The Star Online: Nation
The Star Online: Nation |
- Death threats to politicians
- Najib tweets on meeting CEO from Twitter headquarters
- Woman gets ‘eyeless cat’ warning outside home
| Posted: PETALING JAYA: At around 3am on September 2008, a motorcyclist rode by the house of Seputeh MP Teresa Kok. He flung a Molotov cocktail and a bottle containing a letter filled with vulgarities into the compound of the DAP politician's home. Fortunately, the bottles didn't ignite. No one was hurt during the attacks. But Kok felt fearful and worried. She believed the attack was to instil fear in her and to frighten her from performing her duties as an MP. In 2009, Kok received another threat on her blog telling her that she, 'should be taught with blood.' "Will they come to kill me? It is probable. This is something that nobody can guarantee," said Kok. When asked if the threats have ever deterred her from carrying out her duties, she replied with a firm, 'No." A question that pops up during these instances is: How many of the threats actually materialise? Just two weeks ago, both Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and PKR Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim became the focus of twitter attacks telling them to be careful for their lives. "To evaluate the seriousness of a death threat, we must assess the context and nature of the case. Politicians should always be alert when it comes to safety, especially high profile figures," said Dr. Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd. Mokhtar, lecturer of political science at IIUM. "It has occurred before (deaths) although they are not common. Assassination isn't part of our culture. Nevertheless, threats should not be taken lightly," agreed political analyst Dr Shaharuddin Badaruddin. Malaysian history tells of numerous high-profile deaths, murder and assault cases involving politicians. In 1976, a plane crashed in Sabah killing then Chief Minister of Sabah, Tun Fuad Stephens. Conclusive reasons for crash are unknown and investigation reports remain classified, prompting speculation of foul play. Conspiracy buffs have tried to link the timely death of Tun Fuad with the signing of Sabah's oil rights to the Malaysian Federal Government, but without any hard evidence to prove this claim, all allegations remain nothing more than conjecture. In 1982, Datuk Mokhtar Hashim, then Culture, Youth and Sports Minister was convicted for killing Datuk Taha Talib, State Assemblyman for Tampin, days before the 1982 general elections. The court found that the bullet which killed Taha came from Mokhtar's gun and the motivation for murder was thought to be political rivalry. Notable unsolved cases involving politicians also include the murders of Lunas assemblyman Dr Joe Fernandez and Tenggaroh assemblyman Datuk S. Krishnasamy. In 2000, Fernandez was driving home when he was shot dead by a pillion motorcycle rider. The motive for murder is uncertain, although religious reasons have been suggested. The Islamic militant group KMM (Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia) was suspected to have a hand in the crime but no clear evidence was found and the culprits are still at large. In 2008 Krishnasamy was on his way to a meeting when he was shot in a lift in Johor's MIC headquarters at point blank range. The case remains unsolved. Despite these incidents, the number of deaths and murders involving politicians is relatively low, said Shaharuddin. "In Malaysia, unlike other third world nations, we rarely see death threats becoming a reality. However, caution should be exercised at all times," explained Shaharuddin who also pointed out that actions of such perpetrators are often unpredictable. "Assassinations happen even in first world nations and we should do our best to avoid this path," he added. |
| Najib tweets on meeting CEO from Twitter headquarters Posted: SAN FRANCISCO: Immediately after meeting Twitter CEO Dick Costolo, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak used his newly-acquired smartphone – an iPhone5 – to tweet about it. There was a slight glitch though as it went to draft but with quick assistance from Costolo's aide, Najib's first tweet from the social media headquarters in Market Street here was sent within seconds. With Costolo standing next to him, the Prime Minister tweeted: "Meeting Twitter CEO@dickc at Twitter HQ" and "Great Session at Twitter HQ. A wonderful platform to engage with Malaysians n the Global Community". Najib also appended a picture of himself shaking hands with Costolo with the blue Twitter corporate logo printed on a bunting in the background. The Prime Minister had earlier arrived at the Twitter headquarters and was taken for a tour of the premises before sitting down with Costolo and his senior management team. Accompanying Najib were Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, and officials and CEOs of several government linked companies (GLCs). Twitter was launched in July 2006 and has rapidly gained worldwide popularity, with 500 million registered users in 2012 alone, posting 340 million tweets per day. The Prime Minister is among the few world leaders who are very active in tweeting. Speaking to reporters later, Najib said Twitter had indicated that it was willing to talk to the Malaysian government on working together, especially in enhancing its outreach to the people. "I mentioned that one possibility is disaster alert and communication in respect of government policies. Another example is about Asean as a community – how do we raise people's outlook to go beyond national interest and national identity and think as a Asean community by year 2015. "You can use Twitter as a platform within the context of the entire Asean community," he added. |
| Woman gets ‘eyeless cat’ warning outside home Posted: KOTA KINABALU: A businesswoman here has received a gruesome warning – a dead cat with its eyes gouged out was left outside her house, along with a threatening note. The single mother, however, was not at home during the incident as she was away with her children, aged 13 and 16, at a relative's house. A neighbour, alerted by the foul smell, found the eyeless carcass and quickly called the woman at about 2.50pm on Sunday. When the businesswoman, identified as Yau Chook, 33, rushed home several hours later, she saw the threatening note outside her door but the dead cat had been removed. The note, in Malay, read: Awas sebelum saya lakukan pada kamu seperti haiwan ini. Kau itu perempuan geteh dan selagi kau masih hidup selagi aku tidak berhenti untuk menghancurkan hidup mu dan keluargamu. (Be careful before I do to you as I did to this animal. You are a horny woman and for as long you live I will not stop destroying you and your family.) Fearing for her safety and that of her children, Yau Chook immediately lodged a police report. Sandakan district police chief Asst Comm Rowell Marong said they rarely had cases involving such a gruesome threat. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Star Online : Nation Feed To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan