Opening of The Top, KOMTAR, Penang

Opening of The Top, Penang's biggest indoor theme park, in the state's 68-storey KOMTAR on December 18 2016.

Pictures show the Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng, and Minister of Tourism and Culture, Dato' Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, touring the new tourist attraction of Penang, and politics have taken a back seat.

We meet again, 40 years later ....

December 12 2016 was and will be a special day to remember for all ex-Merliners as we gathered for the second re-union at the Royale Chulan Mutiara Hotel. As for me, I knew many of them back then in the 70s when I was working with the hotel group (Faber Merlin) as one its managers. Although I left three years later to pursue my other careers, the rest stayed on making a name for themselves in the hospitality industry. Today, many of them, are managing international hotels overseas and some local.

For the event, ex-Merliners flew in from the Philippines, Melbourne and Bhutan to join in the occasion, and what tales we had to tell as we walked down memory lane of the time when the KL Merlin stood tall in the heart of the Golden Triangle.

To grace the event, we had the presence of the three children of the late Dato Lim Foo Yoong, Mr OB Lim, Mr OK Lim and Belinda Lim.

Everyone contributed something to make the evening a memorable one. As for me, I did my part with music.

The imposing and towering sight of the once popular Kuala Lumpur Merlin.

Remembering their roots and it all began at the KL Merlin.

Eddie Yeo (L), former GM of the Pulau Tioman Merlin with Julian Blaydes, GM of the Royale Chulan Mutiara Hotel. Julian Blaydes was once a staff of the KL Merlin.

The ladies were former secretaries and managers with the hotel.

Andre Sibert, former GM of the Pulau Tioman Merlin, and me doing a number.

It was also the moment for us to celebrate the 80th birthday of George Loong, former GM of Kuantan Merlin.

Annette Yeo (L) was the former industrial nurse based at the KL Merlin.

Belinda Lim (daughter of the late Datuk Lim Foo Yoong) with Julian Blaydes on her right and Eddie Yeo standing behind her.

The blogger entertaining the crowd.

In Memoriam of those who perished 23 years ago.

Today, is the 23rd anniversary of the Highland Towers tragedy that took 48 lives.

Let's remember those who have lost their lives.

An open letter from Rafizi to Najib

Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak

 Prime Minister of Malaysia

I choose to write an open letter to you on the first day of this parliamentary session because of its (the session’s) significance to us personally and to the nation as a whole. 

This can be my last parliamentary appearance as the verdict on the OSA charge that your government brought against me will be decided on 14 November 2016. I expect a speedy appeal process afterwards that in all likelihood I may not be around for the March 2017 session.

Given the brittleness of the state of the nation, your government’s actions in manipulating the widespread different interpretations (sometimes deliberately misinterpreted) of the impact of Dato’ Seri Hadi Awang’s private member’s bill to increase the maximum punishment that a shariah court can mete out (to be more in line with shariah requirements) will pit the Muslims and the non-Muslims. 

Your government’s lack of concerns, almost to the point of being indifferent to the criminal activities of the red shirt thugs who provoked racial sentiments, spew out criminal intimidations and threatened racial bloodbaths will position race-religion axis as the most emotive national issue of Malaysia to the detriment of the suffering rakyat.

If you think you can wield all the resources you can muster as the Prime Minister to dictate the course of events when high emotions out of these issues collide with each other, you are wrong. You will be swept away just as the very foundation of our tolerant multi-racial, multi-faiths society will be broken into pieces. When this happens, you will not be a Prime Minister anymore and that’s why this may very well be your last parliamentary session too.

Deliberate manipulation of RUU355 may lead to hatred between communities

I detest your government’s manipulation and inaction that eventually led to the widespread misunderstanding over RUU355. You allowed different interpretations that were taken out of context because the disagreements within the Muslims and between the Muslims and the non-Muslims benefitted you politically. The emotive disagreements over RUU355 took rakyat’s focus away from your misdeeds with regards to 1MDB specifically, and your government’s incompetence in managing the economy generally.

The Muslims are split between those who believe the refusal to support the motion; even the act of questioning the wisdom of putting through the motion at this time; tantamount to a rejection of Allah’s decree (and therefore it compromises our faith in Allah) and those who do not subscribe to the view.

The non-Muslims generally believe that a vote on the motion proposed by Dato’ Seri Hadi Awang is equivalent to hudud implementation. Those who are more subtle argue that a yes vote is the first step towards a back door hudud implementation.

Hence why your lack of concerns over the destructive nature of the disagreements arising out of the misunderstanding over RUU355 alarms me more than I was alarmed over your 1MDB misadventure. It is as if you want the Muslims to view the non-Muslims as being anti-Islam and similarly you want the non-Muslims to be vocally opposed to this so that the Muslims will view each Chinese, Indian, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists as being anti-Islam.

Because this is where your government’s manipulation over RUU355 had led us: a very real situation where the disagreements may transform into the hatred of each other because each (Muslims and non-Muslims) considers the other as having breached the mutual respect code that one community shall not meddle in the religious affairs of the other. 

Clear the air over RUU355 immediately 

I was shocked into a disbelief that it had descended to this point judging from comments made by average Malaysians in social media and on the web. The issue is actually very straight forward and if you, as a Prime Minister, had the honour to put the welfare of rakyat ahead of your obsession to remain in office – this issue could have been a non-issue in the beginning. It would have been an academic exercise if the public understands the process that a private member’s bill has to go through before it becomes a law enacted by parliament.

For a start, you owe it to the public to explain to them the various constitutional safeguards that effectively limit RUU355 to only 3 different major changes (as far as limit of punishment is concerned) from the status quo:

1. Shariah court may punish Muslims who are found guilty of consuming alcohols under the respective state enactments to a maximum of 40 lashes

2. Shariah court may punish Muslims who are found guilty of sexual slander (accusing someone of adultery without proof) or qazaf under the respective state enactments to a maximum of 80 lashes; and

3. Shariat court may punish unmarried Muslims who are found guilty of having sex outside marriage or zina under the respective state enactments to a maximum of 100 lashes (subject to the prosecutor’s ability to produce 4 witnesses who witness the intercourse in accordance to the shariah requirements).

If you are truly concerned about the well-being of the multi-racial Malaysians, you could have clarified from the outset that RUU355 does not have the legal power to enact amputations, stoning to death, beheading or any of the much feared punishments that the opponents of shariah laws often talk about. It does not have the power because our Constitution is very clear on the division of jurisdiction between Federal and State governments and between criminal courts and shariah courts; therefore when there is an overlap of jurisdiction for a particular offence (for example theft), it is kocriminal courts that shall administer the legal process because the power over policing and home security lies with the Federal government.

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But you may have chosen to be quiet personally over this very basic rule because it benefits you when the rakyat generally does not understand the distinction. You could have thought that if you had clarified earlier, the Muslim opponents of RUU355 would have pointed out that it is not hudud in entirety as some quarters could have claimed. When it is not hudud in entirety, Muslim MPs can discuss on its merits and may agree or disagree accordingly. This would not have benefited you politically, because it benefits you politically when rakyat sees Muslim MPs from the opposition bench as Muslims who sold out to kowtow to the Chinese from the DAP. 

You were almost most irresponsible when you did not explain to the public that effectively any or every decision with regards to RUU355 has to get your consent as the head of government. It is you who has the final say to give the green or red light as to whether Dato’ Seri Hadi Awang can or cannot read his motion in Dewan Rakyat (let alone debate or vote for it).

Your government did not explain that the motion RUU355 included in the Order Paper of Dewan Rakyat is effectively a procedural motion with legislative teeth because only bills presented by the government that can be enacted as laws. Therefore, any opposition MP who want to push for a specific law has to table a motion on his proposed law (called private member’s bill) so that the Dewan Rakyat can vote whether or not the proposed law has merits to be referred to the minister in charge of the areas of law. Even if the motion is allowed to be read and debated and eventually is passed by the Dewan Rakyat, the effect of such a motion being passed by the Dewan Rakyat is nothing more than passing the ball back to your court. To your feet almost literally.

The Standing Order is very clear that nothing can happen unless and until the Minister in Charge (in this case Dato’ Seri Jamil Khir) comes back to re-table a complete and improved bill (taking cue from the private member’s bill) to Dewan Rakyat for voting. You could have admitted to the rakyat that the decision whether or not to increase the maximum punishment a shariah court can mete out is actually your government’s decision.

Save whatever dignity left of your premiership 

While I understand your shrewdness in not doing your national duty as the highest public official to maintain harmony in our society, I do not understand your lackadaisical attitude towards the damage you inflict to your father’s legacy and reputation.

I went to Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) which had played one of the most prominent roles to shape me as who I am today. Your brother went to MCKK. Your first son was my junior by a year and I met you personally to receive him in 1994 when he registered as a new student.

We grew up in MCKK admiring your father Allahyarham Tun Razak as a patriot who always put the national interest ahead of his. We were inspired by your father’s determination to help the poor people of all races and because of that he did not have to be apologetic when he rolled out programs for the poor Malays because all races understood the necessity of it then.

We understood from your father’s leadership that Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious nation and it is the duty of the majority (Malays) to be fair to the minorities and to protect them. 

Your leadership thus far has only served to undo those key tenets of your father’s legacy. 

Thus it is at this junction I would like to end my open letter to you: even if you cannot be a statesman like your father, at the very least do not destroy his legacy any much further than you had done already.

Do the necessary, put a stop to the deliberate manipulation of the misunderstanding over RUU355 so that we can go back to the real issue that matters more to the ordinary citizens: your government’s inability to create a Malaysia that is prosperous and fair for them.

Rafizi Ramli

MP for Pandan

17 October 2016

Yet these people in the UMNO think everything is smooth sailing

Man Shares His Thoughts After Living in Malaysia for 5 Years and Why He Moved to Singapore

ByWorld Of BuzzPosted on October 10, 2016

In a post on Quora, German expat Andreas West who lived in Malaysia for almost 5 years (till 2014) shares his experience of the country and why he moved to Singapore afterwards. On the contrary, he loved Malaysia, but there was a few things that he felt needed to be addressed.

He writes, “After living in Malaysia for almost 5 years, still at a different level as a Mat’ Salleh, I noticed a lot of rise of crime, had my own experiences with it and my experience of reporting it to the police and then never heard anything on it despite video evidence, license plate and description of culprit. Malaysia is a country with lots of opportunities but some massive problems that aren’t addressed at all. Other than most Malaysians (a term which doesn’t even properly exist as the country still divides anyone on any form into races!) I did have the chance to move to another country, in my case Singapore. But I was a journeyman to begin with, came to Malaysia for the beauty of the country and the open way most embrace foreigners (with the exception off Taxi driver and government personnel). My assessment for the next 5 years was negative and here’s why:

– cost of living increased by 57% over the last 3 years as subsidies are cut, this is for KL though (other areas and Kampung might not experience it that much)

– crime rate has gone up tremendously (70% in the last 3 years according to this link which places Kuala Lumpur on the 6th place of most dangerous cities in the world: 10 Dangerous Cities In The World). Where crime happened outside of KL in the past, in one year 13 of my close friends and colleagues got robbed, their cars got stolen from their own ground, breaking into their house and a personal attack that left one with severe bleeding head injuries as the thief couldn’t immediately snatch her handbag. All happened in the middle of KL, during daytime!

– unstable political situation. With so many uprising against oppressing “democracies” and Arab Springs it’s only a matter of time IMO until the people of Malaysia, the Rakyat, especially the young and informed one’s, will go out on the street and demand a real democracy, not the current construction of gerrymandering, corruption, using policy and armed forces brutality to disperse peacefully demonstrators. Malaysia’s youth will eventually bring this government down and install a democracy, one where race is no longer the determinant factor but all people are Malaysians and are proud of their country, not only their race.

– unstable situation on continuing religious fights stimulated by a few radical people from all sorts of religions. Not blaming any religion here. This continues to put a big hurdle up for all Malaysians to be united despite race and their religion. It blocks economic growth, equal rights and equality as long as some have better rights than other (like the Bumiputera).

– corruption is all over the place and isn’t addressed at all. I’ve attended a workshop with the Chief of the anti-corruption initiative which is one of the main agenda points of the PM. It’s a complete joke and hiring one US expert doesn’t make it go right. It’s happening every day everywhere in Malaysia for small amount (Kopi money) or up to large sums for business and government deals. Not saying other countries like my home country Germany are free of corruption (there is currently just a big case undergoing in my home town) but at least corruption is being prosecuted by the government with all full force. Especially the so called white collar crime. In Malaysia it’s common practice, I was asked by corrupt police men to give them money for dropping speed tickets eg. Did I feel safe enough to report that police men? Hell no, especially after experiencing what happens with police reports

– economic growth outlook. See where Singapore has come to and where Malaysia is. Both started as one country, now tiny Singapore has a higher GDP than Malaysia with no natural resource at all and confined to a tiny island that I can cycle around in 6h! Look what happened to Malaysian Airlines and Singapore Airlines, once those were one company. Can give many more examples. Efficiency on one place (Singapore) and corruption crippling growth on the other hand (Malaysia). Sure Malaysia’s economy is still growing but where does all that growth ends up? In the hands of a few super rich people, not with the Rakyat who have less and less money in their pockets every single month!

All in all I’ve made my decision to startup my own business in Singapore, for all of the above reasons not in Malaysia. It’s such a pity as it was one country before but I didn’t regret my decision a single second.

Nor did I regret moving over to Singapore, where I can walk outside at night in all places and never ever I have experienced a situation where I feel in danger. People leave their belongings on the table when they go to the toilet or order a coffee at Starbucks in a busy mall. Nothing happens to it when they return. Doors to houses are usually wide open to let the air flow in, not locked by bars.

I just hope that one day Malaysians will stand up and bring their country to where it should be. It has so much potential. I pity all my Malaysian friends for not having the chance to easily move to another country like I can do.”

- Sent from my iPad

10 things about: Siti Kasim, lawyer and activist

Siti Kasim is one of the few Malay-Muslims who dares to speak out against hudud and what she terms “man-made” laws.

But the 53-year-old litigation lawyer, with her dyed blonde hair that she has had since she was in her 20s, tells me that she’s not a hero, even though a video and news of her flipping the bird to rude hecklers at a recent forum about PAS’ Shariah Bill has gone viral.

She jokes instead about how she would have “dressed to the nines” if she had known about the video.

Siti, who is co-deputy chair of the Bar Council committee on Orang Asli rights, also frequently champions for the indigenous community on land issues. The activist, who describes herself as more of an “on the ground person”, visits the Orang Asli community in Kelantan once a month to find out about their concerns and to get lawyers to represent them.

Not only does she do Orang Asli work, she also helps a group of Rohingya refugees manage their rented accommodation at a shoplot in Selayang as they can’t communicate with their landlord.

Siti, who has a 26-year-old daughter, spent 17 years in the UK from 1987 to 2004, during which she studied law at the Queen Mary University of London.

Vivacious, outspoken and unapologetic, Siti talks about how she deals with criticism, the sacrifices she makes for being opinionated and her dislike for former deputy prime minister and ex-Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (ABIM) leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

In her own words:  

I’m born a Malay. I’m a Muslim. It will affect me if I don’t speak up and wait for others, until when? So I have to do it, at the expense of my family who are also upset with me. My siblings are very unhappy with me. They get all these WhatsApp messages from other people, not to them specifically, you know we’re all in group group kan. Saying stories about me being a murtad, all the made-up stories, they viral it through WhatsApp. 

They feel it’s an embarrassment, people kutuk-kutuk I dalam WhatsApp, and they’re in that group. So I try to explain to them. Of course, they’re just normal Muslims. They don’t want anything bad, biasalah, orang Melayu kan, malu. I understand their concern and all that, I try to explain to them. I love my family. My daughter supports me.

I discovered there is no requirement to wear tudung in the Quran. But now, tudung is the first precursor to be a Muslim. You don’t wear tudung, you don’t have the right to speak. Where does this come from? Muslims here have been taught what kind of Islam? Go back to the Quran. Read it. There’s no such thing as “kepala”, the word “head”, in the Quran, Surah An-Nisa. This kepala is added by the translators... breasts are specifically mentioned in the Quran... God says cover your breasts.

When he [Anwar Ibrahim] got caught, I can tell you I was the happiest person in London. I’m not joking because I think Malaysia was safe at that time. But then unfortunately, of course, the people have already been brainwashed by then. He already set in place this brainwashing in school. I blame it on him, he’s the one who brought in Islamisation to Malaysia. It’s nothing wrong to bring in good things, but he’s bringing in Wahhabism kind of Islam. This is where it’s not right. Why you want to bring Wahhabism interpretation of Islam? Because they mix the Arab culture into Islam.

Preachers are human beings as well. Who are they? They’re not God. Some of them can’t even read Arabic words.

They call me “makcik”, “perempuan tua ni”, calling me all kinds of names lah, “makcik tua ni”, “kubur kata mari” or something like that, [criticising] my blonde hair, my not wearing tudung. They took out pictures—I wear sexy clothes with my shisha and all that—they pick up from my Twitter before. Eh hello, I’m not stupid okay. Anything I put up on social media is because I like those pictures. They want to use that as a tool to shame me. If I see that, I say thank you very much for uploading that again because that’s one of my favourite pictures. Lepas tu, mereka tak tahu nak cakap apa.

I have a loud voice, I don’t yell. But during that forum, I had to raise my voice because they were heckling so loud. What gives me the courage? I don’t know, I don’t think it’s because of courage or being brave or what. I wasn’t mad. To be honest, I wasn’t even angry or anything. I just find that they’re stupid, you know. So I want to show their stupidity.

I am a human being. If I say that I don’t get hurt, I’m lying. Of course I get hurt, but luckily I’m the type — so what. My friends support me... all the good comments actually compensate for the bad ones.

They forget I’m speaking up for them also, you know. They don’t understand that. Yang pakai tudung ni kan, you can see a lot of them pakai tudung but actually wearing very tight, tight pants and all that — they don’t realise that if we allow these Islamists to actually control you, it will become like Acheh. The women are the ones who will suffer most. These people forget that I’m trying to uphold their dignity in the future.

I’m not surprised by the prejudices shown by the public now. That’s why I take it in my stride. It’s the way people are being brought up, to be judgmental. That’s how I see it — they can’t help it. Once they get to know you, they realise it’s just you. You’re not trying to grab the limelight or trying to pretend, or trying to speak about something you don’t know about.

[Source: MMOnline]

'ADIOS' is now a dirty word?

Upon the death of PAS Spiritual Adviser, Haron Din, Jeff Ooi of DAP tweeted the following line, 'Adios Haron Din.  Let there be peace.'  Immediately, there was an uproar accusing Jeff Ooi for being rude to Islam, etc.  He has since been told to 'surrender' himself to the authorities by the IGP and has willingly done so.  After four hours of questioning by the police at the Penang northeast police headquarters, he has been released.

I am at a lost.  Do these people understand the meaning of  'Adios'?  It simply means 'Goodbye' in Spanish.  If they don't know, why didn't they at least google for the meaning instead of jumping the guns?  Or are they anti-Spanish?  This is the result of a mediocre education system.

Now if  'Adios' is deemed to be a bad word denoting disrespect, rude, uncouth and callous, then they might as well consider the following words to be haram too, all which mean 'Goodbye'.

• Au Revoir [French]
• Arrivederci [Italian]
• Auf Wiedersehen [German]
• Sayonara [Japanese]
• Zai jian [Mandarin]
• Joi gin [Cantonese]
• Annyeong [Korean]; and the English word itself 'Goodbye'.

Perhaps these two musical videos can illustrate the usage of the word.

What Jeff Ooi has tweeted is totally pale in comparison with the antics of some of the UMNO leaders.  Here are just some examples.

Way to go, Siti ....

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 — Lawyer and activist Siti Kasim has justified showing the middle finger to her hecklers at a forum about PAS’ Shariah Bill, describing them as “Islamist hooligans” and “brainwashed morons”.

She said the audience at the forum on “Pindaan Akta 355: Antara Realiti Dan Persepsi” organised by the Karangkraf Group in Shah Alam Monday was full of “Islamists”, or Malays who thought they were trying to uphold God’s laws but who were unwilling to listen to anything else that went against their ideals.

“I have been to so many forums. I have asked hard hitting questions but never in my wildest dream that someday I will show a finger in a forum to the audience.

“I don’t regret it one bit. To me, those Islamists hooligans deserve the finger and more. Crass? Rude? Since when a woman cannot be crass and rude in the face of hooligans and brainwashed morons?” Siti wrote in a Facebook post yesterday.

She also accused PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, who was one of the speakers at the forum about PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s private member’s Bill that seeks to amend the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355), of misleading the audience in terms of the law.

“The speakers from PAS and Umno insisted it is not a HUDUD bill. Of course it is not a HUDUD Bill but it has everything to do with HUDUD. Without this amendment to the limit of punishment in the Shariah Courts, they wouldn’t be able to mete out the punishment already stated in their HUDUD ENACTMENT,” said Siti.

Hudud is an Islamic penal code that imposes punishments such as the amputation of limbs for theft and stoning for adultery.

Siti said the Bill seeks, via the introduction of a new Section 2A in Act 355, to remove the restriction on the range of punishments that shariah courts can impose, which are currently limited to three years’ jail, whipping not exceeding six strokes and fines below RM5,000.

She noted that death sentences cannot be imposed under the new Section 2A, but said the amendment appeared to confer shariah courts with “unlimited power” to impose other hudud punishments.

“Hudud offences include offences like zina (adultery), qazaf (false accusation of committing zina), syrub (alcohol consumption) and irtidad or riddah (apostasy) and according to the Kelantan Shariah Criminal Code (II) (1993) 2015 Enactment, punishment for these is whipping, ranging from 40 to 100 lashes.

“The Bill also seeks to substitute the existing Section 2 in Act 355 with a new section that appears to widen the scope of the Shariah Court’s existing criminal jurisdiction, which is currently limited to offences by Muslims against Islam,” Siti said.

PAS has insisted that Hadi’s private member’s Bill only aims to give the shariah courts stronger punitive powers to offences listed under Act 355, while Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom reportedly said last month that there was a need to strengthen the Islamic courts as most of the fines and jail sentences have purportedly failed to deter offenders. 

[Source: MalayMail Online]

Dyana shreds Razlan ...

DAP Youth leader Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud tears up Federal Territories Umno Youth chief Razlan Rafii's list of evidence of DAP disrespecting the Malays.

"I am called to respond to Razlan’s rebuttal statement dated Aug 31, 2016 in which he listed out 'evidence' of DAP disrespecting the Malays," she said in a press statement today.

Citing the 2014 Oktoberfest attended by DAP leaders as mentioned by Razlan, Dyana said government ministers should stop attending diplomatic functions if the latter's theory stood.

"Oktoberfest is now an international event celebrated throughout the world and is not merely about drinking alcohol, as Razlan wants to imply.

"The particular Oktoberfest celebration attended by DAP MPs was not organised by DAP and those who attended did so in response to an invitation," she added.

"Is Razlan suggesting that politicians should not attend events simply because there is alcohol served? In that case, government ministers should stop attending diplomatic functions as well.

"To suggest that Malays are easily offended by what other people eat or drink would be to insult the intelligence of the majority of Malays. Just because Razlan himself may have such narrow-minded views, he should not assume everyone else to be as shallow," she said.

Dyana also reminded Razlan (photo) about Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin referring the party members as lackeys (macai) and BN Langkawi MP Nawawi Ahmad stating that the 'Malaysian Official 1' mentioned in the US Department of Justice lawsuits was the Agong.

"I wonder if Razlan is aware that it is Umno which believes it is okay to refer to its members who are all Malays as macai. In DAP everyone is treated as equal, while Umno views people as lackeys.

"It is Umno which has consistently insulted the Malays by using fear to disempower the Malays for their own political gain.

"As an Umno Youth grassroots leader, I am not surprised that Razlan has a distorted idea of what constitutes an insult to Malays," she said.

Razlan should understand that Malays crave to be free from a political party that deigns to represent them but in fact cheats them, Dyana added.

"Unfortunately, when any Malay dares to stand up against Umno, they are immediately warned that their entire race would be 'destroyed' if Umno loses power."

'Opposing bill doesn't mean opposing Islam'

On DAP's opposition to Act 355 which could pave the way for the implementation of hudud, Dyana asked why it is not disrespectful when BN allies such as Gerakan, MCA and MIC criticise it.

"Opposing the hudud bill does not mean opposing Islam. How can that be the case when lawmakers are merely exercising their duties to debate every law that is tabled, especially when they have far-reaching consequences?" she said.

Dyana also defended Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming's twitter greetings, which used the phrases "In God we trust" and "Lord, guide our nation to you".

"Just because these prayers are written in English do not automatically make them Christian prayers.

"But even so, that in no way justifies Razlan’s actions in organising a violent demonstration at the DAP headquarters. As far as I know, we have not received any apology for the ruckus caused although police reports have been made," she said.

Razlan’s ignorance about the Malaysian electoral system is very worrying, Dyana noted.

"In case he does not know, Teluk Intan is a parliamentary seat. Hence I fail to understand how contesting in Teluk Intan would enable anyone to become a menteri besar candidate in Perak."

Razlan had alleged that DAP lobbied for the Perak menteri besar post, and was forced to recruit Malays like Dyana when it realised only a Malay can hold the post.

Dyana went into the ethnic composition of Selangor city councils, which are made up of about 60 percent Malay councillors, despite them representing only 53 percent of the state's population.

"Penang city councils proportionately represent the population of Penang by ethnicity," she rebutted.

"Based on Razlan’s statements and actions, it would appear that he thinks Malays are lackeys who are easily insulted and have popiah paper-thin tolerance on ethnic and cultural differences. I won’t be surprised because he probably was trained to be a macai chief, just how his party wants him to be."

Dyana urged Razlan to reconsider his views and apologise to all Malaysians, especially Malays for underestimating their intelligence, and if he fails to do so, then he does not deserve to be called a “youth leader”.

"Finally, I would like to invite Razlan to 'like' and 'follow' the Roketkini page on Facebook so that he can keep himself up-to-date with our party’s initiatives which cross race, gender and class boundaries," she said.

If only these NGOs knew the good they have done for Namewee by having him arrested ....

Look who is having the last laugh.

The British rock band Queen and controversial Malaysian rapper Namewee have something in common. The lyrics of some of their songs contain Arabic words, which some Malaysians feel should be used only by Muslims.

The invocation “Bismi Allah (In the name of God)” is used in one of Queen’s biggest hits, “Bohemian Rhapsody”, and the word “Allah” is used in Namewee’s latest video.

Freddie Mercury, the late singer for Queen, must be turning in his grave, wondering what Malaysians are fussing about.

Namewee was arrested on Aug 21 at KLIA upon his return from overseas. Apparently, the mention of Allah in the video was not the reason for the arrest. He is being investigated under the Penal Code for allegedly “defiling a place of worship with intention to insult the religion.”

The other performers in the video will also be investigated. Interpol has been asked to help in the search for them.

Is this really the best use of Interpol’s time and resources?

Why has Interpol’s help not been sought to locate the main characters in the US Department of Justice’s allegations of abuse of Malaysian taxpayers’ money? Again, Namewee has exposed the hypocrisy of our authorities.

Many Muslims who have watched the video see nothing wrong with it. The people who made the police report against Namewee have managed to distract us from the more important issues which plague this country.

More important, however, is that they have ignored the first lesson of marketing. The have succeeded in boosting Namewee’s popularity. His reputation has soared while Malaysia’s has taken a nosedive. The video has been given free publicity. Namewee now doesn’t need to spend money to promote it.

[Mariam Mokhtar is an FMT columnist]

The return of student activism

The Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) came into force in 1971 and with that the clampdown on student activism came to a grinding halt. Yesterday, after 45 years, it was so refreshing to see 2,000 students challenging the might of the authorities and did something that should have been done years ago, to demand for accountability from the government.

UMNO had better sit up and take notice. The Opposition parties may not have sufficient clout to influence the rural folks, but the students can and will do just that unless UMNO start to do something about their own leaders.

If nothing is done, there is one big chunk of votes that UMNO can kiss goodbye to.

Mahathir put in his place by HRH the Sultan of Johore

What a shot from Sultan Ibrahim of Johor directed at Mahathir for his past transgression!!!

“He has quarrelled with many world leaders including with our neighbour Singapore and putting Malaysia in a spot.

“And now he talks about unity with an incredible straight face. Tun Mahathir is the root cause of the present problems in the country. He has no right to interfere in my state. I will not tolerate his antics,”

“He is going around dividing the people including the Malays, while I am uniting Malaysians of all races including the Malays,” Sultan Ibrahim was quoted saying.-Sultan Ibrahim."

Quote:
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 ― Johor monarch Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar has cautioned Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to keep his nose out of matters related to his state, including the “Bangsa Johor” concept used to rally its people.

Dr Mahathir’s antagonism towards world leaders had put Malaysia “in a spot” in the past, the sultan was reported by The Star as saying today in a scathing response to the former prime minister’s remarks yesterday that such notions promoting affinity to individual states over the country will divide Malaysians.

“He has quarrelled with many world leaders including with our neighbour Singapore and putting Malaysia in a spot.

“And now he talks about unity with an incredible straight face. Tun Mahathir is the root cause of the present problems in the country. He has no right to interfere in my state. I will not tolerate his antics,” Sultan Ibrahim was quoted saying.

He remarked that the 91-year-old Kedahan is now making trouble as the protem chairman of a new Umno splinter force Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia that is seeking to unseat the Malay nationalist party at the next general elections and advised Dr Mahathir to “keep his mouth shut”.

“He is going around dividing the people including the Malays, while I am uniting Malaysians of all races including the Malays,” Sultan Ibrahim was quoted saying.

He added that the “Bangsa Johor” concept was initiated by his great-grandfather and namesake Sultan Sir Ibrahim Al-Masyhur Abu Bakar in 1920 as a clarion call to unite the diverse races in the state under one flag.

“No race or individual was marginalised,” the Johor ruler was quoted saying, and castigated Dr Mahathir for his ignorance of history.

The “Bangsa Johor” concept could encourage “unhealthy” feelings of superiority by the residents of one state over another, Dr Mahathir said in a question-and-answer session during a forum on the relations between the federal and state governments in Putrajaya yesterday.

The fourth prime minister had introduced and promoted the “Bangsa Malaysia” policy during his 22-year tenure in office that ended in 2003 and pointed out that Johor owed some of its current prosperity and development to its position in the Federation of Malaysia.

He also commented later that Johor’s departure from the federation would be detrimental both to the state and the country as both shared a symbiotic relationship with each other, in response to past suggestions from Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Ibrahim that his state was entitled to leave Malaysia if it was unhappy with Putrajaya.

Perhaps hoping to drive home his point, Sultan Ibrahim posted a 2-minute video of his interaction with Johoreans in Muar on his official Facebook page earlier this morning, which he titled: “Sultan of Johor : Bersama Bangsa Johor, Muar, 23 Ogos 2016”.

In the few hours since it was uploaded, the post has drawn over 2,000 “likes”.

Unquote

Thank you, Lee Chong Wei, you have done your best and there is nothing more we could have asked from you.

Is this mufti for real or what?

Malaysians from all walks of life are currently caught up in the euphoria of the Olympics especially the badminton matches which involved our players who are mainly of Chinese descent.  Walk into any public eatery, you will see Malays, Chinese, Indians and Eurasians huddled together cheering our teams on.

But here comes the anti-climax in the form of the Perak mufti (he doesn't even deserve a capital 'M' to his position) who now warns Malays to be aware of the nons.  He couldn't have chosen a better moment than this to make his statement, which like Berita Harian and Kosmo, will be roasted by netizens nationwide.

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Perak Mufti Harussani Zakaria admits there is nothing “haram” about non-Muslim maids working for Muslim families. However, he agrees with the Immigration Department’s move to bar Muslims from hiring non-Muslim maids in order to protect the faith of their children.

According to the good mufti, “non-Muslim maids are smart” and therefore could influence Muslim children to adopt practices from their own religions.

I never knew the mufti possessed this kind of sixth sense. However, since he is a mufti, I guess his advice does carry some weight. After all, muftis are people of great wisdom.

However, I am confused. According to an authenticated hadith, the Prophet had a personal servant who was a Jew. The servant’s duties included bringing him water for his ablutions.

Was the Prophet not fearful of having a non-Muslim around him when the Jew could easily influence his family members?

But then again, if our beloved Prophet was alive today, I am sure instead of supporting the ban, he would advise our Muslim mothers to stay home to care for their families and educate their own children without having to hand over this responsibility to a domestic helper whose task should be about maintaining the household and not the family.

For what it’s worth, allow me to say that we are indeed lucky to have our wise muftis and authorities who are always keen on protecting the faith of Muslims. After all, we, fragile Muslims are not capable enough to protect ourselves and are in need of a bodyguard team to always ensure the path we follow is free from those who can potentially taint our souls.

While we are at it, I would like to ask our wise mufti and other government authorities to also look into other possible situations that could likely expose our Muslim brothers and sisters, not forgetting our children too, to the influence of the non-Muslims. After all, we can never trust what goes on inside their filthy minds. They could be creating a master plan to spread their own beliefs among us.

Taking this into consideration, I suggest the following be banned too:

• Non-Muslim teachers teaching Muslim students
• Non-Muslim doctors and nurses treating Muslim patients
• Non-Muslim employers employing a Muslim workforce
• Non-Muslim caretakers attending to Muslim seniors at nursing homes
• Non-Muslim ministers in charge of the welfare of the Muslim population

Perhaps a much better idea would be to stop non-Muslims from getting involved in any area where Muslims have a presence. Therefore there should be no non-Muslim cooks, waiters, builders, contractors, firemen, policemen, guards, plumbers and even fishmongers who are directly involved with Muslims. For all we know, each of them is trying to shake our faith in one way or another.

So yeah, let us not only ban non-Muslim maids from working for Muslim families. Let us ban all non-Muslims from having anything to do with Muslims.

A good way to achieve this would be to segregate Muslims from non-Muslims. By the way, the filthy money made by non-Muslims and the filthy tax paid by non-Muslims shall not be used for the benefit of Muslims as well. We are after all dignified Muslims, are we not?

[Source: FMT]