Anwar found not guilty of sodomy charges

The High Court today found Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim not guilty of sodomising his former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

BREAKING NEWS In a surprising twist, Anwar Ibrahim was today acquitted by the Kuala Lumpur High Court of sodomising his former 23-year-old aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

In discharging the 64-year-old PKR de-facto leader, Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah cast doubt on the DNA evidence provided by the prosecution.

"After going through the evidence, I cannot be 100 percent certain that the evidence could have been compromised.

"Hence, the court is reluctant to convict on such corrobaration of evidence from SP1 Saiful."

On hearing the surprise verdict, the courtroom exploded in jubilation.

Anwar's wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail cried and hugged her elated husband.

In an immediate reaction, Anwar thanked his lawyers.

"I'm finally vindicated after the smearing of my character. I'm thankful to Wan Azizah and the team of lawyers led by Karpal Singh.

He also thanked the support of Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

"We want to continue on the reform agenda, fighting corruption, and freedom of the press."

Saiful: If not in this world, in the afterworld

Meanwhile, sodomy complainant Saiful tweeted: "If not in this world, in the afterworld. I accept fate, will remain calm and continue praying."

Anwar was represented by a team of lawyers led by Bukit Gelugor MP and DAP chairperson Karpal. Outgoing solicitor-general II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden led the prosecution.

Anwar, a former deputy prime minister was charged with sodomising Saiful at the Desa Damansara condominium between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008. - Malaysiakini

Happy New Year!

New Year is the time to unfold new horizons & realize new dreams, to rediscover the strength & faith within you, to rejoice in simple pleasures & gear up for new challenges. Wishing everyone a truly fulfilling 2012.

Happy Malaysia Day!

... and an end to the I.S.A !


Najib announces major changes in controvrsial laws

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians received a significant Malaysia Day present in the form of greater civil liberties and democratic reforms under sweeping changes announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Saying that the country is evolving and the people wanted more freedom, Najib outlined the historic announcement in his Malaysia Day eve address that was telecast live on TV.

The changes, he stressed, were to accommodate and realise a mature, modern and functioning democracy; to preserve public order, enhance civil liberty and maintain racial harmony.

All these changes will need to be tabled in Parliament.

Six of the best

- The Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960 will be repealed.

In its place, two new laws will be enacted to safeguard peace and order the detention period will be reduced and can only be extended by the courts, except in cases involving terrorism.

Three remaining emergency proclamations to be lifted are:

- Emergency 1969, Emergency 1966 (Sarawak) and Emergency 1977 (Kelantan).Banishment Act 1959 will also be repealed.

- The annual licence renewal requirement for newspapers and publications will be replaced with a one-off permit by reviewing the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

- Reviewing the Restricted Residence Act 1933.

- Allowing greater freedom to assemble by reviewing Section 27 of the Police Act 1967 by taking into consideration Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees every citizen with the right to freedom of speech and assembly

The Star

Also read The Mole
Life Without I.S.A
A Voice : Ready or not, Malaysians must rise to this new found Freedom
The Scribe: Antara Liberalisasi dan Reaksi kepada Pembangkang
Shanghai Fish : Thanks but no thanks...

Bernama cameraman killed in Somalia

Journalist killed in shooting attack in Somali capital

A Malaysian journalist has been killed in a shooting in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, security officials said.

Initial reports say African Union peacekeepers opened fire on his vehicle. A security official told the BBC the attack was being investigated.

Noramfaizul Mohd Nor had been on a trip with the aid agency Putera 1Malaysia Club, his employer said. Another reporter was wounded in the incident.

Aid staff have been flooding into the country to help famine victims.

'Long list'

The shooting took place near a busy junction known as Kilometer Four and AU troops were involved, security sources and the aid agency said.

Thirty-nine-year-old Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, a cameraman with Malaysia's national Bernama TV, was accompanying Putera 1Malaysia Club, who were carrying out a humanitarian mission, his employer said in a statement.

The wounded journalist was Aji Saregar Mazlan, Bernama added. The team had been due to travel home on Saturday.

Muhideen Mohamed, who works with the charity, said troops from Amisom - the AU peacekeeping force which was patrolling the city - fired on the journalists as they travelled to the airport, where they were based. Read here

Noramfaizul: A true professional, says Bernama chairman

Salam Aidil Fitri

Wishing everyone a Selamat Hari Raya Eidul Fitri. Maaf Zahir dan Batin.

Ramadhan Mubarak

Ramadhan Mubarak to all my Muslim
sisters and brothers!

Nine bodies retrieved from landslide-hit orphanage; 7 remain buried - The Star

Published: Saturday May 21, 2011 MYT 4:54:00 PM
Updated: Saturday May 21, 2011 MYT 10:54:29 PM

KAJANG: A landslide hit an orphanage Saturday afternoon killing nine and leaving seven still buried.

Firemen and villagers managed to pull out nine alive by 10pm from the Rumah Anak Yatim Hidayah, Madrasah Al-Takwa, Jalan Felcra Semungkus, 14th mile, Hulu Langat, near Kajang.

The dead and alive have been sent to the Ampang and Kajang Hospitals.

Rescuers rushing one of the injured children to the ward at Ampang Hospital

"Two landslides occurred simultaneously. All the victims did not have time to escape," said Selangor CPO Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah at a press conference at 6.45pm.

He said all those affected were 20 students attending a motivational camp at the orphanage and four caretakers.

A total of 49 students and caretakers were there but 24 escaped unhurt.

He said the body of the first victim was pulled out from the debris at about 4.30pm while the second body was retrieved at 5pm and the third at 6.10pm. The other two were pulled out at about 7.40pm. The sixth was pulled out at 9.50pm. The seventh and eighth were pulled out at 10.25pm.

The back portion of the orphanage where the landslide occurred

The orphanage was partially buried by the landslides at about 2.30pm on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Deputy IGP Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said that rescuers were being hampered by wet soil and rain.

He also appealed to the crowd of onlookers to stay back and allow the rescuers to do their work unimpeded.

Bernama reported that in ALOR GAJAH, Malacca, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil directed the Social Welfare Department and the 'Skuad Sayang' (Caring Squad) to provide immediate assistance to the orphans and family of the victims.

"I will get in touch with the police to obtain detailed information and the actual cause of the landslide so that my ministry can take follow-up action to assist the victms," she said. - The Star

Blog House Launches fund to help fellow blogger

Link:http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150187590178149&set=a.167999438148.123096.714458148&type=1&theater&pid=7129971&id=714458148


Blog House Malaysia has launched a fund for Kerp or Danny, a wheelchair-bound blogger, who has been actively writing since 2007and who is also a former columnist with the Malay Mail.

His wife, Molee, whom he married in March last year, after a courtship of 11 years, has been diagnosed with kidney cancer and the cells have now spread to her lower vetebra requiring radiaton.

Click here to know more about the fund and how you can help.

Analysis: Killing the alibi - Opinion - Al Jazeera

Washington has less reason or justification to wage war in Afghanistan now that Osama bin laden is no more...


The killing of Osama bin Laden is more of a symbolic victory for the Obama administration than a game changer for the US strategy in the "Greater Middle East".

After 10 years of pursuing al-Qaeda's leader, responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks, the US has closed a chapter, but not the book, in its war on al-Qaeda and "international terrorism".

Since the attacks on New York and Washington, "al-Qaeda central" which was being run from the Pakistani Afghan border, has mutated into a global network of affiliates.

US "terrorism experts" have been split over the relevance of "al-Qaeda central" under the direct leadership of bin Laden and his lieutenants, in comparison to the global network of smaller cells and hardcore fighters who pledged allegiance to the leadership, or to put it bluntly, to the brand: "al-Qaeda".
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Those who discount the importance of the 'disconnected and on-the-run' al-Qaeda leaders on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan underline the importance of the decentralisation of the group.

They refer to it as SPIN (segmented, polycentric, ideologically networked) group, where al-Qaeda fighters in various parts of the world have increasingly acted on their own without direct orders or logistical and financial support from "al-Qaeda central".

In that way, al-Qaeda was more of a global and post-modern creature or phenomenon than a religious one. continue here : Analysis: Killing the alibi - Opinion - Al Jazeera English