Friday, 16 January 2015
Paris gunmen Cherif Kouachi and Amedy Coulibaly 'used child porn sites for covert communication'
As French authorities continue their hunt for possible accomplices of the Islamist extremist gunmen who killed 17 people over three days in Paris last week, it has emerged two of the attackers were found in possession of paedo-pornographic material during an earlier anti-terrorism investigation.
In 2010, a police search of the computers of Cherif Kouachi and Amedy Coulibaly revealed traces of child porn images the two men had stored and later erased, French media reported.
The two were under investigation for their alleged role in the botched attempt to free from prison Smain Ait Ali Belkacem, a jihadi serving a life sentence for a 1995 metro station bombing in Paris.
Detectives found five child porn photos on Coulibaly's laptop and another 37 on Kouachi's PC. Kouachi's stash included sickening pictures of young boys and girls involved in sexual acts with adults, Le Canard Enchaîné newspaper reported.
The findings were deemed as unrelated to the anti-terrorism probe and thus not investigated further.
The information was passed on to prosecutors dealing with sexual crimes but a case was never filed with a court.
However, last week's attacks shed a new light on the case, with some analysts suggesting that rather than being paedophiles, the gunmen might have used child porn websites as a secure means of communication to share other information.
A large part of child porn is traded on the deep web, where users can operate in anonymity, making it obviously difficult for police to trace them. Such deep web surfing might have left traces on the two jihadists' computers.
Moreover, security sources said they had witnessed cases of Islamists using diverse websites to communicate avoiding anti-terror police monitoring in the past.
"We have already seen would-be-terrorists chatting on gaming websites to evade surveillance of their emails and phone communications," a security source told Le Nouvel Observateur. "We can't rule out the possibility that Kouachi and Coulibaly did the same on porn websites."
Porn has also already been used as a cover to transmit information by extremists. In 2012, German authorities found details of some al-Qaeda's terror plots encoded inside a porn video stored on the digital storage device of a jihadi suspect.
Last week, Kouachi and his brother Said killed 12 people at the Paris offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo before taking a man hostage at a printing warehouse in Dammartin-en-Goële.
Meanwhile, Coulibaly shot a policewoman dead and then stormed a kosher supermarket killing four Jewish shoppers.
All three were killed by police at the end of two separate tense hostage standoffs.
Bar Council: Why can't Paulsen criticise Jakim?
The government should not criminalise the
recent statements by activist lawyer Eric Paulsen regarding the Islamic
Development Department (Jakim), said the Malaysian Bar.
The Bar Council president Christopher Leong said this is because his comments are not insulting to Islam as some had alleged, but is directed at a government agency.
“It must be emphasised that an allegedly adverse statement directed at a government authority or agency, such as Jakim, should never be criminalised.
“A government authority or agency is not beyond public scrutiny or comment, nor can it be immune from criticism. This is part and parcel of the nature of accountability of public authorities in democratic societies,” he said in a statement today.
Paulsen, who is the executive director of Lawyers for Liberty, had made a tweet accusing Jakim of “promoting extremism” every Friday, likely referring to its Friday sermons. The tweet has since been deleted.
He was arrested on Monday night to facilitate investigations under the Sedition Act 1948, and was released on police bail yesterday.
The inspector-general of police Khalid Abdul Bakar said the arrest was made to “ensure harmony in this multiracial society”, while Paulsen has insisted that his comments are within legal boundaries.
Leong (left) also drew parallels between the case and an earlier incident in January 2013, where Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali called for Malay language bibles containing the word “Allah” to be burnt, following allegations that copies of it were distributed to students outside a school including Muslim students.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers later decided not to prosecute Ibrahim, as it was meant to defend the sanctity of Islam and not intended to cause religious disharmony.
Consistency needed
Leong said the government needs to be consistent in applying the law in Ibrahim’s case and in Paulsen’s case by taking the context of their statements into account.
“In its ordinary and natural meaning, the tweet was an expression of concern directed at the government to look into the actions of a government agency.
“Whether the concern as expressed is borne out is a matter for enquiry and rebuttal. There cannot be anything seditious about such comments,” he said.
Leong also slammed Khalid (left)
tweets in response to Paulsen’s tweet accusing the latter as being
rude, arrogant, and trying to incite Malaysians into disunity.
He said such comments are not in line with the level of independence, neutrality, and professionalism expected of the police.
He added that the case is also an example of how the Sedition Act is detrimental to nation-building, by punishing people simply because there may be others who take offence to their comments.
“The Sedition Act 1948 encourages people who threaten violence, and who are not open to adverse comments or ideas.
“It endorses and nurtures a culture of aggression, intemperance and intolerance that does not engender the growth and maturity of this nation and its peoples, and provides an environment for extremism to thrive,” he asserted.
The Bar Council president Christopher Leong said this is because his comments are not insulting to Islam as some had alleged, but is directed at a government agency.
“It must be emphasised that an allegedly adverse statement directed at a government authority or agency, such as Jakim, should never be criminalised.
“A government authority or agency is not beyond public scrutiny or comment, nor can it be immune from criticism. This is part and parcel of the nature of accountability of public authorities in democratic societies,” he said in a statement today.
Paulsen, who is the executive director of Lawyers for Liberty, had made a tweet accusing Jakim of “promoting extremism” every Friday, likely referring to its Friday sermons. The tweet has since been deleted.
He was arrested on Monday night to facilitate investigations under the Sedition Act 1948, and was released on police bail yesterday.
The inspector-general of police Khalid Abdul Bakar said the arrest was made to “ensure harmony in this multiracial society”, while Paulsen has insisted that his comments are within legal boundaries.Leong (left) also drew parallels between the case and an earlier incident in January 2013, where Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali called for Malay language bibles containing the word “Allah” to be burnt, following allegations that copies of it were distributed to students outside a school including Muslim students.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers later decided not to prosecute Ibrahim, as it was meant to defend the sanctity of Islam and not intended to cause religious disharmony.
Consistency needed
Leong said the government needs to be consistent in applying the law in Ibrahim’s case and in Paulsen’s case by taking the context of their statements into account.
“In its ordinary and natural meaning, the tweet was an expression of concern directed at the government to look into the actions of a government agency.
“Whether the concern as expressed is borne out is a matter for enquiry and rebuttal. There cannot be anything seditious about such comments,” he said.
Leong also slammed Khalid (left)
tweets in response to Paulsen’s tweet accusing the latter as being
rude, arrogant, and trying to incite Malaysians into disunity.He said such comments are not in line with the level of independence, neutrality, and professionalism expected of the police.
He added that the case is also an example of how the Sedition Act is detrimental to nation-building, by punishing people simply because there may be others who take offence to their comments.
“The Sedition Act 1948 encourages people who threaten violence, and who are not open to adverse comments or ideas.
“It endorses and nurtures a culture of aggression, intemperance and intolerance that does not engender the growth and maturity of this nation and its peoples, and provides an environment for extremism to thrive,” he asserted.
Meet the killers of Altantuya
At last, almost a decade after the
high-profile case of slain Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu, the
faces of the two ex-police officers convicted for her murder have been
revealed.
Malaysiakini has today obtained a copy of their photographs, courtesy of the Bukit Aman police headquarters.
From
the commencement of the trial right up to the conclusion of the final
appeal at the Federal Court, former chief inspector Azilah Hadri (left) and corporal Sirul Azhar Umar had remained a mystery.
The pair, once attached with the elite special operations force, arrived and exited the various court buildings with their faces covered with hooded jackets.
On Tuesday, the Federal Court upheld the prosecution’s appeal and slapped the two with a death sentence.
Previously, the Court of Appeal had acquitted them after reversing the High Court’s guilty verdict.
While Azilah, 38, appeared in court with his face covered as usual, Sirul, however, was absent.
It was later revealed that Sirul, 43, is currently in Australia and the police are now tracking him down after the apex court issued a warrant of arrest.
No motive
According to reports, Sirul (right) has been overseas for the past two months and could not afford to return home.
During the trial at the Shah Alam High Court, Sirul set tongues wagging when he claimed to have been made a "scapegoat" to “cover up their plans”.
His lawyer had also suggested that his client could have been framed.
This statement fired up the conspiracy mills since the murder case had been linked to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who was then deputy prime minister and also in charge of the defence portfolio.
His close associate Abdul Razak Baginda, who admitted to having an affair with Altantuya, was initially charged with abetment but later discharged without his defence being called.
The case was also linked to Malaysia’s procurement of two French submarines, which Abdul Razak’s firm was tasked to purchase and maintain.
The police have cleared Najib of any wrongdoing, but the issue continues to remain a powerful weapon in the opposition’s arsenal.
Apart from this, the courts also did not establish a motive as to why the two ex-police officers would want to kill and blow up Altantuya with explosives.
Malaysiakini has today obtained a copy of their photographs, courtesy of the Bukit Aman police headquarters.
From
the commencement of the trial right up to the conclusion of the final
appeal at the Federal Court, former chief inspector Azilah Hadri (left) and corporal Sirul Azhar Umar had remained a mystery.The pair, once attached with the elite special operations force, arrived and exited the various court buildings with their faces covered with hooded jackets.
On Tuesday, the Federal Court upheld the prosecution’s appeal and slapped the two with a death sentence.
Previously, the Court of Appeal had acquitted them after reversing the High Court’s guilty verdict.
While Azilah, 38, appeared in court with his face covered as usual, Sirul, however, was absent.
It was later revealed that Sirul, 43, is currently in Australia and the police are now tracking him down after the apex court issued a warrant of arrest.
No motive
According to reports, Sirul (right) has been overseas for the past two months and could not afford to return home.During the trial at the Shah Alam High Court, Sirul set tongues wagging when he claimed to have been made a "scapegoat" to “cover up their plans”.
His lawyer had also suggested that his client could have been framed.
This statement fired up the conspiracy mills since the murder case had been linked to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who was then deputy prime minister and also in charge of the defence portfolio.
His close associate Abdul Razak Baginda, who admitted to having an affair with Altantuya, was initially charged with abetment but later discharged without his defence being called.
The case was also linked to Malaysia’s procurement of two French submarines, which Abdul Razak’s firm was tasked to purchase and maintain.
The police have cleared Najib of any wrongdoing, but the issue continues to remain a powerful weapon in the opposition’s arsenal.
Apart from this, the courts also did not establish a motive as to why the two ex-police officers would want to kill and blow up Altantuya with explosives.
Pelajar salah tafsir arahan, kata pengetua mengenai halangan baju kurung
Masalah komunikasi dan tersalah tafsir maklumat oleh pelajar dan ibu bapa adalah punca tercetusnya isu pemakaian baju kurung oleh pelajar bukan Melayu, dakwa pengetua Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seri Mutiara Mohd Amir Abdul Ghani.Beliau berkata pihak sekolah tidak pernah menghalang pelajar perempuan bukan Melayu untuk memakai baju kurung, cuma menekankan supaya memakai baju kurung dengan cara yang betul.
"Kalau hendak pakai baju kurung, pelajar mestilah memakai dengan betul iaitu memakai kesemua butang baju tersebut. Apabila kata begini, mereka anggap kita (sekolah) tidak benarkan pakai baju kurung.
"Sekolah tidak pernah menghalang sesiapa pakai baju kurung kerana ia adalah baju kebangsaan. Malah guru-guru bukan Melayu pun boleh pakai baju kurung," katanya ketika ditemui Bernama hari ini.
Media tempatan melaporkan dakwaan seorang pelajar sekolah yang berumur 15 tahun dilarang memakai baju kurung oleh pihak pentadbiran sekolah kononnya atas alasan baju kurung hanya untuk pelajar perempuan Melayu.
Mohd Amir berkata permintaan pihak sekolah supaya memakai kesemua butang baju kurung adalah bagi menjaga aurat pelajar sekali gus menjaga keselamatan pelajar itu sendiri.
Katanya satu perbincangan antara pengetua, pihak Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru (PIBG) dan penjaga kepada murid berkenaan (pengadu) turut diadakan pada hari ini bagi menyelesaikan konflik berkenaan.
Beliau menegaskan pelajar perempuan yang terlibat akan kembali ke sekolah dan bebas memakai baju kurung.
Mohd Amir berkata beliau tidak berada di sekolah pada hari kejadian dan mendakwa masalah komunikasi itu adalah antara guru dan pelajar.
Pengetua itu percaya jika beliau berada di sekolah pada hari tersebut mungkin perkara itu tidak timbul dan menjadi isu hangat di media sosial.
Sementara itu, Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin semasa mengulas perkara itu berkata Kementerian Pendidikan tidak pernah mengeluarkan arahan melarang pelajar perempuan bukan beragama Islam memakai baju kurung ke sekolah kerana pemakaian tersebut sejajar dengan dasar kementerian dalam soal pemupukan perpaduan.
"Tak ada arahan dikeluarkan kementerian kepada mana-mana pihak pentadbiran sekolah untuk sekat atau halang pelajar bukan Islam untuk pakai baju kurung," kata Muhyiddin dalam sidang media selepas melancarkan Pelan Induk Terperinci Pembangunan Kampung Baru hari ini.
Mohd Amir berkata beliau amat menggalakkan pelajar perempuan bukan Melayu sekolah itu jika berhasrat untuk memakai baju kurung kerana ia simbol perpaduan masyarakat majmuk di Malaysia.
Menurut beliau, majoriti pelajar di sekolah berkenaan adalah pelajar berbangsa Cina dan baju kurung tidak pernah menjadi masalah dalam kalangan pelajar di sekolah itu sebelum ini.
Tinjauan Bernama juga mendapati beberapa guru bukan Melayu bebas memakai baju kurung di sekolah tersebut. – Bernama, 15 Januari, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/bahasa/article/pelajar-salah-tafsir-arahan-kata-pengetua-mengenai-halangan-baju-kurung#sthash.N85QNtmi.dpuf
Heritage status for Brickfields ashram likely, says KL mayor
The Vivekananda Ashram in Brickfields which has been at the centre of a development dispute is expected to be a gazetted heritage site, said city Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib.The 110-year-old building, which is located on private land, was supposed to have been redeveloped into a high-rise residential complex but the plan by the ashram's board of trustees came under intense public criticism.
"We have been informed by the National Heritage Department that they are considering declaring the ashram a heritage building," Ahmad told reporters today.
Ahmad in November last year said City Hall was still considering the application by the ashram's board of trustees to develop the heritage site.
After the public outcry, the ashram board of trustees’ chairman said critics should be giving donations to support their charity work rather than protest against plans to sell the land.
Tan Sri Dr K. Ampikaipakan had said that the board of trustees had decided to sell and redevelop the 0.4ha plot of land because it needed funds for the schools and charities under its care.
The redevelopment plan included a 23-storey apartment tower on the land.
The façade of the ashram, and a bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda, however, would be preserved for heritage purposes.
The redevelopment plans have called into question the issue of striking a balance between heritage conservation and funding of community needs, as the trust owns and manages four schools – SJK (T) Vivekananda, Brickfields, the Vivekananda primary and secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur and SJK (T) Thamboosamy Pillai in Sentul.
The ashram's followers opened their first Tamil school in 1914, before launching other schools, a hostel and kindergarten for the Tamil community over the years. –January 15, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/heritage-status-for-brickfields-ashram-likely-says-kl-mayor#sthash.Lf6kRjVQ.dpuf
Allah izinkan gadis Melayu dipeluk artis K-Pop, kata wanita
Tiga gadis Melayu yang berada di atas pentas dan berpeluk dengan artis K-pop B1A4 dari Korea Selatan tidak akan mendapat peluang sedemikian jika tidak kerana ketentuan Allah, kata seorang pengguna media sosial.Wanita 20-an yang menyiarkan pendapatnya melalui video berdurasi 5:42 minit itu mendapat perhatian ramai pengguna media sosial lain yang turut berkongsi di Facebook dan YouTube.
Wanita tersebut ketika mengulas insiden yang kini menjadi viral dan mendapat perhatian meluas sehingga pemimpin negara dan badan agama berkata, gadis terbabit berada di atas pentas dengan keizinan Allah.
Katanya, mereka membuat pilihan untuk pergi ke konsert di KL Live Centre dan ia diizinkan Allah.
"Mereka memilih untuk berada atas pentas dan Allah izinkan mereka untuk berada atas pentas," katanya dalam video tersebut.
Kata-kata wanita terbabit bagaimanapun mengundang reaksi negatif pengguna laman sosial yang menyifatkan seolah-olah dakwaannya cuba menyalahkan tuhan kerana membiarkan perkara itu terjadi.
Seorang pengguna Facebook, Zax Baharudin berkata: "Yang baik datang dari Allah, yang tidak baik datang dari kita sendiri, Allah beri kita akal untuk berfikir dan buat pilihan, baik dan buruk adalah pilihan kita sendiri. Nafsu untuk beli tiket mahal dan naik ke pentas adalah pilihan sendiri."
Wanita terbabit pada masa sama menganggap insiden itu sebagai ujian Allah kepada masyarakat terutamanya "keyboard warrior" Melayu yang bertelagah dan mengeluarkan kata-kata kesat terhadap sesama sendiri.
Katanya, di sebalik tindakan negatif, masyarakat sepatutnya memberi sokongan kepada gadis terbabit dan bukan hanya menghukum sehingga menjejaskan kehidupan mereka.
"Jadi kalau anda rasa tak mahu ajak mereka kepada kebaikan jangan sesekali jadi punca kepada mereka jauhi kebaikan" katanya.
Pemilik akaun YouTube, FitrihadiTV yang turut memuat naik video itu semalam mengulas, walaupun kebanyakan hujah yang diberikannya agak baik, tetapi mengaitkan insiden itu dengan "keizinan Allah" tidak dapat diterima orang ramai.
"Kebanyakan poinnya agak baik. Namun pada awalnya, beliau mengatakan semua aksi yang berlaku tersebut adalah dengan izin Allah. Ramai yang tidak bersetuju dengan pendapat tersebut," katanya.
Pengguna akaun Facebook Dewi's Zakaria berkata: "Jangan bermain dengan perkataan 'dengan izin Allah' sebaiknya dalami ilmu sebelum berkata sesuatu. Allah tidak pernah mengizinkn sesuatu perkara yang menuju ke arah laranganNya. Kita manusia diberikan ilmu dan akal bagaimana nak memilih jalan yang lurus atau bengkok".
Ada juga beberapa pengguna Facebook yang mempertahankan kenyataan wanita tersebut, antaranya Zul Helmi Baharom yang berkata: "Moral dalam viral perempuan ini adalah untuk menghentikan cemuhan dan melebihkan doa kepada wanita yg berpeluk agar mereka kembali ke jalan yang benar dan bukan memaki hamun. Perempuan itu juga sudah dapat balasan dan pengajaran. Nabi pun berdakwah dengan cara yang baik, maka tegurlah dengan cara yang baik."
Konsert artis kumpulan dari Korea Selatan itu mula mencetuskan kontroversi di laman sosial sejak hujung minggu lalu, dengan memaparkan adegan peluk dan cium di dahi oleh tiga ahli kumpulan itu bersama tiga gadis Melayu.
Tindakan itu menimbulkan kemarahan daripada masyarakat Islam terutama badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang melabelkan hiburan K-Pop merosakkan akidah remaja Islam dan ada kaitan dengan agenda Kristianisasi.
Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (Jawi) dilaporkan akan memohon waran tangkap sekiranya gadis Melayu yang didakwa "dicabul" artis K-Pop masih tidak menyerahkan diri secara sukarela bagi membantu siasatan.
Pengarah Jawi Paimuzi Yahya berkata, kes itu akan dibawa ke mahkamah dan sekiranya dapati bersalah, gadis Melayu itu perlu menghadiri sesi kaunseling bersama Jawi.
Beliau memberikan tempoh seminggu kepada gadis terbabit untuk menyerahkan diri atau waran tangkap dikeluarkan.
Paimuzi pada Isnin dilaporkan berkata, bahagian penguatkuasaan Jawi sudah membuka kertas siasatan kes mengikut Seksyen 29 Kesalahan Jenayah Syariah (Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan) 1977 (Akta 559) Perbuatan Tidak Sopan Di Tempat Awam.
Jika disabit kesalahan, mereka boleh didenda tidak melebihi RM1,000 atau penjara tidak melebihi enam bulan atau kedua-duanya.
Tekanan turut diberikan NGO kepada peganjur konsert yang mendesak pihak berkuasa mengambil tindakan kepada TGM Events.
TGM Events dalam kenyataan rasmi melalui laman sosial Facebook kemudian meminta maaf atas insiden itu dan berjanji akan lebih berhati-hati dalam perkara membabitkan soal budaya dan agama ketika interaksi antara peminat dan artis pada masa akan datang.
Penganjur bagimanapun memberi jaminan tidak akan mendedahkan maklumat peminat yang terlibat dan melindungi privasi mereka termasuk aspek fizikal dan psikologi.
"Sebagai syarikat yang sebahagian besarnya diusahakan oleh wanita, kami tidak sekali-kali membenarkan perlakuan cabul atau gangguan seksual seperti yang digembar-gemburkan media," katanya. – 15 Januari, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/bahasa/article/allah-izinkan-gadis-melayu-dipeluk-artis-k-pop-kata-wanita#sthash.xncSk1nS.dpuf
“I am not a racist”, says ex-Chief Judge
Speaking to reporters before the handing over of a Memorandum on National Unity to Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Hamid denied he was a racist.
Hamid, who gave advice on legal issues highlighted in the memorandum, said that he only wanted everyone to stay true to the Constitution.
“There are people who want to take away the rights of the Malays and Bumiputras enshrined in the constitution,” he said, especially in relation to the position of Islam and the Syariah court.
“If our rights can be questioned, what about the rights of others? If people say there should be a review of those rights, then we should review the whole constitution,” said Hamid who clarified that he did not belong to any Malay rights group.
The 95-page memorandum is produced by a coalition of 62 Malay non-governmental organisations and contains 54 proposals pertaining to the nation’s constitution, socio-economy and religion.
The coalition, represented by leaders of 12 NGOs led by the convention’s chairman Datuk Azih Muda, handed over the memorandum to Muhyiddin at his Putrajaya residence.
Also present were Perkasa president, Datuk Ibrahim Ali, as well as former MARA chairman Datuk Ruhanie Ahmad.
Australia will not send back Sirul to face death penalty
AG’s Department says Australia's extradition legislation prohibits a person being surrendered to another country for an offence punishable by death.
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: Australia will refuse a Malaysian government request to extradite to Kuala Lumpur a former Malaysian police commando sentenced to death for the murder of a pregnant Mongolian socialite.
The Sydney Morning Herald quoted a spokesman for the Attorney-General’s Department as saying Australia’s extradition legislation did not allow a person to be surrendered to another country for an offence punishable by death unless the country had given Australia an undertaking that the death penalty would not be carried out.
Altantuya Shaariibuu, 28, who was murdered in Malaysia in 2006 allegedly wanted US$500,000 to remain silent about a defence ministry submarine deal.
The Federal Court on Tuesday upheld the death penalty for Sirul Azhar Umar, a former bodyguard of Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak and one of the key figures in a sensational case in Kuala Lumpur involving allegations of high-level corruption and political intrigue.
Sirul is believed to be living now in Australia.
Malaysian police have asked Australian authorities to arrest and extradite Sirul, one of two policemen convicted over the murder of the socialite Altantuya Shaariibuu.
The request came as Australia prepares to make what Prime Minister Tony Abbott last week described as the “strongest possible representations” on behalf of Myuran Sukumaran, the Bali Nine drug mule on death row whose bid for clemency has been rejected by Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
“Australia opposes the death penalty. We oppose the death penalty for Australians at home and abroad,” he said.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh said Malaysia will seek the co-operation of the Australian Federal Police to arrest Sirul who, according to immigration records, travelled to Australia in October and failed to attend Tuesday’s court hearing before a panel of federal court judges that ordered he and former Malaysian chief inspector Azilah Hadri be executed by hanging.
The paper reports that allegations have simmered for eight years that Altantuya, 28, was murdered to keep her quiet about purported kickbacks to high-level Malaysian officials.
According to court testimony, Altantuya begged for her life and that of her unborn child before she was shot twice in the head, wrapped in C4 plastic explosives and blown up in Kuala Lumpur’s suburbs on October 19, 2006.
The government has refused to hold an inquiry into the case, which centres on Malaysia’s US$2 billion purchase of two French- and Spanish-built Scorpene submarines in 2002 when Najib was defence minister. Altantuya worked as a translator in the latter stages of negotiations.
French investigators in Paris are looking into so-called “commission” payments totalling about $US160 million to companies reportedly set up by Abdul Razak Baginda, a friend and policy adviser to Najib.
Altantuya was a lover of Baginda and admitted in a letter found after her murder that she had been blackmailing him. She allegedly wanted a US$500,000 cut to remain silent about her knowledge of the submarine deal.
Baginda is believed to be living in Britain.
Both Azilah and Sirul denied any involvement in the murder.
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: Australia will refuse a Malaysian government request to extradite to Kuala Lumpur a former Malaysian police commando sentenced to death for the murder of a pregnant Mongolian socialite.
The Sydney Morning Herald quoted a spokesman for the Attorney-General’s Department as saying Australia’s extradition legislation did not allow a person to be surrendered to another country for an offence punishable by death unless the country had given Australia an undertaking that the death penalty would not be carried out.
Altantuya Shaariibuu, 28, who was murdered in Malaysia in 2006 allegedly wanted US$500,000 to remain silent about a defence ministry submarine deal.
The Federal Court on Tuesday upheld the death penalty for Sirul Azhar Umar, a former bodyguard of Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak and one of the key figures in a sensational case in Kuala Lumpur involving allegations of high-level corruption and political intrigue.
Sirul is believed to be living now in Australia.
Malaysian police have asked Australian authorities to arrest and extradite Sirul, one of two policemen convicted over the murder of the socialite Altantuya Shaariibuu.
The request came as Australia prepares to make what Prime Minister Tony Abbott last week described as the “strongest possible representations” on behalf of Myuran Sukumaran, the Bali Nine drug mule on death row whose bid for clemency has been rejected by Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
“Australia opposes the death penalty. We oppose the death penalty for Australians at home and abroad,” he said.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh said Malaysia will seek the co-operation of the Australian Federal Police to arrest Sirul who, according to immigration records, travelled to Australia in October and failed to attend Tuesday’s court hearing before a panel of federal court judges that ordered he and former Malaysian chief inspector Azilah Hadri be executed by hanging.
The paper reports that allegations have simmered for eight years that Altantuya, 28, was murdered to keep her quiet about purported kickbacks to high-level Malaysian officials.
According to court testimony, Altantuya begged for her life and that of her unborn child before she was shot twice in the head, wrapped in C4 plastic explosives and blown up in Kuala Lumpur’s suburbs on October 19, 2006.
The government has refused to hold an inquiry into the case, which centres on Malaysia’s US$2 billion purchase of two French- and Spanish-built Scorpene submarines in 2002 when Najib was defence minister. Altantuya worked as a translator in the latter stages of negotiations.
French investigators in Paris are looking into so-called “commission” payments totalling about $US160 million to companies reportedly set up by Abdul Razak Baginda, a friend and policy adviser to Najib.
Altantuya was a lover of Baginda and admitted in a letter found after her murder that she had been blackmailing him. She allegedly wanted a US$500,000 cut to remain silent about her knowledge of the submarine deal.
Baginda is believed to be living in Britain.
Both Azilah and Sirul denied any involvement in the murder.
3 detained suspicion of intending to join IS
Former factory workers and housewife held since January 7.
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: Three Malaysian nationals, including a husband and wife, have been detained at the KL International Airport (KLIA) on suspicion of planning to join the so-called IS militant group in Syria.
Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said the three suspects, aged between 25 and 30, were detained by the Counter Terrorism Division of the Special Branch, Bukit Aman from January 7 until today.
“The first suspect was a former factory operator in the Klang Valley, the second was a former factory supervisor in Selangor, while the third is a housewife,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Khalid said the three suspects had previously been deported from Australia for abusing their tourist visa.
He said they were also suspected of recruiting and managing the despatch of three other Malaysian nationals to Syria through a third country previously.
- BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR: Three Malaysian nationals, including a husband and wife, have been detained at the KL International Airport (KLIA) on suspicion of planning to join the so-called IS militant group in Syria.
Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said the three suspects, aged between 25 and 30, were detained by the Counter Terrorism Division of the Special Branch, Bukit Aman from January 7 until today.
“The first suspect was a former factory operator in the Klang Valley, the second was a former factory supervisor in Selangor, while the third is a housewife,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Khalid said the three suspects had previously been deported from Australia for abusing their tourist visa.
He said they were also suspected of recruiting and managing the despatch of three other Malaysian nationals to Syria through a third country previously.
- BERNAMA
Extremism is good business for mullahs
Zaid Ibrahim says “joker-fundamentalists” portray religion as difficult, thereby making a good business of selling Islam to unthinking, fearful followers.
FMT
PETALING JAYA: At the risk of having more Muslims call him “infidel”, “apostate” and simply “mad”, former law minister Zaid Ibrahim took to his blog today saying that mullahs and fundamentalists were making a good business selling an extremist brand of Islam to its unthinking followers in Malaysia.
He said that in his view, Islam was a “way of life” that Muslims had to find on their own as that was what Islam “asks us to do”.
He lamented however that “mullahs and fundamentalists” had preferred to indoctrinate Muslims from young, saying religion was “not easy” and thus could only be discovered through them.
He said, “Thus, the way of life can be discovered only through them: the way of life is in fact their way, and only by following exactly in their footsteps can Islam be a rewarding way of life for believers.
“This is total nonsense — though it is also a good business idea.”
Zaid said many religious teachers made good money from selling religious books and recordings of their lectures because they had “no real jobs other than preaching and selling this ‘way of life’.” He said these teachers included graduates from Middle East institutions.
He added, “None of them have actually been useful in other human endeavours. They do not excel in science or business; they do little if anything for charity or for victims of natural disasters; and they do not speak up in the defence of justice.”
Describing them as “joker-fundamentalists”, Zaid ridiculed their “secret formula” which he said was nothing more than instilling “fear” in the hearts of Muslims.
“From young, Muslims in Malaysia are instilled with fear of every description so much so they are unable to stand and believe in themselves.”
He said that many even sought instructions from mullahs on how to have sex.
“They keep asking what is right and prohibited in sex, and all their lives they will always depend on mullahs for everything, which of course suits the mullahs very well.”
Saying that this had made Muslims unable to “think for themselves”, Zaid argued that was in essence what made “killings done in the name of Islam” something relatively easy for Muslims to do.
“That’s why when some evil mullahs tell them that killing is justified, they will go out and kill and thus bring their families down with them into ruin and destruction.”
Muslims must start “believing in themselves and for themselves”, he advised. “There is no need to join the mad crowd of religious businessmen selling extremist ideas. These fellows have brought nothing but misery to the Muslim world.”
PETALING JAYA: At the risk of having more Muslims call him “infidel”, “apostate” and simply “mad”, former law minister Zaid Ibrahim took to his blog today saying that mullahs and fundamentalists were making a good business selling an extremist brand of Islam to its unthinking followers in Malaysia.
He said that in his view, Islam was a “way of life” that Muslims had to find on their own as that was what Islam “asks us to do”.
He lamented however that “mullahs and fundamentalists” had preferred to indoctrinate Muslims from young, saying religion was “not easy” and thus could only be discovered through them.
He said, “Thus, the way of life can be discovered only through them: the way of life is in fact their way, and only by following exactly in their footsteps can Islam be a rewarding way of life for believers.
“This is total nonsense — though it is also a good business idea.”
Zaid said many religious teachers made good money from selling religious books and recordings of their lectures because they had “no real jobs other than preaching and selling this ‘way of life’.” He said these teachers included graduates from Middle East institutions.
He added, “None of them have actually been useful in other human endeavours. They do not excel in science or business; they do little if anything for charity or for victims of natural disasters; and they do not speak up in the defence of justice.”
Describing them as “joker-fundamentalists”, Zaid ridiculed their “secret formula” which he said was nothing more than instilling “fear” in the hearts of Muslims.
“From young, Muslims in Malaysia are instilled with fear of every description so much so they are unable to stand and believe in themselves.”
He said that many even sought instructions from mullahs on how to have sex.
“They keep asking what is right and prohibited in sex, and all their lives they will always depend on mullahs for everything, which of course suits the mullahs very well.”
Saying that this had made Muslims unable to “think for themselves”, Zaid argued that was in essence what made “killings done in the name of Islam” something relatively easy for Muslims to do.
“That’s why when some evil mullahs tell them that killing is justified, they will go out and kill and thus bring their families down with them into ruin and destruction.”
Muslims must start “believing in themselves and for themselves”, he advised. “There is no need to join the mad crowd of religious businessmen selling extremist ideas. These fellows have brought nothing but misery to the Muslim world.”
Zahid must not take Malaysia as a nation of fools even if he can achieve a Cabinet of fools with Ministers obediently accepting his outrageous take about his infamous letter to the FBI
By Lim Kit Siang Blog
I do not believe that the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi suffers from comprehension problems that he could not understand that his letter was not merely intended to clarify that Paul Phua, the alleged gambling kingpin standing trial for illegal gambling in Las Vegas, Nevada was not a member of the 14K triad “in Malaysia”.
I do not believe that Zahid is so unsophisticated as to believe that when his infamous letter to the FBI referred to Phua as having helped the Malaysian government in “projects affecting our national security”, that “we continue to call upon him to assist us from time to time as such, we are eager for him to return to Malaysia” and that Phua’s release would impact on furthering “good international relations between our two countries, especially in the exchange of information”, these statements would be regarded by FBI as superfluous, empty and meaningless verbiage and not meant to influence FBI handling of Phua’s case.
Zahid is being very brazen and blatant in demanding that everybody act as gullible fools to accept his version that his infamous letter to the FBI was merely intended to clarify that Phua was not a member of the 14K triad “in Malaysia” and nothing more.
Zahid claimed yesterday that the Cabinet at its meeting on Wednesday was “satisfied with his explanation on the matter”.
I do not believe that our Cabinet Ministers suffer from comprehension problems either or they will not have risen to their present pinnacle of political power in government.
For reasons best known to themselves, they prefer to appear to be gullible fools but this is no compliment on their political purpose and integrity that they could be cowed into obediently accepting Zahid’s outrageous explanation of his infamous letter to the FBI, knowing in their heart of hearts that Zahid was not speaking the truth.
Are there Ministers who really believe that Zahid’s infamous letter to the FBI was nothing more than clarifying that Phua was not a member of the 14K triad “in Malaysia” and are prepared to step forward and identity themselves one by one?
I doubt there will be a single Cabinet Minister who will be prepared to state openly and publicly that he or she truly believes that Zahid’s infamous letter was just to clarify that Phua was not a member of the 14K triad “in Malaysia”, although collectively they have been cowed into accepting Zahid’s claim or at least not to puncture the balloon in public that his explanation had been accepted by the Cabinet!
Zahid must not take Malaysia as a nation of fools even if he can achieve a Cabinet of fools with Ministers obediently accepting his outrageous take about his infamous letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) on behalf of Paul Phua.
Zahid made one startling revelation yesterday to justify his infamous letter to FBI, claiming that previous Home Ministers before him had also written such clarification letters.
Is this true, that previous Home Ministers had also unilaterally written to the FBI, without the knowledge of the police or the IGP at the time, contradicting police reports to the FBI, as well as without the knowledge or clearance from the Foreign Ministry?
If this was the case, then the Ministers of the past had been even more indisciplined, wild and arbitrary than the Malaysian public had ever dared to imagine.
Previous Home Ministers like Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad and Datuk Azmi Khalid must speak up to clear themselves and to put the record straight, and Malaysians expect no less from them.
From one Minister endorsing and vouching for the character of an alleged gambling kingpin standing trial for illegal gambling in Las Vegas, we have now the whole Malaysian Cabinet seeming to have endorsed Zahid to vouch for the character and integrity of the alleged gambling kingpin.
Is this the intention of the Malaysian Cabinet on Wednesday when, according to Zahid, it accepted Zahid’s explanation on his infamous letter to FBI?
Zahid said yesterday that the nature of the “national security projects” which Phua had helped the government cannot be revealed as they were classified under the Official Secrets Act 1972.
Has Zahid informed the Cabinet last Wednesday the nature of these “national security projects”?
If not, how could the Ministers “accept” Zahid’s explanation for his infamous letter to the FBI?
If yes, every Cabinet Minister is now not only collectively but personally responsible for Zahid’s infamous letter to the FBI.
This must also be the first time in the nation’s history where the Home Minister is using the Official Secrets Act to keep secret, not only from the public, but the police force and the Inspector-General of Police, the nature of the “national security projects” which Phua had been involved in!
What is most significant about Zahid’s press conference yesterday was that Zahid ended it abruptly before the media could ask any questions for clarification.
It is a powerful testimony that Zahid himself knew that he was defending the indefensible, and he did not want to expose himself to the multitude of questions of the waiting reporters.
Malaysia’s international reputation has been sullied enough by Zahid’s infamous letter to FBI and the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak must step in to clean up the mess or he would be no different from “Nero playing the fiddle while Rome burns”.
I do not believe that the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi suffers from comprehension problems that he could not understand that his letter was not merely intended to clarify that Paul Phua, the alleged gambling kingpin standing trial for illegal gambling in Las Vegas, Nevada was not a member of the 14K triad “in Malaysia”.
I do not believe that Zahid is so unsophisticated as to believe that when his infamous letter to the FBI referred to Phua as having helped the Malaysian government in “projects affecting our national security”, that “we continue to call upon him to assist us from time to time as such, we are eager for him to return to Malaysia” and that Phua’s release would impact on furthering “good international relations between our two countries, especially in the exchange of information”, these statements would be regarded by FBI as superfluous, empty and meaningless verbiage and not meant to influence FBI handling of Phua’s case.
Zahid is being very brazen and blatant in demanding that everybody act as gullible fools to accept his version that his infamous letter to the FBI was merely intended to clarify that Phua was not a member of the 14K triad “in Malaysia” and nothing more.
Zahid claimed yesterday that the Cabinet at its meeting on Wednesday was “satisfied with his explanation on the matter”.
I do not believe that our Cabinet Ministers suffer from comprehension problems either or they will not have risen to their present pinnacle of political power in government.
For reasons best known to themselves, they prefer to appear to be gullible fools but this is no compliment on their political purpose and integrity that they could be cowed into obediently accepting Zahid’s outrageous explanation of his infamous letter to the FBI, knowing in their heart of hearts that Zahid was not speaking the truth.
Are there Ministers who really believe that Zahid’s infamous letter to the FBI was nothing more than clarifying that Phua was not a member of the 14K triad “in Malaysia” and are prepared to step forward and identity themselves one by one?
I doubt there will be a single Cabinet Minister who will be prepared to state openly and publicly that he or she truly believes that Zahid’s infamous letter was just to clarify that Phua was not a member of the 14K triad “in Malaysia”, although collectively they have been cowed into accepting Zahid’s claim or at least not to puncture the balloon in public that his explanation had been accepted by the Cabinet!
Zahid must not take Malaysia as a nation of fools even if he can achieve a Cabinet of fools with Ministers obediently accepting his outrageous take about his infamous letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) on behalf of Paul Phua.
Zahid made one startling revelation yesterday to justify his infamous letter to FBI, claiming that previous Home Ministers before him had also written such clarification letters.
Is this true, that previous Home Ministers had also unilaterally written to the FBI, without the knowledge of the police or the IGP at the time, contradicting police reports to the FBI, as well as without the knowledge or clearance from the Foreign Ministry?
If this was the case, then the Ministers of the past had been even more indisciplined, wild and arbitrary than the Malaysian public had ever dared to imagine.
Previous Home Ministers like Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad and Datuk Azmi Khalid must speak up to clear themselves and to put the record straight, and Malaysians expect no less from them.
From one Minister endorsing and vouching for the character of an alleged gambling kingpin standing trial for illegal gambling in Las Vegas, we have now the whole Malaysian Cabinet seeming to have endorsed Zahid to vouch for the character and integrity of the alleged gambling kingpin.
Is this the intention of the Malaysian Cabinet on Wednesday when, according to Zahid, it accepted Zahid’s explanation on his infamous letter to FBI?
Zahid said yesterday that the nature of the “national security projects” which Phua had helped the government cannot be revealed as they were classified under the Official Secrets Act 1972.
Has Zahid informed the Cabinet last Wednesday the nature of these “national security projects”?
If not, how could the Ministers “accept” Zahid’s explanation for his infamous letter to the FBI?
If yes, every Cabinet Minister is now not only collectively but personally responsible for Zahid’s infamous letter to the FBI.
This must also be the first time in the nation’s history where the Home Minister is using the Official Secrets Act to keep secret, not only from the public, but the police force and the Inspector-General of Police, the nature of the “national security projects” which Phua had been involved in!
What is most significant about Zahid’s press conference yesterday was that Zahid ended it abruptly before the media could ask any questions for clarification.
It is a powerful testimony that Zahid himself knew that he was defending the indefensible, and he did not want to expose himself to the multitude of questions of the waiting reporters.
Malaysia’s international reputation has been sullied enough by Zahid’s infamous letter to FBI and the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak must step in to clean up the mess or he would be no different from “Nero playing the fiddle while Rome burns”.
Rights group slams Putrajaya over another death in police custody
A human rights group has said that Putrajaya was not serious about curbing abuse of power by the
police, following the death of a man in police custody in Johor, less than two weeks into the new year.Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) coordinator Tarmizi Anuwar said according to records, the 31-year-old victim had 10 previous convictions related to drug offences.
"On January 7, the victim complained of a stomach ache and was sent to the Sultan Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru for treatment.
"He was returned to the lock-up after being given outpatient treatment at the hospital. The following day, he complained of stomach ache again."
This time round though, the suspect died shortly after arriving at the hospital and police classified his passing as sudden death.
Tarmizi said Johor Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Hasnan Hassan had confirmed the suspect's death.
"Although the coroner and pathology report both backed up police's classification of sudden death, but Suaram does not take this issue lightly.
"Both the coroner and pathology report checked the deceased's body at the scene and did not note any sign of external injuries.
"Police should reveal the exact cause of death. The excuse of sudden death is illogical when the deceased had complained of stomach ache."
Tarmizi said sudden death was an excuse which had been used on numerous occasions by police to explain deaths in custody.
"For example, on November 4 last year, the death of Syed Mohd Azlan in Pengerang had also been classified as sudden death.
"However, there were signs of severe injuries on Syed's body. The hospital also later confirmed the cause of death had been due to blunt trauma to Syed's chest."
Tarmizi said for 2014, there had been a total of 14 deaths in police custody which had been recorded by Suaram.
"Deaths in custody are a serious issue as it involved the integrity of the police force," Tarmizi said.
"Police are responsible for guaranteeing the safety and health of suspects in detention. Violence and injuries of any sort should not be permitted against suspects in custody."
Tarmizi said, between 2005 and 2014, a total of 111 deaths in custody had been recorded by Suaram.
"Despite all these case, until today, police have not formed an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC)."
He said this showed that Putrajaya was not serious in stamping out abuse of power by the police.
Tarmizi said the report by the 2005 royal commission (RCI) chaired by former Chief Justice Tun Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah had listed 125 suggestions including the setting up of the IPCMC.
“Most have remained unimplemented and power abuse and police violence still happen today. The people view the police force negatively,” he said. – January 14, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/rights-group-slams-putrajaya-over-another-death-in-police-custody#sthash.ifrm4koT.dpuf
Malaysia Hopeful Australia Cooperates In Extraditing Sirul Azhar
BUTTERWORTH, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia hopes Australia cooperates by
extraditing Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar - one of two policemen sentenced
to death by the Federal Court on Tuesday, for the murder of Mongolian
national Altantuya Shaariibuu - if the Special Action Unit (UTK)
commando is still in that country.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the court in Australia had the power to determine whether the UTK commando could be extradited if he was nabbed in that country based on the crime.
"What will happen if there are parties, or Sirul Azhar himself, challenges his extradition in an Australian court? So, the legal process of extradition will then be determined in court.
"It will then depend on the court to send Sirul Azhar back to face his sentence meted out by the Malaysian court.
"I have also been informed that Australia does not have the mandatory death sentence as in Malaysia. Perhaps, this could be a factor used by Sirul Azhar and his lawyer to prevent...even if Sirul Azhar does not challenge, the people in Australia might," he noted today.
Wan Junaidi was speaking at a press conference after opening the Nepal Consular office in Penang.
Also present was Nepal Ambasassador to Malaysia, Dr Niranjan Man Singh Basnyat and Penang Nepal Consular Honorary Consul Datuk Huan Cheng Guan.
On Tuesday, Sirul Azhar, 43, was abroad and thus, not present in court when the Federal Court issued a warrant of arrest for him.
The court had earlier, sentenced Sirul Azhar and another UTK commando, Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri to death after finding them guilty of murdering Altantuya, nine years ago.
The court unanimously set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal on Oct 23, 2013 to acquit the duo.
Meanwhile, Wan Junaidi said the establishment of the first consular office in Malaysia would strengthen diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Nepal, apart from facilitating both countries in all fields, especially in security.
He said the Nepal Government also planned to open investment opportunities for Malaysians, especially in agriculture, infrastructure and power generation, considering Malaysia had the expertise in those areas.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the court in Australia had the power to determine whether the UTK commando could be extradited if he was nabbed in that country based on the crime.
"What will happen if there are parties, or Sirul Azhar himself, challenges his extradition in an Australian court? So, the legal process of extradition will then be determined in court.
"It will then depend on the court to send Sirul Azhar back to face his sentence meted out by the Malaysian court.
"I have also been informed that Australia does not have the mandatory death sentence as in Malaysia. Perhaps, this could be a factor used by Sirul Azhar and his lawyer to prevent...even if Sirul Azhar does not challenge, the people in Australia might," he noted today.
Wan Junaidi was speaking at a press conference after opening the Nepal Consular office in Penang.
Also present was Nepal Ambasassador to Malaysia, Dr Niranjan Man Singh Basnyat and Penang Nepal Consular Honorary Consul Datuk Huan Cheng Guan.
On Tuesday, Sirul Azhar, 43, was abroad and thus, not present in court when the Federal Court issued a warrant of arrest for him.
The court had earlier, sentenced Sirul Azhar and another UTK commando, Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri to death after finding them guilty of murdering Altantuya, nine years ago.
The court unanimously set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal on Oct 23, 2013 to acquit the duo.
Meanwhile, Wan Junaidi said the establishment of the first consular office in Malaysia would strengthen diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Nepal, apart from facilitating both countries in all fields, especially in security.
He said the Nepal Government also planned to open investment opportunities for Malaysians, especially in agriculture, infrastructure and power generation, considering Malaysia had the expertise in those areas.
Putrajaya tetap bersungguh-sungguh mengubah nasib kaum India, kata Najib
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak menegaskan Putrajaya tetap bersungguh-sungguh dalam meneruskan usaha untuk mengubah nasib kaum India di negara ini.Kerajaan akan melipatgandakan usahanya untuk membawa perubahan kepada bahagian yang lebih besar dalam masyarakat itu.
"Saya yakin kita akan dapat mencapai hasil yang luar biasa dan menerangi kehidupan mereka yang memerlukan dengan 'nambikei' (amanah) yang berterusan antara kerajaan dan masyarakat," katanya dalam Salam Perdana Menteri untuk perayaan Ponggal 2015 yang dimuat naik dalam laman web beliau NajibRazak.com di Kuala Lumpur hari ini.
Najib berkata, dengan hari baharu bermula esok, masyarakat India akan menyambut kedatangan bulan 'Thai' yang penuh bermakna dalam kalendar India yang dengan sambutan ini menandakan perayaan 'Ponggal' bagi meraikan hasil tuaian segar dan kurniaan daripada alam semula jadi.
"Pada masa inilah dalam tahun ini ungkapan 'Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum sering disebut berulang-ulang.
"Ia membawa makna permulaan bulan Thai yang membuka jalan bagi peluang-peluang baharu, perasaan paling berpengaruh dalam masyarakat India yang menandakan satu permulaan baharu dalam hidup mereka.
"Saya mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan 'Ponggal Vaalthukal' saya dan selamat maju jaya kepada semua kaum India Malaysia agar anda menikmati segala kebahagiaan dan kemakmuran," katanya. – Bernama, 14 Januari, 2015.
Read more: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/bahasa/article/putrajaya-tetap-bersungguh-sungguh-mengubah-nasib-kaum-india-kata-najib
Anti-terror raid in Belgian town centre 'leaves three dead after 10-minute gun battle'
- Official says that the police anti-terror raid is 'jihadist-related'
- Men targeted were under surveillance having returned from Syria last week
- Comes after investigators said they were probing local arms dealer
- He is believed to have sold weapons to deli killer Amedy Coulibaly
Up to three people were killed by police during a ‘jihadi-related’ anti-terror raid tonight in the Belgian town of Verviers.
Shots and explosions were heard, including machine gun fire, as officers moved against an alleged cell in the eastern town, which is some 70 miles from Brussels.
It follows three days of violence in nearby France, which left 20 people dead, including three Islamic State and Al Qaeda linked terrorists.
Hooded commandos were seen in Verviers, near Liege, shortly before 6pm, and according to Belgian prosecutors they were trying to arrest Islamic extremists newly returned from fighting in Syria.
'An operation is under way,' a source in the mayor's office told AFP without giving further details.
Another official separately told the agency the incident was 'jihadist-related'.
Beyond the dead – who number two or three – a ‘number of people were also arrested,’ said the local judicial source.The worst violence was witnessed around the town station, with the situation ‘under control by 7pm,’ according to the same source.
One witness said: ‘There were police announcements to clear the area around six o’clock. We could see lots of police vehicles, and officers in balaclavas.
‘Most of the police vehicles were in Rue du College, and there were clearly anti-terrorist officers on the street. There were three of four explosions, and then continual gunfire. It was terrifying, but the police brought the situation under control.’
A video purporting to show the raid on Rue de la Colline, just around the corner from Verviers-Palais railway station, showed a burning residential property with silhouettes moving around inside.
The crack of repeated single-shot gunfire can be heard throughout the minute-and-a-half long clip, which has not yet been verified.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2912037/Anti-terror-raid-Belgian-town-centre-leaves-three-dead.html
Temple is none of your business, Perkasa Youth told
Perkasa Youth insists the entrance of a temple in “Malay-majority” Putrajaya face Banting instead where a large Hindu population lives.
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: MIC Youth said today Perkasa Youth had no business to question the building of a Hindu temple in Putrajaya that has been approved by the government.
MIC Youth chief C Sivarraajh said it was none of Perkasa Youth’s business where the entrance of the Sri Lalithambikai Alayam temple was facing.
Perkasa Youth Irwan Fahmi Ideris had said it was curious why a Hindu temple had been constructed in a Malay-majority area and suggested its entrance should face Banting, where a large Hindu population lived.
“Putrajaya belongs to all Malaysians because it is the administrative capital of Malaysia and to say it is Malay-majority is nonsensical.
“Kota Baru is Malay-majority but one cannot use the same term for Putrajaya,” said Sivarraajh.
He said Fahmi’s mischievous statement was designed to ridicule Hindus and Hindu temples.
“It is immaterial where the entrance faces and it is not for the Perkasa leader to preach to Hindus,” he said.
Irwan had said that there were not many Hindus in Putrajaya and if the entrance faced Banting, it would make it easier for them to reach the temple.
“I have not read such (a) nonsensical statement about religion. Let me remind him that religion is a serious matter and should not be ridiculed in these terms,” said Sivaraajh.
The temple was announced by former MIC president S Samy Vellu in January 2013. The construction of the temple, dubbed the “most unique temple in the country” cost an estimated RM12 million.
It mixes both northern and southern Indian elements, and is expected to accommodate close to 10,000 devotees during festivities.
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: MIC Youth said today Perkasa Youth had no business to question the building of a Hindu temple in Putrajaya that has been approved by the government.
MIC Youth chief C Sivarraajh said it was none of Perkasa Youth’s business where the entrance of the Sri Lalithambikai Alayam temple was facing.
Perkasa Youth Irwan Fahmi Ideris had said it was curious why a Hindu temple had been constructed in a Malay-majority area and suggested its entrance should face Banting, where a large Hindu population lived.
“Putrajaya belongs to all Malaysians because it is the administrative capital of Malaysia and to say it is Malay-majority is nonsensical.
“Kota Baru is Malay-majority but one cannot use the same term for Putrajaya,” said Sivarraajh.
He said Fahmi’s mischievous statement was designed to ridicule Hindus and Hindu temples.
“It is immaterial where the entrance faces and it is not for the Perkasa leader to preach to Hindus,” he said.
Irwan had said that there were not many Hindus in Putrajaya and if the entrance faced Banting, it would make it easier for them to reach the temple.
“I have not read such (a) nonsensical statement about religion. Let me remind him that religion is a serious matter and should not be ridiculed in these terms,” said Sivaraajh.
The temple was announced by former MIC president S Samy Vellu in January 2013. The construction of the temple, dubbed the “most unique temple in the country” cost an estimated RM12 million.
It mixes both northern and southern Indian elements, and is expected to accommodate close to 10,000 devotees during festivities.
Phone records, jewellery sealed their fate
Former police special action force
personnel Azilah Hadri's phone records and Sirul Azhar Umar's inability
to explain the presence of Altantuya Shaariibuu's jewellery in a jacket
at his house led to their conviction and death sentence.
This morning, the Federal Court's five-member bench chaired by Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria unanimously found the pair guilty and allowed the prosecution's appeal to set aside the acquittal at the Court of Appeal.
Federal Court judge Suriyadi Halim Omar, who wrote the majority judgment, said the court is also satisfied that the prosecution had proven the common intention element.
"The discovery of the location of the scene of crime and certain items owned by the deceased came about because of the information obtained from the respondents (Azilah and Sirul).
"With Azilah's call logs establishing that he had made the calls from the scene of the crime, his defence of alibi was unsustainable. By no account could he have been at Bukit Aman or Wangsa Maju at the material time," said the judge.
"The statements made by Sirul did not carry much weight either not because it was unsworn but because his story was inconsistent...
“With
the discovery of the deceased’s belongings eg blood-stained slipper in
his car, the deceased’s jewellery found in his house, let alone his car
was detected at the Kota Damansara (toll) plaza enroute to Puncak Alam
totally discredited his unsworn statement that his involvement ended
outside Abdul Razak Baginda's house," the judge added.
The jewellery found were a pair of earrings, a Larmens brand wristwatch, and a gold ring.
Justice Suriyadi said there was an abundance of evidence adduced by the prosecution.
Azilah in his alibi stated that he was in Bukit Aman as showed in the police station diary and later had dinner with his then girlfriend in Wangsa Maju.
However she was not called by Azilah's defence.
Time, space and opportunity
Justice Suriyadi said Azilah and Sirul were together in the latter’s car and they eventually ended up at Puncak Alam.
This provided them with the time, space and opportunity to formulate the criminal act.
In his judgment he said while the Court of Appeal faulted the trial judge (Justice Mohd Zaki Yasin) for not addressing his mind on the police station diary which states Azilah was in Bukit Aman, the entry merely showed that he collected a Glock (pistol) at 10.18pm there.
“However, we are unable to agree with the Court of Appeal's decision that the station diary is admissable per se.
“The investigating officer had testified that the station diary was true. But he was not the maker of the entry. Only the maker could confirm the truth of the entry and unless proven by the maker, the contents of the station diary remains hearsay.
"With only a notice of alibi and an unproven station diary to fall back, as opposed to the prosecution's watertight case, it was no surprise that a prima facie case was established,” he said.
The Federal Court judge said police had seized Azilah's mobile phone. Based on the call logs, Azilah made a phone call from Kampung Melayu (Subang) and two other calls at Puncak Alam at about 10.43pm and 11.16pm.
“It is common knowledge that Pekan Subang and Kampung Melayu are close to Puncak Alam, and quite a distance from Bukit Aman (Azilah's alibi).
"What was obvious too is that none of the calls made by Azilah were detected from Wangsa Maju or Bukit Aman, which are very far away from Puncak Alam, the scene of the murder.
“In short the respondents could not have been anywhere else except at those places as indicated by the call-logs, that is Puncak Alam.
“The assertion by Azilah that he was at Bukit Aman to collect the Glock and then leaving Bukit Aman for Putrajaya at 10.20pm was without any corroboration.
"With the call logs being admissable, and making short shrift of the unproved station diary, the alibi defence is no better than a mere denial of the murder accusation,” he said.
The Federal Court was also satisfied that the police did not know the exact location of the crime scene, had it not been pointed out by the two.
“Sirul's conduct of leading the police to the same scene of crime at Puncak Alam separately and independently, merely strengthened the prosecution's case against the two.
"Here the two had independently led the police to the crime scene which is a remote and isolated place and high-up in the hills.
“By logical deduction, they must have been there earlier in order to successfully and unerringly pinpoint the location of the scene of the crime, with Sirul's car as the mode of transport.
"All the evidence point to the respondents (Azilah and Sirul) not only having gone up the hills of Puncak Alam at one point of time, but had gone up in Sirul's car.”
There is abundance of evidence adduced by the prosecution, Justice Suriyadi said and in perusing the evidence the court can safely conclude the respondents had failed to cast a reasonable doubt.
“The Court of Appeal's order is thereby set aside. The order of conviction and the mandatory death sentence against the two by the High Court are restored and affirmed,” he said.
On the non-calling of then Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's former aide de camp, DSP Musa Safri (left),
Justice Suriyadi said there is no serious dispute that the exchange
between Musa and Abdul Razak Baginda was over an exchange of text
messages.
“We also observed Musa never instructed Azilah on how to assist Abdul Razak but merely was told to meet up, with him and Azilah had acted on his own discretion and sensibilities.
“We therefore conclude that the non-calling of DSP Musa or the non-tendering of all the text messages had not in any way caused unfairness to the respondents.
"We fail to see how the presumption of adverse inference under Section 114 (g) of the Evidence Act 1950, could be applicable here,” he said.
The appellate court in acquitting Azilah and Sirul, had ruled the non-calling of DSP Musa was fatal for the prosecution’s case.
This morning, the Federal Court's five-member bench chaired by Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria unanimously found the pair guilty and allowed the prosecution's appeal to set aside the acquittal at the Court of Appeal.Federal Court judge Suriyadi Halim Omar, who wrote the majority judgment, said the court is also satisfied that the prosecution had proven the common intention element.
"The discovery of the location of the scene of crime and certain items owned by the deceased came about because of the information obtained from the respondents (Azilah and Sirul).
"With Azilah's call logs establishing that he had made the calls from the scene of the crime, his defence of alibi was unsustainable. By no account could he have been at Bukit Aman or Wangsa Maju at the material time," said the judge.
"The statements made by Sirul did not carry much weight either not because it was unsworn but because his story was inconsistent...
“With
the discovery of the deceased’s belongings eg blood-stained slipper in
his car, the deceased’s jewellery found in his house, let alone his car
was detected at the Kota Damansara (toll) plaza enroute to Puncak Alam
totally discredited his unsworn statement that his involvement ended
outside Abdul Razak Baginda's house," the judge added.The jewellery found were a pair of earrings, a Larmens brand wristwatch, and a gold ring.
Justice Suriyadi said there was an abundance of evidence adduced by the prosecution.
Azilah in his alibi stated that he was in Bukit Aman as showed in the police station diary and later had dinner with his then girlfriend in Wangsa Maju.
However she was not called by Azilah's defence.
Time, space and opportunity
Justice Suriyadi said Azilah and Sirul were together in the latter’s car and they eventually ended up at Puncak Alam.
This provided them with the time, space and opportunity to formulate the criminal act.
In his judgment he said while the Court of Appeal faulted the trial judge (Justice Mohd Zaki Yasin) for not addressing his mind on the police station diary which states Azilah was in Bukit Aman, the entry merely showed that he collected a Glock (pistol) at 10.18pm there.
“However, we are unable to agree with the Court of Appeal's decision that the station diary is admissable per se.
“The investigating officer had testified that the station diary was true. But he was not the maker of the entry. Only the maker could confirm the truth of the entry and unless proven by the maker, the contents of the station diary remains hearsay.
"With only a notice of alibi and an unproven station diary to fall back, as opposed to the prosecution's watertight case, it was no surprise that a prima facie case was established,” he said.
The Federal Court judge said police had seized Azilah's mobile phone. Based on the call logs, Azilah made a phone call from Kampung Melayu (Subang) and two other calls at Puncak Alam at about 10.43pm and 11.16pm.
“It is common knowledge that Pekan Subang and Kampung Melayu are close to Puncak Alam, and quite a distance from Bukit Aman (Azilah's alibi).
"What was obvious too is that none of the calls made by Azilah were detected from Wangsa Maju or Bukit Aman, which are very far away from Puncak Alam, the scene of the murder.
“In short the respondents could not have been anywhere else except at those places as indicated by the call-logs, that is Puncak Alam.
“The assertion by Azilah that he was at Bukit Aman to collect the Glock and then leaving Bukit Aman for Putrajaya at 10.20pm was without any corroboration.
"With the call logs being admissable, and making short shrift of the unproved station diary, the alibi defence is no better than a mere denial of the murder accusation,” he said.
The Federal Court was also satisfied that the police did not know the exact location of the crime scene, had it not been pointed out by the two.
“Sirul's conduct of leading the police to the same scene of crime at Puncak Alam separately and independently, merely strengthened the prosecution's case against the two.
"Here the two had independently led the police to the crime scene which is a remote and isolated place and high-up in the hills.
“By logical deduction, they must have been there earlier in order to successfully and unerringly pinpoint the location of the scene of the crime, with Sirul's car as the mode of transport.
"All the evidence point to the respondents (Azilah and Sirul) not only having gone up the hills of Puncak Alam at one point of time, but had gone up in Sirul's car.”
There is abundance of evidence adduced by the prosecution, Justice Suriyadi said and in perusing the evidence the court can safely conclude the respondents had failed to cast a reasonable doubt.
“The Court of Appeal's order is thereby set aside. The order of conviction and the mandatory death sentence against the two by the High Court are restored and affirmed,” he said.
On the non-calling of then Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's former aide de camp, DSP Musa Safri (left),
Justice Suriyadi said there is no serious dispute that the exchange
between Musa and Abdul Razak Baginda was over an exchange of text
messages.“We also observed Musa never instructed Azilah on how to assist Abdul Razak but merely was told to meet up, with him and Azilah had acted on his own discretion and sensibilities.
“We therefore conclude that the non-calling of DSP Musa or the non-tendering of all the text messages had not in any way caused unfairness to the respondents.
"We fail to see how the presumption of adverse inference under Section 114 (g) of the Evidence Act 1950, could be applicable here,” he said.
The appellate court in acquitting Azilah and Sirul, had ruled the non-calling of DSP Musa was fatal for the prosecution’s case.
Convicted Malaysian murderer would not be sent back to face death penalty
By Lindsay Murdoch, SMH
Bangkok: Australia would refuse a Malaysian government request to extradite to Kuala Lumpur a former Malaysian police commando sentenced to death for the murder of a pregnant Mongolian socialite.
A spokesman for the Attorney-General's Department says Australia's extradition legislation does not allow a person to be surrendered to another country for an offence puni
shable by death unless the country has given Australia an undertaking that the death penalty will not be carried out.
Malaysia's highest court on Tuesday upheld the death penalty for Sirul Azhar Umar, a former
bodyguard of Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak and one of the key figures in a sensational case in Kuala Lumpur involving allegations of high-level corruption and political intrigue.
Sirul is believed to be living in Australia.
Malaysian police have asked Australian authorities to arrest and extradite Sirul, one of two policemen convicted over the murder of the socialite Altantuya Shaariibuu.
The request came as Australia prepares to make what Prime Minister Tony Abbott last week described as the "strongest possible representations" on behalf of Myuran Sukumaran, the Bali Nine drug mule on death row whose bid for clemency has been rejected by Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
"Australia opposes the death penalty. We oppose the death penalty for Australians at home and abroad," he said.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh said Malaysia will seek the co-operation of the Australian Federal Police to arrest Sirul who, according to immigration records, travelled to Australia in October and failed to attend Tuesday's court hearing before a panel of federal court judges that ordered he and former Malaysian chief inspector Azilah Hadri be executed by hanging.
Allegations have simmered for eight years that Ms Shaariibuu, 28, was murdered to keep her quiet about purported kickbacks to high-level Malaysian officials.
According to court testimony, Ms Shaariibuu begged for her life and that of her unborn child before she was shot twice in the head, wrapped in C4 plastic explosives and blown up in Kuala Lumpur's suburbs on October 19, 2006.
The government has refused to hold an inquiry into the case, which centres on Malaysia's $US2 billion purchase of two French- and Spanish-built Scorpene submarines in 2002 when Mr Najib was defence minister. Ms Shaariibuu worked as a translator in the latter stages of negotiations.
Mr Najib strongly denies ever meeting Ms Shaariibuu or having any link to her, and the government denies any wrongdoing in the submarine purchases.
But French investigators in Paris are looking into so-called "commission" payments totalling about $US160 million to companies reportedly set up by Abdul Razak Baginda, a friend and policy adviser to Mr Najib.
Ms Shaariibuu was a lover of Mr Baginda and admitted in a letter found after her murder she had been blackmailing him. She allegedly wanted a $US500,000 cut to remain silent about her knowledge of the submarine deal.
Mr Baginda is believed to be living in Britain.
Both Azilah and Sirul denied any involvement in the murder.
A spokesman for the Attorney-General's Department says Australia's extradition legislation does not allow a person to be surrendered to another country for an offence puni
shable by death unless the country has given Australia an undertaking that the death penalty will not be carried out.
Malaysia's highest court on Tuesday upheld the death penalty for Sirul Azhar Umar, a former bodyguard of Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak and one of the key figures in a sensational case in Kuala Lumpur involving allegations of high-level corruption and political intrigue.
Sirul is believed to be living in Australia.
Malaysian police have asked Australian authorities to arrest and extradite Sirul, one of two policemen convicted over the murder of the socialite Altantuya Shaariibuu.
The request came as Australia prepares to make what Prime Minister Tony Abbott last week described as the "strongest possible representations" on behalf of Myuran Sukumaran, the Bali Nine drug mule on death row whose bid for clemency has been rejected by Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
"Australia opposes the death penalty. We oppose the death penalty for Australians at home and abroad," he said.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh said Malaysia will seek the co-operation of the Australian Federal Police to arrest Sirul who, according to immigration records, travelled to Australia in October and failed to attend Tuesday's court hearing before a panel of federal court judges that ordered he and former Malaysian chief inspector Azilah Hadri be executed by hanging.
Allegations have simmered for eight years that Ms Shaariibuu, 28, was murdered to keep her quiet about purported kickbacks to high-level Malaysian officials.
According to court testimony, Ms Shaariibuu begged for her life and that of her unborn child before she was shot twice in the head, wrapped in C4 plastic explosives and blown up in Kuala Lumpur's suburbs on October 19, 2006.
The government has refused to hold an inquiry into the case, which centres on Malaysia's $US2 billion purchase of two French- and Spanish-built Scorpene submarines in 2002 when Mr Najib was defence minister. Ms Shaariibuu worked as a translator in the latter stages of negotiations.
Mr Najib strongly denies ever meeting Ms Shaariibuu or having any link to her, and the government denies any wrongdoing in the submarine purchases.
But French investigators in Paris are looking into so-called "commission" payments totalling about $US160 million to companies reportedly set up by Abdul Razak Baginda, a friend and policy adviser to Mr Najib.
Ms Shaariibuu was a lover of Mr Baginda and admitted in a letter found after her murder she had been blackmailing him. She allegedly wanted a $US500,000 cut to remain silent about her knowledge of the submarine deal.
Mr Baginda is believed to be living in Britain.
Both Azilah and Sirul denied any involvement in the murder.
Putrajaya tetap bersungguh-sungguh mengubah nasib kaum India, kata Najib
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak menegaskan Putrajaya tetap bersungguh-sungguh dalam meneruskan usaha untuk mengubah nasib kaum India di negara ini.Kerajaan akan melipatgandakan usahanya untuk membawa perubahan kepada bahagian yang lebih besar dalam masyarakat itu.
"Saya yakin kita akan dapat mencapai hasil yang luar biasa dan menerangi kehidupan mereka yang memerlukan dengan 'nambikei' (amanah) yang berterusan antara kerajaan dan masyarakat," katanya dalam Salam Perdana Menteri untuk perayaan Ponggal 2015 yang dimuat naik dalam laman web beliau NajibRazak.com di Kuala Lumpur hari ini.
Najib berkata, dengan hari baharu bermula esok, masyarakat India akan menyambut kedatangan bulan 'Thai' yang penuh bermakna dalam kalendar India yang dengan sambutan ini menandakan perayaan 'Ponggal' bagi meraikan hasil tuaian segar dan kurniaan daripada alam semula jadi.
"Pada masa inilah dalam tahun ini ungkapan 'Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum sering disebut berulang-ulang.
"Ia membawa makna permulaan bulan Thai yang membuka jalan bagi peluang-peluang baharu, perasaan paling berpengaruh dalam masyarakat India yang menandakan satu permulaan baharu dalam hidup mereka.
"Saya mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan 'Ponggal Vaalthukal' saya dan selamat maju jaya kepada semua kaum India Malaysia agar anda menikmati segala kebahagiaan dan kemakmuran," katanya. – Bernama, 14 Januari, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/bahasa/article/putrajaya-tetap-bersungguh-sungguh-mengubah-nasib-kaum-india-kata-najib#sthash.4rIECXDu.dpuf
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