Penganjur ikrar himpunan #KitaLawan tetap diteruskan

IS Militants Amputate Hands of Six in Mosul

Youths punished for stealing

ERBIL Islamic State (IS) militants in Nineveh Province have punished six youths in Mosul by amputating their hands.

Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) official from Mosul, Saed…

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Youths punished for stealing

ERBIL Islamic State (IS) militants in Nineveh Province have punished six youths in Mosul by amputating their hands.

Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) official from Mosul, Saed Mamuzini, told BasNews that IS insurgents have increased the frequency and severity of punishments in the area.

He revealed that on Monday, jihadists arrested six youths in the Babil Top quarter of Mosul, convicted them of stealing and amputated their hands.

The news comes after IS kidnapped 26 female college students in the Askari quarter of Tikrit, who were forced into temporary marriages with militants.

IS militants have also executed five teenage boys in Sinjar, accusing them of deserting the fight against the Peshmerga.

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Mokhzani resigns from SapuraKencana

SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd's vice chairman Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir has resigned, Malaysia's largest oil and gas services firm by market value said on Wednesday, citing "personal reasons".

Mokhzani, the second son…

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SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd's vice chairman Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir has resigned, Malaysia's largest oil and gas services firm by market value said on Wednesday, citing "personal reasons".

Mokhzani, the second son of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, is one of the founders of SapuraKencana after merging his oil and gas services firmKencana Petroleum with SapuraCrest in 2012. – Reuters, March 4, 2015.

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Citing late notice, police declare Saturday’s free Anwar rally illegal

Police have declared a demonstration to be held this Saturday to press for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's freedom illegal under the Peaceful Assembly Act.

The rally in Kuala Lumpur led…

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Police have declared a demonstration to be held this Saturday to press for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's freedom illegal under the Peaceful Assembly Act.

The rally in Kuala Lumpur led by PKR Youth's #KitaLawan movement failed to notify the police early enough of its plans, the police said.

Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zainol Samah said that the organiser did not give police enough advance notice to hold the rally as required under the law.

"They have to fill up a form and submit it to us within 10 days before any gathering to be held under Peaceful Assembly Act 2012. I have not received any notice from them," said Zainol in a press conference held at the district police headquarters today, near the venue of the rally which will be held outside the Sogo shopping complex.

He said police had suggested three locations for the gathering, but #KitaLawan organisers had decided to go ahead with the demonstration outside Sogo.

"We suggested Padang Merbuk, Stadium Negara and also the Sultan Sulaiman Club, but they declined," said Zainol.

The police ban on the gathering follows a police report lodged by the management of the Sogo shopping complex against the rally organisers, on the grounds that the demonstration would be bad for business.

Sources told The Malaysian Insider that the report was lodged last week, a few days before the rally outside the same shopping complex on February 28 that was held as a precursor to the March 7 gathering.

Police had allowed the rally on February 28 to proceed.

On that day, about 150 supporters had marched from Sogo to another Kuala Lumpur landmark, the Suria KLCC shopping centre where the Petronas Twin Towers are.

At Sogo, opposition politicians had been able to give speeches to the crowd gathered.

Prior to that, #KitaLawan had also managed to stage two other demonstrations outside Sogo in previous weeks.

Police had met with PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and other #KitaLawan organisers on February 27 to discuss their plans for the March 7 rally.

At that meeting, police told the group that they could proceed with the demonstration provided it was held in a stadium. The group has opted not to.

Sources who told The Malaysian Insider about the police report lodged by the Sogo management said that among the reasons given in the report was that the rallies had affected business, disrupted the flow of traffic, and affected public security, including that of tourists who frequented the area.

It is understood that the operator of a fast food chain in the city also lodged a police report against the rally organiser for causing damage to property during a previous gathering.

To date, six police reports have been lodged by individuals and business entities against #KitaLawan.

Nik Nazmi said the organisers met with police today for 40 minutes.

"They suggested few venues, but we insist of gathering in front of Sogo. They spelled out certain terms and we will bring this back and discuss it with other committee members in a meeting tonight," he said.

Also present at the meeting with the police today were activist Mandeep Singh, Pas Youth treasurer Mohd Fakhrulrazi Mohd Mokhtar and DAP National Youth chief Teo Kok Seong.

The rally on March 7 is to push for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's resignation and to demand for the release of Anwar, the Opposition Leader.

Anwar's sodomy conviction and five-year jail sentence was upheld by the Federal Court on February 10. His supporters claim it is a ploy to end his political career.

Lawyers have said the Peaceful Assembly Act cannot be used to criminalise rallies, based on a landmark ruling by the Court of Appeal last year that upheld the right to peaceful gatherings.

Lawyers have also warned that police seemed to be using a new "tactic" to nab demonstrators by using the Penal Code instead. – March 4, 2015.

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Anwar's lawyers cry foul over rejection

 

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's lawyers believe that the rejection of the incarcerated leader's request to attend Parliament is both "arbitrary and unlawful".

The lawyers, PKR's N Surendran and Latheefa…

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Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's lawyers believe that the rejection of the incarcerated leader's request to attend Parliament is both "arbitrary and unlawful".

The lawyers, PKR's N Surendran and Latheefa Koya, said the refusal was "completely unacceptable and obstructive" of the functioning of the Dewan Rakyat.

"Shockingly, no reasons whatsoever were given for the refusal; it was a point-blank rejection.

"This failure to even give reasons renders the decision arbitrary and unlawful," they added in a statement.

The duo confirmed that they received a letter from Prisons Department director-general Zulkifli Omar rejecting Anwar's request to attend Parliament.

"The home minister has evidently chosen to reply through the commissioner general, who is a civil servant and by law answerable to the minister," the said.

On Feb 25, the lawyers made a formal application to Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on behalf of Anwar.

Both Surendran and Latheefa further pointed out that Anwar was still the legitimate opposition parliamentary leader and Permatang Pauh MP.

"The position of opposition leader is legally and constitutionally recognised and is a key part of our parliamentary democracy.

"It is high-handed of the Home Ministry to deny Anwar's voice in parliament without even giving any reasons," they said.

They further stressed that Anwar must be in parliament to attend and debate the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s speech next week, as well as to lead the opposition in checking the executive and safeguarding public interest.

"Zahid and the government must respect democracy, and the Dewan Rakyat as the nation's highest legislative body," they said.

The opening of the next parliamentary session will be on March 9.

PKR previously argued that Anwar should be allowed to attend the new parliament session, since a royal pardon application has been made and as such, he remains as the opposition leader and Permatang Pauh MP until the Pardons Board makes a decision.

Anwar is currently serving a five-year prison sentence following his sodomy conviction.

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Cops nab three state reps during Kg Gatco fracas

Three opposition state assemblypersons were arrested in Bahau, Negri Sembilan, this morning after they assisted local villagers in Kampung Gatco to stop the demolition of their rubber plantation.

They are…

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Three opposition state assemblypersons were arrested in Bahau, Negri Sembilan, this morning after they assisted local villagers in Kampung Gatco to stop the demolition of their rubber plantation.

They are DAP's Bahau assemblyperson Chew Seh Yong and Senawang assemblyperson P Gunasekaren and PKR's Port Dickson assemblyperson M Ravi.

When contacted, DAP Youth chief Teo Kok Seong, who is also Rasah MP, confirmed with Malaysiakini that his colleagues have been arrested.

More than 200 villagers in a land dispute in Kampung Gatco had gathered since last night in a bid to prevent the demolition of their rubber plantation.

However, a villager who was present told Malaysiakini that some 30 Light Strike Force personnel, backed by more than 100 regular police officers and Rela volunteers, moved in to break up the villagers early this morning.

"The police arrested about 30 people," C Ram Babu told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Ram said the villagers had asked Thamarai Holdings Sdn Bhd, which had purchased the disputed land, to hold off the demolition pending a court decision on March 26, but to no avail.

"The contractors came in to cut down our rubber trees," he said.

Victims of failed scheme

The disputed land, approximately 4,700 acres in size, was leased to The Great Alonioners Trading Corporation Bhd (Gatco) in 1977 by the Negri Sembilan State Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).

Gatco was incorporated by the National Union of Plantation Workers for the purpose of a land development scheme for its members.

The current settlers had paid RM7,600 each as deposit to settle on allocated plots of the land as part of the development scheme.

However, the scheme eventually failed and the land was charged to two financial institutions.

Despite Gatco winding up, its liquidators did not sell the land until 2006, when a sale and purchase agreement was executed between Gatco and Thamarai Holdings Sdn Bhd.

A total of 140 settlers have sued Gatco and Tamarai over the sale and the case is pending before the Federal Court.

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Will cabinet discuss elephants in the room?

Will today’s weekly cabinet meeting address burning national issues or will it again skirt around them, asks veteran opposition lawmaker Lim Kit Siang.

Lim pointed out that a number of…

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Will today’s weekly cabinet meeting address burning national issues or will it again skirt around them, asks veteran opposition lawmaker Lim Kit Siang.

Lim pointed out that a number of issues have been dominating public discussions over the past week. They include:

1. 1Malaysia Development Bhd’s (1MDB) RM42 billion scandal;

2. Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's family wealth; and

3. National and international criticisms of judicial independence in Malaysia.

“Can Malaysians expect the prime minister or some minister to inform them later in the day of what the cabinet has decided on these three dominant issues of the day?

“Or whether the cabinet had cowardly and irresponsibly steered completely clear of all these three issues in their cabinet meeting?” he asked in a statement today.

The Gelang Patah MP brought up the need for the cabinet to “take the bull by its horns” in handling the 1MDB mega-scandal exposes and urged all BN component parties to be responsible and not just “pass the buck” to Najib.

A full scale inquiry is needed

He once again illustrated the need for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) headed by former law minister Mohd Zaid Ibrahim, or to give support for a full-scale Public Accounts Committee (PAC) inquiry into the scandal.

“Will the cabinet end its traditional three monkeys stance of “eyes that see not, ears that hear not and mouths that speak not” on the 1MDB scandal for the past six years?” Lim, who is also DAP parliamentary leader, asked again.

The debt-laden outfit reportedly settled an RM2 billion debt due to several banks  last week, under suspicious circumstances.

As for the issue on Najib's family wealth, Lim asked whether ministers at today’s cabinet meeting would have the gall to ask Najib to “come clean” with the cabinet.

“Will any minister in the meeting today dare to ask the prime minister to come clean with the cabinet about his family’s wealth as well as what the PMO meant by  its statement on ‘...the alleged contents of any safes...’?

“How many such ‘safes’, are there? In which country and what are in these ‘safes’,” he asked.

An extensive report by the New York Times published on Feb 8 highlighted Najib's family wealth.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) responded with a statement saying: “Neither any money spent on travel, nor any jewellery purchases, nor the alleged contents of any safes are unusual for a person of the prime minister’s position, responsibilities and legacy family assets."

Lim pointed to several issues that have taken place since last year that have brought the country into international spotlight, albeit negatively.

These range from the incarceration of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim to the conviction and death sentence delivered on former police commandos Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar for the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

With all these events, the question now lies as to whether "there is truly an independent judiciary" and a just rule of law in Malaysia, Lim added.
 

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Bukit Aman identifies M’sians in IS beheading video

Bukit Aman has identified the terrorists in recent IS beheading video as Malaysians.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: The Bukit Aman counter-terrorism unit has identified the two Malaysians spotted in an Islamic…

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Bukit Aman has identified the terrorists in recent IS beheading video as Malaysians.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: The Bukit Aman counter-terrorism unit has identified the two Malaysians spotted in an Islamic State beheading video.

According to a report by the Star Online, Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division principal assistant director Ayub Khan identified them as 20-year-old Mohd Faris Anuar from Kedah and 26-year-old Muhamad Wandy Muhamad Jedi from Melaka.

In the 30-second video, uploaded onto Facebook on February 20, Faris is seen signalling to the camera with his index finger while Wandy is allegedly the person recording the video.

Both are believed to be part of the new IS wing Majmu’ah al Arkhabiliy that recruits Malaysian and Indonesian militants.

The wing replaced the older unit called Katibah Nusantara Lid Daulah Islamiah in Syria and Iraq.

According to the Malay Mail Online, there are 39 Malaysians already in Syria, with 17 of them involved with IS, and 22 having joined rival militants Ajnad al-Sham.

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Mukhriz gets info on would-be IS militants

Some residents have asked the advice of religious teachers on going to Syria for jihad, says the menteri besar.

FMT

ALOR SETAR: Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir says he had…

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Some residents have asked the advice of religious teachers on going to Syria for jihad, says the menteri besar.

FMT

ALOR SETAR: Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir says he had received information from teachers at a traditional religious school about local residents wanting to go to Syria for jihad.

“These local residents, who did not identify themselves, asked the teachers what was the rule for going to jihad in Syria.

“The teacher brought out the Quran and showed them verses which do not allow them (to go to Syria). It shows how a small number are really keen to go to Syria,” Mukhriz said at a press conference in Wisma Darulaman today.

He said although these people had cancelled their plans to go to Syria after receiving the explanation from the religious teacher, at the same time, he did not discount the possibility that there were many who had gone there without first getting any advice.

“Luckily, they asked about the rules before going to Syria, what if they had gone straight to Syria without asking for advice,” he added.

He said he is worried after receiving the information about this small group wanting to fight in Syria.

The menteri besar also said there was a student in a private institute of higher learning who tried to influence her father to allow her to marry a Syrian through the social media Twitter.

He said the state government depended on the police to curtail the spread of militant and extremist thinking among the people of the state.

– BERNAMA

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Malaysian IS recruits warn families against opposing IS

Family members of IS recruits will be killed if they support the government in opposing IS

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of families from Malaysia joining the militant group, ‘Islamic…

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Family members of IS recruits will be killed if they support the government in opposing IS

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of families from Malaysia joining the militant group, ‘Islamic State’ (IS), is increasing and at least eight families are already in Syria currently.

Principal Assistant Director of the Counter-Terrorism Division, Special Branch in Bukit Aman, SAC Datuk Ayub Khan Mydin Pitchay said five children aged between one and 12 years were also brought by their parents to Syria.

“What is of greater concern is when the influence of the IS is becoming viral to the extent that it is capable of influencing families to migrate and so far, eight families are already in Syria.

“The ideological influence as well as the training provided to the IS members are seen as too powerful to the extent that there are members who are Malaysians who have issued warnings that they would kill their family if they joined the Malaysian government in trying to oppose the IS.

“Such warnings are not only issued to the authorities but their family members too. One of them who is now in Syria has issued a warning to the family via the facebook that he would kill his mother, father and siblings who join the government in opposing the IS,” he told reporters, here Wednesday.

-BERNAMA

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Royal robber jailed for seven months

A labourer breaks into the residence of a family member of Pahang royalty

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: A labourer was sentenced to seven months’ jail by the Magistrate’s Court, here, today…

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A labourer breaks into the residence of a family member of Pahang royalty

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: A labourer was sentenced to seven months’ jail by the Magistrate’s Court, here, today for breaking into the residence of a member of the Pahang royal family and stealing things worth about RM30,000.

Mohd Faizan Mohamad, 34, committed the offence in Lorong U-Thant, here, between 6am on Feb 24 and 6am on Feb 25.

He was charged with house break-in and stealing three sets of air-conditioner blowers, one chandelier, copper ingots and a water pump.

Magistrate Saifulakmal Said ordered the accused to serve the sentence from the date of his arrest, Feb 27.

In mitigation for a lighter sentence, Mohd Faizan, who was unrepresented, said: “I thought it was an abandoned house as the compound was overgrown with bushes and it was not locked. I truly am sorry for what I did. I have learned my lesson and I promise not to repeat it.”

However, the magistrate said not knowing the residence was occupied was not an excuse for breaking into it and stealing, and it was still a serious criminal offence.

DPP Raihanah Abd Razak, who appeared for the prosecution, asked for a deterrent sentence, saying the stolen goods were sold off by the accused and could not be recovered.

- BERNAMA

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Civil servant’s IS involvement a grave matter: Zambry

The civil servant from Perak was said to be involved in contributing funds to Malaysians who wished to join the IS in Syria.

FMT

IPOH: The Perak government views seriously…

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The civil servant from Perak was said to be involved in contributing funds to Malaysians who wished to join the IS in Syria.

FMT

IPOH: The Perak government views seriously the suspected involvement of its civil servant in the so-called IS militant group, says Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

He however, said that he had yet to receive the full report about the arrest of the civil servant and request it from Perak police chief Datuk Osman Salleh.

“I view seriously the involvement of the state government’s civil servant in the IS. Appropriate legal action should be taken against the suspect,” Zambry told a press conference after chairing the state executive council meeting in Ipoh, Wednesday.

He was commenting on the arrest of three individuals, including a woman, for suspected involvement in the IS group’s activities in Johor, Perak and Kuala Lumpur recently.

The civil servant from Perak was said to be involved in contributing funds to Malaysians who wished to join the IS in Syria.

-BERNAMA

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Undergrad arrested for indecent recordings

Police have yet to establish if the lewd act was for personal use or to be uploaded to a pornographic site.

FMT

KUANTAN: Police have detained an undergraduate student who…

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Police have yet to establish if the lewd act was for personal use or to be uploaded to a pornographic site.

FMT

KUANTAN: Police have detained an undergraduate student who had a fetish for recording women urinating when a closed-circuit television (CCTV)

in the form of a clothes hook on the toilet door of a secondary school in Kuala Terla near Cameron Highlands was uncovered last Thursday.

The suspect’s actions were discovered by a victim, 30, who was the school canteen operator, at 8 am last Thursday when she wanted to use the toilet.

Cameron Highlands District Police Chief DSP Wan Mohd Zahari Wan Busu said the victim saw the hook was crooked on the toilet door and tried to readjust its position.

“As soon as she held the hook, the victim found a small button with the words ‘on/off’, and upon checking it, found a memory card which was believed to have stored the recordings.

“The victim then informed the principal before the school management installed a CCTV in the toilet to identify the culprit,” he said when contacted here today.

He said with the hidden CCTV, the school authorities recorded the actions of the suspect, in his 20s, who entered the toilet looking for the clothes hook.

He said, following the incident, the school head lodged a report at the Kuala Terla Police Station on Friday before police detained the suspect, a final-year student in a university in Kuala Lumpur, in a house near the school.

“Early investigations found that the suspect had made three separate recordings involving three witnesses, for the duration of five minutes, and so far, only one of the victims had come forward to make a report,” he said.

He added that police were continuing investigations into the actual motive for the suspect’s actions – whether it was for personal use or to be spread on any websites with the intention of purposely causing ridicule to the victims.

- BERNAMA

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Najib Asks Auditor-General To Verify 1MDB Accounts

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has instructed the Auditor-General to independently verify 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) accounts.…

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Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has instructed the Auditor-General to independently verify 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) accounts.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office Wednesday, the Auditor-General's report would be passed for transparent inspection to the Public Accounts Committee, which is fully bipartisan and reflects Parliament's composition.

It said the prime minister had informed the Cabinet of the move.

"If any wrongdoing is proven, the law will be enforced without exception," Najib said in the statement.

It said the prime minister today called 1MDB and its auditors, Deloitte, before the Cabinet following recent media reports on the wholly-owned government strategic development company.

"Having received clarifications from 1MDB and Deloitte, the Cabinet expressed confidence that no wrong-doing has been committed within 1MDB, and their desire for the company to be allowed to implement the proposed outcomes of its strategic review," the statement said.

Despite this, it noted that the government had called for the Auditor-General to check 1MDB accounts as a further step.

It said that 1MDB provided a briefing on 1MDB's current situation and responded to a series of questions posed by cabinet ministers, including the prime minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Deloitte, it said, provided an overview of their engagement with 1MDB and confirmed that the firm had audited and verified the company's accounts.

"The Cabinet was told that the recent allegations directed at 1MDB relate to transactions undertaken by third parties such as Petrosaudi, not 1MDB.

"The relevant investments of 1MDB have been returned in full with significant audited profit," according to the statement.

In an immediate response, 1MDB president and group executive director Arul Kanda said the company welcomed the prime minister's request for the Auditor-General to verify 1MDB accounts.

It pointed out that the accounts had been audited by Deloitte, one of the world's leading firms.

"We will cooperate fully with the Auditor-General and hope that the outcome of his findings (will) put to rest recent speculation," he said.

Arul said it was clear that the attacks being directed at 1MDB were politically motivated.

"These are deliberately coordinated attempts to undermine the company by spreading unsubstantiated allegations and speculation, which in turn could potentially harm the economy," he added.

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