NGO Islam edar Quran terima ugutan, kutukan

Saudi blogger Raif Badawi could be facing the death penalty

Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, sentenced to 1,000 lashes over accusations he insulted Islam, could now be facing the death penalty, Channel 4 News learns.

Raif Badawi, 31, was expected to serve a 10-year jail sentence, and a fine of £175,000 for offences related to his setting up of an online forum for public debate, as well as accusations he insulted Islam.

On 9 January, the Saudi writer was lashed 50 times as the first part of his sentence to be flogged 1,000 lashes over a course of 20 weeks. However, subsequent floggings were postponed due to injuries that he sustained.

Mr Badawi's wife, Ensaf Haider, has told Channel 4 News that judges in Saudi Arabia's criminal courts are wanting him to undergo a re-trial for apostasy. If found guilty, he would face the death penalty.
'Apostasy'

In a statement on Facebook, the family said that they had received information that the case would be referred to the same judge who sentenced Mr Badawi with flogging and 10 years imprisonment. The said: "[The judge's] has twice requested that Raif be charged with 'apostasy'. His request was declined at the time on the ground that the criminal court has no jurisdiction on cases that lead to death penalty.

Read more: http://www.channel4.com/news/raif-badawi-blogger-flogging-saudi-arabia-death-penalty

Teach non-Muslims to reject free Qurans ‘politely’, interfaith body told

BY YISWAREE PALANSAMY

KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 — Despite denying any hand behind the alleged distribution of free Qurans to non-Muslims, an Islamic evangelical group said non-believers should be taught to politely reject the holy texts instead of responding aggressively.

The Multiracial Reverted Muslims (MRM) said the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST), the country’s largest interfaith body, should not have taken such a combative stance when reacting to the free Quran project by another Muslim group.

Instead, the MCCBCHST should have focused on mending strained ties between Muslims and non-Muslims here, and encouraging the latter community to learn more about Islam and issues pertaining to the religion, MRM president Firdaus Wong Wai Hung said.

“My suggestion is that the council should instead advise the non-Muslims and the public that they should talk to each other politely, even if say they do not want it (Quran).

“It’s fine if they do not want the holy book, but they should understand the religion,” he told Malay Mail Online.

Wong was criticising MCCBCHST’s recent outcry over the free Quran project mooted by the Islamic Information and Services (IIS) Foundation.

In a statement on February 9, the interfaith council dismissed the project’s purported objective to remove misconceptions of Islam, labelling it instead a disguised propagation of Islam that it said was in “bad faith”.

The council said the intended distribution of the translated copies of the Quran to non-Muslims was obnoxious, as a similar right is not given to non-Muslims.

It also insisted that the Quran should not be distributed so freely as the copies might be disrespected, and some Muslims might find it blasphemous to see non-Muslims owning those translated copies of Quran.

The group then listed down several instances of alleged efforts to convert non-Muslims, including the involvement of evangelical groups such as Hidayah Centre Foundation (HCF) and MRM, as well as federal and state religious authorities.

MRM, however, later denied its involvement in the project, as well as other claims that it has been covertly amending the official religious records of those receiving the free copies of the holy text.

IIS has also defended its project as an attempt to help non-Muslims understand Islam, and demanded MCCBCHST issue a public apology.

Wong, in enforcing MRM’s position on the issue, pointed out that although the organisation is not involved, it still believes that owning a Quran does not automatically mean the individual is forced to read the holy book or embrace Islam.

“Now it’s (MCCBCHST) implying that we are using force towards people to read the Quran. Even if I force you to take the Quran, it’s up to you whether you want to read it or not,” Wong added.

He said he believes that despite possessing good intentions, the MCCBCHST has been using the wrong approach to keeping interfaith relations harmonious.

“They know who is IIS, so they should have spoken to them (IIS) before they issue such a statement.

“It’s like the saying, don’t wash your dirty linen in public. If you have problems pertaining to interfaith issues, then talk to the concerned parties,” Wong said.

As such an important body, the MCCBCHST should be seeking to breach the gap between non-Muslims here and followers of Islam, the religion of the federation, he added.

“Go approach them (IIS) and don’t suddenly issue such statements. What is your intention? I do not know,” he added.

Racial and religious tensions have simmered for the past few years as Muslim groups accuse Christians of trying to convert Muslims with their insistence on referring to God as “Allah”, while Christian groups complain of Bumiputera Christians in Sabah being duped into embracing Islam.

The proselytisation of non-Islamic religions to Muslims is an offence in Malaysia, but not vice-versa.

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/teach-non-muslims-to-reject-free-qurans-politely-interfaith-body-told#sthash.XEmIlp3Y.dpuf

Thousands back me, says Palanivel, but still no date for polls

MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, who has come under fire over his handling of the party’s crisis following its disputed election for office bearers in 2013, today declared that he has the support of more than 3,000 branches ahead of his meetings with divisions and branches beginning in April.

"More than 3,000 branches will support me...I will go and meet all levels," he said at his 66th birthday celebration at the MIC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

He also said more than 2,000 people attended today's celebration, including all branch leaders.

He added that he had close to 800,000 people who supported him on Facebook, including NGOs, members and non-members.

"I see it on Facebook, close to 800,000 people support me, NGOs, members and non-members," he said, adding that he even had the support of one of his critics, P. Ramasamy, the deputy chief minister of Penang.

However, a check on his official Facebook account showed only a total of 10,075 likes as of this evening.

On the date of the party's central working committee (CWC) meeting, he said he needed to discuss with the party first before making an announcement.

"I will discuss with my party. I have not set anything. I need to discuss with another person. I cannot say anything now. I need to discuss (first)," he said without revealing the identity of the person.

The Registrar of Societies's (RoS) had ordered MIC to hold fresh polls for certain executive positions as well as for the central working committee posts, or risk deregistration.

But Palanivel has been accused of stalling the elections to tighten his grip on the party, with one of his moves being appointments of new party leaders at state level.

Last month the party’s deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam announced he would contest the number one party post, challenging Palanivel for control.

Dr Subramaniam was nowhere to be seen today’s celebration, and neither were Vice President Datuk M Saravanan, Youth leader C Sivarraajh and Wanita Chief M Mohana.

Palanivel said his birthday wish was that all those who supported him would continue their support.

"The most important wish, all these people who supported me, they continue to strongly support me, we need to put MIC in proper order,"

MIC Vice President I Datuk S Sothinathan and Vice President III Datuk S Balakrishnan, who were also present, addressed the packed hall.

Sothinathan said although the invitations for the birthday celebration were only sent out yesterday, many party leaders turned up to show their support for Palanivel.

Barisan Nasional Chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had previously met Palanivel and Dr Suramaniam to solve the BN component party’s internal crisis.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also had suggested that MIC hold fresh elections, including at branch and division-level between April and July this year, to avoid deregistration.

He said RoS's order was meant to end the party's conflict over the election of leaders representing the Indian community. – March 1, 2015.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/thousands-back-me-says-palanivel-but-still-no-date-for-polls#sthash.NRYGU47O.dpuf

Najib's stepson the key for Low, says report

 

 Controversial money man Taek Jho Low's tunneled his way into the Malaysian elite circle through Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s wife Rosmah Mansor and her son Riza Aziz, Sarawak Report said.

The whitsleblower website said Penangite Low got into Rosmah’s good books after meeting her son while at school in the UK in 2004.

"Insiders say that Jho Low’s key initial Malaysian contact was the PM’s stepson Riza Aziz, whom he met while at school over in the UK.

"Low spent plenty of time ingratiating himself with Riza’s mother, Rosmah Mansor (below), whom he generally refers to as ‘Madame’ or ‘First Lady’," the report alleged.

"By the time Najib was deputy prime minister, Low was already well in with the family and full of helpful information for Rosmah and her husband about how to ‘fix things’ financially,” the report reads.

The report also cited "insiders" from Red Granite Pictures, the production company ran by Riza, that Riza was being funded by Low.

This included footing a sizeable bill by Rosmah after a recent visit to Beverly Hills, it reported.

"The duo (Riza and Low) have become well known fixed members of a party circuit that has included jaunts at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, yacht parties in the Mediterranean and luxury trips to watch Formula One and the World Cup in Brazil," the report further stated.

Special thanks

Included in the report were pictures from Li Lin Seet’s social media accounts. Lin’s online CV states that he is vice president of Jynwel Capital Ltd, where Low is CEO.

The pictures include Li with Low, Riza, A-list actor Leonardo DiCaprio and heiress Paris Hilton at various sports matches.

Low was thanked in the credits of 'Wolf of Wall Street', the Red Granite produced Hollywood movie starring DiCaprio.

The film cost US$100 million (RM361.62 million) to make, with Hollywood insiders claiming that Low was the financier. However, Riza denied that Low bankrolled the Oscar-nominated film.

Najib is also suing PAS organ Harakah Daily for linking the Riza to 1MDB.

Najib said he is taking legal action to protect his family and assured no one will abuse 1MDB for personal interest.

Low was instrumental in the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA), which was later rebranded as 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) by Najib in 2009.

In the 2013 general elections, he actively campaigned for BN in Penang, but drew widespread flak for organising lavish free dinners and concerts during the campaign period.

In another report, Sarawak Report alleged that Low had used a joint venture agreement between 1MDB and Petrosaudi in 2009 to "siphon" some RM 2.5 billion to a company that he controlled.

The Prime Minister's Office said criticism on 1MDB should be viewed as "politically-motivated".

When contacted, 1MDB president Arul Kanda reiterated that the firm has redeemed all the funds it put into the PetroSaudi deal, plus a profit of $US488 million.

Arul Kanda did not respond to allegations that Low "siphoned" some US$700 (RM2.5 billion).

PetroSaudi also said that all funds invested by 1MDB into the joint venture between 1MDB and PetroSaudi went to PetroSaudi entities and no one else.

Malaysiakini has also contacted the Prime Minister's Office and Low's public relations representative for a response.

'Humanitarian trip not to dig on murder'

PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar will not press murder convict Sirul Azhar Umar on details of Altantuya Shaariibuu's murder when they meet.

He said this is because the trip is a humanitarian one, to reunite the ex-police commando with his mother Piah Ahmad.

"This is a humanitarian mission for a mother who misses her son.

"If Sirul wants to tell me anything that will be up to him," Mahfuz told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport today.

To emphasise the humanitarian side of his trip, Mahfuz is also bringing along a pair of jogging shoes Sirul had asked for.

"The tagline for my trip is 'C4 Yourself' (See for yourself)," he quipped.

Sirul was sentenced to death for murdering the Mongolian national and blowing up her body using military grade explosives known as C4.

Piah and Sirul's sister, Noriatin Umar, 37, remained silent throughout the press conference.

Mahfuz, Piah, Noriatin and four others are flying to Sydney tonight on board a Malaysia Airlines flight to meet Sirul at an immigration detention center where he is being held.

They will be back in Malaysia on March 7.

No teleconference

When asked if they have received permission to visit Sirul, Mahfuz who is also Pokok Sena MP, simply said: "InsyaAllah (God willing)".

He also ruled out the possibility of holding a teleconference with the media, saying it would be too difficult to organise.

Sirul fled to Australia, which has laws against extraditing those facing the death penalty at home.

He was sentenced to death alongside colleague Azilah Hadri.

Abdul Razak Baginda, a political analyst and associate to now Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, was released without his defence being called for abettment in the 2006 high profile case.

Sirul earlier told Malaysiakini he acted under orders, and is mulling a tell-all interview with Australian media.

In response, PM Najib said Sirul's claim is "utter rubbish".

Construction worker deaths anger PSM

Outraged at the frequency of fatal accidents in the construction sector, PSM is demanding immediate action from the government, its central committee member Rani Rasiah said in a statement today.

Rani said accidents were happening more frequently especially in the past few years according to statistics from the Occupational Safety and Health Department (DOSH).

She gave examples of the recent migrant worker deaths at construction sites in Tapah and another accident which happened at the Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) construction site at Jalan Duta,

“DOSH statistics up to December 2013 reveal that fatal accidents in the construction sector are highest and have been constantly high from 2007 to 2013.

“DOSH has concluded that fatal accidents at construction or newly-completed buildings are mainly due to poor construction structures.

"A DOSH official has said that about 80 percent of fatalities are due to weaknesses in the implementation of occupational safety and health management policy,” Rani (left) added.

Citing an academic paper, Rani suggested that the high incidence of fatalities in the construction sector was due the low priority given by employers of the mainly foreign labour-dominated construction industry, to the occupational safety and health of their workers.

“The government must view this unnecessary loss of lives seriously and take immediate action against delinquent employers.

“The public must also be told what action was taken against the MRT Corp over its last fatal accident last year and why its actions failed to deter a similar incident yesterday,” Rani said.

She also urged the government to review workers' rights for better compensation for the deceased family.

“The government must also review the provisions of the out-dated Workmen’s Compensation Act 1952 which pays out to dependent families of migrant workers the 'princely' sum of RM18,000 in the case of death. To give someone so little for death is an act of crime,” Rani added.

Yesterday it was reported a Bangaldeshi worker died as a result of an accident when steel bars crashed into him at an MRT worksite at the V4 Semantan portal.

Tales of ‘Cikgu Gatal’ in Malaysian schools

Apart from the sub-standard quality of education, our schools are also infested with quite a few “perverts” who masquerade as teachers.

FMT

Lately there has been lots of talk about the quality of our Malaysian education system.

While our ministers proudly boast of our world-class education standards, the people have a different view. Many parents whom I have spoken to claim that these ministers themselves send their kids to private and international schools and do not know what they are talking about.

As a parent myself, I have lots of tales to tell about how screwed up our education system is. You see, it is not just the sub-standard quality of education, but the calibre of our teachers too.

You see, when I was 13 years old, my parents sent me to an all-girls school. There I met Mr Wong – my English teacher. He was very friendly and nice to talk to. Unlike other teachers who were strict and sometimes “garang”, Mr Wong was cool and laid back. And because of this, most of the girls in my school loved chit-chatting with him.

One day, during our English lesson, Mr Wong decided to teach us the correct way of writing essays. He started by explaining the importance of describing things. For some unknown reason, he chose to describe how a woman takes a bath.

As 32 girls sat in the classroom transfixed, Mr Wong, with a smirk on his face, described in painstaking detail how a woman prepared for her bath. How she would take off her clothes and undergarments one by one until she stood completely naked in the bathroom. He explained how the cool water splashed all over her bare skin, and how the soap was slathered all over her body including the hidden places and the secret places.

While he clearly enjoyed telling his story, I, for one, felt extremely uncomfortable. So when I went home that day, I decided to tell my dad about it. Furious, dad called the school that very moment and vented his frustration at the principal over how Mr Wong conducted himself in a class full of girls who were at the age of puberty. Dad – without mentioning his or my name, claimed it was totally unacceptable and demanded the principal take action.

The next day at school, my discipline teacher walks into the class first thing in the morning, demanding to know who made the complaint. I was terrified.

From her tone, I felt like a spy who had sold the secret of my nation to the enemy. After her half-hour lecture, I felt regretful for “betraying’ Mr Wong.

“What happens in school stays in school,” said my discipline teacher. “If you want to make a complaint, I am here. The principal is here. Other teachers are here. We are responsible for you while you are in the school – not your parents. Remember, DO NOT tell your parents whatever takes place in school – come to us first. Be loyal to your school.” I remember her words very clearly after all these years because in a funny way, it made sense to me.

Two years later, a new teacher was transferred to my school – Cikgu Azmi. He had x-ray vision and would ogle us as if he was mentally taking snapshots of every inch of our body. Interaction with him was always an uncomfortable encounter.

My friends and I collectively disliked him. We used to have sessions during recess time specially to talk about how much we despised him. Cikgu Azmi wasn’t just a pervert, he was also a lousy teacher who always came to class unprepared and would instead read word for word whatever was in the text book.

However, our dislike for him turned into hatred when he started inviting himself to the school field every time we had PE lessons. During this time, Cikgu Azmi would pick the perfect spot on the field to squat and smoke his cigarette as he watched us run.

Being at an age when our bodies were developing, we felt uneasy knowing his x-ray eyes were on us as we ran “towards” him. With our boobs bouncing north, south, east and west, Cikgu Azmi would blow cigarette smoke almost in slow motion. And realising this, we would subconsciously slow our pace as we attempted to cover our chests.

Remembering never to disclose school matters to our parents, we tried confiding in our teachers about how uneasy we felt about Cikgu Azmi and his “gatal”-ness. But no one took us seriously. Most of them simply laughed it off. Perhaps they taught teenagers like us tended to exaggerate.

When I left school in 1992, Mr Wong got transferred while Cikgu Azmi continued to ogle our juniors.

I thought that was the end of my unfortunate events with “Cikgu Gatal” but I was wrong.

When my kids were in primary school some eight years ago, they had a teacher with itchy fingers. He loved pinching female students… on their chests.

When the parents of the students who complained brought up the matter, the principal stood by the teacher and claimed it was a big misunderstanding and the complaints were flushed down the toilet.

Even after the incident, the teacher continued to pinch other female students. But this time it wasn’t only on their chests, but thighs as well. I know of a few parents who decided to transfer their daughters because of this.

Last year, a good friend of mine told me about a new teacher who was transferred to her daughter’s school. Apparently there was a rumour going around about this teacher and so my friend decided to dig for news on the Internet.

She found out that this particular teacher was suspended earlier after one of his ex-students made a complaint of being molested by him. Apparently he requested the student to assist him in the store room where he took advantage of her. And when he was done, he gave her RM1 as a token of his appreciation.

I believe tales such as these do not stop here. A quick check online about cases involving teachers who molest students in Malaysia gave me a shocking list of cases to view.

One of the cases that caught my eye was filed by 11 female students against one male teacher. There were 23 witnesses but the teacher was acquitted because one prefect who witnessed the incident was not present.

Another case involved a student being forced to perform oral sex by the teacher for more than a year.

I have often wondered what happened to these teachers at the end of their suspension period. My guess is that they would just be transferred to a new school.

World-class education system?

Pfffftt!!!

PM’s Office: 1MDB reports may be ‘politically-motivated’

Mahathir quoted by UK newspaper as saying 'somebody must be doing something stupid' to part with US700mil

FMT

LONDON: The Malaysian Prime Ministers’ Office has questioned the political motivation behind reports about 1Malaysia Development Bhd’s investments and financial dealings.

“Views expressed by certain quarters concerning 1MDB should be examined in light of political motivation,” the PM”s Office said in response to the Sunday Times newspaper, which has carried reports about the troubled government-owned investment company together with the Sarawak Report web site.

The PM’s Office said “if any wrongdoing is proven, the law will be enforced without exception”; it added that the prime minister, Najib Razak, who heads the 1MDB board of advisors, does not run 1MDB’s day-to-day operations and that 1MDB’s accounts are audited by Delloite.

Sarawak Report published a series of six reports in collaboration with the Sunday Times with emails and documents relating to 1MDB’s investment in a joint venture with PetroSaudi, a little-known Saudi Arabian company owned by a son of the late Saudi King Abdullah.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has been a strong critic of 1MDB, was quoted as saying: “Somebody must be doing something stupid to part with US$700 million for no very good reason as far as I can see.”

Emails Blow Malaysia’s 1MDB Fund Wide Open

Sarawak Report blog details how deeply a flamboyant financier and friend of PM Najib actually ran the fund

Asia Sentinel

In December of last year, the controversial investment fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd abruptly called in all of its computers, employee laptops and servers and wiped them clean of all emails.
(Read: Controversial Malaysian Investment Fund’s Computer Records Wiped Off)

It was too late. The reason has come embarrassingly clear with a report by Clare Rewcastle Brown, the indefatigable blogger who edits The Sarawak Report. Rewcastle Brown had already obtained thousands of emails and documents before the shutdown, detailing transactions by the fund were actually run by Taek Jho Low, a close friend of the family of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. There were times when the CEO of 1MDB, Shahrol Halmi, and his Malaysian colleagues had no idea what was going on.

Jho Low has repeatedly told the media that he has had nothing to do with 1MDB’s investment activities, and that he has received no money or benefits. But the emails allegedly show that he not only orchestrated a 2009 joint venture between 1MDB, as the fund is known, and a fledgling oil exploration firm called PetroSaudi International, which was little more than a shell, but that Malaysian fund officials had almost no idea what was going on.

Although money provided by 1MDB was putatively going into oil exploration, Sarawak Report’s emails indicate that Jho Low siphoned off US$700 million and channeled the money to a firm he owned called Good Star Ltd. The money was then used to purchase UBG bank in Sarawak, owned by the former Chief Minister, Abdul Taib Mahmud, “at a very advantageous price for the chief minister and his family, who had been failing to get a deal on the open market.”

1MDB has denied any money has been lost and that in fact on Feb. 21 it claimed that the PetroSaudi JV had turned a profit of US$488 million. 1MDB president Arul Kanda Kandasamy said on 1MDB’s website that that the money it had invested in the venture had been converted into Murabaha notes, an Islamic financing structure.

That assertion remains to be proven. But whether the fund earned money or not, the extent to which a private citizen and friend of the Prime Minister used 1MDB’s influence and apparently in his own business deals is highly irregular.

PetroSaudi, for instance, greed to act as a “front” for Jho Low on such deals, according to the documents, and it was a subsidiary of PetroSaudi International registered in the Seychelles, which bought UBG, using money siphoned from 1MDB.

The extent to which Jho Low was using 1MD as a personal piggy bank may go beyond just the PetroSaudi deal. Documents on file in London indicate that the young tycoon attempted to use Malaysia’s sovereign credit via 1MDB in his vain attempt to buy three exclusive London hotels including Claridge’s. Lawyers in Los Angeles have charged that money to fund the film The Wolf of Wall Street also may have been guaranteed by 1MDB. That deal was ultimately settled out of court and the lawyers refuse comment.

The revelations are certain to add to the precarious state of Najib’s premiership. As finance minister, he put together the arrangement that uses the Finance Ministry to back 1MDB. He is also its chief economic adviser. He is under intense fire over 1MDB both from the opposition and from former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who said on Feb. 10 that “something is rotten in Malaysia” and demanded that Najib step down. The prime minister’s popularity has fallen to 44 percent and seems likely to descend further. Revelations about the 2006 death of the late Mongolian translator and party girl Altantuya Shaariibuu are also coming closer to him.

The article, titled “Heist of the Century, displays documents that show an initial meeting took place in New York on Sept. 8 2009, between Jho Low, then the head of Wynton Capital, a UK-based businessman named Patrick Mahony, who had been introduced a few days earlier by PetroSaudi’s CEO, Tarek Obaid. Obaid is a friend of PetroSaudi’s owner, Prince Turki bin Abdullah, one of the sons of the then King of Saudi Arabia. Mahony worked for the investment group Ashmore, which was funding PetroSaudi’s main operation, an oil well in Argentina.

Also at the meeting were two of Jho Low’s close colleagues, Li Lin Seet and a UBG bank lawyer, Tiffany Heah.In an email written to “Jho, Seet and Tiffany” the following day, Mahony made clear on behalf of PetroSaudi that the company was very willing to become involved in a series of deals proposed by Jho Low, which were expected to involve 1MDB and Petronas, Malaysia’s national energy firm. In that email, Mahony said he also understood that Jho Low wanted “to use PetroSaudi International as a front” for certain deals and he said that “we would be happy to do that.”

1MB officials apparently only became aware of the PetroSaudi transaction about 10 days before the initial billion-dollar deal was signed. The emails show that Jho Low initiated formal written introductions between 1MDB and PetroSaudi just days before the transaction was signed. There is no evidence that the Malaysian fund concluded any due diligence into PetroSaudi at all.

Jho Low repeatedly insinuated that he represented Malaysia’s highest authorities, in this case the “YAB PM” – Najib – directly, in the matter. He focused on playing up PetroSaudi’s owner Prince Turki’s royal connection, insinuating that the negotiations were officially connected to “furthering Saudi-Malaysia bi-lateral ties,” although there was nothing to suggest bilateral ties had anything to do with the matter.

“There is no evidence to suggest that this ‘loan’ was anything apart from an entirely contrived transaction between two arms of PetroSaudi, a company with very little working capital,.” Sarawak Report said. “The US$700 million was repaid by 1MDB alone, as PetroSaudi had brought in “zero cash” into the joint venture and had only committed the valuation of its assets.”

In fact, according to Sarawak Report, “Jho Low crafted the whole Joint Venture deal before either PetroSaudi or 1MDB saw what was in the plan. These same emails provide the equally telling information that the first draft copy of the Joint Venture deal to be negotiated with 1MDB was drawn up by Jho Low’s own office.

Two days before negotiations were due to start on the billion dollar deal, “that draft was still being eagerly anticipated by Low’s contacts at PetroSaudi, the story notes. In an email from Mahony on Sept. 21, he said “ETA for first draft of agreement is still in a few hours…?

Mahony suggested that his lawyers and Jho Low’s lawyers should first liaise with each other, before they contacted 1MDB’s lawyers about the content of the proposed Joint Venture document being drawn up by Jho Low’s team in New York.

“I also need to get the 1mdb lawyer and my lawyer in touch asap,” Mahony wrote. “I will wait until you send the jva but what i suggest is that when you send me the jva, you introduce me to your lawyers by email and then i will forward the jva to my lawyers and introduce my lawyers to your lawyers. Thanks.”

“The inescapable conclusion is that the jetlagged team, arriving from Malaysia the next day, had acted as little more than onlookers in the drawing up of this ‘joint venture’, for which only they would be putting up any cash, on behalf of the Malaysian public,” the report added. “According to the contract about to be placed on the table in front of them USD$1 billion was due on day one, with further drawing rights available of up to USD$5 billion.”

PAS-Umno unity: A bait and a bullet

Malay Mail Online

MARCH 1 — Last week, Umno decided to not contest in the Chempaka by-election for the sake of “Muslim unity.” The seat fell vacant after the death of PAS spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

Deservedly, the suggestion was lauded by PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar not only with open arms, but with a cynical suggestion for Umno to just abstain from any future elections to end politicking and social schism, insisting that Malaysia would end up “more peaceful” afterwards.

Since when has Umno cared about “unity” in any sense? In the decades it has ruled the country, Umno has unashamedly leaned on divisive racial politics and policies.

Increasingly in recent years, Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) have even condoned divisive and incendiary remarks and actions of people friendly to them, doing nothing to quell racial and religious schisms but instead perpetuating them.

Umno is only showing its true colours. It has little interest in “national unity”, caring more about just “Muslim unity.”

Even then, this newfound care for “Muslim unity” is nothing more than an excuse to cover up the fact and the shame that Umno has no chance in hell of winning Chempaka after Nik Aziz’s death, no matter who it puts in the ring.

Muslims have no reason to be united for the sake of Islam. Islam is not a gang where its members need to unite and obey the big captains in order to protect its own.

United or not, Islam will still be there to be practised and followed by those who truly believe in its teachings. Islam’s death would not come from disunity, only from non-practice.

Regardless, the call for PAS-Umno unity for the sake of Islam has rung ever louder in the past year.

Putrajaya’s goodwill for PAS-ruled Kelantan after the east coast state was ravaged by the worst flood in recent times was said to be a catalyst and a start-off point for collaborations between the two Muslim-dominated parties.

Putrajaya helping Kelantan should be the rule, not the exception. Last time I checked, Kelantan has yet to secede and form an Islamic sultanate of its own. The federal government still has its obligation to all states.

But do PAS leaders truly believe in a unity administration together with Umno?

My bet is no, chiefly for two reasons. First, history has taught PAS a bitter lesson after its five-year stint as a junior BN partner in early 1970s. Second, PAS has a deep mistrust of secular Malay-majority parties — as evident in its shaky Pakatan Rakyat (PR) ties.

PAS has consistently reaffirmed its alliance with PR in the last few muktamar, or annual congresses, despite a couple of caveats on not compromising its Islamic direction.

Last week, PAS vice-president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man — perhaps one of its most level-headed leaders — stressed that PAS can never accept Umno’s corruption.

Even Dr Khairuddin Aman Razali, a poster boy of its clerical wing, denounced rumours of a tryst, accusing Umno of trying to break off its alliance with PR.

Khairuddin might be right. PAS’ relationship with DAP has never been more tenuous than now, and is ripe for sabotage.

The two have continued to be at loggerheads over the administration of Penang and Kelantan, a situation that arguably has been made worse with the absence of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

It is perhaps no secret that some in DAP might not want PAS to stay in PR, and vice-versa.

The rise of attacks against DAP from several up-and-coming PAS leaders fulfils several needs. One, to satiate some members’ persistent worry that the party is being made a “pillion rider” in PR.

Two, to bolster said leaders’ credentials and bravado among the grassroots. After all, the next party polls will come around in just around four months’ time.

There will always be those who feel that PAS’ alliance with DAP has made it worse for Muslims in the country.

Hardline Islamists see DAP as a threat and challenge against the supremacy of the Malays and Islam. And they need this “threat” to justify their under-siege mentality and their subsequent lash-out.

It is these folks that the PAS-Umno lobbyists are targeting. Malay daily Sinar Harian, for example, has published headlines not-so-subtly supporting the idea of a unity government. It might as well play broker.

Just last week, we also had newly-returned Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin — himself a Sinar darling — suggesting that PAS-Umno unity is “demanded by Islam.” How do you argue when a mufti himself decrees it so?

There is a split in PAS, that much is obvious. The past few weeks have seen accusations lobbed against its deputy president Mohamad Sabu and election director Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli.

There are factions in PAS, but perhaps nothing to do with Umno.

On one side, we have the literalists, whose end goal is the country run as an Islamic state. The controversial Islamic penal law of hudud, for example, is a be-all and end-all.

On another are the pragmatists who see Islam as not the end goal, but a guideline for running a country with Islamic values.

And among the two, an ongoing debate over how much power should the clergy class hold in a political party that also happens to wear the hat of an religious evangelical movement.

Amid all that, a PAS-Umno unity can be another convenient bullet for one faction to assassinate the other.

PAS would survive even without BN or PR. But it can only be in a ruling coalition with either one.

If PAS wishes to join in administering a country as pluralistic as Malaysia, it best realise that the “Muslim unity” agenda should be nowhere at the top of its priorities.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.

Trial judge ordered Anwar case evidence sealed, lawyer says

Malay Mail 
by PEARL LEE

PETALING JAYA, Feb 27 — A defence counsel in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy hearing confirmed the High Court judge had reminded the parties involved that evidence in-camera adduced by Saiful Bukhari Azlan “stay within” the courtroom. 

Gobind Singh Deo, who represented Anwar in the Federal Court appeal, said this following claims that prosecutor under fiat Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah had revealed details of in-camera proceedings during a public forum last week.

“It was clearly expressed (in the proceeding notes) by the trial judge (Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah) that such matters must not be reproduced,” said Gobind.

“As such, the attorney-general should state if his office had committed contempt of court as the order was made in the presence of then former solicitor-general II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden and it was pronounced in open court.”

According to the notes of the court proceedings made available to Malay Mail, Mohamad Zabidin had said: “I would like to remind parties here that today’s proceeding is in camera, that means whatever evidence adduced stays within these four walls.” 

He said although Shafee only appeared on behalf of the prosecution at the appeal level, he would have known about the matter through the records.

“Following the clarification from the Bar Council on proceedings held in camera, I now urge the presiding High Court judge in the Sodomy II trial to rule whether Shafee acted in contempt of court when he revealed the evidence.”

Malay Mail in its front page report yesterday reported Lim as urging the Bar Council to clarify its stand on Shafee’s conduct in disclosing court proceedings which were not for public consumption.

The DAP lawyer said such actions had serious implications as it affected the criminal justice system and a clarification would act as a future guide for members of the Bar.

He also said the Bar Council should refer Shafee to the disciplinary board if his actions were deemed a breach of the Legal Profession Practice and Etiquette Rules.

Shafee, had during a forum organised by Umno Youth in Kelana Jaya, said Anwar was a “closet homosexual” who cried political conspiracy only when his sexuality was exposed. It was also reported he had revealed lurid details, adduced in court, to the public. 

He had also said Anwar’s refusal to admit to his purported homosexuality made him a “dangerous man” and a threat to national security.

Shafee, who was the lead prosecutor in the appeal, had embarked on a roadshow to explain Anwar’s conviction to rebut claims of political persecution.

Anwar was sentenced to five years’ jail on Feb 10 after the Federal Court upheld the Court of Appeal’s conviction on the sodomy charge.

Efforts to contact Shafee and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail proved futile.

Najib Confident Malays Can Emerge As Respected Race In The World

KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 (Bernama) -- Prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is confident that the Malay race will continue to move forward as a respected race in the eyes of the world.

He expressed this confidence based on the spirit demonstrated by those, especially the youths, who had joined him in the Malay Solidarity Gathering at Bukit Jalil, yesterday night.

"However, the Malays should not be complacent, the Malays must continue to move ahead and be self-sufficient. We must redouble efforts to train the Malays to become a knowledgeable race and strengthen their economy.

"We must champion the cause of Islam; defend the institution of monarchy and the special privileges of the Malays, uphold the 'Maqasid Syariah' by adopting the attitude of moderation; uphold noble values and protect the family institution," he said in his latest twitter website, here Sunday.

He said this guide must be protected and used to develop the Malay race.

He was also convinced that if the Malay race maintained solidarity in bringing progress to the race, nothing could stop them from achieving what they aspired together.

Yesterday, Najib attended and delivered a speech at the gathering at the Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil, here which was attended by thousands of people.

Meanwhile, in another twit, the prime minister said the government would continue the efforts to strengthen the national defence to ensure that national security and peace as well as the sovereignty of the national boundary were protected.

"Today is the 82nd anniversary of the Malaysian army. I call on all Malaysians to say thank you for the sacrifices made by the soldiers and their family and to pray that the armed forces continue to be gallant, resilient and strong," he added.