Policeman dies while fleeing sex raid in Malaysia

An off-duty policeman trying to flee religious police carrying out a raid on illicit sex died after falling from a hotel room in northern Malaysia's Kelantan state, police confirmed Sunday.

"The 33-year-old lance-corporal climbed out of his hotel room window when religious affairs department officials raided his room in the early hours of Saturday," a senior police official, who declined to be named, told AFP.

He said the man was believed to have jumped or fallen from the third-storey window and "all the religious officials found in the room was a woman by herself and a pair of men's trousers.

"The officer was still alive when he was found on the hotel grounds but died in hospital later," he added.

The woman was released after questioning, and investigations into the incident were continuing, he said.

State police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi confirmed to AFP that one of his men had died in the incident but refused further comment.

Under Islamic law, which operates alongside the civil code in multicultural Malaysia, "khalwat" -- close proximity between a man and a woman who are not married -- is forbidden.

Teams from the state religious departments routinely carry out raids in the country's hotels, entertainment facilities and parks in a bid to catch unmarried couples canoodling or having casual sex.

PKR first family split on Khalid

Sunday June 27, 2010

Analysis

By JOCELINE TAN

Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has been damaged by the criticism against him but he will probably survive as Mentri Besar after the PKR retreat ends today.

SOMETHING intriguing is happening in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s family.

It looks like the three politicians in the family are on different paths regarding the crisis over Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s leadership of Selangor.

Anwar has not uttered a word since the issue exploded. As PKR’s ketua umum or supreme leader, he is trying to remain statesman-like and stay above the fray.

But the Permatang Pauh MP is also torn between the two men at the centre of the crisis. He had personally brought Khalid into PKR and made him party treasurer before Khalid found fame as Selangor Mentri Besar. On the other hand, he and party vice-president Azmin Ali go back a long way and their ties are quite unshakable.

PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, on the other hand, seems inclined towards Khalid particularly after her long-time political secretary Faekah Hussin quit to become Khalid’s political secretary. The move had her blessings and is seen as Khalid’s way of telling his detractors that the party president is on his side.

But their daughter Nurul Izzah, who is Lembah Pantai MP, is clearly among the MPs critical of Khalid going by her comments that Khalid’s good intentions are not always in line with the thinking of party leaders.

If this powerful political family can be so divergent on the issue of Khalid’s future, what more those at the PKR retreat in Shah Alam where the issue of Khalid is expected to take centrestage today.

But Khalid’s political future will not be decided by the end of today because a retreat of this nature does not have the power to replace a mentri besar.

The ultimate decision on Khalid will have to be made by the PKR supreme council although some say that it is basically Anwar’s call.

But the discussion at the retreat will enable the leadership to weigh the political cost and benefit of Khalid staying or going.

He is digging his heels in and has tried to rally forces in the state behind him. Selangor Youth chief Khairul Annuar has issued a series of press statements supporting Khalid.

On Thursday night, representatives from 17 Selangor divisions met in the official residence of the Mentri Besar where the consensus was that although Khalid had his flaws, now was not the time for him to go.

Ordinary people in Selangor were quite taken aback when the issue broke. They had no idea that elements in PKR had issues with Khalid.

He enjoys a good public image and has been fairly competent. He is a nice man, uncontroversial and as his supporters often say, at least he is clean.

They say he is trying to get rid of the Umno way of doing things by separating politics from the running of the state.

But as those in his party say, it is not a compliment to be told you are doing a better job than Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo. Anyone, they say, can do a better job than Khir. They say Khalid’s most outstanding achievement so far is issuing free water and that is not enough.

Selangor is to PKR what Penang is to DAP and Kelantan is to PAS. These are the Pakatan Rakyat exhibition states, their so-called “Pakatan Zone” and their means of showing the people that they have what it takes to do a bigger job.

Pakatan politicians are of the view that Kelantan is in cruise mode and Penang is meeting expectations. Selangor is not doing any worse or better than before.

“In sports, we call it running on the spot,” said a party insider.

The group of MPs petitioning for the replacement of Khalid has been slammed and told that they do not have the locus standi to ask Khalid to go because they are not from Selangor.

But Selangor is crucial to PKR and Pakatan’s quest to capture Putrajaya. Selangor is Pakatan’s frontline state. It has to shine and sparkle in order for Pakatan to break through to the next level.

As such, said the disgruntled MPs, they have the right to question how Khalid is managing Selangor.

Pakatan will not lose Selangor even if Khalid continues in his current I-know-best style. But neither will the coalition advance to Putrajaya.

“The question is whether we are here just to retain our market share of the seats or to take Putrajaya. DAP and PAS will go on whether or not we win Putrajaya, the next general election is not a zero sum game for them. But for PKR, it is a zero sum game. We win the Federal Government or we are finished,” said the political insider.

If Khalid survives, he will not be able to continue in his I-know-best style. A hint of what may follow from the retreat lies in the interview that Nurul Izzah gave to a Pakatan-friendly news portal.

She has called for a development masterplan for Selangor drawn up with input from party leaders and which the mentri besar and his team will implement according to a time frame. The aim of the plan is to make Selangor a model PKR state. Khalid will no longer be allowed to act on his personal belief but according to a defined blueprint.

In the meantime, Khalid’s long week in politics will continue today.

Fiesta Kelantan hambar: Hanya 300 hadir

Jun 17, 10 10:13am

Di sebalik pemulauan kepimpinan kerajaan negeri termasuk Menteri Besar, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat pada perasmian Kelantan Fiesta 2010 malam semalam, Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak juga tidak hadir pada majlis itu. Harakah Dailymelaporkan walaupun mengikut jadual asal, majlis itu akan dirasmikan oleh Najib, tetapi beliau digantikan oleh Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed. Lebih mengecewakan penganjur bersama program itu, Red Carpet Worldwide, apabila hanya kira-kira 300 sahaja yang hadir dalam suasana hujan lebat mencurah-curah selepas Maghrib. Bahkan, ada di kalangan pengunjung yang berpatah balik kerana tidak selesa berada pada majlis itu, ditambah pula bekalan elektrik turut terputus. Ini menyebabkan sistem pembesar suara gagal berfungsi yang memaksa Mustapa yang juga Pengerusi Perhubungan Umno negeri berucap menggunakan pembesar suara. Petang semalam, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kerajaan Tempatan, Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan Negeri, Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan berkata kerajaan negeri memulau majlis perasmian itu yang sepatutnya disempurnakan oleh Pemangku Raja Kelantan dan dihadiri Najib di pekarangan Stadium Sultan Mohammed Ke-IV. Ini kerana, katanya pihak penganjur mungkir janji dengan tidak membenarkan Mursyidul Am PAS itu berucap. Menurut Takiyuddin, mengikut perjanjian asal, Pemangku Raja, Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra akan merasmikan fiesta itu dan Menteri Besar turut berucap, tetapi keputusan terbaru tidak membenarkan Nik Aziz berucap di samping tidak dirasmikan oleh Pemangku Raja. Siaran langsung dibatalkan Berikutan itu, katanya semua acara melibatkan kerajaan negeri seperti persembahan 1,001 pesilat dan pembuatan gendang terbesar turut dibatalkan. Sementara itu, Perdana Menteri yang membatalkan persetujuannya untuk merasmikan Fiesta Kelantan itu bergegas pulang ke Kuala Lumpur dengan penerbangan pada 10.30 malam. Berikutan itu, RTM juga membatalkan siaran langsung yang dirancang. Namun, RTM menerusi Berita Jam 8 masih lagi mewar-warkan keberangkatan Pemangku Raja Kelantan untuk merasmikan program Kelantan Fiesta 2010 di samping menyatakan akan menyiarkan program itu secara langsung melalui TV1. Tindakan terus menghebahkan keberangkatan Pemangku Raja dipercayai sebagai strategi untuk menarik rakyat Kelantan ke majlis tersebut. Ia dilihat sebagai tindakan terdesak. Adalah dipercayai jemputan untuk Nik Aziz berucap ditarik balik kerana ada pihak yang tidak mahu ia disiarkan secara langsung seperti yang dijadualkan sebelum ini.

Nik Aziz says ‘no way’ to PAS-Umno unity talks

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

June 09, 2010

KOTA BARU, June 9 — Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat dismissed today any possibility of unity government talks with Umno, amid speculation that some leaders in PAS and the Barisan Nasional (BN) lynchpin are eager to engage in the name of Malay unity. The PAS spiritual advisor denied that there were still plans within PAS to reach out to Umno to discuss plans on forming a unity government based on “Malay and Islamic” interests.
“Absolutely not. There is no way that PAS would even consider unity talks with Umno,” said Nik Aziz.
In an exclusive interview with The Malaysian Insider, the Kelantan Mentri Besar claimed that PAS and Umno would not see eye-to-eye because the principles of both parties are vastly different.
“Umno rejects Islam. Umno puts fear into people because PAS was talking about the concept of an Islamic nation.
“But for Umno, it’s a case of Malays first (Ketuanan Melayu) versus PAS’ Islam first (Ketuanan Islam),” Nik Aziz told The Malaysian Insider.
The veteran politician claimed that shortly after the 2008 general elections, when PAS had amassed many parliamentary seats in Kelantan, Umno had approached the Islamist party on the proposal of a unity government.
But Nik Aziz was quick to condemn Umno’s move in 2008, stating that PAS considered Umno a “liar” and that it had learnt from the mistakes of the past.
“As far as I am concerned, right now there are no longer any talks. The last time there was,” said the Kelantan MB.
He recounted how PAS had in the past briefly joined Barisan Nasional (BN) and that it resulted in a divided PAS.
According to Nik Aziz, back in 1971 PAS had joined BN’s bandwagon when the late Tun Abdul Razak extended an invitation to the Islamist party.
“Umno was desperate back then, especially after the May 13 riots in 1969. When PAS joined BN, PAS Kelantan was split into four splinter groups, and we were not united because each group supported a different idea,” he said.
Nik Aziz pointed out that Umno eventually “kicked PAS out” of the BN coalition.
“We learnt from our mistakes. This decision is not my decision, it was the decision of the muktamar,” said the PAS man.
But party insiders say otherwise.
The PAS annual general assembly, which starts tonight with an opening address by Nik Aziz,  is expected to see some top party leaders coming under fire from the delegates over lingering suspicion of possible unity talks with political foe Umno.
According to PAS members, top of the list to be grilled is its deputy president, Nasharudin Mat Isa, who survived last year’s party election in a three-cornered fight with then-vice presidents Datuk Husam Musa and Mohamad Sabu.
Also in the delegates’ sights is Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Hasan Ali, who is seen as close to Umno.
In what was the party’s most divisive polls last year, Nasharudin’s followers were labelled pro-Umno despite repeated denials by the Bachok MP.
Husam, on the other hand, launched his campaign with a promise to strengthen Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and end what he claimed to be attempts to abandon the coalition.
The election was also seen as a fight between the “professionals,” who favour strengthening PR, against the “ulama” faction, who is said to prefer working with Umno in the interest of Islam.
When asked what would happen if the issue of PAS-Umno talks were brought up during the AGM, Nik Aziz said that the party would not stop anyone from airing out their views.
“If you want to bring it up its fine, but we have to be able to defend your reasoning (of wanting unity talks.)
“Why would you want to join (forces with) Umno?” said Nik Aziz.
This year’s muktamar will be held in Kota Baru from today till June 13, where over 1,000 delegates are expected to attend.
The newly-formed non-Muslim wing, the PAS Supporters’ Congress, will also participate in the muktamar for the first time.

PAS plots capture of Umno states in next polls

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

June 13, 2010

Khalid speaks at the PAS muktamar in Kota Baru June 12, 2010. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KOTA BARU, June 13 — PAS will launch a  vigorous campaign to win 60 federal seats in the next general election to again deny the ruling Umno-Barisan Nasional the two-thirds Parliamentary majority.
The bold plan, which was unanimously passed during the PAS annual general assembly yesterday, will be executed to “ensure that PAS attains as many Parliamentary seats as possible to replace Umno as the core of national politics based on leadership by Islamic values.”
The proposal titled “PAS action plan for the 13th general elections” sees PAS eyeing 37 Parliamentary seats currently dominated by mainly Umno MPs in addition to retaining the Islamist party’s own 23 seats.
The proposal outlines a breakdown of potential seats to be won by PAS:

• Seats where PAS lost by less than 13,000 votes (in 2008) = 13 seats
  
• Seats where PAS lost by less than 10,000 votes= 8 seats
  
• Seats where PAS lost by less than 5,000 votes= 16 seats

“We are planning a takeover of Umno seats,” PAS Shah Alam delegate Khalid Samad told The Malaysian Insider.
The Shah Alam MP claimed PAS’ success in penetrating Umno-stronghold areas in Johor during the last general election showed that support for the party had been on a steady increase.
“Previously, PAS had contested in Johor but lost our deposits. But now this is no longer the case.
“What is happening now is that there is a shift where Malays are slowly gravitating towards PAS because we practice a new kind of politics... that fulfils the needs of a multicultural society. It can be done and has been done in Pakatan-ruled states now,” said Khalid.
PAS had won the state seats of Sungai Abong and Maharani, both in Johor, in Election 2008 much to Umno’s surprise as the southern state is its fortress and birthplace.
“If we keep up with the same working spirit, with PAS’ co-operation within Pakatan Rakyat (PR), we can replace Umno.
“The Islamic way is the way we want.
“So in preparation for the 13th general election, we should not look left, or right ... we are on the right track,” said Khalid.
The motion had been brought up by the delegates from Kubang Kerian, Pokok Sena, Kubang Pasu, Jerantut and Bandar Tun Razak.
The proposal is seen as PAS’ attempts to solidify its position within the PR coalition and distance itself from alleged PAS-Umno unity talks.
Various reasons for the Islamist party’s failure in the last elections have been identified as:

1. The domination of mainstream media by Barisan Nasional (BN) whereby PAS still has problems in reaching out to rural Malays because their opinions are shaped by what they read in BN-influenced news media.
   
2. Postal votes are the primary weapon used by BN to win areas like Pekan and Bagan Pinang.
   
3. Communities in rural areas like Felda and villages are “closed societies”, which could be seen during the Hulu Selangor by-election where Malay voters rejected PR.
   
4. A high number of unregistered voters (Elections Commission states that 4.39 million voters have yet to register).
   
5. The imbalance of support and influence for PR in Sabah and Sarawak as opposed to Peninsular Malaysia.
   
6. PAS’ untrained election machinery in these areas.
   

The proposal further put forth a 15-point action plan in response to the problems identified as hindering PAS from winning more seats:

1. A preparation of an alternative media that can rival the BN-controlled mainstream media, and focused on reaching to rural Malays.
   
2. A special fund for the 13th general election be set up to prepare election machinery.
   
3. A serious and systematic approach in getting voters to vote. Minimum target is one million voters in the whole country.
   
   - The Malaysian Insider

Nik Aziz: PAS’ future with Pakatan, not BN

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

June 10, 2010

KOTA BARU, June 9 — Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat tonight set the pace for the PAS annual general assembly, stressing to members that they should never accept Barisan Nasional (BN) as political partners.

In his opening address of the PAS AGM here, the party spiritual chief said that PAS needed to work hard to strengthen Pakatan Rakyat (PR) as an alternative coalition to BN.

“Pakatan Rakyat needs to work together. We cannot cooperate with those who encourage various evils in society,” said Nik Aziz.

The Kelantan Mentri Besar said that the political history of the country was proof of the “painful” lesson that PAS had learnt when it had joined BN.

“Back then when we joined BN for the purpose of unity, but it was a bitter lesson for us.

“PAS almost crumbled because of unity attempts with BN. There is a lesson to be learnt from this...BN is an unfaithful partner,” said Nik Aziz.

The PAS spiritual leader’s stern reminder to party members comes amid rife speculation that top party leaders have been engaging in unity talks with long-time political foes Umno.

Earlier today, in an interview with The Malaysian Insider, Nik Aziz dismissed any possibility of unity talks with Umno.

The PAS spiritual advisor has vehemently denied that there are still attempts coming from within PAS to reach out to Umno based on “Malay and Islamic” interests.

“Absolutely not. There is no way that PAS would even consider unity talks with Umno,” said Nik Aziz.

In the exclusive interview, the Kelantan Mentri Besar claimed that PAS and Umno could not see eye-to-eye because the principles of both parties were vastly different.

“Umno rejects Islam. Umno put fear into people because PAS was talking about the concept of an Islamic nation.

“But for Umno, it’s a case of Malays first (Ketuanan Melayu) versus PAS’ Islam first (Ketuanan Islam),” said Nik Aziz to The Malaysian Insider.

Using the results of the Sibu by-election as a barometer, the 79-year old politician said Sibu was proof that “BN had been rejected by non-Malays.”

The Kelantan PAS commissioner claimed that BN’s base support right now are the Malays.

“PAS, as an alternative to Umno has to be active in getting Malay support. Our priority is secure Malay support,” said Nik Aziz.

Besides that he stressed that PAS can use its increasing popularity to “introduce Islam to non-Muslims.”

“Malaysians have to know that Islam does not belong to the Malays. The PAS Supporters’ Congress is a gift from Allah.

“PAS needs to move forward to introduce Islam as a way of life.”

Nik Aziz also said that the PAS Women’s Wing needed to do more to attract more women members.