MH370 dents MAS' second quarter earnings

KINIBIZ The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in March 2014 has had an adverse impact on the airline’s financials with a reported net loss of RM307 million for the second quarter ended June.

Together with earlier losses of RM443 million in the first quarter, the national carrier’s first half losses now stand at RM750 million or 65 percent more than the same six-month period last year.

“We expected the impact of MH370 on the performance in the second quarter. Given that, our team put in much hard work and effort to regain market confidence and rebuild sales.

“Tragically, just as we were beginning to see signs of recovery in all regions, we were dealt the blow of MH17,” said Malaysia Airlines CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya (left).

In the aftermath of the MH370 disaster, specifically the second quarter months of April, May and June, revenue from operations fell 5% year-on-year. Malaysia Airlines says the decline was “a result of lower yield and seat factor.”

Cost saving measures and productivity improvements, have been unable to boost financial performance, Malaysia Airlines admitted in a statement today.

Acknowledging the way animals enrich our lives

In a few weeks, on Oct 4, people from all walks of life around the globe will be celebrating World Animal Day. Animal welfare organisations and other related agencies worldwide are currently busy planning and preparing to celebrate this day which is dedicated to animals and to those who care for them.

World Animal Day is a day to celebrate and appreciate our relationship with the animals that share our planet and the way they enrich our lives. It is also a day to speak out against all forms of animal cruelty  and to advocate for the protection of wildlife habitats that is shrinking. This day belongs to all the citizens of the world and the animals that is sharing their environment.

As human beings we are  said to to be neighbours, roommates and friends to these creatures. It is our responsibility to help and protect these animals so that their future generations can grow and thrive, which helps our future generations will be blessed to enjoy and  share their lives with these animals.

World Animal Day began in 1931 as a way to highlight the plight of endangered species. It has now evolved into a special day to honour all the animals in the world regardless of the celebrants’ nationality, religion, faith or political beliefs.

The mission of World Animal Day in short are:

• To celebrate animal life in all forms,
• Celebrate humankind’s relationship to the animal kingdom,
• To acknowledge the diverse roles that animals play in our lives - from being our companions, supporting and helping us to bringing a a sense of wonder into our lives, and
• To acknowledge and be thankful in the way animals enrich our lives.

According to an international animal welfare organisation report on the Net, an estimated 80 percent of the world’s 1 billion cats and dogs are said to be strays or neglected. The report also  pointed out that many of the 60 billion farm animals raised in the world today are said to be inhumanely treated and during disasters these  animals are forgotten.

 Daily around the world, hundreds of animals are said to be facing some form of  barbaric treatment at the hands of individuals and groups who are either  ignorant or don’t care two hoots about animal welfare or safety. The situation is getting worse in countries where  animal welfare legislations and enforcement are lacking to curb and protect  heinous animal cruelty.

One of the good things about World Animal Day is that it can be celebrated indoors or outdoors. As such local animal welfare oganisations, including  government agencies such as the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and the Wildlife Depatment (Perhilitan) should  not miss out on this opportunity to highlight the mutual benefits man derives by taking good care of the well-being and safety of the animals that share our environment.

There are so many things that we can do in conjunction with World Animal Day celebrations in Malaysia. I am sure by now  our local  animal welfare NGOs  should have lined up various  events and programmes to commomarate this special day where the public can participate.

Our national animal guardians DVS and Perhilitan, with resources and expertise should be playing a prominent role a sponsoring and promoting events and  campaigns to commemorate  World Animal Day. It is sad and disappointing to note that in the past DVS and Perhilitan have  being rather silent or have not shown enough  enthusiasm  in promoting World Animal Day celebrations in the country.

DVS and Perhilitan should be in the forefront

Ideally DVS and Perhilitan should be in the forefront in organising events and programmes to celebrate this World Animal  Day. There are so many ways this World Animal Day can be celebrated.

Business entities, especially multi-national companies, can do their part by  to contributing in cash or kind to help out in the activities undertaken by the local animal welfare organisations which are facing financial constraints.

Supermarkets and outher business outlets can do their part, too, on this special day by offering special discount sales for pet food and other items. Fast food chains can organise special events for patrons especially children on this day. Veterinary clinics and hospitals can introduce special rebates for their services for pet owners.

The public can also play their role as individuals in boycotting business products originating from animal body parts such as fur, feather, tusk, etc. The buying of consumer goods and products derived from unethical and heinous killing of animals should be stopped.

The practice of patronising unethical  business outlets which deals with consumer goods derived from illegal (poaching) animal parts  has been cited as one of the major contributing factor for  heinous animal cruelty and the extinction of many protected animal species.

If you are an animal lover and you have  yet to join any of the local animal welfare organisations, take this opportunity during the world animal day celebration to get involved and do your part. Alternatively you can lend your voice to join  more than 1.5 million people around world  to show your support to a draft proposal by the World Animal Protection Society to the United Nation  on the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW).

This is an  inter-governmental agreement among people and nations to recognise that animals are sentient beings and that we respect  their welfare and end all forms of  animal cruelty. Sign the online petition to show your support for the proposed UDAW atwww.animalsmatter.org.

Meanwhile, I appeal to government agencies which are directly involved in the welfare and well-being of our small and large animals, especially the DVS and Perhilitan, to play their part in making this World Animal Day celebrations a meaningful and memorable one. There are a hundred and one thing the DVS and Perhilitan can do by joining forces with the NGOS to promote animal welfare  awareness among the  public.

It will be memorable and meaningful World Animal Day celebration for Malaysians this year the authorities honour their pledge  to set up the Malaysian Animal Welfare Advisory Council and table the long-awaited new Animal Welfare Bill in Parliament for the October 2014 parliament session.

To commemorate the world animal day celebrations I wish to suggest that the authorities consider holding a special ceremony to recognise and reward outstanding  work by any individual or organisation that has contributed immensely to animal welfare and safety in the country.

Special awards should be given to outstanding  journalists who have created an impact on society to  significantly raise the standard and awareness  of animal welfare and safety. The authorities should make this award presentation ceremony an annual event  to commemorate the celebration of World Animal Day.

Titah istana tipiskan peluang Azizah?

Sampai bila kemelut pentadbiran Selangor akan berakhir?

Adakah Pakatan Rakyat akan terus utuh, terutamanya selepas Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim menghadap sultan awal petang tadi?

Walaupun Khalid memilih 'peralihan lancar' dengan menyatakan hasratnya meletakkan jawatan, titah sultan yang meminta lebih daripada dua calon pengganti menteri besar mungkin memanjangkan lagi kemelut itu.

Titah itu boleh ditafsirkan sebagai tanda-tanda bahawa calon tunggal Pakatan Rakyat Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Ismail, presiden PKR, bukan pilihan istana.

Justeru, nasib Azizah masih penuh teka-teki walaupun beliau sudah mendapat sokongan majoriti daripada anggota Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN), sekurang-kurangnya 30 daripada 56 ADUN.

Justeru, adakah peluang Azmin kembali cerah dengan perkembangan terbaru ini?

Tinjauan Merdeka Centre baru-baru ini bagaimanapun mendapati Azmin masih seorang calon kurang popular.

Everyone is Welcome!

CLICK HERE NOW!!!

MAS crew members resigned after jet disasters

Almost 200 Malaysia Airline System Bhd (MAS) crew members have resigned
notably after the double airline tragedies involving MH17 and MH370. Malaysia Airline System Employees Union secretary-general Abdul Malek Ariff said they were down to only about 3,000 cabin crew staff now.

“Some are afraid to fly. There is nothing we can do about this. They have developed some kind of fear and we hope that over time, they will be back to normal,” he said.

In a statement to The Edge, MAS said that the total number of resignations from January to July this year was 186 and not 500 as some have alleged. ”Following the MH17 incident, there was a spike in crew resignations, but the number has now decreased to routinely expected levels.”

“Many cited family pressure as the reason for their resignation due to the MH17 and MH370 tragedies. At present, the resignation rate at MAS is less than 5% which is way below the industry norm,” it said.

Journalists are not the enemy

CLICK HERE

Tiger offers his condolences to the family and friends of James Wright Foley, a journalist from America who was recently beheaded by ISIS militants. Tiger’s hackles are raised as history once again repeats itself, with how journalists are persecuted with disregard for the laws that protect a journalist in a danger zone.

Tiger is sad. And angry. And confused. But above all sad. From all accounts, a good person by the name of James Wright Foley lost his life in a statement of intent by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), who beheaded the man to send a message to the United States to cease their meddling in Iraq, where president Barack Obama had sanctioned air strikes to aid in the containment of ISIS, with a recent victory being the capture of the Mosul Dam, which controls water and power to the region, from the hands of ISIS forces.

Tiger will take no sides here, but instead note, with no small amount of frustration and sorrow, that this so-called message had cost the life of an innocent man, merely doing his job.

And this is not even the first time this is happening.  Over the years, there have been multiple cases of abduction, incarceration, and murder of journalists. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, there have been 32 murders of journalists in 2014 alone, with 70 murders in 2013 and 74 in 2012. Also noted was that 2013 saw at least 65 journalists abducted, more than double the number of the preceding years combined.

Is there no longer any respect for the neutrality of a journalist? Tiger believes that any and all sides in any conflict should respect that the people going in to get the news are journalists first, rather than as representative nationals of their respective countries. Journalists are beholden to their word to report any situation with neutrality and without bias, and Tiger would like to think that everyone on any side of a conflict would understand that.Location definitely has something to do with this issue. Syria has been acknowledged as the most dangerous country in the world for journalists by the CPJ, as it is one of the primary conflict zones at this time, along with Iraq, which also happens to be leading the CPJ’s Impunity Index, with 100% impunity to 100 cases.

As it always is, however, this is not to be. The safety of journalists in conflict or high danger zones is already very much in question, with munitions not knowing the difference between a neutral and an enemy. But when militants start gunning for journalists due to their relative lack of an ability to defend themselves, Tiger feels this crosses all sorts of lines in all sorts of books.

Even if the journalists are not killed, whether to make a statement or not, they are still abducted and held against their will for extended periods of time. How Foley was abducted and held for almost two years before his murder is one case in point.

And what happens to the journalists while they are being held? One can never be certain what happens, but tea and crumpets over an interview does not seem likely. Tiger does applaud the United States for their efforts in trying to locate and rescue Foley and several others abducted along with him, but Tiger believes that prevention of further abductions and killings might be for the better.

Among the steps already taken by the United Nations is the implementation of the U.N. Plan of Action for the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, with the U.N. General Assembly adopting a resolution on the safety of journalists. The resolution calls for states to act to pursue justice and put an end to impunity.

Tiger definitely mourns Foley, who has gone where others fear to tread, and hopes for the safety of other journalists reporting from conflict zones to bring news to the world.

Tinjauan calon MB: Wan Azizah pertama, Umno kedua

Presiden PKR, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail menjadi calon pilihan utama untuk mengisi jawatan menteri Besar Selangor, demikian menurut hasil kajiselidik Merdeka Center.

Manakala hanya enam peratus responden yang mahukan calon alternatif, Timbalan Presiden PKR Azmin Ali, menerajui negeri itu, diikuti oleh calon PAS yang mendapat 12 peratus.

Yang menariknya, 15 peratus daripada responden lebih suka menteri besar dari Umno berbanding dengan Azmin, ataupun calon PAS.

Dalam kajiselidik membabitkan 808 pengundi di Selangor, 25 peratus daripada responden berkata mereka mahu Wan Azizah menjadi menteri besar.

Bagaimanapun, 32 peratus lagi tidak pasti siapa yang mereka mahu untuk menggantikan Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Manakala baki lima peratus enggan memberi respons.

Thousands gather to share nation's sorrow

Thousands of city folk gathered at Dataran Merdeka and in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Kuala Lumpur, today to share the nation's grief over the MH17 tragedy in conjunction with the Day of National Mourning.

Like the rest of the country, they observed one minute of silence at 10.54am after the coffins containing the remains of 20 of the Malaysian victims which arrived earlier on a Malaysia Airlines special aircraft MH6129 at the KLIA in Sepang were placed in the waiting hearses.

The crowd, in dark attire, started to gather at the historic landmark around 9am to watch the official ceremony of receiving and honouring the victims at KLIA via a large screen at the square.

During the minute of silence, the Muslims in the crowd offered the Al-Fatihah while the non-Muslims silently prayed for the victims according to their religious belief. Many were seen shedding tears.

Meanwhile, motorists around the area stopped their vehicles as a mark of respect for the MH17 crash victims during the minute of silence.

Foreign tourists were also seen observing the minute of silence in sharing this nation's sorrow over the MH17 tragedy.

MH17 was on its way to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam when it crashed in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, near the Russian border on July 17.

The Boeing 777-200 aircraft carrying 298 people including 15 crew members, is believed to have been shot down by a missile over the troubled country. Forty-three of them were Malaysians.

Newspapers go black and white

The front pages of most of the major newspapers were in black and white to express the sadness felt on the Day of National Mourning for the victims of the MH17 tragedy.

The headlines, photos and quotations on the front pages also mirrored the sadness felt by the nation over the deaths of those who were on board Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 that went down in Ukraine in July.

Malay language newspaper Utusan Malaysia used black with the heading 'Penghormatan Negara' (National Tribute) and the names of the 20 passengers and crew on the ill-fated flight.

Another Malay daily Berita Harian had a black-and-white photograph of the Jalur Gemilang hoisted at half-mast on its front page.

With the headline 'Malaysia Berkabung' (Malaysia in Mourning), a third newspaper Sinar Harian used a photograph of the funeral rites performed at the Monuta Ineeme funeral home in the Netherlands on Thursday before the remains were flown here.
Harian Metro also used black and white, carrying the headline 'Kembali Bersemadi' (Back for Burial) as well as quotations of the final words of MH17 leading stewardess Mastura Mustafa to her husband Mohamed Affendi Khairuddin sent on the Wechat application.

Her message said she would not always be with him, but one day she would go to meet Allah, never to return.

English language daily The Star had a black-and-white front page which carried the photographs of the 20 MH17 tragedy victims whose remains were brought home today, and with the headline 'They are home'.


The front page of another newspaper The Sun had the photograph of a Malaysia Airlines aircraft and the Jalur Gemilang flown at half-mast, with the heading 'Malaysia Mourns RIP MH17.'

Meanwhile, The New Straits Times published the names of all the 43 Malaysian victims of the MH17 tragedy on its front page, which was also in black and white.

The Malay Mail's front-page headline, in the meantime, was 'They're coming home, no words to say farewell'.

On the Internet, the mood was equally sombre, with the local media using black and white for their logos on their websites and Facebook and Twitter accounts.

The masthead colour of the website of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), www.bernama.com, was also in black and white.

Besides Malaysians, nationals from the Netherlands, Australia, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, the Philippines, Canada and New Zealand were among the 298 people on board.

- Bernama

London, ISIS dan Gaza

Saya di London. Sudah dua minggu lebih di sini. Cuti sabatikal yang kedua saya ini selama sembilan bulan lama. Tidak pasti lagi berapa lama di sini dan ke mana pula hendak hendak pergi.

Kajian saya sedikit kaitan dengan isu-isu semasa hadis yang membabitkan pandangan Barat.

Jika tidak kaitan dengan Barat, mungkin elok saja saya ke negara Arab. Saya sudah pernah tinggal di Jordan selama lima tahun. Di Barat ini jika campur tolak, tidak sampai dua tahun pun. Kali ini mungkin mencukupkannya.

Awal saya bercadang hendak ke Amerika Syarikat sebab sudah dua kali saya di UK. Tapi mengenangkan kos yang agak tinggi ke sana, ditambah pula dengan isu-isu politik Amerika di peringkat antarabangsa yang memualkan, saya tukar rancangan.

Apatah lagi, cuti sabatikal kedua ini, USM tidak biayai kos ke luar negara. Semua tanggung sendiri. Pada awalnya saya fikir macam tidak mampu, Alhamdulillah dengan doa maka Allah berikan sedikit rezeki dari pelbagai sumber.

Salah satunya royalti buku ‘Aku Ingin Kembara Lagi’ yang diterbitkan beberapa bulan lalu. Cukup untuk kembara seorang diri dengan kehidupan yang serba sederhana.

Wartawan disembelih

Semasa artikel ini ditulis, isu wartawan Amerika Syarikat James Foley yang disembelih oleh ISIS di Iraq menjadi tajuk utama akhbar-akhbar di sini. Apatah lagi apabila lelaki bertopeng yang menyembelih Foley dengan pisau itu bercakap dengan pelat British London.

Maka tajuk seperti “US journalist James Foley beheaded by ISIS fighter “with London accent” mengambil tempat bagi banyak akhbar dan berita TV dan internet.

Warga muslim British telah menjadi pembunuh yang sangat ganas atas nama Islam. Itulah mesej yang terlekat pada kepala ramai pembaca.

Saya tidak pasti apakah ‘game’ kali ini yang akan tempias kepada muslim di United Kingdom ini dengan berita seperti itu. Jika kita lihat orang Islam memang ramai di UK ini khususnya London. Iklan pun ada yang gambar perempuan muslimah bertudung.

Pasti Islamophobia akan meningkat lagi. Hanya apa yang boleh kita tegaskan bahawa apa yang ISIS buat pastinya bukan ajaran Islam.

Kita juga hairan bagaimana ISIS itu begitu kuat dengan segala senjata dan anggotanya. Siapakah sebenarnya di belakang mereka?

Memotong kepala musuh untuk dipertontonkan kepada orang ramai bukan perbuatan yang diiktiraf oleh Islam. Apatahlagi membunuh mereka yang tidak terlibat di medan perang seperti wartawan.

Ia sama sekali diharamkan oleh Syariat Islam yang mulia. Tokoh besar tabi’i (murid para sahabat Nabi SAW) iaitu al-Zuhri menyatakan:

“Tidak pernah dibawa kepada Rasulullah satu kepala pun, tidak sekalipun dalam Perang Badar. Pernah dibawa kepala kepada (Khalifah) Abu Bakar, beliau membantahnya”. (Sunan Said bin Mansur, al-Mu’jam al-Kabir oleh al-Tabarani, Marasil Abi Daud dan Sunan al-Baihaqi)

Pada zaman dahulu, peperangan dan pembunuhan memang membabit pancung kepala. Semua pihak tanpa mengira agama. Pelbagai cara pembunuhan dilakukan dan pancung termasuk salah satu dari cara manusia membunuh.

Kristian dalam sejarahnya sangat kejam, sering membakar manusia hidup-hidup. Sementara itu, Islam pula menjadikan pancung kepala sebagai cara hukuman bunuh dijalankan kerana ia paling pantas membunuh pesalah dan mengelakkan kesakitan.

Apabila dengan pantasnya terputus badan dan kepala maka tiada lagi nyawa. Bukan menyembelih manusia seperti yang ISIS lakukan.

Nabi SAW bersabda: “Allah telah menetapkan simpati untuk setiap perkara. Apabila membunuh maka elokkanlah cara pembunuhan." (Riwayat Muslim)

Disebut Perang Badar dalam kenyataan al-Zuhri tadi disebabkan perang tersebut membabitkan ramai musuh utama umat Islam termasuk Abu Jahal yang sangat zalim yang telah menyeksa dan membunuh dengan kejamnya ramai pengikut Nabi SAW.

Dalam Perang Badar Abu Jahal telah dibunuh. Pun begitu tidak dibawa kepalanya kepada Nabi SAW.

Cerita kepala al-Aswad al-‘Ansi yang dibawa kepada Nabi SAW juga satu kekeliruan kerana al-Aswad itu dibunuh pada tahun ke sebelas Hijrah, pada masa Nabi SAW telah pun wafat. (lihat: Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani, al-Talkhis al-Habir jld 4 ms 287. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah)

Ketika dibawa kepala musuh iaitu Yannaq yang menjadi ketua di pihak Rome kepada Khalifah Abu Bakar as-Siddiq, beliau membantah.

Lalu mereka berkata: “Wahai Khalifah, mereka itu melakukan yang sama kepada kita!"

Jawab Khalifah Abu Bakar: “Apakah kamu jadikan Parsi dan Rome sebagai contoh teladan? Jangan bawa kepadaku kepala, cukuplah sekadar surat dan berita." (Riwayat Said bin Mansur)

Abu Bakar As-Siddiq membantah perbuatan seperti itu sekalipun pada zaman tersebut yang manusia memang membunuh dengan demikian cara.

Bahkan Abu Bakar tidak benarkan umat Islam meniru teladan buruk musuh sekalipun mereka berbuat demikian pada umat Islam.

Perbuatan ISIS di samping tidak menyanggahi Islam, ia hanya menimbulkan fitnah terhadap umat Islam terutama di zaman ini. Pasti, tiada siapa yang waras menyukai apa yang dibuat oleh ISIS.

Siapa dibelakang ISIS?

Presiden Obama ketika mengulas apa yang ISIS lakukan terhadap James Foley menyebut: “No just God would stand for what they did."

Kita memang membantah apa yang ISIS buat cuma kita mesti bertanya adakah di sana tuhan yang adil yang akan mempertahankan apa yang Israel telah dan sedang lakukan terhadap rakyat Gaza.

Ribuan kanak-kanak, wanita, orang tua dan rakyat yang dibunuh dengan kejam oleh senjata Israel setiap hari. Hampir setengah juta kehilangan tempat tinggal. Sekolah, hospital, rumah dan segalanya di bom saban hari.

Bukan seorang wartawan, tapi ratusan ribu menjadi mangsa yang tidak berdosa. Bukan mereka pergi melapor berita yang mungkin sebahagiannya propaganda untuk media yang berat sebelah, tetapi mereka berada di rumah mereka sendiri.

Tapi Amerikalah mempertahankan dan membekalkan senjata untuk Israel. Kenapa Obama tidak menyebut ‘no just God would stand for what Israel did!'. Sebaliknya, beliaulah ‘the demon behind the mask’.

Di saat kota-kota Eropah bangkit melakukan demonstrasi membantah Israel atas kekejaman mereka terhadap Palestin, berita ISIS menyembelih dijelmakan menjadi tajuk utama keseluruhan media di Barat.

Rakyat Barat yang mempunyai kesedaran tentang hak-hak kemanusiaan kali ini dengan perkembangan media sosial mula nampak kejahatan zionist. Anti-semitism yang merujuk kepada Yahudi yang lama dipendamkan, mula bangkit semula di Eropah.

Namun dengan isu terbaru ini maka mereka semacam mendapat modal untuk mengalih pandangan umum terhadap Israel. Mereka seakan menyuruh rakyat melupakan kekejaman terhadap ratusan ribu manusia, berikan perhatian terhadap seorang wartawan yang disembelih oleh ISIS.

Padahal ISIS sebelum ini telah menyembelih begitu banyak rakyat di Iraq. Siapakah sebenarnya di belakang mereka?

Islam tidak pernah meredhai kezaliman terhadap umatnya, juga terhadap orang lain. Sifat rahmat Islam itu merangkumi setiap kehidupan termasuk setiap juzuk alam ini.

Namun semua menjadi keliru. Atas keadaan yang tidak adil dan kejam terhadap masyarakat yang lemah maka ramai muslim yang keliru antara ajaran agamanya dan emosinya yang memberontak.

---

PROF MADYA DATUK DR MOHD ASRI ZAINUL ABIDIN bekas mufti Perlis.

"Block the Boat" activists claim to have prevented a Zim cargo ship from unloading Israeli goods on North America's West Coast.

Zim cargo ship Photo: REUTERS

Related:

• Sweden to boycott Israeli cargo

OAKLAND – About 500 protesters marched from the West Oakland BART station to the Oakland port on Saturday in what they called a victorious attempt to prevent an Israeli ship from unloading cargo.

“We successfully blocked one of the most prominent shipping companies out of the State of Israel from docking in the Port of Oakland,” said Reem Assil, of the San Francisco-based Arab Resource Organizing Center, which coordinated the protest and rally with about 70 other groups. “We are really proud of this victory.”

Members of the group, which included many people carrying signs and chanting, said they organized to block a ZIM Lines ship from unloading cargo at the port’s Berth 57 as a way to protest Israel’s recent attack on Gaza. Protesters encouraged activists in other cities to hold similar demonstrations.

The crowd chanted, “From Ferguson to Palestine, police brutality is a crime.”

Longshoreman Clarence Thomas said people around the country and the world were starting to unify around the theme of resistance.

“The people in Ferguson are now related to people in Gaza,” he said. “Isn’t it ironic that a ship from ZIM can come here to be unloaded, but it has been four years since a ship has been unloaded in Gaza? This must be repeated elsewhere.”

The picket was in response to a call by the Palestinian General Federation Trade Unions for action in support of Gaza residents, according to a news release by protest organizers, which acknowledged that Israel said it acted in self-defense.

Monadel Herzallah, a Palestinian with family in Gaza, asked those in the crowd to raise their hands if this was their first time trying to block a boat.

Most people’s hands shot up.

“We will continue to block the boats,” he said. “We want to hold people responsible for killing human beings and the genocide that has taken place against the people of Gaza.”

Maria Lourdes Nocedal, who teaches fourth grade in San Francisco, said she plans to educate her students about what is going on in Gaza.

“Innocent people are dying,” she said. “The empathy movement is starting now.”

She then led the crowd in a Tagalog chant, which translated in English, meant: “Dare to struggle. Don’t be afraid.”

Port spokeswoman Marilyn Sandifur confirmed the ship did not arrive at the port Saturday, but could not confirm the protest had anything to do with it.

Oakland Police spokeswoman Johanna Watson said there were no arrests, citations or confrontations with protesters.

“The Oakland Police supports people’s right to freedom of speech,” she said.

A month after, MH17 victims still remembered

MH17 Time seemed to pause and no sound was heard when locals and tourists thronged the special gallery, ‘MH17 Reflection’, at the Schiphol International Airport in Amsterdam yesterday to mark exactly one month after the Malaysia Airlines MH17 tragedy took place.

The sombre atmosphere that enveloped the gallery was accompanied by a drizzle in Amsterdam since early morning.

At the gallery, visitors placed flowers, letters and messages, photos, candles, flags and numerous other items as signs of condolences and remembrance for those who were killed in the MH17 crash in Ukraine on July 17.

Some visitors were seen observing a few minutes of silence, some hugging family members and weeping when approaching the corner displaying the pictures and information on the passengers and crew of the ill-fated aircraft.

There were teardrop marks on the condolence books and according to the personnel at the gallery who declined to be identified, dozens of such books had been provided at the special gallery since it was opened last month.

A child tourist from Italy who only wanted to be known as Leonardo, 10, said he had written words of condolences “We will always be with you” in the book.

A local lass who only identified herself as Maaike, 20, said the victims of the ill-fated flight would be remembered forever, adding that the Dutch had been left reeling from the tragedy.

Saying that it pained him each time he passed through the area, an airport staffer said he felt sad and hoped that the souls of all the victims were calm.

Other than at the gallery, prayers and the memory of the passengers and crew of MH17 are also in the hearts of those met around the public areas in Amsterdam and The Hague.

Parking attendant Bashah from Surinam said: “I am saddened by the tragedy, and I feel for you guys as you've have lost two planes under tragic circumstances.”

Besides the MH17 plane with 298 people on board which crashed in eastern Ukraine, Malaysia is also reeling from the disappearance of MH370 which has not been seen since March 8.

Efforts to locate the missing jetliner are focused in the southern Indian Ocean.

- Bernama

Husam 'serang' Khalid, desak letak jawatan

Kurang 48 jam untuk mesyuarat Jawatankuasa PAS Pusat membincangkan berkaitan sokongan parti itu kepada Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, naib presidennya melancarkan serangan pertama terhadap bekas tokoh korporat itu.

Dalam kenyataannya hari ini, Datuk Husam Musa berkata adalah mulia bagi Khalid melepaskan jawatannya sebagai menteri besar (MB) secara "bermaruah" .

"Apa lagi yang ditunggu? Tidakkah mulia untuk Tan Sri bermaruah melepaskan jawatan MB?" soal Husam yang juga bekas exco kerajaan Kelantan.

Ketika dihubungi Malaysiakini petang ini, Husam yang juga ADUN Salor berkata kenyataan beliau itu "selari dengan pendirian parti" tetapi enggan mengulas lanjut.

Ini mengesahkan kepercayaan bahawa parti itu tidak ragu-ragu supaya Khalid mengosongkan jawatan tetapi mempunyai isu mencalonkan Presiden PKR Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail sebagai MB.

Sementara itu, Husam menyoal sama ada Khalid berfikir untuk membubarkan DUN Selangor dengan menganggapnya sebagai satu tindakan yang akan menyusahkan Sultan Selangor.

"Kenapa tidak pada tarikh Tan Sri mengadap Sultan Selangor baru ini Tan Sri mencadangkan DUN dibubarkan?" kata Husam.

Beliau turut berkata Khalid boleh mendapatkan perlindungan sementara dan sokongan PAS dalam lingkungan semangat Pakatan Rakyat.

"Presiden PAS (Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang) telah menghulurkan ranting zaitun untuk beliau. Episod itu telah berlalu.

K'jaan S'gor milik Pakatan

"Tan Sri telah dipecat sebagai ahli PKR. Oleh kerana beliau belum diterima menjadi ahli mana-mana parti gabungan Pakatan Rakyat, ia bukan mewakili Pakatan lagi," katanya.

Husam juga mengingatkan Khalid bahawa kerajaan Selangor dimiliki kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat dan bukan milik Khalid.

"Bagaimana seorang ADUN bukan anggota Pakatan boleh terus menjadi MB Pakatan Rakyat? soal Husam.

Beliau kemudiannya berkata walaupun Sultan menitahkan Khalid kekal sebagai menteri besar, tetapi beliau mempunyai pilihan untuk menolak perkenan baginda atas pilihannya sendiri.

"Itu sangat tidak bermoral. Itu meniru gaya Umno di Perak. Perbuatan tersebut amat terkutuk dan ditolak oleh amalan demokrasi yang mulia.

"Memasukkan perkongsian kuasa PAS dan Umno melanggar banyak prinsip yang dipegang oleh PAS selama ini... Jika itu dilakukan oleh PAS, bermakna PAS menerima hubungan 'sodomy'," katanya.

Menurutnya lagi, membawa Umno dalam kerajaan bersama PAS dan menolak dua lagi parti gabungan Pakatan yang dipilih secara sah adalah perbuatan terkutuk yang tidak dizinkan oleh Islam.

"Islam tidak mengizinkan pengkhianatan. Islam tidak mengizinkan pecah amanah. Dalam hal ini, amanah majoriti pengundi Selangor memilih Pakatan sebagai kerajaan dan menolak Umno," katanya.

Teng mula buka pekung dalam pentadbiran Selangor

Krisis politik Selangor memasuki episod baru hari ini apabila bekas exco Datuk Teng Chang Khim mula membuka pekung dalam pentadbiran Selangor dengan melancarkan serangan ke atas anggota exco PAS yang masih setia pada Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

Beliau mensasarkan serangannya pada exco hal ehwal pendidikan, Dr Halimah Ali yang disifatkannya sebagai “tidak boleh dipercayai dan munafik” kerana didakwa berpura-pura tidak tahu mengenai rancangan Khalid untuk membubar DUN.

Tidak cukup dengan itu, beliau juga membangkitkan isu pemberian peruntukan untuk sekolah persendirian Cina di Selangor yang didakwanya dilengah-lengahkan oleh anggota exco tersebut.

Dakwanya, bermula dari tahun 2009, empat sekolah Cina persendirian di Selangor mendapat peruntukan automatik dari kerajaan negeri sebanyak RM2 juta setiap tahun.

Namun bermula tahun ini, dakwanya, sekolah-sekolah itu diminta mengisi borang untuk mendapat peruntukan tersebut dan dikenakan pelbagai syarat.

"Ada beberapa contoh sebelum ini, antaranya sekolah-sekolah Cina persendirian dijanjikan peruntukan (dari kerajaan negeri) tetapi beliau melengah-lengahkan pemberian peruntukan itu," kata Teng.

Beliau berkata demikian sewaktu mengulas kenyataan Halimah pagi ini yang mendakwa tidak tahu menahu tentang kenyataan Teng berkenaan pembubaran DUN.

Teng semalam mendakwa beliau mendapat 'khabar' dari sumber tertinggi yang Khalid akan membubarkan DUN dalam masa terdekat.

"Saya tidak tahu menahu tentang perkara itu," kata Halimah sewaktu ditemui wartawan pagi tadi sebelum memasuki pejabatnya di bangunan Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri (SUK).

Jika krisis perlembagaan Perak jadi contoh, Khalid bukan lagi MB, kata peguam‎

Pejabat menteri besar Selangor boleh dianggap kosong selepas Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim kehilangan majoriti sokongan, kata peguam Perlembagaan. Gambar fail The Malaysian Insider.

Pejabat menteri besar Selangor kini dianggap kosong selepas Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim enggan meletak jawatan walaupun kehilangan sokongan majoriti sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN), kata seorang peguam Perlembagaan.

Memetik prinsip diperkenalkan pada 2010 berhubung keputusan Mahkamah Persekutuan dalam kes Nizar lawan Zambry, peguam perlembagaan Tommy Thomas berkata, Sultan Selangor sepatutnya kini melantik Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Kajang Datuk Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail sebagai menteri besar baharu kerana beliau menerima sokongan 30 Adun daripada 56 ahli DUN.

“Bukti hilang keyakinan tidak terhad kepada usul yang dibawa ke persidangan DUN. Sebaliknya, bukti boleh dikumpul daripada sumber berkaitan,” katanya yang memberi penjelasan berdasarkan kepada keputusan mahkmah pada 2010.

Sehubungan itu, Thomas berkata Khalid bukan lagi menteri besar Selangor berikutan sokongan yang ditunjukkan Adun kepada Dr Wan Azizah.

“Kedudukan undang-undang jelas. Tidak kira sama ada Khalid letak jawatan atau tidak, undang-undang anggap beliau sudah mengosongkan kerusi menteri besar,” katanya.

Thomas berkata, Khalid yang bersiap sedia untuk bertempur tidak mampu menahan undang-undang lebih lama berhubung jawatannya sebagai menteri besar.

“Ketika beliau memegang pejabat, beliau mengangkat sumpah untuk memelihara, mempertahan dan melindungi Perlembagaan, dan itu termasuk mematuhi keputusan sebulat suara Mahkamah Persekutuan,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, susulan sidang akhbar tengah hari tadi, apabila 20 Adun mengisytiharkan kepada dunia mereka kurang yakin terhadap Khalid, sokongan mereka kepada Dr Wan Azizah sebagai penggantinya secara asasnya mengubah kedudukan undang-undang.

“Dari tengah hari tadi, Khalid tidak ada lagi keperluan kesahan perlembagaan untuk kekal di pejabat,” katanya.

Thomas berkata, Khalid perlu diingatkan mengenai undang-undang seperti dinyatakan Mahkamah Persekutuan.

Dalam kes itu, PR menang 31 kerusi daripada 59 kerusi dalam DUN Perak, dengan Barisan Nasional (BN) memenangi 28 kerusi selepas Pilihan Raya Umum ke-12 pada 2008.

Walaupun PAS mempunyai jumlah Adun paling sedikit, PR meminta PAS mencalonkan Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin sebagai menteri besar dan diperkenankan almarhum Sultan Perak Sultan Azlan Shah.

Pada 2009, 3 ahli PR meletak jawatan daripada parti masing-masing dan beralih arah kepada BN.

Permohonan Nizar kepada Sultan Perak supaya DUN dibubarkan dan pilihan raya negeri diadakan ditolak.

Sebaliknya, Sultan melantik calon BN Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir sebagai menteri besar baharu.

DUN Selangor mempunyai 56 ahli – DAP (15), PAS (15), PKR (13) BN (12) – dan Khalid kini sebagai Adun Bebas.

Dua Adun PAS hari ini menunjukkan sokongan mereka kepada Dr Wan Azizah sebagai pengganti Khalid, sementara pendirian 13 yang lain masih belum diketahui.

Justice the Keadilan way

The issue is not that PAS wants Khalid Ibrahim retained as the Selangor Menteri Besar. The issue is why he must be removed. That is what PAS is concerned about.

Khalid had already served one term from 2008 to 2013. Then PKR and Anwar Ibrahim thought it appropriate to allow Khalid a second term because he had done a good job. Suddenly, a few months later, it is said that Khalid is not doing a good job after all and must be removed.

When the decision was made to appoint Khalid as the Menteri Besar, it was a Pakatan Rakyat decision. However, when it came to his removal, it was solely a PKR decision. As Rafizi Ramli admitted, not only were DAP and PAS not consulted, many PKR leaders were kept in the dark as well.

This makes a mockery of the so-called Pakatan Rakyat consensus. It is consensus only when it suits PKR and if it does not then PKR decides on its own. Hence PAS has a valid reason for asking for an explanation as to why Khalid must be removed.

Further, in the appointment of Khalid, all three parties submitted letters to the Sultan saying they endorsed him. The appointment of Dr Wan Azizah Ismail is not being done the same way. PKR decides on the replacement and PAS must agree, it seems.

This is precisely how Umno treats its partners in Barisan Nasional, as Anwar himself has pointed out so many times.

Does PAS have any say? Or must PAS just do what Anwar says.

Another issue is the issue of justice, something Pakatan Rakyat says the government or Barisan Nasional does not respect.

Is Khalid being removed for reasons of misconduct, abuse of power, corruption, etc? If so, then a report to the MACC should be made and SELCAT must hold a hearing to consider the charges against Khalid. Neither was done.

Hence, to PAS, Khalid is being punished without the benefit of a fair trial. No doubt there are certain allegations made against him, but allegations are not proof.

You need to confirm a crime by way of evidence and by giving the chance for the accused to defend himself. PKR is denying Khalid this course of action; so PAS finds it difficult to support his removal.

PAS now has no choice but to go along with things after yesterday’s decision by the 30 state reps to replace Khalid with Dr Wan Azizah. And in doing so, PAS shows that it does not really have any say in Pakatan Rakyat. Then it might as well leave the coalition.

DAP and PKR alone cannot win the general election for Pakatan Rakyat. They need PAS. But because of the way PAS is being treated, the party may be forced to reconsider its marriage with DAP and PKR.

That is what is at stake here.

Roslan Bistamam is an FMT columnist

Penjelasan Sebenar Di Sebalik Skandal Bank Islam

Jangan dengar dari pihak Rafizi je. Aku pun boleh buat tuduhan. Apasal Shahrizat tiba2 tarik balik saman ke atas Rafizi dan Zuraidah? Aku pun boleh cucuk persepsi. Tapi beb, sehingga terbukti bersalah maka seseorang itu TIDAK BERSALAH.

Sehingga Khalid Ibrahim terbukti BERSALAH, maka dia ialah bukan PESALAH.

Gunakan media untuk hukum dia adalah sesuatu yang tidak adil dan bersifat tindakan separuh masak.

Sekurang2nya kita perlukan satu agensi bagi mendefinitekan samada Khalid Ibrahim salah ataupun tidak berdasarkan bukti dan hujah. Bukannya sikit2 persepsi sana sini dengan dalil2 50 muka surat apa bagai. Apa benda nya.

Kalau PKR kata Khalid salah sangat, lakukan sesuatu disitu. Jika enggan mempercayai SPRM dan PDRM (aku pun sama tapi dalam kes2 tertentu ada juga manfaatnya kita babitkan peranan mereka) maka heret la agensi yang berouthoriti untuk menjalankan penyiasatan bagi memuktamadkan tuduhan ke atas TSKI ialah benar.

Apa pun, korang dah baca penjelasan dari Azrul?

Siapa Azrul neh? Dulu bekerja dengan BANK ISLAM. Tapi kena pecat.

Kenapa kena pecat? Sebab bentang analisis bahawa PRU ke 13 nanti, PR berkemungkinan mampu menang / menguasai kerajaan (MUNGKIN BOLEH MENANG = HANYA BUAT TELAHAN MUNGKIN BOLEH MENANG SAHAJA pun jadi masalah?).

OoOoOoOoOO..

Sekarang apa yang si Azrul neh bagitau?

Baca jap ;

Azrul yang pernah menjadi Ketua Ekonomi Bank Islam dalam hujahnya pula mengatakan beliau antara yang terlibat dalam urusan penyelesaian hutang Khalid dengan Bank Islam. 

"Pada 2008 selepas Pakatan Rakyat memenangi Selangor dan Khalid menjadi menteri besar, bekas bos saya meminta saya untuk menghubungi beliau (Khalid) untuk menyelesaikan isu pinjaman itu di luar mahkamah," katanya. 

Menurut Azrul, Bank Islam yang terlebih dahulu menawarkan penyelesaian di luar mahkamah apabila rundingan pertama Khalid di ibu pejabat bank berkenaan tidak berjaya disebabkan menteri besar Selangor itu tidak bersetuju dengan terma perjanjian. 

"Kerana itu kita lihat rentetan kronologi sehinggalah ke Mahkamah Tinggi," katanya. 

Beliau berkata penyelesaian hutang Khalid bersama Bank Islam tercapai selepas bank itu menerima tawaran dari institusi kewangan Timur Tengah yang cuba menghidupkan semula skim perjanjian jual beli (BBA). 

"Oleh kerana institusi kewangan itu cuba mempopularkan semula konsep BBA, maka menawarkan usul kepada Khalid dalam pembayaran jumlah hutang. 

"Tawaran itu dilakukan kerana institusi kewangan itu tidak mahu sekiranya Bank Islam kalah dalam mahkamah maka ia akan memberi kesan pada polisi BBA," katanya. 

Beliau berkata Khalid akhirnya bersetuju dengan tawaran penyelesaian terbabit dan Bank Islam juga berpuas hati kerana ia tidak merugikan perbankan itu.

Okay. Kita balik semula ke masa lampau sewaktu kes Azrul neh kecoh di Malaysia. Dulu, Rocky Bru ada menulis. Dia cakap Azrul atau lebih dikenali sebagai WAWA sering berkomunikasi dengan DSAI, RAFIZI DAN NURUL IZZAH melalui email. 

Dan, ini juga dikatakan melanggar kod etika syarikat BIMB yang mana maklumat2 sulit dikongsikan kepada orang luar. Itu antara hujah yang menghalalkan tindakan BIMB ke atas Azrul. Selain dari hebahan bahawa Azrul ahli PKR.

Apa tujuan aku timbulkan perkara ini? Aku nak bagitau korang bahawa jika apa yang didedahkan oleh ROCKY BRU adalah benar maka tidak la musuh Azrul kepada pemimpin2 dalaman PKR rupanya ya. Saling kenal mengenal sebelum Azrul berkhidmat dengan menteri besar Selangor lagi rupanya. 

Point penting.

1. BANK ISLAM meminta Azrul untuk hubungi Khalid Ibrahim. Bukan sebaliknya.

2. Azrul pun contact Khalid Ibrahim. Membawa pandangan ex BOSS nya untuk menyelesaikan rundingan di luar kamar. 

3. Untuk rekod korang. Pada awalnya perbincangan dulu, rundingan Khalid dengan BIMB menemui kegagalan kerana Khalid tidak bersetuju dengan terma perjanjian. Sehingga memaksa kes di heret untuk dibicarakan ke dalam mahkamah. Tapi tiba ketika BANK ISLAM mahu menyelesaikan kes tanpa babitkan campurtangan mahkamah maka Azrul la diarahkan untuk memhubungi Khalid bagi menyelesaikan baki tuntutan. 

3. BANK ISLAM dan INSTITUSI KEWANGAN dari Timur Tengah sebenarnya sedang bekerjasama dalam rangka menhidupkan semula skim jual beli = BBA.

4. Bagi memastikan konsep BBA tidak terkesan andaikata BANK ISLAM kalah dalam kes dengan Khalid Ibrahim maka mereka bertindak memutuskan untuk berunding dengan Khalid Ibrahim bagi menyelesaikan tuntutan di luar mahkamah.

Ini kenyataan saksi yang terlibat langsung dalam kes Khalid Ibrahim dan bank Islam.

Kenyataan saksi neh korang boleh terima dan taknak terima pun takde masalah tapi sekurang2nya KHALID IBRAHIM ada saksi yang terlibat dalam kes berkenaan. 

Rafizi ada saksi?
Saifuddin ada saksi?

Mereka takde saksi. Aku dah baca dah dokumen2 yang si Sai buat. Hak ala.. tak habis2 serap persepsi dia. Kami percaya.. blabla.. kami yakin.. blablala.. kami melihat blablala.. kami tidak mahu ia tercompromise blabla.. hah senang cakap mereka SYAK ada sesuatu yang berlaku di antara BANK ISLAM dan Khalid Ibrahim tapi mereka tak muktamadkan SYAK MEREKA DALAM BENTUK BUKTI.

SYAK. Semua orang boleh syak. Dan kita boleh syak macam2. AKu juga boleh syak Khalid mungkin berunding dengan adun BN bagi memastikan dia kekal sebagai MB. Aku juga boleh syak yang PKR mungkin akan berunding dengan adun BN untuk usul undi tak percaya agar sama2 menolak Khalid. SYAK MA. KITA HANYA PERLU RASA SYAK SAHAJA.

Ada orang bila dia rasa SYAK, dia SYAK dan dia terus SYAK.

Ada orang bila dia rasa SYAK, dia pergi siasat untuk kenalpastikan SYAK dia tue hanyala syak wasangka buruk ataupun syak yang terbukti dari segi bukti.

Aku cadangkan, PKR ambil option yang kedua la. Syak sudah ada. Maka sekarang langkahnya untuk collect bukti. Jadikan media sebagai mahkamah, ia tak mengubah apa2. Rakyat masih mahukan bukti.

Blablablala balballa.. dan sebagainya... okay Raf, Sai dan semua2 sekali.. you bagi bukti kita terima hujah2 korang. Kita hanya mahu menyakini bukti. Kita tak berpihak kepada individu. Jangan salah faham. Sapa tuduh sapa pun kita tak tengok individu. Kita hanya mahu berpegang kepada bukti. Tolong faham.

Kbai.

Rujukan : http://malaysiaberih.blogspot.com/2013/01/ketua-ekonomi-bank-islam-digantung.html

http://www.rockybru.com.my/2013/01/the-untold-story-of-wawa-chief.html

http://www.tranungkite.net/v12/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=18449#622924