‘In the dark’ IGP: Who said that?

Although the Immigration Department boss says his officers were stopping Bersih leaders at airports based on a list from the police, the police chief however appears clueless about this.

KUALA LUMPUR: Immigration Department director-general Alias Ahmad had confirmed that his officers were stopping certain travellers at airports based on a list furnished by the Bukit Aman police headquarters.

But when the question of a police list was posed to Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar today, the latter seemed to be in the dark.

“Who said that? Who?” he asked, visibly puzzled.

“Can you confirm that with the Immigration [Department]?” he added. “[Is that claim] from the right channels or hearsay?” he was quoted as saying.

Ismail had initially said that the Immigration Department had the right to stop travellers for checks when quizzed on such incidents involving several Bersih leaders.

“It is the right and process of the Immigration to stop [travellers],” he said.

Yesterday, FMT had obtained a confirmation from Alias regarding the list, after Bersih co-chaiperson S Ambiga claimed that she was stopped for no reason.

Ambiga, who was at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport to board a flight to Australia, said she was held at the auto-gate for about 10 minutes on Tuesday night.

The former Bar Council president claimed that it was an act of harassment.

This morning, two other Bersih steering committee members K Arumugam and Toh Kin Woon were stopped at the LCCT and KLIA airports respectively.

Prior to Ambiga, other Bersih leaders who suffered similar treatment were Maria Chin Abdullah, Wong Chin Huat, Yeo Yang Poh and Andrew Khoo.

Do the math, hudud is possible

If Pakatan Rakyat forms the federal government, then the threat of hudud being implemented is real both politically and economically.
COMMENT

By Shen Yee Aun

I would like to help MCA publicity bureau chief Kow Cheong Wei on certain points that he had missed out during his debate against DAP’s Hew Kuan Yew on Thursday night.

Hew said there were less than two-third Muslim MPs in Parliament and it needed the consent of at least 148 MPs to push for an amendment to the Constitution to introduce hudud.

“Out of the 222 MPs in Parliament, only 107 MPs from the Peninsular are Muslims. If we add the East Malaysian Muslim MPs, there will only be 130.

“Besides, our constituency delineation is such that there are only 136 Muslim-majority seats, with more than 61% of the voters being Muslims,” said Hew.

Hew’s calculation is based on the current political scenario where in total there are only 130 Muslim MPs in Parliament. He must not neglect the current political reality where his calculation is based on the the current government ruled by Barisan Nasional.

The hudud calculation is only impossible in the BN political structure because mathematically the maximum number of Muslim MPs from BN even if they win all their seats will only be 117 MPs from Umno. It is almost impossible to have a Muslim/Malay MP from MCA, MIC, PPP and other BN component parties. So hudud is only mathematically impossible if BN rules.

As for Pakatan Rakyat, the number of their Muslim MPs can be intangible and hard to predict because any Muslim candidate can represent both DAP and PKR in the general election.

Moreover, DAP themselves have already pledged to introduce few potential Muslim/Malay candidates in the upcoming general election. So to have an extra 18 MPs from both PKR and DAP to reach 148 for hudud to be implemented is possible.

Hew also claimed that our constituency delineation is such that there are only 136 Muslim-majority seats. But he forgot to include the number of Muslim candidates and MPs from mixed constituencies.

Basically, Pakatan just needs an additional 12 seats from Muslim MPs contesting in mixed seats to reach 148 for hudud to be implemented.

It’s not all about mathematics

So when we claim that hudud is possible and a potential threat, this is a political reality based on when Pakatan governs the country and not based on the calculation where the current government is helmed by BN.

Hew also forgot to include the factor of the potential strength of the upcoming prime minister. What if the majority of Muslims MPs in Pakatan decide to elect (PAS president Abdul) Hadi Awang as their prime minister.

Having the influence of a prime minister will also increase support among the non MuslimPakatan MPs for Hadi for their own political survival in the coalition and government. Mathematically, the number of Muslim MPs from Pakatan will be more than the number of Muslim MPs from BN.

Mathematically, Pakatan’s strong performance in the last general election also led to Parliament witnessing a decrease of seven non Muslim MPs.

Even if their choice is Anwar Ibrahim for prime minister, Anwar has pledged his personal support for the implementation of hudud and never once dared to object to it like how Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has done.

Even Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who seems pro-Malay has never once made a stand or expressed personal support for hudud.

In politics, sometimes it is not all about mathematics. Just look at Perak where DAP won three times the number of seats compared to PAS but the menteri besar came from PAS.

Despite DAP existing in Kelantan, its leaders have never been able to block PAS’ Islamic state agenda in the state.

A similar situation is also unfolding in Kedah – bumiputera housing loan has been increased from 30% to 50% and then from 50% to 70%, pork abbatoirs were banned, gambling was banned and the list goes on even without a 2/3.

Let us talk about Selangor where PAS is the least dominant political party. Do they actually need to be a strong political powerhouse or obtain 2/3 support to raid 7/11 outlets for selling alcohol beverages? What about the ban imposed on a cinema in Bangi back then?

In conclusion, the threat of hudud under Pakatan is real, be it politically or mathematically.

Shen Yee Aun is a political observer and former Klang DAP Youth chief.

Scorpene: Peguam Perancis akan hadir ke Parlimen

(Harakah) - Dua peguam Suaram dalam kes Scorpene di Perancis, William Bourdon dan Joseph Breham akan datang ke Malaysia dalam masa terdekat untuk memberi taklimat berhubung isu itu kepada Ahli Parlimen di Dewan Rakyat.

KeadilanDaily melaporkan, Pengarah Eksekutif Suaram, Cynthia Gabriel berkata, kedua-duanya telah memohon visa dan akan hadir sebelum sidang parlimen berakhir, November ini.

“Kita sedang merancang tarikh sesuai untuk bawa mereka beri penerangan di Parlimen. Mungkin dalam bulan November. Visa kedua-dua peguam untuk ke Malaysia telah dimohon minggu lalu.

“Kita akan bawa mereka masuk secara sah untuk beri penerangan kepada Ahli Parlimen Malaysia dan sekarang sedang cari tarikh sesuai,” ujar Cynthia yang dipetik portal PKR itu.

“Kalau boleh kita tak nak buat penerangan di Singapura. Itu hanya pilihan terakhir,” ujar beliau lagi.

Menurut Cynthia, kemasukan itu dibuat mengikut prosedur selepas Wisma Putra dan Jabatan Imigresen sebelum ini mengguna alasan untuk mengusir Bourdon atas alasan menyalahguna pas lawatan.

“Jadi kali ini kita mohon secara betul mengikut prosedur.

“Kita bawa masuk mereka kali ini secara sah dan harap kerajaan beri kerjasama. Wisma Putra tak perlu beri alasan untuk halang peguam jumpa klien (Suaram),” tegas Cynthia.

What Does "Moderate" Mean in Malaysia?

There have been a lot of loose definitions of "moderate" Islam in the media recently and in the wake of violent protests throughout the Muslim world, the word is starting to mean simply -- non-violent. The deaths in Libya and many other Muslim countries have been a disturbing counterpoint to the hopes aroused by the Arab Spring movement. Peaceful protests have achieved so much more change in the last two years than all the decades of violence in the past, yet extremists still believe they can achieve their agenda by continuing to murder innocent civilians. Violence is their only way of remaining relevant as they have nothing else to offer.

Malaysia is often referred to as a moderate Islamic country, as it is mainly peaceful, prosperous and law-abiding. A predominantly Muslim country with vocal and distinct minority populations of Indian and Chinese origin, peaceful change has taken place over the last twenty years without violent extremism. It may be because the government has kept a tight hold on the country with the emergency law and regulations adopted in 1957 to maintain political order and stability when Malaysia was emerging from the communist insurgency. These laws stayed in place until very recently and have been used to respond to any movement that was considered prejudicial to national security. Today, the question arises of whether such laws provide security or whether they have become a liability. In September, 2011 the increasingly controversial Internal Security Act (ISA) of 1960 was repealed and in November, 2011, the government finally lifted three existing emergency proclamations, rendering void the unpopular Emergency Public Order and Prevention of Crime Ordinance of 1969.

However, civil rights groups are expressing dissatisfaction with the new legislation which replaces the archaic repealed laws; Hasmy Agam, the Chief Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia has spoken out against the new legislation for failing to meet international human rights standards. Many see the proposed Peaceful Assembly Bill as placing further curbs on civil liberties by restricting street demonstrations and the new Security Offences Act is simply "the New ISA." The much vaunted relaxation of media restrictions is also being criticized as an inadequate half-measure.

Another reform that many see as long overdue is Malaysia's affirmative action policy, where Malays have been given preference over the decades. Very successful at bringing education and economic opportunity to ethnic Muslim Malaysians, the policy is now being seen as culturally divisive and open to corruption. The present government has rejected calls for reform as the policy has helped maintain their electoral advantage for over twenty years.

Malaysia is ranked in 20th position in the 2012 Global Peace Index issued by the Institute for Economics and Peace. The second highest Muslim nation in the ranking, outdone only by Qatar, Malaysia's tranquility has been achieved by a stable though autocratic democracy. If Malaysia has indeed truly achieved maturity, the challenge now is to grant more civil rights and freedoms to a diverse population where 40 percent are non-Muslim. Malaysia's Constitution calls for the rights of all to practice their faith in peace and harmony but, increasingly, today the ideal of religious tolerance is being threatened by what many see as the "Arabization" of Malaysian Islam.

Malaysia has traditionally been pragmatic and even liberal about such issues as apostasy, and viewed Sharia courts as dealing with a narrow range of family matters for Muslims, and not having the power to dictate a citizen's relationship to the state. But recent surveys of Malay attitudes show that a majority think of themselves as Muslims first and Malaysians second and want the state to become more Islamic.

This, in turn, is threatening the concept of Malaysian nationalism and national unity, which Prime Minister Razak is attempting to achieve through his 1Malaysia concept. It will be just window-dressing if conservative views are protected and racial relations and religious liberties are sabotaged by extremism.

Najib Razak presents himself as a reformer on a mission to modernize Malaysia. But the reality is that Malaysians want more than window dressing as the time gets closer to the next election. With the country going into full campaign mode, the rifts in philosophy are becoming clearer, the dirty tricks dirtier and the opposition party under Anwar Ibrahim's leadership is becoming more popular.

Malaysia will always be a multi-cultural, multi-religious country and, hopefully, its Muslim population will always practice a moderate and non-violent form of Islam. Increasingly, it looks as if Anwar Ibrahim will be the visionary and principled leader Malaysia needs to safeguard this for the future.

Dr. Azeem Ibrahim is the Executive Chairman of The Scotland Institute and a Fellow and Member of the Board of Directors at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding.

‘Criminalising’ men in women’s attire is unconstitutional, High Court told

The Sun Daily
by Karen Arukesamy

SEREMBAN (Aug 30, 2012): In what is the first case of its kind, four transsexuals are challenging the Negri Sembilan Syariah law that forbids males to openly dress or pose as females on the grounds that it is infringing their rights under the Federal Constitution.

The High Court today began a constitutional hearing before Justice Datuk Siti Mariah Ahmad on a judicial review of Section 66 of the Syariah Criminal (Negri Sembilan) Enactment 1992, initiated by the four transsexuals who have been charged under the section.

Muhamad Juzaili Mohd Khamis, 24, Shukor Jani, 25, Wan Fairol Wan Ismail, 27, and Adam Shazrul Mohd Yusoff, 25, who work as bridal make-up artists, identify themselves and dress as women.

Counsel Aston Paiva, representing the four, told the court that Section 66 of the Syariah Criminal (Negri Sembilan) Enactment 1992, which “criminalises” any man who dresses or poses as a woman, is “unconstitutional”.

The section provides for a fine not exceeding RM1000 or imprisonment not exceeding six months or both, upon conviction.

“They (applicants) have been identified to have a medical condition known as Gender Identity Disorder (GID). It is an attribute of their nature that they did not choose and cannot change,” he said.

“The undisputed medical evidence shows the applicants are biologically male but psychologically female. Thus, it is not applicable to them.”

He said the applicants, who have been arrested and harassed by the authorities several times, cannot conform to Section 66 by virtue of their medical condition, without suffering psychological harm and trauma.

“The applicants therefore ask this court for relief, either by declaring the law unconstitutional or by declaring that Section 66 does not apply to people like them, who suffer from GID,” Paiva said.

He pointed that Section 66 denies them the right to freely express their identity, and infringes Article 10(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution that guarantees freedom of expression.

Pointing that only Parliament can restrict freedom of expression, he added that Section 66 is unconstitutional as it is enacted by the state legislature.

They are also seeking a court order to prohibit their arrest and prosecution under the section.

Paiva said that Section 66 also violates:

>> Article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution, which enshrines the right to personal liberty.

>> Article 8(2), which states that “…there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the grounds only of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender in any law…”

>> Article 9(2), which enshrines the right of every citizen to move freely throughout Malaysia.

>> Article 4(1), which declares void any law that is inconsistent with the Federal Constitution.

“Only men can be charged with this offence in this state – not women,” he said, adding that in other states, similar law involves immoral activities and not just dressing up as women.

He submitted that the challenge before the court is whether the state’s enactment is consistent with the Federal Constitution and not to rule on religion or religious precepts.

Siti Mariah fixed Oct 11 for the next hearing.

Syarie lawyer can challenge his suspension order, rules judge

The Star
by M. MAGESWARI

KUALA LUMPUR: Famous syarie lawyer Muhamad Burok, who was suspended from practising in the Federal Territories for six months for his role in a syariah matter without instructions from his client, has been allowed to challenge the order.

High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) judge Justice Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim granted leave to Muhamad for a judicial review application and a stay against the suspension order until Oct 30.

He did this after hearing submissions from Muhamad’s lawyers Dr Zulqarnain Lukman and Mohd Fikah Sanusi in chambers yesterday.

Dr Zulqarnain said the judge had ruled that there were merits to be heard in Muhamad’s case.

“We will now file our papers for the hearing of the judicial review,” he said.

Muhamad, he added, was handling five syariah cases for the client, who lodged a complaint with the Federal Territory Syarie Lawyer Committee here.

“We received a letter, dated Dec 6, 2010, from the committee notifying us of the complaint,” said Dr Zulqarnain.

He claimed that Muhamad had replied to the committee in a letter dated Feb 22, last year and had attached a copy of the details in his diary explaining how he had acted for the client.

However, the committee had issued an order dated April 23 saying that Muhamad had been suspended for six months for violating two provisions of the Practice Direction 2002 on the Ethics of the Syarie Lawyer.

Najib To Witness Signing Of Peace Framework Agreement Between Philippines, MILF

From R. Ravichandran

MANILA, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will arrive here tomorrow for a three-day official visit to the Philippines, where among others, he will witness the signing ceremony involving the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Framework Agreement for peace.

Briefing Malaysian reporters here Saturday, Charge d'Affaires of the Malaysian Embassy in the Philippines, Zakaria Nasir, said Najib, accompanied by wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, would have a tight schedule on Monday, beginning with the wreath-laying ceremony at Luneta Park (Rizal Park) here.

This will be followed by a welcoming ceremony/arrival honours at the Malacanang Palace grounds. The Palace is the official residence and the principle workplace of the Philippine president.

After signing the guest book at the palace's Reception Hall, Najib will proceed to a closed-door meeting with Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III at the President's Hall of the Malacanang Palace.

After that, Najib will lead the Malaysian delegation to an Expanded Bilateral Meeting which would be participated by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed at the President's Hall.

The meeting will be followed with a Joint Press Statement.

After attending the official luncheon hosted by Aquino, the prime minister and the president will witness the signing ceremony of the landmark GPH-MILF Framework Agreement at the Rizal Hall.

Najib is scheduled to deliver a speech, followed by Aquino, at the event.

The Malaysia-brokered peace agreement was announced simultaneously in Manila and Kuala Lumpur on Oct 7.

The framework agreement is a road map for establishing a new autonomous region to be administered by the Muslims in the nation's south, aimed at paving the way for a long, lasting peace after more than 40 years of conflict.

Najib, among others, in welcoming the agreement, had said that he was delighted that through this historic deal, the rights, dignity and future prosperity of the Bangsamoro people would be protected, while at the same time, the sovereignty and the Constitution of the Philippines would be preserved.

Zakaria said the prime minister would also attend a business dialogue with the Philippines-Malaysia Business Council, at a hotel here on Monday.

At 7.30pm, the prime minister and wife are scheduled to attend the 'Majlis Mesra Bersama Rakyat Malaysia' at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel here.

Zakaria said about 150 people, comprising Malaysian students, businessmen and their family members, would attend the event.

Najib and Rosmah are scheduled to depart for home on Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile on Monday, Rosmah, in a separate itinerary will deliver a speech at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in Makati here.

Among dignitaries scheduled to attend the event are Kris Aquino, sister of the Philippine president, and AIM president Dr Stevan J. DeKrey.

Rosmah, who is an alumni of the institute, will also tour the AIM campus.

Journalist upset with The Star

An ex-Star journalist who wrote an article on the rape of Penan females is upset with her former paper for apologising to a timber company over her article. She claims the daily had failed to consult her about the apology.

The Star’s apology can be found here. The timber firm then withdrew its defamation case.

On top of the apology, The Star has to publish a full-page feature highlighting the timber firm’s corporate social responsibility efforts, according to Malaysiakini.

Journalist Hilary Chiew had written the report about the rape incidents ‘Against their will’ in 2008 but says The Star did not consult her when making its decision to apologise to the timber firm over the report. “I have never, at any point in time, been informed nor consulted about the negotiations for the out-of-court settlement,” Chiew was reported as saying in Malaysiakini.

The timber firm is denying it was in any way linked to the incidents of rape of Penan females and did not have any operations in the vicinity.

Sindhudurg : Devout Hindus lodge complaint against Dr. Zakir Naik at 2 places

Kudal (Maharashtra) : Devout Hindus have lodged complaint with Kudal and Malawan police stations in Sindhudurg district against so-called Islamic Thinker Dr. Zakir Naik. Police Inspector (PI) Sanjay Sable from Malawan Police Station said that further action would be taken after discussing the matter with senior police officers. PI Gopinath Rathod of Kudal Police Station said while accepting the application that it was wrong to insult Shri Ganesh and the Government should have taken action by now.
Malawan Police first refuse to register complaint

1. PI Sanjay Sable from Malawan Police Station first refused to accept the complaint application.
2. PI Sable said, “We cannot register the complaint here. A complaint is lodged where the incident takes place.”
3. On this the devout Hindus said, “Complaints were lodged against M F Husain. If an incident hurting our religious sentiments occurs in America, should we go there to lodge complaint? Will we not lodge complaint in India?”
4. After this, Sable accepted the complaint and promised to make inquiry and take action.

Buddhists, Hindus protest Bangladesh attack

Siliguri: Hundreds of people demonstrated against the recent burning of Buddhist monasteries and Hindu temples in Bangladesh by Muslims, who complained that a Buddhist man had insulted Islam.

General Secretary of Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association, Siliguri, Sonam Lhundup Lama urged the central government and the United Nations, Human Rights Commission, to intervene the matter. Lama added that many people sustained injuries and many houses of locals were burnt.

Buddhist monks, social activists along with school children took out to streets holding photos of injured monks, vandalised temples’ and raised slogans against the atrocities being done against the Buddhist people in Bangladesh.

Hate Jihad in Kerala: Youth Set Ablaze, Succumbs to Burns

A Malayali youth Jithu Mohan, who was doused with petrol and set ablaze for being in love with a girl of the

Muslim community succumbed to death today. The boy was invited to the girl’s relative’s house on the pretext of peaceful discussions. But he was allegedly bathed in petrol by an Inspector named Wahab, Police Officer of AR Camp and set ablaze. Jithu succumbed to death at Amrita Hospital, Ernakulam. He is the third victim of Jihadi terrorism in Kerala in short span of time, his death following that of Vishal, Chengannur and Sachin, Kannur.

The Vice Captain of Kerala Junior football with bright future, Jithu was in love with Shabana, a Muslim girl hailing from Chunakkara. On getting a whiff of the relationship, the girl’s relatives opposed it and smuggled her to another relative’s house. Following this Jithu filed a habeas corpus in the Kerala High Court, following which the girl was produced before the court. She was, however, allowed to leave the place with her relatives. The attack on Jithu took place soon after the court hearing.

The testimony of Jithu being taken forcibly to the girl’s relative’s house was given by his friends. They said that Jithu made frantic calls for help as he was being attacked. “He was forcibly taken to the house of Shabana’s sister who resides in Kodungallur by her brother in law. Also in league with is an inspector Wahab. The incident of setting Jithu afire took place in Wahab’s house,” said sources.

Hindu organisations have called for a hartal tomorrow in Kodungallur and Mavellikara. They have demanded the arrest of Wahab and the others involved in the crime.

Police 'extorted' wife of death-in-custody victim

(Malaysiakini) Police asked the wife of death-in-custody victim P Chandran to pay RM300 when she sought information about her husband at the Cheras district police headquarters just before his death.

This is stated in a police report filed by the victim's brother-in-law, R Rajan Naidu.

Rajan says in the report that Chandran's wife, N Selvi, told him a police officer asked her to pay RM300 before disclosing information about her husband.

"She told me that the police officer had sought RM300 for information on her husband, and told her that police were taking him to court," the police report lodged says.

The report says Selvi had to "sleep under a bridge" during the two nights she stayed in Kuala Lumpur to check on Chandran, and to pass him his hypertension medication.
The victim, a lorry driver, and his family which consists of six daughters aged 17 and under, are based in Simpang Renggam, Johor. His youngest daughter is a toddler.

However, the victim’s brother, P Gunalan, today told reporters in the Parliament lobby that Selvi was not allowed to see her husband to pass him the hypertension medication.

Dang Wangi police chief Zainuddin Ahmad was reported by Bernama as saying that Chandran died from heart disease in the Dang Wangi police station lock-up on Sept 10.

Family suing gov’t, police

According to PKR’s Kapar MP S Manickavasagam (left), the family has engaged a lawyer and will be suing the government and police for neglect.

Gunalan said his brother was arrested for suspected kidnapping in Cheras, and the family had gone to the Cheras police headquarters thinking that he was held there.

"We were not told that he was actually held in Dang Wangi," he said.

After his brother was found dead, Gunalan said that the police had quickly arranged for a post-mortem and sent the remains to Simpang Renggam.

In a separate police report, Gunalan said that one ASP Nazri had given RM200 to Selvi, and that the expenses for sending the remains to Simpang Renggam was borne by Cheras OCPD ACP Mohan Singh.

He also claimed that Chandran’s friends, who were also remanded with him, informed the family that the magistrate had instructed police to take Chandran to the hospital as he was shaking during the remand hearing.

“But they didn’t,” he said.

He added that his brother was remanded over the alleged kidnapping of a baby born to an Indonesian woman, “but police say the woman has been sent back to Indonesia”.
Manickavasagam and the victim’s family had today also sent a memorandum to inspector-general of police Ismail Omar on the matter.

It was received by police public relations personnel Zolkipli Abu Hassan.

“We are not here because an Indian died. Malays, Chinese, Indians have all died in custody. It’s not a racial issue but a national issue,” the MP said.

Religious schools need more funds

About 500 people turned up at Parliament today demanding the government increase allocation to religious schools.

KUALA LUMPUR: An Islamic school NGO submitted a memorandum at Parliament today demanding the government increase allocation for religious schools in the country.

The Selangor Islamic Education Solidarity Council, led by its chairman Zainal Abidin Kidam, arrived with nearly 500 supporters at the Parliament lobby at 9am.

He claimed to be representing nearly 100 religious school in Selangor and other Islamic NGOs.

Also present were Selangor executive council members Halimah Ali, Ronnie Liu and PAS education bureau chairman Abu Bakar Chik.

The representative of the huge crowd later submitted the memorandum to Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub.

Speaking at a press conference later, Zainal Abidin said that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s allocation of RM100 million for public religious schools was pale in comparison to their student numbers.

He claimed that currently, there are about 800,000 students studying in religious schools nationwide.

“That is about 30% of the students studying in the country. The allocation is only for government- aided religious school but what about all state-run schools and private religious schools nationwide?

“We estimate that there 2,300 of such school in Malaysia,” said Zainal Abidin.

He also said that due to funding contraints, many parents had to fork out a lot of money to send their children to study in religious schools.

“In rural areas, parents have to spend about RM200 monthly to send their children to religious schools. Parents in urban areas have to fork out between RM700 and RM800 monthly,” said Zainal Abidin.

He urged the government to match the allocation given to religious schools to that of national schools.

“The government should also increase grants for textbooks and teachers. A special allocation is needed to train teachers to teach in religious schools,” said Zainal Abidin.

‘Religious schools not sidelined’

On whether he would submit a copy of the memorandum to Najib, Zainal said,” We will do it later.”

Sharing his views, Liu said that Pakatan Rakyat’s policy is to provide support for all types of schools in the country.

“We will strengthen all religious and vernacular schools when we take over Putrajaya,” said Liu.

Salahuddin also reiterated Pakatan’s stand to provide free education to the people if the opposition bloc wins the federal government in the general election.

The crowd dispersed peacefully at about 11am.

Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister Mohd Puad Zakarshi dismissed allegation that the government had sidelined religious schools in the country.

He also said that there 382 such schools in the country but only 156 of them are registered with the ministry.

“The schools registered with the ministry obviously are given all the aid needed. Even the ones unregistered, the government pays for the teachers’ salary and other perks,” said Puad.

He claimed that some of these religious schools were reluctant to register fearing that they would lose their influence in their schools.

“The school managament gives all sort of problems out of fear that they will lose influence among the students and parents.

“But we do pass some allocation for these unregistered schools via the state governments. We let the state government to decide how to disburse the funds to them,” said Puad.

‘Stop harassing Ambiga, Bersih leaders’

WargaAman also wants the immigration department and the Home Ministry to reveal the list of NGO leaders who will face similar treatment.

PETALING JAYA: The authorities must cease harassing Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga and the electoral watchdog’s steering committee members, demanded a coalition of NGOs.

WargaAman secretary-general S Barathidasan also called on the Home Ministry and Immigration Department to reveal the names on their “to be stopped for 10 minutes at the airport” list.

“We want to know who are the NGO leaders on this list and the reasons why they are being subjected to such harassment,” he told FMT.

Barathidasan was responding to news reports of how Ambiga was stopped at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s auto-gate for 10 minutes without reason before boarding a flight to Australia on Tuesday night.

Previously, several other Bersih steering committee members were also subjected to a similar treatment when travelling abroad.

Barathidasan reminded the authorities that Bersih leaders were not enemies of the state but rather those struggling to uphold democratic principles for the betterment of this nation.

“The movement has made eight demands but only one, the use of indelible ink has been accepted by the Election Commission.

“These demands are not Bersih’s alone but that of the rakyat, the tens of thousands who participated in the rallies and the millions more who were there in spirit,” he said.

Barathidasan said also questioned how immigration officers, with all their sophisticated equipment, let fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin and private investigator P Balasubramaniam slip out of the country.

“If these officers are so vigilant, then it is beyond me how people like Raja Petra, Balasubramaniam and a host of wanted criminals could board flights without any hassle,” he added.

The WargaAman leader pointed out that such unwarranted harassment against eminent individuals like Ambiga tarnished the nation’s image and lent a blow to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s reform credentials.

“Furthermore, such mindless actions will only anger the rakyat more and Barisan Nasional will have to bear the consequences in the coming general election,” he warned.

Similarly, MIC central working committee member S Vell Paari also criticised the harassment against Ambiga and other Bersih leaders.

He questioned if there was a directive from the Home Ministry to the immigration department to stop these individuals at the airport or was it the work of “little Napoleans” on the ground.

“As I have said before, we should engage Ambiga in a discussion regarding electoral reforms and not subject her to such rude treatment,” he said.

Transgenders lose bid to challenge dress ban

The High Court says that it is undisputed that the four applicants are Muslims and therefore subjected to the Syariah law that bars men from dressing in women's clothes.

PETALING JAYA: The Seremban High Court today dismissed an application by four transgender individuals to challenge the ban on Muslim men to dress and pose as women under Section 66 of the Syariah Criminal (Negeri Sembilan) Enactment.

The four, who had been either arrested or penalised by the Negeri Sembilan Islamic Religious Department before, were applying for a judicial review to declare Section 66 unconstitutional.

Justice Siti Mariah Ahmad, in her judgment, said that it was undisputed that the four applicants were Muslims and hence Section 66 applied to them.

According to the applicants’ lawyer Aston Paiva, Siti Mariah had relied substantially on the Islamic views given by a mufti.

“She ruled that Part 2 of the Federal Constitution, which guarantees fundamental liberties to an individual, is exempted from Section 66,” he told FMT.

“She grants no order to cost, but she said the Islamic religious authorities must work with (NGO) Pt Foundation to give counseling to the transsexual community.

“She also said the Islamic authorities must act more prudently (lebih berhemah),” he added.

Paiva said he would be advising his clients to appeal the decision.

The four applicants, Adam Shazrul Mohammad Yusoff, Mohammad Juzaili Mohammad Khamis, Shukur Jani and Wan Fairol Wan Ismail, argued that Section 66 violated the Federal Constitution on freedom of expression.

They also claimed that the syariah laws should not apply to them as they had been diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder.

Activist Thilaga Sulathireh, who helped the four to take their case to court, said she was disappointed with the judgment.

She said the four applicants were emotional, and not available to comment on the judgment immediately.

[Photo of Adam Shazrul Mohammad Yusoff courtesy of Rahman Roslan of the International Herald Tribune]

Ex-Pakatan man revives ‘Christian Malaysia’ report, shows ‘proof’ in Parliament

Zulkifli refused to release the photographs to the media. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 — An independent federal lawmaker today sought to revive last year’s “Christian Malaysia” allegations against the DAP, revealing in Parliament what he claimed was photographic evidence of an alleged plot by party leaders and foreign clergymen to turn the country into a Christian state.

Zulkifli Noordin (IND-Kulim Bandar Baharu) urged Putrajaya to investigate the matter, saying the Malay community, as the country’s dominant ethnic group, have compromised too much over the years.

“Imagine if it was revealed that imams and mosque authorities had helped Barisan Nasional (BN) to win the polls... what would have happened then? They (opposition) would not have kept silent,” he told the House when debating Budget 2013 this evening.

The former PKR lawmaker said he was in possession of photographic proof of a thanksgiving held in Penang last year on May 5, shortly after the Sarawak state election on April 16, where DAP leaders and a group of local and foreign clergymen had prayed to install a Christian Prime Minister and turn the country into a Christian state.

Listing those in attendance, which he said included priests and pastors from United Kingdom and South Africa, Zulkifli said it was also admitted during the dinner that foreign churches were willing to channel funds to help the opposition’s political struggle here.

“The priest from South Africa said he was invited to observe the Sarawak polls, and that he was disappointed in how the Christians have been sidelined in Malaysia, especially on the AlKitab Malay language bibles issue.

“He requested that something is done to help spread Christianity here and said that money is not a problem and that the churches in Africa are ready to help.”

The independent lawmaker had raised the matter when attempting to draw links with the latest claim by PAS MP Nasharuddin Mat Isa, who had alleged of a similar thanksgiving ceremony in Sarawak.

Speaking at a press conference later, Zulkifli maintained that his remarks were based on actual proof of the dinner function, which he said he had obtained from “sources”.

“My main concern here is on the involvement of foreign clergymen in our country’s politics. Not only are they involved in terms of their physical presence in our country, but they have also promised funds to the opposition.

“This is direct interference and this is my concern.”

He, however, refused to release the photographs to the media, but denied that it was because he was afraid to be sued by the DAP.

“Why don’t you go back and ask your boss — is Zulkifli Noordin a coward?

“Put it in that way you know... do not spin. I am never one who is afraid of anybody,” he retorted to the reporter who asked for the photographs, adding later a challenge to DAP leaders to deny his remarks today.

Zulkifli’s revelation today was first exposed in May last year in a front-page article on Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia headlined “Malaysia negara Kristian? (Malaysia a Christian country?)”.

The Malay daily reported that “Malam ini pula, akan diadakan satu majlis di Pusat Kristian (Katolik) Pulau Pinang di sini dan satu ceramah perdana pula dianjurkan esok. Pertemuan itu dikatakan dianjurkan setiap tahun”.

[“Tonight, there will be a function at the Penang Christian Centre (Catholic) here and the public lecture will take place tomorrow. The convention is organised every year.”]

Several Muslim organisations, including right-wing Malay rights group Perkasa, lodged police reports after reading the Utusan report, which was based entirely on allegations by several anonymous bloggers known to be pro-Umno.

The bloggers have accused the DAP of sedition in an alleged conspiracy with Christians to change the country’s highest law to put a Christian in place of a Muslim as prime minister.

To back up their allegation, the bloggers pointed to a grainy photograph showing what they described to be a secret pact between the DAP’s Jelutong MP and pastors at a closed-door dinner party in a Penang hotel yesterday.

The DAP has vehemently denied the allegations and its secretary-general, Lim Guan Eng, has directed its members to file police reports to counter them.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein later claimed there was some element of truth in the story after DAP member Mohamed Razali Abdul Rahman lodged a report with the police and claimed that he had been present at the event.

Raja Nazrin: Desecrating flag an attack on nation’s sovereignty

(Bernama) - The Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah today likened the act of desecrating the national flag, Jalur Gemilang, which is one of the national symbols, as an attack on the nation’s sovereignty.

“Whatever our political or ideological differences, our national symbols belong to all citizens. By allowing these symbols to be trashed, we are opening ourselves up to a host of consequences, including the possibility of inflaming passions, inviting tit-for-tat retaliation and so forth.

“Hate and anger are some of the most powerful human emotions. When they take hold of society, they are difficult, and oftentimes impossible, to control.

“Our national symbols should therefore be placed above the political fray,” he said at the launching of the “Brand Transformer” and Malaysia Brand Forum 2012, here, today.

Raja Nazrin said the act of desecrating a flag was more than one individual’s statement of disrespect and criticism.

“The act is deliberately designed to insult what many others treasure and consider a source of pride and joy. Whatever one may think of the rights of individuals to express themselves, the larger consequences of their actions cannot and should not be ignored.”

Raja Nazrin said some countries had enacted specific laws to protect their national symbols, such as Austria, France, Germany and Switzerland which had imposed specific penalties for the desecration of their national flags.

“Other countries protect their national symbols under existing general laws aimed at ensuring law and order, preventing subversion and hate crimes.”

Raja Nazrin also expressed concern over the tendency of some quarters to discredit and undermine the national symbols that play such an important role in Malaysian national life.

“I am also concerned about the extent to which some are pushing against the institutional pillars that are holding up this nation.”

He said there were at least two reasons why this might be the case.

One, is a fundamental misunderstanding of how individual rights and freedoms are to be exercised within the context of a nation. The other is the impact of generational change in eroding the significance, meanings and value of nation building and its symbols.

Raja Nazrin said human beings had always craved for freedom, however, “if boundaries are disregarded in the exercise of individual freedoms, we will end up weakening rather than strengthening the bonds that bind us as a nation”.

“We need to instil in our young a sense of responsibility and community”.

As with generational change, he said: “With each passing generation, people become less familiar with the circumstances around which this country was formed and built.

“That is why I cannot over-emphasise enough the need for both well-thought and well-taught history in our schools.

“In this way, our students can better appreciate and respect the national institutions and symbols around us. This appreciation and respect are clearly missing when national symbols are deliberately desecrated.”

Raja Nazrin said as a mutlicultural and multireligious country, Malaysia’s national symbols such the Jalur Gemilang, National Coat of Arms or Jata Negara, the royal institution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the nine Malay Rulers, were important as more than just cultural artefacts and reminders of historical traditions.

“The national symbols we have constructed with such care and invested with such great social meaning play a much larger and critical function to this nation.

“That function is to serve as an anchor for us to hold on to, and a guidepost to give us direction, whenever we face challenges and crises as a nation.

“They therefore do not just belong to the past but are relevant — even essential — to our nation’s present and future. They are, if you like, the ‘Template of the Nation’.”

Raja Nazrin also said that good nation-building was all about political, economic and social inclusiveness, and the national symbols that had been devised were specifically designed to promote this inclusiveness.

“They must therefore be cherished, respected and protected, as their aim is to unify rather than keep apart, to integrate rather than to segregate,” he added.

Belanjawan 2013: Perbendaharaan Mengakui Ketepatan Anggaran Kos Program Pakatan Rakyat

–Kenyataan Media–
Kenyataan Dato’ Seri Husni Hanadzlah, Menteri Kewangan II yang disiarkan oleh The Sun[1] disambut baik oleh Jawatankuasa Manifesto dan Dasar Pakatan Rakyat yang bertanggungjawab merangka Belanjawan Pakatan Rakyat 2013.
Ia mengesahkan bahawa Kerajaan Persekutuan memandang serius segala cadangan dan penyelesaian ekonomi yang dikemukakan oleh Pakatan Rakyat. Ini membayangkan juga bahawa keupayaan pentadbiran Pakatan Rakyat dan kemampuannya merancang ekonomi negara turut dihormati dan digeruni oleh Barisan Nasional.
Oleh sebab itulah, sepanjang bermulanya persidangan Parlimen sesi ini, ahli-ahli Parlimen Barisan Nasional lebih gemar menghabiskan masa yang diperuntukkan membahaskan Belanjawan Pakatan Rakyat 2013. Mereka lebih takutkan pengaruh dan perbandingan dasar yang dibawa olehBelanjawan Pakatan Rakyat 2013 sehingga mereka mengabaikan terus belanjawan yang dibentangkan Perdana Menteri sendiri.
Tidak cukup dengan itu, menteri-menteri kanan seperti Dato’ Seri Husni Hanadzlah sendiri mengerah kakitangan awam di Perbendaharaan dan jabatan-jabatan lain bekerja lebih masa untuk mencari bidasan bagi menjawab cadangan dasar yang dibuat Pakatan Rakyat, seperti yang dibacakan oleh beliau semalam.
Walaupun ini satu perkembangan yang baik, kami ingin mengingatkan bahawa kerahan seluruh jentera kerajaan untuk mencari bidasan kepada cadangan dasar Pakatan Rakyat adalah satu salahguna kuasa berbentuk partisan, memandangkan perkara-perkara berikut:
1.      Jawatankuasa Manifesto dan Dasar Pakatan Rakyat tidak diberikan akses sama sekali kepada semua data, angka dan statistik yang diperlukan sepenuhnya untuk membuat unjuran yang membolehkan kami berdepan dengan pukulan curi seperti yang dibuat oleh Dato’ Seri Husni hanadzlah
2.      Jawatankuasa Manifesto dan Dasar Pakatan Rakyat hanya dianggotai oleh 12 orang dan dibantu oleh sekumpulan sukarelawan yang kecil berbanding keseluruhan jentera kerajaan
3.      Jabatan dan jentera kerajaan seperti pegawai-pegawai Perbendaharaan tidaklah boleh diarah untuk menjadi kakitangan parti pemerintah seperti Umno dalam menjawab cadangan-cadangan dasar. Tugas itu wajiblah dipikul oleh kakitangan ibupejabat Umno sendiri, seperti yang diamalkan oleh Pakatan Rakyat
Oleh yang demikian, untuk merancakkan lagi amalan demokrasi di negara ini, kami mengesyorkan supaya sebuah Pejabat Belanjawan Parlimenyang bebas dan tidak berpihak ditubuhkan. Pejabat ini bertanggungjawab menyediakan analisis perbelanjaan/belanjawan dan maklumat ekonomi kepada ahli-ahli parlimen secara objektif supaya perbahasan dasar dan keputusan kewangan boleh dibuat secara telus, bebas dan tepat.
Pun begitu, analisa yang dibuat oleh Perbendaharaan dan digunakan oleh Dato’ Seri Husni Hanadzlah sebagai bidasan ternyata memakan diri sendiri kerana ia mengesahkan bahawa anggaran kos yang digunakan oleh Pakatan Rakyat bagi membiayai program-program ekonominya adalah tepat.
Angka-angka anggaran kos bagi program-program Pakatan Rakyat seperti yang diumumkan Perbendaharaan adalah hampir sama dengan angka-angka anggaran yang digunakan Pakatan Rakyat selama ini. Malah, angka-angka terbaru mengikut analisa Perbendaharaan dan digunakan oleh Dato’ Seri Husni Hanadzlah adalah jauh berbeza dengan pelbagai angka yang digunakan oleh Barisan Nasional sebelum ini.
Kami merumuskan perbandingan kos ini di dalam Jadual 1 seperti berikut:

PROGRAM PAKATAN RAKYAT	ANGGARAN PR (RM bilion)	ANGGARAN PERBENDAHARAAN[2] (RM bilion)	ANGGARAN BN TERDAHULU[3]
Menghapuskan tol	6.0	6.0	50.0
Kos menyediakan pendidikan percuma	4.0	5.0	18.5
Kos menghapuskan hutang PTPTN	2.0	Tidak diperincikan, tetapi RM30b boleh dibayar dalam tempoh 20 tahun pada kos RM2b setahun
Pelarasan gaji kakitangan awam untuk melaksanakan gaji minima RM1,100	2.0	4.4	Tidak dinyatakan
Caruman Wanita Nasional	3.0	Tidak dibantah, maknanya bersetuju	Tidak dinyatakan
Bonus Warga Emas	3.0	Tidak dibantah, maknanya bersetuju	Tidak dinyatakan
Kenaikan royalti 20% kepada negeri-negeri pengeluar minyak	12.5	Tidak dibantah, maknanya bersetuju	12.5
Pengurangan duti eksais secara berperingkat untuk menurunkan harga kereta	2.0	Tidak dibantah, maknanya bersetuju	8.0

Jadual 1: Perbandingan anggaran kos tahunan program-program Pakatan Rakyat

Mengambil kira bahawa Perbendaharaan telah diarahkan supaya mengkaji cadangan dasar Pakatan Rakyat dan setiap anggaran kos dengan teliti, angka-angka yang dikeluarkan oleh Perbendaharaan menunjukkan bahawa ia (Perbendaharaan) bersetuju dengan anggaran kos yang dibuat oleh Pakatan Rakyat selama ini. Malah, ia juga membuktikan bahawa segala angka yang digunakan oleh pimpinan Barisan Nasional selama ini adalah tidak tepat dan cubaan menakut-nakutkan rakyat semata-mata.
Jawapan kami kepada persoalan-persoalan khusus yang ditimbulkan oleh Dato’ Seri Husni Hanadzlah adalah seperti berikut:
1.      Peruntukan RM56 bilion bagi gaji kakitangan awam akan menyebabkan 72,000 kakitangan awam hilang pekerjaan
Pakatan Rakyat telah menjelaskan bahawa kenaikan peruntukan gaji kakitangan awam sebanyak RM4 bilion atau purata 8% adalah mencukupi bagi menampung kenaikan gaji semua kakitangan awam, dengan syarat peruntukan bagi gaji ditambah dan peruntukan bagi faedah-faedah bukan kewangan berjumlah RM1 bilion disemak semula untuk menjimatkan kos.
Pakatan Rakyat percaya bahawa kenaikan peruntukan sewajarnya diagihkan terus dalam bentuk penggajian kepada kakitangan awam, bukannya tenggelam di dalam kenaikan kos bukan gaji yang disembunyikan di dalam angka besar.
Lagipun, rekod pentadbiran Pakatan Rakyat menunjukkan bahawa tidak ada seorang pun kakitangan awam yang terpaksa diberhentikan apabila Pakatan Rakyat mengambil alih pentadbiran di negeri-negeri Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak dan Selangor. Malah, bonus tahunan yang dinikmati di negeri-negeri seperti Selangor dan Perak adalah lebih baik berbanding bonus persekutuan.

2.      Tiada peruntukan dibuat bagi dasar-dasar tertentu
Dato’ Seri Husni Hanadzlah menuduh kononnya tiada peruntukan dibuat bagi membiayai pembatalan PTPTN, penghapusan tol, Bonus Warga Emas dan pelaksanaan gaji minima RM1,100 kepada kakitangan awam.
Sebenarnya, peruntukan sepenuhnya telah dibuat di dalam Belanjawan Pakatan Rakyat 2013 bagi program-program, seperti yang diperincikan di dalam Jadual 2:

PROGRAM PAKATAN RAKYAT	ANGGARAN KOS (RM bilion)
Menghapuskan tol	6.0
Kos menyediakan pendidikan percuma	4.0
Kos menghapuskan hutang PTPTN	2.0
Pelarasan gaji kakitangan awam untuk melaksanakan gaji minima RM1,100	2.0
Caruman Wanita Nasional	3.0
Bonus Warga Emas	3.0
Kenaikan royalti 20% kepada negeri-negeri pengeluar minyak	12.5
Pengurangan duti eksais secara berperingkat untuk menurunkan harga kereta	2.0
Suntikan dana perumahan rakyat melalui Perbadanan Perumahan Negara	5.0
Elaun khas perguruan RM500 sebulan	2.4
JUMLAH	41.9

Jadual 2: Peruntukan Belanjawan Pakatan Rakyat 2013

Peruntukan ini dibuat dengan mengambil kira bahawa potensi penjimatan dengan menghapuskan rasuah, ketirisan dan kronisme adalah besar dan mampu membiayai program-program tersebut.
Berdasarkan Belanjawan BN 2013, perbelanjaan-perbelanjaan berikut adalah perbelanjaan berbentuk perolehan, agihan melalui sistem tidak telus yang ditentukan oleh kerajaan atau pun caj hutang akibat keborosan berhutang – yang berpotensi untuk dipotong atau dijimatkan melalui pentadbiran yang telus:

JENIS PERBELANJAAN YANG DIKAWAL KERAJAAN SETIAP TAHUN	PERUNTUKAN (RM bilion)
Belanja Mengurus: Perkhidmatan dan Bekalan	33.7
Belanja Mengurus: Pembelian aset	1.1
Belanja Mengurus: Caj Perkhidmatan Hutang	22.2
Belanja Mengurus: Subsidi dan Bayaran Tetap	37.6
Belanja Mengurus: Kos perolehan badan kerajaan melalui geran kerajaan	7.0
Belanja Mengurus: Lain-lain	14.8
Belanja Pembangunan: Projek, infrastruktur, suntikan dan lain-lain	50.0
Perbelanjaan perolehan, kontrak dan pelaburan oleh PETRONAS dan syarikat-syarikat kerajaan	50.0
JUMLAH	216.4

Jadual 3: Perbelanjaan tahunan yang dikawal kerajaan persekutuan

Atas sasaran penjimatan 20% ke atas semua perbelanjaan tahunan yang dikawal kerajaan persekutuan ini dengan menghapuskan pembaziran, menghentikan ketirisan dan mencegah rasuah, Pakatan Rakyat percaya potensi peruntukan yang boleh digunakan untuk membiayai program pro-rakyat adalah RM43 bilion. Jumlah ini lebih tinggi dari kos untuk menampung program-program Pakatan Rakyat yang dimasukkan di dalam Belanjawan Pakatan Rakyat 2013 iaitu RM41.9 bilion.
Lagipun, kerajaan-kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat telah membuktikan bahawa penjimatan 20% ke atas perbelanjaan kerajaan boleh dicapai. Kerajaan Selangor di bawah pimpinan Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim misalnya telah mencatatkan penjimatan 24% atau RM106 juta bagi kontrak-kontrak kejuruteraan awam dalam tempoh 9 bulan pertama 2012.
Penjelasan panjang lebar ini selari dengan anggaran kos yang dibuat oleh Perbendaharaan mengenai program-program Pakatan Rakyat. Batu penghalang kepada pelaksanaan program-program pro-rakyat adalah keborosan dan kecenderongan Barisan Nasional bergelumang dengan rasuah.

Bagi pihak
Jawatankuasa Dasar & Manifesto Pakatan Rakyat
RAFIZI RAMLI
PENGARAH STRATEGI KEADILAN
YB LIEW CHIN TONG
AHLI PARLIMEN BUKIT BENDERA
YB NURUL IZZAH ANWAR
AHLI PARLIMEN LEMBAH PANTAI
YB DR DZULKIFLY AHMAD
AHLI PARLIMEN KUALA SELANGOR
11 OKTOBER 2012

Cops fired tear gas at trapped protesters, lawyer tells Suhakam’s Bersih inquiry

The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 – Riot police fired tear gas at protesters trapped in a narrow road here during the April 28 Bersih rally, a Bar Council observer told the Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) inquiry today into official violence at the electoral reforms rally.

Senior lawyer Christopher Leong’s testimony at the SUHAKAM inquiry is the latest in a series of eyewitness accounts of what appeared to be high-handed and frequently violent and aggressive action taken by police to break up the rally attended by thousands of Malaysians.

Leong was observing the protest on April 28 for the Bar Council.

He testified today that the police fired rounds of tear gas even though it was clear protesters could not disperse from Jalan Melayu, a narrow road near the Masjid Jamek LRT station.

Leong said the protesters could not move away as ordered by the police earlier because another group of demonstrators had approached the area from behind them.

“I saw the police approaching the protesters and firing tear gas right in the middle of the crowd. At the time, I was standing in the middle.

“We couldn’t leave. We couldn’t move at all. It was impossible to back away.”

Bersih has repeatedly argued that police had fired tear gas with the intention of harming participants of the April 28 rally for free and fair elections here, and used excessive force to make arbitrary arrests.

The electoral reforms group had previously submitted a report to SUHAKAM to back its claims with video and other documentary evidence.

Bersih had added that the police used indiscriminate, disproportionate, unjustified and excessive use of force against participants who largely did not display any act of provocation or misbehaviour.

The Bersih report added that participants who were having meals at restaurants were also arrested or assaulted.

Thousands of Malaysians gathered in the city on April 28 to mount a protest demanding free and fair elections.

The demonstration turned chaotic after police fired tear gas and protesters were unable to disperse because of the huge crowds choking the narrow streets.

The current inquiry is headed by Suhakam vice-chairman Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee and aided by commissioners Professor Datuk Dr Mahmood Zuhdi Abdul Majid and Detta Samen.

930 prisoners on death row yet to serve sentence

The Sun 
by Karen Arukesamy

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 10, 2012): A total of 930 prisoners are on death row in Malaysia pending their appeals, the Home Ministry said today.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Abu Seman Yusop said of this number, 725 have appealed to the courts while the remaining 205 have submitted their appeals to the Pardons Board.

"Every prisoner on death row has the right to appeal. They have yet to serve their sentence because of the appeals," he told the Dewan Rakyat.

According to the Prison Department statistics, the 930 are charged for various crimes including drug trafficking, murder, weapon, kidnap and national security.

“The death row convicts can appeal under Rule 114 of the Prison Regulations 2000.

“The Prison Department will assist the death row convicts if they wish to make the appeals and submit them to the State Pardons Board for further consideration,” Abu Seman said in reply to Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor).

Karpal had asked the Home Ministry to state the number of prisoners in death row in the country as of Aug 31.

Abu Seman said since the implementation of the Prison Regulation in 2001 till Aug 31, 2012, 41 prisoners in the death row have been pardoned.

“Their sentences have been reduced to natural life sentence for six prisoners, life imprisonment for 33 prisoners, early release for one prisoner, and immediate release for one prisoner,” he said.

Puan Badariah aka Jo Kukathas on our cultural, spiritual interdependence

Jo Kukathas as Puan Badariah delivers a message of profound importance for Malaysians wondering what has happened to the spiritual and cultural soul of our nation. 

BREAKING NEWS: Pakistan ‘Blasphemy Girl’ In Norway, Official Says

Rimsha Masih has fled to Norway, well-informed sources say.

ISLAMABAD/OSLO (BosNewsLife)-- A mentally challenged Christian girl who was detained in Pakistan on charges of 'blasphemy against Islam' has fled to Norway with family members, a Christian official involved in the operation confirmed Monday, October 8.

Rimsha Masih, 14, arrived in the Scandinavian nation with support from the Norwegian government, said Farrukh H. Saif, executive director of the Pakistan-based Christian aid and advocacy group World Vision In Progress (WVIP).

"She is accompanied by her parents, two sisters and one brother," Saif explained in an interview with BosNewsLife. "European Pakistani Christians arranged her asylum", he added.

Norway's Foreign Ministry and immigration authorities declined to comment, but Pakistan's prosecution office also said she had left for Norway.

Rimsha Masih was jailed August 17 in a prison near Islamabad after allegedly burning pages with verses of the Koran, viewed as holy book by Muslims.

INTERNATIONAL OUTCRY

Her detention at Adiala Jail sparked an international outcry because of her age and a medical report confirming that she was mentally handicapped.

Amid mounting pressure, Rimsha was eventually flown to safety on September 8 after an Islamabad court set the bail of one million Pakistani rupees ($10,600), Farrukh said.

"She was held at the Norwegian embassy as Norway was among six countries that wanted to help her and the family," he added.

Aid groups in the United States, Italy and Canada also offered the teen and her family a home outside Pakistan, a family representative said.

Eventually "some 20 days ago" she and her family were secretly flown to Norway, Saif explained.

IMAM DETAINED

Pakistani authorities allowed the flight after a Muslim leader who accused the girl of burning pages of Koran verses, was himself detained on charges of blasphemy.

Imam Hafiz Mohammed Khalid Chisht allegedly stashed Koranic papers in the girl‘s bag to ensure her conviction and push out Christians from the area, charges he strongly denied.

Three witnesses who initially confirmed Chisht's actions later withdrew their statements saying they were recorded under police pressure.

Masih and Christians supporting her have denied she knowingly burned the Koranic verses.

Rimsha said in published remarks last month that she had not defiled the Koran. She said she was happy to be with her family, but feared for her life. "I'm scared. I'm afraid of anyone who might kill us."

MAXIMUM SENTENCE

As a juvenile, Masih could face a maximum sentence of seven years in prison under controversial blasphemy legislation in this heavily Islamic nation, according to trial observers.

If she had been tried as an adult, she could have faced life imprisonment or the death penalty.

"But no harm can be done to the girl now as she is safe in Norway," Said said, without revealing the city or town, amid security concerns.

Yet, Rimsha has made clear she would prefer to stay in her home country though she grew up in a slum area of Islamabad.

Saif said a return seems to dangerous. Thousands of Christians were initially forced to flee the colony of Meherabadi where the girl grew up and several houses were burned and a church was destroyed by Muslim mobs angry over the alleged blasphemy, he told BosNewsLife.

FAMILY FEARS

With the girl now in Norway, Saif said there was concern for family members still staying behind in Pakistan, adding that WVIP cares for a paternal uncle of the girl.

The girl's case has renewed calls to overturn the blasphemy legislation. There have been 1,400 blasphemy cases since the laws were first enacted in 1986, according to the Human Rights Watch group.

Rights activists say there are over 15 cases of people on death row for blasphemy in Pakistan, and 52 people are known to have died while facing trial.

The case against Rimsha has also underscored concerns over the treatment of children by Pakistan's judicial system. Kids as young as seven can spend years behind bars - before the courts have even decided if they are innocent or guilty, according to observers familiar with the case.

"We estimate that there are as many as 4,500 juveniles in Pakistani prisons," said Ansar Burney Trust, an advocacy group supporting various projects in Pakistan and abroad.

Faisalabad: 24-year old Christian abducted, forced to convert to Islam and marry her abuser

by Shafique Khokhar
Shumaila Bibi kidnapped by a 26 year old Muslim Muhammad Javed Iqbal on the way home. Subjected to sexual assault and forced to study the Koran. On a pretext she managed to escape and return to her family. Her captor denounced the girl's father for "kidnapping" her. Shumaila's future hangs in the balance.

Faisalabad (AsiaNews) - Seized at dawn, forced to endure sexual abuse and to marry the young Muslim man who abducted her with the help of his family and convert to Islam. This is the dramatic story of Shumaila Bibi, a 24-year old Christian who worked in Nishatabad, a suburb of Faisalabad (Punjab), in a textile company. The episode dates back to September 24, and for days she was subjected to a daily nightmare with her tormentor; on October 5, using a ruse, she managed to escape. However, her so-called "husband" denounced her flight and with his parents - reversing the facts - reported her family for "kidnapping" her. The police accepted his version of the facts and have opened an investigation claiming that the girl converted and married "of her own free will." The future of Sumaila is hanging by a thread and will depend on the decisions of the justice of Pakistan, who on more than one occasion have failed to protect the rights of religious minorities in the country.

At 6 in the morning of 24 September Shumaila Bibi, who worked in a textile company, had just finished her shift and was about to return home. On the way she ran into to the 26 year old Muslim Muhammad Javed Iqbal, who had approached her family with the intention, over time, of establishing an engagement (though "I refused and I have repeatedly discouraged it" the young woman tells AsiaNews). Despite all this, with the help of his mother, two brothers, some uncles and the threat of a gun, Muhammad dragged the girl into a nearby vehicle.

At the time, there was only the guard of Millat Textile Mills factory to witness the scene. Threatened by the abductors family he did not intervene. The next day, Muhammad Javed Iqbal - along with 25 relatives - led Shumaila to a lawyer, Muhammad Tanveer Aslam. In his office, he forced her to sign a statement of intent, under which she declared her marriage to the young Muslim and conversion to Islam.

For days she was sexually abused, harassed and forced to study the Koran and the precepts of Islam. During one of these lessons she asked her Muslim teacher to be able to go home earlier than the scheduled time. Free to move, Shumaila escaped and returned to her parents' house. This, however, infuriated the groom who immediately reported the girl's parents to the police for ... "Kidnapping." The officials upheld his complaint because the young woman converted and consented to the marriage "of her own free will" and without compulsion.

The Catholic activists of the National Commission for Justice and Peace of the Catholic Church of Pakistan (NCJP) have taken up the defense of Mansha Masih, girl's father, 68, who now risks prison for kidnapping. The lawyers have filed a counter complaint and now seek justice, though on several occasions the will of the majority and Islamic law have dominated in spite of the rule of law, to decide on the matter. Her future is hanging by a thread and there is a real fear she will be returned to her torturers. Interviewed by AsiaNews, Shumaila confirmed that she wants to "live with my parents and practice the Christian faith." The young Muslim helped her find a job and with this "subterfuge" introduced himself into the family and tried to approach her. "But I refused - she clarifies - several times and I invited to desist" from his intent. "And for that, he ruined my life."

Fr. Nisar Barkat, diocesan director of NCJP in Faisalabad, said that "we do our best to provide aid and assistance to victims like Shumaila." The priest invokes the "intervention" of the police to "ensure the legality and freedom" of the community. "We have to be careful - he warns - of the manipulation of religion in the name of justice, and the state must guarantee religious freedom in the country."

Cops fired tear gas at trapped protesters, lawyer tells Suhakam’s Bersih inquiry

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 – Riot police fired tear gas at protesters trapped in a narrow road here during

Riot police are seen firing tear gas canisters at Bersih protesters in this file photo. – Reuters pic

the April 28 Bersih rally, a Bar Council observer told the Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) inquiry today into official violence at the electoral reforms rally.

Senior lawyer Christopher Leong’s testimony at the SUHAKAM inquiry is the latest in a series of eyewitness accounts of what appeared to be high-handed and frequently violent and aggressive action taken by police to break up the rally attended by thousands of Malaysians.

Leong was observing the protest on April 28 for the Bar Council.

He testified today that the police fired rounds of tear gas even though it was clear protesters could not disperse from Jalan Melayu, a narrow road near the Masjid Jamek LRT station.

Leong said the protesters could not move away as ordered by the police earlier because another group of demonstrators had approached the area from behind them.

“I saw the police approaching the protesters and firing tear gas right in the middle of the crowd. At the time, I was standing in the middle.

“We couldn’t leave. We couldn’t move at all. It was impossible to back away.”

Bersih has repeatedly argued that police had fired tear gas with the intention of harming participants of the April 28 rally for free and fair elections here, and used excessive force to make arbitrary arrests.

The electoral reforms group had previously submitted a report to SUHAKAM to back its claims with video and other documentary evidence.

Bersih had added that the police used indiscriminate, disproportionate, unjustified and excessive use of force against participants who largely did not display any act of provocation or misbehaviour.

The Bersih report added that participants who were having meals at restaurants were also arrested or assaulted.

Thousands of Malaysians gathered in the city on April 28 to mount a protest demanding free and fair elections.

The demonstration turned chaotic after police fired tear gas and protesters were unable to disperse because of the huge crowds choking the narrow streets.

The current inquiry is headed by Suhakam vice-chairman Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee and aided by commissioners Professor Datuk Dr Mahmood Zuhdi Abdul Majid and Detta Samen.

Perkasa vs Suaram: Of demons and lies

The statement by the French prosecutor, says an article published on the Perkasa website, can be considered as a full-stop for Suaram's 'web of deceit'.

PETALING JAYA: An article published on the Perkasa website has condemned Suaram as a thick-skinned manufacturer of fabrications while at the same time launched a salvo against its so-called demonic funders, the Zionists and George Soros, and their nefarious agenda.

Described as an opposition-infiltrated NGO, Suaram was also accused of orchestrating a mission towards regime change in this nation under the guise of championing human rights.

The article was responding to French government prosecutor Yves Charpenel who told Bernama that there was no ongoing trial in France with regard to the controversial Scorpene submarine deal.

He said that the matter was still being probed by two French judges.

“I am aware about all the fuss kicked up by certain media [organisations] in Malaysia over this matter but what I can say is that this is nothing more than a trial by the media,” he had added.

In an immediate reaction, Suaram’s lawyer William Bourdon said that there had never been a question of an ongoing trial as the investigating judges were still continuing their inquiry.

“The Tribunal deGrande Instance has convened a criminal inquiry of which Suaram has been accepted as a civil party since March 2012. Upon completion of the inquiry, the investigating judges will make the decision of whether the case goes to full trial,” he had explained.

The Perkasa article, however, claimed that Charpenal’s statement could be considered as the full-stop for Suaram’s web of deceit.

“Despite faltering numerous times, the thick-skinned Suaram will issue denials and is not ashamed to face the media, and the people of Malaysia, continuing with their lies and charades.

“Perhaps because Suaram has received enormous [foreign] funds, it has no choice but to continue peddling lies with the hope that Malaysia’s Islamic government will eventually collapse,” it read.

The article also noted that Charpenel had said that the investigating judges had no right to conduct cross-border probes or interrogations.

Launching a regime change mission

It pointed out that Suaram had, however, claimed in the past that a trial was underway and certain high-profile figures could be slapped with subpoenas as well as released documents in the French language purportedly as evidence to substantiate its accusations.

“This proves how low are the characters of those who are behind Suaram, which calls itself a defender of human rights.

“It is as if Suaram has made a fool of everyone and spat on their faces with its willingness to lie in order to fulfil the agenda of the ‘syaitan’ [demon] which brings destruction through war and murder with the help of another ‘syaitan’ which manipulates the world’s currency market,” it read.

In line with the “arrogance of the Zionist and Soros”, the article said that Suaram had also shown disrespect towards the Malaysian and French governments.

Even now with Charpenel’s statement, according to the article, the opposition refused to accept the fact that their lies had hit a brick wall.

“On the contrary, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is attempting to bring in [Suaram's lawyer] Bourdon into the country…

“The attempt strengthens the fact that Suaram and the opposition are not championing human rights but are in the midst of launching a ‘regime change’ mission for Soros and the Jews to conquer the world through a strategy of unbridled lies,” it claimed.

The Scorpene submarine contract continued to be a thorn in the flesh for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who was serving as the defence minister when the deal was inked.

Apart from allegations of corruption, the deal had also been linked to the gruesome murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Despite Najib’s repeated denials of any wrongdoing on his part, the issue remained a potent weapon in the opposition’s arsenal.

Polls after Deepavali?

Is Pakatan facing a wipe-out in Selangor, given the innumerable number of 'new' names on the voter list.
COMMENT

According to DAP’s Teluk Intan MP, M Manogaran, sources are speculating that the 13th general election is targeted for November but before that a big national Deepavali celebration will be held by Barisan Nasional to woo the Indian voters.

Well, we will just have to wait and see if this is true.

If indeed the polls are to be held on the last weekend of November, Parliament will have to be dissolved latest by Nov 5 as the current Parliament sitting is scheduled to go on till Nov 27.

This means that the budget will have to be re-tabled in the new parliament term. The terminology used in this matter is: “to re-do the budget”.

In the meantime, the focus is still on the controversial electoral rolls and Pakatan Rakyat. Several non-governmental organisations will be seeking to hold a rally in the Bukit Jalil Stadium on Nov 3 to protest the fact that the electoral rolls have yet to be cleaned up.

Based on the current electoral rolls, there are 10 Pakatan MPs who are most likely to lose their parliamentary seats in the 13th general election.

The 10 are:

1. Nurul Izzah Anwar (Lembah Pantai, PKR)

2. R Sivarasa (Subang, PKR)

3. William Leong (Selayang, PKR)

4. Zuraida Kamarudin (Ampang, PKR)

5. Titiwangsa (a PAS seat. A young PAS lawyer will be contesting this seat.)

6. Dr Siti Mariah (Kota Raja, PAS)

7. Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor, PAS)

8. Khalid Samad (Shah Alam, PAS)

9. Charles Santiago (Klang, DAP)

10.Teo Nie Ching (Serdang, DAP)

Looking at the above list, one can see that eight out of the 10 seats are in Selangor. The two KL seats are Lembah Pantai and Titiwangsa which belonged to the late Dr Lo’lo’ Ghazali of PAS.

This simply shows that Selangor is under severe threat from the BN side.

As for Nurul Izzah, in 2008 she won by a majority of 2,895 votes. Currently, there are over 10,000 new names in her constituency. Dzulkefly won by a slim margin of 862 votes in the previous general election. He too has over 10,000 new names in his constituency.

Both will need a miracle to win this time around as all their efforts and hard work may not be sufficient.

Wipe-out ahead?

So is Pakatan going to face a massive wipe-out?

The Election Commission’s (EC) stubbornness in refusing to clean up the electoral roll certainly indicates that something is afoot.

Is the EC really impartial and independent?

The Pakatan MPs have written to the EC several times to initiate a meeting in regard to the electoral roll but all to no avail.

The EC officers’ reluctance to meet with the Pakatan MPs to discuss issues pertaining to the electoral roll does not reflect well on the former’s professionalism. These officers must realise that they are public servants. The rakyat pay taxes and pay their salaries. Therefore the EC’s duty is solely towards the rakyat.

This shows that under the the Najib administration, things have become worse and the same goes for the Auditor-General’s Report.

As at time of writing, the Auditor-General’s Report is still not out yet. Sad to say, the Najib administration has the worst performance in regard to the Auditor-General’s Report.

During Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s tenure it was always on time, sometimes one, two or even seven days earlier. If not, then the Audit-General’s Report was always on the table of all MPs on the same day that the budget is presented.

During Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s tenure, it was late at times but not more than three days late.

Najib Tun Razak’s tenure is the worst. Last year, it was 17 days late. Looks like all the hype surrounding the Key Performance Index (KPI) is just for show only as even the crime rate seems to have worsened.

Najib’s lost control

Even the influx of foreign workers has become worse.

There are daily press reports of gangfights and killings among foreign workers and this gives a bad image to the country.

No one can really comprehend why there is a need to take in so many foreign workers. Many of these foreign workers can also be seen loitering around the KL Central Market area.

They can be a threat to the safety of Malaysians when they are jobless.

Is the prime minister aware of these goings-on?

Another issue which seems to have escaped Najib’s attention is the price of foodstuffs. It has been the norm before general elections that food prices are kept low so as not to anger the voters, especially the low-income group.

But under Najib’s tenure, food prices are going up even before the electionis held and that is the reason why there is a need to give the RM500 cash aid to stave off the anger of the low-income voters.

This is surely an indication that food prices will soar if BN wins at the polls again because it can already be seen now that Najib is not really in control in regard to food prices.

Perhaps he himself is being bothered by the “date-devil” and is not concentrating fully on the job at hand due to mulling over, thinking and pondering 24/7 on when to hold the general election.

November is near and as he has mentioned, the number “11” is significant to him.

That being the case, he should stop dithering, take the bull by the horns and hold the polls in the 11th month. The polls-date game has gone on long enough.

Selena Tay is a FMT columnist.