Whose Citizenship Will Be Revoked If Syed Ali Alhabshee Was In Power?

DOES THIS MONKEY LOOK LIKE A MALAY?

From today's TheStar:

The Government should revoke the citizenship of Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Cheras Umno division chairman Datuk Syed Ali Alhabshee said. His activities could affect peace in Malaysia. Citizens who are not patriotic should not be given a place here.

Thus spoke one of the most brilliant criminals among the dozens who are currently infesting the Umno sewers. You can count on this Ethiopian-Arab slave descendant who morphed into an UMNO-MALAY to be in the thick of any issue involving the racist party. After all he knows which side his bread is buttered on. It is significant that the Ministry of Finance extended for two years the contract of this a**hole to continue his tenure as The Chairman of Composites Technology Research Malaysia Sdn Bhd effective from 1st June 2008. So the chairmanship is up for renewal in two days time and this dog is barking at his loudest to be heard by Najib. Renewing his contract means another couple of hundred thousands in his bank account. He is also Chairman of Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation which too is controlled by the Ministry of Finance and is the Independent Non-Executive Chairman of Tanjung Offshore Berhad (Tanjung). He also holds directorships in IIUM Holdings Sdn Bhd and C.I. Holdings Berhad.

Can you imagine the chaos which would ensue if this brainsick maniac pulled the levers of power in Malaysia? There would be literally hundreds of Malaysians who would lose their citizenship, mostly for being against Umno's corrupt and racist rule, for being fair and trustworthy, for being courageous in defending human rights and for being overachieving, successful non-Malays.

Apart from the usual 'unpatriotic' opposition leaders like Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Tok Guru and Zaid Ibrahim the list will also include flavor of the month pro-government supporters like Samy Vellu and his son.

Among the first to go will be that 'traitor to the Malay race', High Court (Appellate and Special Powers Division) judge Datuk Abdul Aziz Abd Rahim who ruled that Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is the rightful menteri besar of Perak.

High Court judge Datuk Lau Bee Lan’s controversial ‘Allah’ ruling will guarantee her a place in the top ten hate list.

Another Malay 'traitor' is National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC) Chairman Senator Tan Sri Amirsham Abdul Aziz for espousing the New Economic Model (NEM), betraying the 'social contract' and having 'forgotten' his roots.

Squash player Nicol David may be stripped of her citizenship for not knowing her place as a woman. Going around the world and winning titles while wearing revealing skirts may be a little too much for the likes of Alhabshee. A woman's place is at home!

Malaysian Idol Jaclyn Victor is another candidate who our lunkhead has never forgiven especially since she bested a genuine Malay darling - Faradina Mohd. Nadzir (Dina)- in the Idol finals.

However Alex Yoong, race car driver would narrowly escape the net because of his less than spectacular F1 performance. If only he had climbed up the podium even once he would have lost his citizenship.

Marina Mahathir would be right on the top of his list but the very thought of the Tun's ire will send shivers up and down his spine and he'll quickly bury the thought, lest any rash act buries him.

Lee Chong Wei would be booted out. How dare he 'deprive' a Malay juara of his rightful place as champion and agree to a datukship as well!

Jimmy Choo and Michelle Yeoh will be on the hit list for spending too much time overseas (and for being highly successful).

Of course this list can run into thousands of pages. If you'd like to suggest some names, please do in the comments section.

Sack This Unabashed Cop Lover

From today's TheStar.

Cuepacs has called on politicians, non-governmental organisations and the public to stop bashing the police and be fair to them.

Its secretary-general, Ahmad Shah Mohd Zin, said of late the police had been under relentless criticism from various quarters over isolated incidents.

“Certain quarters just jumped on the bandwagon to pour out a barrage of hatred against the police for which they do not really deserve. Most of the time they are doing a great job, but hardly honoured,” he said.

He hoped Malaysians would refrain from unfair criticism of the police as it would demoralise them without any mention of the gratitude so many feel for their work.

***** What is wrong with this guy Ahmad Shah Mohd Zin? Who is he to advise us about whether we should criticize the cops or not? Is he saying that the police is above the law and therefore have some sort of immunity? Or is he simply currying favour with the authorities as it is perhaps time for his next promotion? If the cops behave like thugs then they should be publicly berated and brought to book. THAT is accountability and not what this rear licker is advocating. Cuepacs should sack this self serving slime ball.

Al-Islam Apologises To Christians. Catholic Church -: 1; Umno, Attorney General -: 0

From today's The Star:

The Al-Islam magazine has apologised to the Roman Catholic Church and Christians for publishing a special report which involved the desecration of a religious rite.

The apology was posted on the website of its publisher, Utusan Karya.

The controversy began after the magazine published a report, Tinjauan Al-Islam Dalam Gereja: Mencari Kesahihan Remaja Melayu Murtad in its May 2009 edition

In the apology, Al-Islam said it had “unintentionally hurt the feelings of Christians especially Catholics” with its report.

It said in a three-paragraph statement that the report was to investigate allegations of apostasy and the actions of its journalists were never intended to deride the Christian faith nor desecrate their house of worship.

The magazine also stated that the apology would be published in next month’s print publication.

Two reporters from the magazine attended and participated in the religious rite.

They admitted to receiving Holy Communion and actually spitting the wafer out, an act Catholics consider desecration.

After police reports were lodged against the journalists and the magazine, they were investigated under Section 298A (1) of the Penal Code for causing disharmony, disunity or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will, or prejudicing the maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion.

However earlier this week, it was announced that the Attorney-General had decided not to pursue the case because of “public pressure.”

Speaking on behalf of Kuala Lumpur Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam, Catholic Lawyers’ Society Vice President Joy Appukuttan said Pakiam expressed his happiness over the move by the magazine to apologise.

***** It is indeed a magnanimous gesture by the Roman Catholic Church to have so quickly accepted the 'apology' by Al-Islam. While the so-called apology came across as contrived, insincere and probably given under pressure by Umno bigwigs, the happiness expressed by the Archbishop shows that the Church believes it's time to put and end to this unfortunate fiasco and move on. This is definitely a big win for not only the Catholics and Christians but also for those of all faiths who believe in equitable and fair justice.

However Umno, its leaders and the Attorney General come out of this mess of their own creation looking very, very bad. They have been exposed as desperadoes who will go to any length and lie to any extent to justify the unjustifiable. The Attorney General's attempt in particular to explain why no action was taken against the two fanatic culprits will rank for a long time as the most egregious decision by a legal officer in our country's history. By right he should resign in shame. But then again he and his ilk have either never heard of or believed in words such as shame, accountability or resign. These people are the real pengkhianat whom Malaysians should condemn and shun.

Racist Ignoramus Nasir Safar's Political Future Will Reveal Najib's True Intentions

By now the buzz naturally is the racism filled tirade by the psychiatrically predisposed(?) Datuk Nasir Safar, (the ugly bloke's pic is above) special officer to the prime minister. So filled with racist venom is this man, that he with such stupidity, spat it with a violence normally associated with cobras, of all places at a mulitracial gathering, a '1 Malaysia' seminar in Malacca! It certainly raises doubts about the state of his mind when he threw caution and common sense into the tong sampah and gave a lecture, which by past experience should have been reserved for a meeting of the wingnuts in Umno along with the currently in vogue Perkasa and assorted inferiority complex laden loonies or at an 'exclusive' BTN taklimat.

What is with Malacca that makes these crazies flip? On 15th October 2007 the other racist dunderhead, Malacca CM Mohd Ali Rustam spoke at a mulitracial convention of the PPP in the historic town where he basically told the delegates that Umno does not need non-Malays to govern the country! He declared that his party has ruled Malaysia for 50 years, they can rule for another 50 years more. And Umno does not need PPP, MCA, MIC, Gerakan, Sabah, Sarawak or anyone else to do this and that they can take a hike. That Umno got drubbed five months after his speech in the March 2008 GE shows the disconnect between his racist logic and the reality on the ground. Yet Umno delegates in the last party elections overwhelmingly supported him and would have voted for this fellow, making him our next deputy PM if only he was not suspended for election fraud! Not that Muhyiddin is any better.

But I digress. Within hours of Nasir Safar's ill-fated speech the heat became too much to bear and the poor sod had to resign, presumably only after being ordered to do so by Najib, because I'm sure in his tiny little racist mind Nasir probably felt he had done no wrong. In fact some others at the PM's office felt the same too. For example read this interesting bit from Bernama -- "The remarks allegedly made by Nasir does not in any way reflect the views of the Prime Minister. Datuk Nasir never intended to make any derogatory remarks. He spoke at length on the contributions made by all races in developing the country. Nevertheless, Nasir apologises for any offence caused. In light of this, Datuk Nasir will tender his resignation." A bloody cold and heartless statement. No sign of remorse or disappointment and not even an acknowledgement that the 'special officer' had drastically crossed the line of decent discourse. The crux of that PM's office bullshit is "well, Nasir did not do any wrong, in fact he's a decent chap who actually even praised the non-Malays, has no malice towards them even if he may have said a few harsh words although that was not his intention. In any case if you non-Malays out there have 'misconstrued' his good intentions, he says he's sorry and quits. By the way Nasir's speech does not reflect the PM's views." Haa!

If Najib seriously considers his special officer's act as a very wrong thing to do, then he should put Nasir permanently to pasture. But I doubt that very much and I hope that someone who can, should keep track of Nasir Safar's future from now on. There is every chance that over the next few weeks or months he'll quietly surface not far from the centre of power, perhaps even more strong and respected by his peers. You see what Nasir Safar so foolishly blurted out in Malacca has much resonance not only within Umno but also amongst a significant portion of the general Malay populace because of the party's unrelenting racist propaganda through its media machine including Utusan Malaysia and government apparatus such as BTN. In fact his speech may serve to provide much needed galvanizing power for Umno vis a vis the Malay public.

Nasir Safar will be rewarded by Najib et al because in the convoluted mind and perverse logic of Umno style racism, he is a Wira Bangsa like Mohd Ali Rustam, provided he doesn't get too big for his Bata slippers. In what form and shape that reward will come is something for us to wait and watch. Only then will we know the true intent of Najib's 1Malaysia propaganda. And please don't forget that by his racist outbursts Nasir has at least temporarily shifted the focus from other issues dogging Najib such as the Allah controversy. That should please the PM for a while. Also do remember that even if by a very rare pang of conscience Najib were to allow Nasir to drift to Gilligan's Island, there is always good old Muhyiddin who may with undisguised glee throw him a lifeline and keep him in good humour along with other like-minded comrades in arms, while waiting for the opportune moment to make his own strike.

Parliament: Cops Scared Of Crooks, So Police Beat Base Closed! Malaysia Boleh!

A police beat base in the Chow Kit area of downtown Kuala Lumpur was closed down because it was in a location that was considered unsafe, said Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

In a written reply to Dr Lo’ Lo’ Mohamad Ghazali (PAS-Titiwangsa), Syed Hamid said the beat base was located in a dirty area where there was a possibility of being exposed to contagious diseases.

The presence of criminals also posed a threat to the safety of police officers, he said.

Lo’ Lo’ had asked why the beat base on Jalan Haji Taib was closed considering the high number of vice-related activities in the area, as well as what kind action had been taken by the police to curb such activities.

Syed Hamid said that the police were looking for a new location to build a police beat base that would be able to give “guaranteed and continued service to the public.”

Lo’ Lo’s was the 30th question in the Order Paper and hence did not get a mention in the House during the daily one-hour Question Time. However, Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai) managed to raise it when he interjected during Azmin Ali’s (PKR-Gombak) speech during the debate on Budget 2009.

Dr Mohd Hatta said that if the police themselves felt unsafe in a beat base, then it would be even worse for the public.

“The minister has to resign if he is worried about the safety of police in that area. Maybe it would be better to put the beat base in army barracks,” he said.

Dr Mohd Hatta then managed to raise the issue again during his own debate on Budget 2009 saying that Syed Ali’s response was not rational.

“The police are there to make a place safe. If they themselves are scared and run away, then how can we hope for others to want to be there?

“It is embarassing and that is why the criminals will always be there,” he said.

Dr Mohd Hatta said if the place is dirty, then it is up to the police to organise gotong-royong activities to clean it up or if they did not want to then they should move to Putrajaya or Parliament.

“And what is this about contagious diseases on Jalan Haji Taib? The only kind of contagious diseases that are present there are sexually-transmitted ones.

“Is the minister scared that his charges will contract such diseases? That kind of thing is a matter of choice. In any case, if this is what he is worried about then we are worried that the police are not above this.”

Dr Mohd Hatta added that the police had to be brave people and that they were a different breed altogether when facing demonstrators. He said he hoped that the minister would clarify his written answer in the House as this is not the kind of police that the people want. (The Star Online)

***** A totally idiotic explanation by Syed Hamid. I wonder if he's been smoking anything strong lately. Will the cops agree with his findings? Or are they too busy trying to demonize Hindraf? Or perhaps they simply don't care what the public think of them anymore. Pathetic.

Made-In-Malaysia Racism

From the Letters To The Editor section in today's The Star with the title
Let’s shut out the racial instigators

"While we gasp in horror when we hear others talking bad about our race, some of us, particularly among family and friends, do practise racism without us realising it!

It is just like gossip – we pretend that it isn’t nice to gossip but we do try to eavesdrop or korek-korek when we hear people gossiping.

The Malays fear that the Malay culture will be diluted or, worse, be wiped out when one talks about Bangsa Malaysia while the Chinese fear that the Malays will impose their ketuanan on them, and the Indians and other minorities are staring at being left out of the development of the country.

And it doesn’t help at all when a politician utters racial slurs that another politician from a so-called multi-racial party from the same front or the opposition decides to hammer away instead of doing what our forefathers did, which was discussing the issue privately.

Each and every politician quickly pours fuel into the fire that in turn creates a pattern of both fear, anger and revenge.

And worst still, we now have bloggers writing articles that are deemed seditious by the government. Time and time again, reminders and warnings have been given, yet these bloggers are not only disregarding court summonses but are also openly instigating the public to turn against the establishment.

If they can ignore the law, perhaps so can we, the respectful public.

In my opinion, discussing behind closed doors whenever we have problems is the best solution and this will also shut out the kaki panas kepala-kepala as well as instigators.

Whether we like it or not, we are here to stay permanently and before we try to tell others how to clean their house, we must first clean our own house.

Diversity colours Malaysia and thank God we are indeed different. But instead of using diversity to bridge the difference, we are using differences to widen the bridge of diversity.

As far as people like me, the non-decision makers, are concerned we don’t have issue with other races at all.

Politicians and bloggers can come and see us any time but to do that, they have to leave their phalanx of politician buddies and their computers and feel the ground that is holding us all. That ground is called Malaysia and it is OUR home."

A COMMON MAN,

Kuala Lumpur.

***** 'Common Man' has a point when he says that some issues, especially the 'sensitive' ones, are better discussed in private. I can understand his concern that matters may get out of hand if 'too much' is debated publicly.

However one must hasten to add that this is the strategy which has been employed over the past few decades with no apparent improvement. Even a zillion years of negotiating privately will not yield results if the status quo is maintained and where an openly racist scum like the Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Ahmad Ismail is allowed to continue spitting his venom with impunity.

Just imagine if the roles had been reversed and a chinaman had been brave (and foolish) enough to speak in such tones about the Malays. Umno would have gone to town with that statement and demanded the full force of the ISA be brought to bear on him. And you know what? Pak Lah would have gladly obliged and may have even gone further and revoked the courageous and foolhardy sod's citizenship.

This is the racial politics which Umno has been playing all these years. It would not be surprising if the majority of Umno members share the views of the Bukit Bendera bastard. For that matter don't even be surprised if a large number of Malays generally agree with the racist diatribe of the bugger. By cunningly taking advantage of the fears and prejudices of the Malays, Umno has over the past few decades been continously feeding 'communal poison' to them and in a Pavlovian way, reshaping their psyche.

So successful has Umno's devious scheme been that attempts to even slightly alter Malay perception will prove refractory. Therefore would sending the Bukit Bendera bum to Kamunting really solve the issue? Is there any viable solution to our national disunity problem? I really don't know. Many have placed their hopes on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. For the sake of all Malaysians, DSAI will have to work hard and strive to achieve meaningful muhibbah which at least partly existed fifty years ago and which Umno totally destroyed in the intervening decades.

Ali Rustam Says RTM Should Not Air Ahmad Shabery-Anwar Debate.

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam has called for a halt on any plans to air the upcoming debate between Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on RTM.

"It's not relevant and should be cancelled," he told reporters after opening the annual general meeting of the Malay Contractors Association Malaysia, Saturday.

He said it was not proper for the state-run television station to air the debate as it involved Anwar who had always been keen on bashing the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

Ali, who is Melaka chief minister, was commenting on the debate -- themed "Hari Ini Membentuk Kerajaan, Esok Turun Harga Minyak" (Form the government today, reduce the oil prices tomorrow) -- scheduled for July 15 at the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Ahmad Shabery and Anwar have confirmed their participation in the debate which may be telecast live.

Anwar had previously said that the Pakatan Rakyat (People's Alliance) would reduce the fuel prices if it formed the government.

Mohd Ali said there were many other leaders who had the credibility and had worked hard to help the government, who could be invited for a televised debate on the issue. "We should invite members of non-governmental organisations who have been helping the government to explain the issue rather than a person who have nothing good to say about the government," he said.

Mohd Ali also objected to a proposed forum to discuss issues related to Malay supremacy and social contract, saying that such a forum could create racial tension. (Bernama)

***** In which part of the Malacca Air Keroh forest reserve has Ali Rustam been spending the past few years? The one important issue affecting most Malaysians today is the fuel hike and its attendant side-effects. Yet old Ali here says that it is 'irrelevant'!

Also isn't it sheer stupidity to invite some government well wisher to debate the minister when it was Anwar who claimed that he'll bring down prices if he forms the government? Bung Ali has absolutely no idea of what a genuine debate is all about. Can't blame him. After all he's been having sham debates in the Malacca state assembly all this while, so much so he has developed an aversion for the real McCoy.

He seems to have a great dislike for Anwar now. Apparently he has forgotten that at one time he used to crawl on bended knees before prostrating at Anwar's feet when the latter was DPM. Oh Rustam, Rustam.

But The Snake Is A Phallic Symbol, Hamidah Osman. Or Didn't You Know?

At a time when Umno is at its weakest and the quality of its politicians already at the lowest levels since Independence, a Perak state assemblywoman, Hamidah Osman (BN-Sungai Rapat) hit rock bottom yesterday and proceeded to actively dig herself deeper into whatever slime she may have expected to find down there.

While the rest of the members at the Perak state assembly were dueling the way our politicians are wont to, with at least some relevant point being raised to hit out at each other, our lady Hamidah interjected in the midst of the debate to expose her filthy, racist mind as well as give free expression to her irrational preoccupation with snakes. Whether it ends with snakes or extends further to the level of a sexual obsession for phallic symbols and more, is something only that she and those 'close' to her can clarify.

It was reported in today's The Star that this racist Umno excuse for a pemimpin, Hamidah Osman (BN-Sungai Rapat) "earned the wrath of the Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen when she asked whether State assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar 'agreed to disagree' with the well-known fable of whether a snake or a man from a certain racial community should be killed first."

How do you like that for a quality debate? What does it tell you about this detestable woman who probably projects herself to her penyokong2 as a pious and God fearing member of society? With people like her at the helm of Umno what remote chance is there for a truly united and prosperous Malaysia? And do you for a minute think that she'll be the last of the racists from that accursed political party? God bless Malaysia.

Japan Firm Scraps Ad After Racial Controversy

A Japanese mobile phone firm has halted an advertisement depicting a monkey as a political candidate after bloggers said the commercial was a racial slur against U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

An ad aired by the mobile unit of eAccess Ltd showed the firm's mascot, a monkey, addressing a political rally in Japanese and surrounded by supporters brandishing placards with the word "Change".

Some bloggers said the eMobile ad was racist because it seemed to refer to Obama and his campaign slogan advocating change. Earlier this week Britain's Telegraph newspaper ran a story saying the ad "apparently portraying Barack Obama as a monkey has provoked a new row about racial depictions of the Democratic candidate".

Monkeys, while revered in parts of Asia, are viewed in the United States as a racial slur if used to depict African Americans.

eMobile said on Friday that the firm never meant to malign Obama but was withdrawing the ad after the outbreak of criticism in cyberspace.

"We have decided to stop the commercial," eMobile spokesman Takashi Igarashi told Reuters in an e-mail. "We should avoid every possibility of misunderstanding and unintentional reaction."

eMobile CEO Sachio Semmoto said the advertisement, which he said was produced by WPP Group Plc's JWT unit, had meant to underscore his firm's commitment to change.

"For two years I've been saying that Obama has the capacity to change America, the kind of capacity that Japan needs," said Semmoto, who has a reputation as a maverick and whose company has carved out a niche in Japan with a pricing model that differs from more entrenched competitors.

Monkey deities exist in Hinduism, Buddhism and Shintoism, and monkey figures are common in Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in Japan, including the famous 17th century carving of three wise monkeys on the facade of the Toshogu Shrine in Nikko. In Hinduism, Hanuman is a monkey god revered for courage and power.

Semmoto is a director and trustee of Reuters Founder Share Company, which is charged with safeguarding Thomson Reuters independence, integrity and freedom from bias. (Reuters)

***** Trust the Japanese to come out with a racist ad at the worst possible moment! There are many who have stayed in Japan who will vouch that they are among the most racist and chauvinistic people on the planet.

Samy Vellu Is Racist, Says Dr Mahathir!

The pot calls the kettle racist too!
Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has exposed his own deep racist sentiments by sympathising with Hindraf, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.

The former prime minister said that by calling for the release of Hindraf leaders, Samy Vellu was supporting a group who represented racist Tamils who still looked to their old masters – the British – to protect them, and didn’t believe in Malaysian institutions.

“They speak not just of Indians, but of Tamils as a separate race. They and their apologists are racist to the core.

“Seeing the death and destruction inflicted on Sri Lanka by the Tamil Tigers, they threaten to bring this kind of violent racial politics to Malaysia,” Dr Mahathir said in a posting on his blog www.chedet.com yesterday. (The Star)

***** Ha Ha Ha!!! The irony is that of all the people in the world, it is Dr M who is calling someone else racist!

Dr Mahathir is slowly but surely losing his bearings. If anyone, just anyone disagrees with him or accuses him of maladministration he is prepared to rubbish that person with the most ridiculous charges. Kindergarten kids do such things, not former leaders.

Malaysian Sultan Clashes With Islamic Party Over Entertainers

The sultan of Malaysia's Selangor state has threatened to cancel a football tournament after the Islamic opposition objected to the entertainers performing at the event, a report said Wednesday.

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah told The Star daily that the protest over the two women -- rock singer Ella and Mas Idayu, who performs the hip-swivelling "dangdut" dance -- was "hypocritical" and "trivial".

He said future Selangor Cup matches between his state and Singapore could be cancelled if the Islamic party PAS was successful in its campaign to have them struck off the schedule.

"If this is going to be so difficult, we might as well hold this annual event in Singapore. I am sure they will be more than happy to play host," he told the daily.

The PAS youth wing in Selangor sent a memorandum to the state's chief minister objecting to the performers at the July 6 match, saying they were inappropriate as the event would be attended by many youngsters.

It threatened to demonstrate at the stadium if the women were allowed to perform, The Star said.

Malaysia's population is predominantly Muslim, and the nation's sultans are the traditional guardians of Islam in the states they rule.

But Sharafuddin said Selangor was not made up of "just PAS and Muslims" and that in any case the two performers were suitable for families.

"I don't know what the fuss is all about," he said.

PAS, which rules the northern state of Kelantan, has had ambitions of turning Malaysia into a theocratic state under Islamic rule.

However, in recent years it has begun introducing reforms designed to tone down its hardline reputation and woo young voters.

***** When will PAS learn that it is not to their advantage to consistently take one step forward followed by two steps back? Just when a few non-Muslims seem to place a little trust in their future with PAS, some petty nutcases in the Islamic party's youth wing decide to make asses of themselves by creating such a fuss over a trivial matter.

The senior leaders in PAS should ensure that the lower level partymen and women don't shoot themselves in the foot from time to time which will only lead to further estrangement between them and the mainstream. There is no doubt that almost every non-Muslim views PAS with suspicion and distrust and many consider them as unbending fanatics and potential terrorists. Incidents like the above merely reinforce that image.

Another 'Great' Suggestion By Muslim Consumers Association - Ban Handphone Use To Youths Below 18!

The Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) has proposed the promulgation of an act to ban handphone use to youths below 18.

PPIM project director Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin said this was due to the rise in recording of vulgar acts on handphones by youths.

"Youths below 18 should get the permission of their parents to use handphones while the handphones should be registered under their parents' names," he told reporters here today.

Noor Nirwandy said action should also be taken against handphone sellers who forwarded obscene video clips.

"They downloaded obscene material from handphones sent for repairs or traded in," he said.

Noor Nirwandy said in a survey, PPIM discovered that several handphone shops in the capital and Selangor were selling lewd video clips downloaded from handphones for between RM5 and RM30 each. (Bernama)

***** When it comes to 'novel' suggestions, no one can beat these guys from PPIM. In their typically befuddled logic, if they don't like something then it should be banned. No questions asked. In the case of 18-year-olds it's ok for them to ride motorbikes and vote in elections but handphones? No way brudder.

I say just ignore these folks and let them wallow in their shallow little world.

Oops, We Didn't Mean Malaysians Are Terrorists - British Marines In Retreat After Gaffe

By reputation it's one of the toughest units in the British armed forces, renowned for feats of endurance and derring-do.

But a high-octane recruiting film for the Royal Marines forced the Ministry of Defence into headlong retreat yesterday, after complaints that it portrayed one of the most peaceable countries in Asia as a breeding ground for Islamist terrorists. Officials apologised to Malaysia for the offending video, which was used in cinemas and on the MoD's website until it was withdrawn yesterday.

The film, which was made in Brunei while the marines were on exercises last year, featured a Malay man as a terrorist toting a Kalashnikov, who is being pursued by a group of marines in the jungle.

"I am the most evil man in the world. Come fight with me. I will kill you all," the actor said in Malay.

Having apparently just shot down a helicopter, he continued to shout abuse.

During the 40-second clip, a voiceover in English added: "I am your worst nightmare. I have conquered fear. I have come to terms with terror. And pain is my best friend."

As the camera switched to the marines it continued: "I am a Royal Marines commando. I will come from the sea. I will disappear without trace. "My brothers will lay down their lives for me as I will for them. Royal Marines commando." It concluded: "It's a state of mind. You may already have it."

The marine recruiting officer's latest catchphrase is: "A commando state of mind", meaning, they say, "a determination to overcome adversity, no matter what it may be".

An official at the British high commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital, was quoted yesterday as saying: "As soon as we became aware that the video has caused some offence, we withdrew the video."

In London, the MoD apologised for "any offence that may have been caused".

It said: "It was certainly not our intention to cause any offence. The advertisement has been withdrawn from circulation. It was not our intention to suggest Malaysians are involved in terrorism and we have ensured that this advert will not be broadcast again."

The video was aimed at 16- to 24-year-olds, defence officials said. It certainly seemed to have worked.

By February, the Royal Marines had recruited all the soldiers they wanted for the year.

But the film remained on the MoD and Royal Marines website for seven months. It was still there because the navy were looking at applications from people who wanted to join the marines next year.

The video also served as an "awareness-raising" exercise, officials added. It was taken off the MoD's official website this week only when it was realised it was causing offence, defence sources explained.

The video was made by what defence sources called a "creative agency" and produced by a local company in Brunei where marines were already deployed for an exercise with a Malaysian film crew and actor. The subject of the film was first raised earlier this week by a member of Malaysia's parliament who complained about its portrayal of a Malay as an evil man.

Malay Muslims make up nearly two-thirds of Malaysia's 27 million population. The country is proud of its moderate approach to religion and is one of the Muslim world's most stable countries. British troops have a history of combat in the country helping to quell insurgencies there in 1949 and again in the 1960s

Zainal Abidin Bakar, an official in Malaysia's foreign ministry, told the Associated Press news agency that the recruitment video hurt local sensitivities, but his government had not decided whether to fire off an official note of protest.

"They have withdrawn the video on their own accord. It's a good gesture on their part," Zainal Abidin said. "They've realised their mistake and the sensitivity of the Malay community."

Officials in the MoD in London privately admitted contrition about what they agreed could be interpreted as an insult.

But they said their apologies had been well-received by the Malaysian government and what might have become a full-blown diplomatic incident had been smoothed over.

Attempts by the MoD to have the video taken off other websites, including YouTube, appeared last night to be destined to fail. The episode reflects a determination among recruiters to attract people to the armed forces and a belief that one way of doing it is to be as gung-ho as possible. It is no use presenting a softer image if that simply results in recruits failing the physically rigorous initial training courses and aptitude tests, it is argued. (Guardian.co.uk)

***** Full marks to our government for not making a big diplomatic issue out of it.

Doctors Are 'Licensed To Kill' Says Deputy Health Minister Abdul Latif!

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad became the target of several Opposition MPs on Monday when he let slip that doctors were "licensed to kill".

Abdul Latiff had wanted to use the famous James Bond movie title Licensed to Kill when replying to a question during Question Time. He said doctors were given the "license to heal" as well as the "licence to kill." Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) replied that only Bond has the license to kill but not doctors.

Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said Dr Abdul Latiff did not intend to hurt anyone when he made the remark. He however ordered him to retract the words upon request by other MPs.

Dr Abdul Latiff defended himself by saying that it was a figure of speech. He however retracted his words but would not apologise. (The Star)

***** The deputy minister must be careful in future to avoid such gaffes. It could be forgiven if a layman made such a statement. However being a medical doctor he should have been more circumspect with his words, especially since he was speaking in Parliament.

Hillary Clinton's Colossal Blunder Simply The Last Straw

SICK. Disgusting. And yet revealing. Hillary Clinton is staying in the race in the event some nut kills Barack Obama.

It could happen, but what definitely has happened is that Clinton has killed her own chances of being vice president. She doesn't deserve to be elected dog catcher anywhere now.

Her shocking comment to a South Dakota newspaper might qualify as the dumbest thing ever said in American politics.

Her lame explanation that she brought up the 1968 assassination of Robert Kennedy because his brother Ted's illness was on her mind doesn't cut it. Not even close.

We have seen an X-ray of a very dark soul. One consumed by raw ambition to where the possible assassination of an opponent is something to ponder in a strategic way. Otherwise, why is murder on her mind?

It's like Tanya Harding's kneecapping has come to politics. Only the senator from New York has more lethal fantasies than that nutty skater.

We could have seen it coming, if only we had realized Clinton's thinking could be so cold. She has grown increasingly wild in her imagery lately, invoking everything from slavery to the political killings in Zimbabwe in making her argument for the Florida and Michigan delegations. She claimed to be the victim of sexism, despite winning the votes of white men.

But none of it was moving the nomination needle, with Obama, despite recent dents, still on course to be the victor.

So she kept digging deeper, looking for the magic button. Instead, she pushed the eject button, lifting herself right out of consideration.

Giving voice to such a vile thought is all the more horrible because fears Obama would be killed have been an undercurrent to his astonishing rise. Republican Mike Huckabee made a stupid joke about it recently. Many black Americans have talked of it, reflecting their assumption that racists would never tolerate a black President and that Obama would be taken from them.

Clinton has now fed that fear. She needs a very long vacation. And we need one from her.

Say good night, Hillary. And go away. (Michael Goodwin, NY Daily News)

School Uniform 'Sexy', Says Malaysian Islamic Students Group!

A Malaysian group condemned the uniform worn by girls at government schools, saying it encouraged rape and pre-marital sex.

“The white blouse is too transparent for girls and it becomes a source of attraction,” National Islamic Students Association of Malaysia vice-president Munirah Bahari said in a statement.

“It becomes a distraction to men, who are drawn to it, whether or not they like looking at it,” she said, calling for a review of uniform policy so that it did not violate Islamic ideals.

In multicultural Malaysia, home to majority-Muslim Malays as well as ethnic Chinese and Indians, female students at government schools have a choice of wearing a white blouse with a knee-length skirt or pinafore.

They may also wear a “baju kurung” and a headscarf is optional for Malay students.

Munirah said that “covering up” according to Islamic precepts was important to fend off social ills, including “rape, sexual harassment and even premarital sex.”

“This leads to babies born out of wedlock and, to an extent, even prostitution,” she said.

“Decent clothes which are not revealing can prevent and protect women from any untoward situations,” she said, suggesting that girls wear a blouse of a different colour or with an undergarment.

However, the girls themselves also came in for criticism, with the association saying that some used the white blouse to lure men.

“This is the source of the problem, where we can see that schoolgirls themselves are capable of using this to attract men to them,” Munirah said.

“This could see them getting molested, having premarital sex and all sorts of things.”

***** First reaction on Cik Munirah's diatribe? How did such a colossal nitwit ever make it to varsity? She has some very misplaced ideas about schoolgirls in general. Perhaps she's sexually over-obsessed, psychiatrically predisposed or plain stupid. Take your pick.

Internal Security Act Not Cruel, Says IGP!

Dismissing the notion that the Internal Security Act (ISA) is cruel, the inspector-general of police says it is still needed to safeguard national security.

Tan Sri Musa Hassan also rejected charges by some quarters that detainees held under the ISA were given no opportunity to defend themselves in court.

"ISA detainees can still obtain their defence by providing evidence of prima facie in court.

"There is an advisory panel which re-evaluates cases of ISA detainees. If the panel says the detainees do not threaten the country's security, we will free them," said Musa, adding that members of the panel were former judges.

He was speaking to reporters after officiating the first meeting of the Asean Regional Crime Prevention Foundation (ARCPF) here Wednesday.

Answering a question from an Indonesian journalist who was covering the ARCPF event, Musa said among the ISA detainess were 13 Indonesians who enjoyed permanent resident status here.

He said they were being detained in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah.

The three-day meeting which began Wednesday focusses on the establishment of the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation by emphasising on aspects of crime prevention in drug smuggling, human trafficking and police enforcement.

Also present was acting ARCPF chairman Tan Sri Da'i Bachtiar of Indonesia. (Bernama)

***** This must be the lamest defense of the ISA ever recorded. Is the ISA still needed to safeguard national security or Umno's security?

The IGP should try explaining to the families of those still under detention and see what response he gets. Dumb ass.

Parliament Live Telecast To Continue

The half-hour live telecast of proceedings in the Dewan Rakyat will continue.

Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek is scheduled to announce the decision by the Cabinet at 4pm today.

This is in sharp contrast to the reaction by the PM yesterday when he said that he was ashamed at what had transpired in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday and agreed that live telecast of the proceedings should be scrapped.

“I felt 'ashamed' if people watched television and saw what was happening in our Dewan. In my heart, I also felt that all this happened because there was a live broadcast at that time. Each (MP) wanted to make himself or herself seen debating or ‘aksi’ (acting) in the Dewan. That was how I felt,” he had lamented yesterday.

He had also added that if Information Minister Datuk Shabery Cheek decided to cancel the live telecast, he would agree.

So why this sudden flip-flop now? Did the Cabinet overrule Pak Lah and Shabery?

Kelantan's Tengku Mahkota Calls For End To Controversy

The Kelantan palace has called for an end to the controversy over a statement made by Tengku Mahkota Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra about the rights of the Malays.

Royal Household Controller Datuk Halim Ahmad urged politicians and the media to end the issue as the Tengku Mahkota did not want to create disunity among the people.

“His Highness has requested the end of the issue to avoid unnecessary politicking and ill-feeling among the people. Politicians should not also use this issue for their own agenda.

“It is not the intention of the Tuanku from his speech to lead to a controversy and he would like to stress that unity among his subjects, regardless of their race, is his major commitment,” the official added.

Halim said the Tengku Mahkota had spoken about the rights and privileges of the Malays within the Federal Constitution.

“This part of the speech was highlighted by the media but the thrust of his speech on the weaknesses of the Malays was left out, thus not providing a full picture and context of the speech.”

The Tengku Mahkota, he said, urged the Malays not to spend excessive time sending SMS and e-mails with political messages that generated disunity.

“His Highness urged the Malays to emulate the non-Malays who have channelled their energy in a more productive manner.”

The official said Tengku Muhammad Faris was concerned that there had been “political ill feeling” among the various parties and hoped the issue would end amicably in the interest of the people and the nation.

Last month, Tengku Muhammad Faris had urged the Malays to remain united and said the position of the community should not be questioned.

His statement led to criticism by MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and DAP national chairman Karpal Singh, with the latter lodging two police reports. Kelantan Umno has retaliated by accusing Karpal Singh of dragging the Tengku Mahkota into the issue.

A posting by a college student in the Johor PAS website led to Karpal Singh lodging a report of a death threat. The 19-year-old student has since apologised for the posting. (The Star)

***** Let the controversy sparked by Tengku Muhammad Faris' unsolicited speech serve as a lesson to him that never again should he attempt to descend to the level of a politician and make legally untenable, divisive and racially-charged utterances. Sometimes it is better for one to keep quiet than expose one's ignorance, prejudices and true nature. The Tengku Mahkota should by now have realised that he is the biggest loser in this issue and his credibility has been questioned, tarnished and rubbished almost irreversibly.

Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia Demands Act To 'Preserve' The Sanctity Of Quranic Verses

The Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) Friday urged the government to formulate an Act to control the sale of Quranic verses aimed at preventing abuse by unscrupulous traders for commercial gain.

PPIM project director Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin said the absence of such an Act meant that Quranic verses could be sold freely by traders, including non-Muslims.

"This issue must be looked at seriously as it touches the sensitivity of the Muslim community in the country.

"The absence of such an Act leaves us powerless to act other than to monitor and advise the public. We urge the government to formulate an Act to control the sale of Quranic verses by non-Muslims.

"Other than the sale of Quranic verses by non-Muslims, the association also received many reports on the sale of painting brushes made of pig fur. About 70 per cent of the painting brushes on sale are made of pig fur," he told Bernama here Friday.

Nirwandy said a case in point was the use of Quranic verses by restaurants operated by non-Muslims, aimed at generating business. Muslims were duped into patronising such restaurants as they believed the restaurants were owned by Muslims.

"The sensitivities of Muslims must be preserved to prevent public anger and to maintain the racial harmony in the country," he added. (Bernama)

***** To whom are the non-Muslims selling the said Quranic verses for a profit? Obviously to Muslims. If their 'sensitivities' are so offended why are they buying these from the kaffir? Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia's project director Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin should ask himself this question. Perhaps not all Muslims in Malaysia are as hypersensitive to matters as he and his colleagues in PPIM are making it out to be. Or are they merely worried that they do not have a monopoly over the religious items business and envious that all profits from such sales which should 'by right' be theirs is not coming their way? Who is being really offended here? The businessmen in the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia or the average Muslim who has got better things to do?

When will the demand for this sort of proscription end? If hypothetically a group of talented young non-Muslim singers get together and release an album of nasyid songs ala Rabbani, will the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia then demand that the government pass an act of Parliament to ban them from singing these songs as they will 'offend the sensitivity' of some Muslims?

Why stop there? In future will they demand that all mosques and other 'Islamic' buildings in the country must be physically built only by Muslim workers using materials completely untouched by kaffir hands? The possibilities for making profit are endless.

Interesting read: From Mahaguru58's Blog