Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- National Feedlot Centre
- Hate language still holds sway
- Transform, reform or deform?
- Between principles and popularity
| Posted: 03 Dec 2011 11:58 PM PST On December the 2nd, Deputy IGP Datuk Khalid Bakar issued a police statement stating that police investigations have so far not revealed any criminal breach of trust elements in the management of the NFC. This is rather a perplexing move as the PDRM is forbidden to issue any statements regarding any on-going investigations before it has been completed. The PDRM has also admitted that they have not called in Shahrizat for questioning even though she is the key figure in this controversy. Hakim Joe Under the 9th Malaysia Plan in 2006, the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) was targeted as a High Impact Project with an objective to attain 40% self-sufficiency for beef production by 2010. The Badawi government then allocated RM4.4 billion for modernizing agriculture On March 2007, the Ministry of Agriculture under Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, chose two companies to manage the NFC. They were Agro Science Industries Sdn. Bhd. and Lambert Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. with the former being given a 2,000-hectare land and the latter a 200- In December 2007, the government approved a soft loan (2% annual interest for a 10 year period) amounting to RM250 million to National Feedlot Corp Sdn Bhd, a JV company between Agro Science Industries Sdn Bhd and the GOM to start a feedlot in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, the first step in a plan to help Malaysia cut its reliance on beef imports with an initial target of 60,000 heads of cattle a year. Malaysia was then importing 80% of all beef consumed. In February 2008, NFC obtained the first batch of 1,000 heads of cattle from Australia. In July 2008, just five months after starting operations, the NFC announced that the company would target a 28% self-sufficiency level for beef production by 2010 as opposed to the 40% level set by the GOM under the 9MP. In March 2010, the NFC stated that they should achieve the 40% self-sufficiency beef production target by 2015, five years later than expected. In October 2011, the Jabatan Audit Negara released the much-delayed 2010 Auditor- General Report in which it revealed wasteful spending by government departments as well as weaknesses of governance which have contributed to the Federal Government's One of the items being highlighted was the NFC Project whereupon an audit was undertaken between January and March 2011 revealed that the objectives of the NFC were not completely achieved because the development of 130 satellite farm entrepreneurs In November 2011, the Opposition exposed financial irregularities in the NFC when it alleged that the NFC gave out loans amounting to over RM84 million to companies owned by Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development and wife of NFC chairman, Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail. It was also alleged that NFC channeled out funds for the purchase of a luxury condominium in Bangsar for RM9,758,140 (it was later exposed that NFC purchased two luxury condominiums at One Menerung in Bangsar for RM6.9 million each), two plots of land in Precinct 10 in Putrajaya for RM3,363,507 and a Mercedes Benz CLS 350 CGI for RM534,622 (through the National Meat and Livestock Corporation) and transferred out RM588,585 to Meatworks (Singapore) Pty. Ltd. Both the National Meat and Livestock Corporation and Meatworks (Singapore) Pty. Ltd. are owned by Shahrizat's family. The Opposition additionally stated that NFC issued 15 cheques from its CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad account in Taman Tun Dr. Ismail to tour agency Impian Global Network Services over a span of seven months on a monthly basis for a total of RM455,423. When questioned, Shahrizat said that she had nothing to do with the NFC issue. "I will not clarify (on the NFC issue) but there will be two messages I would like to convey at the Wanita Umno assembly to those outside. Let's wait. As a leader, we need to be patient and calm, and not get easily hysterical. If anyone wants to ask about the NFC, they should ask the NFC people. I will only be focusing on Wanita Umno." NFC's chairman is Datuk Dr. Mohamad Salleh Ismail (her husband), NFC's executive director is Wan Shahinur Izmir (her son, age 31), NFC's CEO is Wan Shahinur Izran (her other son, age 27) and NFC's director is Wan Izzana Fatimah (her daughter, age 25). When NFC purchased the luxury condominium on December the 2nd, 2009 for RM9.8 million, the company reported a RM11 million loss on its annual accounting report. It is also reported that the Chairman received a monthly salary of RM100,000, the executive director RM45,000 a month, the CEO RM35,000 a month and the other director also RM35,000 a month. When Kuwaiti-born and Oxford educated Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin came out in defense of Shahrizat, he stated that it was a "good business decision" by the National Livestock and Meat Corporation to invest in a luxury condominium instead of letting the excess (public) funds idly sit in a bank account and that there was nothing improper about the transaction. When the current Minister of Agriculture, Datuk Seri Noh Omar (of the "if foreigners think that Malaysia police are brutal, please go back to their own countries and not to stay here" statement) was questioned about NFC's inability to reach its target of 8,000 heads of cattle, he responded that NFC has indeed produced over 8,000 heads of cattle between 2008 and 2010, and that the project is indeed a success. A few days later, the Agriculture Minister amended his statement and stated that all NFC has to do is to slaughter another 5,742 cattle before the last day of the year (actually 8,000 minus 3,289 equals 4,711) and the project would be a resounding success as the target would then have been met. When a report was made by Penang PKR Youth to MACC, the anti corruption agency passed the case to PDRM stating, "The case has been referred to the police because our investigations showed that the offence is not under the jurisdiction of the commission under the MACC Act 2009," When Datuk Dr. Mohamad Salleh Ismail was questioned by PDRM in relation to the two luxury condominiums, he stated that the two units were currently rented out to two different oil and gas companies to provide housing for their expatriate staff and that NFC receives a RM75,000 rental a month, one unit fetching RM18,000 a month and the other unit fetching RM57,000 a month (even a 27,000sf fully furnished bungalow with a swimming pool and spa on Kenny Hills does not command a RM57,000 a month rental). This figure was later amended to RM18,000 a month for both units but the PDRM saw no discrepancy between both answers. On December the 2nd, Deputy IGP Datuk Khalid Bakar issued a police statement stating that police investigations have so far not revealed any criminal breach of trust elements in the management of the NFC. This is rather a perplexing move as the PDRM is forbidden to issue any statements regarding any on-going investigations before it has been completed. The PDRM has also admitted that they have not called in Shahrizat for questioning even though she is the key figure in this controversy. For those uninformed, the NFC was first mooted in 2003 by Dr. Rosli Mai Lam of Lazuli Sdn. Bhd. who remains a partner in this project. Dr. Rosli of Lazuli, as known to the players in the industry, is a supplier of cattle and other complementary livestock supplies to anyone |
| Hate language still holds sway Posted: 03 Dec 2011 11:26 AM PST Again and again in Malaysia, those who defend the rights of citizens to exercise their fundamental liberties are treated as offenders. Muslim feminists, human rights defenders, and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) groups and individuals are among those most vilified and demonised. Zainah Anwar, The Star WHERE should we draw the line between freedom of expression and incitement to hatred? This is a debate that occupies the international human rights system today as governments grapple with the need to fully respect freedom of expression as protected by international human rights law and comply with the prohibition of incitement to hatred. As democracy matures, the public space for debate opens up further. Citizens, educated and aware of their rights, begin to articulate their demands for justice and social change. Diverse voices will compete for public attention and support. Traditionally marginalised groups will assert their right to be treated as citizens with equal rights and dignity. This is all good for democracy, respect for human rights and the well-being of society. However, the problem arises when those identified as "others" are constructed by the dominant community "as people who do not share a community's history, traditions and values" and, as a result, are "all too often perceived as predatory competitors, or at least a threat to the stability of that community's belief system", as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said. And thus they get demonised, threatened, discriminated against and even murdered just because they are different. This is a global problem. In the name of "war on terror", Muslims are vilified, attacked, or discriminated against. A whole community is demonised for the actions of a tiny minority who abuse Islam to justify their violence and terrorism. In the name of ethnic or religious homogeneity, whole communities are physically removed from a territory by driving them out, deported to concentration camps, or murdered. In modern times, the forcible expulsion and murder of Jews in Europe, Muslims in the former Yugoslavia, and Tutsis in Rwanda stand out. In the name of religion and culture, homosexuals are stigmatised, attacked and murdered. It is obvious that human beings are not born to hate those who think, act or look differently. Just look at a playground of toddlers of all colours and backgrounds playing together. All too often, hate, fear and insults are manufactured to serve a political agenda. And it is convenient to manipulate and abuse religion, ethnicity and culture to create fear and anxiety in order to delegitimise the rights and interests of the "others". In modern times, the media have been used as tools to inflame perceived grievances and rouse emotions, escalating tensions and conflict that can result in violence. Much research has been done to show how in Serbia, Serb supremacists used television to stir up ethnic tensions prior to the civil war. In Rwanda, Hutu propagandists used the radio to lay the groundwork for genocide. While such atrocities seem impossible in Malaysia, the fact is in our country today, fear and hatred are manufactured on a daily basis and public opinion inflamed through screaming headlines in some mainstream newspapers and television stations, and in the venomous hate language in the alternative new media. Muslim feminists, human rights defenders, and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) groups and individuals are among those most vilified and demonised. Recent events are cause for much concern. Many feel we are on a slippery slope to potential outbreak of violence. A country that has thrived, celebrated and been enriched by its history of embracing diversity and pluralism is today dominated by extremists who manufacture threats to race and religion supposedly posed by those they disagree with. Thus, we see the demonising and defaming of Datuk Ambiga Sreenivasan for her courage and resolve to go ahead with the Bersih rally. The fact that government leaders took the lead in depicting Bersih as a threat to national security opened up the space and gave legitimacy to the even more belligerent voices among non-state actors. Death threats were sent; vile, abusive and hate messages proliferated by SMS and on the Internet, Bersih supporters were labelled "communists", "anti-Islam", or "funded by foreign Christian groups". The attacks against Seksualiti Merdeka are yet another public contestation that swiftly escalated into a shrill and belligerent public discourse. First, a forum to discuss the rights of LGBTs was portrayed by the media as a festival to promote free sex and a threat to security. Ambiga who was due to launch the event was once again demonised, this time labelled the "anti-Christ" by the right-wing group, Perkasa, which demanded that her citizenship be stripped. Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, who defended Ambiga against these unjust attacks, in turn became the target of hate mail. As expected in Malaysia today, close to 200 police reports were lodged all over the country against the organisers and supporters of Seksualiti Merdeka. The police banned the event and many activists were called in for questioning. It is one thing to exercise one's right to differences of opinion, but it is another when stigmatising, demonising, fear and hate-mongering language and accusations are hurled at marginalised and discriminated groups and human rights defenders. Irresponsible newspapers day after day use inflammatory headlines to build up the frenzy. Mobs are hired to intimidate organisers and the police intervene, not to disperse the hooligans but to raid legitimate meetings held indoors to discuss issues of public interest and concern. Again and again in Malaysia, those who defend the rights of citizens to exercise their fundamental liberties are treated as offenders, while those who incite fear and hatred and inflame racial and religious sentiments are given the upper hand to dictate the agenda through compliance, support or inaction by key state institutions. While Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) protects the right to freedom of expression, Article 20 also requires governments to prohibit the "advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred which constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence". While striking the right balance is no easy task, the clear meaning is that freedom of expression is to be upheld for as long as it does not advocate hatred and incite discrimination, hostility or violence against an individual or group. Any limitations should take place only in the pursuit of justice and democratic principles, not against those who stand for justice and democracy. But all too often, restrictions on freedom of expression are enacted in order to protect the interests of those who benefit most from silencing criticism, dissent and public debate on contentious issues. That a group like Sisters in Islam which upholds equality and justice for Muslim women is demonised as anti-God, anti-Islam, and anti-Syariah, a coalition like Bersih 2.0 which demands for free and fair elections, is portrayed as a threat to national security and public order, or an event like Seksualiti Merdeka to recognise the human rights of people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities is deliberately stigmatised as a "free-sex" festival, arguably does not constitute a legitimate exercise of free speech but incitement to discrimination and hostility that could potentially result in conflict and violence. The Prime Minister in his Malaysia Day speech promised the dream of a new Malaysia "that practises a functional and inclusive democracy where public peace and prosperity is preserved in accordance with the supremacy of the Constitution, rule of law and respect for basic human rights and individual rights". How do the hate language and the relentless police reports by extremists against those demanding their constitutional right to fundamental liberties, and the continual phone calls to activists to visit Bukit Aman or a police station for yet another round of questioning under one restrictive law or another, create this democratic and inclusive Malaysia? A government that practises democracy must protect and nurture a public space that promotes justice, equality and democratic and human rights principles.
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| Posted: 03 Dec 2011 10:11 AM PST Umno is not forgiving of leaders who cannot deliver what they require to continue having their way with our country. Najib is caught up in lies of his own making. He pretends to be a blogger when he obviously is not. He makes himself believe that he is connecting with the young when what he is he truly doing is acting out the instructions of his PR people.CT Ali, Free Malaysia Today Najib Tun Razak reminds me of the little boy who wants to be liked and does all he can to please everyone. He is for 1Malaysia. He is for Ketuanan Melayu. And he insists, without showing how, that the two are compatible. In the process, he antagonises both the Malays and non-Malays.He has seen it fit to embark upon a zealous path of transforming and reforming, riding his high horse like a crusading avenger hell bent upon eliminating any restriction on our civil liberties and any barrier that will prevent our people from developing their minds. Or so it seems. He would like us all to believe that he at last has heard what the rakyat wants and now wants to do their bidding. Suddenly, in 2011, our students have become mature and responsible enough to dabble in politics. Suddenly, the ISA is no longer necessary and the PPPA is an anachronism from a dark age. He runs full tilt into this reforming zeal without understanding that one's enemy sometimes gives one enough rope to hang oneself. Amazingly, he apparently cannot tell that he has already taken enough rope. He speaks of transforming and reforming, but he in fact deforms. The Peaceful Assembly Bill is a case in point. If he had taken the effort to work out what the rakyat really want, then he would have spared himself the insult of being told that his proposal is more draconian then what Mynmar is doing. So what does he do now? He was already basking in the glory of announcing the bill, with grand assurances of grand intentions. Now he realises that it is easy to announce initiatives but hard to make them happen. So he tweaks them, like one would tweak the carburettor of a car. But the last carburetted car stopped production in the early 1990s. And this is the problem with Najib. He thinks 1990s when people are already in the 21st century. The ISA, PPPA and the law that violated our right to assemble should have been jettisoned well before the turn of the century. So Najib is playing catch up. But will Umno let him? What I would like to know is who advises Najib? Who looks at the pros and cons of introducing the Peaceful Assembly Bill and all the other initiatives he has announced? I do not need Lim Kit Siang or Anwar to tell me that these are not really initiatives, but simply Najib playing to the gallery of voters. There is no need for a court challenge or a walk by a group of lawyers to tell me that the Peaceful Assembly Bill is another one of those poorly thought of moves that are heavy on PR and zilch on substance. Living the moment Does nobody tell Najib that he is making an ass of himself when he replaces a draconian legislation with another draconian one? I would have thought that at least Idris Jala would have put his hands up and say, "Excuse me Datuk Seri, but I think we need to go through that PA Bill again." Or is he too busy plugging up leaks? Najib seems oblivious to what is happening around him because he lives with the moment. He does not understand that he cannot be all things to all people. Najib has a blog. I have one too, and I know the amount of work required to make it relevant and interesting to people who you hope will read what you write. How much time does Najib spend on his blog? I think not enough to write even one article a week. And he says he talks to us through his blog. He even sends me emails to inform me about what is happening on his blog. Should I be grateful for this or should I see it for what it really is: a cheap shot at "connecting" with us bloggers and the rest of the Internet community. It insults my intelligence. It is yet another attempt by the Najib to seen as Mr Cool, and I am sure it costs the rakyat money. No, you are not cool, Mr Prime Minister. You are wasting our time and our money for no gain to you or to us.
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| Between principles and popularity Posted: 03 Dec 2011 10:08 AM PST Wan Azizah's assurance the PKR will not choose dubious candidates for the coming polls augurs well for party, if only it walks the talk. Obviously, the BN and Umno chief is concerned about winning, hardly about serving the rakyat, a factor which PKR is very careful not to overlook. Jeswan Kaur, Free Malaysia Today While the federal government under the Barisan Nasional banner believes it can win the coming 13th general election by fielding 'winnable' candidates, it's nemesis PKR is banking on 'principled' contestants to help it take over Putrajaya. Unlike BN which has never believed in placing emphasis on the character of the candidates, PKR's assurance that 'principles' is what will win them the people's trust does sound attractive. The assurance came from PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Ismail when she addressed about 2,000 guests while officiating the party's eight national congress in Johor last week. Making it clear that PKR would not compromise on the enemies within, Wan Azizah sent the message out that the party will never choose 'suspicious' candidates for the coming polls. "We (PKR's top leadership) guarantee that we will consult the divisions and grassroots in choosing the candidates. "The candidates should be those who are qualified, hold true to the principles of our struggle and will not be tempted by the millions of ringgit from the enemy (to defect). "That aside, PKR will also not tolerate its elected representatives who failed to address the plight of the rakyat." It seems PKR has wisened up after its share of trials and tribulations when it's trusted representatives decided to abandon ship in favour of pursuing their own vested-interests. To Wan Azizah, the defectors who decided to quit PKR and turn 'independent' candidates were no loss "They have become the tools of corruption,' was how she referred to these individuals. PKR has got it right To BN chief and prime minister Najib Tun Razak, 'winnable' candidates are their ticket to winning the general election, with 'character' being of no interest to Najib. Does 'winnable' here allude to representatives who indulge in the dirtiest tactics possible in politics to ensure victory is BN's? Obviously, the BN and Umno chief is concerned about winning, hardly about serving the rakyat, a factor which PKR is very careful not to overlook. There is no denying the mistakes that PKR has made but unlike BN, it is learning from its mistakes and hoping to avoid making the same blunders. For instance, PKR had no issue sacking the Kulim-Bandar Baru MP, Zulkifli Noordin, when he chided the party for not doing enough to protect Islam, the nation's official religion. Former PKR representatives like Zahrain Mohamed Hashim (Bayan Baru MP) who turned 'independent' after quitting PKR has since been bad mouthing the party. And he is not alone in doing so – PKR defectors like Wee Choo Keong (Wangsa Maju MP) and N Gobalakrishnan (Padang Serai MP) have also been consistently denigrating the party.
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