Soul searching over alleged Virgin Mary sighting

Orang Asli kids' family offered cash to retract report

The family of the non-Muslim Orang Asli girls slapped for not reciting a doa (Islamic prayer) at school last month has been offered cash to retract their police report, it is claimed.

According to SK Bihai Parent Teacher Association deputy chairperson Arom Asir, the family of Hassan Achoi was approached on Nov 7 and offered RM300 to retract the police report.

“Along Hassan, the brother of one of the girls, had contacted me on Thursday (Nov 8) to inform me and ask for my advice.

“He said that he was approached after a PTA meeting on Wednesday (Nov 7), and that the offer was RM300 for each of the students slapped,” he said when met in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 9.

He was in the capital city to attend a conference on Orang Asli rights.

Malaysiakini was unable to contact Along as his village, Pos Bihai, is located far in the interiors of Gua Musang, near the Perak-Kelantan border, and does not have telephone coverage.

However, Arom, who later returned to his village last week, met with the childrens’ parents and confirmed the details of the conversation with the teachers.

“They told me that the group of teachers offered RM250 per child, and that the teacher who slapped the children would top up RM50 to the amount, making it RM300 per child,” he said.

“The teachers said that if they agreed, then the teachers would bring them to the police station on Nov 19 to retract the report and the money will be paid then.”

Arom had contacted Malaysiakini about this on Nov 17, from the nearest town which has telephone coverage.

Pos Bihai is a one-and-a-half-hour journey to the nearest town in Kuala Betis, which is another one-and-a-half-hour drive to Gua Musang where the police report was lodged.

Arom said the police report will not be retracted, especially since they have already consulted a lawyer to see what they can do if no action is taken.

“It is about our dignity,” he said.
School uncontactable

Malaysiakini has since last week made several attempts to contact SK Bihai’s officials for comment at mobile telephone numbers provided by the Human Rights Commission and the district education office.

However, the telephone calls cannot get through, likely due to the remote location of the school, and text messages have been unanswered.

The listed telephone number for SK Bihai connects directly to the district education office.

The four Year Six students were slapped on Oct 23, prompting their fathers to make a three-hour journey to Gua Musang to lodge a police report.

Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong had confirmed the incident in Parliament and said that disciplinary action against the teacher is “under way”.

However, he said, it is up to the police to investigate any criminal offence which the teacher may have committed.

According to Section 17 of the Aboriginal People’s Act 1954, no Orang Asli child should be obliged to receive religious teachings, without prior consent from the parents.

Section 17(3) states that any person contravening this faces a fine not exceeding RM500.

SK Bihai is an exclusively Orang Asli school.

'DOE okayed condo after Dolomite gave solution'

The Department of Environment (DOE) and the Minerals and Geoscience Department had "no objections" to the controversial 29-storey condominium project next to Batu Caves after an "engineering solution" was presented by developer Dolomite Sdn Bhd.

"The Geoscience Department had initially said it was not good location to build (the structure) but the developer showed that it is able to and had the engineering solution.

"Then the DOE gave the certification and permission, so after that the Geoscience Department no longer had objections," Housing and Local Government Minister Chor Chee Heung (right) told the Dewan Rakyat today.

Chor said this when winding up during the committee stage debate on the Budget 2013 allocation for his ministry.

Selangor executive councillors Ronnie Liu and Dr Xavier Jeyakumar have said that the previous BN government approved the project in 2007 despite objections from the DOE.
'BN and Pakatan must share blame'

However, Chor said, the Pakatan Rakyat government too must share the blame as the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) councillors who approved the building plans in July 2008 did so under Pakatan's rule.

"If you say it should not have been approved (due to the DOE objections), then why did the MPS full board approve it in July 2008?" he asked.

Chor said the BN-era councillors had only approved planning and no construction could be undertaken solely with that.

"When the (Pakatan) councillors were appointed, they agreed with the development. So BN and Pakatan both had a hand in this," he said.

Abdul Khalid Samad (PAS-Shah Alam) rose to object to this claim, saying that it was not up to the local councillors to approve building plans as they do not have the expertise to do so.

"These are councillors who were appointed a month before and they were made to make a decision on something that had an approved building plan, without information from the geoscience report, etc.

"It's not fair. You are evading the issue and putting blame on the blameless," Abdul Khalid said.

To this, the minister said the procedure dictated that all plans must be "endorsed" by a full board meeting of the council.

"Why don't you check with them (MPS)? You have your connections, you check. What's the point of me lying in this august house?" Chor replied.

He then elaborated on the DOE and geoscience report, after being pressed by M Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat), much to the minister's frustration.

"Shut up and listen to me. You are such a ruffian!" Chor said, after both he and deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee failed to halt Kulasegaran's continuous interruptions.

Bal Thackeray cremated at Shivaji Park, Mumbai.

Mumbai bids tearful farewell to Bal Thackeray

Mumbai | 18 Nov. 2012 :: The mortal remains of Bal Thackeray, a Hindutva mascot and flagbearer of Marathi pride, were consigned to flames as lakhs of mourners joined the Shiv Sena founder’s grieving family to bid him a tearful farewell, with the city observing a virtual shutdown.

In a spontaneous outpouring of grief, a sea of humanity, unprecedented in recent memory, descended on the streets leading from “Matoshree”, Thackeray’s Bandra home, to Shivaji Park, to catch the last glimpse of the uncrowned king of Mumbai.

As several times in life, the Thackeray phenomenon was in evidence once again in death as he brought Mumbai to a halt with all marketplace, from the swanky malls to the tiny tea stalls and ‘paan—beedi’ kiosks, closed and all roads leading to “Matoshree”, Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar and Shivaji Park, where his last rites were performed.

Loud roars of “Parat ya parat ya Balasaheb parat ya (Come back, come back, Balasaheb come back), Kon ala re, kon ala Shiv Senecha wagh ala (Who has come, who has come, Shiv Sena’s tiger has come)” and “Balasaheb amar rahe” (long live Balasaheb) rent the air as an emotional Uddhav, the youngest son of the departed leader and Sena’s executive president, lit the pyre.

In a reflection of the respect Thackeray commanded across the board, a galaxy of politicians, from allies to rivals, film stars to captains of industry were attendance.[Full Report].

Diary of an Islamic apostate

CHARLOTTE, November 17, 2012 – On December 22, 2011 a woman known only as the “Liberated One” began blogging about her apostasy from Islam.

Because she still lives in an Islamic country, the Liberated One is extremely cautious about her identity, her location and her methods of communication, though she is boldly unafraid and outspoken about her former religion.

Following are some of her entries which have been shortened, but have not been edited in any way that would alter the meaning of her descriptions.

Saturday, December 24, 2011 – “I was born in a very typical Sunni Muslim household, not very conservative like the Arabs, but nevertheless religious enough. I was born in Karachi, Pakistan to a very respectable family. I moved to another Muslim country with my parents when I was just 10 years old and still live there.”

“Have you ever read the Quran in English? All my life I just recited the Quran in Arabic without understanding a single word until…I purchased a copy of the English Quran and read the translation for the first time. I reached the conclusion that this book…teaches nothing except hatred and violence. I can no longer be a part of a cult which subjugates its followers, making them mere blind puppets with no mind of their own.”

Islamic scholars explain that the Koran can not be translated, it can only be interpreted. The word Koran means “recital” and experts say the poetry of the original Arabic is completely lost in translation.

Saturday, December 31, 2011 – “I am a very new apostate, just…over two months now when I actually gave up Islam.”

Monday, March 26, 2012 – “I was almost on my way to being an atheist. I was extremely angry at Islam and Mohammed for making me live in fear and guilt all my life. He had created a fear of Allah. We were not human beings, but zombies who had a blind faith in an evil man who claimed to be the last prophet of God. It was right then when I had almost lost faith in God that I met the love of my life, John. He made me start believing in God again.”

Friday, October 26, 2012 – “Regarding Islam being a peaceful religion, that is precisely what I believed in most of my life, and why I was a practicing Muslim. I thought Islam means peace and there is no compulsion in religion because that is what the Quran says. Little did I know that those peaceful verses were later abrogated by the harsh and deadly ones which ordered Muslims to kill non Muslims wherever they found them.

“For the last…year, I have been an apostate of Islam, which means no praying, no fasting, no quran recitation, no zakat, no nothing. But…there was something missing. I could not…pin point what it was till I met John and he showed me the path that leads to Christ.”

“Islam is a hateful religion…created by a psychopath for his own benefit. I…request all Muslims to please wake up and see what you are doing.”

Islam by definition means “submission.” Abrogation is a major aspect of the religion and the Koran that is either conveniently overlooked or frequently eliminated from discussions about specific passages in the text.

Saturday, November 3, 2012 – “I…finally told my family today about my apostasy. I told my mother and my two sisters in law that I am no longer a Muslim. It's been a few hours since the bombshell. My parents have already disowned me, perhaps tell the world their daughter is dead, or worst come worse, they would just kill me, which is highly unlikely in this part of the world.”

“Sara and Uzma (sisters-in-law) told me this morning…you went against the teachings of Islam. You didn't just offend your parents, but offended Allah and his prophet, to which I said, Yes,…you see, I don't believe in Allah and his so called prophet anymore. I disowned Allah and Mohammed a year ago, and you know what? I have never been happier.”

“Islam is nothing but pure deception, created by…the self proclaimed prophet Mohammed. I said, Mom, how can you say Islam is a religion of peace when the first thing it says is to kill anyone who leaves it. Isn't that ample proof that it's an evil cult?”

Tuesday, November 6, 2012 – “It feels wonderful to know that people…are so concerned about my safety. Rest assured that I am absolutely safe. I am sure…you must have guessed that I live in UAE, not Saudi or Kuwait or Iran, or worse still, Afghanistan and Pakistan. This country is too westernised and far too eager to be in the good books of dear old uncle Sam. There is a nightclub and bar in every area and alcohol is freely available, but you need a liquor permit for that. I have a Pakistani passport and am a Muslim on paper. There has never been a case of honor killing in this country.”

The diary continues for the “Liberated One” who lives in anonymity in a Middle Eastern country. Follow the Liberated One here.


Read more: Diary of an Islamic apostate | Washington Times Communities
Follow us: @wtcommunities on Twitter

UK: Muslims to denounce Malala as apostate for standing up to Taliban

This will put the threat of being murdered over her head for the rest of her life. "Islamic hardliners announce fatwa on Malala Yousafzai," by Rob Crilly in the Telegraph, November 19:

British-based Islamic radicals are preparing to announce a fatwa on Malala Yousafzai, the 15-year-old girl shot by the Pakistan Taliban, for her role in standing up to extremists. The story of Malala, who is recovering at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, has touched millions of people around the world since she was attacked by a gunman on her way home from school last month.
She had dared to defy the Pakistan Taliban by promoting girls education and by documenting their abuses in a blog written in 2009.
Later this month, hardliners plan to gather at the notorious Red Mosque in Islamabad to denounce her as an apostate, accusing her of turning her back on Islam.
Anjem Choudary, who lives in East London and is one of the founders of al-Muhajiroun, which was banned in 2010, said the conference would announce the fatwa.
Although apostasy carries the death sentence according to Islamic law, he insisted he was not calling for Malalaﾒs death....

Apostasy carries the death sentence according to Islamic law, although deceptive Islamic supremacist spokesmen in the U.S. routinely deny it.

Anwar will be PM if Pakatan wins polls, says DAP

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 — The DAP maintained today that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be the prime minister if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) wins the next general election.
Following a push by PAS delegates at the PR party’s assembly last week for Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to be the next PM, the DAP reminded the public today that Anwar is the opposition pact’s choice to be the next leader of the country.

“This is the consensus of three parties, that is Anwar. If it is Pakatan Rakyat that wins, it is Anwar who will be prime minister,” DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng (picture) told reporters at the Parliament lobby when asked to comment.

Asked about the proposal for the party with the most seats to get the prime minister’s post, Lim said that consensus among the PR parties was more important.

“But we think (the one) that can represent the whole of PR, the whole of Malaysia is Anwar...” Lim said, pointing out that his party currently has the most seats, followed by PKR and PAS.

Yesterday, Abdul Hadi finally bowed to repeated calls from PAS members for him to be the next prime minister, saying he was ready to lead the country should PR win the next elections.

“I welcome being elected as the prime minister ... but I ask for Allah to grant us victory,” the PAS president said in his closing speech at the party’s 58th annual conference or muktamar yesterday.

The Marang MP was responding to calls by several delegates who insisted numerous times during the muktamar that the next prime minister should come from the Islamist party.

Abdul Hadi’s statement and the resounding support of party delegates contradict the stand taken by the PR leadership, which has repeatedly endorsed its de facto leader Anwar for the post of prime minister.

The PAS Ulama wing also pushed for the party to be the major power in PR so Abdul Hadi can be elected as Cabinet leader.

On Saturday, Abdul Hadi played down a suggestion from party delegates that he become the next prime minister instead of Anwar, saying he would rather be a “servant” to the country instead of pursuing the post.

Anwar responded positively yesterday to calls from PAS members, saying the proposal could be discussed, despite his ambition for the post being no secret.

Hindraf is with Karpal on hudud, Islamic state

Hindraf Makkal Sakti feels that more Pakatan Rakyat leaders must speak up against PAS' extreme Islamist stand

GEORGE TOWN: DAP chairman Karpal Singh is the lone voice against PAS’ Islamist stand and this does not auger well for the non-Muslims in the country.

Hindraf Makkal Sakti feels that when other Pakatan Rakyat leaders do not speak up againt PAS, the right of non-Muslims will be pushed aside if the coalition comes into power.

Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy said DAP and PKR leaders’ silence raised suspicions that they would not defend the rights of over 12 million non-Muslim citizens if PAS pushed for an Islamic state.

He said their silence suggested that MCA theory of PAS to establish Islamic theocracy by amending the Federal Constitution with the help of all Muslim MPs from Pakatan and Barisan Nasional could be right.

“Will PKR and Umno MPs vote against PAS Islamist initiatives? It is a million dollar question that only time will answer,” the Hindraf leader told FMT here today.

He said Hindraf like many other concerned NGOs were baffled on why others in DAP and PKR, especially non-Muslim leaders like Lim Kit Siang and his son Guan Eng, were silent on this issue.

“Just imagine if there was no Karpal, no one in Pakatan would be voicing out against PAS.The DAP supremo is the only leader defending non-Muslim rights. Right thinking citizens should back him.

He critised PAS of being fanatical in establishing an Islamic state and introducing hudud law, pointing out that an Islamist agenda was unconstitutional and would rock the very foundation of formation of Malaysia in 1963.

He reminded that freedom of religion and, absolute protection of rights of natives to their own land, religion, culture and custom were among main conditions agreed upon by all parties when Malaysia was formed with merger of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.

He stressed that a “Batu Sumpah Peringatan” in Keningau still existed to emphasis the agreement and declare Sabah as a religious-free land.

The civil rights movement leader said he can’t accept PAS assurance that Islamic laws would not affect non-Muslims because laws of a nation would eventually affect all citizens.

When Article 121 (1) (a) of the Federal Constitution was amended in 1988 to give legitimacy to Syariah law, he recalled that federal ruling party Umno too guaranteed non-Muslims that it would not affect them.

“But today hundreds of non-Muslim families are affected due cases of conversion and body snatching,” Waythamoorthy noted.

“We can’t afford to replace Umno’s racism with PAS religious extremism, which is equally racist in nature,” he said.

Murtad: Mesej jelas dari Tok Guru

Sesiapa sahaja orang Islam yang memperlekeh agama Islam dengan sengaja maka ia boleh jatuh kepada murtad (terkeluar dari Islam).

Hakikatnya, Mursyidul Am PAS Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat memberi mesej yang jelas bahawa sesiapa saja yang memperlekeh dan menolak Islam telah murtad, termasuk Umno.

Beliau yang juga Menteri Besar Kelantan berkata, sesiapa sahaja orang Islam yang memperlekeh agama Islam dengan sengaja maka ia boleh jatuh kepada murtad (terkeluar dari Islam).

Katanya, tindakan memperlekeh Islam boleh berlaku dengan banyak cara termasuk menolak Islam sebagai dasar perjuangan kerana menganggap Islam itu sudah lapuk dan tidak sesuai lagi pada zaman ini.

Nik Aziz berkata demikian kepada para pemberita di Muktamar Tahunan PAS kali ke 58 di Pusat Tarbiyah Islamiyah Kelantan (Putik), Pengkalan Chepa dekat Kota Baharu semalam.

“Tak kira siapa pun kalau tok guru berserban berjanggut sekalipun kalau tolak Islam dengan hati yang sengaja, dia kata Islam tak guna, dia murtad sekalipun tak ada mufti bagi tau dia, lapor beberapa laman web.

Utusan Malaysia, akhbar milik Umno hari ini memperbesarkan isu murtad dengan memuatkan berita ini di muka hadapannya bertajuk “Nik Aziz dakwa Umno murtad”.

Ini merupakan satu lagi percubaan Utusan untuk memburuk-burukkan peribadi Nik Aziz dan PAS dengan memuatkan komen dan ulasan para pemimpin dan ulama Umno dengan membuat pelbagai andaian.

Mereka kononnya mendakwa umat Islam ditegah dari berdoa kepada Allah untuk menghancurkan saudara sesama Islam dan langkah ini akan mengundang perpecahan di kalangan umat Islam.

Isu murtad kali ini timbul berpunca daripada doa pimpinan Ustaz Nik Razi Nik Mat (adik Nik Aziz) pada Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat di Stadium Sultan Muhammad ke IV di Kota Bharu pada malam 16 November lalu.

Beliau mendoakan agar kerajaan yang zalim, Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) di hancurkan oleh Allah s.w.t seperti mana Allah menghancurkan kerajaan Fir’aun, Hammam, Qarun dan Abu Lahab.

Laluan mudah ke Putrajaya

Di antara doanya, beliau menyebut “hancur Umno, tumbang BN” dan “Umno K.O., K.O. Umno” dan memohon kepada Allah supaya memberi laluan yang mudah kepada Pakatan Rakyat mara ke Putrajaya.

Ramai di kalangan umat Islam di negara ini telah mula sedar bahawa doa untuk menghancurkan kezaliman, kejahatan dan ketidakadilan yang dilakukan oleh seseorang, sekumpulan, parti atau kerajaan dibolehkan dalam Islam.

Malahan kenyataan Nik Aziz ini juga disokong oleh Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang ketika ditanya wartawan dengan merujuk kepada Kitab Mustika Hadis yang diterbitkan oleh Jabatan Perdana Menteri.

“Baca kitab itu, ada hukum mengenai orang yang memperlekehkan Islam. Kitab ini ditandatangani Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad,” katanya walaupun enggan mengulas lebih lanjut.

Memandangkan pilihan raya umum ke 13 semakin hampir, berkemungkinan pada Disember ini atau selewat-lewatnya selepas Tahun Baru Cina 2013 nanti, maka jentera Umno khususnya media miliknya akan menyemarakkan isu agama, selain dari isu Raja dan perkauman.

Isu sensitif

Umno tidak boleh ‘survive’ tanpa memainkan ketiga-tiga isu yang sensitif ini dan cuba mencetuskan keadaan yang tidak stabil dan berkemungkinan huru hara jika mereka melihat survival politik mereka terancam.

Selepas isu Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai Nurul Izzah Anwar yang didakwa membuat kenyataan bahawa semua orang bebas memilih agama termasuk orang Melayu tetapi enggan disentuh oleh perwakilan muktamar, di ikuti pula dengan isu doa Nik Razi kepada isu murtad.

Isu murtad ini dicuba ditikam ke dada PAS memandangkan kerajaan Umno-BN sendiri gagal membendung meningkatnya kes murtad di kalangan orang-orang Melayu beragama Islam.

Inilah bencananya apabila sesebuah kerajaan sekular yang mengaku sebagai sebuah negara Islam di rantau ini menolak sistem perundangan dan syariat Islam daripada dilaksanakan secara keseluruhannya.

Undang-undang atau Akta Murtad yang diketengahkan oleh ahli-ahli parlimen PAS di Parlimen sudah tiga kali ditolak, bermula dari zaman pimpinan arwah Ustaz Fadhil Noor sebagai presiden PAS sehingga ketika pimpinan Hadi Awang dewasa ini.

Barangkali mereka bimbang undang-undang murtad ini terkena pada batang hidung mereka sendiri atau kaum kerabat mereka yang sering kali mempersendakan hukum Islam.

Islam akan terus terpinggir selagi Umno menerajui kerajaan pusat dan sebab itulah Nik Razi yang memimpin doa di Stadium Sultan Muhammad ke IV tempoh hari menyeru agar rakyat membuat perubahan.

Semoga Allah memperkenankan doa orang-orang yang dizalimi dengan menghancurkan Umno-BN.

Commission to police the police needed

In a memorandum the Penang DAP Youth stated that the police should not oppose the formation of IPCMC.

PETALING JAYA: A commission is badly needed to check the abuses committed by police personnel.

Penang DAP Youth said it would campaign for the establishment of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to check these abuses.

Its assistant secretary M Satees said an independent commission was urgently needed because of many high-profile cases involving police personnel.

He listed three such cases: the deaths of Altantuya Shaarriibu, A Kugan, and the rape of an Indonesian maid in Penang.

Satees’ group has sent a memorandum urging for the setting up of the IPCMC to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar today.

“We, the members of Penang DAP Youth, want the IPCMC to be formed immediately so that it can investigate complaints against the police force as recommended in the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police,” said the memorandum.

The memorandum also called for the tabling of an IPCMC Bill in the Dewan Rakyat.

A royal commission led by former chief justice Mohamed Dzaidin Abdullah, among others, had recommended the formation of an IPCMC in 2005.

However, the IPCMC was not formed due to strong objection from the police force.

Instead, a watered-down bill was pushed through Parliament that led to the formation of the Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission.

In the memorandum, the Penang DAP Youth also strongly stated that the police force should not object to the formation of the commission.

“It is the only mechanism that assures the people that police investigations are conducted with integrity,” the memorandum stated.

Anwar lebih berkaliber dari Hadi

"Tapi pada saya Hadi ke, Anwar Ibrahim ke, yang paling layak adalah Perdana Menteri yang ada sekarang," kata Ahli Parlimen Kota Tinggi Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar.

KUALA LUMPUR: Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dilihat lebih berkaliber memegang tampuk pemerintahan negara sebagai Perdana Menteri berbanding Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

“Tapi pada saya Hadi ke, Anwar Ibrahim ke, yang paling layak adalah Perdana Menteri yang ada sekarang (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak),” kata Ahli Parlimen Kota Tinggi Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar.

Beliau menegaskan perpecahan dalam Pakatan Rakyat semakin jelas apabila masing-masing cuba menunjukkan belang tersendiri.

“Cara mereka bertindak berasaskan emosi (tapi) pada saya Hadi tak layak jadi PM,” kata bekas Menteri Dalam Negeri itu ketika ditemui pemberita di lobi Parlimen hari ini.

Pendapat Syed Hamid itu turut disokong Ahli Parlimen Putrajaya Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor yang yakin cita-cita Anwar mahu pun Hadi itu tidak akan tercapai kerana baginya Pakatan Rakyat tidak akan mampu menawan Putarajaya pada Pilihan Raya Umum (PRU) 13 nanti.

“Itu masalahnya dengan pembangkang, mereka sendiri tiada pendirian tetap mengenai siapa paling layak jadi pemimpin nombor satu negara.

“Saya percaya rakyat takkan terpedaya dengan helah mereka kerana Pakatan sendiri tidak pernah melaksanakan apa yang mereka janjikan,” katanya.

Terpulang kepada majoriti rakyat

Sementara itu Naib Presiden MCA Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai berkata, terpulang kepada majoriti rakyat menentukannya, namun menyeru DAP supaya memikirkan semula langkah mereka untuk terus bersama Pakatan Rakyat.

Katanya, PAS perlu memberikan penjelasan yang meyakinkan terutamanya kepada masyarakat bukan Islam tentang impian mereka untuk melaksanakan hukum hudud.

“DAP perlu bertindak tegas dalam hal ini. Kalau rasa PAS tidak betul, DAP sepatutnya keluar daripada Pakatan,” kata Timbalan Menteri Kewangan itu.

Manakala Ahli Parlimen Tangga Batu Datuk Idris Haron berkata isu ini membuktikan ‘lakonan’ Pakatan Rakyat yang kononnya menyokong antara satu sama lain terserlah.

Sekaligus dapat meyakinkan rakyat bahawa Pakatan memang tidak layak mentadbir kerajaan Persekutuan.

“Akhirnya kebenaran terserlah. PAS mahukan Hadi sebagai Presiden pada masa yang sama DAP dan PKR mahukan orang lain.

“Ini cukup membuktikan mereka memang tak layak mentadbir kerajaan,” katanya.

Wakil Dewan Ulama PAS Pusat Hairun Nizam Mat Hussain dalam Muktamar PAS ke-58 minggu lalu membuat usul tersebut dan kemudiannya disambut baik oleh Hadi sendiri.

Cadangan Hairun Nizam itu susulan kenyataan Penasihat DAP, Lim Kit Siang pada ceramah Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat sebelum itu yang menyatakan Anwar sebagai calon paling layak menerajui kepimpinan negara.

More dirt revealed on ‘violent’ 6P agents

New allegations of fraud have surfaced against a government-appointed '6P agent' company which was previously accused of exploiting and physically abusing foreign workers

PETALING JAYA: More incriminating evidence has surfaced about a local company appointed by the government as an agent under the 6P amnesty programme, weeks after the same outfit was exposed in CCTV footages to have allegedly assaulted several foreign workers.

Investigations by the Selangor Anti-Human Trafficking Council (Mapmas) together with FMT have revealed that the company, SNT Universal Corporation Sdn Bhd, may have acted beyond its supposed duties of registering foreign labour to have deceived, not only the foreign workers, but also the authorities.

The deception, according to Mapmas task force member and activist Abdul Aziz Ismail, involved the setting up of more than a dozen companies which act as “bogus employers”.

These “bogus employers”, he explained, were companies with no proper business infrastructure, and were formed for the sole purpose of obtaining fraudulent work permits for foreign workers under the 6P programme.

FMT saw documents, including several company searches from Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), which showed that the same few individuals who ran and owned SNT Universal Corporation were behind at least 10 other companies. Most of them were set up between 2011 and 2012.

Among the same owners and directors, one of the recurring names in these companies was that of one “Md. Shahidul Islam”, supposedly of a Bangladeshi man called “Babul”.

He was the same man who was named in a police report in regard to the previous cheating and assault case.

(Authorities have yet to explain why a foreigner is able to run a 6P “management” company, which is prohibited by the Home Ministry under the 6P programme.)

“Basically, the same people have more than a dozen companies. These are quite simply what we term as bogus employers. These are companies that, in reality, don’t really need workers. Instead, they are formed just to victimise them,” said Abdul Aziz.

He said that from the hundreds of foreign workers he spoke to who have been enlisted in these same companies, the same “bogus employers” are supposedly involved in a variety of businesses, including property and construction, agriculture and plantation, services, and factory.

“But from my checks on these companies, both at the SSM and local authorities, none of them are actually involved in these businesses. They neither have the proper audited report, or the licences for these respective industries,” alleged Abdul Aziz.

He said with the absence of those audited reports and licences, the companies do not qualify the requirements set by the Home Ministry as a proper employers.

“It is also very strange that the same set of individuals and proxies are running so many kinds of businesses, don’t you think?”

“That is because they are setting up all these companies with the sole objective of obtaining these fake permits for these foreign workers. When the workers are being arrested for not having the proper documents, they force them to pay RM1,000 to RM2,000 so that they can help them settle, because they are the ones holding their passports. They basically hold these workers at ransom,” he said.

A check on a previously publicly available list of government-appointed 6P agents found SNT Universal Corporation to be on the list.

Inside help

Meanwhile, a 6P agent familiar with the processes told FMT that given the facts of this case, the company in question would most likely need a “jalan” or inside help from government authorities for their supposed modus operandi to work.

“The criteria the government has are supposedly quite strict. Appointed 6P agent cannot be foreigners themselves,” the source said.

“And as for employers, they should have the yearly audited reports. If they are really registering workers with these companies, it must have gone through back-door approvals. These are one of the scams that has been going. These are the rentseekers.”

(Under the 6P programme, illegal foreign workers will either be legalised or deported without punishment. The six Ps represent the Malay words for registration, legalisation, amnesty, monitoring, enforcement and deportation. Some 330 companies have been appointed to assist in the registration process.)

On Nov 5, FMT reported about two CCTV videos showing Bangladeshi workers being slapped and attacked by those allegedly from SNT Universal Corporation, based in Taman Maluri, Cheras.

The videos, exposed by Mapmas with the help of a whistleblower, showed victims who are allegedly part of a bigger group of some 200 who were cheated by the same company.

A police report was lodged over the matter. It was understood that police have picked up several individuals to assist investigations into the case.

Pix courtesy of Abdul Aziz Ismail

Calls mount to scrap ASEAN human rights plan

(Al Jazeera) Ten Southeast Asian nations are set to sign a declaration critics say will degrade, not protect, human rights.

ASEAN's 10 member states are home to about 600 million people across Southeast Asia [Reuters]

Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will sign the group’s first-ever declaration on human rights on Sunday with a clear statement on the supremacy of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in an attempt to ease concerns that their own document falls short of international standards.

Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told Al Jazeera that there would be no delay and that the Phnom Penh Statement would include a “very clear assertion” that the implementation of the Asean declaration will be in accord with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

“If we were now to doubt and decide to delay there’s no guarantee that it will ever come back,” he said on Saturday. “We have to seize the moment.”

In a grouping that includes the Communist governments of Vietnam and Laos, as well as the monarchy of Brunei and the more vibrant democracies of Indonesia and the Philippines, it has taken years of sometimes tense negotiation for ASEAN to get this far. The commissioners who helped draft the document insist the declaration should be seen as a starting point, rather than an end in itself.

'Good start'

”Some countries are conservative, some are more liberal so we have to come to a melting pot of all these diversities,” said Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Malaysia’s Commissioner to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. ”It’s a good start. From here you can only go upwards.”

The United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights, Navi Pillay, as well as groups such as Amnesty International, have called on ASEAN to delay the adoption of the document.

The main point of contention is the declaration’s General Principles. The draft hasn’t been published officially but a copy obtained by Al Jazeera shows that these principles would require that human rights and freedoms be “balanced with the performance of duties” and be subject not only to regional and national “context” but limited on a variety of grounds including “national security”, “public order” and “public morality”.

“We are very disappointed and actually, outraged, that such standards are being adopted,” said Yap Swee Seng, Executive Director of the Bangkok-based Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development. “If ASEAN adopts the declaration, the credibility and reputation of ASEAN will be dented in the eyes of the international community.”

Cambodia, the group’s current chair, is battling accusations of deepening human rights abuses including the forced eviction of people from their land. In the run up to the summit, it tried to close down a series of workshops and discussions arranged by regional and local NGOs.

Organisers say they were forced to cut short events after venue owners were intimidated and hundreds of participants found themselves ordered out of the Phnom Penh guesthouses where they were staying. They were allowed, however, to hold a peaceful rally outside Cambodia’s National Assembly, although riot police kept watch.

'Living document'

The process of drafting the text has been left mostly to the ten AICHR commissioners, most of them government appointees. The Commissioners say that discussions were held at the national level although there were only two regional consultations with civil society groups: one in Kuala Lumpur in June and another in Manila in September.

The UN’s Pillay says the process would have benefited from being more open.

“This is not the hallmark of the democratic global governance to which ASEAN aspires, and it will only serve to undermine the respect and ownership that such an important declaration deserves,” she said in a statement.

Lesbian and gay groups, in particular, are concerned about the adoption of the declaration. Sexual orientation has long been a flash point in Southeast Asia. Many worry the text, if adopted in its current form, will give the authorities a further pretext to crackdown.

Last year, Malaysia banned Seksualiti Merdeka, even though the annual event to celebrate the rights of people of different sexual orientations and gender identities had been held without incident since 2008. Ruling party politicians and religious leaders claimed the event would have “negative” effects and help spread HIV/AIDS. The group was labelled “deviant” and “against the norms and lifestyle” of Malaysians.

Pang Khee Teik, co-founder of Seksualiti Merdeka who is now studying in London, isn’t surprised at the way the draft has turned out. It was like, “having to dance with the devil, with the devil dictating the moves,” he said. “From the outset the prospects didn’t look very optimistic.”

But Indonesia’s Commissioner, Rafendi Djamin, insists the declaration will be a document to which governments can be held accountable.

“If you don’t have anything then you cannot hold them to anything,” he said, “It’s a living document and that means it can be improved.”
Source:
Al Jazeera

PM Abdullah urges Islamic teachers to be more understanding

(Channel News Asia, 2007) - Mr Abdullah says: "This is not something that cannot be done. It has happened before. Those who have decided to leave the religion for some reason, they don't want to be Muslims anymore, what can you do? If they want to leave the religion, what are you going to do?"

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has called on the country's religious departments to listen to the problems raised by those wanting to renounce Islam and find a solution for them.

He was speaking to reporters after opening an Islamic conference in Putrajaya on Monday.

The Malaysian leader has urged Islamic teachers to be more understanding and provide a listening ear to those who want to leave the religion.

He made this point when speaking to reporters after opening an Islamic conference in Putrajaya.

Mr Abdullah says: "I have always said to the religious officers that they must listen to what their grouses are. Is it that they are disappointed with certain things that happened and because of that they want to leave the religion of Islam?"

Asked about the growing number of religious disputes dominating news headlines, he clarified that Muslims can leave the religion but they must first bring the matter to the state religious authorities.

Mr Abdullah says: "This is not something that cannot be done. It has happened before. Those who have decided to leave the religion for some reason, they don't want to be Muslims anymore, what can you do? If they want to leave the religion, what are you going to do?"

But he stressed that religious officers must offer counselling and find out what was behind the intention to renounce Islam.

Under Malaysia's Syariah law, it is the duty of religious authorities to determine whether a Muslim should be allowed to leave the religion or not.

Just last week, a 29-year-old Indian woman, who wanted to renounce Islam, was released from a rehabilitation centre run by the state's Islamic religious authorities.

Revathi, also known as Siti Fatimah, was born to Hindu parents who later converted to Islam.

She was separated from her Hindu husband and 18-month-old daughter for six months and claimed to have been ill-treated.

She says: "It was a waste of time. I was detained and tortured in there. I was separated from my husband and my child. I am not satisfied at all!"

Since she's out of the rehabilitation centre, the civil court has decided that it has no jurisdiction to hear her plight given she is no longer under any form of actual detention.

Revathi's fate now lies with the Syariah court.

Revathi is known as the Indian Lina Joy.

Lina Joy, who was born a Malay Muslim, earlier failed in her bid to renounce Islam and be officially recognised as a Christian, despite appealing to the country's highest court.

Their cases have attracted much public sympathy in Malaysia's multi-racial and multi-religious society.

THE PROJEK DIALOG DECLARATION ON NATIONAL SOLIDARITY: “SAY NO TO RACISM!”

By Haris Ibrahim
I am signatory No. 62 to this well-thought out and crafted petition that deserves our fullest support.
______________________________
“… acknowledging that despite the real differences that may stand between Malaysia’s many cultures, the values of peace, tolerance, understanding, appreciation and recognition of each other’s way of life is a necessary first step to attain the larger goal of making Malaysia a truly flourishing democracy.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, demand an end to racism in Malaysia via the following…”
Go HERE to read the petition in full and I hope you will lend your signature and support to the same.

The inexorable pursuit of an Islamic State

Esok 20 November 2012,Jam 9.00 pagi, Mahkamah Tinggi Jalan Duta Kuala Lumpur,Tingkat 3 akan mendengar Kes Saman Fitnah yang di failkan Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim terhadap Ketua Pemuda Umno Khairy Jamaludin. Saman tersebut berhubung satu ceramah Ketua Pemuda Umno semasa Pilihanraya

The inexorable pursuit of an Islamic State

NOV 18 — If there is anything unmistakably clear from the recent muktamar or general assembly of the Islamic Party of Malaysia — PAS — is that despite the acceptance of the concept of tahalluf siyasi or political consensus among the three major components of the opposition front — Pakatan Rakyat — PAS’ ambition in establishing an Islamic State and implementing hudud laws is unwavering, if not more resolute.

It appears rather incongruous that despite the acceptance of Buku Jingga or Orange Book as a comprehensive framework of the opposition front on how to govern the country when they come to power, PAS seems to have a higher agenda — to transform the multiracial and multi-religious country into a full-fledged Islamic state with Islamic laws.

Islamic laws and hudud were never mentioned in Buku Jingga and neither was the establishment of Islamic State. PAS even came out with its own manifesto “Nation of Care and Opportunity”. However this concept of a benevolent state is not well received by many PAS members themselves. Reason being, the so-called Erdoganists in PAS mainly mooted it. Recent spate of debate about the concept of Islamist Democrat — a term popularised by the Erdoganists — between the ulama faction and the young Turks clearly proved that they are considered contaminants in the “pure and pristine” PAS struggle.

The changing trend

While PAS has been in existent since 1951, it has remarkably shown to be very consistent in its struggle ever since, no matter how insensible it could have been to many. PAS has tried to restore Islam’s place as a central reference point for all social, cultural, economic and political life in Muslim society. In the words of Bobby Said in his book “A Fundamental Fear: Eurocentrism and the Emergence of Islamism”, he said: Islamism is a project that attempts to transform Islam from a nodal point in the discourse of Muslim communities to a master signifier. In particular, the Islamist project is an attempt to make Islam the master signifier of the political order.

However this project of political Islam has taken a new turn after what is known as the Arab Spring or the Arab Awakening. The discourse now is not about establishing an Islamic State or implementing hudud laws. The aspiration now is to nurture pious Muslims within a democratic polity. Rachid Ghannouchi, leader of en-Nahdha in Tunisia has categorically rejected Islamic State in favour of parliamentary democracy. His party en-Nahdhah is committed to social justice, multiparty democracy and religious pluralism.

A Professor of Sociology at the University of Illinois, Asef Bayat termed this shift as post-Islamism. There was a clear shift from the age-old slogan of al-Islam huwa al-hal — Islam is the solution to all problems — to a more practical approach and solution.

As put forward by Rachid Ghannouchi in interpreting the saying of the Prophet: “You are the best people to know what is beneficial for you in your worldly affairs” meaning to say that it is not the duty of religion to teach us agriculture, industrial or even governing techniques. Reason is qualified to teach this truth through the accumulation of experiences. The role of religion, however, is to answer the big question for us, those relating to our existence, origins, destiny and the purpose for which we were created. It is to provide us with a system of values and principles that would guide our thinking, behavior and the regulation of the state to which we aspire.

Same old rhetoric

For those who followed closely the recent Muktamar, it is evident that PAS is still trapped in the age-old agenda. Implementing hudud laws still remain a priority in its struggle. Obviously this is a clear contradiction to the mutually agreed Buku Jingga. Whether they are aware of the repercussion or not, it definitely provides ammunition to the ruling party that PAS has an ulterior motive to change this country into an Islamic State.

The patronising speech by Head of Dewan Ulama or the Religious Council in saying in a jest that hudud will create more job opportunities since training is needed in order to chop off hands and that training is also needed for caning of alcohol drinkers only showed that they are not serious about the current economic problems faced by the nation. It is as though by simply implementing hudud, all the economic woes and social ills of the society will be solved.

Nothing serious was discussed about the idea of nation of care and opportunity. PAS seems to have lost interest in pursuing the welfare state agenda. The main tone that vibrates especially among the Islamic scholars was nothing more than hudud and their unyielding push for this agenda and not in the least worried about going public about it.

Little Napoleons

One of the most worrying trends during the Muktamar is the voices of little Napoleons who tried to silence Harakah and the online Harakahdaily who had been accused to give more space to progressive figures in PAS and sidelining conservative forces.

Harakah is accused to have strayed away from its original intent and aspiration of PAS. Such an act would have been seen by many who understand freedom of the press as stifling with the most fundamental foundation of freedom of speech.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression: this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.

Now this act by the little Napoleons only showed how much they understand and respect human rights and what the future may hold if they come to power. There will not be any room left for dissension and differing opinions than what is being held by them.

The political reality

Perhaps the most important thing that PAS should appreciate and understand is that the appeal for hudud and Islamic State is not there anymore in the post-Islamism period. PAS should not misunderstand the votes they received as amounting to the support for their Islamic agenda.

More than a hundred thousand went to the street for demonstration during Bersih 3.0 recently. The demand was not to implement hudud or establishing an Islamic state. People of various races and religions from all walks of life marched together for a better democracy. They wanted a clean and fair election and a government free of corruption. It was an act of defiance to the draconian and unconstitutional Act that prevented people from any peaceful assembly.

It must be heard loud and clear that the people want a truly democratic state. Not a state ruled by a group of Mullahs who considered themselves to be above the law. The precedent was already set when one state under PAS passed an enactment that a fatwa or religious verdict from a Mufti cannot be challenged in the court of law.

It has to be understood that the state is not something from God but from the people. The state has to serve the benefit of the people and not just a certain group based on their faith. The state has to be neutral in all aspects. It must also be made clear that a state is a human product and managing a state requires human endeavor and not divine inspiration. The governance of a state falls under the realm of political and is not in the realm of revelation.

Any observance of religious values must never be through coercion. A state should respect personal beliefs and moral values and not imposed itself on its citizens. Unfortunately, the current situation in states under PAS rule failed to prevent this obtrusion of the state into private sphere. A state should not dictate how we should wear in public as this falls under personal affairs. However to regulate how women should dress seemed to be the first agenda under many Islamic governments; PAS not excluded.

Matters of the heart such as faith should be left to individuals. It is not the state to meddle in matters of the heart. There is no value in observing a faith that was made through coercion. Coercing people to believe in a faith they have no believe anymore through state’s coercive tools only turn them into hypocrites. People are created free and any effort of the state to coerce people from embracing or leaving a faith is worthless and futile.

The road forward

As a concluding remark, it must be re-emphasised that Islam in one way or another has always influenced a state under Muslim rule throughout history. Islam has not known a separation between state and religion in the sense of excluding religion altogether from public life. However a clear demarcation must be made between what belongs to the realm of ad-deeni or religious and those that fall under as-siyasi or political.

Great Islamic jurists like ash-Shatibi and Ibnu Ashur have agreed that the highest objective of all divine messages is to establish justice and attaining maslahah by realizing people’s interest. The pursuit of justice and public interest is done merely through the exercise of reason. And religion only provides values and guidelines in this pursuit.

Hence it is wrong to envisage that governing a state must follow a fixed manual and that manual is none other than the Qur’an. The domain of state governance falls under as-siyasi — the political — that will require human intellect to establish justice and equality.

Thus justice cannot be achieved unless human rights are secured for every individual and group in this country. And primary among human rights are rights to belief and to express one’s belief.

In a country that has achieved independence since 1957, the sovereign nation was founded upon the principles of justice and freedom as stated in the Declaration of Independence. Unfortunately, the principles of justice and freedom were forgotten and the provisions of fundamental liberties enshrined in the constitution were progressively compromised and eroded by the ruling elite.

Our aim now is to recover the lost hope, of justice and freedom, and not to turn this country into another repressive state that claims to rule with a mandate from God. — New Mandala

* Dr. Ahmad Farouk Musa is a director at Islamic Renaissance Front.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

9/11 The Worst Man-made Disaster, Says Mahathir

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today laid bare the repercussions of the 9/11 attacks on America, labelling it as the worst man-made disaster for the world since the end of the last World War in 1945.

He said the events of 9/11 had resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and Afghans as well as a few thousand American and British soldiers, besides causing devastation to two Muslim countries .

"It has divided the world into Muslim and non-Muslim, and sowed the seeds of suspicion and hatred between them," he said, adding that it had also undermined the security of nations which had to spend trillions of dollars on security measures.

"Yet the threat remains, not so much from alleged terrorists as from the powerful states and their crusade to change the world," Dr Mahathir said in his speech at the international conference on '9/11 Revisited - Seeking the Truth', here, Monday.

The Malaysian statesman said it was important to seek the truth behind 9/11 "because when the truth is revealed, then we can really prepare to protect and secure ourselves".

Sharing his views on the aerial attacks on America on Sept 11, 2001, which, among others, destroyed the iconic Twin Towers in New York, Dr Mahathir pointed out that the attacks involved very complex elements which needed detailed planning, precise timing and disciplined execution.

China-Malaysia Trade Set For Further Expansion

From Jamaluddin Muhammad

PHNOM PENH, Nov 19 (Bernama) - The China-Malaysia bilateral trade is set to expand further, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said the use of local currencies for trade between both countries would also help lead to this expansion.

China expressed such optimism when Najib held a bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, here, last night, at the invitation of the latter on the sidelines of the 21st Asean Summit.

Due to Najib's tight schedule at the Asean Summit and bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event Sunday, as well as related summits Monday, he only managed to hold a 10-minute press conference before rushing off to another back-to-back engagement.

Total trade between China and Malaysia amounted to US$54.5 billion in 2011 and rose by 10.5 per cent to US$38.1 billion between January and August this year compared to the corresponding period in 2011.

Najib said China had been Malaysia's largest trading partner since 2009.

"China is now Malaysia's largest export market (US$29.8 billion) and source of imports (US$24.7 billion)," he added.

Malaysia's major exports are electrical and electronics products, palm oil, and chemicals, while major imports are electrical and electronics products, machinery, chemicals, appliances and parts.

In steering economic ties between China and Malaysia to greater heights over the next five years, Najib said both countries were finalising a Five-Year Economic Cooperation Plan covering the period 2013 and 2017.

"China is expected to submit the consolidated draft plan within the next few weeks for Malaysia's consideration," he said.

He said the areas of cooperation cover agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing, industry, investment, services, wholesale, retail, mineral resources, industrial park and export processing zone, logistics and sanitary.

He said Wen was confident that the new Chinese leadership, expected to take over in March next year, would continue to pay special attention to strengthening economic cooperation with Malaysia.

Najib said both countries were actively working towards the full implementation of the two iconic industrial parks - the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park (QIP) in China and the Kuantan Industrial Park (KIP) in Malaysia.

A Malaysia-China joint venture (JV) company has been established with an initial paid up capital of US$300 million in developing the QIP which was officiated by both Wen and Najib in China last April.

The Malaysian government, Najib said, would continue to encourage Malaysian companies led by Rimbunan Hijau and SP Setia to actively participate in this project.

He said the KIP would be officially launched in the first quarter of next year.

The KIP is a JV between Malaysia and China with an equity structure of 51 per cent for the Malaysian consortium and 49 per cent allocated for the PRC JV Consortium.

He said both leaders were also pleased with the state of bilateral relations which transcends official cooperation.

"Premier Wen stated that China-Malaysia relations is at the forefront of China-Asean relations," he added.

Asked about the South China Sea issue, Najib reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to peaceful solution, and reiterated that it should not be an obstacle for cooperation in other fields.

China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia are involved in the territorial claim on parts of the sea.

Najib also met Oknha Othsman, a Cambodian Muslim leader who is an advisor to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Muslim affairs, here Sunday night.

Oknha expressed appreciation over Malaysia's assistance on religious matters and hoped it could be extended to education as well, in helping the Malay Champa community, who speak Bahasa Melayu.

Najib said the Malaysian government would consider the request for assistance in developing the country's Islamic Centre, here.

Touching on the Asean Plus Three Commemorative Summit today, Najib proposed that the Asean Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve, include other food, apart from rice.

"We hope the food production could be further increased through the use of innovation technique and technology," he said.

Asean Plus Three is a cooperation agreement between Asean's 10-member countries and the three dialogue partners, namely China, Japan and South Korea.

Apart from the Asean Plus Three Summit, Najib today attended 15th Asean-Japan Summit, 15th Asean-Republic of Korea Summit, 10th Asean-India Summit, 15th Asean-China Summit and later the 4th Asean-US Leaders' Meeting, at the Peace Palace, here.

United States President Barack Obama will be attending the 4th Asean-US Leaders' Meeting.

Najib and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, also paid tribute to the late Cambodian King-Father Norodom Sihanouk at the Royal Palace.

Najib and Rosmah are scheduled to attend the Gala Dinner to be hosted by Hun Sen and his wife Monday.

Electrician now has to serve jail term for statutory rape

The Star
by SIMREN KAUR

GEORGE TOWN: An electrician, who was bound over on a good behaviour bond for statutory rape in August, has been ordered to serve a jail term upon appeal.

High Court judge Datuk Seri Zakaria Sam on Monday ordered Chuah Guan Jiu, 22, to serve five and a half years jail for raping a minor.

Zakaria said that consent is irrelevant in statutory rape and set aside the RM25,000 good behavior bond for three years by the Sessions court in August.

On July 20, the court found Chuah guilty of raping the girl, then aged 12 years and 10 months, at his flat in Air Itam between 7am and 1pm on July 18 last year, and between 2.25pm and 2.45pm the next day.

The offence under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code carries a maximum jail sentence of 20 years and whipping.

The sentencing was criticised as it came in the wake of the case of former national youth squad bowler Noor Afizal Azizan who was also bound over for good behaviour for five years after he pleaded guilty to the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl.

There was public uproar on Aug 8 when the Court of Appeal allowed Noor Afizal's appeal against a High Court's decision to sentence him to five years jail for the offence.

Hadi for PM? Here’s what he really said …

The Star has been going to town with Pas president Hadi Awang’s purported ambition to become Prime Minister. So I contacted Pas central working committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad to find out what was happening.

Listen from 50:45


It is not difficult to understand why The Star is playing this up. The MCA paper obviously wants to unnerve those who might be concerned about Pas leading a new federal government.

Dzul sizes up what Hadi really meant. “I was there when he touched on the subject,” says Dzul, “and I was listening carefully to every word he said.”

“When Hadi welcomed the proposal by the ulama wing chief, he was talking in jest in a cynical way.

“Hadi immediately added, if Islam was upheld, he would be willing to die the next day.

Dzul says Hadi followed it with an anecdote about the perils of being overly ambitious and counting (fish) eggs before they are hatched.

Apparently Kedah MB Azizan had invited Hadi for a fishing trip. Before they could go on the fishing trip, he discussed all kinds of mouth-watering fish recipes with his wife. But as it turned out, the catch was dismal, and all those premature fantasies of a fish feast was just idle talk. (Kind of reminds you of the ambitions of the three Gerakan candidates for Penang Chief Minister ahead of the 2008 general election, doesn’t it?)

Immediately before the talk of the PM proposal, Hadi had been stressing the importance of making proper preparations for the coming election.

On 18 November, Harakahdaily had reported:

Nov 18: PAS president Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang said vying for positions should be the last thing on the minds of those who struggle for Islam. Responding to some delegates who argued that Hadi should be the prime minister should Pakatan Rakyat win the next election, he brushed it aside saying it was not part of his wish list.

Hadi reiterated that the focus now was for PAS and Pakatan Rakyat to occupy the Federal seat after the 13th general election, and not who should be the prime minister.

“As someone trained in the Islamic mould, I cannot ask to be a leader, leadership is a huge trust and a big responsibility.

“What is important is that we step into Putrajaya. The prime minister will be from among those who qualify, who can unite and uphold justice to the people,” he said.

Hadi again expressed his intention to return to his life as fisherman. “At least, I can teach (Islam) to people,” he said….