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Tag: malaysians

  • Dr Mahathir: Yes I’m Behind ‘Crisis’ But Najib Can End It By Resigning

    Dr Mahathir: Yes I’m Behind ‘Crisis’ But Najib Can End It By Resigning

    KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — Undeterred by Datuk Seri Najib Razak blaming him for creating the current 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) “crisis”, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad lobbed the ball back in the former’s court by accepting the blame.

    But Dr Mahathir also offered Najib a solution to end the “crisis”, saying the best option would be for the latter to resign as prime minister and return only when 1MDB is thoroughly investigated and cleared of any wrong.

    Dr Mahathir added that although he admits to being the person behind the “crisis”, it was Najib who had caused it by “borrowing huge sums of money and losing billions of ringgit”.

    “I will admit that I am behind the ‘crisis’. I am behind it because there is a climate of fear in this country.

    “Lots of people know about the loss of billions of ringgit by 1MDB. These people are in a position to know because they have seen evidence of this loss.

    “But they are afraid because of actions which the government can take against them. They may lose their jobs, or contracts or expectations of titles etc,” Dr Mahathir wrote in his latest blog post today.

    He said these critics of 1MDB approached him for help but he desisted for a long time, knowing full well that any move on his part to reveal the alleged misdeeds of 1MDB would eventually lead to Najib being questioned.

    Dr Mahathir said he first tried to resolve the matter quietly by telling him in private that he no longer supports his leadership.

    “But there was no result,” he claimed. “So I had to go public. Najib has destroyed Umno and BN.

    “I know he would lose the next election. And then the whole country will see turmoil as no party, would have the majority to run the country,” he said.

    “So I decided to expose the wrong-doings of 1MDB of which the Prime Minister is effectively the head.

    “Is there a crisis? There is. It is caused by the Prime Minister creating 1MDB borrowing huge sums of money and losing billions of Ringgit,” Dr Mahathir added.

    He urged Najib to step down to allow a full investigation on 1MDB’s reported RM42 billion debt pile, insisting that with the prime minister still in power, the probe would not be carried out thoroughly.

    “If no crimes can be detected and all the money is returned, Najib can come back as Prime Minister and lead BN in the next election,” Dr Mahathir said.

    He said by accusing him of starting the so-called crisis, Najib was as good as saying the alleged disappearance of billions of ringgit should be accepted and ignored as though no wrong had been committed.

    But from the public’s interest in the controversy, Dr Mahathir said the matter cannot be ignored and those guilty of any wrongdoing must be brought to book.

    “A crisis may be the result but should we allow thieves to steal billions of ringgit in order to avoid a crisis,” he said.

    On his blog on Monday, Najib accused Dr Mahathir of causing the “mess” in the country that he now has to bear the brunt of the blame for, amid the ongoing controversy surrounding 1MDB.

    Najib also said in the Frequently Asked Questions section on his blog that the former prime minister did not have to face endless allegations during his time in office, from 1981 to 2003, as social media was not developed then.

    “The ‘mess’ that Tun refers to, is largely of his own making as a result of his attacks and his echoing of Opposition lies and slander,” Najib wrote.

    Dr Mahathir has been calling openly for Najib’s resignation, citing the controversy surrounding 1MDB that is currently being investigated by the Auditor-General and the Public Accounts Committee.

     

    Source: www.themalaymailonline.com

  • Denied Entry Over Dressing

    Denied Entry Over Dressing

    KUALA lUMPUR: I went to the Defence Ministry (Mindef) in Ampang to cover a pre­sentation of Hari Raya goodies to the armed forces by the Prime Minister’s wife, an event that was also attended by the Defence Minister and his deputy.

    I was dressed in a simple black-and-white piece with short sleeves and a hemline that ended just above my knees.

    Despite what I thought to be decent attire, I was denied entry at the guardhouse.

    At the counter to register my vehicle, an official told me to step back several times.

    I took a few small steps back until he told me: “Please step back further, I need to see what you are wearing.”

    He then said I would not be allowed in because my knees were showing.

    I protested by saying that I had covered Mindef events before, wearing both casual clothes such as T-shirts as well as in similar dresses, but the protest was to no avail.

    I also told him that I was a reporter and needed to get in to cover the event. He and a female staff member said they would check with the officials inside the building.

    They returned to say there was no response and instructed me to sit down and wait.

    At this point, another military policeman politely “assessed” my outfit, saying that I had violated the dress code.

    I said there should be consistency when enforcing the dress code, not as and when they like.

    As I didn’t want to miss my assignment, I went to retrieve a long skirt that was kept in my car for precisely this reason – overzealous dress code enforcers.

    Then another officer remarked: “See, Miss, you look nice like this as well.”

    I found the comment unprofessional.

    I later raised the issue with the deputy minister, who laughed it off.

    I couldn’t help thinking: if people meant to defend the nation can become so distracted by a pair of kneecaps, then our country is in trouble.

     

    Source: www.thestar.com.my

  • It’s ‘Cover Up Your Arms’ At Ipoh City Council

    It’s ‘Cover Up Your Arms’ At Ipoh City Council

    IPOH: While the debates had centred on dresses that should cover the legs, a woman was not allowed to enter the City Council building here unless she cover her arms.

    Eunice Chai, 32, a logistician, was stopped by security guards for wearing a sleeveless high-collar blouse and jeans.

    She said she went to the council to apply for a business licence when one of the guards on duty commented on the “lack of sleeves” of her blouse.

    “I was with a friend at the time, and thankfully he had a jacket in his car so he passed it to me at the entrance.

    “I thought what I was wearing is considered decent since my legs are all covered up, but I didn’t expect this treatment here as well,” she said.

    A poster showing the dress code at the council’s entrance

    Chai said it did not make sense to turn people away for not covering up if they were appropriately dressed.

    “The local authorities should also respect other cultures,” she added.

    Chai said based on the dress code poster placed at the door, the appropriate dressing for non-Muslims is a long dress with elbow-length sleeves.

    “The weather is very hot right now, and I don’t think many Chinese would wear like that when they go out,” she said.

    The poster for dress code of both sexes at the entrance of the council’s building showed men in a formal shirt with sleeves, or blazer and tie, while the women in a long formal dress.

    Those with sleeveless tank tops, shorts, short skirts, and slippers will not be allowed in.

     

    Source: www.thestar.com.my

  • Daily Woodlands-Johor Baru Shuttle Commences

    Daily Woodlands-Johor Baru Shuttle Commences

    A shuttle train service between Woodlands in Singapore and Johor Baru (JB) in Malaysia opened on Wednesday (Jul 1) to long queues, but it did not appear to ease traffic congestion on the Causeway.

    Long lines for the new KTMB service were seen at the JB Sentral station at about 6.00am on Wednesday, with workers making up the bulk of the commuters. Some commuters Channel 8 spoke to said they arrived as early as 5.30am to buy tickets. The tickets for trains departing for Singapore at 5.30am and 7.00am were sold out.

    The fares are RM5 from JB Sentral and S$5 from Woodlands, for one-way trips.

    Long queues for train tickets seen at the JB Sentral station at about 6.00am. (Photo: Loi Kar Yee)

    Despite the large number of commuters crossing the border via the new train service, it did not appear to ease congestion at the Causeway, according to a Channel 8 reporter at the scene.

    The shuttle service by Malaysia’s KTM Intercity will run 14 trips between Singapore and Johor Bahru daily, with seven trips in each direction. Commuters whom Channel 8 spoke with said they hoped there would be an increased number of trips during peak periods.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Malaysian Muslims Seem To Have Very Weak Faith

    Malaysian Muslims Seem To Have Very Weak Faith

    I have been fasting in full every Ramadan for many years now and I admit, I do feel hungry and thirsty during the day and it isn’t totally comfortable all of the time.

    But of course, like anything you do, if you put your mind to it and persevere, it eventually stops being a problem.

    You get used to fasting and it actually makes your body feel good. But I won’t be talking here about the benefits of fasting on your health and well being.

    What I do want to talk about is the fact that there are so many weak Muslims in Malaysia who can’t take fasting. I’m usually not one to judge, but well, this time I am going to!

    We have a teacher in a school who asks his non-Muslim students to go to the toilet to drink during Ramadan, just so Muslim students won’t see them drinking.

    It is ridiculous how some school canteens are instructed to close during the fasting month because it would mean non-Muslim students eating in view of Muslim students.

    This issue of non-Muslims having to go out of their way, in the name of being respectful to those who are fasting, crops up every time Ramadan comes around.

    I don’t understand how this is respect. All I can conclude from this is that some Malaysian Muslims are just too weak, and when they see someone drink water, their will to fast disappears.

    I have many non-Muslim friends and I accompany them for lunch or even just for a drink at the mamak, even when I’m fasting, just so we can hang out and have a chat.

    I see them eat and drink but I don’t get tempted. Sometimes, they tease me too and pretend to order for me a glass of teh ais and we all have a good laugh. But I still fast. No problems.

    This fasting month, although only a week has gone by, I’ve even been accompanying my wife for lunch at restaurants whenever we are out and about.

    She is in the final trimester of her second pregnancy and she needs the food and nutrition. So she doesn’t fast. We sit and chat as she has her meal and I still fast. No problems.

    I’m not trying to say that I’m a perfect Muslim here. No way. I am far from that. What I am trying to say is that some Malaysian Muslims need to take a step back and look at their faith.

    Fasting is an‘ibadah’and it is suppose to be challenging (although not torture!). And aren’t challenges suppose to make your faith and fast count for even more?

    So technically, Malaysian Muslims should welcome people to eat and drink in front of them, and then resist, so they can collect more‘pahala’, right? Funny, isn’t it?

    But no. Malaysian Muslims are just too weak. They fast but they can’t take it when they catch a glimpse of someone eating or drinking. Their faith starts to waver.

    They can’t even take it when when non-Muslims use the word ‘Allah’ because they start getting confused and all with their own faith. Malaysian Muslims. What a weak bunch they are.

     

    Source: http://english.astroawani.com