Blog

Jakarta Remains Vulnerable To Terror Attacks With Leading IS Terrorist On The Loose

The successful thwarting by law enforcement authorities of a plot by a radical cell to bomb a major target in Jakarta over the weekend does not guarantee that the capital remains safe from another terrorist threat, the police have warned.

On Saturday, the National Police’s Densus 88 counterterrorism squad arrested four people in two cities – Bekasi in West Java and Karanganyar in Central Java – for allegedly planning a bomb attack at a major target, believed to be the State Palace, in Jakarta.

In a rented house in Bekasi where one of the suspects was arrested, the police found a high-explosive bomb that was capable of destroying everything within a radius of 300 meters.

National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Awi Setiyono, however, said there was a possibility that other terrorist cells under the leadership of Muhammad “Bahrun Naim” Anggih Tamtomo, a leader of the Katibah Nusantara militant group, a regional affiliate of the Islamic State (IS) movement, remain active and preparing for other attacks.

“We have learned that BN has recruited other terrorist cells to carry out suicide attacks,” Awi said on Sunday in a press briefing, referring to the initials of Bahrun Naim.

In January, a terrorist attack on Jl. M. H. Thamrin, Central Jakarta, left four terrorists and four civilians dead, and more than 25 injured. It was allegedly masterminded by Bahrun Naim, whose whereabouts remain unknown.

In November 2010, Densus 88 arrested Bahrun Naim and seized hundreds of rounds of ammunition from his house in Surakarta, Central Java. The Surakarta District Court sentenced him in June 2011 to two-and-a-half years in prison for violating Emergency Law No. 12/1951 on illegal firearms possession.

Source: The Jakarta Post

December 14, 2016
Football: Homecoming For National Goalkeeper Hassan Sunny?

He is already 32 and set to return to the S-League after two seasons in the highly rated Thai Premier League (TPL).

But national goalkeeper Hassan Sunny, who is believed to be on the verge of signing for two-time winners Home United, is keen to dispel any talk that his career is headed on a downward trajectory from here on.

Said Hassan, whose former club, nine-time S-League champions Warriors FC, have also signalled their interest in signing him: “It doesn’t mean that by coming back to the S-League, it’s a step back for me.

“I’m looking for a new challenge and a new club, one which has a good set-up.”

He was the only Singaporean playing in the TPL for the past two seasons, where he enjoyed a fairly successful time. He was even rated by British newspaper The Telegraph as the 18th-best goalkeeper in the world in April.

And while the two-time S-League and two-time Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup winner said he would finalise his decision on where he will play in 2017 within the next 10 days, he is already thinking beyond the next year.

Said Hassan, who was released by Bangkok-based Army United with a year of his contract remaining, following their relegation to the second-tier Thai division 1: “If I play in the S-League, it would probably be for a year.

“And in the following year, when the Asean slot kicks in, hopefully I will be able to make it back to Thailand again.

“I enjoyed the atmosphere and the level of football over there (in Thailand) and it’s sad that I have to leave on a sudden note.”

Starting in 2018, Thai football authorities will implement a slot reserved for South-east Asian players for teams in the TPL. This means that they can field up to a maximum of four non-Asean players as part of their quota of five foreign imports.

While Hassan hopes to put himself in the shop window next season, he will have plenty of experience gleaned from his time in Thailand to bring to his new team.

“I hope to share my experiences with the team. For example, it is important to have not just one goalkeeping coach, but an assistant goalkeeping coach as well.”

His experienced pair of hands will be welcomed by the Protectors, who have been lacking a solid leader.

Home’s coach Aidil Sharin said: “We’re very keen for him to come on board. With him (Hassan) around, it’ll give a lot of confidence to our defenders, because he can command and lead.

“This is exactly what we’ve been lacking this season. We need more experienced players to help our younger ones during high-pressure matches in which our opponents are aggressive.”

If Hassan joins the Bishan-based club, who finished fourth in the S-League last season, he will be joined by new signings including defenders Afiq Yunos, Fadli Kamis, midfielder Izzdin Shafiq and winger Christopher van Huizen.

Though Home have lost Danish striker Ken Ilso, their chief goalscorer for the past two seasons, they have found a replacement in Croatian striker Stipe Plazibat, who was Hougang United’s top scorer in the league last season with 15 goals.

Source: The Straits Times

December 14, 2016
Ahok Sheds Tears, Saying He Never Intended To Insult Quran

Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama could not hold back his tears when he read out his exception before a judge panel during his first blasphemy trial at the North Jakarta District Court on Tuesday.

The non-active governor told the judges he had never intended to insult the Quran in his remarks during his working visit to Thousand Islands on Sept. 27.

“I did not intend to misinterpret Surah Al Maidah 51 nor commit blasphemy nor insult ulemas. In my statement, [in Thousand Islands] I referred to certain politicians who had misused Surah Al Maidah 51 to avoid fair competition prior to upcoming regional elections,” Ahok told the judges.

Citing his book entitled Finding Protection Behind Holy Verses, Ahok said he had been learning Surah Al Maidah 51 since the beginning of his career in politics as a local leader in East Belitung.

He said many politicians had used the Quranic verse to influence voters not to choose a non-Muslim as a politician, encouraging them not to make ‘infidels’ into leaders.

“When I asked my [Muslim] friends, they told me that the verse was given when there were Muslims who wanted to kill Prophet Muhammad by conspiring with Christians and Jews,” Ahok said, in his first trial, which heard the reading of his indictments..

“It is clear that the verse was not intended for the appointment of a head of an administration, especially in Indonesia, in which the head of an administration does not serve as a religious leader.”

Reading out the indictments, lead prosecutor Ali Mukartono stated Ahok had intentionally cited a Quranic verse during his working visit to influence voters.

He further said Ahok had attempted to encourage residents to set aside the Quranic verse during the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election. “It is the suspect himself who used the Quran to deceive the residents,” Ali said.

Source: The Jakarta Post

December 14, 2016
Lebih Baik Pegawai Agama Periksa Kebersihan Tandas Masjid, Daripada Tangkap Khalwat

Masyarakat Islam di Malaysia perlu mencabar undang-undang yang membenarkan pegawai agama melakukan serbuan terhadap pasangan berkhalwat, kata mantan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

Datuk Zaid berkata demikian dalam tulisan blognya ketika mengulas kejadian Selasa lalu (6 Dis) di mana seorang anggota polis maut selepas terjun dari sebuah pangsapuri di Cheras ketika cuba mengelak tangkapan pegawai Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (Jais).

Menurut Free Malaysia Today (FMT), pada hari yang sama di Puchong, seorang lagi anggota polis cedera ketika cuba mengelak serbuan Jais.

“Walaupun hubungan seks haram tidak digalakkan, terjun dari tingkap sehingga mengakibatkan kecederaan tubuh badan bukan respon yang rasional,” kata Datuk Zaid seperti ditukil FMT.

Beliau juga berkata daripada menangkap dan menghukum orang Islam yang berkhalwat, adalah lebih baik jika pegawai pengkuatkuasa agama di negara itu membuat kerja yang lebih memanfaatkan, seperti menangani masalah kebersihan tandas di masjid.

“Pegawai agama lebih baik guna kakitangan dan wang mereka memeriksa tandas di masjid. Pastikan tandas bersih, dan graduan sekolah agama boleh cari kerja lain.

“Daripada menangkap pasangan ghairah dan mengakibatkan kehilangan nyawa, lakukanlah sesuatu yang baik dan berguna untuk masyarakat,” kata Datuk Zaid.

Akur bahawa tindakan ekstrim untuk mengelak ditangkap khalwat itu akibat rasa malu atas kesalahan itu, Datuk Zaid berkata “orang Melayu perlu sedar bila mereka patut berasa malu”.

“Melayu perlu malu bila mereka mengangkat kepimpinan korup,” katanya seperti ditukil FMT.

Datuk Zaid menambah: “Mereka juga manusia biasa seperti orang lain, dan melakukan dosa kecil di sana sini. Tetapi perlukah semua dosa dianggap jenayah di negara ini?”

Source: Berita MediaCorp

December 14, 2016
200 Jemaah Umrah Terkandas, Keberangkatan Tertunda 5 Kali

Kira-kira 200 jemaah Malaysia yang dijadual berlepas bagi mengerjakan umrah, pada Isnin (12 Dis), terkandas selepas penerbangan mereka ditangguhkan berikutan permit kebenaran mendarat masih belum diperoleh syarikat penerbangan sewa khas untuk membawa rombongan berkenaan.

Kesemua jemaah ketika ini ditempatkan di sebuah hotel di Nilai sementara menunggu maklumat terkini berhubung jadual penerbangan baru mereka daripada sebuah agensi umrah dan syarikat penerbangan sewa khas dari Malaysia.

Seorang jemaah Mokhtar Mohamad, 62 tahun, dari Batu Pahat, Johor, berkata beliau tiba di hotel tersebut kira-kira 2.00 petang semalam, selepas dimaklumkan penerbangan mereka yang sepatutnya berlepas pada 10.30 malam semalam, terpaksa dibatalkan.

“Saya dimaklumkan perkara ini ketika dalam perjalanan ke KLIA…mereka arahkan kami berkumpul di hotel ini kerana penerbangan kami tidak boleh berlepas disebabkan ada masalah pendaratan.

“Kalau nak ikutkan, penundaan ini sudah banyak kali sebab sebelum ini penerbangan kami pada 5 Dis tetapi ditunda ke 6 Dis. Kemudian, ditunda lagi ke 10 Dis sebelum ditukar pada 8 Dis…dan akhirnya pada 12 Dis selepas menerima surat rasmi sebelum saya berangkat ke KLIA semalam,” katanya.

Sambil melahirkan rasa kecewa dengan insiden itu, beliau berkata berdasarkan pengalamannya mengerjakan umrah sebelum ini, meskipun pakej umrah diambilnya murah, ia berjalan lancar tanpa sebarang masalah.

“Pakej saya ambil kali ini kira-kira RM6,500 (S$2,090) dan saya pergi bersama isteri dan seorang anak. Saya tidak sangka bukan isu pakej murah, tetapi isu lain pula yang timbul.

“Sekarang saya kena tangguh lagi cuti dan sebagainya kerana kita sudah ambil cuti awal, kalau tergendala macam ini susah kami,” katanya.

A. Husaini Rahman, 41 tahun, pula berkata beliau juga dimaklumkan bahawa pererbangannya dibatalkan ketika dalam perjalanan ke KLIA, semalam.

“Sehari sebelum berlepas saya sudah menghubungi agensi umrah kami untuk mendapatkan kesahihan jadual penerbangan tetapi gagal diperoleh.

“Jadi saya nekad bertolak dari Ipoh bersama isteri dan seorang anak tetapi dalam perjalanan baru kami terima maklumat bahawa penerbangan ditunda kerana masalah pendaratan,” katanya.

Lebih menyebabkan beliau terkilan kerana syarikat yang menyediakan penerbangan berkenaan mengesan masalah itu sejak awal pada 24 November lalu, namun tiada tindakan diambil bagi mengatasi masalah tersebut.

Sementara itu, berdasarkan penjelasan kepada rombongan itu, wakil syarikat penerbangan memaklumkan mereka diarahkan memberi maklumat tambahan berhubung manual keselamatan pada saat akhir bagi memastikan keselamatan setiap jemaah.

“Manual keselamatan kita kena ada penambahan disebabkan beberapa insiden yang berlaku di Timur Tengah, jadi mereka mahu pastikan prosedur kita mematuhi apa dikehendaki mereka.

“Kita telah hantar dokumen tambahan yang diminta dan sekarang kita tunggu jawapan balas mereka petang ini (13 Dis). Apa pun kita akan pastikan jemaah yang terkandas ini mendapat maklumat terkini dari semasa ke semasa,” katanya.

Source: Berita MediaCorp

December 14, 2016