Hanya kerana salah jawab soalan

Gunasekaran (kanan) menunjukkan kesan lebam pada tangan kiri Ranjit, manakala Ilangovan menunjukkan laporan polis dibuatnya.

SEREMBAN - Hanya kerana dikatakan salah menjawab soalan latihan matematik, seorang murid darjah enam bengkak…

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Gunasekaran (kanan) menunjukkan kesan lebam pada tangan kiri Ranjit, manakala Ilangovan menunjukkan laporan polis dibuatnya.

SEREMBAN - Hanya kerana dikatakan salah menjawab soalan latihan matematik, seorang murid darjah enam bengkak dan lebam di tangan kiri selepas dipukul dengan kayu sepanjang 50 sentimeter oleh gurunya.

Kejadian berlaku di sebuah Sekolah Kebangsaan Tamil di Senawang, Rabu lalu, apabila pelajar terbabit, Ranjit Dass, 12, dikenakan denda akibat kesalahan berkenaan, kira-kira 9 pagi.

Menurutnya, guru lelaki berusia lingkungan 30-an yang baru berpindah ke sekolah itu sejak dua bulan lalu bertindak memukulnya selepas salah menjawab latihan matematik yang diberikan.

“Cikgu beri latihan matematik dan saya salah jawab kerana tidak faham. Kemudian secara tiba-tiba cikgu pukul saya dengan kayu yang dibawanya sebanyak lima kali di tangan dan bahu kiri.

“Rakan saya turut dipukul di muka dan belakang badan kerana salah jawab soalan,” katanya.

Menurutnya, kejadian itu merupakan kali pertama berlaku dan guru tersebut tidak pernah memukul murid sebelum ini.

“Saya tidak tahu kenapa cikgu sanggup pukul saya sehingga tangan saya bengkak dan lebam," katanya.

Disebabkan tidak sanggup menanggung kesakitan, Ranjit kemudian mengadu kepada ibunya sebaik pulang ke rumah.

Bapa saudara Ranjit, A Ilangovan, 40, berkata, ibu Ranjit, A Selvi, 30, segera membawa Ranjit ke Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar, di sini selepas melihat tangan anaknya itu kemerahan dan bengkak.

“Ranjit mengeluh sakit dan sekarang sudah masuk hari ketiga, tangannya masih sakit dan lebam masih kelihatan.

“Kami sekeluarga nekad membuat laporan polis selepas melihat kecederaan dan kesakitan terpaksa ditanggung Ranjit,” katanya.

Ilangovan berkata, dia rasa sedih dan kecewa terhadap perbuatan guru yang sanggup memukul anak saudaranya itu sehingga cedera.

“Sekiranya Ranjit bersalah, dia boleh memukul dengan rotan sebagai cara mendidik tetapi kami tidak boleh terima apabila dia pukul dengan kayu. Ini sudah melampau," katanya ketika membuat aduan di pejabat Adun Senawang, P Gunasekaran, di sini, semalam.

Sementara itu, Gunasekaran berkata, kejadian itu tidak sepatutnya berlaku dan guru terbabit perlu dikenakan tindakan.

“Saya mahu berbincang dengan pihak sekolah tentang perkara ini, namun mereka tidak benarkan saya masuk ke kawasan sekolah.

“Saya telah mengadukan perkara ini kepada Jabatan Pendidikan negeri dan meminta mereka menyiasat dan mengenakan tindakan disiplin kepada guru tersebut,” katanya.

Pengarah Pendidikan Negeri, Datuk Kalsom Khalid ketika dihubungi Sinar Harian berkata, pihaknya sudah menerima laporan awal tentang perkara tersebut daripada pihak sekolah.

"Kita akan membuat siasatan terlebih dulu, dan sekiranya guru terbabit benar-benar bersalah, dia tidak akan terlepas daripada tindakan,” katanya.

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Bola di kaki Khalid, kalau dia sayang S'gor, kata Saifuddin

PKR pecat Khalid Ibrahim serta merta

Kurds rescue Yazidis from Iraqi mountain - Al Jazeera

Kurdish forces tell Al Jazeera they have opened a road to Sinjar, reaching more than 5,000 Yazidis besieged by IS group.

Iraqi Kurdish security forces have opened a road to…

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Kurdish forces tell Al Jazeera they have opened a road to Sinjar, reaching more than 5,000 Yazidis besieged by IS group.

Iraqi Kurdish security forces have opened a road to Sinjar Mountain in northwestern Iraq, rescuing more than 5,000 Yazidis trapped there after running away from fighters from the Islamic State (IS) group, a Kurdish army spokesman has told Al Jazeera.

"I can confirm that we succeeded in reaching the mountains and opening a road for the refugees," said Halgord Hikmet, a spokesman for the peshmergas the Kurdish security forces.

Hikmet said that recent airstrikes on the IS targets by US warplanes had allowed the peshmergas to open a route to the mountain.

The IS, which has captured large areas of Syria and Iraq, see Shia Muslims and minorities such as Christians and Yazidis, a Kurdish ethno-religious community, as infidels.

The Yazidis, a minority that follow a 4,000-year-old faith, had taken cover in Sinjar Mountain for the past five days in searing heat, and with no supplies, after fleeing advancing IS fighters.

Two Kurdish officials, Ekrem Hasso and Juan Mohammad, told the AP news agency that the Yazidis fled across the border from Iraq to seek refuge with the Kurds of northeastern Syria.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, also said thousands of people have fled from Iraq into Syria but had no exact number.

US warplanes have launched several waves of airstrikes against IS group fighters in northern Iraq since Friday.

Aerial drones and F-18 fighter jets have attacked fighter positions close to the Kurdish capital of Erbil.

The airstrikes seek to allow the federal and Kurdish governments to claw back areas lost in two months of conflict.

On Friday and Saturday, the US also dropped food and water for the Yazidis hiding on Sinjar Mountain. The UK is also delivering aid and has announced it is sending medics to northern Iraq.

'US troops will not fight in Iraq'

Barack Obama, the US president, said at a news conference on Saturday that Washington was proud to be acting alongside friends and allies in Iraq during the airstrikes and was in the process of reaching Iraqi civilians trapped on Sinjar Mountain.

Obama repeatedly called on the Iraqis to come together to form a legitimate Iraqi government and overcome a political crisis that has been going on for weeks. 

Check out our complete coverage of the crisis in Iraq

He also said that there was no particular timetable regarding the airstrikes, adding that they would take place as long as it was necessary to protect Iraqi civilians and US citizens, diplomats and military advisers in Iraq.

Separately, in his weekly address earlier on Saturday, he said he would not the US to be dragged into another war in Iraq, making it clear that American combat troops will not return to fight there.

The airstrikes are the first in the embattled country since Obama put an end to the US occupation in 2011 and come after the IS made massive gains on the ground, seizing a major dam and forcing a mass exodus of religious minorities.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

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Guns and toys: the children of the Islamic State

 

A three year old boy chews on his finger and shyly looks off camera. "What do you say to the non-believers," a voice off camera asks. "They are going…

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A three year old boy chews on his finger and shyly looks off camera. "What do you say to the non-believers," a voice off camera asks. "They are going to be butchered," the child replies.

Messages coming from the Islamic State about children are mixed. On the one hand the militant group is keen for Sunni Muslims across the world to think of the caliphate as a safe and fun place for children – so that they will move there.

On the other, videos also exist of children being trained with assault weapons and in hand-to-hand combat. Or of children declaring their hatred for America and vowing jihad.

These two conditions for children are not mutually exclusive in the eyes of Islamic State, argues Raffaello Pantucci, a Middle East expert at the Royal United Services Institute.

Read more: http://www.channel4.com/news/islamic-state-iraq-syria-children-guns-video

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ISIS threatens to execute 300 Yazidi families they've surrounded in northern Iraq as the extremists continue to lay siege to mountain where 50,000 of the minority are holed up without food or water

• Jihadist group says it will kill religious minority members in Koja, Hatimiya and Qaboshi unless they convert to Islam
• They are also surrounding Mount Sinjar, near the Turkish border, where…

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• Jihadist group says it will kill religious minority members in Koja, Hatimiya and Qaboshi unless they convert to Islam
• They are also surrounding Mount Sinjar, near the Turkish border, where Yazidi people fear slaughter at their hands
• Americans and Kurdish forces have made aid drops on the mountain, with British helicopters soon to join in
• Comes after Barack Obama authorised air strikes on Islamic State artillery emplacements and convoys yesterday

The Islamic State has threatened a fresh wave of violence against the Yazidi religious minority in Iraq, saying they will execute 300 families whom they have surrounded in northern Iraq.

It came after the jihadist militant group took hostage hundreds of Yazidi women in their stronghold city of Mosul yesterday, amid warnings that they had 'vicious plans' for their captives.

Fighters for the Islamic State (IS), formerly known as ISIS, continue to lay siege to a mountain near the Turkish border, where as many as 50,000 of the minority - considered apostates and devil-worshippers by IS - have been holed up without food or water.

They today received aid from Kurdish and American forces, who have intervened to protect the embattled minority group after an international outcry.

Desperate masses: Stranded Yazidi men, women and children rush towards a Kurdish helicopter carrying aid today, as IS fighters surround mount Sinjar

Tearful: Some children were carried off to safety, but thousands of the religious minority remains stranded on the mountainside 

Under fire: The film crew, embedded with the Kurdish fighters, also saw a firefight between the helicopter gunner and IS forces with anti-aircraft weapons

Persecuted: Yazidi children (pictured) have taken to sheltering in the holy valley of Lalish, while others trapped in the Sinjar Mountains were flown renewed supplies by the U.S. today. The religious minority is not alone in being threatened by the militants, who also say Christians and Shia Muslims are heretics and should convert

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Masses of desperate, crying Yazidis were filmed today by a crew from Rudaw news perched in a Kurdish helicopter as water and supplies were dropped, while the chopper came under fire from IS troops below. American plans also dropped supplies, and RAF helicopters were today dispatched to do the same.

The latest threat to the three hundred families - who live in the villages of Koja, Hatimiya and Qaboshi - came after the Sunni militant group surrounded them, according to a Yazidi politician.

It came as U.S. President Barack Obama said more air strikes were likely around the Sinjar Mountains where the Yazidis are trapped - and refused to give a timetable for how long the offensive might take.

The U.S. and Iraqi governments have stepped up our military assistance to Kurds as they wage this fight,' he said. 'American aircraft are positioned to strike IS terrorists around the mountain to help forces in Iraq break the seige and rescue those who are trapped there.'

He insisted he was pursuing a 'broader strategy' aimed at 'preventing an act of genocide'. 'Ultimately only Iraqis can ensure the stability and security of Iraq', he said. 'The United States can't do it for them.'

But he added: 'We will protect our American citizens in Iraq whether they're diplomats, civilians or military. If these terrorists threaten our facilities or our personnel we will take action to protect our people.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2720723/ISIS-threatens-execute-300-Yazidi-families-ve-surrounded-northern-Iraq-extremists-continue-lay-siege-mountain-50-000-minority-holed-without-food-water.html#ixzz39w4UNLxn

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Khalid’s sacking reminds Wan Azizah of 1998 - TMI

Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s expulsion from PKR today has brought back painful memories for party president Datuk Sri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who told residents of Shah Alam…

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Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s expulsion from PKR today has brought back painful memories for party president Datuk Sri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who told residents of Shah Alam tonight that she was reminded of her own husband’s sacking in 1998.

“I was asking myself, and I was thinking back to the year 1998, when my husband (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) was sacked after Independence on August 31, which triggered a political situation which I would never have imagined,” said Dr Wan Azizah in a ceramah tonight.

“In September, 1998, I could not sleep. Our house was besieged, surrounded three times. We went through that, and the rakyat rose up to fight the injustice. I came forward to demand justice.”

Anwar was fired as deputy prime minister from the Mahathir government on September 2, 1998 after a fall-out and accusations of abusing power plus a sodomy charge. A day later, the Umno supreme council met and sacked Anwar from the party.

The sacking led to 17 days of Reformasi protests in a cross-country campaign led by Anwar himself.

Anwar was later arrested on September 20, 1998, by a crack police commando squad and charged for abuse of power and sodomy. He was also beaten while briefly detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows for detention without trial.

Dr Wan Azizah urged the public to continue the original fight for justice and stand with PKR, even as the party faces an internal crisis following Khalid’s surprise sacking, which bears a resemblance to Anwar’s own expulsion.

“Let us continue our fight to defend the people. That’s why we are here together. When Anwar was released from prison, we continued. And now we are here, and we must go on,” she told about 500 people tonight at a ceramah in Shah Alam.

PKR announced today it had expelled the Port Klang assemblyman for defying the party’s orders to step down as menteri besar and make way for Dr Wan Azizah to replace him.

His expulsion came weeks after the MB crisis threatened to split Pakatan Rakyat (PR) between PAS, which supports Khalid, and PKR and DAP, which want him removed.

Dr Wan Azizah tonight acknowledged that she had no experience ruling a state, but implored the people to work together to improve Selangor.

“We will maintain the good policies. But let there be unity and let us close ranks as we discuss together the best solution.

“This is not about nepotisme. (People say), ‘has Anwar no shame, appointing his own wife?’ Now, can’t we be in a team, and offer our services to the rakyat together?”

Dr Wan Azizah said she was not seeking the MB post for power, but to continue the battle for good governance.

She reminded the crowd that those who joined the 1998 reformasi movement had not done so for material gains, and added that even up until today, neither she nor her husband had any post in government.

“We have nothing. But we only urge that this fight, this support, will take us to better politics and better governance.

“To me, changing positions is not important. What matters is the responsibility we hold and that we always consult one another and remain a team,” she said.

Khalid was often criticised for his unilateral decision-making as menteri besar, and his refusal to answer to the party’s political bureau.

But PKR said his alleged lack of integrity was the main reason they had initiated the Kajang Move in January.

The party leadership council met at 3pm today to deliberate the issue. Khalid is not a member of the top decision-making body in the party but he had earlier tried to stop any discussion on his position.

His sacking today means both PKR and PR lose a seat each in Selangor legislative assembly and the federal parliament.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/khalids-sacking-reminds-wan-azizah-of-1998#sthash.Op28Xgs2.dpuf

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No surprise for DAP, PAS leaders over PKR sacking Khalid - TMI

A few leaders from DAP and PAS say that they accept PKR's decision to expel Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, and are not surprised at the turn of events following PKR's…

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A few leaders from DAP and PAS say that they accept PKR's decision to expel Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, and are not surprised at the turn of events following PKR's leadership council meeting today.

Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo (pic) has lauded PKR's shock move today to sack Khalid rom the party, saying that the Selangor Menteri Besar had enough opportunity to defend himself.

PKR expelled the Port Klang assemblyman for defying party orders to make way for party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the menteri besar of the country's wealthiest state.

"I think it is a step in the right direction. Khalid was given every opportunity to defend himself. There was due process.

"PKR has every right to discipline its members. I think this was a case which certainly, given the circumstances, warranted a sacking," Gobind said today.

Gobind's DAP is part of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition which has ruled Selangor under Khalid since the 2008 general elections.

He and several other DAP lawmakers have criticised Khalid for approving the contentious Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) despite the PR pact's opposition to toll highways.

DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke said the party would discuss the expulsion at its central working committee meeting tomorrow.

The meeting had been convened earlier to discuss PKR's proposal to remove Khalid and replace him with Dr Wan Azizah.

"We will issue a statement after the meeting."

PAS central committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said: "The self-destruct mode has now turned into a perfect storm. But I believe that the three parties in Pakatan Rakyat will come out stronger and united after this crisis."

He added that Khalid's sacking was expected but did not expect it to be this soon.

"I am sure it is not easy to make such a decision but the party leaders must be willing to take a risk and they have taken ownership of the decision," said Dzulkefly.

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Archbishop lends backing to Sabah bumi Christians - Malaysiakini

Sabah's Catholic Archbishop Rev John Wong today weighs on the fast growing 'mamangkis' revival movement of bumiputera Christians in the state.

Reading from prepared text at the conclusion of the…

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Sabah's Catholic Archbishop Rev John Wong today weighs on the fast growing 'mamangkis' revival movement of bumiputera Christians in the state.

Reading from prepared text at the conclusion of the mamangkis gathering in Papar on the west coast south of Kota Kinabalu he said, "We implore upon Putrajaya to do all and everything to return our religious freedom and the peace and harmony."

Wong also asked Putrajaya to honour and respect the Malaysia Agreement and the Federal Constitution.

Only 46 years of age, he is the most senior clergyman in the state to support the native revival movement. Although he is officially the Metropolitan Archbishop of Kota Kinabalu, Wong is effectively the Catholic Archbishop of the whole of Sabah. He is also the youngest Catholic bishop in Malaysia.

His support comes in the wake of other Christian denominations in Sabah backing the mamangkis revival movement helmed solely by native leadership alarmed by the increasingly aggressive Islamisation, erosion of native rights and the massive entry of illegal Muslim emigrants particularly from southern Philippines.

Wong said, "Let us pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon this land of ours, especially upon our national leaders in making the right and courageous move of championing the rights of each and every community, irrespective of race, belief or social status. Let us pray that we will once again enjoy the harmony, peace and freedom among the peoples in this land."

In an apparent call to bumiputera Christians to redeem their heritage he said, "May the glory of God in our land to be restored!"

He went on to quote from the Bible, "You shall not remove your neighbour's landmark, which the men of old time have set, in your inheritance which you shall inherit in the land that the Lord your God gives you to possess it."

The eight-month-old mamangkis movement is contextualised from a pagan Kadazandusun war ritual into a clarion call to return to God and for a revival among natives.

The initiative is spearheaded by Perhimpunan Anak Negeri (Pan) Sabah or Native Solidarity of Sabah. The first mamangkis gathering was held in Penampang, the Kadazan heartland and has since moved to several towns.

Judiciary blasted    

Wong also took the judiciary to task over the 'Allah' issue by saying, "It is indeed sad that even the judiciary, to whom all the meek and downtrodden look towards for justice and protection, declined by a majority decision, to do justice."

"On June 23, 2014, the Federal Court rejected the Catholic Church's application for leave to appeal against the Court of Appeal judgment which banned the word 'Allah' in the weekly Herald. "

"We are deeply saddened that the Federal Court failed to recognise that there is serious infringement of the Constitution, and more particularly the blatant attack on the lawful entitlement of the citizens to practise their religion without let or hindrance.

“It saddens us to see that our elected national leaders and the judiciary have deliberately failed to uphold the constitution and above all defend it."

Wong did not spare Putrajaya either: "Despite Putrajaya's assurance that the restriction on the non-Muslims to use the word 'Allah' only applies to (Catholic weekly) The Herald, there have been attempts by certain groups to apply a blanket ban.

“The seizing of bibles by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) from the premises of the Bible Society of Malaysia is a typical example. Such action blatantly disregards the Putrajaya's assurance. Till now the seized bibles have yet to be returned."

He said, "The attack now on our rights to practice our faith is a direct attack on the nation's integrity and above all the Constitution."

Wong also said, "Aside from threats to religious freedom, we are aware that many Anak Negeri (native) Christians have Muslim sounding names and some even with "bin" or "binti" in their names.

“Some of these Anak Negeri Christians are wrongly categorised as Muslim in their identity cards. These mistakes may be due to ignorance of the JPN officers but the authorities must address these issues and take every effort to rectify them."

"It is the legitimate right of every citizen and more so the anak negeri of Sabah to have his or her identity card correctly issued by the JPN (registration department). Nobody can take that right away from him or her."

Aggressive Islamisation

On aggressive Islamisation in the state, the archbishop pointed out, "We are also aware that subtle conversions of underage children are taking place in our schools.

“Just over a year ago the Catholic Church in Sabah together with the Sabah Council of Churches had made an official complaint to the Education Ministry of a conversion ploy at Labuan Matriculation College.

"We regret that these young students are constantly subjected to various forms of harassment, ridicule and pressure to change their religion.

“Should incidences like these prevail, we question whether the institutes of higher learning in our country are conducive for studies? We urge that religious freedom as enshrined in the constitution shall be upheld at all cost."

Wong also highlighted security issues. "Threats from external forces invading our borders and threats from the huge presence of illegal immigrants have constantly reminded us of our vulnerability. However, many a time, our fears and cries are not seriously taken heed of by those in authorities."

"Internally, our nation is confronted with unprecedented threat to our Christian faith. Attack on our religious beliefs and practices, even the language we use in our Bible, literatures and worship are under siege."

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PKR sacks Khalid over refusal to quit MB's post

 

 The PKR leadership council today sacked Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim from the party for his refusal to step down as the state's chief executive officer.

The move,…

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 The PKR leadership council today sacked Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim from the party for his refusal to step down as the state's chief executive officer.

The move, which is bound to strain relations with coalition ally PAS, came after weeks of teetering as PKR held back from taking decisive action due to reservations expressed by its Islamic partner.

Party's disciplinary board chairperson Tan Kee Kwong (right) announced the decision after almost three hours of deliberation which began at 3pm at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

The closed-door meeting was attended by all members of the party’s leadership council with one notable absentee - Khalid.

Tan speaking at a press conference after the meeting said Khalid's refusal to relinquish his MB post along with several performance factors had led to the decision.

"(Khalid) was found to have defied the party's central committee decision after a meeting on July 21 that unanimously agreed to appoint Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the new Selangor menteri besar," said Tan.

He said Khalid proceeded to issue a statement the next day to state his refusal to relinquish the post "and till this very day he continues to refuse to relinquish the said post".

"On that point alone, the disciplinary committee has found cause to expel him," said Tan.

He added further factors regarding Khalid's conduct that the central leadership has considered that support the decision, namely:

• Khalid defied a decisions by the Pakatan presidential council attended by PAS president Hadi Awang, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim to put off the process and discussion of the Langat 2 water treatment plant and put off the controversial increases in allowance for the state’s speaker, menteri besar, exco members, and assemblypersons,


• Failure to comply with the Pakatan presidential council decision that he himself had agreed upon, to involve the Selangor water restructuring committee in the water assets takeover exercise,


• Insistence on proceeding with the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) despite the party's directive to review the matter as it goes against the Pakatan manifesto,


• Failure to explain thoroughly to the presidential council his RM70 million loan settlement with Bank Rakyat.

Tan added that Khalid has 14 days to appeal the decision from the time he is officially notified of his sacking, after which the PKR leadership council would decide whether to form a special committee to hear the appeal.

In the meantime, Khalid would remain as menteri besar until he resigns or is otherwise removed from office, such as through a vote of no confidence.

'Decision strictly on membership'

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution told reporters at the same press conference that today’s meeting dealt only with Khalid’s status as a PKR member, and not his position as menteri besar.

He said any moves to remove Khalid from office would be announced later, but said Khalid should respect the fact that he no longer has majority support and vacate his office to make way for a sucessor.

To a question, Saifuddin denied that Khalid’s dismissal was to pressure PAS not to back the Selangor MB.

Meanwhile, in response to another question, PKR central committee member Sivarasa Rasiah told reporters that a letter sent by Khalid’s lawyers today was irrelevant to today’s decision.

“It is not relevant because it does not address the core issue, which is that Khalid has defied clear orders from the party to resign as menteri besar, following the party’s decision to propose PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as menteri besar.

“We have given him the chance the respond and he responded through two letters, which have been taken into consideration.

“As Saifuddin had mentioned, we find the contents (of the letters) showed open defiance. We asked him nicely to step down and he wouldn’t step down, and that is enough (reason),” he said.

Earlier today, The Malay Mail Online reported that Khalid’s lawyers have sent PKR a letter urging the party to explain Khalid’s questions about the allegations against him.

“Our client in fact notes a litany of breaches of natural justice thus far giving rise to perception of conflict of interest and bias against our client,” the letter reportedly said.

Sivarasa added that there is no need to entertain Khalid’s request to postpone the disciplinary hearing because the grounds for his dismissal are already clear, and Khalid’s letters showed that he has no intention to answer the allegations against him.

“For us, due process has been fulfilled, natural justice has been done, he has been given the chance to answer the party’s allegations.

"And not only he did he refuse, he openly defied (the party),” he said in explaining why there is no benefit to postponing the hearing.

Khalid remains defiant

On Tuesday, the PKR disciplinary committee issued Khalid with a show-cause letter ordering him to explain his defiance of the party’s instructions to quit his post as menteri besar.                                    

Khalid was also called to attend a disciplinary committee hearing yesterday to explain several other issues, such as Selangor’s water restructuring exercise and hikes in business licence fees.

In response, Khalid claimed that the show-cause letter was faulty and said the disciplinary board’s demands were both "unreasonable and suspicious".

“As a party fighting for justice for all, I should also be given a real chance, not just a mirage, to answer to the allegations of my wrongdoing.

“Unfortunately, the actions of YB Datuk (Tan) and the disciplinary board up until now are highly suspect,” he said, pointing to the short notice of the hearing and asked for the meeting to be postponed to Aug 15.

The disciplinary board meeting nevertheless went ahead yesterday without Khalid’s presence.

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Khalid perlu berundur demi rakyat Selangor

Surat peguam daripada Khalid telah diterima, namun setelah meneliti surat berkenaan didapati tidak relevan.

PETALING JAYA: Ahli Parlimen Subang, R. Sivarasa berkata Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim perlu meletak jawatan…

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Surat peguam daripada Khalid telah diterima, namun setelah meneliti surat berkenaan didapati tidak relevan.

PETALING JAYA: Ahli Parlimen Subang, R. Sivarasa berkata Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim perlu meletak jawatan sebagai Menteri Besar Selangor kerana tidak lagi mendapat sokongan majoriti daripada adun-adun di Selangor.

Tambah beliau, Khalid tidak lagi memenuhi syarat untuk menjadi MB Selangor dan beliau patut meletak jawatan serta merta.

“Pemecatan Khalid dari parti tidak akan memberi kesan kepada kedudukan EXCO di Selangor.

“Mereka akan menjalankan tugas seperti biasa dan akan menerima arahan yang seterusnya daripada PR,” katanya dalam satu sidang media di Pejabat PKR.

Tambah beliau, surat peguam daripada Khalid telah diterima namun setelah meneliti surat berkenaan didapati tidak relevan kerana tiada tujuan menjawab pertuduhan.

“Khalid telah melanggar arahan daripada parti kerana jawapan yang diberikan menunjukkan Khalid tetap tidak mahu berundur.

“Kita telah beri banyak peluang untuk beliau menjawab tuduhan daripada parti. Kita tidak ada keperluan untuk menagguhkannya lagi,” ujarnya.

Menurut Setiausaha Agung PKR, Saifuddin Nasution, pemecatan Kalid dari keahlian parti juga adalah kerana sifat ingkarnya untuk menerima arahan daripada parti bagi melepaskan jawatan sebagai MB.

Sebelum ini Majlis Pimpinan Pusat PKR telah memutuskan untuk mencalonkan Presiden PKR, Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail sebagai calon MB Selangor yang baharu.

“Satu usul undi tidak percaya untuk MB Selangor berundur masih belum berlaku.

“Khalid juga telah diberi peluang yang banyak kerana parti telah memaklumkan sejak 6 bulan lalu iaitu pada 15 Januari 2014,” katanya.

PR juga akan menjalankan tugas seperti biasa.

“Khalid juga diberi tempoh 14 hari daripada tarikh pemecatannya untuk membuat sebarang rayuan,” katanya lagi.

Apabila ditanya samaada pemecatan Khalid ini akan memberi kesan kepada Selangor, Saifuddin menegaskan Khalid harus setuju untuk berundur supaya proses penukaran MB berjalan dengan lancar.

“Jika Khalid sayang kepada rakyat Selangor, beliau perlu berundur,” katanya.

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Khalid akan mengadap Sultan

Saya menerima keputusan parti untuk membatalkan keahlian saya walaupun keputusan tersebut adalah salah dan cacat dari segi undang-undang.

SHAH ALAM: Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim menjelaskan bahawa…

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Saya menerima keputusan parti untuk membatalkan keahlian saya walaupun keputusan tersebut adalah salah dan cacat dari segi undang-undang.

SHAH ALAM: Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim menjelaskan bahawa beliau akan menghadap Sultan Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah bagi memaklumkan kepada baginda mengenai perkembangan terbaru terhadap dirinya serta mendapatkan nasihat dari baginda.

Menurutnya, hingga isu ini selesai mengikut prosedur yang betul berpandukan peruntukan undang-undang yang termaktub dalam Undang-undang Tubuh Negeri, beliau akan meneruskan memberi khidmat terbaik kepada rakyat sebagai Menteri Besar mengikut kemampuannya.

“Saya menerima keputusan parti untuk membatalkan keahlian saya walaupun keputusan tersebut adalah salah dan cacat dari segi undang-undang,” ujarnya dalam satu kenyataan.

Khalid juga memaklumkan bahawa di dalam surat jawapannya kepada Lembaga Disiplin beliau telah menyatakan bahawa sesungguhnya beliau keliru dengan butir-butir pertuduhan yang mahu dikenakan terhadapnya.

Malah, Pengerusi Lembaga Disiplin gagal menyatakan secara khusus peruntukan mana di dalam Perlembagaan parti yang telah beliau cabuli.

“Saya juga ingin menyatakan walaupun saya telah memohon penangguhan sesi penjelasan kepada Lembaga Disiplin dengan mencadangkan tarikh 15 Ogos 2014 sebagai tarikh yang sesuai tetapi tiada jawapan balas diberikan.

“Sebaliknya, Lembaga Disiplin tetap meneruskan sesi pendengaran tanpa terlebih dahulu mendengar penjelasan dari pihak saya. Saya tidak diberi peluang atau proses yang adil untuk menjawab semua tuduhan terhadap saya mengikut tatacara yang teratur dan betul. Saya percaya ada tindakan sabotaj dari pihak tertinggi parti,” ujarnya.

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Frustrated PKR sacks Khalid from party, Selangor crisis deepens

Ida Lim, Malay Mail Online

PKR, so far unable to unseat MB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim from his job as the Mentri Besar of Selangor, has sacked him from the…

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Ida Lim, Malay Mail Online

PKR, so far unable to unseat MB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim from his job as the Mentri Besar of Selangor, has sacked him from the party.

The decision today by PKR’s disciplinary committee to cut Khalid adrift deepens the crisis over who will lead Malaysia’s richest state without bringing resolution any closer, entrenching concerns that the three-party Pakatan Rakyat coalition which governs Selangor will soon fall apart.

A statement from the committee said the sacking takes effect immediately.

The Pakatan Rakyat coalition which governs Selangor has not been able to reach consensus whether Khalid must step down. PKR wants him replaced by Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. DAP agrees but Islamist party PAS continues to back Khalid.

Khalid’s sacking leaves the coalition in a precarious state and will add to worries that snap polls may have to be called to ward off a stalemate.

PKR’s share of the 56 seat Selangor state assembly drops to 13 from 14. Its allies DAP and PAS have 15 seats each while Umno, the opposition in the state, has 12.

It is still not known if Khalid will join any other party or will simply become the lone independent assemblyman.

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‘Jilboobs’ Raise Clerical Hackles in Indonesia

Fatwa unlikely to make women throw away their jeans

By Asia Sentinel


Could it be that the “jilboob,” a slangy term used by some to describe Indonesian women who pair…

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Fatwa unlikely to make women throw away their jeans

By Asia Sentinel


Could it be that the “jilboob,” a slangy term used by some to describe Indonesian women who pair their modest Muslim headscarfs with tight jeans and sexy blouses, could be on her way out? If the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI), has its way, that will be the case.

The jilboob, or sometimes “jilbabe,” gets her name because in Indonesia the full-body burka seen in Afghanistan or the abaya in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, is rarely adopted. Rather than using a black tent to hide a woman from society’s prying eyes, observant Indonesian Muslims prefer the jilbab – or hijab in Malaysia. The scarf usually covers the hair and neck but leaves the rest of the wearer’s wardrobe up for grabs.

The devout might combine the jilbab with modest long dresses and blouses, but many women use the “jilbab and jeans” look to maintain their sex appeal while giving in to whatever pressure or devotion motivates them to cover their hair – often family insistence or to please husbands who want a religious spouse.

Some websites in Jakarta call the sexy jilbab look, the “jilboob,” because it often consists of make-up, jeans a tight shirt and high heels. There is a Facebook page devoted to discussing the pros and cons of the jilboob look and plenty of web sites and twitter feeds -- #jilbabseksi is one -- that show off selfies of young women in their jilbabs, some of which leave little to the imagination. Many stores and boutiques cater to making the “Muslim look” sexy. Women are even seen wearing the head covering with a miniskirt on occasion.

The clerics, who have little real power despite nominally being Islam’s ruling body in Indonesia, have had enough. MUI issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, on Thursday and said there will be no more jilbabes and jilboobs henceforth. It is unlikely to be taken seriously; the MUI has previous banned all manner of things, from gyrating dangdut dancers to western movies, only to be blithely ignored.

“The MUI already has a fatwa against pornography. But that means that you should not show the shape of the body by wearing a jilbab with tight clothing,” the MUI vice chairman, Ma’ruf Amin told local media. “The MUI strictly forbids it. We respect those who are already wearing the jilbab. But for those already wearing the jilbab, it should not be vulgar.”

It’s hard to say how much effect the fatwa will have on Indonesia’s Muslim women, many of whom simply ignore Islamic dress altogether. Despite the fact, however, Indonesia, as with many places with large Muslim populations, has grown decidedly more outwardly observant in the last decade or so. Jilbabs used to be rare in Jakarta, for existence; they are now commonplace. It is also paradoxically common to see jilbab-wearing women frequenting nightclubs and sometimes drinking alcohol.

Women often say they are cajoled by their mothers and relatives into wearing the jilbab, but find ways to get around it. Some wear the scarf at work or on weekends when visiting mom and discard it other times.

“I do what I want,” said Azizah, who sports a jilbab and jeans at home to please her mother but takes
it off when she goes out clubbing with friends. “It is up to me to look how I want. Does God really care?”

Such attitudes are a welcome reminder that Indonesia is a secular country not an Islamic republic and that panels like the MUI can issue edicts but they have little power to enforce them.

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Bar Council says government defrauded Orang Asal

Free Malaysia Today 
by James Sivalingam

Despite a litany of promises made, both the federal and state governments have failed the Penans and Kenyah in a big way in…

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Free Malaysia Today 
by James Sivalingam

Despite a litany of promises made, both the federal and state governments have failed the Penans and Kenyah in a big way in the name of development.

Penan-tribeKUALA LUMPUR: The Bar Council yesterday, through its Orang Asli Rights and Human Rights Committee slammed the Sarawak state government for leaving the Penans and Kenyah high and dry when they were resettled to make way for the building of the Murum Dam.

During the committee’s study trip to the Metalun and Tegulang Resettlement Areas recently, the post relocation conditions of the Penans and Kenyah left much to be desired.

The study group found that the native communities were living in hazardous, treacherous conditions and in almost complete isolation from the rest of the world.

Committee member Andrew Khoo said, “The resettlement project has failed.” He described the relocated communities as being “defrauded,” “cheated” and “short changed” for “which the Sarawak state government has to be held responsible.”

He said this in regards to the numerous promises made to the Penans and Kenyah that were left unfulfilled by the authorities.

Khoo cited the initial food and provision subsidy of RM600 per household per month that has since dwindled to 5kg of chicken wings, flour, and cooking oil only.

Despite being relocated to make way for a dam, Khoo said the irony was that the people of Metalun and Tegulang themselves enjoyed only 6 – 12 hours electricity per day.

Khoo added, “As they were relocated in order to facilitate the construction of the dam, the state government and Sarawak Energy Berhad has the moral and legal obligation to ensure that their welfare is taken care of.”

The observation on the ground was also found to be in stark contrast to the pledges made by the Malaysian government to the United Nations Human Rights Council in October 2013.

The Bar Council’s vice president, Steven Thiru said the state government defaulted in upholding the recommendations of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) that was made during Malaysia’s 2013 Universal Periodic Review.

Thiru also said that indigenous people in Peninsula Malaysia were suffering the same fate as those in Sarawak because the federal government was quick to dismiss litigation of Orang Asli land disputes based on technical and procedural grounds.

“The state and federal governments are not dealing with solving the problem, but merely making the litigation go away for them, and problems remain for the Orang Asli,” Thiru said.

The Bar Council also criticised the lack of effective legislative or executive action to recognise the Orang Asli’s rights to land and resources despite the courts legally recognising it.

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Abdul Khalid Sacked From PKR

PETALING JAYA, Aug 9 (Bernama) -- Parti Keadilan Rakyat's (PKR) Central Leadership Council (MPP) on Saturday took the decision to sack Selangor Menteri Besar Selangor Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim…

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PETALING JAYA, Aug 9 (Bernama) -- Parti Keadilan Rakyat's (PKR) Central Leadership Council (MPP) on Saturday took the decision to sack Selangor Menteri Besar Selangor Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim from the party with immediate effect.

PKR's disciplinary board chairman Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong said it was a unanimous decision by the MPP based on Abdul Khalid's refusal to make way for PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to be the new menteri besar of the state.

Tan said besides this, Abdul Khalid had also ignored several decisions made by the Pakatan Rakyat Presidential Council.

"As such, it is announced that Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has been sacked from PKR with immediate effect," he told a press conference at PKR's headquarters here.

Commenting further, Tan said Abdul Khalid was found to have ignored a decision made by the MPP on July 21 which had unanimously picked Dr Wan Azizah as the new candidate for the post of the Menteri Besar of Selangor.

"He (Abdul Khalid) had made a media statement on July 22, 2014 that he would not step down (as menteri besar) and till today has refused to so.

"Solely on this ground, the Disciplinary Board was of the opinion that he should be sacked," said Tan.

Tan, who is also Wangsa Maju member of Parliament, said among the decisions of the MPP that were disregarded by Abdul Khalid were postponing discussions on the Langat 2 water treatment project and also postponing an increase in the allowances for the Speaker, Menteri Besar, state executive councillors and assemblymen.

"He also failed to adhere to the decision of the PR (Pakatan Rakyat) Presidential Council as agreed by him on involving the Selangor Water Restructuring Committee in the restructuring of Selangor water assets.

"He also went ahead with the Kidex highway project even though the party had ordered him to review the project as it was against PR's objectives and manifesto presented during the last general election," said Tan.

In Selangor, Pakatan Rakyat which is made up of PKR, DAP and PAS is in power whereas the Barisan Nasional (BN) is in the opposition. The BN is in power at the federal level and in all the states except for Kelantan, Penang and Selangor.

Selangor is led by the PKR, hence the MB coming from the party while Penang and Kelantan are led by the DAP and PAS respectively.

Tan said Abdul Khalid had 14 days from today to file his appeal if he felt the sacking was not reasonable or he was denied justice.

"If Abdul Khalid appeals, the MPP will set up a separate committee to hear the case," he said.

At the same press conference, PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the sacking was based on the conduct of Abdul Khalid, which he described as open defiance.

Nonetheless, Saifuddin said based on the Selangor constitution, Abdul Khalid still remained as the lawful Menteri Besar but was deemed to have lost majority support because the DAP and PKR had decided to no longer support him.

"You must understand, as per the state constitution, it is very clear he no longer commands majority support in the state assembly, why?

"Because he has been sacked from the party, and PKR and DAP have withdrawn their support to him.

Abdul Khalid no longer commands majority support from Selangor assemblyman and because of this, does not fulfill the conditions to continue holding the MB (Menteri Besar) post," Saifuddin explained.

Following this, he said PKR would move a motion of no confidence against Abdul Khalid in the state assembly to remove him from the post in a lawful manner.

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