1. Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com)
PKR campaign funded by Jews, claims Umno, 13 March 2012
by Zulaikha Zulkifli
Selangor Umno today claimed that PKR had received support from a Jewish-linked organisation when it faced the 2008 general election.
State party secretary Mohd Zin Mohamed said the Konrad Adeneur Foundation (KAF) had close links with the German ruling party Christian Democratic Union.
He added the foundation was one of the organisations responsible for chanelling funds to PKR and providing human capital training for its officials.
Mohd Zain alleged that KAF also helped the opposition party prepare its manual leading up to the general election.
"KAF is the largest think-tank of the German government... KAF also helps the neo-conservative Jewish community through the American Jewish Committee (AJC)," he added.
"This is the approach taken by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, with the help of foreign aid that is undemocratic in order to compete with us.
"They (PKR) used these methods to create hatred towards (BN) leaders of the country.
"Their efforts began in 2004, all the way up to the 2008 GE," Mohd Zain (left) said at a press conference at the Selangor Umno office in Shah Alam today.
Mohd Zain added that KAF representative Peter Schier also confirmed PKR’s link with KAF in an interview with English daily The Sun several years ago.
“(Schier) admitted that his organisation had sponsored leadership courses for PKR,” said the Selangor Umno coordinator.
Mohd Zain added that besides KAF, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) had also prepared an election manual specifically for Malaysia, which was translated to Bahasa Malaysia.
Questioning the need for this, Mohd Zain said: “The book claims that Malaysia has no media freedom and freedom of religion. The PKR considers this NDI book to be their holy book in facing the general election.”
Anwar’s letter to former World Bank chief
To support his claim, Mohd Zain also distributed copies of documents signed by the opposition leader.
Among them includes a 2007 letter addressed to former World Bank president Robert Zoellick.
He added that using religious sentiments and hatred to take over power is most “primitive and uncivilised”.
“Umno and all mature Malaysians cannot accept this form of colonisation,” he said.
According to its website, KAF has had a presence in Malaysia for over three decades and supported work in areas of economic reform, rule of law, poverty allevation and international relations.
Its local partners include the Academy for Responsible Management, the Bar Council of Malaysia, Community Communications Centre, Institut for Policy Research, Malaysian Institute of Management and the Nutgraph.
2. Business Recorder (http://www.brecorder.com)
Global March to occupied Jerusalem: participants vow to wage fight for Palestinians' rights, 14 March 2012
Raising "Free Palestine," slogans, just at the main gate of the founder of Pakistan - Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah's mausoleum, the participants of Global March to Jerusalem for Al-Qudus Freedom 2012 vowed to fight for the fundamental rights of the occupied Palestinians here on Tuesday.
The participants were from Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Somalia, Oman and India while the march was organised by Palestine Liberation Foundation of Pakistan (PLFP).
The members of General Union of Palestine Students - Pakistan chapter, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and other religious and civil society organisations attended the event.
Interestingly, an Indian flag was seen rising along with the Pakistani and Palestinian ones inside the Quaid-e-Azam mausoleum, as the visitors from the neighbouring country paid a standing homage to the founder of Pakistan along with other participants of different countries and offered prayers.
The continued freedom March will lead now to Iran en route Quetta, Balochistan, then Turkey, Jordan and will end in Lebanon to found a human chain to enter Jerusalem for the independence of Al-Qudus- a religious place sacred for the followers of all three religions - Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
The participants had banners in hands and flags of different countries and scarves around their necks to symbolise unity with Palestinians.
They were also chanting slogans of "Free Kashmir," "Down with Israel," "Down with the US," and "Al-Qudus for All".
One of the banners read as "Boycott Israel".
An Uzbek participant of the Freedom March, Ghulam Sakhi, who was well fluent in Pashto, told Business Recorder that he came to attend the event in Karachi to show his countrymen's sentiments to share solidarity with Palestinians.
He said, "I stayed along with three of my friends in Karachi just to attend the Freedom March to show solidarity with the Palestinian nation," adding that he would also travel back to Quetta and then Iran along the March passage.
President of General Union of Palestinian Students- Pakistan chapter, Fadal Abbas told Business Recorder that some 33 Arab students from Palestine, Jordan, Oman and Somalia had attended the March in Karachi and showed gratitude to Pakistani nation for their support to the Palestine cause.
He said, adding that Pakistan being a brotherly country always extended its support to the occupied Palestinian nation.
Abbas studies engineering in Karachi.
A Canadian student of Jordanian origin- Ahmed, 20, who studies medicines in Karachi expressed thanks to Pakistanis for their overwhelming support to the just cause of Palestinian nation.
He said his nation also wanted to see Palestine as an independent state.
Earlier, JI's Sindh Ameer, Assadullah Bhutto along with JI's Karachi chief Muhammad Hussain Mehanti and other representatives of different originations welcomed the participants of Freedom March at the entrance of the Mazar-e-Quaid.
Addressing the participants, Bhutto urged the Pakistani nation to continue its support until Palestine emerged as an independent state on the world map.
He said Quaid-e-Azam's vision behind creation of Pakistan was to support the Muslims of world.
He said the Pakistani nation would also continue its efforts to free Al-Qudus from the illegal occupation of Israel.
He said Pakistanis had never recognised Israel as an independent state and would never do in future.
"JI and Pakistanis would step by step support and struggle for the Palestinian cause," he assured the Palestinians.
Arab students and the participants of the freedom march also performed a Palestinian dance - called "Dabaka" at Mazar-e-Quaid.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2012
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