Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- TBH inquisition reveals racist underpinnings
- RM14.5bn golden yacht story ‘fake’: Motorboat website
- Tengku Razaleigh & Friends
- Apocalypse begins
- DSAI and Sodomy Three
- Resign Or Snap Election For Najib, Here’re The Reasons
- cakap cakap...DSAI
- Muzzling the media in Malaysia: libel and censorship
- Beng Hock travesty – “time" to act
- PSM6 – police practicing “Arrest first, find the charges later” tactics
| TBH inquisition reveals racist underpinnings Posted: 26 Jul 2011 06:48 PM PDT These ingredients together created a scenario where it is difficult to escape the implications that our independent public institutions, like the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission, are neither independent nor public. It is unsettling to see the MACC operate as a tool of the state. It could be even more unsettling if there was perversion in the MACC's function such that it resembles the interrogation unit of the secret police as found in some autocracies. A deconstruction of events leading and consequent to the deadly outcome is necessary to assess the repercussions of Teoh's tragedy. Mind and methods of MACC Firstly, all the deliberate obfuscation and obstructions put up against the fact-finders seeking the truth of Teoh's death implies a collusion to serve the interest of the executive branch. This type direction seemingly coming from high levels is an indication of a political landscape where the state is the party. So has our ruling party Umno become now indistinguishable from the state? MACC investigation into Ean Yong Hian Wah, the DAP Seri Kembangan assemblyman who was Teoh's employer, commenced amidst Barisan Nasional hopes that it could take over Selangor following its successful toppling of the Pakatan government in Perak. Was the initial investigation and subsequent campaign of harassment by the MACC started at Umno's behest? Kicking into action through selectively targeting DAP, the federal agency put the party assemblymen under the microscope. At the same time, the elephant in the room – former Selangor Menteri Besar Mohd Khir Toyo with his unexplained wealth and stunning 'Bali castle' for all to see – somehow escaped notice. The difference in treatment against mere witnesses from the opposition ranks and suspects from within establishment circles is stark. This is demonstrable from the vast discrepancy in the sum for which Ean Yong (RM2,400 order for national flags) and Khir (millions to buy land and build mansion) were respectively investigated. Further contrast is clearly seen in the varied harshness of the process – "aggressive, relentless, oppressive and unscrupulous interrogation" according to the RCI report on Teoh. A comparison between the two cases as well as drawing the necessary inferences will reveal the racial discrimination, on top of the political bias practised by the MACC. Unless the agency is detached from state (read Umno) control and made answerable to an independent body – and Parliament be given oversight – it will continue to function as a political appendage of the party in power and not in any circumstances to regain public trust. Everything under Umno umbrella Secondly, the RCI ruling on Teoh Beng Hock runs contrary to the more compelling evidence suggesting murder. Its conjectures are weak speculation and too far-fetched for arriving at a finding of suicide whereas on the other hand homicide cannot be dismissed. The issue of distrust re-emerges when the commissioners are seen as aligned to the powers that be. In the court of public opinion, the judiciary and public prosecutors are part of the Umno-dominated power axis or have been co-opted by the authorities (synonymous with Umno). Previously, a royal commission had put forward concrete proposals, including the establishment of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) for the purpose of reforming the police force. The recommendations contained in the extensive RCI report have been largely ignored to date. Yet another set of conclusions from a different RCI on the VK Lingam judge fixing has dissipated into thin air. In the face of the aborted attempts at reform and NFA (no further action), the public is entitled to query the symbiotic relationship between Umno and judiciary and police. Does the 1party control the bench and the men in blue? Inversely, do the police being in possession of sensitive intelligence hold certain levers to control key Umno personalities? Or else how do we explain the police top brass thumbing their nose at the implementation of the IPCMC? Recently we had the royal commission with terms of reference to enquire into MACC investigative procedures. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the RCI recommendations will once again be more of the same morass. What traditionally arise from these so-called royal commissions are cosmetic changes (e.g. moving the MACC interrogation room to the basement), and the inevitable stonewalling on cleaning up the outfits. After all, Selangor MACC deputy director Hishamuddin Hashim who was the field mastermind behind the torture of Beng Hock was even promoted to MACC director in Negri Sembilan. The state-party nexus between those officials in government pay and Umno is more often than not reflected in the arrangement 'you do our bidding, we cover your back'. It is this mutual protection racket that helped obliterate incriminating traces of what really happened the night of Teoh's death. Instead of promoting the rule of law, such destructive living in each other's pocket only promotes lawlessness as evidenced in the brutish behaviour of the MACC inquisitors. How the long-drawn saga eventually panned out is not only causing immense anguish to the Teoh family and heaping insult on the memory of the deceased but has also inflamed public anger.
|
| RM14.5bn golden yacht story ‘fake’: Motorboat website Posted: 26 Jul 2011 03:37 PM PDT The yacht story had initially looked genuine as the golden yacht was featured on the website of UK designer Stuart Hughes. The yacht 'History Supreme' is apparently a gold-plated Baia 100, a model introduced by Baia Yachts of Italy in 2008. But basic journalistic tenets were apparently ignored. The golden yacht story was picked up by half the UK press (and elsewhere) and "reported faithfully, without a call to Baia to check the story's authenticity", claims Motorboat and Yachting deputy editor Stewart Campell. The images that were circulated appeared to have been taken from the Baia Yachts website and 'photoshopped'. The Baia Yachts sales manager Mario Borselli confirmed to Motorboat and Yachting that the story was fake. "We will write him a letter asking him to take them down, but we are not thinking to go legal. It's such a stupid story it's not worth it… I can't believe people would believe someone would be so stupid to commission this boat."
|
| Posted: 26 Jul 2011 03:20 PM PDT I was not invited to the launch but imposed myself by calling the organisers and asking if I could attend. Fortunately, they were gracious about it and I was there together with some 200 others being fêted with speeches about how rotten things have become and what needs to be done. I was seated next to Nurul Izzah Anwar and that was special too. I have always liked her very much and being able to have a friendly chat with her about politics after many months was memorable. There was a lot of speculation about Tengku Razaleigh's game plan or motive behind launching Amanah. Some say it's his way of keeping his hope of becoming the next PM alive. Others are less kind, and say he is clutching at straws to keep himself relevant at a time when his influence within UMNO is fast receding. I am inclined to see the action of Amanah's promoters as noble and sincere. They want to remind people that we must not abandon the principles upon which this nation was founded. They seem to be saying that we must not try to reengineer or remodel this country on new imperatives, forgetting along the way all that has kept this nation together for so long. The call is for a more decent and trustworthy Government — who can dispute the relevance of that? I would prefer Tengku Razaleigh to be more explicit and direct about his plans. In this country there is no middle path that one can take and still hope to make an electoral impact, which is necessary especially if one is looking at effecting a political transformation. One is either with BN or with Pakatan Rakyat. Kita is a new political party that is willing to take a different and more risky route, but our "business model" is different. We focus on issues that have divided us like the NEP, religious freedom, the secular state, democracy, etc, and other similarly sensitive issues because we feel that addressing and understanding them are key to our future stability. Our manifesto touches on all these issues that BN and Pakatan shy away from. But these issues do not win elections in the short term. I do not believe Tengku Razaleigh and his friends are going to articulate them and be ideological in the way that we are. Amanah, I am sure, will be pragmatic in their approach and this is why I was somewhat surprised that its promoters did not endorse the Pakatan Rakyat platform, at least on substantive issues. This will give them the momentum and the enthusiastic crowds on their nationwide tour. Otherwise, who will listen to them but a handful of smart urbanites, who are probably already converted to their line of thinking? Supporting Pakatan does not mean we subscribe to all of their policies or approve of all their leaders. But making Pakatan stronger will transform the political dynamic, which hopefully will bring some positive changes.
|
| Posted: 26 Jul 2011 01:55 PM PDT In this tragic-comedy, who will have the last laugh? This is the most unnatural country where innocuous actions are seen as crimes – the wearing of clean yellow T-shirts with the word "Bersih" on them and the possession of banners, pamphlets and flags, and images of long dead communist leaders. Where, indeed, are we heading? Some are still afraid of shadows; how much longer can they use that as an excuse to do nothing? They, whose main concern is only for their own well-being, exist only for the present, not for the future. When they die, their fears will die with them and their existence will stop there. No achievements to speak of, no contribution to peace made, just the end of a mediocre life.The winds of change are swiftly gathering gale force, but where will this twisting cloud in all its terrible power take us? READ MORE HERE. |
| Posted: 26 Jul 2011 01:15 PM PDT Most times I shake my head in wonderment at the gullibility of men…and women. I am an equal opportunity kind of guy – men and women have equal rights to being gullible. No gender bias here! The defining criteria that elevates you from being a moron to being a "thinking" being is the ability to comprehend what is being said to you. Most dogs understand "SIT", "STAY" and even, though albeit reluctantly "NO". Now there are people out there who has taken the trouble to visit my blog (for that I am grateful!) in order to agree to disagree with what I put in the public domain. What I disagree is the disagreeable way they choose to disagree with me. I tend to measure others by the manner I measure myself. Let me explain. When I am surfing the net I will only linger to read anything if the first few lines agree with me. If I continue to read something that disagree with me I do so because I want to see whether what is being said will move me to have a different perspective of the issue at hand. Sometimes it does and if it moves me I will write to say so. If it does not then I take it as "lesson learnt." The feed back I get these last few weeks from my writings on DSAI has some defining characteristics. In the main they are abusive, eloquent in their description of my private and public persona and firm in their desire to die not for country, bangsa and religion…but for DSAI! Good for DSAI bad for me! Let us not dwell to much on me…I am the messenger not the story. And the story that needs to be told is one that most of us already know. We know and yet we are hoping against hope that DSAI is not the person most of us already know he is! But a few truths about me and I will try to say this in plain language so that what I said will not be construed (opps I better use a simpler word here)…so that what I said will not be misinterpreted as being something else. First: I have never ever received a single ringgit from UMNO/BN to write what I write. Now some of you will interpret that as me confessing that I did received a few cents NOT exceeding one ringgit from UMNO/BN – I will leave that to the imagination of others to interpret if that is what I intended to convey! Read more at: http://steadyaku-steadyaku-husseinhamid.blogspot.com/2011/07/dsai-and-sodomy-three.html
|
| Resign Or Snap Election For Najib, Here’re The Reasons Posted: 25 Jul 2011 10:51 PM PDT Compared with Najib, Badawi now seems like a cute adorable little kitten, who merely likes to sleep (on the job). Malaysians tend to be more forgiving on lazy prime minister but not a prime minister who lies, cheats, brutal, dirty (allegation on Mongolian Altantuya's murder), hypocrite but above all stupid yet arrogant. One cannot help but fell off the chair laughing after read that Najib said he cancels a family vacation because he wants to spend more time with Malaysians. This was perhaps the best joke ever by premier Najib since he took over from Abdullah Badawi. This joke actually worth a thousand "Like" on his facebook page. Forget about Bersih 2.0 because this guy may quit under pressure – not from opposition parties or Bersih 2.0 but from his internal UMNO party. Boy, if it was true that the US$24 million controversial diamond ring indeed belongs to his wife Rosmah Mansor, that ring is cursed. Anyone notice the deadly silence from Mahathir after the Bersih 2.0 rally that instantly flush Najib's popularity into the toilet bowl? I've wrote earlier that Najib administration's extreme stupidity in tackling the simple issue of Bersih 2.0 made the whole episode smells rat. Najib can't be that foolish (or was he?) and even if he was indeed stupid, his wife would have save the day, unless of course the plan to unseat him has been brought forward by his own circles. Mahathir doesn't like Najib for two main reasons - his wife and his close connection with Singapore Government. It seems Najib may have to quit soon, probably before his term expires in 2013. And if Najib plans to stay until next year to enjoy more free overseas holidays using taxpayers money under his capacity as the prime minister, his dream is now short-lived based on his emergency return to take control of Putrajaya. How on earth could everything turns upside-down before his "shopping" trip to United Kingdom and Italy ends? It appears he has no other option but to call an early election, possibly before 11-11-2011 in order to neutralize his enemy from within UMNO, if he's able to do that. 1) Perkasa Ibrahim AliIbrahim Ali, the guy whom you love and hate has successfully performed his duty, if indeed it was true that he was actually a mole, regardless whether he was planted by Anwar or Mahathir. His job was to create chaos and racial disharmony. Both Anwar or Mahathir knew the Malay votes and to a certain extent the Indian votes have return to UMNO under Najib's leadership. If the Chinese voters were to go back in droves to UMNO- led National Front coalition, then the opposition is toast and Najib would become very powerful, so much so that he can ask Mahathir to fly kite. One has to remember Mahathir is a master in the game of divide-and-rule. As long as Ibrahim Ali can continuously feed the racial hatred cookies to both ethnic-Malay and ethnic-Chinese, Najib's strength is being checked. And wasn't Ibrahim Ali a director in Vincent Tan's Berjaya Group, one of the closest cronies during Mahathir administration? Well, if Najib truly believed that Ibrahim Ali was God-sent Angel to help fish runaway Malay votes for his administration, then he deserves what he's getting now. 2) Deputy PM MuhyiddinOne needs to see the bigger picture on how the deputy PM seems to be pouring kerosene everytime his boss, PM Najib Razak, starts a new project in his bid to gain voters' support. When Najib was shouting till foam at mouth his 1Malaysia concept, Muhyiddin declared he was Malay first and Malaysian second. And of course Mahathir almost swear he doesn't actually understand the concept of 1Malaysia. Muhyiddin is indeed a strong deputy as he was one of the warlords who enjoys ground support. Najib doesn't like a strong deputy because it would make him looks weak, which is true because his political rising star was purely based on his father's name, the second prime minister Tun Razak. In short, Najib was born with silver platter hence he has never been known to be a risk-taker. The fact that Muhyiddin together with Mahathir were extremely quiet post-Bersih 2.0 rally speak volume about how both were equally pleased with the public and international criticism on Najib administration in handling the peaceful demonstration. Muhyiddin can almost smell the aroma of the premiership.
|
| Posted: 25 Jul 2011 06:33 PM PDT Sad is it not to think that our parents lied to us first! Now as adults we are faced with having to tell lies and being lied to. How we each justify lying is open to endless arguments but it can be explained by this simple phase " self serving". Nobody can deny that the lying they do is for their own ends. The problems for most of us begins when lying becomes what our leaders choose to do because telling the truth will destroy their credibility in our eyes. For Barisan Nasional politicians this (telling lies) has become the knee jerk reaction to almost anything that if they were to tell the truth would be unpalatable to the Malaysian public. No need to go to far back….that Din guy from the Home Ministry recently said "that there was no political agenda in the deportation of French human rights lawyer William Bourdon….. he was deported due to "visa non-compliance" and for making a speech in Penang". He knows and we know that he is lying but it has all now become a game…another lie, another day in government. But then that is the way Barisan Nasional do things. I do not support Barisan Nasiona (as if BN cares!) I want Pakatan Rakyat to win at the 13th General Election. So what do I do when Pakatan Rakyat leaders lies? What should I do when I KNOW they have lied? I really care not if you tell me that Pakatan Rakyat leaders do sometimes have to lie or tell untruths to politically survive. Political survival is just that – surviving! If Pakatan Rakyat is to succeed it must not only survive but must also thrive and be able to stand heads and shoulders above the corrupt and arrogant BN politicians. Tok Guru, Hadi, Karpal, Kit Siang and Guan Eng all stand heads and shoulders over ANY Barisan Nasional leaders. DSAI does not! And this DSAI is the leader of these leaders of Pakatan Rakyat –the first amongst equal! Why do I say that DSAI lies? Let me tell you why. You all know about his time in UMNO and you all think you know what he did as DPM of a BN government. I heard stories and I do KNOW of one or two instances when what he did could be construed to be "questionable" but I would not be able to prove it in a court of law because I have nothing incriminating to put forward against DSAI. So like most of you out there I speculate but speculation has never made anyone guilty of any crime unless you have an army strong enough to act on the speculation and you yourself act as judge, jury and executioner. Mahathir tried to do that with DSAI in the Sodomy One case. He failed. Since his dismissal by Mahathir from his post as DPM there have been stories and speculation a plenty but nothing stuck to DSAI. Not until Saiful. You can choose to believe what you want but as you can see with Mahathir, our judiciary can only do the bidding's of its political masters if the facts support the prosecution case against DSAI. In sodomy two this is a fa it accompali – a done deal – no if's no but's. So why is so many people in denial? Let me try and put this phenomena of DSAI in perspective. I was at his house when he was released from prison. Since then I have met and talked with him a number of times. I have followed his progress up the ranks of Pakatan Rakyat. Knowing of his past and the flaw in his personal self I waited to see how he would conduct himself as leader of the opposition. Unfortunately at all critical junctures he failed: The announcement of taking over the government from BN just after the 12th general election. The loss of Perak and many PKR MP's, The Bala press conference and the subsequent debacle of Bala pulling out his first SD. The comic yet tragic manner in which the PKR party election was conducted. The Saiful accusations. And other lapse of judgements by DSAI that has cost PKR and PR dearly only increased my anxiety of DSAI ability to change into the leader we all (including me) wanted him to be. Some of you are still patient with him. Some of you know that he can never change and yet feel that there is no other leader within PR to take his place. Some say that we need to stay with DSAI because he has been through so much and ought to be given the opportunity to lead PR against BN. We can go through all these for and against arguments till kingdom come – but while you are all entitled to your own thoughts – so am I entitled to mine.
|
| Muzzling the media in Malaysia: libel and censorship Posted: 25 Jul 2011 06:26 PM PDT The first was the ruling on July 19th in a defamation case brought by Interior Minister Rais Yatim against blogger Amizudin Ahmat. Amizudin Ahmat, better known as 'Din Binjai', had posted a blog entry that alleged a Cabinet Minister had raped his Indonesian housemaid besides a picture of Rais. The judge rule in favor of the minister and ordered that Amizudin pay RM400,000 (approx. $120,000). While the Malaysian government remains officially committed to its policy of not censoring the Internet in the last few years it has opted to pursue individual bloggers in the courts confident that a largely compliant judiciary will pass judgments whose cumulative effect will be self-censorship to avoid similar damages. This decision comes on the back of a ruling in February when Malaysia's most famous blogger, Raja Petra Kamarudin was found guilty of defaming senior lawyer Seri Muhammad Shafee Adbullah over three articles posted on his website Malaysia Today. To date damages have yet to be decided but Raja Petra has been in exile since 2008 when the charges were first brought against him.
|
| Beng Hock travesty – “time" to act Posted: 25 Jul 2011 12:59 PM PDT In property investment, they say location is everything. In share trading, they say timing is everything. If actual reforms and accountability is the order of the day, this matter would have been seriously, professionally and impartially dealt with from day 1 and not after some embarrassingly poor attempt to avoid accountability such as that lame excuse and even more pathetic demonstration of self-strangulation.  The RIC developed its fancy theory about a weak Teoh Beng Hock succumbing to pressure and guilt. They failed to explain why a man would want to kill himself over an alleged crime which until today MACC has not uncover a single compelling evidence and who was getting married the next day with his first child due to be born soon. Calling him weak minded, as Nazri subsequently fumbled again, is an insult to Beng Hock. A young man giving up a better paid and more comfortable job, assuming a stressful, risky and at times unappreciated occupation while his peers are busy building up careers, network and having a good time, is hardly a weak character but a paragon of virtue, courage and self-sacrifice. For the past few days, the headlines suggest a serious intention for MACC to reform and the relevant officers to be charged. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/putrajaya-tells-macc-to-buck-up-agrees-teohs-death-avoidable/ Putrajaya tells MACC to buck up, agrees Teoh's death avoidable http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/macc-promises-reforms-suggested-by-teoh-rci/ MACC promises reforms suggested by Teoh RCI xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I question, as a tax payer, how on earth our money been wasted setting up the MACC (a rushed job in Badawi's final day as the prime minister, if you could recall) which needs serious reform after barely 3 years coming into being? What quality level of legislation, execution and civil servants we are paying for via decades of deficit budgets? Are we going to see serious reform in MACC ? Isn't it a déjà vu of Badawi's proposed IPCMC reforms which was subsequently torpedoed? Now Utusan Malaysia is defending MACC despite UMNO's led BN administration is painting yet another picture of promises. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/utusan-defends-macc-holds-dap-responsible-for-teohs-death/ Utusan defends MACC, holds DAP responsible for Teoh's death xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Nazri called for the labeled trio (Abuser, Bully and Arrogant) to be charged in court if found guilty of penal code. Yet again there are internal dissenting voices.  Read more at: http://wangsamajuformalaysia.blogspot.com/2011/07/beng-hock-travesty-time-to-act.html |
| PSM6 – police practicing “Arrest first, find the charges later” tactics Posted: 25 Jul 2011 10:20 AM PDT The blemishes today why we do not have a Clean Malaysia include the gross abuses of power evident in the high-handed police actions against the peaceful Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9 for free and fair elections; the unwarranted, unjustifiable and unprovoked firing of tear gas and chemically-laced water cannons against the peaceful public; arbitrary arrest of some 2,000 people; spewing of racist threats; attempt to create ethnic and religious tensions including the raising the May 13 spectre and the unjustifiable lock-down of Kuala Lumpur creating infernal traffic jams before and on the day of the rally. Jeyakumar and five others have been detained under the Emergency Ordinance since July 2 after initially being arrested on June 25 with two dozen other PSM members under Section 122 of the Penal Code for allegedly "waging war against the Agong" and trying to revive communism. Section 122 of the Penal Code states: "Whoever collects or attempts to collect men, arms or ammunition, or otherwise prepares to wage war with the intention of either waging or being prepared to wage war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or any of the Rulers or the Yang di-Pertua Negeri or abets the waging or the preparation of such war, shall be punished with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term not exceeding twenty years, and shall also be liable to fine." This is a heinous offence – waging war against the Yang di Pertuan Agong, liable on conviction to life imprisonment. But who would believe that Jeyakumar and the other 29 PSM activists originally arrested on June 25 had been guilty of the heinous crime of "waging war against the Agong"? The answer is none at all – not even the police and the home ministry which is why after the seven-day remand of the 30 PSM activists, no one whether from the Police or the Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein breathed a word about the heinous crime of "waging war against the Agong" and "reviving communism" as the charges are so ridiculous and unbelievable as the raise serious questions about the right and sanity of a government capable of such fantasies to rule the country. Malaysians are entitled to ask who are the officers or politicians who had been so "creative" as to concoct the heinous charge of Section 122 of Penal Code of "waging war against the Agong" against the PSM activists in the first instance. These persons responsible for such ridiculous charges should be publicly exposed and punished for a most gross abuses of power. The PSM six headed by Jeyakumar have been detained under the EO for 22 days after the end of their seven-day remand on July 2 on the ridiculous charge of "waging war against the Agong". The 42-year EO is an obsolete law which violates democratic norms and fundamental human rights and should have been repealed five years ago if the Barisan Nasional Government had accepted the recommendations of the Dzaiddin-Hanif Police Royal Commission Report to create an efficient, incorruptible, professional world-class police service. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan