Noble Honey Collector

Ismail Haron, 68, lives in Kampung Melayu Majidee with his wife Nurdiati Gammara, 34. The couple have three children.

 
WHEN I first ventured into the jungle and Orang Asli settlement areas, I was welcomed with open arms by the Orang Asli community.

The Orang Asli are warm-hearted folk who would be happy even if you had only bottles of honey as gifts for them.

However, now some of them want RM50 if you want to check the beehives whether or not the hives have honey. And it is RM50 per hive.

Yes, I make a living from collecting honey. But I do not like hives of bees that are reared. These bees are lazy, and do not produce the best honey.

Here is something that some may not know about the Orang Asli. If they don’t understand something that you are telling them, out comes their iPad.

Times have changed.

I love to venture into the jungles. I go there when my source tells me that there are beehives there.

Honey has numerous benefits. It is good for those who smoke, as the honey can clean nicotine deposits in their lungs.

One can rub raw honey onto the palms of the hands and the skin of the hands will be smooth. One can do that on the face too, as honey acts as a moisturiser.

However, do not do it if your skin is sensitive.

Honey is also known to increase body heat.

To know whether you have genuine honey, there are numerous tests.

One is to keep the honey in a freezer. Genuine honey cannot be frozen.
You can also do the match test.

Dip a match into the honey. Although the tip is wet, the match will still light.
Another test is to break open an egg.

Pour the egg yolk into a bowl of honey. The egg yolk will be cooked.

When I go up to a beehive, I do not wear any protective gear.

I pray first, and I believe in the power of my faith. If I am not taking the honey with a sincere and pure heart, I would have been stung to death.

Although I do put a price to the honey that I collect and sell, I am more interested in helping people than making a profit. I want to help people with health issues.

If I know they are really sick and they are not rich, I ask them to give me what they can afford. I do not want to profit from the predicament of the poor.

I was born in Ipoh. My late father worked as a Customs officer. We came to Johor two weeks after the nation gained independence.

I had previously worked with Malaysia Airlines for three years before I went over to Indonesia to work as an administrator for the Indonesian government for 20 years.

It was during my time in Indonesia that I learnt about the benefits of honey.

After retirement, I decided to become a honey collector.

When I first came to Kg Melayu Majidee there was no electricity or water supply. It wasn’t until 1982 or 1983 that we had water supply and electricity.

Interview by Chuah Bee Kim
Pictures by Roslan Khamis
source NST online

Sustainable Green Living

In the Johor Streets today

Pic by Roslan Khamis

JOHOR BARU: RESIDENTS living along the banks of Sungai Sebulung, a tributary of Sungai Tebrau, which was once polluted as it was a dumping ground is now a tourist attraction.

The tributary cuts through Kampung Melayu Majidee, a modern Malay kampung.

Mohd Isa Ahmad, 51, head of the Kampung Melayu Majidee resident commitee, said the project, which was mooted in 2005 was a success story in the government’s effort to rehabilitate dying rivers.

“Sungai Sebulung was once one of the dirties tributaries in the state. As it runs across the back of some houses, the villagers threw their household waste into in.

“We had many problems then, as well as flash floods, besides the fact that we are living in filth.”

The Iskandar Regional Development Authority recently included a the kampung as a must-see attraction for tourists who visited the Legoland Malaysia Resort.

Isa said he had been tasked to give talks at Felda residences and other villages to share his experience about Effective Microorganism (EM) technology and the effectiveness of using food waste as fertilisers and cleaning agents.

Isa said the villagers teamed up with Kumpulan Syarikat Jamof and the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB), which provided each household with a plastic container to collect food waste.

Isa said the beautification and rehabilitation project for Sungai Sebulung was divided into two phases.

Phase One comprised of 110 houses stretching 500 metres, where villagers were taught to plant tree and shrub species like Janda Merana, Mahkota Dewa, Serai Wangi, Tongkat Aliand Misai Kucing.

The dilapidated bridge and five-foot way were also upgraded between 2005 and 2006.

In 2009, the second phase was launched, which involved 60 houses stretching 300m.

The village saw the installation of new septic tanks and an interlocking walling system for drainage.

Salijah Senan, 52, who has lived in the village for 30 years said initially it was difficult to get 
the villagers to change their attitude.

“Most residents were skeptical when we were told about the local council’s plan to rehabilitate Sungai Sebulung. We did not know what EM was and how to use the mudballs that had to be thrown into the tributary once a month.

“Now we understand that fish feed on the mudballs and the stream is teeming with fish once again.”

MBJB public relations officer Abdul Aziz Ithnin said the villagers underwent a complete mindset change.

“If you drove through the village, you would see the EM Gallery and other galleries maintained by the residents with the hope of spreading the message that green living was possible.

“The villagers here now love their backyards more than they love their front entrances because of the stream that runs through the back of their houses,” Aziz said.

On another matter, Aziz said Sungai Pandan and Sungai Skudai have yet to adopt this conservation method because the two rivers, which have become dumping grounds are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Irrigation and Drainage and not the local council.

On the local council’s efforts to get other villagers to adopt the EM concept, Aziz said many were skeptical but he believed that nothing was impossible.

“Sungai Sebulung is an example for other villages who want to adopt sustainable green living.”

Meanwhile, Tanah Sutera Development Sdn Bhd, a private property developer here has adopted EM to clean its shopping mall and as raw building materials for its development projects.

by Chuah Bee Kim

source NST online

Simon Murray

Met Simon Murray from the United Kingdom, who supplies eyewear for the Harry Porter movies.  He has a huge collection of spectacles and has co-written a book titled 

Simon, among others, were at the Dataran Bandaraya in Johor Bahru today spreading joy to some 100 members of the Johor Society of the Deaf.

The event, organised in conjunction with World Deaf Day today, had activities such as laughter yoga, coconut bowling, face painting, a book signing session and photo taking opportunities with Simon.

You also get to wear the glasses to take a photo. 

Besides supplying eyewear, Simon also has also supplied costumes and props for movies like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Superman, among other blockbusters.

Meanwhile, the Yayasan Pembangunan Keluarga (Family Development Foundation) in Kota Iskandar, Nusajaya, can help those with hearing, speech and other impairment to find employment in government and private sectors.

At A Crossroads

We are at a crossroads where what we decide today can affect the future.  A balance between development and environmental conservation is essential. KPRJ, IRDA, NGOs related to environmental protection, the property developer concerned, the Federal government and the local community needs to come together and talk about this matter in depth. Seriously.

Meanwhile, a report by NST Johor bureau chief Ben Tan today

Explain Clearly, Forest City Developer Told

JOHOR BARU: THE developer of the controversial Forest City project must be clear in their explanation about the development and its impact on the affected villagers in the area, said Tan Sri Shahrir Samad.

The Johor Baru member of parliament said this was because he felt that the explanation offered to the Kampung Pok community in Gelang Patah by the developer, Country Garden Pacific View Sdn Bhd, had raised more questions than answers.

“They should have had the dialogue session earlier to address the concerns regarding the environmental impact and the villagers’ concern,” Shahrir, who is also Iskandar Regional Development Authority adviser, said after launching the IM Klik photography competition here yesterday.

Present was Iskandar Investment Berhad president and chief executive officer Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim.

Shahrir said many villagers were not satisfied with the developer’s explanation.

“The developer needs to be more realistic in giving the real picture of their development not only to potential buyers, but to the surrounding community as well.”

Bernama had reported that since reclamation works for the project started in March this year, fishermen’s haul had dwindled.

“In the past, our haul would reach between 20kg and 40kg, but now, it is difficult for us to get even 1kg,” Abu Talib Khamis, 56, said.

The fisherman, who started going to sea at 12, claimed that the massive reclamation works under the Forest City Project at the Johor Straits had impacted negatively on fishermen.

The Forest City project is a joint-venture between a property developer from China and a local agency to create four artificial islands in the area.

The project’s gross development value is expected to reach RM600 billion in 30 years.

State Malaysian Nature Society chairman Vincent Chow had in July described the continental shelves off Tanjung Adang and Merambong in the Johor Straits as a sensitive marine heritage.

Zulkifli Hassan, 49, said he and other fishermen were now forced to go further out to sea.

“We have to make a detour to avoid the reclamation area.”

He said the project had affected the sea currents, endangering the safety of fishermen using small boats.

“We are also using more fuel to reach new fishing spots and using bigger vessels to rough out the stronger currents.”

During the public dialogue held last Sunday at the Kampung Pok community hall in Gelang Patah on the detailed environmental impact assessment (DEIA) briefing of the Forest City project, villagers had voiced their protests.

Among others, they questioned the credibility of the survey on  the social and economic impact conducted by the DEIA consultant.

Of the 100 villagers polled, 60 per cent of them had apparently said “yes” to the controversial project.

The audience questioned the methodology used in the survey and whether the sample was sufficient.

Kampung Pok Village Development and Security Committee deputy chairman Azman Abdul Rahman said he did not know when the survey was conducted, and if it had ever been conducted.

Primate For A Playmate

Yesterday, I got to meet sheeps and goats. Today it's this little sweetheart.

She does look a little sad, doesn't she?

Will a foot massage make you feel better, my dear?

Its guardian says he'll let Jenni out of her cage once the visitors leave. He says Jenni would run away when there are visitors in the house. It has happened before.

The guardian also tells me Jenni likes Milo beverage and jelly.

Why would people want to eat monkey brains or carry out experiments on them? Those who are and had ever been unkind to primates should watch Planet of the Apes.

A Mother's Love

Sheeps are so timid and shy. They scampered when they saw us approaching.

They probably know that the end is near. 

Can you spot the mama sheep in this picture?

In spite of the sheeps' shy and timid nature, when Wan (left) picked up a little lamb, its mother quickly came near and looked at Wan as if asking, "Hey, what are you doing with my kid?"

A woolly world we live in.  Need some mental clarity.  Focus.

Sea Of Rubbish

in the Johor Streets today

THREE years ago, some 120 families of Kampung Pendas Laut relocated to a new neighbourhood across Sungai Pendas to make way for a development in Iskandar Malaysia.

The residents live in concrete homes now at the edge of Sungai Pendas in their new settlement called Kampung Pendas Baru in Tanjung Kupang.

Though their living conditions and surroundings have improved, residents are disheartened to live in a sea of rubbish as there are no rubbish trucks to collect their waste since they moved there.

Putu Minah Pahlil, 75, said villagers were each provided with rubbish bins.
“However, no one has come to collect the rubbish since we moved here.

“I have to burn my household waste.

“Some of the residents just throw their rubbish into the sea. If not, what are we going to do with our rubbish?”

Jemiah Awang, 84, who lives next door to Putu Minah, said she has no other complaints besides rubbish collection.

“The village is peaceful and the people are friendly. I’m just curious as to why we were given rubbish bins without any collection service provided.”

A Streets check revealed that household waste comprising polystyrene and plastic were found strewn along the riverbank of Sungai Pendas.

John Chew, 60, a photography enthusiast said the rubbish was an eyesore.

“There are tourists who come to the village to buy fresh fish and the sight of the rubbish is off-putting.

“Can’t the authorities in charge of this development do something about the rubbish before they plan any more developments here?

“The roads are tarred as there are lorries and buses coming in.

“How can a garbage truck not be able to come to the village?

“By not providing garbage collection facilities it will only encourage the dumping of rubbish into the sea.”

Chew, who is also a nature lover, said he could imagine what the rubbish pile-up in the mangrove area was doing to the marine habitat in the river.

SWM Environment Sdn Bhd corporate communications head Shahrul Amir Abdul Rahim confirmed that the company does not send its truck into Kampung Pendas Baru.

“Most villagers have to appoint their own contractors. It is difficult for SWM to send our trucks into a village.

“However, I will ask the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation to review the matter.

“We can propose a large garbage bin to be placed somewhere where our trucks can pick up the rubbish without having to venture into the village,” Shahrul said.

Attempts to get a comment from the Iskandar Regional Development Authority were futile.

Sembang Sembang

Lovely blooms

Gentle breeze

and got chendol with gula Melaka some more

But the best part was the Sembang  Sembang session with the local community 

who came across as unpretentious and friendly

1111 Please Improve Your Service

I went to pay my Celcom bill again at a Celcom agent at Giant Nusa Bestari. I went last week but my number wasn't updated in the system yet so I wasn't able to pay then.

http://ardentindulgence.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-million-things-to-do.html

http://ardentindulgence.blogspot.com/2014/09/dumbfounded.html

Today, I found that it was still not updated despite the fact that the Celcom Customer Service operator from its headquarters told me they would get it done within 48 hours. The call was made on Sept 15 at 8.39am.

Today the Celcom agent had to call 1111 again to get the account number for my mobile number before she could accept my payment. 

Luckily I was able to pay the bill.

I'm not upset with Celcom or anything. Small things like that don't upset me anymore. Ok, let me rephrase that. I'm trying not to sweat the small stuff. I'd rather channel the energy to doing something productive. 

Every dog can bark and bite. But to remain calm and unfazed by external factors is a test of strength. I aspire to do that.

Just the other day, I encountered a rather rude soya beancurd seller. At first I was a little annoyed, and felt a fleeting impulse to let it affect my mood but then I thought, maybe he was not happy with his life. So, why not give him some of my happiness? I guess I could spare some.

Good night.

Show Proof I Was Bought Over

"Saari to Hadi: Show Proof I Was Bought Over"

by Akil Yunus

PETALING JAYA: PAS’ Hulu Kelang assemblyman Saari Sungib has challenged party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to show proof that he was bought over by PKR to support Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. 

“Provide the proof then,” he told Hadi, who claimed during his wrap-up speech at the party’s muktamar on Saturday that there were "brokers" from certain quarters who had "stolen" the support of PAS assemblymen in Selangor.

Saari clarified that he signed the statutory declaration (SD) supporting Dr Wan Azizah in order to deny Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim the chance to cause further damage to the state. 

“Khalid claimed he had the majority support, and had started sacking exco members. However, he did not consult any of the state assemblymen to ask them if they supported him.

“The aim was to deny Khalid. However, the lawyers explained that the state assemblymen need to support another candidate in order to legitimise the SD, so we supported Dr Wan Azizah because PKR and DAP had agreed to her nomination,” he said when contacted on Sunday. 

Saari insisted his only wrongdoing was to help safeguard Pakatan’s grip on Selangor, and lashed out at PAS for allowing its members to revile and insult him without knowing the full story. 

“There are many Islamic scholars in the party, yet they allow a motion to condemn me for my actions, which constitutes as punishment before trial. What kind of Islamic party is that? 

“At the muktamar, the permanent chairman did not intervene when a delegate prayed for God’s wrath upon me. This is very shameful to the party,” he added. 

Saari and Morib assemblyman Hasnul Baharuddin were the two Selangor PAS assemblymen who signed the SD supporting Dr Wan Azizah on Aug 14, three days before the party was to make an official stand on the mentri besar crisis.  

- source Star online

Forest City Project

by Sim Bak Heng

GELANG PATAH: The voice of protest permeates the air inside the Kampung Pok community hall when the audience started to comment on the Forest City project from 3.30pm.

From housewives to farmers, from fishermen to senior citizens, they took their turns to bombard the project proponent and DEIA consultant one by one.

One of the audience the credibility of the survey result on the social and economic impact conducted by the DEIA consultant.

Of the 100 villagers polled, the result showed that 60 per cent of them said "yes" to the controversial project.

The audience questioned the methodology used kn the survey, and whether the sample is sufficient.

Kampung Pok Village Development and Security Committee deputy chairman Azman Abdul Rahman said he did not even know when the survey was conducted and if it had ever been conducted.

He urged the project proponent to find an alternative road for the project to link to the mainland as no villagers want any road from the project to pass by Kampung Pok.

Another villager then stood up and said the project only benefits the rich but what the people want are affordable housing units.

So far, no one from the audience has openly supported the project.

The dialogue continues with only brickbats and no bouquets.

Several people have appealed that the public dialogue be postponed until a more detailed DEIA is presented.

2nd story

GELANG PATAH: The controversial Forest City project will now be split into four islands instead of one single island.

The biggest island measures 1,005hectares while the smallest measures 58ha.

It is split into four islands following a hydrology study which saw the need to have more water channels to allow water flow along the Johor Straits.

Reclamation of the Forest City project stopped on June 16 this year following a diplomatic note from Singapore which asked for more details about the project and its impact on the Johor Straits.

This is in view that the project is near to the Malaysia-Singapore boundary and involves lots of coastal reclamation.

The briefing today detailed about the amount of coastal sand off Telok Ramunia meant for the project.

Reclamation for the biggest island alone needs about 118,155,717 cubic metres.

The sand are carried by barges to the Forest City site through the southern part of Singapore.

- source NST online

A Seething Speech by Hadi

Our Assemblymen Were Bought, Claims Hadi

BY MARTIN CARVALHO, RAHMAH GHAZALI, AND RAHIMY RAHIM

BATU PAHAT: PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has chastised two Selangor PAS legislators for throwing their support behind PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, labelling the two lackeys and accusing them of having been bought.

“They couldn’t get what they wanted, they stole them from us. They were bought over,” said Abdul Hadi, in what appeared to be a scathing attack at PAS’ Pakatan Rakyat partner, PKR.

His accusation comes two days after warning both PKR and DAP not to betray PAS within the tahaluf siyasi (political cooperation).

In his winding-up speech at PAS 60th muktamar here, Abdul Hadi said the statutory declaration that the two assemblymen had signed in support of Dr Wan Azizah was nothing compared to sumpah bai’ah (loyalty oath).

The loyalty oath is a PAS pledge taken by all its candidates before the general election.

“Didn’t they take the oath? Which one is bigger? The bai’ah or the statutory declaration?” he asked.

Abdul Hadi went on to say that the party had no choice but to intervene in the Selangor crisis even though it had no interest in the mentri besar post.

“We are not hungry for the post although we have more seats compared to PKR. “They have to remember that we are bound by Islamic principles, not just based on rational basis,” he said.

Hulu Klang assemblyman Saari Sungib and Morib assemblyman Hasnol Baharuddin have been criticised by PAS leaders for going against the party the moment they declared support for Dr Wan Azizah.

The two were not seen at the three-day muktamar.

-source Star online

Pas Congress 14

BY MARTIN CARVALHO, RAHIMY RAHIM, AND RAHMAH GHAZALI

BATU PAHAT: PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had to act independently by submitting his own Mentri Besar list to the Palace due to time constraints.

In defending Hadi, PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said there were occasions when a leader had to make on the spot decisions.

“As far as I remember, Hadi had always referred to the PAS central committee meetings before making a decision,” he said.

However, Mustafa said there are circumstances where the party president has to make on-the- spot decisions.

He said these decisions were made in situations where there wasn’t enough time for the PAS central committee to discuss the matter.

Mustafa cited the list submitted on Sept 3 by Hadi as an example of a situation where Hadi had to take matters into his own hands.

The list named three candidates for the Mentri Besar’s post – including one from PAS.

“I already stated clearly to the media on Sept 2 that we did not have time to convene a central committee meeting,” he said.

Mustafa used an analogy of a soldier in a battlefield facing an enemy.

“When the soldier is facing an enemy who is about to shoot him, he has to make a decision on the spot on how to react against that enemy,” said Mustafa.

Meanwhile, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said he would never override the president, as he would consult him before any decision is made.

“Although I have the authority to sign a statement whenever the president is absent from meetings, I would still have to go through the secretary-general. Any decision does not come from me alone,” he said.

- source Star online

Pas Congress 13

by Shahrum Sayuthi

BATU PAHAT: Pas deputy spiritual adviser Datuk Haron Din today told Pas members to brace themselves with the possibility of the party being expelled from Pakatan coalition.

He said such a scenario should not be dismissed despite repeated calls by delegates at the Pas 60th muktamar (annual general meeting) here for the party to remain in the coalition.

"Even in a marriage, if certain conditions had been breeched, it would not be able to be saved and divorce is the only way out," he said.

Relations between Pas and its Pakatan allies PKR and DAP reached a breaking point over the Selangor leadership crisis when it was widely rumoured of late that Sultan of Selangor may appoint a Pas assemblyman as menteri besar on Sept 23.

Haron reminded members that Pas' stand on such matters are based on Islamic teachings unlike that of PKR'd and DAP's.

"We must therefore abide by the Syura Council's decision and support the stand made by our party," he said.

- source NST online

Pas Congress 12

BY MARTIN CARVALHO, RAHMAH GHAZALI, AND RAHIMY RAHIM

BATU PAHAT: No groups should use the division between the professionals and the clerics in PAS to oust certain leaders, deemed not in line with the party’s struggle.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said having both factions within the party was nothing new and such division has never been an issue.

“Do not create lies to oust certain leaders.

“Whoever says the professionals are not needed, they do not understand the dynamics of PAS.

“Whoever says the Ulama are not needed, they also do not understand the dynamics of PAS,” he told the delegates during his winding-up speech at PAS’ 60th Muktamar Saturday.

Mustafa also defended PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu and vice-presidents Datuk Husam Musa and Salahuddin Ayub.

“I need to clear their names as they have been viciously attacked.

“PAS without Ulama is blind, PAS without professional is lame. We need both to strengthen the party,” he said.

PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub, in his winding-up speech, said the party should put a stop to allegations that the party is now marred by a group of liberals.

“Who are these liberal leaders? Are they Khalid Samad? Dzulkefly Ahmad? Mujahid Yusof Rawa? Hanipa Maidin?

“Let’s prepare a stage and call them for debates. We can do this closed-door,” he said.

He said the president should act sternly, by sacking those who are found guilty in bringing liberalism into the party.

“We don’t need to take a disciplinary action against them, just sack them,” he said.

- source Star online

Pas Congress 11

NST online

BATU PAHAT: Pas Youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat has urged all members to unite under the leadership of president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang as a way to resolve the current crisis in the party.
Suhaizan said Hadi, as president, is a symbol of party unity.
"We also need to be with other senior leaders like Datuk Seri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and Datuk Dr Harun Din. It is also time for us to resolve the crisis because if we do not, it would only lead to more problems to the party," said Suhaizan.
He also said that party leaders should think of the sacrifices of party members instead of quarreling with each other.
The Pas leadership has been split following the Selangor leadership crisis between the ulama (religious leaders) faction led by Hadi and the so called "progressive" faction led by deputy president Mohamad Sabu who is known as aligned to PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"Take this muktamar for example. There are many party members who sacrifice their time and money to volunteer their services here but the leaders are having a crisis," said Suhaizan.
He also asked members not to be so engrossed with current problems that the party is facing that they forgot about other party matters.
"I would suggest that members spend 70 per cent of their time to think about other party matters so that we can bring the party forward," said Suhaizan.

Pas Congress 10

by MARTIN CARVALHO, RAHMAH GHAZALI, RAHIMY RAHIM, AND KATHLEEN ANN KILI

BATU PAHAT: PAS’ legal bureau chairman Mohamed Hanipa Maidin (pic) was booed and jeered for passionately urging the party to reject the appointment of its assemblyman as the new Selangor Mentri Besar next week.

In his winding-up speech on the last day of PAS’ 60th Muktamar (annual gathering) here, the Sepang MP did not mince his words that the party would suffer dire consequences if it accepted the post.

“You can boo and jeer as loud as you want. I do not care.

“These are the realities based on facts,” said Mohamed Hanipa Saturday, who is the chairman of legal and human rights bureau (Luham).

He then outlined two reasons if the party went ahead to accept the post - PAS would be accused of breaking its promise that the post belongs to PKR and the possibility of the party forming a weak government.

“If you think you can handle that and accept the post, but do you think you can form a majority government that is not fragile?” he asked.

At this point, Mohamed Hanipa retorted that his argument was based on facts and that the crowd could boo as long as they wanted.

“Go ahead and boo all you want. I am arguing based on facts not on shouts,” he said, adding that this could also result in snap polls.

Earlier, the practicing lawyer was also booed when he defended the legal bureau’s views on the president’s veto power and the Syura Ulama council’s interpretation of it under the party constitution.

He insisted that based on the amendments to the party constitution on 1983, the party president had no veto power.

“However, I do not deny that the president can make his own decision but it has to be in the spirit of the constitution where he needs to refer to the central committee,” he said, to boos and jeers by the delegates and observers.

The deputy permanent chairman Hussein Ismail then called for calm.

- source Star online

Will Singapore Reconsider?

JOHOR BARU: Malaysia will explain to Singapore the reason behind the recent toll charges implemented at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex on Aug 1.

The cabinet had tasked the Transport and Foreign Affairs Ministries with meeting their Singaporean counterparts soon to clarify the matter, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said yesterday.

It was hoped that the meeting would push Singapore to reconsider its decision to increase toll rates at the Woodlands checkpoint, which will start early next month, he said.

The two ministries were tasked to do so after a recent cabinet meeting.

“As far as I know, there is no prior agreement to the republic matching the toll rate if Malaysia were to raise its rates.

“We need to explain to them (Singapore) that we are imposing the toll rates so that we can pay the concessionaire of the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL).”

Speaking after a closed-door meeting with the Chinese business community, comprising more than 30 associations, at Wisma Tiong-Hua here, Wee said the government had to pay RM11 million every month to EDL’s concessionaire, which paid for the construction of the EDL.

To this end, the government had set up a toll booth at the CIQ at the end of the EDL, Wee said.

“If we were to place the toll booth anywhere else, more motorists would be affected.

“Moreover, we have already exempted motorcyclists from paying as we know many locals go to Singapore to work using motorcycles.

“If Singapore justifies its toll rate hike by saying it is only matching our toll hike, then it would seem as if we were to blame for the increased rates.”

Wee said community leaders had proposed that the government use part of the proceeds of the soon-to-be imposed Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) to pay the concessionaire.

On Sept 12, the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced its new toll rates that will take effect next month following Malaysia’s toll rate imposed at the CIQ on Aug 1.

The LTA said it had been a long-standing policy for Singapore to match the toll rates set by Malaysia at the Causeway and the Second Link.

The toll rates at the CIQ are RM9.70 and RM6.80 for inbound and outbound cars, respectively.

Singapore’s new toll rate for cars will see an increase from S$1.20 to S$3.80 (RM3.03 to RM9.62).

Hudud For All: Star Exclusive

by Rahmah Ghazali

KAJANG: After taking over PAS supporter’s club from Hu Pang Chow last April, the new chairman of the non-Muslim wing has reversed his predecessor’s position on the shariah laws.

Unlike Hu, N. Balasubramaniam (pic) believes that the Islamic penal code could serve as a preventive law in reducing the crime rate in the country.

“I believe that the hudud law is effective for the people. It is already enshrined in the holy book, there must be a reason why it is there,” he told The Star Online at a recent interview.

Hailing from Kuala Lipis, Pahang, 56-year-old Balasubramaniam said a similar criminal law was the practice of an ancient kingdom in India and asked why there is now objection to it.

“The (criminal) law was called manu neethi sastram. It was a similar law to hudud that required offenders to have their hand chopped for stealing, or stoned to death for some other offences,” he said.

Balasubramaniam, who joined PAS in 2008, felt that non-Muslims can accept hudud if the right explanation is given.

“I have organised a number of forums with various NGOs on hudud law and they seem to be receptive to it.

“They also agreed that the Islamic penal code could bring down the crime rate significantly,” he said.

Hu’s outspokenness on the matter had seen him removed from helming the non-Muslim wing, but Balasubramaniam said this was just a part of forming a new committee.

“Hu was not sacked, but PAS merely wanted a new committee as he had held the position for four years.

“Besides, what he said about hudud was his personal views and the party could not take any action based on that,” he said.

Notably PAS has also been at loggerheads with its Pakatan Rakyat partners over its persistence on the implementation of the hudud law.

Now that he is given the responsibility of spearheading the PAS’ supporter’s club, Balasubramaniam said they will carry on with activities in the field and try to garner more members.

He said he would give himself a period of three years to prove to the party that the wing is capable of attracting new followers.

"In return, PAS should reward us with more seats in the next general elections with one non-Muslim candidate fielded in each state,” he said.

During GE13, three non-Muslim PAS candidates were fielded at two state seats and one parliamentary seat, but all were defeated. To date, the wing has 40,000 members  registered nationwide.

- source Star online

We Need To Talk

JOHOR BARU: The government will soon meet with the Singapore government to better explain on the implementation of the toll hike for the Causeway here on August 1, which has also triggered a matching toll by the republic's authorities next month.

The federal government will hold a meeting with their Singapore counterparts soon to discuss the matter in addition to explain the action of the recent increase in toll rates at the Sultan Iskandar Building's Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said the Transport Ministry and the Foreign Affairs Ministry have been tasked to meet their counterparts soon to convey the message, after being given the nod at a recent Cabinet meeting.

"As far as I know there is no prior agreement that the republic must match the toll rate if Malaysia also raises its toll.

"We need to explain to them (Singapore) that we are increasing our toll rate so that we can pay to the concessionaire of the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL)," Wee said after a closed-door meeting with
the hinese business community from more than 30 associations at the Johor Baru Wisma Tiong-Hua here today.

Also present was Johor tourism, domestic trade and consumerism committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong.

The toll charges for cars will increase from S$1.20 (RM3.03) to S$6.50 (RM16.44) while the charges for vans and light goods vehicles from S$1.90 (RM4.81) to S$9.80 (RM24.79). Heavy goods vehicles S$2.60 (RM6.58) to S$13 (RM32.88). Taxis S$0.60 (RM1.52) to S$3.30 (RM8.35) and buses S$1.00 (RM2.53) to S$5.30 (RM13.40).

Pas Congress 9

Some Pas members want to appease Pakatan by rejecting MB's post

by Shahrum Sayuthi

NST online

BATU PAHAT: Concerned with the possibility of Pas leaving the Pakatan coalition following dispute over the Selangor leadership crisis, some members insisted that the party leadership reject the MB post if selected by the Sultan.

The topic continued to be the main talking point on the second day of the party's muktamar (annual general meeting).

First speaker of the debate session today, Wan Kharizal Wan Khazim from Perlis called on the party leadership not to accept a possible appointment of the Selangor Menteri Besar post from among their assemblymen.

He said Pas could not afford to offend PKR and DAP by accepting the post which he insisted should be given to PKR.

"We must maintain our moral integrity and not break our promise to our Pakatan friends," he said.

It was reported that a new MB would be sworn in front of the Selangor Sultan on Sept 23.

Sources had indicated that the Selangor palace was keen to appoint a Pas assemblyman as the new MB instead of one from PKR.

The Selangor leadership crisis was triggered by PKR's Kajang Move which was designed to replace current MB Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

The Pas leadership was divided over the issue with the ulama (religious leaders) faction led by party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang being against the PKR's move while another faction, led by his deputy Mohamad Sabu being supportive of it.

Wan Kharizal said Pas will lose the support of the non-muslim community if it breaks relation with PKR and DAP.

"We have made a lot of gains among the non-muslims in the last general election with the help of our friends. Therefore, we must be sincere with them," he said.

Second speaker, Khairul Anwar Wafa from Negeri Sembilan called on the party leadership to move an urgent motion at the muktamar to reject the possible appointment of its assemblyman as Selangor MB.

"We must make known to our Pakatan Rakyat friends that we do not want the post," he said.

Khairul Anwar, nonetheless qualified his suggestion by pointing out that Pas should not at the same time defy the wish of the Sultan of Selangor if indeed the Ruler wants a Pas assemblyman to be the new MB.

"At least when the time comes, after we had made the urgent motion, we can tell our friends (PKR and DAP) that the appointment is the wish of the Sultan and not ours," he said.

Hadi Hits Out At Pas Critics

by Joceline Tan

Star online

Party president put those who had tried to dilute the views of the ulama in their place, telling them there will be no compromise on the party’s Islamic struggle.

DATUK Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has lost weight – some 10kg, it seems. He is on a special diet of more vegetables, no sugary drinks, less meat and fish, and, for some strange reason, he has to control his water intake.

His old fire-and-brimstone speaking style also seems to have been replaced by a more sedate tone. It is probably doctor’s orders – too much excitement is not good for his heart.

As such, his presidential speech at the opening of the PAS muktamar yesterday was delivered in a measured tone with none of his trademark crescendos and dramatic pitches.

His admirers said his calmness and serenity in the face of the criticism levelled against him over the last few months are marks of his spirituality.

But the content of his speech was something else altogether. Hadi’s speech hit out at the critics of PAS, both inside and outside the party. It was one of his most fiery political speeches in years and a few people on the stage definitely felt the heat.

He put those who had tried to dilute the views of the ulama in their place, telling them there will be no compromise on the party’s Islamic struggle.

Hadi was out to set the record straight – the party is not detouring from the Islamic course, it is not going for the sake of power and short-term gains.

Its struggle, he said, exists because of the belief in Allah and the party’s original objectives take precedence. He did not say it out loud, but those objectives presumably involve the Islamic state.

He did not mince his words as he called on members to cleanse the party of “hypocritical elements” and the weak-spirited who have lost focus of the struggle.

He warned that coalition politics should not mean that PAS has to give up its Islamic policy, a point that was clearly aimed at those who want the party to go along with the secular politics of its Pakatan Rakyat partners.

He also rubbished talk that PAS would hook up with Umno.

In short, Hadi used the muktamar to set the party firmly back on its “leadership by the ulama” footing.

The tug-of-war between the ulama and the Erdogan groups has been going on for several years but became untenable following the Selangor mentri besar crisis.

The Erdogan group’s open backing of Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for the top job was in open defiance of the ulama stand.

The fiery mood from the Youth gathering carried over to the main muktamar as delegates let off steam after watching the antics of Pakatan leaders in Selangor.

Not everyone approved of the walkout staged against deputy president Mohamad Sabu when he opened the Youth muktamar on Tuesday. They felt it was disrespectful.

Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad complained to some reporters that it was “destructive”.

However, Mat Sabu, as he is known, had it coming. Seen as the hero of the Erdogan group, he has been very outspoken of late, ruffling feathers in the ulama camp.

He kept up a brave front during a joint press conference with Hadi yesterday but when reporters asked Hadi about their relationship, Mat Sabu tried to end the press conference. The body language between the two was simply not there.

It looks like the ulama group has regained the upper hand after years of playing second fiddle to the Erdogans.

A great deal of it is due to the rising influence of the young Turks in the ulama group. They are well educated and they mean to take charge of the party in the years ahead.

PAS may not be in the best of shape today but its leaders have this unfailing belief that the Almighty will take care of them.

Their choice of Batu Pahat for the muktamar was a signal that they aim to replace Umno one day because this was where Umno was born.

The gathering took place under giant white tents on land belonging to an elderly supporter who was so thrilled to meet Hadi that he almost cried.

PAS is still with Pakatan but its love affair with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is over. The return to its ulama roots may yet be the signal that it is prepared to go its own way should the need arise.