The death of civil liberties

By Malik Imtiaz Sarwar

Though the Government has said much about the repeal of the infamous Internal Security Act, little has been said to explain how its so-called replacement, the Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill (SOA), will impact on our lives. Even less has been said about the bill tabled to amend the Penal Code that went hand in hand with the SOA. I think there was a reason for this.

To say that the two bills are draconian would be a gross understatement. They brutally curtail the constitutional freedom of Malaysians to dissent. It seems that we have been made the victims of a sleight of hand. While we were being distracted by the song and dance that attended the termination of the ISA, Parliament was being harnessed to diabolical purpose. The passing of the two bills has sounded the death knell of civil liberties.

Apple jokes

Research shows more Malaysians refuse UMNO-led BN but they will still take any money given

By Moaz Nair

A field trip to Tanjung Lumpur in Kuantan on January 21 to gauge the people’s perception on the aid given to the poor by the government and their appraisal of UMNO politics was quite inspiring.

It was found that the aid recipients are aware that the RM100, RM200, RM500, RM5000 now given to the people and the salary increase for government servants before the next general election are all from taxpayers’ money. The people are cognisant of the fact that the money distributed here does not come from UMNO or Barisan Nasional (BN). It comes from the hard-earned taxpayers’ money.

Earth Day 2012: Quotes On The Environment from Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict has not been shy in regards to issues of the environment. He has spoken frequently about everyone's right to food, right to water and responsible sharing. He has spoken about the real meaning of progress and development and what that means for our planet of limited resources. He has discussed climate change, the connection between science and nature, and how the path of cultivating peace is directly linked to protecting creation.

These quotes are taken from a new book published by Our Sunday Visitor called: The Environment by Pope Benedict XVI.

Najib departs Sabah with nothing to say

By Luke Rintod of FMT

PENAMPANG: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak again spurned an opportunity to mollify Sabahans that the federal government is indeed serious about getting to the bottom how the state had become hosts to a massive population of illegal immigrants.

Opposition politician Jeffrey Kitingan was among the first to comment on the puzzling silence on the issue by the Prime Minister for the second time during a visit to the state.