France jet fighters flew to Mali's rescue and bombed Islamist rebels

BAMAKO/PARIS (Reuters) - French aircraft pounded Islamist rebels in Mali for a second day on Saturday and neighboring West African states sped up their plans to deploy troops in an international campaign to prevent groups linked to al Qaeda expanding their power base.

France, warning that the control of northern Mali by the militants posed a security threat to Europe, intervened dramatically on Friday as heavily armed Islamist fighters swept southwards towards Mali's capital Bamako.

Under cover from French fighter planes and attack helicopters, Malian troops routed a rebel convoy and drove the Islamists out of the strategic central town of Konna, which they had seized on Thursday. A senior army officer in the capital Bamako said more than 100 rebel fighters had been killed.

Bumburing, a Prisoner of Conscience? : Dr. Jeffrey

I was shocked for three reasons – One, what leverage do you have to demand when you belong to them (PKR). 
Two, where will you go if you leave? …. BN?   Third, are you not a potential traitor to PR/PKR and to
the rakyat who elected you?; Dr Jeffrey

“Wilfred Bumburing, leader of the so-called APS, is a prisoner of his own conscience because he is unable to distinguish between the right to fight/defend Sabah’s inalienable rights and the politics of nationalism. He seems pre-occupied with the politics of “carimakan” rather than fighting for regaining Sabah’s rights and correcting the wrongs committed by Malayan political leaders on Sabah” said Datuk Dr.Jeffrey Kitingan, Chairman of STAR SABAH in response to Bumburing’s statement that STAR is “Anti-Malaya”.

Star will move on, says Papar leader

By Baharudin Nayan
PAPAR : In respond to the claim by former Star head for Papar, Datuk Patrick Sindu, that Papar Star is dissolved, i would like to stress that the majority of grassroots leaders and members in Papar are steadfast in their unity with Star state leadership in regaining our pride and empowering Sabahans.

In Pantai Manis especially, there is no big effect at all from Sindu's departure. If anything, Star strength and support from the people in Pantai Manis is increasing even more by the day as more and more see and understand the earnest strugle and clear direction of Star. 

Salleh: Stop the debate on ‘Allah’

Former Sabah CM says the prevailing peace,
unity and stability in the country should
be maintained at all costs.

KOTA BELUD: State Legislative Assembly Speaker Salleh Said Keruak today called for an immediate stop to debate over the use of “Allah” by non-Muslims, for fear that the prolonged open debate may give room to extremists in all religions to take advantage of the situation.

In making the call, the former chief minister said the prevailing peace, unity and stability in the country should be maintained at all costs.

“Don’t politicise it [the use of Allah] and score points. Keep sensitive issues aside. We must maintain a harmonious environment and respect each other.

Learning from Greece

On November 30-December 2012, Greece’s Coalition of the Radical Left, known as SYRIZA, held a national conference as the first step in transforming the coalition into a more unified political formation. SYRIZA was formed in 2004 as an electoral alliance uniting radical left-wing organizations—there are now more than a dozen member groups. But since its inspiring success in nearly winning national elections last spring, SYRIZA’S ranks have been swelled by many unaffiliated individuals.

SYRIZA’s mass appeal was based on its rejection of the austerity program supported by Greece’s two main parties, the center-left PASOK and center-right New Democracy. Instead, SYRIZA pledged to immediately cancel the two so-called Memorandums—agreements made between the Greek government and the “troika” of the European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund that require savage cuts, privatization and anti-working class laws in return for a bailout of Greece’s financial system.

Updates From Nilakrisna James on Behalf of Neowell Vann Houtton, Age 12, Urgent Appeal for Donation Of Blood Type O Positive R1 R1 JKA

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah—The 4th floor of Hospital Likas in Kingfisher was today swarmed with donors from all walks of life rushing to donate blood to save the life of Neowell Vann Houtton, whose rare blood type O Positive R1R1 JKA must have an EXACT match to qualify for a successful blood transfusion.

Nilakrisna James, lawyer and activist appealing on 12 year old’s Neowell’s behalf, said that hospital staff had informed her that the blood of donors will go into the blood bank for the hospital and distributed to any patient, not just Neowell. However, Neowell must have an exact blood match so all regular donors to the hospital who have donor cards or are aware that they are O Positive R1R1 JKA are encouraged to donate their blood at Hospital Likas 4th floor in Kingfisher and inform Neowell’s mother, Selly Onong, 0107826955 immediately.

STAR: CM Should Clarify Timber Deal Report

“The CM, as chairman of Yayasan Sabah, should clarify the Business Times report and not the Director of Forestryas there seems to be more behind the purported timber deal of some 80,937 hectares (199,995 acres) to be awarded to Permaju Holdings Sdn. Bhd. by Yayasan Sabah (YS)” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, Chairman of STAR SABAH in response to the mere denial by the Director of Forestry to the news report of the alleged timber deal in the Business Times on Monday.

Polis haramkan himpunan Sabah Bangkit

Ketua polis Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu, Asisten Komisioner Jauteh Dikun mengeluarkan kenyataan berikutan perhimpunan
Sabah Bangkit yang akan berlansung pada 12 Januari 2013 bertempat di Taman Chong Thien Vun pada jam 2.00 petang.
Dalam kenyataan tersebut, beliau menyatakan perhimpunan ini tidak mendapat sebarang permit daripada polia atau
mana-mana jabatan berkenaan yang seterusnya membawa kesalahan undang-undang mengikut akta perhimpunan aman 2012.

Respon penganjur perhimpunan-

Penganjur perhimpunan Sabah Bangkit adalah Gabungan NGO menuntut hak rakyat Sabah (GEGAR) menyatakan kita tidak mahu bertuhankan Akta Perhimpunan Aman. Kita yakin dan percaya, rakyat berhak duduk dan berada dimana2 sudut dinegeri ini. Kita rasakan, akta ini yang dibentuk selepas adanya perlembagaan yang menjamin hak berhimpun adalah rangka menghakis sedikit sebanyak hak berhimpun.

Neowell Vann Houtton, Age 12, urgent appeal for donation of blood type O Positive R1 R1

By Nilakrisna James 

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah—An urgent appeal to the public is made to all those whose blood type is O-Positive to come forward and donate blood at Hospital Likas, Kingfisher, in Kota Kinabalu to save the life of 12 year old Neowell Vann Houtton, whose HB blood level is now at 6.7 and requiring urgent blood transfusion to save his life.

Neowell is suffering from thalassemia major and requires monthly blood transfusions but his rare blood type of O-Positive R1R1 means that access to the correct blood type is difficult. The normal HB level is 13 and Neowell’s blood level is now considered critical.

Indonesia former beauty queen jailed for corruption

Former beauty queen-turned-MP Angelina Sondakh with her father, left, and her lawyer at a graft court in Jakarta yesterday where she was jailed for five years. Source: AP

 

INDONESIA'S Corruption Crimes Court has jailed Angelina Sondakh, the Australian-born government MP and former Miss Indonesia, for up to five years.

The conviction is another blow for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party, already reeling from the long-running scandal.