Laws are creatures of their time

7:11AM Mar 19, 2015

By May Chee

A Kelantan Umno assemblyperson said that non-Muslims should explain why they will not accept “Allah’s laws” but still want to use the Arabic name for God.

I wonder, as a lawmaker, which part of the following, he can’t fathom.

Freedom of Religion is enshrined in the Malaysian constitution:

(1) Article 11 provides that every person has the right to profess and to practise his or her religion and (subject to applicable laws restricting the propagation of other religions to Muslims) to propagate it.

(2) The constitution also provides that Islam is the religion of the country but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony.

I am a Christian, a Catholic to be precise, and I also call God, ‘Allah’, an Arabic name for God that predates Islam. This term is also used by the Babists, Bahais, Indonesian and Maltese Christians, Mizrahi Jews and Sikhs.

Would you, Kelantan Umno, find it funny if I asked you to explain why you will not accept, say, the Mosaic Law or Canon Law, etc, etc?

Some people appear to be like wise men who pretend to justify God, while forgetting the reality; projecting the widespread image of a believer who accepts with resignation, yet, without trying to understand.

Laws are creatures of their time; proper to the people and of value for a period of their history. We can’t hold on to sacred laws if and when they become oppressive, can we? We can't bury our heads in the sand or seek in religion, an evasion from family tasks and social duties, can we?

Shouldn’t religious organisations, or for that matter, any organisation, change and constantly adjust to new structures and developments?

I, for one, do not think that the law and its commandments have the power to renew the human person. Following the best rules is not central, in my humble opinion, but that we must constantly move ourselves to discover, meditate and understand the will of God in the events of our lives.

God also has sons and daughters among those who do not believe and I believe, He will judge them as He does for us, according to the path on which He has placed them.

God of all nations

Those of us who believe in a monotheistic God, a universal God, (at least, for me) believe that He is God of all nations and that He will not oblige us to give up our own cultures to live as others ( those who also deem themselves, believers) do.

To me, the divine way of restoring justice is not by condemning, but by saving, through love.

To me, the justice of God is a merciful intervention that makes us whole and, free.

To me, the mystery of salvation is not religious words or laws that refer to a violent God, but a God who conquers evil in such a way that those who never knew love will be saved, by love.

I believe that it's better for us to overcome common prejudices and respect the conscience of others.

I believe that no law or religious authority should be followed against our conscience.

I believe the service of love will make hearts agree when minds cannot come to an understanding.

I do believe in many things but the deal is this - I can't force them down your throat, Kelantan Umno, can I ?

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/292471

When pigs walked upright, wore clothes and...flew

Created On Friday, 10 October 2014 07:00

Published Date

Written By Super User

Category: Columnist

Haris Ibrahim

No criminal action against Ibrahim Ali for calling on Muslims to seize and burn copies of the Holy Bible.

No action against Federal Territories Umno Youth chief, Mohd Razlan Muhammad Rafii, for threatening to burn down the DAP headquarters

No action against Petaling Jaya Utara Umno deputy division chief, Mohamad Azli Mohemed Saad, for demanding that all vernacular schools be closed.

All this no-action business takes me back some 37 years to my English Literature class.

George Orwell’s 'Animal Farm' was compulsory reading and would be examinable in our then Malaysian Certificate of Examination (MCE).

The other compulsory reading text for which we would be examined was  'Cry, the Beloved Country' by Alan Paton.

Obviously, Dr Mahathir had not yet the influence then to remove these wonderfully-inspiring and instructive books from the syllabus for young Malaysian minds.

For those unfamiliar with 'Animal Farm', let me say it is a wonderful story of how the animals on a farm revolted, drove out the human owner and took over the farm, renaming it 'Animal Farm'.

The animals adopted the Seven Commandments of Animalism as their constitution of sorts, the most important of which was, "All animals are equal."

Yes, the pigs and the horses and the donkeys, the dogs and the chickens were all equal.

Oh, and contact and dealings with human beings, known as parasites, was forbidden.

For a while, things went well.

Food was aplenty, enough for all.

Then the pigs decided to elevate themselves to a position of pre-eminence.

More and better food for themselves, whilst the other animals were urged to work harder so that they could look forward to better days ahead.

Yes, all animals were equal, but then "Some are more equal than others." became the new mantra.

And, in time, even a hierarchy amongst the pigs began to emerge, with some more equal than others.

In time, the pigs came to take on the ways of the parasite humans, walking upright and clothed.

They had become the new subjugators.

I have looked up the speeches of our beloved Tunku Abdul Rahman, both on the Independence Day of Malaya on 31st August, 1957 and, later, on Malaysia Day on 16th September, 1963.

Nothing in either suggests that we are ever intended to be anything other than a nation of equals.

I have searched through the Federal Constitution.

Again, there is nothing there to sustain any contention that whilst we are all equal, some might be more equal than others.

Article 153?

No.

It does not create rights, but places a duty on the Yang DiPertuan Agung to strike a balance in working out a policy of affirmative action to safeguard the ‘special position’ of the Malays and of the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak, and the "legitimate interests" of the other communities.

So from where do we now discern the much-spoken-of  ‘hak istimewa orang Melayu’ ?

And is this ‘hak istimewa orang Melayu’ why Ibrahim Ali, Mohd Razlan and Mohamad Azli can say what they will, with total impunity?

Wait a minute!

Adam Adli is Malay.

Safwan Anang is Malay.

Azmi Sharom is Malay.

So what gives?

Or…has life imitated art?

Could it be that, like the pigs in Animal Farm, emerging from the fictional and totally baseless ‘hak istimewa orang Melayu' is a more elitist class, the ‘hak istimewa Melayu Umno’ ?

Source: http://rakyattimes.com/index.php/columnist/1376-when-pigs-walked-upright-wore-clothes-and-flew-haris-ibrahim

Dr Mahathir’s criticism not about Umno, but Putrajaya

Published: 30 August 2014

COMMENTARY BY THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER

Datuk Seri Najib Razak is dead wrong. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's stinging criticism against him two weeks ago and withdrawal of support for the prime minister is not an Umno matter, in the same way that corruption and vote-buying by Umno senior officials is not some quaint concept called money politics that should be dealt in-house.

The former prime minister's laundry list of complaints against Najib goes right to the core of governance of a country.

It has nothing to do with whether young talent is being allowed to flourish in feudal Umno, or whether the divisions have been conducting their annual meetings as required.

Dr Mahathir's criticism goes right to the heart of being a leader of Malaysia. In his view, the prime minister is weak, servile and blind to issues in the heart of most Malaysians.

For example, he says that Najib's manner of dishing out cash payments under the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) scheme only provides temporary relief but creates a dangerous culture of entitlement.

And, Dr Mahathir also points out that race and religious relations are at dangerous levels in Malaysia, and blames Najib's policies and inaction for this desperate state of affairs.

There is some irony here as Dr Mahathir is the patron of the Malay rights group Perkasa, which mushroomed after the 2008 elections and now flourishes with provocative racial rants under the Najib administration.

Then, there is the famous complaint about the administration allegedly being in the servitude of foreign governments and being prepared to sign a trade agreement not favourable to Malaysia.

These are serious allegations as they involve the well-being of the country, not a political party.

So, it is best the PM disabuse himself of this notion that the Dr Mahathir attack is some Umno matter. Malaysia is not Umno and Umno is not Malaysia.

Just saying, "We view this as an internal party matter and it will be dealt with accordingly and in the best possible way", will not take the sting out of Dr Mahathir's comments.

Najib and his government will have to address each point openly and not sweep it under the carpet as an internal party matter. After all, Dr Mahathir founded this new Umno, and knows better whether his criticism is about the party or the government.

This is not about Umno, or Dr Mahathir would have just quit the party again. This is about Malaysia. – August 30, 2014.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/dr-ms-criticism-not-about-umno-but-putrajaya

The Dr Maharthir vs Najib match is not over

11:15AM Aug 30, 2014

By JD Lovrenciear

The country is still reeling in and over Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s public expression that he is withdrawing his support for the number one leader of the nation.

Secondly, Mahathir’s public criticism over Najib Abdul Razak’s leadership is drawing in all kinds of interpretations that only go to demonstrate that this match-of-our-times is not over - even if the main stream media blanks out the news.

Now, Prime Minister Najib’s recent and first public responseto Mahathir’s assault is also seemingly not believable when he tried to douse the arrowed sparks by saying it is an internal party matter.

There are two issues here and the issues do not negate each other. How could our politicians be so naïve as to think that the citizens are not wary?

The key issue that makes Mahathir’s public outcry through his new-media weapon of political warfare is the fact that he was withdrawing his support for Najib. Leave aside the rationale behind that stance. The point that gawks is the implications.

Mahathir was withdrawing his support for the number one nation-driver. Najib is more than an Umno leader. He is the prime minister of Malaysia’s 28 million people here and is so, too, seen as such all across the globe.  

Suppose a leader or even a former top leader of the opposition bloc said the same. What would be the national stand? What would the Barisan National that is the government in power do? One can only imagine the magnitude of the reverberations.

So for Najib to meekly dismiss Mahathir’s public outcry against him as merely an internal party matter only paints a more questioning picture. The public perception that is, as a result, being fuelled is that all things are certainly then not well within Umno the pack leader of BN.

Unfortunately some politicians have scurried to harp that Mahathir was only criticising. Never mind about the fact that that criticism was against the nation’s number one leader and a public stance made also for the magnifying lens of global opinion.

How do we now deal with this national shame? There is reputation and serious collateral damage here, folks!

Suppose Najib is a written-off failure, then can the people take to the streets to rally behind Mahathir to save the nation from further doom?

Suppose Najib is still endorsed as a capable leader, do the citizens then scream for Mahathir’s neck to rescue the nation from shame and disgrace?

Three monkeys stance?

Or shall we take the position of the proverbial three-monkeys stance: see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil as we pray that the tide will flow by the bridge and soon be forgotten? At least, we Malaysians have a track record for such benignness, let us face it.

No. Something is seriously not right and Malaysians must take personal and collective accountability for all such failures. Otherwise we will all end up as in the story of the sorry frogs in a slow cooking pot of water, i..e we do not even know we are in trouble, serious trouble until it is too late to realise and save the nation.

In short, this is not an internal party problem. It is not even one man against another. It is far beyond speculation that Mahathir is never happy with anyone unless we get a Mahathir-clone to be PM. It is beyond a criticism. It is not a simplistic case of personal opinion - not even one of merely withdrawing support.

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/273150

Why the Migration Business in Malaysia is Booming?

Published: 11 July 2014

By Koon Yew Yin

One of the better media outlets in this country is the Business Radio Station or popularly known as BFM radio. According to its mission statement, BFM is

• Malaysia's only independent radio station, focused on business news and current affairs.
• BFM's purpose is to build a better Malaysia by championing rational, evidence-based discourse as a key element of good policy decisions.
• BFM applies its discourse-based approach to other programming areas such as entrepreneurship, health, fashion, the arts, sports and music, as well as to its executive education initiative.

A short while ago, I was alerted about a BFM programme in which the director of a migration service which has been in business for over ten years appeared to talk about the business of migration.

Since I have written quite a bit about the wastage in talent and human resources in this country and how this constraint can prevent Malaysia from attaining Vision 2020 and reaching our goal of an advanced country, I was naturally interested.  

Fortunately, although BFM can be heard only on frequency 89.9 MHz in Wilayah Persekutuan, Selangor, and parts of Negeri Sembilan and Melaka so that listeners in the north where I am cannot receive it, the station has a website where podcasts of its daily programmes are posted and can be heard.

Hence I was able to access the programme through the internet. Readers interested can hear the interview for themselves at http://www.bfm.my/breakfast-grille-rayford-migration.html.

I should also point out that I have been the subject of a BFM interview on two separate occasions. One was when I spoke about the importance of an open tender system and why it is unproductive to pursue affirmative action because the results show that such a system does not create competitive individuals (http://www.bfm.my/breakfast-grille-050410-koon-yew-yin.html). The second was when I was interviewed by Melissa Idris on political change and corruption in the country. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdnz6C989Ag)

Why Malaysians Are Migrating

There are several points raised during the programme which it is important for the Prime Minister and other BN leaders to note. One is that the migration business has been growing steadily during the past ten years that the business has been in existence. This means that rather than declining after the uncertainty of the 2013 elections, Malaysians are continuing to lose confidence in the government. The interviewee confidently predicted that his business will grow even more in the coming years as more Malaysians look for a brighter future elsewhere.

The second is that we are losing highly talented human resources to countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. These are people in engineering, IT, management and other key sectors whose skills are sought after worldwide and which we can ill afford to lose.

The third is the expectation that the highly publicised programme to attract talented Malaysians living abroad to return to Malaysia will not be able to produce much positive results.

Though the radio respondent and interviewer were politically correct throughout the interview and avoided any direct mention of politics, it is clear that Malaysians are leaving the country not simply because they are in search of a “better lifestyle” and “work opportunities” but also in response to the low standard of our politics and politicians, and the misgovernance found in the country.  

It is significant that the migration service director noted that there was a big spike in the calls his company receives from interested clients every time one of the government leaders makes stupid or careless comments.  Although no names were mentioned in the interview, it is clear that both interviewer and interviewee had in mind the tweet of Bung Moktar Radin, the Kinabatangan MP, who tweeted:

“Well done...Bravo...Long live Hitler,” all in capital letters, via his Twitter handle @mykinabatangan, following Germany’s shocking 7-1 defeat of Brazil.

As the interview noted, people in the migration business need to send leaders such as Bung Moktar “thank you” cards everytime they open their mouths or their twitter accounts without thinking.

Many Malaysians have written to express their shame and anger over this faux pas. However, instead of apologizing to Malaysians, the people of Germany and all nations and people, especially the Jews who experienced war, suffering and atrocities as a result of a demented and power crazy fascist politician, Bung Moktar is unrepentent.  

Bung Moktar and His Power Base

Bung Moktar, the Deputy Prime Minister of “another May 13” and “I am a Malay first” fame, and  leaders like them who make stupid or inflammatory speeches and comments, are one of the main reasons why Malaysians are giving up on our country and migrating.

But why are Bung Moktar and his type so arrogant and unapologetic? This is because the MP thinks he is no ordinary politician. His ego and powers have been considerably enlarged by the rewards provided by Umno for his 'leadership' qualities. One of these rewards is the Chairmanship of Felcra, one of the largest government-linked companies (GLCs).

And how has Felcra been performing under the leadership of this eminent Umno leader? Recently the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) urged the government to review the relevance of underperforming GLCs. According to Chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed there are GLC’s which are no longer relevant to the changing times, not properly managed and no longer fullfilling the objectives of their formation. These GLC’s which receive federal funding should be providing better returns and meeting the objective of their formation”.

Among the prominent GLC's which has come under scrutiny for management issues which have been in conflict with financial procedures and procurement is Felcra. In more forthright language GLC's such as Felcra have weaknesses arising from leakages, corruption and abuse of power. These leakages, corruption and abuse of power throughout our national system – not mentioned in the BFM programme – are also at the heart of why Malaysians are migrating.

My advice

Finally, I should emphasize that when young people ask me for advice on whether they should pursue opportunities abroad, I make it a point to tell them about the great potential that is found in our country and urge them to make their future here rather than in some other country.  I am beginning to see that there are more people like me who are criticizing the BN Government openly for all their wrong doings and at the same time putting their faith in the country.

The result of the last general election shows that the opposition, Pakatan Rakyat won more votes than Barisan National although they did not win the control of the government. Since then more people including BN supporters are beginning to appreciate Pakatan Rakyat’s good management of Selangor and Penang.

We must not migrate because, in my view, Pakatan Rakyat will likely win in the next general election and we need everyone to improve the country. Even if BN wins, that is no reason to leave the country since they will have to change for the better or be thrown out of power eventually. – July 11, 2014.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/why-the-migration-business-is-booming-koon-yew-yin

Is Malaysia Asia's Weakest Link?

JUN 5, 2014 2:24 AM EDT

By William Pesek

From missing airplanes to jail-bound opposition leaders, Malaysia has recently made international headlines for all the wrong reasons. Will the nation's economy be next?

That's the thrust of new report from Sarah Fowler of U.K.-based Oxford Economics, which ranks Malaysia the "riskiest country in Asia of those we consider," more so than India, Indonesia and even coup-happy Thailand. On the surface, she points out, all's well: Growth is zooming along at 6.2 percent, the external balance is reasonably sound and political stability reigns. But all's not what it seems. "Prompted by its high levels of public debt, rising external debt and shrinking current account surplus, there has been a shift in the perception of risks towards Malaysia and away from Indonesia," Fowler explains.

Malaysia wasn't included in Morgan Stanley's "fragile five" list of shaky emerging economies last year, as were India and Indonesia. But Fowler scratches at a number of Malaysian vulnerabilities that deserve more attention: external debt levels that in recent years have risen to close to 40 percent of gross domestic product; a higher public debt ratio than India; the biggest short-term capital flows among the 13 major emerging markets Oxford tracks, including Indonesia; and a shrinking current-account surplus.

This last point is still somewhat of a positive. As the mini-crises in developing nations last year demonstrated, a balance-of-payments surplus is a very good thing to have. Also, Malaysia's use of so-called macroprudential policies has succeeded in preventing huge property bubbles of the kind afflicting Singapore and Hong Kong. ButMalaysia's current-account surplus is dwindling, from 16 percent of GDP in 2008 to 3.7 percent last year. And household debt is, to use Fowler's words, "worryingly high" at more than 80 percent of GDP compared to less than 60 percent in 2008.

What really concerns Oxford, and myself, is the complacency factor in Putrajaya. Malaysia is effectively a one-party state, having effectively been ruled by the same party for six decades. Its 40-year-old, pro-Malay affirmative-action program chips away at the country's competitiveness more and more each passing year. The scheme, which disenfranchises Malaysia's Chinese and Indian minorities, is a productivity and innovation killer. It also has a corrupting influence on the political and business culture.

"A climate of entitlement amongst the Malay community limits entrepreneurialism and vested interests within the United Malays National Organization still resist change," Fowler argues.

The need for change is becoming acute, though, as China's dominance grows and neighbors like the Philippines get their acts together. Indians just elected the party of reform-minded Narendra Modi and Indonesians will soon choose a successor for Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in a contest that's all about reducing corruption and improving governmental efficiency. And Malaysia? Well, Prime Minister Najib Razak's lackluster party is clinging to power. Meanwhile, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim may soon be in jail again on sodomy charges many see as politically motivated.

The government's handling of Malaysian Air Flight 370 said it all. Its deer-in-the-headlights response to the plane's disappearance was the product of an insular political culture. The trouble is, that insularity is holding back a resource-rich economy that should be among Asia's superstars, not its weakest links.

To contact the writer of this article: William Pesek at wpesek@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this article: Nisid Hajari at nhajari@bloomberg.net

Source: http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-06-05/is-malaysia-asia-s-weakest-link

Christianisation: Sabah bristles with anger

Ng Suzhen

 | May 8, 2014

Conversion is a sore issue in Sabah which has seen its once majority native communities now marginalised as a result of a covert 1990s operation to keep Umno-BN in power.

KOTA KINABALU: Controversy shrouding a recent lecture in Universiti Technologi Mara (UiTM), which “bullied” Christians and warned Muslims about the threat of Christianisation, on the back of another incident in Sarawak involving a Majlis Amanah Rakyat’s (Mara) scholarship interview has got Sabah leaders bristling.

Conversion is a sore issue in Sabah which has seen its once majority native Christian communities – Kadazan Dusun Murut – nuetralised and marginalised by legalised illegal immigrants under the infamous 1990s Project IC to ensure Umno and Barisan Nasional’s (BN) stay in power.

Following reports of the incidence, Sabah BN partner, United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun MurutOrganisation (Upko), has demanded that Putrajaya act against bigots and extremists.

“Enough with the warnings. It is very difficult to explain the injustice to people,” said Upko Information Chief Albert Bingkasan.

“The policies of the government have always been good and beneficial for Malaysians as a whole.

“But for some reason, when it’s passed down to the lower levels, there tend to be many ‘little Napoleons’ who misuse and misinterpret the policies.

“Everybody (Muslims and Non-Muslims) should be equal under the constitution.

“Now when a non-Muslim commits an offence action is swift but the same cannot be said for Muslim offenders,” said Bingkasan.

He said Putrajaya should deal  a swift and harsh hand on all those who committed offenses against the federal constitution.

Bingkasan was responding to a Mara scholarship interview involving top scorer Nigel Unchart Jeremiah and the latest report of 12 Christian students from Sabah allegedly being pressured into converting following a forum in UITM which also warned Muslims about Christianisation.

In the case of Nigel, he was plied with questions on Islam by the interviewer despite him declaring that he was a Christian. Nigel had applied for a scholarship to do mechanical engineering.

Muslimisation in Sabah 

Earlier this week during a seminar held in UiTM, a speaker claimed that Christians were using fundamental knowledge in both religions to convert Muslims.

President of Pertubuhan Muafakat Sejahtera Masyarakat Malaysia (MUAFAKAT) Abdul Karim Omar had ‘warned’ the 1,000 strong crowd comprising secondary and university students of the Christianisation of Muslims in Malaysia.

Karim cited a thesis, “Religious identity and life of Malay Christians of Malaysia” by John Cheong. In his 2012 thesis, submitted to the Trinity International College of Illinois, Cheong revealed the existence of ‘cloaked Christians’.

These individuals are Malays who perform the obligations of a Muslim such as fasting and going to the mosque, but they are in fact believers of the Christian religion,” said Karim.

Just before Karim, another speaker, a former Catholic priest from Indonesia named H. Insan LS Mokoginta, had used basic messages in both religions to convince Christian students that every follower of Jesus should convert to Islam otherwise it would be a betrayal to him.

Meanwhile Bingkor assemblyman Jeffrey Kitingan has dismissed claims of ‘Christianisation’ of Muslims.

If reports are any gauge it’s more the other way round in Sabah.

“Christians do not blatantly go around converting people. There is still the constitution guaranteeing the freedom of religion, and the rights extend to the Muslims,” he said.

Last December, it was reported that abject poor  Christian natives in Pitas were converted for Rm100 each. The natives claimed they were not aware that they had been converted.

According to a pastor, the situation is widespread in rural Sabah, which is the poorest state in Malaysia according to a World Bank Report.

In January, the Protestant Church in Sabah (PCS) president Rev Jensey Mojuin reportedly said the church was concerned over “unofficial” reports of what was happening in the parishes of Kudat, Kota Marudu, Kanibongan, Paitan and Pitas.

He said there were also unconfirmed reports of forced, coerced or induced conversion in north and east coast of Sabah.

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/05/08/christianisation-sabah-bristles-with-anger/

STOP BLAMING THE CHINESE - Anwar ticks off Zahid, Ali for using the race card in Umno poll

Wednesday, 09 October 2013 14:29
Written by Malaysia Chronicle

KUALA LUMPUR - Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim ticked off Umno leaders who have recently hit the headlines with outrageous comments that were clearly racist in nature.

"Now I have said on the 31st of August when I called for for dialogue the issue of racism and religious bigotry is paramount and since then it has gotten worse. The Umno election is not about governance or the welfare of the Malays but about the race card," an incensed Anwar told a press conference on Wednesday.

"Why blame the Chinese or the Opposition? Who squandered the funds, who squandered timber land, who squandered billions of contracts for their families and cronies? Who are the richest Malays? These are the family members of the umno leaders. Who managed to get the Petronas contracts, the big contracts? Why blame the Chinese or the Opposition or whoever? Why can't we learn to work together and deal with this amicably?"

Anwar had been asked on whether he felt Umno leaders such as Home Minister Zahid Hamidi and former Malacca chief minister Ali Rustam had overplayed their hand in criticizing and blaming the Chinese for an assortment of ills plaguing the country including escalating crime, and for Ali Rustam, even the loss of his Batul Katil parliamentary seat.

Deep anger and resentment amongst the minorities

The outrageous comments of the two Umno leaders who are both vying to make the cut as vice presidents in the October 19 Umno election have triggered a backlash of negative publicity for the country as well as stirring up deep resentment and anger amongst the minorities.

"Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi made remarks in a speech in Malacca on October 6, 2013, that showed gross indifference for the right to life and the rights of the country’s minority populations," international NGO Human Rights Watch said in a statement issued today.

The well-respected NGO is the latest to join the chorus of calls spearheaded by Malaysian activists demanding that Prime Minister Najib Razak removed Zahid from the Cabinet, and to chastise Ali Rustam for his blatantly racist comments.

"After hearing the home minister, I really want to know what MCA and MIC are doing in BN. Have some self-respect please and walk out!" former Malaysian Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan had tweeted in response to Zahid's comments. Ambiga, who is one of Malaysia's most prominent civil society leaders, was referring to the Chinese and Indian component parties in Najib's ruling BN coalition.

Go back to school, Zahid

In his speech, Zahid had also controversially admitted that the police had a 'shoot-first' policy and did not need to warn their suspects as the victims of these criminals were "mostly our Malays".

"Zahid should get some basic training in basic law. Yes, the police have a right to defend themselves but to shoot first without warning is totally different," said Anwar.

"I am speechless at what the Home Minister said in Malacca. It shows he has no understanding of, or respect for the rule of law. He is supporting police who are trigger happy. I am very disturbed by the shocking racism and racial profiling in his speech which portrayed Malays as victims of all crimes and non-Malays as the perpetrators,"Ambiga had also told Malaysia Chronicle.

Source:  http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=172312:stop-blaming-the-chinese-anwar-ticks-off-zahid-ali-rustam-for-using-the-race-card-in-umno-poll&Itemid=2#axzz2hD91rQp1