TASEK PAUH blogspot

Labels: Islam Hadhari, Malaysia

Hmm..

BN Does Not Want A 'Fake Govt', Dewan Rakyat Told

Labels: Malaysia, Pilihanraya

Labels: Islam Hadhari, Malaysia, Pilihanraya

KUALA LUMPUR, Mac 28 (Bernama) - Pusat Tahanan Teluk Guantanamo di Cuba, yang menempatkan mereka yang ditahan oleh kerajaan Amerika Syarikat, tidak boleh disamakan dengan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA), kata Setiausaha Parlimen Kementerian Luar Negeri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

Beliau berkata sebarang tanggapan seperti itu tidak adil sama sekali dan hanya akan merosakkan nama dan imej kerajaan Malaysia.

"Beberapa perkara iaitu isu yang berkaitan dengan pencabulan hak asasi manusia seperti mana yang dibantah oleh dunia terhadap Teluk Guantanamo tidak seperti yang kita dengar dalam konteks ISA di sini.

"(Majalah antarabangsa) Newsweek melaporkan al-Quran dipijak, dihina, diflush dalam tandas (di pusat tahanan itu)... cara begini kita tidak pernah dengar dalam konteks tahanan ISA di sini," katanya di Dewan Rakyat ketika menjawab soalan Teresa Kok Suh Sim (DAP-Seputeh) yang ingin tahu sama ada kementerian akan menasihatkan kerajaan supaya tidak ada Teluk Guantanamo di Malaysia dengan melupuskan ISA.

Ahmad Shabery berkata terdapat desakan dari pelbagai badan hak asasi manusia termasuk Pertubuhan Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) supaya kem tahanan itu ditutup tetapi tidak ada pula desakan oleh mana-mana supaya ISA dihapuskan.

Mengenai dua rakyat Malaysia yang dikenali sebagai Mohd Farik Amin dan Mohammed Nazir Lep yang sedang ditahan oleh pihak berkuasa Amerika Syarikat di Teluk Guantanamo, beliau berkata kerajaan menerusi Kedutaan Malaysia di Washington telah meminta kerajaan Amerika supaya memastikan kedua-duanya mendapat perbicaraan yang adil dan saksama.

"Malaysia sentiasa menggunakan kebijaksanaannya supaya mereka dibicara dengan adil dan kita akan terus memantau perkembangan berhubung isu penahanan dan mengikuti perbicaraan dua rakyat Malaysia tersebut," katanya.

Labels: ISA, Islam Hadhari, Malaysia

Konsert mingguan program hiburan terbitan Astro Ria itu biasanya diadakan pada setiap Sabtu pukul 8.30 malam hingga 12 malam.

Pengurus Saluran Astro Ria, Khairul Mizan Shagul berkata, pertukaran tarikh siaran itu diputuskan selepas pihaknya mengambil kira sensitiviti para penonton yang beragama Islam.

“Konsert minggu ketiga AF5 akan diadakan pada 1 April ini selama tiga jam mulai pukul 1.30 petang.

“Sehari sebelum konsert itu iaitu dari pukul 9 malam hingga 10 malam, kita akan adakan Diari Khas AF5 melalui Astro Ria,” katanya ketika ditemui di sini hari ini. UtusanOnline

Labels: Islam Hadhari, Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Mac 27 - Bekas pengarah Badan Pencegah Rasuah, Mohd Ramli Manan yang membuat berbagai-bagai tuduhan terhadap Ketua Pengarah badan itu Datuk Seri Zulkipli Mat Noor tidak akan dipanggil untuk memberi keterangan di hadapan Jawatankuasa Pilihan Khas Parlimen Mengenai Integriti.

Pengerusi jawatankuasa itu Tan Sri Bernard Dompok berkata keputusan itu adalah muktamad dan ia mendapat sokongan sebulat suara ahli jawatankuasa.

Jawatankuasa itu yang bersidang selama hampir dua jam di Bangunan Parlimen hari ini dianggotai oleh 12 ahli parlimen termasuk daripada parti-parti pembangkang.

Selain Dompok, anggota lain adalah ketua pembangkang Lim Kit Siang, Edmund Chong (BN-Batu Sapi), Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman (Pas-Pengkalan Chepa), S.K. Devamany (BN-Cameron Highlands), Datuk Dr Wan Hashim Wan Teh (BN-Gerik), Teng Boon Soon (BN-Tebrau), Rosnah Abdul Rashid (BN-Papar), Eric Majimbun (BN-Sepanggar), Datuk Richard Riot (BN-Serian), Tan Lian Hoe (BN-Bukit Gantang) and Dr James Dawos Mamit (BN-Mambong).

Bercakap dengan pemberita selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat itu, Dompok berkata rayuan daripada Ramli untuk memberi keterangan di hadapan jawatankuasa itu telah dibincangkan panjang lebar oleh anggota-anggota yang hadir dan mereka sebulat suara berpendapat ia tidak perlu.

“Ini adalah keputusan majoriti. Kita rasa tidak ada keperluan untuk mengubah keputusan kita sebelum ini. Lagipun kita ada banyak kes lain,” katanya.

Jawatankuasa itu sebelum ini telahpun mengambil keputusan untuk tidak memanggil Ramli dan Zulkifli untuk memberi keterangan, tetapi peguam mewakili Ramli membuat rayuan agar keputusan itu dikaji semula.

Ramli yang juga bekas pengarah BPR Sabah, pada akhir tahun lalu telah menulis satu laporan mendakwa bahawa Zulkif terlibat dengan beberapa kes rasuah dan salah guna kuasa. Laporannya itu didedahkan kepada media bulan lalu.

Sementara itu, menurut satu sumber, anggota jawatankuasa itu mengambil keputusan menolak rayuan Ramli kerana ia dibuat oleh peguamnya dan tidak oleh beliau sendiri.

Labels: BPR, Islam Hadhari, Malaysia, Rasuah

March 27 - The US navy has begun its largest demonstration of force in the Gulf since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The exercises, just off the coast of Iran, involve more than 10,000 US personnel.

Kevin Aandahl, a US navy commander, declined to say when plans for the exercises had been drawn up.

The manoeuvres bring together two strike groups of US warships and more than 100 aircraft to conduct simulated air warfare in and above the crowded Gulf shipping lanes.

Military exercises involve the USS John C Stennis and the USS Dwight D Eisenhower, marking the first time that the two strike groups have operated in a joint exercise under the Fifth Fleet, the navy said.

"Two air wings from the aircraft carriers will conduct air warfare exercises while the surface components will conduct exercises in three general disciplines: anti-submarine, anti-surface and mine warfare," it said.

The Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain, an island state that lies across the Gulf from Iran.

The US exercises come after Iran's capture, last week, of 15 British sailors and marines who had, Iran said, strayed into Iranian waters near the Gulf. Britain and the US navy have insisted the British sailors were operating in Iraqi waters.

Aandahl said the US manoeuvres were not meant to threaten the Islamic Republic, whose navy operates in the same waters.

Aandahl said the US warships would stay out of Iranian territorial waters, which extend 12 miles off the Iranian coast.

French presence

A French naval strike group, led by the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, was operating simultaneously just outside the Gulf. But the French ships were supporting the Nato forces in Afghanistan and not taking part in the American manoeuvres, officials said.

Overall, the exercises involve more than 10,000 US personnel on warships and aircraft making simulated attacks on enemy shipping with aircraft and ships, hunting enemy submarines and finding mines. Agencies

Labels: Iran, Luar Negeri, U.S.

Labels: Islam Hadhari, Malaysia, Najib, PLKN

A meeting of about 60 imams late yesterday decided against sacking the mufti of the nation’s biggest mosque, Sheikh Taj El-Din Hilaly, who was accused of justifying rape last year when he compared immodestly dressed women to uncovered meat.

Imams council spokesman Mohamad Abdalla said the meeting voted to consult the country’s 280,000 Muslims about Hilaly’s future, angering Prime Minister John Howard who said the decision was out of touch with the views of the community.

“They’re exercising their right. But I think they’re doing their community damage,” Howard told Sky television today.

“The failure of the community to do something more decisive about this is damaging the image of Islamic Australians as part of our community. I think the impact of this decision will be extremely negative.”

Howard, who has said Hilaly does not promote Australian values, had urged Muslim leaders to drop Hilaly, who once described Howard, U.S. President George W. Bush and
Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair as the real axis of evil.

Hilaly also angered many locals when he told Egyptian TV that Muslims had a greater right to be in the country than white Australians who came from convict heritage.

Abdalla said the imams had decided to set up a council with representatives from each state, to look at the qualities they wanted from a new mufti.

He said Muslims wanted a mufti who was qualified in Islamic law, who could communicate in English, and who was aware of the social, economic and political context in Australia.

Labels: Australia, Luar Negeri, Ummah

Labels: Islam Hadhari, Malaysia

Keputusan sepatutnya cukup mudah. Tapi tidak di negara Islam Hadhari!

No Decision Yet On All-female NS Training Camps, Says Najib

Labels: Islam Hadhari, Malaysia, Najib, PLKN

Zikir ertinya ingat. Bila kita mencintai dan menyayangi sesuatu, maka kita akan banyak mengingatinya. Bila kita banyak mengingatinya maka sudah tentu kita akan banyak menyebutnya.

Bila kita mengenal Allah SWT, kita akan mencintai Allah. Bila kita mencintai Allah, kita akan sentiasa mengingatiNya. Bila kita banyak mengingatiNya, maka kita akan sentiasa menyebut namaNya. Itulah yang dikatakan zikrullah. Kerana ini, zikrullah adalah gabungan antara mengingati Allah di hati dan menyebutNya dengan lidah. Zikir lidah tanpa ingatan hati adalah zikir yang cacat, dan meninggalkan zikir adalah tanda kelalaian. Ini adalah tanda kita tidak mengenal Allah. Kalau kita tidak mengenal Allah, bagaimanakah kita beribadah kepadaNya? Sedangkan tujuan penciptaan kita adalah pengabdian kita terhadapNya. Kerana itu, zikir adalah sebahagian pengabdian kepada Allah SWT yang mana untuk itu, kita diciptakan.

Zikir adalah ibadat yang paling senang

Semua ibadat mempunyai syarat sahnya kecuali zikir. Ia harus dilakukan samada dalam keadaan toharah atau berhadas, semasa berdiri, duduk, mengiring dan dalam semua keadaan. Berkata Imam Nawawi: “Ijmak ulamak mengharuskan zikir samada zikir lisan atau hati bagi yang berhadas, berjunub, orang yang haid dan juga nifas”.

Kelebihan zikir daripada al-Qur’anul Karim

فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُواْ لِي وَلاَ تَكْفُرُونِ {2:151}

Ingatlah kamu kepada-Ku nescaya Aku akan mengingatimu, dan bersyukurlah kepada-Ku, dan janganlah kamu mengingkari (nikmat)-Ku. Surah al-Baqarah: 152.

الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ {13:28}

Orang-orang yang beriman dan hati mereka menjadi tenang dengan mengingat Allah. Ingatlah, hanya dengan mengingati Allah hati akan menjadi tenang. Surah ar-Ra’d: 28

Kelebihan zikir daripada hadis

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: مثل الذي يذكر ربه والذي لا يذكر ربه مثل الحي والميت.

Ertinya: Perumpamaan orang yang mengingati (dan menyebut) tuhannya dengan orang yang tidak mengingatiNya adalah seumpama (perbezaan) orang yang hidup dan mati. Riwayat Bukhari.

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من قعد مقعدا لم يذكر الله فيه كان عليه من الله ترة، ومن اضطجع مضطجعا لا يذكر الله فيه كان عليه من الله ترة... رواه أبو داود.

“Sesiapa yang duduk di sesuatu tempat yang mana dia tidak menyebut nama Allah padanya, maka dia akan mendapat kekurangan (dan juga penyesalan)…”

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ليس يتحسر أهل الجنة إلا على ساعة مرت بهم لم يذكروا الله فيها.

“Ahli syurga tidak akan menyesal melainkan (perkara yang dilakukan di dunia) melainkan terhadap masa yang berlalu tanpa mereka berzikir kepada Allah padanya”. Riwayat Baihaqi.

Kenapa tidak mahu berzikir

وَمَن يَعْشُ عَن ذِكْرِ الرَّحْمَنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهُ شَيْطَانًا فَهُوَ لَهُ قَرِينٌ {36} وَإِنَّهُمْ لَيَصُدُّونَهُمْ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ {43:37}

“Sesiapa yang berpaling dari pengajaran ar-Rahman, Tuhan yang Maha Pemurah (Al Quran), Kami adakan baginya syaitan (yang menyesatkannya) Maka syaitan itulah yang menjadi teman yang selalu bersamanya. Dan Sesungguhnya syaitan-syaitan itu benar-benar menghalangi mereka dari jalan yang benar dan mereka menyangka bahawa mereka mendapat petunjuk. Surah az-Zukhruf: 36-37.

وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعاً وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالآصَالِ وَلاَ تَكُن مِّنَ الْغَافِلِينَ {7:205}

“ Dan sebutlah (nama) Tuhannmu dalam hatimu dalam keadaan rendah diri dan takut, juga dengan tidak mengeraskan suara, di waktu pagi dan petang, dan janganlah kamu termasuk di kalangan orang-orang yang lalai. Surah al-A’raf: 205.

إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُواْ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ قَامُواْ كُسَالَى يُرَآؤُونَ النَّاسَ وَلاَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللّهَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً {4:142}

Sesungguhnya orang-orang munafik itu menipu Allah, dan Allah akan membalas tipuan mereka, dan apabila mereka berdiri untuk solat mereka berdiri dengan malas, dengan tujuan menunjuk-nunjuk kepada orang lain, dan tidaklah mereka menyebut Allah kecuali sangat sedikit. Surah an-Nisa’: 142.

(نَسُواْ اللّهَ فَنَسِيَهُمْ إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ {9:67}

Mereka lupakan Allah, lalu Allah melupakan mereka, sesungguhnya para munafiq itu adalah orang-oranng yang fasiq. Surah at-Taubah: 67

Berkata Abul Hasan as-Syazilli: “Antara tanda munafiq ialah berat lidah untuk berzikir, kerana itu bertaubatlah kepada Allah, nescaya ringan lidahmu menyebut namaNya”.

Pandangan ulamak-ulamak mengenai zikir

Berkata Ibnu Abbas: “Tidak ada satupun yang Allah SWT fardhukan ke atas hambaNya melainkan ada takatnya dan ada rukhsahnya, melainkan zikir. Sesungguhnya zikir tiada takat yang akhir dan tidak diberikan kepada seseorang keuzuran melainkan orang yang hilang akalnya. Dan Dia pula memerintahkan ia dilakukan dalam semua keadaan…”

Berkata Fakhruddin ar-Razi: “Sesungguhnya penyebab kepada neraka jahannam ialah kelalaian dan yang mampu menyelamatkan daripadanya ialah zikrullah…”

Berkata Ibnu Ataillah as-Sakandari: “Zikir ialah membebaskan diri daripada kelalaian dan lupa dengan sentiasa menghadirkan hati bersama Allah…”

Berkata Imam Abu Qasim al-Qusyairi: “…dan seseorang tidak akan sampai kepada Allah SWT melainkan dengan sentiasa berzikir”.

Berkata Syeikhul Islam Ibn Taimiyyah: "Zikir dan hati itu ibarat air dan ikan, maka bagaimanakah keadaan ikan bila sudah kekeringan air?

Berkata Imam Ibnul Qayyim: “Tidak syak lagi bahawa hati ini akan berkarat…dan penghilangnya ialah zikir…bila ditinggalkan zikir, ia akan kembali berkarat…dan bila karat sudah banyak…dia akan nampak kebaikan itu kebatilan dan kebatilan itu kebaikan…dan bila karatnya bertimbun-timbun…akan rosaklah gambarannya dan dia tidak lagi mampu menerima kebenaran…inilah sebesar-besar balasan kepada hati…

Tulisan: Tuan Mohd Sapuan Tuan Ismail, tasekpauh.blogspot.com/ UPI, KIAS, 0136353463,/11:40pm14032007Mmlm27021428H

Labels: Ibadah, Ilmu

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) - The Government does not consider itself under pressure to call for a general election, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“There are no pressures actually. Not that the Government has insufficient majority. There are no big issues and so on.

“Besides people are fond on making election speculations, I don't think we are under any form of pressure to hold a general election,” he said in a special interview shown by RTM1 last night.

Asked on how Barisan Nasional (BN) would fare in the next general election, Najib said: “We are confident... but to retain the 2004's extraordinary achievement will not be that easy.”

On the RM7.6bil allocation for Kelantan, Najib said the Government's main objective was to ensure the people's well-being.

“Politics is politics. Hopefully, the Kelantan people can value the Federal Government's sincerity to bring changes to Kelantan and hopefully, with this open attitude, they will support the BN government in future,” he said.

He also said Malaysians need not have doubts about the state of the country's economy as the existing indicators point to positive and encouraging growth.

At the same time, Najib advised the public not to be taken in by negative reports about the economy which were being spread by irresponsible people with vested agendas.

Asked about the lack of confidence by many regarding the implementation of the 9MP, he said:

“This is a result of the information age whereby official data recognised by world authorities and those fabricated by individuals can easily reach a wide section of people at the same time.”

Labels: Malaysia, Najib, Pilihanraya

Labels: Malaysia, Polis

PETALING JAYA (March 23, 2007): The DAP has described the Election Commission (EC)’s refusal to fix a weekend for polling in the Machap by-election as “an act of biasness to benefit the Barisan Nasional (BN)”.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng there is no legal basis why polling day cannot be held on a weekend, when schools are closed and outstation voters can return cast their ballots with minimal disruption to their daily lives.

“By fixing polling date on a Thursday (April 12), this will affect the schooling of
students and disrupt the daily lives of residents. The nine-day campaigning period is too short for a rural constituency that covers jungles and water catchment areas.

“More unusual is (EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul) Rashid’s claim of a legal basis for choosing a weekday as a polling day, when there is clearly none.

”When Rashid was asked why polling was fixed on a weekday, he said the EC wanted to complete the by-election before April 16, which would be exactly three years since the Malacca state assembly was convened in 2004.

“He said that Election law only allows for by-elections to be held within the first three years of a new state assembly meeting. Polls cannot be held if there are two years left before the deadline for the next general election. And the nine-day campaign period is sufficient as we want to complete the by-election quickly to avoid any politics on the ground.

”DAP challenges Rashid to state which law requires the by-election and polling to be completed within three years of a new state assembly meeting. DAP does not know whether Rashid is confused or pretending to be confused about the legal provisions.

“There is nothing stated in the Federal Constitution, State Constitution or relevant election laws that any by-election must be completed and polling day held within the first three years of a new state assembly meeting. Article 54(1) of the Federal Constitution only provides that a by-election must be held within 60 days of such vacancy,” said Lim.

He said Rashid should resign as EC chairman if he cannot show legal proof of his assertions.

Lim said Rashid’s challenge to the opposition to take legal action against the EC is unreasonable when several legal cases filed in courts have failed as a result of legal technical hurdles that have prevented any deliberation by the courts on the question of whether the EC is independent, free, neutral and fair in conducting elections.

“There is no legal playing field when elections laws are not enforced by Rashid against BN candidates spending RM 110 million on posters alone in the 2004 general elections, far exceeding the spending limit of RM88.3 million allowed in the 2004 general elections.

”By failing to act, the EC is also guilty of abetting electoral fraud or corrupt practices during elections. Under section 19 of the Election Offences Act 1954, a candidate for every Parliamentary and state constituency cannot spend more than RM200,000 and RM 100,000 respectively

“This means that the BN, which contested in all the 219 Parliamentary and 445 state constituencies on offer in 2004 cannot spend more than RM88.3 million.

”Instead of asking opposition parties to take legal action, Rashid should take opposition parties to court for seeking his resignation because he is a liar and failed to fulfill his duties fairly and impartially.

“For instance the joint action committee on electoral reform, BERSIH, has asked that the following three specific reforms concerning the electoral roll and polling as the first steps towards a free and fair election:
- the use of indelible ink (as is done in Indonesia and India ) to prevent multiple voting;
- the abolition of postal votes except for diplomats and other overseas voters; and
- a complete revision of the electoral roll to ensure that the existing irregularities are removed and a roll with full integrity is in place.”

Lim said: “Those are three simple requests, and if he cannot fulfil, then Rashid should resign because he has no moral authority, public credibility and personal integrity to discharge his duties to ensure a free, fair, neutral and clean elections.

“DAP will be going into the by-election with severe handicaps against the might of the BN government machinery, especially in a rural constituency that is a natural BN fortress.

”DAP has no confidence that the EC will uphold the election law to prevent the misuse of government machinery and money politics in this by-election,” he added.

Nomination day is April 3. The by-election is called following the death of incumbent Machap assemblyman and a Malacca state executive councilor Datuk Wira Poh Ah Tiam on March 15.

The voters are made up of 38% Malays, 45% Chinese, 18% Indians and 2% others. The BN has never lost the seat in electoral history.

The electoral battle is expected to be a straight fight between BN's MCA and the DAP. theSunOnline

Labels: Malaysia, Pilihanraya

PARIS, March 22 - A French court cleared a satirical weekly newspaper Thursday in a case brought by Muslims who were angered by its publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.

The newspaper Charlie-Hebdo and its director, Philippe Val, were accused of "publicly abusing a group of people because of their religion." Val had risked a six-month prison sentence and a fine of up to $29,250.

The trial last month drew nationwide attention in a country with Europe's largest Muslim community and a strong commitment to freedom of expression and secularism.

Journalists and politicians have testified and Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy sent a letter of support for the weekly.

The state prosecutor - whose role in court is to defend French law - argued in favor of the magazine, which on Feb. 8, 2006, printed three caricatures - two of them reprints of those carried by a Danish newspaper in 2005 that stoked anger across the Islamic world. One caricature was an original.

Labels: Luar Negeri, Ummah

Indonesian police kill terror gang member
Amy Chew

Jakarta, 22 Mar 2007 - INDONESIAN police shot dead a member of Malaysian Noordin Mat Top’s terror group following a raid in Central Java.

They arrested five others.

All six men are believed to be lieutenants of Noordin and are alleged to have been involved in the Australian embassy bombing of 2004 and attacks in Poso, Sulawesi.

The raid took place yesterday evening in a busy street in the sub-district of Depok, Yogyakarta.

"The suspects are the right-hand man of Noordin Mat Top," an anti-terror police officer told the New Straits Times from Yogyakarta.

"These arrests are significant.

"We also believe Abu Dujana is somewhere in this area (Central Java) and that he is with Noordin."

Abu Dujana, the Afghan-trained militant, is the leader of the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah.

Noordin is Asia’s most wanted terrorist and is believed to have masterminded all the major bombings in the country with his partner, Dr Azahari Husin, who was killed in a shootout with police.

Noordin has remained elusive despite a manhunt for him, which was launched after the first Bali bombings. Twice, he escaped a police dragnet.

Following information obtained from the suspects, police rushed to the neighbouring city of Solo and recovered weapons from a house, including guns, ammunition and home-made bombs.

Labels: Indonesia, Luar Negeri, Ummah

MOGADISHU, 21 March 2007 (AFP) - Heavy fighting erupted Wednesday in the Somali capital leading to the death of at least 14 people in an escalation of violence which also saw angry residents attacking the bodies of dead soldiers.

Residents burned the bodies of two soldiers and dragged another through the streets recalling the similar fate of US troops in a failed UN-backed peace operation in the early 1990s.

Heavy weaponry duels across southern Mogadishu killed six uniformed soldiers and eight civilians after insurgents opened fire on former defence ministry headquarters where Ethiopian troops, backing the Somali government, are based.

Hundreds of angry civilians celebrated in the Baruwa neighbourhood as they burned the bodies of two of the dead soldiers. The crowd shouted: "You and Ethiopians will die", " Down, Down with Somali troops", and "We will burn you alive".

Nearby, a woman carrying a machete shouted obscenities against Ethiopian and Somali troops while stepping on the body of another dead soldier being dragged by a rope tied to his foot, an AFP correspondent said. It was unclear if the soldiers were Somali or Ethiopian. more..

Labels: Luar Negeri, Somalia

KUALA LUMPUR (March 21, 2007): Users of the 19 expressways nationwide have to date forked out RM23.656 billion in tolls since the first highway was commissioned in 1988.

The total cost of construction of the highways is RM18.93 billion, according to figures released by the Works Ministry.

In a written reply to Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu revealed that the North-South Expressway (under PLUS), built at a cost of RM5.94 billion, topped the list of toll collections.

From the start of its operation in 1988 until last year, it collected RM15.91 billion in tolls. The maintenance cost for PLUS, which had been granted 50 years to collect tolls, is RM27.83 million a month or RM330 million a year.

Penang Bridge, which started operations in 1993, has collected RM1.7 billion to date.

Of the five Klang Valley highways – Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP), Lebuhraya Shah Alam (Kesas), Cheras-Kajang Highway (Grand Saga), KL-Karak Highway and Guthrie Highway – which had their toll rates increased by between 30% and 70% on Jan 1, Kesas topped the toll collection list.

Labels: Malaysia, Tol

Kabul, March 20 - A car bomber has ended months of relative calm in Kabul by exploding his car next to a US embassy convoy, killing an Afghan teenager and wounding five US security personnel.

Monday's suicide blast, the first in Kabul since December, hurled one of the armoured 4WDs across Jalalabad Road and left two other US vehicles damaged.

A 15-year-old Afghan on the side of the road was killed, said Hasib Arian, the district police chief.

Five US embassy security personnel were injured, one seriously, said Colonel Tom Collins, the spokesman for Nato's International Security Assistance Force.

Ambassador unhurt

Ronald Neumann, the US ambassador, was not in the convoy, Joe Mellott, an embassy spokesman, said.

Later, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, said in a phone call to AP that a Taliban activist from Khost province carried out the attack.

US embassy security teams sealed off the road, and initially prevented Afghan police, Nato soldiers and photographers, including those of Al Jazeera, from getting close to the vehicles.

The route is often used by American soldiers travelling to the main US coalition base at Bagram outside the capital and also to various military bases on the outskirts of Kabul.

Reporting from the blast site, John Cookson, Al Jazeera's correspondent, said: "The Jalalabad Road is notorious for suicide bombers; it is used frequently by US convoys. Today's target was a line of US embassy vehicles heading for Kabul.

"The bomber struck in a white car with devastating consequences." One Afghan witness said: "I heard a loud explosion, I went outside - there was a lot of fire and smoke."

Cookson said: "The bombing comes as US and Nato forces increase the pressure on the Taliban in an ongoing guerrilla war and the Taliban responding with suicide bombers - this is the first in Kabul in three months." alJazeera & Agencies

Labels: Afghanistan, Luar Negeri

Malaysia Boleh, semua boleh! Pinjam helikopter pun boleh.

Putera Umno Seeks Fire N Rescue Dept Chopper For Training

Labels: Malaysia, Umno

Labels: Kelantan, Malaysia, Umno

Labels: Malaysia, Tol

Israel urges world to shun Palestinian unity government

March 18 - After several months of fierce battles between members and supporters of Hamas, and the former ruling party Fatah, that claimed the lives of over 140, Palestinians announced yesterday installing a new government, hoping the new coalition will manage end the international aid cut that was prompted by Hamas victory last year.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called on the international community to join Israel in shunning the new government, calling its platform "very problematic."

"We will not be able to pursue contacts with the government or its members," Olmert told the cabinet. "We expect that the international community will not be misled by the creation of the coalition government."

The new government was approved by a 83 to 3 to vote, with forty-one of the legislature's 132 members, most of them Hamas members held in Israeli jails, not participating in the vote.

And after the Parliament historic session, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas swore in the new 25-member Cabinet.

On the other hand, the United States reacted with caution to the new Palestinian alliance, which replaced the anti-Israel government led by the Islamic Hamas, which has persistently refused to recognise Israel.

Washington criticised the initial policy speech by PM Ismail Haniya, describing it as disappointing.

In his speech, Mr Haniya said: "The government affirms that resistance in all its forms, including popular resistance to occupation, is a legitimate right of the Palestinian people.

"Our people have the right to defend themselves from continuous Israeli aggression."

In response to the news, Norway announced its recognition to the new gov. and said it would lift aid embargo, whereas Britain and the UN stopped short at explicitly promising that the aid would be lifted, saying that money would start flowing again only if the new alliance managed to control anti-Israel attacks.

Analysts however warned that there’s a possibility that the new Hamas-Fatah alliance would quickly fail over ideological differences as well as long-standing enmities between the two parties.

Syria praised and pledged full support to the new government.

"Damascus demands the lifting of the embargo imposed on the Palestinian people," by the West, a statement in state news agency Sana read.

Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayyad warned that the new alliance won’t survive for long unless the international community ended its aid boycott and increased assistance.

"We do face a very serious and crippling financial crisis," he said. "Without the help of the international community, it is not going to be possible for us to sustain our operations." - AJP and agencies

Labels: Israel, Luar Negeri, Palestin

Labels: Malaysia, Rasuah

Islam Hadhari berasaskan al-Quran, kata Pak Lah.

Abdullah Hits Out At Those Who Ridicule Islam Hadhari

KEPALA BATAS, March 16 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today hit out at those who ridicule the concept of Islam Hadhari which has been well received by all races in the country.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi flanked by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Abdullah Mohd Zin (left) and Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon at the launching of the national-level Islam Hadhari Village programme at the Millennium Hall. Pix: Samsudin Mohammed

The Prime Minister regarded those involved in such action as making a big mistake and should correct themselves.

"Islam Hadhari is an effort based on the Quran.

"We have had problems since the days of yore and we would rectify them, because human beings stand to be corrected," he said when launching this year's national-level Islam Hadhari Village programme at the Millennium Hall, here today.

Abdullah said Islam Hadhari was pure and would not create conflicts between Muslims and non-Muslims, but would instead bring progress to the nation and ummah (community).

"Muslims of different sects should also not have any problems with the implementation of Islam Hadhari principles," he added.

He said the people in this country would not face problems if they practised the Islam Hadhari principles which had attracted the interest of other Muslim nations.

"Islam Hadhari carries universal values like honesty and justice, and places importance on the pursuit of knowledge, economic progress and environmental preservation, and covers all spheres of life."

He said many intellectuals, academics and religious leaders from countries including Germany, England, Australia and New Zealand had viewed the concept as practised here, from a good perspective.

"Before this, Islam had often been associated with violence, which gave a negative picture of the religion among non-Muslims."

Abdullah said many Muslim countries were plagued by poverty as they could not master knowledge due to illiteracy.

"Without knowledge, they remain poor and are easily swayed by other forces to the extent of committing acts which are totally against Islam.

"Poverty and illiteracy result in backwardness which undermines the image of the Muslim community at large and the sanctity of Islam."

The Prime Minister hoped that Muslims could etch into history their creation of a glorious Islamic civilisation.

"If a community remains backward, exploited and violated against by others, surely its history becomes an embarrassment.

"But if it is outstanding in various aspects, it will have a glorious history.

"To have a glorious history and civilisation, we need to have excellent human capital that is strong in all aspects.

"In light of this, the country aspires to create as any scientists and intellectuals as the catalysts for progress in this modern world."

Abdullah said until today, there had been no Islamic superpower in this world as Muslims failed to unite and what happened in some Muslim countries should be a lesson for all.

The three-day Islam Hadhari Village programme will have various activities including an exhibition and Islamic cultural performances.

Labels: Islam Hadhari, Malaysia, Pak Lah

Cerita di internet semua dongeng..

Najib Quashes Rumour Of Differences Between Him And PM

Labels: Malaysia, Najib, Pak Lah