The 'Z' trio: Zip or get zapped

Sunday, 31 January 2010 20:52

KUALA LUMPUR – The ‘Z’ trio in the PKR has to either learn to zip their mouth or get zapped by the party leadership.

Recent events involving the three – Zahrain Hashim, Zulkifli Noordin and Zaid Ibrahim – had greatly embarrased the party and leaves de facto PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim with no choice but to haul them up for possible disciplinary action.

The three men would have to appear before the disciplinary committee and face the music, the Opposition Leader told a press conference after the party’s central committee meeting here Sunday.

Zahrain, the Bayan Baru MP, had allegedly insulted Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng by calling him a dictator, chauvinist Chinese and Communist.

Not right to attack CM

In defence of their secretary-general, the Penang DAP claimed Lim had informed the party that Zahrain was “politically frustrated” as his recommendation for a RM2 company to be awarded a contract had been rejected by the state government.

Responding to the tiff between the MP and the CM, Anwar said:

“It is not that we don’t like to be criticized.

“It is okay to criticise, but it is not right to attack Guan Eng calling him dictator, chauvinist, and communist as he always consulted others.

“Sometimes, he (Lim) reviews his own decision. But at the end of the day, he is the chief minister.”

“Some of us have called for immediate action, but here in PKR and Pakatan, we have to adhere to the party constitution and allow due process to take place,” added Anwar.

As for Zulkifli, the controversial Kulim-Bandar Baru MP, had crossed swords with Shah Alam MP Khalid Abdul Samad, from PAS, who supported a court decision allowing non-Muslims to refer to God as ‘Allah’ in their publications.

Zulkifli lodged a police report against Khalid and imediately caused a ‘diplomatic’ crisis in the Pakatan Rakyat alliance.

All together or separetely?

Defying a gag order imposed by the party, Zulkifli went on to lambast the DAP, calling it a chauvinistic party.

Pushing his luck further, Zulkifli urged PKR and PAS to dump the DAP and work, instead, with Umno.

Reacting swiftly to the matter, Zaid called on the PKR leadership to sack Zulkifli.

It is unclear if the disciplinary board would meet all the ‘Z’ trio together or separetely, considering that the weight of their respective offences differ.

For instance, Zaid is being hauled up for merely scolding the PKR leadership for not taking faster and harsher action against Zulkifli. As his ‘offence’ is the lightest, he is expected to be given nothing more than a warning letter.

Zahrain, the former Penang PKR chief, may face suspension if he continues to keep challenging the Pakatan administration in Penang and create negative publicity for the coalition

In Zulkifli’s case it is possible he may face the sack for his seemingly pro-Umno stance.

'I don;t care if he wants to burn bridges'

Meanwhile, Lim said it does not matter to him if Zahrain wants to sever ties withthe Penang government.

He said, however, he was interested to see who would support Zahrain.

“If he wants to burn bridges with the Penang government, that is his choice.

“Let us wait and see if other Penang leaders will support him,” Lim told reporters after opening a national workshop for DAP local councillors in Ipoh on Sunday.

Lim said since the media furore over the issue started, he had not been in communication with Zahrain, adding that it had not affected the running of the state government.

“It is business as usual in Penang. After all he (Zahrain) is not an assemblyman.

Have to address the reasl reasons

“Of course, the media will try to create a sense of crisis and that is what Barisan Nasional wants to achieve,” he said, admitting that he was surprised by Zahrain’s attack.

“This just came out of the blue and I feel we have to address the real reasons behind it,” he said.

Responding to a statement by Barsan chief Najib Abdul Razak that the open spat involving Pakatan leaders was a sign that there was a serious split within the alliance, Lim said he had expected Barisan to turn the matter into a full-blown crisis.

“But one swallow does not make a summer,” he said, adding that it was unusual for the Prime Minister to express his views on such a matter. - Malaysian Mirror

Christians have 'ulterior motive', says PKR's Zulkifli
Can you still vote for PKR ? my fellow Malaysian Christians ?

Rahmah Ghazali
Jan 29, 10

Vocal PKR parliamentarian Zulkifli Noordin claims that he has proof that Christians have an ulterior motive behind their insistence on using the term Allah.

The Syariah lawyer turned politician also accused Christians of fanning the flames of religious discord with regards to this issue.

Quoting a verse from the Quran, he said: "The Jews and the Christians will never be with us (on the same path as Muslims)."

"Why should they insist on using the word 'Allah'? There must be something wrong," he told Malaysiakini during a no holds barred interview this morning.

As for the alleged 'ulterior motive', Zulikfli displayed a booklet titled 'Jalan kepada Allah' (the way to Allah), which he claimed was distributed in a national primary school in 2000.

While refusing to divulge more details on the school or those behind the booklet, he said the booklets were given to students together with sweets and balloons.

"So what is the purpose of this? In the booklet for instance, it says that 'Allah created the universe and everything in it', 'Allah created human beings including Adam and Eve'.

"Then it says, 'Adam and Eve were no longer loyal to Allah and were evicted from Eden'. To me, if this story is told to a Muslim boy, he will consider it perfect (from an Islamic point of view)," he said.

However, Zulkifli added, the booklet also mentioned that the "only way for human beings to be safe is to follow the guide of Allah's only son, Jesus."

"It says Jesus is Allah in human form… then the rest of the story elaborates on the role of Jesus and it no longer touches on Allah," he said.

“Ten years have passed since the booklets were distributed. For all you know, they have been doing this (distributing the booklets) to this date,” he added.

Support from non-Muslims

Despite coming under fire for his strong views pertaining to the Allah issue, the Bandar Baru Kulim MP claimed that he has received support from his non-Muslim friends.

"Since this issue erupted, I received a few emails and even calls from my non-Muslim friends saying that I have been consistent (with my principles on this).

"They expressed sadness over the controversy, saying that they could not understand what the fuss is all about," he said.

Last Tuesday, Zulkifli was slapped with a gag order by the PKR political bureau pending a disciplinary hearing over his decision to file a police report against PAS MP Khalid Samad after the latter called for the amendment of a Selangor religious enactment.

However, Zulkifli said that the gag order only concerned the police report and not the Allah issue.

The Allah controversy erupted following the Dec 31 Kuala Lumpur High Court ruling which allowed Catholic weekly magazine Herald to use the word 'Allah' in its Malay-language edition.

The court later granted the Home Ministry a stay of execution pending appeal.

Zulkifli a product of PKR, not Umno

'Brazen, defiant, audacious - Anwar Ibrahim taught him all these so that this MP can take on the BN. But Anwar forgot to tell to Zulkifli to spare Pakatan his vitriolic criticisms.'

PKR slaps gag order on Zul Noordin

Tired: Someone commented that Zulkifli Noordin might be a Barisan Nasional agent. If he is, then he is not a smart one, and BN is a dumb master for allowing its agent to behave that way. Agents don't go around committing kamikaze attacks and attracting attention to themselves.

This Zulkifli is the product of PKR, no doubt of that: brazen, defiant, audacious. Anwar Ibrahim taught him all these so that this MP can take on BN. But Anwar forgot to tell Zulkifli to spare Pakatan Rakyat his vitriolic criticisms.

BTN: PKR, face the facts. How could the party wage a protracted war when you have a soldier who does not follow instructions or abide by party principles. Sack him before he ends up destroying the party. What is the big deal with losing one soldier?

Ksn: It appears as though PKR is dragging its feet on this matter for reasons known only to the party. Zulkifli has been given enough rope. Anything short of dismissing him conveys the wrong message to the people who support PKR. His actions are nothing short of eccentric and are very damaging to PKR's image.

Joos: I'm interested in knowing how Zulkifli would defend himself. PKR, let's have him explain himself to the political bureau, record it and post it on YouTube. I'm sure the rakyat is dying to know the rationales behind his thoughts and acts.

Disgusted: It all looks like a mere slap in the wrist - Umno-style - and after a delay of one month. Do it (sack him) now and be done with it. People are waiting with bated breath to see what action will be taken against this recalcitrant MP.

Are they willing to sacrifice one delinquent MP to save the party and Pakatan unity? Or will they delay things and hope people will forget? Challenging your fellow MPs to resign and making police reports are serious matters.

Minority view prevails in PKR over Zulkifli

comment PKR has weaseled out of taking drastic action against its recalcitrant MP Zulkifli Nordin and opted instead to impose a gag order and refer him to the party's disciplinary committee.

The majority of its 23-member political bureau, at its meeting yesterday, was in favour of sacking Zulkifli but two senior members plumbed for the less punitive course of ordering his silence and requiring him to face the disciplinary committee.

The minority view prevailed at the end of a three-hour meeting.

The problem with the minority view was that PKR's disciplinary committee had already in 2008 recommended his sacking after Zulkifli had deeply embarrassed the party by his bellicosity towards a Bar Council meeting that was called to discuss the issue of religious conversions.

In retrospect, the politburo's failure to endorse that decision to sack Zulkifli had only encouraged him to successively higher levels of defiance of party discipline and policy coherence.

Now the politburo's ducking out of taking the bull of Zulkifli's defiance by the horns and throttling it suggests that when it comes to disciplining its rebels, the party's rival, Umno, has fared rather better.

PKR's bark worse than its bite

The fate last year of Ahmad Ismail, Umno's Bukit Bendera division chief, is a case in point. He behaved deplorably and spoke inflammatorily at a press conference in September last year after PKR's Anwar Ibrahim had regained his parliamentary bastion of Permatang Pauh.

Umno had no hesitation in suspending Ahmad Ismail.

In terms of excesses, Zulkifli's public pronouncements and actions have been far worse a violation of PKR norms than Ahmad Ismail's deportment was of Umno's.

But PKR has been limp-wristed in bringing Zulkifli to heel whereas Umno had been firmer in disciplining Ahmad Ismail.

PKR's decision to opt for the velvet glove rather than the bludgeon towards its flagrantly rebellious of representatives suggests that its bark is worse than its bite, its actions less principled than its rhetoric.

Zaid slams PKR over Zul’s case

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 — Pakatan Rakyat ideologue Datuk Zaid Ibrahim today slammed PKR for treating Kulim Bandar Baharu MP Zulkifli Noordin with kid gloves, saying the party could become a “poor man’s version of Umno” that was incapable of defending its principles and bringing reform.

The political maverick also accused certain quarters in PKR of fearing to take action against Zulkifli as they felt the lawyer was popular among the Malays for his Islamic issues.

“Many feel that PKR is not serious in taking action. In fact, there those who predict it won’t take strict action within the time given,” Zaid wrote in a post headlined “Little Napoleon” in his weblog this morning.

PKR’s political bureau yesterday slapped a gag order against Zulkifli who went against the party line to lodge a police report against Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad over the “Allah” issue.

PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had said the bureau had also referred Zulkifli to a disciplinary panel for further action within 30 days.

It is understood that the political bureau meeting was fiery with many asking for action against the former Anwar lawyer who has crossed the party line a few times since being elected in Election 2008.

But a few felt action against the former PAS member would jeopardise the party’s standing among the majority Malay Muslim electorate.

Analysts said the episode exposes the soft underbelly of Anwar’s party — the desire to portray itself as multiracial but living with the constant fear of losing its pull with the Malay voters.

Zaid lamented that Zulkifli has ignored the gag order and has continued to insult the pact’s stand in rival Umno-controlled media.

“It’s strange that Zulkifli Noordin is an ‘untouchable’ in the party; one wonders why there is something special here.

“That is why he can criticise anyone as a ‘Little Napoleon’ or those who are powerless, people like me ,” he added.

The former Umno minister said the episode has convinced him that PKR cannot defend core principles in its struggles.

“Only the easy and expedient. PKR today is not that different from Umno, only its mold or just ‘a poor man’s version of’ Umno,” Zaid wrote.

The Malaysian Malay

Zul Nordin has made a police report against the PAS Member of Parliament for Shah Alam, Khalid Samad. But Khalid is not alone is his views. Khalid’s views are shared by many other top PAS leaders, Tok Guru Nik Aziz included. Will Zul now also make a police report against Tok Guru?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

THE MALAYSIAN MALAY

by Dr Syed Alwi of Singapore

As you know, I am an avid watcher of Malaysian affairs. I must confess that, lately, Malaysia appears to be failing. Not a day passes by without more events that clearly highlight Malaysia's race-religion fault-line. If things keep going this way, I fear for Malaysia's future.

Today, schools in Singapore celebrate Racial Harmony Day. I can visibly see the joy in the children's faces as they wear their ethnic costumes and have fun together at school. But in Malaysia - even the right to choose a religion has become a sensitive, national issue. No doubt, there are many in Malaysia who hate my liberal views on Islam; my family included. But I will say what I must say openly. I have come to the conclusion that Malaysia cannot progress any further without first addressing fundamental questions regarding its identity and soul.

I remember the days when we can laugh at Lat's cartoons on every day Malaysian life. But sadly the Islamic tide has polarised Malaysians.

Some people ask why I should bother about Malaysian affairs since I am a Singaporean. May I remind Malaysians that it was Tan Siew Sin who once said that Singapore and Malaysia are like Siamese Twins. Should Malaysia go down - it would hurt the region tremendously; especially Singapore.

Where do you think Malay apostates would head for if Lina Joy loses her case? Singapore of course! I find the Malaysian Malay to be very under-exposed. For them, it's all Islam and the NEP and everything else under the sun would sort itself out. I am sorry to say this - but Islam and the NEP may be the cause of the doing of the Malaysian Malay.

There is nothing wrong with religion or affirmative action. But, like everything else in life, they must be taken in moderation and with a pinch of salt. A little doubt is good. Unfortunately, in Malaysia, emotions over Islam have overcome reason. What we see today is the result of the NEP and Islamisation policies of the past thirty years or so.

No one owes Malaysian Malays a living. Let me assure you that should Malaysia fail - the Malaysian Malay will suffer enormously. And rightly so. After all, they have been pampered with all sorts of goodies over the years.

They cannot now expect more goodies. Perhaps the day of reckoning for them is near. Whatever it is, Malaysia had better wake up to the realities around her. The globalised world of the 21st century has no NEP to offer the Malaysian Malay. And humans cannot live by religion alone.

********************************************

The above ‘letter to the editor’ was e-mailed to me by a dear friend. I did not receive it directly from Dr Syed Alwi. However, knowing the way he writes and knowing his views on the subject, this is clearly Dr Syed Alwi’s ‘trademark’.

I remember, about ten years or so ago, back in 1999 soon after Parti Keadilan Nasional (PKN) was launched, I suggested that the party invite the media representatives to tea at its headquarters for a meet-the-leaders session. Since I suggested the idea I was asked to compile a list of those to invite. The secretariat would make the other arrangements like food and so on.

That was the first time I met another dear friend face-to-face, the late Mr. MGG Pillai. Although I ‘knew’ him from reading his postings in Sang Kancil, his chat group, I had yet been able to sit down to talk to him ‘in the flesh’.

Mr. Pillai made a very valid observation. All the food we had prepared is ‘non-halal’, he said. Well, non-halal from the Hindu or vegetarian point of view. Everything had beef in it, even the vegetables. Since PKN is supposed to be a multi-racial party, why did it not cater for the non-meat eaters as well? Maybe some vegetarian food, or better still, a vegetarian table, so that Hindus or vegetarians could enjoy their food. None of the food being served is suitable for Hindus or vegetarians.

It suddenly dawned on me that Mr. Pillai was right. We invited people of various ethnicities and religious persuasions to our function. Yet we are not sensitive to their dietary requirements. When DAP organises a lunch or dinner, they always make sure that at least a couple of tables would be laid out with halal food. Not only the food was halal, but the caterers were also Muslims to offer that additional comfort to their Muslim guests that the food is absolutely kosher in all ways.

I apologised to Mr. Pillai and agreed that he is absolutely right. I then offered to make arrangements for one of the staff to quickly run down the road to look for a Hindu restaurant and buy some food. We could probably get a ‘halal’ section set up within 30 minutes or so.

Mr. Pillai said that that was not necessary. He was not complaining that he is not able to eat the ‘non-halal’ food that we had laid out for our guests from the media community. He was just bringing to my attention the principle of the whole thing -- in that as a multi-racial party we should be sensitive to and conscious of the needs of all communities.

Mr. Pillai then attacked the buffet table and filled his plate with chicken. So clearly he had no problems with the ‘non-halal’ food and clearly he was not upset about the matter, as I had first imagined, but was speaking merely on point of principle.

The following day, I brought this matter to the attention of the secretariat staff -- invariably who were all Malays and therefore Muslims. I suggested that next time we follow the example of DAP and make sure that we cater at least one table for Hindus and vegetarians -- like DAP normally does for its Muslim guests. Maybe the next time when we send invitations out we should ask the guests to indicate if they need a special diet arrangement so that we know the numbers we need to cater for.

The reply I received was that the food is halal as far as Muslims are concerned and that is all that matters.

Maybe so, I responded, but what is halal for Muslims may not be halal for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, vegetarians and whatnot. So we need to consider their needs and sensitivities as well.

This is a Muslim country, came back the reply, so they will have to learn how to live with it.

I was stunned and did not know how to respond further. I realised it was futile to prolong this conversation with people who could not look beyond their very narrow selfish minds.

Malays whack the non-Malays for not being ‘sensitive’ to the feelings of Muslims. But does not being sensitive work both ways? Non-Malays are expected to be sensitive to the feeling of the Muslims. But Malays need not be sensitive to the feelings of non-Malays because this is a Muslim country. That is the ‘logic’ put forward.

And what is more frightening is that this is not the view of the minority. Many Malays think like this. But how do we impress upon the Malays that others will be sensitive to your feelings only when you are sensitive to theirs?

And this is why we have people like the Member of Parliament for Kulim, Zul Nordin, acting the way he does. This is because he only thinks of himself and the needs of the Muslims. He does not care a damn about the non-Muslims. To people like Zul Nordin, only Muslims count. Non-Muslims do not matter. Muslims can say what they like about the other religions -- even whack them to kingdom come. But if the people of the other faiths ‘slander’ or ‘insult’ Islam (and ‘slandering’ and ‘insulting’ would be according to how the Muslims perceive it in their minds; even if it is not true), then expect retaliation.

Malays would say, as Muslims, and since Islam is a religion of peace, they would tolerate other religions to co-exist, but only as long as the non-Muslims do not ‘trespass’ into Islam.

This may sound very accommodating to the Muslim mind. This demonstrates tolerance. But why, in the first place, do Muslims even imagine that they have to ‘tolerate’ other religions? Do Muslims not realise that by uttering a statement saying that you tolerate other religions that is already an insult?

Why tolerate? Would not tolerating something means you consider that particular issue as something bothersome? If your neighbour owns a dog and that dog strays into your garden to shit, but since it is your neighbour and you do not wish to make an issue out of it, you tolerate it.

So you tolerate the shit your neighbour’s dog left in your garden for the sake of maintaining a cordial relationship with that neighbour. But to also tolerate your neighbour’s non-Islamic religion means you equate his religion to dog shit.

But Malays will continuously say that Islam tolerates other religions without realising that the very use of the word ‘tolerate’ demonstrates what is in your very narrow and selfish mind.

Zul Nordin has made a police report against the PAS Member of Parliament for Shah Alam, Khalid Samad. But Khalid is not alone is his views. Khalid’s views are shared by many other top PAS leaders, Tok Guru Nik Aziz included. Will Zul now also make a police report against Tok Guru?

Tok Guru has invited about 200 religious leaders of all faiths for a meal and to sit down for what can be considered an inter-faith get-together. I know Zul is against inter-faith dialogues. He led the demonstration outside the Malaysian Bar Council office to oppose inter-faith dialogues. In fact, he gatecrashed the gathering and uttered very threatening and seditious remarks.

Well, Tok Guru has taken steps to improve inter-faith understanding, something Zul is opposed to. Should not Zul now make another police report and organise a demonstration in front of Tok Guru’s venue and gatecrash the event and shout and scream threats at Tok Guru?

Tok Guru is the man Umno labels an extremist, outdated, ‘Taliban’, and whatnot. But Tok Guru has demonstrated more maturity than Zul could ever do in 100 years.

Malays need to reflect on all this. In fact, they need to do a huge load of reflecting. Most times Malays make statements without even thinking. But these statements they make are ‘sincere’, in that this is really the way they think and they are just being ‘honest’ about what is in their mind.

What would the Malays do if we ban the use of the word ‘tolerate’? What if you are no longer permitted to say that ‘Islam tolerates other religions’? How would you now rephrase that statement minus the word ‘tolerate’?

Yes, and with that I will leave you and allow you to ponder on this ‘problem’.

Zulkifli accuses Anwar of taking sides

“The party should value my views.” — file pic

By G. Manimaran

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 — Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP, Zulkifli Noordin has accused his party leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of bias after the latter directed him to withdraw a police report he had lodged against PAS parliamentarian, Khalid Samad.

Zulkifli also maintains he would not withdraw the report unconditionally.

“I will not take back the report against Khalid. If they want me to withdraw it, Khalid must also withdraw his statement saying that Selangor Islamic enactments are outdated and he also needs to apologise,” he told The Malaysian Insider when contacted today.

Zulkifli also conveyed the same message to PKR de facto leader Anwar at around 11.30am, via an emailed response to an earlier message he received from Anwar last night.

Elaborating further, Zulkifli said Anwar, both as a leader and a Muslim, needed to be neutral in this matter.

“I wrote to him saying that I respect the differences in opinion as he mentioned in his email. But as a leader and a Muslim, his actions should be neutral.

“Instead, he chose to take sides by backing (Khalid’s statement),” said Zulkifli.

read here for more :

Meanwhile ,

Zaid: Sack Zulkifli

The latest is not Zulkifli’s (right) first run-in with a PR colleague. — file pic

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 — PKR supreme council member, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim today said the party should sack lawmaker Zulkifli Noordin, after the Kulim MP lodged a police report against a colleague from PAS over the “Allah” issue.

Zaid’s call comes amid a growing chorus of criticisms against Zulkifli from within PKR, including from Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who said last night that the MP known for his hardline Islamic views had crossed the line.

“We (PKR) are a reform movement. We go by the law. Even if you disagree, it’s okay, [but] don’t lodge a police report.

“It is time for PKR to look at itself... its credibility is being affected. In my view, they must sack him. Otherwise the party will become a laughing stock,” said Zaid.

Zaid’s strong remarks and Anwar’s move to discipline Zulkifli may signal the end of the road for the Kulim MP in PKR, who has been openly hostile towards colleagues from Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

PKR de facto leader Anwar said last night that Zulkilfi will face disciplinary action by the party.

Anwar added that Zulkifli had crossed the line by lodging the report and that he was disappointed with him.

“I have always given him room to express himself but I have not always agreed with him.

“I have advised him not to cause any tension among our partners but he has crossed the line this time,” Anwar told reporters at Pakatan Rakyat’s road show here last night.

Zulkifli had lodged a police report against the PAS’ Khalid Samad for making a statement that a Selangor enactment which prohibited non-Muslims from using the word “Allah” and other Islamic terms was “outdated.”

Anwar confirmed that he has written to Zulkifli and was expecting an explanation before Tuesday.

“I have emailed him so that he will give an explanation because I want to refer this case to the party’s disciplinary committee and political bureau which will hold a meeting this Tuesday. I hope he can provide his answer before that,” he added.

Anwar also questioned why Zulkifli never referred his grievances to the party leadership.

Zul Noordin faces PKR disciplinary action

Finally crossed the line. — file pic

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 — PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said last night that Kulim MP Zulkilfi Noordin will face disciplinary action by the party.

Anwar said Zulkifli had crossed the line and that he was disappointed with him.

“I have always given him room to express himself but I have not always agreed with him.

“I have advised him not to cause any tension among our partners but he has crossed the line this time,” Anwar told reporters at Pakatan Rakyat’s road show here.

Zulkifli, known for his hardline Islamic views, had lodged a police report against the PAS’ Khalid Samad for making a statement that a Selangor enactment which prohibited non-Muslims from using the word “Allah” and other Islamic terms was “outdated.”

Anwar confirmed that he has written to Zulkifli and was expecting an explanation before Tuesday.

“I have emailed him so that he will give an explanation because I want to refer this case to the party’s disciplinary committee and political bureau which will hold a meeting this Tuesday. I hope he can provide his answer before that,” he added.

Anwar also questioned why Zulkifli never referred his grievances to the party leadership.

“I am forced to ask the party leadership to propose appropriate action against him.

“He should have come to us; why can’t you bring it to the party leadership? He never conveyed [the matter] to us,” he said.

The PKR Youth wing has also blasted Zulkifli and described his action as “very Umno-like.”

Youth leader Syamsul Iskandar called on party leaders to take stern action.

However, Anwar believes that Zulkifli should be given a chance to explain himself.

“I don’t believe in the demand of sacking before due process and [I am now] allowing him to explain,” he explained.

The police report against Khalid is not Zulkifli’s first “renegade” act that has placed him at odds with his party and Pakatan Rakyat as a coalition.

The Kulim MP, who was formerly with PAS, has acted in ways seen to be detrimental to the opposition pact in the past.

One example was when he played a role in the demonstration against the Bar Council outside the body’s headquarters.

The protest, held by far-right Umno-affiliated groups and other conservative NGOs, was organised to disrupt the Bar Council’s seminar on the jurisdiction crisis between the Syariah and the civil courts.

Despite his involvement, action was also not taken against him then.

Zulkifli goes ballistics against Khalid

Controversial PKR parlimentarian Zulkifli Noordin has today launched another scathing attack against his opposition colleague, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad.

Without mincing his words, Zulkifli accused the PAS leader of committing “gross abuse against Islam and Islamic institutions in this country, and in Selangor particularly”.

The Kulim Bandar Bharu MP wants both the police and PAS to investigate Khalid and ensured that he be punished and expelled from the party for his remarks.

“I believe his statement reflects his arrogance and conceit, as well as his feeling of greatness and his indifference to the other people's views,” he added.

Zulkifli (right) was referring to Khalid's statements in Malaysiakini, in which the PAS leader called for a review of the 1988 Non-Islamic Religions (Restrictions on propagation among Muslims) enactment, describing the law as “outdated”.

Other than prohibiting the use of the term 'Allah' by non-Muslims in non-Islamic context, the act also prohibits the use of 24 other words, including Ilahi, wahyu, imam and nabi.

Zulkifli and Khalid (right) had earlier locked horns over the same issue when the Kuala Lumpur High Court overturned a three-year ban by the Home Ministry against the use of the word 'Allah' by the Catholic Herald in its Bahasa Malaysia section.

Zulkifli said Khalid's statements was “an insult against the Agong, who has decreed that Islam and the provisions in the (federal) constitution relating to Islam be respected.”

“It is also a grave insult and (an act of) treason against the Selangor sultan, who had clearly stated that 'Allah' should not be used by non-Muslims, and is outright prohibited in the state of Selangor.”

Recounting the roundtable discussion hosted by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim earlier this week, Zulkifli said Khalid should be aware that most of those present “clearly disagreed with the use of 'Allah' by Christians who believe in the Trinity”.

He said they included former International Islamic University Malaysia rector Kamal Hassan, Islamic Scholars Association president Abdul Ghani Shamsuddin, Malay-based NGO Teras head Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid.

The fact that there are dissenting views - including PAS leaders Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, Salahudin Ayub, Hanipa Maidin and PKR leader Mohd Nor Manuty - only goes to show that no conclusive agreement can be reached on the issue, said Zulkifli.

The PKR parliamentarian went further by stating that Khalid's remarks was an insult against the National Fatwa Council that had decreed that 'Allah' be used solely by Muslims.

“Khalid needs to understand that the ban against the use of 'Allah' by the enactment... of 1988 was done lawfully under Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution. It was formulated after extensive consultations, discussions, research and debate among Muslim scholars and intellectuals.

“It (similar enactments) exists also in nine other states, except Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak. It is a valid law that is in force. It is not a law that was made up by fools and the ignorant. Muslims are not as foolish and weak as he (Khalid) says they are.

“On the contrary, his arrogance and fanaticism have resulted in him trying to force other people to accept his static and narrow views.”

Zulkifli lamented that Khalid's remarks could have the potential of harming the unity between Muslims and result in tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims.

He can be investigated under four laws

He said Khalid should retract those statements that were insulting of Islam, the Agong and the Selangor sultan “within 24 hours”.

He also told Khalid to apologise to the Muslim community for his “rude and insulting” remarks.

Failing this, Zulkifli contended that Khalid can be investigated under four laws - the 1988 Non-Islamic Religions Enactment, the Syariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment 1995, the Sedition Act and Section 298A of the Penal Code.

He called on the state Islamic affairs department, police and other enforcement authorities to investigate Khalid and, if found guilty, take action against the Shah Alam MP.

PAS should also should investigate Khalid, particularly his recent remarks, said Zulkifli.

“I recommend that disciplinary action be taken and that he be dismissed from PAS because of his attitude and conduct, which have had adverse effects on the party and led to negative impressions of PAS struggle to uphold Islam.”

Update :

Zul Nordin lodges police report against Khalid Samad

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 – The strained relations between Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) Kulim Member of Parliament Zulkifli Noordin and PAS’ Shah Alam Member of Parliament Khalid Samad took another twist on Saturday with the former lodging a police report against the latter.

PAS MP and PKR MP lock horns

'Allah' controversy: PAS MP vs PKR MP

PAS parliamentarian Khalid Samad and his PKR counterpart Zulkifli Noordin have locked horns over the high court ruling on the 'Allah' issue.

Speaking to Malaysiakini today, Khalid (right), who is the Shah Alam MP, accused the Kulim Bandar Baru MP of possessing an "Umno-like mentality".

He said Zulkifli, a practicing syariah lawyer, should streamline his opinion with the stand of his party, which has welcomed the decision.

"He has to decide what party he is in," stressed the PAS leader.

"If he is an Umno leader, he should follow Umno's stand as clarified by (its president) Najib Abdul Razak. If he's in PKR, then he should follow the party's stand," he added.

Zulkifli (left) could not be reached for comment.

Khalid was responding to a posting in Zulkifli's blog yesterday which called on the former to quit the Islamic-based PAS and join the Chinese-dominated DAP for backing the court decision.

Defending himself, the PAS MP said the term 'Allah' was widely used by non-Muslims during the era of Prophet Muhammad and therefore this should not be an issue now.

"What differentiates the term is the trinity concept (in Christianity) and the singular nature of Allah in Islam," he added.

PKR: An excellent development

Meanwhile, PKR has expressed support for the court decision to allow the Christian publication Herald Weekly to use 'Allah' to describe God in its Malay-language section.

According to the party's religious affairs division head Muhd Nur Manuty, the decision was made after a careful study of the matter.

"We are of the view that the wish of non-Muslims to use Allah to describe God is an excellent development and should be accepted with an open heart.

"Therefore, there is no need for the Muslim community in Malaysia to overreact or fear that their religion is under threat," he was quoted as saying in a report.

Najib yesterday also urged Muslims to remain calm and not "heat up" the situation by holding demonstrations and so forth.

The prime minister added that the Home Ministry will file an appeal over the decision.

The Herald, which is printed in four languages, has been using the word 'Allah' as a translation for 'God' in its Malay-language section, but the government argued that 'Allah' should be used only by Muslims.

The term 'Allah' is widely used among indigenous Christian tribes in Sabah and Sarawak, many of whom speak Bahasa Malaysia.

The high court decision had also sparked outrage among several Muslim groups, who had threatened to hold a major protest against the ruling.

In a related development, PAS will call a special meeting tonight at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the court ruling.

The party is expected to give its final say on the issue after the meeting.

According to PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali, the party's central committee members will also be invited.

The Racist MP with Pig's Brain at it again ! ! !

If UMNO is racist what about this idiot from PKR who called on all Chinese to Balek China !


DAP, PKR told to make their stand on Islamisation

The Edge

KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan has called on the DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to make their stand on whether they support Kulim Bandar Baharu member of parliament Zulkifli Nordin who wants to push for constitutional amendments to Islamise the country.

Gerakan deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn said the two parties should make their stand because Zulkifli's motions in parliament dealt with sensitive religious issues.

"The motions are to amend the supreme law of the country to push forward the Islamisation agenda. It is a serious matter," said Chang in a statement yesterday.

Chang wanted to know if Zulkifli from PKR, had discussed his motions with Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders, before submitting them to the current parliament session.

He said of the 24 personal motions submitted by Zulkifli, 20 of them touched on controversial Islamic issues.

Chang said according to the order paper dated Oct 19, the main amendment was to announce that Malaysia was not a secular country.

He said, among others, Zulkifli also suggested that Islamic laws be independent of the constitution, Muslims should be required to convert in accordance with Islamic laws and expanding the jurisdiction of religious courts.

Chang added that 16 Islam-related motions had also touched on many controversial religious issues in recent years. He said these issues included the banning of alcohol and condoms sold in convenience stores, investigating Sisters in Islam, the Kartika case, air stewardesses' uniforms and banning Muslim maids from working for non-Muslim families.

Zulkifi Noordin at the Bar council here .