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.

The Mocking Of Umno's 1Malaysia Government Over Allah Issue Has Started

The above picture speaks for itself. We are very quickly becoming the laughing stock of the civilized world, including our own thinking public. Very sad indeed.

By Playing Up 'Allah' Issue Umno Has Single-Handedly Ruined All Non-Malay Barisan Parties

As if the MCA, MIC, Gerakan and the other non-Malay component parties of Barisan Nasional didn't have enough of serious problems on their collective plates. Now this latest adventurist strategy by Umno to berjuang demi bangsa, agama dan negara has right royally screwed whatever little progress they were making in the aftermath of the March 2008 electoral rout.

Whatever the merits of the Allah issue, it should have been left to the courts to decide. (Not that we could have expected an earth shattering verdict. Everyone knows that like many other cases, this case too would have gone on appeal after appeal finally to the Federal Court where the same five spineless sickos passing off as learned Supreme Court Justices would have sided with the government). AND the issue would most probably have ended there with the Catholics ordered by the courts to shut up.

But no! Not Umno lah. They have to put their dirty politicking paws into the crap pot and stir it with a frenzy reserved for certifiable loonies. Umno simply could not resist the temptation of sickening posturing and grandstanding purely for some short term political gain. So they sent out the usual trustworthy and reliable lunatics infesting the far right wing of the party who dutifully trooped in to the scene and made a mess of it. The logic behind this move? To appear as the genuine defenders and protectors of the race and faith. Khalwat, corruption and murder not withstanding!

Umno has possibly gained a few extra Malay votes over this dispute. But in the process it has totally devastated the electoral chances and credibility of its non-Malay partners. MCA's Ong Tee Keat could only say "no comments" while there was nary a whimper from the MIC. Gerakan's Koh Tsu Koon was pitifully attempting to placate a Catholic Archbishop while PPP's Kayveas was nowhere to be seen. Not entirely unexpected if you come to think of it. Despite the hammering in the last general elections, Umno still rules the roost in the BN henhouse.

I don't know how this issue will play out over the next few days or weeks but I can confidently say that the opposition, especially PAS, has come out looking stronger because of its measured response and moderate stance. In the long term, Umno and the BN will have to face the consequences and fallout resulting from the shit stirring that Umno has done in this controversy.

Funny isn't it? After fifty years of corruption, cronyism and nepotism, it took Allah to finally bury Umno, the fake defender of bangsa, agama dan negara!

Perak Imbroglio: Zambry Granted Stay Of Execution

“The momentous High Court decision, declaring that Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is the rightful Menteri Besar of Perak, is a victory for the people of Perak, democracy and justice.” -- DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

It is also in a way a partial victory for the judiciary where there seem to be still at least a few men of conviction willing to place their honor and oath of office above the selfish expectation of great reward.

That personal view was somewhat marred by the latest news that the Appeals Court has just granted a stay of execution of the KL High Court ruling that Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is the righful mentri besar of Perak. Thus the musical chairs charade continues with Dr Zambry as mentri besar until his appeal is heard.

Looks like Umno has much more influence than anyone else in the higher courts and not to forget in the palace too. However try as they will, in the end in the court of public opinion, all of them, the fawning members of the judiciary and the increasingly out of touch royal family must all answer for the mess this has turned out to be. Time will come for that. Of that we can be sure.
Image - Source

Nizar Is Rightful MB Of Perak, Rules KL High Court

The High Court here ruled rule on Monday that Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is the rightful Perak Mentri Besar, and NOT Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

In his ruling, Justice Abdul Aziz Abd Rahim said that a mentri besar can only be dismissed by a vote of no confidence, and he upheld the Stephen Kalong Ningkan ruling.

He noted that the Perak State Legislative did not hold a vote of no confidence.

Nizar had filed for a judicial review on Feb 13, seeking a declaration that he is the rightful mentri besar of Perak and an injunction to bar Dr Zambry from discharging his duties as the mentri besar.

On March 6, Justice Lau Bee Lan had ruled that there were constitutional issues involving the interpretation of Article 16 (6) of the Perak Constitution and later referred four consitutional questions to the Federal Court for determination.

However, on March 23, the Federal Court ruled that the case of who the rightful mentri besar is should be heard by the High Court.

Meanwhile Zambry has applied for a stay of execution on the High Court's decision.

The rollercoaster ride goes on!

Now let us see what the Perak palace has to say. Is it going to play politics and come out bruising itself further or will it accept the court's decision and act accordingly? We'll know pretty soon.

Hudud Laws Only For Muslims, Says Pas President

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said today non-Muslims should not feel apprehensive about the implementation of "hudud" laws in the country because the Islamic penal code was meant only for Muslims.

He said non-Muslims could opt for the law they wanted, for example as provided for in the Syariah Criminal Code of Kelantan and Terengganu.

"It is unnecessary for PAS to give an explanation (on the hudud laws) because the laws have nothing to do with non-Muslims," he told a news conference after launching the "Jom Sertai PAS" (Let's Join PAS) campaign at Dataran Shah Alam here.

Abdul Hadi was asked whether PAS would provide an explanation on the hudud laws to the leaders of DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) -- the other component parties -- in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) as they were uncomfortable with PAS's idea of wanting to implement the hudud laws if the PR came to power in the country. (Bernama)

***** Now that the top man in PAS has given his assurance, how many of you non-Muslims are relieved by his words? Can we now proceed with its implementation?

No Leave To Challenge Commission's Findings On Lingam Clip

The five individuals implicated in the controversial "Lingam video clip" failed in their bid to obtain leave from the High Court here to challenge the Royal Commission of Inquiry's findings.

Justice Datuk Abdul Kadir Musa accepted the preliminary objection raised by senior federal counsel Azizah Nawawi, for the commission, that the findings were not reviewable because they were not a decision in the context of Order 53 Rule 2(4) of the Rules of the High Court.

The five-member panel of commissioners, in their report, had found the video clip showing senior lawyer Datuk V.K.Lingam in a telephone conversation with former chief justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim over judicial appointment to be authentic.

The commission also recommended that appropriate course of action be taken against six individuals -- Lingam, tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and two former chief justices Ahmad Fairuz and Tun Mohd Eusoff Chin -- for misconduct.

It found that there was sufficient evidence to investigate the six men for offences under the Sedition Act, Official Secrets Act, the Penal Code and the Legal Profession Act 1976.

Except for Dr Mahathir, the other five filed for leave for a judicial review in an attempt to quash the inquiry's finding.

The commissioners -- chairman Tan Sri Haidar Mohd Noor, former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Amar Steve Shim Lip Kiong, retired Court of Appeal judge Datuk Mahadev Shankar, former solicitor-general Puan Sri Zaitun Zawiyah Puteh and Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim -- sat for 17 days to inquire into the 14-minute video clip. (Bernama)

Thai Court Dissolves Ruling Party, Bans PM From Politics For 5 Years

Thai judges ordered Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's ruling People Power Party (PPP) disbanded on Tuesday after it was found guilty of vote fraud.

The Constitutional Court also barred the party's top leaders, including Somchai, from politics for five years, raising the risk of clashes between his supporters and anti-government protesters who are blockading the capital's two airports.

The yellow-shirted People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrators at the airports have been seeking to topple Somchai, whom they accuse of being a pawn for his brother-in-law, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup and is now in exile.

A grenade was fired from a flyover near the domestic airport hours before the court hearing, killing one anti-government protester and wounding 22 people.

The electoral fraud case was scheduled to be heard at the Constitutional Courthouse in Bangkok on Tuesday, but authorities moved it after hundreds of red-shirted government supporters surrounded the building.

The ruling on allegations of vote fraud in the December 2007 election will not necessarily mean a snap election as many PPP MPs will simply switch to a new "shell" party already set up.

Fears of violent clashes, or worse, are growing.

"It now seems that violence cannot be avoided. Some even predict what has been unthinkable for 700 years: a civil war," the Bangkok Post said in an editorial.

It also asked: "Does Thailand have a functioning government?"

That question could be even more pertinent after the court ruling forcing the PPP to disband.

Several thousand PAD supporters have occupied the prime minister's offices since August but the PAD has said it would hand the compound back to the authorities on Tuesday.

A Reuters reporter said only a handful of PAD activists remained at Government House early on Tuesday. There were no police present, but cranes had arrived to remove the shells of six buses used to barricade surrounding roads.

The PAD leadership apparently intends to move more supporters to the international airport, which has been blockaded for a week, adding to the pain of a tourist- and export-dependent economy already suffering from the global financial crisis.

Thousands of foreign tourists have been stranded and the air cargo industry has ground to a halt.

Finance Minister Suchart Thada-Thamrongvech told Reuters on Monday the economy might be flat next year, or grow by just 1-2 percent, after earlier growth forecasts of between 4-5 percent.

The chaos has worried Thailand's neighbors, due to meet in the country in two weeks for a regional summit. The Thai cabinet is expected to approve a delay to March when it meets in Chiang Mai on Tuesday. (Reuters)

***** Any chance of our own supreme court doing the same thing to Umno?

Allah Controversy - High Court Sets Feb 27 For Mention Of Case

The High Court set Feb 27 for mention of the case to hear the use of the word ‘Allah’ in the Herald-The Catholic Weekly, a Christian publication.

Judge Lau Bee Lan said that the date was set to allow all parties time to file their affidavits.

The Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur has applied for a judicial review of a Home Ministry directive forbidding the Herald publishers from using the word ‘Allah’.

The Archbishop’s counsel Porres Royal said that the directive was unlawful under the Federal Constitution and that the word not exclusive to Islam.

On Dec 5, the publisher filed a writ of summons in the Kuala Lumpur High Court to seek a declaration on the use of the word.

The respondents are the Home Ministry, the Government and the state Islamic Councils of Federal Territory, Terengganu, Penang, Selangor, Kedah, Johor, Malacca and the Malaysia Chinese Muslim Association.

Mubashir Mansor, counsel for the Terengganu, Penang and Malacca Islamic councils said on Friday that they would file an affidavit in two weeks to the Federal Court saying that no court of law could hear this case. (The Star Online)

***** The die is cast and let us hope that common sense prevails. The issue involving the Herald-The Catholic Weekly is incidental. What is more important is which will triumph - the insecure, homegrown, narrow, Umno Malay interpretation of Islam or the more universal worldview of the religion.

Syariah Judge: Islam Defends Everybody. Non-Muslim Fears Unwarranted

Islam does not discriminate against any race or religion so non-Muslims do not have to fear if common law and syariah courts were to be merged as suggested by a former Chief Justice.

Syariah Court Judge and Syariah Judicial Department director-general Datuk Ibrahim Lembut said such fears among non-Muslims were unwarranted.

“Islam will defend everybody. The impression that merging the two court systems will override the rights of the non-Muslims is wrong,” he told reporters after attending the International Seminar on Comparative Law at Marriott Hotel here on Tuesday.

“However, we still have a long way to go before we can merge the two court systems although we have held talks on the possibility of harmonising civil and syariah laws,” he said.

He said Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail had also given his views on the matter during such talks.

Some civil lawyers who had attended these talks had refused to even consider harmonising the laws between the two systems, Ibrahim said when commenting on a statement by MCA legal bureau chairman Datuk Leong Tang Chong.

Leong had said that any merger would subject non-Muslims to syariah jurisdiction on all legal matters, including inter-faith cases relating to marriage and divorce.

Read the whole report HERE

***** Does the assurance by the learned Syariah Court Judge and Syariah Judicial Department director-general calm your doubts and worries about the future of our justice system if there should be a merger?

Ronnie Liu Sues Khir Toyol

Selangor state exco Ronnie Liu filed a defamation suit against former Selangor MB Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo on Monday for allegedly defaming his character, including allegedly describing Liu as immoral and being involved in vice activities

Dr Khir had allegedly accused Liu in May of obstructing a prostitution raid at a hotel in Puchong and claimed he was therefore not fit to be in charge of the state’s local government.

Liu said the accusations were baseless and was aimed at attacking his political reputation and tarnishing his name.

He is seeking an unspecified amount of general, aggravated and exemplary damages. The suit was filed at 11.30am at the KL High Court. (The Star)

***** The Toyol deserves it. He got away with it after stirring shit and getting Teresa Kok arrested. At that time Pak Lah was unwilling to nail the Indon immigrant. This is a very good thing that Ronnie Liu has done. Syabas!

Hishammuddin Says ISA Use Not Justified Against Reporter But Evasive On The Other Arrests

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said he personally felt that the Internal Security Act (ISA) should not have been used against Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng, and would be raising the matter at the next Cabinet meeting.

He said although he agreed to the use of the ISA to protect national security, it should not be invoked to save or protect any individual, which was given as the reason for Tan’s detention.

“For the other two cases (the ISA arrests of Malaysia Today news portal editor Raja Petra Kamarudin and Selangor executive councillor Teresa Kok), I feel the authorities are better in the know of the risks they posed, but I do not have the information to comment if the arrests were justified.

“But in the context of the reporter, the minister concerned (Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar) has stated the reasons but I personally feel the ISA should not have been used for the reasons he mentioned,” he told reporters after the launching the book Malaysia: From Traditional to Smart Schools - The Malaysian Education Odyssey, here on Monday.

Hishammuddin said in a multi-racial country like Malaysia, threats to the nation’s security and racial harmony must also be considered.

He also said the decision by the government to use the ISA should not be disputed by its members openly, but instead at the Cabinet.

He differed in this from de facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, who opposed the use of the ISA against civilians, and who has tendered his resignation over the issue. -- Bernama

***** Hishammuddin's statement is ambiguous at best and does him no favour.

The Government Won't Control Rela. Perhaps This Court Judgement Will

From today's The Star

The High Court has ordered a Rela member to pay a former guest relations officer RM100,000 as damages for taking a picture of her relieving herself in a truck five years ago.

Justice Tengku Datuk Maimun Tuan Mat also told Mohamad Tahir Osman, 45, to pay costs and 8% interest until full settlement to Maslinda Ishak, 31, who is now a dental nurse.

The judge said what Tahir did was outside the scope of his duty which was to maintain security.She said that in taking the picture, Tahir had caused emotional damage to Maslinda.

The incident happened after Maslinda and several colleagues were arrested by Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) enforcement officers and Rela members during a raid at Kelab De Vegas in Jalan Imbi here at 11.30pm on March 21, 2003.

After the arrest, they were led into a truck. At 12.50am, when the truck was at Jalan Jejaka 5, Taman Maluri, Cheras, Maslinda asked to go to the toilet but was denied permission.

Instead, she was scolded and told to relieve herself in the truck.

She did what she was told behind a scarf held by several friends but suddenly Tahir came, pushed the friends aside, pulled the scarf and photographed her.

Maslinda brought the suit on April 25, 2003. She is seeking RM5mil in damages from Tahir, the Rela director-general, Jawi and the Government.

The judge ruled that the Rela director-general, Jawi and the Government could not be associated with Tahir’s actions.

***** This is the type of concern that all judges must clearly demonstrate, that they will not tolerate such perverted behaviour by those who claim to be on official government duty. Justice Tengku Datuk Maimun Tuan Mat should be praised for handing down this punishment which will serve as a deterrent and warning to others in Rela and elsewhere.

What the government should have done but is most reluctant to do, to provide justice and relief to the victim, has been fulfilled by the courts. Shame on the kerajaan.

M'sia Quietly Drops 'Pulau' From Pulau Batu Puteh As S'pore Claims Exclusive Economic Zone

From The Straits Times, Singapore

Malaysia has dropped 'Pulau', the Malay term for island, from its name for Pedra Branca.

The Malaysian government, which has always called the island Pulau Batu Puteh, is now calling it just Batu Puteh, reported the Chinese-language paper Oriental Daily News.

Announcing the change at a press conference earlier this week, Foreign Minister Rais Yatim said it was doing so as it considered the territory as having failed to meet the internationally recognised criteria for an island, that is, land inhabited by humans that had economic activity.

He told reporters that the Singapore Government wanted to claim an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around it but said this was not possible because it did not qualify as an island.

In his view, it was a mere granite outcrop devoid of vegetation, water sources and human habitation.

Dr Rais said Malaysia had considered it an island in the past, but decided to abide by international standards after the dispute over it with Singapore was referred to the the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In May, the ICJ had awarded Pedra Branca to Singapore and the Middle Rocks to Malaysia, but ruled that the South Ledge outcrop belonged to whoever owned the territorial waters it sat in.

Dr Rais said the government will set up a research centre on the South Ledge, which he claimed belonged to Malaysia because of its proximity to Middle Rocks.

He also criticised Singapore's announcement about the EEZ.

'Singapore made the announcement without consulting Malaysia. In any case, Singapore's claim of up to 12 nautical miles of territorial waters as well as an EEZ around Batu Puteh was unreasonable and contrary to international law,' Oriental Daily News quoted him as saying.

***** Another case of Singapore outmaneuvering our foreign ministry mandarins. The problem lies in the sad fact that while Singapore recruits the best talents in its crucial departments, we are still hampered by racial quotas and the promotion of mediocre personnel. What pride can there possibly be in packing these offices with so many Malays if they can't get the job done?

Many stories abound about the government either not hiring top notch non-Malay experts or treating them so shabbily by denying them promotions that they have been forced to leave. We are now merely 'reaping' the effects of the racism our government has been sowing over the past forty years.

New Syaria Law Marriage Contract Gives Muslim Women Equal Rights In Britain

Hailed as the biggest change in Sharia law in Britain for 100 years, a married Muslim couple will now have equal rights. A husband will have to waive his right to polygamy, allowed under Islamic law, in the new contract which has been described as "revolutionary".

Currently Muslims in Britain have an Islamic ceremony called a nikah (a non register office marriage) which, although it is guaranteed under Sharia law, is not legally binding and does not provide a woman with written proof of the marriage and of the terms and conditions agreed between the spouses.

Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, Director of the Muslim Institute and author of the contract, told The Daily Telegraph: "It will challenge various sharia councils who don't believe in gender equality but the world has changed and Islamic law has to be renegotiated."

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, was criticised earlier this year when he called for greater recognition of Sharia in British civil legislature, a view that was echoed recently by the Lord Chief Justice Phillips.

Ann Cryer, a Labour MP who has campaigned for the rights of Muslim women, welcomed today's change, saying: "This document has been carefully researched over a four year period and I feel confident in recommending its findings to women (and men) of the Muslim Faith contemplating Marriage."

In cases of divorces, the absence of such proof, has meant that many Muslim women have been denied financial rights.

The new Muslim marriage contract does not require a 'marriage guardian' (wali) for the bride, and also makes delegation of the right of divorce to the wife (talaq-i-tafweeed) automatic.

This right does not affect the husband's right of talaq but enables the wife to initiate divorce and retain all her financial rights agreed in the marriage contract. These provisions reflect a recognition of changes in the Muslim world, including women's greater public roles, educational achievements and financial autonomy.

Read the whole story HERE

***** Indeed this may be considered as a great act of reform for some but for others it could be the thin end of the wedge. If such proposals were to be made in Malaysia what are the chances that some terminally backward, medieval-minded chauvinistic nitwit in Umno could be screaming, "DON'T PLAY WITH FIRE"!

Subpoena Not Aimed At Derailing Anwar's By-election Plan, Says Syed Hamid. Do You Believe Him?

The subpoenaing of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to be present in court Thursday is not aimed at derailing the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor's plan to contest the Permatang Pauh by-election on Aug 26, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

He said claims to the contrary by Anwar were not true and urged him not to politicise the issue.

He said the police were only following the due process of the law in ordering him to attend court tomorrow following their completing investigations into a sodomy complaint lodged against him by his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

"He (Anwar) has nothing to fear if he is innocent and he certainly will be able to get top lawyers to defend him," he told reporters after attending a religious function at the Police College in Cheras here Wednesday.

He said that the case had reached the court stage and all quarters must respect this.

He added that police would ensure security at the Sessions Court in Jalan Duta and its proximity when the case comes up for hearing Thursday. (Bernama)

***** Syed Hamid's credibility has hit rock bottom and I doubt there will be many takers for his story.

By the way at the Jalan Duta Sessions Court, DSAI pleaded not guilty to the sodomy charge and has been released on a personal bond of RM20,000 without surety. Hearing has been set for mention on September 10th 2008 pending transfer to the High Court.

Reactions: Rights groups condemn Malaysia charges against Anwar

Anwar Ibrahim Summoned To Appear In Court Tomorrow

The police have served notice to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at his house to appear at the Jalan Duta sessions court at 10am tomorrow. This was announced by his lawyer, Sankaran Nair who added that that it was "very likely" Anwar would be charged with sodomy at the court hearing on Thursday.

"I have information that he will be charged for sodomy tomorrow," Sankaran said.

A male aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan had alleged that Anwar sodomised him, although there was no official indication whether the former deputy prime minister would be formally charged at the court appearance.

In what may be construed as not just a mere coincidence, the Election Commission had only this morning said that it had set Aug 16 for nomination and Aug 26 for polls for the Permatang Pauh by-election.

The seat became vacant July 31 after PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail resigned from her Permatang Pauh MP’s post to make way for her husband Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to contest in the by-election.

What Anwar had said last night: BN Will Do 'All Sorts Of Things' To Defeat Him In Permatang Pauh

Doubts Over Anwar Sodomy Charge After Disclosure Of Medical Report

From The Malay Mail

Doctor Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid, the newest player in the second Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sodomy scandal, has triggered a sequel that has sparked off another round of confusion.

A medical report attributed to the doctor of Hospital Pusrawi that claims that Anwar's accuser, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, was not sodomised and, now, his sudden 'disappearance' are taking centrestage this time around.

At Press time, the whereabouts of Dr Mohamed Osman, a Myanmar Muslim, was not known. His employer, Hospital Pusrawi (Pusat Rawatan Islam), said he was on leave. His 'disappearance' is being likened to that of private investigator P. Balasubramaniam, who was hired by one of the accused in the murder trial of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaaribu.

P.I. Bala disappeared after making two conflicting statutory declarations that fuelled speculation, leaving a trail of accusations and denials.

Barely 24 hours after making public the first statutory declaration in which he alleged that police had omitted vital information in the Altantuya case, P.I.Bala made an about-turn and withdrew parts of it.

Police had said there were three likely possibilities for Bala's disappearance: he could be hiding out of fear; he does not want to co-operate in investigations; or he has been 'forced' to go into hiding by certain parties.

Transparency International Malaysia president Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam said that in the wake of the latest developments the police should expedite investigations into Dr Mohamed Osman's "revelations" to clear the air. "The matter is getting out of hand as there are so many conflicting reports. The authorities must come clean on this," he said.

Institute of Public Relations Malaysia president Datuk Hamdan Adnan said police should either drop the case against Anwar or charge the so-called victim if there was truth in the doctor's report. "There are too many question marks in the case," he said, adding the authorities should resolve the matter soon.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar told Malay Mail that contrary to speculation, Dr Mohamed Osman was never "arrested" but was only interviewed for a short while.

He said that police recorded his statement but that it was untrue that they had detained him for three days. "Many things have been said and reported that are not true," he said, adding that "police have been very transparent and professional in handling this case".

Asked why Anwar was arrested even after a statement from Dr Mohamed Osman had already been taken, Ismail declined comment, saying investigations are ongoing.

Ismail was reported as saying police were considering investigating a "news website and a blog over their reports".

Online news portal Malaysiakini and Malaysia Today had reported that there was no evidence that Saiful was sodomised, according to Dr Mohamed Osman who examined him for four hours before he lodged a police report alleging he was sexually assaulted by Anwar, the de facto Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader.

Saiful, Anwar's former aide, is said to have gone to two different hospitals on June 28, the day he lodged the police report claiming that he was sodomised by his ex-boss.

He first went to Hospital Pusrawi at Jalan Tun Razak about 2pm, complaining of 'tenesmus', a medical term for difficulty and pain in passing motion. He had alleged he was assaulted by the intrusion of a piece of "plastic" in the anus. He was examined by Dr Mohamed Osman, the medical officer on duty.

It was reported that Dr Mohamed Osman, in his medical report which was recorded at 2.14pm, found "zero active bleeding", "zero ulcer or pus", "zero tear and scar" in Saiful's anus.

In his report's concluding remarks, he advised Saiful to go to a government hospital so as "to rule out" assault and sodomy.

At 6pm that day, Saiful went to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for his second medical examination. He subsequently lodged a report against Anwar at the hospital police beat base.

Malaysiakini reported that the police had recorded statements from Dr Mohamed Osman after Saiful lodged the report against Anwar.

The doctor was said to be under tremendous stress as a result of the police interrogation over a number of days and was advised by the hospital to take leave.

***** What a reputation the Malaysian government is garnering these days internationally. This so-called 'model democratic Islamic nation' is now plumbing the depths of incredulity by foisting bogus charges against a potential political threat.

After the current revelation that the medical examination showed no evidence of anal penetration, thereby rendering the accusation of sodomy specious at best, the government through their hatchet job specialists in the police force are trying to rewrite facts and by hook or by crook prove the unprovable.

The government should take heed that the people are watching their machinations carefully and there will be hell to pay the next time general elections are held. Those who have raped and sodomised the nation don't deserve to be trusted with political power.

IGP Files Defamation Suit Against Anwar Ibrahim

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan has filed a defamation suit against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over his police report alleging Musa and Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail fabricated evidence in the “black-eye incident” in 1998.

The suit was filed Monday at the KL High Court civil division registry by Musa’s lawyers Kamarul Hisham Kamarudin and Hasnal Rezua Merian.

The IGP is seeking an unspecified amount in damages and an injunction to restrain Anwar from repeating the defamatory statements. (The Star Online)

***** The political situation in Malaysia is getting more interesting by the day. It's getting difficult to predict what will happen in a few hours, let alone a day.

Anwar Ibrahim Revives Bid For Power Despite Arrest

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim toured Malaysia over the weekend in a bid to revive his ambitions of seizing power despite his arrest on sodomy allegations -- the same charge that saw him jailed a decade ago, reports AFP.

Dressed in his trademark blue batik shirt, Anwar travelled to the government-held states of Malacca, Pahang and Johor to build support and momentum after last week's explosive events, when he spent a night in police custody over the accusations levelled by a 23-year-old male aide.

"The government knows that if not for these sodomy allegations, I would be on my way into parliament by now," he told a crowd of more than 5,000 conservative Muslim supporters in Jasin, a village near the tourist town of Malacca.

"I tell you now that I will be contesting in a by-election," he told the crowd, to yells of "Allahu akbar" or "God is greater."

A return to parliament would be the next step in the political rehabilitation of Anwar, who was sacked as deputy premier in 1998 and jailed on sodomy and corruption charges.

The sex conviction was overturned, but the corruption count barred him from public office until April.

The Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance, fired up by Anwar's charismatic presence, made unprecedented gains in March general elections, leaving it just 30 seats short of ousting the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which has ruled since independence from Britain a half-century ago.

Anwar's latest crisis, which he says has been fabricated by the government, has been a distraction from his plan to form a new administration with the help of defecting coalition lawmakers.

But he told the crowds on his post-arrest roadshow that he was making progress nevertheless. "I will shortly be ready to announce four BN MPs who will join the Pakatan Rakyat. It will happen very soon," he said.

Anwar had agreed to be questioned Wednesday over the new sodomy allegations brought by Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, who said he was assaulted at a luxury condo.

But just an hour before he was due to appear, a team of balaclava-clad police commandos picked him up and took him to Kuala Lumpur police headquarters. He was released on police bail until August 18, but could still be charged with sodomy -- which in predominantly Muslim Malaysia is a serious offence with a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail.

Analysts said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's government could be forced onto the defensive by the allegations, which one survey found are widely disbelieved by Malaysians who have lost faith in the justice system.

"Anwar is trying to capitalise on a tactical weakness of the police and government," said Tricia Yeoh, head of the Centre for Public Policy Studies. "If they charge him in court on the sodomy allegations, he will get more sympathy and support from the public. And if they let him go, he will be vindicated and it will be a victory for the opposition," she said.

Anwar is also seizing on a largely unpopular 41 percent fuel price hike introduced last month, saying he would lower pump prices immediately if he comes to power.

"Don't let these baseless accusations about me distract you from what is most important, how to bring down the high prices of oil and food which have devastated the people," he told an enthusiastic crowd in the small Malaccan village of Cheng on Friday night.

More than a thousand ethnic Chinese supporters, including old men with walking sticks and young girls in cheongsams, turned up to hear him speak in a sign of the multi-ethnic appeal that he enjoys in Malaysia, which is home to large ethnic Indian and Chinese minorities.

"Keadilan (Anwar's party) did not win very big here in the last elections," said 44-year-old villager Choong Hai Sung as blue-and-red Keadilan flags fluttered from wooden houses. But the recent hikes and indifference of the local authorities to our problems mean that we have to now shift our support," he said.

"I know that subsidies are bad but we are going through bad times and Anwar's plans seem like the best option now."

***** Where all this is leading to and how it will end is anyone's guess. But it is good to see the BN and especially Umno on the defensive. The sodomy charge merely reflects their desperation. As it stands Umno hasn't changed its dirty politics or racist mantra and is very unlikely to. Will Anwar make meaningful changes to the lives of all Malaysians? It's a gamble that many apparently are willing to take.