Url?sr=1&ct2=en_my/1_0_s_0_1_a&sa=t&usg=AFQjCNE7XpkpTar3NTBfAxLji7R_Deb8Fg&cid=52778787773148&url= PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is preparing offshore military bases in the Sulu Sea to prepare for an influx of “hundreds of thousands” of displaced southern Filipinos if peace talks between the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) break down.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the bases are expected to be fully operational in Sabah waters by next month. He said security forces were also preparing for the possibility of displaced people from southern Philippines entering the country to escape war. “If the peace process can’t go through in June then it means war. Twelve years of talks and because of one incident, they will have war,” Hishammuddin said, referring to the January gun battle in Mamasapano Town that killed 44 Philippine security forces and 20 MILF personnel. “If we have a wall of offshore bases, we may have a chance to stop the exodus of people,” he told reporters yesterday. Hishammuddin said Sabah was a major concern for the ministry. Malaysian envoy in NZ sex case possibly extradited next week, report says. Earlier this month, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein claimed that the extradition of Muhammad Rizalman Ismail was awaiting a response from Wellington, amid calls from the island country to expedite the process. — file picture KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 — The Malaysian junior diplomat accused of sexually assaulting a New Zealand citizen may be sent back to Wellington as soon as next week, a local daily reported.
In a brief article on its website today, The New Zealand Herald noted, however, that official sources would neither confirm nor deny the news. According to the police, the extradition process is ongoing, the daily wrote. Earlier this month, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein claimed that the extradition of Muhammad Rizalman Ismail was awaiting a response from Wellington, amid calls from the island country to expedite the process. Key previously expressed hope that Putrajaya will hasten the junior diplomat’s return to face trial there. Malaysia 'making arrangements' to send back diplomat. Malaysia said Tuesday it was "making arrangements" to send a diplomatic staffer back to New Zealand to face sexual assault charges in a case that provoked outrage when the accused was allowed to return home.
Muhammad Rizalman Ismail appeared in a New Zealand court on May 10, accused of stalking a 21-year-old woman the previous night and attacking her at her home in the same Wellington suburb where Malaysia's High Commission is located. Police charged the defence staff assistant with burglary and assault with intent to commit rape - both offences carry jail terms of up to 10 years - but he escaped prosecution after invoking diplomatic immunity and returning to Malaysia. Malaysia, Brunei ink historic megabuck deals. Dzirhan Mahadzir (DzirhanDefence) sur Twitter - Pale Moon... Sabah Umno Wants <i>Sultan Of Sulu</i> Expelled. Malaysia warns Iran after cutting off gasoline supplies. WASHINGTON - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak confirmed that his country has cut off gasoline supplies to Iran , warning Tehran it was close to facing new international sanctions over its controversial nuclear program.
Najib's announcement on Thursday came three days after he held talks with US President Barack Obama, who had called for the world to move "boldly and quickly" on additional sanctions on the sidelines of a 47-nation nuclear security summit. "It's going to be quite inevitable that additional sanctions will be imposed in the near future unless there is some movement in the right direction by Iran," Najib, on a US visit, told reporters in Washington. "The onus is on Iran now to react expeditiously to prevent additional sanctions. " The 15- member Security Council , including China, has already imposed three sets of sanctions on Iran over its refusal to halt sensitive uranium enrichment and is considering the prospect of a fourth round of UN sanctions. RP sends help to detained Malaysians in Israeli raid. Malaysia deports Saudi journalist accused of insulting prophet. Malaysia has deported a Saudi journalist accused of insulting the prophet Muhammad on Twitter, despite claims by rights groups that he could face the death penalty in Saudi Arabia.
Hamza Kashgari, 23, a newspaper columnist, tweeted doubts about Muhammad on the prophet's birthday last weekend. After death threats, he fled to Malaysia on Tuesday and was detained at Kuala Lumpur airport while trying to leave on Thursday. Malaysian police said Kashgari was handed over to Saudi officials and flown back on Sunday morning, with flight arrangements handled by the Saudi authorities.
Malaysia and Saudi Arabia do not share a formal extradition treaty, but do have close ties as fellow Muslim countries. The Malaysian interior minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, said in a statement that Kashgari's deportation was due to a common agreement. Kashgari had tweeted about Muhammad last week: "I have loved things about you and I have hated things about you, and there is a lot I don't understand about you. Philippines - Malaysia relations.