| Be fair to PM’s family Posted: 04 Nov 2011 10:41 AM PDT By Rizal Omar via The Malaysian Insider I have not met Datin Seri Rosmah or her children. Neither do I have any connection with the prime minister's family but I am a regular reader of The Malaysian Insider and other news websites and I think many people have been unfair to her. People are saying and thinking the worst things about her based on rumours and lies. I also read the report in the West Australian about how her daughter spent A$60,000 (RM192,000) on a shopping spree. This was proven to be false, just like the accusation that Rosmah bought a ring for RM24 million. A DAP MP asked a question about the PM's wife having many Birkin bags which cost several hundred ringgit each. First thing is: is this question by the DAP MP based on factual information or rumours. And if it is factual, why shouldn't the First Lady of Malaysia own some expensive items? Is it a sin to dress well and with class? There is just too much envy and gossiping in this country and not enough emphasis placed on the good charity work being done by Rosmah. For example, at the Vienna Boys Choir performance a couple of days ago, the audience was pleasantly surprised when an image of the PM's wife was produced on stage at the end of the show. Even though she is away performing the haj, she delivered a recorded message. The opposition wants to demonise her and the PM's family as spendthrift and not connected to reality and the rakyat. If that is based on factual information, then they have a right to do so. But this bringing down of the PM's wife is based on rumours and envy. And still she has carried herself with grace and should be respected for her charity work. |
| Huge Malaysian transit project hits rough patch Posted: 04 Nov 2011 10:31 AM PDT By Julia Zappei, AFPKUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian Judy Lam never saw herself as an activist -- until officials turned up at her family's small hotel in Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown and announced plans to take it over. Now Lam, 50, is among dozens of landowners in the capital who have emerged as a surprising stumbling block for a project central to government economic stimulus plans -- a multi-billion dollar mass rapid transit line. The 51-kilometre line is Malaysia's biggest-ever infrastructure project, set for completion in 2016 and projected to transport 400,000 commuters daily to ease the city's excruciating traffic. But its route through central Kuala Lumpur has hit loud landowner opposition in a country where mega-projects have traditionally been rammed through. Opponents accuse authorities of attempting to grab valuable properties and fear the project will alter unique neighbourhoods like Chinatown that highlight the country's multi-ethnic flavour. "We didn't even know about the planned land acquisition until one day (in August) someone came to measure the land!" Lam said of her family's 70-year-old Lok Ann Hotel. Few dispute that mass transit is needed to ease the dreaded daily traffic jams in the city, whose greater metropolitan area has a growing population now estimated at more than six million. It is "crucial" to upgrade public transport to project an image of modernity, attract investment and boost the economy, said Yeah Kim Leng, chief economist with financial research firm RAM Holdings. The line linking central Kuala Lumpur with sprawling suburbs is a cornerstone of Prime Minister Najib Razak's plans to spur a slowing economy amid trouble in Malaysia's overseas export markets. Construction is expected to create 130,000 jobs. Promotional materials show modern high-rises and skybridges sprouting along the line. But the system would wind through bustling neighbourhoods marked by British colonial-era buildings, reminders of Malaysia's vibrant mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and other cultures -- and stubborn longtime residents. The Lok Ann Hotel's modest orange facade is set amid other old Chinese-style shophouses. Around the corner, pavement vendors sell fish, cheap watches, used shoes and trinkets. The hotel's coffee shop, a social hub as far back as 1957 when Malaysia declared independence from Britain in nearby Merdeka Stadium, still packs them in. Opponents fear project-related development would lead to more of the charmless shopping malls proliferating in the city at the expense of heritage properties. "If the government takes it, it's daylight robbery," Lam said. "(Our neighbourhood) is about history, heritage, culture. We hope the government will listen to us." Malaysian law allows the government to take over land -- with compensation -- for public purposes. But with Najib expected to call elections within months -- and recently promising a break with the country's authoritarian past -- the government has to tread lightly. State-owned MRT Co. said last month it would drop plans to appropriate land in hotly disputed downtown areas like Chinatown and instead pursue deals with landowners to allow construction for underground stations and tunneling. It also guaranteed no historic Chinatown buildings would be destroyed. That means Lam's hotel would be spared demolition but she still worries that underground construction work may damage her property and irrevocably change the area Opposition lawmaker Tony Pua said the "U-turn" rubbished earlier claims that land takeovers were needed and proved citizens "need to mobilise and speak up for their rights". But opposition politicians and activists also complain of a lack of transparency in the project, warning it could lead to the sort of poor planning and corruption frequently exposed in large Malaysian projects. They have called for public release of a master plan justifying costs that the government has warned could run past an initially announced $11.5 billion and passenger projections seen by some as too high. Officials insist the project must move forward. "If we do not have the MRT, I can tell you by the year 2020 this city will be choked," Idris Jala, who heads an office spearheading Najib's economic growth plans, was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency. But Rajiv Rishyakaran of public transport advocacy group Transit said questions surround the project, adding that the affair highlights an emerging spirit of civic action in Malaysia. "(Before), people just accepted what the government was doing. Now the demands for greater transparency and accountability are much higher," he said. "We are still on square one when it comes to transparency. There is a lot of mess because it's a very rushed project. It wasn't planned properly," he added. Officials have ruled out a route realignment and insist the project is still on track. That leaves other properties, particularly in the colourful Bukit Bintang shopping and entertainment district, in the firing line and some landowners there are readying court challenges. Meanwhile, Lam and others are determined to keep up pressure for a full realignment. "We are going to fight until the end," she said. |
| ETP to keep Malaysia on the right track to high-income status by 2020 Posted: 04 Nov 2011 10:29 AM PDT By Cecelia Kok, The Star BEING a small and open economy, Malaysia may not be totally insulated from the effects of a global economic slowdown expected in the year ahead. But the last thing we have to do, says Datuk Seri Idris Jala , is to bury our heads in the sand. Quoting his favourite quote by American author Helen Keller, Jala says: "If we keep our faces to the sunshine, we will not see the shadows." The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department who also acts as the chief executive officer of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) is confident Malaysia has sufficient measures in place to not only cushion its economy against potential turbulence, but to also maintain it on the right path to become a high-income and developed nation by 2020. "As long as we remain focused on our key growth areas and keep on promoting a competitive environment through our strategic reform initiatives, we will not be derailed," Jala says. Indeed, focus on the 12 National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs) and ensuring competitiveness through Strategic Reform Initiatives (SRIs) have become the two keys driving Malaysia's Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) that aims to propel the nation to high-income status by 2020. The ETP was launched a year ago by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak . It contains a set of reform and growth measures to boost Malaysia's gross national income (GNI ) to US$523bil (RM1.7 trillion), or GNI per capita of US$15,000 (RM48,000), by the end of this decade, so as to meet the World Bank 's threshold for high-income nation. And in line with the GNI target, the ETP is expected to draw in US$444bil (RM1.4 trillion) worth of investments and create 3.3 million additional jobs by 2020. The ideal situation for this to happen smoothly is to grow the economy, or gross domestic product (GDP), at an annual rate of 6% for the next 10 years. But the ongoing global economic uncertainties stemming from unresolved problems in Western developed nations might just be a damper to the plan. While Jala concedes that Malaysia's GDP growth could at times fall short of the annual target on its journey towards becoming a high-income economy, he believes those external challenges would not pose much inhibition for the country to keep on growing its GNI, investment levels and the number of new jobs created to meet the ultimate targets set in the ETP. "It's more important for us to be focused on meeting the targets for those three elements that make up the country's high-income agenda, even as the GDP growth fluctuates, because when we do, we know we are on the right track," he explains. As revealed in Jala's recent presentation, the ETP at its nascent stage is already bearing some pretty good results. Year-to-date, the programme has already realised some RM10bil worth of investments, or 64% of the RM15bil committed for 2011. Idris says the remaining RM5bil worth of investments will be making its way into the economy before the year ends. So far, the Entry Point Projects (EPPs) have been progressing at very encouraging pace as well. A total of 70 out of the 131 EPPs, or 53%, have already taken off. Thanks to some of the EPPs having multiple projects, the economy is currently seeing 97 projects in various stages of implementation. Tourism NKEA For instance, under the Tourism NKEA is the Johor Premium Outlets in Genting Indahpura. Already 95% completed, the project has been scheduled for a grand opening next month. So far, more than 80 designers and brand names have confirmed their presence at the Johor Premium Outlets. Under the Oil, Gas and Energy NKEA is the Pengerang Independent Petroleum Terminal, which started its first-phase construction last month. The facility is scheduled for completion by December 2013 and the first oil is expected out in January 2014. Under the Palm Oil NKEA, on the other hand, 186 mills with a dedicated quality enforcement officer have been established, thereby increasing the country's oil extraction rate this year from 19.7% in January to 20.54% in September, and resulted in a RM2.2bil increase in crude palm oil production. The other nine NKEAs financial services; wholesale and retail; information and communication technology (ICT); education services; electrical and electronic; business services; private healthcare; agriculture; and Greater Kuala Lumpur are also seeing encouraging progress in terms of project implementation. "We are hitting all of them just about right. By being focused on the 12 key growth areas, the private sector's confidence in the local economy has also increased," Jala says, pointing to growth in private investments during the first six months of 2011 as evidence. During the period in review, private investments outstripped that of the public sector after it registered a growth of 23.4% to RM51.2bil, representing 62% of the RM83bil targeted for the entire year. In terms of GNI, Malaysia had already reached RM288bil, or 58% of its target for 2011, during the first half, and created 344,000 additional jobs, or 50% of target. Drawing lessons from other economies that have made it from middle to high income, Jala is mindful that Malaysia cannot attempt to be the best at everything, lest it loses focus and ends up being just an average nation, while remaining trapped in the middle-income bracket. "In this highly competitive world, we cannot afford to be Mr Average," he explains. Still, there is not shortage of critics who say the pace of project implementation under the ETP has not been up to mark. To this, Jala says, the Government has a whole list of projects listed on Pemandu's website for all to check on the progress. "Most projects are driven by the private sector; so if they criticise, they are actually criticising the private sector, not the government... the speed of project implementation in contingent upon the private sector to run," he explains. As far as the Government is concerned, Jala says, it has a governance structure to ensure delivery and the smooth implementation of projects. "The NKEA and SRI teams are in constant contact with project owners. If there are any problems, we deal with it swiftly and promptly by escalating them to the respective steering committees chaired by the lead minister. Problems that cannot be solved at that level will be escalated to the Economic Council, which the Prime Minister chairs every Monday for three hours," he explains, adding that he personally receives weekly reports from each of his team at 5pm every Friday with no exceptions. Stuctural reforms Jala emphasised that the ETP is more than just about achieving the numbers through projects, and that the Government is serious about structural reforms of the country's economy to boost its competitiveness. "There's where we have the six SRIs to enable competitiveness to flourish in our economy," he explains. "It is absolutely critical for competitiveness to thrive in our economy, especially in times of a global slowdown, so that when the global economy rebounds, we can soar even higher. We have to build resilience so that we can continue to explore opportunities in times of crisis," Jala says. As part of an effort to boost the country's competitiveness, Jala reassures the fact that the Government will continue to reduce its involvement in business to encourage the private sector to take over as the driver of growth. The Government announced in July it had identified 33 companies ready for divestment. Under the plan to rationalise the portfolio of government-linked companies (GLCs), the Government will reduce its stakes in some of these companies, list a few others and sell the rest. The divestment plan is still under way. "I want to tell the private sector do not worry too much about the GLCs," Jala says, adding that the Government is very clear of its role, and that is to be the catalyst for business growth, and not to be involved in business except in specific areas. Four criteria According to Jala, the Government has set four criteria under which its involvement in business would still be required. These include when the private sector needs co-investment in projects that are GNI-positive such as the regional corridor developments, when it involves national security such as defence and rice-production industries, when large capital investment is needed and the investment has long gestation period such as nano-technology. Another is in national infrastructure projects such as renewable energy and public transport. Jala has observed that oftentimes, the people turn out to be their own worst enemy when it comes to the pursuit of economic success. Malaysians have become too hung up on what he calls a "small piece of cake", known as the domestic market. "We are all at fault for quarrelling too much among ourselves over the share we get out of this small piece of cake'," Jala says. "We cannot propel our economy by doing that. The huge market is out there," he adds. Instead of bickering, Malaysians should work together as one to produce "winners" that could be the "Apples" or the "Samsungs" of the world by 2020, Jala points out. As the ETP enters its second year of implementation, Jala says there are calls for the Government to raise the bar higher after an encouraging performance during the first year. Nevertheless, new targets for 2012 have yet to be set and will only be identified when the Government sets new KPIs for the respective ministries at the end of this year, he says. "We still have a long way to go to 2020. We're on the right trajectory, but we've not achieved our vision just yet, so we can't declare victory. We must remember this is not a sprint, but a marathon," Jala says. |
| The importance of proper procurement Posted: 04 Nov 2011 10:26 AM PDT By P Gunasegaram, The Star From night view binoculars and thumb drives see the recently released Auditor-General's report) to mass rapid transit systems (see our cover story this week) managing procurement is a vital part of government. Mismanage that and you have spiralling costs spinning out of control to cause damage to government finances especially in the current scenario where worrisome world conditions threaten growth and prosperity, and by extension government revenues. We simply cannot afford to waste money in the same way that we have been doing in the past. There are three aspects to procurement – first prioritise to buy only what you need and if there are competing needs as they always are, buy what you need most. Second do your damnedest to ensure that what you buy fits the need and third get it at the lowest cost possible. Sadly, the evidence, as indicated by the AG's report, is that we as a nation routinely do not follow any of this when in fact we should be adhering to all three of them like a blood-starved leech on human skin in the virgin jungles of Pahang. Let's take a look at night binoculars, a terribly amusing tale if not for the seriousness of it all. According to an investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission or MACC following the AG's report, they could have been bought for RM5,000 a pair by the Marine Park Department but instead the department was charged RM50,000 by the company or 10 times more! Surprisingly, MACC's deputy chief commissioner Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdul told a news conference there was no case of graft. He inexplicably maintained that there were no financial irregularities in the purchase of the two pairs of binoculars but conceded the department had ignored Treasury procedures. Surely the question is, WHY? According to news reports, the AG's report for 2010 had said that the department paid RM56,250 for a pair of night vision binoculars which has an estimated market price of RM1,940. But what the department got instead was a non-night vision pair worth RM1,069. Whichever body you listen to its clear that the wastage was enormous – at least 10 times market price according to the MACC and at least 50 times according to the AG's report. Yes, the base amounts are relatively small but small amounts repeated numerous times add up to quite a bit. How is it possible that up to 50 times the market price is made for the purchase of an item and nobody is eventually held to account for that? That kind of lack of accountability simply ensures that the misdeed will be repeated over and over again. Let's take the My Rapid Transit (MRT) system now. The debate over whether we need it or not is over. The decision has been taken to proceed with it and there can be little doubt that Kuala Lumpur badly needs it, even if many other things can and should be done to improve the traffic situation first. Yes, there is a plan in place and tenders have already been pre-qualified for the tunnelling works for the first line. This first phase could cost up to RM30bil, perhaps less. That's a massive amount of money. It is important to ensure that it is built at the lowest cost possible for the required specifications. It is necessary to ensure that it works and there is a huge coordination effort required. Work on the other two lines will have to start soon too and there will be overlap in terms of time with the first. There will be many phases, many tenders and many contracts. On it will depend the future of KL, whether it will be a city choked by its own traffic becoming increasingly unliveable or whether it will gain a lifeline by finding a suitable, affordable and more humane commute for millions who work in the city and surrounding areas. It is good to note that the tenders will be open but equally important that the tenders are evaluated by those who know how to evaluate them and will do so fairly without any interference. If that is done, the price can be kept reasonable and there will be some hope that the MRT will operate well. Property development will help to defray very little of the overall costs of the project and limited land acquisition will actually help to keep project costs lower and cause far less angst among those whose properties are affected. It is clear that the government will have to bear the brunt of expenses for the project but it may not be all that much considering that the project will be spread out over 8-10 years, with the first line spanning some 5-6 years. If total costs were RM50bil and if these were spread out over 10 years, then the cost per year may be around RM5bil, give or take some to account for lumpiness of at least some of the project costs. That is within the government's affordability level but still costs must be kept as low as possible. It is vital for good government finances to keep a tight grip on buying. Patronage and politics must play no part in procurement, big or small. P. Gunasegaram is taking a break for the rest of the year before he decides what to do next. He wishes readers all the best and thanks them for their attention, interest and comments. He considers it a privilege to have connected with them through The Star these past three years. |
| Learning in English to continue Posted: 04 Nov 2011 10:24 AM PDT (The Star) - PUTRAJAYA: Students who have started learning Science and Mathematics in English will continue to do so until they complete their studies in Form Five. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the decision was made by the Cabinet to ease the concerns of parents. This meant that pupils from Year Two onwards would continue learning under the Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) policy, he said. "I am not interested in the PPSMI debate and I hope parents understand that the Government is responsive. "A circular on the issue has already been prepared and we will send it out to schools very soon," he told reporters after briefing ministry staff on the "soft landing" of the policy. Muhyiddin said schools would have the option to teach Science and Mathematics fully in English, Bahasa Malaysia, or bilingually. "Students will continue with whatever system they have in place now, be it in English, Bahasa Malaysia or both languages." The two subjects will be fully taught again in Bahasa Malaysia starting 2016 for primary schools and 2021 for secondary schools. Muhyiddin said research had shown that most schools were already teaching both subjects in Bahasa Malaysia. "Less than 5% of 7,495 primary schools use English to teach the subjects, and for secondary schools, less than 9% out of 2,192 use English," he said. When pressed for more information, Muhyiddin said this meant that the medium of instruction for the two subjects in schools would be based on the needs of children and teachers. "The schools would know better than me," he said. The PPSMI policy was initiated by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and implemented in phases, beginning with Year One, Form One and Lower Six students in 2003. It was then announced in 2009 that the Government would reverse the policy and revert to Bahasa Malaysia in national schools, and Chinese and Tamil in vernacular schools, while more emphasis would be placed on English as a subject. At the time, it was also announced that Form Six students would not be affected by the reversal so as to help them in their transition to tertiary studies. Muhyiddin said public examinations for the two subjects would continue to be bilingual until 2016 for primary schools and 2021 for secondary schools. "It is up to students to choose to answer in any language they are comfortable in. "They can even answer one question in English and another in Bahasa Malaysia in the same examination paper," he added. Muhyiddin also said the ministry had produced textbooks in Bahasa Malaysia to cater to schools which were already teaching the two subjects in that language, as they had been using translations of the present English textbooks. He added that the abolition of the PPSMI policy did not mean that the Government was ignoring the importance of mastering English. "Under the policy on Upholding Bahasa Malaysia and Strengthening English, the ministry is implementing new initiatives to improve the mastery of English among students," he said. |
| PAGE says likely to continue PPSMI struggle Posted: 04 Nov 2011 10:19 AM PDT By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 — The Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) will likely pursue its cause to retain PPSMI in schools despite expressing "deep appreciation" to the government for allowing those already enjoying the policy to continue. PAGE chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim told The Malaysian Insider she was "pleasantly surprised" by yesterday's announcement by Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin but admitted the decision still fell short of the group's demands. "We are in a difficult situation now... we do deeply appreciate what the government has agreed to and we sincerely thank them. "But at the same time, we want this (PPSMI) policy for our future generation, to go beyond 2020, until we are all dead and gone. We want this opportunity given to all," she said when contacted last night. PAGE had earlier warned the Barisan Nasional (BN) government of a voter backlash if it refused to consider retaining PPSMI (the teaching of science and mathematics in English) in schools. Muhyiddin announced yesterday those students who have already been using the PPSMI policy may continue with it until they complete their secondary education. But the deputy prime minister stressed that it did not mean the government was making a U-turn in its decision to scrap the policy. He explained the decision meant that students between Year Three and Form Five next year would be allowed the option of learning science and mathematics in Bahasa Malaysia, English or both languages, as allowed under PPSMI, until they complete their primary and secondary education. But this year's Year One students, the first batch to undergo MBMMBI (Upholding the Malay Language and Strengthening Command of English), would have to continue learning the two subjects in Bahasa Malaysia when they enter Year Two next year, he said. MBMMBI was mooted in July 2009 to replace PPSMI and came into effect in January this year for Year One students. PPSMI was introduced in 2003 by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Noor Azimah questioned the sudden decision, pointing out that until Thursday, Muhyiddin had appeared bent on pressing on with the government's original decision to scrap PPSMI completely next year. READ MORE HERE. |
| Pakatan against option to teach Science and Maths in English, says Nik Nazmi Posted: 04 Nov 2011 04:15 AM PDT (The Star) - Giving schools the option of teaching Science and Mathematics in English is not part of Pakatan Rakyat's policy although DAP wants it, PKR communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said. He said that while it was understood that there was a need for students to master English and to receive quality education, PPSMI was not the way to achieve these objectives. "Pakatan's policy is clear on the matter and should be left at that until and unless the Pakatan leadership decides otherwise," he said. On Monday, the DAP was reported as urging the Education Ministry to give the option to schools to teach Science and Mathematics in English, where the majority of the parents chose to do so. Nik Nazmi said that Pakatan was against PPSMI because the best way to educate children is through the national language understood by everyone. "Educating students in a language that is foreign to them would benefit the English-speaking students at the expense of the rest, thus widening inequality," he said, adding that Pakatan supported the effort to improve the teaching of English through improving the quality of English teachers and the syllabus. He also said that Malaysia's performance dropped significantly in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2007 (United States) after the implementation of PPSMI. Nik Nazmi said that PPSMI was not mentioned in the Common Policy Framework or Buku Jingga, which binds PKR, PAS and DAP. He pointed out that PPSMI, which was implemented in 2003, resulted in Science and Mathematics teachers who had a poor command of English being forced to teach in the language, thus affecting the quality of their teaching. "As a result, non-English speaking households had the added burden of coping with teachers who were unable to properly teach the two subjects," he said. |
| Sean Murray’s Kuching Construction Connection – Expose Posted: 04 Nov 2011 02:34 AM PDT SARAWAK REPORT 
Sean Murray and Jamilah Taib (Taib Mahmud's eldest daughter) We can reveal that the husband of Taib's eldest daughter, the Canadian, Hisham (Sean) Murray, has grabbed control of one of Kuching's most lucrative property developments on the so-called Kuching Isthmus, a venture sponsored by the State Government. The RM380 million luxury hotel and office complex was announced at the end of last year as a key initiative on the site, which has been designated by the State Government as a 'Special Development Area' and is being touted as the new Central Business District for the capital. CMS Land Sdn Bhd, a joint subsidiary of the largely Taib family-owned company CMS and the State Government, acquired ownership of the entire 240 acres of development land on the Isthmus, after it was alienated from local title-holders through a series of controversial forced purchases, in the late 1990s.  'Ripe for development' – the whole area just outside Kuching has been turned over to the Taib family firm CMS in a 'joint venture' with the state
If that was not favouritism enough, the company has now been granted numerous incentives to build through the injection of huge sums of public money into the area. CMS Land has officially estimated that the project has a "gross development value of RM2.8 billion"! However, we can demonstrate that this latest major construction project on the site is actually being driven forward by a mysterious off-shore company, run by an inner-circle of Taib's immediate family. The controlling share in the Joint Venture, which is situated on 10 acres provided by CMS Land, belongs to a company called Premier Cottage Sdn Bhd. The Director of that company is Sean Murray, along with Taib's other daughter Hanifah and his favoured sister-in-law, Gertie Chong. However, the sole shareholder of Premier Cottage is an off-shore company, Pioneer City Enterprises Limited, which supplies no profile or country address, despite having been awarded a significant public project.  The planned Kuching Tower - projected to be the tallest building in Sarawak This is not the first time that the Murrays have claimed a stake in the Isthmus. Their company City Gate Corporation (part of the Sakto Group based in Ottawa) also snaffled a $110 million dollar contract to design the much talked about Kuching Tower, together with another company called ZW Group. ZW Group, interestingly, shares the same address as the Ottawa-based Aberdeen Project Facilitators Inc, who were formally awarded the management of the Kuching Tower project back in 2006. The Director of Aberdeen Project Facilitators and the Project Manager of ZW both happen to be one Thady Murray. Thady Murray also acts as the President of City Gate Corporation and is one of the many members of Sean Murray's family, who work out of the Sakto/City Gate Headquarters in their Preston Tower building, Ottawa! READ MORE HERE |
| Dr M pushes for referendum on PPSMI Posted: 04 Nov 2011 02:23 AM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed asked for a referendum to decide if English should be used to teach science and mathematics, as pressure mounted on the government to reconsider its policy reversion to Malay. "Perhaps we should do a referendum," he told reporters today at the sidelines of the Third World Chinese Economic Forum here. Dr Mahathir also said that a survey should be done on whether a gap is emerging between the rich and the poor due to access to English. "If we do a survey for example whether it is true that rich people are sending their kids to schools that use English but the poor have to go to schools provided by the government that teach in Malay" Mahathir said that it was never too late to backtrack on the decision to abolish the policy and revert to English. "These are man made laws," he said. "It is not God's law. It can be repealed. There is no such thing as a fixed law that cannot be changed forever." The former prime minister also stressed that he was not being unpatriotic for pushing for mathematics and science to be taught in English noting that Malaysians have to be ready to deal with scientific discoveries which were often written up in English. "I am as much a nationalist as anybody else," he said. "I advocated the use of Malay long before many of those people (who are against English) were born. But I realise the practicality of it. We have to master scientific knowledge if we want to develop this country. That is why despite the fact that many of my old friends are against me, I still stand by it." Mahathir added that using English as a medium of instruction for science in the multi-racial, multi-lingual nation would be beneficial. "I believe PPSMI is good for Malaysia whether for Malays, Chinese or Indians," he said. READ MORE HERE |
| Self cannibalization: the latest political tool to win at all costs Posted: 03 Nov 2011 09:41 PM PDT By Lee Wee Tak According to this report by China Press, which surely would not make it even to the dust bins of Utusan Malaysia sub editors, an interesting elector roll management trend" (to call it politely) has emerged in Seremban. Anthony Loke reveals yet again elector roll irregularities" On the right: if all complaints are raised, fee of RM8,320 is payable. More waste of money, it seems.
On line version here:
From an inspection of the recently released 2011 Q3 supplementary electors roll, Anthony Loke, the MP for Rasah, discovered that: · 110 voters were transferred into Temiang state constituency , bearing addresses of 16 vacant houses in Taman Bukit Zamrud, Seremban · Some of the vacant houses have "for sale/rent" signs hanging at the gate · 6 females and 1 male were transferred to address no. 126, Taman Bukit Zamrud . Apart from one aged around the twenties, the rest were more than 50 years old. Among the 7, 2 were taken from Paroi, 2 from Jempol and 1 from Senawang · Majority of the transferred voters are Indians, with some Chinese as well. The above makes interesting reading. Obviously this is not the work of Pakatan Rakyat. The motive is obvious, moving voters into one of Pakatan's constituency as signs of a snap election reaches fever pitch. |
| Mission schools: cheated by the system they trusted Posted: 03 Nov 2011 09:34 PM PDT 
Defaced with grafitti: the perimeter wall of the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus in George Town earlier this week. Photo from Anil Netto.com
Alas, the church leaders could not have foreseen how dishonest and corrupt that the system, and that civil service, would also become, corrupted and turned by the dishonourable politician. By uppercaise "A Senior Physician" in a letter to Malaysia Today concerning Assunta Hospital, blames church leaders for allowing mission schools to have deteriorated under government hands. He is too harsh on the church. The source of the deterioration lies in the rapacious, dishonest and corrupt politicians that have been elected to power for 40 years, and an electorate willing to put their trust in men and women of no honour. In his letter, he said: " … the Bishop and the Catholic mission may not know anything about this state of affairs. They usually leave it to the trustees while they concentrate on getting donations for the hospital. Church leaders and the clergy live a life of prayer and a belief that God will take care of their problems. This may explain what happened to the Catholic schools. They used to be premier schools for the whole country. It was not only a source of pride to the Catholic mission, it could have been a method to influence the minds of future leaders of the country. Unfortunately the church never moved with the times and the political changes that swept across the country. Now schools such as SFI, SJI and SXI are relics of a grand past and lie almost forgotten and decaying where they once stood."
The open question was then whether the Brothers and Sisters who taught and administered the mission schools would follow along and become absorbed into the teaching service, so that they could continue to teach and be in charge of the administration of the schools.That is hardly the case. Mission schools were incorporated into the Malaysian educational system after much debate. The essence of the matter at that time (in the 1960s) was, in my recollection, that the church agreed after much discussion to allow the schools to become sekolah jenis kebangsaan — but retaining ownership and not transferring the land and the buildings to the government — in order to receive government financial support. It was eventually decided that the Brothers and the Sister would not join the education service, but would remain on the Board of Governors of the schools and thus supervise the administration of the schools this way. One factor would have been to obviate any potential church-state conflict. Over the years members of the La Salle Brothers and the Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus have agonised over that decision, as their schools steadily decayed in standing, suffered abuse and desecration, and became political tools, notwithstanding that many Malaysian leaders and members of royal houses were themselves educated at mission schools of the 1950s-70s. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWlSYZyzg-I&feature=player_embedded To my mind, the church relied on two factors in making the decision to let the government run their schools and to stay out of the education system: • They trusted the honesty and goodwill of the Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Raman, that the schools would be cared for, and that the government in all sincerity, merely wished to relieve the church of the financial burden • They trusted in a system of government that seemed to be based on democratic principle and one that would honour promises made. They were wrong to trust any one individual. Politicians come and go. They were naive to believe the succeeding politicians would honour the word of another. It should have been possible to put trust in the system. Institutions of the system and the civil service that goes with them, remain while politicians come and go. They are designed to be a bulwark of the common citizen against the dishonest politician. Read more at: https://uppercaise.wordpress.com/2011/11/03/mission-schools-cheated-by-the-system/ |
| I am not allowed Posted: 03 Nov 2011 09:30 PM PDT My existence is not allowed. Somehow, the person that I am - and I have to assume, the person that we all are for people the likes of me - have been reduced to no more than a threat. Somehow, I am a threat to a religion I do not practice, a threat to a nation I have no intention of harming, a threat to a culture I participate in and therefore shape. I am to be dealt with by the strong arm of the law, in the harshest of terms because I am not allowed. By Leroy Luar In response to the atrocity that has befallen my friends in Seksualiti Merdeka, I present this story of what happens to a dream deferred.
About dreams, whispers of promises,
For dreams I've wept, I've bled,
Daydreamer, foolish one,
You are not allowed.
From wooden bowl the silver spoon feeds,
Slogans, soundbites and catchphrases,
Yes you can! Malaysia Boleh!
Daydreamer, silly one,
You are not allowed.
Pen to paper, from the ether onto stone,
Make your mark, make yourself known,
You'll be envied, maybe feared, always remembered,
Daydreamer, delusional one,
You are not allowed.
I am shadow, I am shame,
From you I cower, I run,
For you I shudder, I hide,
I don't exist, neverconceived, neverborn,
Daydreamer, obedient one,
You are not allowed.
I had dreams of being a great Malaysian author. I yearned to someday bring fame and pride to the nation as several other Malaysians already have. I can name some of these people that I look up to:
- Tan Twan Eng, author of 'the Gift of Rain' long listed for the 2007 Man Booker Prize.
- Tash Aw, author ot 'the Harmony Silk Factory' and 'Map of the Invisible World', winner of the 2005 Whitbread Award and longlisted for the Man Booker Prize for the same year.
- Preeta Samarasan, author of 'Evening is the Whole Day' and owner of the most beautiful soul I have seen in a person.
I mean, look at these people. They are wildly talented and rightfully recognised for their immense contributions to the annals of Southeast Asian literature. I dreamed of someday joining the pantheon of these gods, share the same airspace with them. In wanted to be just like them. No 'scientific experiments' in space, I dreamed of being the read deal. In short, I wanted to be a great Malaysian, recognised for verifiable excellence in my chosen field of expertise. Dreams will remain just that if no effort was put into the making of those dreams into reality. We've been told as much since the very first day we stepped foot into school. "Apakah cita-cita anda?" (What is your ambition?) became an all but consuming obsession in the matter of our nurturing. Naturally, things were no different for me. Like everyone else with a dream, I put time into honing my skills in narrative crafting. Practice makes perfect they said and I was determined to make things fall into place. A couple of years ago, I won a micro-fiction writing competition alongside a group of other talented writers. What may look like a small achievement to others was to me the pebble that may be responsible for bringing down a mountain. Earlier this year, I made the shortlist in the 2011 Commonwealth Short Story Competition; the only Malaysian in this year's shortlist and the first in five years to receive this privilege. When told of the news, I thought to myself 'Greatness is possible, I am not untalented." However, as of several hours ago, I am no longer master of these dreams of greatness. Greatness, it appears, is not possible. Not for me and for people the likes of me anyway. To put it simply, I am not allowed. I attempt to refine this statement: greatness is not that which I am not allowed to achieve, it is I - the person this pronoun refers to - that is not allowed. My existence is not allowed. Somehow, the person that I am - and I have to assume, the person that we all are for people the likes of me - have been reduced to no more than a threat. Somehow, I am a threat to a religion I do not practice, a threat to a nation I have no intention of harming, a threat to a culture I participate in and therefore shape. I am to be dealt with by the strong arm of the law, in the harshest of terms because I am not allowed.
Oh, I had dreams of greatness and all the signs so far indicated that I had every potential to achieve this very greatness I am told should define my existence. I had dreams of being a great Malaysian.
I had those dreams, I really, truly did.
I don't anymore.
I am a child to a country that does not want me. I am an orphan, I am abandoned.
I hope you're happy. |
| PPSMI: The Language of Politics Posted: 03 Nov 2011 09:26 PM PDT This is a calculated political gamble which could land Umno/BN some crucial swing votes in the rural areas. Their logic would be that proponents of PPSMI are from urban areas, and since urban areas are against BN anyway, they would have to pander to the sentiments of the rural population in order to retain the federal government. PKR has not ignored this effect, which is why they have also come out to say that they support the change in policy. By Douglas Tan With Muhyiddin Yassin slamming the door shut on PPSMI, the debate continues to rage on within both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat alike. PKR comes out to support the abolishment, whereas the DAP wants to give parents the choice.
PAGE, the English rights action group is submitting 7,000 petitions in favour of the teaching of maths and science in English to the Prime Minister. Gerakan is also whispering that they would prefer that parents have the choice. How did we get into this place in the beginning?
The implementation of PPSMI created controversy back in 2003, but if one were to gauge the results of the 2004 General Elections which swept Barisan Nasional back to power with the biggest majority in their history, there is little evidence to suggest that the implementation of this policy was detrimental.
After a while, we hear praise for the government policy being forward thinking from different sections of the society. The mainstream media also ran pieces about English competency amongst teachers, and how many had struggled to cope with the teaching of the subjects in English. Obviously, this did not reflect well on the federal government, who then spent millions on books, training courses and computer software to train the teachers to become competent.
I strongly suspect that the decision to reverse the policy to teach maths and science in English is based more on the fact that the teachers did not want to make the additional effort to learn English, rather than poor results, especially in the rural areas. At times, one hears stories as to how children who can speak better English than their teachers would proceed to torment and taunt them for their poor command of the language.
Malaysian parents are by-and-large extremely concerned about their children's education, in order for their children to secure their future, both socially and financially. We had the Education Ministry boast of the best UPSR results in history not too long ago, but obviously dissatisfied, the government has decided that teaching maths and science in Malay once again would further raise the standards.
With the General Election fast approaching, the Deputy Prime Minister is obviously intent to prevent what are traditional Barisan strongholds fall to the Opposition. He has cleverly observed that because heritage and pride are something deeply emotional, he waves the flag of "I'm Malay first, Malaysian second" despite this being in direct contradiction with Najib's 1Malaysia. Therefore touting the fact that he is a nationalist and defender of the race, he gets rid of PPSMI to raise up the Malay language once again. Read more at: http://dougtan.blogspot.com/2011/11/ppsmi-language-of-politics.html |
| Nazri talking through his hat! Posted: 03 Nov 2011 09:22 PM PDT It is extremely disturbing that the Minister for Law has shown scant respect for the judicial process by not taking the Court decision seriously. His dismissive remarks mock our judiciary and he himself comes across as a bumbling clown.By P. Ramakrishnan, President Aliran Nazri has given expression to the saying, "Talking through the hat!" That was what he was doing when he rather foolishly commented on the majority decision of the Court of Appeal which ruled in a landmark case that Section 15(5)(a) of the Universities and University Colleges Act was unconstitutional. In spite of the Court of Appeal's ruling, for the Minister of Law to insist that "it does not invalidate the Act" and to dismiss the Court's decision as "an opinion in passing" is appalling and shocking, exposing his alarming ignorance of the judicial process. Section 15(5)(a) has been invalidated as unconstitutional by the Court of Appeal ruling – which means that the provisions of that section are no longer applicable and cannot be enforced. That section, as a result of the Court's decision, is void and invalid. It is a binding decision and cannot be dismissed merely as "an opinion of the Court" without any consequence. Until and unless the Federal Court overturns or sets aside this ruling – thus upholding the High Court decision – no power on earth professing the democratic tradition can ignore this decision. It is as simple as that! It is extremely disturbing that the Minister for Law has shown scant respect for the judicial process by not taking the Court decision seriously. His dismissive remarks mock our judiciary and he himself comes across as a bumbling clown. "This is law, passed by us as lawmakers. There must be separation of powers," he thundered. If he respects the separation of powers, then he must not poke his nose where it does not belong! The judiciary has an inherent independent authority conferred by the Federal Constitution to "act without fear or favour (and) discharge their grave responsibility of pronouncing judgment on the validity of executive and legislative acts and on the meaning of any provision of the federal and state constitutions …" as clearly expounded by the late Tun Mohamed Suffian. According to Tun Suffian, Courts have the power to pronounce on the validity of legislative acts and to interpret the Constitution. When great minds have given their considered opinion, it is futile to split hairs. Perhaps Nazri, as he is prone to be so vocal, can help us in clarifying what is deemed as a contradiction. Is there a contradiction in the UUCA in that it doesn't seem to be applicable to all the university students? Why is it that the UUCA is only applicable to students of local universities? Why are students of overseas universities exempted from this Act? And the more pertinent question is: Why do almost all nations espousing democratic traditions refrain from subjecting their university students to such restrictions as spelt out in our UCCA? How is it that Umno Club members comprising overseas students are permitted to attend the Umno General Assembly regularly? Aren't they also violating the provisions of this Act which state no student shall express or do anything which may reasonably be construed as expressing support or sympathy with or opposition to any political party in or outside Malaysia? These Umno Club members openly express their support for Umno and by doing so, don't they fall foul of this Act? Or is it a case of selective application? Now that the Court had ruled, these Umno Club members henceforth can legitimately attend Umno General Assemblies, something that was not right previously. |
| UUCA ruling a great legal milestone Posted: 03 Nov 2011 09:16 PM PDT 
For decades now, our freedom of thought and speech has been curtailed so much that many Malaysians are suffering from the disease of blindly obeying and mindlessly believing what certain leaders are telling them. Isn't it any wonder that not many people are daring enough to oppose certain mental manipulations by leaders, kowtowing and nodding their heads as if they are in a deep state of hypnosis? By Daniel John Jambun I cannot help feeling extremely elated that last Monday by a three-judge panel made a ruling that a provision in the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) 1971 which restricts students from expressing in support of, or opposing any political party, is unconstitutional. This is history in the making, to say the least! I also feel that the remarks by one of the three-man panel of judges, Datuk Mohd Hishamuddin Mohd Yunus Yunus, are worth repeating here, and even be carved onto stone for future generations to read and excite over, as much as today's generations still gloat over the Magna Carta (the Great Charter) which was presented to King John of England by a group of his subjects, the feudal barons, in 1215, with the warning that if the king refused the charter, they would depose him. The Magna Carta was later passed into law to limit the power of the King. Hishamuddin stated unequivocally that Section 15(5)(a) of the UUCA was irrational as it impeded "the healthy development of the critical mind and original thoughts of students, the objective of which higher education institutions should strive to achieve. Universities should be the breeding ground of reformers and thinkers, and not institutions to produce students trained as robots. Clearly the provision is not only counter-productive but repressive in nature. Freedom of expression was one of the most fundamental rights that individuals enjoy and that right was also recognized in numerous human rights documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It is fundamental to the existence of democracy and the respect of human dignity. Freedom of speech is accorded pre-eminent status in the constitutions of many countries…" How should the country's ruling political leaders react to this ruling by the nation's court of appeal? If any member of the political elite decides to appeal the ruling, if that is possible under the law, such an appellant would have to answer to Hishamuddin's rationales that he was "at a loss to understand in what manners a student, who expresses support for, or opposition against, a political party could harm or bring about an adverse effect on public order or public morality. Are not political parties legal entities carrying out legitimate political activities? Most university students were of the age of maturity where they could enter into contracts, sue and be sued, can marry and become parents and undertake parental responsibilities, vote in general elections if they were 21 years of age. Yet lies herein the irony that they were told that legally they cannot say anything that can be construed as supporting or opposing a political party." I would also add that if we open and operate many universities with hundreds and millions of ringgits to educate our young people, why tell them they are not, will never be, intelligent enough to make any judgment about what's right and wrong as long as they are students and scholars? How will they write short analyses and theses in which they are required to make mature evaluation of political and national governance issues as causes, and connect these evaluations to socio-economic consequences? Are university students supposed to refrain from making the right analyses for fear that they would be going against Section 15(5)(a) of the UUCA? What kind of thesis would it be that is biased and dishonest, and what kind of university graduate would it be who can't even tell what's right and what's wrong because the government had told him he couldn't support or oppose any political thinking? How ridiculous can a law be! I have thought all this while that we are supposed to have universities to develop the country through the creation of generations of intellectuals who will take over the country, not a bunch of graduates who fear the government and when they become leaders will also make the same silly rules to gag future students. I believe that if we succeed in spending millions upon millions of ringgits to produce puppets and robots, our country will simply go down the drain, like what is already happening to us now! For decades now, our freedom of thought and speech has been curtailed so much that many Malaysians are suffering from the disease of blindly obeying and mindlessly believing what certain leaders are telling them. Isn't it any wonder that not many people are daring enough to oppose certain mental manipulations by leaders, kowtowing and nodding their heads as if they are in a deep state of hypnosis? Since their time in primary schools, they have been brainwashed, through the Ministry of (Dis)Information, that the government is right all the time, and that the people's duty is just to believe and obey. And worst, we are still being made to believe that the opposition is lying, day-dreaming, making empty promises they can't keep, can't do anything to help the people, just a bunch of noise makers and irritants, even deluded and evil leaders who will cause chaos and disasters if they take over the government! But are the people frightened of the opposition? Hardly, judging from the recent Sarawak general election and the 2008 political tsunami! We can pose more and more question on this and will only make this anti-intellectual provision more and more ridiculous. What we need to realize is that, all this while the institutions of higher learning are places where students and professors are muted and curtailed from performing their duties to produce generations of critical, creative, innovative and pro-active leaders in all spheres of national activities. Section 15(5)(a) was actually included in the UUCA because the government feared, and still do fear, students from becoming too smart and eventually lean towards the opposition. But they forget that truth can't be hidden forever, and university students will eventually know who is actually lying to them. With or without Section 15(5)(a), they will still voice out their feelings one way or another, and this is more dangerous to the government because they will be working undercover and discreetly. The BN should understand that they are borrowing time from the next generation of leaders, which are the present students. The future belongs to the new generation, not to the present ruling elites. As I see it, the present leaders are succeeding very well in destroying the future, and the future leaders will have a very hard time trying to repair a lot of damages which are being done and will be passed on to them. If the BN is sincere about wanting to do the right thing, it would now let students participate fully in the political process, to say what they want to say. The future is already their responsibility NOW, not later! Khalil Gibran was right when he wrote of children: "...they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls; For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams." If you try to shut them up, they will one day shut you up. It's as simple as that! |
| Bar Council HQ vandalised with red paint Posted: 03 Nov 2011 08:12 PM PDT Calling the act irresponsible and cowardly, council chief says incident is connected to its support for the Sekualiti Merdeka festival. (Free Malaysia Today) - Red paint was splashed at the front entrance of the Malaysian Bar Council headquarters in Kual Lumpur about 1am this morning and the council is convinced that it is related to its support for the Seksualiti Merdeka festival. Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee said: "It's an irresponsible and cowardly act. We have information it is connected to the Seksualiti Merdeka festival, as pamphlets criticising the festival were found at the scene. "Such a reaction to the event is deplorable and must be condemned. Those who hold a different viewpoint on the festival should be civil and engage in discussion and dialogue." The council has been supportive of the festival which celebrates the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community to freedom of expression. An annual feature since 2008, the festival has drawn much criticism this year with right-wing group Perkasa and Islamic party PAS being two of the most vocal detractors. They alleged that Seksualiti Merdeka promotes unnatural lifestyle. Even Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin weighed in and called the event "immoral". READ MORE HERE |
| "Bickering Politicians Will Benefit Enemies of Islam" Posted: 03 Nov 2011 08:08 PM PDT (Malaysian Digest) - Muslim politicians that are always at loggerheads with each other was one of the reason why the western secular ideas can easily influenced this country, said PERKID president ustaz Masridzi Sat (photo).  He said that the western ideas such as excessive human rights and homosexuality can easily get into this country as the Muslim politicians who are supposed to guard the constitution and the religion was busy fighting with each other over their political stance.
"They are busy fighting with each other that they appear weak to the eyes of the enemies of Islam," said Masridzi.
"Seksualiti Merdeka is the example of what can happen if politicians are focusing more towards their political agenda rather than guarding the religion and the laws.
"The enemy of Islam will take full advantage of it, because they think that we are weak," he added.
 Masridzi met by Malaysian Digest during a peaceful asembly organized by PEMBELA at the Sultan Salhudin Abdul Aziz Shah mosque compound.
He also said that the event who is hiding behind the name of human rights should have been opposed since the event did not acknowledge the basic rights of the Muslims who reject homsexuality.
"Seksualiti Merdeka promotes homosexuality, something that is forbidden by Allah, as a Muslim in an Islamic country like Malaysia, we also have full rights to reject such immoral event," he said.
He said events like Seksualiti Merdeka will affect the community as well as promoting immoral way of life especially for people who have limited interactions with different gender. |
| Way to go! Posted: 03 Nov 2011 07:48 PM PDT 
Sometimes I wonder whether Hitler could have been right after all. He took action against gays and Jews and so do we. He dreamed of a national car and so do we. He wanted the tallest, biggest, longest, etc. building to be erected in Germany and so do we. He believed in Ketuanan German and so do we -- Ketuanan Melayu. Nazi Germany and Malaysia are almost like carbon copies. NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin At mosques, strident protests against sexuality festival (The Malaysian Insider) - Within minutes of ending their Friday prayers at the National Mosque here today, Perkasa sounded the clarion call for Muslims to defend their faith being sullied by organisers of a three-year-old sexuality festival. Springing into action, the vocal Malay rights group's youth chief Irwan Fahmi Ideris called on Malays to unite and set aside their political differences to reject homosexuality. Backed by 30 demonstrators and under the watchful eye of 20 policemen at the mosque compound, Irwan raged against the Malaysian Bar for backing organisers of the Seksualiti Merdeka programme. "Lawyers are not qualified to be called lawyers for giving support to Seksualiti Malaysia," he yelled, drawing the attention of some 30 onlookers. The small group of demonstrators swiftly moved to cross the road where another Perkasa leader said they would deliver a memorandum to the city's Islamic religious department demanding it obtain an immediate court order to stop organisers of the Seksualiti Merdeka programme. The memo, signed by Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali, reads: "We believe what the festival organiser is promoting clears goes against the teachings and demands of Islam. Promotion of this festival has sullied and insulted the purity of Islam." In Shah Alam, a group of 10 demonstrators making similar demands rallied outside the Selangor state mosque. Chanting "Allahuakbar", the protestors held green placards that read in Malay: "Don't hide behind human rights. Respect our human rights as Muslims in Malaysia" and "Suhakam, don't be the anti-Islamic enemy's tool". ********************************************** It's not a pride parade, say organisers (New Straits Times) - The organisers of Seksualiti Merdeka yesterday claimed that the event was not aimed at promoting homosexuality but to champion rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT). The event's co-founder, Pang Khee Teik, said it "is not a pride parade" but a series of talks, forums, workshops, art, theatre and music performances, interactive installations, and film screenings organised by a coalition of Malaysian non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Pang said the event was aimed at stopping discrimination, harassment and violence towards one's sexual orientation and gender preference. It is organised by a coalition of Malaysian NGOs including the Malaysian Bar Council, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), Empower, PT Foundation, United Nations and Amnesty International. "We hope to create a platform for the community. Some people say this is Western influenced but that is not true as the LGBT community exists across the world and we even have a small population in our country." Pang explained that keeping quiet had not helped the community as many were subjected to high levels of hostility and violence. Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee said all human beings should be treated equally. "Individuals have the right to make their own choices in sexual orientation and gender identity in the spirit of equality." The Malaysian Bar's stand is embodied, in particular, in the first three principles of The Yogyakarta Principles on the Application of International Human Rights Law in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity, which are; the right to the universal enjoyment of human rights, the rights to equality and non-discrimination and the right to recognition before the law. "In Malaysia, the LGBT community has long been treated as 'outsiders' as they face numerous hardships, including a lack of personal safety due to harassment by civil and Syariah authorities, living in fear of prosecution for the private acts of consenting adults, and constantly facing public discrimination and denigration." PT Foundation acting executive director Raymond Tai said their primary focus was on HIV prevention and care and support for the community most affected by HIV. ********************************************** It is good that 30 Perkasa activists demonstrated against gays. At least the view of more than one billion Muslims worldwide has been heard today. And the added benefit to this is that Malays are finally united, which was what Umno has been trying to do for some time but thus far has failed. Now, finally, PAS and Umno are speaking as one voice. And this augurs well for Malay unity. The PPSMI issue is another issue that has united PAS and Umno. The way things are currently going it appears like the future of the Malays is assured after all after the shock on the March 2008 general election when there was much anxiety that the Malays are going to be reduced to second-class citizens in their own country. At last, PAS and Umno are seeing the light and have woken up to the reality that the future of the Malays rests in a united PAS-Umno and, failing which, there will be a real danger that the Chinese will take control of the country, like what has happened in Penang and, if we are not careful, will also happen in Selangor. The organisers of Seksualiti Merdeka talk about championing the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders. Hello brader…..what rights are you talking about? Lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders have no rights, okay? Only straight people have rights. In fact, even oral sex is a crime in Malaysia in case you were not aware. These people are all perverts. Why can't they be normal like the rest of us? I was told that as high as 50% of Malaysians may have homosexual tendencies even if they do not actually act on these tendencies. That is very frightening. Imagine every second person you see on the street may have gay tendencies. That is an alarmingly high rate. And I was told that homosexuality amongst Malays is higher than amongst non-Malays. And that is the even more alarming thing if it is true considering that Malays are Muslims and are supposed to be very pious and god-fearing and will never harm people, take bribes or steal the rakyat's money. I think we must push this anti-gay effort even further. PAS and Umno, and the Christians who are true Christians, should pass a new law in Parliament to make it mandatory for every Malaysian to go through a polygraph test to determine whether he or she has gay tendencies. That would be easy enough to detect. Then, once these people have been detected, their identity cards can be marked accordingly so that we know who these people are. We probably can also make them wear a star on their chest or something like that, like what the Nazis did to the Jews in Germany. In fact, since Malaysia is anti-Jew and anti-homosexual, just like Nazi Germany, this move would be very appropriate. The law can even stipulate that all Jews and homosexuals must wear a star on their chest -- maybe a yellow star for Jews and a pink star for gays. It is not enough we take action against professed homosexuals. Even closet homosexuals must be hunted down. We know that only 1% of those who are homosexuals reveal themselves or 'come out of the closet'. This means another 99% remain hidden. So we need to flush them out and take action against them – like what we do for apostates, Wahabbis, Shias, etc. It does not matter even if they are merely thinking about it and do not actually act on their homosexual tendencies. Even thinking is a crime in Malaysia and is also not allowed in Islam. Do you know that Malaysia has a law called the Internal Security Act (ISA) that detains people who think the wrong thing? Ex-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad told us this. He said that it is no use arresting someone after the crime has been committed. You need to detain them before they commit the crime even as they are thinking about it. Many Malaysians have in fact been detained for thinking the wrong thing. For example, those who think that Shia is the correct version of Islam have been detained over the last many years and were sent for rehabilitation. Many of them were university lecturers and religious scholars. Recently, some people from PSM were detained under suspicion that they were thinking about Communism. So there is no harm in arresting people for thinking the wrong thing. Malaysia has been doing this for years, before some of you were even born. So, if you have gay tendencies, then this means the government can arrest you. Thinking that gay is right is no different from thinking that Shiism or Communism are right. If the government can detain you for one crime then why not for the other? Sometimes I wonder whether Hitler could have been right after all. He took action against gays and Jews and so do we. He dreamed of a national car and so do we. He wanted the tallest, biggest, longest, etc. building to be erected in Germany and so do we. He believed in Ketuanan German and so do we -- Ketuanan Melayu. Nazi Germany and Malaysia are almost like carbon copies. Heil Najib! |
| Ultimatum from the Rakyat to Barisan Nasional: Call Snap Polls before Electoral Reforms and be ... Posted: 03 Nov 2011 06:06 PM PDT 
The latest information, from reliable insider sources, is that, upon his return to Malaysia on 6th November, 2011, Najib will, on 11th November, 2011, seek and obtain His Majesty's consent to the dissolution of Parliament whereafter, the Election Commission will fix 1st December, 2011 as the date for nomination of candidates and 10th December, 2011 as polling day. The world has, in recent times, witnessed People Power triumph over dictatorships in several nations. In Malaysia, on 9th July, 2011, thousands descended on to the streets of Kuala Lumpur to demand reforms to our nations electoral process, long fraught with irregularities that render the citizens participation in governance illusory. Yet, even as the government led by Dato Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak established a Parliamentary Select Committee to look into the matter of reforms to the electoral process, public statements are constantly issued by members of the government, including the Prime Minister himself, that the 13th general election is imminent. The latest information, from reliable insider sources, is that, upon his return to Malaysia on 6th November, 2011, Najib will, on 11th November, 2011, seek and obtain His Majesty's consent to the dissolution of Parliament whereafter, the Election Commission will fix 1st December, 2011 as the date for nomination of candidates and 10th December, 2011 as polling day. On behalf of the rakyat, political, non-governmental orgnanisation and civil society leaders will hold a press conference to issue a final ultimatum to Najib, UMNO and Barisan Nasional as to the consequences they must be prepared to face if they proceed to call for snap polls before our electoral process is reformed. Details of the press conference are as follows : Date : 5th November, 2011 Time : 2.30pm Venue : Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall We would appreciate if you could send your journalist to cover the event. For clarification, please contact the following numbers : (1) +6012-2070534 (2) +6017-6688404 |
| It's not a pride parade, say organisers Posted: 03 Nov 2011 05:47 PM PDT (New Straits Times) - The organisers of Seksualiti Merdeka yesterday claimed that the event was not aimed at promoting homosexuality but to champion rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT). The event's co-founder, Pang Khee Teik, said it "is not a pride parade" but a series of talks, forums, workshops, art, theatre and music performances, interactive installations, and film screenings organised by a coalition of Malaysian non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Pang said the event was aimed at stopping discrimination, harassment and violence towards one's sexual orientation and gender preference. It is organised by a coalition of Malaysian NGOs including the Malaysian Bar Council, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), Empower, PT Foundation, United Nations and Amnesty International. "We hope to create a platform for the community. Some people say this is Western influenced but that is not true as the LGBT community exists across the world and we even have a small population in our country." Pang explained that keeping quiet had not helped the community as many were subjected to high levels of hostility and violence. Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee said all human beings should be treated equally. "Individuals have the right to make their own choices in sexual orientation and gender identity in the spirit of equality." The Malaysian Bar's stand is embodied, in particular, in the first three principles of The Yogyakarta Principles on the Application of International Human Rights Law in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity, which are; the right to the universal enjoyment of human rights, the rights to equality and non-discrimination and the right to recognition before the law. "In Malaysia, the LGBT community has long been treated as 'outsiders' as they face numerous hardships, including a lack of personal safety due to harassment by civil and Syariah authorities, living in fear of prosecution for the private acts of consenting adults, and constantly facing public discrimination and denigration." PT Foundation acting executive director Raymond Tai said their primary focus was on HIV prevention and care and support for the community most affected by HIV. |
| PAS reiterates its stand against PPSMI Posted: 03 Nov 2011 05:42 PM PDT (The Star) - PAS has reiterated that it is against the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English. PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar said former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had introduced the Teaching of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) in 2003 to help improve the command of English among students but the policy had failed to achieve this. "The teaching of the subjects in English did not help improve students' ability to speak well in English," he said. Mahfuz added that currently the emphasis on teaching English was mainly on reading and writing and little on speaking, and for this reason the subject should be improved and upgraded to include speaking ability. He also said that the teaching of the two subjects in Bahasa Malaysia was also acknowledging it as the national language and the medium of teaching. |
| Saya tidak percaya DS Rosmah membeli belah di David Jones. It's a low class shopping mall for her Posted: 03 Nov 2011 05:28 PM PDT ASPAN ALIAS "Anak saya tidak berada di Perth semasa persidangan CHOGM baru-baru ini dan anak saya tidak pernah membeli belah di sana" kata Najib lebih kurang seperti mana yang saya terbaca. 'Apparently' cerita ini di buat oleh sebuah akhbar berpengaruh di Western Australia dan Najib menafikannya melalui twitter beliau dan beliau berkata ini adalah fitnah yang sengaja di ada-adakan oleh akhbar tersebut.
Najib juga menafikan berita yang isteri kesayangan beliau Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor membeli intan berlian di Australia dan isteri beliau tidak pun pergi ke pusat membeli belah itu. Saya pun hendak juga tahu bagaimana akhbar tersebut tahu jumlah AUD60000 itu telah dibelanjakan oleh anak perempuan Najib.
Saya tidak tahu samada perkara ini benar atau pun tidak kerana saya tidak mengikuti perkembangan isu ini. Tetapi saya di minta untuk mengulas tentang isu yang di bawa oleh akhbar Western Australia ini.
Saya tidak berminat sebenarnya untuk mengulas kerana membeli belah secara besar-besar ini adalah satu persepsi yang sinonim dengan DS Rosmah ini dan saya tidak langsung mahu mengambil tahu tentang isu ini lagi. Kalau DS Rosmah dan anak perempuan beliau membeli belah sekali pun itu tidak menghairankan lagi bagi rakyat negara ini.
Saya tidak menjangka yang anak DS Rosmah boleh membelanjakan sejumlah wang yang begitu kecil di tempat yang dikatakan anak beliau membeli belah itu. Pusat membeli belah David Jones itu tidak lah sehebat pusat membeli belah di New York kerana tempat itu hanya lah pusat membeli belah yang biasa sahaja.
Kalau pun keluarga Najib hendak membeli belah mereka tidak akan membuat shopping di tempat itu. Pusat membeli belah itu tidak sampai 'standard compliance' bagi Rosmah atau anak beliau itu. Saya tidak percaya Rosmah atau anak beliau akan membelanjakan wang di sana kerana tempat itu tidak setaraf dengan kemampuan berbelanja untuk keluarga ini.
Tempat itu hanya untuk orang seperti kita membeli belah sahaja…tempat kita hendak membeli sepasang dua stokings, coli-coli dan seluar dalam dan panty wanita sahaja. Rosmah dan anak beliau tidak akan masuk kedalam pusat membeli belah yang tidak ada 'standard' itu. Saya yakin itu merupakan fitnah atau akhbar tersebut tidak tahu yang tempat membeli belah itu bukan setaraf dengan tempat-tempat DS Rosmah membeli belah.
Saya berpendapat untuk mempercayai Rosmah boleh pergi ke tempat shopping itu memang satu perkara yang mustahil. AUD 60,000 bukan jumlah untuk dikaitkan dengan DS Rosmah. Itu terlalu kecil bagi ahli keluarga ini. READ MORE HERE |
| The regime must be vanquished Posted: 03 Nov 2011 05:18 PM PDT In an interview with FMT, P Uthayakumar states that the Umno regime which has been in power for too long should be ousted. Asked why Pakatan leaders are giving Hindraf and HRP the cold shoulder, he replied: "We cannot be controlled unlike the Indian mandores in DAP and PKR. Similar to the Indian parties in or linked to BN, they can be controlled by Umno. But we speak our minds without fear or favour. We take a principled position. The bottom line is we want equality and equal opportunities for the Indians." RK Anand, Free Malaysia Today The tinted glass door, which conceals the operations within from the outside world, slides open and a beaming P Uthayakumar emerges to welcome FMT into his lair. Nestled in a shop-lot in Bangsar Utama here, this is the nerve centre of both Hindraf and its political offspring, the Human Rights Party (HRP). Outside, sits an antiquated Volvo, which the 50-year-old lawyer purchased in 1993. "It's my first car," he said, conceding that the road he has chosen is anything but profitable. Inside, the former Internal Security Act detainee has created a replica of his cell at the Kamunting Detention Centre, which includes a figurine of himself. Sporting a blown-up image of Uthayakumar with long beard and unkempt hair, the figurine, clutching a food tray, is dressed in the same tattered clothes which he wore during his detention. The enclosure is littered with the books he had read during his incarceration and other items, including the toothbrush and toothpaste he used. "You see, there is no brand," he said, picking up the plain white toothpaste tube. "I believe it comes from China and when you use it for a long period, your teeth actually fall off," he added, laughing. The walls of the cell are plastered with photographs depicting Hindraf's struggle throughout the years. In his private chambers, a computer screen wired to the CCTV, allows Uthayakumar to keep a vigilant eye on the front door just in case the police come knocking. Racist, extremist, threat or hero? 
Mention the Hindraf leader's name and it is bound to draw mixed reactions. To some, he is a threat, racist and extremist. The harsher critics believe he has lost his marbles or is nothing more than an Indian clone of Perkasa's Ibrahim Ali. But to some, he is a hero who has suffered for the betterment of the Indian community in Malaysia. In his defence, Uthayakumar said Hindraf and HRP voice the truth; and the truth knows not political correctness. As a result of this, the feathers of those on both sides of the political divide are ruffled. "Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat want the Indian votes but not their problems," he added. Bouquets and brickbats aside, the irrefutable fact is that Hindraf forced the government to take notice of the Indian community's plight and caused a vote swing in the last general election. Within a few hours on that epochal November morning four years ago, Hindraf managed to do something which MIC was unable to do for decades. Even the once-critical MIC leaders acknowledged this. There are also those who claim that Uthayakumar has transformed into a BN operative based on his scathing criticisms against the opposition. 'Ultimate struggle is to end Umno's rule' But the Hindraf leader makes it crystal clear that his beef with Umno is greater and therefore the movement is willing to extend a conditional olive branch to Pakatan in order to vanquish a common foe. "Our ultimate political struggle is to end Umno's rule in Putrajaya. It is one of the last few remaining regimes in the world which has ruled this nation for 54 years. We want an end to Umno's rule and there are no two ways about it," he stressed. Underscoring the importance of dismantling governments that remain in power for a protracted period, he said: "The problem of the Indian poor is due to Umno's rule. So we feel that at any cost, the rule must end. When there is a change of regime… like in India, BJP came in and after that, when Congress returned to power, it became a better government." However, Uthayakumar said this does not mean Hindraf will give Pakatan a blank cheque. "We want to be the internal check and balance vis-à-vis Indian issues but they (Pakatan) don't like this idea. We have seen their dismal performance in the states they control with regard to this issue. "The argument is that 'we only control the states'. Fair enough, but licences, land for schools and Yayasan Selangor scholarships are within the respective state's jurisdiction. "The other excuse is that they have only been in power for three years. But my question is simple, do you need 50 years to make changes? To give land to all Tamil schools in Selangor does not need years, just a few minutes to sign the required paperwork is sufficient," he added. READ MORE HERE |
| ‘Kebebasan hak asasi manusia tidak mutlak’ Posted: 03 Nov 2011 05:10 PM PDT Pesuruhjaya PAS Selangor menjelaskan bahawa hak asasi manusia dalam Islam adalah untuk manusia memainkan peranan sebagai khalifah Allah. (Free Malaysia Today) - PAS Selangor hari ini berpendirian selaras dengan kepimpinan PAS Pusat yang menentang program Seksualiti Merdeka. Pesuruhjayanya, Dr Abd Rani Osman merangkap Adun Meru hari ini berkata bahawa kebebasan hak asasi manusia tidak bersifat mutlak dan adalah berdasarkan panduan yang ditunjukkan dalam al-Quran dan sunnah Rasulullah, Nabi Muhammad. "Panduan ini sambil menggalakkan kebebasan berfikir ini, meletakkan batas-batas tertentu supaya manusia tidak terlanjur dari matlamat ciptaannya sendiri dan rosak sehingga mendatangkan kerosakan di dunia dan akhirat," kata Dr Rani semasa sidang media di pejabat perhubungan PAS Selangor pagi tadi. Menurut beliau, hak asasi manusia dalam Islam adalah hak untuk menghayati dan memenuhi peranannya sebagai khalifah Allah di muka bumi ini. "Ini meliputi hak bersuara, menentang kezaliman, hidup bebas dengan kehormatan tanpa ancaman ditahan tanpa perbicaraan dan sebagainya." READ MORE HERE |
| sPICE issue gets hotter Posted: 03 Nov 2011 05:04 PM PDT Opponents of what is being touted as 'DAP's Putrajaya' are also looking at the possibility of legal action, while BN demands answers from the Penang CM. The state BN has claimed that is set to be the biggest land scandal in Penang and the sum involved could even reach RM500 million. Based on a population of 700,000 on the island, BN claimed that each islander would end up paying RM697 for the project. Athai Shankar, Free Malaysia Today The opposition against the RM300 million subterranean Penang International Convention and Exhibition Center (sPICE) mega project is getting hotter. Opponents of sPICE, including local community groups, are now exhausting all avenues, even legal recourse. Bandar Bayan Baru Residents' Association secretary Chan Kim Beng said his association was contemplating lodging a series of police reports and initiating court action to stop the project. Describing Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's pet project as a "waste of money", he said his association was discussing with other community organisations in the neighbourhood to explore all avenues to halt the project. "If other organisations agree with police reports and court action, we would go ahead," he told FMT after a joint press conference by residents and Barisan Nasional here. Today was the first time some 20 local residents had joined forces with the state opposition BN to demand the Pakatan Rakyat state government to drop the project. BN state working committee chairman Dr Teng Hock Nan indicated that the opposition coalition would back the local residents' court initiatives to halt the project, touted as DAP's Putrajaya. "We are listening to the people's grouses against the project. Some suggested legal action. BN would give support in all ways to safeguard the people's interests and rights," he told reporters. Among those present were state PPP chief and BN information chief Loga Bala Mohan, state Umno deputy chief Musa Sheikh Fadzir and state BN youth chief Oh Tong Keong. 'Biggest land scandal' 
Under the sPICE pipeline, the 24-acre public recreational and sports centre PISA in Relau would be dismantled and refurbished into an exclusive recreational, an international convention centre, an aquatic centre and a posh hotel. The state BN has claimed that is set to be the biggest land scandal in Penang and the sum involved could even reach RM500 million. Based on a population of 700,000 on the island, BN claimed that each islander would end up paying RM697 for the project. Under the project agreement, a 1,500 housing units leeway would be given to sPICE developer Eco-Meridian Sdn Bhd (EMSB), a subsidiary of SP Setia Bhd, to build any project, anywhere, on the island. Critics said the developer could sell each unit for more than RM1 million. EMSB/Setia is also being allowed to build and sell 450 affordable house units priced at RM72,500 and above on a free land and pocket all the proceeds from the sales. The current multi-storey car park complex sitting on a 3.1 acre would be renovated into an international class hotel. Local council (MPPP) would lease out the PISA land to EMSB/Setia for 30 years only for RM100 per square feet when the market price was RM300 psq feet, thus saving some RM27 million for the developer. MPPP is also handing out RM50 million to the developer to carry out the project. The quit, assessment and development charges for the project have all been waived. READ MORE HERE |
| Michelle Yeoh and the new James Bond Posted: 03 Nov 2011 04:58 PM PDT The famed actress is rumoured to be mulling an election debut and has been gracing functions organised by the Perak MB. Of course, Malaysian politics is not complete without the "virgin" drama queen, Ummi Hafilda. She regularly dishes out defamation suits against people she was once infatuated with. Like a stalker who cannot accept rejection, she has the habit of popping up wherever Anwar is canvassing, to delight the crowds with her "golden showers". Mariam Mokhtar, Free Malaysia Today Last month, there was a ripple of excitement when rumours of a new Bond spoof surfaced in Malaysia. According to sina.com, the former Bond girl, Michelle Yeoh wants a starring role in GE-13. Michelle needs no introduction. Her new co-star introduces himself with the quintessential charm of his predecessors, "My name is Bond, Jibby Bond." Just like the original Bond movies, Malaysia's Bond spoof will also be action packed. There will be the thrill of the opposition thwarting the cheating of BN. There will be sabotage and dawn raids of back-door voters replacing legitimate ones. There will be car chases as election observers follow lorries carrying ballot boxes from rural outposts to the counting stations. And there will be drama when exploding ballot boxes are dumped from helicopters into rivers, as they are flown from the Sarawak longhouses into town. Extremists will demonstrate to intimidate the peace-loving public and to complete the effect, marauding groups of Rela members will look like private armies on the loose in our towns and cities. Didn't Prime minister Najib Tun Razak promise "blood, sweat and lives to defend Putrajaya"? If it is true that Michelle is to participate in GE-13, she need only look as far as Putrajaya for her supporting cast. The whole Cabinet of actors, masquerading as senior politicians, is available. Even Umno diehards realise that politics in Malaysia is a world of make-believe, perhaps a tragicomedy. BN is short of creative solutions to solve Malaysia's many woes. It cannot handle issues ranging from the economy to English in schools. It is short of good policies. However, BN excels in mock up trials and sex-videos. If the Malaysian judiciary thought we will be titillated with semen stained briefs and other sordid details, they are mistaken. The Cabinet thinks it excels in producing porno movies. What they have produced in the past only induces sleep. Even 15-year-olds can write better scripts and perform better sex-scenes. Malaysian politics has been reduced to this: "Is it him in the video? No-lah, the belly's too big. Rubbish, the watch on his wrist proves it's him." Of course, Malaysian politics is not complete without the "virgin" drama queen, Ummi Hafilda. She regularly dishes out defamation suits against people she was once infatuated with. Like a stalker who cannot accept rejection, she has the habit of popping up wherever Anwar is canvassing, to delight the crowds with her "golden showers". Which party will she join? So it begs the question, why is Yeoh making her political debut in this general election? Was she put up to it by her father, the MCA stalwart of Ipoh? He is Yeoh Kian Geik, who is alleged to be a good friend of the Perak Sultan and denies that his daughter harbours political ambitions. Yeoh senior said, "I don't think she will. She's never mentioned it to me. But I will ask her." Perhaps introducing Michelle as a political candidate is another "cool" idea which originated from Alistair Campbell, the slippery and much hated publicity man who was once former British premier, Tony Blair's press secretary. Campbell is alleged to be "sexing-up" and giving Najib and his failing party, a new makeover. So which party will Michelle join or will she contest as an independent? Ipohites claim that Michelle is always seen at Menteri besar Zambry Abdul Kadir's functions but was not spotted at any, which ex-MB Nizar Jamaluddin arranged. Does this expose her loyalties? If she were to join MCA, will the wags in Ipoh's coffee shops joke that MCA has both a porn star and a Hollywood superstar? Will this double act increase the number of people voting MCA/BN? Will Ng Yen Yen, the vice president of MCA sanction the proposal? Perhaps she has. This way, Michelle will divert attention from Yen Yen's excessive spending on tourism advertisements, her disastrous Malaysia tourism facebook campaign and her costly travel to promote Malaysia. Michelle's career is not reported to be on the decline so why does she have to enter Malaysian politics? Will she be prepared for the back biting, scandalous revelations and airing of dirty linen in public? Even the bitching that must happen on the backlot of the film studios cannot compare with our dirty Malaysian politics. Jean Todt, Michelle's husband was Malaysian ambassador of tourism. Many people were angry about this. It was revealed in parliament that Todt's ambassadorial fee was RM593,400, the couple enjoyed RM388,000 worth of Malaysian holidays and that their flights alone cost RM360,000. Why choose a foreigner to promote Malaysia? Why does MCA feel it has to resort to sex and glamour to reach out to the public? The line-up of "hot-chicks" at the recent MCA assembly is reminiscent of a karaoke bar, beer promotion or "naughty-house". Will we, in the near future see the ex-Bond girl and Malaysia's own Jibby Bond 007, clad in tight leather, abseiling into the assembly hall? READ MORE HERE |
| Mahathir, Taib like-minded culprits Posted: 03 Nov 2011 04:55 PM PDT Sarawak's PBB is a mirror image of Umno and like Umno, it wants to stay in power indefinitely. Also during his tenure, the country saw massive borrowings from financial institutions and the public fund board like the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), a free fall of the ringgit currency, the hijacking of the independence of the judiciary, unfair power-sharing formula with other component parties, the curbing of the anti-corruption agency's powers and the suppression of the opposition and the human rights. Awang Abdillah, Free Malaysia Today The Barisan Nasional coalition concept was actually mooted by certain Sarawak leaders who had lived through the experiences of the Sarawak Alliance Party during its 1966 crisis and the fragile position of Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) while under the Sarawak coalition government in the early 1970s. In the 1974 Sarawak election, the BN entity had helped to strengthen the performance of its Sarawak partners when it won 30 seats and Sarawak National Party (SNAP) which was in the opposition won 18 seats. Following that election, the BN government faced yet another crisis when SNAP threatened to destabilise the coalition. The federal-level BN quickly stepped in and helped to diffuse the crisis by negotiating for SNAP to enter into the BN fold in 1976. Despite these hiccups, the overall BN concept of a multi-party alliance had worked at the time. Unfortunately over the years and taking advantage of the federal BN protection, the domineering power of PBB at state level began to breed bad elements of bad governance. The chief minister then, Abdul Rahman Yaakub, began to issue timber licences to his family members and cronies. The Malays felt the PBB policies had marginalised them. Domineering policies Consequently, a new party, Parti Pajar, was formed demanding the removal of the chief minister. The BN federal government at that time was under prime minister Hussein Onn. Being a man of clean character, he eventually forced Abdul Rahman to step down in 1981. Rahman's nephew Taib Mahmud took over from him the same year. From 1981 onwards, the grand alliance under the BN brand started to show its true colour. Events in Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia began to slowly take a very ugly turn. PBB and Umno, being the backbone of BN parties in Sarawak and the Peninsula respectively, started to adopt domineering politics to establish their political and economic hegemony over the state and the country respectively. Like Sarawak, the federal government has sacrificed good governance and replaced it with massive abuses of power and corruption. Elements of bad governance began to flow far and deep into all corners of the political and economic systems of the country. Mahathir's Umno The abuses of power and corruption began to get worse by the day . The major abuses of the Dr Mahathir Mohamad-led government were the award of mega projects and businesses to family members , henchmen and cronies worth billions of ringgit. Also during his tenure, the country saw massive borrowings from financial institutions and the public fund board like the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), a free fall of the ringgit currency, the hijacking of the independence of the judiciary, unfair power-sharing formula with other component parties, the curbing of the anti-corruption agency's powers and the suppression of the opposition and the human rights. Eventually, Umno established itself as the most powerful party in the country. Mahathir believed that when Umno is powerful nothing can stop it from doing whatever it wants to do. But what seemed to have escaped Mahathir is the fact that when an organisation has absorbed too much political and economic power beyond its abilities to handle it, it creates within its system a race to sustain and garner more power. Umno divided A power struggle from within began to take shape in the mid-80s, which eventually split the party down the middle. In 1988, a faction led by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah emerged to challenge Mahathir's leadership. The party crisis eventually led to the de-registration of Umno. In 1998, another power struggle emerged. A strong faction led by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim began to challenge Mahathir. This time, Anwar, who was the former deputy Umno president, managed to form his own party called Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). It formed a pact with other opposition parties, PAS and DAP , and called themselves Pakatan Rakyat. The results of the 2008 general election has changed the fate of Umno drastically. In the 12th general election, the voters punched Umno on the head. Now Umno seems to come to the realisation that not only has it lost so much power but it is now fighting for its own survival. All kinds of desperate measures have come into play to arrest the decline. READ MORE HERE |
| Ultimatum to Shahrizat: Answer charges or else Posted: 03 Nov 2011 04:53 PM PDT Opposition group visits National Feedlot Centre's farm in Gemas. (Free Malaysia Today) - PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli claims he has more information than already revealed about Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's involvement in the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) and has threatened to expose them unless she responds to allegations made in recent days. Rafizi visited the NFC farm here yesterday, a day after he alleged in a press conference that most of the beef produced by the centre is supplied to luxury restaurants owned by the family of Shahrizat, the Minister for Women, Family and Community Development. Agriculture Minister Noh Omar had earlier confirmed that members of her family manage the luxury restaurants. "We want to know how much exactly was spent for this farm," Rafizi said after his visit. "How many head of cattle are bred here and how many are slaughtered per day?" He posed the questions in front of more than 70 people outside the farm. Most of them were journalists and publicity officials of opposition parties. "Based on the information I have, they are supposed to breed 60,000 cows per year but I learnt that only 8, 000 cows were produced over a period of three years" he said. Rafizi was accompanied on his visit by five Negeri Sembilan state assemblymen—Mohd Taufek Abdul Ghani (PAS-Paroi), M Ravi (PKR-Port Dickson), Aminuddin Harun (PKR-Sikamat), P Gunasekaran (DAP-Senawang) and Ng Chin Tsai (DAP-Temiang). Also in his delegation was Fariz Musa, the chief coordinator of Jingga 13, a PKR-linked NGO. READ MORE HERE |
| A queer case of Umno wrath Posted: 03 Nov 2011 04:50 PM PDT There is little the non-Malays can seek solace in when it comes to calling Malaysia their motherland. They are repeatedly reminded not to become too comfortable. It is no secret that the country's polls have been nothing but dirty, with vote buying, rigging and money politics being the norm. When the July 9 rally demanded a clean-up, the event was declared illegal and the entity Bersih 2.0 banned and its chairperson, lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan branded a traitor. Some pro-Umno characters went so far as to threaten her with gang-rape. Was the "power that be" worried for Ambiga's safety? Not at all! Jeswan Kaur, Free Malaysia Today Homophobic, pro-Malay and swear by Barisan Nasional – these are the pre-requisites that will make life comfortable in this country. If, however, you profess otherwise, be prepared to face the worst, as experienced by those who dare stand up for the truth. When Article 153 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees Malay rights was debated by the non-Malays, blood shed was threatened by the ultra-Malays. The voices of the extremists were joined by leaders like Hishammuddin Hussein, now the home minister, who waved the Malay dagger or keris during the Umno general assembly, making it loud and clear that non-Malays better keep their mouths shut. Even former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has warned the non-Malays to tread carefully, never forgetting that they owe it to the Malays for having Malaysia as their home. When the non-Malays complained that the azan or the Muslim call for prayer was too loud for comfort, they were again threatened with violence. Needless to say, there is little the non-Malays can seek solace in when it comes to calling Malaysia their motherland. They are repeatedly reminded not to become too comfortable on the very land they have been calling home for years. Also warned to tread carefully in their home country is the LGBT community (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender). The scenario in Malaysia is such that the LGBT community must best remain invisible and any attempt to make their presence felt will be dealt with severely, as is now the case with the Seksualiti Merdeka event. The Seksualiti Merdeka festival, which celebrates the rights of the LGBT community, has been an annual programme since 2008, taking place at the Central Market's Annexe Gallery. This year's event, themed "Queer Without Fear" kicked off on Nov 2 and was to go on until Nov 13. NGOs and political parties including PAS and Perkasa have strongly opposed the event, calling it a celebration of homosexual and transgender lifestyles. In short, there are "conditions" if the non-Malays and the LGBT are to call Malaysia their "tanah tumpah darahku" or homeland. Truth is always feared When on July 9, the rakyat assembled on the streets to participate in Bersih 2.0′s "Walk for Democracy" to call upon the Barisan Nasional government to reform the electoral system, this call for the truth was haphazardly and viciously thwarted. It is no secret that the country's polls have been nothing but dirty, with vote buying, rigging and money politics being the norm. When the July 9 rally demanded a clean-up, the event was declared illegal and the entity Bersih 2.0 banned and its chairperson, lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan branded a traitor. Some pro-Umno characters went so far as to threaten her with gang-rape. Was the "power that be" worried for Ambiga's safety? Not at all! Now, it is the LGBT community's turn to face the wrath of the pro-Umno and BN loyalists. Ultra-Malay set-up Perkasa decided to pen down its objections against Seksualiti Merdeka in black and white before passing it off to the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar. And Perkasa also wants Ambiga, who was due to officiate at the event on Nov 9, to be arrested. Obnoxious parliamentarians like Bung Mokhtar (Kinabatangan MP) and Zulkifli Noordin (Kulim-Bandar Baru MP) deviated from the original agenda of the day and turned to condemning Seksualiti Merdeka. Said Bung Mokhtar: "Lately, there is the issue of Sexualiti Merdeka, which Ambiga supports. Your Honour, I am asking for this activity to be blocked. It involves wild relationships that will damage the country and nation. It is planting the seeds for the emergence of wilder relationships." Zulkifli had this to say: "This is an event that supports unnatural sex. On top of that, it is supported by Ambiga, who is the Selangor Caliph who spearheaded the illegal rally of Bersih. I hope the Dewan and the home ministry will reject this." READ MORE HERE |
| Has Muhyiddin performed a “coup” against Najib and other non-UMNO Cabinet Ministers Posted: 03 Nov 2011 04:33 PM PDT Has the Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin done a "coup" against the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and other non-UMNO Cabinet Ministers and parties including MCA, MIC and Gerakan in unilaterally and arbitrarily without Cabinet authority declaring as "final" the decision to discontinue the PPSMI policy on the teaching of mathematics and science in English and slamming shut the door of a review? The Prime Minister had promised before the Sarawak polls in April this year that the government would consider using dual languages as the medium of instruction for mathematics and science in schools, and it is precisely because of such an undertaking that the leaders/Ministers from non-UMNO Barisan Nasional parties have come out publicly in support of the principle that parents should be given the option of deciding on continuing with PPSMI in selected schools. Although Muhyiddin had dismissed calls from the top MCA and MIC leadership that the government allow schools the option to retain PPSMI, declaring that representatives from both MCA and MIC (which would include Gerakan) in the Cabinet had agreed to its abolition in 2009, the Deputy Prime Minister should explain why he had singly, uniaterally and arbitrarily overriden the powers of the Cabinet to review the 2009 decision - and whether Muhyiddin had the full approval and agreement of Najib to make such a "final" decision on PPSMI when the Prime Minister is away from the country? In any event, if the non-UMNO Cabinet Ministers and parties, such as MCA, MIC, Gerakan and the Sarawak and Sabah Barisan Nasional parties, want to have a full and thorough review of the Cabinet's 2009 decision on PPSMI so as to allow parents the option to continue with the PPSMI in certain schools, who is Muhyiddin to singly, unilaterally and arbitrarily bar them from doing so? Has the Deputy Prime Minister any such powers to subject the non-UMNO BN Ministers to such control when even the Prime Minister would not have such powers? Lim Kit Siang |
| Govt warned of more workers protests ahead Posted: 03 Nov 2011 03:47 PM PDT (Harakah Daily) -- Nov 4: Malaysian Trades Union Congress has told the government to brace for more protests if it ignored opposition to the amendment on Contractor of Labour to Employment Act 1955, passed by parliament on October 6.
The amendment, which allows investors to hire Malaysians as contract workers instead of permanent staff, has drawn wide criticism from MTUC, who described it as a form of slavery practised during British rule.
The union also said the amendment would not benefit workers, instead, Malaysian workers would be exploited.
Human Resources minister S Subramaniam however defended the amendment, claiming it would enable a more systematic monitoring of labour outsourcing agencies, especially in isolated locations.
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, who earlier joined some 250 workers in Shah Alam yesterday (pic), said the amendment was illegal as it did not take into account the rights of employees in the country.
"With the amendment, every employer will prefer hiring only contract workers to avoid higher costs.
"We know that contract workers will not have Employees Provident Fund and SOCSO deductions, so they do not have to bear these costs," said Mat Sabu, who also warned that employees would be deprived of safety assurances at workplace.
"And this would greatly affect the affected employees and their family if anything were to happen."
The nationwide protests led by MUTC kicked off 5pm nationwide yesterday at 20 spots.
MUTC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamad who attended the Shah Alam gathering said the huge turnout was a signal to the government to take the matter seriously.
"We will continue to hold protests for as long as the government remains silent," he said. |
| Bersih 2.0 urges foreign monitors for GE13 Posted: 03 Nov 2011 03:42 PM PDT By Kean Wong, The Malaysian Insider 
CANBERRA, Nov 4 — Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan has challenged the Najib administration to invite international observers for the next general election to demonstrate its confidence in free and fair elections, saying that a Mahathir-era precedent would easily enable this to recur. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has set up an all-party parliamentary select commission to look into demands for electoral reforms, including the eight listed by Bersih 2.0 for its July 9 rally. "If you say the (electoral) system is OK, get international observers. Prove it to us," Ambiga urged the Malaysian government, in an address at a packed Australian National University (ANU) law school theatre filled with students, lawyers and policy officials. "Bring in the international observers, let them observe our elections. That's my call to the Malaysian government. "If you say your system is fine and that it doesn't need (electoral) reform before the 13th general election, I dare you to bring in international observers. And let them determine if our elections are free and fair," said the Bersih 2.0 leader, who received a rock-star welcome at her ANU lecture. Ambiga's appearance at the ANU law school here this week concluded her lecture tour of Australia following several earlier engagements in Melbourne and Sydney. She also held a raft of meetings in Canberra with Australian political leaders from various parties and met with foreign policy officials in the parliamentary zone, highlighting Bersih 2.0's campaign for electoral reform and its eight key demands. Her speech recounting the July 9 demonstrations in Kuala Lumpur and in over 30 cities worldwide, and her explanation of Bersih 2.0's campaign for democratisation, was frequently interrupted by applause. She was also mobbed afterwards by students and other Malaysians eager to photograph and record their meeting with her in Canberra. The ANU organisers said hundreds from around the world had logged on to watch Ambiga's talk and the discussion afterwards on a livestreaming service over the Internet, and a few questions from viewers abroad were answered by the Bersih 2.0 leader in the lecture hall.
READ MORE HERE.
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| Dr M says Najib can save PPSMI Posted: 03 Nov 2011 03:41 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - LANGKAWI, Nov 4 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that Datuk Seri Najib Razak can stop his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin from scrapping the Teaching of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) policy that was introduced by the former prime minister before he stepped down in 2003. Dr Mahathir, who is still widely influential in Umno after serving as PM for 22 years, said the current prime minister should do so for the good of the country.
Dr Mahathir introduced the PPSMI policy before he stepped down in 2003. — File pic
Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, is due to announce the "soft landing" reinstatement of Malay as the medium of instruction for science and maths (MBMMBI) this evening.
The deputy prime minister said yesterday the government's controversial decision to scrap PPSMI was final in response to lobby groups such as the Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE).
PAGE chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim had bluntly said Barisan National (BN) risks losing votes in the upcoming general election if it continues to bar students from learning science and maths in English in schools.
MORE TO COME HERE.
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| Are the Malay linguistic nationalists betraying our children? Posted: 03 Nov 2011 01:59 PM PDT 
Azly Rahman
Nationalists are nationalists. Some remain rooted in the language which shaped their personal reality, in a world of shifting views and multiple interpretations in which one become sub-texts of both Grand and Subaltern narrative. Nationalist are nationalists. In a postmodern world, we sometimes do not know who the enemy of these nationalists are. Perhaps the enemy lies within. Fear of one's own shadow?
Nationalists are nationalists. They can remain so. They need to evolve into globalists grounded in the love of many cultures, still.
Perhaps like many, I am a strong advocate of the critical importance of the English Language as, at this point in history, a language not only of commerce, the arts and humanities, but also an inspiration for revolutionary movements that challenges colonialism and imperialism as well. In order to understand the enemy, one must speak its language. Stamford Raffles knew this well when he was sent to the Singapura to be its "founder".
The enemy is corruption and social cancer wrought by casino capitalism, spoken in English globalized by high speed Internet, mutating the mind, body, and soul of natives and savages transforming them into neo-colonials. The enemy is the dimension of language that installs regimes and systems of oppression that leeches off blood sweat and tears of the natives transformed into indentured post-modern slaves. The English language of the modern imperialism system and the Gog and Magog of the maddening capitalist world is the enemy.
Many a revolutionary writer opposed to colonialism wrote in the English Language – from Jonathan Swift to Joseph Conrad, from Eric Blair (George Orwell) to V. S. Naipaul, from Karl Marx to Raymond Williams.
Of course for Malaysian children we do not expect them to be passionate of the Greek mythology, the philosophy behind Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, The Chronicles of Narnia, or translation of Ramayana and Mahabharata, or even the Adventures of Asterix – we hope this will one day be a reality when we throw away our TV sets and ASTRO channels or our iPods or Blackberry.
Of course this is a long road for Malaysian children to be engaged in world literature in (English) translation and be a little be more learned and refined and to expunge any sense of racial superiority such as "ketuanan this or that".
Long road to freedom. There is a reality at hand. When a Malay poet laureate and a chief of a language preservation bureau (I hope this is a close enough translation of 'dewan bahasa dan pustaka') and a hundred other Malay Language jihadists were pepper-sprayed for protesting against the English as a language of instruction, we have got a national problem.
What is the message? What is being symbolized? What is the signification? What is the issue? What is the non-issue? Where is the sensibility? Where is pride? Where is prejudice? Where are we taking this argument?
These are difficult questions.
Essentially, in my opinion, the value of teaching the applications aspects of Science and Maths in English is that hopefully the teachers will work harder with the students to master the lingua franca. Perhaps later, when there is mastery, teachers and learners themselves can explore the humanities and social scientific aspects of Maths and Science, and ultimately in their later years understand the philosophical and political--economic aspects of the two "subjects". One may then, in one's old age, read the biographies of Sir Isaac Newton, Rene Descartes, Henri Poincare, Paul Erdosh, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawkings, etc. Or even read translations of Hamzah Fansuri or Ibnu Arabi.
English Language is one important vehicle for such exploration.
My question is: what is the fate of linguistic nationalists in the age of globalization and deconstructionism? For whom will such nationalists continue to serve? But ultimately, why are the adults arguing for the next generation when the former should be allowing the latter to chart their own intellectual future?
Or-- could the answer be in the passion for teaching and the need for an entirely new pedagogy?
We are only beginning to peel the layers of complexity of the issue of teaching of Science and Maths in English. We need to go beyond the data and conclusion presented mundanely passed as the ultimate truth why we need to teaching Science and Maths in the Malay Language.
We need to rise above the simplicity of concluding, the reductionism of our arguments, and the shallowness of our claim of the need to be ultra-nationalistic about the language to be used.
We need to look at how best can the children of Malaysia be served through multiple languages and through the importance of the English Language. We need to step back – many steps – and look at our philosophy of education, our paradigm of teaching and learning, our training of teachers, our caste and class system in our 'information-overloaded' educational system, our politician's constant interference in schools and in controlling the minds of our children and our teachers, our destiny as a multicultural nation demanding us to master multilinguistic possibilities, and finally how we have built in successes and failures in ours school system
Daunting task for us. Requiring supra-nationalist thinking. But if, in Malaysia, linguistic nationalists are merely players in a world's-a-stage of build by 'tuans of this and that culture' under the ideological direction of 'ketuanan this and that,' we must rewrite the script.
Language shapes reality. Or maybe language is reality. Or maybe, in the case of the nationalist, language confines reality.
In multicultural Malaysia, in a world past post- and hypermodernity, our language policy ought to make possible multiple realities, multiple worlds or knowing. So that our children may become world-wise Malaysians.
PLEASE SHARE THIS OPINION WITH THOSE WHO WISH TO SEE THEIR CHILDREN EXCEL IN A WORLD IN WHICH ENGLISH IS STILL THE LINGUA FRANCA..
Azly Rahman: https://www.facebook.com/#!/azly.rahman
http://azlyrahman-illuminations.blogspot.com/2011/09/phaedrus-ii-ther-last-judgement-of.html |
| PPSMI: Taking a page from history Posted: 03 Nov 2011 01:49 PM PDT Our education system should be looking at broadening the choices to cope with mother tongue instruction for our indigenous people; special education to cope with slow learners, autistic and disabled children. I remember when my wife had to write the answers for a child with muscular problems who was sitting for his O-levels at the British Council. Another sightless friend of ours told us about how computer programs were being developed to enable people in her situation to follow lectures online. By Kua Kia Soong via The Malaysian Insider In the raging controversy over the continuance of the PPSMI option, there seems to be at least two main arguments put forward for not allowing it, namely, (i) it is too troublesome to have two options in the same school, and (ii) English is not the mother tongue of Malaysians. I believe that choice and flexibility must be a fundamental principle in education policy and that we should take a historical perspective of the development of our present situation. Mother tongue as a right and a facility First, we should be thankful that the right to mother tongue education and the fact that every child learns best in the mother tongue is a principle that has been established in Unesco and is now widely accepted in our country. Mother tongue education in Malay, Chinese and Tamil in our country has seen a staggered progress. Chinese-language schools have existed in this country for more than 200 years. The first Chinese school was set up in 1819! Tamil schools have also had a long history and they developed mainly through community support during the colonial period. Thus, at independence there were already 1,350 Chinese primary schools and 78 Chinese secondary schools, while Tamil primary schools numbered more than 800 in 1957. Under colonial rule, Malay vernacular schools were built but they were certainly insufficient. During the colonial era, Lim Lian Geok, the "Soul of the Malaysian Chinese", never failed to encourage the Malay community to call for development of Malay mother tongue education, including to secondary level. That was why Utusan Melayu would ask Lim Lian Geok to write a column in its newspaper during Hari Raya Aidilfitri. The English-language schools were of course the preferred system by the colonial power and they enrolled the elite and the middle class, although theoretically they were open to all. Certainly there were also children from poorer classes in the English-medium government schools I studied at in the Fifties and Sixties. As a result of this history, English language can now be considered the mother tongue of these middle-class Malaysians where English is the "family language" with which children communicate with their parents. We should appreciate that colonial societies like ours (including India, Jamaica, Nigeria, Kenya and other British colonies) have this peculiarity and that we acknowledge and respect this reality and move on… Right up to the 1961 Education Act, the school leaving certificate for the Chinese-language secondary schools was a government-administered examination. Our education system managed well and you did not hear any grumbles about how "troublesome" it was to have that provision. We had inherited that system from our specific history and it served the purpose of providing mother tongue education for students in these schools. The Education Act 1961 did away with the Chinese-language secondary schools and they were then forced to become "independent" which meant they had to be supported by the community. After that, the government only provided teachers and some financial support for Chinese-language primary schools. Is it "troublesome" to ask for the reinstatement of the Chinese-language secondary schools into the national system? Ever since 1975, the Chinese community has administered the Unified Examination Certificate of the 60 independent Chinese secondary schools which have a total enrolment of some 60,000 students. Tuition fees are a burden for the many parents who choose this educational route for their children and the Chinese community has been subsidising these schools since 1961. It is like paying double taxation! The National Language Policy The former "Government English Schools" had to convert to teaching in Bahasa Malaysia when the national language policy was implemented after 1969. Any protests were muted in the aftermath of "May 13" and under the assertive Malay-centric ideology of the new ruling class. And so this system of BM as the medium of instruction has been implemented with no leeway for dissent for at least three decades. Then nine years ago, Dr Mahathir decided to implement the PPSMI, or the teaching of maths and science in English. PPSMI has provided the precedent for this breach in the national language policy. The justification was that it was the only way to master the international language, English. If we bear in mind all the arguments used by the Mahathir administration to justify PPSMI, we really cannot fault the parents' organisation PAGE for asking for the CHOICE of having PPSMI for their children using the same arguments. Sorry, the government cannot have its cake and eat it! Is having a choice of PPSMI "troublesome"? Some opponents of PAGE's demand have said that having two media for teaching maths and science in the same school is too "troublesome" and unreasonable to impose on the Government. I beg to differ. Education is about having a choice. I remember when my eldest brother was in secondary school during the Sixties and he was very focused about choosing Arts subjects even though he was in the top class made up of mainly Science students. He stood his ground against the school administration. My parents did not even come into the picture. Then my second brother refused to do additional maths even though he was in the top Science class because he was focused on doing medicine later on. Again, he was adamant about his choice and the school administration had to give in. I made the same choice as my brother and did not choose additional maths even though the school administration wanted uniformity. The principle we were fighting for was choice and flexibility. At the time, we simply could not see why it should be "troublesome" to have that choice. If it is troublesome to have the choice of maths and science in English, what about the choice of having "pupils' own language" in Chinese or Tamil or Kadazan or Bidayuh, etc? Although I do not agree with the pedagogical wisdom of this, some students of independent Chinese secondary schools even have the choice of doing the SPM (in Malay) during their fifth year, the UEC (in Chinese) and A-levels (in English) in their final year! It is not considered "troublesome" for these schools. It is not as if Malaysians are asking for something so difficult to implement. Our national education system has had a long history of English-language teaching and we have just had nine fresh years of PPSMI so teachers and resources are not a problem. Our education system should be looking at broadening the choices to cope with mother tongue instruction for our indigenous people; special education to cope with slow learners, autistic and disabled children. I remember when my wife had to write the answers for a child with muscular problems who was sitting for his O-levels at the British Council. Another sightless friend of ours told us about how computer programs were being developed to enable people in her situation to follow lectures online. "Troublesome" seems to be the hardest word in the education vocabulary… |
| Smooth transition Posted: 03 Nov 2011 11:59 AM PDT By Mastami Mustaza, NST KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry will address today all issues on the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English policy (PPSMI), which will put to rest all uncertainties, said its minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. The deputy prime minister said he would explain in great detail, addressing parents' worries, including a smooth transition from PPSMI to the successor policy, MBMBI, or Memartabatkan Bahasa Melayu dan memperkasakan Bahasa Inggeris (Uplifting Bahasa Melayu and strengthening English language). Muhyiddin said this after meeting participants of SMR HR Group's English teachers project at the Gardens Hotel here. He said the decision to abolish PPSMI was made in 2009 and that as far as the ministry was concerned, this was final.
In the wake of comments expressed by certain quarters calling for flexibility in the medium of instruction, he said the government would not bow to pressure from "small groups". He said the majority of Malaysians understood and accepted why the policy was discarded in favour of one dignifying Bahasa Melayu and strengthening English language use.
"When the abolition of the PPSMI was announced in 2009, there was no negative reaction.
"It was then brought to the cabinet and later, Parliament, and everyone agreed, including the opposition. Now, there are groups opposing it," he said, adding that his ministry was not in the habit of making hasty decisions or politically motivated ones. Instead, decisions were made in the best interests of the people and the nation.
Also, the government had collated extensive data on the implementation and progress of PPSMI.
Muhyiddin said there was no more room for negotiation on the subject and described the Parent Action Group for Education (Page) as being "out of date" for refusing to soften its stance.
He said the government acknowledged that English was an important communications tool in a globalised world.
"The question is whether the best way of teaching English was through Science and Mathematics or by bringing in professionals. I think this is the best approach."
He said in terms of MBMBI, the government's focus was on improving the learning and teaching of English in schools.
Many initiatives have been made, such as designing a new curriculum and adding new content, improving the support system and infrastructure in schools, with language laboratories to be expanded to all primary and later, secondary schools.
He said even as the debate on PPSMI dragged, this showed how serious the government was on the teaching of English in Malaysia.
To reporters' questions on the stance of Barisan Nasional component parties, MCA and MIC, supporting PPSMI, Muhyiddin said they had agreed with its abolishment in cabinet.
On the issue pertaining to Section 15(5)(a) of the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) 1971, Muhyiddin said this was for the Higher Education Ministry to decide, in particular, whether to appeal against the Court of Appeal's ruling.
However, he said if Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin needed advice, he could bring it to the cabinet meeting today.
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| Ministry Sets Up Committee To Study Marine Park Department Purchase Posted: 03 Nov 2011 11:36 AM PDT (Bernama) PUTRAJAYA -- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has set up a committee to identify elements of non-compliance or negligence in the issue of equipment procurement by the Marine Park Department which was allegedly much higher than the market price as reported in the 2010 Auditor-General's Report tabled recently. According to a statement issued by the ministry here on Thursday, the committee was chaired by the ministry's principal division secretary (management services) Junaidah Kamaruddin. "The committee will conduct a detailed investigation by taking into consideration clarifications by officers involved before deciding the next course of action," the statement said. According to the statement, the purchase was made in one lump sum for a unit of aluminium boat for the use by the department. "The overall procurement totaled RM7,513,429.05 including design, construction, testing and supply of the boat and not the specific procurement of equipment such as binocular, LCD TV, laptop, CCTV and radar as reported.
"The items stated were accesssories in the boat and were part of the package in the acquisition of the boat," the statement said. Meanwhile, to ensure the issue does not recur as well as for purpose of improving procedure, the ministry is requiring that a fair price and market study should be carried out for each item including those categorised as accessories. The directive applies irrespective of whether the procurement of supply or work is carried out in one lump sum. Departments are also required to get the involvement of officers from the ministry when they are implementing the procurement project, according to the statement. |
| Court decision a pleasant surprise Posted: 03 Nov 2011 11:31 AM PDT By Azmy Sharom, The Star Higher education is not merely about going to the lecture theatre and mugging for your exams. It is about expanding your horizons, taking responsibility for your actions and acting on your convictions. THE Court of Appeal's decision on the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Four case, which declared in a majority 2-1 decision that Section 15 of the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) is unconstitutional, was a very pleasant surprise indeed. The four students from UKM were initially charged by their university for "expressing support for a political party". This is an offence under Section 15 of the UUCA. They were accused of this primarily for being present during a by-election campaign in Selangor. The question before the court was whether Section 15 impinged on the students' constitutional right of expression. One of the reasons that the dissenting judge used in his decision to not question the validity of the UUCA was that his lordship was of the opinion that it was not up to the court to question the harshness of the UUCA. I respectfully disagree, for what is being questioned is not the harshness of the law, but the constitutionality of the law. The thing about our Constitution is that all the protections they give us usually have a proviso. The proviso generally being that Parliament can make laws which limit our rights if it is in the interest of public morality, order and national security. For years and years, our courts have often times simply accepted repressive laws made by Parliament without actually questioning whether these laws are constitutional or not because the Govern-ment said that it was necessary for national security or public order or morality. In effect, there was a tendency to allow the party with a majority in Parliament to do what it wanted. This is derogating responsibility. It is not enough to simply accept the word of the Government when it says "this law is for national security". There should be an examination of it to see whether it really is for national security. Without that examination, any old law can be made. There will be no limitation on the lawmakers and what we will end up with is a system of governance where there is no real protection of our rights. That is why it was so exciting to see the two judges in the UKM Four case clearly stating that any law made has to be scrutinised to ensure that its constitutionality is based not merely on the form of the law but also its substance. In this particular case, they held that preventing students from expressing support for a political party is in no way a threat to national security, public order or morality. The decision is made not only by taking a legalistic approach but is also one based on common sen-se. After all, a person above the age of majority is free to enter into contracts, get married, be the head of a corporation, vote, be Prime Minister, etc, and yet by virtue of being a student they can't express support for a political party. This does not make any sense. Furthermore, how can supporting a perfectly legal organisation be considered dangerous? The stand of the Government as well as the dissenting judge is that the UUCA is there to prevent students from getting involved in politics and thus being distracted from their studies. This too does not make sense. Having been a student myself and having taught them for 21 years, let me assure you that young people can get distracted from their studies by a million and one things and chances are unless you are some serious political nerd, politics is not going to be on that list. We might as well ban students from playing online games if we are so concerned about their focus on studying. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin was also reported as saying that if it is considered that a student's constitutional right of association is more important than his studies, then we can do away with UUCA. Again, I have to disagree. This argument is far too simplistic. When we restrict a person's fundamental freedom, whatever that freedom might be, we are stifling their ability to develop. Higher education is not merely about going to the lecture theatre and mugging for your exams. It is about expanding your horizons, taking responsibility for your actions and acting on your convictions. You can't do this if you are kept chained by repressive laws. But it is still too early to rejoice this victory for fundamental liberties in general and academic freedom in particular. The case might still go to the Federal Court and who knows what their decision will be. Neither is this case reason to say our judiciary is independent. What this case does show is that there are individual judges in our courts who understand and appreciate constitutionalism, there are lawyers willing to argue for this principle and there are young men and women in our student body brave enough to stand up for their rights. There's still much to be done, but for the moment this is reason enough to cheer. |
| OWC not letting off steam over ban on its sex guide Posted: 03 Nov 2011 11:30 AM PDT By Wong Pek Mei, The Star PETALING JAYA: The Obedient Wives Club (OWC) may burn or dispose the club's controversial sex guide book, its national chairman in Malaysia Fauziah Ariffin said. The decision follows the Home Ministry's announcement banning Seks Islam, Perangi Yahudi Untuk Kembalikan Seks Islam Kepada Dunia (Islamic Sex, Fighting Jews to Return Islamic Sex to the World) with immediate effect. "The book is just pocket-sized. If the authorities say we cannot keep it, we will just obey ... put it away or burn it," she said in an SMS yesterday. However, she said it was ultimately up to the members to decide what they wanted to do with it. Fauziah was unfazed by the ban, saying that the members already knew that every book published by them would be banned. "We stopped publication after the first (batch) so we won't appeal (to the Home Ministry) or consider legal action. "Let the public be the judge as we have made society aware that wives have to be obedient to husbands and make their intimate relations lively in order to strengthen their marriage," she added. Fauziah said all the books had been distributed and read by members before the book was banned, adding that the books sold like pisang goreng panas (hot cakes). "It has received positive feedback. Many married couples that had problems in their sex lives said the knowledge the book provided had improved and even solved their problems," she claimed, adding that more than 40 books had been printed. The ministry warned that those found in possession of the book could be fined up to RM5,000. Those found reproducing the book for the purpose of offering it for sale could be jailed up to three years or fined not exceeding RM20,000, or both. The book was written by Hatijan Aam, the OWC founder. The club was formed by Global Ikhwan Sdn Bhd, an organisation founded by former members of the banned al-Arqam. |
| Police move against Seksualiti Merdeka sparks heated debate between groups Posted: 03 Nov 2011 11:23 AM PDT By Steven Daniel and Farah Fazanna Zulzaha, The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Police have banned Seksualiti Merdeka with immediate effect, sparking a heated debate among supporters and detractors of the movement that fights for freedom of sexual orientation and gender identity. While some groups felt that the ban was another case of censorship in Malaysia, others were of the view that their religion did not condone same-sex relationships.
In announcing the ban, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar said: "We are not against the people's right to freedom of speech or human rights.
"However, if the event creates uneasiness among the vast majority of the population, it may result in disharmony, enmity and threaten public order."
Ensuring peace and order: Khalid (right) and Internal Security and Public Order director Datuk Salleh Mat Rasid speaking to the media at the conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Seksualiti Merdeka, an annual event held since 2008, had planned a series of activities to last until Nov 13 at the Annexe Gallery here.
With the theme "Queer Without Fear", the programme included workshops, book launches, an art exhibition and performances.
Khalid urged the people not to attend the events as they could be picked up for questioning, adding that stern action would be taken against those who defied the ban.
"The decision to issue the ban was made after taking into account the views expressed by many individuals as well as protests from non-governmental organisations, including lslamic and non-Islamic religious bodies.
"We have to step in promptly to prevent any untoward incident," he told a press conference here yesterday.
Khalid said two reports were lodged on Tuesday against the event organiser.
He said police had started investigations and identified at least 10 campaign organisers, including former Bar Council president Datuk S. Ambiga.
"We will record their statements in the next few days," he said, adding that the case would be investigated under Section 298A of the Penal Code and Section 27A(1)(c) of the Police Act.
He stressed that the organiser did not apply for a permit to hold the event.
Khalid also expressed his disappointment at the Bar Council for supporting a movement that was promoting issues against the country's laws.
Seksualiti Merdeka has described itself as "Malaysia's only festival celebrating the human rights of people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities".
It is organised by a coalition of NGOs, artists, activists and individuals.
Seksualiti Merdeka co-founder Pang Khee Teik said he was saddened by the ban.
"We are only asking to be accepted by society and that the public hear our side of story," he said, referring to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual communities.
He stressed that the event was not illegal as they would only hold forums, talks and workshops.
"It is not even a gay parade," he said.
"The event has been held annually and there has been no chaos until this year," he said, adding that they were not promoting a lifestyle but only trying to make society understand them.
event held since 2008, had planned a series of activities to last until Nov 13 at the Annexe Gallery here.
With the theme "Queer Without Fear", the programme included workshops, book launches, an art exhibition and performances.
Khalid urged the people not to attend the events as they could be picked up for questioning. "The ban was made after taking into account the views of individuals as well as protests from non-governmental organisations, including lslamic and non-Islamic religious bodies.
"We have to step in promptly," he said at a press conference here yesterday.
Khalid said two reports were lodged on Tuesday against the event organiser.
He said police had started investigations and identified at least 10 campaign organisers, including former Bar Council president Datuk S. Ambiga, adding that the case would be investigated under Section 298A of the Penal Code and Section 27A(1)(c) of the Police Act.
He stressed that the organiser did not apply for a permit to hold the event.
Seksualiti Merdeka has described itself as "Malaysia's only festival celebrating the human rights of people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities".
It is organised by a coalition of NGOs, artists, activists and individuals.
Seksualiti Merdeka co-founder Pang Khee Teik said he was saddened by the ban.
"We are only asking to be accepted by society and that the public hear our side of the story," he said, referring to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual communities.
"It is not even a gay parade," he said. |
| A simpler term for it is bribery Posted: 03 Nov 2011 11:21 AM PDT By Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz, FMT The 2012 Budget was indeed the most unique. Never before has a budget been turned into a huge CDM – cash dispensing machine. Money in our hands is a welcome relief and pain remover; but it's not a responsible way of managing a country's budget. Personally speaking, this is the most irresponsible budget that I have ever heard. The capital market is mentioned only in passing as though some phone calls were made to leading bankers in Malaysia to give some inputs on the capital market. Hence, just a cursory almost textbook mention that our ratio is strong and better than the world average. So? How does that translate into accessibility of the small medium enterprises (SMEs) to the capital market? How do we ease imports of capital goods into the country to build capacity? Isn't the theme of this budget "transformation"? Finance Minister-cum-Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's budget for 2012 is RM232 billion. Of this, RM180 billion will be spent as opex (operating expenses). That's money to be spent on operating the economy – paying salaries, servicing existing loans and so on. Can that be the transformative ingredient? Entrenching the rent-seeking mentality Now, as I understand it, to transform an economy, we must have capacity. We all know we need to spend on building capacity, capabilities, skills and technology. But these now are uncertain given that even allocation for education is being reduced. We are simply held back from transforming because we hold back on building capacity and capabilities. We are preaching that in this world, we DO have free lunches. We are entrenching the rent-seeking mentality which is that things can be had for free and without efforts, as long as we install a benevolent, despotic and overbearing government. Ignore their bullying; ignore their excesses. Because what is important is that impoverished people can be made a happy and contented lot once a year when the budget is announced. Let people think that budget time is when the giant ATM machine is taken out.
READ MORE HERE.
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| Disabled group upset over ‘terrible’ action Posted: 03 Nov 2011 11:18 AM PDT (FMT) - PETALING JAYA: The banning of the "Seksualiti Merdeka" festival by the police yesterday has earned the scorn of disabled rights activist Anthony Thanasayan. Anthony, the Petpositive (Malaysian Animal Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and the Elderly Association) president said that an event such as Seksualiti Merdeka greatly affected the disabled people as well. "It is a handicap to be disabled. It is a double handicap to be also gay," said Thanasayan, who has counselled many homosexuals, both abled bodied and disabled. "People forget that the disabled, including the deaf and blind, are human too. Sexuality transcends the able-bodied or disabled. They are always advised not to think about sex. For many of us,
our genitalia still work; besides, sexuality is not limited to your genitalia," said Thanasayan, who is wheelchair-bound himself. Thanasayan said it is much worse for a disabled person who has sexual confusion to find help, and this could even lead to those who are not homosexual to turn gay in the process. "This is because the disabled have limited chances to explore their sexuality, whereas an able-bodied person has more chances. Out of desperation, I have seen cases where a man goes into a relationship with an uncle, or brother because they have no other options," he said. Thanasayan, who is also a councillor with the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), said that an event such as Seksualiti Merdeka allows everyone – abled-bodied as well as the disabled – to know themselves and this is vital for a good relationship or marriage. "I went to the Seksualiti Merdeka event and I am so happy, because finally I see some people who can approach such issues with maturity, without discrimination," he said. "But today I see everything has crumbled. This (banning Seksualiti Merdeka) is a terrible step for Malaysia and would earn the derision of other more forward-looking countries. This kind of action is always based on ignorance; it will promote prejudice. Thus, this will increase the frustration of those in the minority community, and can also lead to suicidal tendencies," said Thanasayan. READ MORE HERE. |
| In Kelantan, hudud to be bellwether for Malay votes Posted: 03 Nov 2011 11:17 AM PDT By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider KOTA BARU, Nov 4 — PAS's success or failure in implementing hudud in Kelantan will serve as an indicator of Malay voter support there ahead of a general election expected to be called soon, politicians here say. The Islamist party has repeatedly blamed the federal government for the failure to enforce the law, enacted in Kelantan back in 1993, when it first received objection from then-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Dr Mahathir had previously written to Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat in 1993 to inform him that the state did not have the right to introduce hudud, which prescribes stoning, whipping and amputation as punishment for criminal offences.
But the state government recently announced the formation of a hudud technical committee, reaffirming its commitment to see that the legislation is eventually enforced in Kelantan.
State government leaders have said the newly-formed committee would study the possibility of the law being enacted without having to amend the Federal Constitution or existing syariah laws.
"The time for talk is over. It is now time for action, time to see it through," Nik Aziz told reporters last week after attending a public function on the outskirts of Lubok Setol near Rantau Panjang.
The Kelantan MB said hudud would be able to address a multitude of issues affecting Muslims including the issue of apostasy.
But the Kelantan Umno leadership has come out and attacked the state government for its "rushed" plans to enact such laws, claiming that it was a last-ditch attempt in garnering support among the Malay electorate, who make up 95 per cent of the population in the state.
"They are now resorting to the hudud committee because they know Malays in Kelantan are angry about hudud. PAS wants to implement it before the next elections to soothe Malays, to keep to a promise they have made years ago," said Umno leader Datuk Che Alwi Ahmad (picture).
The state opposition leader said PAS had painted a wrong picture about hudud to non-Muslims by highlighting only the punishments and not about the fairness of the system.
"Hudud is about fairness to the victim, it is not just about punishment; it has already been enforced in Malaysia partially over the years with punishments like caning and death, it's just that the extreme ones like amputation is not there.
"I support hudud. Umno supports hudud. We'd be crazy not to, as Muslims, it's just that it can only be implemented when everyone here understands about it," he told The Malaysian Insider in an exclusive interview recently.
But PAS state leaders have brushed aside the allegations that the hudud issue was aimed at gaining Malay support, and maintained that it has always been consistent in its push for Islamic law.
"PAS's struggle has always been about establishing an Islamic way of governance through policies, law. Hudud is a part of it. It is not an election ploy, that is why there is no time frame.
"The technical committee has been set up because law experts have recently found the possibility that we can bring in the laws without having to amend the constitution," state executive councillor Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah told The Malaysian Insider.
READ MORE HERE. |
| WIKILEAKS: PAS LEADER FAVORS TAKING POWER THROUGH NEXT ELECTION; SNAP POLLS POSSIBLE Posted: 03 Nov 2011 01:00 AM PDT 
Nasaruddin Mat Isa, Deputy President of the opposition Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and Member of Parliament, told us on May 21 that PAS was not very happy with talk of ruling National Front (BN) Members of Parliament crossing over to the opposition Peoples Alliance and thus bringing down the BN government. PAS leadership believed that the Alliance at this juncture should maintain the current political status quo and strengthen their administration in the five opposition-held states. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin 
Classified By: POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF MARK D. CLARK, REASON 1.4 (B AND D). Summary 1. (C) Nasaruddin Mat Isa, Deputy President of the Islamist opposition party PAS, speaking with us on May 21, said the opposition should seek to take power through the next federal election, rather than through immediate defections by ruling coalition MPs, in part to reduce the risk of a harsh crackdown by the National Front government. PAS leaders are geared up for possible snap national elections, but opposition parties would not rerun elections in the five states they control. Nasaruddin linked Mahathir's surprise resignation from the UMNO party with the Cabinet's decision to release a prominent report on judicial corruption that implicates the former Prime Minister. End Summary. Elections, Not Defections 2. (C) Nasaruddin Mat Isa, Deputy President of the opposition Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and Member of Parliament, told us on May 21 that PAS was not very happy with talk of ruling National Front (BN) Members of Parliament crossing over to the opposition Peoples Alliance and thus bringing down the BN government (refs B and C). PAS leadership believed that the Alliance at this juncture should maintain the current political status quo and strengthen their administration in the five opposition-held states. Once the opposition parties can demonstrate to the public that they can deliver, the people will support the Peoples Alliance and topple the BN government in the next election. Furthermore, even if enough BN MPs were to cross over to the Alliance, UMNO and BN leaders will not give up power easily. By virtue of his position, PM Abdullah is still very powerful, and "he still has the option of declaring emergency rule" or using the Internal Security Act (ISA) to detain UMNO's opponents, although Nasaruddin quickly added Abdullah "is no Mahathir" (i.e., not as likely to use authoritarian methods). Snap Polls Possible, But Not in Opposition States 3. (C) PAS leaders were geared up for Prime Minister Abdullah calling a snap election if the current "political impasse persists in UMNO," Nasaruddin said. He stressed, however, that if the PM dissolves Parliament, the Alliance will not follow suit in dissolving the state legislative assemblies of the five states under their control. An MP from Anwar Ibrahim's Peoples Justice Party (PKR) who joined us, nodded in agreement. (Note: State governments need not follow the federal electoral cycle, though in recent history all states except Sarawak have held elections coinciding with the national polls. End Note.) Mahathir's UMNO Resignation Linked to Judicial Probe 4. (C) Nasaruddin pointed out proudly that it was a PAS member who "brought down" Mahathir by precipitating the former Prime Minister's decision to resign from UMNO (ref A). (Note: At a public forum on May 19, Mahathir called on UMNO members to leave the party temporarily as the only way to bring down PM Abdullah. Reportedly, one member of the audience who turned out to be a PAS member dared the former PM to lead the way in leaving the party, and Mahathir obliged on the spot. End Note.) 5. (C) In addition, Nasaruddin contended that Mahathir's shock May 19 announcement was influenced by the Cabinet's decision on May 16 to publish the Royal Commission report probing allegations of corruption in the judiciary (the Linggam inquiry). The report concluded that six prominent government and judicial figures including Mahathir were involved in the manipulation of appointments of top judges for political purposes. The PAS leader speculated that the publication of the photographs of six personalities in the front pages of newspapers even before the Attorney General Chambers started its investigation must have angered the former PM who felt that his legacy was crumbling. In the rural areas, particularly in the Malay heartland, the six photographs are shown at evening rallies (ceramahs) associating them with a famous 1960s Malay movie "Enam Jahanam" (or "Doomed Six"). KEITH (May 2008) |
| Najib: My daughter was not in Perth Posted: 03 Nov 2011 12:10 AM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today that his daughter was not present in Australia during the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting in Perth which he attended. He was responding through Twitter to allegations that his daughter was on a A$60,000 (RM 193,869) shopping spree in the Western Australia state when Najib was attending the meeting for leaders of states. Najib also clarified to Bernama Online that his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and daughter did not buy jewellery, and asked people to stop spreading rumours and lies. Australian newspaper came out with the controversial report, saying "the first lady known to have bought A$150,000 worth of WA (Western Australian) pearls". The report did not name the person specifically. The prime minister is performing the haj currently with Rosmah in Saudi Arabia. |
| We oppose the ban on Seksualiti Merdeka Posted: 03 Nov 2011 12:09 AM PDT Sisters in Islam Sisters in Islam (SIS) strongly disagrees with the police's blanket ban on Seksualiti Merdeka. We see this as yet another pattern of censorship and banning of freedom of expression, association and the free circulation of ideas in Malaysia. We are also concerned at how the ban is going to be enforced by the police force. Was there, for example, a court order to ban the festival? How exactly do the police intend to follow through this "ban"? While we understand that there are Muslims opposed to ideas of respecting gender and sexual diversity, as a Muslim women's organisation, SIS disagrees with the methods used to stifle these ideas. We ourselves have been subjected to police reports simply for questioning syariah criminal procedures on women, and our publication discussing the impact of religious extremism on Muslim women was once banned by the authorities. We regret that Seksualiti Merdeka has fallen prey to the same kind of state intimidation and harassment. We call on fellow Muslims to exercise compassion and wisdom in dealing with the issues brought up by Seksualiti Merdeka. We also call on the authorities to ensure the safety and security of all those involved in this, especially Seksualiti Merdeka's organisers, volunteers and supporters. |
| ‘Seksualiti Merdeka a collateral damage’ Posted: 03 Nov 2011 12:07 AM PDT The festival organiser thinks government agencies are all out against Bersih's Ambiga and Anwar Ibrahim. (Free Malaysia Today) - Seksualiti Merdeka festival organiser, Pang Khee Teik, believes that the police ban against the festival was because it was to be officiated by Bersih 2.0 chairman S Ambiga and that they have been made a collateral damage. "I think it is because of Ambiga. It is being politicized," said Pang when met at the Burmese refugees fund-raising dinner function at the Annexe, Central Market. "The government agencies are using every opportunity to rouse sentiments against Ambiga and (Opposition Leader) Anwar Ibrahim. "We are mere collateral damage," said Pang. He said this in response to the ban against the festival by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Khalid Abu Bakar. Earlier today the DIG said that the police will take action under Section 27 A (1) (C) as well as 298 A of the Penal Code to prevent any functions relating to the programme. Seksualiti Merdeka is an annual festival highlighting issues faced by lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals since 2008. Pang also accused the government of ignoring the innocent and marginalised segments of the community. He stressed that the festival was an avenue to hear out the plight of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community. READ MORE HERE |
| Dr M, before you look East, you should have looked after your backside first! Part #2 Posted: 03 Nov 2011 12:01 AM PDT Todak Dear Tuan IkwanZ, Without any malice to you, please allow me to defend my statements on which you have commented in my article Dr M, before you look East, you should have looked after your backside first! Yes, if you were PM in the 80s and if you had sweet old buddy like Singaporean Rin who probably showed up with Japanese businessman Kumei, I have no doubt whatsoever that you would have done precisely like Mahathir. I don't know if you are a businessman, but Mahathir never was, apart from selling pisang goreng and nasi lemak during his school-going days (so he claimed, to augment his pocket money). So when a Chinaman and a Japanese Sōgō shōsha man came to "advise" him on advancing his "Look East" policy, Mahathir naturally took that as Gospel truth, could not go wrong. The only time Mahathir tried his hand on big time business (before he became a PM) was when he was Minister of Trade and Industry (MCA Datuk Lew Sip Hon as his deputy). Ill-advised by con-master Marc Rich, Mahathir tried to corner the tin market on the LME (London Metal Exchange). While he got his fingers badly burned, Malaysia lost something like a hefty RM800 million when the American GSA released physical tin stock and the tin price collapsed. Mahathir thought he had learned his lesson not to trust any Westerner the like of Marc Rich (a Jew). So with Rin and Kumei, he regained self confidence especially then as PM, the Lord of all he surveyed. If his buddies told him Mitsubishi, then it was Mitsubishi, nothing else. That was how the choice of techno partner was made for our national car, never through a process of due diligence and evaluation of all possible qualified candidates. However, I must agree with you that Mitsubishi is a huge conglomerate with interests in Oil & Gas, Heavy Industries, Banking, etc, and Mahathir's visit to all these works must have greatly impressed him. But for the automobile industry, Toyota leads in sales volume and technology (Lexus is hard to beat) and Honda in design (the Pininfarina of the East). About a decade ago, Mitsubishi along with Nissan Motors almost collapsed financially. Had it not been for the strength and financial backing of Big Brother diversified Mitsubishi Group, it would have succumbed to a same fate like Nissan which was taken over by Renault of France. Applying the Malaysian analogy, Sime Bank disappeared, but Sime Darby is still going strong. So now, Tuan IkhwanZ, I hope you will agree with me just sedikit sahaja that Mitsubishi was a wrong choice while our other ASEAN member, Thailand got their acts right, Toyota and Honda. If Mahathir had chosen Toyota, today Proton does not need to scout the world for a partner; Volkswagen would come a-begging to us. Now, Tuan IkhwanZ, let us take a slow boat to China. First, I must clear with you that I do not indulge in racial bias and religious sentiments. We have to recognize facts for what they are, devoid of racial and religious paintwork.
You said, "China back then (in the 80s + 90s) was nothing; it was when China was granted WTO membership in 2001 that the country started flourishing. So prior to that, which country would you want to focus on for trade? Certainly not China." These were your words, but unfortunately, factually wrong again. A little man by the name of Deng Xiao Peng who was not even the President or Prime Minister of Communist China, was the person who pulled the strings of the Chinese Government and drew open "The Bamboo Curtain" to the world in the 2nd half of decade 1970s. The Sleeping Dragon then awakened, and started to move at great leaps forward. The first western company to invest in China was Swiss lift manufacturer, Schindler. Today Schindler's lift and elevators are seen all over China, Hong Kong and Asia, and exported back to Europe. Volkswagen would have been insolvent had it not for their new market in China. Nowadays FDIs poured into China, with success upon success of all who branched into China. While writing this piece, I just saw on CNN that China's 1st unmanned spaceship has docked with its own space station today, one more up for China. The WTO had no choice, but to hand the membership status to China on a silver plate in 2001. At any rate, the WTO membership and the US "most favored nation" status are nothing more than political apparatus to strangle countries whose ideology is not in line with theirs. The "most favored nation" crap was a joke if you ask me. And finally, Tuan IkhwanZ, without being racial, let me tell you that all the Chinese around the world without exception, are by nature, capitalists. They adopted and welcomed the Communist system because the Nationalist Chinese Government was corrupted beyond repair, so they looked to Karl Marx and Lenin for change. Even today, Communist membership within China account for less than 10% of the population (80 million members only). Therefore, it boils down to one simple characteristic of the Chinese race. Everywhere you go, you'll find Chinese only interested in business, trade and money which give them survival. Politics is least in their mind; to the Chinese any body can rule over them but that body must allow them free and fair business opportunities. They only join the voice of descent if Government policies affect their business adversely. Those in good stead like Francis Yeoh, Tan Kay Hock, Vincent Tan, Lee Kim Yew, etc., etc don't make noise, for reasons you should know.
Can we do something here in Malaysia for the ethnic Chinese Malaysians? By now, you may be wondering what ethnic race I belong to. I am not telling, but I suggest you refer to the legendary tale of " Singapura Dilanggar Todak", that may give you a clue. |
| Govt has RM40b untapped cash reserves, says Husni Posted: 02 Nov 2011 07:08 PM PDT By Chong Jin Hun, The Edge KUALA LUMPUR : The government has some RM40 billion of untapped cash reserves which it could use to sustain Malaysia's economic growth in the event of a global economic slowdown, according to Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah. Husni said the reserves included the government's trust fund of about RM30 billion, another contingency fund of some RM4 billion, and Kumpulan Wang Amanah Negara which have around RM5 billion.
"We have the reserves," he told reporters on the sidelines of the MIA-AFA conference yesterday.
Husni said the government had asked the country's accountant general to review the usage of its RM30 billion trust fund, of which a portion was "dormant".
He also noted that Malaysia would achieve a 5% to 6% GDP growth this year.
Husni also said the government plans to sell more government-owned land to the private sector to raise more funds for the country's development. The move is expected to add RM1.2 billion to the government's projected revenue for 2012.
According to him, the real estate assets included small plots of land, which the government did not plan to utilise within the River of Life project enclave. These plots of land are about three to seven acres "We have identified the land and we plan to monetise the assets," Husni said.
Husni (centre) shaking hands with MIA president Datuk Mohd Nasir Ahmad while AFA president Abdul Rahim Abdul Hamid looks on.
The River of Life project, an entry point project under the Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley National Key Economic Area, aims to transform the Klang and Gombak River into an iconic waterway by 2020.
According to the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) website, the River of Life project involves river cleaning, beautification, and development. Beautification works will also be undertaken along a 10.7km stretch of the Klang and Gombak river corridor, hence, the anticipation that land value around the area would rise.
In March 2010, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had said several government-owned tracts along Jalan Stonor, Jalan Ampang and Jalan Lidcol in Kuala Lumpur had been identified to be tendered out for development by the private sector.
Najib had said it would be wasteful if these sites were not developed, and the government would have to bear the cost of maintaining these assets.
The government had also established a joint venture with the Employees Provident Fund to develop 3,000 acres within the Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia (RRIM) enclave in Sungai Buloh into a new hub for the Klang Valley.
Under the government's latest budget, policymakers have earmarked RM232.8 billion for the coming year, of which RM181.6 billion has been allocated for operating expenditure while the balance RM51.2 billion is for development.
The government's revenue is expected to increase 1.9% to RM186.9 billion in 2012 from RM183.4 billion in 2011. Based on the estimated revenue and expenditure, the government's budget deficit in 2012 is anticipated to improve to 4.7% of gross domestic product (GDP) compared with 5.4% in 2011.
Malaysia's GDP is forecast to grow between 5% and 5.5% in 2011, and expand further by between 5% and 6% in 2012, spurred by private consumption and investment.
The country's private and public investments are expected to grow 15.9% and 7% respectively in 2012, helped by higher foreign direct investment, implementation of the ETP and Second Rolling Plan projects under the Tenth Malaysia Plan.
To further spur domestic growth, the government will implement a RM6 billion Special Stimulus Package via Private Financing Initiative in 2012. Under the scheme, several public projects will be undertaken including the upgrading and maintenance of schools, flood mitigation programmes, and construction of public houses such as housing for fishermen and low-income group.
According Husni, the RM6 billion package would be spent and serve as a buffer to ensure the country's economic growth was sustainable.
He said policymakers would use the money to further spur the country's economy even in the absence of a global recession. However, in the event the broader landscape sees a protracted slowdown, the minister said the funds would help sustain the country's economic strength, which hinged largely on domestic consumption and investment, besides public spending.
"We are concerned about growth and inflation," Husni said. |
| Malaysia performs below average in International Bribe Payers Index Posted: 02 Nov 2011 07:07 PM PDT By Alyaa Alhadjri, The Sun PETALING JAYA (Nov 2, 2011): Malaysia managed a 7.6 score out of 10 in the Transparency International 2011 Bribe Payers Index released today, below the global average of 7.8. The index, with a score of 10 indicating the perception that companies are unlikely to engage in bribery while doing business abroad, placed Malaysia in 15th position together with Hongkong, Italy and South Africa.
It is based on a survey of 3,000 business executives from developed and developing countries for the index which ranks 28 leading international and regional exporting countries by the likelihood of their firms to bribe abroad.
The countries represent almost 80% of global value in their total outflow of goods, services and investments.
According to the survey, the Netherlands and Switzerland (both with a score of 8.8) shared the honour of having companies which were perceived to be most unlikely to pay bribes abroad.
However, companies from Russia and China, with a combined investment of US$120 billion overseas last year were seen to be most likely to pay bribes.
"One of the key findings of the survey is that bribery between companies across different sectors is seen to be just as common as bribery from firms to public officials," said Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) president Datuk Paul Low, who launched the report here yesterday in conjunction with the report's global release.
He noted that the problem is most prevalent in the public works, contracts and construction sector.
"While previous surveys had shown that Malaysian companies were increasingly refraining from bribery in their overseas business, Malaysia's score for this year indicates that more can be done to improve its standing," said Low.
"With the tightening of anti-bribery legislations in many countries, there are higher risks for offenders to be caught and charged for corruption," he warned.
Low said TI-M has, as such, urged the government to:
>> diligently implement the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, including the criminalisation of bribery;
>> strengthen regulatory framework on the private sector to meet international accepted practices of good governance and ensuring compliance through a corporate
integrity system which includes enforcement of anti-bribery policy;
>> amend current legislation to allow prosecution of a company when its employee is prosecuted for corrupt practices; and
>> to impose strong deterrent fines against offenders.
Low urged the government to show strong political will, without fear or favour, to fight corruption, both locally and internationally. |
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
