Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- #OCCUPYPARLIMEN: Memorial service for death of Malaysian Parliament
- KJ: Opposition's 'repulsive' politics will bring down the country
- Dana NFC beli Mercedes, tanah dan cuti mewah?
- Khairy: PKR losing support
- The Assembly Tail
- PSC expected to table interim report with changes to 12 areas
- Why Najib can’t reform
- Habibah’s bra-zen broadside
- Asri: No new ideas from Umno
- Rep: PAS, where’s the RM600mil?
- Dr Asri: Umno nampak gelisah, masih gagal beri harapan baru
- RM10,000 a month to monitor Facebook ‘wall postings’
- Roused by racial jibes, Umno may forget Najib’s unity plea
- Khairy blushing over delegates’ crude remarks
- Fernandes declares war on Malaysia Airports over tax hike
- Mahathir-Najib made us debtors
- Nazri warns of 2008 repeat if Umno infighting continues
- Mend your ways, Umno
- The Mamak Dilemma – Shame, Opportunity, Assimilation, and an Identity Lost
- Peaceful Assembly: The BN Government's Misinformation
- It’s people’s right to disagree
- How Laws are enacted in Malaysia
- Perak MB wins suit again Suara Keadilan
- Perkasa, Mamak group bring traffic to a standstill
- NFC scandal: PKR reveals more dirt
- KLIA2 to cost RM3.6-3.9bn
- Aziz Bari may quit UIA in a week
- For Umno’s survival, Khairy appeals for change
- Sabahans protest against new assembly law
- ‘No room for Kita in Kedah’
- Plot to isolate Ku Li in Umno?
- Pahang govt ‘killing’ Tasik Chini’s ecosystem
- Just go away, Shahrizat
- Umno Youth calls PAS, PKR ‘bapok’, ‘pondan’ and DAP ‘enemy of Islam’
| #OCCUPYPARLIMEN: Memorial service for death of Malaysian Parliament Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:57 AM PST THE MALAYSIAN PARLIAMENT The Parliament leaves behind 28 million heartbroken Malaysians, including the Fisherman, the Postal Worker, the Nasi Lemak Mak Cik, the Kindergarten Teacher, the Retired Old Man, the Teenage Boy, the Unemployed Fresh Graduate and many others of who looked to it as a place where their voices could be heard.
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| KJ: Opposition's 'repulsive' politics will bring down the country Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:48 AM PST (The Sun Daily) - Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin today warned that the country is not spared from having to face a modern version of "Enam Jahanam" in the form of "repulsive" politics practised by the opposition. Taking inspiration from a classic Tan Sri P. Ramlee's movie of the same title, which tells the tale of six despicable bandits, Khairy in his opening speech at the wing's general assembly today, listed six ways that the opposition will bring down the country. A total of 942 delegates and Umno Youth excos were gathered for the opening of assembly at the Dewan Tun Hussein Onn in the Putra World Trade Centre. The six ways are by: >> destroying the democratic system, >> destroying the system of administration, >> destroying national dignity, >> destroying the country's history, >> destroying ethnic identity, and >> destroying the country's economic prosperity. Khairy, who is MP for Rembau, claimed that the opposition coalition will destroy the current democratic and administration system led by Barisan Nasional (BN), partly due to its inability to reach a consensus on certain issues, namely on hudud. "Imagine what will happen to the administration of law in this country under the Pakatan rule. "PAS wants to implement hudud, but DAP says hudud 'over my dead body'," he said to cheers from the floor. He also said Pakatan Rakyat is not ready to take over the country's administration as it has yet to even come up with a shadow cabinet. "What they have are three supervisors for one portfolio – three heads, one body," he said in reference to Pakatan Rakyat de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang. Touching on national dignity, Khairy stressed that Umno and BN have never painted a bad picture of the country's leadership in the eyes of others. "We take pride in the origins of our country, in our achievement and our national symbols. "The opposition's unbridled thirst for power is very different to our culture and attitude as Malaysians with national pride," he charged, before repeating claims that Lim had made disparaging remarks against Johor while on a working visit to Singapore, purportedly in hope of scaring investors away. Khairy also took a swipe at PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu for allegedly distorting history, based on his statements related to the Bukit Kepong incident. "Our most bitter enemies are hailed as heroes, while those who died in defence of our country are insulted," he claimed. Saving his best salvo for last, Khairy rounded up his speech by responding to his counterpart from PKR, Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin's challenge for Umno to amend the constitution and guarantee the rights of Malays to become prime minister. "It is evident that they are unnerved by DAP's dominance in the coalition, even turning to Umno to rescue them," he claimed. Shamsul Iskandar had issued the dare during PKR's 8th National Congress last week, but Anwar later clarified that the statement was taken out of context. Meanwhile, Khairy also touched on the need for youths to become agents of change and spearhead Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's transformation plans. "If we are slow to transform, the people will not forgive us," he stressed. Earlier, BernamaTV cameraman, the late Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, who was shot and killed while covering a humanitarian mission in Somalia, was honoured with the 2nd "Anugerah Kesatria Terbilang". The award presented by Khairy was accepted by his wife, Norazrina Jaafar.
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| Dana NFC beli Mercedes, tanah dan cuti mewah? Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:37 AM PST (Harakah Daily) - Pengarah Strategi PKR, Mohd Rafizi Ramli terpanggil untuk terus menyenaraikan perbelanjaan-perbelanjaan boros bersifat peribadi yang didakwa dibuat keluarga Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil. Ini, katanya memandangkan Ketua Wanita Umno itu langsung tidak menunjukkan tanda-tanda insaf setelah PKR membuat pelbagai pendedahan mengenai penyelewengan dana NFC. Rafizi mendakwa pada 9 Disember 2009, keluarga Shahrizat menggunakan wang dari pinjaman mudah RM250 juta untuk membeli sebuah kereta mewah Mercedes Benz CLS 350 CGI berharga RM534,622. Beliau juga mendakwa, dana sebanyak RM3,363,507 telah disalurkan melalui NMLC untuk membeli dua bidang tanah di Putrajaya iaitu PT1886 dan PT1887, Presint 10, Putrajaya. "Kebarangkalian tanah-tanah ini dibeli untuk membuka ladang ternakan lembu di Putrajaya adalah tipis," ujarnya dalama satu kenyataan. Jelasnya, semakan bayaran-bayaran yang dibuat melalui cek dari akaun 141640000066107 CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad di bawah nama NFC menunjukkan bayaran yang besar dan berulang kali dibuat kepada Impian Global Network Services (IGNS). Menurutnya, siasatan PKR menunjukkan IGNS adalah sebuah syarikat pelancongan yang menawarkan pakej percutian di Phuket, Kuching, Banding, Singapura dan Bali (sila lawati laman http://impianglobalnetworkservices.blogspot.com/ ) Dakwanya lagi, antara bulan Januari hingga Julai 2010, 15 cek berjumlah RM455,423 dikeluarkan kepada IGNS (butiran seperti di bawah). Ini, jarnya menimbulkan tanda tanya bagaimanakah sebuah syarikat yang sepatutnya menguruskan ladang ternakan lembu menjadikan perbelanjaan pakej percutian sebagai perbelanjaan bulanan. "Apakah ia telah disalahgunakan untuk membiayai percutian ahli keluarga menteri dan rakan-rakan mereka?" soalnya.
Menurutnya, pada 21 Julai 2010, NFC memindahkan sejumlah RM588,585 ke akaun milik Meatworks (Singapore) Pte Ltd milik keluarga menteri. "Tindakan ini bertentangan dengan fungsi NFC tatkala Ketua Pemuda Umno mendakwa bahawa NFC tidak mempunyai sebarang urusniaga dengan Singapura kerana daging mentah Malaysia tidak boleh dieksport ke Singapura. "Jika itu keadaannya, kenapa sejumlah besar wang dipindahkan ke Singapura?" tanya beliau. Justeru, katanya Shahrizat Jalil hanya ada dua pilihan sama ada menjelaskan satu persatu perbelanjaan-perbelanjaan itu di Perhimpunan Agung Umno dalam masa terdekat, atau terus mengheret Umno dan Barisan Nasional ke dalam kancah skandal peribadi beliau. Rafizi menambah, pihaknya akan mengaturkan beberapa siri laporan polis serentak di seluruh negara untuk mendesak pihak berkuasa segera menyiasat penyelewengan dalam pendedahan terbaru itu.
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| Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:31 AM PST (The Star) - UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said that PKR had suggested amending the Federal Constitution to stipulate that only a Malay can be Prime Minister because it knew that its support among the Malays was declining. The proposal (made by PKR Youth head Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin) also reflected its fear that a Pakatan Rakyat government would be dominated by the DAP, with the Prime Minister coming "not from PKR or PAS". "Barisan does not need this constitutional amendment because we have full confidence in the spirit of goodwill, friendship and cooperation among the component parties," he told the Umno Youth assembly. "We believe that Umno can offer leadership to all Malaysians." Khairy said the Opposition's populist promises were "a sure recipe" for bankruptcy. They would do or say anything to gain power, he added, and likened them to Enam Jahanam (The Six Damned), the villains of a P. Ramlee film upon whom revenge is then wrought. He also said the Opposition were out to destroy the country's democratic system by instigating people to take to the streets to manufacture a Malaysian version of the "Arab Spring". Khairy noted that PKR deputy president Azmin Ali recently said the party would "break prison walls" to free Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim if the opposition leader was found guilty of sodomy. "These are not the words of a democrat. They have absolutely no regard for law and order or the integrity of the judicial system. To them, democracy is but a political tool to be used seasonally if and when it serves their purpose," he said. He said that many in the Opposition showed little national pride and respect for the flag. "They were even willing to distort history by hailing enemies as heroes while those who died defending the country were insulted," he said.
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| Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:18 AM PST The scene is a small terrace house, somewhere in Kelana Jaya. Ten year old Mary and her younger brother Timothy approach their father who is sitting in the living room flossing his teeth after a large meal. Azmi Sharom "Papa, Timmy and I would like to tell you something" "Oh, really, both of you want to gather together and say something?" "Yes, we think it is a very important issue and we would like to express ourselves to the whole family". "I see, so you want to assemble peacefully. You are not going to get violent are you?" "Of course not Papa!" "Good. Good. Very well, you can't say I am a wicked and authoritarian father. I am in fact very liberal; much more liberal than other fathers, for example that Mr Hlaing from Myanmar. I am very happy to give you the space to get together with your brother and express yourselves to your little hearts' content". "Oh thank you Papa. You are such a kind and understanding Papa". "I know, I am, all my buddies tell me. However, I just have a few teeny tiny conditions" "What are they Papa"? "There are some places in the house where you cannot gather. The kitchen is one. It is a very sensitive area where food is being prepared and I don't want you to get in the way of your mother who is busy cooking there. Also you can't gather in the dining room because that is where we eat. The living room is off limits due to the fact that the television is there and you would be interrupting the quiet enjoyment of the family by making noise when we are trying to watch TV. The garage is a no go zone. If you go tramping around in there you might jolly well scratch my car and we can't be having that can we?" "I suppose not Papa. Is there any where else we can't gather?" "Let me think. Of course! You can't assemble in the toilet". "In the toilet? Why not?" "You know very well that I suffer from incredible bouts of gas and I need the toilet to be free at all times so I can relieve the build up". "So, where on earth can we gather"? "Your bedroom". "How can the other family members know what we are complaining about if we are stuck in our bedroom"? "You silly little thing. If the rest of the family want to hear what you are saying they'll just have to go to the bedroom isn't it? Except little Annie. She's too young and I don't want her getting confused by what you have to say" "Are those all your conditions Papa"? "No, I have one more. If any of the family members complain about what you are saying, then I won't let you speak". "That is not fair. You know that big brother Abe never agrees with us and he is bound to complain. He is your favourite and you always listen to him no matter how stupid his views are" "Now, now, you are being over emotional. I don't have any favourites and it is irresponsible for you to say so. See, I let you speak and you say irresponsible things. There are limits to freedom you know". "Your limits have no limits papa. This is too much." "Alright then, if you are unhappy with my rules you know what you can do." "What" "You can go to your room and talk to yourself over there". Mary and Timothy trudge unhappily to their bedroom. Suddenly their father calls to them. "Wait! Wait! Mary, I said you can go to your bedroom. I did not say that you and Timmy can go there together in a procession. When you walk in a group you block up the hallway and that is very bad. There's a good girl. Now off you go and when you are finished, go make me a cup of tea".
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| PSC expected to table interim report with changes to 12 areas Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:14 AM PST By Pauline Wong, The Sun The Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reform is expected to table an interim report in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow. Sources said the report recommends changes to the electoral process in almost a dozen areas, including use of indelible ink, the setting up of a royal commission, improvements to the nomination process and cleaning up of the electoral roll, which should be implemented before the next general election. An official representing PSC chairman Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili (pix), however, told the press the report could not be divulged before it is tabled in Parliament. Sources said, however, that among the PSC's recommendations are that: >> the EC's independence be improved by increasing its manpower and maintaining its scope of power; >> a Royal Commission be formed to investigate claims that foreigners have been registered as voters, especially in Sabah; >> indelible ink be used for the next general election in the face of concerns that a voter may vote more than once; >> the serial number on the ballot paper be removed to ensure anonymity of the votes, (serial number to be maintained only on the counterfoil of the ballot paper); >> the withdrawal of nominations be disallowed; >> the objection process on nomination day be annulled; >> allowing members of the armed forces and police and their spouses to vote earlier; >> allowing doctors, nurses and journalists to apply to be postal voters; >> voters living or working far from their constituencies, (East Malaysians in peninsula or vice versa) be allowed to vote without having to return to their constituencies; >> the EC takes measures to facilitate Malaysian voters living overseas to exercise their right to vote. (Currently, only civil servants and their spouses posted overseas and full-time students overseas have the privilege.); >> any changes to a voter's polling centre should be accompanied by a statutory declaration from the voter. (This arises from complaints from voters that their voting centres were changed without their knowledge.); and >> cleaning up the electoral roll of deceased voters, voters with identical MyKad numbers, those aged above 90, voters who are not local to the constituency, multiple voters in one address and ineligible voters. Commenting on the report, DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng said the party viewed it as "a step forward." "The report shows progress towards free, fair and clean elections," Lim, adding that more needs to be done for electoral reform, but since it is an interim report, the DAP has given it interim acceptance. He said the opposition will later continue to push for more reforms, among which will be to reduce the legal voting age from 21 to 18 years.
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| Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:12 AM PST The nature of reform is about moving away from how things are done, therefore, reforms by definition upset people. They would not be reforms otherwise. If it was easy and effortless, it would have been done a long time ago. Praba Ganesan, The Malaysian Insider When at a duty-free zone, you have to buy. No matter how broke you are — and I was then very broke — there is an unbearable shame leaving the facility without buying anything. In that instance I was at the hyperstores inside the Clark Freeport Zone, Luzon in the Philippines just before the millennium. In the spirit of keeping up with the times I bought then what seemed a bargain. Coffee nuts, very cheap coffee nuts. Not coffee beans, you can't make a drink from these nuts, you just have to munch them. The bargain was, when you buy one pack, you get five packs free. One pack was cheap enough, but getting five other packs free gave me a buzz. I was shopper extraordinaire. Of course that feeling fades rapidly when you try to actually eat the nuts. I've never opened the other five "free" packs, and if other purchasers felt as bitter in the mouth as I did then, there must be tonnes of those free "packs" in a long forgotten landfill. Those packs remind me of the Najib administration's reform zeal in politics and economy. It was on full display, with the rushed passing of the Peaceful Assembly Bill two days ago. Ask me anything, as long as I don't need it It must have started with a meeting, as most things do in Malaysia. A meeting after "jamuan pagi" ("morning tea", over here tea is a full-on meal) of course. The prime minister would have asked the young men in the room (they are always young and male) how to tackle the need to reform without Barisan Nasional (BN) risking one vote come election day. Of course in the world of reasonable persons it would not have seemed a ridiculous request. The nature of reform is about moving away from how things are done, therefore, reforms by definition upset people. They would not be reforms otherwise. If it was easy and effortless, it would have been done a long time ago. It is like saying white landowners were pleased by the redistribution of their plantation lands to their former slaves during America's post-civil war reconstruction period. That they thought aloud: "How splendid, why did we not think of that before?" And walked on with peace in their hearts. Of course, to clarify matters, reform cannot just be confrontational, just for shock value. It has to be planned, managed and done in stages that the bitter pill can be swallowed over time, and the need to shock does not overwhelm the actual need to see the process through. To its functional end. A reform is successful when a generation later, looking back, most people would be of the consensus that it was the right thing to do. But as they say, this is Malaysia (TIM, my friend). Rather than slog to an equitable and progressive proposal, the young men in the nice conference room have to stay true to type; promise what they can afford to give (free coffee nuts, anybody?), and set out to manage perception (language, terminology, public relations blitz, media overdrive, etc). Between the excitement of giving stuff and the streams of consultant speaks drowsing them to new heights, they feel a sense of national service — before they head off for the buffet lunch at the five-star hotel. They reckoned since people were upset about the old laws, giving them new laws will ease the pressure on government. So let's have a slew of new laws, and repeal the old ones. But hold on to your seats, they want the new laws to do exactly what the old law did, perhaps a bit more if possible. No point enacting laws that don't help your side stay in power, is there? They are perplexed that people are upset despite them being given new laws with new names. Didn't Abdullah Ahmad Badawi end corruption with a single mighty swing of turning the Anti-Corruption Agency to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission? Malaysians are just not grateful, they'd sigh.
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| Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:12 AM PST (The Star) - TANJONG Karang Wanita chief Datuk Habibah Mohd Yusof (pic) said PAS Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin had claimed at a ceramah that Wanita Umno head Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil had a bra costing RM26,000. "If Kak Ijat's bra costs RM26,000, I wonder how much mine would cost since my size is bigger," she added, almost bringing the house down. As the laughter subsided, she continued: "I am really amazed. This PAS man has a special ability to see through clothes. I advise all the Wanita delegates to beware of him from now on." "Or maybe, this former Perak Mentri Besar has feelings for Kak Ijat. After all, she is the Malaysian Aishwarya Rai," Habibah said, referring to the famous Bollywood star. "All this shows the opposition are out of ideas and resorting to personal attacks," she added to applause, both hearty and merry. Habibah said that Wanita was very popular with the rakyat and it was the cause of the opposition envy. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:07 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - A nervous Umno has failed to bring a new ideas to voters ahead of a general election expected soon, says Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin. The maverick scholar, who has a large following here, told The Malaysian Insider the senior partner in Barisan Nasional (BN) must understand the youth do not just need material wealth but also assurances of their rights and freedom. "Umno must give a clear idea, one that is compelling according to the current era, place and generation. "The current generation is different from those in the past. They will not be attracted by just cash and handouts," the former Perlis mufti said after attending the start of Umno's general assembly as the party's guest yesterday. Asri, who is now a research fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, cited other Muslim countries such as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia who are "rich and have no money problems but what they need and want are rights and freedom." Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has promised a raft of reforms over the past few months but the opposition and civil society have said his "political transformation programme" has fallen short. Although a parliamentary select committee has been meeting to discuss electoral reforms, the Peaceful Assembly Bill passed this week is said to be "even more repressive" than previous regulations while the repeal of the Internal Security Act has been delayed to March.
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| Rep: PAS, where’s the RM600mil? Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:01 AM PST (The Star) - KELANTAN Wanita Umno delegate Dayang Samiah Awang Damit wants the state government to disclose what it did with the RM600mil the Federal Government gave to improve the state's water supply. "Our water is still dirty. Where is the RM600mil?" she asked when debating the Wanita chief's policy speech at the wing's general assembly yesterday. Kelantan people, she said, still remembered the many promises made by PAS throughout the years. "We remember how Barisan Nasional was accused of being cruel to the Kelantan people. "The Federal Government has been providing aid to the state through various ministries, yet there is no word of thanks from them." Kelantan, she said, was ripe for the picking for Barisan as the people were fed up with the PAS government. "They are ready to return to Barisan. We just have to work harder," she said, adding that PAS and PKR had never been sincere to the Malays and Islam. Dayang Samiah also urged the Government to clamp down on false reports on Internet blogs and websites. "These blogs and websites have smeared our leader on the cow issue. In fact, these groups are the cows," she added. A delegate from Johor, Ramlah Ismail, said Wanita Umno was prepared to take a bigger part in the coming general election. "Wanita Umno members are the most loyal in the party and we have at least 30% of our members who are winnable' candidates."
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| Dr Asri: Umno nampak gelisah, masih gagal beri harapan baru Posted: 30 Nov 2011 09:52 AM PST Oleh G Manimaran, The Malaysian Insider Umno, parti teras Barisan Nasional (BN) selain kelihatan dijangkiti "satu kegelisahan" masih gagal membawa harapan baru yang jelas bagi rakyat menjelang pilihan raya umum, kata Prof Madya Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin. Asri yang berada di ibu negara sebagai tetamu Perhimpunan Agung Umno 2011 berkata, Umno perlu menyediakan satu harapan yang jelas ataupun satu harapan lebih baik berbanding sekarang jika mahu memikat pengundi dalam pilihan raya umum ke-13. Ia merupakan antara tiga perkara ditekankan oleh beliau dalam perbualan dengan The Malaysian Insider malam tadi. Perhimpunan Agung Tahunan Umno memulakan tirai dengan persidangan tiga sayapnya semalam - salah satu agenda difokuskan semalam ialah keperluan kelangsungan parti tersebut dengan mengekalkan kuasa pada pilihan raya umum ke-13. Kelmarin, Presiden Umno Datuk Seri Najib Razak mahu ahli-ahlinya bertindak "luar biasa" untuk menang pilihan raya umum ke-13. Timbalannya Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin pula mengajak ahli-ahlinya berjihad menghadapi pilihan raya umum kali, yang disifatkannya sebagai "ibu kepada segala pilihan raya." "Berdasarkan pemerhatian saya di sini sejak beberapa hari ini , saya nampak Umno belum dapat memberi satu harapan atau memberi harapan yang lebih baik berbanding sekarang. "Bermakna, Umno kerana memberi harapan baru yang jelas, satu harapan yang orang kata sebagai 'kunci pengikat' mengikut zaman, tempat dan generasi semasa. Harapan generasi sekarang berbeza dengan generasi masa lalu, mereka tidak boleh ditarik dengan diberikan wang tunai, ganjaran tetapi lebih daripada itu," kata bekas mufti Perlis ini, yang kini merupakan felo penyelidikan Pusat Pengajian Islam Oxford. Asri dijemput menghadiri perhimpunan kali ini sebagai tetamu. Najib akan merasmikan perhimpunan itu pagi ini dengan menyampaikan ucapan dasarnya. Mengulas lanjut, Umno dan BN kena faham bahawa generasi semasa khususnya golongan muda tidak hanya memerlukan material semata-mata untuk melangsungkan kehidupan mereka. Sebaliknya, kata beliau, mereka memerlukan satu jaminan ke atas hak dan kebebasan. "Kita ambil negara Bahrain dan Arab Saudi, mereka kaya, tiada masalah wang, tetapi yang mereka perlukan, mereka mahukan hak dan kebebasan. "Ini yang kerajaan perlu sediakan. Di Malaysia, Umno dan BN perlu sediakan, bukan setakat beri wang tunai dan sebagainya," kata Asri yang secara langsung merujuk kepada transformasi politik yang cuba dibawa oleh Najib. Sebahagian rakyat merasakan bahawa transformasi politik dijanjikan Najib pada 15 September lalu masih belum mencukupi. Najib menjanjikan pemansuhan beberapa undang-undang, antaranya Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri tetapi digantikan dengan dua akta yang baru tahun depan. Ekoran perhimpunan Bersih 2.0 Julai lalu, Najib akhirnya tunduk kepada tekanan lalu membentuk jawatankuasa pilihan khas Parlimen mengkaji sistem penjalanan pilihan raya. Kelmarin, pentadbirannya membawa Rang Undang-undang Perhimpunan Aman 2011 bagi menggantikan Seksyen 27 Akta Polis, tetapi ramai melihat ia sebagai mengekang kebebasan awam dan dikritik hebat.
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| RM10,000 a month to monitor Facebook ‘wall postings’ Posted: 30 Nov 2011 09:50 AM PST It took six months for the Tourism Ministry to provide a detailed breakdown of the RM1.8 million spent on six Facebook applications. (Free Malaysia Today) - Tourism Ministry paid data entry personnel "more than what journalists earned" in the country to monitor 'wall posts' messages on its six Facebook sites over eight months. Revealing this in parliament, Rasah MP Anthony Loke said the ministry spent RM80,000 to manage the 'wall posts', to delete obscene posts, content control, and to give feedback on tourism campaigns and promotions to interested Facebook users. The money was part of RM200,000 allocated to manage marginal functions on six Facebook applications for eight months. "This is the expenses just to reply Facebook queries… just to do data entry for the ministry, one can earn more than journalists do in a month," quipped Loke. The ministry had spent a controversial RM1.8 million on six Facebook pages to promote Malaysia, an issue which was highlighted by Loke in June this year. Almost six months after the issue was raised, Deputy Tourism Minister James Dawos Mamit provided a cost breakdown of the RM1.8 million to Loke last week. According to Dawos,"RM80,000 was allocated for eight months for data management and monitoring where the person or persons answered to queries over the ministries' campaigns and updated the database". Loke said that the ministry's Facebook pages did not attract many users and hence such exorbitant costs were unjustified. "You have seven or 13 comments (to attend to), there are only a few updates…its scandalous and the cost cannot be justified," he said.
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| Roused by racial jibes, Umno may forget Najib’s unity plea Posted: 30 Nov 2011 09:49 AM PST By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider Datuk Seri Najib Razak will face difficulty trying to preach his unity and transformation agenda today to an Umno general assembly that has already rejected his pleas for moderation, an analyst has said. Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan predicted the Umno president would likely adopt a more diplomatic approach when criticising Pakatan Rakyat, refrain from using racial slurs and would instead "sound Umno's clarion call for unity" to rally his troops ahead of the coming polls. But, he said, this approach may not go down well with party conservatives who have already been roused over the past two days by speeches demonising PR as anti-Malay, anti-Islam, "agents of Christianisation", "bapok" (transvestites), "bangsat" (bastard) and "pondan" (effeminate). As such, Wan Saiful said Najib is now in a quandary as he would likely face a "resistant Umno" if he adopts an overly-progressive stance and push for change and moderation. "The battle now is between Najib and Umno. If he pushes the party towards progressiveness and change, there is a likelihood there will be a large movement that will retaliate and reject him," he told The Malaysian Insider. He said Najib would have to find the balance between his roles as the president of a race-based party and the prime minister of a multiracial country. "I suspect he will do both things: try to say that he is protecting the interests of the Malays but, at the same time, claim he is the PM for all Malaysians," said Wan Saiful. Political analyst Ong Kian Ming agreed that Najib would likely avoid racial slurs or resort to demonising PR with "anti-Islam" accusations, but said the prime minister would also have to make references to how Malays have to stand united under Umno's banner. "He has to play the more neutral role of the diplomat. He would likely point to the larger weaknesses of PR and it is most important that he highlights his various transformation programmes that he has put in place," he said. Najib's deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, set the tone for the general assembly by exploiting the race card when opening the party's Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings' annual meets on Tuesday night. In a fiery speech, the deputy prime minister told Umno to defend the Malay race, culture and institutions from PR, which he accused of being an anti-Islam and anti-Malay force. The Youth assembly yesterday saw delegates engage in more PR-bashing, with leaders resorting to name-calling when warning that the Malays would lose power under the pact's rule. Professor Dr Jayum Jawan warned against public backlash if Najib does not reprimand party leaders today for resorting to foul language to unite its members. "This will not endear him to the electorate. This is the 21st century, not the 1960s or 1970s. He must cover this ground," he said. "They are the ruling party... they should set the standard for others and avoid personal attacks and such language. They should be parading their successes instead of bashing the opposition," he added. Umno is currently holding what is likely to be its last general assembly before a general election expected early next year.
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| Khairy blushing over delegates’ crude remarks Posted: 30 Nov 2011 09:47 AM PST However the Umno Youth chief says it is unfair to allow the remarks of "one or two" delegates taint an otherwise "quality" debate session. (Free Malaysia Today) - Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin conceded that some of the remarks made by the delegates in attacking the opposition at its AGM here today were inappropriate. The Rembau MP was forced to admit and defend them despite having earlier boasted of his wing's progressive shift in mindset in his policy speech. Delegates from the Youth wing took turns to bash Pakatan Rakyat, particularly the Chinese dominated DAP, using derogatory terms like "bapok" (transvestites) and "pondan" (effeminate) to describe PKR and PAS. Attack on the DAP became the focal point of the wing's debates where most delegates accused the party of being anti-Islam and anti-Malay, with one delegate claiming repression on the Malay community of Penang under the control of party secretary-general and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. But Khairy said it was unfair to allow the remarks of "one or two" delegates taint an otherwise "quality" debate session. "Maybe one or two things were a bit inappropriate, but if you look at it in totality, it was quite good," he told reporters after delivering his winding up speech. The Rembau MP, seen as among the small band of progressive leaders in a party still dominated by Malay hardliners, said observers must assess the overall quality of the debates which he said touched on various pertinent issues like the economy and reforms. The ongoing Umno AGM is seen as the party's important preparation for the 13th general election, an electoral battle party leaders admit will be a test to Umno's as well as party president Najib Tun Razak's survival. The prime minister, who will officiate the AGM tomorrow, had said that this assembly will debate on ways to prepare Umno for the elections, including discussions on the "winnable candidates" tactic that it will employ come national polls.
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| Fernandes declares war on Malaysia Airports over tax hike Posted: 30 Nov 2011 09:46 AM PST By Lee Wei Lian, The Malaysian Insider Hot on the heels of lambasting Malaysia Airports over the cost of KLIA2, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes vowed yesterday to fight the government-linked company over the recent 28 per cent airport tax increase. AirAsia also kicked off an anti-tax hike campaign and many of its customers received emails yesterday asking them to "say NO" to the tax hike for international flights that takes effect today. "AirAsia views that this increase is not justified as the current airport facilities are not up to par," read the email. "Let MAHB (Malaysia Airports) know what you think about this Airport Tax Increase. Have your say today." AirAsia also gave out the email of MAHB's managing director, Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad. The airport tax, also known as passenger service charges, is collected by AirAsia from its customers and subsequently paid to MAHB. Fernandes, AirAsia's CEO, made an emotional appeal on Twitter last night, beginning with the airline's origins and concluding with a battle cry. "To all Malaysians. AirAsia has made flying affordable for all. Before it was just for the rich. We won't allow Malaysia Airports to keep wasting money and increase charges for you. We will fight. Our campaign starts tomorrow," he tweeted. Airport taxes and fees are regulated by the Transport Ministry, and it recently gave MAHB the green light in to raise passenger service charges by 28 per cent and aircraft parking and landing charges by nine and 18 per cent respectively over three years. Following the Transport Ministry's decision, AirAsia questioned whether the increases were justified based on the quality of the airport terminals. MAHB, on the other hand, argued that its airport charges are already the lowest in the region. The next review by the government is due in 2014. Airport taxes at Penang, Kuching and Langkawi will rise from RM51 to RM65, while the low cost carrier terminals (LCCTs) at KLIA and Kota Kinabalu will go from RM25 to RM32.
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| Mahathir-Najib made us debtors Posted: 30 Nov 2011 09:44 AM PST The growing national debt has left oil rich Sabah and Sarawak liable to almost RM80 billion in combined owings. In 2009 when Najib took over the reign's from ex-premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the national debt stood at more than RM362 billion. Now our national debts stands at RM437 billion. Awang Abdillah, Free Malaysia Today Umno has seen good leaders and bad ones. How bad is bad leadership depends on what kind of characteristics and value system he picks up. If he picks the extreme form of negative values then the nation is in deep trouble. Umno, since Independence and until 1981, saw three late prime ministers who made positive contributions to the country. They each proved to serve the national interests first which is the essence of good governance. But things began to change in 1981 after the fourth premier – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad – took over. Under his reign good governance took a backseat and things went from bad to worse and now under Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, we're sinking from worse to the worst. Over the past 30 years we have witnessed how Umno and Sarawak's Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) have spewed their bad and evil traits without any feelings of remorse . Abuses of power, corruption, plundering and looting of state and national wealth were done on a massive scale. The national debt keeps on growing at a rapid pace . Drowning in debts In 2009 when Najib took over the reign's from ex-premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the national debt stood at more than RM362 billion. Now our national debts stands at RM437 billion. In contrast our expected revenue for 2012 is only about RM186.9 billion! If the debt is to be shared by all the 13 states of Malaysia, then each state will bear a debt of RM39.7 billion directly or indirectly. Knowing this, is it worth supporting the Umno /Barisan Nasional government, anymore? Instead of giving us returns for exploiting our wealth, Sarawakians and Sabahans are now burdened with RM39.7 billion debt each. Global history has repeatedly shown us how a bad leader had acted alone. We had (Germany's Adolf) Hilter, (Iraq's) Saddam (Hussein) and (Philippines' Ferdinand) Marcos – all of them acted alone and individually to create havoc upon mankind and their people. These are called dangerous leaders – which is of the worst kind.
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| Nazri warns of 2008 repeat if Umno infighting continues Posted: 30 Nov 2011 09:43 AM PST By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider
Continued infighting among Umno members in their scramble to become election candidates could lead to a possible repeat of the 2008 electoral debacle when the next polls arrives, warns a senior party leader ahead of its annual congress today. Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said members have not learned from the mistakes of 2008 where he said incessant "infighting and backstabbing" pushed the party and the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) to lose its two-thirds federal majority and four states. He accused members of being unwilling to sacrifice themselves for party and national good, claiming "they have no qualms at all to ensure that a candidate loses if it is not them (if they are not chosen)". Nazri (picture), a senior Cabinet minister in the Najib administration and Padang Rengas MP, singled out Umno's state chapters of Perlis, Terengganu and Sabah as examples of heavy infighting. "You know, it is a perennial problem whenever we approach the election, there is always going to be problems about candidates. "In the election, if the opposition wins the seat, it is not them winning but Barisan Nasional losing. Meaning, there is no unity among us... there is sabotage and the party machinery cannot run properly and then we lose," he told The Malaysian Insider. "So Umno members need to be reminded again and again and again and again because they have no qualms at all to ensure that a candidate loses if it is not them," he said. Nazri was responding to Datuk Seri Najib Razak's pre-general assembly briefing two nights ago to Umno's top echelon where the party president urged members to prioritise unity above self-interest and the general election above the party election. Najib, who is also prime minister, sounded the election war drums and called on all members to be reminded of the importance of fielding "winnable candidates" in an election he predicted would be "extraordinary". "So this (infighting) has to stop. We were hoping that what happened in 2008 would make them realise (their mistakes)... but I don't think they have realised, they have not realised," Nazri said.
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| Posted: 30 Nov 2011 09:40 AM PST For a long time now, Umno has been 'in the red' due to the sheanigans of its top leaders, who seem to have little or no shame in indulging in acts that go against the very grain of the party. For a long time now, Umno has been "in the red" due to the sheanigans of its top leaders, who seem to have little or no shame in indulging in acts that go against the very grain of Umno, that is to uphold the aspirations of Malay nationalism and the dignity of race, religion and country. Jeswan Kaur, Free Malaysia Today Should the country's largest poltical party, the United Malay National Organisation or better known as Umno pride itself for having become larger than life, if best, for the sake of its survival, think again. As the party stands today, the despicable power-play and miserable antics of its top guns have only proved otherwise. The recent occurences involving Umno's bigwigs are a clear reflection of the tattered image the party is left with. The most recent controversy involves Umno Wanita chief, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil who having lost her parliamentary seat in the 2008 general election to youngster Nurul Izzah Anwar of PKR made a "comeback" into politics via the "backdoor" after being appointed a senator. Three years down the road and Shahrizat, who is the women, family and community development minister has made news for the wrong reason. Currenty embroiled in a fiasco involving allegations of misuse of state funds, Shahrizat has to prove that she is worth every vote. Lashing out at the opposition for trying to ruin her political career will not do. Shahrizat, instead, has to come clean with the rakyat on why and how her husband Dr Mohamed Salleh Ismail became the NFC director. The NFC first became embroiled in controversy when its operation was criticised in the Auditor-General's Report for 2010. The report, released last month, criticised the RM250 million federally-funded cattle project, pointing out that it was now "in a mess". It also said production in 2010 was only 3,289 head of cattle or 41.1% of the target set. The "helping hand" lent to Shahrizat by Umno deputy chairman and deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin is not going to absolve Shahrizat, a lawyer by training, of wrongdoing. Muhyiddin's declaration that the public should be the best judge of the NFC fiasco and that there is no reason for Shahrizat to resign, in spite of pressure mounting for her to do so, has only proven that cronyism is still very much the order of the day in this country. Umno in the red For a long time now, Umno has been "in the red" due to the sheanigans of its top leaders, who seem to have little or no shame in indulging in acts that go against the very grain of Umno, that is to uphold the aspirations of Malay nationalism and the dignity of race, religion and country. And whilst Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak keeps reiterating calls to reduce ethnic tensions and protect minority rights, the truth as ironical as it is, is clear that Umno is doing otherwise by consciously stoking racial sentiments. Time and again the race issue is raised by Umno using its general assembly platform, forewarning the non-Malays not to "mess" with the Malay rights laid down in the Federal Constitution. It was in 2006 that then Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein at the Umno Youth assembly warned the Article 11 Group of bringing up the issue of Article 11 and Article 121 (A) of the Federal Constitution. Hishammuddin was also against the setting up of the Inter-religious Commission. The Article 11 Group undertook a nationwide campaign to make people aware of their rights to religious freedom. In 2006, Hishammuddin had said: "Umno Youth opines that questions and issues relating to Islam should be heard and decided by the syariah court and not the civil court in line with Article 121 (A) of the Federal Constitution." He added: "Do not make fun, question and challenge the position of the Malays and Islam in this country. Any movement, in whatever form or name, even in the name of religious freedom, freedom of speech or press freedom, will not be allowed to challenge the rights as enshrined in the country's constitution."
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| The Mamak Dilemma – Shame, Opportunity, Assimilation, and an Identity Lost Posted: 29 Nov 2011 10:53 PM PST I have no disrespect for the Malay culture which is beautiful. We can all learn a thing or two from Malay adat. However, I do hold a grudge against the deliberate extermination of one's own heritage. I further find it offensive when Indian Muslims, in their eagerness to convert, use Machiavellian means to identify themselves as Malay. It demonstrates a lack of dignity and self-worth. By Mohd Ikhram Merican "How shall a man escape from his ancestors, or draw off from his veins the black drop which he drew from his father's or mother's life?" - Ralph Waldo Emerson For some time now I've felt that the Indian Muslim or Mamak community at large suffers from a pitiful cultural and identity crisis. Being a Muslim of Indian origin, I have first-hand experience with the dilemma afflicting this community that has contributed so much to the culture, politics, and economy of Malaysia for well over a few centuries. I also worry that so many members of this, my community, are shedding their identity by becoming over-zealous converts. Some of the offensive and snide remarks by an individual with clear Indian ancestry at the on-going UMNO General Assembly have motivated me to finally pen this letter. My ancestral beginnings in Malaysia start with my great-grandfather, K.K Daud, in Penang in the early 20th century; although I suspect earlier generations were already making trade excursions to the Malay Peninsula. My grandfather, D Mohamed Ibraheem, born in India, was brought to study at the Methodist Boys School in Penang. He was a scholar, a sportsman, and a gentleman. These exact traits, decades later, were to become my obligation at my Alma Mater, the Victoria Institution. My grandfather was a linguist of sorts. He learned Latin, was sufficiently proficient in Malay, and a master in English and Tamil. All of his children bore a combination of Tamil and Muslim names, a testament to his pride as a Tamilian and an unashamed celebration of his Indian roots. He worked hard, contributed to Penang's economy, was a well respected member of his community, and raised a good family. For all intents and purposes, he was well assimilated into the fabric of Penangite society. He did not have to shed his cultural identity to do this. My father and his generation, like their preceding generations, spoke excellent Tamil. Most of them were privileged to have an English education. A significant number of them have gone on to becoming prominent captains of industry in Malaysia and abroad. None of them coveted handouts from the government or needed to shake-off their "Indian-ess" to progress in Malaysia. It was never an option. Their parents worked hard to educate them. My generation does not speak Tamil as well as the previous generations. Most of us speak English or Malay. Suddenly it has become important to be seen as practicing Malay culture. Article 160 of the Constitution states that a "Malay" is a person who professes the religion of Islam, habitually speaks the Malay language, conforms to Malay custom and -
Many Indian Muslims have used or would like to use this provision to "convert". I have no disrespect for the Malay culture which is beautiful. We can all learn a thing or two from Malay adat. However, I do hold a grudge against the deliberate extermination of one's own heritage. I further find it offensive when Indian Muslims, in their eagerness to convert, use Machiavellian means to identify themselves as Malay. It demonstrates a lack of dignity and self-worth. Naturally, I feel sick when I read of the charades of UMNO politicians, academicians, and community leaders masquerading as Malays, spewing hatred against other races, sometimes against their own roots. Even when they're challenged as to their real identity, they shamelessly defend their false Malay roots. For some, Tamil is still spoken in whispers, in the privacy of their homes, like it were a "dirty" parlance. Why? For special rights? For economic handouts? My grandfather worked very, very hard for providence. So did the men of his generation. The early Indian Muslim traders who came to these shores were an industrious lot who earned their bread. They contributed to Malaysia's rich heritage without becoming cultural orphans. They cherished their roots. Hardship and experience polished them. It earned them monopolies in certain trades that last till today. This legacy is being destroyed. A culture and heritage is disappearing only to be replaced by a false sense of security. In the process, the Indian Muslims are offending not only their own race and the Chinese, but many Malays too. In the long run, we as a community will isolate ourselves from our roots and the nation in which we want so much to assimilate with. "Distinguished ancestors shed a powerful light on their descendants, and forbid the concealment either of their merits or of their demerits." - Gaius Sallustius Crispus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peaceful Assembly: The BN Government's Misinformation Posted: 29 Nov 2011 10:47 PM PST By Kua Kia Soong, Director of SUARAM In justifying the bulldozing of the Peaceful Assembly Bill yesterday, the BN government has said that it is in line with similar laws in the European countries which respect democracy. This is a devious attempt at misinformation which must be debunked.
Debasement of our Constitutional Right Firstly, Malaysians should realise how much the BN has debased our fundamental liberties since Independence in 1957. Our federal constitution, by the way, was crafted by the Reid Commission set up by our former colonial master and our fundamental liberties enshrined in it were based on international human rights already existing at the time. Our right to assemble peaceably under Article 10 was severely circumscribed by the Police Act 1967, giving the police wide discretionary powers to the police to regulate assemblies, meetings and processions by requiring a licence to be obtained for peaceful assemblies. Amendments to the Act in 1987 further extended police powers to stopping and dispersing activities in private places. It also provided the police with power to use force against participants when closing down events, whether in public or private places. This was exactly what the police did in 1996 when they dispersed, arrested and detained NGO activists at the Asia-Pacific conference on East Timor (APCET). I was one of the unfortunate victims of this law. Since 2007, section 98 of the Criminal Procedure Code allows the government to use court orders to stop public assemblies. The police have the power to arrest individuals named in court orders if they enter the identified areas of planned assemblies. Through the years, the police have used these powers to selectively arrest human rights defenders while letting off far-right mobsters such as we saw at APCET in 1996, Suqiu in 2000, Kampung Medan in 2001, the Article 11 fora in 2006, the cow-head fracas in 2010, to name but the most salient examples of double standards by the police. SUHAKAM in its 2007 public inquiry report reiterated the constitutional provision that "peaceful assemblies should be allowed to proceed without a licence."
Whichever European country's model the government is supposed to have followed in drafting the Peaceful Assembly Bill, the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is ultimately the authority on this fundamental liberty. The right to peaceful protest is enshrined in the ECHR. The police do not need notification of the protest. As long as the public highway is not blocked off completely and there is no threat of violence, there will be no criminal offence. If the police do require conditions, they are obliged to give reasons for the conditions. If they have acted unlawfully, the police can be sued under the Human Rights Act. As long as the organisers' intention is for peaceful assembly, the possibility of violent counter-demonstrations is not a reason for prohibiting processions. The state is expected to protect peaceful protestors and to take reasonable and appropriate means to enable lawful peaceful assemblies.
It is only right that the police should be notified if there is to be a peaceful assembly since they are the keepers of the peace and the far-right are the main threats to democracy today. However, it is unconstitutional to criminalise a peaceful assembly or procession simply on the ground that the organisers had failed to give notice to the police. The Peaceful Assembly Bill is thus an unnecessary restriction on our right to assemble peaceably and out of step with modern democratic societies. Important events are forever breaking out which spur people to protest over particular issues and peaceful protests provide a forum for the peoples' voices to be heard. There should be a notice period of 48 hours if only for administrative purposes with provision for waiver in spontaneous demonstrations. Fundamentally, the spirit of Article 10 of our constitution demands that the police should not be given the power to prohibit any peaceful assembly or procession.
Under the guise of "reform", the BN government is attempting to pull the wool over our eyes by introducing old poison in new bottles. Mark my words – they will do the same with the ISA with their new Act "against terrorism". As for reforming our political institutions to honour the right to peaceful assembly, the government should simply amend the existing Police Act and other laws to be in line with Article 10 of the Constitution. As the perceptive philosopher Uma Thurman coolly put it: "Kill Bill…" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It’s people’s right to disagree Posted: 29 Nov 2011 10:44 PM PST By P Ramakrishnan, Past President of Aliran The Minister in the Prime Minister's department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, doesn't seem to understand basic things concerning democracy. His notion of democracy is woefully dismal and disappointing. His ignorance on issues of democracy is alarming!
His stand seems to suggest that only political parties and politicians have the right to disagree and speak up and if you are not in either of these categories, you don't have the right to criticise or disagree. This is utter nonsense. This right to disagree or criticise is not the monopoly of a political party or politician. This God-given right is the birth-right of every individual, and it is enshrined in the Constitution. The right to freedom of assembly, the right to speech of expression and the right to freedom of association are the inalienable rights of every citizen. There are no caveats placed on these rights. Nazri, therefore, has no right to insist that one must belong to a political party to disagree with the Barisan Nasional's policies. The Constitution has no such provisions barring citizens from speaking up or championing a cause. In a democracy, citizens have a role to play and participate in every aspect of governance without belonging to a political party and without being a politician. Nazri must be reminded that, according to A.d. Benoist, "The highest measure of democracy is neither the 'extent of freedom' nor the 'extent of equality', but rather the highest measure of participation." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How Laws are enacted in Malaysia Posted: 29 Nov 2011 10:35 PM PST By Hakim Joe Malaysians need to know this as part of their right and privilege as a citizen of the country. Only then are we able to understand how Parliament works and how laws are passed. The Parliament is divided into two houses i.e. the Dewan Rakyat or the Lower House and the Dewan Negara or Senate. First of all, Parliament only meets from Monday to Thursday when in session. These sessions are published online and viewers can check them at The Dewan Rakyat is made up from the elected representatives in a General Election of a Parliamentary seat (as opposed to a State seat). The Senate, which consists of 70 members, is made up from 2 each selected from every state (total of 26) and the remaining 44 It must be noted that the original Constitution of Malaysia, drafted before Merdeka, only provided for 16 individuals to be appointed by the Agong instead of the current 70 individuals. The intent was to place them in the minority so as to protect the states' interest against federal encroachments. With 44 members or 62.8%, getting anything passed in the Senate is but a formality for the government. The term of office is 3 years and senators may only be reappointed once, consecutively or non-consecutively. A proposed Act of Law begins its journey when a particular government minister or ministry prepares a first draft with the assistance of the Attorney General's Department. This draft is known as the Bill and the year it was drafted shall be appended to it at the rear. When the government minister or ministry finalizes drafting the Bill, it shall be sent to the Cabinet for its first discussion session. During this time, the first amendments (if any) shall be made and only after it has been agreed upon shall the Bill be introduced into Parliament. A Bill may originate from either of the Houses with one exception, the "Money Bill". Subject to Article 67 of the Federal Constitution, the "Money Bill" must originate from the Dewan Rakyat and can only be introduced by a Minister. The House, which a Bill is originated, shall send it to the other House once the Bill has been passed. After the other House passes the Bill, it must then be presented to the Agong for his assent under the Article 66(3) of the Federal Constitution. Prior to the 1983 Malaysian Constitutional Crisis, the Agong may withhold his assent to any Bills that have passed both Houses. However, Mahathir pushed forward a set of amendments to Article 66 of the Constitution that set the time limit of the Agong to veto a Bill within 30 days. Nowadays Article 66(4) states that the Agong must assent to the Bill by causing the Public Seal to be affixed thereto. This must be completed within 30 days from the date a Bill is being presented to him. The Federal Constitution provides that a Bill will automatically become law at the expiration of the 30 days period specified in the like manner as if he had assented thereto, should the Agong, for whatever reason, fails to give his assent to the Bill within the specified period. Nonetheless if the Agong disagrees with the Bill, HRH can return it to Parliament with a list of suggested amendments. Parliament must then reconsider the Bill and its proposed amendments and return it to the Agong within 30 days, if they pass it again, either adopting The first reading of the Bill happens when the minister or his deputy submits it to Parliament. This is a formality and only the title of the Bill will be read out. No draft copies of the Bill are distributed out. The Speaker will then set a date and time for the Second Reading and this is usually within the next few days unless the government maintains that all three Readings be done immediately. Usually draft copies of the Bill will only be distributed out to all Members of Parliament a few days before the Second Reading. However, in the event that the government requests that all three Readings be completed immediately, the draft copies will be distributed promptly and be debated, as it is, on the same day. This is usually executed to prevent the Opposition from discussing it amongst themselves and/or to keep the public from getting involved in the proceedings. The Speaker may disallow it but this has never happened before as the government appoints the Speaker to his position. However, the Speaker reserves the privilege to appoint or limit any number of MPs to be included in the debate during the Second Reading.\ Regardless of whatever happens in the course of the debate during the Second Reading, the government can summon for the Third Reading at any time they desire. Once again the Speaker may veto it and once again it has never happened before. The Third Reading is the actual voting process and a two-thirds majority is required to pass the Bill. Should the Bill be passed, it is sent forth to the Dewan Negara, where the three Readings are carried out again. The Dewan Negara may not formally reject any Bill but choose not to pass the Bill, but this only delays its passage by a month, or in some cases, a year. Once this stipulated period expires, the Bill is considered to have been passed by the Senate. With 44 members and 2 members from any government-controlled state, getting any Bill past Dewan Negara is rather "a piece of cake" and can actually be accomplished under 5 minutes. Additionally, the Dewan Negara is not affected by the elections for the Dewan Rakyat, and senators continue to hold office despite the Dewan Rakyat's dissolution for an election. After the Second Reading, any Member of Parliament can call for a Special Committee to discuss the technical details of the Bill or be submitted before a Parliamentary Select Committee for review. Nevertheless, the Speaker can disallow it and promptly call for the In some rare cases, the government actually prepares a Government White Paper containing particular proposals that will eventually be incorporated into a Bill. White Papers are an informal name for a Parliamentary Paper expressing a proposed government policy or action on a topic of current concern, or a Bill seeking passage through Parliament. This actually happened to the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971. The Opposition is also permitted to propose any Bills to Parliament and these are identified as the Private Members' Bill (PMB). To present a PMB, the MP in question must seek the leave of the House to debate the Bill before it is moved in Parliament. Originally, the Lastly, no laws shall come into force until it has been gazetted or published in the Government Gazette under the Article 66(5) of the Federal Constitution. Only once that has been completed shall the Bill become Law. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Perak MB wins suit again Suara Keadilan Posted: 29 Nov 2011 07:09 PM PST (Bernama) - The Kuala Lumpur High Court today ruled that nine words in an article published by Suara Keadilan, a PKR newspaper, on Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir were libellous. Judge Hue Siew Kheng made the decision in chambers in the presence of lawyer Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin representing Zambry as the plaintiff and lawyer Jamie Wong representing PKR, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and three others as the defendants.
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| Perkasa, Mamak group bring traffic to a standstill Posted: 29 Nov 2011 06:18 PM PST Protesters accuse CM's political secretary Ng Wei Aik of humiliating Bangladeshi married to a local and call for his sacking (MORE PHOTOS AT LINK BELOW). (Free Malaysia Today) - About 300 protesters from Perkasa and Suara Anak Anak Mamak Pulau Pinang caused a massive congestion when they marched against the flow of traffic at noon today. Their target: Komtar assemblyman and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's political secretary Ng Wei Aik who has been accused of humiliating a Bangladeshi married to a local woman. The protesters demanded that Ng quit immediately as Komtar assemblyman and also called on Lim to sack Ng as his political secretary. Police detained 11 people including the protest leader, Perkasa's north-east district chief Mohd Rizuad Mohd Azudin, for the commotion. All were released after having their statements recorded at the city police headquarters. The protesters gathered outside Continental Hotel in upper Penang Road at 12 noon before marching against the flow of traffic in the direction of Komtar, a kilometer away. Once they reached the Komtar in Lebuh Teck Soon, the protesters, with some sitting on the road, chanted anti-Pakatan Rakyat, anti-Ng and anti-Lim slogans for over an hour.
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| NFC scandal: PKR reveals more dirt Posted: 29 Nov 2011 06:16 PM PST PKR wants Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to explain the RM534,000 Mercedes Benz and RM3 million land parcels in Putrajaya. (Free Malaysia Today) - Opposition PKR affronted by Umno women's wing chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's lashings against its party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has comeback with more muck on the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) scandal. This time PKR has questioned the ownership and expenses involving Shahrizat's RM534,000 Mercedes Benz and two lots of land in Putrajaya worth RM3 million. PKR strategic director, Rafizi Ramli who disclosed these details to reporters in parliament today said he was also seeking for Shahrizat to clarify monthly payments to travel agencies which ranged from RM1,000 to RM120,000. "We were anticipating her response and hoped that she would be more humble but since that was not the case, we decided to add more misappropriations", said Rafizi alluding to to Shahrizat's tit-for-tat response to allegations of misappropriations of public funds by her family involving NFC. This morning Shahrizat told Umno Wanita delegates that if she had to resign because of her husband, Wan Azizah should resign for Anwar's misdeeds. Shahrizat has maintained that her husband is innocent of any misdeeds unlike Anwar who was found guilty of sodomy charges. Shahrizat, also the women, family, community development minister, was commenting on PKR women wing's chief Zuraida Kamaruddin's call, last week, for her to resign. Shahrizat's husband Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail is the NFC chairman. Shahrizat's family has been accused of misusing a RM250 million government soft loan given for the NFC project.
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| Posted: 29 Nov 2011 05:27 PM PST (Bernama) -- The new low-cost terminal (LCCT), KLIA2, with world class facilities to handle about 45 million passengers yearly, is expected to cost between RM3.6 billion and RM3.9 billion and will begin operations in April 2013. Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) managing director/chief executive officer, Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad, said aerobridges would be installed to cater to the needs of all passengers including the disabled, pregnant women and children. "We hope the airlines operating here will support our decision by using the aerobridges, as the cost works out to only 25 sen per passenger and the public has indicated they are willing to pay for the use of aerobridges. "It will be up to the airlines whether or not to use the aerobridges," he told reporters after a tour of the construction site of the KLIA2 complex here today. Bashir said work on the 257,000-sq metre KLIA2, which began in October 2009, was now 42 per cent complete and would have 68 gates, more than sufficient to cater to passengers as required by industry standards. He said a new third runway was being built to cater to aircraft like the A380, the world's largest passenger airplane. KLIA2 was only 1.5km away from the current main terminal building of KLIA, and a new flyover was being built to link the main road from KLIA to KLIA2, which means KLIA2 would be nearer than LCCT, he said. On whether there were cost overruns and delay in the operation of the airport, he said, more time was needed to build what was surely be the world's largest purpose-built terminal for low-cost carriers with superior facilities "KLIA2 is being built at the lowest cost per passenger with aerobridges and enhanced passenger convenience, including a fully-automated baggage system," he said. It will have 6,000 covered multi-storey parking, four hotels, transit hotels, a skybridge and a larger commercial space for retail outlets, he said. The current Express Rail Link (ERL), which runs from KL Sentral to the main terminal at KLIA, will be extended by 2.2km, to link up with KLIA2. He said MAHB has given AirAsia, the main user of the KLIA2, a special dispensation to build its headquarters with an apron access as well as Tune Hotel. Bashir said passenger service charges would not be increased but MAHB has the option to discuss them with the government every five years and the next round of discussions could only be held in 2014. He denied suggestions that public funds were used to construct KLIA2, saying that MAHB had raised funds for this project from the market which included RM3.1 billion sukuk program, of which RM600 million was still undrawn. Bashir said MAHB was exploring the possibility of raising capital from the market whereby it has an option to do a private placement of up to 10 per cent without seeking shareholders' nod at the annual general meeting. On reports saying he might be removed, Bashir said, "How do you want me to respond to the question?" He also said that in all its dealings with the government, shareholders, stakeholders as well as airlines including AirAsia, MAHB has always been open, transparent and professional. On complaints by AirAsia chief, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, that the low-cost carrier was in the dark on the progress of KLIA2, Bashir said, MAHB conducted weekly meetings with all its airline partners where everything was discussed and that there was no reason for them not to know what was going on. Bashir said that MAHB was in talks with Qantas on the possibility of it resuming operations from KLIA. He said MAHB conducted open tenders to award projects for the KLIA2.
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| Aziz Bari may quit UIA in a week Posted: 29 Nov 2011 05:22 PM PST He says his friends are being persecuted. (Free Malaysia Today) - Constitutional law expert Aziz Bari is considering quitting his job as professor at the International Islamic University (UIA) to stop the alleged persecution of scholars close to him. "I will decide in a week whether to remain as a professor in UIA or quit the job immediately," he told FMT yesterday in an interview here at Akademi Merdeka, where he attended a forum on the Federal Constitution organised by the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS). He said he liked working at UIA and could deal with the pressure the university was placing on him for his outspokenness. "But people surrounding me, especially my friends, are suffering because of me," he added. "For example, one of my friends wrote and launched a book. He mentioned my name in the appreciation section of the book. Just for that he was questioned by certain quarters." Aziz said many of his associates had been giving him advice about his future since his recent run-in with the UIA management and other authorities over his comments on the constitutionality of decisions made by the Sultan of Selangor. "Some of them asked me to remain as an academician in UIA, but some of them suggest that I jump into politics.
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| For Umno’s survival, Khairy appeals for change Posted: 29 Nov 2011 05:18 PM PST This includes the need to shed the usual "hardline" and often hawkish skin that had so often characterised the wing in the past. (Free Malaysia Today) - Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today said a shift towards a progressive mindset was key to the party's survival amid preparations for a pivotal battle ahead in the coming polls. Speaking before delegates at what is to be the wing's last annual general assembly before Umno heads into elections, the Rembau MP said it was his wing's duty to ensure Prime Minister and party chief Najib Tun Razak's reform efforts are reflected in their struggle. This includes the need to shed the usual "hardline" and often hawkish skin that had so often characterised the wing in the past and shift towards "transition and openness". "If we are slow to transform, the people will not forgive us," he said, adding that a major factor in deciding the results of the next general election will be the group of young voters that make up 40% of the electorate. Khairy is seen as among the few progressive Umno leaders fully backing Najib's "liberal" reform efforts, including the supposed initiatives to improve civil liberties. Although the sincerity of the reform pledges, including lifting bans on student politics and abolishing the Internal Security Act have been subject to opposition scrutiny, Umno's willingness to consider introducing changes by itself suggested progress in the right wing party. Khairy, capitalising on this, said the Najib administration's transformation programme was a "bold step borne out of a strong leadership committed to the change agenda". He criticised Umno's old strong-armed doctrine, calling for Umno members to acknowledge the need for a more just and accountable governance. "On the question of politics, the old worldview contained a simple logic: might is right. Force and might underpinned our actions in the past. When faced with problems, our immediate response was to arrest and jail people. "When confronted with challenges, we literally 'banned' them. This Cold War mentality might have served well in decades gone by but the realities of the present demand a more measured and transparent approach".
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| Sabahans protest against new assembly law Posted: 29 Nov 2011 05:15 PM PST Policemen watched a gathering protesting the Peaceful Assembly Bill, rampant land-grabs and the government's refusal to initiate an RCI on illegal immigrants. (Free Malaysia Today) - Sabahans have joined the growing legion of Malaysians against the controversial Peaceful Assembly Bill. Yesterday some 100 activitsis and supporters of three causes including the anti-Assembly Bill gathered at the famed Mojuntin Square at the Donggongon township here. At 11.30am the large group moved towards the statue where they stopped and sang the state anthem "Sabah Tanah Airku" under the watchful eye of about 30 policemen stationed around the square. At the square they first laid three wreaths at the statue of the late Peter Joinod Mojuntin, "the golden son of the Kadazandusuns" before unfurling protest banners. Mojuntin, a cherished leader of the Kadazandusun community who was from Penampang, perished in an unexplained plane crash near the Kota Kinabalu airport in 1976, together with other Sabah leaders including then Chief Minister, Fuad Stephens. The leaders of the group then led the crowd to pay reverence to Mojuntin by bowing three bows before his statue and before laying the three wreaths. They later unfurled a banner protesting the Peaceful Assembly Bill and hoisted placards demanding a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in the state. They also protested the erosion of native customary rights (NCR) and the spate of land grabs. Alongwith the the RCI and NCR issues, the controversial Peaceful Assembly Bill which lawyers have said was restrictive, has been a hot topic and the butt of jokes among ordinary Sabahans for several days now.
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| Posted: 29 Nov 2011 05:13 PM PST Kedah PKR claims that voters will choose between Pakatan and Barisan Nasional and Kita does not come into the equation. (Hawkeye, Free Malaysia Today) - There is no room for a third party in the Kedah political scene. The Kedah PKR said that voters would either support Pakatan or Barisan Nasional. Kedah PKR committee member V Arumugam said Kita's designs on Kedah are viewed with suspicion by many voters. He cited an example of the Bukit Serembau state by-election in 2008 where the present incumbent S Manikumar from PKR faced off with 13 independents plus a BN candidate, yet he managed to win. "Kita in Kedah just consists of a handful of members. How can they deploy a machinery to contest in seats against us," he asked. Arumugam said Kita is indirectly supporting BN, as it is only has one intention, which is to contest against DAP or PKR. There is suspicion of a hidden agenda and voters nowadays are edging towards a two-party system where they are either comfortable with BN or with Pakatan, Arumugam said. Kita may see the potential of playing a spoiler's role and hope to win some seats, so they can leverage on it in an event that either BN or Pakatan cannot capture a two-thirds majority, he said. There are a total of 36 state seats in Kedah. Kita, helmed by former Umno and PKR leader Zaid Ibrahim, hopes to become a kingmaker in an event of neither Pakatan, nor BN can decisively win in Kedah, but it would not work that easily due to the maturity of voters here, he said. Arumugam says that Kita is mistaken if it thinks it has a chance of winning in Kedah, as the voters nowadays are well-informed.
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| Plot to isolate Ku Li in Umno? Posted: 29 Nov 2011 05:09 PM PST Rahim Thamby Chik's warning to Umno that the opposition is eying Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah as premier should they come into power is mischievous. Their agenda was only one – because of (current Umno president) Najib Tun Razak's hesitation, they went to see Ku Li asking him to stand as Umno president and Muhyiddin (Yassin) as deputy president. Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz, Free Malaysia Today Why should the opposition parties invite Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to become the prime minister if they could win the elections on their own merit? Doesn't PAS has Hadi Awang, DAP has Lim Guan Eng and PKR has Anwar Ibrahim? This assessment by former Umno vice-president Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik pre-supposes that between the three, neither one accepts the leader of each party as a future PM. It also assumes further, that Razaleigh, known as Ku Li, commands a number of elected MPs to give him a standing in future negotiations. Where will he get the MPs? Well, Rahim seems to believe that Ku Li has 20-30 people lined up to stand as MPs. And these 'candidates' are all aligned to him. My question is where are these people? Are they in Umno or are they in the opposition camp? Rahim's nervous prognosis that the there are attempts by the opposition parties to invite Ku Li hinges on the theory that the 13th general election will deliver upon us a hung-parliament. Rahim claims such a situation is 'untenable' because it will create political instability. He says Umno must work hard to get a two thirds majority. I am not going to respond to Rahim's nervous prognosis of the 13th general election but I must admit to being bemused by his attempt to involve Ku Li in such a scenario. To qualify as a participant in any future negotiations should a hung parliament comes into being, Ku Li must be head of a political party. Right now, Ku Li is in Umno and doesn't head a party. Neither is he a leader of any faction within Umno. Mischievous Rahim Could Rahim's advice be another attempt to isolate Ku Li from Umno? Ku Li is far too principled to agree to being appointed as leader of government on a personal-to-holder-basis. He will be a figurehead. Umno people's response to this would be because 'Ku Li has never disowned the ambitions to become PM'. So my answer is – why should he not have that ambition? He was cheated of becoming one before. He has all the credentials to become one, and Umno folk know this. But here's an interesting piece of inside information.
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| Pahang govt ‘killing’ Tasik Chini’s ecosystem Posted: 29 Nov 2011 05:02 PM PST By Aneesa Alphonsus, FMT Mystical Tasik Chini, which once spawned a legendary tale of a behemoth dragon or sea serpent called Naga Seri Gumum and the presence of the Sacred Lotus Nelumbo Nucifera is deeply polluted and the Pahang government is to be blamed. Chini which is made up by a series of 12 lakes is not so much a lake but more of a naturally dammed tributary of the Pahang River. Until recently the lake's waters rose and fell with the seasons. During the rainy season the waters were unable to flow down the narrow Sungai Chini and so became backed up in a series of lakes. This resulted in a unique ecosystem, dominated by the presence of the Sacred Lotus Nelumbo Nucifera which once covered the entire surface of the lake system. During low waters the lotus seeds would germinate, their roots would take hold in the soft mud and the stunning blooms would appear on the water's surface. During the monsoonal floods, from October to January, the lotus would die but their fertilized new seeds would litter the lake bottom waiting the dry season to bloom again. This exquisite cycle is however damned. In 1995, the state government, in a bid to commercialize the area and make the lakes more appealing to visitors in the dry season, built a dam at the point where Sungai Chini entered the Pahang River. The structure stopped the free flow of water which was never able to recede again. It wasn't long before the Tasik Chini natural ecosystem started showing signs of stress. Species going extinct According to Azimudin Bahari, who is with the natural resources and environment ministry, studies have shown that the lake is polluted. "The scientific studies by the Tasik Chini Research Centre in University Kebangsaan Malaysia clearly show several indicators of a more polluted freshwater lake. Lotus is increasingly extinct and tourist arrivals to Tasik Chini are declining. "With the rapid decline of this lake, many species of freshwater fish have become extinct. "The loss of fish not only deprives the communities of an important source of protein, but also has resulted in the loss of traditional fishing methods." Azimudin was speaking on the matter at the Care To Action: Multi-Pronged Strategy Needed To Reverse The Decline of Tasik Chini Workshop organised by Transparency International Malaysia (TMI) recently. He said the suggested multi-pronged strategies however should be based on the principles of sustainability, good governance and recognition of the community particularly the Jakun Orang Asli tribe as the guardians of the locality. He said the aspiration and cultural practices of the local community must be respected in the economic development of the Tasik Chini area. There is hope Despite the less than heartening prognosis, there might still hope for Tasik Chini. But much of this hope hinges on whether the Pahang government will take the necessary measures to stop the sources of pollution and restore the free flow of water into the lake from Sungai Chini and Sungai Pahang. Many are of the view that a collective effort between the authorities and the locals is needed to rehabilitate the lake. The Orang Asli and other conscientious residents around the area have already made it their business to remove weeds called Ekor Kucing (Cat's Tail) which are choking and absorbing the oxygen in the water. Ailee Jane, a frequent visitor to Chini, opined that the authorities should remove the dam to allow the lake to heal itself naturally. "The lake is dying a natural death because of the weir. It is polluted and there is so much of sedimentation." Urgent need to resuscitate lake TMI secretary general Josie Fernandez said that the catchment area around Tasik Chini is being destroyed because of certain kinds of fertilizers which go into the water. Residents, mostly the Orang Asli, use this water for cooking, bathing and drinking, thereby resulting in skin afflictions. "Tin ore mining is yet another culprit," she said, adding that "water from the waste flows into the lake which results in the loss of the fish which is a cheap source of protein. "There is a story of an Orang Asli who went out early in the morning to catch some fish and only came back with one. He asked how was he going to share that one fish with the other seven families in his village. "The thing about the Orang Asli at Chini is that they observe sustainable use of the natural resources. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 29 Nov 2011 04:59 PM PST By A Young Malaysian via The Malaysian Insider Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil says that if she resigns over the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) scandal, Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail must also quit as PKR president over her husband's criminal charge. Rubbish. The two are not the same. The NFC, now being investigated for criminal breach of trust by the police, involves RM250 million in taxpayers' monies and is, therefore, a matter of public interest. On the other hand, the sodomy charge against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, even if not politically motivated as claimed by critics, is essentially a personal matter. Whether or not Shahrizat really helped her husband secure the NFC contract as alleged by the opposition is of no matter, at least politically. There is enough going against the NFC, with all the unrefuted claims that public funds meant for the cattle scheme were used for personal ends, that she should step down as soon as possible to avoid any hint of impropriety. Further attempts by Shahrizat to hold on to her post will only drag the party down further at a time when it can ill afford to be tainted by a scandal of this nature. That's the nature of guilt by association, which, unfortunately for the (unelected) federal minister, damages her case more than she realises. So, dear Shahrizat, please stop using the Umno general assembly pulpit to defend the indefensible or attempt to deflect blame by pointing to the other side and shouting, "You too!" It's a downright embarrassment every time you open your mouth to do that. Whether you like it or not, it's time to go. If not for the people, then at least for the sake of the party. Maybe you'll be rehabilitated after a stint in political wilderness, maybe not. But at least Umno will stand a better chance of surviving the NFC fallout without you. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Umno Youth calls PAS, PKR ‘bapok’, ‘pondan’ and DAP ‘enemy of Islam’ Posted: 29 Nov 2011 04:53 PM PST By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider Pakatan Rakyat (PR) bashing served as a focal point in today's Umno Youth assembly, with delegates resorting to the use of foul language and insults to get their points across. Umno state youth chiefs took turns attacking PR parties with a specific focus on DAP, accusing the party of systematically eroding the rights of Malays in states like Penang and Kedah. One leader, Shaik Hussein Mydin, claimed that Malays and Islam were at risk in Penang, and said that PKR and PAS had "no power" to stop the repression of Malay community there. "PKR and PAS are 'bapok' (transvestites) and 'pondan' (effeminate) as these days they have no power to challenge DAP. "A vote for DAP is a vote for the destruction of Islam," said the Penang Umno Youth chief to loud applause and shouts of "PKR, PAS tak ada telur!" Zooming in on the island's PAS state chief Datuk Salleh Man and state executive councillor in charge of religious affairs Abdul Malik Kassim (PKR), Shaik Hussin repeatedly called them "pondan" and "bapok." He accused DAP of being an "enemy of Islam" and Malays in general, alleging that under Lim Guan Eng's administration, Malay food stalls had been demolished and Malay businesses affected. He also said Penang's previous plan of wanting to introduce mosque elections was "kurang ajar" (rude). "Under DAP, Malays have become their 'baruas'. I won't mince my words, because I mean what I say. "Anyone who supports DAP is a 'bangsat' (bastard)," said Shaik Hussin. He also brought up allegations that DAP were agents of "Christianisation," saying that DAP Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi had never addressed claims that a function was held in Jelutong to discuss plans to install a Christian prime minister. "This is the sad reality of Penang. Umno has to redouble its efforts here!" said Shaik Hussin. Perak Umno state youth chief Khairul Azwan Datuk Harun continued the anti-DAP salvo, highlighting a state DAP leader's alleged "racist" remark. "DAP is racist. Racist! "If they say the Perak Mentri Besar is a 'black metallic haramjadah', then DAP is the mother and father of all 'haramjadah'," Khairul said to loud cheers from the Umno crowd. Perak DAP leader Nga Kor Ming today apologised to Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir for referring to the latter as "metallic black", after his remarks caused an uproar in the Indian community. But the Taiping MP and former state executive councillor continued to insist his words had been taken out context, claiming the phrase "metallic black" was in reference to Zambry and Barisan Nasional's (BN) allegedly unconstitutional takeover of the Perak government.
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