MCA urges Kok to apologise for video

MCA urges Kok to apologise for video

MCA urges Kok to apologise for video

Posted: 10 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

11 February 2014| last updated at 11:45PM

MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong has urged Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok to apologise for  her  Chinese New Year video.

He said Kok should be more sensitive and mature about airing public messages.

"If Muslims seek forgiveness during Aidilfitri, we Chinese should say things that will bring good fortune to others.

"We do not want people to think that Chinese culture consists of cursing and ridiculing others during CNY. That's not our culture, which teaches us to do good things for the good of everyone and not hurt other people's feelings," Bernama quoted him as saying at the Sabah MCA's CNY dinner here on Sunday night.

Kok was alleged to have uploaded a video clip titled "Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014 Video Clip" on YouTube on Jan 27 that belittled a variety of issues, such as the education system and the armed intrusion in Lahad Datu, Sabah, last year.

Wee urged the police to be fair in conducting its investigation into the matter.

On an allegedly cash reward offered by a Muslim non-governmental organisation to anyone who could slap Kok, he said the MCA perceived it as an irrational move unbefitting of Malaysian culture.

In Ipoh, Perak Wanita Umno urged the police to hasten its investigation into the video, which the wing said touched on racial sensitivity.

Its vice-chief, Dr Azizah Johor, said the authorities must take stern action against Kok.

"We want the police to investigate the matter quickly and take the necessary action immediately.

"If no action is taken against such activities, more people will do the same thing. This is going to cause dissatisfaction and create racial disunity," she said here yesterday.

She had earlier lodged a police report against Kok at the central police station here.

Azizah said the government had taken steps to instil racial harmony, adding that the progress today would not have been possible without a good relationship among the various communities.

When asked if she had seen the video herself, Azizah said: "I have seen the video and there are racial slurs in it.

"I am hurt. I and other Malays feel hurt by the video. We are not happy.

"We have been living like siblings, like a family, for decades. So, why create problems that can affect the peace of this country?" Additional reporting by Jaspal Singh

Tanjung Karang Wanita Umno members at a police station after lodging a report over the YouTube video 'Onederful' yesterday. Pic by Suzaini Sulaiman

Couple face raps for assaulting kids

Posted: 10 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian couple detained in Sweden for allegedly hitting their children last year for not praying, were charged in a Stockholm court yesterday.

Azizul Raheem Awalludin, who is a Tourism Malaysia officer in Sweden, and his wife, Shalwati Norshal, were charged separately at the Solna district court with multiple counts of assaulting their four children. The hearing has been fixed for Feb 18 and is expected to last for 10 days.

According to a court document obtained by the New Straits Times, Azizul Raheem and Shalwati were alleged to have committed the offences at their house in Spångavägen from Sept 15, 2010 to Dec 17, 2013.

The couple, who were detained on Dec 18 last year to facilitate investigation into the allegation, were charged under Section 4A of Chapter 4 of the Swedish Penal Code for repeated assault and violation of their children's integrity.

Shalwati was charged with multiple counts of assaulting Ammar, 12, who is the second of four siblings, over the three-year period.

Among the charges slapped on Shalwati were abusing Ammar with her hands by hitting him on the arm, face, neck and body.

Shalwati was also charged with pulling Ammar by the ear and hitting him using a hanger, a leather belt and a wooden stick during the period.

She was also charged with assaulting and mistreating her three other children -- Aisyah, 15, as well as Adam and Arif, aged 12 and 8 respectively.

Azizul Raheem was also charged with multiple counts of assaulting and mistreating their four children. If convicted, the couple face a maximum 10 years' imprisonment.

Sweden is the first country in the world to outlaw corporal punishment in 1979.

According to a Swedish English language news portal, the charges were filed by case prosecutor Anna Arnell.

Arnell, in a statement to news website The Local, said based on her judgment, the information provided by the children via remote video interrogation was trustworthy. "Together with other accompanying proof, such as witnesses and items that were seized from the home, there are good grounds for the indictment."

Shalwati's lawyer, Krisofer Stahre, said his client was relieved that the prosecutor had finally brought charges, which would enable her to prove her innocence.

"She has been waiting a long time for this, it's been a tough time for her in jail, but now she is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

"It's difficult to speculate what will happen, but of course I hope my client will be freed.

"She hasn't done any of the things she's been accused of," Stahre told the news website.

Azizul Raheem had been attached with Tourism Malaysia since 2000 and the family has been in Sweden for three years.

The case had sparked heated reaction in Malaysia, with many disagreeing with the case.

Malaysians had set up a Facebook group to lobby for the couple's return, and even established a Twitter campaign with the hashtag #SwedenLetThemGo to lobby for the couple.

The children, after being placed in state foster care following their parents' arrest, were finally allowed to return to Malaysia this month.

The Local had also reported that this incident isn't the first of its kind. In 2011, an Italian politician was convicted for assaulting his son during a holiday in Stockholm, which stirred heated debate in Sweden and Italy.

The couple's four children, who are staying with an aunt in Kampung Wakaf Tok Wali, Peringat, in Kota Baru, watching news of their parents' case in Sweden yesterday. Pic by Fathil Asri

VAT69 officer recalls battles

Posted: 10 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

11 February 2014| last updated at 11:47PM
By AVILA GERALDINE | avila@nst.com.my

KOTA KINABALU: A VAT69 senior officer yesterday told the High Court here that his team was involved in a gun battle with Sulu gunmen while conducting a "cut-off" operation around the Tanjung Batu area last year.

Deputy Superintendent Anwar Rosli said battles occurred at two coastal villages in the Felda Sahabat oil palm settlement, including the one in which he and his team was involved.

He said the other was the first battle, which occurred in Kampung Tanduo on March 1.

Anwar, who led Team C in a close reconnaissance mission, said then Federal Internal Security and Public Order director Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun had ordered him to conduct the "cut-off" operation.

The order came on March 6 after Anwar returned to the VAT69 tactical base in Felda Sahabat 16 from a close reconnaissance mission in Kampung Tanduo on March 2.

Anwar was testifying as the sixth prosecution witness before judge Stephen Chung Hian Guan in the trial of 30 people charged with offences linked to the Kampung Tanduo incursion and Simunul attack in Semporna last year.

He said this to questions by Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, who is leading the prosecution team, at the trial being held at the central prison here.

"The cut-off operation was conducted to prevent intruders from escaping the area (Tanjung Batu) following a mopping-up operation," explained Anwar.

He said Deputy Superintendent Abdul Rani Alias, the Team D leader, was assisting the military in the mopping up operation on March 6.

GANI: Did you hear anything (during the operation in Tanjung Batu)?

ANWAR: I heard shooting and I believed DSP Rani had engaged the armed intruders.

GANI: About 3pm while you were in your position, what happened?

ANWAR: I saw five to six armed intruders approaching our area, about 30m away.

Anwar said upon seeing the gunmen, he and his team members fired at the armed intruders, who retaliated.

"The exchange of fire lasted between five and 10 minutes and we remained in our position after the shooting ended.

"Two hours later, I ordered my men to inspect the area and we discovered the bodies of two gunmen," he said, adding that he returned to the tactical base on March 9.

On March 12, Anwar was instructed by another VAT69 officer, Superintendent Mancha Laga, to be in charge of a sniper group until March 23.

Earlier, he told the court that his team member, Inspector Zulkifli Mamat, was killed while two others, Corporal Azman Ampong and Corporal Mohd Tarmizi Hashim, were injured in a battle during the close reconnaissance mission in Kampung Tanduo on March 1.

Hearing continues today.

Security personnel standing guard around the Kota Kinabalu central prison complex yesterday where the trial of 30 people charged with offences related to the Lahad Datu intrusion last year is being held. Pic by Malai Rosmah Tuah

Once a waterfall, now a dumpsite

Posted: 10 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

11 February 2014| last updated at 11:52PM

The culprits are believed to be residents of nearby housing estates, who dump their household waste on the hillslope at night, fast turning the area, once frequented regularly by former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, into a trash heap.

The pond into which water from the cascading waterfall collected used to be deep enough to reach a man's shoulders. The water level is now only knee deep and the gush of the waterfall has been reduced to a mere trickle.

A visitor, Mohd Fairus Md Isa, blamed the lack of enforcement and maintenance of the area by the local authorities.

He said the public, especially the nearby residents, should stop disposing their domestic waste in the area.

"It used to be a scenic and relaxing spot for families.

"Not anymore -- now, it is smelly, dirty and the facilities built by the authorities is in dire need of maintenance."

The area near Air Terjun Bayan in Kampung Perlis near Bayan Lepas is filled with rubbish. Pic by Syed Ismail Syed Abu Bakar

Be IT savvy, reps' wives told

Posted: 10 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

11 February 2014| last updated at 11:42PM

"As wives of elected representatives, we should do our part and get to know the people better, especially those in need of our attention and care. One of the ways to do this is through social media platforms."

Norainee, the wife of Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, was speaking at the opening ceremony of the "Knowledge Building and Image Enhancement" course organised by Bakti and the National Institute of Public Administration here.

The modules of the five-day course covered etiquette and protocol, including table manners, besides public speaking, effective communication, and knowledge on information and communication technology.

Speakers included Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali and well known lecturer and writer Prof Dr Muhaya Mohamad.

"The course is beneficial, especially to our new members to get a good understanding of the country's government structure and administration and national policies.

"What we have learned here will not only strengthen our role as the wives of elected representatives, but will also aid us in conducting social welfare activities."

Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman (third from right) welcoming Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali at an event in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday. Pic by Khairull Azry Bidin


Related Articles

Reef welcomes DoE

Posted: 10 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

11 February 2014| last updated at 11:51PM

The management, which created a ruckus when officials from the Department of Environment (DOE) wanted to inspect the area following allegations made on Sunday, made an about-turn yesterday and welcomed the authority to conduct an inspection.

Ronninson Paul, who is management committee chairman of the 30-year-old The Reef Apartment, said: "We are waiting for the DOE to come and we will extend our full cooperation to them.

"We have done everything by the book. We are not hiding anything," he said in hitting back at the allegations made by a resident, M.P.I. Annamalai.

Ronninson claimed that the management had been diligently in testing the apartment blocks' water and servicing the pumps.

"In fact, we are raising funds to change rotten things in the pump."

On Sunday, drama unfolded after the condominium management committee found three DOE officers on their premises investigating a complaint from Annamalai that illegal sewage was being discharged into a drain.

In the 5.30pm incident, angry committee members screamed at camera-toting pressmen and ordered them and the officers to leave the premises, one of the first apartment blocks to be built along the Batu Ferringhi coastline in 1985.

Annamalai had alerted the New Straits Times and the DOE, after he spotted blackish discharge in a monsoon drain in Jalan Low Yat. He feared that sewage waste was being pumped out to the drain, which leads to the foot of the hill with an outlet to the beach.

A drainage area at The Reef Apartment. Pic by Muhammad Mikail Ong