‘Please help me. This is my last chance’: Japanese journalist held hostage by Muslim group begs his government to save him

'Please help me. This is my last chance': Japanese journalist held hostage by Al Qaeda begs his government to save him a year after he was captured in Syria

A Japanese journalist captured by Al Qaeda in Syria has appeared in a new photograph begging his government to save him.

The picture, apparently posted online yesterday, showed a bearded Jumpei Yasuda dressed in orange holding a hand-written sign in Japanese.

The message, written in shaky characters and signed with his name, read: 'Please help me. This is my last chance'.

The Japanese government said today it was doing all it could to secure his release.

Yasuda's plight came to world attention in March when a video surfaced showing him reading a message to his country and his family.

Japanese media said he was captured by Al Qaeda affiliate, the Nusra Front, after entering Syria from Turkey last June.

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said the government was analysing the new photograph and believed it was Yasuda.

Chief Cabinet Spokesman Yoshihide Suga said the government was doing what it could to help, adding: 'Since preserving the safety of Japanese citizens is our most important duty, we are making use of a broad net of information and doing everything we can to respond.'

Asked if this meant

Early in 2015, ISIS beheaded two Japanese nationals: a self-styled security consultant and a veteran war reporter.
The gruesome executions captured the attention of Japan, but the government said at the time it would not negotiate with the militants for their release.

Yasuda, a freelance journalist since 2003, was held in Baghdad in 2004 and drew criticism for drawing the Japanese government into negotiations for his release.

In December, media freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders retracted and apologised for a report it had issued that said Yasuda had been threatened with execution in Syria.

The government said at the time it was seeking information.

Johor crown prince praised for 'democratic' stand

Constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari has heaped praise on Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim who had asked police not to arrest those who criticise him.

He said the prince’s call to the police was not a sign of weakness.

“Indeed, it is a signal of strength and willingness to be open and transparent. Above all, it is democratic,” Abdul Aziz told Malaysiakini.

Admitting that this does not carry anything in law as the power rests with the police and the attorney-general, the crown prince, however, had pioneered a good move and Abdul Aziz is of the opinion that it is something that should be emulated by other royals.

“This includes the Conference of Rulers – essentially the one authority that represents the rulers. The conference may take the cue from what has been done by the crown prince and authorise the Keeper of Rulers’ Seal to issue statements from time to time,” said Abdul Aziz.

He added that the institution of monarchy has been silent on many issues even in areas where rulers have clear authority such as religion and citizenship, which had allowed extremists and right-wing elements in the society to lead the way.

“Like the crown prince, the rulers must assume leadership, especially at a time when the national leadership has lost the moral compass.”

The police, therefore, should take note and should immediately follow up with action.
“Just like when they leap into action when criticisms were levelled against the federal government and monarchy itself,” added Abdul Aziz.

In an interview posted on the Johor Southern Tigers Facebook page last night, Tunku Ismail said that he preferred that authorities arrange face-to-face meetings with his critics instead.

The Johor crown prince was responding to news that two men have been detained for their social media postings that allegedly insulted the crown prince.

The first to be arrested was Pahang football fan Masyhur Abdullah, 29, who allegedly uploaded a degrading message using the Twitter handle @thekeluangman.

An assistant chef was the next one to be arrested over a Facebook post about the crown prince.

Both men are being investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which carries a maximum fine of up to RM50,000 or a year's jail maximum, or both.

Johor crown prince tells cops not to arrest his critics

Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has asked police not to arrest those who criticise him.

"I would humbly share my opinion with the police not to arrest anyone making seditious remarks about me," Tunku Ismail said in an interview posted on the Johor Southern Tigers Facebook page late last night.

Tunku Ismail, the Johor Darul Takzim football club owner, said he would prefer the authorities to arrange face-to-face meetings with his critics instead.

"Give them the privilege of saying what they want to say to my face, man to man.

"I can honestly say that I don't really care about what other people may say about me, as I am truly thankful with what God has given me in my life."

Tunku Ismail was responding to news that two men have been detained for their social media postings that allegedly insult the crown prince.

The first to be arrested was Pahang football fan Masyhur Abdullah, 29, who allegedly uploaded a degrading message using the Twitter handle @thekeluangman.

He was arrested in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday and brought to Johor Bahru.

An assistant chef was the next to be arrested over a Facebook post about the crown prince.

Both men are being investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which carries a maximum fine of up to RM50,000 or a year's jail maximum, or both.

Meanwhile in another development related to the royalty, the Appeals Court today upheld the sedition conviction of the late DAP chairperson Karpal Singh, for a statement made over the late Perak sultan’s decision to remove then Pakatan Rakyat menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin.

Big cats removed from Thailand's infamous Tiger Temple

Wildlife authorities in Thailand today raided a Buddhist temple where tigers are kept, taking away three of the animals and vowing to confiscate scores more in response to global pressure over wildlife trafficking.

The Buddhist temple in Kanchanaburi province west of Bangkok has more than 100 tigers and has become a tourist destination where visitors take selfies with tigers and bottle-feed their cubs.

The temple promotes itself as a wildlife sanctuary, but in recent years it has been investigated for suspected links to wildlife trafficking and animal abuse.

Wildlife activists have accused the temple's monks of illegally breeding tigers, while some visitors have said the animals can appear drugged. The temple denies the accusations.

Today's raid was the latest move by authorities in a tug-of-war since 2001 to bring the tigers under state control.

Adisorn Nuchdamrong, deputy director-general of the Department of National Parks, said the team had been able to confiscate the tigers thanks to a warrant obtained a few hours before the operation.

"We have a court warrant this time, unlike previous times, when we only asked for the temple's cooperation, which did not work," Adisorn said.

"International pressure concerning illegal wildlife trafficking is also part of why we're acting now."

Officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said they planned to confiscate and remove more tigers from the temple tomorrow and send them to a state-owned sanctuary.

Previous attempts to inspect the tigers have largely been blocked by the temple's abbots but in January and February wildlife officials removed 10 of the tigers.

Thailand has long been a hub for the illicit trafficking of wildlife and forest products, including ivory. Exotic birds, mammals and reptiles, some of them endangered species, can often be found on sale in markets.

The government introduced new animal welfare laws in 2015 aimed at curbing animal abuse, but activists accuse authorities of not enforcing the legislation properly.

– Reuters

Hunters to become the hunted

PUTRAJAYA: The heat is on for poachers of Malaysian wildlife. They will now come under fire from both fronts – legally and with heavier firearms.

In an interview with The Star, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the authorities were looking into the possibility of further arming enforcement officers.

“We have been given some firearms by the Home Ministry. If there is demand and requirements, I am willing to go and see Deputy Prime Minister (who is the Home Minister) to see how we can further arm our officers,” he said.

A recent survey suggests that rangers in 11 tiger range countries which include Malaysia said they faced life-threatening situations from poachers and the community.

“Hunters go to the forest carrying guns but our people carry parang. If you have officers with a gun, they will have the upper hand. We need to look at things in perspective,” Wan Junaidi said.

He was asked if the ministry would consider arming wildlife enforcement officers in Peninsula Malaysia, considering rampant cases of killing by armed poachers.

Under Section 8 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, he said National Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) enforcement officers were authorised to carry weapons in the exercise of their duties.

“The authorities involved in the operation will be supplied with arms by the department.

“There are also joint operations with other enforcement agencies, such as the army and police, if there is a risk involving wildlife crimes,” he said.

This comes as the conservation groups warned of links between organised crime groups and the illegal trade of wildlife, such as tiger and sunbear carcasses and their parts.

In the Ranger Perceptions: Asia survey, some 334 of the 530 rangers surveyed in 11 tiger range countries said they had faced life threatening situations with 74% of them also saying that they were not provided with proper equipment and amenities in their work.

The first ever United Nations World Wildlife Crime report also identified Malaysia as one of the top reptile skin exporters, saying that much of the trade was illegally sourced.

Dr Wan Junaidi said the ministry was also looking into amending the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, which could see offenders fined up to RM1mil and be whipped.

Currently, the highest penalty that could be imposed on offenders under the Act, he said, was a fine of up to RM500,000 and a prison term of not more than five years.

“During the five years of the implementation, the Government finds that there is a need to amend the Act in force now.”

Con-tractor threatens to hit back with nude photos

KUALA LUMPUR: A man threatened to expose nude photos of his former girlfriend after she and her friends found out that he had been cheating people of their money.

The former girlfriend, who wished to be known as Tan, 31, said her ex-boyfriend Chan, who is a sub-contractor, contacted her out of the blue on May 27 using an unknown number after she shared postings on Facebook.

The postings, initially by her friends, accused Chan, 35, of cheating his clients of their money in his projects.

The couple's two-year relationship ended amicably three years ago, according to Tan.

She claimed that during their time together, he had asked her for money several times.

Tan said that Chan contacted her and threatened to expose nude photos of her.

"Since you love to share people's post, I will let you experience the feeling as well," said the message sent to her.

According to Tan, she had never willingly taken nude photographs of herself for Chan and said the pictures were most likely taken when she was asleep.

Tan, together with MCA Public Complaints Bureau chief Datuk Seri Michael Chong, told her story to the media at a press conference at Wisma MCA here Monday.

Chong said Tan will lodge a police report and urged other victims to come forward to seek help.

8 years jail for raping underage Facebook friend

Salesman raped the girl, 13, at a luxury apartment in Cheras but gets his 12-year jail original sentence reduced on appeal.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today upheld a conviction against a salesman who was found guilty of raping an underage teenage girl whom he had befriended through Facebook.

Judge Azman Abdullah, however, reduced the jail term from 12 years to eight years against Khoo Kean Giap, 23, handed down by the Sessions Court on Sept 7 last year. However, the imposition of whipping was upheld.

Azman ordered Khoo to serve the sentence from today, rejecting an application by counsel R Devadasan to suspend execution of the sentence pending appeal.

The Sessions Court had sentenced the salesman to 12 years’ jail and imposed two strokes of the rotan after finding him guilty of raping the 13-year-old girl.

Khoo, who knew the victim through Facebook, was charged with raping the teenager in the bedroom of a luxury apartment in Cheras at 8pm in October 2012.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Aznika Mohd Anas conducted the prosecution.
– BERNAMA

Closure of 1MDB-linked Swiss bank in S'pore viewed with deep concern

Two recent developments relating to 1MDB has the Citizens' Declaration secretariat deeply concerned, said its secretary, Kamarudin Jaffar, today.

One is the closure of the Swiss BSI Bank and initiation of criminal proceedings by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, due to breaches of anti-money laundering regulations there, linked to 1MDB.

The other is the suppression of a Bank Negara letter dated April 6, 2016, by the Public Accounts committee chairperson.

Kamarudin Jaffar added these developments would only tarnish Malaysia's reputation and credibility.

“This letter confirmed that Good Star Limited was owned by Low Taek Jho (also known as Jho Low), and not Petrosaudi International.

“The document substantiates The Wall Street Journal's allegation “that out of the US$1.83 billion investment 1MDB carried out with Petrosaudi International Limited, at least US$1.03 billion had been directly misappropriated to Good Star Limited, owned by Jho Low”.

Yet, Kamarudin said, both Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali, and Bank Negara have said that the 1MDB case is now closed.

However the governments of at least seven countries around the world, he added, have ongoing investigations and pending criminal cases linked to 1MDB, and they do not seem to agree with the conclusions of the AG and Bank Negara.

“The disclosures related to 1MDB continue to drag Malaysia’s international reputation, financial credibility and fiscal integrity into greater disrepute and notoriety.

“The secretariat continues to maintain that there is an urgent need to pave the way for much needed democratic and institutional reforms, and to restore the important principle of the separation of powers between the executive, legislature and judiciary, which will ensure the independence, credibility, professionalism and integrity of our national institutions,” he said.

The secretariat, Kamarudin added, is of the view that all those responsible for this grand corruption, which had occurred on an unprecedented scale, must be held accountable and brought to justice.

Government's assertions contradicted

It was reported three days ago that WSJ claimed Bank Negara wrote a letter confirming that Good Star Limited was owned by Jho Low. This contradicted the government’s assertions that Good Star Ltd, which has since been dissolved, belonged to former 1MDB joint-venture partner PetroSaudi International.

A copy of the letter was tweeted by WSJ and re-tweeted by its Asia chief editor Tom Wright.

On May 28, the Monetary Authority of Singapore ordered BSI Bank, which is in the limelight for its dealings with 1MDB, to close down.

Reuters reported that Singapore's central bank withdrew the Swiss bank's status as a merchant bank in the city state and the reasons for this included "serious breaches of anti-money laundering requirements, poor management oversight of the bank's operations and gross misconduct by some of the bank's staff".

It further reported that such action had not been taken by the Singapore authorities in the last 32 years.

"This is the first time that the Monetary Authority of Singapore is withdrawing its approval for a merchant bank since 1984, when Jardine Fleming (Singapore) Pte Ltd was shut down for serious lapses in its advisory work," the central bank was quoted as saying.

Negri Sembilan Islamic Affairs Dept staff charged with using fake MCs

Three civil servants of the Negeri Sembilan Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAINS) were charged at a magistrate's court here today, to using fake medical certificates (MCs).

Mazlan Ahmad, 48, Rosyanizam Yahya, 38, and Muhamad Hafiz Mohamad Sarpan, 33, pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Rahimah Rahim.

Mazlan faced three charges of using fake MCs between Nov 2 and Dec 12, last year while Muhamad Hafiz faced four counts of using fake MCs between Feb 27, 2014 and Nov 11, last year.

Rosyanizam faced 13 counts between Dec 22, 2014 and April 18, this year.

All the offences were committed at JHEAINS.

Rahimah allowed all three accused bail of between RM1,200 and RM1,700 for each charge in one surety. Their families posted bail.

The court set June 21 for re-mention of the case.

The prosecution was handled by Deputy Public Prosecutor Ainnan Mohd Rasid and Siti Khadijah Mohd Pisol.

The accused were represented by Iwana Sakinah Mohd Lajis from the Legal Aid Foundation.

- Bernama

Ridhuan Tee quits MCA as it's against Hadi's bill on hudud

Controversial academician Ridhuan Tee Abdullah has announced he is quitting MCA as a result of the party's stand against PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's Private Member's Bill on hudud.

Contacted by Malaysiakini, Ridhuan, who has been an MCA life member since 2000, said he decided to quit the party due to recent developments on the hudud issue.

"I don't want to bear the sins in such a party," he said

Ridhuan explained that his initial intention to join MCA was to show that although he had converted to Islam, he still retained his identity as a Chinese.

"My intention was to preach, to be the bridge (to Islam), but it's not appreciated. They even see it as a threat."

When asked if he had decided to join any party, Ridhuan said he was still undecided.

Meanwhile, an MCA headquarters staff member told Malaysiakini that it had not received his letter of resignation.

When asked if Ridhuan is still a member of the Chinese based party, the staff replied that according to its system, he is still a member.

The staff added that Ridhuan is a permanent member of the party.

Resigned in protest

Ridhuan was first quoted by Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) that he had resigned from MCA in protest as the party is seen to be anti-Islam, following its stand against the PAS Bill on hudud.

Ismaweb reported that he joined MCA in 2000 but described the Chinese based party as extremely racist.

“I do not want to bear the sins of being a party which is an enemy of Islam. Hence, I announce that I am quitting from the MCA. I tried very hard to be in the party, although it took me four years to gain approval to join, as I want to propagate Islam, and do not want to be declared as being a Malay.

“However, my expectations were proven wrong. The party is now seen as being racist and has become an enemy of Islam. Whoever is an enemy of Islam, is also my enemy,” he said in a statement to Ismaweb.

He expressed that MCA should have understood Islam and the way of life of the Malays after 60 years of independence, and urged MCA and Gerakan members to leave the country and form new parties in a communist country.

“They purposely try not to understand, and instead demonise the people here who want their own rights. If MCA and Gerakan want a better life, it is better they find their own place.

“Respect the original inhabitants here. This is their land and they are entitled to their rights. MCA, Gerakan and DAP and others should not interfere,” he said.

'MCA, Gerakan, MIC ministers should resign'

As MCA, Gerakan, SUPP and MIC ministers have condemned the tabling of the bill and had threatened to withdraw themselves from the BN Cabinet, Ridhuan challenged them to do so.

“I ask the ministers from the MCA, Gerakan and MIC to resign immediately. There is no need to wait. They are not ashamed that they won through the support of the Malays, and got their Cabinet posts.

“I also hope the government won't approve the formation of a bank by the Kojadi cooperative owned by MCA. If approved, it will be treacherous to Malays and Islam. Sarawak deserves more compared to them.

“I hope the government led by Umno is stern in such matters,” he said, adding MIC's scenario was much worse, as it did not have a single majority seat and could not win without the support of the Malays and Muslims.

He also questioned the contribution by the MCA, Gerakan and MIC to Islam, after the Malays had given their votes which led to their victories.

“The Malays are continuously being cheated. What is surprising is that the Malays and Malay-based political parties are still blind. They should rise up as this is the time to unite and fight against 'the real enemy',” he said.

Najib should resign if Hadi's bill passed, urges MCA Youth leader

An MCA Youth leader has suggested that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should resign if PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's Private Member's Bill is passed in Parliament.

MCA Youth legal bureau chief Ng Kian Nam has asked Najib to state his stand clearly: whether all Umno MPs support the PAS bill, despite strong protests from other BN component parties.

If that is the case, where there are BN MPs who have opposing views and even stand together with the enemy, Ng said, as this would definitely cause the break-up of BN.

This is because the coalition would have lost its basic premise of working together.

As the prime minister, Najib should not have an ambiguous attitude on this issue, Ng asserted.

"Instead, Najib should express his stand clearly. If he insists on aligning with PAS, this means he has betrayed other BN component parties, as well as the trust that voters gave to him in the general election, as the BN chief.

"If the situation has developed to the stage when some chiefs of BN component parties have threatened to resign from the cabinet to protect the secular system of the country, Najib should show his political courage and accountability to resign as PM, or consider dissolving Parliament to let the people decide."

In a statement today, Ng also criticised an unnamed "certain leader" who tried to make use of the hudud issue to divert public attention from the 1MDB and "personal deposit" scandals.

He urged other Umno leaders and grassroots members to hasten the power transition in the party before a constitutional crisis breaks out.

Ng added that MCA's call against the PAS hudud bill shouldn't be seen from racial angles or cause racial tension.

He also lamented that DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had tried to aggravate the situation by asking MCA to quit BN.

Although Lim claimed DAP had cut ties with PAS, Ng maintained, the fact remained that DAP is still working with PAS in the Selangor government.