Rudyard Kipling"
āWhen you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldierā
General Douglas MacArthur"
āWe are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.ā
āIt is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.ā āOld soldiers never die; they just fade away.
āThe soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.ā
āMay God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .ā āThe object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
āNobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
āIt is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
DAP grassroots leaders defend Rayer, hit back at critics over Perlis temple demolition
Sunday, August 23, 2026
Malaysiakini : More than 40 DAP grassroots leaders have defended party veteran RSN
Rayer, saying his call for negotiations over the demolition of a Hindu
temple in Perlis should not be construed as a rejection of the rule of
law.
In a joint statement today, the group led by Bagan Dalam
assemblyperson Kumaran Krishnan expressed disappointment with a previous
statement by 14 DAP members criticising Rayer (above) over his stance on the demolition of the Veeramakaliamman Temple at Bukit Lagi, Kangar.
Kumaran
and 42 leaders from various party branches questioned why the criticism
of Rayer had been aired publicly instead of through the party's
internal channels. āWe can have differences of opinion. That is normal in a democratic party. "But is openly attacking our own colleagues and leaders the best way to resolve those differences?ā they asked.
They
cautioned that publicly attacking fellow party members could provide
ammunition to political opponents and create an impression of division
within DAP. Yesterday, the 14 DAP members said dialogue should be encouraged to find the best solution, but unlawful activities should not be condoned.
They
also stressed that no one was above the law and said party leaders
should verify the facts and take an impartial position when community
interests conflict with legal requirements.
The temple in Bukit Lagi, Kangar
The
14 included Selangor DAP Youth vice chief Nur Rahim Nasir, DAP branch
leaders Shakir Ameer Mohideen (Setia Impian), Farhan Haziq (Bandar Baru
Bangi), Abdul Majid Abd Aziz (Pekan Paloh), Nor Miswary Ramli (Pusat
Bandar Shah Alam), Izzul Afiq (Taman Kemuncak), Aslam Ahmad Ramli
(Kampung Tunku SS1), and Aldrin Ng (Kampung Baru Pasir Pinji), as well
as former Dusun Tua assemblyperson Edry Faizal Yusof.
While their statement did not name Rayer, several of the signatories confirmed to Malaysiakini
that it was linked to the Jelutong MP's condemnation of the state
government for demolishing the temple after it was found to have been
built on government land without a permit.
apanama is back : The rule of law under MADani is always SELECTIVE toward minorities, especially Malaysian Indians. That is why we can observe bullying of minorities and the weak. Just compare Hadi and Malaysian Indians.
Hadi can spew nonsense with a racial tone, and he will always be scot-free, while the century-old Hindu Temple will be torn down in the name of the rule of law, when that law itself did not exist a century ago.
Even if a temple is in non-compliance, it should be dealt with professionally.
Let's say a surau is non-compliant; don't you deal with it amicably and relocate the surau? Of course, you do, but when it comes to a Hindu Temple, suddenly you talk about the rule of law and proceed with demolition.
I had asked a few Hindu priests about the Veeramakaliamman Temple at Bukit Lagi, Kangar.
The temple is about 80 years old, just short of another 20 years until it reaches a century. That means from 1957 to 2026, it seems there is NO RULE OF LAW. SUDDENLY, in 2026, the rule of law crops up.
Remember, Perlis is in Malaysia, and the Federal government can still halt the demolition, but since it is a Hindu Temple, the rule of law comes into play, selectively.
Coming back to DAP, we can see the party is divided: one community, all of the same race, opposes Rayer's statement, while another supports Rayer's call for negotiations. But Anthony Loke will say a cool head prevails.
darmakochi : "The rule of law is not a license for those in power to bully the weak or minorities" Very well said!
Resignation!! ā Why Even Nurul Izzah Gives Up Hope On Daddy
Finance Twitter : Anwar Ibrahim is the best prime minister
money can buy, his hardcore supporters claimed. He is also Malaysiaās
most popular political leader, according to a Merdeka Center survey
recently.
Even if the 10th Prime Minister is a fake
reformist, serial liar, hypocrite, traitor, untrustworthy, anti-Chinese,
and whatnot, the chameleon is still the ābest of the worstā, his apologists love to argue.
āIf not Anwar, who elseā ā his worshippers like to
lecture critics who dare to question the PM. Yet, the so-called most
popular Malaysian leader had lost not one, not two, but three state
elections namely Sabah, Johor and Negeri Sembilan. And you can bet all
your money that Anwar-led Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition is going to
lose the upcoming Melaka state election too.
But losing four state elections consecutively was just an appetizer.
Anwarās party ā Peopleās Justice Party (PKR) ā would be lucky if it
could retain half of the current 31 parliamentary seats it won in the
November 2022 national polls. The party might end up withless than 10
MPsin the next 16th General Election. While PKR is still in ādenial, delusion and drunkā with power, someone appears to have woken up.
Nurul Izzah, who is Anwarās eldest child, has resigned as
PKR deputy president ā about 14 months after she was elected in the
partyās elections in May 2025. In a statement issued on the night of Aug
6, 2026, she said ā āI extend my deepest appreciation to the party
president Anwar Ibrahim and the party leadership for acknowledging my
decision to step down as PKRās deputy president.ā
Muslims should set example eradicating corruption, not hide it, says PM By Hariz Mohd
Malaysiakini : Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has lambasted an Islamist party leader
for accusing Putrajaya of targeting Islamic bodies in its fight against
corruption. In his speech at a hotel in Bangi today, Anwar said
that agencies like Tabung Haji are being investigated because they are
government-run and have issues warranting further scrutiny.
The prime minister said such actions should not be turned into racial or religious issues. āIf
you ask me, Muslims and Malays should be even more serious and
meticulous when it comes to upholding morality and values, because we
should set an example.
āIn dakwah, we call this dakwah bil hal (lead by example); the most effective form of preaching is preaching by example.
āIf
we say we must fight drugs, but there are many drug problems among our
own people, or say we must fight corruption, but many of those who
greedily take bribes are also among us, that is not setting an example.
OCT : Corruption is very rampant in Malaysia Govt, GLC & GLIC. When Corruption started, it was small amount. The Govt was very forgiving. However, as times go on, Corruption has grown into a big fire that consumes everything.
The Govt always portray it is a clean Govt with good men looking after it's interest. If not mistaken it became a big issue during Bank Bumi time. Later there was PKFZ, Proton, Perwaja, MAS and many others ending with the biggest case in 1MDB.
Most of the tim3s it involves MM but very seldom any big MM big fish is caught. Money sakau but hardly recovered. It is very difficult to pin it on party leaders as the PM depends on them to keep him as PM. When almost everyone is in the game, there is hardly anyone wants to rock the boat.
Easy money. No need hardwork. It has become to each its own. You don't tell, I won't tell. No brainer philosophy. When caught, no need to repay. You get to keep the money.
Whether PM is successful in his words and has the guts to go after the warlords will depend on the result in sending them to court and later jail. PM seems to more vocal than action
WhiteHorse7513 : Only when the ship(PKR) is sinking that PMX wakes up and speaks about sinfulness among Muslims supporting/ not objecting corruption.PMX kept quiet all this while thinking his silence and pro malay antics will garner malay votes for PKR but alas this backfired wholesale.
Veteran 1972 : They are the worst to be used as examples, even my toes are laughing!
Daniel lee : Our country is surely heading the wrong direction . Every day , we hear from our leaders , Goverment or the Muslim opposition ranting every thing weak about their race and religion .
It just beats the hell out of the nons because since independence and our constitution protect the race and religion so much that all the minorities are left to fend for themselves ! Yet, daily we are blamed for the āperceivedā failures of them.
For context , the NEP is for Malays, almost 99% of Govertment servants are malays, big bulk of entry to Public universities are reserved for Malays , special discounts for Home purchases are for Malays and the list can go on and on !
Therefore , please stop blaming us when you are not competitive . We , the nons , are not the causes of your failures. Itās your own race and perhaps , too pampered by all your entitlements that make your own failures.
However , you should also reliased that many elites Malays are super rich but kept low profile and the ordinary poor are calling backwards !
Meanwhile , many of us, the nons are suffering because we need to save every single cent for our childrenās education and other expenses!
We get no help from the Govertment but just pay our taxes ! My life is very miserable as many of our kids left this country to find a better country with less descrimination and these are the things the Malays can never empathise with us.
Facebook hooked kids, paid extremists, but M'sia still waiting By R Nadeswaran
Malaysiakini : COMMENT | The proceedings are being
held in the United States and Australia but the media coverage is
reverberating around the world, predicting how social media will evolve
in the next few years.
In a US Court in Oakland on Tuesday, it was
alleged that Meta (which owns Facebook) knowingly hooked and exploited
children, with accusations that the company deliberately made Instagram
and Facebook addictive to young users.
Meta āexploited how kidsā
brains workā, California prosecutor Megan OāNeill said in opening
arguments, painting Metaās business model as one built to āhook the
users, hold them for as long as they can, harvest their data, and then
hide the truth from the public.ā
Authorities insist the temple stood on
state land without a permit. Engagements were held, alternatives
suggested, and the law applied. Yet this legalistic defence rings hollow
when applied to spiritual sites that have served communities for
generations.
Arguments over ownership of places
that existed long before Malaysiaās borders were drawn are lame excuses
for cultural erasure. The same logic has threatened the century-old
Sakyamuni Caves Monastery at Gunung Kanthan in Perak, where quarrying
interests and eviction orders hang over a living Buddhist sanctuary
nestled in limestone caves of immense geological and spiritual value.
Across the peninsula, ancient sites linked to the Srivijaya era, once
part of a vast maritime cultural sphere have been neglected, damaged, or
lost to development and indifference over the decades.
All governments since federation have deeply neglected this aspect of the nationās heritage. Malaysiaās
soul was never monocultural. It was forged through Hindu-Buddhist
kingdoms, Arab and Chinese traders, Indian labourers, indigenous
communities, and Islamic sultanates.
On the Other Hand : Why is it that Article 11(2) of the Federal Constitution is ignored?
It states:
'No person shall be compelled to pay any tax the proceeds of which are specially allocated in whole or in part for the purposes of a religion other than his own.'
If the Islamic religious authorities quote the law, then why do successive Muslim-led governments breach the Federal Constitution with impunity, when their actions favor Islam, and oppresses non-Muslims?
The bailout of Tabung Haji using taxpayers funds is a clear breach of the Federal Constitution, and so is the use of taxpayers funds from the Consolidated Fund, to pay for JAKIM, TH, and all State Islamic bodies, like JAIS. It is completely ILLEGAL to use the taxes paid by non-Muslims to fund these organisations.
When is Mkini going to ask politicians this question? Why so scared to uphold the Constitution?
Taliban cut Afghan manās body into pieces to āshow what they do with gay peopleā by Lily Wakefield
The Pink News : A gay man in Afghanistan has described how the Taliban killed his boyfriend and ācut his body into piecesā to āshow what they do with gay peopleā.
The 26-year-old, going by the pseudonym of āGabirā to protect his identity, told the i that he and his boyfriend were sitting in a restaurant together in Afghanistanās capital, Kabul, when the city was seized by the Taliban on 15 August.
They both rushed back to their respective homes, and soon Gabir was
unable to get hold of his partner as his phone signal and internet
connection began to fail.
He said: āAt 5 or 6 oāclock, my brother told me something has
happened, that āyou should contact your friendsā. When I call my
friends, everyoneās phone is off.ā
Tragically, Gabir finally discovered from a friend that his
boyfriend, who was just 24 years old, had been tracked down by the
Taliban and killed.
āTwo cars came, with Taliban in it,ā he said. āThey said, āWhere is his home?ā and beat him so much. They took him away ā nobody knows where ā and then they kill him.
āAfterwards they said they brought the body [back] and cut his body
into pieces to show the people that this is what we do with gay people.ā Gabir and his boyfriend had been together for eight months after
meeting at university, and had been planning to leave Afghanistan to get
married.
Following the young manās horrific death, Gabir hasnāt even had time to grieve, as he is in hiding and fearing for his own life.
He recently received an anonymous call from someone who told him: āI
know you are gay, before capturing Kabul we knew everything about you,
you have three or four friends who are gay, you have a boyfriend.
āOnce we settle here in Kabul we will not let you live. If we find you, we will kill you.ā Since then, Gabir has been on the run, but he said: āIām 100 per cent sure Iām going to die. There is no hope for me.ā In a heartbreaking message to the British government, Gabir added:
āI just want to leave this country. I donāt want to die. āI donāt want them to kill me and cut me into pieces like they did my boyfriend. āWe deserve to live⦠Please, please, please, save us.ā
Cops have recorded Bawang's statement over anti-DAP writings, aide says
Malaysiakini : When contacted by Malaysiakini, Hadiās aide Syahir Sulaiman
said the Marang MP had given his statement to the police in Kuala
Lumpur, but he declined to specify which article Hadi was questioned
over. Earlier, Syahir took to social media to state that police
took Hadi's statement following several reports lodged over the latter's
writings, which allegedly offended DAP.
āOn this issue, the PAS
president always gives his full cooperation and in fact says that he is
willing to be tried in court if charged,ā the Bachok MP said. Over recent weeks, Hadi had used his āMinda Presidenā column in Harakahdaily to criticise DAP, a party he described as continuing the ācolonial legacy of marginalising Malays and Islamā.
Hadi had also criticised Malaysiakini, describing the media outlet as a supporter of DAP and helping propagate the partyās ādeviant teachingsā (ajaran sesat) of secularism.
Syahir Sulaiman
Four Malay DAP leaders have criticised Hadi over his statements, accusing him of sowing hatred and questioning why PAS had worked with DAP in the past.
OCT : This is wayang for show only. Hadi had been asked to provide statements so many regarding his speeches. Sad to say, nothing happens after that. He is the leader of PAS. This makes him untouchable.
There is no way the Madani Govt will prosecute him even though his speech had insulted NM. However, if any DAP members made a similar racial speech, that person will be swiftly arested, charged and imprisoned before the next sunrise.
This is how the Madani Govt investigates 2R or 3R infringements. Selective prosecution as past cases had shown. Nothing is fair for NM. NM has to take the insults lying down.
RZee : Untouchable. He know it. No further action. And the racist insulting statements will go on and on. Only good thing is he is old.
Dr Suresh Kumar : Hadi has no respect for the constitutionand and the non-Malay citizens of the country whatsoever. He has been spewing spiteful comments for a very long time but goes scot-free.
We can accept if there is truth in what he says, but no, he lies without backing up with facts or evidence. At an advanced age he should be uniting Malaysians but instead he is creating deep fissures among Malaysians using religion and weaponising it turn people against one another.
All this is just to score political brownie points. How sad? I feel sorry for this man actually because whatever religious knowledge imparted on him seems wasted. No religion teaches its adherents to hate people of another faith or race. Just imagine if such hateful speech had come from the non-Malay politicians.
They will be visited by balaclava clad men at midnight. Notice that not a single PKR Malay politician dare censure him. And that Chameleon has no qualms talking about human rights, upholding morality and values and 'dakwah bil hal' (lead by example), but has all the time to poke his nose into other countries affairs. What hypocrites we have as leaders. I feel sorry for the future generation.
darmakochi : Abdul Hadi Awang please grow up! Please remember you are living in a multiracial country and as a very senior person you must say and act to bring peace and understanding among the different races and religions.
Every Malaysian MUST respect the different races and different religions. You are very much senior than me!
I was born in 1953 in Kedah! As a retired teacher and principal I always told my teachers and students to act to promote interracial and interreligious understanding among the the different races and religions.
Malaysiakini : COMMENT | If Malaysia believes
territorial integrity gives a country the right to use force against a
territory that wants to separate, what would Putrajaya say if another
sovereign state applied the same reasoning to Sabah or Sarawak?
Incredibly, during his interview with Al Jazeera,
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim turned Malaysia's carefully balanced
position on China and Taiwan into an unnecessary diplomatic headache.
Whilst Malaysia has every right to maintain its long-standing One China
policy, there is a world of difference between recognising that policy
and appearing to endorse China's right to use force to achieve
reunification.
And that is where Anwar poked the hornet's nest.
Kajang pigeon : Anwar really shouldnāt be allowed anywhere near an international stage without adult supervision. The moment diplomacy requires a bit of polish and statesmanship, he somehow gives off the energy of a man who wandered into the wrong conference and decided to improvise.
Perhaps he should stick to the āboleh lahā kampung stages same wavelength, lower expectations (an IQ) , and if the speech goes nowhere, somebody can just turn up the karaoke machine or wave a Palestinian flag
Dr Peter Jebaseelan Jesudason : Taiwan's status with regard to its sovereignity is still in limbo according to international law. It is a sensitive issue with huge geopolitical ramifications.
USA has stated it will not sit idly by and allow China to invade Taiwan.
Why then did Anwar show a foolhardy bias in a contentious issue involving 2 rival superpowers. As a small country economically and militarily, Malaysia must remain neutral.
We saw the lop sided deals UMNO made with China under Najib and note that Jho Low, one of the chief architects of 1MDB, is thought to be in hiding in China, with no serious attempts by Malaysia to extradite him.
Our systemic corruption remains a problem and with UMNO holding the Damoclese sword over Anwar's survival, it has been allowed to squeeze Madani for all its worth. One can expect the cosy relationship with China to remain.
Taiwan is not a recognised part of China according to international law or United Nation treaties. As such, Anwar's comment that he would support China's right to defend its territory by force is pussillanimous , unprincipled and a misreading of China's actual sovereignity.
Tajuddin questions muftis, Muslim NGOs over 'silence' on Hadi's anti-DAP remarks
Malaysiakini : National Unity Council member Tajuddin Rasdi has questioned the
silence of religious authorities, Muslim NGOs and academics over PAS
president Abdul Hadi Awangās recent remarks against DAP and Malaysiakini. In
a statement, Tajuddin warned that Hadiās narrative could deepen racial
and religious divisions and push the country towards unhealthy
conservatism.
āWith respect to Hadiās incredulous accusations of DAP and Malaysiakini
having an insidious agenda against Islam, I would like to ask three
institutions why they are not responding to Hadi's toxic narrative that
will divide this country and may cause an irreversible change towards
unhealthy religious and racial conservatism,ā he said.
The architecture professor first turned his attention to state muftis. āFirstly,
why are the muftis silent against this tirade of Hadi? Are they afraid
of him? Are the muftis incapable intellectually of countering his
Quranic interpretation? Or do the muftis agree with him?ā he asked.
He
then took aim at Muslim NGOs including the Malaysian Islamic Youth
Movement (Abim) and Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia (Ikram), which have been
associated with progressive Islamic thought. āSecondly, why are
NGOs such as Abim and Ikram silent like a cemetery? Did they not sweep
the country with the idea of progressive political Islam? Or are they
afraid of conservative Malay backlash that will destroy their business
interests?ā he said.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang
Tajuddin
then questioned academics, asking why none had spoken up in defence of
the Federal Constitution and Rukun Negara or offered an alternative
national narrative on Islam and Malaysia.
apanama is back : It is time for Abdul Hadi Awang to be put in jail after arrest, prosecution, and sentencing. There is no point in issuing a statement, questioning the muftis, Muslim NGOs, and academics, making a police report, collecting a statement from Hadi by the police, which will later be forgotten, or NFA, countering him, etc.
In fact, the Anwar administration is at fault because your inaction gives the perception that Hadi is untouchable when, by right, he is easily touchable if you choose to do so.
The PM has at his disposal the police, FRU, special commandos, and the Army, which will ensure public order in case that racist fellow is arrested and jailed, unless the PM is a coward and prefers to play safe, which gives Hadi an extra mile to be even more racist.
Everyone is saying Abdul Hadi Awang is dangerous to our social fabric, but no one dares to get rid of him by jailing him.
DO NOT CARE about his age and health when he himself does not care when issuing racist and unfounded statements, hiding behind his "Tak Ada Minda President" His mouth is toxic.
If I were the Prime Minister today, Abdul Hadi Awang would be in jail for a very long time.
For me, my country's safety, social cohesion, and secularism are important.
Get rid of that toxic person once and for all.
Remember one thing: Hadi is trying hard to increase the number of conservative voters rather than progressive voters for the next GE, and MADani seems relaxed and will later blame him, even though MADani currently has the power to curtail it.
Hadi will repeat his antics.
Dr Suresh Kumar : As usual the head of PKR's kepala (President) is buried in the sand. His modus operandi whenever the nons get insulted. Where are the other PKR Malay leaders? When one of your coalition partners is getting insulted, is it not your duty to defend them?
When a so-called pious man is cooking up a diabolical plot to destroy your partner and the harmony of the nation, is it not your collective responsibility to speak out? Perhaps the royals can reprimand the old man as he is getting out of control with his daily dose of venom.
'Demanding accountability is not incitement': Senator backs Rayer in Perlis temple row
Malaysiakini : Penang Hindu Endowments Board deputy chairperson Senator Dr A
Lingeshwaran has defended Jelutong MP RSN Rayerās right to speak up over
the demolition of the Veeramakaliamman Temple in Bukit Lagi, Kangar.
Lingeshwaran said Rayer (above, left),
as a national leader, was entitled to raise concerns over an issue
involving a place of worship and inter-ethnic and inter-religious
harmony. āWhen he calls for racial sentiments not to be inflamed, that does not mean he is inflaming racial sentiments.
āInstead,
he is exercising his right and responsibility as a leader to call on
all parties to ensure that the issue does not become more tense,ā the
DAP leader said in a statement today. Lingeshwaranās
remarks came after Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin criticised Rayer
over the latterās objections to the demolition on Aug 20.
Rayer
had condemned the Perlis government's action, calling it deeply
regrettable, warning that the public must not allow Perikatan Nasional
to take power at the federal level, describing the coalition as
"insensitive and inconsiderate towards a plural society, other ethnic
groups and religions". He further urged BN to reconsider its political cooperation with PN for the sake of peace and harmony.
"Even
if there had been any non-compliance on the part of the temple, the
state government should have adopted a more prudent approach to resolve
the issue... demolition is not the solution," Rayer said in a statement
on Thursday.
Not about politics
Following
this, Asri yesterday defended the demolition as a matter of law and land
ownership, arguing that places of worship cannot be built through land
encroachment. āWe are in a country governed by laws, not in a jungle where land has no owner. āThis
MP should be teaching the people to abide by the law, not to construct
buildings as they please without regard for regulations or ownership,ā
he said, referring to Rayer.
The mufti pointed out that even
private homes cannot be built on public land or private property
belonging to others, let alone a place of worship. āIs there any
religion in this world that teaches people to āgrabā someone elseās land
to build a place of worship? If there isnāt, then donāt do it!ā Asri
stressed.
He also accused Rayer of worsening unease among the Malay-Muslim community. Asri maintained that the demolition had nothing to do with politics, describing it instead as an enforcement issue. āWhat happened in Perlis, in my view, has nothing to do with political parties, and I am not a supporter of any political party. āWhat happened was the enforcement of regulations and the rule of law.
āYB, do not inflame racial sentiments or religious tensions. The consequences for this country could be dire,ā he warned. The precise basis for the demolition so far remains unclear. The
Perlis government has yet to clarify the landās ownership status, the
specific legal provisions relied on, the notices issued to the temple
committee, or the agency that ordered and carried out the demolition.
Know the difference
Responding
to Asriās criticism, Lingeshwaran said seeking an explanation from the
Perlis government should not be equated with stoking racial tensions.
Senator Dr A Lingeshwaran
āDefending the rights and interests of the community is not incitement. āWe must distinguish between demanding government accountability and stoking racial sentiments,ā he said. Lingeshwaran
also questioned why Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah has not
publicly explained the state governmentās role in the demolition.
While
he respected Asriās right to comment on religious, moral and social
harmony matters, he said it was the menteri besarās responsibility to
address concerns related to his administration. āWhy is the mufti
the one responding to this issue when the menteri besar himself has yet
to explain the state governmentās actions? āWas this a decision of
the state government? If so, why has the menteri besar not come forward
to answer for it himself?ā he asked.
Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah
Lingeshwaran
maintained that if the demolition stemmed from land status, legal
non-compliance or administrative matters, state authorities, not
religious figures, must clarify the basis for the action. āThe
mufti may offer views concerning religious harmony. But the mufti is not
the head of the state government and is not responsible for the state
governmentās administrative decisions,ā he said.
He added that enforcement involving places of worship must be transparent, fair, reasonable and prudent. āThe
Hindu community is not asking for special treatment. We are only asking
for justice, transparency, due process and respect for places of
worship in a multiracial and multireligious country,ā he said.
Veteran 1972 : When it suits them when they apply the law of the jungle, examples are like body snatching of Everest hero Maniam Moorthy. His wife, S. Kaliammal, strongly disputed the conversion. She stated he never practiced Islam, continued to eat pork, consumed alcohol, and celebrated Hindu festivals with his family.
Or like converting under aged kids like in the recent case of Madam Madam Loh Siew Hong (frequently referred to in media reports as Madam Loh, the Federal Court of Malaysia definitively ruled that her three children remain non-Muslim) because they were converted unilaterally by their father without her consent. Hypocrisy is an epidemic amongst their kind.
GoldenLeopard6165 : Asri needs to explain what is his role in critisizing a member of parliament doing his duty in bringing up an important issue.Asri is welcome to stand for elections if he wants to speak on political issues.
Brothels as a New Benefit for Migrants in the UK? By Hugh Fitzgerald
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Edwina Currie
Robert Spencer : About 250,000 English girls are estimated to have been the victims of
Muslim ā mainly Pakistani ā grooming gangs in the UK. Seduced, plied
with liquor and drugs, passed around for the sexual pleasure of dozens
or, in some cases, many hundreds of Muslim males, these girls have had
their lives ruined.
At the same time, not just in the UK but all over
Europe, young Muslim males have been committing sexual assaults,
including rapes, at levels far beyond those of non-Muslim men.
One Conservative member of Parliament, and a former minister of
health, Edwina Currie, has suggested a possible solution to the
staggering number of rapes by Muslims in the UK. She proposes that the
government provide free brothels where Muslim migrants can go to satisfy
their apparently uncontrollable urges, rather than ābeing forcedā to
seek their sexual outlet through rapes, either as individuals or as
members of grooming gangs.
More on the preposterous, but telling, proposal can be found here:
āIn the UK, a new benefit for illegal migrants bruited: Free brothels,ā
by Monica Showalter, American Thinker, August 16, 2026:
As if Britainās taxpayers havenāt already paid for
migrantsā every need in spades, a new proposal is emerging for illegal
border crossers, who are mostly military aged young men: Brothels.
The former Conservative minister Edwina Currie has
defended her suggestion that there should be āa brothelā in an
Oxfordshire village set to host 1,200 asylum seekers.
The former health minister was asked on Times Radio recently for her
opinion on whether itās right that affluent areas and rural areas should
take their fair share of migrants. The village is Piddington, where residents are up in arms over Prime
Minister Andy Burnhamās plan to place 1,200 migrants in a picturesque
and quiet village with only 400 residents
Malaysiakini : PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has linked criticism of alleged
misconduct at Tabung Haji to what he claimed was an attempt to tarnish
Islamās image. In a lengthy article shared today, Hadi also drew a
comparison with the Penang undersea tunnel case involving Lim Guan Eng,
although he did not name the former Penang chief minister.
āAs for the Penang undersea tunnel case, its trial is halfway through, then silent, and rarely brought up,ā he said. However,
he claimed the Tabung Haji issue had been amplified by āa handfulā of
people who exaggerated the matter with the malicious intent of shaming
Malay-Muslims over misconduct.
āWe
do not deny that there are Islamic financial institutions that commit
transgressions and misconduct, but business institutions like GLCs and
others, whose misconduct and corruption are many times worse, are swept
under the carpet. āTherefore, Tabung Hajiās wrongdoings are made into headlines because its Islamic brand is targeted,ā he claimed.
Jit : Madani suppressing old funds from 1MDB to PAS. Do bring this out and see who is truthfully clean as always PAS shouts.
no difference : 'Silence' in the Penang tunnel case ? The Penang tunnel case is already before the courts and the trial is still ongoing. For the Tabung Haji case, more than three years after the RCI report was out, still nobody is charged in court yet.
Loga : Hadi Bawang's opinions..
Stale rancid onions...
Sitting on shelf after expiry date waiting for buyers no solutions...
For extending political life , on shelf on a mission....
To bring down market by contaminating fresh onions
with short sighted vision...
Turning other groceries into hate poison.
Lim You's lethal left foot honed by father since childhood
Malaysiakini : The sharpness of her left foot, honed by her father since childhood,
proved to be a potent weapon for young player Lim You as she scored
seven goals to help the Malayan Tigress Under-17 squad thrash Saudi
Arabia 9-0 in their Group A match of the 2026 Srikandi Merdeka Cup in
Kudus, Indonesia, on Tuesday.
Lim said her father had trained her
left foot extensively since she was young because there were not many
left-footed players, regarding the advantage as a speciality that should
be utilised through football.
In Tuesday's match, the 14-year-old
scored all seven goals with her left foot, proving that the special
touch nurtured by her father from a young age could be one of the most
valuable assets in her debut with the national squad.
"Since I was
little, my dad has been training my left foot a lot because not a lot
of people are left-footed and it's just like a speciality kind of thing.
I'm lucky to be left-footed.
"The
seven goals, it's not all credit to me because my teammates got me the
ball and I just helped finish the play," she told reporters during a
virtual press conference organised by the Football Association of
Malaysia (FAM) yesterday.
Lim said her debut with the national
squad also came with some challenges - language barrier being one -
because she was not very fluent in Malay.
Lim You in action against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday
However,
the young player said she was grateful to have adapted well with her
teammates and enjoyed her first experience with the national squad.
Observer2021 : Hopefully she migrates permanently to the US or Taiwan. Malaysia is not worthy of having talented individuals
Headhunter : From a professional football career perspective, she would be better off in a country where she can thrive with a professional team, access quality coaching, and train at proper venues, and where the standard of football is higher.
Unfortunately, Malaysia cannot offer her that at this time. We all wish her the best, no matter where she ends up, as long as she can make the most of her career and bring honor to Malaysia.
Joe Satriani : My aunty,cousins and nieces are in carlsbad near san diego.if you are nearby and read this, text this.
Malaysiakini : PAS president Abdul Hadi Awangās latest broadside against DAP in his
āMinda Presidenā (presidentās mind) column has drawn a sharp rebuke from
the partyās Malay leaders, who accused him of sowing hatred and
questioned why PAS had worked with DAP in the past.
In a joint statement, the DAP quartet also concluded that Hadi (above) does not produce scholarly articles, but instead conjures āweaponsā that exploit Islam for his political interests.
āAs
we approach the 69th National Day celebrations, it is deeply
regrettable if a political leader chooses language that could divide the
people.
āWhat we should defend is a Malaysia that upholds the
Constitution, respects Islam as the religion of the Federation,
safeguards the rights of all citizens and builds unity in diversity, not
a politics of fear and division,ā they said.
The
joint statement was issued by DAP vice-chairperson and Bangi MP
Syahredzan Johan, Banting MP Young Syefura Othman, Bukit Bendera MP
Syerleena Abdul Rashid and Senator Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali.
(From left) Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali, Young Syefura Othman, Syahredzan Johan, and Syerleena Abdul Rashid
The
leaders emphasised that DAP has always upheld the Federal Constitution,
including Islamās position as the religion of the Federation, the
special position of Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak, Malay as
the national language, and the position of the Malay rulers.
āDAP
also respects the principles of parliamentary democracy, freedom of
religion, the legitimate interests of all communities, as well as the
right of citizens to speak, learn and teach in their mother tongues.
OrangeGoat5810 : Waiting for all the hate sayers to come out in force accusing and repeating their mantra of the DAP of being only a Chinese party -- with only Chinese party interests -- despite their Indian / Singh representatives and Malay Muslim representatives speaking out
Meerkat : Hadi is bent on being a sower of discord, even when it shows how foolish his statements are. He's going to pay for it, trust me.
Demi Rakyat : Hadi is anembarrassment to Malaysia and all Malaysians.
Malukan Agama, Bangsa dan Negara!
Malaysiakini : Since embarking on their political journey with DAP, party central
executive committee member Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali and vice-chairperson
Syahredzan Johan have faced relentless criticism. Among the
labels hurled at them were "traitors" to the Malays and Islam, amid
long-standing perceptions among some conservative Malays that DAP poses a
threat to their interests and identity.
During an interview on an episode of KiniTVās āExplain Sikitā podcast, the duo shared how they have endured some of the most painful attacks. "To me, the worst and most hurtful label was when some called me a 'kafir' (infidel)," said Syahredzan (above, left).
"As a Muslim, that is something totally unacceptable because it has come to the extent of questioning my religious belief. "That label actually makes me angry. Other than that, like being called 'barua' (lackey) and sorts, I think I have gotten used to it," the Bangi MP added.
According to Syahredzan, such nasty attacks mostly occurred online so far. Similarly, Sheikh Umar said that while he had grown accustomed to the various insults hurled at him, being called a ākafirā still hurt.
DAP central executive committee member Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali
āPart and parcel of politicsā
The
former Paloh assemblyperson, however, mentioned that he had learned to
ignore such labels, viewing them as part and parcel of his political
struggle.
Dr Peter Jebaseelan Jesudason : Hell will freeze over when PAS stops labelling DAP " Kafir " or "Murtad".
I believe these DAP Malay politicians should not respond to accusations regarding their personal faith.
PAS can always find Quranic justification to brand Syahredzan and Sheikh Umar "Kafirs" or "Murtad" so this polemic will never end. By responding, they are inviting further accusations.
The best response is to say " Let Allah be the Judge " and let the matter rest.
These accusations are defamatory so if they persist, lawyer's notices should be sent out.
Turnedback : Who are those real traitors, can't the Malay Muslim see them clearly, they are those Malay who Sakau billions and billions from Tabung Haji, 1MDB , Felda , Mara and many more institutions that set up to help the poor Malay.
Optimus : Hadi truly belongs to the longkang. Muslims should be very ashamed to have this lebai who promotes hatred and distrust, in that if anyone is not with him, then they are against him and being labelled as such.
Malaysiakini : āNothing will stop China from being reunified,ā the countryās Foreign Ministry posted on X last night. Anwar responded by citing Malaysia as an example, saying that if a state decides to separate, he would also try to stop it.
āIf one province decides to break away, do we use force? I think I will protect the sanctity and unity of the nation,ā he said.When
pressed by the host whether this meant he would use force if there were
a secession, he replied: āYes. Otherwise, (the country) will be
fragmented.ā
In response to the prime ministerās remarks, Taiwanās Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a statement yesterday strongly condemning and refuting Anwarās remarks as denigrating Taiwanās sovereignty. It reiterated that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country, and is not subordinate to China, and accused Anwar of jeopardising peace in the region.
Before Putrajaya speaks about force, it should first ask why increasing numbers of Sabahans and Sarawakians are questioning the existing federal arrangement at all. That question cannot be answered by coercion.
It must be answered by history, constitutional fidelity, fulfilment of promises, equality and continuing democratic consent. SABAH AND SARAWAK ARE NOT MERE PROVINCES!
Taiwan was Malaysiaās fourth-largest trading partner last year, after mainland China, Singapore, and the US; trading primarily in electrical and electronic goods.
Figures from Malaysiaās Statistics Department showed Malaysia imported RM145 billion worth of goods from Taiwan and exported RM88 billion to the island, amounting to 7.61 percent of Malaysiaās external trade.
The figure only covers trade in goods, not services.
Veteran 1972 : We who fought the Communists, got killed, maimed and lost limbs are backing Communists who killed Malaysians. From here to Sarawak. Conveniently forgetting the destitute Veterans who left the service before 2013, repeatedly asking to streamline our pensions.
Took them to court repeatedly spending our own money by crowd funding. This government protected the corrupt and until today our problems not resolved. When they wanted to bury Chin Peng here there was a hue and cry with threats hanging over the Chinese, conveniently forgetting that there was a the 10th Regiment of Malays, in the CPM. Allowing Shamsieh Fakeh to take a tour.
The words double standards mean anything to you, Ketuanan types? China is salami slicing the areas around us. PMX is losing it. The great wall of china was to keep away invaders, anything east of the wall was china, right? The West of the wall were salami sliced into china.
Dr Suresh Kumar : Hey folks, how many of you notice that, there is a sudden influx of Anwaristas aka Awar apologists, boottlickers and cybertroopers flooding the Malaysiakini comments sections trying their best to defend the Chameleon? I tell all these cybertroopers that Anwar is spent force, a pathological liar, a bigot and will be sent packing to his kampung in the 16th GE. Que sera, sera!
Dr Peter Jebaseelan Jesudason : Anwar is treading dangerous ground here and is foolishly opening up a Pandora's Box.
Taiwan has not been formally recognised as part of China according to international law.
As a democratic nation, Malaysia should be supporting the furtherance of democratic governance.
Malaysia as a small nation should not bend to Communist might and support its expansionist pretensions.
Malaysia must not take sides in a sensitive geopolitical issue. Anwar's sentiments will not go down well with Uncle Sam. USA is a superpower and is a vital trading partner and our nation shares so much in common with it.
It is foolhardy to break ties with the world's most powerful and influential democracy in favour of a Communist state.
If Malaysia is to take sides, we must not abandon the principles of Reformasi and must promote democracy. As such, Taiwan as a democratic state should be respected and supported.
If there is to be an impasse in negotiations with PRC, war is not the way. Instead, Anwar should be calling for a Taiwanese national referendum on whether it wants to be part of China or to be an independent democratic sovereign nation.
Legitimising Chinese violence will not end with Taiwan. China claims territories in the South China Sea which countries including Malaysia are challenging.
Selling out Taiwan is a slippery slope and will surely impact on Malaysia in future.
We Have A Country To Save : Whatās wrong with this man ?
Why does he want to poke his nose in a place which is none of his business ?
This man will bring Malaysia to the cleaners.
This statement is really shocking.
On the Other Hand : Is this why he has sent troops into Sabah? Not to protect Sabah from external forces, but actually to use Malaysian troops upon Sabahans if they wish to secede?
Their wish to secede is based on Malaya's non-compliance with MA63, the federal government's breach of MA63, and non-payment of debts owed to Sabah.
MarioT : Gaza man is in hot soup again.
He does not care for international
diplomacy and shoots his mouth to hurt a long standing good friend.
It is time we replaced him before he causes more havoc.
GSVL : Has Anwar lost his mind? Since when has it been Malaysian foreign policy to condone the use of force as a means of resolving a dispute? For example are we going to support North Korea if they attack South Korea under the pretext of reunification of the Korean peninsula?
We will condone India if they attack Pakistan and Bangladesh in order to restore the pre-1947 India? Will we support Russia in its war to retake Ukraine since the latter broke away from the Soviet Union? While we like the vast majority of the world recognise the One China policy, we have always maintained strategic ambiguity on whether or not China is entitled to use force to reunify Taiwan with the mainland.
Anwar seems to have forgotten his history. Go back to the pre-1945 China and then study how the issue of Taiwan arose after the Communists defeated the Nationalists in the mainland in 1945. In fact until the 1970s, most of the world including the UN only recognised the Republic of China as the legitimate government of China, although, its authority was only limited to Taiwan.
Why is Anwar trying to re-write history? As for Malaysia it is entirely possible for Sabah and Sarawak to leave the federation just like Singapore did in 1965. The right to self-determination cannot be supressed by force. If Anwar thinks otherwise then even Israel is justified in its occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza strip based on the de facto situation from 1948 right up to now.
Anwar should be more guarded in his comments. He loves to shoot off his mouth without thinking of the consequences. Leave such sensitive foreign policy issues to the experts in Wisma Putra.
Just Common Sense : What happened to Anwar? He could have said 1 China policy and support dialogue but to say he supports China using force even though that would devastate Taiwan and lead to large scale destruction of property and lives?
The guy has lost his marbles. 1st PM of Malaysia and SEA leader to put foot in mouth like this. If using force is ok then Israel and Palestine using force on each other is ok too? Is this why he never condemned 7 Oct massacre but ever ready to condemn Israel??
Murray Hunter : BORNEOāS PLIGHT IN MALAYSIA FOUNDATION (BoPiMaFo)
19 August 2026
BEFORE TALKING ABOUT FORCE, PUTRAJAYA SHOULD ASK WHY SABAHANS AND SARAWAKIANS ARE QUESTIONING THE FEDERATION
Borneoās
Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo) takes serious note of Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahimās recent remarks during an Al Jazeera
interview in which, while discussing the ChinaāTaiwan question, he
indicated that force would be used if any part of Malaysia attempted to
break away from the Federation.
BoPiMaFo acknowledges the context.
The
Prime Minister was principally discussing China and Taiwan and was
using Malaysia as an analogy. We also recognise that almost any
Malaysian Prime Minister, regardless of political affiliation, would be
expected to defend the territorial integrity of Malaysia.
But the remark nevertheless opens a profound question which cannot simply be brushed aside.
Before
Putrajaya speaks about force, it should first ask why increasing
numbers of Sabahans and Sarawakians are questioning the existing federal
arrangement at all.
That question cannot be answered by coercion. It must be answered by history, constitutional fidelity, fulfilment of promises, equality and continuing democratic consent.
Not only she has strong legs for a 16-year old girl but she has the accuracy too .. wow .. congrats Lim You and the Malaysian's team. Malaysiakini : Meet 'Lethal Lefty' Lim You: Teen sensation fires 7 as M'sia thrashes Saudi 9-0 to reach semis
Malaysiaās Under-16 (U-16) womenās striker Lim You is turning heads at the Srikandi Merdeka Cup in Indonesia after firing seven goals in a thumping 9-0 win over Saudi Arabia to book a place in the semifinals.
The 14-year-old, who has Malaysian-American heritage, lived up to her reputation for possessing a lethal left foot, showing a goal-scoring masterclass that left Saudi Arabia with little answer. Several of Limās goals came from outside the penalty box, showcasing not only the power but also her accuracy and composure.
The events of June 1989 remain some of the most pivotal and controversial moments in modern global history. This comprehensive documentary, "Tiananmen Square:
The
People vs. The Party," provides an in-depth examination of the seven
weeks that shook the foundations of the Chinese Communist Party and
changed the course of the 21st century. The Context of Reform
In the 1980s, China underwent a radical transformation under Paramount Leader Deng Xiaoping.
His "Four Modernizations" promised economic prosperity, but as society opened to Western values, a "Fifth Modernization" (democracy) took root. The decade was a time of rising expectations, but the contradiction between a liberalizing economy and an authoritarian state became impossible to ignore. The sudden death of pro-reform leader Hu Yaobang on April 15, 1989, acted as the spark for a student-led movement that soon swelled to include over a million citizens.
A Divided Leadership
We analyze the internal struggle within the Forbidden City. General Secretary Zhao Ziyang advocated for dialogue and a "socialist democracy," recognizing the protests as essentially patriotic. Conversely, hardliners like Premier Li Peng viewed them as an existential threat. Deng, haunted by the chaos of Mao's Cultural Revolution, saw mass demonstrations as a precursor to anarchy. Through the leaked "Tiananmen Papers," we uncover how Deng eventually sided with the hardliners, leading to the fateful declaration of martial law.
The Spirit of the Square
For many, the occupation of Tiananmen Square was "Chinaās Woodstock." The film captures the jubilant atmosphere of a self-governing city where crime plummeted. From the harrowing hunger strikes to the arrival of the "Goddess of Democracy," we witness the evolution from a plea for reform into a radicalized standoff. The documentary details internal rifts within the student leadership, contrasting the seasoned strategy of Wang Dan and Wuerkaixi with the unyielding command of Chai Ling as tensions reached a boiling point.
The Military Crackdown
The documentary reconstructs the events leading to June 3rd. As 200,000 soldiers from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) converged on Beijing, citizens stood as a human shield, stalling the initial advance. Faced with mutiny within the 38th Army, Deng groomed outsider troops, indoctrinating them to believe they were suppressing a foreign-backed riot. We hear from eyewitnesses, journalists, and medical staff who experienced the absolute horror of live ammunition and advancing tanks on Changan Avenue.
Key Figures Profiled:
⢠Deng Xiaoping: The architect of reform who chose the "worst of all options" to maintain order.
⢠Zhao Ziyang: The reformist who lost his freedom for refusing to turn the army on his people.
⢠Wang Dan & Wuerkaixi: The pragmatic student strategists.
Western Spirit : Your ancestors were real pious Christians who fought to defend Christendom. As you probably know by now, I have very little patience for the modern version of Christianity that Raymond Ibrahim
calls ādoormat Christianity,ā the idea that being Christian means
surrendering before your enemies, feeling embarrassed by your own
civilization, or confusing passivity with virtue.
Christians
have enemies in two senses: spiritual and physical, and Scripture
speaks to both. Against the spiritual enemy, the Christian fights with
prayer, faith, repentance, truth, and the Word of God; against a
physical enemy who comes to kill, conquer, or destroy, Christian charity
does not require helplessness. Christ Himself told His disciples, āhe
who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy oneā (Luke 22:36),
and when they answered that they possessed two swords, He replied, āIt
is enoughā (Luke 22:38).
Our forefathers understood that
distinction. They could pray for their enemies while defending their
people from them, forgive personal injuries while resisting invasion,
and fight the spiritual battle for souls while taking up the physical
sword when their families, churches, and homelands required protection.
And when Muslim armies came against Christendom, they did exactly that. Fortunately, many of them left us their own words. Here is what they saidā¦
John of Capistrano to the Christian defenders during the night assault on Belgrade, July 21ā22, 1456:
āBehold,
my sons, now is the acceptable time, now is the time of the crown, now
is the time of redemption from sin. Defend the name of Jesus Christ
manfully and boldly; charge against the enemy of Christianity; fight to
defend the Catholic faith. Behold, the dogs are ready to erase the name
of Christ from the earth, and to invade, occupy and strike down
Christendom. Trust now that God will help his cause⦠Do not fear those
who kill the body, but who cannot kill the soul⦠Blessed is the one who
is struck for the love of Christ; more blessed is the one who sheds his
blood for Christās defense; and most blessed is the one who lays down
his life and dies for Christās honor. Whether you conquer on earth or
are conquered, you will be victorious in heaven. Oh Hungarians! ā¦
strengthen Christians in their weakness; come to the aid of Christendom;
take a stand against your enemies.ā
Vlad III, letter to King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary, 11 February 1462, explaining why he broke peace with the Sultan:
Understanding PAS: Visions and policies for a future Malaysian government
Murray Hunter : Fortunately, within the party, a substantial cohort of younger, well-educated professionals, technocrats and administrators advance a different vision. PAS has long been portrayed in parts of the Malaysian media and by
political opponents as an extreme religious party whose rise to federal
power would threaten the interests of non-Muslims.
Rhetoric from some older leaders has reinforced this image. Over the years, PAS has often drawn plenty of flak over some of its statements, especially from the non-Muslims in the country.
One
such statement was from PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, who had
accused non-Muslims and non-Bumiputeras of being the āroots of
corruptionā in the country.
In a continuation of his pro-Malay
rhetoric, Hadi had also called for non-Muslims to just let the majority
ethnic group continue to hold the reins of the country.
The
Marang MP had said that non-Muslims should be grateful that they have
been given āa placeā in this country through the jus soli citizenship
policy that he claimed would not be afforded everywhere else.
One
must also not forget the recent remarks from Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk
Seri Muhammad Sanusi Mohd Nor that āthe Chinese have China, the Indians
have India, the Cambodians have Cambodia, and the Malays only have
Malaysiaā.
The professional class within PAS frames Islamic
principles not primarily as restrictive legislation but as an ethical
foundation for transparent, accountable and competent governance aimed
at returning Malaysia to stronger regional standing.
Fortunately,
within the party, a substantial cohort of younger, well-educated
professionals, technocrats and administrators advance a different
vision.
This perspective is reflected in figures such as
Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and a wider
team of professionals prepared to administer government on technocratic
lines that the civil service could respect.
What Jacob Rees-Mogg Didnāt Tell You About the Muslim Conquest of Constantinople
Raymond Ibrahim : Mogg tried to mog us with a fairy tale about enlightened Muslims who ātookā Constantinople only to preserve works of literature and philosophy.
British politician Jacob William Rees-Mogg recently made some
outlandish remarks that in many ways betray why formerly āgreatā Britain
has fallen prey to Islamāthat is, because its ābright menā believe in
and promote fairy tales disguised as āhistory.ā
Mogg
appeared in an Oxford Union Debate on Islam, where he argued on the
āpro-Islamā side, saying that the West has no right to be suspicious of
Islam, or see it as different than any other religion.
As
proof of this, Mogg pretended to be a historianāincluding by making
āhistorical comparisons,ā because āthey matter,ā because āwe learn from
our history,ā he insisted. He then offered the following comparison (click here to watch rather than read him):
The
Christians, in 1204, sacked, pillaged, and destroyed Constantinople.
They stole things, they took things; some of them you can still see in
Venice today. But in 1453, the 21-year-old Mehmet II took
Constantinopleādo you know what he did? He wrote down some of the great
works of Western literature, scholarship, and philosophy, so they were
preserved. He had ancient manuscripts copied for preservation. These are
documents that might otherwise have been lost to us, and to Western
civilization.
Moggās point was that, if
Muslims were historically more advanced, civilized, and tolerant than
Medieval Christians, then clearly Islam is not inherently backwards,
savage, and intolerant. Clearly shifting circumstancesāwhich currently
seem favorable to the West, and not to Muslimsāexplain modern day Muslim
angst and frustration. In short, itās not Islam itself, but all sorts
of other factors surrounding itāfactors which would no doubt cause
modern Western people to behave just like the worst of modern-day
Muslims if the former experienced them.
Of course, this entire point crumbles if Moggās historical example is false or misleading in any way. And as it happens, it most certainly isāand not just in one but two ways: 1) itās engaged in what is known as ālies by omission,ā and 2) it is built on a false but widely believed assumption.
In this article, we will deal with the first deceptionāthe many lies by omission. Moggās claims about the Crusader sack of Constantinople in 1204 are accurate. Note, however, how the transition to Mehmet begins with a ābutāāimplying that the Muslims behaved more nobly than the crusaders.
Note,
too, how, whereas Mogg forthrightly declares that the crusaders
āsacked, pillaged, and destroyed Constantinople,ā Mehmet merely ātookā it. Hereās Moggās assertion again, in all its glory:
The
Christians, in 1204, sacked, pillaged, and destroyed Constantinopleā¦
But in 1453, the 21-year-old Mehmet II took Constantinopleādo you know
what he did?
Actually, we do
know what Mehmet did, thanks to numerous contemporary and eyewitness
accountsāand it wasnāt to write down āsome of the great works of Western
literature, scholarship, and philosophy, so they were preserved,ā as
Mogg would mog us into believing.