PKR, DAP desak PAS sertai boikot mesyuarat exco

Khalid sacks all PKR, DAP exco

Video: Wahhabi preacher teaches 'beheading with pleasure'

In a recently-released video footage a Wahhabi Takfiri sheikh demonstrates for his students how to perform beheading and “enjoy” the horrific act.


The video release of the appalling training session on “how to enjoy beheading procedure” comes amid growing reports about unimaginable levels of brutality and violence practiced by extremist terrorist groups, such as the ISIL, particularly in Syria and Iraq.

According to an Al-Alam report on Sunday, in the video footage the Wahhabi preacher shamelessly misuses certain, out-of-context verses of Islam’s holy book, The Qur’an, to fabricate and invent meanings according to his own deviant interpretations, telling his trainee executioners that beheading of captives (such as the mostly civilians taken and brutally killed by ISIL terrorists in Iraq and Syria) should be performed “harshly, yet with pleasure!”

The Wahhabi preacher further emphasizes in the video piece that beheading a sheep is different from beheading a [human] captive and that the beheading of captives should not be done “indifferently” as in the sheep’s case, rather it should be conducted with harshness along with pleasure.

Such promotion of cruelty and violence and falsely linking it to divine and humane teachings of Islam leaves little doubt that these efforts of spreading cruelty among Muslims are part of the schemes developed by Mossad and CIA command centers, aiming to demonize Islam and promote Islamophobia across the globe by using extremist Moftis and preachers from Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries as pawns.

The development comes as the US is widely suspected of being behind the creation and promotion of such terrorist organizations as the Taliban, al-Qaeda and the ISIL. While proclaiming to oppose such group under various pretexts, Washington has in fact done very little to effectively contain and eliminate the notorious terror enterprises.

Additionally, it has maintained very close ties with Arab regimes that are widely suspected to sponsoring and funding the terrorist groups.

http://en.alalam.ir/news/1621887#sthash.Z7sKgFPu.dpuf

Penang teen gets immolation threat over ‘I love Israel’ Facebook page

By Malay Mail

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 — A 17-year-old in Penang is living in fear for his life after a teacher from his school reportedly linked him to a Facebook page declaring “I love Israel”, prompting immolation and boycott threats against the student.

The teen, an Indian Hindu filed a police report yesterday, after discovering Facebook threats against him by his teachers and a schoolmate, with one of the educators allegedly calling for him to be burnt in the latest incident of hate speech online.

A teacher allegedly screencaptured the “I love Israel” post from the teen’s Facebook before uploading it to her own Facebook page and commenting in Malay: “My student likes Israel? How shameful for me”.

Her comment drew calls from another Facebook user who is allegedly a teacher from the same school, to boycott and cut off ties with the student, and a dire message from one supposed teacher: “Kita bakor je hahaha [We just burn hahaha]”.

The teen, whose name is withheld as out of fears for his safety, said he was unaware of the “I love Israel” banner that had been linked to his Facebook page.

“They spoke as if I did that and scolded me, and wanted to burn me,” he said in his police report sighted by Malay Mail Online, adding that he feared he might be harmed as a result of the incident.

It is unclear whether the student’s Facebook account was hacked.

A close friend of the student’s family who spoke on their behalf said the teen insisted he did not click “like” on the “I love Israel” Facebook page as alleged.

A police officer confirmed with Malay Mail Online that an investigation is underway into the student’s complaint, but did not disclose further information as he was unauthorised to speak.

The school officials declined comment when contacted, but Malay Mail Online understands the student’s parents have also contacted the school to look into the matter.

“We told them, we want the particular teachers to apologise on Facebook and Twitter and make sure the school clears this boy’s name.

“Those who saw the post, they don’t know anything. They may keep on harassing him without knowing the truth,” Jasonkumar Ramakrishnan, a close friend of the student’s family told Malay Mail Online.

He said he was speaking on behalf of the family as they were not prepared to address the media directly as yet.

Jasonkumar, who had accompanied them to the school, said the meeting was cordial and that the deputy principal was “supportive” of the family’s fears, and assured that action would be taken, saying the school had reported the incident to the Seberang Perai Selatan district education department.

According to Jasonkumar, the teen who will be sitting for his SPM this year, is a top scholar.

He related that the fifth former had skipped school yesterday out of fear, but returned for lessons today despite feeling rattled.

Judge: Cops both judge, jury in Kugan probe

The Court of Appeal has come down hard on the police, accusing them of acting as both “judge and jury” when investigating the police officers and men in their probe into the death of A Kugan.

In his written judgment on the case, Justice David Wong Dak Wah expressed concern over the admission of former Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar that he negotiated with the attorney-general for investigations into the death to be confined to Section 330 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt.

Justice Wong described Khalid's actions as an affront to fair play and transparency.

“What appears to have happened was that the police had become the judge and jury of a complaint made against their behaviour in relation to the death-in-custody case.

“This conduct, with respect, misses the point completely and that is the police force at that point in time was ‘on trial’ and to allow the police to determine what ought to be done was simply asking the wrongdoers to do their own investigations and determine the appropriate actions.

“Common sense militates against such a course of action,” he said in the 51-page judgment based on Khalid's testimony in the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.

Khalid is now the inspector-general of police.

The appellate court had on Aug 8 waived the false imprisonment claim and allowed a reduction in the quantum of damages by RM100,000 in relation to the Kugan's death in police custody and awarded his family RM701,700.

The court also called for “zero tolerance” of custodial deaths and recommended that independent public inquiries be held for all such cases.

Besides Justice Wong, the other judges in the unanimous decision were Justice Mohd Arif Mohd Yusof and Justice Mah Weng Kwai.

Why no inquest into death?

The court also questioned why there was no inquest done into Kugan's death when it was found that there were discrepancies in the first post-mortem, with the second post-mortem finding the cause of death to be otherwise.

“We are perturbed by the fact that no inquest was held as permitted by Section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Code, when the second autopsy by itself should have warranted a full investigation of the circumstances in which the deceased met his death.

“We must also not forget that where there is a custodial death, the family of the deceased is entitled to know the truth as to what had happened during the detention. That is their intrinsic right to know.

“This entitlement to know can be easily understood by just asking the simple question - what if it is your 22-year-old son who had died  in custody,” the judment says.

To add credence to the call for an inquest or a public inquiry, the unrebutted allegation of the second defendant, Constable V Navindran (left), that he was made “the fall guy”, raises more questions.

Justice Wong said a full public and independent inquiry may have given insight into this matter.

The court also questioned the Taipan police station lock-up diary, which showed Kugan was in a good condition and looking at the testimonies of the police witnesses, the judiciary had the impression that they were not willing “to spill the beans”.

“Common sense and common decency demand that a full public inquiry be initiated, which would have served both the private and public interests in a manner demanded in a civil society,” Justice Wong.

He added that the judges agreed with the KL High Court judge's findings leading to the irrefutable conclusion that Khalid, Navindran and former Subang Jaya district polic chief, the late Zainal Rashid Abu Bakar, breached their duties.

The judge further described the police action fell far short of the standard operating procedure which require more disclosure than what had happened in this case.

In upholding the exemplary damages for public misfeasance, Justice Wong said they found there is a breach of Kugan's constitutional right by a public authority and that the courts cannot be barred from awarding this damages.

The Court of Appeal also agreed with the High Court judge's findings in affirming the quantum of exemplary damages awarded.

Exco 6 vow to defy MB's sacking notice - Malaysiakini

 

The six PKR and DAP Selangor state executive councillors sacked by Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim today will continue their duties despite their sacking.

 

Senior exco member Teng Chang Khim said that all of them consider their dismissals as not valid, as they doubt that Khalid has obtained the consent of the sultan before sacking them.

 

"He hasn't left the state secretariat building all day. Are you saying the sultan is one phone call away?" asked Teng (right).

 

He also said that all the exco members did not receive any notice from Khalid requesting for a meeting to determine their support, as promised.

 

The exco members said they would, however, not attend the exco meeting tomorrow and also called for PAS exco members to boycott the meeting.

'Sacking not valid'

Teng said the six of them consider the sacking as "not valid legally".

"This is a Pakatan Rakyat government. He has no legitimacy to fire Pakatan Rakyat government members," Teng said.

Teng also jibed that Khalid had created a "world record", as this has "never happened in any other democracy in the world".

He said Khalid was not "telling the entire truth" in the saga.

"We have plenty of other work to do, and we will go into our offices and do our work, and we won't attend the exco meeting as we were told not to attend," he said.

Four other sacked exco members - Elizabeth Wong, V Ganabatirau, Daroyah Alwi and Ean Yong Hian Wah - were with Teng at the press conference at the PKR headquarters today.

The other PKR exco, Rodziah Ismail, is currently overseas and has not been served her letter of termination yet.

Selangor crisis today

12.37pm: PAS man Zuhdi Marzuki urges a a 'unity government' in Selangor, involving Umno reps

2.19pm: DAP urges PAS to declare if it is joining Umno to support Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as MB

2.28pm: MACC confirms that it is investigating Khalid for corruption

4.25pm: DAP and PKR exco members says they will continue doing their jobs but will avoid MB

5pm: Sources say Anwar Ibrahim failed to convince Hadi Awang to accept Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as new Selangor MB

 

5.24pm: Palace confirms the Selangor sultan declines Wan Azizah's request for an audience

5.37pm: DAP claims that there are attempts to entice Pakatan reps to defect
 

6.40pm: Khalid sacks all six DAP and PKR exco members

8pm: Expert says MB has no power to sack exco

9.57pm: DAP and PKR urges PAS to boycott the exco in solidarity

10.21pm: The six sacked exco members vow to defy the sacking and go to work as usual.

10.30pm: PAS' Hulu Langat assemblyperson Saari Sungib urges PAS to join DAP and PKR against Khalid.

Dismissed excos say sacking illegal, will carry out duties like normal - TMI

The six sacked PKR and DAP Selangor executive councillors said today they will go into the office tomorrow and carry out their duties as usual, as their sacking was illegal.


They told a press conference tonight that their dismissal by Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid was not legitimate as he had not received the Selangor Sultan’s consent.

“We do not recognise the sackings. He sent us the letter dismissing us today, saying that the Sultan consented to our sackings, but I believe everyone, including our media friends, saw that Khalid did not leave his office from morning until his 6pm press conference," said DAP’s Datuk Teng Chang Khim.

He added that since the exco members received their dismissal before 6pm, it would have been impossible for Khalid to have met with the sultan beforehand to obtain His Highness's consent.

When asked if it was possible that the Sultan consented to the sackings during his meeting with Khalid at Istana Alam Shah yesterday, Teng ruled this out.

“He said the day before he is going to meet each one of us to see whether we give him the support or not,” he said.

He said this in a press conference at the PKR headquarters tonight, along with DAP members Ean Yong Hian and V. Ganabathi Rao, and PKR’s Elizabeth Wong and Dr Daroyah Alwi.

Rodziah Ismail, also from PKR, is out of the country. The press conference was held following an emergency meeting tonight with the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) national leadership.

PR effectively lost the Selangor government when Khalid sacked all the PKR and DAP councillors today, leaving him and four PAS state executive councillors as the state government.

But Teng said that Khalid, who is an independent assemblyman since his expulsion from PKR Saturday, could not dismiss any Pakatan Rakyat (PR) member from the Selangor government.

“The Selangor government is held by PR. As a sacked member of PKR, he has no legitimacy to sack a PR member,” said Teng, who is in charge of Local Government, Research and Development.

“This has never happened in any democracy in the world, and he has now set a new record.”

Wong urged the four remaining PAS councillors not to attend tomorrow’s exco meeting, in solidarity with PR.

“Effectively, it’s a strange thing. We have been illegally sacked from the government of the day. We urge our colleagues from PAS not to attend tomorrow’s meeting,” said the Bukit Lanjan assemblyman.

Wong, who is in charge of Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment, added that while they would not attempt to attend tomorrow’s meeting, they would remain in their own offices in the state secretariat building and continue doing their work.

Earlier in the day, the six executive councillors from DAP and PKR took the position that any decisions made at the state cabinet meetings would have to go through a voting process.

The six signed a statement which said Khalid and his state cabinet's function was limited to transition capacity.

Khalid was sacked last Saturday after he refused to resign as directed by his party, to pave the way for Kajang assemblyman and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to take over the MB's post.

Khalid has been facing mounting pressure from the PKR leadership to resign over his handling of Selangor affairs.

These include the state’s management of its water resources, the Kidex highway and seizure of Bahasa Malaysia and Iban-language Bibles by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais).

Yesterday, Khalid told the press that the Sultan had consented for him to remain as MB as he commanded the confidence of the majority.

However, Khalid said he would work with the four PAS exco members, the minimum required under the constitution to administer the government.

Pakatan loses Selangor government as Khalid sacks PKR, DAP excos - TMI

The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) effectively lost the Selangor government when embattled Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim sacked all PKR and DAP executive councillors in Selangor today.

Five of the affected councillors received their letter of termination today while one executive councillor, Rodziah Ismail from PKR, is out of the country.

Khalid's move leaves him and four PAS state executive councillors as the state government. It is not known whether the PAS national leadership is aware of the sackings and its stand on the issue.

PAS has insisted its decision on replacing Khalid as the PR menteri besar will only be made on August 17.

The PKR and DAP national leadership will hold an emergency meeting tonight and are expected to make their stand after the meeting.

The three DAP exco members are Datuk Teng Chang Khim, V.Ganabatirau and Ean Yong Hian Wah, while the three PKR excos are Elizabeth Wong, Dr Daroyah Alwi and Rodziah Ismail.

Khalid said: “These excos have made several statements and signed a letter for a bloc to be made for the purpose of decreasing the effectiveness of the exco.

“Therefore I have written to the Sultan to ask that these exco do not carry on their duties in the Selangor state government,” he said.

However, Khalid said he had yet to write to Rodziah as she was overseas.

With the sacking of the six exco members, the remaining Selangor exco members are all from PAS.

They are Iskandar Abdul Samad, Dr Halimah Ali, Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi and Sallehen Mukhyi.

Game over! Khalid sacks all DAP, PKR excos

With the termination of all six excos, the Pakatan Rakyat government in Selangor has effectively collapsed.

SHAH ALAM: In a stunning showdown with Pakatan, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim sacked all DAP and PKR executive counsillors with the issuance of a termination letter to each of them.

The exco members terminated are Datuk Teng Chang Khim, V. Ganabatirau and Ean Yong Hian Wah from DAP and Elizabeth Wong, Dr Daroyah Alwi and Rodziah Ismail from PKR.

Taking immediate effect, Khalid said the decision to terminate the excos was made after they signed and issued a statement that they had formed a bloc, the reason of which was to undermine the effectiveness of the exco.

He said he had no choice but to seek permission from the Sultan in writing to terminate the duties of the current Selangor state exco.

“However, I have not written to Rodziah about her termination as she is currently overseas,” he said.

Khalid also dismissed rumours he was joining PAS saying, “No, the rumours about me joing PAS are absolutely false.”

With the termination of all six excos from DAP and PKR, the Pakatan Rakyat government has effectively collapsed with only Khalid as an Independent and four PAS members.

Sultan gave consent to sacking of excos

(NST) – The Selangor Sultan has consented to the sacking of three DAP and two PKR excos, a palace source confirmed today.

These include DAP leaders Datuk Teng Chang Khim, Ean Yong Hian Wah and V. Ganabatirau as well as PKR leaders Elizabeth Wong Keat Peng and Dr Daroyah Alwi.

Upon receiving Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s consent, the Menteri Besar’s office had issued sacking letters to the excos concerned.

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s press secretary Arfaeza Aziz confirmed that the sacking letters had been delivered to the offices of the three DAP and two PKR excos.

When contacted, Ganabatirau said he was in Perak and had not seen any such letter yet while Yong confirmed he had received the letter.

Attempts from the New Straits Times to get confirmation from the other four excos went unanswered.

Selangor MB crisis: PKR, DAP reject sacking of exco members

(The Star) – DAP and PKR will not accept the sacking of their five executive councillors in the Selangor state government.

DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng said the two parties felt the move by Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim was unethical and “does not respect the spirit and principle of democracy, and ignores the mandate given by the rakyat.”

His comments came soon after Khalid’s office sent termination letters to exco members Dr Daroyah Alwi and Elizabeth Wong from PKR and Datuk Teng Chang Khim, V. Ganabatirau and Ean Yong Hian Wah from the DAP.

The move comes after the Selangor Palace consented to Khalid’s request that the exco members be sacked.

Khalid has said that he had not request for the sacking of welfare and women’s issues exco Rodziah Ismail because she was not in the country.

Lim said Khalid was appointed as Mentri Besar to govern Selangor for Pakatan Rakyat and not in his personal capacity.

“He is not the Mentri Besar his name is Khalid Ibrahim,” Lim told a press conference at the PKR headquarters after senior leaders of both parties met to discuss the ongoing crisis.

Lim said he had contacted PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali to urge the leadership to stand in solidarity with the sacked exco members.

All four PAS exco members have said that they would continue to support Khalid according to the leadership’s request.

“I have asked that their four executive council members not to turn up to tomorrow’s exco meeting.

“To me there is a need to show solidarity because PAS is part of Pakatan Rakyat,” said Lim.

Lim questioned how Khalid could claim to have the majority support of 28 assemblymen.

“Pakatan Rakyat has 28 assemblymen. Khalid needs 29 or more, not 28 to say he has the support of the majority,” said Lim.

PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he was “absolutely certain” that all Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen would not defect in support of Khalid.

“I am 100% sure they will not defect. They are all upstairs,” said Anwar.

Teng told the press conference that all those who had been sacked do not recognise the sacking.

“Under the Selangor State Constitution, the Sultan appoints the Executive Council on the advice of the Mentri Besar. Therefore, only the Sultan has the power to sack,” he said.

Asked whether the six would attend the exco meeting, Teng said they would report to office as usual but “we will stay in our offices as we have a lot of work to do as executive council members.”

He urged his PAS counterparts not to “legitimise” Wednesday’s exco meeting by attending it.

Teng also questioned Khalid’s claim that the sacking of the exco members was in accordance with procedures.

“In the letter given to us, Khalid said the Sultan had consented to sack us, but at a later press conference, Khalid said he would be seeking an audience with the Sultan,” said Teng.

He also pointed out Khalid was in his office the whole day while he (Teng) received the termination letter at 5.30pm.

“Khalid did not leave his office today. Is the Sultan a phone call away,” said Teng.

Malaysian Opposition Crisis Boils Over

Hadi Awang says the decision’s mine

In the background, the United Malays National Organization seeks to capitalize

Asia Sentinel

The Malaysian opposition coalition headed by Anwar Ibrahim is in serious danger of tearing itself apart over the issue of who will lead the coalition as chief minister of Selangor, the country’s most prosperous and populous state.

After months of squabbling, Anwar on Aug. 9 finally sacked Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as chief minister, who refused to go. The latest ultimatum is from the Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party, which today, Aug. 12, demanded that Parti Islam se-Malaysia, the second wing of Anwar’s coalition, state immediately whether or not it will back Anwar’s decision to make his wife, Wan Azizah Ismail, the chief minister. PAS, as the party is known, has said it would make the decision on Aug. 17 at its general meeting.

But Lim Guan Eng, the secretary general of the DAP, told reporters it is crucial that PAS state its intentions after Muhyiddin Yassin, the United Malays National Organization Deputy President and the country’s vice premier, said he would throw his party’s support behind Khalid. PAS refused to back away from its Aug. 17 date, however.

UMNO, the biggest ethnic party in the national ruling coalition, would like to use the crisis to wrest the state back from the opposition although it only has 12 seats in the 56-seat assembly. Selangor is the jewel in the Pakatan Rakyat crown. With Muhyiddin’s public statement that the state’s 12 UMNO lawmakers would back Khalid, that raises the pressure on both Anwar to get PAS in line, and on PAS to decide which side of the fence it intends to be on.

“UMNO has played this brilliantly,” said a longtime political observer. ”The question is whether they have shown their hands too early.”

If UMNO could pull the 12 PAS members of the Selangor assembly away from the opposition coalition, that would give them at least 24 votes in the 56-person assembly with the remaining votes in the hands of Anwar’s Parti Keadilan and the DAP, suddenly opening the door to horse trading. There is precedent. In 2008, in a stunning defeat for the Barisan, the opposition took the state of Perak. In 2009, however, newly minted Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak persuaded three opposition members to jump ship amid accusations that millions of ringgit had changed hands and become independents. Ultimately, the Barisan took the state back from the opposition and kept it in the 2013 election.

The widespread feeling among political analysts in Kuala Lumpur is that the whole fiasco mainly demonstrates Anwar’s inability to discipline his own party and his coalition. Internal divisions within the party have nearly destroyed it, with prominent figures like former Justice Minister Zaid Ibrahim joining the party and then leaving in anger. In other opposition-held states, the dominant political party has had the right to name the chief minister. Only in Selangor has that custom not held and it is laid at Anwar’s doorstep.

Khalid, a former CEO of the powerful plantation company Kumpulan Guthrie, has gathered unlikely allies. PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang ultimately would like to make another ally, Parti Keadilan vice president Azmin Ali, the chief minister following Khalid’s reign. While Azmin is a member of Anwar’s own party, the two are rivals.

In the meantime, PAS has repeatedly clashed with the moderate Malays of Anwar’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat and the Chinese of the DAP, pushing fundamentalist issues over female dress, liquor, etc., and in particular seeking to institute hudud,a medieval system of punishments under religious law that includes stoning for adulterers and amputation of limbs for various crimes, in Kelantan, the state it controls. Insiders say PAS had promised not to push those issues when it joined the coalition. Hudud apparently has been put on the back burner, at least temporarily, for fear that it really would tear the coalition apart irrevocably.

Internal dissatisfaction has grown over Khalid’s stewardship, culminating in an attempt earlier this year by Anwar to replace him by himself through a by-election that ultimately was won by Anwar’s wife after Anwar was disqualified by an appellate court. Public irritation with the opposition coalition’s stewardship of the state has continued to grow over such issues as garbage collection and the decision to build a major highway6 through a residential district. Also, the incidence of dengue fever has been rising inexorably, with the blame falling on the leadership for not pushing public health authorities more to control it instead of squabbling. Finally, the state finds itself in the grip of the worst drought in decades, with the public accusing the government of not doing enough to enhance water production.

Other sources say those reasons are valid, but that in fact there is considerable wrangling behind the scenes over whose side gets lucrative government contracts for infrastructure and other civic improvements.

The stakes are crucial for not just the opposition coalition but for the country. If Pakatan Rakyat comes apart, it would doom for the foreseeable future any chance that the Barisan Nasional, the ruling national coalition, could be unseated from its position in power. The Barisan lost the popular vote in the 13th general election in 2013 by 50.87 percent to Pakatan Rakyat’s 47.38 percent but stayed in power through gerrymandered districts and the first-past-the-post electoral system. Given the dissention inside the opposition, many political observers believe that could well be the coalition’s high point.

What happens in the next 24 hours in the Selangor MB crisis may upstage the August 17 PAS leadership meeting and set the seal for the irretrievable break-up of Pakatan Rakyat

By Lim Kit Siang

The meeting of the PAS national leadership on August 17 will have a critical bearing on the future of the six-year-old three-party coalition Pakatan Rakyat.

However, the August 17 meeting of PAS may be upstaged by what happens in the next 24 hours in the Selangor Mentri Besar crisis which may set the seal for the irretrievable break-up of Pakatan Rakyat.

The break-up of Pakatan Rakyat will cause consternation and even despair among Malaysians over the betrayal of their high hopes that change has finally come to Malaysia after more than half a century of political stagnation and even regresson but welcomed as a boon and relief by Umno/BN leaders and apparatchiks as a “salvation” to spare them from political rejection and repudiation in the country.

This is the reason why the Deputy Prime Minister and UMNO Deputy President, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, had been so fast in declaring unconditional support of 12 UMNO/Barisan Nasional State Assembly representatives in Selangor to Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as Mentri Besar of Selangor although he has lost the mandate of Parti Keadilan Rakyat and Pakatan Rakyat to continue as Selangor Mentri Besar.

UMNO/Barisan Nasional strategists are working overtime to exploit the Selangor Mentri Besar crisis, working on the scenario of 12 UMNO + 15 PAS + Khalid and a high-powered campaign to undermine the loyalty of DAP and PKR State Assembly reps to betray the Selangor voters and their respective parties.

This campaign gains strength with the open support in some quarters for a UMNO-PAS “Unity Government” although couched under another terminology like “national consensus”.

Pakatan Rakyat leaders must act promptly and decisively and not be blind-sided by the pace of developments in the Selangor Mentri Besar crisis when time is of the essence, allowing what could happen in the next 24 hours to upstage not only the PAS leadership meeting of August 17 but determine the survival of Pakatan Rakyat.

Cops may use Sedition Act against online hate-mongers

The Star
by NADIRAH H. RODZI AND CHAN LI LEEN

KUALA LUMPUR: Police are considering using the Sedition Act 1948 against those who incite racial and religious hatred on social media.

It was not an easy task to detain and prosecute those committing such an offence due to the Internet being wide and without borders, said Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Bakri Zinin.

Mohd Bakri also refuted claims that the police are practising selective investigation and urged the public not to be quick to jump the gun.

“This is what most people don’t understand, each case is different and has different facts and circumstances.

“We would need to identify the real identities and produce solid evidence before taking action against them.

“Without all that, it is hard to drag them to justice. That is why we are considering using the Sedition Act to investigate these sort of cases,” he said at a press conference after the closing of the Ops Selamat 5/2014 at the Terminal Bersepadu Selatan yesterday.

On Friday, Federal CID director Comm Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh said the police were going all out to track down those inciting racial and religious hatred.

Police urged the five people identified as online hate-mongers on social media sites to come forward.

The wanted culprits include a woman with the Facebook profile Vignamona VM, who called for religious schools to be disbanded, a man (FB profile Kelvin Yip), who allegedly insulted Islam over the Muslims’ call to prayer (azan), and a man depicted on YouTube kicking another man of a different race.

The other two are a man whose profile name is “Persatuan Kongsi Gelap Melayu”, responsible for posting provocative messages regarding an alleged racial riot in Klang, and Facebook user Mohd Adam Asyiq Balasubramaniam, who posted racial sentiments.

In Ipoh, Perak deputy police chief Deputy Comm A. Paramasivam denied there had been fights between a group of Malays and Indians in Buntong as claimed on Facebook.

“There were no such fights and the Kampung Baru police station was not surrounded by a group of Indians.

“Neither were there fights in front of the Ipoh Railway Station or at the Gerbang Malam,” he said during a press conference yesterday.

DCP Paramasivam said in actual fact, a motorcyclist had died after being knocked down in front of the police station last month.

“A group of devotees attending a festival at a Hindu temple nearby the police station caught wind of what happened and had gone there to see what was happening. There were no racial riots or murder. It was a road accident,” he said.

Kedah ruler: Social media abuse a threat to peace

The New Straits Times
by ADIE SURI ZULKEFLI

ALOR STAR: SULTAN of Kedah Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah yesterday expressed concern over the alarming incidence of social media abuse, which can pose a threat to racial and religious harmony.

Tuanku Halim said the majority of the younger generation used social media to express their thoughts and views, while respecting racial, religious and traditional sensitivities.

He cautioned that liberalisation, as advocated in Western countries, was seen as modern and open, but it was unsuitable to the way of life in Malaysia.

“Religious and racial ideological tensions in our society, especially on social media platforms, demonstrate disrespect to decisions that had been agreed upon by the forefathers of all races during Independence,” he said in his speech at the opening of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly’s first meeting for the second term at Wisma Darulaman here.

The speech was read by Kedah Regency Council chairman Tan Sri Tunku Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah. Present were his wife, Puan Sri Tengku Maliha Tengku Ariff, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, his wife, Tok Puan Norzieta Zakaria, executive councillors and assemblymen.

Tuanku Halim reminded the younger generation that the country, which gained independence in 1957, was built on the strength of the social contract of a multiracial society, based on toleration, moderation and mutual respect.

“Without the wisdom of our forefathers when we were fighting for independence, many current descendants would be stateless citizens. As such, it is imperative for all quarters to understand and respect basic rights, as stated in the Federal Constitution.”

Tuanku Halim hinted that having a uniform education system could be the long-term solution in resolving the issue.

“Perhaps, we are asking ourselves what is happening to our unity and racial integration. Prominent education sociologist E.D. Hirsch, in his book Cultural Literacy, said education was the most important tool in fostering unity in a country. He suggested that a united society could only be achieved through an integrated national education system.”

Tuanku Halim also expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of Malaysia Airlines flights MH370 and MH17, and urged the people to condemn Israel’s Zionist regime for committing a systematic genocide against the Palestinians.

At the start of the opening ceremony, the House recited prayers for the late former Kedah Regency Council chairman, Tunku Bendahara Tan Sri Tunku Annuar Sultan Badlishah, who died in May.

Budget 2015 Sets To Improve Fiscal Position, Improve Living Standards - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- The 2015 Budget, scheduled to be tabled in Parliament in October, will continue to stimulate growth, and improve fiscal position and the people's standards of living, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The prime minister said the country needed a responsible budget that lived up to the people's expectations in the march towards attaining Vision 2020 and the developed nation status.

"Malaysia is on the dawn of a developed nation. Together, we are able to achieve the target. Let's continue with our efforts," he said in his 1Malaysia blog post entitled "Budget2015: Let's Continue Our Efforts".

In striving to ensure that the 2015 Budget caters to the people's needs, Najib asked the people to express their ideas, opinions and needs through specific social sites or his Facebook for his considerations.

"I welcome your suggestions. I'm very excited over the people's responds prior to #Budget2014 - the sentiments revolved on everything, from housing to culture," he said.

Najib, who is also finance minister, said although the economy continued to grow and many new jobs were created, the people were still affected by rising cost of living.

Prime Minister said the government always placed the people's interests as the main agenda and had made great strides in addressing their needs by formulating inclusive, balanced and responsible national budget.

"The government's main objectives, among others, include managing the cost of living and maintaining low inflation," he said.

On public transport, he said it was important to seek long-term solutions to address traffic woes in the capital and the surrounding areas.

"The Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) could alleviate the problem by extending the distance of public transport to 51 km," he said, adding that as every MRT train would have four coaches, up to 400,000 passengers could ply by MRT every day.

The prime minister said the government would extend the Light Rail Transit line by stretching the Kelana Jaya and Ampang route until Putra Heights.

In line with the objective of enhancing eco-friendly public transport, he said the Electrified Double Track Project from Ipoh to Padang Besar, Perlis would cater for commuters in the northern region.

On the Goods and Services Tax (GST) at six per cent set for April next year, he reiterated that it was meant to replace the Service and Sales Tax (SST) (at 16 per cent) and not impose another tax regime.

"We need a new and equitable tax system as only one out of 10 Malaysians are taxpayers.

"We also need to expand the revenue streams, continue to reduce the deficit and invest for the future. The GST allows us to achieve the aspirations," he said.

Najib said the government would also increase the people's gross income by reducing the spread of personal income tax by one to three as announced in the 2014 Budget and the measure meant that 300,000 people no longer have to pay income tax.

Apart from that, he said corporate tax and small and medium enterprises income tax would also be reduced by one per cent from the 2016 year of assessment while cooperative income tax would be slashed by one to two per cent from the 2015 year of assessment.

The RM1,200 1Malaysia People's Aid at RM1,200 per year will continue to be disbursed for the next five years, he added.

On affordable housing raised during online 2014 Budget discussions, Najib said RM1 billion had been allocated under the 1Malaysia People's Housing Project to build 80,000 houses priced 20 per cent below the market price in addition to injecting funds to provide 26,122 affordable housing units.

He said the government introduced the National Automotive Policy in the 2014 Budget which was aimed at reducing vehicle prices by between 20 and 30 per cent within five years.

Islamic State militants have Putrajaya in crosshairs, Bukit Aman says

By Malay Mail

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — Malaysian jihadists who joined terror group Islamic State to launch strikes in Iraq and Syria are now training their sights on their home government, according to police intelligence.

Home-ground followers of the al Qaeda offshoot, which gained control of territory in the two countries through armed warfare earlier this year, are looking to topple Putrajaya and replace the government with a fully Islamic government based on Shariah law, the South China Morning Post reported today, citing Bukit Aman’s counter-terrorism division senior official, Datuk Ayub Khan.

“During questioning, they [the suspects] admitted one of their main objectives was to attack the government,” Ayub was quoted saying by the English-language Hong Kong daily.

“They also discussed planning attacks against a disco, pubs in Kuala Lumpur and a Carlsberg factory in Petaling Jaya,” he added.

Police here have rounded up at least 19 people suspected of having links with the jihadist group in the last seven months but according to Ayub, the “real numbers” of those involved are likely higher.

Some 30 Malaysian Muslims left home to join the fight in Syria this year, putting the spotlight on growing extremism in a country that regularly touts its moderate image.

Malaysian factory worker Ahmad Tarmimi Maliki, suspected of being a member of the group — formerly called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) — was believed to have been the suicide bomber who killed 25 members of an Iraqi police team in May.

“Many” young Malay Muslims have been reeled in to join the militant activities abroad, drawn by the prospects of helping out Muslims in need and to fight and die in the name of Islam, according to former Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Asri Zainul Abidin.

“I know lots of Malay youths have been asking me about it, either in person or through email. The offer is attractive to them,” he told Malay Mail Online last June.

“In Malaysia, there is an unhappiness over what is happening, a sense of injustice... many of these youths have a good intention, because they see Muslims in Syria being bombed and killed so they feel that they want to help out whatever way they can.”