Profusion of Ah Longs a sign of economic woes

By Daniel John Jambun

The decision by the Government Employees Co-operative Society Berhad (Kopeks) recently to settle debts owed by its members to Ah Longs to the hefty tune of RM500,000 made one wonder if Kopeks is not actually encouraging its members to go into debt, because it could easily bail them out anytime when the situation becomes critical. The bailout was a precedent that set a bad example of co-operative fund management.

It also reminded us how bad the economic situation in the Sabah is right now. If government servants can go into serious debt in spite of earning salaries, imagine the situation for those without jobs, and those in the rural areas who have to live off the land just to keep body and soul together. In this period of high inflation even those with salaries are in fact living below the poverty line.

Italy Follows France and Belgium - Bans the Use of the Islamic Burqa Veil in Public...

"The battle, My child, will accelerate very shortly for there will not only be a great war of weapons of mankind, but it will be known soon throughout the world as a religious war." - Our Lady of the Roses August 21, 1974

Hilaire Belloc wrote the following in his book, "The Great Heresies:"
"Mohammedanism was a heresy: that is the essential point to grasp before going any further. It began as a heresy, not as a new religion. It was not a pagan contrast with the Church; it was not an alien enemy.  It was a perversion of Christian doctrine. Its vitality and endurance soon gave it the appearance of a new religion, but those who were contemporary with its rise saw it for what it was-not a denial, but an adaptation and a misuse, of the Christian thing. It differed from most (not from all) heresies in this, that it did not arise within the bounds of the Christian Church.

Tsu Koon slams Ezam’s ‘jihad’ threats

(The Malaysian Insider) - Senator Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon slammed today his Barisan Nasional (BN) colleague Umno Senator Ezam Mohd Nor’s threat to wage war against those who try to proselytise Muslims.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in National Unity and Performance Management said in a statement that Ezam’s threats had sent out the wrong message and could damage the coalition’s reputation.

“Senator Ezam Nor’s open threat to burn two online news portals (Malaysia Kini and Malaysian Insider) is uncalled for, unwarranted and unacceptable, further fanning emotions in the controversy arising out of JAIS’ (Selangor Islamic Affairs Department) action against DUMC (Damansara Utama Methodist Church),” Koh (picture) said.

Why I Call Off The Rally?

Dear MoCS fellows and friends,

So this is how it ended – an anti-climax. I am also very disappointed with my decision. But I have to make one for MoCS.

Only God knows why I finally decided to call it off.

DAP: Nazri abusing his power

Nazri has no power to order GLCs to stop suing ex-MAS boss
Tajuddin Ramli, the DAP said.

PETALING JAYA: The DAP has attacked Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz for ordering government-linked companies (GLCs) to cease suing a former Malaysia Airlines (MAS) executive chairman Tajuddin Ramli.

PJ Utara MP Tony Pua ticked off Nazri for using his influence as a minister to let Tajuddin off the hook.

Ezam wants to burn down online news portals

Ezam says he is doing it in the name of Islam and will wage
war against those who convert Muslims.

SHAH ALAM: Umno senator Ezam Mohd Nor said he has to come to the defence of Islam and will wage war against those who tarnish the religion, including burning online news portals.

He also warned Muslim staff of Malaysiakini and Malaysian Insider not to become agents for infidels.

“Don’t be a (Brutus) for the infidel’s agenda. You can find employment elsewhere,” Ezam said after claiming that these portals showed strong stance against the JAIS action at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC).

Middle class residents of London have turned out to clean up their streets after nights of rioting

London residents wait to be allowed through a police cordon to help council workers with the clean up after the rioting that took place outside Clapham Junction railway station. Source: AP

ARMED with brooms, brushes and rubber gloves, London's defiant middle classes have turned out in force to reclaim the streets of their city after its worst night of violence for decades.

They responded in their hundreds to calls on Facebook and Twitter, as well as radio and TV, to help to clear up the damage caused by looting, arson and violence by mobs on Monday night.

USM holds first Senate polls

Democracy at work: Dzulkifli (left) casting his vote during the
election at the USM main campus in Penang yesterday.

GEORGE TOWN: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) held elections for the post of Senate members, a first of its kind for a public university in the country.

A total of 195 candidates vied for 41 seats (41 Senate memberships) in the one-day polling which were held from 9am-4pm at the main campus here and three other branch campuses.

More international condemnation pours in for Taib Mahmud

The UK’s most respected and established Environmental magazine, The Ecologist, has this week turned its attention to Chief Minister, Abdul Taib Mahmud, with a major investigative article about his record in Sarawak.

In a devastating analysis it outlines Taib’s corruption and his lies about what has happened to the Borneo jungle and its people.  Even more significantly, on the eve of the MoCS Red March, it writes about a discernible change in the mood in Sarawak and speaks of real hope of change.  This is not least because Taib’s decades of self-interested destruction and plunder have been well and truly exposed.

Najib, Rosmah in court but no interviews

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor
were in the court but refused to be interviewed as
potential defence witness in the Sodomy II trial.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor turned up at the Jalan Duta court complex here today but they refused to be interviewed as potential defence witnesses in the Sodomy II trial.

Both arrived at 2.55pm and was in an interview room on level seven of the complex together with Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, his lead counsel Karpal Singh, and lawyers Sankara Nair and Param Cumaraswamy.

“No questions were asked as the two immediately conveyed that they did not wish to be interviewed and that they have a right not to be defence witnesses,” Sankara told FMT.