Anwar sent a tweet in reply: 'underwear...levis. Oh oh'.

Anwar himself has been sending tweets from the dock, and people outside the court have been giving regular updates about the trial. --PHOTO: AFP

KUALA LUMPUR - THE sodomy trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is not only being fought in court but in cyberspace too, with increasing online chatter on blogs and news websites.

Anwar himself has been sending tweets from the dock, and people outside the court have been giving regular updates about the trial.

Anwar himself has been sending tweets from the dock, and people outside the court have been giving regular updates about the trial.

While online new sites report factually on what has been happening in court, many blogs have been busy dissecting the trial and positioning themselves for or against the former deputy prime minister.

Depending on their leanings, different blogs proclaimed what has been revealed so far showed that Anwar was guilty or that the trial was a sham.

There have been intimate details revealed. Among other things, two pairs of undergarments belonging to accuser Saiful Bukhari Azlan were displayed in court last Friday. They were Levi's underpants.

When one person tweeted about it, Anwar sent a tweet in reply: 'underwear...levis. Oh oh'.

Setback for Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIAN opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Friday lost his final appeal for access to the government's evidence against him ahead of his sodomy trial due to start next week, his lawyer said.

Anwar's lawyers were seeking access to evidence including DNA samples, medical reports and CCTV footage, which they say is key to providing him with a proper defence. 'The court ruled that the evidence that we were seeking did not fall within the 'necessary and desirable' category and turned down the appeal,' Anwar's lawyer Sankara Nair told AFP.

'It has far-reaching negative implications in Malaysian criminal law as it is a reversal of earlier positions in law allowing greater disclosure by the prosecutors so the accused can prepare his defence effectively,' he said.

Mr Nair said they would seek a review of the Federal Court ruling next week.

Lawyers acting for Anwar, a former deputy premier who was sacked and jailed on separate sodomy and corruption charges a decade ago, are attempting to delay the start of the trial from the scheduled date of February 2. The trial, which was originally to have begun last July, has been delayed by a series of legal manoeuvres by the defence team, including a failed application to disqualify the prosecutors as biased.

'As the date for the court of appeal hearing on our bid to strike out the case has yet to be heard, we are seeking a stay of the trial,' Mr Sankara said, adding that the application would be heard on Tuesday. -- AFP

Cops order Pakatan stage removed to make way for PM visit to Batu Caves

There's no room for Pakatan Rakyat at this year's Thaipusam celebrations in Batu Caves. — Bernama pic

SELAYANG, Jan 28 — Police have ordered the Pakatan Rakyat state government to remove a stage set up at Batu Caves for celebrations on the eve of Thaipusam tomorrow despite prior approval from the authorities.

Selangor executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar said he had been informed that this was because Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was scheduled to visit Batu Caves at 9pm tomorrow.

“This is totally unfair, I had met the Gombak Police chief earlier this week at the Selayang Municipal Council and there was no problem.”

Xavier said tomorrow’s celebrations, which starts at 10.30pm, is part of the Selangor Tourism programme which is being hosted by the state government and sponsored by Digi.

“Nobody told us Najib was coming tomorrow and he was only initially supposed to visit on Saturday afternoon.”

ALLAH ISSUE FROM ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE

By Dr Syed Husin Ali

The controversy around the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims continues to drag on and is still hot. A large section of people are angry, the government has lost direction and principle, and Umno leaders are clearly confused.

As we know, the Allah controversy has its root in the condition imposed by the Home Ministry, through the permit it issued for the publication of the Herald, a Catholic newspaper, forbidding it from using the word Allah for God.

The Herald took the issue to court and was successful. The decision by the court to allow Herald the use of Allah aroused concern and anger among a good number of Muslims. Undeniably, a large section of them are sincere and genuine in their concern.

Seizing Opportunity

The problem is that a small group, including some important Umno leaders have seized the opportunity to use the people’s anger for their own political advantage. They saw the possibility of manipulating this issue to mobilize Malay voter support for Umno-Bn and at the same time weaken Pakatan Rakyat.

These Umno leaders also felt that they could achieve several other objectives if the issue was handled well. One senior minister from Umno was very adamant that the issue could create a rift between PAS and DAP and precipitate the demise of Pakatan Rakyat.

They also felt that by using this issue they could mobilize support from different levels of Malay/ Muslim groups. This emotional issue is close to the heart of Muslims and certainly would help to drown other important issues like corruption, abuse of power, disappearance of two jet engines and also the murder of Altantuya that have long haunted these leaders.

When a Minister filed an appeal against the decision of the court and the PM gave a signal that opponents to the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims could demonstrate, they consciously or unconsciously made the issue bigger than what it really was. Muslims became angrier. The circumstances became conducive for the extremists to act.

Actually the court ruling to allow Christians to use Allah was confined only to the Herald. But it was interpreted and exaggerated as giving license to all non-Muslims – Christians and others – to use the word. It opened the opportunity to various extremists, including some Umno elements, to drum up racial sentiments. Little do Umno leaders realize that forbidding non-Muslims to use the word Allah would lead to forbidding them to sing the anthems of five states. These anthems use the word Allah.

Gazette and Law
The attitudes and actions of the Minister to appeal against the court decision and to allow demonstrations are against the Government Gazette P.U. (A) dated 16 February 2009. Amongst others this gazette states very clearly that publication, circulation and possession of any document or publication connected with Christianity that contains the words “Allah”, “Kaabah”, “Baitullah” and “Solat” are forbidden except when the words “FOR CHRISTIANS ONLY” are printed on the front cover..

Government leaders often pontificate the necessity of people to respect the law. Why is it they do not respect the gazette that their own government issued? Why is it that conversely they adopted a stand that could be abused by a handful of extremists – including those linked with Umno and Umno-controlled media – to stoke racial and religious flame amongst the people?

The irresponsible attitudes and actions of the Minister and Prime Minister have succeeded, for the time being, to drown the various issues haunting them and to draw some support from the Muslim community. But they failed to weaken, what else destroy the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

Positions of PAS and KEADILAN

PAS has taken a principled position similar to that of KEADILAN. Both stress that there is nothing to forbid non-Muslims to use the word Allah. But at the same time they have cautioned non-Muslims, especially Christians, not to do anything in their own interests that could cause unrest among Muslims and in the country. When he met about a hundred Christian leaders, Anwar Ibrahim stressed to them the same matter.

The position taken by PAS and KEADILAN was received well by DAP as well as Christians and other non-Muslim groups. Pakatan Rakyat did not break asunder as hoped for by some Umno top leaders and, in fact, has remained strong and intact.

The position taken by both parties are based on many factors, among them: (i) There is nothing in the Quran or Hadith that forbids non-Muslims from using the word Allah, (ii) The use of Allah among non-Muslims goes far back into history, including the time of Prophet Muhammad himself, and (iii) Allah for God has been used widely in different areas including this region, especially in Sabah, Sarawak and Indonesia, without causing any problem.

Those who disagree counter argue that although there is no verse that allows, yet there are also some verses in the Quran that could be interpreted as forbidding the use of the word Allah by non Muslims. They emphasise that the Quran must be seen in its totality.

They cannot deny history. But they are of the view that although Allah is freely used in other areas, it is not appropriate to use it in Malaysia because of its unique cultural background. They believe that the “Malay stock” has its own specific character arising from its language and culture.

What is regarded as the “Malay stock”? From socio-cultural views, isn’t Indonesia part of this stock? What about the traditional communities in Sabah and Sarawak? But because of pressures, the government has now decided that Christians from the two Malaysian states can continue to use the word Allah. The same decision has been extended to the Federal Territory and Penang, presumably because they have non-Muslim majority. What about the major towns that are dominated by non-Muslim population? The Umno-led government has displayed the height of political opportunism?

Arguments of Opponents

There are several arguments raised by those opposed to allowing non-Muslims to use the word Allah, among them: (a) Allah has a special cultural and linguistic meaning for the Malays, (b) The use of Allah by Christians will easily enable them to proselytise among the Malay/Muslims and convert them, and (c) There is a hidden strategy, nay even a conspiracy among Christians, especially Catholics, to attract more Malays to Christianity by using the term Allah.

Argument (a) falls flat in view of the fact that the government has changed its mind again and allows for Christians in Sabah and Sarawak to use Allah and further extend this to the Federal Territory and Penang. Clearly the government took this position because of political consideration. What about the big towns where the majority populations are non-Muslims too? The government has proven itself to be thoroughly unprincipled and opportunistic in this matter.

As for argument (b), it shows there are Muslims who lack confidence in the strength of religious conviction of their fellow Muslims. It is true that there are many Muslims in this country who do not have strong faith in or deep knowledge of Islam. Those religious and Ngo leaders who are so vehement in defending the use of Allah for Muslims only, need to work much harder. They should carry out missionary and educational activities that can instill spiritual strength among the Muslim “ummah” at large.

In Sabah and Sarawak, although Allah has long been used by Christians, only a handful of Muslims have been converted to Christianity. One of the reasons is that despite their lack of knowledge on Islam, their faith is strong enough to make them remain as Muslims. Imagine what the position would be if besides the strong faith they also have good spiritual knowledge on Islam provided by activities of the religious leaders with the material help of the government.

On the other hand, it is said that in Sabah and Sarawak the number of Kadazandusun and Iban who have embraced Islam is rather big. The Muslims are a majority in this country and the Constitution is clear that non-Muslims are not allowed to convert Muslims to other religion. So why is there this unnecessary feeling of fear?

As regards (c), it is no surprise that any religion would like and try to increase its followers. But it must be remembered that in such countries like Indonesia, which is often put up as an example, the expansion of Christianity was because of other factors and not due to the use of Allah being allowed. Perhaps the main factor is the welfare and educational work carried out by the Christian missionaries among the local people. Of course they seemed to have unlimited funds at their disposal.

What Should be Done

Why is it in this country there is not much efforts and activities by Muslim activists in Ngo and government to uplift the faith and knowledge in Islam among the Muslims? Why is it they do not concentrate especially on the poor and marginalised, the majority of whom have strong faith but weak knowledge on Islam? Why is it Muslim missionary workers have little impact on the aboriginal communities? Pray explain why the government is not very enthusiastic to provide more financial help to Muslim missionaries who want to spread the message of Islam?

The various religious groups inside and outside government should carry out more intensive welfare work among the poor and marginalized. They should pressurize the government to provide greater assistance to the missionary workers and Islamic educational institutions at all levels. After all, shouldn’t Umno that claims to be the champion of the Malays and Islam should do more?

Even if the Christians may have their own hidden agenda vis-à-vis the use Allah, their activities will be legally constrained. There is a specific provision in the Malaysian Constitution that forbids activities to convert Malay/Muslim to other religions. The Malay/Muslim should cease to have an inferiority complex and imagine that they are always under siege and do not have the power to do anything.

Finally, the Christian churches can do something significant to defuse the racial and religious flame that seems to have been fanned by extremist elements to spread. How wonderful it would be if their top leaders can give assurance that they have no secret agenda and strategy and that the church will not use Allah to expand their influence.

22 January, 2010

In search of ‘Middle Malaysia’

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 — Is “Middle Malaysia” a new breed of voters who want more accountability from the government? Or is it merely political sloganeering? Last Sunday, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng told members of his party that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) would have to take the middle ground and focus their efforts on these voters, as they can send the federal opposition to Putrajaya.

Lim (left), who is also Chief Minister of Penang, also said it was incumbent upon Pakatan Rakyat to create a more moderate, more tolerant Malaysia that is “Middle Malaysia.”

Ibrahim Suffian, who is the director of the independent research firm Merdeka Center, believes that the times have indeed changed over the past few decades and Malaysian voters are now more “sophisticated.” He is of the opinion that they will vote based on pragmatic issues rather than political allegiance, largely because they are more informed now about what is happening in the country.

“Middle Malaysia prefers co-operation not conflict, consultation instead of confrontation and an inclusive, shared society rather than an exclusive, separate society.

“We want no part of the extremist fringes with pronouncements and positions that frighten off any decent Malaysian,” Lim had said in his opening address during the DAP National Convention over the weekend in Ipoh.

Lim said the other component parties within PR such as PAS and PKR had also successfully taken the middle ground by addressing various issues, the latest being the controversy surrounding the usage of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims.

However, many people remain divided over the identity of these “Middle Malaysians”.

“My take on the matter is that for the past five decades, Barisan National has had the key winning formula... thus managing in the past to occupy the centre stage. The ‘middle ground’ at that point of time meant capturing each ethnic group, something which component parties like Umno, MCA and MIC had managed to do.

“Right now, we’re looking at a situation where many of these same component parties have lost the middle ground. What constitutes the term ‘middle’ now does not mean capturing each ethnic group,” explained Ibrahim, who compared the “Middle Malaysia” of today to the Democrats in the United States.

He believes that DAP’s pitch to Middle Malaysia will help garner Pakatan Rakyat more votes in the next general election.

“Yes, it will help them (PR) in getting votes. The way constituencies are designed is that one-half are what you call mixed seats, which leaves the other half, or 45 per cent or so Malay-majority seats. Whichever party gains the support of the mixed seats as well as a substantial support of the Malay voters will get the numbers needed.”

He added that the people who occupy the middle ground right now are not necessarily politically-inclined and will vote based on issues of the day that concern Malaysians.

“We look at PAS’ position on the issue of ‘Allah’ and we can see that PAS is taking a middle path on the matter. This is a risk taken by PAS, as they are still somewhat counting on their hardcore voters to remain loyal.”

However, Ibrahim cautioned that as the next general election draws closer, what defines the current middle ground can also change again.

Not everyone shares Ibrahim’s optimism though.

Professor Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, a political analyst, is sceptical on “Middle Malaysians” being the majority of voters in the country and harshly criticised DAP for misconceiving the definition of “middle.”

“In Malaysia, there is no such thing as middle voters. They (DAP) have messed up their calculations. The idea of middle voters is in their imagination... if they do not conceptualise their ideas properly, it can backfire,” said Shamsul, director of the Institute of Ethnic Studies (Kita) in UKM.

The academic firmly believes that in the case of constituencies, voters are still split on an ethnic level, and not all voters necessarily reside in the area that they vote in.

He claims that 30 per cent of voters in a constituency are urban folk who come from rural areas, hence they have different interests in mind and do not care about “local issues.”

“The situation is like this. You have three types of constituencies in Malaysia; the Chinese, Malay/Bumiputeras and the mixed group. These groups, which make up 70 per cent of voters, are generally politically-inclined towards a certain party, be it opposition or government.

“This leaves the 30 per cent which I have mentioned earlier are not local voters... these are the only ones divided between voting on either the government or the opposition. Where are your middle voters then?” questioned Shamsul.

Barisan National had in the past commanded the support of “Middle Malaysians”, who represent the bulk of Malaysians, admits DAP’s Tony Pua.

He agreed that times have changed and now moderate Malaysians have an idea of the Malaysia that they would want to live in and Pakatan Rakyat has made it their responsibility to ensure that the notions of moderation, equality and justice for all are kept a tangible reality, not just dreams or ideals.

Pua, who is Petaling Jaya Utara MP, took great pains to explain that “Middle Malaysia” was not a slogan or a concept, rather a description of people in the centre of the Malaysian voting sphere.

“‘Middle Malaysians’ could be sitting on the fence or may not be on the fence when it comes to voting, but they share these moderate ideals about what our country should be. Barisan National’s old formula has been broken down. People no longer see race-based parties as viable or acceptable,” said Pua.

Whether they are indeed representative of “Middle Malaysia” or not, perhaps the time has come for Malaysians to decide on stability and results rather than political rhetoric.

ATTACKS ON CHURCHES – THE BROADER IMPLICATIONS

By Dr S Husin Ali

PM Najib Razak almost jumped in anger when a reporter asked him if there was truth in the allegation that Umno was behind the recent attacks on the churches. Some people interpreted the nature of his response and body language betrayed an admission of guilt.

Minister Hishamuddin on another occasion tried to belittle the issue by saying that the attacks on these places of worship as the work of mischievous children. By this he showed an irresponsible attitude of a person in deliberate denial.

I consider these attacks, which are still continuing, although causing less damage to be a serious cause for concern. They have resulted in fissures and tensions among various ethnic and racial groups, although they have fortunately not triggered conflicts and clashes. If not handled with care they could result in long term social rupture and chaos.

I also hold that the series of attacks were indirectly or even directly the results of the statements made by Najib and Hishamuddin. Following the Allah controversy, they stated that those who wanted to demonstrate could do so within mosque compounds. Consciously or unconsciously they had provided an opening to extremists to act.

There is a view among a considerable number of people – rightly or wrongly – that Najib and Hishamuddin at the beginning were hoping to use the Allah issue and the demonstrations to muster support from Malay-Muslims. This is said to be consistent with their plans to mobilize big enough Malay support to counterbalance the heavy losses suffered from non-Malay support during the general elections nearly two years ago. Now they are determined to regain the two-thirds majority in Parliament and control of the five states that the Umno-Bn lost to Pakatan Rakyat.

There is nothing new in efforts to regain lost support from voters by resorting to ethnic and religious appeals. Without having to go far back into history we can see this clearly from recent events following the unexpectedly big electoral gains made by the opposition parties in the last elections.

It started in Penang when a group of people opposed and demonstrated against CM Lim Guan Eng for allegedly displaying strong anti-Malay sentiments by calling for the abrogation of the New Economic Policy. This small group of extremists, largely Umno members and supporters, with the help of the Umno-owned daily, Utusan Malaysia, tried very hard to whip up Malay communal anger. They failed rather miserably. Things cooled down after Bernama, the government influenced news agency admitted mistake and withdrew their incorrect quotes from the CM that was used by the demonstrators.

Immediately after that almost the same kind of attempt was made in Perak, although the issues were slightly different. Here again, a small number of Malay extremists mainly from Umno and their supporters acted with the support of the same newspaper and a handful of Umno leaders. They accused the Chinese from DAP committed “treason” against the ruler (because Lim Kit Siang called for boycott of the swearing in ceremony) and that the Pakatan Menteri Besar from PAS had become the tool of DAP. The attempt of these chauvinists failed to get support of the people.

Later in Selangor, a small group of similar type of extremist elements tried to stoke ethnic flame by raising the issue of a centralised pig farm mooted by the state government. They used racial and religious arguments against this in order to gain support for their demonstrations. Despite strong support from Utusan Melayu and even a TV channel, they failed miserably. The move fizzled out especially after a leader of the demonstrations was exposed as being involved with an earlier project for such a farm under the auspices of a company linked to Umno.

Two observations can be made from the efforts of the extremists as described above. Firstly, they resorted to playing with Malay chauvinist sentiments in the efforts to gain bigger Malay support for Umno. More dangerous than this, a handful among these extremists were known to express the hope that communal clashes would occur so that the government can act by using the ISA or even resorting to declare a state of emergency. They wanted a repeat of the May 13 Incident, which they believed could be manipulated to regain control of the states that they had lost to the opposition.

Secondly, although the actions of these handful extremists were given unstinted support by Utusan Melayu and, to a limited extent by some Umno leaders, they failed to gain support from big groups of people, including the Malays. I believe that the main reason is that the people in general are more conscious and intelligent now. They knew that the extremists were playing with fire and that if they were given full support, disaster and suffering would befall the country and people. The majority of people want peace and harmony to prevail in the country.

When Najib and Hishamuddin gave the green light for demonstrations to be held after the Allah controversy broke out, they provided opportunity to similar irresponsible and extremist elements to continue with what others had failed in the past. Both government leaders practiced double standards. They claimed they could not control if people wanted to demonstrate, although they had come down with very heavy arms on demonstrations by opposition groups, even when they were held in mosque compounds.

Many suspected that by giving the green light they were perhaps surreptitiously hoping thousands of Malay-Muslims would come out in support. A massive turn-out could be interpreted as popular support for the government decision vis-à-vis the Allah issue. Obviously they must have been thoroughly disappointed. Only about 500 people gathered at Masjid Negara and roughly 400 at Masjid Shah Alam. In Masjid Kampung Baru only about 200 people assembled, while in the Kota Bharu Stadium there were also about the same number. As stated earlier, the people are now more intelligent, and they would not allow themselves to be carried away and deceived by narrow ethnic and religious appeals.

When these demonstrations failed, some perhaps decided to resort to other more dangerous actions, like the attacks on the churches. Indeed some of them perhaps wanted ethnic and religious flame to flare up. Without shame they would welcome it if their actions resulted in the ISA being used and Emergency being declared. Fortunately, most people including some ministers are more wise and sober now.

Besides the church attacks and the demonstrations in the various states controlled by Pakatan, as described, there have been other types of efforts and conspiracies to discredit and weaken the opposition parties and to mobilize support for Umno.

A number of Umno leaders, again with the support of media propaganda especially by Utusan Melayu and also certain TV channels have been attacking KEADILAN and PAS as well as their leaders, including Nik Aziz and Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar particularly has been constantly targeted in the Malay media as having sold out to the Chinese because of his declared stand on the NEP, education and other policies, based on justice for all.

It can be said that the majority of Malays have not been convinced by such chauvinist propaganda. That is why such allegations leveled against Anwar by even DPM Muhyiddin have been receding. But certain government or Umno-owned media, especially Utusan Melayu continue to demonise Anwar.

Related to all these is the second round of attacks and attempt to drag Anwar to court on the accusation that he has committed sodomy again. There is a small group of leaders and members of Umno who vehemently believe that Anwar must be removed from the country’s political stage in order to save their skins. They opine that the best way to do this is by getting Anwar incarcerated in jail as long as possible.

Among this small group are a vicious few who are already arguing that the Malay public must be convinced through the media that Anwar is working against Malay interests. They must be made to choose between Anwar and the Malays. By the Malays here they obviously mean the corrupt leaders of Umno and their cronies, present and past, that must be saved at all cost. Again they resort to Malay chauvinist appeal to achieve this end.

In order to succeed with their accusations and propaganda, these Umno and government leaders make full use the media. They must have greater control the media so that they will not give fair coverage on the Anwar trial, which will be in front of well “selected” judge(s) who can be relied on to be biased against Anwar. Further, they will try to ensure that the alternative media will be constrained more severely.

Thus press freedom will be further strangled to serve their purpose. There are already signs that the printed and electronic media are now being directed and controlled more than in the past. Thus the media, besides money and government power will be used and abused to the full in order the ensure that Umno-Bn remain in control in this country for many more years to come.

17 January, 2010

##
BIRO KOMUNIKASI
PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT

Dialogue with the Christian community

Anwar exchanging views with Father Thomas Phillip (centre) from Assumption Church and Brother Augustine Arokiasamy at a dialogue with the Christian community at the Luther Centre in Petaling Jaya today. – Picture by Jack Ooi



PKR leaders, including Datuk Zaid Ibrahim (centre), and members of the Christian community before the dialogue with the Christian community at the Luther Centre in Petaling Jaya. – Picture by Jack Ooi

Anwar meets Christians to defuse tension

Anwar speaking to reporters before the start of the dialogue with the Christian community at the Luther Centre in Petaling Jaya. – Picture: MalaysianInsider

PETALING JAYA, Jan 10 – Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today had a dialogue here with the Christian community in an attempt to defuse tension caused by the series of firebomb attacks at churches.

The dialogue, attended by about 100 members of the Christian community from various denominations, was hosted by Bishop Phillip Lok from the Lutheran Church.

Speaking to reporters before the start of the closed-door dialogue, Anwar urged the Muslims to honour the pledge made the second Islamic Caliph to defend the rights of the Christians.

He also slammed the police for not seriously protecting the places of worship.

“The Caliph Umar, who visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 638 AD, was careful to ensure that the Muslims respect the sanctity of Christian places of worship,” said Anwar, reading from a prepared statement.

“What, then, of our own police’s hesitation to offer an assurance of safety and security for Malaysian churches,” he added.

Anwar reiterated his stand that the Umno-controlled Utusan Malaysia should be made responsible for the attacks.

“Much of the blame for the recent attacks can be placed at the doorstep of the Umno-led BN ruling party,” he said.

“Its incessant racist propaganda over the Allah issue and the inflammatory rhetoric issued by the government-controlled mainstream media, including in particular Utusan Malaysia, are reprehensible,” said Anwar.

He called for an inter-faith dialogue to resolve the issue of the use of the word Allah.

“With respect to the use of the word Allah, for example, it cannot be disputed that Arabic speaking Muslims, Christians and Jews have collectively prayed to God as Allah throughout the last 14 centuries,” said Anwar.

“While sensitivities over its usage have arisen in Malaysia, the way to resolve these conflicts is not by burning churches and staging incendiary protests but by reasoned engagement and interreligious dialogue,” he added.

Since the court ruling on Dec 31 allowing the Christians to use the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God in Malay, seven churches have been attacked. - MalaysiaInsider

Sodomy II: Anwar wants Saiful charged

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has filed an application at the Federal Territory Syariah High Court against three parties relating to the sodomy charges made against him by Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, including an order for the latter to be charged.

Anwar is seeking an order to compel the chief syariah prosecutor, the Federal Territory Religious Affairs Department (Jawi) and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom to expedite qazaf (criminal defamation) charge against Mohd Saiful.

In a statement, Anwar said he wants the Syariah High Court to issue an order to prosecute Mohd Saiful under Section 41 of the Federal Territory Syariah Criminal Act for committing qazaf.

He also urged the court to compel the Jawi director and Jamil Khir not to block or influence the chief prosecutor from carrying out his duty to prosecute Mohd Saiful.

“My application follows my earlier qazaf suit dated July 9, 2008 against Mohd Saiful, who had issued a false statement that I had committed sodomy against him.

“I have undergone investigations twice and I had provided Jawi with all pertinent evidence, including police reports.

“In August last year, I was told that Jawi had completed its investigations, but to date, the chief syarie prosecutor had yet to carry out legal action against Mohd Saiful,” he added.

Anwar said he was surprised at Jamil Khir’s statement in Parliament on Oct 27 last year, in which the minister said that the qazaf charges against Mohd Saiful could only proceed after the sodomy charge is heard at the civil High Court.

“The act of qazaf, which is a syariah-related offence, differs from sodomy, which is a criminal offence under the civil court.

“The Syariah High Court has exclusive powers to hear qazaf cases.

“As a Muslim, I have the right to protect my good name as provided for in syariah laws,” Anwar added.

The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) commends the ruling by a Malaysian Court

From Islamic Society of North America
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Plainfield, IN – January 4, 2010) The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) commends the landmark ruling by a Malaysian Court on December 31, 2009, that affirms the religious freedom of Malaysian Christians. The ruling asserts that Christians have the right to use the word “Allah” to translate “God” into Bahasa Melayu, the Malaysian language. It strikes down a government ban that was placed in 2007 on the use of the term in Christian literature.

The opponents of the use of the word Allah in reference to God have argued that the term “God” is usually translated by Malaysians who follow faiths other than Islam as “Tuhan” in Bahasa Melayu, not “Allah.” They insist that “Allah” should only be used to refer to God in Islam. This argument is contrary to both Islamic understanding and practice.

The Qur’an is quite explicit that Muslims worship the same God recognized by Christians. The Qur’an commands Muslims to declare that the God they worship and the one worshiped by the followers of revealed books, including Christians, is one: “… and say: We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you, and our God and your God is One, and to Him do we submit.” (Qur’an 29:46)

With regards to actual and historical practices, Christian Arabs have been using the word “Allah” to refer to God in their religious sources since the inception of Islam, and have never been challenged by private Muslims or Muslim governments on this ground. Islamic law is clear that followers of the Christian faith have the right to practice their religion according to their own religious teachings.

We call on the Malaysian government to uphold the religious freedom of Christians and to let the court ruling stand. We also urge Muslim NGOs to respect Islamic teachings and long-held Islamic traditions, and to withdraw their opposition to the use of the word “Allah” by their Christian compatriots.

Court dismisses Anwar’s leave application for judicial review

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has dismissed Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leave application for judicial review over a written statement signed by a depupty public prosecutor (DPP) for his upcoming sodomy trial.

High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) judge Datuk Aziah Ali in her decision ruled that the application was frivolous and vexatious and an abuse of the court process.

Aziah dismmised the application with costs.

Aziah said she agreed with Senior Federal Counsel Datin Azizah Nawawi’s submission that it was an abuse of the court process to seek the aid of the civil court to review the written statement and to direct the first respondent (DPP Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria) to issue a new written statement.

“The civil court has no juridiction to review any action of the Public Prosecutor undertaken in the discharge of his obligations under the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC),” added Aziah.

She said to allow Anwar’s application would mean the civil court interfering with the jurisdiction of the criminal court.

On Aug 3, 2009, Anwar had filed a judicial review application, naming Hanafiah, the prosecution and the Government as the respondents.

Hanafiah had issued a written statement under section 51A(1)(c) of the Criminal Procedure code to Anwar indicating that there was no facts favourable to the defence in his sodomy trial.

The statement was served on Anwar on June 24, 2009.

Anwar was seeking for a declaration that the written statement signed by Mohamad Hanafiah that there was no favourable facts to be supplied to the defence, to be null and void.

He had also wanted the prosecution to supply him a written statement of facts favourable to the defence as well as an injunction to prohibit Hanafiah and the prosecution from proceeding with the case until this was done.

Besides these, Anwar had also sought aggravated, exemplary and punitive damages.

Aziah in her 15-page judgement also had stated that remedy could be sought before the criminal court during the trial process.

”The final decision whether or not there are facts favourable to the applicant or whether the two medical reports (regarding the case) are favourable to the applicant will be made by the trial judge.

”The applicant’s right to a fair trial has not been adversely affected by the written statement,” she said.

Azizah appeared for the respondents while lawyer Edmund Bon represented Anwar.

Bon later told reporters that he would need to refer to Anwar whether to appeal the decision. -- Bernama

'Untold story' of struggle

A GROUP of researchers have finished the manuscript for a book about the University of Malaya Socialist Club (USC), a political debating society and student activist group in the 1950s and 1960s.

Dr Loh Kah Seng, visiting research fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (Iseas) and the lead writer for the Iseas project, said that the group wants to tell the 'untold story' of the socialist club and its role in the struggle for independence from the British.

Particularly, he wanted to highlight the role played by English-educated student activists in the University of Malaya, which later became the University of Singapore and then the National University of Singapore.

Formed in 1953 by mainly students from the medical and arts faculties, the USC was a debating forum for students who were against British colonialism. Eight members of the club who founded the journal, Fajar, were famously acquitted of sedition charges brought against them by the British government in 1954. The lawyer who represented them was Queen's Counsel D N Pritt, who was in turn assisted by Mr Lee Kuan Yew who was then a practising lawyer.

In the 1960s, the club clashed often with the People's Action Party government and was eventually deregistered in 1971.

For their book, Dr Loh and his team relied on face-to-face, email and archival interviews with some 20 former members of the club.

Anwar vs Dr M: Court sets March 1 to hear motion to appeal

PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court here has fixed March 1 next year to hear Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s motion for leave to appeal against the dismissal of his RM100mil defamation suit against former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Deputy Registrar Jumirah Marjuki fixed the date in chambers on Wednesday.

Anwar wants the court to determine three issues, including whether the Court of Appeal, in view of the present state of law which abhors technicalities, can nevertheless decline to exercise its discretion in favour of ensuring that the procedural technicalities do not defeat substantive rights.

”The decision of the Court of Appeal raises novel and important questions of law decided for the first time, and I state that further argument and a decision by the Federal Court would be an advantage to the public,” Anwar said in his sworn affidavit.

On Oct 10, this year, Appeal Court judge Datuk Abdul Malik Ishak, who sat with Justices Datuk Azhar Ma’ah and Datuk Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad, dismissed Anwar’s suit on the grounds that the memorandum of appeal filed by Anwar in the English language was defective, invalid and an abuse of the process of the court.

Justice Abdul Malik in his written judgement said Anwar’s failure to file a memorandum of appeal in Bahasa Malaysia had rendered the record of appeal useless and must be rejected.

Anwar filed the suit on Jan 26, 2006, claiming that Dr Mahathir’s remarks, calling him a homosexual, were highly defamatory and aimed at humiliating him in his personal and official capacity as former finance minister and former deputy prime minister.

On July 4, 2007, the Kuala Lumpur High Court dismissed the suit with costs after it allowed Dr Mahathir’s application to strike out the suit. Anwar then appealed to the Court of Appeal against the decision but it was dismissed on Oct 10 this year. -- Bernama

CIA linked to Palestinian 'torture'

Between 400 and 500 Hamas supporters are being held in the West Bank by the PSF and GI [AFP]

Palestinian security agents who have allegedly tortured Hamas supporters in the West Bank have been working closely with the CIA, the UK's Guardian newspaper has reported.

The US Central Intelligence Agency has co-operated with the Preventive Security Force (PSF) and General Intelligence Service (GI) in the Palestinian territory, the report on Friday said.

"The [Central Intelligence] Agency consider them as their property, those two Palestinian services," a western official told the Guardian.

Most of the detained Hamas supporters are held without trial and allegedly tortured by the Palestinian agencies in the West Bank.

Hamas backed the Guardian's findings on Friday during a press conference, and blamed Keith Dayton, the US General commanding the Palestinian National Security Force in the West Bank, for the arrest and torture of its supporters.

Hamas called on Barack Obama, the US president, to remove Dayton from his position and said Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president and Fatah leader in the West Bank, was responsible for the "crimes" against Hamas in the West Bank.

Human rights organisations say it is common for detainees to be badly beaten and subjected to "shabeh", where they are shackled and held in painful positions for long periods.

Hamas, which has de facto control of the Gaza Strip, has faced allegations that its own forces have detained and tortured people allied with Fatah, a rival Palestinian group that is a member of the Palestinian Authority.

Hundreds held

Between 400 and 500 Hamas supporters are currently being held by the PSF and GI, officials from the PA have said.

But Adnan Aldenari, a Palestinian police spokesman, denied that the security forces in the West Bank were abusing detainees.

"We have nothing to hide; or nothing to be ashamed of. When we had mistakes [they] were individual as committed by some officers and not expressive of our policy.

"Our prisons and detention facilities are open and not secret as they are in some other countries. They are open to the media and human rights organisations."

The Guardian reported that at least three detainees have died in custody this year due to being mistreated.

The most recent was Haitham Amr, a 33-year-old nurse from Hebron, who died four days after he was detained by GI officials last June, the newspaper said.

Shawan Jabarin, the general director of al-Haq, a Palestinian human rights organisation, told the Guardian: "The Americans could stop it any time. All they would have to do is go to [prime minister] Salam Fayyad and tell him they were making it an issue.

"Then they could deal with the specifics: they could tell him that detainees needed to be brought promptly before the courts."

A regional diplomat told the newspaper that "at the very least" US intelligence officers were aware of the torture and were not doing enough to stop it.

The CIA does not deny working with the PSF and GI in the West Bank, but Paul Gimigliano, a CIA spokesman, said that the US agency does not hold a supervisory role.

"The notion that this agency somehow runs other intelligence services ... is simply wrong," he told the Guardian.

"The CIA ... only supports, and is interested in, lawful methods that produce sound intelligence."

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

Reject racism

SHAH ALAM: The people have been urged to reject racism where power is held based on “skin colour”, PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

He said Pakatan Rakyat needed to steer clear from the ‘racism cocoon’ created by shallow-minded people.

“I suggest the Chinese, Indians, Ibans and Kadazans destroy this racist mentality. We need to uphold the principle of brotherhood of mankind,” Anwar said in his keynote address to 1,500 of Pakatan delegates at Wisma MBSA here today in the first ever Pakatan convention.

A total of 500 delegates from each component party of Pakatan attended. Anwar said Pakatan could have not won big in the last general election had they “stuck to the archaic spirit of racism and turn its back on justice.”

“There is a newfound confidence from the young generation of various races in Pakatan. And because of this confidence, we based our principle on which we are presenting today at this convention,” he said.

Meanwhile, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, in his speech, urged Pakatan to look into its own weaknesses that gave the opportunity for others to exploit.

He added that the political crisis in Perak should be a lesson learnt for Pakatan.

“Don’t simply choose candidates without being realistic,” said Abdul Hadi, referring to the three former Pakatan assemblymen who jumped ship and became independent.

He said Pakatan must be united even if there were differences in opinion in issues.

“Let us prioritise and work on issues that we agree on. Take time and be patient in discussing issues with differing opinions.

“Today we are discussing our plan to face the next general election,” he said.

Pakatan Rakyat's Mission and Vision Statement

We believe that the higher and more fundamental values for all Malaysians -- Justice, Dignity and Mutual Respect -- should be the basis for our citizenship, identity and our common good

As Malaysians look towards the future and faces the question of what it would mean to be a Malaysian in the 21st century, our nation needs more than what we have experienced thus far in the last 52 years, in the areas of governance, the economy, social welfare and our cultural lives.

What Malaysia needs is a regime change. A common and truly participatory Malaysian democratic project of regime change will save us from the dangerous old politics of racism, discrimination, corruption and oppressive rule experienced over the last 52 years. The Pakatan Rakyat, responding to the rakyat’s indomitable democratic spirit and hunger for true and fundamental change, accepts the unique opportunity and mandate given by the Rakyat on March 8, 2008, to re-imagine and chart a new and decisive course in Malaysia’s history.

To this end, the three member parties, in a spirit of mutual respect and common deliberation, taking full account of our respective political beliefs and values, have sought to transcend these differences in authoring this common document called the Dasar Pakatan Rakyat. We believe that the higher and more fundamental values for all Malaysians -- Justice, Dignity and Mutual Respect -- should be the basis for our citizenship, identity and our common good.

We have resolved in our Dasar Pakatan Rakyat to:

1) Put a clear and decisive end to the politics of racism and discrimination in all government policies and legislation.

2) Restore the Supremacy of the Federal Constitution and the Rule of Law, where there will be greater democratization in all public institutions, organs of government, the courts and other law enforcement agencies .

3) Develop a truly People’s Economy, as opposed to an economy that has benefitted cronies and those with vested interests, where corruption and wasteful public spending will be vigorously combated. We will instill greater transparency and accountability in government and the public sector.

4) Restore meaning to Federalism where States’ rights are defended and economic wealth will be shared on a fair and equitable basis, including tax revenues and oil royalties.

5) Abolish the ISA and all oppressive and draconian laws that infringe every Malaysians’ fundamental liberties and human rights.

6) Arrest the years of under-investment and bad planning in our education, transport and health-care systems, where greater resources will be mustered and better managed for their revitalization and the well-being of all Malaysians.

7) Develop a social protection agenda to ensure all marginalized and vulnerable groups are protected and their welfare safe-guarded.

8) Enhance greater democratic and cultural space for the flourishing of a vibrant multiculturalism and also for the arts and literature.

We are confident that all Malaysians will find these policies and much more in our Dasar Pakatan Rakyat, being a part of our sacred pact with the Rakyat, our sincere commitment to effect real and substantive changes to the daily lives of every single Malaysian citizen.

Malaysia for All

Prepared by Boon Kia Meng

On behalf of the Drafting Committee

Sekretariat Pakatan Rakyat

Syed Husin sworn in as senator

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali was sworn in as a senator to represent Selangor at the Parliament House.

Dr Syed Husin, who earned a PhD from the London School of Economics and Politican Science, was sworn in at 10.06am on Wednesday in front of Dewan Negara president Datuk Wong Foon Meng.

Wong congratulated and welcomed him as a new member of the Senate as the other senators thumped on their desks in approval.

“I hope you will uphold your duty in this honourable Dewan to understand and defend the Federal Constitution,” Wong said after Dr Syed Husin took his oath.

Dr Syed Husin was a professor of anthropology and sociology at Universiti Malaya from 1986 to 1990 but left the university after he was elected Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) president in 1990. He was the PRM president until 2003 when he joined PKR.

He was detained under the Internal Security Act for six years following his participation in a student demonstration which supported Baling farmers and protested the price hike for goods in 1974. He was adopted by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience.

Anwar defends his views in leaked BTN video

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stood by his views contained in a leaked video of the National Civics Bureau (BTN) which was made available in Umno-owned blogs, saying its courses have gotten worse now.

A video dated in the early 1990s, shows Anwar (picture) defending Malays' special privileges and saying these rights should not be questioned by non-Malays.

“In the historical context during our agreement in 1957, we gave citizenship to the immigrants (pendatang). Since we have given them (immigrants) citizenship, the question of the Malay’s special privileges should not arise,” he said in a video-taped BTN session.

The opposition leader and former deputy prime minister says he has nothing to hide and blames BTN for leaking the videos.

“I don't have any problems with that because I know (of it).

“I would anticipate that BTN in its crooked ways will not dare release all the videos of all the speeches. So what they would do is selective and will quote out of context and release," he told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.

“I will defend my position. That was the position then as I know as Umno vice-president or deputy-president, it has gotten worse since 98, this selective release is actually by BTN because they don't have the courage to deal and face (it) head on. So they leaked to Umno bloggers,” he added.

Anwar also challenged BTN to release videos of other Umno leaders in the civics course.

“If they have the courage, they should release all of the speeches. I want to hear the speeches of all the leaders including mine. They would not do this because this is typical BTN methods of cowards,” he added.

BTN has come under public scrutiny recently after Pakatan Rakyat-ruled Selangor prohibited state civil servants and students in state-owned institutions of higher education from attending its courses, claiming that they were indoctrination camps by the Barisan Nasional government — aimed at brainwashing Malaysians to hate opposition parties.

PR leaders and former participants have also claimed that the courses were racist and emphasised the idea of Malay supremacy.

PKR keeps Jeffrey Kitingan as veep

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 13 — PKR has rejected Sabah strongman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan’s (left) decision to quit as party vice-president over a leadership tussle as de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim seeks to strengthen its footprint in East Malaysia.

Anwar is due to announce that Kitingan, the estranged brother of former Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, remains as party vice-president when opening the Sarawak PKR convention this afternoon.

The Sabah leader announced his resignation two months ago and hinted at forming a new party when rebelling against another vice-president, Azmin Ali, who was made Sabah PKR chief. Anwar lated named Thamrin Jaini to head the state leadership.

"They rejected my letter. The (official) announcement will be today," Kitingan told The Malaysian Insider this morning.

It was understood that the party leadership had decided not to accept his decision together with Sabah PKR Wanita deputy chief Christina Liew to quit their post at the federal level. Christina could not be reached for her comment.

Anwar’s announcement ahead of the Sabah PKR convention next Sunday is seen as conciliatory move to Kitingan, who remains an influential leader in the state.

When asked about PKR’s move to keep him, Kitingan said that he is happy as many of his requests were accepted by the party.

On his next move, he said: "Wait for announcement first, this afternoon... will tell later."

The Keningau PKR division chief denied previous reports that he intended to form a new party.

"That (forming new party) is nothing to do with me," he stressed.

He had surprised the party when announcing last Oct 28 that he wanted to resign as vice president, further clouding the leadership turmoil in the party.

“I’m quitting the post as I’ve lost confidence in the party’s leadership decision-making process in terms of decisions affecting Sabah,” Kitingan had said.

He claimed that there appeared to be no seriousness on the part of the party leadership in taking the views of Sabah PKR leaders.

“As such, I see no reason for me to remain in the party position,” he said.

In October, he also rejected his appointment to the party’s newly set up National Integration Council. The change came about after Kitingan disclosed that 18 Sabah PKR division chiefs had signed a memorandum submitted to Anwar that Azmin be replaced with a local Sabah leader.

It was reported that Sabah PKR division leaders had suggested that Azmin be replaced as state party chief by Kitingan or either deputy chiefs, Datuk Dr Hamzah Amir or Datuk Kong Hong Ming.

Meanwhile Sabah PKR chief Thamrin Jaini when contacted declined to comment further.

“This is federal issue and let them (the federal leaders) to make a proper announcement,” he said.

“But I will be happy if Jeffrey back active (at the federal level) as he is one of the vice president. He is still one of the members of state liaison committee on his capacity as division chief,” Thamrin said.

Both Sabah and Sarawak offer 56 out of the 222 seats in Parliament and is seen as a safe vote bank or "deposit box" by the ruling Barisan Nasional federal government.

Professor barred from speaking about Perak crisis

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 — A Singaporean law professor, who had previously been critical of the Barisan Nasional (BN) power grab in Perak , has been barred from speaking at a public forum after the police rejected his permit application.

Professor Kevin YL Tan, had followed procedures by duly applying for a police permit to speak at the forum entitled“Whither the Constitution: Lessons to be learnt from the Perak crisis.”

The application was made by the organiser of the forum, online Chinese language news site Merdeka Review.

The organiser was told yesterday that Tan needed to apply for an approval from the Malaysian Professional Centre, or Ikhtisas which is based in the country’s administration capital, Putrajaya.

This process will usually take seven days, before an approval can be provided.

The forum, which includes speakers like ousted Pakatan Rakyat Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, will take place tonight.