Friday, 7 November 2014
Islamic State crisis: The 13-year-old on 'righteous path'
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| Mohamed's brother was trained to fight by the al-Nusra group in Syria |
In a cramped living room in southern Turkey, a 13-year-old boy is training to join Islamic State.
As he welcomes us in, he appears a regular, happy-looking child: his hair is ruffled, his smile beaming, he wears a grey, hooded sweater.
But as we sit down to talk, he heads next door to change, returning in a black balaclava and military-style camouflage top.
He wants to be known as "Abu Hattab".
Born in Syria, he was first radicalised last year, joining the jihadist group Sham al-Islam.
'Behead them'
He had Sharia lessons and learned how to use weapons, proudly showing us pictures in which he takes aim with machine guns.
Now he spends his days online, watching jihadist videos and chatting on Facebook to IS fighters.
Within weeks, he says, he'll go to the IS stronghold of Raqqa in Syria to become a young jihadi soldier.
"I like Islamic State because they pursue Sharia and kill infidels, non-Sunnis and those who converted from Islam," he says.
"The people killed by Islamic State are American agents. We must behead them as Allah said in the Koran."
I ask whether he has disclosed his age to those to whom he talks online.
"At the start, I didn't," he says.
"But recently I told them - and now they contact me even more, sending me photos and news."
But why not simply enjoy his childhood, I ask?
"I don't want to go out with friends or have fun. Allah ordered us to work and fight for the next life - for paradise. Before, I went to the park or the seaside.
"But then I realised I was wrong - and I've taken the righteous path."
'Evil powers'
His family now lives in Turkey - so would he launch an attack here, or in Britain for example?
"Britain should be attacked because it's in Nato and is against Islamic State," he says, "but we would kill only those who deserve it. If they ask me to attack Turkey and give me a holy order, I would do it. Soon the West will be finished."
At home, he and his mother, who wants to be known as Fatima, lead a devout life.
She spends much of her time studying the Koran and admits strong sympathies for the militants.
Last year, she sent her son for training with Sham al-Islam - but denies brainwashing him.
"I never encouraged him to join Islamic State," she insists.
"I support some of their beliefs but not others. But I think they came to help the Syrian people - unlike the evil powers around the world."
'Future leader'
If she's not encouraging him, I ask, what is she doing to stop her son losing his childhood to extreme violence?
"I can't stop him if he wants to fight," she says.
"War makes children grow up fast. I want him to become a future leader - an emir."
Steadily her voice grows in intensity, her eyes narrowing in anger above the scarf she uses to cover her face.
"I would not be sad if he killed Westerners. I'm ashamed that my other sons are working peacefully for civil society groups - they must take up arms."
How would she feel, I ask, if he dies fighting for Islamic State?
She pauses. "I would be so happy," she replies, before bowing her head to cry.
Read More: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29921816
Afghanistan: Protect 10-year Old Rape Survivor from Honor Killing
Months ago, police removed Brishna from the Women for Afghan Women’s shelter and returned her to her family, where she is at grave risk of an “honor killing.” The director of Women for Afghan Women, Dr. Hassina Sarwari, has also been threatened by the girl’s family and powerful members of her community for protecting Brishna. She too fears for her life.
Discrimination against women is endemic in Afghanistan, and authorities routinely fail to protect survivors and human rights defenders or to ensure judicial due process. Join us in calling for full protection for Brishna and Dr. Sarwari, effective investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators, and criminalization of “honor” killings. Learn more
Please sign your petition here
Policeman uses axe to kill blasphemy accused: officials
LAHORE: A policeman used an axe to kill a man arrested for allegedly committing blasphemy, Tufail Haider, a 50-year-old member of the Shia sect, was arrested for allegedly making derogatory remarks toward the companions of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and brought to the Civil Lines police station in the eastern city of Gujrat on Wednesday.
“Tufail was kept in the lock-up but he continued uttering derogatory remarks and hurled abuse at policemen. He looked like a malang (wandering preacher) and seemed mentally imbalanced,” duty officer Ali Raza told AFP.
“Assistant Sub-Inspector Faraz Naveed, 36, became very angry on hearing the derogatory remarks against the companions of the Prophet (PBUH) and he killed the detainee with an axe in the lock up,” he added.
Naveed has been arrested and legal proceedings have been started against him, he added.
Around 1,000 Shias have been killed in the past two years in Pakistan, a heavy toll on the community that makes up roughly 20 per cent of the country’s 180 million-strong population, most of whom are Muslim.
There has been a recent surge in extra-judicial killings linked to Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.
A Christian bonded labourer and his pregnant wife were killed Tuesday for alleged desecrating pages of the Holy Quran in the eastern village of Chak 59, sparking condemnation from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
A Christian woman, Aasia Bibi, who has been on death row since November 2010 after she was found guilty of making derogatory remarks about Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) during an argument with a Muslim woman lost an appeal last month.
The latest incident also has shades of the shooting in September of an elderly British man with severe mental illness, who was sentenced to death for blasphemy in January.
An internal investigation has found that the guard had been radicalised and goaded into the shooting by Mumtaz Qadri, a police bodyguard who murdered the Punjab governor in 2011 for suggesting reform of the blasphemy laws.
In Gujrat alone, three persons have been killed on the account of police torture.
Just last month, an individual on a Rawalpindi-bound train was beaten to death by police after a fight broke out between him and another passenger.
While on October 4, police allegedly tortured a woman to death during a raid in Sargodha.
Saiful a Barisan supporter who hated Anwar, Sri Ram tells court
The carpet where Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim allegedly sodomised his former aide was used to highlight more gaps in the prosecution's arguments in the defence's closing statement of Anwar's appeal against his sodomy conviction at the Federal Court this afternoon.
Lead counsel Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram began wrapping up the defence's closing statement by using the carpet to show that the complainant, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, was not a credible witness.
The carpet had been seized by police from a condominium unit, number 11-5-2, which was not where the alleged crime had occurred. The carpet also did not yield any forensic evidence to the alleged crime.
Saiful's charge against Anwar was that the opposition leader had sodomised him in unit 11-5-1 of a condominium in Bukit Damansara on June 26, 2008.
Sri Ram said the carpet could have been moved from one unit to the other, but there was no evidence to this effect. The two units were also not connected from the inside.
In order for the alleged sodomy to have taken place, Sri Ram said, the carpet had to be found in the right unit or there had to be at least evidence that the carpet was moved.
He told the apex court's panel of five judges that the carpet had perhaps been moved by "flying cows", and added, "I don't believe in flying cows".
Sri Ram said that without the carpet, the prosecution had no case against Anwar as the carpet was central to Saiful's claim.
The retired federal court judge also submitted that Saiful was adding "salt and pepper" to his claims.
He said Saiful ultimately contradicted himself by testifying that the door of the unit was locked from inside while the alleged sodomy happened. Yet, he also testified that they had tea and curry puffs after the alleged incident.Sri Ram questioned how the food and drink had been brought to the unit if the door was locked from the inside.
He also rebutted the prosecution's claim that Anwar had used "Machiavellian" techniques to control Saiful, and also claimed that Saiful "idolised" Anwar.
Sri Ram submitted that Saiful "hated" Anwar, based on evidence from his posts on his Friendster account.
Saiful had put up posts which showed he was pro-Barisan Nasional, he told the court.
Saiful's friend, named Najwan, was also called to testify in the trial and he had said that Saiful could not be trusted.
"Najwan had even emailed Anwar to warn him of Saiful," said Sri Ram.
The prosecution, however, had dismissed this evidence, calling Najwan "jealous" of Saiful as he was working for the opposition leader.
Sri Ram urged the court to take Najwan's testimony seriously, as it debunked the prosecution's claim that Anwar and Saiful had a "relationship".
To the prosecution's claims that a luxury suit, perks and allowances given to Saiful were proof of a relationship, Sri Ram said that during trial Saiful produced in court what he claimed was the pants from a Brioni suit, but the pants had no label. The jacket of the supposed suit was also never produced.
"Evidence that he was given an expensive suit can no longer hold water," Sri Ram said, adding that all claims about perks and allowances had come from Saiful only, whose credibility was now in question.
The lead counsel also submitted that Saiful was not as innocent as made out to be and referred the court to the affair he allegedly had with a female public prosecutor during the trial.
"He seduced her to get confidential information," Sri Ram said.
Rebutting other points raised by the prosecution, Sri Ram cast doubt on the lubricant allegedly used during the sexual act, which had been cited as evidence that the sodomy took place.
Sri Ram said the investigating officer Supt Jude Pereira had at first refused the gel given to him as evidence by Saiful, but the next day took it for investigation purposes.
"Added to the fact was that no trace of the jelly was found on the carpet (where the alleged sodomy occurred)," he said.
On the lack of alibi witnesses called, Sri Ram said no adverse inference should be drawn against Anwar for this. The defence's 13 alibi witnesses initially named were not called after one was allegedly harassed by the police.
"We were unable to go forward because our witnesses had been scuttled," he submitted, adding that the prosecution could have produced video evidence of the police questioning to prove that there was no harassment, but they failed to do so.
Sri Ram said Anwar in his unsworn statement from the dock during the trial had denied committing the crime.
He reminded the court that Malaysian law recognised the right of the accused to make a statement from the dock, and no adverse inference should be made from this.
Sri Ram's last point this evening was to defend the first doctor who examined Saiful after the alleged sodomy, Dr Mohd Osman Abdul Hamid, who found that there was no evidence of penile penetration.
Dr Osman had instead found that a plastic object had been inserted into Saiful's anus, based on Saiful's own claim during the medical examination.
The doctor had no motive for fabricating that piece of information in his written report of the examination, Sri Ram said, as he was no longer in Malaysia having returned to Myanmar, his home country.
The defence has not finished making its closing reply and Sri Ram will continue tomorrow when the hearing resumes at 3pm.
It will be the eighth day of this hearing, the longest any criminal appeal has been heard at the Federal Court in Malaysia. – November 6, 2014.
*Reporting by Tarani Palani, The Edge Financial Daily.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/no-carpet-no-case-says-defence-in-anwars-sodomy-appeal#sthash.Da8pi4iS.dpuf
13-year-old among those killed in Cameron flood
The bodies of R Punesh, a student of Sekolah Menengah Kampung Raja, here, and an Indonesian vegetable farm worker, Anipan, 48, were found at 8.45am and 9.20am, respectively.
Cameron
Highlands district police chief Wan Mohd Zahari Wan Busu confirmed that
to date, only three people were killed while five others were injured
in the 6.30pm incident yesterday.He said the body of the student was found by a security team and villagers about five kilometres from where he drowned in Sungai Telom, Kampung Raja.
Meanwhile, Anipan's body was found buried under a metre of earth.
"The victim is believed to have failed in his attempt to escape from the landslide," he said.
Wan Mohd Zahari said during the incident, Anipan's wife, known as Tsunami, 41, managed to escape and was unhurt.
He said the landslide also buried the kongsi house occupied by Anipan and his wife.
According to him, the flash flood affected 203 people from 47 families in Kampung Baru and Lembah Bertam, with 20 houses and 20 vehicles damaged.
"The
management of the Sultan Abu Bakar Dam had announced to the police
about releasing water via Sungai Bertam when the water level reached
35.9 feet due to heavy rain."To avoid any untoward incident, the residents were evacuated to the community hall in Ringlet and the operation was completed at 8pm.
"At the moment, the situation is under control and the weather is fine," he said.
Yesterday, a Nepalese vegetable farm worker, Md Yousuf Miya, 66, who also died in the incident, was found buried in Jalan Ulu Merah, Ringlet, at 8.30pm.
Wan Mohd Zahari said heavy rain over the area from 6pm to 7pm yesterday also resulted in the kongsi house shared by Md Yousuf and his friend Iswandi Nahrowi, 40, buried.
He said Yousuf's body was successfully removed from the mound of earth while his friend suffered a broken leg.The dead bodies and those injured were sent to Sultanah Hajah Kalsom Hospital in Tanah Rata.
The search and rescue operation involved the police (37), Fire and Rescue Department (15), Civil Defence Department (24), Rela (35), Drainage and Irrigation Department (two), Tenaga Nasional Berhad (eight), and Cameron Highlands District Council (12), and would he aided by soldiers from the Tapah Camp.
Last year, Ringlet Lake in Lembah Bertam, here, overflowed, causing a mud flood, killing four people and damaging more than 100 houses.
- Bernama
Vell Paari: Enact 'Stupidity Act' to rescue Malaysia
According to Vell Paari, a 'Stupidity Act' will "rescue Malaysia from being ruined by ignorant imbeciles".
The MIC strategy director was referring to the police report by the Malaysian Muslim Consumer Association (PPIM) on mineral water bottles featuring the image of Batu Caves and Hindu deity Lord Muruga, supposedly next to the "halal" logo.
The image was one of numerous iconic locations affixed on the bottles as part of a tourism campaign.Vell Paari said the incident reminded him of a conversation he had with a foreigner who converted to Islam.
"When I asked him the reason for doing so, he told me that he was inspired after reading an English version of the Quran, which in a nutshell, he described as promising man that despite whatever nonsense happens, something good would emerge in the end," he added.
Similarly, Vell Paari said, "something good" had come to light from PPIM's "nonsensical" objection.
He described this as Hindus being alerted to the issue.
"Being a Hindu myself, I am outraged over the placement of the image of Lord Muruga on the bottles which would end up in trash bins after the contents are consumed.
"I would be similarly upset to find the images of other places of worship in trash bins as well.
"However, I do understand that the company had embarked on the campaign with the good intention of promoting Malaysia's tourism spots," Vell Paari added in a media statement.
He said perhaps the Muslim consumer group should also file a police report against the Tourism Ministry for citing Batu Caves as among the locations to visit or perhaps even urge it to exclude non-Muslims from tourism paraphernalia.
Belittling Muslims
As for the argument that placing Lord Muruga's image next to the "halal" logo might "confuse" Muslims, Vell Paari said this showed how "confused" PPIM is about the faith of Muslims.
"Its argument only serves to belittle Muslims by giving the impression that after drinking from the particular mineral water bottle, a Muslim might resort to carrying the 'kavadi' during Thaipusam in a state of 'confusion'," he added.
Vell Paari also expressed disappointment over the recent protest with regard to the construction of a church in Sunway.
"I
view these incidents as a sign of desperation among those who realise
that race and religion can no longer be used as tools of control."It is said that when a creature is under attack, that is when it is most ferocious.
"Similarly with moderate voices gaining ground (in Malaysia), the conservative and narrow-minded forces are clawing for survival," he added.
Vell Paari also pointed out that posters to promote tourism often depicted Malaysia as being rich in diversity with people of all races and faiths living together in harmony.
"But unfortunately, Malaysia is now making international news for being a land rich in intolerance with the constant playing up of an 'us versus them' agenda between the Muslims and non-Muslims as well as Malays and non-Malays.
"However, it would be foolish to think that change can be stopped," he said.
No Sedition Act on 'deity' bottle issue, says Nazri
After Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM) called on the police to investigate the producer of the mineral water bottle, the tourism and culture minister called for sanity to prevail.
PPIM lodged a police report yesterday, saying that the printing of the image of a Hindu deity next to the halal logo is "seditious" and "insensitive" to Muslims.
"I don't know if the group wants to hang the manager, lah. I don't know, lah," Nazri said as he burst into laughter when asked to comment on the group lodging a police report on the issue.
"Let's be sane, people. We just withdraw it (the label). That's it."We are a country of sane people. The whole country is not an asylum, having insane people making lots of noise.
"You just register your unhappiness, that's it; we take action, we withdraw," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.
He stressed the company that produced the controversial label had no ill-intention at all when it placed that image near the 'halal' logo.
"There is no intention at all to insult Islam. It was done to promote tourism in the country... surely, there are places of interest that are religious places."
To appease those who are unhappy with the image, Nazri said, the ministry would withdraw bottles with the deity picture and adjust the halal logo.
'In a denial syndrome'
On another matter, Nazri also said the numbers of Chinese tourists to the country declined after the MH370 tragedy.
This
situation was further worsened after several kidnapping cases took
place in Sabah, he added, and at the same time pointed out that many
people were reluctant to concede that Sabah was a dangerous place to go
to.Therefore, he described this to be a "denial syndrome" among Malaysians.
"I also do not dare to give promises that the places (such as Sabah) are safe and under control. The situation is still dangerous.
"We are in a habit of denying... please do not put other people's lives in danger," Nazri added.
Right to be offended
Meanwhile, Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) said calls for the company to be investigated under the Sedition Act proved the need for the Act to be repealed.
“Such calls (as those made by PPIM) are both worrying and farcical”
“It is the right of any group to be offended by the actions or words of others. However, this does not mean that every offending statement should be punishable by law,” said CIJ in a statement today.
As such, actions that do not advocate hatred and incite discrimination, hostility or violence should not warrant legal punishment, it added.
The CIJ thus called upon the government to stop “feeding unhealthy racial and religious sentiment and instead to demonstrate leadership by calling for understanding and respect”.
We are challenging the process, not the fatwa, says SIS
The group clarified its position after the Sultan of Selangor said that religious edicts in the state are issued with his consent.
The group's founding member Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir said that the judicial review the group has filed aims to get an explanation on the reasoning for the fatwa that declared the NGO as deviating from Islam
"We were not informed when the fatwa was passed or even after it was gazetted," said Marina at a press conference today.
"Once it is gazetted and if we don't challenge it, it becomes a law and if we contravene the law, it is a crime.
"How would we know we were contravening it if we didn't know about it, and it so happened that we came across it by chance, 10 days before the deadline," she said.
On Friday, SIS filed for a judicial review on a gazetted fatwa in Selangor that declared the group of deviating from Islam.
SIS executive director Ratna Osman said they were filing the challenge as the fatwa – which was gazetted on July 31 - was issued without the group being told or questioned..
The three-month grace period to review a fatwa ended the day SIS filed the judicial review.
The group named the Selangor Fatwa Committee, the Mais and the state government as respondents at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/we-are-challenging-the-process-not-the-fatwa-says-sis#sthash.Xd9Jv9DM.dpuf
Sultan on fatwas: Don’t question what I have approved
The Sultan says every fatwa issued in Selangor carries his personal stamp of approval.
FMT
SHAH ALAM: Making a firm stand about fatwas issued in Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said no one had the right to question or criticise a fatwa as each had his prior personal and full consent.
“A fatwa is only issued in Selangor after it has obtained my full approval and consent,” he said.
He added, “I urge Muslims to refrain from being too quick about criticising fatwas that are issued without first comprehending it fully.”
The Sultan said he offered this advice in order to prevent any untoward conflicts among Muslims in regard to the administration of Islamic affairs in Selangor.
He added, “…this is to preserve the dignity of Islam and prevent the religion from being easily ridiculed or disputed by irresponsible parties.”
Reminding the people that a fatwa was only issued after receiving consensus from all who sat on the National Fatwa Council, the Sultan explained that the Mufti of Selangor worked with scholars and professionals who were experts on not only Islamic matters but legal affairs as well.
“They discuss (fatwas) and determine the law, taking into consideration all the laws of the Quran, the Hadith and other related material.”
He added that he did not want the peace, unity and development of the people to be destroyed by those who were fanatical simply because they were influenced by external elements that were extremist in nature.
He said this in response to Sisters in Islam having filed a judicial review against a fatwa issued against them, branding them as deviant.
SHAH ALAM: Making a firm stand about fatwas issued in Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said no one had the right to question or criticise a fatwa as each had his prior personal and full consent.
“A fatwa is only issued in Selangor after it has obtained my full approval and consent,” he said.
He added, “I urge Muslims to refrain from being too quick about criticising fatwas that are issued without first comprehending it fully.”
The Sultan said he offered this advice in order to prevent any untoward conflicts among Muslims in regard to the administration of Islamic affairs in Selangor.
He added, “…this is to preserve the dignity of Islam and prevent the religion from being easily ridiculed or disputed by irresponsible parties.”
Reminding the people that a fatwa was only issued after receiving consensus from all who sat on the National Fatwa Council, the Sultan explained that the Mufti of Selangor worked with scholars and professionals who were experts on not only Islamic matters but legal affairs as well.
“They discuss (fatwas) and determine the law, taking into consideration all the laws of the Quran, the Hadith and other related material.”
He added that he did not want the peace, unity and development of the people to be destroyed by those who were fanatical simply because they were influenced by external elements that were extremist in nature.
He said this in response to Sisters in Islam having filed a judicial review against a fatwa issued against them, branding them as deviant.
Najib must censure Razlan for Chinese school remark
DAP says Chinese schools enjoy more diverse enrolment consisting of all races and there are statistics to prove it.
FMT
IPOH: Chinese national-type schools (SJKC) are open to all Malaysians and is the most diverse type of school, therefor making Federal Territory Umno Youth chief Mohd Razlan Muhammad Rafii’s accusations baseless, Perak DAP Economic Development Bureau chief Chong Zhemin said today.
Chong said Mohd Razlan was wrong when he said Chinese schools were “dangerous” if it created enclaves where people could get by without speaking the national language.
He said during the MCA annual general assembly last month, Prime Minister Najib Razak defended Chinese primary schools saying that SJKC were guaranteed and protected under the Federal Constitution.
“It is now time for Najib to walk the talk and immediately censure Mohd Razlan for launching a scathing attack on SJKC to prove that he is not a hypocrite and meant every word he said during the MCA annual general assembly,” he said.
He challenged Najib to “walk the talk” or risk being exposed as double-faced – saying one thing in front of MCA delegates but another in front of Umno members.
He said Chinese schools were not only open to all Malaysians regardless of race and religion but also the most diverse and inclusive Malaysian school.
According to the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025, there are 94% of Bumiputera students in national primary schools, 88% of Chinese students in Chinese primary schools, 100% of Indian students in Tamil primary schools and 100% of Bumiputera students in religious schools.
Chong said compared with 6% of non-Bumiputera students in national primary schools, Chinese primary schools had 12% of non-Chinese students which made it the most diverse and inclusive of Malaysian schools.
According to Jiao Zong’s survey conducted in December last year, there are 30 Chinese primary schools where more than 70% of the students are non-Chinese.
Out of 356 Chinese primary schools surveyed, there are 314 Chinese primary schools with non-Chinese students.
Chong said in a press statement all these statistics proved that Mohd Razlan’s accusation on Chinese national-type schools were baseless and unsubstantiated.
“I would like to remind Mohd Razlan that the Barisan Nasional education policy since Malaysia independence was to ‘stop’ vernacular schools. No new Chinese or Tamil primary schools are allowed to be built unless an old school was shut down.
“I call on Putrajaya to abolish this discriminative, absurd and unreasonable education policy and allow Chinese and Tamil primary schools to be built according to needs.
“There is nothing political in making this call as education needs must stand above politics,” he added.
IPOH: Chinese national-type schools (SJKC) are open to all Malaysians and is the most diverse type of school, therefor making Federal Territory Umno Youth chief Mohd Razlan Muhammad Rafii’s accusations baseless, Perak DAP Economic Development Bureau chief Chong Zhemin said today.
Chong said Mohd Razlan was wrong when he said Chinese schools were “dangerous” if it created enclaves where people could get by without speaking the national language.
He said during the MCA annual general assembly last month, Prime Minister Najib Razak defended Chinese primary schools saying that SJKC were guaranteed and protected under the Federal Constitution.
“It is now time for Najib to walk the talk and immediately censure Mohd Razlan for launching a scathing attack on SJKC to prove that he is not a hypocrite and meant every word he said during the MCA annual general assembly,” he said.
He challenged Najib to “walk the talk” or risk being exposed as double-faced – saying one thing in front of MCA delegates but another in front of Umno members.
He said Chinese schools were not only open to all Malaysians regardless of race and religion but also the most diverse and inclusive Malaysian school.
According to the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025, there are 94% of Bumiputera students in national primary schools, 88% of Chinese students in Chinese primary schools, 100% of Indian students in Tamil primary schools and 100% of Bumiputera students in religious schools.
Chong said compared with 6% of non-Bumiputera students in national primary schools, Chinese primary schools had 12% of non-Chinese students which made it the most diverse and inclusive of Malaysian schools.
According to Jiao Zong’s survey conducted in December last year, there are 30 Chinese primary schools where more than 70% of the students are non-Chinese.
Out of 356 Chinese primary schools surveyed, there are 314 Chinese primary schools with non-Chinese students.
Chong said in a press statement all these statistics proved that Mohd Razlan’s accusation on Chinese national-type schools were baseless and unsubstantiated.
“I would like to remind Mohd Razlan that the Barisan Nasional education policy since Malaysia independence was to ‘stop’ vernacular schools. No new Chinese or Tamil primary schools are allowed to be built unless an old school was shut down.
“I call on Putrajaya to abolish this discriminative, absurd and unreasonable education policy and allow Chinese and Tamil primary schools to be built according to needs.
“There is nothing political in making this call as education needs must stand above politics,” he added.
Fatwas can wait, let’s talk first
Khalid Samad suggests there are better ways to work out differences in opinions rather than hastily issuing fatwas.
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: PAS’ Khalid Abdul Samad has said that instead of hastily issuing a fatwa against Sisters In Islam (SIS), it was better if the religious authorities engaged the NGO in a dialogue first.
He said this at a meeting between a few PAS members and SIS today.
According to Khalid, who is MP for Shah Alam, “Fatwas in Islam are issued following thorough investigation, not in a sudden manner such as this.
“SIS was never consulted by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) before the fatwa was released.”
Noting that SIS met with Mais two years ago to report that they were championing the rights of Muslim women, Khalid said that it came as a shock that a fatwa was suddenly issued declaring that NGO’s agenda deviated from the teachings of Islam.
Saying this was very “un-Islamic”, Khalid explained that Islam championed justice as was evident in a verse from the Quran that read “even enemies should be treated to a fair trial”.
He said that fatwas carried serious implications and thus should be issued only after thorough investigations.
“This kind of approach will make the public scared of Islam when actually Islam is a fair and peaceful religion,” said Khalid.
“How will Malaysians have confidence in Islamic governance if there’s a perception that fatwas, which carry serious implications, can be gazetted hastily without consulting the affected party and having a dialogue first?”
Referring to PAS Youth leader Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi’s labelling of SIS as a “growing cancer”, Khalid suggested that Khalil set a meeting with SIS and speak to its officials before making such a statement.
“I advice PAS Youth to be just and fair, not to mete out punishment without allowing an opportunity to a fair trial”.
“I don’t always see eye to eye with SIS on all matters but I meet them and we trash out our differences through dialogue,” explained Khalid.
Today’s meeting was initiated by Khalid’s PAS colleague, Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa.
Mujahid described the meeting as a step forward, saying it was better than banning SIS outright.
“The meeting appeared necessary to us, not as PAS representatives, but a few concerned PAS members wanting to give SIS a chance to explain their side of the story,” he said.
“After talking to them we have come to realise that the fatwa should be discussed further and be more specific for both the terminologies ‘pluralism’ and ‘liberalism’ are deep theological ideologies and SIS have never preached these ideologies in a theological context.”
KUALA LUMPUR: PAS’ Khalid Abdul Samad has said that instead of hastily issuing a fatwa against Sisters In Islam (SIS), it was better if the religious authorities engaged the NGO in a dialogue first.
He said this at a meeting between a few PAS members and SIS today.
According to Khalid, who is MP for Shah Alam, “Fatwas in Islam are issued following thorough investigation, not in a sudden manner such as this.
“SIS was never consulted by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) before the fatwa was released.”
Noting that SIS met with Mais two years ago to report that they were championing the rights of Muslim women, Khalid said that it came as a shock that a fatwa was suddenly issued declaring that NGO’s agenda deviated from the teachings of Islam.
Saying this was very “un-Islamic”, Khalid explained that Islam championed justice as was evident in a verse from the Quran that read “even enemies should be treated to a fair trial”.
He said that fatwas carried serious implications and thus should be issued only after thorough investigations.
“This kind of approach will make the public scared of Islam when actually Islam is a fair and peaceful religion,” said Khalid.
“How will Malaysians have confidence in Islamic governance if there’s a perception that fatwas, which carry serious implications, can be gazetted hastily without consulting the affected party and having a dialogue first?”
Referring to PAS Youth leader Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi’s labelling of SIS as a “growing cancer”, Khalid suggested that Khalil set a meeting with SIS and speak to its officials before making such a statement.
“I advice PAS Youth to be just and fair, not to mete out punishment without allowing an opportunity to a fair trial”.
“I don’t always see eye to eye with SIS on all matters but I meet them and we trash out our differences through dialogue,” explained Khalid.
Today’s meeting was initiated by Khalid’s PAS colleague, Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa.
Mujahid described the meeting as a step forward, saying it was better than banning SIS outright.
“The meeting appeared necessary to us, not as PAS representatives, but a few concerned PAS members wanting to give SIS a chance to explain their side of the story,” he said.
“After talking to them we have come to realise that the fatwa should be discussed further and be more specific for both the terminologies ‘pluralism’ and ‘liberalism’ are deep theological ideologies and SIS have never preached these ideologies in a theological context.”
Gopal takes court on a magic carpet ride
Anwar's lead counsel talks about 'moving carpets' and 'seduction'.
FMT
PUTRAJAYA: As Day 7 of Sodomy 2 came to a close, Gopal Sri Ram, head of Anwar Ibrahim’s defense team, took the court back to the crime scene, describing how investigators went into Unit 11-5-2 of the condominium where the alleged act took place and removed a carpet from the room, but the act supposedly took place in the unit next to it, 11-5-1.
Citing that from all accounts only Saiful Bukhari had testified to there being a carpet in unit 11-5-1, Gopal proclaimed, “My learned friend said the carpet moved from 11-5-1 to 11-5-2. My Lords, I do not believe in flying carpets. There is a gap, no evidence to show that there was a carpet in 11-5-1.”
Gopal told the court that no forensic material could be lifted from the carpet and thus “We go further to say that the act of sodomy never happened,” noting that Units 11-5-1 and 11-5-2 are not neighbouring units. When asked by a judge if there was evidence, Gopal replied that if there was no evidence of the carpet being moved, there was no carpet in 11-5-1, contrary to Saiful’s account.
When the judge asked what would be the forensic team’s reason for going to 11-5-2, Gopal replied, “No reason.”
Gopal went on to attack Saiful’s character, noting that the complainant’s friend Najwan described him as contradictory and showing a picture of Anwar that Saiful had posted to the social network Friendster, describing the opposition leader as ‘munafik’ (hypocrite). Additionally, the social network pictures showed Saiful campaigning for Barisan Nasional.
The lead counsel also brought up Saiful’s seduction of a member of the prosecution team, Farah Azalina, telling the court, “If my learned friend (Shafee) can tell tales, so can I. But my tales aren’t about flying carpets. The open scandal of the Deputy Public Prosecutor having an affair with Saiful. This boy is not an ordinary boy.”
He also defended the late Karpal Singh, saying “Mr. Karpal, the great man, knew what he was doing when he applied to impeach the witness. Shafee suggested that Mr. Karpal didn’t know what he was doing. In his defensc, he knew exactly what he was doing.”
The court reconvenes tomorrow at 3pm, with an additional 15 minutes given to Gopal to conclude his submission.
PUTRAJAYA: As Day 7 of Sodomy 2 came to a close, Gopal Sri Ram, head of Anwar Ibrahim’s defense team, took the court back to the crime scene, describing how investigators went into Unit 11-5-2 of the condominium where the alleged act took place and removed a carpet from the room, but the act supposedly took place in the unit next to it, 11-5-1.
Citing that from all accounts only Saiful Bukhari had testified to there being a carpet in unit 11-5-1, Gopal proclaimed, “My learned friend said the carpet moved from 11-5-1 to 11-5-2. My Lords, I do not believe in flying carpets. There is a gap, no evidence to show that there was a carpet in 11-5-1.”
Gopal told the court that no forensic material could be lifted from the carpet and thus “We go further to say that the act of sodomy never happened,” noting that Units 11-5-1 and 11-5-2 are not neighbouring units. When asked by a judge if there was evidence, Gopal replied that if there was no evidence of the carpet being moved, there was no carpet in 11-5-1, contrary to Saiful’s account.
When the judge asked what would be the forensic team’s reason for going to 11-5-2, Gopal replied, “No reason.”
Gopal went on to attack Saiful’s character, noting that the complainant’s friend Najwan described him as contradictory and showing a picture of Anwar that Saiful had posted to the social network Friendster, describing the opposition leader as ‘munafik’ (hypocrite). Additionally, the social network pictures showed Saiful campaigning for Barisan Nasional.
The lead counsel also brought up Saiful’s seduction of a member of the prosecution team, Farah Azalina, telling the court, “If my learned friend (Shafee) can tell tales, so can I. But my tales aren’t about flying carpets. The open scandal of the Deputy Public Prosecutor having an affair with Saiful. This boy is not an ordinary boy.”
He also defended the late Karpal Singh, saying “Mr. Karpal, the great man, knew what he was doing when he applied to impeach the witness. Shafee suggested that Mr. Karpal didn’t know what he was doing. In his defensc, he knew exactly what he was doing.”
The court reconvenes tomorrow at 3pm, with an additional 15 minutes given to Gopal to conclude his submission.
M’sia deports Sikh militant to India
The man alleged to be responsible for the 2009 killing of Indian politician Rulda Singh.
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has deported a suspected Sikh militant wanted for the 2009 killing of an Indian politician, police said today.
Inpector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said in a statement that the man, 36, using a fake Nepalese passport, was arrested in Johor Baru on October 24 for immigration offences and deported yesterday.
He is alleged to be part of a Sikh militant group responsible for the 2009 killing of Indian politician Rulda Singh.
Rulda Singh was a former president of Sikh hardline group Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, which supports the Hindu nationalist grassroots organisation linked to country’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Khalid said Malaysian authorities cooperated with their Indian counterparts to make the arrest, bringing to six the total number of militants believed to be linked to the group held since 2009.
– AFP
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has deported a suspected Sikh militant wanted for the 2009 killing of an Indian politician, police said today.
Inpector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said in a statement that the man, 36, using a fake Nepalese passport, was arrested in Johor Baru on October 24 for immigration offences and deported yesterday.
He is alleged to be part of a Sikh militant group responsible for the 2009 killing of Indian politician Rulda Singh.
Rulda Singh was a former president of Sikh hardline group Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, which supports the Hindu nationalist grassroots organisation linked to country’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Khalid said Malaysian authorities cooperated with their Indian counterparts to make the arrest, bringing to six the total number of militants believed to be linked to the group held since 2009.
– AFP
Lawyers want all sedition cases frozen pending constitutional review
Malay Mail
by ZURAIRI AR
by ZURAIRI AR
KUALA
LUMPUR, Nov 5 — Several lawyers urged the Attorney-General (AG) today to
put all ongoing sedition cases on hold pending the Federal Court’s
constitutional review of the colonial-era law.
Lawyers
representing Universiti Malaya law lecturer Dr Azmi Sharom, whose
application for review was transferred by the High Court to the apex
court today, noted that there are already many others facing sedition
charges who have filed or are filing applications for a stay of their
cases until the review is disposed of.
“It
would be best if all cases under the Sedition Act which are currently
pending also be stayed, pending the outcome of the Federal Court in this
reference.
“So
I hope the honourable Attorney-General will consider our request,”
lawyer Gobind Singh Deo told reporters outside the High Court here.
Last
month, a Kajang Sessions Court postponed hearing the sedition case of
Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman, the president of Islamist group Ikatan
Muslimin Malaysia (Isma).
A
deputy public prosecutor had agreed to the stay, prompting
anti-Sedition Act lawyers and activists to call for a moratorium by the
Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Lawyer
Eric Paulsen, who was part of Gobind’s team today, said he welcomed the
decision of High Court judge Kamardin Hashim to refer Azmi’s challenge
to the Federal Court, as the Sedition Act has been “put into a serious
question”.
“Since
the Sedition Act has been used in widespread and indiscriminate manner,
I think it will only be fair and just to everyone involved for a
moratorium be imposed on the further use of the Sedition Act
“And
also for all proceedings to be stayed until a decision is made in the
Federal Court,” said Paulsen, who is part of the Lawyers for Liberty
group.
Justice
Kamardin told a High Court hearing today that he is invoking Sections
84 and 85 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 to refer the case to the
nation’s apex court.
The
High Court also ruled today that all proceedings in Azmi’s case in the
Sessions Court has now been stayed pending the decision of the Federal
Court.
The
Federal Court will now hear whether Section 4(1) is inconsistent with
Article 10(2) of the Constitution, which allows only Parliament to
impose legal restrictions on the right of freedom of speech conferred
under Article 10.
The court will also hear whether the Sedition Act itself is valid and constitutional.
Azmi
was the first academic to be charged following a string of cases over
recent month where at least 20 anti-government dissidents, opposition
politicians and a journalist booked in the space of one month.
Khazanah Promises Transparency On MAS Privatisation, Says MSWG
KELANA JAYA, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- Government investment arm, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, has promised to remain transparent on Malaysian Airline System Bhd's (MAS) restructuring process even after the airline's privatisation, Minority Shareholder Watchdog Group (MSWG) said.General manager of corporate services, Lya Rahman, said long-time shareholders had voiced out their views and concern and Khazanah should take note of all this.
"Khazanah should be transparent all the way in whatever they do as this is national interest. Let Khazanah do their job and let's pray that it is a successful attempt after the previous attempt failed," she told reporters after MAS extraordinary general meeting here today.
On the balloting process, she said Khazanah's offer to acquire the remaining shares they did not owned at 27 sen, received strong approval from 93 per cent of the shareholders.
"I think shareholders know that they should accept this offer because if this thing does not go through, then they may not get anything at all," she said.
She said MSWG was also satisfied with the response from MAS on its questions and questions raised by the shareholders.
"They responded well," she said.
-- BERNAMA
Thursday, 6 November 2014
Shocking: ISIS Official 'Slave' Price List Shows Yazidi, Christian Girls Aged '1 to 9' Being Sold for $172
In a rather shocking revelation, it has been found that Islamic State militants have been selling Yazidi and Christian girls as young as one to nine years of age for a price of $172 in Iraq.
By Johnlee Varghese
Activists working 'secretly' out of Iraq have leaked a 'price list' of the ISIS slave markets, from where men can buy Yazidi and Christian women as 'sex slaves.'
According to a report published by Iraqi News, ISIS has imposed these 'price controls' over the sale of women and spoils of war, including cattle as the market lately has experienced a down-turn.
It also stated that those disobeying the diktat 'would be executed.'
On the price list, the youngest is a mere one-year-old girl, while the oldest is 50.
The price for the girls between one- and nine-years is the highest, followed by Yazidi or Christian girls between the ages of 10 and 20, priced at $130.
Women between the ages of 20 and 30 were being sold for $86; a 30 to 40 year was being sold for $75 and 40 to 50 year old women were listed for sale at a price of $43.
The barbaric group that has full-fledged slave markets both in Mosul, Iraq and Raqqa, Syria; has even gone to the extent of justifying its kidnapping of women as sex slaves citing Islamic theology.
"One should remember that enslaving the families of the kuffar -- the infidels -- and taking their women as concubines is a firmly established aspect of the Shariah, or Islamic law," the group had said in an online magazine report, reported CNN.
In the price list translated from Arabic, the ISIS says: "In the name of Allah, most gracious and merciful. We have received news that the demand in women and cattle markets has sharply decreased and that will affected Islamic State revenues as well as the funding of the Mujaheddin in the battlefield. We have made some changes. Below are the prices of Yazidi and Christian women."
After listing out the prices on the women, the ISIS notes that "consumers are allowed to purchase only three slaves at a time, except those from Turkey, Syria and Gulf."
The price list reportedly is dated 16 October,2014. The authenticity of the list that has widely been shared on social media could not be verified independently.
The revelation comes only days after a shocking video purports to show Islamic State (ISIS) fighters bargaining over Yazidi women at a "slave market."
The clip shows how ISIS fighters were negotiating the prices of girls based on their eye colour. Those with blue and green eyes fetched the highest amount.
Activists working 'secretly' out of Iraq have leaked a 'price list' of the ISIS slave markets, from where men can buy Yazidi and Christian women as 'sex slaves.'
According to a report published by Iraqi News, ISIS has imposed these 'price controls' over the sale of women and spoils of war, including cattle as the market lately has experienced a down-turn.
It also stated that those disobeying the diktat 'would be executed.'
On the price list, the youngest is a mere one-year-old girl, while the oldest is 50.
The price for the girls between one- and nine-years is the highest, followed by Yazidi or Christian girls between the ages of 10 and 20, priced at $130.
Women between the ages of 20 and 30 were being sold for $86; a 30 to 40 year was being sold for $75 and 40 to 50 year old women were listed for sale at a price of $43.
The barbaric group that has full-fledged slave markets both in Mosul, Iraq and Raqqa, Syria; has even gone to the extent of justifying its kidnapping of women as sex slaves citing Islamic theology.
"One should remember that enslaving the families of the kuffar -- the infidels -- and taking their women as concubines is a firmly established aspect of the Shariah, or Islamic law," the group had said in an online magazine report, reported CNN.
In the price list translated from Arabic, the ISIS says: "In the name of Allah, most gracious and merciful. We have received news that the demand in women and cattle markets has sharply decreased and that will affected Islamic State revenues as well as the funding of the Mujaheddin in the battlefield. We have made some changes. Below are the prices of Yazidi and Christian women."
After listing out the prices on the women, the ISIS notes that "consumers are allowed to purchase only three slaves at a time, except those from Turkey, Syria and Gulf."
The price list reportedly is dated 16 October,2014. The authenticity of the list that has widely been shared on social media could not be verified independently.
The revelation comes only days after a shocking video purports to show Islamic State (ISIS) fighters bargaining over Yazidi women at a "slave market."
The clip shows how ISIS fighters were negotiating the prices of girls based on their eye colour. Those with blue and green eyes fetched the highest amount.
EXCLUSIVE: ISIS threat to female fighters - lay down your weapons or we will capture and MARRY you (but they retaliate by vowing to kill as many jihadis as possible)
- Col. Nahida Ahmad Rashid says the jihadis have issued a marriage threat
- Commander of the 2nd Battalion Peshmerga Female says she is not afraid
- Has vowed that she and her troops will 'clean Iraq of dirty ISIS' jihadis
- Says that all fighters have been told to kill themselves if captured by ISIS
- ISIS fear that they will not go to Paradise if killed by a female fighter
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Colonel Nahida Ahmad Rashid, commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion Peshmerga Female, said that the jihadis even plan to wed women they are 'disgusted' by.
'The message said that whenever they catch any Peshmerga woman, they will marry them,' she explains.
But Colonel Rashid says she and her troops have other ideas and revealed that she has asked fighters to keep a spare bullet to hand in case of capture.
'I have told all my frontline soldiers to keep one bullet in their pocket in case they are captured,' she reveals. 'I never want any of them to be captured by ISIS.'
So far, Colonel Rashid and her fighters have not needed to use their spare bullets, although she says that other PKK [Kurdistan Worker's Party] soldiers fighting in the Syrian town of Kobane have been forced to do so.
'Last week, one of the PKK fighters found herself alone and surrounded by ISIS after all her friends had been killed. She shot herself rather than let them take her.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2820665/ISIS-threat-female-fighters-lay-weapons-capture-MARRY-retaliate-vowing-kill-jihadis-possible.html
Seized Bibles likely to be returned by next week, say Selangor sources
The Malay and Iban Bibles seized early this year containing the word "Allah" are to be returned to the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) soon, ending a 10-month standoff between Christians and the Selangor religious authorities.
The Malaysian Insider understands the 321 copies of the Christian holy books, seized by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais), which forbids other faiths from using the word "Allah", are expected to be returned within the next week.
It was learnt that new Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali had raised the contentious issue during a state council meeting which was also attended by the state mufti and religious authorities earlier this week.
"Azmin met with senior officers from both Jais and the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) on Monday and brought up the matter with them," a source told The Malaysian Insider.
The outcome of the meeting was said to be positive and a source hinted that everything should be completed within a week. Azmin is scheduled to meet the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah next Tuesday and they will likely discuss the seized Bibles.
"It is a weekly meeting... most likely they will discuss this," said a source.
"If the sultan gives his approval, Azmin is expected to direct the religious authorities to return the Bibles immediately."
It was reported on Monday that Azmin had referred the matter to the Selangor palace, seeking a solution to the case which has dragged on for more than 10 months.
Azmin had also confirmed that he had met with Jais and Mais on the matter but was reluctant to reveal further details.
During a DAP fundraiser dinner in Petaling Jaya on Monday, Azmin once again reiterated his commitment in resolving the matter.
He told the crowd that the Bibles did not belong to Muslims and must be returned to the Christians, adding that Muslims must respect other faiths in Malaysia, and that the rights of non-Muslims to practise their religion were guaranteed in the Federal Constitution.
Azmin’s predecessor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, was widely panned by DAP and even his own party, PKR, for not taking a firm stance over the Bible issue, which had dragged on for months with no resolution in sight.
In January, Jais confiscated the Bibles during a raid at the BSM office in Damansara Kim as they contained the word Allah.
The Court of Appeal had ruled that non-Muslims could not use the word “Allah” to refer to God. The court also said the word “Allah” must be exclusive to Islam or it could cause
public disorder.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail then ordered the Bibles to be returned to BSM, after the Selangor government under Khalid, referred the matter to him.
Although Gani concluded that the Bible distributor had done nothing wrong, Mais insisted there were grounds to prosecute BSM under the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation among Muslims) Enactment 1988.
Khalid later referred the matter to the sultan, who ordered Jais to liaise with the state public prosecutor.
Sultan Sharafuddin's private secretary Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani said that the sultan's order was in line with the minutes issued by the A-G's Chambers that "Jais has to act in accordance to the law on the issue of the seized Bibles".
"Jais should promptly refer it to the state public prosecutor for it to be brought to court for final determination," the sultan said in the statement.
He also said the issue should not be politicised by any quarter resulting in confusion by proposing solutions not based on the law.
But the ruler did not state to which court the authorities should refer the matter – civil or shariah. – November 5, 2014.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/seized-bibles-likely-to-be-returned-by-next-week-say-selangor-sources#sthash.OaPNgVxq.dpuf
Dr M says ‘defeated’ Selangor Umno needs a reality check
Selangor Umno should be dissolved and restructured following disappointing results in the 2008 and 2013 general elections, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
In his blog posting, the former prime minister said Selangor Umno leaders had to face up to reality and step down from their positions.
"They lost in the 12th and 13th general elections, they failed to wrest Malaysia's wealthiest state back from Pakatan Rakyat," Dr Mahathir said.
Dr Mahathir's comments come a week after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak lamented how embarrassed he was that Barisan Nasional (BN) was the opposition in Selangor.
Najib said he felt tired as it was humiliating that BN is mentioned as the opposition in Selangor.
In the 13th general election last year, BN won four parliamentary seats – Sabak Bernam, Kuala Selangor, Tanjung Karang and Sungai Besar – and eight state seats – Sungai Air Tawar, Sungai Panjang, Semenyih, Dengkil, Jeram, Bukit Malawati, Sungai Burong and Permatang.
In GE13, Pakatan Rakyat won 17 parliamentary seats and 43 state seats.
"Today, even if we wanted to choose a candidate for the position of state Menteri Besar, there are no suitable candidates," Dr Mahathir said.
"This would not be an issue if Selangor Umno was prepared to accept new members but it will not happen as Selangor Umno leaders are afraid of being challenged.
"They are afraid that the entry of fresh members might cause them to lose their positions or not be nominated to stand as candidates in the general election."
Dr Mahathir added that Selangor Umno leaders were more intent on strengthening their position instead of the party.
"In order to carry out reforms in Selangor Umno, the first major change which must be implemented is the acceptance of new members.
"However, the new members should be carefully vetted by a body comprising veteran Umno members and members from other divisions."
Dr Mahathir said vetting was necessary as there were always certain quarters who wanted to manipulate Umno for their own personal agenda.
"Next on the list is focusing on the so-called Gen-Y. At the next general election, it is estimated that 2.5 million young voters will be casting their votes," he said.
Dr Mahathir said the Gen-Y voters were not interested in Umno as many of them who had studied abroad had absorbed Western values and cultures.
"For the Gen-Y voters, many of them do not appreciate what the party and nation's leaders have given in terms of educational opportunities.
"Even if the good deeds of Umno were mentioned to them, the Gen-Y would ignore this reminder and wonder why history was being revisited.
"In their minds, it is immaterial which party forms the government as they feel nothing will change," Dr Mahathir said.
He added that Selangor Umno also needed to do a lot more to attract Malay youths to join the party, including getting closer to those who are anti-Umno.
"Umno leaders should have a deep grasp and understanding of the party's history," Dr Mahathir said, adding the party leaders should be sent for courses.
He said Umno had to shed its reputation or image of being a corrupt party, and that its leaders had to lead a moderate lifestyle.
"They need to go down to the ground and build a closer rapport with the public. Do not drive luxury cars when going to the villages." – November 5, 2014.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/dr-m-says-defeated-selangor-umno-needs-a-reality-check#sthash.TjBgs2k8.dpuf
Wage, property inequality in Malaysia on the rise, study shows
Wealth is concentrating in the already affluent as inequality in property and earnings in Malaysia are rising, a joint study by Universiti Malaya (UM) and the Khazanah Research Institute has found.
The study covered the private and public sector, and showed that data from the official Household Income Survey (HIS) yielded opposite findings when compared with data on private sector salaries, public sector employment and the National Property Information Centre (Napic).
UM's Dr Lee Hwok Aun and Khazanah's Dr Muhammed Abdul Khalid found that while the HIS reported a decline in inequality of gross household income, the other data sources showed that inequality in terms of personal earnings and house ownership was increasing.
"We find evidence that inequality is growing in earnings in both the private and public sectors and increasingly concentrated at the topmost strata," Muhammed told a seminar titled "Has inequality in Malaysia really gone down?" in UM today.
"In terms of wealth ownership, there is also rising inequality in property ownership."
According to data from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), the largest retirement fund in Malaysia, the Gini Coefficient of the savings accounts had risen from 0.643 in 2004 to 0.661 in 2013, the researchers said.
(The Gini Coefficient Index measures the distribution of income in a certain country. According to the HIS, the Gini Coefficient of Malaysia's gross household income in 2012 was 0.43.)
"The savings of the bottom half of EPF account holders has fallen from 2004 to 2013, while there is a slight increase in concentration at the top 1%," said Dr Lee, a senior lecturer with UM's Department of Developmental Studies.
The salaries of workers aged 26-35 had also grown at slower rates from 2004 to 2013, and lagged behind the earnings of those above 40 years of age, they said.
Meanwhile, in the public sector, the rank of managers and professionals have expanded disproportionately faster from 1999 to 2012, according to their compilation from the Employment List of Ministries and Departments in the Estimated Federal Budget."There is a concentration in the uppermost positions, which is similar to the findings from the EPF. The top management enjoys higher income," said Lee.
In 1999, the top management comprised 0.09% of the staff, while the management and professionals made up 14.07% of the staff.
But in 2012, 0.17% of the staff were top management and 29.80% were of the management and professionals.
"The disparity between the top 10% and bottom% may have increased," said Lee.
The researchers said the Gini Coefficient of residential properties sold a year had also increased from 0.51 in 1996 to 0.53 in 2011, according to their calculations based on data from Napic.
"The value of property purchased by high-end buyers has grown more rapidly than property purchased by low-end buyers throughout the years," said Muhammed.
The share of total property value by the bottom 20% from 2006 to 2011 has remained stagnant at 5%, while the top 10% have enjoyed a growth from 35% to 40% of total shares during the same period, according to the data.
The researchers also said that passenger vehicle sales data show increasing proportions of luxury cars from 2001 to 2011.
"There is a rising share of vehicles sold at the high end and bottom end, and rapid growth in luxury brands and compact cars," said Lee.
Data from private unit trust funds such as Amanah Saham Berhad showed that the majority own very little and have seen their shares declining from 2007 to 2012, said Muhammed.
The shares of the bottom 50% of ASB shareholders has dropped from 3% to 2%, while the 80th to 90th percentile have seen an increase from 76% to 77% share ownership from 2007 to 2012, according to the researchers.
But the researchers noted that according to the HIS, household income inequality has been on a downward trend since 2004.
"The HIS states that Malaysia's Gini Coefficient of gross household income shrank 0.84% per year from 2004 to 2012, while in the 2000s, the bottom 40% enjoyed relatively higher income growth," said Lee.
The researchers suggested that the disparity between the HIS and their own study may be due to the fact that the HIS did not take into account the earnings of each individual in a household.
"The HIS reports the aggregate gross household income. There is no distinction between earned income and gross income," said Lee.
"Gross household income inequality may be declining while personal earnings inequality rises due to transfers and multiple income earners in a household." – November 5, 2014.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/wage-property-inequality-in-malaysia-on-the-rise-study-shows#sthash.SntVGA2u.dpuf
'Religious schools for all, but SJKC dangerous'
Razlan said this at a press conference today in rebutting a statement by Sibu MP Oscar Ling, who compared religious schools with vernacular schools.
Razlan (left)
said religious schools are open to all Muslims regardless of race, and
cited a study to back his concerns that vernacular schools could be
divisive.The study supposedly found that 604 out of 14,000 National Service trainees in 2010 could not speak the Malay language, and this was highlighted in an Utusan Malaysia editorial last week.
“The SRJK C issue and the religious school issue are vastly different issues. Islam is a religion that is open to all and we have taken on an approach that is friendly to all races. There is no racial division in Islam.
“SRJK C schools is a very dangerous issue when we see that some 600 students entering the national service programme clearly could not speak Malay at all. Where did they come from? Where did they get their education, if not at the SRJK C?” Razlan told reporters.
He also claimed that there were many Chinese Malaysian businesses that could operate without a single staff able to speak in the national language.
Meanwhile, to a question on why is he not calling for vernacular schools to be scrapped, Razlan said more studies are needed, since 600 trainees are too small a number, and previous agreements still needed to be adhered to.
“We
have agreed to let the SRJK C to exist. If we are to withdraw that, we
have to first conduct a study and ask why should we withdraw it.“We will debate this in the coming Umno general assembly. Today, the facts available that 600 (cannot speak Malay) is a small number. We want to know how many Chinese companies can conduct their businesses without using the Malay language.
“We want to know. These studies will be conducted and we will debate every detail of it in the assembly. If there is consensus that SRJK C should not be continued, we will stop them,” he said, while stressing that this is his personal opinion.
Razlan also clarified that by ‘stop’, he meant that no new vernacular school should be built, but existing schools should be allowed to continue operations.
He added that he has no issue with the SRJK C if Chinese associations are willing to take steps to ensure that the position of the Malay language as the national language is secure.
“As Malaysians, we know that we can’t exile the Chinese, the Indians, the Malays, the Kadazans… No. This is our country.
“But why should the Chinese be able to live without the national language? Is it that the national language is no longer their language?” Razlan asked.
Zaid: Political leaders kow-towing to Islamic authorities who’ve usurped God’s power
The former de facto law minister was weighing in on a growing trend for federal and state Islamic authorities to label progressive Muslim groups and individuals deemed “liberal” and “pluralistic” as “deviants”; he noted too that while Muslims around the world have no clergy that act as intermediaries with God, it was not so in Malaysia.
“Here, there are religious authorities who have usurped the power of God and pass judgement on Muslims long before they die and long before The Day of Judgement,” Zaid wrote on his blog yesterday in a post titled “The real power in Malaysia”.
“What is abundantly clear to Malaysians who care to see is that Malay political leaders are afraid of the religious authorities. Our leaders are like the Imperial Chinese eunuchs who would always obey the Emperor for the privilege of living in the Palace and having control over state finances.
“In this matter, there is no difference at all whether Umno or the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has political power and occupies Putrajaya — today the real power in our lives emanates from the religious authorities,” the vocal Kelantan-born politician said.
Recently, the Selangor Fatwa Committee issued a religious edict against Sisters in Islam (SIS), declaring the Muslim women’s rights group had deviating from Islam because it was purportedly promoting liberalism and religious pluralism — concepts which the conservative committee has yet to elaborate.
SIS filed last Friday for a judicial review on the fatwa that was gazetted last July in Selangor.
“Instead of calling up the religious authorities to explain to them the dangers of their rulings and how they violate our constitutional freedoms — and how Muslims will be adversely affected by such rulings — our political leaders have done nothing,” Zaid said in his blog post.
He criticised Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for purportedly saying at an international forum touting Muslim democracy that while there was nothing wrong with pluralism and liberalism, he would not change the decision of the Islamic authorities in Selangor, a state controlled by PR.
Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali made a similar remark last Sunday, saying he did not support the fatwa against SIS but was merely asking others to respect it as the decision has already been made.
Zaid said there was nothing sinful about being liberal, pointing out that it only meant that someone is “open-minded” and has “forward-looking and progressive” ideas.
“When the prime minister said that Umno Selangor had to think outside the box and come up with new ideas to retake the state, he was being liberal and progressive. You can also say that, in the context of Umno, Najib, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Khairy Jamaluddin are liberals and progressives while Utusan Malaysia, Dr Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, Datuk Ibrahim Ali and Isma are conservatives,” he said.
Zaid also said religious pluralism means, in the context of Malaysia, that all religions have the right to exist in the country and that it is not a judgment call on which faith is better or truer.
“As Muslims, we believe of course that Islam is better — but no one is preventing us from believing this. Equally, Hindus (for example) are entitled to their own set of religious beliefs in what constitutes the path to salvation,” he said.
“Pluralism means we accept that there are different religious faiths in the country and that our fellow-citizens have the right to practise those faiths freely. It is the idea that we must coexist peacefully. That’s the essence of Article 11 of our
Female snake charmer new ‘aurat’ target
The Kelantan state government says it will stop her show if she does not cover up.
FMT
KOTA BARU: After picking on women traders in the markets for not respecting its “aurat” rule, the Kelantan government is now targeting a snake charmer.
A Bernama report quotes a state executive councillor as saying that authorities would stop a snake charming show at the Kelantan Museum if the woman conducting it does not cover the parts of her body deemed as “aurat” under state law.
In Islamic terminology, the “aurat” constitutes those parts of the body that must be covered when one is in the presence of someone of the opposite sex who is not a close family member. There is some controversy as regards which parts of the body should be included.
In the snake charmer’s case, the offending body part is the hair on her head.
Abdul Fattah Mahmood, who heads the State Committee on Local Government, Housing, Health and the Environment, said any show held in the state had to be in compliance with the rules and regulations set by the state government.
“We will instruct her to stop the show if she cannot follow the rules and regulations,” he said.
“We have received reports that she did not cover her aurat. She has to cover it because the show is held at a public place.”
The Kelantan Musuem is holding a month-long snake exhibition. As part of the show, Rahiza Abdul Rahim, 28, charms snakes inside a glass cubicle. She is also known as Baby Andryanna and she is inside the cubicle with 20 snakes.
KOTA BARU: After picking on women traders in the markets for not respecting its “aurat” rule, the Kelantan government is now targeting a snake charmer.
A Bernama report quotes a state executive councillor as saying that authorities would stop a snake charming show at the Kelantan Museum if the woman conducting it does not cover the parts of her body deemed as “aurat” under state law.
In Islamic terminology, the “aurat” constitutes those parts of the body that must be covered when one is in the presence of someone of the opposite sex who is not a close family member. There is some controversy as regards which parts of the body should be included.
In the snake charmer’s case, the offending body part is the hair on her head.
Abdul Fattah Mahmood, who heads the State Committee on Local Government, Housing, Health and the Environment, said any show held in the state had to be in compliance with the rules and regulations set by the state government.
“We will instruct her to stop the show if she cannot follow the rules and regulations,” he said.
“We have received reports that she did not cover her aurat. She has to cover it because the show is held at a public place.”
The Kelantan Musuem is holding a month-long snake exhibition. As part of the show, Rahiza Abdul Rahim, 28, charms snakes inside a glass cubicle. She is also known as Baby Andryanna and she is inside the cubicle with 20 snakes.
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT! Another bullying case exposed
Young boy is trashed by a group of seniors in latest bullying episode.
PETALING JAYA: Another video clip of group bullying, in what appears to be a school dormitory, has emerged online following a similar ragging clip that went viral on YouTube recently and that was reported on FMT today.
However, this close to seven minute clip is far more brutal in its nature as the clip showed just one boy being beaten up and kicked around by several older boys, believed to be seniors.
The clip showed the young victim crying and pleading for mercy, only to be beaten harder by the group of older boys.
Halfway through the clip, the bullies even played loud music and danced about while continuing to abuse the boy as if they were at a festival and the victim a human pinata.
The exact location of the brutal bullying has yet to be identified.
Nevertheless the video clearly shows some sort of a boarding school or dormitory setting, while faces of the bullies and victim are clearly captured in the footage.
PETALING JAYA: Another video clip of group bullying, in what appears to be a school dormitory, has emerged online following a similar ragging clip that went viral on YouTube recently and that was reported on FMT today.
However, this close to seven minute clip is far more brutal in its nature as the clip showed just one boy being beaten up and kicked around by several older boys, believed to be seniors.
The clip showed the young victim crying and pleading for mercy, only to be beaten harder by the group of older boys.
Halfway through the clip, the bullies even played loud music and danced about while continuing to abuse the boy as if they were at a festival and the victim a human pinata.
The exact location of the brutal bullying has yet to be identified.
Nevertheless the video clearly shows some sort of a boarding school or dormitory setting, while faces of the bullies and victim are clearly captured in the footage.
Two teachers plead not guilty in UPSR scandal
Two teachers in Nilai claim trial to the unauthorised possession of UPSR papers.
FMT
SEREMBAN: Two Tamil School teachers in Nilai claimed trial in the Sessions Court here today to unauthorised possession of copies of this year’s Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR) examination papers.
Subbarau@ Kamalanathan, 34, is facing five charges involving Mathematics Papers (I and II), Tamil Language Paper for Comprehension, and Tamil Language Papers, Writing and Science.
He allegedly committed the offences via a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 smartphone between September 9 and September 17.
P. Murugan, 36, is accused of unauthorised possession of Mathematics, Paper I, via a Lenovo smartphone.
If convicted, both accused could be jailed between one and seven years, under Section 8(1)(c)(iii) of the Official Secrets Act 1972 (Act 88).
Judge Jagjit Singh Bant Singh set RM3,000 as bail, with one surety for Subbarau, and RM2,000 with one surety for Murugan.
He also ordered their passports to be temporarily impounded by the court, and set December 15 for mention of both cases.
Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin and Muhamad Abu Hassan Ramli appeared for the prosecution.
Counsel Haresh Mahadevan, Ramzaini Idris, A. Patheeban, S. Veerapan, Lee Kai Yet, Lee Kok Wah and AK Dass represented the two accused.
- BERNAMA
SEREMBAN: Two Tamil School teachers in Nilai claimed trial in the Sessions Court here today to unauthorised possession of copies of this year’s Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR) examination papers.
Subbarau@ Kamalanathan, 34, is facing five charges involving Mathematics Papers (I and II), Tamil Language Paper for Comprehension, and Tamil Language Papers, Writing and Science.
He allegedly committed the offences via a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 smartphone between September 9 and September 17.
P. Murugan, 36, is accused of unauthorised possession of Mathematics, Paper I, via a Lenovo smartphone.
If convicted, both accused could be jailed between one and seven years, under Section 8(1)(c)(iii) of the Official Secrets Act 1972 (Act 88).
Judge Jagjit Singh Bant Singh set RM3,000 as bail, with one surety for Subbarau, and RM2,000 with one surety for Murugan.
He also ordered their passports to be temporarily impounded by the court, and set December 15 for mention of both cases.
Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin and Muhamad Abu Hassan Ramli appeared for the prosecution.
Counsel Haresh Mahadevan, Ramzaini Idris, A. Patheeban, S. Veerapan, Lee Kai Yet, Lee Kok Wah and AK Dass represented the two accused.
- BERNAMA
The questionable trial of Anwar Ibrahim
In just the last two months, nearly two dozen activists have been charged under Malaysia's archaic Sedition Act.
Anwar Ibrahim is in the Malaysian Federal Court this week for what hopefully is the last chapter in a sordid affair that has done nothing but distract him from his reform agenda. We have been critical of Malaysia's judiciary in the past and hope that at this moment in time, the five judges who are tasked with reviewing the appeal of Ibrahim's March conviction on charges of sodomy, will adhere strictly to the rule of law and not be swayed by external political influences.
Malaysia's image as an example or a model of a Muslim majority country that is on a democratic path, economically vibrant, adheres to the rule of law, and a model to the world on how to exist as a pluralistic society is under tremendous strain today. Ibrahim's trial is just one example of how dissident voices calling for reform of institutions in Malaysia are being persecuted. In just the last two months, nearly two dozen activists have been charged under Malaysia's archaic Sedition Act, including Ibrahim.
Ultra right wing groups have targeted minority communities threatening to burn bibles and tell the "immigrant" Chinese and Indian population of Malaysia to go home.
Academic freedom is also under attack. Two highly regarded professors were charged with sedition and Ibrahim's lecture scheduled to take place at the University of Malaya on Monday night was systemically blocked. University staff, dismissed early in the day, and the front gates of the university were put on lockdown. A few thousand brave students defied the ban and were able to hear Ibrahim speak.
At a time when the world is confronting violent and regressive movements in parts of the Muslim world, Malaysia could be a shining example of what is possible when Muslims focus on rebuilding the tradition of scholarship, technology, and pluralism that is present throughout the history of Islamic civilisation. While the prime minister has made positive remarks about the need for a "movement of moderates" in the Muslim world, the actions of his party at home belie his intentions.
The continuing efforts to use the judicial system against opposition political leaders will undermine Malaysia's leadership role in regional and global affairs as well as weaken Malaysia's traditions of political openness and democracy.
Malaysian authorities, as Human Rights Watch Asia director, Phil Robertson, has stated, "risk making a travesty of the country's criminal justice system" unless they withdraw their case against Ibrahim.
Former US Vice President Al Gore framed the issue clearly last March when he said: "It is extremely disturbing that the government of Malaysia - by continuing to press this case beyond the bounds of reason, let alone the bounds of justice - has used the courts to short-circuit the political process."
John L Esposito is University Professor and Professor of Religion and International Affairs, Georgetown University. His recent books are The Future of Islam and (with I Kalin) Islamophobia and the Challenge of Pluralism in the 21st Century.
John O Voll is Professor of Islamic History at the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University.
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy.
Najib should also congratulate USM for being ranked No. 87 in the 100 Best Global Universities for Engineering and direct full inquiry why Malaysian universities could only get two out of 2,100 slots for the 21 subject areas for 100 Best Global Universities
Lim Kit Siang Blog The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak should also congratulate the University Sains Malaysia (USM) for being ranked No. 87 in the 100 Best Global Universities Ranking 2015 for Engineering, as he seems to have overlooked USM’s listing when congratulating Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) for being placed in the 54th rank for agricultural science.
While congratulations to UPM and USM are in order, for being ranked in the 100 Best Global Universities in the field of agricultural science for UPM and in engineering for USM, the Prime Minister should be very worried and concerned about the overall failure and inability of Malaysian universities to compete with universities not only in Asia but also at the global level.
The Prime Minister cannot make a worse mistake or be more wrongly advised if he regards the Best Global Universities Ranking 2015 released by the US News and World Report on Oct. 27 as a cause for celebration, when it is in fact a terrible indictment of the lowly standards of public university education and excellence in the country.
Firstly, the country’s premier university, the University of Malaya is the only university listed in the 500 Best Global Universities Ranking 2015, and at a very lowly position of No. 423.
Secondly, the Best Global Universities Ranking 2015 also feature the top 100 global universities in 21 subject areas, namely agricultural sciences, biology/biochemistry, chemistry, clinical medicine, computer science, economics/business, engineering, environment/ecology, geosciences, immunology, materials science, mathematics, microbiology, molecular biology/genetics, neurosciences and behavior, pharmacology/toxicology, physics, plant/animal sciences, psychiatry/psychology, social science/public health and space science.
With 100 Top universities ranked for each of the 21 subject areas, this will mean there are 2,100 slots available for the cream of global universities.
It is shocking that University of Malaya, the only Malaysian university listed in the 500 Best Global Universities Ranking 2015 has not been ranked as Top 100 University for anyone of the 21 subject areas. Thanks to UPM and USM, Malaysia won two of the 2,100 slots in the Top 100 Universities for 21 subject areas.
The four top Asian universities in the 500 Best Global University Rankings 2015, namely Universities of Tokyo (No. 24), Peking (No. 39), Hong Kong (42) and Singapore (No.55) are all ranked Top 100 Universities in more than a dozen subject areas.
University of Tokyo is Top 100 Universities for 18 subject areas, such as ranked No.5 in physics, No. 6 in chemistry, No. 7 in Plant and Animal Science, No. 10 in biology/biochemistry, No. 13 in microbiology, No. 17 in geosciences, No. 20 in materials science, No. 34 in engineering, No. 36 in computer science, No. 42 in mathematics, No. 60 in clinical medicine and No. 85 in environment/ecology.
Peking University is Top 100 University for 14 subject areas, Hong Kong University in 13 subject areas and National University of Singapore in 15 subject areas.
It must trouble Malaysians who care about higher education that each of these four universities could be ranked as the Top 100 universities in over a dozen subject areas while Malaysia could only get into two of the 2,100 slots for the 21 subject areas – UPM for agricultural science and USM for engineering; and with the premier university, University of Malaya, unable to get ranked as Top 100 in anyone of the 21 subject areas.
This is not cause for joy and celebration by the Prime Minister but who should direct a full inquiry into the sad state of higher education in Malaysia.
Mud Floods In Camerons: One Killed, Four Injured, Child Missing
KUANTAN, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- A Nepali farm worker was killed while four
others were injured and a child is missing in mud floods in Ringlet and
Kuala Terla in Cameron Highlands tonight.
Pahang Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Morni Mamat said the disaster in Ringlet also forced the evacuation of 150 residents from 37 families to a multi-purpose hall in the small town, located about 10 kilometres from Tanah Rata, the main town in the highlands .
"A local man and two Indian nationals were almost buried alive at a car workshop in Ringlet but were rescued in time and sent to a nearby hospital for treatment of their injuries which were serious.
"An Indonesian man was also injured in the Ringlet incident while a boy is reported missing in Kuala Terlah near Kampung Raja at the opposite end of the highlands," he said when contacted by Bernama.
Morni said rescuers were frantically searching for the missing boy.
A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman in Cameron Highlands said heavy rain since late this afternoon cause mudslides and the water level in Sungai Bertam in Ringlet to rise fast resulting in a mud flood at around 7pm.
"However, the area where a similar disaster took place last year has not been affected till now," he said.
In Oct 24 last year, a controlled release of water from the Sultan Abu Bakar Dam following continuous heavy rain resulted in a massive mudflow downstream which claimed three lives and left nearly 100 houses destroyed.
Meanwhile, Cameron Higlands police chief DSP Wan Mohd Zahari Wan Busu said the search operation for the boy, aged 13, who is feared to have drowned, had been halted temporarily due to unfavourable weather and would resume tomorrow.
He said the identity of the boy had yet to be ascertained.
He identified the Nepali farm worker as Md Yousus Miya, 66, and the Indonesian as Iswandi Nahrowi, 40.
Wan Mohd Zahari said Md Yousus was buried alive in a mudslide in Jalan Ulu Merah in Ringlet at around 7.30pm.
"His body was recovered at 8.30pm," he said.
He said that water from the dam was released in stages since this afternoon and residents were ordered to move to higher ground for their safety.
Pahang Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Morni Mamat said the disaster in Ringlet also forced the evacuation of 150 residents from 37 families to a multi-purpose hall in the small town, located about 10 kilometres from Tanah Rata, the main town in the highlands .
"A local man and two Indian nationals were almost buried alive at a car workshop in Ringlet but were rescued in time and sent to a nearby hospital for treatment of their injuries which were serious.
"An Indonesian man was also injured in the Ringlet incident while a boy is reported missing in Kuala Terlah near Kampung Raja at the opposite end of the highlands," he said when contacted by Bernama.
Morni said rescuers were frantically searching for the missing boy.
A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman in Cameron Highlands said heavy rain since late this afternoon cause mudslides and the water level in Sungai Bertam in Ringlet to rise fast resulting in a mud flood at around 7pm.
"However, the area where a similar disaster took place last year has not been affected till now," he said.
In Oct 24 last year, a controlled release of water from the Sultan Abu Bakar Dam following continuous heavy rain resulted in a massive mudflow downstream which claimed three lives and left nearly 100 houses destroyed.
Meanwhile, Cameron Higlands police chief DSP Wan Mohd Zahari Wan Busu said the search operation for the boy, aged 13, who is feared to have drowned, had been halted temporarily due to unfavourable weather and would resume tomorrow.
He said the identity of the boy had yet to be ascertained.
He identified the Nepali farm worker as Md Yousus Miya, 66, and the Indonesian as Iswandi Nahrowi, 40.
Wan Mohd Zahari said Md Yousus was buried alive in a mudslide in Jalan Ulu Merah in Ringlet at around 7.30pm.
"His body was recovered at 8.30pm," he said.
He said that water from the dam was released in stages since this afternoon and residents were ordered to move to higher ground for their safety.
Wednesday, 5 November 2014
Firm to remove Hindu deity bottles off shelves
VIDEO | 4:02 mins
The mineral water bottles promoting the Batu Caves temple will be removed from shelves, bottled water manufacturer Chuan Sin Sdn Bhd says.
Responding to outcry by the Muslim Consumers’ Association Malaysia (PPIM), the firm said the image which shows the large Lord Murugan statue in front of the iconic temple was not meant to offend.
Instead, the image on the labels on the 'Cactus' brand mineral water bottles was to support the Visit Malaysia Year 2014, she said in a statement.
"To
reassure our customers that we have no ill intensions in selecting the
image and that we take all public feedback seriously, we will remove the
bottles with the Batu Caves label from the shelves.
"(We will also) cease production of bottles with this particular label. We are also currently producing a new series of images for the labels," its deputy general manager Chong Mee Yong.
Jakim: Against halal cert regulations
Meanwhile, Islamic Development Department (Jakim) director- said that it is wrong to include an image of a deity from a non-Islamic religion on a product certified as halal.
This contravened with article 6.3 of the packaging and labelling section of the Halal Malaysia certification procedures.
The article states that the halal logo cannot be used on products promoting non-Islamic religions' festivals or symbols.
Non-compliance can see the firm having its halal certification suspended Jakim director-general Othman Mustapha (left) said.
PPIM today lodged a police report against the firm, saying that the printing of the image of a Hindu deity next to the halal logo is "seditious" and "insensitive" to Muslim.
"We have made a police report and want the police to do an investigation and take necessary action under the Sedition Act or other laws," PPIM secretary-general Sheikh Abdul Kareem (above) said.
According to a KiniTV report, the group said placing the Hindu deity beside the halal logo was an insult to Islam, the relgion of the federation, by the manufacturers of the product.
'Respect sensitivities of Islam'
“As a company that operates in Malaysia, it should know better about the sensitivities of Muslims, who form the majority in Malaysia.
“They should understand that Islam is the federal religion and respect the sensitivities of the religion.”
PPIM
lodged a police report today, saying that even if the picture of the
deity was used for tourism purposes, it is insensitive as there is the
halal logo beside the picture.
Checks by Malaysiakini showed that the 'Cactus' brand labels feature different tourist destinations in Malaysia, including Petaling Street and the Batu Caves temple, which has a large statue of Lord Murugan.
The destinations are featured in support of the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 campaign.
Further, the pictures of the tourist spots are placed next to the manufacturer’s contact details and not directly next to the halal logo.
The mineral water bottles promoting the Batu Caves temple will be removed from shelves, bottled water manufacturer Chuan Sin Sdn Bhd says.
Responding to outcry by the Muslim Consumers’ Association Malaysia (PPIM), the firm said the image which shows the large Lord Murugan statue in front of the iconic temple was not meant to offend.
Instead, the image on the labels on the 'Cactus' brand mineral water bottles was to support the Visit Malaysia Year 2014, she said in a statement.
"To
reassure our customers that we have no ill intensions in selecting the
image and that we take all public feedback seriously, we will remove the
bottles with the Batu Caves label from the shelves."(We will also) cease production of bottles with this particular label. We are also currently producing a new series of images for the labels," its deputy general manager Chong Mee Yong.
Jakim: Against halal cert regulations
Meanwhile, Islamic Development Department (Jakim) director- said that it is wrong to include an image of a deity from a non-Islamic religion on a product certified as halal.
This contravened with article 6.3 of the packaging and labelling section of the Halal Malaysia certification procedures.
The article states that the halal logo cannot be used on products promoting non-Islamic religions' festivals or symbols.Non-compliance can see the firm having its halal certification suspended Jakim director-general Othman Mustapha (left) said.
PPIM today lodged a police report against the firm, saying that the printing of the image of a Hindu deity next to the halal logo is "seditious" and "insensitive" to Muslim.
"We have made a police report and want the police to do an investigation and take necessary action under the Sedition Act or other laws," PPIM secretary-general Sheikh Abdul Kareem (above) said.
According to a KiniTV report, the group said placing the Hindu deity beside the halal logo was an insult to Islam, the relgion of the federation, by the manufacturers of the product.
'Respect sensitivities of Islam'
“As a company that operates in Malaysia, it should know better about the sensitivities of Muslims, who form the majority in Malaysia.
“They should understand that Islam is the federal religion and respect the sensitivities of the religion.”
PPIM
lodged a police report today, saying that even if the picture of the
deity was used for tourism purposes, it is insensitive as there is the
halal logo beside the picture.Checks by Malaysiakini showed that the 'Cactus' brand labels feature different tourist destinations in Malaysia, including Petaling Street and the Batu Caves temple, which has a large statue of Lord Murugan.
The destinations are featured in support of the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 campaign.
Further, the pictures of the tourist spots are placed next to the manufacturer’s contact details and not directly next to the halal logo.
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