1Malaysia allows desecration: NFA against Umno-owned Utusan Al-Islam

Published: Thursday March 4, 2010 MYT 4:28:00 PM
Updated: Thursday March 4, 2010 MYT 4:31:45 PM

Archbishop wants apology over desecration

KUALA LUMPUR: The Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam has expressed his sadness over the Attorney-General’s failure to act against two magazine journalists who had allegedly desecrated a holy Catholic ritual last year and the fact that the journalists have yet to apologised.

He said the Catholic Church would not pursue legal action against the Al-Islam magazine and its reporters if it was offered a public apology.

The two journalists had posed as Christians and took part in a Catholic Mass to probe allegations that Muslims were being converted. They admitted to receiving Holy Communion and actually spitting the wafer out, an act Catholics consider desecration.

The Christian Federation of Malaysia executive committee chairman Rev Ng Moon Hing said it was unacceptable to “spy” on worshippers of another religion and that the sacrilegious behaviour had breached standards of common decency.

The MCA said the action of the two Al-Islam journalists were offensive and contrary to the Malaysian culture of peace, harmony and tolerance.

Its MCA NGO Liaison Bureau chairman Datuk Ti Lian Ker called on the Home Minister to act against individuals, institutions or publications that acted in a manner deemed “provocative or sensitive to another religion.”

After police reports were lodged against the journalists and the magazine, they were investigated under Section 298A (1) of the Penal Code for causing disharmony, disunity or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will, or prejudicing the maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion.

However earlier this week, it was announced that the Attorney-General had decided not to pursue the case because of “public pressure.”

More to come

Rais Yatim a PM wannabe? NAH. He's not even 'PM material'! Period

PUTRAJAYA, March 3 (Bernama) - Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim is convinced that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) will fold up in the wake of resignations by many of its members.

He said this trend had been expected and it was now becoming a popular topic.

He said this after attending a special briefing by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on the Universal Service Provider, here on Wednesday.

He was asked to comment on the series of defections by several of the party leaders lately.

Rais said the reason was obvious because the party's policies were not based on the struggles for the people or to bring improvement to the country.

"It is based on the ambition of someone who wants to be the prime minister.

"It is also based on family politics because the party leader comes from a particular family. I don't have to mention any name.

(Source: BERNAMA)

Who has not harboured hope to be a PM if one is of 'PM material'? Well, maybe not Rais. Not even Razak Baginda who was Najib's political analyst.

At the onset of the trial of Altantuya, The Star Online reported:
Abdul Razak Baginda’s wife Mazlinda Makhzan repeatedly maintained that her husband is innocent and alleged that he had been framed.

“He is a good man. He is not the Prime Minister of this country. He doesn’t want to be one.

Now that statement really makes everyone wonders why she said what she said. Of course, all of us know who wanted to be a Prime Minister at that time - no need to mention any name!

Najib Razak and the Ghost of Altantuya (Source: The Korea Times)

'Sage' Salehuddin: It could be one defection every week

So says ex-official Salehuddin Hashim, who showed up today at a press conference by the third MP to quit PKR in as many weeks.

The question now is - 'Is he the mastermind behind the defections from PKR or a 'prophet' who can see what is to come?'

During a press conference today, former PKR secretary-general Salehuddin Hashim (left, in lilac shirt), who has denied he had masterminded the defection of three MPs, has now disclaimed ability to see into the future, saying, “I am not a prophet. I cannot tell you what will happen tomorrow.”
He cannot tell what will happen tomorrow but he can tell what will happen next week! Certainly greater than a 'prophet'.

Nor Mohamed gets new political secretary replacing Hasbie Satar, who was arrested by MACC

Pulau Betong assemblyperson Muhamad Farid Saad has been appointed the new political secretary for Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

Muhamad Farid is replacing Hasbie Satar, who was arrested by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for amassing millions of ringgit in properties including at least four luxury cars and four houses in the Klang Valley.

He was arrested last month and released on a RM50,000 bail.

MACC officials had also obtained an order to seize several of the former aide's properties and that his bank accounts were frozen.

New pol sec for Najib too

Two other political secretaries were sworn in at a ceremony in Prime Minister Najib Razak's office.

Umno Youth executive council member, who is also Kuantan Umno Youth chief, Mohamed Suffian Awang, 39, has been appointed political secretary to Najib.

Meanwhile, Jelebu Umno committee member Amrus Ibrahim, 51, will be political secretary for Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim.
(Source: Mkini - Support Mkini - Subscribe to Mkini!)

What are cops busy doing these days? Catching civilians instead of criminals!

Marina's latest blog post is her rant about The Star refusing to publish her latest article in her Musings column.

So, yes. She has posted the 'banned' article (her first!) that should have come out in Musings column today, Wednesday. Following is something that she said:
Indeed the space for any form of public discussion is narrowing every day, with not only the PPA (Publishing and Printing Presses Act) being used but also police reports against anyone who puts forward the slightest alternative or opposing view. This is what keeps the cops busy these days, instead of catching snatch thieves, robbers, rapists and other real social ills.

Sad but true! The cops are busy catching civilians instead of criminals!

Nuff said. Just go to Marina's latest post - 'The Column That Wasn't'.

S'gor MB wins in appeal against ruling to pay Bank Islam

Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has won his appeal to set aside a court order compelling him to repay Bank Islam a RM66 million...

Published: Wednesday March 3, 2010 MYT 3:37:00 PM

Selangor MB succeeds in appeal against RM66.7mil ruling

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has dismissed a High Court summary judgement ordering Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to pay Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB) RM66.7mil pending the hearing of his suit against the bank.

Khalid is suing BIMB for alleged wrongful sale of his shares in Guthrie Berhad. The Kuala Lumpur High Court has set four days from March 15 to hear the suit.

On Aug 21, 2009, Abdul Khalid was ordered by the court to pay RM66.67mil to BIMB for an Islamic loan that he had taken to buy shares in Guthrie in 2001, when he was its chief executive officer, after the court allowed the bank’s application for a summary judgment.

However, the court granted Abdul Khalid’s application to suspend the order pending the trial.

Abdul Khalid then appealed against the order which was by the Court of Appeal on Wednesday.

Abdul Khalid initiated a suit against the bank on May 18, 2007, claiming that there was a wrongful sale of his shares in Guthrie under an Al-Bai Bithaman Ajil (BBA) loan facility dated April 30, 2001.

He is seeking a declaration that there was a collateral contract between him and the bank relating to the BBA loan facility.

Abdul Khalid, who was CEO of Guthrie from 1995 to 2003, is also seeking damages from BIMB, claiming that the bank had sold his shares in Guthrie.

BIMB filed a countersuit to recover the amount of RM66.67mil on May 24, 2007, claiming that the BBA agreement had been breached following Abdul Khalid’s failure to repay the loan.

More to come

30% of men suffer from premature ejaculation

30% of men suffer from premature ejaculation

KUALA LUMPUR (feb 28, 2010): Premature ejaculation (PE) remains a taboo subject in conservative Asia, despite the fact that about a third of all men suffer from it. But the release of the Asia Pacific Premature Ejaculation Prevalence and Attitude Study (AP PEPA) last December may be a first step towards creating greater awareness of this medical condition.

Dr Zulkifli Zainuddin

Dr. George Lee

Consultant urologist at Universiti Malaya and clinical associate professor at Monash University Dr George Lee Eng Geap was directly involved in the study which involved about 5,000 men aged 18 to 65 from 10 countries in the region.

"Up to 30% of men suffer from it," Lee said. "However, few men are willing to admit they have a condition and even fewer seek help."

At a media briefing on Thursday aimed at creating public awareness on the subject, Lee and Dr Zulkifli Zainuddin, secretary-general of the Malaysian Urological Association, spoke at length about the public misconceptions and lack of understanding about PE.

Zulkifli, who is also an associate professor at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), also elaborated on the condition.

"The International Society for Sexual Medicine defines it as a male sexual dysfunction characterised by ejaculation nearly always occurring prior to or within about one minute of vaginal penetration," he said.

It is distinct from erectile dysfunction (ED), which is defined as ‘the consistent or recurrent inability to attain or maintain penile erection sufficient for sexual intimacy‘.

The condition may not be life threatening and is therefore under-publicised, but that does not mean it does not have a devastating impact on those that suffer from it.

What’s more, it is not just men who are affected by it. Studies have revealed how it often leads to the break down of existing relationships.

During his career, Zulkifli, said he had seen cases resulting in divorce after just two weeks, whilst the longest it took for a marriage to break down was six years.

The condition also has more subtle impacts. "Surveys have shown most men think it will affect their ability to enter into long term relationships," said Lee.

Unfortunately, male sufferers very rarely seek help due to stigma, embarrassment and a reluctance to discuss the problem with their doctor or partner.

Most men don’t even admit it is part of a medical problem. "Help is often sought from non medical sources such as bomoh or roadside products like gambir Sarawak," said Zulkifli.

Unfortunately, such topical alternative therapies can have nasty side effects including uncomfortable genital inflammation.

As advocates of men’s health issues, Lee and Zulkifli said the primary way of helping those with PE was to tackle the taboo status of the subject. They said there were three actions for men who think they may suffer from PE.

"Firstly, acknowledge the condition," said Lee. "Secondly, talk to your partner. And thirdly, seek advice from your doctor who can advise you if there really is a problem and if necessary make a specialist referral."

There are a number of ways to deal with the problem, the most important of which is to improve communication between men and their partners.

"Partners play a wider role in awareness and treatment seeking behaviour," said Lee, illustrating the importance of step two.

"It is much better to seek help with the cooperation of the partner, then the doctor will get a clearer picture of the problem."

In terms of treatment, there are three main methods. For instance, psychosocial education can improve intimacy between couples.

"This includes cognitive strategies which involve the redirection of thinking to delay orgasm," said Zulkifli.

Then there are the behavioural strategies which include physical exercises men can practise alone or with the cooperation of their partner.

Most commonly, a variety of topical anesthetics in the form of creams and sprays can be used to decrease sensation of the penis and delay ejaculation. However, drawbacks to this include numbness in both the man and his partner and possible skin rashes on the areas applied to. -- theSun

Updated: 07:30PM Sun, 28 Feb 2010