Probe against Ronnie Liu doesn't make sense in context of law - activists

 

The probe against Ronnie Liu does not make any sense in the context of the laws and legal thresholds in Malaysia.

"Nor does it make any sense for the police to take action and initiate investigations based on a social media posting describing the political situation in another country,” relayed Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) and the Center for Independent Journalism (CIJ) in a joint statement today.

The statement was signed by Suaram director Sevan Doraisamy, Bersih 2.0 executive director Yap Swee Seng, and CIJ executive director Wathshlah G Naidu.

The statement followed the probe against the Sungai Pelek assemblyperson over his Facebook post suspected of containing seditious elements against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Liu was detained at the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters and released on police bail today.

He was investigated under the Sedition Act 1948 and the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998.

"It is farfetched for the police and the ‘public’ complainant to read into the post and insinuate that such a post can be construed as an affront to the Malaysian monarchy," read the statement.

They further explained that the Sedition Act 1948 as legislation is purely domestic in its nature and does not outlaw any commentaries or critique against foreign governments or other entities.

They urged the police to explain the context that the Sedition Act 1948 was cited and used to arrest and detain Liu.

"Failing to do so, the police can only be described as acting arbitrarily and against Malaysian law and Malaysian interest as they have arrested and detained a people’s representative for a mere notification on the political development of a neighbouring country without any due justification."

They reminded that the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) must be in place to investigate police misconduct.

They also reiterated their call for the Sedition Act to be abolished.

In his posting, which Liu said was made two weeks ago, the latter had published photographs of the protest in Thailand, with the caption: "Now in Bangkok. They are saying no to the king."

The post also contained Chinese text which reads: "Current situation in Bangkok."

His posting had made the rounds on social media, with certain quarters asking if he was instigating Malaysians to do the same. - Mkini

Wisma Putra summons French envoy over growing hostility towards Islam

 

An envoy from the French Embassy was summoned to the foreign ministry office at the Wisma Putra Complex in Putrajaya today.

PETALING JAYA: The foreign ministry today summoned an envoy from the French Embassy to address Malaysia’s concerns on the growing hostility, hate speech and defamation of Islam in the European nation.

The ministry said such elevated tension does not bode well for the peaceful co-existence of all religions.

During the meeting, the ministry reiterated Malaysia’s position to strongly condemn any inflammatory rhetoric and provocative acts that seek to defame Islam as the world had recently witnessed in the forms of populist speeches and publication of profane caricatures depicting the Prophet Muhammad.

“Malaysia is committed to upholding the freedom of speech and expression as fundamental human rights for as long as these rights are exercised with respect and responsibility in order not to infringe on or violate the rights of others,” Wisma Putra said in a statement.

It said Malaysia also underscored the importance of initiatives to curtail and eliminate Islamophobia at all levels.

“Towards this end, Malaysia will continue to work with the international community to promote mutual respect among religions and prevent religious extremism.”

This comes amid a backlash across the Islamic world over French President Emmanuel Macron’s public remarks which were seen as defending the right to publish caricatures of Prophet Muhammad, which are considered blasphemous in Islam.

Macron made the remarks at a memorial event for high school teacher Samuel Paty, who was murdered after he allegedly showed his students some caricatures of Prophet Muhammad, published by the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in 2015, during a class on freedom of expression. - FMT

Kedah govt facing revenue shortfall of RM100m - MB

 

The Kedah government is facing a shortfall of about RM100 million in revenue collection this year against the original target of raking in RM701.94 million due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said more detail would be provided on this during the tabling of the Kedah Budget 2021 on the first day of the Kedah State Assembly that is scheduled from Nov 15 to 19.

“I am sure other states and even the whole world are facing a similar situation (revenue affected). Even in 2021, Covid-19 is still expected to continue to have an impact on the economic sectors,” he told reporters after chairing the state exco meeting today.

He said Kedah Budget 2021, with the theme of “Kedah Prosperous, Joy for All” (“Kedah Sejahtera, Nikmat Untuk Semua”), would focus on efforts to reactivate economic sectors of the state as well as to optimise the state’s revenue collection.

“Our focus is also to address the impact of the Covid-19 and prosper the people in Kedah. Despite the limited state revenue, we will maximise welfare activities and I encourage all parties to carry out their respective responsibilities,” he said.

Muhammad Sanusi said the state government hoped for better development in the economic sectors next year following the spillover effect from mega-projects that were expected to begin in December this year and January 2021.

“Big projects such as the five water treatment plants that have been tendered would take off in December and January, and they can rejuvenate many other sectors in terms of employment and building materials.

During the presentation of the Kedah Budget 2020 in October last year, the state government forecast revenue collection to reach RM701.94 million this year, down from the estimated 2019 revenue collection of RM710 million.

- Bernama

Four new Covid-19 clusters in Selangor, Sabah, Sarawak and Johor

 

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the new Selangor cluster is in Titiwangsa and Cheras. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 — The Health Ministry today reported four new Covid-19 clusters in Selangor, Sabah, Sarawak, and Johor even as infections dropped to 801 cases nationwide. 

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the new Selangor cluster is in Titiwangsa and Cheras.

“The new cluster in Selangor has been identified as the Idaman cluster in Titiwangsa and Cheras while in Johor we have identified and the Bayu cluster in Johor Bahru and Muar,” he said in his press conference. 

Dr Noor Hisham said the Idaman cluster started with an individual who tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday.

He said contact tracing led to 10 more positive cases, all of whom are currently being treated at the Sungai Buloh Hospital.

“A total of 481 people have been screened in the cluster, with 11 people testing positive, 300 negative and 170 awaiting results,” he said. 

The index patient in Johor’s Bayu cluster reported symptoms on October 23. 

“So far, eight cases have been attributed to this cluster all of whom are currently being treated at the Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital in Kluang, Johor,” Dr Noor Hisham said. 

For Sabah, the new cluster has been named Seri Gaya in Kota Kinabalu and Tuaran.

Dr Noor Hisham said the Seri Gaya cluster’s index patient tested positive yesterday. 

Contact tracing yielded 16 more positive cases, all of whom are currently being treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu.

“A total of 64 people have been screened in the cluster, with 17 people testing positive and 47 negative,” he said. 

For Sarawak, the cluster has been named the Greenhill cluster and is found in Kuching and Miri. So far, 25 people have been connected to this cluster after the index case was identified on October 25.  - malaymail

Covid-19: Three schools in Dungun ordered to close

 

Terengganu Local Government, Housing, Health and Environment Committee chairman Alias Razak said the three schools have been closed to facilitate sanitisation works after students tested positive for Covid-19. — Picture by Miera Zulyana

KUALA TERENGGANU, Oct 28 — Three schools in Dungun district have been ordered to close from today, as students have been confirmed positive for Covid-19.

Terengganu Local Government, Housing, Health and Environment Committee chairman Alias Razak said the schools were Sekolah Kebangsaan Kerteh 1, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Ketengah Jaya and SMK Teja Putra.

“Sekolah Kebangsaan Kerteh 1 and SMK Ketengah Jaya were ordered to close for seven days starting today, while SMK Teja Putra would be closed for 14 days.

“These three schools have been closed to facilitate sanitisation works after students tested positive for Covid-19,” he said in a statement today.

Terengganu recorded 35 active Covid-19 cases including 11 new cases today. — Bernama

Siti Kassim Replies the Brader ; Tuan-Tuan Jangan Hijrah Lagi Ke Perancis Dan Negara Bukan Islam.

 The following brief comment is by Siti Zabedah Kassim :

This is the Reformasi icon? The guy who was part of the corrupt system until he went for the top job, lost the power struggle and was punished by the same system he had used .. and then started singing REFORMASI! 

Where was his Reformasi when he was the 2nd most powerful man in Government?

Oh ya... I will never forget. Changing our Bahasa Malaysia into Bahasa Baku. Pulling down crosses? And  Islamisation of education and administration for his penerapan nilai-nilai so called Islam that got us to the Talibanisation that we are in today.

And he sure can't keep that mouth shut trying to be the champion for everyone at every convenient time.  

France, the French, their President and their secular society have taken on more Muslim refugees, cared for them  and gave these destitute Muslims a better life. And you dare to call Macron Islamophobic. Look in the mirror. Your leopard spots have never changed.

Where were you when terrorism was being committed on French soil by those who called themselves Muslims?  Where were you when the teacher was beheaded in the name of the religion.

Islam is in crisis. That is the truth. Take your head out of the sand. And it is people like you and Hadi who have no self awareness to reflect that we need reformation in how our own people and its clergy class interpret and teach the religion that has brought disrepute to Islam.

Please go away already. You are a waste of space.

Malaysia needs a leader who comes out with courage and says "We are here to build a Nation, not a race or a religion". Not someone like you.

Remember that. You are no statesman. Just a garden variety, power hungry, race and religion-using politician.

My comments : Here are some facts about France. France has the largest Muslim immigrant population in Europe - close to 6.0 million people. 

(In 2017) France has the largest number of Muslims in the Western world primarily due to migration from Maghrebi, West African, and Middle Eastern countries. A 2017 Pew Research report estimates the Muslim population of France to be 5,760,999 or 8.8% of the total population. 

And in 2015 alone (at the beginning of the refugee crisis where people were running away from Muslim countries and Africa to Europe) France accepted over 100,000 Muslim refugees. This number is still high until today. More than 2.0 million refugees entered Europe from Islamic and other countries - until today. In 2015 alone the number was 1.3 million.

And here are pictures of refugees, many of whom are Muslims, risking their lives floating in the sea and climbing over barbed wire barricades trying to get into European countries like France :

 

So I have a question for the Brader : Why not ask some of these refugees in the pictures above, especially the Muslim refugees if there is more freedom of speech back home in their 'Islamic' countries or is there more freedom of speech in France, Italy and other countries in Europe? 

Since they are running away from one set of countries (Islamic countries) and running to another set of European countries (France etc) I believe these people are the best qualified to answer the question.

In France they have always questioned, criticised and caricatured religion. Here is a French cartoon criticising the Catholic Church.  This cartoon is 110 years old (1910).

 

 

The French have a long history of freedom of speech to question and criticise anything and everything.  Although the French invented the guillotine they have not cut off anyone's head (lately) for making fun or criticising the Church. 

And it is also this freedom of speech (along with other freedoms) that makes France so attractive to all those refugees in those pictures above. 

But there is a problem. The Muslim refugees are not used to this type of freedom. Especially if their own beliefs and faiths are being criticised. That is why that 18 year old child, a Muslim refugee from Chechnya, murdered that school teacher.

But what is freedom of speech? What exactly is the meaning of freedom of speech? 

For example if some Muslims (in an Islamic country) go around hanging up banners that say 'Buy Muslim First' is that considered freedom of speech?

So in the same regard is it also freedom of speech if non Muslims say 'Buy Non-Muslim First'?

In Malaysia it is a crime to be a Shia. Wow !  Isnt that a bummer for "freedom of speech in Islamic countries" ? Or maybe not ?

This is perhaps where the French president Macron will not understand the debate on 'how do you define freedom of speech' in Islamic counties. In Islamic countries this debate over the definition of 'what exactly is freedom of speech' is very simple. It goes like this : 'I can criticise you but you cannot criticise me.'  

But there is a solution. The Muslim refugees should not go to France. That 18 year old Chechen child should have stayed back in Chechnya. He should not have run away to France. Now he has been shot dead by the Police. What a short life.

Because the French are NOT going to stop criticising ALL religions. That is their understanding of freedom of speech. The French belief is they can question and criticise whatever they want. 

As always the Quran has a solution, please see Sura 4:97 -

Here is the translation of the part highlighted in yellow :  

'In what circumstances were you?' They replied: 'We were too weak and helpless in the land.' The malaikah said: 'Was not the earth of Allah wide enough for you to emigrate in it?'

In Malay (the underlined part) :  Mereka menjawab: "Kami dahulu adalah orang-orang yang tertindas di bumi". Malaikat bertanya lagi: "Tidakkah bumi Allah itu luas, yang membolehkan kamu berhijrah dengan bebas padanya?"

So the earth is indeed very wide.  Why not hijrah to a country that suits your way of life and your way of thinking? Why not migrate to another Islamic country?

Just leave these Europeans alone. They are kafirs. Their freedoms are too many and uncontrolled. Their freedoms do not suit you. 

'Was not the earth of Allah wide enough for you to emigrate in it?'

Tidakkah bumi Allah itu luas, yang membolehkan kamu berhijrah dengan bebas padanya? 

Why keep going back to Europe, Europe, Europe? France, France, France?

For you criticising your religion is not ok. Throwing Shias in jail is ok.

For others criticising religion is ok. Throwing Shias in jail is not ok.

This is the real crisis the Brader has to answer.

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

Zaid Ibrahim returns to law firm he founded

 

The law firm says it looks forward to the insight Zaid Ibrahim will bring to the role.

PETALING JAYA: Former legal affairs and judicial reform minister Zaid Ibrahim will return to  the firm he founded 33 years ago – Zaid Ibrahim & Co.

In a statement today, the firm said he would be returning as chairman effective Nov 1.

It said it looked forward to the insight he would bring to the role particularly with regard to environmental, social and governance issues, citing Zaid’s “deep understanding of societal and human rights”.

On his return, Zaid said: “I am delighted to be back and (to) work together with the younger partners. Zaid Ibrahim & Co will continue to grow with dynamism and transparent leadership that Nik, Gilbert and I hope to offer.”

Nik Norzul Thani will continue on as deputy chairman, with Gilbert Gan to remain managing partner.

Gilbert said he looked forward to “working together again with my old friend to help steer the firm successfully through these unprecedented times”.

“In these times, having old hands on deck with long experience and insight will strengthen our capability to better advise our clients,“ he said.

Zaid served as the MP for Kota Bharu from 2004-2008, before being appointed a minister in the cabinet of then prime minister Abdullah Badawi. - FMT