Bodies retrieved in QZ8501 search, full-on search tomorrow

 An Indonesian warship has recovered more than 40 bodies from the Java Sea today in the search for AirAsia flight QZ8501, a navy spokesman told AFP.

"Based on the navy radio, it has been reported that the warship Bung Tomo has retrieved 40 bodies and the number is growing. They are very busy now," Manahan Simorangkir said.

The number of bodies retrieved was corrected later this evening by Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) chief Bambang Soelistyo, who said that only three bodies had been recovered so far.

Sabah groups list 6-point action plan to tackle illegal immigrant problem

With no action forthcoming on foreigners with illegal citizenship in Sabah even after the release of an inquiry commission report, a group of political parties and non-governmental organisations in the state have put up a list of demands for the authorities to fulfil next year.

Among the demands is for a thorough clean up by the Election Commission of the state's electoral roll to weed out unqualified "voters", the group, made up of 21 non-governmental organisations and three political parties, said.

The parties are the Sabah State Reform Party (STAR), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS).

Malaysia, an IS in the Making if the Malaysian Mess Not Resolved Soon - Dr. Jeffrey

Kota Kinabalu:  “Sabahans and Sarawakians need to unite and assert themselves to reclaim Sabah and Sarawak rights and to untangle themselves from the on-going “Malaysian Mess” which is getting messier with serious repercussions” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, UBF Chairman in his keynote address on the 4th anniversary celebration of UBF held on Sunday in Keningau.

According to Dr. Jeffrey, while parts of Malaya are submerged in the raging floods, Malaysia is now submerged in a sea of Messes, comprising, Political, Economy, Corruption and Financial, Socio-cultural, Constitutional and Administrative, Lawlessness and Anarchy, Security and the pressing Borneo/Sabah Mess.

Najib told to sack half of his ministers

KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Cabinet has proven to be a disaster, a popular blogger and Umno critic has declared.

In his latest blog entry, Shahbudin Husin notes that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has had to order holidaying ministers to return immediately to take part in handling the crisis brought on by heavy flooding in the East Coast.

They should have been sensitive enough to cut short their overseas vacation at the first sign of a crisis and without having to be told, he says.

AirAsia Flight QZ8501 with 162 on board goes missing on way to Singapore

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Airline CEO: Unknown if weather was an issue, but pilot asked to fly higher
• Plane went missing over heavily traveled shipping channel, officials say
• 162 people are on board missing flight, including 18 children
• Search operation halted for the night, but big ships won't return to shore

(CNN) -- An AirAsia passenger jet carrying 162 people lost contact with Indonesian air traffic control early Sunday, gripping Southeast Asia with a second missing plane crisis in less than a year.

The search operation for the missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501 has been halted for the night, but big ships won't return to shore and will leave their searchlights on, according to the Indonesian Transportation Ministry.

Before communication was lost, one of the pilots asked to fly at a higher altitude because of bad weather, officials said.

Right to greet all on Christmas Day, says assistant minister

Daud (front row, fourth right) taking a photo with Wilfred (front row, second right) and his family during Christmas open house.

KUCHING: Sending Christmas greetings to the Christian community is not wrong as long as it is not in conflict with Islamic law.

“We can still visit each other to enhance relationship among the multi-races,” said Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman at the Christmas open house of PBB (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu) Ranting Kampung Sagah secretary Wilfred Benjamin in Jalan Singai, Bau, on Thursday.

Non-Departing Foreigners Given ICs

Kota Kinabalu:    “Reading between the lines, the RCI Report infers that the 229,484 non-departing Indonesians between 1996 and 2000 were given ICs dubiously along with 11,741 Filipinos.   Although there were no figures given for Pakistanis, Indians and other nationalities, it would not be surprising if these non-departing foreigners were also issued ICs dubiously” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, commenting on the missing Indonesians and Filipinos that came into Sabah officially but with no records of their departure.            

Pairin, stop procrastinating – Zainnal Ajamain

I made this statement in the recent talks held in Kota Kinabalu “during the recent PBS Congress, the Prime Minister already offered Tan Sri Joseph Pairin the means to get this done – but instead of start cracking to establish the necessary mechanism and getting the necessary powers and authority– PBS went to make a Police Report.  They are more interested to get cheap publicity, instead working to seek solutions – They are more interested to carry out a political event rather than making sure a solid process is established.  Tan Sri Pairin must remember, that offer was made NOT to the President of PBS – but to a Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah – because the problem of illegal immigrants is a Sabah problem NOT PBS problem.”

Johor Catholic priest detained, 30 hymn books with ‘Allah’ seized

Barely has the dust settled on the issue of the seized Bibles in Selangor, a Catholic priest in Muar, Johor, was detained for having 30 copies of a hymn book with the word Allah which were meant for his Orang Asli parishioners.

Father Cyril Mannayagam (pic), 44, said although the police later decided not to pursue the case against him, the hymn books, titled "Kepujian Kepada Tuhan Allah" (Praise be to God) were seized and had yet to be returned to him.

Kg. Kibbas Mark World Human Rights Day

Ranau:     A group of Sabahans took the opportunity to mark World Human Rights Day at Kg. Kibbas, an idyllic countryside village nestled between Kundasang and Ranau, not far from foothills of the majestic Mount Kinabalu, to highlight some basic human rights issues confronting Sabah.

If the settings were appropriate, it was more meaningful for Kg. Kibbas where the native villagers recounted how in 2012 they had carried out a protest with placards and banners demanding for clean treated water to be supplied to the village.   Eventually, the government relented and quickly installed pipe facilities for the water supply, perhaps due to the then pending GE-13 elections.