Story by a veteran navy who was at KL Rally

"Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred." - Martin Luther King Jr.

COMMENT Before I begin, I make no claims of speaking for "the majority". This should be read as a personal anecdote of an opposition supporter who was there to make the numbers, but more importantly - as I have done for all these ‘pro-opposition' rallies - to mix with my fellow travellers and listen to their stories. As always, people were willing to talk.

Parents hope culprit will be penalised

The parents of a teenager who was found dead,
are distraught as they have been kept in the
dark over the outcome of police investigations.

KOTA KINABALU: The parents of Norikoh Saliwah, the teenaged girl who was found dead by the side of the road on Nov 25 last year, are eager to know what happened to their daughter on that fateful day when she had merely gone to help a cousin find a job.

Farmer Saliwah Madaya, 57, and his wife Raimas Makanal, 56 of Kg Bombong 1, Kota Marudu, have seldom come to the state capital. This was one of those special occasions when he and his wife had no option but to make one of those very rare trips here, but unlike before this time it was an extremely poignant one.

Huge opposition rally in KL signasl new political shift in Malaysia

By Julia Zappei of AFP

KUALA LUMPUR : Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim urged voters to oust the country's long-ruling government as tens of thousands of supporters gathered Saturday in a show of force ahead of coming elections.

At least 50,000 people crowded into an iconic stadium in the capital Kuala Lumpur where independence was declared in 1957 and tens of thousands more thronged surrounding areas as the opposition effectively kicked off its campaign.

"We plead for you to give us a chance so that the people's voices will become the voices of the leaders of this nation," Anwar told the crowds as he denounced what he called the government's misrule and corruption.

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.