Kayveas still PPP president, says ROS

The Registrar of Societies (ROS) said today that Datuk M. Kayveas is still the lawful president of People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

However, it was investigating complaints by various interested quarters within the party and scrutinising further information from all sides involved before the completion of the investigation, said ROS Director-General Datuk Md Alias Kalil said in a statement.

“In this regard, until the matter is finalised, ROS wishes to inform that Datuk M. Kayveas is still the lawful president of PPP.

“Hence, ROS has no objection to PPP proceeding with the scheduled Annual General Meeting,” he said.

On May 30, Kayveas was returned unopposed as PPP president for a fourth five-year term at the end of the nomination period and two days ago, he said PPP’s 56th General Assembly would take place as planned in three days time.

Earlier on May 24 however, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk T. Murugiah had declared himself the “new PPP president” following an extraordinary general meeting held in Putrajaya.

 

 

( Source : The Malaysian Insider )

What is and isn't Islam?

I read this article and found it very interesting since the issue discussed is one of the thing has been troubling me, a non-muslim for years. I really do believe this would be beneficial for everyone especially for non-muslim.

It is not only important to explain what Islam really is, but it is also important to make a distinction between what Islam involves, and what people have incorrectly associated with and attributed to it.
What is the relation between Islam and the actions of people that practice the Muslim faith? In my opinion there are many things which have very little to do with Islam as a religion, but are nevertheless ascribed to it because the people who are linked to it happen to be Muslims.
Certain radical actions have been carried out by Muslim individuals or groups in the name of Islam, but those actions are not supported by the majority of Muslims, and are generally disapproved of by them, although sometimes their disapproval is not explicit enough to create the impression that the radical Muslims that carry out these actions do not in any way represent any Muslim majority.
Hot topic in the West
All this has contributed to existing misunderstandings. Many of these misunderstandings have to do with false perceptions, but not with academic reality. Although one might also argue that perceptions become academic realities if people believe their perceptions to be true.
The responsibility of scholars - both Muslim and non-Muslim - is therefore to subject these perceptions to a reality test, particularly if this can help in providing a global forum which would help create better mutual understanding, as well as a stronger cross-cultural friendship.
Islam is a hot topic in the West - and not only there, but also in the Muslim world itself. Many people talk about it, but much fewer people are knowledgeable about it. If you want to organise a seminar on "Democracy in South East Asia", for instance, it may not be that easy to raise funds for it. But if you add the word "Islam", and make it about the role of democracy and Islam in Southeast Asia, your chances become much better.
Nevertheless, it may be wrong to stress the idea of any connection between Islam and developments in the world. The danger exists that Islam becomes a kind of fixation, thereby adding to a misunderstanding between Muslims and non-Muslims or between so-called Muslim countries and non-Muslim countries.
When Islam spread outside the Arabian Peninsula and came into contact with other cultures, Islam adapted itself to these regions in the sense that various local habits and traditions were not only accepted as not contradicting those of Islam, but were later on sometimes interpreted by the local populations as being in line with Islam, if not Islamic. Many new Muslims continued part of their former traditions and gradually came to argue that these traditions were in fact part of Islam.
More generally, one might say that in large parts of Indonesia Islam has adapted itself to the local cultures and traditions, or has embedded itself into them, instead of adapting to the culture and traditions of the Arabian Peninsula. A similar phenomenon could be said to have taken place in other regions of what today is considered to be the Muslim world. In many places people interpret local habits or traditions as part of Islam, whereas they are not really. Also cultural manifestations based on different religious-cultural backgrounds generally coexist peacefully together in Indonesia.

It's cultural
Other Muslim countries have their own examples concerning the local cultural heritage and Islam existing side by side. It could be noted, for instance, that whereas in strongly traditional Islamic, Saudi Arabia women are prohibited from driving a car, the same is allowed in the Islamic Republic of Iran. These differences have nothing to do with Islam itself, but rather with different cultures existing in these countries.
Similarly, the harsh treatment of women by the Taliban in Afghanistan is much more a reflection of regional tribal customs and attitudes than a part of Islam. Throwing acid in women's faces happens in wider parts of Asia, including India and Cambodia, and can be seen as purely criminal. Other examples are female circumcision, most widely spread in Africa, and so-called "honour" killings.
But this does not prevent larger parts of the non-Muslim world from perceiving these attitudes as connected with Islam, which therefore generally has a non-favourable effect on the attitude towards Islam in the West.
Both Muslim and non-Muslim scholars have a common responsibility not only to explain relevant issues about Islam, but also to make clear what is not related to Islam, but rather to other factors, such as politics, culture and local traditions. In doing so, academics not only contribute to bridging misunderstandings but also correct inaccurate perceptions.
When exchanging views within the framework of an intercultural, or interfaith dialogue, we do not necessarily have to discuss religious issues as such. After all, it is common for most believers to consider their own beliefs to be the best and most correct. What is more important is to discuss underlying values and beliefs that the various parties may have in common.

( Source : Malaysiakini )

N Korea 'names Kim's successor'

Kim Jong-il

South Korean media say North Korea has told its diplomatic missions abroad that Kim Jong-il's youngest son has been named as the next leader.

Two newspapers and an opposition lawmaker said diplomats had been told to support Kim Jong-un.

South Korea's Hankook Ilbo and Dong-a Ilbo newspapers reported that the regime sent the message right after the 25 May nuclear test.

There has been much speculation over who would follow the ailing Mr Kim.

He suffered a stroke last year, but appears to have recovered somewhat.

Analysts have said the North's recent military actions, including last week's nuclear test, may be aimed at helping Mr Kim solidify power so that he can name a successor.

Little known

The reports quoted unnamed members of South Korea's parliamentary intelligence committee briefed by the spy agency, although the spy agency refused to confirm the reports.

The Associated Press reported that opposition legislator Park Jie-won, a member of the parliament's intelligence committee, told local radio he had been briefed by the government on the North's move.

Mr Park said the regime is "pledging allegiance to Kim Jong-un", it reported.

The Dong-a Ilbo added that the North is teaching its people a song lauding the son - who reportedly enjoys skiing and studied English, German and French at a Swiss school.

There is no confirmed photograph of the adult Kim Jong-un and his age is uncertain. He was born either in 1983 or early 1984, reports say.

Questions have also been raised over whether his late mother, a Japanese-born professional dancer called Ko Yong-hui, was Kim Jong-il's official wife or mistress.

 

( Source : BBC News )

French plane lost in ocean storm

An Air France plane carrying 228 people from Brazil to France has vanished over the Atlantic after flying into turbulence, airline officials say.

The Airbus sent an automatic message at 0214 GMT, four hours after leaving Rio de Janeiro, reporting a short circuit. It may have been damaged by lightning.

It was well over the ocean when it was lost, making Brazilian and French search planes' task more difficult.

France's president said the chances of finding survivors were "very small".

Aeroplanes get hit by lightning on quite a routine basis without generally any problems occurring at all

David Gleave
Aviation Safety Investigations

In pictures: Waiting for news

Timeline of Flight AF 447

Britons among airliner missing

"It is a catastrophe the likes of which Air France has never seen," Nicolas Sarkozy said after meeting relatives and friends of passengers at a crisis centre at Charles de Gaulle airport.

Earlier, Air France chief executive Pierre-Henri Gourgeon told reporters: "We are without a doubt faced with an air disaster."

He added: "The entire company is thinking of the families and shares their pain."

Flight AF 447 left Rio at 1900 local time (2200 GMT) on Sunday. It had 216 passengers and 12 crew on board, including three pilots. The passengers included one infant, seven children, 82 women and 126 men.

See a map of the plane's route

Air France confirmed that there had been 61 French and 58 Brazilians on board.

Among the other passengers were 26 Germans, nine Chinese, nine Italians, six Swiss, five Britons, five Lebanese, four Hungarians, three Irish, three Norwegians and three Slovaks.

Lightning theory doubts

The Airbus 330-200 had been expected to arrive in Paris at 1110 local time (0910 GMT).

Tom Symonds, BBC News transport correspondent

The Airbus A330 airliner is likely to have begun its journey tracking the coast of Brazil northwards before striking out across the Atlantic. A few hundred miles from the shore, radar coverage peters out - from there on, crews use high frequency radio to report their position.

The Brazilian Air Force says the plane left radar screens near the islands of Fernando de Noronha, 230 miles from the coast. The firmest clue to its fate comes from the data message sent via a satellite network at 0214 GMT reporting electrical and pressurisation problems. This suggests whatever happened, happened before the crew could put out a mayday radio call. It was likely a sudden and catastrophic emergency. Even a double engine failure at cruising altitude would normally give the crew around half an hour's gliding time.

Air France says the plane may have been struck by lightning - the cause of around a dozen major air crashes in the last 50 years - but it rarely results in tragedy. More likely lightning damaged electrical systems, possibly leading indirectly to the plane's ditching.

Although passengers survived a landing on the Hudson River in New York in January - it is rarely successful, especially in the middle of an ocean the size of the Atlantic.

It made its last radio contact at 0133 GMT (2233 Brazilian time) when it was 565km (360m) off Brazil's north-eastern coast, Brazil's air force said.

The crew said they were planning to enter Senegalese airspace at 0220 GMT and that the plane was flying normally at an altitude of 10,670m (35,000ft).

At 0220, when Brazilian air traffic controllers saw the plane had not made its required radio call from Senegalese airspace, air traffic control in the Senegalese capital was contacted.

At 0530 GMT, Brazil's air force launched a search-and-rescue mission, sending out a coast guard patrol plane and a specialised air force rescue aircraft.

France is despatching three search planes based in Dakar, Senegal, and has asked the US to help with satellite technology.

"The plane might have been struck by lightning - it's a possibility," Francois Brousse, head of communications at Air France, told reporters in Paris.

David Gleave, from Aviation Safety Investigations, told the BBC that planes were routinely struck by lightning, and the cause of the crash remained a mystery.

"Aeroplanes get hit by lightning on quite a routine basis without generally any problems occurring at all," he told BBC Radio Five Live.

"Whether it's related to this electrical storm and the electrical failure on the aeroplane, or whether it's another reason, we have to find the aeroplane first."

France's minister responsible for transportation, Jean-Louis Borloo, ruled out hijacking as a cause of the plane's loss.

'No information'

Mr Sarkozy said he had met "a mother who lost her son, a fiance who lost her future husband".

TIMELINE

Flight AF 447 left Rio at 1900 local time (2200 GMT) on Sunday

Airbus A330-200 carrying 216 passengers and at least 12 crew

Contact lost 0130 GMT

Missed scheduled landing at 1110 local time (0910 GMT) in Paris

Air disasters timeline

"I told them the truth," he said afterwards. "The prospects of finding survivors are very small."

Finding the plane would be "very difficult" because the search zone was "immense", he added.

About 20 relatives of passengers on board the flight arrived at Rio's Jobim international airport on Monday morning seeking information.

Bernardo Souza, who said his brother and sister-in-law were on the flight, complained he had received no details from Air France.

"I had to come to the airport but when I arrived I just found an empty counter," he was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

Air France has opened a telephone hotline for friends and relatives of people on the plane - 00 33 157021055 for callers outside France and 0800 800812 for inside France.

This is the first major incident in Brazilian air space since a Tam flight crashed in Sao Paulo in July 2007 killing 199 people.

 

 

( Source : BBC News )

Penanti: Dr Mansor wins with 6,052 votes out of 7,100

PKR's Dr Mansor Othman(pic) has won 6,052 of the 7,100 votes cast in the Penanti by-election.

He is trailed by Independents Nai Khan Ari (494), Aminah Abdullah (392) and Kamarul Ramizu Idris (56).

Dr Mansor looks all set to become the next Deputy Chief Minister 1.

Polling ended at Penanti on Sunday with a low turnout of 46.1% or 7,100 voters despite fair weather.

Penanti has 15,384 registered voters.

Results are expected to be announced by 8.30pm.

Election Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said he was disappointed by the low turnout.

“We do not why but we will study the reasons for it,” he said, adding that he had expected a 70% turnout.

The usual buzz and excitement that surrounds by-elections was missing this time as Barisan Nasional had declined to contest.

The Election Commission had strictly enforced the no "pondok panas" rule within 50m of the polling stations, which meant there was no last-minute wooing of voters.

At about 3pm Sunday, 42.2% or 6,492 voters had cast their votes at the nine polling stations.

Although the weather was fine there was only a trickle of voters and traffic flow was smooth.

However, both FRU and police personnel remained on standby for any eventuality. No such eventuality has arisen.

Voters in Penanti comprise 72.68% Malays, 24.44% Chinese, 2.39% Indians and 0.71% of other races.

It was a four-cornered fight with PKR's Mansor Othman taking on three Independents - former Penang PKR Wanita chief, manufacturing manager Nai Khan Ari, 41, and businessman Kamarul Ramizu Idris, 42.

Among the earliest to cast his vote was Nai-Khan Ari at the Kg Tun Sardon community hall at 8.40am.

Earlier, Dr Mansor had visited the Berapit polling station with DAP's Lim Kit Siang and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Aminah has recently added in a twist to the otherwise peaceful campaign period by claiming that her former party has offered her RM80,000 and the Penang Municipal Council president's post if she withdrew from the contest.

She also alleged that PKR leaders had offered her the Deputy Chief Minister's post if she won.

She has since lodged a report with the Election Commission.

The Penanti seat fell vacant after Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin quit as assemblyman on April 16 after stepping down as Penang Deputy Chief Minister I on April 8.

In the last general election, PKR's Fairus polled 7,346 votes against the 5,127 votes obtained by his Barisan opponent Datuk Abdul Jalil Majid. There were 184 spoilt votes.

( Source : The Star Online )

Susan Boyle beaten in talent show final

Street dancers Diversity were the surprise winners of television contest “Britain’s Got Talent” on Saturday, beating favourite Susan Boyle who became an Internet phenomenon and global celebrity after appearing on the show.

The troupe, which includes three sets of brothers and comes from southeast England, won 100,000 pounds ($160,000) and the right to take the stage at the Royal Variety Performance in front of the Queen.

Of the 10 finalists, Diversity were the bookmakers’ sixth favourite to win going into the show, but their acrobatic performance choreographed by 20-year-old Ashley Banjo was described by judge Simon Cowell as “utter perfection”.

“If I had to give marks on that, that is the only performance tonight I would want to give a 10 to,” Cowell said after their performance.

Boyle was runner-up, but so overwhelming were the betting odds in her favour that the result was seen as a major surprise.

The 48-year-old unemployed church volunteer from Scotland, who once joked she had never been kissed and has been described by newspapers as “frumpy” and a “hairy angel”, was the antithesis of what many considered a celebrity to be.

Yet her rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Miserables” in April was downloaded on the Internet more than 150 million times and made her a household name.

Film crews camped outside her home in the small town in Scotland where she lives alone with her cat, tabloid reporters followed her every move and she appeared on U.S. chat shows hosted by Oprah Winfrey and Larry King.

The pressure appeared to tell this week, when she threatened to pull out of the show and had an altercation with journalists.

In his blog, judge Piers Morgan wrote: “Let me tell you now, there is a downside to fame. People start criticising you, sniping at you, trying to trip you up, belittle you, harass you.

He said Boyle had learning difficulties after being deprived of oxygen at birth, and was nicknamed “Simple Susan” at school.

“I am calling today for everyone to just give her a break.”

Boyle sang I Dreamed a Dream again on Saturday, and while her rousing performance was warmly received, it was not enough.

“You’ve had a weird seven weeks and you had every right to walk away from this and you could have walked away,” Cowell said after she sang. “You can walk away from this, win or lose, with your head held high, Susan. I absolutely adore you.”

Boyle, who praised Diversity after the public telephone vote was announced, said earlier in the show that the whole experience had been “well worth it.

“The pressure put on me has been overwhelming. I’ve got to put that aside now. When I step on that stage tonight it’s the accumulation of 40 years of dreaming.”

Despite not winning Britain’s Got Talent, Boyle is widely expected to land a lucrative recording contract as a result of her global fame and impressive voice.

 

( Source : The Malaysian Insider )

Jaya Supermarket Collapse

Rescue personnel have managed to locate the four workers trapped under the debris of the collapsed Jaya Supermarket.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said the workers were near to the three bodies removed from the rubble earlier.

He told reporters after visiting the site that rescue personnel continued to be hampered in their efforts due to the large amount of debris.

Rescue personnel determined the location of the workers from the canine unit and the use of scope.

"I would like to get an explanation from the contractor involved in the demolition on the methods the company has used.

"I am going to put a working paper on this incident. A task force will also be formed to probe the collapse involving the local council, police and the Fire and Rescue Department," he said.

Earlier, another body has been recovered from the rubble of the collapsed Jaya Supermarket building.

The body - believed to be an Indonesian worker - was recovered at 3.30am on Friday.

On Thursday, the building collapsed at 5pm while demolition work was going on, killing three Indonesian workers.

Two other workers were pulled out alive while four more are still trapped under the rubble.

 

( Source : The Star Online )