Hishamudin: I’d judge Perak, 'Allah' cases differently...

The Perak constitutional crisis case of 2009 and the Roman Catholic Archbishop’s challenge against the Home Ministry over the use of the word “Allah”, were recent highly-charged cases that gripped the nation.

However, to former Court of Appeal judge, Justice Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus, who never sat on any of these two cases, the High Court decisions in both cases should have stood.

Judging by the facts of the cases, he said he would be inclined to agree with the decisions of the High Court judges had he sat on the Federal Court bench.

In the Perak case, the Kuala Lumpur High Court decided then PAS leader Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin (photo) was the rightful menteri besar.

The decision was made by Justice Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahim, who is now at the Court of Appeal.

However, that decision was overturned by Court of Appeal and upheld by the Federal Court recognising Zambry Abdul Kadir as the MB.

In the Archbishop’s case, the High Court in 2009 decided the banning of the word 'Allah' in the Bahasa Malaysia publication of the Christian weekly The Herald was unconstitutional.

The High Court judge who made the decision was Justice Lau Bee Lan.

However, as in the Perak case the decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court upheld it with a narrow 4-3 majority.

Justice Hishamudin, however, did not want to comment on another controversial case, the Anwar Ibrahim Sodomy II trial, as the case is on review.

Leaving it to public opinion

Hishamudin said from conversations with the public, he can understand how the independence of the Court of Appeal and Federal Court can be questioned, especially when it comes to high profile cases.

“As to whether the superior courts are truly independent, I leave it to the court of public opinion to judge.

“I can only say this. Judges are expected by the Federal Constitution and their oath of office to be independent in making decisions; to decide in accordance with the law and the constitution; and to decide without fear or favour.

“To what extent that a judge lives up to this expectation depends on the integrity of the individual judge.

“But a person must not accept the appointment of a judge if he/she is timid or cannot not live up to the expectation of his or her office,” he said.

However, he said that as a Court of Appeal judge, he had never been told or directed how to decide a case; or been reprimanded over a decision that he had made.

Asked further on perception that many top judges are sympathetic to Umno, Hishamudin said it was neither fair nor appropriate for him to speculate on their sympathies or political inclinations.

“All I can say is that judges must decide cases according to the facts, the law and the Constitution. Political leanings are irrelevant.

“An honest judge must put that aside in deciding cases,” he stressed.

Negative perception

The highly-respected judge said incidences like a video tape allegedly showing how judges are brokered caused damage to the judiciary’s image, and it will take time to recover.

“The negative perception is still there,” he admitted.

He may be leaving the judiciary, he said, but his love for the nation remains strong.

His wish as such is to see Malaysia be a truly democratic nation.

“Where the rule of law and human rights are respected in accordance with the spirit of the Federal Constitution and the Rukun Negara, with the citizens living in harmony and enjoying a decent standard of living; and corruption and abuse of power kept to a very minimum.” - mk

Hishamudin: Saya berbeza hakimi kes Perak, 'Allah'

Yes, Najib blocked my promotion, says retired judge Hishamudin...

He may have been hailed as a beacon of light in the Malaysian judiciary but he never got the promotions his peers such as recently appointed attorney-general Mohd Apandi Ali did.

Court of Appeal justice Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus, who retired earlier this month, confirmed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak halted his elevation to the Federal Court.

He explained that this happened in 2013, when the judicial appointments commission (JAC) recommended his name to the PM for appointment to the Federal Court.

“Unfortunately, the PM was not in favour of my elevation to the Federal Court. I think this fact is public knowledge,” he told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview.

Formed through the JAC Act 2009, the commission was mooted during former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's time.

Its role is to ensure an unbiased selection of judges to the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Federal Court where the commission would weigh in and make recommendations to the PM.

The commission came in the aftermath of the royal commission of inquiry into the Lingam video tape controversy in 2007 that involved political interference in judicial appointments.

Hishamudin's many landmark decisions throughout his 23-year career may have impacted his promotion.

Among his memorable rulings was his decision in 2001 to release PKR leaders N Gobalakrishnan and Abdul Ghani Haroon from detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and a more recent decision that the persecution of cross dressers is unconstitutional.

Career triple bypass

As to how many times he has been bypassed for promotions to the Federal Court - whether it was three - Hishamudin said he did not bother to count.

“But probably, you could be right,” he said.

Asked how he felt about this, he admitted to feeling downhearted.

“To be honest, I felt disappointed. It would be unnatural if I did not feel that way. After all, I am human,” he said.

Hishamudin, who hails from Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, is known for many landmark judgments when he was on the bench at the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

He is one of the longest serving judges at the High Court, where he was appointed as a judicial commissioner in 1992 and then confirmed in Oct 1994, before his elevation to the Court of Appeal in April 2009.

He was the senior most Court of Appeal judge in 2015 that had not gotten promoted to the apex court.

Constitutional law expert and law professor Shad Saleem Faruqi paid tribute to this legal luminary upon his retirement with an article in The Star last week, highlighting Hishamudin’s many landmark decisions.

It was reported in Malaysiakini in February that Putrajaya had put a stop to Hishamudin's advancement as a Federal Court judge in January 2013, as his name was omitted despite a recommendation by the commission.

The rumour then was that the snub had something to do with Hishamudin leading a panel at the Court of Appeal against Najib, which unanimously overturned the High Court decision which said M Manoharan and P Uthayakumar had no legal standing to sue the government over the welfare of Tamil schools.

Manoharan described that case, a challenge on behalf of Hindraf, as the only time someone had won against a sitting prime minister.

Disappointed but no regrets

Asked whether he views his non-elevation to Federal Court as a form of discrimination, Hishamudin quipped, "Well, what do you think?"

He added that despite the snub, he had no regrets.

“I had carried out my duty as a judge in a manner expected of me. I have upheld the oath of office and decided cases in accordance with my conscience, the law, and the Federal Constitution.

“I have consistently upheld the cause of justice. If I have to relive my life again as a judge, I would still have decided those landmark cases in the same way that I did,” he said.

On describing his retirement from the bench, he said he leaves with a great sense of fulfilment.

“I think I have done my very best in serving my country, in contributing to the development of Malaysian law, and above all, to the cause of justice,” he said.

When asked of his relationship with his peers, including Federal Court judges Abdull Hamid Embong and Apandi (above), Hishamudin said he was happy for them.

“Our acquaintances go a long way back. We were law students in London in the late sixties and early seventies.

“In fact, all three of us were on the same Qantas Boeing 707 flight that night to London in September 1969; and going under the same scholarship.

"Abdull Hamid and myself were classmates at Malay College Kuala Kangsar, from 1962 to 1968, and both of us grew up in the judicial and legal services,” he said.

Besides Abdull Hamid and Apandi, former Court of Appeal judge Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof was also from the same batch.

Justice Ariff entered the judiciary from private practice in 2009 and he retired in January from the Court of Appeal. All of them studied at the London School of Economics. - mk

Bekas hakim: PM sekat kenaikan pangkat saya.

Dr M: Najib berpontensi ditangkap di luar negara...

Berdepan beberapa siasatan penggubahan wang yang dikaitkan dengan skandal 1MDB, perdana menteri berpontensi untuk ditangkap di luar negara, kata bekas perdana menteri Tun Dr Mahahtir Mohamad.

Beliau berkata demikian dalam satu ucapan pada Jumaat, berdasarkan kepada video klip yang dimuat naik penulis blog Din Turtle, yang menjalankan beberapa temubual kritikal Dr Mahahtir terhadap Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Dr Mahahtir berkata Najib mungkin dapat mengelak siasatan terhadap skandal 1MDB yang sedang disiasat di luar negara, tetapi tidak di luar negara.

"Undang-undang dunia berbeza daripada dulu. Kalau jenayah buat di sini, undang-undang sini berkuatkuasa.

"Tapi jika (jenayah) kaitan dengan luar negeri, negara lain ada kuasa (untuk mengambil tindakan)," katanya.

"Sekarang ini, di Switzerland, Britian, Amerika Syarikat... (sudah ada siasatan penggubahan wang). Mereka berhak untuk saman untuk suruh Interpol tangkap (jika ada alasan kukuh).

"Kalau (dia) keluar daripada negara, mungkin akan berlaku tangkapan," kata negawaran dalam ucapannya dalam majlis 'Kumpulan Melayu Berani Bersatu' di Kuala Lumpur, seperti menurut video klip itu.

Bagaimanapun Dr Mahathir cukup berhati-hati dengan menyatakan ia hanya spekulasi.

"Itu mungkin. Saya cerita, bukan akan berlaku," kata bekas perdana menteri selama 22 tahun itu. - mk

Mahathir speculates about Najib’s arrest abroad.

FBI Opens Money-Laundering Investigation On 1MDB...

Shortly after police officers from Bukit Aman arrested former UMNO leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan, WSJ reports that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has initiated an investigation into allegations of money-laundering linked to the debt-ridden 1MDB

Citing an unnamed person familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said the FBI's probe is the latest in a series of international investigations centred on the 1MDB scandal. It, however, said that the scope of the investigation wasn't known.

Although contrary to the claims made by Khairuddin's lawyer Matthias Chang that the former UMNO leader was scheduled to travel to New York to meet with an FBI agent to urge the U.S. authorities to investigate PM Najib's involvement in the 1MDB, a spokeswoman for the FBI's New York office told WSJ that no agent in the office had arranged to speak with Khairuddin or had any previous contact with him.

1MDB was set up by Najib to invest in Malaysia's economy.The international investigations center on entities related to 1Malaysia Development Bhd., which was set up by Prime Minister Najib Razak in 2009 to help drive the economy. The fund is having difficulty repaying more than $11 billion of debt and is at the center of investigations that are destabilizing the government.

A Malaysian government probe found that nearly $700 million moved through banks, agencies and companies linked to 1MDB before being deposited into Mr. Najib’s alleged private bank accounts ahead of a close election in 2013, the Journal reported in July.

The source of the money is unclear, and the government investigation hasn’t detailed what happened to the funds that allegedly went into Mr. Najib’s personal accounts. Malaysia’s anticorruption body in August said the funds were a donation from the Middle East. The donor wasn’t specified.

Mr. Najib has denied wrongdoing and denied taking money for personal gain.

We know the Switzerland's Office of Attorney-General has opened a criminal proceedings against two unidentified executives of 1MDB and has also frozen tens of millions of dollars in Swiss banks.

After which, on 15 September, Switzerland’s Federal Prosecutor said his Malaysian counterpart, Apandi Ali, has agreed to arrange for Swiss investigators to interview witnesses in their investigation.

In a statement, Switzerland’s Office of Attorney-General said that its chief, Michael Lauber, today met with his Malaysian counterpart, Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali, to discuss “mutual cooperation” in the 1MDB case.

The statement said the Swiss regarded Malaysian cooperation as crucial to their ongoing inquiry. The Swiss did not identify witnesses whose testimony they formally requested Malaysian authorities to arrange.

Meanwhile, commenting on the series of ongoing investigations by foreign countries into alleged money-laundering activities linked to 1MDB, the longest-serving PM of Malaysia, Dr Mahathir, said it could lead to PM Najib being arrested abroad if any wrongdoing is proven.

Speaking at a meeting with an NGO named Kumpulan Melayu Berani Bersatu on Friday, Dr Mahathir said that there was a “possibility” that such a scenario could happen.

"Those countries ― Switzerland, Britain, America ― if they find Najib doing any money laundering (activities) they can ask Interpol to arrest him if he goes overseas. So he (Najib) has to remain here, like how he withdrew the passports of some people and barred them from going overseas," the said in a video uploaded on Youtube.- says.com

cheers.

Din kata,semua dah siasat,kalu salah tangkaplah...

Bekas timbalan perdana menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata, Malaysia mengamalkan kedaulatan undang-undang dan akan menghukum sesiapa sahaja yang melakukan kesalahan.

Justeru itu, beliau berkata, hasil siasatan 1MDB sepatutnya didedahkan untuk mengetahui siapa yang bersalah berhubung dakwaan skandal kewangan tersebut.

Sehubungan itu, katanya, sesiapa yang didapati bersalah tidak akan terlepas daripada hukuman yang termaktub dalam undang-undang.

"Macam 1MDB, SPRM (Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia) dah siasat, Bank Negara dah siasat, polis dah siasat, peguam negara sepatutnya dah selesai (siasat).

“Kalau semua dah siasat kita tengok siapa salah.

"Kalau ada orang yang salah, beritahu (sama ada) orang  itu salah atau tak. Kalau dia salah mesti ada penjara, hukuman. Malaysia negara yang ikut kedaulatan undang-undang.

"Kalau curi wang pun kena tangkap, curi ayam pun kena tangkap. Semua orang buat jahat kena tangkap. Tak boleh biar," katanya sambil mendapat tepukan kira-kira 100 orang hadirin.

Timbalan presiden Umno itu berkata demikian dalam majlis perjumpaan bersama masyarakat Cina di Parlimen Pagoh hari ini.- mk

 

Najib should comment on WSJ, not red shirt rally...

A PAS leader has slammed Prime Minister Najib Razak for his public speech supporting the red shirt rally, but keeping silent on allegations raised by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

"Why is the PM continuing to praise the racially motivated red shirt rally that was organised by Umno on Sept 16?

"This is part of the diversionary tactic to indirectly shift attention and the people's conversations, so that they continue to fall into the pit of endless debate about race," said PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man in a statement today.

Instead, he said, Najib should be commenting on the many allegations against him and 1MDB.

"For example, as the PM and finance minister, Najib has not given any response about the allegations levelled by WSJ till today," he said.

Najib yesterday congratulated the red shirt rally, eventually named 'Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu', for being "peaceful".

"We are not like the opposition when they do street rallies. Malays know the country's laws," he was reported saying.

'Don't fall for race bait'

Yesterday, WSJ reported that another US$1 billion payment from 1MDB to Abu Dhabi's International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC) is allegedly missing.

"(Abu Dhabi) officials are questioning a further $993 million that 1MDB reported it paid to the Abu Dhabi fund, IPIC, but which also appears to be largely missing, people familiar with the matter said," reported the international financial daily.

It said officials from 1MDB and IPIC did not respond to requests for comment.

Tuan Ibrahim pointed out Najib has been silent on these allegations.

"We only hear 1MDB's voice of 1MDB rubbishing the reports without answering them in a direct and transparent manner," he said.

"All this (the rally) is a tactic to stop the people from talking about 1MDB or the RM2.6 billion (in Najib's personal accounts).

"Instead, the people continue to be baited with relentless controversial statements from Umno leaders in order to continue the racial debate over the Sept 16 rally," said Tuan Ibrahim.

He called on the media not to fall for the trap and move away from reporting "sensationalist" statements and "bait" from these Umno leaders, and focus on issues that involve the people's problems.

"Be wary of this psychological warfare," he warned.

'Back to misery for red shirts'

Meanwhile PAS Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar said sarcastically now that the rally is over, the participants have nothing to look forward to but a hard life ahead with the high cost of living and low wages.

"The rubber tappers will go back to the plantation to get RM2.15 a kilo that will be split in half with the owner," he quipped, adding the allowance they had allegedly received to participate would not stretch very far.

The only beneficiaries of the rally, he said, were the ministers and heads of GLCs and government agencies who were at Padang Merbok, who can go home smiling and confident that their positions are well protected.

"And who will be smiling without enduring the heat and sweat (of the rally) and without having to shout 'hidup Melayu' are Jho Low, George Kent (Tan Kay Hock) who are Najib's business partners [...] and Arul Kanda, who has been entrusted to manage 1MDB with his lucrative pay to protect Najib's wongdoings," said Mahfuz wrily.

He said the three of them are the ones who are laughing the loudest. - mk

Story kat sini...

cheers.

3 polis cedera, dibawa ke hospital...

Tiga anggota polis tercedera semasa berlakunya kekecohan di hadapan pintu gerbang Jalan Petaling, kata Timbalan Pengarah Jenayah Komersial dan Risikan SAC Roslan Abdul Wahid.

Katanya, ketiga-tiga mereka telah dibawa ke hospital dan hanya cedera ringan.

Selain itu, beliau juga memberitahu, polis terpaksa mengguna meriam air kerana peserta himpunan ingin merempuh kawasan perniagaan di kawasan itu.

"Kami perlu gerakkan aset, FRU (Unit Simpanan Persekutuan) dan tambah halangan keselamatan. Ketika itu kami cuba bercakap dengan mereka jangan rempuh halangan.

“Ada lima, enam kumpulan kecil tanpa pemimpin dan tiada kawalan.

"Apabila FRU tiba, kami cuba kekalkan supaya mereka tidak berlaku ganas," katanya kepada pemberita.

 

Polis antirusuhan petang tadi menggunakan meriam air untuk menyuraikan peserta Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu di ibu negara setelah terdapat peserta enggan berganjak dari Jalan Petaling.

Sebelum ini terdapat peserta membaling pasukan FRU dengan botol plastik selain membuat provokasi kepada polis, termasuk menggelar mereka “barua Cina”.

Lautan manusia berbaju merah hadir dalam perhimpunan hari ini, yang dilihat menyatakan sokongan kepada pentadbiran perdana menteri selain menyatakan bantahan kepada BERSIH 4 sebelum ini.

Polis hanya memberikan kebenaran berhimpun di Padang Merbok sahaja.

Kejadian di Jalan Petaling berlaku ketika kumpulan di Padang Merbok sedang bersurai.-mk

Provocation, racial slurs mar 'red shirts' rally...

About 45,000 people took the streets for the 'Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu' rally in Kuala Lumpur today as a counter-move to the Bersih 4 rally on Aug 29 and 30.

Umno denied having a hand in today's protest but the organiser National Silat Federation (Pesaka) is seen as a front for the party as the martial arts body is spearheaded by Umno leaders including former Malacca chief minister Mohd Ali Rustam.

Despite senior Umno leaders taking over from grassroots hardliners in a bid to tone down the rally, it was marred by racism with abuses hurled at Chinese journalists and provocative banners being displayed.

The major target of the protesters was opposition party DAP which has now become a euphemism for the minority Chinese in Malaysia.

While the rally at Padang Merbok was peaceful, violence broke out at Petaling Street where a group of almost 800 protesters tried to force their way into the predominantly Chinese business district, popularly known as Chinatown.

The tense stand-off between police guarding the area and the protesters clad in red T-shirts culminated into the firing of a water cannon by riot police. Three police officers and several protestors were injured in the scuffle.- mk

Listen, Listen, Listen – Racist Johoreans (Red Shirts) Must Leave Johor...

The Red and Black Shirts rally is quite a success, as far as rioting and looting benchmark is concerned, so far. They started marching at about 12:30pm and by 4:30pm the party was over. Nope, they didn’t spend 12-hour as plan earlier. Hundreds were seen to be leaving Padang Merbok at 4:30pm, heading back early to their respective buses.

Yes, the Red Shirts were so much lucky compared to Yellow Shirts in many aspects. For a start, thousands of buses were paid to transport them, mostly from outstations. In fact, there were so many buses rented that even a bus with Taylor University’s logo was spotted transporting participants. The university has denied knowledge of its usage. 

 

The Red Shirts were also given free food, drinks, pocket money and even pre-made placards. They were also quite good at marketing and recruiting as can be seen when they gave away food, money and red T-shirts to some homeless people along Jalan Hang Lekiu. The homeless later exposed they were asked to “Jalan-Jalan” (walking about) wearing it.

However, situation was tense at Petaling Street when about 1,000 Red Shirts reportedly strayed from the original plan to march to gathering centre Padang Merbok. These Red Shirts seem to be more interested in breaching the Chinatown which is under police barricades. FRU and police were on standby, with 5 FRU trucks not too far away. 

 

At the time of writing, FRU has unleashed chemical-laced water into the crowd who not only refused to leave after a final bell has been given, but also attacked the FRU and police with bottles and cones. Clearly, the troublemakers have other plan, probably to destroy shops along Chinatown, knowing very well that 100% of the shops are closed for the day.

Whether the chaos would spread into a much serious riot later of the day remains to be seen. It is estimated that about 50,000 strong Red Shirts crowd have marched and gathered at Padang Merbok. However, Red Shirts (what happens to the Black Shirts?) speaker Razali Idris claims 300,000 have attended the rally.

Regardless of 50,000 or 300,000 participants, there’s little doubt the crowd is very much smaller than Bersih 4.0 Yellow Shirts rally. Continue reding here...


What did the ‘red shirt’ rally achieve, ask social media users

Story kat SINI dan SINI  

cheers.

Himpunan 16 Sept himpunan bodek Najib...

Parti Amanah Negara (AMANAH) Mohamad Sabu menempelak penganjuran Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu yang dijadual berlangsung esok kerana dianggap sebagai himpunan "membodek" kepemimpinan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.

Pengerusinya Mohamad Sabu menyifatkan himpunan itu sebagai "tidak gentlemen" kerana himpunan yang berani adalah himpunan yang menyatakan kebenaran depan pemerintah yang zalim.

Bekas timbalan presiden PAS itu berkata hal itu juga bersesuaian dengan maksud Nabi Muhammad SAW dan amalan para nabi sebelum ini seperti Nabi Ibrahim dan Nabi Musa yang menentang pemerintahan yang zalim pada zamannya.

"Bagi saya perhimpunan yang diadakan esok, (adalah) himpunan bodek pemerintah, bukan himpunan orang yang berani. Sebab menyokong pemerintah. Perhimpunan yang berani (adalah perhimpunan) lawan pemerintah.

"Sekarang kita kena lawan Najib dan pemerintahanya. Bagi saya, kamu ada misai melintang ka, guru silat ka, kalau himpunan untuk sokong pemerintah, kamu bukan gentleman. Kalau mengikut (maksud) hadis, itu bukan dia," katanya.

Mohamad yang mesra dipanggil Mat Sabu itu menjawab soalan berhubung penyertaan bekas perdana menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yang menyertai BERSIH 4 hujung bulan lalu yang antara lain menuntut Najib melepas jawatannnya.

Ia susulan Najib kini berdepan pelbagai skandal dan tuduhan termasuk isu sumbangan politik RM2.6 bilion yang didepositkan ke dalam akaun peribadinya dan skandal beban hutang firma pelaburan 1MDB.

Polis bagaimapun memberi kebenaran penganjuran himpunan tersebut di Padang Merbok selepas Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) memberi kebenaran penggunaan kawasan itu termasuk Umno yang tidak melarang anggota menyertai himpunan itu tetapi perlu mematuhi undang-undang.

Mengulas lanjut dalam wawancara dengan Malaysiakini hari ini, beliau turut membidas Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yang memberi sokongan terhadap penganjuran himpunan itu di Padang Merbok esok.

"Orang yang melawan, menentang pemerintah yang zalim sebab segala kuasa ada pada pemerintah. Ini menteri dalam negeri pun beri sokongan, himpunan apa macam tu. Ini himpunan bodek sahaja," katanya lagi.

Mengulas kehadiran Dr Mahathir dalam himpunan itu, Mohamad berkata kehadiran bekas presiden Umno itu semata-mata beliau bersetuju dengan desakan supaya Najib melepaskan jawatan, bukannya menyokong BERSIH.

"Bagi saya (kepada) Dr Mahathir, kalau ada kes pemerintah adil, kalau dia (pemimpin) buat kesalahan, inilah masanya untuk mendakwa dia.

"Jadi, orang kata, kenapa boleh bersama Dr Mahathir, bagi saya dia (Dr Mahathir) bukan pemerintah lagi," katanya. - mk

Burn my photo, but don’t burn the country...

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said having his effigy burned is nothing new to him and if certain quarters "enjoyed" doing it, they can carry on doing it.

"You want to burn, then burn on, as long as you don't burn down the country.

"If it is fun burning my picture, then do it. But don't burn down the country also," the Penang chief minister told reporters at his Komtar office today.

He was commenting on reports and a video showing Umno members, led by Kota Baru division head Datuk Mohd Fatmi Che Salleh, burning his effigy and another of his father DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang. Both effigies were clad in Bersih 4 shirts.

Fatmi, who is Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's former political secretary, was seen giving a fiery speech urging party members to participate in the September 16 gathering to “uphold the dignity of Malays” in the video.

"The people of Kota Baru must fight, fight for our religion, race and country."

He also criticised the two DAP leaders and organisers of Bersih 4, who he added were out to break up the Malay race.

"Burning their effigies is a symbol of our protest, we are against everything about Bersih which are just lies. Do you agree?

"They are evil, and want to break up the Malay race and this country," Fatmi said in the video of the programme, which was reportedly held in Kota Baru on Sunday. 

 

Lim said the only thing bothering him was the use of religion for provocation, as the people in the video also conducted mock Buddhist funeral rites for him and Kit Siang.

"Don't use religion. Don't insult religion. How can Muslims do such things? I know that true Muslims would not do this because Islam forbids insulting other faiths.

"This is dangerous and I ask everyone to remain calm. Malaysians should stand united to defeat racists and extremists, and not to let them try to cover up issues and scandals with such methods.

"When we talk about fighting corruption and clean government, they do this to divert attention and frighten the people. Barisan Nasional and Umno are bankrupt of ideas," he said.

Lim expressed sceptism the latest incident would be treated differently from similar incidents in the past, when his effigy and pictures were burned, despite Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar saying it would be investigated.

"Action was not taken previously. How will this incident be any different, especially when the person involved is a former aide of the prime minister?"

Lim again took BN component party leaders to task for not criticising the police, the home minister and the prime minister over the planned "red shirt" rally by a Malay rights group tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, Penang deputy chief minister I, Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, said as a Muslim, he felt sad about the effigy burning, adding that it was something that should not have happened in a multiracial society.

"I condemn it myself. It was clearly a provocation. It seemed they wanted revenge over Bersih 4 but what they had done was off the mark," he said. – tmi

Najib Pun Tak Layan Perhimpunan Ikan Bakar Sekinchan...

cheers.

Dr M - Sue Al Jazeera if report false...

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his government have a duty to clear the nation's name regarding the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu, Dr Mahathir Mohamad says.

"Proof must be given that the murder, 'cover-up', police involvement and (Abdul) Razak Baginda were in no way guilty of the terrible crime.

"The judiciary including the Attorney General's Chambers too must clear their names, especially with regard to the acquittal of Razak Baginda (photo) and the appeal by the attorney-general, which was confined only to the two policemen.

"They were retried and were found guilty and sentenced to be hanged to death," Mahathir added in a blog post.

The former prime minister was commenting on the Al Jazeera documentary about the slaying of the Mongolian national, titled 'Murder in Malaysia'.

Mahathir said Malaysians abroad are already being asked what has happened to their country, and this latest episode would worsen the situation.

"The government must take this documentary film seriously and try to clear our name.

"Taking it (the documentary) off Al Jazeera in Malaysia would not change anything.

"The documentary has gone viral in Malaysia and is still shown throughout the world," he added.

 

 Mahathir also urged the government to sue the media organisation if there is no truth in the documentary.

"Najib's government claims Al Jazeera is trying to subvert the government with the half-hour documentary on murder in Malaysia. It claims there is no truth in the report.

"Al Jazeera is watched by millions throughout the world. Most would believe what they see. Merely saying it is not true may convince some Malaysians but not foreigners.

"After all, during the Merdeka month, Al Jazeera showed a glowing documentary on Malaysia, including its PM. Viewers have a choice to believe which documentary.

"This new documentary would blacken not only Najib’s name but the country as well. It is not pleasant to be told the prime minister may be involved in a murder," Mahathir added.

Najib has repeatedly denied being involved in the 2006 murder case, which is often exploited by political rivals during election campaigns.

The prime minister’s close associate Razak Baginda was initially charged with abetting the murder, but was acquitted without being called to make his defence.

Two former special operations force personnel Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri have been convicted with murdering the Mongolian national.

However, Sirul fled to Australia before the Federal Court overturned his acquittal in January. He is currently being held at an immigration detention centre in Sydney.


The Al Jazeera documentary alleged, among others, that Sirul was attempting to blackmail Najib and quoted an unnamed relative of the former policeman as claiming that Razak Baginda pulled the trigger.

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar dismissed the allegations and announced that police are investigating Al Jazeera's Australian-based journalist Mary Ann Jolley over her report and those who fed her wrong information.

Meanwhile, Najib claimed it was part of conspiracy to force him out of office.- mk

Dr M cabar k'jaan saman Al Jazeera isu Altantuya...

Story kat SINI dan SINI

10 sebab mengapa kumpulan baju merah hanya pandai meniru dan tiada imaginasi...

Kehidupan sebagai seorang Melayu Umno Baru mesti sukar.

Indoktrinasi yang berjalan berdekad-dekad lamanya telah meyakinkan mereka bahawa merekalah yang terbaik dalam segala hal dan layak mendapat kejayaan tanpa usaha. Ini menjadikan mereka angkuh.

Wang tanpa apa-apa usaha.

Seks secara percuma.

Selepas 58 tahun merdeka, Melayu Umno Baru menjadi bertambah sempit pemikiran, perkauman, rasa tidak selamat, misoginistik dan paling teruk, tidak tahu apa-apa.

Sementara rakyat Malaysia yang lain telah masuk ke abad ke-21, Melayu Umno Baru masih seperti ayam kampung – berkokok dengan gembira sambil mencakar kotoran.

Tidak seperti penyokong Bersih yang proaktif dan mahukan perubahan, kumpulan “baju merah” hanya melakukan tindakbalas.

Berikut adalah sepuluh contoh tentang betapa kurangnya imaginasi mereka.
 
1. Muflis idea
 
Peserta Bersih memakai baju kuning, berhimpun pada 29-30 Ogos untuk mendesak perletakan jawatan Najib Razak. Perhimpunan baju merah hanyalah tindakbalas daripada itu, untuk menunjukkan masih ada yang menyokong Najib. Umno Baru hanyalah peniru, sama seperti Menteri Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah Ismail Sabri yang mencadangkan ‘Low Yat II’ untuk meniru kejayaan Plaza Low Yat.

2. Propaganda perkauman ketimbang desakan yang baik
 
Rasuah, ketidakadilan dan salah guna kuasa telah melumpuhkan Malaysia. Lima matlamat Bersih adalah untuk menegakkan proses demokrasi melalui pilihanraya yang bersih. Perhimpunan baju merah tidak lebih daripada Klu Klux Klan versi Asia.

3. Kegiatan perniagaan  

Dilaporkan bahawa kegiatan perniagaan rancak berjalan ketika Bersih 4, sehingga ada beberapa kedai yang kehabisan makanan. Retorik perkauman dan ganas kumpulan baju merah telah menakutkan ramai peniaga sehingga menasihati pelanggan mereka untuk tidak datang pada 16 September.

4. Sikap hipokrit kerajaan

Walaupun sudah dijanjikan yang Bersih 4 dibenarkan untuk berlangsung secara aman, penganjurnya diganggu, perhimpunan diisytihar sebagai haram, baju kuning dilarang, dan orang ramai diancam denda jika memakai baju kuning.

Penganjur diarahkan mengadakan perhimpunan di stadium. Mereka yang terlibat memantau perhimpunan diancam hukuman. Namun penganjur perhimpunan baju merah tidak pula menerima ancaman yang sama.

5. Tarikan di peringkat global

Bersih 4 memiliki tarikan global dengan lebih 50 kota di seluruh dunia memberi respon kepada desakan Bersih untuk pilihanraya yang adil dan perletakan jawatan Najib. Kumpulan baju merah tidak boleh mendakwa yang mereka juga begitu.

6. Perpecahan ketimbang perpaduan
 
Penyertaan pada Bersih 4 meningkat menjelang Hari Merdeka, dengan rakyat Malaysia dari pelbagai latar belakang menunjukkan perpaduan mereka. Perhimpunan baju merah pula memecahbelah dan hanya mewakili minoriti kecil ahli Umno Baru yang perkauman dan berfikiran sempit. Perhimpunan yang akan diadakan pada Hari Malaysia itu menghina seluruh rakyat.

7. Kekeliruan ketimbang komunikasi

Mesej Bersih kepada kerajaan adalah jelas. Najib perlu letak jawatan dan pilihanraya perlu dilakukan secara bersih untuk menegakkan demokrasi negara ini.

Perhimpunan baju merah hanyalah gangguan, yang diadakan untuk mengalih tumpuan rakyat daripada skandal 1MDB, derma RM2.6 bilion dan dakwaan rasuah lain.

8. Kehadiran berbayar ketimbang sukarela

Penyokong Bersih secara sukarela dan sendiri menyokong lima desakan Bersih dan perletakan jawatan Najib.

Ceramah Umno Baru pula perlu bas yang disewa khusus untuk membawa penduduk pedalaman. Malah mereka diberi wang belanja dan makanan atas kehadiran mereka.

9. Salah guna wang rakyat ketimbang sumbangan sukarela
 
Penyokong Bersih 4 menggunakan wang sendiri untuk membali baju Bersih. Bagi baju merah pula, kemungkinan besar wang rakyat ada digunakan.

10. Kewibawaan penganjur
 
Kecuali Bersih 1 yang dimulakan sekumpulan politikus, Bersih 2, 3 dan 4 dipimpin oleh tokoh berwibawa seperti sasterawan negara Pak Samad, bekas pengerusi Majlis Peguam Ambiga Sreenevasan dan kini aktivis Maria Chin Abdullah.

Satu-satunya bakat Jamal Md Yunos adalah sokongannya kepada Najib dan kebolehan untuk menutup mata daripada melihat ketidakadilan, rasuah dan salah guna kuasa. - Mariam Mokhtar,theantdaily

10 reasons why the ‘copycat’ red shirts lack imagination...

cheers.