Preparation for Hari Raya Puasa and Eve of Merdeka Day

Last Sunday

They were full of people around Sogo KL and along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. Most of them were Malays who are Muslims in preparing to celebrate the coming Hari Raya. At Sogo discount prices are rampant for its sales from 10% to 70%. The issue is whether the prices are really discounted, or the discounted prices are actually the normal prices? Hope the consumers would not be easily being cheated.

The consumers keep on spending tremendously especially whenever there are holidays. From where they have got so much money to spend? Most of them do no bother whether they have enough money to spend or not after the Hari Raya is over. Yeah, most them are using credit cards to purchase such as; Master Card, Visa, and even Amex.

On the Eve of Merdeka Day

As a sample, along Jalan Isfahan beside Sogo Complex, seems no one was putting the Jalur Gemilang on their vehicles especially cars, except for one or two taxis around. Where are the patriotic spirit among the Malaysians? Are most of them frustrated with way the Federal Government is being run today? For sure in the coming general election, BN would lose more seats, and the incumbent might be the last PM.

1Malaysia Concept

It is a controversial issue and goal. Even the major races in Malaysia are undivided whether this is really sincere or just gimmick. The Japanese, the French still progress in every fields although they are quite racist, mean nationalistic based on race, but still in their countries other races are being treated fairly and justifiably!

For the Malays, if they wanted to continue to be lords in the country, they should fight for that religiously, politically, and economically along as permits by the Federal Constitution. Do not to forget to follow the 'sunnahs' of the Rasulullah saw. For the non-Muslims do not worry, because they are better off under the Muslim Administration than now, where their welfare would be better taken care off. Islam uphold justice and fairness to all.

If the non-Muslims still in doubt, as evidence could they mention any country under the Muslim rule, the non-Muslims are being treated unfairly, compared to Muslims being treated unfairly in the many non-Muslim rule countries in the world?

Controversy Swells As Obama Supports Ground Zero Mosque

AFP - Sunday, August 15

WASHINGTON (AFP) - – US President Barack Obama's support for the right to build a mosque just blocks from Ground Zero poured fuel Saturday on a raging debate over religious freedom and sensitivities over the 9/11 terror strikes.

Muslims "have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country," Obama said at an Iftar meal at the White House for Muslims breaking their Ramadan fast late Friday.

That includes "the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances."

Obama had remained silent over plans to build an Islamic cultural center, which includes a mosque, two blocks away from the gaping Ground Zero hole where the Twin Towers were destroyed on September 11, 2001.

But after a New York city commission on August 3 unanimously approved the plans, the president came out to support the right to build the mosque.

"This is America," Obama said, "and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are."

Obama acknowledged that the site where the World Trade Center towers once stood remains "hallowed ground," and that the 9/11 terror attacks "were a deeply traumatic event for our country."

Planners say the multi-story "Cordoba House" will include a mosque, sports facilities, theater, and restaurant, and would be open to the public to show that Muslims are full community members.

Saturday the group 9/11 Families for a Safe & Strong America, which represents some relatives of attack victims, said it was "stunned" by the president's remarks.

Related article: 9/11 relatives group condemns Obama

Obama "has abandoned America at the place where America's heart was broken nine years ago, and where her true values were on display for all to see," the group said.

Building the mosque "is a deliberately provocative act that will precipitate more bloodshed in the name of Allah."

This president "declares that the victims of 9/11 and their families must ... stand silent at the last place in America where 9/11 is still remembered with reverence or risk being called religious bigots," the group said.

Another group representing other relatives of 9/11 victims, the September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, said in May that it "strongly supports" the Islamic center.

The proposed location has touched raw nerves -- and on Saturday Obama clarified that he was not addressing the appropriateness of the mosque's particular location.

"I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there," Obama said on a visit to Florida.

"I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding. That's what our country is about," he said.

A CNN/Opinion Research poll earlier this month showed that 68 percent of Americans opposed the Islamic center plans, while only 29 percent favored them.

Congressman Peter King, who represents New York in the US House of Representatives, said the Muslim community was "abusing" its rights and "needlessly offending" many people.

"It is insensitive and uncaring for the Muslim community to build a mosque in the shadow of Ground Zero," said King, a Republican. "Unfortunately the president caved in to political correctness."

Obama said the Al-Qaeda terrorists responsible for the attacks do not represent Islam.

"It is a gross distortion of Islam," the president said late Friday. "In fact, Al-Qaeda has killed more Muslims than people of any other religion -- and that list of victims includes innocent Muslims who were killed on 9/11."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a US advocacy group, welcomed Obama's "strong support for Muslim religious rights."

Nihad Awad, a senior CAIR official, said he hoped the remarks will encourage "those who are challenging the rising level of Islamophobia in our society," and he urged "other national political and religious leaders" to speak out.

One of those reacting Saturday was New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

"I applaud President Obama's clarion defense of the freedom of religion," Bloomberg said, adding that the proposed site "is as important a test of the separation of church and state as we may see in our lifetime."

Passions over the issue run high across the country.

A Florida church has already said it will hold a "Koran-burning" on September 11 -- which this year coincides with Eid al-Fitr, the end-of-Ramadan holiday.

Obama himself is a Christian, but according to a Harris Interactive online poll from March, nearly one-third of all Americans, including 57 percent of Republicans, believe that he is a Muslim.

Who’s Responsibility?

Tazkirah Presented by Faiz Zakaria of IIUM - 14.08.2010

The presenter went to Sabah and Sarawak recently as a Muslim preacher. In Sabah, he found out that the Islamic values are acceptable. But deep into Sarawak the Islamic values being practiced quite far behind if compared to Sabah.

Almost for 50 years the Ibans have embraced Islam. Before that they were mostly Christians. But they knew nothing about Christianity. When they converted to Islam, also the same. Their ways of life still far from what Islam wants. They still rearing pigs around their houses while the dogs are happily strolling into their rooms.

The male Ibans still wearing shorts and the women still wearing only 'kembans' in their daily life. The imams when to lead the prayer only knows three 'surahs' to read: Al-Fatihah, and the 3 'Quls' through remembrance.

Next month the presenter would be going to Cambodia. At early information, he has found out that the Muslims in Cambodia, their houses more or less similar to the chicken dens.

The question is whose duties to make them really following the true Islamic teachings and ways of life?

Road to Financial Disaster?

By Khoo Kay Peng

1. Scorpene maintenance for 5 years - RM1.3 billion
2. PKFZ in the next 5 years - RM12.5 billion
3. Bakun Dam - RM7.3 billion
4. Putrajaya & Cyberjaya - RM15 billion
5. More and counting...

Corruption and abuse of power is a disease in our society. Can Malaysia survive and thrive if financial abuses and wastage were to continue?

Only in Malaysia, we pay senators who are only interested in someone else's private sex life and not policy making or fixing problems.

Or politicians who are only good at making threats and not solutions.

Or politicians who abuse their power and position but push the responsibility to someone else.

How long can Malaysians can tolerate this situation until we realize that the future of this country lies in us and our choice of good and honest people to lead the country?

Stop quarreling over colour and creed. It is plain common sense that we get over them the soonest the better.

Saman Ekor: Hapuskan Polisi Halang Perbaharui Cukai Jalan

Oleh: Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo

1. Saya berharap kerajaan akan mengkaji semula tindakan menyenaraihitamkan kenderaan yang tidak menjelaskan "saman ekor" sehingga tidak dapat memperbaharui cukai jalan.

2. Sungguhpun mereka ini melakukan kesalahan namun menyenarai hitamkan kereta-kereta ini akan menyebabkan pelanggaran undang-undang lain. Terdapat antara mereka yang tidak mempunyai wang yang cukup untuk membayar "saman ekor" mengambil keputusan untuk tidak memperbaharui cukai jalan. Ini akan membawa implikasi yang lebih serius jika berlaku kemalangan.

3. Kerajaan tidak wajar sama sekali mengaitkan kesalahan memandu laju dengan keperluan undang-undang untuk memperbaharui cukai jalan dan insurans. Apakah yang ada dalam akal fikiran pembuat polisi ini? Kita menghalang mereka yang melanggar satu peraturan dari mematuhi peraturan lain. Janganlah kerana kesalahan saman ekor akan melarat kepada masalah kemalangan jalan raya yang mungkin melibatkan kematian tanpa perlindungan insurans dan cukai jalan. Inilah yang dikatakan lain bengkak, lain pula yang bernanah.

4. Bagi saya, kerajaan harus menarik balik langkah menghalang mereka yang mempunyai tunggakan "saman ekor" dari memperbaharui cukai jalan.

5. Rakyat mempunyai hak untuk mencabar saman ekor ini di mahkamah. Malangnya, ramai yang tidak mengetahui mereka disaman sehinggalah hendak memperbaharui cukai jalan.

6. Justeru peluang untuk mencabar di mahkamah tidak mungkin dapat dilaksanakan tanpa melanggar undang-undang dengan tidak mempunyai cukai jalan dan insurans. Adakah ini adil kepada orang ramai?

7. Pemimpin politik dan pegawai kerajaan tidak boleh saling tunding-menunding dalam isu ini, sedangkan rakyat di bawah berhadapan dilema bebanan disenaraihitamkan. Pisau dan mentimun ditangan mereka jangan sampai diambil alih oleh rakyat.

Two Engineers Fleeced in Dispenser Scam

By Yee Xiang Yun (The Star 07.08.2010

JOHOR BARU: Lured by high returns, two engineers applied for nine credit cards between them and invested a total of RM42,000 in a get-rich-quick scheme – only to find that they had been fleeced.

K. Thorajoo, 32, and Lee Poh Kheong, 39, who were lured by the attractive profit figures presented by a water dispenser company even used up all their life savings.

Lee, coaxed into signing a contract at the company’s office in Taman Molek at the end of last year, said he was so convinced about the tempting offer that he persuaded Thorajoo to invest in it also.

“The company promised us a lucrative profit of at least RM1,000 per month, but all we earned was RM200 per month.

“After a few months, I sensed something was amiss so I called the sales representative about my money and he even scolded me for being unreasonable,” Lee said, adding that he later found the office had ceased operations two months ago.

Thorajoo, a father of one, said he did not even receive the water dispensing machine after paying such a hefty amount.

He said their contract required them to pay the company RM1,400 monthly for the rental of the machine, but he stopped paying after three months when he did not receive the keys to his machine.

“I am now in debt for about RM15,000 and I hope the banks will be lenient and understand our situation,” Thorajoo told reporters during a press conference organised by Johor Baru MCA public complaints bureau deputy chief Michael Tay here.

Tay urged the public not to be so gullible as to sign up for such schemes.

Seri Alam OCPD Supt Roslan Zainuddin, confirmed both men had lodged reports and requested anyone with information to call the police hotline on 07-2212999 or the nearest police station.

Saya Tidak Akan Buat Rayuan - Zaid Ibrahim

Harakahdaily

KUALA LUMPUR, 6 Ogos: Pengerusi PKR Wilayah Persekutuan, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim berkata, pihaknya tidak akan membuat rayuan ekoran mahkamah menolak petisyen pilihan raya untuk pilihan raya kecil Hulu Selangor.

Dalam blognya, Zaid berkata, "Saya tidak akan berbuat demikian kerana kita akan mendapat keputusan yang sama. Saya tidak mahu membuang masa kawan kawan saya Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, Azhar Azizan Harun dan Ang Hean Leng yang menawarkan khidmat guaman secara percuma dalam mengejar keadilan."

Mahkamah Pilihan Raya semalam membenarkan permohonan ahli parlimen Hulu Selangor, P Kamalanathan bagi membatalkan petisyen yang difailkan oleh ahli majlis tertinggi PKR, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi Datuk Azahar Mohamed, yang bertindak sebagai Hakim Mahkamah Pilihan Raya berkata petisyen yang difailkan itu adalah cacat kerana tidak mematuhi keperluan mandatori.

Beliau sehubungan itu mengisytiharkan Kamalanathan sebagai ahli parlimen Hulu Selangor yang sah.

Zaid, bekas Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri memfailkan petisyen berkenaan pada 24 Mei lalu supaya keputusan pilihan raya kecil Hulu Selangor, 25 April lalu dibatalkan atas alasan ia dicemari rasuah.Ini dalam bentuk sogokan dan janji kepada pengundi oleh pemimpin BN, termasuk Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak kepada pengundi sekiranya mereka menyokong Kamalanathan.

Petisyen terhadap Kamalanathan difailkan di bawah Seksyen 10(a), 10(c) dan 10(e) Akta Kesalahan-Kesalahan Pilihan Raya 1958.

Pada pilihan raya kecil itu, Zaid, pengerusi Majlis Pimpinan Negeri, PKR Wilayah Persekutuan, kalah kepada Kamalanathan dari MIC dengan majoriti 1,725 undi.

Zaid yang tidak pergi ke mahkamah semalam "kerana saya telah pun menjangka bahawa permohonan saya tidak akan dilayani."

"Bila seorang hakim membenarkan masa yang secukupnya (3 hari) kepada pihak yang mahu petisyen itu ditolak di atas alasan “teknikal” (supaya kes itu tidak dapat peluang ke peringkat perbicaran sepenohnya, di mana segala butiran dan keterangan yang kita ada dan saksi saksinya akan dibentang), maknanya saya tidak akan berjaya," tulis Zaid dalam blognya mengulas keputusan itu.

Menurut Zaid, alasan yang diberi hakim ialah dia tidak menyenaraikan nama mereka yang telah menerima rasuah ataupun “bribe” tersebut. Bagi Zaid, nama-nama mereka ada, dan akan ketengahkan saksi-saksi yang ada semasa perbicaraan.

"Tetapi mulakanlah perbicaraan itu. Mengapa takut sangat didengar keterangan pihak kami? Kalau pihak kami tak berjaya membuktikan selepas perbicaraan barulah sepatutnya permohonan ditolak. Apa perlu tolak awal awal lagi? Alasan sebenar ialah mereka perlu melindungi ‘The Great PM’ dari disoal oleh peguam kami. Mana boleh PM datang ke Mahkamah?" tulis Zaid lagi.

Bagi beliau, ada banyak jenis kes “rasuah pilihan raya.”

"Bila kita membuat aduan spesifik bahawa calon A menawarkan duit untuk B dan C mengundinya, memanglah kita patut senarai dalam petisyen nama B dan C.

"Tetapi inilah kali pertama kita ada PM yang membuat tawaran rasuah secara terbuka kepada orang ramai. Inilah kes “general bribery” yang mustahil dapat kita senarai semua nama-nama mereka yang ditawarkan wang tersebut," katanya.

Mengikut keputusan ini, tulis Zaid, katakanlah kalau PM memberi ucapan melalui RTM1 pada kempen pilihanraya Sarawak nanti, dua hari sebelum mengundi, berucap kepada semua rakyat Sarawak bahawa mereka akan diberi Amanah Saham percuma sebanyak 1000 unit kalau BN menang, siapa-siapa yang mahu membawa kes itu ke Mahkamah mestilah menyenaraikan nama 2 juta penduduk Sarawak!

Mahkamah juga berkata kita yang membawa permohonan mesti membuktikan bahawa mereka yang menerima rasuah ini: rasuah yang ditawarkan meyakinkan mereka membuat undian untuk BN.

"Ini satu lagi syarat yang paling luar biasa dalam dunia ini," katanya.

"Bagaimanakah kami akan buktikan niat pengundi sebelum perbicaraan bermula? Lagipun soalan seperti “Kamu undi siapa semasa piliharaya? “ tidak dapat disoal semasa perbicaran kerana undi itu sulit. Akta Kesalahan Pilihanraya tidak membenarkan kita bertanya soalan itu. Tetapi Hakim terus menetapkan syarat sedemikian," katanya.

Zaid berkata, dia juga disalahkan kerana tidak mengeluarkan ucapan Najib sepenuhnya dalam petisyen.

"Kami bercadang untuk membentang rakaman ucapan itu semasa perbicaraan tetapi peluang tidak diberi. Inilah cara BN menang dalam segala hal," katanya.

Bagaimanapun, Zaid dengan penuh yakin berkata, "satu hari nanti, kita akan Berjaya.”

Saman Ekor: Kerajaan Kemaruk Duit Rakyat

Harakahdaily

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 Ogos: PAS berpandangan tindakan saman ekor menampakkan kerajaan begitu kemaruk duit rakyat.

Ketua Penerangan PAS Pusat, Ustaz Idris Ahmad (gambar) berkata, ianya bertentangan dengan konsep 1Malaysia, rakyat didahulukan, realiti yang berlaku adalah saman diutamakan, rakyat dibebankan.

Katanya, PAS bimbang rakyat yang menjadi mangsa saman ekor yang dilonggokkan sejak sekian lama akan tertekan untuk membayar saman.

Justeru, ujarnya jalan mudah untuk membayar saman ialah dengan meminjam daripada along.

“Kalau ini berlaku maka akan bertambah masalah sosial di negara ini,” ujarnya dalam kenyataan kepada Harakahdaily.

Sehubungan itu, tegasnya, PAS mendesak supaya saman ekor dibatalkan, dan mencadangkan supaya dihadapkan mereka ke muka pengadilan, bukan memakai undang-undang rimba.

“Cukuplah rakyat terlalu menderita dengan kenaikan harga barang dan kos hidup melambung dan dibebani pula dengan saman ekor,” katanya lagi.

PAS juga, katanya tidak bersetuju dengan kenyataan Ketua Polis Negara yang mengatakan bahawa pihak polis akan mengurangkan bayaran saman bagi setengah kesalahan jalanraya supaya meringan bebanan kesalahan jalan raya.

Beliau berkata, apa yang dituntut oleh PAS dan rakyat yang menjadi mangsa, saman ekor mesti dihapuskan kerana ia menyalahi prosedur undang-undang.

PAS, tambahnya mempersoalkan kenapa begitu mudah kerajaan menyiksa rakyat dengan menyaman mereka yang belum tentu bersalah.

Beliau mempersoalkan kaedah manakah yang mereka ambil untuk mendenda rakyat tanpa dibawa ke pengadilan.

“Kenapa pihak polis dan JPJ menunggu begitu lama untuk disenarai hitam mereka yang bersalah sejak tahun 2000?

“Apakah ini bukan satu kezaliman terhadap rakyat di negara ini?” soalnya.

Sekarang, katanya sudah ada 1.07 juta orang yang menjadi mangsa.

Apa yang paling malang sekali, tambahnya semua kereta akan disenarai hitam selagi atas nama tertuduh.

“Semua kenderaan tidak dapat cukai jalan. Tindakan ini merugikan negara kerana cukai jalan dan insuran tidak boleh diperbaharui,” ujarnya.

Saman Ekor: Mahfuz Dakwa KPN Cuba Alih Isu

Nazri Abdullah

KUALA LUMPUR, 6 Ogos: Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kempen Anti Saman Ekor (Kase), Datuk Mahfuz Omar mendakwa Ketua Polis Negara, cuba mengalihkan isu sebenar apabila mencadangkan kepada kerajaan agar mengurangkan kadar bayaran saman ekor.

Beliau berkata, isu sebenar adalah bukan kadar bayaran, tetapi tindakan mengarahkan Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) menyekat mereka yang disaman ekor dari memperbaharui cukai jalan.

"Dia (Tan Sri Musa Hassan) faham, atau buat-buat tak faham atau sengaja nak alihkan isu.

"Isu sebenar yang kita tentang adalah menyenarai hitam mereka yang disaman ekor dari memperbaharui cukai jalan dan lesen kenderaan" katanya yang juga Naib Presiden PAS kepada Harakahdaily.

Tindakan terbaru Polis Di Raja Malaysia (PDRM) itu juga kata Mahfuz cubaan membuat untung atas angin apabila tidak mahu mengikut prosedur untuk membawa mereka yang disaman ekor ke Mahkamah.

Saman ekor katanya bukan saman, namun hanya notis saman yang perlu dibuktikan bersalah oleh mahkamah sebelum individu yang menerimanya diarahkan membayar.

"Itu juga menunjukkan polis tidak boleh proof kesalahan, dia tidak ada bukti, kamera tidak boleh dijadikan bukti.

"Mereka malas nak ke mahkamah, jadi nak suruh orang tetap bayar, mereka kata kurangkan kadar bayaran," katanya.

Musa semalam memberitahu PDRM telah mengemukakan cadangan agar kerajaan menetapkan kadar kompaun saman ekor yang mampu dibayar pesalah trafik berikutan pelbagai rungutan di kalangan orang ramai berhubung kadar saman itu.

Beliau juga berkata kadar kompaun saman itu juga akan diselaraskan antara dua agensi, iaitu PDRM dan JPJ.

Semalam juga, Kase ke pejabat Kementerian Pengangkutan, menyerahkan memorandum bantahan kepada menterinya, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha.

Mereka mendesak menteri menggunakan kuasanya mengarahkan JPJ dan PDRM agar tidak menyenaraihitamkan mereka yang disaman.

Ia kerana, menurut mereka tindakan tersebut adalah bercanggah dengan Perkara 13 Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang memperuntukkan setiap warganegara boleh menggunakan hartanya.