The man with a long keris

“Every miserable fool who has nothing at all of which he can be proud, adopts as a last resource pride in the nation to which he belongs; he is ready and happy to defend all its faults and follies tooth and nail, thus reimbursing himself for his own inferiority.”

- Arthur Schopenhauer, ‘Essays and Aphorisms’

I have no idea what goes on in PAS these days. I do not think even PAS members know what is going on in PAS these days. Long-time members who consider me a friend (as I them) tell me that there this strong whiff of “nyanyuk” going on in the PAS leadership council.

PAS friends of mine were sniggering when party leader Abdul Hadi Awang cut that cake in the form of a PAS flag because to them it symbolised the balkanisation of PAS. Members carving out little fiefdoms or sultanates if one is so inclined, with Amanah the big orange elephant in the room.

Meanwhile, PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad said, “If our delegates came wearing shorts, our women came without wearing the headscarves, our leaders shaking hands between men and women, only then PAS can be accused of being deviant,” which just goes to show you that only PAS could describe normal behaviour as “deviant” within their ethos. This was the ‘PAS for all’ that we were told would usher in a new Malaysian dawn? I bet the vice-president thinks he has a long keris too.

Only in the mind of a Malay supremacist would a weapon (keris) be used as an ornament to liven up the political landscape. The keris is a dog whistle for non-Malays who understand the agenda behind those waving it around. When was the last time the keris was extended as a symbol of good faith?

Just recently non-Malays were reminded of Malay supremacy during the Red Shirt rally where our prime minster said, “Malays too can show that we can still rise up, rise up when our dignity is challenged; rise up when our leaders are insulted, ridiculed, embarrassed. Malays say enough, let no one repeat evil acts like that again.”

I wonder if he was talking about The Wall Street Journal. Or the numerous other Western publications that are mocking his regime and his lame responses to the barrage of revelations coming his way. But alas the defence of Malay dignity is confined to scaring the non-Malays, well the Chinese actually, rather than defending the office of the Malaysian prime minster overseas. Malay supremacy is local, I guess.

Look at the pictures from that rally and you would see politicians dressed to the nines in ‘Malay Warrior’ costumes. It would not surprise me if there are a few displays of the keris, too. I am sure most of the participants there believed they had long keris, too.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and Najib’s nemesis, remarked that the length of the keris is in proportion to displays of nationalism. Understandable. There is this Umno or Malay supremacist perception that waving a long keris about trumps responsible leadership. PAS now in bed with Umno may have caught something, which is why some PAS members feel compelled to act like Umno members.

The former prime minister also offered up his unique take on Islamic justice. The Umno strongman (most people dismiss him as a former strongman or that Najib has him on the ropes but I think differently) said when addressing the manufactured hudud controversy, "Is that (duality of punishment) justice? I don't think you will say it is justice. Justice can only be achieved if the punishment is the same for both. In this case, the punishments are different, they are not just, and therefore not Islamic."

More money stolen through corruption

Would it be true Islamic justice if it was a Malay man and another Malay man who did the hypothetical robbing? Let us assume that Malaysia was not a multiethnic/religious country. Would it be just to cut off a man’s hand for committing theft? By the way, what is the punishment if a man commits rape? Some kind of dismemberment one hopes.

Furthermore, what of our dual system of justice when it comes to Muslims and non-Muslims with regard to the syariah system of justice here in Malaysia? Surely, laws are not solely about punishments and why should certain aspects of Malay life be determined by Islamic jurisprudence?

This dual legal system has caused so many problems when it comes to the social and religious lives of Malaysians. And to be perfectly clear it is not the fault of the non-Muslims although certain non-Muslims have maliciously taken advantage of the system, especially in conversion cases.

A million, maybe even billions of ringgit, has been spent pushing the Islamic agenda and what has it done for the majority of the Malay community? Has it broadened their minds? Has it facilitated a sense of belonging between the various communities here in Malaysia? As the “religion of the federation”, has it proven effective is forming a sense of national identity?

No, what it has done is produced a UiTM lecturer who offers us these words of wisdom, “I don't trust females, because we believe men should lead women. They are not even the head in families, so how can they lead bigger things," and gentle readers, who do you think he means by “we”?

Perak PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria said, “Do you want your money stolen? Of course you don't, that's why you put up grills and alarms. In Islam, we don't have to do this; those who steal will face the music.”

Except more money is stolen through corruption than people breaking into houses. More money is stolen from the coffers of religious organisations. More money is stolen through government agencies. Yet nobody, certainly not from PAS, is interested in chopping off Malay/Muslim hands that have been pilfering from federal and state coffers.

Perhaps if Muslims from PAS do not like their wives and daughters harassed, maybe they should start a curfew for Muslim men (because they are the ones subject to hudud) instead of being obsessed with the attire and behaviour of their women.

However, all this is a show. A farce concocted by craven politicians in Putrajaya, enabled by opportunistic politicians from across the political divide, dressed up as serious political theatre. As one Umno insider told me, “Do you really think that hudud is going to happen here in Malaysia?” She continues, “Hudud and Hadi are convenient fillers to break the news cycle. Nobody takes them seriously. How could anyone take them seriously?”

The problem is that the world is littered with Islamic regimes formed by groups that existing power structures did not take seriously.

At the end of the day, never trust any man who wields a long keris.

S THAYAPARAN is Commander (Rtd) of the Royal Malaysian Navy



Read more: https://www.malaysiakini.com/columns/344314#ixzz4AyGV65CN

The longer the keris, the more nationalist the party, jibes Dr M

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has chided PAS for trying to be more nationalist than Umno.

He said PAS used to criticise Umno for being nationalist, but now the Islamist party is brandishing a longer keris than the Malay nationalist party.

The recently concluded 62nd PAS muktamar in Kota Baru saw the party president Abdul Hadi Awang wielding a giant replica of a keris to cut a cake made up to look like the party flag.

“Before this, they condemned Umno for being nationalist. Now they are more nationalist, because their keris is longer than Umno’s keris.

“See, you measure nationalism according to the length of the keris. If this is longer, then it is more nationalist.

“So they have come back. They have suddenly realised that they are Malays,” Mahathir told reporters at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this evening.

PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad had defended the use of the giant mock keris, saying that it makes the event more colourful.

Meanwhile, to a question, Mahathir said PAS and Umno are now in a marriage of convenience.

“PAS has lost its own supporters, and Umno is looking for supporters. So they work together,” he said.

Just prior to the press conference, Mahathir was launching the Malay edition for Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali’s autobiography ‘Perjuangan Tanpa Noktah’, while the former premier’s wife Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali launched the English edition ‘The Misunderstood Man’.

When the Perkasa chief was asked about the party’s stance on PAS’ ‘Hudud Bill’ at the press conference, Ibrahim said Perkasa would normally support anything related to Islam.

“But we want to make sure that our support must go according to the true teachings of Islam, and the hudud must be fair for everybody - not only the Muslims but also for the non-Muslims,” Ibrahim said.

At this point, Mahathir interjected to explain that in the Quran, there are 43 verses that stress on the importance of being fair in meting out justice.

“If two people - one Malay, one Chinese - goes to steal things, you chop off the hands of the Malay and the Chinese gets two months’ jail.

“You can’t get your hand back any more, but two months’ jail? He’d come out happy.

“Is that justice? If that is not justice, it is not Islam,” he said.

‘Joining PAS makes you a better Buddhist, Christian or Hindu’

PAS supporters’ wing representative Balachandran GK wows the crowd at the party’s muktamar with his address, peppered with Islamic terms and even a quote from the Quran.

PENGKALAN CHEPA: PAS is not just for Muslims and can help its Buddhist, Christian and Hindu members to become better adherents of their faith, says PAS Supporters Congress Information Chief Balachandran GK.

In his address at PAS’s 62nd muktamar today, Balachandran explained that the Islamic values inculcated by the PAS leadership enhanced the understanding of one’s own religious values, making non-Muslim members better persons.

Balachandran also hit out at MIC President Dr S Subramaniam over his quit threat in relation to the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965.

He said it showed Subramaniam was weak and did not understand the issue.

“If he does not understand the issue, he can call us. We can teach Subramaniam about Islam if he does not understand.”

Following the tabling of the bill last month, Subramaniam, together with MCA President Liow Tiong Lai and Gerakan President Mah Siew Kong, said they will quit their Cabinet posts in the event the bill is passed in Parliament.

Balachandran, who wowed delegates with his speech, peppered with Islamic terms and even a quote from the Quran, said PAS’s strength was not the now defunct Pakatan Rakyat, but Islam, and this was why the party could go it alone.

He also said that race should not be the basis for any political party’s struggle and it was important to understand each other’s religions.

“We are with PAS as it is a party based on Islam,” he said, adding that Islam was fair.

“Hidup Melayu (Long Live Malays) does not guarantee safety, Hidup Islam (Long Live Islam) guarantees safety for all,” he said to cheers from the delegates.

This is why, he said, it was important for the PAS leadership to include the supporters’ wing in its activities so that the non-Muslims could see that PAS was meant for all.

Mahfuz: I paid for Sirul 'humanitarian' trip

PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar defended the “humanitarian trip” to reunite murder convict Sirul Azhar Umar with his mother Piah Ahmad saying it is out of the PAS leader’s own pocket.

Mahfuz had brought Sirul's mother, sister, Noriatin Umar, and four others with him on his trip to visit Sirul at the Villawood Immigration Centre in Sydney.

"I funded it myself," Mahfuz told Malaysiakini.

The mission has received a lot of flak, with many questioning why PAS was spending so much money to see a death row escapee convicted for the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Asked to respond, Mahfuz stood his ground and reiterated the humanitarian side of his trip for the sake of an elderly mother.

He also said his trip was aimed at seeking the truth, and to discover the motive behind the act in the nation’s most sensational murder case.

"The second (objective) of my mission is to find the motive, which was not revealed by the court... I want to find the truth," he said.

"However, I will find (the truth) not through Sirul, but through multiple sources," he added

Sirul himself has not discussed the murder during their meetings, Mahfuz said.

‘Not funding Sirul against Najib’

The Pokok Sena MP also brushed off allegations made by a pro-Umno blog that the opposition was funding Sirul, in hopes of getting him to purportedly blame Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for the Altantuya murder.

"Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Daim Zainuddin, A Kadir Jasin have all clearly asked the prime minister to step down, so that has nothing to do with Sirul," he said.

Sirul, a former police commando, previously told Malaysiakini he had acted under orders and is mulling a tell-all interview with the Australian media.

Najib has however brushed off Sirul's claims as "utter rubbish".

Sirul and colleague Azilah Hadri have been sentenced to death for Altantuya’s murder, while Najib’s close associate Abdul Razak Baginda who had been charged for abetment in the murder, was released without his defence being called.

Tuesday was Piah’s second meeting with Sirul, after the teary reunion on Tuesday where the latter had the chance to enjoy his mother’s sambal ikan bilis.

Yesterday, Mahfuz said Sirul wolfed down beef rendang his mother cooked for him.

"He finished the whole tupperware we brought for him," said the PAS leader.

Mahfuz and Piah will be visiting Sirul daily until Friday.

Although there is a Interpol red alert on Sirul, Australian laws bar the country from deporting anyone facing a death penalty at their home country.

Harakahdaily boss ready to meet Najib in court over 1MDB commentary

Harakahdaily managing editor Dr Rosli Yaakob is prepared to meet Datuk Seri Najib Razak in court over an article linking the prime minister's stepson with the controversial 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), published in the PAS organ last month.

Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia had reported last Friday that Najib had initiated legal proceedings against the portal for allegedly defaming him over the article.

"We have agreed to meet the prime minister in court," Rosli told The Malaysian Insider when contacted earlier this evening after he received Najib's letter of demand.

The decision was reached after discussions with Rosli's lawyer, Mohamed Hanipa Maidin, who is also Sepang MP, last Saturday.

"Let the court decide whether the article was slanderous or not," said Rosli, who is also a PAS central committee member.

The article in question, titled "Dana 1MDB biayai syarikat filem Riza Aziz?", had appeared in the PAS organ on February 12. It was a commentary based on The New York Times article about the wealth of businessman Low Taek Jho and his role as a property investor.

Low, who is better known as Jho Low, is said to be a close associate of Najib and was said to have had transactions with various parties, including Riza.

Riza, the son of Najib's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor from her earlier marriage, made headlines last year after he was revealed to be a producer of the award-winning movie "The Wolf of Wall Street" and his purchase of a luxury condominium in New York worth RM110 million.

The New York Times article, titled "Well connected at home, young Malaysian has an appetite for New York", described how Low, in 2010, began making some very expensive real estate deals in the US, using shell companies.

Rosli had written that the purchase of luxury condominiums had raised important questions about where the money was coming from. Said to be an advisor to 1MDB, Low had been paid a substantial amount for his role in the state investment vehicle, the Harakahdaily report said.

The article also questioned how Riza had obtained the funds to purchase the luxury property from Low and to finance his production house Red Granite Pictures.

Quoting The New York Times article, Harakahdaily said Riza had once commented that he had funded the movie with money obtained from "sovereign wealth", believed to be a reference to 1MDB.

Najib, in the letter, had said that Rosli's article was an "irresponsible slander that was nothing more than pure lies".

Hanipa, in a press conference today, had questioned why Najib had not also sued American daily The New York Times, which wrote the original article and where Rosli had based his article on.

"In the prime minister's letter from his lawyer, there were three demands – asking for the article to be retracted, apologise and for a certain amount to be paid in damages.

"My lawyer has advised that we do not agree to the demands and will wait for the original suit letter from the prime minister," said Rosli, who was a Bank Negara deputy governor, before he left to join politics.

"After receiving the letter, we will then decide the next move including meeting the prime minister in court," Rosli added.

"For now, we do not plan to retract the article or apologise."

In the letter of demand, Najib had named Harakahdaily and Rosli as defendants. It was sent to the Harakahdaily office by Najib's lawyer and was received by Rosli on February 26 at 3pm.

"After this, it will be up to the court to decide whether the writing was defamatory or not and I had my arguments when I wrote them," he said. – March 2, 2015.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/harakahdaily-managing-editor-ready-to-meet-najib-in-court-over-1mdb-comment#sthash.Tul3YeGW.dpuf

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.

Bogus Sirul's mum PAS event fools reporters

Journalists today were duped into thinking that PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar was holding a press conference at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur with fugitive former police commando Sirul Azhar Umar's mother.

It turned out that the WhatsApp message sent to reporters was actually a fake one. The origins of the message cannot be determined but it was circulated on a PAS media WhatsApp group.

A PAS headquarters staff said Mahfuz was in Alor Setar this morning and the latter had not called for any press conference much less for one with Sirul’s mum.

"I just called him. He is in Alor Setar and confirmed he never called for a press conference.

"He said an invitation would have been sent out earlier if he wanted to hold a press conference," said the staff who identified himself as Saripuddin Mohd Yatim.

Saripuddin's disclosure was met with groans and annoyed exclamations from reporters present who were blithely waiting for the press conference to start.

Monday announcement

In a statement later, Mahfuz said he will be leaving for Australia on Sunday (March 1) at 11pm.

"The media are invited to meet us at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) departure hall at Level 5 at 9pm on Sunday," he said in a statement.

The Pokok Sena MP had on Monday made attempts to initiate a conference call with Sirul. Numerous failed attempts later, Mahfuz cancelled the event and the ensuring press conference.

Sirul was finally reached only two hours later.

Mahfuz had then also announced a press conference would be held - most probably on Friday (today) - to announce the date he and Sirul's mother, Piah Samad (above), would leave for Australia.

"We will be there for a week to visit Sirul. A press conference will be held, most probably on Friday, to announce the date we are leaving," Mahfuz had said then.

Malaysia’s Islamic Party Seeks Primacy

Leadership of coalition that Ibrahim founded is in danger of falling into the hands of the fundamentalist Parti Islam se-Malaysia

Asia Sentinel

With opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim jailed for five years on sodomy charges, the leadership of the coalition he founded, which has upended Malaysian politics over the past seven years, is in increasing danger of falling into the hands of the fundamentalist Parti Islam se-Malaysia.

PAS, as the rural-based party is known, is moving aggressively to assume primacy in Pakatan Rakyat, which Anwar founded in 2008. The coalition’s disparate elements include, besides PAS, the Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party and Anwar’s own Parti Keadilan Rakyat, mainly composed of urban, moderate ethnic Malays. In particular, PAS is seeking to ride to national prominence the issue of seventh-century religious law, or hudud, which calls for stoning to death adulterers and amputation of limbs for theft.

Malaysia, despite its 60 percent Muslim population, has always been viewed as a moderate state. That impression is in danger today. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, weakened by scandal and party infighting, has been unwilling or unable to stem the rising tide of fundamentalism, which is being used by extremist elements of his own United Malays National Organization as a political tool to cudgel the opposition, particularly the 22 percent of the population who are Chinese. UMNO’s own leadership are privately concerned that the Barisan Nasional, the ruling national coalition, could fall to the opposition in elections scheduled for 2018 at the latest.

Thus, the leadership of the opposition has suddenly achieved new urgency. UMNO has been in deepening jeopardy over events of the past few weeks. The voting public, especially among ethnic Malays, are growing increasingly outraged by a flock of scandals and turned off by infighting within UMNO itself, with former Premier Mahathir Mohamad asking for Najib’s head over vast losses within the state-backed 1Malaysia Development Bhd fund.

“My concern is that PAS is taking the lead,” said a young Malay lawyer with ties to the party. “We would edge ever closer to a PAS national government. PAS can go it alone on an Islamic State platform as Umno has gone it alone without Chinese votes. Malays now feel UMNO is sinful.”

Other longtime observers in Kuala Lumpur say the concerns are overblown, and that an increasingly urban Malay society that favors blue jeans, high heels, makeup and beer will have nothing to do with hudud. Anwar’s party forms the bulwark of those voters, along with other more urban voters in UMNO..

In any case, hudud would inevitably cause the DAP to pull out and cause some serious soul-searching among Parti Keadilan’s followers. The coalition would likely splinter. But apparently PAS, as with UMNO, feels that with a winning issue among the 60 percent of the population who are ethnic Malays, it could pull it off. Last week, Mahfodz Mohamad, the deputy chief of the PAS religious council, or ulama, told reporters the council would continue to seek hudud by tabling a bill in Parliament, asking “Why do we need to follow the DAP? Their stance is different. They want to go to Putrajaya [the seat of government]. We want to win elections too but more.”

PAS says Islamic law would only apply to ethnic Malays. But other ethnic groups, particularly the Chinese, are deeply concerned that if hudud were to be put in place for Malays, inevitably it would follow that they also would be threatened. In nearby Brunei, the Sultan recently decreed that hudud applied to everybody in the sultanate.

The opposition coalition has been an uneasy alliance from the start, united as it was and is by nothing more than a desire to replace the Barisan Nasional in power. But that ambition led it to work together in the 2008 general election, in which they gained control of five states and for the first time denied the Barisan its historic two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat, or parliament. Despite internal dissention, the coalition for the first time since 1969 won the popular vote in the 2013 general election with a 50.87 percent majority to the Barisan’s 47.38 percent, although gerrymandering kept them from taking control.

Especially over the past year, the coalition has shown increasing signs of disarray. Anwar has been preoccupied with the certainty he would be jailed in what is regarded internationally as a trumped up legal proceeding. As a result, the strong central leadership of a coalition that is unruly at best has been lacking.

PAS jumped into the enormous controversy surrounding the detention in Australia of one of the killers of the Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006. Sirul Azhar Umar, one of Najib’s two bodyguards, fled to Australia last year after being temporarily freed by an appellate court. His conviction was reinstated this month by the Federal Court. It has long been suspected that someone close to Najib ordered the killing. Sirul appeared willing to talk to a PAS-sponsored press teleconference but later backed away.

Now PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar has said he would take Sirul’s mother and younger sister and Sirul’s lawyer to meet with the detained former police commando in Sydney. If Sirul were indeed to go public with what he knows about those who hired him and his fellow officer to kill the 28-year-old woman, it is likely to cause deepening problems for Najib, whose popularity has fallen to the lowest point of his premiership at 44 percent.

PAS is also making itself felt by opposing the leadership of the three-party opposition coalition by Anwar’s wife, Wan Aziza, who the party says lacks experience, and is instead pushing PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang. The party asserted its growing clout last year by refusing to go along with naming Wan Aziza the chief minister of the state of Selangor after an abortive effort to make Anwar the chief minister was thwarted with an appellate court’s judgment of his guilt in the sodomy charges. PAS tied up the selection process for months despite the fact that Parti Keadilan holds a majority in the state. Eventually, Mohamed Azmin Ali, a rival within Anwar’s own party, was selected for the job.

PAS is now threatening to introduce hudud in the rural eastern state of Kelantan State, with discussion in the state assembly from March 16 to 19. That would be followed with a move to table it in Parliament. Federal approval is needed.

Unofficial soundings suggest that as many as seven of 10 ethnic Malays, including urban moderates, see hudud as the answer to rising crime, drug addiction, adultery – especially among UMNO leaders – and other issues. The UMNO sources say that if hudud is enacted in Kelantan, ethnic Malay state voters are likely to demand enactment, and that UMNO would probably have to go along, feeling hard-pressed to vote against “God’s law” despite it clearly being the machinations of those in charge of PAS.

It is almost unheard of that an opposition party could introduce a private member’s bill in Parliament, as PAS is threatening to do. In the parliamentary system such actions are blocked. But, an UMNO source says, UMNO leaders are being cowed into letting it go ahead because of a fear of ethnic Malay backlash.

They say they are concerned that if the northern and eastern tier of ethnic Malay states were to go along, a hudud bill is likely to be introduced in the Parliament. As an indication of how UMNOis cowed by the rising Islamic tide, already the leaders of Terengganu – controlled by UMNO – the neighboring state to Kelantan, are out to prove their Muslim bona fides. They say Muslims who skip the obligatory Friday prayers at mosques may soon be paraded around town in hearses as punishment.

Let MCA and Gerakan Presidents explain whether MCA and Gerakan had agreed to Kelantan UMNO Assemblymen supporting PAS’s hudud legislation in Kelantan State Assembly next month as part of the UMNO strategy to break up Pakatan Rakyat?

By Lim Kit Siang blog,

The MCA President, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and the Gerakan President, Datuk Mak Siew Keong should explain whether MCA and Gerakan had agreed to Kelantan UMNO State Assemblymen supporting PAS’ hudud legislation for implementation in the Kelantan State Assembly next month as part of the UMNO strategy to break up Pakatan Rakyat?

Suspicion of such an agreement has been caused by three developments:

• firstly, the sudden increase in the number of speeches and statements by all levels of MCA and Gerakan leaders on this issue in the past few days;
• secondly, the sudden two-hour meeting of the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council last Friday night within 24 hours of the death of Tok Guru Nik Aziz on the night of Thursday, 12th February, necessitating the holding of a by-election in the Chempaka state constituency; and
• thirdly a statement by a UMNO Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and Deputy Umno Youth leader Razali Ismail on Tuesday, 17th February that “despite the death of PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, UMNO will continue to support the Islamic party on the implementation of hudud in Kelantan”.

So is the stage set for a “big drama” from the Barisan Nasional component parties for next month’s Kelantan State Assembly, with Kelantan UMNO State Assemblmen voting in support of hudud implementation in Kelantan but ignored by MCA and Gerakan leaders and publicists who will concentrate on their attacks on the DAP and PKR for “selling out the rights of the non-Muslims in Malaysia” because of PAS Kelantan State Assemblymen and women voting for implementation of hudud in Kelantan?

In the uproar and din of multi-party attacks and counter-attacks, accusations and counter-accusations, the inability of the Kelantan State Assembly to implement hudud unless Parliament authorizes it will be temporarily forgotten.

In the Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council meeting on 8th February 2015, it was unanimously agreed by PKR, DAP and PAS leaders, led by PKR Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng that as hudud and local government issues were outside the PR Common Policy Framework, the two issues would be specifically discussed at the following PR Leadership Council meeting and that no further steps would be taken to pursue these two issue in the meanwhile – which meant that any intention whether to propose an amendment to the hudud enactment in the Kelantan State Assembly or a private member’s bill in Parliament should first be brought to the PR Leadership Council for discussion and decision. This also applies to any proposal to follow-up on local government elections.

I have consistently taken the position that it is the paramount duty and challenge of every PR leader to jointly save PR by adopting an Eight-Year PR Roadmap to reaffirm the secret recipe of the PR success in the 2008 and 2013 general elections, namely adherence to the PR Common Policy Framework which binds all three parties and the operational principle of consensus requiring the consent of all three parties before any policy, issue or decision could be made or changed.

Nik Aziz will be missed greatly, especially with the revived campaign orchestrated by UMNO strategists for a “unity government” between UMNO and PAS reaching a new crescendo.

If Nik Aziz is still alive, there would be no possibility even for a revival of the “unity government” conspiracy, for he was the bulwark in PAS in opposition to it.

Now, it would appear that MCA and Gerakan top leaders have also bought into the “unity government” proposal of the UMNO strategists to break up Pakatan Rakyat, as they ware persuaded that with Nik Aziz’s death, this is the best gambit to break up Pakatan Rakyat – a two-prong attack with Umno staying out of Chempaka by-election and Kelantan UMNO State Assemblymen giving support to Kelantan PAS proposal in the Kelantan State Assembly next month for hudud implementation.

MCA President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and MCA Datuk Mah Siew Keong should declare their party’s stand on both these issues as noises by their subordinate officials carry no weight whatsoever.

The UMNO leadership has yet to give a commitment to support a PAS private member’s bill in Parliament but it has given a commitment that its PAS Kelantan State Assembly persons would support PAS proposal in Kelantan State Assembly for hudud implementation.

Why is MCA and Gerakan supporting UMNO and UMNO Kelantan State Assemblymen endorsing hudud implementation in Kelantan?

Sirul: I have nothing to say... for now

The much-anticipated conference call today between PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar with fugitive police commando Sirul Azhar Umar proved an anti-climax, with Sirul saying he had nothing to say at the present time.

"I fully respect the authority of the Australian government, whose protection I am under, and I need to respect Australia.

"I do not wish to make a statement at this moment. However, I will try to make a statement at a more approprate time.

"I would also like to thank all Malaysian media for their coverage and I would to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Australian government, which has provided me with full protection, besides safe and comfortable accomodation," Sirul said.

Sirul also mentioned that he was waiting for Mahfuz to call him earlier. He then said 'Thank you' with a catch in his voice.

Immediately after this, Sirul disconnected the mobile phone line without taking any questions from Mahfuz or from the remaining reporters present.

The call came after repeated attempts earlier to reach Sirul for the much-touted conference call failed. Most of the media had already left when Sirul finally was reached at 1.28pm.

Mahfuz earlier made numerous attempts to hold his conference call with Sirul in front of the press.

Will visit Australia

The conference call was supposed to be held at 11.30am at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. It was a packed event.

However, repeated attempts by Mahfuz to call Sirul's phone was futile. He gave up after about 40 minutes.

Mahfuz also showed the press his text message exchange with Sirul to show that the latter was ready for the conference call.

Following this, Mahfuz said that he would be trying to visit Sirul, with the latter's mother Piah Samad, 74, next week. Details are to be announced on Friday.

"We will be there for a week to visit Sirul. A press conference will be held, most probably on Friday, to announce the date we are leaving," said Mahfuz, who is also the Pokok Sena MP.

It is not certain why the calls failed. Mahfuz and his assistants had attempted to use several mobile network providers to contact Sirul, but to no avail.

Reporters at the scene also complained that they were experiencing abnormally poor network coverage at the PAS headquarters.

Ball at Sirul's feet

Previously, Malaysiakini had managed to contact Sirul who lamented that he was convicted based on circumstantial evidence and that he was merely following orders - which led to his encounter with Altantuya Shariibuu in October 2006.

Last month, the Federal Court upheld the conviction of Sirul and Azilah Hadri for the murder of Altantuya, a Mongolian national, and their death sentence.

Sirul fled to Australia before the Federal Court decision. As he is on the Interpol red list, Australian authorities are holding him at an immigration facility in Villawood, Sydney.

Australia has stated that it is bound by laws that prevent Sirul's repatriation, unless Malaysia promises not to impose the death sentence on him.

However, Malaysiakini has learned that several Australia media outlets are attempting to interview Sirul and are in contact with him.

 

Call on all Pakatan Rakyat leaders, including PAS President Hadi Awang, to focus single-mindedly on how to save Pakatan Rakyat and discourage efforts and elements within our ranks who are prepared to destabilize and even destroy PR

By Lim Kit Siang Blog,

In my Chinese New Year Message on 17th February, I had said that many issues will jostle as the top Malaysian concerns and conversational topics during the Chinese New Year.

This is the third day of the Chinese New Year, and I confess that I had expected Anwar’s conviction and five-year jail sentence for Sodomy II by the Federal Court and his fourth incarceration in his 47-year political struggle as the No. 1 conversation topic of all Malaysians in the Chinese New Year.

I was however wrong, for another issue caught up and gained an edge over Anwar’s conviction and 5-year jail sentence to compete for the No. 1 Chinese New Year top conversation topic – another Federal Court decision concerning a nine-year-matter, the heinous murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu and the blowing up of her body with military C4 explosives in the Shah Alam bushes on Oct. 19, 2006.

On the day I issued my Chinese New Year Message on 17th February, Sirul Azhar, one of the two convicted murderers of Altantunya who had absconded and is seeking asylum in Australia, told Malaysiakini that he was mulling over the possibility of “telling all” about the Altantuya murder as he was only acting “under orders”.

The fast-paced five-day developments of the Altantuya murder case from the Sirul perspective, threatening to reveal “all” in a video conference from Australia tomorrow (Monday) morning, catapulted the issue into a greater cause celebre during the Chinese New Year family re-unions, get-togethers, discussions and coffee-shop talks than the Anwar case – although both these cases were unchallenged as the two top-most first and second conversation topics in the Chinese New Year.

These two high-profile cases highlighted a common defect in our system of governance – a deep rot in the leadership of the 130,000 strong police establishment to allowing the men and women in blue to act efficiently, independent and professionally to uphold what is right and lawful rather to be subverted to glorify “might is right”’ and the shocking lack of commitment and quality of performance by the political leadership and public service to provide good governance.

I am thoroughly shocked and outraged at the failure of our system of administration of justice in both these high-profile cases in keeping with the maxim to ensure that “justice is not only done, but seen to be done”.

There were several burning issues which qualify to be described as the concerns and top conversation topics of all Malaysians on the occasion of the Chinese New Year of the Goat in the past few days, and among those competing for the second tier level of the Chinese New Year concerns and top conversation topics are:

3. Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri’s racist call to Malay consumers to boycott Chinese businesses and the impotence and lack of political will and commitment to 1Malaysia by the Najib premiership to resolve the issue in a satisfactory and acceptable manner despite the passage of some three weeks.
4. Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s intensification of his campaign to topple Datuk Seri Najib Razak as Prime Minister of Malaysia and UMNO President. People are speculating whether Najib could survive as PM till the end of the year, or even by mid-year or even earlier.
5. The massive 1MDB Scandal;
6. The continued educational, economic and environmental decline in the country and the unchecked deterioration of all the indices of good governance, threatening to end up with Malaysia as a basket case joining the ranks of the “failed states”.
7. Rearing of the ugly heads of extremism, bigotry and intolerance in the public domain, with the voices of moderation remaining muted and silent, resulting in the country seeing the worst racial and religious polarization in the nation’s history.
8. Unchecked corruption, greed and abuses of power in top decision-making circles.
9. The far-reaching consequences of the implementation of GST from April 1.

There were other ongoing developments and issues competing for attention as the top Chinese New Year concerns and conversation topics, including:

1. The fate of Pakatan Rakyat, with Anwar back in jail and the death of Tok Guru Nik Aziz, whether PR component parties could take stock, regroup and reunify to “return to the basics” to be guided by the two fundamental principles of PR Common Policy Framework and consensus operational principle which had brought success to PR in the 12th and 13th General Elections, or whether PR would explode and disintegrate.

2. The escalation of crackdown on human rights and fundamental liberties as witnessed by the arrest of human rights lawyer, Eric Paulsen, cartoonists Zunar, social activist Lawrence Jayaraj, student leader Adam Adli Abdul Halim, DAP Penang Exco and Wanita DAP chief Chong Eng, PSM Secretary-General S. Arutchelvan and impending arrest of DAP for Taiping, Nga Kor Ming.

It is most outrageous and scandalous that the Malaysian police showed neither respect nor sensitivity whatsoever when three cops appeared at Perak Pakatan Rakyat Chinese New Year Open House in Ipoh this morning to publicly serve Nga with the official notice to show up at Bukit Aman police headquarters tomorrow at 11.30 am to have his statement recorded with regard to a sedition probe against him.

Why such high-handedness, selectivity of treatment and even harassment of PR leaders when police want to conduct investigations as compared to the servile and submissive police attitude when faced with UMNO Ministers, a former Deputy Minister and activists who were accused of making racial and religious hate statements or speeches?

The UMNO/Barisan Nasional would be sorely mistaken if the think they could cow and subdue patriotic critics and dissenters with such boorish and insensitive attitudes.

Clearly, the country needs a change but the past 18 months after the 13th General Elections have exposed one stark reality – that such change is not possible under the present Umno/BN government, whether Najib or anyone else.
In fact, we have one of the weakest Prime Ministers in the nation’s history, as Datuk Seri Najib is even weaker than his predecessor, Tun Abdullah Badawi. But he is a powerful UMNO President who is not easy to be dislodged or removed inside UMNO. And if Najib can continue as UMNO President, he position as the sixth Prime Minister is safe.

Najib has lost the sense of national direction, as exemplified by the fact that he now hardly talked or promoted his three key official programmes – the 1Malaysia Policy, the National Transformation Programme founded on a New Economic Model (NEM) and his initiative of a Global Movement of Moderates.

This is why there is even greater hope among Malaysians that the Pakatan Rakyat would be vehicle for national change among Malaysians of all races, and that the 14th General Elections would provide such an opportunity after it was stolen away in the 13th General Elections because of undemocratic electoral constituency delineation despite the Pakatan Rakyat winning a majority of 52% of the national vote.

However, the Pakatan Rakyat is facing the greatest crisis in its seven-year history, which has been aggravated by the imprisonment of Anwar Ibrahim and the death of Tok Guru Nik Aziz.

Can the Pakatan Rakyat ride through the crisis and emerge even stronger than ever or would it disintegrate and die?

This a question awaiting answer not only by Pakatan Rakyat leaders but supporters as well.

I want to appeal to all Pakatan Rakyat leaders, including Pas President, Datuk Seri Ahmad Hadi Awang, to focus single-mindedly on how to save Pakatan Rakyat and discourage efforts and elements within our ranks who are prepared to destabilize and even destroy PR.

The latest political developments and the death of Nik Aziz has revived the UG (Unity Government) idea of certain UMNO strategists out to divide and destroy PR and it is most likely that UMNO will not contest the Chempaka by-election in the Kelantan State Assembly arising from the death of Nik Aziz.

In today Mingguan Malaysia, UMNO’s mouth piece, former Chief Justice, Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad said PAS and Umno must unite to save Barisan Nasional (BN) should Pakatan Rakyat (PR) win the 14th general election, making the baseless and wild allegation that the DAP will destroy the rights of the Malays and Islam’s special position if it gained power.

It is most irresponsible for UMNO quarters to stir up and indoctrinate Malays particularly in the rural areas with racist smears and racialist outrages in the rural areas, where there is adequate access to internet and which is one reason why they are so vulnerable to such false and base attacks.

Who will be the next Opposition Leader? It is premature to talk about it now, as under the Constitution, Anwar is still MP for Permatang Pauh and Parliamentary Opposition Leader.

However, if there is need for a new Opposition leader, I believe there is no shortage of talents from three PR parties to helm this position.

In DAP, there is Lim Guan Eng Penang Chief Minister and the coterie of young but tested DAP leaders; in PKR there are Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Datuk Azmin Ali, Nuruk Izzah; and in PAS there is Hadi Awang and new generation of PAS leaders.

The paramount task is for every PR leader to jointly save PR by adopting an Eight-Year Roadmap reaffirming the secret recipe of the PR success in the 2008 and 2013 general elections, namely adherence to the PR Common Policy Framework which binds all three parties and the operational principle of consensus requiring the consent of all three parties before any policy or issue could represent that of PR.

There have been dissenting voices, like those who said that the immediate implementation of hudud cannot be compromised and must be effected.

This is why PR will miss Nik Aziz greatly. Firstly, it was because of his staunch opposition to UG idea that the concept did not get very far.

Secondly, Nik Aziz will be able the see the Big Picture on the need to endorse the eight-year PR Roadmap to ensure the survival, success and victory of PR in the 14th General Election.

Nobody doubts that Nik Aziz would himself want to see the immediate implementation of hudud, but he is realistic enough to know that it was not part of the PR Common Policy Framework and that any insistence without arriving at a PR consensus to implement it would lead to the disintegration of PR.

Nik Aziz would have understood the arguments that the implementation of hudud is not a top priority issue as compared to ensuring the survival and success of PR, the defeat of Umno/BN and in capturing Putrajaya Federal Government in the 14th GE to immediately implement policies which will restore freedom, justice, human dignity and good governance in Malaysia.

Nik Aziz had given great support to the formation and sustenance of PR, although hudud is not part of the PR Common Policy Framework.

This is why I cannot buy the argument that it will be going against Islamic principles if hudud is not implemented, for it would mean that Nik Aziz and all Pas leaders and members had betrayed Islamic principles for six years from the 12th to 13th General Elections when the issue of the implementation of hudud was not presented as one of the core principles of PR in the 13th General Elections.

I earnest hope that the PR leaders can single-mindedly work on a formula to save Pakatan Rakyat, which will at the same time save the country as well as save Anwar from five-year incarceration followed by another five years of disenfranchisement of his civil and citizenship rights to stand for elective office and even to cast his vote.

Let us do what we can to achieve three Ss – Save Pakatan Rakyat, Save Malaysia and Save Anwar!

Speech at the Penang DAP Chinese New Year Open House held at Penang Chinese Town Hall on Sunday, 22nd February 2015 at 8.30 pm

IGP demam, patut jumpa doktor, saran Mahfuz

Mahfuz raps IGP for discounting Sirul's claim

PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar sarcastically said Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar has to go to the doctor, since he is having a “fever”.

Mahfuz said this when asked to comment on the IGP's response to allegations made by ex-commando Sirul Azhar Umar, who has been convicted of the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

“I think the IGP is having a fever. I ask that he goes to the doctor.

“He cannot give such a response when Sirul has made such an allegation. There was a trial. Don’t tell me Khalid didn’t follow the trial,” Mahfuz told a press conference at the PAS headquarters today.

Khalid (left) said on Wednesday that the police do not plan to re-open investigation into the murder unless Sirul divulges new information about the case.

However, Mahfuz (left) added that Khalid’s statement showed he was only fit to be a lance corporal, not the inspector-general of police.

“It is just unfortunate that an inspector-general of police issues such statements. I think he’s only fit to be a lance corporal,” he said.

Mahfuz also denied that he was taking advantage of the Altantuya murder case and pointed out that it was Sirul who had contacted him first, as he was about to face the gallows.

The PAS leader added that Sirul would reveal to the public on the murder case as it involves lives.

“For me, as he faces death, let him die in a responsible manner and let him tell what exactly happened,” Mahfuz added.

He also said that he would be chairing a press conference with Sirul, via an online telephone call from Australia, for 15 minutes.

The press conference will commence at 11.30am on Monday, at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Confirm 'hearsay' call

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, meanwhile, questioned why the IGP was quick to say the police report he (Lim) lodged yesterday was based on 'hearsay'.

“What exactly is the IGP’s motive in trying to disregard my report?” he asked in a statement today.

Lim and his colleague Ramkarpal Singh had yesterday lodged a report urging the police to investigate the claim by former police commando Sirul Azhar Umar that he had only acted on orders and the people with the motive to kill Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu were still free.

Sirul had made the claim during an exclusive telephone interview with Malaysiakini. Last month, the Federal Court sentenced Sirul and another former police commando Azilah Hadri to death for Altantuya's murder.

Lim urged the top cop to pen a letter to the Australian authorities to confirm whether Sirul had been interviewed or otherwise.

“This is the best way to explain the so-called hearsay. Check with those who are involved in the interview."

Khalid yesterday said that police required 'sufficient grounds' to proceed with an investigation as Lim's report was based on 'hearsay' reported in the media.

 

'PM shouldn't worry, Sirul yet to name names'

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should not be unduly worried over former police commando Sirul Azhar Umar’s claims that those who had the motive to want Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu dead were still at large.

PAS information chief and Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar who said this, added it was surprsing that the prime minister would react to Sirul's recent statement as 'only those who ate chili would feel its spiciness'.

Mahfuz (left) said the although Sirul said he had acted under instructions with regards to the Altantuya murder, he did not name any individuals when he said that he had allegedly received orders to kill the Mongolian.

“Why is it rubbish? Who is not making sense? Either Sirul is not making sense or the prime minister is not making sense.

“Sirul did not mention the prime minister when he said that he was only following orders in the murder of Altantuya. So why did the prime minister give such a response?” said Mahfuz at a press conference today.

At the MCA Chinese New Year open house yesterday, when asked on Sirul’s claim that he had received orders from above to kill Altantuya, the prime minister had replied 'utter rubbish'.

Sirul had made the claim during an exclusive telephone interview with Malaysiakini, during which he also said he was being made a scapegoat and that he was considering 'revealing all' with regards to the Altantuya case.

'No need to bring Sirul back'

Mahfuz said there was no need to bring back Sirul to Malaysia, referring to the case of former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Yazid Sufaat who was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for joining the Al-Qaeda two years ago.

“Investigations can be done in Australia just like in the case of Yazid Sufaat,” he said.

He added that it was unfair for Sirul (right) to be brought back to the country as he had been given the death sentence.

Expressing concern that the case will instead be closed, Mahfuz said Malaysian police officers should instead be sent to Australia.

Mahfuz also said the necessary documents for Sirul’s mother and sister to leave for Australia have been completed and they were now waiting for their visas to be ready.

Five PAS members will leave with them for Australia to meet Sirul for a week. The dates will be announced soon, said Mahfuz.

 

10:41 pagi: Orang ramai berasak cuba tatap jasad Nik Aziz

Perkasa boss under fire over critical Nik Aziz post

At a time when Malaysians are mourning the passing of Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, a post on Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali's Facebook page ridiculed the long-serving PAS leader.

Predictably, the post drew an avalanche of criticism.

"My condolences to his family. May Allah bless his soul... His passing is no surprise. He is not healthy and is of old age.

"A lot of people praise him because he is an ulama (cleric) and is known as tok guru (teacher), even though he doesn't help develop Kelantan all that much.

"In fact, Islam has not developed in Kelantan and hudud law is not implemented during his lifetime and 20 year reign," says the posting on Ibrahim's Facebook page.

Too late for retraction

The post, authored last night, attracted more than 2,000 comments, mostly condemnations.

Contacted later, Ibrahim replied by a text message that his Facebook page was not managed by him and the statement had been "dibatal" (cancelled).

It is understood that Ibrahim is currently abroad.

Shortly after being contacted, the post on his Facebook page was removed.

At about 1pm, a new post was uploaded expressing just his condolence to Nik Aziz's family and nothing more.

However, the first few comments from readers stated that they have already screen captured the deleted post for posterity.

FB handler to blame?

Yesterday, Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was also caught in a similar Facebook faux pas by posting a purported joint statement with MCA president Liow Tiong Lai.

The joint statement said he had met Liow and the duo decided to issue a joint statement to clear the air over the "boycott Chinese businesses" remark made by Ismail Sabri’s (left).

However, Liow responded immediately to Ismail's posting, saying the statement was issued without his knowledge and that he had not met with Ismail on the matter.

This led a red-faced Ismail to delete the purported joint statement from his Facebook page.

Mujahid: Trying times for Pakatan following Nik Aziz's passing

'Anwar tak salah, tak perlu pengampunan Agong'

Former Kelantan MB Nik Aziz Passes Away

KOTA BAHARU, Feb 12 (Bernama) -- Former Kelantan Menteri Besar and PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat passed away at his house in Pulau Melaka, Kota Baharu, Thursday night.

His son Nik Mohamad Abduh said when his father Nik Abdul Aziz, 84, passed away at 9.40pm, his family members were by his side.

Nik Aziz who was also Chempaka state assemblyman from 1990 to 2013 had returned home from the Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital in Kubang Kerian at 8.40pm where he had been receiving treatment for prostate cancer since Jan 19.

His health had deteriorated in December when major floods hit Kelantan.

Nik Mohamad Abduh said his remains will be taken to the Pulau Melaka Mosque for prayers at 10am Friday and later buried at the village Muslim cemetery.

News of Nik Aziz's death spread quickly and scores of people had already arrived at his residence to pay their last respects while school children and villagers had also started reciting the 'Al-Quran'.

Traffic police were also called in to control traffic as roads leading to Nik Aziz's house was congested for a few kilometres.

-- BERNAMA

Najib patut pecat menteri 'bangang', kata Khalid Samad