I Met the Black Widow Suicide Bomber

What do the "black widow" Islamist suicide bombers reported to be headed for the Winter Olympics in Sochi look like?

I think back to May 2012 when a series of Islamist bombings in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, left 13 dead and over 130 injured. Two weeks later, two suspected terrorists were cornered in a house by security forces and, after the intervention of protesters, some women carrying babies were allowed to leave the premises.

The women were angry. One, who claimed both her brothers had been killed by Russian forces, said to me, "I am ready to do anything. I can blow myself up, together with all these nonbelievers."

This week I was informed by an official in Makhachkala that the furious woman I spoke to was none other than Ruzana Ibragimova, one of the black widows desperately being sought by police after warning they had intelligence she was on her way to bomb the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Police suspect Ibragimova is already in the Olympic city, having arrived from from Dagestan earlier this month.

I also met recently another woman closely associated with Islamist terrorism, "Aisha" - not her real name - a niece of Doku Umarov, the leading Chechen terrorist who has promised to wage war against the Kremlin until his country is free of Moscow rule. Russians call him "the Russian Osama bin Laden."

Umarov has been seen so rarely in the past decade, the authorities have pronounced him dead eight times. I asked Aisha when she had last seen him. It was in a mosque in the Ingush city of Nazran more than 10 years ago, in the midst of the second Chechen war, she said.

She recalled being shocked and a little frightened when she saw him, as if she had seen a ghost. She looked deep into the dark sharp eyes of a bearded man who had come in to the mosque to pray and she found them to be familiar. They were her uncle's eyes.

As he and his two companions were leaving, one of the men - her uncle - turned to her and said, "Tell your grandfather that Doku Umarov paid a visit." It was then she knew for certain it was her uncle.
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Aisha found Umarov's transformation from besuited office worker, when she had last seen him, to guerilla fighter disguised as a holy man quite striking. "They really know how to put on a disguise," Aisha said. "He and his men could walk and travel freely in this outfit anywhere in the North Caucasus resembling old Muslim men and be treated with respect."

Aisha's Uncle Doku is leader of Emirate Caucasus, whose paramilitaries have terrorized Russia for the past 15 years, killing hundreds of government officials every year, mounting suicide attacks on police stations and military bases, bombing subway cars full of passengers and even attacking one of Moscow's busiest airports.

Since Umarov's reign of terror began he has caused the deaths of more than 1,000 Russians.

Umarov had once lived in the October district of Grozny, working as the state security secretary for the government of the independent republic of Chechnya when it was briefly independent of Russian rule. He was not particularly religious, relatives said.

Shortly before he disappeared to join the guerrillas, Umarov was studying to become a student at Grozny State Oil and Technological University in the mundane construction department. Then he disappeared to join the armed struggle for Chechen independence.
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Is Aisha's uncle alive today? The family say they don't know. A few weeks ago, the head of the republic of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, proudly announced that Umarov had "died a rat's death." That would have been more readily believed if it had not been the eighth time Umarov had been declared dead.

If Umarov is dead, he is continuing to wage war from beyond the grave. His latest order to his jihadist followers, delivered in the summer via Youtube, was to attack the Olympic Games that open next month, the order that sent the black widows heading for Sochi.

Putin has a lot riding on the success of the games. Not only has the enterprise so far cost Russian taxpayers and investors more than $51 billion, but Putin believes national prestige is at stake if anything were to go wrong.

This week, the Russian authorities issued the warning to beware of four women suicide bombers. (Suicide bombing is one of Umarov's preferred methods of attack.) Photographs of the women were issued, their stern faces framed in hijabs.

"Jihadists have a new trend: recruiting Russian ethnic suicide bombers," the leader of the police union of Dagestan, Magomed Shamilov, explained.

Since the summer, when Umarov issued his threats to the Winter Olympics, police have returned time and again to question his sisters and other relatives. The family feel it is like living "on top of a barrel of gunpowder," Aisha told Newsweek.

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Where do Umarov and his fellow fighters get their funding? Some comes from inside Russia. According to Sergey Markov, Putin's trusted advisor, much of the money comes from Russian sources, particularly from regions where there is a large Muslim population.

But there are foreign sources of funds, too. "Mostly Saudi Arabia, but also Qatar foundations continue to wire money to Umarov's jihadist troops and other Islamic organizations in the country," Markov told Newsweek. "We hoped that when Putin helped to prevent the West's bombings of Syria, jihad would ease up on Russia, but apparently not."

Alexander Cherkasov, chairman of the board of Human Rights Center Memorial argues that only 5 percent of the Islamists' finance comes from Saudi Arabia. "In places like Dagestan, insurgencies created a life tax or Islamic tax, a system of extracting money for jihad under a life threat from the local elite," Cherkasov said.

In the past few years, jihadist ideas have spread among unhappy young Russians across the whole of the nation. The Internet has helped spread the word of Islam and attacks on the materialist values of modern Russia, with its corrupt officials and stunted economic opportunities.

The headlines in Russia have traced a trail of devastation.

In 2010, six men from the Siberian town of Kirovsky converted to Islam and killed three policemen in the name of jihad. A year later, Russian suicide bombers Vitaliy Razdobutko and Maria Horosheva blew up themselves and three policemen in the Dagestani village of Gubden.

On New Year's Eve, 34 were killed and more than 100 injured in two separate attacks by suicide bombers in Volgograd, reportedly one of the terrorists was an emergency room nurse, Pavel Pechenkin, who converted to Islam in 2012. "In Volgograd, she appeared almost like a hipster, with an ordinary baseball cap and a backpack," said Ekaterina Sokirianskaya, North Caucasus director of International Crises Group, a nonprofit nongovermental organization committed to resolving deadly conflicts. Most suicide bombers come from Dagestan, next door to Chechnya, Sokirianskaya said.

Last weekend, a 49-minute video was posted showing two mujahideens, Suleiman and Abdurakhaman, proudly holding machine guns and promising "presents" for Sochi. "We have no reason not to believe the threats," said Galina Temresova, a retiree who lives in Sochi. "Besides, we already heard that one suicide bomber is in Sochi. I will spend the next three weeks at home."

Putin tried to comforted the thousands heading to Sochi for the games. "We know what the challenge is and how to handle it," he said.

Putin has drafted strong leaders into Chechnya - first father Akhmat then son Ramzan Kadyrov, veteran fighters in the war for hearts and minds in Chechnya who have imposed upon the country Islam in an iron fist.

When Newsweek first began talking with Ramzan, in 2006, he still lived in his father's modest village house. Today, the Chechen leader and father of eight also lives in two large palaces behind fortified gates, with garages filled with collectors' cars, and a zooful of wild animals. When asked who paid for his opulent lifestyle, he said, jokingly, the money came "from Allah."

Kadyrov wears smart brown, dark blue and black uniforms designed by his wife Medni's fashion house, Firdaws (Paradise Gardens). His lavish, glittering 35th birthday party was attended by actor Jean-Claude Van Damme, actress Hilary Swank, British violinist Vanessa-Mae and singer Seal.

He can burst into tears without warning. During one of the interviews with Newsweek, he cried when he spoke about his love for his Sufi sheikh and also about the moment he entered Holy Kaaba in Mecca in 2009.

His aim is to create "a safe and fun city for young people, so the world will stop thinking of [the Chechens] as terrorists," he told Newsweek.

The Kadyrovs did bring about a form of peace to Chechnya. But the rebuilding came "at an immense cost: highly authoritarian government, grave human rights abuses, repression of political rivals and independent activists," said Sokirianskaya. In Chechnya, authorities offered the population part of what they wanted, radical Islam, now overseen by Kadyrov, but not the other part, independence, he said.

"The Moscow authorities had a chance to make peace," said Abas Kebedov, one of the leaders of the Salafi community Ahlu-Sunna in Dagestan. "They could have listened to [moderate voices] and stopped them from joining the underground. But our government chose to kill and bomb religious people. It is our common trouble now."

Crime against women: Lecturer attacked with acid

Witnesses said the three assailants were riding two motorcycles. PHOTO: FILE

LAHORE: Three men threw acid at a University of Management and Technology lecturer on Tuesday. District Superintedent Anwer Saeed Kingra of Chuhng police said Faiza Ashraf* was attacked near her home in the Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Housing Society.

Police said that Ashraf had taken a rickshaw from the university and was entering her home when unidentified men threw a polythene bag filled with concentrated acid at her. The DSP said that the bag hit the door and only a small amount of the acid came into contact with her face.

Witnesses said that the three assailants were riding two motorcycles.

The woman was taken to the Jinnah Hospital by a Rescue 1122 team where doctors said that 20 per cent of her face had been affected. Doctors treating her said the acid had affected her eyes.

They said it was too early to say whether or not her eyesight had been affected. A Jinnah Hospital assistant medical superintendent said she would likely survive.

Police said that her father had submitted a complaint at the Sattukatla police station, but had not named a suspect. They said an FIR would be registered after they recorded her statement. Her father said she was going to be married next month. Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique also visited the hospital and directed doctors to take special care of the woman. He assured the victim’s family that the government would bear the cost of her treatment.

* Name has been changed to protect identity

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2014.

National reconciliation talks okay but no deal on unity government, says Najib

Putrajaya is open to holding talks with all parties to promote national reconciliation through unity and consensus in the country but this will not include the formation of any sort of unity government with the opposition, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (pic) said.

Najib said the Barisan Nasional had been given a “strong mandate” by the people to govern at the last general election and it intended to do this.

“However, we must look at becoming more inclusive in our activities and events. We are open to talking to all parties and we can use Parliament, including the setting up of bi-partisan committees to discuss issues affecting national unity,” he said in a statement tonight in response to opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call for bipartisan talks on Sunday.

On Monday, Najib had said he will discuss Anwar’s call with the Cabinet today at its weekly meeting.

Anwar had appealed for national consensus with the ruling coalition amid religious and racial tension which he described as having reached pre-May 13 race riots level.

"We have not seen this building up of tension since the events leading up to our national tragedy of May 13, 1969.

"The voices of hate and animosity, the voices of prejudice and suspicion, and the voices of wreck and ruin are attempting to drown out the harmony, cooperation and understanding that we have managed to build on the ruins of this tragedy," Anwar had said in a special address in Subang last Sunday.

Najib said over the next few months, the country will see changes that will help make Malaysia a stronger, more united and cohesive nation.

The prime minister added that today’s Cabinet meeting had examined a plan to develop and promote an environment which is conducive to and will help promote national reconciliation through unity and consensus in the country.

"I had mooted this idea following the general election but various parties were not conducive to my appeal to come together. The legitimacy of the elections were even questioned by them and it was proven to be baseless.

"I am now heartened to see that the opposition is calling for a consensus and I am sure that they will welcome this new development.

"Unlike vague ideas about a consensus, the government’s national reconciliation plan will be based on four key thrusts namely, social, political, government and international relations," Najib said.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, when contacted, said his colleagues responded positively when Najib raised the matter at today’s Cabinet meeting.

“We are okay with anything that is for the good of the country. Many of us have doubts about his (Anwar’s) sincerity but we cannot dismiss it,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Nazri said the Cabinet had decided that Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who is the Federal Territories Minister and Barisan Nasional secretary-general, would get in touch with the Pakatan Rakyat.

“As things stand now, the suggestion from the opposition leader is general. There are no specifics and things will move once Ku Nan (Tengku Adnan) gets in touch with Pakatan officials,” he said.

However, Nazri said the Cabinet did not set a deadline or a time frame for the bipartisan dialogue. – January 29, 2014.

PKR owes everyone an explanation, says Ambiga

 

 Former Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson S Ambiga has expressed shock over the shenanigans within PKR, saying that the party owes an explanation to the public as to why the Kajang state seat was vacated to enable a by-election.

While noting that it appeared as if PKR was trying to resolve an internal leadership crisis through this move, she said she was waiting for PKR to come up with an “overwhelming” reason.

“I think they owe everybody an explanation,” Ambiga told the press after attending a youth dialogue session with DAP leader Lim Kit Siang (left) last night.

She was also asked to respond to a question on whether PKR would be wasting public funds and time by creating the by-election.

“Of course it is, isn’t it? Because barely a year after the (13th general) election, money has to be spent because of this by-election. That’s why people are not happy with it, they don’t understand it,” she added.

PKR’s Lee Chin Cheh resigned from the Kajang state seat two days ago.

Yesterday, Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim announced that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim would contest the seat.

However, Anwar denied that he will replace Khalid as the menteri besar should he win, claiming that the by-election would help the party “optimise our performance in the state”.

Mahathir denies trying to topple Najib - Malaysiakini

 

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has denied that he is behind a purported move to topple Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"That is his (PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli's) view. Actually the move to topple the government has been in existence even when I was prime minister.

"It is the job of the opposition to topple the government and take over," he said during an interview with Bernama Radio24 today.

Earlier, Rafizi (left), in explaining PKR’s move to field opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim at the impending Kajang by-election, said that this was to curtail BN’s advance on Selangor.

The Pandan MP said that BN’s attack is expected to be more vicious if Najib is toppled through an internal power struggle.

Rafizi claimed that the tussle is an open secret and is "led by Mahathir Mohamad’s faction" within Umno.

Speculation that Mahathir was pulling the strings is rife following recent open attacks against Najib’s administration by pro-Umno quarters.

MB post not Anwar's true aim

This include some prominent bloggers who had also visibly attacked fifth prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration until his resignation in 2008.

Mahathir is to this day intensely criticial of Abdullah, whom he had handpicked to succeed him.

In regards to Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s (left) announced candidacy in the Kajang by-election, Mahathir said its purpose was for his once deputy prime minister to convince the people of his ability to be prime minister.

He opined that assuming the role of Selangor menteri besar is not Anwar’s true aim should he win the polls.

"It is a step (for him) to rise. That (becoming MB) is not his goal," he said, nonetheless acknowledging it was Anwar’s prerogative to take this course of action.

Intruders smash up Tamil Malar office

They claimed they were followers of a spiritual group, say witnesses.

KUALA LUMPUR: Unidentified persons armed with a parang and an iron rod today trespassed into the Tamil Malar office here, destroyed some equipment and injured an employee.

Their motive remains unclear, but the injured worker, M Ravindran, told reporters they claimed to be followers of a prominent spiritual guru.

Witnesses said the four intruders, who appeared to be Indian men, all wore crash helmets. They showed up at about 11.30am. While one of them waited on the ground floor, the other three rushed up to the first floor and smashed up office equipment and furniture.

Tamil Malar publishes a daily newspaper. Its office is in Jalan Ipoh.

Ravindran said only he and two other employees were in the office at the time.

“We were shocked by the sudden ambush,” he said. “They used a parang and iron rod to smash a number of computers and glass doors in the office.

“They said they were followers of ‘Guruji’.

“One of them asked me where he could find our managing director, SM Periasamy, while the rest entered the accountant’s room and took her hand phone and money.

“They also stole another hand phone, belonging to our front desk officer.

“They spoke rudely to us, using derogatory words. They warned Tamil Malar not to write about Guruji again.”

Tamil Malar was launched last August and is known for its criticism of V Balakrishnan, the founder of Rajayoga Power Transcendental Meditation Centre. He is often referred to as ‘Datuk Seri Guruji’.

Periasamy told reporters he regarded the attack as an attack on the media.

“We are a neutral Tamil daily which publishes news of public interest,” he said. “It is not right for anyone to approach us in this way.”

The veteran newsman said he did not discount the possibility that the attackers were indeed followers of Balakrishnan, as they claimed.

But he also acknowledged that they could be merely using his name without actually being his followers.

Tamil Malar is also well-known for articles criticising Batu Caves Temple Committee chairman R Nadarajah.

This was not the first time that Tamil Malar was the target of attackers claiming to be Balakrishnan’s followers. Last year, a police report was lodged against several people for creating a disturbance at the newspaper’s office. Those attackers also said they were supporters of “Guruji”.

“There were a few other similar incidents in which the targets were people opposed to Guruji,” Periasamy said. “These included a molotov cocktail attack at the Malaysia Hindu Sangam office in 2010.

“But at the moment, we do not want to accuse anyone.”

He said he would lodge a police report.

Police: NGOs gathering at mosque illegal

Penang police to probe last night's incident under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012

GEORGE TOWN: Penang police have deemed the gathering last night by a group of non-governmental organisations, ostensibly to protect the Bayan Baru mosque from attacks, as illegal.

Southwest district police chief, Lai Fa Hin said the 150 people who gathered at the mosque on the pretext of ‘protecting’ it did not have a permit to assemble there.

“We have opened papers under Section 9(1) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, as the group had marched from the mosque to the Bayan Baru police station without permission,” he said.

They group was apparently there to be ‘on guard’ after allegedly receiving news that another group was planning to ‘gather and protest’ outside the mosque.

“No, there was no such thing (attacks on a mosque). Anybody can claim anything but we will investigate.”

Lai said the NGOs had lodged 22 police reports over the the ‘Allah’ issue and also the grass-eating and cow-bell punishment meted out to two primary school students in Perak by a teacher.

“Eleven representatives from the group lodged reports over these two matters only. Nothing on the supposed plans to attack the mosque,” said Lai.

He urged members of the public to not spread or listen to rumours about places of worship being under attack as there would be round-the-clock patrols by police in the area.

“Our recently launched task force will patrol all churches and mosques. We will be on standby 24/7,” he added.

Anwar: I will tell all in Kajang

The PKR de facto leader said the concerns raised by the public were 'fair' and the party owed them an explanation.
UPDATED

PETALING JAYA: Anwar Ibrahim has promised to disclose a detailed explanation over his decision to stand in Kajang amid national outcry against PKR for the waste of millions of ringgit in public funds by engineering the by-election.

The PKR de facto leader today acknowledged that the concerns raised by the public were “fair” and that the party owed the people an explanation.

“We need to address the issues raised, and I am aware that the people want to hear from me,” Anwar told a press conference here.

“I accept it (criticisms), and I have informed (coalition partners) PAS and DAP that because of the pressure, there is no need for (a) bigger room for discussion.

“I accept the concerns and I will issue a detailed explanation in the near future,” he added.

Asked of his method of explanation, Anwar in jest said he would appreciate airtime on national broadcast network TV3.

“TV3 should give me the opportunity to explain to the masses,” he joked, prompting laughter from the audience.

“But seriously, I think I have to go to Kajang and the first explanation must be to the people there,” he added.

When asked how much funds have been allocated for PKR’s campaign, Anwar said his party was “working to raise funds”.

“I’ve advised the party to cut cost, and have suggested using my own posters when possible, so that the cost will be minimal,” he said.

When pushed further to reveal an estimated amount, the Permatang Pauh MP said: “Because we don’t need to print more posters… so it won’t be too much.”

“We will be using PAS and DAP machinery as well as old campaign material from the past general election. What’s more important is that I will have to go down to Kajang,” he said.

Will accept friendly criticisms

When pointed out that his decision to stand in Kajang has received criticisms from both sides of the political divide, Anwar said he accepted the concerns with an open heart.

“I accept all friendly criticisms . However, I differentiate this from threats,” he said.

“If the criticisms are objective, then I will accept. That is why I have vowed to give a full explanation soon,” he added.

When questioned if he would follow the steps of PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli, who earlier today apologised for wasting public funds, Anwar said: “It depends on the form”.

“What we need to do is to explain, that’s only natural in the democratic process, even during normal elections,” he said.

“It’s not the first time (an assemblyman had stepped down to pave way for a by-election), but the establishment-controlled media portrays this as a shock,” he lamented.

“That is why there is a necessity to explain to not just to people of Kajang or Selangor, but to all Malaysians,” he added.

When informed that PKR deputy president Azmin Ali had praised incumbent Selangor menteri besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s achievement, Anwar said: “The general consensus in Pakatan is that we have to move and enhance the level of achievement and use Pakatan leadership as a
whole as a launching pad to move to Putrajaya”.

PAS will support Anwar

In response to PAS Youth’s intention to field a candidate in Kajang, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, who was also present during the press conference, dismissed the announcement as a “personal opinion”.

“They can have their own personal opinion, but it’s the party’s decision as a whole that counts,” he said.

“We will have a meeting and discuss further,” he added.

Earlier today, Rafizi said it was vital to begin defending Selangor now, in response to Umno’s apparent move to unseat Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

He said he did not want a repeat of Kedah, which was in Pakatan’s hands after the 2008 general election, but fell back to BN during the 13th general election last year due to infighting.

Rafizi also apologized on behalf of his party for their differences, which were seen as factional and often frustrated the public.

He added that he hoped one day, when Pakatan was in Putrajaya, they would look back at the difficult days of the Kajang Move as the game-changer in their quest to takeover the government.

Dr M: All Anwar wants is to become PM

(MM) – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today scoffed at his former protégé Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s bid for the Kajang state assembly seat, calling it an attempt to convince the public that he is prime minister material.

The former prime minister said that Anwar has only ever been interested in becoming the nation’s top chief executive, so it is only natural that he uses the post of Selangor mentri besar to prove his mettle as a government head.

“He has always wanted to become a government leader. If not the big post, even a small one would do, so he can prove that he is prime minister material to the rakyat,” he said when interviewed during Bernama Radio 24’s Dalam Radar Khas talk show.

Anwar declared yesterday his intention to contest the Kajang state assembly seat, barely a day after incumbent Lee Chin Cheh announced his sudden resignation for the “benefit” of his party, PKR.

Lee’s announcement came hot on the heels of media speculation of a ploy to replace Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim with Anwar, with a state by-election in the offing to allow the PKR de-facto leader to become a part of the state assembly and qualify for the post.

PKR leaders have since denied the claims, although party deputy president Azmin Ali had said that Anwar was aware of Lee’s plan to quit beforehand.

Dr Mahathir today said Anwar’s decision to contest the Kajang state seat was not surprising.

“His biggest dream is to be PM. What happens after that doesn’t matter… what is important is to become PM,” he said of his former number two.

“I don’t know if he is power-crazy, but when he joined Umno it was not because he loved Umno. He joined Umno for a reason, and just like in this case, there is a reason for it,” he said.

The octogenarian, who was the country’s longest serving prime minister, also denied that his “underlings” have been working hard to engineer the downfall of Umno President and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, as claimed by PKR strategist Rafizi Ramli.

“That is his interpretation, but the movement to topple the government has been around since my time.

“Issues are not important, even after the ISA was abolished, they won’t say ‘thank you, we will now start supporting the government’,” he said, referring to the government’s decision to repeal the controversial Internal Security Act.

“The opposition’s work is to simply oppose whatever it is the government does,” he added.

Earlier today, Rafizi claimed that the decision to make Anwar Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) candidate for the Kajang state seat was part of a strategy to deal with alleged plans by Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN) to use racial and religious issues to cripple the PR-led Selangor administration.

The Pandan MP alleged that it was an open secret that Dr Mahathir’s underlings in Umno have been pushing hard to unseat Najib.

Should Najib fall, a full-blown manipulation of racial and religious issues to create mistrust of and frustration with the Selangor government can be expected, Rafizi added.

Kajang by-election: Don’t compare us to BN says PKR vice president

(The Star) – As criticism continues to pile on PKR because of the political horse trading in Selangor, one of its vice presidents said that equating the party to Barisan Nasional was ridiculous.

N. Surendran, who is also Padang Serai MP said that they expected reaction to the political developments but that some of these criticisms were extreme and unfair.

“It is ridiculous to compare us to them,” he told the Star Online on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Datuk Sri Anwar Ibrahim was announced as the candidate for the upcoming Kajang by- election after it’s assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh sent in his resignation the day before.

This led to speculation that Anwar would take over the Mentri Besar’s post currently held by Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim if he wins the by-election.

Many Pakatan supporters were angry with PKR and said they were no different to the country’s ruling party. They showed their displeasure on various social networking platforms.

Surendran was also disappointed that electoral watchdog Bersih had compared Lee to former Jelapang assemblyman Hee Yit Foong who resigned from DAP back in 2009, sparking a constitutional crisis.

“That is like comparing apples and oranges. Lee resigned from his seat while Hee jumped ship. That was an utter betrayal,” he said.

Surendran believed that the people would eventually accept their explanations and would continue supporting the party.

“PKR is still a party of reform and a model party for the future. As the most multiracial mass party, it gives hope to all Malaysians. Which other party is like us?” he said adding that it’s coalition partners were trying to move in that direction.

He believed that the Kajang citizens would also want Anwar representing them.

He also claimed that the problems between Khalid and Azmin Ali were being sensationalized by the mainstream media.

When asked about the performance of Khalid, Surendran admitted that he had done a good job and that people were happy with him.

“Khalid is a good Mentri Besar who made Selangor good finances. He is also completely incorruptible,” he said.

Surendran however said that factionalism was inevitable in party politics and that it happened all over the world.

“Politicians by nature are ambitious. There is bound to be bickering. We are not perfect and there is bound to be more mistakes. The most important thing is our heart is at the right place,” he said.

Chin Refugees’ Indian Dilemma

(Asia Sentinel) They face the same dangers as the Rohingya

Expatriate refugees from the poverty-stricken nation of Myanmar have begun filtering back, partly as their country of origin has democratized and more ominously because they are feeling the heat from host countries like Thailand, India, Bangladesh and Malaysia to leave.

But so far, the Chin, an impoverished Christian minority that has been likened to the persecuted Rohingya, who have been set upon by majority Buddhists unmercifully, have yet to join the exodus. About 100,000 thousand of them are just across the border in India’s Mizoram State, where they fled in the wake of 1998 riots. Chin Province, on the country’s southwestern flank, is one of Burma’s poorest. Nearly 75 percent of its 500,000 population live enmired in poverty, deprived of support from the successive Burmese regimes in Rangoon or the new administrative capital of Naypyidaw.

Initially the refugees were either political activists or student leaders who were targeted by the then military rulers. But even with a quasi-democratic regime in Naypyidaw, the influx to India continues, with people entering India not to escape dictators or authority, but for a better life.

In some cases the Burmese Army may have already confiscated their lands and destroyed their properties. Finding difficulties in surviving inside India as well, the Burmese refugees are now seeking resettlement to a third country.

The majority of the Chin complain about discrimination from the Buddhist-dominated federal government. The 1998 movement against the then military rulers of Burma was crushed, leaving thousands dead across the country.

“Like other ethnic communities in Myanmar, the Chin people bore the brunt of severe poverty and military rule, prompting many to flee across the 1,463 km border into India’s Mizoram State, according to a 2011 report by physicians for human rights.”

The refugees feel somewhat comfortable in Mizoram as it is one of the India’s few Christian-dominated states. The Chin and Mizo people, who share ancestry, share physical appearance, food habits and language accents. In some occasions, the highly influential churches also play an important role in propagating the sense of brotherhood between the two communities. Nonetheless, asylum seekers often face the problem of finding livelihoods. Mostly they work as cheap daily wage earners in construction sites, agriculture fields, market areas and also in local Mizo households.

“Our people frequently face rights violations here (Mizoram) even though they are reluctant (read scared) to go back to their native places in Burma. We are actually afraid the situation in Chin province is yet to be favorable us,” said Pu Win, a Chin activist based in the frontier town of Saiha in Mizoram. The activist added that the Chin are worried about medical care and education for their children. So ignoring the troubles in Mizoram, most of the Chin refugees prefer to stay in India until their country develops a little more, he added.

Unlike those in Mizoram, Burmese asylum seekers in Delhi face more trouble as they are physically different, as are their culture, religion and language. As they are not comfortable in Hindi, the primary language, the refugees find it extremely difficult in communicating their short-time employers and authorities.

India’s national capital gives shelter to over 8,000 registered Burmese refugees, but New Delhi is also home to another 10,000 asylum seekers, half of them women and children who have to travel over 2200 km from Mizoram to Delhi to enroll with the office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

India, which supports a few hundred thousand refugees from Tibet, Burma, Sri Lanka etc., has yet to adopt a specific refugee protection policy, resulting in persistent confusion about the refugees and their legitimate rights. Moreover, India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN refugee convention or a 1967 refugee status protocol.

“As there is no procedural mechanism for protecting the refugees in India, the Burmese refugee women have to struggle for their basic necessities such as food, clothing and shelter in New Delhi,” said M Kim, a Burmese exile based in New Delhi. “In addition to this, they battle with the constant fear of sexual assault and physical abuse.”

Quoting a report titled Doke Kha Bon with the accounts of 20 Chin women refugees in New Delhi, which was sponsored by the Burma Center Delhi and released recently, Kim asserted that the capital city remains universally unsafe for asylum seekers.

According to the UNHCR office in New Delhi, persecution due to minority ethnic race, religion and political opinion are cited as the main reasons for their seeking asylum in neighboring countries. “The most frequent complaints reported to UNHCR include difficulty in communicating with local health & education service providers,” said the BCD sponsored report.

Prepared by the Pann Nu Foundation, the report includes case studies relating to Chin refugee women now living in west Delhi.

“Those women, many of them widows and single mothers, have bared their hearts during the interaction. In fact, every woman has a pathetic story to tell. Originally hailed from some remote areas of Chin, the refugee families were once dependent on Jhum (shifting) cultivation. But due to land confiscation practice adopted by the Burmese Army, the Chin villagers gradually lost their livelihood and left for India,” said Alana Golmei, founder president of Pann Nu Foundation.

Often the women and girls were compelled to serve the Burmese military as porters and laborers, made to serve food, camp in the jungle with no proper shelter without even knowing when they could return home.

“Needless to say, they all lack proper education. The interviewees can only read and write in their local Chin dialect. All these women, who are Christians, had no respite from the Buddhist dominated military personnel, who even barge into their houses and demand food time to time,” Golmei said. “They said the continued sexual assault by the Burmese soldiers is their worst nightmare there.”

But their lives in New Delhi are turning into another nightmare.

“They allege that they become victims of physical abuse, molestation, sexual assault and discrimination everywhere they go, be it at their rented apartments, workplaces, public spaces or even the roads for that matter,” Golmei said, adding that they keep mum about sexual assaults due to the fear of social stigmatization and shame.

Now voices have been raised for reviewing the existing foreign policy of Indian government taking into the consideration of the Burmese refugee women and children in the country. Understanding the refugee women are more vulnerable and are easy targets, the activists appealed to New Delhi to continue supporting the asylum seekers.

“The new difficulty for the Burmese refugees has started with the news of democratization of Burma. Now most conscious people of India argue that the refugees should leave the country, as India has enough problems to deal with,” said Dr Tint Swe, a physician and an exile in India for decades.

Swe however admitted that Indian people in general remain merciful. Of course they are lately starting to believe that if Burma becomes comfortable and safer, they should leave.

“But the question arises here if the changes in Burma have prepared the ground for returning the refugees. In reality it has not. So we have urged the Indian government to review its existing foreign policy with an aim to continue safeguarding the refugees here for some more years,” he added.

Following the call from Thein Sein government to exiles taking shelter in different countries to return, many refugee families had already responded to that and left India. Others, however, remain apprehensive about their future. In some cases it is understood that the Burmese Army might have already confiscated their lands and destroyed their properties. Finding difficulties in surviving inside India as well, the Burmese refugees are now seeking the resettlement in a third country for a dignified life.

(Nava Thakuria reports regularly for Asia Sentinel from Eastern India. Email: navathakuria@gmail.com)

Call on Chinese Malaysians to work hand-in-hand with Malaysians of other ethnicities to ensure a successful, progressive prosperous competitive nation where there is place for every citizen under the Malaysian sun

(Lim Kit Siang 2014 Chinese New Year message in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, 29th January 2014)

Happy Chinese Year of the Horse to all Chinese Malaysians and increasing number of Malaysians of other races who also celebrate the Chinese New Year.

This is the unique characteristic of the Malaysia Dream, where an increasing number of Malaysians participate in the different ethnic and religious festivities as they are Malaysian events although they belong to other races or religions.

This why during my Chinese New Year visit to Johor, covering all the 5 Parliamentary and 13 DAP State Assembly seats apart from Jementah (which I will make up during the Chinese New Year period), I also wished Malays and Indians “Happy New Year” and distributed oranges to them signifying that regardless of race, religion, region or political beliefs, we all belong to one Big Family – the Malaysian Family!

Malaysians should seek to establish greater Malaysian Oneness from all different ethnic and religious festivities – based on the great values and virtues taught by all the religions and races.

Just as I believe that the overwhelming majority of Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region or political beliefs, do not want another May 13 riots in the country, the overwhelming majority of Malaysians regardless of race, religion, or political beliefs want good governance, accountability and transparency in public affairs; zero tolerance for corruption which will put Malaysia on the top-rank of countries least corrupt in the annual Transparency International Corruption Perception Index; a just, sustainable and competitive economic system which can bring progress and prosperity for all Malaysians and a meritocratic education system recognized world-wide as producing world-class students in the top-scale of international assessments unlike at present where Malaysian students are stuck at the bottom third of international educational tests.

Malaysia is at the crossroads. Chinese Malaysians together will other ethnic Malaysians must work together hand-in-hand to build a better future for the new generations, founded strongly on the principle that there is a place under the Malaysian sun for every one of its citizens.

This is why it is important the Malaysians should speak up as patriots to save Malaysia from the machinations and evil design of a small group of traitors who want to destabilize the country through the incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension so as to cause another May 13.

The civil society should organize and launch a campaign “to love and save Malaysia” from racial and religious strife, which is the precondition if Malaysia is to be a successful, progressive, prosperous and competitive nation in the world.

Federal court to decide if non-Muslims can practise Islamic law

The Malaysian Insider
by V. ANBALAGAN

The Federal Court will decide whether non-Muslim lawyers can be Shariah lawyers in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan.

This follows the decision of the apex court today to grant leave to Putrajaya's application to appeal against the Court of Appeal's ruling six months ago which stated that non-Muslim lawyers are eligible to practise the Islamic law.

Today, the leave application was allowed without contest by the five-man bench chaired by Tan Sri Raus Sharif as the single question framed by Putrajaya fulfilled the criteria under the Courts of Judicature Act 1964.

 

The question that will be dealt with is whether rule 10 of the Rules of the Shariah Lawyers 1993 mandating that only Muslims can be admitted is ultra vires the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993.

Any appeal before the apex court must be a novel question of law raised for the first time which would be of public importance.

The appeal could be heard within the next six months.

In a landmark ruling, a  three-man appellate court on June 21 unanimously ruled that non-Muslim lawyers are eligible to practise the Islamic law in the Federal Territories.

Datuk Wira Abu Samah Nordin, who led the bench then, had said that the Federal Territories Religious Council's refusal to process an application of a non-Muslim lawyer was an act that exceeded their legal powers.

Abu Samah said Section 59 (1) of the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993 clearly stated that "any person" with sufficient knowledge in Islamic law may be appointed a Shariah law practitioner.

Section 59 (2) gives the power to the council to make rules with regard to the qualification of Shariah law practitioners.

"If the intention is to prohibit non-Muslims from appearing in a Shariah court, it should be expressly stated in the legislation," he had said in allowing an appeal by lawyer Victoria Jayaseele Martin.

However, the council only processed the applications of Muslim lawyers.

Abu Samah said Victoria's application to appear in the religious court was not given due process by the council.

Victoria, represented by Ranjit Singh, filed a judicial review application in 2010 and sought a certiorari order to compel the council to allow her to practise as a Shariah lawyer in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.

She also wanted the court to issue a declaration that rule 10, which allows only Muslims to be accepted as Shariah lawyers, is against the Federal Constitution.

The High Court dismissed her application in 2011.

Despite her victory in the Court of Appeal, Victoria could not appear in the Shariah court as the council had been given a stay from processing her application. – January 28, 2014.

Government's National Reconciliation Plan Based On Four Thrusts

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today that the government's national reconciliation plan would be based on four key thrusts, namely social, political, government and international relations.

Najib in a statement issued Wednesday said that at today's cabinet meeting, the members had examined a plan to develop and promote an environment which was conducive to and would help promote national reconciliation through unity and consensus in the country.

He said the government's plan was based on democratic principles.

Najib, however, stressed that the plan did not include the formation of any sort of unity government. "We were given a strong mandate by the people to govern at the last general election and we intend to do so. However, we must look at becoming more inclusive in our activities and events.

"We are open to talking to all parties and we can use Parliament, including the setting up of bi-partisan committees to discuss issues affecting national unity," he said.

Najib said he had mooted the idea of national reconciliation following the last general election, but various parties were not responsive to his appeals to come together.

"The legitimacy of the elections were even questioned by them and it was proven to be baseless. I am now heartened to see that the Opposition is calling for a consensus and I am sure they will welcome this new development," he said.

"Unlike vague ideas about a consensus, the government's national reconciliation plan will be based on four key thrusts, namely, social, political, government and international relations and going forward.

"I will lead the implementation of changes that we hope will bring all Malaysians closer together," he added.

Najib said the freedom to voice one's views would continue to be defended but this must also be tempered with responsibility.

"In order for all this to succeed, we must all commit to avoid spreading lies and slander, finally putting to rest the politics of hate," he said.

Najib said there was also a need to go back to the grassroots and re-engage with the people to build their commitment to the common vision of a peaceful, successful and harmonious Malaysia.

"We must also get our youths involved in these initiatives to unite the people. We must work towards a Social Unity Model which can help ensure that unity remains a common objective in the activities of the next generation.

"Over the next few months, you will see changes that will help make Malaysia a stronger, more united and cohesive nation. I invite all Malaysians to join me on this journey," he said.

Azmin: Anwar in Kajang a 'tactical' move

BBC documentary unveils horrors of Gaddafi's macabre rape chamber

SYDNEY: After more than two years of capture and death of Libyan leader Muammer Gaddafi, details about his brutality towards young girls-turned-sex slaves have been emerging gradually.

In BBC's documentary, for the first time the slain leader's macabre rape chamber can be seen, showing 'Gaddafi's den' where he regularly raped young girls and forced them to watching pornography.

According to news.com.au, the small, nondescript single-storey complex includes a room holding little more than a double bed with a 1970s decor and grimy Jacuzzi, all left exactly as they were when Gadaffi last used it.

What is more chilling is an actual clinical gynaecological suite in an adjoining room, where young girls were forced to undergo abortions and tested for possible STDs before being sent to Gaddafi for exploitation.

Those who were able to escape were shunned by their conservative Muslim families, those who stayed were so badly abused that they were dumped in car parks and on waste ground, and left to die.

The report said that it took the documentary-makers months of negotiations to be allowed access to information on Gaddafi as Libya remains secretive and hidebound by bureaucracy.

The BBC documentary 'Gaddafi's Secret World' will be shown on BBC4 at 10pm on February 3.

NSW baby girl circumcised in Indonesia

An Australian father charged with organising to have his baby daughter circumcised allegedly travelled to Indonesia for the procedure.

The NSW man, who cannot be named, took his then nine-month-old girl overseas, where she was circumcised sometime between February and March of 2012, police allege.

But it wasn't until the girl's mother took her to a doctor six months later that authorities were alerted to what had allegedly happened.

Following an investigation, the father was arrested on December 31 last year by officers attached to the Sex Crimes Squad.

He was later charged with aiding, abetting or procuring female genital mutilation.

Police have previously said that it was unclear in what country the alleged procedure took place.

But papers tendered during the father's brief appearance at Manly Local Court on Tuesday state it took place in Jakarta.

The girl had her clitoral tissue removed and underwent a labial fusion, the documents state.

The man said nothing during the appearance in which his lawyer applied for a national suppression order on his identity and that of his wife and daughter.

The court heard the father recently moved to Victoria where he remains on bail.

The father is believed to be the first person to have been charged in NSW with procuring a genital procedure abroad.

However, it is the second prosecution in the state of the practice.

In 2012, eight members of a small religious order in Sydney - including a sheikh, a retired nurse and two parents - were charged over the female genital mutilation of two sisters, aged six and seven.

Their case remains before the courts.

Community Services Minister Pru Goward said earlier this month that anecdotal evidence showed the practice was "more common than the reports would suggest".

She said the crime often only came to light when the child suffered a complication from the procedure or there was a marital breakdown.

The father is due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court in March.

Lies, lies, and more lies

 

 First there was the assertion that there exists an attempt by Christians to make Penang a Christian state; simply because the chief minister is reputed to be a Christian. No evidence was ever found or elicited for these unfounded rumours. The perpetrators of the crime were not charged. I believe they were Umno-linked bloggers.

Now there are ‘Jesus the son of Allah’ banners which, frankly, no Christian would ever make. The reason is simple: If we do, the whole sentence would be in Malay; never in English with the Arabic ‘Allah’ word. What will come next? Maybe a ‘Melayu balik kampung’ banner which then sparks another round of racial riot rumours, or pig-heads into mosques?

These were standard tactics since 1969 in Penang but it was stopped in good time because of the then chief police officer’s (CPO) quick response and actions? 

But he was an outstanding Special Branch (SB) officer well-trained in the matters of psychological warfare, but there are no such people any more, since our communist threat is no more. Our current CPOs are only of one race and religion.

Today, police officers appear to pursue their partisan agenda against both citizens and foreigners alike. People are losing faith in the so-called ‘not-so-royal police force’, but which however does not act against Umno extremists. Selective persecution and prosecution seems the order of the day today.

All these rumours when printed and taken up by both mainstream and even the sidestream media, become almost facts, and then the truth of matters. I would have thought there is a law against such rumour mongering. We also witnessed such abuse of print media before the 13th general election (GE13).

Consequently, and because of our lack of faith in both the police and the Attorney-General’s Chambers, some of us with the Media Group @ MiDAS took the initiative to make a formal and written complaint to Suhakam about mainstream media distorting truth and promoting lies through advertorials; basically distorting truths and reporting untruths.

To Suhakam’s credit, I believe that they called a formal meeting with all media to address the issue last week. We await the follow up action from Suhakam.

But, why are the media lying instead of telling and promoting truths and facts? What do I mean?  On the ‘Allah’ issue; do Malaysians not really know that the first and original version of the Bahasa Melayu version of the Matthew’s Gospel was translated in 1621 by a Dutch scholar named AC Ruyl?

The originals are still available at the University of Amsterdam and the University of Cambridge. By 1733, the first Malay Bible was complete and the word ‘Allah’ was consistently used.

Are these newspaper editors really ignorant and condone their journalists to choose to spread lies and not state the facts. Do they not know that Sabahans and Sarawakians had Malay Bibles well before Malaysia was formed in 1963? Furthermore, do not the same idiocratic editors not know that under the 18 and 20 point demands before the Malaysia Agreement was voted upon, these states had clearly clarified that Islam is not the religion of these states?

Dr Tajuddin’s proposal and Dr Patricia’s response

In a recent article submitted by Dr Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi, he sought to argue that Christians as a community should apply their love in action and learn to “turn the other cheek on this matter!” In reply, Dr Patricia Martinez has responded well on this issue. While his is a very noble and commendable effort, I think it is flawed both theologically and rationally.

Let me try and explain to my good friend and academic colleague why this is not feasible for the same factual reasons of misinformation:

• The ‘Allah’ issue is a bigger issue for bumiputra Christians of Sabah and Sarawak worshipping in Malay. Most peninsular Christians worshipping in English have no issue about this word and its non-usage. We would ordinarily not use the ‘Allah’ word unless when singing Malay songs or hymns;
• The East Malaysian brothers and sisters, on the other hand, whose mother tongue is Malay, make up about 65 percent of all Malaysian Christians of about 3 million citizens.  Their language of heart worship is Bahasa Melayu. Nonetheless, peninsular Christians cannot speak for them;
• They voted and elected, as moderated by the UN, to support the formation of Malaysia but under certain explicit conditions, which cannot be violated now;
• The peninsular Malays have to instead be educated about the root of the ‘Allah’ word, and that the de-sacralisation of the name of Jesus, as ‘son of Allah’, is totally in bad taste and does not even make for good theology; and
• The Christians worshipping in Malay use only the Malay Bible and have been using it since their days of the grandparents. They hardly even mix Malay and English and no English Bible would ever carry the word Arabic word ‘Allah.’

Conclusion and way forward

Bumiputra Christians, whether from Sabah or Sarawak, have and will always use their heart language to worship in Malay. It is their heart language and mother tongue, and cannot be changed or imposed even through theologically sound teaching, like turning the other cheek, even if it is well-communicated and well reflects Christian-type unconditional love.

Frankly, all this seems to reflect a clear and focussed agenda by some unscrupulous groups to create trouble through fear and uncertainty, but have we not learned that citizens in cities and towns today are more rational and cannot be so easily misled. There is another danger though, that all the ordinary and good hearted citizens may all get upset and decide to turn against the groups that are spreading such evil ideas and antics.

Let us not however respond to fire with fire, because once fire begets more fire and once a wildfire starts, we will all have some serious issue to deal with. I am not sure the security forces are really prepared to deal with these issues. It is better to deal with these issues before the real problems start.

Let us nip these symptoms in the bud; but that requires a police force that is indeed called to serve the public interest, not partisan interests. Let us all make March a month for prayer for good sense in this nation. May God bless Malaysia.

---

KJ JOHN was in public service for 29 years. The views expressed here are his personal views and not those of any institution he is involved with. Write to him at  kjjohn@ohmsi.net with any feedback or views.

Perkasa veep: Sorry's no cure to racism

Prior to the last general election, a video recording surfaced showing Perkasa vice-president Zulkifli Noordin insulting the Hindu religion, for which he later apologised.

And when MIC protested over him being named as the BN candidate for the Shah Alam parliament seat, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin (left) reminded critics that Zulkifli had apologised and should be forgiven.

But now, the Perkasa leader claims that an apology is not sufficient.

In his latest blog posting, Zulkifli lamented that the Chinese school teacher who labelled two of her students as cows, tied bells on them and forced them to eat grass had been let off with a slap on the wrist.

The two Standard Four students of SJKC Khai Meng in Perak, Muhammad Nasvinder Muhammad Amit dan Mohd Izat Iqbal Mohd, were also caned.

Zulkifli said that he had expected the teacher to be subjected to sterner punishment.

“But no... Malaysia which is governed by a Malay government is very tolerant and accommodating. The teacher was merely transferred and that too because the teacher’s action had ‘tainted the name of the Education Ministry’.

“The reputation of the ministry is so valuable, more valuable than the dignity of our religion and race,” he said in a blog posting.

The Perkasa vice-president said the teacher’s actions not only violated the children’s rights but was also a form of torture that is bound to leave them traumatised.

“It is not only inhumane but also racist, since two other Chinese students who also did not complete their homework were not punished. I view these incidents as an extreme racial virus which must be curbed,” he added.

How long will apologies suffice?

Zulkifli also recounted the incident where a Muslim teacher at a Chinese school in Johor was asked to remove her tudung by the chairperson of the school board.

“Once again, the Malay government’s tolerance shone when it issued a warning not to repeat the incident after the school board chairperson reportedly apologised,” he added.

The Perkasa leader also asked what would have happened if a Malay teacher had hung a pig’s head or punished Chinese students by insinuating that they are pigs?

Zulkifli questioned for how long would these incidents be treated as isolated cases, which could be resolved with a mere apology.

“I can list out numerous incidents which smack of racial and religious bigotry which are the deliberate work of a handful of chauvinists who are let off the hook with an apology.

“Excusing them on the ground of an apology would only embolden these racists and chauvinists,” he said referring to Namewee and “many more Chinese kids”.

Zulkifli also called for an in-depth research to determine if these racist and extremist attitudes were products of vernacular schools.

“If this is true, we must be bold enough to carry out changes and transformation, including closing vernacular schools if they are found to be breeding grounds for chauvinists, racists and extremists,” he said.

Putrajaya practises ‘extreme political Islam’, says Baru Bian

(TMI) Malaysia is heading towards an oppressive Islamist regime for allowing state enactments to take precedence over the Federal Constitution on the religious freedom of non-Muslims, a Sarawak opposition leader said.

In a swipe at the Najib administration, Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian (pic) said the “extreme political Islam” practised by Putrajaya was almost similar to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s stand on the alleged conversion of Muslims.

Baru, a senior lawyer in the state, said many lawyers and scholars were not arguing against the authority the states have under Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution to enact legislation to regulate the preaching of religion to Muslims.

“But they have no jurisdiction over non-Muslims," he pointed out

“The state laws which ban the usage of Arabic words without any reference to attempts at proselytisation are arguably unconstitutional and open to challenge,” he said.

Selangor are among several states in the peninsula that have enactments banning non-Muslims from using the word 'Allah'.

The ban not only affects Bahasa Malaysia-speaking Christians from Sarawak and Sabah, but also Sikhs.

The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, in November last year decreed that the use of the word 'Allah' in the Bible and Malay section of the Catholic weekly, Herald, cease immediately to avoid confusion among Muslims in the state over the use of the word in the context of other religions.

The sultan said everyone in the state, regardless of their religion and origin, must abide by the ban under Section 9 of the Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Amongst Muslims) Enactment 1988.

On Mahathir’s allegations that the word 'Allah' was used by certain parties to convert Muslims into Christianity, Baru said: “There has never been any proof to support this accusation and the former prime minister invites ridicule in making such baseless claims.

“However, I have to concur with him that Muslims did not have problems with Christians for a long time, but I differ with his answer as to why the issue is raised now, if not for an ulterior motive.

“My question to him is: who was it that first created the problem if not the Home Ministry in issuing the ban on the Herald?”

Baru said Mahathir was right to observe that, “we lived in harmony and there was no friction between Muslims and Christians”.

“None until the tsunami of the 2008 election, when Umno realised it needed to salvage the support of the Malays.

“Before that, no Muslim claimed to have been confused by the use of the word ‘Allah’ by Christians, a word that had been in their vocabulary for centuries,” said Baru.

“After 2008, the Umnoputras decided that the Muslims could be confused and started fomenting fear and mistrust between them and non-Muslims.

“Where no fear existed previously, the Umnoputeras planted the seeds of fear. That was when the problems started.”

Baru said the religious tension is spooking foreign investors.

“Foreign investors are having doubts about the wisdom of their decision to invest here. Should they pull out, we will become a bankrupt nation, if we are not there already.” - January 28, 2014.

PSM to contest Kajang by-election?

Secretary-general gen S Arutchelvan is in the running as he fulfills the party's criteria

PETALING JAYA: PKR should not discount the possibility that the Kajang by-election will be a crowded field.

PSM is mulling contesting the seat after receiving backing from youth NGOs who are fed up with the current situation in the PKR-led Selangor government.

“PSM has received numerous calls to contest the Kajang seat but we have not decide anything yet. The youth NGOs think that we should be the third choice in the by-election

“Party president Dr Mohd Nasir Hashim has called for a meeting to discuss the calls,” PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan told FMT today.

According to Arutchelvan, PSM is actively serving the people of Kajang.

“We have set the criteria for any PSM candidate to contest an election, and he must have served the constituency for at least five years.

“We have candidates (who match the criteria set by the party) as we’ve been active in Kajang,” he added.

No decision yet

Arutchelvan also did not deny speculation that he will be nominated by PSM, adding that he is eligible.

“There are a lot of speculations that I would contest but we have not decided on anything. For the Kajang state seat, based on party’s criteria, I’m eligible,” he said.

In the 13th General Election (GE13), PKR first timer, Lee Chin Cheh, won the Kajang state seat by defeating five other candidates, including three independents.

Lee gained 19,571 votes, a 6,824 majority followed by BN’s Lee Ban Seng (12,747); Berjasa’s Mohamad Ismail (1,014), Independents Ir Mohd Iwan Jeffrey Abdul Majid (249), Ong Yau Foo (85) and Mohd Khalid Kassim (83).

Based on this trend, PKR should not discount the possibility that independents candidates can turn out to be spoilers in this third by-election after GE13.

Arutchelvan lost the Semenyih state seat, just outside Kajang, in the last general election under the PSM banner as PKR decided not to cave in to PSM plea to let them have a straight contest with BN candidate Johan Abd Aziz.

In 2008, Arutchelvan lost the seat narrowly to Johan under the PKR banner, but PKR decison to nominated Hamidi A Hassan in May 2013 resulting in Johan winning the seat with a 4,145 majority votes. Hamidi gained 13,471 votes followed by Arutchelvan with 5,568 votes.

PRK Kajang: PAS ‘naik angin’, mahu boikot

PAS ini apa ? Parti Tupper Ware? Tak bincang sepatah? Tak runding sikit pun? Politik apa ini?

PETALING JAYA: PAS kesal dengan tindakan bekas Adun Kajang Lee Chin Cheh dari PKR yang meletakkan jawatan tanpa sebab yang munasabah.

Ketua Penerangan Dewan Ulamak PAS Pusat Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali at-Takiri berkata, pihaknya menuntut penjelasan munasabah daripada PKR kerana pilihanraya kecil akan mengorbankan banyak masa, tenaga dan harta rakyat.

“Rakyat melihat situasi ini dengan penuh prihatin.

“Pergolakan kecil politik Selangor melibatkan jawatan Menteri Besar dan isu PKNS ditambah pula dengan perletakan jawatan ini boleh memualkan rakyat di saat rakyat dibelenggu dengan pelbagai isu negara khususnya melibatkan peningkatan kos hidup,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

Menyifatkannya sebagai politik picisan, Mohd Khairuddin turut mengingatkan isu ini mampu menggugat keyakinan rakyat kerana Pakatan Rakyat sepatutnya fokus kepada mendedahkan kegagalan kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) mengurus ekonomi negara.

Katanya, Pakatan Rakyat perlu menilai semula sejarah Pilihan Raya Umum ke-12 (PRU12) yang menyaksikan beberapa wakil rakyat dari PKR melompat dan meninggalkan parti yang telah merugikan dan menggugat keutuhan Pakatan Rakyat.

Manakala sejarah PRU ke-13 pula dimulakan dengan perletakan jawatan Adun.

“Nasihat ini saya lontarkan sebagai peringatan bersama seluruh warga Pakatan Rakyat khususnya para pemimpinnya,” katanya.

PAS, parti tupperware?

Sementara itu Ahli Parlimen Temerloh Nasruddin Hassan Tantawi berkata, pihaknya kecewa kerana PKR tidak pernah berbincang dengan PAS mengenai konflik di Selangor sehingga menyebabkan berlakunya pilihan raya kecil Kajang.

“PAS ini apa ? Parti Tupper Ware? Tak bincang sepatah? Tak runding sikit pun? Politik apa ini? Cara dan skil mana digunakan,” soalnya

Katanya, PKR tidak sepatutnya mempermainkan amanah rakyat yang berkerja, berjuang dan mengundi bersungguh-sungguh dalam PRU lalu.

“Saat rakyat berhempas pulas mencari sesuap nasi berdepan dengan kos sara hidup yang tinggi, kenaikan harga barang yang melambung.

“Tak pasal-pasal cipta pilihanraya kecil dengan drama realiti perletakan jawatan,” katanya.

Manakala Pengarah Jabatan Pilihanraya Dewan Pemuda PAS Malaysia Mohd Sany Hamzan berkata, pihaknya menuntut penjelasan yang munasabah daripada Lee terhadap perletakan jawatan beliau secara bertulis kepada Ketua Dewan pemuda PAS Malaysia dengan kadar segera.

“Sekiranya penjelasan yang diberikan tidak munasabah maka Jabatan Pilihanraya Dewan Pemuda PAS Malaysia memberi amaran akan mengeluarkan arahan kepada seluruh jentera pilihanraya pemuda PAS di semua peringkat untuk tidak memberikan kerjasama di dalam Pilihanraya Kecil DUN Kajang nanti sekiranya calon yang ditentukan masih lagi dari kalangan calon PKR,” tegasnya.

Beliau menganggap tindakan Lee sebagai satu pengkhianatan amanah yang diberikan rakyat Selangor serta membelakangkan semangat ‘syura’ di kalangan Pakatan Rakyat Selangor.

Beliau juga kecewa terhadap pimpinan PKR Selangor yang mengamalkan agenda ‘politik egois’ dan ‘besar kepala’ dengan membelakangkan PAS dan DAP Selangor di dalam kerja buat mereka di Selangor.

“PKR Selangor berlagak seperti ‘boss besar’ yang boleh mengambil apa saja tindakan politik yang menguntungkan mereka tanpa persetujuan dan pandangan rakan-rakan parti PAS dan DAP sedangkan PKR Selangor hanyalah ‘pemegang saham minoriti’ di dalam Kerajaan PR Selangor,” katanya.

Youth chief irked by Palani’s appointments

Sivarraajh says state leaders were chosen without consulting him

PETALING JAYA: Newly elected MIC Youth chief C Sivarraajh today expressed disappointment with party president G Palanivel’s choice of state youth leaders.

“I am not satisfied with the overall appointments,” Sivarraajh told FMT.

“Most of the names put forth by the youth wing seems to have been rejected by the president. He has taken the liberty to make his own appointments.”

He acknowledged that it was Palanivel’s prerogative to appoint the new leaders, but said he should have chosen people who could work well with officials of the parent MIC Youth movement.

Palanivel announced his choice of youth and wanita state leaders yesterday.

Former deputy MIC Youth chief V Mugilan was among the prominent names in the list. He replaces Shanker Raj Ayanger as Selangor MIC youth leader.

At the MIC Youth polls late last year, Sivarraajh defeated Mugilan by 44 votes.

“I have received numerous calls from youth members who are upset with the new appointments,” said Sivarraajh.

He said Palanivel never consulted him before announcing the list of state youth leaders.

New treasurer-general

Meanwhile, party sources have told FMT that businessman R Ragumoorthy of Klang may be replacing R Ramanan as MIC treasurer-general.

Ramanan resigned yesterday, saying he made the decision in the interest of the party and to protect Palanivel from being attacked for appointing him to the position.

Last week, the High Court here ordered Ramanan to return RM5.5 million to psychiatrist Dr M Mahadevan after it ruled that the money was fraudulently received.

A party source said Ragumoorthy, who was elected to the MIC Central Working Committee last November, would be the best replacement for Ramanan.

“He has the capacity to manage party funds and also bring in revenue to the party,” he said.

Where is Anwar going with this play?

(The Sun Daily) - What is de facto Pakatan Rakyat leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s, game plan in contesting the Kajang state seat?

Is it to quell the storm of discontent within a Selangor Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) wracked and debilitated by factionalism evidenced in the internecine political battle between Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali?

Khalid, an astute but somewhat parsimonious state leader, has had his hands tied by Azmin and his cohorts who have given him a hard time since he took up the post in 2008.

Things came to a boil when Khalid was chosen to lead the state administration once again at the expense of Azmin who many thought could be mentri besar given his power base in Selangor.

Since then, Khalid has been under siege by Azmin and his group who many say have tried to stymie the former’s efforts to continue his programme of economic growth which has come under fire over his alleged tight-fistedness.

Or is the 67-year-old former deputy prime minister making another bid for a position of power, albeit in a smaller theatre of influence, after his climb in Umno (and the nation) came to an abrupt halt following intervention by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad?

Interestingly enough, Anwar has rubbished talk that he will be the next mentri besar upon winning the seat, indicating that he will be in the most unlikely position of backbencher in the state assembly.

Many are also surprised that DAP secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was not apprised about the resignation of Kajang state assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh and was in no position to comment on the matter.

This is difficult to believe given that the DAP is the lynchpin in PR with 38 MPs, the largest opposition party in Parliament, with 15 state seats in Selangor giving it the power to call the shots in the state.

All this calls to question PR’s promises before the last two general elections that its complexion would be dissimilar to that of the BN in that there would be no pandering to the interests of specific individuals.

It was also assumed that this would translate into transparency in politics without cliques or factions within PR.

But this has not proven true with the mudslinging in Selangor and open rivalry between Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy and DAP chairman Karpal Singh.

Azmin is making a statement today that hopefully will throw some light on the mystery surrounding Anwar’s, and by extension, PR’s decision to field him in the forthcoming by-election.

The people of Selangor, and the nation, are in the dark about where this intrigue is going.

Kajang By-Election – Azmin: Lee’s resignation a ‘tactical move’

(MM) – Lee Chin Cheh’s resignation as Kajang state assemblyman was a tactical move to strengthen Pakatan Rakyat’s hold on Selangor, according to PKR deputy president, Azmin Ali.

“It was a tactical move, we needed the seat to be vacated,” Azmin told reporters here.

Azmin said a “national leader” of Anwar’s calibre was needed to improve PR’s position in the country’s richest state, even though the coalition currently holds 44 of the 56 seats in the state assembly.

“Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has laid a strong foundation for the past five years. But we should not be too complacent,” Azmin added.

Asked whether this meant Anwar would replace Khalid as Selangor Mentri Besar assuming the former deputy prime minister won the Kajang by-election, Azmin said that nothing had been decided yet.

“Do not speculate beyond Kajang. We will discuss matters after the by-election, if there is a need…,” Azmin said smiling without finishing his sentence.

He added that Anwar had “many contacts” who would help improve Selangor and that the Opposition leader would play a strong role as state assemblyman.

Azmin has said he personally had “no objection” to Anwar contesting the by-election.

Confirming widespread speculation today, Anwar announced that he will contest the upcoming Kajang by-election but stopped short of declaring that he planned to replace Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as Selangor Mentri Besar.

Anwar said he had no choice but to contest the seat as he had been chosen to do so by PKR.

The Malay Mail Online understands that high-level discussions are well under way among top Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders to replace Khalid.

While popular with the general public, Khalid’s penchant for unilateral decision-making in governing the country’s wealthiest state is understood to be a source of dissatisfaction among other state level PR leaders.

Among his decisions that have ruffled feathers are controversial pay hikes for Selangor state assemblymen and administrators, an unexpected decision to go with Putrajaya’s recommendations in the state’s water restructuring plans, and the convoluted removal of PKR deputy president and known rival Azmin Ali from the board of the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS).

Rumours over the position of state chief minister began swirling after Azmin was sacked from the PKNS board, allegedly on orders from the state government.

Khalid said the Selangor executive council had not ordered Azmin’s removal, and declassified official state documents to confirm the matter last week.

Azmin told The Malay Mail Online in a recent interview that he was more concerned about improving PR’s performance in its second term in the Selangor government, rather than pursuing “personal rivalries”.

Nation on fragile ground, warns Kit Siang

BY JENNIFER GOMEZ | The Malaysian Insider


It only takes a spark to set off another May 13, said a worried Lim Kit Siang (pic) as he called on Malaysians to quell tension plaguing the country now.

The DAP adviser said this was the reason he had asked Penang PKR assemblyman Lee Khai Loon to apologise for stuffing kangkung into an effigy of the prime minister during a flash mob in Penang two weeks ago.

He said it was also why he has been crusading for Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat to form a secretariat to discuss issues plaguing the country.

“The situation has become very unhealthy, with drawn-out stoking of religious and racial tension for the past eight months,” he told The Malaysian Insider today.

Lim, who is Gelang Patah MP, is worried that the currently escalating tension could lead to a scenario similar to the black day in Malaysian history almost 45 years ago.

He also expressed concern that the police and authorities were standing by and doing nothing about the situation.

“While the majority of the rakyat want peace, all it takes is for a small percentage of people to go haywire, to spark another racial riot,” Lim warned.

Citing the recent Allah banner placed outside five churches in Penang and the molotov cocktail that was thrown into a chuch compound in Lebuh Farquhar in Penang in the wee hours of Sunday morning, Lim cautioned that there were certain quarters out to undermine harmony by engaging in these acts.

On January 15, Machang Bubok assemblyman Lee led a kangkung flash mob in Penang and stuffed the vegetable into an effigy of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, triggering outrage in Penang Umno, who then led demonstrations in the state and threatened a repeat of the May 13 racial riots.

“There was nothing wrong with what Lee Khai Loon did, but I was concerned that certain people out to create trouble would distort the situation and label it anti-Malay or such.

“For that (asking him to apologise), I got attacked all around, “Lim said.

Lim’s concerns led him to push for a Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Rakyat joint secretariat to discuss these issues.

He even suggested an emergency Parliament meeting during Chinese New Year to address the “kangkung” crisis, and the escalating attempts to incite religious hatred and create conditions for another May 13.

Lim said that over the past few days, he had received many calls from those who were equally concerned that matters were spiralling out of control.

“One of them was Ambiga. That is why I asked her to speak at the dialogue session tonight and she agreed,” he said, referring to former electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 co-chair and prominent lawyer Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan.

Lim said that what was needed was a proactive approach to remove destabilising effects on society, given what he described as extraordinary levels of tension building up in the country of late.

“There should be a proper response to this racial and religious incitement.

“We must learn to be sensitive to each other’s race and religion, and whatever we do, we must not cross the line,” he added.

The public dialogue at the DAP headquarters in KL tonight will discuss the most rational response to the escalating racial and religious polarisation in Malaysia over the past eight months.

Lim said the issue was not about the ‘kangkung phenomena’, the PM, Lee Khai Loon or any one personality,

“The issue is about reckless groups that have enjoyed immunity and impunity to incite racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension to destabilise the country and create another May 13 racial riots to achieve their petty, selfish and even traitorous political objectives,” he added.

Racial and religious tension has intensifed, with the latest incident being banners with the word ‘Allah’ put up in front of five churches in Penang over the weekend and Molotov cocktails thrown into the compound of one church early Sunday morning.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reiterated on Sunday his call for a dialogue with BN to address raging racial and religious issues, three days after making the same overture to the ruling coalition.

The opposition leader moved to extend the olive branch a second time after many Malaysians expressed concern over increased tension in the country resulting from several racial and religious issues lately. – January 28, 2014.

Suspension on The Heat lifted

The Sun Daily 
by Karen Arukesamy

PETALING JAYA (Jan 27, 2014): The Heat will be back on the streets soon with the Home Ministry lifting its suspension on the newsweekly today.

Confirming this, the publication's editor-in-chief David Lee Boon Siew said that the ministry notified the decision in a letter dated Jan 24.

A statement on the its website said the newsweekly will hit the streets on Feb 7 after the Chinese New Year holidays.

It is learnt that the ministry's decision was conveyed to the newsweekly’s publisher Satria Kiara Sdn Bhd in a letter dated Jan 24, 2014 that was signed by Publications and Quranic Text Division head Hashimah Nik Jaafar, on behalf of the ministry’s secretary-general.

It was reported that the lifting of the suspension allows the newsweekly to continue its operation without any change to its current publishing permit.

The Heat was suspended "indefinitely" on Dec 19, 2013 allegedly over its November 23-29's front-page article entitled “All eyes on big-spending PM Najib”.

However, the ministry later clarified that the suspension was for allegedly not informing them of the changes in the publication's ownership, in addition to an alleged refusal to respond to two showcause letters.

Refrain From Reacting To Provocative Banners - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has urged all parties to refrain from reacting to provocative banners hung at Penang churches as it will further aggravate the situation.

The prime minister said as peace-loving Malaysians, they should act rationally guided by the rule of law upheld over the years.

"I hope that all parties will stay calm and will not lose their composure amidst provocations by irresponsible parties," he said in his Facebook posting Tuesday.

On Sunday, banners with the message "Allah is great, Jesus is the son of Alllah" were hung outside churches in Farquhar Street, Sungai Pinang, Pulau Tikus and Gelugor, Penang as well as at a bus stop on the island.

Meanwhile, in his Twitter post, the prime minister asked young Bumiputera entrepreneurs to demonstrate their ability to initiate business by capitalising on RM100 million allocated under the Bumiputera New Entrepreneurs Start-Up Scheme or Superb.

Introduced last year, Superb provides grants up to RM500,000 to creative and innovative new entrepreneurs in strategic sectors which have big potential in the future.

Cadbury launches investigation after 'wasp is discovered' in bar of Dairy Milk

Cadbury has vowed to launch an investigation after a picture of a wasp embedded into one of its chocolate bars was posted on Twitter.

Jake Keating, from Liverpool, tweeted the image after he found the insect lodged inside a bar of Dairy Milk.

He used Twitter to contact Cadbury via their official account (@CadburyUK), saying: "As if I have just found a WASP in my chocolate!!! What are you gonna do about this!?!"

The company swiftly responded on the social networking website, replying:"We'd love to reply with a pun, but we want you to know how seriously we're taking this, so we won't,"

The image soon swept around Twitter, prompting Cadbury to take action, assuring their other followers the matter was being dealt with: "‘Hi guys, we’re investigating this and are in contact with the original poster. Thanks for flagging."

Cadbury, based in Birmingham, is listed as the second largest confectionery company in the world, after being acquired by Mondelez International in 2012.