The Sick Man

PAS Unplugged - WHAT NEXT?

(sorry if the above graphic from Google offends any of you, but that is the fact of the matter)

Pork stalls' visit - Muslims must be open-minded says Pas

By Azreen Hani

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR: Pas’ Ulama Council deputy chief Datuk Mahfodz Mohamad says the Al-Quran doesn’t forbid Muslims from going to pork stalls, so it was alright for Pas leaders to meet the people at stalls selling pork meat.

Defending the actions of two Pas leaders who distributed angpows and oranges at pork stalls in Mersing and in Selangor in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebrations, Mahfodz said there was no reason why Muslims should make a big fuss over those visits.

"There is no prohibition in Islam stopping Muslims from going to pork markets. As long as Muslims know what is right and wrong, they don’t have to create a big fuss about it.

"I don't find the visits odd, at all. In fact this shows how Pas is more open and approachable to people at all level, as what is stated in our "Pas for all" slogan," he added. -  TheMole

So, have Pas come a full circle in their attempt to promote 'Pas For All'? 

Pas has become an open-minded political party that has given up its life-long struggle to transform Malaysia into a 'Negara Islam' or Islamic nation. It has now embraced a Negara Kebajikan or Welfare State approach. 

Welfare state for Pas is endorsed by political partners PKR and DAP while Islamic state is now a bad word in their dictionary.

And this latest news about ... no less than PAS' Ulama Council deputy head telling Muslims to be open-minded about visits to pork-stalls ... is not shocking at all. 

This is exactly what sacked former PAS Selangor state assemblyman Datuk Dr Hasan Ali been telling Malaysians. Hasan may appear like an extremist but he has valid points when he pointed that Pas has lost its soul.

Pas leaders now point to the fact that pork is only HARAM if consumed. 

“Pork is haram for Muslims, but it is okay for non-Muslims to eat pork. Nowhere it is stated that it was haram for me to visit pork stalls,” - quotes from a PAS leader in The Mole. 

Can we now safely assume that all the stalls selling pork meat at wet-market throughout the country would be incorporated in the main market ( pork stalls are now isolated in a special area for non-halal items)?

Pas could say next that it was a from of discrimination to isolate stalls selling pork at markets..or that it was against Human Rights to discriminate against the Chinese pork traders.

The Bar Council would certainly come to PAS' defense and stress how draconian the BN Government has been all these years...discriminating against pork stall operators and isolating them at markets. OMG!!! 

So, Pas has certainly been unplugged, what next Haji Hadi? 

I won't be surprised if Pas introduces a new Entrepreneur Development Scheme to fund Muslims who are interested in setting up pork-stalls at markets. 

Seriously, I won't be surprised because Pas can't possibly go any lower than now in trying to attract non-Muslims via their Pas For All slogan. 

Pas' parasites would surely say 'Its ONLY haram for Muslims to eat pork. Nowhere in the Quran it says that Muslims can't sell pork for a living. If we accidentally touch pork meat, we could samak. No problem with that. 


WOULD THIS RITUAL COME NEXT? 

Note: Just don't eat pork OK, everything else OK. PAS FOR ALL!

World Press Photo 2012 - KUALA LUMPUR

Apology after THE Apology!

                   V for victory : Rocky with his lawyer Jahaberdeen (L) after the settlement today

The long drawn legal battle between journo/blogger  Datuk Ahirudin Attan and four ex-NSTP executives came to an end today.  


*NSTP, the publication, was initially a party in the above suit but withdrew their case in 2010.   

The defamation suit against me was filed by the New Straits Times Press and its 4 top executives then in January 2007. It made headlines as the world's first case involving a newspaper and its journalists against a blogger. The NSTP dropped the suit against me two Ramadans ago and this morning, I'm happy to report to you, the 4 individuals, all of whom are no longer with the NSTP, dropped the suit against me after I've agreed to what the High Court tags as Enclosure 44.

In a nutshell, I've agreed apologize "for the considerable distress, embarrassment and inconvenience caused to the plaintiffs" as a result of some of the things I'd written about them on my blog.

Both parties agreed that there will be no order as to costs. - Rocky's Bru


It was learned that Rocky's 'apology' 'for the considerable distress, embarrassment and da..da..da.. comes ONLY after taking into consideration Datuk Seri Kalimullah Maseerul Hassan's earlier APOLOGY to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Jan, 2012.

** One of the main point of contention was the 'LIAR' tag pasted on one of the plaintiff.

Businessman Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan has apologised to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for any embarrassment caused by his article written on 11 June 2006 in the New Sunday Times with regards to the then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s meeting with Dr Mahathir in Japan.

He also unreservedly withdraws and retracts all allegations he had made in the said article.

With the apology and retraction, Dr Mahathir is vindicated.

The apology was part of the mutual consent recorded at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today between Kalimullah and Matthias Chang in which both parties reached an amicable settlement over a RM50 million defamation suit filed by the former on Chang.

--- Kalimullah apologises to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad ... 5 years later

AirAsia - Now and Then

Please find below an Air Asia 'Press Release' which was released in 2004 when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was the Prime Minister and Air Asia was the '4th floor boys' National Airlines. 


The snakey and sneaky language of the Press Release, especially the part on the Minister's concern about misleading advertisements, is rather perplexing. But then again this Press Release was released when the country was under the clutches of the 4th floor. 


Would the Najib Razak Government tolerate such nonsense?  


Charles Moreira, who reminded me (via his comment) of this infamous  Press Release is not confident that the Government wouldn't. 

Charles F Moreira said... Government didn't have the balls before, will it have now? 
  

Press Releases


6 January 2004


AirAsia and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Malaysia Resolve Issue of “Misleading” Advertisements


The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, Malaysia has given AirAsia the “go ahead” to continue with its advertisements of low fares following a meeting held between AirAsia’s Management team with the ministry headed by its Director General of Enforcement, Abdullah Nawawi Mohamad. 


The decision was given at a meeting held as a fact finding mission, following reports on the airline’s “misleading” advertisements.


Speaking today after the meeting, AirAsia’s Chairman, YBhg. Dato’ Pahamin A. Rajab said, 


“We are happy that we can put this issue aside and move forward. 

We would like to thank the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, and the Malaysian Government for resolving the issue quickly and allowing us to focus on our business. 


We will set–up meetings with officials from the Ministry of Cultural Arts and Tourism, to discuss ways of collaboration to grow tourism and the low fare travel market in Malaysia.


The ministry has acknowledged that there were no issues on the misinterpretation of the advertisements placed by AirAsia and that it (the advertisements) has no intention to mislead. 


The ministry has however pointed out that confusion may have arisen due to lack of understanding of the advertisements, particularly by first time flyers with AirAsia who are not familiar with the airline’s unique and innovative concept.


The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin have also commented that AirAsia should explain its low fare scheme to consumers as the concept is still relatively new.


“We welcome the minister’s suggestion and have planned for road shows to reach out to more people and explain our low fares concept. We will continue to advertise our low fares as practiced previously,” said Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia.


He further continues, “It is always a low fare when you book a seat on AirAsia, no matter if you get a RM 1.99 fare or any other fare. 


Our lowest fare represents as much as 80% savings and the highest fare is still 20% lower compared to other full service airlines. 


We understand that some people, mostly first timers on our flights, may not be familiar with the concept; hence we will continue our PR efforts to educate the public on this matter.”


AirAsia’s advertisements are similar to those used by other low fares foreign airlines such as EasyJet, RyanAir and Virgin Blue, which are governed by stricter advertising guidelines in their respective countries.

For full press release click: http://www5.airasia.com/site/en/pressRelease.jsp?id=2e7ec73f-c0a8c85d-177e6b40-34fe65ea

Godfather says ...

You go to the AirAsia website, and if you are not careful, you will -

1. Pay for baggage
2. Pay for seat allocation
3. Pay for travel insurance

These are designed so that you must click "cancel" and not the other way round. Then if you pay by credit card, they charge you a convenience fee. What convenience ? You go to their counter to pay cash, and the price you get is much higher than the internet price.

Then when you go to the airport, they charge you a fee to check in manually. Those who can't read, pay an extra RM 10 for the check in service. 

AirAsia has been misleading people for over 10 years. They are too big for this government to regulate.

Godfather

*
Received the above comment for my previous posting 'Australia nails 'extraordinary' AirAsia'.

The posting was about the Australian consumer watchdog, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's lawsuit against AirAsia filed in the Federal Court in Melbourne.

The Commission claimed that fares sold on AirAsia's website failed to display the actual cost of traveling incurred by AirAsia passengers.

What Godfather says above rings the bell here in Malaysia. If it's true then heads must roll ... or is AirAsia somewhat special just because they 'help bring in the tourists'?

This could be our newly minted (MYCC) Malaysia Competition Commission's first BIGFISH.


p/s Tak kan MYCC tak berani kot!  ACCC's charge is very CLEAR.

Australia nails 'extraordinary' AirAsia

Australian regulator files lawsuit against AirAsia

SYDNEY — AirAsia was slapped with a lawsuit by Australian regulators accusing the Asian budget carrier of failing to disclose the full price of fares on its website.

The Malaysia-based airline, which flies international services out of Australia from the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Perth, with Sydney to be added from April, was named in documents lodged at the Federal Court in Melbourne on Tuesday.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the country's consumer watchdog, claims some fares sold on AirAsia's website do not display prices inclusive of all taxes, duties, fees and other charges.

"Businesses that choose to advertise a part of the price of a particular product or service must also prominently specify a single total price," it said in a media release.

The regulator alleged the fares relate to flights from Melbourne to cities including London, New Delhi, and Hangzhou in China, from the Gold Coast to Ho Chi Minh City and from Perth to places such as Taipei and Phuket in Thailand.

The matter is listed to be heard on March 2 with the watchdog seeking an injunction "to restrain AirAsia from engaging in misleading conduct in the future".

It also wants a court order "that AirAsia publish corrective notices on its websites regarding the conduct".

AirAsia could not immediately be reached for comment. - AFP

It appears that the Australians have managed to pin AirAsia for the airlines' 'cheap' antics. 

Basically the Australians are telling AirAsia and its high-flying owners to STOP CHEATING the public via misleading advertisements.

Those well versed in laws that protect consumer rights say, the Australian lawsuit against AirAsia may just be the beginning of a fiery year of the Dragon for the 'cheap' airline.

Sources in the industry say - "regulatory bodies, from at least three other nations, are expected to file similar if not more serious lawsuits against 'a cheap airline' that has been hoodwinking air travelers who opt for budget air travel" - (hopefully it is not AirAsia) 

AirAsia's critics are also saying that the impending lawsuits against the airline and its owners are the main reason for the recent shift of operations from Europe/UK towards Australia. 

It seems that the Australians are ahead of their Western counterparts and had been waiting for the catch. 

What about our Malaysian regulatory bodies? 

It's OK for greedy business entities to cheat us, just because we are Malaysians? 

p/s AirAsia is giving Malaysia a bad name! .... and I wonder why AFP couldn't reach the often publicity crazy/savy owners of AirAsia for immediate comments.