Watch: Arab Children Harass Jewish Visitors to Temple Mount

New tactic: Islamists encourage kids to shout 'Allahu Akbar', wave PLO flags in faces of Jewish visitors to Temple Mount; police do nothing.

By Uzi Baruch, Cynthia Blank

As is commonly the case, a group of Jews who ascended the Temple Mount Sunday were forced to endure provocation and harassment at the hands of Muslims - an all too common occurrence on the Mount.

What was surprising, however, was that instead of the "usual culprits", this morning's disturbances were caused by Arab children, seen chanting "Allahu Akbar" at Jews, shouting insults at them and waving the PLO flag in their faces.

The "Hozrim LaHar" (Returning to the Mount) movement condemned the new crop of harassers, noting that, "the children rioting on the Temple Mount are undergoing a stage to become terrorists."

"In a few years we will see the same faces stabbing soldiers and running over civilians," the organization said, alluding to a spate of terror attacks across Israel, but particularly in Jerusalem, in recent months.

"Police must stop the children now before it is too late," Hozrim LaHar warned.

A man named Yair, who witnessed the incident said that "it seems the terrorists don't have enough money to hire older women to provoke Jews ascending to the Mount, so they moved on to employ children to do that job."

Recently investigators from the Shin Bet and elite police unit Lahav 433 exposed two organizations - "Al-Fajr" in Nazareth and "Muslim Women for Al-Aqsa" in Jerusalem - who finance Islamist thugs and rioters on the Temple Mount.

The so-called activists come daily to the Temple Mount and stand in the area designated for visitors and tourists. When groups of Jewish visitors arrive, the activists use both physical and verbal violence against them.

According to Hozrim LaHar, the police did not question or arrest any of the children involved in this provocation.

ISIS vow to take over Rome and ‘throw homosexuals off of your leaning tower of PIZZA’

• Message was posted by Twitter account used to publicise ISIS activity
• ISIS supporter threatened to conquer Rome and bring shariah law to city
• Also warned terrorists will 'throw homosexuals off leaning tower of pizza'
• Comes after jihadist spoke of plans to takeover Italian capital in ISIS video
• Threats sparked flood of mocking tweets and memes from Italian public

By Stephanie Linning for MailOnline

Hapless Islamic State militants have vowed online to take over Rome - and 'throw homosexuals off the leaning tower of pizza'.

In the message, posted by a Twitter account linked to the terror group, the ISIS supporter also threatens to bring sharia law to the Italian capital.

It comes just days after masked jihadists warned of their intention to conquer the city in a video that showed the mass beheading of 21 Christians in Libya.

But rather than spark widespread panic, the threats have triggered a flood of mocking responses - with dozens taking to social media to make fun of the jihadists and their takeover plans.

In the threat posted today, Twitter user Abu Abdullah Britani, who openly publicises ISIS activity, wrote: '#We_Are_Coming_O_Rome with slaughter'.

The message was soon followed by one that read: '#We_Are_Coming_O_Rome, we will conquer & establish the justice of #shariah. We will use your leaning tower of pizza to throw off homosexual'.

The terrorists have previously thrown men off of buildings for 'being gay'.

Earlier this year, images emerged that appeared to show militants hurling one man off a building in the town of Tal Abyad in Raqqa as supposed punishment for having a ‘homosexual affair’.

This most recent threat appears to indicate the terrorists intend to bring their barbaric practices to Europe - and plan to repeat the horrific scenes off the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

It appears the tweeter is unaware the tower is in Pisa, not Rome.

The hashtag #We_Are_Coming_O_Rome has been used by Islamic State supporters to discuss plans to reach Rome after the city was mentioned in a sickening video released earlier this week.

The footage, which lasts five minutes, shows the Egyptian Christians dressed in jumpsuits being marched one by one along a lonely beach, each held by a fighter clad in black.

The captives, their faces uncovered, are made to kneel before being forced to lie down. The masked jihadists then behead them simultaneously.

In the video, one of the militants warned: 'Today we are south of Rome. We will conquer Rome with Allah’s permission.'

They claimed their prisoners had been beheaded in Libya - just 220 miles south of Italy.

In the wake of the threat, Italian security chiefs have approved plans to put 4,800 soldiers on the country's streets and post them to 'sensitive sites' to help prevent terrorist attacks.

Read more:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2963229/ISIS-vow-Rome-throw-homosexuals-leaning-tower-PIZZA.html

Quran schools not involved in spreading Isis ideology, says association – Bernama

The Selangor Association of Quran Memorising Institutions (Pitas) rejects the perception that such educational institutions (tahfiz schools) in Selangor were involved in spreading the Isis militant group's ideology in the country.

Its chairman Ashri Lateh Al-Muqril said the 160 registered tahfiz schools in the state had never encouraged their students to join any militant group, including the Isis.

"The militant group not only contravenes the tahfiz education philosophy but has also deviated far from the true teachings of Islam," he told Bernama today.

He said there were about 10,000 students in 130 tahfiz schools affiliated to Pitas, while another 30 were not part of the association.

Those affiliated to Pitas followed the syllabus provided by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) and Pitas was constantly monitoring their developments, he said.

"Jihad in tahfiz studies is not about taking up arms and going to war, but seeking knowledge like memorising and understanding the Quran which is a bigger jihad," Ashri said.

He added that tahfiz schools were to produce a generation of Quran students who were knowledgeable and well-rounded individuals, and were not training grounds for militants.

On a 14-year-old female tahfiz student who was arrested at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport for allegedly trying to join the Isis group in Syria, Ashri said this was individual in nature and an isolated case.

The girl from Muar, Johor was reportedly a student of a tahfiz school in Shah Alam.

However, Ashri said, the girl's case would be discussed at the Pitas annual general meeting next month while it would also discuss and seek ways to prevent the Isis ideology from influencing and poisoning the minds of tahfiz students. – Bernama, February 22, 2015.

Jude Pereira keeps mum, wants people to judge

The investigating officer in the Sodomy II case, Jude Pereira, has refused to make any further comments apart from a handwritten account published in the Malaysia Today blog, alleging an attempt to subvert the case's trial by My Watch chairperson R Sri Sanjeevan.

Jude told Malaysiakini that he would not becommenting on the matter, and refused to answer queries on whether he had lodged a police report regarding the attempt to subvert the trial.

He also refused to respond to Sanjeevan's claims that the whole allegation was a "complete lie".

"Sorry, I am not making any more comments. Let the people judge," Jude said when posed with the queries today.

In his handwritten note, Jude claimed that Sanjeevan - who is also a PKR member - had requested him to release a press statement alleging a conspiracy in the Sodomy II investigations, which would subvert the trial.

This supposedly happened before GE13, when the case was still pending in the Court of Appeal.

Meanwhile, Sanjeevan - when contacted - emphasised that he would only be lodging a police report if Jude is confirmed as the man who made the allegations.

Jude's handling of the evidence from the scene where the sodomy tryst allegedly took place in 2008 was extensively questioned by Anwar's lawyers throughout the seven-year legal process - which ended with Anwar being sentenced to five years in prison earlier this month.

In his account published in Malaysia Today, Jude wrote that he had met both Sanjeevan and former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan over the attempt to subvert the trial.

Jude did not sign the press statement alleging the sodomy charge to be a conspiracy, as reportedly requested by Sanjeevan.

Musa had previously confirmed the incident to Malaysiakini, claiming that Sanjeevan had made the offer to Jude, but that Jude was advised against it by Musa when the two met later.

We'll see what happens, Mahfuz says of Sirul plan

Whether Sirul Azhar Umar would be having a teleconference session will only be known tomorrow, said PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar.

The Pokok Sena MP said this was in regard to recent news reports which stated the Australian Immigration Department would not be allowing the former police commando to give an interview.

Last Friday, Mahfuz (left) announced that he would be holding a press conference via telephone with Sirul for 15 minutes at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur at 11.33am tomorrow.

“Only tomorrow we would know what happens. All this while I have spoken to him through the phone, and emailed him as well.

“After getting his prior agreement, that is when I made the announcement on the press conference,” he told Malaysiakini.

Sirul fled to Australia before the apex court’s decision on charging him and his compatriot, Azilah Hadri, for killing the Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006.

Sirul also told Malaysiakini he is considering the possibility of revealing all on the case after being approached by several Australian media organisations for interviews.

Sirul’s exposé that he was just acting under orders which was dismissed as “utter rubbish” by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has also garnered more public interest on the case.

Rafizi to explain tweet about sodomy case judges

PKR secretary-general agrees to give statement at Bukit Aman tomorrow

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: Rafizi Ramli, hauled up as part of a police sedition swoop on critics of the Anwar Ibrahim judgement, is to make a statement at Bukit Aman, the federal police headquarters, tomorrow.

The statement will be about a message posted on Twitter the day the federal court delivered its judgement on opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in his appeal against conviction on a sodomy charge.

Rafizi is alleged to have posted an image of a judge’s ceremonial wig with dollar signs in each ringlet.

Among others arrested for allegedly seditious remarks about the judgement were cartoonist group activist Lawrence Jayaraj and Parti Sosialis Malaysia secretary-general S. Arutchelvan.

In a statement today, PKR said Rafizi will also hold a media conference tomorrow morning about Altantuya’s murder and Anwar’s case.

Govt doctor’s death: family to exhume body for tests

Second post-mortem exam to find cause of death, four years later

FMT

PETALING JAYA: The family of a Langkawi government doctor has been given permission to exhume his body after four years for a new post-mortem examination into the cause of death.

An Australian pathologist engaged by the family will conduct the post-mortem examination tomorrow together with a local pathologist, depending on the condition of the body, the Malaysian Insider reported.

Dr Sebastian Joseph, 30, a medical officer at a government clinic in Kuah, Langkawi, was found dead in his quarters at Padang Matsirat in November 2010. He was found in a kneeling position with his hands clenched, the Insider reported.

The family’s lawyer, M Visvanathan, was quoted as saying the family hoped it would be possible to determine the cause of death. Last month, the High Court in Alor Star had granted an application for an inquest.

After the original post-mortem at Langkawi hospital, by a general practitioner (GP) and not a pathologist, the cause of death was stated as “unascertained”.

The doctor’s mother, Santaamal Philip, was quoted as saying her son had told her previously he had wanted to make a report about patients being prescribed Panadol for many ailments, and the clinic pharmacy’s lack of various medicines which he had prescribed.

PKR’s Nik Nazmi arrested for Anwar rally

After being freed on Saturday, 10 police personnel turn up at his home in Shah Alam

FMT

SHAH ALAM: PKR Youth leader Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad was arrested at his home near here tonight for the Saturday public rally in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur, in support of the jailed party leader Anwar Ibrahim.

“Nik Nazmi was with his wife and children when the police came to the house,” said Fahmi Fadzil, the party’s communications director.

He was the third person to be arrested in connection with the rally under Penal Code provisions for illegal assembly.

Nik Nazmi, who is assemblyman for Seri Setia, Selangor, was taken to Jinjang police station.

Yesterday police had arrested activist Adam Adli Abdul Halim and PKR supreme council member Fariz Musa at the rally on Saturday. They were freed on police bail after being held overnight and their statements recorded.

Nik Nazmi had been pulled away by supporters when police attempted to arrest him at Dang Wangi station on Saturday. He had said earlier today that arrests will not stop the rallies in support of Anwar.

Call on all Pakatan Rakyat leaders, including PAS President Hadi Awang, to focus single-mindedly on how to save Pakatan Rakyat and discourage efforts and elements within our ranks who are prepared to destabilize and even destroy PR

By Lim Kit Siang Blog,

In my Chinese New Year Message on 17th February, I had said that many issues will jostle as the top Malaysian concerns and conversational topics during the Chinese New Year.

This is the third day of the Chinese New Year, and I confess that I had expected Anwar’s conviction and five-year jail sentence for Sodomy II by the Federal Court and his fourth incarceration in his 47-year political struggle as the No. 1 conversation topic of all Malaysians in the Chinese New Year.

I was however wrong, for another issue caught up and gained an edge over Anwar’s conviction and 5-year jail sentence to compete for the No. 1 Chinese New Year top conversation topic – another Federal Court decision concerning a nine-year-matter, the heinous murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu and the blowing up of her body with military C4 explosives in the Shah Alam bushes on Oct. 19, 2006.

On the day I issued my Chinese New Year Message on 17th February, Sirul Azhar, one of the two convicted murderers of Altantunya who had absconded and is seeking asylum in Australia, told Malaysiakini that he was mulling over the possibility of “telling all” about the Altantuya murder as he was only acting “under orders”.

The fast-paced five-day developments of the Altantuya murder case from the Sirul perspective, threatening to reveal “all” in a video conference from Australia tomorrow (Monday) morning, catapulted the issue into a greater cause celebre during the Chinese New Year family re-unions, get-togethers, discussions and coffee-shop talks than the Anwar case – although both these cases were unchallenged as the two top-most first and second conversation topics in the Chinese New Year.

These two high-profile cases highlighted a common defect in our system of governance – a deep rot in the leadership of the 130,000 strong police establishment to allowing the men and women in blue to act efficiently, independent and professionally to uphold what is right and lawful rather to be subverted to glorify “might is right”’ and the shocking lack of commitment and quality of performance by the political leadership and public service to provide good governance.

I am thoroughly shocked and outraged at the failure of our system of administration of justice in both these high-profile cases in keeping with the maxim to ensure that “justice is not only done, but seen to be done”.

There were several burning issues which qualify to be described as the concerns and top conversation topics of all Malaysians on the occasion of the Chinese New Year of the Goat in the past few days, and among those competing for the second tier level of the Chinese New Year concerns and top conversation topics are:

3. Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri’s racist call to Malay consumers to boycott Chinese businesses and the impotence and lack of political will and commitment to 1Malaysia by the Najib premiership to resolve the issue in a satisfactory and acceptable manner despite the passage of some three weeks.
4. Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s intensification of his campaign to topple Datuk Seri Najib Razak as Prime Minister of Malaysia and UMNO President. People are speculating whether Najib could survive as PM till the end of the year, or even by mid-year or even earlier.
5. The massive 1MDB Scandal;
6. The continued educational, economic and environmental decline in the country and the unchecked deterioration of all the indices of good governance, threatening to end up with Malaysia as a basket case joining the ranks of the “failed states”.
7. Rearing of the ugly heads of extremism, bigotry and intolerance in the public domain, with the voices of moderation remaining muted and silent, resulting in the country seeing the worst racial and religious polarization in the nation’s history.
8. Unchecked corruption, greed and abuses of power in top decision-making circles.
9. The far-reaching consequences of the implementation of GST from April 1.

There were other ongoing developments and issues competing for attention as the top Chinese New Year concerns and conversation topics, including:

1. The fate of Pakatan Rakyat, with Anwar back in jail and the death of Tok Guru Nik Aziz, whether PR component parties could take stock, regroup and reunify to “return to the basics” to be guided by the two fundamental principles of PR Common Policy Framework and consensus operational principle which had brought success to PR in the 12th and 13th General Elections, or whether PR would explode and disintegrate.

2. The escalation of crackdown on human rights and fundamental liberties as witnessed by the arrest of human rights lawyer, Eric Paulsen, cartoonists Zunar, social activist Lawrence Jayaraj, student leader Adam Adli Abdul Halim, DAP Penang Exco and Wanita DAP chief Chong Eng, PSM Secretary-General S. Arutchelvan and impending arrest of DAP for Taiping, Nga Kor Ming.

It is most outrageous and scandalous that the Malaysian police showed neither respect nor sensitivity whatsoever when three cops appeared at Perak Pakatan Rakyat Chinese New Year Open House in Ipoh this morning to publicly serve Nga with the official notice to show up at Bukit Aman police headquarters tomorrow at 11.30 am to have his statement recorded with regard to a sedition probe against him.

Why such high-handedness, selectivity of treatment and even harassment of PR leaders when police want to conduct investigations as compared to the servile and submissive police attitude when faced with UMNO Ministers, a former Deputy Minister and activists who were accused of making racial and religious hate statements or speeches?

The UMNO/Barisan Nasional would be sorely mistaken if the think they could cow and subdue patriotic critics and dissenters with such boorish and insensitive attitudes.

Clearly, the country needs a change but the past 18 months after the 13th General Elections have exposed one stark reality – that such change is not possible under the present Umno/BN government, whether Najib or anyone else.
In fact, we have one of the weakest Prime Ministers in the nation’s history, as Datuk Seri Najib is even weaker than his predecessor, Tun Abdullah Badawi. But he is a powerful UMNO President who is not easy to be dislodged or removed inside UMNO. And if Najib can continue as UMNO President, he position as the sixth Prime Minister is safe.

Najib has lost the sense of national direction, as exemplified by the fact that he now hardly talked or promoted his three key official programmes – the 1Malaysia Policy, the National Transformation Programme founded on a New Economic Model (NEM) and his initiative of a Global Movement of Moderates.

This is why there is even greater hope among Malaysians that the Pakatan Rakyat would be vehicle for national change among Malaysians of all races, and that the 14th General Elections would provide such an opportunity after it was stolen away in the 13th General Elections because of undemocratic electoral constituency delineation despite the Pakatan Rakyat winning a majority of 52% of the national vote.

However, the Pakatan Rakyat is facing the greatest crisis in its seven-year history, which has been aggravated by the imprisonment of Anwar Ibrahim and the death of Tok Guru Nik Aziz.

Can the Pakatan Rakyat ride through the crisis and emerge even stronger than ever or would it disintegrate and die?

This a question awaiting answer not only by Pakatan Rakyat leaders but supporters as well.

I want to appeal to all Pakatan Rakyat leaders, including Pas President, Datuk Seri Ahmad Hadi Awang, to focus single-mindedly on how to save Pakatan Rakyat and discourage efforts and elements within our ranks who are prepared to destabilize and even destroy PR.

The latest political developments and the death of Nik Aziz has revived the UG (Unity Government) idea of certain UMNO strategists out to divide and destroy PR and it is most likely that UMNO will not contest the Chempaka by-election in the Kelantan State Assembly arising from the death of Nik Aziz.

In today Mingguan Malaysia, UMNO’s mouth piece, former Chief Justice, Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad said PAS and Umno must unite to save Barisan Nasional (BN) should Pakatan Rakyat (PR) win the 14th general election, making the baseless and wild allegation that the DAP will destroy the rights of the Malays and Islam’s special position if it gained power.

It is most irresponsible for UMNO quarters to stir up and indoctrinate Malays particularly in the rural areas with racist smears and racialist outrages in the rural areas, where there is adequate access to internet and which is one reason why they are so vulnerable to such false and base attacks.

Who will be the next Opposition Leader? It is premature to talk about it now, as under the Constitution, Anwar is still MP for Permatang Pauh and Parliamentary Opposition Leader.

However, if there is need for a new Opposition leader, I believe there is no shortage of talents from three PR parties to helm this position.

In DAP, there is Lim Guan Eng Penang Chief Minister and the coterie of young but tested DAP leaders; in PKR there are Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Datuk Azmin Ali, Nuruk Izzah; and in PAS there is Hadi Awang and new generation of PAS leaders.

The paramount task is for every PR leader to jointly save PR by adopting an Eight-Year Roadmap reaffirming the secret recipe of the PR success in the 2008 and 2013 general elections, namely adherence to the PR Common Policy Framework which binds all three parties and the operational principle of consensus requiring the consent of all three parties before any policy or issue could represent that of PR.

There have been dissenting voices, like those who said that the immediate implementation of hudud cannot be compromised and must be effected.

This is why PR will miss Nik Aziz greatly. Firstly, it was because of his staunch opposition to UG idea that the concept did not get very far.

Secondly, Nik Aziz will be able the see the Big Picture on the need to endorse the eight-year PR Roadmap to ensure the survival, success and victory of PR in the 14th General Election.

Nobody doubts that Nik Aziz would himself want to see the immediate implementation of hudud, but he is realistic enough to know that it was not part of the PR Common Policy Framework and that any insistence without arriving at a PR consensus to implement it would lead to the disintegration of PR.

Nik Aziz would have understood the arguments that the implementation of hudud is not a top priority issue as compared to ensuring the survival and success of PR, the defeat of Umno/BN and in capturing Putrajaya Federal Government in the 14th GE to immediately implement policies which will restore freedom, justice, human dignity and good governance in Malaysia.

Nik Aziz had given great support to the formation and sustenance of PR, although hudud is not part of the PR Common Policy Framework.

This is why I cannot buy the argument that it will be going against Islamic principles if hudud is not implemented, for it would mean that Nik Aziz and all Pas leaders and members had betrayed Islamic principles for six years from the 12th to 13th General Elections when the issue of the implementation of hudud was not presented as one of the core principles of PR in the 13th General Elections.

I earnest hope that the PR leaders can single-mindedly work on a formula to save Pakatan Rakyat, which will at the same time save the country as well as save Anwar from five-year incarceration followed by another five years of disenfranchisement of his civil and citizenship rights to stand for elective office and even to cast his vote.

Let us do what we can to achieve three Ss – Save Pakatan Rakyat, Save Malaysia and Save Anwar!

Speech at the Penang DAP Chinese New Year Open House held at Penang Chinese Town Hall on Sunday, 22nd February 2015 at 8.30 pm

Drive Carefully, Says Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has advised Malaysians traveling home after the Chinese New Year holidays to drive carefully.

In his posting on his Facebook account tonight, Najib said: "I believe that many are now on their way home after the Chinese New Year holidays.

"Drive carefully so that you will arrive at your destination safely."

Traffic flow on several major highways experience congestion since this afternoon as Malaysians begin their journey home after the long break.

Among the highways affected were the North-South Expressway (NSE) from the north to Kuala Lumpur, and the East Coast Expressway (ECE).

IGP demam, patut jumpa doktor, saran Mahfuz

Woman Maltreated By ISIS For Having Sexy Eyes

ISIS morality Police have attacked a young Syrian woman dressed in a full burqa and face veil because they thought her eyes were sexy and too exposed.

Oluwatobi Bolashodun

According to Lailas Blog, the woman was arrested and maltreated in Albuhamal, east of the country, along with two men who tried to defend her. Women who live in ISIS controlled areas are being beaten with iron rods when they offend the militant group’s strict dress code.

Women living in ISIS-controlled territory in Syria and Iraq are made to follow strict rules, which they claim are based on Sharia law.

The group orders women to wear double-layered veils, loose abayas and gloves.

When they go out dressed like this the poor women end up looking like Ninjas and they are also made to go everywhere with a male guardian.

It would be recalled that the Militants fighting for the Islamic State in Syria publicly beheaded a man for allegedly practicing witchcraft.

Isis infighting: Tensions rise over use of Yazidi sex slaves, loss of Kobani and poor services in areas controlled by group

Yazidi sex slaves, the loss of Kobani and the struggle to keep infrastructure running in areas captured by Isis are believed to be causing friction among militants in the group.

Recent reports suggest infighting is growing between the ranks of foreign fighters as Isis tries to recover from bombing campaigns against its strongholds in Iraq and Syria.

The Jordanian airforce recently claimed to have degraded Isis’s capabilities by 20 per cent after air strikes against militants were intensified in retaliation for the death of pilot Lieutenant Muath al-Kasaesbeh. Isis is also believed to be suffering financially of late as their supply routes between core territories are damaged.

Sajad Jiyad, Research Fellow and Associate Member at the Iraqi Institute for Economic Reform, said one of the biggest issues to have caused friction between fighters in the past surrounded the decision to keep Yazidi children and women as sex slaves.

Mr Jiyad told The Independent that many supporters had been in denial about the trafficking of kidnapped Yazidi women, who were captured when Isis flooded Mosul and sold off as sex slaves to fighters.

“It shows that not all supporters understand the nature of the organisation,” he said.

Harrowing accounts have since emerged of trafficked women being beaten, raped and even forced to give blood by militants.

Isis’s propaganda magazine Dabiq published an article in October justifying the practice of selling women and children. It condemned Yazidis as "pagans" and "infidels” and claimed they were divided among Isis members “according to the Sharia”.

Mr Jiyad said: "Their supporters were in denial until Daesh confirmed it in a magazine; some had said before the revelation that they wouldn’t do such a thing as it was vile, but then were left with egg on their faces."

Tensions are also believed to have risen after Kurdish troops aided by US-led coalition airstrikes retook the Syrian border town of Kobani, which Mr Jiyad says caused some “internal criticism”.

“I read things on forums where blame was being apportioned, but the higher leadership has kept a lid on it."

Some mid to high level commanders were killed without Isis releasing any "grand press releases", he added, which could indicate that their deaths were the result of an internal feud.

The recent arrest of an Isis cleric who objected to the burning to death of the Jordanian pilot has led to speculation that the group’s increasing brutality could be proving too much even for some of its members.

But Mr Jiyad believes this is unlikely to have proved a divisive issue for core members of the group.
"It may be the case with people close to them or supportive of them, like the cleric, but not its own men," he said. "It is more operational issues that involve local populations and control that are likely the cause of divisions.

“Tensions do seem to be on the rise because Daesh has stepped up the arrests and killings of its own men. But it has proved to be incredibly resilient so far under intense pressure so I don’t think the internal divisions will lead to the group's downfall."

Mr Sajad said tensions are more likely to be growing because of the living situations of those still in areas under the group’s self-declared caliphate.

“The poor services are due to a lack of funding, equipment, resources and because the towns under their control are being cut-off from central government. The blame obviously is placed on Daesh by local populations because they are responsible for the upkeep of services. It is only intimidation that keeps the frustration from spilling over."

Meanwhile, Abu Mohammed Hussam, of the Syrian activist group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, says relationships between Iraqi and Syrian fighters and those arriving from the Gulf are becoming increasingly strained.

"They say that all the Syrians do not know anything of the Islamic religion," he explained.

Family vital in preventing youth from joining Isis, say groups, experts

Families play a key role in preventing youths from being lured to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) by teaching them the meaning of jihad and detecting changes in their behaviour, Muslim groups and academics said.

After reports that police arrested a 14-year-old as she was about to join the group, experts said the onus should not be on the police alone to nab the young suspects as the family was the closest entity to them.

Ahmad El-Muhammady, a lecturer from the International Islamic University Malaysia, and one of the panellists in the ongoing White House summit on countering violent extremism, said the family institution plays a key role in preventing youngsters from being exploited as family is the closest entity to them.

"They can detect changes in their thinking and behaviour. Parents also need to monitor their children’s Internet activities,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

“Second, their peers also can play a role in detecting changes in behavioural orientation. They have to report this matter to the relevant authorities, especially police for further investigation.”

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the 14-year-old girl who was arrested on Tuesday was influenced to join Isis through propaganda on social network site Facebook.

Intelligence sources told The Malaysian Insider last year that the Isis militants have mastered social media as their main channel to recruit fighters from around the world, including Malaysians, unlike the early 2000s where recruitment was done through religious schools.

Some, like former Kedah PAS Youth information chief Lotfi Ariffin who was killed in Syria, had not only posted his activities with Isis on Facebook, but had posted call-to-action messages too.

One blog that gained attention was that of an Isis member called “Shams”, who claimed to be a 26-year-old woman doctor from Malaysia, and was in Syria using her medical skills to help fighters and had married an Isis fighter.

Terror cells could be created virtually, as jihadists shared and spread ideological beliefs, raised funds, justified and created motives for violence online, said an intelligence source.

The source said some youths in Malaysia were being targeted for recruitment via skewed religious interpretations.

Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) president Amidi Abdul Manan said that parents and teachers had to ensure children understood that jihad, or holy struggle, did not mean taking up arms and using force against others.

“They must explain that jihad means to strive, and should be practised in all aspects of our lives. If we strive to become better people, and understand Islam, that is already jihad.

“So the parents and teachers must teach this, but they must also understand the teenager’s spirit and deal with it wisely. Teenagers tend to be idealistic and stubborn, and are still considered children.”

Zaid Kamaruddin, vice-president of non-governmental organization Ikram, said the government should form a specific agency for the public to refer to if they suspected anyone of being interested in joining Isis.

The agency should comprise counsellors equipped with religious knowledge who could engage with those at risk of joining Isis, he said.

“If we just arrest the people suspected of joining Isis and punish them, the Isis members in Malaysia may end up attacking our own country.

“So we should take pre-emptive measures instead. Get the professionals to rescue those at risk of joining Isis, and engage with them. Right now everything is rather ad hoc,” he said.

Meanwhile, Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin (pic, right) proposed that the government provide alternative activities for those who wished to join Isis.

“In this day and age, if we prevent someone from doing something, they will just find their way around it. So we have to give them alternatives,” he said.

He suggested that Putrajaya allow more volunteers to provide relief to Muslims in need abroad, on the condition that they remain monitored by the government.

“There are many international non-governmental organisations who visit war-torn countries to provide aid. They do not go to war, but they help and provide welfare.”

He also suspected that many of those interested in joining Isis were simply motivated by the thrill of a challenge, rather than any spiritual calling.

“It’s possible that some of them are going simply because they are looking for a challenge, I think, because it would be inaccurate to link Isis to Islam, as what Isis is doing is not in line with the meaning of jihad,” Asri told The Malaysian Insider.

“Jihad in Islam means to elevate Allah and Islam, but what Isis is doing is giving a negative perception of Islam. We don’t know what Isis is trying to defend or what its agenda really is.”

Police arrested the 14-year-old as she was about to board a Cairo-bound flight at the KL International Airport on Tuesday evening.

Khalid said the girl planned marry a 22-year-old Malaysian student in Cairo and would go to Istanbul before securing passage to Syria.

Bukit Aman’s Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division principal assistant director Senior Asst Comm Datuk Ayob Khan said investigations revealed that the Muar-born girl’s trip was funded by a man in the city, according to a report in The Star.

He said she received RM2,000 and the plane tickets and was about to leave the country on the pretext of furthering her studies in Egypt.

He said that police were in the midst of identifying the so-called benefactor and trying to ascertain if she had other sponsors or if the man had funded other would-be militants.

A counter-terrorism expert, meanwhile, said the girl should be enrolled in a rehabilitation programme as she was underage.

“This would be the best solution to make sure that her future is not marred by the ‘mistake’ she made for trusting those who tried to lure her into joining Isis,” said the expert.

He said although she is currently detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, charging her and putting her behind bar would be too ‘brutal’ and could affect her future.

“Rehabilitation programme would be best. Make sure that she is in a good environment and monitored throughout the programme,” said the expert.

He said the girl was too naive to process and to understand the consequences of her action.

“She needs guidance. A study needs to be done on her background and see how the authorities can help guide her onto the right path,” said the expert.

Since early last year, police have arrested more than 20 people in various parts of Malaysia over alleged links to the terror group.

Thirty-nine Malaysians have been officially identified as being involved with Isis in Syria, whose aim is to set up an Islamic caliphate in the region.

A few Malaysian women reportedly went last year to Syria and Iraq to engage in "jihad al-nikah" or "conjugal jihad" for fighters there. – February 21, 2015.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/to-stop-youth-from-joining-isis-families-urged-to-play-active-role#sthash.h4sHkx4I.dpuf

Hindraf members in fear of sedition dragnet

Hindraf members now fear coming under the sedition dragnet, after the Home Ministry took a copy of a book which contains writings by its leader P Uthayakumar.

The book titled Torture in Malaysian Prisons: Who You Didn’t Know and Need to Know to Act is a compilation of letters, memoranda and commentaries written by Uthayakumar about prison living conditions.

Hindraf supporter M Varatharajoo, who had compiled the contents, said an officer from the Home Ministry’s Publications Control and Quranic Text Division had first asked for copies of the book from the typesetter.

The typesetter cum printer then gave Varatharajoo’s number as he did not have any copies of the book left.

Varatharajoo said the officer, named Zulkepli Mat Hashim, had called him and they subsequently met at his office on Wednesday (Feb 18).

“But I told him I only have three copies, so I could only give him one,” he told Malaysiakini today.

He further pointed out that 500 copies of the book had been sent out, including to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, all ministries and MPs, as well as relevant non-governmental organisations and media organisations, in October last year.

Book 'will not be returned'

“They (the Home Ministry) must have one copy of the book. Otherwise, how did they know the typesetter’s address?” he said.

Varatharajoo added that the officer however claimed that he did not have a copy and when asked, said he will not be returning the copy.

The officer also did not give a reason as to why he had taken the book.

Varatharajoo said that the book was not seditious and that they were simply pushing for better living conditions for prisoners.

“Although an inmate might be a murderer or a gangster, he is still a human being. The government should take care of their welfare,” he said.

Stressing that all Malaysians should know what was happening in the country’s jails, he also proposed that a group of retired judges and human rights groups pay a visit to prisons every six months before coming up with a report and submitting it to Parliament.

The Home Ministry’s Publications Control and Quranic Text Division is in charge of banning books it deemed unsuitable.

Although Varatharajoo cited concerns about sedition, the book might likely be banned, instead.

Uthayakumar who was sentenced to 30 months in prison for sedition, had recounted various “horrors” he experienced in prison during the two years in prison.

In an interview with Malaysiakini after his release, he had claimed that five inmates were forced to share one toothbrush.

He also said the same dipper which they used to eat out of, functions as the container used to wash their wounds and soak their underwear.

Australia may give green light to Sirul’s tell-all

Australia’s Immigration Department said that it has not ruled out the possibility of convicted murderer Sirul Azhar Umar giving tell-all television interviews provided proper application processes were met.
                          
"Generally, the department does not facilitate interviews within detention facilities for operational reasons," a spokesperson for Immigration minister, Peter Dutton, told Australia’s The Age newspaper.

The unnamed spokesperson was reported yesterday to have said that the department has not approved any television interviews with Sirul, a 43-year-old police commando who has been sentenced to death in Malaysia and is currently held at Sydney's Villawood detention centre.

According to The Age, Sirul would need top-level approval for a media interview in Villawood's maximum security Blaxland unit, where he has been held since his arrest in Brisbane, Queensland, on Jan 20.

Malaysiakini has earlier reported that Sirul was being approached by a number of Australian television stations for interviews to reveal who allegedly ordered him and his compatriot, Azilah Hadri, to kill Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006.

Both men were part of then deputy prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s security detail and on Thursday, Prime Minister Najib rubbished Sirul’s claim that he was ordered by his superiors to kill Shaariibuu.

"Utter rubbish," Najib said when questioned by a Malaysiakini reporter during a Chinese New Year’s open house.

No motive mentioned

Numerous questions have surfaced pertaining to the murder case. Chief among them was that the prosecution and courts failed to establish a motive for the grisly murder.

Najib has repeatedly denied ever meeting Shaariibuu (right) and even swore in the name of God that he had nothing to do with the matter.

His former aide de camp, deputy superintendent Musa Safri, who reportedly told Azilah to help Razak Baginda on the night of the murder, was however not called to testify in the sensational trial.

This was one of the reasons cited by the Court of Appeal in freeing both Azilah and Sirul in 2012, only for its decision to be reversed by the Federal Court last month.

Azilah, who was present when the apex court delivered its decision, was immediately led to death row to await his execution while Sirul fled to Queenland.

The government had vowed to file an application to extradite him despite Australian law dictating that a person facing the death penalty in his or her home country cannot be sent back.

Survey: M'sia's polls boundaries worst in world

 

Malaysia has the worst electoral boundaries in the world and among the worst set of election laws, the Electoral Integrity Project (EIP) found.

This places Malaysia among countries with 'low electoral integrity' ranking 114 out of 127 nations surveyed along with the likes of Angola, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, and Egypt, EIP's 2014 report said.

It trails far behind neighbour Indonesia, which ranks 51^st for its presidential elections. The Philippines and Thailand rank 91^st and 88^th place respectively.

Malaysia was dragged down by its score for voting boundaries, where it scored 28 out of 100 – the worst in the world. The average global score was 64.

International and domestic experts who responded to EIP's survey after GE13, said Malaysia's electoral boundaries discriminated against some parties, favoured incumbents and were not impartial.

Similarly, Malaysia was in the bottom five in electoral laws by scoring a dismal 33, far behind the global average of 64, the report found.

It was only better than Syria, Belarus, Tajikistan and Equitorial Guinea.

Repondents were asked to rate Malaysia's laws for fairness to smaller parties, whether the laws favoured governing parties and restricted citizens' rights.

Malaysia, however met the world average for voting process, with respondents saying there were few cases of violence during polls or fraudulent votes case, a simple voting process, and option to vote for overseas Malaysians.

Zaid sets up a web platform for moderates

'Sensible' place for push back against racial and religious extremism

FMT

PETALING JAYA: Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has now become a publisher and media owner, in addition to being a lawyer, author, blogger, newspaper columnist and anti-highway activist.

He has set up a “sensible” news and commentary web site called Nasionalis at www.nasionalis.my, with four staff, to provide a platform for moderates to speak up.

“I wanted a 100% Malay-language portal focussing on political education and issues the country needed to talk about, especially among the Malay community,” he told Malaysian Insider.

Zaid said he was concerned that the Malays were being influenced by ideologies of racial and religious extremism which he felt would be detrimental to both the community and the country in the long term.

“I believe we need to do something to bring all the races together. There’s no reason for different races to fight and there will be no end to this. We need to move on because I believe we are still being dragged by this religious and racial problems. It is dangerous and unnecessary,” the Star quoted him as saying.

“I encourage especially the Indians, Chinese, or the Kadazans write in Bahasa for us and I will publish them…this is an exciting project,” he said.

Anti-terrorism bill ready for Parliament

New law to be tabled at the next sitting in March, says Wan Junaidi.

FMT

KUCHING: A new law on prevention of terrorism will be ready for tabling in Parliament next month, says Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

He said the law is crucial to curb the influence of terrorists because existing provisions mostly deals with matters after the fact.

The new Prevention of Terrorism Bill was drafted after Parliament debated and approved a government White Paper on combating the threat of Islamic State, in November.

Fears have been expressed that the new law would incorporate measures for detention without trial, similar to those provided under the now-repealed Internal Security Act, which was frequently criticised for being used against political dissidents under the cover of national security.

Wan Junaidi said preventative laws were needed “so that we can take action even before acts are committed”. He said terrorist groups that misused Islam as a political tool were a threat to all Malaysians, not just Muslims.

“They are influencing the youth, our children. They use multiple approaches. They go to universities, to schools. This is a big challenge for the Government,” Junaidi was quoted as saying on Thursday after a 14-year-old girl was detained on suspicion of trying to join Islamic State fighters in the Middle East.

The girl, from Muar, was arrested under the new security offences law on Tuesday before she could board a Cairo-bound flight.

Ex-IGP, activist deny Anwar trial conspiracy claim

Businessman's account of meeting 'a complete lie' says anti-crime activist Sanjeevan

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: Anti-crime activist R Sri Sanjeevan has denied being part of an alleged attempt to subvert the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy case, while the former Inspector-General of Police, Musa Hassan, denied trying to find out about any conspiracy to convict opposition leader Anwar who is now serving a five-year jail sentence.

In a statement today, Sanjeevan described the allegations made by a businessman that he had asked Jude Pereira who is the investigating officer of the case to subvert the trial as “a complete lie”.

Sanjeevan acknowledged that he had met Pereira in April 2013, just before the general election. The meeting was arranged by Musa, then patron of the MyWatch group which Sanjeevan headed.

“I wish to state that it is a complete lie to suggest that there was an attempt to subvert the trial,” he said, according to Malaysian Insider.

“The meeting was to confirm from Jude himself whether there was a conspiracy in Anwar’s case, however, unfortunately since Jude was not willing to go on record, it ended there. I have never met nor contacted Jude since then,” he said.

The article claimed that Sanjeevan had said that he was close to Anwar Ibrahim, but Sanjeevan said Anwar had nothing to do with the meeting, adding that it was his own effort to find out the truth about the sodomy case.

“There was no attempt to subvert the trial as this meeting happened after Anwar was acquitted in January 2012 and the trial was over. I should have known better than to trust these two individuals i.e., Musa Hassan and Jude Pereira,” he was quoted as saying.

Musa was quoted by The Star as saying that the businessman’s article at Malaysia Today was wrong. He said he had met Jude Pereira but “I never asked him (Jude) if there was a conspiracy in Anwar’s case”, he was quoted as saying.

Musa said Pereira had told him later that he had met Sanjeevan and was asked to issue a statement about there being a conspiracy against Anwar, and that he had commended Pereira “when he told me that he refused to issue the press release,” The Star reported.

According to the article in Malaysia Today which was written by Raggie Jessy, Pereira related the incident where he met Musa who asked whether there was any conspiracy in the investigation against Anwar. He replied that the statements from the witnesses showed distinctly that there was not a shred of conspiracy.

Jessy’s article also mentioned that Pereira said that Sanjeevan had asked him, at a meeting in Petaling Jaya, whether he would make a press statement to say that there was a conspiracy in the investigations against Anwar and mentioned that he would be taken care of, should the opposition win the election. However, Pereira said he refused to do so as his investigations showed no conspiracy or government interference, according to the article.

Sirul Azhar the ticking time bomb

Will convicted Altantuya killer blow up Najib? Wait for the Ides of March, says Ariff Sabri

FMT

Convicted killer Sirul Azhar’s sojourn in Australia, and a promised “tell-all” interview with the Malaysian press on Monday, has got tongues wagging about the kind of support he has obtained, and what he may say.

Does he have anything explosive to reveal? Will the former police commando blow up? Will Najib Razak, who has been indirectly linked to the woman, survive the Ides of March?

Questions have been popping up ever since it was revealed that Sirul had quietly left the country in the months before a Federal Court decision on his conviction and death sentence for the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2008.

Fresh demands have been made for the Altantuya case to be re-opened, after Sirul told Malaysiakini last week that he had acted under orders when, with chief inspector Azilah Hadri, he carried out the killing of Altantuya, aged 28, by shooting her in the head and blowing up her body with plastic explosives.

Najib has pooh-poohed Sirul’s insistence that he was merely acting under orders (an aide to Najib was named in his original cautioned police statement but not at the trial) and that the real killer had not been punished. “Utter rubbish,” the prime minister had said.

Now the MP for Raub, Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz, has asked in a speculative article on his blog whether Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s warning about the Ides of March would become a reality.

Ariff questioned why Najib had reacted so pointedly to Sirul’s remarks, as the Attorney-General had previously stated, before Sirul and Azilah were put on trial, that no others were involved.

“Let’s wait for March,” Ariff said. “Let’s see if Dr Mahathir’s warning comes about. Let’s see if Najib can survive after March.”

The “Ides of March”, a phrase from Shakespeare, refers to warning given by soothsayers to Julius Ceasar that senators led by Brutus were conspiring to assassinate him.

In a separate article, lawyer Haris Ibrahim speculates that Dr Mahathir may have helped Sirul to disappear to Australia, and could be the unseen hand behind Sirul’s willingness to reveal more about the murder.

Ariff makes no direct link to Mahathir as Haris does.

However, Ariff also speculates that Sirul may have been influenced by Australians to now speak up, as no Malaysians have access to him at the immigration detention centre where he is being held while awaiting the Australian government’s decision whether to extradite him as requested by Malaysia.

Dr Mahathir and his supporters have led a campaign against Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor, especially lately with a barrage of criticism directed towards the government-owned investment company 1Malaysia Development Bhd, where Najib is an adviser.

Ariff reasons that Sirul’s reluctance to speak up about the order received from a high place during his trial may have been out of fear of “custodial death”, as speculated by Razak Baginda, a former policy analyst and associate of Najib, who was a co-accused but was acquitted without his defence being called.

“And Razak is an honourable man,” Ariff sarcastically points out, in the manner that Julius Ceasar’s friend Mark Antony referred to Brutus.

The Raub MP also speculates that Sirul may have met important people before he left for Australia and spoken about the events of the time.

For his protection, he may have prepared written depositions, attested to by people of impeccable integrity and credentials and Ariff asks if these will surface in March.

He reasons that someone under the threat of death would want to save his soul, and Sirul deserves to be given a chance.

Sirul cannot continue to equivocate about the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu but must show genuine remorse for the killing under orders if he wants Malaysians and the world to be equally outraged at his betrayal by the murder “mastermind”

By Lim Kit Siang Blog

The latest from former police commando Sirul Azhar, one of the two convicted murderers of the Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu who is in Australia challenging the bid of the Malaysian government to extradite him to return to the death row in Malaysia, is that he had never admitted to the murder of Altantuya.

Sirul has been maintaining in his telephone conversations with Malaysiakini that he had acted under orders and was being made a scapegoat.
He told Malaysiakini on Chinese New Year on Wednesday, 19th February – the day the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, blurted “utter rubbish”, “total rubbish” to Sirul’s claim of having acted “under orders”:

“There are no witnesses to the murder until today. All this is based on circumstantial evidence linking me (to the murder).
“I understand that circumstantial evidence is not strong as direct evidence.”

Sirul should come clean and admit to the heinous murder of Altantunya under orders.

Sirul cannot continue to equivocate about the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu but must show genuine remorse for the killing under orders if he wants Malaysians and the world to be equally outraged at his betrayal by the murder “mastermind”

It is true that Sirul had never admitted to killing the Mongolian during the prolonged nine-year trial and appeals on the murder of Shaariibuu from 2006 – 2015, but he was very specific in admitting to the killing of Altantuya by providing explicit and graphic details of the gruesome murder of Altantunya together with another former police commando Azila Hadri and blowing by her body by military C4 explosives in Sirul’s first statement to the police on November 9, 2006.

On Feb. 3, 2009 a tearful Sirul asked the Kuala Lumpur High Court not to sentence him to death for Altantuya’s murder, saying he was like “a black sheep that has to be sacrificed” to protect unnamed people who have never been brought to court or faced questioning.

Sirul said: “I have no reason to cause hurt, what’s more to take the life of the victim in such a cruel manner. I appeal to the court, which has the powers to determine if I live or die, not to sentence me so as to fulfil others’ plans for me.”

Sirul has the support of decent human beings, whether in Malaysia, Australia and anywhere in the world, in feeling outraged that as a pawn in the killing of Altantuya, he had to pay the supreme penalty of “death penalty” while the murder mastermind could get off scot-free.

But Sirul cannot be equivocal, trying to have the best of both worlds, claiming that he had never admitted to the murder of Altantuya and yet want the world to sympathise with his outrage that he was being punished for loyally carrying out orders while the the mastermind who issued the order gets away scotsfree.

Sirul should stop equivocating. The murder trial is fully over with the Federal Court decision on January 13, 2015 finding Sirul and Azila guilty of the murder of Altantuya and sentenced them to death.

Sirul must confront the facts: Was Altantunya murdered in Mukim Bukit Raja, Klang between 10 pm on Oct. 19, 2006 and 1 am on Oct. 20, 2006; was she murdered by him and Azila, both of whom used military explosives to blow up her body to destroy the evidence; and were they acting “orders” when murdering Altantunya?

If Sirul claims that he is innocent of the murder of Altantunya, then he should not be claiming justice on the ground that he had murdered under “orders”, but that he had been wrongly convicted of Altantunya’s murder when he is totally innocent.

Sirul should think through his statements and actions so not to be caught in a web of his own making.

Schoolgirl who planned to join Isis wanted to further religious studies – Bernama

A schoolgirl who was detained by the police for allegedly wanting to join the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) militant group in Syria had told her family she wanted to further her studies at a religious school.

This was according to the 14-year-old's uncle and a schoolmate.

The 52-year-old uncle reeled in shocked when informed the teenager was nabbed on Tuesday at the KL International Airport on suspicion of wanting to join the militant group in Syria.

"I didn't know my niece was detained until you (reporters) told me... her relations with her family are good and there are no problems... and she is even close to her friends at school.

"She is the eldest of three children and their mother died a few years ago. Recently, she wanted to study at a religious school," he told reporters when met at his house in a village in Muar, Johor, today.

One of the suspect's friends said the girl had told him that she wanted to learn more about religion by furthering her studies at a religious school.

"We were shocked that she wanted to join the Isis...she is friendly and quite smart in her studies," said the 16-year-old schoolboy.

On February 17, a team from the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Unit in Kuala Lumpur detained the schoolgirl at the airport on suspicion she was planning to join Isis in Syria.

According to the police, the girl was influenced by extremist ideology after interacting with two people on Facebook, before deciding to leave the country for Egypt to marry her boyfriend and later join the Isis militant group in Syria.

The girl is being investigated under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.

The teenage suspect was a student at a religious school in Shah Alam, Selangor.

Inspector-heneral of police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar recently reiterated his call to parents to monitor the movements of their children to thwart extreme beliefs from influencing them.

The 'feet of clay' of decision-makers exposed

MP SPEAKS Sirul Azhar Umar is showing to the whole world the “feet of clay” of our inspector-general of police, the attorney-general, the judiciary and our prime minister in their mishandling of the 2006 Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case.

In his first telephone interview with Malaysiakini on Tuesday, Feb 17, Sirul said: "I was under orders. The important people with motive are still free.

"It is not like I do not love the police (force) or the country, but I acted under orders."

But this is exactly what Sirul has done, for in one swoop he exposed the “feet of clay” of the pillars of our country, Inspector-General of  Police Khalid Abdu Bakar, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail, the judiciary and Prime Minister Najiob Abdul Razak.

Many Pakatan Rakyat leaders, including the DAP MP for Bukit Gelugor Ramkarpal Singh, who is also lawyer for the family of the murdered Mongolian woman, have called on IGP Khalid to initiate fresh investigations into the Altantuya’s murder after Sirul claimed that he was ordered to kill her.

However, Khalid is obstinate that  the police will not re-investigate Altantuya’s murder, even though new allegations have surfaced, on the ground that Sirul had not divulged information that merits renewed scrutiny into the case.

Khalid had been heading the federal police force since May 2013, and was Deputy IGP from April 2011.

Is Khalid saying, ‘I never knew’?

Is Khalid seriously suggesting that he had never known that Sirul’s first police statement, on Nov 19, 2006,  after his arrest for the murder of Altantuya, was to confess that he was acting under orders and was offered money to kill Altantuya and destroy all evidence by blowing up her body with military explosives?

If Khalid really did not know about the existence of Sirul’s police statement of Nov 19, 2006, it raises a serious question about his fitness to continue as  the No 1 Policeman in the country.

In the circumstances, what Sirul said in Australia is merely a re-statement of what he told the police in November 2006, not only that he and  Azilah Hadri had murdered Altantuya, but that they were acting under orders and had been offered money for the killing.

So, why didn’t the police act on Sirul’s statement to the police in November 2006?

With Sirul reaffirming what he had then told the police, isn’t this sufficient evidence for the police to re-open investigations as to the mastermind and the motive for the murder of the Mongolian translator?

While the Federal Court’s conviction of Sirul and Azilah is not disputed, why had the Attorney-General’s Chambers and Federal Court judges failed to raise the question that both Sirul and Azilah had no motive to murder Altantuya, and that the police should continue investigations to bring to book the “mastermind” who had the motive to order Sirul and Azilah to murder Altantuya?

Prime Minister Najib had made the same mistake committed by his one-time confidante, Abdul Razak Baginda, who was acquitted of abetting in the murder of Altantuya, when Razak blabbered at the end of last month about the motive of Altantuya’s killing, saying: “Only the two policemen know. Rogue police do kill people, like in so many remand cases.”

Was Sirul a “rogue policeman” on his own accord or was Sirul a “rogue policemen” under orders?

I am surprised that the IGP, who is supposed to defend the image and integrity of the 130,000-strong police force, was so meek and ineffectual when his men and women in blue were maligned by Razak Baginda’s aspersions.

This is because all Malaysians, as well as the entire police force, had expected a more forceful response from Khalid to Razak’s insinuation that all cases of custodial deaths were due to “rogue policemen”.

The outburst by Najib at the MCA Chinese New Year open house yesterday. that it was “utter rubbish” and “total rubbish” for Sirul to claim that he had acted under orders to murder Altantunya, was really very rash and imprudent, as his cry can be seen as self-incriminating as well.

Najib’s outbursts are still ricocheting throughout  the country, for everyone is asking as to how Najib could know that Sirul’s claim was “utter rubbish” and “total rubbish”!

Is Najib prepared to explain what he meant by his outbursts?

It is a very painful and shameful affair for Malaysians to see the pillars of our country, IGP Khalid, AG Gani, the judiciary and the prime pinister exposing their feet of clay to the world as a result of Sirul’s statement in Australia.

When will this chapter of shame for Malaysia end?

---

LIM KIT SIANG is DAP Parliamentary Leader and the party’s MP for Gelang Patah.

 

Pereira told to allege conspiracy in Anwar’s case?

A report has surfaced on how Jude Pereira, the investigating officer in the Sodomy II case, had been asked to make a public statement alleging a conspiracy against Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Those mentioned to be involved were MyWatch chairperson R Sri Sanjeevan and former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan, who once served as the crime watchdog’s patron.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Musa confirmed that he had met Pereira just before the last general election in 2013 at the former police chief’s house in Petaling Jaya.

The former police chief said he was later informed that the deputy superintendent (DSP) had been asked to make a press statement in Anwar's favour.

However, he denied asking the DSP if there was a conspiracy in the opposition leader's case as alleged in the article published by Malaysia Today blog, which quoted Pereira.

"We talked about old times and regarding how Pereira wanted to be a practicing lawyer. I also told him that Sanjeevan wanted to meet him.

"Pereira later told me that he met Sanjeevan and the latter asked him to issue a press release about there being a conspiracy against Anwar," he added.

Musa said when Pereira told him that he refused to do so, he had commended the police officer for making a stand.

The former IGP also revealed that he parted ways with Sanjeevan because the latter was too involved in politics.

"I told him to quit politics and focus on the NGO. He didn't do it, so I left (MyWatch)," he said.

Responding to a question, Musa confirmed that Sanjeevan was close to Anwar. Contacted later, Sanjeevan declined to comment on the matter.

Last Tuesday, Anwar was convicted of sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan and sentenced to five years' jail.

In the Malaysia Today article, Pereira's alleged handwritten account on his meeting with Sanjeevan stated that he was promised to be “taken care of” should Pakatan Rakyat win the election and that he also spoke to Anwar on the phone.

The full version reads:

“I met Sanjeevan at the coffee house within the lobby of PJ Hilton. He was sitting at a table and looked preoccupied with some documents. As I got acquainted with him, he told me that he was assisting DSAI (Anwar) in the coming general election, and that it was going to be a sure win for PKR.

“He informed me that DSAI was campaigning in Ipoh at the moment. Sanjeevan was very direct. He asked me whether I would make a press statement to say that there was conspiracy in my investigations against DSAI. He told me that I would be taken care of should PKR win.”

“I told Sanjeevan that I could not make such a statement, as my investigations showed no conspiracy. Then he asked me whether I can just say that there was government interference during investigations, to which I responded in the negative too.

“I then suggested that if they wanted me to help out in any way, at best I could say that I respected the High Court’s decision to acquit DSAI and wished him well. Sanjeevan then proceeded to call DSAI with his hand phone and informed DSAI that I was there with him. He then gave the phone to me, requesting that I talk to DSAI.

“I just wished DSAI well for the elections and told him that I was not able to say what Sanjeevan had wanted me to say, but that I would just mention that I respected the Courts decision in his (DSAI’s) case. DSAI replied that it was alright and good enough for me to say just that.”

“Sanjeevan than suggested that he would write down something mild for me to say to the press in support of DSAI, and that he would call the press in the morning should I agree. He then asked me to go to a new hotel in KL Central and meet a person who would show me what he had written on my behalf, which I was to give to the press the next morning.

“Sanjeevan also told me that I would be well protected in the hotel and that I can stay at the hotel for the night, all on the house. Just out of curiosity I decided to go and see how far it is going to go.

“I reached the new hotel at KL Central at about 8 pm. At the lobby, I met a bearded Indian Muslim man and another person sitting at a table. I introduced myself and said that I was with Sanjeevan earlier, and that I was to see them. They told me that they were assisting DSAI in the elections.

“The bearded man had already drafted a letter and asked me to read it, and that if I had agreed to it, they would call the press in the morning. I was completely shocked after reading a passage of about 100 words, which said that I was the Investigation Officer and that DSAI was innocent and was charged unreasonably, with evidence fabricated against him.

“The passage made me look like a fool and would have thrown my integrity down the drain after all my hard work. I refused to subscribe to their request and just walked away from the hotel.

“I drove back to my house in Ipoh the very same night, regretting that I had ever met Sanjeevan and his friends, who intended to exploit me for their needs. Later on that same day, TS Musa texted me and asked me how my meeting went.

“When I told him what had happened, he texted me in reply saying that I did the right thing in safeguarding my integrity.”

Mahfuz raps IGP for discounting Sirul's claim

PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar sarcastically said Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar has to go to the doctor, since he is having a “fever”.

Mahfuz said this when asked to comment on the IGP's response to allegations made by ex-commando Sirul Azhar Umar, who has been convicted of the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

“I think the IGP is having a fever. I ask that he goes to the doctor.

“He cannot give such a response when Sirul has made such an allegation. There was a trial. Don’t tell me Khalid didn’t follow the trial,” Mahfuz told a press conference at the PAS headquarters today.

Khalid (left) said on Wednesday that the police do not plan to re-open investigation into the murder unless Sirul divulges new information about the case.

However, Mahfuz (left) added that Khalid’s statement showed he was only fit to be a lance corporal, not the inspector-general of police.

“It is just unfortunate that an inspector-general of police issues such statements. I think he’s only fit to be a lance corporal,” he said.

Mahfuz also denied that he was taking advantage of the Altantuya murder case and pointed out that it was Sirul who had contacted him first, as he was about to face the gallows.

The PAS leader added that Sirul would reveal to the public on the murder case as it involves lives.

“For me, as he faces death, let him die in a responsible manner and let him tell what exactly happened,” Mahfuz added.

He also said that he would be chairing a press conference with Sirul, via an online telephone call from Australia, for 15 minutes.

The press conference will commence at 11.30am on Monday, at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Confirm 'hearsay' call

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, meanwhile, questioned why the IGP was quick to say the police report he (Lim) lodged yesterday was based on 'hearsay'.

“What exactly is the IGP’s motive in trying to disregard my report?” he asked in a statement today.

Lim and his colleague Ramkarpal Singh had yesterday lodged a report urging the police to investigate the claim by former police commando Sirul Azhar Umar that he had only acted on orders and the people with the motive to kill Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu were still free.

Sirul had made the claim during an exclusive telephone interview with Malaysiakini. Last month, the Federal Court sentenced Sirul and another former police commando Azilah Hadri to death for Altantuya's murder.

Lim urged the top cop to pen a letter to the Australian authorities to confirm whether Sirul had been interviewed or otherwise.

“This is the best way to explain the so-called hearsay. Check with those who are involved in the interview."

Khalid yesterday said that police required 'sufficient grounds' to proceed with an investigation as Lim's report was based on 'hearsay' reported in the media.

 

'PM shouldn't worry, Sirul yet to name names'

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should not be unduly worried over former police commando Sirul Azhar Umar’s claims that those who had the motive to want Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu dead were still at large.

PAS information chief and Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar who said this, added it was surprsing that the prime minister would react to Sirul's recent statement as 'only those who ate chili would feel its spiciness'.

Mahfuz (left) said the although Sirul said he had acted under instructions with regards to the Altantuya murder, he did not name any individuals when he said that he had allegedly received orders to kill the Mongolian.

“Why is it rubbish? Who is not making sense? Either Sirul is not making sense or the prime minister is not making sense.

“Sirul did not mention the prime minister when he said that he was only following orders in the murder of Altantuya. So why did the prime minister give such a response?” said Mahfuz at a press conference today.

At the MCA Chinese New Year open house yesterday, when asked on Sirul’s claim that he had received orders from above to kill Altantuya, the prime minister had replied 'utter rubbish'.

Sirul had made the claim during an exclusive telephone interview with Malaysiakini, during which he also said he was being made a scapegoat and that he was considering 'revealing all' with regards to the Altantuya case.

'No need to bring Sirul back'

Mahfuz said there was no need to bring back Sirul to Malaysia, referring to the case of former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Yazid Sufaat who was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for joining the Al-Qaeda two years ago.

“Investigations can be done in Australia just like in the case of Yazid Sufaat,” he said.

He added that it was unfair for Sirul (right) to be brought back to the country as he had been given the death sentence.

Expressing concern that the case will instead be closed, Mahfuz said Malaysian police officers should instead be sent to Australia.

Mahfuz also said the necessary documents for Sirul’s mother and sister to leave for Australia have been completed and they were now waiting for their visas to be ready.

Five PAS members will leave with them for Australia to meet Sirul for a week. The dates will be announced soon, said Mahfuz.