Hamas terrorists trained in Malaysia

 

Hamas terrorists trained in Malaysia for parachute attack, Shin Bet says

By YAAKOV LAPPIN

LAST UPDATED: 07/30/2014 20:20

Security suspect reveals that Hamas designated 10th floor of Red Crescent building in Gaza as a sniper position.

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Flying on a powered parachute [illustrative photo] Photo: REUTERS

Members of a Hamas cell trained in Malaysia to carry out a cross-border attack using a powered parachute, Hamas suspects have revealed to interrogators.

On July 21, the IDF arrested a Hamas cell commander in Khan Yunis who was a part of the group’s regional battalion.

Related:

• Hamas terrorist killed trying to infiltrate Kibbutz Nahal Oz
• IDF strikes 80 Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets across Gaza, steps up offensive

The suspect told Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) officers he had trained in powered parachute attacks, as well as in how to kidnap a soldier. The training was part of Hamas’s preparations to oppose an IDF ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The suspect revealed that his cell had trained in setting up anti-tank missile ambushes and sniper attacks on IDF ground forces. Hamas had designated the 10th floor of a Red Crescent building in Khan Yunis as a sniper position, the investigation found.

The suspect joined Hamas in 2007 and became a part of its military wing, Izzadin Kassam. His rise through the terrorist army in Gaza reveals the extent of training Hamas members undergo. He became proficient in the use of a Kalashnikov automatic rifle in varying shooting positions, and then joined Hamas’s domestic guard force, where he served in night shifts.

The suspect then underwent additional training, mastering a heavy machine gun, as well as the use of locally produced hand grenades. In 2012, the Shin Bet said, he joined Hamas’s reserves unit, which was tasked with special operations during wartime.

In 2013, he joined an elite Hamas cell, received a Kalashnikov to carry with him at all times, and later trained in the use of M-16 rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and bombs.

The suspect was taught how to kidnap soldiers, and tunnel warfare.

He was scheduled to train others in the same combat skills this month.

The suspect traveled to Malaysia in 2012, where he and nine other Hamas members learned how to fly a powered parachute.

In Gaza, the cell members underwent repeated training sessions on how to fly into Israel and carry out attacks, and were ordered by their Hamas commanders to keep their training top secret.

If it is true that Malaysia is involved in training a terrorist organization like Hamas, then 
our MH17 plane got hit by terrorists is like what goes around comes around.
In the past the Umno/BN govt gave or allowed the Abu Sayaf terrorists to train in Sabah and supplied them with weapons to attack the Philippine forces, only to have them now attack us for our kind and generous gesture to them.
And also supplying the Islamic militants in Thailand with arms and training in Kelantan to attack 
the Thai govt and people - blowing up people, shooting innocent civilians.
Are we to see more of this???

Hamas treachery

A SPECIAL MESSAGE
From Mike Evans the founder of the Jerusalem Prayer Team


The wars of the 21st century have a new and very powerful element--the media.  One of the major sponsors of Hamas and its terrorist activities is Qatar.  The oil-rich state is pouring millions of dollars into Hamas's coffers for weapons and equipment.  In return, Hamas is furnishing Al Jazeera, a satellite television network owned by the ruling family of Qatar, with videos showing children killed and injured in what they claim are Israeli attacks.  

In effect, they are creating "terror theater," fighting not on the battlefield, but in the broadcast news.  Millions of people around the world turn to Al Jazeera for news, and they are being fed a steady diet of pro-Hamas propaganda.  Hamas intentionally fires at Israeli forces from schools and hospitals and mosques in hopes that return fire will kill civilians so they can get more footage to show on Al Jazeera.  It is a depraved disregard for human life, and it is demonic.  We must fight against these evil forces in the spirit realm.  And we must help in the physical realm as well.

No choice but to let Khalid stay on as MB

Dishonourable of Khalid to cling on to MB post, say DAP leaders

BY EILEEN NG

Published: 29 July 2014

Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (right) has defied his party and Pakatan Rakyat partners by refusing to give up the Selangor menteri besar post in favour of Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (centre). – The Malaysian Insider file pic, July 29, 2014.Senior DAP leaders have voiced their concerns over Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s insistence on remaining in his post as Selangor menteri besar, saying it is inappropriate for him to stay on when he has lost the support of his own party, PKR, and its partners in Pakatan Rakyat.

The DAP leaders, who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak about this issue, said they were tired of Khalid's "authoritarian" leadership and his insistence on serving out his term in office, especially having known since March that he would be replaced.

"It is dishonourable of him to insist on staying despite losing the confidence of his party and the majority of the Pakatan pact," said a DAP leader with knowledge of Khalid's way of doing things.

Khalid, a former corporate captain, became MB six years ago when PKR and its allies scored a shock win over Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 2008 general election.

The DAP leader said the two-term MB's idiosyncrasies became obvious after his first term.

Efforts were made after last year’s general election to bring to Khalid's attention as well as secure his agreement on outstanding issues that needed to be resolved or improved in Malaysia's richest state, but Khalid blithely went about his own way, the leader said.

"Instead of things getting better, they became worse," said the leader.

"He is not a man of his word."

Another DAP leader said Khalid's insistence on staying despite broad opinions that he has to go was tantamount to disrespecting the views of his party.

It is also reflective of Khalid's leadership style of not taking into account the opinion of other Pakatan assemblymen as well as those from his party and from DAP and PAS.

"It is this kind of authoritarian style that makes us tired of him," said the leader.

Collectively, Pakatan’s three component parties control the majority in Selangor’s 56-seat assembly with 44 seats ― 15 each for DAP and PAS, and 14 for PKR.

Despite this, the leader said there was hardly any power-sharing among the three parties as Khalid preferred to do things unilaterally.

"A lot of times, we asked him to resolve certain issues but he refused to listen to us. How do you expect things to move?

"It all depends on his choices and preferences. That is why so many things are not moving in Selangor.

“How can one man resolve everything?"

Khalid’s dare to his allies to table a no-confidence vote against him with the real possibility of triggering a snap election in the state, showed his "real face" in wanting to hang on to power, said the leader.

"He is treating the MB’s position as his own. He has forgotten that it is the consensus of the three parties that agreed to his nomination as MB."

The leader added that they had tried to keep a lid on things and not criticise him openly until recent developments in the state showed that it was untenable for Khalid to remain.

These include his handling of issues, such as water rationing, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department's seizure of Malay and Iban Bibles as well as Khalid's push for the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex), which had upset some Pakatan leaders as it went against the pact's election manifesto to abolish tolled highways.

PKR has endorsed Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as potential MB candidate, completing its "Kajang move". This was agreed by top leaders in Pakatan's leadership council meeting last week.

However, the situation went into a tailspin when PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang openly supported Khalid remaining as menteri besar until the end of his term, a stand contrary to that of his party colleagues who attended the Pakatan meeting.

Hadi’s endorsement of Khalid, which was followed by his deputy president Mohamad Sabu's reply that Hadi was merely expressing his "personal view", might split the Ismalist party.

Influential PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat also backed Hadi's support for Khalid.

The latest development caused PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to issue a statement that the party would stick to PR's decision that Khalid had to go and Dr Wan Azizah was the top choice for the post. – July

These DAP leaders should shut up and not cause division.
PR polls already is very low and Snap elections will see PR losing Selangor so better to 
have Khalid live out his MB tenure.
Anwar already lost Perak several years ago and he is going to lose Selangor as well.
PR leaders are not thinking well, so better consolidate the coalition and get on running with what they have!
The people did not elect you people to power  - only to LOSE it through your squabbling. 

Khalid as Menteri Besar

Anwar, time to throw in the towel

Jasmine Wong

 | July 27, 2014

With Hadi and Nik Aziz firmly behind Khalid as Menteri Besar, looks like Anwar's been hung out to dry.

COMMENT

The long spell of drought we are experiencing these past months pretty much mirrors the long spell of drought Anwar’s camp has been experiencing in their many failed attempts to wrest control of the Selangor Menteri Besar’s (MB) post from Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

Deftly avoiding the brickbats hurled at him like a Matrix warrior, Khalid has been happily going about his business, keeping his head down while strategically strengthening ties with the Palace and holding quiet talks with his ally, PAS’ president Abdul Hadi Awang, to keep the snarling hounds at bay.

Looks like it’s paid off for Khalid as Hadi has made it official he will back Khalid in his bid to retain his post as MB of Malaysia’s richest state.

With both Hadi’s and the Sultan’s support, looks like Anwar has been hung out to dry despite jubilantly naming just days ago, his wife and PKR party president Dr. Wan Azizah, as Khalid’s replacement.

What baffles me is that Anwar confidently stated he had secured the buy-in of DAP and PAS. How does he now explain Hadi’s decision to back the very man he is trying to unseat?

It does look like the Kajang Move, the precursor to unseating Khalid, was ‘much ado about nothing’. As was the brouhaha over Dr Wan Azizah that has come to a premature end.

With so many manoeuvres and counter-manoeuvres to oust Khalid failing, it does show up Pakatan for the sorry bunch of amateur politicians they are, who despite having the numbers, lack the finesse to gain political ground in just one state in Malaysia.

Hadi also has the support of Nik Aziz, the ulamas and the youth within PAS in his endorsement of Khalid. With this new development, just what trick will Anwar pull out of his hat this time in his last ditch effort to launch yet another intervention?

For once, Anwar cannot pin the blame of this catastrophe on Barisan Nasional, as the main players in this ‘game gone wrong’ have all come from within his own opposition coalition, save the Sultan who is beholden to no one.

Despite many Pakatan supporters refusing to consider that money, and lots of it, is the motive behind casting Khalid aside, we must ask why the Kajang Move, as ill-conceived as it was, was put into motion in the first place.

Rafizi Ramli’s flaky explanation for the move being a launch pad for Anwar’s future political dominance in Putrajaya was an insult to our intelligence. There was obviously something more sinister lurking behind it.

With all the recent relevations surrounding the water deal gushing out in the media, it does look like Anwar and his band of brothers were merely eyeing Selangor’s pot of gold.

This Hari Raya while good triumphs over evil, Khalid can sit back, safe in the knowledge that Selangor will continue to prosper under his shrewd eye and tight fist.

To the rest in Pakatan who are livid their recent plans have gone awry yet again, simmer down! Rafizi is bound to hatch another harebrained plan he will force us to swallow.

Time to throw in the towel Anwar, and let someone else lead the cause.

Looks like it is better to have Khalid as MB than another as Anwar and his gang are after the 3 billion RM. Besides this enriching themselves with the Ulu Langat project, etc.

As long as Khalid rejects the Kidex highway project and keep PR promises to the people, he should do fine.

The Selangor exco members should pay heed to the people grouses esp. whatever was promised in the last election and go and visit the people who feel they have been conned by the state policies.

 

Ex-chief justice Hamid a liar, racist and extremist - should be charged with SEDITION

Ex-chief justice a liar, racist and extremist, says Guan Eng

Published: 23 July 2014

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has hit out at a former chief justice for claiming that Islam was under threat in the state, calling the latter a "liar, racist and an extremist".

In slamming Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad, Lim said that the state has allocated more funds to Muslims for their activities compared with the previous Barisan Nasional administration.

"This ex-CJ has exposed himself to be a racist, an extremist and a liar. He said that we are neglecting Islam but he is blind to fact that we have increased allocations for them.

"In fact, we have given more to Muslims than BN ever did, so much so that Gerakan attacked us for giving so much to Muslims. Yet, at the same time, Umno attacks us for neglecting Islam," he said today.

He said although Gerakan and Umno were in the BN coalition together, they had been inconsistent in their accusations against the Penang government, proving that this was politically motivated.

"Why is there a contradiction? Gerakan says we give too much and Umno says otherwise."

Hamid had said, in a speech obtained from his website, that the position of Islam as the official religion of the federation was under threat in Penang, adding that many non-Muslims wanted their own religions to be granted the same status.

"A former Penang mufti told me that it was hard to get allocations for Islamic activities in the state, as leaders of the other religions also ask for the same rights," Hamid had said.

Hamid said the mufti also informed him that at the opening ceremony of a building by the deputy chief minister, prayers were recited by a Christian priest, a Hindu priest and imam of the state mosque.

Lim said Hamid's accusations were "not based on facts".

He said that the building Hamid had mentioned belonged to a non-governmental organisation.

"But what is so wrong for leaders from three religions to come and offer their prayers? If it were wrong, the imam wouldn't have come.

"I saw the same thing happening when (US President Barack) Obama came here or even in other countries where all religions come to pray together.”

He said Deputy Chief Minister Prof P. Ramasamy was a guest at the opening ceremony, which was also attended by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Seri G. Palanivel.

"This is obviously a political attack because not only Ramasamy was there but Palanivel was also there.

"Why was only Ramasamy's presence mentioned if Palanivel was also there? Palanivel, as a minister, outranks Ramasamy. But because this is political, he wants to put BN in a good light and PR in a bad one."

Reiterating that Hamid was a "racist, liar and an extremist", Lim said that it was sad that attacks against the Penang government were now coming from a former chief justice.

"These attacks against us, that we are anti-Islam, anti-Malay, are nothing new. It started from the beginning. It is just that now, it is not coming from Umno, but from a former chief justice.”

Hamid also warned that if there was a continued suppression of Islam, like in Penang, such practice would spread to the rest of the country.

"We will see government departments and public university campuses which have surau now having to build churches, temples and gurdwaras.

That means the position of Islam as the religion of the federation has no more mea exning. That allocation may be abolished or all other religions will also be made the official religions here, Hamid had said. – July 23, 2014.

-Ex-chief justice Hamid a liar, racist and extremist - should be charged with SEDITION
For an ex- judge, ex-chief justice to speak like this just to get popularity among Muslims, the shame of it all.
 Maybe to get a great position with great pay.

Negara – Ku : The work that awaits us all - a new beginning.

Negara – Ku : The work that awaits us all

Posted on July 12, 2014

6

What are the stated objectives and aspirations of this newly minted people’s movement?

To mobilize and empower the People: -

• ·         to resist all forms of intolerance, bigotry, hatred, extremism, and violence;
• ·         to oppose all forms of discrimination, oppression, persecution and injustice;
  • to strive for a socially inclusive society
  • to exhort the State and its Institutions to respect, adhere and uphold the Rule of Law; and
  • to demand adherence to the principles of stewardship, integrity, accountability and transparency in all aspects of governance.

To read the full text of the Negara – Ku Charter, go HERE.

To this, Isma’s Zaik contends that Negara – Ku is a direct threat to its cause to uphold Islamic and Malay rights, so reports Malaysiakini.

This criticism, by Zaik, without more, serves as a most damning testimony of his ‘Islam’, but let’s leave that discussion for another day.

Ambiga has responded to these allegations, and responded well.

Ambiga has called on Zaik to  produce facts to back up his allegations.

“He will have to explain how that is so. Why is he so nervous about the movement? The movement is based on the Federal Constitution, Malaysia Agreement and the Rukunegara. What is his problem with that?”, the Malay Mail reports Ambiga asking.

My sense, though, is that no explanation from Zaik or anyone in Isma will be forthcoming, because the very reason for which those allegations were made have been, or will be, in the near future, served.

What might that reason be?

To give fodder to the mainstream media to print and broadcast these lies about this new people’s movement, and to have those lies fed to those in the Malay heartlands who may well have little or no access whatsoever to the alternative news and the real truth about what this initiative is about.

If Negara – Ku is to have the impact we hope it will, our immediate task, then, is to get this truth out to those who most need to know it.

Our first, and foremost, task, is to overcome the untruths that certain segments of the media will convey to our brothers and sisters in the Malay heartlands.

Negara – Ku has put together an introductory video that was screened at the press conference on 10th July.

Here’s what you can do for  starters.

Download and burn this video on DVDs.this

As many as you can.

The Hari Raya holidays will soon be upon us, and many of us will balik kampong.

Distribute the video to as many people as possible.

Explain to them why this movement is so vital to the survival of our nation.

You and I must be the agents of truth that Negara – Ku so desperately needs.

May God bless  this organization and bless and protect all the members.

Let good come out from this work of theirs.

Let us all support them.

‘Allah’ exclusive to Muslims, former home minister tells churches

Don’t create trouble, ‘Allah’ exclusive to Muslims, former home minister tells churches

BY HASBULLAH AWANG CHIK

Published: 10 July 2014

Former home minister Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar says the Allah issue has gone through the judicial process and everyone should respect the court's decision. – The Malaysian Insider pic, July 10, 2014.Churches should respect that the word Allah is exclusive to Muslims as it refers to the concept of Allah being the one and only God, said Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, the man responsible for barring Catholic weekly, Herald, from using the word in 2009.

The former home minister said applying the word Allah in other religions would cause misunderstanding among society.

“Before this, the understanding was that the word Allah was for Muslims but after Herald used it (we) issued an order for them not to use it.

“For Muslims, it is not just a word but a declaration of faith. When it has gone through the process in court, please respect the decision by the courts, regardless of what the court's decision was," Syed Hamid told The Malaysian Insider.

However, Christians in Sabah and Sarawak have been using Allah for more than 100 years while the Catholic Herald has been using the word in its Bahasa Malaysia section, meant for East Malaysian Christians, since its first publication in 1994.

On December 5, 1986, the home ministry had announced a ban on Christians’ use of four Arabic words: “Allah”, “Kaabah” (the sacred Muslim shrine in Mecca), “Baitullah” (house of God) and “solat” (prayer).

The Allah issue cropped up in 2007 when the Home Ministry issued a warning to the Herald not to use the word. But following court appearances and negotiations, the Catholic publication received permission to use the word Allah as long as it stated on its masthead that the Herald was for Christians only.

Syed Hamid had even signed the order and it was gazetted on February 16, 2009. But 12 days later, he backpedalled and banned the Herald from using the word Allah.

The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) had last month maintained that the community would continue using "Allah" in Bibles, church services and gatherings.

This was despite the ruling by the Federal Court to reject the Catholic Church's leave application to appeal the ban on the use of the word in the Herald.

CFM chairman Reverend Dr Eu Hong Seng, who expressed disappointment with the apex court's failure to rectify flaws in the previous ruling by a Court of Appeal, had said that the community can only treat the decision as being confined to that particular case.

"We maintain that the Christian community continues to have the right to use the word Allah in our Bibles, church services and Christian gatherings in our ongoing ministry to our Bahasa Malaysia-speaking congregation, as we have done all this while," he said in a statement.

Syed Hamid said the Church should not question the Federal Court's decision as it could jeapordise interethnic harmony in the country.

He said peace in Malaysia was grounded on mutual respect and trust among different communities, and use of the word Allah among non-Muslims would only spread confusion.

"It doesn't matter if the decision was 4-3 or otherwise. That is not the issue. We have gone through the judicial process.

"The country will be more peaceful and harmonious if we respect the constitution. If everything is confused, what will the impact be?

"If they wish to continue challenging it, we will face misunderstanding," he told The Malaysian Insider.

He said Christians should not try to create trouble in the country and offend Muslims who felt the word Allah was sacred.

He said justice could only be upheld if there was no misunderstanding between the races.

"This is a matter of faith, and if they challenge it, we must be careful that they do not offend people or stir up trouble.

"We don't understand how from 'Lord' and 'God', they were able to translate it to 'Allah' in Malay.

"We cannot refer to the Indonesians because they have a different system. They even call their newspapers the Koran," he said.

On Monday, The Malaysian Insider had reported that Muslim non-govermental organisations had said that Christians were not alone in their struggle to use the word Allah, as they too were making efforts to teach Muslim Malaysians that the word predates Islam.

Sisters in Islam (SIS) and Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) had said they were using social media to educate society on views that were a far cry from the teachings espoused by right-wing groups Isma and Perkasa.

IRF chief Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa had said efforts to support the Church's right to use the word Allah were an uphill battle as most‎ Malays were not open to discourse on Islam, and were only concerned with the issue of "halal" and "haram".

‎"They are very orthodox and conventional in their understanding of Islam, they don’t understand the discourse of the 21st century," Farouk had told The Malaysian Insider. – July 10, 2014.

Syed Hamid should focus on his present job that is looking after taxis and the taximens' conduct and not stoke the flames of religious bigotry. 
It is already sickening that he betrayed the church when he was in the home ministry's office.
Unprofessional people like him no right to speak on religion.
Let God judge him and all behaving like him!!!

Not May 13 looming, but class war among Malays’

‘Not May 13 looming, but class war among Malays’

It has almost been half a century since the May 13 racial riots took place, but some politicians continue to raise its spectre, hoping to spook Malaysians with it.
            
And the latest being Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng (left) said that while a recurrence of such a riot is a "very long shot", he toldMalaysiakini that if a clash does recur, it would not be an ethnic riot.

On the contrary, he warned that it would be an intra-ethnic riot involving the Malays along the lines of class between the haves and have nots.

And if that happens, Khoo said the blame would fall squarely on Umno.

"Post-May 13, many things were done to help the Malay community. We have the New Economic Policy, and Umno has huge control over the administration.

“If the current situation still merits a May 13, the failure will be on Umno for failing to deliver," he said.

As for the 1969 race riots, Umno leaders or those from right-wing groups have raised the incident time and again, claiming that the position of Islam and the Malays is being challenged by other Malaysians.

And as always, it would invite a river of criticism from DAP, the party which Umno blames for the bloodletting.

Commenting on this, Khoo said: “DAP is the construct of the old political system. It is a party that has (May 13 incident) embedded in it because it was directly involved when the incident took place.”

“This automatically generates a reaction (when May 13 is mentioned). This is old... but this is also pointless as evidenced by the last two general elections,” he added.

He pointed out that despite bringing up the issue now and then, BN hardly used May 13 as a mainstay in any general election campaign since 1990, so the issue was “as good as buried”.

“I don’t think it is productive for DAP to react in such a way. But we can understand why they react so - Lim Kit Siang, the DAP leader who witnessed the riots, is still around in a key position in the party,” he said.

Some politicians stand to benefit

Meanwhile, a fellow analyst from the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas), Wan Saiful Wan Jan, said if May 13 happens again, “some politicians would stand to benefit”.

But he noted that the situation on the ground differed from what is being painted by these politicians.

“If we go by sentiment on the ground, it is unlikely to happen unless someone deliberately does it,” he added.

Wan Saiful said that the rhetoric of May 13 is mostly coming from the “same side”, referring to the ruling coalition and NGOs linked to it, and not the opposition.

“By giving this warning, Muhyiddin Yassin is not really helping the situation,” he added.

On July 5, Utusan Malaysia reported Muhyiddin warning that another racial riot could happen amid the recent rise in racial tension.

Now  it is up to the moderate Malays, the have-not Malays, the underprivileged Malays, the poor Malays to realize that they are the ones who lose out as the NEP was meant to benefit them all, but instead only benefited the elite, Umnoputras, and their cronies, whereas the Malay man-in the-street or layman was supposed to gain from the NEP, but have gained next to nothing except the discount given them when or if they can afford a new home. Of course they also gain in the ASB schemes, that is provided they have the money to invest.

Next year with GST, electricity tariffs hike, inflation, they are going to lose more even with the BR1M money given which would be a pittance, when they will spend it all in a flash with all the expected price hikes.

These Malays should voice out to the the Umno/BN govt., Isma, Perkasa, etc., that they are being marginalised by their own kind.

They should follow these Isma, Perkasa people and attack the Christians, non Malays, and other non-Muslims as this is only a diversionary tactic to deflect the main cause of their sufferings, and shortcoming.

May God open their eyes to see the real situation in this country.

 

The soup kitchen is no easy street

July 8, 2014

Banning soup kitchens and the homeless from the city centre is akin to opting for image over welfare. Where is your sense of humanity, Ku Nan? A volunteer bravely speaks out....

by Izzati Rahman

Working in a soup kitchen is a labour of love.

I am not a veteran volunteer, but I have had my fair share of experience at various soup kitchens across Kuala Lumpur since the age of 16. What I have to say is my own humble opinion and not representative of any organisation I have volunteered with.

From slicing onions to packing and distributing food, soup kitchen volunteers have never been paid.

Most soup kitchens receive monetary aid or food donations from various individuals or corporate sponsors, and food operators.

Each soup kitchen has its own distribution locations (sometimes three or four in a night) at the same spot when they are on duty. Volunteers may change, some are regulars, some are not. The faces of those who come for food also may differ, some are regulars, others are not.

Not all who come to the soup kitchen are homeless, a large number of them are people suffering from poverty.

They are those who earn a very low income and cannot afford to feed their family, single mothers who work double shift on minimum wage and the elderly who are not being cared for.

People who have so little and many mouths to feed – these are the people who line up, day after day.

We do not discriminate.

We feed the homeless, the drug users, the sex workers, the raunchy looking guys with bloodshot red eyes, the man who reeks of booze and can hardly stand straight while queuing up.

We feed the man who pushes a stolen hypermarket trolley with all his worldly possessions inside. We feed them all because they are hungry and because they have problems getting food.

Tengku Adnan was reported to have said, “We give them jobs but they don’t want the jobs because it is easier to get food from the street kitchens feeding them”.

Putrajaya created a plan to give jobs to the jobless, but not jobs for the homeless. Half of the homeless do not even have proper identification as they are born out of prostitution, poverty, or they are mentally unstable and unfit to get a job.

I am pretty sure Tengku Adnan has never gone to the streets as a volunteer so let me give a little introduction.

Soup kitchens in Malaysia are not a walk-in-for-free KFC, open 24 hours for you to come in anytime you like, place your order and walk away with hot, delicious food. We only operate at night as most volunteers have a day job.

There is also the weather and the queue to contend with and trust me, it is not the gourmet food you are used to. It is basic food, just to beat hunger.

Those who come for food, can only come once a day, walk to the distribution centre, bear the weather and queue just to get basic food. Easy? No. It is not.

Following Tengku Adnan’s logic, free food for buka puasa (breaking of fast) at the Masjid should be banned because free food breeds homelessness.

We should ban Langgar meals at Gudhwaras and temples that give out free vegetarian lunches because it will breed homelessness.

We should probably ban the Minister’s lavish open houses during festive seasons (paid by us, the rakyat), because that too may breed homelessness. Go ahead, ban them all.

Soup kitchens cleaner than pasar malam (night markets)

Another reported statement I find hard to stomach is that “soup kitchens cause garbage infested scenes”. Tengku Adnan, this is not a restaurant where we open tables and serve food under the romantic streetlights of “your” city.

The food is packed and those in queues go elsewhere to eat, either at home, or if they are homeless at their normal place of shelter.

There is no space to eat at the distribution centre due to the queue and other services a soup kitchen provide such as a mobile clinic or free haircuts.

Volunteers in charge of the location and queue are responsible to ensure that the area is not dirty and that the people do not cause a scene. Some clean up even though litter was there before the arrival of the soup kitchen.

It’s funny how the existence of soup kitchens have been identified as the reason behind garbage in the area. Has Tengku Adnan ever been to a pasar malam or bazaar ramadan? Customers and stall owners throw rubbish all along the roadside. Have you ever walked down a street on the morning after a pasar malam? It is full of garbage and plastic wrappers. Go shut them down too, why don’t you?

NGOs are the heroes

Tengku Adnan, do you know why the rakyat is so unhappy with this ban?

First and foremost, it is not your city, it is ours. We pay you to run it. Secondly, this ban shows us that your priority is image over welfare.

Orang Melayu kata, “biar papa asalkan bergaya” – mungkin itulah pegangan hidup Tengku Adnan? (the Malays say, ‘it is okay to be dirt poor as long as you are still stylish’ – could this be Tengku Adnan’s philosophy of life?)

Thirdly, because we know what it is like to fall. Sometimes, life pulls the rug from under you and you crash with everything around you. That is when you need help to get back up.

There is no shame in asking for help, but there is great shame when you are so arrogant and stop others from seeking help.

You may be blessed today, you drive your fancy car, live in your big house and eat delicious food all day, every day. But those who queue up for free food did not ask for their lives to be turned upside down.

Lastly, it is because, we, the volunteers and donors, take it upon ourselves to address a problem that is your responsibility and yet you ban us from doing good.

I sincerely hope you learn a few lessons on humility before life teaches it to you the hard way. There’s no shame in wanting to erase poverty and homelessness. In fact I think it’s noble. But there is shame in condemning others, just because life is a little harsh on them.

Nonetheless, I know the NGOs will not let anyone’s ruling stop them, because they are and always will be the true heroes.

Izzati Rahman is a soup kitchen volunteer.

A NATION IN DEEP TROUBLE

A NATION IN DEEP TROUBLE

Selena Tay, FMT

Malaysia is a nation with a myriad of problems. While all countries have their own list of national woes, our government is not trying to solve ours but seem to be adding to it instead.

Here are just some:

1. After nearly four months, Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is still missing;

2. A Chinese national fish farm manager kidnapped on May 6 off the coast of Sabah and a Malaysian man kidnapped last month have yet to be rescued;

3. Dengue and tuberculosis epidemics are in full swing;

4. A Malaysian High Commission staff is off to face criminal charges in New Zealand;

5. Baby-dumping, rapes, murders and snatch thefts go on unbated;

6. Drug trafficking, human trafficking, vice and gambling dens are still enjoying a good run;

7. Stupid and racist comments by government ministers (past and present) continue to be made;

8. List of goods to be exempted from GST (Goods & Services Tax) is as yet still undecided;

9. Price hikes continue to plague the rakyat;

10. A stadium collapses in Terengganu, a road collapses in KL, and mishaps occur too often at construction sites;

11.Wastages, leakages and corrupt practices continue to drain the nation’s coffers.

We know there is no such thing as Utopia but Malaysia seems to be on a course of self-destruction.

BN politicians, who form the government are responsible for solving these problems. However they continue to ignore proposals put forward by opposition politicians yet do not have any good ideas of their own to offer, much less implement.

Pakatan Rakyat is plagued by factionalism and a divergence of purposes so this too is of no help to the rakyat.

Pandas more important than the homeless

There is currently a shortage of cooking oil in the market. The 2kg “Helang” and “Knife” brands cannot be found in regular sundry shops. The only brands available are the expensive corn and sunflower cooking oil brands. What are the politicians saying about this?

While the police are doing a good job busting crime syndicates, more should be done by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development to help the homeless by building hostel-like homes and shelters for them.

Surely not too difficult a task when a RM25 million home was built to house two pandas.

In England, the homeless can rent a room in a community shelter for one pound a night. They are also given an opportunity to earn an income by selling the “Big Issue” (a community newspaper).

Back home in Malaysia however, Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has placed a ban on soup kitchens in the middle of KL, clearly an indication of the government’s inability to give a helping hand to the destitute.

“The government seems to be afraid of soup kitchens which are doing a good job of feeding the poor and the homeless because they show up the government’s shortcomings,” said Nizar Jamaluddin, the Changkat Jering PAS state assemblyman.

Time for Umno/BN to go before they bankrupt this nation.

These people think thry own the country, spending tax-payers and Pteronas money so freely,and on top of that enriching their supporters and cronies with public funds.

Building useless highways (Kidex, etc), MRTs, so that they and their people can reap the profits especially when they keep hiking the cost up more than double - more can be enriched.

Heartless souls like Kunan the barbarian, Umno FT youth, paint a big picture of the ruling elite.

It a pity that the Opposition is in no way capable of taking over Putrajaya as they squabble among themselves and is not united in their efforts to run the country.

A better way is for people like Tengku Razaleigh, Zaid, and other moderate leaders to take over Putrajaya.