Zaid: Najib, cabinet, Pakatan, all wimps

More than 200 held in China terror video crackdown: report

Beijing (AFP) - Police in China's Xinjiang region, home to mainly Muslim Uighurs, have arrested more than 200 people over six weeks for "dissemination of violent or terrorist videos", state media said Monday, amid a wave of train station attacks

Police in the far western region, which is periodically hit by unrest, detained 232 people who "have circulated videos promoting terrorism through the Internet and on portable devices", the state-run Global Times newspaper said, citing a Legal Daily report.

Xinjiang's regional government announced a ban in late March on downloading, saving or spreading "terror-related" videos online.

The measure includes video and audio materials "advocating violence and terrorism, religious extremism and separation of ethnic groups", according to the Global Times.

News of the arrests follows a series of violent incidents both inside and beyond Xinjiang which Chinese authorities have blamed on separatists from the area.

In April, assailants using knives and explosive devices struck at a rail station in Xinjiang's capital Urumqi, leaving three dead -- including two attackers -- and 79 wounded.

And in March, 29 were killed and 143 wounded in a horrific knife assault at a railway station in the southwestern city of Kunming, which some Chinese media have dubbed the country's "9/11".

Beijing says groups including the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) and East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), influenced by Al-Qaeda, have inspired and even orchestrated violence in China from Central Asia, which borders Xinjiang.

Some experts, however, question the influence of the TIP, a shadowy organisation that has released videos praising attacks in China but has yet to explicitly claim responsibility for them.

Last week, a lone knifeman was shot and caught after a slashing attack that injured six people at a train station in the southern city of Guangzhou.

Rights groups say tensions in Xinjiang are driven mainly by cultural oppression, intrusive security measures, and immigration by majority Han Chinese -- factors that have led to decades of discrimination and economic inequality.

Dilshat Rexit, a spokesman for the overseas-based World Uyghur Congress, criticised the tightening of controls on Internet use in Xinjiang.

Rather than fight terrorism, he argued, the move was geared toward "cracking down on Uighurs who are using the Internet to reveal China's intolerable policies" in the region.

"The repression has led to an 'Internet-phobia' among Uighurs," he said.

Beijing says its policies in Xinjiang have brought prosperity and higher living standards, and promotes the region as an example of different ethnic groups living together in harmony.

Only 2 independents now, Bukit Besi rep has changed his mind, says Shahidan

One of the three Umno Terengganu assemblymen who quit the party to become an independent assemblyman has returned to Umno, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (pic).

The Umno Supreme Council member said tonight that Bukit Besi assemblyman Roslee Daud has retracted his decision to leave the party and sit in the Terengganu legislative assembly as an Independent representative.

He said with this, BN still holds 15 seats in the Terengganu state assembly to Pakatan's 15, with two independents completing the assembly.

"Umno's position now is we have 15 seats, PAS 14, PKR one, and two independents," he told The Malaysian Insider tonight.

Roslee had this morning issued a statement that he was following former menteri besar Ahmad Said and Ajil assemblyman Ghazali Taib out of Umno to become independent representatives.

This was after Ahmad Said was replaced by Seberang Takir assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, who was sworn in as the Terengganu menteri besar last night.

Their resignations left Razif with a minority government, as BN was reduced to 14 seats in the legislative assembly to Pakatan's 15, with the three new independents completing the state assembly.

Shahidan had earlier today urged Ahmad and the two other independents to come forward and discuss their problem with the party.

"Ahmad Said must be patient, I too have faced a similar situation when a third party did not wish for me to become menteri besar.

"Despite that, and the disappointment I felt, I did not leave the party," he said.

The ongoing political turmoil has forced deputy Umno president and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to meet with the former menteri besar this evening, according to sources.

The Terengganu crisis was triggered after Najib authorised Ahmad's resignation letter, which stipulated that he must step down a year after being reappointed the Terengganu MB, following the 13th general election last year.

The letter was to pacify Umno members who were not happy with Ahmad Said's leadership since he took over from Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh as Terengganu MB in 2008.

In his place, Razif, the Seberang Takir state assemblyman, was appointed the new menteri besar last night.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was said to have made the decision to appoint Razif despite pleas from Ahmad Said to remain as MB for another week to allow for his child’s wedding on May 17 to be held at the MB's official residence in Kuala Terengganu.

Zaid: I'm a good Muslim; I'm against hudud

 

 INTERVIEW For many Muslim conservatives, Zaid Ibrahim's vociferous opposition to hudud epitomises a bad Muslim and is an example of what their children should not be.

However, Zaid begged to differ. The former minister insisted his very stance makes him a good Muslim.

He blamed the country's growing conservatism - including the notion that those who do not accept hudud are bad Muslims - on the country's leaders who failed to do what good Muslim leaders should do.

"God said in the Quran, very clearly, that we have to always use our head to think. That is what good Muslims must do.

"We must not be afraid, that is why I am a good Muslim, because I am not afraid (to speak up)," he told Malaysiakini in an interview at his Tropicana residence.

Zaid is often known for his stubborn political stance, which ultimately saw him leaving Umno, then PKR and subsequently, Kita.

However, few know that in 2002, Zaid had mounted a constitutional challenge against the hudud enactments introduced in Kelantan in 1993 and in Terengganu in 2003.

'Thinking about impact of hudud'

Zaid lamented the obsession that hudud is an obligation for Muslims - and that only a few have given any thought to its impact on a modern society.

"Everybody wants to pretend to be a good Muslim, but hudud has nothing to do with that. There are other good Muslims in other parts of the world who do not want this penal code for crime implemented. There are 250 million Muslims in Indonesia who don't want it," he said.

The reality is markedly different in Malaysia. A 2011 survey titled "Muslims Youths in Southeast Asia" showed more than 70 percent of Muslim Malaysians aged between 15 and 25, wanted hudud in country.

"It will be 90 percent soon," warned Zaid. "It is 70 percent because our leaders have abandoned their responsibility in the last 20 years. They should be addressing the problem and explaining to the people".

Zaid stressed that it was not for leaders to simply comply with what that appeared to be popular opinion.

"If people want slavery, do we introduce slavery again? It is, after all, in the Quran and it never says slavery is banned," he said.

'Hudud incompatible with democracy'

Islamists, and the party PAS in particular, have insisted that they will only bring about hudud through the democratic process of the Dewan Rakyat.

However, in what would surely rile up Islamist politicians, Zaid insisted that hudud is incompatible with democracy.

"When it comes to God's law, you can’t argue, there is no debate. The ulama (religious scholars) will tell you they know better than anybody else.

"So then, democracy will be dead, because you cannot argue about it, you cannot debate about it, you cannot talk about it and you cannot give your opinion. That's the law.

"If you can’t, then the whole basis of democracy is destroyed. That is why I am against hudud," Zaid said.

The spotlight fell on hudud once again after PAS declared its intention to push through with a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament to give force to the Syariah Criminal Code Enactment (II) 1993 in Kelantan, which among others, provides for amputation, stoning and death for various offences.

However, PAS yesterday put on hold its plan for the Private Member’s Bill, pending the hammering out of details for the implementation of hudud in a bi-partisan technical committee with Umno.

Bukit Besi state rep withdraws Umno resignation

Bukit Besi assemblyperson Roslee Daud has withdrawn his resignation letter from Umno.

According to Bernama, the matter was announced by Terengganu executive councillor Mohd Jidin Shafee.

"(Roslee) is back to being a BN assemblyperson," Bernama reported tonight.

The news comes after Malaysiakini reported that Roslee was likely to retract his letter after heated talks among Terengganu Umno assemblyperson.

This means the state assembly is hung at 15 BN, 15 Pakatan Rakyat and two independents.

Mohd Jidin (left), who is also Permaisuri assemblyperson, said Roslee decided not to quit after he was advised by his Umno colleagues.

"Why he made the decision early this morning no longer needs to be explained. But what is important is that we in the party must be united," he told the national newswire.

Roslee was the third Umno assemblyperson to announce he had quit the party this morning, after Ajil assemblyperson Ghazali Taib and Kijal representative Ahmad Said.

This was after Ahmad was replaced as menteri besar with Seberang Takir assemblyperson Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman last night.

Sources told Malaysiakini that Umno is hopeful that Ahmad and Ghazali will change their minds as their resignation letters have not yet reached Umno secretary general Tengku Adnan Mansor.

Umno is also believed to be confident that it has contained a wave of defections, to retain BN's hold in Terengganu.

The state's Umno assemblypersons are expected to meet with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow afternoon.

The meeting is believed to allow them air grouses to Najib, who is also Umno president, and to regroup after what they see as an averted crisis.

Poser over appointment of Zahid’s aide in MIC

A party leader suspects Palanivel and the Home Minister have struck a deal to prevent fresh polls.

PETALING JAYA: Is Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi meddling in MIC affairs?

This question was posed today by a party official in connection with

President G Palanivel’s objection to holding fresh party elections in the light of allegations of rigging in the last polls.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the MIC Central Working Committee (CWC) member alleged that hidden hands were protecting Palanivel from being hauled up by the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

He noted that S Kumar, whom Palanivel recently appointed to the CWC, is an aide of Zahid.

“In the CWC meeting last week, when Palanivel introduced Kumar as a new CWC member, he said the appointment was at the behest of Zahid,” the source told FMT.

“What right does an Umno leader have to make such request? And why is Palanivel acceding to it? Kumar is just an unpopular MIC branch leader from Selayang.”

He speculated that Palanivel might have struck a deal with Zahid whereby Kumar would take a CWC seat in return for promising to back him in case of pressure to call for fresh party polls.

“I believe Kumar is here to protect Palanivel from being pressured to rectify the irregularities in the party polls held last year,” the source said.
Kumar has rejected the allegation, telling FMT he had nothing to do with the Home Ministry.

“Yes, I am Zahid’s officer but I only help him to address Indian issues affecting his parliamentary constituency, Bagan Datoh,” he said. “I’m not involved with the Home Ministry.”

MIC held its polls late last year. Several leaders have alleged that there were irregularities and have sought redress from ROS, which is an agency of the Home Ministry .

‘Three scenarios can happen in T’ganu’

Lim Kit Siang says there is no other way to resolve the political impasse in Terengganu except to hold a fresh election.

KUALA LUMPUR: Three possible scenarios can happen from the Terengganu political crisis with no effective solution in two of them, DAP national adviser Lim Kit Siang said today.

Lim said in the first scenario the new menteri besar, Ahmad Razif, conceding that he had lost the majority in the state assembly and the mandate given to him to form a new state government.

“Second, the possibility of Pakatan Rakyat forming the state government. Pakatan Rakyat now has 15 seats compared with Barisan Nasional’s 14.

“Third, is to have elections to decide the political future of the state. There is no solution in the first two and a state election is needed to resolve the impasse,” he added.

The standoff came after three Umno assemblymen from Terengganu, including former Menteri Besar Ahmad Said, declared themselves independents just a day after Razif was sworn in as menteri besar.

“With the resignation of Ahmad Said, Ghazali Taib and Roslee Daud, from Umno, there is no political party with a working majority,” said Lim.

The number of BN assemblymen had dropped from 17 to 14 and the opposition had 15 members in the state legislative assembly.

Azmi Sharom: Fresh polls the best solution for Terengganu

Although Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has a strong chance to topple the Barisan Nasional (BN) led government in Terengganu as payback for the 2009 Perak political crisis, it would be hypocritical of them to do so, Universiti Malaya Law Faculty Associate Professor Dr Azmi Sharom said.

Speaking to fz.com, Azmi noted that the people of Terengganu voted for a BN state government and even though PR has a chance to take over the government without fresh state polls, they would be cheating the rakyat if they did so.

“The problem here is this: The people of Terengganu voted for an Umno government. They didn’t vote for a PR government but for an Umno government. If we say what happened in Perak was unjust, it is hypocritical of PR if they claim the majority government after what they said regarding Perak.

“If they do that, they will also be disrespecting the voters in Terengganu. The democratic thing to do is to have a fresh state election. I know it will cost a lot of money and might waste people’s time but it is the most democratic thing to do right now,” said Azmi.

The vocal UM lecturer, who is known for his sarcasm also took aim at former Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said and his two cohorts.

“Plans were cancelled for a daughter’s wedding. How dare they shame him (Ahmad) before his daughter’s wedding and b***** h***, there must a state election!

“By Golly! It is such a tragedy that a man is removed from his post just before the daughter’s wedding reception! We must have a state election over this!” said Azmi, referring to reports that Ahmad had quit Umno because his request that his resignation take effect after his daughter’s wedding on May 17 went unheeded.

On a more serious note, Azmi agreed with other constitutional experts that for the time being, the Terengganu administration still remains in the hands of BN. He also agreed that a vote of no confidence is required before any change of government can be made.

“The next logical step is to hold a vote of no confidence at the State Assembly. Such a step is the best because of its transparency.

“Then the Sultan will decide who has the confidence of the House. This is a bit different from Perak because there wasn’t a vote of no confidence there in the first place. That was unlawful.

“In Perak there was no debate in the State Assembly and the Sultan just made his decision (privately). However, if there is a vote of no confidence and these three align themselves with PR, it will be clear that PR will have the majority of the house. These guys become kingmakers,” said Azmi.

One rep returns to Umno fold in Terengganu

By THE RAKYAT POST

State Assemblyman for Bukit Besi Roslee Daud is said to have withdrawn his resignation from 
Umno and returned as a Barisan Nasional (BN) elected representative.

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 13: One of the three Umno Terengganu assemblymen who quit the party to become an independent representative has “returned” to Umno, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.

The Umno Supreme Council member said Barisan Nasional (BN) still holds 15 seats in the Terengganu state assembly to Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) 15, with two independents completing the assembly.

Shahidan, however, did not mention which of the three assemblymen, who had earlier today announced they were leaving the party to become independents, had returned to the fold.

“Umno’s position now is we have 15 seats, PAS 14, PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) one, and two independents,” he told The Malaysian Insider tonight.

Though Shahidan refused to name the assemblyman, it is widely believed he is the Bukit Besi rep, Roslee Daud.

Roslee had this morning issued a statement that he was following former Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said and Ajil assemblyman Ghazali Taib out of Umno to become independents.

This was after Ahmad Said was replaced by Seberang Takir assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, who was sworn in as the Terengganu Menteri Besar last night.

Their resignations had left Ahmad Razif with a minority government, as BN was reduced to 14 seats in the legislative assembly to Pakatan’s 15 and the three new independents completing the state assembly.

Shahidan had earlier today urged Ahmad and the two other independents to come forward and discuss their problems with the party.

“Ahmad Said must be patient. I, too, have faced a similar situation when a third party did not wish for me to become Perlis Menteri Besar.

“Despite that, and the disappointment I felt, I did not leave the party,” he said.

The ongoing political turmoil has forced deputy Umno president and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to meet with the former Menteri Besar this evening, according to sources.

The Terengganu crisis was triggered after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak authorised Ahmad’s resignation letter, which stipulated that he must step down a year after being reappointed the Terengganu MB, following the 13th General Election last year.

The letter was to pacify Umno members who were not happy with Ahmad Said’s leadership after he took over from Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh as Terengganu MB in 2008.

In his place, Razif, the Seberang Takir state assemblyman, was appointed the new Menteri Besar last night.

Najib was said to have made the decision to appoint Razif despite pleas from Ahmad Said to remain as MB for another week to allow for his child’s wedding on May 17 to be held first.

State police chief Datuk Jamshah Mustapa says dissemination of news from inaccurate sources could trigger chaos and threaten public order.

Police monitoring false news over social media

Meanwhile, police have warned the public against disseminating false news via the social media as this could lead to instigation and confusion over the political situation in Terengganu.

State police chief Datuk Jamshah Mustapa said dissemination of news from inaccurate sources could trigger chaos and threaten public order.

As such, he said, the police were now monitoring social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp, blogs and social websites for widespread inaccurate news from unknown sources.

“I urge all quarters to counter-check the news they receive with reliable sources first before passing them on.”

Jamshah said the police were now liaising with the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to detect and tackle the dissemination of inaccurate news .

He said police would boost patrols in several strategic locations to prevent untoward incidents such as demonstrations.

“The situation in Terengganu is still under control and trouble-free. We urge political leaders to advise their supporters against carrying out processions which can trigger chaos.”

Will Liow advise Muhyiddin not to be “held to ransom” by the Terengganu trio who have resigned as UMNO Assemblymen, plunging the state into a constitutional crisis?

I could not have agreed more with the MCA President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai who had advised UMNO Terengganu Assemblymen that they must “put people first, instead of their personal interests”.

It is very clear what Liow was trying to say when commenting on the former Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said and two UMNO Assemblymen quitting the party to become independents after attending a Wesak celebration at Wisma Buddhist in Kuala Lumpur today.

Liow said: “The state government cannot be held at ransom. The purpose of us running for elections is to serve the people and we must ensure that the state government continues to do so.”

He hoped that the Barisan Nasional government would take immediate action to stabilise the situation in Terengganu.

The question is whether Liow would “walk the talk”.

Datuk Kadir Jasin, former editor of UMNO English-language newspaper, New Straits Times, said the Terengganu crisis caused by the three UMNO assemblymen-turned-independent could be solved if the “price is right”.

It is reported that UMNO deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is on his way to Terengganu to meet the Terengganu trio who have resigned from Umno ”to find a solution to the current political impasse in the state”.

Ahmad Said, who was supposed to hold a press conference today, has decided to put it off till after Muhyiddin’s meeting.
Has Liow conveyed the MCA’s dismay and opposition to the UMNO leadership being “held to ransom” by the Terengganu trio in the Terengganu State Assembly?

I do not believe there are any Malaysian who thinks that the MCA President would dare to communicate to Muhyhiddin or the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak the MCA opposition or reservation of UMNO leadership being “held to ransom” in having to deal with the Trengganu trio on what would be the “right price” to end the constitutional impasse in Terengganu.

Would Liow dare to say that MCA would oppose any “deal” which Muhyiddin might reach with the Terengganu trio which smacks of the Barisan Nasional being “held to ransom”?

This is because Liow and the MCA leadership are themselves easily “held to ransom” so as not to defend the founding principles of the Merdeka Constitution and the struggle of the early MCA Presidents like Tun Tan Cheng Lock and Tun Tan Siew Sin of Malaysia as a secular democratic nation with a constitution which is incompatible with hudud – all because of the carrot of three Ministers and five Deputy Ministers for MCA dangled by Najib.

MCA dared not contest in the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary by-election for MCA leaders know that the by-election would provide an excellent opportunity for the DAP to expose MCA perfidy and hypocrisy in agreeing to a fundamental change of the 57-year policy of Alliance/Barisan Nasional stand on hudud, from one of rejection of hudud to one of not rejecting hudud, without any whimper of objection from MCA!

If the MCA President and the MCA leaders can be so easily “held to ransom”, what credibility do they have to raise objections to the Terengganu trio holding the Barisan Nasional/UMNO leadership to “ransom”?

One way to cut through all these maze of political perfidy and hypocrisy and the restoration of political integrity is for the holding a new state general elections in Terengganu.

Let MCA openly call for the dissolution of the Terengganu State Assembly and the holding of the Terengganu state general elections to return the mandate to decide the future of the state to the Terengganu voters?

New Terengganu MB Begins Official Duties Tomorrow

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 13 (Bernama) -- Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman (picture) is expected to begin his official duties as Terengganu menteri besar Wednesday.

According to the state government's communications unit, he will enter his office on the sixth floor of Wisma Darul Iman at 7.45am.

Ahmad Razif, 49, who is also state science, technology and innovation, energy, green technology and water committee chairman, was appointed menteri besar to replace Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Monday.

He took his oath of office before the Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Syarqiyyah here at 9.18pm on Monday.

Ahmad Razif, the state assemblyman for Seberang Takir for the second term since 2008, holds a Master of Science in Guidance and Counselling from Universiti Putra Malaysia.

He has served as the Exco for Education, Higher Education, Science, Technology and Human Resource.

Previously, he was Terengganu Umno Information head.

Among the Terengganu menteris besar since 1959 were Mohd Daud bin Abdul Samad (1959-1960, PAS); Tan Sri Ibrahim Fikri Mohamad (1960-1970, Umno); Datuk Mahmood Sulaiman (1970-1971, Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu); Datuk Nik Hassan Wan Abdul Rahman (1971-1974, Umno); Datuk Seri Amar Diraja Tan Sri Wan Mokhtar Ahmad (1974-1999, Umno); Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Wang (1999-2004, Pas); Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh (2004-2008, Umno); and, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said (2008-2014,Umno).