak lakukannya."

Selain politik agama, Maria juga mendedahkan penemuan Tribunal Rakyat yang dijalankan oleh Bersih 2.0 di mana banyak berlaku kepincangan dalam Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 lalu.

"Kami juga bawa isu tentang senarai pemilih, penipuan, rasuah, kempen berbentuk ugutan yang membantu kerajaan minoriti mengekalkan kuasa," katanya.

Selain Maria, antara yang berpeluang bertemu Obama di Hotel Ritz Carlton, Kuala Lumpur semalam adalah Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (Suhakam) Tan Sri Hasmy Agam, peguam dan aktivis hak asasi manusia Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, Presiden Majlis Peguam Malaysia Christopher Leong dan ahli majlis Honey Tan, Pengerusi dan Pengarah Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, Pengarah Eksekutif Sisters In Islam (SIS) Ratna Osman dan wakil Majlis Gereja-Gereja Malaysia (CCM), Rev Dr Herman Shastri.

"Isu rampasan Injil berbahasa Melayu juga diberi perhatian dan saya bangkitkan mengenai jurang sempit yang dihadapi penganut agama Kristian di sini, di mana kami sering terperangkap dalam tekanan antara majoriti lawan minoriti," kata Dr Herman.

Selain itu, isu-isu seperti pendakwaan berat sebelah oleh Putrajaya serta pelaksanaan undang-undang baru yang bertentangan dengan hak asasi manusia juga dibincangkan.

"Kami juga bangkitkan mengenai penggunaan Akta Hasutan sebagai alat dakwaan bermotifkan politik ke atas Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan juga aktivis sosial.

"Pengerusi Majlis Peguam, Christopher Leong menjelaskan secara terperinci mengenai penggunaan akta yang menindas dalam negeri serta pengenalan akta baru yang membawa perbicaraan tanpa bicara atau Akta Pencegahan Jenayah (PCA)," kata Maria.

Malah, semasa perbincangan itu, pihak Suhakam juga memberitahu Obama mengenai kuasa terhad yang diberikan kepada mereka, kata Maria lagi.

Lebih mengecewakan lagi, Maria berkata Najib juga tidak mempunyai keberanian dan mengambil inisiatif untuk bertemu dengan kumpulan sivil, walhal Obama sanggup meluangkan masa hampir sejam berbincang dengan mereka.

"Kami juga beritahu Obama, Perdana Menteri tidak pernah berjumpa dengan kami.

"Tapi beliau ambil masa hampir sejam untuk bertemu dengan kami, malah menjemput kami," kata beliau.

Obama tiba di Malaysia pada Sabtu dalam siri lawatan tiga harinya serta mengadakan mesyuarat dua hala dengan Malaysia.

"Kami juga menerangkan berkenaan situasi hak asasi di Malaysia, dan meminta AS tidak lagi menggelar Malaysia sebagai negara demokratik dan negara sederhana, kerana ia memberi kesan kepada tugas hak asasi manusia," kata Maria.

"Kita memerlukan transformasi demokratik.”

Maria berkata, Obama mempunyai tahap diplomasi yang tinggi dan akan mengambil tindakan lanjut terhadap segala isu yang dibangkitkan mereka.

Hari ini, Obama akan berlepas ke Filipina sebagai destinasi terakhir lawatannya ke Asia sebelum pulang ke AS. – 28 April, 2014.

Isma: Don't let 'infidels' decide on hudud

Infidels should not be allowed to frustrate the Islamic state agenda, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) president Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman said today.

 

In an article on Isma's website, Ismaweb, Abdullah said currently, non-Muslims were already causing obstacles by opposing PAS' intention to implement hudud in Kelantan.

 

"The infidels, in opposing hudud, are overstepping their bounds. They cannot play a negative role by opposing or blocking Muslim ambitions in promoting the position of Islam in Malaysia," said Abdullah, who is an ustaz.

 

Abdullah said that opposing the wishes of Muslims went against the spirit of friendship and harmony in a country where the majority of the people are Muslims.

 

Meanwhile, Malay rights pressure group Perkasa has accused PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim of trying to cajole PAS into dropping its hudud ambitions.

Perkasa: Anwar concerned about DAP

 

"Anwar is concerned about the feelings of DAP and non-Muslims in order to further his own political interest. The laws of Allah are of no importance to Anwar. What is important to him is votes," Perkasa said. 

 

The latest debate on hudud follows PAS claim that it will table a Private Member's Bill in the Dewan Rakyat soon, in a move to clear legal hurdles for the implementation of the Syariah Criminal Code Enactment 1993 in Kelantan.

 

The Enactment was formulated soon after PAS formed the Kelantan government in 1990. The law provides for corporal punishment, which includes amputations for theft and stoning for adultery.

 

With only 21 MPs, PAS must rely on Umno, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, PKR and DAP to secure the votes needed to make the necessary legal amendments.

Transform into 'Malaysian Obama', Zaid tells Najib

He is glad that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak rode with US President Barack Obama in the latter's official limousine, nicknamed "The Beast".  

He is also glad that Obama and Najib had natural chemistry, with the Malaysian prime minister having reached "a new level of sophistication and possessing the aura that world leaders are normally associated with".

But former law minister Zaid Ibrahim wants Najib to show Malaysians that his similarity with the US president extended beyond the smart suits they wear.

Like Obama, who is not afraid to raise taboo subjects because he is special, Zaid said Najib too can be special should he choose to.

For a start, the former law minister said Najib needs to address the radical and misguided Muslims in Malaysia who are hell-bent on destroying the basic framework of the country.

"He needs to defend the present democratic way of life and our freedoms, which are surely going to be threatened by the 'Taliban' coming to power.

"Is the PM not worried that the onslaught against the fundamentals of democracy and harmonious living are gaining ground?" he asked in his blog.

As a Muslim leader, Zaid said, Najib must feel responsible that so many Muslims in modern Malaysia have become extremists.

"As a Muslim leader, he must be concerned that some Muslims in Malaysia are on the same level as the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"Is he not embarrassed or concerned that all these people talk about is whether we should amputate limbs using anaesthesia or should the people suffer and feel the real pain. Is he aware that the national dialogue is all about punishment?" he queried.

Referring to PAS's plan to implement hudud in Kelantan, Zaid said when some Muslims wanted to implement hudud law, Najib responded that he was not against it.

"Would Obama have responded in similar fashion? Obama would probably have said that the criminal law of Malaysia must not depart too far from the norms and practices of civilised countries.

"Obama would have said that Malaysia was a Federation of States in which penal laws must be acceptable to all the states.

"When will our prime minister, who has the aura of Obama, start talking about these issues Obama-style? I believe Obama would have tackled these matters decisively," he added.

Seize opportunity to become special

Calling on Najib to "rise to be the Malaysian Obama", Zaid urged Najib to seize the opportunity to become a "special Malaysian/Umno" politician.

"Obama is obviously special in becoming the first black president of the US. He has championed the rights of minorities in his country, putting Hispanic- and African-Americans in prominent positions in government and the Supreme Court.

"Obama has also appointed many women of substance to important positions in society.

"Would Najib match his new hero in terms of being the same special politician? Would he, too, champion the rights of minorities and defend the rights of Malays and Muslims from the rampaging might of those holding power in the name of God?

"Would Najib be democratic and allow the simplest and most basic rights, such as the freedom to watch TV or read newspapers that do not belong to the BN?" he added.

Like Obama, Zaid said that Najib needs to spearhead a new politics, with new ideas, for a new future for this country.

"He needs to set free Muslim girls in schools to let them participate in sports and school choirs. These girls have to be taught musical instruments and be allowed to sing.

"Or would Najib see the decapitation of his own race just to be a political survivor?" he asked.

Ambiga schools Dr M on nation's real foes

 

"Corruption, abuse of power, destruction of fundamental institutions, erosion of human rights, racism and extremism... Do you want me to go on?" asked S Ambiga.
          
Responding to Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the former Bersih chairperson said the elements mentioned above, and not street protests, are what cause instability in a nation.

"And as far as Malaysia is concerned, these are the factors that have caused and are causing instability," Ambiga added.

Without the slightest doubt, Ambiga told Malaysiakini, Mahathir and the Election Commission (EC) are aware that elections are not free and fair in Malaysia.

"They know what the people want, but they lack confidence (of winning) if the election is free and fair.

"It is they who are destroying democracy, and you can quote me on this in the strongest possible terms," said the lawyer, who has led two mammoth Bersih rallies in the past.

Form RCI on GE13

Challenging the government to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the last general election if it felt that the contest was free and fair, Ambiga argued that holding elections does not mean that true democracy exists.

In his latest blog posting, Mahathir trained his guns on the Bersih rallies when expressing his views on the perils of street demonstrations.

Among others, he accused Bersih of organising the rallies, which clogged the major arteries of Kuala Lumpur and drew international attention, to discredit and topple the government.

However, Ambiga reminded Mahathir that street demonstrations are a fundamental right, provided for by the Federal Constitution.

"How can anyone say a fundamental right creates instability?

"Street demonstrations allow citizens to vent their views in between elections, and is practised in healthy democracies," she added.

The former Bar Council president said she agreed with Mahathir that a change in government should come through the ballot box.

"It was never Bersih's intention to bring about a change in government through street protests and we have always stressed that we believe in peaceful protests.

"But on that note, change through the ballot box can only take place if elections are free and fair," she added.

Ambiga also said the Bersih People's Tribunal, set up to look into the last general election, came up with a damning indictment on the elections.

"People want to bring change through the ballot box. They want to work within the system, but when the system is so unfair, what do you expect the people to do?" she asked.

Disappointed but not surprised

Meanwhile, current Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah said she is disappointed with Mahathir’s comments but not surprised.

According to her, attempting to quell critical voices has always been the former prime minister's modus operandi.

Like Ambiga, Maria also reminded Mahathir that freedom to assemble is enshrined in the constitution.

"We recognise that there should be limitations to freedoms, for example there should be no hate speeches. But these limitations must adhere to international standards.

"The limitations cannot be based on the criteria of wanting to stifle dissent or views that the powers that be do not agree with," she told Malaysiakini.

Maria also noted that time and again, Mahathir, BN leaders and their demagogues have accused Bersih of attempting to overthrow the government.

"I wish to challenge that accusation. Governments come and go, that is a democracy.

"But when you hear something critical, you should not immediately brand it as an attempt to overthrow the government

"Even if Pakatan Rakyat comes to power, we will also be critical if something is not right," she added.

10 anggota militan ditangkap termasuk seorang wanita

Wanita yang ditahan hari ini merupakan seorang balu namun enggan mendedahkan lokasi serta waktu dia ditahan.

KAJANG: Seorang lagi individu dipercayai terlibat dengan kegiatan militan ditahan di Kuala Lumpur pagi tadi menjadikan jumlah keseluruhan yang ditangkap ialah 10 orang.

Semalam, sembilan ditahan Polis Bahagian Counter Terrorism, Cawangan Khas,Bukit Aman. Mereka berumur antara 25 hingga 26 termasuk seorang wanita, tiga ditahan di Kedah dan enam di Selangor.

Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berkata wanita yang ditahan hari ini merupakan seorang balu namun enggan mendedahkan secara terperinci lokasi serta waktu dia ditahan.

“Setakat pagi tadi, kami sudah menahan 10 orang yang dipercayai ada hubung kait dengan rangkaian Al-Qaeda dan Jemaah Islamiah serta menerima latihan ala ketenteraan,” katanya.

Beliau memberitahu sidang media selepas majlis ‘Pemakaian Pangkat Time Based berasaskan kecemerlangan koperal dan sarjan penjara’, pelancaran unit pengiringan bermotosikal dan jersi pasukan bola sepak Penjara FC.

Ahmad Zahid berkata pihaknya juga telah merampas pakaian ala tentera, buku jihad, pisau rambo, pedang samurai dan bendera kumpulan pengganas antarabangsa daripada 10 individu berkenaan.

Tambahnya, maklumat risikan juga mendapati mereka mempunyai rangkaian di luar dan dalam negara, dan telah menyertai beberapa misi jihad di negara yang sedang bergolak.

“Mereka menyamai apa yang dilakukan Al-Qaeda dan Jemaah Islamiah berselindung atas nama misi kemanusiaan,” katanya.

Beliau berkata Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) akan meneruskan misi mengesan saki baki kumpulan itu yang dipercayai lebih daripada 10 orang.

Ketika ditanya mengenai cara anggota kumpulan itu direkrut, beliau berkata PDRM menyelidiki semua punca pengambilan yang dilakukan daripada individu, kumpulan atau laman sosial seperti Facebook dan tidak akan ada unsur kompromi kepada sesiapa sahaja yang terlibat.

Ahmad Zahid berkata setelah siasatan selesai, beliau akan meminta Bukit Aman mendedahkan mengenai kumpulan itu, yang terdiri dari pelbagai latar belakang individu.

Kesemua ditahan mengikut Kesalahan Berkaitan Dengan Keganasan dan Akta Kanun Keseksaan serta disiasat mengikut prosedur di bawah Akta Kesalahan Keselamatan (Langkah-Langkah Khas) 2012 (Sosma).

“Saya yakin di bawah Sosma kita akan dapat membendung gejala keganasan di negara ini yang mengamalkan kesederhanaan dalam Islam,” katanya.

- Bernama

Frustration and anger boil over for next-of-kin

At the end of their tether after 52 days of waiting for news of those on board MH370, family members lash out at the government

KUALA LUMPUR: Increasingly frustrated at the lack of transparency, most of the next of kin of those on board Flight MH370 say they have lost confidence in the government.

The animosity was evident at last week’s meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Hamzah Zainuddin at a leading hotel in Bukit Bintang.

Almost two months have passed since the Boeing 777-200ER went missing, and the authorities have yet to provide satisfactory answers to the families.

All those present at the meeting with Hamzah vented their anger at the authorities for not answering their questions.

“They are just wasting our time. It’s as if they are hiding something,” said Nur Syafinaz, the younger sister of flight attendant Mohamad Hazrin Mohamed Hasnan, who was on board MH370.

“They can’t even answer a simple yes or no question. They treat us like as if we are stupid. How are we supposed to trust them when they can’t be honest with us?” asked Syafinaz.

“At the same time, they were so arrogant. Some of the answers given to us were cocky. That was also why some of us got very angry,” she said.

On April 21, 40 grieving families calling themselves the United Families of MH370 posted a statement on Facebook in which they raised 15 issues, none of which was addressed by Hamzah.

One of them was why the government accepted the Inmarsat data for analysis and another was why a suggestion for an independent peer review was rejected.

Death certificates

Syafinaz’s elder sister, Zarina Mohamed Hasnan, lambasted the authorities for asking the grieving family members to acknowledge death certificates the government plans to issue.

“If you can’t find the plane or the passengers, how can you ask us to agree to the issuance of death certificates? At that point many of us were livid. I was not alone,” she said.

Zarina said she was furious with the decision taken by the authorities. “On what basis are they planning to issue the death certificates? Where’s the body of my brother?”

Disappointed with the lack of transparency, Syafinaz, also said that the majority of the family members were not asking for money from the government, just answers to their questions.

“Stop flip-flopping and be honest. Until today we have yet to receive the cargo manifest. The reason given is that it is still under investigation. How long must we wait?”

On March 8, MH370 with 227 passengers and 12 crew, went missing enroute to Beijing from KLIA. It left at 12.41am but disappeared from the civilian radar about an hour later over the South China Sea.

Satellite pings from the plane revealed that it diverted from its flight path and headed towards the southern Indian Ocean. Searchers are still looking for the plane.

Don’t fear cops, rally goers told

The police will be the ones breaking the law if they take action, says Lawyers for Liberty.

PETALING JAYA: Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) today assured organisers of the May 1 rally and intending participants that they need not fear police action.

Citing a recent Court of Appeal decision, LFL founder N Surendran said the public demonstration against the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) would be legal even without a police permit.

“If the police take action, they are going against the Court of Appeal’s judgment, and they will be the ones breaking the law,” he told FMT.

“I encourage Malaysians to exercise their right to freedom of assembly. Ignore the illegal warnings and assemble peacefully.”

He urged the police not to “behave like gangsters”.

The rally, organised by 95 civic groups, will be held in the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka.

The Court of Appeal last Friday struck down Section 9 (5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act (PPA), which provides for a maximum fine of RM10,000 if a 10-day notice is not given to the police before a peaceful assembly is held.

The court ruled that it was unconstitutional and went against the right to freedom of assembly as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

A three-man bench led by Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof acquitted Selangor Deputy Speaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who had been charged over last year’s Black 505 rally.

“The 10-day notice is still required, but no criminal penalty should be enforced,” Mohamad Ariff said.

Bar Council president Christopher Leong told FMT that the objective of Section 9 was for the police to have prior notice of a peaceful assembly.

“This is so that the police can facilitate in terms of traffic and security,” he said. “The police are duty-bound to take measures to facilitate a peaceful assembly.

“The assembly will be lawful so long as it is a peaceful assembly. As such, organisers should not be punished.”

Commenting on pending PAA cases, Leong said it was wrong for the prosecution to go ahead in light of the Court of Appeal’s decision.

Muslim doctors back hudud amputation

Muslim doctors are all for amputation under hudud as it will instil fear among criminals.

PETALING JAYA: The Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia (Imam) has backed amputation under hudud but without administering anesthetic to inflict pain on criminals.

Imam president Dr Abdul Rahim Mohamad said such a painful procedure was vital so that criminals would repent and refrain from committing crime in the future.

“The moral of hudud is to inflict pain, fear, remorse and repentance as a lesson not to repeat the crime.

“Similarly, public execution under hudud will also deter others from committing a crime,” he said.

Recently, the Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakub announced that it would table a Private Member’s Bill in the Parliament in June to implement hudud law in the state.

Minister in Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Islamic affairs Jamil Khir Baharom said the federal government would not block the move in the interest of faith.

However, many others said the move would run ultra vires to the Federal Constitution which guaranteed equality before the law.

Rahim also said the public need not fear hudud as the burden of proof under Islamic law was high.

“The process of conviction is both labourious and stringent to ensure justice is served,” said Rahim.

Abdul Rahim said the Malaysia Medical Association’s (MMA) objection was a mere knee- jerk reaction.

“The MMA was trying to usurp the powers of the Health Ministry when it said that doctors and nurses fall under the purview of the federal government and have no need to listen to state orders.

Last week, MMA president Dr NKS Tharmaseelan had said hudud amputation was against medical ethics.

Two days ago, Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam had voiced his objection to hudud amputation, adding that there are no provisions to allow medical staff to perform hudud amputation.

Hudud: Kita nak tunggu MCA keluar BN – Tuan Ibrahim

(Harakah) – PAS mencabar MCA agar bertindak keluar daripada BN ekoran penentangan berterusan parti itu terhadap penerimaan positif Umno dalam isu hudud.

Naib Presiden PAS, Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man berkata, Umno secara jelas menyatakan persetujuan dan mahu bekerjasama dengan PAS ke arah perlaksanaan hukum Islam itu.

“Kalau MCA tidak bersetuju dengan Umno, mungkin MCA bertindak keluar daripada BN.

“Sekarang ini kita tengok macam mana respons dia,” katanya kepada pemberita di Pejabat Agung PAS Jalan Raja Laut hari ini.

Terdahulu beliau turut menghadiri pertemuan dengan wakil Kerajaan Kelantan bersama PKR dan DAP berhubung isu itu.

“Hasil perbincangan hari ini kita membuat kesimpulan bahawa perlu banyakkan penjelasan berkenaan hudud ini.

“Buat masa ini untuk menerima atau tidak terpulang kepada rakan-rakan dalam Pakatan Rakyat, bagi kita pada waktu ini adalah memberi penjelasan sebaik mungkin,” katanya.

Sebelum ini, Menteri Di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom berkata, kerajaan pusat sedia membantu Kelantan dalam usaha melaksanakan undang-undang Islam itu.

Terbaru semalam, Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mencadangkan satu jawatankuasa teknikal hudud peringkat kebangsaan dibentuk sebelum PAS membentang usul pelaksanaan hukum hudud di Perlimen nanti.

Muhyiddin berkata ini penting bagi membolehkan isu berkenaan dibincang terlebih dahulu dengan membabitkan banyak pihak yang pakar mengenainya.

Bagaimanapun hari ini, MCA yang juga sekutu Umno melalui sayap pemudanya mengugut akan membina benteng manusia di bangunan parlimen bagi menghalang ahli parlimen PAS masuk membentangkan rang undang-undang (RUU) persendirian (private bill) berkaitan undang-undang jenayah syariah.

Ketua Pemuda MCA, Senator Chong Sin Woon berkata, parti itu akan mencuba sedaya mungkin untuk menghalang PAS daripada membentangkan RUU itu atas dasar “untuk mempertahankan Perlembagaan Persekutuan”.

Chong mendakwa, rang undang-undang itu perlu dihalang sebelum terlambat kerana ia kononnya memberi kesan yang amat besar kepada rakyat bukan Islam di negara ini.

Today’s PC; 29 April 2014

Putrajaya still seen as corrupt, as people sceptical of government’s anti-graft efforts

by Elizabeth Zachariah
The Malaysian Insider

Most Malaysians are sceptical of Putrajaya’s efforts to eradicate corruption and practise integrity despite its efforts to pursue such an agenda, an analyst told a forum today.

Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) chief executive officer Wan Saiful Wan Jan (pic) said most people were convinced that corruption and abuse of power were still a critical issue in Malaysia despite the government’s initiatives to work on them.

“Corruption is still an issue. So, despite the government’s initiatives, people still feel the country is corrupt.

“There is great scepticism of how serious the government is in pursuing this,” he said at a forum on integrity at the Malaysian Institute of Integrity in Kuala Lumpur.

He said the high level of scepticism of the government’s efforts indicated that it was because there were no real efforts to actually eradicate corruption within the government and its departments and agencies.

“It is just like when the government talked about moderation and set up the Global Movement of Moderates (GMM), which is a very good initiative to take the moderation agenda to an international level,” Wan Saiful said, referring to the think tank mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in 2010.

“But people are making jokes about GMM. They are saying, why promote moderation outside Malaysia when there are extremists in the country that the government is not doing anything about?”

It is also because we have strong separation of powers (judiciary and executive) as well as a strong culture of apolitical public administration. – Danish Ambassador Nicolai Ruge

Malaysians, he added, are tired of politicians from both sides of the divide who demand accountability but were corrupt themselves.

Other panelists of the forum included Media Prima chairman Datuk Johan Jaafar and the Danish Ambassador to Malaysia Nicolai Ruge, who said an inclusive political culture was one of the reasons why Denmark had the lowest corruption level in the world.

Denmark tied with New Zealand to take the number 1 spot as the least corrupt countries in the world in last year’s Corruption Perception Index by Transparency International, scoring 91 out of 100 points.

Malaysia scored 50 to rank at number 53 out of 177 countries surveyed.

“It is also because we have strong separation of powers (judiciary and executive) as well as a strong culture of apolitical public administration,” he said.

In his speech afterwards, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of governance and integrity Datuk Paul Low said the people are demanding greater accountability and transparency from the government as there is an increased awareness of corruption.

“Expectations are higher than in the past. Especially when a society is placed in desperation where the livelihood of the people is at risk through political oppression and corruption.

“The people are prepared to go to the streets to express their anger and to rise up against a failed regime. We have seen this in the Arab Spring uprising, in Greece and recently in Ukraine,” the former Transparency International-Malaysia president said. – April 29, 2014.

Obama aware of human rights issues in Malaysia

FZ.com
by Terence Fernandez

PETALING JAYA (April 28): He hardly raised an eyebrow and did not seem surprised –   that was how in tune US President Barack Obama was to human rights issues in Malaysia.

The 10 representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who had met Obama at the Ritz Carlton Hotel yesterday said the president was well briefed on the thorny issues facing Malaysia such as religious and racial extremism, the muzzling of the media, lack of free and fair elections, disregard for the Opposition, police brutality and the questionable independence of the judiciary.

 “He knew the issues and asked questions.

“Our interaction with him was on the basis that he knew what the problems were. He was well briefed,” said Datuk S. Ambiga who was representing the Malaysian Human Rights Society (Hakam).

She said while Obama believed prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was reformed-minded, he did not offer any excuses for the shortcoming of the Malaysian Government in addressing these concerns.

“It was very informal. We were initially given just 15 minutes where each of us had only a minute to say what we had to, but instead Obama asked why we were all standing and that we should get some chairs.

“So we carried some chairs … even he carried a chair and we sat around him and spoke for an hour,” she said when met at her office here yesterday.

Accompanying Obama was National Security Advisor Susan Rice and US Ambassador to Malaysia Joseph Yun.

“We made it clear Malaysia was neither a moderate Muslim nation, nor a democracy in the true sense of the word,” Ambiga said, adding that Obama was also told that any praise of Malaysia’s democracy would be undermining the work of the NGOs and civil liberty movement.

Ambiga said the president assured them that they will continue engaging on these concerns through the US Embassy, where issues that were of obvious infringements of human rights would be prioritised.

She said although Obama admitted he may not be able to highlight every concern, he said he would raise the issues with his Malaysian counterpart each time the opportunity arises.

“He seemed very sincere about it,” she said.

Obama in his public speeches had cleverly touched on issues of racial discrimination and respect for democracy without offending his hosts – a veiled signal to the Malaysian Government which is hoping to get US’ endorsement for a seat in the UN Security Council.

Sisters in Islam (SIS) meanwhile had told Obama that moderate Muslims are facing an onslaught by extremists.

“It was also pointed out by SIS that calls for respect for human dignity and progressive Islam is being labelled as a threat and deviant by extremists who preach hate and racial supremacy,” its executive director Ratna Osman said in a statement.

Honey Tan, of the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs (Comango) said politicisation of Islam was the biggest concern brought to Obama’s attention.

“Since Malaysia will assume the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2015, the president should encourage our prime minister to ensure space for civil society organisations are not constrained and activists not restrained from speaking out,” she said.

The meeting was also attended by Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) commissioner Tan Sri Hasmy Agam, Bar Council president Christopher Leong, Bersih 2.0 Chairman Maria Chin Abdullah, Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) chairman Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, Kuala Lumpur Archbishop Emeritus Rev. Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam, the Council of Churches Malaysia head Rev. Dr Herman Shastri and Tenaganita’s Aegile Fernandez.

It had been reported that Hasmy complained about the toothless tiger Suhakam was where its annual report was not even tabled in Parliament.

Information on the prosecution of religious minorities was the input provided by Ahmad Farouk.

Senate Creates History, Extends Sitting Until Past Midnight

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (Bernama) -- The Dewan Negara created history Tuesday when the sitting lasted until past midnight to enable all matters at hand to be resolved.

This is the second time that Parliament faced such a situation after the Dewan Rakyat sitting was adjourned at 3.22 am on April 20, 2012.

The Senate sitting was adjourned at 12.45 am on Wednesday after Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Razali Ibrahim completed his winding up speech on the debate on the motion of thanks for the royal address.

Senate president Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang, however, did not stop the proceeding when the clock struck midnight as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom was having the floor.

Earlier, Abu Zahar in allowing the sitting to be extended until all matters were resolved, said the minister's presence to answer all questions and the willingness of all the senators to stay put, must be appreciated.

"The minister's presence is a good sign, while the Senate members' willingness to wait is appreciated. So, I ask for a proposal be put forward to enable this sitting be extended until each ministry has wound up its debate," he said.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim then read the standing order to cancel out the earlier order made and this was supported by Razali.

According to today's proceedings, the Dewan Negara needed to pass the motion of thanks for the royal address before the sitting could be postponed as from tomorrow, the Senate needs to debate on four bills.

These are the Supplementary Supply Bill 2014, Goods and Services Tax Bill 2014, Judges Remuneration (Amendment) Bill 2013 and the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) Bill 2013.

The first meeting of the second session of the Dewan Negara has been set for nine days from April 21 until May 6.

The sitting continues tomorrow.