According to Sime Darby Watch, the DPM who is also the Finance Minister made this known to Air Asia and Sime Darby Berhad executives at a meeting this morning.
And from NST alert: Air Asia's Labu Airport is as good as off. The decision was conveyed to Air Air Asia executives when they met the Deputy Prime Minister today.
Read SD Watch and Apanama's Bye Bye Labu.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Iraq's Shoe-Throwing Monument
(source; Associated Press)
BAGHDAD – When an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at George W. Bush last month at a Baghdad press conference, the attack spawned a flood of Web quips, political satire and street rallies across the Arab world.
Now it's inspired a work of art.
A sofa-sized sculpture — a single copper-coated shoe on a stand carved to resemble flowing cloth — was formally unveiled to the public Thursday in the hometown of the late Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein.
Officials and visitors walked around the outdoor sculpture during the brief ceremony, pondering on its eccentricities — such as a tree poking up from the shoe's interior.
Its sculptor called it a fitting tribute to the shoe hurler, Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zeidi, and his folk hero reputation in parts of the Muslim world and beyond.
The Baghdad-based artist, Laith al-Amari, said the work honors al-Zeidi and "is a source of pride for all Iraqis."
He added: "It's not a political work."
Defection To BN Is Not Wrong, Says Pas
But it is wrong, if its from Pas to BN, says Terengganu Pas Commissioner Mustafa Ali.
(source: Bernama)
Explaining, Mustafa said that party hopping from BN to the Pakatan Rakyat, especially Pas, is not wrong because getting out of something negative to something positive is a requirement in Islam.
Mustafa said that Pas will not tolerate any of its members joining BN, saying the basis of the party's struggles was not right.
"We don't agree with this (Pas representatives joining BN) because it is not good for them ... this (Pas) struggle is right but they want to run to the wrong side. There is something wrong here.
"It is right for the others to want to join Pas. This is not a double standard but a principle in terms of humanity," he said at a news conference in Kuala Terengganu yesterday.
Also present was State Pas treasurer, Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut, who is also Terengganu MP and Wakaf Mempelam assemblyman.
He was commenting on Bota assemblyman, Nasaruddin Hashim's move to quit Umno and cross over to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) on Sunday.
Musatafa said party hopping must be sincere and based on the struggle for common principles for the good of the people, but it is unethical to hop for money or position.
However, he conceded that someone contesting for a particular party in the general election should not cross over to another party unless the respresentative vacates the seat.
Speaking on the proposal to regulate an anti-party hopping law, amendments on the matter must be made in the Malaysian Constitution, which includes allowing representatives who vacated their seats to recontest in a shorter period of time, instead of five years as stated.
(source: Bernama)
Explaining, Mustafa said that party hopping from BN to the Pakatan Rakyat, especially Pas, is not wrong because getting out of something negative to something positive is a requirement in Islam.
Mustafa said that Pas will not tolerate any of its members joining BN, saying the basis of the party's struggles was not right.
"We don't agree with this (Pas representatives joining BN) because it is not good for them ... this (Pas) struggle is right but they want to run to the wrong side. There is something wrong here.
"It is right for the others to want to join Pas. This is not a double standard but a principle in terms of humanity," he said at a news conference in Kuala Terengganu yesterday.
Also present was State Pas treasurer, Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut, who is also Terengganu MP and Wakaf Mempelam assemblyman.
He was commenting on Bota assemblyman, Nasaruddin Hashim's move to quit Umno and cross over to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) on Sunday.
Musatafa said party hopping must be sincere and based on the struggle for common principles for the good of the people, but it is unethical to hop for money or position.
However, he conceded that someone contesting for a particular party in the general election should not cross over to another party unless the respresentative vacates the seat.
Speaking on the proposal to regulate an anti-party hopping law, amendments on the matter must be made in the Malaysian Constitution, which includes allowing representatives who vacated their seats to recontest in a shorter period of time, instead of five years as stated.
Muhyiddin Supports Anti-Hop Law
KOTA KINABALU: (Jan 30)
Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has expressed support to the proposal to introduce the Anti-Hop Law to ensure political stability in the country.
"It's needs to be looked into again. It is not that we fear more will leave the Barisan Nasional (BN) but what is important is the question of principle," he said.
Speaking to reporters after attending a Chinese New Year open house at the residence of his deputy and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk VK Liew, Muhyiddin who is also Minister of International Trade and Industry, said there was a need to look at it seriously taking into consideration the current political scenario.
"Personally, I do agree to that a re-look be made at the earlier provisions of the Federal constitution.
"But, of course, it's entirely up to BN leaders to see the rationale in amending the constitution (to enable the enaction of the proposed Anti-Hop Law) and find out what the people think about it," he said.
He was asked to comment on Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan's remarks yesterday that the time was ripe to amend the Federal Constitution for the enaction of the proposed Anti-Hop Law.
CONTINUE READING THE BERNAMA STORY ....
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak is now chairman of the Perak Umno Liaison Body and Perak Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, succeeding Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali who has resigned from both positions.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Perak Umno Liaison Body and Deputy Chairman of Perak BN.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Najib and Ahmad Zahid would hold the positions until the Umno general assembly in March and a new appointment would be made after the general assembly.
"Who will be appointed (the Perak Umno Liaison chairman later) is yet to be known," he said at a press conference after chairing the Umno Supreme Council meeting that lasted more than four hours, in Kuala Lumpur last night.
THE FULL (BERNAMA) STORY HERE....
Umno Members Protest Tengku Rithauddeen's Proposal
Some 30 members of the Youth and Putera wings of Umno last night handed a memorandum of protest to the party leadership on the intervention by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in party matters.
In the memorandum, the members also protested against the proposal by the chairman of the Umno Diciplinary Board, Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail that the party's wings be dissolved to curb money politics.
The memorandum was handed to Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and members of the Supreme Council (MT) before they began their their MT meeting at the Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
A spokesman for the group, Zuraidi Abdul Rahim said the establishment of the MACC had resulted in more party members being detained on corruption charges and members of the commission frequently adopted harsh tactics when questioning suspects.
CONTINUE READING HERE...
....meanwhile, Wanita Umno does not agree with Tengku Rithauddeen's suggestion that the movement as well as the Umno Youth, Puteri and 'Biro Putera' be dissolved to curb the practice of money politics.
Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz said the existence of the party wings should not be linked to the practice of money politics because some of those involved were not members of the Umno wings.
"Why should we burn the mosquito net when we are angry with the mosquito? (Why cut one's nose to spite one's face?). Only a handful of Umno members are involved in money politics, so why should the 'net' which is more than 50 years old and acts as a pillar of strength for Umno be burnt?" Rafidah told Bernama yesterday.
CONTINUE READING HERE....
In the memorandum, the members also protested against the proposal by the chairman of the Umno Diciplinary Board, Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail that the party's wings be dissolved to curb money politics.
The memorandum was handed to Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and members of the Supreme Council (MT) before they began their their MT meeting at the Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
A spokesman for the group, Zuraidi Abdul Rahim said the establishment of the MACC had resulted in more party members being detained on corruption charges and members of the commission frequently adopted harsh tactics when questioning suspects.
CONTINUE READING HERE...
....meanwhile, Wanita Umno does not agree with Tengku Rithauddeen's suggestion that the movement as well as the Umno Youth, Puteri and 'Biro Putera' be dissolved to curb the practice of money politics.
Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz said the existence of the party wings should not be linked to the practice of money politics because some of those involved were not members of the Umno wings.
"Why should we burn the mosquito net when we are angry with the mosquito? (Why cut one's nose to spite one's face?). Only a handful of Umno members are involved in money politics, so why should the 'net' which is more than 50 years old and acts as a pillar of strength for Umno be burnt?" Rafidah told Bernama yesterday.
CONTINUE READING HERE....
| This materi |
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Nasaruddin's Defection Is An Act Of Weakness
That's how the Prime Minister sees it.
Here's the NST report:
KAMPAR, Thurs:
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Umno president, said Nasarudin had clearly cast aside the Umno struggle by joining the Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
He said quitting was not the solution to Nasarudin’s problems with the party. “If you were not given any posts, you should not sulk.”
Becoming a senior member and elected representative was “not easy as you are bound to face numerous problems pertaining to the party or in your capacity as a leader”.
“In times like this, you must remind yourself that sacrifices have to be made for the sake of Umno’s struggle,” Abdullah told reporters after launching the Village Action Plan at SMK Ayer Kuning, some 20km from here, today.
Nasarudin left Umno for the PKR on Sunday in a surprise move that has unsettled Perak Umno.
Abdullah said he had not betrayed the party even when he was left with no position in it.
“I did not abandon Umno then as I truly value the party. His act is that of a weak person. It was a clear example of weakness,” he said.
On rumours that two PKR assemblymen in Perak might join the Barisan Nasional, Abdullah smiled but played down the prospect.
“Let them. Some might want to join PKR while others might want to leave the party,” he said.
When asked to comment on Perak BN and state Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali’s decision to relinquish both posts, he said it would be discussed during a supreme council meeting later today.
“I suppose he felt really hurt (by Nasarudin’s defection). He will brief the supreme council on his decision and the political scenario in Perak,” Abdullah said.
Here's the NST report:
KAMPAR, Thurs:
Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim’s defection was an act of weakness, the prime minister said.
He said quitting was not the solution to Nasarudin’s problems with the party. “If you were not given any posts, you should not sulk.”
Becoming a senior member and elected representative was “not easy as you are bound to face numerous problems pertaining to the party or in your capacity as a leader”.
“In times like this, you must remind yourself that sacrifices have to be made for the sake of Umno’s struggle,” Abdullah told reporters after launching the Village Action Plan at SMK Ayer Kuning, some 20km from here, today.
Nasarudin left Umno for the PKR on Sunday in a surprise move that has unsettled Perak Umno.
Abdullah said he had not betrayed the party even when he was left with no position in it.
“I did not abandon Umno then as I truly value the party. His act is that of a weak person. It was a clear example of weakness,” he said.
On rumours that two PKR assemblymen in Perak might join the Barisan Nasional, Abdullah smiled but played down the prospect.
“Let them. Some might want to join PKR while others might want to leave the party,” he said.
When asked to comment on Perak BN and state Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali’s decision to relinquish both posts, he said it would be discussed during a supreme council meeting later today.
“I suppose he felt really hurt (by Nasarudin’s defection). He will brief the supreme council on his decision and the political scenario in Perak,” Abdullah said.
Tit-For-Tat In Perak
First, it was Umno's Nasarudin Hashim's defection to Pakatan.
And then there were rumours of more defections.
Perak Umno swiftly quashed the rumours but two Perak Umno state assemblymen at the centre of the rumour yesterday said further defections cannot be discounted.
Lintang state assemblyman Ahamad Pakeh Adam and Pengkalan Baharu's Hamdi Abu Bakar said this was an option they ere considering if the situation in Umno did not change.
Based on their statements in th media, the two are disillusioned with Umno and its leaders.
Here are excerpts from the NST:
Both Ahamad and Hamdi, who were Sungai Siput and Beruas Umno division chiefs respectively, lost their posts at divisional elections last year.
Ahamad said he was "frustrated" when told by Perak Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali that he should not contest the Sungai Siput division chief's post.
"How can Tajol Rosli tell me not to contest the division chief's post? I am the only Barisan Nasional rep in the Sungai Siput constituency. Even Nasarudin was instructed not to contest the Parit division chief's post.
"Yes, I admit I met state PR leaders recently to discuss my deep frustration with Umno leaders' behaviour since the last general election.
"While I have not expressed my desire yet to join the PR, I may do so if things do not change for the better in Umno.
"People with money but who are not wakil rakyat have been elected as division chiefs because they were sanctioned to contest against incumbents who are elected reps," he alleged.
Ahamad said he was disappointed with the BN's policies when it was ruling the state and "impressed with the PR state government".
The full story HERE.
And here's the tat from BN.
And then there were rumours of more defections.
Perak Umno swiftly quashed the rumours but two Perak Umno state assemblymen at the centre of the rumour yesterday said further defections cannot be discounted.
Lintang state assemblyman Ahamad Pakeh Adam and Pengkalan Baharu's Hamdi Abu Bakar said this was an option they ere considering if the situation in Umno did not change.
Based on their statements in th media, the two are disillusioned with Umno and its leaders.
Here are excerpts from the NST:
Both Ahamad and Hamdi, who were Sungai Siput and Beruas Umno division chiefs respectively, lost their posts at divisional elections last year.
"How can Tajol Rosli tell me not to contest the division chief's post? I am the only Barisan Nasional rep in the Sungai Siput constituency. Even Nasarudin was instructed not to contest the Parit division chief's post.
"Yes, I admit I met state PR leaders recently to discuss my deep frustration with Umno leaders' behaviour since the last general election.
"While I have not expressed my desire yet to join the PR, I may do so if things do not change for the better in Umno.
"People with money but who are not wakil rakyat have been elected as division chiefs because they were sanctioned to contest against incumbents who are elected reps," he alleged.
Ahamad said he was disappointed with the BN's policies when it was ruling the state and "impressed with the PR state government".
The full story HERE.
And here's the tat from BN.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wanted Man Arrested At Kugan's Funeral
(source:Bernama)
A wanted criminal was among six people arrested today at the funeral A Kugan who died in police custody.
They were arrested at the main entrance of the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) in Petaling Jaya.
They were arrested between 12.15pm and 1.35pm for defying a police order to disperse from the UMMC from where the hearse carrying the body of A. Kugan, a suspect who had died in police custody left for a cemetery in Puchong, he said.
The five other men, aged between 39 and 52 years, were brought to the Brickfields police station to have their statements recorded and would be released on police bond soon, he added.
It is believed that one of the men is a coordinator with the outlawed Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).
Kugan, 22, who was detained on Jan 15 at the Taipan police station on suspicion of being involved in the theft of luxury cars in Sungai Chua, Kajang, had died while being questioned.
Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar had said a post-mortem found that Kugan had died due to fluid in his lungs but Kugan’s family sought a second post-mortem, insisting that Kugan had died of injuries.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said later that Kugan’s death had been classified as murder.
A second post-mortem on Kugan has been done at the UMMC since.
About 300 had gathered inside the compound and outside of the UMMC, and about 100 policemen including from the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) were on hand to monitor the crowd while a helicopter hovered above.
The hearse carrying Kugan’s body stopped at the Taipan police station for prayers and the funeral procession proceeded to the Batu 14 Hindu cemetery for the burial. Kugan was buried at 5.45pm.
Earlier, at the UMMC mortuary, those present included Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy, Teluk Intan MP M. Manogaran, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and N. Surendran, the lawyer representing Kugan’s family.
Abolish Puteri Umno And Putera To Make Umno Less Corrupt?
Umno veteran and Disciplinary Board chairman Ahmad Rithauddeen has suggested that these two wings be dismantled if the party is really serious about getting rid of money politics.
Here's the NST story datelined Kuala Lumpur:
Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen said the move was necessary to rebuild Umno’s image and strengthen the party, which for over 50 years had been the pillar of the nation’s stability.
He said the scourge of money politics in the party could be checked if the party elections could be reduced by abolishing the wings, especially those recently established.
“I was thinking whether there was a need for Puteri Umno and Putera, as this means more money politics. Perhaps even having the Youth and Wanita wings should be weighed now. In England, there is no women’s wing in the Conservative Party nor the Labour Party.” Speaking at the Disciplinary Board’s news conference here today, he added that Puteri and Putera members who were still young, should focus on their studies rather than on politics.
“They don’t need political exposure that early. Many of them are still in their teens and twenties,” said the Umno veteran, who believed that the young wings were involved in money politics but so far, none of the members had lodged complaints.
He said this group of people still needed to learn a lot of things as the country depended on its youths to lead the country in the future and to compete with the rest of the world.
“If they are preoccupied with politics, they won’t be able to focus on anything else,” he added.
Tengku Rithauddeen hoped that his suggestion would be considered and opined that the nomination quota system should also be abolished because of its ill effect of money politics.
Here's the NST story datelined Kuala Lumpur:
Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen said the move was necessary to rebuild Umno’s image and strengthen the party, which for over 50 years had been the pillar of the nation’s stability.
He said the scourge of money politics in the party could be checked if the party elections could be reduced by abolishing the wings, especially those recently established.
“I was thinking whether there was a need for Puteri Umno and Putera, as this means more money politics. Perhaps even having the Youth and Wanita wings should be weighed now. In England, there is no women’s wing in the Conservative Party nor the Labour Party.” Speaking at the Disciplinary Board’s news conference here today, he added that Puteri and Putera members who were still young, should focus on their studies rather than on politics.
“They don’t need political exposure that early. Many of them are still in their teens and twenties,” said the Umno veteran, who believed that the young wings were involved in money politics but so far, none of the members had lodged complaints.
“If they are preoccupied with politics, they won’t be able to focus on anything else,” he added.
Tengku Rithauddeen hoped that his suggestion would be considered and opined that the nomination quota system should also be abolished because of its ill effect of money politics.
Kugan's Funeral March
From Malaysiakini:
About 500 people marched behind a gold-coloured hearse carrying the body of Kugan Ananthan, who died in police custody last Tuesday.
The procession from Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) in Petaling Jaya - where the second post-mortem was conducted on Sunday - left at 2.05pm.
The crowd marched to a Hindu cemetery some 20 kilometres away in Puchong and briefly walked pass the police station in Subang Jaya where Kugan died.
The long march, under the hot sun and later in heavy rain, took two hours and 30 minutes to reach the destination.
Earlier this morning, police closed all roads leading to UMMC ahead of the funeral procession.
The police have arrested five people - three for wearing a T-shirt of the banned movement Hindraf, and the other two for trying to breach a police barricade to enter the UMMC mortuary.
Among those arrested was Hindraf coordinator RS Thanendran.
Fogging Is Not Effective Against Aedes
Fogging does not eliminate aedes mosquitoes as not all are killed in the process as some could have already moved to new breeding grounds, said Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) vector specialist Dr. Wan Yusoff Wan Sulaiman.
He said fogging must be done at the right place at the right time; otherwise it would not bring the desired results in eliminating aedes, the primary vector for dengue and chikungunya.
"We assume where the aedes breeding grounds are when we carry out fogging but the mosquitoes may have already moved to other places. The pesticide is only effective within the radius of 200 metres," he told Bernama.
Dr Wan Yusoff said the use of trap lamps containing carbon dioxide had also been proven ineffective to control the aedes population.
This was based on a study conducted by the Institute for Medical Research, he said.
He also said Malaysia could introduce attractants to trap mosquitoes but this method had yet to be proven effective in controlling the dengue outbreak.
Dr Wan Yusoff said checks should be carried out at potential mosquito breeding grounds like public toilets, construction sites, abandoned projects, parks and recreational areas, and clogged drains.
"Aedes could cling on to water containers like pales and flower pots even after they had dried up. They become active again when the containers are wet again.
"To remove them, we must scrub the pales and flower pots," he said, adding that, this explained how aegypti aedes from Africa was brought to Asia and albopictus aedes from Asia made its way to the United States. -- BERNAMA
He said fogging must be done at the right place at the right time; otherwise it would not bring the desired results in eliminating aedes, the primary vector for dengue and chikungunya.
"We assume where the aedes breeding grounds are when we carry out fogging but the mosquitoes may have already moved to other places. The pesticide is only effective within the radius of 200 metres," he told Bernama.
Dr Wan Yusoff said the use of trap lamps containing carbon dioxide had also been proven ineffective to control the aedes population.
He also said Malaysia could introduce attractants to trap mosquitoes but this method had yet to be proven effective in controlling the dengue outbreak.
Dr Wan Yusoff said checks should be carried out at potential mosquito breeding grounds like public toilets, construction sites, abandoned projects, parks and recreational areas, and clogged drains.
"Aedes could cling on to water containers like pales and flower pots even after they had dried up. They become active again when the containers are wet again.
"To remove them, we must scrub the pales and flower pots," he said, adding that, this explained how aegypti aedes from Africa was brought to Asia and albopictus aedes from Asia made its way to the United States. -- BERNAMA
Woman To Appear On South Korean Banknotes
Seoul: For the first time, South Korean banknotes will feature a woman in front of the bills, the central bank announced on Tuesday.
The front of the new 50,000-won ($36) bill will show a portrait of Shin Saim-dang, a well known artist who died in 1551. It will also show artwork by Shin.
Shin was also the mother of a famous Confucian scholar and is popularly referred to as "wise mother."
Shin was one of the most respected female figures in Korea's Joseon Dynasty, which ruled from 1392 to 1910.
An official with the Bank of Korea said the choice of Shin was significant because it marks the first time a woman will be featured on the banknotes of South Korea, a traditionally male-dominated society.-- (agencies)
The front of the new 50,000-won ($36) bill will show a portrait of Shin Saim-dang, a well known artist who died in 1551. It will also show artwork by Shin.
Shin was also the mother of a famous Confucian scholar and is popularly referred to as "wise mother."
Shin was one of the most respected female figures in Korea's Joseon Dynasty, which ruled from 1392 to 1910.
An official with the Bank of Korea said the choice of Shin was significant because it marks the first time a woman will be featured on the banknotes of South Korea, a traditionally male-dominated society.-- (agencies)
Tajol Rosli To Quit As Perak Umno Chief And BN Chairman
He is expected to resign from both posts sometime this week. Umno deputy president Najib Abdul Razak will take over from Tajol.
Tajol is taking responsibility for the defection of Bota assemblyman Nasaruddin Hashim to Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
There has been talk that two other Umno wakil rakyat - Lintang assemblyman Ahamad Pakeh Adam and Pengkalan Baharu assemblyman Hamdi Abu Bakar -- were going to take the same road as Nasaruddin but that, apparently, is not happening. They have taken a pledge of loyalty to Umno and have given an assurance that they ain't going nowhere.
Click here for the NST report.
And NST columnist Zainul Arifin's two cents worth HERE.
Also ex-journo Aziz Hassan's HERE.
Looks like really big trouble in Perak Umno.
Tajol is taking responsibility for the defection of Bota assemblyman Nasaruddin Hashim to Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
There has been talk that two other Umno wakil rakyat - Lintang assemblyman Ahamad Pakeh Adam and Pengkalan Baharu assemblyman Hamdi Abu Bakar -- were going to take the same road as Nasaruddin but that, apparently, is not happening. They have taken a pledge of loyalty to Umno and have given an assurance that they ain't going nowhere.
Click here for the NST report.
And NST columnist Zainul Arifin's two cents worth HERE.
Also ex-journo Aziz Hassan's HERE.
Looks like really big trouble in Perak Umno.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Yoga Ban For Muslims In Indonesia : Only The Physical Exercise Allowed
Muslims in Indonesia have been banned from doing yoga if they engage in Hindu religious rituals during the exercise, the chairman of the country's top Islamic body said on Sunday.
About 700 clerics from the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) agreed to ban the practice of yoga over fears that the use of Hindu prayers could "erode" Muslims' faith.
"The yoga practice that contains religious rituals of Hinduism including the recitation of mantras is "haram" (forbidden in Islam)," Ma'ruf Amin, a spokesman for the group, said.
"Muslims should not practise other religious rituals as it will erode and weaken their Islamic faith," he added.
The council said Muslims could do yoga as long as it is was only for physical exercise and did not include chanting, mantras or meditation.
The MUI has carved a key role for itself in Indonesia and its pronouncements on everything from Islamic banking to halal food can have a powerful influence. The fatwas are not legally binding but can influence government policy and it is considered sinful to ignore them.
Yoga, an ancient Indian aid to meditation dating back thousands of years, is a popular stress-buster in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.
Indonesia, which is officially secular, has the world's largest Muslim population. Nearly 90 per cent of the country's 234 million people are followers of Islam. (source: wires)
Also read Rocky's Bru
About 700 clerics from the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) agreed to ban the practice of yoga over fears that the use of Hindu prayers could "erode" Muslims' faith.
"The yoga practice that contains religious rituals of Hinduism including the recitation of mantras is "haram" (forbidden in Islam)," Ma'ruf Amin, a spokesman for the group, said.
"Muslims should not practise other religious rituals as it will erode and weaken their Islamic faith," he added.
The council said Muslims could do yoga as long as it is was only for physical exercise and did not include chanting, mantras or meditation.
The MUI has carved a key role for itself in Indonesia and its pronouncements on everything from Islamic banking to halal food can have a powerful influence. The fatwas are not legally binding but can influence government policy and it is considered sinful to ignore them.
Yoga, an ancient Indian aid to meditation dating back thousands of years, is a popular stress-buster in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.
Indonesia, which is officially secular, has the world's largest Muslim population. Nearly 90 per cent of the country's 234 million people are followers of Islam. (source: wires)
Also read Rocky's Bru
Monday, January 26, 2009
Large-Scale Anti-Dengue Campaign Next Week
Better late than very late?
The Health Ministry will launch a big-scale dengue awareness campaign next week.
For the first 22 days of 2009 alone, 12 deaths had been recorded.
Also click HERE.
No More Defections To Pakatan : Najib
(source NST)
DPM Najib Abdul Razak doesn't think there'll be anymore BN reps switching camps.
These are all rumours, he said.
It's still a shock to the BN, Najib remarked.
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has dismissed talks that there will be other Barisan Nasional (BN) representatives defecting to Pakatan Rakyat.
Earlier Najib and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor joined thousands of people at the Chinese New Year open house organised by the MCA at Wisma MCA here.
Describing Nasaruddin’s action as unexpected, Najib said, he hoped that Nasaruddin could think carefully his decision to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat, a Pakatan Rakyat component member.
The Umno deputy president said he was made to understand that Nasaruddin’s action was due to several factors. He did not elaborate.
“We heard about this two days ago but it is still a shock,” he said.
Najib said Umno and BN elected representatives should understand that the party had done a lot of good deeds to the people and the country.
“It is not right to abandon the party because of personal problems or dissatisfactions at a time when the party needs our support,” he said.
Najib, who is BN deputy chairman, said he would meet Perak BN chairman Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali today to discuss the issue.
With Nasaruddin’s defection, the Perak Pakatan Rakyat government now has 32 seats compared to BN’s 27.
In a statement posted on PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s website, Nasaruddin said, he made the decision after considering the interests of his constituents.
In the March 8 general election, Nasaruddin, who polled 6,556 votes, defeated PKR candidate Capt (Rtd) Usaili Alias with a 2,068-vote majority.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Kong Hee Fatt Choy!
Gong Xi Fa Cai to all my Chinese friends.
Have a happy and prosperous new year and happy holiday, everyone...
Have a happy and prosperous new year and happy holiday, everyone...
More Indians In Police Force, Please....
Kuala Lumpur, Sun:
Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said he would raise with the Cabinet the need to increase the number of Indians in the police force at all levels.
The government and the MIC would continue to step up their efforts in combating the increasing crime rate amongst Indian youths through educational, training and self-enhancement interventions, he said in a statement.
His statement comes amid a controversy surrounding the death of detainee A.
Kugan while in police custody at the Taipan police station in Subang Jaya, Selangor, on Tuesday.
CONTINUE READING HERE.
Umno Wakil Rakyat Joins Keadilan
Got this from NST alert:
Bota state assemblyman Nasarudin Hashim leaves Umno and joins Keadilan.
I have to say this. I think Nasarudin is free to join any party he wants. But he was elected (last March) on a BN ticket which means the people voted for a BN candidate.
So, the proper thing for him to do. in my view, is to vacate his seat which he won with 6,556 votes against 4,488 won by PKR's Capt (Rtd) Usaili bin Alias.
Bota state assemblyman Nasarudin Hashim leaves Umno and joins Keadilan.
I have to say this. I think Nasarudin is free to join any party he wants. But he was elected (last March) on a BN ticket which means the people voted for a BN candidate.
So, the proper thing for him to do. in my view, is to vacate his seat which he won with 6,556 votes against 4,488 won by PKR's Capt (Rtd) Usaili bin Alias.
Wrong Way In...
But, who cares...
Actually I do.
Alamak TV3.
Around 2.15pm today, in front of Jasima Enterprise in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, one of your employees, driving one of your cars WPG 9545, simply went into the one-way street.
Maybe it is a Sunday, ya? So can simply break the traffic rule, ya?
No no....
If you drive your own car, you do what you want. But, TV3 car....presumably your employer's?
Here's the thing. No matter what day, you're not supposed to break the law. No matter if it is a traffic law. Even if you think it is a miserably minor regulation.
There are other drivers on the road, you know.
It could be my son you hit-lah.
We all have broken a traffic law or two....park along yellow lines or in no-parking areas. Sometimes we pay the price. Most times we get away with it.
I know a lot of us have breached a speed limit and beaten the red light. And have got away with it. Your time hasn't come yet, man.
I remember swearing at a police patrol car for beating the red light. (Of course, the policemen couldn't hear me).
Anyway, I did signal to this sweet young lady driving the TV3 car (sans passengers) that it was a one-way street.
Actually, there was no extenuating circumstances -- lazy day, many parking bays elsewhere - for her to enter this one-way street other than to get to a parking bay right in front of Jasima.
I say TV3. Cannot-lah like this. You report about people breaking the law and simple traffic rule like this, your girl cannot abide by.
Actually I do.
Alamak TV3.
Around 2.15pm today, in front of Jasima Enterprise in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, one of your employees, driving one of your cars WPG 9545, simply went into the one-way street.
Maybe it is a Sunday, ya? So can simply break the traffic rule, ya?
No no....
If you drive your own car, you do what you want. But, TV3 car....presumably your employer's?
Here's the thing. No matter what day, you're not supposed to break the law. No matter if it is a traffic law. Even if you think it is a miserably minor regulation.
There are other drivers on the road, you know.
It could be my son you hit-lah.
We all have broken a traffic law or two....park along yellow lines or in no-parking areas. Sometimes we pay the price. Most times we get away with it.
I know a lot of us have breached a speed limit and beaten the red light. And have got away with it. Your time hasn't come yet, man.
I remember swearing at a police patrol car for beating the red light. (Of course, the policemen couldn't hear me).
Anyway, I did signal to this sweet young lady driving the TV3 car (sans passengers) that it was a one-way street.
Actually, there was no extenuating circumstances -- lazy day, many parking bays elsewhere - for her to enter this one-way street other than to get to a parking bay right in front of Jasima.
I say TV3. Cannot-lah like this. You report about people breaking the law and simple traffic rule like this, your girl cannot abide by.
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