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How a rape was filmed and shared in Pakistan

When a young Pakistani woman was gang raped in a remote village, she kept silent. But then a video of the rape began circulating online and via mobile phone. As BBC Urdu's Amber Shamsi reports, little appears to have been done to stop web users from sharing the video.

Sadia (not her real name) had thought that if she kept quiet, it might protect her from the humiliation of being known as a rape victim.

But in the days or weeks after, two versions of her ordeal began to circulate online - one lasted five minutes, the other 40 minutes.

The video showed her being raped by four men, one by one, while she pleaded for mercy. It spread rapidly through the towns and villages of Punjab.

"It was my elder brother who first told me about the video. He saw it and recognised Sadia, then came to me," Sadia's father says.

"She felt too ashamed to tell me because I'm her father. If her mother had been alive, I'm sure my daughter would have told her."

They then reported the rape, and it was easy to find the alleged culprits in that small community.
'Sharing' the rape

It was shared largely through Bluetooth and clips have reportedly made it on to social media websites such as Facebook.

It can still be shared. Pakistan does not have the laws to stop this from happening.

Sadia lives in a typical Pakistani village, with mud homes surrounded by fields of sugarcane and small vegetable gardens.

She is 23 but she looks much younger. Since her mother died, she has been a surrogate mother to her younger siblings.

BBC video:  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31313551

Australian immigration minister mum on Sirul

Australian Immigration and Border Protection Minister Peter Dutton was tight-lipped when asked to comment on former police corporal Sirul Azhar Umar.

Dutton said privacy laws in Australia are quite strict and prevented him talking about individual cases.

"It is difficult for Australian ministers to comment on ongoing matters because of privacy laws and the desire not to prejudice any matter that might be under consideration," Dutton (left in photo) told reporters today.

He was asked for an update on Sirul Azhar, who is now under immigration detention in Australia where he fled to.

He was sentenced to death for killing Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Australia has no death penalty and its laws prevent the country from deporting people facing death sentence in their home countries.

Dutton was at the Home Ministry in Putrajaya to pay a courtesy call on the minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Dutton also clarified that applications for the deportation of Sirul will be taken into account but the process might take awhile.

"The Australian government will take into consideration any applications that have been made and advice that has been provided.

"But there is a stringent legal process and rule of law that operates in relation to serious allegations against people within the Australian border, and that process now needs to take its course," said Dutton.

Teleconference okay

Asked to comment on the recent teleconference attempt with Sirul held by PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar (below), Dutton said it was a non-issue as Australian law allowed for such form of communication.

He, however, declined to comment on Sirul's immigration status.

"I don't want to comment on individual matters, but the general rule of law in Australia means that people, if they are subject to a visa, the government has the ability to deal with that visa, they have the ability to process matters according to the law.

"There are certain items and procedures, I will let officials comment in relation to particular matters, but there's nothing else publicly that I would like to add to it," the minister said.

While refusing to disclose specific details of his meet with the home minister, Dutton said Sirul’s matter had been raised by Zahid.

"Yes, the minister raised that issue with me and its an issue that he takes very seriously. It was raised during the course of our meeting," Dutton revealed without commenting further.

Vell Paari: Palanivel willing to destroy MIC

An MIC leader lambasted party president G Palanivel saying he's selfish enough to destroy the party, just to hang on to power.

Kepong MIC division chairperson S Vell Paari said that Palanivel's decision to appeal the decision of the Registrar of Societies (ROS) for fresh party elections stemmed not from advice from the BN leadership, but out of greed.

Vell Paari said Palanivel's supporters were out and about condemning the “interference” of Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, yet kept mum when BN secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor gave his advice.

“Why never claim interference that time? The reason being, when something is favorable to you (Palanivel), you agree with it but you condemn and say interference when it's otherwise,” he said in a statement today.

Vell Paari (left) reiterated that Palani's current actions were not about the issue of interference by BN leadership or even ROS. Instead, it was an egotistical need to remain in power.

Zahid's advice for Palanivel to follow ROS order was initially met positively by the same supporters, who later lambasted the home minister for “interference”.

Zahid had said that he hoped MIC would not take ROS to court as the ROS was not taking sides, but merely doing its job.

Vell Paari also said that he was “deeply disturbed and disappointed” by the condemnation thrown at ROS and the BN leaders.

“Rather than fixing the issue, Palani's supporters are out in public condemning ROS and the BN leadership while trying to divert the actual issue of election fraud,” he asserted.

ROS had ordered the 68-year-old Indian party to hold fresh party elections by May this year, after it found election fraud and declared the positions of three vice-presidents, 23 central working committee members (CWC), several divisions and branches in MIC, null and void.

However it later issued a definitive letter ordering the MIC to conduct re-elections for all of its branches, wings, divisions and its central leadership as well as the election for the president's post, to be held in May.

Interfaith group: 'Reject Quran' text not from us

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) has denied circulating text messages to non-Muslims urging them not to accept translated copies of the Quran from a Muslim NGO.

The message, sent via instant messaging application WhatsApp, warns of a clandestine operation to convert non-Muslims through distribution of the Quran

"We issued a statement on this on Feb 9 and we left it at that.

"Anybody doing that (circulating the message) is assuming it is from the council, but it is not," MCCBCHST secretary-general Prematilaka KD Serisena said today.

The message reads: "Please don't accept it because the minute you do (accept the Quran), you will have to fill in a form claiming it is just for record purposes but actually they will track you down and convert you or change your records stating you are a Muslim.

"Be reminded that the Quran is their holy book and it's not to be touched by others and once it's in our possession we can't dispose it or put it anywhere because it's considered a holy book .

"Please be safe and exercise your rights and politely reject it. Please inform all your loved ones and especially children. Please warn them not to take anything or give any personal or family details to anybody."

The message claims that copies of the Quran were distributed to the public in Teluk Pulai, Klang.

Muslim NGO: We haven't distributed the books

On Feb 9, MCCBCHST raised concerns over the plan of the Islamic Information and Services Foundation's (IIS) to distribute a million copies of  the Quran, translated inyo various languages, to counter Islamophobia.

The council feared that the distribution of the Quran could be a way to propagate the religion to non-Muslims and induce conversions.

MCCBCHST said it released the scathing statement with careful consideration following rising complaints of "covert conversions" of non-Muslims to Islam.

However, an official with IIS told The Malaysian Insider that it has yet to distribute the Quran and the holy books would only be distributed to religious organisations and not to random individuals.

IIS also denied that it would take down personal information of those who accepted the holy books.

Also circulating on WhatsApp is a picture of the van of Muslim evangelical group Multiracial Reverted Muslims, which has the words "Ask us. Get your free Quran today" on its side.

However, MRM official Firdaus Wong told the The Malay Mail Online that his organistion is not distributing copies of the Quran as alleged in the WhatsApp message.

20 richest M'sians: Mokhzani slides off list

Mokhzani Mahathir, son of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, saw the biggest hole in his pocket as his net worth tumbled 42 percent or by about half-a-billion US dollars last year, according to the latest Forbes’ list of Malaysia’s 50 richest released today.

The big tumble takes him from 15th last year on the list (US$1.2 billion) to 26th this year (US$700 million). This represents the biggest net worth decline among the top 50 richest Malaysians over the past year, said Forbes.

Meanwhile, diversified businessman Syed Mokhtar Albukhary (left), the only Malay in the top 10, fell one spot to eighth this year as his net worth dipped by US$200 million to US$2.9 billion this year.

Hong Kong-based tycoon Robert Kuok remains Malaysia’s richest citizen as a number of Malaysia’s wealthiest see their net worth fall following the recent global oil price plunge.

Genting scion drops, too

According to an update of Forbes’ list of Malaysia’s 50 richest today, 91-year-old Kuok saw his net worth dip slightly by US$200 million (RM721.9 million) this year to US$11.3 billion compared to US$11.5 billion last year.

Retaining second place is Ananda Krishnan, whose net worth stands at US$9.7 billion. This represents a drastic fall from US$11.3 billion last year — a 14 percent dip.

Banking magnate Quek Leng Chan overtook gaming tycoon Lim Kok Thay this year to take third place, boasting a net worth of US$5.6 billion, though this is 12.5 percent lower than US$6.4 billion last year.

Similarly Lim of Genting fame saw his net worth tumble 15.3 percent over the past year to US$5.5 billion this year.

Read the full story at KiniBiz now.

 

Najib told to quit finance post over 1MDB failure

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak must resign from his position as finance minister for the failure of debt-ridden company 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) to pay off its debts.

“He must do so in order for a full-time finance minister to take over his duties,” PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli said in a statement today.

Pointing out how 1MDB’s failure was no longer a secret, Rafizi said those responsible for the company’s management and decisions must therefore resign before the government agrees to the cash injection in the form of an RM3 billion bailout.

As such, apart from Najib resigning as finance minister, 1MDB’s board of directors must likewise do the same by resigning immediately, he said.

Rafizi, who is also a PKR vice-president, said the members of the board of directors should also not be appointed to any of the government’s subsidiary companies or agencies, lest they be “recycled”.

The Pandan MP said he would move a motion in the coming parliamentary session to ensure that the government bailout does not materialise until there is accountability for 1MDB’s failures.

The motion will also push for the RM3 billion bailout to be debated in a special parliamentary session.

“1MDB’s failures must be brought forward to Parliament so that these are not repeated, and action must also be taken against those responsible,” he said.

Quoting sources, The Edge Financial Daily reported that 1MDB was not only helped by billionaire Ananda Krishnan to settle its RM2 billion debt to banks, but it may also require a cash injection of as much as RM3 billion from the Finance Ministry.

The report also pointed out that “the controversial debt-laden outfit is facing a cash crunch as income from its power assets is not enough for debt servicing and it has run out of borrowing options”.

Zahid: AG decides if Anwar can attend Dewan

The Home Minister says his deputy made an incorrect statement.

FMT

PUTRAJAYA: It is the Attorney-General’s Office, not the Home Ministry, that decides whether jailed Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim can attend Parliament, according to Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Speaking at a press conference here, Zahid expressed disapproval of his deputy’s statement yesterday that the Home Ministry could decide on the issue.

“I disagree with my deputy,” he said. “The matter should be referred to the Attorney-General. There’s no need for individual opinions, whether from among ministers or politicians.”

The deputy minister, Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, commenting on a law professor’s statement yesterday, said Anwar must apply through the Prisons Department and Parliament if he intends to attend the Dewan Rakyat. The Home Ministry would then decide on the application, he added.

Wan Junaidi agreed with opinions that say Anwar remains in his status as a member of Parliament pending a decision on the petition for a royal pardon that his family has submitted.

Zahid said the Attorney-General would be the party responsible for interpreting Section 49 of the Federal Constitution and the provisions of related laws.

Palanivel willing to destroy MIC to hang on to power

Vell Paari says Palanivel is a hypocrite to scream 'interference' simply because he doesn’t agree with the advice BN leaders are giving him.

FMT

PETALING JAYA: MIC members that are being left as “political orphans” as a direct result of party president G Palanivel’s “ill leadership” desperately need clarification regarding the current turmoil within the party, said S Vell Paari.

The Kepong division chairman also said that Barisan Nasional leaders and the Registrar of Societies (RoS) weren’t the parties to be blamed for MIC’s current predicament, contrary to what some factions within MIC claimed.

“I am deeply disturbed and disappointed to note recent acts and statements by Dato Palani’s supporters condemning RoS and BN leaders,” said Vell Paari in a media statement today.

He added that rather than resolving the matter of irregularities with the party’s election process which Palanivel was responsible for, the president’s supporters were painting a whole different picture to the Indian community by suggesting RoS and UMNO were out to get them.

“Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was only advising MIC to solve the internal crisis, but that was blasted by Balakrishnan (MIC’s vice-president) as interference,” said Vell Paari who pointed out that MIC’s president was in agreement with the Home Minister regarding re-elections just weeks before.

When Palanivel announced MIC’s plans to appeal to the RoS on the advice of BN Secretary-General Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Vell Paari questioned, “Why didn’t (he) claim interference that time?

“The reason being when something is favourable to you, you agree with it but you condemn and say interference when it’s otherwise.

“Hence this is not an issue of interference by BN leadership or ROS but it’s purely a selfish and greedy act to hang on to power by Palanivel, for which he is even willing to destroy MIC.”

Home minister sticks up for IGP

Zahid Hamidi tells the public to respect the IGP as he is an institution and not merely a man in uniform.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Zahid Hamidi has cautioned the public against threatening the Inspector-General of Police, saying he was not merely one man in a uniform but represented an institution guarding the security of the nation.

“The question of threatening any public officer should be avoided, because the person appointed is translating their responsibilities,” he was quoted by the Malaysian Insider as saying.

He was referring to an IS-styled group calling themselves Anti-Democracy Sons of Malaysia (AMAD) who uploaded a video onto YouTube Tuesday threatening to kill IGP Khalid Abu Bakar by blowing up his car.

Zahid said the death threat was not only about Khalid per se, but the institution that he represented.

Zahid said, “In this case, the IGP is not a person, he is an institution. Please respect the institution. His main responsibility is to make sure that the element of security is translated in general.

“His position has to be respected. Any statement issued by him is not his personal statement, it is a statement issued by an institution. This must be respected,” he emphasised.

Reacting to the death threat in the video, Bukit Aman’s Special Branch principal assistant director (counter-terrorism division) Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, told The Rakyat Post, “We, the authorities, take this matter seriously and those responsible for the release of the two videos will have serious actions taken against them.”

An earlier video, also uploaded onto YouTube showed three similarly clad men in full face masks threatening to blast firecrackers in front of the nation’s courthouses.

In a statement yesterday, Khalid said he was taking the death threat issued against him in stride as it was common for men in uniform like him to be threatened in the line of duty.

“Such threats do not scare me as the police chief to carry out the tasks entrusted to me. Such threats are common in the life of a police officer in performing his duties,” The Malaysian Insider reported him as saying.

Why the Malaysian Government Has Reneged on Political Reform

Koon Yew Yin


This morning I listened to a local business station which carried an interview with Tom Greatex. He is a British Labour Party politician who is head of the All Party Committee on Malaysia of the UK Parliament. In the interview, although cautious, Greatex expressed great concern with the recent human rights record of the Government, especially after all the big talk by the Prime Minister of doing away with the Sedition Act, of political reform and being moderate.

His visit follows the recent statement by the British Foreign Minister who, immediately after the Federal Court’s confirmation of Anwar’s conviction, said that “[Anwar’s] case raises worrying questions about the independence of the judiciary and rule of law in Malaysia….the integrity of the rule of law is a key part of its success, as are the values of moderation and tolerance. We encourage Malaysia to recognise the importance of international confidence in its judicial system and to restore trust in its commitment to human rights.”

This is diplomatic language for saying that there is little or no international confidence in our judicial system when it comes to dealing with the opposition. It is also a polite way of saying that the Brits do not trust our commitment to human rights.

The British are not the only countries that have expressed concern. Our printed media has tried to minimize or even suppress it but strong words have also come from European Union countries, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc. Stronger criticism on the Anwar case have come from human rights groups such as Amnesty International and the International Federation for Human Rights which have called the verdict “disgraceful” and a “black day” for justice.

But what happened in the Anwar case is really the tip of the iceberg in terms of the Government’s attempt to kill off the opposition. To date, this drive has netted a wide range of government critics – not only politicians. Thus we have student leaders such as Adam Adli Abdul Halim and Fariz Musa, human rights lawyer Eric Paulsen, Bersih activist Hishamuddin Rais and cartoonist Zunar, being charged with sedition.

Killing Off Any Kind of Opposition

What is clear and especially alarming is that the Government is not only trying to kill off the political opposition but is also trying to kill off any kind of opposition; and it is using the state machinery which is supposed to be independent and neutral. Hence, not only is the judiciary brought into cooperating or colluding with the political masters, other agencies are also brought into the equation. This can be seen by the creation of the Classified Special Unit D5 in the police force to identify and handle sedition cases on social media. Apart from communist countries, ours must be the first country in the world to set up a branch of the police force set up to monitor the social media and cleanse it of anti government voices and sentiments.

So what is the impact of this shotgun approach to killing off the opposition which is definitely being initiated by UMNO and probably does not have the support of the other BN parties in the coalition.

I am sure that every foreign embassy which has an office in Malaysia and which reports back to their foreign ministries will have carried reports of this recent tsunami of political persecution. They will also be carrying analysis of why this is happening and of the impact of the political repression in Malaysia.

Check Out This Public Feedback Not Found in the NST

Here are my suggestions for what they should be including in their reports on the current political and socio-economic situation in Malaysia. 

1. The Prime Minister is politically insecure and fighting desperately to hold on to his position. Hence he has to take a tough line and go back on his earlier promises to abolish the sedition act and to liberalize the country.
2. UMNO hard liners are in the ascendency. They have become increasingly insecure following the recent two elections and know that the party’s grip on power will finally be broken soon. Hence they are trying every trick in the book to bring down Pakatan and the greater opposition. In particular, they are manipulating religious sentiments and intolerance to ensure that they do not lose the Malay constituency.
3. The state apparatus in Malaysia is being used to prop up the old regime.
4. The Malaysian public has become disenchanted. The taxi drivers, the police men when they are not in uniform, the lower rung civil servants, the traders, university students, media practitioners, the professionals – most of them see the present government to be corrupt, incompetent, ineffective, hypocritical and undeserving of support.

I propose that the foreign mission staff do their own private questioning or polling on these issues and to share their feedback with their colleagues and Malaysians.

Press Release | The Bar is Pro-Rule of Law and Justice, Not Pro-Opposition or Government

Much has been said of the prosecution of Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and there appears to be some obfuscation.   Those who are misconstruing or distorting the Malaysian Bar’s press release of 11 February 2015, which was plainly and clearly only in respect of the prosecutorial process, should cease doing so.  

Without recapping the issues raised therein, the Malaysian Bar wishes to address some issues that have arisen in the past week.

The prosecutor-by-fiat in the Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim case has been reported to have been giving interviews, attending roadshows purportedly organised by a political party in Government, and with his name used in suggestions for debates.   It was subsequently reported that the roadshows were not at the behest of or sanctioned by that political party.

Is such conduct befitting or compatible with the dignity of a prosecutor or the office of the Public Prosecutor?  Is it appropriate or proper for a prosecutor to replay the prosecution by way of roadshows or public debates?  Does a fiat given to a prosecutor to conduct a prosecution confer a licence to embark on a public tirade against a convicted and incarcerated person, or has the prosecutor-by-fiat been nevertheless authorised by the Public Prosecutor to undertake these activities?

A former Attorney General is reported to have said that such conduct is unprecedented.

The “Standards of professional responsibility and statement of the essential duties and rights of prosecutors” adopted by the International Association of Prosecutors on 23 April 1999 provide, amongst others, that prosecutors shall:

(1) at all times maintain the honour and dignity of their profession;

(2) always conduct themselves professionally in accordance with the law and the rules and ethics of their profession;

(3) at all times exercise the highest standards of integrity and care;

(4) strive to be, and to be seen to be, consistent, independent and impartial;

(5) always serve and protect the public interest; respect, protect and uphold the universal concept of human dignity and human rights;

(6) remain unaffected by sectional interests and public or media pressures and shall have regard only to the public interest; act with objectivity; and 

(7) preserve professional confidentiality.

 

Furthermore, the “Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors” adopted by the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders in 1990 provide, amongst others, that prosecutors shall:

(1) as essential agents of the administration of justice, at all times maintain the honour and dignity of their profession;

(2) in accordance with the law, perform their duties fairly, consistently, and expeditiously, and respect and protect human dignity and uphold human rights, thus contributing to ensuring due process and the smooth functioning of the criminal justice system; 

(3) carry out their functions impartially and avoid all political, social, religious, racial, cultural, sexual or any other kind of discrimination; 

(4) protect the public interest and act with objectivity; and

(5) keep matters in their possession confidential, unless the performance of duty or the needs of justice require otherwise.

Are prosecutors governed by a set of practice and etiquette rules established by the Public Prosecutor, who is also the Attorney General, in a similar vein to the standards and guidelines referred to above, or the Legal Profession (Practice and Etiquette) Rules 1978 that govern advocates and solicitors?

The Public Prosecutor should perhaps shed light on these matters.

The prosecutorial discretion pursuant to Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution is vested in the Attorney General.  However, as the late Sultan Azlan Shah once said, there is no such thing as an unfettered discretion, as every discretion has its legal limits.  Thus, although the exercise of discretion may be vested in an office, the exercise of it is accountable and is not beyond scrutiny.

There may thus be occasions when the Public Prosecutor or his office may be required to render an account of the exercise or non-exercise of the prosecutorial discretion or conduct on certain matters raised by the public.  We ought to bear in mind that, in any criminal prosecution, the Public Prosecutor’s office represents the public interest, and not the Government.  Criminal prosecutions are thus in the name of the Public Prosecutor, and not in the name of the Government of Malaysia.

The account or clarification would usually be done in a clinical, measured and dispassionate manner, mindful that the office is a public office acting in furtherance of the public trust.

 

There certainly should be no place for roadshows or debates.

Any roadshow or public debate by a prosecutor with respect to a prosecution he had conducted, culminating in a conviction, would add nothing to the conduct of the prosecution, proceedings or conviction, but may potentially embarrass, or affect the public confidence in or perception of, the office of the Public Prosecutor.

It was also reported that the prosecutor-by-fiat had referred to, and revealed in public, matters or details of proceedings expressly held in camera.

Proceedings held in camera are proceedings that are not conducted in open court, and are without the presence of the public.  The court would usually make directions or set terms as to the ambit of the restriction in terms of any revelation or publication of the matters heard in camera.  Whether it is improper or a contempt of court for a prosecutor (or a prosecutor-by-fiat) or any party to reveal or publish matters and evidence heard in proceedings held in camera would depend on the directions made or terms set, if any, by the court, and whether those directions or terms have been breached.   

The directions or terms made with regard to any particular proceedings held in camera could only be ascertained from the notes of court proceedings on the matter, if available, and any breach thereof would be a matter for the parties involved in the criminal trial or the court itself to take up.

The media release dated 12 February 2015 by the Attorney General is an example of an account or response by the office of the Public Prosecutor in a clinical, measured and dispassionate manner.

We thank the Attorney General for the statistics provided with regard to prosecutions undertaken between 2010 and 2014 pursuant to section 377B of the Penal Code.  It would be informative to have the statistics, if any, for such prosecutions under section 377B from the 1990s to 2009. 

The law is only as good and fair as if it is consistently and equally applied and enforced.  Section 377B, read with section 377A, criminalises both sodomy and oral sex (fellatio).  Section 377D has in the past been used to prosecute a participant or abettor in consensual sodomy.  The offences apply to heterosexuals and homosexuals.  It would be instructive to see what the statistics are for prosecutions for consensual oral sex under section 377B, read with section 377A, and under section 377D.

An analogy was drawn in the Attorney General’s media release with a prosecution for a corruption offence, to explain why the complainant was not charged as a participant for abetment in the prosecution for consensual sodomy against Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Is it a matter of policy, in the overall and long-term public interest, to grant immunity to those who are participants in an offence in order to prosecute other participants, instead of plea bargaining for an admission and lesser sentence, except where the participant is an agent provocateur acting with or emplaced by the authorities in a sting operation?   

In line with the analogy drawn in the said media release, it is to be noted that section 11 of the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 provides that a participant in an offence cannot enjoy protection under the said Act, including the removal of any immunity from criminal action.  Although this Act came into force subsequent to the charge against Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and is largely concerned with corruption, it may said that section 11 of the said Act is a statutory codification or reflection of the public interest policy with respect to there being no immunity for participants in offences.

The Bar raises these issues and asks questions because it is pro-rule of law and pro-justice.  The Bar is neither pro-Opposition nor pro-Government.  

Christopher Leong

President

Malaysian Bar

Govt Can Consider More UTCs For S'wak Once Each State Capital Has One - PM

KUCHING, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- When the government realises its objective of having an Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) in each state capital, phase two of the initiative will possibly see more UTCs in Sarawak considering the vastness of the state, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said, however, this would depend on increased revenue for the government and the nation being on a very strong fiscal footing.

The UTCs, he said, became testimonies of the government's commitment towards realising its "People First, Performance Now," philosophy when they turned out to be a resounding success in facilitating the people in dealing with not only government agencies but also the private sector.

"Once the first phase is settled (to have a UTC in each state capital), we can consider a second round towards meeting the call by Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem for more UTCs in the state," he said when opening UTC Sarawak in Jalan Bukit Mata here tonight.

Having a floor space of 29,000 square feet, UTC Sarawak, which is the eighth UTC in the country and started operations at the end of last September, now houses 47 government and private agencies under one roof.

The UTC is a brainchild of the Prime Minister to provide a one-stop centre for urban communities to deal with key government agencies and is part of the country's National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS).

It was introduced to improve the delivery system to the people via strategic partnerships between government agencies and the private sector.

According to Najib, with the full commitment of the government, UTC Sarawak costing RM48.5 million was up and running within 12 weeks and since January, has received more than 260,000 visitors.

He said transformation in terms of finding solutions to challenges required creative and strategic thinking, and that the UTC, which came about through brainstorming, was a fine example of this.

"This is the end result, we could come up with these UTCs which no other country has been able to do. Hopefully, it will inspire greater confidence of the people in the government which is very committed and serious not only about improvements, but transformation across the country, no matter urban or rural areas," he said.

Najib said he was also committed to working with Adenan and other state leaders in bringing about transformation for a better future for Sarawak.

Meanwhile, he said this year, 200 imams or Village Security and Development Committee chairmen in Sarawak would be selected to perform the Haj under the sponsorship of the 1MDB Foundation.

The Jihadi John apologists: Islamic campaigner who today defended ISIS executioner as a 'beautiful, kind young man' was filmed calling for jihad outside U.S Embassy

• Asim Qureshi helped name his friend Mohammed Emwazi as Jihadi John
• Mr Qureshi said that MI5 had harassed Emwazi and help radicalise him
• Campaigner was tearful as he described him as 'extremely kind and gentle'
• He added that 'the man I knew would never hurt a single person'
• 'When are we going to finally learn that when we treat people as if they're outsiders they will look for belonging elsewhere'
• Comments caused fury from people who believe MI5 were doing their job
• CAGE broadcast was on Sky News for 58 minutes without interruption and the BBC showed it for 52 minutes

By Martin Robinson for MailOnline

A video has surfaced of the Muslim activist who described ISIS executioner Jihaji John as 'a beautiful man' supporting Jihad at an anti-US rally in London.

Asim Qureshi, leader of campaign group CAGE, was filmed urging protesters to 'support the jihad of our brothers and sisters' in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and Chechnya.

Earlier today Qureshi, who helped to name ISIS militant Jihadi John as west London student Mohammed Emwazi, caused outrage by saying the murderer was 'beautiful' adding that he 'wouldn't hurt a fly'.

Speaking while close to tears at a press conference this afternoon, he blamed MI5 for radicalising Emwazi, saying the security services harassed him and alienated him.

In the earlier footage, Qureshi can be seen speaking through a microphone at the the pan-Islamic Hizb ut-Tahrir movement rally.

He says: 'When we see the example of our brothers and sisters fighting in Chechnya, Iraq, Palestine, Kashmir, Afghanistan, then we know where the example lies.

'When we see Hezbollah defeating the armies of Israel, we know where the solution is and where the victory lies.

'We know that it is incumbent upon all of us, to support the Jihad of our brothers and sisters in these countries when they are facing the oppression of the West.

'Allahu Akhbar! Allahu Akhbar! (God is great, God is great!)'

Qureshi stands alone on a stage in the 54 second clip, shot at the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in 2006.

London School of Economics graduate Qureshi worked for CAGE at the time of his passionate speech, then known as CAGE Prisoners.

The organisation claims to 'strive for a world free from oppression and injustice', 'working to empower communities impacted by the War on Terror.'

However, the video footage, posted on YouTube, now raises questions about Qureshi, who alongside former control order detainee Cerie Bullivant tried to pin the blame for Mohammed Emwazi's radicalisation on the British Government.



Earlier today Qureshi was branded an ISIS sympathiser as he appeared to launch a defence of Emwazi and his barbaric crimes.

He said: 'When are we going to finally learn that when we treat people as if they're outsiders, they are going to feel like outsiders and they will look for belonging elsewhere.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2970521/Outrage-group-blames-MI5-radicalising-extremely-kind-Jihadi-John-fled-Syria-kill-people-ISIS.html

ISIS thugs take a hammer to civilisation: Priceless 3,000-year-old artworks smashed to pieces in minutes as militants destroy Mosul museum

• Extremists used power drills and sledgehammers to smash ancient items
• They wrecked a series of 3,000-year-old statues at museum in Mosul, Iraq
• One vandal says items being destroyed because they promoted idolatry
• Comes after thugs destroyed thousands of books at Mosul Public Library

By Julian Robinson for MailOnline

Islamic State thugs have destroyed a collection of priceless statues and sculptures in Iraq dating back thousands of years.

Extremists used sledgehammers and power drills to smash ancient artwork as they rampaged through a museum in the northern city of Mosul.

Video footage shows a group of bearded men in the Nineveh Museum using tools to wreck 3,000-year-old statues after pushing them over.

One of the items, depicting a winged-bull Assyrian protective deity, dates back to the 9th century B.C.

A man shown in the video said the items were being destroyed because they promoted idolatry.



'The Prophet ordered us to get rid of statues and relics, and his companions did the same when they conquered countries after him,' the unidentified man said.

The articles destroyed appeared to come from an antiquities museum in the northern city of Mosul, which was overrun by Islamic State last June, a former employee at the museum told Reuters.

The extremist group has destroyed a number of shrines - including Muslim holy sites - in a bid to eliminate what it views as heresy.

Militants are also believed to have sold ancient artwork on the black market in order to finance their bloody campaign across the region.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2970270/Islamic-State-fighters-destroy-antiquities-Iraq-video.html

Kes Aminulrasyid: Keluarga minta selesai luar mahkamah

Adik beradik Najib nafi spekulasi harta Tun Razak

'Mari berdoa agar Rosmah tidak boros'

Father missing since Jan 2013; family demands answer

Pro-Anwar rally to also seek Najib's resignation

Tortured. Electrocuted. Sold into slavery. Every day, hundreds of kidnapped women and girls in Iraq and Syria suffer violence and abuse at the hands of militants. Those lucky enough to escape or be released often have no home or family to return to.

UNHCR TRACKS

They are Yazidi women, persecuted for their faith. Women like Amusha, the mother of two daughters who were stolen from her arms, and Sabreen, whose four-year-old sister was forced to watch as she was electrocuted.

As conflict intensifies, humanitarian organisations struggle to meet the needs of survivors of violence and human rights abuses. Together with the Iraqi Government, UNHCR and its partners have been providing aid for months. But much more needs to be done.

On a recent visit to refugee settlements in Iraq, UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie met Amusha and others like her – all of them survivors of kidnapping and detention who managed to escape or get released.

“Nothing can prepare you for the horrific stories of these survivors of kidnap, abuse and exploitation and to see how they cannot all get the urgent help they need and deserve,” Jolie said. “The needs so dramatically outstrip the resources available in this vast crisis. Much more international assistance is needed.”

Meet three survivors of an unspeakably vicious war.

Naseema

Violent sobs wrack Naseema’s body as she recalls the day when insurgents came to kidnap her family. “My eldest daughter was screaming. She was shouting at them, ‘I will never go with you!’”

Like many Yazidi women, 45-year-old Naseema spent months in captivity. She now lives in an abandoned building near Dohuk, after finally being released, but the torment isn’t over. Her eldest daughter has since been sold to a man in Syria, she says, and her husband and nine-year-old are missing.

With just her two youngest sons left, the mother of seven prays for her family to be reunited. “Imagine taking one’s family before one’s eyes, how it would be,” she says. “It is like a bird that flies and disappears suddenly.”

Sabreen

Sabreen is still haunted by the memory of the day her father was taken away. “They took all the men to trucks,” she remembers. “We heard a lot of gunfire. The children came in crying and said all the men are dead.”

Although the 22-year-old is now safe in Dohuk, thoughts of what she and her family went through are never far away. “My mother and I cried very much,” she recalls. “We pleaded to them to take us together.”

At gunpoint, Sabreen, her four-year-old sister Dilvian and her mother were imprisoned in Mosul and then sold as slaves in Syria. There, Sabreen was tortured and electrocuted for one hour every day while her younger sister was forced to watch.

The pain of losing their father never subsides. “When I go to bed I can’t sleep,” says little Dilvian. “I am always thinking of my father. I miss him. I want to tell him he is always on my mind.”



Amusha

Amusha was among 196 Yazidis released in January 2015. Now she waits anxiously for news of her 35-year-old daughter, who is believed to be in Raqqa, Syria, where women are sometimes taken to be sold.

A widow for 34 years, Amusha has experienced loss before. But the absence of her beloved daughter is especially painful.

Rocking gently on the floor of her tent, she recalls the moment when fighters came to her village. “They brought buses and packed them with beautiful and young girls,” she says, her eyes swollen with tears. “They took my daughter and left 12 of us behind.”

At that, her face crumples. The memories are too painful to bear. “My daughter is like a shining star,” she sobs.

Naseema’s story was also published by The Huffington Post. Sabreen and Amusha’s stories were also published by The Guardian.

IS abducts 150 Christians, rapes and kills women, a "tragic situation" for vicar to Aleppo

A steady stream of horrific stories is coming out of jihadist-held areas. Terrorists hold hundreds of Christians, including seniors and children. For apostolic nuncio to Damascus, "Christians feel abandoned". There is "blood everywhere" and everyone is suffering. He believes that the war on terrorism is pointless but oil, "financial and military supplies" should be cut off.

Asianews.it

Damascus (AsiaNews) - Initial "reports mentioned 90 people abducted but for others the actual number is greater, perhaps 150. A church was destroyed, at least three Assyrian villages have been occupied and people have had to flee. We do not have accurate information, but the initial evidence points to a tragic situation," said Mgr Georges Abou Khazen, Latin apostolic vicar to Aleppo.

The prelate spoke to AsiaNews about Monday's attack by the Islamic State group against Assyrian villages like Tel Tamar, Tel Shamiran, Tel Hermuz, Goran Tel and Tel Khareta, in north-eastern Syria. Jihadists reportedly raped a woman and then murdered her, but the information could not be confirmed.

Whilst everyone is suffering, "Christians feel they have been abandoned," said Mgr Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio to Damascus.

Bassam Ishak, president of the Syriac National Council, reports that latest figure for abducted Christians is at least 150, more than the early figure of 90. They were taken in Al-Hasakah Governorate, north-east of the country, where Assyrian Christian communities have lived for centuries.

Some reports indicate that Islamic State militants killed some hostages. "Jihadists have taken a lot of people, including women, the elderly and children," said a local source, who requested anonymity for security reasons. "They burnt their houses, and torched a church." And "At least six" people were killed. The terrorists "also raped a woman before killing her."

The Syriac Military Council, a Christian paramilitary organisation, said that the IS attack on Christian villages was an act of revenge following jihadist defeat in Kobane and other villages in the area, following the Peshmerga offensive and international coalition air strikes.

The apostolic nuncio in Damascus agrees. "They came down from the mountains around 3 am Monday morning, and attacked an area largely inhabited by Assyrian-Nestorian," he told AsiaNews.

This a "high risk area." Some "four or five months ago, I received a text message from the bishop of Hassakah, in which he warned that the danger of a jihadist invasion was high."

After they were pushed out of Kobane, "they shifted to these villages to seize more land," Mgr Zenari explained. Now Christians feel abandoned, he added. However, everyone has suffered. "I see blood everywhere, in the cities, in the neighbourhoods. The desert has changed colour. It is no longer golden yellow but blood red."

The prelate said he hopes that "sooner or later reason will prevail" and "the war will end. It must end" even though at present, "we are still in the middle of winter, not some Arab Spring."

Addressing directly the West and the international community, the apostolic vicar to Aleppo warned emphatically that "military action against the Islamic state is not the right way" to solve the crisis and restore peace and security to Syria and Iraq. "I never believed in war because it creates more hatred and division," he explained.

"The West claims that it is fighting these groups," the prelate said. "Yet, it helps them too. Who is buying their oil? Who is selling them weapons? Who is involved in trafficking of priceless archaeological artefacts?"

For Mgr Abou Khazen, there is a lot of "hypocrisy" in the fight against the terrorists. "This will not be solved with bombs; cutting financial and military supplies will. What we ask is for others to stop supporting these people, to stop selling them weapons. We have been saying this for some time but no one has been listening to us."

The attacked Assyrian community, he said, has lived "in the area for thousands of years with its own ancient traditions and rites. Defenceless, its members have been uprooted. Campaigns are undertaken to save animals threatened by extinction to allow them to live in their habitat. But what is being done for us," he laments.

Christians are gripped by a sense of fear, Mgr Georges noted. "Many want to run away and this is a very dangerous sign. Removing Christianity from these lands would be a tragedy for everyone. Maybe the aim is to create another Afghanistan, in the hands of new Taliban".

"This is our reading of the situation," the prelate said. "They want to empty the Middle East of its Christians and create many small confessional states."

"We Christians are the only ones spread across the territories of Syria and Iraq. We are the only ones who defend national unity and uphold the principle of pluralism . . . something that they increasingly want to destroy." (DS)

PMO must answer report on Razak’s inheritance, says veteran newsman

 

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) must clarify its statement about the inheritance left by Malaysia's second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Husein or risk being accused of tainting his legacy, veteran newsman Datuk A. Kadir Jasin said today.

The former group editor-in-chief of the New Straits Times (pic, right) was referring to the statement issued by four of Razak’s sons last night where they expressed concern over speculation about the "nature and extent" of the inheritance left behind by their father following a report by The New York Times.

"Unless the PMO makes an about-turn and denies ever making a statement to the NYT about Najib’s so-called inheritance, it stands accused of tainting the memory of that great man.

"The PMO propaganda machine can do whatever it likes even at the expense of ethics and morality to protect the PM and his wife.

"But for it to dishonour and disrespect the memory of Tun Abdul Razak is an unpardonable sin," Kadir wrote in his blog today.

In their statement last night, four of Razak's sons – Datuk Johari, Datuk Nizam, Datuk Nazim, and Datuk Seri Nazir – said their father was known for his frugality and integrity.

They said they took issue with recent news articles and postings that gave rise to speculation about the nature and extent of the inheritance left by their father.

Their statement follows an article in The New York Times on February 8 that highlighted the wealth of businessman Low Taek Jho and his role as a property investor, whose transactions involved various parties including Riza Aziz, Najib's stepson.

Low had bought a luxury apartment in Manhattan, and also a Beverly Hills mansion through shell companies, and later sold them to Riza, although this has been denied by Low.

The paper also reported that Najib had been hard hit by news of his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's spending on jewellery and designer handbags.

It said that Najib, “who earns an annual salary of about $100,000 (RM360,000) as prime minister, has been battered by news media reports of his wife’s lavish spending”.

It added that there were photos of Rosmah using at least nine different Birkin bags, which typically cost between US$9,000 and US$150,000 a piece.

The issue of Najib's family inheritance arose when the paper, furnishing invoices and other documents as proof of jewellery purchases for Rosmah, had asked the Prime Minister's Office for a response.

The paper quotes the prime minister’s office as saying: “Neither any money spent on travel, nor any jewellery purchases, nor the alleged contents of any safes are unusual for a person of the prime minister’s position, responsibilities and legacy family assets.”

Last night, Razak's family expressed unhappiness with those who had tainted their father's memory.

"We wish to put on record that Tun Abdul Razak was a highly principled man, well-known to all who knew him for his frugality and utmost integrity and any statement or inference to the contrary would be totally false and misleading to his memory and to his service and sacrifices for the nation.

"We take issue with anyone who taints his memory, whatever the motive.

"We would also like to add that our whole family is united on this issue," they added in the three-paragraph statement issued to The Malaysian Insider last night. – February 25, 2015.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/pmo-must-answer-report-on-razaks-inheritance-says-veteran-newsman#sthash.YgZVlqCK.dpuf

IGP unfazed by death threat

Inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar is not intimidated by the death threat against him made by a group known as 'Anak Malaysia Anti Demokrasi'.

He described their statement as irresponsible and criticised the group for not respecting parliamentary democracy in Malaysia.

"The threat made to assassinate me shows they do not know the real meaning of democracy, which has longed been practiced by the country.

"Such threats do not scare me as the IGP. Such threats are normal for policemen doing their job," he added in a statement.

It was reported earlier today that an anarchist group had threatened to assassinate the IGP by blowing up his car.

The threat was made via a YouTube video which was also uploaded on Facebook.

Khalid further said that he is concerned that the citizens did not want to use the proper channels available in a democracy to resolve their grievances. Instead they go against the law and their irresponsible actions had the potential to create chaos.

He further urged those who harbour such ill-intentions to immediately stop their actions which had serious security implications, and could affect the harmony of the various races in the country.

“Police are trying to identify the group with the assistance from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.

“I will not hesitate to take stern action, based on the law on those wanting to upset the harmony of the country,” the IGP warned.

'Two years, and no info if dad's dead or alive'

A frustrated son has turned to Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar for help after police failed to solve the mystery of his father, who has been missing for almost two years.

T Rajev lamented that the Kajang district police headquarters was not serious in finding his 46-year old father S Tharmalingam, as it has been passing the case around, among different investigating officers.

"My family and I have suffered as we do not know the fate of our father and the police are not serious in finding him," Rajev said after submitting a memorandum of appeal to the federal police headquarters at Bukit Aman this afternoon.

He was assisted by Suaram coordinator Tarmizi Anuwar, who said he hoped the memorandum would prompt the police to be more serious in this investigation.

Rajev (right) said his family could not contact his father since Jan 7, 2013, and he finally lodged a police report on April 1 that year, after returning from his studies in India.

He lodged the police report after they were forced to break into Tharmalingam’s house, where they discovered it to be in a mess, with bank documents relating to certain individuals left behind.

These information, Rajev said, was passed to the police but their investigation had been slow and constantly changed hands.

He claimed the investigating officers gave various excuses, including being on courses, or having other cases to handle.

"Don't give excuses, such as the investigation is being conducted in stages, as police have had almost two years to investigate.

"Give us the final word on whether our missing father is still alive or otherwise," he said.

IGP unfazed by death threat

Inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar is not intimidated by the death threat against him made by a group known as 'Anak Malaysia Anti Demokrasi'.

He described their statement as irresponsible and criticised the group for not respecting parliamentary democracy in Malaysia.

"The threat made to assassinate me shows they do not know the real meaning of democracy, which has longed been practiced by the country.

"Such threats do not scare me as the IGP. Such threats are normal for policemen doing their job," he added in a statement.

It was reported earlier today that an anarchist group had threatened to assassinate the IGP by blowing up his car.

The threat was made via a YouTube video which was also uploaded on Facebook.

Khalid further said that he is concerned that the citizens did not want to use the proper channels available in a democracy to resolve their grievances. Instead they go against the law and their irresponsible actions had the potential to create chaos.

He further urged those who harbour such ill-intentions to immediately stop their actions which had serious security implications, and could affect the harmony of the various races in the country.

“Police are trying to identify the group with the assistance from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.

“I will not hesitate to take stern action, based on the law on those wanting to upset the harmony of the country,” the IGP warned.

So, let me get this right – it’s haircare over health care?

While the cost of healthcare and education will shoot up after GST, our deputy finance minister is scrambling to place a cap on house call charges for hairdos.

FMT

Tears of joy bathed my cheeks as I felt an immense weight lifted off my chest. Let’s all rise and say “Hallelujah” as the Lord has listened to our prayers.

Our admirable First Lady Rosmah Mansor has gotten a new sidekick who is none other than Ahmad Maslan, the Deputy Finance Minister as they have joined forces for the betterment of mankind (limited only to the lucky citizens of Malaysia).

A few days back, Rosmah lamented that she was being overcharged for her custom made dresses and bouffant hairdo (I’m secretly and inexplicably fascinated by it) and that those days of injustice are over with the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Ahmad Maslan, moved by her plight, has proposed that there should be a price guide for tailors, hairstylists, beauticians, plumbers, electricians and so on in order to curb overcharging in the post-GST period.

Obviously the predicament of our First Lady far outweighs that of the common folk. Nothing happened when the people said a loud and resounding “NO” to the implementation of GST or at least to start it off easy so that we wouldn’t crumble from its weight.

I suppose if it is important, you will find a way and if it’s not, you will find an excuse.

I mean why bother about the cost of health care that keeps snowballing. There has only been a 20-50% increase in the costs which is expected to increase even further this year. Thank goodness only 320 types of medications out of 4,200 are subjected to GST. Never mind the fact that, the same type of medicine produced by a different brand is considered different. Somewhere in the near future people will willingly crawl into their graves rather than hop onto a hospital stretcher. A quick death would seem more welcome than a crippling debt that you will spend all your life trying to pay off.

Why bother about the rising cost of education? It is after all the only means for middle and lower class people to break free from the shackles of poverty especially those without any special privileges that some politician decades ago decided was to be the birthright of a select few.

Nurul Izzah pounced on the news of price guides for house calls like a hungry tigress on a baby gazelle and shot out a statement saying that all it took for Putrajaya to sit up and take notice of our financial woes was Rosmah’s hair.

While I agree with her sentiments, I cannot help but ask myself why is everything politicised? All this has given the opposition fodder to vilify the government and feed us their own propaganda.

While we will no doubt be treated to an impressive verbal sparring in the coming days, nothing will be achieved at the end of the day.

Apparently all we can do for now is sit back and smirk while those with silver spoons stuck in their mouths tell us to tighten our belts.

Madrasah founder denies US documentary claim

The religious school does not teach the students to become terrorists, say co-founder.

FMT

ALOR SETAR: Co-founder of the Madrasah Nurul Hidayah in Kuala Ketil Mohd Zainon Ariffin has denied allegations that the school propagates militant ideologies among its students.

Mohd Zainon, 53, said the claim made in the video documentary on the school produced by The New York Times and several other media recently was untrue.

“My madrasah does not teach the students to become terrorists.

“Islam has never taught its followers to become violent or to be terrorists. In Islam, the term terrorist is not in its vocabulary. Islam bans violence,” he told Bernama when contacted by telephone here today.

The Madrasah Nurul Hidayah attracted foreign media attention because Mohd Zainon’s younger brother Mohd Lotfi Ariffin, 46, was killed while fighting in Syria. Mohd Lotfi played an important role in the formation of the madrasah.

Mohd Lotfi, former information chief of the Kedah PAS Ulama Council, was involved in the group known as Ajnad al Sham, which also fought against President Bashar al-Assad.

Mohd Zainon said his younger brother did not join the so-called IS militant group.

The founder of the madrasah said he felt cheated by journalists from the foreign media which produced the documentary and following the false report, he was facing various problems including being investigated by the police, besides the madrasah being monitored by the authorities.

A few days after the documentary was aired, Kedah police chief Zamri Yahya, in a media conference, had said that police would take action and monitor any madrasah in Kedah suspected of being involved in militant activities.

According to Mohd Zainon, the foreign journalists took two days to shoot the documentary at his madrasah and said that the air time was 48 minutes.

However, the final duration of the documentary aired was merely eight minutes, he said.

However, what was more regretful was that his speech which had called on the students of the madrasah to emulate the practices and religious studies of his late younger brother had been left out by the foreign media.

“As students who respected him (Lotfi), they must emulate his attitude and discipline. This was my speech which should have been in the video.

“The video also portrayed as though this place (Madrasah Nurul Hidayah) churned out terrorists. The madrasah does not teach anyone to be cruel and violent,” he said.

Mohd Zainon said to his knowledge, his late younger brother had never propagated militant ideologies or influenced his students to join the struggle in Syria, throughout his teaching days at the madrasah.

To date, none of the students from the madrasah had become militants and the school only offered religious studies for five years to about 180 students aged from 12 to 17 for a monthly fee of RM20, he said.

“Here, we don’t teach the students how to handle weapons,” he said.

If any outsider tried to influence students of the madrasah to join any militant movement, Zainon said he would explain to them to concentrate on their studies and to gain knowledge.

“It is better for them to be here to acquire knowledge,” he said.

However, he did not think that there were outsiders who tried to influence or recruit his students to join any militant movement.

Mohd Zainon said students of the madrasah came from all over the country, including Sabah and Sarawak, and they were from poor families.

– BERNAMA

Kula tells Umno to stay away from MIC

MIC will never regain respect among Indians with an Umno-appointed puppet President and constant interference.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran, coming to the defence of MIC, reminded Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in particular that since the party claims to represent the Indian community, it should be allowed to resolve its internal problems in any manner it sees fit. Otherwise, he warned, it would never have the respect of the Indians it’s trying to woo.

He was commenting on Muhyiddin’s unusually tough language when taking issue with the MIC referring its differences with the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to Court by way of a Judicial Review.

Muhyiddin, in a veiled threat, warned MIC that it has only itself to blame if it gets into deeper trouble. He did not elaborate.

“Since Muhyiddin has said that Barisan Nasional will only advice, there is no reason for him to be upset and angry if his or BN’s advice is not accepted. Otherwise, that is not advice anymore,” said Kula. “Muhyiddin has to realize and accept the fact that the MIC leaders and members have the right to resolve their own problems the way they see fit.”

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi received bouquets and brickbats at the same time from Kula for casting doubts on the MIC’s ability to help the Indian community when “it’s unable to solve its own problems”.

“Zahid was right. He must also realize at the same time that MIC can’t champion the Indian community with Umno interfering in the internal affairs of the party and giving it so-called advice,” said Kula. “Umno must not be seen as trying to rescue MIC.”

Kula cited a recent example of Umno’s interference in MIC.

The Ipoh Barat MP, referring to a statement by MIC vice-president M. Saravanan, expressed shock that current MIC president G. Palanivel was in fact the choice of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and not party members.

“So the truth is out. MIC has a puppet President who is the weakest among all its former Presidents,” said Kula.

“I also wish to remind MIC that decades of the BN government’s failed and unfair policies have resulted in the Indian community being marginalized.”

Local IS-styled group will pay for reckless actions

Bukit Aman says the group who uploaded a video threatening to kill the IGP will face the full brunt of the law when caught.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman has slammed the actions of a local IS-styled group who uploaded a video on Tuesday threatening to kill the Inspector-General of Police by blowing up his car.

Bukit Aman’s Special Branch principal assistant director (counter-terrorism division) Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, told The Rakyat Post, “IS have threatened not only the national security, but also the regional and global security. To play around with their image simply to gain views or attention is inappropriate and insensitive.

“We, the authorities, take this matter seriously and those responsible for the release of the two videos will have serious actions taken against them.”

Besides the latest video, another was uploaded two weeks earlier threatening to blast firecrackers in front of the nation’s courts.

Ayob Khan also said the group was treading on dangerous ground by joking around with the concept of IS, an international network of terrorists, whose influence Bukit Aman was working tirelessly to curb.

“Any authority in the world and anyone who can think properly would know that the actions of this group of children do not reflect the country’s stand on IS,” he said, adding that the police had already made numerous arrests as well as issued stern warnings against any locals joining the militants in Syria.

“Anyone who plans to joke around with it should know better,” he said.

In the video, three men are seen clad in black and wearing full face masks while their spokesman, with the logo of their group AMAD obliterating his face, speaks of killing the IGP by blowing up the car.

Identifying themselves as Anti-Democracy Sons of Malaysia, the three end the video by flashing their middle fingers and saying, “f@#$ democracy”, while one individual illustrates the group’s intentions by dragging two toy cars across the table while the spokesman lights the cars aflame to the sounds of a massive explosion.

Irate Najib Brothers Dispute Family Wealth

By Asia Sentinel

The rift between Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his families appears to be growing, with the publication of a formal statement in Malaysia’s New Straits Times daily newspaper by Najib’s four brothers.

The statement appears to have been triggered by questions over the prime minister’s financial affairs in the wake of a Feb. 9 New York Times article that reported the family has vast wealth, much of it overseas. In that article, the prime minister’s office defended Najib’s wealth by claiming that “neither any money spent on travel, nor any jewelry purchases, nor the alleged contents of any safes are unusual for a person of the prime minister’s position, responsibilities and legacy family assets.” The prime minister has made subsequent statements saying his wealth derives from inheritance.

That has raised the ire of Najib’s brothers, who say there were no “legacy family assets” and that any claim to the contrary is an insult at their father, Tun Abdul Razak, the country’s second prime minister and a man known for his parsimony with government funds.

Without naming any names, the brothers’ statement said that “We wish to put on record that Tun Abdul Razak was a highly principled man, well-known to all who knew him for his frugality and utmost integrity and any statement or inference to the contrary would be totally false and misleading to his memory and to his service and sacrifices for the nation. We take issue with anyone who taints his memory, whatever the motive. We would also like to add that our whole family is united on this issue.”

The statement was signed by Nazir Razak, the chairman of CIMB group, as well as his brothers Johari, Nizam and Nazim. It apparently was not signed by Najib.

As Asia Sentinel reported on Feb. 11, the rift in the family has been growing for months over a variety of issues, many of them related to Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor, including the fact that she makes an ostentatious display of her wealth, in jewelry and expensive handbags.

One source with close connections to the family said Rosmah will not allow Najib to meet with his brothers unless she is present, and that they are not allowed to talk with the prime minister outside of her earshot.

In addition, the bad blood is said to stem from the brothers’ problems with Rosmah over their indignation at the treatment meted out to Najib’s first wife, Tengku Puteri, whom he divorced to marry Rosmah and to the children from the first marriage. When Tengku Puteri’s eldest daughter became a lawyer and was called to the Malaysian bar, Najib’s brother called him and asked him to attend. Family sources said Najib declined, possibly because of Rosmah’s objections. Najib’s mother, Rahah, instead brought her granddaughter to Najib’s office together with a photographer so that the newly minted lawyer could have her photo taken with her father in her court robes.

Other irritations have arisen over the deeply indebted government-backed investment fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd, which Rosmah is believed to have convinced her husband to initiate. The fund is in deep trouble and only stayed afloat this month with an emergency loan from billionaire T. Ananda Krishnan, a close UMNO crony, who put up RM2 billion to meet debt service. Sources told local media in Malaysia that 1MDB may need another MR3 billion from its owner, the Ministry‎ of Finance.

Hints of the rift began a year ago, when Nazir wrote a long article in Kinibiz, the business edition of the widely read independent online publication Malaysiakini, itself a red flag to the United Malays National Organization leadership because of its continuing criticism of the government and refusal to toe the line of the conventional media, all of which are owned by major political parties.

In the article, Nazir wrote a remembrance of his father, Tun Abdul Razak, Malaysia’s second prime minister, titled “Remembering My Father, Tun Razak.” Among other things the father was said in the article to have refused to use public funds to build a swimming pool for the children at the government-owned prime minister’s residence. He personally paid his family’s expenses on government trips, Nazir said, and was personally committed to national unity between the three major ethnic groups, the Malays, Chinese and Indians.

The article stood as an obvious public rebuke to the prime minister, who at his wife’s insistence remodelled the prime minister’s residence at vast public expense, who has been accused of using the government’s public jet for private junkets, and who has refused to rein in Malay superiority NGOs such as Perkasa and ISMA, whose strident rhetoric has led to a poisonous racial situation.

“Nazir has long worried about the negative influence of Rosmah, in particular, on Najib and has complained to friends and associates about it,” said a longtime western political analyst in Kuala Lumpur. “Of course, Rosmah knows this and despises Nazir in return and badmouths him to Najib. So it goes.”

Nazir has threatened suit against Taek Jho Low, the youthful wunderkind behind the creation of 1MDB, whom Nazir has accused of being behind an anonymous blogger who has attacked Nazir’s family. In a personal statement last week on Kinibiz, the business edition of the independent website Malaysiakini, Nazir said the attacks began soon after he wrote the article about his father and after he expressed public reservations about 1MDB. The attacks, constituting “lies and slander,” cross the line, Nazir said. His statement follows a series of statements by businessman Tong Kooi Ong, who had also been subjected to anonymous blog attacks which Tong claimed were due to The Edge Malaysia’s extensive and biting coverage of 1MDB. On Feb. 6, Tong said he had ascertained the identity of the blogger going by the name ‘ahrily90’ and had served a legal letter to Jho Low, who has previously denied any links to the attacks.

Tun Arifin Zakaria is duty-bound as Chairman of JAC to satisfactory account for the by-passing of promotion to Federal Court of the country’s most respected serving judge, Justice Hishammdin

By Lim Kit Siang Blog

The Chief Justice, Tun Arifin Zakaria is duty bound as Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) to satisfactorily account for the by-passing of promotion to the Federal Court of the country’s most respected serving judge, Justice Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus.

Arifin had previously tried to shirk from his duty of national accountability when he was asked in September 2013 why Justice Hishammuddin was by-passed from promotion to the Federal Court in the batch of judicial elevations at the time, claiming that the elevation of judges was made without the influence of anyone and that it was at the prerogative of the Yang di Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Arifin is right that the elevation of judges is not 100 per cent the prerogative of the JAC, but it is beneath the dignity of the Chief Justice to hum and haw claiming that it is unfair for the media or anyone to question the fate of any particular judge.

It has been reported that Justice Hishammuddin’s name was omitted from the promotion list in 2013 as a result of a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office, after the recommendation of his elevation to the Federal Court had passed through the JAC.
Justice Hishamudin’s name was missing again on the promotions list released on Feb. 16 this year, this time by-passed in favour of Justice Zaharah Ibrahim.

This is the era of accountability, transparency, open government with the Prime Minister’s much-flaunted National Transformation Programme.

The black-listing and by-passing of Justice Hishamuddin from elevation to the Federal Court is the best proof that the JAC had acted arbitrarily to sideline independent judges of unquestioned integrity who are fully committed to uphold the law and the Constitution instead acceding to pressures from various quarters.

Malaysians still remember the horrors in the appointment of judges revealed by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Lingam Video Tape Scandal, and the still unresolved issues from the RCI Report.

Arifin should not be satisfied with low fruits and standards saying that there is now more transparency in judicial appointments since the formation of the JAC compared with appointments done before 2009.

Malaysians do not just want a system better than the horror-days of the Lingam Videotape Scandal, but a judicial appointment system comparable to the best in the world which can bear public scrutiny and criticism, like the present case for the by-passing of Justice Hishammuddin not only twice from elevation to the Federal Court, but also for the earlier injustices suffered by him when he was overlooked for promotion to the Court of Appeal and was stuck as a High Court judge for 14 years.

Was Justice Hishammuddin being punished for life in the judicial service as being too independent-minded and for his series of landmark judgements, which shows his respect for the law and constitution?

It would be difficult to find another judge who could command as much respect from the Bar for his integrity, independence and respect for the law and Constitution.

If the lawyers have a say, Justice Hishammuddin would have been the favourite choice to be the Chief Justice of the land leading Malaysia to a golden age of new international respect and acclaim for a truly independent judiciary and a just rule of law instead of languishing for 14 years as a High Court and compulsorily retiring in September this year from the Court of Appeal.

If the Chief Justice is unable to give any or satisfactory explanation on behalf of the JAC for the by-passing of promotion of Justice Hishammuddin to the Federal Court, the Bar and lawyer should demand their voices should be heard loud and clear.

Surely Malaysia doe not need another Royal Commission of Inquiry into another judicial scandal before standards of judicial ethics and appointments are raised?