Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- France ban on Muslim street prayers comes into effect
- Malaysian Prime Minister Says He Will Abolish 2 Security Laws
- Najib the bold
- Form ISA truth and reconciliation commission
- Canada alerted to Taib’s ‘dirty’ assets
- Malaysia PM's openness pledge greeted warily
- Pakatan claims credit for ISA repeal, law reforms
- Ibrahim Ali cautious over ISA repeal, says racist groups still exist
- Take a stand, cast your vote
- Is a general election looming in Malaysia?
- Malaysian Leader Opens Door for Reforms
- Najib to Repeal Malaysian Laws Before Vote
- Tireless torchbearer for Iban rights
- Messing up with Merdeka date
- Anwar cautious of PM’s reforms, questions new security laws
- Putrajaya will look to US, UK anti-terrorism laws, says Hisham
| France ban on Muslim street prayers comes into effect Posted: 16 Sep 2011 06:06 AM PDT (AFP) - Paris: A ban on praying in French streets came into effect on Friday, with thousands of the nation's Muslim faithful being moved to temporary alternative spaces for their day of prayer. From Paris to Marseille, Friday's midday prayers will be led from disused barracks or other temporary buildings, after the question of Islam's visibility became a political issue under right-wing President Nicolas Sarkozy.
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| Malaysian Prime Minister Says He Will Abolish 2 Security Laws Posted: 16 Sep 2011 01:23 AM PDT By Liz Gooch, New York Times KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The decision by Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia to abolish two controversial security laws that allow for detention without trial and to relax laws governing the news media is an attempt to revive public support ahead of elections that many believe could be called by early next year, analysts said Friday. Mr. Najib announced on Thursday that he would repeal the Internal Securities Act and the Emergency Ordinance, which rights groups say have been used to silence government critics. He also said that publications would no longer have to renew their printing licenses annually and that the government would review laws relating to freedom of assembly. |
| Posted: 16 Sep 2011 01:16 AM PDT By Banyan WHEN Malaysia' prime minister, Najib Razak, wants to do things—anything—it seems that he has do it in a big, all-consuming rush. He recently pledged to reform outdated censorship laws and to review the electoral system. That alone was pretty controversial stuff in a conservative political system, but on September 15th he trumped it by promising to repeal the country's most oppressive internal security laws, including the dreaded Internal Security Act (ISA), further relax the laws on the media and to beef up the laws relating to freedom of assembly. Taken altogether, the government has described these changes as "the biggest shake-up of the Malaysian system since independence from Britain in 1957", a "package of radical reforms that will further transform the country into a mature, progressive democracy." The proposed reforms might also, so his supporters hope, further transform the image of Mr Najib himself, from grey, indecisive technocrat into—well, a radical, mature, progressive democrat. After all, he has an election to win within the next year or so. The political trimmer, it seems, is now very definitely The Man with the Plan. The repeal of the ISA was the most welcome measure. This was introduced in 1960 to help the government combat an armed insurgency by Communist rebels, a conflict inherited from the British colonial era and known then as the "emergency". Its sweeping powers permitted the police to detain suspects indefinitely. However, like other similar laws and regulations of the period, it proved all too useful for governments long after the Communist threat had disappeared, and was retained. The ISA was used for decades to jail opposition politicians, union activists, students, journalists—anyone that the government wanted out of the way. Neighbouring Singapore still has its own ISA. Other laws on the way out include the Emergency Ordinance, introduced in 1969 following race riots, which also allowed people to be detained without charge; the Banishment Act of 1959; and a law restricting residency , dating from the 1930s. Human rights groups have acclaimed all these changes. The government has also promised that newspapers and journals will now only have to get a publication permit once, valid indefinitely unless revoked, rather then annually, thus reducing the scope for government interference and pressure on the media. If all these laws are indeed repealed and changes implemented, then the political landscape in Malaysia might look very different in a few years' time, and Mr Najib will be able to claim a lot of credit for that. Opposition politicians, many of whom have urged the abolition of the ISA for years, were unusually generous in their acclaim for Mr Najib, and broadly welcomed the announcements. However, the real test as to whether these reforms will really make a big difference will come next year when the government unveils the two new laws that it say will replace the outgoing ISA and Emergency Ordinance. New laws will, apparently, allow for "far more judicial oversight", but still allow the police "to detain suspects for preventive reasons." The arguments will revolve around what "limits" the new laws will put on the police to detain people, mainly on grounds of the catch-all "national security" and terrorism. Expect a big political punch-up about that. And we will know more about Mr Najib's credentials as a genuine reformer—as a radical even—when that debate comes around. For now, though, Malaysians will be content with the promises made. The opposition feels vindicated, although they will worry that Mr Najib has swiped many of their most distinctive campaign promises at the next election. Democracy activists and netizens are proclaiming that Mr Najib has bowed to "people power" after a nasty government crackdown on a rally in Kuala Lumpur in early July backfired, leading merely to intense criticism of the overzealous tactics used to contain the protestors—much of the legislation used to crack down on the organisers of the Bersih 2.0 rally is now history. And even Mr Najib's governing party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), will be relatively happy, feeling that they have a much clearer prospectus going into the next election than they did a few months ago. Some on the extreme Malay wing of the party grumble that all this reform stuff is going too far, but they will go along with it as long as it does not touch on the most profound sources of oppression and grievance in the country, the institutionalised ethnic discrimination that privileges Malays over the country's other races, mainly Chinese and Indians. It is the system of ethnic quotas and divisions that is really holding the country back—if Mr Najib started to take an axe to all that, then absolutely nobody would question his credentials as a radical reformer.
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| Form ISA truth and reconciliation commission Posted: 15 Sep 2011 05:42 PM PDT Suaran says such a set-up will bring to closure to the entire episode for all those affected by the draconian law. (Free Malaysia Today) - Following Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's announcement that the Internal Security Act (ISA) will be abolished, there is now a need for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to bring closure to the entire episode for all involved and affected by the law. Suaram director Kua Kia Soong said the TRC was necessary as a recognition of the pain, injustice, and violations perpetrated under the law that allowed detention without trial.
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| Canada alerted to Taib’s ‘dirty’ assets Posted: 15 Sep 2011 04:25 PM PDT Swiss-based NGO claims that several top Canadian political leaders have taken an interest in the complaints about Taib's alleged money-laundering activities in Canada. (Free Malaysia Today) - Swiss-based NGO, Bruno Manser Fund (BMF), claimed that the Canadian government is taking a keen interest in complaints raised by BMF about Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud's alleged money-laundering activities in Canada. The BMF, however, could not confirm if a formal investigation had been initiated on Taib-family-founded Sakto Corporation for the alleged offence, but said Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is well aware of the allegation. Sakto owns and administers properties in Ottawa, Ontario, estimated to be worth well over US$100 million. It is also the centre of a Taib family-linked property empire with significant holdings in the UK, the US and Australia. "(We) can confirm that our letter (about the money-laundering activities in Canada) has aroused great interest in the Canadian government and was brought to the attention of several top (political) leaders there. "This includes Finance Minister, James M Flaherty, the person who is ultimately responsible for money-laundering matters," BNF said in a statement yesterday. In a correspondence with the NGO, a top executive of Canada's Department of Justice gave an assurance that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's (RCMP) integrated market enforcement team are experts in dealing with capital fraud. Sakto run by Taib's daughter
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| Malaysia PM's openness pledge greeted warily Posted: 15 Sep 2011 03:29 PM PDT By Channelnewsasia.com KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's government must fully explain its plan to overhaul oppressive security laws before it can be declared a victory for human rights, opposition figures and activists said Friday. Rights groups hailed Prime Minister Najib Razak's announcement Thursday that he would repeal an unpopular law allowing preventive detention as a potential watershed validating decades of campaigning by civil liberties advocates. |
| Pakatan claims credit for ISA repeal, law reforms Posted: 15 Sep 2011 12:10 PM PDT
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders have taken credit for Datuk Seri Najib Razak's decision to repeal the Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) as well as several law reforms, saying the prime minister's move was a direct rip-off from their Buku Jingga plans. Opposition leaders have chosen to remain cautious over the PM's announcement, but at the same time said that the "bold reforms" vindicated PR's struggles for "the past few decades."
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| Ibrahim Ali cautious over ISA repeal, says racist groups still exist Posted: 15 Sep 2011 11:45 AM PDT By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — Datuk Ibrahim Ali has cautioned against early celebrations over Putrajaya's decision last night to repeal the Internal Security Act (ISA), telling the government that racism still exists in the country. The fiery founder and president of Malay rights group Perkasa, who supported suggestions to use the ISA against Bersih 2.0 protestors, said he would adopt a "wait-and-see" approach to Datuk Seri Najib Razak's reform promises before declaring a formal stand. Ibrahim, who has been detained twice without trial under the ISA, also appeared to doubt the government's sincerity in its latest reforms, questioning if the Najib's announcement was merely a populist move. "Was the decision made for the government to gain popularity or are they truly prioritising national security? "As such, Perkasa chooses to wait and see," he said. Najib announced a slew of reforms during his Malaysia Day address to the nation last night, including repealing the ISA, amendments to other security and press laws and the lifting of three Emergency Declarations. Ibrahim, however, lauded the decision to lift the Emergency Declarations, saying they were no longer relevant. "Perkasa congratulates the PM in conjunction with Malaysia Day celebration and the 54th Merdeka Day," he said. Najib also said that two new preventive laws would be enacted in place of the ISA, which de facto law minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz later told The Malaysian Insider would still allow for detention without trial. But the laws, said to be fashioned after anti-terrorism legislation like the Patriot Act in the US, are to be solely used against terrorists and not to curb individuals from supporting different political ideologies. The Malaysian Insider understands that Najib's speech last night is the start of an election push which will definitely not be held this year although there was speculation of snap polls in November. Najib came to power in April 2009 with the promise of reviewing the ISA but has now done away with the security law completely in what appears to be a drastic move to win back middle Malaysia.
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| Posted: 15 Sep 2011 11:39 AM PDT By Kong Si Ying, The Star Elections, essentially popularity contests, have the propensity to bow to irrational sentiment and does not always constitute mankind's finest moments, but this is the way we choose our leaders – and our future. THIS is not an essay on governance or politics. I do not propose to promulgate the good or bad of democracy, representative government or any political party. It is merely an essay on our right and duty to vote. This is an entreaty to each of us to understand and, more importantly, participate in the civilisation we exist in. It is a bid for action and ownership over one's future, rather than discontent compounded by indifference. First, we seek to understand the form of civilised society we exist in. Malaysia inherited its parliamentary system from the British. Democracy, in all its varied forms, is perhaps the only form of government my generation will ever know. We elect our class monitor, our student council, a company's board of directors and our parliamentary representatives based on similar principles. It is sometimes referred to as popular government. Elections are essentially popularity contests, which have the propensity to bow to irrational sentiment. This, in turn, does not always constitute mankind's finest moments. It is, however, inevitable in the quest for equality by giving each citizen a voice. If you wish to keep that voice, you must use it. Whether by birth or some other process, we were granted citizenship, and with that came the right to vote for, and hopefully determine, the few among us who will steer our society and make decisions on behalf of all of us. Our Government's policies and decisions, although seemingly remote to our everyday lives, do have profound effects on you and me – how much we will earn, how happy our children will be, how safe our streets are, how long we can live. We choose our leaders and, hence, our future, through the removed but necessary reach of the ballot. That said, I do not seek to debate whether democracy is the ideal form of governance. Representative government is what we have. For now, we play our cards based on the rules that exist. In the very near future, all Malaysian citizens eligible to vote, and who have registered at least three or four months in advance as a voter, will be asked to choose their representatives, or perhaps, to decide whether they would even bother heading to the polling booth in the first place. Whatever your vote, please participate in the choosing of your government and cast that vote. Voting is a civic duty and one might ask to whom this duty is owed. It is owed, if not to fellow citizens, then at the least to yourself. Freedom, egalitarianism and civilised society were not born from indifference. In the absence of crisis, we take for granted our roles as civilians. As an individual with hopes, wants and needs, one owes it to oneself to take ownership and control over one's life, and a necessary extension of that is our government. If you are discontented, consider the alternatives. If you prefer the status quo, vote to defend the incumbent. Whichever it is, vote. Those who do not vote waive the moral right to complain and be disgruntled about the past and future state of governance. You may vote because of the individual or you may vote because of the party. You may vote selfishly to keep yourself in business or you may seek altruism by voting with future generations in mind. Whatever your motivation, there is no right or wrong. Your right to choose extends not only to which box you will cross, but also how you make that choice. The evolution of modern government has made these choices your sacred right. Treasure it, use it. You may listen to what others philosophise about these choices, but the ultimate decision is yours. Likewise, you might choose to abstain from voting for whatever reason. Legally speaking, that is your choice, too. Your vote is ultimately your decision, as is your choice whether to vote. If you feel that your abstention may not matter because your vote is just a drop in the ocean, you are not alone. Many, if not almost all of us, share that view. But if civic indifference is the death of civilised society, tell yourself this – it will not start with me. Much has been said about the many political groups and individuals in our country, by the very same political groups and individuals as well as by those that would be governed by them. Many of us are wary, some of us weary. There are populist agenda, healthy debates, personal attacks, political promises, and this sea of rhetoric can be overwhelming. Sometimes, to shut out the noise, disappointment and disdain, it seems easier to just ignore the politics. Politics. It has become a dirty word. Yet inaction is not the way to live. Inaction stems from either indifference or fear. To the indifferent, consider the duty you owe to yourself, your loved ones and your fellow countrymen to participate in the democracy you co-exist in, and to care enough about what will happen to yourself and to them. To the fearful, I would say (at the risk of quoting a beat generation artist and a Disney film) that "courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear". That something else, is your right to choose your leaders and to own your future as well as the legacy of your nation. Not all of us will become the Nelson Mandelas or Aung San Suu Kyis of the world or participate in an Arab uprising, but we can be our own heroes and reclaim our dignity in our own small but profound way. We may put our faith and trust in the wrong candidate, we may vote and yet be beaten by the majority, but we take a stand and cast that vote and hope for the best, so that although at the end of the day there may be disappointment, there will be no shame.
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| Is a general election looming in Malaysia? Posted: 15 Sep 2011 11:29 AM PDT By Razak Ahmad, Reuters A recent slew of populist measures has strengthened expectations that Malaysian Prime Minister Najib could call a snap election within the next 6 months, as he seeks a mandate to execute economic reforms and strengthen his grip on power. Bonus payments for civil servants, a cash payout for farmers and affordable housing for low-income earners are among the steps the government has taken to cushion the impact of higher prices and address a major gripe among voters. Najib is also expected to announce several political reforms on Thursday, including amending a controversial security law to make good on promises to allow increased freedom of speech. The government's popularity has taken a dip over the past year because of anger over the rising cost of living, the slow pace of political reforms and widening religious discontent. Analysts say Najib has two options: hold snap polls to cut his losses or delay elections, which would buy him time to appease disgruntled ethnic minorities. The following are possible scenarios on the timing of the next general election, which is not due until 2013, and the implications for reforms. SOONER OR LATER Najib may opt for an early election for fear that economic growth could take a sharp dive if the global economy slipped into recession. "With signs of global growth moderating, and the global economy showing signs of weakness, it would make sense for PM Najib to call an election soon, rather than risk the economic climate turning much worse," Barclay's Capital said in a note on Sept. 1. Analysts say the ruling National Front coalition could also press ahead with early polls as it discounts the support of non-Muslim ethnic minorities who appear steadfast in their opposition towards the government. Najib could also be persuaded to call for an early election with former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's opposition struggling to build on its strong victory in a Sarawak state election. The three-party opposition grouping has been plagued by infighting and distracted by Anwar's protracted trial on sodomy charges, which he denies. Najib's popularity rating is also still relatively strong at 56 percent in August, although it has declined steadily since hitting a high of 72 percent in May 2010. BUY SOME TIME On the flip side, Najib could hold out beyond the next 6 months to give himself more time to execute reforms. Since taking office in 2009, the premier has taken modest steps to cut fuel subsidies and liberalise the economy. Critics say he must move a lot faster if he wants to make good on a pledge to put Malaysia back on the radar of foreign investors. The government may also want more time to placate unhappy ethnic minority Chinese and Indians who complain of marginalisation. Loss of support among the two ethnic groups contributed to the ruling coalition's disastrous showing in the 2008 general election when it lost its once iron-clad, two-thirds majority. Najib could also take a bet that holding polls later rather than earlier would see the opposition further weakened by internal squabbles and the lack of clear leadership if Anwar were jailed for sodomy. REFORM OUTLOOK? A strong win by either Najib's coalition or the opposition People's Alliance grouping is expected to be positive for financial markets as it would provide certainty in government and economic policy. If the ruling coalition wins big, it could give Najib the mandate to push through delayed reforms such as the introduction of a goods and services tax as well as accelerating subsidy cuts. Similarly, a clear win by the opposition would give it the will to push through pledges to cut government corruption and scrap a pro-ethnic Malay economic policy, which investors say has spawned a patronage-ridden economy. A worst-case scenario for the markets would be an unconvincing win by either side, which would lead to more political tension and policy uncertainty. In 2008, the National Front's poor showing triggered a 9.5 percent slide in the stock market. (Editing by Liau Y-Sing and Robert Birsel) |
| Malaysian Leader Opens Door for Reforms Posted: 15 Sep 2011 11:04 AM PDT By James Hookway, Wall Street Journal Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak opened the door to major political changes in this Southeast Asian nation Thursday by saying the government would abolish a decades-old law that allows for detention without trial and pledging not to hold anybody in custody because of their political beliefs. Instead, the country's draconian Internal Security Act will be replaced by new legislation targeted at detaining terrorists. Mr. Najib also said newspapers and broadcasters would be able to operate indefinitely without renewing their license each year, as is the case now, unless those licenses are revoked. |
| Najib to Repeal Malaysian Laws Before Vote Posted: 15 Sep 2011 11:00 AM PDT By Gan Yen Kuan, Bloomberg Prime Minister Najib Razak announced Malaysia's broadest political reforms since independence in 1957, two months after street protests that led to the arrest of more than 1,600 people. Najib promised to scrap the Internal Security Act and the Emergency Ordinance, which permit detention without trial, to ensure that people can't be arrested for their political affiliations. The government will also ease restrictions on the media and public assembly, he said. "The abolition of the ISA, and the other historic changes, underline my commitment to making Malaysia a modern, progressive democracy that can be proud to take its place at the top table of international leadership," Najib said yesterday in a speech broadcast on national television. "Many will question whether I am moving too far, too fast. There may be short-term pain for me politically, but in the long term the changes I am announcing will ensure a brighter, more prosperous future." Najib, 58, vowed to improve democratic freedoms before national elections that could be held as early as next year, and after a backlash against the government's response to a July 9 rally demanding an overhaul of electoral laws. Groups such as Amnesty International condemned the use of force to detain the peaceful activists for marching on the capital in defiance of a government ban. The prime minister's speech was "geared toward the election," Ong Kian Ming, a political analyst at UCSI University in Kuala Lumpur, said by telephone. Popularity DropsA group of more than 60 non-governmental organizations known as Bersih 2.0 planned the protests. Bersih, which has the support of opposition parties, wants electoral changes such as campaign periods of at least 21 days and the use of indelible ink on fingers to prevent people from voting more than once. Public support for Najib slipped to 59 percent in August from 65 percent in May, according to a survey by Selangor-based Merdeka Center for Opinion Research. His popularity, which peaked at 72 percent in May 2010, has waned amid growing concerns about higher living costs and the government's handling of the Bersih 2.0 rally, the center said on Aug. 29. The survey of 1,027 people was taken from Aug. 11-27 and didn't give a margin of error. Last month, Najib said the government would establish a bi- partisan parliamentary committee to review changes to electoral rules, and that authorities would also consider amending laws governing censorship of print media. 'Positive Development'During the July protests, Malaysia's Home Ministry blacked out parts of an article in the Economist that called the government "overzealous" in its handling of the Bersih rally. Najib's pledges are a "positive development that opens up space for freedom of speech, rule of law and transparency," said Ibrahim Suffian, a political analyst at Merdeka Center. "The proof lies in the implementation of these statements and the nature of the laws meant to replace the ISA." The Internal Security Act was introduced in 1960 in the wake on an armed insurgency by Communist rebels, giving the police wide-ranging powers to detain suspects indefinitely. It will be replaced by a law that incorporates more judicial oversight and limits police powers to detain people for preventive reasons, Najib said. Opposition leaders including Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Guan Eng and Karpal Singh have been held under the ISA and 37 people are now being held under the the law. The same regulation remains in neighboring Singapore, another former British colony. No CompromiseThe Emergency Ordinance, introduced in Malaysia following race riots in 1969, permits the detention of suspects for up to two years with a minister's consent. The government used it against six opposition politicians in July. "This will be replaced by a law that will not compromise on national security and terrorism, while increasing democratic accountability and judicial oversight," the government said in an e-mailed statement yesterday. Media laws will be repealed so licenses, which must now be renewed annually, can remain valid indefinitely unless revoked, the government said. While Malaysia's constitution guarantees the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, the law has required police permission before gatherings could go ahead, including on private land such as stadiums. "This law will now be reviewed to bring Malaysia in line with international standards, while ensuring that the police retain the right to prevent violent scenes on the nation's streets," according to the government statement. |
| Tireless torchbearer for Iban rights Posted: 15 Sep 2011 10:51 AM PDT By Stephanie Sta Maria, FMT Ibi anak Uding has taken to wearing white these days. She says it's the only way to control her fiery temperament which is constantly stoked by the plight of her native Iban community. To outsiders, Ibi is known as PKR Sarawak's Wanita chief. But among her own she is saluted as the Iban torchbearer in her relentless fight for their rights. And that fight has been a formidable one. The development that has flowed into Sarawak over the decades has not just bypassed natives living deep in the interior but also encroached into their fundamental rights. Protests over disparity and injustices are easily muffled by those in power and would have remained silent if not for Ibi. Seven years ago, an oil plantation company helped itself to Ibi's land by planting its trees there. An outraged Ibi was arrested and badly bruised in her attempt to take back what was rightfully hers. "I lodged a report with Bukit Aman and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and I never heard a single word from them," she said. "That's when I knew I had to continue fighting but on a different platform. So I became a politician." Faith and loyalty Ibi, 49, joined the Sarawak National Party (SNAP) and self-financed her campaign for the Balai Ringin seat in the 2006 state election. After the seat fell to Barisan Nasional's (BN) Snowdon Lawan, SNAP slowly sank below the political radar screen and went into hibernation. Ibi was dismayed but decided to wait for a second chance. That chance came in the 2008 general election. By March 2009, she was among the first Dayaks to join PKR. In this year's April 16 Sarawak state election, she was the first Iban woman candidate to be fielded by PKR for the Balai Ringin constituency seat. Balai Ringin is a two-hour drive from Kuching and is among the nine new state seats created by the Election Commission after the re-delineation of electoral boundaries in 2005. Ibans form 89.09% of the voters there and as soon as they heard of her candidacy, they came in droves to offer their assistance.
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| Posted: 15 Sep 2011 10:48 AM PDT
By Jeswant Kaur, FMT Is Aug 31 the independence day of Malaysia or Malaya? Referring to the former, which is what we have for so long been doing, has caused a lot of unhappiness among the people of East Malaysia, that is, Sabah and Sarawak. As of 2010, the population of the two states stood at six million (3.5 million in Sabah and 2.5 million in Sarawak), representing roughly 20% of the population of Malaysia. Historically, the term "Malaysia" came into being on Sept 16, 1963. Prior to that, this country was called "Malaya" which in the Philippine national language of Tagalog also means "free" or "freedom". This being so, the people of Sabah and Sarawak want Aug 31 to be addressed as the independence day of Malaya, not Malaysia. The first prime minister of independent Malaya, Tunku Abdul Rahman, in 1961 mooted the idea of forming "Malaysia" which would comprise Brunei, Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore, all of which had been British colonies. Tunku's reasoning was that this would allow the central government to combat and control communist activities, especially in Singapore. Then there was also the fear that if Singapore achieved independence, it would become a base for Chinese chauvinists to threaten Malayan sovereignty. It was decided that to balance out the ethnic composition of the new nation, the other states, with their Malay and indigenous populations, would be included. The objections raised by the people of Sabah and Sarawak in being included in the Aug 31 independence brings to mind the rejections then made by the political parties in Sarawak in merging with "Malaysia". Sabah's community representatives also opposed the merger and so did the Parti Rakyat Brunei (PRB), albeit the Sultan of Brunei supporting the "marriage". A revolt staged by PRB was seen as a threat to destabilise the new nation, hence the decision to leave Brunei out of Malaysia. After a review of the Cobbold Commission's findings, the British government appointed the Landsdowne Commission to draft a constitution for Malaysia. The constitution would essentially be the same as the 1957 constitution, the only difference being in the rewording. For instance, recognising the special position of the natives of the Borneo states plus granting Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore autonomy which was unavailable to other states of Malaya. Post-negotiations in July 1963, it was agreed that Malaysia would come into being on Aug 31, 1963 consisting of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore. The date was to coincide with the independence day of Malaya. However, the Philippines and Indonesia fought against this development, with the latter claiming Malaysia represented a form of "neocolonialism" and the Philippines claiming Sabah as its territory, causing the formation of Malaysia to be delayed. This situation led to an eight-member United Nations team being formed to re-ascertain whether Sabah and Sarawak truly wanted to be a part of Malaysia. Malaysia was formally established on Sept 16, 1963 comprising Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore. The above quick-take on how Malaya and Malaysia came to be forces the question of why then is Aug 31 referred to as the independence day of Malaysia, instead of Malaya? Natives of Sabah and Sarawak upset Repeatedly addressing Aug 31 as Malaysia's Merdeka day has been rankling the natives of Sabah and Sarawak for sometime now. Their argument is that the Malaysian government has got its facts wrong by referring to Aug 31 as the independence day for Malaysia. Aug 31, they point out, should be addressed as the independence day of Malaya. How should this issue be dealt with? Should the term "Malaya" henceforth be used to address the country's Merdeka come Aug 31? The irony, however, is that for so long a time now, Aug 31 has been synonymous with the birth date of "Malaysia". How did this anomaly happen?
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| Anwar cautious of PM’s reforms, questions new security laws Posted: 15 Sep 2011 10:44 AM PDT
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has remained cautious of the Najib administration's latest move in repealing the Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA), and has questioned the proposed new security laws as replacements. In a response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's announcement made last night, the opposition leader said the public should remain "cautious" whether the repealing of the ISA guaranteed "freedom" from other forms of persecution. "ISA: sambut baik pemansuhannya setelah sekian lama diperjuang rakyat dan ditentang umno. Wbp harus waspada samada kebebasan dijamin dan Akta ganti (ISA: welcome the abolishment after long fought for by the rakyat and opposed by Umno. But we have to be wary whether freedom is now guaranteed and what will be the replacement Acts)," said Anwar on micro-blogging site Twitter. Najib announced he wants to repeal the ISA and the three Emergency Declarations when both the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat have their next sitting. The prime minister said new laws will be enacted to protect the peace, harmony and security of the country. He also announced that the government will do away with annual printing and publishing permits with permits that can be cancelled if regulations are flouted. Najib acknowledged in his address to the nation on the eve of Malaysia Day that the move to increase civil liberties was "risky, but we are doing this for our survival." PKR vice-president N. Surendran said reform announcements were "vague and limited" and that the PM had failed to acknowledge any wrongdoing in the usage of the ISA as well as emergency laws for "five long decades." Surendran charged that the reforms still left "substantial" undemocratic and oppressive powers in the hands of the government. "The ISA is to be abolished; however two new laws are to be enacted providing for preventive detention. The ambit and wording of these two new laws are unknown," he said in a statement last night. Najib also said last night that two new security laws would be introduced for preventive detention which would be limited only to cases of terrorism and "ensure that basic human rights are protected."
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| Putrajaya will look to US, UK anti-terrorism laws, says Hisham Posted: 15 Sep 2011 10:38 AM PDT  By Melissa Chi, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — Putrajaya will look to anti-terrorism laws from the West as models to replace the Internal Security Act (ISA) which is to be repealed under a raft of reforms announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the Patriot Act in the United States, the Anti-terrorism Act in the UK and Australia will be considered in drawing up new security laws for Malaysia. "All these can be examples for us to foil potential terrorist acts," he told reporters after the prime minister's address to the nation last night. "It is another chapter of the journey which we announced earlier and a lot of work has now got to go into the two Acts that were announced and actually the balancing between national interest and security and civil liberties is the balance that we need to achieve," he added. The home minister said the two new Acts proposed to replace the ISA will cover terrorism and national security. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the new laws will still allow detention without trial. Hishammuddin had denied on Tuesday speculation that the government will abolish the ISA — a possible indication of resistance among security officials and right-wing elements in Umno to purported plans by the prime minister to repeal the controversial law.Despite talk coming from sources in Najib's office in recent days that the PM was mulling a repeal of the law which provides for detention without trial, the home minister insisted that the law would only be "adjusted and amended." "So as far as KDN (Home Ministry) is concerned, we were fully aware that this transformation needed to be made but the two years that it took us to get here is finding the balance and the events that took place around the world, events that took place in Malaysia helped us in shaping what the prime minister announced today," Hishammuddin said. He reiterated Najib's remarks, saying that the country was no longer in a state of emergency and all the Emergency Declarations will be looked into. "Those are related to the emergency conditions and that was the basic premise of what the prime minister said that we are no longer in a state of emergency.
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