Spreading hate is an offence

The Sun
Down 2 Earth by Terence Fernandez

I REMEMBER walking out of class during a Geography lesson when I was in Form Six when the teacher made a light-hearted joke about Indians. Everyone laughed except me and I boycotted her class for two weeks – basically playing truant for one to two periods a day, spending that time in the canteen or library.

It was far from exemplary conduct of the deputy head prefect, but I wanted to prove a point – as foolish and foolhardy as it may have seemed, seeing that I didn’t do too well in the Geography paper in my STPM.

In any case, the teacher one day bumped into me at the canteen and asked why I had been avoiding her class. Apparently, she already knew the reason as my classmates – my Malay classmates to be precise, had spoken up for me. They explained her folly, with one of them even telling the teacher that she had gone overboard making disparaging remarks and that she should apologise to me if she wanted me back in class. Another classmate also cautioned her that if the principal were to catch me loitering around school during classes, he would demand an explanation from me and my answer to the principal would not be beneficial to her.

To cut a long story short, I started attending classes the following day after she apologised.

I still remember her words: “Cikgu minta maaf kalau Terence tersinggung. Cikgu tak sengaja.” (“I apologise if I had hurt your feelings. It was unintentional.”)

This episode occurred 20 years ago. Looking back, I would never equate that teacher to a racist. I will not repeat what she said but it was not a slur. She was perhaps guilty of going overboard with light-hearted banter with the wrong crowd and in the wrong forum – although the truth of the matter is that the Indian community has always been the butt of jokes though some of it is through the own doing of its leaders. (But that’s another story.)

In any case the words my ex-teacher said are nothing compared to the words that were allegedly spewed out by two headmasters in Johor and Kedah. They were the language of racists and for the government to pussyfoot around taking action is endorsing the festering racism that is prevalent in our institutions from kindergarten to university.

Such educators must be removed from public service, sent for rehabilitation and only then assimilated back into society. Transfers are not an option as it just gives them another avenue to spread their dogma of hate and intolerance – be it among schoolchildren or impressionable adults in the education department.

Spreading hate is a seditious offence, especially when we are trying to teach the next generation about co-dependence. This is why these two “educators” from Kulai and Bukit Selambau must be made an example of; their anti-social behaviour is contradictory to nation building. If the government is truly serious in inculcating the 1Malaysia spirit in Malaysians, then mere sloganeering is insufficient. Such elements must be dealt with by using the full might of the law.

We do not know how much damage had been done to the students of these two schools; and these are incidents that we know of. God only knows what else is going on in other schools.

These two headmasters had betrayed the trust placed in them as educators. But what is frightening is that the comments were not jokes. The headmasters meant what they said.

At one time the government was concerned that religious schools were breeding extremists. Now it seems that national schools are also being sullied by those entrusted to mould the future generation on the tenets of the Rukun Negara.

It would be wise to keep a close eye on these schools – yes, even the vernacular ones – to ensure we don’t end up with a generation of bigots, racists and chauvinists. We already have more than our fair share to deal with now.

But here’s food for thought: Are these school heads to be entirely blamed? Perhaps they were emboldened by their leaders and superiors who had publicly made similar statements, some to the extent of articulating them with pointy tools.

Terence is convinced that many Malaysians subscribe to the 1Malaysia principle, but they are the silent majority. Feedback: terence@ thesundaily.com

PAS says DAP does not understand hudud

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 – PAS said today it would not back down from its promise to implement hudud laws adding that its Pakatan Rakyat (PR) ally DAP does not understand concept.

PAS vice-president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the implementation of hudud would only affect Muslims.

“DAP rejects hudud because they do not clearly understand its implementation. It is actually compulsory for the government to implement hudud,” Tuan Ibrahim (picture) told The Malaysian Insider.

He hoped that DAP would understand and respect PAS principles.

“We have never questioned DAP or PKR policies. We can agree on certain things so we hope DAP will do the same,” said Tuan Ibrahim.

“Hudud law is only for Muslims, if it is implemented the non-Muslims would not be affected. So they don’t need to worry. I hope this issue won’t be turned into a controversy,” he added.

Meanwhile, PAS Youth chief Nasruddin Hassan said the party would continue to explain to DAP on the implementation of hudud.

“DAP does not understand what is hudud, so it is the responsibility of PAS to explain until they can understand,” said Nasruddin.

“We are not questioning DAP’s loyalty but we only want to explain what PAS has been fighting for,” he added.

He said it is DAP’s right to reject the Islamist party’s objective, but it would continue to fight for “Islamic principles”.

Nasruddin however said the difference in ideology would not affect their cooperation in Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

“The relationship between PAS and DAP is purely political so the issue of disagreement with DAP does not arise,” he said.

“PAS and DAP would continue to work in PR and we would not question the loyalty of any party in PR,” said Nasruddin.

Yesterday, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang said hudud law and Islamic state are not part of PR policy.

Lim said the party has always been fighting for a secular Malaysia.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh had also said that PR would not support the implementation of hudud if the coalition takes over the federal government.

Karpal said such a law is unconstitutional and every party must respect the constitution.

DAP made the statement a day after PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said Karpal’s rejection of hudud law was his personal opinion.

Karpal made the statement to dismiss Nik Aziz’s proposal for the implementation of Islamic laws to address social issues.

“The Federal Constitution only allows for Penal Code and other civil law, there is no room for hudud,” said Karpal.

Hudud or the Islamic criminal law imposes strict punishment, which includes amputation for stealing and stoning for fornication.

The Kelantan legislative assembly passed the Syariah Criminal Code II in 1993, which encompasses hudud law.

A similar was enacted in Terengganu in 2003 when the state was ruled by PAS.

The law however has not been enforced in both states.

Paint attack on surau: 'Form a police task force'

By Zefry Dahalan - Free Malaysia Today,

SEREMBAN: Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) wants police to act fast after a surau near here was splashed with paint yesterday.
Its chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin said a special task force should be set up to probe into the incident similar to the special team formed in Penang to investigate the Friday sermon issue.

(In Penang, the chief minister's name was allegedly used, instead of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's, in the “doa” during the Friday sermon at certain mosques in the state.)

“We hope a similar team will be formed to investigate the surau case, which is more sensitive and dangerous,” Badrul Hisham said.

In yesterday's incident, the surau at Taman Pulai Impian, Sikamat, near here, was splashed with red paint by unknown assailants. Broken bottles were also found in a nearby drain.

The police have taken samples of the paint.

Badrul Hisham, who is also known as Chegu Bard, said SAMM condemned the attack, saying the act smacked of a possible motive to instigate racial unrest.

"SAMM never accuses anyone but if racial and religious sentiments are stirred up, the parties that will benefit will be the racist-oriented ones.

"The motive could be to instigate racial and religous sentiments. Early this year a church in Seremban was also vandalised,”he said.

Badrul Hisham, who is also Rembau PKR chief, said SAMM will meet the surau committee today to help repair the surau.

"SAMM plans to bring activists of different races and religions to do a 'gotong royong' to repair the damage.

“I urge the residents and people outside the housing estate to be calm and show a sense of maturity by not over-reacting", Badrul Hisham said.

Sabah and the genesis of frog politicos

By Erna Mahyuni - Free Malaysia Today

COMMENT Malaysians who associate democracy with decency and fair play are still bitter about the coup Umno pulled off in Perak last year. But 15 years before Perak, there was Sabah. In 1994, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), then a Barisan Nasional rival, won the Sabah state election, but did not even have time to uncork the champagne bottle. Umno moved in and, almost in the twinkling of an eye, engineered a coup through defections. They say Anwar Ibrahim led the charge.

Sabahans were the first Malaysians to denounce their statesmen as “katak” (Malay for “frogs”). Among the high-profile politicians who hopped out of PBS were Joseph Kurup and Bernard Dompok. Kurup is now the MP for Pensiangan and Dompok is the Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister.

But PBS chief Joseph Pairin Kitingan had to face a more heartbreaking betrayal when his brother, Jeffrey Gapari Kitingan, left PBS to form his own party. Currently vice-president of PKR, Jeffrey hopped through three other political parties – PBRS, Akar and Upko—and even applied twice to join Umno, only to be rejected.

Kadazans divided

Though the Kadazandusuns, the majority community on Sabah, hold Pairin in high regard, his party no longer commands their support. The locals see no reason why they should support a party whose members’ loyalties are suspect.

It was rumoured that the frogs were offered up to RM3 million each to defect.

James Chin, writing about the 1994 election in Asian Survey, notes that despite strong regional sentiment and tribal nationalism in the state, these factors were not enough to withstand “the onslaught of the BN’s national political machine with its almost unlimited funds and resources”.

Those resources include local television and radio stations. The BN campaigns through them, and one of the campaign messages is the “Binalah Sabah Baru” TV commercial that shows people living in abject poverty. We are supposed to believe they are Sabahans, but they are actually illegal immigrants living in shanties.

It was telling that in the closely contested 1994 election, PBS won all 15 Kadazandusun majority constituencies while BN won the 18 Malay/Muslim constituencies. The remaining seven seats were predominantly Chinese. PBS won four of them and the rest went to BN’s SAPP.

PBS is now a shadow of its former self as other parties, including Upko and PBRS, jostle for Kadazandusun support. With Pairin’s inevitable retirement looming and Jeffrey’s image as a turncoat persisting, no candidate has yet emerged to unite the now-splintered Kadazandusun electorate.
Anwar was allegedly the prime mover behind Sabah Umno’s victory in the state. It is said that he was behind negotiations with the defectors, setting the wheels in motion for PBS’ dethroning.

We must forgive Sabahans if they are wary of PKR. After all, it is Anwar’s party and its head honcho in Sabah is Jeffrey.

What both Umno and PKR have failed to realise is that the racially charged politics that we associate with Peninsular Malaysia does not apply in Sabah. For one, the majority race is the predominantly Christian Kadazandusun and the brand of Islam practised in Sabah is far more moderate than that of West Malaysia.

Anwar made a huge political gaffe by his initial appointment of Azmin Ali as Sabah PKR chief, a move that alienated locals. His lack of understanding of the local political landscape and his inability to attract respected political leaders to PKR’s fold will make it nearly impossible for PKR to win Sabah in the next general election.

PAS will have an even more difficult time than PKR. Voters have soundly rejected the Islamic party’s overtures in the state. This leaves DAP as the only peninsular-based opposition party with any hope of winning seats.

Empty promises

However, Umno is not going to have it easy either. Despite its promises of development and aid, Sabah still struggles with poverty.

According to United Nations statistics (http://www.undp.org.my/uploads/SabahHumanDevp.pdf), 23% of households in the state live below the national poverty line, with child poverty rates standing at 42%. More than one fifth of the population aged six and above have never been to school.

Yet the state boasts rich natural resources and an enviable biodiversity, not to mention tourist attractions such as Sipadan island and Mount Kinabalu. The truth is that the state has precious little control over the revenues it makes, which are channelled directly to the federal government.

What has Umno brought? Instead of development and improved infrastructure, as it has promised in every election campaign, it has tried to tighten its hold in the state by appointing Malaysians from the peninsula as heads of departments in the civil service.

Umno has yet to address the problem of illegal immigrants. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Idris Jala, who regards it as a minor issue, has obviously not visited the crime-ridden “black areas” of Kota Kinabalu, which are controlled mainly by illegal immigrants.

Sabah’s voters made their choice clear in the 1994 election. Simple majority or no, PBS had clearly won the mandate.

In the 1980s, former chief minister Harris Salleh bartered away Labuan to curry favour with the federal government and paid the price when the voters reacted by supporting PBS and ousting his party, Berjaya.

But the voters still suffer. The frogs betrayed not only their trust, but also put in place a government motivated by greed instead of a belief in democratic principles. Sabah deserves better.

Erna Mahyuni is a Sabahan writer currently based in Kuala Lumpur.

'Muslim' Banggarma demonstrates her Hindu faith

By Athi Shankar - Free Malaysia Today

PARIT BUNTAR: S Banggarma, who was declared “a Muslim” by the Penang High Court on Aug 4, defied the Islamic authorities and demonstrated her Hindu belief by carrying “paal kudam” (pot of milk) at a temple festival here last Friday. The mother of two offered her penance to Hindu goddess Mariamman at Sri Muthu Mariamman Kovil fire-walking festival in Dennis Town Estate in the morning together with hundreds of Hindu devotees.

She carried the paal kudam for a kilometre from nearby Sri Muneeswarar Kovil to Sri Muthu Mariamman Kovil seeking the divine’s blessing and intervention to help her overcome her battle with the Islamic authorities.

“I want to show to the world that I am a Hindu... no one has the right to change it. I will live and die a Hindu,” she told FMT later.

Judicial Commissioner Yaakob Sam declared in his 40-minute oral judgment that the 28-year-old mother of two was a Muslim and therefore would have to resolve her “unwitting conversion” dispute with the Syariah Court.

Banggarma, whose Muslim name is Siti Hasnah Vangarama Abdullah, instantly brushed aside the verdict as “unfair and unrealistic”.

Her lawyer Gooi Hsiao Leung has prepared documents to file an appeal soon against Yaacob’s decision at the Court of Appeal.

Banggarma is married to fisherman S Sockalingam in Tanjung Piandang, Perak, in 2000 and has two children -- Kanagaraj, nine, and Hisyanthini, three.

'Unwittingly converted'

Banggarma claimed that she was unwittingly converted by the state Islamic religious authorities at the age of seven while she was staying in a welfare home in Kepala Batas, Penang.

Banggarma’s birth certificate revealed that she was born a Hindu on Aug 13, 1982, in Keratong, Pahang, to plantation workers B Subramaniam and Latchumy Ramadu.

She fled the home with a few inmates when she was 16.

She discovered her “conversion” only when she wanted to register her marriage with Sockalingam.

Several involuntary Muslim converts such as Rani from Malacca, Ragina Mohd Zaini alias Krishnan, her sister, Rajiwah a/p Krishnan alias Mohd Zaini, and brother Rajeni Mohd Zaini, all, from Johor Baru, were also at the festival.

Rani was born to a Muslim mother but as a 16-day-old baby, was adopted and brought up as a Hindu by a Hindu family.

She has practised Hinduism even though her identity card stipulated her as a Muslim.

However, recently the state Islamic authorities stormed into her house and forcibly circumcised and converted her Hindu husband M Muniandy into Islam.

Rani’s children, too, are facing the same predicament.

The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf ) and its political off-spring Human Rights Party (HRP) are carrying a nationwide signature campaign protesting forced conversion of Hindus to Islam in the country.

Bullying tactic

Hindraf legal adviser and HRP secretary-general P Uthayakumar slammed the Umno-led federal government for its bullying tactic to convert Hindus into Islam.

He alleged that since independence, the Umno government had systematically built up an overwhelmingly Malay-dominated civil service, army and police to instil fear and carry out the bullying tactic on non-Muslims.

“Such forced conversions in a democratic society only happen in Malaysia... not even in the largest Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia,” he said.

He said the Indonesia Parliament had even passed the Race Discrimination Act in 2008 to outlaw all forms of racism, racial discrimination and religious extremism in the country.

“As the largest Muslim country, Indonesia could have easily implemented the Islamic state and hudud law, but it chose to remain universally secular and protect the minority.

“Indeed in all democratic societies, the majority protects the minority rights, interests and benefits.

“But not in Malaysia. Here the majority suppresses and oppresses the minorities.

‘If you don’t call this ethnic-cleansing, what do you called it then?” asked Uthayakumar, who performed prayers at the festival.

Hindraf and HRP erected a panthal (canopy shed) at the festival displaying anti-forced conversion banners.

Prayers were also performed by their supporters for the rights of Banggarama and others to practise Hinduism in accordance with Article 11 of the Federal Constitution (freedom of religion).

So far 5,000 signatures have been collected in Perak alone, including 1,200 at Friday’s festival, for the anti-forced conversion campaign.

Perak Hindraf-HRP coordinator P Ramesh said the group, together with Muslim converts, would submit a memorandum on the issue to Sultan Azlan Shah at Istana Kinta, Ipoh, on Sunday.

A new script for Malaysia

By Nurul Izzah Anwar
COMMENT A Malay daily recently declared that a civil war would break out in the country. And this war would dwarf the May 13 1969 racial riot – the worst in Malaysia’s history. The war, said the newspaper, is a response to a non-existing amended constitution that abolishes the special position of the Malays and Islam. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin also made reference to the 1969 riot in his comment when he reminded his Barisan Nasional (BN) colleague, Dr Chua Soi Lek, to tone down his demands to scrap what the government likes to call the pro-Malay economic policy.

In Penang, we heard stories that the name of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has been replaced with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in Friday sermons in some mosques in the state.

Apart from some Umno leaders who are fond of making racist comments, we also now have Perkasa which claimed to champion the constitutional position of the Malays.

These stories have been reported at length and front-paged by many newspapers, inviting discussions from both sides of the political divide.

These stories are not new. Many of us have heard similar stories not too long ago.

Remember in 1987 when Umno organised a racially charged political rally? It was followed by detention of many opposition leaders, including Karpal Singh and Guan Eng, under Operasi Lalang.

I wonder what the people behind the recent racial provocations hope to achieve.

Political theatre

I was too young to remember Operasi Lalang, but from my understanding of the event, it sounds so similar to the political theatre we are watching right now.

Every now and then, Malaysians are forced to watch the show based on an outdated script, written perhaps by those in power who benefit from racial polarisation.

Except for the change in the cast, the script always revolves around racial hatred, and how one community is a threat to another community’s interest.

Thank God, this latest show has not resulted in a new racial riot, or the “great war” that the Malay daily was trying to instigate.

Obviously, this tactic has not worked with Malaysians. Young Malaysians now demand a new script for the nation to be written by them.

In saying that the latest attempt at disuniting the country has failed, I am not entirely dismissing the fact that the racial rhetoric might have attracted some groups of young Malaysians.

Reading reports on Perkasa activities, I noticed the presence of a small number of young Malays. These are the people that I wish to reach out and to join other young Malaysians to write a new script for the nation.

Real issues

Perkasa has been accused of only trying to defend rent-seeking activities, but I doubt these youths are awarded any government contract. My suspicion is they have been indoctrinated with years of racist propaganda.

They are not alone. I have heard of civil servants and even teachers who made racist remarks while on the job.

For them, this country is all about “us” versus “them”, “oppression by certain group” or “risk of losing political power.”

But I have not given up on them.

I want to tell them that it is not hard to look beyond the colour of our skin, to understand that diversity has always been the foundation of this country.

I would like for all of us to focus on the real issues that will destroy this country: such as corruption, low foreign investment, lack of job opportunities and many other problems shared by all Malaysians.

It would not be easy to make them understand, but the success of the new script for Malaysia’s future depends on not just one group but also others who have been misled and marginalised. That is why all Malaysians must speak out and decide once and for all what the new script would be. A script built on the promise and vision of an independent Malaysia for all citizens: based on the rule of law, justice and equality.

Those who deny the will of the people for a better Malaysia should take note. Malaysians recognise theatre as it is, and the days of political theatre are over.

Nurul Izzah Anwar is PKR's MP for Lembah Pantai.

Pornthip - Thailand’s most trusted person

By FMT Staff

KUALA LUMPUR: Flamboyant Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunan may be a thorn in the side of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), but in Thailand she is a revered figure. Her latest testimony -- that Teoh Beng Hock did not commit suicide -- has forced the MACC to rethink its strategy in the ongoing inquest into the death of the aide to a Selangor state executive councillor.

Holding her own under MACC counsel Abdul Razak Musa’s badgering on Aug 18, an exasperated Pornthip retorted: “I work for the rights of the dead and not the Selangor government.” This drew loud applause from the packed courtroom and admiration from Malaysians at large.

Harakahdaily recently ran a personality profile of her and quoted a Readers’ Digest survey that  found her to be the “most trusted individual in Thailand”.

Readers’ Digest published the survey results in its March 2010 edition.

Below is an excerpt from the Harakahdaily story.

In Pornthip we trust

The survey found that the public's trust in Pornthip exceeded their trust in Phra Ajarn Alongkot Dikkapanyo, the head monk at a Buddhist temple that helps AIDS victims, who ranked second.

The dead may not be able to speak on behalf of Pornthip, but her vast experience and no-nonsense approach to her work has made her one of the most respected figures in Thailand.

Respondents in the Readers’ Digest survey, which was conducted last October, were impressed by her dedication and fearlessness in her fight for justice.

Long before fictitious heroes such as CSI Miami's sergeant Horatio Caine and CSI NY's stern-faced detective Mac Taylor came on the scene to give forensic scientists their long-overdue recognition, Pornthip had already defied the stereotypical portrayal of people in her line of work as nerds locked in their labs in plain white suits.

Her flamboyant, punk-dyed hairstyle and eccentric clothing have, indeed, made her the darling of media photographers.

“I chose to study pathology, which is shunned by most medical students,” she said in a 2001 interview with Thailand Illustrated.

“I intended to work in the government and contribute to solutions to social problems. I am serious with my work. I love justice and fairness, and am very individualistic.

"This is why I made this choice in life.”

Women and pathology

Pornthip feels that women make good pathologists.
“Women are suited to this profession,” she told Thailand Illustrated. “They are meticulous, anxious, picky, and doubting. Such attributes can be turned into assets for the profession."

Born in 1954, Pornthip is today Thailand's most renowned forensic pathologist. She is the director of  the Central Institute of Forensic Science, which comes under the Thai Ministry of Justice.

Her expert opinion is often sought by investigators.

During the riots in Bangkok early this year, the Thai government appointed her as a member of the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES), the powerful body which was responsible for handling the brief emergency rule declared in several parts of Thailand.

Her services were also critical during the 2004 tsunami, and in the aftermath of the infamous Tak Bai tragedy in 2004, when 78 Muslims died under army custody following their arrest during a protest against police abuses in southern Thailand.

Pornthip provided damning evidence of military abuse of the detained Muslims, who died of suffocation in the trucks they were stuffed into. Most of them had been fasting.

Although Pornthip is a government appointee, she has no qualms in calling a spade a spade. She has spoken out many times against police abuses and human rights violations.

Yes, but what do you mean by ‘vices’?

And I am only talking about just one issue. I am not even yet talking about abuse of power, corruption, police brutality, deaths in custody, fraudulent elections, racism, exploiting Islam for political gain, and much, much more.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Shun vices to gain respect, Shafie tells Malays
(Bernama) - Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal has called upon Muslims and Malays in the country to avoid conflict among themselves to earn the respect of other religions and races.
He said in order to preserve the image of Muslims and Malays, they need to stay away from social ills that they are frequently associated with.
“Others will respect us if the country’s Muslims, Malays and Bumiputeras show good behaviour instead of being involved in street racing and baby dumping.”
“Innocent babies are abandoned because of our actions. It seems like others aren’t involved in this ... we are the ones street racing, smoking ganja (marijuana) and even syabu.”
“These acts are linked to our youths and can bring about negative perceptions among others that we are not noble people and our people cannot set good examples,” he said during a breaking fast function with the community in Semporna here today.

***************************************

Most of you have certainly heard of Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam. But have you ever heard of Chaplain Yusuf Estes (photograph above) now known as Sheikh Yusuf Estes? If not then go to these links and read about the man.
http://www.famousmuslims.com/Yusuf%20Estes.htm
http://islamtomorrow.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yusuf-Estes/9209579703
Now, why are we talking about Yusuf Estes? Simple, because Yusuf Estes once said, “I love Islam but I hate Muslims.” He also said that if you want to see good Muslims then you have to go to the Christian world. In other words, the Christians conduct themselves the way Islam asks Muslims to conduct themselves -- but unfortunately they don’t.
This is exactly what I have been saying for years but when I say it they detain me without trial under the Internal Security Act.
And with that opening statement I would now like to refer to the Bernama report above about what the Umno VP, Mohd Shafie Apdal, said.
Shafie has asked the Malays-Muslims to shun vices so that the non-Malays/non-Muslims would have more respect for the Malays-Muslims. While that is a good and noble appeal, what concerns me is that ‘vices’, according to Shafie, is merely premarital sex (abandoning illegitimate babies or baby dumping), street racing and smoking pot (marijuana, ganja or syabu).
What about the other vices? There are worse things than premarital sex, street racing and smoking illegal substances. Should Shafie not be more concerned about the other more serious vices? Why has he not mentioned these as well? These are more damaging than premarital sex, street racing and getting high on weed.
I remember, back in the 1970s, at the height of the Vietnamese refugee problem, Terengganu was flooded with ‘boat people’. And what did the Malays-Muslims do? They 'kidnapped' the good-looking Vietnamese girls and women and raped them.
I personally knew the OCPD of Kuala Terengganu who headed the operation to round up the Vietnamese boat people. He would point to the girls and women who met his fancy and order his police officers to separate them from the rest and transfer them to his ‘harem’.
Sometimes the Vietnamese refugee boats were intercepted on the high seas and the girls/women were removed from the boats. One week later you will find these girls/women clinging to the oil rigs about 200 kilometers offshore. They would be dumped there after the men have had their fill of them.
Is this the way Malays-Muslims should treat unfortunate refugee girls and women? And can you imagine how the children, brothers, husbands or fathers feel when they see their kin taken away and used as ‘sex toys’?
Most Vietnamese refugees came with gold strapped to their bodies. Do I need to add that in many instances they would be ‘relieved’ of their gold?
Then they would be dumped on Pulau Bidong, the refugee island. Then they would be charged ten times or more the market price for the food they bought. A loaf of bread or packet of Maggi Mee would cost a king’s ransom. These poor refugees would be exploited and they either pay the exorbitant cost for their food or starve.
You may say that this was back in the 1970s and today we no longer have any Vietnamese refugees landing on Malaysia’s shores. Maybe so, but we still do have many refugees coming to Malaysia, although not ‘boat people’ from Vietnam, and they still suffer exploitation.
In fact, it is now worse. Today, they are rounded up and sold to the slave traders while the beautiful girls and women are sold to the pimps and forced into prostitution.
Can you imagine your daughter, wife, sister or mother being sold to the slave traders and turned into prostitutes? Can you live with that? And what would the non-Muslims think of the Muslims when it is Muslims who are behind this foul act?
Can Shafie also please condemn this? Don’t confine the condemnation to just street racing, baby dumping and smoking pot. In my book, slave trading and the flesh trade (prostitution) is worse.
I raise this matter because of what Shafie said: that Muslims must shun vices to avoid non-Muslims having a poor opinion of Muslims.
And I am only talking about just one issue. I am not even yet talking about abuse of power, corruption, police brutality, deaths in custody, fraudulent elections, racism, exploiting Islam for political gain, and much, much more. And don’t let me even start on those issues or else this piece is going to be 30 pages rather then three pages long. These are all vices committed by Malays-Muslims, which Shafie avoided and did not mention.
So there is more that Malays-Muslims need to do to clean up their image. Street racing, baby dumping and smoking pot does not even scratch the surface. Those are merely the tip of the iceberg.
Why do Malay-Muslim ministers like Shafie not dare call a spade a spade? If they are really concerned about the image of the Malays-Muslims and are concerned about what the non-Malays/non-Muslims think about the Malays-Muslims then there is much that needs to be done. And eradicating street racing, baby dumping and smoking ganja will not achieve that.
I think I have made my point so shall I stop here before my piece becomes too cheong hei?

Surau Thrown with Red Paint, Liquor Bottles

(Bernama) - A surau in Taman Pulai Impian, Sikamat near here was thrown with red paint and liquor bottles early today.

The incident was discovered by residents who arrived for Subuh (dawn) prayer, said Taman Pulai Impian Surau committee chairman Mohd Hasbi Ismail.

"I believe the incident could have occurred between 3.30am and 4am and I had lodged a police report," he told Bernama.

He said the right side of the front wall, floor and glass door were splashed with red paint while broken pieces of four liquor bottles were found in front of the surau.

"I am saddened over the incident as it smeared a place of worship and the sanctity of Ramadan," he said.

The new surau which is not fenced up was opened on July 24.

"I hope the police will nab those responsible and find out the motive of the attack," said Mohd Hasbi.

Mahathir and Badawi in 2 separate abuse-of-power cases

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

This week, two major corruption cases involving two of Malaysia’s past prime ministers are due to appear in the local courts, and the world at large can expect to be titillated once again by shenanigans of the country’s ruling elite.
The first, known as the Lingam Tape saga, involves Mahathir Mohamad and created so much public disdain for the BN government’s endemic corruption it led to the rise of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Rakyat.

The other is less well-known but its ramifications will surely send a shudder across Malaysia’s GLC-dominated corporate scene. It involves Malaysia Airlines, a true-blue GLC or government-linked-company in that it typifies the rampant abuse of public wealth by top Umno leaders to benefit themselves and their families. In this case, Malaysia’s 5th prime minister Abdullah Badawi, his brother Fahim and flamboyant fallen tycoon Tajudin Ramli are implicated.

Lingam Tape

On Monday, the Appellate Court will hear the appeals by former lord president Eusoff Chin, former chief justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and lawyer V K Lingam over a 2007 Royal Commission of Inquiry's recommendation that action be taken against them.
The RCI had actually recommended the government to act against 6 people after scrutinizing evidence that they were involved in fixing the appointment of judges for the purpose of influencing the outcome of certain trials.The men are Mahathir, tycoon Vincent Tan, Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Mansor, Lingam himself, Eusoff Chin and Ahmad Fairuz.
The RCI also said there was enough evidence to investigate all 6 men for offences under the Sedition Act, Official Secrets Act, the Penal Code and the Legal Profession Act 1976. But after much delay and despite huge public outcry, the Attorney-General has only proceeded to charge Lingam, Eusoff, and Ahmad Fairuz.
The most memorable piece of evidence in this case was a video tape showing Lingam on the phone actively brokering the judicial appointments.

MAS - skeleton in Badawi's closet?

Also due for mention is the Advent Management Sdn Bhd versus Fahim Capital Sdn Bhd and 5 Others in KLHC CS No.D1-22-745-2004. It not only involves Abdullah Badawi and his brother Fahim Ibrahim, but also former Malaysia Airlines chairman Tajudin Ramli.

Despite the national carrier lodging a police complaint against Tajudin, a former poster boy for the country's New Economic Policy, the government has refused to take action. And if not for Advent Management suing Fahim’s firm for reneging on commission fees, the entire web of deceit would be largely hidden from public eye.

However, within the capital markets, speculation has been rife from as far back as 2002 that Abdullah, who was then the Deputy Prime Minister, had bullied Malaysia Airlines into giving Fahim’s company an option to buy 51 percent of MAS Catering Sdn Bhd.
READ MORE HERE

Hishammuddin Warns Against Fanning Racial And Religious Sentiments

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 (Bernama) -- The government would take stern action against any quarters who threaten harmony in the country by raising sensitive racial and religious issues, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

"Although from the reports I've received there is no worrying racial tension, the problem, however, must be nipped in the bud with stern action to ensure public order and harmony.

"I dislike and will not allow such matters create an uneasy situation in the country," he said when asked by reporters to comment on a new surau in Taman Impian Pulai Impian, Temiang, Seremban which was splashed with red paint early Monday.

Hishammuddin was met while attending a breaking-of-fast function and handing-over of Raya contributions to single mothers and orphans, here Monday night.

Following the paint splashing on the weeks' old surau, he said he had instructed Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan and all state police chiefs to act against individuals or groups who threatened peace and order.

On the controversial "doa" during recent Friday sermons at some mosques in Penang by using Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's name instead of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's, he said in matters that touched on religion, all quarters must act rationally and wisely.

On the plan of the khatib alleged to have recited the controversial "doa" to take legal action against those who blew up the issue while the police had formed a special team to thoroughly investigate the matter, he said what was important was to get the truth.

"Let the case go through the normal process....there are those who say it really happened and others who say it's a lie or has been misinterpreted or wrongly reported," he said.

Govt-owned ‘private’ hospitals

By Anil Netto,


With the federal and state governments and GLCs holding stakes in an increasing number of private hospitals, is there a conflict of interest?
Blog reader Ganesh shares his thoughts.

If you see the private hospitals, some of them are virtually owned either directly or indirectly by the government.
So, the government has absolutely no incentive to build more new government hospitals nor to upgrade existing government hospitals at all.
That is the biggest problems now. The (government-owned) ‘private’ hospitals are doing so well and the government is reaping so much of money from them that, in my humble opinion, there is a conflict of interest here.
Why should they even build or improve existing government hospitals?
Has anyone gone and seen the KL general hospital lately? It is shocking: the buildings look so old and run down and it is so disheartening to even enter the place. Even more so, when one is used to going to places like SJMC (SDMC now), to go to the KL GH is a sudden culture shock.
In other countries, for instance, the government hospitals and the private hospitals have really no difference. They both look posh and nice. For example, in the UK, I have been to many government NHS hospitals and they look like “hotels”. In other words, they even look better than our private hospitals here in Malaysia. The same with Singapore and Australia.
It is high time for a law to be passed that prohibits the government from owning or holding interests in private hospitals. Instead of spending tons of money building this and that, some an utter waste of money, we should be building more schools and government hospitals to cater for the poor and needy.
In fact, every state should have at least 10 large full-fledged government hospitals each.
It is high time we see something coming back from the taxes we pay.

Soi Lek, old politics, racism & Jamal

You know, I think records will show that I didn’t give Dr. Chua a hard time for his err.. ‘hard’ time depicted above (except occasionally on Twitter, when I cannot resist similarly bad puns :)
But this last week this guy has been really getting my goat.
Firstly, I cannot stand this stupid sandiwara where he tries to champion Chinese rights by fighting with Umno about ‘bumiputera rights’ etc.
Come onlah, we all know the real issue is corruption, and MCA has more than done it’s part to let that rot flourish in our nation’s recent decades.
This, once again, shows that BN guys keep going back to old, SUPER BORING ZZZZ tactics – harping on PAS, calling for ISA detentions, etc etc. Omigoat, get over it already.
Where do I even start?
First he berlagak, then at the first sign of trouble, he makes a cowardly about turn. Haiyo.
That one never mind, when something genuine is threatened, like responsible freedom of expression – as in DJ Jamal’s suspension (we may not always agree with what people think, but by God they should be able to express themselves) – this fler hangs the victim out to dry.
98.8 FM = owned by Star = owned by MCA. If you can’t even defend your own DJ’s, and instead attack them by saying things like:

Jamal should be more responsible as a Muslim and should not mislead the people during the holy month of Ramadan.

This fler? Wants to preach moral values to others? Hmm.
And is that why he doesn’t care to defend his employee? Because he’s a Malay and a Muslim, not a Chinese in the Malaysian Chinese Association?
Any politician worth his/her salt should be ready to defend the right of an individual to express their opinion. No nation will ever really get that far in the ways that matter without this fundamental liberty (think of some of our neighbours).
This whole thing just disgusts. Geram!

Malaysia urged to improve maid laws

(Al Jazeera) There are hundreds of thousands of foreign maids working in Malaysia and almost 85 per cent of them come from neighbouring Indonesia.

But the Indonesia government has banned its citizens from travelling to Malaysia to work as domestic helpers after repeated stories of maids being exploited and abused.

Jakarta has also called for more regulation from the Malaysian government to protect the workers' rights.

Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett reports Kuala Lampur, Malaysia's capital.

'Karpal not alone in DAP in opposing hudud'

( Malaysiakini) DAP chairperson Karpal Singh is not alone in opposing hudud and Islamic laws to be implemented in this country, Teluk Intan parliamentarian M Manogaran said today.

He says there are many within DAP who share Karpal's views, and want moderate laws to be implemented in Malaysia.

Manogaran (left) believes quite a number of Malaysians also oppose the implementation of hudud laws and an Islamic state.

"Within DAP, we allow Karpal Singh to do the talking on party policy matters. It does not mean he is alone in his view, but he is airing the views of the party. I for one would oppose the implementation of hudud laws and an Islamic state," he said.

"The reason for this is that our federal constitution does not hold or support such a change to be made as our system is a secular system. Furthermore, more than 40 percent of the population are non-Muslims and hence, the imposition of hudud laws and an Islamic state would not gain their support,” he told Malaysiakini.

Manogaran, who is a lawyer by profession, was commenting on a New Straits Times report yesterday that quoted PAS Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat as saying that DAP chairman Karpal Singh (right) was “a lone voice” within DAP in his views against hudud laws and the establishment of an Islamic state in the country.

Manogaran added that this would not pose a problem in continuing the cooperation between PAS and DAP under the Pakatan Rakyat.

Malaysians want moderate laws

The Teluk Intan MP said Nik Aziz's views would not hold in a moderate, multi-racial and multi-religious society like Malaysia, and that Malaysians in general would not accept it.

He added that former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad himself did not accept it.

However he said that such differing views would not affect relations between DAP and PAS.

Differing views, says Mahogaran, will assure Chinese and Indian voters that there will be certain perimeters within which the DAP and PAS are willing to work together.

“We must not take for granted that the Chinese and Indians will stay with us (Pakatan Rakyat) no matter what,” he said.

Nik Aziz (left) and Karpal have been trading barbs over the hudud law and the Islamic state issues for quite some time, reflecting the opposing views of both influential opposition leaders.

Despite this, both PAS and DAP have managed to work together as seen in the Selangor Pakatan government, as well as the Perak government before it was overthrown by BN.

Johor HINDRAF & HRP sack the racist headmistress

Najib’s NEM could be seditious too, says Kit Siang

Lim: There is agitation and escalation of irresponsible rhetoric to classify legitimate and rational public discussion and debate as sedition

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 — DAP’s Lim Kit Siang suggested today that Datuk Seri Najib Razak could end up being cited for sedition for proposing the New Economic Model (NEM) if he allowed Malay rights rhetoric to escalate unchecked.

The DAP advisor called on the prime minister to prevent his 1Malaysia policy from degenerating into a “hollow and empty” slogan, following a slew of attacks by Malay rights groups against politicians for purportedly questioning the social contract.

Najib has remained silent on such attacks as well as on recent incidents where two school principals were accused of making racist remarks against the Chinese and Indian communities.

“There is agitation and escalation of irresponsible rhetoric to classify legitimate and rational public discussion and debate as sedition and if such agitation is allowed, even Najib himself could be charged for sedition for unveiling the New Economic Model (NEM) on March 30,” said Lim in a statement today.

The NEM that was launched in March this year had called for affirmative action programmes to be based on “market-friendly and market-based criteria”, sparking a sour reaction from Malay groups who deemed the policy a threat against Malay rights.

Najib has now been criticised for backtracking on the New Economic Model (NEM) after he subsequently called the policy a “trial balloon” and maintained the 30 per cent Bumiputera equity target in the 10th Malaysia Plan.

“The Prime Minister must provide the leadership and set the example to ensure that good sense, reason and rationality is fully restored to public and political discourses and his 1Malaysia policy does not degenerate into a Malaysian sickness which all Malaysians deplore,” said Lim, also the Ipoh Timor MP.

Yesterday, Malay rights groups demanded that MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek be arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for purportedly “disregarding national interests” by pushing for the removal of the 30 per cent Bumiputera quota at the Chinese Economic Congress recently.

The Malay Consultative Council (MPM) led by Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali also accused Pakatan Rakyat (PR) of attempting to “destroy” constitutional monarchy, following allegations by Umno that several mosques in the Tasek Gelugor, Permatang Pauh and Jelutong areas had replaced the name of the King with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in Friday sermons.

Umno-owned Malay daily Utusan Malaysia also published a column last week threatening the onset of a “huge war” worse than the May 13 racial riots if a purported “new constitution” was passed, although Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Razak rubbished such claims as “coffee-shop talk”.

Ibrahim said yesterday that those who disagreed with the social contract could leave the country, following incidents where two school principals were accused of uttering racist remarks by telling Chinese students to return to China.

Despite a public outrage against a school principal in Johor for allegedly telling Chinese students to return to China and likening the prayer strings used by Indians to dog leashes, Najib has remained silent on the issue.

A school principal in Kedah was also accused of telling Chinese students to return to China for purportedly disrespecting Malays by eating in the school’s common area.

The incidents of the two school heads have led the MPM to demand the abolishment of vernacular schools, claiming that such schools could have caused “misunderstandings” of the school principals’ allegedly racist remarks.

“This sickness in the country is a total mockery and complete negation of Najib’s 1 Malaysia to give Malaysians regardless of race, religion or region a new sense of pride and unity as Malaysians,” said Lim. - The Malaysian Insider

Najib's 1'sick'Malaysia limps towards Merdeka

By FMT Staff

KUALA LUMPUR: Lim Kit Siang believes that Malaysia is ill. And his diagnosis is based on news headlines which indicate that the nation is sailing in the opposite direction of 1Malaysia.
“With eight days to go before the National Day proper on Aug 31 and 24 days before Malaysia Day on Sept. 16, Malaysians regardless of race, religion or region should be celebrating a new sense of pride and unity as Malaysians after 18 months of the 1Malaysia slogan and policy.

“But every 24 hours is demonstrating the opposite,” he said in a statement.

Citing headlines like Malay groups, such as Perkasa, calling for MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek's arrest, and the Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia's beating on the war drum, Lim expressed disappointment with the current state of affairs.

Lim said prior to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's 1Malaysia proclamation, it was a comparative rarity for lies, falsehoods and extremist incitement of issues of race and religion to dominate public and political discourse.

“But what had been rare is happening with disconcerting frequency,” he added.

According to the DAP stalwart, clear cases of sedition were now committed with impunity, like calls for the closure of Chinese and Tamil primary schools which had been decided by the courts.

“On the other hand, there is agitation and escalation of irresponsible rhetoric to classify legitimate and rational public discussion and debate as sedition.

“And if such agitation is allowed, even Najib himself could be charged for sedition for unveiling the New Economic Policy on March 30 which called for an affirmative action programmes 'to consider all ethnic groups fairly and equally as long as they are in the low income 40% of households' and to be 'be based on market-friendly and market-based criteria together taking into consideration the needs and merits of the applicants',” he said.

“This sickness is a total mockery and complete negation of Najib’s 1Malaysia to give Malaysians regardless of race, religion or region a new sense of pride and unity. It will render the Merdeka celebrations totally hollow and empty,” he added.

The Ipoh Timor MP called on Najib to provide the leadership and set the example to ensure that good sense, reason and rationality were fully restored to public and political discourses.

Not a nice place for Najib up there

By Zainal Epi - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR Najib Tun Razak can only shake his head in dismay as the reports and briefings all paint a very bleak future for the Barisan Nasional.
The message is depressingly the same: in the next polls bout, his ruling coalition stands little chance of regaining the states lost to Pakatan Rakyat. Worse still, the opposition may make new gains in several states.

The prime minister and BN supremo is in a pickle: how to stem the tide? How to rally the disgruntled people to his cause? His pet projects lie virtually in tatters, his party members are ripping each other apart, his coalition partners are tearing into each other, while his political foes are growing stronger by the day.

The situation is so bad that some opposition leaders believe that Najib may resort to extreme measures to stop the deepening rot – exploit every issue, create a climate of fear, push the country to the brink and then invoke the draconian Internal Security Act.

The reasoning is that with all his opponents in Kamunting, he may entertain hopes that he can go to the polls playing the role of a saviour. The bad guys are not around to spoil his party. Only the good guys – him and his fellow dudes – are left and people will have no choice but to play along.

But political observers do not think Najib will turn into a desperado simply because the crude antics may backfire. People may choose to stay home.

Najib is left with one window of opportunity – the Sarawak election. A convincing victory over there will throw a lifeline to his sinking sampan. But the outlook is not so rosy. When Sibu fell in the recent battle, it clouded the prospects of the BN. Then there is Taib Mahmud, the White Rajah of Sarawak.

A millstone

The chief minister is a millstone around Najib's neck. BN leaders find it hard to deal with this man who has been around for nearly 30 years. He throttled the state and “robbed” it of its fabulous wealth. He has overstayed his welcome and there are now signs that he is losing his grip. The coming state election may well see Taib and Najib's doom.

Many politicians in Kuala Lumpur predict that the downfall of Sarawak BN will trigger a domino effect. Sabah will fall and so will the other states in the peninsula when the next general election is called. This is a scary fate for Najib.

Najib knows he needs to act fast. His sampan is leaking badly. The “rats” are deserting him. He is the only one putting his oars to troubled waters. There is little hope he can reach shore safely. All around him the storm is howling mad.

The MCA has recently whipped up a maelstrom of anger when it treaded on sensitive ground. It aroused the ire of Perkasa and many Umno leaders. It looked as if they were ready to start a civil strife. The venomous atmosphere is what Najib least needed at a time when he is trying to regain the trust of the voters.

Najib sorely needs the Chinese vote bank to stay intact. Problem is he is courting the Chinese at the expense of the Malay voters and at the same time antagonising Umno members. His efforts at fence-mending in the BN may be fruitless judging by the reports on his table. They all point to one incontrovertible conclusion: the Chinese are staying away from BN.

An Umno member said all the reports and briefings done by concerned groups for the benefit of Najib revealed the real picture of the voter trend. The flow is not going his away.

There were more disturbing news when Najib was told that the BN would not be able to retake all the states it lost in 2008. What must be more unnerving is that more states may fall to the opposition juggernaut.

Political vengeance

A source said that during the briefings, Najib was informed that states like Terengganu, Perak and Negri Sembilan are tottering. The ongoing internal bickering in Terengganu Umno is damaging and may well be the cause of its collapse. Perak may be a simple case of the people exacting political vengeance.

The source added that Negri Sembilan is another problematic state where the main issue is the feud between the Umno divisions and Menteri Besar Mohd Hassan.

More bad news piled up on Najib's table. Johor, long considered an Umno's bastion, is showing signs of crumbling as the opposition is making credible headway.

The big question is: why is the opposition making inroads into BN territories?

“It is not so much how strong the opposition is as how weak the component parties in the coalition are,” a party insider said.

“The MCA is truly losing ground and that explains its leader's controversial statements.

“Gerakan is totally out of the loop as the party is no longer seen as relevant to any of the races despite its multi-racial but Chinese-based concept,” he added.

Catch-22 position

An Umno member said: “The MIC is not functioning and so is the PPP. The Indian voters are searching for a solid political platform.”

So that leaves BN with only Umno. What can Umno do on its own? What can Najib accomplish if he is all alone?

Said another Umno member: “We feel that Najib is in a Catch-22 position. If he helps the Malays, he may lose the support of the other races. If he helps the Chinese and the Indians, he may see his Malay support evaporate.”

He said that someone floated the idea of a merger with an an NGO or even PAS to boost support for Umno. But the snag is the only reliable and strong NGO is Perkasa and the right-wing group is not the darling of the non-Malay crowd.

“PAS is split into two factions – the fundamentalists and the liberals (which are pro-Anwar Ibrahim). The fundamentalists are comfortable with the idea of a tie-up with Umno provided the prime minister comes from PAS while the liberals want PAS to stay with Pakatan Rakyat and Anwar to be the prime minister.

“With their demand, it is difficult for the fundamentalists to sit down and begin serious talks with Umno,” the Umno member said.

Perkasa may look an attractive proposition but the NGO is not too keen to change into a political entity and team up with Umno.

“Politicking is creeping into Perkasa. The fear is that if the NGO becomes a political party, then it may face the same troubles as Umno,” a source said. Hence, Perkasa feels it can play its check and balance role more effectively outside than inside the political arena.

The pile of reports on Najib's desk doesn't make good reading. He must be wondering what else can he do to bring the BN and the country back on track. The options are few. The risks are many. He is walking on a tight rope high above the circus crowd while juggling many things. The BN clowns below egg him on to perform more daring feats while jeering onlookers in the other camp will him to make a fatal mistake. The ground is hard, rocky and sharp: one slip and Najib goes down into oblivion. It is not a nice place to be at the top.

Sarawak Pakatan's new battlecry 'Aram Berubah'

By Joseph Tawie - Free Malaysia Today

KUCHING: A new battle-cry, 'Aram Berubah', is set to echo throughout Sarawak in preparation for the forthcoming state elections. “Aram Berubah” is ‘Let’s Change’ in the Iban language.
Embracing the phrase last night, former law minister and PKR supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim flagged the new cry as he launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, who he described as a “white elephant” monster.

His call for change “Aram Berubah” stirred the more than 300 diners at a PKR function organised by the Lubok Antu division.

“Changing Taib with another of the Barisan Nasional is not good enough. It is no different. We must change Taib and his government and replace with Pakatan Rakyat chief minister and government.” he said.

“This is our mission for the coming election, and the people must understand this,” he said, pointing out that Sarawakians must come forward in order to create a new political culture.

Zaid also stressed that the Pakatan Rakyat must be well prepared to face this monster, the “white elephant” which is very powerful and very rich.

“He is being supported by the government machinery including the police and the election commission.

“So it is important that we have proper planning and logistical support to fight him and his government and be ready for BN’s cheating and money” he added.

Be the agents of change

At the same event, Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian urged his fellow members to be ‘agents of change’.

“We cannot expect other people to change; it must begin with ourselves and for me, I am the agent of change.

“We do not have radio and television Malaysia (RTM) such as TV1, TV2 and TV3 or any other channel to pass our message for change to the people.

“But let us be the agents of change ourselves by visiting all the longhouses and villages and tell them about Pakatan Rakyat and its mission,” he said.

“Tell them that with their support this is the best time to change Taib’s government,” he said.

Another PKR leader vice president Jeffrey Kitingan, said in his speech that the state BN had begun “to feel the heat” of their (PKR) ceramah.

“They are in a state of confusion and feel threatened,” he said relating an incident at a function at Kampung Ensebang Kuari, Balai Ringin early in the day.

While the function was organised for visiting Zaid, the BN had organised a next door concert in a deliberate attempt to sabotage the PKR function and counter the impact of Zaid’s visit.

“They are frightened of us so much so they want to sabotage our function,” said Kitingan, pointing out that despite the attempted sabotage, the function went on smoothly.

Kitingan believed that with the support of the people, the rural areas which the BN claimed as their ‘fixed deposit’ are slowly slipping from their grips.

“It will be a loose deposit and what remains later on will only be the receipt,” he said to the laughter of the audience.

Singapore tightens one more screw

By Maxwell Coopers - Free Malaysia Today

COMMENT Singapore in a new move is going all out to make it as costly as possible for kidnappers and hostage takers.
In a legislation passed last Monday, the country’s widely-circulated newspaper, the Straits Times, called the enactment of the new law as “(giving) effect to a United Nations convention against terrorism”.

For a country that recently was the target of a terror bomb plot inspired in Indonesia by militant clerics, it does therefore make for plenty of reason to justify why it may need such a law.

After all, it is a global metropolis. Hordes of business clusters dot its marketplace. And so too, are the many government and international organisations which have based their operations in the island-republic.

Hence, it did not take long to make sure the city-state retains its allure.  And perhaps accordingly with its fortress-like security preparedness, it told the world how little stomach it has for hostage takers!

The new law immediately imposes the death penalty on hostage takers of either a government official or an international governmental organisation. And if the offence is committed against any other person, the offender can be jailed for up to 15 years.

Strangely there was no mention either in local papers or over Internet chat lines why it was imposing, of all things, the death penalty when the victim is a government official!

Hardline attitude

There is no doubt that when matters such as this grave stare down the Singapore state, the republic always resorts to what it knows best: give the problem a good whipping and send it packing.

It is too soon, however, to consider the legal, ethical and moral implications that now warrants the death penalty for yet another new classification of offences.

And just as interestingly, the new law makes it permissible for offenders to be prosecuted and extradited to Singapore for offences committed outside Singapore’s boundaries.

What all these amounts to, is an unprecedented sweep of “extra-territoriality” though that may be purely an academic exercise in legalese.

Yet there is no denying of the practical challenges that may soon follow suit once implementation is adopted.
There was no discussion as to what prompted this sudden hardline attitude.

Singapore has not had any major kidnapping incidents on its mainland for as long as living memory could possibly arrive at.

High stakes

The only time when something of that sort ever did happen was late last year when one of the nation’s vessels, a container ship named Kota Wajar, belonging to shipping firm PIL, was hijacked and is crew commandeered.

That then proved a Catch-22 sort of situation for the nation’s operators.

Authorities were neither able to mount a French-style rescue mission nor undertake any kind of acts that would have resolved (the issue) in blood and thunder synonymous with nations exhibiting a healthy dislike for such kinds of criminality.

They were also constrained by the very law they themselves had instituted. And that concerns the Kidnapping Act 1998, which expressly prohibits ransom payouts as it may otherwise encourage kidnappings.

Yet there is no denying that, given the recent exposure of a military servicemen’s quest to join the ranks of the al-Qaeda terrorist group coupled with revelations that terrorist groups planned to bomb a train station, there conceivably is every reason to justify, stemming from those news, that attitude of not wanting to brook criminal activity of any kind must be met with the severest of penalties.

All said there should no faulting Singapore authorities.

It has high stakes riding on their back and one of them is to keep the country continually safe for all and sundry.

And nowhere was proven to such tantalising effect than in the recent Gallop poll commissioned in the United States which identified the city-state’s public record on safety as being the main draw for the world’s immigrants.

---

Maxwell Coppers is a free-lance writer based in Singapore.

Remember my piece on Black Ops?

This reminds me of the National Mosque issue of 1999. Umno whacked the opposition for allowing Tian Chua, Gobalakrishnan and other ‘unclean’ non-Muslims to enter the National Mosque. But it is okay for Japanese, Taiwanese and ‘Mat Salleh’ non-Muslim tourists to enter the mosque because they are foreign tourists and not opposition supporters.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

PM wants full investigation into 'doa' issue

(Bernama) - Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak wants the police and Penang Islamic Religious Council to conduct a full investigation into the alleged use of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's name, replacing the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's, in the "doa" after the Friday sermon at some mosques in the state recently.

He said action must be taken against those responsible under the existing rules.

"I ask that this matter be fully investigated; who did it... as the delivering of Friday sermons is determined by the state Islamic Religious Council and people are not allowed to use our own script," he said at the handing of Raya goodies for the Malaysian Armed Forces, here, today.

Penang Umno liaison chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was this week reported to have revealed the use of Lim's name in the "doa" recited after the Friday sermon at some mosques in the Permatang Pauh and Jelutong areas recently.

"What happened was clearly against the state Islamic Religious Council's ruling and this should be investigated by the relevant authorities, and action taken in accordance with the stipulated procedures," said Najib.

******************************************

Umno denies lying, says six mosques dropped King’s name

(The Malaysian Insider) - Penang Umno has denied lying about state Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s name replacing the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in Friday sermons, saying that it has happened in six mosques since last February.

State liaison deputy chief Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman told The Malaysian Insider that he was unsure if Guan Eng knew of the trend but disclosed that six mosques had used the term “Chief Minister” or “Lim Guan Eng” in their sermons to replace that of the King, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.

The mosques are Masjid Jalan Baru in Seberang Prai Tengah which mentioned Lim’s name on Aug 13, Masjid Padang Menora, Seberang Prai Utara (June 25), Masjid Pengkalan Tambang, Permatang Pasir (in May), Masjid Jamek Jelutong, George Town (in April) and Masjid Permatang Binjai, Kepala Batas (Feb 26).

“And yesterday, Lim Guan Eng’s name was mentioned at the Masjid Kubang Buaya, in Butterworth by imam Ustaz Zakaria Ahmad... it was still being used despite media reports about the issue,” he said in a telephone interview yesterday.

“This is not an issue that was created, it actually happened,” said Zainal Abidin, who sits on the powerful Umno supreme council.

He also criticised DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for saying Umno and its newspaper Utusan Malaysia had created stories and racial ill-feelings towards the Penang government.

“It isn’t good for Lim Kit Siang to say we created this on purpose. Now there is proof, what are they going to say,” he said, asking the PR leaders to retract their statements.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak told the police and Penang Islamic Religious Council last night to conduct a full investigation into the matter, saying action must be taken against those responsible under the existing rules.

“I ask that this matter be fully investigated; who did it ... as the delivering of Friday sermons is determined by the state Islamic Religious Council and people are not allowed to use our own script,” he had said.

PR leaders have denied the Penang government had directed Guan Eng’s name be used to replace the King’s name but admitted it has been used by guest prayers leaders, who are out of their control.

Meanwhile, Zainal Abidin said Anwar had purposely defamed Umno by claimimg Penang Umno chief Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamid’s accusation was unsubstantiated as he had read the text of the sermons.

“Kit Siang should also retract his statement as this is something that happens at the grassroots,” he said, adding the practice of not mentioning the King’s name had started before Election 2008.

“Before the 2008 general elections, several mosques controlled by PAS did not mention the name of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or the Governor but after the 2008 general elections, it has become a normal phenomenon in Penang,” he added.

He described it as a bad act that can divide the people in the state especially the Muslims.

“It is as though we don’t acknowledge the existence of royalty and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. This is not good,” said Zainal Abidin.

When asked if the chief minister’s name was mentioned with the knowledge of Guan Eng, Zainal Abidin said he was unsure.

“I still believe ... Umno hopes the State Islamic Affairs Council, that every order made by the head of the State Islamic Affairs Council, is not influenced or controlled directly or indirectly by the Penang Chief Minister.

“We take a serious view ... the Islamic Affairs Council must control and ensure the sermon text is read fully. They must have full control,” he said, adding people must disregard the past and follow the decision of the Penang Islamic Affairs Council.

The Sermon Writing Committee is headed by the Penang Mufti Datuk Hassan Ahmad.

Zainal Abidin also said that those delivering the sermons should get approval from the Penang Islamic Affairs Council even they were guest prayer leaders.

He said this in response to an Utusan Malaysia report yesterday which quoted the Masjid Jamek Padang Menora imam Ibrahim Ishak as admitting that a guest prayer leader had mentioned the chief minister’s name when reading the Friday sermon recently.

The prayer leader had invoked Allah to open Guan Eng’s heart to accept Islam as his faith, the imam told the Umno-owned newspaper.

Ibrahim also admitted that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s name was not mentioned and he had censured the prayer leader for his mistake.

The imam had also said the mosque has a guest prayer leader to deliver the sermons every month, which will include a prayer for national leaders.

The Sinar Harian newspaper had quoted Jelutong Umno chief Abu Kassim Ismail as saying that sermons mentioning Guan Eng’s name is not new and has occurred between two and three months ago.

Zainal Abidin said the spate of incidents showed that guest prayer leaders must get permission from the state’s Islamic Affairs Council before being allowed to work.

“Don’t use the chief minister’s name in a sermon. Don’t use it in a prayer, if it is for good, OK but what if it is used to criticise, then it will cause dissension,” he added.

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Asri sees no wrong in praying for leaders’ well-being

(The Malaysian Insider) - Popular Muslim preacher Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has urged Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and Barisan Nasional (BN) to stop politicising the Penang sermon issue, saying it was acceptable to pray for the well-being of leaders.

Stressing that he was unsure if Umno’s allegations were true, the Penang-born Mohd Asri said that praying for Lim Guan Eng’s well-being in his capacity as Chief Minister was a minor issue.

“Don’t politicise this issue. I told Pakatan and also BN not to politicise it,” he said, adding that political parties need to work for the country and not always limit themselves to a partisan view.

“I am not siding with anyone... There are a lot of important things to be done for the people of this country... This issue is not really that important,” the former Perlis mufti said after returning from Mecca on Friday.

Penang Umno chief Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claimed on Thursday that several mosques in the state had replaced the King’s name with Lim’s in their sermons.

PR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hit back by claiming the allegations were a desperate attempt by BN to remain relevant, pointing out that he had personally read the text of the sermon.

When contacted yesterday, Mohd Asri explained to The Malaysian Insider that prayers fell into four categories. The first two involved praying that a leader receives guidance, and for a leader to be fair and sympathetic to the people.

“These prayers can be read whether or not the leader is Muslim or not,” he said.

He said the other two prayers involved wishing for the well-being of a leader even if he were unfair and outright praising of his leadership.

“These two cannot be done,” he said.

Mohd Asri also questioned why the prayer issue was being made a big deal of now despite the fact that there were political parties that prayed for a non-Muslim candidate’s election victory before.

He said if a prayer for victory could be read for a non-Muslim candidate, then a prayer for the well-being and guidance of a non-Muslim leader should be similarly permitted.

“There are prayers that can be done and prayers that cannot... Prayers for the sake of good, we can do,” he said.

He also advised that the sermon issue be solved fairly and factually from a religious point-of-view and not through emotional political platforms.

When asked about the alleged use of the chief minister’s name to replace that of the King, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, Mohd Asri said he was not aware of the claim having just arrived back in Malaysia.

Penang Umno deputy chief Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman told The Malaysian Insider yesterday that those delivering the sermons should get approval from the Penang Islamic Affairs Council even they were guest prayer leaders.

He said this in response to an Utusan Malaysia report the day before which quoted the Masjid Jamek Padang Menora imam Ibrahim Ishak as admitting that a guest prayer leader had mentioned the chief minister’s name when reading the Friday sermon recently.

Zainal Abidin said the spate of incidents showed that guest prayer leaders must get permission from the state’s Islamic Affairs Council before being allowed to work.

The police have so far received three reports over the Friday sermon issue involving some mosques in Penang. Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein said police were now investigating the allegation contained in the reports.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday ordered a full investigation into the matter by the police and the Penang Islamic Religious Council.

MACC “commits suicide”!

By Martin Jalleh

When Pornthip maintained that Teoh did not commit suicide – a view which would definitely not sit well with the MACC, Abdul Razak became a spontaneous stand-up comedian!

He suggested that Teoh ‘strangled himself’ and was ‘depressive’. It was a line which he desperately copied from Dr M who had said that Anwar gave himself a black eye when in prison!

18 Aug. 2010 – The Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), very tragically, “committed suicide” today. It killed the very little that was left of its own integrity and credibility.

Its public image plunged to the very depths with the help of its advocate Abdul Razak Musa. He had at first advocated self-strangulation. He even demonstrated how it could be done.

When that failed, the very experienced lawyer of 24 years assisted the Commission to take a wild leap out of the window of logic, common sense and civility.

Depressed

Many have observed that the MACC has been very depressed of late. It has gone through bouts of disappointment, doubts, dejection and denial, all contributing to its sudden self-destruction.

The last (first) MACC chief even jumped ship a few months before his due retirement date. It seems he could no longer handle the daunting (more appropriately read as “haunting”) task.

It appears that the MACC has left behind a suicide note which was supposedly written by its eight-month old new chief Abu Kassim Mohammed. The contents need to be verified of course. It reads:

“Things have been bad for us – bad public perception, bad press, bad publicity, and as though these were not bad enough, we have done badly in the courts with most of the big fish being acquitted!

“I have asked for a year to convince the rakyat of our commitment to combat and curb corruption but the public is still so very critical, cynical and condemning of the MACC.

“The public misunderstands us, press mistreats us, alternative media highlights only our mistakes, Opposition mocks us and Government makes use of us but we are very independent.

“I even told the Cabinet that its members should declare their assets publicly. But they asked me to take my proposal and shelve and shove it…in one of my many cabinets.

“On Teoh Beng Hock’s death anniversary I said we will act without fear, favour and farce. But it has been a flop and many flip-flops. We have lost face even after launching our Facebook page. It is very frustrating!

“It has been a long, lonely and losing battle. And now our learned legal department head has determinedly driven the last nail into our coffin and we have very dutifully dug our own grave!”

It seems that the MACC, due to its synergy with Umno, sent a “Solidarity in Suicide” invitation to the party. They declined, for they have received a similar earlier invitation from Perkasa.

Discredit

The events that led to MACC’s “suicide” began during the cross-examination of the world-renowed Thai forensic pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand by Abdul Razak in the Teoh Beng Hock’s Inquest.

He first attacked Pornthip on her qualifications and claimed that the MACC’s expert witness, Peter Vanezis, was “far more qualified” than her...as he had “graduated from Bristol University”.

He added that Mahidol University, where she had graduated from, was not recognised in Malaysia. Understandably, he was rather silent on where he graduated from, its ranking and whether it was recognised anywhere on the face of the earth.

Pornthip advised the antagonistic lawyer not to look down on Asians and retorted that Mahidol is ranked the 220th best university in the world and is Thailand's top-ranked university.

Abdul Razak also accused her of being biased, and as an expert witness engaged by the Selangor State Government, she had come to Bolehland “to attack the MACC”.

She stopped him dead in his tracks: "You have to understand. I work for the rights of the dead, not the Selangor government. My objective is to help the dead!"

It is hoped that the "dead clients” of Pornthip (who has offered her services on a pro bono basis in Teoh’s case) will not take offence and haunt the MACC lawyer who after all appears brain-dead!

It was perhaps the first time in her 25 years as a pathologist that Pornthip was meeting such a pathetic lawyer. She therefore could not resist asking Abdul Razak: “Are you really a lawyer?”

Abdul Razak charged that Pornthip kept changing her position and “the goalpost”. He forgot or got pretty mixed up that such a privileged role and position belonged solely to the Attorney-General with the ball always in his court(s).

He absurdly insisted that her expert opinion was based on her imagination. He would later prove that he was even much more imaginative than her by demonstrating the art of self-strangulation.

Demonstration

When Pornthip maintained that Teoh did not commit suicide – a view which would definitely not sit well with the MACC, Abdul Razak became a spontaneous stand-up comedian!

He suggested that Teoh ‘strangled himself’ and was ‘depressive’. It was a line which he desperately copied from Dr M who had said that Anwar gave himself a black eye when in prison!

The MACC lawyer decided to give a practical demonstration on himself, after being challenged by Gobind Singh Deo, the lawyer for Teoh’s family, to show how one can strangle himself.

Everyone in court was highly entertained, though some may have wished Abdul Razak had succeeded in his demonstration! Pornthip’s “clients” must have surely laughed out loud in their graves!

But the MACC’s prosecutor’s court antics were not over yet. He would provide more ammunition to the MACC to shoot itself. He asked Pornthip if she has any experience jumping off a building!

The cool, calm and composed counsel for the Selangor Government, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, countered with classic sarcasm: “With questions like these, we would all want to jump off a building!”

Pornthip sensed she had so far seen only the tip of the lawyer’s incompetence. He eventually became so confused that even the Bar Council representatives and coroner had to help clarify and correct him.

Despair

Abdul Razak was in court not to help the coroner determine the real cause of Teoh’s death but to denigrate Pornthip and to distract and divert everyone from the truth. He ended up destroying his own client’s integrity and credibility!

In trying to discredit “the most trusted individual in all of Thailand” (according to a Readers’ Digest Trust survey last year) he has driven the MACC into utter despair in its desperate attempts to restore public confidence!

The law, we are often told. is an ass. But it would be more accurate to say in this context that the lawyer (for the MACC) is an ass and being holed up in the commission, he has turned asinine, arrogant, absurd and abusive.

But why should we be surprised. He is after all the very same lawyer who told wheechair-bound Karpal Singh, the lead lawyer for the Teoh family in the Inquest: "I can sit but you cannot stand"!

But Abdul Razak has the making of a judge in the appellate courts, where, in the words of the very respected retired judge N H Chan, sit a bunch of “ignorant”, “inane”, “incompetent” and “idiotic” judges.

As the hearing ended, Gobind Singh Deo was overheard whispering to himself: “Deo Gratias!” (“Thanks be to God!”). He was indeed grateful to God for Abdul Razak Musa and his sterling role in assisting the MACC "commit suicide"!