Jam-packed police reports over Hindus ‘syaitan’ remark

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20: A Facebook post addressing Hindus as ‘syaitan’ (demons) has caused an uproar among Malaysians of all races for its insensitivity, especially to the Hindus, whom had just celebrated Thaipusam.

On Friday, a Facebook user named Man Namblast allegedly posted “berpuluh ribu syaitan sedang berarak menaiki tangga bt caves” (tens of thousands of demons are marching up the stairs at Batu Caves).

The remark aimed on Hindu devotees, who celebrated the Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves Murugan temple, has offended and provoked the public’s outrage.

The Facebook page was removed entirely, when checked by The Malaysian Times (TMT).

However, a screenshot of the post is being circulated and has gone viral in media and social networks.

Frustrated with the racial remark that insulted the Hindus and Thaipusam, the public, various NGOs and political parties are lodging police reports nationwide.

Datuk Seri G. Palanivel

MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel told TMT that it was a foolish remark that has offended the Indian community and has called upon the police and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to take stern action without any delay.

“Issues that can harm the unity in this country shouldn’t be tolerated.

“It is not our culture and it is very unacceptable,” the Natural Resources and Environment Minister said.

“The matter is going viral everywhere and the police and relevant authorities must take action immediately,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Indian Education Transformation Association (MIETA) chairman A. Elangovan, who also made a police report on the matter, told TMT that it was an irresponsible post and has triggered anger of many.

“No religions have the rights to humiliate the others. Thaipusam is a recognised festival in this country and it has to be respected by all.

“It is a racist remark that can threaten the unity among the multiracial community in Malaysia.

“I believe with the police reports lodged nationwide the police and MCMC will take action on the irresponsible Facebook user,” he said.

A. Elangovan

MIC YOUTH WILL TAKE IT TO COURT

Meanwhile, MIC youth chief C. Sivarraajh said that the wing will take the matter to the court if no action are taken regarding the post by Man Namblast.

“If police refused to take any action against the user, MIC youth will sue and drag him to the court on our personal capacity.

“No apology accepted,” he stressed. The wing has also lodged a police report.

C. Sivarraajh

MIC Puchong youth secretary K. Gunalan said police report has been made by the division youth against Man Namblast hoping the authority will take immediate action as a lesson for those irresponsible racial remarks made in social media.

“Should the authority fail to take further action, we shall not hesitate to proceed with legal action as mentioned by National MIC Youth Leader,” he said.

The Malaysian Hindu Youth Council (HYO) committee members will also lodge report, today, against the Facebook post that insulted the Hindus.

Its secretary-general A. Tharman said that police reports will be lodged by the members of the movement in all states.

A police source confirmed that various complaints have been received and more reports are expected on the matter by NGOs and civilians as their part to fight for their community’s rights.

A saddened devotee, who preferred to be unnamed, told TMT that such remark in social media was a disappointing act.

“It is very sad to see certain individuals making fun of other religions. Wonder what good feel they get in insulting the others?” she asked.

“The police have to put a full stop for such reckless remarks,” she added.

Mohd Ismail said that “Every ethnic in this country has the rights to practice their culture freely.

“Any critics over the religious matters have to be harshly punished,” the 23-year-old engineering student said.

AS SERIOUS AS ‘BAH KUT TEH’ FIASCO

While, another devotee said that the matter has to be taken seriously by the police and government, as it can pollute the country’s harmony.

“This is a national issue. Actions have to be taken like how the authorities reacted towards  the controversial Alvivi couples,” he said.

The Alvivi pair, Alvin Tan Jye Yee and Vivian Lee May Ling, was charged at court despite their action of posting a message ridiculing Ramadan and pornographic images on their blog.

Tan, 25, and Lee, 24, came under fire making a seditious posting on their Facebook page by uploading a photo of themselves eating bak kut teh (a pork dish) with the greeting Selamat Berbuka Puasa with bak kut teh (fragrant, delicious and appetising) together with the halal logo.

Lament for a vanishing genre

 

REVIEW Column-writing calls for the melding of reportage and commentary. Writing a political column on a regular basis, say, twice a week, requires not only a good’s reporter eye for colour, the pithy anecdote or quotation, but also a ruminative mien that can make arguments resonate long after the reader has turned the page.

The time S Thayaparan got that elusive blend down to a gem was when he fused a spot of reminiscences about the admirable conduct of a nazir agama (chief of religious affairs) he knew in the armed forces in the 1970s with critical scrutiny of a call by Umno types in 2011 for more representation for ulama in their party’s supreme council.

The piece sang from its ‘intro’ - as they say among journalists - to its conclusion with an eloquence that prompted this reviewer to recall what a famous poet said on encountering the work of another: “I wanted to go to the man that wrote it and say something.”

Unfortunately, that piece - actually, it was a letter that appeared in theSun - is not among the compilation of articles ‘No Country for Righteous Men’ that Thayaparan wrote during a two-year (2011-13) stint for Malaysiakini, though it was the best of a slew of missives from him that had enlivened the theSun's letters column and got him an invitation to write for the portal.

Had Thayaparan’s letter praising Warrant Officer Haji Mohd Said as a multicultural exemplar been included in ‘No Country’, it would have served as useful basis to suggest why that piece was memorable while much of what has been included here is ephemeral.

The latter description, though, is no reason to resist engagement with this collection, subtitled ‘Essays in a Culture of Offendedness’, which can also be seen as a 383-page jeremiad on the evanescence in Malaysian life of what may be called the ‘pluralistic personality’, of which Mohd Said was a quintessential embodiment.

In our multiracial, multicultural and multi-religious country, the pluralistic personality approaches others to study their differences from him/herself, is willing to discover that learning comes by way of a certain humility, displays a certain hesitance to judge others too quickly, is equipped with watchfulness for possible errors in one’s own perceptions, and has a capacity for laughing at foibles that does not sour into cynicism about underlying values.

That personality, examples of which abounded in the 1960s and 1970s, spawning period of Thayaparan’s self-enriching discovery of his multifarious milieu, is almost extinct these days.

In its stead is a profusion of one-dimensional types who wall themselves away, smugly satisfied with the monisms of race or religion.

Is it a surprise that in the latter environs, the culture of easily taken umbrage is rife, leaving a sociopolitical commentator like Thayapayan (left), of evident distaste for this prickliness, exposed to the ire of one-dimensional partisans of our social spectrum?

In this straits it helps that this former naval commander who read law while in service can dish it out as well as he takes, maybe even better.

The racial and other shibboleths he took on in his letters to The Sun were splendid cuts to the bone of the issues involved, leaving readers with the feeling that it is not good for one’s self-esteem to be in Thayaparan’s editorial cross-hairs.

Editorial miscue

It must be said, though, that an excess of the polemical strain in a writer detracts from a columnist’s craft. The latter’s job is to try to get behind the news, to understand the personalities and forces that hog it, to give a wider perspective to the events making the headlines.

The difficulty of shining a steady columnar light on newsy developments that are can spurt and twist confusingly is exacerbated by the short attention span of readers. TS Eliot captured this attention deficit disorder thus: “Readers of the Boston Evening Transcript/Sway in the wind like a field of ripe corn.”

In pursuit of one shift in the gusts, Thayaparan tracked Hindraf’s P Waythamoorthy (left) in the immediate prelude to last May’s general election, an effort that left the columnist with a sour aftertaste as the Indian rights’ exponent made a deal with the BN that was either going to be a stunning coup or a sellout - more the latter it has now transpired.

It’s easy to be wise in hindsight. But had Thayaparan been in the reporting business before graduating to column-writing, he conceivably would have been aware of the number of Hindraf’s early enthusiasts who had already left the movement to join the opposition, especially PKR.

That fact would have raised suspicion that Waythamoorthy was posturing on behalf of remnants of a NGO whose main drivers had already left to join what they felt were more effective political vehicles for the aspirations of the Indian Malaysian poor.

Hindraf, in the time that Waythamoorthy was on a theatrical fast simultaneous with a lookout for a deal with either of the two political coalitions vying for Indian support in the upcoming polls, was by early 2013 a shell of the body that had jolted the Malaysian political landscape with an impressive demonstration in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25, 2007.  

Thayaparan’s editorial miscue on Waythamoorthy was a minor blemish in an otherwise energetic and arresting engagement with the socio-political concerns of Malaysians, the heightened focus of intensive debate in web news portals, blogs and newspapers after the general election of March 2008.

This mostly “digital democracy”, as Muss Hitam (right) put it, was among the beneficial aftereffects of that political tsunami when BN lost its supermajority in Parliament.

Six years on from that landscape churning event, historians and commentators may plausibly argue that there is now a pre-2008 period to modern Malaysian history and a post-2008 phase to it - seminal was the impact of the 12th general election.

In the future, scribes wishing to make sense of this bifurcation would find ‘No Country’ a useful guide. They are certain to be enlarged and even entertained by what they find.

They may not always agree with the author’s views and evaluations, but perhaps that would only encourage them to share his conviction - that the waning of the multicultural archetype in our society is a suicidal loss of our essence.

---

TERENCE NETTO has been a journalist for four decades now. He likes the profession because it puts him in contact with the eminent without being under the necessity to admire them.

‘No Country’ will be launched tomorrow.

Perkasa: Kangkung furore can spark May 13 repeat - Malaysiakini

 

Malay rights group Perkasa today claimed the furore over kangkung can result in a repeat of the May 13 racial riots if it continues to be played up.

Its information chief Muhammad Zahid Md Arip said the issue has become racial and is against Malaysia’s multiracial society.

Many people, Zahid (right in photo) said, are seen as disrespecting Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on this issue.

“The May 13th incident may repeat itself if people want it to happen again. If the kangkung issue goes too far, it is not impossible that it might,” the Perkasa information chief reportedly said in a press conference today.

He was asked to comment on yesterday's protest by Umno and its allies with banners put up reading, 'Kerana mulut pemimpin DAP, 13 Mei 1969 terjadi. Mahu lagi ka?' (Because of DAP leaders, May 13, 1969 occurs. Do you want a repeat?)

The protest organised by Umno yesterday was in retaliation to the flash mob protest held by PKR Machang Bubuk assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon, for questioning Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 'kangkung' remarks.

Najib was ridiculed by the people for saying that “people did not thank the government when the prices of kangkung dropped”.

'Ignore Anwar'

Zahid also wants the country's Foreign Ministry to reject opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's demands of an explanation on why he was barred from entering Japan yesterday.

“No need to waste time checking on this. I am surprised he found fault with Wisma Putra when Wisma Putra does not have anything to do with immigration (issues). Anwar (right) went there without informing Wisma Putra,” he was quoted to have said.

“(Only) when he is barred, (does) he try to contact Wisma Putra,” added Zahid.

Zahid further said that this is not a big issue but that it was further exploited by Anwar.

This, he stressed, shows Japan does not need Anwar.

“Anwar sees this as an opportunity to get cheap publicity, and think he is great. This issue is not that big but Anwar had used it to his own benefit,” said Zahid, who was notably once with PKR.

Perkasa kata sensitiviti umat Islam perlu dihormati

Penganut agama lain dilarang menggunakan kalimah Allah.

PETALING JAYA: Perkasa menjunjung kasih yang tidak terhingga atas titah Yang Dipertuan Agong bahawa kalimah Allah adalah hak eksklusif orang Islam.

Menurut Presidennya, Datuk Ibrahim Ali, penganut agama lain dilarang menggunakan kalimah Allah.

“Sensitiviti umat Islam perlu dihormati dan ini adalah amalan di Persekutuan Tanah Melayu zaman berzaman dan Malaysia,” kata beliau dalam satu kenyataan kepada FMT.

Beliau berharap dengan titah ini semua pihak menghormatinya dan ianya akan membantu keharmonian kehidupan seluruh rakyat Malaysia.

“Sebelum ini Raja Raja Melayu sebagai ketua agama Islam negeri telah bertitah yang sama dengan tegas dan jelas,” kata beliau.

Ibrahim yang juga bekas ahli parlimen Pasir Mas berharap pihak berkuasa dapat mengambil tindakan yang tegas kepada mana-mana pihak yang menggunakan kalimah Allah seperti yang dilakukan oleh JAIS baru-baru ini.

“Konsep 1Malaysia bukannya Malaysian Malaysia tetapi bertunjang kepada asas perlembagaan negara,” katanya lagi

Education first, politics second, says deputy minister

Kamalanathan says that political differences should be set aside and local universities used as research source for better contribution to the country's development.

GEORGE TOWN: Political differences should be set aside when it comes to issues involving academics and knowledge sharing, said deputy education minister P Kamalanathan.

Cooperation is important, to ensure that all will receive the same education benefits from research conducted by universities even though they are located in the opposition states, he said at Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) main campus in Minden Heights, today.

“By right, there should not be any room for problems in cooperating with each other despite having different political ideologies and directions in terms of academics,” he said.

Kamalanathan who is also Hulu Selangor MP, described universities in opposition-led states as an education hub.

He was responding to questions on whether USM faced difficulties in getting cooperation from the Pakatan led Penang government in various areas.

“When we make academics as a priority for all, such issues should not even arise. If there is, then the problem lies with them.

“So if anybody finds cooperating with USM a problem, then the problem starts with themselves,” he told a press conference during a campus visit.

Earlier, Kamalanathan attended a briefing on the university’s plans to strive for further academic excellence.

Asked whether USM had been approached to give input on state policies and state projects involving the environment, namely the underwater tunnel and hillslope development projects, Kamalanathan said it was impossible to give input when input was not asked from them (USM), even if the university had the specialisation and a host of experienced consultants.

USM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Omar Osman was however quick to add that all the university’s researchers are made available online and through journal publications.

“We conduct researchers to reach out to all quarters across all divides so it is up to them to make this as their reference in all subject matters,” he said.

He said that the university has a healthy platform of cooperation with the private sector, entrusted with carrying out 33 researchers in the electrical and electronics industry for 17 private companies amounting to RM8.5mil in Penang and other places.

“We’re now in the midst of strengthening more industrial ties through post graduate research funded by the government and private firms.

“We look forward to closer ties and cooperation from the industrial sector, to strive towards further excellence of the prestigious APEX status university so that the university can contribute towards the country’s development, better,” Omar added.

In terms of patent files, Omar said that the university has seen an increase from 50 patent files to 250 patent files in the last five years.

“Our top focus now is to look into ways to commercialise the products designed and formulated by the university,” he said.

‘May 13 warning banner not Umno’s’

Penang Umno denies any link with the 'May 13' banner brought during the recent protest there.

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Penang Umno today distanced itself from the controversial and provocative banner of ‘May 13′ put up during a protest march on Saturday against PKR’s “kangkung flash mob” held here last week.

Insisting on Umno’s innocence, party state deputy chairman Reezal Merican Naina Merican instead blamed the Machang Bubok assemblyman Lee Khai Loon-led flash mob of inciting anger among local Malay groups.

He clarified that Umno was not the organiser of the protest in Seberang Jaya which was reportedly joined by 600 to 700 protesters from various Malay-based groups, including local Umno leaders.

“Umno had no control over the protest, protesters and their banners,” he told FMT via telephone.

He insisted that neither Umno nor its leaders backed the putting up of the provocative ‘May 13′ banner or condoned any form of violence in the country.

He explained that the six Umno divisional leaders were present at the demonstration merely to express their anger against Lee for organising a flash mob insulting Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

Apart from Reezal, who is also the Kepala Batas MP, state Umno secretary Musa Sheikh Fadzir and Tasek Gelugor division chief and MP Shabudin Yahaya were also present.

“We were there because the person humiliated was Umno president.

“We don’t know who brought the banner.

“Those who joined in the protest were with different state of minds, ranging from extremely angry people to calm and moderate ones.

“It’s not fair to blame Umno just because some leaders were present.

“It was beyond our control. We were not the organisers. We just joined it,” stressed Reezal Merican, adding that he only knew about the rally via social network, Facebook.

Lee inflamed the demonstrators

Saturday’s demonstrators vented their anger against Lee for allegedly insulting Najib by stuffing

kangkung into the premier’s effigy during a flash mob held outside a wet market in Alma, under Machang Bubok state constituency last Wednesday.

Chanting “Allahu Akbar” and “Hidup Melayu” (Long live the Malays), they marched about 1km towards the Sunway Carnival Mall with banners.

The banners read: “Because of DAP leaders’ mouth, May 13, 1969 happened… Want some more?”, “Insulting the PM is like insulting the Malays”, “Penang Malays survive by eating kangkung”, “ABCD – Asal Bukan Cina DAP” and “DAP is the enemy of Islam”.

Insisting that he would never support violence, Reezal Merican however, blamed Lee for inflaming the demonstrators.

If not for the PKR representative’s provocative flash mob insulting Najib, Reezal Merican said the demonstrators would not put up the ‘May 13′ banners.

“I am not defending the individual who put up the banner.

“Wrong is a wrong. But Lee is also equally guilty. Lee’s action caused the protest and the May 13 banner.

“Lee’s extreme provocative flash mob invited such extreme reaction,” he insisted.

Reezal Merican anyway welcomed police investigation into the banner issue. He also challenged Lee to organise similar flash mobs to gauge public support.

The Najib-Anwar Weakly Show

It came as a surprise to many people that Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak and Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim have been holding “secret negotiations” for a unity government. If the “Edge Review” is to be believed, for the last eight months both sides have been involved in secret meetings to discuss forging a unity government of sorts, with the powerful Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi leading the talks on Najib’s behalf. We can only guess that Anwar’s many close confidantes and advisers led Pakatan’s side of the discussions.

The “Edge Review” also revealed that the negotiations have not been going well, and it seems that Anwar has lost hope of a successful outcome. Internal attacks against Najib seem to have surged lately, suggesting that powerful groups within UMNO are not keen on such a pact with their sworn enemy, the Pakatan Rakyat. The “Edge” quoted a prominent, UMNO-linked businessman as saying that Najib’s position is politically weak, one from which he’s unlikely to get the endorsement of warlords in his party.

I am disappointed that the talks are not succeeding, as I’m certain many Malaysians are. When the idea was mooted by no less than the Prime Minister himself, I sang his praises. Here is a party leader and PM who, despite enjoying an overwhelming majority, still felt it was necessary to start talking to the Opposition to address the many difficult issues facing the nation. So why have the talks not worked? Was it because they were not, in the end, about national unity, but about keeping alive the political lives of two politicians who can no longer offer anything useful or exciting to the people of this country? This is unlikely because Najib has a strong majority and a large-scale rebellion in UMNO against him is unthinkable, even one led by the irrepressible Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad.

There is a chance the talks have not been successful because the Opposition proved to be too demanding. Could they have asked for too many Cabinet posts? Perhaps even the powerful Finance Minister’s portfolio? Did they ask Najib to step down at end of this term? What is most exasperating to ordinary people like you and me is that we have to keep guessing about possibly one of the more significant and defining moments in our democratic history, i.e. when the Government and the Opposition were at last talking to one another.

It’s not necessary for such meetings to be held in such a clandestine fashion. The public should be kept informed of the agenda and progress of these talks. If there had been some transparency, we could have at least avoided all the speculation and rumour-mongering.

In today’s world political talks are held openly – at least in a democracy they are. Unfortunately, in this instance we have not been kept informed, not even of the broad outline of the issues to be resolved. What has been on the table for discussions? Were they issues of interest to the people, such as the state of the economy, education, low wages and unemployment, the widening gap between income and wealth of the rich and poor, declining living standards, the oversupply of toll roads, the behaviour of the Muftis, the “Allah” issue and corruption, for instance? That’s what the unity talks should at least try to address, with both sides making the effort to arrive at some hard decisions together.

But if the talks are about Najib’s and Anwar’s political survival then of course the issues would be different. Who will become Deputy PM? Will we need more than one DPM? The very attractive Finance Minister’s portfolio would also be up for grabs by both sides. I am only speculating here as there is no other way to get more information (this is my pre-emptive warning to Anwar not to accuse me of reading nothing else but Utusan Malaysia).

I wonder what assurances or commitment Najib asked from the Pakatan. It’s not inconceivable that the new private jet will be allowed to remain in service, and that Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor will continue with her “diplomatic overtures” overseas, which I can understand, given the quality of our Ambassadors appointed under Najib.

In the end, what the country needs is leaders who communicate constructively with the rakyat on substantive issues, in the spirit of candour and openness. There must be transparency and a willingness to be truthful when dealing with hard decisions. Otherwise, forget about unity talks.

The public needs to know how much more of the subsidy will be reduced, if at all. Will the Government consider capping toll rates? What steps will Najib and Anwar agree on to stop price hikes on goods and services? Will the PM and his Ministers personally undertake some austerity measures to show credibility? Will Anwar and his team offer support for some of these measures? Will Pakatan stop politicking on some of the agreed issues? These are what the people expect from their political leaders in national unity talks.

They expect leaders from both sides of the political divide to come to an agreement on difficult economic and social issues. They expect these political leaders to show that the public’s interest supersedes their own. At the moment however, we are still not getting that message from the two star performers in this weakly show.

Mahathir Wing of UMNO Turns The Screws on Najib

Father and son bonding

Former prime minister’s wing veers towards open warfare

Pressure is continuing to rise against Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, the latest in the form of an exclusive interview with Mahathir scion Mukhriz in the Malay-language newspaper Berita Harian Sunday expressing concern that the ruling national coalition could lose the next national elections under Najib’s guidance.

Mukhriz’s statement, carefully couched to describe Najib’s economic policy in doing away with subsidies as “correct but unpopular,” is being regarded as an open volley against the prime minister fired by the wing of the United Malays National Organization loyal to former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. On the same weekend that Mukhriz was giving the interview with Berita Harian, former Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin, a long-time ally of the elder Mahathir, spoke to members of the suburban UMNO division in Kuala Lumpur that he once headed to say largely the same thing – and add that “It is up to you to ask him to step down."

The pressure so far is coming from within Najib’s party. Despite steeply rising prices, there has been little pressure for angry citizens to take to the streets.

The elder Mahathir and Daim have been extremely critical of Najib since the May 5 national election, in which the Barisan Nasional lost the popular vote to the opposition for the first time since 1969 but prevailed in the parliament through gerrymandering and the first-past-the-post voting system.
Mukhriz, now the chief minister of the state of Kedah, said defeat in the next election, due in 2018, is a real possibility if the prime minister continues with his “present policy of correct but unpopular decisions.”

Those “correct but unpopular decisions” revolve around cuts in subsidies that have resulted in sudden and dramatic bounces in the price of many staples, including petrol, chicken, vegetables, prawns, sugar and, according to the UMNO-owned Malay Mail, kangkong, also known as water spinach or morning glory, which grows wild on roadsides and waterways. Najib drew widespread derision recently when he responded to criticism over rising prices by saying the price of kangkong had fallen. Malaysians began mocking the prime minister as being out of touch, a complaint that made it all the way onto the BBC news.

In a translation of Mukhriz’s remarks by The Malaysian Insider, a Kuala Lumpur-based news portal, the 49-year-old Mukhriz said that “Barisan Nasional's performance in the last general elections shows that we have not fully regained the [people’s] confidence. I am very worried that although we have implemented good policies, we have ignored the issue of popularity. If the voters already have a negative perception of Barisan Nasional, it will not matter whether we have done the right thing or not."

With national and intraparty elections out of the way last year, the government acted to reverse a flock of subsidies that have driven the country’s fiscal debt close to the statutory limit of 55 percent of GDP and are a source of growing international concern by investors and economists. Those subsidy costs were compounded by a flock of government pay raises and programs designed to lure ethnic Malays into voting for the Barisan. During the campaign, Najib also assured voters in his election manifesto there would be no major rises in the cost of living.

“Economically, cutting the subsidies was astute, but politically it has been disastrous,” said a longtime UMNO member. “For now Najib has to realize the situation on the ground. He and his cabinet have lost touch with reality.”

Najib’s holiday visit to the US gaming mecca of Las Vegas – with gambling anathema to Muslims – has also drawn widespread criticism in UMNO, as has the luxurious lifestyle of the premier’s wife Rosmah Mansor.

The prime minister is unlikely to be driven from power, however, unless there is a groundswell in the local divisions of the party to call for an emergency general meeting to pass a no-confidence vote. He was reelected president of the party, the country’s biggest, by acclamation. He controls a strong majority of the 40-member Supreme Council, either through his own loyalists or through those aligned with former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who have made common cause with Najib against the Mahathir wing. Nor will the rebels attempt to oust him through a no-confidence vote in the parliament, which would result in the near destruction of the party.

Part of what is contributing to the prime minister’s staying power is that there appears no one on the horizon who is prepared to take him on. Mukhriz is regarded as too young, and was turned down by the rank and file in intra-party elections to become one of the party’s three vice presidents. Muhyiddin Yassin, the current deputy prime minister, is 66 years of age and is expected to retire from politics after his current stint. Khairy Jamaluddin, Abdullah Badawi’s son-in-law, is only 38 and in any case is regarded as a deeply polarizing figure.

The elder Mahathir himself is increasingly mentioned as possibly coming back, either as an “advisor” along the lines of Lee Kuan Yew, the “minister mentor” in Singapore until he retired from politics, or as prime minister, a move that would send shudders through the minority community in Malaysia because of his increasing alignment with Perkasa, the ultra-nationalist Malays-first organization headed by Ibrahim Ali.

The only alternative is to take the route Daim appears to have embarked on, a Kuala Lumpur-based political observer said, and that is to go to the grassroots of the party and seek to embarrass him enough to force him to step down voluntarily.

In any instance, with no one strong enough to challenge the prime minister, the continuing prognosis for debilitating infighting within UMNO seems the most likely scenario. But there also appears little scope for the opposition, headed by Anwar Ibrahim, to take advantage of the situation. Pakatan Rakyat, split between three strikingly dissimilar parties with different ethnic agendas, seems ill equipped to be able to capitalize.

Boos, doubts stalk Najib after kangkung ridicule

There are some in Umno who want Najib to go, believing that the next election will be lost because of rising cost and drift in the country's leadership. - The Malaysian Insider pic, January 20, 2014.
It doesn't seem to be getting any better for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak after a week of being ridiculed for talking about falling vegetable prices amid rising living costs.

There is talk among the Umno elite of moves to push out the party president, who won more seats for the party but also lost more for Barisan Nasional (BN) in Election 2013. His men also swept the party elections last December but his position now looks shaky as dissent rises inside and outside Umno.

And yesterday, the boos were louder than the cheers when Najib presented the winner's medal to badminton star Datuk Lee Chong Wei when won his 10th Malaysian Open singles title in Kuala Lumpur.

On the same day, the Umno-owned Berita Minggu carried an interview with Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir who expressed concern that the ruling BN might lose in the 14th general election if Putrajaya continued implementing unpopular decisions.

"Defeat is a real possibility if Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak continues with his present policy of correct but unpopular decisions, especially issues concerning the rising cost of living."

"If Putrajaya continues to ignore the rakyat's grouses and complaints, Barisan Nasional will find the 14th general election a tough nut to crack," the youngest son of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad told the Malay daily which is controlled by Najib's
appointees.

On Saturday, former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin (pic, right) gave the same line in a closed-door briefing at the Merbok Umno division meeting in Dewan Kismec in Sungai Petani, Kedah.

Sources said the former Merbok MP was a guest of honour at the briefing where he spoke about Putrajaya's failure to control goods prices or review highway toll agreements to extend concessions rather than allow charges to rise.

It is learnt Daim also criticised the Cabinet's failure to explain issues, the government for cutting subsidies rather than cutting expenses for things that did not appear to benefit the people, and ignoring the fact that higher civil service wages and allowances would influence prices.

Sources said Daim predicted that BN would lose the elections if it was held now, saying it continued to rule due to Malay support, but Putrajaya had spent more to attract the Chinese vote to no avail as the community would not support it.

Najib is following the wants of advisers to determine policies which will bring loss to the Malays, a source quoted Daim as saying.

"The conclusion is... the government under PM's leadership is not effective and will cause BN to lose power in administering the country in the coming elections," he added.

But there is no bunker mentality yet in Putrajaya over such criticisms although the Prime Minister understands that there is unhappiness against the government's efficiency arm Pemandu and the use of consultants, with critics urging Najib to take charge of the situation.

The view from Putrajaya is essentially this: the so-called critics are among those who fleeced the country with their policies and shenanigans while in power, so why should the PM or the cabinet take them so seriously?

But there are some in Umno who want him to go, believing that the next election will be lost because of rising cost and drift in the country's leadership. They want someone better to take charge, said a Putrajaya insider, but not many names have cropped up as yet.

"They want him out sooner than later, how, nobody knows," said a businessman with links to the Umno elite.

"So we wait and see if the boos can snowball to something bigger or Najib stays the course," he added. - January 20, 2014.

Former Sodomy II investigator cries foul after barred from Bar

Malay Mail 
by IDA NADIRAH

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 — Former police investigating officer Jude Blacious Pereira is unhappy with the Bar Council for objecting to him practising law.

He said he had received a letter from the council in November withdrawing its objection against him being admitted as an advocate and solicitor.

However, he was surprised the matter was brought  up on Wednesday in  the High Court, which allowed the council’s  objection.

“It is not fair for the Bar Council to go against me and judge me based on the Brickfields case,” said Pereira, who was the investigating officer in the second Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sodomy case,

“I did not act on my own accord but acted while I was under the police force.

“I will appeal and leave this to the court. Let them decide.”

Pereira questioned why he was allowed to go through seven months of chambering without any objection from the council.

“Up to my third call they did not object, so why is it that at the last minute they are the pulling the carpet under my feet?” he asked.

Pereira said he failed the first time he sat for the Ethics and Professional Standards examination organised by the council but passed when he sat for the paper again and obtained a certificate.

“I was looking forward to practising law. It is the only thing I am good at,” he said.

High Court judge Datuk Zaleha Yusof, who struck out the petition by Pereira to practise law, allowed the Bar Council’s notice of objection and notice of caveat against admitting him as an advocate and solicitor.

After retiring from the police force as a superintendent, Pereira had applied to practise in Ipoh where he completed his chambering.

Lawyer Pavendeep Singh,  representing the Bar Council, said the Bar had the right to object to Pereira because he was found “not to be a credible witness” during a human rights case last May, based on the Human Rights Commission inquiry.

The case involved the arrest of five lawyers at the Brickfields police station on May 7, which was later found to be in violation of human rights due  to mala fide (acting in bad faith).

Pereira was one of the two top police officers responsible, along with OCPD Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid.

Time for gov't to come clean on 'Allah' issue

Malaysiakini 
Comment by Andrew Khoo

As published in Malaysiakini on 18 Jan 2014.

In March 2011, 30,000 copies of the Christian ‘New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs’ in Bahasa Malaysia were impounded at Port Kuching. At the same time as this news came to be known, it was highlighted that 5,100 copies of the Alkitab had been impounded at Port Klang since March 2009 and had been sitting there for two years. These 5,100 copies had remained impounded even though Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had ordered their release in December 2009.

The reason for the impounding was that these copies of the Bible, printed in Bahasa Malaysia, were found to contain the word ‘Allah’. An earlier edition of the Alkitab had been categorised as an undesirable publication and prohibited from being imported into Malaysia.

Whilst negotiations were being held to secure the release of all these copies of the Bible, the Publication Control and Quranic Text Division of the Home Affairs Ministry had each copy stamped with a serial number, the official seal of the relevant government department and the words “by order of the Home Affairs Ministry” and then released.

In the ensuing controversy, and in order not to have a repeat of this incident of impounding and then desecration of copies of the Bible, a 10-point solution was initiated by the federal cabinet on April 2, 2011 and agreed to by the Christian Federation of Malaysia.

The text of the 10-point agreement was set out in a letter from the prime minister to the then chairperson of the Christian Federation of Malaysia, Anglican Bishop Ng Moon Hing, on April 11, 2011. In this letter, the prime minister stated that the 10-point solution was a collective decision of the cabinet.

One thing needs to be made absolutely clear at this juncture: The 10-point solution applied to both the peninsula, as well as Sabah and Sarawak. The only difference was that the copies of the Bible being imported into Sabah and Sarawak were not required to have the mark of the Christian cross and the words “Christian Publication” printed on the outside cover of the Bible.  

Otherwise, the 10-point solution accepted the fact that the Bahasa Malaysia Bible with the term ‘Allah’ was allowed to be brought into anywhere in Malaysia, and printed anywhere in Malaysia.

Statements in the media and elsewhere that the 10-point solution was only applicable to Sabah and Sarawak are therefore wholly incorrect.

Court ruling muddies the issue

Fast forward now to Oct 14, 2013, when the Court of Appeal issued its decision in the case of the Herald. There was immediate uncertainty as to what the exact nature and extent was of this decision. In order to address concerns about the ambit of the Court of Appeal’s decision, attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail came out with a statement on Oct 20, 2013.

In a press report by national news agency Bernama and published on online media, he clarified that the decision of the Court of Appeal was that the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 gave the home affairs minister the discretion to prohibit words that were prejudicial or likely to be prejudicial to national security and public order.

So long as that discretion was exercised legally, reasonably, rationally and proportionally, the court would not interfere with the exercise of the minister’s discretion.

Naturally, the minister’s discretion must conform with the provisions of the federal constitution.  The attorney-general stated that the Court of Appeal had unanimously held that the constitutional protection afforded to the practise of one’s religion was confined to practices that formed an essential and integral part of the religion. And it is here that the Court of Appeal’s decision is worrying for Christians in Malaysia.

The attorney-general continued in his statement that the Court of Appeal had made a determination that, “the use of the word ‘Allah’ in the Malay version of the Herald to refer to God is not an essential or integral part of the religion of Christianity and therefore does not attract the constitutional guarantee under Article 11 of the federal constitution”.

The situation is, in fact, much worse. With due respect to the attorney-general, the judgment of the Court of Appeal does not show that it found “the use of the word ‘Allah’ in the Malay version of the Herald to refer to God is not an essential or integral part of the religion of Christianity”.  

The underlined words are simply not there in the judgment. Instead, at paragraph 51 of his judgment, Appandi JCA states: “... It can be concluded that the word or name ‘Allah’ is not an integral part of the faith and practice of Christianity, in particular that of the Roman Catholic Church.”

At no point does Appandi JCA attempt to limit this observation only to the use of the word ‘Allah’ in the Malay version of the Herald. Indeed in paragraph 5 of the summary, it is stated, “It is our common finding that the usage of the name ‘Allah’ is not an integral part of the faith and practice of Christianity”.

The attorney-general has tried to suggest that the extent of the decision is narrow. Yet it is the Court of Appeal’s own words that “the word or name ‘Allah’ or the usage of the name ‘Allah’ is not an integral part of the faith and practice of Christianity”.

It thus gives rise to the real and serious concern that this finding is of wide purport and must be generally and broadly applied. This would then justify the outlawing of the use of the word ‘Allah’ not just in a church newspaper but anywhere else, including copies of the Bible, prayer books, study materials, etc. In other words, a blanket prohibition.

In any event, just as the federal government ignored the advice of the attorney-general in relation to the re-introduction of detention without trial in the amendment to and enlargement of the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (the attorney-general - to his credit - was not in favour, but the cabinet overruled him), the federal government has ignored the attorney-general’s attempted clarification of the Court of Appeal’s decision.

Solution without a solution

The prime minister himself, speaking on Oct 22, 2013 to delegates of Parti Bersatu Sabah in Kota Kinabalu - a component party of BN - tried to have his cake and eat it too. He stated that the 10-point solution would be honoured in Sabah and Sarawak. However he said nothing about the 10-point solution continuing to apply to the peninsula, even though it is clear that the 10-point solution does not make mention of newspapers.

The 10-point solution - which clarified that the Malay-language Bible could be printed in Malaysia and also imported into Malaysia - was never stated to be only applicable to Sabah and Sarawak. Indeed, as has been set out earlier, the circumstances which brought about the 10-point solution was the impounding of the Bahasa Malaysia Bible from being brought into both the peninsula and Sarawak, precisely because they contained the word ‘Allah’.

If the prime minister is now trying to suggest that the 10-point solution somehow does not apply to the states of the peninsula because of the ambit of the ruling in the Herald, that would contradict the opinion of his own attorney-general on the one hand, and to detract from the raison d'être of the 10-point solution on the other.  

It should also be noted that the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 that was being challenged in the Herald case, is applicable to the states of Sabah and Sarawak just as much as it is to the states in the peninsula. Thus, if under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 it may be lawful for the minister to exercise his discretion to prohibit the use of the term ‘Allah’ in church newspapers in the peninsula, he could do so in Sabah and Sarawak as well.   

And while the Herald case’s immediate subject matter was a church newspaper, even the printing and publishing of the Bible comes under the jurisdiction of the home affairs minister pursuant to the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

If there is no constitutional protection for the use of the word ‘Allah’ amongst Christians, that lack of protection would apply equally whether in the Bible or church newspapers, and would also apply equally to Sabah and Sarawak as it would to the states of the peninsula. There cannot be two separate and distinct applications of the federal constitution in this respect.

The prime minister wrote in point 10 of the 10-point solution that, “There is a need to manage polarities that exist in our society to achieve peace and harmony. I believe the best way to achieve this is through respect, tolerance, forgiveness and reconciliation”.

If he genuinely meant those words, he must reaffirm the following:

1. The 10-point solution remains in full force and effect, both in the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak.

2. The right of the Christian community in Sabah and Sarawak to use the word ‘Allah’ in their Bible, church services, prayer books, teaching material and church newspapers does not arise merely out of custom and practice, but is intrinsic in their constitutionally-guaranteed right to freedom of religion.

3. That same constitutional right must by necessity apply to the Christian community in the peninsula as well, otherwise it is rendered meaningless. And if one community does not enjoy the constitutionally-guaranteed right to freedom of religion, then no community enjoys the constitutionally-guaranteed right to freedom of religion because it will have been rendered illusory.

4. The so-called finding by the Court of Appeal that “the word or name ‘Allah’ or the usage of the name ‘Allah’ is not an integral part of the faith and practice of Christianity” ignores the faith and practice of Bahasa Malaysia-speaking and or bumiputera Christians throughout Malaysia that was implicitly accepted in the 10-point solution, and the attorney-general should be instructed to apply for such references in the judgment of the Court of Appeal to be expunged, regardless of the final outcome of the appeal.

---

ANDREW KHOO is co-chairperson of the Human Rights Committee of the Bar Council Malaysia. He writes here in his personal capacity.

Cambridge English Evaluates Learning, Teaching And Assessment Of English In Malaysian Schools

From Khairdzir Md Yunus

LONDON, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- Cambridge English, an expert in language assessment in United Kingdom (UK), has been commissioned by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of learning, teaching and assessment of English language in Malaysian schools from pre-school to pre-university.

Deputy Director-General of Education (Policy and Development, MOE) Datuk Amin Senin said Cambridge English was commissioned to undertake the study in May last year.

It was expected to be completed by the end of this month while the findings and recommendations were expected to be submitted to the government in April next year.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is in London for a three-day visit to the UK beginning January 21, is scheduled to be briefed on the preliminary report on "The Baseline Project: Measuring English Language Standard and Establising and evidence-based base line for Malaysian schools."

Amin said Cambride English would be meeting Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister on Tuesday (Jan 21) and would brief him on the report.

Cambridge English Language Assessment proposed to MOE on January 21, 2013 and was asked to do a comprehensive evaluation of the learning, teaching and assessment of English language in Malaysian schools from pre-school to pre-university.

The proposal was presented to and endorsed by the MOE top managemen on May 8, 2013.

The objectives of the study are to strengthen, promote and develop cooperation in English Language education to ensure every child is proficient in Bahasa Malaysia and English Language as endorsed by the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025.

The base line study is a platform to benchmark the standards of English language in Malaysian schools according to international standards.

The findings from this study will enable MOE to set realistic and achievable targets for future learning and teaching and will also provide baseline data which it can use to monitor and evaluate whether future set targets are met and whether any future education reform is working as intended.

Amin said the study will measure English language proficiency of students from year 1 to year 6. It will also measure the teaching abilities and practices in schools.

The study will review current assessment practices by analysing current examinations, test specifications, mark schemes and recent examination results at end-of-school, end of primary school (Year 6), end of lower secondary (Form 3), end of upper secondary (Form 5 and end of Form 6).

It will also analyse the current english language curricula, teaching guides, teaching materials, current examinations and recent examination data.

Asked whether the outcome and recommendations of the study would cause major adjustment and aligment to the current education policy, Amin said he did not think so.

-- BERNAMA

Marina flays gov't for not responding to threats - Malaysiakini

Social activist Marina Mahathir slammed government leaders for failing to speak up when conservative groups threatened to demonstrate in front of churches over the past week.

Muslim pressure group Sekretariat Solidariti Muslim Klang is demanding that Christians conform to a government ban that prevents them from using the word 'Allah', which they say is exclusive for Muslims.

Marina this morning turned up in front of the Lady of Lourdes Church in Klang with some 40 people, mostly Muslims, in solidarity with Christians as the Muslim group protested at a nearby field.

She hit out at the government for refusing to rein in such conservative groups that have taken a confrontational stance.

"Our leaders should not be silent. Everyone is complaining that the silence is deafening and far from elegant. It is certainly incriminating.

"Everyone is alarmed. I'm not alone in this. Everyone is asking, where are our leaders? As a great leader, he should be here, not us," she said without naming names.

When asked if she was referring to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, she replied, "Whoever. He should be here. As a leader he should be better than us."

She also condemned Thursday's raid by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) on the Bible Society of Malaysia where 351 Malay and Iban language bible which used the word 'Allah' were confiscated.

"We are now known as a country where people grab bibles from a house of worship. Is that how we want to be known?

"We can forget about Visit Malaysia Year, (the situation) is hardly an example of moderation," she said.

'Christians have right to Allah'

Marina, who is the daughter of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, added that Christians should be allowed to use the word 'Allah' as it is within their own congregation and they are not propagating their religion to Muslims.

She said the newly set up National Unity Consultative Council by the government, of which she is a member, will hold its first meeting tomorrow and the raid will be the first item on the agenda.

Among the groups that took up arms against the Christians was Selangor Umno, who last week also threatened to protest in front of churches after Christian publication The Herald editor Lawrence Andrew insisted that Christian will continue to use the word 'Allah'.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's thumbs up for the move drew a backlash of fire from critics.

Yesterday, Selangor Umno did an about turn and banned its members from attending such rallies, citing the need to maintain harmony.

The controversy began when in 2010 the High Court ruled that the Home Ministry's earlier ban on The Herald from using the word 'Allah was unconstitutional.

The landmark decision provoked a series of church burnings and the Court of Appeal last year overturned the decision arguing that the word 'Allah' was not integral to the Christian faith.

The Catholic Church is appealing the decision and insists that Islamic authorities have no power to dictate the internal affairs of other religions.

Father kills daughter, policemen shot dead, teenager raped

Police arrested the accused as he tried to flee to Multan. PHOTO: FILE 

KARACHI:A 10-month-old girl, Sawera, was allegedly killed by her father inside her house in Eidu Goth within the limits of Bin Qasim police station.

The victim was taken to the 100-bed hospital in Bin Qasim Town where she succumbed to her injuries. Police recorded the statement of the victim’s mother, 16-year-old Saima. “My husband was not happy with her birth as he wanted a son,” she said. “He often beat me up over the issue.” Saima had married the accused, Zahid Iqbal Odho, nearly two years ago with the consent of their families.

Police arrested the accused as he tried to flee to Multan and booked him for the murder of his daughter. He agreed that he wanted a son but insisted that he had no intention of killing his daughter. “During an exchange of words with my wife, I lost my senses and threw my daughter onto the floor,” said the 18-year-old father. “However, I had no intention of killing her.”

SHO Huzoor Buksh Solangi confirmed that the accused has been arrested and has confessed to the crime, adding that a case has been registered.

Separately, a policeman was shot dead in Shahnawaz Shar Goth within Sacchal police remits. The deceased was identified as 37-year-old Mohsin, son of Syed Sharif. Police officials said that deceased was killed while protecting a Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) team who were evacuating a piece of land that had been occupied by land grabbers.

A group of protesters gathered near the area as the KBCA tried to clear the land. Armed men from among the protesters opened fire at the police when they used teargas to disperse the protesters, said police officials. Nearly a dozen suspects have been detained as further investigations are underway, they added.

A teen was found dead from Indus Plaza in Sohrab Goth. His body was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where doctors said that he was subjected to rape before being killed. A case has been registered while further investigations were underway.

A scrap dealer, 28-year-old Munir Fareed was shot dead in Saeedabad. SP Malik Muhammad Ehsan said that the deceased was killed while resisting robbery.

The tortured body of a 30-year-old man, Iqbal Rafaqat, was found from Shah Latif, claimed police. Meanwhile, an unidentified young man was also found dead in Rizvia. SHO Hassan Haider said that the deceased was shot multiple times and his hands and legs were tied with rope.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2014.

Man in Pakistani Punjab attacks step-daughters with acid

Lahore: A man in Pakistan's Punjab province attacked his two young step-daughters with acid for refusing to marry men chosen by him, police said today.

Muhammad Aslam, a mason from Pattoki village, located 70 km from provincial capital Lahore, threw acid on his step-daughters Malaika, 19, and Javeria, 23, while they were asleep last night.

Both victims were brought to Jinnah Hospital in Lahore, where doctors described their condition as critical.

Police said Aslam often quarrelled with his step-daughters on the issue of their marriage. "He wanted to marry them with men of his choice," police official Bashir Ahmed said.

Aslam had allegedly accepted money from a man in his neighbourhood after promising to marry one of the step-daughters to him.

"When both girls refused the proposal, Aslam threw acid on them to teach them a lesson," Ahmed said.

A case was registered against Aslam and police are conducting raids to arrest him.

PTI

Last of the ISA detainees freed

Six people, who were the last batch held under the now defunct Internal Security Act, were freed from the Kamunting Detention Centre this morning.

TAIPING: The six remaining detainees held under the now revoked Internal Security Act (ISA) were released today.

The three Malaysians, two Indonesian nationals and a Filipino national emerged from the Kamunting Detention Centre here at 8.30 am.
“You have nothing to worry about, all of you are now free,” the director of the centre, prisons assistant commissioner Mohd Roslen Ramli, told them upon their release.

The ISA was revoked and substituted with the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 on July 31 last year.

Home Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced yesterday that the six remaining ISA detainees would be freed today.

The six people, in normal attire and carrying a bag and a box containing personal items, seemed cheerful and expressed gratitude over their release.

Just as they stepped out of the main door of the centre, they chatted with several of the officers and staff and posed for photographs with them.

They thanked the officers and staff for having taken care of them during their detention over the past two years.

The six were detained on Nov 14, 2011, for being members of the Sabah Darul Islamiah (DI), an alleged terrorist group.

- Bernama

No protest but unity at Church

Christians performed their Sunday prayers without any disturbance, while solidarity groups offered support
VIDEO INSIDE

KLANG: It was all calm at the Church of Our Lourdes, here, as parishioners peacefully attended Sunday mass despite earlier threats from far right Malay groups, linked to Umno, for a demonstration outside the church.

Church goers described today’s mass as unique as they welcomed a group of mixed faith individuals including Marina Mahathir, the daughter of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who came to show solidarity to their fellow Malaysian Christians.

A group, known as “In the name of Allah” gathered in front of the church distributing roses to parishioners as a symbol of unity amongst the Abrahamic religion believers.

“There is nothing to be afraid of, today is a unique day and I am happy to see Malaysians from different faith together at one place,” said 55 year old Santana who attends the service weekly.

Santana said the whole Allah fiasco was an uncalled for, and explained that it was just a matter of language differences.

“This is not a religious issue. It is a language matter. This whole mess is unnecessary,”

“Certain quarters tried to sensationalise this issue for personal gains,” Santana added.

When approached, Marina lambasted the authorities for failing to address the matter where she described Malaysia as a bible grabbing state.

“Forget Visit Malaysia Year. We are known as a country that grabs bible,” she shrugged.

Echoing Marina’s sentiment, the spokesperson for ‘In the name of Allah’ Nik Elin Nik Abdul Rashid said that both the Muslim and Christian faiths believed in one God.

“We belong to Allah and Allah does not belong to one group of people.”

“There is no other God but Allah,” she said.



Earlier reports claimed that the church would continue their Sunday rituals despite the Klang Muslims Solidarity Secretariat confirming that they will proceed with their rally against Christians over the latter’s insistence on using the Arabic word ‘Allah’ for God.

It was also reported that Selangor Police chief, Shukri Dahlan had also warned protesters not to proceed with their plan to rally to the church and has ensured safety for church goers on Sunday by deploying police officers to man the church area.

Among the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the Klang Muslims Solidarity Secretariat coalition are Jalur Tiga Malaysia (Jati), Selangor Perkasa, Klang Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma), and Pertubuhan Ikatan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Selangor (IKDDAS).

‘Nobody wants to visit a Bible grabbing country’

Jaqueline Png, fz.com


Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir took a swipe at the country’s leadership for the handling of the JAIS raid and the Allah issue today, saying it is a shame that they are not making a stand against religious tolerence.

“Everyone has been complaining that the leadership’s silence is deafening. It’s far from elegant and certainly incriminating.”

“The last time when churches were burnt he wasn’t present either,” said the daughter of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, declining to confirm if she was referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

She described last Thursday’s raid conducted by JAIS (Selangor Islamic Religious Department) on the Bible Society of Malaysia as “despicable” and something that should have never happened.

During the raid, about 300 copies of the Bible in the Malay and Iban languages were seized.

“You should never enter others’ house of worship without permission. I think they (BSM) should go ahead and take legal action against JAIS as they don’t have jurisdiction (over Christians).”

“Forget Visit Malaysia 2014, who wants to visit a Bible grabbing country?” said Marina.

Marina turned up at the Our Lady of Lourdes Church here this morning with a bouquet of flowers, along with a group of other non-Christian activists, in a show of solidarity with the Christian community.

“I’m so proud of us for resisting to react to such provocation last time. This time we will, as peace loving Malaysians, resist any attempt to disunite us,” she said.

The activists handed flowers to Parish priest Rev Michael Chua and members of the church as a symbol of solidarity and friendship.

“If we believe that God is one, then the word ‘Allah’ is for all,” said Marina.

Marina, who is a member of the National Unity Consultative Council, said this issue will top the agenda in the council’s meeting tomorrow.

Klang MP Charles Santiago was among those who attended the mass at the church this morning.

“If the government and the court cannot uphold our constitutional rights, the people will do it themselves,” he said.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Selayang MP William Leong and Sri Andalas state assembly member Dr Xavier Jeyakumar also turned up to show their support.

Police personnel were present to ensure public safety, and the mass ended peacefully.

On Thursday, Muslim groups had announced plans to gather at the church in protest against the use of the the word “Allah” by Christians.

However, no protests took place outise the church.

Instead, about 50 members of a group calling itself Klang Muslims Solidarity Secretariat opted to gather at the nearby Stadium Sultan Sulaiman.

They criticised The Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew over his statement that Catholic churches in Selangor would continue to use the word ‘Allah’ in their weekly Malay congregations despite JAIS’ reminder on the ban of its use by non-Muslims.

At a press conference, the group’s president, Mohd Khairi Hussin, said Andrew’s speech was seditious and disrupted peaceful relations between the Muslim and Christian communities.

He urged Andrew to adhere to the Selangor Sultan’s decree that the word ‘Allah’ can only be used by Muslims in the state.

Anwar calls Jais action “high handed”, wants Najib to make a stand on Allah issue

Eileen Ng, TMI

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) waded into the Allah debate by calling on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to make a stand on the controversy while declaring that he did not approve of the “high handed” ways of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais), which had seized Malay and Iban language bibles containing the word Allah.

“If Jais felt that there are any actions that have contravened the law, then they should call up the relevant parties for an explanation.

“But you can’t take such drastic action because it will be perceived as anti-Christian. There is no need for such action. It only causes tension,” he said after giving a talk at the Centre for Reform, Democracy and Social Initiatives today breaking his silence on the issue.

Jais raided the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) office in Petaling Jaya, where it seized over 300 copies of the AlKitab and Bup Kudus. Two top BSM officials were also detained in the raid.

But lawyers have since questioned the authority of Islamic authorities to raid the BSM premises or seize the bibles, pointing out that Jais and other such departments have no jurisdiction over non-Muslims.

They also cast doubt on the validity and constitutionality of enactment that they say impinged on the right to religious freedom.

Anwar believed the entire controversy was an attempt to deflate attention from the country’s economic problems such as the rising cost of living due to price hikes and subsidy cuts.

“I don’t dismiss the fact there are attempts to deflect attention from the economic problem the country is facing and other problems like the quality of education, economic injustice and moral degradation.

Anwar said Najib should take a position on this issue.

“The government should deal with it and not by attacking the rest,” he said.

Anwar also ticked off the three DAP assemblyman – Yeo Bee Yin (Damansara), Rajiv Rishyakaran (Bukit Gasing) and Lau Weng San (Kampung Tunku) for proposing to amend the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988.

Passed by the then Barisan Nasional state government, the enactment prohibits non-Muslims in Selangor from using 35 Arabic words and phrases in their faith, including “Allah”, “Nabi” (prophet), “Injil” (gospel) and “Insya’Allah” (God willing).

Anwar said there is no need for such hasty action as there are proper channels within the state government and Pakatan Rakyat for them to put forth their views.

Jais’s raid comes amidst heightened tensions over the use of the word Allah, the Arabic word for God, by non-Muslims, which Muslim groups insist is exclusive to Islam.

The raid is widely seen as being triggered by Catholic weekly Herald editor Rev Father Lawrence Andrew’s remarks that churches in Selangor will continue to use Allah in their Bahasa Malaysia services following a warning from Jais to stop.

Although global Islamic scholars have clarified that the term can be used by anyone, state Islamic authorities in Malaysia have reacted negatively to reports of churches using the word Allah in services and literature catering to the Bahasa Malaysia-speaking Christian community.

The tussle over the word Allah arose in 2008 when Herald was barred by the Home Ministry from using the Arabic word. The Catholic church had contested this in court and won a High Court decision in December 2009 upholding its constitutional right to do so.

Putrajaya later appealed the decision and successfully overturned the earlier decision when the Court of Appeal ruled last October that "Allah was not integral to the Christian faith".

Christians make up about 9% of the Malaysian population, or 2.6 million. Almost two-thirds of them are Bumiputera and are largely based in Sabah and Sarawak, where they routinely use Bahasa Malaysia and indigenous languages in their religious practices, including describing God as Allah in their prayers and holy book.

Besides the Bumiputera Christians from East Malaysia, some of whom have moved to the peninsula to live and work, Orang Asli Christians in the peninsula also typically use Bahasa Malaysia in their worship. – January 5, 2014.

Najib should ask first Cabinet meeting of the year to endorse the 10-Point Solution as well as Summit of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat leaders on National Reconciliation to rebuild National Unity

By Lim Kit Siang,

Malaysia has never been in more dire straits in more than half-a-century of nationhood going by the avalanche of challenges and problems confronting the the nation and people even before the first week of the new year is over.

Heralding in the 2014 New Year, the country was convulsed for two weeks by the Inspector-General of Police’s “fairy tale” plot of a conspiracy to “topple the government” on New Year’s eve in Dataran Merdeka just because there are Malaysians who want to exercise their constitutional rights of peaceful protest against the series of price hikes which would add to the economic hardships of the people.

As a result, the police wasted over 2,000 police man-hours over some 2,000 police reports lodged by trouble-makers all over the country who wanted to exploit the “fairy-tale” plot of a “topple government” conspiracy, when these precious 2,000 police man-hours could be more productively spent on making the Malaysians, investors and tourists safer from crime in Malaysia.

Malaysians entered the new year totally clueless about the national educational crisis of deteriorating standards, highlighted by the poor performance of Malaysians students in the 2012 PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) results, which confirmed the poor results of Malaysian students in the 2011 TIMSS (Trends in International Maths and Science Study).

As a result, the Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin spent the whole of last month avoiding comment on the poor performance of Malaysian students in the 2011 TIMSS and 2012 PISA, for they showed up the impractical and utopian objective of Malaysian students performing multiple educational miracles so that Malaysia can catapult from the bottom-third to the top-third of TIMSS/PISA international educational assessments when in fact Malaysian educational standards have been heading southwards in the past decade.

Also as a result, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak shied away from comment on the 2011 TIMSS and 2012 PISA results and deteriorating educational standards in the country, and was reduced to re-tweeting Deputy Education Minister Mary Yap Kain Ching’s post on the Malaysian Education Blueprint – that the government will do all it can to ensure that initiatives under the blueprint will be fulfilled.

Imagine the Prime Minister having to re-tweet the Deputy Education Minister on the government’s education plans for the new year – as if the country has no Education Minister, when in fact we have two: Deputy Prime Minister who is also Education Minister as well as the second Education Minister Idris Jusoh. A most sad and pathetic state of
governance in Malaysia.

Most shocking of all, the new year started with the illegal and unconstitutional raid by Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) of the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) and seizure of Malay and Iban Bibles – which would not have taken place if the illegal and unconstitutional trespass had not been aided and abetted by the police.

This is why I had yesterday asked the Inspector-General of Police why the police had aided and abetted Jais in the illegal and unconstitutional act, which also violated the 10-Point Solution to resolve the Bible controversy which was endorsed by the Cabinet in April 2011 anf there has been no reply from the IGP.

The country has been moving in the wrong direction all these years under the Najib premiership, with this year the worst of all.

It is for this reason that I call on Najib to ask the first Cabinet meeting of the year next Wednesday to endorse the 10-Point Solution as well as for a Summit of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat leaders on National Reconciliation to rebuild National Unity.

This is the time for all Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat leaders to rise above political differences and work in unision to rebuild national unity through a national reconciliation blueprint.

Press Release | Abide by the Federal Constitution; Focus on Achieving Harmony and Unity

The Malaysian Bar is concerned by reports that Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (“JAIS”, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department) had on 2 January 2014 conducted a raid on the office of the Bible Society of Malaysia (“BSM”), confiscated more than 300 copies of the Alkitab (Bahasa Malaysia bible) and Bup Kudus (Iban bible), and arrested the President and the Office Manager of BSM.  It is also reported that the President and the Office Manager have been required to present themselves to JAIS officers on 10 January 2014.

It is alarming that the religious body or enforcement agency of one religion would purport to have jurisdiction or purview over other religions.  This is not what is envisaged under the Federal Constitution.  The actions of JAIS are purported to have been carried out pursuant to the Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Amongst Muslims) Enactment No 1 of 1988 of Selangor (“said Selangor Enactment”), in particular sections 9 to 13 thereof.

The said Selangor Enactment is stated in its preamble to have been enacted pursuant to Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution, which provides that State law may control or restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons professing the religion of Islam. The purpose of the said Selangor Enactment is therefore an enactment against the propagation of other religions to Muslims or the proselytisation of Muslims.

However, section 9(1) of the said Selangor Enactment provides that a person commits an offence if he in any published writing, or public or broadcast speech or statement uses any of the words listed in Part I of the Schedule “pertaining to any non-Islamic religion”.  Similarly, section 9(2) provides that a person who is not a Muslim commits an offence if he uses any of the expressions listed in Part II of the Schedule.  Part I lists 25 Arabic words and Part II lists 10 Arabic phrases.

It is immediately apparent that the provisions of sections 9(1) and (2) are general in nature and ambit, and are not confined to the purpose stated in the preamble of the said Selangor Enactment and to the limits proscribed in Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution.  These provisions purport to make it an offence to merely use the listed words or phrases.  They purport to be general blanket prohibitions and offences, irrespective of whether the words or phrases are used in the course, or for the purpose, of propagation of a non-Islamic religion to Muslims.

In such circumstances, resort to sections 9(1) and (2) would be ultra vires the said Selangor Enactment itself, as they go beyond the purpose and ambit of the said Selangor enactment as set out in its preamble, and as self-evident in its title. The impugned provisions are also unconstitutional, inasmuch as they are unsupported by Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution.

Further, Article 11(3) of the Federal Constitution effectively provides for each religion to be self-regulatory.  This is to facilitate inter-religious harmony.  It is therefore unconstitutional for JAIS, an Islamic body or enforcement agency, to have jurisdiction, powers and ambit over other religions or persons professing other religions.  This encroachment is in any event against the spirit of the Federal Constitution.

Thus, any authorisation pursuant to section 10 of the said Selangor Enactment, or any notification or gazette purporting to vest JAIS with such jurisdiction or powers, would be repugnant to the Federal Constitution.

Accordingly, the raid, seizure and arrest by JAIS were unconstitutional and illegal.  At a time when we should be exerting our energies and resources towards national reconciliation and harmony, the actions by JAIS are unnecessarily provocative and unwise.

We urge all Malaysians to act rationally and calmly, and continue to focus on achieving harmony and unity.

 

Christopher Leong

President

Malaysian Bar

Over Three Million New Job Opportunities By 2020 - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- The government targeted to create more than three million job opportunities by 2020, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Najib on his Facebook page Sunday said the government's desire to provide more employment opportunities to Malaysians was in line with the country achieving a high-income, developed nation status the same year.

"Since 2011, more than a million job opportunities have been created for Malaysians through economic-generating efforts.

"The government targets to create more than three million job opportunities by 2020, in line with the high-income, developed nation status," he said.

Najib said 313,741 job opportunities were created in 2011 and about 800,000 in 2012.