The Star Online: Nation
The Star Online: Nation |
- PAS caught between grassroots demand and Opposition partners
- Lebanese cops continue to detain man in Claudia Theophilus death
- Batu Kawan Umno division head dies
| PAS caught between grassroots demand and Opposition partners Posted: 04 Feb 2013 08:18 AM PST KUALA LUMPUR: Several fiery issues have been clouding PAS recently, including hudud laws, the post of prime minister, and the latest on the usage of the word 'Allah' by non-Muslims, sandwiching the party leadership between the demand of grassroot members and the desire of its Opposition partners. To what extent are the PAS leaders able to sail in the same direction with PKR and DAP when more party members are calling for the party to return to its original route, and if need be, to go alone without the burden of its coalition partners? Among them was Nasharuddin Mat Isa who had made it clear that PAS should return to its original struggle to uphold Islam and protect the interest of the Malays, without the cooperation of PKR and DAP which have conflicting interests. The former PAS deputy president said the clash of interests with PKR and DAP had weakened the original struggle of PAS, adding that the party was sufficiently strong to grow as a major party in the country, without PKR and DAP. "Lately, the PAS leadership has been caught in a chess game to prioritise political benefits away from the party's struggle to uphold Islam which the grassroot members want. "Among the issues is the word, 'Allah', which cannot be casually used by non-Muslims for their own purpose," said the Bachok member of parliament. The Allah issue was raised by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng who called on the Government to allow the word to be used in the Bahasa Melayu version of the Bible, and the Opposition coalition, including the PAS leadership agreed. However, the PAS Syura council objected and issued a resolution against it. According to Nasharuddin, the PAS leadership, in agreeing with the usage of Allah by non-Muslims, had caused great disappointment among grassroots members. "PAS should now place the struggle for Islam at its forefront as desired by grassroots members, and not prioritise its cooperation with its Opposition allies to capture Putrajaya," he said. The party was also disappointed when its annual general conference decision to nominate PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang as prime minister was snubbed by its coalition partners as they clearly preferred Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the post. Nasharuddin said that as far as he was concerned, Abdul Hadi was the most qualified for the post of prime minister. Among the moves called for, by the grassroots to prevent PAS from straying from its original struggle was to withdraw from cooperating with PKR and DAP. For Nasharuddin, it would not be a difficult decision and the move could in fact, strengthen PAS. "There have been far too many compromises to PAS' original struggle in its pact with its Opposition partners, and it's time to heed the grassroots call to move away from the pact," he reasoned. He was disappointed over his sacking from the Syura Council for being too vocal against the party leadership's decision. He noted that former Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Mohamed Ali also met with a similar fate when he was sacked from the party for voicing his concern about PAS' cooperation in the Opposition front, and also the credibility of Anwar as the future prime minister of the Opposition government. - Bernama |
| Lebanese cops continue to detain man in Claudia Theophilus death Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:43 AM PST The Theophilus family has appealed to the media not to approach them for comments or interviews until Claudia's body is brought back to Malaysia. PETALING JAYA: The Lebanese man whose rifle went off and killed Malaysian journalist Claudia Theophilus (pix) on Saturday in Baakleen, Lebanon, remains detained by local police who are continuing investigations into what appears to be a freak accident. The Lebanese man told the police that he was taking bullets out of his rifle when the rifle went off as he was trying to dislodge a stuck bullet. Theophilus was rushed to the hospital in Baakleen but she could not be saved. Ambassador Ilango Karuppannan confirmed that the man who handled the rifle was still in Baakleen police lockup. He said the Lebanese authorities had briefed the embassy officials. "We have provided details to Wisma Putra and they have informed the family. We are coordinating with her family members and will assist them in every way," he said Monday. By a quirk of fate, Ilango has discovered that Theophilus also studied at Sekolah Menengah Sains Negri Sembilan that was later renamed Sekolah Menengah Sains Tuanku Jaafar in Kuala Pilah, a boarding school. "I'm very saddened. I was in the pioneer batch 1973-77 while Claudia was from the 1984 batch. Her classmates have described her as a dynamic student and sportswoman." Former Chairman of the Star branch of the National Union of Journalists Selvayoga Selvaretnam, who worked with Theophilus on press freedom issues, said the death of the former unionist from The Sun was devastating for her family on many levels. "She was the mainstay of the family who are individually facing many serious medical concerns of their own. "Finances has always been an issue and she was the family's main breadwinner," he said. It was reported that her mother had recently suffered a stroke and a married brother was bed-ridden after an accident two years ago. Theophilus was a producer for Al-Jazeera English Online and was based in Doha, Qatar. She has worked for The Sun and Malaysiakini. She had arrived in Lebanon on Jan 28 on a holiday. Sources close to the family said that her employer Al-Jazeera had indicated that they would fund the transfer of Theophilus' body from Beirut to Kuala Lumpur for the funeral in Seremban. Her sister Dora and a family friend will leave for Beirut on Tuesday. "I think the earliest the body can be brought back would be Saturday," said the source. Meanwhile, the Theophilus family has appealed to the media not to approach them for comments or interviews until Claudia's body is brought back to Malaysia. Related Stories: |
| Batu Kawan Umno division head dies Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:25 AM PST GEORGE TOWN: Batu Kawan Umno division head Datuk Mohd Noordin Mohd Kassim died of bacterial infection and kidney failure at a private hospital here at 4.42 pm Monday. He was 62. He leaves behind his wife, Datin Zahriah Abdul Rahman, 62, three children, Siti Hawa, 33, Jaafar Sadeq, 32, Mohamad Shukor, 27, and three grandchildren. His second son, Jaafar Sadeq said his father was admitted to Island Hospital three weeks ago and was transferred to the intensive care unit three days ago. "My father was unconscious for two or three hours before he breathed his last," he told reporters here. Mohd Noordin's remains were brought to his residence at Taman Rasa Ria, Sungai Bakap before burial at the Sungai Bakap Old Mosque Muslim Cemetery tonight. - Bernama |
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