Senior lawyer throws down gauntlet to Ibrahim Ali

KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — A heavyweight in Malaysia’s legal fraternity, lawyer Tommy Thomas has challenged Datuk Ibrahim Ali to a verbal bout to contest the latter’s claim that the Bar and its council were “racist”.

The former Bar Council secretary denounced the Perkasa founder and president for making sweeping statements against the 36-year-old peninsular law society, which Thomas said were wholly false.

“For him to say the Bar Council is racist and controlled by a certain race and is anti-Malay and anti-Islam and making decisions that are biased and one-sided are totally untrue,” said the lawyer with 30 years’ experience under his belt.

“I’m very cross about it. I’m very happy to go on record and if he wants to debate with me I’m ready,” he said to The Malaysian Insider.

Ibrahim dubbed the Bar Council racist for accusing Utusan Malaysia of inciting racial hatred, saying today the lawyers’ group should also focus on the Chinese media and others that he alleged “insult Islam, Malay Rulers and the Malay community”.

The Perkasa chief’s rant came after the Bar Council joined other groups in condemning Utusan Malaysia for its front-page article on Saturday in which it claimed the DAP was conspiring with Christian leaders to take over Putrajaya and abolish Islam as the country’s official religion.

“Why did the Bar Council not urge the police to investigate Chinese media, other bloggers, website and portals, tweets that carry news and statements which insult Islam, Malay Rulers and the Malay community?

“The Bar Council is controlled by a certain race and, of course, its actions are anti-Malay and anti-Islam,” Ibrahim told The Malaysian Insider.

Thomas contested Ibrahim’s claim, saying the Bar Council has 36 members and acts as the executive body to 13,000 members that are well-represented by the three main races.

He added the council had always looked at public issues from a purely legal view and taken positions without regard to race, religion and gender.

“We have always been race-free, colour-free and gender-free,” Thomas said.

“We’ve had outstanding Malay and Muslim presidents like Raja Aziz Addruse, Zainur Zakaria, Sulaiman Abdullah, Hendon Mohamad and Datuk Khutubul Zaman Bukhari,” he said.

Thomas stressed that as a statutory body set up under the Legal Profession Act 1976, the Bar has a lawful duty “to act without fear or favour and we have done so on many occasions”.

FMM mahu sistem pendidikan negara dikaji semula

Sudah tiba masanya sistem pendidikan negara dikaji semula secara holistik memandangkan kajian terakhir, laporan Rahman Talib, dilakukan 51 tahun yang lepas.

KUALA LUMPUR: Persekutuan Pengilang-pengilang Malaysia (FMM) menggesa supaya sistem pendidikan negara dikaji semula sepenuhnya untuk membolehkan Malaysia muncul sebagai sebuah negara maju dan berpendapatan tinggi selain berdaya saing di peringkat global.

Presidennya Tan Sri Mustafa Mansur dalam satu temu bual dengan Bernama berkata sudah tiba masanya sistem pendidikan negara dikaji semula secara holistik memandangkan kajian terakhir, iaitu laporan Rahman Talib, dilakukan 51 tahun yang lepas. Laporan itu menyusuli Laporan Razak pada 1956.

“Juga adalah penting untuk meneliti semula intipati laporan pendidikan terdahulu, sejauh mana ia telah mencapai matlamatnya dan pelaksanaannya. Sejak laporan terakhir ini, objektif serta peranan pendidikan khasnya telah berubah daripada segi penekanan yang diberikan.

“Kita telah menyaksikan perubahan berkala dalam beberapa aspek sistem pendidikan kita tetapi perubahan ini bukan secara menyeluruh,” kata Mustafa, bekas guru yang kini merupakan usahawan yang berjaya.

Beliau berkata jawatankuasa kajian semula yang ditubuhkan nanti perlu diwakili pelbagai pihak, termasuk pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO), ahli ekonomi, ahli sejarah dan sehinggakan anggota masyarakat.

Jawatankuasa itu perlu meneliti semua isu-isu membabitkan sistem pendidikan termasuk meningkatkan penguasaan ilmu dan bahasa Inggeris di sekolah-sekolah.

“Sesuai sekali jika jawatankuasa ini dipengerusikan oleh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sendiri memandangkan ayah beliau yang merupakan orang di sebalik Laporan Razak,” kata beliau.

- Bernama

Police on the hunt for acid attackers

Kuala Lumpur has been plagued by attacks on at least 22 people since February

KUALA LUMPUR: Police detectives are hunting two men who have been throwing acid on pedestrians in a string of attacks that have sent shockwaves through the capital, police said on Thursday.

Kuala Lumpur has been plagued by attacks on at least 22 people since February, terrifying residents across the city and its suburbs.

City police chief Zulkifli Abdullah said the pair, who ride a motorcycle, have targeted mostly women and children.

“We are doing more patrols and we hope people are more alert,” Zulkifli told AFP. “We will take very firm action against this irresponsible act.”

In the latest attacks last weekend a woman with a one-year-old baby was splashed while another was reportedly hospitalised with burns to her face.

Most of the victims were hit with the unidentified liquid, while walking to train stations, car parks and bus stops. Many escaped with minor injuries to their hands or faces.

- AFP

WAO finally gets crime stats, but with conditions

The NGO gets access to information on violence against women but is not allowed to go public with it.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) has been allowed access to the 2010 Crime Statistics booklet prepared by Bukit Aman’s Sexual Crimes and Child Abuse division.

However, this permission, which was sought three months ago, comes with the condition that the statistics are only used for research and reference, and not for distribution to a third party.

WAO programme officer Valerie Mohan criticised this ruling, calling it “restrictive”.

She said that the statistics were needed to understand the incidences and trends of violence against women.

“The police have not given any substantiated reasons for restricting the use of the booklet and the need to hide such information.

“We maintain the position that freedom of and access to information is central to a democratic process and that all statistics of public interest should be made available without any hindrance,” she said.

WAO uses the statistics to formulate public education messages and policy reform.

The women’s rights NGO had asked for the booklet on March 3, but was told that it could not be released as the statistics were confidential.

Bukit Aman declined to comment except to say that the booklet had been classified as a secret document under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) on the instructions of the Inspector-General of PoliceIsmail Omar.

Ismail had said later that he had no inkling of the WAO request. “I haven’t seen the application. I have no idea what it’s about,” he said.

WAO later sent a sent a letter of appeal to Bukit Aman asking the police to reconsider their decision not to release the information.

Demo against razing of shrine

City Hall must revoke notice to demolish Hindu structure in Setapak, says a memorandum submitted to the mayor.

KUALA LUMPUR: Protesters today demanded that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) revoke a notice to demolish a Hindu shrine in Kampung Baru Air Panas, Setapak.

The group, consisting of about two dozen residents of the area, burned camphor during the protest and afterwards submitted a memorandum addressed to the mayor. A DBKL official received it on his behalf.

The memorandum seeks an assurance that the Sri Vaal Muniswarar Alayam shrine would not be demolished and contains a demand for an acre of land to serve the needs of Hindus in Setapak.

“We can use the land to build a temple, a wedding hall and funeral service hall,” said Hindraf official S Thiagarajan, who led the protest.

Kampung Baru Air Panas consists of eight blocks of government low-cost flats. About 1,000 Hindu families reside there.

The City Hall notice was dated May 2 and stated that the shrine must be demolished within three days. Enforcement officers appeared in the area on May 2 itself, but residents prevented them from proceeding with the demolition.

S Thiagarajan told reporters the notice was unlawful. He did not elaborate.

He said the Hindu residents of the area built the shrine about five years ago because the government had ignored their spiritual needs.

“This is very embarrassing,” he said. “The government built a mosque in the same area and also granted land for a Chinese temple, but we the Indians were overlooked.”

Today’s demonstration, held outside the DBKL office here, began at 11am and lasted for about an hour. The protesters held up placards saying, “Don’t Destroy Hindu Shrine”, “Don’t Oppress the Indian Community”, “Umno Demolishes Hindu Shrine”, “Umno is Cruel, DBKL is Cruel”. They also chanted “One Malaysia, two systems”, “DBKL arrogant”, “KL mayor coward”.

About 20 policemen kept watch, but arrested no one.

‘Un-edited’ Interlok surfaces in exam

A parent reveals that two questions from the controversial novel were posed, and both HRP and MIC are riled up.

KUALA LUMPUR: A parent from Gombak here complained that questions from the controversial novel Interlok were posed during the mid-term examination held last Monday.

According to Human Rights Party (HRP) leader S Jayathas, who received the complaint, the questions were featured in the Malay Language Paper 2 for Form Five students. The paper was set by the district education department.

This happened despite the assurance from Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin that the novel would not be used until amendments were carried out.

Calling Muhyiddin, who is also deputy prime minister, a “liar”, Jayathas said there were two questions regarding the novel in the examination paper.

“The first question asked students to pen two interesting incidents mentioned in the novel and why they thought the issues were interesting. The second question asked students to describe the background of a place mentioned in the novel,” he said.

The Interlok novel became controversial after Indian groups, including MIC, claimed that the author had portrayed the community in a negative light, especially with the use of the term “pariah”.

Following this, the Education Ministry agreed to amend the book, and an eight-member panel was set up to make recommendations.

MIC: Act against ‘little Napoleon’

Meanwhile, Jayathas said the latest incident showed that Muhyiddin was not fit to be education minister.


“What good are his powers as education minister if even the district education officers work against his orders?

“Since Interlok was introduced, there have been many cases of fights and name-calling between students. This proves the novel cannot be a good literature material to instil racial unity,” he added.

Contacted later, MIC publicity and communication chief S Vell Paari took the district education department to task for not respecting the ministry and the Indian community.

He also urged the ministry to take action against the district education department director.

“The punishment must serve as a lesson for the other ‘lilttle Napoleons’. We don’t want to see this person promoted to a higher position under the guise of punishment,” he said.

Vell Paari said if the government did not act, it would incur the wrath of the Indian community, and Umno leaders should not blame MIC for the loss of votes.

“How you are going to go down to the community and ask them to vote for BN if you continuously disrespect them?” he asked.

‘May Day arrests shame Malaysia’

Memo to Subramaniam condemns police action against activists

VIDEO INSIDE

PUTRAJAYA: Activists have demanded that the government give May Day the respect it deserves instead of embarrassing Malaysia in the eyes of the world by arresting those who participate in rallies to mark the occasion.

The May 1 Committee, representing several NGOs and student associations, submitted a memorandum to Human Resource Minister Dr S Subramaniam this morning that condemned police action against demonstrators last May 1 and denounced the government for its “Cold War mentality”.

Several demonstrators shouted slogans and raised banners outside Subramaniam’s office before the memorandum was given to his press secretary, V Sivam.

“Long live the people” and “Do not obstruct Labour Day,” the group chanted.

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general S Arutchelvan, speaking for the May 1 Committee, told reporters: “May 1 is International Labour Day and has been sanctioned by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), of which Malaysia is a member. The Human Resource Minister is our representative there, but sadly he does not mirror the aspirations and visions of the ILO.

“May 1 is not for us to go on holiday, but to voice the concerns of workers. All around the world, people gather, but in Malaysia we’re being attacked by the police. That’s embarrassing.”

Arutchelvan and another prominent PSM member, Sungai Siput MP Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, were among more than 20 people arrested last May 1 during a rally in Kuala Lumpur.

About 300 people gathered at Dataran Merdeka to protest against continuing price hikes and to support the call for a minimum-wage law. Police cordoned off the area, ordered the group to disperse and then proceeded to make the arrests.

Arutchelvan reproached Subramaniam for saying, on May 2, that the previous day’s rally was unnecessary because the government was already looking into a proposed Minimum Wage Act.

“His statement is irresponsible, immature and shocking. How long must we wait for the act? What is wrong for the people to gather?”

The May 1 Committee has been organising annual May Day rallies since 1994. Its members say police have become more aggressive in recent years.

Irene Xavier, who heads a group called Friends of Women, said Subramaniam, in supporting the police action, was telling workers that they were not important to him or the government.

She said many women were working in deplorable conditions in Malaysia.

“We have women being hired as informal workers and paid pittance. These contract jobs make them even poorer and deeper in debt.”

Valerie Mohan, a Women’s Aid Organisation official, noted that the government last year tried to push through amendments to the Employment Act that would have reduced workers’ rights even further. The amendments were shelved after strong protests from several groups.

Empowering voters, India style

Election Rule 49-O of world's largest democracy which allows for voters to exercise their right to dissent with the list of candidates is a good system to adopt, say groups.

PETALING JAYA: India, traditionally considered the world’s largest democracy, not only empowers its people to vote for its MP or Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) through the ballot but also allows them to reject candidates running in the polls using the same ballot.

Known as Rule 49-O of the Conduct of Elections Rule 1961, voters not agreerable to the candidates contesting can tick a specific column in the same ballot paper to allow them to express their decision not to vote for any of the candidates.

This not only sends a message to the political parties on the suitablility (or unsuitability) of their chosen candidates, but also prevents election fraud and misuse of votes.

Suhakam commissioner Muhammad Shaani Abdullah welcomed the idea of such a system in Malaysia, saying it allows the electorate to reject unsuitable candidates.

“If it empowers the people to choose their representative, then it must be good,” said Shaani. “It will compel candidates to work harder to retain their seats and also curb political parties from ‘parachuting’ unknown candidates to be fielded in a constituency.”

“It would also reduce instances of candidates toeing party lines too much, instead of speaking up boldly for their voters in parliament or the state assembly. In a democratic system, the MPs or the state assemblymen must voice the people’s aspiration,” he said.

Shaani acknowledged the system may likely create a mess of the electoral process if hundreds of constituencies reject their
candidates “but as time goes by, political parties will learn to field credible candidates and such problems will eventually be reduced.”

Concurring with Shaani, National Institute of Electoral Integrity (NIEI) director Amin Iskandar said Rule 49-O, if it is adopted, would help increase voter turnout as currently many are not willing to exercise their right to vote because they do not like the candidates.

“Even countries like Thailand and Bangladesh have this system. Voters here need to be educated on the system. Once they know why it is in place, then they will be able to use the system judiciously,” said Amin.

Much study needed

Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) deputy chairman Shaharuddin Othman said while he lauds Rule 49-O, much study was needed before adopting it and also the process must be legislated first before implementation.

He said the election process in India had evolved based on the needs and aspirations of its people and Rule 49-O was a product of the process. “To implement it as the law here, much work needs to be done to change our electoral process,” said Shaharuddin.

Meanwhile, Election Commission deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar dismissed the idea, saying Malaysia already has a working and established electoral system in place.

“Our system of assemblymen representing political parties works well in our country. Rule 49-O will only complicate things,”said Wan Ahmad when contacted.

He added that it would not solve any problem as voters would then have conflicting ideas on the candidates. Wan Ahmad said candidates have to implement whatever their party had promised during campaigns in order to retain their seats.

“If not, they will be punished at the next polls. Besides, individual candidates cannot do much without their party’s support,” he said.

The day Big Dog demanded RM400 million from Ku Li

In that sense Ku Li maintained his principles although after the meeting Big Dog grumbled that Ku Li is so rich but so kedekut (stingy). He could afford RM400 million easily, lamented Big Dog. If he hopes to win the Umno Presidency without paying any money then good luck to him, said Big Dog.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin
Pro-Umno blogger Zakhir Mohamad a.k.a. ‘Big Dog’ a.k.a. ‘Christian PM basher’ is actually quite a delightful character. Many a time have we met for dinner and drinks together with Sallahuddin Hashim a.k.a. ‘A Voice’ a.k.a. ‘Another Brick in the Wall’.
Wow, everyone is using a.k.a.s nowadays. (For the less English proficient readers of Malaysia Today, a.k.a. means ‘also known as’).

Big Dog is not only a delightful character but highly intelligent as well. And I have this penchant for intelligent people. Whether they are from the opposition or Umno/Barisan Nasional, I enjoy meeting up with them to eat, drink and shoot the breeze. And Big Dog is one such ‘enemy’ I used to love to meet and spend hours with to stuff our faces and talk about politics and other issues.

Anyway, there was this one fasting month (Ramadhan) when John Pang (Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s strategist) phoned me and asked me to arrange a meeting (followed by a buka puasa) with Umno and opposition bloggers and political activists. The number of 30 was agreed on -- the number of people who should be invited.

I then sat down and worked on the invitation list to make up that figure of 30 and passed it to Tengku Razalaigh Hamzah’s (a.k.a Ku Li) office for them to invite these people.

Almost everyone we invited came. And it was great to see bloggers and political activists from both sides of the political divide sitting in the same room to discuss how to make Ku Li the next Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Nik Azmi Nik Daud a.k.a. Bulat a.k.a. Bul gave his opinion -- which was actually quite a stupid idea and I could see Ku Li cringe with a ‘can you sit down and shut up’ look on his face.

I thought Bul’s idea was most stupid and it sounded as if he had just learned politics yesterday. No wonder Ku Li has never done well in politics. With Bul as one of his strategists I doubt Ku Li could even win the post of Chief Dog Catcher.

Big Dog then asked Ku Li whether he was prepared to spend RM400 million to win the premiership. That, according to Big Dog, was what it was going to cost Ku Li.

Earlier Big Dog had told me that it is going to cost at least RM400 million to ‘buy’ 40 Umno divisions if Ku Li wants to become Prime Minister. I said that that was quite a lot of money and Big Dog replied that Ku Li could afford it. He is worth much more than that, said Big Dog.

Ku Li looked hard at Big Dog -- as if he could not believe his ears -- and said that he is not prepared to ‘buy’ the premiership. If he spends RM10 million to buy each of the 40 Umno Divisions (total RM400 million) just to get 40 nominations so that he can contest the Umno Presidency, then what difference would he be to the other Umno leaders who play ‘money politics’?

He wants to become the Umno President and Prime Minister so that he can clean up the party and the government. If he gets in by using bribery, then how can he later clean up the party and the government when he himself is dirty?

So Ku Li rejected Big Dog’s proposal, not because he could not afford RM400 million, but because it would not have been ethical to buy the party elections on a platform of trying to get in to rid the party of corruption. You can’t get in using corruption and then scream that you are against corruption.

Some of you may remember that I wrote about this some years back. I said then that the task ahead of Ku Li is to get his 40 nominations. If he can get 40 nominations, winning the Presidency is easier. It is getting the 40 nominations which is difficult.

In that sense Ku Li maintained his principles although after the meeting Big Dog grumbled that Ku Li is so rich but so kedekut (stingy). He could afford RM400 million easily, lamented Big Dog. If he hopes to win the Umno Presidency without paying any money then good luck to him, said Big Dog.

Big Dog and I met Ku Li a couple more times, once around midnight in his private residence. But try as we may, we could not get Ku Li to agree to all the different ideas that were bandied about on how he could get his 40 nominations and go on to contest and win the Umno Presidency, which would be the route to becoming the new Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Some ideas were actually quite seditious and treasonous and Ku Li once chided one of the chaps who proposed it and told him that what he was proposing could end up with all of us being charged for treason with a death sentence thrown in. (Yes, some of the ideas were actually quite dangerous and could have ended with us sitting in death row if someone had talked).

Anyway, in the end nothing happened and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi a.k.a. Pak Lah resigned and Najib Tun Razak took over as Prime Minister and Ku Li continued sitting in his house waiting for the day when he would become Prime Minister.

Well, at least he is not RM400 million poorer, which would have happened had he listened to Big Dog.

I must admit that Umno politics is far more interesting compared to opposition politics and I must also admit that I enjoyed myself immensely running with that pack of wolves. Learned a lot as well, which of course we can now use against them.

Suspected Malaysian corruption assets: Swiss President alerts money-laundering watchdog

By Bruno Manser Fund, Basel /Switzerland
Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey has alerted Switzerland’s money-laundering watchdog, FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority), over suspected assets of Abdul Taib Mahmud ("Taib"), Chief Minister of the Malaysian state of Sarawak, in Swiss bank accounts.
In a letter to the Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) that has been released today, Calmy-Rey acknowledges that she has forwarded a BMF report on Taib’s suspected relationship with Swiss banks to FINMA.
"I would like to thank you for your commitment against corruption", Calmy-Rey wrote to the Bruno Manser Fund. "The fight against corruption and the restitution of potentates' embezzled funds to the respective countries is also of great concern to the Swiss government. For years, we have been fighting for a clean financial centre, e.g. with a comprehensive anti-money-laundering legislation which contains far-reaching due diligence and reporting obligations for the financial institutions, particularly concerning funds from politically exposed persons (PEPs)".
The Bruno Manser Fund had sent a report to the Swiss President informing her of the Taib family’s relationship with Switzerland and asking her to freeze all Taib assets held in Swiss bank accounts. For years, there have been rumours about the Taib family’s relationship with Swiss banks, particularly UBS. In 2004, UBS, together with its Bahrain-based subsidiary, Noriba Bank, was the lead manager for a 350 million US$ transaction by the Sarawak state-owned Sarawak Corporate Sukuk in Labuan, Malaysia’s offshore financial centre. One of Taib’s nieces, Elia Geneid Abas, is married to Swiss hotel manager Matthias Sutter.
After two decades of fighting against the destruction of the Borneo rainforest and the marginalization of Sarawak’s indigenous communities, the Bruno Manser Fund has recently turned its attention to corruption as one of the root causes of deforestation.
During his thirty years in power, Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, the main culprit behind the destruction of Sarawak’s tropical rainforests, is believed to have acquired billions of dollars of ill-gotten assets, most of which have been sent overseas. Research by the Bruno Manser Fund has identified 49 companies in eight countries that are closely linked to the Taib family.
– Ends –
For more information, please contact us:
www.bmf.ch, www.stop-timber-corruption.org

An UMNO-owned Newspaper Inflames Malaysia

Najib says don't worry about it

(Asia Sentinel) Utusan Malaysia stirs the racial pot

A week ago, the Malay-language broadsheet Utusan Malaysia printed a story that is sending reverberations throughout an increasingly racially tense Malaysia, to the effect that Christian pastors were seeking to install a Christian prime minister who would change the country's official religion.

Although the story was ridiculous on the face of it, it has been given wide circulation and drawn considerable comment as well as a series of police reports filed in local stations. Malaysia's official religion, enshrined in the country's constitution, is Islam although other religions are guaranteed freedom of existence. Any attempt to change that would probably result in a racial conflagration that no sane individual in Malaysia would want.

According to the CIA World Factbook, ethnic Malays make up 50.4 percent of the population, more than double the population of Chinese with 23.7 percent, Indians at 7.1 percent, others 7.8 percent and indigenous races, primarily in East Malaysia, at 11 percent. Muslims account for 60.4 percent of the population, Buddhists 19.2 percent, Christians 9.1 percent and Hindus 6.2 percent.

Leaders of the Christian Federation of Malaysia, which represents several different religions met with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on Thursday to say the report was specious and to ask that Utusan's editors be disciplined for irresponsible reporting. Najib told local reporters he welcomed the church leaders' assurance that they were not seeking to make the country a Christian nation.

News reports gave no indication that Najib apologized to the church leaders for the newspaper's irresponsible reporting. Utusan Malaysia is owned by the party that Najib heads – the United Malays National Organization, the ethnic Malay party that leads the national governing coalition, the Barisan Nasional. Over recent months, the newspaper has become more strident in its racial reporting, earning it criticism from a wide variety of sources, particularly the opposition parties which it regularly excoriates.

The paper recently fired Hata Wahari, a longtime reporter at Utusan and the recently elected president of the Malaysian National Union of Journalists after filing eight charges against him for a variety of shortcomings. However, the charges were widely regarded as having been triggered by Hata's statements about the lack of freedom in the country's mainstream press and in particular Utusan Malaysia's pro-government, anti-opposition bias. Hata was the second national journalist's union head fired by the paper.

As with Utusan, the country's political parties own most of Malaysia's major dailies and television stations, in Malay, English, Chinese or Tamil languages. Utusan is just one of several newspapers controlled by UMNO. Although opposition parties own their own publications, they are under strict licensing rules that require renewal each year. While the mainstream press face the same restrictions, their ownership serves as an even bigger impediment to impartial journalism. The Internet largely supplies the country's only independent journalism, a fact that appears to account for fast-growing online readership.

Supposedly the demand to Christianize the country, reported by two pro-government bloggers according to Utusan Malaysia, was made at a meeting in which opposition lawmaker Jeff Ooi was present. However, according to critics, Utusan didn't bother to check the information. The blogs themselves didn't state how they learned of the report.
Press freedom organizations including the Center for Independent Journalism, Charter2000-Aliran, the Writers' Alliance for Media Independence and 1 Muted Malaysia all condemned the reports as irresponsible.

"Utusan Malaysia also did not offer an explanation for not naming these sources," the organizations said in an open letter. "The use of anonymous sources - usually, in consideration of the sources' safety - must be publicly justified. Notwithstanding this, Utusan Malaysia chose to run this as a front-page report, no less, and in so doing, gave the unverified story the credibility it did not deserve."

Further, the group said, "the front-page story only quoted Ooi denying the allegation that he had sponsored the meeting. The subjects of the allegation itself - the pastors who allegedly made this call - were not interviewed. The Christian meeting's organizers, which included the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF), had already denied the allegations of such a call being made in a statement published in the online media. Utusan Malaysia did not refer to this statement at all, nor was there any indication that any attempts were made to seek clarification from the pastors, NECF or any other Christian organizations."

Free Malaysia Today, a Kuala Lumpur-based blog, argued today that "The mainstream media, for as long as they pander to the government, enjoy immunity from public prosecution. But Utusan Malaysia has earned a special place within this untouchable clique simply by the virtue of being owned by UMNO. This privilege has spawned relentless attacks on the opposition and increasingly frequent inflammatory reports on race and religion. But while most urbanites can see right through Utusan Malaysia's thinly-veiled propaganda, its rural readership remains staunch believers.

The blog quoted Hata Wahiri as saying that the country should worry about the "slander" his former employer is producing, "because it is taking root in the rural areas. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor are multi-cultural and able to discuss Utusan's reports among themselves to seek clarification. But the rural community is predominantly Malay-Muslim. Who are they going to cross-check their facts with? Neither is there another Malay-language paper to counter Utusan's reports. The only media they are exposed to is government-owned media."

Hata warned that the newspaper is stoking racial flames and that "one day it will explode. I'm very afraid of that. If anything were to happen, it will begin in the rural areas." If it continues, he said, "another May 13" – the day in 1969 when the country exploded into race riots that took hundreds of lives – is likely.

"The fact that Utusan Malaysia is continuing to spin more stories from a completely unverified report implies mischief on their part," the press freedom organizations warned in their letter, "since there is a danger of various communities reacting further and inflaming an essentially emotive issue. Already, there are at least seven police reports lodged in response to what was mere rumor. Accuracy and verification are an integral part of journalism. Sources must be named as a measure of accountability on the part of both sources and journalists, and to allow readers to judge for themselves whether the information provided is true."

200 NGOs lodge report against Utusan

The Sun
by Charles Ramendran, Himanshu Bhatt and Bernand Cheah

KUALA LUMPUR (May 11, 2011): A coalition of more than 200 NGOs has criticised the editors of Utusan Malaysia for publishing an article taken from two weblogs alleging a group of Christian pastors were conspiring to make Christianity the official religion of the country.

A. Rajaretinam, who heads the coalition called angkatan Angkatan Warga Aman Malaysia (Aman), said the actions of the editors of Utusan were unethical and could trigger grave consequences among the races in the country.

Accompanied by a dozen members including Aman adviser Datuk Thasleem Mohamed Ibrahim and legal adviser A.Sivanesan who is also Sungkai assemblyman, Rajaretinam lodged a police report against the Bahasa Malaysia national daily at 2pm today urging the police and Home Ministry to take stern action.

"What they have done is irresponsible and goes against journalistic ethics. It is malicious and threatens national security. We urge the police to investigate this and the Home Minister to act by suspending the publication of Utusan immediatly pending an investigation.

"We have seen his ministry take action against other newspapers in the past for such mistakes and he should be fair by doing likewise in this case. Utusan has been doing this over and over again and gets away with it. We do not know what is their agenda but they must be punished." he said.

In George Town, Penang PAS added its objections to a growing list of police reports lodged against Utusan by various quarters since Sunday – a day after the article was published.

The report was made by Penang PAS member Abdul Rahman Kassim at the George Town District Police Headquarters. He was accompanied by about 30 state Pakatan Rakyat members.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, meanwhile, sent a letter to Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein calling for stern action to be taken against Utusan.

He urged Hishammuddin to order the newspaper to retract and  issue an apology for “false and malicious reporting”.

In his letter Lim said two Penang Umno assemblymen had confessed that they too did not believe the purported conspiracy reported by Utusan.

Both former deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya, the assemblyman for Teluk Bahang, and Farid Saad of Pulau Betong told the state assembly at its recent meeting that they did not believe the report of a plan by the pastors and DAP to establish a Christian state and to have a Christian prime minister.

“Seeing as there are two Umno assemblymen who do not believe the Umno-owned newspaper’s Christian conspiracy, it is clear Utusan Malaysia’s reporting is nothing but lies and borders on sedition,” Lim said in the letter.

Judiciary Transformation Showing Results - Zaki

SHAH ALAM, May 12 (Bernama) -- Chief Justice Tun Zaki Tun Azmi said Thursday that the transformation of the judiciary which started in 2009 was showing results and had helped reduce backlogged cases.

He said prior to 2009, the judiciary was faced a with a serious backlog of cases with some civil and criminal cases taking up to 10 to 12 years to settle.

"Based on statistics, at the end of December 2009 there were 93,523 civil cases backlogged in the High Courts but the latest statistics in March 2011 showed only 7,235 of these cases had yet to be cleared.

"For criminal cases (backlogged at the High Courts), they numbered 4,544 cases at the end of 2009 and only 381 of them have yet to be disposed," he said at the opening of the RM93.1 million Annex Building of the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Court Complex, here.

The annexe was opened by Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

Zaki said the judiciary's next key agenda was to clear all backlogged cases as soon as possible as "justice delayed was justice denied".

He said various steps were being taken to improve the judiciary's delivery system among them the implementation of the Court Recording and Transcription system), Case Management System) and Queue Management System).

Also present were Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Arifin Zakaria, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong.

The annexe houses 13 lower courts.

Scepticism abounds over PM-Christian group meeting

(Malaysiakini) Today's meeting between representatives of the Council of Churches of Malaysia and Prime Minister Najib Razak that was requested by the PM's office to lower tensions arising from inflammatory reports in Utusan Malaysia is not likely to resolve anything.

This is the opinion of a frequent past attendee at meetings of Christian groups with Malaysian PMs who asked to remain anonymous.

“We have met him (Najib) and his predecessor and his predecessor's predecessor often enough,” said the now retired past participant.

“There's plenty of froth but little of substance achieved at these meetings. It's good at promoting a 'feel good' atmosphere but after you have come away, the same difficulties recur,” he added.

According to him, there was little reason to doubt the sincerity of the PMs the Christian groups interfaced with at the meetings, but he doubted their resolve to tackle the core issues.

He said that for this reason he expected Christian representatives to approach today's meeting with Najib with feelings nearer to resignation than to hope.

“This is because there have been too many meetings in the past when much good feeling was generated that a fresh start could be made only for that expectation to collide with forbidding realities later,” he opined.

No real resolve from PM

“This has saddled us with the feeling that there is no real resolve to tackle the core issues,” he said.

“After a while, you feel silly to be imbued with the 'feel good' sensation that inevitably arises from meeting with someone who is intent on being amenable.

“But when that feeling collides with the facts on the ground, you feel silly for having allowed yourself to be deluded and then you have a hard time avoiding the resulting cynicism,” said the veteran of several such meetings.

He said unless Najib is intent on tackling the core problems, meetings such as the one he has requested today would be an exercise in self-delusion.

“If differences are fundamental between Islam and the other religions, then I think it's better to face that reality squarely rather than go round the bush once too often,” he opined.

Last Saturday, Umno-owned Utusan published a front-page report alleging that a group of Christians sought to create a Christian state in collusion with opposition party DAP.

This came in the wake of a litany of problems faced by the minority Christians in Malaysia, including the ban on the use of the term 'Allah' in their Malay Bible.

Umno-PAS link may come at a price

The dominant partner in the BN coalition may face a dilemma if PAS accepts the hands of friendship.

KUALA LUMPUR: When Najib Tun Razak invited PAS to join Umno for the sake of religion and race, many Umno members waited patiently for PAS to reply.

Uppermost in their minds is: what if PAS accepts the Umno president’s offer and, at the same time, spell out conditions that may not benefit Umno or the Malays in general?

The core of Umno’s struggle is still to champion the Malay cause and strengthen Islam, while at the same time ensure fair distribution of the economic pie to all races.

However, in the course of its political evolution – from a Malay-based party to one embracing the interests of all races – the Malays have not only lagged behind in many areas of life but, worse still, are split, with three main political parties with different philosophies tugging at their loyalty.

Thus, the responsibility rests in Najib to unite the Malays so that they could better themselves in all fields of endeavour.

Extending a friendly hand to PAS is one way to rebuild the bridge of Malay unity.

An Umno leader, who wanted to remain anonymous, said that Najib’s offer was made out of sincerity, given that the political divide among the Malays has become serious.

He said that PAS, an Islamic party that has been around for more than 50 years, has never made much of an impact in the political arena except when Umno was embroiled in a crisis such as in 1988 when it broke up and when PKR was formed 12 years ago.

“Besides, PAS has never had a good run in any general election. So when the Umno president extended a hand of friendship, the Islamic party may see this as an opportunity to put a price,” he said.

But the question is, how much can Umno give away if PAS wants to bargain?

PAS, despite being an Islamic party championing Islamic ideals, is still a political party interested in gaining political mileage and worldly benefits.

Political survival is important to the party as it needs to prove to all, especially its allies in the unregistered Pakatan Rakyat, that it is a political force to be reckoned with.

It is the only party in the Pakatan that represents the Malays and Islam, while PKR is a multi-racial entity and DAP a multi-racial but Chinese-based organisation.

Political manoeuvring

According to some Umno members, the main worry is that PAS may ask for several seats and states in the coming general election, which means that Umno has to give some of its seats away.

“If this happens, Umno’s strength will be eroded as PAS may demand to contest in states like Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and some seats in Perak,” an Umno leader said.

“If Umno gives in, the backbone of the Barisan Nasional (BN) will be weakened.

“What will happen then? If Umno rejects the conditions, then PAS can tell the whole nation that the party truly wanted unity but Umno is selfish and insincere.

“This is one dilemma that Umno may face if PAS is to accept Umno’s offer of friendship in the name of Malay unity,” he added.

Given such a situation, Umno may have to go back to its members for endorsement if PAS puts “a price”.

Umno members at divisional level are wary of PAS’ political manoeuvring, if the “bargain” goes through.

Even a re-delineation of constituencies would not be of much help as PAS would still demand its so-called bastion states such as Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and parts of Perak, a divisional chief said.

“PAS is, after all, a political party whose leaders aim to lead the country and as such, Malay unity aside, the party is still thinking of survival and emerging as the dominant Malay-Islamic party,” he added.

The disabled learn of their rights

The New Straits Times
by Farhana Syed Nokman

PETALING JAYA: An educational programme to help the disabled learn of their rights was held recently at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) headquarters.

It was organised by its zone 19 councillors in collaboration with Malaysian Bar Council.

Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee chairperson Syahredzan Johan said the objective of the programme was to bring the constitution to the people.


"Our initiative is to bring the information to the public so they will be aware about their rights as citizens and be brave enough to speak up," said Syahredzan.

The Rakyat Guides booklets, which consist of nine chapters elaborating on the federal constitution, were also distributed to participants of the programme.

According to Syahredzan, the content of the booklets had been rewritten and simplified to help the layman understand his rights.

The public, he said, can also buy the booklets at the Bar Council for RM6.

All proceeds from the sale of the booklets will be channelled back to the programme.

The one-day programme was officiated by senator S. Ramakrishnan.

MBPJ councillor Jeyaseelan Anthony said this was the first programme organised for the disabled.

"We received good response from the participants and they were happy to learn more about the constitution," said Jeyaseelan.

More of such programmes will be held upon request, he said.

For details, log on to www.perlembagaanku.com.

Libyan government says it's back in control of Misrata airport

Benghazi, Libya (CNN) -- Libyan rebels captured the airport in the besieged city of Misrata on Wednesday, a rebel spokesman in Benghazi said.

But a government spokesman said the control was short-lived.

Shamsiddin Abdulmolah of the Transitional National Council said the airport, located in the southern region of the war-torn city, fell to "revolutionaries" after opposition fighters in nearby Zlaitin were able to join their counterparts in Misrata.

The capture of the location would be key for rebels fighting the forces of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi since it would provide important access for humanitarian aid.

But government spokesman Musa Ibrahim said Wednesday night that government forces were in control of the airport and the seaport in Misrata. He said rebel forces had been there "for (a) short time and left."

Two months of fighting and the ongoing shelling of the Misrata port have prevented most aid ships from docking there, leaving the city "at the forefront" of U.N. humanitarian concerns, a top U.N. official told the Security Council this week.

NATO warplanes and missiles have been pounding Gadhafi's forces since March as Gadhafi's troops try to quash a nearly three-month-old revolt against his regime, and the ferocity of the warfare in Misrata underscores the animosity between the pro- and anti-Gadhafi forces.

Abdulmolah said an unknown number of casualties occurred in the fighting. He also reported that the oil-rich town of Jakharrah fell Tuesday night to opposition forces and that Gadhafi's forces were surrounded in the oasis-area towns of Awjilah and Jalu.

The NATO mission is intended to enforce a U.N. Security Council resolution that calls for the protection of civilians. U.S. President Barack Obama and NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen will meet at the White House on Friday to discuss the alliance's role, the White House said Wednesday.

NATO said Wednesday that vehicle and ammunition storage facilities, a surface-to-air missile launcher and an anti-aircraft gun were hit in the Tripoli area. It also said in a news release that ambulance storage facilities were struck in Mizdah and Qaryat.

As for Misrata, Marie Colvin, the Middle East correspondent for Britain's Sunday Times, told CNN that rebel forces defending the city from government troops were making "meter-by-meter" gains despite heavy shelling and rocket attacks.

Units loyal to Gadhafi have been firing rockets and artillery shells into residential neighborhoods, leaving a nearby emergency room full of women, children and old men, she said.

"The rebels are very much trying, at a minimum, to push back Gadhafi's lines so he simply can't do that," Colvin said Tuesday.

As for aid, a ship carrying supplies from the International Committee of the Red Cross docked Tuesday in Misrata, but the ongoing fighting had deterred captains of other ships from trying to enter the port, Colvin said.

The ICRC said the vessel was carrying medical supplies, spare parts to repair water and electrical supply systems and 8,000 jars of baby food.

On the front lines of the battle, bullets were whizzing past "like very angry hornets," Colvin said. At least 70 rebels have been wounded -- but they have held their line, "and meter by meter were able to advance," she said.

"They're defending their homes. They're defending their families, and they are not giving up an inch. They are fighting," Colvin said.

The first shipment of nonlethal aid from the United States to the Libyan opposition arrived Tuesday in Benghazi, U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

It included more than 10,000 meals that are permissible under Islamic law. Other items en route from the U.S. Defense Department include medical supplies, tents, uniforms, boots and protective gear.

Almost 750,000 people have fled the country amid the fighting, and another 58,000 are displaced within Libya, Valerie Amos, the U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the Security Council Monday.

Another 5,000 are stranded at border crossings between Libya, Tunisia and Niger, Amos said. Others have tried to flee by sea, but one such attempt appears to have ended in disaster for hundreds of refugees as their ship capsized off the capital, Tripoli.

AMAN: Stop the sedition report now

Islam’s position cannot be changed, says Najib

PUTRAJAYA, May 11 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak moved today to calm a raging controversy over unsubstantiated reports in the media about a plot to make Christianity the official religion, by pointing out that Islam would remain the religion of the federation.

The prime minister allayed fears sparked by an Utusan Malaysia report about Christian groups conspiring with the DAP to install a Christian prime minister by assuring Muslim leaders Islam’s position cannot be changed in any form.

“This is because the reality is that we have the Federal Constitution, and its provision on the position of Islam and the other religions is very clear,” Najib told reporters after meeting with 22 Muslim leaders and intellectuals, here.

“Regardless of the circumstances, the Federal Constitution cannot be amended and as such, no one should be worried or feel uneasy on this matter,” he said.

Najib said that during his hour-long meeting with Muslim leaders, the contents of the Utusan report were discussed.

“I normally meet with the Muslim leaders from time to time. But under the present circumstances, it is imperative that I meet this group and discuss the issue as well as other matters,” the PM explained.

The Malay daily carried a front-page article on Saturday, headlined “Kristian agama rasmi?” (Christianity the official religion?), claiming the DAP was conspiring with Christian leaders to take over Putrajaya and abolish Islam as the religion of the federation.

The report, based entirely on unsubstantiated blog postings by several pro-Umno bloggers, charged the DAP with sedition for allegedly trying to change the country’s laws to allow a Christian prime minister.

Christian groups and the DAP have repeatedly denied the allegation, and have slammed the Umno daily for printing “dangerous lies”.

Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution does not position Islam as the “official” religion of the country.

It only states that “Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation.”

The Federal Constitution does not expressly specify race or religious requirements for the position of prime minister.

Article 43(2)(a) of the constitution states only that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall appoint as PM a member of Parliament who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the Dewan Rakyat.

The heat is on for underworld don with Malaysian links

With Osama gone, the hunt for the second man on Interpols most wanted list is on.

NEW DELHI: India wants to know whereabouts of Dawood Ibrahim, currently second on Interpols most wanted list.

It is learnt that the Indian underworld don, who heads the notorious ‘D-Company’ (Dawood Company) is believed to have underworld links in Malaysia, Singapore and Bangkok.

Dawood, currently second on Interpol’s ‘Most Wanted’ list after Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin ‘El Chapo Guzman, following Osama’s death, is believed to have fled to Saudi Arabia.

“Jeddah has always been Dawood’s second home for many reasons. We have prepared a detailed updated dossier on him after Osama’s encounter.

“(Dawood) Ibrahim knows that due to international pressure, Pakistan would never want him to stay put in their territory,” reported the Asian Age newspaper, quoting unnamed Indian Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials.

The dossier was given to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), said the news report.

Dawood, along with his close family members and aides, was believed to have abandoned his Karachi home to take shelter in Saudi Arabia on the night of May 2 – the day elite US forces executed their raid on the Al-Qaeda chief in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

For decades, Indian authorities had been chasing the 55-year-old Dawood, son of a former policeman, who led the ‘D-Company’ which spearheaded organised crimes from drug trafficking, counterfeiting, contract killing to arms smuggling.

The underworld don is allegedly the mastermind behind the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts which killed 257 people.

He is also suspected to have had a hand in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, where 170 victims died.

Intelligence reports have revealed that Dawood had close links with the Al-Qaeda movement and Osama himself.

Dawood is suspected as a potential suspect in masterminding a 1993 terror attack in Mumbai, which killed hundreds, and may have had a hand in the 2008 attacks on a number of prominent, ritzy Mumbai hotels.

What adds to his mystique is that his whereabouts remain unknown — Indian intelligence officials suspect he is in Pakistan, possibly in the port city of Karachi, but the Pakistanis reject those claims.

Some estimates of his wealth number into billions of dollars, tracing him to assets and properties from Malaysia to East Africa. In 2008, Forbes ranked him among the top 10 most wanted fugitives

- Bernama

Protes aman dua minit sahaja sebelum bersurai

Pengetua memaklumkan dalam perhimpunan sekolah bahawa beliau (pengetua) tidak akan melayan mahupun berjumpa dengan ibu bapa.

Kashfi Abd Rauf

SHAH ALAM: Protes aman ibu bapa yang tidak berpuas hati dengan sikap pengetua sebuah sekolah menengah di Seksyen 25 di sini pagi tadi sempat berlangsung kira-kira dua minit sahaja sebelum bersurai atas arahan polis.

“Anda boleh berhimpun selama lima minit tanpa menggunakan kad protes,” kata seorang pegawai polis yang dikenali dengan nama Subra sahaja kepada sekumpulan 20 ibu bapa.

FMT sempat melihat beberapa kad manila yang tertera dengan frasa seperti ‘Pengetua gila kuasa’ dan ‘Apa tindakan Putrajaya?’

Salah seorang jurucakap pihak ibu bapa, Puan Quah Saw Choon mendakwa bahawa pengetua memaklumkan dalam perhimpunan sekolah bahawa beliau (pengetua) tidak akan melayan mahupun berjumpa dengan ibu bapa.

Para ibu bapa turut menunjukkan gambar vandalisme yang dilakukan pelajar pada dinding sekolah. Perkataan ‘Megawati P******’ tertulis pada dinding tersebut.

Megawati merujuk kepada pengetua sekolah tersebut, Megawati Hasbullah.

Kumpulan ibu bapa para pelajar ini telah menyerahkan petisyen pada minggu lepas mendesak Menteri Pendidikan Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin agar pengetua sekolah ini ditukar.

Anita Atan

Perhimpunan aman ibu bapa ini merupakan usaha kali kedua oleh mereka. Mereka pernah protes buat kali pertama pada bulan lepas.
FMT sempat berjumpa dengan Kashfi Abdul Rauf, pengerusi biro keselamatan Persatuan Ibu Bapa Guru-Guru (PIBG) sekolah tersebut untuk mendapatkan ulasannya.

“Saya berada di sekolah pada 20 haribulan ketika pergaduhan antara dua kumpulan pelajar berlaku. Macam huru-hara. Saya yang menghubungi pihak polis,” ujarnya.

“Kita sedang berusaha menyelesaikan masalah ini,” katanya.

Beliau turut mempertahankan pengetua sekolah tersebut.

Isu lama


“Isu mahu tukarkan pengetua ini isu lama. Pengetua tak boleh keluarkan kenyataan sebab itu saya bercakap dengan anda. Hanya sebilangan kecil sahaja ibu bapa yang tidak puas hati,” kata beliau lalu beredar tanpa mengulas lanjut.

Sementara itu, Yang Dipertua PIBG Anita Atan yang mengadakan pertemuan dengan ibu bapa yang tidak puas hati memberitahu bahawa beliau tidak dimaklumkan mengenai pergaduhan tersebut sehingga terlewat.

“PIBG dah minta pihak sekolah memaklumkan kalau ada apa-apa kes,” kata Anita.

Justeru beliau mencadangkan para ibu bapa yang tidak puas hati agar menghadiri mesyuarat PIBG pada 21 Mei ini.

“Tulis apa yang anda tak puas hati. PIBG akan sama-sama menyelesaikan masalah,” ujar Anita.

‘Provide proof that you’re Hindu’

Religious status is only exclusively indicated for Malays as Islam, NRD officer tells someone who wants an extract of his birth certificate.

PETALING JAYA: What was to be an ordinary trip to the National Registration Department (NRD) for an extract of his birth certificate turned out to a highly frustrating experience for P Saravanan.

Saravanan’s queries on several discrepancies in the copy of his birth certificate and the replies from an officer at the Federal Territories branch left him stumped.

His new birth certificate did not have many details filled, including his religion.

Saravanan, 38, was told that religious status is only stated automatically for individuals who are Malays as Islam, and others have to provide proof of their religion.

“If I belong a race called Indian, it’s normally indicated as Hindu, unless I’ve converted to Islam or Christianity. In my birth certificate, it was typed in as ‘information not available’,” said Saravanan.

“When I told the officer to put down in writing what she had just told to me, she became hesitant and sought help from her superior who refused my request and asked me to seek clarification at the NRD headquarters in Putrajaya,” he added.

To add to his frustration, Saravanan’s parents ages and religion were also not indicated in the new copy and at the Putrajaya, he was told to provide evidence he is a Hindu.

“I was too upset and I left the place in a huff,” said Saravanan, who claimed he was treated shabilly by officials.

“We live in a multimedia society. Even if they have made a mistake, they could have been magnanimous and easily make the amendments,” said Saravanan.

No authority to amend details

NRD’s public relations officer Jainisah Mohd Noor denied that only Muslims have their religious status inserted and claimed the omissions in Saravan’s document were due to technicalities.

She added that there were differences between the old birth certificate format and the new one.

“The old birth certificate format does not have a religion column. So when we extract details from the original, the religious status would not be in it and thus not reflected in the new one,” said Jainisah.

She added that the NRD officers at the headquarters do not have authority to change any information in the birth certificate without the individual’s consent.

Jainisah said Saravanan can get his religious status rectified by filling in an application form provided by the NRD.

Saravanan who is working in Belgium-based gasket company, said he returned to Malaysia on December last year to get an extract of his birth certificate.

“In Belgium, we need to produce the latest copy of our birth certificate to apply for permanent residence or even registering our children at school. This episode with the NRD is shameful and embarassing,” said Saravanan.

Perkasa chief questions Bar on the issue of official religion

Ibrahim Ali quotes from two previous High Court cases to make his point

PETALING JAYA: Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali today questioned Bar Council’s constitution committee chairman, Syahredzan Johan’s interpretation of the Federal Constitution and the status of Islam.

Yesterday, Syahredzan was reported by a news portal as saying that the Federal Constitution does not dictate Islam as Malaysia’s official religion.

Article 3(1) reads: Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation. Syahredzan argued the term ‘official’ is not stated in the article.

In reaction, Perkasa had lodged a police report against Syahredzan and the news portal for saying that Islam is not the official religion.

In a press release today, Ibrahim said Syahredzan’s stance was an insult to Islam.

“Even though it is stated as the religion of the Federation, the effect is same as being the official religion because other religions are not mentioned in any part of the constitution,” he said.

He added that in two High Court judgements the interpretation was no other religion can be religion of the Federation, hence Islam is the official religion.

Ibrahim was referring to the case of Meor Atiqulrahman in 2000 where the judge explained Islam is a complete way of life.

“In Lina Joy case judgment in 2004, the court decided that Article 3(1) has a far wider and meaningful purpose than mere fixation of the official religion.” he said.

Ibrahim added that the judge in the Lina Joy case also spoke of Islam as “the main and dominant religion in the Federation which is the duty of the state to protect, defend and promote Islam.

“Islam carries the embodiment of the Federal Constitution without giving way to other religions even though followers of other faith can practice their faith,” said Ibrahim.

State govt wants action against Utusan

In a letter to the home minister, the Penang CM says Utusan must retract its report and action must be taken against the staff involved in the 'Christian plot' report.

VIDEO INSIDE

KUALA LUMPUR: The Penang state government has called upon Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to take stern action against Utusan Malaysia.

In an official letter to Hishammuddin today, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said this was an unanimous decision made by the state exco this morning.

“The decision was made following the confessions of two Umno assemblymen Hilmi Yahya (Teluk Bahang) dan Muhammad Farid Saad (Pulau Betong) in the state assembly yesterday that they don’t believe in the existence of a Christian conspiracy.

“Since two Umno assemblymen don’t believe the report published by a newspaper owned by Umno, it is clear that Utusan reported a dangerous lie.

“The severity of this dangerous lie is apparent in the high number of police reports filed by Umno leaders against this alleged Christian conspiracy,” he added.

Last Saturday, Utusan Malaysia published a front-page report alleging that DAP and Christian leaders were conspiring to make Christianity the official religion in this country.

The report, based on the unsubstantiated claims of two pro-Umno bloggers, also accused the groups of praying for a Christian prime minister.

Both DAP and Christian leaders had denied the allegation.

Harsh words against the CM



In his letter to Hishammuddin, Lim also touched on the protest held by Penang Umno Youth on May 8 regarding this issue as well as against the opening of a free alternative road in Jalan Bagan 29-Jalan Siram.
“Umno Youth can take the stand of wanting a tolled road, but the state government believes that an alternative road must be provided… This is the spirit of democracy whch has differing views.

“But it is wrong and dangerous for Penang Umno Youth to hold a protest with harsh words against the chief minister for being involved in the alleged Christian conspiracy,” he said.

“Protesting against such a slander is not democracy but a brash action which can have an adverse impact on the nation’s security,” he added.

Lim said despite Christian leaders and organisations denying the allegation, Utusan had failed to retract the report and apologise.

Instead, he added, the daily continued to play up the issue.

“Now, this false report has spread widely and is causing concern among the people as it threatens the harmony between the difference races and religious groups

“The state government supports freedom of the press, but this does not mean the freedom to lie and slander. This is a false report done with bad intention” he said.

Lim said apart from ordering Utusan to retract its report, Hishammuddin must also take stern action against the newspaper and its staff who were involved.

Meeting with PM
Meanwhile, FMT learnt that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak will be meeting with Christian leaders tomorrow to ease the tension created by the Utusan report.

In another development, Penang PAS today lodged a police report against Utusan Malaysia for publishing “provocative news”.

The report said that the news on the alleged Christian plot was aimed at creating ethnic and religious tension in the country.

The report was lodged by a state party leader Ab Rahman Kassim at the Patani  Road police station. Also present was Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

Why Pakatan Rakyat is NOT going to form the next federal government

This is not a new subject matter. I have written about this so many times in the past. Some of you may remember my article entitled “Votes do not translate into seats”? Well, today, I have no choice but to repeat what I have already told you before.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin
My friend Nat Tan has hit the nail on the head in his article entitled 60pc of vote, 93pc of seats? published in The Malaysian Insider today (which you can read here: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/article/60pc-of-vote-93pc-of-seats/)

A similar article written by Nia Nymue in his Blog entitled PAP won 90% of seats but only 60% of votes can be read here: http://nianymue.wordpress.com/2011/05/11/pap-won-90-of-seats-but-only-60-of-votes/

They were of course talking about the recent Singapore elections. But they could easily have also been talking about the Malaysian elections. And this is what I want to talk about, again, today -- in spite of sounding like I am repeating myself too many times.

On 11th May 1969 (two days before ‘May 13’), the ruling party (then the Alliance Party of Umno, MCA and MIC) won less than 50% of the votes. Yet it managed to form the federal government because it still won more the 50% of the seats in Parliament (66% of the seats to be exact).

In 1974, the newly formed ruling coalition called Barisan Nasional won less than two-thirds of the votes (60.7%) but it still won 88% of the seats in Parliament.

In 1978, the votes for the ruling coalition dropped to 57.2% but it sill won 84% of the seats in Parliament.

In 1982, the votes for the ruling coalition were still below two-thirds (60.5%) but it managed to win 86% of the seats in Parliament.

In 1986, the ruling coalition’s votes dropped to 55.8% but it won 84% of the seats in Parliament.

In 1990, the ruling coalition’s votes dropped even further to 53.4% but it still won more than two-thirds of the seats (71%).

In 1995, the ruling coalition ‘recovered’ by winning 65.2% of the votes which gave them 84% of the seats in Parliament.

1999 was a blow to the ruling coalition. That was the era of Reformasi and the Anwar Ibrahim ‘Sodomy 1’ crisis. In November of that year the ruling coalition won only 56.5% of the votes. Yet it won 77% of the seats in Parliament.

2004 was the best performance in history for the ruling coalition. It won more than 90% of the seats in Parliament. But it managed this on less than two-thirds of the votes (63.9%). So the best Barisan Nasional could do is less than two-thirds of the votes.

Then we come to the ‘landmark’ March 2008 general election. The ruling coalition did its worse since May 1969. It won only 52.2% of the votes (because of Sabah and Sarawak -- if not then less than 50% like in 1969). And for the first time since May 1969 it lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament when it won only 63% of the seats.

So, 2004 was the best since Merdeka for the ruling party. And 2008 was the worse in history. But can you see what the figures show? And that is Barisan Nasional loses votes but wins seats. And it is the seats that give it the federal government, not votes.

Note this also.

In the first election (Municipal elections) two years before Merdeka in 1955, Umno and its cronies swept the country in a landslide election victory (they lost only one seat to the opposition).

In the second election (the First Parliamentary election) two years after Merdeka in 1959, the ruling coalition went down.

In the third election in 1964 (the Second Parliamentary election), the ruling coalition went up.

In the fourth election in 1969 (the Third Parliamentary election), the ruling coalition went down.

In the fifth election in 1974 (the Fourth Parliamentary election), the ruling coalition went up.

In the sixth election in 1978 (the Fifth Parliamentary election), the ruling coalition went down.

In the seventh election in 1982 (the Sixth Parliamentary election), the ruling coalition went up.

In the eighth election in 1986 (the Seventh Parliamentary election), the ruling coalition went down.

In the ninth election in 1990 (the Eighth Parliamentary election), the ruling coalition went down.

In the tenth election in 1995 (the Ninth Parliamentary election), the ruling coalition went up.

In the eleventh election in 1999 (the Tenth Parliamentary election), the ruling coalition went down.

In the twelfth election in 2004 (the Eleventh Parliamentary election), the ruling coalition went up.

In the thirteenth election in 2008 (the Twelfth Parliamentary election), the ruling coalition went down.

In the fourteenth election, (2011, 2012, or 2013) whenever it may be, (the Thirteenth Parliamentary election), the ruling coalition will go up or down? If according to the ‘trend’ since 1955 then it must certainly be UP -- unless trends lie.

Now, the two points I want to make is this.

The ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional, can still form the federal government even with a minimum of votes. The question would be whether it is with a two-thirds majority or a simple majority. But it will still form the government nevertheless.

The second point is the ruling coalition yoyos from one election to another. It goes down one election and up the next. 2008 was the ‘down’ period. Will the next election be ‘up’ if this trend proves consistent?

Ponder on that. To kick out Barisan Nasional it requires a huge mother of all Earthquake-cum-Tsunami. A slight swing is not enough. Just an Earthquake or just a Tsunami will also not do. It must be a combination of an Earthquake and a Tsunami.

Malaysia Today’s readers are experts when it comes to grumbling, bitching, complaining, lamenting, and blowing hot air. Expert cakap banyak. What are YOU going to do about this sorry scenario? Are you prepared to bite the bullet?

Never mind whether Raja Petra Kamarudin has done a U-turn. Never mind if Raja Petra Kamarudin has sold out or gone over to the other side. Forget about Raja Petra. Fuck Raja Petra. Raja Petra is just one man amongst 28 million Malaysians and he is no longer even living in Malaysia. What are YOU doing?

The billion ringgit question is what are YOU going to do about this predicament other than grumble, bitch, complain, lament, blow hot air, cakap banyak and use Raja Petra Kamarudin as a punching bag to vent your frustrations at not even having the balls to reveal your true identity in Malaysia Today?

ACT MEAN AND FAST AGAINST UTUSAN MALAYSIA

by Rtd Brig-Gen Mohd Arshad Raji
mind NO EVIL
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

What words can I use to describe Utusan Malaysia’s (UM) recent report that some Christian group is plotting to turn Malaysia into a Christian State? What words can I describe a UM report which says that a Christian group together with the DAP is plotting to appoint a Christian as the Prime Minister? The only words that I can used to describe all this are DISGUSTING, IRRESPONSIBLE, DANGEROUS and a pack of LIES.

How on earth could the editors of the daily approve such a report that is unsubstantiated, and knowing full well that the report can be a cause for serious racial strife between Christians and Muslims of this country. This is not the first time UM has reported on issues that can bring devastation and worse still the disintegration of a well tested multi racial and multi cultural Malaysian society. How could the Home Minister be so lame in not wanting to impose stricter rules to prohibit UM from publishing reports that can bear serious effect on racial harmony?

Personally, I have had enough of UM, and I dread the day when this blessed nation of ours sees the repeat of the bloody May 13 incident. I would like to ask the entire UM editorial board, where were they during May 13, 1969 i.e. 42 years ago? I think most were mere kids sucking milk bottles. Some may be slightly older who knows not what suffering and fear is all about. Just ask the soldiers on how they felt trying to maintain the peace throughout the entire troubled period, and most will say that they do not wish to go through a similar period again. I was lucky because I was in Tawau then, but my parents who were residing at Kg. Datuk Keramat lived in fear.

Let me tell this to the entire UM editorial board that you don’t know what it is like to go without sleep. You do not know what it is like to be shot at. You do not know the ordeals that your parents have gone through to protect you. You do not understand what fear is and how it affects your physical and psychological well being. You do not understand what pain is, and there are thousands of others that you do not understand. So please cease writing all this garbage, and stop practicing gutter journalism.

Personally, I do not think what was reported is true. And I do not believe the Christians in this country would want to do what was stupidly reported by UM. The repercussion is too great and no one would want to see this country disintegrate and destroyed by some unscrupulous instigators of violence who gleefully hides themselves behind their sponsors. And if ever your report turns to be true and is realized in the future, I will not blame anyone else but the UM and your sponsors for their own stupidity.

To the Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein, you have to act mean and fast, and do not let the instigators and those behind these reports be left scot free. The people know who owns UM and if you fear to act professionally, then you deserve to be called a COWARD.

Hisham: Those who make false allegations will be punished

The Star
by WONG PEK MEI and M. KUMAR

KUALA LUMPUR: Action will be taken against anyone, including the media and bloggers, if they break the law with regard to allegations that certain parties intended to make Christianity the official religion.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said, however, that it was still premature to say if action would be taken since police investigations were still ongoing.

“The public should not speculate. Give us enough time to look into this sensitive issue,” he said at a press conference at Bukit Aman yesterday.

He said police had already begun looking into all aspects of a purported meeting in Penang and were speaking to those who attended it.

“We are only interested in the truth. This has no connection to the colour of the skin or political background (of individuals).

“Whatever decision that is made against anybody must be done fairly,” he said.

He added that the authorities did not want it to be blown out of proportion and escalate to a point of no return like in the Middle East.

Hishammuddin said police must be given the space to investigate the matter professionally without any undue pressure.

He said the ministry had issued and given warnings to the media and bloggers to refrain from playing up sensitive racial issues that could create tension, unrest and chaos.

He said the Government would not permit such things from happening in a multi-racial and multi-cultural nation.

Utusan Malaysia had a front-page story on Saturday quoting two blogs — bigdogdotcom.wordpress.com and marahku.blogspot.com — that claimed a meeting attended by Christian and DAP leaders had taken place in Penang.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng later dismissed the report as a fabrication.

The organisers of the meeting, who also denied the claims, said the seminar was organised to discuss and address the issue of bribery and corruption and had nothing to do with political succession.

The blogger at marahku.blogspot.com has deleted all his postings.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said stern action must be taken against perpetrators who fan religious sentiments.

“I believe everyone, be it Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and every Malaysian of any religious believe, has one thing in mind, which is peace and harmony,” she said yesterday after announcing plans for this month’s Citrawarna Colours of 1Malaysia event.

Najib To Test Loyalty Of Umno Members

KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Wednesday night he will soon be testing the loyalty of Umno members to the party.

Linking loyalty to the reaction of members to the selection of candidates in the coming general election, the Prime Minister and Umno president said:

"Are we sufficiently loyal to the party? Will we remain loyal if we are not selected as a candidate? Really? Loyal? Do you truly give the mandate to choose to the top leadership. Thank you. I will test you when the time comes."

Speaking at the 65th anniversary celebration of Umno at the Putra World Trade Centre here, he said:" Let us have no one sulking and going overseas if not chosen as a candidate for the election."

About 3,000 Umno leaders of various levels filled Dewan Merdeka and responded loudly to the questions that Najib posed in his speech.

Also present were the Prime Minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Najib invited all members of Umno to vow to serve the people with full dedication.

He also urged members to discard factionalism to ensure that Umno was united and strong.

If Umno were united and the Malays identified completely with it, the party would be very strong, he said.

He did not want Umno to be like some parties which he said were once successful but were now no more.

Najib said that Umno had the strength to transform and advance the country and it continued to be held in high esteem by the people.

Sultan tukar Daulat Tuanku ke Allahu Akbar, rakyat dapat pahala

SEJAK dimasyhurkan sebagai Sultan Kelantan yang ke-29 pada 13 September 2010, inilah buat pertama kalinya Sultan Muhammad V memberikan wawancara khas kepada para wartawan media cetak dan media elektronik.

Wawancara khas itu telah berlangsung di Istana Negeri, Kubang Kerian, Kota Baru pada Rabu, 4 Mei 2011 pada lebih kurang jam 5.30 petang dalam suasana penuh protokol tetapi tetap mesra.

Wawancara itu juga diadakan bersempena dengan pelancaran Yayasan Sultan Kelantan yang akan dilangsungkan di Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) minggu hadapan.

Sebanyak 12 wakil media termasuk dari Mingguan mStar dan The Star telah dijemput untuk menemuramah Sultan Muhammad V yang hadir segak menggenakan sut coklat muda ala Nehru.

Baginda Sultan juga sentiasa memulakan bicara dengan terlebih dahulu melafazkan Bismillahirrahmanirrahim dan Asalamualaikum kepada pertanyaan wartawan muslim dan salam sejahtera kepada wartawan bukan Islam.

Dan sebelum memulakan wawancara baginda terlebih dahulu bertanya sama ada perbualan yang akan berlangsung itu hendak menggunakan dialek Kelantan ataupun bahasa rasmi.

Sepanjang wawancara itu yang berlangsung selama lebih 45 minit, baginda hanya membahasanya dirinya sebagai ‘saya’ bukannya ‘beta’ sebagaimana lazim digunakan di dalam istana.

Berikut adalah petikan wawancara bersama Tuanku Sultan Muhammad V:

> Perkara pertama yang terlintas di dalam fikiran sebaik sahaja menaiki takhta Kesultanan Kelantan: Perkara pertama ialah untuk memilih nama rasmi yang akan dipakai selaku Sultan iaitu Sultan Muhammad V dan perkara kedua ialah untuk menukar seruan “Daulat Tuanku” yang lazim digunakan sebelum ini kepada seruan “Allahu Akhbar”. Pada pandangan saya, inilah yang paling sesuai kerana secara tidak langsung siapa yang melafazkannya akan memperolehi pahala. itulah yang terbaik untuk rakyat saya.

Wawancara penuh pada pautan berikut http://www.mstar.com.my/mingguan/cerita.asp?file=/2011/5/9/mstar_mingguan/20110509122729&sec=mstar_mingguan

Utusan: Penang Pas lodges police report

Penang Pas lodged a police report this afternoon, criticising Utusan Malaysia for publishing “provocative news aimed at creating ethnic and religious tension in the country”.

MP for Parit Buntar Mujahid Yusof Rawa, flanked by Pakatan reps, holds up a copy of Utusan Malaysia outside the Patani Road police station after the party had lodged a report

The report referred to the allegation that Christian churches or groups aimed “to make Christianity the office religion of the country and disregard constitutional provisions that placed Islam as the religion of the federation”.
The claim that Pakatan Rakyat was also involved is something that must be condemned, said Ab Rahman bin Kassim in his report on behalf of Pas at the Patani Road police station at 3.00p..
“Religious and ethnic harmony is a cherished value in our country. Ethics, abhorrence of corruption, integrity, courtesy, honesty and trustworthiness are characteristics that are needed in any blog and newspaper – especially Utusan Malaysia, which frequently plays up sensitive ethnic and religious issues,” the report said. It called on the police and MCMC to investigate the matter.
Mujahid himself stressed four points in a press statement after the report was lodged:
- the Utusan report was provocative and aimed at inciting hatred and prejudice, touching on Islam as the religion of the federation;
- Utusan had resorted to gutter journalism in reporting unverified and unsubstantiated news from blogs with little credibility;
- its reporting had shaken national unity and inflamed public sentiment;
- certain quarters with chauvinistic views might take this opportunity to threaten national security; what is worrying is that these quarters might have even planned this whole scenario to create chaos.
Mujahid said that Malaysians had accepted the status of Islam under Article 3 of the Constitution and Pas was committed to defending that status. At the same time, Pas, he said, was committed to realising Pakatan’s aspirations for a peaceful Penang for all and would not succumb to slick political manipulation.
Mujahid urged Pas members and the public not to fall for Utusan’s inflammatory reporting.