Sodomy II:
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court on Monday ordered Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to defend himself against a charge of sodomising his former personal assistant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan three years ago.
High Court judge Justice Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah determined that the prosecution had established a prima facie case and the 63-year-old PKR adviser must enter his defence in a continuation of his trial fixed from June 6 to June 30.
“The accused is charged with carnal intercourse against order of nature.
“The defence tried to paint Saiful as a witness who was not credible and that he was not a good Muslim. With great respect to defence, these arguments are irrelevant.
“Saiful appeared to be a truthful witness and his evidence reliable, with the minute details given in his account.
“Therefore, the next question is whether there is evidence to corroborate Saiful's statements.
“The three doctors who testified confirmed that there was penile penetration.
“As for contamination of DNA evidence, all samples taken were immediately sealed. I find the possibility of contamination of samples to be remote.
“Based on all the above reasons, the prosecution has made a prima facie case against the accused. The defence is called,” he said.
A total of 27 prosecution witnesses were called to take the stand during 59 days of hearing.
On Aug 7, 2008, Anwar pleaded not guilty to performing carnal intercourse against the order of nature on complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan at a condominium unit in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.
The alleged offence took place between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.
He is charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code and if convicted, could be sentenced to up to 20 years' jail and whipped.
Anwar remained composed after he heard the ruling on Monday. He smiled as he greeted supporters.
The lawyers then entered chambers.
Supporters said they were not surprised by the ruling as it was widely expected.
Why is Ibrahim Ali Not Arrested?
Ibrahim Ali is not the bogeyman but a real threat — Haris Ibrahim
May 16, 2011
MAY 16 — The Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) is sickened by the racist and anti-Christian rants of Ibrahim Ali, the president of Perkasa.
We are equally sickened by the tepid response from the home minister and the rest of the BN government to his incessant and increasingly rabid provocations.
Most recently, Ibrahim has called for a crusade against Christians. He has said that he is ready to fight, he is prepared to be detained under the Internal Security Act, he is willing to answer to a higher power if he is wrong.
His words clearly indicate that there is nothing holding him back from initiating an attack against Christians or those parties he suspects are backing the unsubstantiated “Christian conspiracy.” This makes him a dangerous threat to Malaysia’s peace, stability and security.
Therefore, it is alarming to note that there has been no action taken against Ibrahim. Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has merely said that Ibrahim does not speak for all Malays. He expressly denied that Ibrahim is not an extremist, but said that there were extremists in the Chinese community.
Is the home minister confirming that his ministry practises double standards when it comes to national security?
The home minister must realise that by allowing Ibrahim to continue his irrational but dangerous pro-Malay agenda, he is driving away investors and capital from Malaysia.
Already Talent Corp has had to issue a statement urging overseas Malaysians to ignore the heightening race rhetoric emanating from the country.
The MCLM has time and again called on the home minister and the BN government to act firmly and decisively against Ibrahim and Perkasa.
They should not allow these extremists to shape the public discourse on race relations in Malaysia because that can only end in disaster and bloodshed.
If the home minister cannot or will not take steps to protect the peace and harmony desired by all rational Malaysians, we will take steps to elect a government that will.
* Haris Ibrahim is the MCLM president.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.
May 16, 2011
MAY 16 — The Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) is sickened by the racist and anti-Christian rants of Ibrahim Ali, the president of Perkasa.
We are equally sickened by the tepid response from the home minister and the rest of the BN government to his incessant and increasingly rabid provocations.
Most recently, Ibrahim has called for a crusade against Christians. He has said that he is ready to fight, he is prepared to be detained under the Internal Security Act, he is willing to answer to a higher power if he is wrong.
His words clearly indicate that there is nothing holding him back from initiating an attack against Christians or those parties he suspects are backing the unsubstantiated “Christian conspiracy.” This makes him a dangerous threat to Malaysia’s peace, stability and security.
Therefore, it is alarming to note that there has been no action taken against Ibrahim. Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has merely said that Ibrahim does not speak for all Malays. He expressly denied that Ibrahim is not an extremist, but said that there were extremists in the Chinese community.
Is the home minister confirming that his ministry practises double standards when it comes to national security?
The home minister must realise that by allowing Ibrahim to continue his irrational but dangerous pro-Malay agenda, he is driving away investors and capital from Malaysia.
Already Talent Corp has had to issue a statement urging overseas Malaysians to ignore the heightening race rhetoric emanating from the country.
The MCLM has time and again called on the home minister and the BN government to act firmly and decisively against Ibrahim and Perkasa.
They should not allow these extremists to shape the public discourse on race relations in Malaysia because that can only end in disaster and bloodshed.
If the home minister cannot or will not take steps to protect the peace and harmony desired by all rational Malaysians, we will take steps to elect a government that will.
* Haris Ibrahim is the MCLM president.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.
Islam Under Attack in Malaysia?
Yusri Mohamad, a product of the International Islamic University, ABIM and Pembela, and onetime personal aid to PKR President Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, claims that Islam is under attack. And should we be surprised when Muslims make a mockery of Islam? Anyway, this “Islam under attack” is all in the narrow minds of Muslims.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Islam's position under siege in M'sia, warns Pembela
(Malaysiakini) - The Coalition of Muslim Organisations (Pembela) has claimed that the position of Islam in Malaysia is under siege.
Speaking to reporters today, spokesperson Yusri Mohamad said this is particularly in relation to recent developments in Islam-Christian affairs.
Specifically, he cited the designation of a non-Muslim affairs exco in Penang and the 'pseudo-appointment' of Christian Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Idris Jala to handle issues pertaining the Malay-language Bible as threatening Islam's position as the official religion.
He claimed there is no provision in the federal constitution for any official non-Muslim affairs body, and that making Idris the go-to minister for Christian affairs is thus unconstitutional.
"There is a (threat). These sorts of threats come in seasons but now have become more serious and are putting a lot of pressure on the way we deal with issues pertaining to Islam,” he said.
"Islam is the official religion and is a pillar of our nation, but attempts are being made to make its position equal to other religions.
"Followers of other religions are portrayed as marginalised and oppressed... Islam and Muslims are dressed in an ugly mask and is made to seem guilty so that they give in (to demands)."
The fact that Idris was appointed to handle the Al Kitab issue was also wrong, he said, since Idris cannot be said to be non-partisan because he is Christian.
"He says he is non-partisan politically but this is a religious issue, and he is partisan. As we understand it, the (10-point proposal) was produced without consultation with the Fatwa Council, religious scholars and Muslim NGOs," he said.
Instead, he said the matter should have been handled by two ministers in the Prime Minister's Department - Jamil Khir Baharom who is in charge of Islamic affairs, and Koh Tsu Koon who is in charge of national harmony.
"We feel that the government can act within their powers...but Christian groups are now using terms like 'deface' and 'desecration' which is pushing the issue ... out of hand," he said.
As such, Pembela, a coalition of about 80 NGOs, will be hosting a conference on Saturday to discuss the issue of the sovereignty of Islam in Malaysia.
Themed 'Islam under siege: What will we do?', the event will be open to all Muslim NGOs and will feature a forum on the topic.
Among the topics to be discussed are the Al Kitab, conversions to Islam, religious freedom and the way such matters are handled by the government.
"We hope to then take the outcome of our discussion to the cabinet, prime minister, Rulers Council, political parties and mufti," he said.
Pembela not 'extremist'
Commenting on a police report recently lodged by a Christian against Pembela, Yusri said said the coalition is not an extremist group as perceived.
"We feel that the police report was a way to blow up the issue. Pembela has been around for a while and anyone who does a background check will find that we are not an extremist group," he said.
Pembela has never officially said it is willing to 'shed blood against Christians', as stated in the police report, he said.
"But perhaps during the peaceful demonstrations there were harsh words said, which is normal in a demonstration. You can't expect us to berbalas pantun.
"It is wrong to say that our movement is a threat to our non-Muslim friends," he said.
He added that police had contacted Pembela a week after the report to ask for recordings and materials distributed during the demonstration in March to assist in their investigation.
"No member (has been) called for questioning," he added.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Islam's position under siege in M'sia, warns Pembela
(Malaysiakini) - The Coalition of Muslim Organisations (Pembela) has claimed that the position of Islam in Malaysia is under siege.
Speaking to reporters today, spokesperson Yusri Mohamad said this is particularly in relation to recent developments in Islam-Christian affairs.
Specifically, he cited the designation of a non-Muslim affairs exco in Penang and the 'pseudo-appointment' of Christian Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Idris Jala to handle issues pertaining the Malay-language Bible as threatening Islam's position as the official religion.
He claimed there is no provision in the federal constitution for any official non-Muslim affairs body, and that making Idris the go-to minister for Christian affairs is thus unconstitutional.
"There is a (threat). These sorts of threats come in seasons but now have become more serious and are putting a lot of pressure on the way we deal with issues pertaining to Islam,” he said.
"Islam is the official religion and is a pillar of our nation, but attempts are being made to make its position equal to other religions.
"Followers of other religions are portrayed as marginalised and oppressed... Islam and Muslims are dressed in an ugly mask and is made to seem guilty so that they give in (to demands)."
The fact that Idris was appointed to handle the Al Kitab issue was also wrong, he said, since Idris cannot be said to be non-partisan because he is Christian.
"He says he is non-partisan politically but this is a religious issue, and he is partisan. As we understand it, the (10-point proposal) was produced without consultation with the Fatwa Council, religious scholars and Muslim NGOs," he said.
Instead, he said the matter should have been handled by two ministers in the Prime Minister's Department - Jamil Khir Baharom who is in charge of Islamic affairs, and Koh Tsu Koon who is in charge of national harmony.
"We feel that the government can act within their powers...but Christian groups are now using terms like 'deface' and 'desecration' which is pushing the issue ... out of hand," he said.
As such, Pembela, a coalition of about 80 NGOs, will be hosting a conference on Saturday to discuss the issue of the sovereignty of Islam in Malaysia.
Themed 'Islam under siege: What will we do?', the event will be open to all Muslim NGOs and will feature a forum on the topic.
Among the topics to be discussed are the Al Kitab, conversions to Islam, religious freedom and the way such matters are handled by the government.
"We hope to then take the outcome of our discussion to the cabinet, prime minister, Rulers Council, political parties and mufti," he said.
Pembela not 'extremist'
Commenting on a police report recently lodged by a Christian against Pembela, Yusri said said the coalition is not an extremist group as perceived.
"We feel that the police report was a way to blow up the issue. Pembela has been around for a while and anyone who does a background check will find that we are not an extremist group," he said.
Pembela has never officially said it is willing to 'shed blood against Christians', as stated in the police report, he said.
"But perhaps during the peaceful demonstrations there were harsh words said, which is normal in a demonstration. You can't expect us to berbalas pantun.
"It is wrong to say that our movement is a threat to our non-Muslim friends," he said.
He added that police had contacted Pembela a week after the report to ask for recordings and materials distributed during the demonstration in March to assist in their investigation.
"No member (has been) called for questioning," he added.
Anwar in Video SCandal
Alleged Anwar Ibrahim Sex Video Teaser Leaked On Youtube! Malaysian Opposition Leader's Latest Alleged Sex Scandal
We are still waiting for someone (your details will be strictly confidential and you will remain anonymous) to send in the full 22-minute sex video to us allegedly showing Malaysia's opposition politician Anwar Ibrahim and and a foreign prostitute. We want the full video but for now we have the leaked teaser here:
So that is the teaser... It is just a short footage of the original 22-minute video. At about 7:00 pm local time yesterday, an anonymous Youtube uploader by the sceenname of "thepowercam" from Thailand uploaded a 1:47 minutes duration clip of hidden camera video purportedly showing Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim about to have sex with a prostitute. However the video as already been removed for violating Youtube's policy on nudity or sexual content.
The video clip showed three individuals including one who resembled Anwar Ibrahim, another man and a female believed to be a Chinese prostitute in a hotel room. At the end of the leaked clip the othe man left the room and the woman was seen in towel before the man who look like the opposition leader hug her.
The uploaded video had a white strip at the bottom with Thai script written on it. The strip was not on the version that first surfaced and originally shown to reporters two weeks ago at Carcosa Seri Negara. Businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay, one of the three men who claimed to be the mysterious "Datuk T" that exposed the video, told epoters that they had not released the video to anyone and that the only copy remained with the police. "I don’t know anything about this," he said, before stating that he would need to see the clip before commenting further.
On Friday, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Ismail Omar said the sex video clip allegedly involving an opposition politician is genuine.Opposition Leader Anwar has denied he is the man in the video and accused Umno of a politically motivated "scurrilous attack" on him. Some say the involvement of former Umno Youth chief Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik and Perkasa treasurer-general Datuk Shuib Lazim has lent credence to the claim as Umno sought to distance itself from the video.
The clip has surfaced on the Internet just two days after police said the video they received was not doctored. However the video clip duration is only one minute and 47 second compared to the original video clip which was 22 minutes as claimed by "Datuk T" and the journalist who were invited to the private viewing. The full sex video, said to be of the opposition politician and a woman suspected to be a prostitute, was shown privately to selected journalists on February 21 at Carcosa Sri Negara. On the same day, Anwar Ibrahim in a press conference denied that he was the man in the video. He lodged a police report two days after the video viewing.
We are still waiting for someone (your details will be strictly confidential and you will remain anonymous) to send in the full 22-minute sex video to us allegedly showing Malaysia's opposition politician Anwar Ibrahim and and a foreign prostitute. We want the full video but for now we have the leaked teaser here:
So that is the teaser... It is just a short footage of the original 22-minute video. At about 7:00 pm local time yesterday, an anonymous Youtube uploader by the sceenname of "thepowercam" from Thailand uploaded a 1:47 minutes duration clip of hidden camera video purportedly showing Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim about to have sex with a prostitute. However the video as already been removed for violating Youtube's policy on nudity or sexual content.
The video clip showed three individuals including one who resembled Anwar Ibrahim, another man and a female believed to be a Chinese prostitute in a hotel room. At the end of the leaked clip the othe man left the room and the woman was seen in towel before the man who look like the opposition leader hug her.
The uploaded video had a white strip at the bottom with Thai script written on it. The strip was not on the version that first surfaced and originally shown to reporters two weeks ago at Carcosa Seri Negara. Businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay, one of the three men who claimed to be the mysterious "Datuk T" that exposed the video, told epoters that they had not released the video to anyone and that the only copy remained with the police. "I don’t know anything about this," he said, before stating that he would need to see the clip before commenting further.
On Friday, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Ismail Omar said the sex video clip allegedly involving an opposition politician is genuine.Opposition Leader Anwar has denied he is the man in the video and accused Umno of a politically motivated "scurrilous attack" on him. Some say the involvement of former Umno Youth chief Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik and Perkasa treasurer-general Datuk Shuib Lazim has lent credence to the claim as Umno sought to distance itself from the video.
The clip has surfaced on the Internet just two days after police said the video they received was not doctored. However the video clip duration is only one minute and 47 second compared to the original video clip which was 22 minutes as claimed by "Datuk T" and the journalist who were invited to the private viewing. The full sex video, said to be of the opposition politician and a woman suspected to be a prostitute, was shown privately to selected journalists on February 21 at Carcosa Sri Negara. On the same day, Anwar Ibrahim in a press conference denied that he was the man in the video. He lodged a police report two days after the video viewing.
Foreign Investors Should Leave Malaysia Now
KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — Politicians must refrain from endorsing media on ethnic grounds, MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu said today.
Gan voiced concern over Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakop’s recent call for party members to support Utusan Malaysia, saying that it would only encourage the Malay daily to further its “ethno-centric” agenda.
“I am deeply saddened to learn that Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakop has called on Umno members to openly support Utusan Malaysia because the daily purportedly defends Malay rights.
“Of late, Utusan Malaysia appears to be trying to rewrite the fundamental tenets of what responsible reporting entails ... It crossed the line with its coverage of the “Christian State” issue recently, earning a reprimand from the Home Ministry, after causing unnecessary alarm and anxiety among the different races in the country,” said the MCA leader in reference to the daily’s claims of an unsubstantiated plot to install a Christian prime minister.
Gan warned that Ismail’s open endorsement of Utusan would only damage the newspaper’s credibility and reaffirm the belief that it is nothing but a media tool of Umno.
Utusan Malaysia, in an article entitled “Kristian Agam Rasmi?” (Christianity the official religion?) claimed that DAP leaders and Christian priests were conspiring to take over Putrajaya, abolish Islam as the religion of the federation and install a Christian prime minister.
The Home Ministry eventually only slapped Utusan Malaysia with a warning letter for publishing the unsubstantiated report.
Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali waded into the controversy last Saturday night when he threatened Christians nationwide that he would wage a crusade or holy war should they proceed with their alleged agenda to usurp Islam.
Previously, Utusan Malaysia called on its owners Umno to spearhead a 1 Melayu, 1 Bumi movement involving all Malay parties, claiming that the DAP is intent on toppling the country’s Malay leadership.
Utusan Malaysia has also told Barisan Nasional (BN) to ignore the Chinese community for not supporting the ruling coalition during last month’s Sarawak state election.
Gan voiced concern over Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakop’s recent call for party members to support Utusan Malaysia, saying that it would only encourage the Malay daily to further its “ethno-centric” agenda.
“I am deeply saddened to learn that Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakop has called on Umno members to openly support Utusan Malaysia because the daily purportedly defends Malay rights.
“Of late, Utusan Malaysia appears to be trying to rewrite the fundamental tenets of what responsible reporting entails ... It crossed the line with its coverage of the “Christian State” issue recently, earning a reprimand from the Home Ministry, after causing unnecessary alarm and anxiety among the different races in the country,” said the MCA leader in reference to the daily’s claims of an unsubstantiated plot to install a Christian prime minister.
Gan warned that Ismail’s open endorsement of Utusan would only damage the newspaper’s credibility and reaffirm the belief that it is nothing but a media tool of Umno.
Utusan Malaysia, in an article entitled “Kristian Agam Rasmi?” (Christianity the official religion?) claimed that DAP leaders and Christian priests were conspiring to take over Putrajaya, abolish Islam as the religion of the federation and install a Christian prime minister.
The Home Ministry eventually only slapped Utusan Malaysia with a warning letter for publishing the unsubstantiated report.
Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali waded into the controversy last Saturday night when he threatened Christians nationwide that he would wage a crusade or holy war should they proceed with their alleged agenda to usurp Islam.
Previously, Utusan Malaysia called on its owners Umno to spearhead a 1 Melayu, 1 Bumi movement involving all Malay parties, claiming that the DAP is intent on toppling the country’s Malay leadership.
Utusan Malaysia has also told Barisan Nasional (BN) to ignore the Chinese community for not supporting the ruling coalition during last month’s Sarawak state election.
Anwar Challenges Najib to Debate
In a desperate attempt to regain his popularity, Anwar is seen here calling on Najib for a public debate. We doubt Najib will fall for this trap, and even he wanted to, he is going to give this a very low priority given his busy schedule, and with the coming election on his Agenda.
Thou Shall Not Tell The Truth
At last, someone has the conscience and righteousness to come up and speak the truth about what is behind UMNO and its terrorist branch called UMNO Youth.
UMNO-owned mouthpiece seeks to muzzle truth-teller
Utusan Malaysia, the flagship Malay-language newspaper of the United Malays National Organisation is seeking to fire Hata Wahari, one of its leading journalists, for defending the independence of the press and calling for moderation in reporting on Malaysia's tense race relations.
Hata, a 16-year veteran reporter with Utusan who was elected president of the country's National Union of Journalists in September, is expected to face a disciplinary hearing on Jan. 17 into charges that he tarnished the newspaper's image with statements he made calling for press freedom that he issued to independent media between Sept. 21 and Oct. 14 of last year.
The country's political parties own all of Malaysia's major dailies and television stations, in Malay, English, Chinese or Hindi. Opposition parties also own their own publications. The Internet largely supplies the country's only independent journalism, a fact that appears to account for fast-growing online readership.
"I just issued a press statement asking the editors to please go back to our real function, to submit unbiased information to the public," Hata said in a telephone interview. “At the moment, Utusan is doing propaganda for the government. They have raised up racial issues, so that is why they are losing the trust of most of the community in Malaysia. Everybody, even the common public, feels the same way.
"We have to go back to our original mission, not act as a propaganda tool for the government," he told Asia Sentinel. “That is why I issued that statement. I feel I have the support of all of my friends, from the political parties and from other NGOs."
He said he would defend himself vigorously in the disciplinary hearing, partly because if he were to lose he would also lose his right to be the National Union of Journalists president. He is also president of the Confederation of Asean Journalists. “We will fight to the end," he added.
V. Anbalagan, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, called Utusan's claim that Hata had tarnished the organization's image with his public statements "ludicrous".
"Hata, in his capacity as NUJ president, issued the statements in defense of press freedom and the welfare of members," Anbalagan said in a prepared statement.
Under Malaysia's complicated labor laws, employers must first submit evidence to a disciplinary hearing. Any employee who feels he has been dismissed without cause can take it up with the Director General for Industrial Relations within 60 days, then a reconciliation proceeding must be held to see if a settlement can be arrived at. If not, the labor minister then must decide if the case should be referred to the Industrial Court for adjudication.
Once Malaysia's biggest-selling Malay-language daily, with a circulation of 250,000, Utusan has slumped to 170,000 per day and it is now the No. 6 paper in the country. The continuing loss of circulation, Hata said, stems from the paper's determination to act as a mouthpiece for UMNO and its inflammatory reporting on race and politics.
Certainly, the controversy over Hata hasn't slowed down Utusan's strident racial rhetoric. On Jan. 5, the paper raised the possibility that the state of Selangor, which is controlled by the opposition Democratic Action Party, which is predominantly Chinese, could possibly join Singapore as another "country belonging to China outside mainland China."
According to a translation by the website Malaysian Chronicle, assistant editor in chief Zaini Hassan asked in his column: "Do we Malays [already so few in the world] want to allow another country belonging to China or India outside their own lands? It should be enough with Singapore [a country belonging to China outside mainland China]. Do we also want to give away this homeland?"
In an interview shortly after he was elected NUJ president, Hata told the online publication Malaysiakini that Utusan had lost its way: "People no longer read it, because it is not relevant. If they want to be relevant, they must return to their origins," he said, adding that ultimately the public would give up reading the mainstream papers altogether.
In the interview, he cited what he called Utusan's irresponsible behaviour by daily headlining the news of a Christian preacher who allegedly delivered a speech insulting Islam in a church in Kuching in East Malaysia. Although other papers, including the UMNO-owned Berita Harian also carried the news, it was not given the prominence that the Utusan gave it, he said.
"They focus on stories of Malays disparaging other races, then they run stories of other races making insulting remarks of Malays," he told the website.
UMNO-owned mouthpiece seeks to muzzle truth-teller
Utusan Malaysia, the flagship Malay-language newspaper of the United Malays National Organisation is seeking to fire Hata Wahari, one of its leading journalists, for defending the independence of the press and calling for moderation in reporting on Malaysia's tense race relations.
Hata, a 16-year veteran reporter with Utusan who was elected president of the country's National Union of Journalists in September, is expected to face a disciplinary hearing on Jan. 17 into charges that he tarnished the newspaper's image with statements he made calling for press freedom that he issued to independent media between Sept. 21 and Oct. 14 of last year.
The country's political parties own all of Malaysia's major dailies and television stations, in Malay, English, Chinese or Hindi. Opposition parties also own their own publications. The Internet largely supplies the country's only independent journalism, a fact that appears to account for fast-growing online readership.
"I just issued a press statement asking the editors to please go back to our real function, to submit unbiased information to the public," Hata said in a telephone interview. “At the moment, Utusan is doing propaganda for the government. They have raised up racial issues, so that is why they are losing the trust of most of the community in Malaysia. Everybody, even the common public, feels the same way.
"We have to go back to our original mission, not act as a propaganda tool for the government," he told Asia Sentinel. “That is why I issued that statement. I feel I have the support of all of my friends, from the political parties and from other NGOs."
He said he would defend himself vigorously in the disciplinary hearing, partly because if he were to lose he would also lose his right to be the National Union of Journalists president. He is also president of the Confederation of Asean Journalists. “We will fight to the end," he added.
V. Anbalagan, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, called Utusan's claim that Hata had tarnished the organization's image with his public statements "ludicrous".
"Hata, in his capacity as NUJ president, issued the statements in defense of press freedom and the welfare of members," Anbalagan said in a prepared statement.
Under Malaysia's complicated labor laws, employers must first submit evidence to a disciplinary hearing. Any employee who feels he has been dismissed without cause can take it up with the Director General for Industrial Relations within 60 days, then a reconciliation proceeding must be held to see if a settlement can be arrived at. If not, the labor minister then must decide if the case should be referred to the Industrial Court for adjudication.
Once Malaysia's biggest-selling Malay-language daily, with a circulation of 250,000, Utusan has slumped to 170,000 per day and it is now the No. 6 paper in the country. The continuing loss of circulation, Hata said, stems from the paper's determination to act as a mouthpiece for UMNO and its inflammatory reporting on race and politics.
Certainly, the controversy over Hata hasn't slowed down Utusan's strident racial rhetoric. On Jan. 5, the paper raised the possibility that the state of Selangor, which is controlled by the opposition Democratic Action Party, which is predominantly Chinese, could possibly join Singapore as another "country belonging to China outside mainland China."
According to a translation by the website Malaysian Chronicle, assistant editor in chief Zaini Hassan asked in his column: "Do we Malays [already so few in the world] want to allow another country belonging to China or India outside their own lands? It should be enough with Singapore [a country belonging to China outside mainland China]. Do we also want to give away this homeland?"
In an interview shortly after he was elected NUJ president, Hata told the online publication Malaysiakini that Utusan had lost its way: "People no longer read it, because it is not relevant. If they want to be relevant, they must return to their origins," he said, adding that ultimately the public would give up reading the mainstream papers altogether.
In the interview, he cited what he called Utusan's irresponsible behaviour by daily headlining the news of a Christian preacher who allegedly delivered a speech insulting Islam in a church in Kuching in East Malaysia. Although other papers, including the UMNO-owned Berita Harian also carried the news, it was not given the prominence that the Utusan gave it, he said.
"They focus on stories of Malays disparaging other races, then they run stories of other races making insulting remarks of Malays," he told the website.
Najib Chided as Irresponsible in Rais' Rape Case
Najib is buying time. And now it is time to buy out the maid, make sure she is stuffed with so much money in her mouth, she couldn't say the word rape anymore, for the rest of her life. :)
Rape row: Gerakan Youth leader rebukes Shamsul
Athi Shankar
ALOR STAR: A Gerakan Youth leader today rebuked PKR national Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin for criticising Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s call on all to stop passing judgments on the “Rais Yatim” case
Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang said he was upset that Shamsul and the PKR Youth movement could not accept a simple advice from the premier.
He said that in a fair and democratic country, a person shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Hence, he pointed out that one cannot be prejudged and sentenced prematurely until one was found guilty following completion of a proper investigation and a fair trial.
“Although Pakatan Rakyat is all geared up to conquer the country, its mission shall not be accomplished at the expense of the country’s legal system based on fairness and democracy,” Tan said in a statement today.
The embattled Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim is embroiled in an alleged rape case that happened in 2007 involving his former Indonesian domestic maid.
The case has burst into the hottest public topic in the country today, prompting Najib to make a public call to all to stop commenting about it until a full probe was completed.
“We cannot prejudge and pronounce something against someone before proper investigation is done. In any case, what happened was in 2007, the question is why (bring it up) now,” he was quoted as saying in press reports.
Double standards
Shamsul has chided Najib’s call as irresponsible and a practice of double standards.
“It shows two sets of law being applied here, one for Umno and another against the opponents of Umno,” Shamsul has reportedly said.
After weeks of speculations on “who’s who” of the case, Rais finally came out in the open this week to vehemently deny he was the alleged minister involved.
Another of his former domestic maid, Sumati, came in support of him to dismiss the rape claims.
A video featuring Sumati dismissing the allegations as untrue has appeared on several pro-Umno blogs since yesterday.
Sumati is said to be a friend of Robengah, the woman at the centre of Internet rumour of the alleged rape case,.
Sumati is said to have worked alongside Robengah at the minister’s home at the material time.
“For as long as I have worked here, I never heard of any rape stories,” she said a five-minute video clip dated Jan 6, 2011.
Sumati, who said she knew Robengah since she started work on Aug 23, 1999, said as room mates, Robengah had never once skipped sleeping in their room, responding to a question whether there had been any night Robengah was absent.
Robengah returned to Indonesia in 2007.
Political factions
Sumati also said that they were happy with the treatment from Masnah, Rais’s wife, during their employment.
“If not, I would not have lasted so long,” she added.
Tan said Shamsul’s criticism against Najib has put the country’s political standards at its lowest ebb.
He accused certain political factions of pressing on false allegations against Barisan Nasional leaders merely to serve their selfish agenda.
He alleged these quarters are prepared to sow seeds of suspicion among Malaysians that all BN leaders were criminals as charged without proper probes and trials.
He expressed disappointment that these quarters were willing to deploy any unethical methods to achieve their political goals.
He said the whole episode had already unfairly tarnished the image of Rais and his family, as well as the country’s international reputation.
“Are these principles of justice and democracy advocated by Pakatan?” asked Tan.
Rape row: Gerakan Youth leader rebukes Shamsul
Athi Shankar
ALOR STAR: A Gerakan Youth leader today rebuked PKR national Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin for criticising Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s call on all to stop passing judgments on the “Rais Yatim” case
Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang said he was upset that Shamsul and the PKR Youth movement could not accept a simple advice from the premier.
He said that in a fair and democratic country, a person shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Hence, he pointed out that one cannot be prejudged and sentenced prematurely until one was found guilty following completion of a proper investigation and a fair trial.
“Although Pakatan Rakyat is all geared up to conquer the country, its mission shall not be accomplished at the expense of the country’s legal system based on fairness and democracy,” Tan said in a statement today.
The embattled Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim is embroiled in an alleged rape case that happened in 2007 involving his former Indonesian domestic maid.
The case has burst into the hottest public topic in the country today, prompting Najib to make a public call to all to stop commenting about it until a full probe was completed.
“We cannot prejudge and pronounce something against someone before proper investigation is done. In any case, what happened was in 2007, the question is why (bring it up) now,” he was quoted as saying in press reports.
Double standards
Shamsul has chided Najib’s call as irresponsible and a practice of double standards.
“It shows two sets of law being applied here, one for Umno and another against the opponents of Umno,” Shamsul has reportedly said.
After weeks of speculations on “who’s who” of the case, Rais finally came out in the open this week to vehemently deny he was the alleged minister involved.
Another of his former domestic maid, Sumati, came in support of him to dismiss the rape claims.
A video featuring Sumati dismissing the allegations as untrue has appeared on several pro-Umno blogs since yesterday.
Sumati is said to be a friend of Robengah, the woman at the centre of Internet rumour of the alleged rape case,.
Sumati is said to have worked alongside Robengah at the minister’s home at the material time.
“For as long as I have worked here, I never heard of any rape stories,” she said a five-minute video clip dated Jan 6, 2011.
Sumati, who said she knew Robengah since she started work on Aug 23, 1999, said as room mates, Robengah had never once skipped sleeping in their room, responding to a question whether there had been any night Robengah was absent.
Robengah returned to Indonesia in 2007.
Political factions
Sumati also said that they were happy with the treatment from Masnah, Rais’s wife, during their employment.
“If not, I would not have lasted so long,” she added.
Tan said Shamsul’s criticism against Najib has put the country’s political standards at its lowest ebb.
He accused certain political factions of pressing on false allegations against Barisan Nasional leaders merely to serve their selfish agenda.
He alleged these quarters are prepared to sow seeds of suspicion among Malaysians that all BN leaders were criminals as charged without proper probes and trials.
He expressed disappointment that these quarters were willing to deploy any unethical methods to achieve their political goals.
He said the whole episode had already unfairly tarnished the image of Rais and his family, as well as the country’s international reputation.
“Are these principles of justice and democracy advocated by Pakatan?” asked Tan.
Teoh Beng Hock - coroner's verdict is he died naturally or killed by Aliens
Now how else can we conclude from this strange verdict of the Coroner? Clearly he is under pressure not to take side. So he stood in the middle. So Teoh's death has to be a misadventure, or attacked by vampires or seventh-month ghosts and spirits. Puzzled.
Teoh family questions AG’s motive
Nantha Kumar and K Pragalath
KUALA LUMPUR: Teoh Beng Hock’s family has questioned Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail’s motive in seeking a revision of the coroner’s findings announced on Wednesday.
“Does he want it to be suicide?” asked Gobind Singh Deo, the family’s lawyer.
“I think the AG should tell us why is he filing a revision. What is he unhappy about?”
Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas delivered an open verdict, saying Teoh’s death was neither suicide nor homicide.
Gobind, speaking at a press conference here, said the AG should instead direct investigations into the coroner’s findings.
The inquest revealed weaknesses in police investigations into Teoh’s death, including a failure to find out how he got bruises in his neck.
He also questioned the rationale behind the government’s decision to exclude the cause of death from the terms of reference of the royal commission of inquiry, as announced by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak today.
Najib said the commission would study only the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) procedures to “determine whether there has been a violation of the human rights of Teoh Beng Hock during the investigation”.
Gobind said: “How are you going to ascertain the procedures did not violate Teoh’s human rights when we do not know what actually happened to him?”
He said he was “disturbed and disappointed” at the narrow scope of the inquiry.
“Why hold a royal commission now to look into the investigation procedures by the MACC? That aspect should have been looked into long ago. At the end of the day, everybody wants to know how Teoh died.”
Teoh Lee Lan, Beng Hock’s sister, said the family was still hoping for a royal commission that would investigate her brother’s death.
Responding to Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Aziz’s call to the family to accept the coroner’s decision, she said: “Would Nazri accept the decision if it was a member of his family who died?”
-----------------------------------------------
Just who is politicising Beng Hock's death, MCA?
Jackson Ng
This was what the Sun reported today in their article 'Don't politicise TBH inquest verdict: MCA':
“The MCA has extended its sympathy and condolences to the family of political aide Teoh Beng Hock, and criticised the Opposition for politicising the inquest decision.
“At a press conference today, MCA president Chua Soi Lek said: 'The unfortunate death of Teoh Beng Hock has been used as a political instrument to discredit the government.
'While we admit it has not been handled very well from the beginning, nor has it inspired confidence in the government, it should not be used as a political weapon. Doing so will only prolong the suffering of his family,' he said.
“He added that the MCA will discuss the matter in its next central committee meeting on how to help move this case forward …”
What a load of bull.
Nineteen months after Teoh's death and the conclusion of a lengthy coroner's inquest, the MCA president Chua Soi Lek says his party central committee will discuss the matter in its next meeting.
That is all our so-called Chinese leader had to say in response to an unacceptable open verdict by the coroner.
The self-confessed adulterer doesn't even have the courage to call for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the death of a Pakatan Rakyat DAP aide while under the custody of the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
And he criticises the Pakatan for politicising the inquest decision. Now, who in the first place is politicising the death?
Was it the Pakatan government that took Teoh into custody for questioning as a witness who then failed to emerge alive?
Chua, please, don't play politics when a precious life has been lost.
Irrespective of political affiliation, Teoh died in custody and do you expect Malaysians to believe that no one in MACC knows what happened?
Sounds more like a cover up to protect those responsible for causing Teoh's death, directly or indirectly.
Chua also gave an illogical advice that prolonging the issue would mean prolonging the suffering of Teoh's family.
Please don't insult our intelligence this way. It is the government's lack of will to deliver justice for Teoh's death that is prolonging the issue.
Just find the culprits responsible for Teoh's death and the case will be closed. Period.
Or, are you too scared to push for this for fear of your own personal transgressions?.
I certainly don't place much hope on you and the MCA to take care of the rakyat's interest.
Teoh family questions AG’s motive
Nantha Kumar and K Pragalath
KUALA LUMPUR: Teoh Beng Hock’s family has questioned Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail’s motive in seeking a revision of the coroner’s findings announced on Wednesday.
“Does he want it to be suicide?” asked Gobind Singh Deo, the family’s lawyer.
“I think the AG should tell us why is he filing a revision. What is he unhappy about?”
Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas delivered an open verdict, saying Teoh’s death was neither suicide nor homicide.
Gobind, speaking at a press conference here, said the AG should instead direct investigations into the coroner’s findings.
The inquest revealed weaknesses in police investigations into Teoh’s death, including a failure to find out how he got bruises in his neck.
He also questioned the rationale behind the government’s decision to exclude the cause of death from the terms of reference of the royal commission of inquiry, as announced by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak today.
Najib said the commission would study only the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) procedures to “determine whether there has been a violation of the human rights of Teoh Beng Hock during the investigation”.
Gobind said: “How are you going to ascertain the procedures did not violate Teoh’s human rights when we do not know what actually happened to him?”
He said he was “disturbed and disappointed” at the narrow scope of the inquiry.
“Why hold a royal commission now to look into the investigation procedures by the MACC? That aspect should have been looked into long ago. At the end of the day, everybody wants to know how Teoh died.”
Teoh Lee Lan, Beng Hock’s sister, said the family was still hoping for a royal commission that would investigate her brother’s death.
Responding to Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Aziz’s call to the family to accept the coroner’s decision, she said: “Would Nazri accept the decision if it was a member of his family who died?”
-----------------------------------------------
Just who is politicising Beng Hock's death, MCA?
Jackson Ng
This was what the Sun reported today in their article 'Don't politicise TBH inquest verdict: MCA':
“The MCA has extended its sympathy and condolences to the family of political aide Teoh Beng Hock, and criticised the Opposition for politicising the inquest decision.
“At a press conference today, MCA president Chua Soi Lek said: 'The unfortunate death of Teoh Beng Hock has been used as a political instrument to discredit the government.
'While we admit it has not been handled very well from the beginning, nor has it inspired confidence in the government, it should not be used as a political weapon. Doing so will only prolong the suffering of his family,' he said.
“He added that the MCA will discuss the matter in its next central committee meeting on how to help move this case forward …”
What a load of bull.
Nineteen months after Teoh's death and the conclusion of a lengthy coroner's inquest, the MCA president Chua Soi Lek says his party central committee will discuss the matter in its next meeting.
That is all our so-called Chinese leader had to say in response to an unacceptable open verdict by the coroner.
The self-confessed adulterer doesn't even have the courage to call for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the death of a Pakatan Rakyat DAP aide while under the custody of the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
And he criticises the Pakatan for politicising the inquest decision. Now, who in the first place is politicising the death?
Was it the Pakatan government that took Teoh into custody for questioning as a witness who then failed to emerge alive?
Chua, please, don't play politics when a precious life has been lost.
Irrespective of political affiliation, Teoh died in custody and do you expect Malaysians to believe that no one in MACC knows what happened?
Sounds more like a cover up to protect those responsible for causing Teoh's death, directly or indirectly.
Chua also gave an illogical advice that prolonging the issue would mean prolonging the suffering of Teoh's family.
Please don't insult our intelligence this way. It is the government's lack of will to deliver justice for Teoh's death that is prolonging the issue.
Just find the culprits responsible for Teoh's death and the case will be closed. Period.
Or, are you too scared to push for this for fear of your own personal transgressions?.
I certainly don't place much hope on you and the MCA to take care of the rakyat's interest.
Malaysia Wins Laser Beam Soccer Final
20 years down the road, nobody is going to talk about the laser beam anymore. The history book will record it as a Malaysia victory, and will always be remembered as the first Cup win of the tournament for Malaysia. Indonesia must learn to accept it, that it is the result that counts, not how the match is won. Sporting spirit is kinda of irrelevant and childish.
MALAYSIA has declared Friday a public holiday to celebrate its victory over Indonesia in the final of the Asean Suzuki Cup - south-east Asia's premier football tournament.
Malaysia beat Indonesia 4-2 on aggregate in a final played over two legs, winning the cup on Wednesday for the first time.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced the holiday in a statement to the national news agency Bernama late on Wednesday, saying that the victory marked 'the greatest night in Malaysian football.'
He posted from his Twitter account: 'Well done, Malaysian Tigers! You played well as a team and have made your country very proud. Congratulations!'
----------------------------------------------
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s sports minister Monday said he was upset at “unsporting” football fans who aimed laser beams at Indonesian players during an ASEAN Football Championships match which Malaysia won 3-0. Malaysian fans among the 100,000-strong crowd at the national stadium in Kuala Lumpur late Sunday reportedly aimed laser beams at Indonesian players, forcing the game to be halted after 53 minutes.
The Indonesian players walked off the pitch in protest, and organisers warned fans that the match would be called off if their behaviour continued, according to The Star newspaper.
The game resumed six minutes later and shortly after the restart, Indonesia conceded three goals.
“I am upset. I am not happy at all, it’s very unsporting for Malaysian fans to do so,” youth and sports minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek told AFP, promising there would not be a repeat of such incidents.
“We were worried about a clash between the fans so we have put in place measures to segregate them but using laser beams was rather a new thing to us,” he said.
“I am not pleased at all. In fact I was embarrassed in front of my Indonesian guests,” said the minister, who however hailed Malaysia’s performance as a “big achievement”.
Malaysia’s victory in the first leg of the championships, formerly known as the Tiger Cup, puts them a step closer to their first Southeast Asian championship title.
Indonesia will host the return match on Wednesday.
Meanwhile furious Indonesians have flooded Twitter with accusations that Malaysia unfairly won a key regional football match after fans in Kuala Lumpur apparently distracted Indonesian players with laser beams.
At least four of the top 10 words and phrases most popularly used on the social network site were linked to tirades against Malaysia soon after the home team beat Indonesia 3-0 Sunday night in the first leg of the ASEAN Football Federation Cup final.
For nearly an hour, “Malaysia cheat laser” ranked No. 1 on Twitter’s global “Trending Topics” chart. Other phrases used were “Use Laser,” “Curang,” which is Indonesian for “cheat,” and “Support Garuda,” a reference to the Indonesian squad.
The match was halted for five minutes shortly after halftime when Indonesia’s goalkeeper and another player complained that bright green lights were directed at them from laser pens used by an unidentified few among the 85,000-strong crowd at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Malaysia’s largest city.
Officials then warned fans to stop using laser pointers.
All of Malaysia’s goals came later between the 61st and 73rd minutes.
Many Malaysians were quick to defend their team, saying there were no beams shone on the field during those 12 minutes of goal scoring.
“None of the 3 goals had anything to do with (cheating). It had to do with” a weak Indonesian defense, Khairy Jamaluddin, a prominent Malaysian government politician and former deputy president of Malaysia’s football association, wrote on Twitter.
Agencies
-----------------------------------------------
JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) — The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) on Monday said Malaysia’s national team cheated during the first leg of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Cup final on Sunday, the Jakarta Post reported.
Nurdin Halid, head of the PSSI, said a powder which causes itchiness and allergic reactions was discovered in front of Indonesia’s goal net in the Bukit Jalil football stadium in Kuala Lumpur. The match was won by Malaysia by 3 goals to zero.
According to Halid, the suspicious powder affected Indonesian goalkeeper Markus Haris Maulana and other defensive players as it caused itchiness which had a negative effect in their performance during the first leg match.
In addition, the Indonesian team claimed that, during the match, Malaysian supporters were aiming laser beams at their eyes. The game was stopped after 53 minutes and the Indonesian team walked off the field in protest.
Stadium authorities called for measure and warned that the match could be suspended if that behavior continued. The game eventually resumed after five minutes and Malaysia then scored three goals in minutes 53, 71, and 68.
Indonesia has announced that it will file a formal protest with the Asean Football Federation as the team claims it was terrorized since they were in a bus heading towards the stadium.
It was Malaysia’s first final in 14 years and first victory over Indonesia since 1979. The second leg is scheduled to take place in Jakarta on Wednesday.
-----------------------------------------
MIC wants national football coach K Rajagopal to be honoured with at least a Datukship.
Party president G Palanivel said Malaysian football has been on the rise since Rajagopal took charge of the under-23 side.
javascript:void(0)
The team won the SEA Games gold medal in Laos last December and yesterday clinched the AFF Suzuki cup for the first time.
"Before this, the country waited many years to get back Asean glory.
"We were in the doldrums all these years," said Palanivel.
"This man beat all the odds, he was focused and believed in himself and his team. Such dedication must be rewarded," he added.
The MIC president said Rajagopal built a winning team made up of players with varied skills which is much more difficult than coaching an individual sportsman.
"This is the first time Malaysia won the AFF championship since the biennial tournament was introduced in 1996," he added.
MALAYSIA has declared Friday a public holiday to celebrate its victory over Indonesia in the final of the Asean Suzuki Cup - south-east Asia's premier football tournament.
Malaysia beat Indonesia 4-2 on aggregate in a final played over two legs, winning the cup on Wednesday for the first time.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced the holiday in a statement to the national news agency Bernama late on Wednesday, saying that the victory marked 'the greatest night in Malaysian football.'
He posted from his Twitter account: 'Well done, Malaysian Tigers! You played well as a team and have made your country very proud. Congratulations!'
----------------------------------------------
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s sports minister Monday said he was upset at “unsporting” football fans who aimed laser beams at Indonesian players during an ASEAN Football Championships match which Malaysia won 3-0. Malaysian fans among the 100,000-strong crowd at the national stadium in Kuala Lumpur late Sunday reportedly aimed laser beams at Indonesian players, forcing the game to be halted after 53 minutes.
The Indonesian players walked off the pitch in protest, and organisers warned fans that the match would be called off if their behaviour continued, according to The Star newspaper.
The game resumed six minutes later and shortly after the restart, Indonesia conceded three goals.
“I am upset. I am not happy at all, it’s very unsporting for Malaysian fans to do so,” youth and sports minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek told AFP, promising there would not be a repeat of such incidents.
“We were worried about a clash between the fans so we have put in place measures to segregate them but using laser beams was rather a new thing to us,” he said.
“I am not pleased at all. In fact I was embarrassed in front of my Indonesian guests,” said the minister, who however hailed Malaysia’s performance as a “big achievement”.
Malaysia’s victory in the first leg of the championships, formerly known as the Tiger Cup, puts them a step closer to their first Southeast Asian championship title.
Indonesia will host the return match on Wednesday.
Meanwhile furious Indonesians have flooded Twitter with accusations that Malaysia unfairly won a key regional football match after fans in Kuala Lumpur apparently distracted Indonesian players with laser beams.
At least four of the top 10 words and phrases most popularly used on the social network site were linked to tirades against Malaysia soon after the home team beat Indonesia 3-0 Sunday night in the first leg of the ASEAN Football Federation Cup final.
For nearly an hour, “Malaysia cheat laser” ranked No. 1 on Twitter’s global “Trending Topics” chart. Other phrases used were “Use Laser,” “Curang,” which is Indonesian for “cheat,” and “Support Garuda,” a reference to the Indonesian squad.
The match was halted for five minutes shortly after halftime when Indonesia’s goalkeeper and another player complained that bright green lights were directed at them from laser pens used by an unidentified few among the 85,000-strong crowd at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Malaysia’s largest city.
Officials then warned fans to stop using laser pointers.
All of Malaysia’s goals came later between the 61st and 73rd minutes.
Many Malaysians were quick to defend their team, saying there were no beams shone on the field during those 12 minutes of goal scoring.
“None of the 3 goals had anything to do with (cheating). It had to do with” a weak Indonesian defense, Khairy Jamaluddin, a prominent Malaysian government politician and former deputy president of Malaysia’s football association, wrote on Twitter.
Agencies
-----------------------------------------------
JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) — The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) on Monday said Malaysia’s national team cheated during the first leg of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Cup final on Sunday, the Jakarta Post reported.
Nurdin Halid, head of the PSSI, said a powder which causes itchiness and allergic reactions was discovered in front of Indonesia’s goal net in the Bukit Jalil football stadium in Kuala Lumpur. The match was won by Malaysia by 3 goals to zero.
According to Halid, the suspicious powder affected Indonesian goalkeeper Markus Haris Maulana and other defensive players as it caused itchiness which had a negative effect in their performance during the first leg match.
In addition, the Indonesian team claimed that, during the match, Malaysian supporters were aiming laser beams at their eyes. The game was stopped after 53 minutes and the Indonesian team walked off the field in protest.
Stadium authorities called for measure and warned that the match could be suspended if that behavior continued. The game eventually resumed after five minutes and Malaysia then scored three goals in minutes 53, 71, and 68.
Indonesia has announced that it will file a formal protest with the Asean Football Federation as the team claims it was terrorized since they were in a bus heading towards the stadium.
It was Malaysia’s first final in 14 years and first victory over Indonesia since 1979. The second leg is scheduled to take place in Jakarta on Wednesday.
-----------------------------------------
MIC wants national football coach K Rajagopal to be honoured with at least a Datukship.
Party president G Palanivel said Malaysian football has been on the rise since Rajagopal took charge of the under-23 side.
javascript:void(0)
The team won the SEA Games gold medal in Laos last December and yesterday clinched the AFF Suzuki cup for the first time.
"Before this, the country waited many years to get back Asean glory.
"We were in the doldrums all these years," said Palanivel.
"This man beat all the odds, he was focused and believed in himself and his team. Such dedication must be rewarded," he added.
The MIC president said Rajagopal built a winning team made up of players with varied skills which is much more difficult than coaching an individual sportsman.
"This is the first time Malaysia won the AFF championship since the biennial tournament was introduced in 1996," he added.
Malaysian Police is the real "Killing Machine"
Another 3 men killed by trigger-free policemen of Malaysia. It seemed that they were trained to shoot-on-sight the moment they get nervous. When in Malaysia, the last thing that you should get near to is the police force, not the terrorists.
Families want answers to police killings
Teoh El Sen
KUALA LUMPUR: Last year, police shot dead three youths – and today their families want answers to their unsolved “murders”.
The trio – Mohd Shamil Hafiz Shafie, 15, Mohd Khairul Nizam Tuah, 20, and Mohd Hanafi Omar, 22 – were gunned down in Jalan Kerjaya, Glenmarie, on Nov 13, after allegedly robbing a petrol station in Jalan U1/1 nearby.
The families of the victims this morning handed over a memorandum to the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar at the entrance of the federal police headquarters at Bukit Aman here.
They want the police to investigate and charge those responsible for shooting the three youths “at close range”.
Speaking to reporters, Shamil’s mother Norhafizah Mad Razali said that the three families simply wanted answers.
“My son was only 15 when he was shot dead. I just want justice. Why was he shot? I don’t think he had ever done the things the police accused him of,” she said, adding that her son was shot in the middle of his head and chest.
“The police also said my son and the other two boys were armed with parangs, but where are the parangs? ” asked Norhafizah, 36, who was comforted by her husband when she broke down in tears.
Khairul Nizam’s sister, Norhaliza Tuah, 27, said her brother’s death did not make sense.
“I don’t believe he is a criminal. We were shocked when this happened. When we saw his body, there were bruises on his face. Was he hit before they killed him? We don’t know. The police must answer.
“The police even lied. They told us that he ‘had an accident’ and asked us not to worry. But when we reached the hospital, we saw his bullet-ridden body,” said Norhaliza.
Hanafi’s father, Omar Abu Bakar, 56, said police did not update the families even after reports were lodged two months ago.
“I am not satisfied. My son was shot in the right ear and if the police said he was attacking them, why wasn’t he shot from the front? This means my son was driving at the time. I want the police to speed up their investigations and take action against the people who killed my son,” he said.
Also present were human rights NGO Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), Suaram members and Opposition MPs Nurul Izzah Anwar and R Sivarasa.
The memorandum urged the IGP to:
* investigate the fatal shooting of the three youths and prosecute the policemen who fired the shots;
* stop abusive and arbitrary practice in the discharge of firearms;
* make public the Inspector-General Standing Order on police guidelines in the discharge of firearms;
* support the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to function as an external body to investigate complaints about police conduct; and
* support human rights education and training programmes to change the attitudes and methods of law enforcement personnel.
“We are here because the police have committed murder and we can prove it. The three youths were shot at close range. It looked like all three were kneeling when they were shot. Why are the police covering up? We have lodged a police report on Nov 20 and nothing has been done,” said N Surendran, a lawyer from LFL.
“We are worried for the people. There is a real need for an IPCMC. We are here for all the other teenagers in Malaysia who are in danger as well. We intend to pursue this until there is justice for the families of the victims.”
No accountability
Fellow LFL lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri said Malaysia was faring badly in terms of extra-judicial killings in comparison with other countries.
“Is it so hard for the police to be responsible? Even if the victims were criminals, should they be shot like that? We are troubled and puzzled. We want the police to prosecute those who have been cruelly murdered. They say they are ‘seasoned criminals’ but they don’t even have a single police record.”
Added Nurul: “This is not a political issue. It’s about the future of our children. We want a better system so that this sort of incident won’t recur.”
Sivarasa said: “This incident has all the traits of a murder case. It is not isolated. The police simply do have any accountability whatsoever.”
Surrounded by a crowd of about 40 people, Bukit Aman public relations department chief inspector Saipul Anuar Razali received the memorandum.
“The investigations are still ongoing. I am here to receive the memorandum. The IGP will answer all your questions later, ” he told the family members.
When pressed for answers on the status of the investigations, Saipul left to check but returned later to say it was a Saturday and he could not get in touch with any officers.
He promised to have the answers on Monday.
In the incident, the police claimed the three youths were members of the notorious “Geng Minyak” and were wanted for preying on petrol stations in isolated areas.
The trio were apparently fleeing the scene when they bumped into a team of policemen who were patrolling the area.
A car chase ensued. When the car skidded and stalled by the roadside some 2km away, the police said the trio alighted and tried to assault them, forcing them to open fire.
All three sustained similar gunshot wounds to the forehead and chest.
The families of the victims later lodged reports urging the police to investigate the killing, which they regarded as “murder”.
Families want answers to police killings
Teoh El Sen
KUALA LUMPUR: Last year, police shot dead three youths – and today their families want answers to their unsolved “murders”.
The trio – Mohd Shamil Hafiz Shafie, 15, Mohd Khairul Nizam Tuah, 20, and Mohd Hanafi Omar, 22 – were gunned down in Jalan Kerjaya, Glenmarie, on Nov 13, after allegedly robbing a petrol station in Jalan U1/1 nearby.
The families of the victims this morning handed over a memorandum to the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar at the entrance of the federal police headquarters at Bukit Aman here.
They want the police to investigate and charge those responsible for shooting the three youths “at close range”.
Speaking to reporters, Shamil’s mother Norhafizah Mad Razali said that the three families simply wanted answers.
“My son was only 15 when he was shot dead. I just want justice. Why was he shot? I don’t think he had ever done the things the police accused him of,” she said, adding that her son was shot in the middle of his head and chest.
“The police also said my son and the other two boys were armed with parangs, but where are the parangs? ” asked Norhafizah, 36, who was comforted by her husband when she broke down in tears.
Khairul Nizam’s sister, Norhaliza Tuah, 27, said her brother’s death did not make sense.
“I don’t believe he is a criminal. We were shocked when this happened. When we saw his body, there were bruises on his face. Was he hit before they killed him? We don’t know. The police must answer.
“The police even lied. They told us that he ‘had an accident’ and asked us not to worry. But when we reached the hospital, we saw his bullet-ridden body,” said Norhaliza.
Hanafi’s father, Omar Abu Bakar, 56, said police did not update the families even after reports were lodged two months ago.
“I am not satisfied. My son was shot in the right ear and if the police said he was attacking them, why wasn’t he shot from the front? This means my son was driving at the time. I want the police to speed up their investigations and take action against the people who killed my son,” he said.
Also present were human rights NGO Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), Suaram members and Opposition MPs Nurul Izzah Anwar and R Sivarasa.The memorandum urged the IGP to:
* investigate the fatal shooting of the three youths and prosecute the policemen who fired the shots;
* stop abusive and arbitrary practice in the discharge of firearms;
* make public the Inspector-General Standing Order on police guidelines in the discharge of firearms;
* support the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to function as an external body to investigate complaints about police conduct; and
* support human rights education and training programmes to change the attitudes and methods of law enforcement personnel.
“We are here because the police have committed murder and we can prove it. The three youths were shot at close range. It looked like all three were kneeling when they were shot. Why are the police covering up? We have lodged a police report on Nov 20 and nothing has been done,” said N Surendran, a lawyer from LFL.
“We are worried for the people. There is a real need for an IPCMC. We are here for all the other teenagers in Malaysia who are in danger as well. We intend to pursue this until there is justice for the families of the victims.”
No accountability
Fellow LFL lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri said Malaysia was faring badly in terms of extra-judicial killings in comparison with other countries.
“Is it so hard for the police to be responsible? Even if the victims were criminals, should they be shot like that? We are troubled and puzzled. We want the police to prosecute those who have been cruelly murdered. They say they are ‘seasoned criminals’ but they don’t even have a single police record.”
Added Nurul: “This is not a political issue. It’s about the future of our children. We want a better system so that this sort of incident won’t recur.”
Sivarasa said: “This incident has all the traits of a murder case. It is not isolated. The police simply do have any accountability whatsoever.”
Surrounded by a crowd of about 40 people, Bukit Aman public relations department chief inspector Saipul Anuar Razali received the memorandum.
“The investigations are still ongoing. I am here to receive the memorandum. The IGP will answer all your questions later, ” he told the family members.
When pressed for answers on the status of the investigations, Saipul left to check but returned later to say it was a Saturday and he could not get in touch with any officers.
He promised to have the answers on Monday.
In the incident, the police claimed the three youths were members of the notorious “Geng Minyak” and were wanted for preying on petrol stations in isolated areas.
The trio were apparently fleeing the scene when they bumped into a team of policemen who were patrolling the area.
A car chase ensued. When the car skidded and stalled by the roadside some 2km away, the police said the trio alighted and tried to assault them, forcing them to open fire.
All three sustained similar gunshot wounds to the forehead and chest.
The families of the victims later lodged reports urging the police to investigate the killing, which they regarded as “murder”.
Crosses Removed For Najib's Christmas Day Visit
Reports have been surfacing that some ‘paranoid’ Catholic church officials have been told to make sure that crucifixes were removed and that no hymns were sung when the prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak attended the Christmas tea party last weekend hosted by the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur in order to protect his Islamic credentials. Apparently, the actions were done without Najib’s knowledge as some would regard his visit to be detrimental to his political standing after the recent call by certain Islamic scholars on Najib not to attend non-Muslim celebrations.
Since becoming the Prime Minister, this would be his first Christian function where according to sources, some of the Prime Minister’s aides had issued instructions to Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam, the Archbishop in order for the visit by Najib to be glitch-free. Among those mentioned were to have symbols like crucifixes removed, no singing of hymns and to not quote anything from the scriptures or say any prayers. According to the Christian Federation of Malaysia, the same set of ‘rules’ were also given out in previous Christmas events including one which was attended by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.
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