From The Reuters
By Barani Krishnan

A decade ago, Malaysia’s former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was on trial for sodomy and corruption in a trial that exposed the seamy side of Malaysian justice and the anxieties of a young country grappling with a crushing financial crisis and civil unrest.

Anwar is Malaysia’s best known political figure, courted in the U.S. and Europe and probably the only man who can topple the government that has led this Southeast Asian country for the past 51 years.
Now the leader of the opposition, will go on trial next week again charged with sodomising a 23-year old male aide. The trial once again looks likely to provide gory evidence and bringing some unwanted attention from the world’s media on this Southeast Asian country of 27 million people. It could also embarrass the government and draw international criticism.

Anwar vowed in a recent interview to fight what he says are trumped up charges.

The 14 months I spent covering the 1998 trials saw Anwar accused of sodomy with three men and having sex with a woman over a period of years. This case is simpler, there is just one accuser. All homosexual acts are illegal in this mainly Muslim country and sex outside marriage is illegal for Muslims.

The first trial was gruelling. Lines began as early as four in the morning as people tried to get into the court that could seat less than 200. Most of the spectators were ordinary people, but there was a sprinkling of dignitaries and businessmen who had known Anwar when he was in office.

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The theme of the conference is based on ‘A Common Word’ which is the international movement started in response to the 2006 Pope’s address at Regensburg University and which continues to emphasise the common ground between the world’s two largest religions and to re-invigorate the dialogue between Islam, Christianity and the West especially in this post-Bush and now President Barack Hussein Obama -era. Its aim is to build bridges of understanding and engage in mutual respect with Christians and Muslims who together make up more than half of the world’s population.

The Keynote Address, sure to be a landmark address in Perth at the Convention Centre, will be delivered by Anwar Ibrahim, the current Opposition Leader of Malaysia and regarded as one of the foremost ambassadors of Islam in the West today. Guest speakers include Reverend Professor James Haire, former President of the Uniting Church in Australia and the current Executive Director of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Imam Afroz Ali, Founder and President of Al-Ghazzali Centre, Dr. Wan Azizah, president of the People’s Justice Party of Malaysia and Father Charles Waddell, Interfaith Delegate of the Catholic Church. Speakers have been chosen to reflect the global nature and theme of inclusiveness in ‘A Common Word Between Us and You’.

1. ‘A Common Word for the Common Good’ Interfaith Sessions at UWA
Date & Time: Saturday 11 July 2009 – 10:30AM to 3:30PM

Venue: Social Sciences Lecture Theatre – UWA
Cost: Free
- Prof. Haire
- Imam Afroz ALi
- Dr. Wan Azizah

*Limited seating registration essential* Email: gerardwink@gmail.com

2. ‘Islam & The West’ – Keynote address by the Honourable Anwar Ibrahim with introductory remarks by Professor James Haire

Date & Time: Saturday 11th July – 7:00PM – 9:00PM

Venue: Riverside Theatre – Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
Cost: $25
*Call Ticketek 132 849 or book online:

Tickets also sold through outlets listed at ‘Tickets’ tab on official website below.
TICKETS ALSO AVAILABLE AT DOOR – COME 5:45PM

3. Free Public Lecture on ‘A Just Balance: the Spirit of Service’
By Imam Afroz Ali (Al-Ghazzali Institute, Sydney)
Date & Time: Sunday 12 July 2009 – 6:30PM-8:30PM

Venue: Alexander Lecture Theatre – UWA
Cost: Free

This international conference has been organised by the Perth MuslimYouth Forum, Muslim Students Association of the University of Western Australia, the Jamiatul ‘Ulama of Western Australia, in conjunction with the Perth Convention Bureau.

(video ehsan malaysiakinitv)

Akhirnya kerajaan mengakui hakikat kepincangan dasar PPSMI dan mengambil keputusan memansuhkan sepenuhnya perlaksanaan dasar itu mulai tahun 2011. Setelah sekian lama pejuang bahasa, budayawan dan sarjana menyatakan kebimbangan dan menyuarakan bantahan terhadap PPSMI, alhamdulillah keringat dan doa mereka dimakbulkan jua.

Saya tidak pasti keputusan tersebut didasari motif politik ataupun kerana menyedari PPSMI merupakan satu pengkhianatan kepada perjuangan memartabatkan bahasa kebangsaan dan merugikan ramai pelajar terutama dari kawasan luar bandar. Pastinya kenyataan Menteri Pelajaran bahawa dasar ini dimansuhkan kerana mempunyai banyak kelemahan memperlihatkan sikap tidak bertanggungjawab kerajaan umno-bn.

Sekonyong konyong mereka cuba menutup sebelah mata setelah RM 4.5 billion ringgit dana awam dibelanjakan demi perlaksanaan dasar tersebut walaupun mendapat bantahan segenap lapisan masyarakat. Keadilan tuntas menekankan selama ini bahawa satu kajian yang menyeluruh sewajarnya diadakan sebelum perlaksanaan PPSMI. Ternyata teguran yang diberikan masuk telingan kanan keluar telinga kiri.

Sayugia Menteri Pelajaran mestilah menyediakan jawapan yang kukuh dan bertanggungjawab untuk dibentangkan kelak. Rakyat berhak mengetahui mengapa selepas 6 tahun ianya dilaksanakan, baru kerajaan mengakui kelemahan dan kepincangan PPSMI.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

(video ehsan Malaysian Mirror)

Dari Malaysiakini

Pengerusi Gerakan Mansuhkan PPSMI (GMP), Datuk Hassan Ahmad menyifatkan keputusan kerajaan memansuhkan dasar Pembelajaran dan Pengajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam bahasa Inggeris (PPSMI) mulai 2012 sebagai satu kejayaan rakyat.

“Rakyat seluruhnya tentu lega dan gembira, kerana pengajarannya di sekolah kebangsaan Cina dan India juga turut dikembalikan kepada bahasa ibunda masing-masing,” katanya kepada Malaysiakini.

GMP merupakan gabungan badan-badan bahasa, NGO dan parti-parti politik yang ditubuhkan untuk mendesak kerajaan supaya memansuhkan dasar yang diperkenalkan sejak 2003.

Melalui GMP, isu PPSMI juga turut dibangkit dalam kempen beberapa pilihanraya kecil yang diadakan sejak awal tahun ini.

Hassan mengucapkan syabas kepada Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin, yang menteri pelajaran, kerana “berani membuat keputusan yang benar” demi kebaikan masa depan rakyat.

Katanya, PPSMI merupakan satu dasar yang salah dan menyusahkan rakyat serta membazirkan wang untuk kembali kepada dasar asalnya.

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Dari Malaysiakini

Jurang pencapaian antara sekolah bandar dan luar bandar dalam mata pelajaran Sains dan Matematik semakin melebar semasa dua subjek itu diajar dalam Bahasa Inggeris (PPSMI) sejak 2003.

Menteri pelajaran juga berkata laporan Trends in Mathematics and Science Study 2007 turut menyatakan kedudukan murid Malaysia dalam Sains merosot ke tangga 21 daripada tangga ke-20 pada 2003.

“Bagi mata pelajaran Matematik pula, kedudukan murid kita telah merosot daripada tangga ke-10 pada tahun 2003 ke tangga ke-20 pada tahun 2007,” kata Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin hari ini.

Menurut Bernama, beliau berkata kajian universiti-universiti tempatan pula mendapati tahap peningkatan penguasaan bahasa Inggeris murid adalah nominal iaitu tidak lebih tiga peratus sepanjang pelaksanaan PPSMI.

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