Jumaat, 21 Oktober 2011

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The reason Malays don't respect Sultans

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 06:03 PM PDT

The federal Islamic development agency claimed today that many Muslim do not respect the authority of the Malay Rulers who are heads of religions for their respective states. On the eve of a planned gathering of a million Muslims to defend the faith, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) prepared a Friday sermon that accused some parties of putting political interests ahead of the religion. "Many Muslims today do not respect the views and authority and in fact question the Sultan heads of the Islamic religious councils. The sanctity of the faith has been politicised and the split among Muslims has affected the function and role of the councils," said the sermon titled "State Islamic religious councils drive the transformation of the faithful".

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Therefore, the opinion that Rajas should be placed under a Constitution that determined the status and role of the Rajas was born. With this method, the Rajas could no longer act as they liked. The powers of the Rajas would be determined by the Constitution, that is the country's basic law. Yet, there were Rajas who were willing to hand over their own states to foreign powers while ignoring the Constitution.

Although the representatives were free to speak in the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Undangan Negeri about any topic, but they could not touch on the Rajas because any criticism of the Rajas could be interpreted as sedition and they could be charged under the Sedition Act. This provision was a result of an amendment made in 1971. Before this, criticism of the Rajas could be made in the house. In Britain and other countries, the Parliament was free to criticize the Rajas. It is clear that that criticizing the Rajas does not destroy the Rajas' majesty.

While this prohibition on criticism is said to protect the Rajas' majesty, but when the Rajas are not criticized, they will not be aware of the wrongs that they have committed. Hence, maybe more wrongs will be committed and these wrongs may become more serious. This not only contaminates the Rajas' majesty but can also cause the People to hate the Rajas. It is not true to say the prohibition on criticizing the Rajas will protect the Rajas' majesty. Actually, the majesty of the Rajas will be contaminated because of this prohibition.

Unfortunately, because the Chief Ministers and Prime Minister are Malays that are unwilling to be on bad terms with the Rajas, when the Rajas do something that is not supposed to be done, no effective criticism is made. Even if there is, the unwillingness of the Rajas to care about the criticisms of these official advisers does not bring about any action towards the Rajas.

Hence, in the history of independent Malaysia, the actions of the Rajas and parties who hide behind the Rajas that exceed the rights and privileges of the Rajas become more serious over time. The possibility is that it will become more serious in the future. If there are no amendments to the law, like those suggested here, without doubt worse matters will happen that will cause the Raja Institution to be hated by the people. It is not impossible that if one day in the future, demands are made to completely abolish the Raja System although there are provisions in the Constitution.

Hence this amendment that is suggested aims to avoid or prevent the escalation of hatred towards the Rajas that could bring about demands to abolish the Raja System. This amendment is to save the Rajas themselves and the Constitutional Monarchy system. To strengthen the Constitutional provisions to maintain the Raja System, provisions are made such that any suggestion to abolish the Raja System will be interpreted as sedition and falls under Sedition Laws.

If Malaysia intends to become a country that practices Parliamentary Democracy and Constitutional Monarchy, the immunity that is given to the Rajas must be abolished. Because the Constitution in countries that practice the Constitutional Monarchy System doesn't give immunity to their Kings, the abolishment of the immunity of the Malay Rajas cannot jeopardize their sovereignty. In the modern era, only because the King can't commit crimes as they like, the King's status will not be jeopardized, especially in a country that practices Parliamentary Democracy and Constitutional Monarchy.

The interpretation of the sedition towards the King in the Constitution is so wide until no criticism is can be made in Parliament by members of the Dewan Rakyat or Dewan Undangan. Hence, the media also has no opportunity to report. Criticism can only be made by the Rajas' advisors behind closed doors. If this criticism is ineffective, there is nothing that can be done.

Actually all three former Prime Ministers, as advisors to the Rajas, have already criticized the Rajas many times while they were in service. I know criticisms have been made because this matter has been repeatedly reported in Cabinet meetings and also the UMNO Supreme Council.

It should be reminded that the respect of the People towards the Raja cannot be determined by laws. With your permission, 'Respect must be earned'. Having laws that scare the People will not bring 'respect'. With the realization that the Rajas can be brought to court, Rajas will certainly avoid committing acts that will cause the people not to respect the Rajas. Hence, the Raja Institution will be better respected and better preserved.

Extract of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's speech in the Malaysian Parliament (1993)

 
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WIKILEAKS: MALAYSIA'S EIGHTH ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 01:00 AM PDT

There were no accurate statistics for the total number of trafficking victims in Malaysia. Malaysia employed approximately 2.5 million migrant workers in 2007, 40 to 45% of whom were undocumented. Government and NGO statistics assess there are some 380,000 to 400,000 women employed as domestic servants in Malaysia, an unknown number of whom worked in abusive situations exacerbated by conditions of debt bondage. 

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

 Summary

1.  (SBU) Malaysia made significant efforts to combat trafficking in persons during this reporting period, marking a positive shift from previous years.  Malaysia's drafting, passage, and enactment of a comprehensive anti-trafficking in persons law represents an important advance in Malaysia's commitment to meet international standards for combating this crime. 

The government of Malaysia (GOM) took action on most of the elements included in the Tier 3 action plan that the U.S. proposed during the reporting period.  The GOM established the National Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons (National Council).  The Council, working with Malaysia's Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) drafted a national action plan. 

The GOM also instituted training programs for law enforcement and government officials with new anti-trafficking responsibilities.  The Ministry for Women, Family, and Community Development (Women's Ministry) built two shelters for trafficking victims and trained the shelters' staff, along with newly designated protection officers, but had not opened the shelters as of the end of February pending full activation of the anti-TIP law. 

The Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) rescued trafficking victims and often referred them to NGOs, the Catholic Church, and foreign embassies that operated shelters and/or provided social services to trafficking victims.  The RMP continued to investigate several trafficking cases, and detained 55 suspected traffickers under the Emergency Ordinance and Restricted Residence Act.  Police often referred rescued victims to NGOs, the Catholic Church, and foreign embassies operated shelters. 

On February 28, the GOM issued three necessary "legislative supplements" bringing the new anti-TIP law fully into effect.  Malaysia has yet to comply fully with U.S. minimum standards and should address many shortfalls primarily through full enforcement of its comprehensive anti-trafficking law to include: opening of victims shelters, screening for TIP victims by relevant government agencies, and enforcement action against traffickers under the law.

Malaysia was a destination, and to a lesser extent, a transit and source country for adults and minors trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation.  End Summary.

2.  (U) Embassy's submission for the Eighth Annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report for Malaysia follows. Responses are keyed to paragraphs 27 - 30 of ref A. Embassy's point of contact for TIP is political officer Enrique R. Gallego (phone: 603-2148-4891 or 984-4831 (IVG), fax: 603-2168-5165, email: gallegoer@state.gov).  The Embassy spent the following time preparing the TIP report: FS-2: 12 hours; FS-3: 60 hours; FSN: 40 hours.

3.  CHECKLIST (PARA 27)

A. (SBU) Malaysia was a destination, and to a lesser extent, a transit and source country for adults and minors trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation. The overwhelming majority of victims came to Malaysia seeking greater economic opportunities, but later found themselves victimized either by their employers, employment agents, or traffickers that supplied migrant laborers and prostitutes in Malaysia. 

Trafficking in Malaysia was a regional problem driven by economics.  Migrant workers from Indonesia, Nepal, India, Thailand, China, the Philippines, Burma, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Vietnam accounted for nearly all of Malaysia's trafficking victims.  Trafficking of Malaysians, specifically women from indigenous groups and rural areas, for labor and sex exploitation occurred within Malaysia.

There were no accurate statistics for the total number of trafficking victims in Malaysia.  Malaysia employed approximately 2.5 million migrant workers in 2007, 40 to 45% of whom were undocumented.  Government and NGO statistics assess there are some 380,000 to 400,000 women employed as domestic servants in Malaysia, an unknown number of whom worked in abusive situations exacerbated by conditions of debt bondage. 

Tenaganita and foreign embassies reported migrant workers on plantations and construction sites were often subject to similar restrictions on their movement, deceit and fraud concerning their wages, confiscation of their passports, and often were in debt bondage to agents or employers.  There were no reliable statistics for the number of victims trafficked into prostitution, but the Royal

Malaysian Police (RMP), foreign embassies and NGOs reported at least 800 female victims were rescued from trafficking conditions in the commercial sex trade in 2007.

Approximately 20 percent of the trafficking victims sheltered and rescued by NGOs and foreign embassies were below the age of 18.  The Women's Ministry sought to contract a statistician to develop a new database so the Ministry could better document trafficking.  The draft national action plan included using data collection to analyze the scale and nature of trafficking in Malaysia.

B.  (SBU) Most trafficking victims in Malaysia were economic migrants seeking better wages than those available in their countries of origin.  Anecdotal evidence from the Indonesian Embassy, GOM, the press, and NGOs indicated Indonesia, the dominant source of migrant labor to Malaysia, remained the source of the greatest number of trafficking victims. 

Our interviews with trafficking victims revealed a common pattern.  Typically, an employment agent recruited the trafficking victim from his or her home village, in the first step of a debt-bondage arrangement with a Malaysian employer. For an initial payment, or more often for a certain debt, the recruiter obtained a passport (with false data for underage girls, usually showing the girls' age as 25), an exit permit, and transportation from Indonesia to Malaysia.

Upon arrival, a Malaysian employment agent assumed control of and assisted with entry.  The Malaysian employment agents often avoided individual immigration inspection of the trafficking victims.  Generally, the Malaysian employment agent paid the Indonesian agent for supplying the worker, or the worker acquired additional debt with the new agent for placement, employment documentation, transportation, temporary lodging, etc. 

Employment agents placed most workers in their previously agreed positions as domestics, agricultural workers, etc.  However, some agents sold individuals into brothels, karaoke bars, or passed them to sex traffickers.  Employers commonly confiscated workers' passports.  Some employers forced laborers to work long hours, without pay, until the debt-bond was paid. Reportedly, similar modus operandi applied to migrant workers from Bangladesh and Vietnam.

(SBU) Regardless of their origin, victims of trafficking were usually poor, uneducated, unskilled laborers recruited by their fellow citizens but later passed to Malaysian agents. Some victims were willingly smuggled into Malaysia or entered on tourist visas, but found themselves victimized when they voluntarily or involuntarily entered the undocumented labor market. 

Debt bondage was the most common form of control employers exerted over victims, regardless of whether the victim was employed in licit or illicit activities. Information from the Royal Malaysian Police, Catholic Church, and the NGO Tenaganita indicated organized syndicates represented the bulk of traffickers (reftels E and G).

Exploiters ranged from large plantations and factories to entertainment centers and karaoke bars to families exploiting domestic workers.  The RMP reported that a number of large organized criminal syndicates, as well as a few smaller groups, trafficked foreign women into Malaysia, using Malaysia either as the women's final destination or as a transit point to a third country.  The syndicates sometimes used employment agencies as fronts for both people smuggling and trafficking in persons. 

Sex tourism was not common in Malaysia though there were reports of sex tourism on the Malaysian island of Labuan, off the coast of Borneo (reftel

F).  There were a few reports of marriage brokers selling Vietnamese and Chinese women to Malaysian men, but such incidents appeared limited in number.

C.  (SBU) The newly formed National Council for Anti-trafficking in Persons is made up of government agencies with a role in combating trafficking as mandated in the new anti-TIP law (reftels D, I, and J).  The Ministry of Internal Security is the lead ministry regarding trafficking and the Secretary General of the Ministry chairs the Council.  Other agencies with representation on the Council are: Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Home Affairs; Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development; Ministry of Human Resources; Ministry of Transport; Ministry of Information; the Attorney General's Office; the Royal Malaysian Police; the Department of Immigration; the Department of Customs; and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.  Malaysia's Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) also sits on the Council.

D.  (SBU) The police conducted internal training regimes to build capacity to address identified gaps in capabilities, which included identifying trafficking victims, evidence collection and management, and interagency and international coordination (reftels G and H).  The RMP worked with the United States, France, and Australia to develop training programs.  The Women's Ministry lacked practical experience assisting trafficking victims and organized training for Ministry officers, tapped as trafficking victim protection officers, and personnel tasked to operate trafficking victims' shelters (reftel D). 

Low-level corruption remained a secondary issue in stemming the flow of trafficking victims.  The RMP instituted a proactive anti-corruption campaign to combat low-level corruption.  Low-level immigration officials and police "beat cops" were among Malaysia's lowest paid public servants, making them vulnerable to corruption.

E.  (SBU) The GOM did not maintain specific statistics for trafficking in persons.  The RMP and Immigration Department provided anecdotal reports on trafficking victims rescued but had little or no data to share on actual trafficking victims. Two local NGOs, Tenaganita and the Women's Aid Organization (WAO), and the Embassies of Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines reported the RMP referred over 300 suspected victims of trafficking to their respective missions in 2007. At least 25 women, all Indonesians employed as domestic workers, were underage when brought to Malaysia.  In each case, they used authentic Indonesian passports, provided by recruiters, with false biographical data listing all of the girls as 25 years old.

4.  INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS (PARA 28)

A.  (SBU)  In this reporting period, the GOM completed drafting and passed the comprehensive Anti-trafficking in Persons Act (Act 670), gazetted on July 26, 2007 (reftels I and J).  The law includes provisions for both trafficking in persons for sexual and non-sexual exploitation. 

The law's scope encompasses offenses that took place both in and out of Malaysia.  The law is applicable if Malaysia is the receiving country or exploitation occurs in Malaysia.  The law also includes cases when the receiving country is a foreign country, but the trafficking victim started in or transited through Malaysia. 

The law includes extension of the Act to extra-territorial offenses including on ships and aircraft registered in Malaysia and Malaysian citizens and permanent residents outside and beyond the limits of Malaysia benefiting from the exploitation of trafficking victims.  The law states it is the prevailing law regarding trafficking in persons and supersedes conflicting or inconsistent provisions of other written laws.

(SBU) Since gazetting the law in July 2007, the GOM brought the anti-TIP Act into force in a step-by-step process.  On February 28, 2008, the GOM issued three necessary "notifications of legislative supplements," essentially administrative notifications that put all sections of the law into force, according to the Attorney General's Office.  The notifications were legal preconditions for Malaysian police and prosecutors to take law enforcement actions under the anti-TIP law (as well as open shelters for victims, see below).

(SBU) The law's definitions of trafficking include both trafficking of persons and trafficking of children for the purpose of exploitation.  If persons convicted of trafficking also used threats, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power, etc., the law provides for lengthier prison sentences.  The law includes provisions for punishing persons profiting from the exploitation of trafficking victims.

(SBU) Malaysia has other laws that can criminalize trafficking or elements of trafficking.  The following is a summary of the legal provisions that authorities could use in Malaysia against traffickers in addition to the new comprehensive anti-TIP law.

-- Constitution, Articles 6(1) and 6(2): Prohibit slavery and forced labor.

-- Penal Code, Sections 340-348: Address "wrongful confinement" of a person against his/her will.  Punishments include maximum prison terms from one to three years and a fine.

-- Penal Code, Section 372: Amended in 2002 to include stronger anti-trafficking language, addresses exploitation of any person for purposes of prostitution.  Exploitation is defined to include selling, hiring, or otherwise obtaining possession of any person with the intention to employ or use the person for the purpose of prostitution (either inside or outside of Malaysia) or knowing or having reason to believe that the person will be so employed or used.  Section 372 expands the offense of exploitation to include using false pretense or deceitful means to bring into or take out of Malaysia any person; harboring or receiving any (exploited) person and wrongfully restraining any person in any place.

Wrongfully restraining is further defined as withholding clothing or property, threatening the person with legal proceedings to recover any debt or alleged debt, and detaining a person's identity card or passport.  Punishment under this section of the Code includes a prison term, which may extend to 15 years, caning and a fine.

-- Penal Code, Section 372A: Provides the same penalties as section 372 for anyone who lives wholly or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of another person.

-- Penal Code, Section 373: Provides the same penalties as section 372 for anyone who keeps, manages, or assists in the management of a brothel.

-- Penal Code, Section 374: Addresses unlawful compulsory labor and includes punishment by imprisonment for a maximum one-year term and the possibility of a fine.

-- Immigration Act, Sections 55(A) and Sections 56(1)(d): Covers a wide spectrum of immigration violations related to illegal entry or entry under false pretenses.  The Act also addresses "employing" and "conveying" illegal aliens.  The Act was amended in 2002 to toughen significantly punishments for immigration violators.  Those convicted of illegal entry face a fine of up to MYR 10,000 (USD 3,125) (USD 1 = MYR 3.2) and/or a prison sentence of up to five years, and caning of up to a maximum of six strokes.  The penalty for employing an illegal alien is a fine of between MYR 10,000-50,000 (USD 3,125-15,625) for every illegal immigrant employed and/or a prison term of up to 12 months. 

An employer employing more than five illegal immigrants will be imprisoned from six months to five years and caned up to a maximum of six strokes.  The penalty for "conveying" (trafficking) illegal immigrants is a fine of MYR 10,000-50,000 (USD 3,125-15,625) for every individual trafficked.  An individual convicted for trafficking more than five illegal immigrants will also be imprisoned for between six months and five years, and caned up to a maximum of six strokes.

-- Child Act (2001): Merges provisions from an array of diverse legislation pertaining to children and young persons (the Women and Girls Protection Act, the Juvenile Court Act, and the Child protection Act) into one law.  The Act specifically prohibits trafficking of children and makes it an offense to sell, let to hire, or procure (by threat or intimidation by false pretense, fraud, or deceit) any child (defined as anyone under the age of 18) for the purpose of sexual exploitation.  Penalties for these offenses are a maximum prison term of 15 years and a maximum fine of MYR 50,000 (USD 15,625).  The Child Act also authorizes the police to provide protection and rehabilitation for children in need.  A child in need is defined to include a child who "is being induced to perform any sexual act, or being in any physical or social environment which may lead to the performance of such act".

-- Passports Act: Criminalizes the forgery or alteration of travel documents (including passports, residence permits, and visas).  Also criminalizes false statements or misrepresentation used to gain illegal entry into Malaysia.

Penalties range from MYR 10,000-100,000 (USD 3,125-31,250) fine, 5-10 years in prison, and six strokes of a cane. Section 12(1)(f) of the Passports Act also criminalizes the unlawful possession of another persons passport; the penalty for which is a fine not exceeding MYR 10,000 and/or imprisonment not exceeding five years.

Preventive Laws:

-- The Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance (EO): Used against persons, usually criminal syndicates that are involved in illicit activities (such as violent crime, document forgery and people smuggling), which threaten public order.

-- Restricted Residence Act (RRA): Allows the government to require individuals who are suspected of engaging in criminal activity including trafficking to move to a pre-determined location in the country and remain there under close police supervision.  The RRA does not require a formal charge to be filed against the suspected individual.

B.  (SBU) The new comprehensive anti-TIP law does not distinguish between trafficking for sexual and non-sexual exploitation.  In both cases, the law includes the same guidelines for imprisonment and fines.  The Attorney General's office did not convict anyone specifically for trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation, but detained 34 suspected traffickers under RRA and 21 suspected traffickers under EO in 2007.  The 55 suspected traffickers were allegedly involved with trafficking for sexual exploitation.

C.  (SBU) If convicted of trafficking in persons under the new anti-TIP law, a person is subject to a maximum sentence of 15 years and a fine.  For cases involving coercion, fraud, deception and cases of child trafficking, the maximum sentence is 20 years and fine.  Profiting from the exploitation of a trafficking victim carries a maximum sentence of 15 years and a fine of ranging from MYR 50,000 - 150,000 (USD 15,625 - 46,875).  The law makes inadmissible and irrelevant prior consent of the trafficking victim and past sexual behavior.

D.  (SBU) The prescribed penalties for rape include a maximum sentence of 20 years and caning.  If the woman is hurt, "put in fear of death," is under 16 years of age, pregnant, or a victim of incest, the maximum sentence is 30 years and caning.  If the victim dies, the sentence is 15-30 years and a minimum caning of ten strokes.  Under Malaysian law, rape is a crime of a man against a woman.  Rape between men is covered under a different section of the law with sentence guidelines of 5-20 years imprisonment and caning.

E.  (SBU) Federal law criminalizes profiting from prostitution and bans pornography.  The law also criminalizes the act of prostitution by foreigners.  Although not widely enforced, under Malaysia's dual legal system incorporating shari'a courts, Muslims are subject to Islamic laws prohibiting khalwat, or "close proximity", between men and women who are not married to each other.  Punishments varied from state to state, usually included a fine and jail sentence, but in most cases were settled with a warning and did not involve selling of sexual services.  Under federal criminal law, solicitation and operating and/or owning a brothel are criminal offenses.  These laws were enforced. Child prostitution is not legal.

F.  (SBU) The GOM formally brought into force the law enforcement provisions of the anti-TIP Act as of February 28, 2008, according to the Attorney General's Office (see above).

Pending this step, the GOM did not prosecute traffickers under the new anti-TIP law.  The GOM took other legal actions against traffickers and the RMP had several pending investigations into TIP rings as of late February.  On November 23, 2007, a Malaysian court convicted a 32-year old, HIV positive Malaysian citizen for procuring a 14-year-old girl for sex.  He received a sentence of 43 years in jail, 20 strokes of the cane, and fined MYR 50,000 ($15,625).  Police arrested a couple in Sabah on January 26, 2008 for holding seven Filipina women to work as prostitutes.  The couple recruited the seven women with promises of jobs as waitresses.  The couple remained in detention and the case remained under investigation at the end of February.

(SBU) The RMP reported it actively investigated cases of trafficking involving victims of commercial sexual exploitation.  Police efforts to break criminal syndicates were complicated by layers of intermediaries, some of whom reside outside Malaysia.  Often trafficking victims, both Malaysians who have gone abroad and foreigners brought to Malaysia, may only know one intermediary, who is probably using a false identity. 

In investigating cases of trafficking, police investigators attempted to question repatriated Malaysian victims as soon as they returned, but the victims usually could not or refused to provide enough information to assist the investigation.  In some cases, rescued victims feared retaliation by the traffickers.  In other cases, such as the rescue of four Filipina women trafficked into prostitution in November 2007, the women preferred to assist police in their countries of origin.

(SBU) Some of the investigations involved raids to rescue trafficking victims.  A recent raid, in January 2008, rescued 34 suspected trafficking victims hidden in a false room within a hotel.  The RMP were actively pursuing leads resulting from the rescue/raid at the end of the reporting period.

(SBU) According to Malaysia's Director of Immigration Enforcement, the government did not prosecute employers who confiscated passports of migrant workers although confiscation of passports is in violation of Section 12(1)(f) of the Passports Act.  It was common practice for the wages of the employee to be held in "escrow" until completion of a contract and widely accepted by homeowners employing a domestic servant, plantation owners, or small factory owners employing migrant laborers.  Police did not charge most bona fide traffickers, but jailed them under preventive laws.

This was consistent with law enforcement actions taken against terrorists, narcotics traffickers, and perpetrators of other complex criminal conspiracies.  Generally, authorities charged petty pimps under the penal code.  The chief of the RMP's vice squad did not see any end to the use of preventive laws intackling trafficking issues, even with a new anti-trafficking law, due to the difficulties in collecting evidence necessary to bring proper convictions.

G.  (SBU) The GOM provided specialized training to government personnel with responsibilities to combat trafficking under the new law.  The Women's Ministry conducted a series of training events to build capacity for its new trafficking victims protection officers.  The RMP also conducted various training events, both internal and training assisted by the U.S. Department of Justice's International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) and the governments of Australia and France.  The RMP participated in two workshops sponsored by ICITAP in co-operation with the French government.  The RMP co-hosted one of the workshops in the east Malaysian state of Sarawak. 

In November, an ICITAP instructor met with senior RMP officials to discuss the basic elements of the new anti-TIP law and to share experiences from other regional countries' efforts to confront trafficking.  The government sponsored or co-sponsored a number of conferences and workshops aimed at developing implementation guidelines for the new anti-TIP law, formulating strategies aimed at preventing trafficking.  Both Tenaganita and SUHAKAM presented a series of workshops to government representatives on TIP throughout the year.  The Malaysian Armed Forces received TIP awareness training prior to peacekeeping deployments.

H. (SBU) Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Brunei and Thailand used the guidelines of the multilateral "Agreement on Information Exchange and the Establishment of Communication Procedures" as a framework for cooperation on border and security incidents, transnational crimes (including trafficking in persons), and other illegal activities.  Malaysia was an active partner in the "Bali Process," a regional mechanism to combat people smuggling and human trafficking initiated by Australia and Indonesia.

(SBU) Additionally, Malaysia shared intelligence on trafficking syndicates with the United Kingdom, Australia, and Interpol.  The Sabah state government maintained an agreement with the government of the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan to cooperate on a range of shared cross-border challenges, including finding and arresting human traffickers and dismantling syndicates.

I.  (SBU) There were no extraditions of Malaysian nationals for trafficking offenses in 2007.  Section 108A of the Penal Code allows Malaysian authorities to prosecute a Malaysian who commits or abets a crime in another country that would be deemed an offense under the Penal Code.  Malaysia is a party to the ASEAN Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, which is designed to facilitate and expedite regional cooperation in fighting transnational crime.  Malaysian law does not prohibit extradition of Malaysian nationals.  The Philippines and Indonesian Embassies reported that the RMP cooperated with them on anti-trafficking law enforcement matters.

J.  (SBU) There were no substantiated reports of direct government involvement in trafficking of persons at either the local or institutional level.  Senior RMP officials and NGOs reported local police and immigration authorities often

lacked the awareness and skills to identify trafficking victims trapped in prostitution or situations of forced labor.  The RMP developed new procedures to increase police officers' abilities to identify trafficking victims.

K.  (SBU) No government officials were implicated, arrested, or tried for involvement in the trafficking in persons or corruption related to trafficking in persons.

L.  (SBU) All troops assigned to peacekeeping missions received training on trafficking in persons at Malaysia's Peacekeeping Training Center at Port Dickson.  There were no allegations that Malaysian servicemembers were involved in TIP or exploited trafficking victims.

M.  (SBU) Malaysia did not have an identified child sex tourism problem, although there were known instances of victims under 18 years of age that were trafficked for sexual exploitation.

5.  PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS (PARA 29)

A/B/C.  (SBU) The RMP referred over 200 suspected trafficking victims to NGO and embassy operated shelters.  The government prepared, but did not open two designated trafficking victims' shelters during the reporting period.  The GOM did not release budgetary information regarding the two shelters.

Some suspected trafficking victims continued to be housed at immigration detention centers, pending repatriation, but were not charged under immigration or other possible violations.

There was no information available regarding funding and assistance the GOM provided to trafficking victims and to NGOs involved in combating trafficking.

D.  (SBU) The Royal Malaysian Police instituted an informal referral process referring known victims to their respective embassies and the Tenaganita TIP shelter.  Police also delivered some suspected TIP victims to immigration detention centers.  The RMP and the National Council were developing procedures for identifying victims of trafficking and a formal system for referring known victims to appropriate care facilities.

E.  (SBU) N/A

F.  (SBU) Potential victims continued to be charged for prostitution and immigration charges.  If victims were not identified, they were often fined and later deported as illegal immigrants.

G.  (SBU) The Malaysian government encouraged victims to assist in the investigation and prosecution of traffickers, but reported that most victims were unwilling to testify or did not have sufficient information to assist in a prosecution.  A trafficking victim may file a civil suit against a trafficker under Malaysian law.  Many migrant workers filed civil suits against employers that did not pay them the salary promised or forced them to work in abusive conditions. 

While there were no specific impediments to the victims' access to such legal redress, they usually were not allowed to obtain employment while the court considered their cases.  Thus, for economic reasons victims usually did not pursue this type of action.  Victims who were material witnesses in court cases against former employers were also required to remain in the country until the case was concluded.  Most victims were unwilling or unable to wait for justice, and returned home without their cases coming to trial.  There were no government restitution programs for victims during the reporting period.

H.  (SBU) The GOM referred over 200 victims to shelters, operated by NGOs and embassies, during the reporting period. Pending opening of the shelters established by the new anti-TIP law, the GOM did not provide shelter or housing benefits.  In some cases, child victims were referred to their embassies for repatriation.  One of the two government-funded trafficking victims' shelters was designated for children and has a capacity for 45 individuals.  Immigration authorities did not use a formal system to screen detained foreign prostitutes for identification as trafficking victims.  Instead, immigration officials processed them for the quickest possible deportation.  In some cases, especially those involving deportation over land borders such as along the Malaysian-Indonesian border on Borneo, this made trafficking victims vulnerable to traffickers operating near the border.

I.  (SBU) Protection officers from the Women's Ministry received specialized training for assisting trafficking victims (reftel D).  The RMP also initiated training on trafficking victim identification.  Information was not available regarding specialized training for assisting child victims.  GOM did not provide training to its embassies and consulates located in destination and transit countries.

J.  (SBU) Repatriated Malaysian victims who did not have the support of family or friends were referred to the Women's Ministry for public assistance.  The welfare wing of a political party, the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), also offered services to repatriated victims.

K.  (SBU) Tenaganita offered comprehensive services to TIP victims.  Tenaganita worked with the RMP, various international organizations, including the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, as well as with other foreign NGOs to combat labor and sex trafficking throughout Malaysia.

Previously, Tenaganita received funding from G/PRM to operate their shelter for TIP victims.  Tenaganita's shelter can house up to 25 women.  Most victims remained at the shelter for an average of three months.  Tenaganita provided counseling, medical assistance and language training to foreign and domestic victims of trafficking.  The NGO Women's Aid Organization (WAO) used its domestic violence shelter to house eight trafficking victims during the reporting period. WAO provided counseling services and assisted the RMP interview victims.  The Malaysian Bar Council and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (IFWL) continued to provide pro bono legal assistance to victims of trafficking.

6.  PREVENTION (PARA 30)

A.  (SBU) The GOM acknowledged that trafficking is a problem and senior Malaysian leaders spoke publicly about the need for action.  When the Anti-TIP law was first tabled in parliament, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Nazri Aziz said, "This law will address concerns raised about human trafficking and arm enforcement agencies with the tools to fight it." 

Commenting on the drafting of the new comprehensive anti-TIP law, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi said, "We do whatever we can to curb human trafficking and that is why we decided to have that bill."  He added that the severity of the penalties and punishment for human traffickers in the law reflected the government's will to see the crime stopped.  Secretary General for the Ministry of Home Affairs Aseh Che Mat publicly stated that the issues of abused and unpaid maids needed to be addressed and properly handled. 

SUHAKAM Commissioner N. Siva stated, "We need co-operation from non-governmental organizations, government agencies and other instruments in neighboring countries to curb this organized trans-national crime."  On January 11, 2008, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and Indonesian President Yudhoyono issued a joint statement that reiterated their countries' stance that TIP was a crime against humanity and restated the commitment of both leaders' to work together to combat trafficking.

B.  (SBU)  The GOM did not sponsor anti-trafficking information or education campaigns during the reporting period.

C.  (SBU)  Government agencies worked closely with NGOs, civil society organizations, and international organizations on TIP during the reporting cycle.  The GOM collaborated with SUHAKAM during the drafting of the national action plan. SUHAKAM was the lead agency during the drafting of the plan, which was presented to the Ministry of Internal Security in December 2007 for adoption and implementation (reftel D).

Police worked with Tenaganita and the Catholic Church to shelter and assist repatriating rescued trafficking victims to their countries of origin.  Police cooperation with the Catholic Church provided an international network capable of linking rescued victims with NGOs and civil society organizations in their countries of origin.  Tenaganita worked with police in assisting over 100 rescued TIP victims during the reporting period.

D.(SBU) As part of the new comprehensive anti-TIP law, the National Council, law enforcement agencies, and, the Women's Ministry established working groups to develop and implement new TIP monitoring procedures.  The Department of Immigration began to deploy a new biometric system intended for all border entry points to screen individuals for prior entry into Malaysia.  This system also guarded against entry under assumed identities, which traffickers often used when bringing victims through border crossings.  Additionally, the biometric system guarded against traffickers attempts to re-traffic a previous trafficking victim to Malaysia.

E.  (SBU) The National Council for Combating Trafficking is the formal interagency group, formed under the new anti-TIP law.  The Council met three times during the reporting period to address initial implementation of the new law.  The Council established three committees, Law Enforcement, Protection, and Legislative, to develop new operating procedures and deal with specific issues, identified as necessary for the implementation and enforcement of the new anti-TIP law.  The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) is responsible for investigating alleged public corruption.

F.  (SBU)  SUHAKAM drafted the GOM's national action plan. The plan addressed four main components, 1) prevention and awareness, 2) victim protection, care, and support, 3) legislative framework and policy development, and 4) law enforcement.  SUHAKAM consulted with local NGOs during its initial drafting of the action plan.  During the final drafting, SUHAKAM representatives joined a working group led by the Ministry of Internal Security to finalize the draft before the action plan was presented for adoption to the Ministry of Internal Security in December 2007.

G.  (SBU) The RMP conducted multiple police investigations and raids during the reporting cycle.  Police targeted raids on venues used as fronts for brothels, such as karaoke bars, hotels, spas, etc.

(SBU) In January 2008, Mohamed Ishak, Director General for Enforcement in the Department of Immigration, issued a public warning to potential employers of foreign workers.  He said employers could be charged under the new anti-TIP law for cases involving abuse and exploitation of foreign workers.

The Department of Immigration began issuing to foreign students and workers new identification cards to use in lieu of passports to show legal status in Malaysia.  Director General of Immigration Wahid stated the card gave a possible trafficking victim a greater chance to escape abusive employment without the fear of being mistaken for an illegal immigrant (reftel D).

I.  (SBU) All Malaysian troops assigned to peacekeeping missions attended specialized training at the Peacekeeping Training Center in Port Dickson, Malaysia.  Training included embedded modules on trafficking in persons.  No charges or allegations of misconduct were filed against Malaysian service members during the reporting period.

7.  NOMINATION OF HEROES & BEST PRACTICES (PARAS 31 & 32)

(SBU) Post submits as best practices Sections 16 and 17 of Malaysia's comprehensive Anti-trafficking in Persons Act 2007.  Section 16 states that a trafficker cannot use as a defense that the victim consented to the act of trafficking in persons.  Section 17 states that the past sexual behavior of a trafficking victim is irrelevant and inadmissible for proving the trafficked person was engaged in other sexual behavior or to prove the trafficked person's sexual predisposition.  These two sections of the new law will strengthen law enforcement cases against traffickers and protect a trafficking victim from potential humiliation and re-victimizing on the witness stand.  Dr. Mohamed Mattar, an internationally recognized expert on TIP legislation from Johns Hopkins University, identified these two sections of Malaysia's law and highlighted them during discussions with GOM representatives (reftel D).  Post provided the full text of Malaysia's comprehensive anti-trafficking law to G/TIP and EAP.

KEITH (March 2008)

 

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Najib bullish on China FDI despite deal flip-flops

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 12:47 PM PDT

By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 — Malaysia expects foreign direct investment from China to grow despite a slate of recent last-minute reversals on deals with Chinese firms.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today FDI from China in the first eight months of 2011 had already grown 62 per cent from last year's total of US$208 million (RM645 million) to US$337 million and that there was still room for expansion.

"I hope China continues to see Malaysia as a good source of investment opportunities and that, in return, China will become an increasingly important source of FDI, not only in Malaysia but also in Asean," Bernama quoted him as saying at a roundtable with leading Chinese firms at this year's China-Asean Expo.

Najib (picture) also said the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) was in talks with Chinese companies on several projects, including in the agriculture, plantation, chemical, renewable energy and green technology sectors, some of which would materialise in the coming months.

Malaysia has in recent weeks snubbed Chinese firms in billion-ringgit deals in favour of local interests, prompting opposition lawmakers to warn Putrajaya its shifting position would further dent Malaysia's chances of spurring trade.

Earlier this month, the Finance Ministry dropped Chinese developer Everbright International Construction Ltd's US$1 billion redevelopment plan for Pudu Jail in favour of splitting the eight-hectare prime land into three parcels to be developed by mainly Bumiputera companies.

The Malaysian Insider understands that Pudu Jail land owner UDA Holdings Bhd had been told by the ministry to reject the Chinese bid despite a majority board decision in favour of the plan.

Putrajaya also decided to forgo a cheap RM2.6 billion loan from China to build the Second Penang Bridge and has instead asked state-owned Bank Pembangunan to further underwrite the construction of the 24km bridge, due in 2013.

The loan, seen as a sign of closer ties between Malaysia and its largest export market, was set with an interest loan of three per cent for 20 years, understood to be marginally lower than the rate offered by Bank Pembangunan.

 

READ MORE HERE.

UIA justifies Aziz Bari’s suspension

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 12:38 PM PDT

By Melissa Chi, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The International Islamic University Malaysia (UIA) has said Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari's suspension is not a "punishment" as his salary has not been docked and he can still enter the campus.

UIAM Rector Prof Datuk Dr Zaleha Kamaruddin told reporters yesterday the week-long suspension was to enable a detailed investigation to be carried out over allegations that the law professor criticised the Selangor Sultan.

"The university will pay his salary as usual and he is free to enter the university and associate with the faculty," she said.

Hundreds of UIA students gathered at the Gombak campus yesterday to demand the lecturer's reinstatement.

Abdul Aziz's (picture) colleagues and lecturers from other universities also backed him as he repeated yesterday that he did not attack the Selangor Sultan.

He had said he was fulfilling his role as an academic when he said earlier this month that the Sultan had intervened in an "unusual and inconsistent" manner on a church raid by religious authorities.

The suspension, beginning last Wednesday, followed Abdul Aziz's recent statement questioning the Sultan's decision with regard to the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) raid on the Methodist Damansara Utama Church (DUMC) last August 3.

Abdul Aziz is, however, obliged to respond to the show-cause letter issued to him by the university last Wednesday.

Zaleha said if he fails to reply within the given period, he would be summoned before the disciplinary board.

 

READ MORE HERE.

Cinema censorship in Bangi continues to draw criticism

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 11:30 AM PDT

By Wani Muttiah, The Star

PETALING JAYA: The cinema ban in Bangi by PAS is continuing to draw flak, with many describing the move as arbitrary and ludicrous.

Selangor Umno information chief Abdul Shukur Idrus said he failed to see the logic behind the ban.

"What is their motive? Do they actually think that having a cinema would corrupt morality?" he asked, challenging the party to impose a state-wide ban.

Selangor MCA secretary Wong Koon Mun said that instead of banning cinemas, PAS should look into the increase in immoral activities in the state after Pakatan Rakyat took over Selangor.

"There has been an increase in vice dens and also massage parlours, pubs and karaoke outlets since 2008.

"Why hasn't PAS said anything about this?

"They are shooting at the wrong target by banning cinemas in Bangi," he said.

MIC secretary-general S. Muru­gesan said PAS should "stop shoving its skewered values down people's throats".

"Cinemas are a legitimate and wholesome platform for entertainment.

"I don't know why PAS is viewing cinemas from a negative aspect," he added.

Writer Colin Kuan, 31, said it was annoying that PAS had initiated such a ban.

"It is ridiculous in this day and age that PAS is taking us back to the dark ages with its warped sense of morality," added Kuan, who writes for a magazine.

Veterinarian Dr Devan Arumugam Lingam said PAS was nit-picking on issues that had little impact on the country's progress.

"I also feel that a basic right is being taken away from me," said the 29-year-old.

He said the move indicated that the Selangor Government and Pakatan Rakyat had failed to come up with policies that suited the people.

TV profligacy

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 11:19 AM PDT

By P Gunasegaram, The Star

Increased distribution channels for home TV may well result in a proliferation of offerings to Malaysian viewers. But then again will it?

MUCH is happening at television these days. We now have high definition (HD) with crystal clear images on satellite TV and if the government undertakes a RM2bil programme to digitalise terrestrial TV, you may get HD over the air too.

We already have TV over the Internet in addition to the traditional terrestrial and satellite channels, leaving only cable yet to be developed as a major distribution channel.

But, the latest news is that we may also be plugged in via cable with a company already having obtained rights to that and recruiting heavily so as to be able to start services not too long from now.

Is that a good thing for Malaysians? Will we get more choice and be spoilt silly by a plethora of channels offering anything and everything under the sun barring pornography using all four main distribution channels?

Depends. It's a question of whether the new entrants have deep pockets, a good business plan, a long-term strategy, and great execution to eventually make their ventures profitable.

Basically, at the moment, the terrestrial stations such as TV3, TV1, TV2, NTV7 etc and the sole satellite TV provider, Astro, have the market more or less sewn up. While terrestrial TV is free and depends totally on advertising revenue, Astro still depends mainly on subscription from its over one million subscribers although its advertising revenue is increasing.

Now Internet Protocol TV or IPTV threatens to change the name of the game by offering channels at quite low cost. The main players appear to be TM with its Hypp TV offered with its Unifi broadband service, Maxis and Astro.

The new buzzword with the advent of high-speed broadband or HSBB is triple play – voice (phone), Internet and video (TV). TM is offering that with its Unifi while Maxis which has access to some of TM's rollout of HSBB is looking to its own triple play offering. Astro, keen to defend its pay TV market share, is also offering it's Beyond service on Internet.

The field is decidedly getting crowded but the vital keys to success are two – delivery and programming. TM's Unifi service forces IPTV upon the subscriber – they say its free and they cannot detach it from the Unifi service, much like you have to take Streamyx together with the fixed line even if you don't want it. Why that has to be so, I don't understand.

The take up for TM's Hypp TV will depend on the Unifi rollout which still seems to be slow and which some subscribers are not keen on because of installation, which requires in some cases hacking walls and digging up gardens. Still whether people will watch Hypp TV or not will depend on programming – if it is good they will watch it but if it is not, they won't.

Good programming costs money, eventually, lots of it if you want to, say, have a hundred channels or more like Astro. That means you have to charge for it and quite a bit at that.

It's going to be pretty difficult to go against Astro which has major programming and slots already sewn up and a strong revenue base. What would induce Astro subscribers to go somewhere else? Only one thing: Better programming at lower costs.

That's going to take quite a bit of doing – a very long gestation period, plenty of unremitting investment, great execution and an excellent delivery system. It's not impossible but it's going to be very difficult. Incidentally it took Astro 10 years to break even.

And we are not even talking about cable TV yet and the costs of pulling cables into the homes!

Meantime, if you could send digital terrestrial signals with that RM2bil plan we talked about earlier, that might see a revival of the free TV stations who will depend on advertising revenue to make their money.

What would I do meantime? I am not holding my breath for TV channels. Besides, I am not a great TV fan.

I just hope I can hook up to Unifi without major renovation to my house and digging up my garden yet again, and without the bother of TV and phone.

I have a very much under-utilised Astro Beyond service which is more than adequate for all my TV viewing and radio channels too. And I have a mobile phone and can use Skype for my overseas calls. And I can get programming on the Internet.

I don't want or need triple play. I just want and need single play – just get me on the Net with plenty of speed to surf, watch and download.

But the trouble is no one will give me that alone. And I am sure there are others like me out there. And if there is a need, there is a market, no? Hello, anybody out there?

Groups: Don’t interfere with a person’s freedom to choose their attire

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 11:14 AM PDT

(The Star) - PETALING JAYA: Having regulations or snoop squads in Kelantan to check on how Muslim women dress is ridiculous, say women's groups.

All Women's Action Society Malaysia (Awam) acting president Ho Yoke Lin said there was no need to snoop on or regulate a person's dressing.

"This is absurd. Why interfere with a person's freedom and dictate how they should or should not dress?

"What are they going to regulate next? Women know how to dress themselves," she said yesterday.

Ho was commenting on the Kelantan state government's move to enact council by-laws dictating how Muslim women should dress as well as the suggestion by a state councillor that a snoop squad be set up to spy on their dressing.

The state's local councils have issued 225 compounds for violation of dress code by-laws at business premises to date, it was reported.

Women's rights group Empower Malaysia executive director Maria Chin Abdullah said women were entitled to choose their dressing.

"The authorities should not be obsessed with how women dress.

"We have to respect people regardless of whether they are women, men, Muslims or non-Muslims. Everyone has a right to dress the way they want.

"Women do not need this form of intimidation or fear put in them," she said.

Women's Aid Organisation president Mok Chuang Lian said the way a woman dresses is a personal choice and her right.

"You cannot tell them what to wear. Why must one always dictate or form laws about what women should or should not wear?"

She said the focus should not be on women's dressing but tackling issues like corruption, poverty and crime.

"Dressing should be the least of their concerns. There are other pressing issues that need to be looked into," Chin said.

Stop The Intimidation Of Dr Abdul Aziz Bari

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 11:02 AM PDT

By Ratina Osman, Sisters in Islam

Sisters in Islam (SIS) is appalled at the current targeting of Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari by many sectors, including the police force and the International Islamic University of Malaysia (UIA).

As an academic whose interest lies in Constitutional matters and Islamic policies, Aziz acted within his professional bounds when he commented on the fallout from the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS)'s raid on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church on 3 August.

While some may take issue with Aziz's analysis, they should engage and challenge his views via civil, public discussions instead of intimidating him. To accuse him of treason (derhaka) when he was critiquing the monarchy's exercise of its Constitutional powers is unjust and in breach of Islamic adab.

After all, SIS is no stranger to intimidation by state authorities, political parties and non-governmental organisations when we comment on issues of public interest.

Therefore, we are concerned at the way Aziz is now being treated, such as being investigated under the Sedition Act and suspended by the UIA.

SIS is thus worried at the systematic demonising and shutting down of diverse voices wanting to discuss matters of public interest related to Islamic policies and laws in Malaysia.

We hope that various parties will show mercy and compassion towards Aziz and call for the harassment on him to stop.

 

RATNA OSMAN is Executive Director of SIS Forum (Malaysia)

MCA and hudud: Final part

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 10:58 AM PDT

By Stanley Koh, FMT

At a 2006 forum to discuss problems that non-Muslims face as Malaysian officialdom continues to assert the predominance of Islam in the country, a prominent scholar acknowledged – "with "sadness", he said – that there was great confusion about the religion, especially among Muslims themselves.

Syed Ali Tawfik al-Attas, director-general of the Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim), said that Muslim administrators and Islamic activists generally had a poor understanding of the Islamic view of "knowledge" even as they examined the religion with a fine-tooth comb.

"That is the problem with the Muslim world," he declared.

He explained that in Islamic scholarship, knowledge is generally separated into three types: interpretation of the meaning of what is perceived, revealed knowledge, and derived knowledge that is beneficial. This effectively means that non-beneficial knowledge is not construed as knowledge.

He stressed the importance of having the correct understanding of such terminologies as "freedom", "democracy" and "Islamisation" and the equal importance of recognising that they were open to different conceptualisations.

Citing an example, he said the word the Arabs use for "democracy" could be translated as "preservation of the mind", which implies a wealth of meanings.

"Yet, this preservation is today limited to halal-haram issues," he said, adding that this was one symptom of "the truncation and tragedy of Islam".

The forum that Syed Ali addressed, which was organised by a group of think-tanks, shed much light on issues raised during the 2001 forum that MCA held following Dr Mahathir Mohamad's declaration that Malaysia was an Islamic state.

Many of those issues centred around the unhappiness of non-Muslims with the arrogance of the civil service in deciding on and implementing policies that affected the religious practices of non-Muslims.

Syed Ali's presentation made it quite clear that such arrogance was born of ignorance.

The Moorthy controversy

Referring to the case of Everest climber Maniam Moorthy, who died in 2005 and was buried as a Muslim in the face of his family's objections, Syed Ali said it would not have been such a big issue if the officials in charge had been more knowledgeable and less arrogant.

He explained that in Islam it does not matter where one is buried. He said the Moorthy controversy illustrated how it was the mind of Muslims, and not Islam itself, that was limited.

At the MCA forum, representatives from the Inter-Religious Council of Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism spoke of difficulties in getting approval for land on which to build places of worship and even for the renovation of those places.

Rev Wong Kheng Kong said civil servants carried out their work with a clear bias for Islam instead of sticking to the constitutional provisions on religious rights. He feared that Mahathir's declaration would make matters worse.


READ MORE HERE.

PKR touts newer, younger faces for GE

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 10:54 AM PDT

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 — PKR will field fresher, young candidates for the next general election with a set criterion that aspiring lawmakers must have a solid educational background — they must be either qualified professionals or semi-professionals.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution told The Malaysian Insider this was PKR's "new niche" or formula for the 13th general election where younger, qualified candidates will eventually replace some of the incumbent parliamentary and state representatives.

"We will be putting up younger, skilful candidates with no political baggage," said the Machang MP.

The Malaysian Insider understands that the PKR national leadership has begun talks with incumbent lawmakers with regards to allowing "new blood" to take over some seats. It is also learnt that some representatives have expressed "willingness" to allow the process to take place.

"Party leaders have started talking to incumbents informally, it won't be that easy but the process will take place," Saifuddin (picture) said.

He remained optimistic about PKR's survival and future in Malaysian politics despite the fact that the 12-year old Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition party has seen its fair share of controversies, with as many as five MP defections last year as well as a fractious attempt at direct party elections

"Since this year, we have been recruiting, and have been receiving applications from young aspiring candidates, some already members and some new members, with as many as seven to eight interested candidates per constituency.

 

READ MORE HERE.

Sebelum ambil tindakan ke atas Prof Aziz Bari, ambil tindakan terhadap pemimpin UMNO dulu

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 04:05 AM PDT

ASPAN ALIAS

Sekarang Aziz Bari dari UIA pula yang menjadi sasaran. Saya selalu berkata di dalam pimpinan UMNO dan BN bercakap benar adalah satu kesalahan. Berbeza pendapat itu adalah kesalahan. Jika sesiapa yang mengkritik secara berterusan akan ada sahaja helah untuk memberikan tekanan kepada seseorang itu.

UMNO dan BN sudah beraja di hati dan bersultan di mata. Aziz Bari tidak mengkritik Sultan tetapi beliau di tuduh berbuat demikian. Mereka berkuasa dan mempengaruhi pentadbiran UIA untuk menghantar surat tunjuk sebab kepada Aziz Bari. Kata-kata Aziz Bari di interpretasikan sebagai menderhaka kepada Sultan.

Entah bila UMNO ini sayang pada Raja saya pun tak tahu. Setahu saya UMNOlah yang menderhaka kepada Raja pada 1993 dahulu. UMNOlah yang telah menelanjangkan Raja-Raja Melayu dalam krisis perlembagaan itu. Ramai pemimpin UMNO yang membuat kenyataan mengkritik Raja sebagai institusi yang kononnya sudah tiada relevannya lagi.

Malahan ada ahli Parlimen bercakap begitu bongkak dengan mencadangkan Raja_Raja Melayu di ikat dan dirotan dan sebagainya. Lebih menyedihkan lagi Almarhum Tuanku Jaafar telah dituduh menyewakan tanah untuk membela babi di Bukit Pelandok. Utusan Malaysia lah yang mengetuai serangan terhadap Raja Melayu semasa itu.

Media perdana telah mensensasikan isu Raja-Raja Melayu dan memfitnah Raja Melayu seolah Raja-Raja Melayu itu lebih rendah dari manusia biasa. Apabila saya sebut isu ini ada pula yang mengatakan Dr Mahathir melakukannya semata-mata untuk kebaikan Raja Melayu itu sendiri dan berbagai-bagai alasan yang diberikan oleh penyokong beliau bagi menghalalkan tindakan menghina Raja-Raja Melayu itu.

Kenapa sekarang UMNO dan pemimpin-pemimpin yang menghina secara direct semasa itu tidak dihadapkan ke mahkamah sedangkan perlembagaan negara telah dengan terang menyatakan yang Raja tidak boleh di sentuh samada di dalam atau di luar parlimen. Kenapa Dr Mahathir, dan ramai di antara pemimpin UMNO semasa itu tidak di kemukakan kepada pengadilan sedangkan Aziz Bari yang hanya membawa pandangan akademik itu dengan pantas di perlakukan dengan tidak adil.

Aziz Bari adalah seorang tokoh akademik dan beliau mempunyai pengikut dan ramai yang memberikan perhatian terhadap pandangan beliau. Mahasiswa UIA kini sedang memberontak kerana tindakan yang tidak adil terhadap seorang tokoh akademik yang serius yang pandangannya diambil perhatian bukan sahaja oleh Mahasiswa UIA tetapi juga oleh masyarakat ramai yang mengikuti pemikiran beliau.

Hari demi hari pihak yang memerintah menunjukan sikap tidak menghargai pandangan terbuka seorang yang serius terhadap keadaan semasa negara. Tindakan terhadap Aziz Bari mendapat tentangan orang ramai kecuali dari mereka yang buntu dan jumud pemikiran.

READ MORE HERE

 

WIKILEAKS: MALAYSIA'S EIGHTH ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 01:00 AM PDT

There were no accurate statistics for the total number of trafficking victims in Malaysia. Malaysia employed approximately 2.5 million migrant workers in 2007, 40 to 45% of whom were undocumented. Government and NGO statistics assess there are some 380,000 to 400,000 women employed as domestic servants in Malaysia, an unknown number of whom worked in abusive situations exacerbated by conditions of debt bondage. 

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

 Summary

1.  (SBU) Malaysia made significant efforts to combat trafficking in persons during this reporting period, marking a positive shift from previous years.  Malaysia's drafting, passage, and enactment of a comprehensive anti-trafficking in persons law represents an important advance in Malaysia's commitment to meet international standards for combating this crime. 

The government of Malaysia (GOM) took action on most of the elements included in the Tier 3 action plan that the U.S. proposed during the reporting period.  The GOM established the National Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons (National Council).  The Council, working with Malaysia's Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) drafted a national action plan. 

The GOM also instituted training programs for law enforcement and government officials with new anti-trafficking responsibilities.  The Ministry for Women, Family, and Community Development (Women's Ministry) built two shelters for trafficking victims and trained the shelters' staff, along with newly designated protection officers, but had not opened the shelters as of the end of February pending full activation of the anti-TIP law. 

The Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) rescued trafficking victims and often referred them to NGOs, the Catholic Church, and foreign embassies that operated shelters and/or provided social services to trafficking victims.  The RMP continued to investigate several trafficking cases, and detained 55 suspected traffickers under the Emergency Ordinance and Restricted Residence Act.  Police often referred rescued victims to NGOs, the Catholic Church, and foreign embassies operated shelters. 

On February 28, the GOM issued three necessary "legislative supplements" bringing the new anti-TIP law fully into effect.  Malaysia has yet to comply fully with U.S. minimum standards and should address many shortfalls primarily through full enforcement of its comprehensive anti-trafficking law to include: opening of victims shelters, screening for TIP victims by relevant government agencies, and enforcement action against traffickers under the law.

Malaysia was a destination, and to a lesser extent, a transit and source country for adults and minors trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation.  End Summary.

2.  (U) Embassy's submission for the Eighth Annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report for Malaysia follows. Responses are keyed to paragraphs 27 - 30 of ref A. Embassy's point of contact for TIP is political officer Enrique R. Gallego (phone: 603-2148-4891 or 984-4831 (IVG), fax: 603-2168-5165, email: gallegoer@state.gov).  The Embassy spent the following time preparing the TIP report: FS-2: 12 hours; FS-3: 60 hours; FSN: 40 hours.

3.  CHECKLIST (PARA 27)

A. (SBU) Malaysia was a destination, and to a lesser extent, a transit and source country for adults and minors trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation. The overwhelming majority of victims came to Malaysia seeking greater economic opportunities, but later found themselves victimized either by their employers, employment agents, or traffickers that supplied migrant laborers and prostitutes in Malaysia. 

Trafficking in Malaysia was a regional problem driven by economics.  Migrant workers from Indonesia, Nepal, India, Thailand, China, the Philippines, Burma, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Vietnam accounted for nearly all of Malaysia's trafficking victims.  Trafficking of Malaysians, specifically women from indigenous groups and rural areas, for labor and sex exploitation occurred within Malaysia.

There were no accurate statistics for the total number of trafficking victims in Malaysia.  Malaysia employed approximately 2.5 million migrant workers in 2007, 40 to 45% of whom were undocumented.  Government and NGO statistics assess there are some 380,000 to 400,000 women employed as domestic servants in Malaysia, an unknown number of whom worked in abusive situations exacerbated by conditions of debt bondage. 

Tenaganita and foreign embassies reported migrant workers on plantations and construction sites were often subject to similar restrictions on their movement, deceit and fraud concerning their wages, confiscation of their passports, and often were in debt bondage to agents or employers.  There were no reliable statistics for the number of victims trafficked into prostitution, but the Royal

Malaysian Police (RMP), foreign embassies and NGOs reported at least 800 female victims were rescued from trafficking conditions in the commercial sex trade in 2007.

Approximately 20 percent of the trafficking victims sheltered and rescued by NGOs and foreign embassies were below the age of 18.  The Women's Ministry sought to contract a statistician to develop a new database so the Ministry could better document trafficking.  The draft national action plan included using data collection to analyze the scale and nature of trafficking in Malaysia.

B.  (SBU) Most trafficking victims in Malaysia were economic migrants seeking better wages than those available in their countries of origin.  Anecdotal evidence from the Indonesian Embassy, GOM, the press, and NGOs indicated Indonesia, the dominant source of migrant labor to Malaysia, remained the source of the greatest number of trafficking victims. 

Our interviews with trafficking victims revealed a common pattern.  Typically, an employment agent recruited the trafficking victim from his or her home village, in the first step of a debt-bondage arrangement with a Malaysian employer. For an initial payment, or more often for a certain debt, the recruiter obtained a passport (with false data for underage girls, usually showing the girls' age as 25), an exit permit, and transportation from Indonesia to Malaysia.

Upon arrival, a Malaysian employment agent assumed control of and assisted with entry.  The Malaysian employment agents often avoided individual immigration inspection of the trafficking victims.  Generally, the Malaysian employment agent paid the Indonesian agent for supplying the worker, or the worker acquired additional debt with the new agent for placement, employment documentation, transportation, temporary lodging, etc. 

Employment agents placed most workers in their previously agreed positions as domestics, agricultural workers, etc.  However, some agents sold individuals into brothels, karaoke bars, or passed them to sex traffickers.  Employers commonly confiscated workers' passports.  Some employers forced laborers to work long hours, without pay, until the debt-bond was paid. Reportedly, similar modus operandi applied to migrant workers from Bangladesh and Vietnam.

(SBU) Regardless of their origin, victims of trafficking were usually poor, uneducated, unskilled laborers recruited by their fellow citizens but later passed to Malaysian agents. Some victims were willingly smuggled into Malaysia or entered on tourist visas, but found themselves victimized when they voluntarily or involuntarily entered the undocumented labor market. 

Debt bondage was the most common form of control employers exerted over victims, regardless of whether the victim was employed in licit or illicit activities. Information from the Royal Malaysian Police, Catholic Church, and the NGO Tenaganita indicated organized syndicates represented the bulk of traffickers (reftels E and G).

Exploiters ranged from large plantations and factories to entertainment centers and karaoke bars to families exploiting domestic workers.  The RMP reported that a number of large organized criminal syndicates, as well as a few smaller groups, trafficked foreign women into Malaysia, using Malaysia either as the women's final destination or as a transit point to a third country.  The syndicates sometimes used employment agencies as fronts for both people smuggling and trafficking in persons. 

Sex tourism was not common in Malaysia though there were reports of sex tourism on the Malaysian island of Labuan, off the coast of Borneo (reftel

F).  There were a few reports of marriage brokers selling Vietnamese and Chinese women to Malaysian men, but such incidents appeared limited in number.

C.  (SBU) The newly formed National Council for Anti-trafficking in Persons is made up of government agencies with a role in combating trafficking as mandated in the new anti-TIP law (reftels D, I, and J).  The Ministry of Internal Security is the lead ministry regarding trafficking and the Secretary General of the Ministry chairs the Council.  Other agencies with representation on the Council are: Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Home Affairs; Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development; Ministry of Human Resources; Ministry of Transport; Ministry of Information; the Attorney General's Office; the Royal Malaysian Police; the Department of Immigration; the Department of Customs; and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.  Malaysia's Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) also sits on the Council.

D.  (SBU) The police conducted internal training regimes to build capacity to address identified gaps in capabilities, which included identifying trafficking victims, evidence collection and management, and interagency and international coordination (reftels G and H).  The RMP worked with the United States, France, and Australia to develop training programs.  The Women's Ministry lacked practical experience assisting trafficking victims and organized training for Ministry officers, tapped as trafficking victim protection officers, and personnel tasked to operate trafficking victims' shelters (reftel D). 

Low-level corruption remained a secondary issue in stemming the flow of trafficking victims.  The RMP instituted a proactive anti-corruption campaign to combat low-level corruption.  Low-level immigration officials and police "beat cops" were among Malaysia's lowest paid public servants, making them vulnerable to corruption.

E.  (SBU) The GOM did not maintain specific statistics for trafficking in persons.  The RMP and Immigration Department provided anecdotal reports on trafficking victims rescued but had little or no data to share on actual trafficking victims. Two local NGOs, Tenaganita and the Women's Aid Organization (WAO), and the Embassies of Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines reported the RMP referred over 300 suspected victims of trafficking to their respective missions in 2007. At least 25 women, all Indonesians employed as domestic workers, were underage when brought to Malaysia.  In each case, they used authentic Indonesian passports, provided by recruiters, with false biographical data listing all of the girls as 25 years old.

4.  INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS (PARA 28)

A.  (SBU)  In this reporting period, the GOM completed drafting and passed the comprehensive Anti-trafficking in Persons Act (Act 670), gazetted on July 26, 2007 (reftels I and J).  The law includes provisions for both trafficking in persons for sexual and non-sexual exploitation. 

The law's scope encompasses offenses that took place both in and out of Malaysia.  The law is applicable if Malaysia is the receiving country or exploitation occurs in Malaysia.  The law also includes cases when the receiving country is a foreign country, but the trafficking victim started in or transited through Malaysia. 

The law includes extension of the Act to extra-territorial offenses including on ships and aircraft registered in Malaysia and Malaysian citizens and permanent residents outside and beyond the limits of Malaysia benefiting from the exploitation of trafficking victims.  The law states it is the prevailing law regarding trafficking in persons and supersedes conflicting or inconsistent provisions of other written laws.

(SBU) Since gazetting the law in July 2007, the GOM brought the anti-TIP Act into force in a step-by-step process.  On February 28, 2008, the GOM issued three necessary "notifications of legislative supplements," essentially administrative notifications that put all sections of the law into force, according to the Attorney General's Office.  The notifications were legal preconditions for Malaysian police and prosecutors to take law enforcement actions under the anti-TIP law (as well as open shelters for victims, see below).

(SBU) The law's definitions of trafficking include both trafficking of persons and trafficking of children for the purpose of exploitation.  If persons convicted of trafficking also used threats, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power, etc., the law provides for lengthier prison sentences.  The law includes provisions for punishing persons profiting from the exploitation of trafficking victims.

(SBU) Malaysia has other laws that can criminalize trafficking or elements of trafficking.  The following is a summary of the legal provisions that authorities could use in Malaysia against traffickers in addition to the new comprehensive anti-TIP law.

-- Constitution, Articles 6(1) and 6(2): Prohibit slavery and forced labor.

-- Penal Code, Sections 340-348: Address "wrongful confinement" of a person against his/her will.  Punishments include maximum prison terms from one to three years and a fine.

-- Penal Code, Section 372: Amended in 2002 to include stronger anti-trafficking language, addresses exploitation of any person for purposes of prostitution.  Exploitation is defined to include selling, hiring, or otherwise obtaining possession of any person with the intention to employ or use the person for the purpose of prostitution (either inside or outside of Malaysia) or knowing or having reason to believe that the person will be so employed or used.  Section 372 expands the offense of exploitation to include using false pretense or deceitful means to bring into or take out of Malaysia any person; harboring or receiving any (exploited) person and wrongfully restraining any person in any place.

Wrongfully restraining is further defined as withholding clothing or property, threatening the person with legal proceedings to recover any debt or alleged debt, and detaining a person's identity card or passport.  Punishment under this section of the Code includes a prison term, which may extend to 15 years, caning and a fine.

-- Penal Code, Section 372A: Provides the same penalties as section 372 for anyone who lives wholly or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of another person.

-- Penal Code, Section 373: Provides the same penalties as section 372 for anyone who keeps, manages, or assists in the management of a brothel.

-- Penal Code, Section 374: Addresses unlawful compulsory labor and includes punishment by imprisonment for a maximum one-year term and the possibility of a fine.

-- Immigration Act, Sections 55(A) and Sections 56(1)(d): Covers a wide spectrum of immigration violations related to illegal entry or entry under false pretenses.  The Act also addresses "employing" and "conveying" illegal aliens.  The Act was amended in 2002 to toughen significantly punishments for immigration violators.  Those convicted of illegal entry face a fine of up to MYR 10,000 (USD 3,125) (USD 1 = MYR 3.2) and/or a prison sentence of up to five years, and caning of up to a maximum of six strokes.  The penalty for employing an illegal alien is a fine of between MYR 10,000-50,000 (USD 3,125-15,625) for every illegal immigrant employed and/or a prison term of up to 12 months. 

An employer employing more than five illegal immigrants will be imprisoned from six months to five years and caned up to a maximum of six strokes.  The penalty for "conveying" (trafficking) illegal immigrants is a fine of MYR 10,000-50,000 (USD 3,125-15,625) for every individual trafficked.  An individual convicted for trafficking more than five illegal immigrants will also be imprisoned for between six months and five years, and caned up to a maximum of six strokes.

-- Child Act (2001): Merges provisions from an array of diverse legislation pertaining to children and young persons (the Women and Girls Protection Act, the Juvenile Court Act, and the Child protection Act) into one law.  The Act specifically prohibits trafficking of children and makes it an offense to sell, let to hire, or procure (by threat or intimidation by false pretense, fraud, or deceit) any child (defined as anyone under the age of 18) for the purpose of sexual exploitation.  Penalties for these offenses are a maximum prison term of 15 years and a maximum fine of MYR 50,000 (USD 15,625).  The Child Act also authorizes the police to provide protection and rehabilitation for children in need.  A child in need is defined to include a child who "is being induced to perform any sexual act, or being in any physical or social environment which may lead to the performance of such act".

-- Passports Act: Criminalizes the forgery or alteration of travel documents (including passports, residence permits, and visas).  Also criminalizes false statements or misrepresentation used to gain illegal entry into Malaysia.

Penalties range from MYR 10,000-100,000 (USD 3,125-31,250) fine, 5-10 years in prison, and six strokes of a cane. Section 12(1)(f) of the Passports Act also criminalizes the unlawful possession of another persons passport; the penalty for which is a fine not exceeding MYR 10,000 and/or imprisonment not exceeding five years.

Preventive Laws:

-- The Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance (EO): Used against persons, usually criminal syndicates that are involved in illicit activities (such as violent crime, document forgery and people smuggling), which threaten public order.

-- Restricted Residence Act (RRA): Allows the government to require individuals who are suspected of engaging in criminal activity including trafficking to move to a pre-determined location in the country and remain there under close police supervision.  The RRA does not require a formal charge to be filed against the suspected individual.

B.  (SBU) The new comprehensive anti-TIP law does not distinguish between trafficking for sexual and non-sexual exploitation.  In both cases, the law includes the same guidelines for imprisonment and fines.  The Attorney General's office did not convict anyone specifically for trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation, but detained 34 suspected traffickers under RRA and 21 suspected traffickers under EO in 2007.  The 55 suspected traffickers were allegedly involved with trafficking for sexual exploitation.

C.  (SBU) If convicted of trafficking in persons under the new anti-TIP law, a person is subject to a maximum sentence of 15 years and a fine.  For cases involving coercion, fraud, deception and cases of child trafficking, the maximum sentence is 20 years and fine.  Profiting from the exploitation of a trafficking victim carries a maximum sentence of 15 years and a fine of ranging from MYR 50,000 - 150,000 (USD 15,625 - 46,875).  The law makes inadmissible and irrelevant prior consent of the trafficking victim and past sexual behavior.

D.  (SBU) The prescribed penalties for rape include a maximum sentence of 20 years and caning.  If the woman is hurt, "put in fear of death," is under 16 years of age, pregnant, or a victim of incest, the maximum sentence is 30 years and caning.  If the victim dies, the sentence is 15-30 years and a minimum caning of ten strokes.  Under Malaysian law, rape is a crime of a man against a woman.  Rape between men is covered under a different section of the law with sentence guidelines of 5-20 years imprisonment and caning.

E.  (SBU) Federal law criminalizes profiting from prostitution and bans pornography.  The law also criminalizes the act of prostitution by foreigners.  Although not widely enforced, under Malaysia's dual legal system incorporating shari'a courts, Muslims are subject to Islamic laws prohibiting khalwat, or "close proximity", between men and women who are not married to each other.  Punishments varied from state to state, usually included a fine and jail sentence, but in most cases were settled with a warning and did not involve selling of sexual services.  Under federal criminal law, solicitation and operating and/or owning a brothel are criminal offenses.  These laws were enforced. Child prostitution is not legal.

F.  (SBU) The GOM formally brought into force the law enforcement provisions of the anti-TIP Act as of February 28, 2008, according to the Attorney General's Office (see above).

Pending this step, the GOM did not prosecute traffickers under the new anti-TIP law.  The GOM took other legal actions against traffickers and the RMP had several pending investigations into TIP rings as of late February.  On November 23, 2007, a Malaysian court convicted a 32-year old, HIV positive Malaysian citizen for procuring a 14-year-old girl for sex.  He received a sentence of 43 years in jail, 20 strokes of the cane, and fined MYR 50,000 ($15,625).  Police arrested a couple in Sabah on January 26, 2008 for holding seven Filipina women to work as prostitutes.  The couple recruited the seven women with promises of jobs as waitresses.  The couple remained in detention and the case remained under investigation at the end of February.

(SBU) The RMP reported it actively investigated cases of trafficking involving victims of commercial sexual exploitation.  Police efforts to break criminal syndicates were complicated by layers of intermediaries, some of whom reside outside Malaysia.  Often trafficking victims, both Malaysians who have gone abroad and foreigners brought to Malaysia, may only know one intermediary, who is probably using a false identity. 

In investigating cases of trafficking, police investigators attempted to question repatriated Malaysian victims as soon as they returned, but the victims usually could not or refused to provide enough information to assist the investigation.  In some cases, rescued victims feared retaliation by the traffickers.  In other cases, such as the rescue of four Filipina women trafficked into prostitution in November 2007, the women preferred to assist police in their countries of origin.

(SBU) Some of the investigations involved raids to rescue trafficking victims.  A recent raid, in January 2008, rescued 34 suspected trafficking victims hidden in a false room within a hotel.  The RMP were actively pursuing leads resulting from the rescue/raid at the end of the reporting period.

(SBU) According to Malaysia's Director of Immigration Enforcement, the government did not prosecute employers who confiscated passports of migrant workers although confiscation of passports is in violation of Section 12(1)(f) of the Passports Act.  It was common practice for the wages of the employee to be held in "escrow" until completion of a contract and widely accepted by homeowners employing a domestic servant, plantation owners, or small factory owners employing migrant laborers.  Police did not charge most bona fide traffickers, but jailed them under preventive laws.

This was consistent with law enforcement actions taken against terrorists, narcotics traffickers, and perpetrators of other complex criminal conspiracies.  Generally, authorities charged petty pimps under the penal code.  The chief of the RMP's vice squad did not see any end to the use of preventive laws intackling trafficking issues, even with a new anti-trafficking law, due to the difficulties in collecting evidence necessary to bring proper convictions.

G.  (SBU) The GOM provided specialized training to government personnel with responsibilities to combat trafficking under the new law.  The Women's Ministry conducted a series of training events to build capacity for its new trafficking victims protection officers.  The RMP also conducted various training events, both internal and training assisted by the U.S. Department of Justice's International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) and the governments of Australia and France.  The RMP participated in two workshops sponsored by ICITAP in co-operation with the French government.  The RMP co-hosted one of the workshops in the east Malaysian state of Sarawak. 

In November, an ICITAP instructor met with senior RMP officials to discuss the basic elements of the new anti-TIP law and to share experiences from other regional countries' efforts to confront trafficking.  The government sponsored or co-sponsored a number of conferences and workshops aimed at developing implementation guidelines for the new anti-TIP law, formulating strategies aimed at preventing trafficking.  Both Tenaganita and SUHAKAM presented a series of workshops to government representatives on TIP throughout the year.  The Malaysian Armed Forces received TIP awareness training prior to peacekeeping deployments.

H. (SBU) Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Brunei and Thailand used the guidelines of the multilateral "Agreement on Information Exchange and the Establishment of Communication Procedures" as a framework for cooperation on border and security incidents, transnational crimes (including trafficking in persons), and other illegal activities.  Malaysia was an active partner in the "Bali Process," a regional mechanism to combat people smuggling and human trafficking initiated by Australia and Indonesia.

(SBU) Additionally, Malaysia shared intelligence on trafficking syndicates with the United Kingdom, Australia, and Interpol.  The Sabah state government maintained an agreement with the government of the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan to cooperate on a range of shared cross-border challenges, including finding and arresting human traffickers and dismantling syndicates.

I.  (SBU) There were no extraditions of Malaysian nationals for trafficking offenses in 2007.  Section 108A of the Penal Code allows Malaysian authorities to prosecute a Malaysian who commits or abets a crime in another country that would be deemed an offense under the Penal Code.  Malaysia is a party to the ASEAN Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, which is designed to facilitate and expedite regional cooperation in fighting transnational crime.  Malaysian law does not prohibit extradition of Malaysian nationals.  The Philippines and Indonesian Embassies reported that the RMP cooperated with them on anti-trafficking law enforcement matters.

J.  (SBU) There were no substantiated reports of direct government involvement in trafficking of persons at either the local or institutional level.  Senior RMP officials and NGOs reported local police and immigration authorities often

lacked the awareness and skills to identify trafficking victims trapped in prostitution or situations of forced labor.  The RMP developed new procedures to increase police officers' abilities to identify trafficking victims.

K.  (SBU) No government officials were implicated, arrested, or tried for involvement in the trafficking in persons or corruption related to trafficking in persons.

L.  (SBU) All troops assigned to peacekeeping missions received training on trafficking in persons at Malaysia's Peacekeeping Training Center at Port Dickson.  There were no allegations that Malaysian servicemembers were involved in TIP or exploited trafficking victims.

M.  (SBU) Malaysia did not have an identified child sex tourism problem, although there were known instances of victims under 18 years of age that were trafficked for sexual exploitation.

5.  PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS (PARA 29)

A/B/C.  (SBU) The RMP referred over 200 suspected trafficking victims to NGO and embassy operated shelters.  The government prepared, but did not open two designated trafficking victims' shelters during the reporting period.  The GOM did not release budgetary information regarding the two shelters.

Some suspected trafficking victims continued to be housed at immigration detention centers, pending repatriation, but were not charged under immigration or other possible violations.

There was no information available regarding funding and assistance the GOM provided to trafficking victims and to NGOs involved in combating trafficking.

D.  (SBU) The Royal Malaysian Police instituted an informal referral process referring known victims to their respective embassies and the Tenaganita TIP shelter.  Police also delivered some suspected TIP victims to immigration detention centers.  The RMP and the National Council were developing procedures for identifying victims of trafficking and a formal system for referring known victims to appropriate care facilities.

E.  (SBU) N/A

F.  (SBU) Potential victims continued to be charged for prostitution and immigration charges.  If victims were not identified, they were often fined and later deported as illegal immigrants.

G.  (SBU) The Malaysian government encouraged victims to assist in the investigation and prosecution of traffickers, but reported that most victims were unwilling to testify or did not have sufficient information to assist in a prosecution.  A trafficking victim may file a civil suit against a trafficker under Malaysian law.  Many migrant workers filed civil suits against employers that did not pay them the salary promised or forced them to work in abusive conditions. 

While there were no specific impediments to the victims' access to such legal redress, they usually were not allowed to obtain employment while the court considered their cases.  Thus, for economic reasons victims usually did not pursue this type of action.  Victims who were material witnesses in court cases against former employers were also required to remain in the country until the case was concluded.  Most victims were unwilling or unable to wait for justice, and returned home without their cases coming to trial.  There were no government restitution programs for victims during the reporting period.

H.  (SBU) The GOM referred over 200 victims to shelters, operated by NGOs and embassies, during the reporting period. Pending opening of the shelters established by the new anti-TIP law, the GOM did not provide shelter or housing benefits.  In some cases, child victims were referred to their embassies for repatriation.  One of the two government-funded trafficking victims' shelters was designated for children and has a capacity for 45 individuals.  Immigration authorities did not use a formal system to screen detained foreign prostitutes for identification as trafficking victims.  Instead, immigration officials processed them for the quickest possible deportation.  In some cases, especially those involving deportation over land borders such as along the Malaysian-Indonesian border on Borneo, this made trafficking victims vulnerable to traffickers operating near the border.

I.  (SBU) Protection officers from the Women's Ministry received specialized training for assisting trafficking victims (reftel D).  The RMP also initiated training on trafficking victim identification.  Information was not available regarding specialized training for assisting child victims.  GOM did not provide training to its embassies and consulates located in destination and transit countries.

J.  (SBU) Repatriated Malaysian victims who did not have the support of family or friends were referred to the Women's Ministry for public assistance.  The welfare wing of a political party, the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), also offered services to repatriated victims.

K.  (SBU) Tenaganita offered comprehensive services to TIP victims.  Tenaganita worked with the RMP, various international organizations, including the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, as well as with other foreign NGOs to combat labor and sex trafficking throughout Malaysia.

Previously, Tenaganita received funding from G/PRM to operate their shelter for TIP victims.  Tenaganita's shelter can house up to 25 women.  Most victims remained at the shelter for an average of three months.  Tenaganita provided counseling, medical assistance and language training to foreign and domestic victims of trafficking.  The NGO Women's Aid Organization (WAO) used its domestic violence shelter to house eight trafficking victims during the reporting period. WAO provided counseling services and assisted the RMP interview victims.  The Malaysian Bar Council and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (IFWL) continued to provide pro bono legal assistance to victims of trafficking.

6.  PREVENTION (PARA 30)

A.  (SBU) The GOM acknowledged that trafficking is a problem and senior Malaysian leaders spoke publicly about the need for action.  When the Anti-TIP law was first tabled in parliament, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Nazri Aziz said, "This law will address concerns raised about human trafficking and arm enforcement agencies with the tools to fight it." 

Commenting on the drafting of the new comprehensive anti-TIP law, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi said, "We do whatever we can to curb human trafficking and that is why we decided to have that bill."  He added that the severity of the penalties and punishment for human traffickers in the law reflected the government's will to see the crime stopped.  Secretary General for the Ministry of Home Affairs Aseh Che Mat publicly stated that the issues of abused and unpaid maids needed to be addressed and properly handled. 

SUHAKAM Commissioner N. Siva stated, "We need co-operation from non-governmental organizations, government agencies and other instruments in neighboring countries to curb this organized trans-national crime."  On January 11, 2008, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and Indonesian President Yudhoyono issued a joint statement that reiterated their countries' stance that TIP was a crime against humanity and restated the commitment of both leaders' to work together to combat trafficking.

B.  (SBU)  The GOM did not sponsor anti-trafficking information or education campaigns during the reporting period.

C.  (SBU)  Government agencies worked closely with NGOs, civil society organizations, and international organizations on TIP during the reporting cycle.  The GOM collaborated with SUHAKAM during the drafting of the national action plan. SUHAKAM was the lead agency during the drafting of the plan, which was presented to the Ministry of Internal Security in December 2007 for adoption and implementation (reftel D).

Police worked with Tenaganita and the Catholic Church to shelter and assist repatriating rescued trafficking victims to their countries of origin.  Police cooperation with the Catholic Church provided an international network capable of linking rescued victims with NGOs and civil society organizations in their countries of origin.  Tenaganita worked with police in assisting over 100 rescued TIP victims during the reporting period.

D.(SBU) As part of the new comprehensive anti-TIP law, the National Council, law enforcement agencies, and, the Women's Ministry established working groups to develop and implement new TIP monitoring procedures.  The Department of Immigration began to deploy a new biometric system intended for all border entry points to screen individuals for prior entry into Malaysia.  This system also guarded against entry under assumed identities, which traffickers often used when bringing victims through border crossings.  Additionally, the biometric system guarded against traffickers attempts to re-traffic a previous trafficking victim to Malaysia.

E.  (SBU) The National Council for Combating Trafficking is the formal interagency group, formed under the new anti-TIP law.  The Council met three times during the reporting period to address initial implementation of the new law.  The Council established three committees, Law Enforcement, Protection, and Legislative, to develop new operating procedures and deal with specific issues, identified as necessary for the implementation and enforcement of the new anti-TIP law.  The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) is responsible for investigating alleged public corruption.

F.  (SBU)  SUHAKAM drafted the GOM's national action plan. The plan addressed four main components, 1) prevention and awareness, 2) victim protection, care, and support, 3) legislative framework and policy development, and 4) law enforcement.  SUHAKAM consulted with local NGOs during its initial drafting of the action plan.  During the final drafting, SUHAKAM representatives joined a working group led by the Ministry of Internal Security to finalize the draft before the action plan was presented for adoption to the Ministry of Internal Security in December 2007.

G.  (SBU) The RMP conducted multiple police investigations and raids during the reporting cycle.  Police targeted raids on venues used as fronts for brothels, such as karaoke bars, hotels, spas, etc.

(SBU) In January 2008, Mohamed Ishak, Director General for Enforcement in the Department of Immigration, issued a public warning to potential employers of foreign workers.  He said employers could be charged under the new anti-TIP law for cases involving abuse and exploitation of foreign workers.

The Department of Immigration began issuing to foreign students and workers new identification cards to use in lieu of passports to show legal status in Malaysia.  Director General of Immigration Wahid stated the card gave a possible trafficking victim a greater chance to escape abusive employment without the fear of being mistaken for an illegal immigrant (reftel D).

I.  (SBU) All Malaysian troops assigned to peacekeeping missions attended specialized training at the Peacekeeping Training Center in Port Dickson, Malaysia.  Training included embedded modules on trafficking in persons.  No charges or allegations of misconduct were filed against Malaysian service members during the reporting period.

7.  NOMINATION OF HEROES & BEST PRACTICES (PARAS 31 & 32)

(SBU) Post submits as best practices Sections 16 and 17 of Malaysia's comprehensive Anti-trafficking in Persons Act 2007.  Section 16 states that a trafficker cannot use as a defense that the victim consented to the act of trafficking in persons.  Section 17 states that the past sexual behavior of a trafficking victim is irrelevant and inadmissible for proving the trafficked person was engaged in other sexual behavior or to prove the trafficked person's sexual predisposition.  These two sections of the new law will strengthen law enforcement cases against traffickers and protect a trafficking victim from potential humiliation and re-victimizing on the witness stand.  Dr. Mohamed Mattar, an internationally recognized expert on TIP legislation from Johns Hopkins University, identified these two sections of Malaysia's law and highlighted them during discussions with GOM representatives (reftel D).  Post provided the full text of Malaysia's comprehensive anti-trafficking law to G/TIP and EAP.

KEITH (March 2008)

 

Malaysia offers to fund Padma Bridge after World Bank backs out

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 12:39 AM PDT

By Mizan Rahman/Dhaka, Gulf Times
 
After western donor agencies led by the World Bank suspended funding for the planned Padma Bridge in Bangladesh because of corruption allegations against a minister in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's cabinet, Malaysia yesterday came up with a proposal to finance the bridge.

Visiting special envoy of the Malaysian government Dato Seri S Samy Vellu made the proposal in a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Gonobhaban in Dhaka yesterday.

PM's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad said the Malaysian government requested Bangladesh to provide a scheme design of the bridge and a construction plan.

Azad said the Malaysian proposed financing of the 6.15km Padma Bridge Project at easy terms.

The Malaysian proposal came against the backdrop of the World Bank's refusal to continue its commitment to finance the project because of alleged corruption, a charge which the government rejected outright.

Padma Bridge is a priority project of the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to connect Bangladesh's southern region with the rest of the country, it is estimated that the bridge will add 2% to GDP.

State Minister for Housing and Public Works Advocate Abdul Mannan Khan, State Minister for Local Government and Cooperatives Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Aslamul Haque, MP attended the meeting.

The envoy was accompanied by Malaysian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Jamaluddin Sabeh.Principal Secretary Sheikh Wahiduzzaman, PMO Secretary Mollah Wahiduzzaman, Local Government secretary Abul Alam Shahid Khan and Public Works Secretary Khandakar Showkat Hossain were also present.
The Malaysian envoy discussed infrastructure development in Bangladesh including construction of housing for middle class and low income people and flyovers in the capital.

Various issues relating to mutual interests also came up for discussion.

The government has already signed deals of $1.2bn with the World Bank, $615mn with Asian Development Bank, $400mn with Japan International Cooperation Agency and $140mn with Islamic Development Bank to arrange funds for the $2.9bn Padma Multipurpose Bridge project, the country's longest bridge.

The 6.15km bridge with 3.68km of land-based approach viaducts on both sides of the river will connect 19 south-western districts and the capital, enhancing their access to markets, improving services and accelerating growth.

The bridge will reduce distances to Dhaka by about 100km and halve travel times from most areas in the southwest. Moreover, the bridge will enhance regional trade by linking with the Asian Highway and Trans-Asian railway network systems, officials said.

It will also connect the two major seaports in Bangladesh.

Malaysian Govt Pressured to Suspend Detainee Exchange with Burma

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 12:36 AM PDT

By Saw Yan Naing, The Irrawaddy

Malaysia should delay deporting Burmese refugees and asylum seekers until there is safety and job security in their homeland, according to Malaysian rights groups and the leading opposition party.

The calls came in response to a plan to exchange detainees reached between Kuala Lumpur and Naypyidaw earlier this month.

Under the deal, Malaysia will deport the 1,000 Burmese currently held at Malaysian detention centers, mostly for immigration offenses, while Burma will send back Malaysian detainees, Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein announced this week.

Lim Kit Siang, the chairman of the Malaysian opposition Democratic Action Party and a member of the Malaysian Parliament, said that the detainee exchange between Malaysia and Burma should be suspended until there is an assurance that refugees and asylum seekers will be protected from prosecution when they return to Burma.

"The agreement will only further jeopardize the dignity and security of Myanmar refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia. Those who flee Myanmar remain at risk of persecution in all forms," Lim Kit Siang told a press conference in the lobby of Parliament on Friday.

There are at least 340,000 Burmese in Malaysia, including more than 87,000 refugees registered by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Many belong to ethnic minorities and fled Burma for fear of forced labor, rape, violence, murder and persecution by the government army.

Speaking with The Irrawaddy on Friday, Agung Putri, the executive director of the Asean Inter-parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC), said that migrants come to Malaysia for different reasons, so the country should review the reasons the Burmese flee to Malaysia. She said many do not come for economic reasons, but because of systematic persecution in their homeland.

She said that Burmese refugees must be categorized differently from Indonesian and Cambodian migrants.

"We would like Malaysia to overthrow its policy, and suspend the exchange," said Putri.

On Wednesday, a leading Malaysian rights group, Suaram, released a statement saying that the deal between Malaysia and Burma could result in some Burmese nationals being forced to return to a country "where their lives could be in danger."

Aung Naing Thu, an Burmese activist in Malaysia, told The Irrawaddy on Friday that the security of Burmese refugees and asylum seekers is at risk, and employment is uncertain for them if they are deported to Burma.

"Many of the refugees don't want to return to Burma," he said. "If they do go back, they have to worry about their safety," said Aung Naing Thu.

Rights groups said that is a high possibility of persecution for those who are sent back to Burma.

The human rights situation in Burma, grievous as it remains, is unlikely to be able to ensure such protections, without which Malaysia cannot hope to fulfill its international obligations to ensure that human rights of refugees be protected, said the AIPMC in a statement.

Malaysia’s Inflation Unexpectedly Quickens on Food, Transport

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 12:34 AM PDT

By Shamim Adam and Michael Munoz, Bloomberg

Malaysia 's inflation unexpectedly quickened in September as food and transportation costs climbed and a weakening ringgit made imports costlier.

Consumer prices rose 3.4 percent from a year earlier after climbing 3.3 percent in August, according to a report by the Putrajaya-based statistics department today. The median estimate of 18 economists in a Bloomberg News survey was for a 3.3 percent increase.

Europe 's debt crisis and a faltering U.S. recovery have hurt demand for Asian goods, raising the danger to regional growth and prompting Asian central banks to refrain from raising interest rates  or start to lower borrowing costs. The Malaysian government cut its forecast for economic expansion in 2011 this month and said there is "added pressure" to use fiscal resources to bolster growth.

"Domestic inflationary pressure is what's keeping headline inflation elevated," Irvin Seah , an economist at DBS Group Holdings Ltd. in Singapore, said before the report. "There are upside risks to inflation given that massive floods in neighboring countries such as Thailand  will drive imported food prices to Malaysia higher."

Thailand, the world's largest rice exporter, may lose 6 million metric tons of unmilled rice as floods damage key plantation areas, Apichart Jongskul, secretary-general of the Office of Agricultural Economics, said today.

Malaysia's ringgit fell about 7 percent against the dollar in September, along with most other Asian currencies, as a deepening European debt crisis prompted investors to shun emerging-market assets.

Bank Negara Malaysia  left the overnight policy rate at 3 percent on Sept. 8 for a second meeting, saying a "more challenging" external environment has increased the "downside risks" to Malaysia's economy. The nation will probably expand 5 percent to 5.5 percent this year, the government said Oct. 7, lower than an earlier target of as much as 6 percent.

Consumer prices will probably rise 3 percent to 3.5 percent in 2011, central bank Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz said Sept. 25. The monetary authority will hold its final policy meeting this year on Nov. 11.

How silly can MCA leaders be?

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 12:29 AM PDT

By Lee Kee

HOW silly can MCA political leaders be? On second thought, should anyone be surprised with the MCA's use of women and sex to attract political attention and support?

It is no wonder that the Chinese community is shying away from MCA today. The present batch of party central leaders is a disgrace to the Chinese for supporting an immoral leader – one who womanises and cheats on his wife.

Clearly, their support for Chua Soi Lek is based solely on political patronage and the perks from the party and its assets, especially from its cash cow, The Star newspaper. It cannot be for the interest of the Chinese community, and Malaysians in general.

The MCA can now, hardly defend itself from the use of sex to attract political support, following the pictorial write up by Toh Leong posted by Malaysia Chronicle on Oct 20, 2011, and titled MCA's 'Hot Chicks' and Wee Ka Siong: The Inside Story.

First of all, there is nothing wrong with the modelling profession. In fact, it is one of the most rewarding profession, if one is successful.

However, the way the MCA, especially its Youth wing, engaged the models is utterly distasteful and degrading.

Now, here are some insider revelations by little birds in the party that show how rotten to the core its leaders are.

  1. After the models were paraded, MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong had the cheek to say that those absent from the assembly had missed a golden opportunity to interact with the young professionals who include businesswomen and lawyers.
  2. After the true identity of the models were exposed by PKR in the internet news portals, Wee initially refused the media to interview the models; he also refused to comment or confirm whether they were part-time models and promoters;
  3. Wee was also quoted as saying: "Is it a sin for beautiful girls to join MCA? Even if they are prostitutes, what is wrong with joining MCA?" Such reactions are testimony to Wee's arrogance and lack of respect for women.

Wee had initially tried to portray the models as party members but they are not. So, what are they doing at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) which is only for central delegates and observers (who must be party members). What's wrong with using genuine MCA women members? The legality of the presence of outsiders, is therefore, questionable, what more they were given special treatment and attention in a grand entry to the AGM.

Another gossip among MCA members is Chua Soi Lek's offer of a "New Deal" for the Chinese community and Malaysians in the next general election.

Have you noticed why there is not a single effort offered in the "New Deal" for women and children's protection?

The joke is this: "The girls and women actually need protection from Chua Soi Lek. That's why the New Deal is shy of this issue."

So, to the MCA, led by the likes of Chua and Wee, it is leadership by example a.k.a sex by example. Hmmm! Sounds familiar, like big brother Umno. 

Lee Kee

Ipoh

Lim Guan Eng's Family, Latest Target of the Wholly Unoriginal BN/MSM Complex

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 12:27 AM PDT

By Scott Thong

Rule 12: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions. (This is cruel, but very effective. Direct, personalized criticism and ridicule works.) - 'Rules for Radicals' by Saul Alinsky.

I've said it before twice ( http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/letterssurat/40540-sarah-palin-anwar-ibrahim-and-the-politics-of-alinsky and http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/letterssurat/43130-proven-the-bnmsms-complex-is-using-alinskyite-tactics ). 

And I also warned that once they confirm its effectiveness, the BN/MSM complex would extend their Alinskyite tactics past Anwar Ibrahim to anyone who begins to rise as a credible Opposition figurehead. I specifically mentioned Nik Aziz, Hadi Awang, Lim Guan Eng and Wan Azizah as their potential targets.

And I'll say it again now, because it seems clearer than ever that our local political hacks are using the American below-the-belt example as their guide - not just in general, but also in the specifics. They have already moved beyond mere personal attacks on public figures into the sordid sewers of attacking innocent family members.

Now as we all know, Penang has been prospering under Pakatan Rakyat's governance over the past few years. This is a fact that Penang's ineffectual former taskmasters Barisan Nasional and their crony Mainstream Media (i.e. the BN/MSM complex) cannot dispute. So instead, they turn to personal attacks against Lim Guan Eng, Pakatan's current Chief Minister of Penang.

First they dredged up remarks he made regarding his personal opinion on the (again, indisputable) high rate of violent crime in Johor. And now the latest hit job by the BN/MSM complex is the (actually rather amateurish and half-baked) attempt to slander Lim Guan Eng's 16-year-old son with sex allegations. 

Basically some self-smug Netizen took a photo of a young woman - whom we now know to be 21-year-old chess Grandmaster Anya Sun Corke - and cut out the surrounding innocent context before sticking it next to a photo of Lim Guan Eng's son. This is dishonest hackery by itself, as the two have never met. However, the perpetrator also added crude text to suggest sexual impropriety involving the lady's chestal region.

Of course, since Anya Sun Corke is a relatively famous person (she has her own long-existing Wikipedia entry), it didn't take long for truthseekers to find the original photo and unravel the deception. Honestly, couldn't the slanderer have used the photo of some anonymous model, instead of an internationally renowned chess Grandmaster? Hence, amateurish and half-baked.

Those who followed the 2008 US Election should find the above 'anatomy of a smear job' familiar. 

Shortly after Sarah Palin was announced as the Republican Vice Presidential candidate, a scandalous photo began circulating the Internet. There she was, posing in a skimpy stars-and-stripes American flag bikini, toting a large rifle, still wearing her 'sexy-librarian' glasses and retro hairdo. It fit the critics' stereotype of her perfectly - patriotic, gun-loving, attractive... And nothing more than a bimbo 'trophy VP'. "Do you voters really want this redneck former beauty queen running the country? Isn't Barack Obama a much better choice - handsome, sexy AND smart?"

Only, it wasn't actually a photo of Sarah Palin. Just as with the case of Lim Guan Eng's son, the original photo was eventually found. Some hacks - who had much better imagination and graphics-editing skills than in our present case - took a photo of some bikini-clad woman off the Internet and superimposed Sarah Palin's head onto it.

But that was just the beginning. As Lim Guan Eng is discovering, hyper-partisan attacks will not be limited to the target's professional or even personal life. No, the hyenas will next ruthlessly and unethically go after family members and acquaintances. No slander, smear or lie will be too dirty to fling.

Sarah Palin is the textbook case that the BN/MSM complex is studying up on. To date, US media and entertainment personalities who are pro-Obama have: Repeatedly alleged that her husband is having an affair and will soon divorce her; cruelly mocked her Down Syndrome toddler as brutally retarded and begging for a quick death; publicly fantasized about raping her and her young daughters, including the pre-teen; actually threatened rape which led to arrests; and so much more. (Try imagining the tsunami of outrage if someone discussed Barack Obama's daughters the same way.)

Only everyone's favourite heartless warmonger and imperialist crusader, George W. Bush has had this much hatred directed his way. And Sarah Palin had not actually done anything other than accept the VP nomination! Which of course was itself the reason, because she posed a threat - no matter how distant - to their precious Barack Obama's ascension. (Yes, yes, I admit I'm a Sarah Palin Facebook follower - haters gonna hate.)

As I mentioned in my previous pieces, it's all about distracting the target from his/her professional pursuits, while simultaneously making the public so sick of the constant 'scandals' that they tune him/her out of their minds. Best case scenario for the attackers, their victim decides to quit the political arena if they will JUST LEAVE MY FAMILY ALONE!!!

And just to rub in my point, US/Malaysian politics and media parallels are not limited to ad hominem attacks on individuals. Compare these scenes from America with our own Malaysian experience, and see if you can spot the similarities:

Most of the American news networks and other media lean heavily towards the Democrats (just check their political donation amounts), yet whine that FOX News is biased towards the Republicans. Meanwhile, the Malaysian MSM is in the pocket of BN - literally, BN component parties are the legal owners of these companies! - yet have the gall to label independent media as pro-Opposition.

The American media tried to ignore, then viciously slandered peaceful rallies they oppose (the Tea Parties) while gushing and glossing over unruly mobs they support (Occupy Wall Street and its childish ilk) - the latter of which clogged up the Brooklyn Bridge for hours and made commuters fume with frustration. Hmm, is it just me, or didn't we just see something similar back home with Bersih 2.0 and anti-Bersih - the latter of which intentionally clogged up the Penang Bridge at rush hour?

And Americans are renowned for strongly supporting the ideals of democracy. They are such staunch proponents of free elections, that even death will not stop them from carrying out their duty! 2,812 officially deceased individuals voted in the 2008 Minnesota general elections. This is just like our Election Commission of Malaysia. 

...Just kidding! We don't have such outright scams as Zombie Voters From the Grave. This is because our eligible voters can reach the age of 128 years without dying. Meanwhile, 9,000+ other slightly less sprightly registered voters are merely above 100 years old. ( http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10495765 )

But if you point out a mistake in the electoral roll, be prepared to pay for the costs of re-checking out of your own pocket ( http://wangsamajuformalaysia.blogspot.com/2011/09/stupid-law-stupid-results.html ). Or better yet, get accused of being a traitor to the nation for your efforts! ( http://rights2write.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/loyalty-to-the-king-and-country/ )

So what the BN/MSM complex is doing is really all old hat. Our local crony media is just playing catch-up with the American trailblazers. (This is in contrast to propping up failed govt-linked companies using taxpayer funds, where a certain visionary Malaysian leader did it long before the Western leaders 'discovered' bailouts. And then he scolded the West for rescuing their insolvent institutions. Must be some sort of copyright infringement?)

This means that we have the advantage of knowing in advance what their unoriginal playbook is going to be like, because let's face it - it's not like they are genuinely innovative, creative or anything like that.

So now we know what stale ploys the BN/MSM complex is up to. What do we do about it? In five succinct points:

1) Don't let their sideshows and hit-jobs distract us from the real issues of ethics and good governance! Whom a politician screws in bed is not as important, that the politician is screwing over the country is! (If all else fails, we can always nominate the sex scandal participants to the MCA Presidency... Because apparently that is the only necessary criteria these days. Zing!)

2) Support their targets not to throw in the towel! Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, RPK and Elizabeth Wong are just some examples of their favourite punching bags who refused to leave the arena even after constant harassment and prison/ISA detention.

3) Expose and publicize their deceptions and hypocrisy. The BN/MSM complex has already lost a powerful tool - absolute control of the dissemination of information - to the rise of alternative media, Facebook and Twitter. 

4) Join the movements. Are the Bersih 2.0 supporters liars, who make up fairytales about race-blind solidarity and police over-reaction, and spread these pernicious myths via Twitter? The best response is, WE KNOW BETTER BECAUSE WE WERE THERE!

5) Vote! Vote! Vote! Tens of thousands of Tea Partiers across America were pointedly excluded from media coverage, but their real achievement was to turn up en-masse on voting day to elect representatives who respect the will of the people, resulting in the 2010 political sea change. 

Seriously, if you can't be bothered to cross the minor hurdles of registering to vote and checking for errors (http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/NEWDAFTARJ/DaftarjBI.aspx ) and finally actually going to the polling station come election day, you are close to being an accomplice to the slow murder of Malaysia: 'When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.' (Often misquoted as 'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing'.)

BN has been running our country for so long that sometimes the status quo seems immortal and immutable. We always talk about finally voting them out, but that it might actually happen - maybe this very year! - sometimes seems almost unreal.

And it really will be an unreality if we just sit back and let them have their way.

Energy Commission denies giving sweetheart deal to Syed Mokhtar

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 12:04 AM PDT

By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The Energy Commission said today that the tariff and length of concession for the 1,000-megawatt plant in Tanjung Bin, Johor was determined during the bidding process, denying claims that the government had signed a "blank cheque" for tycoon Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary.

The federal opposition had accused the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration of awarding the independent power producer (IPP) deal to a subsidiary of Malakoff Berhad, controlled by Syed Mokhtar, without first agreeing to tariff rates and the length of the concession.

The commission said in a statement today the tender restricted to two bids was evaluated solely on "technical and commercial aspects" including "the proposed tariff for the entire duration of the 25-year concession."

"The tariff and concession period have already been determined through the competitive bidding process. The final tariff that was submitted and approved ... is very competitive compared to similar projects in the region," it said.

This comes despite the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry saying in a written reply this week that the Energy Commission will only finalise the power purchase agreement with Tanjung Bin Power at the end of the year.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers had said the deal awarded to Malaysia's richest Bumiputera after a limited tender between two bidders "is scandalous, if not criminal."

But the Energy Commission explained today that the limited tender was due to the need to award the project on time to "achieve commercial operation in early 2016" to avoid "potential brownouts" based on projected economic growth.

READ MORE HERE.

The shackling of Prof Abdul Aziz Bari and academic freedom

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 07:32 PM PDT

By Aliran
 
Aliran is outraged by the reported suspension of the constitutional law expert, Professor Abdul Aziz Bari, of the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM).
His suspension comes in the wake of his publicly expressed opinion regarding the recent decree by the Sultan of Selangor over the controversial Jais raid on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church.
 
Many Malaysians share his opinion and look up to him as a brave academic who did not betray his conscience in expressing an honest opinion without fear or favour. This intellectual freedom of expression must be the hallmark of an institution of higher learning. It is rare individuals like him who inspire students to speak the truth and defend what is right. He is an asset to IIUM.
 
The action taken by the university against the learned professor is baffling. The university is guilty of committing a serious travesty of justice as its action amounts to a denial of the right of academics to offer their expert opinions on matters that they specialises in and are concerned about.
 
It is expected of the professor to share his knowledge and expertise with the rest of us. That is the primary purpose in recruiting the best lecturers to teach and mould our youngsters to be responsible citizens.
 
If anyone disagrees with his view, he or she should do it intellectually and in a civilised manner to enhance an understanding of the issue at hand for both the academic fraternity and the larger community. A sledgehammer such as the Sedition Act should not be used to suppress healthy discussion.
It has not been proven that his views are invalid and without merit. Malaysians should be told why his views are wrong. We should indeed start a debate to discuss this issue in a civilised manner as befitting a civil society.
 
Equally important, the university's action makes a mockery of the notion of intellectual freedom and integrity that a university worth its salt is supposed to promote and protect. If this important value is not protected and guarded, what is the worth of a university?
 
Besides, the measure of an intellectually vibrant institution of higher learning is recognised and honoured when there are open discussions, debates and dissenting opinions. The prevalence of a lacklustre follow-me mentality – symptomatic of the larger political and feudalistic culture – will be the death knell of a university.
 
Aliran calls upon the IIUM authorities to lift the professor's suspension immediately and cease all other similar actions that would only smear and sully the university's academic reputation.

Aziz Bari: I did not attack the Sultan

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 07:25 PM PDT

By G Manimaran, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — As pressure grows for the International Islamic University of Malaysia (UIA) to lift Dr Abdul Aziz Bari's suspension, the law professor has insisted he did not criticise the Selangor Sultan.

Abdul Aziz said today he was fulfilling his role as an academic when he said earlier this month that the Sultan had intervened in an "unusual and inconsistent" manner on the church raid by religious authorities.

"I did not attack the Selangor Sultan. As an academic, I have a role to inform the public," he said, adding that he would reply to a show-cause letter from the university on Tuesday after he has met his lawyer.

Over 700 UIA students held a protest at the Gombak campus this morning demanding that the constitutional expert be reinstated.

 

READ MORE HERE.

The reason Malays don't respect Sultans

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 06:03 PM PDT

The federal Islamic development agency claimed today that many Muslim do not respect the authority of the Malay Rulers who are heads of religions for their respective states. On the eve of a planned gathering of a million Muslims to defend the faith, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) prepared a Friday sermon that accused some parties of putting political interests ahead of the religion. "Many Muslims today do not respect the views and authority and in fact question the Sultan heads of the Islamic religious councils. The sanctity of the faith has been politicised and the split among Muslims has affected the function and role of the councils," said the sermon titled "State Islamic religious councils drive the transformation of the faithful".

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Therefore, the opinion that Rajas should be placed under a Constitution that determined the status and role of the Rajas was born. With this method, the Rajas could no longer act as they liked. The powers of the Rajas would be determined by the Constitution, that is the country's basic law. Yet, there were Rajas who were willing to hand over their own states to foreign powers while ignoring the Constitution.

Although the representatives were free to speak in the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Undangan Negeri about any topic, but they could not touch on the Rajas because any criticism of the Rajas could be interpreted as sedition and they could be charged under the Sedition Act. This provision was a result of an amendment made in 1971. Before this, criticism of the Rajas could be made in the house. In Britain and other countries, the Parliament was free to criticize the Rajas. It is clear that that criticizing the Rajas does not destroy the Rajas' majesty.

While this prohibition on criticism is said to protect the Rajas' majesty, but when the Rajas are not criticized, they will not be aware of the wrongs that they have committed. Hence, maybe more wrongs will be committed and these wrongs may become more serious. This not only contaminates the Rajas' majesty but can also cause the People to hate the Rajas. It is not true to say the prohibition on criticizing the Rajas will protect the Rajas' majesty. Actually, the majesty of the Rajas will be contaminated because of this prohibition.

Unfortunately, because the Chief Ministers and Prime Minister are Malays that are unwilling to be on bad terms with the Rajas, when the Rajas do something that is not supposed to be done, no effective criticism is made. Even if there is, the unwillingness of the Rajas to care about the criticisms of these official advisers does not bring about any action towards the Rajas.

Hence, in the history of independent Malaysia, the actions of the Rajas and parties who hide behind the Rajas that exceed the rights and privileges of the Rajas become more serious over time. The possibility is that it will become more serious in the future. If there are no amendments to the law, like those suggested here, without doubt worse matters will happen that will cause the Raja Institution to be hated by the people. It is not impossible that if one day in the future, demands are made to completely abolish the Raja System although there are provisions in the Constitution.

Hence this amendment that is suggested aims to avoid or prevent the escalation of hatred towards the Rajas that could bring about demands to abolish the Raja System. This amendment is to save the Rajas themselves and the Constitutional Monarchy system. To strengthen the Constitutional provisions to maintain the Raja System, provisions are made such that any suggestion to abolish the Raja System will be interpreted as sedition and falls under Sedition Laws.

If Malaysia intends to become a country that practices Parliamentary Democracy and Constitutional Monarchy, the immunity that is given to the Rajas must be abolished. Because the Constitution in countries that practice the Constitutional Monarchy System doesn't give immunity to their Kings, the abolishment of the immunity of the Malay Rajas cannot jeopardize their sovereignty. In the modern era, only because the King can't commit crimes as they like, the King's status will not be jeopardized, especially in a country that practices Parliamentary Democracy and Constitutional Monarchy.

The interpretation of the sedition towards the King in the Constitution is so wide until no criticism is can be made in Parliament by members of the Dewan Rakyat or Dewan Undangan. Hence, the media also has no opportunity to report. Criticism can only be made by the Rajas' advisors behind closed doors. If this criticism is ineffective, there is nothing that can be done.

Actually all three former Prime Ministers, as advisors to the Rajas, have already criticized the Rajas many times while they were in service. I know criticisms have been made because this matter has been repeatedly reported in Cabinet meetings and also the UMNO Supreme Council.

It should be reminded that the respect of the People towards the Raja cannot be determined by laws. With your permission, 'Respect must be earned'. Having laws that scare the People will not bring 'respect'. With the realization that the Rajas can be brought to court, Rajas will certainly avoid committing acts that will cause the people not to respect the Rajas. Hence, the Raja Institution will be better respected and better preserved.

Extract of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's speech in the Malaysian Parliament (1993)

 

After Himpun, BERSIH 3.0?

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 05:20 PM PDT

THE PEOPLE'S PARLIAMENT

1987.

A tumultous year in Malaysian politics.

Mahathir had already been PM for 6 years by then.

His darker side was soon to unleash itself upon the nation.

April that year, the challenge by Tengku Razaleigh for the top position in UMNO effectively split UMNO into two.

That Mahathir only managed to retain the presidency on a miniscule majority of 43 votes reflects the extent of the split then.

The challenge by Kuli's supporters in respect of that election outcome in the High Court, the judicial pronouncement that UMNO was illegal, followed by the formation of UMNO Baru by Mahathir and Semangat 46 by Kuli and, bearing in mind that PAS then already had a significant grass root following, the Malay community then, not accounting for the numbers in Sabah and Sarawak, could, politically, be seen as a split into 3 camps.

Semangat 46 and PAS almost immediately found common ground upon which to co-operate.

Mahathir and UMNO found themselves pushed against the wall.

They no longer commanded the support of the majority of the Malays.

As if having to deal with this issue was not enough, Mahathir also had to contend with the High Court and Supreme Court that was flexing their judicial muscles.

Injunction granted by the Supreme Court, on the application of Lim Kit Siang, to restrain UEM from acting on the North South Expressway contract awarded to it.

Injunction granted by the High Court to restrain Asia Rare Earth from dumping radio active waste Bukit Merah.

Worst of all, Mahathir had to endure a seemingly free press, notably, The Star.

In October, that year, a plan was set into action.

Using demands by Chinese educationist group Dong Jiao Zong in respect of non Mandarin-speaking senior assistants being sent out to Chinese school, UMNO youth organised a huge rally in KL.

Led by Najib.

Calling for the blood of Chinese to be spilt.

Stage 2 of the drama : a series of exchanges between MCA's Lee Kim Sai and UMNO youth, which served to heighten tension.

Stage 3 : Ops Lalang. 106 detained. Opposition leaders and social activists. Diverse enough so that the real targets might be lost in the numbers.

The Star was shut down.

Months later, when The Star resumed publication, it was under a new management and with a permit issued under the amended Printing Press and Publications Act, 1984.

All the other media, too, were now either UMNO-owned or controlled.

The days of reporting without fear or favour were over.

One  more move called for.

Salleh Abas removed and, in his place, Mahathir's errand boy, Hamid Omar installed as top dog in the judiciary.

And the heightened tensions, albeit contrived, that led up to Ops Lalang, served to remind the average citizen of the tragedy of May 13.

Mahathir, and UMNO, still without the support of the majority of the Malays, but now having cowed the non-Malays into voting for stability rather than change and reforms at every general election, the judiciary rendered impotent, and now able to maintain an unassailable grip on the psyche of the nation through a controlled media, would continue to rule, rob and rape  the nation for another 2 generations.

This, notwithstanding the birth of Reformasi, following the sacking of Anwar in 1997, which further diluted UMNO's hold on an already much-reduced following in the Malay community.

Fast forward to 2007.

The expose of the VK Lingam video in September.

The lawyers march for justice on 26th September.

Bersih rally on 10th November.

Hindraf rally on 25th November.

For UMNO, the lawyers march was a trifling annoyance.

Bersih, they feared.

It was non-racial. It would see Malaysians from all walks of life come together on a common issue : free and fair elections.

The very thing that UMNO, almost since Malaya gained independence, could not afford.

The Hindraf rally, so UMNO thought, would offer them the best opportunity to react with a rally of their own.

Their media would spin it as a challenge to the special rights of the Malays, and UMNO would orchestrate a rally of its own to galvanise the Malays to unite.

So a decision was made.

Leave the Hindraf leaders at large so that the rally could go on.

Detain them after the rally.

And then hold their on UMNO rally.

On 19th December, in Kampung Baru.

UMNO's miscalculation then, was in underestimating how the alternative media had further eroded their influence amongst the urban Malays.

If, in 1987, the numbers rallying in Kampung Baru had to be beefed up by bussing in people from the heartlands to add to those from the city, in 2007, Malays dwelling int the city, it was clear, could not be counted on.

They would have to be practically made up of folk bussed into the city.

And paid and fed Pekida and Mat Rempit.

RM70 each with 1 nasi bungkus thrown in.

Finally, a report from special branch put paid to that planned rally in December.

That report had it that in the Hindraf rally, there were people who were bearing diesel and kerosene, ready to self-immolate.

Yes, they were ready to die for a cause they believed in.

UMNO's planned rally, on the other hand, would comprise mercenaries and rural folk out to take advantage of a chance of an outing to the city, all paid for.

READ MORE HERE

 

Many Muslims don’t respect Sultan, says Jakim

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:58 PM PDT

By Shannon Teoh,The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The federal Islamic development agency claimed today that many Muslim do not respect the authority of the Malay Rulers who are heads of religions for their respective states.

On the eve of a planned gathering of a million Muslims to defend the faith, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) prepared a Friday sermon that accused some parties of putting political interests ahead of the religion.

"Many Muslims today do not respect the views and authority and in fact question the Sultan heads of the Islamic religious councils.

"The sanctity of the faith has been politicised and the split among Muslims has affected the function and role of the councils," said the sermon titled "State Islamic religious councils drive the transformation of the faithful".

The sermon added that the councils are looked down on and seen to be mere government agencies, causing their authority over religious matters to be ignored.

Professor Dr Abdul Aziz Bari was suspended by the International Islamic University (IIU) this week as police investigate allegations that he had disrespected the Selangor Sultan.

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had decreed recently that the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) had found evidence of proselytisation by non-Muslims during a dinner held at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) on August 3 but said it was insufficient for further legal action.

Abdul Aziz had said the intervention was "unusual and inconsistent" and should have been done in line with Islamic teachings, causing a furore in Parliament among Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs who urged that action be taken against the law professor.

Although a police report has been lodged against him, the outspoken academician has decided against apologising for his remarks, insisting he had not meant to challenge the Sultan.

The sermon said the erosion of Islam's dignity "cannot happen without being implicitly planned."

The Himpunan Sejuta Umat (Himpun), or Gathering of a Million Faithful, is being organised by various right-wing groups such as Perkasa to rally Muslims against the "challenge of Christianisation" on the back of alleged proselytising by Christians.

READ MORE HERE

 

Karpal: Khairy ill-bred and a disgrace!

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:55 PM PDT

DAP chairman takes Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin to task for a Twitter posting villifying Lim Guan Eng's son.

(Free Malaysia Today) - National DAP chairman Karpal Singh today branded Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin a "disgrace" for villifying Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's son in a Twitter message.

"He is a disgrace not only to whoever extended him a tertiary education but also to Parliament of which, regrettably, he is a member.

"He is certainly not well-bred for having fallen hook, line and sinker for the vile and vicious attacks against Guan Eng's 16-year-old son without first ascertaining the truth of the allegation," said Karpal.

The Bukit Gelugor MP took Khairy to task for the latter's Twitter message in Bahasa Malaysia that was posted three days ago.

The message read: "Maybe he (Lim Guan Eng) demolished Kampung Buah Pala to replace it with Kampung Buah Dada (literally translated a breast village)."

Khairy posted his comments following spurious attacks by Umno bloggers that Lim's son was transferred from his school after allegedly molesting a fellow female student.

Yesterday, Karpal urged Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to intervene and stop the baseless allegations.

The DAP revealed in Parliament on Oct 19 that the alleged victim was a former Hong Kong chess champion Anya Corke, a British citizen who has never set foot on Malaysia, let alone met Lim's son.

READ MORE HERE

 

Hundreds of UIA students protest Aziz Bari’s suspension

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:53 PM PDT

By Mohd Farhan Darwis, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Hundreds of International Islamic University (UIA) students gathered today to protest the university's suspension of Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari, chanting slogans in a show of force at the mosque compound of its Gombak campus here.

Approximately 700 students turned up for the protest and demanded UIA Rector Prof Datuk Dr Zaleha Kamaruddin immediately drop Abdul Aziz's (picture) suspension.

"Hidup hidup mahasiswa! Hancur kezaliman! (Long live undergraduates, reject authoritarianism!)" many of the protesters were heard shouting as police watched.

Many of the students said the move was necessary to "repair" the university's image as a respected academic institution.

UIA has indefinitely suspended the outspoken academic following his remarks on the the Selangor Sultan, saying that "criticism of a Ruler is valid if it is intended to constructively show that the Ruler has erred."

Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had decreed recently that the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) had found evidence of proselytisation by non-Muslims during a dinner held at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) on August 3 but said it was insufficient for further legal action.

Following Abdul Aziz's statement that the intervention was "unusual and inconsistent" and should have been done in line with Islamic teachings, it caused a furore in Parliament among Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs who urged that action be taken against the UIA law lecturer.

Although a police report has been lodged against him, the outspoken academician has decided against apologising for his remarks, insisting he had not meant to challenge the Sultan.

Among the politicians present at the protest today were PKR vice-presidents Chua Tian Chang and Nurul Izzah Anwar.

MORE TO COME HERE.

‘Is Umno tacitly backing Himpun rally?’

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:52 PM PDT

A Hindraf Makkal Sakti leader claims Umno is behind the assembly and he also questioned the fast-track approval of police permit for the gathering.

(Free Malaysia Today) - A Hindraf Makkal Sakti leader says he sees the hand of Umno behind Saturday's "Himpunan Sejuta Umat" (Assembly of One Million Believers Defending the Faith) gathering.

Hindraf Makkal Sakti leader P Waythamoorthy claims that Umno is tacitly backing the assembly and he is calling the relevant authorities to stop the gathering.

Waythamoorthy said the assembly was an Umno ruse to stir up the Malay psyche and create a split among Malaysians along religious and racial lines.

He said Hindraf was shocked that the police were so quick to issue a permit for a mammoth gathering that could generate so much anxiety, discontent and disharmony in the country.

He questioned the need to hold a gathering of a million Muslims to defend Islam, which is safeguarded by the Federal Constitution.

"The assembly is not only to woo Malay votes but also to warn the people not to vote for change in the next general election," said the London-based Waythamoorthy.

PKR , PAS and Umno have officially distanced themselves from the assembly to be held at the Shah Alam stadium.

But all the parties said that they would not be able to prevent their members from attending in their individual capacity.

Umno information chief Ahmad Maslan said the party will not prevent its members from attending the assembly.

United against proselytising

According to the organisers, they plan to gather one million Muslims to gauge the "unity" among themselves, particularly against proselytising.

This assembly comes after the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) raided a fundraising dinner at Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) on Aug 3 over alleged proselytisation taking place.

READ MORE HERE

 

Khairy, The Oxon-Moron

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:39 PM PDT

By Mariam Mokhtar

Just because you drive a Bentley doesn't mean you're loaded. You could be the chauffeur, on his way to fetch the towkay ….but your grey uniform gives you away.

The Hermes Birkin that you carry is no proof that you are from high society. The must-have item could be a knock-off….all of RM30, from the stall down the road in Petaling Street.

The pedigree dog which mopes around in its tiny cage under the front porch, doesn't mean you're a dog lover. The canine is a subtle showpiece to exhibit your wealth.

And what use is attending St. Hugh's, if you've failed to use your university knowledge to do good but instead, attack a defenceless schoolboy, who happens to be the son of an opposition leader.

Criticise the father (of the boy) if you must, but show your intellect and base your objections on sound policies and arguments.

Khairy Jamaluddin is an Oxford graduate who may speak better English than the average Malaysian (according to those who have heard him speak). But he hasn't put his education to good use.

At one time he was touted as an improvement on the uneducated Umno political candidate.

But in the end, Khairy found it easier to drop his standards.

After 54 years of perfecting the art of public manipulation, Umno is adept at making us part with our votes, mostly in exchange for a load of lies. In some cases, they threw in packs of milo anda few kilos of rice, perhaps a saree, an outboard motor or a shopping trip to Medan or Haadyai.

Well this time, Khairy, the much touted 'Oxford grad' (as if that meant he could walk on water or had a brain size that was twice the normal person's) bit off more than he could chew.

The Umno Youth chief used Twitter to spread malicious gossip about the son of Lim Guan Eng, the chief minister of Penang.

The aim? To shame Lim's family and bring him down.

Using Twitter, Khairy had written, "Mungkin dia roboh Kampung Buah Pala sebab nak ganti dengan Kampung Buah Dada" in response to another tweet by pro-Umno blogger"@PapaGomo".

When translated: "He possibly destroyed Kampung Buah Pala because he wanted to replace it with Kampung Buah Dada". (Buah dada is a derogatory term for female breasts).

Lim issued a stern rebuke to pro-Umno blogs and sites, about the "barbaric lies" concerning his son. He named Khairy Jamaluddin and other party leaders like Bukit Gelugor Umno division chairman Dr Novandri Hasan Basr.

Lim said,"My family and I deplore these lies and fabrications against my young son as morally despicable and barbaric. Umno should act against those trying to wreck the life of my young son with cruel and barbaric lies just to finish me off politically."

The ploy by Khairy, Novandri and other Umno diehards, has backfired. Even the most hardened of politicos are appalled, except the extremists who are without conscience.

What Umno lacks in policies, it makes up for with its unhealthy use of sex as a political weapon. It is desperate and will clutch at straws, even fabricating lies about school children,simply to gain political mileage and deceive the rakyat.

Sex is being used to bring down Anwar Ibrahim the opposition leader, in the protracted sodomy trials and the release of sex videos. Umno sympathisers tried to discredit Mat Sabu with phone-sex allegations.

Why? They are trying to distract the rakyat from the high level electoral fraud, for which the government, the EC, NRD, and PDRM are all implicated.

If anyone thinks Umno/BN are clean, think again.

This is a list of men who are in positions of responsibility: Which uncouth MP committed polygamy? Which ex-minister and current president of another BN component party featured in an oral sex DVD? Which ex-minister and current Malaysian Ambassador was allegedly accused of sexually exploiting women? Which serving cabinet minister is allegedly accused of raping his domestic help? Which senior politician who is currently serving in the cabinet was allegedly caught with his pants down with a pop singer in a Port Dickson hotel and is allegedly implicated in the murder of another model?

The list excludes past ministers, politicians and leaders of media or religious organisations. No conviction seems to stick. So, do they buy their way out of any conviction or just use threats?

We have been inundated with the sexploits of these lotharios and have become immune to the scandals. After much brainstorming, Umno has decided on a better way to shock: Attack the children of the opposition.

When the sex videos were released into the public domain this year, to discredit the opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, it was discovered that the former Chief minister of Malacca, Rahim Tamby Chik was one of the ring leaders.

Two decades ago, Rahim Thamby allegedly raped a minor and was forced to resign. The underage girl's grandmother sought the help of a DAP MP to bring Rahim Thamby to trial.

Doesn't this show the level of mistrust Malays have for the elected Umno Malays?

The DAP MP was Lim Guan Eng and he was jailed for his efforts.

None of the other Umno Malays came to the defence of the girl and all were too afraid to support Lim.

Today, Khairy Jamaluddin has joined the ranks of the morons and malfeasants in Umno.

Umno plays dirty because it is desperate. And desperate people like Khairy, will do anything to be included in Najib's, or perhaps Umno's, plans for the future.

Even if that means discarding their integrity and intellect.

 

Islam itu Melayu, Melayu itu Islam

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:39 PM PDT

Dear Editor,

I want to bring to your attention an article in the himpun.org website, apparently written by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ridhuan Tee Abdullah from Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia. The article contains some offensive words as follows:

1.    Perhimpunan yang bertemakan "Selamatkan Akidah", secara tidak langsung mahu memberi amaran kepada bukan Islam supaya tidak mencampuri urusan orang Islam dan jangan sekali berani memurtadkan mereka.

2.    Jangan biarlah negara ini menjadi Singapura yang kedua. Begitu juga dengan Pulau Pinang. Ia mesti dipertahankan sehingga titisan darah yang terakhir. Jika tidak, kita akan menyesal dan dikutuk oleh generasi akan datang kerana gagal mempertahankan kalimah yang mulia ini.

3.    Apakah kita masih buta? Bagaimana populasi penduduk yang hanya 10 peratus boleh membina sebuah gereja terbesar di Asia dalam sebuah negara Islam? Tidak cukuplah dengan pembinaan patung tertinggi di dunia di Batu Caves. Jangan ulangi kesilapan demi kesilapan.

4.    Barulah ketika itu orang lain tidak berani memijak kepala kita lagi. Selamatkan akidah umat Islam!

I want your organisation to highlight this issue, which I believe it is in the public interest to so. The article also contains the following statement, which I do not see any logic:

Islam itu Melayu, Melayu itu Islam. Lebih istimewa lagi yang memeluk agama Islam, pun boleh dikira sebagai Melayu mengikut perlembagaan, walaupun bukan Melayu dari segi keturunan.

 

Regards,

Shamsher Singh Thind

 

FULL ARTICLE: Selamatkan Aqidah Umat Islam

(Source: http://himpun.org/selamatkan-aqidah-umat-islam)

 

Chairman Najib and the cultural revolution

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:35 PM PDT

By Mariam Mokhtar, FMT

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's interpretation of the "best democracy" for Malaysia is to have a tight grip on the growing student movement and an even tighter hold on academics in Malaysian universities.

In a move which could be seen as throttling intellectual discourse and stifling creative thinking, the authorities have sought to silence constitutional law expert, Professor Dr Abdul Aziz Bari of Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA).

So are we experiencing an Umno-inspired cultural revolution? Today, Umno gags those in the world of academia. Will they resort to the burning of books, tomorrow?

The Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) was enacted in 1971 to curb the growing student movement. It created an environment where students and lecturers did not feel free to express their views and opinions.

Critics want the act abolished because this would eventually pave the way towards a world-class higher education. Perhaps this will explain why not one Malaysian university was included in the Times Higher Education (THE) 400 Top World University Ranking 2011/12.

Students who dare express an opinion, especially an opinion which does not toe the government line, are arrested, and possibly expelled.

Even students who are studying politics, and who observe the progress of by-elections, have to be careful as their actions may be misconstrued by the authorities.

The fear inspired by Umno-BN has far-reaching tentacles. Students studying overseas fear having their scholarships or study loans withdrawn, if they attend any talks by opposition politicians.

The latest outrageous Umno attack on our intellectual fraternity is the harassment of Abdul Aziz Bari, who said that the sultan of Selangor's decree relating to the Selangor Islamic Affairs (JAIS) raid on the dinner at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) had been "unconventional" and that any intervention by the sultan had to be in line with the principles of the religion.

Abdul Aziz added that "under the Sedition Act 1948, it is fine to criticise the rulers so long as it does not advocate the abolition of the institution (of monarchy)".

However, this did not stop the authorities and pro-Umno sympathisers from hounding the professor. He has since been issued a show-cause letter and in a move that would affect all of his students, was suspended from lecturing for an indefinite period.

The professor who has taught at the UIA for the past 22 years has had his access card confiscated and is barred from his office at the Gombak campus.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said that "the suspension raises questions" and has asked for an explanation from UIA. He has also twitted that he backed students or people wishing to express support for the professor.

A thinking person is dangerous

Saifuddin is not alone. The suspension of Abdul Aziz has been condemned by several institutions ranging from student bodies, academics from other educational establishments to Lawyers for Liberty.

The Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia or Malaysian Graduates in Solidarity have organised a protest march which will involve students from campuses across the Klang Valley today, after Friday prayers.

Abdul Aziz's comments about the sultan of Selangor were not the first involving royalty. He had previously criticised the behind-the-scenes Perak debacle of 2008. He has also made his views known about the other royal households and the Umno domination of them.

Perhaps Abdul Aziz's willingness to talk about sensitive issues based on his expertise is what Najib fears most.

A law lecturer who is able to stimulate the minds of his students and the general public, is dangerous.

A thinking person will not allow Najib and Umno to get away with a fraction of the things they get up to, these days.

A thinking electorate, which is able to ask questions, which is able to criticise freely and which is able to analyse for itself, is like an uncontrollable beast.

Najib knows it and so does Umno. That is why Najib will try to make an example of Abdul Aziz by punishing him.

Najib's latest ploy is the use of the three Rs: Race, religion and royalty.

A subtle ploy to strike fear

Mahathir started the trend and Najib is continuing this practice. If the Malays are allowed to interact with the other communities, they will be exposed to outside influences and so the power base of Umno will be placed at risk.

Najib has formed a special team to concentrate on the 3Rs. The main characters are Othman Razak, the Special Adviser to the Prime Minister; Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, deputy Election Commission chairman; Kamarudin Baria; Tajuddin Wahab; Rahman Dahlan; Harun Che Su; and Misri Barham.

READ MORE HERE

 

Aziz Bari’s Suspension-Breach of Academic Freedom

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:29 PM PDT

By Lawyers for Liberty
 
Lawyers For Liberty strongly condemns the suspension of Prof Aziz Bari's duty as professor of constitutional law at the International Islamic University of Malaysia regarding his comments on the scope and limitations of constitutional powers of the King.
This is clearly a denial of his basic right to freedom of speech guaranteed under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution and the principles of academic freedom enshrined in free speech.

The right to intellectual discourse, debate and articulation is an indivisible part of academic development and excellence. This suspension will certainly curtail world-class academic research and thought-provoking discussions, which Malaysian universities badly need to regain past glory.

Intellectualism, research excellence and academic freedom are pre-requisites for innovation and creativity to thrive, crucial for Malaysia to successfully transform itself into a developed nation that fully subscribes to democratic principles and human rights. 

This suspension is a mockery of the Najib administration's so-called 'Greater Reforms' to make Malaysia a more democratic and liberalised nation. This action proves that Najib's reforms are insincere, superficial and dishonest but intended to solely fish for votes with the upcoming general election. 

We demand that this unjustified suspension be lifted immediately while calling upon MCMC not to step beyond its boundaries. We also urge the police to immediately cease harassing Prof Aziz Bari with investigations under the draconian Sedition Act.  

Issued by Afiq M Noor
Lawyers For Liberty

Gutter politics – utterly disgusting

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:25 PM PDT

By P Ramakrishnan, Aliran President

Resorting to utter gutter politics is akin to swimming in the cesspool without a care. That's how those faceless pro-Umno bloggers who spun a lie regarding an innocent son to get at the father came across – filthy and smelly.

Not to be out-done, the Umno Youth chief gets into the act with his silly comments. He comes across as no better than the half-baked politicians who are incapable of being logical.

What is disturbing and worrying is the fact that these so-called know-all cheap politicians had picked a fight with a 16-year old teenager who is not capable of defending himself or explaining himself. This is their crude and cowardly way of waging a political battle to disgrace and denigrate the Chief Minister of Penang.

Why can't these vile politicians take on adversaries who are their equal and prove to the world that they are men of substance?

To traumatise a teenager with blatant lies is doing irreparable damage to someone who is just growing up. This is the period that a teenager can be easily crushed and shaken psychologically to the extent that he may lose all his self-confidence and may not even recover from this trauma.

He may be forced to withdraw into a shell and become an introvert. Worse, he may even view society as an unreasonable, uncaring one hell of a big bully and turn into an anti- social individual. The possibilities are tremendous – all because certain unethical politicians chose to be unscrupulous in wanting to grab power.

It has now been established by the school concerned – SMK Heng Ee – that this boy had not molested any girl in his former school. It has also been established that he was a school prefect and a good student who had elected to be transferred to another school of his choice after completing his PMR. According to his father, he did not want to have a crew-cut as was required by his former school but wanted to keep longer hair. This is understandable and that was the reason for the transfer.

The girl who was alleged to be the victim of sexual molestation was never a student of Heng Ee School. She was never a citizen of Malaysia. She is presently a third-year student at a liberal arts college in the United States.

Yet the perpetrators of this heinous crime had resorted to posting her picture and linking Lim Guan Eng's son to a criminal activity that never took place. It is these unscrupulous politicians who are a danger to our way of life. They are the scum of our society.

Don't they have bigger matters to worry about concerning the state of our nation? Shouldn't they train their sights instead on bigger issues like the looming economic problems arising from the economic meltdown in Europe? Shouldn't they be concerned about the rapid breakdown of our national unity? Shouldn't they worry about the religious conflict that is threatening to wreck this nation?

The Prime Minister of Malaysia, also the President of Umno Baru, cannot turn a deaf ear to this unforgiveable episode. Does the Prime Minister of Malaysia approve of such dastardly conduct that demeans an individual unjustly. Does he, as Umno Baru President, condone this despicable act that brings shame to his party? Is his sullen silence due to the fact that he no longer shares the values espoused by the original Umno, which had existed for 42 years before it was destroyed, paving the way for Umno Baru to be established in 1988?

Let's not forget that it was Umno's lawyer who argued for Umno to be declared an illegal society. He wouldn't have done that without the proper advice and mandate from the then president of Umno who happened to be Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In both his capacities – as Prime Minister and President of Umno Baru – Najib owes an explanation to this nation.
 

MCA and hudud: Part 3

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:21 PM PDT

By Stanley Koh, FMT

Few will disagree that politicians are often trapped in history and history in them. MCA politicians should take heed. Unfortunately, when they throw stones at their rivals, they often forget that they live in a house of glass.

When in 1993 the Kelantan government proposed the law allowing hudud punishments, the two Umno representatives in the state assembly supported it. The law, formally called the Syariah Criminal Code (11) Enactment 1993, was passed in November of that year.

There was no public outcry and the MCA leadership did not threaten to leave Barisan Nasional. The only justification for the silence was that the then prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had already objected to the passing of the bill.

Fast forward to the present. MCA President Dr Chua Soi Lek recently said he would pull his party out of BN if its political master, Umno, ever decided to impose hudud. Is he in fact trying to rehash the anti-hudud position that his party took during the campaign for the 1999 general election? The results showed that the ruse worked.

Five years earlier, the MCA publication Guardian featured an article by Dr Ling Liong Sik, in which the then party president remarked: "The MCA has always chosen partners who are moderates and are willing to discuss. Malaysia has no room for extremists and religious fanatics."

Was he referring to PAS and hudud? The answer lies somewhere in a subsequent sentence: "The DAP, being a party of opportunistic bankrupt politicians who are constantly criticising for the sake of criticism, are a threat to the wellbeing of all Malaysians. I am grateful the hudud law issue has exposed the DAP."

Taliban types

At the MCA-organised forum in 2001, held soon after Mahathir declared Malaysia an Islamic state, Abdul Hamid Othman of the Prime Minister's Department suggested that MCA should watch out for "Taliban-type" Malays. "We must tell our people that we are already an Islamic state," said the prime minister's religious adviser.

He acknowledged that Mahathir's announcement might frighten the non-Muslims but explained that the idea was to prevent the emergence of the Taliban types.

Hamid in fact tried to teach MCA how to explain the issue to its constituents. He said they should be told that the Malaysian-style Islamic state would be based on locally established traditions and practices as well as universal practices suitable for Malaysians. These would be unlike the practices associated with such countries as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which were, according to him, based on local traditions and not necessarily Islamic.

He noted that while men and women were segregated at Saudi airports, for instance, there was no such segregation inside the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

Zainah Anwar, the executive director of Sisters in Islam, spoke at length on the impact of Islam on legal and political systems and the concerns it raises.

Among other things, she said: "Islam 1,400 years ago granted women equal rights unheard of in other religions and societies—the right to divorce, rights of ownership and disposal of property, dowries and the banning of female infanticide.

"We believe that our fellow Malaysians who are non-Muslims have the right to seek clarification, understanding and to express their concerns, their confusion in these uncertain and difficult times as to what is going on in the Muslim world in general."

She said one of the main concerns of her movement was the "injustice and discrimination" against Muslim women at the hands of religious authorities.

"The challenge for us today, and in many Muslim countries, is the main political conflict—not so much between Muslims and others, but rather among Muslims with contending visions of Islam and the shape of the nation state. And in this battle on what is Islam and who practices the right Islam, it is the status of women that is the first casualty.

READ MORE HERE

 

Anya Corke: I don’t know Guan Eng’s son

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:16 PM PDT

By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The girl whose photograph was used by pro-Umno bloggers to level accusations of sexual harassment against Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's son has denied ever meeting or hearing of the 16-year-old schoolboy.

Chess grandmaster Anya Sun Corke said today that she was "shocked, dismayed and baffled" as to how her photo was used without her knowledge or consent.

"I have never met or even heard of any of the people involved. I have never been physically assaulted in any way. I have never been victimised in any way by this boy or his family.

"The only way in which my 'modesty was outraged' has been by the publication of my picture in connection with these scurrilous and unfounded rumours," the undergraduate at Wellesley College said in a statement.

Pro-Umno bloggers had claimed that Lim's son had assaulted a 16-year-old schoolmate and tried to escape punishment by using his father's name.

But the DAP showed at a press conference on Wednesday screenshots from the blogs which used pictures of Corke that matched those from www.chessbase.com.

Lim had denied the allegations on Tuesday, saying he was furious with the "barbaric lies" made about his teenage son by "pro-Umno ferocious beasts."

His colleagues in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) have come out strongly in support of the DAP secretary-general against what they call "the lowest gutter politics" seen in decades.

The principal of SMK Heng Ee in George Town also moved two days ago to put an end to the accusations, calling them "completely untrue."

Sensing growing public anger, Umno MPs have been quick to distance themselves from the allegations.

Corke said today that she has not visited Malaysia for seven years.

 

READ MORE HERE.

Ngeh claims Zambry sold state land on the cheap

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:09 PM PDT

By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham filed a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Ipoh today accusing Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir of selling land at a loss of at least RM1.2 billion.

The former senior state executive councillor said he had "concrete proof" that since Barisan Nasional (BN) took power on February 6, 2009 until July this year, the Perak mentri besar alienated nearly 28,000 hectares of land for just over RM150 million.

"I have concrete proof that the land was approved by the BN government since its power grab," the Beruas MP said in a statement today.

"I suspect there is abuse especially of the industrial and farm land that has been approved at about RM375 per acre (0.4 hectares)."

He said the market price for land in Perak was now about RM50,000 per hectare, meaning that "an open auction would have fetched at least RM1.2 billion for the state government" for the 24,500 hectares of industrial and farm land.

Zambry refuted the allegations on Monday, stating that the land was given to the state religious authorities' public-funded schools and other state-owned agencies for a nominal fee.

But Ngeh, who was part of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government ousted over 30 months ago, said he believed "the land approved for these organisations are just a small portion of the total".

 

READ MORE HERE.

BN poised for bigger win in GE13, says OSK Research

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:05 PM PDT

By Lee Wei Lian, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — A major investment bank has said that Barisan Nasional is likely to improve on its performance in the 2008 general election due to indications of a swing of support to the ruling coalition.

OSK Research in a report yesterday said that the incumbent government was likely to increase its share of parliamentary seats and that most investors were expecting the general election to be held by March 2012.

"This expectation is premised on indications that certain communities have swung their support back towards the BN since early 2010," said OSK.

"While we cannot predict the  number of seats that the BN may clinch, we believe that it would be an improvement over the 63 per cent secured in 2008."

The report also said that based on the 2008 polls and the news flow since then, the three west coast states of Kedah, Perak and Selangor were expected to be major battlegrounds.

It also broke down the geographical support, with Pakatan Rakyat dominating urban centres, the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and the rural Malay heartland in the north of the peninsula reflecting its alliance of components comprising Islamic fundamentalists, secular urbanites and moderate reformers.

The ruling BN coalition, meanwhile controls the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia, which reflects its more development-focused agenda.

The report also said that based on the stock market's historical performance, a one-month post-election strategy — which entails buying into the market just prior to an election and selling out about a month after — was the most consistent in terms of returns.

"This strategy gives the second highest probability of a positive return," said OSK.

"The average returns over the past eight elections from employing such a strategy are also the second highest among other possible strategies, such as buying six months prior to an election, or holding for three months post-election."

It also recommended a "short and tight" approach to trading during election season as polls are in general a short-term localised driver.

Among strategies recommended for election season include waiting for profit-taking ahead of the general election before entering the market, buying just before the election date and riding on the positive post-election sentiment, exiting about one month after the elections and focusing on blue-chips in the banking, O&G and construction sectors rather than on so-called "election plays".

 

READ MORE HERE.

#CleanBefore13 Global BERSIH 2.0 Launch in Australia with Dato' Ambiga Sreenevasan

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 01:00 AM PDT

BERSIH 2.0 CHAIRPERSON

DATO' AMBIGA SREENEVASAN

MELBOURNE-SYDNEY-CANBERRA

#CleanBefore13 Global Campaign -

Fulfil the 8 Demands Before GE-13

 

TUESDAY 25 OCTOBER 2011 - 6.30PM- 8.00PM 

FREE PUBLIC LECTURE Electoral Reform and the Quest for Democracy in Malaysia

Venue: GM15- LAW BUILDING, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

RSVP Essential: http://alc.law.unimelb.edu.au/index.cfm?objectid=6A3FF7F9-1422-207C-BAF8B4E4EFE99C64&DiaryID=5569

 

FRIDAY 28 OCTOBER 2011 - 6.30PM- 10.00PM 

CleanBefore13 - BERSIH2.0 SOLIDARITY NIGHT / Nasi Lemak Dinner served
(Vegetarian Option Available) $15 non-students/ $10 students

Venue: Clayton Hall, 264-268 Clayton Road

 

RSVP Essential: http://bersihstories.eventbrite.com 

 

SUNDAY 30 OCTOBER 2011 - 6.30PM- 8.00PM 

AN EVENING WITH DATO' AMBIGA SREENEVASAN

Dinner $40 /pp

Venue: Emperor's Garden, 96-100 Hay St, Haymarket, NSW, 2000

 

MONDAY 31 OCTOBER 2011 - 12.30PM- 2.00PM 

FREE PUBLIC LECTURE (Light lunch served)

Venue: Boardroom, Level 2, Law Building, UNSW

RSVP ESSENTIAL: https://register.eventarc.com/event/view/5951/tickets/ahrcentre-seminar-with-dato-ambiga-sreenevasan

 

 

MONDAY 31 OCTOBER 2011 - 6.00PM- 7.30PM 

FREE PUBLIC LECTURE

New Law School Lecture Theatre, Room 24, University of Sydney

 

TUESDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2011 - 6.30PM- 8.00PM 

FREE PUBLIC LECTURE

Law Theatre, ANU College of Law (Building 5), Australian National University

 

TUESDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2011 - 8.00PM- 10.00PM 

INFORMAL DINNER WITH MALAYSIANS IN CANBERRA 


RSVP for all events essential. Email us at sabm.melbourne@gmail.com or contact us on facebook

HAVE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE?

Register to vote at any of these events. Bring a photocopy of your Malaysian NRIC with you.

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net
 

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