1. Malaysian Insider (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com)
(1) Anifah: Malaysia does not support ‘all efforts to protect Israel’, 29 January 2012
by Shannon Teoh
The foreign minister said today Anwar’s interview “clearly shows full support for all actions taken by Israel to protect its security, unless he is accusing The Wall Street Journal of making a mistake.”
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 — Datuk Seri Anifah Aman insisted tonight that despite supporting a “two-state solution,” Malaysia has never supported Israel in its conflict with Palestine.
The foreign minister said this differed from Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that he “supports all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel.”
“His statement clearly shows his acceptance and support for actions taken by Israel against Palestinians up to now.
“Actions interpreted as security measures by Israel include military attacks on Gaza causing the death of thousands of innocent Palestinians including women and children,” the Kimanis MP said in a statement sent to The Malaysian Insider.
Anifah stressed that Malaysia has never supported these actions but joined the global community in condemning Israel that clearly breaches international law.
“Malaysia calls for all parties to find a comprehensive solution that is fair and just based on the ‘Roadmap’ and United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions whereby both nations can live side-by-side in a peaceful and safe manner,” he added.
Anwar came under heavy fire from Umno and its media after his statement was published by the Wall Street Journal on Thursday.
But the international business daily said Anwar stopped short of saying he would open diplomatic ties with the Jewish state, a step the former deputy prime minister said remains contingent on Israel respecting the aspirations of Palestinians.
The opposition leader was forced to defend himself last night by stressing that his remarks in the newspaper meant that he supported a two-state solution as mentioned by Anifah when the latter addressed the UN general assembly in September last year.
But Anifah said today Anwar’s interview “clearly shows full support for all actions taken by Israel to protect its security, unless he is accusing the Wall Street Journal of making a mistake.”
Muslim-majority Malaysia is a staunch supporter of Palestine and has no diplomatic ties with Israel.
Muslim politicians have long vied for support from Malays by denouncing what they say are inhumane acts of aggression by Israel towards its neighbour.
Anwar has previously been attacked as a supporter of the Zionist movement due to his interaction with prominent Jewish figures in the West.
But the opposition leader turned the tables on Umno and Barisan Nasional in 2010 when he claimed public relations firm APCO Worldwide, then contracted by Putrajaya, was responsible for both the 1 Malaysia and 1 Israel campaigns.
(2) Hasan Ali: Christians going undercover to convert Muslims, 28 January 2012
Hasan said Muslims were susceptible to the alleged conversion bids due to their weak faith.
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 — Former Selangor Islamic affairs executive councillor Datuk Hasan Ali claimed today Christian ministers have resorted to handing out electronic gadgets and wearing kopiah (skullcaps) to mosques in their efforts to convert Muslims.
The Gombak Setia assemblyman, who was sacked from PAS and the state government earlier this month, told an anti-apostasy rally in Kepala Batas, Penang that Muslims in the country were vulnerable to these methods due to their lack of faith.
He said that when he was Selangor executive councillor, he received at least 60 reports of apostasy including how Muslims were enticed with money and given gifts of laptop computers, cameras, cars, monthly food provisions and gadgets like solar-powered bibles.
“There were reports of foreign Christian ministers wearing Muslim skullcaps and attending prayers at a certain mosque in Petaling Jaya to establish a communal relationship with Muslims before converting them.
“I was told these international Christian groups have unlimited funds,” he told a crowd of about 2,000, a tenth of Himpunan Sejuta Umat’s (Himpun) targeted 20,000 attendess.
The coalition of Muslim NGOs has organised several such gatherings in response to the “challenge of Christianisation”.
Himpun was mooted following last year’s controversial August 3 raid by Selangor Islamic authorities on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) in Petaling Jaya, where it was alleged that Christians were converting Muslims.
Hasan had backed the raid and said there “could be hundreds, maybe even thousands” of cases of Muslims being converted by Christians.
Last November, the former Selangor PAS chief told the Selangor Legislative Assembly that evangelical Christians are using high-tech devices such as solar-powered talking bibles to proselytise Muslims in the state.
Hasan was axed by PAS after urging opposition supporters to avoid the rally on January 9 in support of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the day his sodomy trial verdict was handed down by the High Court here.
He had also repeatedly criticised PAS as having deviated from championing Islam.
2. Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com)
Time Indians reclaim M'sia's ancient history, 31 January 2012
by Datuk Raja
Contrary to the claims of certain quarters in Malaysia and abroad, the link and association of Indians with Malaysia goes as far back as 110 AD, as evidence has been unearthed from Lembah Bujang in Kedah.
Lembah Bujang or Bujang Valley is a sprawling historical complex covering an area of about 224 square kilometers and is located between Gunung Jerai in the north and Muda River in the south and is the richest archaeological site in Malaysia.
This is an important and significant discovery as it asserts and testifies to the fact that the Indian community has had a link with Malaysia dating back to almost time immemorial.
It clearly debunks the myth that Indians should be classified as ‘pendatang’ (immigrants) as they were long established in the country and not as imports of indentured labourers by the British in the last century only.
The archaeological remains at Bujang Valley reveals there was a Hindu-Buddhist polity in this area as far back as more than 2,000 years ago and this means the Malaysian government should push for Bujang Valley to be designated as a Unesco World Heritage site.
While it is well that George Town and Malacca are Unesco sites, the Malaysian government should recognise the ancient link of Indians with Malaysia and not just be limited to setting up 'Little Indias' here and there.
The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) and other groups representing Indian interests in this country should take it upon themselves to champion for the site to be designated as a Unesco site and highlight the fact that Indians are no newcomers to Malaysia.
Indians take pride and stand tall in this country because they have settled in this nation and have a long-standing heritage which shows the significant contribution that they have made to nation building and not just in building rail lines, road works and tapping rubber.
Credible historians will testify and reveal that the Indian community has shed blood, sweat and tears to bring Malaysia to the forefront of development. Indians in Malaysia should see themselves as second to none and continue to strive and be industrious in their efforts to further excel in life. Indian groups representing the community should pay heed to these historical facts and not subscribe to the fictional evidence of novels like Interlok. They should now take inspiration from Bujang Valley evidence to motivate themselves and fellow Indians in Malaysia to improve and better themselves.
It is also interesting to note that the sultanate of Kedah was founded in 1136 by Sultan Mudzafar Shah who ruled Kedah until 1179 before he embraced Islam. Before he embraced Islam, Sultan Mudzafar was known as Maharaja Durbar Raja and was a practising Hindu.
Our present beloved Yang di-Pertuan Agung Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah is the 28th Sultan of Kedah which is also the oldest sultanate in the peninsula of Malaysia.
(End)
