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Aziz Bari a victim of ignorance, say colleagues

By Shannon Teoh | October 21, 2011
The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The academic staff of the International Islamic University of Malaysia (UIA) have joined the protest against the university’s suspension of Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari, stating that the law professor is a victim of ignorant “allegations and pressure.”

Just hours after 700 UIA students gathered at the Gombak campus this morning to demand Abdul Aziz’s reinstatement, the university’s academic staff have also come out to condemn the indefinite suspension that followed after the don had allegedly criticised the Selangor Sultan.

“Abdul Aziz Bari (picture) should be thanked for getting a nation to think. He should not be punished for the reaction of third parties.
Continue reading “Aziz Bari a victim of ignorance, say colleagues”

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The shackling of Prof Abdul Aziz Bari and academic freedom

Aliran Executive Committee | 21 October 2011

His suspension comes in the wake of his publicly expressed opinion regarding the recent decree by the Sultan of Selangor over the controversial Jais raid on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church.

Many Malaysians share his opinion and look up to him as a brave academic who did not betray his conscience in expressing an honest opinion without fear or favour. This intellectual freedom of expression must be the hallmark of an institution of higher learning. It is rare individuals like him who inspire students to speak the truth and defend what is right. He is an asset to IIUM.

The action taken by the university against the learned professor is baffling. The university is guilty of committing a serious travesty of justice as its action amounts to a denial of the right of academics to offer their expert opinions on matters that they specialises in and are concerned about.
Continue reading “The shackling of Prof Abdul Aziz Bari and academic freedom”

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A foolish move

By Tay Tian Yan | October 21, 2011
The Malaysian Insider

OCT 21 — Those who spread rumours across the Internet are villains while those who echo Internet rumours are fools.

Among the latest names on the list of fools is Khairy Jamaluddin, who should not be foolish.

Anyone with little understanding will curse “senseless and despicable” when they heard about the recent rumours accusing Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s teenage son of harassment.

Just like rubbish, similar accusations have been piling up on the Internet and, generally, people do not even border to read them as they are so disgusting.
Continue reading “A foolish move”

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Kerana politik, sanggup mengorbankan kanak-kanak yang tidak bersalah

Aspan Alias | October 21, 2011
The Malaysian Insider

21 OKT — Isu yang dimainkan oleh Ketua Bahagian Bukit Gelugor, Dr Novandri serta beberapa blogger pro-Umno terhadap anak Lim Guan Eng memang jelas mendapat perhatian ramai dan kebanyakan dari reaksi yang saya secara peribadi terima menunjukan sebagai satu isu yang menjadi kemarahan ramai.

Ramai yang meminta saya menulis dan memberi komen tentangnya. Saya tidak mempunyai komen panjang tentang isu ini. Yang pasti “lawmakers” dari Umno nampaknya menjauhi diri mereka dari isu ini dan rata-rata kita mendengar yang Umno tidak terlibat dengan isu yang panas ini. Malahan Ahli-Ahli Parlmen Umno meminta Guan Eng menyaman Novandri dan bloggers pro-Umno jika itu merupakan fitnah yang sengaja diadakan kerana tuntutan politik yang “desperate”.
Continue reading “Kerana politik, sanggup mengorbankan kanak-kanak yang tidak bersalah”

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Anya Corke: I don’t know Guan Eng’s son

By Shannon Teoh
The Malaysian Insider
Oct 21, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The girl whose photograph was used by pro-Umno bloggers to level accusations of sexual harassment against Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s son has denied ever meeting or hearing of the 16-year-old schoolboy.

Chess grandmaster Anya Sun Corke said today that she was “shocked, dismayed and baffled” as to how her photo was used without her knowledge or consent.

“I have never met or even heard of any of the people involved. I have never been physically assaulted in any way. I have never been victimised in any way by this boy or his family.

“The only way in which my ‘modesty was outraged’ has been by the publication of my picture in connection with these scurrilous and unfounded rumours,” the undergraduate at Wellesley College said in a statement. Continue reading “Anya Corke: I don’t know Guan Eng’s son”

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MCA and hudud: Part 2

Stanley Koh | October 20, 2011
Free Malaysia Today

In 2001, when Dr Mahathir declared Malaysia an Islamic state, MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik said he and other non-Muslim leaders supported the prime minister’s position

COMMENT

What is the role of religions in politics? Is Islam compatible with democracy? How do we deal with the conflicts between the constitutional provisions for fundamental liberties and equality with religious laws and policies that may violate them?

Should the state legislate on morality? Is it the duty of the state to bring about a more moral society?

Can there be one truth and one final interpretation of Islam that must be legislated and govern the lives of every Muslim citizen of the country?

These were some of the questions raised in 2001 at a MCA-organised forum attended by Dr Hamid Othman of the Prime Minister’s Department, Shad Saleem Faruqi of Universiti Teknologi Mara, Zainah Anwar of Sisters in Islam and representatives of the Inter-Religious Council of Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.

The forum came in the midst of public disquiet over then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s declaration, in September 2001, that Malaysia was an Islamic state. Many Malaysians were confused and quite a number were in fear that the country would eventually be run like a Taliban state. Continue reading “MCA and hudud: Part 2”

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AIPMC statement on detainees’ “swap” between Malaysia and Myanmar

20 October 2011

AIPMC notes with serious concern recent developments of the Malaysian government’s plan to implement the ‘detainees exchange program’ with Myanmar. This plan will result around 1,000 people from Myanmar, detained in Malaysia, deported from the country.

There will be a possibility of persecution for those who are sent back to Myanmar.

Those who flee Myanmar, namely ethnic and other persecuted minorities, remain at risk from persecution of all forms – forced labour, land confiscation, rape, and torture among them – should they continue to live under the military regime. Thus, they risk their lives to find asylum in neighboring states, in pursuit of a dignified, secure and peaceful life elsewhere.

We wish to reiterate that such a ‘swap deal’, which would see Burmese nationals returned to persecution in their homeland, serves political interests well ahead of these exceedingly serious human rights concerns. Continue reading “AIPMC statement on detainees’ “swap” between Malaysia and Myanmar”

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MCA and hudud: Part 1

Stanley Koh | October 18, 2011 Free Malaysia Today

The party can’t hold a candle to DAP when it comes to principled opposition to Islamic state ambitions.

COMMENT

Two questions arise from MCA’s recent call on DAP to abandon the Pakatan Rakyat coalition because PAS is pushing for hudud punishments and, ultimately, an Islamic state.

First: Why did former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik fail to protest when former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad declared Malaysia an Islamic state in 2001?

MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong’s recent defence of Ling’s silence does not hold water. He said Mahathir’s declaration did not include a threat to change the Federal Constitution. Neither has Pakatan said it would change the constitution to suit PAS’s ambition.

Second: Since MCA is questioning DAP’s commitment to principles, what has happened to its own principles in the face of Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s recent remark that Malaysia was merely “not ready” for hudud?

Muhyiddin’s statement seemed to suggest that Umno, like PAS, longs to turn Malaysia into an Islamic state. Continue reading “MCA and hudud: Part 1”

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Kit Siang: Stop detainee-swap deal

Tarani Palani | October 20, 2011
Free Malaysia Today

Put in an effective system in place first to protect Myanmar refugees and asylum seekers from persecution in their homeland, says the AIPMC chair.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) has voiced concern over the planned exchange of detainees between Malaysia and Myanmar.

Its Malaysian caucus chair, Lim Kit Siang, today said that the planned exchange raised concerns as there may be a possibility of persecution of those sent back to Myanmar.

“Those who flee Myanmar, namely ethnic and other persecuted minorities remain at risk of persecution of all forms should they continue to live under the military regime.

“We wish to reiterate that such a ‘swap deal’ serves political interests well ahead of these exceedingly serious human rights concerns,” said the Ipoh Timur MP.

Lim called for the planned swap to be halted before an effective system is put in place to protect the Myanmar refugees and asylum seekers from persecution in their homeland.

He also questioned if such a swap deal was in accordance with international law. Continue reading “Kit Siang: Stop detainee-swap deal”

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The scurrilous and vicious allegation against Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng’s 16 year old son circulating on the internet requires a thorough police investigation

By Karpal Singh | DAP National Chairman and MP for Bukit Gelugor

The scurrilous and vicious allegation against Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng’s 16 year old son circulating on the internet requires a through police investigation. The spreading of lies on the internet should be nibbed in the bud before it develops into a source of ready avenue to defame and destroy. The sophisticated advance in technology should be harnessed to public advantage and not destroy the very fabric of society modern times.

The point to address with all speed and expedition is the necessity for the police to spring into action in the wake of the completely wild allegation against the 16 year old without any regard for humanity. The trauma suffered by the chief minister’s son is beyond imagination having regard to the allegation made against him. Where there is a wrong, there must of necessity be a remedy. The bloggers responsible for the vile postings on their blogs must be brought to book to ensure they are not further emboldened to persist in a path of destruction.
Continue reading “The scurrilous and vicious allegation against Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng’s 16 year old son circulating on the internet requires a thorough police investigation”

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Gutter politics – utterly disgusting

By P Ramakrishnan Aliran President | 20 October 2011

Resorting to utter gutter politics is akin to swimming in the cesspool without a care. That’s how those faceless pro-Umno bloggers who spun a lie regarding an innocent son to get at the father came across – filthy and smelly.

Not to be out-done, the Umno Youth chief gets into the act with his silly comments. He comes across as no better than the half-baked politicians who are incapable of being logical.

What is disturbing and worrying is the fact that these so-called know-all cheap politicians had picked a fight with a 16-year old teenager who is not capable of defending himself or explaining himself. This is their crude and cowardly way of waging a political battle to disgrace and denigrate the Chief Minister of Penang.
Continue reading “Gutter politics – utterly disgusting”

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Malaysia Losses From Racial Law Exposed

By Chong Pooi Koon | Oct 20, 2011
Bloomberg

Lim Guan Eng turned Malaysia’s second-smallest state into the nation’s biggest economic success after he bumped into two National Instruments Corp. (NATI) executives at the local airport in 2008.

Elected in March that year as Penang’s first chief minister from an opposition party in 36 years, Lim was struggling with the prospect of federal funding cuts. He convinced the managers to set up a research and production center in the state, and within two years the former British trading post was Malaysia’s top destination for foreign manufacturing investment.

“The deal was struck very quickly,” said Eugene Cheong, a director at the local unit of the Austin, Texas-based maker of industrial testing and automation equipment.
Continue reading “Malaysia Losses From Racial Law Exposed”

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Wake up, Malaysians

— Ali Kadir
The Malaysian Insider
Oct 19, 2011

OCT 19 — I find it incredulous that so much angst and disbelief has been exhibited by Opposition politicians, pundits and readers of news portals, including The Malaysian Insider, over the lies that Lim Guan Eng’s son had behaved inappropriately towards a girl in his school and the matter was hushed up.

This is Umno. Should any of us be surprised with politicians from that party?

It has been my point for a while that the only hope for Umno is for the party to lose it all at the next polls, and do a major overhaul while in the wilderness, find new leaders, rediscover a moral core and come back.

The party is tired, bankrupt of ideas or people of integrity. It is a fallacy to believe that the second line of politicians such as Khairy or that Kota Belud MP will be any different from the corrupt batch of ministers and MPs who sad to say are leaders of Malaysia. Continue reading “Wake up, Malaysians”

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Ladies & Gentlemen, we have safely landed…

By Art Harun

Ding dong…a very good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, we have safely landed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Welcome to Malaysia.

The local time is 5.35pm. The weather is slightly cloudy with the usual monsoon rain expected in about 30 minutes time and the current temperature is 34 degrees Celcius. For those who think that the rain in Malaysia is similar to the rain in Paris, London or New York, please note that our monsoon drains are 8 feet deep and 4 feet wide and run for hundreds of kilometres. They cost 30,000 Malaysian Ringgit per foot to build and 30 million Malaysian Ringgit to maintain per month. We take our rain very seriously, Ladies & Gentlemen. And you would be well advised that our rain is nothing, repeat, nothing compared to the rain in your country.
Continue reading “Ladies & Gentlemen, we have safely landed…”

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Allegations against Guan Eng’s son ‘completely untrue,’ says school principal

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal | October 19, 2011 (updated)
The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 – The principal of SMK Heng Ee in George Town today moved to put an end to accusations that Lim Guan Eng’s son had sexually harassed a female student of the school, calling it “completely untrue.”

Goon Boon Poh told The Malaysian Insider that he was “shocked” when he read news reports of the allegation, and that he wanted to put an end to the matter as it could affect the image of the high school.

Pro-Umno bloggers including Bukit Gelugor Umno division chief Dr Novandri Hasan Basri had claimed that the Penang chief minister’s son had assaulted a 16-year-old schoolmate and tried to escape punishment by using his father’s name.
Continue reading “Allegations against Guan Eng’s son ‘completely untrue,’ says school principal”

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Khairy, Oh why Khairy?

By Douglas Tan | October 19, 2011
Free Malaysia Today LETTER

In less than 140 characters, Khairy Jamaluddin may have just destroyed his and Umno’s chances of swaying fence sitters and Malay moderates from supporting Barisan Nasional at the next General Election.

He has committed the cardinal sin of politics by picking on not his political opponent, but his son. A mere school boy, what could Lim Junior have possibly done to deserve such slander? Lim Guan Eng and Lim Kit Siang have every right to be outraged at this despicable behaviour.

It is one thing to have pro-Umno bloggers spreading lies and slander over the Internet. That only reaches a limited audience. Politician expect to face criticism on a daily basis. In fact one would argue that criticism could make one stronger.
Continue reading “Khairy, Oh why Khairy?”

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Politics is not dirty, Umno is!

By Martin Jalleh | 19 Oct. 2011

Darkness descends on Bolehland. Politicians in Umno stoop low, so very low, by resorting to gutter politics of the most disgusting kind never seen before.

The Umnoputras are desperate. They are very disturbed. Dr M has warned them that “…if the general election is held now, Umno may lose big…” mainly due to their own political dystrophy.

Their ground support is slowly disappearing. They may be dumped in the coming General Election and driven out of Putrajaya. They abandon all sense of human decency to remain entrenched.

They are led by a equally desperate president who had proudly declared In the UMNO Assembly last year that there will be “crushed bodies, lost lives and ethnic cleansing” if the status quo was not kept.
Continue reading “Politics is not dirty, Umno is!”

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DAP: Blogs used fake photo to tarnish Guan Eng’s son

By S Pathmawathy | Oct 19, 2011 (updated)
Malaysiakini

Bloggers aligned to Umno used a fake picture to depict the victim of alleged molest by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s 16-year-old son.

DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua said that the picture used by the bloggers had been identified as that of Anya Sun Corke, 21, who is a British citizen reportedly a Hong Kong chess champion.

The woman has no ties to Penang, nor has she come in contact with Lim’s son, Pua said at a press conference at Parliament lobby together with other MPs from the DAP.

“(She is) now a third year student at a top liberal arts college in the United States.
Continue reading “DAP: Blogs used fake photo to tarnish Guan Eng’s son”

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Umno blogs used chess champion’s picture to attack Guan Eng’s son, says DAP

By Shannon Teoh | October 19, 2011
The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 — A girl whose photograph was used by Umno bloggers to level accusations of sexual harassment against Lim Guan Eng’s son has been identified as 21-year-old chess Grandmaster Anya Sun Corke.

Corke, who represents England in chess, has no ties with Penang and has never been a classmate of Lim’s son as alleged by Umno blogs, the DAP said in a press conference in Parliament today.

The girl is understood to be currently an undergraduate of Wellesley College in the United States.

Pro-Umno bloggers including Bukit Gelugor Umno division chief Dr Novandri Hasan Basri had claimed that the Penang chief minister’s son had assaulted a 16-year-old schoolmate and tried to escape punishment by using his father’s name.
Continue reading “Umno blogs used chess champion’s picture to attack Guan Eng’s son, says DAP”

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Gutter politics

The Malaysian Insider | October 18, 2011

OCT 18 — There is no denying that Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin is a smart man.

The Oxford graduate has made use of his education and upbringing to shine through the untalented masses that make up the bulk of his party.

Which is why it is a disappointment that the Rembau MP saw nothing wrong with his remarks about allegations involving Lim Guan Eng’s teenage son, and called his critics hypocrites for pointing out that he was perpetrating lies about a member of a political rival’s family.

Earlier today, Lim said he was furious with the “barbaric lies” made about his teenage son by “pro-Umno ferocious beasts,” singling out Khairy and other ruling party leaders for perpetuating the allegations through snide comments on blogs and social media sites.
Continue reading “Gutter politics”