Malaysia's AirAsia X to suspend Iran service

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - The long-haul arm of budget carrier AirAsia said on Monday it would suspend operations to Iran, citing currency "volatility" as the carrier mounts new profitable destinations across the Asia-Pacific.

Malaysia-based AirAsia X said the current four times weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Teheran will be suspended with the last flight on Oct 14.

AirAsia X said the suspension of its services to Teheran Imam Khomeini Airport was due to challenging economic and business conditions including the "volatility of the Iranian currency".

PKR S'gor mahu Faekah dipecat

Pengarah Pilihan Raya PKR Selangor Borhan Aman Shah mendesak supaya setiausaha politik menteri besar negeri itu, Faekah Husin meletakkan jawatan kerana mengeluarkan kenyataan yang didakwa mengeruhkan hubungan dalam Pakatan Rakyat.

Katanya, beliau juga berharap Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim mengambil tindakan sewajarnya ke atas Faekah yang "menimbulkan salah faham" apabila mengulas mengenai kenyataan timbalan presiden Azmin Ali berhubung kedudukan Khalid.

"Kita minta agar menteri besar ambil tindakan pada Faekah. Semua tahu kita minta dia dilucutkan daripada jawatan yang ada. Ada beberapa perkara yang dia buat dah jadi salah faham.

Paderi kata Utusan 'menipu' dalam laporan kritik Guan Eng

Dua pemimpin Kristian hari berkata laporan memetik kenyataan mereka dalam Mingguan Malaysia semalam, yang didakwa mengkritik ketua menteri Pulau Pinang, adalah "penipuan semata-mata".

Biskop Gereja Lutheran Evangelical, Solomon Rajah dan bekas presiden Majlis Gereja Malaysia Thomas Philips hari ini berkata, kenyataan mereka dilaporkan di luar konteks dalam berita bertajuk 'Gereja bukan tempat politik'.

Mereka menuntut supaya akbar edisi Ahad Utusan Malaysia itu menarik balik laporan berkenaan dan mengeluarkan permohonan maaf dalam edisi mereka selepas ini.

Dalam satu sidang media hari ini, kedua-dua paderi itu menjelaskan bahawa pemberita berkenaan hanya menghubungi mereka untuk mendapatkan pandangan umum mengenai "gereja dan politik".

Rajah berkata, kenyataannya itu bukan reaksi atau ulasan kepada dialog antara ketua menteri Pulau Pinang Lim Guan Eng dengan pemimpin gereja di negeri tersebut.

Economist: Najib gagal adakan p'raya ketika popular

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak mirip bekas perdana menteri Britain Gordon Brown yang gagal mengadakan pilihan raya ketika beliau secara relatifnya masih popular, kata majalah antarabangsa mingguan Economist.

Ini berlaku ketika usaha Najib menonjolkan dirinya sebagai pembawa perubahan progresif dengan imej pendahulu Brown - Tony Blair; hatta mengupah penasihat Blair.

"Bertahun-tahun Brown gelisah untuk menolak lawannya ke tepi. Apabila berjaya, Brown mensia-siakannya dengan gagal memanggil pilihan raya ketika beliau secara relatifnya beliau masih popular," kata akhbar yang berpangkalan di London itu.

Medical students in Malaysian university brainwashed into quitting

PETALING JAYA: A group of medical students from the Universiti Sains Malaysia, one of the biggest universities in Malaysia, has allegedly been brainwashed into leaving their studies by a Buddhist monk.

The student Buddhist association from the campus in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, had voiced its concern that around 30 medical students had shown behavioural changes and disinterest in their studies after returning from a trip to Thailand with the monk in August, the Star newspaper cited Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia lay adviser Chong Hung Wang as saying.

Malaysian authorities raid 3 more gold trading firms

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian authorities on Friday raided three more gold trading firms suspected of taking deposits illegally, money laundering and tax evasion.

The raids on the offices of Pageantry Gold, Caesar Gold and Worldwide Far East were conducted as Bank Negara announced formal investigations into gold trading firm Genneva's Malaysia operations, The Star reported.

Singapore's Commercial Affairs Department raided last Monday Genneva's offices at Orchard Towers following complaints that the company had stopped paying its customers and agents, and failed to fulfil its buyback guarantee. Genneva's offices in Malaysia were raided on the same day.

French lawyer Bourdon agrees to brief lawmakers

French lawyer William Bourdon, who represents Suaram in the Scorpene case, has indicated that he is willing to brief the Malaysian parliament on the matter.

Malaysia government losing Chinese support, putting reforms at risk

KUALA LUMPUR (REUTERS) - Ethnic Chinese voters, upset over policies that favour majority Malays, have become increasingly alienated from Malaysia's ruling coalition, raising the risk of racial polarisation and a slowdown in the pace of reforms.

Support for Prime Minister Najib Razak among Chinese voters plunged to 37 per cent in May from 56 per cent in February, a survey by the independent Merdeka Centre showed on Friday.

It found 56 per cent of Chinese were dissatisfied with the government, compared to 30 per cent of Indians and 23 per cent of Malays.

Decision on PPSMI final, says DPM

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today that the government’s decision to abolish the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) is final.

“The matter is closed. I can say that as of this year, PPSMI is not here anymore; we have started a new policy. Maybe people have misunderstood, we’re now actually looking at the beginning of the soft-landing of the MBMMBI (Upholding the Malay Language, Strengthening the English Language) policy,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after attending the English Language training mentor programme where Primary Year 1, 2, 3 English teachers are being trained by foreign native English-speaking teachers.

“It’s final. Period,” Muhyiddin said, adding that he would be explaining this in more detail tomorrow to finally put the matter to rest. “As far as the government is concerned, we want to put this issue to rest.”

MIC, MCA: Give students a choice

Malaysian Post l KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president G Palanivel today urged the Education Ministry to reconsider its decision to scrap the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI).

He wanted the government not to rush into things but to think over the matter carefully.

“We have to consider the ongoing public’s reaction on this issue.” he said.

Palanivel, who is also the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said the education ministry should carefully listen to the reactions and suggestions from the PIBGs, parents and also the concerned NGOs.

‘Is Umno tacitly backing Himpun rally?’

GEORGE TOWN: A Hindraf Makkal Sakti leader says he sees the hand of Umno behind Saturday’s “Himpunan Sejuta Umat” (Assembly of One Million Believers Defending the Faith) gathering.

Hindraf Makkal Sakti leader P Waythamoorthy claims that Umno is tacitly backing the assembly and he is calling the relevant authorities to stop the gathering.

Waythamoorthy said the assembly was an Umno ruse to stir up the Malay psyche and create a split among Malaysians along religious and racial lines.

He said Hindraf was shocked that the police were so quick to issue a permit for a mammoth gathering that could generate so much anxiety, discontent and disharmony in the country.

Umno bloggers used photo of UK chess champion to malign Guan Eng's son

Despite a heated defense by Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who insists there is basis for the Umno bloggers' accusations that Lim Guan Eng's 16-year-old son is a sex maniac, DAP leaders have provided proof to show up the "Umno lies".

DAP MP for Petaling Jaya Utara Tony Pua said the girl appearing besides Marcus Lim in the blogs run by Papagomo and Bukit Gelugor Umno chief Novandri Hasan, was 21-year-old chess Grandmaster Anya Sun Corke.

Anya, who represents England, is currently an undergraduate of Wellesley College in the United States. She has no ties to Penang,

“The chess board has been edited from the picture. This proves beyond doubt that the accusations by these Umno cyber-troopers are nothing but barbaric lies," Tony Pua told a press conference on Wednesday.

‘Do away with race-based policies’

KUALA LUMPUR: Race-based affirmative action is a thing of the past, admitted two Barisan Nasional Youth leaders – Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Gerakan counterpart Lim Si Pin, today.

Lim, in his speech at the Gerakan Youth conference, said: “If we continue to advocate affirmative action for the majority, who is going to take care of the minorities and the needy?

“It is time to question whether we still (need) affirmative action based on ethnic lines. It will remain a noose around our necks if we do not deal with it (raced-based policy) with decisiveness.

“If we continue to enrich the few who do not need it and ignore the poor, then we will create instability,” said Lim, who reminded the government it would face “dire consequences” if it failed to listen to the masses.

Let the people vote on hudud

KOTA BARU: A PAS associate wants the Kelantan state government to hold an open referendum for the locals on whether the highly debatable hudud law should be adopted.

PAS Supporters Club national chairman Hu Phang Chaw said the proposed adoption of the syariah criminal enactment had once again emerged as a contentious issue, especially in Pakatan Rakyat.

To move forward on the issue, Hu asked the Kelantan government to seek an open referendum on the benefits of adopting hudud by conducting a poll throughout the state on this issue.

Get the people involved whether Muslims or non-Muslims alike, he told journalists here.

Malaya bleeding us dry

By Zainal Ajamain

Malaysian Post l These words “we demand autonomy or Sabah Negeri, Merdeka” must be on the lips and hearts of all true leaders in Sabah.

On both sides of Sabah’s political divide, our leaders have long been incapacitated by their fear of their perceived Malaya masters.

They will not speak out against the daily injustices towards fellow Sabahans. And even when they do speak up it is just passive shouting – a token resistance, just to show they are saying something.

It is like a dog that is supposed to guard a house against a thief – while it barks it retreats to the back, easily allowing the thief into the house and all its belongings.

But now, for many of us, an awakening has come. We have been stirred from our slumber and now find ourselves thrust into a new political era .
We now must accept the challenge that we each have to safeguard our Sabah.

‘We’re not fighting together anymore’

KUALA LUMPUR: On the rainy morning of Aug 31, 1957 a troop of Victoria Institution cadets walked from their alma mater to the neighouring Merdeka Stadium where they assembled in proud straight lines.

In a few hours they would march in their newborn country’s first Independence Day parade with the freedom cries of their first prime minister reverberating overhead. And they would march with heads held high as the new sons and citizens of Malaysia.

Among them was 14-year-old Ng Kim Boon who would later rise to the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel in the country’s armed forces.

Dr M and Murdoch: Twins separated at birth?

Malaysia Post - by Mariam Mokhtar : Dr Mahathir Mohamad. You either love him or hate him. In his latest blog, he taunted the western media for their self-righteousness and gloated over the telephone hacking scandal caused by the News of the World, one of Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers, which rocked the UK.

In his latest posting on Aug 2 entitled ‘The telephone hacking scandal II’, Mahathir described how western journalists freely condemned our failure to respect the rule of law, our injustices, our poor human rights record and our corruption.

He then said that the western media was equally contemptible and that they (the western press) would just as easily cheat, abuse the trust placed on them and would ignore human rights. They were guilty of the dirty things they allege we had committed.

PSM 6: An unlawful detention

Dr D Michael Jeyakumar

Malaysian Post l Mariam Mokhtar : Most people would not have known him personally but they would have read of him and know that he comes from Sungei Siput. Few, especially those he has helped, will disagree that he is a champion of the poor and the forgotten.

To those whose lives he improved, he is a king among ordinary men. To the government, he stands accused of plotting to overthrow the King.

Today, as his health deteriorates, he is kept in isolation, under the draconian 1969 Emergency Ordinance (EO) of Malaysia.

If you thought it couldn’t happen to you, then you might wish to think again.

Photos and & Videos Bersih 2.0 

Shame on you, Najib

Malaysian Post l Maclean Patrick : In AD 64, 10 of the 14 districts of Rome went up in flames in a fire that raged for five and a half days.

Contrary to popular belief, Nero did not light the “Great Fire of Rome”. This was a rumour at the time and in order to deflect blame, Nero blamed the Christians. Thus, began the persecution of the Christians under Nero’s reign. During this period, Christians were tortured, fed to the animals and burnt at the stakes (illuminating Nero’s palaces during his parties to which we get the term “human candle”).

After the Great Fire of Rome, Nero organised relief efforts for all those affected. He opened his palaces to shelter the victims of the fire and provided food for the starving citizens. Nero played the saviour of Rome, winning over the hearts of the Romans with his charitable works. And when it came time to find fault, Nero placed the blame on the Christians without providing any proof whatsoever on their alleged involvement.

The Best Video of the year

Bersih rally has called BN’s bluff

Malaysian Post l Joe Fernandez : If Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had been a good strategist, or surrounded by people not given to anything more than fawning, he would have donned a yellow T-shirt on July 9 and hijacked the movement for free and fair elections from Bersih 2.0. It’s not the done thing to be seen as opposing free and fair elections.

Alas, it was not to be. The government couldn’t see beyond its nose.

Instead, Najib was persuaded by the red shirts of Umno Youth’s ultra right-wing Patriots to virtually commit political suicide. He has thundered defiance at those calling for change and reform and, like Umno Youth, pledged to defend the present electoral system.

Umno leaders, unlike those in the opposition, don’t seem to need police permits to stage huge instant gatherings of specially-mustered sleepy-eyed and bored civil servants to witness their ranting at the opposition and issuing all manner of dire threats. It has been conservatively estimated that half the civil service are for the opposition.

To add insult to injury, Najib has resurrected a long discredited theory, and obviously intends to keep on harping, that all political problems in the country stem from one man – Anwar Ibrahim.

Bersih 2.0 Reports More Photos  l Bersih 2.0 Reports