Xenophon expulsion shows BN ‘frightened’ by democratic freedom, says Aussie paper

By Clara Chooi
Assistant News Editor

February 19, 2013

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 — The deportation of Australian Senator Nick Xenophon last weekend shows that the Najib administration is “frightened” that Malaysians may have finally reached racial maturity and are for true democratic freedom, the Sydney Morning Herald said today.

The paper’s international editor Peter Hartcher said the Barisan Nasional-led (BN) government, despite its over half a century rule, has yet to turn the country into a mature democracy, fearing that a truly free and fair election would threaten its grip on power.

He noted Xenophon’s role as an international observer of Malaysia’s polls system in a wider campaign for fair elections, saying this was likely what sparked the independent senator’s expulsion from the country on Saturday.

“The reason is that he is an international observer campaigning in favour of a free and fair election,” Hartcher wrote in a commentary today.

“This is not a threat to Malaysia’s national security, but it is a threat to the ruling party’s grip on power,” he observed, repeating Opposition Leader Datuk Anwar Ibrahim’s claim to him before that “in a fair and free election, I am absolutely sure we will win.’’

Xenophon (picture)has been openly critical of the BN government’s handling of the mass rally for free and fair elections here in April by electoral reforms group Bersih 2.0, having claimed in his observation that the police had arbitrarily used unnecessary force to clamp down on what had largely been a peaceful protest.

Hartcher cited communal politics as one of the key reasons behind BN’s 56-year grasp on power over multiracial Malaysia, but said Malaysians may now be ready to discard a rule founded on race-based policies.

He quoted from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s 1970 book “The Malay Dilemma”, pointing to the former prime minister’s observation that the country’s most dominant ethnic group needed affirmative action to help them compete with the other races.

“It should not be wrong for the Malays to cling to a system which can elevate them to the status of other races, thus creating a more equitable society,” Hartcher wrote, quoting from Dr Mahathir’s book.

But the editor said that although this system had kept the peace for many years in Malaysia, the one-sided effect was that the BN government’s monopoly on power had allowed it a near-absolute control over all arms of the government, including the judiciary.

Hartcher referred to Anwar’s first sodomy conviction, which saw the country’s former deputy prime minister — Dr Mahathir’s former number two — dragged from power and thrown into prison for a whopping six years.

But he pointed out that much has changed since Anwar’s freedom, leading to BN’s colossal electoral losses in Election 2008 where the ruling pact saw its chokehold over Parliament slackened significantly.

He said Dr Mahathir may have anticipated in “The Malay Dilemma” that Malaysia’s race-based construct would one day be obsolete, but the country’s longest-serving prime minister may not be ready that this moment could have arrived.

“He is not ready for the possibility that today could be the day, or that the people are the ones who have to make that decision,” he said.

This in mind, Hartcher said there could be real fear among those in the ruling BN pact that the coming 13th general election could see it lose federal power completely.

Malaysia’s people deserve a free vote, and Australia should stand with them in calling for one. — Sydney Morning Herald international editor Peter Hartcher

He noted that BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had once stressed the importance of “avoiding racial strife” in Malaysia to the international observer group that had monitored the Bersih rally, of which Xenophon was a member of.

Hartcher said that Tengku Adnan had posed this question to the group: “Are our people mature for freedom?’’

“The Malaysian government is afraid not of an Australian senator but of this question. In particular, the Najib government is frightened that the answer might be ‘yes’,” the editor wrote.

Xenophon, who was part of a bipartisan parliamentary delegation from Australia, was deported from Malaysia last Saturday for posing a “security risk” to the country.

He had travelled to Kuala Lumpur to call on Anwar, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz and Election Commission (EC) officials this week, but was detained at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang and subsequently deported late at night.

The senator’s deportation immediately placed Malaysia under the international spotlight again for its purportedly harsh approach in handling criticisms against its administration.

Several Australian politicians have already denounced Xenophon’s expulsion, joining a chorus of condemnation from Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr and former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

But Hartcher said Carr’s reaction that Xenophon’s detention was “sad” and “disappointing” was a display of Australia’s usual “limpness” in defending its citizens abroad.

“But, above all, Malaysia’s overreaction to Xenophon simply validates his point that it is not a mature democracy.

“This has been Carr’s fig leaf to justify Australia’s silence at Malaysia’s lack of democratic freedom — that we have no place in criticising a mature democracy,” he said.

“The deportation of Xenophon is an implicit confession by the Najib government that Xenophon is right and Carr is wrong.

“Malaysia’s people deserve a free vote, and Australia should stand with them in calling for one.”

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/xenophon-expulsion-shows-bn-frightened-by-democratic-freedom-says-aussie-paper/

Karpal says Jui Meng’s intentions ‘suspect’ in Johor DAP-PKR spat

By Clara Chooi
Assistant News Editor

February 18, 2013

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 – Karpal Singh urged today for intervention from Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and an inquiry into Johor DAP chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau’s claims that ex-MCA leader Datuk Chua Jui Meng has been organising an underground campaign against the DAP in the southern state.

The DAP chairman(picture) appeared, however, to back his fellow party leader in the crossfire, calling Dr Boo “the real McCoy” and in contrast, saying Chua’s credibility as Johor’s PKR chief was “suspect”.

“The credibility of Chua Jui Meng is suspect,” Karpal said in a sharply-worded statement here.

“His long sojourn in the MCA and by extension in the Barisan Nasional (BN), his unsuccessful attempt in 2004 at the MCA presidency and his obvious overzealous enthusiasm to regain a seat in Parliament certainly exposes a credibility problem which may appear to consume the better part of his intellect,” added the well-known lawyer.

Chua, a former health minister, was previously a veteran MCA leader, holding the post of vice-president from 1990 until 2004. He made two attempts at MCA’s presidency but lost both times and in an about-turn in 2009, defected to PKR.

In July 2010, he was appointed to the post of Johor PKR chief.

But an unimpressed Karpal told Chua that a politician who “deserts his own political mother” could not be regarded with approval or prided.

He said that if Dr Boo’s allegation that Chua has been the “black hand” behind a campaign against DAP in Johor were true, the latter must be checked in his tracks as soon as possible.

“An in-depth inquiry ought to be launched to determine who are behind the ‘vicious anonymous attacks’ against the DAP and also determine the ‘black hand’ behind these attacks,” Karpal said.

“The assertion by Dr Boo cannot be dismissed out of hand in the interests of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

“I call upon PKR de facto leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to intercede so that PR’s chances in its front line state will not in any way be negatively affected by any act of sabotage,” he added.

In a statement earlier today, Dr Boo urged PKR to drop Chua as its Johor chief and replace latter with either Anwar or PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

He argued that since Chua took over the reigns of Johor PKR, the latter’s leadership has been “detrimental” to Johor PR’s unity.

“In actual truth, Johor PR had had cordial inter-party relationships and effective in resolving seats negotiation at the state level previously before Datuk Chua Jui Meng joined the PR,” he said in a statement here.

Dr Boo alleged that while DAP and PAS have been working together on seat distribution in the state, it has been Chua who has been acting like “an absolute monarch” within Johor PR by vetoing all agreements made by the two parties.

“As a newcomer in the PR, Datuk Chua Jui Meng is urged to respect the history of cordial and close relationship between Johor PR component parties in the past.

“Datuk Chua Jui Meng has deliberately been quoted to have said that PKR is the sole PR party ever contesting in Gelang Patah in 2004 and 2008 by deleting the past history as to how DAP Johor stood in Gelang Patah and whole-heartedly supported a great man like Razak Ahmad,” he said in the statement.

Chua is believed to have his sights set on contesting in the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat in the coming polls.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/karpal-says-jui-mengs-intentions-suspect-in-johor-dap-pkr-spat/

安华：困难重重也不放弃，入主布城路如唐僧取经

2013-02-16 18:05

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  公正党领袖在该党醒狮团的助阵下，向华社拜年，其中安华和卡立手中所持对联分別为“华社旺盛全赖两线制＂及“万家兴旺唯望公正党＂；右一为蔡添强。 （图：星洲日报）

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（吉隆坡16日讯）国会反对党领袖拿督斯里安华，今日以中国四大名著之一的《西游记》做比喻，指民联入主布城的过程，就如唐僧带领徒弟前往西天取经般，面临种种考验，但最终会取得成功。

他表示，唐僧（唐三藏）在取经的过程中，面对种种困难和挑战，但从不气馁和放弃，也不会动摇，因为唐僧知道甚么是真理，同理民联也不会放弃。

“我们知道生活很困难，为了真理和公义，会有很多考验，期间有坏人出现，有人威胁烧圣经、有人被捕、汽油起价、物价涨等等，但我们不会动摇，这是《西游记》给民联的一个讯息。＂

坐牢时阅读《西游记》

也是公正党顾问的安华今日在公正党敦拉萨镇区部举办的新春大团拜上，以自问自答的方式说，本身是在坐牢6年的时候，阅读《西游记》，並认为故事情节很像民联今日的斗爭。

此外，他在约半小时的演讲中，也多番揶揄国阵和马华，並以去年巫统大会结束后，所有中央代表眼闪泪光高唱一首歌曲“玩火小孩＂（Anak Kecil Main Api）为例，批评马华代表不明就里，也跟著鼓掌赞好，实际上这是一首充满种族性的歌曲。

“歌曲最后一句是｀所踩土地別人所属’，意思说马来人的土地被华人、印度人拥有，马华为甚么要呼应？实际上，我认为歌曲应该改编为｀所踩土地，朋党所属’。＂

由於桌椅不足，数以千计的民眾大部份是站著聆听安华的演讲。

他表示，华人及印度人等友族已在这片土地上生活数十年，但如今还有巫统领袖质疑为何他们能获得公民权。

“这是令人无法接受的事情，来届大选是改朝换代的时候。＂

“雪选民仍支持我＂
卡立：胜算60%

雪州大臣兼敦拉萨镇国会议员丹斯里卡立强调，马华在年初一於敦拉萨镇所举行的新村团拜出席人数多，並不代表选民支持马华，他很有信心，各族选民会在来届大选继续支持他。

“出席马华新春团拜者，有些不是来自敦拉萨镇，是巴士载来的。

“2008年选举时，我以为机会是50对50，但选民选了我，如今我认为胜算是60%。＂

来源：http://news.sinchew.com.my/node/278366?tid=1

International confirmation that BN government “authoritarian” and Najib a “false democrat”

53-Day Countdown to 13GE: Xenophon’s 15-hr detention and deportation – international confirmation that BN govt “authoritarian” and Najib a “false democrat”

By Lim Kit Siang

In the run-up to the 13th General Elections, Malaysians are seeing the full flowering of the Greek saying, “Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad”.By Lim Kit Siang

Last month, former and longest-serving Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir flaunted his treasonous deeds in the “citizenship-for-votes” scams in Sabah in Project M and Project IC in the eighties and nineties, resulting in true Sabahans becoming a minority in their own land – and who added insult to injury when he alleged that Bapa Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman had given one million citizenship to “unqualified” non-Malays before Merdeka.

As if not enough damage had been done, Mahathir has compounded it by advocating a two-thirds parliamentary majority for Barisan Nasional so as to be able to revoke the citizenship of Bersih co-chairperson S. Ambiga for her patriotic campaign for free, fair and clean elections.

Last week, as if the three resounding “Yes for Psy, Noes for BN” at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s Penang Chinese New Year bash featuring Korean K-Pop superstar and the indignity of the Prime Minister, former Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers waiting on stage forlornly and in vain for Psy to join them for a “yee san toss” were not embarrassments enough, four days after the event and without an iota of evidence, Penang Barisan Nasional leaders spun the tale that there had been attempts on the lives of Psy and the Prime Minister. At least, Najib had the sense so far to keep mum on the tall tale.

The latest evidence of the workings of the Greek saying, “Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad” is the 15-hour detention and deportation of Australian Senator, furnishing a national and international confirmation that the Barisan Nasional government of Malaysia is “authoritarian” and Najib a “false democrat”.

The claim by the Immigration director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad that Xenophon is on the Immigration “blacklist” because he had tarnished the country’s image, such as calling the Malaysian government “authoritarian” in handling the Bersih 3.0 rally for free and fair elections last April, is most puerile and infantile, as on this basis, Malaysians would be persona non grata to many countries that they had criticized with former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir as the Top Malaysian who could not travel to the most number of Western countries!

But what takes the cake is the deplorable and most questionable endorsement of Xenophon’s detention and deportation by the Election Commission, whose deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said it was unjust to judge the fairness of the 13GE based on Xenophon’s expulsion.

Apart from highlighting its utter lack of independence and impartiality, the Election Commission cannot be more wrong.

The “authoritarian” and undemocratic expulsion of Xenophon has now put the whole question of the integrity of the electoral process, whether the 13GE will be free, fair and clean, on the international radar.

The whole world are now asking – what has the Election Commission and the UMNO/BN government got to hide that they are so afraid of independent foreign observers to the 13GE as having to strain foreign relations and brave international condemnation and opprobrium as to detain and deport Xenophon?

The world is also waiting and watching whether Najib is indeed the “false democrat” as depicted by Mark Mackinnon, the award-winning journalist of the Canadian The Globe and Mail in his article of June 8, 2012, in particular with reference to his definition of a “false democrat” who is one who “hold elections but have no intention of giving up power” and whose “serious political rivals are jailed and their parties are outlawed on legal technicalities”.

The Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said yesterday that DAP had not submitted its party election returns within 60 days as required by law and the Registrar of Societies will start investigations into the DAP.

Yesterday, I had in my tweet asked: “What will Hishammuddin do as Home Minister if DAP can prove that DAP has submitted elections returns to 2ROS b4 CNY?”

May be Hishammuddin and Najib are seriously thinking of declaring DAP illegal and unlawful because they are desperate about the UMNO/BN prospects in the 13GE, despite all the boasts that they can win big in a free and fair elections, even regaining two-thirds parliamentary majority and retake the present Pakatan Rakyat states of Penang, Selangor, Kedah and Kelantan.

Let them ponder the Greek saying: “Those whom the Gods wish to destroy they first make mad”.

Source: http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/02/17/53-day-countdown-to-13ge-xenophons-15-hr-detention-and-deportation-international-confirmation-that-bn-govt-authoritarian-and-najib-a-false-democrat/#more-22290

Australia’s former PM Rudd tells Canberra to be ‘robust’ on Xenophon expulsion

By Boo Su-Lyn

February 17, 2013

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 — Australia’s former prime minister Kevin Rudd condemned Australian senator Nick Xenophon’s detention in Malaysia as unacceptable and urged Canberra to be “robust” in response.

Xenophon (picture) arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday morning to call on Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, de facto law minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz and Election Commission (EC) officials next week, but was detained at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang and subsequently deported late at night.

“Detaining any member of an Australian parliament, in the way in which Senator Xenophon appears to have been detained, is just unacceptable,” Rudd told Australian news channel Sky News today.

“We are robust about our democracy and therefore we should be robust in our response to our friends in Kuala Lumpur,” he added.

Xenophon was to review the country’s electoral system with a delegation of other Australian MPs and senators that would arrive later, but his colleagues have cancelled the trip in response to his deportation.

Rudd said today that Australia was a “good friend” to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, but that Putrajaya’s action warranted a response.

“He’s an elected member of the Australian Parliament and should be treated with the appropriate respect,” added Rudd, referring to Xenophon.

The deportation order issued by the Malaysian Immigration Department to Nick Xenophon.- Picture courtesy of Nick Xenophon's office

Immigration Department director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad said yesterday that Xenophon was deported and barred from entering Malaysia under the Immigration Act 8(3) because the senator had made statements that allegedly tarnished Malaysia’s image.

Alias highlighted Xenophon’s remarks about the Malaysian government being “authoritarian” in handling last April’s Bersih 3.0 rally for free and fair elections.

In Xenophon’s observation of the rally, he noted that the police had fired tear gas and chemical-laced water in what had been a largely peaceful protest.

His comments were also laid down in the final report of a fact-finding mission on elections in Malaysia as part of an international polls observer group that included six others, including representatives from neighbouring Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Pakistan and Germany.

Xenophon’s detention and deportation have raised the ire of several Malaysians, including electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) politicians.

Bersih 2.0 co-chair Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan lambasted Xenophon’s deportation as a move that showed the government’s “paranoia” about the coming national polls.

Anwar called it a “gross abuse of power” that violated international protocol in treating international lawmakers, especially those from the Commonwealth.

Several other Twitter users joined Ambiga in raining scorn on the government’s decision, with the subject spawning a hashtag #xenophon.

The Election Commission (EC) however has defended the lawmaker’s deportation, saying that immigration authorities were merely performing their duty.

EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar added that it was unjust to judge the fairness of the coming Election 2013 based on Xenophon’s expulsion.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/australias-former-pm-rudd-tells-canberra-to-be-robust-on-xenophon-expulsion/

PSY檳州演出风波，林吉祥：纳吉须澄清是否受威胁

2013-02-16 10:02

（吉隆坡15日讯）民主行动党国会领袖林吉祥说，首相拿督斯里纳吉必须澄清他在檳城国阵新春团拜提早步下舞台，是因为他的生命遭受威胁，或是韩国人气歌手PSY的生命也一样遭受威胁。

他今日发表文告说，这不是开玩笑的一件事，马来西亚人民包括檳城人在內，理应知道事情的真相。

他指出，玩弄首相与韩国超级巨星的安全问题，是一项非常轻率且毫不负责任的举动。“或许须要举行一个公开听证会，还原当天捞生仪式的真相。＂

来源：http://news.sinchew.com.my/node/278295

PSY檳州演出风波，林冠英：邓章耀言论影响州形象

 2013-02-16 10:04

（檳城15日讯）檳州首席部长林冠英说，如果檳州国阵主席邓章耀拿不出首相在年初二时安全受威胁的证据，就须收回言论並道歉；他也不认为当天PSY的安全受威胁，他促邓章耀和警方向公眾交待，不然恐会影响檳城的形象。

林冠英今日召开新闻发佈会说，邓章耀先指首相拿督斯里纳吉在年初二出席檳州国阵新春团拜时安全受威胁，由《星洲日报》独家报导；隔天又说PSY的的安全受威胁，但在这同时，邓章耀並没有收回“首相安全被威胁＂的言论。

“邓章耀身为檳州国阵主席，岂可说这种话，这会为檳州带来负面形象，破坏檳城的名誉。＂

PSY安全受威胁变国际新闻

他质问，到底纳吉的安全有没有受威胁？他促邓章耀拿出证据，他说若对方拿不出证据，就需收回言论並道歉，因为对方的言论会破坏檳城的形象。

他说，邓章耀的一系列说法只不过是要用来遮丑，作为年初二当天PSY不出来与首相一起捞生的解释。他说，隨著邓章耀说PSY的安全受威胁和檳州警方发文告证实此说法，这件事已成为国际新闻。

“PSY的安全在檳州受威胁？为何邓章耀会知道，而我这个首长却不知道？如果发生这种事，檳州总警长应该通知我。＂他说，PSY在全球各地不曾面对“安全被威胁＂的情况，连朝鲜人也喜欢《Gangnam Style》，难道来檳城就被威胁？况且在PSY来檳之前，也不见檳城发生任何示威抗议的事件。PSY照样上台演出，之后还到丹绒道光一家韩国餐厅用餐。

他促檳州警方向公眾交待。他说，这4年来，檳州的罪案下降率冠全马，若P S Y真的在檳城面对“安全被威胁＂，这4年来的努力和檳州的形象就会受影响。

林冠英播放当天首相在台上等候PSY出来捞生的录影，分析说当天台上並无紧张气氛，也不见警员上台保护首相，在台上的嘉宾个个脸掛笑容，而首相还拿起手机拍照，何来“安全受威胁＂？

来源：http://news.sinchew.com.my/node/278296

‘Allah’, a non-issue really

February 16, 2013

For centuries, Christians in Islamic countries, especially in the Middle Eastern countries where Islam was born, have been using the word Allah without stirring up any storm in the tea cup.

Bishop Paul Tan
The reason why I write this short article is to dispel all doubts about facts, truths and rationality in the use of the word Allah, a non-issue really. It becomes an issue when it is being politicised which is the case in Malaysia. This article is not intended to be polemical.

First, allow me to make a few introductory remarks.

(1) I do not pretend to speak for every Christian, less still for everyone. I speak for many people who do not profess the Islamic faith in Malaysia and perhaps for a number of Muslims in and out of Malaysia.

(2) I do not claim that Christians must use the word Allah. It is up to everyone in accordance to his or her conviction.

(3) I only claim for every human being the right and freedom to use any word found in any language. Upholding this principle, I personally claim that I have the right to use the word Allah.

In this present Malaysian context, it must be said explicitly: it is not that Christians want to use the word to confuse Muslims; rather, it is taking a stand that no one has the power to take away the God-given right to a human person the freedom to use whatever word he or she wants to use provided the rights of others are not being violated.

If certain Muslims in Malaysia feel that their rights are being violated, they have only to look at history to know that for centuries, Christians in Islamic countries, especially in the Middle Eastern countries where Islam was born, have been using the word Allah without stirring up any storm in the tea cup.

To say that using the word Allah may confuse the Muslims in Malaysia is tantamount to casting aspersion on them because it is accusing them of having a faith so weak that, unlike their Muslim brothers and sisters in other countries, they are easily shaken because people of other faiths use the word Allah for God. Sikhs, Bahai’s, Maltese, Mizrahi Jews, etc., use Allah. More of this later.

In the same setting, I would like to emphasise that Malaysia is a constitutional or parliamentary democracy and not a theocratic state, in concrete, an Islamic state; say what you want, the fact remains that at the inception of the Federal Constitution, our founding fathers did not want Malaysia to be an Islamic state.

Our founding father Tunku Abdul Rahman’s statement on the matter is the best testimony.

The Sultan of Selangor and the Sultan of Pahang have banned non-Muslims from using the term Allah. Our Federal Constitution does not give any sultan the power to dictate to people of other faiths what religious rules that they must follow.

People of faiths other than those of Islam have their own religious heads who govern and tell them what is right or wrong in accordance with their religious beliefs.

Facts and reasoning

My claim of human right for everyone on the use of any word from any language, in this case the word Allah, is based on the following facts and reasoning.

Allah is a pre-Islamic word used by Arabs, e.g., the Arabs in Mecca, before Prophet Muhammad was born.

For these Arabs, the word, Allah, means “creator deity”. It is therefore not an Islamic creation and Muslims have no exclusive claim to it although they may and have injected into it specific nuances.

If the Holy Prophet Muhammad wanted Muslims to use a specific word with special connotations that others did not have, he would have created a new word and not use a word already used by the Arabs and Arab Christians before his time.

Besides, Christians, Mizrahi Jews, Bahai’s, Maltese, Sikhs, and others use the same word. The Skhs have publicly proclaimed that their Holy Scriptures have used the word Allah 37 times. The Sikhs ask the rhetorical question: Are they also forbidden to read and pray their Scriptures?

This word Allah and its cognates are found in many languages. Just to give a few examples:

in Urdu/Persian/Dari/Uyshur, it is the same word, Allah; in Bengali, and in Bosnian languages, it is also Allah; in Czech and Slovak languages, it is Allach, etc.,

In the Holy Quran, it is written clearly that Jews, Christians, Sabeans worship Allah. Allow me to quote only one surah – surah 2:62: “Those who believe in the Quaran and those who follow the Jewish Scriptures and the Christians and the Sabeans… who so believe in God (Allah) and the last day…

In our own country, in Sabah and Sarawak, our Bumiputera, e.g., Kadazans, Ibans, Bidahyus, Melanaus, etc., have been using the word Allah in their languages for umpteen years.

No country in the world, including the Arab countries in the Middle East and, closer to Malaysia, Indonesia, forbids non-Muslims from using the word Allah. Christians in these countries have been using it for centuries. At present, there are about 10 to 12 million Arab Christians using the word Allah for God.

If some Malaysian Muslims claim that non-Muslims cannot use the word because the Malaysian Muslims’ understanding of Allah is unique to them, then logically they are saying that the Arab Muslims also have a different understanding of Allah from their understanding because the Arab Muslims use the word Allah for God and allow Christians to use the same word.

Consequently, we would be a laughing stock of enlightened people in the world if we were to continue to make criminals of people of faiths other than those of Islam because they use the word Allah.

I have in my possession a Dutch Gospel according to St Matthew or in Malay Language, Injil Matius, in the book “Nuevve Testament.” It was translated into the Malay language in 1629. In it, the word for God is translated as Allah. There are other Christian literatures translated into the Malay language after 1629 using Allah for God.

There is only one God

Permit me to quote wholesale Malaysiakini on what lawyer Annou Xavier said:

“The May 4, 2009 order by the court, according to Annou, stated the applicant (Jilil Ireland Lawrence Bill, a Melanau Christian) be given a declaration that it is within her legitimate expectation to use the word Allah and have ownership, to obtain, use and import such materials including printing items with the word for her own practice.”

He further brought MAIS’s attention to a circular, dated April 11, 2011 and endorsed by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak himself, which stated that the government has agreed that non-Muslims may import, buy, print, distribute, read and use the bible in any language, including Bahasa Malaysia.

Further to this, although the issue is still pending on the appeal to the court of appeal, KL High Court has ruled on Dec 31 2009 that the ban on the use of the word “Allah” by people of faiths other than those of Islam is illegal.

There is only one God, call Him/Her/It whatever you want, Brahman, God, Almighty, Absolute, Allah, Shang Ti or Tian or Tian Zhu. The One Creator does not change just because we humans change the word or the meaning of the word. He is the One Creator of all creatures.

Hence, to forbid people who profess faiths other than those who profess Islam is to say that Allah is not the creator of non-Muslims.

This would indeed be a blasphemy to Allah. A greater insult would be to confine Allah to Muslims and consequently logically to admit that there are other gods, true or false, besides Him/Her/It. This would be against the very tenet of Islam that there in only one God.

God does not speak in human words. Words are created by the human mind that wants to convey to others that which he or she sees, hears, smells, touches and tastes.

From what comes through these senses, the human person extrapolates with his/her intelligence all the common features of similar things and comes up with a symbolic word, e.g., that is a “tree”.

God is spirit. The Absolute has no human body through which It comes to know. The Almighty does not speak in any human language. He/She/It is beyond and above all limited human language.

Why must one pray in a particular language, be it in Latin or in Arabic or in Pali, etc.,? This human rule seems to say that God or Allah can only understand that one language. This is tantamount to limiting the power of God to being able to understand only one language.

It is also equivalent to saying that there are other gods who can understand other languages. It defeats the basic belief of the monotheist religions that believe that there is only one god, one god, creator of all things.

Hence, to limit that absolute being to any human word would be equivalent to making Him/Her/It a human being. This is what we humans say: “to anthropomorphise” the Absolute Almighty. It would be an insult to make Him/Her/It less than what IS.

From the above, it is clear that to forbid anyone from using any word for that Absolute Almighty is to fall into irrationality and absurdity. It is against all reasoning, all facts and truths.

Bishop Paul Tan is the immediate past president of the Catholics Bishops’ Conference of Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/02/16/allah-a-non-issue-really/

There was an attempt on Psy's life!

Source: thedrawingisonthewall.blogspot.ca

林吉祥：民眾向国阵喊“No”，邀PSY带来反效果

 2013-02-13 10:56

（吉隆坡12日讯）民主行动党国会领袖兼怡保东区国会议员林吉祥说，国阵昨日耗费百万邀请PSY前来檳城演出却换来民眾对PSY喊“YES＂，向国阵喊“No＂，顿使首相纳吉志在贏得第十三届全国大选的爆棚信心，就像纸牌搭的房子般黯然倒下。

林吉祥配合第十三届全国大选倒数第58天发表文告说，在即將到来的第十三届全国大选前夕，纳吉与国阵原以为不惜动輒数百万令吉將会棋高一著，无奈最终却演变成纳吉和国阵的百万灾难收场。

他说，纳吉在檳城的新春之行，唯一不会令人遗忘的，便是那短短一分钟却已广泛流传、堪比PSY和江南式火红的视频——当纳吉在韩江中学询问在场民眾是否准备好迎接PSY及国阵。

他说，这比净选盟2.0、净选盟3.0和吉隆坡112人民崛起大集会给巫统和国阵选前带来的杀伤力更为巨大且破坏性，尤其这是一场完全出自於自討苦吃的灾难。

林吉祥较后在沙巴民主行动党於亚庇建国中学举行的“迎新岁，换新天＂新春大团拜活动上致词时表示，如今网络世界疯传著出席檳州国阵新春大团拜的民眾“向PSY喊Yes，向国阵喊No＂的短片，对国阵极为不利。

来源：http://news.sinchew.com.my/node/277951

卡巴星：问题连问3次遭回答“不”，“纳吉缺邱吉尔智慧”

2013-02-12 17:41

• 
  檳岛市议员哈宾达星（左）重播纳吉在檳州国阵新春团拜上被群眾回应“不＂的网络视频后，卡巴星认为纳吉缺乏睿智，不应该连问同样的问题多达三次。（图：星洲日报）

（檳城12日讯）民主行动党主席卡巴星认为，首相拿督斯里纳吉没有在檳州国阵新春团拜上见机行事，未把负面的回应转成正面，还问了同样的问题（你们准备接受国阵了吗？）多达3次，造成群眾有充足的机会反击。

他说，纳吉缺乏英国名相已故邱吉尔的睿智，在观眾已经答了一次（向国阵说）“不＂后，没有即时扭转形势，反而让观眾有机会连答3次“不＂。

“既然纳吉想要从人民口中知道答案，人民也给了很明確的答案，就是拒绝国阵（统治的政府）。即使纳吉承诺在檳州兴建单轨火车、交替公路等，却无法掳取人民支持民联的决心。＂

卡巴星今日在檳城亚依淡举行新闻发佈会后，引用邱吉尔在第二世界大战后，以国家英雄姿態参加大选的故事，指邱吉尔上门向一名老妇人拜票时，后者以“我寧可投票给魔鬼也不选你＂回应邱吉尔。

“当时，邱吉尔对老妇人说了一句｀如果您的好朋友没参选的话，希望您可以把选票投给我’。结果，老妇人对邱吉尔改观，最后把选票给了邱吉尔。＂

纳吉昨日出席檳州国阵主办的“一马新春大团拜＂时，在致词中询问在场约6万名观眾“你们准备迎接（韩国巨星）PSY出场了吗？＂多达三次，观眾都高喊“Yes！＂（是），当纳吉继续问了三次“你们准备接受国阵了吗？＂，皆得到观眾高声回应“No！＂（不）。

不同意安华任首相？
“伊党长老会没宣佈＂

当记者询及伊党长老协商理事会不同意安华任首相课题时，卡巴星说，长老协商理事会没有正式宣佈，包括身为理事会主席的聂阿兹，已在昨日澄清长老协商理事会没反对安华任首相的消息。

他强调，民联一旦在大选后拿下中央政权，行动党绝对支持（公正党顾问）安华担任首相；同时，伊斯兰党仍然是行动党的可靠合作伙伴。

另一方面，卡巴星重申，民联三党已於上月8日的会议，在非穆斯林能否使用“阿拉＂字眼上达致共识，国阵领袖没有必要继续炒作。

当时，伊党主席哈迪阿旺说，伊斯兰教不阻止其他宗教信徒使用“阿拉＂字眼，儘管其意思与可兰经原文不符。

年初三现身亚依淡
卡巴星引来游客合照

卡巴星平时光顾的茶室仍休业，他的新闻发佈会是前往另一家茶室召开。卡巴星在大年初三在亚依淡地区现身，令许多前往极乐寺的外州游客感到惊讶。

大多数游客见到卡巴星，主动与卡巴星握手、合照，同时献上新年贺语，更直言支持行动党，让卡巴星笑不拢嘴。

来源：http://news.sinchew.com.my/node/277873?tid=1

Trust in God's strength when you answer his call, Pope Benedict XVI counsels

By David Uebbing

Pope Benedict XVI. Credit Mazur/cath

Vatican City, Feb 10, 2013 / 05:36 am (CNA/EWTN News

Vatican City, Feb 10, 2013 / 05:36 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI spoke about how Jesus calls his followers to believe in his power to overcome their sins so that they do not stand in the way of answering his call.

“The experience of Peter, certainly unique, is also representative of the call of every apostle of the Gospel, who must never be discouraged in proclaiming Christ to all men, to the ends of the world,” Pope Benedict said Feb. 10, before reciting the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square.

His reflections focused on today’s Gospel reading from St. Luke, which recounts Jesus calling St. Peter to follow him.

“The call is in fact preceded by the teaching of Jesus to the crowd and a miraculous catch of fish, carried out by the will of the Lord. In fact, while the crowd rushes on the shore of Lake Gennesaret to hear Jesus, he sees Simon discouraged for having caught nothing all night,” the Pope recalled.

“First he asks him to get into his boat to preach to the people standing a short distance from the shore, and then, after preaching, he commands him to go off with his friends and cast their nets. Simon obeys, and they catch an incredible amount of fish.”

“In this way,” he noted, “the evangelist shows how the first disciples followed Jesus trusting him, relying on his word, and accompanied by miraculous signs.

“We note that, prior to this sign, Simon turns to Jesus as ‘Master,’ and afterwards calls him ‘Lord.’

Pope Benedict stressed that when God calls people, he “does not look so much to the quality of those chosen, but to their faith, like that of Simon, who says: ‘At your word I will let down the nets.’”

The image of the fishing, he explained, refers to the Church's mission.

“The experience of Peter, certainly unique, is also representative of the call of every apostle of the Gospel, who must never be discouraged in proclaiming Christ to all men, to the ends of the world,” the Pope said.

The Holy Father also pointed out that the Gospel reading reflects on vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.

Man “is not the author of his own vocation, but the proposal is a response to the divine,” he noted, adding that people should not be afraid of their weaknesses if God is calling.

“We have to have confidence in his power acting in our own poverty, we must rely more and more in the power of his mercy, which transforms and renews,” he underscored.

“Dear brothers and sisters,” the Pope said as he finished his remarks before the Angelus, “may the Word of God revive in us and in our Christian communities courage, confidence and enthusiasm in proclaiming and witnessing to the Gospel.

“Failures and difficulties do not lead to discouragement: it is our task to cast the nets in faith, the Lord will do the rest. Also trust in the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Queen of Apostles.”

After reciting the Angelus, the Pope recalled that those who live in the Far East are celebrating the Lunar New Year. He wished them “peace, harmony and gratitude to Heaven” and sent a greeting to all Catholics in the region.

Finally, the Holy Father noted that the Church will celebrate the World Day of the Sick on Feb. 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. This year the solemn ceremony will take place at the Marian Shrine of Altötting in Bavaria, Germany.

He offered his prayer and affection for all those who are sick.

Source: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/trust-in-gods-strength-when-you-answer-his-call-pope-counsels/

People turn down Barisan Nasional ‘Gangnam Style’

Athi Shankar

 | February 12, 2013

DAP chairman Karpal Singh says the thousands who attended the BN-sponsored Chinese New Year open house came to watch only Psy.

GEORGE TOWN: The thousands who turned out at the Barisan Nasional Chinese New Year open house here yesterday came to watch South Korean sensation Psy perform his “Opah Gangnam Style” hit and not to show support for BN.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh said (based on the response to the Psy show) Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak should know by now that the majority of Malaysians have rejected BN.

He said the thousands who thronged the state BN-sponsored open house in Han Chiang College came just to watch Psy.

He added that Najib should have realised the people have rejected BN’s 55-year rule “Gangnam Style” when they screamed “No” thrice when he asked them: “Are you ready for BN?”

Instead, the crowd screamed “Yes” thrice when Najib asked: “Are you ready for Psy?”

Karpal said the crowd’s “Big No” to BN was a public vote of no confidence in the ruling coalition.

He added that the incident showed Najib is not a smart prime minister as he should have avoided repeating his question after hearing a resounding “No” in his first attempt.

“The crowd was not only from Penang but from all over the country. Najib wanted the people’s approval for BN, but they did not give him.

“He asked for it,” Karpal, the Bukit Gelugor MP, told reporters here today.

He recalled that former British premier, the late Winston Churchill, was a smart politician in converting a negative situation into something positive.

In the immediate post-World War II general election, Karpal said Churchill, who was campaigning, had stopped by a woman and asked for her vote.

The woman told Churchill: “I rather vote for the devil than you.”

But a shrewd Churchill replied: “In case your good friend [the devil] doesn’t stand [in the election], you vote for me.”

Karpal said Churchill showed political wisdom in changing a negative situation into a positive one, adding that the woman eventually changed her mind and voted for Churchill.

“Churchill was definitely smarter than Najib,” he said.

Karpal also hit out at BN leaders for attempting to exploit the issue of who would be the prime minister if Pakatan Rakyat comes to power.

He said the DAP’s choice was Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim because he was the most qualified and best suited to head the government and lead the country.

He said that PAS’ highest decision-making body, the Syura Council, did not make any official decision to reject Anwar as Pakatan’s prime minister.

“The DAP expects PAS to ultimately endorse Anwar as the prime minister,” he said, adding that BN was exploiting the matter, like the “Allah” issue, to confuse the people.

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/02/12/people-reject-bn-gangnam-style/

PSY SLAP IN THE FACE: Korean superstar refused to toss 'yee-sang' with Najib, BN

Tuesday, 12 February 2013 00:01

Written by  Wong Choon Mei, Alaa Soleiman, Malaysia Chronicle

PENANG - UPDATE3 Korean superstar Psy handed Malaysia's ruling party a slap in the face when he declined to come onstage to toss the traditional 'yee-sang' with embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak and other top members of his BN coalition at a gig to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

In Penang to sing his signature Oppa Gangnam-style, Psy lived up to his fame and his purported RM2mil fee. He had the crowd singing and strutting along with him and his troupe of sharp and incredibly good-looking dancers.

For four minutes, the tens of thousands of Penangites who came to watch him at the Han Chiang school field simply went crazy. They demanded an encore and he gave them what they wanted. More Gangnam!

Oppa BN style: No politics for Psy!

But sadly for the BN, Psy wisely swerved away from being used to promote Najib's 1Malaysia brand of politics. The Malaysian leader had moments earlier announced to the crowd that Psy had a surprise for them - Oppa BN style.

It was not to be. Najib, wife Rosmah Mansor, son Norashman, former premier Abdullah Badawi, Gerakan chiefs Koh Tsu Koon, Teng Chang Yeow and Tourism minister Ng Yen Yen were among those left red-faced after Psy did not appear on stage to join them for the 'yee-sang' tossing ceremony and perform the Oppa BN style.

Crest-fallen, the BN team dissembled, returning to their VIP tent. Only Norashman stayed back, joining the main box below the stage and just a few feet away from where the Malaysia Chronicle team was to watch Psy's astonishing performance.

Yee-sang' is a raw fish salad tossed by Malaysian Chinese during the Chinese Lunar Year to signify good luck and success. The BN's 5-year mandate to rule will end on April 28, 2013 and Najib is widely expected to call for the 13th general election within weeks.

However, the signs so far are that BN may lose its 55-year stranglehold on the federal government, with the Pakatan Rakyat led by Anwar Ibrahim rated as having an even chance of pulling off the country's first-ever regime change.

To survive an ouster from within his own Umno party, Najib needs a convincing victory and to ensure this, he needs to claw back the lost support of voters, in particular the Malaysian Chinese community, who have been disgusted and frustrated by the endemic corruption and scandals of the BN elite.

Not ready for BN & Han Chiang not Han Yang

'Despite the millions spent on this showcase event, Najib may have 'blown it' for himself and the BN when he blundered several times during his speech.

The dull response from the Penang audience was unmistakable when the PM was unwise enough to ask them - three times no less -, "are you ready for BN". The 'Nos' drowned out the ayes. Yet when Najib had asked if the audience was ready for Psy, they had gone wild, screaming 'Yes' with all their might.

Worst was yet to come for Najib. In his speech, he mistakenly called the Han Chiang College 'Han Yang' several times, drawing loud boos. The implication that he was not sincere was clear and from then on, there was no way for him to win the crowd back to his side.

Even his announcement that the BN would build 20,000 new affordable houses for Penangites was greeted with lukewarm applause, and his assurance that he would "bring the best for Penang" was marred by shouts from among the crowd for him to "finish lah" and "we want Psy".

When Najib rehashed a promise first made by former premier Mahathir Mohamad that the federal government would allocate funds to build a monorail for the Penang island, there were few claps although several sarcastic shouts of "build first lah" could be distinctly heard.

Psy was "smart and fair"

In the countdown to Psy's much-awaited performance, many Malaysians had pleaded with Psy on his Facebook to turn down the BN's invite which they viewed as an 'election gimmick' to get Psy to 'recommend' voting for the BN.

"Psy's response shows he is on the ground with the Malaysian people. They want to come and watch him sing and dance but do not want to be used by Najib and Gerakan to show support for BN. Who to vote for is a serious matter not a public relations circus for Chang Yeow to show off his organizing skills or to butter up to the Najibs," Tan Kee Kwong, a senior Opposition leader in Anwar's PKR party, told Malaysia Chronicle.

"I am glad Psy was smart and fair. There is no reason for him to support the BN. It is not known for decent politics or for reform. They tried to use him, so why should he support such insincere politicians."

VIDEO Yes to Psy, No to BN

Source: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=54912:psy-slap-in-the-face-for-bn-korean-superstar-refused-to-toss-yee-sang-with-najib-bn&Itemid=2