Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Social Political Buzz & Bulls

The Effing Show #75 The People Versus Erykah Badu

http://2020k.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/erykah-badu2.jpg

It's not easy being Malaysian, constantly having to balance our love for God with our love for Lady Gaga and Erykah Badu, for Michael Jackson's crotch grab and Mariah Carey's boobies. And boy it sure is hard. Our faith constantly being challenged. Our eternal souls constantly being tested.

Those Western kaffirs and their pervasive culture is just so damn tempting. Just look at Adam Lambert. That boy lets a little nip slip, and we just want to collectively take our pants off and bend over.

So what do we do? How do we solve this problem and save our souls? Fear not faithful Malaysians, for our very own DSU Rais Yatim has the solution. It isn't new and neither is it unique. But it sure is simple.

Ban it. Burn it. Pretend it isn't there. Close your eyes, put your hands over your ears and shout "LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA" at the top of your lungs. Go on. Do it. How's that working out for you?

Watch at: http://www.popteevee.net/?e=1166

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The Curious Case of Erykah Badu

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Erykah_Badu_cs.jpg

Curious that the Minister of Information whose portfolio also includes multimedia communications did not take the trouble to find out more about the singer.

Stephen Doss

 

There were some people who were not happy with Erykah Badu's decision to wear a niqab on stage at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards. The niqab covers the face and is worn by some Muslim women.

In Malaysia, Erykah Badu's concert scheduled to be held last Wednesday at the KL Convention Centre was banned. The Minister of Information announced on the eve of the concert that it could not proceed because a promotional photo of Badu with the Arabic word for Allah painted on her bare shoulders was "an insult to Islam."

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said he had proposed the cancellation of the concert from the aspect of security and importance of giving respect to religion, race and the socio-culture prevailing in Malaysia.

"If the concert had gone ahead, according to the police, there would have been a possibility of it developing into a situation that may lead to social excitement. It could lead to quarrels due to the religious sensitivities, like what had happened in other places in the world". "The strong grounds in terms of the integrity of the religion, race and the Government itself had to be taken into consideration besides security factors," he said.

He said the artiste's move to inscribe the word "Allah" in Arabic on her body and not cover it up was an insult to Islam and was a serious matter. The Minister seemed to have reacted to a picture of Badu with the Arabic word Allah painted on her shoulder appearing in a local daily. It appears the Minister made his decision solely from looking at the picture.

We now know that the said picture was an old picture taken from a photoshoot of a body art referencing "The Painted Lady", a character from the 1973 surrealist film The Holy Mountain by Chilean-French filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky. In the film, "The Painted Lady" was a character who had various names of God etched on her skin.


BADU HAS SINCE POINTED OUT THAT SHE HAS NO TATTOOS.

Unfortunate that the information wa! s not av ailable to the Minister of Information who chose to act without adequate information.

Curious that the Minister had not chosen to meet with the organizers or the singer who was present in Malaysia at the time, citing his busy work schedule.

Curious that the Minister chose to punish the organizers of the event, the singer and her Malaysian fans when it was not their fault that the local daily decided to use an old picture totally unrelated to her concert in Malaysia.

Curious that the Minister of Information whose portfolio also includes multimedia communications did not take the trouble to find out more about the singer, what she stands for, the content of her music, etc. In fact if he or his officers had only taken the trouble to Google, they would have found out the following;
Erica Abi Wright born February 26, 1971, better known by her stage name Erykah Badu is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, activist and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical stylings and sense of fashion. She is known as the "First Lady of Neo-Soul" or the "Queen of Neo-Soul".

Badu's style is a prime illustration of Neo-Soul in that it focuses on the contemporary styles of the genres soul and hip hop and it sends out a deeper message as opposed to common R&B music. The songs in Badu's album, "Baduizm" exemplifies her personal take on life. Her philosophy features ideologies from African influences, with fusions from the Nation of Islam and the Five Percent theologies, the complex views of the ancient Egyptians, and Southern African-American folk traditions. The majority of Badu's music is greatly influenced by her beliefs of the Nation of Islam and her African roots and heritage.

Badu also remains an activi! st in he r hometown of South Dallas. Her charity organization, Beautiful Love Incorporated Non Profit Development (B.L.I.N.D. 501c3), provides community-driven development for inner-city youth through music, dance, theater and visual arts.

In the publication VegNews Magazine, July–August 2008, Ms. Badu stated: "Vegan food is soul food in its truest form. Soul food means to feed the soul. And to me, your soul is your intent. If your intent is pure, you are pure."

I can only pray that the intentions of the people who made the decision to cancel the concert were as pure as they claim it to be. As Erykah Badu herself has said she is well aware that there is an election around the corner.

Curious that Pakatan Rakyat politicians who are usually quick to come to the defense of those who have not be given a fair hearing chose to remain silent, worse when the Wanita Wing of Parti Keadilan Rakyat and PAS have chosen to support the ban. I assume based on the same old picture of Erykah Badu. Clearly they have a long way to go from being the alternative they claim to be.

Erykah Badu has since left Malaysia to perform for a jazz festival in Indonesia the world's most populous Muslim majority nation.

When asked if she would return to perform in Malaysia if the opportunity presented itself, she said: "I have faith in people's ability to evolve. That's why I do what I do.".

Stephen Doss is a social activist and can be reached on twitter at @stephendoss


(This article was initially written for my column in The Malay Mail but was axed as the paper didn't want to run foul of the Ministry belonging to Rais Yatim)

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NFC : Rafizi dan Zuraida saman balas Shahrizat...


KEADILAN mengemukakan saman balas terhadap Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil berhubung penyelewengan dana awam berjumlah RM250 juta dalam skandal National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp).

Saman difailkan oleh Pengarah Strategi KEADILAN, Mohd Rafizi Ramli dan Ketua Wanita KEADILAN, Zuraida Kamaruddin(gambar di atas) di Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini.

"Demi kepentingan nasional dan setelah berbincang dengan peguam-peguam, saya mengambil keputusan untuk mengemukakan saman balas kepada Datuk Seri Shahrizat atas kata-kata berbaur fitnah yang diucapkan di dalam ucapan pembukaan beliau pada Perhimpunan Agung Wanita Umno pada 30 November tahun lalu.

"Saman balas ini memberi ruang kepada saya untuk memastikan bahawa kes NFC ini akan terus dibawa ke mahkamah dan dokumen-dokumen penting dapat dikemukakan di mahkamah bagi pengetahuan umum," kata Rafizi pada sidang media di Pejabat KEADILAN, di Petaling Jaya hari ini.


Rafizi berkata, tindakan saman balas itu diambil kerana khuatir Shahrizat akan menarik balik saman tersebut.

"Saya khuatir  pihak plaintif mungkin mengambil keputusan untuk melengah-lengahkan perbicaraan ini atau menarik balik saman dalam masa terdekat untuk mengelakkan dokumen-dokumen penting dan pimpinan tertinggi Barisan Nasional diheret ke mahkamah memberi keterangan," katanya.

Sebelum ini, Shahrizat memfailkan saman fitnah sebanyak RM100 juta terhadap Rafizi dan Zuraida berhubung isu yang sama.

Sementara itu, Rafizi berkata, beliau dan Zuraida sudahpun memfailkan pembelaan berhubung saman berkenaan di Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur pada pagi tadi.

Kertas pembelaan itu turut dihantar ke peguam Shafee&C! o yang m ewakili Shahrizat.

Pada sidang media Rabu lalu, Zuraida berkata Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dan Datuk Seri Noh Omar dicadangkan sebagai antara saksi penting dalam kes saman itu.

Ini kerana katanya, Najib ialah individu yang meluluskan projek itu yang diklasifikasikan sebagai projek berimpak tinggi, manakala Muhyiddin ialah Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani semasa projek berkaitan Lembu itu diluluskan.


Sementera Noh Omar ialah Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani ketika ini di mana beliau turut didakwa memberi kenyataan mengelirukan berhubung skandal itu.-keadilandaily


 


Rafizi, Zuraida counter-sue Shahrizat Abdul Jalil...

PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli and the party's Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin this morning filed a counter-suit against cabinet minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.


NONESpeaking at a press conference today, Rafizi said the move was to ensure that information on abuse of power pertaining to the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) is exposed in open court.

"I fear the plaintiff may want to delay the trial or withdraw the lawsuit soon to avoid dragging important documents and the top BN leadership into court," he said.


Rafizi and Zuraida also today submi! tted the ir defence in reply to the slander suit filed against them by the women, family and community development minister, and the papers were sent to Shahrizat's counsel Muhammad Shafee and Co this afternoon.


In her suit, Shahrizat says she was slandered by Rafizi and Zuraida during their exposes on the embattled NFC, which is owned by Shahrizat's husband and three children.


According to Rafizi, the counter-suit against Shahrizat, which was filed in the Kuala Lumpur High Court this morning, relates to "slander in her (Shahrizat's) opening address at the Wanita Umno Assembly" on Nov 30, 2011.


"Shahrizat and the BN leadership can no longer avoid facing the people on this matter.


"The PM and BN top leaders may not be serious in bringing those responsible in the NFC scandal to book, but I'm sure the court will give space, so that such abuse can be made public," he added.
- malaysiakini


cheers.
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The Daim interview — Sakmongkol AK47

MARCH 9 — The Daim Zainuddin interview, carried by Utusan, China Press, Sun and maybe others which I have not read, was lapped up as life-changing phenomena and a just-in-time reprieve for BN. This attitude was a far cry from the treatment Daim got when he gave his predictions on the 2008 elections. Then he was assailed in the most denigrating terms — a past shelf-life politician, irrelevant, even senile.

So recently, when Daim consented to be interviewed — I presumed on the 9th floor of his office somewhere in KL — the interview, as with the man, was treated worshipfully. It's like the BN was waiting for the great witchdoctor or great shaman to come out with something uplifting.

So Daim did the customary thing. He cut up a chicken and let the entrails splatter on the floor below the office building. He owns the building anyway. His faithful Mei Chuan would then have to ask the workers below to clean up the mess. Daim would be cursing because then he would have to pay overtime to the workers below.

The entrails quickly formed a pattern for the reporters to see. As to the question whether Najib did right over his transformation plans, Najib got an A++. On whether Selangor can be captured, the entrails said possible because so many Cambodians, usually residing in Pekan, had their addresses transplanted in Selangor and were given immediate ICs. The entrails also revealed some many caveats and preconditions to whatever questions the reporters posed. But these, like in all previous interviews, were largely ignored. They wanted to hear only nice things.

Here is the thing. The reporters get to see Daim, maybe once a year. They don't have the feel on Daim's thinking. If readers remember, a few weeks ago, I wrote an article entitled "That Saturday with the Oracle". I get to see the Oracle on average once a month. The oracle is Daim's alter ego and what he says reflects what the Man is thinking.

What I am saying is it's stupid if the reporters spin what Daim said just from one annual interview. They can't detect his nuances, his thought flows and subtle messages.

I wrote the article with a specific purpose — to preempt whatever lies and spins that are going to be published by the MSM. So I quickly repeated what the Oracle said was Daim's thinking on the politics of east Malaysia. Why east Malaysia? Because the BN seems to be stuck with the idea that east Malaysia is its mother lode and a fixed deposit. They don't know that if the east Malaysians have their way, they would rather kick the ass of Semenanjung people out of Sabah and Sarawak.

So before the MSM do some blatant lies I repeat what Daim thinks is going to happen in east Malaysia. In Sarawak, the BN may lose up to 16 parliamentary seats and in Sabah up to 12. Both the great helmsmen in Sabah and Sarawak have grown weary of Najib's double-face dealing. The wife does her thing to mollycoddle Musa Aman, while Najib strokes Shapie Bedal Apdal. So Musa Aman is taking what Najib says at face value only and has come to realise that he can continue ruling Sabah even not on a BN ticket. He may be the very person behind the moves taken by Lajim Ukin.

In Sarawak, the great Pek Moh knows he absolutely doesn't need Umno to win the state. He proved that in the last elections by winning all the seats contested by his party, something which Umno cannot achieve. He knows full well he can win Sarawak on his own and here is the fearsome thing — as he can win Sarawak, he can also take his party out of BN. He has said privately — we will see who is going to retire first, referring to Najib's various very public and arm-twisting exhortations asking Taib Mahmud to go. — sakmongkol.blogspot.com

* Sakmongkol AK47 is the nom de plume of Datuk Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz. He was Pulau Manis assemblyman (2004-2008).

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

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The Imam's Magical Shoes


Lawyers urge review of jail term for shoe-throwing imam
By Shannon TeohThe Malaysian Insider | March 08, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, March — Lawyers stunned by the Federal Court's one-year jail sentence for contempt of court against an imam who threw his shoes at three senior judges have called for a review of the "excessive" punishment. 
The court decided this morning that Hoslan Hussin's "act of contempt was very serious" and "if no action is taken, can threaten the powers of the court" before meting out the jail tern that several lawyers told The Malaysian Insider was unprecedented for a case of contempt. 
"No, I have never seen such a heavy punishment. Even considering the need for a deterrent, I had expected a custodial sentence but no more than six weeks. Does the punishment really serve justice?" said senior lawyer Karpal Singh, who had pleaded in mitigation for Hoslan. 
Hoslan praying at the court building in Putrajaya before being sentenced to jail
for contempt March 8 2012. — Picture by Choo Choy May (The Malaysian Insider)
Human rights lawyer N. Surendran also said "the sentence is excessive and inappropriate". 
"The circumstances of this case required that justice should be tempered with mercy. This the Federal Court failed to do," the PKR vice president said. 
[Read the rest here.]
Imam Hoslan Hussin: denied his day in court since 1999


Remember Muntadhar al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist who enjoyed a brief burst of global fame and popularity in December 2008 for throwing his shoes at George W. Bush during a press conference?





Imam Hoslan Hussin may or may not have been inspired by Muntadhar's act of raw courage and pure passion, but his act of shoe-throwing was most certainly in the same heroic and noble spirit.

Just as George W. Bush symbolized the hypocrisy and arrogance of power unleashed against the powerless in the interest of greedy corporations and their lunatic desire to dominate the world - economically and militarily - the Malaysian Judiciary since 1988 has become emblematic of everything that has gone wrong in our once blessed and bountiful land.

Zaki Azmi, retired Chief Justice
recently awarded a highway project
The monolithic power of the state apparatus maintains itself through cowing the masses - whether through the sort of colossal architecture you will find in the Kremlin and Putrajaya, or through the threat of physical violence, outsourced to vigilante mobs like Perkasa, Pekida, Rela, and Mat Rempit on the Umno Youth payroll.

While those in the political opposition are constrained to operate within the framework of parliamentary debate - using their leverage to expose policy errors and serious wrongdoing - the proverbial man-in-the-street is confined to merely casting a vote every four or five years when a general election is called.

By casting his shoes at the bench of judges who had dismissed his case without due consideration or regard for the imam's growing sense of frustration with the ponderous, impersonal workings of so-called justice, Hoslan Hussin did the only thing possible to reclaim his dignity and sovereignty as a human individual.

Nobody, as far as I know, has ever been killed or even injured by a flying shoe. Indeed, if modern warfare consisted of  squadrons of planes dropping a million pairs of shoes on a deeply insulted populace, the only casualty would be the local shoe industry - notwithstanding the hypothetical possibility that somebody gawping at the sight of shoes raining down from the skies might find himself with a set of fractured dentures, should one of these missiles land directly in his mouth.




In any case, if someone was extremely angry with me, I would much rather he or she lob a shoe at me - than a rock, for instance, or an empty bottle or a grenade. I would view this act of hostility as extremely negative feedback. Obviously, I must have said or done something to deeply hurt or annoy my assailant. It would present an opportunity to make amends by quietly returning the attacker's footwear with a sincere apology and a renewed effort to resolve the issue amicably.

What the Malaysian judiciary has done, in this instance, is utterly unpardonable. By imposing the harshest possible sentence on the imam - a one-year  imprisonment - they have only revealed their immaturity and vindictiveness. Those who sit in judgement of us, with their somber robes and deadpan expressions, were clearly handpicked for their jobs on account of their subservience to Mahathirist principles - essentially, might makes right.

I feel far more respect for the funky imam's shoes than any of the judges who have denied him justice. I'm sure many will support my suggestion that the imam's shoes be displayed in a glass case as a symbol of honorable resistance to injustice - and that Hoslan Hussin be declared a national hero for making such a bold statement on behalf of all justice-loving, but justice-denied, Malaysians.

As for the judges, their names and images deserve to be assigned to the ever-growing judicial Hall of Shame.
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Menyedarkan umat Islam dalam LGBT — Norazlita Mohd Sies

9 MAC — Perjuangan orang Melayu mestilah berpaksikan kepada agama Islam dan tidak sepatutnya memperjuangkan perkara yang bertentangan dengan ajaran Islam. Agak pelik apabila seorang Islam, yang mengakui dirinya Islam tetapi memperjuangkan perkara yang bertentangan 100 peratus dengan Islam.

Sedih memikirkan mentaliti anak-anak Melayu yang membelakangkan agama suci itu demi menurut peredaran zaman. Perasaan itu timbul ketika membuat liputan permohonan penganjur program Seksualiti Merdeka 2011 baru-baru ini di Mahkamah Tinggi (Bahagian Rayuan dan Kuasa-Kuasa Khas) di ibu negara.

Meskipun permohonan untuk mendapatkan kebenaran bagi semakan kehakiman telah ditolak, namun kelima-lima pemohon yang dua daripadanya beragama Islam tidak patah semangat sebaliknya mahu memanjangkan perjuangan mereka ke peringkat rayuan.

Pengamal undang-undang syariah, Datuk Mohd. Zaidi Mohd. Zain berpendapat, wujud budaya tidak sihat apabila orang Islam menyokong perjuangan golongan lesbian, gay, biseksual dan transgender (LGBT) untuk menjadikannya sebagai budaya hidup di negara ini. Ia bukan sahaja mencabar undang-undang negara bahkan hukum Islam.

''Mereka sepatutnya mengambil iktibar agar tidak mengulangi apa yang dilakukan oleh kaum Nabi Luth, yang menerima pembalasan maha dahsyat. Fitrah pembalasan Allah bukan sahaja terkena pada pelakunya tetapi juga kepada seluruh umat yang membiarkan perbuatan terkutuk itu bermaharajalela sehingga menjadi budaya hidup masyarakat pada zaman mereka.

''Tidak mustahil pembalasan yang sama akan menimpa kita jika bersekongkol dengan golongan terlaknat ini,'' ujar beliau.

Dari sudut perundangan syariah, jelas Mohd. Zaidi, sememangnya setiap negeri memperuntukkan undang-undang berhubung hukuman bagi mereka yang didapati bersalah melakukan hubungan seks luar tabii seperti yang dituntut oleh golongan ini.

Namun ia tidak sama dan tidak menyeluruh antara negeri selain hukumannya masih lagi ringan berbanding dengan kehendak syarak yang sebenarnya.

Sebagai contoh Enakmen 9, Enakmen Jenayah Syariah (Selangor) 1995, Seksyen 28 menyatakan sesiapa yang melakukan persetubuhan bertentangan dengan hukum tabii dengan mana-mana lelaki, perempuan atau binatang adalah melakukan suatu kesalahan.

Ia memperuntukkan denda tidak melebihi RM5,000 atau penjara selama tempoh tidak melebihi tiga tahun atau sebatan tidak melebihi enam kali atau dihukum dengan mana-mana kombinasi hukuman itu, jika sabit kesalahan. Wilayah Persekutuan pula tidak mempunyai peruntukan itu sebaliknya memperuntukkan kesalahan Jenayah Syariah (Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan) 1997, Seksyen 25, di bawah tajuk liwat.

Iaitu mana-mana lelaki yang melakukan perbuatan itu apabila disabitkan boleh didenda tidak melebihi RM5,000 atau penjara selama tempoh tidak melebihi tiga tahun atau sebatan tidak melebihi enam kali atau dihukum dengan mana-mana kombinasi hukuman itu.

Mohd. Zaidi berkata, berdasarkan pengamatan beliau, pihak pejabat agama telah memberikan komitmen mereka setakat yang termampu. Namun menurut beliau, disebabkan pelbagai kekangan seperti kekurangan kakitangan terlatih, ilmu pengetahuan serta kemudahan teknikal bagi menangani masalah tersebut maka usaha mereka seolah-olah tidak kelihatan berbanding pertambahan golongan LBGT dewasa ini.

''Sehingga mereka begitu berani menonjolkan diri dan secara terang-terangan menuntut kebebasan seksualiti atas nama hak asasi,'' ujar peguam itu.

Justeru, pihak Jabatan Agama Islam Negeri dan Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) serta badan-badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang berasaskan dakwah hendaklah berganding bahu memacu perubahan dalam pendekatan mereka mengatasi masalah ini sebelum bertambah parah lagi.

Katanya, banyak bentuk tindakan yang boleh dilakukan misalnya mengumpul maklumat terperinci mengenai jumlah sebenar golongan ini di setiap negeri bagi memudahkan sesi kaunseling yang berterusan dan holistik mencakupi soal akhlak, ibadat serta syariat.

Selain itu, kempen secara agresif melalui media massa boleh dilaksanakan menyentuh tentang kesan yang bakal ditanggung di dunia dan akhirat jika orang Islam terjebak dengan golongan LGBT. Ia termasuklah memantau dan mengambil tindakan yang perlu serta tegas terhadap mana-mana individu, pertubuhan atau badan yang menganjurkan apa jua program untuk menyuburkan amalan tersebut.

Sebenarnya tanggungjawab menangani masalah tersebut digalas oleh semua muslim. Bagi Mohd. Zaidi, peguam syarie boleh dilibatkan secara aktif untuk menyedarkan orang Islam dan golongan LGBT bahawa undang-undang dan hukum syarak sama sekali tidak membela golongan ini dari sudut mana sekalipun.

Program penerangan ini, menurut Mohd. Zaidi, hendaklah dianjurkan oleh pihak berwajib seperti Jakim dan Jabatan Agama Islam secara berkala. Ia dengan cara menyasarkan golongan yang telah terlibat dan juga golongan yang dikenal pasti berpotensi terlibat dalam gejala tersebut, ujar beliau.

Apabila bercakap mengenai hak asasi manusia, terdapat segelintir golongan yang menganggap ia tidak boleh disentuh sama sekali. Kononnya, tindakan mempersoalkan perkara itu sebagai suatu yang tidak wajar dan menafikan hak mereka.

Sementara itu, peguam Akbardin Abdul Kader melahirkan rasa terkilan dengan perjuangan tersebut apabila disertai oleh segelintir orang Islam.

''Cara ini semua tidak betul. Kita tidak nafikan kewujudan hak-hak Fundamental Liberty (kebebasan asasi) misalnya hak bersuara dan menyampaikan pendapat. Namun sebagai orang Islam, kita tertakluk kepada undang-undang Jenayah Syariah Wilayah Persekutuan dan undang-undang negeri masing-masing dan budaya tersebut jelas bercanggah dengan undang-undang,'' kata peguam tersebut.

Menurut Akbardin, selagi mana-mana Mahkamah Syariah atau Mahkamah Sivil atau Mahkamah Rayuan tidak membuat keputusan bahawa undang-undang yang termaktub dalam Akta Jenayah, bercanggah dengan Perlembagaan Persekutuan, maka kita perlu mematuhinya.

''Hak asasi perlu selaras dengan undang-undang dan bagi umat Islam, mereka tertakluk kepada dua iaitu Sivil dan Syariah yang perlu dipatuhi. Ini tidak bererti hak kebebasan asasi mereka dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan, telah dinafikan sebaliknya Undang-Undang Keluarga Islam perlu dipatuhi dan berjalan seiringan.

''Sekiranya terdapat percanggahan antara kedua-duanya ia perlu dibawa ke Mahkamah Persekutuan untuk diputuskan sama ada ia bercanggah dengan Perlembagaan Persekutuan ataupun tidak,'' ujar beliau lagi. Akbardin berkata, seandainya permohonan ini dibenarkan nescaya negara akan menjadi porak-peranda kerana ia bercanggah dengan undang-undang Islam. — utusan.com.my

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

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Survey: Najib’s popularity soars to 69%

PETALING JAYA: A recent poll by the Merdeka Centre revealed that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's approval rating has soared to 69% from 59% in August 2011.

In a statement today, the polling agency said Najib's ratings soared due to the improving economic outlook and his "Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia" (BR1M) monetary aid for lower income families.

In his Budget 2012 speech last year, Najib announced that families earning less than RM3,000 a month would get RM500 one-off aid.

The money was given out through Pos Malaysia, Bank Simpanan Nasional and selected banks.

The survey, encompassing 1,022 respondents, also showed that 78% of Najib's support came from the lower-income group, especially those earning below the RM1,500 mark.

"In terms of ethnic breakdown, the Malays and Indians were most in favour of Najib, standing at 74% and 80% respectively," the statement read.

However, the survey also showed that the majority in favour of Najib were above the age of 50, at a rate of 73%.

"The findings also show that one third of the respondents were in favour of Pakatan Rakyat, indicating the approvals may not translate into votes for the ruling coalition," the statement read.

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Rafizi to counter-sue Shahrizat

PETALING JAYA: PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli said today he will initiate a counter-suit against Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to ensure the National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp) scandal "stays in court".

He said the legal proceeding against Shahrizat, filed this morning at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, was done in anticipation of a sabotage.

Rafizi said he was concerned that Shahrizat may either slow down the court proceeding against him or even back out to avoid the disclosure of important documents on the scandal and also drag other government leaders into the debacle.

"So after consultation with my lawyers, I have decided to counter-sue Shahrizat based on the libel made on me pertaining to the NFCorp scandal at the Umno Wanita general assembly on Nov 30, 2011," he told reporters here.

Shahrizat, the Wanita Umno chief, had called Rafizi a "traitor" to the country in her opening speech, describing his exposé on NFCorp as a direct attack on the wing and create chaos in the country.

The speech was seen as an attempt to rally support as pressure was mounting on the minister to quit her post.

Shahrizat's family members, who run NFCorp, are accused of using part of the RM250 million federal soft loan meant for a cattle-breeding project to finance private expenses, including the purchase of prime land and luxury properties locally and overseas.

She and her family have denied any wrongdoing and sued Rafizi and PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin for RM100 million for defamation.

The two responded by welcoming the suit, saying it would give them the chance to call in all those involved in the scandal and disclose important documents.

Rafizi said today his counter-claim would give him the advantageous position of the plaintiff, meaning that he could pre-empt any possible attempts by Shahrizat to "escape".

"The case will have its day in court," he said.

He said Shahrizat and her Barisan Nasional colleagues can no longer avoid the allegations levelled against her and her family.

The counter-claim was also made after considering the lacklustre response from the police and the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) in taking action, he added.

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Erykah Badu Cancelled?? No Sweat!! Pineapple got it covered

http://res-qmedia.com/v3/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/BSH6012_resize.jpg

That is why covering the cost for the Erykah Badu cancelled concert for his Pineapple Concerts outfit is chicken feed. His proxies is doing the job for him at Sepang Circuit. Some more, The Star could be settling out of court very soon. 

Eagle Master

Formula1 is coming back to Sepang Circuit. We will see the rich and famous of Malaysian society flocking the track this month. Mokhzani, his Millionaire-Billionaire Club members and Cabinet Ministers will mingle and soak in the Tatlerish paddock. We peasants and rakyats can just salivate in front of a monopolized satellite TV, that is if the Sports Package is affordable enough. 

Formula1 has never been in opposition radar at all. That's why they seem to never oppose it. They might not know that to just bring F1 to Sepang, the rakyat's money, worth at least RM100million per year, has to be forked out to Bernie Ecclestone (the F1 supremo mafia) for the rights fee. The Gala Dinner alone would cost millions. That does not include the operating and promotional costs. Kementerian Belia & Sukan just mentioned that they will look into continuing to support F1 beyond the contracted year 2015. The rights fee is increasing every year at a certain percentage. So it could be at least RM150million by 2015. Mind you, that rakyat's money is just for the rights fee.

Like many other UMNO leaders, Mokhzani cousin CEO Razlan Razali is plundering like nobody's business. SPRM is toothless. Many stories including facts and evidence featured in RPK's Malaysia Today falls onto deaf ears. Entrusted to approve of not more than RM500k per cheque, Razlan has cleverly kept the 'procurement' paper capped at just below the said figure. This way he doesn't have to present the paper to the GLC's Board Of Directors for approval as they are all under RM500k. This has been going on for four years since he helmed the racing track.

That is why covering the cost for the Erykah Badu cancelled concert for his Pineapple Concerts outfit is chicken feed. His proxies is doing the job for him at Sepang Circuit. Some more, The Star could be settling out of court very soon.

He threw out almost 90 percent of old staff since he took charge. All in ! the nam e of rejuvenation of the ailing track. But what we see today is far worse than time before him. Spectators for F1 dropped at its worse. The free or heavily discounted tickets are given to government departments to bring in their staff and contractors. School children will be ferried by loads and loads of buses to fill the grandstand so that it will look good on TV.

As usual, UMNO will be blind when it comes to top echelons and warlords. Being Mahathir's nephew and Mokhzani's cousin, Razlan and Sepang Circuit will continue to receive funds from the ministries (finance, youth and tourism). The rakyat's money plundering continues.

http://www.malaysia-today.net/archives/25860-litar-sepang-menuju-zaman-kejatuhan

http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/letterssurat/39260-of-course-its-never-enough-sepang-circuit-story

http://uppercaise.wordpress.com/2011/03/09/motors-music-money-and-all-in-the-family-at-sepang/

 

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‘PMO paid for Najib’s daughter’s bash’

PETALING JAYA: PKR has claimed that it possesses evidence to prove earlier allegations that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak financed his daughter's engagement ceremonies using public funds.

Party strategic director Rafizi Ramli said he has receipts to show how RM409,767, which was the cost to hold a luxurious dinner event at a five-star hotel in central Kuala Lumpur, was billed to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

The bill, for an event on June 13 last year, showed that RM18,792 was spent for 36 VIPs and RM309,975 for 862 attendees while handling cost amounted to RM81,000.

Among the dishes included in the menu were an array of lavish Wagyu beef, smoked salmon, lobster bisque and scallops.

The receipts, circulated to the media, indicated that the booking was made by one of Najib's confidant Mohd Po'ad Jelani who was also implicated in another corruption allegation.

The marriage of Najib's daughter was already mired in controversy. Pakatan leaders alleged that the lavish ceremonies, including a reception in Kazakhstan, was financed by taxpayers.

Some claimed his new son-in-law, Daniyar Nazarbayev, a Kazakhstan elite, is linked to the local mafia. Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor denied the allegations.

Najib must explain

Rafizi said Najib cannot evade the issue and must now explain as they have provided documented evidence to prove their allegation.

"This is not a trivial matter even though the amount is RM409,767 because it reflects their indolence starting from the PM down to his ministers," he told reporters here.

The PKR leader said although Najib and his family had every right to an extravagant lifestyle, he had "no moral standing" to use public funds to finance it.

He also chided the prime minister for paying good money to consultants in an effort to build a moderate image for himself while at the same time living a luxurious lifestyle, contradicting his own call for voters to live within their means amid an economic slowdown.

The PKR leader then urged the government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to look into the alleged financial abuses made by the Najib administration following a string of exposes made.

He cited the National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp) scandal, where a federal minister's family is implicated in the abuse of more than RM70 million of taxpayers' fund, as an example.

Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's family is accused of using part of the RM250 million given to NFCorp for a cattle breeding project to finance private expenses including the purchase of prime land and luxury properties both here and overseas.

There were also several bribery allegations against several ministers and deputy ministers.

Rafizi said a RCI was the only available option as the authorities have been slow to respond to the complaints.

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When “motive” flew out of the window of justice in Malaysia

The Judge's verdict also places Malaysia's legal standards on the global legal table of scrutiny. It has far reaching ramification not only from the socio-political perspective of human rights but also from socio-economic as well as judicial dimensions.
Indeed we have with this concluding verdict demonstrated to the world in no uncertain terms that the way we interpret the law around here need not conform to what universally acceptable law books teach and how justice is dispensed in the democratic worldover.

J. D. Lovrenciear

The long awaited but only just concluded verdict by Shah Alam High Court Judge, Mohd Zaki Md Yasin on the Mongolian Altantuya case is not only causing a spasmodic arrest within the legal circuit in Malaysia but is also the very talk of the simpletons – Ahmad, Muthu and Ah Beng nationwide.  

Legal students and practicing professionals are shocked at the Judge's conclusion. Teaching lawyers will have nightmares in trying to make sense of the verdict that has completely negated "motive" from murders.

The learned Judge is reported to have said that "motive, although relevant, has never been the essential to constitute murder."

Now even High School students are asking if motive is not essential then what is, in so far as a murder goes? Just the act of killing? Or just the person who carried out the actual killing?

The Judge's verdict also places Malaysia's legal standards on the global legal table of scrutiny. It has far reaching ramification not only from the socio-political perspective of human rights but also from socio-economic as well as judicial dimensions.

Indeed we have with this concluding verdict demonstrated to the world in no uncertain terms that the way we interpret the law around here need not conform to what universally acceptable law books teach and how justice is dispensed in the democratic worldover.

In our own backyard, this verdict also delves a lethal blow to the government of the day. Voters will all the more connect one plus one and make three. The BN party will be the one that must now carry this yoke of suspicion transpiring from the conclusion of the judge.

Citizens are asking a simple yet profound and logical question: How could two trained, disciplined and uniformed members of the elite forces who are known and reputed to carry out their duties to the last let! ter of c ommand have killed (murdered) a helpless, unarmed, defenseless and solitary woman?

People are asking, even the very murder was planned to completely annihilate all traces of evidence by blowing a fragile female lass with deadly military grade C4 explosives and yet "motive' is not "essential"?

The Judge stated that 'motive (is) relevant'. But he went on to disqualify the crucial importance of motive in this case.

And so the citizens are now asking why. Why is motive not essential in this grisly, brutal and heinous crime against humanity when all indicators bleep that motive was the cause of the murder? They are reasoning at kopitiam outlets in the big cities and the humble warongs in villages that how could two salaried, uniformed and specially tasked armed personnel carry out this murder of helpless lady with whom they had no relationship with nor knowledge of?

People are saying that there was a motive for the act of killing to take place. And they want the law to establish that motive so that the person or persons who are party to the crime will be dealt with by the law adequately and with fair justice.

But alas, "motive" has just flown out of the window of Malaysia's judiciary. The precedent has been set. The rakyat are drawing down their blinds. There is now a foregone conclusion in the minds and hearts of the citizens here – a verdict that will be almost insurmountable in the resurrection of Malaysia's justice system and its reputation.

Some citizens are even going the distance to say that if this transpired in another civil and democratic nation, by now the entire legal fraternity would have downed their tools of trade and demanded right-thinking action. Will this happen in Malaysia? Only time can tell. But in the meantime the credibility of leaders and political parties and government systems have b! een deal t a lethal blow by this verdict on the Altantuya case.

J. D. Lovrenciear

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Anti brain-drain policies not working

PETALING JAYA: Policies aimed at bringing overseas Malaysians back home are not working, an anti-brain drain group said.

According to a report by Wake Up Call Malaysia (WUC-M), many incentives including the introduction of tax breaks and turning the country into a high-income nation were not enough.

Talent Corp's programmes were also criticised in the report, which the group described as "a challenge" for returning Malaysians.

"(Critieria by these programmes) included returnees having to have a minimum amount of years of work experience overseas before returning.

"The lower (their) education level, the longer a Malaysian (would) have to work overseas to benefit from the incentives given out by the government.

"By then, Malaysians would have settled down overseas and (would be) reluctant to environment and lifestyle (changes)," the report said.

Talent Corp's Retain Expert Programme, it said, also lacked promotion and publicity.

The report was also accompanied by a survey involving 518 Malaysians, many of whom were currently overseas.

According to them, many of the survey's respondents did not know about Talent Corp's programmes, particularly its Retain Expert Programme.

WUC-M also deemed tax breaks for returnees as a temporary solution, as it would not attract people who had enough money to go abroad in the first place.

The Public Service Department's (PSD) Overseas Degree Programme (PILN) was also criticised.

"The follow-up programme seems ineffective as not all the scholars are 'tracked' to get them back. Many scholars were not granted the chance to serve out their bond and (were) released from the contract… a waste of public money spent on the education sector," it said.

'Uncertain' education system

WUC-M also pointed out the gradual increase of people's incomes parallel to taxes and inflation, warning that it would result in "unreasonable earning power versus expenditure".

The group also noted the many "ineffective" policies by the Malaysian government, including the "uncertain" national education system (switching from English to Bahasa Malaysia), discriminatory economic policies, preferential race treatment and the continuation of the New Economic Policy (NEP).

WUC-M then proposed a number of solutions to bring Malaysians back home. These included:

  • improving local tertiary education to meet international standards;
  • recognition of overseas qualifications;
  • simplifying the process where foreign spouses and children were nationalised;
  • putting PSD scholars in fields where they had studied for;
  • dual or diaspora citizenships;
  • promotion of meritocracy, transparency and social equality; and
  • improving political stability, reducing crime, etc.

Also read:

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Flash floods: Where is SMART?

PETALING JAYA: Residents in the vicinity of Ampang Jaya and Pandan who have been inundated by flash floods in recent months have accused the management of the SMART Tunnel of inefficiency.

The continuous downpour on Wednesday had affected housing estates in the whole of Ampang area and in Kampung Pandan Dalam, Bandar Baru Ampang, Lembah Jaya, Taman Nirwana, Taman Putra Sulaiman, Taman Dagang and Bukit Belacan.

The more than four hours of downpour had also caused land slips in Kuala Lumpur, Ampang and Hulu Langat areas.

Blaming Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) Sdn Bhd, the company that manages the tunnel, one resident in Taman Nirwana, M Thomas, said:

"They (SMART) are sleeping. Billions are being spent but they have no credibility and they should be replaced."

Thomas, who is the chairman of the Taman Nirwana Residents Association as well as adviser to the People's Consultative Council of Ampang Jaya and Pandan, said he tried calling SMART for over an hour but all his attempts were futile.

"I even called and informed the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council's [MPAJ] enforcement officers.

"Even MPAJ complained to me that they could not reach SMART," Thomas said.

Delayed opening of tunnel

Thomas said that eventually when SMART officials answered his call, they themselves were surprised to hear about the flood and land slips.

"Their delay in opening the tunnels is what caused the floods," he claimed.

The tunnel, a 9.7-km storm drainage and road structure, was completed in 2007 to resolve flash floods and traffic jams in Kuala Lumpur.

Thomas also said the current swing in weather patterns and heavier than usual downpours were worrying residents in his neighbourhood because the monsoon drains were overflowing.

"On Wednesday, there was six inches of water on the ground and it was raining from evening until 9.30pm," he added.

Thomas said this was not the first time that SMART had neglected its duties.

"They should be prepared to guard the city (around the clock) but they are not.

"I tried calling them in October last year when flash floods almost took place here (in Taman Nirwana) but (then too) they were not responding to the calls," he said.

No response

Meanwhile, FMT made numerous attempts to contact SMART but was unable to obtain comments from them.

An attempt to secure a comment from MPAJ deputy president, Abdul Hamid Hussain, was also futile. Abdul Hamid declined to comment.

However, a former MPAJ councillor, Tan Hua Meng , said while the tunnel management shared some responsibility, there were also other factors such as the local drainage and development projects which contributed to the floods.

"SMART should be able to tell when there is a flood since they may have sensors to monitor the rise of the water level. We assume that is the purpose of the tunnel.

"The floods also can be due to the local drainage system unable to cope with the sudden excess of water. The development projects around Ampang also should take the blame."

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Big mouth and small heart

KUCHING: Sarawak PKR has accused the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) of short changing native participants in its schemes.

Nicholas Bawin, who leads the party's Lubok Antu division, said that despite Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu Numpang's "big talk" about dividends accruing from the Salcra oil palm estates, the payout to the natives was paltry.

He cited the amount received by families living in Rumah Empirong, the 30-door longhouse he comes from. "This year, each family is getting only RM350."

Bawin was commenting on a recent statement by Jabu that Salcra's profits were high because of prudent management. Jabu said the 16,374 landowners participating in Salcra schemes would receive RM100.9 million in dividends this year.

Salcra was established in 1976. It has about 51,000 hectares planted with oil palm. However, Bawin said, it had brought little benefit to native landowners.

"Salcra is supposed to help the poor native landowners, but with the small dividends they receive each year, how can their economic wellbeing be improved?" he said. "Is it worthwhile for the NCR (native customary rights) landowners to participate in Salcra?"

Bawin is a former deputy president of the Council of Dayak Customs and Traditions.

He also complained about the unreliability of water supply to 21 longhouses in the Batang Ai resettlement scheme. These longhouses were transferred from areas now submerged by the Batang Ai dam.

Bawin said there should not be any problem supplying water to these families because the source is the huge Lemanak River. "But what we experience regularly is that there are often interruptions of water supply to our homes."

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Death sentence delivered to Azilah & Sirul could have been based on “false evidences” admitted by Razak Baginda...

abdul razak baginda altantuya mongolian case 040607 leadFormer Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Mat Zain Ibrahim has urged police to reopen investigations into the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu, until they leave no stone unturned.

"The police are empowered to conduct separate investigations on each of them without having to wait for any other instructions or to pass the buck to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission," he said.


Mat Zain insists that there had been a "great deal of hanky-panky, concealment of material evidence and manipulation" whereby political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda (
left), who was charged for abetment, was acquitted without having to enter his defence.

"The police have all the powers and in this case, the justifications as well, to re-look at the whole investigations to be sure that they have not left any stone unturned.


"No one has the power to obstruct police doing their jobs. Not even (attorney-general) Abdul Gani Patail. Any police officer can arrest, without (a) warrant, any person who obstructs them.


"The AG may have the powers to institute, conduct or discontinue any criminal proceeding but he is not empowered to fabricate, manipulate, conceal or destroy evidence whenever he likes.


altan!  tuya tri al 160707 azilah"Make it clear also that the IGP (inspector general of police) is not subservient to the AG and that the police can function independently without having to tailor their investigations to the whims and fancies of the AG," said Mat Zain in strongly-worded statement today.

He added that the conviction and the
death sentence delivered to chief inspector Azilah Hadri (left) and corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, could have been based on "false evidences" admitted by Abdul Razak and private investigator P Balasubramaniam.
 

In his 70-page judgment obtained by Malaysiakini, Shah Alam High Court judge Mohd Zaki Md Yasin included major portions of Abdul Razak's affidavit, however, Mat Zain opined that the authenticity the affidavit cannot be verified unless it is tested against Balasubramaniam's testimony.

Private investigator's allegations


Zaki had stated that after studying Abdul Razak's affidavit, the evidence corroborated by Balasubramaniam, Altantuya's cousin Burmaa Oyuchimeg, lance corporal Rohaniza Roslan - girlfriend of the accused Azilah - and Abdul Razak's secretary Siti Aishah Mohd Azlan have clearly negated and nullified the act of abetment as alleged against Abdul Razak.



NONEJust months before Abdul Razak's acquittal, Balasubramaniam (right) on July 3, 2008, revealed his first statutory declaration (SD) which included shocking allegations linking then deputy prime minister Najib Abdul Razak to ! Altantuy a.

Abdul Razak was known to be a close ally and confidante of Najib and reportedly advised the defence ministry when the latter was defence minister.


Less than 24 hours later, the private-eye revealed a second SD,
retracting all his allegations against Najib in a hastily organised press conference, after which he fled the country.

However, he continued to insist that he had been pressured into making the second statutory declaration and that his first was true.


"Bala's own admission that (the first) of his affidavits is false is sufficient to at least test his affidavit against his oral evidence under oath that he gave during the trial. This was purposely avoided by the AG," said Mat Zain. 


Past precedents

Balasubramaniam had later challenged the government to charge him for the false SD, however, the AG decided that the two conflicting SDs would have had "no effect" on Altantuya's murder trial.

"If that position taken by AG is not ridiculous or insane, then what is?


"The mere fact that the AG ignored Bala's false affidavit is as good as concealing material evidence from being tendered in court, which if tendered could be favourable to Azilah and Sirul but may not be favourable to Abdul Razak," said Mat Zain.


However, he reiterated that the IGP should reinitiate investigations despite the AG's stand on the matter as there are past precedents where the murders during the Batang Kali massacre in 1948 was re-opened 45 years later in 1993 based of "vague and sketchy information" from the murder victims' relative.


If an ordinary citizen could be accorded with such treatment, Mat Zain said, the same privilege should be given to the police officers Azilah and Sirul.


"Nobody is asking for the two ! to be re leased. If both are really guilty, go ahead hang them including those who abetted them but they must be given a fair hearing," he added, stressing that it was not the AG's prerogative to decide who should go to the gallows and who should go scot free". -malaysiakini



Altantuya murder: There was a "motive", but it can't be revealed or Putrajaya will crumble...

The long awaited but only just concluded verdict by Shah Alam High Court Judge, Mohd Zaki Md Yasin on the Mongolian Altantuya case is not only causing a spasmodic arrest within the legal circuit in Malaysia but is also the very talk of the simpletons – Ahmad, Muthu and Ah Beng nationwide.

Legal students and practicing professionals are shocked at the Judge's conclusion. Teaching lawyers will have nightmares in trying to make sense of the verdict that has completely negated "motive" from murders.

The learned Judge is reported to have said that "motive, although relevant, has never been the essential to constitute murder."

Now even High School students are asking if motive is not essential then what is, in so far as a murder goes? Just the act of killing? Or just the person who carried out the actual killing?


Malaysia's legal standards under the spotlight

The Judge's verdict also places Malaysia's legal standards on the global legal table of scrutiny. It has far reaching ramification not only from the socio-political perspective of human rights but also from socio-economic as well as judicial dimensions.

Indeed we have with this concluding verdict demonstrated to the! world i n no uncertain terms that the way we interpret the law around here need not conform to what universally acceptable law books teach and how justice is dispensed in the democratic worldover.

In our own backyard, this verdict also delves a lethal blow to the government of the day. Voters will all the more connect one plus one and make three. The BN party will be the one that must now carry this yoke of suspicion transpiring from the conclusion of the judge.

Why would 2 special squad cops want to do such a thing without 'motivation'


Citizens are asking a simple yet profound and logical question: How could two trained, disciplined and uniformed members of the elite forces who are known and reputed to carry out their duties to the last letter of command have killed (murdered) a helpless, unarmed, defenseless and solitary woman?

People are asking, even the very murder was planned to completely annihilate all traces of evidence by blowing a fragile female lass with deadly military grade C4 explosives and yet "motive' is not "essential"?

The Judge stated that 'motive (is) relevant'. But he went on to disqualify the crucial importance of motive in this case.

And so the citizens are now asking why. Why is motive not essential in this grisly, brutal and heinous crime against humanity when all indicators bleep that motive was the cause of the murder? They are reasoning at kopitiam outlets in the big cities and the humble warongs in villages that how could two salaried, uniformed and specially tasked armed personnel carry out this murder of helpless lady with whom they had no relationship with nor knowledge of?

But there was a "motive"

People are saying that there was a motive for the act of killing to take place. And they want the law to establ! ish that motive so that the person or persons who are party to the crime will be dealt with by the law adequately and with fair justice.

But alas, "motive" has just flown out of the window of Malaysia's judiciary. The precedent has been set. The rakyat are drawing down their blinds. There is now a foregone conclusion in the minds and hearts of the citizens here – a verdict that will be almost insurmountable in the resurrection of Malaysia's justice system and its reputation.


Some citizens are even going the distance to say that if this transpired in another civil and democratic nation, by now the entire legal fraternity would have downed their tools of trade and demanded right-thinking action. Will this happen in Malaysia? Only time can tell. But in the meantime the credibility of leaders and political parties and government systems have been dealt a lethal blow by this verdict on the Altantuya case.- J. D. Lovrenciear,Malaysia Chronicle




Najib terus dihantui Altantuya...

Tidak diragui lagi bahawa wawancara Raja Petra Kamarudin oleh TV3 13 April lalu merupakan satu propaganda politik bertujuan membersihkan nama Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak yang dikaitkan dengan kes pembunuhan model Mongolia, Altantuya Shaariibuu menjelang Pilihan Raya Sarawak.

Wawancara Raja Petra bertumpu kepada afidavit yang ditandatanganinya pada 18 Jun 2008, di mana beliau mendakwa bahawa beliau dimaklumkan dengan pasti oleh informanya bahawa isteri Najib, Rosmah Mansor berada di tempat kejadian, menyaksikan peletupan mayat Altantuya.


Raja Petra kini mendakwa bahawa beliau tidak lagi mempercayai apa yang beliau yakini sebelum ini. Mari kita fahami isu! ini den gan jelas dari permulaannya.
 

Kebenaran afidavit ataupun sebaliknya serta apa pun kepercayaan ataupun rasa tidak percaya yang mungkin dirasai oleh Raja Petra terhadap kes Altantuya tidak akan menambah atau mengurangkan walaupun sedikit awan gelap yang terus menghantui Najib ke atas kes pembunuhan ini.

Kegagalan agensi penguatkuasa Sebarang persepsi negatif mengenai Najib tidak timbul dari si anu mengatakan ini atau itu.


Sebaliknya, ia bertimbun dek kegagalan Najib sendiri untuk memimpin seperti yang sepatutnya serta perisai yang melindunginya secara keterlaluan oleh agensi penguatkuasa undang-undang untuk menghindari Najib agar tidak terkeluar dari batasan mengikut proses undang- undang – sehingga ia melalaikan tugas, menampakkannya seperti satu pakatan sulit.

Kegagalan agensi penguatkuasa secara terang-terangan serta tingkah laku Najib yang kekok dalam mengelak inilah yang telah membuatkan syak wasangka rakyat jelata lebih membuak-buak terhadap penglibatannya.

Segala contoh yang ada amat banyak untuk dihitung satu persatu, tapi kami akan menyebut beberapa untuk mengingatkan semula kepada rakyat jelata.

Bermula dengan polis, tiada sebarang alasan mengapa polis harus membiarkan Najib dan penolong pegawainya Musa Safri terlepas dari disoal siat dalam penyiasatan mereka, apabila ketiga-tiga tertuduh mempunyai hubungan rapat dengan Najib.

Musa jugalah yang telah mengarahkan kedua-dua tertuduh pertama untuk `menguruskan' Altantuya. Bahkan kegagalan polis lebih ketara apabila ia gagal bertindak ke atas tiga afidavit dan wawancara video penyiasat persendirian P Balasubramaniam oleh tiga peguam kanan.

Maklumat yang diberikan oleh Bala dalam dokumen-dokumen tersebut bukan hanya membabitkan Najib (dalam afidavit pertama), tetapi turut menuduh Rosmah dan abang Najib, iaitu Nazim yang mem! aksa Bal a dan keluarganya untuk melarikan diri dari negara dengan rasuah dan ugutan (direkodkan dalam wawancara video dan diserahkan melalui afidavit ketiga).

Afidavit ketiga adalah jawapan kepada soalan-soalan bertulis oleh Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) dan diserahkan pada bulan Julai 2010.

Belum ada sebarang jawapan dari SPRM, meskipun terdapat peringatan bertulis dari peguam Bala. Apakah alasan munasabah untuk polis dan SPRM untuk terus berdiam diri selama ini bagi tuduhan-tuduhan serius ini, yang disokong oleh butiran faktual, terhadap Perdana Menteri dan keluarganya?

Jika Najib dan keluarganya tidak bersalah, tidakkah badan penguatkuasa undang-undang ini telah bertindak dari awal-awalnya lagi untuk membersihkan nama PM dan keluarganya dari stigma mengerikan seperti itu?

Perkara di luar aturan yang aneh Senario di mahkamah adalah lebih aneh. Bukti ketara dan kritikal yang didedahkan di mahkamah telah 'ditutup' dengan cepat, bukannya diteruskan dalam mengejar kebenaran dan keadilan.

Bahagian luar biasanya adalah segala usaha untuk menguburkan bukti-bukti baru ini tidak ditimbulkan oleh satu atau dua pihak tetapi oleh ketiga-tiga pihak yang bertindak secara bersama – pihak pendakwa, peguam bela dan hakim.


Bukti-bukti ini termasuklah pemadaman rekod imigresen Altantuya dan teman-temannya dari Mongolia, dan sekeping foto yang dikatakan gambar Najib, Altantuya dan tertuduh ketiga sedang menjamu selera di sebuah restoran.

Bukti yang pertama akan memberikan petunjuk yang penting kepada penglibatan pihak atasan dalam kes tersebut, manakala bukti yang kedua akan mengaitkan Najib (jika terbukti) yang telah berkali-kali bersumpah bahawa dia tidak pernah kenal atau bertemu Altantuya.


Fenomena aneh bagi pertembungan kepentingan oleh pihak kehakiman untuk menyekat bukti baru hanya boleh dijelaskan den! gan satu perkara – Najib tidak harus dibabitkan dalam kes tersebut.

Kenyataan bahawa keadilan tidak dilaksanakan sepenuhnya melalui hukuman mati ke atas kedua-dua tertuduh yang pertama sememangnya jelas, apabila mahkamah tidak pernah peduli untuk menyiasat motif pembunuhan gadis tersebut – dan dengan cara yang amat kejam seperti itu.

Adalah tidak sukar untuk memahami mengapa motif pembunuhan tidak pernah disebut di dalam mahkamah. Jawapannya mudah, tidak ada.

Kedua-dua pembunuh yang disabitkan dengan kesalahan itu, yang merupakan pengawal peribadi kepada Najib, dan dilatih untuk bersiap sedia menjalankan perintah tanpa sebarang soalan, tidak mempunyai sebarang motif tersendiri untuk membunuh seseorang yang belum pernah mereka ketemu sebelum ini.


Dan semenjak tertuduh ketiga, yang dituduh mengarahkan pembunuhan, dibebaskan kerana kekurangan bukti, maka pertanyaan yang bermain di fikiran adalah: siapa yang mengarahkan pembunuhan itu?

Bolehkah dibayangkan bahawa pengawal peribadi telah membunuh tanpa sebarang arahan dan tanpa motif?


Bukankah lebih logik untuk membuat kesimpulan bahawa dalang dan pelaku sebenarnya masih berkeliaran di luar sana dan berada di luar bidang kuasa mahkamah?

Adalah jelas bahawa soalan-soalan utama dan keraguan yang masih berlegar-legar di fikiran mengenai pengendalian kes ini masih belum terjawab.

Sehingga jawapan memuaskan diberikan melalui mahkamah yang adil dan pasukan polis yang dihormati, yang hanya dapat diwujudkan melalui perubahan lengkap dalam kepimpinan politik, adalah naif untuk berharap agar keadilan dapat dikembalikan kepada keluarga Altantuya dan rakyat.

Dan sehingga ia berlaku, Perdana Menteri tidak boleh berharap untuk bebas daripada dihantui oleh pembunuhan Altantuya. - Kim Quek, keadilandaily.



cheers.
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Qantas airline and MAS talks fail

SYDNEY: Plans by embattled Australian carrier Qantas to create a premium joint-venture Asian airline were thrown into disarray today after talks with Malaysia Airlines collapsed.

While Asia remained a priority for Qantas and it wanted to expand in the region, given global economic uncertainty and its focus on financial discipline, the group said it "will allocate minimal capital to such ventures".

"The transformation of Qantas's international business remains vital, with plans to return the international business to profitability in the short-term on track," Qantas chief Alan Joyce said, announcing negotiations had failed.

"In the medium term, the Qantas flying businesses, both domestic and international combined, will exceed the cost of capital on a sustainable basis."

Qantas in August revealed plans to establish a joint venture in Asia as it repositions itself within the industry's fastest-growing region and seeks to turn around its loss-making international arm.

Singapore and Malaysia were seen as the likely bases and it is understood that Qantas had been favouring Kuala Lumpur because it would involve lower costs.

But in a statement, Qantas said talks with Malaysia Airlines on a partnership, including the establishment of a new premium airline, "would not continue due to parties being unable to reach mutually agreeable commercial terms".

Malaysia Airlines did not comment on the development.

The news comes just days after Malaysia Airlines admitted it was in trouble after posting a RM2.52 billion (US$ 836 million) loss last year, largely due to soaring fuel costs.

"The results make for unpleasant reading. The company is in crisis," Malaysia Airlines chairman Mohamad Nor Mohamad Yusof said, before adding that he was confident it could recover.

Fierce backlash

It is understood Qantas is not in talks on establishing a tie-up with Singapore Airlines, long a fierce rival of the Australian carrier and whose new long-haul budget carrier Scoot will have a daily flight to Sydney.

Qantas' plans to establish a new Asian airline sparked a fierce backlash from the start, with unions concerned the move would see jobs sent abroad.

The ensuing acrimony between management and unions saw Joyce ground the entire fleet in October, stranding thousands of passengers at airports around the world and digging into the airline's bottom line.

The 48-hour grounding was ultimately ended by the national industrial relations umpire, which forced the disputing parties into arbitration.

The pilots' union, one of three that was in dispute with Qantas, welcomed what it termed the "predictable collapse" of the Malaysia plan.

"The plan to divert much-needed Australian resources into pie-in-the-sky ventures in Southeast Asia was ridiculous and unfeasible," Australian and International Pilots Association vice-president Richard Woodward said.

The company's share price closed down to 2.61% at A$ 1.68 following the news.

Last month Qantas announced it would slash at least 500 jobs, cut costs and close two international routes after an 83% slump in first-half net profits.

Joyce said today the airline would continue to pursue its strategy of restructuring its international network, creating a sustainable business model, improving customer experience and increasing the group's focus on Asia.

-AFP

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Berhenti politikkan isu pasir di Selangor

SURAT FMT: Dari Rakyat Prihatin S'gor, melalui e-mel

Saya sebagai rakyat Selangor merasa jijik dan benci di atas usaha pihak2 tertentu yang cuba untuk mempolitikkan isu pasir.
Sehingga hari ini, tiada satu bukti yang telah dibawa keluar berkaitan wujudnya penyelewengan di dalam pentadbiran hasil pasir di Selangor.

Malahan, pihak Menteri Besar Selangor telah secara terbuka melantik dua orang wakil Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) untuk duduk sebagai Ahli Lembaga Pengarah KKSB (yakni syarikat yang diberikan tugas mentadbir hasil pasir di Selangor).

Mengapa pihak media dan pihak pembangkang terus menerus mempolitikkan isu ini sedangkan kerajaan negeri berhempas pulas untuk memastikan perjalanan pentadbiran hasil pasir telus dan bebas korupsi.

Saya minta mereka yang mempunyai bukti supaya keluar dengan bukti tersebut dan berhenti membuat tuduhan kosong. Ini bukan masa berpolitik tetapi masanya bertindak dengan bijak dan efektif.

Bagi pihak Umno pula, berhentilah menuduh Pakatan Rakyat korup kerana Umno sendiri dipenuhi korupsi dan rasuah

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What’s wrong with Malaysian education?

FMT LETTER: From Alwyn Lau, via e-mail

Maybe the biggest problem with Malaysian education isn't so much that we're are stifling our kids, having too rigid a system, adopting anachronistic methods to teach and overall,  blocking their path towards excellence.

Maybe our fundamental flaw is our very definition of excellence – the path itself that we've chosen (especially for our kids). Take the following most under-emphasised subjects in Malaysia.

  • Physical education:  We wonder why our obesity rate is top in SEA, right? and why our sporting excellence doesn't normally go beyond light racket games, right? (Oh sure, Malaysians are fanatical about sports but isn't there a huge disconnect between being a super-enthusiast for football yet being 30 pounds over-weight as a society?)
  • The Arts (including painting, dance, sculpture, poetry, drama, etc.): Didn't Robin Williams, in 'Dead Poets' Society', say that whilst subjects like Engineering and Computer Science are noble pursuits to sustain life, it's beauty, romance and love which we stay alive for? Wouldn't neglect of these subjects produce the phenomenon whereby everyone (including the neighbour's dog) has the latest technological means for communication yet have nothing meaningful to communicate about?
  • Moral Education: Given the daily outcry over our politicians' screwing up of the country, the injustices and the general impression that Malaysian lawmakers often can't tell right from wrong. It's strange this subject is at best seen as a timetable stop-gap?
  • Religious Teaching:  'Nuff said! We've reached a point in where the most salient kind of religious communiqués is also the most angry, hateful, selfish and ethno-centric (which is the sexy word for "Deny my faith its rights and I'll kick your ass") which totally implies a wrong view of God i.e. it implies a God as petty as Ibrahim Ali himself

And don't even get me started on those subjects which we never engage our kids with at all: Philosophy, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, etc. You know what's most tragic? Our kids actually believe they know 'all about' politics and what life means and so on.

Yet, when are the only/main times when our kids 'learn' about this? From the newspapers and hearing grown-ups argue – are you concerned now?

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World Food Programme: Make A Difference With Just RM10

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The World Food Programme (WFP) has launched two campaigns for mothers and mothers and children in Asia which is driven in Malaysia with the support of Marion Caunter. Essentially there are 2 campaigns: one is on www.wfp.org/donate/womenAsia and the other is a Groupon Malaysia deal (from March 8 – 12 only) which enables Malaysians to buy a deal for RM10 and all proceeds go to WFP.

The press releases are reproduced below.

Marion Caunter Launches Appeal To Support Mother And Child Health And Nutrition In Asia [link]

KUALA LUMPUR – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is commemorating International Women's Day with E! News Asia host and Malaysian celebrity Ms. Marion Caunter by launching a public service announcement to raise funds and support for Mother and Child Health and Nutrition activities in Asia.

Headlined "One Child. One Life. One Chance", the   advertisement   aims to raise support for WFP's nutrition programmes for women and children in Asia.

"Women in Asia, and especially from Malaysia, have an opportunity to help support the nutritional needs of pregnant women, new mothers and their young children," said Ms Caunter, who is also a new mother to a healthy baby girl, Leia Rose Caunter Nasarudin.

"Poor nutrition can lead to irreversible damage to children's minds and bodies and destroy their potential. The provision of the right nutrition for the development of healthy bodies and healthy minds in Asia — especially in first 1,000 days of life, from the womb to the age of two — is crucial for our children to achieve their full development potential."

The advertisement was shot at White Studio Kuala Lumpur with  internationally recognised photographer from Malaysia, Mr. Bustamam Mokhtar. Ms. Caunter's styling was made possible by former Harper's Bazaar Malaysia fashion editor Andrea Wong, renowned make-up artist Sheng Saw and hair stylist Olivia Ooi.

"By empowering women with the right food and nutrition, we can fight hunger in the first 1000 days of life," said Ms. Monica Marshall, Global Head of Private Partnerships for WFP. "Women are the secret weapon in the fight against hunger and we are very grateful to Ms. Caunter for being the face of women in Asia and especially in Malaysia, who care deeply about making a difference for mothers less fortunate than themselves."

"For the mothers and children WFP assists across Asia, the nutritious food they receive may be the only proper meal they will eat all day. WFP programmes help women break the cycle of hunger and poverty," Ms. Marshall said.

The United Nations World Food Programme works in over 70 countries around the world and in 14 countries in Asia, nourishing children through the whole life cycle, building the brains and bodies of the next generation.

RM10 Will Make A Difference To A Mother And A Child [link]

Groupon Malaysia and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) join hands to support the nutritional needs of mothers and children in Asia

KUALA LUMPUR – In time for International Women's Day, Groupon Malaysia and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have ventured into a unique partnership to raise awareness and support for nutrition activities that benefit mothers and children in Asia, through the 'Groupon for Women' initiative for WFP's Mothers-to-Mothers campaign. The campaign which is also supported by Ms. Marion Caunter hopes to garner the backing of Malaysians to contribute for a worthy cause.

Available from 8 to 12 March, the 'Groupon for Women' deal which will be featured at URL: http://wfp.groupon.my is a way to allow Malaysians to come together and make a difference in a life of a mother and child in Asia. The full proceeds of each 'Groupon for Women' deal will go to WFP's nutrition activities in 14 countries in Asia.

"By empowering women with food and nutrition, we can fight hunger in the first 1000 days of an infant's life. We are grateful to Groupon Malaysia for providing an e-commerce platform for Malaysian women to support women in need," said Ms. Monica Marshall, Deputy Director of Private Partnerships for WFP. "For many mothers and their children across Asia, the nutritious food that they receive from WFP could be the only proper meal they will eat all day. For 50 years, WFP programmes have helped women break the cycle of hunger and poverty and fulfil their children's future potential."

Commenting on the campaign, Chief Executive Officer of Groupon Malaysia, Joel Neoh said, "We are proud to be part of this worthy cause which supports the nutritional needs for mothers and children in Asia. Our commitment in providing our subscribers with the best life experiences goes beyond simply providing outstanding deals daily, but also allowing them to make a difference in the lives of others. With the 'Groupon for Women' deal, we certainly hope to empower the community here in Malaysia to support women and invest in Asia's future."

Present in over 70 countries worldwide and 14 countries in Asia, WFP is committed to building the brains and bodies of the next generation by nourishing children and mothers with nutritious meals. Malnourished mothers often give birth to underweight babies, who are 20% more likely to die before the age of five. Each RM10 'Groupon for Women' deal helps provide a vital nutritious meal, making a difference for a pregnant or new mother and her child.

Groupon Malaysia and WFP aims to 'sell'  at least 3000 deals, which would provide nutrition meals for over 1,300 pregnant and nursing mothers and children aged six to 23 months in Asia.

To contribute to WFP's Mothers-to-Mothers campaign through the 'Groupon for Women' initiative, visit http://www.groupon.my/deals/national-deal/united-nations-world-food-programme/715988479 and http://wfp.groupon.my

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The collective persona of Lord Bobo's minions (yes, all the cheeky monkeys and monkettes). Haven't you heard? LoyarBurokking is a lifestyle. Join us, and your life will never be the same again. Because it's fun.

Posted on 9 March 2012. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.

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