Category: Sosial

Troubling Trend Of Civil Servants Supporting IS’ Cause In Malaysia

PETALING JAYA, Dec 3 — Two more civil servants who were channeling funds to the Islamic State (IS) have been arrested as police express worry over militant sympathisers in the civil service.

Police are working to establish the extent of IS influence among civil servants as so far six government officers had joined, planned or had sent money to the extremist outfit which controls chunks of territories in both Iraq and Syria.

A police source said in six months, four civil servants were arrested in the Klang Valley and Kedah, and there is a possibility of others in the service being involved.

“We are now investigating the extent of involvement of civil servants in IS activities in the country and abroad,” the source said.

“There is a possibility those detained had influenced others, including their colleagues, to join their cause and this is a worrying trend.”

Investigators are establishing if these suspects had recruited others from their departments.

The source said intelligence and operations personnel are working to determine the seriousness of the matter.

The latest arrest came when the Bukit Aman’s Counter-Terrorism Unit conducted an operation in Kuala Lumpur and Kedah on Nov 27 and 28.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said police picked up three men in separate locations.

“Two of them, aged 23 and 28, work at a government agency in Kuala Lumpur. They are suspected to have channeled funds to new recruits who are planning to travel to Syria to fight alongside IS.”

Investigations revealed the third suspect, aged 36, joined IS last year and had spent four months in Syria before returning to Malaysia on April 8.

He said the trio were being detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma).

In October, police made a major breakthrough following the arrest of three men who played a key role in the recruitment of more than 20 Malaysians.

One of the recruiters was an assistant director attached to the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry.

The 37-year-old civil servant was responsible for recruiting and making travel arrangements for those wanting to go to Syria. He was also the contact person for Malaysian fighters in Syria.

The other recruiter fought alongside rebels in Syria last December and returned to Malaysia in April while the third was an expert in recruiting people via Facebook.

The three recruiters are believed to have been trained by Dr Mahmud Ahmad, 36, an Islamic studies lecturer with Universiti Malaya.

The trio’s arrest led to the arrest of 11 other supporters from various backgrounds — a 14-year-old student, a housewife, a graphic designer, a university student, factory workers and odd-job workers.

Police had then expressed shock that the suspects came from all walks of life, suggesting that the recruitment drive was intense. Police said the recruiters would scout for targets via Facebook and brainwash them to fight coalition forces in Iraq and Syria.

Once coaxed, the recruits would meet a 34-year-old suspect who fought in Syria.

The trio also had connections with 36-year-old stationery shop operator Mohd Najib Hussein and Muhammad Joraimee Awang Raimee, 39, who was attached to the Selayang Municipal Council.

Mahmud, Najib and Joraimee were previously IS recruiters but later fled the country and joined Abu Sayyaf in Southern Philippines.

Source: www.themalaymailonline.com

December 4, 2014
How HIV May Spread Over The Next 15 Years

In 2013, about 35 million people lived with HIV worldwide, a number that is comparable with the population of Canada. Due to better treatment methods, the number of deaths caused by AIDS-related illnesses is on the decline, along with the number of new infections. The recent success is fragile, however.

UNAIDS, the United Nations program dedicated to the fight against HIV, recently warned that new infections could rise again if HIV prevention and treatment approaches remained at 2013 levels. The map above shows which regions and groups of people could be particularly threatened in low- and middle-income countries by 2030 in that case.

According to the scenario, the majority of new infections may be in Africa, where heterosexuals would account for the biggest group of those newly affected, followed be female sex workers, their clients, as well as children. In Asia, homosexuals, female sex workers and their clients, as well as heterosexuals are expected to be equally threatened by AIDS in total numbers. The Middle East and South America would follow with much lower numbers of newly infected people.

Between 1990 and 2013, the number of people living with HIV increased especially in the Southern Hemisphere as well as some European countries. UNAIDS estimates that more than 39 million people have died of AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic, most of them in low- and middle-income countries.

On World AIDS Day, marked this Monday, UNICEF, the United Nations’ agency for children, also warned that while there has been a drop in AIDS-related deaths between 2005 and 2013, one core demographic has not seen such a decline: those ages 10 to 19. HIV was the second-leading cause of death among adolescents worldwide in 2012, according to the WHO.

More optimistic observers believe the HIV epidemic will sharply decline over the next decades. A new report by the advocacy group One, which was released Monday, declared that for the first time in 30 years, the world had reached a “tipping point” in the fight against HIV.

“We’re not saying the end of Aids is near but we have reached an important milestone where, for the first time, we are getting ahead of the disease,” Erin Hohlfelder, health policy director for One, was quoted as saying by theFinancial Times. The report was released Monday to mark World Aids Day.

According to the group, fewer people became infected with HIV — the human immunodeficiency virus, which leads to AIDS — than gained access to drugs against the virus in 2013. About 2.3 million people gained access to HIV treatment programs last year, compared with 2.1 million new infections. The group also said that antiretroviral drugs, which are used to fight the virus, are now available to 13.6 million people worldwide.

Data: UNAIDS and ONE advocacy group. Visualization: Rick Noack/ The Washington Post.

Currently, HIV is roughly 28 times as common among people who inject drugs and 19 times as common among men who have sex with men, compared with the average. Sex workers are 12 times as likely to be infected by the virus.

To protect those who are most marginalized by the virus, three goals need to be achieved, according to the group One: First, funds to fight the disease need to be increased to address a shortfall of $3 billion a year.

Second, stigmatized groups with limited access to treatment need to be reached. And third, the international community should be aware that current promising developments will not necessarily be a tipping point for all countries and that some nations and regions will continue to need more support than others.

If all those goals were to be achieved, the prevalence of HIV could look more like this by 2030, according to the United Nations:

Source: UNAIDS

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com

December 4, 2014
The Struggles Of a HIV Positive Mother

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 — A mother of four was forced to choose between HIV medication and her children.

Norlela Mokhtar, 50, was diagnosed 14 years ago as being HIV positive and three years later, she was in dire need of medication but medical care for HIV patients was not free.

“It cost about RM1,000 a month and I did not have that kind of money because I was working as a clerk at that time,” she said.

“I had to choose between myself and my children.

“I had to choose between paying for my medication or to feed my children.”

She avoided doctor’s visits and check-ups to avoid being asked to take the medication.

“In 2005, I had tuberculosis and I had no choice when I was admitted,” she said.

“Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman (Malaysian AIDS Council exco member) started me on the anti-retroviral treatment, even though it was not free at that time.”

It was then that she regained her health, along with her weight.

“I was a skeleton of about 50kg as I lost so much weight. I was only 30kg at that time,” she said.

Norlela was advised by a friend of hers to get tested because her former husband was an intravenous drug user (IDU).

She believes she contracted the disease from him.

“In that year of being diagnosed, I had no support,” she said

“At that time, whatever they said did not have any impact on me because I was thinking about my four children, who were between two and 10 years old.”

She went on with life without acknowledging the disease but remained a strong front for her children.

“I made sure I was strong in front of them,” she said.

Norlela recalled the discrimination she faced, from both family and friends, but she has no regrets.

“My youngest child was taken away from me by my stepmother for fear I would infect my children,” she said.

“In the office, they didn’t let me go to the canteen or use the items in the pantry.

“However, I am not angry with them because they didn’t know how a person was infected.”

An advocate for those like her, Norlela formed Persatuan Wahidayah Malaysia (Pewahim) and the Rumah Wahidayah, a shelter for women and children living with HIV/AIDS.

She believes building a “zero discrimination” nation towards those infected with HIV/AIDS was the first step towards building a HIV/AIDS free nation.

“People are not able to get married, get a proper education or even get loans just because they are infected by HIV or AIDS. This needs to stop,” she said.

“People should also be educated, instead of taking HIV tests only when required.”

Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com

December 4, 2014
Pregnant Woman Terminated After Only 3 Weeks With Company

Dear Sir / Madam,

I would like to bring up this matter to your attention.

I was just employed by this company last month on the 10th of Nov 2014 as a Receptionist cum Admin Assistant under the accounts dept.

As usual I will have to go through the procedure of 3-month probation period.

I tried to learn as fast as I could on whatever that was taught as it was a new experience for me under quickbook.

So they concentrate more on teaching me on the invoices and quickbook and the company system called APS.

I tried to learn as fast as I possibly could. Everything was fine till they did a 1-week assessment on me.

They mentioned that everything was ok except for some of the jobs that I did not do – which was not taught nor was I given any instructions to do so.

Example, to wipe the photocopier machine every morning – which I was not given any screen wipes / solution to wipe it. It was kept by another colleague.

So during that assessment they asked if I have anything else to say and I told them it is good news to me but I am not sure if it is good news to the company that I am pregnant.

They did not say anything and the HR exec noticed the concern on my face and I told her yes I am because I need the job to cope with this pregnancy. So she said they will look upon my performance.

So I agreed because thinking its under 3-month probation period and I can learn more things and contribute to the company.

I did not take any sick leave for myself, I was never late for work, I do not have any conflicts with colleagues, the colleague who taught me quick book even said that I did no mistakes on the keying in on the system and invoices and I would even answer the phone calls within 1 phone ring.

Even when I have done an outstanding job, I would come up to her and even asked her if there’s anything else for me to do as I need to keep myself occupied with something and learn new things and she would say “nope not now”.

Apparently since the last week of November, I noticed the coldness from the colleagues.

For example they did not let me do the job that I am supposed to do like the stationery updates. They would take from my desk and do it themselves instead of teaching me.

On Sat 29th Dec, I sensed something not right as I can’t logged into my PC as it has been disabled.

And I checked with my accts mgr and the HR Exec told me to check with boss in case boss “accidentally” they deleted my acct while deleting the previous staffs’ account.

So I went up to him and he ignorantly said “Oh did I? Sorry, you can try to log in again within 5 minutes” so ok, I pushed the negative thoughts and tried and yes I can log in after that.

On Mon 1st Dec, I report to work as usual. As usual no one said anything.

I submitted my leave for my pregnancy checkup on the 16th Dec to my accounts manager and she took it without saying anything.

But around 4pm+ the HR exec called me in to the meeting room. I suspected something already.

She said: “I’m sorry but the company decided to terminate you”.

I was kind of shocked and asked for the reason and she said because its because my performance.

I asked her why am I judged on my performance within 3 weeks and she said if 1 month we don’t see any good performance they will terminate.

But it’s not even a month and I was already judged and I asked if this has got to do with my pregnancy and they come up with an excuse of my performance so I won’t be able to report to MOM and she kept quiet for a while and said: “No its not. This is what the boss told me and I am telling you.”

I was angry and upset because there was a girl who joined the same day as me and her sales manager gave her 6 months to learn and I was given weeks? Now I am jobless all because of the unfairness of the company.

I have called the MOM for help and have been advised that for my case I may not be entitled for maternity (something which I can give and take about as what I really need is a job to support myself for the next few months). but I still fall under the Employment Act.

I am really looking forward to seeing something being done here to employers who can terminate expectant mothers at will. Even most part-time jobs do not accept any pregnant mothers.

Please do look into this case. Attached are a copy of my employment letter, my last payslip and my termination letter.

I am looking forward to your kind reply.

Thank you.

Best Regards,

Roslinda Binte Idris.

Source: www.transitioning.org

December 4, 2014
Man Left CPF Savings To Female Friend From PRC Instead Of His Family

INSTEAD of leaving his Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings to his family, a man left it to a 25-year-old female friend from China, giving her $37,000.

His wife found out only after the man – whom she was married to for 34 years – died, Lianhe Wanbao reported yesterday.

The widow, who wanted to be known only as Mrs Saw, 61, tried to appeal to a court, pouring $30,000 of her savings into the effort. Not only did she lose the suit, but she now also has to pay $7,000 in court fees.

“It was really not worth it,” lamented Mrs Saw.

The couple have a son and two daughters, all of whom are married. But things took a turn for the worse after Mr Saw committed suicide in June last year. Mrs Saw said she had stopped him from doing so on two occasions.

While clearing her late husband’s belongings, she was shocked to find out that Mr Saw had, in 2011, arranged to have all his CPF savings given to the female friend.

Mr Saw also had a will, in which the Chinese national would get $150,000 from the sale of his home. A further $450,000 from the sale would be split between an old folks’ home, a temple, his brother, friends and go towards paying off his credit card and housing debts.

The remaining sale proceeds were to go to his immediate family, but the home is expected to sell for only $600,000, so his family may not get anything.

Mrs Saw said her husband changed his will in 2012 to redistribute funds initially set aside for his family.

In tears, she told Wanbao: “I knew he liked to go out to drink and have fun, but I always thought he was just flirting around, and would still be focused on the family. But little did I know that he would make such a decision.”

She added that she could not comprehend why her husband made such a move.

To safeguard her own interests as his wife and with support from her children, Mrs Saw used her savings to hire a lawyer to appeal to the court.

“After my husband’s business failed in 1986, he didn’t have a job. Since then, I’ve carried the burden of being the family’s breadwinner and brought up our children. How could he quietly leave his money to a stranger and none for me?” said Mrs Saw.

The widow said that she had never met the Chinese national. The woman, whom her husband met at a bar in 2009, is from China’s Liaoning province and works as a service staff member at Marina Bay Sands, she said.

During mediation, Mrs Saw said that the woman reiterated that she and Mr Saw were just friends and did not have an intimate relationship.

Mrs Saw said that in her husband’s beneficiary nomination form for his CPF savings, his relationship with the woman from China is listed as “goddaughter”.

She raised doubts over this as Mr Saw initially wrote that the woman was his “granddaughter”, before changing it to “goddaughter”. “One can imagine that when he was making the arrangements, he was not thinking clearly,” claimed Mrs Saw.

But the court decided that Mr Saw and the Chinese national had maintained a good relationship – regardless of whether the woman was his “goddaughter” or mistress.

As there was insufficient evidence to determine Mr Saw’s state of mind when nominating the Chinese national as his beneficiary, the judge did not rule in Mrs Saw’s favour.

Source:http://mypaper.sg

December 3, 2014