Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Cop: Use of excessive force was wrong
- Doctors blast police attack on hospitals, ready to issue affidavits
- Ambiga not foreseeng more rallies in future
- WikiLeaks’ Assange wraps up appeal arguments
- Meet Jacob the jeweller
- MACC report filed over diamond ring
- Tweets show Bersih has lots of apolitical support
- 170,000 ‘like’ Facebook page urging Najib to go
- Now: Rosmah’s ‘diamond bangles’
- Baharuddin family unhappy post-mortem delayed
- Utusan dismisses Anwar’s tunnel escapade as play-acting
- Utusan says Bersih, Pakatan leaders betrayed Sultan and King
- Alliance of mosquito parties with big brother cause of disunity – Jeffrey
- Opposition threatened legal action against the New Straits Times Press group
- You asked for it, Ambiga tells Putrajaya
| Cop: Use of excessive force was wrong Posted: 12 Jul 2011 09:04 PM PDT
There were special police teams who were already targeting those leaders behind the rally, such as Bersih chairman S Ambiga, says a policeman. (Free Malaysia Today) - The police force has been denying the use of violence during the Bersih 2.0 march on July 9. But among them is one lone voice who condemned the use of violence on the protesters. A brave policeman said the use of excessive force when arresting Bersih 2.0 marchers was uncalled for and wrong. The policeman who was in charge of making arrest spoke to FMT on condition of anonymity. "Those policemen who hit the people are in the wrong. They can actually be charged… Even if you want to say you were forced to do it, that you were attacked first, it should not reach such a stage as what we're seeing in the video footages." "Usually when we make arrests, the most we do if the person struggles and fights back is to make him lie down and use our knees to stop him. Not continue to beat or kick him, even after you handcuff him. That is wrong." He said on that day, he witnessed groups of policemen crowding around a suspect and hitting him, with some even using batons. Asked if there were any instructions from the top to start using force on demonstrators, he said that the orders did not come from the top officer who briefed them a week before the rally. "But there were other high-ranking officers who told us to just hit if we felt like (the situation warranted it ), using violence. However, we were also told to assess the situation and the location before using violence ," said the policeman. The policeman said that he himself did not agree with hitting people and he refrained from using too much force. "Also, there are a lot of people taking photos including our own photographers. We have to think properly before we do something like that; we could be charged in court and I am not sure if my superiors would defend me if I did something like that," he said. Explaining why he thought many policemen were seen using excessive force, the policeman said the amount of pressure and stress could have been a factor. "There were many who were frustrated, tired, and hungry that day. We had very little sleep and had to be on standby early in the morning and were without food until late in the afternoon. There is also a lot of pressure from our superiors… and when things start to unfold, you become different, angry," he said. The policeman said the previous Sunday and Monday, the team of more than 1,000 in the "arrest squads" were briefed by Bukit Aman criminal investigation department director Mohd Bakri Zinin. "We were told 'don't be afraid, just arrest'." "We were ordered to arrest those wearing yellow T-shirts and those who refused to disperse when ordered, including those who fought back or insulted the police," the policeman said, adding that policemen were roped in from all the states except Sabah and Sarawak. He said that in the police crackdown, there were two types of arrests – arrests of quality and without quality. "Those from the first category were those who wore Bersih T-shirts or those VIPs or leaders of the rally. They were brought to the Jinjang police station." "Those from the non-quality category were brought to the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) on Jalan Semarak. They were mostly protesters who refused to disperse and were brought there for documentation," he said. He said "arrest squads" consisted of teams of at least five people comprising one officer, three detectives and one photographer. He added that the photographers, about 150 of them on that day, were there to capture photos of the protesters before and during the arrests, because previously many cases failed when brought to court due to a lack of photographic evidence. "There were also some taking video. That is also why Home Minister (Hishammuddin Hussein) said that he has photographs and video evidence of almost all the action on that day, because we really have them," he said.
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| Doctors blast police attack on hospitals, ready to issue affidavits Posted: 12 Jul 2011 09:01 PM PDT
(Harakah Daily) - A group of senior medical doctors today issued a joint statement expressing outrage at the authorities' handling of the Bersih rally, specifically when police fired tear gas into the compounds of the Tung Shin and Chinese Maternity Hospitals along Jalan Pudu.
This was followed by a press conference held by Health minister Liow Tiong Lai, claiming that the police did not shoot tear gas and water cannon into the Tung Shin Hospital compound and that allegations on the contrary were not true. 'Prepared for sworn affidavits'
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| Ambiga not foreseeng more rallies in future Posted: 12 Jul 2011 08:16 PM PDT
(Bernama) -- Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, chairman of the illegal Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih), does not foresee more rallies taking place. This is, despite PAS saying it would push Bersih to hold another demonstration, should the government ignore demands for electoral reforms. In an interview published by Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on its website today, the former Bar Council president, asked if the group would hold more rallies, said: "I do not see it happening in the near future." On an assertion that Bersih was just a front for opposition parties as Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim played a prominent role in Saturday's rally, Sreenevasan said it was unfair (to state as such) because the group had invited all political parties, including Barisan Nasional (BN), to support the rally. "We invited all political parties, including BN, to support us. How can you say the cause for free and fair elections is only for the opposition? "It is for everybody. Pakatan Rakyat members are also citizens of this country. Are they not entitled to support a movement for free and fair elections?," she asked. Despite being denied police permit, Bersih went ahead with an illegal rally last Saturday. ********************************** Bersih 3.0 if no electoral reforms before GE, says PAS (The Malaysian Insider) - PAS has called on the Najib administration to bow to Bersih's eight-point reforms to the electoral system or face a repeat of the rally that plunged the capital into chaos on Saturday. Party deputy president Mohamad Sabu said today it would hold another rally before the next general election if the Election Commission (EC) failed to implement the reforms demanded by the coalition of 62 NGOs.
Despite Bersih claiming that 50,000 had poured into the city last weekend, Mohamad (picture) threatened a larger rally, stating that "PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang has already said this is only the beginning." He also said the Islamist party would ask Bersih to declare Saturdays "Bersih Day" where members of the public should wear yellow to show their support for free and fair elections. Asked if he was calling for the public to disobey the law, Mohamad said "the yellow shirts are only illegal to Umno but no court has declared them unlawful." He added that the EC could already implement part of the demands set out by the electoral reform movement such as cleaning up the electoral roll, reforming postal votes, using indelible ink and providing free access to the media for all parties. Bersih had claimed a turnout of 50,000 for the street demonstration which went ahead without police permission, resulting in nearly 1,700 arrests, leaving dozens injured and the spouse of a PKR leader dead. The electoral reform movement decided to take to the streets despite previously accepting Najib's offer to move the street rally to a stadium after the government refused to allow the gathering to take place in Stadium Merdeka. This came after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong called on the government a week ago to execute its duties fairly and for it to meet Bersih and discuss the issue of free and fair elections. Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin had intervened after a police dragnet that had seen over 100 arrests, the raiding of the Bersih secretariat and confiscation of Bersih-related materials in the space of a week. The first Bersih rally in November 2007 also saw tens of thousands being dispersed by police with tear gas and water cannons. It was said to have been a key factor in a general election called just four months later, which saw BN losing its customary two-thirds hold of Parliament, ceding 82 seats and five state governments in its worst showing ever at the polls.
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| WikiLeaks’ Assange wraps up appeal arguments Posted: 12 Jul 2011 07:33 PM PDT
(AFP) - LONDON: Lawyers for WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange wrapped up their arguments today against his extradition to Sweden to face rape allegations, as they pursued a new "quiet" approach to his defence strategy. Assange has a new legal team which has abandoned the bombastic statements by his previous lawyers warning that he could be deported to the United States and incarcerated in Guantanamo Bay. The 40-year-old Australian himself has remained uncharacteristically silent during the latest proceedings, refusing to comment yesyerday or today to reporters waiting at London's High Court. The current two-day hearing is dealing with Assange's application to overturn a lower court's rejection in February of defence arguments that he would have an unfair trial in Sweden. Lawyer Mark Summers closed the defence's case today by reiterating arguments that the European Arrest Warrant issued by Sweden was invalid because he is only wanted for questioning and has not been charged. "There was from the very outset of this case an easier way to proceed, a more proportionate way to proceed," he told the court. He said the European Commission had examined the European Arrest Warrant system and issued guidance that warrants should not be issued in circumstances where there is a "less onerous" alternative. "The reality of this case is also that no decision to prosecute or charge has been made. The preliminary investigation remains open," he said. Swedish authorities want to question Assange over the sex assault claims made by two women — allegations he denies – although he has not been formally charged. At his previous appearances he gave long press conferences claiming the allegations are politically motivated and linked to his whistleblower website's releases of huge caches of leaked US government documents. Assange was arrested in Britain in December. He has been living under strict bail conditions, including wearing an electronic ankle tag and a curfew, at a friend's mansion in eastern England.
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| Posted: 12 Jul 2011 06:58 PM PDT
Behind the glitz and glamour, there is apparently a dark side to Rosmah Mansor's allegedly favourite jewellery designer. (Free Malaysia Today) - The founder of Jacob & Co, for whose luxury merchandise Rosmah Mansor allegedly has a soft spot for, is as colourful as his clientele. Among foreign celebrities, Jacob Arabo, an Uzbekistan-born Jew, is a household name and those who flock to his lavish outlets range from the likes of Beyonce Knowles to David Beckham. The other prominent individuals on Jacob's glittery list were renowned rappers 50 Cent, Diddy, Kanye West and other celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Naomi Campbell. Arabo is so popular that in the video game "Def Jam: Fight for NY" part of the prize awaiting thugs who collect the most cash, was a choice to purchase jewellery from him. Apart from this, his name had also cropped up in numerous rap songs. Famed for his opulent diamond-encrusted wrist watches and chunky jewellery, Jacob & Co, with outlets in 46 countries, was for those with very deep pockets. Arabo had moved to the United States at the age of 14, and had dropped out of high school to enrol in a six-month jewellery design course. By 21, he had opened a kiosk in the Kaplan Jewelry Exchange. Beginning in the 1990s, he started designing pieces for hip-hop artists. But behind all the glitz and glamour, there was also a dark side to Arabo's story. He had been accused of many crimes including money laundering and possession of stolen property. In June 2006, he was arrested by the FBI over allegations that he laundered millions for members of a notorious Detroit-based drug gang, Black Mafia Family, and that he failed to report large cash purchases to the US Internal Revenue Service. Arabo, who also has an outlet in the upscale Star Hill shopping complex here, landed in the limelight in Malaysia after several pro-opposition bloggers claimed that Rosmah had acquired a diamond ring worth a whopping RM73 million from his outlet in New York. When the report was published in FMT and found its way to numerous blogs, there were some commentators who claimed that Jacob & Co's website had removed Rosmah's photograph from its list of celebrities, but this could not be verified.
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| MACC report filed over diamond ring Posted: 12 Jul 2011 04:14 PM PDT By Athi Shankar, FMT GEORGE TOWN: A report has been filed with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the RM74 million ring allegedly acquired by the prime minister's wife, Rosmah Mansor. The report was filed by pro-Pakatan Rakyat NGO Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) president Badrul Hisham Shaharin. Badrul said MACC had a public duty to ensure that Malaysians don't suffer from the "Filipino Imelda Marcos" syndrome. He urged the commission to carry out an immediate open investigation into the report, adding that there was an "abundance of evidence". "We don't want a repeat of the Philippine fiasco where the self-styled First Lady Imelda cleaned public funds for selfish lavish spending," added the Rembau PKR division chief. Yesterday, pro-Pakatan bloggers claimed that the ring known as "Natural Fancy Blue Gray Cushion Cut Diamond Ring" was sent to Rosmah by the New York-based fine jewellers Jacob & Co in April this year. The ring allegedly passed through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport customs and was cleared by a customs operations manager known as A Krishnan. Screenshots of the alleged customs computer displays also revealed that the ring did not have import duties imposed on it. The same display also indicated the value of the ring to be US$24.4 million. Today, another blogger published photographs of Rosmah wearing bangles that appeared strikingly similar to those made by Jacob & Co, which industry experts claimed could cost a fortune. 'Don't sweep this under the carpet' Meanwhile, Badrul challenged Rosmah to publicly deny the allegations. "Where did she get that much of money? She must clear her name," he demanded. He also questioned whether Rosmah's husband, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, "abused" his position as finance minister to exempt the ring from taxes.
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| Tweets show Bersih has lots of apolitical support Posted: 12 Jul 2011 04:10 PM PDT
By Tarani Palani, FMT PETALING JAYA: Some may complain that politicians have hijacked Bersih's agenda, but Twitter activity indicates that the movement has plenty of support from those Malaysians who normally do not show interest in politics. According to preliminary statistics, tweets promoting Bersih's July 9 rally were plentiful even before the issue heated up with the slew of arrests aimed at derailing the programme. Politweet, a research organization that studies Twitter interactions between ordinary citizens and politicians, says Malaysian users are generally not politically inclined but are fired up by Bersih. "Bersih has an appeal to even non-political people," Politweet founder Ahmed Kamal Nava told FMT. "Users who had never tweeted about a YB before were bothering to tweet about Bersih. On a daily basis, the heaviest promoters of Bersih were people not politically affiliated. "Even in the run-up to July 9, Pakatan politicians were not heavily promoting Bersih, except Elizabeth Wong. It was only after the arrests started that politicians began to actively promote Bersih on Twitter." Politweet has been tracking Malaysian Twitter user behaviour since 2009 and has traced trends on by-elections, the Sarawak state election, the 1Malaysia project and other political developments. Ahmed also said that the number of RTs (retweets) on Bersih surpassed the average by "a large margin". According to him, a tweet may be re-tweeted 50 times on average. However, preliminary statistics reveal that #bersih retweets are dramatically more frequent. The most retweeted message is to encourage people to add the Bersih badge to their tweeter profile pictures. "Support Bersih: add a #PicBage to your image" has been retweeted at least 679 times in recent weeks. Other messages extensively re-tweeted were reactions to police action before and during the rally. One message that was retweeted 283 times was "RT @xandriaooi: Dear polis, I don't think the folks rallying are out to cause trouble. If they wanted 2 fight, they won't set a date & tell u abt it. #bersih." Other favourites include "RT @radins: #bersih mass arrests by police at KLSentral. Commuters within profile of Bersih supporters picked up upon alighting from trains. Pls RT" and "RT @NatAsasi: If one baby from Tung Shin hospital is harmed, #NajibResign IMMEDIATELY! #bersih." Ahmed acknowledged that it was difficult to gauge opinions for or against the rally, but added: "I can say that a minority of tweets were negative.
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| 170,000 ‘like’ Facebook page urging Najib to go Posted: 12 Jul 2011 02:46 PM PDT (AFP) - KUALA LUMPUR: A Facebook petition has seen more than 170,000 people back a call for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to quit, days after an electoral reform rally was broken up by police firing tear gas.
The page titled "100,000 People Request Najib Tun Razak Resignation" was set up on Saturday, the same day police arrested more than 1,600 people during the mass protest here. Backed by opposition parties, electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 mobilised thousands of people to hit the streets in the biggest rally in four years, piling the pressure on Najib with elections widely expected next year. Following the demonstration, the page attracted around 300 "likes" per minute, hitting its 100,000 target early Monday and the number has been steadily increasing with the page showing 172,868 "likes" today morning. "I don't understand why the harshness, the beatings (by police) and the tear gas," according to a post by supporter Sofie Muhammad on the page. "The crowd didn't even throw stones at the shops, why is the government afraid? All we want is free elections." Others felt the prime minister was too far removed from what was happening on the ground. "Najib is out of touch. He cannot understand pain of tear gas, irritation of chemical water, pain of being kicked and beaten up by (police)," said Longyao Phang in another posting. Bersih activists yesterday called for a royal probe into the electoral system, which the opposition says favours Najib's Barisan Nasional coalition, which has ruled Malaysia for half a century but saw its majority slashed in the previous general election, in 2008. Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said the push by concerned democracy activists "augurs well for the future of this country". "I would appeal to them to continue to monitor developments, exercise their right, have the courage of conviction to stand for what is right," he added. Najib, who is in Britain on an official visit, has accused Anwar of masterminding the rally and manipulating its organisers to beef up support for his ambition to become the next prime minister. The premier and his administration have faced previous online attacks with a Facebook petition in October calling for a million Malaysians to reject plans for a 100-storey megatower in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysians are avid users of social network and micro-blogging sites. A study by global research firm TNS last year showed Malaysians to be the most popular people on the Internet, with an average of 233 friends in their social networks compared with 68 in China and just 29 in Japan. -AFP |
| Now: Rosmah’s ‘diamond bangles’ Posted: 12 Jul 2011 02:39 PM PDT
By B Nantha Kumar, FMT KUALA LUMPUR: Another glittering allegation has surfaced about the prime minister's wife, this time over a set of diamond bangles which industry experts claim may be worth a fortune. Yesterday, several pro-opposition bloggers claimed that Rosmah Mansor had acquired a ring from the New York-based fine jeweller Jacob & Co worth RM73 million. The bloggers identified the item as a "Natural Fancy Blue Gray Cushion Cut Diamond Ring". It had supposedly passed through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport customs in April this year. Screenshots of the alleged customs computer displays also revealed that the ring did not have import duties imposed on it. Today, another blogger called "Semut and Papan Kekunci" published photographs of Rosmah wearing bangles that were strikingly similar to Jacob & Co's "Zebra Safari Collection". The fine jeweller's website stated that the Zebra print pave diamond bangle from its Safari collection, "features white and black pave diamonds total carat weight 65.77 in 18k white gold." When FMT checked with a local diamond merchant, the latter said the price for top quality stones could be worth as much as RM100,000 a carat, but a gemologist, who declined to be named, opined that certain designer items could be worth much more.
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| Baharuddin family unhappy post-mortem delayed Posted: 12 Jul 2011 02:35 PM PDT By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — The family of Baharuddin Ahmad, who died during last weekend's Bersih rally, is upset that his post-mortem report has been delayed and will only be released next month. Eldest son Mohd Nasrul Baharuddin said his was told on Saturday the report would be ready in "four to five days" but was informed by Kuala Lumpur Hospital today that the document will only be issued in four to five weeks. "What's happening? The body's been buried so what are they waiting for?" the 22-year-old told The Malaysian Insider. "I hope the doctor will release the results because... I'd like to know why my father died." Baharuddin, 56, died at Kuala Lumpur Hospital on Saturday evening after collapsing near KLCC during the Bersih rally while running away from tear gas and water cannon bombardment by the police. He was laid to rest at 12.55pm the next day at Lembah Keramat Muslim Burial Ground here, just three kilometres from his home.
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| Utusan dismisses Anwar’s tunnel escapade as play-acting Posted: 12 Jul 2011 02:31 PM PDT
By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — Utusan Malaysia has trained its sights on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim again following his run-in with the police on Saturday, saying it was another ploy to gain public sympathy. The Malay daily's assistant chief editor Datuk Zaini Hassan in his Cuit column today ridiculed the opposition leader for claiming he a victim of police tear gas at KL Sentral, likening it to yet another "episode" in the saga of Anwar. Mockingly likening Anwar to a cat with nine lives, Zaini said the PKR de facto leader was now playing up injuries he received there to the point where Anwar now appeared to be "fighting for his eighth life after losing lives in seven prior incidents". These incidents include the black eye he received in 1998 from then-Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Rahim Noor, the alleged plot against Anwar which prompted him to seek refuge in the Turkish Embassy here and the alleged sabotage of wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's car. "It was said that Anwar was shot by the armed FRU armed with elephant guns, blood drenched his clothes until the yellow was no longer visible, oxygen was needed, this is a serious case," Zaini said dryly. "It was also reported in many blogs that Anwar's eighth life is hanging by a thread, the sounds of Yassin fill the air and the will is now being read to family members who await new stock for his ninth life." Zaini pointed out that Anwar has almost as many "characters" throughout his political carrier: as a student leader leading a demonstration in Baling, supporting PAS in Kelantan during the 1978 state election and eventually throwing in his lot with Umno five years later. "Anwar's greatness lies not only in his oratory but also his acting that is sure cloud the eyes of many fanatical and ignorant supporters," he said.
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| Utusan says Bersih, Pakatan leaders betrayed Sultan and King Posted: 12 Jul 2011 01:11 PM PDT
By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — Utusan Malaysia accused Selangor Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and Bersih leaders of treason for disobeying both the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Selangor Sultan by going ahead with Saturday's rally. The Umno-owned newspaper accused specifically the PKR-led Selangor government, naming executive councillors Elizabeth Wong and Teresa Kok as well as Selangor PKR chief Azmin Ali for disrespecting Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah. "They still have no idea how to respect the decree of their Sultan. "Is it wrong to call them treasonous and liars out to damage the institution of the monarchs? This group lied to the Agong when they still brought their supporters to the streets," the Umno-owned newspaper said today. In a strongly-worded editorial, it also called Bersih and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders hypocrites for telling Malay rulers it would obey them but then do otherwise behind their backs. "Then they pledge loyalty in the streets to someone who is implicated in the worst moral issues in the country instead," it added, referring to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is currently fighting sodomy and sex video allegations. Selangor's ruler had on the eve of the July 9 rally called on his subjects not to attend the demonstration which would throw the state into chaos. "I am informed about the recent calls for a rally in the city, and I am of the view that the rally, which had been declared illegal by the authorities, will bring much suffering to the people if it goes out of control," the Sultan said when opening a mosque last Friday. Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin (picture) had also intervened six days before the demonstration, asking Putrajaya and the coalition of 62 NGOs to negotiate over electoral reforms to avoid a street rally. Despite Bersih accepting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's subsequent offer to hold its gathering in a stadium, it was denied its choice of Stadium Merdeka after the authorities told the group to move its rally outside of the capital.
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| Alliance of mosquito parties with big brother cause of disunity – Jeffrey Posted: 12 Jul 2011 11:02 AM PDT
(The Borneo Post) - TELUPID: Malaysia's political mess is due to diverging views of "mosquito" parties within the two alliances, according to Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan. In his response to a supporter's question on why the Sabah State Government has failed to capitalise on their "fixed deposit" position of strength, the Borneo Heritage Foundation's United Borneo Front (UBF) committee chairman replied that the federal powers, whether it be under Umno or PKR/PR, will always be more powerful because "they have successfully put into practice the divide and rule concept in Sabah. "For as long as Umno holds the fort in Sabah, our leaders will sing the same tune even if some do not agree with the way things are run in this country. It will be no different with PKR/PR," he told a crowd of over 500 people at a Borneo Tea Party in Kampung Liningkung here on Sunday. Jeffrey added, "If our Sabah leaders could rise above party politics and rally together towards the common agenda of speaking and acting in one voice for the greater welfare of the state they represent, we could actually resolve our problems. The leaders of every political party in Sabah have had their time and we've seen the same faces for decades. They have been silenced by their big brother in the alliance and for fear of being kicked out of an alliance they are willing to sing the chorus of the Federal powers even if the song is in conflict with our battle cry in Sabah. "Where are all the political leaders of Sabah, who should by now come out in full force to support Tan Sri Bernard Dompok in his call for the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the illegal immigrant issue? They should stand up and be counted. As an NGO, the UBF supports his call and stands with him and UPKO on this issue." Jeffrey also suggested that politics can only be healthy in this country if parties stood on their own without alliances so that people can identify with issues through manifestoes instead of uniting through the polarisation of race and religious based politics. "Our country needs to be politically mature and adopt the same concept as the US, Australia and UK. The mosquito parties of Sabah and Sarawak should unite as one party and democratically elect one common leader to stand as equals against the big brother in the ruling government and the opposition. "The alliances have done nothing but weaken our state leaders and silenced them into submission. In this current political climate, this is no longer acceptable. This is why at the beginning of our struggle, the UBF had made a call for the unity of all Sabah and Sarawak political parties to form a third force. If an alliance doesn't work, then we should all converge and form the third giant political party in this country," he said. Jeffrey, meanwhile, called to allow natives to be given the power and democratic rights as a community to decide how to develop native customary rights (NCR) lands. "These lands should not be given to companies or government agencies for joint venture developments nor should the idea of fast tracking development on NCR lands be imposed on natives. "The government could take on an advisory role and encourage the community to understand the terms of fast tracking but it should not be imposed against their will. I have received complaints that the decision rests with the director of Land and Survey. This needs to be clarified as the director should not be empowered to act arbitrarily when it should rightfully be a community's decision," he said. Jeffrey added that the government must set clear guidelines and develop an effective mechanism to manage and decide on native entitlements and inheritances based on NCR and custom. "There have been complaints that civil servants are exempt from NCR and this is something which must be clarified by the government as it makes no sense to exclude their descendants' rights to inheritance. "Every member of the community should be entitled to their own communal lands provided they are natives. This is a very serious and important issue for natives and one that should not be dismissed by any political leader in Sabah. We must resolve this issue with haste." |
| Opposition threatened legal action against the New Straits Times Press group Posted: 12 Jul 2011 10:41 AM PDT
By Mazlinda Mahmood, NST KUALA LUMPUR: The Opposition has threatened to initiate legal action against the New Straits Times Press group for allegedly printing a digitally altered picture of a Bersih 2.0 protestor on the frontpages of the New Straits Times and Berita Harian on July 10, a day after the rally. Opposition Senator Saiful Izham Ramli said the picture gave a false image of Bersih 2.0 protestors as it was allegedly altered to show a protestor carrying a weapon to the rally instead of the Jalur Gemilang flag. Saiful Izham, who is a lawyer, gave NSTP group seven days to publish an apology before initiating a legal suit, adding that he has an original, undoctored copy of the picture which was given to him by one of the photographers covering the rally. |
| You asked for it, Ambiga tells Putrajaya Posted: 12 Jul 2011 10:26 AM PDT
By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said the Najib administration has only itself to blame for the overwhelming public response to Saturday's Bersih rally. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal published on its website yesterday, the chairman of the electoral reforms group also played down similarities to popular revolts in the Middle East, stating that there was never any intention to topple the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. "A government that comes across as such a great bully repulsed a lot of people. And I think that is why we had the numbers and the momentum that we did. "Honestly, if they had allowed us to proceed and played it down, we would not have gotten those numbers," the former Bar Council president said, admitting that she at first doubted that the movement would gain such support. Along with leading regional dailies such as the Jakarta Post and Singapore Straits Times, the WSJ has been critical of the government's handling of Bersih, which saw over a hundred arrests in a police dragnet that began over a week before the July 9 march. The influential international business newspaper said that Datuk Seri Najib Razak's administration was creating an atmosphere of "fear and repression" which may result in the so far "silent majority" eventually voicing out against the prime minister. Local politicians, including a deputy minister, have acknowledged the damage to Malaysia's international standing but Umno-controlled media such as Utusan Malaysia and some BN leaders continue to blame the opposition and biased news reports, especially from the foreign media for painting the government in a bad light. Ambiga also said that Bersih was asking for electoral reforms, not a change of government unlike the uprisings in the Middle East known as the Arab Spring which has brought down governments in Egypt and Tunisia and plunged Libya into civil war. "All we are doing is asking for a free and fair election. It is the government's disproportionate response that created a momentum. But we are still a peace-loving nation. We still want the government to be fair. "To me it was never our intention and it is still not our intention to bring down this government. We want to work with this government, to improve our electoral system," she told the WSJ.
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"It is repulsive that the authorities entrusted with policing the nation and protecting the weak and needy, have shamelessly denied publicly, the occurrence of these incidents in spite of countless photos, videos and eye-witness accounts of what was evident to all independent observers," it said.
"The EC should act. If there is no action by the next election, we will suggest that Bersih holds another demonstration," he said at a press conference.
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