Jumaat, 16 Disember 2011

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

0 ulasan
Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info
Sumber Asal Berita :-

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News


The need to chart Nurul Izzah’s career path

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 09:45 AM PST

Nevertheless, Nurul Izzah must first be groomed and trained for national leadership. In the next election she should contest a state seat, maybe in her 'home-state', Penang. Then, if she wins that state seat, she should be made one of the Deputy Chief Ministers, or at the very least a State EXCO Member of an important portfolio.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim sex trial verdict might push for political heir

(Press TV) - Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's supporters say the verdict of his sex trial, scheduled for January 9, would indicate the transparency of the country's judiciary.

Anwar, who stood trial for sodomy, has repeatedly said he did not get a fair trial throughout the two-year court proceeding. He also accused the government of trumping up the sex charge to end his political career and popularity.

Anwar was charged with sodomy for the second time a few months after he led the opposition to an unprecedented victory at the general election in 2008, which denied the government its two third majority.

His party loyalists say that the judgment is crucial in determining if the government had meddled into the trial.

The government has denied any political conspiracy. Anwar lost his position as the deputy prime minister when he was arrested and charged for corruption and sodomy in 1998. He served a six-year jail sentence and was released in 2004 when the federal court overturned his conviction.

Government leaders say the country's judiciary is independent and alleged that Anwar is orchestrating conspiracy theories for his political gain.

If seen to have manufactured the sex charge, political observers say that it would cost prime minister Najib Tun Razak votes at the next general election, which is expected to be called early next year.

Political analysts say that the verdict for the sex trial of opposition Anwar Ibrahim would not just determine his political future but also that of the opposition coalition. But there is a widespread speculation that Anwar's eldest daughter, who herself is a member of parliament, might take over the leadership from her father.

***************************************

Many are now no longer talking about whether Anwar Ibrahim is or is not going to jail but talking about who will take over the leadership of the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, once Anwar goes to jail. And there is already talk that Nurul Izzah can most likely be that candidate.

Of course, some say Nurul Izzah, at only 31, is still too young. That is, of course, a very subjective view. At 30, Alexander the Great had conquered almost half the world. And in these modern times many have became multi-millionaires or billionaires before the age of 30.

So, is 31 really an age that is too young?

I made my first million at age 27 (my good friend, Michael Toh, can testify to that because he was my mentor). By age 37 I went bust when 'Black Monday' swept the world (because I became too big for my britches and did not listen to Michael Toh who advised me to focus and consolidate rather than expand and diversify indiscriminately). So it was a very short ten years of life as a millionaire before I was reduced to a life of begging.

So, again, is 31 really an age that is too young?

Nevertheless, Nurul Izzah must first be groomed and trained for national leadership. In the next election she should contest a state seat, maybe in her 'home-state', Penang. Then, if she wins that state seat, she should be made one of the Deputy Chief Ministers, or at the very least a State EXCO Member (State Minister) of an important portfolio.

This will give her the opportunity to learn the ropes. Her job as a state minister would give her the experience she needs to eventually take on the task of a federal minister, or even as one of the Deputy Prime Ministers (assuming by then Malaysia has three Deputy Prime Ministers once Pakatan Rakyat takes over the federal government).

Furthermore, this will also allow Malaysians the opportunity to gauge her performance as a Deputy Chief Minister or a State EXCO member. Whether she also contests a parliament seat so that she still has a presence in parliament is up to the party to decide. To me that is not as crucial as her training in the state government to eventually play a prominent role in the federal government.

Even if Pakatan Rakyat gets to win the next election and gets to form the federal government there is no problem with Nurul Izzah spending a stint in the state government before moving up to the federal government in the 14th General Election -- assuming, of course, Pakatan Rakyat wins the 14th General Election. By then Nurul Izzah will be about 40 or so and at just the right age to take centre stage in the federal government.

Anyway, that is just my opinion, not that my opinion means anything to those who walk in the corridors of power or aspire to walk in the corridors of power. But the point is, Nurul Izzah's stint in the state government not only allows her to gain the experience that she will need but also allows us to gauge her suitability to play a bigger role at federal government level.

"And why Penang and not Selangor?" you might ask. Well, because Umno is saying that Penang is controlled by the Chinese and with Nurul Izzah as one of the Deputy Chief Ministers she can demonstrate that the Chinese do not control Penang and that Lim Guan Eng is not the dictator who runs Penang like it is his personal kingdom. Furthermore, Nurul Izzah would have no problems working with Guan Eng plus we Malaysians would not be losing any sleep wondering whether she would sell out the opposition and go join Umno. This would put to rest the 'frog' issue.

 

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

0 ulasan
Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info
Sumber Asal Berita :-

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News


More members roped into Jeffrey’s opposition group

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 10:15 AM PST

(The Star) - Political figure Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan is putting together an Opposition front comprising Sabah and Sarawak parties to fight Barisan Nasional in the coming polls.

Apart from the pressure group United Borneo Front (UBF) that he heads, Dr Jeffrey has so far roped in the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and the unregistered Usno Baru into his Borneo Alliance.

His aides said the alliance, which would be launched on Jan 6, includes the Sarawak Reform Party.

"We will be discussing the use of a common symbol for the coming election," Dr Jeffrey said when launching the UBF's first anniversary gathering here yesterday.

SAPP deputy president Amde Sidek, Usno Baru pro tem chief Datu Badaruddin Tun Mustapha and Sarawak Reform Party president Dr Dripin Sakoi were present.

Asked about support for the Opposition being split between the alliance and Pakatan Rakyat, Dr Jeffrey said he would like to see it being averted.

Dr Jeffrey said Sabah and Sarawak parties should come together as an alliance in the election as the 166 parliamentary seats in the peninsula and Labuan were equally split between Barisan and Pakatan.

"Sabah and Sarawak are now kingmakers and we must quickly capitalise on this opportunity," he said.

 

MACC probing Shahrizat

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 10:12 AM PST

(The Star) - The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is investigating whether Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil had played any part in the award of the RM250mil loan to the National Feedlot Corpo­ration (NFC), of which her husband is the executive chairman.

Sources said MACC officers were checking to ascertain if she had influenced, took part in the project or whether she had a hand in the loan award.

They said the commission had started its investigations into the matter after the NFC issue was highlighted in the Auditor-General's 2010 Report.

The report indicated that the project had not met targets set by the Government.

It is learnt that MACC officers had visited the project site as well as the NFC office and interviewed Shah­rizat's husband Datuk Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail as well as several other people connected to the NFC project.

Meanwhile, MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed said the commission had been investigating "grand corruption all the way" and denied that it was only combating petty corruption.

"Our responsibility is to investigate and we have been doing so regardless of the person's status," he said at the closing ceremony of the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Academy here yesterday.

He was responding to a question that certain groups, including Transparency International (TI), which said that not enough was being done to combat "grand corruption".

On Dec 1, TI said Malaysia had shown a decline in its Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) score for the third consecutive year, scoring lower than 4.4 last year and was significantly lower than the Government's own benchmark of 4.9.

Abu Kassim said the MACC had been investigating "big" cases regardless of whether it involved Cabinet ministers or ordinary citizens.

 

Rebel PAS leader continues to receive flak over his stand

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 10:11 AM PST

(The Star) - PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali has stepped up the attacks against rebel Selangor party leader Datuk Dr Hasan Ali, who has been widely speculated to be leaving the party.

Mustafa chided the Selangor state executive councillor, saying the latter's stand on certain matters created the impression that he was going against the tide to defend Islam.

"By saying that he is making such and such a stand in defence of Islam, he has created the perception that PAS is no longer defending Islam," he said in an interview yesterday.

Mustafa said this in response to growing discontent within the party against the 64-year-old Dr Hasan.

The secretary-general said PAS leaders who behaved in such manner had "obviously taken Umno's bait" to weaken the Islamist party.

He also hit out at Dr Hasan for allegedly offering to mediate unity talks between Umno and PAS, pointing out:

"He should know the party's stand on the matter. It was decided at the PAS muktamar that unity talks are off."

Mustafa also shrugged off as a non-issue claims in the media that Dr Hasan would not be fielded in the next general election because he had failed to secure enough nominations from PAS members to defend his Gombak Setia state seat.

The PAS central leadership would decide on who the potential candidates would be, he added.

In an immediate response, Dr Hasan said he would explain all during a press conference on Monday.

"I will clear the air soon. I will explain everything. I will address the matter properly and put things in the right perspective," he said.

Dr Hasan also said he had no plans to quit PAS to join Umno.

PAS central committee member Khalid Samad expressed hope that Dr Hasan would not leave the party. However, he urged Dr Hasan to learn to work as a team member.

"He should stick to collective decisions," Khalid said.

Former PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa also came under heavy criticism for allegedly propagating PAS-Umno unity.

"I do not know why I am being dragged into it again. I have been very busy with family matters in recent days," he said.

As a Selangor state executive councillor, Dr Hasan has had numerous run-ins with his party and Pakatan Rakyat colleagues, being blamed for the controversial anti-proselytisation inspection at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church in August.

He also stirred a hornet's nest by claiming that "solar-powered talking bibles" were being used to convert Muslims to Christianity and for his failed attempt at banning the sale of alcoholic beverages at 24-hour convenience stores.

Dr Hasan nevertheless continues to command support, especially from among the party grassroots. Most notable is PAS Youth chief Nasruddin Hassan, who views Dr Hasan as an eminent defender of Islam, Malays and the royal institution.

It was reported on Thursday that there was a widening rift between Dr Hasan and top PAS leaders after talk emerged that he would not be fielded as an election candidate.

 

The need to chart Nurul Izzah’s career path

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 09:45 AM PST

Nevertheless, Nurul Izzah must first be groomed and trained for national leadership. In the next election she should contest a state seat, maybe in her 'home-state', Penang. Then, if she wins that state seat, she should be made one of the Deputy Chief Ministers, or at the very least a State EXCO Member of an important portfolio.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim sex trial verdict might push for political heir

(Press TV) - Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's supporters say the verdict of his sex trial, scheduled for January 9, would indicate the transparency of the country's judiciary.

Anwar, who stood trial for sodomy, has repeatedly said he did not get a fair trial throughout the two-year court proceeding. He also accused the government of trumping up the sex charge to end his political career and popularity.

Anwar was charged with sodomy for the second time a few months after he led the opposition to an unprecedented victory at the general election in 2008, which denied the government its two third majority.

His party loyalists say that the judgment is crucial in determining if the government had meddled into the trial.

The government has denied any political conspiracy. Anwar lost his position as the deputy prime minister when he was arrested and charged for corruption and sodomy in 1998. He served a six-year jail sentence and was released in 2004 when the federal court overturned his conviction.

Government leaders say the country's judiciary is independent and alleged that Anwar is orchestrating conspiracy theories for his political gain.

If seen to have manufactured the sex charge, political observers say that it would cost prime minister Najib Tun Razak votes at the next general election, which is expected to be called early next year.

Political analysts say that the verdict for the sex trial of opposition Anwar Ibrahim would not just determine his political future but also that of the opposition coalition. But there is a widespread speculation that Anwar's eldest daughter, who herself is a member of parliament, might take over the leadership from her father.

***************************************

Many are now no longer talking about whether Anwar Ibrahim is or is not going to jail but talking about who will take over the leadership of the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, once Anwar goes to jail. And there is already talk that Nurul Izzah can most likely be that candidate.

Of course, some say Nurul Izzah, at only 31, is still too young. That is, of course, a very subjective view. At 30, Alexander the Great had conquered almost half the world. And in these modern times many have became multi-millionaires or billionaires before the age of 30.

So, is 31 really an age that is too young?

I made my first million at age 27 (my good friend, Michael Toh, can testify to that because he was my mentor). By age 37 I went bust when 'Black Monday' swept the world (because I became too big for my britches and did not listen to Michael Toh who advised me to focus and consolidate rather than expand and diversify indiscriminately). So it was a very short ten years of life as a millionaire before I was reduced to a life of begging.

So, again, is 31 really an age that is too young?

Nevertheless, Nurul Izzah must first be groomed and trained for national leadership. In the next election she should contest a state seat, maybe in her 'home-state', Penang. Then, if she wins that state seat, she should be made one of the Deputy Chief Ministers, or at the very least a State EXCO Member (State Minister) of an important portfolio.

This will give her the opportunity to learn the ropes. Her job as a state minister would give her the experience she needs to eventually take on the task of a federal minister, or even as one of the Deputy Prime Ministers (assuming by then Malaysia has three Deputy Prime Ministers once Pakatan Rakyat takes over the federal government).

Furthermore, this will also allow Malaysians the opportunity to gauge her performance as a Deputy Chief Minister or a State EXCO member. Whether she also contests a parliament seat so that she still has a presence in parliament is up to the party to decide. To me that is not as crucial as her training in the state government to eventually play a prominent role in the federal government.

Even if Pakatan Rakyat gets to win the next election and gets to form the federal government there is no problem with Nurul Izzah spending a stint in the state government before moving up to the federal government in the 14th General Election -- assuming, of course, Pakatan Rakyat wins the 14th General Election. By then Nurul Izzah will be about 40 or so and at just the right age to take centre stage in the federal government.

Anyway, that is just my opinion, not that my opinion means anything to those who walk in the corridors of power or aspire to walk in the corridors of power. But the point is, Nurul Izzah's stint in the state government not only allows her to gain the experience that she will need but also allows us to gauge her suitability to play a bigger role at federal government level.

"And why Penang and not Selangor?" you might ask. Well, because Umno is saying that Penang is controlled by the Chinese and with Nurul Izzah as one of the Deputy Chief Ministers she can demonstrate that the Chinese do not control Penang and that Lim Guan Eng is not the dictator who runs Penang like it is his personal kingdom. Furthermore, Nurul Izzah would have no problems working with Guan Eng plus we Malaysians would not be losing any sleep wondering whether she would sell out the opposition and go join Umno. This would put to rest the 'frog' issue.

 

Jeffrey’s back to active politics

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:58 AM PST

Sarawak Reform Party (STAR) officially announced Sabah politician Jeffrey Kitingan as the chairman of its Sabah chapter.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Maverick Jeffrey Kitingan, who has been without a party since he left PKR one year ago, has now joined a reactivated 16-year-old Sarawak party, Sarawak Reform Party (STAR).

STAR president, Dripin Sakoi, presented Jeffrey a membership card and document empowering him to lead a Sabah chapter of the party in time for the 13th general election.

Four other Jeffrey allies in Sabah, who also received their membership cards from Sakoi today, are Guandi Kohoi, Rubin Guribah, Jeffrey Telado and James Aik.

Sakoi, who took over the presidency from STAR founder Patau Rubis in March, surprised everyone in the packed hall of a restaurant in Penampang, near here, when he invited the five to come forward and received their STAR cards while he was giving a short speech after Jeffrey finished his.

"We in STAR fully subscribed and support the Borneo Agenda of UBF (United Borneo Front) and it is time now for us to unite… I am calling on Jeffrey to come forward and receive his membership. He is now to lead the Sabah chapter," Dripin said amidst applause from the some 300 supporters of UBF and guests.

FMT learnt that Jeffrey will tonight be meeting with his people to set up an organising committee for the launching of STAR Sabah on Jan 6.

It is understood that that Hongkod Koisaan hall, which is the headquarters of the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA), has been booked. The 4,000-capacity hall will be the site for Jeffrey's clarion call to gather together the much-touted third force.

Earlier in his press conference, Jeffrey did not mention joining any party. Neither did he say anything about it his hour-long speech.

In his speech, he reiterated his frequent call for the people to unite and see the reality of false hope and broken dreams spun by the then regime.

"We have been duped because we were too young to comprehend then (1963).

"They exploited us until we became just one of the 13 states in the federation, until we have become the poorest in this country.

"We must put a stop to this and the only way is to unite once again to fight for our independence and our rights," Jeffrey said.

STAR on the lookout

Over the past year, Jeffrey has been travelling all over Sabah holding hundreds of tea-parties to explain and galvanise people to support his Borneo Agenda.

Badaruddin Datu Mustapha Harun, son of a former chief minister, was one of two speakers at the event. The other was Sabah Progressive People's Party (SAPP) deputy president Amdi Sidek.

Badaruddin urged all the three major native communities in Sabah – Muslims, non-Muslims and Chinese – to unite and vote Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) out of Sabah at the next general election.

READ MORE HERE

 

We are looking at the fifth estate

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:12 AM PST

Why should politics reach out to social media? Just look at the figures put out by the Internet and Mobile Association of India. At 112 million, and growing by 5-7 million internet users a month, India is well on its way to topple the US (245 million users) and come within sneaking distance of China (485 million). With that pace, India would well cross 500 million by 2015.

A joke doing the rounds in cyberspace gives an idea of social media's chain reaction. "Thank God, the Kolaveri song was sung by Dhanush. If it was sung by his father-in-law Rajnikanth, it would have been our national anthem."

Leave Rajnikanth out of the picture frame for a moment and deconstruct Kolaveri. After all, it used the stickiness of social media to get eyeballs and eardrums. Kolaveri may be a case study for online music; it is also a case study for politics. Social media, especially Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, is redefining social and political discourse. How do you familiarise yourself with this new medium? How do you create a message in this space? How do you target? How do you connect? And, finally, how do you interact?

These questions have popped up after two quick developments in cyberspace: Kolaveri's viral success and Kapil Sibal's attempt to regulate social media. And both are related to the three values that make social media: creativity, empowerment, interactivity. They made a song fly. They also forced the government to sit up and take notice.

Kolaveri is a test case. It explains why a hick experimental tune without any marketing muscle reaches a tipping point and then explodes on the web. What you see in pop art, you will see in political and social spheres as well. Have a message? Make it participative. Make it emotive.

This is the Kolaveri test for surviving in social media. Let's flex the argument: How is Anna Hazare able to make politics a social discussion and lead social media? Why is Sibal not able to convince the blogosphere? Social media seeks participation and experimentation; it seeks to deliberate freely on social and political issues. Without participation, there's no social media. It explains why Anna and Dhanush are able to use technology successfully to reach out to you and me.

Why should politics reach out to social media? Just look at the figures put out by the Internet and Mobile Association of India. At 112 million, and growing by 5-7 million internet users a month, India is well on its way to topple the US (245 million users) and come within sneaking distance of China (485 million). With that pace, India would well cross 500 million by 2015. Even though Google's projections are slightly conservative (300 by 2014), they do indicate a population bulge.

Certainly, these numbers would increase social media's clout. Hence, it is important for social media companies and putative regulators, internal or external, not to ruffle users' sentiment or loyalty. In fact, the rise of the social media coincides with the global debate on participative democracy. Should democracy be a continuous referendum or a referendum only during elections? Should it be a static or dynamic interaction between people and legislators? Should the government increase political discourse in social media by making it participative? Should elected representatives reach out to people? In fact, some of these aspects of interactivity have now been raised by Sibal, a week after kicking up a cyberstorm over regulation.

And rightfully so. If social media is clamouring for a stake in democracy, why deny it? Why antagonise it by regulating it? Let's look at some studies that have assessed the political impact of social media. They give an idea how democracy blogs in cyberspace. A study points out that engagement with politics begins at home. "Those who are most likely to take up the new tools offered by Web 2.0 are those who are already politically engaged. While this is a very positive development for those citizens, as they now have new, easy and cheap means to engage on a global basis, it is unlikely to draw the politically unengaged and uninterested into politics on a large scale," says a study by Allison Orr on political participation and Web 2.0.

Now, let's look at a Pew study on the internet's influence on voting behaviour in the US. As many as 22% of online political users said they were influenced by online political content in 2010. And 33% of respondents said online political content influenced their voting choices, or the candidates they selected. While it is still too early to gauge the full impact on social media on voting behaviour, social media is becoming a key tool of civic and political engagement in the US.

While these studies do indicate a stream of political consciousness dripping into social media, the critical mass that could make social media an inflection point in India is 5X: 500 million. That's the social media's Kolaveri moment. That's when India's social media would have reached the critical mass to be counted as a political voice, a heavyweight.

Says a case study on netizen democracy in South Korea, where social media is politically hyperactive, by Ronda Hauben, "Not only is the internet a laboratory for democracy, but the scale of participation and contributions is unprecedented. Online discussion makes it possible for netizens to become active individual and group actors in social and public affairs. The internet makes it possible for netizens to speak out independently of institutions or officials."

We have seen that happening frequently in China's highly regulated cyberspace. Already, there is a debate on the evolution of the social media. Will it evolve into a fifth estate-democracy's newest stakeholder? Will social and political discussions in social media grow into deliberations? Will they be opinion-creating instead of rabble-rousing? Will they be reflective instead of impulsive?

Social media is still in a state of evolution. Just imagine the power of a medium which empowers users and disintermediates communication. In fact, even as it seeks to elevate conversations into discussions, it has redefined communication by simply empowering the user. So far, we have looked at social media through the prism of the fourth estate, an offline social media. It misses the key point: the speed at which technology is empowering knowledge. You can't regulate that.

No wonder Sibal is now talking of empowering government through social media and reaching out to a wider population. It's the first sign of political outreach. 

 

Only Ku Li can put M’sia on right footing

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:01 AM PST

For PKR to survive and for Pakatan Rakyat to stay relevant, they need a leader who is acceptable to the royal houses and who can command the respect of all Malaysians.

There's a practical side also as to why Tengku Razaleigh is the ultimate playmaker for the Pakatan people if the bigger picture is to oust Umno and the BN government. The bigger picture, I repeat once more, is to secure the interest of the country, not to secure the interest of one Anwar Ibrahim.

Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz, Free Malaysia Today

What is Umno's latest weapon now? It's the cultivation of the royal houses in the country.

If PKR isn't blind, they will see where the HRH Sultan of Selangor is going with his majesty's overt political tones.

Umno is now working overtime to drum in this fallacious idea that if others come into power the very future of the royal houses, the symbol of Malay existence, will be wiped out.

How can Pakatan neutralise this powerful move which is also a powerful idea?

By having someone from the royal line to talk to the rulers. Who can talk to the rulers on equal terms other than Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Ku Li)?

He's a royalty himself and commands respect and deference among the royal houses.

Tengku Razaleigh will represent the second coming of a Tengku Abdul Rahman figure but this time, putting Malaysia on the right footing.

There's a practical side also as to why Tengku Razaleigh is the ultimate playmaker for the Pakatan people if the bigger picture is to oust Umno and the BN government.

The bigger picture, I repeat once more, is to secure the interest of the country, not to secure the interest of one Anwar Ibrahim.

Pakatan must win over fence-sitters

It's for better and participative democracy, the rule of law, and disciplined and better governance.

Why Tengku Razaleigh? Because it's important for the Pakatan to gain the allegiance and support of the 20 percent fence-sitter voters.

This section of the public has a different psychology. They want to know who the next prime minister is.

Is the next premier going to be more acceptable than the present one?

They want certainty and some confidence in the person. That person must have substance, experience, standing and respect all around.

Furthermore, the fence-sitters will demand to see some clarity.

READ MORE HERE

 

Najib, Father of ‘Spin’

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:47 AM PST

The sixth Malaysian prime minister will go down in history as the master of spin, sloganeering and story-telling.

Najib has totally lost it! Nothing can salvage 1Malaysia now. He has had his chance of implementing genuine political reforms but he blew it. His stand now is to strictly obey the Umno warlords and the ultra-Malays. He has now transformed himself into becoming a barbarian warlord – truly a government transformation programme!

Selena Tay, Free Malaysia Today

At long last, the 1Malaysia slogan has been revealed for what it truly is: the greatest failure of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

What for so long has been bandied about as the keyword for racial harmony and unity has been debunked as a 100 percent failure at the recent Umno general assembly and the one who debunked this mythic 1Malaysia slogan is none other than Najib himself. Poetic justice, you might say.

Thus, the prime minister has proven himself to be the greatest spinner of yarns and tall tales beyond comparison and 1Malaysia is his greatest masterpiece, so to speak, as he has proclaimed that 1Malaysia is his brainchild. It beats out GTP, ETP, NKRA, NKEA and what not.

The sixth Malaysian prime minister will thus go down in history as the master of spin, sloganeering and story-telling. Incredible credentials, indeed, if one were a movie director or producer for sure. But as a prime minister? Naah!

Najib's move of pandering to the demands of the ultra-Malays in order to gain support of the Malays is a crass and lowdown tactic unbecoming of someone who aspires to be a great statesman. What will other world leaders think?

It is time for Najib to wake up to the fact that his words and deeds are watched not only by Malaysians here but also by other world leaders and Malaysians overseas. Still, he has reached the point of no-return and his "movement of moderates" talk is all hype, hot air and hoo-ha over nothing.

As we approach the finishing line towards the dissolution of Parliament, Najib seems desperate to build up what he considers as enough solid support before calling for the 13th general election. And by solid support, he is thinking of the Malay vote.

His desperation shows through clearly as he comes across as a muddled flip-flopper lacking in direction of whether to adopt a policy encompassing all races or only a Malay-only policy.

His party, Umno, is also rudderless and clueless on how to steer the Malaysian economy through unchartered stormy seas next year when the global economic crisis truly hits our shores and we have been forewarned. Instead, Najib and Barisan Nasional leaders are deluding themselves that the Malaysian economy is all fine and hunky-dory.

The Umno general assembly has deteriorated into a barbaric sword and shield-clanging feast as each Umno leader vowed death and destruction to their perceived enemy forces. Nothing on economic or administrative policies for the good of the nation was discussed.

Najib has totally lost it! Nothing can salvage 1Malaysia now. He has had his chance of implementing genuine political reforms but he blew it. His stand now is to strictly obey the Umno warlords and the ultra-Malays. He has now transformed himself into becoming a barbarian warlord – truly a government transformation programme!

Polls after Chinese New Year

Due to Umno's outright wooing of the Malays, Taiping MP, DAP's Nga Kor Ming, has opined that the 13th general election will be held between two and four weeks after Chinese New Year to lessen the Chinese vote. This is because once the Chinese have taken long leave to go back to their hometown for the Chinese New Year, it will be difficult for them to take leave again to go back to vote.

In 2012, Chinese New Year falls on Jan 23 and thus polling will be between Feb 11 and 26.

Besides, the feel-good factor among the rakyat is still there in February after the distribution of goodies by BN in January when in fact the goodies themselves come from the rakyat's money!

In March, the feel-good factor would have dissipated so BN will want to hold the polls as near as possible to the date of the distribution of the goodies – and February fits the bill.

Another reason why the polls will not be held in March, opined Nga, is that the BN federal government will not want Pakatan Rakyat to remind the people of the political tsunami of March 2008. Therefore, March is out.

However, the government must not think that it can do as it likes by riding rough-shod over the rakyat. The time is coming when the world is changing. In Russia, the opposition and its supporters are already protesting due to widespread fraud and malpractice in the Russian elections.

With Time magazine naming "The Protester" as the Person of the Year for 2011, there are signs that the global movement for change is already at hand as the world's populations are demanding justice and fair play.

The incumbent government must pay heed to the signs of the times and not talk down to the citizens. It must not continue to display arrogance as the oppressed people have shown that they can and will arise to overthrow despotic and dictatorial regimes that are merciless in suppressing the voice of the people.

READ MORE HERE

 

Umno’s missed opportunity

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:44 AM PST

Issues of national concern were not discussed at the recent Umno general assembly. Delegates also failed to call on Najib to step down for Umno to rise again.

Under an undemocratic-despotic government where gross abuse of power is the hallmark of the regime, it is of no surprise then that no concerted efforts have been made by the government to tackle such malpractices let alone remove corrupt federal ministers, chief ministers and menteris besar.

Awang Abdillah, Free Malaysia Today

Frankly, the recent Umno general assembly was the best venue and probably the last chance for Umno leaders to show their sincerity in addressing party and national concerns.

Instead of adopting the Mahathir doctrine or rather its despotic policy, Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak should have discussed with the party leaders on how best to tackle the party and national problems.

Disgruntled members should have urged Najib to step down as one of the solutions for Umno to rise again. Personal leadership, party strength and national issues and problems are all inter-related.

Glaringly missing at the Umno general assembly were discussions on issues of national concerns.

Allow me to list it all out here.

(1) The national debt

The most prominent of the major national issues is the growing national debt which now stands at RM437 billion, dwarfing the expected revenue of RM186.9 billion for 2012.

A massive national debt is one of the main factors that can destabilise the economy of the country.

Such a gigantic problem can be seen from afar by financial institutions and fund managers, the Employees Provident Fund board, foreign investors, dealers and speculators in the Malaysian foreign exchange market, investors in Bursa Malaysia, trading partners and our neighbouring countries.

If this problem remains unsolved, a number of fallouts are expected: banks will hold on to credit outflow leading to higher lending rates; flight of capital out of Malaysia; panic selling of the ringgit leading to a free-fall of the currency; panic selling of stocks in Bursa Malaysia; foreign direct investment will be neglible; unemployment will rise; delays in public funding of development projects, and so on.

There is no reason for a country like Malaysia – blessed with natural resources, high exports of primary commodities and other goods valued at RM639.4 billion for 2010 – to become a net borrower for development funds.

We believe as much as 30 to 40 percent of the development allocations in the yearly national budget goes indirectly to Umno politicians and Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), too, and its companies.

For 2012 , a sum of RM51.2 billion is allocated for development. As much as 30 to 40 percent of the amount may be siphoned away through marked-up prices of government contracts, maintenance of public projects and supplies to government ministries, departments and agencies.

Some of such practices are partly revealed by the Auditor-General Report 2010. Unfortunately, the Auditor-General made false reports on the Sarawak government's public accounts for the last nine years, for reasons best known to him.

If Umno cares about the welfare of the rakyat, then Najib and his top party leaders should discuss ways during the party general assembly to reduce this serious national problem instead of pushing it aside.

For any country, if its national debt keeps on growing, it would mean that government development funds in the past years have not been properly utilised for productive economic projects, which can give good returns to the government. Instead, a big portion of it goes to the personal accounts of Umno politicians.

READ MORE HERE

 

Taib-Linked Group Faces Tasmanian Protests

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:39 AM PST

Environmentalists accuse timber company of cutting old-growth timber

Asia Sentinel

A unit of Ta Ann Group Bhd, a Sarawak-based timber giant closely linked to Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, is being accused by an Australian lawmaker of invading a protected 430,000-hectare Tasmanian forest that was supposed to be protected by a national-state intergovernment agreement.

Tasmanian Sen. Bob Brown, the leader of Australia's Greens, said that although the governments had signed an agreement earlier this year to protect the forests until an independent verification process was completed, Ta Ann had already begun logging.

"Four months later not one hectare has been protected and Forestry Tasmania continues to fell these magnificent trees as fast as they can put the roads in. All up, more than 10 square kilometers of our wild forests will be destroyed," Brown said.

In an effort to stop the logging, a young woman name Miranda Gibson climbed into a structure high above the forest with a vow to sit there to stop the logging, which began last Monday.

That is the latest protest against the company, which has been operating in Tasmania for some time, ostensibly receiving A$10 million in direct public subsidies and being housed in Tasmanian state premises that cost A$22 million. Ta Ann Tasmania has reported net losses of A$18 million although the parent company declared a 25 percent profit margin on annual sales of more than RN800 million.

Ta Ann Holdings Bhd, headed by Taib's cousin Hamed Sepawi, is comprised of at least 31 Sarawak-based companies in three broad sections including timber harvesting, palm oil plantations and various other interests. The company, with a market capitalization of RM1.24 billion (US$388.6 million), employs 6,000 people and began expanding overseas n 2007, according to the group's website.

Taib himself is under fire from a plethora of NGOs from six different countries demanding that he and 13 members of his family be arrested and prosecuted for massive fraud, theft, corruption, illegal appropriation of land and abuse of public office and that he is at the epicenter of the operations despite the naming of family members to head ancillary operations. They allege that the looting of Sarawak's rich timber and other natural resources has earned Taib's family billions of US dollars through investment in as many as 400 companies in 25 countries.

Research released earlier this month by the Switzerland-based Bruno Manser Fund said official documents show the Taib family stake in 14 Malaysian companies alone is worth US$1.46 billion. The fund has uploaded all of the documents onto the Internet. They can be found here. Billions more are believed to be held in other countries.

Environmentalists accuse the Tasmanian unit of claiming it exports rotary peeled veneer manufactured only from regrowth and plantation Eucalyptus logs supplied by Forestry Tasmania. However, the environmentalists say, "the reality is that Ta Ann is sourcing timber from Tasmanian old growth forests, from world heritage value and high conservation value forests."

The Tasmania-based Huon Valley Environmental Center accused Ta Ann Tasmania of receiving wood timber from logging areas containing old growth forest is processing wood acquired from the logging of old growth forests, high-conservation value forests and forests with recognized world heritage values in Tasmania.

READ MORE HERE

 

Sand monopoly, the cronies are at it again

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:34 AM PST

WikiSabah

By Datuk Yong Teck Lee

KOTA KINABALU: The cronies are at it again. After failing to monopolise the scrap metal business three years ago, cronies have again reared their ugly heads to grab the extraction and supply of sand to the construction industry.

Using the same lame excuse of lax enforcement against "thefts of scrap metal", the political masters have now come up with thefts of sand as the excuse to put all the rights to sand extraction in the hands of Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO).

This is a repeat of the failed attempt in 2008 to let Superpanel Sdn. Bhd., a subsidiary company of the Sabah Housing and Town Development Board (LPPB), monopolise the scrap metal business.

At the time, the scrap metal business was lucrative. The same excuse about metal thefts and protecting the government's interests was used for monopolising the business. But eventually, the idea was dropped due to the fall in scrap metal prices. The decision on the monopoly had nothing to do with the government's interests. It had all to do with greed and abuse of power.

This sand monopoly could hold the construction industry to ransom, impose arbitrary prices and payment terms, including hidden costs. Like the import of vehicles using APs (Approved Permits), quotas could be allocated to sub-cronies to buy and sell sand, thereby driving costs.

How can SEDCO enforce against sand thefts? It has zero enforcement personnel and no statutory power to seize machineries, investigate, arrest or prosecute. So, people are entitled to draw their own conclusions. Is it a coincidence that the Chairman of SEDCO, the assemblyman for Membakut, is a family member of the Chief Minister?

READ MORE HERE

 

Unease grows over Muslim head for top convent school

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:29 AM PST

(The Malaysian Insider) - For Catholic Malaysians, Putrajaya's latest pick of a Malay-Muslim principal to head the prestigious SMK Convent Bukit Nanas (CBN) underscores a worrying trend to disregard the Church's contribution and rights in the country.

Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam waded this week into a growing row between the 112-year-old school's Catholic owners and the Ministry of Education (MOE) after its new principal Datin Seri Zavirah Mohd Shaari's surprise arrival at its doorstep.

"The appointment of the principal of CBN is not only contrary to the government policy of maximum consultation but has given the impression that it is the government's strategy to take over the mission schools in total disregard for the status, ethos and special character of mission schools, especially CBN," Pakiam said in a statement published earlier this week in Catholic paper The Herald.

He was appealing to Education director-general Datuk Seri Abdul Ghafar Mahmud to reconsider the ministry's decision and pick a suitably qualified person nominated by the school owners under the Infant Jesus (IJ) Sisters order. The school is considered among the top convent schools in the country.

The case comes on the heels of a recent drama over the police's extra conditions for carolling permits on two South Klang churches less than two weeks ago.

Earlier this year, right-wing Malay-Muslim groups triggered a national uproar over persistent rumours that churches are on a campaign to convert their own and pushing unfounded allegations of a secret political plot to install a Christian prime minister in the next general election.

Christians say such issues are an attempt to erode their religious rights in Muslim-majority Malaysia.

CBN, which has produced notable personalities such as Bersih 2.0 chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and former International Trade Minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, is one of 60 convent schools in Malaysia, Sister Rosalind Tan told The Malaysian Insider.

Tan is the mother provincial of the IJ Sisters and the person in charge of the order's administration in the country.

She related that the school's board of governors were taken aback when Zavirah reported for duty last week.

The previous head, Ann Khoo, retired last month because there was no prior notice from the Education Ministry.

READ MORE HERE

 

Boo Chang under fire on plan to rejoin Gerakan

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:27 AM PST

(Bernama) - A Penang Gerakan leader has rapped former PKR Bukit Gelugur division chief Lim Boo Chang for intending to rejoin Gerakan.

Penang Gerakan Legal and Human Rights Bureau head Baljit Singh said Lim should not be allowed to rejoin as he had previously left Gerakan and joined other parties.

"Why does he want to rejoin Gerakan?," he asked on Friday

Speaking to reporters, Baljit said Lim had betrayed the party (Gerakan) by joining MCA in 1999, adding that at that time, Gerakan almost lost the chief minister's post because of his action.

"I will sincerely hand over the legal bureau to him, if he is accepted again. I will not betray the party like him.

"I will ask for the creation of a landscape bureau where I will build many ponds for tadpoles and frogs. To all frogs, welcome to Gerakan," he said.

After announcing he was leaving PKR and quitting his Penang municipal councillor post on Wednesday, Lim had on Thursday submitted a form to join Gerakan.

 

Court orders Balkis to be re-instated

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:25 AM PST

(Bernama) - The High Court today ordered that Balkis, the Wives of Selangor State Assemblymen and Members of Parliament Welfare and Charity Organisation, to be reinstated from the time it was de-registered by Registrar of Societies (ROS) on Feb 2009.

Balkis made the headlines after Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim alleged that there had been misappropriation of Balkis' funds under its previous president, Datin Seri Zaharah Kechik, the wife of former Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo.

Justice Datuk Rohana Yusuf made the ruling in chambers after meeting counsel S.Selvarajah, who appeared for the applicants, and Senior Federal Counsel Datin Azizah Nawawi who acted for ROS.

The applicants were the Selangor government, Abdul Khalid's wife Puan Sri Salbiah Tunut, Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad, Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad, Selangor State Development Corporation, Worldwide Holdings Berhad, Selangor Industrial Corporation Sdn Bhd, Selaman Sdn Bhd, PKNS Infra Berhad and PKNS Engineering & Construction Bhd.

They filed the judicial review application against ROS to quash ROS' decision to de-register Balkis and sought a declaration that the decision was illegal, null and void. They also sought the re-instatement of the organisation.

Selvarajah told reporters that the judge only allowed Salbiah's application to quash the ROS decision and a mandamus order to compel ROS to re-instate the organisation on the grounds that she had substantive locus standi to apply for such an order.

"The court held that she (Salbiah) had legitimate expectation to assume office as YDP (president) of Balkis in her capacity of wife of the Menteri Besar as provided for in Balkis Constitution," Selvarajah said.

The court rejected the other applicants application as they had no locus standi and were merely donors to the organisation, he said.

Selvarajah also said Justice Rohana held that ROS had not properly verified documentation before de-registering Balkis.

He said the judge said that the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held by members of Balkis to dissolve the organisation on March 11, 2008 was invalid as there was serious defects in the meeting agenda because it did not state the meeting was called for the purpose of dissolution.

"This had prejudiced the members who were deprived of information on the purpose of the EGM," he said.

 

Boustead gets Mindef contract for 6 ships, contract ceiling RM9b

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:23 AM PST

(The Edge) - Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn. Bhd has received the letter of award from the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) to supply six patrol vessels with a contract ceiling of RM9 billion.

Bousted Holdings Bhd said its subsidiary Boustead Naval Shipyard had received the letter on Friday to design, construct and deliver six second generation patrol vessels.

"The contract carries a ceiling of RM9.0 billion, to be implemented over three Malaysia Plans, 10, 11 and 12. The delivery of the first of class ship is estimated in 2017 with follow-on ships every six months thereafter," it said.

 

Tuan Ibrahim on enemy tactics, indispensability

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:04 AM PST

(Harakah Daily) - 'No one is indispensable' – that is the gist of PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man's response to the controversy involving former deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa and Selangor state exco Hasan Ali.

Writing in his column, Tuan Ibrahim however reminded PAS members to be wary of enemy tactics to cause frictions to bring down their foes.

"The enemy will use all methods to cause chaos and internal conflicts in the opposing organisation to the extent that knives will be pointed against friends," warned Tuan Ibrahim (pic).

Tuan IbrahimEarlier, PAS secretary general Mustafa Ali criticised both Hasan and Nasharuddin for dancing to UMNO's tune by supporting efforts by UMNO to bring PAS out of Pakatan Rakyat and make alliance with the Malay party for the sake "unity".

Tuan Ibrahim said what is even worse was that those being used by their enemies were also blinded by ego.

"To the extent that they are very confident that their actions are right while others are wrong," he lamented.

And Tuan Ibrahim minced no words when he made known the solution to tackling such developments within the party.

"Sometimes it takes a hard slap to wake them up and make them realise that they are falling into enemy traps. So, the big question is, whether your weapon should be used against the enemy or your teammate, and worse, yourself?" he questioned.

In a struggle for Islam such as PAS's, the Pahang PAS commissioner said conflicts were a divine test on Muslims.

"It comes in many forms, to test the person in the conflict, and to test how far others will go to help friends embroiled in conflicts," he added.

In a team, Tuan Ibrahim said no one should make threats and consider themselves to be on a pedestal and immune from being reprimanded.

"We must realise in a team, collective opinion is better than personal opinion," he said.

 

The Way We Were

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:15 PM PST

THE WAY WE WERE IN 1957: HOW BN HAS DESTROYED MALAYSIAN DEMOCRACY IN 54 YEARS

The original Merdeka constitution provided that in drawing up constituencies, "there shall not be more than a difference of 15 per cent in the number of electors of any constituency to the electoral quota." The "electoral quota" or national average, was defined as the number obtained by dividing the number of electors in the Federation by the total number of constituencies. Section 2 (c) of the Thirteenth Schedule had stipulated that "the number of electors within each constituency ought to be approximately equal throughout the unit of review."

By Kua Kia Soong

It is now 54 years since we became independent and with the 13th general elections approaching, it is time to count the cost of BN rule since 1957. Many draconian and unjust laws did not exist at independence and Malaysians should seriously reflect on the way we were and how many reforms being proposed today merely represent the status quo in 1957, nothing more. Malaysia in fact needs to undergo much deeper reforms to survive the 21st century.

Let us first examine the situation at Independence to see how our country has regressed under BN before we consider further reforms. It also brings into perspective the so-called "social contract" frequently brought up by UMNO to justify the status quo. And let us not forget that UMNO has managed to destroy our democratic institutions only with the assistance of all the other BN coalition parties in parliament.

The following are some stark examples of the damage done to our fundamental liberties enshrined in our Federal Constitution in 1957:

1.      Equality undermined through the amendment to Article 153 in 1971:

The addition of the new clause '8A' to article 153 in 1971 two years after May 13 has led to the gross racial discrimination seen in admissions to educational institutions such as MARA science schools, colleges and UITM and the access to public sector scholarships. In recent years, racial discrimination has been further institutionalized through the routinized usage of "Ketuanan Melayu" (Malay dominance) in common parlance to justify the discrimination.

2.      Liberty of the person violated since 1960 to allow detention without trial:

The Internal Security Act that has been used to put away dissidents and the opposition all these years only came into existence three years after independence in 1960. Under the guise of protecting "national security", it was used to finish off the entire leadership of the Labour Party, the main threat to the Alliance government in the sixties. To date, more than 10,000 people have been detained under this iniquitous law.

The Emergency Ordinance 1969 also allows the BN government to detain Malaysians without trial; it only came in 1969 after 'May 13'. Purportedly necessary to deal with gangsters and others, this law was recently used against six leaders of Parti Socialis Malaysia using absurd allegations of fact.

The legislation of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1985 which also allows the BN government to detain people without trial only came into existence in 1985, purportedly to deal with drug dealers and traffickers. In recent years, hundreds of people have been detained under the EO and DDA.

3.      Independence of the Judiciary in doubt since 1988:

Ever since Mahathir sacked the Lord President and suspended three more Supreme Court judges just before the crucial judgement on the UMNO Team A/Team B judicial challenge in 1988, the Malaysian Judiciary's independence has been in doubt.

4.      Unfair constituency delineation since the amendments to the Constitution in 1962 and after:

The original Merdeka constitution provided that in drawing up constituencies, "there shall not be more than a difference of 15 per cent in the number of electors of any constituency to the electoral quota." The "electoral quota" or national average, was defined as the number obtained by dividing the number of electors in the Federation by the total number of constituencies. Section 2 (c) of the Thirteenth Schedule had stipulated that "the number of electors within each constituency ought to be approximately equal throughout the unit of review."

The Constitution was amended in 1962 transferring the power to delimit parliamentary constituencies from the Election Commission to a bare majority of parliament. Professor R.H. Hickling, the first parliamentary draftsman of Independent Malaya commented on this amendment thus:

"The abolition of the powers of an independent commission smacks a little of expediency and expediency can be a dangerous policy…the Federation is intent upon destroying the relics of a paternal policy embedded in the original Constitution, under which a number of independent bodies (in addition to the Supreme Court) shared, with the legislature, the authority of the federation." 

A new Thirteenth Schedule set out certain new features permitting a weightage of up to 2:1 in favour of rural constituencies, thus enabling differences of 100 per cent between urban and rural seats. A further constitutional amendment in 1973 took away altogether the original check in the Thirteenth Schedule on there being too great a disparity between urban and rural seats. Today, the absurdity of constituency delineation in Malaysia is exemplified by the contrast between 6000 voters at Putrajaya federal constituency and more than 100,000 at Kapar, a disparity of 16:1.

5.      Suspension of local government elections in 1965:

At independence in 1957, we had elected local government. In fact the Kuala Lumpur municipal elections were our baptism in democracy even before independence. But the government suspended local council elections on 2 March 1965 when the Labour Party was at its strongest, using Indonesia's 'Confrontasi' as an excuse. They promised to restore elected local authorities "the very moment peace is declared and the Emergency regulations are withdrawn." These emergency regulations have been in existence for more than 40 years allowing the government to continue to suspend local council elections.

6.      Mother tongue education stunted since 1961:

At independence, the Education Ordinance 1957 provided for local education authorities as part of elected local councils. These local education authorities provided for surveying, planning and allocating resources for building schools. The number of English, Malay, Chinese or Tamil schools to be built in each locality and the financial allocation they were entitled to depended on the need of the people in the area. It was not something to be horse traded by political carpetbaggers to appease their communalist supporters. Thus at independence there were 78 Chinese secondary schools, 1320 Chinese primary schools and 800 Tamil primary schools. Even the school-leaving certificate of the Chinese secondary schools was a government examination.

Now we only have 1285 Chinese primary schools and 550 Tamil primary schools. The government will only allow 60 independent (community funded) Chinese secondary schools and their Unified Examination Certificate is recognized all over the world except in Malaysia!

The 1961 Education Act did away with the Chinese secondary schools and after the suspension of elected local government, education became a federal prerogative and has become an object of communalist politics ever since.

7.      The right to peaceful assembly taken away in 1967 and after:

Our right to assemble peaceably under Article 10 was severely circumscribed by the Police Act 1967, giving the police wide discretionary powers to the police to regulate assemblies, meetings and processions by requiring a licence to be obtained for peaceful assemblies. Amendments to the Act in 1987 further extended police powers to stopping and dispersing activities in private places. It also provided the police with power to use force against participants when closing down events, whether in public or private places. Since 2007, section 98 of the Criminal Procedure Code allows the government to use court orders to stop public assemblies. The police have the power to arrest individuals named in court orders if they enter the identified areas of planned assemblies. With the passing of the latest Peaceful Assembly Bill, the right of Malaysians to assemble peaceably has been further circumscribed.

8.      Our freedom of expression shackled in 1971 and after:

The constitution was amended in 1971 making it seditious or criminal to question any rights and privileges relating to citizenship, the national language and the use of other languages, to quotas for Malays and the natives of Borneo, and to the sovereignty of the rulers. The Internal Security Act 1960, the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) in 1971, Official Secrets Act 1972, the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 have further restricted Malaysians' freedom of expression. The monopoly of the mainstream media by the component parties of the BN acts as an effective clampdown on our freedom of expression.

9.      Our freedom of association restricted since 1959:

We enjoyed relative freedom of association until 1959 when the Trade Unions Act was brought in to impose strict controls on trade union affairs. The Societies Act was introduced in 1966 requiring every organization to secure a licence. In 1967, the Industrial Relations Act further restricted Malaysian workers' freedom of association. The UUCA clamped down on the freedom of association by academics and students. The Societies Act was further amended in 1981 and in 2011, two respectable associations, namely the Malaysian Medical Association and the Malacca Chinese Assembly Hall were deregistered.

Thus, it is no big deal to call for the reinstatement of all the democratic institutions that were in place at the time of independence in 1957. If we manage to do that, Malaysians will only be realizing the quality of life at the time of Independence such as, a relatively more equal society; a more independent judiciary; fairer constituency delineation; elected local government; freedom for mother tongue education to grow; the freedoms of expression, assembly and association respected; no detention without trial for a start.

We would still need a new agenda for concrete reforms to take us through the many challenges we face in the 21st century to deal with racism, racial discrimination and other related intolerances; abuse of powers; law reform and the rule of law; effective prevention of corruption; free and fair elections; more accountable and representative democracy; freedom of information; defending workers' rights and living conditions; upholding women's rights and dignity; protecting the rights of indigenous peoples; a progressive economic policy; an environmentally friendly policy; a people-centred social policy; channeling defence spending into social services and promoting a culture of peace.

 

Illicit Money

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:10 PM PST

Malaysians Mourn The "Lost Decade Of Corruption" Where RM 1,077 Billion Of Illicit Money Had Been Illegally Siphoned Out Of Our Country From 2000-2009.

By Lim Guan Eng

Malaysians mourn the "the lost decade of corruption", where RM 1,077 billon of illicit money had been illegally siphoned out of our country from 2000-9. According to the Washington-based financial watchdog Global Financial Integrity (GFI), in 2009 alone RM 150 billion (US$47 billion) in illicit money was illegally siphoned out of Malaysia.

This RM 150 billion amount is in addition to the staggering loss of RM927 billion (US$291 billion) over a period of nine years between 2000 and 2008. The GFI report has shocked us all, with results showing that Malaysia is now ranked one of the top 5 countries in the world in terms of highest illicit capital flight.

The latest GFI report, 'Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries Over the Decade Ending 2009', is penned by economists Sarah Freitas and Dev Kar, who is a former senior economist at the International Monetary Fund. According to the authors, the estimates are based on balance of payments, bilateral trade and external debt data reported by member countries to the IMF and the World Bank.

They stressed that these illicit outflows are basically "unrecorded capital leakages through… illicit transfers of the proceeds of bribery, theft, kickbacks and tax evasion." In other words, it refers to corruption money or black money that is obtained illegally and worse, not even re-circulated into our economy.

This whopping and unaccountable loss of more than RM1 trillion as a result of corruption or black money will never be recovered. The fact that RM1 trillion worth of corruption was generated and subsequently siphoned out of our country makes the last 10 years the lost decade of corruption for Malaysia.

It is time that we get rid of the robber barons in this country. It is precisely projects like the Port Klang Free Trade Zone, the RM52 billion Bumi share scandal, the RM250 million NFC "cows and condos" fiasco, the half a billion ringgit "commission" for the purchase of two Scorpene submarines, and the multitude of government-linked projects that run into massive cost overruns with zero accountability, including the RM3.7 billion over-expenditure by government departments reported in the latest Auditor-General's report, that contribute to Malaysia now becoming the king of black money.

No wonder Malaysia performed dismally in the latest 2011 Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index(CPI), dropping 4 spots to No. 60 out of 183 countries this year from No. 56 out of 178 last year. Malaysia's 2011 CPI dropped for the third year running, slipping to 4.3 this year, leaving it in 60th place out of 183 countries compared with 37th place when Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over as prime minister in 2003. TI Malaysia Deputy President Mohammad Ali even noted that Malaysia's CPI has continued to decline as "elements of state" that facilitated 'grand corruption' were still prevalent.

The latest expose by GFI of RM 1,077 billion in black of corruption money illegally taken out of the countrys explain the extent of losses suffered by Malaysians. DAP regrets that the BN government has dismissed this reputable study carried out by an independent and prestigious body. Malaysians must unite to save this country from BN, clean up corruption and try to get back this RM 1,077 brillion of illicit money.

LIM GUAN ENG

 

Rakyat Malaysia Kehilangan "Satu Dekad Yang Telah Hancur Dek Korupsi" Di Mana Wang Haram Sebanyak RM1,077 Bilion Telah Dikeluarkan Dari Negara Kita Dalam Tempoh 10 Tahun Dari 2000-2009.

Rakyat Malaysia kehilangan "satu dekad yang telah hancur dek korupsi", di mana wang haram sebanyak RM1,077 bilion telah dibawa keluar dari negara kita dalam tempoh 10 tahun dari 2000-9. Mengikut laporan terkini badan pemerhati kewangan Washington Global Financial Integrity (GFI), wang haram sebanyak RM150 bilion (USD47 bilion) telah dikeluarkan dari Malaysia dalam tahun 2009 sahaja.

RM150 bilion ini adalah tambahan kepada kerugian besar RM927 bilion (USD291 bilion) dalam tempoh 9 tahun dari 2000 hingga 2008. Laporan GFI ini telah mengejutkan kita semua, terutamanya apabila Malaysia kini berada di kedudukan 5 negara yang tertinggi untuk pelarian modal haram yang terbesar.

Laporan terkini GFI yang bertajuk "Aliran Kewangan daripada Negara Membangun Dalam Dekad Berakhir 2009" telah disediakan oleh ahli ekonomi Sarah Freitas dan Dev Kar, yang pernah menjadi ahli ekonomi kanan di Tabung Kewangan Antarabangsa. Mengikut penulisnya, unjuran tersebut adalah berdasarkan kira-kira bayaran, perdagangan dua hala dan data hutang luar negeri yang dilaporkan negara-negara ahli IMF dan Bank Dunia.

Mereka menekankan bahawa aliran haram ini merupakan "ketirisan modal yang tidak direkod melalui... pemindahan wang secara haram yang terhasil daripada rasuah, pencurian, sogokan dan pengelakan cukai." Dalam erti kata lain, ia merujuk kepada wang rasuah yang diperolehi secara haram dan tambahan pula tidak diedar semula ke dalam ekonomi negara.

Ketirisan lebih RM1,000 bilion yang amat besar dan tidak bertanggungjawab ini adalah akibat daripada rasuah dan sukar untuk ditebus semula. Hakikat bahawa hasil rasuah sebanyak RM1,000 bilion telah dialirkan keluar daripada negara kita dalam tempoh 10 tahun yang lalu bermakna bahawa rakyat Malaysia telah kehilangan satu dekad yang telah hancur dek korupsi.

Sudah tiba masa untuk menghapuskan lanun-lanun yang telah merompak negara kita. Projek-projek seperti Port Klang Free Trade Zone (PKFZ), skandal saham Bumi RM52 bilion, skandal "lembu dan kondo" RM250 juta NFC, "komisyen" setengah bilion untuk pembelian dua kapal selam kelas Scorpene, dan banyak lagi projek kaitan kerajaan yang penuh dengan kos "overrun" atau kos berlebihan tanpa apa-apa kebertanggungjawaban, termasuk juga pendedahan Lapora Ketua Audit Negara terkini tentang RM3.7 bilion yang terlebih dibelanja oleh jabatan-jabatan kerajaan, yang telah menjadikan Malaysia sebagai raja wang haram.

Tidak hairanlah kenapa prestasi negara kita telah merosot mengikut laporan Indeks Persepsi Rasuah (CPI) 2011 badan pemerhati rasuah Transparency International (TI) yang menunjukkan bahawa Malaysia telah jatuh kepada tangga ke-60 daripada 183 negara, berbanding tangga ke-37 pada tahun 2003 apabila Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mengambil alih pucuk pimpinan negara sebagai Perdana Menteri. CPI Malaysia pula telah menurun kepada 4.3 pada tahun ini, dan Timbalan Presiden TI Malaysia Mohammad Ali juga berkata bahawa CPI Malaysia terus merosot kerana "unsur-unsur kerajaan" yang memudahkan "rasuah besar" masih lagi tersebar luas.

Pendedahan terkini oleh GFI tentang wang haram sebanyak RM1,077 bilion yang telah dialirkan keluar daripada negara kita sedikit sebanyak menunjukkan betapa banyak kerugian yang dialami rakyat Malaysia. DAP menyesal kerana Kerajaan BN mengambil ringan kajian bereputasi ini yang telah dijalankan oleh sebuah badan yang bebas dan berprestij. Rakyat Malaysia harus bersatu untuk menyelamatkan negara kita daripada BN, membersihkan rasuah yang berleluasa dan mendapatkan balik RM1,077 bilion yang telah kehilangan ini.

 

LIM GUAN ENG
 


2000年至2009年之间,马来西亚共有17700亿令吉的黑钱非法外流至国外,全马来西亚人因此而为这"贪污而失去的十年"而哀悼。

 

2000年至2009年之间,马来西亚共有17700亿令吉的黑钱非法外流到国外,全马来西亚人因此而为这"贪污而失去的十年"哀悼。根据华盛顿一家非盈利机构"全球财务整合"(Global Financial Integrity (GFI)),单在2009年,就有1500亿令吉(相等于470亿美元)的黑钱从大马流失出去。

1500亿令吉更是2000年至2008年这9年之间,惊人流失额9270亿令吉(相等于2910亿美元)的附加数目。这份"全球财务整合"报告让国人震惊,因为马来西亚在这个全球排行榜上,高居第5名,也是最多黑钱外流国的第5名。

最新"全球财务整合"报告,是由经济学家Sarah Freitas 及国际货币基金组织前资深经济学家 Dev Kar所撰写、题目是《截至2009年过去10年从发展中国家流失的黑钱》。 根据作者称,有关的预算是以成员国向国际货币基金组织及世界银行所提呈的国际收支平衡表、双边贸易及外债等数据而作出的预算。

他们强调,这些黑钱,基本上是"通过贿赂、盗窃、回扣和逃税方式的无记录基金外流,"。换句话说,这就是指透过贪污取得的,或是非法手段获取的"黑钱",更糟糕的是,这些钱从来不会回流到我们的经济体系。

这因贪污或洗黑钱导致的超过1兆惊人损失,永远不会回来了。更甚的是,这价值1兆的贪污钱已形成,并外流到外国去,导致马来西亚因贪污行为,而失去了十年的岁月。

是时候让我们摆脱国内这些强盗大亨了。比如巴生港口自贸区丑闻、蒸发了的520亿令吉土著股权、2亿5千万令的"牛及豪华公寓丑闻"、购买2艘潜水艇缴付的5亿3400万令吉"佣金,以及众多超支的政府相关计划,都是在零问责制度下进行,包括总稽查司的最新报告指出政府部门超支37亿令吉一事,让大马成为了"黑金王"。

难怪马来西亚会在国际透明组织最新出炉的2011年度贪污印象指数中,我国的排号名再次下滑,在183个国家排号第60,跌了4级,比去年的178个国家排行第56更糟。这也是马来西亚在贪污印象指数排名中,连续三年创下下滑的记录,跌至今年的4.3,这与敦阿都拉在2003年接任首相时的排名第37相去甚远。马来西亚国际透明组织署理主席莫哈末阿里说甚至点评,马来西亚的贪污印象指数会持续下滑,因为方便"大贪污腐败"的"政府元素"依然盛行。

最新"全球财务整合"报告揭发的17700亿令吉黑钱外流,说明了马来西亚人所蒙受的损失。民主行动党遗憾的是,国阵政府却驳回了这份独立及具信誉机构提呈的报告。马来西亚人必需团结起来,让我们从国阵手中拯救这个国家,洗净贪污,试图把非法外流出去的17700亿令吉黑钱取回来。

Blackout Papers

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:08 PM PST

In past three days, BN-controlled media have degenerated further to become "blackout papers" – on call for arrest of Taib Mahmud for corruption, Penang High Court defamation judgment against Utusan and over RM1 trillion illicit capital outflows from Malaysia in past decade

By Lim Kit Siang

For the past three days consecutively, the Barisan Nasiona-controlled media have degenerated further to become "blackout papers", over three episodes, viz:

Firstly, over the call on Tuesday by 17 international and national environmental groups and activists, including Greenpeace and Swiss-based Bruno Manser Fund, addressed to the Attorney-General, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency Chief Commissioner and the Inspector-General of Police for the arrest and criminal prosecution of Sarawak Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and his 13 family members for massive graft and plundering of Sarawak's rich natural resources;

 

Secondly, the Penang High Court judgment on Wednesday against Utusan Malaysia for defamation against Penang Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng for its article "Kebiadaban Lim Guan Eng" of 20th December 2010, and the High Court award of RM200,000 for general and aggravated damages and RM25,000 for costs against Utusan; and

Thirdly, the release yesterday of the latest report by Washington-based financial watchdog Global Financial Integrity (GFI) that Malaysia has maintained its position as one of the top five countries in the world suffering the highest illicit capital outflow in the past decade, 2000-2009, involving over RM1 trillion (US$338 billion or RM1,077 billion) as a result of corruption and misgovernance!

Apart from one small inconsequential paragraph about the Utusan judgment, there have been total blackout of these three developments in the Barisan-controlled "mainstream media".

Recently, coinciding with the UMNO General Assembly, Malaysia suffered its worst international report card for anti-corruption when the Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2011 gave the country its worst ranking in 17 years as well as the lowest-ever CPI score - placed No. 60 when Malaysia was ranked No. 23 in 1995 with a score of 4.3 when Malaysia scored 5.32 in 1996.

With the egregious "blackout" of unfavourable news by Barisan Nasional mainstream media as happened blatantly in the past three days, Malaysia's press freedom index is set to nosedive further in future – as if Malaysia's press freedom index is not bad enough.

In conjunction with the World Press Freedom Day in May this year, Malaysia was ranked 143 out of 196 countries in terms of press freedom, categorised as "not free", in the Freedom of the Press Survey 2011 by US-based Freedom House.

After the "black eyes" by Transparency International and Financial Global Integrity, and the bulldozing of the undemocratic and repressive Peaceful Assembly Bill in Parliament, Malaysians must be prepared to suffer more "black eyes" by other international watchdogs for freedom, integrity and good governance in the coming year.

Jeffrey Kitingan announces the formation of United Borneo Alliance

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 07:02 PM PST

(The Star) - United Borneo Front president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan announced the formation of United Borneo Alliance, an opposition coalition of Sabah and Sarawak-based parties, to contest in the coming general election.

He made the announcement here Friday.

Among those who were at presence when he announced the formation of the alliance were Sarawak-based State Reform Party (Star) president Dr Dripin Anak Sakoi, pro-tem president of newly revived USNO, Datuk Badaruddin Tun Datu Mustapha and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) deputy president Amde Sidik.

 

Anti-Umno activists campaign the old-fashioned way — by hand

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:54 PM PST

(The Malaysian Insider) - An anti-Umno group's campaign to spread its message through a video began in earnest last night with the distribution of dozens of hardcopies at a spirited ceramah here.

Keeping to its viral theme, the Asalkan Bukan Umno (ABU) coalition handed out VCDs and urged attendees to pass along copies of the hard-hitting video to their family and friends in rural areas to break Umno's heartland media chokehold.

Kamarulzaman Ismail, 47, a businessman from Kelantan, said he will target voters who had yet to choose sides to convince them not to cast their ballot for the ruling Malay party.

"I'll pass it to those who appear to be sitting on the fence. We have to give priority to the fence-sitters," he told The Malaysian Insider.

But Kamarulzaman said he would also try to hand the video over to those he knew were hardcore Umno supporters despite the small likelihood of success.

"There are many approaches when it comes to people. Sometimes it looks difficult but with things like this CD it can be easy too," he said.

Mohd Sharif, 30, a sales promoter, also said it was not enough to distribute the video among opposition supporters as the goal was to sell ABU's message to undecided voters.

"It's not enough for us to disseminate it. We need to convert people," he said.

However, the PAS member downplayed the effectiveness of passing the video along from person to person, reasoning that it would be better to screen it in a public setting to draw fence-sitters.

Sharif added that the video would also be more effective online, pointing out that this would allow ABU supporters to share the video without appearing to come on too strong.

"You can say (to someone), 'I just want to share something and this is the website.' Usually, that's better," he said, adding that directing a person to a page online would also allow them to view related videos.

READ MORE HERE

 

We have bigger fish to fry

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:38 PM PST

I know many of you are excited about the cow scandal now engulfing Women, Family and Community Development Minister Dato' Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. But that's peanuts compared to what's cooking at the Defence Ministry. It's comical and unfair for some UMNO leaders to ask Shahrizat to resign when they are all in the same pot.

ZAID IBRAHIM

Four months ago, I wrote about Defence Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi and Co. wanting to purchase six more Second Generation Patrol Vessels or SGPVs for the Navy. The  story was ignored by  the public ; and so I have to write this again.

Some of you will recall that when the Government decided to privatise the Lumut Naval Dockyard in the early 1990s to the man with the white hair Tan Sri Amin Shah Omar, that exercise also entailed the Government buying six patrol vessels from him for the Navy.

That exercise cost taxpayers RM9 billion: RM6 billion for the patrol vessels and RM3 billion for interest charges for late payments and exchange rate losses. Amin Shah ordered the vessels from the German company Blohm + Voss. Apart from procuring the six patrol vessels, Lumut Naval Dockyard (now Boustead Naval Shipyard) also paid RM300 million for their design so that we could build additional units ourselves if we needed them in future. "Malaysia Boleh!" was, after all, the rallying cry then, and our defence officials have never failed to brandish the catchphrase, "transfer of technology".

Fast-forward 15 years later and our current Defence Minister has decided to buy another six patrol vessels. It will cost more this time, naturally, since these are second generation SGPVs with a new design to be built by another company, DCNS.  Why we are not using the design that we paid so much for is something we should be thinking about.  And why Zahid and Boustead Naval Shipyard have decided to change our supplier to DCNS is anybody's guess.

All I can confirm is that DCNS is a famous company because DCNS supplied us Scorpene submarines (a deal in which someone equally famous got RM500 million in duit kopi). DCNS is also involved in a corruption scandal in Taiwan, where they had been sued  by the Taiwan government for recovery of more than USD1 billion for a kickback scandal.

So how much will this new procurement cost Malaysian taxpayers? The new vessels' combat and management system will be decided by some foreign consultants and not by the Royal Malaysian Navy, so your guess is as good as mine. But it's not just the money I am worried about. The consultants  are Singapore based companies. Are they not  foreigners?. What if they recommend a system that compromises our national security? What assurance do we have that these consultants are not our enemies?  Every time we question the Government's secrecy in the procurement of defence equipment, we are told that it's in our national interests to be kept in the dark. Now I know why.

I am certain that input from our Royal Navy into this very important procurement has been minimal at best. So we can expect an announcement later that will sound something like this: the base price for the vessels is RM10 billion while the maintenance, training and parts contracts will cost RM1  billion a year for 10 years. That means Tabung Angkatan Tentera, which has the controlling stake in Boustead Holdings, and ordinary Malaysians (who will be getting RM500 soon) must be prepared to shoulder the burden of a RM20 billion defence contract for vessels that neither you nor I can even be sure we need.

I know many of you are excited about the cow scandal now engulfing Women, Family and Community Development Minister Dato' Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. But that's peanuts compared to what's cooking at the Defence Ministry. It's comical and unfair for some UMNO leaders to ask Shahrizat to resign when they are all in the same pot.

For the moment, I hope our Defence Minister or Prime Minister can answer three simple questions: firstly, are we buying the six patrol vessels from DCNS and for how much? Secondly, why were foreign consultants engaged, to the exclusion of the Navy, to recommend combat systems and other sensitive components of the vessels? And thirdly, why are we not having a competitive bid for this project? I hope we can get some answers soon, before the General Election.

RM1,077 bilion wang negara dibawa lari, lapor GFI

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:32 PM PST

(Harakah Daily) - Rakyat Malaysia kehilangan "satu dekad yang telah hancur dek korupsi", di mana wang haram sebanyak RM1,077 bilion telah dibawa keluar dari negara kita dalam tempoh 10 tahun dari 2000-9.

Mengikut laporan terkini badan pemerhati kewangan Washington Global Financial Integrity (GFI), wang haram sebanyak RM150 bilion (USD47 bilion) telah dikeluarkan dari Malaysia dalam tahun 2009 sahaja.

RM150 bilion ini adalah tambahan kepada kerugian besar RM927 bilion (USD291 bilion) dalam tempoh 9 tahun dari 2000 hingga 2008. Laporan GFI ini telah mengejutkan kita semua, terutamanya apabila Malaysia kini berada di kedudukan 5 negara yang tertinggi untuk pelarian modal haram yang terbesar.

Demikian kata Setiausaha Agung DAP, Lim Guan Eng dalam satu kenyataan medianya hari ini.

Menurut Lim, laporan terkini GFI yang bertajuk "Aliran Kewangan daripada Negara Membangun Dalam Dekad Berakhir 2009" telah disediakan oleh ahli ekonomi Sarah Freitas dan Dev Kar, yang pernah menjadi ahli ekonomi kanan di Tabung Kewangan Antarabangsa.

Mengikut penulisnya, kata Lim Guan Eng, unjuran tersebut adalah berdasarkan kira-kira bayaran, perdagangan dua hala dan data hutang luar negeri yang dilaporkan negara-negara ahli IMF dan Bank Dunia.

Kata Lim, mereka menekankan bahawa aliran haram ini merupakan "ketirisan modal yang tidak direkod melalui... pemindahan wang secara haram yang terhasil daripada rasuah, pencurian, sogokan dan pengelakan cukai.

Dalam erti kata lain, ia merujuk kepada wang rasuah yang diperolehi secara haram dan tambahan pula tidak diedar semula ke dalam ekonomi negara, katanya.

Bagi Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang itu, ketirisan lebih RM1,000 bilion yang amat besar dan tidak bertanggungjawab ini adalah akibat daripada rasuah dan sukar untuk ditebus semula.

"Hakikat bahawa hasil rasuah sebanyak RM1,000 bilion telah dialirkan keluar daripada negara kita dalam tempoh 10 tahun yang lalu bermakna bahawa rakyat Malaysia telah kehilangan satu dekad yang telah hancur dek korupsi.

"Sudah tiba masa untuk menghapuskan lanun-lanun yang telah merompak negara kita," tegas Lim.

Antaranya, projek-projek seperti Port Klang Free Trade Zone (PKFZ), skandal saham Bumi RM52 bilion, skandal "lembu dan kondo" RM250 juta NFC, "komisyen" setengah bilion untuk pembelian dua kapal selam kelas Scorpene, dan banyak lagi projek kaitan kerajaan yang penuh dengan kos "overrun" atau kos berlebihan tanpa apa-apa kebertanggungjawaban.

Ia termasuk juga pendedahan Lapora Ketua Audit Negara terkini tentang RM3.7 bilion yang terlebih dibelanja oleh jabatan-jabatan kerajaan, yang telah menjadikan Malaysia sebagai raja wang haram, tambahnya.

"Tidak hairanlah kenapa prestasi negara kita telah merosot mengikut laporan Indeks Persepsi Rasuah (CPI) 2011 badan pemerhati rasuah Transparency International (TI) yang menunjukkan bahawa Malaysia telah jatuh kepada tangga ke-60 daripada 183 negara, berbanding tangga ke-37 pada tahun 2003 apabila Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mengambil alih pucuk pimpinan negara sebagai Perdana Menteri.

"CPI Malaysia pula telah menurun kepada 4.3 pada tahun ini, dan Timbalan Presiden TI Malaysia Mohammad Ali juga berkata bahawa CPI Malaysia terus merosot kerana "unsur-unsur kerajaan" yang memudahkan "rasuah besar" masih lagi tersebar luas," katanya.

Pendedahan terkini oleh GFI tentang wang haram sebanyak RM1,077 bilion yang telah dialirkan keluar daripada negara kita sedikit sebanyak menunjukkan betapa banyak kerugian yang dialami rakyat Malaysia.

"DAP menyesal kerana Kerajaan BN mengambil ringan kajian bereputasi ini yang telah dijalankan oleh sebuah badan yang bebas dan berprestij.

"Rakyat Malaysia harus bersatu untuk menyelamatkan negara kita daripada BN, membersihkan rasuah yang berleluasa dan mendapatkan balik RM1,077 bilion yang telah kehilangan ini," tegas beliau.

 

Guan Eng to sue NST, calls daily ‘evil’ over state secret claims

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:15 PM PST

(The Malaysian Insider) - Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today he is planning to sue the New Straits Times (NST) over claims that he had leaked national secrets after the newspaper omitted him from an apology to two other personalities over an article it admitted was without any foundation or basis.

The NST, Berita Minggu and Mingguan Malaysia apologised to Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan on October 23 for alleging that he had leaked state secrets at a dinner with leaders of Singapore's ruling PAP party.

All three acknowledged that the claim, made by Perkasa information chief Ruslan Kassim, was without any foundation or basis.

The weekend papers also promised not to publish further allegations of this nature involving the ECM Libra Financial Group Bhd chairman without prior verification.

On October 2, the NST, Berita Minggu and Mingguan Malaysia, quoting Ruslan, alleged that Kalimullah had leaked national secrets during the dinner in Singapore.

The next day Lim publicly demanded an apology from the NST and Mingguan Malaysia for also alleging that he had leaked national secrets at the same dinner.

The English daily reported that Perkasa had claimed that there was a dinner arranged for three Malaysian personalities, including the Penang chief minister, and top Singapore politicians in August.

Ruslan had questioned the motive behind the dinner that was allegedly attended by Malaysia Airlines board member Datuk Mohamad Azman Yahya, businessman Kalimullah and Lim with PAP leaders.

"The weird thing is that the paper apologised to Datuk Seri Kalimullah and Datuk Azman over this false report, but it didn't want to apologise to me. This shows how NST has ill intentions and I will ask my lawyer to take legal action," Lim told reporters at the Penang Skills Development Centre today.

READ MORE HERE

 

Youth Dilemma: Employment & Remuneration

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:00 PM PST

KHOO KAY PENG

Jobstreet.com reported that bout half of bachelor degree holders in Malaysia are a disappointed lot as they are not getting the pay they expected.

The survey found that  these graduates typically expect salaries between RM1,800 to RM2,100 (73 percent), but only 54 percent would have their expectations met. Another 35 percent's pay was below RM1,800.

Meanwhile, 37 percent of diploma holders's salaries were lower than RM1,200, "far below their expected salary level" that is typically between RM1,200 and RM1,800 (67 percent of respondents).

The entry point salary level for degree holders has remained stagnant since 1997. It is shocking to note that cost of living has doubled, if not tripled, during the same period. The number of tertiary institutions has grown significantly but we are merely churning out new generations educated poor. 

The same report mentioned that respondents needed RM700 to make ends meet. These ends must be really short ones! Rental rates in certain areas in Klang Valley have ballooned to almost RM500 per room per month. 

Coupled with cost of transportation, food and basic amenities such as health care and basic household products, it means that those who are earning less than RM1800 a month do not have anything extra for contingency. It is almost unimaginable how those who are earning less than RM1000 are going to survive in the city. 

What has gone wrong? There are several reasons:

READ MORE HERE

 

EC is a ‘staff’ in PM’s Dept

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 05:55 PM PST

The Election Commission (EC), it appears, is bogged down by the lack of money, manpower and 'real' clout.

(Free Malaysia Today) - In a democracy, it is widely understood that when a "commission" is set up, it comes directly under the purview of Parliament.

But in Malaysia's case, the story is different. Take the Election Commission (EC). Why does the EC need the government to approve recommendations proposed by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms before implementing them?

Because the EC is technically a staff "employed" by the Prime Minister's Department.

Explaining the "relationship", EC secretary Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria said: " The EC does not fall under the purview of Parliament.

"It falls administratively under the Prime Minister's Department… but it is independent in terms of decision-making."

Recently, EC deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar reportedly said the federal government must approved the PSC's recommendations before they can be implemented.

He said that "even a small change in regulation" would need to be approved by the government, although he agreed with observers that some recommendations such as the use of indelible ink did not require amendments to the law.

Wan Ahmad's comments followed PSC chairman, Maximus Ongkili's statement that the PSC committee would table its full report which could include more proposals for electoral reforms in March or early April next year.

Strapped for money, and lacking in manpower and clout, the EC, it appears, is now scrambling to deal with its "newfound" challenges.

Speaking to FMT, Kamaruddin said that one of the EC's shortcomings in implementing the PSC recommendations was an acute lack of personnel.

READ MORE HERE

 

Kempen ABU tumbangkan Umno bermula

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 05:46 PM PST

Selain ahli politik ia turut mengetengahkan golongan suri rumah, pekerja dan pelajar

(Free Malaysia Today) - Kempen Asalkan Bukan Umno  (ABU) untuk menumbangkan Umno/BN  dimulakan semalam di markas PAS di Taman Melewar dekat Kuala Lumpur.

Kempen ini dipelopori oleh parti politik pembangkang dan NGO.

Berbeza dengan kempen lain, ABU turut mengetengahkan  suri rumah, pekerja  dan golongan pelajar.

Menurut Setiausaha Agung Parti Rakyat Malaysia Al Jafree Md Yusop, sesi ceramah semalam menampilkan Badrul Hisham Shaharin dari Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) dan PKR, Naib Presiden PAS Datuk Mahfuz Omar, Setiausaha Agung Parti Sosialis Malaysia S Arutchelvan dan aktivis NGO Haris Ibrahim.

1, 000 orang hadir

"Mereka berceramah berkenaan banyak isu tetapi ia adalah berpangkalkan empat topik utama iaitu peningkatan harga barang, politik perkauman, Lynas dan undang-undang yang zalim seperti ISA, Ordinan Darurat dan Rang Undang-undang Perhimpunan Aman 2011," kata Jafree.

READ MORE HERE

 

Umno buka ‘pintu’ untuk Hasan Ali, Nasha

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 05:44 PM PST

Kami harap baik Hasan Ali mahupun Nasharudin boleh isi borang tersebut, kata ketua penerangan Umno Selangor.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Umno tiada halangan menerima exco Selangor Datuk Dr Hasan Ali dan bekas Timbalan Presiden PAS, Nasharudin Mat Isa  menyertai parti itu, malah mengalu-alukan penyertaan mereka.

Ketua Penerangan Umno Selangor Abdul Shukor Idrus berkata, keputusan untuk menyertai parti itu disifatkan tepat kerana PAS kini sudah tidak lagi memperjuangkan Islam yang sebenar.

Abdul Shukor menegaskan, baik Hasan mahupun Nasharudin kedua-dua pemimpin PAS itu dianggap bijak untuk membuat keputusan dan masih belum terlambat untuk berbuat demikian.

"Hasan Ali adalah seorang yang bijak untuk melihat sendiri siapa yang memperjuangkan Islam. Umno memimpin parti berbilang kaum dan meningkatkan martabat Islam jauh dari parti-parti lain.

"Hanya orang buta tidak nampak perjuangan Umno dan Islam. Jika boleh Hasan Ali dan Nasharudin menilai perkara ini.

`Hanya topeng'

"Malah pilihan menyertai Umno adalah tepat kerana Umno yang memperjuangkan Islam. PAS hari ini bukan perjuangkan Islam tetapi hanya mahu kekal berkuasa dengan bersekongkol dengan DAP. Perjuangan Islam oleh PAS hanya topeng," katanya ketika dihubungi FMT hari ini.

Katanya jika kedua-dua pemimpin tersebut berminat menyertai Umno, prosedur biasa perlu dilalui dengan mengisi borang yang akan diproses oleh Majlis Tertinggi parti itu.

"Umno terbuka kepada orang Melayu tidak kira nama atau rakyat biasa.Tiada halangan untuk sesiapa sahaja. Kami harap baik Hasan Ali mahupun Nasharudin  boleh isi borang tersebut.

Abdul Syukor membidas kenyataan Setiausaha Agung PAS, Datuk Mustafa Ali semalam, sambil menegaskan  Umno itu telah membawa kesejahteraan dan berada landasan benar.

Mustafa dilaporkan  berkata dua pemimpin parti itu sudah terperangkap dalam agenda Umno untuk melemahkan PAS.

READ MORE HERE

 

Fielding Malay candidates: A DAP’s gimmick?

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 05:40 PM PST

Many quarters believe the party cannot get rid of its image of promoting only one community.

Political analyst, Che Hamdan Mohamed Razali, said DAP's move was not only to make Malays fight each other but also to to wrest power in certain states. He reminded Malay voters and Bumiputeras specifically to make a wise choice because otherwise their security and rights could change.

Mohd Hisham Abdul Rafar, Bernama

DAP's plan to field Malay candidates in Malay-majority constituencies in the 13th general election is seen by various quarters as a mere gimmick.

Prof Dr Ahmad Atory Hussain said it was impossible for the DAP to free itself from its image of representing only one community.

"Every party in the peninsula cannot escape from the fact that they are fighting for a specific community," he said when contacted by Bernama.

The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Social Science Studies Centre lecturer said the Chinese would not support DAP if it placed a Malay candidate in a Chinese-majority area, and vice versa.

PAS secretary-general, Mustafa Ali, recently said the issue of DAP wanting to field Malay candidates in Malay-majority seats had never been discussed by the opposition pact's leadership.

However, the DAP plan was confirmed by Selangor PAS commissioner III Khalid Abdul Samad recently, who said it was discussed at a PAS-PKR meeting.

Rumours have also been rife that the DAP would be going along this route.

Umno supreme council member and Kelantan Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Dr Awang Adek Hussin said DAP was welcome to field Malay candidates in Kelantan.

"This aspiration of the DAP is seen as an attempt to seek the support of the Malays and to prove that the party is accepted by all races," said Awang Adik, who is also Deputy Finance Minister.

Meanwhile, DAP national deputy chief and Kepong MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw said the opposition coalition always discussed the matter of candidates in every general election.

Influential Malay leaders

Asked if DAP was formulating a strategy to field Malay candidates in Malay-majority areas in the next general election, Tan said he was not aware of it.

However, this is not something new for the DAP as it had fielded Malays candidates since it general election foray in 1969.

Why the need and what is the hidden motive in DAP's aspiration to place Malay candidates when PAS and PKR are loaded with Malay candidates?

Some political observers think DAP is not too confident of the winnability of Malay candidates from PAS or PKR in certain Malay-majority areas.

Secondly, they think that the DAP might be forced to field Malay candidates so that one of them could be highlighted as a main personality to replace PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim to head the opposition coalition should Anwar be found guilty of the sodomy charge he is facing and goes to jail.

Political analyst, Che Hamdan Mohamed Razali, said DAP's move was not only to make Malays fight each other but also to to wrest power in certain states.

"The strategy will allow DAP to control a state. If DAP wins the majority and has a Malay candidate to feature, the state will be under the DAP's thumb despite having a Malay menteri besar," he said.

The Terengganu Universiti Technology Mara (UiTM) Dungun campus lecturer said, for the strategy to work, DAP truly needed influential Malay leaders to get the support of liberal Malays. He was confident DAP would only gamble their Malay candidates in towns.

He said DAP was also seen as trying to dominate the opposition pact by highlighting Malay candidates and simultaneously controlling the administration of the states if the opposition won the next national polls.

He reminded Malay voters and Bumiputeras specifically to make a wise choice because otherwise their security and rights could change.

 

Taib’s sister ordered to pay natives

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 05:37 PM PST

Fresh from one win over a logging firm, native landowners are now suing the state government and its agents for allowing the encroachment by private entities.

(Free Malaysia Today) - The Kuching High Court today ordered Quality Concrete Holdings, a company owned by Chief Minister Taib Mahmud's sister Raziah, to pay RM160,000 in damages to Numpang Anak Suntai and Iban landowners in Sebangan and Sebuyau areas.

The other defendants were Loyal Billion Sdn Bhd, the Director of Forests, Director of Lands and Surveys and the state government.

Numpang and 14 other landowners had, on behalf of 276 Ibans, sued the companies and the government for encroaching into 3,305 hectares of forests which they claimed were their native customary rights (NCR) land.

Quality Concrete, which is owned by Raziah Mahmud, is the main licence holder while Loyal Billion is the contractor.

When the case came before Judicial Commissioner Ravinthran N Paramaguru today, lawyers for the defendants told the court that the Director of Forest had agreed to exclude three areas on the western side of the timber licencee (T/8473), which is within the area marked as NCR.

The defence counsel said that there was no more timber licence granted on any part of the area claimed by the natives as NCR land in a marked map which was attached to the statement of claim.

Both lawyers for the natives and defendants agreed to an amicable settlement on damages.

Case against government to proceed

In their suit, the natives had claimed that their land was damaged as a result of the construction of roads and extraction of timber from the land, which is not a licensed area.

They also alleged that the rivers, which are important for their daily needs, have been polluted by the logging activities.

READ MORE HERE

 

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net
 

Malaysia Today Online

Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved