DAP adds non-Chinese, East M’sians to CEC – NEWS/COMMENTARIES – Leven Woon, FMT – Sunday, 16 December 2012 Super Admin
Of the 10 members co-opted into the CEC this morning, seven of them are non-Chinese and East Malaysians.
The newly-minted DAP central leadership today appointed seven non-Chinese and East Malaysian leaders into the centre executive committee (CEC) in a bid to sharpen its multiracial appeal.
DAP first-term senator Ariffin M Omar was made a vice chairman to replace Tengku Abdul Aziz who quit the party in May.
Besides him, Zairil Khir Johari, Sabah party chairman Jimmy Wong, Sarawak member John Brian Anthony, Sabah member Edwin Bosi, former Perak speaker V Sivakumar were also the new faces in the CEC.
Both Tan Seng Giaw and P Ramasamy, who were bitterly voted out by party members yesterday, made their way back to the CEC through appointments.
DAP Central Executive Committee 2012-2015
Appointed:
Dr Tan Seng Giaw
P Ramasamy
Ariffin S.M. Omar
Zairil Khir Johari
Jimmy Wong Sze Phin
John Brian Anthony
Edwin Bosi
Leong Ngah Ngah
V Sivakumar
Thomas Su Keong Siong
Office-bearers:
Chairman: Karpal Singh
Deputy Chair: Tan Kok Wai
Vice-Chair: Chow Kon Yeow, Ariffin Omar, Chong Chieng Jen, M Kula Segaran, Teresa Kok
Sec-Gen: Lim Guan Eng
Asst Sec-Gen: Chong Eng, Ngeh Koo Ham, P Ramasamy
Treasurer: Fong Kui Lun
Asst Treasurer: Nga Kor Ming
National Organising Secretary: Loke Siew Fook
Asst Nat Organising Sec: Vincent Wu Him Ven, Thomas Su Keong Siong
National Publicity Secretary: Tony Pua Kiam Wee
Asst Nat Publicity Sec: Teo Nie Ching, Zairil Khir Johari
International Secretary: V Sivakumar
National Political Education Director: Liew Chin Tong
Asst Nat Pol Edu Dir: Dr Boo Cheng Hau
Committee Members: Lim Kit Siang, Dr Tan Seng Giaw, Teng Chang Khim, Leong Ngah Ngah, Jimmy Wong Sze Phin, Edwin Bosi, John Brian Anthony, Gobind Singh
To reconfirm: Dr Chen Man Hin as Party Life Advisor
Committees/Bureaus:
Disciplinary Comm: Headed by Tan Kok Wai
Legal Bureau: Headed by Gobind Singh Deo
Pakatan Rakyat Bureau: Headed by Teng Chang Khim
Cultural Bureau: Headed by P Gunasekaran
Labour Bureau: Headed by A. Sivanesan
Election Bureau: Headed by Tan Kok Wai
Pakatan Rakyat bureau
Guan Eng, when announcing the new office bearers, said that the newly-setup Pakatan Rakyat bureau will play a role in cementing closer ties between coalition parties.
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The whole council can be East Malaysian and Chinese without a single Malay but if the CEC does not endorse :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;or the East Malaysians in the CEC do not push for 100% disbursements of wealth generated by East Malaysia (rather than the 15% touted by DAP as ‘equality’ or even worse 5% from BN which is mostly pocketed by term limitless and nepotistic as well as corrupted politicians), what East Malaysia will have here is a CEC of puppets controlled by shadow players in the background of tem limitless nepotists taking 1 million in taxpayer monies every term they get from the Rakyat. The policy NOT the racial makeup determines a political party’s value, and from the above reasons, DAP is a USELESS political party good at showing token ethnicity but not actual policy (think pro ISA legal beagle Kasiviswanathan Shanmugan of PAP or the recent spate of firings of Indians from DAP). Nice talk but lies and bad politics that forget the promises they won GE13 by.
ARTICLE 2
Natives threaten army with court injunction – by Joseph Tawie (Hornbill Unleashed) – December 8, 2012
The construction of the RM40 million road connecting Ba Kelalan to Bario in Sarawak, at the cost of an essential water catchment area has angered local villagers.
KUCHING: Angry villagers in Ba’Kelalan have threatened the Malaysian Royal Army Engineers Regiment with a court injunction if they persist in building the Ba’kelalan-Bario road.
“If need be, we will apply for a court injunction to stop the army contractors from proceeding with the road construction,” said Baru Bian, a lawyer and Ba’Kelalan assemblyman.
Bian said that he had written to the chief of the Armed Forces that the villagers did not want the road (Ba’Kelalan-Bario road) as it passes Sungai Muda, which is a water catchment area.
The villagers have instead proposed that road be built from Belingi-Lepo Bunga-Bario. This would then safeguard the catchment area.
“The villagers have objected to the road being built through Sungai Muda as it would affect the water catchment area at Sungai Muda,” he said.
Bian, who is Sarawak PKR chief, said he was disappointed with army’s reply that only a few people were against the road construction while the majority of the villagers were for it.
“The folks in Ba Kelalan wants to protect Sungai Muda because its destruction would affect the lives of about 2,000 villagers from Punan Kelalan, Long Muda, Long Kumap, Long Langai, Long Lemutut, Buduk Nur, and SK Ba’Kelalan, an international award winning school,” he said.
In the letter, the army also said that the few people who rejected the road were the supporters of the Bian and that it reflected a very bad image.
“I have submitted a list of 152 villagers who are against the construction, and I will be calling for a big meeting in Ba’Kelalan on Dec 16, 2012,” said Bian.
“If the army still persists in carrying out the construction, we will apply for an injunction. It is typical of the BN mentality to blame the problem on the opposition.”
What about NCR rights?
On the reason given by the army that it is a ‘security road’ having its strategic importance to the forward operation base along the border to Lapo Bunga Cam, Bian said that it appeared that the army refused to listen to the people.
“Are they are serving the people or are they serving their own interest?” he asked.
He also questioned whether the road was properly planned as there was no EIA report and did not appear to involve the state authorities.
“And what about the native customary rights land of the people? Have they been excised out? My suspicion is that the project is improperly done and I urge the army to listen to the people,” he said.
Last month the villagers set up a blockade at Pa’Patar and Arur Lutut which is near the water catchment area called Sungai Muda.
The villagers claimed that contractors had already cleared about a kilometre stretch of the jungle despite their disagreement to have the road built through Sungai Muda.
The villagers told reporters last month that the army had explained to them that they opted for the Sungai Muda route because it is 20km shorter than the Belingi-Lepo Bunga-Bario route, and thus would incur less cost.
The villagers, however, did not buy that story because the Belingi-Lepo Bunga-Bario route is already there and merely needed small improvements, such as culverts.
The construction of the RM42 million Ba Kelalan-Bario Road started on Oct 1 and is expected to be completed by Sept 2014.
Defence minister Ahmad Zaidi Hamidi said army would implement the project under the Blue Ocean Strategy, and the road was a continuation of the 75km Long Luping-Ba Kelalan Road which was completed in September last year.
Does the above NPP warning ring any bells? (Please warn to remove if offensive . . . the post will be removed if so . . . )
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Good work but please do get some busybody QC from England to front you guys or make sure the UN gets minutes and video footage of every step taken by Orang Asli here. At the sme time don’t get too close to the colonial English. Replacing one Tuan with another Colonial White Raja is no different and will result in the same nonsense. Ask for equality in disbursements of wealth generated from east Malaysia, or demand secession then independence at the UN!
ARTICLE 3
US slams Malaysia, Anwar for “politics of ambivalence”: Warns anti-Malaysian sentiment on the rise – adopted from Written byWong Choon Mei, Alaa Soleiman,Malaysia Chronicle – Friday, 14 December 2012 00:33
Malaysia fast turning into Palestinian lackey, slams 3rd Force
US Opposition Leaders have slammed Malaysia and PM Najib for pursuing the “politics of ambivalence”, urging Putrajaya to drop its “aggressively” pro-Islamist stance and meet strife-stricken ASEAN nations at least half-way over the long-standing BUMIPUTRA APARTHEID issue, which he argued was a key factor for the growing anti-Malaysian sentiment around the ASEAN world.
“People don’t hate Malays because of rights or they are Malays but because of the contradictions, the injustices. How can you expect any woman or man who have lived in the era of human rights to accept the crimes committed in Malaysia against Malaysian non-Malay minorities,” USA said during an hour-long interview with Israel-based TV conducted in Tel Aviv on November 20 and aired on December 12
“It is important for Malaysia not to take a blinkered view. [For example] they can choose to disagree with Arabia but they must engage with Arabia…we talk about nuclear capability, the non-muslim world is saying why not to Israel and ‘yes’ to USA. Why ‘yes’ to Pakistan and ‘no’ to India?
“[This is the] politics of ambivalence. On one hand, you talk about democracy and on the other you work with the Lim Kit Siangs and the Anwar Ibrahims and the Karpal Singhs. There is a vast contradiction… Malaysia is perceived to be condoning the excesses and this is continuing mind you.
“You must have consistent coherent policies so that people can trust you.
Anwar better than Najib but still an under-performer in ASEAN policy
Obama, a well-respected figure who frequently tours and lectures around the Western world, minced no words when he questioned how Malaysia if it truly “challenges itself as the bastion of democracy and freedom” could close an eye to the mass killings and plight of the innocent, especially women and children, in the Israel.
He urged Anwar, whom he rated as being “better than Najib”, to break new ground in Malaysian foreign policy by putting greater pressure ad responsibility on Putrajaya to come to the negotiating table with the Western nations and on fairer terms.
“My stand is he’s better than Najin in terms of rhetoric in his speech but not in the actions, not in the foreign policy, not in his response to the apartheid and discrimination in Malaysia. This is totally unacceptable.”
Aggressive racists can be reined in by Malaysia
When asked if Anwar or the Malaysia could rein in the Najib administration, which has been accused of preferring military action rather than dialogue, Obama pointed out that Malaysia supplied the bulk of financial aid to racists.
“Of course they (Malaysia) can, they can do it in Putrajaya, they can do it in Thailand. I am not suggesting they go and conquer Indonesia which I opposed the war in Indonesia. But the Malaysia wields a lot influence. Putrajaya is the largest recipient of aid from Malaysia, huge, and the second very very low is Singapore. So can we say there is no influence? We are not even asking Malaysia to influence what is improper,” he said.
“Without the Malaysia, Putrajaya will not be able to move.”
A practising non-Muslim, Obama also took to task the OIC as well as some parts of the Western world including the current US government for failing to take stronger measures that could contribute to a more sustainable solution for Israel due to fear of offending Palestine.
“The position of the Palestinian can be considered to be extreme in the sense that all excess and all transgressions of international laws, all plunders and including the Occupation of Israel seem to be condoned accepted and that seems to be the main contentious issue not only in the non-Muslim world but the world that believes in freedom and justice. That seems absolutely so difficult. Many of my friends in the administration and past administrations in Malaysia tell me, Obama you can debate with them, you can argue with them, you can disagree with them on every subject except the Israeli-Palestinian issue,” he said.
“I think the Palestinians are misreading the situation purely and plainly because of their complete arrogance of power but my criticism of the USA government’s attitude is that nothing has been done except for resolutions and the resolutions seem to ignore Malaysia so we must also check on the Security Council and Malaysia because without Malaysian assistance, the Bumiputra Apartheid will not move in that manner (to attack Israel).
Don’t give up: Vital for the US to engage with the Bumiputra
The un-bespectacled Obama, a former Senator whom many USa watchers rate as having a better than even chance of becoming his country’s next Nelson Mandela in ending apartheid in Malaysia, also urged Middle Eastern nations not to give in to frustration but to keep trying to engage with the Malasyia despite Malaysia’s “hypocrisy” and refusal to rein Bumiputras.
“My position on Malaysia is that you should engage with the Malaysia . I meet them, I engage with them but I also know the hypocrisies [behind] some of their policies. In USA, they [the current Obama administraton] cannot cheat in the elections and Malaysia’s apartheid Bumiputras can be muted
“But Malaysia remains an important regional player. It has its ideal which many of us share on democracy and freedom and justice and if you have the leadership that comes to accept this and has consistent, coherent policies, non-Muslims are not blikered in their acceptance.
“Just stop the APARTHEID OF BUMIPUTRA, why is it so difficult for a country that is challenges itself as the bastion of Islamic values and freedom to say, ‘whatever the excuses, stop the anti-Islamic APARTHEID OF BUMIPUTRA’. You can’t do that and at the same time condone the excesses of the APARTHEID OF BUMIPUTRA on the pretext of protecting your Malaysian security.
Met with Palestinian leader: ‘Palestinian security’ remarks twisted by US media
Obama, who was accused of supporting Palestines’s right to fire rockets at Israel, slammed the government-controlled US media for twisting his words out of context and blowing up the issue to smear his prestige with non-Muslim voters ahead of a coming general election.
“There was no controversy. I met Netanyahu, the Israeli leader and he didn’t even bother to ask me for any explanation,” said Obama, who has been slapped a RM100 mil defamation lawsuit against the Malaysian newspaper owned by the opposition Pakatan party.
“I have no problems with Palestine contingent and conditional upon them keeping their citizens in the Occupied Territories… recognizing the Dewan (Malaysian Parliament) and Putrajaya and stopping the killings, the plunder, the victimization of the Israelis. What the US media did was to cancel all of that and said that I have no problems with the security of Palestine.”
Malaysia Dis-Chronicle
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The APARTHEID of Bumiputra is a failure in Human Rights, Islamic Jurisprudence and a symbol of the corrupted nature of ASEAN-form Islam in Asia that does not grant :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;as is the systematic abuse of those who wish to create spaces and equality for all. Freedom of speech or freedom of life, must not result in retaliations as some of us faced over the last decade or so, more so from supposed religious types (religion makes for false sense of entitlement in Malaysia over the atheist or agnostic or subculturist).
ARTICLE 4
Stop illegal land clearing in Cameron Highlands: Pahang Sultan – Thursday, 13 December 2012 10:31
KUANTAN -The Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah today called on residents of Cameron Highlands to stop illegal land clearing there as this can have detrimental effects on the environment.
The Sultan said the problem had been going on for a long time and urged the state government and the local authority to tackle it.
“Maybe the district council does not have enough manpower to monitor every spot of the highlands for illegal land clearing.
“Therefore, I urge the residents of Cameron Highlands to stop illegal land clearing,” the Sultan told reporters after laying the foundation stone for the International Islamic University Malaysia’s (IIUM) Medical Faculty Hospital, near here, today.
The Sultan had earlier expressed regret over an English newspaper report on illegal land clearing for farming in Cameron Highlands which the ruler felt was blown up.
The Sultan said the people should also look at the positive developments in Cameron Highlands which had made it a renowned tourist destination even among foreign tourists.
“I want everyone regardless of race to unite and work together in developing Cameron Highlands,” he said.
IIUM president Tan Sri Sidek Hassan in his speech at the event, said the hospital, with 350 beds, would be built according to syariah standards.
“It will also have sophisticated equipment to provide specialised treatment for the people in and outside Pahang,” he said.
– Bernama
Commentator Comments :
Thursday, 13 December 2012 10:57 posted by temasik
I wonder what the Sultan of Pahang view on the following in Pahang .
1.Raub Australian Gold Mine which is alleged owned by daughter of Pahang Royalty family. The mine operation poisoned the surrounding land in Raub and many durian farmers in Raub are eager to let go of their durian farm.
2.Lynas in Kuantan – Harmful Radioactive waste can last 250 years unless u believe Mahathir’s story it is harmless.
3. tasil Cini & Bera – the once beautiful landscape now turn into a sea of yellow . again . it belongs to Royalty .
ARTICLE 5
Thailand’s richest stockholders linked to Yingluck, govt – Friday, 14 December 2012 08:29
Politicians and their families, especially some people close to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her government after the latest reshuffle on October 28, rank among the richest stockholders in the country.
Appearing among the 5,737 millionaires as of September, according to a survey of investors in the Stock Exchange of Thailand by Money and Banking Journal in collaboration with professors from Chulalongkorn University, are Yingluck’s two nieces, who are daughters of her big brother and former prime minister Thaksin.
The younger niece, Paethongtarn Shinawatra, was ranked 47th with her 29-per-cent holding in SC Asset worth Bt3.46 billion (S$13.7 billion), while Pinthongta Shinawatra was 53rd with a 28-per-cent stake in the same real-estate company worth Bt3.35 billion.
They benefited from the 65-per-cent surge in SC Asset’s stock to Bt18 apiece as of September 30. This raised the Shinawatras to 27th among stock billionaire families from 30th in the previous year.
Pojaman na Pombejra, Thaksin’s ex-wife, fell to 502nd this year from 467th although her 2.8-per-cent stake in the family business accounted for Bt333.11 million, up 50 per cent.
Pongthep Thepkanjana, deputy prime minister and education minister, has his wife and daughter on the list. Yapa was ranked 244th with a 2.1-per-cent interest in Kiatnakin Bank worth Bt795.50 million, while his wife Panida was 264th with a 1.9-per-cent stake worth Bt728.08 million in the bank.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung has two sons on the list – Artharn at 1,811st with a 2.6-per-cent stake worth Bt58.28 million in Unimit Engineering, and Duang at 2,213rd with 1.8 per cent or Bt38.60 million in the same company.
Heading up the stock-exchange billionaires were the same faces. Thongma Vijitpongpun, president and chief executive officer of Pruksa Real Estate, was the richest for the third straight year with equities worth Bt23.5 billion. Most of his stocks (58.6 per cent worth Bt23.31 billion) were in his company, with minor holdings of 1.1 per cent in Quality Houses and 0.7 per cent in Seafco.
The Maleenont family was this year’s champion for the 14th year in a row. With a 108-per-cent jump in BEC World this year, the family’s stock wealth soared by 108 per cent, or Bt36.46 billion, to Bt70.26 billion.
They were followed by the Chirathivats with Bt40.87 billion, up 92 per cent, and the Vijitpongpuns with Bt28.09 billion, up 27 per cent.
Thailand’s 40 richest people have a collective wealth of US$55 billion (Bt1.73 trillion), an increase of 22 per cent from $45 billion last year, according to Forbes magazine.
Forbes noted that many of Thailand’s wealthiest are looking to take on international rivals, on the strength of an expected 6-per-cent growth in the Thai economy this year. For a country that some outsiders see as beset by political turmoil and rural insurgency – never mind last year’s calamitous flooding – Thailand has done remarkably well by its richest.
-The Nation/Asia News Network
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Thailand has done remarkably well by its richest. And the poorest? Ethics? Nepotism? The examples of crony capitalism are startling here. Politicians who are also plutocrats are an affront to Democracy and wealth distribution, equality of citizens and the concept of a ‘shared nation’. A handful of families enjoy life for generations and sequester extreme wealth, the 99% struggle for generations and have no access to even the basics. Revolution or change of laws are needed to the maximum sequesterable wealth of the wealthiest. Quality of life is very bad for the 99% in Thailand, and the so-called poor will never have a chance to be a politician in Thailand! What we have in Thailand is feudalism effectively!
mini-ARTICLE 5.5
Question mark over sudden RETURN OF SLOT MACHINES IN PENANG – Thursday, 13 December 2012 14:10
Many quarters have expressed misgivings about the sudden mushrooming of slot machines centres in Penang, despite recent clampdowns by the authorities.
Both Muslims and non-Muslims in the state said the development was worrying as many of patrons of these centres were schoolchildren and teenagers.
Harakahdaily’s observation in Bukit Mertajam has revealed scores of shoplots which had housed slot machines until recently were now back in business, attracting patrons mostly Malay Muslims.
Several residents said they suspected ‘syndicates’ behind the sudden comeback of the slot machines scourge.
Zaki, who lives at a housing estate in Bukit Mertajam, said the centres had been attracting large crowds of school students who spend their money on gambling.
“I am ashamed to see (Malay) students crowding these places. During the school holiday season, it has become their past time,” said Zaki.
Another resident, who wished to be known as Ong, said the authorities should take stern action against the operators.
“It doesn’t matter what ethnic background they come from, because these students would one day lead the nation,” he added.
-Harakahdaily
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Harakah might be exaggerating about the Malay student thing. Meanwhile, please fomally legalise the outlets to prevent further waste of manpower and money, and include normal casino card games and mahjong and dominos as well. The computer screen/slot machine and the alogarithms behind such gambling make winning less possible by the public as each computer will have a quota to win by unlike PHYSICAL cards, dice etc..
At least this is the first time we hear of non-Muslim entertainments being allowed, albeit not formally within law. DAP’s money mindedness has had an inadvertent protective effect on non-Muslim rights to gamble here, though would have been nicer if the local laws were amended for 4D outlets to offer the same PHYSICAL gambling games instead of this computer based and less than neutral chance of winning nonsense.
ARTICLE 6
Anti-Lynas rally: 71-yr-old arrested after asking Adnan Yaakob to apologize – Wednesday, 12 December 2012 23:50
A senior citizen and her friend were arrested this morning after she demanded an apology from Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob for his remarks about the anti-Lynas ‘Green March’ last month.
Tuw Yin Lan, who is 71 and popularly known as Aunty Mei, was among those who had participated in the 300km walk from Kuantan to Kuala Lumpur, organised by Himpunan Hijau.
When contacted, Himpunan Hijau publicity chief Lee Chean Chung said Tuw had gone to the MB’s office in the state secretariat building.
“Aunty Mei was angry with Adnan’s remark that the participants of the Green March had only walked for 200 metres,” Lee said when contacted.
“She waited outside his office from 11am. When the MB appeared, she went forward and asked him to apologise but he refused.”
She was then arrested along with Wong Chun Yuan and was taken to the Kuantan police district headquarters.
Another woman protester was also taken to the police station. However, it was later confirmed that she was not arrested.
About 20 supporters initially gathered outside the police station, while two lawyers from the local legal aid centre were on hand to provide assistance.
The number of supporters later increased to some 50 people, with some donning green T-shirts.
They were held back at first before the police eventually allowed some of them to go in.
Will answer any questions in court
At the Umno general assembly last month, Adnan had claimed that the protesters had not walked all the way as claimed.
He claimed that they had traveled “in luxury and in motorcars” and said he has no sympathy for them.
At around four o’ clock, Tuw and Wong were released from the police station after being investigated, stating they might be charged on Dec 26.
If they are not charged, the duo claimed they were told they must present themselves to the police station within 14 days.
They were interrogated by police who, they claimed, wanted to know if their actions was at the direction by someone, what were they doing and who supported them in their actions.
Both did not say much during the questioning but stated that they will answer in court if charged.
When contacted, Wong said that he and Tuw were arrested under Section 186 and 189 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant in discharge of public functions and for threat of injury to a public servant.
Malaysiakini
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Much like Malaysian minority feminists that attack men but neglect apartheid against themselves AND their men, this is what happens to people who go around using Pakatan’s method of marching and demanding apologies instead of campaigning legally and in dignity as independent candidates. Arrests. If this 71 year old does not run for election in GE13 as a 3rd force candidate, we’d all know that the geezer might be a disinfo agent of BN to distract from the lack of :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
BN has the mandate to grant the above 3 items but still does not act. By the Human Rights Charter which Malaysia is a signatory or the tenets of Islam about rights of non-Muslims for Haram entertainments and equality, BN is the least sincere choice still. BN, why don’t you use that undeserved mandate and put an end to this farce of 2 part elections? Meanwhile what is the Bar Council doing? Can’t even challenge the federal Government for Article 1 of the Human Rights Charter? Useless over-educated colluders with all the undeserved resources . . . Vote 3rd Force!
Proposed 3rd Force Party
mini-ARTICLE 6.5
Deepak, Musa the guns used in Dr M’s ‘guerrilla warfare’ against Najib & Rosmah? – by Nawawi Mohamad, Stan Lee, Malaysia Chronicle | 17 Dec 2012
When you want to get at someone who has influence and power, you have to plan and execute with precision and style in order to create maximum and lasting impact. Otherwise, it could backfire badly and you might end up hurt or even dead! That is life in the Malaysia’s take-no-enemies, an-eye-for-an-e…
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Nawawi and Stan . . . Zzz. If the election deposit which out 222 MPs refuse to lower is affordable to these guys, just shut up and run for election as a candidate against the creeps (right after winning lower the damn election candidacy deposit).
ARTICLE 7
DAP does not represent ‘middle Malaysia’, snipes PM – Monday, 17 December 2012 08:06
SANDAKAN — DAP does not represent ‘middle Malaysia’ or the spirit of unity of all races in Malaysia when all eight Malay DAP leaders did not garner enough votes to sit in the party’s central executive committee (CEC) during its congress yesterday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that would not happen within Barisan Nasional (BN) that practises fairness to all the races in Malaysia and had a clear direction for the country.
“We also see that DAP is not only dominated by one race, that is the Chinese, but also by a family dynasty where Lim Kit Siang received the highest vote while his son Lim Guan Eng came in second.
“Not only the Malays lose to the Chinese, but even the Indians failed to be elected to the committee,” he said when opening the Liberal Democratic Party 23rd General Assembly, here today.
Najib called on the people to continue supporting BN which practises unity under the 1Malaysia concept and which was also evident in its cabinet.
“Malaysia lies within a good partnership known as Barisan Nasional. Believeme, we (Malaysia under BN government) will go places, our economy will soar and investors will be more confident,” he said.
The prime minister also said the BN government will continue to give out assistance in various fields such as education and business in order for the country to prosper.
Meanwhile, Najib said BN was serious and honest in delivering its promisesto the people unlike leaders such as opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said during Anwar’s brief stint as acting prime minister in 1997, the former deputy prime minister under Tun Mahathir Mohamad’s administration had every opportunity to prove his worth, but took the easy way out by letting the International Monetary Fund have control over Malaysia during the economic crisis that year.
“He (Anwar) didn’t protect the country’s sovereignty… He never asked himself why he was not fit to become a prime minister,” he said.
Najib also asked for the people not to risk the future of Malaysia under Pakatan Rakyat. He said the coalition of the opposition parties had no common ideology and had no clear direction for the future of the country.
“Even their leaders Anwar (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang are fighting to become prime minister if Pakatan Rakyat comes into power.
“We (the country) can’t have a coalition that is fundamentally flawed,” he said.
— BERNAMA
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Very true that DAP does not represent middle anything. Term limitless oligarchies are harmful. BN has not granted after 50 years :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;and on that basis, could be said to be even more fundamentally flawed. BN has the mandate to grant the above now. Why does BN not act? Because BN is fundamentally flawed. Pakatan has had ZERO years in power and never had the mandate – that is why Pakatan presents a 50 year stronger challenge. Otherwise vote 3rd Force!
ARTICLE 8
Dr M interfered in police probe on Anwar sex scandal, alleges ex-cop – NEWS/COMMENTARIES – Monday, 17 December 2012 admin-s
(The Malaysian Insider) – Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had admitted in his memoirs to interfering in police investigations into the alleged sexual dalliances linked to his one-time deputy, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, a former senior policeman said today.
In his open letter, ex-Kuala Lumpur CID chief Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim questioned Home Minister Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein’s decision to keep out of an ongoing spat between two former senior crime busters — Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Datuk Ramli Yusuff — which is seen to be jeopardising public confidence in the police force.
“If exposed that Tun Mahathir (picture)himself had deliberately or otherwise admitted in writing that it was true he had interfered in police investigations related to the ‘50 Dalil’ [50 Reasons] book, what would be the response from Hishammuddin or the prime minister?” Mat Zain said in his letter to incumbent Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar, which was also copied to Hishammuddin and PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“It is hoped Hishammuddin will not say that the matter was a personal matter between Tun Mahathir and Musa Hassan and he refuses to interfere too,” he added.
The retired policeman alleged that Dr Mahathir had revealed in his autobiography, “A Doctor in the House”, published last year, that he had a direct hand in police investigations related to a book titled “50 Dalil Mengapa Anwar Tidak Boleh Jadi Perdana Menteri” [50 Reasons Why Anwar Cannot Be Prime Minister] that concerned the then-deputy prime minister’s purported sexual liaisons with several men and women, including prostitutes.
“He had confidently given a guarantee that he will direct the police to bring the witnesses to Sri Perdana once again, if the chief ministers and mentris besar as well as state Umno liaison chairmen wanted to interview them.”
Malaysia’s fourth prime minister wrote that he had first been told about Anwar’s alleged homosexual activities in the early 1990s by then police chief Tun Hanif Omar.
Dr Mahathir, who ruled from 1981 to 2003, said he was then given the book “50 Dalil Kenapa Anwar IBrahim Tidak Boleh Jadi Perdana Menteri” but had initially dismissed it as a sensationalist attempt to make money.
He said in 1997 Ummi Hafilda Ali, sister of PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, sent him a letter with specific allegations of sodomy against Anwar.
The former prime minister said he interviewed the girls who told him they were taken to have sex with his then deputy, who was later charged and jailed for sodomy and corruption.
Dr Mahathir wrote that they were persuaded to do so by an Indian man they knew as Nalla, likely to be Datuk K.S. Nallakarupan, then a close associate of Anwar who has since fallen out with the opposition leader.
Dr Mahathir said he then called Umno leaders including mentris besar and chief ministers to Sri Perdana to brief them about Anwar’s alleged affairs and showed them pictures of the witnesses.
Mat Zain said today that the former prime minister’s statements in the book were “clear proof that not only did he interfere in investigations, but also gave certain orders that were not appropriate to Musa Hassan, until it is believed influenced the overall outcome of the investigations”.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
The judiciary has been unable to act even after a dearth, anti-trust and collusion evidence. The legal fraternity world wide should blackball Malaysia’s judiciary and give support to Musa if Musa decides to take out the ILLEGAL AP law writing (ask any legal body worldwide, they will tell you that Vehicular AP is illegal), failed shipping nepotism bailing, political nepotism causing mamak plutocrat politician Iskandar Kutty Jr..
mini-ARTICLE 8.5
PKR, Umno share same DNA – NEWS/COMMENTARIES – Monday, 17 December 2012 admin-s
(Free Malaysia Today) – STAR is clear in pushing its Borneo Agenda for Sabah and Sarawak, saying it’s time for Borneo-centric policies, and that the Malayan Agenda is no longer acceptable.
State Reform Party (STAR) Sabah chairman Jeffrey Kitingan is adamant that PKR is the opposition’s version of Umno and will lord over the people in Sabah and Sarawak if it comes to power at federal level.
Jeffrey, who is also the president of the United Borneo Front (UBF), equated both the peninsula-based political parties as Malayan in nature and unsuitable for the two Borneo states.
“PKR and Umno are the same like the old colonialists. They come to exploit us to get into power to eventually lord over us. PKR should concentrate on winning the seats in the Peninsula which is already more than 75% of the total seats.
“It is their Malaya Agenda to control and colonise Sabah and Sarawak, whereas our Borneo Agenda is just the opposite, to free us from this choking over-lording over Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
East Malaysia should demand FULL equality or secede.
ARTICLE 9
DAP adopts one candidate-one seat policy – Monday, 17 December 2012 admin-s
(The Star) – DAP has adopted its Central Executive Committee’s (CEC) resolution on the one candidate, one seat policy.
DAP chairman Karpal Singh said one person should contest only one seat, but there could be exceptions on case-by-case basis based on the party’s strategy.
“The resolution has been adopted,” said Karpal, who had wanted such a policy to provide opportunity to candidates of calibre to contest.
Other resolutions from branches that were tabled and adopted include calls on party leaders to stop openly attacking the party to the point of jeopardising its image.
Perak New Village branch chairman Lim Soo Chong said attacks motivated by personal interest should stop because the party did not belong to any individual.
Another resolution adopted called on leaders to attend party functions and not to demand five-star accommodations.
Six other resolutions could not be tabled because representatives from the branches that proposed them were not present.
On a proposal by Sekinchan assemblyman Ng Suee Lim to impose a direct election system in the party, Karpal said the party constitution needed to be amended for it to be adopted.
“It requires a major amendment to the constitution. If the members feel strongly about direct election, then it should be considered.”
Although Karpal had said the delegates were free to bring up any issue, none of them brought up contentious issues involving Pakatan Rakyat.
Issues such as the gender ruling in salons in Kelantan, “khalwat” summonses issued to non-Muslims in Kelantan and the demolition of a religious altar in a private home in Selangor were not touched.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
The only good news so far about DAP. Double posts mean salaries of up to 1 million yearly – which Rakyat would tolerate this? Where are those MP asset declarations and Local Council Elections as promised? Nepotist, crony capitalist . . .
ARTICLE 10
Why now, Musa? – by R. Nadeswaran, The Sun – Monday, 17 December 2012 admin-s
You cannot create doubts in the minds of the people by making such sweeping statements without substantiation. No amount of denials by the minister or his cohorts is going to clear the reservations of the rakyat unless and until you are willing to be specific.
WHEN Tan Sri Ismail Omar was appointed inspector-general of police two years ago, many had expected him to shape up an already beleaguered police force. From rising crime rates to public order, he had his work cut out for him. Besides, the internal bickering between his predecessor, Tan Sri Musa Hassan and the former commercial crimes chief, Datuk Ramli Yusoff, turned into what appeared to be a bare-fisted brawl. With Tan Sri Robert Phang in the fray, a battle royale has ensued.
After months of anxiety, worry and concern, Ramli was acquitted of charges accusing him of misuse of power.
While the civil suit which was filed by Ramli has yet to start, everyone thought the dust had settled and Ismail would be able to focus on reducing crime rates and other issues of public interest.
But last week, Musa came to the fore with his claims of “interference from politicians” and a host of other claims, allegations and assertions, this time accusing Phang of having had a hand in the transfer of a senior police officer.
Why now? If indeed there was interference, shouldn’t Musa have thrown the Police Act in the face of the people behind the interference and ask them to mind their own business? Was he not the key witness in the trial of a former deputy prime minister who was charged with “interfering with police business”?
Why now? Did Musa consciously stop investigating crimes just because the call came from Putrajaya?
Why now? There were no reasons or provocateurs behind Musa’s sudden outburst and hence why out of the blue, call for a press conference?
Why now? Having yet to answer the charges made by Ramli in his various court affidavits, does Musa now want us to believe his hands were tied in the past?
Why now? Musa retired two years ago and if he was unhappy with the events during his tenure, shouldn’t he have voiced out his views at the handing-over ceremony to his successor?
Why now? Musa had all the opportunity to offer advice to his successor, Ismail who had been his deputy. Is he trying to undermine the IGP by describing Ismail as a “yes man”?
Why now? Who was the Tan Sri who came to you with a stack of summonses? Shouldn’t he have been shown the door and told that the law takes it course?
Such claims have yet again forced the public to form their own views and opinions on the impartiality of the police force. People are wondering if the police pander to the wishes of politicians or if they go by the book in the application and enforcement of the law.
Going by Musa’s assertions, people who have committed murder, robbery and other heinous crimes are walking on our streets on the basis of phone calls from politicians?
These claims may have some truth in them, but making statements without substantiation would be akin to self-appointed do-gooders and instantly-created NGOs demanding all kinds of explanations from the opposition.
Musa did not provide one instance where the minister or a politician had interfered in police investigations. Except for saying that a titled politician turned up in his office to sort out summonses, nothing more specific was revealed.
If indeed the police acceded to directives and instruction from higher up, are we to assume that the police closed the file on the Balkis fiasco where funds totalling almost RM10 million were transferred illegally, which borders on breach of trust?
Are we to say that the police also closed the files on the overseas money transfers that were carried out illegally through money changers although there were prima facie cases against them?
No, Musa. You cannot create doubts in the minds of the people by making such sweeping statements without substantiation. No amount of denials by the minister or his cohorts is going to clear the reservations of the rakyat unless and until you are willing to be specific – incidences, names, dates and times – when such interference took place.
R. Nadeswaran maintains that the police should be impartial and that any charges made must be backed up with evidence. Comments: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Musa is testing the water, and all of the above if ‘fired’ will immediately remove any caveats of neutrality Musa has that will allow Musa to back down, Musa wouldn’t sign their own death warrant. Musa needs to test the waters to see how many supporters Musa has or the public sentiment which will decide if Musa will survive AFTER ‘firing’, if not acting as bait on UMNO’s beha;f to sabotage the whistleblowers – who in either case can count on general discontent to topple BN that Musa may try to cash in on rather than support a hated and racist political party. This is not the first or last time a retired IGP enters politics (think Thaksin’s early days before PAP converted the Policeman in Thaksin Shinawatra into a corrupted bureaucrat who has against all principles against nepotism ingenuously acted as if Thaksin’s sister Yingluck Shinawatra’s presence in the 3rd world mob minded country – the Red Shirts at least – as normal, while refusing to attend court . . . ).
How does being a 3rd Force candidate, if not independent and neutral MP sound to Musa? BN is corrupt, PR is selfish. BN is clearly racist (and somewhat nepotistic) and PR might be racist (and very nepotistic), or quite prepared to be self serving by using racism as a weapon of control. Devil and deep blue sea, how about NEITHER. Go independent or be 3rd Force! Help the rakyat learn that the hegelian dialectic of a supposed 2 party system might still make no difference by offering an alternative 3rd and by extension teaching the Rakyat to think. An ex-IGP (much like the failure ex-Bar President who refuses to run for election but creates chaos on the streets by inciting rallies to no purpose), has the ethos to run as a 3rd Force MP for certain . . .
ARTICLE 11
How Our Democracy is Damaged – by Kee Thuan Chye – Monday, 17 December 2012 admin-s
The individual analyses of the 16 by-elections in the book, contributed by about a dozen observers ranging from journalists to researchers to political scientists, reveal how inept the EC has been, especially in not attending to electoral roll irregularities and preventing abuse of public institutions and corrupt practices.
We often hear of electoral fraud and unfair election practices but what do they really mean? What forms does electoral fraud usually take? What constitute unfair practices and how have they surfaced?
Beyond that, what are the measures that need to be taken to ensure that Malaysian elections are free and fair so that this vital aspect of our democracy is truly well-served and our vote for the candidate or party we support is not made a mockery of?
A new book called Democracy at Stake?: Examining 16 By-elections in Malaysia, 2008-2011, published by Strategic Information and Research Development Centre, answers our questions and collates our concerns into a handy and comprehensive compact.
Edited by Wong Chin Huat and Soon Li Tsin, it analyses the 16 by-elections that have been held since the 12th general election according to such relevant categories as how free, fair and clean they were; the freedom and quality of the campaigning; the political parties’ access to media; corrupt practices that were perpetrated; how impartial or otherwise the public institutions were; the amount of campaign money spent; the electoral roll; and the polling process.
Wong, who is in my opinion one of the sharpest political analysts we have, sets the standard for the conduct of elections in his introductory article.
Well-researched and replete with references from many documented sources, it explains why electoral fraud is wrong (“Even if one person is disenfranchised … even if one vote is rigged, democracy is damaged because political equality is compromised to favour the ones who play foul”) and explains what we as citizens should expect of a free and fair election.
The most fundamental of expectations are that we “must be able to register as voters with minimal cost and trouble” and be able to vote “without much difficulty”, and our votes “must be counted with integrity”. By that token, we must also expect that the electoral roll “includes all citizens who are eligible to vote” and “nobody else”.
Wong, however, declares that the electoral rolls in Malaysia “fail on both accounts”. This is partly because as of March 2012, three million eligible citizens are still not registered voters. But what we may find more disturbing is his revelation that the electoral rolls “include many names who [sic] should not be there in the first place, such as illegally enfranchised foreigners, deceased voters, multiply-registered voters, voluntarily and involuntarily transferred voters who are non-residents in the constituency”.
It is amusing to note that entries like Kampung Baru and a Police Station at Kampung Kerinchi are registered voters on the electoral rolls.
Wong proposes synchronising the electorate database maintained by the Election Commission (EC) with the citizenry database of the National Registration Department (NRD) to minimise errors and allow for corrections to be made continually.
Although he does not say so explicitly, it would also facilitate automatic voter registration, one of the eight demands of Bersih, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections of which Wong is a steering committee member. The synchronisation of databases would alert the EC to instances of citizens turning 21 and attaining eligibility for voting.
Another disturbing point Wong raises concerns the legal impediments to transparency in the procedure for correction of errors. Section 9A of the Election Act 1958 prevents the electoral rolls from being challenged in court, and Regulation 25 of the Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations gives “unchecked power” to the EC to “correct any errors free from any public scrutiny”.
This point is particularly pertinent in regard to the Malaysian EC because the public has lost much confidence in the commission’s ability and inclination to be independent and neutral in the conduct of its duty. One important measure that the public needs to take, therefore, is to lobby for the EC to be truly independent and neutral.
If this were achieved, we can be better assured that other conditions necessary for free and fair elections will be facilitated.
These would include what Wong describes as allowing citizens to make “informed decisions after deliberation” from the “availability of information from all perspectives”.
As such, there should be campaign freedom – a reasonable period for campaigning once an election is called; free airtime for all contesting parties on State-owned broadcast media like RTM and unbiased coverage in Bernama as well as private-owned media, like Utusan Malaysia, The Star, Sin Chew, Media Prima’s TV stations, etc; and no restrictions like those imposed in three by-elections at which the Home Ministry banned campaigners from “mentioning (a) Altantuya Shaariibuu, the Mongolian model cum interpreter whose murder was linked to Prime Minister (PM) Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor, and (b) the role of the Perak Palace in the state’s constitutional crisis”.
The impartiality of public institutions should also be upheld. This includes no abuse of government machinery by the ruling party, such as using official cars and helicopters for party campaigning or, worse, announcing development projects like in the Hulu Selangor “buy-election” when BN offered about RM136 million in projects, payments and compensations while the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor State Government offered about RM27.6 million’s worth.
And of course there should also be no pork barrelling at the hustings, the most famous example being the “I help you, you help me” offer of RM5 million for flood mitigation that Najib made to the Rejang Park voters in the Sibu by-election in return for their support of the BN candidate.
Nor should there be outright vote-buying, as in the alleged giving out of RM100 cash to each Chinese voter at a polling station during the Merlimau by-election.
It is the duty of the EC to report such transgressions but, unfortunately, it has not been fulfilling that duty.
By and large, the individual analyses of the 16 by-elections in the book, contributed by about a dozen observers ranging from journalists to researchers to political scientists, reveal how inept the EC has been, especially in not attending to electoral roll irregularities and preventing abuse of public institutions and corrupt practices.
In the Permatang Pauh by-election, for example, a voter was turned away from the polling station because on the electoral roll, he was said to be dead.
Furthermore, 949 voters were discovered to have disappeared from the constituency’s electoral roll. As the media reported the issue and the EC’s deputy chairman could not explain the disappearance, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin called on the EC to investigate it. However, “no finding was revealed to the public”.
In Bukit Selambau, election watchdog Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (MAFREL) backed the Opposition’s claim that more than 60% of the voters in a housing estate were phantom voters, but the EC merely dismissed it.
In fact, the picture that emerges from the 16 analyses is that many of the complaints and allegations made during the by-elections were not resolved afterwards.
On the whole, as the editors sum up in the final chapter, “the integrity of the electoral rolls in Malaysia is highly questionable”. Citing extensively from research done by political scientist Ong Kian Ming, they elaborate on unexplained deletions of names; unaccounted-for additions; high number of voters registered under the same address; unusually high increase of military/police voters (most markedly in Lembah Pantai, currently a Pakatan Rakyat seat held by Nurul Izzah Anwar, which has seen a 1,024% growth of such voters); and other manifestations.
EC Chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof has declared that Malaysia has “the cleanest electoral rolls in the world”, with problematic registrations amounting to only 42,051 names, but according to Ong’s research findings, the number is closer to 3 million.
Whomever you choose to believe, the outlook is far from rosy. The editors believe the irregularities are caused by deliberate fraud rather than administrative or clerical errors. They consider the state we’re in an “Orwellian absurdity”.
On our part, we the public should be pressing for accountability from the EC and other related authorities. Although Democracy at Stake? does not suggest how we could go about doing this, it focuses attention on a serious issue of our political life.
It’s up to us now to protect our democratic right. Taking to the streets through the Bersih rallies has been done and resulted in some headway, but this is unlikely the way to achieve the ultimate goal.
We need to think of other ways to shake the powers that be to get the real democracy we deserve.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Could the information on registered voters be easier to access? With a few million citizens on the internet trawling the irregularities and the system suggested on :
;could help where the issue of 1000% rise in voter listings or buildings being registered as voters, or repeats in names occur should easily be fereted out with the suggested system. Who needs voting machines?
ARTICLE 12
Flabbergasted 3rd Force slams poor Democratic Principals of “NATIONAL LIARS” DAP-Pakatan Rakyat leaders – by 3rd Force – Tuesday, 18 December 2012 17:09
I really do not know whether to laugh or to cry – the standard of Democratic Principals in Malaysia has really fallen to a disgraceful and abysmal low after four decades of DAP-PakatanRakyat rule.
Last week, Malaysia suffered national and international humiliation when the Trends in International Judiciaryematics and Police Study ( TIMSS) 2011 reports were released, as the nation’s ranking in eighth-grade Judiciary fell from 20th in 2007 to 26th in 2011 while its ranking in Police fell by an even greater margin, from 21st in 2007 to 32nd in 2011. Our average Judiciarys score fell from 474 in 2007 to 440 and our average Police score fell by an even greater degree from 471 in 2007 to 426 in 2011, both far below the international average for both subjects in TIMSS 2011.
What is even worse, Malaysia also suffered the shame of being only one out of 6 countries out of 42 countries participating in the Judiciarys study and 45 countries participating in the Police study to see falls in both our Judiciarys and Police scores and ranking! Most of the other countries either improved their scores and rankings or stayed at their previous levels.
Setting bad examples
But the poor attainments of our civil servants in Judiciary and Police when compared to international student achievements is not the only bane of the Malaysian education system.
Another equally critical area where the Malaysian education system has failed miserably is the Democratic Principals subject, which was poignantly illustrated in the past 5 decades, placing me in the position of not knowing whether to laugh or to cry.
Yesterday, I issued a media statement where I said:
“I wish to apologise to the Prime Minister and DAP President,Lim Kit Siang and the DAP-PakatanRakyat leaders that I was elected into the DAP Central Executive Committee (CEC) at the 16th DAP National Congress – and with the highest votes.” I am really flabbergasted that there are DAP-PakatanRakyat leaders and supporters who took it literally to mean that I had realised the error of BN-Umno “misconduct” and that BN-Umno was belatedly admitting that Lim Kit Siang had been right.
It would be unthinkable that such a ludicrous situation in comprehension of the Democratic Principals could happen in Malaysia 40 years ago! (The Race Riots took 2 hands to clap, DAP was the dirty hand, but ALL Malaysians were punished instead, meanwhile DAP MPs have sat in power for decades and currently collect 20 times PROPOSED minimum wage of 900 . . . )
No such phrases in the Democratic Principals, dear Karpal (much less the 0.002% quorum crony NGO(quangocrat) based elections which takes tax payer monies. (300 NGO members voted, 1.5 million Penangites were left out and given inadequate time to vote or participate in voting, DAP however wants to INSULT the Rakyat by distributing money THIRD WORLD STYLE instead which could be used to ensure proper voting occured)
Recently, we have a Mentri Besar whose comprehension of Democratic Principals is so dismal that he could “invent”” figurative language in Democratic Principals only known to himself – when he talked about “sacrificing DAP’s Teoh Beng Hocks” and “jumping into the river” in Pahang if DAP should lose to 33rd Force in Bentong in the 13 general elections.
Everybody who searched the internet could only find figures of speech like “cutting the Kit Siang to spite Guan Eng” and “jump into the PAP” but no “cutting Karpals” or “jumping into the PAP”!
Of course, Malaysians will not forget about another Mentri Besar who claimed ignorance of Democratic Principals as to justify carrying lying about declarations of MP Assets to the Rakyat as a campaign manifesto for GE12 while taking 1 million or so every 4 year term of thr taxpayer monies then having the illegally appointed EXCO members declare assets in bait and switch instead! DAP is a party of multiple crises in term limitlessness and crony capitalism, including multiple crisis in nepotism.
Let us be serious about term limitlessness and crony capitalism, including multiple crisis in nepotism in parties like DAP, and stop making Malaysia an international joke. Listed below are the nepotist (also untalented and unprincipled) factions in DAP which the Rakyat must remove or run as candidates against :
RELATED REPOSTING WARNING ABOUT NEPOTISM
Please note the Oligarchs in Pakatan as listed below :
NEPOTISM IN PAKATAN RAKYAT
Three of the below must be challenged so that only a single candidate without relatives remains :
Two of the below must be challenged so that only a single candidate without relatives remains :
Karpal Singh (MP Jelutong – Penang)
Gobind Singh (MP Puchong – Selangor)
Karpal’s son Jagdeep Singh (Asssemblyman Dato Keramat – Penang)
Karpal’s son
Two of the below must be challenged so that only a single candidate without relatives remains :
Anwar Ibrahim (MP Permatang Pauh, Seberang Prai)
Wan Azizah Nurul Izzah Anwar(MP Lembah Pantai – Kuala Lumpur)
Anwar’s Daughter Also either Ngeh (Pantai Remis) or Nga (Sitiawan)
;must go to prevent 2nd degree nepotism and the kind of environment that caused DAP’s Kulasegaran, PKR’s Gobalakrishnan, to be kicked out possibly an act of racism but more likely at the order of the Lim Dynasty clique. BN of course we do not need to discuss, blocs of relatives galore.
For even stronger consideration, I also list seats that HRP demands :
1. Padang Serai (Incumbent: PKR – N Gobalakrishnan)
2. Batu Kawan (DAP – Ramasamy)
3. Sungei Siput (PSM – Dr D Jeyakumar)
4. Ipoh Barat (DAP – N Kulasegaran)
5. Bagan Datoh (BN – Ahmad Zahid Hamidi)
6. Cameron Highlands (BN – SK Devamany)
7. Hulu Selangor (BN – P Kamalanathan)
8. Kuala Selangor (PAS – Dzulkefy Ahmad)
9. Klang (DAP – Charles Santiago)
10. Kota Raja (PAS – Siti Mariah Mahmud)
11. Rasah (DAP – Anthony Loke)
12. Teluk Kemang (PKR – Kamarul Baharin Abbas)
13. Alor Gajah (BN – Fong Chan Onn)
14. Tebrau (BN – Teng Boon Soon)
15. Lembah Pantai (PKR – Nurul Izzah Anwar)
HRP might very well be aware of some things we are not aware of to list some surprising choices as well, do not discount their reasons. PSM’s Jeyakumar appears to have been bought by BN though, so their viability is uncertain until PSM’s clique leadership changes. I have done some probing and casual calls to PSM, they are not very grassroots, DAP of course (also tried earlier) is far worse and absolutely TREACHEROUS and clique based and beholden to SINGAPORE’s PAP. I would not be surprised if the nepotists in DAP are rounded up a 2nd time, for collusions with Singapore to subvert Malaysian Federal authority instead amongst other things like ‘neurotech abuse’. Everyone else, should meanwhile stand as independents in any constituency with bad assemblymen or MPs or people who do not endorse term limits and asset declarations. Here’s something that will help voters decide if candidacy is not their thing or too expensive : Barisan – Apartheid, Corrupt and Nepotistic-Oligarchs Pakatan – Corrupt and Nepotistic-Oligarchs (excepting PAS) 3rd Force – Corrupt Only (watch Marina’s cliques as well) Pick the coalition with the least flaws. End the APARTHEID ! Destroy the Oligarchs in all political coalitions ! 3rd Force is best.
@AgreeToDisagree is the 3rd Force adviser & MP of the real issue
Truth By Consensus – How To Control Our Thinking – by Zen Gardner – Tuesday, December 4th, 2012
Funny how this works. People actually think they can arrive at the truth by averaging what they hear. Seriously. That’s how most people are taught to think. I get this argument all the time. It totally explains the power of the mass media. Just think about this dynamic. How do people arrive at conclusions? What information or lack thereof are they deriving them from? Pretty stark reality if you’re willing to look it in the eyes. People are incredibly similar in their outlook and understandings. And hence behaviors. Incredibly so. Like we’re following a script. Look at yourself. How you dress, the expressions you use, what you’re into. No matter what segment of society you’re living in, it’s pretty freaky. I remember when I decided to grow out my facial hair and looking in the mirror thinking, “Am I following some meme being broadcast by these bastards?”
Paranoid? Totally. It’s the only way on this planet. Completely healthy. If you’re not, you’re not awake yet. Truth is Never Popular. While a defined consensus gets established and reaffirms the status quo, “contrary” eddies of thought and realization make their way through the public psyche. These are carefully ferreted out by the watchdog media cabal and portrayed as “fringe” ideas and “conspiracy theories” of course. Carefully and dutifully packaged and sublimated into a negative subconscious arena for the mainstream unawakened. Anything contrary is now anathema, resented; spuriously thrown overboard as wing nut conspiracy talk. Typical. And more importantly…very effective and very efficient.
Getting To the Point
I’ll take Truth over BS fairy tales any day of eternity. No matter the pain and seeming loss of emotional or otherwise investments, bring on the Truth. 9/11 is always the standard reminder of how duped the world can be. Plain as the nose on your face those towers were brought down by some sort of exotic and carefully planned out demolition technique, but what the hell. No one cares. Or very few. At least that’s the portrayal we get and it seems to hold way too much water. People are even afraid to discuss the subject. That’s when you know society has been seriously hemmed in and headed for dismemberment. As obvious as it is, the Truth can just be right there without people being able to see it. It’s the condition of our “race”…we want to believe what we want and will cloak it in “positive thinking” or “idealism” or imposed bottom line security needs whenever we can for peace and comfort. Very, very sad from the Truth perspective, but oh so understandable. Blindness until awakened. What a tale. But behold the awakening in spite of all this!
Enter Psycho-Sexual Addiction
This psychological pandering we’re witnessing is simply a ploy to keep the masses asleep. The populace has been duped, hypnotized, seduced. It no longer can contain, maintain or control itself. It must have the savories and goodies of the system or it will go berserk. This addiction is firmly established. Football, advertising, game shows, reality dramas, zombie and vampire horror and sci-fi movies while sucking down addictive, poisonous foods………”Please bring it on! We want more! We want another reality, not our own!” Scantily dressed young girls, sculpted effeminized men, cross sexual weirdness of every type and genre…. …bring it on. Chaos is our new middle name–in fact, their manipulated shifting world is apparently our New Normal. ‘Chaos is the new normal’ is as cognitively dissonant as the ‘war on terrorism’. Orwell, you must be howling!
Summary
Know what you “believe” about not only their false structure, but our true reality, to the point it’s not a belief. Please know each of those as facts…not an emotional extension of some hope or sense of idealism. Be sure you’re deciding for yourself and not following anything unconsciously. We’re not used to that kind of truly independent thought, having been taught all our lives to just follow, obey and repeat, so it’s a lot of work and a set of muscles that have to be developed. You’ll see what I mean as it goes along. Affirming our conscious awakening in spirit, word and deed is our primary purpose and most potent weapon. Not only against the usurpers and the ignorance and darkness that seems to rule our current paradigm, but for the development and realization of the true conscious reality that is there to be expressed into this dimension. Get busy being and doing what you know is right and the rest will follow, I guarantee. Because that’s how it works. And do it in love. If we can wake up, anybody can. Love, Zen
“If you’re not free to follow life’s signs and live in synchronicity, you’re not free.” – Zen
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
. . . It must have the savories and goodies of the system or it will go berserk. . . . Chaos is our new middle name–in fact, their manipulated shifting world is apparently our New Normal. . . .
Actually savouries or goodies MUST not be considered such. Chaos is not ‘our’ new middle name, Chaos is not mainstream, Chaos is going to take a proper place WITHOUT punishment. There is no way ‘Chaos’ can co-opt you unless you are Chaotically inclined, and given the need of Chaos in evolution per se, I’d say Chaos is the very most important thing to ANY species which wants to move on, even as older structures become increasingly exotic and rarefied to the point of gaining value (in retarded areas of the 3rd world, the rare are villified much like LGBT, in the right places, the rare’d be exotic and invested in to ensure survival . . . ).
Religion would have taken the role of rare, but the overproliferation and low quality of followers, obvious internal rot and abusive nature of religion says that religion is already over-proliferated and people being subconsciously sick of religion, acting whatever in the only way they can, to sabotage religion much like pedo-priests protesting celibacy, Islamists protesting no alcohol and no pork rules by being violent, Buddhists acquiring car collections and much trappings of wealth and gold all around the temple (Temples to rampant-Capitalism and Greed), even as Buddha said to not be materialistic, can we see that the highest ranked in the faith actually do the most opposite? I wonder if I do enough ‘opposite’ I’d be the Ecclesiarch Primifex of the Planet . . .
. . . So get busy being and doing what you know is right and the rest will follow, I guarantee. Because that’s how it works. . . .
Don’t accidentally co-opt what is already known as your own!
@Zen appears to be quite fused with whatever mass mind or community hive @Zen is from (@Zen is less hive minded overall but still enough to identify that the mindset is still hivelike). Truth By Consensus problems as describe above are however correct. Subversive article with a good NLP positive article that disparages ‘Chaos’? Hard to say, but whatever we gravitate to, that is what we truly are, everything else is just nonsense, regardless of whatever laws or social trends, though spaces appropriate to size and facilities must be available to all and sundry in either case.
mini-ARTICLE 1.5
China opposes U.S. bill concerning Diaoyu Islands (Xinhua) 09:09, December 04, 2012
BEIJING, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) — China has expressed serious concern and firm opposition to a U.S. bill that regards China’s territory as under the authority of a U.S.-Japan security pact.
At a regular press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters, “The Chinese side expresses serious concern and firm opposition to the U.S. Senate’s amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act which involves the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets.”
In the bill, which the U.S. Senate passed last week, the United States reaffirmed that it “takes no position” on the ultimate sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands. However, the bill notes that Japan has the rights of administration over the territory and that “unilateral actions of a third party” would not affect its position.
Hong said the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets have always been the inherent territory of China since ancient times, and China has undisputed sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands.
According to the U.S. bill, any armed attack “in the territories under the administration of Japan” would be met under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security.
Hong called the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan as a “product of the Cold War era”, saying it should not go beyond bilateral scopes, nor undermine the interests of a third party.
Hong said the U.S. side has repeatedly stated that it will not take sides on territory disputes between China and Japan.
He said the U.S. side “should not send out signals that conflict with each other.” He expressed the hope that the U.S. side would “proceed from the general situation of peace and stability of the region”, “keep its words” and “do more things that are conducive to peace and stability in the region.”
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
The islands were part of Chinese territory with an indigenous people that accepted vassalship under the Chinese Emperor until the 8 Foreign Powers invasion and later Japanese expansion in WW1 and 2. USA should understand that sovereignty loss during war cannot have legal continuity under occupiers or aggressors when the war ends. How would USA like for the Native Ameri-Indians to kick them back to Europe?
ARTICLE 2
Ooh Baby It’s a Wild World – by Daniel J. Flynn on 11.30.12 @ 6:08AM
It’s a jungle out there for transanimals.
The humans called Dennis Avner “Stalking Cat.” His kind referred to him as “meow.”
The cat-like Avner, who held the Guinness Book of World Records mark for body modifications — including a bifurcated lip, extensive tiger-stripe facial tattooing, surgically pointed ears, and silicone injections in the cheeks, chin, and forehead — died earlier this month.
The human authorities suspect he killed himself. I suspect humans, threatened that one of their own had defected to the cat community, killed him.
Human nature, alien to Stalking Cat, remains quite familiar with suicide. The dearth of documented cases of self-inflicted felicide raises suspicions. Only an Ace Ventura could definitively answer this whodunit. The one certainty here is that it’s a jungle out there for a person who realizes he, she, or it is an animal trapped in a human’s body.
Dennis Avner never found acceptance among mankind as a felid despite the plastic surgeries, the tattoos, and the silicone injections. He was, in a loose sense, a real-life Philip Nolan — a manimal without a species.
Biology is the new racism. The phobia against transanimals recalls the societal obstinacy regarding transgenders. We exiled them to the “third bathroom,” inscribed pesky reminders of their physiology on their driver’s licenses, and imprisoned them with criminals of the opposite gender. Some men still won’t consider dating a woman who was born a “man” — whatever that antiquated designation means. One surmises that Stalking Cat encountered similar prejudices among potential dating partners of all sexes and species.
Society’s rejection of transanimals results in their rejection of themselves. When a man splits his tongue, amputates his arms, and fuses his legs together to realize his inner serpent, society calls him crazy, a freak, and troubled — instead of what he is: a snake. We will become as sane as they are only when we finally see transanimals as they see themselves.
All this recalls the dark ages when we denied that one biologically born a male who surgically remade herself as female was as much a woman as your mother. Dennis Avner was as much a cat as Chastity Bono is a man.
Yet, many landlords won’t rent to transanimals. Their contracts stipulate “no pets.” Restaurants still post “no dogs allowed” signs. Public parks demand that you keep animals on a leash. Dennis Avner served in the Navy. But he did so in the form of a human being. The ban on transspecies soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines persists despite the obvious intimidation factor that a battalion of tiger-men would impose on the enemy.
What was Stalking Cat supposed to make of the many restrictions, formal and informal, that civilization imposed upon his wild spirit?
Transanimals face a gross double standard vis-à-vis transgenders. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services decrees that the Affordable Care Act forbids discrimination against transgendered patients within federally funded programs. U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf, a Reagan appointee, has ordered Massachusetts taxpayers to fund gender reassignment surgery for Michelle Kosilek, an inmate convicted of murdering his wife after she caught him in her clothes. Sixteen state governments find a compelling interest in forbidding employers from taking into account a man’s metamorphosis into a woman, or vice versa, when hiring and firing.
By what logic do these states, the federal judge, and HHS, which prohibit discrimination based on gender identity, then permit discrimination based on animal identity?
In fits of self-absolution, tormentors conveniently maintain that the extinction of Stalking Cat, along with a transgender suicide rate 25 times the general population’s, proves that self-mutilation begins a slow self-destruction that ends in one’s ultimate destruction. Society has dysphoria over sexual, and species, dysphoria. We lose some of our humanity when we don’t extend it to gharials, capybaras, and narwhals. Cats are people too.
Mourn Dennis Avner’s tragic demise. But celebrate the miracle of his longevity. While most house cats survive to about 15, Stalking Cat lived to 54. If you last that many years more, you will surely meet others of his kind.
It’s a bestial domain we inhabit. Or, as Cat Stevens — no relation to Stalking Cat — told us, “Ooh baby, baby it’s a wild world.” It’s getting wilder.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Cat Steven became a Muslim. Please don’t use Cat Stevens (now aka Yusuf Islam) as an example if you value your NLP-free/’accidental-proselytization-neutrality’ credentials Daniel. People might wind up thinking you’re a subverted Xian fronting for Muslets hiding behind the controversial topic of bestiality.
mini-ARTICLE 2.5
4 Bodies Found Face-Down Outside California House – by DAISY NGUYEN Associated Press – LOS ANGELES December 2, 2012 (AP)
The bodies of four people who had been shot to death were found face-down Sunday outside a suburban Southern California home that apparently served as an unlicensed boarding house, authorities said.
Los Angeles police were seeking a motive for the attacks at the house in Northridge, in the San Fernando Valley.
Lt. Terri Brinkmeyer said a 911 call led police to the large house around 4:30 a.m. Cmdr. Andrew Smith said the bodies of two men and two women were found face-down on a side yard of the property.
Investigators were questioning several people who were on the property at the time of the shooting, but no one has been detained or arrested.
Los Angeles City Councilman Mitchell Englander, who represents the area, said the house was split into several units for rent. He said at least a dozen people lived in the house, which contained several bedrooms, kitchenettes and mattresses on the floor.
“It appears from the nature of things that this was an unlicensed boarding facility,” Englander said from the crime scene. He noted that one bedroom was only accessible through a window.
The house was on street lined with houses, schools and places of worship.
“This is a very safe neighborhood. This type of thing doesn’t normally happen here,” Englander said.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Places of worship is the keyword here perhaps. Fundo alert. Or religion contrived sense of entitlement that caused strife with possible secularists.
ARTICLE 3
‘Asperger’s disorder’ being dropped from psychiatrists’ diagnostic guide by Lindsey Tanner, The Associated Press
CHICAGO — The now familiar term “Asperger’s disorder” is being dropped. And abnormally bad and frequent temper tantrums will be given a scientific-sounding diagnosis called DMDD. But “dyslexia” and other learning disorders remain.
The revisions come in the first major rewrite in nearly 20 years of the diagnostic guide used by the nation’s psychiatrists. Changes were approved Saturday.
Full details of all the revisions will come next May when the American Psychiatric Association’s new diagnostic manual is published, but the impact will be huge, affecting millions of children and adults worldwide. The manual also is important for the insurance industry in deciding what treatment to pay for, and it helps schools decide how to allot special education.
This diagnostic guide “defines what constellations of symptoms” doctors recognize as mental disorders, said Dr. Mark Olfson, a Columbia University psychiatry professor. More important, he said, it “shapes who will receive what treatment. Even seemingly subtle changes to the criteria can have substantial effects on patterns of care.”
Olfson was not involved in the revision process. The changes were approved Saturday in suburban Washington, D.C., by the psychiatric association’s board of trustees.
The aim is not to expand the number of people diagnosed with mental illness, but to ensure that affected children and adults are more accurately diagnosed so they can get the most appropriate treatment, said Dr. David Kupfer. He chaired the task force in charge of revising the manual and is a psychiatry professor at the University of Pittsburgh.
One of the most hotly argued changes was how to define the various ranges of autism. Some advocates opposed the idea of dropping the specific diagnosis for Asperger’s disorder. People with that disorder often have high intelligence and vast knowledge on narrow subjects but lack social skills. Some who have the condition embrace their quirkiness and vow to continue to use the label.
And some Asperger’s families opposed any change, fearing their kids would lose a diagnosis and no longer be eligible for special services.
But the revision will not affect their education services, experts say.
The new manual adds the term “autism spectrum disorder,” which already is used by many experts in the field. Asperger’s disorder will be dropped and incorporated under that umbrella diagnosis. The new category will include kids with severe autism, who often don’t talk or interact, as well as those with milder forms.
Kelli Gibson of Battle Creek, Mich., who has four sons with various forms of autism, said Saturday she welcomes the change. Her boys all had different labels in the old diagnostic manual, including a 14-year-old with Asperger’s.
“To give it separate names never made sense to me,” Gibson said. “To me, my children all had autism.”
Three of her boys receive special education services in public school; the fourth is enrolled in a school for disabled children. The new autism diagnosis won’t affect those services, Gibson said. She also has a 3-year-old daughter without autism.
People with dyslexia also were closely watching for the new updated doctors’ guide. Many with the reading disorder did not want their diagnosis to be dropped. And it won’t be. Instead, the new manual will have a broader learning disorder category to cover several conditions including dyslexia, which causes difficulty understanding letters and recognizing written words.
The trustees on Saturday made the final decision on what proposals made the cut; recommendations came from experts in several work groups assigned to evaluate different mental illnesses.
The revised guidebook “represents a significant step forward for the field. It will improve our ability to accurately diagnose psychiatric disorders,” Dr. David Fassler, the group’s treasurer and a University of Vermont psychiatry professor, said after the vote.
The shorthand name for the new edition, the organization’s fifth revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, is DSM-5. Group leaders said specifics won’t be disclosed until the manual is published but they confirmed some changes. A 2000 edition of the manual made minor changes but the last major edition was published in 1994.
Olfson said the manual “seeks to capture the current state of knowledge of psychiatric disorders. Since 2000 … there have been important advances in our understanding of the nature of psychiatric disorders.”
Catherine Lord, an autism expert at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York who was on the psychiatric group’s autism task force, said anyone who met criteria for Asperger’s in the old manual would be included in the new diagnosis.
One reason for the change is that some states and school systems don’t provide services for children and adults with Asperger’s, or provide fewer services than those given an autism diagnosis, she said.
Autism researcher Geraldine Dawson, chief science officer for the advocacy group Autism Speaks, said small studies have suggested the new criteria will be effective. But she said it will be crucial to monitor so that children don’t lose services.
Other changes include:
—A new diagnosis for severe recurrent temper tantrums — disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. Critics say it will medicalize kids’ who have normal tantrums. Supporters say it will address concerns about too many kids being misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder and treated with powerful psychiatric drugs. Bipolar disorder involves sharp mood swings and affected children are sometimes very irritable or have explosive tantrums.
—Eliminating the term “gender identity disorder.” It has been used for children or adults who strongly believe that they were born the wrong gender. But many activists believe the condition isn’t a disorder and say calling it one is stigmatizing. The term would be replaced with “gender dysphoria,” which means emotional distress over one’s gender. Supporters equated the change with removing homosexuality as a mental illness in the diagnostic manual, which happened decades ago.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
People are weird and different. The Victorian Era destroyed LGBT and butchered half the world’s indigenous cultures, many of which were LGBT friendly. The Victorian Era also propagated Christianity, which subsumed and destroyed many native faiths as well as subverted many world citizens into colonial mindsets that still persist this day. The English were expelled from the USA, sadly the Christian faith still is afflicting many populations worldwide. The English incidentally were the Angles, a group of GERMANIC outcasts that murdered the Celtic and Nordic cultures of the Isles, occupied thier lands, and butchered all the way through Africa, India and later China destroying lives, cultures and native religions for mere ‘paganism’ (those who didn’t want to belive in ‘god’ were heathens and ‘soulless’ needed to be murdered in those days . . . no end.
ARTICLE 4
Onion: We just fooled the Chinese government! – by the CNN Wire Staff – November 28, 2012 — Updated 1015 GMT (1815 HKT)
Onion editor: Tricking China has a “certain delightfulness”
A Chinese news site takes an Onion satire for a real story
The Onion declares North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “sexiest man alive”
People’s Daily Online runs portions of the Onion story and 55 photos of Kim
(CNN) — China, as one Twitter user wrote Tuesday, has been fooled by the “mysterious Western art of satire.”
The merciless comedy website The Onion has declared North Korean leader Kim Jong Un the “sexiest man alive for 2012.” And it appears China’s People’s Daily Online has taken the story seriously.
“I love this one,” Onion editor Will Tracy told CNN. “It has a certain delightfulness to it.”
The Chinese story reprinted satirical comments describing Kim’s “air of power that masks an unmistakable cute, cuddly side,” his “impeccable fashion sense, chic short hairstyle, and,” the story says, “that famous smile.”
A Chinese state-run site was fooled Tuesday by a satirical story that declared North Korea\’s Kim Jong Un the \
A Chinese state-run site was fooled Tuesday by a satirical story that declared North Korea’s Kim Jong Un the “sexiest man alive.”
The story on People’s Daily Online on Tuesday illustrates the mutual backscratching that China and North Korea exercise through their government-run media. The incident also shows foreign media outlets’ difficulty in navigating The Onion’s brand of satire.
The Chinese website had underscored its story by including its own 55-page photo gallery to accompany the text, which was published in both English and Chinese. But the pages and the images were no longer available Wednesday.
A woman responding to a call Wednesday to the office of the website said it was “impossible that the People’s Daily will quote from any unreliable media — we do verify our news and sources.”
The woman, who declined to identify herself, noted that the item had been removed.
The People’s Daily Online has a separate office from the print version of the Chinese Communist Party’s main newspaper.
Tracy said he’s not surprised when legitimate news sites fall for his high-level tomfoolery, but this was the first time The Onion had named a “sexiest man alive.” “We knew it would get a response,” he said “but we didn’t expect it would get life from abroad.”
A satirical post on The Onion congratulated the People’s Daily for its coverage.
The site “has served as one of the Onion’s Far East bureaus for quite some time, and I believe their reportage as of late has been uncommonly fine, as well as politically astute,” said The Onion’s Grant Jones in a e-mail statement. “May our felicitous business association continue for centuries to come.”
Earlier Tuesday, The Onion pointed readers to the Chinese website: “please visit our friends at the People’s Daily in China, a proud Communist subsidiary of The Onion, Inc. Exemplary reportage, comrades.”
Twitter users went wild over the editorial faux pas. “It makes me cry from another room!” Tweeted Francesca Ulivi @fraubass.
“Not sure they know this was a joke,” wrote @loweringthebar.
“Curse of the #Onion again,” said Colin Freeman @colinfreeman99.
Yes. Again. If this scenario sounds familiar it’s because The Onion is no stranger to fooling government-run news outlets.
In September, an Onion satire fooled Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency. Fars published an Onion story claiming that a Gallup poll found that rural white Americans preferred Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over President Barack Obama.
On the Chinese microblog Sina Weibo, netizens made their own teasing comments about People’s Daily.
“Foolish foreigners, the party paper was born to be funny,” wrote @sheldon-BaiBai.
“The world was fooled by the People’s Daily, because no Chinese believes this paper,” wrote @Hai_Dao_Wu_Bian.
The Onion never writes its stories with the intention of fooling government agencies, Tracy said. But “it’s great when it happens. We hope it happens more often.”
This prank, he said with obvious glee, may turn out to be the legendary Onion fake story that veterans will talk about for years to come. “We essentially just fooled the government of China.”
CNN’s Jethro Mullen and CY Xu contributed to this report.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Remember the boy who cried wolf? And if this is intended to harrass the foreign media, The Onion is just inviting the Chinese to do the same to foreign media portals. If this becomes rampant, then news on the internet will become rubbish or manipulative unreadable agenda laden nonsesne, and the MSM papers which will still remain propaganda, become more influencial and manipulative of the citizens locally until the dark pre-info-ages take hold again through sheer contrivedness and agenda loaded inaccuracy of articles. The Onion is opening a can of worms that could down all online media or online media accuracy if not careful . . . If the CNN, BBC and Peoples Daily or whatever online media do not remain strictly accurate in reporting, above the fray of b.s., the world will be poorer for the lack of ethics for preference of manipulation to bad ends.
ARTICLE 5
Don’t name your kid Siri – by Dean Obeidallah, Special to CNN – December 2, 2012 — Updated 0502 GMT (1302 HKT)
Sometimes a highly individualistic name for a baby is not good news for a kid, says Dean Obeidallah
Dean Obeidallah: A new list of popular 2012 baby names includes Siri, Mac, Luna
He says it’s not just celebrities with offbeat baby-naming now; it’s spreading to the rest of us
He says studies show distinctive names can spur teasing and mistreatment
Obeidallah: Parents, think twice on names; it could have long-term effect on your child
Editor’s note: Dean Obeidallah, a former attorney, is a political comedian and frequent commentator on various TV networks including CNN. He is the editor of the politics blog “The Dean’s Report” and co-director of the upcoming documentary “The Muslims Are Coming!” Follow him on Twitter: @deanofcomedy
(CNN) — Siri, Mars, Mac and Luna. I’m not talking Apple products or planetary terms. These are baby names. And not just any baby names but ones that have jumped in popularity in 2012, according to Baby Center.com’s just released list.
Baby Siri? Seriously, who would name their bundle of joy after a frustrating Apple product that hardly ever works? And speaking of Apple (see daughter of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin,) that name moved up a whopping 585 places on the list of names for girls born in 2012. So there could conceivably be a family out there with a daughter named Apple and a son named Siri. (Hope that entitles the family to a discount on an iMac.)
There was a time when bizarre baby naming was something only celebrities did to their kids (as if being the child of a celebrity wasn’t challenging enough). There’s Beyonce and Jay Z’s Blue Ivy, Penn Jillette’s son, Moxie Crimefighter, Bono’s daughter Memphis Eve, actor Jason Lee’s son Pilot Inspektor, and the list goes on and on.
But now this “condition” is apparently spreading to the rest of us. In addition to the offbeat names above, 2011 saw babies sporting such names as: Moo, Draper, Graceland and Tequila.
There are even media reports that this past weekend some parents allegedly named their newborn daughter, Hashtag. That one may turn out to be an Internet hoax, but after last year’s story of a child in Egypt being named Facebook (in praise of the role Facebook played in the Egyptian revolution), we can’t be too far from babies named Retweet and Spam Blocker anyway. It truly is only a matter of time until you meet a kid named DVR or Playstation 3.
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Apparently some parents believe that giving their child a jaw-dropping name will make him or her more distinctive. News flash: it’s not the name that makes your child stand out, it’s his or her achievements.
While I don’t want to rain on creativity, let’s be honest — these weird names are more about parents showing off their “cleverness” than about finding a name that fits the child. It’s not like the parents got to know the child first for a few months and then said, “You know this baby really is a little Siri.”
Beyonce, Jay-Z welcome baby Blue Ivy
Jolie: We are all Malala
And do these parents even consider that a baby’s name can cause consequences for the child that the parents never imagined, and in many areas of the child’s life? When I reflect upon my own name, I realize that my life could have been far different if my parents had followed their initial instincts when naming me.
My Palestinian father wanted to name me Saladin after the famous Muslim leader, while my Sicilian mother wanted to name me Dino. Instead they compromised on Dean.
Growing up in North Jersey, Dean was not a common name. But it actually made me feel different in a good way being the only Dean in my class. And even today in looking at the list of baby names for 2012, I was actually happy that Dean was not in the top 100.
Still, the truth is, if I’d been named Dino, I would have certainly been viewed as more ethnic by teachers, potential employers and co-workers. I would have been required to continually overcome cultural stereotypes.
And if I’d been named the very Arabic Saladin Obeidallah, you could just imagine all the “fun” I would have had in post-9/11 America. I would have likely volunteered for “random” security checks at the airport to make it easier for all involved or simply got used to taking the bus cross country.
But there’s a difference between a name that isn’t overly common and naming your child after your favorite appliance. A name is a big part of a kid’s identity. It can trigger impressions about a child even before we meet him or her — a particular problem among the closed-minded of the world, but this is the world your child will have to navigate.
For example, studies have found that children with names that linguistically sound like they come from a lower socioeconomic status are less likely to be recommended by school officials for gifted classes and actually more likely to be labeled as learning disabled.
Other research has revealed that boys with feminine sounding names — such as Shannon or Ashley — have had more disciplinary problems in school because of their response to teasing. Still other studies have found a link between how much people like their own names and their level of self-esteem.
So, parents, keep in mind that your choice of name will have a lasting impact on your child — both for good and bad. And if you insist on picking a bizarre name for the baby, then I propose that your child be empowered to rename you with any name he or she chooses. At least then it’s fair that a child named Hashtag has parents named Angry Birds and YouTube.
Follow us on Twitter @CNNOpinion.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
In the past there were in some cultures NAMING CEREMONIES AT ADULTHOOD. The child would choose a name LATER, and all children knew their names when young were TEMPORARY and that parents chose those names. Sometimes what the child did that was most unique would also decide what that child was RENAMED at adulthood. So ‘Hashtag’ away and legalise/normalise name changing at the age of 21. Knowing that names are temporary and chosen by parents, kids would not be affected by teasing because they knew they were going to change that name, or the teasers would not bother to tease knowing the name would also change by then.
ARTICLE 6
‘If it was offensive then God wouldn’t have given us genitals’: Naked jogger wins High Court appeal after conviction – by Eddie Wrenn – PUBLISHED: 11:29 GMT, 3 December 2012 | UPDATED: 12:06 GMT, 3 December 2012
Shocked complainant said she would never walk her dog in Oropi Park, New Zealand, again
Andrew Pointon, 47, was charged with offensive behaviour for his naked runs
But appeal judge agrees that naked body by itself is not offensive
Freedom to jog naked: Andrew Lyall Pointon, 47, won his appeal against offensive behaviour (stock picture)
The right to go jogging in the nude has been upheld by the High Court in New Zealand.
Andrew Lyall Pointon, 47, was wearing only a pair of shoes when he was spotted by a woman while running at 8.30am in a forest near Tauranga in August last year.
She called police and he was arrested during another nude run.
Pointon was charged with offensive behaviour and found guilty in Tauranga District Court last December.
An appeal was thrown out in June, but a second appeal has just been upheld by Justice Paul Heath in the High Court at Tauranga.
‘If it was [offensive] then God wouldn’t have given us genitals,’ Mr Pointon told The Dominion Post.
‘It is a win for all libertarians and a setback for all conservatives in the country.’
The judge, Justice Heath, compared the situation to passing ‘gang members’ walking through the park.
He said: ‘It would not be surprising for a person in the position of the complainant to be concerned and discomforted by their presence, and even to feel threatened.
‘However, on any view, their behaviour would not be regarded as offensive behaviour.
‘Should the sight of a naked man, in the circumstances in which the complainant found herself, be treated any differently? I think not.’
He added that he felt Pointon was ‘a genuine naturist’ who had taken measures to avoid disturbing others – such as choosing a time when children would be unlikely to be on the track.
But Family First spokesman Bob McCoskrie said he was disappointed and said Justice Heath’s decision shows ‘double standards’.
He asked: ‘Is it okay for someone to streak through his courtroom? He’d be the first one to put them in the cells.’
Picturesque: The jogger was spotted close to Tauranga harbour in New Zealand
Picturesque: The jogger was spotted close to Tauranga harbour in New Zealand
Naturist Mr Pointon said he enjoyed the freedom of not wearing clothes and began running naked about 18 months ago.
The complainant, who was out walking her dog when she spotted Pointon, said she was so offended that she did not wish to ever return to the Oropi Bike Park.
But Pointon lashed out at the woman who complained.
He said: ‘It’s just ludicrous. Has this person got nothing better to do than wasting everyone’s time?
‘All she saw was a naked man running through the bush. It was just a fleeting moment, which has cost us all.
‘It just shows that it was a stupid decision by police to go ahead … and charge me for something totally irrelevant.’
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Perhaps a nudist’s track to keep the 2 different groups seperate.
ARTICLE 7
A Good Example of Forms and Blogospheres Littered with NLPs : 2012, I am tired – Topic started on 9-12-2012 @ 02:48 AM by TheAlmo – reply posted on 9-12-2012 @ 03:00 AM by xxshadowfaxx
I just want the date to come. Lots of mystery surround it, lots of theories, but no one knows a damn thing.
If anything is going to happen, its going to be something we haven’t seen before. Something the ancients tracked 25000 years ago. No one alive today can possibly know what it is. We don’t even know for sure if we have the right date. All the math is very precise and it seems that dec 21 is certainly a good possibility, but we may be off by hundreds of years. All we can do is wait and see.
Soon you won’t have to worry about it anymore because it is only 12 days away now. Whatever happens, happens, theres nothing anyone can do about it.
Also, its definitely possible to be love. Love is a state of being, and beneath all your problems, all your thoughts, is a state of love. When you can learn to silence the mind, and learn how to move energy through your chakras, you will find yourself in a state of love. It is beautiful to experience. All the people that talk about are trying to tell you something, and most of us ignore it completely. But the answers to all questions truely do lie within us. Once you be love, once you attain that state, you are given knowledge about who you are, what you are, and what your purpose is. You will experience the divine.
Commentator Response
I am tired you guys. Enough. This is insane.
The amount of 2012 topics on ATS and everywhere is staggering. It seems everyone takes a shot at it. Everyone. You guys turned the year 2012 into a prostitute year that everyone can buy and f*** for a while.
The problem is that I go through phases. Sometimes, I just really don’t pay attention at all and I don’t even try to rationalize or criticize the material I am exposed to. Other times, I find myself so angry about it and digging deep to find every logical fallacy there is. You know why this happens to me? Because:
1- My mood changes from time to time
2- The 2012 shower is an everlasting one that never ever stops.
Therefore, my reaction to the eternal 2012 shower varies depending on my mood.
What do you mean when you say things like:
“The change is coming, embrace it”
“All you have to do is be love”
Why does it have to be so astonishingly ambiguous? Why?
What do you mean if I don’t “embrace” the change I won’t feel anything and December 21 will be just another day?
Can this lunacy get anymore vile and degrading to our intellect? I am sorry, but even the most spiritual practices can be “practicalized” if you know what I mean. You can ask me to actively stop thinking about people that I hate or that I even hate them. I can do that. But what do you mean when you say “Be Love”? How can someone be love? Can you be Batman? A sandwich? I don’t know. Be love? Embrace change? This all reminds me of an incident when I was a kid walking by a public swimming pool and a guy was teaching his 6-ish years old son to swim by saying: maintain your balance… don’t drown.
Yeah… the best thing to say to tell someone who’s drowning: yell at them: don’t drown. dude, not cool, you’re gonna die, maintain your balance. work physics to make it happen.
I am tired of this nonsensical spiritual masturbation.
What about doom and gloom?
Are you gonna tell me where to go? What to do? Or just scream around and run all over the place like a fuc*** moron? What? No place to go? Nothing to do? Where is the warning then? It’s not like you’re gonna say “told you so” later.
I am tired of this. It’s too much. It’s everywhere. Everywhere I go.
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Thats the problem with the people. The laws written cause this, so vote for a candidate not of the 1% (plutocrat or political nepotist) or run as candidate yourself if there is no such candidate. Write and ratify laws to distribute national wealth and unused national land (the country belongs to all citizens so why should a handful of GLC cronies get everything, even the land and wealth from natural resources belong to the people and must be shared to reserved for a handful of politicians who can be easily identified if mega-wealthy), and end the raison d’etre for NLP articles. This way there will be enough harmony so that the world need not end, or if the world ends, everyone was happy anyway.
ARTICLE 8
How The Cost of a Degree is Now £100,000 – Posted on December 9, 2012 by Zen-Haven – Author: Paul Gallagher
The true cost of a university degree will rocket to up to £100,000 for today’s students, The Independent on Sunday can reveal.
Thousands of people currently studying at university will end up paying that amount over their career because of interest charges and other fees – several times the £27,000 or £36,000 in fees that most three- and four-year courses charge.
The landmark figure, revealed in the Government’s own documents, is far higher than the £70,000 in repayments that it was previously thought students would end up paying over their lifetimes. The Government figures confirm that graduates who find well-paid jobs – in finance and law, for example – will be able to save tens of thousands of pounds by paying off their loans more quickly than the vast majority of their counterparts on middle incomes.
Even before they started in September, every student was hit with a hidden charge: for repayment purposes, the total cost of tuition is backdated to day one, meaning that the majority of the 300,000 three-year students and 117,000 four-year students currently studying will graduate with an extra £3,300 or £5,000 bill respectively, according to the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) website. Many students will repay up to four times the cost of their tuition during the 30 years following graduation, after which any remaining debt is written off.
Add in other living costs and average student debt is now predicted to hit £53,000 by graduation. Accountants say billions of pounds of student debt will never be repaid, leaving “a massive tax time bomb” for generations to come.
Based on the Government’s figures, almost 300,000 students – 70 per cent of those studying – who started university in the autumn will repay between £65,000 and £85,000, while those in the highest income bracket pay back less because they will start to pay off their debts sooner. About 10 per cent who are in the “squeezed middle” could end up paying back between £85,000 and £100,000. The 20 per cent of graduates with the lowest lifetime earnings (a group dominated by women) will never come close to repaying their fees and the debt will be written off after 30 years.
The Government’s own projections lay out details of what students and graduates would owe at the start of each year in interest and repayment charges. What graduates pay back each month depends on their earnings: 9 per cent of income above £21,000 a year, independent of both the interest rate and the size of the loan. The amount due increases with time because interest is added. A 28-year-old male beginning a three-year course and whose starting salary of £21,000 quickly rises to £60,000 in year four, and is a six-figure salary by year 15, will settle his bill in 13 years, repaying just over £42,000. A woman who earns less than a third of that in her lifetime and who begins work a few years after graduating repays almost £62,000 over 28 years. A woman in her twenties who earns less than £1m in her career and takes time out to have a family will pay back less than £20,000, leaving an unpaid debt of almost £60,000. Scottish students in Scotland have their fees paid, while students in Northern Ireland pay a maximum £3,575 a year tuition.
Peter West, financial director at Portal, a computer company in Bracknell, Berkshire, said: “No one is aware of the long-term implications of this accounting wheeze. Higher education reform is a victimless crime and a massive tax time bomb. The Government has simply shifted all the debt off the accounting sheet for now – but, my God, will it come back and hit us in 30 years’ time.”
Susan Cooper, professor of experimental physics from the University of Oxford, said: “If the £21,000 repayment threshold doesn’t increase with inflation, the requirement for repayment can become much more onerous over the 30-year period. And maybe the 30 years could be increased as well. The higher the costs, the more the Government has to write off 30 years later. One could have wished for a more thorough thinking through of the consequences before being launched into this experiment.”
The University and College Union general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: “The Government rushed through higher fees without properly considering the financial consequences. We warned at the time that fees close to £9,000 a year would be the norm and that the calculations for repayment by graduates were flawed.”
A spokesperson for BIS said: “Extending the write-off period to 30 years was fully costed as part of the whole repayment system. The new system helps reduce the deficit, is affordable and sustainable for the Government, while offering protection for those who may not go on to high-paid employment.”
Chuka Umunna, Labour business spokesman, said: “Students will never forgive this government for hiking up the costs of going to university. This figures show that, as ever, it is middle- and lower-income families who are being hit hardest.”
The NUS president, Liam Burns, added: “It is shocking that politicians treat the potential of a generation before they have even started their working career with such nonchalance.”
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The problem is that the establishment (or NWO) has already decided which people friendly to the regime of the day will get the top jobs that can actually influence policy or social culture. So even before enrollment or payment, those who are not on the same wavelength of the Education-STUDENT-DEBT-Financiar Complex (nominlly fused with the dominant religious institutions of the region – if these are not insane or hated or indulging in pedophilia) had better not even bother with ‘Education’ and instead learn how to vote and educate others on how to vote. The system is stacked EVEN at education level and hardly neutral. Identify this and act accordingly by refusing to spend anything on education. Free spirits beware, the mob mentality of society comprised with useless eaters only enriches the 1% term limitless plutocrats and political nepotists.
ARTICLE 9
Celebration of the Nudists of the 2010s : Ai Weiwei investigated over nude art – Chinese artist says he is under investigation for spreading pornography, after pictures including One Tiger Eight Breasts
Jonathan Watts in Beijing – The Guardian, Friday 18 November 2011 15.54 GMT
The Chinese artist Ai Weiwei poses with nude women in Beijing
Ai Weiwei and female nudists.
Ai Weiwei is under investigation for spreading pornography, the Chinese artist has said, as the authorities turned their attention from political subversion and tax evasion to online images of nudity.
He said police had questioned his cameraman Zhao Zhao on Thursday over pictures Zhao had taken of the artist. “They clearly told him this is an investigation, now, they are doing on me, on pornography,” Ai told the AFP news agency.
One of the pictures, One Tiger Eight Breasts, shows Ai posing nude on a wooden chair flanked by four naked women who are giggling and smiling.
“Netizens came to take photos with me, so we said why don’t we take nudity photos, then everybody agreed so we did it and they were put on the internet, and that’s it, we forget about it,” Ai said.
This year Ai has been held for 81 days in a secret location, questioned about subversion and then accused of tax evasion and given a fine of 15m yuan. Several of his assistants have been detained for lengthy periods and interrogated about Ai’s political beliefs, business and personal life.
His lawyers say the investigations are politically motivated to silence Ai, who has used his high profile to speak out on police brutality, official corruption and human rights violations.
Police have been reluctant to discuss his case and there has been little or no coverage in most domestic media outlets. But the Communist party newspaper Global Times said on Wednesday that dissidents such as Ai could only exist because of the support of the west.
“For 30 years Ai Weiweis have emerged and fallen. But China has kept rising despite their pessimistic predictions. The real social trend is that they will be eliminated in the rising process of China,” said a comment article in the paper.
Ai has attempted to turn the tables by mounting an internet campaign against his accusers. He says 30,000 people contributed a total of more than 8m yuan to his online appeal for loans to challenge his tax fine.
A pornography or obscenity charge based on the pictures revealed so far is likely to incur ridicule and anger among Ai’s supporters. Many Chinese contemporary artists have appeared naked in their work.
Ai said police had previously questioned him about the images, but he doubted they understood art. “If they see nudity as pornography, then China is still in the Qing dynasty,” he told Associated Press.
Ai Weiwei with EVEN MORE nudists. The CPCC and PLA need not fear this wall of human flesh led by a scruffy semi-geezer, fear is in the mind China!
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This is not for everyone BUT, this is an acid test of human rights and civil society. Hey frumpOs, if you had the aesthetic, you’d be as sex positive and body confident enough to use nakeness and beauty as weapons to shame the ugliness of society and the establishment instead of attacking nudism and snarking on morality. So stop victimising naked persons, that counts for MALE body parts too . . . so about a decade ago there was this activist who really didn’t know why until now . . . WHOS STILL WRITING TO END APARTHEID . . . Nudism is COURAGE and PETA is not exactly at the level of anti-apartheid activity.
PETA Nudists.
Perhaps Nelson Mandela should visit Ai Weiwei and learn something missed, though this does not make for mainstream just yet but we early birds are the most well loved birds, so see Israeli women have taken a nude group photo to express solidarity with Aliaa Magda Elmahdy . . . and look at non-Muslims getting arrested for Khalwat in Muslim countries. Monyet dan Anjing! Hunga bunga! Bulaklak!
QUOTE Lursa : ‘Human (nudist) females are so revolting . . . ‘ UNQUOTE – Star Trek Generations 1994, David Carson
Ladies, if you’re a Lursa or a B’etor everyone will understand why the preference to stay covered is there, BUT no understanding will be offered to those who hate on all of the above people who dare to be nudist or go nude for their cause. Same to the narrow gents. What’s YOUR cause Frumpos? Snarking at people who try to change the world? Who try to end apartheid? Who challenge status quo?
Nudists Nuns in Russia marching against Putin’s 3rd term??? . . .
The more ‘faithful’ they are the more brittle the faith . . . hence the term ‘cracker’ . . . so go hide your daughters and get out your shotguns. (this is intended to remind those without 2nd amendment rights to know how good hillbillies live in the USA, no other reason . . . ). Aight back to surfing porn and drinking horse, pork and beef flavoured beer . . .
Nudists in Paris.
Israeli Nudists for St.Alia.
Pussy Riot – Russia.
Nudist Zones in China (at least zones exist . . .)
This is not a nudist gathering but rather an English advert.
So the next time someone is dressed like this, just keep that mouth shut. Bikini’s are skimpier and even if out of context, nudism is not even sexual activity per se. The clothes on this woman are actually kinda wholesome, even with the neons . . .
mini-ARTICLE 9.5
Woman Has Baby At Upstate New York Zoo : There was no time to get the expectant mother to hospital after she suddenly went into labour on Friday. – 8:33pm UK, Saturday 08 December 2012 – Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York
A New York state zoo has had a surprise visit – from the stork.
A woman went into labour on Friday and gave birth on a path at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse.
The 21-year-old woman, who was visiting the zoo with a group, had a baby girl with help from keepers not far from the bear exhibit.
Zoo worker Liz Schmidt told The Post-Standard that she heard about the situation and rushed to find the woman already pushing out the baby.
“I honestly didn’t expect her to deliver at the zoo,” Ms Schmidt said. “I thought we’d pop her in a wheelchair and she’d be good to go to the hospital.”
Other workers arrived with blankets to keep the mother and baby warm, and the zoo’s elephant expert herded away curious visitors.
An ambulance soon arrived to take the newborn to a hospital. A hospital representative declined to discuss the mother or baby’s medical conditions for privacy reasons.
Zoo Director Ted Fox said the attraction plans to send a gift to the family.
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Nice . . . so Penang gets another beast among their ranks what was being snatched? Zoo animals conceiving? Now we understand why cheaters never prosper and why (some) Asians REALLY do not have Human Souls. That which is not one’s may never belong by theft or strength in numbers, more so on the spiritual level. How about another invasion of the 3rd world before the pariahs get too strong. Those who play by the rules need not worry, by now most of the ‘invaders’ should be able to identify the whos who among pariahs and among the rich and politically connected are plenty of pariahs.
ARTICLE 10
Medvedev Makes Strange Off-Air Comments : The Russian prime minister expressed bizarre views on Father Christmas and aliens when the cameras were still rolling. – 9:43pm UK, Friday 07 December 2012
Dmitry Medvedev has been caught making some unusual comments off-air after failing to realise television cameras were still rolling.
The Russian prime minister let his guard down after an interview with five Russian television stations – offering his strange views on Father Christmas and aliens as well as taking a pot shot at President Vladimir Putin and the federal police.
“I believe in Father Frost. But not too deeply. But anyway, you know, I’m not one of those people who are able to tell the kids that Father Frost does not exist,” he said in a jovial reply to a question about Russia’s equivalent of Santa Claus.
He went on to take a jab at Mr Putin for his frequent lateness for meetings after he was more than hour late for an event in southern Russia.
“Colleagues, somebody should be extremely punctual, while somebody else is exhausting all the limits for being late,” he said.
The comments invited a satirical reaction on the Internet which is unlikely to help Mr Medvedev, whose power has been ebbing since Mr Putin took over as president.
RUSSIA-GOVERNMENT-POLITICS-MEDVEDEV The prime minister speaking to the TV stations that caught him off-air
In the interview itself, Mr Medvedev underlined his allegiance to the president in a likely bid to dismiss rumours he is about to be fired.
In an unexpected move, the liberal-leaning prime minister defended Kremlin-backed laws which critics say will be used to stifle dissent.
But in the off-air comments, he was more frank.
When a journalist complained about federal investigators arriving to search the home of a witness in an inquiry early in the morning, Mr Medvedev said: “They are just jerks, so they come at eight in the morning.
“It’s just their set of habits. I know many people who work in the police. They think if they come at seven in the morning they will get everything in the world.”
Another of the journalists asked whether the president is handed secret files on aliens when he receives the briefcase needed to activate Russia’s nuclear arsenal.
“Along with the briefcase with nuclear codes, the president of the country is given a special ‘top secret’ folder. This folder in its entirety contains information about aliens who visited our planet,” Mr Medvedev answered playfully.
“Along with this, you are given a report of the absolutely secret special service that exercises control over aliens on the territory of our country…
“More detailed information on this topic you can get from a well-known movie called Men In Black… I will not tell you how many of them are among us because it may cause panic,” he said.
None of the television stations that interviewed Medvedev broadcast the off-air comments.
Russians mocked the prime minister on the internet.
“It’s sad when the former president and current prime minister of your country is simply a pathetic person,” Yekaterina Kudinova wrote on Twitter.
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Not strange at all but with the kind of Russian subtlty that bore Russia a Marx. Medvedev has a OCCULT (or Techno advanced derived) CONSCIENCE which could be tranlated into OCCULT (or Techno advanced derived) ETHICS which can translate into (or Techno advanced derived) MORALLY AFFLUENT LAWS. This is my strange response to Medvedev’s strange off air comments. Expositions on methodology will lead to spiritual cleanliness and less hive mindedness and less mob mindedness, these many headed “non-individuals” Medvedev is referring to are the true criminals of Humanity that need to have the worst happen to them.
A one-on-one between exes is not the same as mass parasitisation, and we all know where spiritual parasites are going, those who do not produce and only take, as “Useless Eaters” are bound for the Auswictzs’ of the future (and past). In other words, do your own work or (spiritual homework) and choose your fights carefully and with respect, millions of spirits will be seeking their payment for their untimely deaths and that will be the ‘hell’ everyone keeps talking about . . . vote Medevedev for the next Sec. Gen. of the UN and we might see a better world if Medevedev applies entirely such principles within the SPIRITUAL update of the UN Human Rights Charter. Here’s one for the morally affluent non-cops and non-parasites . . . lets shine a light on all degenerates who won’t even think for themselves . . .
ARTICLE 11
Rotting whale in Malibu likely left to nature – by RAQUEL MARIA DILLON | Associated Press
MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — No government agency is taking action to remove the decaying carcass of a whale on a California beach, making it appear the job will be left to Mother Nature.
The corpse of the huge fin whale created a spectacle on Friday as people wandered down the narrow Malibu beach to look at the remains — white bones, rolls of blubber and the tail flukes trailing along the water’s edge.
The homes of movie stars, celebrities and others line the cliffs high above the slender beach.
Looking over the whale, Malibu resident Ben Dossett suggested there was now no need to try to remove it.
“You look at the difference between what it was on Tuesday to what it is today. I think they can just leave it and let nature take its course,” he said.
The smell had largely faded away, but still attached to the shoes of those who came near. Some people took pictures, a boy poked the bones and dogs sniffed it.
“It’s really sad that this is my first time seeing a whale,” said Ingrid De La O, a Malibu resident. “It’s mind-boggling to see this immense huge thing that lives in the water.”
The 40-foot-long, 40,000-pound juvenile male washed ashore Monday near Point Dume, which marks the western end of Santa Monica Bay, about 30 miles west of downtown Los Angeles.
“From the evidence that we have so far, it appears that it was hit by a ship,” said Jonsie Ross, marine mammal coordinator for the California Wildlife Center.
James Respondek, a real estate agent who lives in the area, worried that the carcass would draw sharks that could pose a threat to his young daughter, who swims in the cove, and to his favorite surfing spot down the beach. He said he was frustrated that no agency would remove the carcass.
“There seems to be no readiness to take responsibility, to take action, just a lot of excuses. ‘I don’t have a boat, I don’t have the money, I don’t have the resources,’ they all told me,” he said.
Fin whales are endangered, and about 2,300 live along the West Coast. They’re the second-largest species of whale after blue whales and can grow up to 85 feet, weigh up to 80 tons and live to be 90 years old.
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Austerity leads to political caution? Cost saving and avoiding use of crony contractors (in this case whale cleaning crews companies which the government cleverly decided not to pay with taxpayer funds by, or where the links were so obvious they did not want to expose their political flank for) is good for the taxpayers and respect of tax fund access, and who knows a clever reference to Kim Schmidt that MSM should play on . . . the cleanup might cost a few thousand which could go to the starving or homeless, instead of a crony company. The local bars could take a look at the below article btw, a potential money making and indirect clean up courtesy of the local oceanside bars, though killings of mostly endangered whales intentionally by ship owners should be very carefully watched for . . .
mini-ARTICLE 11.5
‘Whale Skin’ Cocktail: London Bar Raided – A ‘Moby Dick’ cocktail allegedly containing illegal whale skin is removed from a trendy Hoxton bar’s menu after a police raid. – 9:43am UK, Sunday 09 December 2012
There is a Europe-wide ban on the sale of whale meat
A London bar has been raided by police for allegedly serving cocktails flavoured with illegal whale skin.
The Metropolitan police targeted the Nightjar bar in Hoxton, East London, where a drink called the Moby Dick was listed in an online menu.
It was described as containing Laphroaig whisky, Drambuie, ale and bitters, along with a “whale skin infusion”.
There is a Europe-wide ban on the sale of whale meat and products, except under strict restrictions in Greenland and Denmark.
Police were tipped-off in October that the bar was serving whale skin illegally, and raided the City Road premises on December 3.
It was carried out by officers from the Met’s Wildlife Crime Unit and an officer from the United Kingdom Border Force.
“One item from the premises was seized,” said a police spokesman. “This has been sent for analysis.”
No arrests have been made.
No-one from the bar was available for comment, however the Sunday Times reported that the bar’s management was unaware the drink may have contained an illegal ingredient until the raid.
The drink no longer appears on the bar’s online menu.
‘Muktuk’ Whaleskin, fresh from Kenai Peninsula, Soldotna, Alaska.
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Mix, shake it cold and pour into an icecube-filled highball glass, top with soda. Drop the soda and use a smaller glass with crushed ice to get a fuller taste. Drape whale skin on edge.
INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 parts Dark rum
1/2 part Galliano
1 part Triple sec
3 parts Lemon juice
2 parts 7-up
wedge of Lemon
whale skin infusion
ARTICLE 12
I wanted to burn down the hospital that let my husband die like a battery hen: MP’s heartbreaking account of NHS neglect – by Frances Hardy – PUBLISHED: 00:50 GMT, 8 December 2012 | UPDATED: 10:28 GMT, 8 December 2012
Owen Roberts was an Oxford graduate, a man of dazzling intellect and gentle wit, who met Ann when they were both young broadcast journalists
Ann Clwyd had presumed that when her husband was admitted to a flagship teaching hospital, the staff charged with caring for him would do just that. It was not an outrageous assumption.
She did not imagine that he would die ‘like a battery hen’, squashed against the bars of his bed.
She did not anticipate that he would deteriorate catastrophically because, she feels, those entrusted to look after him were guilty of ‘indifference, contempt and callousness’.
She had expected that her gentle and genial husband, Owen Roberts, who suffered from multiple sclerosis, would be accorded care and kindness.
Instead, six weeks ago, he died, aged 73, of pneumonia he had contracted while at the University Hospital of Wales, in Cardiff, as she sat helpless at his side.
This week, Ann, 75, the Labour MP for Cynon Valley, and a redoubtable campaigner for the rights of the oppressed, steeled herself to make her private grief public.
She did so not for political aggrandisement but to try to spare others similar suffering.
Ann spoke out shortly after Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt admitted that poor standards of care are one of the biggest problems facing the NHS; that in the worst cases, hospital staff are overseeing ‘a kind of normalisation of cruelty’.
And she wept in the House of Commons this week when she asked the Prime Minister what he intended to do about nurses who fail to show compassion for their patients.
When I met her in her parliamentary office later, she was composed and softly-spoken. Occasionally her eyes blurred with tears, but aside from grief, the emotion that overwhelms her is a quiet, simmering fury.
‘I felt it in the hospital,’ she says. ‘I can’t really remember what happened immediately after Owen died — it’s a blur — but I do remember my anger. Owen did not die from MS. He died from hospital-acquired pneumonia, and from lack of care and attention.
‘I’m still angry, and the anger gets fiercer. I think at one point I felt I’d like to burn down the hospital.
‘I know that people meet in rooms and discuss things and promise it will never happen again. But you know very well that it does. Again and again.
‘Owen was a tall man, 6ft 2in, and he died cramped and squashed against the bars of his bed like a battery hen. He had an oxygen mask that didn’t fit properly and cut into his chin. When I asked for a better fitting one, they said, “Oh, we don’t think so”.
Almost every request I made was ignored or dismissed. His lips were very dry and I couldn’t understand why nobody was moistening them. I used my own lip salve on them.
‘I saw a nurse in the corridor and asked her why my husband wasn’t in intensive care. She just said, “There are lots worse than him”, and walked on.
‘Previously, I had asked another nurse if a doctor had seen him that day, and she said: “No, but we know what to do.”
To me, that meant “We’ll do nothing”. It was almost as if someone, somewhere, had decided they weren’t going to do anything more for Owen, although he was obviously very ill.
Six weeks ago, Owen Roberts died, aged 73, of pneumonia he had contracted while at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, pictured
Six weeks ago, Owen Roberts died, aged 73, of pneumonia he had contracted while at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, pictured
‘He was very cold, because a patient in the next bed had a fan that was blowing cold air over him and Owen had only thin cotton blankets on his bed.
‘There was no one observing him. You ask yourself: “Where is everyone? Where are the nurses? Why is no one doing anything?”
‘You kick yourself that you didn’t stand in the corridor and scream, but when you’re an MP, you’re concerned about throwing your weight around. And you think, “I’m in a specialist hospital, with people who’ve been professionally trained” — and you assume they know what they’re doing.
‘But a basic element of good care was missing: compassion.
‘Owen lived with great dignity and fortitude, but when he died, he was treated with contempt. And I believe the fact that the nurses and doctors failed in their duty of care contributed to his death.’
Owen Roberts was an Oxford graduate, a man of dazzling intellect and gentle wit, who met Ann when they were both young broadcast journalists. He went on to become a distinguished director and producer on Welsh television.
They had no children and Ann entered politics — and became MP for her Welsh constituency in 1984. She later became Tony Blair’s special envoy on human rights in Iraq.
When Owen died in October, they had been married for 49 years.
Ann Clwyd was the UK special envoy for Human Rights in Iraq from 2003 to 2010. She is pictured during a visit to the Welsh Guards in Iraq
For 30 years he had suffered from MS, but had borne adversity with courage. Two years ago, in 2010, he fractured his leg in a fall and had a partial hip replacement, which left him confined to a wheelchair. But he lived at home in South Wales with Ann, who combined her parliamentary duties with looking after him.
He was ‘spirited, aware and intellectually curious’ and had enjoyed a visit from an old friend, an Oxford professor, just days before he collapsed on October 10 and was taken to hospital by ambulance.
At the hospital, Owen was allocated a bed in an open area of the A&E department, near the nurses’ station. Ann was told he would be kept in for observation, but she did not want to leave him until she had established that he would be sent to a ward.
She recalls: ‘Every time I tried to talk to one of the nurses, they were either on the phone or talking to one another. I know they were busy, but it did not explain how they could completely ignore a patient.
‘Whenever I asked when we’d see someone, the answer was always: “In a minute.” There was busy-ness, laughter, joking?…?but nobody addressed our concerns.
‘A doctor arrived with a tick list. He was brusque, arrogant and rude — he didn’t even introduce himself. When I asked, “What’s your name?”, he looked at me as if I’d said something impertinent. After he’d asked his questions, he just went off.
‘All this time, I hadn’t been offered a chair or a word of explanation. I’d expected at least some reassurance. But it was as if the nurses were in their little world. There was a feeling of total isolation’
Faced with this, Ann sent a text message to her PA, begging her to ask for help on her behalf.
Two-and-a-half hours later, a doctor arrived and assured her that Owen would be sent to a respiratory ward. Ann duly went home — but 24 hours later, her husband was still in A&E.
Meanwhile, Ann became ill herself, with a chest infection, and was unable to visit her husband — who’d now, finally, been transferred to a ward — for fear of infecting him and other patients.
Instead, friends and family popped in every day and she sought reports on his condition by phone. Often, she was thwarted. ‘I’d be told his nurse wasn’t there, or was on a tea break. I asked to speak to him on the phone, but they told me it was a facility they didn’t offer.’
The MP wept in the House of Commons this week when she asked the Prime Minister what he intended to do about nurses who fail to show compassion for their patients
The MP wept in the House of Commons this week when she asked the Prime Minister what he intended to do about nurses who fail to show compassion for their patients
Owen was diagnosed with sleep apnoea, a treatable disorder characterised by abnormal pauses in breathing during sleep. He was, Ann was told, to be given a mask to wear at night to help regularise his breathing. It never materialised.
However, she spoke on the phone to a staff nurse, who offered a hopeful and cheering prognosis, predicting that Owen should be able to return home the following week.
The next day, however, Ann had a call from a consultant, telling her that he was very worried. “We think he’s got pneumonia,” he said.
‘I was stunned; panicked. I rushed in with my niece, and they told me he was not responding to antibiotics.’ Owen’s condition deteriorated sharply. Ann recalls the eight hours she spent at his bedside on the day before he died, on October 23.
‘I took in a catalogue of shirts and ties that had arrived in the post because he loved colourful ties and I thought he’d find it a bit of a joke. I showed it to him and he said, in Welsh, “Tomorrow”. It was the last word he said to me.’
‘I sat by his bed and he was breathing with his oxygen mask on. One of his eyes was inflamed and watering, so I asked for a nurse to wipe it. But no one came. So I got a tissue from my bag.
‘I sat at his bedside from 2.30pm until 10.30pm and, as far as I recall, no one said anything to us. No one asked me if I wanted a cup of tea. It was as if I was invisible.
‘There was one ward round, and I stood in a corridor while they pulled the curtains around Owen’s bed. They were gone in a flash, and I’ve no idea what went on.
‘I tried to reassure him, so that he didn’t feel abandoned. He was very cold — as he had been all the time he was in hospital. I put red socks on him — he always liked red socks — and I sat and held his hand.’
When Ann returned home, she texted a friend: ‘No doctor has been since this morning. Very few nurses around either. Not very happy with the set-up.’ That night, she slept fitfully for a few hours, and was called back to the hospital at 5?am.
‘I was in a state of shock. I got dressed very quickly and put on a red coat that Owen loved.
‘My neighbour Geraldine came with me, and when we got there and found Owen’s knee squashed against the side bars of the bed. We pushed a pillow in between to make him more comfortable. His feet were sticking out of the end of the bed and he was cold. Geraldine got a towel and put it over his feet.
‘I’d once got a bill through parliament to improve the welfare of battery hens, and I remember thinking he looked so cramped and squashed he was just like one.
‘I just sat there and stroked his arm. I was afraid to do anything — but I was in a university teaching hospital and I thought they must know what they were doing.
‘It was all a bit of a haze, but I remember thinking: “Why aren’t they doing anything?” I tried to say encouraging words. I wanted to reassure him, to let him know that I was there.
‘I’d never seen anyone die before, but when I saw the blood draining from Owen’s face, I just knew that he was dead.
As Ann’s husband died, there was a sudden flurry of activity. ‘People rushed in, tore his mask off – but it was too little too late. And I suspect it had been for some time’
As Ann’s husband died, there was a sudden flurry of activity. ‘People rushed in, tore his mask off – but it was too little too late. And I suspect it had been for some time’
‘Just at that moment, a nurse came in with a trolley crying out: “Anyone for breakfast?” It was only a four-bed ward, and she showed indifference bordering on callousness. It was, for me, a very emotionally draining time — and I believe care and dignity were not there. Owen was treated with contempt.’
As Ann’s husband died, there was a sudden flurry of activity. ‘People rushed in, tore his mask off — but it was too little too late. And I suspect it had been for some time.’
A few days after her husband’s funeral, Ann returned to work. Friends had told her that work was the best therapy — but six weeks on, sleep eludes her.
For her, solace comes in the form of campaigning so that others do not suffer as her husband did. ‘This is why I’ve forced myself to speak out. I’ve had hundreds of supportive emails, and one retired GP wrote: “I felt ashamed of my profession and I cried at your distress.”
‘I don’t want any redress for myself, but I want to start a campaign. I just want to flag up the lack of compassion.
‘We all know nurses work under huge pressure, but so many now have degrees, and it seems to me there is more interest in their qualifications than in the qualities they should show to their patients.
‘Care, compassion, concern: this is what is needed. This is the message I want to get across.’
Mr Adam Cairns, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board Chief Executive, said he was keen to meet with Ms Clwyd.
‘I would, of course, like to offer my sincere condolences to Ms Clwyd on the loss of her husband. I have been very concerned to learn of her experiences but, unfortunately, to date, and despite repeated efforts, Ms Clwyd has not responded to our offers to meet with her.
‘As a health board, we always accept responsibility when things don’t go well, which is why we really need Ms Clwyd to help us get to the bottom of what happened in the case of her late husband and to allow us to investigate fully the very serious concerns she has raised.
‘I’ve asked for a review of the case to be undertaken, a process which would be much improved by having information first-hand of the circumstances surrounding this case.’
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Any person can be a nurse without the degree after an informal internship. Somehow, working so hard and saving so much for a degree sucks the very compassion and humanity necessary to be a good nurse and a good citizen. Modern education is EVIL but in a very subtle way. Thats another reason to avoid those who swear by education, especially HIGHER EDUCATION. I had a dozen or so friends that ‘died’ (dehumanized to point of non-viability as friends) after getting educations.
They never seemed the same. As for hospitals, I’d say that my parents who had some reason to be interred, ALSO ‘died’ and became ‘different’ after their stays. Education and healthcare, even working on a salary in general somehow fracture the souls of those they come into contact with or those working at such places. Try talking to people with less education and compare, while the conversations are mostly less interesting or more limited, the sense of humanity is more intact. There might be some sort of ‘contract’ that the spirit seems to be affected by when using such institutions, not easy to place this occult sort of thing, but most of society excepting the people denouncing or untouched by the overall system make for a very difficult case to put forth, yet we still try and the closing thing to a key I’d say is to study Socialism and Marxism FIRST before getting into the Capitalist and Consumerist world. That is all I can offer to those who are afflicted with what I just described. Modern society is a spiritual sickness of sorts. That and high density living which fosters hive minds ad mob mindedness . . . the other thing that changes a person’s objectivity and ‘true self’, is marriage and family, but that will be for another response . . .
ARTICLE 13
Doomsday Plans? Or forewarned of terror by terrorists (and hence complicit)? – Jurong Rock Cavern – Published April 17, 2009
“Jurong Rock Cavern, South-east Asia’s first underground rock cavern for oil storage, with its two access shafts almost completed, will begin its first phase of proper construction at year end, with the first two caverns providing 480,000 cu meters of storage. JRC is located more than 100 meters below Jurong Island’s Banyan Basin and it will provide safe and secure storage for liquid hydrocarbons such as crude oil, condensate, naphtha and gasoil. Locating the JRC just beneath Jurong Island will add more infrastructural support to the major chemical companies operating there such as Chevron Philips, ExxonMobil and Shell. Phase 1 of the project will free up about 60ha of usable land above ground and it will create 1.47 million cu metres of storage space, equivalent to 580 Olympic-sized pools, when completed by 2014. The cavern itself will be up to 27 m high – equivalent to a nine-storey building. This first phase will consist of 8km of tunnels and five caverns housing a total of nine storage galleries. The caverns will be built using a technique that drills and blasts sedimentary rock and for greater stability, the inner wall will be lined with rock bolts. A planned phase 2 of the project will double JRC’s storage capacity. GK-JCPL Consortium, a Jurong International partnership with French engineering firm Geostock, has previously been awarded the contract to in providing basic engineering design and construction management services for the caverns and associated facilities. Jurong International is also previously responsible for many of the heavy infrastructure and engineering projects associated with Jurong Island including its initial formation via reclamation and amalgamation of seven islands.”
Why we need such a deep storage in granite…300 feet below the surface? Just hoping its not for nuclear plant or weapons storage.
Hyundai clinches $890m Jurong Rock Cavern contract – by RONNIE LIM
CONSTRUCTION proper of Singapore’s underground oil storage project is finally set to start with South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering & Construction clinching the main $890 million ‘design and build’ contract this week from JTC Corporation.
Actual building under this contract, for the first phase of Jurong Rock Cavern (JRC), begins at year- end, with the first two caverns providing 480,000 cubic metres of oil storage when ready in the first half of 2013.
The entire phase one, comprising five caverns, will offer a total of 1.47 million cu m when completed by 2014.
This will make the JRC slightly larger than the $470 million, 1.24 million cu m tankfarm of Horizon Terminals, but about two- thirds that of Hin Leong Trading’s $750 million, 2.3 million cu m Universal Terminal – Asia’s largest commercial storage.
The project had earlier run into some delays, although Senior Minister of State for Trade & Industry S Iswaran last month gave the assurance that Singapore was committed to the JRC which would help alleviate the land shortage on Jurong Island.
Investors have not been able to get land there to build more above-ground oil terminals needed by oil refiners and traders to store their oil and petrochemical products.
So despite being behind schedule and slightly above cost, the JRC will provide necessary infrastructure for Singapore’s oil hub, especially once the rebound comes.
The cost for phase one of JRC – being built under Banyan Basin – has run up by about one-third to $940 million from an earlier estimate of $700 million.
This includes the $50 million for two access shafts and start-up galleries – which are almost completed – to facilitate construction.
The chosen operator of the JRC – earlier expected to be announced at the same time as the main construction award – will, however, only be made known by mid-year, JTC officials indicated yesterday.
Existing terminal operators here such as Royal Vopak of Holland and Emirates National Oil Company are known to be vying for this.
The main construction award came 11/2 years after the tender was first called by JTC in late-2007.
Asked why it took that long, given that there were only two bidders (the other being South Korea’s SK Engineering), the spokesman explained that ‘it’s a huge tender which involved a lot of detailed work and is very complex’.
The work is being done 130m below the seabed, and Hyundai – which has experience with such projects in Taiwan and Korea – has to carry out ‘drill and blast’ excavation using explosives, he added.
The entire phase one will involve eight kilometres of tunnels, with five caverns made up of two storage galleries, with each gallery being 340m long, 20m wide and 27m high. (About nine-storeys high, each gallery is large enough to contain water from over 64 Olympic-sized pools).
‘The water pressure will keep the oil contained within the generally unlined rock caves,’ the spokesman said.
The higher project cost arose due to improvements made to the cavern designs to enhance operational flexibility, he explained.
A planned phase two of the JRC could add a further 1.3 million cu m of storage, doubling its capacity.
Asked if this could cost more than phase one, the spokesman said that ‘the complexity is similar, so it depends on the timing (of when the project is done)’.
Commentator Comments :
Default Re: Jurong Rock Cavern To Store What? Scary Thought…Nuclear Plant?
I have a sneaky feeling its for something nuclear. It was mentioned before by our MIWs that Singapore may go nuclear in the future. Since when they tell u the truth about anything until TOO LATE or that we manage to ‘DIG’ things up trawling the internet. I have a real sneaky feeling about this ‘cavern’. Anyone have a map where this 8km cavern is located precisely? Dont want to live above it just in case. It’s in Jurong but where EXACTLY? “You can fool some of the people some of the time….BUT, you cannot fool ALL the people ALL of the time…
WHICH PARTY’S SLOGAN IS……We Aim To Fool The Majority All The Time?”
Re: Jurong Rock Cavern To Store What? Scary Thought…Nuclear Plant?
Quote Originally Posted by red amoeba View Post
the location for sure will be top secret. No lah, the big lobang is for oil. For weapons or ammo, it would be somewhere else. Instead of hving thse giantic tanks like big targets for terrorist, safer to store them underground. The MIWs have been telling too many lies that its hard to believe them anymore. Even if for oil, there must be air-vents to the surface. i like to know where these air vents are so as not to visit the area too frequently. These air vents should be spewing out invisible chemicals “You can fool some of the people some of the time….BUT, you cannot fool ALL the people ALL of the time…
WHICH PARTY’S SLOGAN IS……We Aim To Fool The Majority All The Time?”
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Kiasu at the taxpayer’s expense? MM 4 million+ yearly, SM 4 million+ yearly, ON TOP of the President and Prime Minister’s posts . . . which 99% of Singaporeans said those salaries were legal? Obama earns 400K a year and USA is 1000s of times more than Singapore? Meritocracy or Institutionalized/Legalized Corruption?
ARTICLE 14
China to flatten 700 mountains for new metropolis in the desert – Lanzhou new area plan to begin with ‘mountain-moving project’, but financial and environmental wisdom of project questioned – Jonathan Kaiman in Beijing – guardian.co.uk, Thursday 6 December 2012 17.48 GMT
A long, long time ago, an old Chinese peasant named Yu Gong decided to move two inconveniently located mountains away from blocking the entrance to his home. Legend has it he struggled terribly, but ultimately succeeded. Hence the Chinese idiom “Yu Gong moves the mountains.” Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Now Chinese developers are putting old Yu to shame.
In what is being billed as the largest “mountain-moving project” in Chinese history, oneof China’s biggest construction firms will spend £2.2bn to flatten 700 mountains levelling the area Lanzhou, allowing developers to build a new metropolis on the outskirts of the north-western city.
The Lanzhou New Area, 500 square miles (130,000 hectares) of land 50 miles from the city, which is the provincial capital of arid Gansu province, could increase the region’s gross domestic product to £27bn by 2030, according to the state-run China Daily. It has already attracted almost £7bn of corporate investment.
The project will be China’s fifth “state-level development zone” and the first in the country’s rapidly developing interior, according to state media reports. Others include Shanghai’s Pudong and Tianjin’s Binhai, home to a half-built, 120-building replica of Manhattan. China’s state council, its highest administrative authority, approved the Lanzhou project in August.
The first stage of the mountain-flattening initiative, which was reported on Tuesday by the China Economic Weekly magazine, began in late October and will eventually enable a new urban district almost 10 square miles in size northeast of downtown Lanzhou – a small, but important part of the Lanzhou Nnew area project to be built.
One of the country’s largest private companies: the Nanjing-based China Pacific Construction Group, headed by Yan Jiehe, is behind the initiative. The 52-year-old former teacher is portrayed in China as a sort of home-grown Donald Trump – ultra-ambitious and preternaturally gifted at navigating the country’s vast network of “guanxi”, or personal connections.
Yan was born in the 1960s as the youngest of nine children. After a decade of working as a high-school teacher and cement plant employee, he founded his construction firm in 1995 and amassed a fortune by buying and revamping struggling state-owned enterprises. In 2006 the respected Hu Run report named Yan – then worth about £775m – as China’s second-richest man.
His latest plan has evoked a healthy dose of scepticism. Lanzhou, home to 3.6 million people alongside the silty Yellow River, already has major environmental concerns. Last year the World Health Organisation named it the city with the worst air pollution in China. The city’s main industries include textiles, fertiliser production and metallurgy.
Liu Fuyuan, a former high-level official at the country’s National Development and Reform Commission, told China Economic Weekly that the project was unsuitable because Lanzhou is frequently listed as among China’s most chronically water-scarce municipalities. “The most important thing is to gather people in places where there is water,” he said.
Others also pointed to the financial risk of building a new city in the middle of the desert. “All this investment needs to be paid back with residential land revenue, and I don’t see much on returns in these kinds of cities,” said Tao Ran, an economics professor at Renmin University in Beijing. “If you have a booming real estate market it might work, but it seems to me that real estate in China is very, very risky.”
In an email interview, a China Pacific Construction Group spokeswoman dismissed criticisms of the project as unjustified. “Lanzhou’s environment is already really poor, it’s all desolate mountains which are extremely short of water,” said Angie Wong. “Our protective style of development will divert water to the area, achieve reforestation and make things better than before.”
Yan’s plans could be considered “a protective style of development, and a developmental style of protection”, she said, adding: “I think whether it’s England or America, or any other country, no one will cease development because of resource scarcity caused by geography.”
A promotional video posted on the Lanzhou new area website shows a digitally-rendered cityscape of gleaming skyscrapers and leafy parks. Against a driving operatic score, the camera zooms out from a large government building to reveal features of the area’s imagined urban topography: a clock tower, a new airport, an oil refinery, a light-rail system, and a stadium packed with cheering fans.
The new area “will lead to an environmentally sustainable economy based on energy-saving industries” including advanced equipment manufacturing, petrochemical industries and modern agriculture, wrote Chinese Central Television on its website.
The Lanzhou city government could not be reached for comment.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
There is no such thing as ‘real estate’, this has tremendous occult significance instead. Note the location and surrounding quake zones. This is a fengshui confluence city that looks set to be filled with life energy if not mistaken or even able to somehow harness the energy at the safe point. Concept of money and real estate is a farce btw. Save for allodial titles backed by force of arms, real goods and real labour/services, or the whimsical entertainments of the RLD, OPZ or Casino city, there is nothing on this planet but evil politicians term limitless and nepotistic, along with plutocrats (those who are BOTH politician and plutocrat are the worst) that sequester wealth and pollute the environment.
ARTICLE 15
Brussels says it would block independent Scotland automatically joining the EU – by Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor – PUBLISHED: 08:57 GMT, 6 December 2012 | UPDATED: 09:02 GMT, 6 December 2012
European Commission letter to House of Lords says Scotland’s membership will ‘cease to apply’ if it breaks away from the UK / Spanish government would block entry, fearing it would embolden Catalonian separatists
First Minister Alex Salmond has insisted an independent Scotland would automatically join the EU – something Brussels disputes
Brussels will refuse to let Scotland automatically join the European Union if voters back Alex Salmond’s plans for independence, it emerged today.
Officials at the European Commission have revealed Scotland’s EU membership will ‘cease to apply’ if it is no longer part of the UK.
The Spanish government has made clear it would ‘veto’ any attempt by Scotland to join.
It is a major blow to claims made by Mr Salmond, Scotland’s First Minister, that Scotland would automatically continue to be in the Euro bloc.
He was ridiculed after claiming in a TV interview that he had obtained legal advice on EU membership but it had to remain secret. He later admitted no advice had been sought.
Now it has emerged that a letter sent to a House of Lords committee warns that that independence ‘would not have a neutral impact’.
Scotland would become a ‘third country’ – outside the EU and have to apply to join the 27-member union, the European Commission told the Lords economic affairs committee.
‘If a territory of a member state ceases to be part of that member state because it has become an independent state then the treaties would cease to apply to that territory,’ according to the letter reported by The Scotsman.
If Scotland did lodge an application it would need to ‘fulfil the usual obligations’ and be ‘accepted unanimously by the members of the council [member states]’.
In a recent debate, Lib Dem Lord Wallace revealed the UK government was clear that any attempt for Scotland to join the EU would meet with difficulties.
‘On the question of Catalonia and Spain, it is entirely clear that the Spanish Government are opposed to any idea of secession and would be likely to veto a Scottish application to join the European Union under current circumstances.
There have been exchanges between the Spanish Government and the European Commission on this exact issue.’
The Spanish government fears that if an independent Scotland gained membership it would bolster calls for Catalonian independence.
It directly contradicts claims made by Mr Salmond’s SNP, who have repeatedly suggested Scotland would automatically join the EU as a new state.
The Scottish independence referendum is being held in autumn 2014, when Mr Salmond hopes to capitalise on a patriotic mood marking 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn
The Scottish independence referendum is being held in autumn 2014, when Mr Salmond hopes to capitalise on a patriotic mood marking 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn
SNP MP Pete Wishart told the Commons last month: ‘Scotland is a constituent part of the United Kingdom. We are currently a member of the European Union. After independence, we will continue to be a member of the European Union.’
But Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire told the same debate that ‘everything would change’ if Scots vote to go it alone in the referendum due in autumn 2014.
An independent Scotland would not automatically be a member of the EU and would have to ‘start afresh’, he added.
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: ‘Immediately following a Yes vote in Autumn 2014, Scotland will still be part of the UK. Negotiations will then take place on the transfer of powers from Westminster to the Scottish Parliament along with negotiations on the specific terms of an independent Scotland’s continued membership of the European Union.
‘Ministers have always been clear that these negotiations will be needed – but the crucial point is that they will take place from within the EU.
‘Scotland has been an integral part of the European Union for almost four decades and an independent Scotland will continue in EU membership. As legal, constitutional and European experts have confirmed, Scotland is part of the territory of the European Union and the people of Scotland are citizens of the EU, and there is no provision for those circumstances to change upon independence.’
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
I wouldn’t worry if I were Salmond or Scotland. When Scotland becomes a sovereign state and possibly banking or hub for BRICS, Brussels will change their tone to the effect that automatic joining will be forestalled by going through the motions of ‘starting afresh’. This is terribly manipulative but a face saving necessity.
Scotland presents a great opportunity for BRICS by being sidelined in this manner by EU. BRICS well needs a friendly point to the EU by and if the EU has decided to distance from Scotland then BRICS would certainly find Scotland that much more attractive, not that EU and BRICS are in any spat that Scotland is already not aware of. UN can even drop Scotland, but so long as BRICS is around the multipolar world will balance things out.
An independent Scotland would not automatically be a member of the EU and would have to ‘start afresh’, he added. Well thats just pretentious. And if by some impossibility that Scotland fails to join EU, the BRICS will be very happy to have a new member EVEN IF Scotland becomes the North Korea of the EU. Like a trust fund under guardianship and insulting as hell to Scotland to the tune of a deflated bagpipe gasping a sour note of contrived control. I’m not Scottish but already feel offended on the Scots’ behalf. Incidentally, try the CGI “Brave”, the settings make the Scots into a circus, main characters are ‘fractured’ as hell and an unhealthy role model . . .
ARTICLE 16
Don’t name your kid Siri – by Dean Obeidallah, Special to CNN – December 2, 2012 — Updated 0502 GMT (1302 HKT)
Sometimes a highly individualistic name for a baby is not good news for a kid, says Dean Obeidallah
Editor’s note: Dean Obeidallah, a former attorney, is a political comedian and frequent commentator on various TV networks including CNN. He is the editor of the politics blog “The Dean’s Report” and co-director of the upcoming documentary “The Muslims Are Coming!” Follow him on Twitter: @deanofcomedy
(CNN) — Siri, Mars, Mac and Luna. I’m not talking Apple products or planetary terms. These are baby names. And not just any baby names but ones that have jumped in popularity in 2012, according to Baby Center.com’s just released list.
Baby Siri? Seriously, who would name their bundle of joy after a frustrating Apple product that hardly ever works? And speaking of Apple (see daughter of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin,) that name moved up a whopping 585 places on the list of names for girls born in 2012. So there could conceivably be a family out there with a daughter named Apple and a son named Siri. (Hope that entitles the family to a discount on an iMac.)
There was a time when bizarre baby naming was something only celebrities did to their kids (as if being the child of a celebrity wasn’t challenging enough). There’s Beyonce and Jay Z’s Blue Ivy, Penn Jillette’s son, Moxie Crimefighter, Bono’s daughter Memphis Eve, actor Jason Lee’s son Pilot Inspektor, and the list goes on and on.
Dean Obeidallah
But now this “condition” is apparently spreading to the rest of us. In addition to the offbeat names above, 2011 saw babies sporting such names as: Moo, Draper, Graceland and Tequila.
There are even media reports that this past weekend some parents allegedly named their newborn daughter, Hashtag. That one may turn out to be an Internet hoax, but after last year’s story of a child in Egypt being named Facebook (in praise of the role Facebook played in the Egyptian revolution), we can’t be too far from babies named Retweet and Spam Blocker anyway. It truly is only a matter of time until you meet a kid named DVR or Playstation 3.
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Apparently some parents believe that giving their child a jaw-dropping name will make him or her more distinctive. News flash: it’s not the name that makes your child stand out, it’s his or her achievements.
While I don’t want to rain on creativity, let’s be honest — these weird names are more about parents showing off their “cleverness” than about finding a name that fits the child. It’s not like the parents got to know the child first for a few months and then said, “You know this baby really is a little Siri.”
Beyonce, Jay-Z welcome baby Blue Ivy
Jolie: We are all Malala
And do these parents even consider that a baby’s name can cause consequences for the child that the parents never imagined, and in many areas of the child’s life? When I reflect upon my own name, I realize that my life could have been far different if my parents had followed their initial instincts when naming me.
My Palestinian father wanted to name me Saladin after the famous Muslim leader, while my Sicilian mother wanted to name me Dino. Instead they compromised on Dean.
Growing up in North Jersey, Dean was not a common name. But it actually made me feel different in a good way being the only Dean in my class. And even today in looking at the list of baby names for 2012, I was actually happy that Dean was not in the top 100.
Still, the truth is, if I’d been named Dino, I would have certainly been viewed as more ethnic by teachers, potential employers and co-workers. I would have been required to continually overcome cultural stereotypes.
And if I’d been named the very Arabic Saladin Obeidallah, you could just imagine all the “fun” I would have had in post-9/11 America. I would have likely volunteered for “random” security checks at the airport to make it easier for all involved or simply got used to taking the bus cross country.
But there’s a difference between a name that isn’t overly common and naming your child after your favorite appliance. A name is a big part of a kid’s identity. It can trigger impressions about a child even before we meet him or her — a particular problem among the closed-minded of the world, but this is the world your child will have to navigate.
For example, studies have found that children with names that linguistically sound like they come from a lower socioeconomic status are less likely to be recommended by school officials for gifted classes and actually more likely to be labeled as learning disabled.
Other research has revealed that boys with feminine sounding names — such as Shannon or Ashley — have had more disciplinary problems in school because of their response to teasing. Still other studies have found a link between how much people like their own names and their level of self-esteem.
So, parents, keep in mind that your choice of name will have a lasting impact on your child — both for good and bad. And if you insist on picking a bizarre name for the baby, then I propose that your child be empowered to rename you with any name he or she chooses. At least then it’s fair that a child named Hashtag has parents named Angry Birds and YouTube.
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[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
In the past there were in some cultures NAMING CEREMONIES AT ADULTHOOD. The child would choose a name LATER, and all children knew their names when young were TEMPORARY and that parents chose those names. Sometimes what the child did that was most unique would also decide what that child was RENAMED at adulthood. So ‘Hashtag’ away and legalise/normalise name changing at the age of 21. Knowing that names are temporary and chosen by parents, kids would not be affected by teasing because they knew they were going to change that name, or the teasers would not bother to tease knowing the name would also change by then.
ARTICLE 17
Michigan weakens union rights in home of auto industry – Michigan passes anti-union law amid protests – by Bernie Woodall – LANSING, Michigan | Tue Dec 11, 2012 6:28pm EST
An anti right-to-work protester is seen outside of Michigan’s state capitol building in Lansing December 11, 2012. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook
(Reuters) – Michigan enacted a ban on mandatory union membership on Tuesday, dealing a stunning blow to organized labor in the state that is home to U.S. automakers and the symbol of industrial labor in the United States.
As more than 12,000 unionized workers and supporters protested at the Capitol in Lansing, the Republican-led state House of Representatives gave final approval to a pair of “right-to-work” bills covering public- and private-sector unions.
Republican Governor Rick Snyder signed the bills into law as soon as they reached his desk, completing in a few days a campaign to make Michigan the 24th U.S. state to prohibit unions from requiring employees to join and contribute dues.
“I view this as an opportunity to stand up for Michigan’s workers, to be pro-worker,” Snyder told a news conference after he signed the bills.
The laws will take effect 90 days after the end of the legislative session, which means they will probably come into force sometime in April. Existing union contracts will not be changed until they expire, according to a provision of the laws.
In a rapid turn of events, Michigan moved from being a bastion of union influence to joining states, mostly in the South, that have weakened local protections for unions.
The Teamsters union national president, James Hoffa, whose father, Jimmy Hoffa, was one of the nation’s most famous labor leaders until he disappeared in 1975 in Michigan, denounced Republican leaders in a speech to the protesters.
“Let me tell the governor and all those elected officials who vote for this shameful, divisive bill – there will be repercussions,” Hoffa said, adding the Republicans could be defeated in the next election.
Unions have accused Snyder of caving in to wealthy Republican business owners and political donors such as the Koch brothers, owners of an energy and trading conglomerate, and Richard DeVos, the co-founder of Michigan-based Amway.
Snyder, a former computer company executive who had said “right-to-work” legislation was too divisive for Michigan, changed course last week and announced his support for it.
While labor leaders decried the legislation, Republican Representative Lisa Lyons said during the debate in the House that such laws were not an attack on unions.
“This is the day Michigan freed its workers,” she said.
Opponents argue that the measures undermine a basic union tenet of bargaining collectively with employers for better wages, benefits and working conditions. They also allow workers to opt out of a union, potentially reducing membership.
By weakening unions, Republicans also could hurt the Democratic Party, which traditionally receives a significant portion of its funding and grass-roots support from unions.
Supporters of right-to-work measures say some unions have become too rigid and workers should be given a choice of whether to join. They also say a more flexible labor market encourages business investment, citing “right-to-work” states where some foreign automakers have put plants rather than in Michigan.
CRIES OF ‘SHAME’
The measures were approved to cries of “shame” from protesters inside the Capitol building, which was closed to visitors when it reached capacity of 2,200, Michigan State Police Inspector Gene Adamczyk said.
An estimated 10,000 more people demonstrated outside in cold and snowy conditions, including members of the United Auto Workers union, and teachers, who shut down several schools in the state to attend the rally.
A few protesters were ejected from the Capitol after they chanted slogans from the gallery during the debate. Protesters tore down two tents set up for supporters of “right-to-work” on the grounds of the Capitol. Adamczyk said six people were arrested after scuffling with officers.
A mixture of pepper spray and tear gas was used on one person, Adamczyk said, although Reuters journalists also saw protesters sprayed with a substance at a government building near the Capitol.
The protests recalled big rallies in Wisconsin nearly two years ago when Republicans voted to curb public-sector unions. Wisconsin never tried to pass “right-to-work” bills.
But Indiana earlier this year became the first state in the industrial Midwest to approve “right-to-work” legislation and several other states are watching the Michigan action closely.
LEGAL CHALLENGES LOOM
Republicans in Michigan were also emboldened by the defeat in the November election of a ballot initiative backed by unions that would have enshrined the right to collective bargaining in the state constitution.
Michigan is home of the heavily unionized U.S. auto industry, with some 700 manufacturing plants in the state. The state has the fifth highest percentage of workers who are union members, at 17.5 percent
The Detroit area is headquarters for General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co and Chrysler, which is majority-owned by Fiat SpA.
The UAW was founded in Michigan after a 1932 protest at a Ford plant in Dearborn left five people dead, increasing public sympathy for industrial workers during the Great Depression and leading to national legislation protecting unions.
Major automakers, which secured concessions from the UAW after nearly going bankrupt during the recession of 2008-09, were careful not to take sides publicly in the fight.
All of the so-called Big Three domestic automakers said they were “neutral” on “right-to-work,” even though the Michigan Chamber of Commerce strongly supports it.
“At Ford, we are focused on working with all our partners, including the UAW,” the company said in a statement on Tuesday.
Democrats and unions have vowed to challenge the new laws in the courts, to try to overturn them in a ballot initiative and possibly oust through recall elections some Republicans who voted for the measures.
Democratic Representative Douglas Geiss said “right-to-work” laws would lead to a resumption of the battles surrounding the creation of unions decades ago.
“There will be fights on the shop floor if many workers announce they will not pay union dues,” Geiss said.
(Additional reporting by Robert Carr, David Bailey and Deepa Seetharaman; Editing by Greg McCune and Peter Cooney)
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Reuters?!? A ban on mandatory union membership *IS NOT*, dealing a stunning blow to organized labor in the state that is home to U.S. automakers and the symbol of industrial labor in the United States. This protects the workers from mob mindedness or being forced into what become SECRET SOCIETIES that also collect yearly dues or other fees that mosy workers who need a union cannot and would rather not pay! Work unions are powerful and goodly when CONSENSUAL, but when EEVERY WORKER IS FORCED TO JOIN, we end up with ‘Satrapies’ run by tyrants, especially if term limits in the COMMITTEE are not a fact or part of the constitution of the Union in question. This law protects the individual worker by giving OPTIONS. How could Reuters write such news?!?
‘Supporters of right-to-work measures say some unions have become too rigid and workers should be given a choice of whether to join. They also say a more flexible labor market encourages business investment, citing “right-to-work” states where some foreign automakers have put plants rather than in Michigan.’ This says everything.
“There will be fights on the shop floor if many workers announce they will not pay union dues,” Geiss said.
Oh yea? So what if they don;t join or don’t pay. If they don’t want to pay the union mafia, thats their choice. Why should there be any fights at all. Are these unions thugs?
i fuckin hate this religion ,i grew up in muslim majority country and i can say muslims are full of shitt even though i don’t hate muslims i hate islam “To Muslims it is always a just war if the end goal is to spread Islam. If the war is waged by non Muslims to stop Muslims from marching in to spread Islam inside their land, it is an unjust war…Many Muslims call for da’wa in the West, which technically means “an invitation to Islam.” They present it as a “peaceful” invitation, but they do not tell the West that this is the first step before outright war if their da’wa is rejected. So when Muslims say da’wa, the West should be warned, because they do not want you to know that da’wa is merely the “make nice” first step before preceding outright jihad.” 7:56 PM
Blogger Gabe Del said…
I’m a witness to the ignorance that is Muslim . I’m a US Marine forward deployed on my 5th combat deployment. Four in Iraq and now one in afghanastan . These guys are illiterate and simple minded. The ten percent that can read will twist young Muslims minds to make them believe what ever they want them to believe in their Gods name. Kill, kill, kill is what they teach them against anyone not Muslim. There Koran teaches peace and good will, but I agree, history tells the truth of what kind of people they really are. No need to swear or lower yourself to their level. Muslims are the infection this world so desperately needs a cure for. 10:19 AM
Dead Ted said…
So your saying that the sneak attack on our towers, the pentagon, and the White House is a way to protect their land and people? Good plan worked wonders…some of the dumbest shit I’ve ever read 2:38 PM
Blogger Red_Rooster said…
Their minds are f***ed, memorizing the fucking Koran. Their ‘thinking’ part of the brain has gone redundant. They hate the Jews but do everything the Jews do; do not eat pork, cut their dicks, bleed a poor animal to death and call it ‘Hallal’ instead of ‘Kosher’, write backwards and wash their dicks before they start praying. In fact, the dumb muslims, follow the Jewish calender! The first day for the muslims is ‘Yom al Ahed’, meaning the first day. It is the Sunday; the first Jewish day after the Sabath. Yom al Itneen, Yom al thalata, Robo, Khamis and Juma, stand for the second, third, fouth, fifth and sixth day. The muslims 7th. day, is ‘Yom al Septh’; literally meaning, the seventh day. In fact, the Sabath; the day the Jews were told to rest. The muslims only differ from the Jews, is in their day of rest. They rest a day before the Jews. In prayer, physically they are the same, except the Jews literally tell you they are fucking somebody, while the muslims tell you, “Fuck Me!”
samy said…
to Jihan
I know what is written in Quraan , i was forced to read and even memorize it at school when I was living in my mother country before migrate to canada ( thank God), the true islam relegion is violence .. force other people to convert otherwise they will be islam enemy and should be killed .. this is what written in Quraan and you knw it and can not deny it… even in here in canada they are trying to force the stubid islamic belives on other people and their ultimate goal is to take over north america and europ .. I hope that our government to wake up and realise what is going on … WAKE UUUPPPP.., islam is evil , muslims are twisted minded and hate everyone simply because he or she is not muslim !!!! they will be in everlasting HELL.. this is the simple plan truth, so what ever you or any muslim try to say otherwise .. it is a BIGGGGG LIE.!! 10:45 AM
Event_Horizon said…
They are so backward in all aspects of life including commerce, infrastructure or technology. They are a brainwashed nation thirsty for the blood of other successful nations. And the worst part is their fucked up religion acts as a catalyst. It inspires them to wage was over the world. For how long will the world continue to tolerate these freaks of religion? The muslims sole mission in life is to create terror in the world. That is what they live for, that’s what their religion teaches them. They are jealous of the developed countries . . . P.S. Muslims smell bad…..True Story! 12:38 PM
Blogger Pris said…
I love all other religions except islam. Muslims are truly f***** up, but don’t know any better because they are brainwashed and left with no brains. Watch all the muslim countries in the world, none of their economies are doing well. The ones that have oil may have money, but they have no infrastructure, no scientific manpower etc. These assholes come to the west for a better life and then try to force their evil religion, customs, traditions and damn sharia law on the free citizens of the world. If left to thrive these guys will make our western nations deteriorate to the abysmal level of the muslim countries they came from. Their goal is to dominate the world and so they multiply like rats to increase their numbers. Before they become a sizable population in the west we should send these guys, including the ones that were born or converted in the west, to muslim countries and contain them there. Let them over populate muslim countries . . . are contaminating the west and so should be stopped before it is too late. To start off, we need to prohibit building of mosques and islamic schools, and publishing of the unholy koran. We need to unite and end this evil.
Blogger TheDeathBird said…
I know a family who left Lebanon to flee Muslim persecution. One of their grandsons returned to visit. On this trip there was a man yelling on the TV set in his hotel room. The man was protesting being fined a cow for shooting his wife for being outside the house. She had crossed a field and a man on a horse said something to her, since he didn’t get a clear shot at the man. Since he could not prove the man was really talking to his wife they fined him a cow. This is Muslim law this is what the Koran teaches. Also, in the Koran a woman told her husband to stop following Mohamid or she would leave She believed Mo was a bad evil monster. Her husband begged her to not talk bad about Mo but since She wouldn’t stop talking bad about Mohamid and She was Pregnant he cut his unborn child out of her belly. He went to Mo and told him and Mohamid said ” I can find no fault with this man” OK people this Story is in the Koran! can you imagine any other spiritual leader like Jesus or Krishna saying something like that! Only the spawn of hell the son of Satan the true Anti Christ would say such a thing Muslims worship the devil their God lives in hell and eats the faithful Muslims for dinner. While pretending to be God. Let any Muslim tell us that story isn’t in the Koran I read it! they follow this monster Mohamido the vile and say he is good. Anyone who reads the Koran who has any love inside them or spirtuality will be sad such a vile work of hate can be considered a work inspired by God. 7:48 PM
sexyharry said…
these guys(muslims) when small in numbers behave as if they are good (we respect other religions,and our god is tolerant etc.) but reality is there quran teaches to hate,kill people who doesn’t believe in islam, some of muslims are good as they doesn’t follow islam properly…….as muslims number increases they will be no more friend of urs ,they will take the side their muslim brothers and try to implement the shariah law’s,blasts,killing who leaves islam……so,i am a guy from sanathan dharam,in our religion we respect every other religion and our religion doesn’t believe in conversion bcoz god resides in us not by simple conversion…..so,i love all religions except islam ………4:02 AM
Blogger vsindia said…
Thes muslims are really lowly creatures. all the terrorists in this world are muslims. how can screw muslims ?
– stop giving them jobs
– shun them publicly
– make separate , stricter laws for muslims
– lets convert all their kids after killing the men
– lets creat gas chambers once again – only for muslims/
I hate them so much that my fist clench and jaws go tight when i think of these bastards. They have forcibly thrown out hindus out of kashmir and christians out of bosnia.
4:42 AM
mark said…
not all muslims are bad but I am sick of them. I am sick of them coming to the west and demanding that shariah law be implemented in western nations. if muzzies think shariah law is so great then they should piss off and go live in a muslim nation.
sick of their fantical hate and terrorism.
sick of their demands and sick of their backward ways.
muslims should go and live in muslim nations and keep their shit ways in muslim nations.
10:08 PM
Blogger marine corps captain said…
JIHAN,
I have taken significant time to read your Koran. And I would rather wipe my ass with a dirty, dime store novel than waste another minute reading, or listening, to that complete pile of pig cum.
Thank GOD I had the opportunity to kill 19 of your brethren while in Iraq. 19 less jihadists on the move.
It’s not ignorance my camel fucking friend…I completely understand your beliefs, motives and wants for this world. And if given the chance I would end your life as well. And your family’s and friend’s lives if possible.
And please refrain from the old tag line of “That’s not true Islam.” Any individual with a 3rd grade education has the ability to understand your religion of hate, murder, suppresion and penchant for death. Watch your back, Muhhamed…you won’t have a second chance with me. 8:23 AM
Fighting to live said…
Hi guys . I am married to a moslem but I am Greek Orthodox. This is a quite funny mix. Our kids are Christian I made sure . But the Moslems all jokes aside have made and continue to make efforts to convert me. That is quite frightening. My husband offered to convert. So I decided to make him sell everything in Pakistan and the next step is to convert him. Wait and see. Keep up the great work
8:50 PM
Blogger Uncle_Sam said…
this maessage is for the fucking muslims
Long gone are the days when you used to blow yourselves up in the middle of the streets in the countries that you infest with your presence.You forget that we are the ones who created and adopted this so-called human rights but we can also break em! you call yourselves warriors ? Com on up and fight you stinckin’ cowards! we’ll show you what a war means…We’ll show you what everyone felt 65 years ago!We’ll show the Nazi style bitches…we will behead all of your stinckin’ children and your masked-shit-pushed-in wifes… Can u all spell together HOLOCAUST? 3:10 PM
Blogger Red_Rooster said…
sdlfihsdiulkgh54;kuy5b4jgrehthredyth said… This man talks of porn … Tell him to go to Yemen. He can fuck 12 yr. old girls there for free! Three times a day! Free!
I lived in Yemen and I know. All the women go out around noon to eat Kat at their friends’. You just pick these Burka clad women and boy, when they enter your home, the Burka is off in a jiffy! Just like that! Pot luck but fucking lucky evertime I had. I must have fucked over 300 muslim cunts in my 5-year stay there. No worry of husbands. They are all in working in Saudi Arabia; coolies there and their 12 year old brides are getting fucked back home. By the way … all their women have inserted in them, the ‘Copper T’. A muslim Female gynacologist I knew, made a roaring business from inserting these things.
The ruder parts of the above have been edited out. The acts of terror are clear enough, but just from a woman’s angle, one doesn’t need to be a woman to want Islam to end in some places, to see how horrible Muslimahs lives are in some places . . . combine with a chastity belt (Christianity) and wallah, a semi-Cyborg . . . how much do some of the very worse among Muslets hate life or procreation that makes them treat women like this, makes the ‘no condoms’ Catholic lot seem humane even though abortion IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
In 1998, racial riots against the ethnic Chinese in West Java prompted the production and sale of “anti-rape corsets” (things have cooled off since as China gains further traction in ASEAN . . . ).
Egyptians suffer buyers’ remorse as Morsi drives toward Islamicization – by Araminta Wordsworth | Dec 12, 2012 8:30 AM ET | Last Updated: Dec 12, 2012 8:43 AM ET
Full Comment’s Araminta Wordsworth brings you a daily round-up of quality punditry from across the globe. Today: It’s the statistics, stupid!
There are more than 83 million people living in Egypt, the Middle East’s most populous nation; 90% of them are Sunni Muslims. More than half dwell in small towns and villages in the countryside and tend to be deeply conservative, attached to tradition. There is a small, urban, educated upper-middle class of liberals and left-wingers.
If these people get the vote, guess who the majority would go for? Under these circumstances, the dramatic swing from dictatorship through democracy to dictatorship is all too sadly predictable.
Now, Mohammed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood member who was elected Egyptian president in June, is showing his true colours — he’s like Hosni Mubarak with a beard. He wants nothing less than an Islamic state, with sharia law and Muslim clerics empowered to render legal opinions.
His idea of reaching out to the opposition is to restate his position, as he did in last week’s speech. This was so devoid of anything resembling reconciliation or fresh ideas, the BBC cut off the live feed after about seven minutes.
Instead, Morsi is calling on the military to do his dirty work, arresting and trying civilians. Brotherhood members have also resorted to torture and the kind of vigilante “justice” that was a feature of the ancient regime. In their view, opponents are Mubarak supporters and/or paid troublemakers.
The Economist for one has seen the writing on the wall.
[Morsi’s actions have polarized Egypt’s exhausted people. The most populous and politically pivotal Arab state stands on the brink of prolonged civil strife, or a descent into a form of veiled dictatorship not unlike the one so recently overthrown, only this time in drab Islamist garb …
The abruptness of the Islamists’ lunge for control has ignited Egypt’s hitherto fractious opposition in outrage, prompting protests on the scale of those during the revolution. A group of former presidential candidates has picked Mohamed ElBaradei, a Nobel peace prize-winner and former UN official, as their leader, and threatened strikes and continued protests until Mr. Morsi relents. The judges, who usually run such things, plan to boycott the referendum. But he shows no signs of backing down. Tired, impoverished and apprehensive, ordinary Egyptians may be tempted to let the Muslim Brotherhood have their way.
Reporting for Der Spiegel from Cairo, Matthias Gebauer describes Morsi as the Brotherhood’s poodle.
Morsi remains intent on strictly following the course of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Islamist group wants to see their man, who won a narrow victory in summer elections, to put Egypt on the path to fundamentalist Islam. And the Muslim Brotherhood is in no mood for compromise. After more than 80 years in the political underground, Brotherhood leaders have decided to seize their chance. And Morsi increasingly looks the part of a fainthearted Brotherhood puppet. He appears to have accepted his country’s descent into violence, making more clashes on the streets of Cairo inevitable.
At The National Review, Andrew C. McCarthy says Egypt’s unravelling was inevitable.
Here’s the late-breaking news: The Muslim Brotherhood is the enemy of democracy. … the Muslim Brotherhood is an innately, incorrigibly Islamic-supremacist outfit. Wherever it establishes a presence, it seeks — as gradually as indigenous conditions require, and as rapidly as they allow — to implement its repressive construction of sharia. Wherever it gets the opportunity to rule, it uses its power to impose this sharia, despite resistance from the society’s non-Islamist factions.
This is not a mere theory. Egypt, the world’s most important Arab country, is violently convulsing before our eyes in direct reaction to the suffocation that is Islamist rule. So, will we finally take the lesson? Will we finally come to understand why democracy and Islamic supremacism cannot coexist? Ebrahim Moosa, an Islamic studies prof at North Carolina’s Duke University, believes the Egyptian president and his Islamic allies badly misjudged the situation.
Mr. Morsi seems to have forgotten the sensitivity that a country freshly freed from decades of despotism might feel towards anything with an odour of dictatorship. Secretive and inward-looking, the Brotherhood appears surprised by the depth of mistrust that many Egyptians, including pious Muslims of every social class, feel towards them. The Islamists’ constituency remains large and their organising power formidable. “They will rally the poor with the slogan: to be a Muslim, vote yes for the constitution and confound the infidels,” predicts Muhammad Nour Farahat, a law professor at Cairo’s Zagazig University. Yet even if Mr Morsi and his Brothers manage to pull this off, a heavy cloud will remain over their rule.
Egypt 2012 Const-Referendem (Note the true culturists wearing their subtle NPPs . . . )
compiled by Araminta Wordsworth
awordsworth@nationalpost.com
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Why not the military just take over and do away with the Islamist b.s. and revive a BENEVOLENT Constitutional Pharoanate via DNA testing to determine the closest Royal Egyptian bloodline? A BENEVOLENT Grand Vizier from the military would well be tolerated even for LIFE (if all unused state land is redistribited to the landless or homeless in Egypt) while the country RE-EGYPTIANISES. This would be preferable to this potential threat of the Muslim Brotherhood Islamist imposition of Hudud or Syariah under Morsi which does not need to be written into the constitution and instead remain seperate from the State. Religion and State are not to be confused into a single item under any Islamist leaning Constitution. Let the Muslets impose their own laws on theselves, LEAVE THE SECULARITY OF STATE ALONE.
WHERE IS THE Pharoah’s Brotherhood or Amon-Ra’s Brotherhood to counter the Muslim Brotherhood? Freemasonry across the world could accept no less!
This is EGYPT and Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, the central symbol of the Egyptian civilisation is THE PYRAMID OF THE PHAROAHS . . . NOT ARABIA and Mecca or Medina, the central symbol of the Arabian civilisation is THE CUBE OF KABAA.
Egypt is not Arabia.
Adopt EGYPTIAN NAMES not keep using those ARABIAN NAMES (the wealthier can trace their DNA down to the nobility or even Kings if they try hard enough). Pray and worship at EGYPTIAN Temples. Respect a revived Egyptian Priesthood not a Foreign Priesthood that answers to a foreign Arab King. Wear Egyptian garb. In Egypt, if the Egyptian people have the will, an Egyptian King is even possible (Constitutional Monarch), or an Egyptian Pharoah rather.
Learn Hieratic instead of Arabic and remember that EGYPTIAN culture and polytheistic EGYPTIAN religion (well if the people are as lazy as Akenathan, worship Amon-Ra instead for a while NOT the Kabaa – even as the Aabakian Octohedron Cult arises on the Mecc(h)an Antipode) are well loved the world over, as opposed to Islamism’s monotheistic malaise and penchant for association with oil and terror, rampant disrespectful proselytization and sometimes forced conversions.
At least some Egyptians seem to remember who they are . . . the Egyptian Pantheon’s first High Priest perhaps? Imhotep! Imhotep! Imhotep II rather . . .
DAP calls for diplomatic protests over Israel’s aggression – Sunday, 18 November 2012 08:16
KUALA LUMPUR – The DAP today urged the Malaysian government to lodge diplomatic protests over Israel’s cruel actions on the people of Gaza, Palestine.
Its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said Wisma Putra (the Foreign Ministry) should make vehement protests on Israel’s actions to the United States and the United Nations so that the violence perpetrated against the people of Gaza was stopped forthwith.
“DAP condemns Israel’s using its military might disproportionately to the rocket attacks from Palestinian fighters. Israel’s aggression on Gaza always brings unnecessary deaths and damage to property,” he said in a statement here today.
At least 30 people have been killed and scores others injured, including women and children, in Israel’s latest airstrikes on the Gaza Strip which began on Wednesday.
– Bernama
Obama must act immediately & decisively to stop Israeli attacks on Gaza – by Anwar Ibrahim – Sunday, 18 November 2012 22:12
Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza and the brutal killings of innocent Palestinians. The incessant shelling of whatever that is left of the Palestinian homeland is a gross violation of international law and constitutes acts of cold blooded murder.
We categorically condemn these blatant acts of aggression and call on the international community to do whatever that is necessary to put an end to the violence. The continued bombardment and the calling up of 75,000 reservists constitute a grave threat to peace and stability in the region.
We would reiterate the warning by both Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi that serious consequences would ensue if Israel follows up with its threat of a ground offensive.
Take clear moral stand
President Barack Obama must act immediately and decisively to put to an end to the increasing tension in the region by making it clear to Israel that their continued acts of aggression and the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza will have severe implications not just for the region but for international peace and stability.
All peace loving nations must take a clear moral stand on this issue and pressure Israel to cease its brutal, inhumane and oppressive actions against the people of Gaza, already marginalized for years and since 2006, unfairly penalised by the Western powers for having elected Hamas to power.
ANWAR IBRAHIM IS THE LEADER OF THE MALAYSIAN OPPOSITION – brought to you by Carl’s Jr. (inbred politics par excellence NEPOTISM . . .)
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
DAP is the worst political party EVER. We still have APARTHEID of BUMIPUTRA here in Malaysia and DAP wants to target Israel AN ENTIRE country embroiled in decades of war instead? GTFO of Dewan DAP! End apartheid and unequal citizenships first then talk about Israel. If DAP can’t even walk as equals among Malaysians, DAP has no business talking about Israel. DAP is run by nepotistic term limitless idiots.
Also selected comments from another media site confirm DAP’s irrelevance to Malaysian politics and lack of interest in Human Rights locally (DAP accepts 2nd class citizenships but wants to fight the 10th Crusade on the side of Muslims? Obama didn’t get through to Anwar now did he? PKR has not spoken against apartheid or ensured Article 18 of the Human Rights Charter but wants to berate Obama on Palestine? Send in the marines!
Sunday, 18 November 2012 12:28 posted by Malaysian
DAP is barking up the wrong tree. It is now supporting aggressors. Hamas knew that the rocket attacks on Israel would get a strong response if they kept it up long enough. Were they thinking of the wellbeing of the Palestinians in this case? I think not. Like many in the world community, DAP has now been drawn into condemning Israel’s right to defend itself while conveniently forgetting that it was Hamas who started the violence. Can we have some common sense here, or is it too much to ask of DAP on this issue?
Sunday, 18 November 2012 14:38 posted by CorruptWorld
The corrupt and dictatorial leaderships in the middle east nations are fearful of the momentum of “the Arab Spring”. Rhetorica against Iran’s nuclear program, Iran supports Asad of Syria n militants in Iraq, Hezbollah meddling in Labenon, all year long Hamas firing rockets into Isreal, Isreal heavy response….these are planned political, big arms deals and corruption from bottom to top maneuvers by the leaders in West and East to divert or kill off the middle east peoples’ uprising and yearn for freedom and change of governments. Both, Isreal and Hamas are to blame for escalating tensions and hardship on their own people’s. When peace is near and real, they both acting up again. The ruling Government of Isreal is not true Jews as with Hamas is not true Muslims.
Sunday, 18 November 2012 22:31 posted by dominic
This is the second call from PR leaders . I have yet to see any call for Hamas to immediately cease their un-provocative shelling of Israel . Any disagreement is best settled on the round table instead of lobbing mortars and missles to gander international support and attention . Any peace at all need both side to abide collectively. No one party can go in alone !
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Drop the Israel-Palestine B.S.. . . ARE YOU A MINORITY living in Malaysia @dominic? If there is no equal standing locally for 40% of the population, stop talking about a country half a world away and handle the local issues first, Malaysia is half a Trillion in debt and has apartheid issues, this Israel-Palestine conflict is the work of SUPERPOWERS, and China and India are modest enough to keep their distance to let Russia and USA handle this, not even England or the EU want to get involved and here we have BN or Pakatan making alot of noise on the side . . . can’t even have equality, country in serious debt, can’t end Apartheid, and want to target the Middle East issues? Malaysian citizens as unfocused as Malaysian politicians, backyard issues first!
ARTICLE 2
The Ipoh boy who spoke no English… and rose to be Chief Justice – Sunday, 18 November 2012 08:29
This is an excerpt of a tribute delivered by Law Minister K. Shanmugam in Parliament on Monday to Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong, who retired on Nov 6.
SINGAPORE’S constitutional framework enshrines the rule of law, the independence of the courts and the separation of powers.
The Constitution establishes the Judiciary as a separate and independent institution, and charges it with the responsibility to interpret the law and apply it to cases which come before the courts.
At the head of the Judiciary is the Chief Justice. Through his judgments and extra-judicial writings, his presidency over appellate hearings and even his personal conduct, the Chief Justice sets the tone for the administration of justice in Singapore.
It is a heavy responsibility, and Singapore has been singularly fortunate that, for the past six years, that responsibility has been discharged by Chief Justice Chan.
Humble background
THE Chief Justice came from a humble background. He lived in a communal house in Ipoh, started his education late because of the war, and could not speak English when he first went to school.
But adversity did not slow him down. He was one of the top students in the Senior Cambridge School Certificate in 1955, with eight distinctions.
He could not decide what to read at university. He was not thinking of doing law – he had no idea what a legal career would be like. Happily for Singapore, he was persuaded to do law by his English literature teacher, Dr Etherton, who said that he had a “very crafty mind” – in a good sense.
Chief Justice Chan joined the inaugural LL.B. class of 1961 in the then University of Malaya, and was one of the top students in a class that produced several other students who went on to hold high positions in the law.
Private practice
CHIEF Justice Chan practised briefly in Kuala Lumpur before joining Braddell Brothers in Singapore in 1963. He did so because he wanted to continue to be with then his girlfriend, Elisabeth Eber, whom he later married.
Later, the Chief Justice joined Shook Lin & Bok, where he rose to become the managing partner and one of Singapore’s leading banking and corporate lawyers, with a complete mastery of the law and a keen understanding of commercial and practical realities.
He was the counsel of choice for many banks and financial institutions, and drafted many of the standard banking and corporate documents used throughout Singapore in the late 1970s and in the 1980s.
The Chief Justice never hid behind verbiage. I once had to advise on a guarantee which was drafted by the Chief Justice. It comprised two paragraphs, in a telex. The party which challenged the validity of the guarantee – perhaps because it looked too short to be a guarantee! – later backed down. Though brief, the document was clear and accurate. That was the hallmark of the Chief Justice: in the way he gave his advice, in the way he drafted documents and in the way he wrote his judgments.
Judicial commissioner and judge
CHIEF Justice Chan was appointed a Judicial Commissioner in 1986 – the first person to be so appointed. He was later elevated to be a Judge in 1988.
During his first judicial tenure, from 1986 to 1992, the Chief Justice demonstrated the independence of mind and the keenness of analysis that lawyers today are familiar with. In this period, he heard a fair number of public law cases, and, in his own words, “the decisions are fairly divided between those decided for and against the Government”.
It was during this period that I started my own career in the law. In 1987, I appeared as a junior, with Mr Joseph Grimberg, in a case before the Chief Justice. The precedents were not clear. While Mr Grimberg was making his arguments, the Chief Justice somehow noticed – I don’t know how, perhaps it showed in my face – that I was keen for a point to be made. He asked Mr Grimberg to ask me what the point was. I was quite struck that the Chief Justice noticed everything in his court – he was so alert that he even picked up on the thought processes of a junior, and pursued the point.
His handling of the case, both in the way he conducted the hearing, as well as his legal analysis, left a deep impression on me.
He had an excellent judicial temperament – no flourish, no hyperbole, no drama. He always cut to the chase, succinct. He was usually well ahead of counsel and on top of all the issues – a first-rate, world-class judicial mind.
Attorney-General
IN 1992, Chief Justice Chan was appointed the third Attorney-General of Singapore.
As Public Prosecutor, he had the constitutional responsibility for instituting and conducting prosecutions. He acted firmly and in the public interest. At the same time, he was fair to the accused.
He enhanced the capabilities of the Attorney-General’s Chambers by strengthening the Civil and Criminal Divisions, and setting up the International Affairs Division and the Law Reform and Law Revision Division. His successors have built on this strong foundation, and today the AGC has a full- fledged team of first-rate lawyers, numbering about 250.
As Attorney-General, and later as Chief Justice, Chief Justice Chan played a leading role in the Pedra Branca litigation.
He presented our case before the International Court of Justice in a very clear manner, together with Professor S. Jayakumar, Professor Tommy Koh and others. The ICJ decisively upheld Singapore’s sovereignty over Pedra Branca. Chief Justice’s personal interests – he is a keen student of history – helped substantially in presenting Singapore’s case. His collection of South-east Asian history books, one of the largest in Singapore, was extensively used for the ICJ hearing.
Chief Justice
Mr Chan was appointed as Chief Justice in 2006. The appointment was received with great enthusiasm by the legal community.
Chan Sek Keong the Chief Justice was very much like Chan Sek Keong the man – humble, unassuming, with a powerful intellect and a keen sense of integrity.
Outside of the courtroom, Chief Justice Chan demanded that lawyers meet the highest standards of professional conduct, and took decisive measures to safeguard clients’ monies from errant lawyers. He constantly encouraged the legal fraternity, from Senior Counsel to law student, to do more pro bono work, to improve access to justice for the less fortunate amongst us.
He started the Young Amicus Curiae scheme where young lawyers could assist Judges hearing Magistrate’s Appeals, and expose themselves to criminal work.
He stressed the need for top- tier advocacy in commercial cases. He observed that top Senior Counsel were often retained by large institutions, rendering them unable or unavailable to act against such institutions. The result was that small law firms and individual clients who wanted representation against large institutions could not instruct Senior Counsel. He thus advocated that Queen’s Counsel be allowed to appear more freely in our courts, so that small law firms and individual clients can instruct them.
As a judge, Chief Justice believed that “judgments should be expressed in a language that a reasonably educated layman can understand”, and indeed his judgments stand out for their clarity and simple elegance.
He believed in procedural fairness, that “litigants must come away from the court with the feeling that even though they lost, they have had their day in court and have been heard”.
He believed that the function of judges was to interpret and to apply the law, and not to legislate or make policy in the guise of adjudication. In that sense, he was a legal positivist.
At the same time, he believed that judges had a role in developing the law interstitially, consonant with national values and fundamental principles of the common law.
To promote the practice development of Singapore law, he issued a Practice Direction that Singapore cases should be cited in preference to foreign cases. In the course of his judicial career, he wrote almost 380 judgments, or more than 30 a year. His judgments, which span many areas of the law, will continue to influence our jurisprudence for many years to come.
He believed in justice for the common man. Above all, the Chief Justice was a firm believer in the rule of law and the duty of the court to uphold the law. In a lecture in 2010, he offered a robust rebuke to those who doubted the independence of the Judiciary.
When the boy from Ipoh came to Singapore to study, settle down and start a career in the law, it was Singapore which ultimately benefited.
– The Straits Times
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A Justice, much less CHIEF Justice would never accept the lack of :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Any legal professional that has sat by and watched the lack of the above, is a ‘boy’ . . . Ipoh or wherever from . . . not a MAN who challenges the APARTHEID OF BUMIPUTRA for the mere right to equality. Any Malaysian who RAN AWAY from Malaysia to Singapore, and not spoken a word against apartheid despite reaching such high status is a very cynical person, especially when no-longer holding posts or active in government.
‘While still at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), he was frequently asked about the Internal Security Act (ISA) — a law that enables the government to detain people without trial. The issue also recently grabbed headlines when the Catholic Archbishop of Singapore retracted a letter of support he sent to activist group Function 8, when it organised an event earlier this year calling for its abolition. Asked for his views on more controversial detentions in Singapore’s history, including Operation Coldstore in 1963 and Operation Spectrum in 1987, he felt it inappropriate to offer comment on specific incidents in the past because he was not privy to the specific security considerations applicable to them. With clearer knowledge of the situation between 2008 and 2011, however, Shanmugam is certain of the overarching rationale for the Act in the current international security environment — that ultimately it acts as a preventive measure where security threats are discovered on classified intelligence.
With the days of mass, high-profile detentions a thing of the past, though, whether the law should stay or not, he feels, all boils down to the evaluation of which of two risks Singapore is more prepared to take. “(The ISA) gives the power to the government to detain people without going through the due process of the courts. Once you have such a structure, is there a possibility of abuse? Of course… so that’s the risk,” he acknowledged. However, he pointed out, “Society has got to decide between that risk, or the risk that an incident might actually occur, and then you have to ask yourself, ‘What are the consequences of each of the two risks materialising? What is the impact on Singapore?’ and then people have to choose.” Shanmugam explained that where Singapore lacks in natural resources, it makes up for in a clean ecosystem that is friendly to businesses.’
Propagandist Indian raised into high stature, now here supporting draconian laws, and know that Shanmugam is present only for token multiracialism. Singapore is not friendly to business, but only acts as a money laundering front and military base of sorts centered around a CIVILIAN JUNTA around the nepotistic Lee family . . .
Selected Commentator Comments :
Sunday, 18 November 2012 13:23 posted by Habis lah, Chiak Moi with soya sauce
How can he compare to our wealthy, hollywood handsome pedigree and powerful Minister Nazari. Even Nazari son can afford to wear a million dollar watch. Can this S’porean(ex M’sian) CJ do likewise.
Aiyah, our Minister Nazari is 1st class conman – con his own people and also con everybody that there is nothing wrong in $40 million fiasco involving Michael Chia & Musa. By the way, sorry lah people like Justice Chan is not wanted by Malaysia. Smart people in Malaysia is a liability. They complain too much about UMNO’s brand of government. Too many smart people, where to cari makan.
Sunday, 18 November 2012 20:52 posted by Oran Utan
You guys still don’t get it do you? For UMNO this is all about Ketuanan Melayu, it is never about Meritocracy. And some you you hit a nail in the coffin, with his type of resume he will never get a job in Bolehland.
Talent corp is wasting taxpayers money and time, how do you expect to attract Malaysian Talents back and retain them when you cannot guarantee a future for these talents. Meritocracy, performance and opportunity for promotions and business opportunities are one of the main key criteria to stay back in Ketuanan Melayu land. So UMNO don’t take us for a ride with your Talent Corp bullshit. All I can see is that Talent Corp is another gimmick to siphon Taxpayers money.
Sunday, 18 November 2012 10:58 posted by Ibrahim
He acted firmly and in the public interest. ..
An excellent tribute. In Malaysia, if we can get 10% of the qualities mentioned in this tribute, we would be honored. Esp. When that Mamak who is really a Syaitan, tore the independence, professionalism & integrity of the Malaysian Judiciary to pieces.
Now we have only a Judiciary and AG Chambers completely compromised and without any more conscience esp. when Dealing with dissent and opposition to UMNO.
ARTICLE 3
Najib signs ASEAN’s first human rights convention – by Clara Chooi – Assistant News Editor – November 18, 2012
Following a public uproar to the widespread crackdown on two pro-democracy rallies held by electoral reform movement Bersih 2.0, Najib has taken great pains to improve civil liberties in Malaysia. — File pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak signed ASEAN’s first human rights declaration (AHRD) in Cambodia today, officially committing Malaysia to its first foreign convention to promote fair treatment of every individual irrespective of race, religion and political opinion.
Today’s signing, which took place during the 21st ASEAN Summit at the Peace Palace in the capital city of Phnom Penh, comes at an opportune time for Malaysia and the Barisan Nasional (BN) government led by Najib, which has come under close international scrutiny for its alleged mishandling of several recent human rights issues.
“ASEAN shall pursue the protection and promotion of human rights in the region in our own way and also try to maintain the highest standard as expressed in various declarations and instruments of the international community,” ASEAN secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan was quoted as saying in The Star Online.
According to media reports, the AHRD has a total of 40 clauses and covers areas like civil and political rights, economic, social ad cultural rights, developmental processes and peace enhancement.
The declaration also states that the rights of women, children, elderly and disabled persons and migrant workers are integral and indivisible part of human rights and fundamental freedom, The Star reported.
Najib has found himself in the international spotlight on numerous occasions, taking the hit for his administration’s alleged heavy-handedness in dealing with matters concerning civil freedom, individual rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association.
Some key examples include the widespread crackdown on two pro-democracy rallies held by electoral reform movement Bersih 2.0 — one on July 9, 2011, and another on April 28 this year — which resulted in scene of chaos and violence on the streets of this usually peaceful capital city.
To dull the uproar, however, Najib has taken great pains to improve civil liberties in Malaysia, even agreeing to repeal the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA) and the Sedition Act, enacting a new law to regulate public gatherings, agreeing to allow student participation in politics and relaxing provisions in laws governing press freedom.
But after the last protest on April 28, foreign media reports predicted that the government’s handling of the event would likely undermine Najib’s image as a reformist and force the prime minister to delay the next general election.
Several newswires, picked up by major newspapers globally, also took the same stance, with Reuters reporting that police action raised “the risk of a political backlash that could delay national polls which had been expected as early as June.”
Agence France-Presse also said that “the rally poses a dilemma for Najib, who since last year’s crackdown has sought to portray himself as a reformer, launching a campaign to repeal authoritarian laws in a bid to create what he called ‘the greatest democracy’.”
Several reports pointed to the first Bersih rally held just months before the March 2008 elections, which saw BN record its worst electoral performance ever, ceding its customary two-thirds supermajority in Parliament and five state governments.
Najib took over from Tun Abdullah Badawi a year later, ostensibly to improve on the results and some observers say only a return to two-thirds majority will guarantee he remains Umno president.
Widespread condemnation from the international press of Putrajaya’s crack down on last July’s Bersih rally saw Najib announce a raft of reforms including a parliamentary select committee on electoral reforms and the Peaceful Assembly Act, a major concession to win back an alienated middle-class.
But the findings of a bipartisan panel have been criticised as cosmetic by civil society and the opposition and yesterday’s planned sit-in was the first major test of the new law regulating demonstrations the BN chief says abides by “international norms”.
The foreign press had at the time also widely carried global civil liberties watchdog Human Rights Watch’s criticism of the government, saying it showed “contempt for its people’s basic rights and freedoms.”
“Despite all the talk of ‘reform’ over the past year, we’re seeing a repeat of repressive actions by a government that does not hesitate to use force when it feels its prerogatives are challenged,” said Phil Robertson, its deputy Asia director.
Apart from Bersih, the BN administration has also earned itself international condemnation for bringing charges of sexual misconduct and sodomy against Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim numerous occasions, a move that the leader’s supporters have claimed was merely to stifle his campaign to topple the ruling pact.
Several cases of deaths in custody over the past few years had also cast the government in the spotlight for alleged human rights abuses. One example is the death of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock, whose death, which occurred while he was under the care of anti-graft officials, has continued to haunt the government since 2009.
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But the Bar Council gets no flak eh? The Bar Council needs to hammer BN too, even sue BN for APARTHEID and lack of :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Najib alone cannot be blamed but is definitely complicit. If all other agencies did their work, Najib would be out of work. UN needs to address the bunch of racists affecting Najib’s judgment. Signing this does not change the above 3 lacks. Bar Council being so supposedly educated and ‘legal’ can see this. Act yet? Or still waiting for moi to sue the Malaysian Government?
ARTICLE 4
PAS dials down on hudud, concedes it can’t rule alone – Sunday, 18 November 2012 administrator – Abdul Hadi Awang
(TMI) — Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang appeared today to admit that PAS may never entirely abandon its plans to impose hudud for Muslims and had only softened its approach on the matter as the Islamist party knew it could not rule without its non-Muslim allies in Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
But the PAS president offered his word that if implemented, the controversial Islamic penal code would not be imposed on the non-Muslims, shooting down a suggestion yesterday by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“Hudud is (PAS’) rights (to implement), and we are not forcing non-Muslims (to follow it),” Abdul Hadi told reporters after closing the party’s 58th annual conference, or muktamar, here.
“And the rights of non-Muslims are allowed by their own religion … for example, liquor is allowed by their religion … although it is haram in Islam, it is still their right.”
Dr Mahathir had stepped into the hudud fray yesterday, challenging the party to implement hudud for all, including the non-Muslims, in order to be fair.
During the stretch of the party’s annual meet this weekend, the PAS leadership seemed to deliberately dodge the issue of hudud and the party’s Islamic state ideals, moving instead to appear more inclusive with slogans that advocate religious tolerance and acceptance.
But the party’s religious conservatives in the ulama wing and youth members insisted on raising the controversial issue, which has put a strain on PAS’ ties with PR ally DAP.
In his policy speech at the opening of the muktamar, Abdul Hadi focussed on PAS’ plans to improve Malaysia’s economy should PR come to power and skirted around hudud and the implementation of the Islamic state.
But the veteran politician could not avoid the matter today, after PAS continued to find itself the target of critics who complained of the party’s apparent failure to stick to its ideals.
He would not expressly state if PAS would push ahead with its hudud agenda but appeared to suggest that the matter had to be shelved for the sake of its non-Muslim partners in PR.
“We want to rule a country, if it’s just PAS, then it will be impossible (for us) to rule,” he told reporters.
The Marang MP’s remarks today will likely draw more criticism from PAS’ political foes who have often accused the party of straying from its Islamic ideals and bowing down to its allies for the sake of wresting federal power.
PAS also reiterated today that there is no friction between the party and DAP, with which they have gone into collision course on issues such as Islamic state and hudud.
“DAP, PKR have accepted Islam as the religion of the federation,” PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said.
“Don’t equate them disagreeing over hudud, with them rejecting (Islam). It is not the same.”
Abdul Hadi’s statements came after PAS’s religious wing continued to reaffirm its stand on hudud, insisting that it should be implemented if the party wins a significant majority in the next election.
“So far, hudud is still relevant,” said Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamad, the Deputy Chief of PAS Ulama wing during the closing speech at the muktamar.
“We will implement hudud in a democratic system if we win a lot of seats. It is not impossible that hudud can be implemented in Malaysia.”
Mahfodz reminded the PAS leadership that they should not forget Islam and hudud while they fight through the next campaign stage to reach Putrajaya.
“A ‘benevolent state’ must be based on the Quran, sunnah and ijtihad … not the -isms which contradict Islam,” he added.
This remark followed the information chief for the women’s wing, Aiman Athirah’s call for delegates to work harder so that PAS can lead Pakatan Rakyat (PR), and for President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to be elected as the prime minister if the party wins in the next election.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Dials? Whats that an NLP ‘trigger word’, code? Anyway, good to hear that Hudud might not be summarily imposed on Malaysians BUT . . .
Hadi may want to consider if Muslims will be allowed Article 18 of the UN Human Rights Charter rights to Apostasy, and the Non-Muslims will be allowed EQUALITY in all aspects of Law and Constitution, and also for non-Muslims to have RLD and Gambling districts in suitable places in state capitals of appropriate size AS WELL as OPZs (Organic Psychedelic Zones) like Amsterdam has. There are SERIOUS gaps in Hadi’s address and acceptance of PMship, which while tolerable if the above issues are made clear, cannot precede PAS taking up the mantle of the ruling party much less neglect Orang Asli stolen land issues as well as forced conversions of non-Muslims, continuation of Bumiputra Aparthied (perhaps INCLUDE all non-Malays and non-Muslims of a certain wealth level who are willing to apply BUT under no sneak conversion tactics or attempts at proselytization) etc..
Conversely Bumiputra Apartheid could be ended entirely, millions worth Bumi should not get any discounts or special privileges at all, while the poor non-Muslim and non-Malays in fact should. This is a money issue and to ignore politics of non-Muslim rights and equality, this becomes a display of PAS’s inward lookingness and sheer neglect of common sense and civilisation that a PM of any country needs. No problem if Hadi is made PM, but not without address of the above which are innate rights of ALL MANKIND and neglected for oppressive purposes for decades in Malaysia. Malaysia is a single country within the nations of a world, and not a very large or powerful country, needs to address issues as above.
ARTICLE 5
PAS Youth’s Nasrudin tells what he’s worth – Saturday, 17 November 2012 15:25
To show he meant business, PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hasan yesterday laid bare his personal assets during the winding down speech at the wing’s muktamar.
Nasrudin, 42, declared that he and his wife, a teacher, both draw an income of RM2,800 and RM4,000 respectively.
He also declared that he had RM9,000 in his bank account.
Out of his monthly RM2,800 income, RM2,500 is allowance from the party for his duties as PAS Youth chief while RM300 is rental income.
The father of six also tabled the breakdown of his monthly expenses comprising of a home loan at RM530 and his vehicle for which he pays RM1,400 monthly.
“Meanwhile my wife is paying loan for her own house at RM1,230 a month. These are the assets I am declaring, that I owned, as a gimmick for the assets declaration proposal, insha Allah that will be followed by all PAS Youth exco members,” he said.
PAS Youth had earlier announced that its executive council members including those not contesting in the coming general election would have to declare their assets.
During the opening of PAS Youth’s general meeting, party deputy president Mohamad Sabu gave his commitment to turn the proposal into a reality, but reminded that assets declaration must also be made at the end of one’s office term.
-Harakahdaily
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Don’t do the Rakyat no favours. Declaring assets is NOTHING AT ALL. Try ending apartheid or extreme religion and even distributing land or housing to the poor OF ALL RACES. Assets only? Big deal? At end of term? WORSE deal. Hiding ‘abit’ is hiding all the same. Why not declare NOW instead of months away so that ‘assets’ can be hidden by then? Who cares if assets are declared AFTER the term? BEFORE the term starts would be meaningful for asset declarations, but ONLY AFTER terms end? Cynical and obviously stalling for time.
ARTICLE 6
Possibly inaccurate but will post to see if any response that can clarify . . .
Theory? Or Truth?
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
My theory based guess is that drugs are in fact USED by politicians to astrally project so that they can peek in on others and gain advantage against them, if not illegal cams have been installed everywhere already. Look at the colours the podium speaker is wearing here, Rasta colours. Who knows those with minds too strong will be targeted by GOVERNMENT, or political drug users, which possibly are typical of ALL so-called or organized religions. The hierarchy of religions could well be based around drug taking and hence the desire to illegalise drugs so that the will of the world becomes that of their narrow limited and religious biased one. Perhaps these are not religious men, perhaps these are ADDICTS intent on religious and political control using drugs as a weapon of choice. Please feel free to discuss if the premise is off, or warn to remove if considered offensive – suggestions of a more suitable repost will be appreciated if needed.
ARTICLE 7
Transvestites’ luck runs out – BY YUEN MEIKENG, TAN SIN CHOW and A.RAMAN – Saturday November 17, 2012
A GROUP of transvestites in revealing outfits was detained by religious authorities for trying to offer sexual services.
Sinar Harian reported that they were spotted waiting for customers in Pandan Indah, Kuala Lumpur.
The six transvestites ran helter-skelter when they saw an enforcement team from the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) and officers from the Al-Azim mosque making their rounds at 5am on Thursday.
It was learnt the transvestites charged as low as RM50.
Al-Azim mosque officer Ahmad Nawi Osman said some of the transvestites suffered light injuries when they fell while running up a flight of stairs.
“All of them, aged between 20 and 38, were arrested,” he said, adding that one transvestite disclosed that it was difficult to find work and gain acceptance in society, causing him to resort to such a job.
> Kosmo! reported that the body of a missing two-year-old boy had been found. The body was believed to have been partly eaten by a monitor lizard.
Hadziq Hassan, missing since last Saturday, was found in Segaliud, Sandakan, on Wednesday night.
A surveyor, who was working in the area, made the discovery.
The boy was reported missing at Batu 25, Kampung Garinono after he and his family attended a relative’s wedding in Kampung Manis.
His body was found about 3km from the relative’s house.
Sandakan OCPD Asst Comm Rowell Marong said the body was identified by his family and was sent to the Duchess of Kent Hospital for an autopsy.
> A total of 26 foreign women, including four underaged girls, were detained by the Negri Sembilan Immigration Department for allegedly working as guest relations officers, reported Harian Metro.
The four Vietnamese girls, aged between 14 and 16, were believed to have been tricked into taking up the job at an entertainment centre in Seremban.
State immigration director Faizal Fazri Othman said three of the four girls entered the country using a visitor’s pass while the other girl used a student pass.
Other News & Views is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this > sign, it denotes a separate news item.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Adult services are a human right of non-Muslims and if these transpersons were not Muslim, they should be left alone at least while legal action to ensure proper zones are assigned for such activities for non-Muslims. Luck? These are human rights abuses.
ARTICLE 8
Two PAS leaders support one-seat proposal – Saturday, 17 November 2012 Super Admin
(The Star) – Two PAS leaders have voiced support for DAP chairman Karpal Singh’s “one candidate, one seat” proposal for the upcoming general election.
PAS vice-president Sallehuddin Ayub said Karpal’s proposal was in tandem with PAS’ strategy of fielding one candidate, in general, for one seat.
“It will help convince the people of Pakatan Rakyat’s sincerity in serving their voters,” he said at the sidelines of the PAS muktamar here.
However, Sallehuddin said there could be exceptions, citing that DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng might be allowed to contest two seats if this was a way to help Pakatan.
Likewise, he said PAS leaders might also be asked to contest two seats.
Sallehuddin’s views was shared by his counterpart Datuk Mahfuz Omar, who stressed on their goal of defeating Barisan Nasional.
“If this means that each Pakatan candidate must only contest one seat, then it should be supported.
“If it also means that certain candidates should contest two as it enhances our chances, then it must also be supported,” Mahfuz said.
In another development, Kelantan PAS deputy commissioner II Datuk Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah warned that Kelantan PAS might lose seats in the elections if it allowed complacency to creep in.
In the last elections, Kelantan PAS won 34 of the 40 state seats.
Nik Mohd Amar also rubbished talk that Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, 82, was ailing.
However, he acknowledged that Nik Aziz had been advised by his doctor to go for a check-up every day to treat a “prostate problem”.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
A potential core elite of statesmen, at least in ensuring of separation of powers. Karpal unfortunately represents endemic nepotism and limitless terms as well. Hence Sallehuddin and Datuk Mahfuz Omar have become that much more statesmanlike (do these exceptions stand AGAINST Hudud?) If so, we might be looking at future PMs . . . ) than Karpal, even if the above suggestion which came from moi, was taken up by Karpal. TERM LIMITS and NO FAMILY BLOCS ‘KARPAL’. Any ‘Karipap’ (or Al-Karipap? Karpal . . . ) seller could run for election and win, simply by democratic considerations against nepotism and limitless terms of Karpal and sons. This is GOVERNMENT not a family business.
ARTICLE 9
The ugly side of the Chinese – Raja Petra Kamarudin – Monday, 19 November 2012 Super Admin
The Malaysian police know I live in Manchester. Malaysians in the UK know I live in Manchester. Malaysians in Australia, New Zealand, the US, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc., know I live in Manchester. The Malaysian High Commission in London and the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur know I live in Manchester. Only Victor Lim alone thinks I live in Dr Mahathir’s apartment in London. He knows that but he does not know what the address is or whether Dr Mahathir really does own an apartment in London.
The most valuable part of a democratic and pluralistic society is the right to choose. Everyone can choose to support anything they think is right.
The United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) rally scheduled on November 25 with the objective to pressure the government is a choice of struggle. The United Chinese School Teachers Association (Jiao Zong) and the Federation of Chinese Associations of Malaysia (Hua Zong) have the right not to participate and choose to correct the unreasonable content in the National Education Blueprint preliminary report through communication and follow-up.
Similar to anti-environment movements, some people chose to take part in the 300km Kuantan-KL Green Walk. Their persistence and perseverance has won respect and admiration.
In politics, people also have the right to choose whether to change the government, strengthen the two-party-system or maintain the status quo.
Changing the government is an ideal and it can hardly become a reality if only a small number of people are supporting it. Therefore, the ruling and alternative coalitions must convey their political programmes and policies to the public through various platforms, including mass assemblies and annual general assemblies to fight for more support.
To me, the Pakatan Rakyat’s performance has not yet reached my personal demand. However, as I believe that democracy requires checks and balances, I support the two-party system. If the majority supports the two-party system, it is possible to bring a major change.
In a democratic country, everyone has the right to choose based on his/her own judgement and cognitive thinking. Therefore, it is not necessary for others to be so nervous or intimidate them into changing their stand.
Many people are confused about the meaning of democracy due to the intense political struggle. Some people are excessively fanatical to the extent of slandering and labelling those who have made a different choice.
French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher Voltaire said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Who can still remember the words? Many people have instead lost their magnanimity and tolerance and attack whoever say something unpleasant. Democracy should never be like this.
All people make mistakes, regardless of how just they claimed themselves are. Calling themselves just does not mean that they cannot be criticised and corrected.
The BN has indeed made many mistakes and there is much room for improvement. Similarly, the Pakatan Rakyat state governments also have many inadequacies in governance. Being overly emotional has caused everyone unable to see the reality clearly.
Back to the Dong Zong rally, it is a peaceful civil demonstration and it is not necessary to label it as an “anti-government” movement. Adopting the path of dialogue to fight is not “heinous crime” either. Why can’t the Chinese organisations work together to achieve the same goal since all of them are serving the Chinese community? Without tolerance and the sense of balance, it could end up following the path of politics, namely people categorise those who are not called friends as enemies.
Most Chinese affairs are of voluntary or conscience nature. If it evolves into a life-and-death game, the Chinese community will first collapse before the winner of the political game is decided.
Life was boring and monotonic in the past when people were not granted the right to choose. It is good to have choice. But choices also bring us confusion and distress.
As the general election is approaching, people become more and more impetuous. We must first calm down to avoid being diverted by “choices”.
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The day Najib outfoxed all Malaysians…
Victor Lim, Free Malaysia Today
Now, wasn’t it Daim who predicted that five states would fall prior to the 2008 political tsunami? And it was correct – Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan.
And who and where this prediction was first publicised? Raja Petra Kamarudin’s (RPK’s) Malaysia-Today (MT) news portal.
Malaysians who have been following RPK’s writings were shocked, when after the 2008 general election, he began associating himself with Mahathir – meeting his sifu (master) in his Petronas twin-tower office.
Many could not understand or believe how RPK, who was so vocal against BN-Umno and one of the pioneers of the Free Anwar Reformasi Movement, could make such an about turn.
Many MT readers are still puzzled and cannot believe what was happening and why RPK’s writings started to slant towards Umno.
However, RPK’s slant is now cautiously back to the Opposition, championing the need to change? What’s going on? Simple! The cyber mercenary writer is financially backed by Mahathir and Daim.
In 2008, Mahathir and Daim’s common political pest was Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. So, RPK’s mission was to destabilise and erode support for Umno and Abdullah. It worked wonderfully, and as they say, the rest is history.
Now, Mahathir and Daim’s common political enemy is Najib. And do you now see the similar strategic political attacks from Mahathir and RPK?
If you still don’t believe that Mahathir and Daim are RPK’s sponsors, then you give me the answers to the following questions:
* RPK was the one who came up with the damning statutory declaration that implicated Najib and his wife, Rosmah, in the murder of Mongolian interpreter Altantuya Shaariibuu and the link to the Scorpene submarines’ graft allegations. Why?
* RPK was picked up by police and then charged. But after he was released on bail, how the hell did such a high profile political figure leave the country undetected?
* Who had the power and influence to facilitate his (RPK’s) migration? This was what I posted about RPK on Sept 10, 2012.
Talk is spreading like wild fire in Malaysia that the famous or infamous cyber operator, depending on which side of the political divide you stand, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, or more popularly referred to as RPK, is residing in an apartment in London belonging to the racist former prime minister Mahathir Mohamed.
RPK can feel free to clarify or attack me as we believe in freedom of speech and democracy, don’t we?
********************************************
When the issue favours the Chinese cause, they will scream democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of choice, the right to choose, agree to disagree, and so on. However, if it does not favour the Chinese cause, they will scream you are a turncoat, traitor, Trojan horse, frog, mole, you have been bought, and much more.
That is the ugly side of the Chinese. Freedom means freedom to agree with me, not freedom to disagree with me.
To people like Victor Lim, if you say or write anything that is perceived as pro-government, then this means you have been paid to do so. What about those who say or write something perceived as pro-opposition? Does this not also mean you have been paid to do so?
No! It does not. That just means you are noble. Those who support the opposition are noble. And if you do not support the opposition that can only mean one thing — you support the government. It is like religion. Either you are a Muslim or you are a Christian. And if you are not a Christian then you must surely be a Muslim. That is the only logical explanation.
To Victor Lim, your very action of not supporting the opposition is ‘evidence’ you have been paid. Using that same yardstick as ‘proof of guilt’, we will have to assume that Victor Lim is also a paid writer and his master must surely be Tian Chua. Can we, therefore, accept whatever Victor Lim says as the truth? Paid writers like Victor Lim would definitely lie through their teeth.
Victor Lim says he believes in democracy and freedom of speech. But when I exercise my democratic right of freedom of speech he vilifies me. The Malays call this bikin tak serupa cakap. Is this a Chinese cultural thing or what? Is this the best the so-called 5,000 years of Chinese ‘civilisation’ can produce? You appear puzzled as to why very few Malays trust the Chinese. Well, that’s because the Malays know that bikin tak serupa cakap type of people just cannot be trusted.
Probably 50 or more Malaysians have come to my house in Manchester, many of them Malaysians from Malaysia. Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, Zaid Ibrahim, Mat Sabu, Saari Sungib, and many more have all been to my house — some even spent the night at my house.
There are many more Malaysians from London, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham, Reading, Scotland — in fact, from almost every city in the UK — who have visited me in Manchester. Yet Victor Lim says: Raja Petra Kamaruddin, or more popularly referred to as RPK, is residing in an apartment in London belonging to the racist former prime minister Mahathir Mohamed.
And he can’t even get the spelling of my name right. It is Raja Petra Kamarudin and not Raja Petra Kamaruddin. And what Free Anwar Reformasi Movement is Victor Lim talking about? Clearly Victor Lim tembak only. There is so such movement called Free Anwar Reformasi Movement. This is a fabrication by Victor Lim.
Anyway, what is the address of Dr Mahathir’s apartment? Does Dr Mahathir even own an apartment in London in the first place? And when did I move in to that apartment?
So you see, Victor Lim is bullshitting because I have never lived in London (at least not since 1956), never mind in whose apartment in London. I have been living in Manchester since the day I arrived. In fact, my family has been living in Manchester for 11 years now, since 2001, eight years before I came over.
The Malaysian police know I live in Manchester. Malaysians in the UK know I live in Manchester. Malaysians in Australia, New Zealand, the US, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc., know I live in Manchester. The Malaysian High Commission in London and the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur know I live in Manchester. Only Victor Lim alone thinks I live in Dr Mahathir’s apartment in London. He knows that but he does not know what the address is or whether Dr Mahathir really does own an apartment in London.
Can you see how they lie? And to these types of people lying comes under the category of freedom of speech. But if you were to reply to that lie, that is not considered freedom of speech. Freedom of speech means they can say things about you but you can’t say things about them.
Budaya apa ni? Budaya 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation ke?
Victor Lim also said: Malaysians who have been following RPK’s writings were shocked, when after the 2008 general election, he began associating himself with Mahathir – meeting his sifu (master) in his Petronas twin-tower office.
That is another lie. I started ‘associating’ with Dr Mahathir back in 2006 when Malaysia Today organised a dialogue session with the ex-Prime Minister in the Kelab Century Paradise on 24th June 2006. (I even uploaded the video recordings onto the Internet). And you can read the text of Dr Mahathir’s speech here: http://kasitarukaje.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/teks-ucapan-tun-dr-mahathir-mohamad.html
In fact, in the 2006 PKR annual general assembly in Penang, Azmin Ali whacked me in his speech. And Anwar Ibrahim sat there on stage smirking like the cat that had swallowed the canary as Azmin Ali whacked me for ‘bersekongkong dengan Dr Mahathir Mohamed’.
Hence, if you want to accuse me of ‘collaborating’ with Dr Mahathir then this collaboration started more than six years ago and two years before the 2008 general election. And if I had collaborated with Dr Mahathir more than six years ago and two years before the 2008 general election, how can I be a turncoat? A turncoat is someone who changes sides. I never changed sides after the 2008 general election. I have been with Dr Mahathir since two years BEFORE the 2008 general election.
And do you know what? Many PAS and DAP leaders — and many of them top leaders at that, too — also attended that 24th June 2006 dialogue with Dr Mahathir. Even the ex-PKR Deputy President turned up. So what have you got to say about all those PAS, DAP and PKR leaders who attended that dialogue with Dr Mahathir organised by Malaysia Today at the Kelab Century Paradise on 24th June 2006?
In the Kota Bharu dialogue the following month, the Kelantan Menteri Besar, Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat, attended the session and shared the stage with Dr Mahathir. He also attended the dinner in honour of Dr Mahathir that same night. Nik Aziz felt he needed to play host to the ex-Prime Minister since he (Nik Aziz) is, after, all the Menteri Besar of Kelantan.
Maybe the Pakatan Rakyat supporters should learn how to tell the truth for once. You accuse Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian, NST, The Star, TV3, RTM, etc. of lying. But what difference are the opposition supporters? You are as blatant in your lying as the people you accuse of lying.
And why do you not respond, point-by-point, to the issues I have raised? I have been raising many issues since the mid-1990s — ever since I first started writing for Harakah in 1997 and I first launched my own website in 1994. What I am saying now is what I have been saying for the last 18 years. What am I saying now that I did not say back in the 1990s?
If I am wrong then rebut me with what you think is the truth. But you don’t do that. Instead of replying, you just hurl allegations against me and totally ignore what I say. And the only ‘rebuttal’ thus far is just a plain denial. Denial is no defence. If it is then Najib Tun Razak never met Altantuya Shaariibuu since he has denied meeting her.
In short, you know what I say is correct and you know there is no way you can rebut what I say. Hence you ignore what I say and do not reply to it and instead make all sorts of allegations, which are very far from the truth.
This is just like those Umno blogs that say I live in London and that one day I was so drunk I fell into a monsoon drain. Many kampong-minded Umno supporters who have never been to London and do not know that the UK does not have a monsoon season and London does not have monsoon drains will, of course, believe this story.
These opposition diehards are just the reverse of the same coin called Umno. They are all cut from the same cloth. Their doctrine is: you are free to agree with me but God help you if you say something that I don’t like.
Oh, by the way, take a look at the picture below. Today, some people in PAS are saying that they want Tok Guru Abdul Hadi Awang instead of Anwar Ibrahim to be the Prime Minister of Malaysia if Pakatan Rakyat wins the next general election. I already ‘said’ this four years ago. And if you can’t interpret what that picture means then you are dumber than I thought.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
i) No! It does not. That just means you are noble. Those who support the opposition are noble. And if you do not support the opposition that can only mean one thing — you support the government. It is like religion. Either you are a Muslim or you are a Christian. And if you are not a Christian then you must surely be a Muslim. That is the only logical explanation.
Noble?!? Seeing Pakatan’s 90% failed manifesto lies and ethical or democratic (nepotistic) flaws for what DAP is, is noble. To praise those who support Pakatan as noble – is not noble.
ii) And if you do not support the opposition that can only mean one thing — you support the government.
Inculpating hegelian dialectic thought still eh? Either or? How about ‘none of the above’? Better yet, how about ‘make your own option’ or make your own political party or run for candidacy as an independent candidate. RPK is not a democratic man, and spins propaganda that kills freedom of thought as well as skews facts. Pakatan is a failure as bad as BN. The 3rd Force indies among citizens could likely be better than eithetr BN or PR, so please don;t try to make lies into truth. Money cannot buy breeding as much as breeding cannot buy HONESTY and ETHICS which are prerequisite to the status of NOBILITY. If for love the people RPK, or love for democracy, this sort of article will never appear on media. The readers should know what RPK represents by now.
iii) The ugly side of the Chinese
Apartheid and racism directed at any race, will bring out the very worst of any race. Who threw the first blow here? Not the Chinese. Look in the mirror and decide if racism or apartheid is what reflects . . . Enuff said.
Looks like the Constitutional Lawsuit needs to be carried out by unknowns, to ensure :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
ARTICLE 11
Does power always rely on threat? Why is fair mindedness so elusive to some sorry souls?
Man seeks equality and fair treatment, but threats of murder and nasty tricks (like cement pools for the love of semen rather than EQUALITY) are the signs of mental illness and techno-fascism. Fight fair and find that some low minded dhimmitudisation a certain race holds to, have no part of Humanity’s future much like apes who did not use fire, or understand that the Human Rights Charter is not something a country signs for fun, nor being a Muslim allows for such blatant displays of ill meaning natures, bronze souls do not belong in the arena of words (and will be treated to what they deserve) and those with so much who want to take even more from even equality, that will threaten for mere monetary gain, need to talk to the clerics at Al-Azhar University, search their souls at their so-called Kabaa of Islam before threatening people with death which will never be on the side of the unjust and profane . . . are we to understand that there is no religion and only politics and murder in Malaysia and a certain coalition, much less at very least ethics? Everything these UMNO or BN people have today is from the idiotic voting choice of the taxpayers and now these guys dare threaten the 99% who made them? Disappointing.
End the apartheid and grant :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;or continue damning the name and reputation Malaysia and Malaysians.
Let me start by asking you these questions. Does Islam encourage you to devastate the forests? Does Islam encourage you to wipe out your wildlife? Does Islam encourage you to fuck up minority communities (e.g. the Orang Asli)? Does Islam encourage you to venture into business without knowing head or tail of that business? Does Islam encourage you to repeat your mistakes, year in, year out for 20 years? Does Islam encourage you to close your eyes to the rape of your land?
The answer is obvious. Of course, Islam DOES NOT encourage you to do all these things. But I think the Kelantan MB Nik Aziz and his merrymen from PAS have a different understanding than the rest of us.
I first visited Lojing Highlands, Kelantan was in 1991. Nik Aziz was already the MB of Kelantan then. The area was a mess. Vast tracts of forest were being cleared to make way for agriculture. And these were pristine highland forests at elevations ranging from 500m – 1500m. Tens of thousands of hectares were given away to State government linked companies as well as friendly parties to develop highland agriculture.
The state government mantra then was “if the farmers in Cameron Highlands can do it, so can we”. The geniuses in Kelantan at that time thought they could replicate Cameron Highlands which at that time had a total 2000 hectares of agriculture land. They thought if 2000 hectares in CH can produce RM x million revenue, then opening 20,000 hectares in Lojing will produce RM 10x million.
They forgot something very important. The farmers in Cameron Highlands have had 50 years of farming experience in the highlands. Their farms were small, averaging 1 – 2 hectares. They were individual farmers who slogged their butts off for managing even a 2-hectare farm in the mountains was a major undertaking. No sane person will open up thousands of hectares in the highlands to do farming.
I returned to Lojing several times since. 1994, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2007 and 2011. Nothing has changed. Highland forests are continuously being opened up on large scale (obviously the geniuses in Kelantan have not learnt anything about highlands agriculture). Obviously, some people are making tonnes of money from the timber that is being ripped off from the so-called “agriculture land”. The rivers have silted up. Wildlife has disappeared. The Orang Asli communities are worse off than they were 20 years ago.
Hills being ripped off for so-called “agriculture”
Free teh tarik anyone? The once pristine Sg. Brooke and Sg. Belatop are now just mud flows.
Logging is still widespread in Lojing. This is despite the national policy prohibiting logging at elevations above 1000m.
This is where teh tarik comes from. Land opened up for “agriculture” with almost no erosion control measures.
Most of the agriculture development in Lojing have failed. The companies benefitted from selling of the timber from the thousands of hectares of land given to them. The 1000-hectares Yakin tea plantation has been abandoned (yo, you dungus in Nik Aziz’s office – just because Boh can manage a tea plantation, does not mean that you also can. Boh is in that business. You are not. You just plundered that 1000 hectares). PKINK was given over 1000 hectare for orchards and agro-tourism – sampai sekarang habuk pun tak ade.Kayu balak dah lesap.
Land ownership in Lojing Highlands. I am sorry if you can’t read the map. Almost 30,000 hectares have been given away to state-linked companies and state agencies and friendly companies over the past 20 years. Almost zero productivity expect for the timber that has been taken away. Mind you these are all highland country with mostly steep slopes.
A few Chinese farmers from Cameron Highlands who leased small areas from Kelantan state government linked companies are doing pretty well. Other than that, agriculture output from Lojing is minimal – despite it being more than 20 years since Nik Aziz and his merrymen opened and devastated Lojing. None of the state government linked companies and state agencies have produced anything substantial despite wiping out over 20,000 hectares of pristine highland forests Nothing. Kosong. Telor ayam. In every aspect, Lojing has been a disaster.
The environmental cost must be epic. The amount of erosion and sedimentation from Lojing must run into the hundreds of millions of tonnes over the past 20 years. The once gorgeous Sg. Brooke and its tributaries are now nothing but mud flows. An area that was rich in wildlife is now pretty pathetic. Great damage was inflicted onto the Orang Asli communities in Pos Brooke, Pos Hendrop and Pos Blau. All their water sources were destroyed. The forests that they depended for food and other produce were devastated. The orang asli traditional land were given to outsiders or usurped by state agencies.
If you think I am lying, I suggest you take a drive to Lojing. It is just an hour or less from Cameron Highlands. See the damages for yourself. The rape has been going on continuously for more than 20 years.
I would like to end my story by asking Nik Aziz this “Is this Islamic?”
I counted 300 timber trucks on the Gua Musang road coming out of the Lojing area nearly 15 years ago. Still have the photographs….
Little point in condemning the decisions/actions that have lead to the present dire consequences. Perhaps we ought to consider instead how & what can be done to heal the Lojing scar of our apolitical MotherEarth in some truly creative ways.
November 11, 2012 10:05 AM
@CK said…
the way Kelantan is administered is an insult to Islam. Kelantan is now the poorest state in Malaysia, has the highest rape, incest and HIV cases. All the smart Kelantanese have left the state.
November 11, 2012 6:24 PM
@Lisa said…
Everybody did it. When I fly in Europe and look down on the landscape, there is not a single, not a single piece of land undeveloped. Not a single small hill. You can take off from Amsterdam and land in The Prague and you will not find it. I’ve been through this frustration on seeing how our land has been bled since the 90s and cried and wrote to newspapers, but I must say, and I’m sorry but it was pointless.
November 12, 2012 9:11 AM
@Cat-from-Sydney said…
Your Royal Monyetness,
We have visited this place many times and still cry when we see the scars on Mother Earth. Will be there again next week, hopefully with better results as cooperation from the natives is quite difficult to obtain. purrrr….meow!
November 12, 2012 9:17 AM
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Rivers should have a 1km ‘off limits’ buffer or green lung. Water tables perhaps a minimum of 10km worth. As for cultivation or farming, micromanagement is reliant on the ‘energy’ of individuals, so mass produced versions will never have the same quality, or as the article suggests will fail entirely or at least take longer than usual. A farmer of tea has ‘tea energy’, city people without any energy but city energy will not be able to grow anything, and MUST start from microscale (heck some can’t even tend garden) before ‘managing’ massive plantations. Farm conglomerates might possibly be impossible from land alone, the heart and interest of the person MUST be there, or all cultivation will not be comparable. This must also be considered against environment and the spiritual nature of the area a product is from. TEA from an Islamic prayer ‘ridden/infested’ area (Islam strip mines spiritually IMHO, thats why all those forests tend to become deserts or urban deserts wherever Muslims are) and will not be bought by markets, and that is why Chinese neutrality has made so much Chinese produce somehow so buyable, or Thai rice for example (which still has dangerously Buddhist leanings . . . ).
COFFEE from Islamic prayer ‘ridden/infested’ areas like UAE, most of Malaysia or even less secular parts of Indonesia (civet cat pre-pooped or not) will also be doomed to failure, simply because the buyers do not want to be Islamised by proxy. Conversely consider why Brazilian (sea, surf and bootay!) coffee ‘somehow’ seems superior – thats because there are no robed ghosties of locals hovering around the plants after hours with intent to ‘Islamise’. AT least in occult theory informed buyers at least, products from ‘religious’ areas are UNBUYABLE perhaps excepting the ‘Wuwei’ mentality of the Chinese (inaction) that actually improves a product by sheer non-investment of the pathos that other religions infuse their products with! Intent (or NEUTRALITY of intent) gives the product pedigree, and only the most secular producers can win in this game (which is why USA’s fanchises are somewhat ahead, though tainted by Freemasonry to a degree). Spiritual CLEANLINESS/NEUTRALITY of food is CRITICAL for sales assurances.
Tea from fundo heartland Malaysia? Forget that, India and China takes the cake FOREVER instead where tea is concerned. Though coconuts as well from India have the same pollution, the informed had better give the Indian grown coconuts or coconut products a wide berth. The whole gamut of Malaysian products is thus spiritually POLLUTED, and for a generalised (and cautiously presumptuous) example, from experiences at WW2, Austwictz may have just made German products that much more ethical (Nazi SS used alot of occultism, but since they have given up on that, the products PERHAPS are superiorly secular where applicable, though Caucasian obsession with the Aramean faith of Xianity and Xianity’s brand of proselytization could still down them, Judaism’s conversions are far more subtle but equally manipulative to no point as all 3 Monotheisms are Amon-Ra derived which was the invention of the reviled heretic Pharoah in any case – bring back the original faith systems regionally to put an end to the insanity . . .)
Then consider education and religious education (even more dangerous) and here you have the reasons for failures of such and such races. The spiritual hostility/manipulation guarantees failure. Let me say though what Malaysia might be worth – low density/nomadic ORANG ASLI UBAT *from* rainforests that could be worth a fortune, but all Malaysia has now are sprawling grey expanses of prayer blaring in neighbourhoods of backbiting political wannabes filled with greed and hatred towards other races and of course the faux-Arab ulama wannabes harrassing all and sundry with Hudud, all of the above who have who forgotten their beautiful naturistic Orang Asli beginnings.
So much for Malaysia’s viability and uniqueness, just a spiritual colony of the Arabs who already are more known for violent puishments (Hudud limb hacking, beheading), religious insularism (this and that are polluting/polluted these people are beneath us! / different God or Godless so are enemeies immediately/must be cursed to go to Hell (which might be an semi-dream state world as much as Heaven, created from constant inculpation while ALIVE so when dying hallucinates about, or has the inculpated NDE type experience) – luckily there are more people and better tech armed nations to counter thse barbarians), low tolerance to other cultures (eat pork or drink alcohol so entire peoples must be targeted, facilities for processing disallowed etc..) and terrorism (drawing a bomb turban cartoon means innocent people not involved in the 10th Crusade, who have never ever heard of the Prophet must die while on the way to work in a subway or have their Twin Towers collapse) than anything else. Islam is a copy of Xianity which is a copy of Judaism which is a copy of Amon-Ra which was a result of Heretic Pharoah Akenathan’s LAZINESS. Guess those 72 virgins might have been guess who’s fond mirage while struggling in a hellish oasis bordering a desert creating hell on Earth – how about a volcanic region called New Hell in the deepest desert, would be fitting . . .
Islam and Arabism is unique and very distinct, but bloodthirsty, impractical, too martial and not viable for this generation of YoutubeVid/MTV making, subculture studied, politically aware world citizens who’d rather be eating whatever meat of their choice (including PORK), drinking alcohol, smoking pot and contemplating the Universe (while dressed in BDSM fetish wear or Cosplay?) than irritating/trying to destroy peoples, communities, countries (at very last being manipulatively sanctimonious about being vegetarian) that are different from them. Religion belongs to the last millenia, and though religion should be kept alive and have spaces, cannot be allowed to impinge on secular people, legally, spiritually or otherwise. There must be spaces for all even if any group’s beliefs/activities are supposedly illegal to another – with the choice of consent to be part of any community the democratic choice of the individual ABOVE the preference of the state.
ARTICLE 13
DAP to decide on Pulau Tikus ADUN’s fate – Thursday, 22 November 2012 08:44
GEORGE TOWN- The DAP disciplinary committee will decide the fate of Pulau Tikus assemblyman Koay Teng Hai after he failed to turn up at the recent state assembly meeting.
Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow said the state working committee had decided to refer Koay’s absence at the meeting between Nov 1 and 9 to the disciplinary committee.
Chow said the disciplinary committee will be made up of a five-member panel. They will be drawn from the central executive committee and headed by Tan Kok Wai.
It was reported Koay would also face disciplinary action for ignoring Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s refusal to approve his leave.
He missed the assembly to attend a meeting on the United States Election/Project for Young Political Leaders organised by the US embassy without Lim’s permission. Koay could not be reached for comment.
– New Straits Times
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
F**k DAP. Who cares what DAP thinks? Only the RAKYAT living in Pulau Tikus will decide if the Pulau Tikus adun stays or not! Maybe DAP will be replaced by independent candidates by the next GE. DAP has failed 90% of campaign manifestos and has NEVER addressed APARTHEID of BUMIPUTERA.
ARTICLE 14
Yes, you must behave, Bung — Erna Mahyuni – November 22, 2012
Nov 22 — You have to admire the Kinabatangan MP on some level. No other MP gladly puts his foot in his mouth with so much relish, you begin to wonder if his foot is delicious.
Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin in person is an affable man, who prides himself on his “every man” demeanour, and talks more like your drunk uncle than a lawmaker.
The problem is, Bung, is that you’re not just an embarrassing family member but an elected Member of Parliament.
There are expectations that come with the role, unfortunately.
One of them is the realisation that you can’t just say what you want, when you want.
Being an elected representative means there are standards of behaviour we expect you to meet.
At the very least, you shouldn’t swear, in public, especially at one of the people you are hoping votes for you in the next election.
Must I remind you GE13 is just around the corner???We’re all allowed a slip of the tongue once in a while. We’re all human, after all.
The problem with you, Bung, is that you don’t so much “slip”, as much as “stab” with your tongue.??What is unacceptable is that your Barisan Nasional leaders let you get away with your outrageous statements.
That bocor statement you made all that time ago? It was chauvinistic, rude and unacceptable. You didn’t just slur an opposition MP but all women. You have never apologised for that, have you? Don’t get me started on your smart remarks about women drivers.
But your greatest act of chauvinism, Bung, was ignoring the law of the land by refusing to ask permission from your first wife to marry your second. I can understand you were impatient, as your new wife is such a pretty young thing.
Did you forget you’re an elected official? Aren’t elected officials supposed to, you know, follow the rules?
Instead, you hopped off to Thailand for a quickie wedding and, unfortunately, got caught.??Being an MP doesn’t put you above the law.
If anything, you’re supposed to obey and uphold it. ??So it’s a little rich, your defending your right to use the F-word to ‘put someone in his/her place’.
You gave up that right when you took your oath. ??As a representative of the people, you are supposed to be someone we look up to. You are supposed to set an example.
You are supposed to maintain a code of conduct that we expect you to follow, because if you can’t follow it, then why should we???Some people think that calling you out for it in public is ‘sensationalising a non-issue’.
I beg to differ.
In other countries, MPs using foul words in public is frowned upon as well.
People are going to call you names and insult you.
Get used to it. As an MP, you must take the higher ground and ignore those who call you names.
As someone who gets plenty of insults on Twitter and in my column’s comments, I understand the need to vent.
But Twitter isn’t the place for it, Bung, and you know that.
All we’re asking from you is that you show a little class and save the F-word for occasions when half of Malaysia can’t hear you.
So behave, Bung.
Or we’ll have no qualms whatsoever not to vote for you or anyone you champion.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
Erna versus Bung . . . polygamy is not exclusively a preserve OR punching bag of any culture (ancient or modern), and more an expression of individuals in relation to other individuals commitment in numbers more than 2 . . . Radin or Raden btw is an ORIGINAL Indonesian name, without Islam’s/Arab’s influence. So at least 1 person in the MALAY Dewan has 2/3rds of a truly Nusantaran name . . .
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
. . . by refusing to ask permission from your first wife to marry your second. . . .
WHAT? Even most adults of the day do not ask their parents if they can marry who and who, much less a wife, though consultations may take place.
There must be though certain courtesies that the civilised 2nd wife should respect AFTER marriage that a blackball by society can retaliate by at very most if they do not treat the first wife with general respect as expected in society (i.e. ‘CHIVALRY’ to the first wife, like pouring drinks or opening doors – this politeness contrived or not is for the pleasure and dignity of the HUSBAND btw.
The second wife should defer to the first wife in certain ways such as not being ‘competitive’ or not being arrogant (the begum of the harem must be respected because families are built around seniority based hierarchy to a degree – even if the first wife is not well studied or very educated or even pretty etc. . . . MANNERS makes for attractiveness and a dignified family), though the first wife may by reason that sex is available from the second or subsequent, refuse at reasonable intervals not more than 50% (or 66% in the case of 2 wives) of what was asked for in the past by the husband – barring ageing libidos.
The first wife also remains married to the husband *specifically* for the face of the children hereon, even in the case of chilled relations between her and the husband. But to ASK PERMISSION to marry? Whats wrong with you Erna?
As discussed in my blog elsewhere, SOME (only some) women experience a change in their bodies after having children, and this can also be a reason to refuse sex, and this also becomes the reason the husband gets a second or subsequent wife. Being a modern woman or even a lesbian or a feminist does not mean that older forms of family do no exist, Erma has not been mixing around alot with polygamous families even as androgamous families are anathema to the polygamous ones. You’re showing your narrow minded side here Erma!
No where Erna’s response is concerned. NO, anyone who has more than one wife NEED NOT behave in the way Erna Mahyuni describes. Erna doesn’t belong in Bung’s society (or harem), not should Erna cast stones at cultures that do not involve Erna. One of Erna’s lines of logic is viable though, MPs need more class AND term limits as well, so in calls for Bung to step down, Erna and moi will be on the same side though not for the same reasons (with Ernha’s reasoning stemming from some inadequacy or simplistic mindset that feels a need to attack Bung’s right to marry freely as much as Bung’s first wife has a right to demand a divorce (which is not happening as of this comment posting at any rate). Inverse jealousy perhaps? Hey there’s always plastic surgery . . .
ARTICLE 15
Muezzin of Pahang state mosque killed in accident – November 17, 2012
KUANTAN, Nov 17 — A muezzin of Sultan Ahmad 1 state mosque was killed in a road accident at the traffic junction near Jalan Tun Ismail here, this morning.
Azamuddin Mansor, 40, died while receiving treatment at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA), Kuantan at 7am.
Pahang traffic police chief ASP Zainalabidin Othman said Azamuddin was killed when his motorcycle collided with a car at 6.40am when turning into Jalan Bukit Sekilau.
“The victim who suffered serious head injury was rushed to HTAA for treatment but died 20 minutes later,” he told Bernama.
Zainalabidin said initial investigation revealed that the accident could have occurred due to the traffic lights not working.
“The case is being investigated under Section 41 (1) of Road Transport Act 1987,” he added. — Bernama
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Under unwritten spiritual covenents of all religions, no intent for sneaky proselytization via vocalised psychic intent will be tolerated by ‘God’, or the following of whatever faith. All muezzins should sing with NEUTRALITY and sincerity and ONLY IN SPECIFIC PSYCHIC ADDRESS to consensual Muslims. I even heard a muezzin GARGLING while singing, obviously intended to proselytize that when a person gargles, they are ‘praying’ – this form of dishonesty is as damnable in ‘god’s’ view, as slurred satanic prayers in conventional lyrics in music (also NLP mispronunciations), a parent intentionally encouraging their children to make a ruckus to disturb the neighbours, or inserting ‘convertive symbolism’ in MTVs of any sort.
Ethics in INFORMED CONSENT or else the spirit that made a muezzin a Muslim will depart for the nearest best converted person and the muezzin will be spiritually impacted at least, hurt or even DIE, this could be anyone that hears the muezzin and is converted. The worthiest UNCONVERTED person will receive the ‘spirit’ of the muezzin. Needless to say a muezzin needs to have very clear intent while singing and being heard by so many that are not Muslim or may not even be friendly to Muslims, a muezzin’s job is particularly hazardous as opposed to the Ulama who is heard ONLY by the faithful. The only caveat of safety for the muezzin is an attitude of deference to those auditorily impinged by the prayer, even if just vaguely like a mosquito in the background, the spiritual effects in the astral and ethereal will be potentially quite dangerous. For Prophet had said :
Ayah 203 of Surah A’raaf: “Disrespect and rashness clouds the mind and it is only politeness and respect that brings more divine mercy.’
Singing WITH intent to convert without informed consent is RUDE and Allah will have no protection for those who behave in a disrespectful manner to non-Muslims who are minding their own business before being disturbed by a prayer they didn’t want to hear, disturbing their concentration which is their god given right. Some people (regardless of faith or wealth or position – an ordinary secular citizen, itinerant or beggar, who was asleep or resting enjoying the silence, might have been subconsciously been lending strength to a Mujaheedin in battle before the prayer of the Muezzin woke them up, causing the Mujaheedin to weaken at a critical moment and lose the battle in a critical region of the world where battles for/against Islam are continuing . . . or technical malfunctions in vehicles (even dangerous dimensional or temporal disruptions, releases of EMP type effects that interact with the ionosphere or even the Sun causing Earthquakes or Solar Flares etc..) may even be doing ‘god’s’ work, before a prayer disturbs them and hence god will punish the offender. Prayer by voice rather than loudspeaker though must be fairly tolerated, though again a prayer must not be ‘directed’ at any except to ‘god’ and for Human Rights and Democratic Principle respecting matters preferably.
ARTICLE 16
From Kuantan to Dataran Merdeka: The emancipatory journey for a green Malaysia — Boon Kia Meng – November 22, 2012
NOV 22 — Humans make history; but never in circumstances and situations of their own choosing. This insightful observation by Marx, as he watched over the social upheavals unfolding in Europe in the middle of the 19th century, is a timely expression on what is happening in Malaysia today.
Have Malaysians ever heard of a group of ordinary, fellow Malaysians — our fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, our children — marching slowly but surely, on foot, all 300 kilometres of it, rain or shine, from Kuantan to Dataran Merdeka? All united in a common cause: to stop any further environmental degradation in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak, where stopping the Lynas rare earth refinery in Gebeng, and the Murum and Baram dams in Sarawak, constitutes a fundamental demand.
These Malaysian citizens chose to embark on this journey (dubbed “Langkah Lestari”) because for far too long we have collectively as a nation allowed indiscriminate “development” and rapacious capitalistic resource extraction to go on, all in the name of economic growth and wealth creation.
Just witness the rapid decimation of our natural forestry and the displacement of our fellow indigenous Malaysian communities in Sabah/Sarawak and the peninsula. These have become common phenomena and Malaysians know deep inside that the present state of affairs cannot go on indefinitely without irreversible consequences to our common habitat.
It was their spirit and determination that drew me and my friends to join them in their walk for environmental justice. Donning green shirts and a peasant farmer’s hat, we experienced first-hand what ordinary Malaysians can achieve when they organise themselves, a trend that typifies the sea change in people’s attitude and participation in citizenship activism since 2008.
Ordinary mothers arrange lodgings and food distribution, grandpas and grandmas providing moral support with their feet and encouraging words, fathers managing logistic details, while the young, even little children, learn to take their first baby steps in authentic environmentalism and love for the country.
In other words, “Langkah Lestari” epitomises what has been truly essential in any democratic movement for bringing real social change: the twin values of self-organisation and mutual aid. Against these values, no authoritarian state or oppressive regime can stand a chance. Ordinary citizens, learning to organise themselves, little by little, will win the hearts and minds of the majority of the populace.
Make no mistake. The detractors and spokespersons for corporate and vested interests, such as Lynas Corp, will try to justify the viability of their operations on the grounds of economic development and job creation. Malaysian citizens have to judge for themselves whether this “win-win” deal is really beneficial for the country, especially for the residents in Gebeng/Kuantan.
What are Malaysians getting in exchange for the 12-year tax holiday given to Lynas, estimated at RM1.8 billion per annum, not to mention the billions of ringgit of revenue Lynas will generate from these operations? In reality, this is a classic case of neoliberal capitalism in action: the privatisation of profits, whilst socialising the costs, both human and environmental.
In the Lynas case, it is even more farcical, where we have a case of a foreign mining corporation, which is reaping stratospheric profits as a result of the Western Australian mining boom, deciding to externalise its social costs to another country. Instead of acting as protector and guardian of her citizens’ security and well-being, the Malaysian government has abdicated that role for the sake of endless capital accumulation.
It is no wonder that people from all walks of life are seeing through the lies of neoliberal ideology and deciding to leave the sidelines and join this struggle. The patronising dogma of big business that preaches wealth trickling down to the masses is increasingly hollow and losing its ideological hold on the people.
Try telling the Orang Asal brothers and sisters from Sarawak, who are marching daily with their Semenanjung compatriots, on the merits of an unfettered, free market economy that promises prosperity for all. Our indigenous brothers and sisters will tell you about the true face of “economic development”, where countless thousands of them have experienced forced displacement, land grabbing and environmental destruction.
Politicians from both sides wax lyrical about the need for more development and allocation funds for Sabah and Sarawak. They fail to see that uneven development and destruction of traditional forms of living have led to increasing proletarianisation (making them wage-earners, instead of their traditional self-sufficient farming existence) of our indigenous peoples, precisely what a capitalist economy cannot fail but generate.
These are the hard truths made visible by this 300km walk. It forces us to confront the dark, hidden side of our exploitative economy and its unsustainable ecological trajectory.
This brings us back to the significance of this Sunday, November 25, in the history of this nation. The marchers have decided to occupy Dataran Merdeka once they reach there, awaiting the presence of the prime minister and Members of Parliament from both sides of the political divide the very next morning.
Again ordinary Malaysians like them face the arbitrary exercise of state power in the hands of City Hall and the police when the mayor of KL said that no gathering in Dataran is allowed without an application for permit. We know that the upsurge of participation of Malaysians in public protests since Bersih 3.0 is no historical accident. The momentum of people’s movements will only grow stronger and stronger by the day and “Himpunan Hijau 2.0: Langkah Lestari” in Dataran Merdeka this Sunday will be no different. Thousands upon thousands of Malaysians will be there, come what may.
As I sat in the room with our fellow marchers, listening to the children of Bentong sing a song dedicated to their struggle, I felt strangely emotional. It was as if their voices helped us peer into a future of a new Malaysia that is taking shape right before our eyes. Of its shape and detail, no one could tell with any certainty. But one thing is for sure. It will be a Malaysia very different from the present one, burdened by her heavy history of class and environmental exploitation, and ethnic-based political ideologies.
“Those who do not move, do not notice their chains,” the radical democrat Rosa Luxemburg once said. Thank you, participants of Langkah Lestari, for walking and making Malaysians conscious of the shackles that are enslaving us. Thank you, Saudara Wong Tack (the organising chairperson), for reminding all Malaysians that true emancipation lies in our very own hands: “Pilihan di tangan kita!”
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Wildebeest walk even further and every single year of their life, not just once, but only are fodder for Crocodiles of the Nile, the predators along the way. REAL Emancipation is not feeling proud about walking or cycling around mindlessly but fighting for :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
The greenest society can form, but if minorities are not equals but dhimmis who subvert intent of the articles and words for freedom and equality, there will be no dignity of life for non-Muslims and in general non-politicians. Pakatan sure has alot of ‘fun’ activities to distract the Rakyat from equality eh? And the biggest cheerleader of this sort of accept Hudud (actually not thats accept ‘Hadi’ but we all know that can become Hudud since hadi has not addressed the concerns of Article 4’s response above) but don’t address Bumiputera b.s. is term limitless, nepotistic DAP . . .
UN In Malaysia Hopes Election Commission Will Use Its Election Report – October 24, 2012 22:35 PM
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 (Bernama) — United Nations (UN) in Malaysia hopes the government and the Election Commission (EC) to use its ground breaking report to enhance Malaysia’s electoral reform efforts before the 13th General Election.
UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia, Kamal Malhotra said the report, which was issued last month, presents a strategy to increase the likelihood that incumbent politicians and governments would deepen democracy and improve the integrity of national elections.
Kamal said UN had long established a reputation for being globally the most experienced neutral and credible organisation on such issues worldwide.
“Indeed, since 1991, we have provided electoral assistance to more than 100 UN member states and four territories, including Mexico, Tunisia, Egypt and Libya,” he said in his speech at the UN Malaysia Award 2012 here, Wednesday.
Applauding the EC for their recent decision to implement 26 out of the 32 recommendations made by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reform, he said the UN was prepared to share its vast experience and technical expertise in the area. Kamal also said that the UN commends and supports Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in countinuing on a path of law reform through the Political Transformation Programme which was consonant with international human rights norms and standards.
“We know that the government and people of Malaysia are committed to nation building and democratic consolidation,” he said.
Earlier, the Malaysian Bar Council was conferred with the UN Malaysia Award 2012 for its role in promoting democracy and human rights.
The UN Person of the Year Award was also posthumously awarded to the late Prof Khoo Kay Jin in recognition of his lifetime of outstanding achievement.
Selected Commentator Comments :
How could the Bar Council accept the award with a straight face when it could not disbar V.K. Lingam for his role in perverting the course of justice?
Mr Bean October 25, 2012 at 7:13 am
Hussin must be his dreaming self again. It is time he has both feet on the ground. The failure to purge the honorable profession of members seen to be flouting its own rules is symptomatic of a wider problem that continues to make a mockery of its struggle to give meaning to the rule of law.
Here is a profession which grew from some 600 members in the ’60s to multiples of 3,000 members today in the short space of a few decades and whose members for the most part depend on the government directly or indirectly for their livelihood, to put food on the table for their famiies, it is wishful thinking to think that they could be more than anything else but a group of self serving individuals who would prostitute their profession and betray the principles of their profession, sell their grandmothers and throw others under the bus when push comes to shove.
Having said that there have been a committed and dedicated handful fiercely loyal to their profession who are working to bring back honor to their profession that have alluded it over the years. But even they are powerless to bring change where change is most needed.
Mr Bean October 25, 2012 at 6:40 pm
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Toad! This award is entirely inappropriate. How could the UN award the Bar Council when Kugan (ok a car thief is a criminal but does not deserve to die so terribly and under such poor procedure) Teo Beng Hock (political sacrifice by DAP – anyone who took on the ACA at that time was doomed, DAP just didn’y like TBH’s politics and sent TBH to TBH’s doom) and Altantuya (the world knows this one, diplomatic fallout no end for BN . . . ) died without legal redress? When socio-economic apartheid continues uncontrolled? When forced military conscriptions are unaddressed? Where the country is being bled by term limitless nepotists in either BN or PR coalition, and Orang Asli land is stolen ALL THE TIME? Does the UN know that Malaysia lacks :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;and that the Bar Council (which I visited in person but were all unwilling to address APARTHEID of BUMIPUTRA) is asleep on the job regards even Article 1 of the Human Rights Charter which is equality that Malaysians do not have, Article 18 of the Human Rights Charter which is freedom of choice in religion which Malaysia ALSO does not have? Bar Council are panders and colluders to Malaysian insouciance and opacity, hiding behind a legal junta of undemocratically installed judge that collude with MPs to hide all sorts of Human Rights abuses?
For years the United Nations has aggressively worked against the best interests of our country and many of our allies. The UN’s actions and intentions toward the United States have been nothing short of reprehensible.” Republican congressman Connie Mack Saturday Oct 27 2012 . . .
Well, faux-Muslets at the Bar Council? Did Bar Council bribe the UN for this award? The people don’t need a legal education to understand all the above facts. I am shocked at the UN! What is wrong with the UN?
ARTICLE 2
Propaganda online was never this blatant . . .
How many times have the Muslim Traders Association had to protest DAP’s policy en masse on the street, and even small traders been targetted, land laws corrupted to benefit DAP, illegal distribution of tax funds that the proud among Penangites refuse to accept?
DAP has institutionalized corruption, while BN’s corruption is undertable.
Because one writes a corrupt law (i) much like creating a Minister Mentor and Senior Minister’s posts to STEAL tax monies with the assent of MPs, or (ii) 750K funerals for CMs and Assemblywomen wives 120K funerals AT THE Rakyat’s expense)
;does not represent the will of 99% of the REAL voters – Representative Democracy is NOT 1 man 1 vote TRUE democracy . . .) does not make DAP any more moral or shows more integrity in DAP.
At least in some cases MCA is ashamed and tries to hide corruption DAP is totally shameless like PAP’s creating the 4 million + yearly Minister mentor and Senior Minister posts (this was kept but had Minister mentor created because the short form SM also means Sado-Masochist – and the taxpayers by MP collusion had to tolerate ANOTHER 4 million in a new post for Beloved Leader . . .),
;and writes shameless laws to justify corruption, saying ‘thats the law’, but none of the Rakyat would ever allow those laws, only the colluding MPs will . . .
Meanwhile BOTH MCA (Barisan) and DAP (Pakatan), dare not attack apartheid. Vote for 3rd Force!
ARTICLE 3
The battle for Nibong Tebal – by Oppailyn Mok – October 26, 2012
The busiest part of the Nibong Tebal constituency is Jawi town. The next general election is expected to be the closest fight to form the new government. And several seats across the nation are likely to see heated battles with the victor winning by the slimmest of majorities. The Malaysian Insider takes a look at some of these hot seats in what will be an intense election for control of Malaysia.
NIBONG TEBAL, Oct 26 — Located on the southern part of Seberang Perai, this small township of about 50,000 people is almost like the last frontier of mainland Penang.
That’s because there is a spot in this quiet little town where you just need to take one step forward and you would have left Penang and stepped right into Perak.
Perhaps it is due to its distance from the busy city of George Town but not many Penang folk would venture here except for foodies intent on trying out the town’s famed Teochew crab porridge, boiled baby octopus and curried freshwater prawns.
Far from the sea, it may seem strange that this mainland township’s fame is tied to “seafood” but considering the Krian River runs through it, the mud crabs and freshwater prawns are obviously local catches.
Jawi is the busiest part of the whole constituency where there is a concentration of shoplots, food courts, wet markets, restaurants, supermarkets and government offices.
Nibong Tebal is spread out over three state constituencies — Jawi, Sungai Acheh and Sungai Bakap — with different racial groups in different villages.
The whole of Nibong Tebal is made up of about 55 per cent non-Malays and about 45 per cent Malays, with a majority of the Malays located in the Sungai Acheh area where agriculture is the main industry.
Jawi town is the main hub with its rows of shophouses.
That’s why choosing a candidate to contest the parliamentary seat can be tricky as the contesting parties will need to satisfy the needs of both the Malays and non-Malays.
Previously, the Nibong Tebal parliamentary seat and its three state seats, Sungai Acheh, Sungai Bakap and Jawi, were all Barisan Nasional (BN) seats.
In the 2004 general election, Umno (BN) newcomer Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman won the parliamentary seat with a 6,005-vote majority while the three state seats also saw BN winning with huge majorities but in 2008, BN only managed to retain the Sungai Acheh state seat with a slim majority of 250 votes and lost the rest.
This coming election, Zainal Abidin is tipped to be the one to try to win the seat back for BN even though the current MP, Tan Tee Beng, who won the seat on the PKR ticket, is now an independent MP.
Zainal Abidin is tipped to be the BN candidate for the Nibong Tebal parliamentary seat.
Zainal Abidin was previously a parliamentary secretary in the Foreign Ministry when he was the Nibong Tebal MP in 2004.
A local boy, Zainal Abidin’s family home is located in one of the villages here but other than to his fellow villagers, he is not that well-known in the non-Malay community.
Instead, he often appears at BN functions with Nibong Tebal BN co-ordinator Tan Cheng Liang, who is also former Jawi state assemblyman and tipped to contest the Jawi state seat, purportedly to show a united BN front.
It is obvious that Nibong Tebal has been “under attack” by BN which is intent on winning the two state seats and the parliamentary one back this time around.
This year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced a RM8.5 million allocation for Nibong Tebal for development projects such as construction of a multi-purpose hall in Nibong Tebal (RM3 million), repainting of apartments (RM2 million), repairing of houses in Indian and Chinese villages (RM2 million) and rebuilding of Sekolah Agama Rakyat Al-Amin (RM1.8 million).
Fishing is an industry in the area as the Krian River runs through Nibong Tebal.
A few months ago, Tan handed out cooking utensils and equipment worth about RM160,000 to single mothers and low-income families under the 1Azam programme.
There was also a “promotional blitz” of sorts when the MCA launched its Jom Masuk Kampung (Let’s Enter The Villages) roadshow in Penang at Nibong Tebal with all of the top MCA leadership spending the day at various villages in the constituency.
More recently, BN allocated a further RM3 million, on top of the RM1 million it had earlier allocated, to the building fund of SMJK Jit Sin II which is located in the constituency. The school is in the midst of raising RM30 million for its building fund.
But all this attention by BN does not seem to impress many of the constituents. “We are not small children who can be pleased by offerings of sweets and candies. Do they think us stupid?” a resident said when asked if they feel indebted to BN for all the goodies it has been handing out to the constituency.
After speaking to the villagers, it is clear that the general sentiment seems to be one of disgust, disappointment and even hatred for BN and its leaders.
“They think we are slow-thinking villagers who do not know how to access the Internet to get the real story behind their corruption and excesses? There they are spending our money like their own and then when elections come, they pretend to give us little titbits as if it is from their own pocket,” one Jawi resident said.
Many of them said they would not give BN another chance to “cheat” and “lie” to them. “If I see any of them, I turn around and walk away. I feel it is really time that we changed the whole federal government, not only change our state assemblymen and MP,” said an elderly resident who’s been following the political scene closely through the news and the Internet.
A quiet village in Nibong Tebal, where the electorate is made up of about 55 per cent non-Malays and about 45 per cent Malays,
He said it was not really about the individual component parties any more but more about BN versus Pakatan Rakyat (PR). “Even if PR were to put a PAS candidate for the parliamentary seat, I am certain PR will still win the seat,” he said.
He added that the scare tactics by BN about hudud did not turn the non-Malays off PR but instead make them even more disgusted with BN. “Again, they seem to think we are fools. We all know hudud is only for Muslims so why should we even be afraid of something that has nothing to do with us?”
Zainal Abidin is expected to go head to head with Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mansor Othman, the Penang PKR chief. Mansor is the incumbent Penanti state assemblyman and it seems he’s destined for bigger things, such as a Cabinet position if PR succeeds in its bid to win Putrajaya.
Mansor may be the PR candidate for Nibong Tebal.
A PKR member said voters in Nibong Tebal were not in the least bit angry with PKR over Tan Tee Beng leaving the party and becoming a BN-friendly independent MP. “In fact, voters may construe this as another dirty trick by BN and this may just anger them more so this could mean more votes for PKR,” he said.
He said this may be why Mansor may be chosen to contest this seat as he is the PKR state chief and the current deputy chief minister. “Having someone more ‘established’ and experienced will be an advantage to PKR,” he said.
Earlier there was talk that Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wanted to take this seat but he has confirmed that he will continue to stand in Permatang Pauh. There is also talk of Anwar’s second daughter, Nurul Nuha, being proposed as a candidate for Nibong Tebal.
Mansor also reportedly confirmed that Nurul Nuha’s name was listed as a possible candidate for Nibong Tebal.
So, will it be the relatively new Nurul Nuha or will it be Mansor? According to a voter, it doesn’t really matter.
“As long as it is Pakatan Rakyat, we will vote for the candidate but we do not want another frog so the party better put someone reliable there,” said the PKR member. Despite the positive reactions PR has been getting from voters there, a grassroots member said it would still be a tough fight.
“We are not so worried about the non-Malay votes but winning the Malay votes can be tough so it will be a close call,” he predicted.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Battle? Don’t be so dramatic. The MP is supposed to LEAVE after 2 terms preferably or they become a stale colluding farce that cannot challenge APARTHEID despite parliamentary immunity that allow Road Tolls, forced military conscriptions, Astro monopolies (refusing to legalise satellite dishes) and other nonsense like refusing to lower Election Deposits which are so high that the majority of the lower and middle class are prevented from running for election due to the sheer cost in a form of plutocracy that becomes nepotistic then dictatorlike and eventually resorts to sabotage of activists and the 5th estate via social sabotage, staged ’embarassing events’ (that result in sh1t cake retaliations) or even worse, neurotech and psychiatric sabotage in extreme cases where the target is too clever for their fundo mindsets, LIES and undemocratic intentions against the people.
He added that the scare tactics by BN about hudud did not turn the non-Malays off PR but instead make them even more disgusted with BN. “Again, they seem to think we are fools. We all know hudud is only for Muslims so why should we even be afraid of something that has nothing to do with us?”
. . . so why should we even be afraid of something that has nothing to do with us? . . .
Politics of expedience gives rise to the racists to apply apartheid and fuels the cowardice of Pakatan politicians who think like this. This is an ethically corrupt stance that will lead to dictators, nepotists and death of democracy in general. BN is apartheid and corrupt, but Pakatan is as bad if not worse in this sort of severe weakness. Hudud is an abomination against Human Rights and any person who goes . . . so why should we even be afraid of something that has nothing to do with us? . . . is one of the people of the world who fuels the cause of evil and oppression of humanity. If they have no capacity to care for such issues, they cannot care for democracy and thus are unqualified to run the nation . . .
HONG KONG, Oct 25 — Chinese author Wang Xiaofang, a former government official turned best-selling novelist, is a forceful advocate for democratization and staunch critic of Chinese contemporaries who he sees as too cosy with the establishment.
Since resigning as secretary to the deputy mayor of Shenyang city in northeastern China, Wang has written “officialdom” novels drawing on his Communist Party insider’s experience to expose greed, intrigue, corruption and factional rivalry in the highly secretive and murky world of Chinese politics.
In “The Civil Servant’s Notebook,” his first book translated into English and due out next month, Wang, 49, skewers politicians reminiscent of Bo Xilai, the ousted politician at the centre of China’s biggest political scandal in two decades.
The Shenyang-based Wang, whose 13 novels have been widely pirated and have sold 3 million official copies, spoke with Reuters on the sidelines of the Hong Kong Literary Festival about Honore de Balzac and urine-drinking as a metaphor for absolute authority.
Q: What kinds of difficulties have you encountered in publishing your type of work in China?
A: “My fourth book, ‘The Mayor’s Secretary,’ made its rounds all over China in the search of an accepting publisher. I managed to get through to some publishers that would have frequent changes in management and editors so I can sometimes slip something through but even then, it would get rejected most of the time. I have not published for two years. I have four books waiting to get published. The environment has become more restrictive in the past two years.
“I stayed low profile in mainland China for a while. I don’t publicize my work there. There’s no TV series or film I can profit from. I have not received Chinese awards. They wouldn’t dare make a film out of this, and they’re not allowed to. In the beginning I received many threats, telling me to stop or they will chop off my hands. Some officials would look through my fictional work and say I’m writing about them and directly implicating them. They all look for themselves.”
Q: How do you feel about the works of other Chinese writers? What’s your reaction to Mo Yan being awarded the Nobel Prize?
A: “I give my congratulations to Mo Yan. His works stem from the stories and civilization of his hometown, depicting the life and culture of that society. Not all literature necessarily has to lash out against the government. One can certainly write about a myriad of things in life. Mo Yan took that route.
“Many Chinese writers do comply with the system. They have stable salaries even if they don’t write. China’s writers, once they earn a bit of reputation, will aim for official positions in writer’s associations. The well-known writers in China are all vice chairmen or chairmen of these associations, which means they are Party officials. They have their private cars.
“Most Chinese writers in the mainland eulogize authority. For instance, something like Honore de Balzac’s critical realism — mainland writers do not employ that. They employ eulogistic realism. They applaud the system.
“I aspire to a new style of writing, like how Joyce and Proust made contributions to literary history with their stream of consciousness approach, or Franz Kafka’s impact on 20th century literature. But there hasn’t been a similar literary movement in China. They imitate previous styles and ideas from the West but never created their own genre. Lu Xun, for instance, whom I respect very much, did not create a new style.”
Q: How are your books a commentary on the Bo Xilai scandal and on China’s current political atmosphere?
A: “The Bo Xilai and Wang Lijun case may seem out of the ordinary, but they are in fact inevitable. There will be other similar occurrences. It’s the system. They are all the same characters. There’s a character similar to Bo Xilai in my recent book. As long as there’s absolute authority, it will produce such authority figures. Absolute authority means absolute corruption. This event shows the urgency and necessity of reform in the Chinese system.
“In this book, one of the officials had been drinking urine for five years because he thinks it has medicinal benefits. Then during a banquet his friends poured him a beer and he cried because he had been drinking urine for such a long time. The urine symbolizes the cultural garbage inherent to the system that the official complies with, and that’s believed to be beneficial. I won’t comment on the political, but I hope that China can move towards reform. Reform of civil society and law is China’s Golden Road towards future progress. I hope the new leadership can bring this about.”
Q: Do you see a burgeoning Chinese literary movement? Will this society in transition produce a new crop of writers?
A: “If they all become party officials, then no. Many don’t have the courage to rely solely on their pen to make a living…
“Most of the material coming from Chinese writers today, the ones translated into English, talk about the period before or during the Cultural Revolution but do not focus on China’s current affairs. As for works that do focus on current society, the ones that write about urban life are full of depictions of song and dance and wealth, while the ones set in the countryside depict the beautiful scenery. They do not touch upon the darkness of current reality. Under such a system, we cannot be ourselves. We become spiritual eunuchs and helpless bystanders. This is extremely painful. Your soul is not free.”
“In this man-made system, the human has become a non-human. So if I just sat on the inside and kept watching, then I will also turn into a beetle, like in Franz Kafka’s ‘The Metamorphosis.’ The person from my past political life has passed. The person sitting in front of you is an ordinary man, a writer.” — Reuters
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
. . . urine-drinking as a metaphor for absolute authority . . .
Little wonder the Lee junta family in Singapore introduced 3% reprocessed sewer treated waste water (thats both urine AND faeces), into the water system in Singapore. That way the NLP will affect the people and make them more ‘obedient’. Aren’t we all glad we are not living in Singapore? Incidentally troublemaker Japan looks quite bad too in creating the ‘Faeces Steak’. Please educate the peoples of ASEAN what they are up against writers and 1st world minded nations, the political junta has in place a system of oppression, subtle or not, and purveyors of such ‘urine drinking by proxy (i.e. grey water)’ mindsets must not be let off and must be outed. 2 terms only!
Jakarta Men Arrested for Alleged Unlicensed Sale of Airsoft Guns – Bayu Marhaenjati & Zaky Pawas | October 22, 2012
Jakarta Police display airsoft guns seized during the arrest of two men accused of selling the illegal guns on Facebook at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday. (JG Photo/Safir Makki) Jakarta Police display airsoft guns seized during the arrest of two men accused of selling the illegal guns on Facebook at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday. (JG Photo/Safir Makki)
TheSplodge – 10:41pm Oct 22, 2012
Commentator Commentary :
What a pathetic waste of time and how is this the 2nd headline? These guns fire plastic pellets for gawd sake. Is this really the best use of police time? Mind you, anything harder than plastic and the police would have run away.
ARTICLE 6
Aceh Shuts Down Buddhist Temples and Churches – Rangga Prakoso | October 22, 2012
Indonesia’s Interfaith Dialogue and the Reality Of Religious Minorities’ Neglected Aspirations 4:26pm Oct 18, 2012
Sampang Shiites Still Live as Refugees as Government Intervention Fails 12:01pm Oct 8, 2012
Achieve Religious Harmony in Indonesia First, Activists Tell SBY 9:28am Sep 28, 2012
GKI Yasmin Still Unsettled 9:22am Sep 27, 2012
Peace is Key in SBY’s UN Speech 8:56am Sep 26, 2012
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
President Susilo, too busy colluding, or asleep behind the wheel? Any can detest Christians and Buddhists but they have a right to be present in all societies in the world as much as a Satanist or a Goth into Vampirism. Muslims in fact are much noisier what with the loudspeakers and all that . . . Anything beyond the decibel level of human voices should be deemed illegal but why the demolitions in such a fundo manner? President Susilo? Investigations? Reparations?
ARTICLE 7
Mind your language – THE CORRIDORS OF POWER – Monday, 22 October 2012 Super Admin – Raja Petra Kamaruddin
So, legally, a Member of Parliament cannot resign his or her seat and re-contest that seat in a by-election. This means that issue first needs to be addressed. And then we need to amend/abrogate the Article in the Constitution that guarantees all Malaysians freedom of association. You will be denied freedom of association once you get elected into office.
First please read Chief Minister of Penang Lim Guan Eng’s press statement below. I have not edited or amended it because I want you to read it as it is.
It looks like someone had translated this statement into English from the original Chinese version. Since this press release carries the Chief Minister’s name there should be a higher standard of language used. The grammar and sentence structure should be as flawless as possible and words or phrases such as ‘political frogs’ should be avoided.
Name-calling cheapens the message. If we indulge in name-calling where do we draw the line? Mahathir al Mamak. Anwar al Jubur. Khalid (Ibrahim) al Lembik. Najib al Tantuya. Ibrahim (Ali) al Katak. Hee al Camry.
Can you see that the list of ‘names’ we can attach to various Malaysian personalities is endless? You only need to allow your imagination to run wild and Malaysians certainly have a world-class imagination when it comes to giving people ‘names’. I bet the comments below are going to be flooded with some very creative and imaginative ‘names’ of people you love to hate, me included.
Nevertheless, I am giving Guan Eng the benefit of the doubt and will assume that his aides and speechwriters would usually prepare his press statements. I am sure Guan Eng is too busy to sit down with pen and paper and spend hours writing all these statements. Guan Eng has to review the quality of his staff and outsource some of this work if necessary in the interest of maintaining a higher standard.
One of the criteria of a good speechwriter would be the research required. The statements must not only be consistent with earlier statements and the party stand but they must also be consistent with the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, the State Constitution, convention, tradition, cultural norms, religious sensitivities, sentiments and whatnot.
There are so many things to consider in making a statement because in this age of the information revolution people will remember what you said even 30 or 40 years ago. So you cannot make a faux pas and get away with it. It will come back to haunt you later. And the ‘I have been misquoted’ excuse no longer works, as many people have discovered.
I can afford to ignore all these ‘pitfalls’ and write ‘no holds barred’. I do not need for people to like or love me because I will not be contesting the election and, therefore, do not need your votes. The same can’t be said for Guan Eng. Public perception and public support is very crucial in Guan Eng’s case. This will determine whether he wins or loses the election.
Now, before you go off tangent and start saying that this is a Guan Eng bashing article, please note for the record that Guan Eng is one of my more favourite politicians. I actually went to Penang back in 2008 to help campaign for him. I did not do that for the other Pakatan Rakyat politicians other than Ronnie Liu and Nurul Izzah Anwar (and the proof is all on YouTube if you care to do a Google search).
Nazri Aziz made a statement in Parliament today saying that Malaysia is neither a Secular State nor an Islamic State. And the reason Nazri said this, according to him, is because Malaysia’s Constitution is ‘silent’ on the matter and makes no mention of it.
I find that politicians will quote the Constitution when it suits them and if it does not then they will quote the Qur’an, the Hadith, the Sunnah, the Social Contract, the Merdeka Agreement, the 18-Point Agreement, the 20-Point Agreement, the New Economic Policy, the Election Manifesto, the Reid Commission, the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and whatnot.
If Nazri wants to follow the Constitution then the Constitution is also silent on the matter of the race and religion of the Prime Minister. Legally, Lim Guan Eng can become the Prime Minister of Malaysia. But Guan Eng cannot become the Prime Minister even though legally, according to the Constitution, he can. And we know why he cannot and also know that it has nothing to do with the Constitution.
Basically, politicians will make a statement and then they will find the justification for that statement. And most times they will contradict themselves from one statement to another. And if they fail to find the right justification they can always use convention, tradition, cultural norms, religious sensitivities, sentiments, etc., as the excuse to justify what they say.
So which ‘guideline’ do we follow then? The Constitution, the Qur’an, the Hadith, the Sunnah, the Social Contract, the Merdeka Agreement, the 18-Point Agreement, the 20-Point Agreement, the New Economic Policy, the Election Manifesto, the Reid Commission, the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, convention, tradition, cultural norms, religious sensitivities, sentiments, the powers of the Minister, or what?
We must note that each of those various ‘guidelines’ may contradict one other. So, when yesterday we used one, today we use another, and tomorrow we use yet another, this means we are contradicting ourselves.
Legally, when you vote for someone, whom are you voting for? At the back of your mind you may be voting for the party rather than the candidate. That may be what you are subconsciously doing. But I am asking: legally, whom do you vote for?
When a Member of Parliament stands up in Parliament, the Speaker will address you as, say, “Ahli (Member) dari Lembah Pantai”. The Speaker does not address you as “Ahli dari PKR” or “Ahli dari Pakatan Rakyat”. So you are the wakil or ahli from Lembah Pantai. That is your ‘legal status’. Which party you are from is not the issue. Hence even if you change parties that does not affect your Parliament status.
Now, if we want whoever changes parties to resign (by law) and re-contest the seat in a by-election, we will first need to amend the law that bars someone who resigns from re-contesting for a period of five years.
Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail resigned her Permatang Pauh seat in mid-2008. That means she cannot contest any Parliament seat until at least mid-2013. And that also means she will have to give the coming general election a miss, unless she decides to contest a state seat instead.
So, legally, a Member of Parliament cannot resign his or her seat and re-contest that seat in a by-election. This means that issue first needs to be addressed. And then we need to amend/abrogate the Article in the Constitution that guarantees all Malaysians freedom of association. You will be denied freedom of association once you get elected into office.
It also must be made clear that if you get elected into office you are not Wakil Rakyat but Wakil Parti. And to make sure this is clear, the Speaker must address the Members of Parliament as, say, “Ahli dari PKR” and not “Ahli dari Lembah Pantai”.
Can you see the changes that will be required? It is not merely a simple matter of amending a few words in the State Constitution. A paradigm shift will be required including reconditioning the minds of the voters and the minds of those people who the voters vote into office.
Okay, back to Nazri’s statement today. Nazri is using the Constitution as his guide and his argument is that Malaysia is neither a Secular State nor an Islamic State. So what are we then?
For sure Malaysia is not a Republic because we are a Constitutional Monarchy. And the nine State Rulers are Heads of Islam in their respective states while His Majesty the Agong is Head of Islam for the Federation (plus the four states that do not have Rulers and instead have Governors).
What powers do the Rulers have as Head of Islam? For example, say, Their Highnesses the Sultans of Kelantan and Terengganu want to implement Hudud in their respective states since these two State Assemblies have already approved it years ago. Can this be done?
Nazri would say ‘no’ because Parliament first needs to approve these laws. And since Parliament has not approved it (or has rejected it) then it can’t be done. New laws or amendments to old laws need to be approved by Parliament.
But then is Islam a State matter under the charge of the Rulers or a Federal matter under the charge of Parliament? Ah, Nazri will argue, but Hudud is a legal matter, not a religious matter. So the Federal government and not the State governments have authority over this matter.
Okay, but then apostasy (leaving Islam), drinking/selling of liquor, adultery, illicit sex (sex outside marriage), khalwat (close proximity), etc., are also religious issues. And they are also legal issues. Each state has its own laws and its own forms of punishment for these ‘crimes’. And they differ from one state to another.
We must also remember that although, officially, there are no Hudud laws in Malaysia, those crimes I mentioned above come under Hudud. Hence we DO have Hudud in Malaysia. The only thing is we do not call them Hudud. It is ‘silent’ as to what they are. So, for purposes of giving them a name, we call them Shariah laws.
But Shariah laws are a collection of laws. And one of these collections of laws under the Shariah is Hudud. So what Malaysia has done is it has allowed the implementation of (part of) Hudud as long as you call them Shariah laws and not Hudud laws. You can implement Hudud laws but do not label them as Hudud although they are in reality Hudud laws.
It is like the issue of usury or riba’. In Islam, riba’ is haram (forbidden). So don’t call it riba’. Call it faedah (benefit/interest) or keuntungan (profit/gain). Then it is no longer haram. It is halal (kosher).
Sex outside marriage (zina) is also haram. So don’t call it zina. Call it mut’a (temporary marriage). You get married for a couple of hours just for sex so it is no longer zina and hence not haram. After the sex you ‘divorce’.
Burkha for Nudist Muslims anyone?
Can we take this further? Say you have a bad cough. You then get the doctor (a Muslim doctor if need be) to say that you need some brandy to get rid of your cough. So, for health reasons, you can drink brandy and it is no longer haram. You don’t call it arak. You call it ubat.
Yes, then we can issue a fatwah concerning ‘defending’ Islam and then blow up a school bus with 50 Jewish children inside it. It is not called murder any longer. It is called jihad.
Can you see there is no limit to what we can do when we twist and turn to suit our agenda? And can you also see why Malaysians in general and Malays-Muslims in particular are a very confused lot? They contradict themselves and make statements to suit their objective even though these statements do not make sense.
One day they scream about freedom of this, that or the other. The next day they make a statement that violates all these freedoms. The issue of Islam and the rules of Islam is one case in point. Do we arrest and then jail, cane, fine, tickle, torture, slap, fondle, spank or punch a Muslim who is caught drinking liquor? Furthermore, do we just punish the offender or also the person/establishment that ‘collaborated’ in the ‘crime’?
When you allow prostitution in your massage parlour, not only the prostitutes but also the massage parlour owner will be punished. If your pub employs Muslim staff and they sell beer to Muslims, not only the Muslim customer will be punished. The Muslim staff and the pub owner will face punishment as well.
Is this the law? Yes, according to some states, but not according to the Federal government — or else the government-owned establishments and GLCs will also face punishment. But then they do not face punishment, do they?
So it appears like this is a State criminal law and not a Federal criminal law. People can face criminal action in some states. And this is Hudud although not called Hudud. Hence it appears like the States can by-pass or ignore Parliament if they wish to do so. But then the Federal government says that the States cannot implement or amend laws without the approval of Parliament.
Aiyah! Pening kepala! Yang mana yang betul ni?
Okay, so can Penang introduce laws or amend laws that make party-hopping a crime? Do they need Parliament’s approval or an amendment to the Federal Constitution for this? And while on that subject, can Penang then also pass a law that DOES NOT make it a crime for Muslims to drink beer?
And if not, why not? Is it because His Majesty the Agong and not the Penang State government is the authority over Islam? And if that is the case then can His Majesty the Agong introduce Hudud in Penang whether the Penang State Government and/or DAP/Pakatan Rakyat agrees or not?
Yes, confusing, is it not? Sometimes the Minister has sole authority. Sometimes the Cabinet is the authority. Sometimes the Menteri Besar/Chief Minister has authority. Sometimes the State EXCO has authority. Sometimes Parliament has authority. Sometimes the EXCO Member has authority. Sometimes the Ruler has authority. Sometimes the Mufti has authority. Sometimes the Religious Department has authority. Sometimes the Attorney-General has authority. Sometimes the IGP has authority. Sometimes the OCDP has authority. Sometimes the CPO has authority. Sometimes the court is the authority.
And sometimes the dogcatcher is the final authority as to whether to kill the stray dogs by drowning or send them to a dog’s home.
***************************************
Lim Guan Eng’s Press Release today
The PR state government will not be deterred by BN’s support for the culture of political frogs but is determined to table a historic constitutional amendment to push through an anti-hopping law in the Penang state assembly meeting on 1 November 2012. The State Legal Advisor has been tasked with the necessary process of gazetting the proposed constitutional amendment.
Any amendment to the Penang state constitution requires a 2/3 majority and PR has the required numbers by holding 29 out of the 40 seats. All 3 parties in Penang PR of PAS, PKR and DAP have also supported the proposed constitutional amendment requiring State Assembly members who jump or change their party affiliation to resign and re-contest in a by-election.
BN and MCA have taken the opportunity to hit out at the Penang state government at yesterday’s MCA Annual General Assembly by dramatically labelling the proposed anti-hopping law as unconstitutional and that it will even creating a constitutional crisis that will be the very foundation of the Federal Constitution and the nation at risk. The Penang state government believes that the anti-hopping law should be within the Federal Constitution for 3 principal reasons.
One, it respects the democratic mandate of the people being kingmakers by allowing their constituents to either support or reject the decision of their elected representatives to hop from one party to another. As parliamentary democracy is the basis of our Federal Constitution, the anti-hopping law by reinforcing its democratic character will only serve to strengthen the Federal Constitution.
Two, the anti-hopping law does not infringe on a person’s right of freedom of association as he or she can join any party subject to a renewal of mandate by the constituents. Finally this will also ensure the practice of political accountability as well as principled values and public integrity in Penang, where elected representatives can not be traded like a commodity at the highest price.
BN and MCA’s condemnation of Penang PR’s anti-hopping laws provides a stark difference between BN’s focus on party interests and personalities as compared to PR emphasis on policies and people.
Lim Guan Eng
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
No word on apartheid but more attempts to control power in DAP? Fools do not understand that a political party is not a family business. DAP really needs to be taught a lesson for trying to force MPs to stay in the party. As per democracy, any MP can leave, but a by-election should be conducted immediately WITH that MP allowed to run for election so long as that MP has not yet spent a second term in office because the people may be on the MP’s side and not the party in individually considered cases. This current CM has spent 1.5 terms in office and the political culture has worsened since and become less democratic since DAP won in Penang. Time for 3rd Force parties to take over before DAP becomes a second PAP like in Singapore. They imagine synchronicity will work here to ensure DAP’s rule forever. That will not be so, DAP will be kicked out because DAP has failed to keep 90% of campaign promises and has been particularly antagonistic to the Muslims here.
ARTICLE 8
What Is A Private Attorney General
Private attorney general is an informal term usually used today in the United States to refer to a private party who brings a lawsuit considered to be in the public interest, i.e., benefiting the general public and not just the plaintiff.[1] The person considered “private attorney general” is entitled to recover attorney’s fees if he or she prevails. The rationale behind this principle is to provide extra incentive to private citizens to pursue suits that may be of benefit to society at large.
Many civil rights statutes rely on private attorneys general for their enforcement. In Newman v. Piggie Park Enterprises,[2] one of the earliest cases construing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the United States Supreme Court ruled that “A public accommodations suit is thus private in form only. When a plaintiff brings an action . . . he cannot recover damages. If he obtains an injunction, he does so not for himself alone but also as a ‘private attorney general,’ vindicating a policy that Congress considered of the highest priority.” The United States Congress has also passed laws with “private attorney general” provisions that provide for the enforcement of laws prohibiting employment discrimination, police brutality, and water pollution. Under the Clean Water Act, for example, “any citizen” may bring suit against an individual or a company that is a source of water pollution.[citation needed]
Another example of the “private attorney general” provisions is the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). RICO allows average citizens (private attorneys general) to sue those organizations that commit mail and wire fraud as part of their criminal enterprise.[citation needed] To date, there are over 60 federal statutes[citation needed] that encourage private enforcement by allowing prevailing plaintiffs to collect attorney’s fees.
Attorneys who function as a private attorney general do so without compensation. The statutes permitting a plaintiff to recover attorneys’ fees have been held not to apply when the plaintiff is an attorney.
Civil Rights Attorney’s Fees Award Act
The U.S. Congress codified the private attorney general principle into law with the enactment of Civil Rights Attorney’s Fees Award Act of 1976, 42 U.S.C. § 1988. The Senate Report on this statute stated that The Senate Committee on the Judiciary wanted to level the playing field so that private citizens, who might have little or no money, could still serve as “private attorneys general” and afford to bring actions, even against state or local bodies, to enforce the civil rights laws. The Committee acknowledged that, “[i]f private citizens are to be able to assert their civil rights, and if those who violate the Nation’s fundamental laws are not to proceed with impunity, then citizens must have the opportunity to recover what it costs them to vindicate these rights in court.” Where a plaintiff wins his or her lawsuit and is considered the “prevailing party,” § 1988 acts to shift fees, including expert witness fees [at least in certain types of civil rights actions, under the Civil Rights Act of 1991, even if not in § 1983 actions], and to make those who acted as private attorneys general whole again, thus encouraging the enforcement of the civil rights laws. The Senate reported that it intended fee awards to be “adequate to attract competent counsel” to represent client with civil rights grievances. S. Rep. No. 94-1011, p. 6 (1976). The U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted the act to provide for the payment of a “reasonable attorney’s fee” based on the fair market value of the legal services.
Other uses
The term also refers more generally to any person who holds a general power of attorney from someone else, and also to any person who represents the public in any civil or criminal court proceeding. Most criminal prosecutions today in the United States and other countries in the Anglo-American legal tradition are conducted by public prosecutors who are public employees, but until the late 19th century most criminal prosecutions in the United States were conducted by private persons, usually but not always lawyers, either paid by private parties or asked by the court to serve pro bono. Private criminal prosecutions are still legal in several of those countries, including several states of the United States.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Henceforth with the correct facts and correct case, ALL citizens are Attorney Generals. Meanwhile Bar Council ignores all sorts of abuses in law and constitution . . .
ARTICLE 9
MCA touts ‘Ah Jib Gor’ factor for Chinese vote – Monday, 22 October 2012 Super Admin – Nomy Nowzir and Hafidz Baharom, The Malaysian Insider
Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s popularity or the “Ah Jib Gor” factor will help cajole a segment of the Chinese community back to Barisan Nasional (BN) in the coming polls, MCA grassroots leaders have agreed, but warned that the same sentiment could not topple the opposition in its urban fortresses.
This was the resounding sentiment among delegates attending the MCA’s 59th annual general meeting at Wisma MCA yesterday, which is seen as the party’s final chance to chart its election strategies in the months ahead as it heads into its toughest battle yet.
“Najib is good because he has done a lot of programmes for the people, I am sure the Chinese will vote BN,” said one delegate, Lim Chee Cheong, from Rasah in Negri Sembilan.
“Najib has done a lot for the Chinese. And he has our support and the Chinese community support as well,” another delegate, Loke Poh Chye from Pengkalan Kota in Penang, toldThe Malaysian Insider.
During the meeting earlier, among one of the key battle cries sounded by the party leadership was a call for delegates to “Stand with Najib”, who was extensively described as a leader popular among the Chinese.
In his presidential address, party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek repeatedly praised Najib’s transformative policies and attention to Chinese community issues, even telling the prime minister, “Sir, sometimes I think that you are too kind.”
At the MCA Youth AGM on Saturday, party deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai predicted that the MCA will “rise again” in the coming polls, citing Najib’s popularity among the Chinese community as one of the key reasons behind the possibility.
He said the prime minister’s outreach towards the Chinese community, even resorting to social media tools like Facebook to create a Chinese persona, “Ah Jib Gor” (Brother Najib), had successfully convinced voters that the community would not be left out of the nation’s development.
“The feel-good factor is coming back. And the commitment from the PM to the Chinese… the Ah Jib Gor factor shows that he will listen to the Chinese community,” Liow had said.
But despite these leaders’ optimism, several MCA delegates approached by The Malaysian Insider yesterday agreed that the party would suffer the most when attempting to sway the urban Chinese vote, pointing out that in areas like Petaling Jaya Selatan or key states like Penang, it would be near impossible for the MCA to trounce the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) federal opposition pact.
“I don’t think so we can win back PJ, they are entrenched already with the opposition. I don’t think we can take Penang back either,” said Loh KF, a delegate from the area.
Loh was among several delegates who also admitted that the issue of corruption would be among BN’s greatest stumbling block to woo the Chinese vote, complaining that it was hard to answer voters who brought up issues like the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) scandal and other graft cases.
“Bribery is really bad, I was a victim myself,” said Sungai Siput MCA delegate Tham Siew Poh.
Tham was also critical of the MCA’s focus on hudud law, a wedge issue used against the DAP and PAS who are members of the PR opposition pact.
“Most Chinese already understand that the hudud issue is hands-off, it’s a religious question, very sensitive. This issue shouldn’t be commented upon.
“After all, hudud has already been implemented in many countries, why be scared if we do no wrong?” Tham said.
But his opinion was not shared by Tenggara MCA delegate Catherine Chia, from Johor.
Chia said the hudud issue was critical to be highlighted on as it affects Chinese culture and was demeaning towards women.
“I think this hudud will affect everybody, not only Chinese, the whole nation. If the nation is under hudud law, we will become just like the Middle East nations. And eight of the most corrupt nations come from that region,” Loke said.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Hey MCA morons. How about ‘Ah Jib Peng’. (‘Peng’ = Friend or EQUAL / 朋友 or Péngyǒu). Who needs a ‘Gor’ (Older Brother in Hokkien dialect)? Who needs to be a Junior or a ‘Lek’ (Little brother in Hokkien dialect). MCA Pres. malay Title holding Minister Chua Soi Lek, just because your name has a ‘lek, does not mean that Najib is EVERYONE ELSE’S ‘Gor’ for the whole of the Chinese community. And given China’s size compared to Malaysia, how the hell can the Chinese Community be a ‘Lek’?
At very least equality. . . (and that is already stretching the fact that Malaysia is not even in USA’s league to be an equal to China . . . ) Lapdog Alert! Chua Soi Lek, has billions, the MCA has billions, if the MCA cannot even get equality for the Chinese, the MCA are a disgrace to the Chinese community, and already are term limitless as well.
Grant the below 3 items to justify the term limitlessness at very least or GTFO of Dewan! Weak and undemocratic! Shame on MCA! ‘Gor’?!? MCA = STUPID and COWARDLY . . . ‘Gor’ ? More like Gorean (S&M subculture) . . . more so when China is already starting to challenge USA no way will the Chinese be a ‘Lek’ – in fact the Chinese should be ‘Gor’! But this is not the Chinese way, so equality will be fine though the true situation should be that a Chinese PM will be insisted on by the Malays AS WELL AS EQUALITY so that China will be so pleased that they will invest in Malaysia more, than tolerate MCA’s misrepresentations and self serving manipulations – indirectly suffering dhmmitude of the local Malaysian Chinese by TACIT ASSENT via inaction . . . Grant the below 3 items to justify the term limitlessness at very least or GTFO of Dewan! Weak and undemocratic yet too wealthy as well!
Shame on MCA! ‘Gor’?!? Equal is all anyone will tolerate especially since the Malays could well be Yunnan Chinese who interbred with the Orang Asli (Austronesian Negritos) to become the mixed race calle ‘Malay’ after all! NO Big Brother mentality par excellence Ketuanan.
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
ARTICLE 10
Wee: PAS in favour of the dark ages – Sunday, 21 October 2012 Super Admin – Leven Woon, FMT
The MCA Youth chief says that it was only after the separation of politics and religion that the European countries prospered.
MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong attacked PAS for trying to return the country to the dark ages by implementing a theocratic state, which he said was a feudal political system.
In his opening address at the 48th MCA Youth Annual General Assembly meeting today, Wee said that the European countries have spent thousands of years to do away with a political system that combines with religion.
“It was only after the separation of politics and religion that saw the birth of the Renaissance and eventually the Industrial Revolution” he said
Wee told some 600 delegates that it would be mockery should PAS strive to reintroduce a system that had been abandoned by the world.
“We must remember that the democracy and human rights which we have today is the result of the separation of politics and religion.
“We must not allow PAS to return us to an age that has long past us. This ideology must be rejected by the people of this country,” he said.
He also took a jab at DAP’s inconsistency on the hudud issue, saying that the party chairman Karpal Singah and advisor Lim Kit Siang once made a strong stance against hudud law, but not the current leadership.
“The new generation of leadership in DAP has changed their stand by saying that there is no need to fear an Islamic state as long as you don’t steal or rob,” he said.
Later at a press conference, Wee was asked if MCA’s constant harping on hudud issues would translate to Chinese support to BN. Sarawak’s SUPP also highlighted the hudud issue but they did not do well in the state election last year.
Wee said the opposition’s reaction would not have been so great if the Chinese were not concerned by the hudud issue.
MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai, who was also at the press conference, believed in the Chinese’s wisdom to differentiate between a national election and a state election.
“(In a national election), you elect the federal government, where the Federal Constitution is of utmost importance to the nation. You can’t allow PAS to become the government to implement such a policy in this country,” he said.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
BUT STILL no word for equality? Does Wee know that even without a Theocratic state which MCA has kindly chosen to fight against, that the APARTHEID of BUMIPUTRA still represents something as bad (though not twice as bad with Hudu as well?). China is virtually becoming the GREATEST nation on Earth at least for this next century as Russia builds up that Russian backyard . . . Wee should never accept less than equality for all Malaysians ESPECIALLY the Chinese minorities.
Malaysia can barely qualify to be China’s lackey or match Iran or even the USA. Don’t tell me that the Chinese do not deserve at very least equality in Malaysia, even when Malaysia will never ever be China’s equal. Since the Chinese are a majority and a eventual dominant power in the world, should the Chinese demand Special Privileges instead? The Malays are not giving the Chinese minorities face in Malaysia and thus are indirectly insulting China by refusing to grant equality. Think Minister Wee, as a Chinese where the China stands, don’t be complacent and term limitless.
BTW, MCA youth is not very youthful at all, youth ends the instance people get married or reach 18 or 21 years old, or in some considerations reach puberty. Wee is an old guy with wife and family ALSO multimillions worth, and term limitless to boot. I see no youth there. Wee is a big fat corrupted lapdog-grade boss type that probably has loads of mistresses and possibly drinks 50K in XO/VSOP on the weekends – youth? No way. Gotta be joking. Get some skinny callow (thats callow not sallow as in a certain LCW . . . sellouts to certain spiritual principles . . . ) unmarried AND poor, people to be ‘Youth’. MCA’s youth are middle aged and even OLD like Wee. Grant the below 3 items to justify the term limitlessness at very least or GTFO of Dewan! Weak and undemocratic!
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Musa case: Swiss probe continuing – Hornbill Unleashed – October 22, 2012 – Calvin Kabaron
Bruno Manser Fund says the probe into the RM40 million donation to Sabah Umno is ongoing.
A Swiss government investigation into the mystery donation of RM40 million to Sabah is still going on .
The Switzerland-based Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) said the case against UBS AG, a Swiss global financial services company operating out of Basel and Zurich, Switzerland, which is linked to the money, is continuing.
Lukas Straumann, director of BMF, confirmed that the investigation launched by the Swiss Attorney General is ongoing.
“It started on Aug 29 and is expected to take a couple of months at least until its conclusion,” he said in a message to his affiliates here.
The statement comes after the Dewan Rakyat was told on Oct 11 that the amount concerned that was seized by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) from a Sabah businessman at the Hong Kong International Airport in 2008 was a ‘political contribution’ to Sabah Umno by an unidentified donor.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz in a written reply to parliament on the outcome of the investigation into the affair denied that the seized amount was Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman’s money.
However BMF’s Straumann said: “We have submitted strong evidence showing the relationship between UBS and the Musa family.
” From what we see, it is a very clear case of money-laundering. This is why the
official investigation was opened in the first place.”
He added that BMF has applied to be admitted as a private plaintiff in order to gain access to the case files.
“This might be a unique chance to find out more on the business between UBS and Musa because Swiss banking secrecy will be lifted during the investigation.
“Our position in this application is much stronger if we are backed by people from Sabah. This is why we seek to get plaintiffs from among Sabahans,” Straumann said referring to the BMF offer published in local news portal and also in its letters.
It is understood that several Sabahans have consented to be plaintiffs in the case being pursued in Switzerland.
Musa, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s point man in Sabah and the state’s longest serving Chief Minister has found himself in centre-stage after Sabah timber tycoon, Michael Chia Tien Foh, the man caught red-handed with S$16 million (about RM40 million) in his bag was detained by the ICAC in 2008.
Chia had allegedly told the ICAC that the money was not his but the Sabah Chief Minister’s. Musa subsequently denied all knowledge of Chia despite claims by Sabah businessmen that the two were close associates.
Nazri, who is also de facto Law Minister, has unwittingly added further controversy to the affair by sweeping it aside as a simple matter.
No explanation was given why the large amount of cash was being hand carried by Chia rather than through a an inter-bank transaction or how the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had come to the conclusion it was a political donation for Sabah Umno after investigating the case for four years.
Musa in a statement at the last Sabah State Assembly sitting said that he was not afraid of any investigation over the RM40 million and that the money was not his but Umno’s.
His remarks came days after Najib said in Kuala Lumpur that MACC had completed its investigation and that the papers were then with the Attorney-General, Abdul Gani Patail who is related to Musa through marriage.
While Nazri has claimed that the powerful ICAC wrapped up its case (perhaps through a government-to-government arrangement), it is not known for now how the Hong Kong-based Chia can escape prosecution as it is illegal for anyone to bring or take out such a large some of cash without a permit.
Chia’s link to Musa, who is also in charge of Yayasan Sabah which holds in trust for Sabahans large tracts of timber concession areas, was exposed by Sarawak Report which published online, flow charts of the money transactions that connected them.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Why does Nazri pretend there were no arrests? The EU and HK-ACC can obviously see whats happening.
ARTICLE 12
Explosive Altantuya Revelations Coming? – Hornbill Unleashed – John Berthelsen, Asia Sentinel – October 21, 2012
Retired Malaysian police chief schedules mysterious Bangkok press conference Monday to announce “new revelations” in murder for hire case
The Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand announced Saturday that Musa Hassan, who retired recently as Malaysia’s national police chief, would hold a Monday press conference in Bangkok with “new revelations” over the 2006 murder for hire of Mongolian beauty Altantuya Shaariibuu.
“After her death it was revealed that she had been linked to the sale of two French-made submarines to Malaysia for US$1.3 billion – a deal under heavy suspicion of high-level corruption,” the FCCT announcement said. “The current Malaysian PM, Najib Razak, was then Minister of Defense and the national police chief was Musa Hassan. The revelations shook the Malaysian political landscape.”
Musa Hassan
It remains unsure if the announcement was a hoax. Attempts to reach Musa were unsuccessful. A Malaysiakini reporter said he has reached the former chief, but that Musa refused comment and said he hadn’t heard of the press conference. There was at least one error in the announcement — that Musa had quit as head of the police when he had actually retired with full honors. Although there have also been subsequent rumors that the press conference has been canceled, an FCCT officer told Asia Sentinel it appears to still be on, although it was moved from Oct. 19 to Monday.
The 60-year-old Musa retired on Sept. 13 after 41 years of service, the last six as national police chief. He was previously deputy inspector general. He has long been a controversial figure, having been investigated himself on allegations of corruption, particularly over the release of three members of illegal betting syndicates. Reform critics have accused him of using his police power to thwart investigations into corruption and to protect powerful figures in the government.
Officials with the Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition said they had been caught off guard by the announcement that Musa would speak in Bangkok.
Local media reported earlier that Musa has been flirting with Parti Islam se-Malaysia, the fundamentalist Islamic component of the three-party opposition. Musa, however, has publicly denied he intended to join PAS. A source with Pakatan Rakyat told Asia Sentinel Musa had met with a top leader of PAS several months ago, but that the former police chief had no interest in politics and that it was unlikely he would join.
However, if anybody knows where the bodies are buried, so to speak, it would be Musa Hassan.
Six years ago, according to court testimony in a long-drawn-out Kuala Lumpur trial, bodyguards attached to the office of Najib, now the prime minister, dragged the translator and party girl out of a car into a patch of jungle near the Kuala Lumpur suburb of Shah Alam, As she begged for her life and apparently that of her unborn child, they knocked her unconscious, then shot her twice in the head.
Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, members of the elite Unit Tindakan Khas, then wrapped Altantuya’s body in C4 plastic explosives and blew her up, possibly to mangle her remains so badly that the fetus would be destroyed, according to a confession that Sirul made but which was never introduced in court despite its seeming validity.
In his cautioned statement, as confessions are called in Malaysia, the police corporal told authorities he and Azilah had been offered RM100,000 to kill the woman and her two companions, who were causing highly public embarrassment for Abdul Razak Baginda, Najib’s best friend. The 28-year-old Mongolian woman, in a letter found after her death, wrote that she was sorry she had been blackmailing Razak Baginda.
Ironically, if unknown persons hadn’t ordered Altantuya’s death, the story of the massive bribes for the purchase of the submarines would by this time probably have disappeared. Similar scandals with the same magnitude of questionable overpayments have since died down, one involving the purchases of Sukhoi jets and another involving the waste of hundreds of millions of dollars on a company owned by an United Malays National Organization crony to build patrol boats. However, continuing questions about her murder have kept the story alive.
As Asia Sentinel reported in June, French police records alleged that Razak Baginda was a central figure in a bribery case in which a total of nearly €150 million in payments were steered to two Razak Baginda companies, Perimekar Sdn Bhd and Terasasi Hong Kong Ltd from subsidiaries of DCN, the French defense giant, in connection with the purchase of the submarines by the Malaysian defense ministry. The records seized from DCN by the French police show that former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and the French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe were aware of the transactions. Memos obtained by Asia Sentinel show the French expected at least part of the money to be steered to UMNO, Malaysia’s biggest ethnic political party.
Despite a 14-month trial, neither the prosecutors, the defense nor the judge asked who had offered the RM100,000 payment to the two men. Najib’s chief of staff, Musa Safri, reportedly dispatched the two policemen to pick up Altantuya and her companions, who mercifully weren’t around.
Altantuya appears to have been killed at the behest of someone with considerable clout in Kuala Lumpur. If her dying statement to Sirul Azhar is to be accepted, as he recounted it in his confession, she appeared to have been carrying the baby of someone, perhaps high in power in Malaysia.
Najib has sworn on the Quran that he never met Altantuya, although she appears to have been in France at the same time as he was, accompanying Najib’s best friend, Razak Baginda. On June 11, 2005, for instance, Najib gave a press conference after having visited the site where the Scorpene submariners were being trained and, according to the log of an Australian submariner association, presented jackets made available by Perimekar – Abdul Razak Baginda’s company – to the crew.
After the arrest of the two bodyguards, eventually Abdul Razak Baginda was acquitted without having to put on a defense. There were a long string of irregularities in the trial, which as much as anything appeared to be designed on the part of the judiciary, the prosecution and perhaps the defense to make sure nobody in Najib’s office was investigated or called as witnesses.
The two bodyguards were convicted and sentenced to death. Their appeals were supposed to have been heard in February this year, eight months ago. Mysteriously their appeals have been delayed. They were supposed to be heard in August. They have been delayed again.
Last week Musa dropped a 2008 defamation suit against Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim after Anwar accused him and Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail of conspiring to cover up a 1998 physical assault which left the then-imprisoned Anwar with a black eye and a permanent back problem. The dropping of the suit also fueled speculation that Musa was moving towards a rapprochement with the opposition. However, an opposition leader said the PR leadership was convinced he dropped the suit because he knew he wouldn’t be able to win it.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Send Interpol after the creeps! DAP did not keep 90% of campaign promises, (totally failed GE12’s Manifesto by which the voters cast their vote – those voters might as well vote for THEMSELVES as independents), no Local Councils, no asset declarations etc.. So that should mean DAP is also cheating, and are thieves of GE12, with nepotistic dictatorship at the top level in DAP that have caused near a score of top level member quits from DAP. The world now is indeed a global village.
ARTICLE 13
Who wants to be a millionaire? – Hornbill Unleashed – Mariam Mokhtar – October 20, 2012
To those who still doubt that Umno is the curse of the Malays, try cutting off the links between Umno and these people, and see what happens.
Most people are familiar with the song or TV game show “Who wants to be a millionaire?”. Had that question “Who wants to be a millionaire?” been put to Malaysians in the past, a majority of the rakyat would have responded, “Yes, I would”; but today, in Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s prosperous “1Malaysia”, the most likely reply from a Barisan Nasional crony would be a dismissive, “Huh. I’m already a multi-millionaire.”
The secret to success? Being an Umno politician, of course; but entry to this exclusive club is conditional upon selling one’s soul, integrity and mind, to serve a new master – Umno and all it stands for. So, while some Malays mock other religions for being idolatrous, they conveniently forget that they themselves worship the goddess Umno.
Umno uses religion for control. Umno’s brand of Islam is not to make better people out of the Malays, to ensure they live harmoniously with Malaysians of other faiths and to practise the tenets of their religion. Instead, Islam is used liberally in Umno politics, to subjugate and subdue the Malays. Few Malays speak up, because to be seen questioning Umno might be misconstrued as doubting Islam.
The intricate relationship between politics and business existed long before independence, but during former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s era, business and politics became inseparable. Under the guise of the NEP (New Economic Policy), the purpose of which was to lift the Malays out of poverty, Mahathir made some Malays millionaires, in what could only be described as an “overnight sensation”.
Umno expanded this business-cum-politics relationship, so that in today’s Malaysia, Najib makes no attempt to hide fraud and criminal activity; he just says it is for Umno, so it must be right. Najib does not even bother to deny that having close ties with Umno, will make Umno politicians and their cronies, members of the “millionaire’s club”.
Established businessmen, landowners, celebrity divas and VVIPs have all become millionaires, some with eight-figure fortunes, all because they pay homage to Umno. Civil servants, members of the judiciary, policemen and chief ministers all have the capacity to make several millions.
To those who still doubt that Umno is the curse of the Malays, try cutting off the links between Umno and these people, and see what happens. Imagine a child learning to ride a bicycle. The use of stabilisers will help. When these are removed, the child may tumble, but after a while, he will get the knack. Why are Malays so afraid of developing their own abilities?
At the event “Sepagi Bersama Perdana Menteri” (A morning with the prime minister) in Teluk Intan yesterday, Najib ridiculed the efforts of the opposition in bringing development to the country, but he was full of praise for BN’s track record and experience in development. He rubbished claims that the opposition coalition was stronger than BN.
Najib said, “The BN government knows that in shouldering the responsibility, we’ve got to have a sense of humanity and tawadduk [humility] to understand the aspirations of the people, to feel the pulse of people.”
Must win to survive
Talking about pulse, was Najib at all bothered that the son of one of his ministers can escape punishment after he and his bodyguard beat up men who are only doing their jobs? Would Najib care to comment on the high scale corruption of his ministers and why he is afraid of sacking them?
Did Najib sense the rakyat’s anger when Michael Chia attempted to smuggle RM40 million into the country? Was he aware that Sabah Umno members are furious that their party’s name was sullied? They believe that to protect Chief Minister Musa Aman, Najib claimed the money was meant for Sabah Umno. It is alleged that the money was Musa’s. One wonders how a chief minister would acquire that amount of cash.
Does Najib understand the rage of the rakyat when chief ministers abuse the public purse and use it for personal functions, like the recent wedding of the son of Malacca Chief Minister Ali Rustam, or last year’s scandal, when Najib was alleged to have abused his position and flown close friends and family to attend the engagement party of his daughter to the nephew of the Kazakhstan president?
Najib told the Perak crowd that despite the changing times, the guiding principles of BN had not altered and that it was necessary to have continuity: “The government should have continuity because if there is no continuity, the government can’t make long-term plans.”
Even a fool can see that Umno needs to win the 13th general election to survive. Umno needs to stay in power, to further ravage the country; Umno politicians need to raid the treasury to maintain their lifestyle. The alternative is a long prison term for robbing the nation, when the rakyat makes them answerable for their crimes.
Najib claimed that change was not good for the country because the people and nation would lose out: “As a developing country with a future, we need continuity, we need it not just for the sake of power, but for the people to get greater benefits under the BN.”
Najib might as well have said, “We need to continue to hoodwink you for Umno’s prolonged benefit.”
He then blamed the opposition for causing dissent among the masses, and teaching them a hatred of BN. He said that BN was confident of winning the GE13.
Naturally, Najib failed to mention the harassment of NGOs, civil liberty groups, the alternative media, the opposition and the ordinary members of the rakyat who have been championing true democracy. He omitted to say that his budget was an election budget.
Najib then told the 10,000-strong audience that BN had plans to develop the coastline of Perak and that the West Coast Expressway project would bring benefit to the people from Taiping to Banting.
Predictably, a few more BN cronies will become millionaires from this lucrative highway project, but most members of the rakyat will gain nothing.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Is Mariam Mokhtar, Amina Mariam Bokhary? As in Sri Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary’s daughter?
I recall Mariam saying something about being involved in orphanages or defending the way Malaysian orphanages were run before once . . .
ARTICLE 14
Suaram takes Scorpene scandal to the grassroots – Hornbill Unleashed – by Susan Loone – October 23, 2012
Yesterday, Suaram teamed-up with youth movement Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) to train some 80 people on how to give ceramah on the issue in their respective constituencies.Human rights NGO Suaram has embarked on a programme to take information about the Scorpene submarine scandal to the masses in an attempt to fight back accusations by the authorities that it publicly lied on the issue.
The campaign plans to attract about 200 speakers, largely from opposition political parties, from around the country to focus on spreading the issue to the people, especially to villagers in the kampung.
NONEFormer Suaram director Cynthia Gabriel (left) yesterday conducted a ‘training of trainers’ programme for a group of people, made up mainly of PKR grassroots leaders from the northern region of the peninsula.
Cynthia spoke at length about the case during the two-hour session and distributed several documents on the explosive subject to the participants.
She explained the difference between the French and Malaysian court systems, saying that Suaram has always maintained that the case was being investigated by two Paris-based judges and not going through a full-blown trial in France.
The participants were also told that Suaram’s revelations on the Scorpene case have so far been based on French judicial papers.
The information was derived from findings made after Suaram filed a complaint against state-owned shipbuilder, DCNS, in 2009 for alleged payment of commissions, which is illegal in France, to top Malaysian officials for the purchase of the two Scorpene-class submarines.
Demonising Suaram
Cynthia was referring to a recent statement by French prosecutor Yves Charpenel, who was quoted by New Straits Times as saying that, despite claims by Malaysian online media, there was no trial going on in the Scorpene case.
Charpenel’s statement on this was then corrected by Suaram’s Paris-based lawyer, William Bourdon, who said the “inquiry is ongoing” and the question of a trial on the Scorpene matter would be decided by the investigating judges and not by the prosecutor.
NONE“Since the BN-controlled media and the government are all out todemonise and harass Suaram and its efforts to promote transparency and accountability in military spending, which amounts to billions of the rakyat’s money, we have no choice but to take this issue to the ground,” Cynthia said.
“Since it is impossible for us to be everywhere, we are happy to work with various groups that are interested in the truth and can help us share it with the people,” she said.
By harassment, Cynthia was referring to the action of six government agencies probing Suaram, which has been active since Operasi Lalangin 1987 when 106 social and political activists were detained under the Internal Security Act.
Cynthia and her team later spoke at a Bersih event in Padang Serai featuring the coalition’s co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan, before launching the Jelajah Scorpene campaign with SAMM in Telok Ayer Tawar late last night.
‘Mother of all issues’
SAMM chairperson Badrul Hisham Shaharin told PKR political speakers to equip themselves with proper knowledge about the Scorpene scandal that cost the country RM7.3 billion.
NONEHowever, Badrul Hisham, who is widely known as Chegu Bard, cautioned them not to be too technical so that the crowd they were speaking to fully understood the details of the deal, which was inked in 2002 when Najib Abdul Razak was defence minister.
Badrul reminded the audience that Najib, who is now prime minister, and Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, may have to attend the court in France should they be subpoenaed.
Najib and his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin have refused to respond when asked about the inquiry in Paris, while Ahmad Zahid made a U-turnabout testifying in the matter, after having said earlier that he was prepared to.
Two of Najib’s former bodyguards were charged with the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu, who is believed to be involved in the deal.
abdul razak baginda pc 201108 05Najib’s close associate, defence analyst Abdul Razak Baginda (right), was charged with abetting them in the murder, but he was acquitted without his defence being called.
“The Scorpene issue is the mother of all issues and we plan to make it the main issue during the coming general election,” Badrul in his speech at the launch of the campaign.
“This issue has opened a can of worms and revealed so many other issues, including possible corruption, transparency and accountability issues, rakyat’s money being wasted on military spending and the murder of a Mongolian national,” added the former PKR Youth leader.
Other speakers who spoke briefly in support of the campaign included Penang PKR vice-chairperson Abdul Halim Hussein, Kebun Bungah assemblyperson Jason Ong Khan Lee and state PKR Youth chief Amir Ghazali.
Najib has denied any involvement in the case and the Defence Ministry insists that the deal was done above board.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
DAP makes no attempt to fight back accusations by the authorities that it publicly lied on the issue of 90% failed campaign promises – failed Local Council Elections, no declarations of MP assets, and many others that caused near a score of top level defections in DAP so far . . . why doesn’t Suaram take DAP to task? Selective persecution by SUARAM shows lack of ethics. Quangocrat alert! And with this sort of collusive mindset guess what will happen to Democracy when DAP entrenches itself? Vote 3rd Force!
ARTICLE 15
Danau Melikin native Ibans charged in Court – Hornbill Unleashed (Editor) – October 22, 2012
5 native Iban farmers were this morning charged in the Magistrates Court in Serian this morning.
Village Headman Nyalu Anak Tampa, together with 2 other farmers Sanjan Anak Ambol and Samad Anak Junna, were jointly charged under section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt to Andrew Wong King Kiat, an administrative executive of United Teamtrade Sdn Bhd, a company issued with a provisional lease for 73,000 ha oil plam plantation over the land of which the 3 accused claimed are NCR land of Kampung Danau Melikin and 22 other Iban native communities in the area.
Another Danau Melikin farmer Donny Anak Mambu was accused of using an excavator under his control to damage a bridge across Sg Danau on 27.08.2012 and is charged under section 427 of the Penal Code for mischief and causing damage to the amount of RM25 or upwards.
In the other case, an aged farmer Balon Ak Giang was charged for criminal intimidation, that he had on 27.08.2012 verbally threatened to cause hurt to the oil palm estate manager Lee Beng Sing with the words “kamu jangan kerja sini kalau kamu kerja lagi saya bunuh tembak kamu” (You can’t work here and if you do that I will shoot and kill you).
The prosecuting officer informed the court that in both the cases of Donny Anak Mambu and Balon Ak Giang, though separately charged, were one single transaction and witnesses are the same. He applied for the 2 cases to be jointly tried.
All the accused pleaded not guilty and they were each released on RM5000 court bail with one surety each.
The presiding Magistrate Puan Portia Tham ordered the case against Village Headman Nyalu Anak Tampa, Sanjan Anak Ambol and Samad Anak Junna to be managed on 12 November and trial date is scheduled for 3 December 2012.
In the 2 cases involving Donny Anak Mambu and Balon Ak Giang, the Magistrate ordered for case management on 31 October 2012 and trial on 13 October 2012.
Lawyers Baru Bian, See Chee How and Desmond Kho, who appeared in the Serian Magistrate Court this morning, are representing the 5 native accused from Kampung Danau Melikin.
More than 150 other native villagers also crowded the Serian Magistrate Court to show their support for the 5 accused.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
File for secession then throw out all charges, throw out all colonialists, all non-locals and make your own country. Only the East Malaysian locals have rights to any East Malaysian land, and the federal ‘laws’ are written to take those lands especially offensively ancestral lands away! I’m sure the village elders will know who was around before East Malaysia was stolen with obviously illegal laws! BN or PR, also 3rd Force, return all stolen lands or expect secession!
ARTICLE 16
Speaker bans pay-cut motions against ministers – by Clara Chooi (Assistant News Editor) – October 22, 2012 – UPDATED @ 06:17:38 PM 22-10-2012
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 — Pandemonium broke in the Dewan Rakyat this morning when Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia announced a blanket ban on all motions filed by MPs to cut the salaries of ministers, a move traditionally used by lawmakers to push through a no-confidence vote.
Pandikar, when addressing the House, reasoned that he had conducted a detailed study on the matter and discovered that no other parliamentary democracies in the world debate such motions.
“The reason is because should this be allowed, it goes against the question of privilege,” he pointed out.
“Next, the justifications (for the motion), which in the past were always used, are justifications that have already been touched on during policy stage debates,” Pandikar (picture) added.
The Speaker acknowledged that such pay-cut motions under Standing Order 66(9) should not be used for such purposes as this would be tantamount to an abuse of the provision.
Standing Order 66(9) states: Any member may move an amendment to the schedule to reduce by RM……… the sum to be allotted for any head of expenditure in respect of any sub-head or item therein, but at least two clear days’ notice of such amendment shall be given.
“If I allow it, and it is debated, and accepted by the House, a question of law will be raised, which is the right of an individual to receive a salary, meaning the minister has a right to a salary; this cannot be taken by the House.
“When this is taken into consideration, I think it is inappropriate for us to prolong this precedent,” he said, to objections from several opposition parliamentarians.
When the MPs stood to object to his decision, the Speaker cited Standing Order 57(4) that allows him to reject any motion if he felt that the justifications given were “frivolous”.
Arguing, Pua told Pandikar that the motions had been rejected without allowing their applicants to state the justifications for filing them.
Teo also disagreed with the Speaker’s assertions, pointing out that she had not raised her justifications during policy stage debates earlier as she had meant to raise them when the motion was debated during committee stage.
In the past, such pay-cut motions were automatically allowed for debate during the committee stage.
At a press conference outside chambers later, the opposition MPs revealed that in Pandikar’s letter rejecting the motions, the Speaker had “created” three conditions, which he said was necessary if motions under Standing Order 66(9) were to be tabled in the future.
According to the letter distributed to the media here, Pandikar had said that such motions must clearly state the pay cut amount being sought, reasons for the cut, and detailed justifications for the reasons.
“The Speaker was contradicting himself… in the letter he tells us that we did not give justifications and we should do so under Standing Order 66(9) but then he used his power as Speaker to reject the motion on the grounds that the justifications given were ‘frivolous’,” Pua said.
Agreeing, Teo said the House should first move to amend the Standing Orders to include these three conditions, instead of allowing the Speaker to “abuse” his power by imposing them without allowing debate.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
. . . “If I allow it ” . . . If every other or even a minority number of MPs want to discuss this the Speaker cannot deny them the right. Time to vote for another Speaker? Voters really need to kick out BN . . . and at least drop 50% of DAP’s term limitless and nepotism corrupted ranks.
ARTICLE 17
Amangate: Umno sinks into deeper QUAGMIRE by Kim QuekSaturday, 20 October 2012 18:55
Parliament should consider censuring Minister Nazri Aziz for giving completely contradictory answers in parliament within the short interval of one week in respect of the contraband S$16 million cash seized in Hong Kong International Airport which both Nazri and Prime Minister Najib Razak denied that it was Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman’s money, claiming it was donation to Sabah Umno.
It should also consider rebuking Prime Minister Najib for having irresponsibly denied that the illegal attempt by Michael Chia Tien Foh to board the plane with the contraband cash was not an act of smuggling cash in breach of law, simply because Nazri has made some dubious statements in parliament.
On Oct 11, answering MP Chua Tian Chan, Nazri stated that the Attorney General (AG) had decided that corruption was not proven, based on the reports submitted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Nazri further stated that, based on this outcome of MACC’s investigation, Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) did not take any further action.
However, answering MP Tan Kok Wai on Oct 11, Nazri said investigation carried out on the case was not done by MACC, but by Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), which had subsequently stated that there was no corruption in this case.
One moment, it was MACC’s investigation that led to AG’s verdict of no corruption. But the next moment: no, it was not MACC, but ICAC which investigated and concluded that there was no corruption.
MULTIIPLE CONTRADICTIONS
The contradictions are puzzling.
Could it be that Nazri thought our AG and MACC’s credibility might not be good enough for Malaysians, and decided to attribute the findings to the world famous ICAC noted for its anti-corruption prowess, hoping to get better reception from Malaysians? Otherwise, how could he reconcile the two completely contradictory statements?
In fact, Nazri not only has problem reconciling these two different statements, but he also has problem reconciling both these statements against a MACC statement a few days earlier.
On Oct 5, MACC’s deputy chief commissioner (operations) Shukri Abdul said that investigation on the Hong Kong contraband cash case was still ongoing as its review panel requested for further investigation.
Apart from these multiple contradictions thrown by Nazri to parliament, his claim that ICAC has concluded that there is no corruption is also fishy.
This is evident from the fact that the S$16 million cash seized on 14th August 2008 was only released at the end of the statutory retention period limit of three years, when ICAC failed to wrap up the case due reportedly to Malaysian government’s refusal to extend co-operation in the investigation. If there was no case as claimed by Nazri and Najib, would the Hong Kong authorities have kept the money for the full legally allowable period of three years?
In fact, Michael Chia was arrested and investigated for both offences of money smuggling and money laundering.
NAJIB’S DENIAL IRRESPONSIBLE
Sneaking out the country with large amount of cash in breach of law is called smuggling money. I fail to see how Najib could claim it was not smuggling just because his minister Nazri has answered some questions in parliament – and badly answered at that, I must add.
Answering a question in a press conference on Oct 19 whether there was any basis to claims that the money was smuggled or laundered through Hong Kong, Najib answered curtly: “No. It has already been explained in parliament”. By that, Najib was of course referring to Nazri’s duplicitous answers abovementioned.
It is most unbecoming of the prime minister to base his answer to such a serious scandal on such a shady foundation.
Members of parliament should seek the following from Nazri in parliament, in addition to asking him to explain the many contradictions in his abovementioned statements:
1. Full disclose of the communications between the governments of Hong Kong and Malaysia on this issue; in particular a) whether ICAC has forwarded its findings to MACC including the money flow chart trailing the Sabah timber corruption money all the way to Musa Aman’s UBS AG account in Zurich, b) whether ICAC has requested for inter-country co-operation, c) whether ICAC has categorically stated that there was no corruption in the case and that it has ceased to pursue the case further.
2. When did MACC start its investigation, and whether it is still on-going. If so, why it has not been able to complete the task after such a lengthy investigation.
3. What role the AG has played in this case – in relation to the Hong Kong authorities and in relation to the Malaysian government, in particular, MACC.
Unless Nazri is forthcoming with satisfactory answers, he should be censured and referred to parliamentary select committee (privileges and power) for further probing.
Kim Quek is the author of banned book The March to Putrajaya
ARTICLE 18
Strong case to continue probe on money laundering – Calvin Kabaron – Saturday, October 20, 2012
Bruno Manser Fund says the probe into the RM40 million donation to Sabah Umno is ongoing.
KOTA KINABALU: A Swiss government investigation into the mystery donation of RM40 million to Sabah is still going on .
The Switzerland-based Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) said the case against UBS AG, a Swiss global financial services company operating out of Basel and Zurich, Switzerland, which is linked to the money, is continuing.
Lukas Straumann, director of BMF, confirmed that the investigation launched by the Swiss Attorney General is ongoing.
“It started on Aug 29 and is expected to take a couple of months at least until its conclusion,” he said in a message to his affiliates here.
The statement comes after the Dewan Rakyat was told on Oct 11 that the amount concerned that was seized by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) from a Sabah businessman at the Hong Kong International Airport in 2008 was a ‘political contribution’ to Sabah Umno by an unidentified donor.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz in a written reply to parliament on the outcome of the investigation into the affair denied that the seized amount was Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman’s money.
However BMF’s Straumann said: “We have submitted strong evidence showing the relationship between UBS and the Musa family.
” From what we see, it is a very clear case of money-laundering. This is why the official investigation was opened in the first place.”
He added that BMF has applied to be admitted as a private plaintiff in order to gain access to the case files.
“This might be a unique chance to find out more on the business between UBS and Musa because Swiss banking secrecy will be lifted during the investigation.
“Our position in this application is much stronger if we are backed by people from Sabah. This is why we seek to get plaintiffs from among Sabahans,” Straumann said referring to the BMF offer published in local news portal and also in its letters.
It is understood that several Sabahans have consented to be plaintiffs in the case being pursued in Switzerland.
Musa, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s point man in Sabah and the state’s longest serving Chief Minister has found himself in centre-stage after Sabah timber tycoon, Michael Chia Tien Foh, the man caught red-handed with S$16 million (about RM40 million) in his bag was detained by the ICAC in 2008.
Chia had allegedly told the ICAC that the money was not his but the Sabah Chief Minister’s. Musa subsequently denied all knowledge of Chia despite claims by Sabah businessmen that the two were close associates.
Nazri, who is also de facto Law Minister, has unwittingly added further controversy to the affair by sweeping it aside as a simple matter.
No explanation was given why the large amount of cash was being hand carried by Chia rather than through a an inter-bank transaction or how the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had come to the conclusion it was a political donation for Sabah Umno after investigating the case for four years.
Musa in a statement at the last Sabah State Assembly sitting said that he was not afraid of any investigation over the RM40 million and that the money was not his but Umno’s.
His remarks came days after Najib said in Kuala Lumpur that MACC had completed its investigation and that the papers were then with the Attorney-General, Abdul Gani Patail who is related to Musa through marriage.
While Nazri has claimed that the powerful ICAC wrapped up its case (perhaps through a government-to-government arrangement), it is not known for now how the Hong Kong-based Chia can escape prosecution as it is illegal for anyone to bring or take out such a large some of cash without a permit.
Chia’s link to Musa, who is also in charge of Yayasan Sabah which holds in trust for Sabahans large tracts of timber concession areas, was exposed by Sarawak Report which published online, flow charts of the money transactions that connected them. ARTICLE 19
Whose money is Musa holding?’ – FMT Staff – July 3, 2012
Sabah Chief Minister Musa has claimed that a large part of his multi-million fortune held in foreign accounts is not privately owned by him.
KUALA LUMPUR: PKR wants Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to clarify “leaked” investigation papers that a Swiss bank account linked to Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman contains US$100 million belonging to Umno.
Musa allegedly told Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers that the money in question traced to a bank in Zurich, Switzerland and under investigation by banking and criminal investigation agencies overseas was not his but Umno’s, said a senior PKR official.
PKR vice president Tian Chua who is also MP for Batu, said Najib must explain Musa’s alleged statement linking Umno and therefore the government to the hitherto secret party slush fund.
The money is part of a large sum being traced by international investigative reporters including of online media, Sarawak Report, who published details of transactions connecting Musa, Sabah businessman Michael Chia as well as many in Malaysian and Swiss banking in questionable financial deals crisscrossing several countries.
When Chia was caught with S$16 million cash in Hong Kong few years ago, he reportedly told the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) that the money belonged to Musa.
Musa however immediately denied knowing Chia and by inference anything about the money.
However pictures of them together and details of transactions including payments to Musa’s two sons in Australia were then exposed by the online media raising further questions about the matter.
This prompted more information being exposed by authorities in Zurich, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.
According to Tian Chua, on June 15, PKR deputy secretary general Darell Leiking, parliamentarian Sivarasa Rasiah and he held a press conference in the Parliament House questioning the government’s inaction despite detailed information becoming public of a money laundering operation that has implicated Musa.
“On June 21, I received a reply from the prime minister on the status of the investigation of corruption allegations against Musa following the arrest of Michael Chia in Hong Kong.
“The answer from PM stated that MACC had provided full cooperation with Hong Kong ICAC and had completed the investigation. Presently the file is on the table of Attorney-General but so far no action has been taken,” he said.
Funds ‘held in trust’
Tian Chua said the case received new attention when NGO activist Prof Monika Roth filed a suit against Swiss UBS Bank linking the bank with the money laundering operations in Sabah.
However, once again, there was total silence from the Malaysian government, he said.
“A few days ago, I received a mysterious phone call from an unknown person who claimed that he was a staff member of MACC.
“He revealed that the MACC had initiated a new investigation on Musa where he was interviewed by several MACC officers on a date not told to me.
“Musa defended his actions and told the MACC officers to “check their facts with the prime minister.”
“Musa claimed that a large part of his multi-million fortune held in foreign currency accounts overseas was not privately owned by him.
“Instead it was held in trust on behalf of Umno. Now the public is eager to know whether this is true, and if the PM is aware of this.
“As the phone call was confidential and I had no means to verify the information, I hereby call upon the PM to step forward to clarify whether the MACC had initiated a new investigation on Musa.
“I also call on (Attorney-General) Abdul Gani Patail to step aside vis-a-vis the investigation related to Musa as it is clear that the AG is unable to convince the public of his impartiality,” said Tian Chua.
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Why did Nazri say there were no arrests when the Hong Kong’s Anti-corruption police can corroborate that there were arrests? Is? Is Malaysian becoming a information blackout or media spin nation? Fortunately mass media is so proliferated now. What was buried in the past before the mass media and internet age? –
ARTICLE 20
Jingga 13 Questions Top Leader on Ex-Maid’s House in Indonesia – NEWS/COMMENTARIES – Sunday, 21 October 2012 admin-s
(Malaysian Digest) – PKR-linked NGO Jingga 13 has questioned a top politician over how a former maid has managed to afford a luxurious RM100,000 house in Indonesia.
Jingga 13 coordinator Fariz Musa, who submitted a memorandum to the office of the said politician yesterday, alleged that the maid could not have purchased the house based on her low income earned in Malaysia.
“If she (the maid) hadn’t spent a single cent from her (few) years’ salary, with a RM300 monthly salary for the first few years, increased to RM500 after that, we don’t think she could save even RM50,000.”
He claimed that the maid has remained unemployed since 2007, after her return to Indonesia,
When asked how the NGO obtained their information, Fariz said Jingga 13’s investigative team video-interviewed the maid in Indonesia in March 2012.
“Our accompanying Indonesian friends have told us that her house is estimated at RM100,000.”
“The photos that we took of it show that the fencing and furniture are specially-designed. We think they are not cheap.”
Pressed on whether the maid has informed the funding source of her new house, Fariz replied that the maid was afraid to speak “because of Malaysian official restrictions” and that her husband kept interrupting during the interview.
Fariz said he will refer the matter to the Indonesian embassy and subsequently lodge a report to police and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
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Neurotech or sheer lust?
ARTICLE 22
Arrested youth’s family fear Johor palace interference, urge cops to help – by Clara Chooi, Assistant News Editor November 04, 2012
Ahmad Abd Jalil is being investigated over allegedly seditious remarks he had made against the Johor Sultan on his Facebook page. – Reuters pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — The family members of Ahmad Abd Jalil, who was arrested on Friday for insulting the Johor Sultan, is pleading with the police not to permit the palace authorities to haul the youth to the royal house for an apology.
The family, responding to talks that Ahmad may be brought personally before the Sultan to apologise for his remarks, expressed fear today over the safety of the 27-year-old if he were to be taken to the palace.
According to an SMS from Ahmad’s sister to one of the family’s lawyer late last night, the police had told her mother that, “if the palace calls, they (the police) would be forced to bring Ahmad to face the Sultan”.
“If they want my son to apologise, bring him to court. Once he enters someone else’s territory, anything can happen and we wouldn’t know who to blame,” Ahmad’s father Abd Jalil Abd Rahman told The Malaysian Insider today.
“Everyone has to respect the due process of the law. And if they want to take my son to court to extract an apology, then so be it.
“Do not force him into palace custody where we have no control over. We are Penangites. We are not used to having a Sultan and we have heard many horror stories. This is our right,” he added.
The 60-year-old former government servant said the police have so far refused all attempts by his family to visit Ahmad, who was arrested in Kuala Lumpur at 8pm on Friday and transferred into the Johor police custody the same night.
As at noon today, Abd Jalil said he will be meeting with the investigating officer in Ahmad’s case.
“We hope to have a positive outcome from the meeting… I just want to see my son,” he said, adding that if it would look bad on the police if they were to forbid him from doing so.
In an SMS to The Malaysian Insider, Ahmad’s older brother agreed with his father in saying that the youth must be kept safely away from the palace compound.
“It is wrong to extract him from the balai/lokap to anywhere. We an apologise but thru proper procedures. Ahmad will apologise openly at court.
“Otherwise, we condone that the system is being used as ‘mode of ugutan (threat)’,” he said in the text message.
Ahmad is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, believed to be over allegedly seditious remarks he had made against the Johor Sultan on his Facebook page.
He was picked up from his office at around 8pm in Cheras yesterday by several plainclothes policemen before he was brought to the Wangsa Maju police station for questioning.
According to Ahmad’s lawyer Mohd Zakwan Adenan yesterday, the youth was at first not informed of his offence, except that he was allegedly being investigated under the Sedition Act 1948.
“They said they wanted to charge him under the Sedition Act for remarks he made on Facebook but when we asked the police which statement they were referring to, they could not answer,” he said.
Section 4(1) stipulates that any person who utters, prints or publishes any seditious words, on conviction, would be liable for a first offence to a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both.
After interrogating him for several hours at the Wangsa Maju police station yesterday, the police raided Ahmad’s parents’ house in Damansara Damai before taking the youth with them to Johor.
At 3pm yesterday, Ahmad was taken before a Johor magistrate by the police to obtain a three-day remand order.
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The reverse could be said of having the case in Penang and the more urban areas of Malaysia, where the animosity towards all Sultans (who due to tacit approval of Bumiputra Apartheid, contributes in substantial measure to this sort of disafffection, or in some uncommon cases monopoly like involvement in business sectors when the mere exalted position of Ruler should be quite enough to not feel inclined to compete with the citizens in government for evidently commercial projects – well maybe consultative roles for favourite related projects i.e. trains . . .) could be intentionally used to dismiss the case intentionally to make a salient point about apartheid (minorities) or absolutism (non-Royalist/anti-royalist Malays) rather than to administer justice which in this case, should be an equitable apology to the the measure of insult offered on the social networking site simply to show magnanimity rather than petty mindedness.
Malaysian judges and the legal system in Malaysia are not impartial, and always are politically motivated rather than professionalism or justice motivated, as much as the Bar Council does not address the lack of :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;for the Bar Council’s own political or financial (contract) based profit. I had written on the apartheid issue to every individual Sultan before and had no response whatsoever. Perhaps the letters were intercepted as so many other communications might have been. And due this, or simply crypto-racism, if not authoritarianism, I received no response on the matter whatsoever as any civil society might have and issues like the above continue to mar relations between the intended as symbolic rulers and and the masses. Stature and privilege should be enough to even ignore this sort of insult, the palace certainly has the resources to unofficially argue back without getting directly involved but from the looks of this sandiwara which might well have ulterior motives of sounding out the pop-ulace’s less well written to identify those against the palace, has chosen to get directly involved instead.
ARTICLE 23
Tuesday, 23 October 2012 18:49
WOW, HOW RACIST! Dr M’s banking reforms INSPIRED by anti-Jew policy – Sanusi
KUALA LUMPUR, — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was inspired by Germany’s past policy of limiting Jewish financial influence to help the Malays but it was later thwarted by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, former Cabinet minister Tan Sri Sanusi Junid said today.
Sanusi told a Malay economic forum that Dr Mahathir and former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin were hoping that Malays would control the economy but when they saw progress was slow, they decided to follow the German example of not granting banking licences to Jews.
But the plan failed when Anwar became finance minister and approved two banking licences to non-Malay banking groups — Alliance Bank and Hong Leong Bank.
“We thought that if we can’t control the economy, we would follow Germany,” Sanusi said at the Malay Economic Congress here. “In Germany banking licences are not given to the Jews.”
He said while pre-existing licences had been given to non-Malays, Daim made sure that all banks had Malay directors, which was important to ensure all banks had Malay influence.
“But unfortunately a huge disaster happened (kecelakaan besar); when Anwar became finance minister he approved banking licences for Alliance Bank and Hong Leong bank,” he said. “We didn’t want to give.”
Sanusi said that as a result there are now “two non-Malay banks without Malay influence.”
Malaysia’s banking system was formerly largely controlled by the Chinese but many were taken over by or forced to merge with government-controlled entities.
The loss of Chinese-founded banking institutions is widely perceived by the Chinese community as of one of the ways they have been discriminated against under the guise of helping the Bumiputera community.
The Umno-led Barisan Nasional government however had previously maintained that direct intervention was required to uplift the Bumiputeras and that mergers would help create stronger banks that could withstand globalisation.
The Najib administration has said however that it will gradually liberalise the financial sector and any banking mergers should now be based on market forces.
Sanusi also said at the forum that Malays were unable to accumulate wealth as while they earned money, it was ultimately spent in non-Malay businesses.
“Who is rich? We are? Where is the money? There is none. It goes through the channels of non-Malays. The money only passes through Malays and that’s why we are unable to accumulate,” he said.
The former Kedah mentri besar noted that normally political power is held by those who have economic power.
“But Malays have political power because they are smart,” he said.
–The Malaysian Insider
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Malays smart? No really overall – listen in to the translated debates and one will find all kinds of stupidity and also unstatemanlike behaviour and words . . . Maybe they make good thieves of conscience and destroyers of Human Rights worthy ideals and UN politically correct aspirations that are the mainstay of civilisation. The other reasons are because the Chinese don’t know if the army and police will be fair because the Chinese don’t know if the army and police will be fair in the event of a 2nd race riots and finally because MCA/MIC/Gerakan/PPP etc.. are not very brave in fighting apartheid as well is greedy and corrupt, is why the Malays have political power.
ARTICLE 24
Fair, secular nation better label than Islamic, says ex-Perlis Mufti – by Amin Iskandar – Assistant News Editor – October 24, 2012
Asri described the battle over whether Malaysia is a secular or Islamic state as akin to a fight over “branding”. — File pic
SHAH ALAM, Oct 24 ? The debate over Malaysia’s Islamic nation status has been described as a “branding” quarrel by popular cleric Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, who said a secular nation that is fair is better than an Islamic country that exploits religion.
The Federal Constitution is Malaysia’s supreme law but minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said this week that the country was never declared a secular nation; he stopped short, however, of calling it an Islamic state as declared by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“You can name the country as an Islamic country but you exploit Islam, for what? You name the country secular but give the people rights; that is better. The most important (thing) is the values carried. People like to exploit brands.
“However, I am not interested in terms; I am more interested with the content of a country,” the former Perlis mufti told The Malaysian Insider after the 15th Sinar Harian Wacana titled “Ulama’s Role, Advising Leaders (Peranan Ulama, Menasihati Pemimpin)” at the Karangkraf Complex yesterday.
“I ask from PAS especially, don’t fight about branding. We have to think whether social justice can be carried out in a multiracial country,” he said, talking about the Islamist party that has accused Umno of using a secular constitution inherited from the British colonial masters.
Repeated accusations from PAS led then-prime minister Dr Mahathir to announce in 2001 that Malaysia is an Islamic state, in his bid to regain support from the Malay community who had voted for the opposition in the 1999 general election.
Mohd Asri, who resumed teaching in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) after leaving his post as Perlis mufti, agreed that Malaysia was an Islamic state rather than secular.
“The definition of Islamic state is when the country is controlled by Muslims and at least part of the Islamic laws (Syariah laws) are implemented; that is enough.
“The strongest proof that Malaysia is an Islamic state (is) when we Muslims in Malaysia demand for Islam (to be) strengthened in the country,” said the scholar who ironically was arrested by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) in 2009 for allegedly being linked with spreading puritanical Wahabi teachings from Islam’s birthplace, Saudi Arabia.
Then-JAIS director Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi said Mohd Asri’s arrest was for lecturing without approval and not for any other offence.
But Dr Mohd Asri pointed out that being Islamic did not mean forcing non-Muslims to comply with religious laws and practises.
“We cannot demand the non-Muslim to pray, we have to recognise he’s a Muslim first, then only we ask him to fast.
“When we ask our country to practise Islam, that means we recognise that it is basically Islamic,” he said.
Dr Mahathir claimed yesterday that Malaysia is “by definition” a Muslim country since it is acknowledged as such by the Muslim world.
“We don’t care about what these people say in order to make it a political issue,” he added, referring to the ongoing debate about whether Malaysia is a secular state.
The former PM also expressed his disappointment that the hudud issue was being politicised by those who are pushing for its implementation.
“(This kind of) hudud, which is used for politics, is not exactly hudud,” he stressed. “It is hudud used to give victory over one side.
“Pity the Muslim. If he steals, his hand will be chopped off. But his (non-Muslim) friend who steals together with him will only get two months in jail. Is that fair? That is not Islam.”
On Monday, Nazri said in Parliament that Malaysia was never declared or endorsed as a secular state, saying that the word “secular” was not found in the Federal Constitution.
Dr Mohd Asri said the issue of naming Malaysia as a secular or Islamic country frequently became polemic as general elections draw near.
“But we have to know countries don’t enter heaven or hell, (the ones) that enter heaven or hell are humans. So we have to correct not just the branding of the country only but what we have to correct is the contents of the country.
“A sign that a country is Islamic (is) when it truly fulfils the responsibilities of its rule to the rakyat.
“Leaders carry out their responsibilities, the people carry out their responsibilities. Where there’s justice, God’s syariat is there. No matter what you name the country.”
The debate over the country’s status continues as the 13th general election draw near, with the Barisan Nasional (BN) government’s mandate ending by April next year.
In Election 2008, BN lost its traditional two-thirds majority and the five states of Selangor, Perak, Pulau Pinang, Kedah dan Kelantan to federal opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR), a pact composed of PKR, DAP dan PAS.
Perak has since fallen back into BN’s fold after the defection of several lawmakers from PR.
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The only spot of good news [except the ‘an’] in quite some while. Does Dr.Mohd Asri believe in :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
If so, make clear your intent Dr.Asri, if Najib is mentally incapable of doing at least this despite all the power and mandate and respect, how about Asri make an attempt for the betterment of humanity (and becoming a future moderate face of Islam and also a secular PM who understands that non-muslims have a right to their entertainments) raising the stature of Malays, granting Malays who do not want Islam equality, or Malays who do not need Apartheid and would speak for their minority friends and fellow citizens, by endorsing the above 3 items with intent to grant and getting as many less than 2 term MPs as possible to sign on under penalty of vacating the political seat? HONESTY please, not subversion or faux conversions of critics of Islam which will make islam into a petty and insane cult rather than a bona fide religion.
ARTICLE 25
The Feds are Dangerous to the Rights of Minorities – by Mike Maharrey
Jose owns a little market on a big-city street corner. Business is pretty good, but he has a problem with neighborhood thugs coming in – shoplifting, harassing customers and basically making a nuisance of themselves. Jose deals with them as best he can, shooing off troublemakers with a little intimidation of his own manufactured by Louisville Slugger. Every once in a while he calls the cops.
Business continues to grow.
Then one day, Bruno walks into the store. Bruno serves as muscle for the largest gang in the city. He suggests that his syndicate can provide “protection” for a nominal fee. Bruno strongly suggests Jose accept the generous offer.
Of course, Jose ponies up the cash. Sure enough, the neighborhood thugs disappear. No more petty theft. No more loitering. No more customer harassment. But every so often, Bruno makes a visit. Jose knows that a visit from Bruno means the cost of protection is about to rise. On top of that, Bruno’s associates eventually begin dropping in frequently at the store. They help themselves to merchandise, intimidate customers and basically create a nuisance.
But unlike the neighborhood thugs who used to cause problems, Jose can’t merely shoo Bruno’s people away with a baseball bat. He tried it once. They quickly reminded him that they work for Bruno. Bruno runs the neighborhood for the syndicate. Jose can’t even call the cops. They won’t come. Bruno’s boss has them under his thumb. Jose knows he stands powerless to halt the mischief.
While it caused some difficulties and cost him a little money, Jose was able to deal with the unorganized neighborhood thugs that used to hassle him. But he finds he had no control whatsoever over Bruno and his clan.
During a recent discussion about devolving power back to the states and constraining the federal government in its constitutionally prescribed role, a big-government proponent argued that we must maintain a strong hand in Washington D.C. to protect minorities.
“The states have proved they can’t be trusted to protect the rights of the people, especially minorities,” he quipped.
This narrative has dominated American politics since the 1950s. Southern governors and legislators appealed to the idea of “states’ rights” to perpetuate segregation. Mention state sovereignty and proponents of a strong federal government will quickly call up images of Birmingham police officers firing water cannons at black people, and remind us that Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus ordered National Guard troops to block the entrance of Little Rock Central High School in order to keep nine African-American students out. Most Americans consider the victories in the Civil Rights battles of the 50s and 60s shining examples the successful application of federal power.
In fact, brave heroes such as Rosa Parks, and countless nameless folks who simply refused to submit any longer, ultimately won the victory. But the federal government did play a role and helped break down an evil system of segregation in the South.
But as we say in Kentucky, even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and again.
In fact, the indignities of segregation pale in comparison with some of the evils perpetrated by the feds.
The reasoning goes something like this: certain state governments proved they will oppress minorities in the middle of the 20th Century; therefore we need a bigger, more powerful central government to force the states not to oppress minorities today.
But it wasn’t the state governments that rounded up more than 100,000 Japanese-Americans and locked them up behind barbed wire during WWII.
It wasn’t the state governments that studied the unchecked progression of syphilis in poor black sharecroppers in Tuskegee, Ala. Federal officials told the subjects of these studies that they were receiving free government health care. They never told them that they had syphilis, nor did doctors ever treat them for the disease. The victims were told their treatments were for “bad blood.”
And it wasn’t the state governments that sprayed low-income residents in St. Louis with toxic, radioactive particles.
Dr. Lisa Martino-Taylor recently uncovered documents revealing that the feds blew a fine powder made of zinc cadmium sulfide into the air over poor neighborhoods. Cadmium was even then a known toxin, although federal officials claimed in the 1990s that the residents were not subjected to dangerous levels.
But Martino-Taylor says she also found indirect evidence that the powder was laced with a fluorescent additive – a suspected radiological compound.
“There are strong lines of evidence that there was a radiological component to the St. Louis study,” she said.
In fact, in 1993 a congressional study confirmed conducting radiological testing occurred in Tennessee and some western states.
The professor of sociology at St. Louis Community College said documents reveal the spraying occurred during two separate periods between 1953 and 1954 and again from 1963 to 1965. The aerosol was sprayed from blowers installed on rooftops and mounted on vehicles as part of a biological weapons testing program.
”The powder was milled to a very, very fine particulate level. This stuff traveled for up to 40 miles. So really all of the city of St. Louis was ultimately inundated by the stuff,” Martino-Taylor told CBS St. Louis.
The government planted news stories to cover up the nature of the spray.
“There was a reason this was kept secret. They knew that the people of St. Louis would not tolerate it,” Martino-Taylor said. “And they told local officials and media that they were going to test clouds under which to hide the city in the event of aerial attack.”
The areas sprayed were predominately black. Army documents called it “a densely populated slum district.” This during the same time-period that the feds were “fighting for minorities” in the South.
Evidence points to higher than normal incidences of cancer in residents who lived in the area at that time, although after all these years, researchers admit it’s difficult to gather conclusive evidence.
Here’s a question for you. Why do we never hear the Tuskegee experiments, or Japanese internment, or feds spraying poor people in St. Louis invoked as a reason to distrust and limit federal power in the same way big government apologists use the Civil Rights era as a rational for growing the federal government and limiting the power of the states?
Fact: governments do bad things. All of them. Local governments. State governments. National governments. The question becomes, how can “we the people” best control them? The answer: limit their power and break them into as many competing jurisdictions as possible.
Americans instinctively distrust economic monopoly. They assume that if one company corners the market on a given product or service, the monopolist will screw the consumer. It will raise prices, limit service and pretty much run roughshod over the customer. After all; no competition exists to hold it in check.
Probably a pretty rational fear.
Then why do Americans so readily embrace a political monopoly centered in Washington D.C.?
Seems to me they’re trading the neighborhood thugs for Bruno.
Michael Maharrey [send him email] is the Communications Director for the Tenth Amendment Center. He proudly resides in the original home of the Principles of ’98 – Kentucky. See his blog archive here and his article archive here. He also maintains the blog, Tenther Gleanings.
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So think minority Malaysians, what the Lynas Radioactive material processing will give ‘Muslims’ and racists in BN supported by minority lapdogs access to. As of now cyanide particles appear to have affected majority Chinese areas
in Raub the cyanide particle issue is already very serious, they may target Kuantan with radioactive part
in Raub the cyanide particle issue is already very serious, the may target Kuantan with radioactive particles next, and who knows, the worst among the racists would access these radioactive particles and poison water sources in local water treatment in all plants where there are minorities elsewhere? If this does not help the voters’ idiotic minorities to vote properly and keep supporting minority lapdogs, the threat of a destroyed and very much sickened next generation seems very likely. Pakatan as well should be watched very carefully for those that do not want to make clear on :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Racist thug branded ‘disgrace to the nation’ jailed for Nazi salute in pub when he already had ASBO banning him from racist gestures – by Daily Mail Reporter – PUBLISHED: 17:01 GMT, 15 October 2012 | UPDATED: 17:01 GMT, 15 October 2012
John Hennigan, of Harlow, Essex, made gesture at London pub in February
It put him in breach of Asbo imposed after swastika was on his front door
46-year-old asked manager Paul MacAllion if he ‘only served blacks or Jews’
He told Old Bailey judge ‘no probs’ as he was led away to cells for 21 months
A racist thug who made a Nazi salute inside a packed pub and called black people c***s and n*****s was today jailed for almost two years and branded a ‘disgrace to the values of this country’. John Hennigan, 46, of Harlow, Essex, was caught on camera delivering the fascist gesture in front of shocked drinkers in February at The Magpie pub in Bishopsgate, central London. The antics put him in breach of an Asbo imposed in 2005 when a swastika was discovered daubed on the front door of his council house. It was the seventh time he had flouted the order. Racist: John Hennigan, 46, of Harlow, Essex, was caught on camera delivering the fascist gesture in front of shocked drinkers in February at The Magpie pub in Bishopsgate, central London
Hennigan claimed he had only been raising his arm to collect his change after paying for a drink, but was convicted by a majority verdict of 10-2 after a trial at the Old Bailey in central London. Sentencing Hennigan, Judge Nicholas Cooke QC told him the court was ‘not upholding some culture of political correctness’ but ‘preserving public order’ and dealing with unacceptable behavior. He added: ‘In this crowded public house in this city you gave a Nazi salute and spoke provocatively of Jews. The Holocaust was a crime against humanity of enormous magnitude.
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‘Behaving in the way you did was appalling. You spoke of black people as c***s and n*****s.
‘The use of such terms is grossly offensive and conjures up memories of the slave trade, again a crime against humanity of enormous magnitude. Behaving in such a way was likewise appalling.’
The judge said Hennigan’s antics were also an affront to those who fought against the ‘racist evil of Nazism’ in the Second World War and ‘insults the memories of those who sacrificed themselves’. London pub: Hennigan had been barred from The Magpie in central London two times before but was spotted on CCTV by manager Paul MacAllion. ‘He was making Nazi salutes at the bar,’ the manager said London pub: Hennigan had been barred from The Magpie in central London two times before but was spotted on CCTV by manager Paul MacAllion. ‘He was making Nazi salutes at the bar,’ the manager said He added: ‘You see yourself as some sort of loyal nationalist or crusader against Communism. You are in fact a disgrace to the values of this country.’
Hennigan, who attended court wearing a T-shirt with an image of left-wing Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara with a line through it, told the judge ‘no probs’ as he was led away to the cells. ‘You see yourself as some sort of loyal nationalist or crusader against Communism. You are in fact a disgrace to the values of this country’
Judge Nicholas Cooke QC
The racist has 43 previous convictions for offences including drug and firearm possession and common assault. He was last before the courts for breaching his Asbo in 2010. That was after he launched racist abuse at a newsagent before attacking him with a sweet display.
Hennigan had been barred from The Magpie two times before but was spotted on CCTV by manager Paul MacAllion. ‘He was making Nazi salutes at the bar,’ the manager said
‘I was trying to make sure it was the same guy I had barred, staring at the CCTV, and three times I saw him do it. I went immediately down to the bar and confronted him. Hearing: Hennigan, who attended the Old Bailey wearing a T-shirt with an image of left-wing Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara with a line through it, told the judge ‘no probs’ as he was led away ‘He’d bought a drink so I got the money from the bar staff, gave him his money back and told him to get out because I’d barred him previously and he was making Nazi salutes.
‘At that stage I think he said something like: “If I was a Jew or a c**n you wouldn’t be doing this”.’ As he was kicked out, Hennigan told Mr McAllion: ‘If my mum and dad came down would they be barred too? Or do you just serve blacks and Jews?’ ‘If my mum and dad came down would they be barred too? Or do you just serve blacks and Jews?’
What John Hennigan was said to have told pub manager Paul McAllion Hennigan faces a further charge of assaulting a police officer, which will be dealt with by City of London magistrates. He is said to have branded a constable a ‘f***ing pathetic little creature’ when confronted about his outburst in The Magpie. He also faces another trial for a further breach of the Asbo, which is due to take place at Chelmsford Crown Court later this year. Hennigan denied a single count of breaching an Asbo. He was convicted and jailed for 21 months.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
i) Hennigan had been barred from The Magpie two times before but was spotted on CCTV by manager Paul MacAllion. ‘He was making Nazi salutes at the bar,’ the manager said ‘I was trying to make sure it was the same guy I had barred, staring at the CCTV, and three times I saw him do it. I went immediately down to the bar and confronted him.
Freedom of speech (to speak), freedom of body (to gesture/gesticulate).
ii) Hennigan faces a further charge of assaulting a police officer, which will be dealt with by City of London magistrates. He is said to have branded a constable a ‘f***ing pathetic little creature’ when confronted about his outburst in The Magpie.
Aye that!
iii) Hennigan denied a single count of breaching an Asbo. He was convicted and jailed for 21 months.
Oh great, favour the prison-building-contractor-supplier complex some more. Englands finished at 40K per year per prisoner.
iv) Hennigan faces a further charge of assaulting a police officer . . .
Thats the only chargeable offense. As for the cussing etc., enforcement should be already trained to ignore that sort of thing as per Freedom of Speech. Thats what sets the police apart from the regular citizens – discipline. Police who do not have the sklll to ignore such verbal abuse and sure as hell cannot handle the real criminals. Hennigan is a tough and in fact negatively patriotic civilian (better than treacherous bankers that sell off or destroy the country, or politicians that only want to enrich themselves and refuse to amend laws while hogging democratic space by exceeding term limits or even regfusing to ratify term limits) but no criminal action occurs unless property was destroyed or assault or any touching or manhandling at very least occured.
“Bertilak” may derive from bachlach, a Celtic word meaning “churl” (i.e. rogueish, unmannerly). Alternatively it may derive from “bresalak”, meaning “contentious”. He tests Moses three times by doing seemingly evil acts, which are eventually revealed to be noble deeds to prevent greater evils or reveal great goods. Without this sort of nuance of harsh teachers to put England on a learning curve of logic and readiness to resolve issues in society, England winds up with ‘f***ing pathetic little creatures’ without nuance and in this case ‘coarse subtlty’.
Had to imprison the guy 21 months instead on the taxpayer’s monies eh? England is finished. Let the ‘f***ing pathetic little creatures’ run the show abit longer, and the English will be wailing along with the worst of them x times a day. As for the assault, I’m sure the taxpayers and Hennigan would prefer (and be well able to handle) to allow the cop to hit back with an equal number of punches and kicks in ‘revenge’ and be done with the whole sorry drama. Tyrants’ natures are indeed most unworthy of respect, and the worst colonial powers in the world are not surprisingly the English. No one in the world weak enough, or primitive enough to bully so going after the citizens now eh? Pitiful and mealy minded English!
Try this organic response to what might be a like minded aspiring champion . . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Knight
Villanaise the heroes and make heros of the villains, little wonder Scotland sees no reason to stick around and thats not just about the load of insulting innuendo etc. . . .
ARTICLE 2
Global Noise takes on austerity: ‘We are not going to be silent’ – Published: 14 October, 2012, 08:05
People make noise as they take part in a casserole march to protest against government’s austerity reforms and the public payment of bank’s debts on October 13, 2012 in Madrid. (AFP Photo / Pedro Armestre)
Demonstrators across the world are calling for an end to austerity as Global Noise protests kick off in more than 30 countries, including many in the Nobel Peace laureate European Union.
The worldwide demonstrations on Saturday passed without incident, and Caleb Maupin from the International Action Centre explained what’s driving the public to take to the streets.
RT: A year ago Occupy Wall Street spread across the world, and now it’s Global Noise. What is Global Noise all about? How is it different?
Caleb Maupin: Basically, Global Noise is saying we are not going to be silent. Because right now the banks are coming for us – they are cutting all of the programs. There is mass unemployment. There is cutting in government spending and the governments of the world are just having to pay back the banks.
And in the process, our future is being destroyed. It is impossible to get an education in this country without a rising debt. What we are saying is that we are going to be a global noise. We are the next generation, the youth part of the working class as our future is being destroyed. We are not going to silently sit back and let them destroy our future. We are going to be loud. We are going to be confrontational and we are going demand that this stop.
Austerity is a crime against the people. These cuts are a crime against us, and we are going to demonstrate and we are going to oppose it.
RT: America has not seen austerity cuts as of yet. But in Europe this is precisely what the Global Noise rallies were aimed against. Is it merely a show of support for Europe, or is there, say, a message in the demonstrations for the US presidential candidates?
CM: There are plenty of austerity cuts in the United States. Food stamps, a program which many millions of people depend on so they can have food, is being cut. College prices are going up. They had kind of halted it because they are planning after the elections to have austerity. All the major cuts are going to happen after the election.
But even with these latest debates, you see Romney and Ryan, Obama and Biden, they are all debating how much to cut. How responsibly can you get rid of Social Security, how responsibly can we do it? It is austerity, it is global austerity. Because, you know, Lenin spoke of it in his book – imperialism is the highest stage of capitalism, because the banks kind of become the center of capitalism, its monopoly stage.
And right now it is a revolt against banks. Instead of people having to take all these cuts, why don’t they simply start the cuts to the banks? The government of the United States has the ability to do that. They can pass legislature saying that the banks have to be delayed, but instead they keep paying back the banks with these loans that have taken from the government, and programs that people need to survive on are being cut.
At a time of mass unemployment, millions of youth have great anger on what’s going on, and it is exploding into a global anti-capitalist rebellion. It is here in US. The phrase “we are the 99%” represents what millions of people understand, which is that a small elite, the bankers, capitalists, they own the world and the rest of us just get to live in it.
Well, it is time that we are heard. We are a global noise and we are going to rise up and demand a change to that situation.
RT: Presidential elections are coming up in the US and the Obama administration is criticized for the bailout, while Republicans are promising austerity. And what do you think the policy should be for the US here?
CM: I think whoever wins this election, it is very clear that after the election, it’s over. They are going to begin an extreme amount of mass austerity. And the terms of the debate are sickening – the terms of the debate are essentially how much to cut. Some people say, we should just cut everything; others say we should just cut a little bit. No! The people don’t have to pay for the crisis the bankers created.
But that message is not part of the discourse in this country right now. The discourse is limited to one form of cutting or one form of cutbacks, and that is frightening. And that is why the Occupy movement came in. We are the 99%, or as the labor movement and progressive forces have said for a long time – class against class.
It is not Republicans versus Democrats. It is about the bankers versus the people – the people who sell their labor to survive and those who own the world.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
For every step nearer to cuts of any sort, let there be very dead people in ever step, and a very obvious trail of footprints to those who cause such harm. So that retaliation will be unavoidable and so that those who cause such harm will be not dare harm any other. Some of us have the right, anyone else does not, differentiate and rain punishment upon those who presume to presume anything or any word. No more foreclosures and compound interest upon the jobless.
ARTICLE 3
Gary Barlow: X Factor’s reputation is in danger following allegations the show is rigged – by Mail On Sunday Reporter – PUBLISHED: 00:07 GMT, 14 October 2012 | UPDATED: 00:08 GMT, 14 October 2012
X Factor star Gary Barlow says claims the show is rigged have damaged its integrity.
The Take That singer stormed off set last Sunday after fellow judge Louis Walsh failed to save his singer Carolynne Poole ahead of ‘joke’ act Rylan Clarke. By withholding his vote, he forced a Deadlock.
The result, which saw Miss Poole sent home as the act with the fewest public votes, came after viewers saw Walsh in conversation with the programme’s executive producer.
Gary Barlow stormed off the X Factor set last Sunday after fellow judge Louis Walsh failed to save his singer Carolynne Poole ahead of ‘joke’ act Rylan Clarke
Asked if he thought the integrity of the programme had been damaged, 41-year-old Barlow said: ‘I think in the short term, definitely because I just know what I’m being told as I go round and speak to the public.’
Some viewers felt last week’s show was a fix, because producers engineered the judging so they could lose the contestant they wanted.
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But Barlow said: ‘People’s votes do count. What people spend their money on was worth it. The two things I worry about are the contestants and the fans and I think it did us no favours last weekend.
‘The idea of it being a fix, I hate stuff like that. We’ve got really talented people up there and I don’t want to cheapen it. It was a bad end to the week. It was disappointing.’
Barlow said he had spoken to producers about ensuring there was never any suggestion programme-makers were influencing the judges’ votes
Barlow said he had spoken to producers about ensuring there was never any suggestion programme-makers were influencing the judges’ votes
Barlow also said he had spoken to producers about ensuring there was never any suggestion programme-makers were influencing the judges’ votes.
‘The whole thing about someone coming up on stage – that will never happen again,’ he said. ‘Even if it’s just to say which order we’ve got to vote in. There should be no one on that stage with us and I said that after last week’s show. ‘
Barlow added that he had been taken to task by his mother Marjorie for being disrespectful to Louis. ‘My mum always tells me to respect my elders, so I got a bit of a telling-off on Sunday.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
This is b.s.. All of the audience should vote on a 1 to 1 basis. A handful of judges voting alone destroys democracy. This is a 1% situation. Remake the damn voting system you producers! How about a button the every member of the audience can press, and randomly selected ‘debate’ judges to sit alongside and even argue with the ‘star’ judges? Much more inclusive means that much more fun and democratic.
ARTICLE 4
120,000 troubled families could be legally banned from spending benefits on alcohol and tobacco – by Christopher Hope, Senior Political Correspondent
Troubled families living on benefits will be legally barred from spending welfare money on alcohol and tobacco, under plans being drawn up in Whitehall.
8:00AM BST 13 Oct 2012
Iain Duncan Smith has asked his officials to see if so-called ‘problem’ families should receive their welfare payments on smart cards, rather than in cash.
The cards would only be able to pay for “priority” items such as food, housing, clothing, education and health care.
The Work and Pensions secretary wants to stop parents who are alcoholics or who are on drugs from using welfare payments to fuel their addictions.
The team of civil servants in his department have been asked to come up with proposals by the end of this month.
However the Government cannot currently stipulate how people spend their benefits money and the law would need to be changed to do so for certain groups.
One idea is for the 120,000 problem families who were identified in the Government’s riots review to be given the Oyster-style cards.
A source close to Mr Duncan Smith said: “There are people who are using benefits to fund a habit and children are going hungry.
“It is something that he is serious about – if he can make it work and he can legislate then he is very keen to do it.”
The charge card model is based on a “basics card” scheme which started to be rolled out for thousands of people in Australia in August this year.
Instead of being given cash or cheques, claimants are now issued with electronic “credit” cards to purchase key “priority” items at approved stores across the country.
Money is electronically placed on the card once a fortnight, when people receive their benefit payments. No more than A$1,500 (£961) can be spent per day. If money is not spent, it can be built up as savings.
Mr Duncan Smith said he was against using a US-style food stamps system because they are often traded as a form of currency.
The Cabinet minister disclosed his plans at a meeting of Conservative activists at the party conference this week.
He said: “I am looking at the moment at ways in which we could ensure that money we give them to support their lives is not used to support a certain lifestyle.
“I am certainly looking at it – I am going through that in some detail… With the use of cards, we are looking at that to see if we can do something.
In the immediate aftermath of the 2011 riots in English cities, Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to turn around the lives of the 120,000 by 2015.
He said: “I have an ambition, before the end of this Parliament, we will turn around the lives of 120,000 most troubled families.
“We need more urgent action, too, on the families that some people call ‘problem’, others call ‘troubled’, the ones that everyone in their neighbourhood knows and often avoids.”
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Fair enough. People on the dole should not expect too much fun for doing nothing at least until the country is on even keel. Not that the country denies such luxuries but alcohol and tobacco are luxuries after all that a country is debt should be forgiven for not spending on. At the same time prices rises in alcohol should not be applied. If the poor work part time and alcohol takes all their earnings, how does that help the economy? Perhaps an assignment of amount that they can buy of either at most in exchange for free state insurance for example? All that biometrics and credit card control etc.. and nothing applied.
ARTICLE 5
‘It was really disgusting’: Susan Sarandon reveals she was exploited on the casting couch as a young actress – by Celeste Morgan – PUBLISHED: 01:05 GMT, 14 October 2012 | UPDATED: 07:09 GMT, 14 October 2012
She’s an Oscar winner and one of the biggest stars of her generation.
But there was a time when Susan Sarandon was just another unknown hoping to make it in showbusiness.
And the actress has revealed that as a young hopeful she was the victim of exploitation as she auditioned for a role.
She confided to Elle magazine about a ‘disgusting,’ casting-couch experience that happened in her younger years.
Younger days: Susan Sarandon during her early career at the age of 24 in 1970
‘It was not successful – for either of us,’ Sarandon explained, when asked if she had ever had a casting-couch experience.
‘I just went into a room, and a guy practically threw me on the desk.
‘It was my early days in New York, and it was really disgusting. It wasn’t like I gave it a second though, it was so badly done.’
Stunner:Another age defying moment for Susan at a Conde Naste event in September in New York
Stunner: Another age defying moment for Susan at a Conde Naste event in September in New York
She does not give any details of which audition she was assaulted at.
Sarandon had her first audition at 23 when she went to a casting call for the motion picture Joe, landing a major co-starring role in the film, which was released in 1970.
The actress went on to win an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the 1995 film Dead Man Walking.
Toyboy: Susan and her 35-year-old boyfriend Jonathan Bricklin
In her interview, as reported on Radar online, she also defended her romance with her much-younger boyfriend, ping-pong entrepreneur Jonathan Bricklin.
‘People make him out to be much younger than he is – and me older,’ Sarandon explained to the fashion magazine, clarifying that he is 35, not 33 as has been widely reported.
As well as being lovers, the pair are business partners in ping-pong club SPiN.
The couple have been linked since 2010 after Susan split from longtime partner Tim Robbins, with whom she has two children.
Susan kept mum on her rumoured relationship with Jonathan until March of this year.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
For the right person and in the right mood, Susan wouldn’t have felt bothered at all and even laid into the whole sleazy Hollywood thing. Breast jiggles and gluteal gropes anyone?
Japanese Militarism: “Resurrection of the Samurai” Interview with Vasili Ivanov: Japanese militarism on rise, says Russian veteran – by Xinhua – Global Research, October 11, 2012 Xinhua News Agency and Stop NATO
When Empires Join Hands: Japanese Military Joins U.S. And NATO In Horn Of Africa
Moscow: Japan’s recent illegal moves to “purchase” China’s Diaoyu Islands show militarism is on the rise in that country, according to a Russian war veteran.
Vasili Ivanov, deputy head of the Russia-China Friendship Society’s Central Office, told Xinhua that Japan’s refusal to recognize China’s sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands, which was stipulated in post-war documents, showed a “resurrection of the samurai.”
The 91-year-old, who fought Japanese troops in northeast China during World War II, said some Japanese, especially right-wingers, did not recognize the country’s unconditional and voluntary surrender in the war.
“Japan’s refusal to recognize the war results means they will demand the return of all they had before the war – lands, islands they illegally occupied and lost,” Ivanov said.
“All their escapades, including the recent one against China, are meant to confirm their right to these lands,” he said.
“We, along with other participants in the war against Japan, are categorically against the return of Japanese militarism,” the veteran said.
Ivanov said the Diaoyu Islands had never belonged to Japan and China was recognized as the rightful owner by binding post-war legal documents, such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation.
The two documents stipulated Japan should return all the territories taken from China, including Taiwan and its surrounding islands, he said.
However, under agreements with the United States, Japan illegally occupied the Diaoyu Islands and now even tried to claim them.
Japan might go further with its territorial ambitions, keeping its relations with China, Russia, South Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on edge, the veteran warned.
He urged closer cooperation among those countries in opposing Tokyo’s rising militaristic ambitions.
“Leaders (of those countries) ought to give a due rebuff to Japanese ultra-right forces. They should tell the ultra-right wingers this is it – all is settled and recognized by the whole world. No changes can be made now,” Ivanov said.
The Japanese right wingers should know their farces would come to naught, the veteran said.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
The Japs are still cool and ahead of time (barely – though without substance – i.e. all the giant and slick mecha cartoons and culture starting in the 80s, but when Fukushima struck 30 years later, all they had was a soviet era clamp type robotic arm on a threadbare/rickety motorized servette that broke down . . . mount some guns on this sort of robot, mass produce and conquer the worst of the Middle East and any nepotist run ASEAN nations . . . ), but the Japanese attitudes and history are rubbish no thanks to the right wingers. Tacit approval via silence becomes an issue with the Chrysanthemum King . . . United Korea, Mongolia and China reclaim what was stolen (Monarchy / 12 century fleet’s lives / Centre of Far East and Imperium)
ARTICLE 7
Cambodia mourns death of controversial king – October 16, 2012 – Lindsay Murdoch, Bangkok
The two-time monarch loved fast cars and women, survived the Khmer Rouge and trod the world stage.
Former King of Cambodia dies – Norodom Sihanouk, the former King of Cambodia with a record number of political titles, has died in Beijing at 89.
THE body of Norodom Sihanouk, the cherubic, mercurial but ruthless two-time king of Cambodia and a towering figure in Asia’s politics will be brought home from China for a grand cremation in the Cambodian and Buddhist tradition.
He died, aged 89, early on Monday in Beijing after a long illness. Across Cambodia, flags flew at half mast and monks chanted for the feudal-style monarch who was beloved by his people but was seldom able to deliver the peace they craved through decades of violence.
Sihanouk’s son and successor, Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen flew to Beijing to retrieve the body of the sax-playing, champagne-serving monarch.
Cambodia’s then King Norodom Sihanouk,79, greets his subjects upon his arrival at the annual crop-planting ceremony outside the royal palace in Phnom Penh. Photo: Reuters
Many Cambodians regarded him as semi-divine, although some of the younger generation saw him as a figure of the past and partly responsible for the country’s tragedies.
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Prince Sisowath Thomico, a royal family member who was his assistant, said the former king had suffered a heart attack at a hospital.
”It’s painful. I am full of sorrow … King Sihanouk did not belong to his family, he belonged to Cambodia and to its history,” the prince said.
Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam meeting Norodom Sihanouk in Beijing in November 1973. Photo: AAP
Suffering illnesses including colon cancer, diabetes and hypertension, Sihanouk asked in January that his ashes be placed in a stupa at the river-front Royal Palace, in an urn, preferably made of gold.
A massive crowd of mourners are expected for the funeral.
Born on October 31, 1922, Sihanouk was crowned king by the French occupiers in 1941.
Wearing the traditionnal “krama”, Prince Norodom Sihanouk (right), poses with Khieu Samphan, top Khmer Rouge leader, in the Cambodia maquis.
Dubious allies … wearing the traditionnal “krama” Sihanouk (right) poses with the Khmer Rouge leader Khieu Samphan in the early 1970s. Photo: AFP
They assumed the giggling, overweight prince would be compliant to their requests.
But he became a ruthless politician who played superpowers off against each other while maintaining a role at home and in world politics.
He kept Cambodia neutral during the Cold War, nurtured relations with communist China, was a founder of the Non-Aligned Movement, broke off diplomatic relations with the US over the Vietnam War and was sent into lonely exile in Beijing after a US-backed coup in 1970.
Cambodia’s then King Norodom Sihanouk (left) and Queen Monineth wave to the crowd upon their arrival at the annual boat racing festival in Phnom Penh in 2001. Photo: Reuters
Sihanouk has been criticised for his support of the Khmer Rouge in the early 1970s.
But his relations with the organisation responsible for the deaths of 1.7 million Cambodians was always strained.
”The Khmer Rouge do not like me at all, and I know that,” he said in a 1973 interview.
”When they no longer need me, they will spit me out like a cherry.”
When he returned to Phnom Penh, the Khmer Rouge ordered his execution, but he was saved by Chinese leader Zhou Enlai.
In a 2005 memoir, he said he ”dared to struggle in alliance” with the Khmer Rouge, but condemned their ”despotic and bloody regime”.
Sihanouk was famous for singing love songs at elaborate dinners.
He made movies, brought his French poodle to negotiations, married at least five times and fathered 14 children.
He liked fast cars, food and women. He dazzled world leaders with his wit, often entertaining diplomats and foreign officials with champagne breakfasts and French meals.
Weary of politics, he stepped down from the throne for the last time in 2004.
Bravery then alliance with the enemy? Convoluted.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Cradle of life anyone? Sihanouk had some bad patches as well, to support Khmer Rouge when one could remain neutral is uncalled for. Then again perhaps Sihanouk has no such luxury ASEAN being a very dangerous place post WW2.
ARTICLE 8
Sinclair News Contribution Challenge In Support of im2moro.org – October 12, 2012 – by Lawrence Sinclair
In an effort to support the young people behind Voices Without a Vote Sinclair News is offering the first business or individual who contributes $1000.00 to im2moro.org (im2moro is a non-profit 501c3, tax-exempt organization, which means your donations are tax deductible. Our tax ID is 27-2901233) in response to this challenge, a one year static header banner ad on Sinclair News. This banner ad will be placed in our header above the Sinclair News logo and will display on every page every time this site is visited. From Oct 5, 2012 thru Oct 11, 2012 Sinclair news has been displayed to 1,076,934 visitors (stats from CloudFare analytical).
The business or individual who wishes to meet this Challenge may contact Audrea Taylor to make the contribution. Please inform Miss. Taylor the contribution is in response to the Sinclair News, Through the Mirror w/Larry Sinclair Ad Challenge so Miss. Taylor can notify us who has earned the one year banner ad spot.
Im2moro: Telling Us Today What Tomorrow Should Bring
We all have to Speak Out, and Stand Up as Taylor and her peers proudly proclaim on im2moro.org’s web site. Last night Through the Mirror w/Larry Sinclair spoke with im2moro co-founders Audrea Taylor; Blake Andersen and Luke Andersen (you can listen to the interview from here
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Its not always true that adults know whats best for the children, and the time has long since come and passed where adults need to be slapped across the back of the head by the very children we say we are protecting. Anyone who has ever watched the CBS program NCIS, you know that Agent Gibbs is always slapping Agent Dinozzo on the back of the head to get his attention, well we see the kids behind im2moro as Agent Gibbs and the adults as Dinozzo.
Clearly if we are to be seen as being genuinely concerned with the tomorrow for our kids and grand kids, then we must listen to them and bring them into the conversation and the decision making process. What we find truly amazing about this group of young people is that:
1. They are not promoting a particular party or candidate, but instead are simply demonstrating how based on Constitutional Principles we can come together for the betterment and interest of ALL Americans and the 2moro’s for our children.
2. Rather than try and beat someone over the head based on party or politician, these young people are building upon what we all have in common and agree on.
This is an organization which was founded and has grown through teenagers who when it started were just 12, 13, 15 years old. There is an old proverb “out of the mouths of babes,” which could not be anymore appropriate in describing these young men and women (who despite their ages are just that, young men & women).
Not only is Sinclair News offering one year of header banner static ad space to one person or business who contributes $1000.00 to im2moro.org, we challenge other organizations who sell advertising on their sites to do the same.
Any readers who would like to support this organization can do so by clicking on the below im2moro image which will take you to the groups donation page.
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People, start by offering yourself as a candidate if your hegelian dialectic Rep./Dem. offers dead wood or term limitless. First law should be to distribute unused state land for growing of food (that will stop the food stamp issue and keep the jobless busy) to the homeless and the poor AS WELL as stop foreclosures of homes and further compound interest on homes.
Require the next or more generation to pay the remnant at flat rate BUT NO INTEREST and NO FORECLOSURES. Those without jobs should not be made homeless as well. Those second or third or more homes not in use can still be foreclosed but those who are jobless should be left off foreclosure until they find jobs, at which point only 20% of the salary could be applied – people owing banks got to eat too.
If the above is ratified into law by ALL Congressmen, and all Governors, USA would be abut more sustainable, though banks might have to wait longer to get their money back.
ARTICLE 9
Wahaha boss tops China rich list – Updated: 2012-10-13 08:48 – by Yu Ran in Shanghai ( China Daily)
Many of nation’s wealthiest suffer due to economic slowdown: Forbes
Slower economic growth took its toll on many of China’s 100 biggest fortunes, according to the 2012 Forbes China Rich List, with 45 of them slipping from last year’s count and their total assets dropping 7 percent to $220 billion.
Wahaha boss tops China rich list
Zong Qinghou, the founder and chairman of the beverage producer Hangzhou Wahaha Group Co Ltd, who topped the list in 2010, regained his title as the richest businessmen in China, with a net worth of nearly $10 billion, according to the list.
With an 80 percent share in Wahaha, Forbes said Zong’s fortune exceeded 60 billion yuan ($9.57 billion), over 2 billion yuan more than last year.
Wang Jianlin, chairman and president of Dalian Wanda Group Co Ltd, was the fastest riser in the past year, seeing his wealth jump from 25.6 billion yuan to 50.4 billion yuan, making up the top three with Zong and Robin Li from China’s search engine company Baidu.
The Forbes list comes a fortnight after Zong, 67, topped the Hurun Rich List 2012, which estimated his fortune at $12.6 billion, the second time he has topped the list produced by the Shanghai-based Hurun Research Institute.
Russell Flannery, a senior editor at Forbes and chief of its Shanghai Bureau, said: “Wang outperformed with his greatest success entering the entertainment industry with the announcement of a $2.6 billion acquisition of US cinema chain AMC Entertainment.”
The Forbes list was compiled using shareholding and financial information obtained from the families and individuals, stock exchanges, analysts and China’s regulatory agencies.
Public fortunes were calculated based on stock prices and exchange rates as of Sept 21. Private companies were valued based on similar companies that are publicly traded.
Compared to Zong and Wang, others in the demanding consumer sector did not fare as well, however.
Zhang Jindong, the chairman of Suning Appliance Co Ltd, saw a drop in his value of $2.4 billion, even as he opened up a commanding market lead over longtime rival Gome Electrical Appliances Holding Ltd, owned by Huang Guangyu who suffered a $2 billion drop in value and who still sits in jail for financial crimes.
Qiu Guanghe of the fashion chain Zhejiang Semir Group shed $2.8 billion and fell to 37th.
“Most of the businesses related to the consumer and retail sectors are suffering in these tough times by making less profits and experiencing some financial problems,” said Flannery. He added that the total number of billionaires in China fell from 146 last year to 113 this year, caused by the economic slowdown.
Several property tycoons also suffered, with last year’s list leader Liang Wengen seeing his worth drop $3.4 billion as demand slowed for the building materials produced by Sany Heavy Industry Co Ltd, which he chairs.
The real estate sector as a whole also saw several casualties within the list, as property deals cooled and developers saw projects shelved and prices slow.
“All those ups and downs of rich people in China in different industries lead to the conclusion that the slowdown of China’s economy has brought uncertainty to local private enterprises,” said Zhou Jiangong, chief editor of Forbes Chinese edition.
yuran@chinadaily.com.cn
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Wahaha? Stop laughing over there and wake up or embolden the cowards in certain governments. Being great alone safe in China, is no good if your country still has poor or other Chinese elsewhere are getting the short end of the political stick. Being great alone is not great if in other countries your fellow countrymen are oppressed or enslaved or treated below others. Do set up and fund political parties to challenge inequality for all Chinese across the world! The Chinese expect equality at very least and if China’s colonies fall from neglect of Chinese rights, China will not be able to project power and that same rot will actually reach China from sheer neglect. The courage or funds lacking in some places needs to come from China.
ARTICLE 10
Caught by CCTV: Thugs who beat up factory worker for 80p while wearing tiger and red devil fancy dress costumes – by Larisa Brown – PUBLISHED: 11:38 GMT, 11 October 2012 | UPDATED: 12:58 GMT, 11 October 2012
Fred Dixon, 18, and David Aston-Brown, 20, have been jailed for three years
Pair pounced on Roger Brookes, 37, before punching him to the floor
Dixon had previous convictions for battery and common and sexual assault
Thug Aston-Brown had previous convictions for racially aggravated public disorder, battery against an ex-girlfriend and handling stolen goods
Two thugs battered a factory worker in the street and robbed him of 80p while dressed as a tiger and a red devil.
Fancy dress duo Fred Dixon, 18, and David Aston-Brown, 20, pounced on Roger Brookes, 37, in the early hours of August 20.
The pair shouted at Mr Brookes as he made his way to work at a plant in Hereford before snatching his rucksack, a court has heard.
Fred Dixon, 18, and David Aston-Brown, 20, dressed up as a tiger and a red devil and battered an innocent man
Fred Dixon battered a man in the street and robbed him of just 80p
David Aston-Brown battered a man in the street and robbed him of just 80p
Dixon, left and Aston-Brown, right, ‘got drunk’ and dressed up in fancy dress to go and ‘mess around’
Security cameras captured the thugs punching him to the floor, causing him to cut his head.
Dixon then put Mr Brookes in a head-lock so Aston-Brown could kick him in the chest, Worcester Crown Court heard.
After emptying their victim’s bag on the floor the thugs made off with just 80p, a key ring and a work clocking-in card.
The pair were jailed for three years each on Monday.
Sentencing the pair from Whitecross, Hereford, Judge John Cavell said: ‘This was determined street violence on a complete stranger.
‘You stole property that was almost trifling in its value, but caused serious harm to your victim.’
When police released CCTV images of the thugs in August, it was originally thought they were dressed as cats.
But before they were sentenced it was revealed Dixon wore a tiger-print all-in-one suit, while Aston-Brown was dressed as a red devil.
The men, pictured in a corridor in their fancy dress costumes, have past convictions for battery
The men, pictured in a corridor in their fancy dress costumes, have past convictions for battery
CCTV footage captures the two thugs in their costumes in the early hours of August 20
Defending Dixon, Michael Aspinall said the men had got drunk, dressed up and gone out to ‘mess around’.
He added: ‘These were two heavily intoxicated young men had gone out, in Fred Dixon’s case in breach of a curfew, but not to commit offences.’
The court heard Dixon had previous convictions for battery, common assault, sexual assault, criminal damage and an attempted robbery.
While Aston-Brown had previous convictions for racially aggravated public disorder, battery against an ex-girlfriend and handling stolen goods.
Dixon had only been released from a youth detention centre less than two weeks before the incident.
Speaking after the case, Detective Sergeant Tim Powell from Hereford Police said: ‘The case was solved thanks to the media reports and members of the public coming forward to give information that led us to CCTV footage which positively identified the suspects, leaving them with no option but to plead guilty.’
Both men had pleaded guilty to robbery at an earlier hearing.
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How about asking if the victim would like to kick the attackers back approximately equally hard back, and save the taxpayers 3 years of jail costs after dismissing the case?
ARTICLE 11
Mitt Romney: People Don’t ‘Die In Their Apartment Because They Don’t Have Insurance’ – The Huffington Post | By Bonnie Kavoussi Posted: 10/11/2012 10:54 am EDT Updated: 10/11/2012 7:31 pm EDT
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who has pledged to repeal Obamacare, says that people without health insurance don’t have to worry about dying as a result.
“We don’t have people that become ill, who die in their apartment because they don’t have insurance,” Romney said in an interview with the Columbus Dispatch’s editorial board on Wednesday.
While it’s difficult to tell how many people die each year from lack of health insurance, one study, from a health care advocacy group, puts the number at 26,000 deaths per year.
“We don’t have a setting across this country where if you don’t have insurance, we just say to you, ‘Tough luck, you’re going to die when you have your heart attack,'” he added in the interview. “No, you go to the hospital, you get treated, you get care, and it’s paid for, either by charity, the government or by the hospital.”
Romney took a similar stance in an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” in late September, when he said: “We do provide care for people who don’t have insurance. If someone has a heart attack, they don’t sit in their apartment and die. We pick them up in an ambulance, and take them to the hospital, and give them care.”
Roughly 4 in 25 Americans, or nearly 49 million Americans, had no health insurance last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Repealing Obamacare would deny access to health insurance to about 30 million uninsured Americans who would have received it under health care reform.
Letting so many people go uninsured ultimately can cost both individuals and society. When people lack health insurance, their health worsens, and their health treatments become more expensive, research has found. People without health insurance also are in danger of facing massive medical bills, debt, and bankruptcy if they get sick or injured.
On top of that, society at large sometimes must pay for the uninsured through higher taxes and health care costs. The government often helps pay for unpaid emergency room bills. States and cities that run hospitals lose money when hospital bills go unpaid. And economists have found that hospitals sometimes charge higher prices for health care, and health insurance companies sometimes charge higher premiums, because the uninsured often are unable to pay for health care.
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Indirect assurance that neurotech will not be used to enrich insurance businesses or enable healthcare profiteering? If Romney is aware, Romney had better get the FBO or CIA take away access from the 3rd world Junta this sort of technology. USA’s democracy will be safer than if the Hudud accepting freaks get their hands on this and end up playing the USA into terrorist hands while real world citizens who would stop such undemocratic monsters are destroyed.
ARTICLE 12
‘We seem very conservative, but we have the BIGGEST desires’ – China sex festival – Tuesday, 09 October 2012 06:44
“One-two-THREE! CONTROL! … and relax,” Ma Jian urges. The 78-year-old author is addressing a few dozen men clustered around a stage in Guangzhou, but he aspires to a much bigger audience. “China has more than 2,000 years of sexual history and culture and skills. It has sexual experience which western countries have never known. I want to introduce its expertise to people here and people overseas and make all men happy,” he said.
“I want all women to benefit. I take guys who shoot in three minutes and teach them to hang on for 30. That’s long enough.”
Until 10 years ago this evangelist was, he said, “an underground worker”, toiling in strictest secrecy. He grew up in the sexually repressive society created by Mao Zedong. The chairman of the People’s Republic may have shared his own bed with numerous women, but under his rule bodies were disguised in shapeless suits and holding hands in public was shocking.
Even in the 80s, after liberalisation had begun, a man was executed for organising orgies. Now Ma rattles off his advice – swimming increases sexual desire; pee in short bursts, not a stream – at a convention co-hosted by family planning authorities.
More than 30,000 visitors thronged last weekend to the 10th national (Guangzhou) sex culture festival to watch pole dancers, buy 007-brand condoms and browse porn in a resolutely unerotic exhibition centre. Couples take happy snaps with giant virility figures, and unabashed shoppers fondle realistic sex dolls (though not, this year, inflatable Obamas). The wealthiest can even choose a 100,000 yuan (£10,000) solid gold “pleasure object” – the kind of high-class product that appeals to shoppers usually found in Louis Vuitton or Dolce & Gabbana, a sales assistant said.
Chinese sex fair catwalk
But the shots of “artistic nudes” are tame by western standards. And though hordes of men photograph furiously as semi-clad models strut to a disco version of the Old Spice theme, there’s no pouting or lip-licking. These days, sexual experimentation and puritanism sit side by side in China.
Qiu Shuang, a lesbian activist and sex toy saleswoman, argued that repression had only kindled passions. “Maybe we seem very conservative, but we have the biggest desires,” she said.
China has an estimated six million sex workers, yet nudity is unacceptable in the cinema and there are periodic anti-porn crackdowns. Women have hymen restoration surgery so their husbands will believe they are virgins. Two years ago, an academic was jailed for hosting sex parties. It is no coincidence that the official denunciation of the disgraced politician Bo Xilai accused him of improper sexual relationships with several women.
“People still frown on serial dating … [but] there are 200,000 sex shops and these huge sexual expos. Are they prudish about sex or are they incredibly liberated?” asked Richard Burger, whose new book, Behind the Red Door, chronicles the history of sex in China.
He argues that for centuries China’s leaders have swung between sexual openness and repression. In the Tang dynasty, prostitutes were registered; the late Ming saw explicit novels such as The Plum in the Golden Vase.
At times, homosexual love has been celebrated. At other times, erotic books have been burned.
In the west, the sexual revolution was part of a wider movement of personal liberation and challenges to authority. But in China, the post-Mao shift from procreation to recreation was driven not by the Beatles and Lady Chatterley but by the Communist party.
Sex dolls in Guangzhou
After the Cultural Revolution, the government’s control [of people’s lives] started loosening, and at the same time the one-child policy meant people could have sex lives that weren’t for the purpose of giving birth. They could have sex for pleasure,” said Pan Suiming of Renmin University, one of the country’s leading experts on sex.
Li Yinhe, another researcher, said: “In the past, women were not allowed to like sex – sex was only for giving birth to children, or serving men. Now they can enjoy sex.”
When the magazine Popular Cinema dared to print a romantic clinch in 1979, it sparked a national controversy. The publication of the kiss – a still from a Cinderella movie starring Richard Chamberlain – was “decadent, capitalist, an act meant to poison our youths”, complained an irate local propaganda official. But thousands more picked up their pens to support the magazine.
But puckering up lost its subversive edge – even if the average age for a first kiss remained at 23 just a few years ago. These days premarital sex is very common and has spread to rural areas too.
Yet even now, most assume that sexual relationships end in marriage. Half the men Pan surveyed in 2007 reported only one sexual partner – and even younger and more experienced men have double standards, as a group of female students at the festival testify.
“There’s a long way to go. People do think a woman is a slut [if she has had multiple partners],” said Emily Mai.
“We have a right to chose premarital sex,” added her friend Yee Bai. “It’s freedom. We can’t stand to have only ‘pure, spiritual’ love.”
Sun Zhongxin of Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh says the sexual revolution has benefited different sexes and sexualities to different degrees, and that both men and women may face new pressures, feeling inadequate when faced with a single and sometimes more westernised standard of sexiness.
Tens of millions of men will not find wives or long-term partners at all, because of China’s “missing” women: illegal sex-selective abortions have caused the gender ratio at birth to rise from the natural rate of 106 boys per 100 girls to 118 boys.
Many more men are migrant workers who may see their spouses once a year at best. “They can use sexual toys to let their desire out. It’s better than going to have sex with prostitutes,” said the event’s deputy director, Zhu Jianming.
But as Sun pointed out, the sex industry is not just the fruit of changing attitudes; it has been aggressive in pushing “liberalisation”.
The results can be alarming. One stall in Guangzhou is advertising a sex doll designed to look like a very young girl.
Zhu dismissed concerns: “It doesn’t encourage people … You can’t criticise a sexual fantasy.”
But he adds that he too worries that some people “have been influenced by western ideas about sex, are out of control and indulge themselves sexually”. He insisted the show was designed to encourage sexual morality and positive relationships, not just sexual knowledge.
Though the festival clearly caters primarily to straight men, there are several older couples browsing arm in arm. A husband and wife stop to listen attentively as a salesman demonstrates the different groans emitted by a selection of fake vaginas.
“In the past, when two people dated, they even had to keep their distance on the street,” said 25-year-old Li Bo, sheepishly clasping the sex toy he had just won in a prize draw. “Of course we wouldn’t want to go back to the old times.”
-guardian.co.uk
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Try this tourist ‘must do’ or must take photos of for the adventurous.
In suitable fengshui spots (probably where nturally phallic or clitorial looking stone formations form), install a series of silver, gold and finally, precious stone clad dildos and ‘fleshlights’ on a series of bollards EXHIBITING ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERISTICS of the local regional culture. These will be in private but open areas for tourist use and photo taking.
Each couple or person gets to use the private or secluded space for 10 minutes, and reseervations or bookings must be made in advance (24 hours means only 164 people a day may use a single area . . . so there should be more than 1 area per scenic spot to service probably millions . . . ). To be fair, these spots should charge no more than minimum wage multiplied by the material used . . . silver x1, gold x2, and finally, precious stone x3, x4 for diamond (4 times minimum wage for diamond, though the entire series might be wanted and hence the money is made back (not so soon, a few hundred diamonds on a dildo will cost MILLIONS but since ths state has FIAT for sure that will be worth it . . . ) . . . now THATS making the most of sexuality in tourism in a most contemporary and complementary manner! Retired sex workers could be the administrators and watchmen here, and perhaps sexual themed souvenirs or ORGANIC tonic specicaltiesmade by the locals, or sex manuals, could be sold as well.
Scheduling for weekday mornings could be reserved for non-sexual use and child friendly time (children will not be harmed seeing or posing with bejewelled sex toys . . . in crowds to boot. These will eventually be fertility preserving attractions in a spiritual sense, and would be quite a draw as a form of ’emnatory’ spirito-medical tourism as well. An informal temple to fertility in fact, especially when manned or staffed by ex-sex workers WITH state pensions.
“There’s a long way to go. People do think a woman is a slut [if she has had multiple partners],” said Emily Mai. “We have a right to chose premarital sex,” added her friend Yee Bai. “It’s freedom. We can’t stand to have only ‘pure, spiritual’ love.”
Not a slut for the status unaware or status uncaring, or the downwardly mobile in need of cash. Those involved in religious work would have herbal concoctions to steady their desires meanwhile and not indulge at all even at a distance (this differentiates the false spiritulist and the sex obsessed ones posing as spiritual – indulging in spiritual sex is NOT spiritual) . . .
The lower classes and middle classes probably will not be affected and will indeed look for prostitutes (lower classes) or escorts (middle classes). The upper classes who are expected to be discreet to save face for race and society would be blackballed for certain if they do not engage themselves to formal mistresses, or use escorts that are too popular/undiscerning (i.e. do not stick to a certain group of clients at limited numbers to keep things classy – i.e. escorts that do not sleep with just anyone – who incidentally should not be raised above/be allowed to climb over the heads of the honest working class professionals etc..) or with tongues that are too loose.
Which is also the reason for so much obsession with erotica by these quasi-apex/literati classes without wealth – pure ‘spiritual love’ from authors to the readers will be the cleanest form of titillation possible to indulge in, even multiple ‘spiritual’ partners notwithstanding apex classes, or a harem of wives to indulge themselves by.
ARTICLE 13
Y.U. Mad … ‘Cause I Bought a Palace – Music Mogul Birdman spent $14.5 mil in cash money for a Miami mansion the size of a Four Seasons.
The rapper — who co-founded Cash Money Records — bought the 19,000-sqaure-foot pad last month — which sits on the ultra exclusive Palm Island.
The 9-bedroom, 17-bath palace is amazing — 25-foot-ceilings … a below ground pool … an outdoor pool with cabana … a theater, gym, spa area … in-house massage room … 100 feet of waterfront AND a private dock.
Ya know, for your awesome boat.
FUN HOUSE HISTORY: The mansion belonged to music producer Scott Storch until it was taken away from him in foreclosure 2 years ago. It was snatched up by the inventor of Rockstar energy drinks for $6.75 mil … and then flipped to Birdman for a huge profit.
Oh the rich. We hate them.
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Thats so characteristically white bread of so many African American stars who succeeded.
You’d think they’d decorate in a manner congruous with African cultures or that at least gives a strongly black-american accent (not exactly ghetto or hoodie yet carefully ‘uncolonial’ and ‘unsafari’ as well).
This is too European. Look at the ‘Black House’ jokes for a skewed sense of ‘African-American’ style. I’m not African but some African homes FEEL African, excepting the railings, this is just ‘white and European (not even American) bling’.
ARTICLE 13
Exclusive Coffee Has Unsavory Source – Elephant Dung in Thailand
Anantara Resorts, one of the world’s most expensive resort chains, has debuted some of the world’s costliest coffee at its Maldives properties. Just one thing though: The coffee beans are harvested from elephant dung.
The coffee is also offered at Anantara’s Golden Triangle property in Thailand.
The coffee beans, called Black Ivory and priced at $1,100 per kilogram, are digested by an elephant before you drink it.
There are only 50 kilograms, or about 110 pounds, currently for sale.
According to the resort, Black Ivory coffee beans are “naturally refined” by Thai elephants. Research indicates that during digestion, the enzymes of the elephant break down coffee protein, according to the resort. Protein is one of the factors responsible for bitterness in coffee: less protein, less bitterness.
The coffee is ground by hand and brewed table side in a four-minute process. The fragrance is said to be floral and chocolate and the taste “milk chocolate, nutty, earthy with hints of spice and red berries.”
Thai Arabica beans are picked from an altitude of 1500 meters (about 5000 feet) and fed to the elephants. “Once deposited by the elephants, the individual beans are handpicked by mahouts (elephant trainer and care giver) and their wives and sun dried.”
Refinement of the coffee takes place at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, an elephant conservation program. According to the resort, 8 percent of sales will fund an elephant veterinarian specialist to provide free care to the animals. Additional funds will be used to provide medicine and a new laboratory.
Black Ivory isn’t the first coffee in the world to come out of animal dung. Civet coffee, priced at several hundred dollars per pound, is harvested from the civet cats’ of Southeast Asia’s excrement.
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This is not to be used evidence of ‘insanity’ . . . the below are ideas for extreme experimental foodies, or a horror/vampire book that begins thus . . .
‘Nothing is better than fresh blood of pre-pubescent children . . . ‘ (looks like the vampire kids have been chewing on themselves again or was that the tailor . . . what say you Bellisa? Or is that Isabelle?
Perhaps that would beat J.K. Rowling in the creativity and shock factor department. The book will be called . . . “50 Shades of Red” ! Yea or Nay? Should this be written? Parasite Rowling is such a vacant casualty of ideas . . . Meanwhile we ponder another text . . .
Recipes For the Cannibal Cocktail Connoiseurs . . .
Sample : APERITIF SANGUINAR’SICUM’
Blood . . . with a dash of fermented bile . . . light notes of spooge . . . and freshly squeezed ‘lung juice’ (smoker’s or non-smokers to taste . . . ) – besting Hannibal Lector at his game! Hah! More recipes! That Chianti seems pretty prosaic now donnit? Fava beans and liver still stands for the newbies though. Perhaps grading to kidney and steak pie
. . . Now give me blood! Where’s Ashley, oh Ashley . . . Twilight awaits and I’ll have back what you took (did you?) from my stack of ‘Crematoria Scrip’ now thank you, thieves accrue debt that cannot offset karmic interest . . . unwritten sample from text.
Heres an idea for for products for the ‘Scat’ bunch (Hmm . . . Scatman?!? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scatman%27s_World) Heres some ideas, more rare and MONSTROUS flavours for the extreme foodie . . . Gargarensis would approve and no need to wear a meat dress either!
Triple-Blad (thrice ‘processed’ ‘yellow’) . . . as opposed to Triple Sec)
Triple-Col(on) (thrice ‘processed’ ‘brown’) . . . as opposed to Tripe . . . QUOTE ‘To be a balloon, floating . . .’ Sam Pedeaston UNQUOTE)
As Anthony Bourdain in “The Wild Traveller . . . would say . . . ‘ Come along . . . ‘ Hmm, maybe that was James Pedeaston from ‘No Reservations” on WCTR Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas . . . Travel Channel thats right! Oh that’s good! Delicious! Don’t lose all reservations Bourdain . . . I mean Pedeaston . . .
Warning content in below link unsuitable for some people . . .
Foodies in religion eh? Dull eat-beasts more like, even if Vegetarian . . . Now this particular posting will probably this blog’s most monstrous! Counter articles/responses welcome! Commentary fight time, even at such severe handicap!
ARTICLE 14
Home extension plan demolished: Councils unite to scupper Cameron’s free-for-all on bigger conservatories and enlarging your home by Tim Shipman – PUBLISHED: 22:57 GMT, 11 October 2012 | UPDATED: 06:32 GMT, 12 October 2012
Councils warned Cameron’s plan would encourage unsightly development
Last year councils rejected outright 22,000 of 200,000 applications received
LGA fears that without such scrutiny these failed plans would now go ahead
Town hall chiefs last night vowed to kill off David Cameron’s plan to allow large extensions in back gardens.
They warned his free-for-all would encourage unsightly development and spark tension between neighbours.
In a huge blow to the Coalition’s flagship housing policy, the Local Government Association said councils would not implement the plans.
Blow: Town hall chiefs vowed to kill off David Cameron’s plan to allow large extensions in back gardens
Blow: Town hall chiefs vowed to kill off David Cameron’s plan to allow large extensions in back gardens
Homeowners can currently build a 10ft extension at a terraced property – and 13ft at a detached house – without planning consent.
Mr Cameron wants these limits doubled to 20ft and 26ft for a three-year period.
The move is needed to boost the economy, the Prime Minister says. But without the co-operation of town hall chiefs the policy is unlikely to be implemented.
Last year councils rejected outright only 22,000 of the 200,000 applications they received.
And the LGA, which represents more than 370 councils, fears that without such scrutiny these failed plans would now go ahead.
Recession has turned us into a nation of Rigsbys: Number of homeowners who rent a room to a lodger doubles in a year
Spectacular castle that inspired The Great Gatsby and played host to Jonas and Weiner weddings facing foreclosure
‘This policy potentially gives the green light to unsightly and out-of-place development without delivering a big enough boost to the construction industry to justify the potential damage,’ said the association’s Mike Jones.
‘The planning process works to ensure development is suitable for a local area and doesn’t unduly impact neighbours. Loosening rules around extensions would eliminate this vital mediation process in a large number of cases. The 22,000 applications which are rejected each year are knocked back for good reasons and it would be totally wrong if extensions which were previously rejected due to objections from neighbours or because they were judged to blight the neighbourhood could now sneak back in unimpeded.’
Tory-run councils in Lincolnshire and in Richmond, South-West London, have already said they will not cooperate with the new policy. Lincolnshire said a ‘rash of extensions’ could increase the risk of flooding in the low-lying county.
Additions: Homeowners can currently build a 10ft extension at a terraced property – and 13ft at a detached house – without planning consent
At their party conference, the Liberal Democrat rank and file also voted against the proposals.
And a YouGov poll commissioned by the Royal Institute of British Architects revealed 54 per cent believe the shake-up would lower the quality of neighbourhood design.
‘This policy potentially gives the green light to unsightly and out-of-place development without delivering a big enough boost to the construction industry to justify the potential damage’
Mike Jones,
Local Government Association
The LGA’s intervention sets the stage for a clash between town hall chiefs and Eric Pickles. The Communities Secretary has warned that homeowners could sue councils that refuse to follow the new guidance on extensions. Ministers have said however that it will be up to each council as to whether to cooperate.
The LGA’s warning is also a challenge to Mr Cameron, who repeated calls for growth-friendly planning changes in his speech to the Conservative conference in Birmingham this week.
The Prime Minister attacked ‘yes-but-no people’ – ‘the ones who say “yes, our businesses need to expand but no we can’t reform planning”’.
Mr Jones countered: ‘We agree with the Government that stimulating the construction industry is essential to economic recovery but this proposal is not the answer. We need to tackle the housing crisis and that means freeing up lending so first-time buyers can secure mortgages and developers can borrow to build.
Extensions: A YouGov poll commissioned by the Royal Institute of British Architects revealed 54 per cent believe the shake-up would lower the quality of neighbourhood design
Extensions: A YouGov poll commissioned by the Royal Institute of British Architects revealed 54 per cent believe the shake-up would lower the quality of neighbourhood design
‘The Government should also lift tight restrictions on local authority borrowing so councils and housing associations can raise money to invest in new homes.’
Planning minister Nick Boles, who is a Lincolnshire MP, hit back, saying: ‘The planning system needs to strike a balance between the rights of the homeowner and their neighbours.
‘The planning system needs to strike a balance between the rights of the homeowner and their neighbours’
Nick Boles, Planning minister
‘Our proposals will make it easier for thousands of hard-working families to undertake home improvements to cater for a growing family. It will also help generate new business for local construction companies and small traders.’
When the plans emerged, Ruth Dombey, the Lib Dem leader of Sutton council in South London, said: ‘These proposals are a recipe for disaster. They have not been properly thought through.
‘If this is allowed to happen it will set neighbour against neighbour and split communities for years. On top of the resentment and loss of quality of life, some people’s houses will also plummet in value if they’ve got no light or a noisy factory is within a few metres of their front door.’
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10-13 feet? I’d say all the way to the edge of the lot (which is why there are high walls sometimes) and then overhangs out into at least the middle of the road especially for roads where heavy vehicles or tall vehicles are not allowed! Factories? How did this article steer from freedom to build on one’s property to **factories** (no outlandish smells, no outlandish noises and probably people won’t care, why should the council Jobsworths who don’t even live there care)?
. . . and developers can borrow to build. . . .
NO. England is overpopulated as is, and no more increases in population should be allowed if England is to remain self sufficient or not become a Hong Kong style hi-rise pigeon coop. Developers had better hang up their heavy construction equipment to prevent future losses from lack (actually there is nowhere left to build) of demand and consider getting into home extensions work and such.
Unless England is to be a ‘gray and unpleasant’ land (Foggy gaslight London era, drowning in rising sewage anyone? Throw in a few Jack the Rippers, absinth drinking detectives and grape eating hookers for some excitement . . . ), overbuilt that is, without green lungs, like a Englishstani slum that an Indian film maker can go to to film Slumdog Millionaire : Englishstan . . . The time of developers and developer/construction stocks is over, excepting companies able to build massive Arcology type structures and a dystopian ‘Bladerunner’ hyperdense hive that eventually turns into the ‘Matrix’, which still downs most of the smaller ‘construction’ companies without their own development landbanks.
ARTICLE 15
Lakota Sioux Nation Leaves America by Stephen Lendman – 10-1-12
America betrayed them and all Native Peoples. Throughout US history and earlier, genocide was policy.
Historian Ward Churchill explained four centuries of systematic slaughter. It went on from 1492 – 1892. It continues today against Native culture.
Churchill estimated around 100 million Native People throughout the Americas “hacked apart with axes and swords, burned alive and trampled under horses, hunted as game and fed to dogs, shot, beaten, stabbed, scalped for bounty, hanged on meathooks and thrown over the sides of ships at sea, worked to death as slave laborers, intentionally starved and frozen to death during a multitude of forced marches and internments, and, in an unknown number of instances, deliberately infected with epidemic diseases.”
Destruction of their culture continues in new forms. “The American holocaust was and remains unparalleled, in terms of its scope, ferocity, and continuance over time.”
Silence and denial suppress what happened and goes on today. Try finding coverage anywhere by America’s major media. Virtually nothing is said, let alone explained.
Survivors represent a tiny fraction of original numbers. They also symbolize a longstanding US tradition of butchery and viciousness.
After centuries of systematic slaughter, Census Bureau data estimated around a quarter-million US survivors. Those living struggle to get by.
Raphael Lemkin defined genocide as:
“the destruction of a nation or of an ethnic group” that corresponds to other terms like “tyrannicide, homicide, infanticide, etc.” (It) does not necessarily mean the destruction of a nation, except when accomplished by mass killings….It is intended….to signify a coordinated plan (to destroy) the essential foundations of the life of national groups” with the intent to eradicate or substantially weaken or harm them.”
“Genocidal plans involve the disintegration….of political and social institutions, culture, language, national feelings, religion, economic existence, personal security, liberty, health, dignity, and” human lives.
The 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide Convention defines it legally as:
“any (acts like those above) committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, the national, ethnical, racial or religious group (by) killing (its) members; causing (them) serious bodily or mental harm; (or) deliberately inflicting (on them) conditions” that may destroy them in whole or in part.
Destroying peoples’ cultures, preventing them from practicing their religion, speaking their language, and/or passing on their traditions to new generations are genocidal acts.
Constitutional provisions don’t let government abuse people or deny them their rights. They don’t authorize genocide, either within or outside the country. They don’t permit theft and occupation of their lands or any others.
Nonetheless, binding principles are spurned. America, Israel, and rogue NATO partners violate them with impunity. Crimes of war, against humanity, and genocide are official policy. Millions of corpses bear testimony.
On December 17, 2007, a delegation of Lakota people went to Washington. They declared independence. They called it “the latest step in the longest running legal battle” in history.
It’s not a cessation, they said. It’s a lawful “unilateral withdrawal” from treaty obligations permitted under the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
At the time, American Indian Movement (AIM) leader Russell Means said:
“We are no longer citizens of the United States of America and all those who live in the five-state area that encompasses our country are free to join us.”
“We offer citizenship to anyone provided they renounce their US citizenship.”
“United States colonial rule is at an end.”
Signed documents were delivered to the State Department. Sovereignty was declared. The Republic of Lakota was established. It’s based on the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie. It created the Great Lakota (Sioux) Nation. It states in part:
“The territory of the Sioux or Dahcotah Nation, commencing the mouth of the White Earth River, on the Missouri River; thence in a southwesterly direction to the forks of the Platte River; thence up the north fork of the Platte River to a point known as the Red Buts, or where the road leaves the river; thence along the range of mountains known as the Black Hills, to the head-waters of Heart River; thence down Heart River to its mouth; and thence down the Missouri River to the place of beginning.”
It gave Lakota people portions of northern Nebraska, half of South Dakota, one-fourth of North Dakota, one-fifth of Montana, and another 20% of Wyoming.
Unilateral withdrawal from all treaties and agreements became policy. America never honored its own. More on that below.
Earlier events led to the 2007 declaration. In 1974, 5,000 International Indian Treaty Council delegates, representing 97 North and South American Indigenous People, signed a Declaration of Continuing Independence.
It was a “Manifesto representing the wisdom of thousands of people, the Ancestors, and the Great Mystery supports the rights of Indigenous Nations to live free and to take whatever actions are necessary for sovereignty.”
Numerous elders approved it. They represented ancestors born to live free. They gave delegates two mandates:
(1) Gain international recognition. In September 2007, the UN Declaration of Indigenous Rights affirmed it.
(2) “We must always remember that we were once a free People. If we don’t, we shall cease to be Lakota.”
The right to return to their original free and independent status was asserted. On December 17, 2007, they declared it formally.
In United States v. Sioux Nation (1980), the Supreme Court upheld a $105 million award to eight Sioux tribes. It was compensation for lost land. It was lawlessly taken.
The Court, however, denied what Sioux people most wanted – their land back. As a result, they refused the money. They reasserted their sovereign rights.
Thirty-two years of compound interest makes the 1980 award worth $400 million today. It’s a tiny fraction of what Sioux people lost. They demand and deserve what’s rightfully theirs. America’s highest court has no sovereignty over their rights. Neither does political Washington.
Lakota people say US law supports them. America systematically broke treaties and stole their land. It’s theirs and they want it back. The Republic of Lakota claims it.
On September 29, 2012 Means reiterated what he and others declared in December 2007, saying:
“We are no longer citizens of the United States of America and all those who live in the five state area that encompasses our country are free to join us.”
He cited longstanding problems and grievances. They include land theft, resource plunder, poverty, unemployment, repression, and overall human depravation. All of it remains out of sight and mind.
The Republic of Lakota described ongoing genocide as follows:
(1) Mortality
Life expectancy for Lakota men is less than 44 years. It’s the lowest of all sovereign countries. It’s the highest in America. Infant mortality is threefold higher than the US average. Diseases are a major problem. “Cancer is now at epidemic proportions.”
Teenage suicide is150% higher than America’s average. One-fourth of Lakota children are fostered or adopted by non-Native people. Doing so destroys their identity and culture. Ward Churchill calls it killing the Indian, saving the man.
(2) Disease
Tuberculosis is 800% higher than America’s average. Cervical cancer is fivefold higher. Diabetes is eight times the national average. The Federal Commodity Food Program provides high-sugar foods. They contribute to poor health.
(3) Poverty
Annual median income is $2,600 – $3,500. Poverty affects 97% of Lakotans. Many families can’t afford essentials most people take for granted. In winter, many use ovens for heat. Simple luxuries are unheard of. Life is hard, merciless, punishing, and unrelenting.
(4) Unemployment
It’s 80% or higher. Government corruption, cronyism, and indifference destroy normal living opportunities.
(5) Housing
In winter, elderly people die from hypothermia. They freeze to death for lack of heat. One-third of homes lack clean water and sewage. About 40% have no electricity. About 60% of families have no telephone.
Another 60% of homes are infected with potentially fatal black molds. On average, 17 people reside in each household. Many have two to three rooms. Some homes built for six to eight people have up to 30 in them.
(6) Drugs and Alcohol
Over half of adults battle addiction and disease. Alcoholism affects 90% of families. Two known methamphetamine labs operate. Authorities haven’t closed them.
(7) Incarceration
Indian children imprisonment exceed whites by 40%. Native People comprise 2% of South Dakota’s population. They account for 21% of those imprisoned.
Indians have the second highest state prison incarceration rate in America. Most live on federal reservations. Less than 2% are where states have jurisdiction.
(8) Culture
It’s threatened with extinction. It’s federal policy to destroy it. Only 14% of Lakotans speak their language. It’s not shared inter-generationally.
The average fluent Lakotan speaker is 65 years old. In another generation or less, perhaps few or none will remain. Lakotan language skills aren’t allowed or taught in US government schools. Nor is much of anything about native history and culture. America wants it destroyed and forgotten.
Lakotan struggle began with the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. They call it “fantasy” US history. France sold America 530 million Native land acres for $15 million. Lakotans owned part of it. They and other Native people weren’t consulted.
They’ve been systematically ignored and violated. From 1778 – 1871, Washington negotiated 372 treaties. Their provisions were systematically spurned.
America’s winning the West involved invading, encroaching, stealing, and occupying their lands. That’s how imperialism works. It’s the same everywhere.
Throughout the 19th century (and earlier), Washington engaged in military, legal, and political battles against Native Peoples. Their rights were contemptuously denied. They were displaced and exterminated. That’s how today’s America was created.
The 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie was systematically violated. So were provisions of all other treaties. From 1866 – 1868, Washington let the Bozeman trail go through the “Heart of the Lakota Nation.”
It was a short cut to Montana’s gold fields. Military forts were built on stolen land along its route. Doing so violated 1851 treaty provisions. Battles ensued. Washington negotiated peace. The 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty followed. Native People thought they won. Victory was pyrrhic and illusory.
The Supreme Court’s 1883 ex parte Crow Dog decision made no difference. The Court recognized Lakotah freedom and independence. It ruled that tribes held exclusive jurisdiction over their internal affairs. It didn’t matter.
The transcontinental railroad facilitated development, land and resource theft.
In 1885, Congress passed the Major Crimes Act. It extended US jurisdiction into Lakota territory. The same year, the last of the great buffalo herds were exterminated. At one time, they numbered 60 million. Native People relied on them for food.
In 1887, Congress passed the General Allotment Act (the Dawes Act). It ended communal ownership of reservation lands. It distributed 160-acre “allotments” to individual Indians. Tribes lost millions of acres. Wealthy ranchers exploit them today.
In 1888, Congress began prohibiting Indian Spiritual and Prayer Ceremonies. It was part of destroying Native culture. In 1891, a Commissioner of Indian Affairs was authorized. It was to assure Native People obeyed white man’s laws.
Many more abuses followed. In Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock (1903), the Supreme Court extralegally recognized near absolute plenary congressional power over Indian affairs.
It let US authorities steal tribal lands and resources freely. They did so on the pretext of fulfilling federal responsibilities.
Doing so abrogated fundamental indigenous rights unilaterally. The ruling was used to violate hundreds of treaties. Like other Native Peoples, Lakotans were grievously harmed.
Their sacred Black Hills were stolen. So were valued resources on them. Lakotans want back what’s rightfully theirs. Their ancestors thought the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty granted them victory. They were wrong.
Yet in 1904, even after Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock, some believed the Treaty was “the only instance in the history of the United States where the government has gone to war and afterwards negotiated a peace conceding everything demanded by the enemy and exacting nothing in return.”
Until the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act, Native People got what no one had the right to deny them in the first place. In fact, rights afforded them nominally never existed in fact.
The entire history of Native People in America reflects horrific struggles lost. From 1492 to today, they experienced promises made and broken. Disenfranchized people remain. Most are bereft of hope.
On reservations or assimilated, they’re out of sight and mind. Once they lived peacefully on their own land. White settlers changed things. Western civilization destroyed their way of life. There’s nothing civilized about it.
They’re either ignored, mocked, or demonized in films and society. They’re called drunks, beasts, primitives, and savages. America always was a white supremacist society.
Rich powerful elites run it. Native People and most others don’t matter. They’re systematically used and abused. They’re not served. It’s the American way.
Thats ALL non-European, non-English sovereign nations which have become so-called USA and so-called Canada. Does the UN know this fact? What the colonial Europeans and English did was barbaric and needs proper reparations instead of mere ‘Indian Reservations’. Shall USA and Canada be run by a Supreme Council of Tribal Chieftains from all territories on this map? All existing European and English people who did not benefit from or cause murder and slavery should be allowed to remain as citizens, those identified as having benefited should be repatriated to their home nations. A 600 year long holocaust occured here that history cannot bury and that has not been corrected or apologized for yet. (Caption by @AgreeToDisagree, Map from http://www.manataka.org)
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book is titled “How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War”
The true language of ‘America’ is Native Ameri-Indian, NOT English. To be fair to the Native Ameri-Indians, perhaps all of the ‘5 Civilised Tribes’ should have a Governor each and a UN Representative of USA should be Red Native Ameri-Indian as well. A black president says much about USA today, not go even further and have an Ameri-Indian President neext (not those 1/8th blood types but as pure as possible).
Meanwhile Sabah and Sarawak should demand 100% disbursement rights and 100% equality for Orang Asli and access to ALL Special Privileges, to be implemented immediately or secede and get their own UN seat instead. Whats the point of not having a UN seat and not even being able to disburse your own states’ wealth AND being made into second class citizens without :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Whats so great about east Malaysia staying in Malaysia? The worst among Muslims force Islam on the Orang Asli who are vulnerable, and Malaysia’s APARTHEID Bumiputra system has parasited on the Orang Asli Chieftain-RULERS using Islam to a degree as a weapon of control via threat of violence to these simple Tuak drinking, boar bucaneering, Keris inventing, spirit-lamp using peoples, taken away their land via illegal laws that the UN would never approve or even sue as war criminals over (the Bar Council is asleeep as usual does not care at all), invited loggers that denuded the forests and planted dull and eco-diversity destroying oil palm plantations . . . whats the point for Sabah and Sarawak to stay in malaysia unless the above listed are granted immediately?
Any Orang Asli worth their pride as warriors (those Orang Asli made mincemeat of the oppresso-Christians before in Kalimantan didn’t they? Now Christian DAP is back again with more neo-colonial b.s.. . . . make mincemeat of the Apartheid of Bumiputra) will prefer to have a seat at the UN as a PM instead of as a DAP or BN stooge that only gets 5% or 15% (as CM of Penang Lim Guan Eng ‘generously’ – actually INSULTINGLY – offered 15% as being ‘better than BN’s 5%’) of THEIR OWN WEALTH?
Try the response to this article : Grievances of the Temiar tribe must be addressed – reposted by @AgreeToDisagree – Feb 23, 2012 @ 8:01- https://malaysiandemocracy.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/3719/ that belong to the nomadic and eco-friendly Orang Asli instead of plantations! Free yourselves Orang Asli! Give BN an ultimatum to grant the above or begin filing for secession at the UN. Chieftains must be intelligent and civilised men not stupid uneducated ‘natives’ who cannot even keep their religion and culture or lands intact! Get your sovereign seat at the UN if BN still wants to keep control, or if Pakatan refuses to change their entitlement mentality regards equality of citizenship and return of stolen lands!
Orang Asli Chieftains! Never accept this heartbreaking and heartrending treatment of your people’s anymore! Demand equality and show idiots like CM Lim Guan Eng or Minister Chua Soi Lek or MIC leading the Malaysian Chinese and Indian community cowards and colluders who dare not ask for equality how to be indepdnent equals in their own country by filing lawsuit at the UN for the above listed 3 items as well as all the above response’s listed demands! Scottish PM would-be leading the Scottish Independence movement, Alex Salmond should have a talk to the Orang Asli Chieftains about independence and how much a sovereign seat at the UN would be better than this ‘trash’ deal offered by Pakatan rakyat’s Guan Eng (who doesn’t even dare try secure end of apartheid for the Chinese on the Malaysian Peninsular) or Barisan’s apartheid and Islamic proselytisation and stealing of lands (especially ancestral grave sites which the Muslims seem to fear and try very hard to target).
Don’t dare say that non-Muslims, some here for tens of generations despite not being ethnic Malay do not deserve 1st class citizenships! Especially so the pureblood Orang Asli who didn’t intermarry with the Middle Eastern or ASEAN peoples, are the TRUE Nusantaran Animist MALAYS, not Muslims who were converted from Orang Asli and took Arabic names. No citizen should not be punished and disenfranchised or have any privileges denied them simply for having a different religion! Religion is disenfranchisement! Especially when the Constitution guarantees equality, the UN Article 1 which Malaysia is a signatory of, and the Social Contract states that Special Privileges were to only last 15 years before review and removal. How could 20,000 or more year old settlements be displaced then made into second class citizens by Muslim converts who too are Orang Asli, albeit now in mixed marriage (and without original malay names) to Arab traders who arrived mostly in the 15th Century? End the apartheid! The Orang Asli are your own REAL ORIGINAL Malaysians who have even managed to preserve their original Nusantaran faith! The original faith of Nusantaran Animism! Spiritual Colonialism is not something the Malays expected, but to deny the Orang Asli equality is just unprincipled. Finally Islam states that all citizens are to be treated equally regardless of faith.
Who’s a Muslim? Find your roots those who care and understand . . . that one can be a successful ethnic-Malay who is not a Muslim that deserves equal treatment, not persecution for applying Article 18 of the UNHRC. Know those roots without oppressing all other minorities with Islam. Find your real names as well. Before the Arabs came to Malaysia, what were real Malay names? Look to Indonesia and note the real Indonesian names as opposed to Arabic names. Spiritual Colonialisation no less!
Heat over satellite dish crackdown in Sabah – Azman Habu – December 7, 2011
Astro’s monopoly and recent seizure of parabolic satellite dishes has come under attack in Sabah.
TAWAU: The seizure of 193 satellite dishes around Sabah by the Customs Department has drawn into the spotlight the federal government’s continued bias towards KL-based satellite service provider Astro and its victimizing of Sabahans.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr Yee Moh Chai as well as several senior opposition leaders, in voicing their shock, have also branded the seizures as “ridiculous”.
“After all we are subscribing to the Prime Minister’s ‘People First Performance Now’ dictum,” he said after making known his unhappiness with federal government’s continued policy of not allowing people to use parabolic satellite dishes.
The state Customs Department announced over the weekend it had launched crackdown on the use of unapproved satellite dishes last month under Customs Act 1967.
Those caught in possession are liable to a fine of not less than 10 times the value of the seized items or imprisonment of up to three years or both.
A total of 64 dishes were confiscated from residences in the districts of Beaufort, Papar, Kota Kinabalu, 76 in Keningau and Tambunan and 48 in Tawau, department deputy director Hamzah Sundang said on Saturday.
Each dish costs between RM300 to RM500 making the total seizures worth about RM200,000.
Yee, who is also Sabah Resource Development and Information Technology Minister, said it was absurd that the use of such dishes was still banned in a borderless world.
“We should accept the fact that the world is getting smaller. For a runner, for example, they cannot be asked to use only one type of shoes. We cannot allow a monopoly,” he told the reporters here.
Astro monopoly criticized
He said preventing people from using any satellite dishes apart from those supplied by Astro did not make sense and was also a monopolistic exercise condoned by the government.
Yee said that the rational for not allowing the public to use such dishes in the past was because the federal government wanted to control information.
“But now people can access information from anywhere,” he said, adding that disallowing the use of satellite dishes “is like the ostrich burying its head in the sand … it is not tenable and against the interests of the nation.”
Sabah DAP leader Jimmy Wong also slammed the seizures as an affront to freedom of information.
He said there was nothing wrong in people buying parabolic dishes as they are doing what the government wants them to tap on more information to gain more knowledge and achieve the government’s vision of becoming a fully developed nation by 2020.
“Parabolic dishes are cheap and can help people gather three to four times more information than is available. In China there are more than 100 stations.
“The government should get rid of the policy prohibiting the people from using these dishes,” he said.
He also criticized the monopoly held by Astro.
“At the moment we are only limited to Astro … there is no competition, a total monopoly.
“If the government really means the words – ‘People First’ – the government should be open to other satellite channel providers, just like the many cellular phone companies.
“In Sabah, we have used parabolic dishes for the past 20 to 30 years without problems,” he said reminding the authorities that the devices were initially allowed in areas in Sabah and Sarawak where telecommunication services are spotty at best due to the terrain.
‘Yee sleeping on the job’
Earlier, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) took Yee to task for the brouhaha over the seizures, saying he had failed to improve Sabah’s information technology development despite being in charge for eight years.
SAPP information chief Chong Pit Fah said Yee was constantly blaming others for the poor broadband services in the state and now was finding fault with others for the seizures.
“He just woke up on the parabolic satellite disc issue. He is sleeping on the job. He should apologise to all the parabolic satellite disc owners,” Chong said in a statement this week.
“It is Yee who is ridiculous. He has been the minister in charge of the ICT in Sabah and only now he is seeing all this?”
Telecommunication services in both Sabah and Sarawak lag behind what is available in Peninsular Malaysia.
Most consumers in the two states look on in envy at high-tech services that are available in the peninsula first and only reach them months and even years later. (Continue with below related article, response follows.)
ARTICLE 2
RM265,000 worth of banned Parabolic Dishes seized
Other than those of ASTRO’s, satellite dishes are prohibited by law in Malaysia. Many quarters have tried in the past, to get the government – including those that were initiated by NGOs and some leaders from ruling government – to lift the ban on the use of such dishes in order to receive transmissions of information from foreign countries.
Daily Express – 16.6.2012
Latest on the Customs Department’s crackdown on banned goods saw its officers confiscating 106 sets of parabolic satellite dishes worth RM180,000 and is the biggest such seizures in Sabah so far. According to current market price, the seized sets of dishes could worth RM265,000.
Media report
State Customs Deputy Director (Enforcement and Compliance), Hamzah Sundang told a media conference in Keningau Friday that the 2.20pm raid at a house in Jalan Masak here was made by a team lead by the District Customs Enforcement Officer, Michael Asik. He said the parabolic dish is a prohibited item listed under Schedule II of Custom Rule (Prohibition on Import) 2008 and would require an import permit from Sirim Berhad.
Those found in possession of a parabolic dish without valid permit could be charged under Section 135 (1)(d) of the Custom Act 1967, which provides a fine of not less than 10 times the value of the seized goods for the first offence and not more than 20 times the value of the goods or a jail term of not more than 3 years or both, if convicted.
Oppressed by Malaysian law :
Schedule II (Prohibition on Import) 2008 : Goods can be imported only with an Import License.
Item 10
Apparatus or equipment to be attached to or connected to a Public Telecommunication network or system. Affected parties – all countries, SIRIM Berhad
Example: telephone sets, telephone sets for cellular network, base station, switching & routing apparatus, telephonic & telegraphic apparatus, walkie talkie, transceivers, radio telephonic receivers.
Item 11
All radio communication apparatus capable of being used for telecommunication in the frequency band lower than 3000 GHz or their motherboards except for:
receiver that is designed for use in the broadcasting services; and
radio communication apparatus having a valid licence issued by the 26 Telecommunication Authority of any country or an International Automatic Roaming (IAR) card issued by a licensed operator
Affected parties: All countries, SIRIM Berhad
Examples: transmission apparatus & transmission apparatus incorporating reception apparatus, radar apparatus, radio navigational aid, radio remote control apparatus
Why the ban?
Looking at the Schedule II of the (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2008, the reason for the prohibition can be speculated as not having the import permit necessary to bring in the apparatus, and possible quality control issues. Nothing else.
I read the short presentation on THE CUSTOMS IMPORT PROHIBITION ORDER 2008:- THE ROLE & FUNCTION OF CUSTOMS by Sirim-QAS and found no specific reason for the prohibition other than possible interference in the local communication system by such telecommunication apparatus. If you can get SIRIM to check on the quality of these dishes, you should be permitted to get them imported.
TheGreenMechanics’ two cents:
The number of dishes and money involved in the latest crackdown gives us an impression that there could be more shipments of this popular household item that went undetected.
The monopolistic nature of ASTRO business model, coupled with the recent revision of fees/charges and the implementation of the 6% government service tax put ASTRO out of many people’s reach and hence, the difficulty in accessing information, especially to the rural folks. If people are hindered from their right to information, due to financial or legal reasons, they will find ways through the back door, as demonstrated by what is currently happening.
The key is ‘Import Permit’. Under certain conditions, the law permits you and me to bring in such dishes. So, why don’t we relax the conditions a little bit and allow the people access to information. After all, the Malaysian government has never put any restriction to internet access in the country.
**UPDATE** – Another 90 satellite dishes worth RM225,000 were seized by Sabah Customs in Keningau on Monday. This makes a total of 196 confiscated parabola set. Total market worth is now RM490,000. (Source: Daily Express, 19-06-2012, page 4).
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Vote properly citizens, against MONOPOLY and oppression of communications. Ask your MP if they will remove the ban and make satellite dishes legal. If your MP does not want to, then do not vote for that MP because they are colluding with Astro for monopoly over YOUR CASH. If there is no MP that is running as candidate that will, run for election yourself with the intention of ratifying legalisation. There are more people being extorted via monopoly than those on the take, THAT is the power of democracy as much as the right for th electrosensitive to demand White Zones or even compensation for being affected as per the rights of a minority group – Malaysia unfortunately does not protect or even give equality to the minorities of non-Malays and non-Muslims who seem to somehow think that EQUALITY is unfair to them. A skewed sense of entitlement inculpated by racists and apartheid accepting lapdogs for decades by BN!
If 222 MPs or actually 130 MPs run for election the Satellite dishes will become legal and Astro’s monopoly will end. No need to fight with the police or do illegal stuff! The police will then also be happier because they too will not have to pay Astro, which is incidentally owned by a non-Malay.
Then consider solar panels to end electricity monopoly as well. Local solar panel producers will be happy instead! And with enough independent persons, satellite phones as well which can be trasnparent to ensure no neurotech infiltrations which I strongly believe Astro has been applying against the citizens of Malaysia with. Most police and army are Joe Public level wealth types, for certain they should see the value in such actions. The 1% type ‘Putras’ or term limitless Oligarchs colluding should be taken out of the system as quicly as possible. Will the voters wake up? 1% of people will be unhappy that they cannot get EVEN MORE millions, but 99% of the people will see all of the above bills drop to ZERO. Vote properly or offer yourself as candidates! Make C-band Satellite dishes and decoders legal by becoming MPs! Also any right minded Malays could climb over Pakatan AND BN by securing for themselves as a 3rd Force by running as independent candidates by endorsing with intention to grant via statuary declaration :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Then realise that neurotech can eventually end all freedom as well . . .
ARTICLE 3
What’s keeping Malaysia’s Opposition together? – Bridget Welsh (Malaysian Insider) – Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Pakatan Rakyat is an alliance of profoundly different backgrounds, with secularists, theocrats, conservatives and progressives working together.
What keeps the Malaysian opposition Pakatan Rakyat (People’s Alliance) together? The quick answer often given is the common search of political power.
While power frames the relationships between three disparate political parties – Islamist PAS, secular-committed Democratic Action Party and the umbrella reform-oriented PKR of Mr Anwar Ibrahim – it is not the glue of the opposition alliance. Were this the case, PAS would have left the coalition when UMNO floated the offer of joining the government in 2008 and intense jockeying took place within PAS.
The answer lies in the three parties’ shared moral compact. Pakatan Rakyat is an alliance of profoundly different backgrounds, with secularists, theocrats, conservatives and progressives working together. In a world wracked with tensions over religion and misunderstandings, Malaysia’s opposition stands out in bucking international trends of difference.
CORRUPTION IN EVERYDAY LFE
Three common principles bind the Opposition together. The first is deep concern with endemic corruption.
The problem of corruption is not new, and while Malaysia’s practices are assessed above many in Asia, including Indonesia, what has become increasingly apparent is that it has crossed the line of acceptability for many Malaysians. Survey results show that an overwhelming majority view their officials as corrupt and believe that their officials do not abide by the law.
Scandal after scandal, from the National Feedlot Corporation and Scorpene, to the recent revelations about the extension of the Ampang LRT, has inundated citizens. While there are many civil servants who work hard to deliver services, there are pressures within the system to conform to predatory practices.
Malaysian corruption was initially concentrated among the elite through the practice of “money politics”. But more and more, it is extending into everyday issues such as school fees, crime prevention and service provision.
Most basic food items, such as sugar and rice, are tied to non-transparent deals of politically-aligned businessmen, as are bigger items such as cars through Approved Permit licence allocations.
These weaknesses in governance share a common moral thread – a privileged minority using the system to their advantage, and this is hurting the majority and widening inequality.
FAIRNESS AND THE PLAYING FIELD
This leads to the second shared principle – fairness. The three political parties each have a different take on what is fair, but there are areas of similarity: Namely, everyone should have a seat at the table; everyone should be treated fairly in a court of law; and social and economic inequalities should be minimised.
This shared view of fairness extends into the outrage over unfair legal decisions and deep-seated concerns about poverty and displacement of many Malaysians. Pakatan’s conception of citizenship has evolved into one in which all Malaysians are exactly that — Malaysians. It is a modern view of citizenship, in which everyone has rights and the government is to respond to the people, not the other way round.
The Opposition’s moral compact is also driven by a mutual interest in expanding democratic governance to level the political playing field.
Calls for the removal of the Internal Security Act (which was suspended and replaced by the more benign but less tested Security Offences Act earlier this year), electoral reform, freedoms of assembly, religion and speech, among other things, all fall under the umbrella of expanding political space and rights.
Ever since the reformasi movement of 1999, opposition activists have joined forces in highlighting democratic deficits and showcasing reasons for an expansion of democracy. Each protest and political crisis has brought the opposition together – from Bersih 1.0 in 2007, to the defections and subsequent takeover of the Perak state government in 2009. The bonds forged by protesting together are strong.
Since 2008, there have been significant efforts to rupture the Opposition’s moral compact on multiple fronts. The charges of sodomy and corruption have been tied to attempts to discredit opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and raise doubts about his moral calibre to lead. The introduction of issues such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual (LGBT) rights puts pressure on the relationship between the liberals and others within the Pakatan Rakyat.
The sensitive “Allah” issue that rose to the fore in 2010 tested the Islamists’ position. The push for Malay rights under the rubric “Ketuanan Melayu” reflects efforts to reinforce ethnic supremacy over shared humanity and equality, to reimpose the social contract of the past.
Each of these issues has not broken the ties between the opposition actors, and it is in part due to the prominence of the underlying principles that bring them together.
THE PROBLEM OF HUDUD
This is not a moral compact without problems, however. The biggest challenge for the Opposition lies within. It has to do with an issue being negotiated throughout the Muslim world: The place and form of Islamic law, notably hudud.
Globally, Islamist political parties from AKP in Turkey to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt are grappling with how to bring about Islamic governance while maintaining rights. For liberals, the introduction of measures such as hudud violates the shared democratic ideals, as there remains deep mistrust of Islamists in office.
For secularists, hudud violates their view of governance. Doubts persist in some quarters about whether the Islamists will continue to hold to the ideals in office, respect different religious rights and, importantly, tolerate difference within their own community.
Detractors point to Algeria and Iran as testimony to a potential violation of trust. Others more open-minded highlight the negotiated paths of Turkey and Morocco.
For Malaysia, the hudud issue remains on the agenda, unresolved and unlikely to be so before polls. In public remarks, Mr Anwar has stressed the centrality of dialogue and principle of consensus. There appears to be a working agreement to agree to disagree.
Among Islamists there has been a global trend towards greater accommodation of difference and an appreciation of constitutional frameworks for governance. Many in the PAS old guard, nevertheless, are tied to the vision of a religious theocracy that is increasingly becoming outmoded, even in Egypt where the President comes from one of the historically strongest advocates of these measures, the Muslim Brotherhood.
Islamists the world over are having to reprioritise their principles in order to govern societies, and PAS will have to as well. What is important is that it will need to do this on its own terms, rather than respond to ultimatums from allies and opponents alike.
Hudud will remain salient to this campaign, because at its core, it puts pressure on Malaysia’s Opposition to reassess, reaffirm and reinforce their common moral priorities. It is this common ground however, that is Pakatan’s moral compact — and for now it is on firm ground. — Today
Bridget Welsh is Associate Professor of Political Science at the Singapore Management University.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Not a word on apartheid? Oh we forget that Singapore and Malaysia’s term limitless dictators gain so much from apartheid. LKY is a farce for not briniging up Malaysia’s Bumiputra apartheid at the UN despite all those US links. So what does that make Bridget Welsh’s selective comments and place in academia worth? Cynical sellout article from a cynical sellout institution. What’s keeping Malaysia’s Opposition together? Self interest. As in the refusal to legalise Satellite dishes to end Astro type monopolies and support of keeping the Vehicular AP system in place, or even keeping Bumiputra Apartheid in place to PROFIT OFF racial disunity.
ARTICLE 4
Battle for MB post eclipses polls – Sunday, 14 October 2012 Super Admin
The rivalry between Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and Azmin Ali for the Selangor Mentri Besar post has overshadowed the battle for control of the state.
But while Azmin has control over his party, he has problems getting the support of the coalition. DAP’s Karpal Singh reminded him that the MB post is a consensus decision while PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said he was “too ambitious”.
Joceline Tan, The Star
THE exchange of fire between loyalists of Azmin Ali and Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim last week was not the first but it was the fiercest to date.
The stakes have increased as the general election draws near and there is no denying that the two PKR leaders are doing what it takes to be in the cushy seat of Selangor Mentri Besar (MB). The Azmin-Khalid feud has reached a new level of intensity.
But politicians are such natural actors. When Khalid walked into the House shortly before the Dewan Rakyat session began on Monday, Azmin leapt to his feet with outstretched arms. There was no man-hug that would have been over-acting but they smiled like they were in a toothpaste advertisement as they shook hands, knowing that all eyes were on them.
Anyone looking at the pair last week would have been puzzled, even confused, as to whether they are rivals or buddies. The two adversaries are, quite ironically, seated next to each other Khalid as the Bandar Tun Razak MP and Azmin as Gombak MP.
Azmin immediately launched into an earnest explanation about his interview in a Malay daily that had sparked off the latest rounds of attacks, saying that the reaction generated was not fair to both of them.
Faekah: The petite but fierce political secretary has taken the bullets for Khalid. Faekah: The petite but fierce political secretary has taken the bullets for Khalid.
Khalid was quite blas about it and told him: “No problem, there’s no need to apologise. In fact, I just told reporters outside: Thank you to Azmin for saying that I am federal material.’”
The pair even left the House together a couple of hours later Khalid to attend a meeting and Azmin to visit one of his party workers in hospital. In the afternoon, they were together again, this time at a PKNS meeting in Shah Alam. Again, there were lots of smiles and jovial exchanges, with Azmin praising Khalid’s handling of Selangor’s financial affairs.
It was not exactly Oscar-winning stuff but it was a good show. Beneath the civil smiles and pleasantries lie a simmering rivalry that is centred around the post of Selangor MB. The two men are savvy enough to leave all that I-say-you and the you-say-me attacks to their machais.
They are well-matched to take on each other. Khalid is the MB, but Azmin pulls the strings in PKR as the deputy president, Selangor chief and party election director.
Azmin is not only a political animal but a smooth operator. Khalid, on the other hand, is not as naive as some imagine. Behind that absent-minded professor demeanour is a man determined to hold on to what he has.
Khalid has often been described as an accidental politician. That is not really the case because he has been interested in politics since his days as CEO of Guthrie Bhd. He had even vied for a division post in Umno. The MB’s office is a dream come true for him and he is not going to let go without a fight.
The latest attack began with a front page interview in Sinar Harian where Azmin praised Khalid’s achievements in Selangor and declared that Khalid’s corporate experience would be needed at the federal level if Pakatan takes Putrajaya.
The headline the next day was: MB Baru Selepas PRU13 (new MB after general election). That was when the bullets started flying between supporters of both sides.
In the corporate world, that would be known as being “kicked upstairs” removed without losing too much face.
Zuraidah: She walks and talks like a man but is a fierce defender of Azmin. Zuraidah: She walks and talks like a man but is a fierce defender of Azmin.
Azmin has often told those who claim that he wants to take over from Khalid that, “I am eyeing Putrajaya, not Selangor”. But he is well aware that Pakatan’s hopes of winning the federal government are getting slimmer by the day and the coalition is more likely to hold on to Selangor than arrive in Putrajaya. Hence, his move to close in on the MB post.
Khalid’s chief defender has been his loyal political secretary Faekah Husin. She did not mince her words about Azmin’s interview; as a result she has been severely criticised by Azmin’s camp.
The petite lawyer admitted with a laugh, “there are bullet holes all over my body.”
Azmin’s boys joke that Faekah is the “First Lady of Selangor”. They go for her because she is an easier target to hit than Khalid and there are now renewed calls to sack her for criticising Azmin.
Mundane remarks
But sacked from what and for what? Faekah is only an ordinary party member, she does not have a party post and her remarks about Azmin were rather mundane.
Moreover, the only person who can sack her is Khalid and he trusts her implicitly; that is what makes her so powerful in Selangor.
Faekah is Khalid’s spokeswoman, and during the launch of his book Fearless: From Kampung Boy to CEO, he singled her out for mention. Going by the video that was aired during the launch, it is quite clear that she is central to Khalid’s politics and work.
Her power status goes up another notch if one considers that she was the former political secretary to PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and they are still very close. Azmin’s boys know they will have to take Faekah down before they can get Khalid, hence the periodic calls for her removal.
In June this year, a group using the Twitter handle @PecatFaekah had agitated for Faekah’s resignation. The group has not given up and has since extended their scope to @PecatFaekah/Arfah, the latter being Khalid’s press secretary.
While Khalid relies on Faekah to check Azmin, Azmin uses Ampang MP Zuraidah Kamaruddin to poke at Khalid. They are Alpha females who do not mind taking the heat for their men.
Zuraidah, who is Azmin’s No. 2 in Selangor, ticked off Khalid a few months ago when he declined to defend Azmin over some compromising photographs of a couple in a toilet. More recently, she lectured Faekah for “jumping the gun” and told her to improve her communication skills with party leaders.
Azmin’s supporters maintain that the MB post should have gone to him instead of Khalid. Azmin was in the lead to be the MB when Selangor fell in 2008.
But in the early hours of March 9, Khalid’s name overtook Azmin’s and by the time the sun came up, Khalid was confirmed as the choice of MB. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had opted for Khalid because he was a big corporate name and also because he thought that Khalid would be easier to control than Azmin; he was wrong on the second count.
Azmin was deeply disappointed and one of those at Anwar’s house that morning recalled witnessing how the de facto leader tried to placate Azmin for almost an hour.
“Azmin’s face was white with anger if you had cut it with a knife, there would have been no blood,” said an insider.
Anwar’s pitch at that time was that Putrajaya was within arm’s reach and he needed Azmin to be in charge. The younger man was sucked into the Sept 16 fairy tale along with many other Malaysians. He is older and wiser and going for the realistic option this time around.
In that sense, Azmin’s remarks in Sinar Harian were very much about about staking his territory and preparing everyone for his ascent.
But while Azmin has control over his party, he has problems getting the support of the coalition. DAP’s Karpal Singh reminded him that the MB post is a consensus decision while PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said he was “too ambitious”.
Khalid’s situation is the reverse he is the preferred choice of Pakatan but he does not seem to have the backing of his party. His other problem is that his state seat in Ijok is said to be quite vulnerable and he will have to work hard to do well there.
Third candidate
There has also been talk about positioning Nurul Izzah as the next MB, and Taman Medan, a state seat in Selangor, has been named as a possible constituency for her. It is not an implausible scenario because Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo was only slightly older than her when he was plucked from obscurity for the post.
The Lembah Pantai MP and party vice-president has popular appeal and there is still that wow-factor surrounding her.
But her problem is that, intellectually, she has not measured up to her generational peers like Rafizi Ramli or Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin. She has not shone in Parliament compared to several other first-time MPs. Without her father’s name, she would be just another pretty and ambitious politician.
Her other problem is that she seems to be modelling herself after the eccentric Batu MP Tian Chua whom not many people take seriously these days. They like to pursue sensational and gimmicky issues without proper research and when proven wrong, they simply move on to a new issue. Over time, such incidents affect one’s credibility.
For instance, Nurul Izzah went to town about the Defence Ministry submarine that could not dive. She got loads of publicity but when the submarine dived in the sea off Sabah with no less than the King on board, she behaved as though she had never talked about it.
Nurul Izzah is a good ceramah speaker but has yet to show that she can think and argue factually in a debate. She has a lot of catching up to do and Azmin will see to it that she stays in Lembah Pantai.
Nurul Izzah and Dr Wan Azizah have made statements to the effect of siding Khalid but Anwar has been silent on the feud but it should not be read as impartiality. The de facto leader holds the veto decision and he will use it when the time comes.
In the meantime, the feud will simmer on. Azmin and Khalid will continue to smile and say lovely things about each other in public while the knives are sharpened behind the scenes.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
…
written by sa.tombs, October 14, 2012 15:33:43
Azmin back off. You come from a a family which is treacherous and senile. They say blood is thicker than water. How do we know what plot you are hatching ?? After al we know that Molayus are never loyal and move on the side of who pays them more. You have been known to be greedy unlike the present MB. So please FCUK Off and take over Melaka or Johor or Trengganu or even Negri 9. Leave our Tan Sri alone.
Ans : Who cares what anyone thinks? Majority vote at 66.6% quorums (of the whole party), then term limits.
…
written by Ling Joo Hien, October 14, 2012 14:47:04
I know what Karpal Singh said and what the Secretary of PAS said. What I want to know is what Anwar Ibrahim says
Ans : Who cares what Anwar says? 2 terms over? GTFO then. The is a democratic political party not a family business. Who cares what the Secretary General of PAS says? If the majority votes at 66.6.% quorums, then Azmin wins. What Anwar or the Secretary General of PAS says should not matter at all.
Here is Karpal exposing his assent of apartheid the ‘politics of consensus’ by using the hated word. Traitor to the Indian community that does not challenge apartheid. Azmin could ask the Selangor PKR to vote at 66.6% quorums for him. If Azmin fails then the better challenger wins. Nothing to do with Karpal or ‘consensus’. THIS IS DEMOCRACY, not bullsh1t consensus. Azmin should give this method a shot. That way Azmin won’t have people from DAP telling them about ‘consensus’. There is no such thing, only quorums and majority choices of ALL party members preferably AND then term limits.
These Supreme Council types are NOT a monarchy and stunt democracy in PKR. PKR should swith to a 1 man 1 vote system, then all the so called personalities can shut up and allow the members to choose – AT 66.6% quorums!
Even if Azmin wins, Azmin only has a right to be President for 2 terms. Right Azmin? Or will we have a second Anwar in the form of Azmin? 2 terms only then GTFO! That goes for all MPs as well!
ARTICLE 5
Court ruling on Muslim transsexuals raises alarm over Islam ‘superseding’ Constitution – UPDATED @ 03:02:30 PM 12-10-2012 0 By Debra Chong – Assistant News Editor – October 12, 2012
Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and residents took part in the annual “Marcha de la diversidad” (diversity demonstration) in downtown Montevideo September 28, 2012. A Malaysian High Court ruling against Muslim transexuals has sparked concerns that Islamic law is now supplanting the Federal Constitution, say legal experts. — Reuters pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 — A High Court ruling against Muslim transsexuals in Negri Sembilan yesterday is raising concerns that Islamic law is now supplanting the Federal Constitution as the country’s supreme law, legal experts have said.
Civil liberties lawyer Syahredzan Johan and law lecturer Azmi Sharom told The Malaysian Insider that there is a worrying trend that the judiciary has been putting Islamic law above all other laws in Malaysia’s dual-track court system – pointing to yesterday’s judgment as an example of an erosion of the Federal Constitution.
“There is a worrying trend in which the judiciary appears to place Islamic enactments on a higher pedestal than the Constitution.
“Islam is the religion of the Federation, but that does not mean that ‘Islam’, or what the authorities deem as ‘Islam’, supersedes other Constitutional provisions,” Syahredzan said.
High Court judge Datuk Siti Mariah Ahmad had dismissed a challenge by a group of Muslim transsexuals to an Islamic legal provision barring men from wearing women’s clothes or dressing up as females, saying Muslims cannot be exempted from Syariah legal provisions.
The judge had also ruled that Part II of the Federal Constitution – which guarantees Malaysians fundamental liberties such as equality before the law, freedom of religion, and which prohibits slavery and enforced labour among others – is exempted by section 66 of the Negri Sembilan Syariah Criminal Enactment 1992, according to lawyer Aston Paiva, who represented the transsexuals.
He said the judge had relied on the religious opinion on the Negri Sembilan mufti to justify section 66 in making her oral ruling. He added that the written judgment of the case was not yet available and the judge had not indicated when it would be released.
Section 66 of the state’s Islamic criminal code states that “any male person who, in any public place wears a woman’s attire or poses as a woman shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding RM1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both.”
Syahredzan said the Seremban High Court ruling followed an earlier Federal Court decision in which it was held that Islam must be protected “at all costs”.
“The Supreme Court in the case of Che Omar Che Soh is clear on this; provisions relating to Islam must receive secular fiats to become law,” he said, adding that it meant the proposed laws must be passed by Parliament or the State Legislative Assemblies. “It also means that laws enacted, regardless of whether they are Syariah enactments or Acts of Parliament must be subjected to and consistent with the Constitution,” he said.
Azmi, an associate professor at Universiti Malaya’s (UM) law faculty, went a step further.
“It is going to give a carte blanche to state legislative assemblies, Islamic religious departments and muftis to make any laws that go against the Constitution simply by saying it is Islamic and circumnavigating the Constitution.
“If you do not respect this basic rule, then what safety net do we have as citizens?” he asked.
The four transsexuals identified by their birth names – Muhamad Juzaili Mohd Khamis, Shukor Jani, Wan Farol Wan Ismail and Adam Shazrul Mohd Yusoff – who have all been previously arrested and convicted under Islamic criminal laws had initiated the suit last year against the Negri Sembilan government and the state Islamic affairs department to end the “persecution”, which they claimed to be a violation of their constitutional rights.
Paiva told The Malaysian Insider that his clients, who have been medically diagnosed to have a gender identity disorder, only wanted the court to declare that Section 66 “does not apply to anyone with a gender identity disorder.”
He said they were distraught and were considering appealing the ruling.
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NO. However, going apostate in Malaysia is particularly difficult, effectively illegal, and also non-Muslims even Malays, not to mention all citizens not Malay and not Muslim are severely discriminated and disenfranchised against if they are not Muslims. This ruling by itself is correct (LGBT cannot be Muslim, though apostataes can), but the underlying related rulings are wrong (cannot go apostate in malaysia, when not a Muslim even if Malaysian, are not treated equally as per the constitution).
mini-ARTICLE 5.5
Jangan shiok sendiri – Wednesday, 10 October 2012
And this is what happens when you close your mind and refuse to look at the bigger picture. You are just one person with one vote. You may even be amongst four million like-minded people. But then 10 million people will be coming out to vote in the 13th General Election. And how many of these 10 million are following the TV news every night? And how many of these 10 million have been swayed by what they saw on TV?
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Minority of one is a bastion of democratic principles. The articles of UNHCR of which Malaysia is a failed signatory of, is another. Democracy negativist article from a so-called modern Muslim! We all know what this makes RPK . . .
ARTICLE 6
The Rise and Rapid Fall of Suaram’s Cynthia Gabriel – FROM AROUND THE BLOGS – Friday, 12 October 2012 Super Admin
Just days ago Cynthia Gabriel was set to be a key figure in the GE13 election campaign. Suaram, of which she is a board member and key spokesperson, was strutting the Malaysian political stage on the back of the Scorpene submarine issue and they thought they had BN on the run.
After all, at the height of the Scorpene saga it was suggested mysteriously that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was set to be whisked off to France to testify at a trial. If he didn’t go, said Suaram’s media friends, our trade with the European Union would suffer. It was total fiction but for Suaram and Pakatan Rakyat they were happy days as the story dominated the media. They went on with their spin and stories.
Except as we now know, there is not and never has been any trial.
A visiting French lawyer Yves Charpenel, who also happens to be a former French prosecutor, torpedoed that story in a five minute press conference in Kuala Lumpur this week.
This has left Suaram reeling. Far more than the revelations about the web of foreign interests that funds this politicised and Pakatan-backed “human rights” group, the “no trial” revelation harmed Suaram because it struck at the heart of its integrity.
NGOs say Suaram misrepresented itself as plaintiff in Scorpene inquiry – NEWS/COMMENTARIES Thursday, Ida Lim, The Malaysian Insider – 11th October 2012
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) had misrepresented itself as a plaintiff to a French inquiry of the multi-billion Scorpene submarine deal, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) alleged today.
“We view the claim that SUARAM has been accepted or recognised as ‘civil party’ (plaintiff) as a biggest lie in the country’s political history…” Dzulkarnain Taib, president of the Young Journalists Club, said at a press conference today.
“This means that the case by Suaram in relation to Scorpene has been thrown out by the French court since March 2012,” he claimed.
Dzulkarnain pointed to a court document dated March 13 this year, signed by the French judiciary, purportedly rejecting SUARAM as plaintiff for the Scorpene inquiry as proof.
He claimed that SUARAM’s lawyers had applied for the human rights watchdog to be made a “joint civil party” (joint plaintiff) together with the International Federation for Human Rights, based on a court document dated March 16 this year.
But Dzulkarnain said the French judiciary have yet to decide on whether to allow SUARAM to be a joint plaintiff over the inquiry into the Scorpene deal.
He declined to show the two court documents to reporters, saying that it will be revealed at an “opportune time”.
He gave the court reference number for the documents instead, with the first being “No du Parquet:1115196025 and No Instruction: 2292/12/4” and the second being “No Parquet: 1115106025 and No Instruction: 20F/11/52”.
Other NGOs present at the press conference include the Muslims Consumers Association of Malaysia, Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia and Malays Consultative Council.
CCM resubmits investigation paper on Suaram-linked firm to A-G – NEWS/COMMENTARIES Super Admin – Ida Lim, The Malaysian Insider
he Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) has resubmitted the investigation paper on a company linked to Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) for misleading accounts to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.
“CCM has submitted completed investigation paper to A-G last week. Now is up to A-G on his further action,” the domestic trade, co-operative and consumerism minister told The Malaysian Insider when contacted.
He confirmed that the investigation paper was still for “misleading accounts” by the human rights watchdog’s company Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd.
He said there was “nothing from A-G yet” when asked if the A-G’s Chambers had decided to bring charges against Suara Inisiatif.
Two weeks ago, Ismail reportedly said CCM was gathering the additional information required before resubmitting the investigation paper on Suara Inisiatif to the A-G’s Chambers.
It was previously reported that the A-G’s Chambers had returned the investigation paper to CCM on September 19 as it could not draft charges based on the incomplete paper.
Suaram has been at the forefront of exposing alleged corruption in the multibillion ringgit Scorpene submarine deal this past year but has in turn been the subject of investigation into its funding, along with several other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and news portal Malaysiakini.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Worse case of point scoring quangocrat in Malaysian history ever. I have contacted Suaram about Bumiputra Apartheid before. Not a word or sound from the supposedly UN ECOSOC compliant NGO.
ARTICLE 7
Anwar gets into PAS’ bad books – NEWS/COMMENTARIES – Ida Lim – Friday, 12 October 2012 Super Admin
(The Star) – PAS Youth has joined the fray in denouncing a book launched by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that suggests Islam is not a good basis to set up a nation.
Its chief Nasrudin Hassan said the wing fully supported the statement by the party’s deputy spiritual leader Datuk Dr Haron Din, who criticised the book and the Opposition leader for associating himself with the book’s author, former Indian MP Mubasyar Jawid Akbar.
Mubasyar in the book Tinder Box: The Past and The Future of Pakistan suggests that Islam is only a basis to form a brotherhood and not a basis to form a country.
Nasrudin said the wing supported Haron’s statement that the development of an Islamic nation should centre around Islamic principles and teachings.
He was responding to Haron’s recent criticism against Anwar for launching Mubasyar’s book at the Royal Lake Club in Kuala Lumpur.
The book launch was also attended by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
Haron expressed regret that PKR had given Mubasyar the opportunity to present his liberal views in Malaysia.
Denouncing Mubasyar’s book, Nasrudin said Islam should not be limited as a basis to forge ties between the ummah.
PAS rejected such liberal Islamic doctrines, said Nasrudin, stressing that Islam could even be used as a guide to resolve national woes.
“Islam complements all aspects of life including the establishment and administration of a nation.”
Islam emphasised a trustworthy administration that was free from graft and leakage, and on the welfare of the rakyat, he said.
Wednesday. Asked why her organisation let everyone believe that the Scorpene submarine deal was the subject of a trial in France she answered weakly: “Suaram has no control on how (the) media are reporting this matter.”
But as The Choice has reminded her, this isn’t actually true. At any time Suaram could have corrected the false story doing the rounds but chose not to do so. Nor did it suit its friends in Pakatan Rakyat and the phalanx of foreign interests happy to see cleverly crafted untruths undermine our political independence.
Now that Gabriel has suffered such a painful come down her opponents are on the attack.
Without naming Suaram, Independent MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim told the Dewan Rakyat: “The people were hoodwinked by these group of people who collected donations from the public for the so-called trial.”
“I believe the government has a solid ground take up a defamation suit against the perpetrators.”
He also proposed a law to “monitor the activities of suspected foreign agents who interfere in the internal affairs of the country”. Again, he didn’t name anyone but he might as well have been carrying a photo of Suaram donor George Soros.
But another press briefing in KL definitely did name Suaram accusing it of the “biggest lie in the country’s political history.”
Young Journalists Club President Dzulkarnain Taib produced a court document from France showing that French judges Roger Le Loire and Serge Tournaire rejected Suaram as a plaintiff in the case on March 13 this year.
“This means that the case by Suaram in relation to Scorpene has been thrown out by the French court since March 2012,” he said.
This will further embarrass Gabriel personally because in her defence of Suaram this week she said: “There is no confusion on our part that the case is on the second stage, at the criminal inquiry process when Suaram is accepted as a civil party in March this year.”
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Anwar means THEOCRACY more than Islam. Who cares about PAS’s 1% of world population Hudud? If PAS wants to be insane, let them convince the whole of Kelantan and Terengganu at 66.6% quorum FIRST. PAS should not even talk about Malaysia at all till then. PAS is getting more and more like Al Shabab and Al Qaeda. Does PAS want to cause USA to bomb Malaysia? Malaysia is no Iraq and not even near SHIITE Iran in power or Saudi Arabia in influence.
ARTICLE 8
Comments About Ommission of Comments – excerpt reposting by @AgreeToDisagree
Anonymous said…
Your experience is interesting/arresting. I used to contribute as a Blogger — I don’t anymore. Like RPK, the MC boss is just a user of people. You are given space WHEN YOU ARE USEFUL TO SERVE HER AGENDA; othervice, sorry 4U lah!:) Hey, come over to my space and I’ll assure I’l offer even tehtari’ on top of free space:) — Newsdog aka Desi
PS: WHY yr verification words so difficult wan?
1:31 PM
KoSong Cafe said…
Thanks Desi for your comment. I have no idea about, let alone control over, the verification words set by Blogger.
There are many things which could contribute towards misunderstanding between website administrator and commentator. In the case of MC, my purpose of pointing out probable mistakes wasn’t out of malice but to help them improve. I was hoping it could be an acknowledgement without publishing my comment. At least then I would have known they have got the message. I have had lots of mistakes when posting in my own blog and often some words or spellings bothered me mentally and I had to review and amend them. It is a known fact that we need others to proof-read our own work and vice versa.
7:17 PM
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
‘OMG I experienced the same thing. The undemocratic ***** keeps removing comments and preventing discussions!
The Nut Graph is worse. They manipulate or omit portions of your comment to misrepresent the original intent of your comment to mean something else! If you 2 guys are up to it in terms of wealth, how about running for candidacy as the 3rd Force or ‘Fifth Estate’?
That way Choonmei will have a competing platform (which is Pakatan biased to the point of lies) that you 2 will be in the form of MPs.
Frankly I am considering the same as well but have been sabotaged so severely that I might have to rely on proxies instead.
Either of you could also setup a Malaysian Anti-Chronicle online mag same style that does allow comments without ommissions or removals and at least give neutral news to the readers as well. Here’s mine :
Almost decided not to post after seeing but decided to so as not to deny any of a learning curve regardless of age issues (old doesn’t mean we forgo the effort to educate or being younger to neglect the uneducated supposed ‘elder’. . . even if infiltrated and without privacy . . .)
KoSong wrote . . . To put it briefly, I am not against nepotism per se (paragraph 2 or 2nd heading in paragraph 1) . . . this is the same as saying to just rape an unwilling underaged kid ‘a little’.
Nepotism destroys opportunity for people to participate in nation building. When one person sits on a particular panel or post, mch less a law making post which has not been used for decades to change any law but to worsen laws, nepotism is indefensible. Nepotism has already proven harmful to all. The pattern of dictatorship and abuse of power is typical. That is why absolute monarchies fell, that is why nepotism is a sign of unintellectual and undemocratic failures. Old guys, run for election!
KoSong wrote . . . But the most incredible thing happened: after his release from prison, DAP routed Gerakan from Penang in the last General Election, and he became Chief Minister! . . .
That was WITHOUT people’s vote on a 66.6% quorum and no consultation among all MPs in Penang for a 51% majority at least. How could anyone call that ‘incredible’? Became Chief Ministrer? Ridiculous! LGE’s biological father LKS INSTALLED LGE as CM, an action that in fact the Federal Government could even challenge as being undemocratic under laws against nepotism or even UN consideration. One can’t INSTALL one’s own children as CM! Thats whats wrong with nepotism! Being a fan of a political party is one thing, being an unthinking fan is another, and KoSong is being a Kosong when something as terrible and undemocratic as this is called ‘incredible’. Incredulous!
Talk about 3rd world minded, uneducated voters! Democracy is not about family. democracy is about changeing laws and making life liveable. And LGE by not keeping 90% of campaign promises has leve everyone down compounded by the above facts against nepotism. talk about 3rd world mindedness! Tsk tsk tsk . . .
OFFENDING TERM LIMITLESS/NEPOTISM CLIQUES in PAKATAN
Three of the below limitless term MPs must be challenged so that only a single candidate without relatives remains :
Lim Kit Siang (MP Ipoh Timur – Perak)
Lim Guan Eng (MP Air Puteh – Penang)
Chew Gek Cheng (Assemblyman Kota Laksamana – Malacca) Guan Eng’s wife
Lim Hui Ying Guan Eng’s sister (Vice-Chairman)
Two of the below must be challenged so that only a single candidate without relatives remains :
Karpal Singh (MP Jelutong – Penang)
Gobind Singh (MP Puchong – Selangor) Karpal’s son
Jagdeep Singh (Asssemblyman Dato Keramat – Penang) Karpal’s son
Two of the below must be challenged so that only a single candidate without relatives remains :
Anwar Ibrahim (MP Permatang Pauh, Seberang Prai)
Wan Azizah
Nurul Izzah Anwar(MP Lembah Pantai – Kuala Lumpur) Anwar’s Daughter who won only because (as per RPK’s report on article) only 7% of the voters in the constituency Nurul stood in turned up!
Also either Ngeh (Pantai Remis) or Nga (Sitiawan) must go to prevent 2nd degree nepotism and the kind of environment that caused DAP’s Kulasegaran to be kicked out possibly an act of racism but more likely at the order of the Lim family clique and their dogs like Chow Kon Yeow and Ng Wei Aik.
For even stronger consideration, I also list seats that HRP demands from the unethical Pakatan cliques, note that PAS is the least problematic party in Pakatan though more authoritarian and Islamically inclined (Hudud should be applied on a signatory by signatory basis, not summarily imposed, to not drive away Malay voters) :
1. Padang Serai (Incumbent: PKR – N Gobalakrishnan)
2. Batu Kawan (DAP – Ramasamy)
3. Sungei Siput (PSM – Dr D Jeyakumar)
4. Ipoh Barat (DAP – N Kulasegaran)
5. Bagan Datoh (BN – Ahmad Zahid Hamidi)
6. Cameron Highlands (BN – SK Devamany)
7. Hulu Selangor (BN – P Kamalanathan)
8. Kuala Selangor (PAS – Dzulkefy Ahmad)
9. Klang (DAP – Charles Santiago)
10. Kota Raja (PAS – Siti Mariah Mahmud)
11. Rasah (DAP – Anthony Loke)
12. Teluk Kemang (PKR – Kamarul Baharin Abbas)
13. Alor Gajah (BN – Fong Chan Onn)
14. Tebrau (BN – Teng Boon Soon)
15. Lembah Pantai (PKR – Nurul Izzah Anwar)
HRP might very well be aware of some things we are not aware of to list some surprising choices as well, do not discount their reasons.
Voters, BN is apartheid, corrupt and refuses to use that mandate to better Malaysia, PR is self serving non-pro-active, self glorifying, unable to keep their campaign promises, also very nepotistic, so vote instead for 3rd Force Parties such as : KITA, JATI, MCLM (whats left of MCLM), PCM, Borneo Front, MoCS Sarawak, Konsensus Bebas, HRP/Hindraf and PSM, ABU, PRS, STAR etc.. to END APARTHEID.
Do your own thinking KoSong, and heck why not run for MP instead of being a mindless or collusive hero worship kaki or follower, be a leader and an independent!
ARTICLE 10
10 secrets couples will never reveal to each other – Sunday, 14 October 2012 12:14
So, your mother used to tell you that little girls were made of sugar and spice and all things nice; well boys, we’re sorry to say that your mother was wrong.
Even if you think your girlfriend is the purest of women, everyone keeps secrets and your girlfriend isn’t exempt.
Secrets and scandals are a part of everyone’s life and even if you think you and your boyfriend are immune from the scurrilous dramas that affect every other couple, you’d be wrong. Even the most honest men keep secrets.
One study found that 64 per cent of women would still prefer their men to earn more than them. She’ll never tell you that she wants you to be rich because it’s bad taste, so you’ll never know the truth.
And although most chick flicks depict all guys as being hopeless commitment-phobes, in reality it would seem that a lot of men actually announce those three killer words prematurely.
Did your man tell you he loved you too soon? If he did, it may not have been because he instantly fell in love with your pretty smile and sharp wit; he may just have said those three little words to get you in bed.
Published in Social
1 Comment
Comment Link sugar and spice forever Sunday, 14 October 2012 16:43 posted by sugar and spice forever
‘Even if you think your girlfriend is the purest of women, everyone keeps secrets and your girlfriend isn’t exempt.’
Disgusting. Obviously an impure woman corrupting all women. (makes people want to revive stoning of adulterers / Greedy, high maintainence, manipulative, lustful, selfish . . . )
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. . . well boys, we’re sorry to say that your mother was wrong. . . . Boys? Barf . . . I can just imagine the haggard, faded harridan/femme fatale, disparaging the goodly among ‘boys’ and moms . . .
Heres an interesting piece on gender politics. The original can be read at below link at risk to your love of women. The first 2 sentences is where the embedded NLP is, which normalizes ‘male minded’ callous women and normalizes infidelity. The rest of the article is faultless and acceptable with a second NLP right at the end in closing. Analysis? Potentially indicative of a manipulative and sick minded woman who probably did not have a great time or experience with men. A writer who slips this sort of poison in the article is as much likely to . . . quidditch! Or was that qlippoth! As the Chinese would say – 君子動口不動手 – actually 動口 can be just as harmful but thats because most of us don’t have Legion behind us so feel entitled to ‘cheat’ . . . (see how frightful the above article writer is to inspire this sort of cautionary posting? Shiver . . . ) Rebut or refute don’t get more brittle or viciously plot downfalls to support failed arguments . . .
ARTICLE 11
Amy Cheong is not Lee Kuan Yew — @FeedMeToTheFishes – October 12, 2012
OCT 12 — What Amy Cheong wrote in her Facebook denigrating my Malay/Muslim friends is wrong. It shows the contempt she has for others.
After her mindless act, PAP ministers and supporters alike went full throttle condemning her for her foolish insensitivity. Straits Times (October 9, 2012) on its front page stated, “NTUC fires exec over online racist remarks” with the following:
• The NTUC takes a serious view on racial harmony in Singapore,” said Lim Swee Say. “We will not accept and have zero tolerance towards any words used or actions taken by our staff that are racially offensive.”
• Law Minister K Shanmugum called Ms Cheong’s remarks shameful and unacceptable, adding that they confirm “deep fault lines in our society based on race and religion.”
• Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said that Ms Cheong’s comments were “offensive not only to the Malay-Muslims, but all the rest of us who value Singapore’s multiracial spirit and who want to take it further.”
• Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin said, “the reaction of some individuals does not reflect the values that the rest of us hold on to.”
• Writing on Facebook from New Zealand where he is on an official visit, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he was shocked to hear of the incident. “The comments were just wrong and totally unacceptable.”
• Grassroots leader Lionel de Sousa, who is the secretary of the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle in Hougang, filed a police report yesterday. He said he wanted to send a signal that racist remarks should not be tolerated.
The sense of righteousness of the gentlemen above in condemning Amy Cheong, though timely, appears to be a little hollow to me.
Gentlemen, just where were you when Lee Kuan Yew was onto the following:
• “… to persuade Malay parents to look after their daughters more carefully and not to have teenage pregnancies which leads to failed marriages, subsequent marriages also fail and delinquents…” Why he had to highlight the Malay-Muslim parent instead of Chinese or Indian is beyond me.
• Mr Lee: “Well, we make them say the national pledge and sing the national anthem but suppose we have a famine, will your Malay neighbour give you the last few grains of rice or will she share it with her family or fellow Muslim or vice versa? Why Malay as example again?
• Lee Kuan Yew’s take on Muslim integration in Singapore
• In his interview with Charlie Rose at 31:57, Lee Kuan Yew appeared to stand corrected again even after he stood corrected.
While every mother’s son in PAP is having an orgasm running down Amy Cheong for her “racist” post, I simply wonder where were they when LKY said things that (in my perception) were derogatory to my Malay-Muslim friends? Why were you not doing what you do now to Amy Cheong? Condemning racism!
In every race or community (religious or whatever), there are decent blokes, there are mean bastards and, worst of all, hypocrites! Please be fair — regardless of race, language, religion, gender and, most important of all, political status, position, power and wealth! ?Truth is Amy is not LKY. That is why she is paying and paying (PAP?) for a sin that may not be a sin to another who is powerful.
I guess power corrupts and absolute power corrupts beyond what our minds can comprehend.
Shame on those who practise double standards! — TR Emeritus
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
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An article in which the NLP is in the nick of the writer? Lets feed @FeedMeToTheFishes to the fishes . . .
Sure as hell Amy is not LKY. LKY or LSL would have slapped the other party. Remember the polytechnique student with LKY AND the Minister case with LSL? Both LKY and LSL nepotists term limitless would slap if they lost the argument. And nepotism is not a policy
Following is the extract from page 150 of Ross Worthington’s book, “Governance in Singapore” (Publisher: Taylor & Francis, Inc, Dec 2002):
In 1990, an incident occurred in a pre-cabinet meeting which was the beginning of entrenching further among the many in the core executive, resistance to Lee Hsien Loong’s long term ambitions for prime ministership. Prior to this meeting Lee Hsien Loong had gone to the office of Richard Hu, the Minister of Finance, and removed a number of files without Hu’s permission. At that time Lee’s office was on the 48th floor of what is now Temasek Tower and Hu’s was on the 50th floor.
At the pre-cabinet meeting Hu took Lee to task for doing this and was supported by Tony Tan. Lee’s response was aggressive and insulting, he directly insulted Tan and Hu, a man of his father’s age. This was a double insult to Hu, who was Lee’s superior in cabinet and a person of an age who should of itself deserve respect in Chinese society. Suppiah Dhanabalan intervened and chastised Lee for his behaviour, demanding that he apologise to Hu, withdraw his remarks and not interfere in other minister’s portfolios. A heated exchange occurred into which a number of other issues intruded and eventually Lee lost his temper, and reportedly reached across the table and slapped Dhanabalan across the face.
This caused an uproar in the cabinet and Lee was severely chastised by Goh Chok Tong. Dhanabalan stormed out of the room and did not return for some time. Lee, in response to a demand from Goh, subsequently apologised to Dhanabalan, Hu and Tan. Hu, Dhanabalan and Tan all initially stated that they would leave the cabinet as a result of this incident. Goh later took up the matter with Lee Kuan Yew who reportedly verbally thrashed his son over the matter.
This was apparently followed by a more sober, educational but equally critical assessment from Lee Hsien Loong’s mother, a talented though background political adviser. Lee Kuan Yew reportedly met later that day with Hu, Tan and Dhanabalan, apologised for his son’s behaviour and requested that they not resign, supported by a similar request from Goh Chok Tong.
All held out for some time, but eventually Hu agreed to stay, but Dhanabalan and Tan both resolved to leave. This they did the following August 1991 elections, all without a public word against Lee Hsien Loong, continuing to subscribe to the tenet of all secrets staying within the PAP family.
The polytechnique student slapping case (LKY lost a live debate AT A POLYTECHNIC and was so angry that LKY dashed to slap the student on the spot) however has been removed from virtually all reports. Fortunately there are people from my generation who do remember what LKY was up to earlier on. Fisticuff Lees are the redneck tyrants and ‘Junta Family’ of ASEAN. What they do to their perceived opponents is quite inconceivable and cruel, and no gentlemen in civil society or democracy should tolerate the presence or behaviour of such coarse people who do not respect civilisation but do corrupt and bribe as well as sacrifice fellow citizens so they can stay ‘in power’. Anyone who votes PAP are complicit in the damning of Asia. Unforgivable and must be punished at equal measure, all that springs from this particular Lee family of the State of Singapore holding the PMs and MM’s posts is foul and poisonous! A 1000 lifetimes at the dregs of society would not be enough for all the damage the Lees have caused the world, the familes destroyed, the people killed – indirectly of course via direct or spiritual means but certainly by the hand and intent of the Lees. Voters/sentients of the universe, do you know what to do to such people and those who support them? More ‘dirt’ on the Lees below . . .
mini-Article 11.5
Singapore’s lack of a free press, repulsive. – Gopalan Nair (Attorney at Law – Fremont, California) – Thursday, June 7, 2012
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The one principle factor in Singapore which makes life boring, uninteresting and thoroughly disagreeable in their lack of a free press. The Lee Ruling Family’s subjects are forced to read only what is printed in their state controlled newspapers. The island does not allow independent news media of any sort.
This is the case as far as domestic news is concerned.
Knowing this you can imagine why life there is shunned by many (or at least out of having no choice). Every newspaper has to be licensed by the government, which means you can only publish if willing to tow the government line. They decide what you are allowed to read on a daily basis. News which does not further the government interests is not published. Each day you know that you are being treated like a child who is told what he should read and what he shouldn’t.
And this is the result.
You will never know that Lee Kuan Yew’s son the Prime Minister had raped 2 women in broad daylight along Singapore’s Bugis Street in full view of 4 Bangaldesis last week. This news is not published because it will ruin the Prime Ministers reputation.
You will never know that the Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean had assaulted 2 bouncers at the Flying Pig Bar at No. 3 Boat Quay at 3 am in the morning dead drunk. This too is suppressed because it is once again not in the government’s interest for you to know.
Did you know that only yesterday Lee Kuan Yew had ordered his minions at Temasek Holdings, the state wealth fund to divert $3.5 million dollars into his bank account in Geneva? This is a crime. But once again you will not be told about it because it is not in their interest for this to be made public.
I am not sure if any of the above is true or they are not. Frankly it does not matter because we will never know one way or the other.
A state which censors and suppresses news, tells lies and half truths or even outright lies such as that of Singapore in the end suppresses wisdom and keeps the people ignorant, and makes them fools. It insults the people and makes them dwarfs, not men.
Which is why Singaporeans flee from their island abroad, one of whom is Gopalan Nair, the writer of this article.
Gopalan Nair can be contacted at : Tel 510 657 6107 or 510 491 4375
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I can’ believe this article’s authenticity, but anyone who has the cash, should call the states should contact this lawyer and make this fact known to the voters if true and not a propaganda article . . . any women (or men? Sex workers?) wearing strap-on-dildos in public over there Gopalan? Just asking to provoke some thoughts/debate on public-nudity/normalising the presence of erect phalluses in public, or the dildo owner’s right to display their toys in public. If 2nd Amendment is respected, then the organic version which has been around since man began walking upright should be no issue though ‘non-districts’ as always need to be designated even as ‘pro-districts’ are the limit – Guns out and cocked! . . . PM Lee a public sex/dogger fan? Well, well, well maybe not such a bad guy . . . though rape is still reprehensible. Is Gopalan sure those weren’t sex workers of the type who didn’t mind being raped in public in a RLD?
Give me $ 4k or I’ll show sex video of your sis – man extorts brother – Friday, 12 October 2012 17:05
SINGAPORE- A 26-year-old man has been charged with extorting money through a sex video recording.
Mohamed Rayzal Shah bin Hood was believed to have a video recording of himself, engaged in sex acts with a woman. He then allegedly approached the woman’s 36-year-old brother with it.
Rayzal allegedly threatened to make public the video unless the man gave him S$4,000.
The alleged extortion took place in Yishun, on October 9 at about 12.45am.
If found guilty, Rayzal faces up to five years’ jail and caning.
-CNA
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This blackmail attempt is meaningless. Technology can fake anyone’s image this days. Everything is 3D super realistic and CGI based. This blackmail thing is a failure especially when so many porn lookalikes are also everywhere. Add plastic surgery as well and there is no end. I’d say ignore the threat and threaten back to make a similar video based on this sort of tech of the person if the post anything. Frankly too many people are having fun ‘pornising’ themselves and others as well. Blackmail via porn ended in the early 1990s when internet porn and photoshop proliferated . . .
Red Scar on America – August 24, 2011 — Dean Henderson
The budding genre of left-wing conspiracy research, intuitively attractive as a unifying force to many, attempts to break imposed philosophical paradigms and to deprogram minds in a world traumatized and confused by the Illuminati’s biggest psyops program ever – the Cold War. This delicate task requires a historically-grounded progressive political framework which, while taking a backseat to realpolitik, remains pertinent.
While the mainstream left refuses to acknowledge any hint of conspiracy, no matter the number of footnotes; the Alex Jones “right/left paradigm is dead” crowd, while open to deep politics, leans right ideologically, enabling the banker cabal in its quest for global hegemony via 18th century mercantilism – the purest form of capitalism ever practiced.
It is incredibly naïve to believe that the Illuminati bankers wish to usher in communism as their economic model. The real world tells us that wealth is not being redistributed. It is being concentrated in the hands of the few at historic levels.
The left’s problem lies in naiveté and cowardice, and in its inability to deconstruct the brutal state capitalism imposed via the Soviet Union. The libertarian conspiracy crowd lacks a background in political theory – their Cato Institute is funded by the same corporations that fund the two major political parties. They too have been brainwashed since birth by the mysterious events that culminated in the Soviet Union.
An analysis of these events is key to understanding the Red Scare, which haunts an increasingly extreme right-wing American political landscape and hinders our ability to formulate practical economic solutions that incorporate both capitalistic and socialistic economic tenants. It also goes a long way in explaining the incredible naiveté of the American mainstream “left”.
In 1822 Russia’s Czar Alexander banned Freemasonry from his country. When Czar Nicholas took the throne he renewed the ban, but the secret society went underground and survived. Karl Marx was a member of the League of the Just which later became the Communist League. The group was an off-shoot of the Society of Seasons, which had close ties to the Grand Orient Freemason Lodge of Paris. Frederick Engel was a wealthy German industrialist. [714]
Marx and Engel were driven by the philosophies of Freidrich Hegel, whose now infamous Hegelian dialectic put forth a process whereby opposites thesis and antithesis are reconciled into synthesis.
Though Hegel’s philosophy was adopted by Marx, it was equally attractive to Adolf Hitler and the Rothschild Business Roundtable that sponsored him. The Roundtable saw in the dialectic a boon to their monopolies by presenting phony communism (antithesis) as bogeyman to capitalism (thesis). The ensuing conflict – the Cold War – produced a huge market for arms and oil which their trusts manufactured.
Genuine revolutionary struggle in the Third World could be labeled as a “Soviet communist conspiracy” and more arms could then be sent to depopulate the undesirable poor, dispensing of agitators who threatened Roundtable interests. The pure application of communism, which indigenous peoples practiced for thousands of years prior to the arrival of Annunaki invaders in Sumeria, was the real threat to the “special bloodline” international bankers.
By upholding Soviet state capitalism to all the world as an example of “failed Communism”, the bankers could discredit this dangerous idea while producing their desired synthesis – a New World Order ruled by the Illuminati banking families and Black Nobility monarchs, with laissez-faire monopoly capitalism as their economic paradigm.
The Russian Hohenzollern family monarchy to which the czars belonged wasn’t playing ball. They grew suspicious of the Freemasons, who they knew to be agents of the international bankers. In 1915 the American International Corporation (AIC) was formed to finance a Russian revolution aimed at deposing the Hohenzollerns and launching the banker’s grand Hegelian experiment. AIC directors included Frank Vanderlip, who two years prior had attended the secret Jekyll Island meetings that formulated the private Federal Reserve; and George Herbert Walker, grandfather of George Bush Sr. The families of Rockefeller, Rothschild, Du Pont, Kuhn, Loeb, Schiff and Harriman were represented on AIC’s board. [715]
WWI was looming and the Allied powers needed to open a diversionary front against the Germans. Russian Bolshevik leader Leon Trotsky left New York by ship on March 27, 1917, just days before the US entered WWI. He had with him a US passport, 300 revolutionaries and a wad of cash supplied by the Wall Street banker crowd. Twelve days earlier Czar Nicholas II had stepped down amidst an uprising launched by genuine anarchist revolutionaries, inspired by the writings of the Russian philosopher Kropotkin, who preached revolution followed by immediate decentralization of power, a sharp contrast to the iron-fisted state capitalist control under which Russia was about to fall. The anarchists struck fear into the heart of Wall Street, so they dispatched Trotsky to derail their Menshevik plans.
As Trotsky and his Reds sailed east, Vladimir Lenin left Switzerland in a sealed train with 150 more “revolutionaries” and $5 million in cash. The train passed through Germany without inspection thanks to banker Max Warburg’s intervention. Meanwhile, fifteen international bankers under Red Cross cover traveled to Petrograd to provide additional financing to the Bolsheviks and to make off with Russia’s gold reserves, just as they would later make off with German gold reserves following WWII and Chinese gold reserves after the 1949 Revolution.[716] Prince Lvov, who replaced the deposed Czar Nicholas II, and his successor Alexander Kerensky both publicly denounced Trotsky and Lenin as German intelligence agents.
The war between Mensheviks and Bolsheviks lasted until 1922. Some 28 million Russians died. The unruly anarchists were eventually disposed of and the Roundtable crowd launched its “antithesis” in Moscow. Trotsky and Lenin were likely unaware they were being used by the bankers. Trotsky fled to Mexico City, where he was murdered by Stalin’s agents in 1940. Lenin died in 1924. He had by then identified the powerful forces behind his ascent as “monopoly finance capitalists”. Towards the end of his life he wrote, “The state does not function as we desired. A man is at the wheel and seems to lead it, but the car does not drive in the desired direction. It moves as another force wishes.”[717]
John D. Rockefeller, Nathan Rothschild, Max Warburg, Jacob Schiff and J. Pierpont Morgan seized the new Soviet opportunity. Their Four Horsemen always had interests in Russia. The Rothschild and Nobel families discovered oil in Baku in 1898 with their Far East Trading Company, but anarchist oilfield revolutionaries burned their newly renamed Royal Dutch/Shell installations to the ground.
By 1922 Rockefeller’s Chase National Bank launched the American-Russian Chamber of Commerce. In 1925 Chase negotiated a deal with Soviet Prombank to market Russia’s raw materials to the West, while helping the Bolsheviks import cotton and machinery. Chase and its sister insurance conglomerate Equitable Trust led the way in providing credit to the Soviets, selling Bolshevik bonds in the US by 1928 with help from Morgan Guaranty.
Rep. Louis McFadden (D-NY), chair of the House Banking Committee, remarked, “The Soviet government has been given US Treasury funds by the Federal Reserve Banks acting through Chase Bank and Guaranty Trust Company…Find out what business has been transacted for the State Bank of the Soviet Union by its correspondent bank, Chase Bank of New York.”[718]
The chaos caused by the Bolshevik Revolution had been a boon to Rockefeller oil interests by eliminating much of Standard Oil’s competition in Russia. In 1926 Standard Oil of New York (Mobil) loaned $75 million to the Bolsheviks in exchange for exclusive rights to market Soviet oil in Europe. Mobil built a refinery in Russia.
In 1969 Rockefeller’s International Basic Economy Corporation (IBEC) – which later gave birth to the draconian Caribbean Basin Initiative – formed a partnership with N.M. Rothschild & Sons of London. Rockefeller’s partner in IBEC was Cleveland financier and industrialist Cyrus Eaton. The Rockefellers, Rothschilds and Eatons made huge profits facilitating Soviet trade with the West. In 1976 they signed an exclusive licensing and patent deal with Licensintorg, giving them a monopoly on technology transfer to the Soviets.
President Nixon forged detente with the Soviets and Chinese following the Vietnam War in 1973. That year also brought the Arab oil embargo, the pegging of oil to the US dollar, the launch of oil futures markets and the advent of a burgeoning Eurodollar market in London. Soon after Nixon held the detente summits with his counterparts Leonid Brezhnev and Zhou En-lai, Chase Manhattan opened a branch in Moscow and started a correspondent banking relationship with the Bank of China. [719]
Nixon appointed William Casey to head the Export-Import Bank. Casey was a CFR insider and leading Knight of Malta. He later managed Ronald Reagan’s 1980 October Surprise Presidential Campaign and was appointed CIA Director. At ExIm Bank Casey financed one of the grandest industrial schemes in history, the world’s largest truck factory at the Kama River in the Soviet Union. The factory was built by Pullman Corporation and was financed 10% by the Soviets, 45% by ExIm Bank and 45% by Chase Manhattan, where David Rockefeller was now chairman.
Chase risked nothing since its money was guaranteed by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and Foreign Credit Insurance Association. If the Russians failed to pay the loans back, US taxpayers were on the hook for 90% of the Kama money. George Schultz – CFR, Bechtel and Chevron Texaco director who was Reagan’s Secretary of State – was key to the Kama River deal. Casey provided an ExIm Bank loan for Schultz’ Bechtel to build a Permindex-affiliated International Trade Center in Moscow in a deal arranged by Occidental Petroleum scion and Tennessee Gore political dynasty sponsor Armand Hammer. Other Casey ExIm Bank loans funded oil and gas pipelines and petrochemical and fertilizer plants. [720]
The US detente with the Soviets and China had more to do with a thirst for new energy supplies by the Four Horsemen than it did with grandiose statements of “promoting world peace”. China has huge oil deposits off its Senkaka Island in the East China Sea. Just northeast of Senkaka lie the Soviet Sakhalin Islands, an area that contains massive oil and gas deposits. The Soviet regions of Siberia and the Caspian Sea were even bigger oil prizes. As Chase Manhattan Senior Vice-President Albert Wentworth put it, “The Soviet Union is the last great undeveloped market for the US.”
Columnist Paul Scott hit the nail more squarely on the head when he wrote in 1976, “It is Kissinger’s belief that by controlling food one can control people, and by controlling energy – especially oil – one can control nations and their financial systems. By placing food and oil under international control along with the world’s monetary system, Kissinger is convinced a loosely knit world government can become a reality by 1980.”
Nixon Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz once bragged that through USAID’s P.L. 480 program the US employed “food as a weapon”, doling out food to nations who agree to follow IMF mandates, while withholding food from those who don’t. Just as Kissinger’s IAE benefits the Four Horsemen of Oil – Exxon Mobil, Chevron Texaco, BP Amoco and Royal Dutch/Shell; P. L. 480 enriches the Four Horsemen of Grain – Cargill Continental, Louis Dreyfus, Bunge and Andre. As Chilean Minister of Agriculture Jacques Chonchol said, “Whoever controls food exports controls the world.”[721]
The Soviet Union was an artificial construct cooked up by the Illuminati bankers to create profitable conflict and, more importantly, to confuse the world’s population in the arena of political economy. The Red Scare they manufactured has become a Red Scar on the American psyche.
[1] The Robot’s Rebellion: The Story of the Spiritual Renaissance. David Icke. Gateway Books. Bath, UK. 1994. p.160
[2] Rule by Secrecy: The Hidden History that Connects the Trilateral Commission, the Freemasons and the Great Pyramids. Jim Marrs. HarperCollins Publishers. New York. 2000. p.195
[3] Icke. p.163
[4] Marrs. p.196
[5] The Rockefeller File. Gary Allen. ’76 Press. Seal Beach, CA. 1973. p.101
[6] The World’s Money: International Banking from Bretton Woods to the Brink of Insolvency. Michael Moffitt. Simon & Schuster. New York. 1983 p65
[7] Allen. p.114
[8] Merchants of Grain. Dan Morgan. Viking Press. New York. 1979. p.398
You say Lenin and Trotsky weren’t cognizant of how they were instruments of finance capitalists until it was too late.
Surely Trotsky had played chess with Baron Rothschild in Viennae, been cultivated by Schiff in NY-he even joined B’nai B’rith there-and finally married into these circles.
How could he not have known.
Lenin had conspired with Parvus in Zurich. Parvus pioneered the permanent revolution tactic during the Young Turk Revolution in 1908. According to Solzhenitsyn Parvus had “fathered a an anonymous resolution in the Soviet, its Financial Manifesto. What looked like a set of uncouth and primitive demands from the illiterate masses was really a programme of a clever and experienced financier striking at the foundations of the hated Russian state, to bring it down in ruins at a single blow.”
It was Parvus who’d persuaded the Germans to send the Sealed Train into Russia with Lenin and co. on it!
How could Lenin not have known of the plans of the Warburg financiers?
Isn’t there also evidence that Stalin was a Tavistock-trained instrument of the Rockefeller/Fabian nexus. He was at the Russian S.D. conference in London in 1907.
Who paid for Tavistock?
Interested in your thoughts on this………
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Subsistence food farming AFTER land distribution, AND growing and processing of fuel at the micro level (every family grows their own biofuel crop). The wealth distribution issue can be easily handled by ‘Counter-Agents’. So imagine every family with stockpiles of food and biofuel perhaps dating generations back enough to last decades while solar power further prevents grid overload as well as prevent oligarch contractor crony progfiteering off electicity via fat cat bonuses for executives.
But this needs the people to vote in a manner that distributes unused state land, preferably under ALLODIAL TITLE and after abolishing EMINENT DOMAIN POWERS, as well as removal of the Army (see José Figueres Ferrer), through selection of candidates that will ratify the above.
If there are no candidates, the people must offer themselves or if rich enough (the regular rich worth a handful of millions is quite grassroots still unlike the billionaire types), at least fund proxies to run on the above issues. Kissinger’s plan will fail entirely. Food and fuel security will be guaranteed and independent of all middlemen, there will be no militaries to order around.
mini-ARTICLE 1.5
US ‘is running a two-party, fascist regime’
Mon Oct 8, 2012 5:19AM
The United States “is running a two-party, fascist regime” where “corporations and the bankers run the country”, says the chief investment strategist of AVA Investment Analytics.
In an interview with the U.S. Desk on Sunday, Mike Stathis said, “It doesn’t matter who wins the elections. First of all, all U.S. presidents are puppets. They’re puppets of the establishment. The guys that make the decisions are in the shadows”.
According to a study by Gallup, a growing number of Americans believe there is an urgent need for a third major party in the country.
The desire for a third party is fairly similar across ideological groups, with 61% of liberals, 60% of moderates, and 54% of conservatives believing a third major party is needed. The mainstream Democratic and Republican parties agree on most crucial issues that affect American lives most directly.
“They are going to send jobs to countries that have cheap labor… in order to boost the profits of corporate America. When it comes to health care, both parties– Democrats and Republicans– are going to continue to allow the health care system to be run by Wall Street,” Stathis said.
ISH/HJ
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Quite easy to find out if a real Third Force man, or a liferaft party in formation if any term limitless types or GLC types or plutocrats are included in the party.
The unholy Quran ADMITS JESUS is GOD
ARTICLE 2
Nanny state or smart tourism? Rome bans public snacking – Put that pizza away. A new law prohibits tourists from munching, camping near some of the city’s most famous monuments – by CNNGo staff 4 October, 2012
Contrary to popular belief, this fountain in front of the Pantheon wasn’t built for tourists in need of a place to wash their greasy pizza fingers.
Rome might be one of the world’s best destinations for foodies, but thanks to a new city council ordinance tourists will have to keep their delicious slices of pizza away from certain historical monuments.
According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, anyone caught snacking around key locations in the city’s historic center will face fines of up to €500 (US$645).
The move follows similar bans in Venice and Florence.
Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno said the order was issued as part of urgent measures to ensure the protection of the historic center. Because we all know the harmful impact panini crumbs can have on ancient architecture.
Snack-free zones include the marble fountains of Piazza Navona, the stone walls around the Pantheon and Via dei Fori Imperiali near the Colosseum.
More on CNN: Insider Guide — Best of Rome
And just in case you were planning to spend the night, bear in mind that camping for the night at any of these sites is now forbidden too.
Leave your padlocks in the bedroom, lovebirds
Last month authorities took bolt cutters to Rome’s famed Ponte Milvio on the river Tiber to slice off thousands of padlocks placed there by couples inspired by novelist Federico Moccia’s “Ho voglia di te” (I Want You), in which two lovers place a bicycle lock around a lamppost and throw the key into the Tiber, symbolizing the eternal locking of their hearts.
The city council, which officially banned the practice in 2007, said the rusting locks were damaging the ancient bridge.
Maybe smart preservation. Or maybe the Eternal City is fast becoming the kiljoy city.
Do you think such bans are justified? Leave your thoughts in the comments box below.
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While the Vatican is already a materialist enmired failure, these moves are quite appropriate. Eating and drinking (gluttony) are as unspiritual or plebian ( . . . sh1t happens . . . ) as anyone can get. And a place like the Vatican should be focused on fasting and discipline (also sexual discipline especially more so for paedophile priests) and not earthly issues.
Or maybe the Christian Eternal City is fast becoming the killjoy city?
Joy is not about food for foodies. Eternity far less so. Sleeping allows ‘travel’ and camping means one’s spirit ‘wanders’ at night (presumably some priests get to enjoy their ‘purity carnale‘ from travellers as well too much. Good rules! How about the Pope address 3rd world Malaysia about BUMIPUTRA APARTHEID with the Ayatollah as well? So much theft of consultation at least deserves this much in payment, bring civilisation to the Oompa-loompas of 3rd world nations . . .
ARTICLE 3
POLITICS-U.S.: Wolfowitz Defenders Double Their Standards – Analysis by Jim Lobe
Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz – At a glance IMHO . . . a ‘Biffier’ version of ‘used-car salesman’ Blair (that ‘unilateralist Iraq war criminal’) on steroids . . .
WASHINGTON, Apr 17 2007 (IPS) – Some of the same neoconservative institutions that are defending World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz against charges that he unethically promoted the career and compensation of his romantic partner were among the most aggressive in attacking former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan for alleged nepotism on behalf of his son.
The editorial writers of the Wall Street Journal, contributors to the National Review, and a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD), a neoconservative group whose journalist-in-residence, Claudia Rosett, led the campaign against Annan and his son, Kojo, have all rallied behind the beleaguered Bank president, blaming his problems on an entrenched officialdom determined to resist his corruption-fighting reforms.
“The only way this fiasco could get any worse would be for Mr. Wolfowitz to resign in the teeth of so much dishonesty and cravenness,” according to the lead editorial in Monday’s Wall Street Journal, which offered a detailed justification for the former deputy defence secretary under U.S. President George W. Bush.
“We’re glad the Bush administration isn’t falling for this Euro-bureaucracy-media putsch,” it added in what was the second of two consecutive columns on Wolfowitz’s plight.
“Paul Wolfowitz is my friend, and one of the most decent, upright people it has ever been my privilege to know,” wrote FDD senior fellow and anti-terrorism specialist Andrew McCarthy in the National Review Online (NRO).
“If it were up to me, there would be no World Bank. But if we’re going to have one, we should be grateful that Paul Wolfowitz is running it, rooting out corruption and trying to change the culture so that helping the poor, rather than pushing loans out the door, is the criterion by which it is judged,” McCarthy concluded.
POLITICS: Wolfowitz’s Allies Regroup but Leave Questions Unanswered POLITICS: Top Wolfowitz Postings Went to Iraq War Backers
The approach toward Wolfowitz’s current difficulties by both the Journal and the FDD, as well as by NRO and Fox News, contrasts strongly with their attacks on the former UN chief and his son, who was first accused in an article by FDD’s Rosett in the National Review three years ago of having working for a Swiss company, Cotecna, that was awarded a 10-million-dollar UN contract in 1998 to inspect “Oil-for-Food” imports into Iraq.
That was the first story of more than 30 published over the next two and a half years by the Review and the NRO on Kojo Annan’s business deals and what it considered a case of blatant nepotism and conflict of interest on the UN chief’s part – emblematic in the neoconservatives’ view of the corruption of the world body itself.
The Review-FDD campaign was bolstered by Fox News and the Wall Street Journal, which itself published more than a dozen editorials and columns, including several by Rosett, citing Kojo in connection with alleged UN corruption and the multi-billion-dollar oil-for-food scandal between 2004 and the end of Kofi Annan’s term in office Dec. 31, 2006.
Indeed, when Rosett reported in another neoconservative publication, the New York Sun, in late November 2004, that Cotecna had continued paying Kojo Annan 2,500 dollars a month for four years after he left the company in early 2000 – which Cotecna described as a standard non-compete deal – neo-conservatives stepped up their calls for the UN chief to resign.
“Annan should either resign, if he is honourable, or be removed, if he is not,” wrote the National Review at the time, while the Journal featured an editorial page column entitled “Kofi Annan Must Go” by Republican Senator Norm Coleman who, noting Rosett’s latest revelation, as well as other allegations of corruption in the oil-for-food scandal, declared that “(I)f this widespread corruption had occurred in any legitimate organisation around the world, its CEO would have been ousted long ago, in disgrace.”
In the event, the independent commission headed by former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker determined in its final report published in September 2005 that, while Annan should have been more aggressive about looking into his son’s relationship with Cotecna once his ties were disclosed, he had not influenced the awarding of the contract to the company or known how Kojo had traded on his name to further his business interests.
The neoconservative role in vigorously pressing the campaign to discredit Annan for his presumed nepotism and force his resignation stands in sharp contrast to its efforts to protect Wolfowitz from similar charges in connection with his role in personally arranging an exceptional promotion and salary increase for his girlfriend, Shaha Riza, a senior World Bank communications officer when Wolfowitz took over in June 2005, as part of a package by which she was seconded to the State Department.
According to the New York Times on Tuesday, Wolfowitz may also have played a role in getting her a short-term consultancy with a major defence contractor, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), in 2003, when he was serving at the Pentagon.
In its two editorials, the Journal has argued at length that Wolfowitz had tried to recuse himself from any decision regarding her career when he was first hired, but that he was subsequently forced to make the secondment arrangements himself after the Bank’s executive board and ethics committee allegedly instructed him to do so.
Consistent with a Fox News investigative report published online and aired over the weekend, the Journal wrote Monday that the ethics committee chairman, Ad Melkert, had effectively approved the secondment package and went on to suggest that Wolfowitz may have fallen into a trap set by the board to manoeuvre him into a conflict of interest.
Documents released Friday by the Bank make “us wonder if some bank officials weren’t trying to ambush Mr. Wolfowitz from the start,” it said, adding that “it’s clear that his enemies – especially Europeans who want the bank presidency to go to one of their own – are now using this to force him out of the bank.”
Michael Rubin, a Middle East specialist at the American Enterprise Institute who worked for Wolfowitz’s former Pentagon boss, Donald Rumsfeld, in the run-up to the war in Iraq, informed NRO readers that the Wall Street Journal editorial was a “must-read”.
The Journal and other supporters also tried to downplay the significance of what Wolfowitz had done. The Journal called it a “mini-flap” involving “ethical minutiae”, while Jonah Goldberg, a regular contributor to the NRO, referred favourably to a Los Angeles Times column by neo-conservative legal scholar Ruth Wedgwood, entitled “The Wolfowitz Non-Story”.
Wolfowitz and Shaha, she argued, are victims of a “mob mentality”, echoing charges by Victor Davis Hanson, yet another neoconservative at NRO, that Wolfowitz is “facing a lynch mob over perhaps a… one-time lapse of judgment in regard to compensation of a companion – nothing, however, ranking with the various scandals surrounding Kofi Annan, whose son profited by United Nations exemptions given through his family ties.”
What the scandal is really about is “payback for Iraq”, according to Hanson, whose views often reflect those of Vice President Dick Cheney, reportedly Wolfowitz’s main supporter within the Bush administration.
Ironically, the same was said by Annan’s supporters during the Kojo scandal. “The reality is that the current calls for Annan’s head are provoked by his opposition to America’s pre-emptive war in Iraq,” noted Ian Williams, the UN correspondent for The Nation weekly in late 2004 after Coleman called for Annan’s resignation.
Indeed, as the neoconservative campaign against the secretary-general gathered steam in the fall of 2004, James Traub, in a Los Angeles Times article entitled “Lynch Mob’s Real Target is the U.N., Not Annan,” wrote: “(W)hat conservatives cannot accept, at bottom, is the premise that an international body, even one over which the United States exercises enormous sway, should be allowed to pass on the legitimacy or legality of American actions.”
(NOTE: The reference to Michael Rubin of American Enterprise Institute has been corrected.)
That tears the UN, making UN all about nepotism. And such a pity that NAM is all about Muslims who obviously do not understand that secular people exist and have rights too. BRICS ready to take over where UN and NAM appear to be failing? Russia and China are too sharp witted for this to do them in are they? Socialism would expect at least this much – to prohibit the plague of nepotism as in Russia’s and China’s Iron Curtain style Laws against nepotism! The world is counting on BRICS and any Red Coats left in USA now! Live up to the name Wolfowictz, to the level where Wolves are, this is not about ‘WW3 Preppers’ or cool couples that live with actual Wolves, this is about Remus and Romulus, the Kittim Throne of the Archonic Planetary Intelligences that non-monotheistic Zoroaster knew well!
ARTICLE 4
Nuclear operators must act now on safety: EU – by Barbara Lewis – Posted 2012/10/04 at 1:32 pm EDT
BRUSSELS, Oct. 4, 2012 (Reuters) — Regulators and operators should act now to improve safety at nuclear power plants, the EU energy commissioner said on Thursday, following inspections across the European Union.
European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger speaks at a news conference on the EU Nuclear Stress Tests in Brussels October 4, 2012. REUTERS/Yves Herman
The stress tests, carried out in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster, found safety improvements costing between 10 billion ($12.90 billion) and 25 billion euros were necessary in European plants, a draft seen by Reuters showed this week.
“Nearly everywhere there is major potential for improvement,” Energy Commission Guenther Oettinger told reporters.
“We therefore think that we should talk together with operators and regulatory authorities to act rapidly so that the highest possible standards can be guaranteed very soon.”
One of the lessons of Fukushima was that two natural disasters could strike at the same time and knock out the electrical supply system of a plant completely, so it could not be cooled down.
The stress tests sought to avert any repeat of that series of events by establishing whether nuclear plants can withstand natural disasters, aircraft crashes and management failures, as well as whether adequate systems are in place to deal with power disruptions.
Among the findings were that on-site seismic instruments should be installed or improved in 121 reactors.
In addition, 24 reactors did not have a back-up emergency room in case the main control room became uninhabitable.
LIMITS OF EU POWER
Because EU authorities do not have power to determine the energy mix of member states, the stress tests were voluntary, but Oettinger said they would not just be “put in a drawer”.
“We are at the beginning of a new European safety dynamic,” he said.
He confirmed the Commission would follow up with legislative proposals early next year to enhance safety.
The proposals would include insurance and liability, but Oettinger said it was not yet clear what that might mean for electricity bills.
Austria, which banned nuclear plants in 1974, said the stress tests were “good, but not good enough”.
“Our demand is very clear: retrofit nuclear plants or shut them down,” Austrian Environment Minister Niki Berlakovich told reporters in Vienna, referring to the possibility of adding safety measures.
Rebecca Harms, a Green member of the European Parliament, told Reuters Television the stress tests report had dodged the tough questions, but said they had still served to highlight the problems.
“Mr Oettinger has done the debate on lacking security standards a great favor,” she said.
She added that the tests had “produced a handsome list of deficiencies, showing that there is a large deficit of security standards in every country that runs nuclear power plants”.
ASN, the nuclear regulator in France, which relies on atomic energy for about 75 percent of its power, was highly critical of the report, saying “some important recommendations had been ignored”.
It has already said France needs to invest billions of euros.
The chief inspector of Britain’s nuclear plants, Mike Weightman, who also made recommendations for improvements after Fukushima, said: The stress test process was a valuable exercise, reinforcing the conclusions we had reached here in the UK”.
($1 = 0.7751 euros)
(Additional reporting by Oliver Denzer; Michael Shields in Vienna; Marion Douet in Paris; editing by William Hardy and Jason Neely)
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EU no power? Rubbish. Charlemagne would turn in his grave, though EU has been particularly parsimonious for a power that wants to control Europe. If a nuclear plant in some 3rd world trash heap or corrupted 1st world colluding cut corner type nation is going to irradiate the world, destroying ecosystems and humanity eventually, the UN should send peacekeepers to dismantle the nuclear plant and bury all nuclear parts and place bans on that nation. Hear that peacekeepers? When that nuke plant blows, nothing on the planet will be left unirradiated, INCLUDING the UN peacekeepers’ families. Nuclear is too messy and likely spiritually wrong. Switch to solar or fusion instead.
ARTICLE 5
Duma council to be manned with popular bloggers – MP – Published: 09 October, 2012, 15:58 (RIA Novosti / Ramil Sitdikov)
The newly formed parliament committee for the mass media will include a public council of expert bloggers with audiences of several thousand users, the head of the new body has said.
The committee made the creation of the expert council of bloggers a separate issue in its program, LDPR MP Aleksei Mitrofanov said in an interview, promising to disclose the details of the plan in the near future.
So far, the politician announced that he wanted to include “popular bloggers of the Runet (a colloquial name for the Russian-language segment of the Internet)” in this group. He added that the bloggers’ sex or age will not matter only the popularity of the candidates. The consultative council will comprise those who have tens of thousands of regular readers, Mitrofanov promised.
Another author of the project, LDPR MP Vadim Dengin disclosed more details. He said the bloggers will take part in the discussion of all bills that concern the internet so that no one could accuse the MPs that they adopt bills without prior discussion with experts.
Dengin added that it was possible the council will include not only bloggers but also professional systems administrators and owners of social networks, both from Russia and from abroad.
The MP also said that he had personal ambitions connected with the plans – “I want to fight crime in social networks. I want punishment for the creeps who use social networks to corrupt our children, who fill the internet with pornography, who write mean things about people or publish unverified reports,” the politician noted.
The initiative caused little enthusiasm among bloggers. Dmitry Ternovsky, who was among the first candidates Dengin proposed for the council, told reporters that “he had other things to do”. Web guru and a top executive in the blogging platform Livejournal, Anton Nosik, said that he could not figure out the objectives of even the mass media committee within the parliament, to say nothing about the consultative body within the committee.
The news came as Russian authorities are struggling to introduce more regulations on the internet. In late August the leading parliamentary party United Russia suggested to amend the new law that reintroduced criminal responsibility for libel with an article that would prosecute anonymous internet users.
In November a new law will come into force in Russia that will allow government agencies to block access to sites with hazardous or dangerous information. Providers can contest this decision in court. Previously, a court had to agree the text or other material was extremist so a ban could be put in place.
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These bloggers will end up as proxy oligarchs on VVIP payrolls via manufactured hits. This problem could scuttle the logic behind this without a ready platform of access to telecoms records which again can be manufactured even if expertise of this panel is not bribed or threatened or of such companies will asset to or even be required by colluding MPs who would not ratify such requirements/vetting councils. Who watches the watchers watching the MPs?
Then see below Article 6.
ARTICLE 6
Rights Council members to be selected via internet voting – Published: 22 June, 2012, 16:51
Head of the Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmila Alekseyeva (RIA Novosti/Alexander Utkin)
A new mechanism for forming the residential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights has been suggested after over a dozen of members quit the body. Now candidates will be selected through internet voting.
“A conference was called at the presidential administration yesterday, at which a new practice was proposed, and we will turn to the public, since the Council deals with civil society development,” said the head of the institution, Mikhail Fedotov.
A discussion of new candidates for council members will be opened on the organization’s website from July 1 till August 1. Within that month, any public organizations will be able to propose their nominees for the 13 now vacant positions.
Following that, internet voting will be launched, Fedotov said, adding that any citizen will have a chance to participate in it. A list of 39 candidates will be formed as a result of the internet poll and the president will pick 13 out of them.
“As for my personal attitude towards this new order: why not try that? Let’s do that. But to me it seems questionable, because in this situation the entire team of the Council should be changed,” Fedotov observed.
According to the rights activist, there is a danger that the organization might become unworkable.
Meanwhile, one more Rights Council member has announced their decision to quit:the head of Russia’s oldest human rights organization, the Moscow Helsinki Group, Lyudmila Alekseeva. However, she said she could reconsider her position in case the new mechanism is not approved.
“I’m ready to work in the Council if there won’t be this new supposedly democratic [formation] method, which in fact is sly and is aimed at the elimination of the Council,” Alekseeva told Interfax.
The Council – the presidential advisory body on human rights – originally consisted of 40 members. Its current team was formed back in 2009. However, over a dozen quit it after the December State Duma poll and then Vladimir Putin’s return to the Kremlin.
ARTICLE 7
‘Putin illegitimate president’ – rights activist – Published: 02 May, 2012, 14:59
Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights. Gorki residence. (RIA Novosti / Ekaterina Shtukina)
Several members of the Russian Presidential Council for Human Rights are planning to quit the body after Vladimir Putin’s return to the Kremlin.
Political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin made the decision to leave the council after his report on election violations was removed from the agenda of the body’s final meeting with the outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday. The official pretext for the move was Medvedev’s tight schedule, Oreshkin told Vedomosti daily.
The rights activist, citing data provided by vote observers, stated that Putin got 50-52 per cent of votes as opposed to the official 63 per cent.
“I consider Putin an illegitimate president and I won’t be able to work in his council,” Oreshkin told the paper.
The head of Transparency International Russia, Elena Panfilova announced her decision to quit during the Saturday meeting with the president. She said she remained the council member only because she promised the mother of Sergey Magnitsky – Hermitage Capital lawyer who died in a Moscow detention centre in 2009 – to investigate his death.
“Now I think I’ll do a lot more with my civil activity in my current job,” Panfilova told Kommersant daily on Wednesday.
Another Council member, Svetlana Gannushkina – the chairwoman of the Civic Assistance organization that helps refugees – also said earlier she would leave her post in the body.
In December last year, rights activist Irina Yasina and journalist Svetlana Sorokina left the HR Council in protest against alleged violations during the State Duma poll.
Under the law, after the new head of state takes office, he is entitled to form all his councils from a scratch.
The chairman of the Kremlin council, Mikhail Fedotov said he was ready to continue his work with Putin if he is invited to. He stressed though that if “outstanding people” – current members of the organization – “are replaced with some kind of ceremonial bystanders or those who attack human rights, it would be a completely different council.”
“And I wouldn’t want to be its chairman,” Fedotov told a media conference on Wednesday, cites RIA Novosti.
Head of the Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmila Alekseeva underlined that human rights activists’ work involves close cooperation with the state authorities. For that reason the veteran rights activist in Russia intends to remain the member of the council.
Current members of the body who will not be included in the newly formed one will form a public organization for the development of civil society, Alekseeva told journalists.
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Quitting (much like refusing to vote) is for cowards or pro-establishment creeps. File suit or legal action. I’d expect Putin to prefer to stay out of the limelight after the 2nd term so as to better ‘re-KGB-tise’ Russia. One does not have to be President to control a place like Russia! Not very Iron Curtain-like . . . who are the real men in the shadows then if Putin is the frontman? Much like Ai Weiwei the Nudist in China, Russia need not even fear silly kids like these, but does need to have more venues for this sort of ‘steam letting’ behaviour . . .
ARTICLE 8
Student midwife turned away from breastfeed class – because he’s male – by Martyn Halle – PUBLISHED: 00:51 GMT, 7 October 2012 | UPDATED: 00:51 GMT, 7 October 2012
Chris Butt, 30, has been refused entry to sessions because women are ‘sensitive to men being present
He is one of only 132 male midwives out of 20,000 in the UK
A student training to be one of the country’s few male midwives has been prevented from attending breastfeeding classes – because he is a man.
Chris Butt, 30, who is in the second year of a three-year training course, tried to attend breastfeeding classes run by the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) near his university.
But since last summer he has been rebuffed several times by local branches that have refused to allow him to attend certain sessions after claiming some women are ‘sensitive’ to men being present.
Rebuffed: Chris Butt has been turned away from breastfeeding classes
Mr Butt, who is studying at Bournemouth University, has had the backing of his course tutor and the head of midwifery at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, where he is doing his on-the-job training and has delivered five babies on his own.
The Department of Health encourages women to breastfeed because of the health benefits, and midwives play a key role in educating new mothers.
Britain has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world.
Even so, members of the NCT in Southampton objected to Mr Butt’s presence at the women-only class despite the fact he is a health professional – but said they would have no problem with a female midwife.
The NCT said he was invited to attend more open classes in which the male partners of new mothers also attend.
But Mr Butt – one of only 132 male midwives out of 20,000 in the UK – has criticised the situation in an article for Midwives, the magazine of the Royal College of Midwives.
‘I didn’t believe for one minute that I would be turned away from breastfeeding groups,’ he wrote.
‘Do the facilitators of such clinics think I practise midwifery in some magical way where I don’t see intimate parts of women’s bodies?
Do they think I stand behind a screen as a baby’s head is crowning, shouting out advice on when to breathe?’
Training: The Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester, Hampshire, where the student is training
Mr Butt originally agreed to expand on his comments in Midwives but said he had come ‘under pressure’ not to say anything further.
The NCT denied it was against men attending breastfeeding groups.
A spokesman said: ‘He wanted to attend a women-only session, where there were no break-out rooms available if the women attending felt uncomfortable with a male presence.
‘We also offered him the opportunity to attend an antenatal breastfeeding workshop.’
One breastfeeding counsellor in Southampton said: ‘Chris has to understand that some women are sensitive to a man’s presence.’
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One breastfeeding counsellor in Southampton said: ‘Chris has to understand that some women are sensitive to a man’s presence.’
There are men everywhere and men also have nipples that can actually produce milk for breast feeding as well (though not naturally). While many men might want to learn at a breastfeeding class, almost all men do not want to breast feed from their own nipples, though likely a small number do enjoy and engage in obviously male (though not male looking at all) ‘sexual oriented breast augmentation culture as ‘shemales’, while a fair sized number do enjoy shemale subculture (males with augmented breasts) in private clubs etc..
This sensitivity must not be turned into disenfranchisement by EDUCATING women who have these psychological problems. Political Correctness swings both ways. The same way women want to breast feed in public places without issue, nudists want to use parks or ‘doggers’ want to have sex in the open (preferably in designated areas or at least booths much like milk-nursing booths) have a right as well – while wearing kibbutz or hijab. To merely attend a breast feeding class in a non-sexualised class should not be an issue ESPECIALLY if the man in question is not being covertly (or overtly in the obviously disenfranchisable cases) sexual or participating for titillation purposes rather than educational. This is a HUMAN lesson, not a male or female lesson.
ARTICLE 9
Prison nurse who had sex with rapist in his cell while colleagues stood guard outside is jailed for three years – by Emma Clark – PUBLISHED: 20:36 GMT, 8 October 2012 | UPDATED: 06:48 GMT, 9 October 2012
Karen Cosford, 47, told violent rapist Brian McBride she loved him and couldn’t wait for their future together
Three of her colleagues knew about the relationship but kept quiet in return for promised money
All four were jailed for misconduct while at Wakefield Prison in West Yorkshire
Cosford’s prison negotiator husband Derrie Cosford found out about the affair when he was called to investigate McBride
Karen Cosford, 47, arriving at Bradford Crown Court, was jailed for three years over the sexual relationship
A prison nurse who had sex with a violent rapist in his cell while her colleagues stood guard has been jailed for three years.
A team of Karen Cosford’s colleagues were also jailed for misconduct after keeping her relationship with ‘evil’ lifer Brian McBride a secret – believing their discretion would be financially rewarded.
Married Cosford, 47, whose husband also worked in the prison service, sent the serial rapist a catalogue of texts telling him ‘you are my world’, ‘miss you so much’ and ‘can’t wait for you to get out’.
By chance her unwitting husband Derrie Cosford, a prison negotiator, became part of the investigation into McBride – who hinted of his wife’s lies and deceit.
The shamed nurse’s claims that she had been forced into the relationship were dismissed by a jury at Bradford Crown Court, who found her guilty of misconduct in a public office for the sexual relationship, failing to notify authorities that McBride had a phone and purchasing top-ups for him.
Carolyn Falloon, 50, and Jacqueline Flynn, 46, who both worked with Cosford on the healthcare wing at the high-security Wakefield Prison, West Yorkshire, were also convicted of failing to notify authorities about the affair and mobile phone.
A third colleague Kevin Wilson, 57, admitted misconduct in a public office at a previous hearing.
Prosecutors said the guilty officers were motivated by ‘greed’ and were duped by McBride’s claims of wealth on the outside.
Sentencing the group today Judge David Hatton QC said: ‘It’s a sad business indeed when four people with previous good character, public servants who have devoted years of their lives to their vocation, should find themselves being sentenced for having abused their
positions of trust.’
Speaking to Cosford, the judge said: ‘You believed him to be a man of means and planned on continuing your relationship with him on the outside until you reached the conclusion that you had been strung along.’
During the four-week trial the court was told how Flynn admitted during police interviews that she stood guard outside McBride’s cell while the pair were inside and had heard them having sex.
The court heard that McBride, who was serving a life sentence for multiple offences of rape and violence, was in the healthcare centre as an in-patient and worked as a cleaner while he was there.
The affair came to light when a search of McBride on September 25, 2009 uncovered a mobile phone charger.
McBride was put in his cell while a thorough search of the wing was carried out and four mobile phones were subsequently discovered.
In the prison kitchen investigators found a photograph of a nurse, who was identified as Cosford, and an unsigned love letter hidden inside a bag of sugar.
The jury heard that McBride became agitated during the search, prompting a number of negotiators working in the Prison Service to visit him – one of whom was Mr Cosford.
High-security Wakefield Prison, West Yorkshire, pictured, where Brian McBride was serving a life sentence for rape
One of the wings in the prison which holds 570 inmates, 70 per cent of which are serving life
During a negotiation McBride hinted to Mr Cosford that he had been having a relationship with his wife.
Mrs Cosford, of Altofts, West Yorkshire, later reported to prison authorities that McBride had raped and threatened to kill her family if she reported him.
She said she was forced to text the convict and write the love letter which read: ‘I didn’t realise how much I do miss you until I went on holiday.
‘You understand me more than anyone, we can have a wonderful future together, everything we talked about will happen, just give it time…
‘I can’t wait for us to continue our relationship outside of the confines of this place…’
Referring to him as her ‘knight in shining armour’, she added: ‘You are the most understanding, patient, manly, kind man that I have ever known.’
Wilson and Flynn were sentenced to 15 months in jail. Falloon was given a 21-month prison sentence.
Prison officer David Sunderland, 49, of Wakefield, was cleared of failing to notify the authorities about McBride’s phone.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Suspend the prison nurse for unprofessional behaviour for 3 years or fire the prison nurse. Not jail at tax payer’s expense! The nurse had sex with the prisoner which is not criminal though the nurse was unprofessional and needed to be at most suspended! As for commentary on the sex issue, this is a private issue except for the during working hours issue.
ARTICLE 10
THRONGS of men pack court house to catch glimpse of IT exec in sex-for-business case – Tuesday, 09 October 2012 16:08
SINGAPORE – ‘Star witness’ in sex-for-contracts case has throngs of men waiting outside court building hoping to catch a glimpse of her.
Each time she steps out of the car or out of the Subordinate Court building, you’d definitely hear the word “pretty”.
Inevitably, there’d be someone among the hordes of male gawkers asking another: “So how ah? Is she
The men, who were generally in their mid-40s or 50s, admitted that they turned up at Havelock Road for one reason: Ms Cecilia Sue Siew
Ms Sue, 36, was the prosecution’s “star witness” in the corruption trial of former Central Narcotics Bureau chief Ng Boon
The first part of the trial ended on Tuesday and it will resume on Oct 31. Ng, 46, faces four charges of corruptly obtaining oral sex from Ms Sue between June and December last year.
But it isn’t just the case itself that attracted the men who turn up at court during the trial.
Mr Lau Huat Chai, 55, confessed that he was there mainly to gawk at the star witness. He was waiting outside the court at around noon on Monday.
The part-time security guard said in Mandarin: “I’ve been following the case since the woman witness (Ms Sue) took the stand.
“She looks quite pretty in the newspaper reports and I was just curious. I wanted to see her in person.”
He had just ended his night shift at an industrial building in Lower Delta Road and decided to head over to the court.
Mr Lau added: “Once I see her, I’d go home to sleep. The court case? I can read about it in the newspapers later.”
Across the building, salesman Ivan Koh was waiting inside his Honda Civic.
He was stealing time off from work “since I happened to be in the area” to see if he can catch a glimpse of Ms Sue.
Mr Koh, 48, wanted to know if she was making an appearance soon.
He said: “I’ve been driving in and out of this carpark so I don’t have to put a parking coupon.”
Pointing to different groups of waiting men just like him, Mr Koh laughed and added: “Aiyah, you must think I am a ‘lao ti ko’ (old lusty man)… but eh, what about all the other men there?”
Mr Dickson Tan, who was there on Tuesday, was offended at the suggestion.
The 46-year-old tutor said in a mix of English and Mandarin: “Look, I’m here only because my wife told me it’s Cecilia Sue’s last day in court.
“And seriously, I don’t see what’s wrong in wanting to catch sight of a pretty face.”
Mr Tan added: “It’s like going to a publicity event and waiting to see a star, maybe like (MediaCorp artistes) Zoe Tay or Fann Wong.”
But others in the heartland that this columnist spoke to on Thursday and Friday were amused by the pictures of male gawkers and “kaypohs” (Hokkien for busybodies).
Madam Wong Siew Fen, 67, who sells eggs at a wet market in Tampines, said in Cantonese: “Terrible lah. If my husband did that (waiting outside the court), I’d be really angry.”
Her husband, Mr Au Teck Keong, 69, was amused. He said in Cantonese: “I can’t be bothered to go all the way there… but eh, is she really very pretty in person?
“I wish she’d taken off her shades, then we can see her eyes.”
And Ms Sue’s eyes were “so bewitching”, declared a man in his early 40s outside Court 5 on Tuesday morning.
Neatly dressed in a red polo shirt and jeans, he said: “A woman’s eyes are the windows to her soul.” He was upset that he came too late to be let into the packed courtroom.
Peering through the doors into the courtroom, he added: “All I want is to see my Cecilia.”
He refused to give his full name, but tried to get the media to talk to him. He finally gave up, saying: “Never mind. I just came here for my Cecilia.”
Businessman Joe Quek, 60, who was happily snapping pictures with his iPhone outside the building, summed it up: “The case is interesting. The details are so juicy.
“But it’d probably be less exciting if the witness is nothing to look at.”
He added: “Ms Cecilia Sue is different. She’s well-dressed, carries herself with style and struts like a model.
“She’s just like a star.”
-The New Paper
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Plenty of escorts prettier that can be hired and actually be accessible after being trained to strut or learning to dress, and who might even be loyal enough. Why even bother with this already attached woman? Make your own star of an escort much younger and ‘durable’ of your choice silly gawkers. This is media b.s. only beneficial to the ones who get to f— this woman, everyone else gets their energy sucked in by merely being there. Open your own IT business and get your own exec to have sex with, not be a hanger-on excited over people that have nothing to do with your business much less contracts that harm society. BTW those who mix work with pleasure are idiots and those who post false articles more so for selfish and undeserving reasons, will be the rubbish of society.
ARTICLE 11
NO JOKE! Taiwan showgirls strip for the DEAD – Tuesday, 09 October 2012 16:07
TAOYUAN, Taiwan: Dressed in mini skirts barely covering their hips, the two girls took to the neon-lit stage and moved vigorously to the loud pumping pop music. Their job: to appease the wandering spirits.
As the temple facade in the background changed colour from the fireworks lighting up the Taiwanese night sky, the show climaxed with pole-dancing and striptease in front of an audience consisting of men, women and children.
“This is hard work but I need to make a living,” said 18 year-old En En, out of breath after stripping for the crowd during the recent religious festival.
En En had just earned NT$3,000 ($100) for her act, which began on stage, but ended as she mingled with the audience, letting men touch her for tips.
Folk religion in Taiwan is a unique mixture of the spiritual and the earthly, and one of its most remarkable manifestations is the practice of hiring showgirls to perform at festivals, weddings, and even funerals.
The girls work on “electronic flower cars” — specially designed trucks equipped with light and sound equipment that can become a stage, allowing them to travel to performances often held in smaller cities and rural areas.
“The groups attract crowds to our events and they perform for the gods and the spirits to seek blessings,” said Chen Chung-hsien, an official at Wu Fu Temple, a Taoist landmark in north Taiwan’s Taoyuan county.
“They have become part of our religion and folk culture.”
At 26, Chiang Pei-ying is already a veteran performer with nearly 20 years of experience, travelling across Taiwan with her father and two sisters for their family business to entertain audiences — both alive and dead.
Chiang made her debut when she was in kindergarten because she liked singing and dancing on stage and has become a celebrity performer with her sisters, charging up to NT$80,000 for a 20-minute show.
She said she enjoys her line of work, even if she has to deal with some odd requests from customers such as walking around coffins and singing for the deceased at funerals.
“I’ve watched this since I was little so it’s nothing peculiar for me. Performing for the dead is just like performing for the living people,” she said.
“They liked to sing when they were alive and their relatives thought they would have liked to have somebody sing for them in the end. For me, I get good tips and I hope I am accumulating good karma too.”
Other performers, however, make much less money and tend to be more discreet about their job, especially those who still do striptease despite risking arrest.
Stripping nude is rarely seen in public now because it is a criminal offence, but partial stripping is still performed at festivals, private parties and funerals, people in the business say.
“Some people like going to hostess clubs, so when they pass away their relatives arrange striptease to reflect their interests while they were alive,” said Chiang Wan-yuan, Pei-ying’s father and a 30-year veteran in the business.
It is difficult to imagine a similar show going on outside a European village church, and some local critics have dismissed the practice, which emerged in the 1970s, as shocking and vulgar.
Others, however, see it as a natural extension of a traditional folk culture lacking in the sharp separation of sex and religion often seen in other parts of the world.
Marc Moskowitz, an anthropologist at the University of South Carolina, said the practice evolved out of the special Chinese concept of “hot and noisy”, which brims with positive connotations.
“In traditional Chinese and contemporary Taiwanese culture this signifies that for an event to be fun or noteworthy it must be full of noise and crowds,” said Moskowitz, who shot a documentary “Dancing for the Dead” in 2011.
He added most people who watched his work appeared to enjoy it and recognise this practice as an “interesting and unique cultural phenomenon,” which to his knowledge is only found in Taiwan.
“As I watched these performances, I came to appreciate the idea of celebrating someone’s life to help assuage the feelings of grief,” he said.
– AFP
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
But no such sexual rights for the LIVING in fundo countries!
mini-ARTICLE 11.5
Britain ends 10-year boycott of Indian politician – Thursday, October 11, 2012 – 20:22 – AHMEDABAD
BRITAIN said Thursday it would end a 10-year boycott of the leader of India’s western Gujarat state imposed over deadly religious riots there in 2002 that left three Britons dead.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, a right-wing Hindu nationalist, came to power shortly before the riots triggered by the deaths of nearly 60 Hindu pilgrims in a train fire that was initially blamed on a mob of Muslims.
He is accused of doing too little to prevent the blood-letting, which left more than 2,000 mainly Muslims dead in an orgy of violence and arson, according to rights groups. The government figures put the death toll at about 1,000.
Britain’s junior foreign minister minister Hugo Swire has asked the ambassador to India to visit Gujarat and meet Modi to discuss a “wide range of issues of mutual interests”, the British foreign office said in a statement.
“We want to secure justice for the families of the British nationals who were killed in 2002 (riots), we want to support human rights and good governance in the state,” the statement quoted Swire as saying.
Three British nationals – Saeed Dawood, Mohammed Aswat Nallabhai and Shakil Dawood – were burnt to death in Sabarkantha district of Gujarat, a state that is governed by India’s main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Previously, British officials were forbidden from dealing directly with Modi, but there were contacts with senior bureaucrats in Gujarat, where British companies have invested, an embassy source in New Delhi said.
Britain’s effort to resume links with Modi’s regime came less than two months after a Gujarat court sentenced a former member of his government to 28 years in jail for her role in instigating the 2002 riots.
The August 31 sentencing of Maya Kodnani, who served as minister from 2007-2009, was seen as a setback for Modi who is thought to have prime ministerial ambitions.
Despite the scars of the sectarian violence, Gujarat in recent years has lured foreign firms to its soil with reliable power supply, good infrastructure by Indian standards, and the availability of educated but cheap labour. -AFP
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
All Malaysian VIPs, MPs who fight for Bumiputra Apartheid (raison d’etre style), support Bumiputra Apartheid, tacitly approve via silence Bumiputra Apartheid, or allow Bumiputra Apartheid for financial gains, or discriminate against LGBT or practice Hudud or extreme religion, need a lifetime boycott immediately by England which should extend to UN as well. Can’t have such pariahs running about polluting the 1st world with fundo mindedness or apartheid now can we?
Orthodox Christian activists demand Moscow lawmakers prohibit the propaganda of homosexuality and shut down gay clubs in the Russian capital. That is in addition to a recent hundred-year ban on gay pride marches in the city.
The Narodny Sobor (People’s Council) movement has started collecting signatures under an appeal to the Moscow parliament asking legislators to work out a bill that outlaws the promotion of homosexuality. Similar bans have been introduced in St. Petersburg and several other Russian cities.
“We conducted a study earlier and found that such a law would not contradict international law. Homosexuality as well as its propaganda is a grave sin,” Oleg Kassin, co-chairman of the group told Izvestia daily.
First of all, “it’s necessary to close gay clubs” in Moscow since they “directly entice immature souls” into the LGBT community, he stated.
According to the paper, several city legislators vowed to support the move.
“We are ready to discuss the initiative with Narodny Sobor and to draft the legislation,” Mikhail Antontsev, a United Russia MP, told the daily. The bill could help to protect minors from “unnecessary information,” he believes. The deputy also insists that it is time to consider the adoption of a nationwide ban on the propaganda of “unhealthy relations.”
Another City Duma member, Vera Stepanenko is confident that the gay propaganda ban would help to solve the demographic problem in Moscow.
The Russian Orthodox Church also favors the idea.
“We have every right to maintain the purity of the society and to protect our children from all sorts of sinful manifestations. Both the Church and the majority of the community agree that homosexuality is far from being a normal thing,” says senior Church official Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin.
In February this year, St. Petersburg’s city legislature approved a ban on spreading homosexual and pedophilia propaganda among minors. The law – which was initiated and promoted by United Russia Deputy Vitaly Milonov – provides for fines of up to about US$16,000 for individuals and $160,000 for organizations committing such offences.
The move triggered a wave of criticism from the LGBT community as well as from human rights organizations in Russia and abroad.
However, Russia’s Supreme Court confirmed last week the legitimacy of the St. Petersburg gay propaganda bill and rejected a complaint filed by rights activists.
Earlier, the St. Petersburg City Court also refused to review gay activists’ complaints over the law. The opponents of the ban stated that the text of the document uses the terms “propaganda”, “bisexuality”, “transgender”, “traditional and non-traditional marriage,” all of which have no legal definitions, reported Interfax.
Russian gay rights activists are set to continue fighting and filed complaints against the St. Petersburg ban as well as similar laws in several other cities to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
This is not fair to the MATURED souls. Perhaps if the Church wants to, how about stationing a priest at the entrance of the Gay clubs to make sure that any immatured souls could be barred entry bouncer style.
Common sense dictates that this sort of blanket disenfranchisement is obviously unfair and that fundamentalism should be dropped for common sense methods of ensuring everyone wins.
Russia is not going to be a great or democratic power if 10%-30% of the world’s LGBT population (approx?) is to be treated as criminals because the Church deemed some souls as immatured and decided to end all entertainment to all LGBTs including the matured.
Why is the Orthodox Church behaving like the Ayatollah? Next we know Russia will be in the Dark Ages and the KGB will be running every state enterprise and business. Want to see Russia never regain footing in the Soviet Union or become an Iran? Christian fundos should not be featured at all in media. Frightfully uncivilised and heartrending statements.
ARTICLE 13
Not another naked rambler! Naturist vows to continue his walks after judge overturns conviction for causing distress to woman dog walker – By Emily Allen – PUBLISHED: 11:51 GMT, 9 October 2012 | UPDATED: 13:45 GMT, 9 October 2012
Nigel Keer was arrested by PC Mark Buxton who said he saw a woman appear ‘distressed’ when she saw Mr Keer rambling naked
A judge dismissed the charge because a panel considered it unlikely that he had caused any alarm
He said the rambling wasn’t near a school or a street in a town centre but took place on moorland in broad daylight
Conviction is overturned just two days after The Naked Rambler was released from his latest prison sentence
A naked rambler has won a long battle to overturn his conviction for causing distress to a female dog walker who said she saw his genitals.
Naturist Nigel Keer, 42, will now be continuing his nude hiking – once the weather warms up – after a panel of judges gave a list of reasons to quash his conviction.
Mr Keer appealed after magistrates found him guilty of the public order offence of causing distress to the woman as she walked her dog at a beauty spot called Otley Chevin, West Yorkshire, last October.
Naked rambler Nigel Keer
Overturned: Naturist Nigel Keer, 42, will now be continuing his nude hiking – once the weather warms up – after a panel of judges gave a list of reasons to quash his conviction for causing distress to a female dog walker
The decision comes just two days after a man known as The Naked Rambler was released from serving his latest prison sentence.
Stephen Gough celebrated his freedom by taking a hike in his birthday suit through nearby Peebles.
He’s out… and they’re off. Naked Rambler freed from jail and back to his old tricks
The 53-year-old was jailed for five months after he was arrested in July for being naked near a play-park in Dunfermline.
Meanwhile, a judge at Leeds Crown Court told Mr Keer that his charge would be dismissed because the panel considered it unlikely that Mr Keer’s naked walk had caused any alarm.
The court had heard that Mr Keer was arrested by off-duty police officer PC Mark Buxton, who said he saw a woman appear ‘distressed’ when she had noticed Mr Keer rambling in just his hiking boots on October 2 last year.
Naked rambler Nigel Keer
Relieved: Bus driver Mr Keer, of Leeds, West Yorkshire, had denied the distress claims, and said naturism ‘is about body freedom’
Sitting with two justices on Monday, Judge Guy Kearl said PC Buxton, who said he had been shocked by the incident, would not have been able to determine if the woman was distressed.
Dismissing the charges, he added: ‘This behaviour was not carried out in front of a school or in the street in a town centre. It took place on moorland in broad daylight.
‘In view of the location of this incident, the time of day and the reaction of others as we have found it to be, we do not consider that anyone was likely to be harassed by this behaviour or intimidated or distressed.’
The judge said there were no sexual motives behind the incident, adding: ‘He was not deliberately flaunting himself or seeking attention or jumping out and doing what is colloquially called flashing.’
He said that the police officer’s reaction to seeing Mr Keer could also be considered ‘extreme given his experience.’
Bus driver Mr Keer, of Leeds, West Yorkshire, had denied the claims, and said naturism ‘is about body freedom and in a way it is a mild protest against the expected social norms of wearing clothes every day’.
Speaking after the case, Mr Keer said that he was delighted to have finally fought off the charge, which had kept him out of work for a number of months.
He added: ‘I’ve kept up the naturism, but I’ve been a bit more careful now. It’s a bit cold to be doing anything at the moment, but once the weather warms up, I’ll be back out there.’
Mr Keer has previously taken part in three naked world bike rides alongside other naturists.
He had first become interested after being sent a letter from British Naturism in 2004.
He initially thought it was a prank but he went on a naked swim anyway, leading to his love affair. He has even put it on his CV as an interest.
Rambling again: Stephen Gough, known as the Naked Rambler, was back doing what he loves yesterday – hiking with nothing but a pair of boots and a hat on
Naked: Stephen Gough was jailed for five months after he was arrested in July for being naked near a play park
When the case first came to court last October, he said: ‘I must admit that I was surprised when it came to court.
‘I don’t feel I have committed an offence or distressed anyone. People are a lot more accepting now than they were five or six years ago. On the whole, most people are quite happy with it.
‘I love walking about naked. It’s the feeling of being at one with nature and a feeling of liberation. If you are free of clothes you are free of worries.’
Artwork from Playboy. Way ahead of the narrow retards decades ago.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Suitable areas should be gazetted via maps which can be distributed to ramblers or ramblers on their ‘first offence’. Note that there really aren’t enough rambler friendly zones, especially in the central city areas. A nudist district in every international city seems about right . . .
ARTICLE 14
Lady Gaga visits Julian Assange as celebrity backers who acted as bail sureties for WikiLeaks founder are ordered by court to pay almost £100,000 – by Daily Mail Reporter – PUBLISHED: 19:29 GMT, 8 October 2012 | UPDATED: 07:42 GMT, 9 October 2012
Pop diva spent five hours with Assange and had dinner with 41-year-old
Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle said they had to pay cash by November 6
Assange has been staying in Ecuadorean Embassy in London since June
Wants to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning over rape allegations
Pop star Lady Gaga visited WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in the Ecuadorean Embassy as nine people who acted as his bail sureties were ordered to hand over a total of £93,500.
The singer emerged yesterday morning after spending five hours in Assange’s refuge in west London. She had arrived at 7pm and it’s believed she had dinner with the 41-year-old.
Assange, 41, has been staying in the embassy in Knightsbridge since June after going there to avoid extradition to Sweden to face questioning over allegations of rape and sexual assault made by two women.
Meeting: The world’s biggest pop star Lady Gaga met with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in London last night
Lady Gaga leaves the Ecuadorian Embassy at midnight, having spent five hours inside visiting WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
He fears that if he is extradited to Sweden, he will be sent to the US to face interrogation over the whistle-blowing website, which has published secret military files and diplomatic cables.
Assange has been granted political asylum by Ecuador but faces arrest if he leaves the embassy after breaking bail conditions.
Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle has ruled his nine backers have to pay the cash by November 6.
Vaughan Smith, a friend who is one of the sureties, addressed Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week on behalf of the nine, who put up £140,000 between them.
HOW MUCH ASSANGE HAS COST HIS CELEBRITY BACKERS
Scientist: Nobel prize-winning biologist Sir John Sulston was ordered to pay £15,000
Sir John Sulston (Nobel prize-winning biologist, pictured) – £15,000
Lady Evans (the literary agent Caroline Michel) – £15,000
Phillip Knightley (journalist) – £15,000
Vaughan Smith (journalist) – £12,000
Sarah Saunders – £12,000
Tricia David (retired professor) – £10,000
The Marchioness of Worcester (the former actress Tracy Ward) – £7,500
Joseph Farrell – £3,500
Sarah Harrison – £3,500
He said all those who offered sureties of varying amounts are ‘convinced that they have done and are doing the right thing’.
At the court yesterday, the Chief Magistrate said he accepted that they had all acted in good faith.
‘I accept that they trusted Mr Assange to surrender himself as required,’ he said. ‘However, they failed in their basic duty, to ensure his surrender. They must have understood the risk and the concerns of the courts.’
He ruled that each of the sureties had to pay part of the sum originally pledged, as follows: retired professor Tricia David £10,000, Lady Evans (the literary agent Caroline Michel) £15,000, Joseph Farrell £3,500, Sarah Harrison £3,500 and journalist Phillip Knightley £15,000.
Also having to pay money were Sarah Saunders £12,000, journalist Vaughan Smith £12,000, Nobel prize-winning biologist Sir John Sulston £15,000, and the Marchioness of Worcester (the former actress Tracy Ward) £7,500.
It was revealed last week that the police bill for staking out the Ecuadorian embassy has reached more than £1million.
Scotland Yard confirmed it is costing £11,000 every day to ensure the Australian does not flee his bolthole at the Ecuadorean Embassy.
The final bill could be much more as the 41-year-old continues to defy extradition to Sweden.
Officers have been watching the property in Knightsbridge, west London, since Mr Assange breached his bail and claimed asylum in June. They have been told to arrest him if he puts ‘one toe’ outside.
Ecuadorean foreign minister Ricardo Pinto has warned Mr Assange he could be in the embassy for a decade if he is not allowed to leave Britain.
Lady Gaga arrived at 7pm and had dinner with Assange before leaving just after midnight
Lady Gaga seen at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London visiting the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange
Lady Gaga arrived at the embassy at 7pm and had dinner with Assange before leaving just after midnight
WikiLeaks founder: Julian Assange has been in Ecuador’s London embassy since June as part of his bid to avoid extradition to Sweden
Critics have called on the Metropolitan Police to end the costly stakeout.
Last week, Foreign Secretary William Hague admitted there is ‘no sign of any breakthrough’ after meeting Mr Pinto at the United Nations in New York.
The comments came after the hacking activist accused the U.S. of persecuting WikiLeaks and torturing Bradley Manning, the soldier accused of leaking classified documents.
At least four Met officers guard the embassy, on the second floor of a block of flats behind Harrods in Knightsbridge, West London, around the clock.
They have set up a £250,000 mobile command station on the doorstep of the building and occupy positions outside and in surrounding properties.
Officers from every London borough, specialist police units and undercover squads have been brought in to join the open-ended stake out.
One colleague said: ‘The officers are being moved around every three or four days to stop the boredom setting in.
‘There are certainly plenty of other things these officers could be doing than standing there around the clock.’
Holed up: The Ecuadorian Embassy in London where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been staying at the embassy since June 19
Interviews: Vaughan Smith, a friend who is one of the sureties, addressed Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week on behalf of the nine, who put up £140,000 between them
The Marchioness of Worcester, formerly actress Tracy Ward
Involved: Vaughan Smith (left), a friend who is one of the sureties, addressed a court last week on behalf of the nine. The Marchioness of Worcester (right), the former actress Tracy Ward, was also a backer
London Mayor Boris Johnson confirmed the policing bill between June 20 and September 10 was £905,000.
If the costs continued at the average of £11,000 a day the total would now be over £1.1million.
Critics called on the Met to end the stand-off but sources said the force cannot step back from its responsibilities to arrest Mr Assange for breaching his bail.
Jenny Jones, a Green politician in the capital who sits on a committee that oversees the Met’s work, called for the officers to go back on the beat.
She said: ‘It is ridiculous at a time when the Met is stretched as never before that so many officers are waiting around the Ecuadorian Embassy for Assange to attempt an escape.’
Lib Dem Caroline Pidgeon, who also sits on the London Assembly, added: ‘For 100 days Assange has been evading an arrest warrant for the alleged offence of rape and trying to escape the fair judicial process of Sweden.
‘At a time when police counters are closing across London his actions are a gross waste of valuable resources.’
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Good show but as always more media frenzy oriented than concrete action. In a nasty scenario, the po-po could intentionally storm in AFTER Gaga visits, then we’d have an ‘Unidentified Woman Arrested along with Assange, Both Taken Under Rendition Laws To Timbuktu For Interrogation” (one can imagine the about of fun the FBI would have . . . ahem . . . ) headline while the US media will be going on about how Gaga disappeared or cynically black out on news on Gaga posting some fake news and manufactured articles that make it seem Gaga pulled a MJ . . . maybe they will feature a 7 foot + tall male entertainer/rapper wearing glittery 9 inch heels featuring similar cosplay/fetish/art-deco clothing called Gargarensis instead . . . maybe someone in Asia will throw a dice that will determine if either make out of there in one piece, or pieces of mind . . . or if that dice is not thrown, yet more people may yet become ‘unstuck in time’, courtesy and expense of you-know-who, so pay up as appropos or Apophis will propose against the posers poseuring . . . as someone else would say – Mr. Apocalypse goes into overdrive even as Apophis is not finished with the woody hollows . . . ‘pumpkin’ . . .
ARTICLE 15
Dutch architect dreams of future floating cities – October 09, 2012
A street scene in Amsterdam is seen in this file photo. When Koen Olthuis landed his first job in Amsterdam after graduating as an architect, his new firm wouldn’t let him work on the most historic or prestigious accounts. He only got houseboats. Today, Olthuis, who along with building partner Dutch Docklands, designed a section of floating islands for Dubai’s man-made Palm Islands development project, has also created a patent which scales up the technology used for a houseboat to floating structures big enough to hold cars, roads and houses. – Reuters pic
AMSTERDAM, Oct 9 – When Koen Olthuis finally landed his first job after graduating as an architect, his new firm wouldn’t let him work on the most historic or prestigious accounts in Amsterdam’s 17th century centre. He got houseboats. Floating boxes.
But the young Dutchman, who stems from boat building and architecture stock, dove right into his new job, and it wasn’t long before he started making connections between the principles of a floating house, and the battle the Dutch have been waging against the sea to reclaim land and stay dry for 500 years.
He thought, if a house can float, why not an office complex or a structure big enough to hold a whole city?
Olthuis, who along with building partner Dutch Docklands, designed a section of floating islands for Dubai’s man-made Palm Islands development project, has also created a patent which scales up the technology used for a houseboat to floating structures big enough to hold cars, roads and houses.
“Water is a workable building layer or a floating foundation and if you turn water into space, which is a dramatic change of mindset, there’s a whole new world of possibilities,” Olthuis said.
He said the basis for his design isn’t any different than the normal Dutch floating technology used for houseboats.
“It is just a floating foundation, mostly made of concrete and foam which is quite stable, heavy, and goes up and down with waves and up and down with the sea level,” he said.
The floating city of the future is still a dream, but Olthuis’s firm, WaterStudio, which he started a decade ago, designs buildings and floating structures which try to combat the challenges posed by rising sea levels.
“Because of urbanisation and climate change, all the big cities have space limitations. We can create space with water, space that others have never even seen,” he said.
He said he wants to create space where land is under threat from rising sea levels and compares the methods for building floating structures to the invention of the elevator.
“If the elevator were never invented, then cities wouldn’t have buildings with more than three or four levels, because nobody wants to walk up more than that. But with elevators, we can climb 20, 30 even 40 flights.”
Olthuis’s firm has designed plenty of floating homes in The Netherlands and is laying plans to start building an entirely new floating neighbourhood with 1,200 homes.
It has projects in India and China and has begun preparing the lagoons for a holiday resort project in the Maldives, a chain of islands in the Indian Ocean that is one of the world’s most endangered nations due to flooding from climate change.
“We started thinking seriously about designing a whole floating island when we got a request from the Maldives, which are threatened in the long-term by rising sea levels, and they are looking for new development opportunities.”
In response, Olthuis’s team and building partner Dutch Docklands designed an estate of 185 luxury floating villas, called The Ocean Flower, part of a larger development across five lagoons, including a conference centre and a golf course.
The islands are designed to move with the waves and sea levels but because they are so stable, Olthuis said being on one of his artificial islands is like being on normal land.
“You do not feel any waves.”
The islands will be connected to the seabed with the same sort of cables used in offshore technology, for oil rigs, which lets them stay in one location and not drift away.
“The development in the Maldives is for a happy few who can afford to buy their own floating holiday home,” Olthuis said.
But he said that building luxury resorts for the rich helps to refine a technology that can in turn be used to benefit the poor in places such as Bangladesh, where flooding regularly destroys lives and livelihoods.
“So we let the rich pay for the innovation for the poor,” he said.
Olthuis said future designs could see floating structures detached and moved to new locations, or new cities, put together like a puzzle, responding to particular urban needs.
For a man who was told as a young trainee to “forget about houseboats,” Olthius’s focus on water has had a resounding impact on the way he looks at space and the environment.
“I am a Dutchman, and for me, Holland is an artificial country. It is all fake. We live below sea level and it takes too much effort and money to keep the pumps working 24 hours a day,” he said.
Olthuis said that within 50 years, it won’t even be possible to pump all the water back to the sea and reckons it is time for the Dutch to forge a new relationship with water.
“We need to learn to live with it rather than fight it. We should let the water come back, and then build on it.” – Reuters
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Require that all buildings be built on foundations 30 feet high (with consideration for settling of buildings in waterlogged conditions) or more in anticipation of rising sea levels. Valuable or historical buildings can be raised as of now. Hi-rises can be modified starting from the lowest lying buildings. When all buildings are raised or modified, the pumps can be turned off. When the sea levels finally rise, Holland would become a canal city rather than a road city and instead of cars they could have boats and gondollas! Very charming! Time and the tide always winning . . .
ARTICLE 16
Is the afterlife full of fluffy clouds and angels? – What does the neuroscientist Colin Blakemore make of an American neurosurgeon’s account of the afterlife? – By Colin Blakemore – 8:47PM BST 10 Oct 2012
Dr Eben Alexander’s conscious self journeyed into another world. There was wonderful music and light. There were clouds, “big, puffy, pink-white ones that showed up sharply against the deep blue-black sky”. Photo: ALAMY
Have you ever noticed that more people come back from Heaven than from Hell? We have all read those astonishing reports of near-death experiences (NDEs, as the aficionados call them) – the things that people say have happened to them when they almost, but don’t quite, shuffle off the coil.
They are nearly always pleasant and deeply reassuring in a saccharin-soaked way. Lots of spinning down warm, dark tunnels to the sound of celestial music; lots of trips along country lanes lined with hedges, towards the light of a welcoming cottage at the end of the road; lots of tumbling down Alice-in-Wonderland rabbit holes, but without the damaging effects of gravity.
True, Dr Maurice S Rawlings Jr, MD, heart surgeon in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and author of To Hell and Back, did have patients who reported very nasty NDEs after they came back on his operating table. Booming noises; licking flames and all that Mephistophelian stuff. But perhaps that tells us more about the challenges of living in Chattanooga, Tennessee, than about the metaphysics of life after death.
Predictably, the amazingly consistent, remarkably heaven-like experiences recounted by the majority of NDE-ers (yes, that really is what the experts call them) have been summarily dismissed by materialist sceptics – like me. Of course the brain does funny things when it’s running out of oxygen. The odd perceptions are just the consequences of confused activity in the temporal lobes.
But NDEs have taken on a new cloak of respectability with a book by a Harvard doctor. Proof of Heaven, by Eben Alexander, will make your toes wiggle or curl, depending on your prejudices. What’s special about his account of being dead is that he’s a neurosurgeon. At least that’s what the publicity is telling us. It’s a cover story in Newsweek magazine, with a screaming headline: “Heaven is Real: a doctor’s account of the afterlife”.
Just as you’d expect from a doctor, his account is precise and detailed. In the autumn of 2008, he contracted a very rare bacterial meningitis that he says made his brain “shut down” and put his “higher-order brain functions totally offline”. The soup-like state of Dr Alexander’s brain was, he writes, “documented by CT scans” (although CT scans don’t say anything about the activity of the brain) and “neurological examinations”.
Although the neurons of his cortex were “stunned to complete inactivity by the bacteria”, his conscious self journeyed into another world. There was wonderful music and light. There were clouds, “big, puffy, pink-white ones that showed up sharply against the deep blue-black sky”. And there were angels (well, perhaps birds): “flocks of transparent, shimmering beings”.
But then it gets really weird. It turns out that he wasn’t alone. “For most of my journey, someone was with me. A woman.” She had a lovely face and golden brown tresses, and she was dressed appropriately for a Cecil B DeMille movie, in peasant costume, in subtle shades of “powder blue, indigo, and pastel orange-peach”. She was quite a stunner. She looked at Dr Alexander “with a look that, if you saw it for five seconds, would make your whole life up to that point worth living, no matter what had happened in it so far”. It was a look “beyond all the different compartments of love we have down here on earth”.
Well, many of us, after a couple of pints in the pub with our chums, might say that we’ve had that kind of experience; but not with a woman flying on a butterfly wing, as Dr Alexander’s companion was. Although he “still had little language function” he was able to chat with the peasant lady, asking (understandably) where he was and why he was there. He was overwhelmed by the answers, which “came instantly in an explosion of light, colour, love, and beauty that blew through me like a crashing wave”.
After the clouds and the angels and the peasant lady, Dr Alexander went on to a “pitch-black” void, “brimming with light” from a “brilliant orb” that acted as an interpreter, explaining that the “universe itself was like a giant cosmic womb”.
You might have sensed a subtle hint of scepticism in my account. As Eben Alexander says, he considers himself a faithful Christian, and it’s therefore not surprising that he interpreted the chaos in his brain when he was almost dying in terms of his model of the afterlife.
His, and the multitude of other memories reported by people who have been close to death, have to be seen first through the prism of hard science. The crucial question is not whether such astounding experiences should lead us to abandon materialist accounts of brain function, but whether materialist accounts can possibly explain them.
Dr Peter Fenwick, senior lecturer at King’s College, London, consultant at the Institute of Psychiatry, and president of the British branch of The International Association for Near Death Studies, acknowledges that there are deep problems in interpreting first-person memories of experiences that are supposed to have happened when the brain was out of action. Since the lucky survivor can only tell you about them after the event, how can we be sure that these things were perceived and felt at the time that their brains were messed up, rather than being invented afterwards?
The same problem applies to dreams, indeed to any memory. Memory is notoriously fallible, and is treacherously easily misled by expectation. The cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Loftus has done brilliant experiments showing how the recall of real experiences can be transformed by what people think should have happened, and by what they are told might have happened.
In 150 years the science of perception has taught us that the way we appreciate the world around us is as much dependent on our expectations, our experiences, our inferences, as it is on the hard evidence of images on our retinas or vibrations in our ears. Remember the occasions when you have seen a face in the flickering flames of a fire, or been certain that you saw a person in the distance as you walked along at night – only to discover that the face in the fire disappears with the next burst of flame and the person in the dark is just a letterbox.
Is it not significant that the NDEs of Christians are full of Biblical metaphor? Either this confirms the correctness of their particular faith or it says that NDEs, like normal perception and memory, are redolent of culture, personal prejudice and past experience. Perhaps if Eben Alexander were a Muslim, there would have been the mythical 72 virgins on the butterfly wing, rather than the bucolic one. If he were a Buddhist he would be called a de-lok, a person who has seemingly died, but who travels into bardo – an afterlife state – guided by a Buddhist deity.
What Dr Alexander and his PR people claim is that his description of the afterlife is more authentic because he is a neurosurgeon. But when there is no evidence except the word of the beholder, a scientist’s accounts are no more reliable than those of anyone else. Would we literally believe the contents of a scientist’s dream because he or she has a PhD? If a scientist sees the lines of a visual illusion as wonky, should we believe that they really are wonky?
Science has progressed by challenge and disagreement. But what is needed to consider seriously the kinds of claims made by Dr Alexander is not flowery prose and hyperbolic headlines. It’s hard evidence.
But I am trying (not very convincingly, I know) to keep an open mind. I remember the story of the nobleman who asked the Zen Master Hakuin, “What happens to the enlightened man at death?”
“Why ask me?” said Hakuin.
“Because you’re a Zen master.”
“Yes, but not a dead one.”
Colin Blakemore is Professor of Neuroscience and Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, University of London
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Theory on Spirit and Eternal Soul
Inculpated imagery and studies will reflect in what a person experiences during a NDE. Speed of memory and recall also probably changes during NDE, allowing a person to experience LIFETIMES in the process. Actual death is of the body and the mind which allow perception. the SOUL however remains as so many philisophers say eternal and likely based on the EARTH’s magnetic and ionospheric field. All life and consciousness stems from the Earth though on the non-physical levels we may also exist but not in awareness of ourselves. Perhaps we ALL have a mirror image in Ethereal, Astral, Infernal and Celestial regions as well. When the body dies after experiencing the ‘visions of afterlife’, these portions of ourselves will instruct some living human-or animal bodies to have sex, and hence the immortal soul is reborn again . . . refutes or arguments welcome.
ARTICLE 17
Columbia classmate: Obama using IRS to punish me – Outspoken 2008 VP candidate claims president trying to ‘silence critics’
Art Moore entered the media world as a public relations assistant for the Seattle Mariners and a correspondent covering pro and college sports for Associated Press Radio. After graduating from Seattle Pacific University, he served with a Christian ministry during the “Iron Curtain” era in Eastern Europe for 10 years. His return to media included two years as senior news writer for Christianity Today before joining WND shortly after 9/11. He met his wife of more than 20 years at Wheaton College Graduate School, where he earned a Master’s Degree in communications. They have three children and a new son-in-law.More ?
The former Libertarian Party vice presidential candidate who has claimed Barack Obama was unknown to him and his fellow Columbia University classmates charges the president is using the Internal Revenue Service to punish and silence him.
Wayne Allyn Root – a pre-law and political science major in the class of 1983, like the president – told WND that despite a spotless tax record, he became the target of an audit in January 2011 when he received an “unsettling” call from an IRS agent who called himself a fan of his and considered it “an honor” to audit him.
Root won a complete victory three months ago in tax court, which found no taxes owed in his 2007 and 2008 filings. But then, he said, something shocking happened – something his tax attorney has never heard of in his entire career. Root was hit with a new audit just five days later, for 2009 and 2010.
“That order had to come from the highest levels of government,” he asserted.
“Obama is using the power of the IRS and other government agencies to punish his political opposition and intimidate and silence his critics,” Root charged.
Root has been a relentless critic of Obama in more than 4,000 appearances on political talk shows on TV and radio over the past four years, focusing on what he calls the president’s anti-business and anti-capitalist policies. He also writes columns and commentaries for many of the most popular conservative websites.
Root is now calling for congressional hearings “to determine if the Obama administration is misusing its power to damage or ruin the lives, drain the finances, or just distract Obama’s critics and political opposition.”
“It is time to demand an end to government witch hunts ordered by powerful politicians,” he told WND. “It is time to shine the light of day on government attempts to intimidate and silence political opponents. This just isn’t right, but especially to a small businessman who happens to have a media megaphone. I have a wife and four young children. This is just so wrong on so many levels.”
The IRS national media office told WND that Section 6103 of the tax code prohibits the agency from discussing matters relating to any taxpayer. An IRS media officer said she also would not be able to comment, in general terms, on accusations that the agency is being used by the administration to punish political enemies.
Purchase a copy of “Fool Me Twice” by Aaron Klein and Brenda Elliott and receive a FREE copy of their New York Times bestseller “The Manchurian President.”
Root began his career as network oddsmaker for CNBC, then called Financial News Network. He’s one of only 60 people to have a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars.
He believes he’s not alone, contending there is a pattern of abuse by Obama, targeting foes with IRS audits and government investigations.
He’s had numerous conversations with high-profile friends who contribute to the Republican Party or are GOP bundlers and also have been audited by the IRS.
Root cited, as an example, billionaire Frank VanderSloot, who became the target of investigations by both the IRS and the Labor Department after he gave $1 million to a super PAC that supports Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.
VanderSloot, 63, told the Wall Street Journal in July that he has been working since his teens, and neither he nor his accountants recall his being previously subject to a federal tax audit.
The GOP’s biggest donor, Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, believes a federal criminal investigation into his company’s business practices is politically motivated. Another casino giant, Steve Wynn, also is being investigated.
The D.C. watchdog Judicial Watch obtained IRS documents in 1999 that showed an audit of the non-profit Western Journalism Center – the parent of WND, which now has no affiliation – originated with a complaint forwarded to the IRS by the Bill Clinton White House.
The complaint had been faxed by a California resident directly to Clinton, Judicial Watch found. Once the audit began, an IRS agent told representatives of the Western Journalism Center that the audit was “political” and that decisions on the audit were being made out of the “national office.”
The Wall Street Journal and National Public Radio reported in the 1990s that under the Clinton IRS, an unusually large number of organizations critical of the Clinton administration had been audited, while no liberal organizations had been examined. A White House document, created by then-White House lawyer Jane Sherburne, showed that the Western Journalism Center was a concern as far back as 1994.
No sign of Obama at Columbia
Root noted he drew wide attention as the Libertarian Party vice presidential candidate in 2008 when he contended that although he and Obama were both pre-law and political science majors in Columbia’s class of 1983, he never even heard of Obama during his time at the university. None of the classmates with whom he’s spoken, knew of him either, he claimed. A 2008 Wall Street Journal article cited a Fox News survey of 400 people who were Columbia students from 1981 to 1983 and found no one who remembered him.
On the campaign trail, Root predicted Obama would follow the radical, collectivist strategy of former Columbia professors Richard Cloward and Frances Fox Piven to overwhelm the welfare system for the purpose of collapsing it and replacing it with a system of guaranteed annual income.
Columbia University in New York City
Root declared in 2008 that Obama “is going to try to badly damage the economy and bankrupt the business community,” sowing doubts about capitalism, by “overwhelming the system with spending, addicting a record number of Americans to entitlements, exploding the debt, demonizing business owners, and then trying to convince the masses to redistribute wealth (with massive tax increases).”
After the election, he published more predictions that Obama would carry out a purposeful plan to overwhelm the system, including a commentary, “The Real Obama Economic Plan: Overwhelming the System to Destroy Capitalism,” that ranked No. two for many months in 2010 on Snopes.com’s list of the most popular stories circulating the Internet. Another Root commentary, “Obama The Great Jobs Killer,” was quoted by Time magazine.
He has made frequent appearances on the Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network, debated a former Clinton White House press secretary on CNBC and appeared on left-leaning media outlets, such as MSNBC and CNN, including “Larry King Live.”
On an NBC special, “Inside the Obama White House,” he pointed out, NBC’s cameras showed the entire Obama staff in crisis mode over political pundits criticizing the controversial comments of Obama Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayer. The scene in the special happened to feature a shot of Root criticizing Sotomayer in an appearance on the Fox News Channel.
In a commentary just two months ago, Root repeated his charge that Obama was unknown at Columbia, issuing a call for the president to release his college records. Calling himself “one of the most accurate Las Vegas oddsmakers and prognosticators,” Root wrote that it’s his “gut instinct” that “Obama has a secret hidden at Columbia.” He discussed the column on Fox News, dozens of national radio shows and in numerous commentaries on the Web. Talk host Rush Limbaugh read Root’s column on the air.
Last month, Root announced that he was stepping down from his positions in the Libertarian Party to focus on helping elect Republicans to office who share his small-government values. He reasoned that it’s not enough to have a “philosophical foundation rooted in liberty” if you can’t win as a third-party candidate. He made the formal announcement on the Fox News morning show “Fox & Friends.”
‘Zero odds’
Root told WND he believes the audits were a direct attack from Obama, because “the odds are zero” that the IRS “would be hounding and harassing a small businessman … not a jet setter, not a Fortune 500 CEO, not a billionaire … just a small-businessman who happens to be an outspoken critic of Obama.”
“I have a perfect tax history,” he emphasized. “Not a single blemish. Thirty years of filing taxes without a problem.”
Prior to the January 2011 audit, he said he had been chosen at random for an audit only twice in his life and came away both times owing “not a single dollar.”
“I’ve never been late with a tax bill in my life,” he argued. “I’ve never owed money on a payment plan to the IRS. Nothing. I’m a model citizen and taxpayer for 30 years. And now this?”
His ordeal began in January 2011, he said, with an “unsettling” call from an IRS agent that became “a highly unusual and intimidating situation.”
The IRS agent called his home and left a message, Root said, then, without waiting for a response, immediately called his accountant.
“We were both shocked at how eager and excited he sounded to get started,” Root said.
The accountant told the agent to never call Root again, because the accountant had power of attorney. Nevertheless, according to Root, the agent called Root minutes later at his home to tell him he was a big fan, had requested to do the audit and was “honored” to be auditing him.
“He said he read my political columns in the Las Vegas newspaper, listened to me often on the radio, often went to my website,” Root said.
The agent said he loved Root’s libertarian-conservative politics and agreed with most everything he said.
“I found that very strange, actually chilling,” Root told WND. “It did not feel right. I got a sick feeling in pit of my stomach. Why would an IRS agent say such personal things? Why would he disclose that he’s a fan of mine and agrees with my politics? Isn’t that a conflict of interest?”
Root said his accountant remarked that in 30 years of dealing with IRS audits, he had never heard of an IRS agent starting an investigation with a phone call to the taxpayer. All audits begin with a letter from the IRS through the mail. The next steps, Root said, were even stranger, as the agent immediately called the accountant then called Root again to tell him he liked his politics and was “honored” to be auditing him? Root’s accountant said he found the agent’s actions highly unusual.
“That was the tipoff something was out of the ordinary, something just wasn’t right,” said Root.
Root said the only conclusion he could draw was that the agent was imitating “Columbo,” the famous TV detective from the 1970s, “and trying to throw me off the truth.
The agent, he said may have been “ordered to make my life very difficult, distract me or destroy me, and he decided to play ‘Columbo’ to try, first, to befriend me and get my guard down.”
“I knew then this was no ordinary audit,” Root said.
Root’s accountant called back a few weeks later, after dealing with the IRS agent, to inform him that it was unlike any audit he had ever experienced. The accountant advised Root to immediately get a tax lawyer to protect himself.
“I knew at that moment that all my gut instincts were correct,” Root said.
“This agent clearly had an agenda,” Root continued. “He was acting unreasonably. He disregarded facts. He simply disallowed virtually all of my legal deductions. There was even a debate over my mortgage deduction. Something was very wrong here. This was a classic case of government persecution. Soon the agent was auditing a second year. It got worse with each conversation.”
Just weeks later, Root said, his accountant, himself, received his own IRS audit notice.
Root researched and interviewed the top tax attorneys in the country, emphasizing he hired “the best.” His tax attorney reviewed the audit and concluded that the IRS agent was “taking an unusually aggressive stance,” and Root owed no taxes.
The attorney appealed the case to the IRS tax court in California. Root said that after nearly 18 months of “sleepless nights, lawyer bills I could not afford, accounting bills I could not afford, and damage to my marriage,” he won “a full and complete victory.”
He added: “Who knows how many years off my life I lost due to stress?”
The tax court, he said, ruled that I did not owe one cent.”
“All of the IRS agent’s unreasonable assertions were thrown out,” he said. “Case closed. One-hundred-percent vindication. Complete victory.”
But five days later, the tax attorney called with bad news.
“Are you sitting down?” Root recalled the attorney saying. “I don’t know what to say, but the IRS just contacted me. You’re being audited again.”
Root noted that just five days before he had won a complete victory for the years 2007 and 2008 and now was being audited for the 2009 and 2010 tax years.
His tax attorney said that he had never heard of such a case in all his years practicing law.
Root said the new IRS agent handling the new audit treated his attorney with disdain and, like the previous agent, simply ignored the facts and denied every legal deduction on Root’s tax return.
“It was the same treatment all over again,” Root said. “Even though we had just won a complete, 100-percent victory only five days before.”
Root said that “as a man who makes his living making predictions and beating the odds,” he is betting 1-million-to-1 that the audits were ordered “by Obama or his henchmen.”
‘Chicago style’
Root insists he is not angry with the IRS but blames Obama and “his Chicago style of politics – to persecute, intimidate and destroy the opposition.”
“The IRS is filled with good people,” he said. “They are just like you and me. They are just trying to do their jobs, as best they can.”
However, he said, when “they get a call from high above, perhaps from the office of the president of the United States, then they are fearful for their job.”
“My outrage is towards President Obama and his henchmen,” Root said.
“This is so wrong on so many levels. Whoever ordered this against me and against many other Obama critics across this country – and against GOP donors across this country and against so many tea parties – should be held accountable.”
He said it’s “time for congressional hearings.”
“The president of the United States has no right to target his political opposition, or to try to freeze free speech,” he said. “Our Founding Fathers would be rolling over in their graves.”
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Spiritual Theory Based Around Synchronicity
Someone ‘that was’ Root cheated elsewhere, so Obama knowing the esoterica on synchronicity (for certain all greek alphabet society illuminati types do), had to act. The game company was to be blamed. The only way for evil to end is for EQUALITY to rule and those who follow rules to win. Any attempt to cheat in the system results in ‘Unfortunate Series of Events”, with any protagonists in the right, even if their actions were wrong. This is the start of wisdom and this is the only evil tolerable, without which Good cannot exist. Obama does system based spiritual housekeeping. Root is not directly to blame, being affected by the players of the “game”.
A lowest caste ‘labourer’ becomes VP of a political party, little wonder Heavens fall and Lands break when the ethereal characters at the top of simple hierarchies intended for fun are depicted act . . . a serious study of spiritual effects and links to online games must be carried out and INCLUDED IN EDUCATIONAL SYLLABUS, so that people can enjoy games and yet not destroy themselves and the world or the natural system and order of reality as we know it. Meanwhile though note that ‘games’ will have as much effect as the uncorrected Crony-Prison Supplier-Contractor Complex, Financier Student Debt Complex and those who neglected to amend laws or abolosh abusive laws liek Forced Military Conscriptions, Road Tolls ending freedom of movement and laws that impinge on the sovereignty of all individuals like Eminent Domain or lack of Allodial titles . . . refutes or arguments welcome.
ARTICLE 18
New speech-jamming gun hints at dystopian Big Brother future | ExtremeTech – Mar. 07, 2012
A speech-jamming gun by Japanese researchers. They say the gun can be useful for “facilitate discussion” or “mobile speech-jamming”.
New speech-jamming gun hints at dystopian Big Brother future – by Sebastian Anthony on March 1, 2012 at 6:37 am
Japanese researchers have created a hand-held gun (pictured above) that can jam the words of speakers who are more than 30 meters (100ft) away. The gun has two purposes, according to the researchers: At its most basic, this gun could be used in libraries and other quiet spaces to stop people from speaking — but its second application is a lot more chilling.
The researchers were looking for a way to stop “louder, stronger” voices from saying more than their fair share in conversation. The paper reads: “We have to establish and obey rules for proper turn-taking when speaking. However, some people tend to lengthen their turns or deliberately interrupt other people when it is their turn in order to establish their presence rather than achieve more fruitful discussions. Furthermore, some people tend to jeer at speakers to invalidate their speech.” In other words, this speech-jamming gun was built to enforce “proper” conversations.
The gun works by listening in with a directional microphone, and then, after a short delay of around 0.2 seconds, playing it back with a directional speaker. This triggers an effect that psychologists call Delayed Auditory Feedback (DAF), which has long been known to interrupt your speech (you might’ve experienced the same effect if you’ve ever heard your own voice echoing through Skype or another voice comms program). According to the researchers, DAF doesn’t cause physical discomfort, but the fact that you’re unable to talk is obviously quite stressful.
Speech jammer, in a library. Suffice it to say, if you’re a firm believer in free speech, you should now be experiencing a deafening cacophony of alarm bells. Let me illustrate a few examples of how this speech-jamming gun could be used.
At a political rally, an audience member could completely lock down Santorum, Romney, Paul, or Obama from speaking. On the flip side, a totalitarian state could point the speech jammers at the audience to shut them up. Likewise, when a celebrity or public figure appears on a live TV show, his contract could read “the audience must be silenced with speech jammers.”
Then there’s Harrison Bergeron, one of my favorite short stories by Kurt Vonnegut. In the story’s dystopian universe, everyone wears “handicaps” to ensure perfect social equality. Strong people must lug around heavy weights, beautiful people must wear masks, and intelligent people must wear headphones that play a huge blast of sound every few seconds, interrupting your thoughts. The more intelligent you are, the more regular the blasts.
Back here in our universe, it’s not hard to imagine a future where we are outfitted with a variety of implanted electronics or full-blown bionic organs. Just last week we wrote about Google’s upcoming augmented-reality glasses, which will obviously have built-in earbuds. Late last year we covered bionic eyes that can communicate directly with the brain, and bionic ears and noses can’t be far off.
In short, imagine if a runaway mega-corporation or government gains control of these earbuds. Not only could the intelligence-destroying blasts from Harrison Bergeron come to pass, but with Delayed Auditory Feedback it would be possible to render the entire population mute. Well, actually, that’s a lie: Apparently DAF doesn’t work with utterances like “ahhh!” or “boooo!” or other non-wordy constructs. So, basically, we’d all be reduced to communicating with grunts and gestures.
This is how incriminating thoughts can even be inserted into unsuspecting mind. Remember that the mind’s signals etc. are all probably replicable via neurotech. So when a brain is repeatedly inculpated with certain patterns of thought, we end up with no autonomy at all. While the bottom 70% are busy working, the top 30% no-working classes are busy ‘molding’ those working class minds into the form they want. To accept bad laws, to ignore nepotism, to ignore oligarchy, to be bribable, corrupt etc. and the top 1% will print all the fiat and bribe, while destroying the finance system and controlling those bought with wealth as well as poisoning the food via food manufactuers putting all kinds of colourings and flavourings and GMOs in food that destroy critical thought by weakening the blood brain barrier, flouridating the pineal etc..
Causing ‘grunts and gestures’ by the ‘Speech Gun’ will then be used by the colluding psychiatric establishment to label potential challengers of the insane system ‘insane’, even getting political party members whop happen to be neighbours or to move into the neighbourhood to harrass, and disturb, provoke into retaliating (preferably with enforcement actionable actions – the foul minded creeps know who they are) . . . then justify drugging the dissenters with dangerous mind destroying psychiatric drugs etc. if killing such persons is too obvious to further render them incapable of being a viable challenge. I know I have been there and that was for promoting things as responded to in this blog. And this is not even the spiritual dimension of the matter as well which goes deep into the nature of society, the caste system, and those of ‘dirty spirituality’ which is not the same as physical dirt or even jobs considered disresepectable.
Meanwhile though, the financial system will indeed collapse, then riots and war can break out etc.. and when every last clear thinking or critical thinking person is bought up or killed, destroyed, rendered politically non-viable, the oligarchs will place their sons and daughters in political positions while fawning political members in the respective political parties fearfull do not speak up due to ‘Supremos’ and Oligarchs, use neurotech against all dissentors, use NLP articles in news/radio, use neurotech to identify dissenting minds which are critical to democracy etc..
DO NOT VOTE FOR FIAT PROTECTING, GLC PROXY LINKED, MORE THAN 2 TERM, PLUTOCRAT, ALLODIAL REFUSING, FORCED CONSCRIPTION PURVEYING, STATE LAND/NATIONAL WEALTH SEQUESTERING MPs or candidates. They only care about themselves and will never protect the people will end the people’s free will with technology the instance such technolgies are sufficiently proliferated! Vote carefully and don’t care about who’s likable but who will protect democracy and diversity than anything else!
TV Reporters Speaking Gibberish on Live TV…Why Is it Happening …
A bionic prosthetic eye that speaks the language of your brain – by Sebastian Anthony on December 21, 2011 at 3:44 pm
They probably can tap into what one is seeing as well . . . so the end of privacy is here and unless voters vote properly, there will be a new form of dictator – the Technofascist who will decide even what you think.
In the grand scale of things, we know so very little about the brain. Our thick-headedness isn’t quite cosmological in scale — we really do know almost nothing about the universe beyond Earth — but, when it comes down to it, the brain is virtually a black box. We know that stimuli goes in, usually through one of our senses, and motor neurons come out, but that’s about it. One thing you can do with a black box, however, is derive some semblance of a working model through brute force testing.
Take prosthetic arms, for example: We don’t have a clue about the calculations that occur in the brain to trigger arm muscle motor neurons, but that doesn’t stop us from slapping some electrodes onto a subject’s bicep muscles and measuring the electric pulses that occur when you tell him to “think about moving your arm.” By the same logic, a brain-computer interface can measure what our general cranial activity looks like when we’re thinking something and react accordingly, but it can only do this through training; it can’t actually understand our thoughts. Taking this one step further, though, Sheila Nirenberg of Cornell University has been trying to work out how the retina in your eye communicates with your brain — and judging by a recent talk at TEDMED (embedded below), it seems like she’s actually cracked it.
Now, reading the brain’s output (as in a prosthetic arm) is one thing, but feeding data into the brain is something else entirely — and understanding the signals that travel from the retina, through the optic nerve, to the brain is really about as bleeding edge as it gets. Nirenberg still used a brute force technique, though: By taking a complete animal eye and attaching electrodes to the optic nerve, she measured the electric pulses — the coded signal — that a viewed image makes. You might not know what the code means, but if a retina always generates the same electric code when looking at a lion, and a different code when looking at a bookcase, you can then work backwards to derive the retina’s actual encoding technique.
Nirenberg did this until she produced mathematical equations that, with startling accuracy, encode images into neuron pulses that can be understood by an animal brain. In the image below, the far left picture represents the pre-Nirenberg state of the art prosthetic eye, and the mid two images are what her prosthetic are capable of. Not quite as good as the real thing, but when you imagine that this is a silicon chip being implanted into the eye of a blind animal and then wired into the optic nerve, you really ought to be awestruck. In case you’re wondering, the “transducer” that the image references is a piece of hardware that converts the output from the silicon chip into signals that are ready to travel along the optic nerve to the brain.
Comparison of various prosthetic eye/retina technologies
You’ll note that we’ve used the word “animal” throughout, and not “human.” So far, Nirenberg seems to have carried out most of her experiments on mice — but as far as we know, the eye, optic nerve, and visual cortex in mice and humans are fairly similar. The next step must surely be working out the mathematical equations that simulate the human retina, and then full-blown human trials. Personally, as someone who is short-sighted but not blind, I would rather go down the wireless contact lens display route — but imagine, just for a second, if one day a prosthetic retina with a higher resolution than its flesh-and-blood counterpart is made. Imagine if you could hit a button to digitally zoom in with your eyes — or, more likely, just think about zooming in.
Perhaps even cooler, though, Nirenberg insists that this same technique — wiring up electrodes to our sense organs and brute forcing the encoding technique — could also be used to produce prosthetic ears, or noses, or limbs that can actually feel. Presumably, at some point, with enough data points under our belt, we might begin to unravel the human brain’s overarching communication codecs, too. The age of bionics is almost here!
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Citizens, vote properly, the next thing we know, voting ‘suggestion bombardments’ will be subtly broadcast via Wiifi directly into your brains. When that happens, dictators and oligarchs will end all freedom and all democracy. There must be white zones which are gazetted in ALL public places including private residences. This could be allowed in certain ‘Techno-pubs’ or whatever districts, but nowhere else.
Technofascism and mind control are already here, and with the advances state of cell phone satellite technology, not inconceivable that voting patterns and ignorance of term limitless dictators’ abusive policies will end up ending democracy or even creating the Suicidal rich people, Columbines and Suicide Bombers that can be enhanced under exstacy or chemical druggings of psychiatric drugs that the bottom 70% civilians in a democracy will not want, but the 1% types, a Dictator or Ayatollah led theocracy would love. Bring on the Luddites. Demand white zones, or laws against use of such technologies or begin seeking only candidates for politics aware of and willing to ratify such laws or start tearing down telecoms structures.
OCT 3 ? “All you East Malaysians need to do is vote out BN!” I hear that time and time again from various people in Peninsular Malaysia and it’s getting frankly tiresome.
I apologise to Sarawakians in advance for having to explain things on your behalf, but I have lived in your state so am not totally clueless. Unlike the many who think that all that is needed is a Braveheart-like uprising where the united peoples of Sabah and Sarawak rise up against tyranny and all that jazz.
It’s not that simple. And that’s my biggest beef with opposition rhetoric. It oversimplifies things, forgetting context and ignoring the complexities of East Malaysia.
One challenge both Sabah and Sarawak have is geography. We’re far removed from West Malaysia, quite literally, and in some ways it has worked out for the best but has also made integration tricky. There are far too many assumptions on each side about the other and “getting to know” each other requires a two- to three-hour flight.
Sarawak is a huge state and its terrain makes traversing it prohibitively expensive. The Penans and other interior-dwelling folk have it worse; they are forced to trek hours to the nearest transport stop to get to the nearest city. They do not have ready access to the things we city dwellers take for granted: piped water, electronic and physical media, hospitals and decent schools.
Even on the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu, the state capital of Sabah, there are schools that are little more than glorified shacks with crowded classrooms and malnourished children. Don’t get me started on the West Malaysian teachers who refuse their postings to Sabah and Sarawak or clamour to be sent home as soon as possible.
Racial tolerance is more pronounced here. Yet, the reality is that despite the “peace” between the various races in East Malaysia, it isn’t easy to get them on the same page politically.
Sabah, for instance, has various splinter parties that are also quite clearly delineated by race. SUPP is predominantly Chinese, PBS is mostly Sabah Bumiputera with a few Chinese people, the Muslim Bumiputeras once mostly congregated in USNO, but the BN-friendly now are in Umno.
It’s not much different in Sarawak. The various communities may get along better but dig down and their politics is the same old selfish Malaysian politics. It’s never about what’s best for the state or the country; it’s about what’s best for their own communities. Let the Penans rot in the jungles so long as my community gets first pick of lucrative contracts.
That is the reality of the Malaysian mindset; the preoccupation with what’s best for your own kind to the detriment of everyone else. Malaysians don’t seem to believe in “win-win.” It’s “I take everything and everyone else can go die-lah.” Which explains our love for monopolies.
PKR’s already shot itself in the foot by refusing to co-operate with local parties in Sabah and Sarawak. How am I, as a native from Sabah, supposed to place trust in a party that made Azmin Ali Sabah PKR chief? How am I supposed to believe that Anwar Ibrahim and his cohort won’t do the same thing and just hand out division chief titles to people from the peninsula as “rewards” to the faithful once the state is won?
What Pakatan Rakyat should be doing is forming alliances with local opposition parties. Instead, it intends to compete against them. Of course, BN will probably end up winning because of split votes.
Don’t get me started on people harping on about how Sarawakians should all unite and toss its current chief minister out. Here’s news for you: The reason he’s still in power is because the people who have benefitted from his position like him where he is. Ponder that for a moment.
It took Bruno Manser to come in and unite the various Penan tribes. It will take more than a well-meaning Swiss to unite the various factions in the two states. Sadly the people trying to play catalyst are not altruistic crusaders but those with an eye on Putrajaya.
By the way, because I have to keep reminding you, Sabah did vote against BN. But BN “convinced” PBS MPs to jump ship in the biggest “frog” incident in Malaysian history. Back in the day, Anwar Ibrahim was proud to be seen as “delivering” the state back to BN.
It’s not that simple; it was never that simple; it will never be that simple. So word of advice to Pakatan: When three words can sum up your campaign (“BN is bad!”), you need to do a lot better.
* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.
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Erma turned against the people? Simple, just vote for anyone who is not GLC or political party linked that intends to ensure Sarawak and Sabah get their 100% due to disbursement (LGE offered only 15%!!! Shocking!) as well as all stolen lands returned, or secession will be started at the UN. And Erma goes all propagandist on the Orang Asli who deserve so much more. Malaysia can fall apart for all any of the right minded care, that wealth is not Peninsular Malaysia’s to disburse or those lands for anyone but the Orang Asli regardless of what illegal and farcical or UN non-compliant or non-commonsense laws applied against the Orang Asli by our LEGAL JUNTA Bar Council which has refused to address apartheid and refused to amend bad laws and constitutional articles.
It’s not that simple; it was never that simple; it will never be that simple . . . .
BECAUSE of Pakatan’s own unpleasant/self serving nature even as BN is worse. Orang Asli had better think clear and demand FULL EQUAL CITIZENSHIPS as well as 100% disbursement rights of any wealth from East Malaysia. Otherwise no point being part of Malaysia when even Native land is being given away or Orang Asli proselytized to disregarding their native faith. No more ‘harsh apologism’ propaganda for Pakatan ok Erma? Ooo, really lost alot of respect for you in your article – Malaysian Insider is consistent and professional BUT wrong minded and democratically obstructive with pro-BN’s wrong values and all about expediency much like BN is. Smoke screens that disregard the facts as above listed mean nothing in real policy and real vote (well barring the ‘dumbed down’ or ‘on the take’ voters).
So word of advice to Pakatan: When three words can sum up your campaign (“BN is bad!”), you need to do a lot better.
Erma needs to do a lot better too, criticism based on selective or partial fact designates Erma as a (gasp!) pro-BN writer. Vote for 3rd Force, drop BOTH BN and Pakatan!
ARTICLE 2
STOP executions pending review of death sentences for drug offences – by Gobind Singh Deo – Wednesday, 03 October 2012 14:48
Minister in the Prime Ministers Department, Dato Seri Nazri Aziz should state if the government is prepared to temporarily halt all executions by hanging in cases where persons have been convicted for death penalty offences pending a review of our death penalty laws.
Singapore recently moved to abolish the mandatory death penalty for drug related offences and murder. The courts have now a discretion in the matter. Where for example, the offender in a drug case is shown to be a mere drug courier, and in a case involving homicide where the situation does not warrant the death penalty, the courts in Singapore will now have a discretion to mete out punishments of life imprisonment instead of the death penalty.
Following the announcement, Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Teo Chee Hean said in a statement that all executions that have become due since the review started since July 2011 had been deferred.
Malaysian AG quick to follow but all talk, no action
It is to be noted that the Malaysian Attorney General had in an interview with the Malay Mail published on 11 July 2012 said that his chambers was also working towards proposing an amendment to our Dangerous Drugs Act to give our judges a discretion in the matter of sentencing.
In the report he is quoted as saying “Since late last year, we have been doing research and studies , and one of the suggestions is that we want to allow those on death sentence to be resentenced. This means those on death row would be referred back to the courts, with legal representation to be resentenced.”
Our government should also defer executions if there are to be changes to these laws, especially where existing sentences of death will be reviewed as suggested.
The taking of ones life is a very serious matter. This is a sentence which is irreversible.
Dato Seri Nazri should also tell us what is the status of the reviews planned in respect of abolishing death penalty laws in our country. Will it only be confined to drug related offences or will it also extend to other areas and offences which carry the death penalty?
This, needless to say, is very significant as if other areas are included as well, then a moratorium in respect of all should be considered.
Home Minister Dato Seri Hishamuddin Hussein told Parliament earlier this year that according to statistics from the Prisons Department, as at February this year, a total of 860 persons have been sentenced to death for various offences such as murder, drug trafficking, firearms and kidnapping.
Given the large numbers involved, I also call upon the government to step up its efforts in reviewing the laws concerned. This is an area of review which to my mind, given the gravity of its nature, ought to be given top priority. It must be resolved without delay.
GOBIND SINGH DEO is the DAP MP for Puchong
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End apartheid for near 40% of the population first then bother about the 0.0001% death sentences. Whats the point in voting MPs who neglect the major issues but keep fooling around with non-issues? Waste of mandate granted by unthinking people who only see the personality but not the policy. Meanwhile the MP gets to be a ‘careerist’ and has the voters pay their salaries to do virtually nothing except appear on television and talk loudly – they love hearing the sound of their own voices but never amend a single law, never challenge apartheid, and prevent all other citizens from participating in law making! Vote for a new MP every 4 years and even then only 25 MPs would have sat on that seat in 100 years! how could anyone allow these farcical MPs to make Mubaraks or Gaddafis of themselves on their taxmonies?
ARTICLE 3
Anwar to SUARAM lawyers: Urgent need to update Parliament & verify authenticity of documents – by Anwar Ibrahim – Thursday, 04 October 2012 17:24
Messieurs William Bourdon, Joseph Breham,
Briefing to the Malaysian Parliament on the ongoing judicial inquiry at the Tribunal De Grande Instance into the payment of alleged illegal and/or corrupt commissions for the purchase of two Scorpene submarines by the Government of Malaysia from the firms Direction des Construction Navales Services ( “DCNS” ), Thales and Armaris in 2002
I refer to the above ongoing judicial inquiry at the Tribunal De Grande Instance in Paris presided over by Judge Roger Le Loire and Judge Serge Tournaire into the complaint by SUARAM, a Malaysian human rights non-governmental organization alleging that corrupt and illegal payments were made by the French suppliers DCNS and Thales and their joint venture company Armaris to Malaysian citizens and officials in relation to the purchase of the submarines in 2002 which were at the material time authorized by the then Malaysian Defence Minister and current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, where payments of up to 700 milliom ringgit were received by companies ( Perimekar Sdn Bhd and Terasasi ) owned by his adviser and close associate, Abdul Razak Baginda.
As Leader of Opposition in Parliament, I write to request your presence as lawyers acting for SUARAM, a party to the ongoing inquiry, to deliver a briefing on the status and development of the inquiry to interested Malaysian Members of Parliament during this current session of the Malaysian Parliament which will run until 22″ November 2012. I propose to invite all members of the Malaysian Parliament to this briefing.
7 witnesses
I am informed that a delegation from SUARAM comprising board members Mr Kua Kia Soong, Ms Cynthia Gabriel and Ms Fadiah Nadwa Fikri on 19 April 2012 appeared before Judge Roger Le Loire represented by your goodselves and assisted the inquiry with documents and facts substantiating their complaint of corruption with regard to the Scorpene purchases at the Tribunal De Grande Instance.
I understand that Judge Le Loire, after having heard SUARAM’s testimony has accepted a list of seven proposed witnesses including Prime Minister Najib Razak, the current Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi and also Abdul Razak Baginda.
Many members of the Malaysian Parliament are following the ongoing inquiry closely. This inquiry is vital to shed light on many unanswered questions arising from the purchase of the submarines by the Government of Malaysia. For some years now questions in the Malaysian Parliament regarding the payment of 114 million Euro to Abdul Razak Baginda’s company Perimekar Sdn Bhd for so-called “logistical support for training” have not received satisfactory answers. Perimekar &in Bhd was known to the French suppliers as a company with no track record for such training support.
Tax-deductible ‘bribe’: More corrupt payment uncovered
Despite reports to the Malaysia Anti-Coruption Commission, no result has been achieved despite the obvious suspicious nature of the payments. I note that Gerard Phillippe iVtaneyas, former finance director for DCNS, has in fact claimed a tax deduction for 32 million Euros allegedly used to bribe Malaysian officials for the purchase of the Scorpenes using legal provisions prior to France adopting OECD anti-corruption procedures and rules in 2002.
Following the commencement of the inquiry on 16 March 2012, SUARAM, being a party to the inquiry, has gained full privileged access to 153 documents from the Public Prosecutor’s office and has made public some of the contents of the investigation papers in several media conferences. Based on the content of these documents, SUARAM has also exposed a hitherto unknown further large payment of about 30 million Euros from the French suppliers to a company called Terasasi in Hong Kong which is controlled by Abdul Razak Baginda.
I am informed that many, if not all of these 153 investigation papers can now be viewed on the Internet news portal called “Asia Sentinel” at http://www.asiasentinel.com. Based on the content of some of these documents, there are clear indications that the payment of 114 million Euros and 30 million Euros to Abdul Rank Baginda companies are in fact corrupt payments made to facilitate the purchases of the submarines.
Top secret Malaysian navy document seized during DCNS raid
I note that these documents contain references to the fact that a top secret document belonging to the Malaysian Royal Navy was in the files seized by the French Anti-Corruption authorities from DCNS which was sent to it by Terasasi (Hong Kong) Ltd. Again police reports and questions in Parliament have not led to revelation of how this serious breach of secrecy took place.
In light of the above, there exists an urgent need for interested members of the Malaysian Parliament to be kept abreast of the developments in the ongoing inquiry to enable us to pursue accountability for the illegal acts of corrupt payments that are believed to have taken place. We would also like to be advised on the authenticity of the documents available on the Asia Sentinel website and the implications of their contents.
My office would be pleased to have early confirmation of your arrival dates to make all the necessary arrangements. For your information, we have also invited Messieur Olivier Metzner who acts for DCNS to also attend the briefing. We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully
Anwar Ibrahim
Telefon: 20721955 Ruj. Kami: Rttj.Tuan:
20721707 Fax: 26932529
2nd October 2012
Cabinet BOURDON VOITURIEZ & Associes Avocats au Barreau de PARIS
156, Rue de Rivoli — 75001 PARIS
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Anwar and Pakatan by extension is DETESTABLE for refusing to address and remove BUMIPUTRA APARTHEID and chase after Scorpene sub issues that hardly affect anyone except their political opponents. Ignoring near 40% of the population for personal political points is worthless for the Rakyat. Vote for 3rd force.
ARTICLE 4
‘Unisel and PNSB lost millions’ – by Chua Tee Yong – Friday, 05 October 2012 07:20
FISHY- Chua urges MACC to investigate why state firms got only RM10 each for RM478 million debts
KUALA LUMPUR: MCA Young Professionals Bureau chief Datuk Chua Tee Yong has claimed that two Selangor-owned companies were paid only RM10 each in the Talam debt recovery exercise despite being owed millions of ringgit.
Speaking to reporters at the party headquarters yesterday, Chua said Universiti Selangor (Unisel) and Permodalan Negeri Selangor (PNSB) were only paid this amount based on two assignments of debt agreements in 2009.
The assignments, which were signed between the state government, Talam Corp Bhd and the state-owned companies noted that the debt-ridden company owed Unisel and PNSB RM248 million and RM230 million respectively.
The documents, dated Nov 3, 2009 reads: “Now therefore this agreement witnesses that in consideration of the premises and mutual promises, covenants, conditions, representations and warranties hereinafter contained and the sum of RM10 now paid by the Assignee to the Assignor”.
With this, Chua said that the previous state administration should not be blamed for being in financial trouble.
“Unisel’s financial condition has worsened as Unisel only received RM10 for the Talam debt collection exercise instead of RM248 million,” he said, adding that a RM36 million discount was also given to Talam although it did not fulfil a settlement agreement that expired in 2008.
“PNSB has received only RM10 and is now having a loan of RM230 million with interest and costs of RM86 million while Talam Corp saves RM24 million yearly.”
The Labis member of parliament also came up with new figures on the Talam debt recovery exercise, in a claim that the state government had overvalued the Talam land.
He said the assets acquired with apparent overvaluation amounted to RM676 million, with RM86 million total interest and costs borne by PNSB.
He also included RM36 million discount given to Talam, which brings a total estimated cost of RM798 million.
“Until today, the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor government has not been able to give a clear answer on the issues raised.”
He added that the white paper on it was still not tabled despite their promises to do so.
“The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission should look into this.”
In July, Chua revealed a series of alleged misappropriation of funds by the Selangor government, claiming that the state had used RM1 billion to bail out Talam (now Trinity Corp) in the debt recovery exercise.
He claimed that the state government had done this through a RM392 supplementary budget passed in the legislative assembly in 2009, and the state subsequently bought an additional RM676 million worth of assets from Talam.
The Selangor government, however, denied the claims, saying that it had gone through proper channels and appointed independent audit firms in a show of transparency.
– New Straits Times
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Tee Yong and BN by extension is DETESTABLE for refusing to address and remove BUMIPUTRA APARTHEID and chase after Unisel issues that hardly affect anyone except their political opponents. Ignoring near 40% of the population for political points is worthless for the Rakyat. Vote for 3rd force.
ARTICLE 5
Malaysia is the most profitable business – Politics in Malaysia is the most profitable business – Saturday, 06 October 2012 Super Admin – Steve Oh, CPI
I am sure most Malaysians will agree with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in a recent speech that there is more to corruption than government abuses. What more is not conjecture as much of it is in the public domain.
Surely it must be evident from the various writings in Malaysiakini, CPI and other weblogs unless someone is so out of touch with the present reality and fails to recognise the angst and anger of many civic-minded Malaysians who see their country sliding down the slippery slope.
It is true what Najib said that “What is often neglected, however, is the fact that corruption and corrupt behaviour is entangled deep with the moral fabric of all societies.”
He went on to say, “It is critical, therefore, people in positions of power and authority to exemplify the values they wish their constituents would follow”.
But does Najib believe what he says?
And more importantly where is the walk besides the talk?
All we have seen seems to be in the contrary. We are wont to ask, “Where is the example from the people in positions of power and authority?”
Instead many blame successive BN administrations for the decrepit moral state of their country because of corruption and abuses of power, which Najib admits implicitly. And Najib has yet to shake off the ghost of Altantuya Shaaribuu whose murder still leaves the public with the question: “Who ordered the killing?”
The incumbent government has much to answer for its failure to inspire the rest of the nation to higher moral conduct when it fails to apply the rule of law objectively across the board and involves its politicians and proxies in unbecoming acts such as the publishing of ‘dirty videos’ and other acts of political subterfuge.
If inspiring is too much to ask, Najib will sound more convincing if he can stop his government from picking on Malaysians whose only crime is they want to see the greed he describes and the obsession with profit diminished.
Excuses, excuses
Najib’s suggestion that “in some countries where severe punishment was meted out for corruption, it has not proven entirely effective” may explain why his administration is coy about allegations of corruption by some of his cabinet colleagues and the Sarawak Chief Minister Mahmud Taib.
However I am not aware of the failure of strong measures to curb corruption that has not succeeded anywhere. Since Najib did not mention the countries, it is hard to substantiate the statement. However there is irrefutable and strong evidence we know that proves severe punishment works.
Singapore is one success story worth noting. Singapore did not become what it is today – among the top nations on the global corruption index for squeaky clean governance – by making flimsy excuses like the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for not having the power to take corrupt politicians to court.
The Singapore no-nonsense approach has proven corruption does not pay, and where it is found it is dealt with harshly by the authorities and we have even seen a senior politician charged commit suicide.
Surely the MACC’s excuse of having no power in the light of much global evidence in the allegations of corruption by the political bigwig must send every anti-corruption agency around the globe scratching their heads.
The truth is countries ensure there are laws to plug legal loopholes and every ploy by anyone to evade prosecution. Those governments ensure no one is above the law or out of its reach. There is even Interpol to help countries catch their criminals across borders.
Let us not forget Dr Mahahtir Mohammed went to extreme lengths to change the country’s constitution to get what he wanted and members of the royal family came under the scope of the law when he made it possible for them to be taken to court over civil and criminal matters where once they enjoyed legal impunity from prosecution.
But if a government lacks the moral and political will, then it will give dishonest and lame excuses. And sadly that is the problem with the Najib administration that seems bent on punishing those who want to see improvements in the moral fibre of their politicians, and even a constructive group like Aliran is not spared from harassment.
It begins with govt and its actions
The government can’t shirk its role in having created a political culture and society that has seen national integrity decline because of its corruption. Abuses of power filter outside of Putrajaya into the corridors of power and into the streets where cops are seen collecting bribes from illegal migrants and errant motorists.
The people in their daily lives are confronted with corruption everywhere.
With such moral insight that Najib exhibits in his speech, he ought to use his office and inspire his cabinet colleagues to lead Malaysia onto higher moral ground. After all, he espouses the virtues that Malaysians want to see badly after observing their nation bastardized by successive BN administrations. Even one that was relatively decent under Pak Lah was damned by Dr Mahathir Mohammed as “rotten”.
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Not a word on apartheid? Foolish pandering. CPI in this article neither ‘Reconstructs Policies’ nor ‘Remakes Society’.
ARTICLE 6
Land grab, Malaysian-style – Saturday, 06 October 2012 admin-s
Before Act A804, land could only be acquired for public purposes or for public utilities like building of roads, schools, hospitals, pipelines, water or power plants, etc. With the addition of “…for any purpose which in the opinion of the State Authority is beneficial to the economic development of Malaysia”, no land is safe.
Thomas Fann
This is not a new issue, in fact it is 21 years old.
It all began when the Barisan Nasional government, with its overwhelming majority in Parliament, passed by 99 to 25 votes the 1991 Land Acquisition Amendment Bill, or Act A804. The rephrasing of sections of the Land Acquisition Act 1960 basically gave incontestable power to state governments to seize private land for development by private companies and individuals. Lands originally acquired for public purposes can also be used for private development.
Before Act A804, land could only be acquired for public purposes or for public utilities like building of roads, schools, hospitals, pipelines, water or power plants, etc. With the addition of “…for any purpose which in the opinion of the State Authority is beneficial to the economic development of Malaysia”, no land is safe.
The term “beneficial to the economic development of Malaysia” is as subjective as you can get. A piece of land can be acquired to build a posh five-star hotel, an amusement park or a golf resort because in the opinion of the government it would bring in the tourist dollar and create jobs for locals, not to mention enriching the private companies which would, of course, be paying taxes.
To really make the Land Acquisition Act water-tight for the acquirer, Section 68A says that acquisitions cannot be invalidated by reason of any kind of subsequent disposal or use (etc) of the acquired land.
This new provision aims at preventing the acquirer or the purported purpose from being challenged in court. You can only challenge the quantum of the compensation offered, the measurement of the land area, the person whom compensation is payable to, and the apportionment of the compensation.
The leader of the opposition then, Lim Kit Siang, in opposing Act A804, gave this dire warning: “When it becomes law, it will destroy the constitutional right to property enjoyed by Malaysians for 34 years since Merdeka, and become the mother of all corruption, abuses of power, conflicts-of-interest and unethical malpractices in Malaysia…”
Was Kit Siang just over-reacting or scare-mongering when he said that or is it a prophecy that was and is being fulfilled till today?
A new ball game
The impetus for the passing of Act A804 was for the acquisition of 33,000 acres of land in the Gelang Patah area for the construction of the second link with Singapore and the construction of a new township by UEM, wiping out 19 villages and displacing 10,000 people.
The Johor state government offered the affected smallholders compensation averaging RM26,000 per acre or 64 sen per sqe ft, far below the then market value of RM100,000 per acre for agricultural land.
In a subsequent civil suit by one of the affected landowners against the government of Johor in 1995, it was revealed that a subsidiary of Renong was offering the intended development for sale at RM17 per sq ft, a whopping 28 times more than what the original landowners got!
For a glimpse into some of the backroom wheeling and dealing that went on with these deals, one should read the court papers of cases like “Honan Plantations vs Govt of Johor’; and “Stamford Holdings vs Govt of Johor”. Names of notable personalities like Muhyiddin Yassin, Syed Mokhtar Albukhary and Yahya Talib in secret meetings were mentioned.
For the Second Link and the highway that linked it to the North-South Expressway to be built, the Land Acquisition Act was necessary. To be fair, compensation had to not only take into account the then prevailing market value but also the loss of livelihood for the people who used to live off the land.
With Act A804, the government seized a lot more land than was required for the custom and immigration complex and the highway. We can safely say it seized almost 24,000 acres more for a private corporation, UEM, albeit it is a GLC (government-linked corporation).
Today, UEM Land, as the master developer of the 23,875-acre Nusajaya (as the acquired land is now called) boasts of its enormous landbank and potential billions in profit from its development. We want to ask this simple poignant question: whose lands were these originally, and what about the 10,000 over affected villagers? Shouldn’t these people be beneficiaries of development and not its victims? Perhaps some of the villagers are now working in Legoland, who knows?
While some of the people behind the scenes went on to achieve high office and some made it to the top 10 billionaires list, thousands of other nameless Malaysians are without land and opportunities.
Land grab is non-discriminatory: Malaysians from all racial, religious and social strata are affected.
Gelang Patah was just the precursor to a new ball game called Land Grab and the same modus operandi was used for Seremban 2, Bandar Aman Jaya in Sungai Petani, Pantai Kundor/Pantai Tanah Merah and Paya Mengkuang in Melaka, Kerpan in Kedah, Sepang in Selangor, lands acquired for the MRT project, Jalan Sultan, native customary lands in the Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak, and many, many more.
Of course, not all compulsory acquisitions are unjust or not justifiable; but there should be a fair and unskewed avenue for aggrieved landowners through the justice system to question certain acquisitions.
The courts now are somewhat constrained by Act A804, and in almost all cases such acquisitions are not reversed.
The Pengerang grab
Twenty years on, the same script is being acted out in Johor again (a BN stronghold), this time to the east in Pengerang.
A total of 22,500 acres of land are being acquired for the development of the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC). The anchor project in this proposal is Petronas’ RAPID project which requires a sizeable 6,424 acres.
Smallholders and plantations are being offered between RM1.80 psf and RM8 psf for their land.
Can Pengerang be called Gelang Patah 2.0 where again, on the pretext of development, a huge tract of land is being taken from their original landowners and placed in the hands of one or a few wealthy individuals and corporations? Is the PIPC the main play or is property speculation the main play?
Would the same prime minister who mooted the Third Link to Singapore in 2009 make the announcement again after all the land has been acquired? Who are the direct beneficiaries of such development?
All these are so “legal” that one government official after another is spewing out that it is done properly under the terms of the Land Acquisition Act 1960. It may be legal, but is it moral?
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak made a statement during the launch of the sixth International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities Conference in Kuala Lumpur on the Oct 4, 2012: “Is the unbridled and ruthless pursuit of extraordinary profits a form of corruption? I believe that if we see corruption as fundamentally a moral problem, therefore anything that promotes selfish interest at the expense of the well-being of others is morally wrong. It was vapid [tasteless] self-interest and greed that was truly at the heart of corruption. ”
Mr Prime Minister, I could not agree with you more.
How much is enough for the greedy? How many more poor and defenseless villagers must be forcibly displaced and robbed of the fruits of development to satisfy the insatiable appetites of the greedy who uses the Land Acquisition Act to enrich themselves? Who will speak up for the thousands who will be landless and many without a means of livelihood?
It is evil when a law is crafted to take away land from the poor without their consent, fair compensation or share in its benefits so that a few might make it to Forbes’ list of billionaires. We should all be foaming at our mouth with anger at this injustice but instead we just thank God daily that it is not our land they have come to take, at least not yet.
An Allodial Title is untouchable and even a highway will need to bend around the landowner’s property as in ‘Nail Houses’ in China. Vote only for MPs who will ratify ALLODIAL TITLES. Any MP who does not want to ratify Allodial Titles must not be voted in. Also vote for MPs on the basis if certain aspects Eminent Domain Powers of the State will be removed from law. If the MP will not/does not want to sign a statuary declaration that after GE13 they will ratify removal of Eminent Domain or promise in a Statuary Declaration on penalty of vacating the MP’s seat if failing to forward and ratify the bill, then that MP must not be voted in because they do not want your land to be protected, in fact Pakatan had caused the ‘Gambier Threat’ fracas as well by threatening to tear down privately built awnings on private property. Man’s home is their castle, we cannot allow politicians that dare use taxpayer paid enforcement to thrash people’s homes because nobody cared about unreasonable and abusive by-laws!
ARTICLE 7
Malaysian Youth Right Movement Urge Malaysian Youth To Reject Pakatan Rakyat Extremism – Saturday, 06 October 2012 admin-s
Dearest Malaysian Youth, beware of voting for Pakatan Rakyat into power. I am pretty sure you do not want to live another 4 or 5 years with all our freedom, rights and choices to be restricted by them. All Freedom and personal lifestyle liberty existed all this while because of Barisan Nasional Government and I am sure none of you would like to end up living the lifestyle like Pakatan Rakyat Islamic Kelantan and Kedah.
Shen Yee Aun,
President, Malaysian Youth Rights Movement
PAS Youth has demanded the immediate withdrawal of a permit given to an international modelling agency to hold a bikini fashion show in Malaysia. Selangor PAS Youth chief Hasbullah Mohd Ridzuan said holding a bikini show in an Islamic country was a major insult, referring to the planned Bello Model Management bikini fashion event at the Grand Millennium Hotel on Saturday.
What is both DAP’s and PKR’s stand regarding this issue? Pakatan Rakyat had many times deceived our Malaysian public that PAS’ Islamic agenda and cause will only affect the Muslim community. In this issue, the modeling agency is an International Agency and the their models only cater to all non-Muslim models. Both the organizer (agency) and models are not Muslims and why has Pakatan Rakyat’s PAS urged and asked our authorities to stop giving the license and permission to operate the fashion show?
What does a Fashion Show have to do with immoral activities? What is there in a fashion show that will harm our community? Malaysian Youth Voters believe that DAP and PKR will never stand up for you all as in this issue none of them came out to stand up for our rights and personal liberty. We have said that PAS does not need to have 2/3 majority in Parliament to actually start to sell and promote their Islamic Cause where now before they even take over Federal Power they are already very harsh in going against Fashion Shows.
No 1 : They are restricting the Freedom to Organize An Event
No 2 : They are restricting the Freedom for the choice of Dress Code
No 3 : They are trying to implement an Islamic Cause even into the non-Muslim Community
No 4 : They are restricting the FREEDOM OF CHOICE OF MODELING PROFESSION
No 5 : They are restricting the Establishment of Modeling Agencies in Malaysia
No 6 : They are restricting our Youth Personal Liberty and Lifestyle
Dearest Malaysian Youth, beware of voting for Pakatan Rakyat into power. I am pretty sure you do not want to live another 4 or 5 years with all our freedom, rights and choices to be restricted by them. All Freedom and personal lifestyle liberty existed all this while because of Barisan Nasional Government and I am sure none of you would like to end up living the lifestyle like Pakatan Rakyat Islamic Kelantan and Kedah.
A vote for DAP and PKR is a vote for PAS and a vote for PAS is a vote to lock yourself in a dark cage. Think wisely before you vote. For those who strive for personal freedom and liberty then at all cost they should reject Pakatan Rakyat Extremism. Voting for Pakatan Rakyat means all the Modeling Agencies in the entire Malaysia Will Be Shut Down. All the Event Companies, Fashion Shows and Pageant Organizers will be Shut Down from their Operation. All the women (non-Muslims) will be banned from wearing Bikinis. All the ENTIRE MODELS in Malaysia will lose their job. Those photographers and every profession that are related to fashion, modeling and events will be badly affected. Seriously, these are not a good choice of Change. You seriously want those types of Changes then please vote for them.
If Mr.Shen cannot convince BN to grant IMMEDIATELY with the mandate that BN has the below 3 items :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;Mr. Shen should go bury Malaysian Youth Right Movement under a pile of UMNO’s bumiputra apartheid abuse and the money Shen has been taking to dare speak when BN has not granted the above 3 items. Shen is a coward and the above are hardly freedoms but a norm. Set up non-4D gambling, RLDs in major city areas and remove Section 377B as well if all about freedom. Don’t pretend! Incidentally Anwar probably is gay as hell but pretending to be straight to be able to get the PM’s seat.
ARTICLE 8
Shahrizat joins bandwagon, slams Anwar for practising nepotism by Md Izwan – October 07, 2012
Shahrizat says Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was a leader who had no integrity for practising nepotism. — File pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has joined the chorus slamming Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for seemingly practising nepotism in the recently announced Pakatan Rakyat (PR) shadow cabinet which lists his wife and daughter as ministers.
The media reports Anwar will be prime minister while his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will be a minister in the prime minister’s office and Nurul Izzah Anwar would be Minister of Federal Territories and Urban Planning.
PR has denied the cabinet list.
“For such a long time after leaving Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN), he was always criticising nepotism,” the Wanita Umno chief was reported saying today by Mingguan Malaysia.
“But since he formed the opposition, all of them practice nepotism.”
Shahrizat told the Umno-owned Malay daily that Anwar was a leader who had no integrity for practising nepotism, an act he had severely criticised before.
She also questioned PAS’ stance since the Islamic party had been promised the prime minister post should PR win the upcoming general election.
“How was PAS initially listed and Anwar become PM?” asked the former minister for women, family and community development.
Shahrizat lost her Cabinet post in March following allegations that her family had misused federal funds for the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) worth RM250 million through their holding company National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp).
NFCorp attracted scrutiny when last year’s Auditor General Annual Report saod the cattle rearing project had failed to meet its targets.
Since then, PR headed by PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli have made several exposures of funds being abused for the project for items which were irrelevant to the cattle rearing industry.
This includes the purchase of luxury condominiums in Bangsar and Singapore and a plot of land in Putrajaya.
Shahrizat was appointed Minister for the Development of Women, Family and Community in 2001 and was retained even after losing the in the 2008 general election by being made a senator.
She was briefly made an advisor to the prime minister regarding issues concerning women’s welfare and social development before continuing in her ministerial portfolio.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Coudn’t BN get someone who did not practice corruption or nepotism as well, to condemn nepotism in Pakatan? Also BN has no critics of the lack of :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;even though BN has the mandate to grant the above. Good to point out Pakatan’s undemocratic nature, but Shahrizat being scandalised by recent condo/feed-lot issues, is a weak frontman to use against nepotistic Anwar.
ARTICLE 9
Sarawak CM’s son worth more than RM1 billion, says ex-wife – UPDATED @ 09:18:53 PM 02-10-2012 – October 02, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 — Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s son is worth more than RM1 billion, his former daughter-in-law told a Syariah court here today, when justifying her claims for RM400 million in their divorce settlement.
Shahnaz Abdul Majid, who was married to Taib’s son, Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir Abdul Taib, is demanding RM100 million as mutaah (Islamic conciliatory payment) following their recent divorce, and a RM300 million share of joint matrimonial assets.
The couple had finalised their divorce in May 2011, after a long-drawn court battle in which Shahnaz is claiming a total of RM400 million as compensation.
Taib’s former daughter-in-law, Shahnaz Abdul Majid, is claiming that he has personal accounts in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, France, Monaco, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Switzerland. — File picture
“He has personal accounts in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, France, Monaco, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Switzerland,” Shahnaz was quoted by news portal Malaysiakini as saying today during the Islamic court proceeding, referring to Taib’s son Mahmud Abu Bekir.
“My claim of RM100 million in mutaah is small as he is worth in excess of RM1 billion. The RM100 million can be said to be worth 10 sen to him,” she was reported as adding.
Shahnaz, the sister of jazz queen Datuk Sheila Majid, was also reported to have said that her former husband has an estimated RM700 million deposited in 111 banking accounts worldwide.
She told the court that Mahmud Abu Bekir had squirreled away US$25 million (RM76.3 million) in two personal accounts in Luxembourg’s Edmond de Rothschild bank.
Her ex-husband also has several accounts with the same European bank in Switzerland with deposits of US$31 million, Shahnaz was reported saying.
Mahmud Abu Bekir also had several accounts with British banking giant HSBC — two in Jersey with US$34 million in deposits and one in Hong Kong with deposits of US$9.6 million in his name.
All these accounts have a combined value of US$100 million in deposits.
The divorce settlement proceedings are once again shining a light on the purported wealth of the Sarawak chief minister’s family at a time of growing scrutiny ahead of national polls.
In court papers filed during her divorce application, Shahnaz had sought to have Mahmud Abu Bekir’s assets — among which she listed seven luxury cars, thousands of hectares of land in Sarawak and shares in 15 companies — declared as joint property and for it be halved.
Shahnaz, who holds an MBA in Finance and was at one time a director of the family-owned CMSB, had previously said she wanted to end their marriage under the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 because her ex-husband had not given her “nafkah batin” since 2001.
The 49-year-old also accused Mahmud Abu Bekir of punching her in the head, face and eyes; kicking her in the ribs; and throttling her — in addition to verbally abusing her with derogatory words, and thereby causing emotional and mental stress.
The couple married on January 9, 1992 and have a son, Raden Murya Abdul Taib Mahmud, 18.
The case before Federal Territory Syariah High Court judge, Mohamad Abdullah, resumes on October 24.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
If BN would grant :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;with the existing mandate BN has, the people might be busy enough celebrating than trying to replace BN for at least 1 term. But BN would rather keep the abusive policies in place and have the people kick BN out and PR will ensure BN goes to court and gets sued etc.. BN is a failure if BN does not grant the above 3 items with immediate effect.
ARTICLE 10
More find fight against corruption effective – 08 October 2012 | last updated at 08:42AM
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s war against corruption is showing positive and tangible results, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday.
He said a survey conducted by Transparency International last year found that 49 per cent of Malaysians felt that the government’s efforts in fighting corruption was effective compared with 29 per cent in 2009.
“I am certain that given time, Malaysia will be successful in its war against corruption and further improving public perception on the government’s anti-corruption efforts,” he said in his closing speech to more than 900 delegates at the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities conference and general meeting here.
Muhyiddin noted that in the nation’s aspiration for attaining developed status by 2020, fighting corruption would always be one of the main agendas.
“Addressing corruption is one of the seven National Key Result Areas.
“We believe that corruption must be eliminated to remove inefficiencies in the system, which will severely limit the country’s economic transformation and growth.”
He added that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Education Ministry had begun efforts to include a module on integrity and corruption prevention in schools.
Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said that creating awareness on graft in the younger generation would serve the country well and would go a long way in promoting economic prosperity and social wellbeing.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
More propaganda. Look at any Minister’s background then compare with anyone with similar backgrounds and educations that did not take up politics, then compare personal net worth today. Theres your corruption. That is why even MPs and Assemblymen cannot be allowed to hold seats for more than 1 term. War against corruption? More like propaganda war against Rakyat to keep the Rakyat in the dark about why Ministers are so rich (unlike Tunku Abdul Rahman) and everyone else has to work.
We cannot allow anyone to sit in power too long or they will become plutocrats and nepotists that write abusive and tax payer killing policy. All that bs about education is a lie. Every single Minister has enough to start their own University. From the taxpayer MONEY, Education-Financiar-Student-Debt Complex and compound interest on debt rather than a pay off loan as you earn (meaning the jobless beneficiaries of degrees do not pay or incur interest if they are not working – perhaps the University can be allowed to collect a flat 20% directly off the student’s paycheck by contacting the employer via new laws) AT 0% INTEREST, or even FREE EDUCATION which some of our greedier MPs have tried to prevent so as to protect the Education-Financiar-Student-Debt Complex and profit off the people. Tertiary education is free in MANY countries but not in Malaysia.
ARTICLE 11
Seeking the Right to Be Female in Malaysia – Saturday, 06 October 2012 admin-s
Adam Shazrul Bin Mohammad Yusoff dressed in her room in Seremban, Malaysia.
(The New York Times) – Nisha Ayub was jailed for three months after her first arrest for dressing as a woman 14 years ago. Ms. Nisha, who was 20 at the time, said prison wardens forced her to walk naked in front of the male inmates.
“It’s something I can’t forget until today,” she said.
The feminine figure dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, makeup carefully applied, drew little attention from other customers at the fast-food restaurant in Seremban, a city about an hour’s drive south of Kuala Lumpur.
The 26-year-old began wearing women’s clothing at age 13. Thanks to plastic surgery in neighboring Thailand, a daily dose of hormones and a feminine nickname, she is able to present herself as female to the outside world.
But her official identification card — which Malaysians must produce in dealings like job interviews — declares that her name is Adam Shazrul Bin Mohammad Yusoff and that she is male.
The discrepancy between her appearance and her officially recognized gender presents much more than just awkward moments in Malaysia, where Shariah, or Islamic law, bans Muslim men from dressing or posing as women.
Penalties differ in individual states, but in Negri Sembilan, where the 26-year-old lives, convicted offenders may be sentenced to up to six months in prison, fined as much as 1,000 ringgit, about $325, or both.
Tired of living in fear of prosecution, the 26-year-old — who has been arrested twice and was once fined 900 ringgit — and three other transgender people are challenging the law in the secular courts, arguing that it violates the Malaysian Constitution, which bans discrimination based on gender and protects freedom of expression.
A verdict in their case — the first time anyone has sought to overturn the law — is expected next Thursday.
“It’s for freedom — to be like everybody else, to wear what we like,” said the 26-year-old, explaining why she is taking part in the case. “This shouldn’t happen. It’s an unjust law. We are just human beings. We are not doing anything wrong.”
How about another 4 more articles : Seeking the Right to Be “Shemale”(or Transgender), “Lesbian”, “Bisexual” and “Gay” in Malaysia. All of these 4 groups ARE NOT WOMEN though post-operative Transexuals should indeed be considered women.
ARTICLE 12
A tough battle in Lembah Pantai – Sunday, 07 October 2012 Super Admin
SHOWDOWN: Barisan Nasional is going all out to wrest the hottest urban seat in Kuala Lumpur back from the opposition, which it won by a narrow margin in the 2008 general election, writes Carisma Kapoor
LEMBAH Pantai, a constituency in Kuala Lumpur held by Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, is considered one of the hot seats in the next general election. Barisan Nasional will be fighting hard to win it back.
In the 2008 general election, Nurul defeated BN’s Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who had held the seat since 1995, by a relatively narrow margin of 2,895 votes.
Nurul, a first-time elected representative, is expected to defend the constituency with some 56,000 voters, and will likely face Lembah Pantai Umno chief and Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.
In a recent report, Raja Nong Chik conveyed his intention to contest the Lembah Pantai seat if he was among the candidates selected by BN.
Asked whether it would be a challenge to face Nurul, he said it would be but only because she was an incumbent member of parliament.
As someone who had grown up in the area, Raja Nong Chik, however, welcomed the challenge.
“I am confident of winning the seat based on my service record and relationships established over the past 25 years in the area, starting from my early days as an Umno Youth member,” he said.
His years of involvement in the local politics and issues of Lembah Pantai had helped him to understand better the needs of residents.
“I’m contesting so that I can serve the people, not for other interests. I walk the talk, unlike the opposition which criticises and walks away without offering any solutions,” he said, adding that even though he was not selected as a candidate in the 2004 general election, he had continued serving the Lembah Pantai residents.
Raja Nong Chik stressed that he had stated several times that the only seat he would like to contest was Lembah Pantai. This, despite being cautioned by some that the seat was “not safe for a minister”.
Raja Nong Chik’s game plan would include working hard, turun padang (going to the ground), listening to the people’s problems, resolving outstanding problems as well as facilitating better living and working conditions for people within and outside Lembah Pantai.
“More importantly, I will try to assist those in the area who have been left behind in developments,” he said, referring to the disabled, single mothers, pensioners, traders, low- and medium-cost flat dwellers, the sick and students.
On Nurul’s supporters who had spoken out about their preference that she contest in Permatang Pauh, Raja Nong Chik said the suggestion had come about because Nurul had not served her constituency for some time.
“Nurul has only become active recently because the election is coming.”
As for BN Lembah Pantai, he said members would fight any opposition candidate and thereafter join their colleagues to help Federal Territories and the rest of the country.
Raja Nong Chik, however, said it was up to the BN leadership to decide on whether to field him.
Nurul claimed that she was not only confident of retaining the Lembah Pantai seat but was also certain that the opposition would take control of Putrajaya.
She said the Election Commission had yet to implement the suggestions by the opposition and their allies for a free and fair election.
Nonetheless, Nurul said, the opposition would continue to participate in the election, highlight abuses and work towards getting at least 75 per cent voter turnout.
Nurul said “phantom busters” had been trained by the opposition to use cameraphones to take note of suspicious voters for legal action.
“We are advocating for international observers to view our electoral process.”
On her efforts to “win over” voters in the area, Nurul said apart from relating to the people, she represented their voices in a “new culture of politics”, where issues and not individuals drove legislation.
Responding to supporters who had preferred her to contest in Permatang Pauh, a seat held by her father, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the 32-year-old said she would obey her party even though she had indicated that she would like to remain with her supporters in Lembah Pantai. — (NST)
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
1 term left, prepare to GTFO of Dewan in 2016. No useful policy ratified so far. . . . the 32-year-old said she would obey her party . . . Party? Nurul means, Father rather? Pakatan Rakyat politics runs like a family business. No statesmen there in Pakatan Rakyat, vote 3rd Force instead!
ARTICLE 13
Nurul Izzah questions 135% hike in cost for KLIA2 – Wednesday, 10 October 2012 07:18
More questions have been raised on the ever-ballooning construction cost of low-cost carrier terminal or KLIA2, after the price shot up by 135 percent or RM4 billion from the original RM1.7 billion.
Lembah Pantai member of parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar said the Transport ministry’s refusal to come clean on the matter strengthened the perception that the planning and execution of KLIA2 had not been transparent.
KLIA2 has also over its Traffic Modernization Programme (ATMOP) for air traffic control, which according Nurul, has been awarded to ENAV S.p.A, a consultant and air traffic control system supplier company.
“The major concern lies in SELEX (Selex Sistemi Integrati) and ENAV relationship,” said Nurul.
The PKR vice president had earlier disclosed that the faulty radar MIP-2 system was jointly developed by Advanced Air Traffic System (M) Sdn Bhd (AAT) and SELEX at the National Air Traffic Control Centre (NATCC) in Subang airport.
“Is it not conflict of interest as (ENAV’s partner) SELEX is also a supplier to air traffic control system?” she asked, citing clauses 29.1 and 33.1 of the agreement between ENAV and Department of Civil Aviation (DCA).
Under 29.1 and 33.1, a consultant must obey all Malaysian laws including procurement and must not be directly involved in any business.
Due to this, Nurul said ENAV and SELEX were prone to bias in its procurement selection and questioned whether ENAV was clearly absolved from any business activities.
She also revealed that the ceiling price of ATMOP was RM27 million as specified under clause 1.4. However, ENAV had announced the project would cost RM40 million (10 million euro).
“So which is true?” she asked.
Prior to this, AirAsia group chief executive Tony Fernandes had hit out at the escalating construction cost of KLIA2.
-Harakahdaily
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Political parties must not only be whistle blowers which any investigative journalist can do, but also end apartheid. Nurul could be a crypto-racist that is great at being a whistleblower (ending corruption is good but keeping the apartheid of bumiputra in place is bad), meaning 40% of the nation still cannot vote for Nurul (despite corruption which is intended to end but probably will not end). Does Nurul believe in :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Equality espousing MPs and 2 term limited MPs only, no more Ketuanan! Crypto-racism is a crime against Humanity! ARTICLE 14
DAP’s Karpal chides ‘presumptuous’ PKR deputy president – Monday, 08 October 2012 Super Admin
(The Star) – The feud between Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and his party boss Azmin Ali has worsened with more Pakatan Rakyat leaders joining in the fray to chide the PKR deputy president.
The latest Pakatan leader to do so is DAP chairman Karpal Singh who reminded Azmin that he was not in any position to unilaterally announce anything affecting the coalition, including on who should be the Selangor mentri besar if the coalition retained power in the state.
“Azmin has exceeded the bounds of opinion, because this matter is beyond PKR. It involves the Pakatan Rakyat leadership,” Karpal said yesterday.
Karpal was asked to comment on Azmin’s recent statement in a Malay daily that implied that Khalid would not be re-appointed as Mentri Besar should Pakatan retain power in Selangor.
Azmin had said that Khalid’s services were needed at the federal level if Pakatan succeeded in capturing Putrajaya.
Karpal said it was not proper for Azmin to express such an opinion because the decision was not in the hands of PKR alone.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali also affirmed that the matter was never discussed at the Pakatan Rakyat leadership council meetings.
He had described Azmin as “over ambitious” for making such a statement.
PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s former private secretary, Annuar Shaari also said the feud between Azmin and Khalid had always been an “open secret” within the party circle.
“Azmin had wanted the mentri besar’s post in 2008, but he kept silent after Anwar convinced him they could take over Putrajaya in 2009,” he said.
He said it was also known that PKR president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was not in favour of Azmin, while her husband Anwar favoured him.
Khalid’s political secretary Faekah Husin said Azmin had prematurely dropped the bomb.
She said Khalid had laughed off the matter because he did not mind whether he was fielded or dropped from the list of candidates in the next elections.
In an unrelated development, Khalid admitted that some PKR members still found fault with the party and doubted the viability of Pakatan.
“This is happening because the members are more concerned about their own interests. This is not right. We should show more maturity towards attaining the party’s goals,” he said at the opening of the party’s Kuala Selangor division’s annual general meeting in Ijok yesterday.
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Better this form of non-in-family politics than the presumptuousness in family bloc politics that Karpal has caused and thinks the Rakyat do not notice. Want to be a Maharaja? They are all in INDIA and probably ashamed of Karpal for not speaking against apartheid. GTFO of Dewan, 2 terms over for Karpal family who dares not challenge the apartheid of bumiputra but prevents REAL MPs from taking power (2 term limits!) to change laws!
ARTICLE 15
‘Spat proves Azmin wants total control of Selangor’ – PKR turncoat – Wednesday, 10 October 2012 16:14
INFIGHTING- Began since Azmin took over as state PKR liaison head, says ex-Anwar aide
THE ongoing ‘spat’ between Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy president Azmin Ali and Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim proves that the former wants “total control” over the administration of the state.
Former private secretary to PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Anuar Shaari said this became evident when Azmin took over Khalid’s position as the state’s PKR liaison chairman two years ago.
“Therefore, I am not surprised with this infighting that has been going on in the Selangor PKR. This is no longer a secret,” he said in a statement.
“How could they govern the country when even at the state level they are already fighting over positions? The ‘people’s supremacy’ they claim to champion is a slogan of hypocrisy.”
The controversy first started when a Malay daily reported Azmin as saying that the Selangor menteri besar could be replaced and Khalid would be appointed as federal minister if opposition coalition won the next general election.
The war of words then escalated when Khalid’s political secretary, Faekah Husin made a statement in an online portal, saying that Azmin did not have the authority to decide on Khalid’s post.
“Who is Azmin to make such a deduction? I don’t know what drove him to come up with that statement,” she was reported as saying.
Azmin, who is said to be vying for the position of Selangor menteri besar, however accused the Malay daily of “misreporting”, but this was later denied by the newspaper.
However, the focus was shifted to Faekah, when Selangor National Leadership Council deputy president Zuraida Kamaruddin criticised Faekah for her “disparaging” comments against Azmin.
Zuraidah, who is a known Azmin ally was reported last Saturday to have said that she was “very disappointed” over the “unnecessary comments” and suggested that Faekah break the communication wall between her and Azmin over the matter.
“As an effective political secretary to the MB, Faekah should concentrate on improving the political relationship between the MB and party leaders and not cause instability by unnecessarily jumping the gun,” said Zuraidah.
However, former PKR leader Zamil Ibrahim was of the opinion that Faekah was made a “scapegoat” and that she should not be blamed for making such a statement.
He claimed that the clash had always been between Azmin and PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, instead of Khalid.
He explained that it was Wan Azizah who positioned Faekah as the political secretary to “spy” on Azmin as the Gombak member of parliament “never received the blessings from the party president”.
“Faekah used to work with Wan Azizah, and she was put there for a purpose as the president didn’t want Azmin to have control over the state.”
Zamil added that it was known within the party that Khalid would not be in the PKR’s election candidates list as he held no top position in PKR Selangor, except as a Kuala Selangor division chief.
He also said Zuraida should not question Faekah over her statement as it was akin to questioning the president’s choices.
– New Straits Times
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2 terms then GTFO of Dewan. Control, especially in politics is an illusion. This is politics, as in a political party with disposable 2 term limited candidates, not a Sultanate. 90% of Pakatan’s Campaign Promises Still Unkept. GTFO of Dewan and stop fighting on the taxpayer’s monthly funding! Anyone up to a no-confidence motion to remove MPs who LIED and did not keep campaign promises?
Punish all, not just pro-democracy activists, PKR demands – UPDATED @ 11:50:32 AM 07-09-2012 – by Clara Chooi – September 07, 2012
Dr Wan Azizah speaks at the launch of PKR’s ‘Merdeka Rakyat’ mobile stage in Petaling Jaya on September 7, 2012. — Picture by Choo Choy May
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 — PKR today demanded equal punishment on all those who have stomped on photographs of political leaders and activists regardless of their political leanings, accusing the authorities of using selective prosecution to quell dissent against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).
Party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail pointed out that similarly unruly acts committed in the past by Umno or pro-BN activists against Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders like Lim Guan Eng had not resulted in any probe by the police.
But she noted that several youths found guilty of stomping on or mooning over pictures of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, his wife and Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof during last week’s pro-democracy gathering are currently facing the full extent of the law for their actions.
“It is selective prosecution. If you want to take action, take action against all those who have committed similarly offensive acts… take equal action against all.
“If the act was committed against Lim Guan Eng, take action, if against the PM, take action, if against (PAS spiritual adviser Datuk) Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, take action… then it is fair,” she told reporters at the launch of PKR’s “Merdeka Rakyat” mobile stage here.
A 19-year-old student, who was caught on camera exposing his bottom and stomping on the photographs of Najib and his wife, has reportedly been expelled from college — the Cheras-based Cybernetics International College of Technology — for insulting a national leader.
The police had earlier arrested the boy, as well as a number of other teenagers, for stomping on the photographs, in what opposition politicians have described as an over-reaction to the exuberance of young activists.
It is unclear what charges the boy faces, but the police have arrested him under the Sedition Act, which Najib had announced earlier this year would be repealed.
“This goes to show that they just want to use any instrument to prosecute people whom they think are against them.
“But when it comes to the opposition, it is like — never mind, there is no need to prosecute,” Dr Wan Azizah said.
Sedition is not clearly defined and this was one of the reasons for the planned repeal as its use has sparked complaints of abuse by the authorities.
Similar offensive acts committed by pro-BN activists have gone unpunished in the past, including the performance of butt exercises by a group of army veterans at the home of Bersih 2.0 co-chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan.
Earlier yesterday, another teenager apologised for stepping on the prime minister’s picture at Dataran Merdeka during the countdown of the country’s 55th National Day last week.
Ong Sing Yee, 19, surrendered to the police in Johor on Wednesday to help with investigations into the incident.
The police were reported to have set up three task forces to investigate three separate incidents of hooliganism that took place over the National Day weekend.
A firestorm erupted last week after several individuals were recorded tearing up posters bearing images of the prime minister, his wife and Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof at the same event.
Several other people were spotted waving a flag with an alternative design ? now identified as the Sang Saka Malaya ? instead of the Jalur Gemilang at the National Day bash last Thursday night.
Bukit Aman’s CID director Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin told The Malaysian Insider that the police were probing the two separate incidents under the Sedition Act ? despite Putrajaya’s decision to repeal the controversial law that has been widely panned as a tool to curb political dissent.
Mohd Bakri said the police were probing the flag incident as an attempt to incite hatred with intent to create public disorder under Section 4 (1)(a) of the Sedition Act 1948.
He added that stepping on pictures of Najib and wife were considered offences under Sections 290 and 504 of the Penal Code for being public nuisances and intentionally causing insult with an intent to provoke break the public peace, respectively.
Those convicted under Section 290 may be fined up to RM400 while those found guilty under Section 504 are liable to be jailed up to two years or fined, or both.
However, Section 4 (1)(a) of the Sedition Act prescribes a mandatory jail term of three years or a fine of up to RM5,000 for first offenders, which is subsequently raised to five years’ jail for repeat offences.
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Punish ALL?!? ALL will punish those who want to punish ALL! This is as much a regular citizen’s country as those working in government who should only be there for 2 terms! Pakatan lied about 90% campaign promises (where are the Local Council Elections?!? MP Declarations of Assets?) and decided on who sat on the Penang CM’s post (oh look, DAP’s party ‘Chairman FOR LIFE’ decided own kid LGE should be CM . . . ) without quorum or vote. Nik Aziz wants hudud. PUNISH THESE 2 instead! Oh and punish Najib and BN also who do not end apartheid . . . 3rd Force only!
ARTICLE 2
Freedom to be loyal – Tunku ’Abidin Muhriz, The Star – Friday, 07 September 2012
An anti-hopping law would give party leaders even more power over MPs, who already cannot muster the courage to disobey the party whip if they believe that a Bill is not in the interests of their constituents.
MANY commentators with whom I generally agree on measures to improve our country seem to have been hoodwinked into supporting a popular anti-democratic move, namely the banning of party hopping by members of parliament and state legislators.
I opposed this in a political philosophy essay I wrote at university in 2002, I opposed it in my column in 2008 and I oppose it now.
The whole campaign is based on two flawed assumptions.
The first is that Malaysians vote for political parties, not for individuals. This is legally untrue (our Federal Constitution refers to “individuals” elected to the Dewan Rakyat and the “individual” to be appointed Prime Minister, but never to “political parties”), but even those who understand this
important distinction claim that “Malaysians vote for parties by default”, which has not been scientifically verified (I suspect most Malaysians give consideration to both the party’s manifesto and the candidate’s background and record).
If it turns out that Malaysians do in fact vote for the party rather than the candidate, they should campaign for a law to be passed to make this a legal reality, but until then, it is dangerous to fix a perceived problem based on unverified claims.
The second assumption is that whenever an instance of party hopping occurs, it is the candidate who is at fault, rather than the party. Well, let us imagine that I vote for Puan Thavamani of the Feline Front because she campaigns (in accordance with the party manifesto) to ban dogs from public roads.
She wins the election, but months later there is an internal party struggle. The leader is replaced, and he reverses the party policy: dogs will now be allowed to roam free everywhere.
I am furious, because I supported the candidate based on this manifesto pledge. If YB Thavamani now supports canine freedom on public roads, she would be violating the trust I placed in her.
At the very least, I would expect her to defy her party whip in relevant parliamentary votes.
But let us imagine that party policy changes in other areas too, and it is clear that the manifesto is being disregarded to the extent that a different political party, the Cats Pact, better reflects the manifesto I supported. I would most definitely support YB Thavamani hopping from Feline Front to
Cats Pact better fight for the causes that I supported.
Clearly, if a no party-hopping law was in force, she could not do that.
More flexible commentators agree that she should be able to hop, but must resign and re-contest.
However, apart from the costs involved, this would also be a breach of my trust – I voted expecting her to serve for a full term.
Furthermore, it is possible that the new result could be less democratically legitimate if the by-election has a lower turnout than at the general election (perhaps my critics will then support the undemocratic idea of compulsory voting).
My detractors will say that my analogy does not apply in Malaysia, where the reality is that inducements are made to successful candidates to switch loyalties for pure political power play rather than ideological differences.
Even then, there is a better way to deal with unprincipled party hopping than to attempt to ban it: namely, to democratise the political parties.
At the moment, it is easy for Party Leader A to buy a candidate’s support from Party Leader B because in both parties it is the party leader who decides who gets to be a candidate and where: the loyalty goes upwards.
But if Party B were to instead have candidates elected by local party grassroots or even all voters in a constituency (like in US primaries), it would be much more difficult for Party Leader A to buy any support: the candidate would feel loyalty downwards, to a much larger base of people.
Naturally, none of our party leaders from both sides of the divide are supporting such a scheme because they all want to hold on to the enormous powers of patronage they currently enjoy.
Indeed, an anti-hopping law would give party leaders even more power over MPs, who already cannot muster the courage to disobey the party whip if they believe that a Bill is not in the interests of their constituents!
So, while I certainly sympathise with those who are disgusted by unprincipled politicians, I believe that banning party hopping will not deal with the root causes.
Rather, we should seek more democracy within political parties, more transparency on political party funding and more media freedom. These will help ensure that in future, any candidate who wishes to switch allegiance will better have a damn good reason to do so.
> Tunku ’Abidin Muhriz is president of IDEAS
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NLP alert! Typical from UMNO types. Freedom to be loyal? And look at the NPP pic . . . ABIDING TIMES?!? F— that T.A.M.. Try ‘RESISTING’ TIMES . . . IDEAS is unusable, aka IDEAS is FIRED! . . . Freedom to be DIS-loyal as well please . . . the only loyalty must be to the Rakyat via policy writing, don’t be a Wakil Parti and no matter how good one’s local language is (Malay). no amount of praise of Rakyat or kissing of babies will be comparable to good policy writing. IDEAS has shown their true colours.
ARTICLE 3
Man gets 12 months’ jail for beating death of sister’s would-be rapist – September 04, 2012
KOTA KINABALU, Sept 4 — A labourer was sentenced to 12 months’ jail by the Sandakan Sessions Court today for being part of a group that caused the death of a man who had tried to rape his sister.
Alung Husin pleaded guilty to a charge of causing hurt to Mosran Sogeng on August 3, The Star reported today.
The court was told that Alung had returned home at about 1.30pm on that day when he heard some noise near the chicken coop behind his house.
Alung went to check and heard his sister screaming while trying to fend off a man, later identified as Mosran, according to the report.
The court heard that Alung grabbed Mosran and pulled him away from his sister and punched him in the shoulders and chest.
Neighbours, who had heard the commotion, came and also assaulted Mosran, according to The Star report.
Mosran was later rushed to the hospital but died shortly after.
DPP Supt Dominic Chew told the court that police were still looking for the other men involved in the attack on Mosran.
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A life for a life, a rape for a rape. A person cannot be killed for rape. Inequitable judgment.
ARTICLE 4
Free sex with cleaner rides – Routine raid unearths partnership between massage parlour and car wash outlet – by Aizat Sharif – Wednesday, September 05, 2012 – 12:00
NABBED: Nine Vietnamese prostitutes and GROs aged between 18 and 28 were arrested during the raid
A MASSAGE parlour and a car wash outlet in Sunway Mentari have given new meaning to the phrase “customer loyalty”. They have come up with a creative way to entice more customers to engage their services by offering free sex after nine car washes.
However, their three-month old “win-win” partnership went bust after police stormed the massage parlour on Monday night.
In the 9pm operation, nine Vietnamese women, believed to be prostitutes and GROs, aged between 18 and 28, were arrested.
Selangor National Key Result Area (NKRA) Crime Prevention Division officer-in-charge, ASP Emmi Shah Fadhil, said police got wind of the activity after the raiding team found several car wash loyalty cards from five customers who were caught having sex with the prostitutes.
“It was supposed to be just another routine operation,” he said. Emmi Shah said the team later found out that customers who sent their cars to the nearby car wash will be given a loyalty card each.
“To get the extra ‘offer’, customers must send their cars for washing nine times within a certain period. The tenth car wash will entitle them to free sex,” said Emmi Shah.
He said those who sought sex immediately would need to fork out between RM130 and RM180 per session.
“When we raided the premises, the women panicked. Some even tried to hide in the storeroom. Four men, believed to be the operators and caretakers, were also detained,” he said.
Emmi Shah said besides the loyalty card, the team also found several condoms stashed inside a microwave.
Checks revealed the premises, equipped with CCTV, only allowed Chinese patrons to enter.
He said the women were found to have violated their social visit passes and had been working without permits.
They were taken to Petaling Jaya police headquarters for further investigations. Selangor police had conducted 4,220 raids and detained 2,304 women involved in prostitution and vice activities from January to Aug 31 this year. Out of the total, 214 women are locals while 2,090 are foreigners.
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Moral of the story or basis of failed Malaysian law is . . . Muslims hate sex and fun? This sort of thing is quite dull and uninteresting and even that the authorities want to morally police via the civil police force? Time to vote in a more matured government.
ARTICLE 5
The only good politician is a dead politician – NO HOLDS BARRED – by Raja Petra Kamarudin – Monday, 10 September 2012 Super Admin
Would an orgy help then? I mean, not only will we encourage males and females to mix freely but they can also strip naked and engage in an orgy. We will have a mass bonking session involving 1,000 men and women. Will this make Malaysians love each other more? If free mingling of males and females can help improve racial harmony just imagine what free sex can do.
Those are just some of the news items this morning. There are, of course, many more than just those four and all give Islam a bad name. Basically, the impression that one gets is Islam or Muslims is about violence, conflict, killing, intolerance, extremism etc.
Why is it when we read anything about Islam or Muslims it must always be something negative? Aren’t there any good news like Muslims set up relief centres for refugees, Muslims raise USD100 million for war orphans, Muslims condemn and call for economic sanctions against states that propagate terrorism, and whatnot?
I am sure that there are some good news but who likes to read good news? It is the bad news that sells. Sex, politics, murder — those are what sell. And if it is a politician involved in a sex cum murder scandal that sells even better. Hence do you now understand why the Altantuya Shaariibuu story will just not go away?
Today there is that story about PAS in Negri Sembilan separating the males and females at its Hara Raya bash (Negri PAS under fire for segregating sexes at Raya open house).
State MCA political and strategy bureau head Datuk Lee Yuen Fong said PAS’ action only caused uneasiness among Malaysians. “Why do you need to segregate when it is an open house and held in an open area? This is a preview of what PAS will do if it ever gains power,” he said.
Negri Sembilan Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism council chairman Edward Lim said that having such a rule would not help foster unity. “We can understand if the rule is introduced to ensure women, girls and children get their food as there is always a scramble at such events,” he said.
National MIC information chief Datuk V.S. Mogan described the segregation as ridiculous. “It mocks the open house concept and doesn’t help in promoting unity,” he said.
PAS has been doing this for years. I have attended many PAS functions at Taman Melawar in Gombak (not only Hari Raya events) and they have always had separate sections and separate entrances for males and females.
But this has never upset my wife and me one bit. My wife just walks in together with me through the ‘male’ entrance and she sits together with me in the male section. She does not join the other ladies in the ladies section. And that has never been an issue. No one has come up to her to ask her to leave the male section and go join the women in the ladies section. In fact, my wife was not even wearing a tudung or scarf. And sometimes she wears tight/body-hugging jeans and a ‘sexy’ T-shirt.
These people make it appear like this is something that PAS only introduced this year rather than it has always been like that for more than two generations. And what are these MCA, MIC and Negri Sembilan Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism council people complaining about? The event is a PAS event held at their place. They can decide how they want things done in their own event.
If you come to my event, say at my house, I will expect you to take off your shoes even though taking off your shoes when entering someone’s house is not British culture. It is my house so I will decide how things are done. And if you don’t like it then don’t come to my house. Simple!
The event was a PAS event. If PAS says no dogs are allowed then don’t bring your dog. Go bring your dog to a MCA or MIC event of you wish. If PAS says you cannot strip and dance stark naked on top of the table then don’t do that. Do that when you go to the Negri Sembilan Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism council gathering.
Lee said that in a multi-racial and multi-religious country like Malaysia, it was important for people to mix with one another as it would help promote understanding.
So the state MCA political and strategy bureau head, Datuk Lee Yuen Fong, wants to promote racial harmony through free mingling of males and females. If males and females were not allowed to mix freely then Malaysia would suffer racial discord.
Would an orgy help then? I mean, not only will we encourage males and females to mix freely but they can also strip naked and engage in an orgy. We will have a mass bonking session involving 1,000 men and women. Will this make Malaysians love each other more? If free mingling of males and females can help improve racial harmony just imagine what free sex can do.
Actually, asking men and women to mix freely or organising orgies would not solve the racial problem in Malaysia. What would help improve things would be when we line up all the politicians in front of a firing squad and shoot them, especially those politicians who are using race and religion to divide Malaysians.
The only good politician is a dead politician, I always say.
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A 2 term limited politician rather? Don’t kill politicians, just limit their corrupting term limitless influence by getting the voters to remove them and also write laws to prevent politicians from staying in power too long and getting 750K funeral ideas from false senses of self entitlement to taxpayer funds or a UN impossible to accept moral policing.
ARTICLE 6
Government owes UN at least three reports – Friday, September 07, 2012 – 15:16 – by T.K. Letchumy Tamboo
THE government owes at least three reports to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council for the UN Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Cedaw) committee.
Women Aid’s Organisation (WAO) executive director Ivy Josiah said that Malaysia, which acceded to Cedaw on July 5, 1995, was supposed to submit a periodic report on the progress of implementing the convention’s provisions but it has not complied.
“Since than, the government had only reported to the committee once when it prepared a combined first and second report in 2004 and appeared before the committee in 2006.
“The government is obligated to submit a report to the committee every four years,” she said. Josiah said this led to the creation of an alternative report, initiated by 22 non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
“The NGOs became tired of waiting for the Malaysian government’s report, which was due four years ago. So, in the absence of the report, the NGOs got together to develop an alternative report which details the government’s progress in the implementation.
“We urge the government to submit their report by the end of the year,” said Josiah, who coordinated the report.
The alternative report, which was launched yesterday, provides examples of the impact of gender discrimination, including the continued representation of women in politics and decision-making positions, consistently low labour force participation of women and non-recognition of marital rape.
It also contains a landmark ruling which declared Cedaw as having the force of law and is binding on state authorities.
Josiah also said she was disappointed that the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry did not respond to an invitation to the launch.
Former Cedaw committee member Shanthi Dairiam said globally, Cedaw has the least number of overdue reports as compared to other treaties but Malaysia stands out as going against that trend in fulfilling its reporting obligations.
“After the combined first and second report, the government was then instructed by UN to submit its combined third and fourth report in 2008, but none has been forthcoming.
“This alternative report is a powerful tool that we can all use for the purpose of advocacy and identifies areas in which discrimination against women continues to persist,” she said, adding that the government must play its part in honouring pledges made to the UN.
Also present at the launch was National Human Rights vice-chairperson Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee, who said that Malaysia has to date only ratified three out of nine major UN treaties, namely the Cedaw, Convention on Rights of the Child and Convention on The Rights of Persons With Disabilities.
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Anything and everyone, except APARTHEID against ENTIRE minority communities nearly 40% of the population eh? CEDAW is a rubbish NGO that supports Bumiputra APARTHEID by sidelining EQUALITY in this tacit approval manner specifically focusing on Women’s Rights instead. CEDAW is a useless NGO!
ARTICLE 7
Batang Kali – Britain must take moral responsibility for massacre – Dr Kua Kia Soong, SUARAM Adviser – Saturday, 08 September 2012 admin-s
The smokescreen of ‘defeating communism’ was used to justify atrocities such as Batang Kali 1948. Notice that the Malaysian government has kept a guilty silence over this case despite hounding Mat Sabu over Bukit Kepong.
On 4 September 2012, the London High Court of Justice handed down a judgement that there was no legal duty for Her majesty’s Government to hold an inquiry over the killing of 24 civilians by HMG’s Scots Guards at Batang Kali on 11/12 December 1948 and that the claimants had no grounds to challenge the decisions of the Secretaries of State not to hold an inquiry.
The conclusion of the court was that the decisions of the Secretaries of State “were not unreasonable…” They had maintained that the facts of the case remained in dispute; the veracity of the accounts was in doubt as most of the witnesses had died, and the evidence would be unreliable since it happened more than sixty years ago.
Regarding the claim that the Secretaries of State had an obligation to conduct an inquiry under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the court cited the House of Lords decision [Re McKerr and McCaughey UKHL 12, 1 WLR 807] that “there was no duty to investigate a death before the coming into force of the Human Rights Act on 2 October 2000.” (para 93)
Although this may seem like a setback for the claimants and all who demand justice for the 24 victims, there are certain positive dimensions in this judgement and hope in comparable cases elsewhere.
1. The court established that the 24 victims were civilians and not combatants (para 1):
On 13 December 1948, the British High Commissioner had reported the deaths to the Colonial Office as “the shooting and killing of 26 bandits…” This was standard propaganda during the Emergency by the British colonial government and their local custodians. It has taken all these 64 years for this fact to be established by a British court!
2. The British Government had command and control over the Scots Guards
The Secretaries of State had argued in the court that the British Government had no legal responsibility for the actions of the Scots Guards who did the killing at Batang Kali, so they were under no duty to hold an inquiry to pin the responsibility. They had argued, very much like our learned professors in the Mat Sabu/ Mat Indera case, that the Scots Guards were merely assisting the Federation or the Selangor Sultan or both, in maintaining order. In any case, they further argued that any responsibility would have lapsed to the Federation of Malaya upon independence in 1957 via Article 167 of the Constitution.
Nevertheless, the court decided that:
“It is clear, in our view, that the British Government had command and control over the Scots Guards. First, the Scots Guards were part of the British Army in contradistinction to the Malay Regiment and other local forces. Second, it is evident from the minute of the British Cabinet…that the reason for the decision to send the brigade of the British Army was to defend British interests against the advance of communism on what was in reality territory the British Government controlled, to prevent the deaths of British citizens and to protect its economic interests. Third, control over the deployment of the army in Malaya was vested in British Defence Co-ordination Committee Far East…Fourth, the Scots Guards were paid for by the British Government…” (para 112)
Thus, this judgement has wide applications in the Mat Sabu/Mat Indera case although I suspect many of our local professors need not just legal exposure but rather, political awareness of our colonial history.
Batang Kali is Britain’s Rawagedeh
Another source of hope for the claimants of Batang Kali is the recent apology by the Dutch government for a massacre of 150 people at Rawagede committed by its soldiers in Indonesia in 1947, as the country fought for independence. Earlier in 2011, a court in the Netherlands ordered the government to pay compensation over the killings. The case was brought by relatives of those who were killed. Reports said the Netherlands would pay 20,000 euros to the relatives, but the exact figure was still being negotiated.
A Crime against Humanity
The Rawagedeh claimants had argued that what took place in Rawagedeh on December 9, 1947 was a crime against humanity. Like any other colonial power, the Dutch had used the euphemistic term ‘excesses’ to describe the tragedy. Like the British in Malaya, the Dutch state defined it as an internal problem. On December 9, 1947 Dutch forces raided the West Javanese village to look for weapons and the Indonesian freedom fighter Lukas Kustario. Unable to find him, the Dutch military lined up the men and killed almost all of the male population.
The widows of Rawagedeh and their children sued the Dutch state not only for the execution of their husbands and fathers, but also for failing to investigate the massacre. They wanted the Netherlands to acknowledge the unlawfulness of its actions, and sought financial compensation for their loss.
Like the British state, the Dutch had also argued that the statute of limitations had expired. But according to the Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity there is no statute of limitations on war crimes, or crimes against humanity.
The Netherlands, however, like many other Western countries, is one of the states that did not ratify the convention.
But the Netherlands did ratify the Rome statute of the International Criminal Court – after all, the court is at The Hague. However, according to the Rome statute of the International Criminal Court the court can only prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity committed on or after July 1, 2002 – the day it came into being. This is not dissimilar to the House of Lords judgement cited in the Batang Kali judgement of 4 Sept 2012.
Gracious and Glorious if Kate & Will Apologised for British State
It will therefore only be a matter of time before the British state will be forced to face up to its moral responsibility to the Commonwealth and follow the example of the Dutch government. In this the Queen’s diamond jubilee year celebrations, would it not be a gracious and glorious gesture for Kate and Will to openly apologise to the families of the victims of the Batang Kali massacre during their Kuala Lumpur visit in a few months’ time?
Britain has always tried to project a self-image that is civilized, dignified and humanistic. Apologists for the British Empire have painted a romantic picture of colonialists setting their colonies “on the road to modernity…” The ideology of colonialism, which rationalized and justified oppression and exploitation, has distorted Malayan history and this history has been passed intact to their local custodians (foreign lackeys?). The smokescreen of ‘defeating communism’ was used to justify atrocities such as Batang Kali 1948. Notice that the Malaysian government has kept a guilty silence over this case despite hounding Mat Sabu over Bukit Kepong.
Without accounting for past transgressions, the British state will remain for ever trapped in history and the families of the 24 men massacred at Batang Kali will keep reminding the British state that they have a moral responsibility to apologise for the tragedy and to compensate the families for the senseless loss of their loved ones. The claimants have already notified their lawyers to appeal to the higher courts forthwith…
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Anything and everyone, except APARTHEID against ENTIRE minority communities nearly 40% of the population eh? Dr Kua Kia Soong is becoming a rubbish academic that supports Bumiputra APARTHEID by sidelining EQUALITY in this tacit approval manner. A Crime against Humanity is as much an academic that ignores *CURRENTLY ONGOING* APARTHEID that affect near 40% of the population as ‘Rawagedeh 1947 Massacres’ which are only relevant to less than 1% of the population. Dr Kua Kia Soong is a useless APARTHEID ignoring academic! If still no word on APARTHEID, then KKS is but a BN insider-colluder to keep apartheid ongoing!
ARTICLE 8
Rafizi says Mukhriz does not understand AP system – by Clara Chooi (Assistant News Editor for Star) – September 14, 2012
Rafizi (second from right) speaking at the public forum in Kuala Lumpur on September 13, 2012. With him are other members of the panel. Rafizi said people are forced to buy cars because of the poor public transportation system. — Pictures by Choo Choy May
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 — PKR’s Rafizi Ramli last night scoffed at Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir’s rebuttal to Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) plan to reduce car prices, mocking the deputy minister for his alleged lack of understanding of “how cars are sold” and the government’s Approved Permit (AP) system for imported vehicles.
The PKR chief strategist, when kicking off PR’s forum series for its “Reduce Car Prices” campaign here, said it was clear that Mukhriz, the son of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, “certainly does not understand the open market mechanism”. “We have waited over two months for a response from Mukhriz to our proposal. He is the one who controls the AP system… two months and I had already given up hope. “But now he has responded strongly on the basis of saying that our suggestion to auction the APs will not reduce car prices. I am sure Mukhriz does not understand how cars are sold.
“I don’t think he even understands the AP system and certainly does not understand the open market mechanism… he has been confined to a controlled environment for too long,” Rafizi told the public forum at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.
As a part of PR’s plan to slash the triple tax burden imposed on cars sold in Malaysia, PKR had in July proposed auctioning off APs for imported vehicles through an open bidding process in the first three years under PR’s rule before abolishing the system entirely in 2015. When announcing the proposal, Rafizi had explained that if an estimated 70,000 APs are awarded every year, the auction should fetch more than RM3 billion in revenue annually for the government. This, he explained last night, would help compensate for part of the RM7 billion in annual losses expected from PR’s plan to slash excise duties, which currently run as high as 105 per cent.
But in his response to the suggestion earlier yesterday, Mukhriz had criticised the idea, saying that it goes against logic as an auction would only cause the price of each AP to go higher than the current RM10,000 that the government currently charges.
Rafizi, however, repeated that the auction would help raise government income, which could in turn compensate for the potential losses from the PR plan to cut excise duties. Explaining further later, his PR colleague from the DAP, Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, pointed out that by auctioning off APs, the income from the sale of the permits would go directly into the government’s pockets.
“When we auction off the APs, those genuinely importing cars will still continue to purchase the permits and the government gets the money, instead of the middlemen who have special access to these APs.
“We all know that 80 per cent of APs go to 20 per cent of the companies applying for them,” he said.
During the forum, which was also attended by panellists Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, the PAS Kuala Selangor MP, and IDEAS chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan, it was also explained that PR’s plan to slash car prices would not translate into a greater population of cars on Klang Valley’s already crowded roads.
Pua pointed out that the current “vehicle-to-individual” ratio in the Klang Valley has already surpassed one vehicle to a person, jokingly pointing out that “when a baby is born, that child already has a car”.
He explained that with this in mind, this meant that the reduction of car prices would not increase the density of vehicles on the road as an individual could only drive one vehicle at a time.
“So even if you decided to purchase another car, the ratio on the road is already one vehicle to a person… how many cars can you drive at any one time? You can only drive one car at a time,” he pointed out to laughter from the audience.
Rafizi had earlier explained this as “transportation elasticity”, which he said was a measurement of the likelihood that an individual would decide to purchase a vehicle or opt for public transport based on a variety of variables.
He pointed out that at present, the high rate of vehicle ownership in Malaysia was largely due to the poor public transportation system, making it a “necessity” for an individual to purchase cars.
Should public transportation be improved, Rafizi said it would no longer be a necessity to own vehicles and the reduction of car prices would eventually be translated into an interest to “upgrade” current vehicles.
“After all, we know that even though half of those in the Klang Valley earn incomes of less than RM2,000, they tend to own cars.
“Meaning, this has nothing to do with being poor or rich, they are forced to own cars because of the poor transport system. Therefore, lowering car taxes will not mean they will buy more cars, it only means they might upgrade,” he said.
Concurring with Rafizi’s view, Pua said the government could opt to spend some RM1.5 billion to increase the number of buses plying Klang Valley roads to reduce traffic congestion, instead of the estimated more than RM50 billion for the Klang Valley MRT project, the country’s most expensive infrastructure project to date.
He pointed out that in Singapore, which has a land mass that is smaller than the Klang Valley but a similar population size, there are some 3,300 buses on the streets, on top of its “fantastic MRT system”.
“Here, we only had 800 and this year, we increased to 1,000 buses… and we are a more dispersed population but we have a tremendous shortfall in buses,” he said.
Rafizi also earlier also raised a suggestion to introduce a “car scrap policy” in Malaysia once PR’s policies are rolled out, pointing out that the increasing volume of cars on the road (10.3 million in the Klang Valley) was largely due to a lack of such a policy.
Under a typical car scrap policy, a vehicle that is 10 years old would have to be sold off to be reconditioned.
“But at present, a car scrap policy cannot be implemented due to the huge microeconomic impact on the people because cars are now just too expensive for people to buy again every every five or 10 years,” he said.
During the forum, Dzulkefly also pointed out that PR’s plan to reduce car prices by slashing taxes would ultimately help reduce household debt, which currently stands at RM653 billion, or 80 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
No love of classic or antique or collector’s cars eh? People of the free world have a right to own cars and maintain cars for as long as they like. This scrap car policy Singapore style is oppressive of people who love and maintain their old cars with care (part of the fun is funding spare parts or even manufacturing or fitting new ones to the old vehicle, another bit of creativity stifling law if anything . . . ), and does not respect the rights of people to do whatever that is not obviously criminal or destructive. Owning a car that is 10 years or older is NOT a criminal act. Preventing others from owning a car more than 10 years is criminal, hence Pakatan Rakyat becomes like Singapore which has tolls and disallows cars older than 10 years (none of any politician or law writer’s business what cars people want to own or how old those cars can be) and has not even ended apartheid as well. Rafizi obviously does not understand democratic principles as much as Mukhriz does not understand that AP is ILLEGAL and mere shameless rent seeking in policy off the backs of those who like imported cars. Pakatan hence is UNVOTABLE for another reason including refusing to end AP.
Vote for 3rd Force for a real democracy. The Pakatan mindset is very clear now no thanks to PAP’s influence on DAP and hence Pakatan! Even PAS has appeared to have crumbled in refusing to discuss removal of the Toll system for mere profit and greed, on top of promoting hudud! The Prophet would label all Toll collectors and those who allow Tolls as highwaymen! Meanwhile as the ugly corporatist uncontrolled Capitalist streak in Pakatan is revealed, BN is still apartheid and though able to grant :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;does not, so BN remains useless and hateful by not using that madate BN already has, thus only 3rd Force can make a difference.
mini-ARTICLE 8.5
Esplanade traders demand explanation from Guan Eng by Zalinah Noordin
A GROUP of 300 traders and hawkers is giving the state government two days to explain why they were not allowed to do business at the Esplanade. Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Association (Ikhlas) president, Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah, said that if they failed to get a satisfactory explanation, they would go to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s office to demand an answer. According to Ridzuan, Lim is ruling the state with an iron fist, causing much suffering to small-time Malay and Indian businessmen.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
No comment! Expected bad behaviour from the PR 90% failed campaign promise political coalition, that is no better than a BN 90% MPs being apartheid causing/accepting or lapdog coalition that has written Toll Booths, Forced Conscriptions, Vehicular APs and anti-LGBT legislation, disenfranchising dhimmifying policies with moral police and unamended civil laws dating from the Victorian era which even affect the seculars and non-Muslims in flawed civil laws of a bygone era.
ARTICLE 9
Land rights association for poor proposed – Villagers facing eviction plan tour to create awareness – by A. Sangeetha – Friday, September 07, 2012 – 14:05
LAND RIGHTS ROAD SHOW: Santok (second from left) and his cousins next to his house which will be demolisged. His proposed association aims to highlight the rights of the poor through rallies, demonstrations and memorandums.
SEVERAL families in Kampung Boundary 5 have decided to turn misfortune around by cooperating to create awareness on the rights of the minority.
About 10 Sikh families, embroiled in a legal suit after losing their land and homes to a private developer, have rounded up others in Penang who had suffered a similar fate.
Santok Singh, protem chairman of the proposed Land Rights Defenders Association, said the association, which had not been registered yet, includes residents, mostly of Indian ethnicity, from six villages, namely Kampung Chetty (Batu Ferringhi), Kampung Tanjung Tokong, Kampung Nenas
(Bukit Tengah), Kampung Dok (Bukit Tengah), Kampung Mount Erskine and Kampung Boundary 5.
“We have been trying to find ways to highlight our problems for six months,” said Santok, 46, a bank cashier.
“Nobody has shown concern for our plight.
“We have to fight for our rights because we cannot rely on politicians.
“Most of us are facing eviction by developers who want our land for their ventures.
“It won’t be long before developers swoop in to buy over the other villages and render all of us homeless.
“Some villagers are sitting ducks, just waiting their turn to be evicted.”
Santok is among a handful in Kampung Boundary 5 facing a bleak future after about 200 families, afraid of becoming homeless, accepted compensation by developer Bersatu Stabil Sdn Bhd in 2009.
He said the compensation was not enough to purchase a home where more than one family could stay, a long-practised village tradition.
A father of two teenagers, he lamented that developers did not know the way of life of poor families.
“When our forefathers settled here, the landowners were often employers who assured that they could stay for as long as they wanted. Their forefathers imagined their children’s future would be secure,” he told The Malay Mail.
The group wants to send a memorandum to the prime minister and organise rallies educating the poor on their rights.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Address APARTHEID and this problem will be easier to deal with. If the Malay Reserve Land law is replaced with a all Malaysians equal law, much land that could house and support would be homeless villagers could be released to the communities as mentioned above. Under current Malay Reserve Land laws, we have lots of land that cannot be distributed to the truly needy regardless of race.
Grant :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;of which Malay Reserve Land is obviously incompatible and illegal for Malaysia is a signatory of the UNHCR and a member of the Human Rights Council.
ARTICLE 10
DAP challenged to name key ministers – Saturday June 2, 2012
MUAR: MCA has challenged DAP to name four key ministers should Pakatan Rakyat take over Putrajaya in the general election.
Party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said he could accept DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng’s claim that the party’s political struggle did not include wanting to hold ministerial posts.
“As a rakyat and voter, I want DAP to tell us who will be the ministers of finance, education, defence and international trade,” said Dr Chua.
“Be concerned for the rakyat because they are concerned over who will those ministers be.
“It is not fair for the rakyat to see them fighting for power if they come into power,” he told reporters at the Muar Welfare and Vision Association anniversary dinner here on Thursday.
Dr Chua also dared DAP to state its stand over claims the Kedah government had approved a RM36bil hydrocarbon hub project and other projects in the state without open tenders.
He questioned why DAP, “which emphasises a lot on open tender, has not spoken up on the issue”.
Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang had claimed that the Sungai Limau Hydrocar-bon Hub project in Yan was awarded to a private firm without an open tender.
He also claimed that three other projects — the RM500mil Aman Central shopping centre, the RM109mil Amansuri Residences and the RM330mil permanent campus of Kolej Universiti Insaniah — were awarded without open tenders.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Best that politicians ESPECIALLY MPs, are not holding Minister’s posts to ensure distribution of political power. Ministers should come from 2 relevantly experienced and trained groups as detailed below :
(i) the retired bureaucracy which worked in the Ministry (they who worked decades in the Ministry are the most familiar and most deserving and most skilled, NOT the MP trash that are already overstaying 2 terms), or
(ii) related Professional association Members though not Committee (i.e. Bar Council for Law Minister, Architect’s Association for Transport and Housing Ministry, ex-Military for Defence Ministers, ex-Police for Home Ministry etc..) 1 or 2 term limited stints.
That way, distribution of power is better and the people are protected from Wakil Parti and greedy MPs, and politicians or cronies that become billionaires after even after 1 term. GLC contracts are NOT rewards for voting, and the best way to prevent such MP to GLC collusion, is to rewrite the law to disallow MPs from becoming Ministers with only the decades experienced personnel that served the country in the appropriate field. In fact even the degree appropriateness and level should be considered, for example a Home Minister might only be from retired police BUT only with doctorate/phd level degrees in Policing or Degrees in Security rather than MBAs or Engineering degree holders who happened to be in the police force for decades. Refer to the below article on how ridiculous suggesting Kit Siang for Home Minister is.
‘Pakatan will make Sabah, S’wak equal’ – by Queville To FMT Sunday, 16 September 2012 Super Admin
DAP sec-gen Lim says he is convinced that Sabah can become the richest state in the country if the oil royalty is increased from 5% to 20%.
KOTA KINABALU: Pakatan Rakyat has promised to reinstate Sabah and Sarawak’s original position as equal partners in the Federation of Malaysia, if it comes to power.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng made the pledge during a visit to the state to attend a Pakatan Rakyat organised Malaysia Day celebration today in Tuaran, about 40 minutes drive from here.
Lim who is also the Penang Chief Minister said that to ensure that Sabah and Sarawak benefit being equal partners in the Federation, the new government would specifically focus on addressing the imbalance in oil revenue, infrastructure development, water and electricity supply and land reform as well as the issue of illegal immigrants in the state.
On the oil royalty that the state currently receives from the government-owned oil firm Petronas for pumping out the commodity, he said it would be raised from 5% to 20%.
He said this was imperative so that the two states could build up their infrastructure, improve education facilities and combat the high level of poverty.
Lim said he was convinced that Sabah could become the richest state in the country if the oil royalty is increased from 5% to 20%.
“The disgraceful state of infrastructures in Sabah and Sarawak must be improved and this includes the airports and ports in Sabah and Sarawak.
“To be an equal partner in the Federation of Malaysia, you must have consistent and regular supply of water and electricity and also internet connectivity via free wifi in public places.
“As for the illegal immigrants issue, we shall ensure that with the inquiry conducted by the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants, action will be taken against those who are responsible and how to stop and resolve this problem,” he said.
Pakatan is also targeting a land policy.
“Land must be given to the people, not to political leaders. CM, excos, MPs, state assemblymen, and even district councillors are not qualified to apply for state lands. If they want to apply, then they must resign and become ordinary citizens, then only they can apply. Only ordinary people are qualified to apply,” he said.
Following the (flawed) Penang way
A Pakatan government, he said, would also ensure that the original status of land would not be diminished on conversion, as happens now in Sabah and Sarawak where the land lease has been slashed from 999 years to 99 years. The opposition also promises land leases will be automatically renewed and premiums slashed by 90%.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
A sovereign independent East Malaysia will get 100%. Lim Guan Eng is an idiot for offering even 20%. Even under Pakatan will both Sarawak and Sabah still be beggars and orphans IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. Who needs 20% when they can have 100%? Equality is 50% not 20%. Lim has insulted Sarawak and Sabah by not offering 50% at very least. In fact to be fair Sabah and Sarawak being the source of wealth should keep 75% and only give 25% to the Pebninsular. Who gets the fund or get the right to disburse the funds? ONLY Sarawak and Sabah can decide not Pakatan Coalition or BN coalition.
And here we have ‘lesser evil’ Pakatan daring to offer 20% (even as BN is 4 times worse, offering only 5%). One does not have to be a Sarawakian or Sabahan to see the terrible insult here when the word ‘equality’ is used. Equality means 50%. This is Pakatan being a lesser EVIL but still VERY evil and VERY GREEDY. That wealth belongs to Sarawakians and Sabahans at 100%. Sarawakian or Sabahan should decide what goes to the Peninsular much less allow BN or Pakatan dare to say what they get from their own territories. Pakatan gives 20% and calls that EQUALITY? I am shocked by Pakatan’s duplicity and self centered shamelessness, which obviously includes accpeting APARTHEID of BUMIPUTRA’s INEQUALITY. If this is ‘Penang’s Way’ little wonder APARTHEID has not ended yet and 90% of campaign promises by DAP have not been upheld, in otherwords a BN replacement in the form of PR.
Pakatan is not that much better than BN, please Sarawakian or Sabahans, vote for 3rd force who I propose will give 100% to the Sarawakian or Sabahan Rakyat to decide how much Peninsular Malaysia will get instead of the insulting 20% ‘Equality’. PR is as bad as BN!
ARTICLE 12
Johor Sultan SMARTER than Zahid: Why is Army paying more for the same vehicles? – Saturday, 15 September 2012 12:15
The claim by the Sultan of Johor that he paid some half-a-million ringgit less than the amount paid by the government to purchase a Rapid Intervention Vehicle (RIV) has prompted Pakatan Rakyat to repeat its call for a Parliamentary Oversight Committee (POC) to oversee spending by the Defence ministry.
Petaling Jaya Utara member of parliament Tony Pua said the Malaysian public was not confident in any investigation conducted by the ministry.
Pua said it was critical for the BN government to support the call in line with procurement transparency as promoted under the Government Transformation Programme.
“After all, if all the above transactions are of value for money to the Government, then surely there is nothing to hide from this independent panel,” he said in a statement.
Multiple times higher
Defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said that he would find out why there was a difference in prices of the RIV bought by the Sultan at RM150,000 and the ones sold to the government at RM690,000 each.
Sultan Ibrahim Ismail had earlier lamented that low quality military equipment were being sold at “multiple times higher”.
Pua recalled that Zahid had not long ago accused the former of being a foreign agent for exposing exorbitant deals by the ministry.
Pua also questioned the purchase of six littoral combatant ships (LCS) even after the cost ballooned by 50 percent from RM6 billion to RM9 billion, as well as the acquisition of 257 armoured personnel vehicles (APVs) costing RM7.55 billion last year.
-Harakahdaily
Commentator comments :
@andymerdeka Saturday, 15 September 2012 17:44 posted by andymerdeka
Zahid does not have to pretend that he does not know about over payment of more than half a million ringgit. This is the standard modus operandi of UMNO/BN to make money for themselves thro govt contracts. UMNO does not fight for the Malays. UMNO fight for the select few and those in power in order they can continue to enrich themselves. Will Malays suffer without UMNO? I dont think so. In fact by stopping them from continuing their corruption, the Malays will have better quality of life; cheap cars, free education, cheaper houses, better public transport, cheaper taxis, etc.
The choice is clear. Vote UMNO/BN, Malays and Malaysians will continue to suffer from their mismanagement and corruption.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
This sort of collusion is endemic throughout Malaysian governance. One cannot prevent this if 40% of the population has become a 2nd class citizen driven to desperation and hence collusion for corruption out of necessity or out of greed. I hope the Sultan understands that without :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;the disenfrnchisement of the Indians and Chinese and Orang Asli will lead to further anger that will further fuel corruption and destroy the nation, even as bureaucrats seek Special privileges like funeral funds worth the level of a lifetime or 2 of work, in an obvious abuse of power from the taxpayers.
The Special privileges for Malays was intended by the Reid Commission to last 15 years only before review for removal, a word broken in this manner will have deeper spiritual effects that will damn all involved in contination or tacit approvals of such continuance through inaction. Are there no righteous men left in Malaysia?
Of devils and angels – Posted on 29 August 2012 – 04:41am – Oon Yeoh
FORMER Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad created quite a stir when he remarked “Better the devil you know than the angel you don’t.”
This is a well-known saying which means that it’s better to deal with an entity you are familiar with, even if they are not ideal, than take the risk of dealing with an unknown entity, who could end up being worse.
He was, of course, referring to Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat and urging the public to stick with the former, which has ruled the country since independence.
Politics being politics, PR leaders were quick to make fun of his choice of idioms and claim that Mahathir was admitting that BN was the devil and PR the angel.
In retrospect, he probably should have used a variation of that idiom which goes something like “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t”, which is commonly used as well. That way, his detractors would not be able to claim that they were the angels.
People fluent in English will know exactly what he means though. He’s saying that BN, while not perfect, has done a pretty good job so far so it’s better not to change course. He’s also saying that PR, which says all the right things but which has no experience, would be worse for the country.
Let’s examine, not his choice of words but the context of what he’s saying. Does it make sense? Let’s start by looking at the first part. Has BN done a good job so far?
Of course supporters of BN will say yes while detractors will say no. Objective observers will probably say that while BN is far from perfect, it hasn’t exactly driven the country to the ground either. Malaysia doesn’t score particularly well in global indexes relating to economic competitiveness, human rights, free speech and so on. But it’s a far cry from the banana republics.
In other words, things are not too bad. People have jobs, roofs over their heads and no one is starving. As a country, we could have turned out a lot worse. So, yes, there’s some merit in the first part of Mahathir’s quote. What about the second?
Is PR the angel that we don’t know? For sure, PR is promising a lot of things that are popular with civil society. Stuff related to freedom of assembly, free speech, freedom of the press and so on. It has also promised lots of populist measures like cutting petrol prices, offering free education and reducing car taxes that would see a considerable lowering of car prices.
Is all this too good to be true? Probably. For sure if PR were to come to power, it would not be able to fulfil everybody’s expectations. But is it a newbie that will totally disappoint?
This is where the idiom doesn’t apply. PR might be newish but it’s hardly an unknown quantity. Since the March 8, 2008 general election, it has governed four states, two of which are probably the most prosperous states in the federation: Penang and Selangor.
I’m from Penang (and visit there frequently) and live in Selangor. I can safely report that the two states have not gone to the dogs since PR took over. Some would argue that things have improved considerably. Of course there are those who will say there’s still plenty of room for improvement, and they would be right. But it would be laughable to suggest that things have become worse.
Ironically, given that the incumbent in those two states is PR, the idiom would apply in PR’s favour. The so-called devil that you know, in this case, would be PR, which has governed these two states for the past four years. The angel, meanwhile, is BN, which was decimated in those states, to the point that it is no longer recognisable.
BN was destroyed in Penang. Who knows what the new Penang BN would be like? BN was not as badly trounced in Selangor but it has no clear leader in the state. With Khir Toyo no longer in the picture, who is the mentri besar-in-waiting? No one knows. The BN government-in-waiting in those states might or might not be angels, but we certainly don’t know much about them.
For voters, the next general election will not be about familiarity, or the lack thereof, because it is clear what BN and PR stand for.
Oon Yeoh is a new media consultant. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
If BN grants :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
BN might be worth voting. Otherwise stagnation will occur and PR will be a risk to the Rakyat when PR gains power.
ARTICLE 2
Statutory rape is SERIOUS: Future of victims just as important as perpetrators’ – Eli Wong – Friday, 31 August 2012 01:28
Like all concerned Malaysians I am very disturbed by the recent two court decisions on statutory rape offenses.
First, national bowler Noor Afizal, who was convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl, had his jail sentence reversed by the Court of Appeal.
It was then compounded by Tuesday’s Sessions Court decision in the case of Chuah Guan Jiu, who was found guilty of raping a 12-year-old girl, yet freed on a bond.
Statutory rape isn’t something to be taken lightly. To consider “consent” in the sentencing, as both courts did, is to make a mockery of the very point of the law–to protect minors, deemed incapable of giving free and informed consent.
This is especially true in cases where the perpetrator is an adult, which is true in both these cases. These incidents should not be confused as young children letting their hormonal urges get the better of them.
Both Noor Afizal and Chuah Guan Jiu were adults who took advantage of children far younger than themselves. The former was 19 when he committed the offence with a 13-year-old girl, while the latter was 21, nine years older than his victim.
Future of the perpetrators, what about the victims?
Disappointingly, the courts were more concerned with the future of the perpetrators and not the victims.
The written judgement in Nor Afizal’s case specifically states that the decision should not be taken as a precedent. However, by not imposing the mandatory five-year minimum jail sentence for rape, the courts are sending a very unfortunate message to women and children–that their rights cannot be protected by our judiciary.
Worse, potential child rapists might think it is possible to escape the punishment the crime deserves.
I urge the public prosecutors to appeal both decisions on these grounds. Malaysians will be watching very closely, hoping for justice to finally be done.
YB ELIZABETH WONG is Executive Councillor, Selangor State Government & PKR assemblywomen for Bukit Lanjan
***Commentator Comments :
What I think by Joan Lau – August 29, 2012
I am all for personal freedoms but when it comes to children and sex, well… all bets are off. Chuah Guan Jiu was 21 when he had sex with a 12-year-old girl. But the judge gave him a break because he did not have a criminal record, is not well educated and the sex was consensual. So what is the
message here? If you have never committed an offence before and did not go to college, you are “poor thing, give chance”? Come on.If this were a drug or firearms offence, the same “considerations” would not be given.Having sex with a child is wrong. Pure and simple.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Elizabeth Wong should know that far more serious is the inability to tell the difference and even attempt to blur the lines between the difference between Statuary Rape AND Consensual Sex NOT AMOUNTING TO RAPE between biologically viable adult women that Statuary Rape Laws Brand as
Women, preventing the right to bear children to younger women. Perhaps, in a certain spiritual theory, there is an occult reason to prevent the ‘masses’ from having young brides having children at young age. And the Fundos are in on this? Is the quality of children by older women different?
Some things should not be used as ‘weapons’ and this intentional inculpation of inability to tell the difference between biological viability and QUALITY of birth could well be the make or break factor in the ascension of a country spiritually . . . these are theories that no nation can ignore. Perhaps all great leaders and spiritually powerful people were borne by the youngest mothers, though again remember that the planet can only host so many people and that everyone including non-humans have a right to live on the planet and cannot ‘own’ anything on the planet, though having an equitable birth rate that at least replaces deaths is alright – there are too many people for a single species btw, out of 100s of 1000s of species, humanity taking up near 40% of the world’s land area is obviously too much . . .
Biological maturity and psychological-emotional maturity are not statuary age. And statuary age does not take into consideration biological age and psychological-emotional maturity. Are Joan or Elizabeth sure they are aware of the difference between WORD of law or SPIRIT of law? Hegelian dialectic AGAIN. Joan and Elizebeth entirely miss the spirit of the law of this case. Having sex with a blindly legalistic statuary age defined ‘child’ is not wrong if the above biological and emotional maturity fact is considered because the final result is actually a mature person in reality – even as age by blindly interpreted ‘word of law’ for statuary consideration, does not recognize reality. ‘Pure and simple’ is not supposed to be fundo and simplistic. And here the display of lack of understanding of the spirit of the issue, or perhaps intentional focusing only on the ‘word of the law’ shows up another 2 of the country’s supposed educated as agenda intent if not uneducated, much like apartheid is accepted by those who no sense of pride as persons as given by the UN Human Rights Charter.
We must remember that before Victorian era, many child brides lived fulfilling lives with their husbands and many of this generation have had a great(or any number of greats)-granny who was a child bride that turned out fine. Who is Joan to say what 2 individuals decide on their own and at their consent? These are private lives and if consensual, and because the child did not suffer and wanted to, especially if the manipulation from the adult was non-existent or within decent limits (thrill of chase etc.), no person or even the court has a right to punish any as no suffering was inflicted except upon the narrow minded or with a certain religious outlook.
This ‘If you have never committed an offence before and did not go to college, you are “poor thing, give chance”?‘, is pure ‘old aunt’s’ demogoguery in quite an uneducated manner. You see one can have a degree yet not be educated in mindset. And mindset wise Joan IS uneducated, as much as Elizabeth is insulting the readers by inculpating hegelian dialectic thought via demogoguery upin the suffering of victims for political points.
Come on.If this were a drug or firearms offence, the same “considerations” would not be given.
Drugs or firearms offences (private carry or use specifically, not smuggling or sale to fundo or 3rd world states) as of now are also more word of law than spirit of law, the premise for existence and application not particularly PC as in a similar manner as the above statuary age case. See the next article below on differences between positive child marriage AND negative child marriage, considered against statuary law and ACTUAL biological age.
ARTICLE 3
By whose interpretation? – Thursday, 30 August 2012 Super Admin (Raja Petra Kamarudin)
Why does the age of the person determine which court has jurisdiction over cases involving illicit sex or zina? Do you mean to tell me that if you are not yet 18 then you are not yet a Muslim? Only when you reach 18 you become a Muslim? Can those under 18, therefore, drink and eat pork and go to church since you are not yet a Muslim and the Sharia court has no power over you until you touch 18?
You may have noticed that I have not written a thing regarding former national youth squad bowler Noor Afizal Azizan’s statutory rape case.
First of all, I thought that since every man and his dog was already talking about it you don’t really need me to comment as well. I mean it is not quite the untold story that I normally like to dabble in. It is more like the ‘over-told’ story.
Furthermore, do you really need more ‘noise’? There is such a thing called overkill and flogging a dead horse (an idiom). There is also such a thing called information overload, which makes people lethargic and sometimes immune to the issue. Hence ‘too much’ can be counter-productive.
Secondly, this appears to have turned into an opposition crusade, which is bad. Once it is perceived as a political issue rather than an issue of justice, people become divided on the issue based on political leanings and not because it is either the right thing or the wrong thing. People will oppose right or support wrong if the criteria is politics. Take crossovers as one example.
Anyway, what is my take on the issue?
Okay, are you outraged about the court’s decision because you are an opposition supporter or because it is morally (or legally) wrong to not classify the case as statutory rape instead of consensual sex? (Note that even some of those in government feel the same way as you do although they speak ‘gentler’ in expressing their view and without the venom).
I think a more important question would be are you capable of setting aside politics when you talk about this issue — or any issue for that matter that involves justice, civil liberties, etc? Can we leave our Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat hats outside the door and come to the table as Malaysians of common interests and concerns?
That is the one thing we find most difficult to do. It is always politics first and everything else second, even in matters such as Hudud, which is supposed to be above politics but is not.
Okay, so a man (or boy) has sex with an underage girl. My first question would be: are the men/boy and girl Muslims? If they are then this is zina (illicit sex or sex outside marriage). And is not zina a crime under the Sharia (Islamic law)? Hence should not the boy and girl be tried under the Sharia?
If the man/boy and girl were both above 18 they would have been brought to the Sharia court. Why are they not brought to the Sharia court just because one or both are below 18?
In Islam, the ‘age of consent’ would be the age of puberty. For girls that would be once she gets her period and that could even be when she is nine years old. According to the Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari, the Prophet Muhammad married Aishah when she was six but did not ‘take her’ until she was nine. And aren’t Muslims supposed to believe in and strictly follow the Hadith and Sunnah or else they cease to be Muslims and would become kafir (infidels).
Hence if the girl is 13 and she already has her period, is she legally (in Islam, that is) a woman who can consent to sex or is she still a child? And hence, also, since she is a Muslim and ‘legally a woman’, is she accountable for her ‘crime’ of consenting to sex or is she blameless? In other words, if the Sharia court were to try them, would both be on trial or only the man/boy?
Okay, we can argue that the Sharia court does not come into play here. This matter does not involve the Sharia court.
Why not? If Muslims above 18 ‘get caught’ for illicit sex they get dragged to the Sharia court. The common law court has no power to try Muslim adults who have sex outside marriage. In fact, sex outside marriage is not a crime under common law (even for Muslims) unless it is same-gender or gay sex.
Why does the age of the person determine which court has jurisdiction over cases involving illicit sex or zina? Do you mean to tell me that if you are not yet 18 then you are not yet a Muslim? Only when you reach 18 you become a Muslim? Can those under 18, therefore, drink and eat pork and go to church since you are not yet a Muslim and the Sharia court has no power over you until you touch 18?
Okay, what if the church or Christians preaches Christianity to Malay boys and girls of 13 or 14 (in short, below 18). Is this a crime? A crime under which law? Common law? Under common law it is not a crime to preach Christianity to Malay children. It is only a crime according to the Religious Department.
But the Religious Department does not have power over us until we are 18. Islam recognises 9-year olds as adults. Common law does not. We are adults only at 18. And common law decides whether we are adults. Not the Religious Department.
So how?
The question is: who has power over Muslims? The common law courts or the Sharia courts? And why does the common law court have power over us until we are 18 and then the Sharia court takes over after that? Is age 18 the ‘legally adult’ age in Islam? And if 18 were the legal adult age under Islam, can Muslims below 18 get married?
Yes, Muslims below 18 can get marriage on condition they are ‘adults’ (meaning reached puberty) and they have their parent’s consent. Hence at that age they are already responsible for their own actions, even in crimes of illicit sex.
But then we are not talking about the Qur’an, Hadith, Sunnah or Islamic law here. We are talking about common law. Hence common law overrides the Qur’an, Hadith, Sunnah or Islamic law and will decide at what age you are an adult and at what age you are still a child. And you will face the common law court when you are legally a child and the Sharia court once you are legally an adult. And although Islam has decided the age of adulthood, Islam has no power over Muslims because the laws of the land and Islam do not work in tandem.
Crazy or not? In Islam, religion decides when we become an adult and hence can get married and have sex. But Islam does not have the power to decide at what age we would be considered as having consensual sex outside marriage. That the common law decides. And that age is 18.
Now, who decides when we cease being a child and legally become an adult although at the age of nine we already discovered the difference between a boy and girl and knew what to do with that thing between our legs? Well, the 222 Members of Parliament, of course. They pass all the laws and they have decided that only at age 17 we can drive and at age 18 we can have sex and at age 21 we can vote.
But why at age 17, 18 and 21 respectively?
Queen Isabella of Valois married Richard II when she was 6 years, 11 months and 25 days old.
David II married Joan, the daughter of Edward II, when he was 4 years and 134 days old.
Louis XIV of France became King at age 5 and took over full control at 23.
Joan of Arc led the French against the English at age 17.
And of course we have that story regarding Aishah, the wife of Prophet Muhammad.
In those days, you married as soon as you legally became a woman, which was when you got your period, and would have been around age 9-11. At age 10-13 boys joined the army and fought and died for their country. These were ages when you were no longer children.
I know, times have changed and we no longer consider girls of 10 or boys of 13 as adults. That may be so when it comes to common law but not if we consider religion.
So, are we outraged about the case of Noor Afizal Azizan because we perceive it as him having sex with an underage girl and the law says a girl of 13 cannot consent to sex and hence he broke the law? Okay, so it is the law that we are concerned about, am I correct?
The law says that a girl of 13 cannot consent to sex. This is a law passed by Parliament, the body that can legally pass laws, which we all must follow. And since Noor Afizal Azizan broke the law passed by Parliament we are outraged.
Okay, I can accept that. The law must be followed. After all this is a law passed by Parliament. But hold on, Parliament also passed a law that says we must get a police permit if we want to hold a demonstration. Should this law not also be followed since we are extremely concerned about the law?
Was Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim therefore correct in that the law must be followed?
Hmm…touché or not touché?
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Amend laws that make no sense, stop talking about Tunku this and that. If a writer uses keeps using any person as a point of reference in matters of common sense instead of consideration of facts, they are dishonest writers involved in inculpation of cult of personality mentality rather than logic based judgments.
Drugs or firearms offences (private carry or use specifically, not smuggling or sale to fundo or 3rd world states) as of now are also more word of law than spirit of law, the premise for existence and application not particularly PC as in a similar manner as the above statuary age case. Good exposition on child marriage issues and examples of ‘child’ marriages in either case.
ARTICLE 4
Two come to Tuan Tat’s defence over forgery accusations – Saturday, 25 August 2012 Super Admin
(The Star) – Ex-Sepang DAP parliamentary liaison committee member Tan Tuan Tat, who was accused of forging 149 membership forms, has produced two former party supporters to back him up.
Mahful Wahid said he had collected membership forms from some 100 people in Kampung Teluk Manggis and Taman Kedidi as they were interested in becoming DAP members.
“I approached Tan for help to submit the forms to Selangor DAP. Why was he accused of forgery?” he said, adding that he, too, had been interested in joining DAP.
Such accusations, added Mahful, had caused him to lose confidence in Pakatan Rakyat.
DAP disciplinary committee chairman Tan Kok Wai said that Tuan Tat, who had been in the party for 18 years, had been charged with forging the membership forms to set up three pro tem branches in Sungai Pelek, Sepang.
He also claimed that the MyKad of people from Sungai Pelek were used without their knowledge to enrol them as DAP members.
Former Pantai Sepang Putra DAP chief R. Veerasamy echoed Mahful’s views, saying that he had also approached Tuan Tat for help to forward the forms to the state DAP’s office.
“In the end, I was found guilty of falsifying the applications and sacked,” he said during a press conference here yesterday.
Denying the accusations, Tuan Tat said it was meant to slander his integrity and credibility.
“Don’t defame me. I did not forge any forms.
“The forms were genuine and came from people who wanted to join DAP,” he said.
Tuan Tat, who used to be Taman Sri Sungai Pelek branch chairman before leaving the party last week, said DAP had deviated from its original spirit and essence.
He also disputed Tan’s charge that he was sacked from the party.
“How can I be sacked when I resigned first?” he said.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
3rd Force needs you Tuan Tat! BN is corrupt and racist. PR is nepotistic and undemocratic!
ARTICLE 5
BN, PR: dua kali lima – THE CORRIDORS OF POWER – Friday, 31 August 2012 Super Admin – Raja Petra Kamarudin
But the political parties that they belong to will not allow this. Although they are called Wakil Rakyat, in reality they are Wakil Parti. They have to represent their party, not us, the voters. And when they try to do what they are supposed to do, the party will pounce on them. Hence they have to toe the party line or else they will be suspended, or worse, sacked.
No, this is not an anti-government article. It is not an opposition-whacking article either. This is an article about why we vote for 222 Malaysians to represent us in Parliament — never mind whether you voted (or will be voting) for Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat. That is not important. What is important is: why do we vote?
We vote for 222 Malaysians to go to Parliament (and another almost 600 State Assemblypersons for the State Assemblies as well — known as ADUNs) so that they can become our representatives or wakil.
The Malays have the correct term for this. These people we vote for (both MPs and ADUNs) are called Wakil Rakyat in Malay, which means Citizen’s Representative (or People’s Representative).
And, as the name implies, that is exactly what they are supposed to do — represent us, the voters.
But the political parties that they belong to will not allow this. Although they are called Wakil Rakyat, in reality they are Wakil Parti. They have to represent their party, not us, the voters. And when they try to do what they are supposed to do, the party will pounce on them. Hence they have to toe the party line or else they will be suspended, or worse, sacked.
Why call them Wakil Rakyat then? They cannot function as Wakil Rakyat. We might as well call them Wakil Parti. And in the coming general election, 10 million Malaysians can go to the polling stations to vote for the Wakil Parti.
Both Barisan Nasional as well as Pakatan Rakyat are equally guilty of this. And since we do not have a ‘third force’, so to speak — unless the rakyat can be regarded as that third force — that is how things are going to be for a long time to come.
But, no, I am not going to talk about the third force. Malaysians are too dumb to understand the meaning of ‘third force’. To most people, ‘third force’ means three-corner contests. Then they will say I am trying to sabotage Pakatan Rakyat so that Barisan Nasional can retain power.
So what if some Members of Parliament (never mind BN or PR) go against their party stand? If it is for the good of the rakyat why can’t they break ranks and not toe the party line? That is why we sent them to Parliament (or the State Assemblies) in the first place.
In America, the Congressmen or Senators from the President’s own party can vote against the President while those from the other side will vote in support of the Bill that the President is proposing. On more than one occasion the President’s Bill had been defeated by his own party while those from the other side actually voted in support of it. No one was suspended or sacked because of this.
I know, some of you are now going to argue that we follow the British Westminster system and that this is how they do things in the UK. They have the Parliament Whip whose job is to ensure that no one breaks ranks.
Okay, if we are so concerned about what they do in Britain, and hence we need to follow the British model, then what about the written constitution? Britain does not have a written constitution. Why not follow Britain and abolish our Constitution?
I have no problems with that. Then no longer will Islam be the religion of the Federation or Malays have special privileges or the Agong be the Supreme Head of the Federation and all that. Britain’s ‘laws’ do not allow a Prime Minister not from the Church of England. You must belong to the Church of England. You want to follow that as well since it is very important that we follow the UK?
Some things we say we MUST follow. Other things we don’t want to follow. Apa ni? Gay marriages also allowed in England, mah! Want to follow or not?
This sorry state of affairs can only be corrected by you, the voters. If you, the voters, insist that the Wakil Rakyat speak for us and not for their party, only then can it happen.
I am going to tell you a story about why Ali is my favourite of the four (Rightly-Guided) Caliphs of Medina. And, no, it is not because I am a follower of the Shia sect of Islam.
Ali was the last of the four Medinan Caliphs. The Shias, however, allege that Ali was robbed of his right to be the First Caliph. I am not going to talk about that. What I want to talk about is he almost became the Third Caliph. And according to the story this is what happened.
As Omar, the Second Caliph, lay dying, he told the people of Medina to form a committee to decide on who should succeed him when he dies. A few candidates were selected and finally it was short-listed to just two, Osman and Ali.
A few interviews were conducted and during the final interview Osman was asked how he would rule if he was chosen as Caliph. Osman replied he would rule according to tradition and by following the example of the Prophet.
Ali was asked the same question and he replied he would rule according to his conscience and with God as his guide.
Osman got the job and some historians say that that was the beginning of the decline of the Islamic Empire. Osman appointed his relatives to important posts in the government and corruption soon emerged. One of Osman’s blunders was he appointed his cousin Muawiyah as the Governor of Syria. When Osman died and Ali took over, Muawiyah declared war on Ali, the first ever war where Muslims fought Muslims (and have been fighting ever since)
I know many Islamists will disagree with my analysis of events, although these events did take place. Nevertheless, my interpretation of this event is Osman said he would follow tradition while Ali said he would follow his conscience. And we have seen how tradition may not always be the best thing to follow.
And the same goes to the issue of our Wakil Rakyat. Forget about tradition, especially Westminster tradition. Follow your conscience. Did we, the voters, or your party vote you into office? And if we voted you into office then serve us instead of your party.
Selangor DAP branches warn the party leadership that DAP would lose the Kota Alam Shah seat if Ganapathirau, a former ISA detainee, is fielded.
KLANG: Eight DAP branches here have called on the party leadership not to field V Ganapathirau (photo) as candidate in Kota Alam Shah state seat in the next general election.
The branches, all from the state constituency, warned the party leadership that the DAP would lose the seat if Ganapathirau, a former detainee of now repealed Internal Security Act, was fielded.
The DAP eight branches, with collectively some 500 members, openly opposed Ganapathirau are Taman Gembira, Klang, Teluk Pulai, Bayu Tinggi, Taman Chi Liung Indah, Southern Klang, Persiaran Raja Muda Musa and Ehsan.
The group spokesman Ivan Ho said they were all against Ganapathirau because he was not a local familiar with the party grassroots leaders and members, or constituents in the area.
Ho said Ganapathirau does not have close rapport with party grassroots in the constituency, a winning factor so crucial for a potential candidate.
He urged the party leadership to respect grassroots sentiments and not to force in parachute candidates like Ganapathirau in Kota Alam Shah.
“DAP members and constituents don’t know him much.
“The party should not push us to accept Ganapathirau.
“We don’t want him,” Ho, the Taman Gembira branch head, told FMT.
Kota Alam Shah incumbent assemblyman is M Manoharan, a protégé of DAP national chairman Karpal Singh.
It’s learnt Selangor DAP leadership under Teresa Kok planned to replace Manoharan, also a former ISA detainee, with Ganapathirau.
Ganapathirau is a staunch confidant of deputy secretary general and Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy.
Not an Indian hero
Taman Chi Liung Indah head K Yogasigamany reminded the state party leadership that time had lapsed to promote the Ganapathirau as a former ISA detainee and his so-called involvement in Hindraf Makkal Sakti.
He said DAP grassroots members and constituents know that Ganapathirau, who now leads NGO Malaysian Indian voice, was not a Hindraf leader.
“Constituents have realised that Ganapathirau was never the Hindraf leader or Indian hero.
“He is no more relevant for Indian community.
“It will be futile and fatal for party leadership to field Ganapathirau in Kota Alam Shah.
“The leadership should drop the idea altogether,” Yogasigamany told FMT.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
How about Ganapathirau run as an independent candidate? Who needs DAP’s nepotism and crony capitalism? Be a Wakil Rakyat not a Wakil Parti.
ARTICLE 7
About the next government – Saturday, 01 September 2012 Super Admin – Raja Petra Kamarudin
This is not about whether Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat is worse. This is about doing the honest thing. When you do party work the rakyat must not be made to pay for it. And when Parliament and the State Assemblies have been dissolved you are committing criminal breach of trust by
continuing to use the government facilities for your personal political campaigns and party work.
First have a look at the Google Analytical graphic below. Those are Malaysia Today’s figures for the pre-Raya, Raya, and post-Raya period.
On Friday, 17th August 2012, Malays began to leave town to return to their kampung. That was when the figures started declining. By Saturday, more people left town (even many non-Malays) and the figures dropped even further.
The non-Malays did not return to work until Wednesday last week, and that was when the figures started to increase again. Most Malays, however, stayed away the entire week until Sunday. On Monday this week, the figures returned to normal when everyone was back in town.
Now, while the figures over last week were down quite a bit because many people were still back in their kampung, the comments, however, did not suffer. And even when the figures went up again this week, the comments more or less remained the same.
From these figures I can only assume two things. First is that Malaysia Today’s Malay readership is quite large. And that is why the figures drop when the Malays are away. Secondly is that most of those who comment are non-Malays. And that is why while the Malay readership declines the comments do not.
Of course, thirdly, based on the type of comments posted, we can also assume that most of those who comment are not yet of the age of maturity. And that is why many comments are very childish. (You should read the ones we deleted. They will shock you).
Anyway, what I want to talk about today is regarding the next government. You see, when Parliament is dissolved to make way for the next general election, in principle Malaysia no longer has a government. What we have is merely a caretaker government and a caretaker Prime Minister.
Now, even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said this back in 2006. Dr Mahathir explained that in principle there is no longer any government but just a caretaker Prime Minister. But he could not understand, Dr Mahathir said, why no one realises this and never challenged it.
In short, the Cabinet no longer exists, as everyone would have already been ‘sacked’, so to speak. Parliament has been dissolved so technically we no longer have any Members of Parliament. Hence, if we no longer have any Members of Parliament, then we no longer have a Prime Minister or Ministers.
Can the Prime Minister still use his office and other facilities such as the private jet, helicopter, etc., which are for the use of the Prime Minister? What about all those Ministers who still use their office, government car, etc?
Many Malays regard our First Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, as fasiq (bad Muslim) because of his drinking and gambling. But did you know that the Tunku took six months no-pay leave to campaign for the general election? He handed the government to his Deputy, Tun Abdul Razak
Hussein, to take over as Acting Prime Minister.
Whatever you might say about the Tunku, at least he was honest enough to separate his party post from his government post and he did not abuse his government post to do party work. Has any Prime Minister since then taken no-pay leave when they campaign for their party? Even the Merdeka celebration is treated as a party campaign.
And please don’t start screaming ‘that is why we need to get rid of Umno’. Many now in the opposition — not only from Umno but also from MCA, Gerakan and MIC as well — did the same thing when they were in government. They talk only now that they are with the opposition. When they were in government serupa saja.
Take the Menteris Besar from the Pakatan Rakyat states, as an example. Would these MBs take no-pay leave whenever they are campaigning for their party or would they use their post as MB to campaign for Pakatan Rakyat? Of course Umno also does this. That, I don’t deny. But do two wrongs make a right?
Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat, the MB of Kelantan, switches of the ‘government’ light when he prays (which is a personal duty and has nothing to do with the government). And how much electricity does his light bulb consume when he prays?
This is not about whether Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat is worse. This is about doing the honest thing. When you do party work the rakyat must not be made to pay for it. And when Parliament and the State Assemblies have been dissolved you are committing criminal breach of trust by continuing to use the government facilities for your personal political campaigns and party work.
Do you remember when Datuk Ramli Yussuf, the Director of the CCID, faced charges in Sabah for using a police plane to fly over his land? He was alleged to have taken a detour while on official duty to fly over his land. Just a slight detour in a government plane and he was arrested and charged.
No doubt he was eventually acquitted of that charge but the fact he could he sacked, arrested and charged for taking a ‘joyride’ in a police plane was enough to show the difference between personal and official work. What makes the Prime Minister or Ministers immune from this same ‘crime’?
Once Parliament is dissolved it should be hands-off all public property. No more using public facilities for your personal or party work and campaigns.
I do not know how better to explain this point without sounding cheong hei but understand one thing: once Parliament is dissolved you are now sacked from your job. Hence we no longer have a government and you can no longer use what belongs to the government — meaning, of course, what belongs to the rakyat.
Now, in that same spirit, since we no longer have a government, when we go to the polls we are choosing a new government. Whether we choose Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat does not matter. Both are new governments. The old government no longer exists. Everyone has been sacked from his/her job.
Okay, so we no longer have a government and we go to the polls to choose a government. Never mind that Barisan Nasional has ruled Malaysia for 55 years. That was before. For all intents and purposes, if they win the election they are going to be a new government, jut like how Pakatan Rakyat would be if they win the election.
Hence we need to ask both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat what type of new government they are going to be. We do not care what they did in the past. Don’t try to impress us with what you have been doing over the last 55 years (actually it’s 53 years because the First General Election was in 1959, not 1957). That government no longer exists. We are about to choose a new government so we want to know what type of new government we are going to choose.
Let’s look at it this way. We wipe the slate clean and start from scratch (not to include any corrupt acts, of course, which should still be on the slate). Then we are giving both a level playing field (or else Barisan Nasional can boast about what they have done over 55 years compared to Pakatan Rakyat who never ruled at federal level). Let’s assume Malaysia never had a government before. So now tell us why we should vote for you.
And that would mean we would need to look at so many unresolved issues and hear from both sides what they have to offer us. As I said, there are just so many issues but maybe for purposes of this article we can talk about some of the more pressing ones. And my list is certainly not in order of priority. And I am addressing this list to both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.
1. Will Malaysia adopt in its entirety the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted and proclaimed by the United Nations on 10th December 1948?
2. Will Malaysia practice meritocracy to replace the system of quotas and preferential treatment and will Article 153 in the Constitution be abrogated?
3. Will fundamental liberties be respected and will it include the right to choose your religion, the right to have no religion, the right to your sexual preference, the right to a civil partnership, and much more?
4. Will Malaysia remain a Constitutional Monarchy or will it opt to become a Republic?
5. Will the oil royalty for those states that have oil and gas be increased to 20% or more or will it remain at 5%.
6. Will Sabah and Sarawak be given autonomy and will Federalisation in those states be reduced/limited in line with the 20- and 18-Point Agreements?
7. Will the Human Rights Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, Police Force Commission, Judicial Commission, Election Commission, etc., be restructured so that the appointments can be made by Parliament and so that they can be responsible to Parliament and will include Commissioners from both sides of the political fence in equal numbers?
8. Will the Constitution be amended to make Malaysia more Secular with the removal of Islam as the religion of the Federation?
9. What is the position of the Sharia — Hudud included, of course — and which legal system will be supreme and will Malaysia remove the dual system, which appears to be running parallel, in favour of a single legal system?
10. Will the anti-hopping act, freedom of information act, freedom of association act (to include students), anti-discrimination act, anti-racism act, freedom of religion act, etc., be introduced and will the death sentence be abolished?
Those are just ten points that both sides need to tell us about. Of course there are many more and some of you may want to add to that list. The bottom line, however, is that we want to hear from all those who are going to offer themselves for election what their position about all these issues are.
We can’t accept the ‘vote first and talk later’ argument. We need to know before we go to the polls the stand of all these people who want our vote. Hence no shocks and surprises later once we choose our new government.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
BN has the mandate for granting all of the above or condensed form of the 3 items below :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;but does not act. Pakatan looks set to be worse with Hudud and Nepotism and backward crony capitalist mindsets, who knows gangsterism as well? A nice article that challenges unnecessary structures in government.
ARTICLE 8
I believe, hence I am right – Sunday, 26 August 2012 Super Admin – NO HOLDS BARRED – Raja Petra Kamarudin
Not even a priest or an imam will ‘serve God’ if they are not being paid a salary. It’s all about money, even those who claim to be serving God. So get off your high horse and stop all this self-righteous bullshit. Every single one of you does things for money. So stop slandering this person and that person as doing things for money. You too are as much money-motivated as the other person you are accusing.
I can’t understand why Malaysia Today’s readers are foaming at the mouth and whacking Hudud. Some have even gone beyond just attacking Hudud and have even whacked Muslims and Islam. A police report has already been made against Malaysiakini. Do you also want a police report to be made against Malaysia Today?
Most of you may think that Malaysia allows freedom of expression. Well, Malaysia may allow freedom of expression up to a certain extent but that freedom is not absolute. There are limits. And that is why Malaysia has many laws that are aimed at ‘ensuring the peace and stability’ of the nation, the Sedition Act being one of them.
This means you cannot simply say what you like, not even in America or Britain. For example, if you start talking about Muslim terrorists, Jihad and bombs while in a plane you can get into trouble anywhere in the world. You might argue that it is your fundamental right to talk about whatever it is you want to talk about. The police, however, will not agree with you as they drag you away in handcuffs. Try it if you don’t believe me.
So perish the thought regarding absolute freedom of expression. It does not exist. There are boundaries and you must navigate within these boundaries. I, for one, can tell you that this is absolutely true. I, too, have learned that you cannot say everything that is on your mind. There are some things you can say and there are many things you cannot say. And if you violate this rule you will get vilified like hell. I am speaking from experience here.
Look at what happened to Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim. His party expressed support for the Bersih 3.0 rally while he said that although he is for clean elections he does not feel that breaking the law is the way to send the message to the government. And for saying that he was whacked kaw-kaw until he felt so hurt he left the party. I suppose anyone who is called foul names would feel the way he felt. I mean people do have feelings, even Pakatan Rakyat leaders.
In the first place, Tunku Aziz should not have joined a political party. He is not a politician, period. And he should have realised that once you join a political party you must toe the party line. You cannot do what the people would view as breaking ranks. They will kill you, figure of speech, of course. And once you join a political party and then resign, you will be accused of being bought off, of selling out, and all sort of foul things. It is better you had not joined in the first place. Then you can say what you like.
Once you join a political party you need to sacrifice certain freedoms for the sake of party unity. Even when you talk in closed-door meetings or unofficial meetings you need to watch what you say. In politics everyone is an enemy, even the person sitting next to you in the meeting. And what you say will be leaked to embarrass you. And the Penang PKR chief, Datuk Dr Mansor Othman, has found out the hard way what damage these leaks can do.
Of course, Dr Mansor has denied saying what he is alleged to have said. The minutes, though, appear to prove otherwise. But minutes can be forged. After all, only those who attended the meeting would know.
No doubt, none of the others who attended that meeting have come forward to reveal that they had attended the meeting and that the minutes had been forged and that no such thing was ever said in the meeting. Nevertheless, whether the people believe that denial is another thing. After all, politicians deny allegations all the time. Clinton denied. Nixon denied. And in the end it was proven that these denials were all lies. In fact, Najib Tun Razak has also denied the allegations against him but we all don’t believe his denials — am I not correct?
The golden rule in politics is when cornered deny or say ‘no comment’. Of course, most people are of the opinion that when politicians deny it then it must be true and when they say ‘no comment’ that means they are admitting the allegation. But the most important thing is no one can prove it.
And this is what matters in the end. Can you prove the allegation?
What you need to do, before they even deny it or say ‘no comment’, is to challenge them to prove that the allegation is false. Under normal circumstances one is assumed innocent until proven guilty. But if you want to corner a politician you twist it the other way. You ask them to prove that the allegation is false. That is actually quite impossible to do.
Anwar was convicted and sentenced to a total of 15 years jail because he could not prove his innocence. The Federal Court later overturned that conviction on grounds that the Prosecution failed to prove his guilt. Nevertheless, Anwar had already served six years of the 15 years before he saw freedom. Thus, sometimes, the guilty until proven innocent rule does work in certain cases.
New laws are being introduced in Malaysia where you will need to prove you are innocent or else you are presumed guilty. We had 52 years of the Internal Security Act where an estimated 10,000 people had been detained without trial on that same assumption — guilty until proven innocent. They detain you first and then later you need to convince them that you deserve to be released. It is impossible to prove you deserve to be released when your detention is on the basis that one man, the Minister, believes you are a threat to national security.
I mean how do you prove a belief wrong? You have a belief, and that belief is I am a threat to national security. How do I prove this belief wrong? How do I prove any of your beliefs wrong? You believe that Hudud is God’s law and is mandatory. You believe that the Qur’an came directly from God and is God’s word. You believe the Bible is the Holy Book of God (in fact, you swear an oath on the Bible although it may have been printed by a printer in Jalan Chan Sow Lin). You believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and was crucified and died for our sins. How do I prove all these beliefs wrong?
So, I can’t prove any of your beliefs wrong, even the belief that I am a threat to national security. And that means I will remain under detention without trial until your beliefs change and you now believe that I have reformed and have turned over a new leaf and am no longer a threat to national security.
Such are beliefs. And beliefs are impossible to prove wrong. If you had to prove your belief right, that would be another thing altogether. To prove your belief right you will need evidence, which you may or may not have. But for me to prove your belief wrong is a non-starter never mind what that belief may be. Beliefs do not require evidence. Hence you can believe something even if there is no evidence. And for me to prove your belief wrong when your belief is void of evidence would mean I would not have the evidence to prove your belief wrong.
Can you see how it works?
Many friends have been in touch with me to ask me to clear the air on what people are saying about me. These friends tell me that people believe I am this or I am that or I have done this or I have done that. But that is just it. This is what people believe. How do I prove this belief to be false?
Most of those people who believe these things about me also believe in God and believe in a religion. Is there any basis for these beliefs? Is there any evidence to support these beliefs? Can they prove that their beliefs are facts and not myths?
Of course they can’t. They just believe it, that’s all. There is no basis for these beliefs. They heard stories and they believe these stories. These are all stories without evidence. Then they support these stories and justify their beliefs by showing us a Holy Book, which they said came from God but was printed by a printer in Jalan Chan Sow Lin who himself does not believe in God and is printing this ‘Holy Book’ just to make money from the printing contract
Thus this is the mindset of these types of people. They are susceptible to believing things that cannot be proven. And these same people also believe certain things about me. So how do we talk to such people when they are already prone to believing things that they imagine to be true even when it cannot be proven true?
Can you see the futility in trying to turn these people? It is as difficult as trying to convince a Catholic that Prophet Muhammad is a Prophet of God or trying to convince Muslims that Jesus is the Son of God — or trying to convince readers of Malaysia Today that Hudud is God’s command and is mandatory for all Malaysians.
The best would be to just let people believe what they want to believe. Most of these people believe that they are sincere and noble while all the rest are scumbags anyway. Only they are true. All others are false.
Look at the party hopping issue as one example. Most believe that it is wrong for people to leave their party to join the other side. But it is not wrong for those from the other side to leave the other side to join their party.
If they leave the other side to join their side then it is a sincere and noble gesture. But if they leave their side to join the other side it cannot also be because of a sincere and noble gesture. It can only be because of money and for no other reason.
This is the belief.
You do things out of sincerity and for noble reasons. Others are not noble or sincere and do things merely for money. You do not do things for money.
As I said, this is the belief and they believe that their belief is right. But is it?
Their parents sent them to school to receive an education. I have Chinese friends who tell me that education is at the top of the Chinese priority list. Education comes first and everything else comes after. This is what my Chinese friends tell me and since so many seem to tell me the same thing I am inclined to believe it.
Then I ask them, why? To the Malays, religion comes first. That is way at the top of the priority list of the Malays. Go ask the Malays and see what they say. But why do Chinese put education and not religion at the top of their priority list?
And they tell me it is because you need a good education to be ensured a good future. Only a good education can ensure a good future. And many Malaysians, after they have received that good education, choose to stay overseas to work. They have spent so much money on their education that they need to work overseas because the salary they will earn back in Malaysia would be too low and they will never be able to recover the cost of their education.
So people get an education. But they go and get an education not because they seek knowledge. They go and get an education so that they can get a good job that pays good money.
Everybody works. And they all work because they want money. Only with money can they buy things and live a good life. They want a house. They want a car. They want to get married. They want power, position, prestige, recognition, and whatnot. And all this requires money.
Why do they want all these? Are these not all for selfish reasons? You can go live in a jungle and not starve. There is food everywhere. You can live off the land. You can build a roof over your head from what you find in the jungle. You can use the streams and rivers to wash and bathe. You do not need money. You do not need a job. You do not need to spend so much money getting educated.
So, yes, everyone does things for money, even those of you who believe you are sincere and noble. Do you need money? Actually you do not. You don’t need money. You just want money. And you want money because you want the good things in life.
Are you prepared to resign from your job and go work in one of the African countries for no salary? They will provide you a tent to sleep in and three meals a day. They will also provide you with khaki uniforms. But other than that you will receive no money.
Is that not a noble and sincere thing to do? You work for no money but only to serve humankind. You get to eat and sleep in a tent, that’s all.
Not even a priest or an imam will ‘serve God’ if they are not being paid a salary. It’s all about money, even those who claim to be serving God. So get off your high horse and stop all this self-righteous bullshit. Every single one of you does things for money. So stop slandering this person and that person as doing things for money. You too are as much money-motivated as the other person you are accusing.
At least a prostitute is honest about what he or she is. That is more than I can say for you.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
1) Most of you may think that Malaysia allows freedom of expression. Well, Malaysia may allow freedom of expression up to a certain extent but that freedom is not absolute. There are limits. And that is why Malaysia has many laws that are aimed at ‘ensuring the peace and stability’ of the nation,
the Sedition Act being one of them. This means you cannot simply say what you like, not even in America or Britain. For example, if you start talking about Muslim terrorists, Jihad and bombs while in a plane you can get into trouble anywhere in the world. You might argue that it is your fundamental right to talk about whatever it is you want to talk about. The police, however, will not agree with you as they drag you away in handcuffs.
Then attempts will be made to change the law so that the police will focus on real criminals like corrupted politicians or those who sequester the funds of the nation by writing Vehicular-AP type laws so their daughters and son-in-laws can lounge around writing pro-1% rubbish instead of changing bad laws. The police, however, will agree to fair mindedness instead of chilling effect bad wishes on people via bad or racist laws, who at least bother to engage the country/public in effecting meaningful change. No word on apartheid yet? Still defending hudud? Why does RPK seem to support chilling effect laws?
2) It’s all about money, even those who claim to be serving God. So get off your high horse and stop all this self-righteous bullshit. Every single one of you does things for money. So stop slandering this person and that person as doing things for money. You too are as much money-motivated as the other person you are accusing.
Those who claim to be serving God would think that everyone is EQUAL and that the wealth of the nation and the land belongs to everyone. That means space for living, as well as oil wealth etc.. This is what makes a nation a nation, not 1% of people holding 99% of the wealth while 99% of the people have to work. “God’ provided the land that grows food and has materials for life and civilisation. There is no such thing as money which is man made and a mere tool or yardstick for reprsentation of goods and services.
3) The golden rule in politics is when cornered deny or say ‘no comment’. Of course, most people are of the opinion that when politicians deny it then it must be true and when they say ‘no comment’ that means they are admitting the allegation. But the most important thing is no one can prove it.
And this is what matters in the end.
When a 99% person’s life looks set to be an endless and hopeless rehash of days till old age, ‘no comment’ is not an option. And this is what matters in the end. The 99% will vote for political power distribution via term limits and nepotism prohibitions, then also wealth and land distribution. The plutocrats and oligarchs and nepotists can GTFO of Parlaiment.
4) Such are beliefs. And beliefs are impossible to prove wrong. If you had to prove your belief right, that would be another thing altogether. To prove your belief right you will need evidence, which you may or may not have. But for me to prove your belief wrong is a non-starter never mind what that belief may be. Beliefs do not require evidence. Hence you can believe something even if there is no evidence. And for me to prove your belief wrong when your belief is void of evidence would mean I would not have the evidence to prove your belief wrong. Can you see how it works?
Muslim thought mode imprinting. Manipulative inculpation of ‘thought/sentence’ structures/pattersn is not engaging the readers but insulting the readers. If I am wrong about this being a Muslim NLP, then apologies in advance when I go ‘Blah, Muslims . . .’ . . . NO, all non-Muslims refuse to see how ‘it’ (Islam by my reading of what RPK is pushing with ingenuous references to it, it might as well be the whore of Babylon or Moloch or every non-Muslim’s collective !@#$%^& . . . )
5) Can you see the futility in trying to turn these people? It is as difficult as trying to convince a Catholic that Prophet Muhammad is a Prophet of God or trying to convince Muslims that Jesus is the Son of God — or trying to convince readers of Malaysia Today that Hudud is God’s command and is mandatory for all Malaysians.
There is even less proof of God yet people believe. Futility to ‘turn these people’ is far easier than to believe in God. Also laws are man-made, wealth distribution is biased. The 99% would believe that and the 1% as RPK and by extension RPK’s wife Marin or Mahathir’s ill-gotten billions would prefer th 99% to not think about.
6) Everybody works. And they all work because they want money. Only with money can they buy things and live a good life. They want a house. They want a car. They want to get married. They want power, position, prestige, recognition, and whatnot. And all this requires money.
This is a materialistic view. There are many views. Also there are systems that do not require money.n The Capitalist system is abusive and enslaves people with money. Figure out the rest on how to vote to change the system to do away with money.
7) If they leave the other side to join their side then it is a sincere and noble gesture. But if they leave their side to join the other side it cannot also be because of a sincere and noble gesture. It can only be because of money and for no other reason. This is the belief.
Shame on RPK for preaching corruption. Kaffir mindedness if anything and tainted by promotion of hudud’s violence based justice.
8) Are you prepared to resign from your job and go work in one of the African countries for no salary? They will provide you a tent to sleep in and three meals a day. They will also provide you with khaki uniforms. But other than that you will receive no money.
Any and everone would if land and wealth were distributed equally. In fact there would be no ‘African countries’ either if migration prohibitions were done away with up to limits of population supportable by a country at least.
9) At least a prostitute is honest about what he or she is. That is more than I can say for you.
One man’s ‘honesty’ is another man’s resignation and apathy, giving up on a better life. That is what a prostitute does, which is more than I can say for RPK’s inactivity and b.s.ing from England instead of returning to Malaysia to prove so called ‘enemies’ wrong.
Fostering apathy via weak logic so that plutocrats and nepotists or propagandists get to abuse and parasite off the 99% is pitiful and reprehensible. Belief with logic is and expecting to be questioned and responding always makes right. As mentioned before, some people use their intelligence for good causes, others use their intelligence to suppress the truth and every man’s right to equality instead of entitlement. Being around for decades within privilege allows one to never feel empathy for the problems people face. The 99% however are ready to vote in a manner that will end such socialised insanity. Money is an invention. The sooner everyone realises this, the better a place the world will be. Also the sooner Marina and RPK endorse the below 3 items :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;the sooner will the Malaysians have a real chance of reclaiming their place as equals with other races in the world instead of hiding behind corrutpting tacit approvals by Marina or pernicious articles by RPK.
…
written by Dr Syed Alwi, September 02, 2012 14:20:43
Dear RPK,
It doesn’t matter whether its BN or PR – the mentality of the average Malaysian is very backwards. It will be another 50 years before you can see the kind of changes that you want. You’ve got a vast majority of Malays still believing in magic etc ! You’ve got the Chinese who are still pushing for parochial interests ! To change Malaysia – is to change minds. You need a mental revolution. Malaysia is Third World in terms of mentality. Still medieval and still feudal. Its still 1511 as far as Malaysians go !
If you are serious about these changes – then you should focus on Education. The educational system must change to produce better minds in the future. No major changes can be expected in the short term. Just focus on education and in 20 to 30 years time – it will bear fruit. But for now – you won’t see much changes.
Regards
Dr Syed Alwi
ARTICLE 9
Merdeka belongs to ALL M’sians, not just to BN or to Pakatan – by Lim Kit Siang – Thursday, 30 August 2012 22:03
Merdeka Day should be an overarching national celebration uniting Malaysians regardless of race, religion, region or political affiliation in a common purpose to develop a more democratic, just, competitive and prosperous nation – and any partisan attempt to hijack the Merdeka Day which can only result in greater division, dissension and disunity must be deplore
It is sad many Malaysians feel depressed by this year’s 55th Merdeka Day not only because they have never felt so unsafe in public places and the privacy of their homes, but also because of the increasingly negative and discordant voices sowing distrust and hatred in our plural society and seeking to polarise and divide Malaysians particularly along race and religious lines.
For ALL Malaysians
Merdeka Day is a national celebration not just for any individual, group, community or political party. It is not for Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat. It is for all Malaysians.
Let all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region or political affiliation rise above their differences to celebrate the 55th Merdeka Day as one Malaysian people to forge a common national destiny where freedom, justice, integrity and good governance flourish in our land and enjoyed by all our citizens.
Lim Kit Siang is the DAP adviser & MP for Ipoh Timur
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Whats really sad is the 90% failed campaign promises by DAP, Kit Siang talking shop here as if those seats were fairly won. All DAP seats were won by lies of unkept campaign promises. The Rakyat loses respect for politicians who cannot keep their word, especially after being rewarded in advance with votes. Merdeka belongs to ALL M’sians . . . blah blah blah . . . campaign promises first, otherwise don’t talk rubbish here on internet. Pakatan OWES the Rakyat all unkept promises Mr.Undemocratic-TermLimitless-Nepotist . . .
Voters, don’t depend on Pakatan so much. Pakatan has said nothing about ending the Bumi/Non-Bumi difference, or PAS’s Hudud so far. Look at the lack of engagement hiding behind the ethos of that MP’s seat intent on being term limitless. Voters, if Pakatan will in such a belittling manner, not respond fairly and clearly to questions as blogs like these pose, Pakatan will indeed favour and collude with cronies in the same way BN has. Pakatan is UNVOTABLE simply by the uncommunicativeness and even attempts to destroy would be competing 3rd force politicians, groups and activists by.
The voters are no fools and can see what has happened. Pakatan is a danger and perhaps even part of the hegelian dialect, at least in all term limitless family nepotistic types. Again I present the unvotable within Pakatan so that the Rakyat can think clearly enough to vote correctly :
OFFENDING TERM LIMITLESS/NEPOTISM CLIQUES in PAKATAN
Three of the below limitless term MPs must be challenged so that only a single candidate without relatives remains :
Lim Kit Siang (MP Ipoh Timur – Perak)
Lim Guan Eng (MP Air Puteh – Penang)
Chew Gek Cheng (Assemblyman Kota Laksamana – Malacca) Guan Eng’s wife
Lim Hui Ying Guan Eng’s sister (Vice-Chairman)
Two of the below must be challenged so that only a single candidate without relatives remains :
Karpal Singh (MP Jelutong – Penang)
Gobind Singh (MP Puchong – Selangor) Karpal’s son
Jagdeep Singh (Asssemblyman Dato Keramat – Penang) Karpal’s son
Two of the below must be challenged so that only a single candidate without relatives remains :
Anwar Ibrahim (MP Permatang Pauh, Seberang Prai)
Wan Azizah
Nurul Izzah Anwar(MP Lembah Pantai – Kuala Lumpur) Anwar’s Daughter who won only because (as per RPK’s report on article) only 7% of the voters in the constituency Nurul stood in turned up!
Also either Ngeh (Pantai Remis) or Nga (Sitiawan) must go to prevent 2nd degree nepotism and the kind of environment that caused DAP’s Kulasegaran to be kicked out possibly an act of racism but more likely at the order of the Lim family clique and their dogs like Chow Kon Yeow and Ng Wei Aik.
For even stronger consideration, I also list seats that HRP demands from the unethical Pakatan cliques, note that PAS is the least problematic party in Pakatan though more authoritarian and Islamically inclined (Hudud should be applied on a signatory by signatory basis, not summarily imposed, to not drive away Malay voters) :
1. Padang Serai (Incumbent: PKR – N Gobalakrishnan)
2. Batu Kawan (DAP – Ramasamy)
3. Sungei Siput (PSM – Dr D Jeyakumar)
4. Ipoh Barat (DAP – N Kulasegaran)
5. Bagan Datoh (BN – Ahmad Zahid Hamidi)
6. Cameron Highlands (BN – SK Devamany)
7. Hulu Selangor (BN – P Kamalanathan)
8. Kuala Selangor (PAS – Dzulkefy Ahmad)
9. Klang (DAP – Charles Santiago)
10. Kota Raja (PAS – Siti Mariah Mahmud)
11. Rasah (DAP – Anthony Loke)
12. Teluk Kemang (PKR – Kamarul Baharin Abbas)
13. Alor Gajah (BN – Fong Chan Onn)
14. Tebrau (BN – Teng Boon Soon)
15. Lembah Pantai (PKR – Nurul Izzah Anwar)
HRP might very well be aware of some things we are not aware of to list some surprising choices as well, do not discount their reasons.
ANOTHER THEORY ON WHY VOTE 3rd Force Over Pakatan or BN
Introducing all readers to the high tech world of hidden surveillance and mind altering electronics like Passive Millimeter Wave Technology or EMF based wave weapons. Half of the wealthiest and most influencial non-Muslims in Malaysia could get thrown into jail for if that law is passed. Afraid if the government makes owning such things illegal?
ALL READERS. Rais Yaatim was manipulated into raping the maid via sub-aurals and EMF and possibly certain drugs that made him unable to control himself the combination is very effective on most people unless they have the luxury of becoming extremely anti-social to compensate.
Also like Anwar and Saiful, the 2 guys were probably drugged and manipulated with the same method. Do you think dr.Evil had no hand in causing the cases to be used as a weapon to ensure their obedience?
Neuro-linguistic programming also could have played a strong part in grooming targets with dr.Evil’s resources, he could get any number of people to ‘say things’ to manipulate Anwar, Saiful’s or Rais Yaatim’s mental state, then drug them. The combination is quite lethal.
A law against use or ownership of such electronic weapons should be immediately put in place and all who are in ownership of such devices should immediately be investigated and any complaints or evidence corroborated by the legal system which should be made aware of these obviously criminal methods and weapons. Watch out for the Wiifi, 4G or 700 Hz YTL lines. These and the telecoms towers will ensure whatever government will be able to manipulate voters as well INCLUDING extracting/inserting thought memories.
In time these weapons or stalking activities will be illegal and the legal system updated on these weapons, and anyone who has used these will likely be dragged up on charges for victimising citizens with criminal intent to harm. They should watch out for YTL’s 4G or the Telecoms Towers as well, Nautilus Bay Penang looks like a G.W.E.N. Tower too.
4G or 700 Hz will literally end all freedom of thought, so start understanding that we are living in high tech times even though the infrastructure is still quite bad. In the hands of private contractors like YTL we will literally lose control of free thought. Oppose any 700 Hz, 3G or telecoms towers, otherwise we will be quite finished even before GE13.
Anwar and Saiful, Prince Saud Abdulaziz Bin Nasir Al Saud of Oman, the Catholic Priests overcome with lust for children, I strongly believe that due to your strong religious and family upbringing and even some of us due to our station, political beliefs and political alignments, or threat of presenting too powerful a social or psychological, even psychic competition, or even intelligence, or even failed relationships with people having access to such devices – have been groomed into paedophilia, LGBT or even simulated mental illness specifically to weaken our voice by society’s worst who see nothing except political power and wealth not a nation of citizens.
Let us seek justice and reclaim our reputations.
ARTICLE 9
Buckle up – and beware of strays – by REGINA LEE – Friday August 10, 2012 regina@thestar.com.my
PETALING JAYA: The usual road safety tips apply along the North-South Expressway buckle up and obey the speed limit. Then watch out … for cows?
Signs urging motorists and other road users to be wary of cows have sprouted up at 29 locations along the expressway as recently as three weeks ago, according to highway concessionaire PLUS Malaysia.
“There has been an increasing number of animal sightings along the expressway and we want to warn people to be wary of cows and other strays, especially at certain locations,” corporate communications senior manager Mohd Nizam Ismail said yesterday.
“Most of the strays sighted are cows, water buffalos, tapirs and wild boars. But other animals such as dogs, monkeys and goats have also been seen.”
A woman and her son were killed early on Sunday when their car collided with a cow near the Simpang Ampat toll plaza in Malacca.
Ngatinah Kemin, 47, and her 10-year-old son Habib Firdaus were travelling back from the KL International Airport to their home in Simpang Renggam together with her husband and daughter when the accident occurred at 1.20am.
The Road Transport Department said that such incidences were rare and that it was not usual for cows to cross a highway.
“In the rural areas, yes, it happens a lot. But this is the first case that I’ve heard of in my two years in the Transport Ministry,” said deputy director-general Datuk Ismail Ahmad.
A cow died on the spot after being hit by a car at Persiaran Utara in Putrajaya while crossing the road. The driver was unhurt.
The driver was unhurt.
He explained that a road retained heat at night making it warm and “nice” for cows to lie on.
Ismail hoped cattle farmers would keep their cows fenced up, especially at night.
In July 2008, three people were killed in two separate accidents on the same 772km-long expressway within days of each other in Rembau and Jitra after crashing into cows.
Pahang Umno secretary Datuk Abdullah Rahmat died when his car hit a cow in Temerloh on the East Coast Highway on Dec 12, 2008.
PLUS urged members of the public to call its hotline 1800 88 0000 whenever they see stray animals on the expressway.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
PAP’s Neuroscience Institute at Biopolis has been busy equipping Pakatan? Neurotech assassination? Get a cow to saunter onto the road at an inopportune moment to kill political opponents. Earlier that was neurotech dogs savaging and killing people, but too dramatic and suspicious.
ARTICLE 10
Man gored to death by wild buffalo – September 01, 2012
IPOH, Sept 1 — A man was gored to death while his friend was injured after they were attacked by a wild buffalo while on a fishing trip at the Royal Belum Forest Reserve in Hulu Air Pasir, Banding near Grik yesterday.
Musa Ismail, 56, died after he was gored in the stomach while his friend Isa Abdullah, 24, broke a leg and hand. Two other friends of theirs, however, escaped injury.
Grik police chief Supt Abdul Manab Baharum said in the incident happened between 3pm and 6pm when the four entered the forest reserve via a trail at Km68.4 of the East Coast Highway.
“As they were walking towards the location to set up their fish traps they were attacked by a wild buffalo which appeared out of nowhere,” he told Bernama.
He said after the animal ran away after attacking them, one of the friends who was not injured used his handphone to call up other friends for help.
He said they (friends) alerted the police who immediately mobilised a search-and-rescue team which included members of the Fire and Rescue Department, Rela, Civil Defence Department and local villagers.
“Because of the mountainous terrain, the team only managed to reach them at 1am. We also had difficulty bringing them out and only managed to do so at 6.30am today.
“The dead and injured victims were sent to the Grik Hospital,” he said.
Abdul Manab advised the public not to enter the reserve to fish or gather herbs without a valid permit from the authorities for their own safety. — Bernama
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Looks like this method of assassination will be the newest method employed in Malaysia. ‘ . . . beware of strays . . . ‘ goes Regina . . . so does that mean dogs and cats will also be used to kill car driving people in the same way? A neurotech dog or cat rushes out across the road, a ‘caring’ driver dies avoiding the animal . . . or at least get injured if said driver hits the animal and crashes . . .
ARTICLE 11
I’m not returning to Barisan, says Lajim – Saturday, 01 September 2012 Super Admin
(The Star) – KOTA KINABALU: Beaufort MP Datuk Lajim Ukin has denied talk that he is returning to Barisan Nasional.
“I have not met any Barisan leaders either at the state or Federal level to talk about returning to Barisan,” he told reporters here on Thursday.
Several bloggers have claimed that he was returning to Barisan because he was not given any “incentives” promised by the Opposition and that he failed to deliver more crossovers.
He believed such bloggers were trying to discredit him and make people lose faith in him.
He reiterated that his July 28 move to align himself with Pakatan Rakyat was done without any “incentives”.
“Let me make it clear that I joined the Opposition not because of monetary gains. That is not how the Opposition works, they do not buy anyone,” he added.
Lajim, who has formed non-governmental organisation Coalition for Change in Sabah, claimed that there would be more Barisan members leaving at the “right time”.
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Lajim, just drop nepotistic PR and racist BN! Join 3rd Force!
ARTICLE 12
PR has lost direction, says Noh Omar – by Mohd Farhan Darwis – September 01, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 — Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar today took a swipe at Pakatan Rakyat (PR), saying the opposition bloc has started to lose its direction in wanting to replace the national flag, the Jalur Gemilang.
The Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman also said it was impossible to do so as the flag is enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
“They have started to lose direction… until they even want to change the flag. I want to remind them that we cannot change matters enshrined in our Constitution such as the flag; whoever rules it is still our symbol. And the national anthem ‘Negaraku’, it is the song of whoever is in power.
“They are not yet ruling (but) already want to do extraordinary things,” Noh (picture) told reporters at the Selangor BN open house at the Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia (RRIM) in Sungai Buloh here.
The Tanjung Karang MP also expressed sorrow at the way PR celebrated National Day.
“I feel very sad at the attitude and the way they celebrate Merdeka Day, we should raise flags, but they make other flags,” he said, in apparent reference to a group of individuals who were spotted waving flags sporting alternative designs to the Jalur Gemilang during the massive public countdown to the country’s 55th National Day in Kuala Lumpur last Thursday.
“They are rude, not yet in power but they are already power crazy, their supporters and followers don’t respect our rules.”
The individuals were spotted carrying flags sporting the familiar crescent moon and 14-pointed star against a red-and-white striped background — similar to the national flags of neighbouring Singapore and Indonesia — which were alleged to be the alternative to the Jalur Gemilang.
Some of the street party-goers were also reported to have stepped on or tore posters bearing the images of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, his wife and the Election Commission chairman that night.
However, the organisers of the Janji Demokrasi rally — which took place at the same venue at Dataran Merdeka — has distanced themselves from the individuals who had allegedly demanded the national flag be replaced.
Noh also commented on Selangor PR ignoring the Sultan of Selangor in its National Day celebrations, saying that it shows that the federal opposition bloc did not uphold the Rukun Negara principle of “Loyalty to King and country”.
“Before BN carried out today’s programme, the organiser informed the Sultan of Selangor that the prime minister will come to celebrate with the people.
“Not like the opposition, their state-level Merdeka Day celebrations ignored the Sultan and turned this celebration into a political arena,” Noh said, adding “we practise the Rukun Negara principle of loyalty to King and country.”
Noh said: “In this life there are two things, morals and laws. Morally, they have to respect our culture, other people’s functions, but they try to take advantage to carry out politicking activities including in the programme on Merdeka Day eve”.
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Better than BN’s WRONG DIRECTION – continuing apartheid is wrong. Pakatan is still excusable for not having 2/3rds to end apartheid. We’ll know 100% for certain if Pakatan wins and does not end apartheid or 3rd Force takes over.
MCA meanwhile should leave BN with, PPP, MIC and Gerakan to form a viable 3rd Force with Tunku Aziz as head of 3rd force on the below 3 items as a rallying factor :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Voters, BN is apartheid, corrupt and refuses to use that mandate to better Malaysia, PR is self serving non-pro-active, self glorifying, unable to keep their campaign promises, also very nepotistic, so vote instead for 3rd Force Parties such as : KITA, JATI, MCLM (whats left of MCLM), PCM, Borneo Front, MoCS Sarawak, Konsensus Bebas, HRP/Hindraf and PSM, ABU, PRS, STAR etc.. to END APARTHEID.
ARTICLE 13
SHOCKING: ‘Suspected criminal’ Musa Aman swings meeting with William & Kate – by Sarawak Report – Saturday, 01 September 2012 17:44
Today’s confirmation by the Office of the Attorney General in Switzerland that it has opened a criminal prosecution against the banking group UBS, over suspected money-laundering on behalf of Musa Aman, looks set to cause an awkward diplomatic upset for the UK.
After all, the royal couple Wills and Kate are right now packing their bags to give Musa a friendly visit!
Sarawak Report first exposed back in May the evidence that the Sabah Chief Minister has taken tens of millions of dollars in kickbacks for issuing licences to chop down what remains of Sabah’s rain forests.
And we have laid out damning details of the money laundering operation conducted by the Musa and his associates through UBS accounts in a number of articles.
Details of bank statements and of the official investigations by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission and also the Hong Kong authorities into the affair were made public in our series of exposes and the evidence was sent to Switzerland, where the Bruno Manser Fund requested the prosecution against UBS.
Yet, despite this mounting evidence, UK officials have refused to heed warnings against the planned visit to the state by the British heir to the throne and his new wife.
The visit is due to take place between September 11-19th, as part of a Royal Tour of the Commonwealth in celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, marking her 60th year on the throne. They will also be visiting Singapore and the Solomon Islands.
Photo-opportunity?
Great publicity – but could it now all backfire?
To begin with the choice of Sabah might have seemed perfect publicity for the environment conscious Royal Family. After all the trip is being promoted as an “exotic visit to the Borneo Jungle”.
Just in the past few hours the British press has printed exciting details of plans to feature the Prince and his wife looking daring in lush forest canopies and cuddling up to cute baby orang-utans.
Given Musa’s energetic ‘greenwash’ PR of recent months, the objective has been to praise Musa for ‘slowing’ Sabah’s rate of deforestation, according to UK officials. They are accepting claims that he now wants to protect what is left of the jungle.
However, for months Sarawak Report has been warning the Royal Palace and the British Foreign Office against becoming associated with Musa Aman’s new campaign to present Sabah as an eco-friendly state, when in fact the Danum Valley Reserve which they will be visiting is a small oasis in one of the world’s worst environmental disaster zones and the Chief Minister is still selling concessions for kickbacks throughout the state.
Sarawak Report has also warned that proof of Musa Aman’s timber corruption is now in the public domain, showing how the destruction of Sabah’s jungle since the early 1990s has largely been driven by his own greed, first as the Head of Yayasan Sabah (The Sabah Foundation which is the trustee of its national forests) and then as the Chief Minister.
There is evidence that over US$90million dollars have been money-laundered through accounts associated with Aman and his key conspirators, a family friend Michael Chia and the Sabah lawyer Richard Christopher Barnes.
For these reasons Sarawak Report has repeatedly pleaded against the Royal Couple being encouraged to endorse a man whose criminality has ruined the jungle that they say they want to see protected!
This is a photo-opportunity that could go badly wrong.
Why endorse a suspected criminal?
Musa and his forest Chief Sam Manan altered the contour maps to allow logging of these once protected steep mountain areas of the state
Despite warnings from Sarawak Report just last week that Switzerland was about to launch its criminal prosecution over Musa’s money, the British High Commission is allowing this visit to proceed!
This opens the Royal Couple to charges of complete hypocrisy. They will of course be staying in pure luxury in the jungle resort in Danum Valley (a project sponsored by the world’s largest palm oil company, Malaysia’s government-controlled Sime Darby), while all around them millions of hectares of oil palm plantations are still being rolled out by their corrupted hosts.
The questionable judgement of such a visit is made even more severe by its timing, just as Malaysia approaches a crucial election.
What business has Britain to give such an endorsement to a notoriously corrupted and autocratic government, which has remained in power for longer than almost any other in the world?
After 50 years, who can still argue that BN has not cheated or bribed its way to its various ‘election successes’? Furthermore, evidence shows that more money is being stolen from the public in Malaysia and secreted out to foreign bank accounts, like Musa’s, than in practically any other country in the world.
Yet, it seems the royal advisors on this tour are preferring to present a lie rather than cancel the trip or upset their corrupted host, the Chief Minister of Sabah. They would rather the Royal Couple shake the hand through which a hundred million dollars of timber corruption money has passed than take a stand against the forces of corruption that are destroying Borneo!
Eco-friendly? Musa has just signed over 1/3 of Sabah’s forest reserve to ‘mosaic plantations’. He is selling off the licences in return for kickbacks. Most of that money has been stolen from the poor people of the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak, whose natural resources have been filched by their politicians, while they have been left in the deepest poverty.
At a time when Malaysia is at last waking up to these shocking truths and when the opposition parties are defying persecution and abuses against them to present for the first time some kind of real challenge to BN’s forces of oppression, is it right for Britain to prop them up with such a high profile visit by its as yet untainted young royal couple?
The cries in Malaysia and even in Musa’s own BN party in Sabah are now becoming deafening for his removal and his position is more precarious than ever.
How he will thank William and Kate, for stretching out their hands and offering him just the lifeline he needed with this visit and their silly praises for his greenwash PR about the ‘eco-friendly’ policies of Sabah.
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William and Kate are not new in the world conquest ‘game’, but England is now a viper’s nest of Orwellian and self serving liars. If East Malaysia demands independence for the lack of :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;England will want to ‘recolonise’ again ahead of all other local powers. So here come William and Kate are here to prepare to cash in or even prep these UMNO-BN guys (who despite all the unfairness of policy, will never hear a word for the Rakyat, justifying their bad behaviour, disenfranchisement, ill written and greed intent based policies . . . ) if not consolidate the Commonwealth while entirely overlooking the Apartheid system of unequal citizenships. This is one of those times where being proven wrong is good, but knowing the platitudes likely to overshadow the entire meeting, no word would likely pass on granting the above. Such is the cynical nature of the 1/4 German ancestry supposed future heads of the Commonwealth. If Commonwealth is so ‘common’ why is England and an SCG ALWAYS the Head? Do other Royals not deserve to head the Commonwealth?
ARTICLE 14
People’s happiness important, says Najib – September 03, 2012
PUTRAJAYA, Sept 3 — Per capita income and the people’s well-being are the two main criteria used to measure the success of a country’s development model, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
He said that while per capita income was the conventional yardstick used elsewhere, Malaysia put forward a one-of-a-kind and unique development model which took into account the “happiness index of the people”.
Both these aspects had to be scrutinised as the correlation between the two may not necessarily be positive, because there may be other factors or constraints which could cause dissatisfaction despite an increase in income, Najib (picture) said.
He cited factors such as traffic congestion and crime as examples, saying the two were definitely taken into account in determining the well-being or satisfaction index of the people.
“We try to formulate a one-of-a-kind and unique development model for this country. We do not copy 100 per cent from the west or east, but must have the ability to come up with our own model suitable for the people,” he said during the monthly gathering of the Prime Minister’s Department here today.
From a macro indicator, this year the second quarter of the economy grew by 5.4 per cent compared to 4.9 per cent during the first quarter, and Malaysia emerged as the third biggest initial public offering (IPO) centre after the United States and China, said the prime minister.
Malaysian companies FELDA Global Ventures Holdings and IHH Healthcare ranked the second and third largest IPOs on a global scale, he added.
Najib noted that the international media had also been covering Malaysia in a more positive light, with those who were previously critical appearing to be changing their tone and admitting that there were many positive changes and real development taking place in the country.
“I mention this because we have actually gained world recognition. But what’s the message here? The message is we must maintain the momentum and not let the transformation agenda lose steam; we must redouble our efforts,” he said.
Najib said civil servants played a very important role in implementing strategies to ensure the government’s development agenda was carried out as scheduled, was felt by the people, achieved its objectives and reached the targeted groups. — Bernama
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Apartheid, extreme religion, very bad wealth distribution, nepotism and oligarchy all make the people unhappy. BN represents all of this, Pakatan some. Political coalitions in Malaysia hence make the people unhappy until all of these problems are corrected. Vote 3rd Force political parties or indie candidates!
ARTICLE 16
Umno’s land thievery & refusal to share profits: Why the deafening silence – Guan Eng slams Gerakan – by Lim Guan Eng – Tuesday, 04 September 2012 17:10
Penang BN Chairman Teng Chang Yeow must explain why 2 UMNO leaders who claim to defend the rights of the Malays chose to profit as land brokers but refused to share their RM 5 million profits, earned within a mere three and a half months, with the 31 Malay landowners.
Today, Teng has chosen to defend both Umno Penang deputy chairman Dato Musa Sheikh Fadzir and BN Penang general election strategy director Dato Omar Faudza for profiting RM 5 million from sale of land owned by 31 Malay landonwers in Kampung Terang, Balik Pulau, as a private business transaction.
Teng clearly forgets that as political leaders, public interest demands that the private business transactions of these 2 UMNO leaders must also conform with their public political positions. Is this how UMNO leaders defend the rights of Malay landowners by buying their land cheap and then selling it high, pocketing 100% the profits from the sale? I regret that Musa has refused to explain why he refused to share the RM 5 million profit with the 31 Malay landowners and instead behaved emotionally and irrationally by attacking me as a racist for bringing up this issue of public interest.
Racist to share RM5mil profits with the 31 Malay landowners?
How am I a racist when I asked Musa and Omar to share the RM5 million profits with the 31 Malay landowners and not with non-Malays? Clearly BN and UMNO are so bankrupt of political ideas that a racist party is calling a multi-racial party racist!
Teng’s irresponsible refusal to explain is similar to dishonest tactics of spreading lies after lies without proof against PR leaders. Beginning with falsifying Google photographs of hillslope projects to run down the PR state government, Teng has still not shown evidence that myself, 4 EXCO members Chow Kon Yeow, Phee Boon Poh, Wong Hon Wai and Danny Law together with ADUN Komtar Ng Wei Aik has a personal interest in the Taman Manggis private hospital project.
Suddenly, new conditions emerge
Now Teng tries to explain BN’s failure to fulfill their promise to buy the Taman Manggis 1.1 acre piece of land at RM450 per square feet to build Projek Perumahan Rakyat(PPR) by saying that the state government has not written officially to BN. This is a new condition which was never mentioned earlier by BN.
To ensure that Teng does not try to run away again from making unsubstantiated allegations and promises, I have directed my Political Secretary Ng Wei Aik to write an official letter to be handed over to Teng’s office that BN can buy over the land at RM450 per square feet to build PPR.
Profits from proceeds from the sale to BN will be used to fund the building of affordable housing by the state government in the island, especially in Jalan S.P. Chelliah.
The question is will BN come up with the over RM22 million before the next general elections to buy the land to build PPR or this is another sandiwara to get cheap publicity?
Lim Guan Eng is the DAP sec-gen & Penang Chief Minister
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Guan Eng has no right to demand anything of Gerakan.
‘Penang BN Chairman Teng Chang Yeow must explain why 2 UMNO leaders who claim to defend the rights of the Malays chose to profit as land brokers but refused to share their RM 5 million profits, earned within a mere three and a half months, with the 31 Malay landowners.’ . . .
;is something for the Chambers of Commerce or a commerce or law based NGO to take up on. Guan Eng being CM should address apartheid instead much less ask for 750K funeral funds. Always sets sights so low and mostly on commercial interests, but not human rights and equality interests. Guan Eng is a mere greedy wannabe CEO type, who only sees the money issue but never the quality of life (i.e. NO APARTHEID) issues, is argumentative and keeps demanding apologies of all supposed opponents instead of fighting for the rights of the Rakyat. Not CM material at all. Does shame to the CM’s post and is no leader of the oppressed dhimmified Chinese community who still suffers from lack of :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
1.5 terms as CM used up and 90% of campaign promises still unkept, (i.e. MP assets undeclared, Local Council Elections still not implemented formally or otherwise . . . and not a word on apartheid) let 3rd force take over fool. PSM how about taking over from this product of nepotism?
ARTICLE 16
Najib to lead delegation to Apec meeting in Russia – Published: Tuesday September 4, 2012 MYT 8:09:00 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will lead the Malaysian delegation to the 20th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders Meeting in Russia on Sept 8 and 9.
The foreign ministry said in a statement here that Najib would be accompanied by wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, several Cabinet ministers and senior government officials.
The annual summit, themed ‘Integrate to Grow, Innovate to Prosper’, to be attended by heads of state and government from the 21-member economies, will be preceded by the 24th Apec Ministerial Meeting (AMM) on Sept 5 and 6, and Apec Senior Officials Meeting on Sept 2 and 3.
Najib, who is Finance Minister, would speak on wide-ranging issues, covering the liberalising trade and investment and expanding regional economic integration, strenghtening food security, establishing reliable supply chains and fostering innovative growth, the statement said.
The prime minister will also explore new and innovative ideas to further enhance cooperation among the 21 Apec member economies in these areas.
Najib is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with several Apec leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The outcome of the leaders’ meeting will be documented in a Joint Leaders’ Declaration while the 20th AMM outcome will be documented in the Joint Ministerial Statement.
Apec, a forum set up in 1989, for 21 Pacific Rim member economies to discuss issues on regional economic cooperation, trade and investment, accounts for 55 per cent of the world’s gross domestic product and 49 per cent of global trade.
Apec’s 21-member economies comprise Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United States and Vietnam. – Bernama
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Najib is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with several Apec leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin should note that if a Russian migrated to Malaysia, the APARTHEID currently affecting all non-Muslims and non-Malays would also be applied upon the migrant Russian. This means that the BRICS and effectively 40% of the world’s population, if migrating to Malaysia, would face 2nd class citizenships while Malaysians migrating to BRICS countries will face no such apartheid. I hope that President Putin will raise this issue with Malaysia’s PM Najib and remind APEC that UN Human Rights are to be respected by all and that APARTHEID in Malaysia via the Bumiputra Special Privileges are against the spirit of the UN premise of equality among all mankind, and illegal because Malaysia is a signatory of the UNHCR as well the fact that Islam disallows somthing like Bumiputra APARTHEID. Again, the 3 items this blogger has lobbied for, for near 2 decades . . .
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
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