Malays and Islam are not under attack in Malaysia. It is multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural Malaysia which is under siege by intolerant and extremist forces which are trying to turn moderation into a dirty word in Malaysia

By Lim Kit Siang Blog

It is the supreme irony of ironies.

While the government continues to propagate the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s initiative of a Global Movement of Moderates, this time at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Summit currently being held in Beijing, Najib had never been so weak and impotent at home to check the forces of hatred, intolerance and extremism rearing their ugly heads.

On the day that Bernama reported that the Prime Minister’s Global Movement of Moderates (GMM) proposal had received praise from the APEC foreign ministers meeting in Beijing before the 22nd APEC Summit, an ex-UMNO Minister had opened fire on Najib’s GMM initiative, claiming that Christian fanatics in Malaysia had seized on Najib’s concept of moderation and exploited it for their own interests.

Former Information Minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maiddin claimed that the Malays and Islam were under pressure due to the concept of moderation, asserting that there were signs the concept was on the wrong track.

He cited with approval a recent statement by Johor Umno youth vice-chief Khairul Anwar Rahmat, who said that moderation was unsuitable for certain issues, claiming that it reflected the thoughts and opinions of the Umno grassroots.

Khairul said the concept of moderation must be placed in the right place and used at the right time – and is not suitable to be used when it involves religious struggle and the upholding of shariah law.

Zainuddin said brave and courageous voices to defend the character and pride of the Malays were no longer coming from Umno, but from non-governmental organisations.

Zainuddin said Khairul was right in saying it was better to fight till the bitter end as being too engrossed in moderation would result in average, instead of devout, Muslims.

He blogged: “While Najib has succeeded in his efforts to promote Malaysia as a moderate Muslim country to the global community, it has had a negative impact internally.”

I do not want to get involved in a religious polemic, but the thesis of the former UMNO Minister which he claims represents the thoughts and opinions of the Umno grassroots, is most disturbing as he seems to suggest that Islam is not a religion of moderation.

This is a great disservice to Malaysia and to Islam, especially at a time which is seeing the rise of bigotry and extremism all over the world – like the self-styled born-again “Caliphate” , “Islamic State”, which has carried out a systematic campaign of sectarian brutalities, beheadings and massacres, recruiting between 20,000 to 30,000 foreign fighters, including from Malaysia through the social media to entice those between 14 and 30, using the well-scripted texts on why ‘jihad’ (martyrdom) is an obligation in Islam.

Let there be no mistake. Malays and Islam are not under attack in Malaysia. It is multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural Malaysia which is under siege by intolerant and extremist forces which are trying to turn moderation into a dirty word in Malaysia.

When Najib made his first speech at the UN General Assembly in September 2010, where he first set out his Global Movement of Moderates proposal, Najib publicly commended United States President Barack Obama for the latter’s “courageous public position” in dealing with Islamophobia in condemning the proposed burning of the Quran by a Florida pastor and urged Obama “to galvanise the moderates, bring in the non-governmental organizations and social movements so that more people could see the importance of taking a moderate stance”.

As for himself, up to now, Najib is not prepared to do what he commended Obama of doing – condemning Ibrahim Ali for his threat to burn the Bible.

At the United Nations General Assembly and international forums, Najib called for a coalition of moderates.

In his recent speech at the UN General Assembly, Najib set out for the third time the world agenda for moderation when he said:

“The fight against extremism is not about Christians versus Muslims, or Muslims versus Jews, but moderates versus extremists of all religions. We therefore need to rally a coalition of moderates; those willing to reclaim their religion, and pursue the path to peace.”

It is pathetic and shocking that after preaching the moderation agenda at world forums for the past four years, Najib has yet mobilise a coalition of moderates in Umno and Barisan Nasional to reclaim their religion and pursue the path to peace and moderation.

As often been rightly pointed out, if we can see the nature of religion through the prism of moderation, we will be able to identify common values shared by all religions. The values are peace, harmony and true happiness which will materialize when the followers of every religion avoid excessiveness in religious practices and in the conduct of worldly life.

Malaysians are entitled to ask why UMNO and Barisan Nasional leaders and MPs have refused to sign in a coalition of moderates against extremists of all religions, both nationally and internationally, to build a future based on peace, harmony and security for all, regardless of faith?

Recently, the cacophony from the intolerant and extremist strains in our society have become louder and more insistent, and new rhetorics of hatred, intolerance and extremism are becoming quite commonplace, including:

• Opposition to building of a church in Petaling Jaya although the land was set aside by the BN government for a church 13 years ago in 2001;
• Strident demands for the closure of Chinese primary schools on the spurious ground that they cause racial conflict;
• Furore to incite inter-racial and inter-religious tensions over “halal” mineral water bottles to promote tourism with the large Lord Murugan status at the Batu Caves temple.
• Seizure of Christian books and CDs brought in from Indonesia and on transit to Sabah; and
• Refusal to prosecute Perkasa’s Ibrahim Ali for his threat to burn the Malay-language Biblle on the ground he was defending the sanctity of Islam and is protected by the Malaysian Constitution while the Attorney-General launches a bitzkrieg of arrests and prosecutions under the Sedition Act.

Yesterday, the UMNO Wanita leader Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil joined forces with those opposed to the repeal of the Sedition Act and promised one million signatures in the campaign although she has nothing to say about the double standards of the Attornery-General in the selective and malicious prosecution of Pakatan Rakyat leaders, activists and intellectuals as well as total silence about the RM250 million National Feedlot Corporation scandal, involving her family members.

Malays and Islam are not under siege in Malaysia. But UMNO is under siege and there is a desperate attempt to equate UMNO under siege as equal to Malays and Islam under siege, which is a great fallacy.

Are we going down the path of Talibanisation just so UMNO can keep grip of power in Malaysia?

Although this question was posed by The Malaysian Insider two days ago, it must have already troubled many Malaysians.

As The Malaysian Insider commentary put it:

“Just like what happened in Afghanistan after the fight to rid of Soviet occupiers, those without political power used religion and race to win over and control the population. It happened there and it appears to be an emerging tactic here.”

This is what Najib’s Global Movement of Moderates is meant to prevent – the lurch towards Talibanisation.

During my speech on the 2015 Budget, I had asked about the outcome of the promise by the Attorney-General, Tan Sri Gani Patail, to review the sedition charges against Dr. Azmi Sharom and others but no answer has been forthcoming from Nancy Shukri, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department responsible to Parliament on this issue.

More than two months have passed since the AG’s promise of a review of the sedition blitzkrieg and charges. Has this been done, who carried out the review – or is Nancy just totally ignorant about it?

The explanation by the Attorney-General on why Perkasa President Ibrahim Ali had not been prosecuted for his threat to burn the Malay-language Bible had added salt to the wound, as it failed not only to win over doubters but have been received with scorn and rejected outright by majority of the critics.

What is worse, it reinforced the perception that the AG’s arguments that Ibrahim Ali should enjoy immunity and impunity from legal sanctions because he was defending the sanctity of Islam and was protected by Article 11(4) of the Constitution were not only shallow, superficial and cock-eyed but reflects a Public Prosecutor who has failed in his duties to be a responsible and trustworthy upholder of the rule of law and the protector of inter-racial and inter-religious unity and harmony in a multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious nation.

The AGC had said that “After the context had been studied as a whole, Ibrahim Ali’s statement does not fall into the category of having seditious tendencies”.

Does this mean that there are certain “context” where it is fully permissible to threaten the burning of the Bible?
Furthermore, are there also certain “contexts” where it is permissible to threaten the burning of holy books of other religions, for instance, Tripitaka for Buddhism, Vedas for Hinduism, Torah for Judaism, Guru Granth Sahib for Sikhism and Tao Te Ching for Taoism?

Are there also “contextual” justifications to justify the threat to burn the Holy Quran?
Just as there should be zero tolerance for corruption, there should be zero tolerance for any threat to burn the holy books of any religion in Malaysia.

Surely not, there can be no justification in any context to justify the threat to burn any holy book of any religion in multi-religious Malaysia if we want to maintain inter-religious understanding, harmony and peace and to quote Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, to go beyond just “tolerate” but to “accept” and even celebrate Malaysia’s multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural diversity.

Is Najib prepared to announce a zero tolerance policy in Malaysia for any threat to burn any holy books of any religion so as to be a role model of moderation for other countries?

(Speech on the Prime Minister’s Department during committee stage debate of 2015 Budget in Parliament on Monday, 10th November 2014)

‘Don’t repeal Sedition Act’

The New Straits Times
by HANA NAZ HARUN

KUALA LUMPUR: THE government should not go ahead with the plan to repeal the Sedition Act 1948 until it holds more discussions with all concerned parties, including Wanita Umno.

The wing’s chief, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, said the party would send a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to ask for a deferment in repealing the act.

“Many have come to us raising their concerns and anxiety regarding the situation in the country.

“The act must not be repealed to protect the people for the sake of national security and harmony and I believe the issue of peace and safety goes across all religions and races,” she said, adding that the memorandum would be handed to Najib after he returned from China.

She said it was important that the government took into account the views of everyone.

“They (the government) must listen to the rakyat who fear for their safety and peace in the country.

“The women in the country must also be consulted and our voice cannot be ignored in this,” Shahrizat said here, yesterday.

She also expressed concern that if the Sedition Act was replaced with the National Harmony Act, the latter would not be able to maintain the country’s sovereignty and stability.

Shahrizat had earlier attended a closed-door forum titled “Understanding the Sedition Act” with 500 Wanita Umno members, where they had unanimously agreed to request for the postponement to repeal the Act.

Among the panel members were former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan, as well as lawyers Salehuddin Saidin and Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz.

Shahrizat also said the women’s wing would begin a petition drive to collect one million signatures, to demonstrate the public’s support in retaining the act.

“Our 19,000 branches all over the country will be mobilised for this purpose. We aim to collect the signatures within the next two to three months.

“We will also organise forums and programmes for the public to give them further understanding of the risks if the Sedition Act is repealed.”

Several quarters within Umno had expressed their concern over the possible repeal of the Sedition Act, ahead of the party’s general assembly later this month.

The New Straits Times had reported yesterday that political observers, including former IGP Tun Hanif Omar and National Professors’ Council political cluster head Prof Datuk Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak, had said that the law should be strengthened and not repealed.

They said repealing the act could lead to racial disharmony and disrupt peace in the country.

PAC To Summon Ministries, Government Department, Agencies Over AG Report

Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 Bernama) -- The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will summon nine ministries and five government departments and agencies to provide clarification on the 3rd series of the 2013 Auditor General's Report that was presented in Dewan Rakyat, Monday.

Its chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the nine ministries are the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Communication and Multimedia, the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health.

"For example, the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development need to explain a few things on its 1Azam programme such as selection of participants and the provisions that were given," he said.

He said the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, will be called to clarify the management of the events in programmes organised, while the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry would be called to explain the management of paddy seeds subsidy.

"All of them will be called in stages beginning January, and reports on the results of the meeting will be tabled in Parliament in March," he said told reporters at the presentation of the Auditor General's Report after a meeting with the Deputy Auditor-General Datuk Anwari Suri at the Parliament House, here.

Nur Jazlan said the five agencies to be hauled up will be the Department of Veterans Affairs (Ministry of Defence) over the management of benefit payments to retirees of the Armed Forces and the Accountant General's Department (Ministry of Finance) over the management of unclaimed funds.

Also called will be the Royal Malaysia Police Force (Home Ministry) over the management of patrol vehicles and motorcycles of the Mobile Patrol Unit and the management of traffic summonses.

In addition, to be called would be Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Ministry of Rural and Regional Development) over the construction of its Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) Arau, Kuala Kangsar, and Mara Higher Vocational College Lenggong and the management of Syarikat Malaysia Institute of Aviation Technology Sdn Bhd.

"Other agencies to be called are the Department of Environment (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) over the management of privatization activity for air monitoring and enforcement of mobile and stationary sources."

Asked about the audit report, Nur Jazlan said he was surprised by the increase in the number of ministries and agencies that will be called in this series compared with the previous series.

'Might as well expect Rosmah to cook for you'

Firebomb on Kosher Eatery in Paris

Several Muslims called the diners at the restaurant 'dirty Jews' before the firebomb was thrown.

A firebomb was thrown at a kosher Jewish restaurant in the 17th district of Paris at week's end.

Several minutes earlier, some young Muslims who walked by the restaurant threatened the diners inside and called them “dirty Jews.” The diners did not react.

A few minutes passed, and a loud smash was heard when a firebomb hit the restaurant's door. The diners managed to see a group of Muslims running away as the firebomb ignited, starting a fire, which the restaurant's employees succeeded in putting out. None of the restaurant-goers was hurt.

The restaurant door was reportedly made of tempered glass, a factor which may have saved the clients inside the eatery from harm.

Police were called in and they examined security camera footage as part of the investigation.

The restaurant is mehadrin-kosher and serves the religious Jews in the area.

Christian couple lynching: Six-year-old narrates details of his parents' murder

LAHORE: Narrating the horrific events that led to the death of his parents, the six-year-old son of the Christian couple lynched and burnt to death over alleged blasphemy said his parents were tortured, dragged in the neighbourhood tied to a tractor and then thrown in a kiln.

Sajjad Masih and his wife Shama Bibi – brick kiln workers from Chak-59 of Kot Radha Kishan, Kasur – were brutally killed on November 4 for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran.

Speaking to Express News after a prayer ceremony held for his parents, the son said the mob attacked their house and beat up his parent before tying them to a tractor and dragging them around in the area. According to his account, the couple was then thrown in the furnace.

Father of Shama, who had been taking care of the children since the incident, said he fears for his and his grandchildren’s lives and is changing locations for safety reasons.

Calling for public execution of his daughter’s murderers, the father said strict action should be taken against the culprits.

Since the incident took place, police have arrested many suspects, however, the main accused is still at large.

Setting the record straight, Shama’s father also said the picture shown in the media as Shama’s was in fact her niece’s. He said he will soon reveal the picture of his daughter once he gains access to her belongings which are currently in police custody.

PAS Dewan Ulama calls transgender decision a challenge to Islamic law

The appellate court's decision that a Shariah law preventing cross-dressing by men is unconstitutional is a challenge to the status of Islamic law in the country, the PAS Dewan Ulama said today.

Information chief Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said the position of Islamic law has been acknowledged in the Federal Constitution but it is now being challenged by the appellate court's decision," Khairuddin said in a statement.

On Friday, the Court of Appeal ruled that Section 66 of the Negri Sembilan Shariah Criminal Enactment 1992, was illegal.

The section outlaws any Muslim man from wearing "a woman's attire and posing as a woman”. It carries a punishment of a fine not exceeding RM1,000 or jail of not more than six months or both.

A three-man bench, led by Justice Datuk Hishamudin Mohd Yunus, ruled that Section 66 of the Shariah law in the state contravened constitutional provisions that guarantee personal liberty, equality, freedom of movement, and freedom of expression.

It also said the particular law was discriminatory as it fails to recognise men diagnosed with the Gender Identity Disorder (GID), or transgenderism.

"The decision on Friday has now become a challenge towards the position of Islamic law in Malaysia," Khairuddin said.

Besides challenging the position of Islam, Khairuddin also pointed out that the decision had cast doubt on how far the sanctity and sovereignty of Islam was upheld.

He rejected the appellate court's decision saying that Islam had been recognised as the official religion of the Federation and should not be analysed through colonial views.

"The recognition of Islam as the official religion of the Federation should not be interpreted through colonial views.

"Islam should be interpreted as a way of life with all of its laws considered as the highest interpretation in Malaysia."

Khairuddin expressed concern that this would have a big implication on the future of Shariah laws being used in cases.

"This decision will open more spaces for other quarters to come forward and dispute the validity of Shariah laws at state levels," he said.

There will be quarters who will openly challenge Islamic practices and virtues because they feel they will be protected by the Federal Constitution, he warned.

Khairuddin said the PAS Dewan Ulama urged the religious authorities of Negri Sembilan to file an appeal with the Federal Court. – November 9, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/pas-dewan-ulama-calls-decision-on-transgender-case-a-challenge-to-islamic-l#sthash.Zhfvh9v7.dpuf

Let Malaysians support justice, freedom beyond borders, Anwar tells Putrajaya

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today urged Putrajaya to stop treating activism against human rights violations in other countries by Malaysians as objectionable, as it does not interfere with other nations’ affairs.

Throwing his support for those highlighting atrocities against Tamils in Sri Lanka, the PKR de facto head said Malaysians should be allowed to help promote freedom and justice wherever abuses occur.

“If there is gross injustice, the killings must be stopped,” he said at the closing of the Penang International Tamil Conference in George Town. “That is a consistent, coherent principle.”

In a similar vein, he said Malaysian should also offer support to any marginalised ethnic group, like the Indians, in their own country.

“The Indian problem in terms of poverty, marginalisation, poor access to education, is a national problem. It is not an Indian problem,” he said at the conference organised by the Penang Society for Advancement of Tamils.

Also present were Deputy Chief Minister (II) Prof P. Ramasamy and special guest Vaiko, a veteran politician from Tamil Nadu who is general secretary of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) party.

At a press conference later, Anwar said authorities, particularly the Home Ministry, must give space for people to present their human rights causes, particularly for strong and compelling cases that have “incontrovertible evidence”.

“If we want the Indians or Tamils to be concerned about Gaza (where Palestinians are oppressed), we must also show some concern about the Tamil's plight,” he said.

“If as a Muslim I want to make sure the Muslims are not discriminated elsewhere, I don’t want Hindus to be discriminated in my country,” he added.

Commenting on government actions, such as the police move to stop the screening of the documentary "No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka" in Kuala Lumpur last year, Anwar said it is disconcerting that there are growing signs of intolerance in Malaysia.

“What can’t you allow some members of a community – it can be Tamils, it can be others – who are trying to voice their concerns about the atrocities in Sri Lanka?” he said.

“If the Sri Lankan authorities or government want to counter they can always give their view, their explanation.

“But how can you deny an issue which is known and accepted by the international community?” Anwar said.

Ramasamy said the conference, which also saw participation by non-Indians, has shown that non-Indians can also speak out about Indian issues. He said it represented moving away from any “narrow-minded” ethnic approach where groups only fight for their own causes.

Ramasamy said he himself was involved in the international peace talks for Aceh a decade ago. “People were wondering what a Tamil has got to do with it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Vaiko said the conference today adopted the "Penang Declaration". Among its eight resolutions was a call for a United Nations-monitored referendum for a sovereign Tamil Eelam, an independent state on the island of Sri Lanka.

It said the referendum should be conducted among Tamils descended from the northern and eastern regions of the island of Sri Lanka, as well as the Tamil diaspora from there, including refugees.

Vaiko said the move was encouraged by the recent independence referendum in Scotland, which has not even seen the level of persecution or oppression as during the recent genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

“The clarion call has been given from this Penang Conference. We are hopeful this will lead to the twilight, the twilight to the suffering of the Tamils," he added.

South African delegate Pregasen Padayachee said the Solidarity Group for Peace and Justice in Sri Lanka, of which he is the secretary, together with the South African Tamil Federation will hold the next international Tamil conference in Durban either in late 2015 or early 2016. – November 9, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/let-malaysians-support-justice-freedom-beyond-borders-anwar-tells-putrajaya#sthash.QjiioFhY.dpuf

After two-month hiatus, Khalid to make comeback with new NGO

Fresh from his sacking from PKR, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is expected to start a new non-governmental organisation called "Taski" – it is an acronym of his own name – to serve the people under his Federal and state constituencies.

The NGO, with some help from PAS, will focus on charity work, according to Roslan Baharom, a community leader in Bandar Tun Razak, where Khalid is the MP. Bandar Tun Razak is in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.

"Khalid will spearhead this NGO, and with some support from PAS, I think he will pull it off," Roslan said.

One of the programmes lined-up for the NGO is the "Sajian Rakyat" programme (The People's Meal), scheduled in the next few weeks to introduce the NGO and jumpstart Khalid's commitment to assist residents in his constituency.

Roslan told The Malaysian Insider that a discussion between Khalid and PAS representatives was held in Kuala Lumpur recently.

He said the Federal Territories PAS has given the green light for the party's division to assist Khalid in his endeavour.

"The reason why Khalid decided to form the NGO is to avoid unnecessary crisis between the Islamist party and PKR since he was sacked from the party on August 9,

"We hope it will not be a problem because, after all, Khalid is working as an NGO and not representing any political party," he said.

Roslan said that if there is enough allocation, Taski plans to hold the "Sajian Rakyat" programme every week. At the moment, he added that Khalid has personally promised to allocate RM5,000 for each of the upcoming programmes.

"We have not decided whether to hold it on a weekly basis. Even if that did not materialise, we have other programmes planned," he added.

It was understood that some of the committee members included those who used to work with Khalid when he was the Selangor menteri besar.

They include former CEO of Menteri Besar Incorporated, Faekah Husin, who is now Khalid's special officer for both Bandar Tun Razak and Port Klang.

Faekah, in a statement recently, said Khalid has never neglected his duties either as an assemblyman or MP and is currently working on programmes to help residents in both areas.

She also brushed off rumours that Khalid wanted to resign, saying that he was on a break and is now starting to get back to his duties.

PKR had sacked him in August after he failed to attend a disciplinary committee hearing over allegations concerning the Selangor water-restructuring exercise, his debt settlement with Bank Islam and the proposed Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex).

All these came amid a tussle for the Selangor menteri's besar position that started early this year, with the PKR leadership wanting him to step down to make way for PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

The crisis ended when PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali was appointed the new menteri besar.

It was reported today that since Khalid stepped down as the menteri besar and became an independent, he has rarely been seen in Port Klang and Bandar Tun Razak.

Residents said they did not even know where his service centres were and whether he would still be able to serve and attend to their complaints. – November 9, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/after-two-month-hiatus-khalid-to-make-comeback-with-new-ngo#sthash.hy66A3tV.dpuf

Wanita Umno wants Sedition Act to stay

 

Umno Wanita today called for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to retain the controversial Sedition Act 1948 in the wake of seditious remarks by certain personalities.

The wing's chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said that such remarks are feared to spark "worrying" incidents.

"We, Umno Wanita unanimously disagree the move to abolish the act for the sake of the nation security and harmony," she said at a briefing on the Sedition Act for the wing in Kuala Lumpur.

"I believe security and harmony issue stand above the religious, ethnicity and political understanding.

"Many of the people we spoke to fear that the current issues may cause something worrying to erupt, especially in issues relates to religious, race and royal institution," she said.

Shahrizat (middle in picture) said many issues raised by those spoken to are caused by seditious remarks and freedom on social media.

As such, the wing will submit a memorandum to urge the premier to postpone the abolishment, she said.

It will also embark on a one-million-signature petition campaign so the voices of those against the abolition will be heard in cabinet.

Najib had in 2012 promised to repeal the Sedition Act but this year said the government is undecided on whether to repeal it, retain it or replace it with the National Harmony Act.

Harmony Act insufficient

Meanwhile, Shahrizat opined that the National Harmony Act may not be able to ensure the security of the nation.

However, she was unable to articulate what is lacking in the proposed draft of the Bills.

The drafts were proposed by the National Unity Consultative Council with assistance by the Bar Council.

Although the government has stressed that this is not the official draft, Shahrizat still reminded the authorities to not just listen to the Bar Council.

"The women's voices must be heard before any decision on the abolition of Sedition Act and the drafting of new law," said Shahrizat, who trained as a lawyer.

She also claimed that public feedback showed that women especially feared for the nation’s security, but could not furnish statistics to support this.

"We will get you the one-million signature," she told a press conference after a closed-door forum dubbed "Understand the Sedition Act" organised by its legal bureau.

Shahrizat said the wing will also embark on a nationwide roadshow to warn the public on the importance of the Sedition Act, which critics say is draconian.

Among the speakers at the closed-door function today were former Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan (above) and pro-Sedition Act activist lawyer Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz.

The duo also called for the Act to stay, further advocating that it be amended to introduce the death penalty for repeat offenders.

Another panellist was Salahuddin Saidin, a former deputy public prosecutor turned barrister.

Media were not allowed to observe the forum, but was invited to take a photograph of about 400 Wanita Umno members raising their hands in support of the Sedition Act and the revival of Internal Security Act (ISA).

However, Shahrizat made no mention of the ISA during the press conference.

Mum on NFC

She also refused to comment on the National Feedlot Corporation scandal, involving her family members, stressing that she will only speak of the topic today.

She was asked if her family had suffered from financial problems after the NFC’s assets and accounts were frozen following the Auditor’s General  Report on the firm’s National Feedlot Centre (NFC).

The firm was given a soft loan of RM250 million to run the project, but the audit found targets were not met.

The firm’s chairperson and Shahrizat’s husband, Mohamad Salleh Ismail (above) was charged for criminal breach of trust.

The government last week said it will now terminate the firm’s contract.

In response, the company said if not for the “lies” spread by the Opposition, and the government’ failure to build a promised abattoir, NFC would be a success.

SIS dragging Islam to court, says minister

 

NGO Sisters in Islam (SIS), which had been banned by religious authorities through a fatwa, is dragging Islam to the civil court by filing a judicial review against the fatwa, a minister said today.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom in a statement said that the High Court had previously rejected a challenge on a fatwa in 2010 on grounds that it cannot intervene in Islamic affairs.

"In 2010, the High Court rejected an application by some sides who tried to challenge a fatwa on the ESQ Leadership Centre Sdn Bhd issue as it ruled it didn't have the jurisdiction to hear cases regarding fatwa and syariah," he said.

SIS was banned from disseminating its views through a fatwa issued by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) in July for promoting "liberalism and pluralism".

The fatwa also bars other entities from spreading anything published by SIS, and is being challenged by the NGO via a judicial review.

Meanwhile, Jamil Khir (left) asked religious authorities from all states to join hands in overcoming the "resistance" against Islam from people "who have agendas outside Islam."

"It is important for Muslims to be wary of such understandings to protect Islam. Islamic institutions like state religious councils should work together to face the new form of resistance against Islam," he said.

Bi-partisan rally for century-old ashram

 

Politicians from both BN and Pakatan Rakyat today held rallies in a bid by the Indian community to save the century-old Vivekananda Ashram from being affected by a commercial development.

In a rally in front of the 110-year-old ashram today, MIC vice-president M Saravanan (right), MIC Youth leaders, and a good number of Pakatan representatives showed solidarity for the cause.

They were joined by some 300 people, some whom marched across Brickfields’ main thoroughfare pumping up more support for the ashram.

The trustees for the ashram want to develop a 23-storey building behind the ashram, an idea opposed by the leaders of the committee formed to save the ashram, who organised the protest.

PKR’s Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar and PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil were the rare non-Indian politicians to show their support.

Nurul Izzah labelled the ashram as one of the last “souls” of Brickfields.

“We don’t want Brickfields to become another concrete jungle,” she said.

Nurul Izzah said that she also understood the concern of the trustees, who had said that they are unable to maintain the ashram due to a lack of funds.

“We are willing to meet them half-way. But what's important is for the voice of the people to be heard as well,” she said.

“We don’t want this place to lose its soul. And this ashram is one of Brickfields’ souls,” he said.

MIC Youth chief C Sivaraajh meanwhile said that those against redevelopment of the ashram land are willing to engage with the trustees to find a solution to the matter.

“I hope the board of trustees will be compelled not to go ahead with this project,” he said.

“Maybe this ashram can be converted to a library or a cultural centre. If there are any issues and any help needed, we can meet them and try to help,” he added.

‘Peserve buildings that are our identity’

Selanger state executive councillor V Ganabatirau (left) said that Bangsar and Brickfields used to be early Indian settlements but now there is very little left to preserve that identity.

“It’s important to preserve buildings that are our identity,” he said.

Among others in attendance were PKR vice-president Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, PKR’s Kapar MP G Manivannan and PKR activist S Jayathas.

The bid to have the general public sign a petition to urge that the ashram land be preserved has also been gaining momentum.

About 48,000 signatures had been collected at the time of writing and the committee said that it is confident of passing the 50,000 mark by the end of the day.

Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz had also supported keeping the ashram the way it is, but said that his ministry is unable to do anything more as the land belongs to a private entity, held in trust by the board of trustees.

Perkasa says social media twists their struggles

Ibrahim Ali says the group will continue to fight for the Malays and empower the institution of the Malay Rulers.

FMT

KUALA NERUS: Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali said the Malay rights group had never carried out any action which could jeopardise the security of the country and that the bad perception created of them was the doing of those in social media who deliberately twisted the news.

Having said that, Ibrahim said Perkasa will hold firmly to the principles of its struggle of defending the sanctity of Islam and the Sedition Act for the security of the nation as well as defending the national language as the unifying language in this country.

Ibrahim added that the organisation would continue to fight for the Malays and empower the institution of the Malay Rulers.

“We do not fear any accusations and slanders hurled against Perkasa as all parties know from record, Perkasa is a clean organisation that struggles within the legal framework,” he said.

He disclosed this to reporters at a special Kuala Nerus Parliamentary Constituency Perkasa Conference, here which was attended by Terengganu Perkasa president Ismail Saamah as well as 200 Perkasa members.

- BERNAMA

Najib Arrives In Beijing For APEC Summit

From Azlina Aziz

BEIJING, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak arrived here Sunday night to attend the two-day 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM), starting tomorrow.

The AELM, themed 'Shaping the Future through Asia-Pacific Partnership', will be chaired by President Xi Jinping of China.

Najib, accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, touched down at the Beijing Capital International Airport here about 8.20pm local time.

He was met on arrival by Malaysian Ambassador to China Datuk Iskandar Sarudin.

Also present were Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainudin, Prime Minister's Department officials, embassy officials (Chinese side) and representatives from Beijing Municipality.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, is leading the Malaysian delegation to the summit.

During the 22nd AELM, Najib is scheduled to deliberate on the three priorities of Apec 2014 -- advancing regional economic integration; promoting innovative development, economic reform and growth; and, strengthening comprehensive connectivity and infrastructure development.

Najib is also scheduled to hold meetings with global leaders to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interests.

The most important is the meeting with Xi and China's Prime Minister Li Keqiang before the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Earlier, Iskandar told reporters Najib's meetings with Xi and Li would be the second within months.

The three leaders would take this opportunity to exchange views on bilateral issues, and of special interest, both countries celebrated the 40th year anniversary of diplomatic relations with the visit by Najib to China in May, he said.

"Malaysia's role and leadership next year and the years ahead are important, especially the country would assume the chairmanship of Asean next year and the election of the country as one of the non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council," he said.

The annual event will bring together economic leaders from the grouping 21 economies to discuss a range of issues, among others strategies for the region's future especially on promoting trade and investment liberalisation, fostering economic integration and facilitating innovative growth.

Apec economies account for 45 per cent of global trade and half of the total gross domestic product.

Pemain badminton negara digantung perlawanan

Four men arrested for allegedly plotting a terror attack to kill Queen Elizabeth

BRITISH police have foiled an alleged plot to assassinate the Queen in a knife attack this weekend at a Remembrance Day event in London, it has been claimed.

Counter terrorist police swooped on addresses in the west of the British capital and in the Thames Valley and arrested four men aged 19 to 27.

Scotland Yard were remaining tight lipped yesterday but confirmed it was an alleged Islamist plot to be carried out on British soil and was part of “an ongoing investigation into Islamist-related terrorism”.

But they declined to name the target.

British tabloid The Sun yesterday reported the plan was to kill the 88-year-old Queen at an event at the Cenotaph in the capital where she was to lay a wreath. The newspaper said both the Queen and Prime Minister David Cameron had been made aware of the alleged plot.

Other British media were yesterday reporting police suspected it was more likely to be a gun attack plot on an unnamed target but potentially just random members of the public but armed police were already planning a tight cordon around the Royal family and Mr Cameron at war memorial events.

The palace declined to comment last night as is standard policy on security matters.

Armed guards had in the past two weeks been deployed to watch over ceremonial sentries including at the palace and Whitehall since the murder of Canadian reservist Nathan Crillo who had been on ceremonial duty at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa.

But there were particular fears there could be a random attack carried out on any of the hundreds of events leading up to and on the nationally marked Remembrance Day on Sunday and next Tuesday.

Heavily armed counter terrorist police swooped on four addresses across west London and High Wycombe in the Thames Valley and arrested the four men and raided another four addresses linked to the men.

The suspects were all arrested and are being held in custody on suspicion of being concerned in “the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism”.

Police yesterday remained guarding their homes as detectives inside could be seen removing items of potential evidence.

The 19-year-old, understood to be called Yusuf Syed, was arrested at his mother’s house in High Wycombe at the same time as a 22-year-old was arrested in Hounslow in London’s west at 8.45pm. The younger man was said to have just returned from a trip to Pakistan.

A 25-year-old was arrested in Uxbridge at 2.55am yesterday morning while a 27-year-old was arrested in a car in the street in Southall at 8.30pm yesterday.

The arrests came from intelligence gathered by spy agency M15.

It is understood at least one of the men had been spoken to police in the past for jihadism. A second of the four man had had his passport seized by authorities recently after he planned to travel to the Middle East to take part in jihad.

Earlier this month, senior police officers and MPs said there was likely to be a significant rise in the number of armed police at the Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day commemorations in London due to increased fears of a terror attack either on military personnel takingpart or a dignitary. It is understood police were mostly fearing a lone attacker with a hand weapon as opposed to an orchestrated bomb plot.

The latest arrests come a few months after the national terror threat level in the UK was raised from substantial to severe, meaning a terrorist attack is “highly likely”.

It also followed social media calls by Islamic State (ISIS) extremists for followers to carry out unsophisticated lone wolf attacks in home states whether in Britain, Australia or the United States.

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) raised the national level against a backdrop of increasing concerns over hundreds of aspiring British jihadis travelling to Iraq and Syria to learn terrorist “tradecraft” and fight alongside terror groups like ISIS.

The national threat level was raised to “severe” two months ago denoting a terrorist attack was highly likely.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/world/four-men-arrested-for-allegedly-plotting-a-terror-attack-to-kill-queen-elizabeth/story-fndir2ev-1227116658248

Terror cops smash 100 UK plots a week as British fanatic issues a beheading warning

POLICE are carrying out 100 anti-terror operations- a-week in a bid to stave off Islamic State attacks in Britain, it was revealed last night.

By Jerry Lawton

They have prevented “several” terrorism atrocities on the UK mainland in the past 10 months and made 218 arrests.

Sixteen Brits who have returned from Syria have been charged with terrorist activity.

Specialist police internet experts have removed 51,000 ‘illegal and deeply damaging’ websites aimed at recruiting jihadists.

They are now shutting down 1,000 sites-a-week showing beheadings, torture and suicide bombings in a bid to lure Islamic extremists to the Middle East with the prospect of martyrdom.

Last night police revealed they were probing the disappearance of 66 people reported missing by relatives who fear they have travelled to Syria to join IS.

Intelligence agencies estimate the authorities have not been told about 500 more who have also made the trek.

Scotland Yard assistant commissioner Mark Rowley, national policing lead for counter terrorism, said he was running “exceptionally high numbers” of investigations “the likes of which we have not seen for several years”.

He added: “Against an increasing operational tempo we are disrupting several attack plots a year. These plots are of varied sophistication from individuals planning to carry out spontaneous yet deadly attacks to more complex conspiracies, almost all seemingly are either directed by or inspired by terrorism overseas.

“The volume, range and pace of counter-terrorism activity has undergone a step-change.

“Public safety is our number one priority and we will always focus our disruption activity against those posing the greatest and most imminent threat.

“Sometimes this means intervening very early – essential to prevent attacks, but presenting enormous challenges in securing sufficient evidence to charge. Together with our partners we are carrying out about 100 Syria-related preventative activities each week.”

Meanwhile Brit IS fighter Abu Abdullah al-Britani appeared in a chilling new video vowing to “chop off the heads” of anyone who opposes the terror network.

He urged western nations to send troops to the region so IS can “kill every single soldier, Allah permitting” and added: “We will chop off the heads of the Americans, chop off the heads of the French, chop off the heads of whoever you may bring.”

ISIS Fighter Defends Massacres Because Muhammed 'Slaughtered 700 People'

A Russian Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) fighter Abu Muhammad Ar-Rusi justified the massacres committed by the terrorist group because Islam's Prophet Muhammed killed many people. The message in the video is directed to Muslims "who speak Russian."

By Mary Chastain

“You accuse us of the mass killing of Muslims, saying that we are blood-shedding murderers,” said the fighter. “Didn’t the Prophet Muhammad and his companions shed blood? Haven’t you read his biography, written by Ibn Hisham, which says that the Messenger of Allah killed 700 people in a single battle? He slaughtered 700 people—that is our Prophet and our religion.”

Ibn Ishaq wrote the original biography; Hisham edited Ishaq’s book. The invasion of Banu Qurayza might be the battle to which the fighter is referring. It is also referenced in the Koran and other Islamic literature. The Banu Qurayza was a Jewish tribe in northern Arabia. The siege lasted 25 days and between 600-900 people were slaughtered. The men were publicly executed while women and children were sold off as slaves. The fighter said Muhammed took part in the executions, but author Subash Inamdar said the prophet did not participate.

The fighter also attempted to encourage Muslims to join the Islamic State. He said those who resist are not doing the work of Allah.

With regard to the Islamic State, the Caliphate, and the numerous accusations we have been accused of by those who sit idly by instead of going on Jihad, or those who do nothing for the religion of Allah, except for praying the five prayers, believing that by doing so, they are helping the religion of Allah,” he said. “You are not helping yourselves or the religion of Allah. Anyone who sits idly by and does not help the Islamic State today will be held accountable on Judgment Day."

He continued: “I say to all our Muslim brothers and sisters: Join the Islamic State. Join your brothers. Do not wait until death comes to you. Do not wait until the path is blocked. As long as you can, perform hijra. The hijra is a duty. If you read any book on Islamic faith, you will see that it is a duty to perform hijra from Dar Al-Kufr to Dar Al-Islam. Do not procrastinate. Do not delude yourselves. Do not say to yourselves that that you will perform the hijra tomorrow or the day after.”

The hijra is the trip Muhammed and his followers took from Mecca to Medina in the year 622. Muhammed left after he was informed of an assassination plot against him. This journey is known as the beginning of the Muslim era.

Who is Noh Omar, asks Azmin as SIS issue hots up

Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali today avoided questions related to the controversy surrounding the state religious authority's edict on Sisters In Islam (SIS), and Umno's claim that he is a "show-off" for trying to resolve the matter.

"Who? (Datuk Seri) Noh Omar? Is he still around?

"I think you better ask (Tun) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) who Noh Omar really is," he said when asked to comment on the Selangor Umno liaison chief claim that he was trying to "show off" for suggesting SIS to meet with Mais to resolve the issue.

Mais had on July 17 gazetted the Religious Fatwa on Liberalism and Pluralism Ideologies and declared the non-governmental organisation as subscribing to the deviant ideologies of liberalism and pluralism.

Noh pointed out that there was no need for Mais to meet with SIS as the NGO had filed a judicial review over the fatwa.

Azmin, who was atttending Unisel's convocation ceremony in Bestari Jaya today refuses to acknowledge Noh's remark just as he had done to former MB Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s special officer Faekah Husin early last month for attacking his administration.

"Faekah? Who is Faekah? I do not know," he had said then after Faekah questioned PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's position as the state's economic adviser.

Noh recently came under fire when Dr Mahathir suggested that Selangor Umno be dissolved and restructured following disappointing results in the 2008 and 2013 general elections.

He had asked Dr Mahathir to provide specifics on the period when people started seeing Umno as a corrupt party and clarification whether the former premier was targeting him.

“If he's referring to me, I have never lost. My majority is increasing. So who is he referring to specifically?" Noh asked.

In the 13th general election last year, Selangor BN suffered its worst defeat, winning only five parliamentary seats – Sabak Bernam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Tanjong Karang and Sungai Besar – and eight state seats – Sungai Air Tawar, Sungai Panjang, Semenyih, Dengkil, Jeram, Bukit Malawati, Sungai Burong and Permatang.

In another development, Azmin announced the allocation of RM10 million per year to help students from poor families.

He said the state will also introduce a Special Daily Allowances Fund with RM12 million in allocation, to aid those waiting for their National Higher Education Fund Corporation loan.

"All this will be explained further in the upcoming state budget. We have a huge reserve. So don't worry too much about it," he said, adding that education will be a key policy of his administration. – November 8, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/who-is-noh-omar-asks-azmin-as-sis-issue-hots-up#sthash.TQNukmdR.dpuf

The unfortunate lesson from the Selangor MB saga

Voters and politicians take note. The Selangor menteri besar impasse has shown that a sultan can ignore the will of the majority and the wishes of political parties in power and there's little anyone can do about it.

This was the main takeaway from a seminar by constitutional expert Dr Abdul Aziz Bari, an academic who is being investigated for sedition over his remarks on the Selangor sultan’s
conduct.

The seminar was on lessons learnt from the almost two-month impasse, which threw the government of the country's richest state in a tailspin and opened up severe rifts among Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties.

Aziz also said the imbroglio revealed that having laws and a constitution which limited a ruler's ability to meddle in politics and day-to-day governance were not enough to stop one of them from overstepping his boundary.

Yet, Aziz still believed that the Selangor episode was not a reason to abolish the monarchy as morally upright rulers can be a check to autocratic and corrupt elected political leaders.

However, Aziz said there was a huge risk for rulers who intervened in politics and who took sides in a political conflict – it opens them to criticism.

“The point of voting is so that people can choose their representatives and who lead them in government. This is so that (the government) can be evaluated.

“So it is dangerous for rulers to step in. The monarchy should only intervene when it is absolutely necessary.

“When there are clear signs of politicians jumping camp and it is difficult to determine which party is in majority in the legislature,” Aziz told the audience at the seminar organised by publishers GerakBudaya in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

The Selangor constitutional impasse was triggered by the sacking of Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim from his PKR party on August 9.

However, Khalid was kept on as menteri besar by Sultan Sharifuddin Idris Shah until September 22 when Azmin Ali was announced as his replacement. The move was criticised by legal experts as being unconstitutional.

They argued that in the Selangor Constitution, a menteri besar holds the post not at the behest of the sultan but after being chosen by a majority of members of a state legislature.

Aziz repeated this point in the seminar, saying the sultan should have removed Khalid the moment that 30 members of Selangor’s legislative assembly declared support for Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the new menteri besar on August 14.

“If there are already statutory declarations (SD), it is difficult to ignore. Khalid had to resign and the sultan had to choose Wan Azizah,” Aziz said.

Instead, the Selangor sultan ignored the collective voice of 30 state assemblymen and picked a candidate not endorsed by PR – Azmin.

The sultan’s conduct has been questioned by PR politicians and also academics. A number of them, including Universiti Malaya law lecturer Dr Azmi Sharom have been hauled to court under the Sedition Act.

Aziz is still being investigated by police and has yet to be charged.

The Selangor ruler, Aziz said, had taken sides in the feud between PR and Khalid, when he should have remained independent and allowed the politicians to sort it out.

“After Khalid was sacked by PKR, he could get an audience with the sultan. But (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim who was the leader of Pakatan could not get an audience.

“When (Dr) Wan Azizah got 30 SDs she also could not see the sultan. But then the sultan granted an audience with Barisan Nasional chief Datuk Seri Najib Razak.”

Yet, Selangor’s case was not unique. It happened to Umno in Terengganu and Perlis after the 2008 general elections.

In both cases, said Aziz, the respective rulers rejected menteri besar candidates forwarded by the BN chief at the time Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

And then there was the Perak crisis of 2009, when the state ruler chose an MB from BN after a series of controversial defections by three PR lawmakers.

In the 1980s, the then sultan of Johor had even overruled a Shariah Court ruling in a custody case, Aziz said.

“So Selangor is not the first time a sultan acted unilaterally. But it is not necessarily a bad thing.

“In the early 1980s, the sultan of Johor played a role in the removal of an autocratic menteri besar. The same thing occurred in Perak in 1974.”

Aziz said the main reason rulers felt they could choose who would be an MB was because of how they interpreted their discretionary powers.

The various state constitutions stated that the rulers had discretionary powers to choose an MB.

“But discretionary in the sense of the constitution is not the same as in other laws. You have to look at it in totality.

“If a ruler uses his powers to appoint who he wants as menteri besar, then why have elections in the first place?”

In the parliamentary system which Malaysia practises, the head of government is chosen by members of the legislature who are in turn elected by the people, said Aziz.

“That is how the government is accountable to the legislature which in turn is answerable to the people.” – November 9, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/the-unfortunate-lesson-from-the-selangor-mb-saga#sthash.02Vuz2vk.dpuf

Ruling on transgenders 'could undermine Islam'

 

The Court of Appeal decision recognising the rights of transgender people smears the Islamic institutions, says a Muslim Youth Movement (Abim) leader.

Khairul Anwar Ismail, who heads the prominent NGO’s legal bureau, said that if not contained, such moves can be a "virus", which could undermine Islam and its followers.

"The decision truly smears, insults and lowers the standing of religious institutions like the Syariah Courts, the state Islamic affairs departments and the fatwa councils…

"Today’s decision will truly be the worst virus, which could destroy Islam, the identity of Muslim society and that of all people of religion in Malaysia.

"It also destroys Malaysia’s identity as a state with a religion," Khairul Anwar wrote in a posting on Abim’s official Facebook page.

He also raised concern that the Court of Appeal verdict could open floodgates for further legal challenges by the LGBT community, including for same sex marriages.

"The thing we fear the most is that at the pinnacle is the struggle to demand legalising homosexual relationships and to repeal Section 377 of the Penal Code, and legalising same sex marriages and sex changes in the name of freedom and equality," he said.

Section 377 deals with "carnal intercourse against the order of nature", including anal sex, oral sex, with or without consent.

Respect them as humans

Khairul Anwar, nevertheless, stressed that the struggle against the LGBT movement does not equate harming the individuals as they should be respected as human beings.

"It is not right to harm the LGBT people as they are also human but at the same time, they must respect the majority of the country, the majority religion and the rules of this religion," he said.

Yesterday, the Court of Appeal ruled that the Negri Sembilan syariah law contravened the constitutional rights to equality and personal liberty, and the freedoms of movement and expression.

It also said the law which bans cross dressing by men fails to recognise men diagnosed with the Gender Identity Disorder (GID).

According to a Human Rights Watch report released this year, Malaysia is one of the worst places to be transgender.

Among others, the report details harrowing sexual and physical assault sustained by transgender people at the hands of enforcement agencies.

The next 20 things to ban, and more

 

COMMENT I was researching topical materials for this article to be published next month. But the ever so colourful headlines recently have provided enough fodder for this second instalment of the next 20 things to ban in Malaysia, for release now:

1) Signboards of ‘lembu’ crossing - I suggest that all these traffic signages be banned from the roads. In their religion, the ‘lembu’ is never angry but always at peace and thus, (since we need to respect all Malaysians' sensitivities) we must not offend the Hindus. You see, a naive Hindu could mistakenly read the sign as meaning a holy animal is crossing over to another religion.

2) Positive (‘+’) sign - this symbol should be eliminated from Malaysian electronic devices because non-Christians who use them daily, may be fooled into converting to Christianity seeing the crucifix-like symbol appearing ubiquitously as if it’s a calling from God. 

3) Plus highway - this infrastructure should be renamed as ‘Minus’ highway due to its false advertising and again, Christian connotation. Anyone traveling on this Christian themed (‘+’ see above clarification) highway may think that this is indeed the path to heaven and would be sorely disappointed that upon consummation of their journey, instead of 72 dainty virgins at the end, only a decrepit vestibule (toll booth) awaits them.

4) Anchor beer logo - should be banned because the logo has a ‘cross’ at the top of the anchor’s shaft. According to an NGO, non-Christians may be tricked into converting when they drink this liquid as complained recently of a certain branded bottled water. To nail it, I suggest a name change to ‘Screw’ beer. Then, most Malaysians won’t feel shafted by a loose screw or two.

5) RM1 note - this note contains pictures of flying kites. Using these notes may lead us to think that we too can fly or ‘berkhayal’. As we know, ‘khayal’ is a mystical foreign habit, possibly ancient Persian, that may destroy the local culture of lepak-ism. Without our youths busy lepak-ing, how can we get them to lobby for dubious causes for a mere RM60 a day. Certain political parties would find it extremely difficult to find supporters otherwise.

6) Batu Caves - because we can see the cave and the huge Murugan statue from the main road. There are also some Malay and Chinese kampongs nearby. There's a danger that these rakyat may ‘ter-convert’ to Hinduism by looking at these structures.

7) Tourism Ministry - because this ministry is promoting Hindu, Buddhist and Taoist beliefs by encouraging foreigners to visit their places of worship in Malaysia. Innocent Middle Eastern tourists may accidentally convert by visiting such places instead of thronging Bukit Bintang’s redlight areas and contributing to our economy.

8) Cigarettes - sounds extremely hypocritical but there's already a fatwa against smoking but nobody (including all the concerned NGOs) is protesting at all. Similarly, ‘shisha’ should also be banned because there are too many foreign ‘shisha’ vendors when hundreds of highly qualified UiTM graduates are unemployed. As an alternate form of relaxation henceforth, we should pet an amphibian because from recent croaks heard, some wild frogs are feeling rather untouched.

9) Female swimwear - no longer necessary because soon, with Islamic State (IS) wanna-bes operating without restraint in Malaysia, half the population can no longer swim in the seas off Malaysia. I may be royally wrong but my sister is lamenting that such liberal dressing is totally unacceptable in a prudish country like ours. Just stick to track bottoms/bicycle shorts when swimming and ignore the false western health safety warnings, clearly a Zionist plot.

Subconsciously tricked

10) Popular term ‘tambah’ gula/susu/nasi - it's so obvious we are being subconsciously tricked into converting: Tambah = add = ‘+’. See (2) above for those still blur. From now on, to add something, a law shall be enacted to use only the words ‘kasi lebih’ or aptly in English, ‘castrate further’.

11) The half-moon logo - it represents a certain religion’s common symbol. And you know what they say about the moon's influence - it causes insanity. (As noticed recently, these moon watchers in Malaysia make new rules daily). We can’t have confused Confucians who are weak in their ecclesiastical convictions coincidentally converting by craning at the crescent. Completely crazy.

12) Britney Spears - in a certain religion’s manifestations, some of its deities are depicted holding spears. It ‘Should be Easy’ to see that this is a Jewish conspiracy disguising Britney as a Hindu deity (as in Whoopi is a Jew?). Oops, ‘I Did it Again’ but we cannot have the rakyat converting to Hinduism accidentally. It would be a ‘Circus’.

13) 2019 - I suggest Malaysia skips that year as it would definitely offend certain peoples' sensitivity. We should call it the Year after the Year after the Year of the Cock. Even the Year before the Year of the Cock, is one that some doggedly would not touch. Hence, to respect their sensitivities, just let them talk Cock year.

14) Cross junction (‘simpang empat’) - clearly the term was designed to fool some of us into the path of heaven. Henceforth, all cross junctions shall be converted into roundabouts so that all Malaysians can go around in circles to reach our final destination,

15) History - no longer shall we force our kids to study ancient civilisations and global theology. Why do that when we have thousands of local scholars who can rewrite history and spew theologically inspiring edicts currently. The rumour that a local academic may have plagiarised another’s literary content, must be seen positively as flattery to originality and not a lack of intellectual depth.

16) Elections - this western democratic practice is very dangerous because every five years or so, we are forcing millions of Malaysians to mark a ‘cross’ on their ballot paper.  Imagine, some (especially those lucky enough to do it twice or thrice) may be influenced by marking the ‘cross’ and convert. It took a generation of hard work by the administration to change the demographics of one East Malaysian state before and we cannot expect the present government to legally divert resources again to do likewise.

17) Biskut nenas - we Malaysians are a very gullible lot. Though tidbit, eating a cookie named after a woman of loose morals may lead us to be as promiscuous. At this point, I also propose renaming the popular non-halal dish (which landed Alvivi in hot soup) because Bah Good Teh can mislead East Malaysians into thinking they are drinking an excellent Cameronian brew. Not to make a storm in a tea cup but if we can recently coin ‘padang kereta’ as ‘parkir’, the proposed renaming would be just a cup of tea.

Allow all to copy each other

18) Independent examinations - because in Malaysia, we have embraced capitalism better than anywhere else and only here, the laws of supply and demand work like textbook. There's always a method to procure solutions commercially.

Since we now have to spend something like RM44,000 per CCTV camera to keep watch over safe rooms, instead of wasting millions (maybe billions) by awarding negotiated contracts, let’s just ban such examination security measures.

Instead, we should allow all candidates to copy each other, or bring books into the examination halls. This way, we will encourage multi-racial comingling our our young minds and indeed, with the heavy books they have to carry, this will also lend appropriate meaning to exercise books.

Besides, we are already doing this in certain matriculation classes and places of higher yearning so all we need to do now is to extend this excellent practice nationally and save the money for the rakyat,

19) English-medium schools - this type of school is very disruptive. You can’t teach young minds to be racist, religiously militant, racially superior, economically selfish and socially rent seeking in schools where the students tend to speak in English mostly. To succeed in Malaysia today, you need to have all the aforementioned qualities, all that are served plentifully in a certain vernacular school type.

A nation of well-spoken and intellectually reasonable young adults, is not going to help in achieving national goals. Luckily we have the Biro Tatanegara where the principles of universal justice and notions of social equality can be thoroughly disabused from the minds of students from English/vernacular schools, and, made on par with those from local medium schools. Forget about long-term effects when short term goals are achieved.

20) Rukunegara - because paragraph (5) says “mutual respect and good social behaviour”. Obviously, totally outrageous and not applicable because neither of these tenets are practised in Malaysia.

I do realise that I've been proposing several bans so to be fair, I also have a couple of proposals that I suggest  implementing as follows.

a) Aquatic runways - in future, all airport runway infrastructure must include swimming (only for men of course) facilities. This is because, with so much experience in ‘ponding’, Malaysian contractors are now experts and can expand the runway linked ponds into pools without significant incremental cost. We will indeed be envied by the Dutch (again) for Malaysia Boleh!

b) Graduate School of Stupidity - I know an honourable MIC leader had proposed an Act of Stupidity. Before they graduate and hence for his proposed Act to apply, we must have a school for students to learn the art of stupidity.

From initial research, it looks like we will have to have a very large school, and indeed, most can start at the post graduate level. From reviewing the level of stupidity exhibited by many politicians, senior civil servants and several NGO leaders, it appears that they are likely Masters of Stupidity. Hence, I think we may have to start doctoral classes for them.

Some, have got double PhDs in stupidity for sure. A self-serving convert who masquerades as an academic comes to mind. He keeps company with a minister who recently created the possibility of aquatic runways. Of course, I won't turn my back on a failed academic who now seeks infamy by blasphemy. Indeed, the school may have more potential applicants than available space.

Related story

Top 20 things to ban in Malaysia

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RAMESH RAJARATNAM watches with amusement the headliners in Malaysia and offers his alternate views.

Beaten to death over RM500

An Indian national beat a cook to death because of a RM500 loan the latter refused to pay.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: A cook from India was beaten to death by his fellow countryman for allegedly not paying a debt of RM500 in an incident in Jalan Tun Sambanthan here Saturday.

Brickfields police chief ACP Muhammad Azlee Abdullah said the body of Hukumdev Sah Raghunath Sah, 39, was found in the restaurant’s toilet, which was locked from outside.

“No stab wound was found on the body. A man of Indian nationality and in his 20s, was arrested in a nearby shop in connection with the incident.

“Initial investigations found that the victim owed the suspect RM500 and refused to repay the debt, hence causing a fight between them,” he told reporters here.

He said in the 1.47pm incident, the suspect was said to have punched the victim on the face and chest, which caused the latter to pass out, before dragging him into the toilet and locking the door.

The body was taken to Universiti Malaya Medical Centre for a post mortem and the case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

– BERNAMA

Khairy, BAM there for Chong Wei every step of the way

Youth and Sports Ministry will work with BAM to ensure Chong Wei gets minimal punishment.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) will continue to work with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to ensure national badminton ace Lee Chong Wei receives the minimum punishment after failing a doping test, said its minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said the ministry would also do its best to assist Chong Wei to avoid a long lay off which would affect his world number one ranking, which the ace has been holding the last few years.

Khairy, who had met up with Chong Wei earlier Saturday, said he hoped the national icon would weather this “black episode” in his life.

“I came to know about this since August 2 (when Chong Wei was alleged to have failed the doping test on his Sample A) and I coordinated all investigations together with the National Sports Institute (ISN) and BAM, including meeting him.

“So, we will continue to work with BAM in investigating this case until the Badminton World Federation’s hearing into it,” he told reporters after opening Dewina Super Froyo Sdn Bhd’s third TCBY yogurt ice-cream outlet here.

Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) deputy president Norza Zakaria had told a media conference here earlier today that Chong Wei was confirmed as testing positive for the banned substance, ‘dexamethasone’ in his ‘Sample B’ test conducted at the Oslo University Hospital in Norway on Wednesday.

He said he received the official result from the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Friday.

Norza said the case would be referred to the BWF doping hearing panel and the decision on punishment would be known in two weeks.

Chong Wei will likely face a two-year suspension by the World Anti-Doping Agency if he fails in his appeal to BWF.

Elaborating further, Khairy said BAM had hired lawyer Mike Morgan of England, who is skilled in sports law, to help in the issue.

BWF, however, has not decided on a date and place to hear Chong Wei’s side of the story.

Meanwhile, Khairy said he hoped no one would point fingers at ISN, which was supposed to have a medical specialist overseeing medication taken by Chong Wei.

“It will be difficult if each athlete has to be watched over by a medical specialist. In this case, Chong Wei was referred to a private specialist clinic, and this was not the first time he received treatment there.

“The clinic is on the panel of ISN, so it is too early to make conclusions on the role of the ISN in this case,” he explained.

Local media, prior to this, reported that Chong Wei was linked to a doping scandal after ‘dexamethasone’ was found in his urine during a random test at the World Championship in Copenhagen, Denmark in August.

‘Dexamethasone’ is a steroid medicine with an anti-inflammation effect for treating various health problems, including rheumatology.

- BERNAMA

Beat Isis on its turf, fight them online, experts tell Muslims

The militant group known as Islamic State (Isis) successfully recruited hundreds of Muslims, including Malaysians, for its terror attacks by capitalising on social media and online propaganda, but experts believe that civil society can reclaim the Internet and beat the terrorist group at its own game.

“The challenge of the Isis propaganda is that it is appealing, sexy, counter-cultural, anti-establishment,” said Abdul-Rehman Malik, a London-based journalist, educator and organiser.

“The role of us in civil society is to be savvier about what Isis is, and to subvert their narrative through humour, through bold moves.”

He told The Malaysian Insider that this responsibility did not have to lie with the government alone, but any person who had access to the Internet could join the fight against Isis.

Rehman has spent nearly a decade leading a British non-governmental organisation (NGO) called Radical Middle Way, which utilises Internet forums to engage British youths to counter the jihadist message.

“We need to tell everyone the truth about how many Muslims are killed by groups like al-Qaeda and Isis. People tend to pay attention to the Western journalists or the Western aid workers that were killed.

“But thousands of Muslims are being murdered by these people, and they have made it clear that when Bashar al-Assad falls, they will turn on other Muslims,” he said.

He spoke to The Malaysian Insider after taking part in a roundtable discussion on Setting Up of Task Force to Address the Issue of Extremism and Terrorism through Social Media at the Global Movement of Moderates Foundation yesterday.

Another participant Noor Huda Ismail, an Indonesian who has helped integrate over a dozen ex-terrorists into society through his NGO, Institute for International Peace Building, said that most of them were duped into fighting for the cause of Islam.

“Most people, who travel there, do not have a comprehensive picture of what is going on. They initially travel together to fight, to defend the Muslims.

“But when they arrive in the Middle East, they are split among groups like Jabhah al-nusrah and Isis and they fight among themselves,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Rehman said that alternative narratives should exist in social media that would drown out Isis’s romanticised image of jihad.

The Internet is rife with blogs, Facebook pages and Twitter accounts of Muslims claiming to be in Iraq and Syria where they lure supporters to “make hijrah” and garner interest in their cause by detailing their daily lives in the Islamic State.

One such blog is “Diary of a Traveler” – in it, a self-professed Malaysian doctor named “Shams” chronicles her life married to an Isis fighter as well as the heartache and joy she experiences living in “the land of Khilafah”.

Rehman conceded that the narratives of humanitarian aid work may not be as appealing and sexy as that of taking up arms and waging war in a foreign country to achieve martyrdom.

“But let’s use our resources not just to make it appealing, but to tell the compelling stories of aid workers, people in camps, people who are doctors who have gone into Syria to treat others, or fighters that are not allied with Bashar al-Assad. We need to be more creative and bold.”

Ross Frenett, a terrorism analyst at the London-based think tank, Institute for Strategic Dialogue, said it was important for the public, including the private sector, not to see the fight against terrorism as just a government problem.

“The government needs to focus less on taking content down, and more on empowering people to actually fight the battle of ideas,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

“NGOs need to be a bit more braver and more willing to challenge Isis and these kind of affiliated groups online, whether it’s through direct counter-messaging or education.”

He added that the private sector could get involved and empower the “credible voices”, rather than take a back seat in the fight against Isis.

The experts also suggested that the government look into engaging with terrorists who returned from Isis and were willing to speak against their former colleagues.

“These are not evil people, and a lot of them come back saying ‘wow, it wasn’t like what we thought it would be. We had such high intentions and hope, but what we saw was horrible’,” said Rehman.

“Instead of criminalising these people, we should be engaging with them. They are the best response to Isis. When they say ‘we went to Syria and we saw everything, and Isis doesn’t say what it actually is’, isn’t that much more powerful?”

Frenett agreed that the government should capitalise on such former terrorists, but stressed that criminal action should also be taken against them.

“When people get back, there needs to be an avenue through people who become disenchanted while in Syria and Iraq to face appropriate criminal action.

“But if they’re willing to come back and speak against their former colleagues I think we need to see some of these people as a resource rather than a threat. So, law enforcement must be involved, but we need to tweak our approach a bit.”

Noor Huda said that those who took up arms in the name of religion were usually below the age of 25, and were not “criminals” but driven to fight for misguided reasons.

His own former Muslim boarding school roommate was involved in the 2005 Bali Bombing, while three other former schoolmates carried out suicide attacks in Indonesia, Syria and Iraq.

Noor Huda dedicates his time helping former combatants and after several failed attempts, he was able to open a café in 2009 that allowed the convicted terrorists to rehabilitate and integrate into society.

“Some of them who make the decision to get involved in violence are below 25 or even 20. They are still young. So the Malaysian government should only detain them as a temporary measure.

“They were driven by religious reasons, they are not criminals. So we have to help them to integrate into society and find their calling in life,” he said. – November 8, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/beat-isis-on-its-turf-fight-them-online-experts-tell-muslims#sthash.XIUnO1CU.dpuf

Najib To Head Malaysian Delegation At 22nd APEC AEIM Meeting

Datuk Seri Najib Tun RazakFrom Azlina Aziz

BEIJING, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will be leading the Malaysian delegation to the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM) to be held here from Nov 10 to 11.

The 22nd AELM will be chaired by President Xi Jinping of China, with the theme "Shaping the Future through Asia-Pacific Partnership", said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement released here.

It is preceded by the 26th APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM) on Nov 7-8 and the

26th APEC Concluding Senior Officials' Meeting (CSOM) on Nov 5-6.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, will be accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Datuk Hamzah Zainudin, as well as senior officials from the Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of International Trade and Industry.

During the 22nd AELM, the prime minister is scheduled to deliberate on the three priorities of APEC 2014: advancing regional economic integration; promoting innovative development, economic reform and growth; and strengthening comprehensive connectivity and infrastructure development.

Apart from exchanging views with other leaders on these issues, Najib will also explore new and innovative ideas to further enhance cooperation among APEC economies.

Among others, the premier is also expected to reiterate Malaysia's support towards APEC's work on connectivity aimed at achieving a better connected Asia-Pacific region and welcome the APEC Connectivity Blueprint, which will assist the economies to undertake targeted programmes.

The outcome of the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will be documented in the APEC Economic Leaders' Declaration, said the statement.

Najib will hold several bilateral meetings with his counterparts on the margins of the Summit, to discuss bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.

The AELM, an annual summit attended by Heads of Government of the 21 Pacific Rim member economies, plays a vital role in promoting trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region.

The APEC forum is regarded as one of the major platforms to discuss regional economic cooperation, trade and investment which can simultaneously strengthen bilateral relations among member economies.

Established in 1989, APEC's three main objectives are to develop and strengthen the multilateral trading system; to increase the interdependence and prosperity of member economies; and to promote sustainable economic growth.