Sunday, December 30, 2007

Polis tidak pernah abai kes Nurin



KUALA LUMPUR 29 Dis. – Polis tidak pernah mengabaikan penyiasatan kes pembunuhan kejam kanak-kanak malang, Nurin Jazlin Jazimin walaupun kejadian itu sudah tiga bulan berlalu.

Ketua Bahagian Siasatan Jenayah Kuala Lumpur Senior Asisten Komisioner II Ku Chin Wah berkata, walaupun tiada kenyataan dikeluarkan, ia bukan bermakna kes itu ditutup sebaliknya siasatan akan tetap diteruskan hingga tertangkap pembunuhnya.

Beliau berkata, orang awam seharusnya memahami dan tidak mendesak pihak berkuasa, sebaliknya mereka perlu diberi peluang serta masa untuk menyelesaikan kes tersebut mengikut prosedur siasatan yang ditetapkan.

“Kami (polis) tidak pernah mengabaikan kes ini, sebaliknya isu itu dibincangkan dalam setiap mesyuarat yang diadakan pada setiap minggu.

“Kami sedang mencuba dan tidak akan berputus asa ,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri kempen Pencegahan Jenayah (Rakan Cop) kawasan Jinjang anjuran bersama Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan dan Ibu Pejabat Polis Kuala Lumpur, di kawasan perumahan Taman Wahyu, di sini hari ini.

Turut hadir, Timbalan Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan, Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop.

Beliau memberitahu, polis masih memerlukan kerjasama dan maklumat dari orang awam bagi mengesan pembunuh terbabit.

“Sebaliknya, ada sesetengah pihak yang sengaja mengambil kesempatan ini untuk memberi maklumat yang tidak sahih dan mempermainkan pihak berkuasa,” ujarnya.

Mengulas lanjut, Chin Wah berkata, polis masih memerlukan lebih banyak maklumat khususnya saksi yang terserempak dengan seorang lelaki yang dikatakan membawa beg sukan berisi mayat kanak-kanak malang tersebut.

Nurin Jazlin, pelajar tahun dua Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Desa Setapak dilaporkan hilang pada 20 Ogos lepas setelah keluar bersendirian ke pasar malam berhampiran rumahnya di Wangsa Maju.

Pada 17 September, mayatnya ditemui dengan kesan penderaan seksual melampau dan disumbat ke dalam beg sukan di hadapan sebuah kedai di Petaling Jaya.

Sementara itu, Abu Seman memberitahu, Rakan Cop menyaksikan penyertaan baru sebanyak 180,000 orang bagi tahun ini sahaja.

“Saya percaya Rakan Cop merupakan pendekatan gandingan bijak antara polis dan masyarakat. Masyarakat menjadi telinga dan mata polis serta membantu menyelesaikan pelbagai kes,” katanya.

Rakan Cop merupakan sebuah program yang diperkenalkan pada Ogos 2004 bagi melibatkan masyarakat umum dalam usaha mencegah kegiatan jenayah.

- Mingguan Malaysia

A New Year wish


Sunday December 30, 2007

Ecstasy, grief, loss, gains – 2007 has been eventful for many, not least for those who caught public attention. Sunday Starcaught up with some of them to find out what they hope 2008 will herald.

JAZIMIN ABDUL JALIL AND FAMILY

HIS only wish is to have the criminals who brutally killed his daughter Nurin Jazlin brought to justice. “I understand that the police are doing their best but with no new developments or leads, we feel a bit powerless and frustrated. I pray that the police can track them soon,” Jazimin says. He also hoped the police can charge the culprit who posted autopsy photographs of his daughter. Nurin Jazlin went missing on Aug 20 after going out to a night market alone near her home in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur. Her naked body was found stuffed in a sports bag near a shoplot in Petaling Utama on Sept 20. The New Year will be different without his daughter, he says, adding that the pain of losing her is still strong. “We all miss her terribly and it is sad to think about her and what happened, but for the sake of our other children, we have to be strong and move on,” he says. Jazimin and wife Norazian Bistaman have three other daughters Nurin Jazshira, nine, Nurin Jasrina, six, and toddler Nurin Jazlisa.

For the rest of the Article, click here.

- Sunday Star

Looking forward to a better, brighter 2008

By MEERA MURUGESAN and SUSHMA VEERA

KUALA LUMPUR: As the year draws to an end, Weekend Mail takes a look at the people, whose stories, both tragic and inspiring, have graced our pages throughout the year.

From having to cope with the loss of loved ones to having the courage and determination to help the less fortunate, their stories have touched many.
Weekend Mail spoke to them about moving forward and their hopes and wishes for the com ing year.

Jazimin Abdul Jalil, 33, whose eight-year-old daugh ter Nurin Jazlin was raped and killed. Her body was found in a sports bag under the stair case of a shoplot in Petaling Jaya Utama on Sept 17. She went missing after visiting a night market near her home on Aug 20. The Year Two pupil of SK Desa Setapak was beaten and sexually assaulted.

“I only have one wish for the coming year: that the culprit who raped and killed Nurin be caught.

“It is agonising to wait for developments on the case. We pray and hope that whoever committed the cruel crime will be nabbed and charged in court.

“Bringing them to the court is not enough. We hope that the police will have enough evid ence to convict them. It is pointless to charge someone only to have them acquitted or released due to lack of evidence.

“We are doing fine now and are trying our best to get on with our lives. The other girls also miss Nurin very much, and are saddened over what had happened.

“We hope that justice will prevail.”

Khairul Anuar, a 31-year-old bachelor who has dedicated his life to underprivileged and orphaned children. He is one of the founders of Pusat Jagaan Anak Anak Yatim Dan Miskin Nurul Iman, a sanctu ary in Kampung Manjoi, Ipoh, for orphaned or underpriv ileged children.

“I hope I will continue to have the strength and motiv ation to carry on with the work I am doing for these children.

“As I’ve said before, they are like family to me and I want them to have the best. Thank fully, through donations from kind-hearted individuals and or ganisations and after our plight was highlighted by Weekend Mail, we managed to collect and settle RM100,000 for the RM135,000 piece of land that we have bought to build a new orphanage with better facilities for the children.

“I am confident that in about two years, we would have built a new building on that land and the children will finally have a permanent home instead of having to move from one place to another.

“In the coming year, I also hope that all 29 children at Nurul Iman continue to do well in their studies and that the public will help us in giving tu ition for the children or help subsidise the tuition bills.

“Education is the only way for these children to overcome their sad start in life and I’m going to make sure they get all the at tention they need.”

S. Sarawanan, whose brother Murali, an engineer and father of two, drowned during a fam ily outing to Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi, on April 28. Murali’s wife, S. Parimalam, and Sarawanan himself nearly drowned as well.

“My family is coping better. But of course, nothing can take away the pain and loss we suffered after my brother’s death.

“My sister-in-law is still living in Malacca with my parents and she is doing much better now. She will be starting work again come January.

“My parents have also slowly come to terms with the loss and the fact that my brother’s two young boys have been with them has made a difference.
Obviously, the grandchildren have helped to heal the wounds.

“The elder boy will be starting kindergarten soon and we will also be celebrating his birthday on Jan 1, so we have something to look forward to this coming year.

“But I hope, given my brother’s death, people will never take their safety for granted in places like swimming pools or beaches and the authorities will also look more seriously into implement ing safety measures in such places.”

Catriona Piruz, 26, whose three-year-old daughter Elissa was allegedly taken away from her in July 2005. She had ac companied her husband, Aoun Riad Dbouk, to Lebanon two years after their marriage to visit her Lebanese in-laws. Ca triona was still breast-feeding the child then.

“My only wish for the coming year is to be able to see my daughter again. I am not asking for more. All I want is to meet Elissa. I last saw her in 2006.

“I spoke to her over the phone last week but I don’t know if she remembers me. I know basic Ar abic and tried to communicate with Elissa with the little know ledge that I have. But I think she does not understand what is happening.

“I am not allowed to go to Lebanon. There seems to be a dead end at very turn we take. I don’t know how, but I really hope to see my little girl this coming year.”

- Weekend Mail

Saturday, December 29, 2007

A Mausoleum In Her Memory

Today, the mausoleum in memory of Nurin Jazlin was finally completed. This is the place where we identify as Nurin's resting place on earth though there is no doubt that her real place is none other than the Almighty's Paradise.

May the Almighty bless her soul always.

Al Fatihah

Jasni AJ

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

After 100 Days : Murderer Still At Large, Photo Distributor Still Not Charged!

Today marks the 100th day since the late Nurin Jazlin was found brutally and sadistically murdered. To mark this fateful tragedy, several news media had carried special reports on this horrible event highlighting the parent's anguish and restlessness for being kept in the dark on the progress made by the authorities in wrapping up the case.

Thanks to TV3, Bernama, Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian and Harakah for their respective reports. With such reports, at least the family knows that people cares and just like them, everyone else want for the psycho maniac killer be identified, apprehended and punished for the gruesome act that led to the death of Nurin Jazlin.

All of us know that for as long as this psycho maniac killer is allowed to be roaming on the streets freely, none of our children would be safe as sooner or later the monster will bind to satisfy its satanic lust on innocent children.

Judging by the numerous calls from various other journalists from the other media houses received by Jazimin today, I would expect more such coverage on Nurin Jazlin's terrible tragedy would hit the streets tomorrow or perhaps on New Year's Eve when everyone will look back at the year we're leaving behind.

Yes, we're leaving Year 2007 in about 5 day's time. Sadly, we're entering the New Year with unresolved cases, Nurin's and Presheena's. Difficult they might be, we remain faithful of our investigating teams capabilities in returning our country to what it was before - free of psycho maniacs, psycho maniacs that prey on innocent children.

But as I have said it before and I'm repeating it now - why oh why is the identified culprit who distributed Nurin's autopsy pictures is still not disclosed and punished?

What is the message that the authorities trying to give to the public? I'm baffled. Aren't you too?

All we ask is for the authorities to show that they mean business. When the issue was highlighted everyone issued all sorts of statements, from the Police, the Ministers, Multi Media Commission and so forth. Nurin's autopsy pictures are still on the net and nobody seem to be doing anything! While kudos to the Police for have actually stopped talking and prefer to act behind closed doors, I guess all the others should also follow suit, let's stop the "talk only" menace, charge the culprit! Let it be known that it is an offence to distribute such pictures, it is unethical, disrespectful,tasteless etc. etc.

Thank you visitors for keep on visiting this weblog. Today, being the 100th day since Nurin's was found dead, this weblog had (as at 10:30 pm) received 924 visitors, all from all over Malaysia and from across the globe from Texas, USA to Australia.

Assalammualaikum & Good Night.

Jasni AJ

Ibu bapa Nurin diibarat tunggu buah tak jatuh



KUALA LUMPUR: Hari ini genap 100 hari Nurin Jazlin Jazimin, 8, ditemui mati selepas diculik selama 27 hari.

Rakyat Malaysia berkongsi kesedihan dan kemarahan terhadap apa yang menimpa Nurin, lebih mesra dipanggil Kak Ngah dan menuntut agar pembunuhnya ditahan serta dibawa ke muka pengadilan bagi mendapat balasan yang setimpal.

Namun, ibu bapa Nurin diibaratkan menunggu buah yang tidak jatuh kerana sehingga sekarang tiada sebarang perkembangan yang mereka peroleh berhubung pembunuhannya.

Menurut ibunya, Norazian Bistaman, 35, beliau dan suaminya Jazimin Abdul Jalil serta keluarga ‘sudah letih’ menanti jawapan positif daripada polis.

Malah mereka kecewa kerana tidak lagi mendapat berita daripada polis.

“Jika di awal-awal dulu, polis sering datang atau menghubungi kami bagi memaklumkan mengenai perkembangan kes itu, namun sekarang mereka langsung tidak menghubungi kami, malah kami pula yang terpaksa menghubungi polis untuk mendapatkan maklumat terkini,” kata Norazian kepada Bernama semalam.

Lebih mengecewakan, katanya, ialah apabila setiap kali keluarganya menghubungi polis, jawapan yang diterima tetap sama iaitu “masih dalam siasatan”.

“Tapi apa pun kami kena juga tunggu maklumat daripada polis...takkan kita pula nak cari pembunuh tu,” katanya.

Norazian berkata beliau masih lagi menerima banyak khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) daripada orang ramai termasuk dari Sabah dan Sarawak yang mahu pihak polis segera menangkap penjenayah terbabit.

Impian beliau sekeluarga untuk berpindah ke rumah baru bagi melupakan peristiwa hitam yang menimpa anaknya itu sudah tercapai 1 Disember lalu. Mereka kini tinggal di Kampung Air Panas Baru di Setapak selepas menetap di Wangsa Maju sebelum ini.

“Dengan kedatangan tahun baru yang tinggal beberapa hari lagi, kami sekeluarga bertekad untuk meneruskan kehidupan dengan lebih tenang setelah melalui satu fasa perjalanan hidup yang cukup perit,” katanya.

Presiden Persatuan Kebajikan Bekas Perisikan Malaysia, Mustafa Abdul Rahman yang sama-sama terbabit dalam kes mencari Nurin sebelum mayatnya ditemui berkata, beliau yakin polis akan dapat menangkap pembunuh Nurin Jazlin apabila semua bukti dapat dikumpulkan.

“Saya yakin dengan kerja polis, kredibiliti polis tidak perlu dipertikaikan kerana saya sendiri ada pengalaman dalam menyelesaikan kes-kes sebegini,” katanya ketika ditanya tentang desakan masyarakat agar polis mempercepatkan penyelesaian kes Nurin.

Mustafa berkata pihak polis mempunyai cara mereka sendiri dalam menyelesaikan kes.

“Cuma lambat atau cepat saja,” katanya.

Laman blog Nurinjazlin.blogspot.com yang diwujudkan oleh bapa saudara Nurin, Jasni Abdul Jalil bagi membantu mengesan kehilangan Nurin sejak Ogos lalu, masih lagi menerima maklumat balas daripada anggota masyarakat yang ingin mengetahui perkembangan perjalanan kes itu.

Rabu lalu, Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Musa Hassan menafikan pihaknya menemui jalan buntu dalam penyelesaian kes pembunuhan Nurin.

Katanya, polis masih menyiasat kes itu tapi tidak boleh mendedahkan hasil siasatan ini kepada media.

Pada 20 Ogos lalu Nurin, pelajar tahun dua Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Desa Setapak, dilaporkan hilang setelah keluar bersendirian ke pasar malam berhampiran rumahnya di Seksyen 1 Wangsa Maju.

Mayatnya ditemui 27 hari kemudian dalam sebuah beg yang diletakkan di depan premis perniagaan di Petaling Jaya dan hasil bedah siasat mendapati Nurin mati akibat di dera secara seksual.

- Berita Harian

Bapa harap pembunuh Nurin diberkas


KUALA LUMPUR 24 Dis. – Walaupun pihak polis belum menemui pembunuh Allahyarham Nurin Jazlin Jazimin selepas tiga bulan mayatnya dijumpai, namun keluarga kanak-kanak itu masih menaruh harapan penjenayah terbabit segera diberkas.

Bapa Nurin Jazlin, Jazimin Abdul Jalil yang dihubungi Utusan Malaysia hari ini memohon agar pihak berkuasa menyelesaikan kes pembunuhan anaknya itu secepat mungkin.

“Sebagai bapa dan keluarga, mungkin kami tidak dapat banyak membantu polis untuk mencari pembunuh Kak Ngah (Nurin Jazlin) tetapi kami sangat berharap penjenayah yang menyeksa Kak Ngah segera ditangkap dan dihukum.

“Begitu pun, saya yakin pihak polis telah melakukan yang secukupnya dalam menjalankan siasatan dan kami percaya pihak polis mampu menyelesaikan kes ini,” katanya.

Pada masa yang sama, tambah Jazimin, keluarganya yang masih bersedih atas kehilangan Allahyarham Nurin Jazlin berharap agar pihak polis menjalankan siasatan dengan lebih telus.

“Dalam tempoh dua bulan lalu, saya langsung tidak dimaklumkan apa-apa tentang perkembangan kes pembunuhan anak saya.

“Kali terakhir saya dihubungi dan kemudian mereka datang ke rumah ambil keterangan ialah pada Hari Raya Aidilfitri lalu... selepas itu sampai sekarang kami tak dapat apa-apa maklumat daripada polis.

“Kalau mereka tak mahu maklum kepada media atau orang ramai... sekurang-kurangnya beritahulah keluarga untuk melegakan kami, janganlah biarkan kami tertanya-tertanya,” katanya.

Dalam pada itu, Jazimin memberitahu, sempena Hari Raya Aidiladha ini, beliau menunaikan korban seekor lembu untuk mereka enam anak beranak termasuk Allahyarham Nurin Jazlin menerusi langganan pakej ibadat tersebut di Kemboja.

Sementara itu, Ketua Polis Selangor, Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar memberitahu, setakat ini tiada perkembangan terbaru mengenai siasatan kes pembunuhan Nurin Jazlin.

- Utusan Malaysia

Will There Be A Conclusion To Nurin's Murder Case?


By Nur Qalbi Mohd Reda

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- Tomorrow marks the 100th day since eight-year-old Nurin Jazlin Jazimin was found dead after she was abducted and held in captivity for 27 days.

Malaysians shared the grief and anger over the fate that had befallen Nurin, affectionately known as "Kak Ngah", and demanded that her murderer be apprehended, brought to justice and slapped with a punishment that befitted the crime.

Nurin, a Year Two pupil of Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Desa Setapak, was reported missing after she went alone to a night market near her house in Section 1, Wangsa Maju.

Her body was recovered 27 days later, stuffed in a bag and left in front of a business premise in Petaling Jaya. A post-mortem revealed that she had been sexually abused.

For Nurin's parents, it was an agonising wait for developments on the case. Nurin's mother, Norazian Bistaman, 35, said she and her husband as well other family members were tired of waiting for positive news from the police.

In fact, they felt disheartened because the police no longer updated them on the case.

"In the early days of the case, the police came or contacted us regularly but now they no longer get in touch with us. Now, we have to call the police for updates," she told Bernama today.

What was even more disheartening, she said, was the fact that each time they contacted the police, the response would be the same, that the case "is still under investigation".

"But we still need to wait for the updates from the police ... we can't be looking for the murderer on our own," she said.

She said she still receives SMS messages, including from Sabah and Sarawak, wanting the police to nab the criminal at once.

Her wish for a new home to get over the tragedy came true on Dec 1. The family has moved to Kampung Air Panas Baru in Setapak from Wangsa Maju.

"With the new year around the corner, the whole family resolves to go on with our daily lives calmly after having gone through the bitter experience," she said.

The president of a welfare association of former intelligence personnel, Mustafa Abdul Rahman, who was involved in the search for Nurin before her body was found, said he was confident that the police would eventually nab Nurin's murderer.

"I'm confident of the way the police work. Their credibility should not be questioned. I myself have experienced solving cases like this," he said when asked about the public's hope for the police to conclude the case fast.

Mustafa said the police had their own way of solving a case. "Only that it's either slow or fast," he said.

A blogsite, nurunjazlin.blogspot.com, created by Nurin's uncle Jasni Abdul Jalil, to help locate Nurin in August, was still receiving feedback from the public who wanted to know the progress of the case.

Last Wednesday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan denied that the police had reached a dead end in the case.

He said the police were still investigating the murder and they cannot reveal the progress of the investigations to the media.

-- BERNAMA

Mengenang 100 hari pemergian Nurin, apa kata Musa Hassan?


Oleh Hazamin Amin

Tuesday, 25 December 2007

Hari ini genaplah sudah 100 hari pemergian Nurin Jazlin Jazimin,8, meninggal dunia sekaligus meninggalkan rakyat Malaysia dengan kisah menyayat hati kerana sicomel kecil ini telah 'dihantar ke syurga' tapi terlebih dahulu dibunuh kejam.

Ada yang sesekali nakal, menghantar email mengusik dengan membangkit persoalan, sekiranya siNurin ini adalah anak orang kaya, berpengaruh dan daripada keluarga politik serta pemimpin negara, bagaimanakah persepsi dan tindakan polis menanganinya?

Biarpun lebih tiga purnama berlalu namun nama manis ini masih tidak dilekang di bibir kalimah masyarakat hatta sesekali kedengaran juga Mimbar Khutbah di beberapa masjid menukilkan kisah tragis ini sebagai satu peringatan kepada sidang jemaah agar berwaspada dengan wabak penyakit manusia gila sehingga hilang nyawa anak kecil tidak berdosa.

Tandanya, diam tak diam, masyarakat masih menanti serta tertanya-tanya hasil tindakan serta siasatan polis yang mengambil masa yang agak lama mencari si penjenayah durjana ini.

Ketua Polis Negara Tan Sri Musa Hassan juga baru-baru ini menafikan pihaknya menemui jalan buntu dalam penyelesaian kes pembunuhan Nurin dan katanya polis masih menyiasat kes itu tapi tidak boleh mendedahkan hasil siasatan ini kepada media.

"Sampai bila? Masyarakat resah selagi tidak tertangkapnya pembunuh gila ini," kata seorang penghantar email yang mahu dikenali sebagai Jabar Alias.

"Daripada tertumpu isu Bersih, Batu Burok dan Hindraf yang tidak ada penjenayah di dalamnya, lebih baik fokus kepada kes Nurin ini. Dan jangan sibuk nak salahkan ibu bapa, cari dulu manusia berhati binatang ini!" katanya yang kecewa dengan kenyataan melulu Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Musa Hassan seolah-olah menyalahkan ibu bapa mangsa dan ingin mendakwa sekiranya berlaku kecuaian.

Semalam, agensi berita turut melaporkan ibu Nurin, Norazian Bistaman, 35, dan ayahnya Jazimin Abdul Jalil serta keluarga "sudah letih" menanti jawapan positif daripada polis.

"Jika di awal-awal dahulu, pihak polis sering datang atau menghubungi kami bagi memaklumkan tentang perkembangan kes itu, namun sekarang mereka langsung tidak menghubungi kami, malah kami pula yang terpaksa menghubungi polis untuk mendapatkan maklumat terkini," kata Norazian.

Laman blog Nurinjazlin.blogspot.com yang diwujudkan oleh bapa saudara Nurin, Jasni Abdul Jalil bagi membantu mengesan kehilangan Nurin sejak Ogos lalu, masih lagi menerima maklumat balas daripada anggota masyarakat yang ingin mengetahui perkembangan perjalanan kes itu.

Pada 20 Ogos, Nurin, pelajar tahun dua Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Desa Setapak, dilaporkan hilang setelah keluar bersendirian ke pasar malam berhampiran rumahnya di Seksyen 1 Wangsa Maju.

Mayatnya ditemui 27 hari kemudian dalam sebuah beg yang diletakkan di depan premis perniagaan di Petaling Jaya dan hasil bedah siasat mendapati Nurin mati akibat didera secara seksual.

Walau apa pun, rakyat Malaysia khususnya umat Islam disaran berdoa, mudah-mudahan roh sikecil ini ditempatkan di kalangan orang yang beriman, melindungi anak-anak kecil di Malaysia ini terhindar daripada perbuatan 'kebinatangan' penjenayah yang berada di merata-rata seterusnya mengheret 'si jahanam' itu ke muka pengadilan.

- Harakah

Monday, December 24, 2007

Aktiviti Hindraf masih dipantau – Musa



Oleh ARSHAD KHAN
PEKAN 19 Dis. – Polis masih memantau aktiviti dan tindak-tanduk Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) walaupun sebahagian pemimpin mereka telah ditahan di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA), baru-baru ini.

Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Musa Hassan berkata, ini kerana fail penyiasatan kes melibatkan kumpulan itu belum lagi ditutup meskipun lima pemimpin kumpulan itu telah ditahan.

‘‘Kita masih menyiasat kumpulan itu, masih terlalu awal untuk memberikan komen berhubung status kes berkenaan dan saya juga tidak dapat memberitahu kemungkinan akan ada lebih banyak lagi tangkapan,” katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia, di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas melakukan rondaan dan menyampaikan sumbangan kepada mangsa-mangsa banjir ke kawasan-kawasan pendalaman yang ditenggelami banjir di sini.

Lima pemimpin Hindraf yang ditahan di bawah ISA ialah P. Uthayakumar, R. Kenghadharan, M. Manoharan, V. Ganabathirau dan Koordinator Hindraf, T. Vasanthakumar.

Dalam pada itu, beliau juga menafikan pihaknya menemui jalan buntu dalam penyiasatan kes pembunuhan kejam Nurin Jazlin Jazimin, 8, yang menggegarkan seluruh negara pertengahan tahun ini.

Musa berkata, pihaknya masih menyiasat kes itu tetapi ia tidak boleh didedahkan kepada media secara keterlaluan pada masa ini.

‘‘Tidak, tidak, kita masih lagi menyiasat kes itu,” katanya ketika ditanya apakah polis menemui jalan buntu dalam kes itu memandangkan tidak ada perkembangan baru untuk satu tempoh yang agak lama.

Pada 20 Ogos lalu, Nurin Jazlin, murid tahun dua Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Desa Setapak di sini, dilaporkan hilang setelah keluar bersendirian untuk ke pasar malam berhampiran rumahnya di Seksyen 1 Wangsa Maju.

Dia ditemui mati 27 hari kemudian dalam sebuah beg yang diletakkan di depan premis perniagaan di Petaling Jaya akibat didera secara seksual.

Kes berkenaan mendapat perhatian yang amat meluas daripada segenap lapisan rakyat dan pemimpin negara.

Polis yang berusaha bersungguh-sungguh menyelesaikan kes berkenaan telah mengambil pelbagai langkah termasuk menghantar rakaman rakaman kamera litar tertutup (CCTV) ke Biro Penyiasatan Persekutuan (FBI) di Amerika Syarikat.

Namun, pihak FBI juga gagal meningkatkan sepenuhnya imej kabur dalam CCTV berkenaan.


Sementara itu, mengulas mengenai kemungkinan banjir gelombang kedua di Pahang, Musa berkata, pihaknya bersedia untuk menambah kelengkapan dan anggota jika ia diperlukan.

‘‘Polis mempunyai keupayaan yang cukup untuk bertindak, kita akan ambil anggota dan kelengkapan dari negeri-negeri yang tidak terjejas akibat banjir,” jelasnya.

Beliau juga memberikan jaminan bahawa jenayah dalam musim banjir akan terus dipantau dan ia masih lagi terkawal.

- Utusan Malaysia

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Propa: Lagu Mila untuk Nurin


Oleh CK

JIKA dua tahun lalu Adibah Noor menyanyikan lagu berjudul Terlalu Istimewa yang ditujukan khas untuk Allahyarham Nurul Huda, pada 18 November lalu pula, Mila turut merakamkan sebuah lagu untuk Allahyarham Nurin Jazlin. Kedua kanak-kanak ini menjadi mangsa kerakusan nafsu manusia yang tidak berhati perut, hingga mengorbankan nyawa mereka.

Lagu yang diberi judul Pergimu itu dicipta oleh Freddie Fernandez, yang juga Ketua Pegawai Operasi, Maestro Talent & Management. Manakala liriknya pula oleh Habsah Hassan. Kiranya inilah hasil ilham pertama Freddie selepas sekian lama tidak berkarya.

Lagu terbabit bercerita mengenai penderaan kanak-kanak dan bakal dimuatkan dalam album sulung Mila, yang dijangka siap bulan ini.

CK dengar cerita, pihak Maestro juga sudi bekerjasama dengan mana-mana pihak yang ingin mengadakan kempen berkaitan kebajikan kanak-kanak sebaik saja lagu itu siap dirakam. Mereka juga mengalu-alukan mereka yang ingin menggunakan lagu Pergimu sebagai tema program kesedaran.

Mereka berasakan, tragedi yang menimpa adik Nurin tidak harus dilepas pandang begitu saja. Sebaliknya usaha untuk meningkatkan kesedaran terhadap keselamatan dan kebajikan kanak-kanak harus dipertingkat dan digiatkan sepanjang masa. Nasib kanak-kanak tak berdosa harus dibela.

Mila sendiri khabarnya sempat berkunjung ke kediaman Allahyarham sebelum rakaman dilakukan. Dia ingin menyelami sendiri perasaan keluarga mangsa supaya dapat menghayati lagu balada itu dengan sepenuhnya.

- Berita Minggu

Thursday, December 20, 2007

OVER A CUPPA : Fear and loathing in KL




By HOO BAN KHEE

Merciless criminals seem to be ruling the roost.

BASED on experience, I know that Malaysians usually become nationalistic when they are overseas. Whenever fellow Malaysians come over for a visit, the conversation always gets around to: “So, what’s the latest in Kuala Lumpur?”

Of course, you can always catch up on the latest news on the Internet, via the mainstream media or on other websites.

Besides news and commentaries, we also have e-mails from concerned friends, who warn us about deteriorating public safety in Malaysia, especially in the Klang Valley.

Many Malaysians, especially women, feel apprehensive about returning to a society seemingly ruled by snatch thieves, road bullies, rapists, robbers, confidence tricksters and other lawless elements.

Bad things seem to happen everywhere and at every hour of the day. The perpetrators are becoming more ruthless, cruel and blatant.

I used to brush off such reports as an exaggeration or hearsay. I would like to believe that we still live in a society that is more peaceful and orderly than many others in the world.

But with the killing of former Penang chief police officer Datuk Albert Mah in densely populated Petaling Jaya, the rape and murder of eight-year-old Nurin Jazlin Jazimin and numerous other crimes, it seems that I have been living in denial.

Mah’s killers have yet to be arrested, while Nurin’s rapist/murderer is still at large. The police are nowhere near solving the cases despite their efforts and promises. The perpetrators have no mercy and don’t deserve any.

It cannot be denied that Malaysians feel threatened. Killers, robbers and rapists are in our midst and waiting to strike.

There is usually a public outcry in the wake of a serious crime. Sometimes, dialogues are held between the local community and senior police personnel. But this kind of feeble response does little to address social ills. Crimes are still being committed, almost with impunity. Most perpetrators get off scot-free and continue their heinous acts.

Even in my usually quiet and peaceful suburban neighbourhood, there has been a spate of robberies that have left many living in fear.

Robbers broke into two houses. Besides loss of cash and valuables, one of the house owners was hurt. The robberies seem to be the work of the same gang which has been active in the area. A sense of helplessness prevails.

A few months ago, a row houses was burgled. The crooks carted off all the shoes left outside the house, branded or not. Even my not-so-expensive made-in-China footwear was not spared.

Following these incidents, safety measures were taken by the residents to enhance security in the neighbourhood. Alarms were installed, fencing reinforced and even extra lighting was added.

This leads me to the solitary lamp post standing like a sore thumb in my neighbourhood. To call it a lamp post is actually a misnomer since it’s not installed with a lamp.

But it is not entirely useless. It serves as a convenient signpost. People post all kinds of notices on it.

At night, it presides over a dark corner in an otherwise well-lit road. Perhaps Tenaga Nasional should take steps to rectify the situation before burglars strike again. Besides, it does not look good topless

- Published in The Star on Monday, December 17, 2007

Monday, December 17, 2007

A Nurin Walk?

In his Open Letter to the Prime Minister said to be sent to all MP’s, media / press and some NGO’s, Ambrose Sabastian of Penang declared that :-

".... Again I wanted to walk carrying placards on 5-1-2008 at 3.00 p.m. from Lorong Kulit Hindu Temple to Gurney Drive. With me four friends will walk together and distribute the leaflets informing why we are walking. Less than five people never need police permit neither it is not an illegal gathering. The walk is for alerting the public about the missing girl Nurin Jazlin Jazmi who was murdered and stuffed in a sport bag and the incompetent police investigation. I was unhappy when one minister stupidly threatens Nurin’s father saying law is a law. In fact poor people have to earn money for their rice bowl. Twenty-four hours they can’t guard their children. It will very nice if it happened to one of the Ministers child and we can see how the law works?

Deputy Internal Securities Minister Datuk Mohd Johari told in Parliment that even with the help of the FBI, the enhanced CCTV images did not show the registration number clearly. The Police can’t conclude this case and can’t find the killer. Now I put up a challenge with Home Minister that what a great Scotland Yard Malaysian Police and the Greatest FBI can’t do to solve Nurin’s murder case but we can able to solve within short period. I can ask my boys in KL and Klang to solve this case easily provided..."

Hmmm, it seems that walks and rallies are the in-thing now in Malaysia. Starting with the Walk for Justice, The Bersih Rally, The Hindraf Rally, The Human Rights Walk and now .... The Nurin Walk!

The above two paragraphs are extracted from quite a long letter published here.

While I wouldn't want to comment much on his rationalisation of the proposed walk, I do feel however (and judging from within the context of the Open Letter) that this latest plan is no more than another smear campaign on the Police as well as the government of Malaysia.

As this Open Letter made reference to the Nurin case, perhaps the authorities can quickly do something on at least the Autopsy pictures' case if not the abduction cum murder case itself. Otherwise, the Nurin case will always pop up over and over again even for events that has got not much relevance to it as clearly seen in this Open Letter which was circulated world wide.

Jasni AJ

Let's talk about something else

I posted the following article on my other new blog today :-

For those who have been visiting my other blog "In Memory of Nurin Jazlin" must have known by now how restless I'm getting with the slow pace of the so-called police investigations on first, the Nurin's Abduction and Murder Case, and second; the unlawful distribution of Nurin's autopsy pictures.

While I can understand the Police's difficulty in wrapping up their investigation on the Abduction and Murder Part, I just can't simply understand what is taking the DPP's office more than a month to charge the so-called identified culprit who leaked and unlawfully distributed Nurin's autopsy pictures. (Why DPP? Well the Police have actually told the public that they have wrapped up the investigation on 3rd November 2007 and had submitted their investigation papers to the DPP's office accordingly since then, see here)

I was at Jazimin's place earlier this afternoon and he put on a CD being a compilation of news footage and pictures of Nurin for us to watch. I can sense that Jazimin too was getting pretty restless especially when he kept on asking what's next for him to do.

My, my, come on, why the silence on the autopsy case? Anyone care to explain?

So, in order not to let my mind too engrossed, too frustrated and just would not know what else to write, I've created this new blog.

This new blog would provide me the channel to talk on anything else that matters to me and my family members. I have actually invited all of them to be members to this blog and I really hope that we can turn this new blog as the family's blog, each one with their own stories to tell.

And talking about stories, stories other than Nurin's that is, perhaps I would just like to share my admiration today.

Interested to continue reading, well, you may just hop on here.

Jasni AJ

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Lack of security at shopping mall


SHOPPING malls can play their part to curb kidnap cases with their high level of security.

However, there are some which are neglecting this duty.

Recently, when my mother and I were at a shopping mall, we came across a little girl not more than the age of five, crying and looking for her father.

My mother and I went to offer our help.

Being strangers, we dared not go far but stayed at that spot and tried looking for a security guard in the hope that he would take the girl to the service counter to make an announcement that she was lost.

Subsequently, we saw a security guard and approached him. My mother told him about the girl and asked him to take her to the service counter.

Both of us got very angry when he told us to take her there ourselves.

Fortunately the girl's father returned after a while.

Is this what security guards in shopping malls are for?

What if my mother and I are kidnappers?

Wouldn’t it be easy for us to kidnap that little girl under such a situation?

Security levels like this are really unforgivable as it could lead to a tragedy similar to the Nurin case. (The body of eight-year-old Nurin Jazlin Jazimin, who had been sexually assaulted and murdered, was found in a bag abandoned at a shop.)

I would also like to comment on the public’s behaviour.

I was very shocked to see that people just looked at the little girl and did not offer a helping hand.

A worker at a nearby shop just watched the “drama.”

I urge the authorities to take immediate action to improve the security level in public places.

A concerned society will help prevent unwanted incidents.

KYLE THAM CHOON YVIN,
Rawang, Selangor.

- Published in The Star on 4th December 2007

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Baca naskhah Maskara bela nasib wanita


Barangkali kemanusiaan

telah lama mati

dikerkah gigi-gigi

nafsu yang meruncing

lalu akal dicampak ke jurang

hitam yang paling dalam

kesantunan di sepak

kaki-kaki kebejatan

terlambung entah ke mana

kehormatan sudah tiada

nilainya walau mata

menagih belas berkaca sayu

Izrail pun bersayap di sebelah sini

menjemput banyak lagi mangsa

kerana setiap detik

bakal ada lagi Nurin dan Nurul Huda

dan di hujung sana

para syaitan gegak gempita

bersorak gembira...


DEMIKIAN petikan daripada puisi Gadis Esok karya Zaifulnizam Wagiran yang dideklamasi pada Malam Baca Naskhah Sindiket Soljah dan Kawan-Kawan Yang Kita Suka (Maskara) di Rumah Pena, Kuala Lumpur, baru-baru ini.

Malam baca naskhah tersebut khusus mengutarakan karya-karya yang bertemakan wanita, persoalan kekerasan, hak-hak asasi golongan itu dan sebagainya.

Dalam erti kata lain, naskhah tersebut cuba menyingkap pelbagai isu di sekitar dunia wanita yang berhadapan dengan pelbagai kekerasan dan sesuatu yang tidak wajar.

Pada majlis tersebut, turut membaca naskhah dan karya ialah Farhana Husain yang membaca cerpen Mahkota di atas Jendela, manakala Ummu Hani Abu Hassan menyelami sedutan novelnya, Ladang Hati Mustika.

Pada majlis tersebut, novelis Salina Ibrahim membaca sedutan daripada cerpennya, Tanah Kampung Kami yang tersiar dalam Dewan Sastera pada Februari tahun lalu.

Jurufoto dan blogger, Salina pula membaca naskhah cerpen Adil dan Arial, manakala Nur Safiah Abd. Raub, Nor Diyana Hassan dan Halimatun Saadiah pula membaca puisi dalam bahasa isyarat.

Pembaca naskhah lain ialah Nida, Amyz, Cik Daun dan penulis serta pensyarah, Bernice Chauly manakala pengacara majlis ialah Azie Azah dari sahabat KL.fm.

- Utusan Malaysia

Friday, December 14, 2007

A Message & A Question from Preeshena's Mom


While I can't really verify the authenticity of her identity but assuming that the person is indeed Preeshena's mother, you may wish to note that "Prisi mother" had posted the following message at my earlier entry here.

prisi mother said...
help me to find her killer... please for us the keadilan tuhan akan berikan kepada pembunuh itu..

kami plan to sue the management sebab tak responsible dlm keselamatan condo..

apa pendapat anda.. bolehkah kami teruskan?


There you go, a hope and a question. Please let her know what you think she should do.

I'm also going to start a poll so that you can help her decide easier. Please feel free to participate.

Jasni AJ

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Getting Institutionalised

While waiting for the government agencies to get their acts together in incorporating an Alert mechanism into the Child Protection Policy as agreed upon by the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, the CFNA Exco in their meeting held last night had decided to take another step forward in pushing the initiative through.

This time around, it had been decided that the loose grouping of concerned citizens calling themselves as the CITIZENS FOR NURIN ALERT would now be turned into members of a legalised entity, an entity that was to be registered with the Registrar of Societies.

It was felt that by getting the grouping institutionalised, more jobs can be done with little or less obstacles.

Other than getting the CFNA registered accordingly, top in the priority list of the CFNA Exco was the setting up of a Nurin Alert Centre, a Centre that would be run by CFNA to initially implement the Nurin Alert mechanism.

While more discussions with the relevant bodies and agencies which are directly or indirectly involved in the proposed mechanism will take place one after the other, efforts are on-going to get the infrastructure and other requirements of the Centre to be made ready and available.

The CFNA Exco will also see an enlargement in their number with the appointment of several other individuals whom I believe are all eagerly geared up to serve for this noble cause.

The CFNA has indeed reached the point of no return, it can only go forward and the way forward is though maybe far but bright, thanks to everyone whom we had got in touch with. So far we have not met anyone who had objected to this initiative, instead all of them had offered assistance of all sorts, from co-operation to guidance and to funding as well.

CFNA will be here to stay, staying to help each other in handling a crisis, the crisis of missing children.

No to more Nurin Jazlin, but yes to Nurin Alert.

Jasni AJ

p.s. The CFNA Exco had also made several other decisions in their meeting last night. These include the official logo for Nurin Alert, making the Nurin Alert website live as well as having a better communication channel between CFNA supporters and the CFNA Exco as well as among the CFNA supporters. On behalf of the CFNA Exco, I will keep you posted accordingly.

Monday, December 10, 2007

The blame game that serves no purpose




2007/12/09

By Abdul Malek Munip



Nurin Jazlin Jazimin (right) with sister Nurin Jazshira. Following Nurin Jazlin’s killing and that of other girls, it would be better to focus on solutions rather than pointing fingers for what went wrong.


LYING dormant within many tragic social phenomena are lessons necessary for their own reduction. Unfortunately, without the requisite wisdom and patience to glean the proper lessons, every tragedy has the potential to breed more tragedies. In this regard, the tragedy that befell eight-year-old Nurin Jazlin Jazimin more than two months ago is no different.

In the aftermath of the incident, there was an outpouring of rage, anguish and guilt. This collective bereavement understandably requires an outlet and manifested itself in our tendency to focus on recriminations rather than solutions. Our anger and guilt, it seems, compelled us to search for someone to blame, regardless of whether it was fair, useful or otherwise. After all, the need to blame may also have been motivated to assuage our sense of inadequacy.

Thus began the blame game for what happened to Nurin and the targets were first the police and other relevant agencies, and later the parents. The former was blamed for not treating the incident with the requisite respect and the latter, for being negligent. Under the circumstances, the need for recrimination is a very natural reaction.

It is almost innate.

Unfortunately, though blaming others is understandable, it is not very useful. To thwart complex social problems, we must first try to understand it. In this regard, blaming, unless it is part of the solution, simply doesn’t help. To my mind, within the context of finding solutions, it is more useful that they receive our support (morally and in terms of concrete suggestion), rather than our indignation.

Since Nurin, the crime statistics have added another child, Preeshena Varshiny, 9, to its growing list. And before Nurin, there was the tragedy of Ooi Ying Ying. Due to the extensive media coverage that they received, these are tragedies that we readily remember and know of. They are seared into our collective memory.

And yet, there could very well be others that have escaped our notice.

As such, it would be far more prudent to focus on solutions rather than recriminations. Blame will not prevent another Nurin or Preeshena from happening; only solutions will.

Fortunately, not all of us are contented to blame.

At both the level of private citizens and government, suggestions on how to create a safer environment for our children are being forwarded. The impending Child Protection Policy (CPP) that the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development is proposing appears, by all reports, comprehensive and realistic in its approach to child safety. The early signs are good: it doesn’t try to substitute the role of parents in bringing up their children but, rather, reinforces it.

By advocating the role played by parents, community and all children-related organisations (government institutions, schools, hospitals, NGOs) in creating a safe environment for children, it attempts to curb the problem of crimes against children, before it happens.

But it also makes recommendations on how to improve the problem of child abuse after it happens: the witness service programmes are to be made more child-friendly and the procedure of waiting 24 hours before lodging a police report for missing children and, subsequently, commencing investigations is reduced.

Furthermore, a database for perpetrators of child sexual abuse is also in the pipeline. And, according to a Berita Harian report, the CPP will incorporate the early warning and detection mechanism called the Nurin (Nationwide Urgent Response Information Network) Alert. The Nurin Alert was initiated by a group of concerned citizens and is modelled after the Amber Alert in the US.

What the CPP and Nurin Alert demonstrate is that efforts to find solutions can be done both ways: not only top down by government policies but also bottom up by private initiative. As such, they deserve not only our commendation but also our reciprocation.

Thus, without suggesting any inherent shortcoming in the CPP, is there anything more that we can do? Should we look at the issue of child safety in isolation or within the larger framework of reducing crime generally?

To my mind, one way of looking at it is to have the longer-term objective of creating an environment that is safe for all — man, woman and child. After all, if the environment is not safe for adults, including physically well-trained adult males such as our angkasawan candidate Mej Dr Faiz Khaleed, who was attacked outside his own house, then it is fair to assume that it is not safe for children.

This begs the question: In terms of personal safety, what threatens us? Answer: Crime, or rather criminals.

Thus, loosely speaking, we can envision a safe environment that is either protected from criminals (criminal-proof), or one where society’s supply of criminals is reduced or eliminated (criminal-free). The former assumes that criminal elements are a given and may be on the rise, while the latter assumes that it is not and can be reduced.

We have to protect ourselves in the here and now. But, in the long run, we have to create a safe environment, not by insulating ourselves from the underworld of society but, rather, by reducing its size.

In short, we must cut society’s supply line of criminals.

This will lead us to ask some fundamental questions: What is the root cause of crime and why is our society producing so many individuals who are willing to commit crime?

For a start, do we have a database recording the psychological profile and history of rapists in our country? If it does exist, how reliable is the quality of the facts and interpretations of them? Are reports on rape on the rise? And if they are, is it really because rape is happening more frequently or due to better reporting procedures?

To me, gleaning the proper lessons from such a database may help efforts to reduce and minimise the occurrence of rape. Preventing rape is, of course, the priority but, additionally, such a database may also serve to inform us better in designing more effective punishment. An effective punishment may also serve as an effective deterrent for potential rapists.

If such a database exists, maybe somebody could compile the common characteristics that such individuals have. It might indicate the general and particular factors that contribute to the rise of such individuals.

For instance, is it the social environment, break-up of the family unit, availability of porn (which was cited by serial killer Ted Bundy as contributing towards his sadistic nature) or the erosion of traditional sources of authority that leads to an increase in rape? Or could it be the fact that talking about sex so glibly nowadays has broken a taboo, a form of social control that previously had played a part in keeping it in check?

Perhaps it’s due to our changing values which can either take the form of useful traditional values that have been cast aside or the acquisition of new ones that have sinister repercussions that were not apparent at first glance? Or, maybe, an insidious combination of both?

Could it be possible that some people are simply born evil — giving weight to the infamous “criminal gene” theory? Of course, it is very reasonable to consider any rapist as emotionally and mentally ill, but why does the defect express itself in such a repugnant form? Thus, even if they are simply evil or mentally and emotionally defective, are such individuals increasing with the pace of development or decreasing? Perhaps, the intense pressure being exerted by the demands of modern life has triggered such a trait which, under more relaxed circumstances, may otherwise remain dormant?

Additionally, if there is an increase in rape cases absolutely and as a percentage, should we look at it in isolation? Or is it another symptom, albeit an extreme one along with the increase in crime and divorce rates, violence, corruption, etc, that the moral fabric of our society is tearing up? If it is true that the moral underpinning of our society is unravelling, then what does it say about the religious department’s attempts to inculcate religious values?

In more general terms, perhaps our model of development is flawed? Could it be possible that our development as it is currently interpreted and implemented dehumanises us?

If it does, is there an alternative model to adopt, one that strengthens our sense of community and brotherhood rather than undermining it?

The different reactions towards hardship and crisis of the people of Kobe and New Orleans do seem to suggest the importance of having the right model of development, including a proper sense of community and esprit de corps.

In 1995, after being crippled by an earthquake, instead of the looting and rampant crime that sometimes accompany such catastrophe, the people of Kobe were even more united in co-operating with each other to, firstly, deal with the disaster and, later, rebuilding their lives.

According to a 1997 paper by Kathleen Tierney and James D. Goltz titled “Emergency Response: Lessons Learned from the Kobe Earth-quake", the Kobe disaster produced a reaction that was “without precedence in Japanese history” whereby “most search and rescue was undertaken by community residents".

Yet, when New Orleans was hit by hurricane Katrina in 2005, all hell broke loose. Eddie Compass, the then New Orleans police chief was quotedby The Guardian as saying “We have individuals who are getting raped, we have individuals who are getting beaten".

Of course, in terms of ethnic composition, Kobe’s society is far less plural than New Orleans, but the violence and crime committed in New Orleans were not limited to individuals and groups from different races.

Thus, at a cursory glance, could it be that the model of development used in Malaysia has, inadvertently, been promoting too much market values, such as selfishness and predatory behaviour, rather than human ones, such as compassion and selflessness, and, inadvertently, started a process that stifled the development of altruistic tendencies?

To some, many of the questions I raise may seem unrelated to the incidence of rape. Maybe they are right. Maybe all the questions that I am asking are, indeed, sheer gibberish.

But, to my mind, nothing happens overnight or, as Alfred Marshall succinctly puts it: “Nature makes no sudden leaps". In short, every scenario, however extreme, comes into existence gradually and is usually the prolonged accumulation of small changes that appear unrelated.

The capacity to rape is an extremely evil act and if it is indeed occurring more often, then, in my opinion, this increasing trend must have its forerunner in more insignificant examples of moral unravelling.

Offhand, I do not have any statistics to back me up, but statistics are merely one reflection of the quality of our society while our concrete daily interactions with them are another.

On far too many occasions I have been witness to one form of social breakdown or another. I have seen snatch thieves in action, and I have lost count of how many times I have witnessed the wanton arrogance of Mat Rempit to intimidate and bully other road users and break the law.

For the last 15 years, divorce is no longer a rarity, and neither have stories of people under 30 getting married for the third time. In fact, instances where a mother is willing to leave her child and husband and press for divorce so she can marry somebody rich are also not unheard of (an extreme form of commercial joint-venture, so to speak).

On YouTube, judging by their school uniforms, there is even a clip showing Malaysian schoolgirls beating up one of their own. And all of us are familiar with the phenomena of buang bayi (abandoning babies).

All these examples, and many more, show that there exist too many individuals in our society who do not understand the meaning of responsibility and are devoid of compassion, mercy and love. When an individual does not have compassion and mercy, or its presence is below a minimal amount, then, in a sense, that person is emotionally retarded and defective.

There is a high possibility that these individuals are unable to differentiate between appetite and ambition, between lust and love, or between justice and revenge. Under the circumstances, he or she will be open to all kinds of evil temptations, from petty offences, like pickpocketing and vandalism, to more serious ones, like gangsterism, murder and rape.

As a Muslim, I am taught that all of us have the potential for greatness as befitting our preordained role as God’s vicegerent on Earth.

But potential is not the same as reality. In reality, men can be the most wretched of creatures as the murderers and rapists among us have shown time and again.

After all, our behaviour is determined not only by our minds but also by our emotions, both the good and the bad. If we use our minds in conjunction with the feelings of compassion, mercy and love, then we are indeed capable of great things as was proven by the lives of Gandhi, Mother Teresa and Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus.

On the other hand, if our intellect is used in the service of negative emotions such as anger or hate, then we are capable of being the most despicable of God’s creatures as was made evident by the Hitlers, the Stalins and the Ted Bundys.

It is good to remember that nobody is born with a full array of emotions, good or bad.

As such, parents play a fundamental role in nurturing not only individuals who are mentally able but also those who are emotionally balanced. When spoken in such terms it sounds so commonsensical and easy to achieve.

Yet, in actuality, the values that parents teach their young can and often do diverge from such axiomatic wisdom.

In reality, the values that parents promote will often be greatly influenced by not only their perception of what is required to be successful in life but also their conception of what constitutes success.

If they perceive that in order to be successful and respected one has to be greedy and self-centred, then they will promote such values to their children.

If they perceive that success in this life and the next requires living a virtuous life, then they will try to inculcate in their progeny values that correspond with such beliefs.

As such, though the task of inculcating moral values is primarily the responsibilities of parents, the government can facilitate the process by creating a social milieu that prods parents in the right direction.

If we can nip the chain reaction of moral unravelling in the bud (family), hopefully that, by itself, will have a positive affect in reducing the more extreme manifestations of social breakdown (of which rape, child abuse and other serious crimes are examples).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Datuk Abdul Malek Munip is attached to the Department of Special Functions (Jasa), Ministry of Information. He is a former member of parliament

- New Straits Times

Sunday, December 9, 2007

The Nurin Alert


8th December, 2007

Due to human nature, we’ll never agree on a lot of issues. Society is such. Opinions are constantly aplenty and will always differ, from the profound to the superficial.

But one thing that brings about a level of unison across a broad spectrum of any community is the dismay at the sharp increase of child murders. However the pathos for anger at this appalling fact is totally valid. This year alone saw precedents being set for crimes against children so violent they were beyond comprehension.

On September 17th, the naked body of 8-year-old Nurin Jazlin was found stuffed in a sports bag at a shop lot in Petaling Jaya, 28 days after she went missing. She was believed to have been snatched while on her way to the night market near her home. A victim of horrendous sexual and physical abuse, Nurin died of an infection due to a ruptured intestine.

On November 4th, 9-year-old Preeshena Varshiny was beaten, raped, sodomized and thrown from the balcony of a high rise apartment block to her death in Kuala Lumpur. She was believed to have been attacked while she was home alone.

When it was confirmed that the tiny, broken body in the bag was indeed Nurin the country grieved. Less than two months after Nurin’s body was found, Preeshena was killed. There was an extremely high level of outrage and anger as Malaysians worried about the safety of their children. Two deaths in such an uncomfortably short timespan made for a lot of questions.

Given these inhumane abominations that have been happening of late, people have had a lot to say. Bloggers in particular have been extremely vocal in their opinions. They raised the alarm and put up alerts when 12-year-old Chin Kha Mun went missing by posting her photograph and details on their blogs, urging readers to help find her and asking for information if anyone had seen her. In a sad turn of events, Kha Mun’s body was found floating in a river 4 days later. The cause of death was due to drowning.

More than a few bloggers also openly stated that they cried when they found out about Preeshena’s violent and senseless end. Those like Marina Mahathir, Ahirudin Attan and Jeff Ooi, just to name a few, used their high readership to highlight these issues with their readers for the greater good. Needless to say there was a strong outpouring of emotion evident in nearly all the comments left on their blogs by readers. People wanted discourse. It was time to ask what was being done to prevent these things from happening .

When Nurin disappeared on August 20th, Jasni Abdul Jalil, Nurin’s paternal uncle, started a blog called “In Search Of Nurin Jazlin”. Its original aim was to reach out to a larger base of people informing them about the current situation at the time. The blog is now named “In Memory of Nurin Jazlin”.

Jasni, a company secretary with a Kuala Lumpur based legal firm, decided to change the focus of the blog to promote the introduction of NURIN Alert, an effort pioneered by a group of bloggers calling themselves the Citizens for NURIN Alert (CFNA). Jasni himself is the Deputy Chairman of the group. NURIN, or Nationwide Urgent Response Information Network, aims to broadcast information on missing children out in the shortest amount of time possible, to facilitate awareness amongst the general public.

“NURIN Alert is an idea tailored from the successful implementation of AMBER Alert in the USA. Similar programs are also carried out in the UK and Australia. It is a defined mechanism in handling cases of missing children,” states Jasni.

“It is a centre where information on missing children is disseminated to the public via mass media channels like television, radio, internet, billboards and so on. NURIN Alert would be the reference point for any matters relating to the progress of finding missing children. Conceptually, NURIN Alert is to be operated by the authorities, i.e. the police as the main coordinators. No one should be allowed to issue the NURIN Alert unless authorized to do so and this has to be in accordance to a set criteria and operating procedures.

NURIN Alert is designed to assist search and rescue efforts by getting the public involved in helping the authorities. It is also designed to highlight these cases so that the public is aware.

Parents of missing children will no longer have to approach the media themselves as it will be co-ordinated by the NURIN Alert Centre. This would certainly be helpful to all parents, especially those located in rural and remote locations where access to media channels are either limited or non-existent. The blog “In Memory of Nurin Jazlin”, initially known as “In Search of Nurin Jazlin” was set up a couple of days after Nurin Jazlin went missing. The idea of setting up the blog was to disseminate information on the missing child to a greater span of the public through internet surfers.

Along the way, the blog was utilized to compile news reports in order for the public to keep abreast with the incident. The blog was also used to convey messages directly from the victim’s family.

The first such message was on what had actually transpired on the day the DNA results of the child was made public without the parents having prior knowledge of it. This blog entry was then referred to by most media to correct the false perception that had been created by them.

While the blog continues its function to report information and progresses on Nurin’s tragedy, it has also found a new role upon the inception of the NURIN Alert initiative. The blog promotes and seeks public support for the introduction of NURIN Alert. The feedback it receives so far for NURIN Alert is a great success. Hundreds of internet surfers registered themselves as supporters of the initiative and making themselves available for any voluntary services that might be required to see the project through.

The primary media even started quoting entries from the blog when making their own reports on the NURIN Alert initiative. Other bloggers joined the bandwagon by publicly stating their support for the cause and started to link the blog to theirs. NURIN Alert is perhaps the most widely discussed topic in the Malaysian blogsphere after issues relating to political matters.”

When asked about his thoughts on what the authorities are doing to improve this situation, Jasni stated “The government, i.e. the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development is very receptive of this initiative. After meeting the Minister concerned, the Social Welfare Department was assigned to incorporate the NURIN Alert mechanism into the currently drafted “Child Protection Policy”.

The Child Protection Policy Committee consisting of various relevant bodies, including the police would be tasked to co-ordinate the incorporation of NURIN Alert. Representatives from the CFNA has been invited to work along with the Child Protection Policy Committee in addressing the technical and co-ordination direction.”

The blog gets some very strong support from all walks of life around the country and beyond, and Jasni confirmed this. “The blog has been receiving various and numerous comments from parents. Concerns ranging from the fateful tragedy, the progress of the police investigations on the murder and the unauthorized distribution of the autopsy pictures as well NURIN Alert itself were duly registered and widely discussed.”

America has Megan’s Law, otherwise known as The Sexual Offenders Act, which makes it mandatory for authorities to inform the public if a registered sex offender lives in the vicinity. They also have AMBER Alert. AMBER or “America’s Missing: Broadcasting Emergency Response” kicks in when a child goes missing in the United States or Canada and as many details as possible are posted by the media.

Radio, television, the internet and SMS texts are some of the avenues utilized in getting information about the missing child out to as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time. AMBER Alert is named after Amber Hagerman who was abducted and murdered in Texas in 1996.

As a highly concerned citizen and someone who realizes that the innocence of simple days are long gone, I will readily admit to being shocked and appalled. A growing number of children in Malaysia are being abused violently on a daily basis. I personally believe that the longer indifference and apathy are prevalent, we will see more incidents of this nature. Apathy towards a crime, reasoning that these things happen and that there may be nothing one can do about it, should be treated as a felony in itself.

Remember other innocents who were preyed upon. 20 years ago, 8-year-old Ang May Hong was found dead, violated with a piece of wood embedded with nails that eventually punctured her intestines, stomach and heart. In 1999, 17-year-old Audrey Melissa Bathinathan was raped and murdered in an underpass on her way home from school.

6-year-old Nushuhada Burak was raped and murdered in 2000. Her body was found on top of a water tank in a residential area. 2004 saw the deaths of Harirawati Saridi here in Sabah and Nurul Huda Abdul Ghani in Johor. Both were 10 years old and both had been raped and murdered within 2 weeks of each other. Out of all the children listed in this article, Nurul Huda was the only victim who’s killer was apprehended. Please do not allow these victims to simply become statistics. Let us ensure that their deaths were not in vain. Visit www.nurinjazlin.blogspot.com

- New Sabah Times

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Of Talking Crimes and Morphing Mechanism

While it is usual to see a packed auditorium for arts performances and their likes, for as long as I can remember it is not really normal to see the same size of audience for a forum event.

But last night was something else and indeed an extra-ordinary night. UIAM's main auditorium was packed to the brim, and the audience were there to follow a forum on usually considered dull subject like "Kita Semakin Kejam. Kenapa?". "Kita Semakin Kejam. Kenapa" is the name of the forum jointly organised by Mastika and NTV7.

The event was officiated by the Deputy IGP,Datuk Ismail Omar who was very amazed with the turn-out. He had even remarked that he hoped that the large turn-out would not be interpreted as the society's restlessness of a perceived dangerous surroundings.

In his opening speech, he acknowledged the fact that crime rates are on the increase. However, he emphasised that the increase is not confined only to Malaysia but rather it is a global phenomenon. He attributed the trend to the ever increasing population. He analogised that human beings are just like seeds, where there is bound to be a barren seed in every ten or so. Applied to humans, the criminal-minded persons minds are the barren seeds.

Malaysia, according the Deputy IGP is still relatively safer than most other countries, whether those around us or those located some distant away. There are countries where snatch theft happens once in every minute and a rape case happening at every couple of minutes.

Also and unlike some other countries, people in Malaysia can still safely roam about anywhere and anytime without having to have fears for their safety.

However, eventhough the country is relatively safer than others, in view of the increasing crime rate, the public would have to be a little bit more diligent in ensuring that they do not provide opportunities for crime to occur.

This according to him, would be made possible by having the public rendering more co-operation and adopting a "work together approach" with the Police.

While the Police Force will be beefed up both in numbers as well as facilities, the public participation as members to Voluntary Police Force is also on the chart which will be introduced very soon.

He also invited the mostly students of UIAM audience to join the police force upon their graduation. According to him, as the crimes are getting sophisticated by the days, the force would need to have sophisticated and multiple disciplined personnel as well.

On the forum itself, participating as panelists were Dato’ Zaman Khan, the former CID Director; Asst. Prof. Dr. Noor Azlan Md Noor of UIAM and Jazimin Abdul Jalil, each of whom participating on distinct and different perspectives. Dato' Zaman Khan as a former law enforcer and was involved in crime investigations, Dr. Noor Azlan as an academician and Jazimin as a parent to a child who had fallen victim to a heinous crime.

While the audience were generally attentive to the whole event, there were pin drop silence whenever it was Jazimin's turn to respond to a question. I guess everyone in the Auditorium were really eager to hear direct from Jazimin himself on issues posed to him. And the issues posed to him were not easy to answer issues.

He was asked on his feelings over the tragedy, his satisfaction on the on-going police investigations, the "revenge-linked" insinuations, negligence of the parents, the public support and lastly his hopes.

Though Jazimin was no orator, he responded every questions rather coolly, carefully and thoughtfully. And for this, he received thunderous applause for each and every comments he made.

As for the professionals, i.e Dato' Zaman and Prof. Noor Azlan, as expected out of them, eloquently conveyed and shared their respective experience and insights with the audience. To reciprocate, the audience too posed a few questions which were exclusively and confidently taken by the professionals.

While I don't see any resolution of this forum, the forum had at least managed to grab the attention of the mostly undergraduates audience to participate in issues relating to safety.

Jazimin took that opportunity to promote Nurin Alert when he asked everyone in the auditorium to render their support to the initiative towards the hope that would be no other child enduring the tragic sufferings as Nurin has had.

On the sideline, the CFNA Exco Members who were there supporting the event took opportunity to approach the Deputy IGP briefing him on the progress of the Nurin Alert initiative and sought an open channel with the Police in moving forward.

Pledging his support on the initiative, he assured CFNA that the would welcome any ideas that would benefit the public at large. The Police support on the implementation of SJ Alert by the Subang Jaya community was cited as an example.

It is again another milestone for CFNA. While the idea on Nurin Alert Centre is slowly taking shape, a working contact with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development established, the new contact with the Police would be key in ensuring Nurin Alert to go live soon.

Jasni AJ

For another version of the event, please visit Tembam's weblog here

Thursday, December 6, 2007

FORUM: “KITA SEMAKIN KEJAM. KENAPA?”



CENSERVE Team under the Community Service Unit, Student Development Division of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in collaboration with MASTIKA and NTV7 is organising a forum entitled ‘Kita Semakin Kejam. Kenapa?” as detailed below:

Date/Day : 7 December 2007 (Friday)

Time : 8.00 p.m. – 11.00 p.m.

Venue : Main Hall, CAC, IIUM

Panelists : Ybhg Dato’ Zaman Khan
(Former CID Director)

Mr. Jazimin Abdul Jalil
(Late Nurin’s father)

Asst. Prof. Dr. Noor Azlan Md Noor
(IIUM)


Moderator : Mdm. Roziyatun Jamaluddin (IIUM)

The objective of the forum is to create awareness on crimes that occur in the country.

ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS ARE INVITED
#####################################################################################

The above notification is extracted from IIUM's website and I was told that this event is also opened to the public.

What's interesting is this event would be Jazimin's first appearance as a panelist in a Public Forum. As his brother I do admire his willingness to participate in such an event despite his lack of experience. I do hope that he would be able to put his message across and make the audience to really appreciate what they have and hence support any effort to create a safer environment for their and our children. And this support should also include the Nurin Alert initiative.

Talking about the Nurin Alert initiative, the CFNA had also conducted its first face-to-face public talk on the subject matter about 2 weeks ago. Courtesy of Ummiku Sayang, CFNA was given a platform to address the public directly by slotting a "complimentary" session for Nurin Alert. "Complimentary" session? What's that? Well, while the participants attending the whole event which is on SCHOOL : IS YOUR CHILD READY FOR IT would have to pay a very nominal seminar fee, the session on NURIN ALERT was opened to the public for free.

The first such programme was conducted quite successfully as judging from the attentiveness of the audience, I would think all of them had "enjoyed" following the session. Though the subject matter is not something to be "enjoyed", but the "enjoyment" I am referring too is the satisfaction of the participants spending their weekend time to learn more about Nurin Alert, understand it and hence therefore exactly knowing how they can contribute in making this initiative a reality.

The session which was originally allotted with only 20 minutes, went on for almost an hour, eating into their lunch break. Nobody complained, instead with their active participation, it gave us more encouragement to see the project through.

A crew from TV3 was also there covering the event. However, I am not sure whether the footings were ever aired.

I do hope that CFNA would be given more opportunities to reach out and for what have been done by Ummiku Sayang, I say thank you.

Jasni AJ

p.s. The poster above is therefore not a mistake, in contrary, it is intentional. I hope more such posters will be around until we get the initiative launched.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Of hypnotic and mystical help

Unicorn gave me an idea on what to write today. In her comment on my earlier posting on "Moving On", she said, "...and kalau pakai hypnosis atau ulamak/pakar traditional cari org hilang pasti nurin dpt diselamatkan. sebab nurin dlm 3 days tu masih kuat,auranya dpt dirasa lagi ...".

Well, other than the almost daily prayers conducted individually as well as in congregation with other concerned relatives, friends and neighbours, we have had our fair share of experience with the various techniques and methodologies of the hypnotic and mystical practices throughout the 28 days period.

Before I proceed with the article, I wish to make it clear that this article is written just to solely share our so-called experience with you. This article is definitely not intended to belittle any of the practitioners at all. In fact we are very indebted and grateful to all of them, as most of them were sincere in extending their services to us and most of them had actually volunteered for the services without asking for even a sen. In fact, a vast majority of them came over to offer their services instead of us seeking for theirs.

One the first day when Nurin went missing, Jazimin was recommended by someone to check with a practitioner whom according to some had actually succeeded in locating missing persons.

Taking that recommendation, he met up with the practitioner and upon doing his "readings", he gave us indications on the whereabouts of the child.

He described the place as "in between Wangsa Maju and Setapak Jaya", "look like a multiple storey building", " a green mosque nearby", "a number of Chinese mini temples" and "flickering lights here and there".

Based on these descriptions, we went around to look for such a location that matches with the descriptions. Believe it or not, there was this particular location that have all these descriptions at its surrounding.

Failed to get the police assistance to conduct a search party, we spend the whole night long and until the next day surveilling the place, looking out for any signs of the child being there.

The next day, we managed to get the neighbourhood's Rukun Tetangga people to help us search the residential units, but since it was a civilian search, we could only asked if any of them saw the missing child.

As no actual search party was ever conducted at that place, we never know whether the child was indeed kept there.

A few days later, another practitioner gave us another indication of another location. This time, it was at the Wangsa Keramat area. The surrounding area was described in great detail (except for the exact house) where the child was presumably kept. Again, we conducted our own search party. But by this time, the Police were kind enough to track the area as well, but obviously we were unsuccessful.

There was also another tip from another practitioner, this time saying that the child was on her way to Hutan Melintang, heading for a jetty to cross into the neighbouring country. The practitioner had even gave us the 4 digits of the van presumably used by the captor(s). Jazimin and his friend immediately rushed for Hutan Melintang, but again with no success.

These are some of the earlier tips that were conveyed to us by the different practitioners, each one with different sightings and stories. Though confusing at times, we were not too disturbed as our main concern was to find the missing child without ruling out any "tips" at all.

There was also this another practitioner (who is a Silat Master)who had actually gave explicit and horrifying details of the child's abduction. Now knowing the outcome of the tragedy, I would think that from among all the practitioners whom we got into contact with, he is perhaps the only person who had actually got it right from the very start, i.e. Nurin was in great danger.

However, the "negative" reading was never conveyed to Jazimin as just like anyone else we were never sure of anything.

Days later we came into contact with Dr. Sazali, the remote sensing expert. He did the hypnosis or remote sensing method, a report of which is published in the latest issue of Mastika. For the record, Dr. Sazali never told us of his findings until much later. However, unlike the other practitioners, Dr. Sazali conducted his own search party with the help of the police. One of his search party was reported in Harian Metro.

As days passes by, more and more "tips" were conveyed, ranging from the child being abducted by the unseen spirits (bunian) to kidnapped by child trafficking syndicate etc. etc.

What am I driving at? Hmmm, I don't know actually. Perhaps, what I'm trying to say here is, yes there are people out there who have this special gift, but I guess we would simply would not know which one of them are really and genuinely able to do so. As far as we're concerned, I would think the Silat Master and probably Dr. Sazali were more accurate than others.

The Silat Master uses purely quranic verses in his readings while Dr. Sazali uses an international approach blended with some quranic verses as well.

In the final analysis, I guess we were just simply unfortunate that though we had tried, none of the "services" sought and received in the pursuit of finding Nurin failed to produce the results we were hoping for.

Wallahualam.

Jasni AJ

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Moving On



Pic : Some of the people attending the "Majlis Doa Selamat".

I was at Jazimin's new place yesterday attending a "Majlis Doa Selamat" in conjunction with their move there.

Things have surely brought new hopes to the tragic stricken family as not only they are now resuming their lives with a new home as their new base, the head of family i.e. Jazimin would also be charting a new lease of his career life when he takes up a new job come Monday.

I guess this bright future for the family could probably be the Almighty's way of allowing the family to move on with their lives, not only to be back to normalcy but on a better footing and platform.

Life is certainly taking a new leaf and I could see the grit and determination of the family to really move on to be just like any other families.

Nurin has certainly made an impact on the lives of everyone around her, not only during her lifetime but more so upon her demise from this cruel world.

Her impact is destined to be felt by other Malaysians as well when her legacy would be permanently carved in our lives via this Nurin Alert initiative that we're currently working on. Whether the Alert System will actually be bearing her name or not upon its adoption, that is not really important. What's important and what need to be remembered is the basic reason on why we need such Alert mechanism. And the answer to that is just simply that we do not want any other child to endure what Nurin had to endure during her last 28 days of her life.

Thank you Nurin for showing us the way, the way to save the lives of the innocents.

Jasni AJ