Zulkifli Nordin defends PAS ruling on dressing

PKR MP Zulkifli Nordin has defended a ruling by the Kota Baru Municipal Council against purported improper sports attire at its park. The controversial Bandar Kulim Baharu MP has questioned the right of joggers to wear "tight shorts, mini skirts, breast-hugging T-shirts and tight shorts for men."

Zulkifli's line of argument is a pathetic joke. No one who goes to a park to exercise would wear mini-skirts and what is his definition of "tight shorts" and "breast-hugging T-shirts" especially in conservative Kota Baru? He is just exaggerating. Joggers want to feel comfortable and healthy when they go to a park to exercise. Wearing shorts is certainly not extraordinary nor indecent.

The problem is when such a directive is issued, its implementation is always open to abuse. What is essentially a decent pair of shorts could be regarded as "sexy and skimpy" in the eyes of some self-appointed guardians of morality. After all, even rock singer Avril Lavigne is regarded as "sexy" by PAS, which became international news. The KB ruling is unnecessary and smacks of Talibanisation of the state by PAS. In short - no pun intended - there are now many intolerant moral policemen around.

In his blog, Zulikifli has pointed out that in Uttar Pradesh, colleges have banned female students from wearing jeans and other forms of western clothing. Anyone who has a rational head would object, of course. Why should jeans and western clothing be banned? Does that make it right? Using the same principle, how would Zulkifli react if colleges in western countries decide to ban the purdah and other Arabic clothing? What if these westerners claim that headscarves and similar clothing would be unsuitable for sports?

People must have the right to choices. How people want to dress up is nobody's business and if there are those who want to cover themselves from head to toe, even in the heat, it is their right. We should defend their rights, as Karpal Singh has done so. But if we wish to run around in shorts, loose or hugging T-shirts, it is also our right. If there are such dress code in our local public universities or parks in other states, we should also register our protest. It is also Zulkifli's right to quit PKR and join PAS.

PAS deeply divided over unity talks issue

Party president Hadi Awang (left) and Spiritual Adviser Nik Aziz

There are now two factions in PAS - that's the own words of PAS spiritual adviser Nik Aziz Nik Mat,whose men were all sidelined and voted out in last week's general assembly. The Kelantan Mentri Besar has admitted that he was "emotional and angry" with what has been taking place in his party. He even lashed out at newly-appointed secretary-general Mustapa Ali, who has issued a gag order.

The usually calm tok guru is now mad as hell, something many Malaysians have never seen before, demonstrating the seriousness of the split in the party now. He has also admitted attending a secret meeting of his supporters.

PAS president Hadi Awang, meanwhile, said he was prepared to discuss with Umno on issues such as media freedom, the elections commission and judiciary reform. Well, that would be difficult for Nik Aziz to object. Those are legitimate concerns. But it isn't just Nik Aziz that Hadi has to deal with now, DAP's Karpal Singh is also going for his head with the veteran DAP asking PAS to reassess its position in Pakatan Rakyat. The fallout isn't happening just in PAS but seems to have spread to Pakatan Rakyat.

The path taken by Hadi does not come as a surprise to many in the political and media circles. He has never been a fan of Anwar Ibrahim who has now assumed the post of Opposition Leader. The crown, as far as the Terengganu leader is concerned, is his. That includes the Prime Minister's post if the PR forms the next federal government. He's of course counting the chickens before they are hatched but that's what ambition is about.

Hadi is also said to be slighted with the bigger role given to DAP by PKR, as he sees PAS as the second largest party in Malaysia after Umno. The perceived disrespect towards PAS by the two PR partners has been boiling for some time. It was only a matter of time before it exploded.

Hadi, if we care to remember, has also been uncomfortable with the secular path by PR. Last year, Hadi expressed his unhappiness at the increasing number of non-Muslim elected representatives from Sabah and Sarawak in an interview with Harakah. So, don't blame the press for misquoting him. It was the official PAS newsletter that quoted him.

In fact, he threatened to pull PAS out of Pakatan if there were more non-Muslim MPs. He was talking about non-Muslim MPs from Sabah and Sarawak, presumably Christians in this case. See New Malaysia and Charles Hector. You can't fault Hadi for being consistent. He has never changed his stand of wanting to set up an Islamic state either. His position on Muslim elected representatives is also clear; it's just that many chose to ignore it or to believe what they wanted to believe.

But we can guess. Soon, all the angry statements would be forgiven, the press blamed for instigating, and a show of unity would be put up. Well, it's just another day in Malaysian politics until PAS make another ridiculous statement on dressing, concerts and hudud laws.

Meeting Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal legend in KL

No politics today, just football. I had the opportunity of meeting Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on Monday. Yes, the legend himself, at the KL Hilton, where he was staying.

The Frenchman was in KL for only 48 hours but his presence was enough to get reporters from Thailand and Singapore to fly down to interview him. It was his second visit to KL. This man obviously lives, eats and sleeps football. His spends his free time watching football on television, saying this helps him relax as the games do not involve Arsenal!

Friendly and chatty, he readily posed for photographs with members of the media as well as fans who caught wind of his presence in town. He's also as tall as he looks on television. He's much skinnier though without the jacket and tie.

Wenger is also a very technical person. He talks about performance, skill and talent. No wonder, he is called The Professor, not just because of his degrees in engineering and economics, but his analytical skills in football.

He still speaks English with the French accent, which we are familiar with but it's easier to understand him than Alex Ferguson, I guess!

Despite the attempts of the sponsor to keep the location a secret on Monday, it did not really work 100 per cent. Yesterday, over 1,000 fans turned up for the public event at Dataran Merdeka to get a glimpse of this lanky fella.

PKR MP Zulkifli Noordin wants action against SIS

First, some PAS delegates want Sisters In lslam to be banned. Now it's the turn of PKR Kulim Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Noordin to call for action against the group. He wants the Companies Commission of Companies to "force" SIS to drop the word "Islam" from its name. He is a lawyer but we would like to know how that can be done legally, the Nut Graph reported. But as he suggested - use force.

He has proposed that SIS changes its name to Cosmopolitan Women's Alliance in line with their image as "most of them do not wear the tudung" and "are unmarried," according to Zulkifli. Zulkifli is the same lawyer who acted aggressively at the Bar Council forum and forced his way into a forum. The PKR did not act against him and let him off scot free, presumably worried that he would quit the party.

PAS wants Sisters In Islam banned!

Latest: PAS wants teaching of Maths and Science in English to stop, see Msian Insider.

PAS has asked the National Fatwa Council to ban Sisters in Islam, the outspoken women group, if they were found to violate any rules. The resolution was adopted without a debate, according to a report. The outspoken SIS leaders were said to be too liberal for the PAS delegates, especially the conservatives who have now gained control of the party.

Just yesterday, reporters covering the PAS general assembly came under firing from some delegates for interacting freely. These delegates wanted gender segregation to be imposed and were pissed that women reporters did not cover their heads.

As the saying goes, be careful with what you wished for. The Islamist party is not even in power yet but is already showing its intolerant stand. At the end of the day, PAS will never change because that is the basis of its struggle and those who attempt to reform the party have found themselves sidelined.

For years, there have been talk to bring in non-Muslims as associate members but in the end, they will just remain members of supporters club, with no clout. They would only be useful tools to help the ulamas gain political power. But many non-Muslims are now cheering for PAS leaders believing that only these ulamas can bring hope to this country. In their hatred of the BN government, they feel that these PAS leaders have become their saviours and they actually believe that PAS would be an alternative that allow the liberal lifestyle. Good luck.

Post-PAS general assembly: PAS for Ulamas only?

So finally the results are out. The so-called progressives and reformists in PAS have found themselves voted out by the conservatives in PAS. Young leaders like Husam Musa and Khalid Samad, who are known to non-Muslims, have been voted out.

Despite their moderate stance, such as Khalid Samad's regular appearance at church-organised forums, he has never represented the real PAS stand. Husam, who lost in his attempt for the number two post, obviously took the defeat badly telling reporters "maybe my beard wasn't long enough."

His contender, Nasharudin Mat Isa, quickly defended his party boss, Hadi Awang, for the proposed unity talk, which some see as an attempt to work with Umno. Some envisage a unity government. Interestingly, Husam has said that he knew a lot of what was happening. We would certainly like to hear more about it.

The only exception was Nizar Jamaluddin, who garnered the highest votes for the central committee posts. Nizar's moderate and progressive approach has endeared himself not only to Perakians but also others, and the delegates must have wanted to give him a vote of confidence amidst the tumultuos time he is going through.

The so-called moderate face of PAS was overshadowed by some delegates who complained about the mingling of male and female reporters at the general assembly, with one describing such act as "pesta maksiat" and demanded that women reporters cover their heads. This is the real PAS.

The powerful theologians were obviously uncomfortable with the experiments of the younger leaders and in the end, they tightened their hold on the party. Even the hardliners won the Youth wing. The pro-ulama group almost had a clean slate. It is clear that the older delegates were uneasy with the way some young PAS leaders had push the party too far in its programmes with the DAP and PKR.

For Hadi Awang, he has always eyed the jewel in the crown. The Prime Minister's post, if ever the Pakatan Rakyat, takes over the federal government has to be his and not Anwar Ibrahim. The uneasy relationship between Anwar and Hadi is well known among the political and media circle. As with most politicians, it is all about power and positions eventually.

The voice of conservative PAS would now be louder with those in turbans and flowing robes dominating the party leadership. The results have showed that Hadi is the man in PAS, not spiritual leader Nik Aziz. His men were all wiped out in the race, certainly a big blow to the well-respected leader.

There would probably be changes in the relations between PAS and its partners in Pakatan. Nasharudin made clear, after his victory, that the doors for talks with Umno was opened. For added measure, he said the same principle was applicable with other parties and non-governmental organisations.

RM300million, one year old and it collapses!

Click on photo for more photos via Star Online's photo gallery

It's shocking! How can a stadium that's touted to be the "Pride of Terengganu" collapse after just one year and built at a staggering cost of RM300million. The only saving grace is that no one was killed in the incident, when a section of the roof collapsed today.

The stadium was "rushed" it seemed to be ready for the Sukma Games last June. The contractor is said to be a South Korean firm and certainly the firm would have plenty to explain. One does not need to be an expert to conclude that a lousy job has been done.

Investigations have been promised by the authorities but we hope the findings would be made public. It should now be standard practice in cases where public money is involved. Like the PKFZ losses, the public must know who is at fault for the collapse of the roof. The damage, we are now told, could cost us at least RM35mil.