Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Rahim Noor should crawl back into the woodwork
- The shameful truth about Burmese refugees in Malaysia
- Foreign Policy: The Larger Division Among The Pakatan
- Our school children as sacrificial lambs
| Rahim Noor should crawl back into the woodwork Posted: 31 Oct 2011 09:35 PM PDT A man who infamously trampled upon the rights of others has no right to speak on human rights. He is the least qualified to speak on this subject. Yet, the former Inspector–General of Police, Abdul Rahim Mohd Noor, emerging as it were from the dead, expressed some startling views on human rights. He is quoted as having said that the coming of a "human rights wave" would threaten the principles on which this country was founded. In what way would the "human rights wave" threaten the principles on which this country was founded? The principles on which this country was founded is embodied in the Federal Constitution, which was agreed upon mutually by all the communities that aspired for a free and independent Malaya. The Federal Constitution specifically guarantees the human rights of all the citizens. Indeed, it protects the rights of all Malaysians. If these rights were not guaranteed and protected, there would be no Federal Constitution to begin with and we wouldn't have attained our independence on 31 August 1957. The human rights wave, reflected in the Bersih 2.0 'Walk for Democracy' that demanded clean and fair elections, cannot by any stretch of the imagination be termed as a "communist wave". It is a democratic wave giving expression to the innate desire of the human spirit to be free and treated fairly and with justice. The present wave – demanding accountability, transparency, good governance, rule of law, the right to information, the right to assemble peacefully, the right to publish and disseminate views – represents the universal rights that are upheld by the United Nations, As Malaysia is a member of the UN Human Rights Council, we are duty-bound to respect and protect these universal values.
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| The shameful truth about Burmese refugees in Malaysia Posted: 31 Oct 2011 06:51 PM PDT
Malaysia has not ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention nor the 1967 Protocol. Under the Malaysian Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155), refugees and asylum seekers are designated as "illegal migrants" and may be subject to arrest, detention, punishment (including whipping), and deportation. Historically, the focus has been on reducing the number of irregular persons through large-scale (and often violent) 'crackdowns,' where the aim is to arrest, detain and deport undocumented migrants and refugees. Arrested refugees are often unable to understand the charges read to them and secure appropriate legal assistance.
Life for refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia is extremely difficult. Unable to work legally in the country, and with limited access to basic services (health care, education or legal services), they are vulnerable to poverty, exploitation and health problems. Refugees and asylum seekers scrape by on earnings from work in low paying, unskilled and often part-time/casual jobs in the plantation, construction, manufacturing, or service sectors. Even amongst those who are employed, poverty and indebtedness are endemic. Many earn far less than the government-determined poverty-line income (PLI) of RM800 per household per month.
Refugees' and asylum seekers' dire living circumstances, coupled with aggressive, punitive approaches by the state as well as everyday experiences of discrimination by non-state actors, creates an extremely poor environment for refugees in Malaysia. Furthermore, these adverse life events, combined with the persecution they faced in Burma, increase their vulnerability to a number of health problems, including infectious diseases, psychological problems and under-management of chronic conditions. Refugee Health Mental health problems among refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia are a serious concern. Health Equity Initiatives' (HEI) analysis of the scores of 578 refugees and asylum seekers who were screened in April and May 2011 using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales 21 (DASS21) indicated that 19.9% experienced either moderate, severe or extremely severe Stress. Almost half (48%) experienced either moderate, severe or extremely severe Anxiety, and 38% experienced either moderate, severe or extremely severe Depression. An earlier analysis of HEI's mental health clients showed that 22% presented with symptoms that required psychiatric care. A separate study conducted by HEI revealed that, among those with a high level of need for psychosocial services, 77.1% reported they could not afford the services.
In principle, government hospitals in Malaysia are open and available to refugees and asylum seekers, but evidence collected by HEI shows that refugees and asylum seekers experience substantial barriers accessing health care in Malaysia.
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| Foreign Policy: The Larger Division Among The Pakatan Posted: 31 Oct 2011 05:51 PM PDT The exception in the Party Keadilaan Rakyat (PKR) of Anwar Ibrahim, the opposition leader of Malaysia, is that its supremo is known to be pro-Turkey. Being pro-Turkey means a pro-U.S. stance on many issues. The absence of a strong foreign policy direction within the PR is a sign of an impending crisis between the three party alliance. With the cacophony reigning withing the PR on its foreign policy, it is clear though the grouping is bound to profess a pro-U.S. line of conduct. The division within the PR resolves altogether about a core foreign policy that has yet to be devised. The PAS has demonstrated against the U.S. for its attacks against Muslim nations. it has also showed its opposition to Israel's violence against Palestinians and the Gaza Flotilla. It condemned the murder of Osama Bin Laden on a 'humanitarian' basis, refusing to take position against the U.S. 'terror' policies. It also failed to take concrete position on the Libya war though it did lambast the U.S. and the West on Iran. On the Libya war, most of the opposition parties were rather compliant to Nato's actions. The PAS is however totally blank about China, Australia, Japan and issues that affects the region directly. The main issues here are the Malacca Straits, the Spratly crisis and the American attempts at controlling the South China seas. For the PAS, these are subject that should not be taken into consideration by its 'Dewan' or assembly. It refuses to comment on the Myanmar situation though in private, it assists the Myanmar refugees. But it does not have any idea what to do with Myanmar's rogue military junta and would probably support an ousting of this regime! The PKR participated alongside the PAS in some street demonstrations about the Gaza Flotilla. This does not demonstrate the Party's foreign policy as it does not really have one. Nevertheless, it is clear that the PKR is not anti-U.S. or anti-West. Does that mean it is lenient and even collaborative with the Western powers? Its close relations with Turkey is the answer. Turkey is a full fledge Nato member state hence the PKR was never against Nato's attack on Libya. This is an indication of some of the PKR's foreign policy decisions it may take as a regime. The other major question is whether the PKR is pro-U.S.? This can be stated due to Anwar Ibrahim's relations with the Americans and the Turks. His opponents have accused him of being a U.S. 'lackey' but this may simply not be true. Altogether, the PKR is not against the Turks role in the Syria crisis and its bombarding Iraqi Kurds. One wonders whether the PKR will impose a foreign policy that leans towards the West. The tendency within the PKR is pro-U.S. The only thing that may differ between PKR leaders is that some of them are not in favor of any militarization of the South East Asian region. But this altogether does not mean the PKR has a foreign policy statement that is worth its weight. As for the Democratic Action Party (DAP), its close ties with China in particular does not make it a 'leftist' group. Lim Guan Eng, the Chief Minister of Penang, has very close ties with Hong-Kong (hence with China). China is investing 'billions' in construction projects in Penang. This has upset the United Malays National Organization (UMNO). The DAP has ties with Thailand and Singapore and is supported by pro-Capitalist Malaysian Chinese citizens. The DAP profess a rather 'socialist' approach - with welfare state policies - and calls for a redistribution of wealth in Malaysia. This altogether does not turn the DAP into an anti-U.S. or anti-West force in the country. The DAP does not have a clear cut foreign policy stance as this party's politics is engrossed with national issues. One its leaders, Karpal Singh, is more immersed in 'anti-Islam' diatribes rather than be concerned with the future of the nation! Fan Yew Teng was the only person who had an idea what foreign policy was about. Unfortunately, he passed away this year. As a matter of fact, the entire region should be concerned by the PR's lack of 'foreign Affairs skills'. it is true to state that the PR would easily align itself with the ASEAN and its policies. This is not indicative of an intelligent foreign policy line for an opposition group bound to form a future regime. Would the DAP voice its opposition and threaten to leave a PR regime if the PAS forces the government to ally with Iran or Saudi Arabia? Will the PKR reject PAS's close relationship with Iran for example? Or will the PAS slam the tables if the DAP proposes closer ties with China, Thailand? The PR's entire foreign policy or lack of it will throw the country in dissarray. On the other hand, the PR offers no real solution to the immediate problems affecting the region. Most of the leaders of the PKR, PAS and DAP have little experience when it comes to 'foreign affairs'. This is a major setback for the PR. Once in power, such a setback will reveal itself and it will be damning for the nation altogether. Nonetheless, the fact that most of the PR members are U.S. and Western educated, it is clear that the opposition is not anti-West. On the Malaysia-U.S. trade negotiations, most of the PKR or the PR is willing to 'negotiate' a better deal. There is no question of a 'no deal' even if the Americans impose their will in the end. There is altogether no way for Malaysia to get a pro-Malaysia deal in such negotiations with the PR being one eyed about the U.S. crimes across the globe and its real intents. The PR is totally clueless with regards the current push by the U.S. and Nato to control the Malacca Straits. It has no idea at all on the move by the U.S. to re-open its former bases in the Philippines. it is as blind on the Spratly and South China Sea crisis as it is on the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region. The PR has said nothing or little on the region's interest in nuclear energy and this in the wake of the Fukushima disaster. In any of these cases, there are no clear policy statement from the opposition group. What we have seen so far are statements by individuals supporting 'revolutions' in the Middle East. While other individuals showed pure innocence on major issues, such as Malaysia's joining the U.S.-Nato in 'war games'. Being Malay-Muslim majority parties, the PAS and the PKR are naturally 'frightened' of China's growing role in the region. What make the Muslims fearful of China is the possibility that Beijing plays a more important role in Malaysia.
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| Our school children as sacrificial lambs Posted: 31 Oct 2011 05:43 PM PDT
All three – though simmering for some years now – are rapidly coming to a head during the tenure of the Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin as the Minister of Education. The controversies are not over minor or insignificant issues in the national education system. They are not sparked off by politicians with an axe to grind or by groups wanting to score points against the minister. They do not relate to narrow communal interests nor are they espoused by extremist organizations having their own agendas. Rather they are the concern of parents and educators from all communities at grassroots as well as at mainstream society level. They involve important pedagogical principles and ultimately, they raise the key question of whether the future of our younger generation is being made the sacrificial lamb for narrow political and bureaucratic interests. Upon their wise resolution will rest the ability of our school children to compete with the rest of the world as well as the knowledge that they receive at school which will shape their adult mindset and values. PPSMI: Math and Science in English In the case of the campaign led by the Parents Action Group for Education (PAGE), the Minister has not only refused to meet with PAGE leaders but has also stated that providing parents and students the choice to use English "will result in chaos in our educational system". There is an unfair attempt to beat down the campaigners and the over 100,000 online supporters by wild claims about the potential negative impact of a policy reversal. In fact, it is the Ministry's policy decision to insist on Bahasa only that is causing chaos and even worst, condemning students – especially Malay students – to a bleak future in undermining their capacity and ability to progress in an English language-dominated global system. Interlok: Crude and rude propaganda In the case of Interlok, the Minister has similarly refused to meet with the campaign organizers led by National Interlok Action Team (NIAT), who have argued that the novel is unfit for use by schools even going by the standards and guidance on compulsory school texts issued by the ministry. The clear danger that the Interlok book poses in heightening crude racial (and cultural) stereotyping, bias and prejudice and its threat to a harmonious communal understanding among our young has been completely ignored with the decision to proceed with the book as a text for the literature component in the SPM compulsory Bahasa Malaysia language paper. The book's biased understanding and unmitigated prejudice against minority races has already legitimized the name-calling of 'Keling pariah' and 'Cina babi' in our secondary schools, with several cases of bullying ending up not only at the discipline master's door but in the local police station as well. The stubborn and unreasonable position of the ministry has left the organizers, NIAT – now joined by over 60 other multiracial civil society organizations – no choice but to take their appeal directly to the rulers, and to intensify and make national the campaign to remove Interlok from the school texts.
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