Jumaat, 30 Disember 2011

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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News


Opposition rapped for rejecting Act

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 11:59 AM PST

(The Star) - The Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) has chided the Opposition for rejecting the proposed Race Relations Bill due to their failure to understand the necessity for it.

BNBBC vice-chairman Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said the Opposition had failed to understand the intent behind the proposed Act and have misconstrued it because of its name.

"The proposed law is more than just regulating race relations as its intention is to prevent discrimination based on race.

"The law is drafted based on the United Kingdom's Race Relation Act 1976 to ensure that a person will not be discriminated in the employment sector as well as when purchasing goods," he said yesterday.

It was reported that Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz had announced that the Government was expected to table the Bill in the next parliament session in March.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk S.K. Devamany noted that other countries also had similar legislation and said it would act as a guideline to prevent race-based discrimination.

"We must understand that Malaysia is a multiracial country and we want to preserve unity. We do not want issues such as the Kampung Jawa temple demolition matter or the Interlok novel controversy to divide us even more," he said.

Pakatan Rakyat MPs have rejected the proposed law, claiming there were adequate laws and policies to deal with racial discrimination and inequality.

PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar said it was unnecessary for the Government to table another Bill to regulate race relations and foster mutual understanding among the races.

"Currently, we have the Sedition Act and the Penal Code which deals specifically with people who play up and create racial and religious tension. The current laws just need to be implemented properly," he said

PKR vice-president Tian Chua said the Government should not rush into tabling such an important Act and should consult all relevant parties to ensure it was smoothly implemented.

 

Najib sukar umum PRU 13 kerana isu dalaman Umno

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 11:55 AM PST

(Harakah Daily) - Ahli Jawatankuasa PAS Pusat, Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar berkata Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak belum berjaya menutup isu dan pendedahan yang berlaku dalam negara membabitkan kepimpinannya.

Beliau berkata, terlalu banyak isu dan pendedahan yang Najib sedang cuba untuk menutup dan menyelesaikan segala permasalahan berkaitan.

Justeru, katanya, disebabkan menghadapi isu-isu tertentu, maka sehingga kini Najib sukar untuk mengisytiharkan tarikh Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13.

Beliau menyatakan demikian kepada pemberita pada majlis penyampaian sumbangan beg sekolah bagi pelajar Sekolah Rendah 2012 dalam Parlimen Tumpat di Surau Tuk Ayah Kg Laut dan di Surau Hidayah Pulau Seratus, dekat sini semalam.

Sumbangan kewangan dan beg sekolah turut diberikan kepada 50 pelajar termasuk yang berjaya mendapat 5A dalam UPSR tahun 2011, anak yatim dan pelajar miskin.

Ahli Parlimen Tumpat itu berkata, pendedahan demi pendedahan dapat diikuti hari ini walaupun ian datang daripada sumber-sumber belum dipastikan.

"Tetapi daripada maklumat-maklumat itu sudah tentu daripada pihak atau pun orang-orang dalaman termasuk kes bagaimana Timbalan Menteri Kewangan menerima kemasukan wang yang banyak ke dalam akaun bank peribadinya tiap-tiap bulan.

Beliau turut mengulas pembabitan keluarga Perdana Menteri dan mantan Perdana Menteri yang lalu dalam perniagaan, yang bukan saja berlaku semasa kepimpinan Abdullah Badawi, tetapi juga Dr Mahathir.

"Begitu juga nampaknya dengan Datuk Najib di mana baru-baru ini anaknya terbabit dalam pembelian syarikat awam dan apabila dibangkitkan, isu itu 'diredakan'.

"Jadi ini bukan saja ciri Datuk Najib tetapi ciri pemimpin-pemimpin Umno yang ada," katanya.

 

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 11:37 AM PST

1.    In the past few weeks, the MACC has been very prolific. Many advertorials have been published in the main stream newspapers of the MACC's achievements in eradicating corruption. The conviction of former Selangor MB Dato Seri Khir Toyo to 1 year imprisonment seems to boost the MACC's image.

2.    The MACC blazed the trail again when on the 21st December 2011, the MACC announced the arrest of five (5) civil servants for bribery in separate places in Kedah. On Tuesday 27th December 2011, the husband of the ex-CEO of the Iskandar Investment Board (IIB), Mohd Amin Suhaimi, was charged in Johor Bharu for corruption. It seems strange that the ex-CEO herself was not charged. Then on Wednesday 29th  December, a former IIB senior V-P, Rostam Razali, was fined RM20,000 after he pleaded guilty for abuse of power in disclosing confidential tender price information.

3.    Meanwhile in KL, the Permanent Chairman of Malaysian Muslim Welfare Organisation (Perkim) Selangor branch who was also the former International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Deputy Rector, Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Ariffin Suhaimi, was charged with two other Perkim members, Dato' Baharin Baba, 58, and Abas Adam, 60 for Criminal Breach of Trust (CBT) by the MACC. The offence was alleged to have happened in the early 2000s.
 
4.    While all these seem to show that the MACC would have the stamina and resolve to dig at old records to uncover corruption, abuse of power and CBT, the public has not forgotten the persecution of Dato' Ramli Yusuff, the former Director CCID, and his lawyer, Rosli Dahlan. The public considers this as a fix-up job by former IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan and A-G Gani Patail achieved with the collusions of the MACC. Musa Hassan was exposed as an incredible witness which is a legal euphemism for calling him a liar. Because of that, the public considers the MACC as a tool of oppression that would do the biddings of A–G Gani Patail and their political masters.  

5.    Thus, some skeptics say that these recent events are merely to allow the MACC to end 2011 on a high note. It is as if the MACC is trying to erase all the bad publicity for causing the deaths of Teoh Beng Hock and customs officer Ahmad Sarbaini while in the MACC's custody. The outcome of the Royal Commission of Inquiry and the Inquest have not satisfied the public's thirst for the truth and justice. Rightly or wrongly, that is the public perception. And perception counts if the government of PM Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak is to lead BN to a successful GE 13.

6.    In that regard, I feel compelled to raise the two blatant cases involving YB Senator Dato' Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Minister for Women and Family Development, in the NFC episode and YB Senator Datuk Dr. Awang Adek Hussein, Deputy Minister of Finance, for admitting he received cash into his private accounts but justified it as for political donations towards social program.

7.    Like the rest of the Rakyat, I am astounded and appalled by the reasons put up  by both these two politicians who were rejected by the Rakyat in GE 12 and had to be smuggled into the Cabinet by back door appointments through the Dewan Negara. Their mere presence as Ministers in the Government betrays everything that PM Najib has been saying about winnable candidates. These two were rejected by the Rakyat in GE12 and their involvement in these two scandals will certainly not endear them any closer to the electorates in GE 13.    

8.    In the case of Dato' Seri Shahrizat, the evidence are already in the public domain of the misappropriation of the NFC funds granted for the national cattle project instead being used to purchase luxurious condominiums, super cars and fantastic salaries for Shahrizat's husband and children.

9.    The initial statement by the MACC that they only investigate corruption cases and referred the matter to the Police is seen as a feeble attempt to pass the bucket. That was the same thing that happened in the Khir Toyo's case until I pursued it that led to Khir Toyo being charged. Even so, the Rakyat questioned why Khir Toyo was charged under the Penal Code where the maximum penalty is only 2 years whereas punishments under the MACC Act would extend to 20 years. The Rakyat sees this as a cover up!

10.     In the case of Datuk Dr. Awang Adek, his open admission of having received such monies to fund his own "social" programs actually constitute political gratification. That an offence of corruption has been established could not be clearer. But most worrisome to me is the inability of Awang Adek, as our Finance Minister, to realise that what he had done was wrong. For him to justify his conduct spells doom for the country if our national finance is to be managed by a man of such moral fabric.

11.     I invite the MACC Chief Commissioner, Dato' Sri Abu Kasssim, to deliver to both Shahrizat and Awang Adek the lectures that he had delivered to me when I was on the MACC Advisory Panel about the meaning of gratification. Since I am now pursuing a law degree, for these Ministers' benefit I reproduce s. 3 on Interpretation in the MACC Act:

"gratification" means-
(a)    money, donation, gift, loan, fee, reward, valuable security, property or interest in property being property of any description whether movable or immovable, financial benefit, or any other similar advantage;
 
12.    For Sharizat to maintain that her family is justified to get the contracts goes against the provisions of the MACC Act:

23. Offence of using office or position for gratification

(1)    Any officer of a public body who uses his office or position for any gratification, whether for himself, his relative or associate, commits an offence.

(2)    For the purposes of subsection (1), an officer of a public body shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, to use his office or position for any gratification, whether for himself, his relative or associate, when he makes any decision, or takes any action, in relation to any matter in which such officer, or any relative or associate of his, has an interest, whether directly or indirectly.


13.    Let me ask Awang Adek, if he is not the  Deputy Finance Minister whether these companies and associates would give him those monies to fund his political programs. The case of Dato' Harun Idris is on point. That makes it clear that Awang Adek had accepted gratification as defined by s. 16 MACC Act:  

16. Offence of accepting gratification
Any person who by himself, or by or in conjunction with any other person--

(a)     corruptly solicits or receives or agrees to receive for himself or for any other person; or
(b)     corruptly gives, promises or offers to any person whether for the benefit of that person or of another person,
any gratification as an inducement to or a reward for, or otherwise on account of--

(A)     any person doing or forbearing to do anything in respect of any matter or transaction, actual or proposed or likely to take place; or
(B)     any officer of a public body doing or forbearing to do anything in respect of any matter or transaction, actual or proposed or likely to take place, in which the public body is concerned,
commits an offence.

14.     As a Minister, Awang Adek is a public officer. Thus, his acceptance of such monies into his personal account constitutes bribery:

21. Bribery of officer of public body
Any person who offers to an officer of any public body, or being an officer of any public body solicits or accepts, any gratification as an inducement or a reward for--

(a)     the officer voting or abstaining from voting at any meeting of the public body in favour of or against any measure, resolution or question submitted to the public body;
(b)     the officer performing or abstaining from performing or aiding in procuring, expediting, delaying, hindering or preventing the performance of, any official act;
(c)     the officer aiding in procuring or preventing the passing of any vote or the granting of any contract or advantage in favour of any person; or
(d)     the officer showing or forbearing to show any favour or disfavour in his capacity as such officer,
commits an offence, notwithstanding that the officer did not have the power, right or opportunity so to do, show or forbear, or accepted the gratification without intending so to do, show or forbear, or did not in fact so do, show or forbear, or that the inducement or reward was not in relation to the affairs of the public body.
 

15.    Once Awang Adek admitted that he had accepted gratification, then there is a presumption that it is corrupt gratification:

50.  Presumption in certain offences.
(1)    Where in any proceedings against any person for an offence under section 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22 or 23 it is proved that any gratification has been received or agreed to be received, accepted or agreed to be accepted, obtained or attempted to be obtained, solicited, given or agreed to be given, promised, or offered, by or to the accused, the gratification shall be presumed to have been corruptly received or agreed to be received, accepted or agreed to be accepted, obtained or attempted to be obtained, solicited, given or agreed to be given, promised, or offered as an inducement or a reward for or on account of the matters set out in the particulars of the offence, unless the contrary is proved.

16.    It is abundantly clear that the actions of Shahrizat and Anwang Adek are not defensible. The MACC does itself discredit if it continuously refuse to act with the same speed and efficiency when it involve members of the ruling party. The Rakyat is tired of excuses. In the interest of the BN Government, Shahrizat and Awang Adek should resign and offer themselves for investigation by MACC and other authorities. By resigning, only then can investigations against them be done without the undue influence which cannot be the case if they remain in the Cabinet.

17.    As we celebrate New Year, the Rakyat expect a new resolve by the Government and the MACC. If the fight to eradicate corruption is seen as mere lip service, the Rakyat will rise and teach the government a lesson at the ballot box. Before that happens, I urge the government to wake up to today's realities before the Rakyat say enough is enough!

Happy New Year 2012!

"HUMBLENESS IS GOOD VIRTUE, ARROGANCE SHALL FALL, THE MEEK WILL RULE THE WORLD".
.....................................................................
Tan Sri Datuk Robert Phang Miow Sin
Justice of Peace

Chairman – Social Care Foundation
 

Clarity of purpose and vision: ABU!

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 11:21 AM PST

STEADYAKU47

UMNO is full of failed leaders. More of their first tier leaders have, at one time or another, left UMNO than have stayed. Tunku, Hussein Onn, Mahathir, Tengku Razaleigh, Musa Hitam, Anwar Ibrahim and maybe Mahathir again if he does not have his way in the run up to the 13th general elections.  Some have done so out of spite, some out of a sense of moral responsibility while some chose to do politics outside UMNO. I look at Najib today and see a man out of his depth in a job he is ill equipped to handle.

He is clearly not a leader able to put two separate pieces of information together in his head – what more process the numerous inputs coming in from all angles and sources – and digest them before making the necessary decisions that would affect his party, his people and his country.    

It is tragic for us and our country that this incompetent leader is advised by people whose vested interest overwhelms all other considerations. UMNO is obsessed with one thing and one thing only – how to hang on to power. There is no competent strategy of what to do with the malaise that has now overtaken our country because of this obsession for power over these last 50 years. No competent strategy of how to move on after the 13th general election. These UMNO goons have no plans beyond taking back power in the 13th general election. It would seem that should power be theirs again after the 13th general election it would be back to the orgy of plundering and pillaging of our country wealth and resources!

Who advises Najib? Mahathir? The same Mahathir that wants his so called 'legacy' wreck asunder by Pak Lah to now be 'protected' by Najib? What legacy? Abuses and incompetence would more appropriately describe the 20 over years of Mahathir's rule. This same Mahathir has already fast tracked his son into Cabinet! Now he stands poised to 'negotiate' with Najib his support for Najib in the coming 13th general election in return for what? The crooked bridge in Johore? A minister ship for his son? The protection of his crony business interest because without the OSA he would be exposed as having betrayed the trust put upon him by the people to safeguard the interest of the nation rather then to abuse it by giving lucrative IPP and other projects and contracts to his cronies? What sort of advise would Mahathir give to Najib? Surely no advise that would benefit our nations interest and its people!

He is advised by UMNO leaders? Take Isa Samad and Thamby Chik – what advise would they give Najib that would benefit the rural Malays that are under their purview? These are two UMNO rejects that has to be recycled because UMNO has need for Isa's proficiency in money politics and Thamby Chik expertise for gutter politics. It sickens me to the core to have these still titled dregs of human society in position of such responsibilities!

What advised has Najib been given to deal with the opposition – Pakatan Rakyat? His first foray into opposition territory was infamously successful with the taking of Perak from Pakatan Rakyat – not through the electoral process but through the baiting of opposition MP's to cross over to Barisan Nasional. I will leave it to your imagination to figure out what bait was used. Suffice to say that apart from that bait, the Sultan and the Judiciary were co-opted to come onto Barisan Nasional side. What the price was for the capitulation of the Sultan and the Judiciary is still to be tabulated but we have a fair idea what the final costs will be!

After Perak Najib embarked on a relentless vendetta against the opposition. At times even death, as in Teoh Beng Hock's, did not dimmed the enthusiasm of the offending mechanism used to harass the opposition.  As if one death was not enough, it took another death before MACC began to get its act together – hopefully it will not regress to what it was before – a running dog for UMNO's political agenda.    

And now it would seem that only the jailing of the opposition leader would satisfy Najib. What have we regressed to? Somalia, Chad, Zimbabwe or the Democratic Repblic of Congo? In these places arrest warrants and the judiciary are weapons of choice for the government to neutralize any opposition!

READ MORE HERE

 

Many vying for DCM II post

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 11:16 AM PST

Several DAP leaders, even those outside of Penang, are said to be interested in the coveted post.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Many DAP politicians are aspiring to take over the coveted post of Penang deputy chief minister II.

The seat is currently held by the party's deputy secretary-general P Ramasamy, who is also the MP for Batu Kawan and Prai state assemblyman.

Commenting about Ramasamy, who is now in the limelight due to a public spat with party national chairman Karpal Singh, who has openly asked the former to quit, a source said the academic is an inexperienced politician.

"He failed to touch base and connect with the grassroots members and treated everyone as new members," the source told FMT.

There are talks that Bukit Mertajam MP, Chong Eng, would contest a state seat in the next general election and assume the deputy chief minister post.

"She considers herself half-Indian by virtue of having an Indian husband," said the source.

Kulasegaran interested?

It is also rumoured that Karpal's son and Datuk Keramat state rep Jagdeep Singh Deo is eyeing the post as well, but according to the source, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng does not favour this.

Those aligned to Ramasamy said that Jagdeep should have accepted an exco post if he was interested.

"This was not the case. Indians were allocated two exco posts. Ramasamy accepted one.

"Jagdeep, (Bagan Dalam state rep) A Thanasekaran and (Seri Delima rep) RSN Rayer declined the offer," said one supporter.

READ MORE HERE

 

Will BN win the 13th GE?

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 08:34 AM PST

It certainly has the edge but the big question is why is Najib running scared of calling for the polls.

Overall it can be said that it looks likely that BN will win the 13th general election due to three main reasons: Use of racist, fear-mongering tactics to woo the Malay vote; control of mainstream media to bad-mouth the opposition plus no alternative media in rural areas; and lack of impartiality (to put it in a refined manner) by the Election Commission.

Selena Tay, Free Malaysia Today

Yes, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is too afraid of holding the 13th general election. He is afraid that BN will not win, and in reality he has no confidence of winning.

Otherwise, why would he not immediately call for the polls to be held the moment after he had presented the Budget on Oct 7, 2011?

After all, it is blindingly obvious that the civil service, the national institutions, the rural folk and those in the interiors of Sabah and Sarawak are supporting him. With this so-called overwhelming support, it is indeed amazing that he still lacks the courage to call for the general election.

In addition to that, he has also thrown in the RM500 aid as bait. However, the RM500 is no big deal as it is only a one-off. Even if he were to give this sum every five years, it only amounts to RM100 a year. And that is equivalent to RM8.45 a month – peanuts and pittance! Is Najib trying to make monkeys out of the rakyat?

Be that as it may, here is a brief guide highlighting the unique features on the scenario in all the states in Malaysia:

Perlis: If you think the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is in disarray, think again. In Perlis there are four warlords jostling for power: Azmi Khalid – he of the Public Accounts Committee fame; Radzi Sheikh Ahmad – well known and with much clout; Isa Sabu – present Menteri Besar (MB) and; Shahidan Kassim – previous MB.

The smallest state but giving the biggest problems to Umno. PAS has two state seats here and hope to make further inroads and DAP has also set up a branch in Perlis after being absent for more than three decades.

Penang: The Indian-Muslim NGOs try to annoy Chief Minister (CM) Lim Guan Eng but the Malays have never had it better. The support for Lim from the Malays is blanked out by the mainstream media and this could work out to Pakatan's disadvantage because the Malays in other states will think that the Penang Malays are being marginalised by the DAP-led state government.

Kedah: PAS MB Ustaz Azizan Abu Bakar seems slow and sleepy but that is the style required in Kedah. Things are moving along fine although the mainstream media tries to paint a picture of no-progress. For example, a road in Kubang Rotan was tarred and repaired by the PAS state government but the mainstream media said it was done by the BN federal government.

The PAS government was also accused of not helping the rakyat during the flash floods in 2010 although they had disbursed RM2 million to assist the flood victims.

Kelantan: PAS MB Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat has helmed Kelantan since 1990 and this time the Malay daily which is Umno's mouthpiece tries to drown him with the water issue by publishing front-page headlines proclaiming that the water in Kelantan is dirty and smelly.

In fact the water is clean and crystal clear and the dirty, smelly water proclaimed in the said daily is the water dug from the ground by some of the locals and this type of water is referred to by the Kelantanese as 'boring water'. How dull can BN get! The PAS state government has not kept quiet and has issued newsletters to try to counter the BN media.

Terengganu: This state is ever-elusive for PAS although they have won it in 1959 and 2004. There are two warlords in the power struggle of Terengganu: Former MB Idris Jusoh versus current MB Ahmad Said.

The stadium-collapse and the bridge with no river are the main issues here leading the opposition to question who gets a percentage cut from the construction works. In regards to the bridge which is part of the stretch of the Jabor Highway, the cost of the said bridge has ballooned from RM174 million to RM210 million. The construction cost of Jabor Highway itself has increased from RM3.7 billion to RM5 billion.

Pahang: The home state of Najib. The hottest issue here is no doubt the one in regards to Lynas Corporation and the rare earth plant in Gebeng located in the constituency of PKR MP Fuziah Salleh. She is currently heading a people's movement which involves the rakyat with the intention of booting out this plant.

Battle of all battles

Perak: The state that made headlines in 2009 due to BN's illegal power-grab. Since then, the Silver State has lost its shine due to Perak MB, Umno's Zambry Abdul Kadir and his lacklustre line-up of Exco members. Ho-hum, yawn!

But the bright spark here is the PAS Supporters Congress – the non Muslim section of PAS which has one of the most active branches in Malaysia in Perak. The co-ordination among the three Pakatan component parties is also the best in Perak.

Selangor: This is in clear and present danger of going back to BN's grasp due to extremely aggressive campaigning by Umno using racial issues and scare-mongering tactics to win the Malay vote. Although Umno uses the same racial and scare-mongering tactics in all the states, it is the most prevalent in Selangor.

Negeri Sembilan: One might think that nothing much happens here but lest we forget, Gemas in Negeri Sembilan is the location of the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) cattle ranch – ground zero of the Cattle-Condo scandal. Enough said.

Malacca: Welcome to the Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Melaka in Batu Berendam which has only five flights a week. At other times, it is a good place to hone one's skills in kite-flying.

Malacca is also home to the largest go-cart circuit in Southeast Asia but rest assured it is not so much a go-cart circuit as a ghost-cart circuit. Costing more than RM12 million to construct, there is no one and no activity there!

READ MORE HERE

 

‘Perkasa has no right to demand action’

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 08:13 AM PST

(The Star) - MCA said Malay rights group Perkasa has no right to demand a probe on Christian leader Dr Eu Hong Seng over his remarks on Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.

MCA Young Professionals Bureau chairman Datuk Chua Tee Yong slammed the pressure group for accusing the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) chairman of making seditious remarks in his Christmas Eve message.

The reverend caused a stir when he said Article 153 was like "bullying" the non-bumiputra groups in the country.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had reacted to the comments by refuting the suggestion that the constitutional provision had been used to bully any community.

Eu's remarks sparked a furious response from Perkasa, with its president Datuk Ibrahim Ali accusing the pastor of making a politically-motivated statement.

Perkasa has since lodged a police report against Eu and slammed non-Muslim political leaders for not taking action against the reverend.

Chua said all Malaysians, including Perkasa members, are entitled to freedom of speech so long as they do not violate any laws or damage racial harmony.

"This, however, does not give Perkasa the right to go overboard and demand that the police investigate Eu under the Sedition Act," he said in a statement here.

 

What would Gandhi think of our world today?

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 07:59 AM PST

ALIRAN

Recalling Gandhi's legacy, Marina Mahathir calls on us to make use of the power that we all have to insist that we be ruled only by those who wage peace at all times.

To many people, the first thing that comes to mind when talking about Mahatma Gandhi is of course his doctrine of non-violence. I think by far this is his greatest contribution to the world, that rebellion against injustice can be achieved through non-violent means. That to protest against such injustices is a human right, because injustice itself is a violation of human rights. And because injustice is often violent, to protest in a non-violent manner is also a statement in itself.

Not that the world, despite its admiration for Gandhi, has been able to follow his doctrine in practice at all. When we look at the amount of violence today all round the world, we have to wonder what the Mahatma would have thought. Violence today has become more widespread, more sophisticated and more diversified. We are seeing every day different types of violence perpetrated by different people using different means. Are any of them justified and would all of them merit the same non-violent responses?

Violence in the world

In Gandhi's day, his main concern was the sort of violence perpetrated by colonisers against the colonised. This included both the British government's colonisation of India and the demand by Indians for self-determination as well as the social colonisation of the haves in Indian society over the have-nots, especially those from the untouchable classes.

Perhaps less well-known is that Gandhi was also an opponent of the formation of the state of Israel. Although he sympathised greatly with the plight of Jews who were being persecuted in Germany, nevertheless Gandhi thought the answer was not the setting up of a Jewish state in Palestine. "The Palestine of the Biblical conception," he said, " is not a geographical tract. It is in their (Jewish) hearts. But if they must look to the Palestine of geography as their national home, it is wrong to enter it under the shadow of the British gun. A religious act cannot be performed with the aid of the bayonet or the bomb. They can settle in Palestine only by the
goodwill of the Arabs. They should seek to convert the Arab heart."

As we know, nobody listened then to Gandhi and the Palestine issue is still with us today. As indeed colonialism still is, and taking on more violent forms than ever before. Today we have at least two countries, Afghanistan and Iraq, with hundreds of foreign soldiers on their soil attempting unsuccessfully to bring peace to those countries. Instead of development, both Iraq and Afghanistan have been laid waste to violence and are unable to govern themselves for some time to come. Furthermore the violence perpetuated is today much more sophisticated, operated from a distance and causing many more deaths and injuries on civilian populations than ever before. How many times have we seen reports of drone attacks causing many civilian deaths in Afghanistan or suicide bombers killing and injuring innocent people?

Weapons of war

Today too we have seen more diverse forms of weaponry, not just more technologically sophisticated ones but also chemical weapons, even those declared illegal by the international community. In Gaza, doctors treating the injured reported the use of white phosphorus, which burns the skin as long as oxygen is available. These doctors also reported the use of Dense Inert Metal Explosives (DIME), a type of bomb fired from Israeli planes, which hit the ground, bounce up again and then explode sending out hundreds of sharp blades and shrapnel. The injuries caused by these shrapnel include amputated legs, arms and heads; needless to say, DIME does not differentiate between adults and children, soldiers and civilians.

Let us not forget that the threat of nuclear weapons still looms over us today. Despite the global anti-nuclear movement, today there are still several countries that insist on having nuclear weapons including the United States and Israel. Additionally, the conventional arms trade is today estimated to be valued at USD1.5 trillion yearly or 2.7 per cent of the world's GDP. The United States alone accounts for 42.8 per cent of the world's defence spending and 4.8 per cent of its GDP. It is also the largest exporter of armaments, thus spreading violence and death all round the world.

As the director Michael Moore pointed out in his documentary Bowling for Columbine, in an environment where it is not considered unusual to manufacture, buy and sell weaponry, violence becomes an idea that seeps into the community and the minds of individuals, with fatal consequences for many innocent victims.

The Nobel peace laureate Oscar Arias Sanchez, former President of Costa Rica, a country without an army, noted the same phenomenon: "When a country decides to invest in arms, rather than in education, housing, the environment, and health services for its people, it is depriving a whole generation of its right to prosperity and happiness. We have produced one firearm for every ten inhabitants of this planet, and yet we have not bothered to end hunger when such a feat is well within our reach.

"Our international regulations allow almost three-quarters of all global arms sales to pour into the developing world with no binding international guidelines whatsoever. Our regulations do not hold countries accountable for what is done with the weapons they sell, even when the probable use of such weapons is obvious."

Thus the world in 2011 is much more awash in the means to violence than in the days of Gandhi, even though he lived to see the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and was a sharp critic of the use of nuclear bombs. In 1946, he remarked: "I regard the employment of the atom bomb for the wholesale destruction of men, women, and children as the most diabolical use of science." Sadly this diabolical use of science continues unabated today.

Causes of violence

What about the causes of violent conflict today? No longer is it just colonisation that is causing conflict but different issues have arisen of late that may not have existed in Gandhi's day. Globalisation has linked the countries of the world as never before but its benefits have not been evenly distributed over all countries. The divide between rich and poor nations remains large; developing nations still suffer a bigger share of the world's poverty, illiteracy and ill health. They are less able to cope with shocks in the world's economic system; if the developed world to which they export suffers a recession, they suffer worse from the effects of those cutbacks.

These types of economic inequalities lead to a new phenomena, human migration, where people move from their own region or country to another to seek a better life. If badly managed, this can lead to conflicts with the native people of the host countries. Migrants now make up 214m people who leave their countries for work or to seek refuge from crises in their own countries, including conflicts. According to the International Organisation for Migration, this means that one in every 33 people in the world is an international migrant. As displaced people and refugees, or even simply as foreign workers in a country, these migrants become vulnerable to violence as well as other disadvantages such as lack of access to health care.

Additionally there are the effects of relatively new phenomena such as climate change. When people are displaced by environmental disasters caused by climate change such as drought or floods, they encroach on other people's land. Conflicts arise when more people are forced to find food from the same limited resources. Refugees forced to live in deplorable conditions invariably rebel and start to fight with both fellow refugees and their unwilling hosts. What is happening in Somalia is a case in point where hundreds of thousands of famine-stricken people have been forced to move in search of food, sparking an immense humanitarian crisis.

In many cases, compared to Gandhi's day, the perpetrators of violence have also diversified. Where before it was often states that inflicted violence on people, today there may be non-state actors or even communities that may cause such violence. For instance, the existence of networks of people who believe that violence is the only response to injustice, thus leading to events such as 9/11, the Bali bombings and other violent events such as the suicide bombing of houses of worship. Gender-based violence has also been well-documented for example in Bosnia, in Indonesia in 1998, and more recently in the Congo and in Libya. The targets of such violence are also diverse; sometimes it is certain communities, sometimes the more vulnerable sections of the population such as women and sometimes targets are randomly picked.

READ MORE HERE

 

Year of reckoning

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 07:52 AM PST

2012 WHAT'S NEXT - POLITICS
By JOCELINE TAN, THE STAR

The general election is all anybody can think about as 2012 arrives and the Mother Of All Battles looms in Malaysian politics.

EVERYTHING in this country has had a tinge of politics to it since the political tsunami of 2008. In fact, there has been too much politics and gamesmanship in too many issues.

But 2012 is likely to see the politics of the last four decades reach some sort of conclusion. Nope, the world is not going to end but as they say in the movies, get ready for the Mother Of All Battles, namely the 13th general election.

Political analysts have been predicting early polls every year since March 2008, and they have been embarrassingly wrong. Despite having been in the public eye for so many decades, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has been quite difficult to read, and very few thought that he would go the full term before seeking his own mandate.

It has been one long guessing game with people predicting an election every few months or every time the ruling coalition came up with some goodies for the rakyat. In fact, one of the most asked question last year was on when the general election would be.

But the long wait is about to be over. The Barisan Nasional will touch the final 12 months of its mandate in March 2012 and after that, all political parties will be in election mode. The usual political pundits are predicting polls by the March school holidays but political insiders say that anytime after June is a better bet.

The Prime Minister, they say, is determined to leave as little options as possible to the four Pakatan Rakyat states to not come along in the polls. Conventional wisdom has it that this will be the definitive election after the one that caught everyone on the backfoot. Both sides are hungry to arrive first in Putrajaya, and this is going to make 2012 a very exciting and unprecedented year in politics.

Hopefully, it will not get ugly and the winners will show magnanimity and the losers, grace.

A great deal of 2012's politics will be geared towards the Mother Of All Battles. Everything else will sort of pale in comparison. But as the year opens, national attention will be on the court verdict of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial on Jan 9.

The verdict is finally coming more than three years after Anwar was charged with sodomising his aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan. Anwar was touted as "Malaysia's 7th Prime Minister" during the PKR national congress in Johor last month. But the court verdict will decide whether the PKR's de facto leader will still be in the running for the title or if it's the end of the road for him.

The court decision will also impact on Pakatan's strategy and plans for the general election. It needs a prime minister candidate with cross-sectional appeal. For Malaysia's most controversial politician, 2012 will be a year of reckoning.

This year ended with the political spotlight trained on Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil who struggled to keep her head afloat over the National Feedlot Corporation controversy which involves her family. The last time something so devastating has hit her was when she was defeated in Lembah Pantai by Nurul Izzah Anwar.

Shahrizat, who is also a Cabinet member, sailed through the Umno general assembly without any open censure from her party. But the pressure on her to take responsibility has not subsided, and even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the man who had handpicked her as a candidate in the 1995 general election, is sceptical that she can continue.

The controversy will continue to dog her in 2012 and all eyes will be on how she handles the pressure and whether she will cave in or defy her critics and cling on.

The politics of 2012 will also hinge on the reforms that the ruling coalition has promised, especially the new legislation that will replace the abolished ISA, and also the electoral reforms that have been the rallying cry of Pakatan politicians.

And before the big battle takes place there will be lots politicking and even fights within individual political parties as aspirants lobby to be picked as candidates. This time around, the disease of people doing what it takes to become candidates will not be confined to the Barisan parties. The Pakatan parties have also caught the disease big-time.

This has to do with the intoxicating taste of power, and the perks and material rewards that come with it. The recent warlord-godfather fight in the Penang DAP was basically about staking the territory for certain candidates. There will be more of such tussles as 2012 builds up to the Mother Of All Battles.

The world is apparently not going to end in 2012 but for whichever side loses in this election, it will surely feel like the end of the world.

 

2011 In Review - Politics: Malaysia

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 07:49 AM PST

The Star

IT was an interesting year on the home front as far as civil liberties are concerned. After 42 years, Malaysia finally declared that it was no longer in a state of Emergency.

On Nov 24, Parliament approved a motion to lift three emergency proclamations, two of which had been in place for over 40 years. With that, the powers granted to the police under the Emergency Ordinance (EO), including to detain suspects without warrant, was withdrawn.

The first emergency proclamation was issued by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on May 15, 1969 following the May 13 racial riots. The other two emergency proclamations, issued on Sept 14, 1966 and Nov 8, 1977, were aimed at resolving political disputes in Sarawak and Kelantan, respectively.

Along with the revocation of the Emergency proclamations, the Government also announced the abolition of the Banishment Act 1959 and the Restricted Residence Act 1993 and said it would abolish the Internal Security Act (ISA).

However it clarified later that the new law replacing the ISA would also allow for detention without trial.

To reduce the possibility of fraud, the Election Commission has accepted the use of indelible ink for the next general election.

Meanwhile, euphoria over the repeal of the Emergency was tempered by the introduction of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2011, which was passed by Dewan Negara on Dec 20, with 39 senators voting in favour, and eight against. Under the new law, street protests, defined as "open air assembly which begins with a meeting at a specified place and consists of walking in a mass march or rally for the purpose of objecting to or advancing a particular cause or causes", are prohibited.

The new law purportedly makes it easier to hold peaceful assemblies at "designated areas" (off-the-streets), but organisers would have to notify the police 24 hours before the event. The bill, which also allows for appeals to the Home Minister against the conditions and restrictions, was passed by the Dewan Rakyat on Nov 29 after a heated debate. Critics said it was, in fact, an even more restrictive law.

In the end, six amendments were incorporated into the bill, including shortening the notice period required to be given to the police for any assemblies to 10 days, down from 30 days. Opposition MPs staged a walkout from Parliament before voting commenced.

Amendments to the Universities and Uni­versity Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) are now being considered following a Court of Appeal ruling on Oct 31 that Section 15(5)(a) of the act was unconstitutional. The result was handed down following an appeal by four former Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia undergraduates who faced disciplinary action for being present during the Hulu Selangor by-election on April 24 last year.

Civil society activists want more than just amendments, and are calling for the complete abolishment of the act, and along with it, the abolishment of the Educational Institutions (Discipline) Act 1976 (Act 174) and Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996 (Act 555). The draft amendments to the UUCA, which the Government said "will respect the constitutional rights of students aged 21 and above", are expected to be tabled in Parliament next year.

Print publications will no longer need to renew their printing licences annually under a comprehensive review of the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA). The MCA, under its New Deal manifesto, is calling for PPPA to be abolished, a move supported by the National Union of Journalists Malaysia. Of concern to media owners is the fact that the Minister still has absolute discretion in the granting and revocation of licences, as well as in restricting and banning publications deemed detrimental to national security.

One of the most notable event this year was the Bersih protest movement in July.

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, better known by its Malay acronym Bersih, mobilised tens of thousands of Malaysians to take to the streets of Kuala Lumpur on July 9 to press for electoral law reforms amidst allegations that anomalies and discrepancies in the election system heavily favoured the incumbents.

In response to popular demand, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reform was established in August to forward several suggestions to the Election Commission (EC). Some suggestions included the use of indelible ink to cut down the possibility of fraud; doing away with the one-hour objection period; early voting for military personnel, healthcare workers and media personnel; and the display of electoral rolls every quarter for two weeks.

So far, the EC has accepted only the use of indelible ink for the next general election, while postal voting from overseas still remain the preserve of diplomatic mission staff, civil servants, and members of the armed forces.

 

World braces for turbulent 2012

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 07:44 AM PST

Next year could hold some equally disquieting social, political and economic turmoil. But few predicted the sweeping Arab Spring, the wide-ranging economic and financial tremors rocking Western Europe, or the devastating natural disaster tsunami and subsequent nuclear crisis affecting Japan.

By John J. Metzler, Special to The China Post

It's once again time to peer into the foggy crystal ball and try to decipher the future political trends and events.

Indeed, after the volitile year of 2011, it's hard to imagine that

Next year could hold some equally disquieting social, political and economic turmoil. But few predicted the sweeping Arab Spring, the wide-ranging economic and financial tremors rocking Western Europe, or the devastating natural disaster tsunami and subsequent nuclear crisis affecting Japan.

So let's look thematically at a number of key issues affecting the world this new year.

Transitions — After the death of North Korea's dictator "Dear Leader" Kim Jong Il, the dynastic mantle passed to his son Kim Jong Un, aka "The Great Successor."

Instability in North Korea's bizarre Marxist Monarchy poses a clear and present danger to prosperous and democratic South Korea.

Will Jong Un keep his restive military under a tight leash, shall he loosen the socialist economic system and copy Mainland China's reforms, or can North Korea remain in its totalitarian time-warp?

As for the Arab Spring, the political season has now turned to Winter.

Egypt's fate hangs in the balance as hard-line fundamentalist forces are certain to gain from elections. Libya, though well-rid of the tyrant Colonel Gadhafi, is yet to solve the regional and tribal divides which have long plagued this North African land.

Significantly, American forces are now out of Iraq, yet the results of the conflict, so costly in U.S. blood and treasure, remain inconclusive given the political tensions and infighting among Iraqi political factions. The imbroglio in Afghanistan continues with military success against the Taliban insurgents, but hampered again a weak and corrupt central government in Kabul.

Flashpoints — Probably the biggest challenge remains Pakistan, once a close U.S. ally which has morphed over the past few years into a seething and embittered partner.

Pakistan's nuclear weapons, its web of support to Islamic radicals in Afghanistan and Kashmir, its domestic inter-Islamic strife, and dysfunctional government presents a combustible recipe for chaos.

The Islamic Republic of Iran tirelessly pursues the nuclear genie and threatens to close Straits of Hormuz petroleum jugular vein.

The Obama Administration's political naivete and strategic myopia has allowed Tehran's rulers more time to pursue their nuclear proliferation, but time to stop it is now running out.

The stars may be in alignment for a military strike on Iranian regime.

Personalities — Turkey's Islamic-lite Prime Minister Recep Erdogan is set to play (and probably overplay) his role in the Middle East.

Once a stalwart NATO ally and reliable partner, Turkey under Erdogan has become a free agent, some would argue loose-cannon, in regional affairs.

Despite being democratically elected, Erdogan exhibits a latent authoritarian aura in many of his speeches and relishes challenging Israel and now France.

This is not your father's secular and staunch ally Turkish Republic.

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron unexpectedly rose to defend British sovereignty over the growing fiscal homogenization of the European Union; Bravo, about time!

Russia's Vladimir Putin is running for President again but under a cloud of blatant fraud. Will this career KGB crony ride the wave of Russia's petroleum-and-gas bling-bling prosperity and return to power?

Elections — Crucial contests are slated this year in France (April), Russia (March) and the U.S. (November).

In the United States the choice will be between the incumbent Obama Administration offering status quo statism and a challenger who promises to return America to its traditional individualistic and entrepreneurial values.

In China, the 18th Communist Party Congress in Beijing, gathers to select the once in a decade political transition from Hu Jintao as the paramount leader of the People's Republic.

Conversely on January 14th, the people of Taiwan will elect their president from among fiercely competing democratic political Parties

Economics — the recession continues in the U.S. despite the occasional sugar rush of good economic news.

Massive government spending and accrued debt has failed to stimulate a moribund economy or significantly cut unacceptably high levels of unemployment. High energy prices and regulatory red-tape equally serve as a political deadweight to faster economic growth. Energy independence is held hostage to hyper regulation.

In Europe the EURO currency has stayed afloat after innumerable breathless crisis meetings and last minute bailouts of a number of the debtor countries.

Sustaining the cost and the benefits provided by The State, has exhausted many European nations.

Finger-pointing aside, most European countries are guilty of massive unsustainable government spending and are now paying the piper on a path to insolvency.

Despite the global turbulence, may my readers have a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2012!

John J. Metzler is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of "Transatlantic Divide; USA/Euroland Rift?"

 

Our Malaysians of the year: A lawyer, a whistle-blower, undergraduates and a civil servant

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 07:41 AM PST

(The Malaysian Insider) - The dissent and demand for accountability shown by the Malaysian public has been greater in 2011 than at any time in recent history.

And that is why The Malaysian Insider has chosen as its Malaysians of the Year a lawyer, a whistle-blower(s), undergraduates and a civil servant.

They are Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, the undergraduates pushing for academic freedom, the unnamed National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) whistle-blower(s), and Auditor-General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang.

While many other personalities also made the headlines this year, we believe that these four represent the impact of a Malaysia that is evolving into a society that no longer believes what it is told.

Regardless of political affiliation, of whether we support Barisan Nasional (BN) or Pakatan Rakyat (PR), or neither, Malaysians more than ever are taking ownership of their own country.

Here are the four we feel best represents the changes our country has seen:

Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan

Lawyer-turned-activist, the 55-year-old hit world headlines symbolising Malaysian civil society's dissent when she led 62 non-governmental organisations and thousands of middle-class Malaysians of all ages, gender, colour and creed into the capital city's streets to peacefully march for cleaner and more transparent elections as 11,000 policemen shot chemical-laced water and tear gas at demonstrators.

The July 9 Bersih 2.0 march drew instant support as videos and online reports of the incident were beamed live worldwide via Facebook, Twitter and other social media, prompting similar gatherings abroad from overseas Malaysians and global criticism against the Najib administration for its heavy-handed measures and authoritarian rule.

Under severe international pressure, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak made a historic pledge on September 15, the eve of Malaysia Day, to dismantle the decades-old Internal Security Act, a law widely panned as draconian for stifling government dissent and setting up a bipartisan parliamentary panel to review the country's electoral system.

The Election Commission has since announced several revisions to its rules for the next national polls expected soon, including using indelible ink to deter voter fraud. The government has also followed up its reform promises and is reviewing changes to a variety of other laws and policy.

The undergraduates

The awakening of middle Malaysia that started with the Bersih 2.0 march led to a youth uprising in the battle for academic freedom.

They gained leverage from an unexpected quarter when the Federal Court ruled on October 31 that Section 15(5)(a) of the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) that barred undergraduates from taking part in partisan politics was in breach of Article 10 of the country's supreme law, the Federal Constitution, which provides for freedom of expression.

The government pledged to review the law but its resolve has now been put to the test after Adam Adli Abdul Halim, a 21-year-old student activist from Sultan Idris University of Education (UPSI), came under fire for purportedly lowering a banner bearing the likeness of  Najib at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) during a peaceful student protest led by Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia and Gerakan Menuntut Kebebasan Akademik (Bebas) on December 17.

The incident has lit a fire among the undergraduates in Malaysia's public universities and spawned more student groups. Some have styled themselves as pro-government activists. This vibrant growth has brought about a dynamic debate about student rights. As Adam Adli said in a recent interview, "Students are not fools or tools. They see, they learn, they acquire the knowledge, and they are ready to make our country a better place. In no time, I believe many more will come out."

The unnamed National Feedlot Corporation whistleblowers

That PKR has been able to lead the charge against minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's family over the cattle-for-condos scandal is probably due to the person or persons who have furnished the opposition party with the alleged evidence of misappropriation of funds.

Shahrizat's husband and chief executive of the scandal-hit National Feedlot Corporation (NFC), Datuk Mohamad Salleh Ismail, has admitted to having used taxpayers' money to buy at least two posh condominiums units in the city, claiming it was meant as an investment while conveniently forgetting the fund was meant for the farm.

He has also blamed two former "renegade employees in a bid to sabotage the company" but did not name them. PKR has also refused to disclose its sources, saying it was dangerous to name them.

Despite initial resistance, the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission have started investigating the claims.

Whether it was out of revenge as Mohamad Salleh claimed, or otherwise, the anonymous whistleblowers took a major risk in providing the information that involves senior leaders within the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. They did not have to, but they chose to, showing that there is a limit to how much Malaysians can stomach before taking action.

READ MORE HERE

 

Analysts: Free Anwar Campaign 901 opposition ploy to dupe public

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 07:24 AM PST

(Bernama) - The Free Anwar Campaign 901, planned by  Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Youth, is seen as merely championing the interests of opposition chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The campaign, to be held simultaneously with the judgement on Anwar's sodomy case on Jan 9, is seen as a platform to convince the people that everything is a conspiracy to topple Anwar.
   
But, generally, observers are of the view that the action, to trigger chaos, such as the one in 1998, showed that Anwar and his followers believe that he would be found guilty.
   
Political analyst Md Shukri Shuib said it was not right that his supporters continued to be exploited, when the case was a private one. 
   
He said it was clear that PKR was not championing the interest of the people but only to ensure Anwar's position was secure.
   
The Universiti Utara Malaysia Political and International Studies lecturer said Anwar's supporters should be able to differentiate between personal and national interests.    
   
"Where is their transparency? If they are championing Anwar's right in the judgement, where are they placing Saiful's interest as he also has a right.
   
"The sentiment that should be understood is equity in legal rights, regardless of if one is an opposition leader or an ordinary person. This equity should be understood and adhered strongly to by society," he said when contacted by Bernama.
      
Another political analyst, Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk, who concurred with the opinion, said those keen to join the campaign should understand judiciary procedure.
   
Azeem Fazwan, who is also Universiti Sains Malaysia Political Science Programme chairman, said an appeal could be made to the Appeals Court or the Federal Court if Anwar was found guilty.
   
He said they should understand that a decision made by the courts in a country practising democracy must be respected by all parties.
   
He said Anwar's supporters should not practice double standards and always question court decisions which were seen as not in their favour.

 

Tubuh besar, duit banyak, pangkat tinggi tetapi tidak sihat

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 07:20 AM PST

ASPAN ALIAS

Saya telah dihubungi oleh ramai kawan-kawan dalam UMNO yang saya kenali sejak puluhan tahun dahulu bertanyakan yang saya akan menyertai DAP seperti yang dihebuh kan oleh akhbar milik UMNO semalam. Saya sendiri tidak membaca akhbar itu tetapi rakan-rakan UMNO inilah yang memberi tahu saya. Saya pun belum membuat apa-apa keputusan walaupun sudah hampir untuk membuat keputusan muktamad.

Kecuali seorang yang lainnya memberikan galakan untuk saya menyertai parti yang sinonim dengan transparency, rule of law, multiracial, ketelusan dan tidak ada isu rasuah besar serta tidak terlibat dengan menggunakan duit rakyat hampir rm 2 billion untuk menyelamatkan perniagaan anaknya yang gagal dalam perniagaan.

Ada yang berkata, "bro, saya mencemburui saudara kerana saudara bertegas dan berani berfikir di luar kotak. Saya belum lagi mampu untuk berbuat seperti you sebab maklumlah, saya masih berkhidmat dengan kerajaan. Tapi bro, ramai yang menyokong jika lebih ramai orang Melayu menyertai DAP sebab DAP telah berjaya membuktikan kemampuan untuk mengambil berat terhadap semua kaum macam dia tunjuk di P Pinang"

Seorang lagi pula berkata, "Kalau saudara menyertai DAP maka saudara dapatlah menghindarkan diri dari menjadi ahli parti yang terlibat dengan NFC, Air Asia dengan MAS, parti yang membawa imej Islam tetapi menggunakan wang zakat dan banyak lagi isu-isu yang tidak semenggah lain"

Seorang ahli yang betul-betul sedang bergiat memberi tahu, "Eloklah tu bang, Letih saya bang. Di kalangan kita sendiri bergaduh. Setengah membantai saya kerana kata mereka saya penyokong Khairy dan marah-marah kerana tak menyokong Mukhriz. Mereka mengatakan Khairy mesti di habiskan politiknya kerana kalau Khairy diberikan tempat, matilah politik Mukhriz. Bila saya dengar abang nak masuk DAP saya pun terasa kebenaran dengan apa yang abang beritahu saya berbulan yang lalu yang ahli-ahli UMNO menembak kaki mereka sendiri"

Sesungguhnya apa yang diperkatakan oleh mereka ini melambangkan keadaan sebenar yang berlaku dalam UMNO hari ini. UMNO begitu besar keahliannya, dan saiz keahlian benar-benar membunuh UMNO itu kerana ia membawa padah yang buruk terhadap parti itu.

Begitu besar jumlah keahlian UMNO tidak mampu memberikan hujjah dan penerangan yang baik kepada ahli-ahli mereka di cawangan-cawangannya. Akhirnya jutaan ahli-ahlinya telah menyeberang kepada parti lain di peti undi semasa pilihanraya umum yang lalu dan PRU yang akan datang ini.

Saya menyebut tentang keahlian ini kerana saya memang dari dulu menyatakan bahayanya parti yang mempunyai ahli yang besar. Dengan keahlian yang besar ia akan memberatkan parti diperingkat pentadbirannya dan akan berlaku pertembungan diperinkat cawangan yang banyak itu. Saya berpendapat yang dalam politik ini, ia merupakan 'game of perception' dan ia merupakan peperangan mental, bukannya peperangan bersenjata dua belah pihak.

Banyak parti-parti yang berjaya tidak mempunyai keahlian besar. Parti-parti ini menumpukan tenaga untuk membina dasar yang baik yang di hormati oleh rakyat yang mengundi. Parti-parti Republican, Democrat di AS dan parti-parti Buruh dan Conservative di England tidak mempunyai keahlian yang besar. Parti0parti ini telah memerintah dan mentadbir negara bergilir-gilir mengikut keadaan sewaktu pilihanraya. Parti-parti ini menawarkan dasar kepada rakyat dengan jelas. Kalau rakyat tidak bersetuju parti-parti ini bersedia untuk duduk dipihak pembangkang di dewan-dewan legislative.

Di negara kita DAP tidak mempunyai keahlian yang besar. Begitu juga PAS.Sebaliknya UMNO mempunyai keahlian seramai lebih dari 3 juta tetapi hasilnya tidak seberapa. Hasil yang besar yang UMNO perolehi hanyalah perpecahan dan perbalajan di antara ahli-ahli yang berebut jawatan.

READ MORE HERE

 

Special police team to probe dumping of pig heads at mosque

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 12:16 AM PST

(Bernama) - A special team has been set up by Johor police to investigate the dumping of several severed pig heads in plastic bags near the Al-Falah Mosque in Taman Desa Jaya here.

State police chief Datuk Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said the pig heads were found by the mosque's congregation early Friday when they turned up for the dawn prayers.

"The team, which is headed by Johor deputy police chief Datuk Ismail Yatim, will seek the culprits until they are found," he said.

Mokhtar, who visited the scene of the incident, urged all parties to be patient, refrain from speculating about the incident and not to take the law into their own hands.

The mosque's committee chairman, Kassim Darim, 62, said residents in the area initially found a plastic bag believed to contain pig parts near the rear fence of the mosque at 5pm Thursday.

He said it was the first time such an incident had occurred in the area.

A police report was lodged at the Desa Cemerlang Police Station, he said.

Meanwhile, about 100 people, including from non-government organisations, held a peaceful gathering in front of the mosque to protest against the act.

 

Ambiga is FMT’s newsmaker of the year

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 12:11 AM PST

Surprisingly 'people-savvy' Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak came in seventh after his wife Rosmah Mansor.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Bersih 2.0 hero S Ambiga was named FMT's top newsmaker of the year after some 57% of its readers voted for her, drubbing more prominent figures like Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

This comes as no surprise, given the amount of headlines Ambiga, a former president of the Malaysian Bar Council, had accumulated throughout the year.

The year 2011 showered on Ambiga both positive and negative coverage, much of it due to her involvement in several rocking controversial events.

What does come as a surprise is that Shahrizat Abdul Jalil was next in line despite barely making the headlines, at least up until the RM250-million National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal broke out last month.

The Women's Affair, Family and Community Development Minister is now facing growing calls to quit her post from her own Umno party members who view her as a liability.

The "attention" given to Shahrizat, who is Wanita Umno chief, by FMT readers perhaps reflects the weight of the scandal and the potential damage it may do to the ruling coalition in the upcoming national polls.

Shahrizat received 534 votes or a 9% rating next to Ambiga, similar to the percentage received by Anwar who came in third in the chart after gaining five votes lesser.

Meanwhile, Najib was two points behind his wife Rosmah Mansor. Rosmah came in fourth with 416 votes or a 7% rating.

Rosmah, who is known for her love of luxury goods, made several headlines for allegedly owning "blings" or diamond ring and a bangle worth more than RM70 million. She has, however, denied these allegations.

READ MORE HERE

 

Ambiga: I’m flattered and humbled

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 12:09 AM PST

FMT's newsmaker of the year also pays tribute to those on her personal list of heroes for 2011.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Mainstream and alternative media were fed an almost daily diet of Bersih 2.0 updates in the weeks preceding July 9, 2011.

On the earmarked day, downtown Kuala Lumpur was swallowed up by tens of thousands of Malaysians marching for a cause they believed in and the kind of future they wanted to bequeath the next generation.

It is almost impossible to have been the driving force behind such power and not be handpicked as the newsmaker of the year.

Yet Bersih 2.0 chairperson, S Ambiga, was genuinely taken aback when she learnt that she had topped FMT's Newsmaker for 2011 poll with 3,284 or 57% of the votes.

"On the one hand I am very flattered and humbled," she told FMT. "On the other, I hope it is for the 'right' reasons that I made the news!"

"I'm not sure if I'm thrilled to be in the company of some of the nominees but I'm delighted to be in the company of others."

Bersih 2.0 wasn't Ambiga's first courtship with controversy. Her involvement, as the Bar chairman, to strongly support Lina Joy in the apostasy case and the March For Justice won her as many adversaries as they did allies. But amid the hate mails, death threats and Molotov cocktails, she refused to abandon Bersih 2.0.

"I'd like to think that I was chosen (as FMT's Newsmaker for 2011) because of what Bersih 2.0 stood for and meant to Malaysians," she said. "The credit belongs to the people for their tremendous support in making it the success that it was."

READ MORE HERE

 

Article 153 is not just for Malays but for every Malaysian!

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 08:51 PM PST

 http://media1-cdn.malaysiakini.com/426/591e7018ab66ca4a6130e673a71b8581.gif

The simple meaning is that the Agong is the protector of ALL Malaysians, and not just the Malays! So why do leaders like Ibrahim Ali keep harping on this Article 153 as if it is a sacred provision for the Malays only? Are they idiots who can't read?

By Daniel John Jambun

Datuk Ibrahim Ali just came up with a gem of truth when he said there is no need for a Race Relations Act if people behave. "If everyone behaves, if nobody touches on (Article) 153, nobody questions this and that, condemns this and that, and at the same time recognises the disparity of wealth between Malays and non-Malays, I don't think we need any additional Act," he said. How very true!
 
Out of so many idiotic statements we have heard from political jokers, this one is a real gem of truth. The funny thing is that Ibrahim thinks he said something very brilliant when in fact it is simple truism (truth that doesn't need to be said). Yes, we wouldn't need any law for that matter if everyone behaves. We wouldn't need the police, the security guards, the magistrates and judges, nor the prisons if there were no criminals. We wouldn't need the Speaker in Parliament if every Member of Parliament can behave and not become rowdy or insensitive comedians making fun of women.
 
But who are really behaving badly in Malaysia? Who are those questioning this and that, condemning this and that? I guess only Ibrahim is the luckiest guy in the country because he makes all sorts of seditious and racist statements, misbehaving in a way that he should be arrested and charged in court, but nobody touches him, no national leaders even dare to ask him to shut up. Of the Race Relations Act he said that "We will see the draft of the Act. If it is good for the country, we have no problem supporting it," he said. "But whatever Act is introduced ... it must not encroach upon (Article) 153, Islam as the official religion of the Federation, Bahasa Melayu as the national language, the sovereignty of the Malay Rulers."
 
We all know that there is no question about Islam being the official religion, Bahasa Melayu as the national language or the sovereignty of the Malay Rulers. What I would precisely prefer to talk about is Article 153. It is very tiring to keep hearing political leaders speak about Article 153 as if it belongs only to the Malays.
 
If we read the article in its entirety we will be reminded very clearly that it is not a protection for Malay rights, and neither has it got to do with any so-called social contract. It says that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is responsible for safeguarding the special position of the Malays AND the natives of Sabah and Sarawak, AND the legitimate interest of other communities. The simple meaning is that the Agong is the protector of ALL Malaysians, and not just the Malays! So why do leaders like Ibrahim Ali keep harping on this Article 153 as if it is a sacred provision for the Malays only? Are they idiots who can't read? Or are they stubborn morons who deliberately behave like idiots for the purpose of making political mileage over something that has nothing to do with what they are saying?
 
I fully support Senior Christian leader Reverend Dr Eu Hong Seng who said that Article 153 had been used to bully others, and that it was something that "needed somebody to say it." He told an online portal he had nothing to fear despite the fierce reaction from various Malay groups and denials by the government that Christians or any minority group had been sidelined. He described Perkasa's call for him to be investigated for sedition an example of fear-mongering. It is time somebody said and stood up bravely about it. The Deputy Prime Minister hit back and said the provision was never used to bully anyone. But has he not heard radicals like Ibrahim Ali abusing the provision all the time? How do the non-Malays feel when radicals talk about Malay supremacy or when the DPM himself said he is a Malay first and Malaysian second?
 
The radical groups who idolize Article 153 as if it gives the Malays special rights, privileges, positions and bullying power need to be told to stop the negative attitude. What I see in the Article is something very positive for Malaysians as a whole because to me it is a strong unifying provision, under which we are protected by our King as equal partners in Malaysia. It is NOT a provision to give the Malay superior position. It doesn't give the Muslim the right to bully other people and other religions. Under this provision the Malays have equal "special position" with the natives of the Borneo States. Under it, the Malays are on equal position with the Ibans, the Penans, Bajaus and the Kadazandusuns. We have the same special position of the Malays, so we can tell the Malays like Ibrahim Ali to shut up and grow up if we want to.
 

Advisor, UK-Based Human Rights foundation Malaysia

Is the BN Serious about Race Relations

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 08:45 PM PST

Who will bear the brunt of this new legislation and what has the abolition of the Internal Security Act to do with race relations?

By Kua Kia Soong, Director of SUARAM

One wonders if the BN government is capable of reform. Soon after the Prime Minister's promises of reform on Independence Day recently, we have seen the new ISA arrests and the new Peaceful Assembly Bill. Now they have announced the introduction of a Race Relations Act in the coming parliamentary meeting as a replacement for the Internal Security Act. They have also announced that there will be an "Anti-Terrorism Act" to replace the ISA.

What exactly have they got in mind? Who will bear the brunt of this new legislation and what has the abolition of the Internal Security Act to do with race relations?

First of all, the scribes in the Attorney General's office must be aware that the UK Race Relations Act (RRA) 1976 has now been superseded by the new and improved Equality Act 2010? The aim is to bring the RRA legislation in line with European Human Rights legislation and to extend protection to other groups not previously covered, namely, to cover age, disability, gender, religion, belief and sexual orientation.

So why does the BN government not want an Equality Act instead since it is an updated legislation of the 1976 RRA?


If the Cap Fits…

It is not surprising that PERKASA is objecting to such legislation because "incitement to racial hatred" is a criminal offence under the Act. Under the Act, there is direct discrimination when "someone is treated less favourably than another person because of a protected characteristic".The British Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994 made publication of materials that incited racial hatred an arrestable offence. These include:

-          Deliberately provoking hatred against a racial group;

-          Distributing racist material to the public;

-          Making inflammatory public speeches;

-          Creating racist websites on the internet;

-          Inciting inflammatory rumours about an individual or ethnic group, in order to spread racial discontent.

The UK Public Order Act 1986 defines racial hatred as "hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to colour, race, nationality or ethnic origins". Section 21 of the Act makes "incitement to racial hatred" an offence to publish or distribute material which is threatening or abusive or insulting if intended to stir up racial hatred…"

"Hate crimes" are criminal acts committed as intimidation, threats, property damage, assault, murder or such other criminal offence. They are a type of crime in which the perpetrator is sending a message to the victim and their right to belong to that society. Hate crimes violate the principle of equality between people and deny their right to achieve full human dignity and to realize their full potential.

The impact of hate crimes on the greater community cannot be emphasized enough – the social acceptance of discrimination against particular groups in society is an important factor in causing hate crimes to increase.


The racists who should be dealt with

Clearly, far right racial supremacists who rail about the dominance of their "race" should be reined in by an Equality & Human Rights Commission and dealt with under an Equality Act or the RRA. Thus, the UMNO leaders who were inciting racial hatred and calling for "Chinese blood" at the Jalan Raja Muda Stadium in 1987 before Operation Lalang would have been the prime target for such a law. (See Government White Paper 1988) So would the mob which organized the "cow head" protest over the relocation of a Hindu temple in 2009.

When racial incidents do happen, such as the May 13 Incident and the Kampung Medan Incident, the culprits responsible should be swiftly apprehended and charged for murder.


What's the ISA got to do with it?

But what has the Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial got to do with race relations? Well, the BN government has through the years extended the ambit of the ISA to claim that any dissident activity or view is a "threat to national security". Operation Lalang was the prime manifestation of this BN logic.

Thus, I like several others during Operation Lalang was arrested and detained under the ISA for being a threat to national security. Among the "allegations of fact", mine were for "calling on participants at a forum to support mother tongue education," and "writing a book entitled 'Polarisation in Malaysia: The Root causes'.

One can only suppose that the BN government now wants to replace the ISA with a "Race Relations Act" so that they can use it to deal with people who question these aspects of government policy. As with the recent Peaceful Assembly Bill, Malaysians should be prepared for some outrageous provisions in this proposed 'Race Relations Act'. They will say it is modeled after the UK RRA but it will end up letting off the far right fascists and making dissidents the usual quarry. I hope they prove me wrong!


An Equality & Human Rights Commission

Our Human Rights Commission should extend its jurisdiction to incorporate an Equality Commission. Its work would be to encourage greater integration and better ethnic relations and to use legal powers to help eradicate racial discrimination and harassment. Thus, its ambit would cover racist stereotyping in text books and the press; racial discrimination in the public sphere, employment, education, social services, advertisements. The independent Commission should be empowered to issue codes of practice and invested with powers to conduct formal investigations and to serve notices to furnish information or documents in order to enforce the law.

It would then be up to the Malaysian courts to decide on the legality or illegality of such institutions in Malaysian society since 1971, for example, the Bumiputera-only policy at UiTM and other public institutions; the quota system and its implementation; the discounts for Bumiputeras in various economic transactions and other blatant discriminations.

For sure, if the BN government uses the UK RRA as a model, they will end up in the dock over the many cases of racial discrimination in our public institutions.

Ratify the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Finally, for an administration to convince Malaysians that it is genuinely keen to institute reforms for better ethnic relations and equality, our country should immediately initiate moves to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR).

Failure to do so will only arouse suspicion that this BN government is merely hectically doing window dressing before the looming 13th general elections.

MCA implodes, a blow to BN

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 08:40 PM PST

By Jackson Ng, Retired Journalist

TWO time bombs have exploded in the MCA in the past two days but the mainstream media, especially MCA's mouthpiece, The Star, has down played the news.

About 1,000 MCA members from Penang and Johor have resigned en bloc and they cite the loss of confidence in the party leadership as their reason for quitting.

The resignations are only the tip of the iceberg and it signals the beginning of the imploding of Barisan Nasional (BN)'s second largest component party.

According to a few of those who quit but did not want to be named, more MCA members nationwide are expected to quit in the run-up to the next general election.

The mainstream media are down playing the news because it is a major blow for the MCA and BN's preparations for the general election widely expected to be called by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in February or March.

Those who quit say they had lost confidence in the MCA leadership because it is led by a scandal-tainted and immoral president, Dr Chua Soi Lek.

"Whenever he speaks on any issue, it backfires and is a laughing stock of the people or grassroots. This is because Chua is in no position to talk about issues on morality and integrity.

"We cannot continue to be associated with such a leader and his cronies who are only looking after their own interest and positions," said a former MCA member who is known to this writer.

Citing recent events and issues, the former member said: "It is embarrassing to MCA for Chua to talk about freedom of the press and freedom of speech.

"What is he talking about when the first thing he (Chua) did when he won the presidency by fluke was to place The Star directly under the control of the party.

"The paper is now under the overall control of a panel that includes his son (Tee Yong) as a key member. He also appointed his son in government positions.

"The MCA leadership is now led by a man who is morally tainted and one who practices nepotism and cronyism to turn the party into his family's empire," he added.

Another former member added: "Just watch how MCA implodes in the run-up to the 13th General Election. At least 30 per cent of its members will eventually abandon the party by polling day."

In another development, party insiders say Selangor MCA is in shambles following a fallout between Chua and state MCA chief Donald Lim Siang Chai.

As the state chief, Lim does not even have the say to decide which seat to contest.

Lim is said to be eyeing the Selayang parliamentary seat but Chua already has someone else in mind – possibly a woman candidate.

What is telling is that Lim does not even have the confidence to try and wrest back his former seat - PJ Selatan – where he was beaten by PKR's Hee Loy Sian by 5,706 votes in 2008.

Party insiders say the backdoor Deputy Finance Minister Senator is now desperate and is manoeuvring to get what he wants.

The insiders say it would be most interesting to see how severely Selangor MCA would be split by the Chua-Lim tussle for control of the state.

‘Datuk fixit’ charged with cheating NFC boss

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 04:20 PM PST

Shamsulbahrin Ismail is accused of cheating the NFC chairman of RM1.7 million. The 45-year-old businessman has claimed trial.

(Free Malaysia Today) - A businessman has been charged in the Sessions Court here with cheating National Feedlot Corportation (NFC) chairman Mohamad Salleh Ismail of more than RM1.7million over the failed promise to provide "negotiation and consultation service".

Shamsulbahrin Ismail, 45, dressed in a dark blazer, purple shirt and light blue jeans, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to two separate charges, both under Section 420 of the Penal Code.

The first charge read that Shamsulbahrin, CEO of Shamsubahrin Ismail Resources Sdn Bhd, had cheated Mohamad Salleh by promising the NFC chairman his consultation and negotiation services, with the knowledge that the offer was false and intended to cheat him by inducing him to part with a service fee.

This incident allegedly occurred at 6pm on Nov 20 at a restaurant in Bukit Tunku here.

The second charge was that Shamsulbahrin had, between Nov 25 till Dec 6, received cheques amounting to RM1.755 million from Mohamad Salleh at Solaris in Mont Kiara.

For the offence of cheating, Shamsulbahrin could face between one to 10 years jail, with whipping and can also be fined.

It was reported last week that a 'Datuk fixit' was arrested by the police and handed over to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for allegedly attempting to bribe several senior investigators to "settle" the case over the NFC.

READ MORE HERE

 

PRIVATISATION - OR - PIRATISATION?

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 02:35 PM PST

ECOWARRIORZ

Introduction

Rubbish is like an endemic disease with uncollected waste choking our rivers, and littering our highways and byways.  The vast proportion of the waste that does get collected ends up on a dumpsite where it contaminates the environment and causes public health concerns. For, in spite of the billions of Ringgit of public money that have been spent on the collection and disposal of our Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) over the years, there are still only 8 sanitary landfills servicing the whole nation.

As 2020 approaches it is obvious that in terms of public cleansing and waste management, we are still in the dark ages when compared to developed countries.
Back in 1999 the European Union issued the European Landfill Directive for its member states with the overall aim of preventing the negative effects of landfills on the environment.  
In these developed countries it is well understood that landfills result in pollution of surface water, groundwater, soil and air, and have a negative effect on the global environment in terms of contributing to the greenhouse effect, as well as presenting risks to public health. There is also the recognition that even sanitary landfills can become compromised after a period of time and offer no guarantee when it comes to keeping the toxic residues produced by MSW from entering the ecosystem.

This legislation forced the member nations to reassess how waste is handled and disposed of and by eliminating landfills the European countries have shifted the paradigm of how waste is regarded.

And herein lies the crux of the issue in Malaysia: Historically waste has always been regarded as an expensive problem, a natural bi-product of our consumer society.  This is however an erroneous perception, for in reality waste is a renewable national asset, a storehouse of resources that can be reused, recycled and recovered to the benefit of the environment and society in general.

Yet, in spite of lip-service to the notion of reclaiming, reusing and recycling, the government's master plan for waste disposal is still totally dependent on landfills, and despite the huge amounts of public funds that have been diverted into waste management, we haven't made any progress in solving our waste problem.

In contrast, the European model of recovering as much of the waste as possible has spawned a multi-million dollar industry.

The new Act
The 2007 Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act was finally enacted in September 2011. It transfers responsibility for solid waste management and public cleansing from the Local Authorities to the Federal Government. As a result, new federal institutions including the Department of National Solid Waste Management and the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation were established.
This Act claims to bring solid waste management (SWM) in line with global state-of-the-art practices at no additional cost to the public. It includes regulation and enforcement tools as well as imposing higher responsibilities on the stakeholders. The Act also enabled the privatization of SWM. 

This privatization was bulldozed through parliament in much the same way as the recent Peaceful Assembly Bill and the development of Kg. Baru were hastily passed through the house with little debate, despite a lack of support from the majority of the people who will be affected by it.

When we take a close look at the Malaysian government's strategy for implementing the act we find that the master plan is almost totally committed to building sanitary landfills to cope with the situation. Of course sanitary landfills are better than dumpsites, but it is clear that the same old mindset is still at play; the one that regards waste as a costly problem and not as a constant supply of untapped and renewable resources. 
This shows at best how misguided the Malaysian government is in trying to provide a world-class service.  At worst it illustrates that the solid waste management strategy has been developed with the interest of the industrial players in mind rather than what is best for the environment and society in general.

Lack of transparency and accountability
There is strong evidence of mismanagement and a lack of transparency in our national waste management strategyTake, for example, the Bukit Tagar sanitary landfill in the north of Selangor, which is managed by KUB-Berjaya Enviro Sdn. Bhd. This 1,700-acre site was reportedly chosen because of its isolation from important groundwater aquifers thus eliminating the risk of water pollution.  However sceptics claim that the choice of location was determined by the then minister of housing's desire to help out a friend who had already acquired the land thinking that the new airport was going to be located nearby. Since KLIA was subsequently built in Sepang, the minister's friend was left holding a pretty worthless piece of real estate.  Then, or so the story goes, the government announced the closures of the Taman Beringen and Air Hitam dumps, in Kepong and Puchong, and acquired the land from the minister's friend to build the Bukit Tagar sanitary landfill.  In addition to the cost of the land, the government reportedly handed out RM400 million to build the landfill.
On top of that, there's the cost to DBKL for using Bukit Tagar to consider. At present the tipping fee at Bukit Tagar is RM28.80 per ton. By this time next year it will have risen by a staggering 58.7 percent to RM49 per ton. Then there's the cost of transporting all that waste 50 kms north, and we mustn't forget the cost of collecting the waste; the cost of transporting it to the Taman Beringen transfer station and the compacting fee.

According to KUB-Berjaya Enviro's statistics, the Bukit Tagar landfill receives about 3,000 tons of waste per day.  However, if this amount of waste was sent to a Waste to Energy plant and processed to extract its latent energy, it could supply up to 25MW of energy - enough to power around 50,000 modern 3 bedroom homes using 2 air conditioners, a fridge and a television. Because Waste to Energy management strategy is sustainable it's bankable and can be funded by private venture capital. In addition, the different revenue streams that are created, which make it sustainable, ensure that tipping fees can be kept at an affordable level.  

Immediately after the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management bill was accepted by the cabinet, the Housing and Local Government Minister, Datuk Chor Chee Heung government announced the award of contracts to three companies: Alam Flora, Southern Waste Management and E-Idaman. Besides payment from the local authorities, Chor said the companies had not been doing a good job because of a lack of funds and so they were also awarded between RM500mil and RM600mil a year from the Federal Government.This decision was made public just one day after the legislation came into force and, to the best of my knowledge, without any open tender exercise having taken place.  

The Act also raises issues of accountability, for under it, the minister's decision is final and cannot be challenged in court. Furthermore, the legislation places all decision making in the hands of the Director General of the Waste Department, with no checks and balances to ensure that abuse of power does not occur.

The 'red tape' associated with the Act creates a barrier to local innovators and new players trying to enter the industry. For example, the National Waste Committee, headed by the deputy prime minister, is supposed to meet quarterly to look out for new ideas, and technology that would enhance and innovate the waste industry. All potential players wanting to enter the industry or suggestions on new technology must go before the committee for consideration.  However, I am reliably informed, that the National Waste Committee hasn't met for the past year. Therefore, nothing gets done.  This is a classic 'Catch 22' situation, and hardly an incentive to develop local technologies. 

On the other hand, One German company who has been given approval to build biological composting plants are using a technology that, as far as I know, has not been proven with our waste profile.  I'm not implying by any means that they are not doing a good job, but I'm sure there are Malaysian companies that could do an equally good if they had been given the opportunity.

In effect Malaysia's solid waste management system operates like a cartel, with only a few, select industry players getting contracts.  Private companies and individuals offering green technology solutions are constantly being sidelined.

READ MORE HERE

 

Do we care or are we just bystanders?

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 02:25 PM PST

Are we committed to making sure that the law-makers do not abuse the trust we place in them? Or are we simply bystanders who hope the problem will go away?

We are responsible for our current problems. We allowed our politicians to get away with breaking the law. Were we committed to making sure that the law-makers did not abuse the trust we placed in them? Or were we simply bystanders who hoped the problem would go away?

Mariam Mokhtar, Free Malaysia Today

The average Malaysian has much to moan about; rising commodity prices, corruption, the economy, crime, poverty, unemployment, drug abuse, debt, failed projects, family breakdown, increased public spending.

We might believe that the whole world has its eyes trained on us and is aware that our democracy is being eroded, or that our civil liberties are under threat or that we have a semblance of a police state.

Sadly, these Malaysians are naïve. The truth is that no one out there cares or bothers.

So what if Malaysia's Transparency International Corruption Perception Index is cause for concern? So what if there is an outflow of several billion ringgits from the country which robs us of funds for growth and prosperity? So what if some people drop dead at the foot of buildings or die of "sudden death" when in police custody? So what if corruption denies the average Malaysian a better standard of living?

Obama, Cameron, Merkel, Sarkozy, and a host of other leaders have their own problems to deal with. If we want to be rid of the problems that beset us and our nation, then the solution lies with us. Not with the superpowers, not with the G-8 nor with the BRIC nations.

Some westerners cannot even place Malaysia on the map. Some Americans think we live on trees and a few Europeans praise our ability to "tame" jungles, when they drive past our neat rows of rubber and oil palms in the estates.

Malaysians are increasingly becoming critical of the west and its media. News on Malaysia is only carried by western media when there are scandalous revelations about a public figure, royalty or something that tarnishes the image of Islam.

On the whole, Europeans view Malaysia as a prime tourist destination with sandy beaches, lush jungles and a haven for good food. But hidden underneath the veneer of calm and multi-ethnic integration, is a dangerous mix of rising racial and religious strife. Only the calm exterior is exposed to the foreigner.

The astute expatriate who has lived and worked in the country only becomes aware of the dangerous undercurrents, if he ventures away from his privileged existence.

Obedient Wives Club

When the "Obedient Wives Club" (OWC) was formed, Muslims in Malaysia were made to look ridiculous. Its explicit sex manual raised eyebrows and created salacious interest.

Comparisons with the Kama Sutra, allegations of illicit sex and subservient wives, caused the withdrawal of the book. The OWC denied having strayed from the teachings of the Quran. In earlier years, these same people had caused sensational headlines with the formation of "The Polygamy Club".

In 2008, a Muslim woman who was caught drinking beer in a beach resort catapulted Malaysia into the spotlight. Kartika Dewi Seri Sukarno's life was torn apart when she was detained by the religious police and would have received a public caning but for the intervention of a Sultan.

Kartika's life was scrutinised by the world's media, her marriage fell apart under the strain, and she had to abandon her life as a nurse and a model, in Singapore, where she was living.

In another incident, a teenage model, Manohara Odelia Pinot allegedly ran away from her husband, in a dramatic escape in Singapore. The American Embassy was involved and western media ecstatically listed the troubled life of the young teenage wife of a Malay prince.

Manohara had run away whilst visiting her father-in-law, the former Sultan of Kelantan as he was being treated in a Singapore hospital. Scandals in the royal household were divulged in foreign newspapers, and caused much delight, abroad.

READ MORE HERE

 

Weak education system eroding talent

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 02:00 PM PST

A powerful driving force behind the talent outflow is a waning education system that has fallen short of meeting youthful aspirations.

"Students abroad said that it was an automatic understanding that they would study overseas and many headed for Singapore where they could challenge themselves intellectually and make it big. New parents also believe that their children's global competitiveness would be better groomed through an education outside of Malaysia and many have made plans to migrate before their children reach school age," Koh added.

Stephanie Sta Maria, Free Malaysia Today

The state of Malaysia's public education system has never been as insistent a topic of conversation as it is today. It is hence unfortunate that most discussions on it are often fraught with sorrow, contempt or frustration.

Even more unfortunate is that those who hold court over these discourses are predominantly baby boomers. Not the Generation X who only just escaped the series of education policy flip-flops or the Millenials who lived through those policies.

But this has less to do with the latter's apathy or oblivion than the fact that a significant number of them are either no longer residing in the country or in the midst of migration procedures.

The World Bank's Economic Monitor 2011 has put the number of Malaysians abroad at 1.1 million and pinpointed the Malaysia-Singapore migration corridor as a significant channel for half this brain drain.

The National Economic Action Council meanwhile last year estimated that 50% of the Malaysian disapora is highly-skilled, tertiary-educated and representive of a heavy net loss to the country.

And Koh Sin Yee of the London School of Economics will further tell you that a powerful driving force behind this talent outflow is a waning education system that has fallen miserably short of meeting youthful aspirations.

Koh is currently researching a paper entitled "Emotional Geographies of Skilled Disaporic Citizenship: Malaysians in London, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur".

Her interviews with students, graduates and new parents have dragged the painful truth into the open. Young Malaysians have lost faith in the country's Education Ministry, policies and structure.

So much so that what sprouted as a bone of contention has since morphed into a cultural phenomenon.

"Education has in fact become a culture of migration," Koh said during a recent forum on Economic Migration, Disapora and Brain Drain in the Asia-Pacific.

"Students abroad said that it was an automatic understanding that they would study overseas and many headed for Singapore where they could challenge themselves intellectually and make it big."

"New parents also believe that their children's global competitiveness would be better groomed through an education outside of Malaysia and many have made plans to migrate before their children reach school age," Koh added.

Abolishment of PPSMI

The Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE) would agree with her. PAGE has been fighting a longstanding battle with the Education Ministry since the latter's decision to abolish the Teaching of Maths and Science in English (PPSMI).

Its chairman Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim reminded the ministry of its previous mistake in abolishing English medium schools in 1969 to appease the rioters at the expense of students being allowed to master the language.

"This allowed the teaching and learning of English to deteriorate because ultra-nationalists and young activists believed that being mono-lingual was enough for survival," she said in a previous interview.

Azimah further predicted that slamming the door on PPSMI would only prompt wealthy parents to send their children off to international schools and inevitably contribute to the country's brain drain.

For once, MCA and DAP stood on the same plaform. MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek voiced his support for PPSMI and called for English to be made a compulsory pass subject in the SPM examination.

DAP meanwhile urged that students be given the option to learn Maths and Science in English in order to combat the brain drain predicament.

Its publicity chief Tony Pua added that PPSMI would allow schools to produce "the best human capital for Malaysia" which was in line with the government's goal to become a high-income nation.

Politics has never strayed far from education in Malaysia and the two have recently veered dangerously close to each other.

This year has seen waves of student hostility towards the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) which prohibits students and faculty from hob-nobbing with political parties and trade unions.

Daasaratan Jeram and Vanitha Sivapragasam, both graduates from University Utara Malaysia, pointed out that the reluctance to allow greater student freedom of expression inadvertently made public universities a contributor to the country's "endemic" brain drain.

"The quality of Malaysian higher education has been variable since the 1980s," they said when presenting their paper "Ethnicity, Education and the Economics of Brain Drain in Malaysia: Youth Perspective" at the same forum as Koh.

"There is widespread perception that a top education can only be gained in a foreign institution and many Malaysian families are willing to make the investment with hopes for a brighter future."

"So while policy makers dither and politicians strategise, younger generations will continue to determine the criteria that will either drive them out of Malaysia or convince them to stay."

READ MORE HERE

 

Breathless in 2011

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 01:58 PM PST

As we usher in the New Year, we cannot forgot the many memorable events in the old year that left indelible marks on the country's history.

(Free Malaysia Today) - With so many newsworthy events and developments happening in the closing weeks of 2011, it is easy to forget that the whole year has been one that would leave any news organisation breathless.

The revelations about the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) may shock and dismay us, but they are not more shocking and dismaying than the findings and conclusion of the royal inquiry into Teoh Beng Hock's death. The speedy passage of the Peaceful Assembly Bill fills us with disgust, but so did the gunning down other rights, the death fall of Ahmad Sarbaini, the often unjust ejection of MPs, and the spewings of Perkasa. We applaud student activists for standing up for their rights, but their recent protests and those of KillTheBill.org were just so many in a full year's series of acts of civil disobedience. The mother of these, surely, was the Bersih rally that happened nearly smack in the middle of the year.

This editorial refers to "we" and "us" because we believe that the sentiments felt in our newsroom adequately reflect those of the average literate and informed Malaysian. And, as any of our regular readers can attest, we are not a voice for any political organisation. Indeed, the last time we were accused of promoting some political clique's agenda was more than a year ago. We acknowledge that the government and the ruling party often appear in a bad light in our pages, but it is not a deliberate policy. It may well be a reflection of the truth, and the reason we cannot be sure is that neither the party nor the government has kept its promise to be open and transparent. Neither has any BN member or government official made a credible attempt to counter the bad press with plausible arguments.

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2011 saw the ‘awakening’ of Sabah

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 01:57 PM PST

The breeze of change which stirred through Sabah in 2011 saw ripples of revelations that threatens the 18-year-old Barisan Nasional regime.

(Free Malaysia Today) - 2011 will in all probability go down in Sabah's history as the year of 'The Awakening'. This is the year when the first hints of a breeze of change began to stir through Sabah, also known as the 'land below the wind'.

Aptly there was no 'gust' of wind, just a steady breeze, enough to stoke the slumbering Sabahans into seeing the realities of the 18-year old Umno-led Barisan Nasional regime.

Several events that took place this year looks likely to echo into the new year and test the state's political stability and its economic progress.

The pain of a global business slowdown combined with austerity measures put in place by the federal government and already being painfully felt in Sabah, will also start to intensify while state leaders remain preoccupied with retaining power at the expense of the state.

In Sabah 2011 saw widespread uneasiness and revelations.

Illegal immigrants

The perennial issue continued to be the main focus of citizens angry that their leaders had failed to adequately explain the dramatic increase in population of the state and take those involved to task.

Politicians on both sides of the fence continued to point the finger at a decades old secretive national agenda to change the racial and religious demographics of the Christian-majority state into an overwhelmingly Muslim one with the help of illegal immigrants from neighbouring Southern Philippines and Indonesia.

The accusations were lent credence by disclosures in Wikileaks that senior Malaysian officials had acknowledged the scheme that was implemented during the government of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad.

A parliamentary panel hurriedly put together by the federal government following deafening calls nationwide for electoral reforms, recommended that a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) be set up to investigate claims that thousands of illegal immigrants had been granted citizenship and quickly placed on the electoral rolls.

The recommendation added further pressure on Umno leaders who had dubbed the state their "fixed-deposit" – a phrase coined to boast the party's dominant position in the state in perpetuity.

Umno-Sabah linked businessman, Mohd Akjan Ali Muhammad, rattled the state political establishment earlier this year crowning himself Sultan of Sulu. He was later arrested and released in quick succession.

In the finals weeks of December 2011, Akjan riding on his position as Sabah Perkida (a Muslim welfare organisation) chairman and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's overt approval of national-level Perkida, brazenly rejected government-approved calls for the RCI warning that it would incite racial troubles.

Political power-play

Troubles that had begun to emerge in the ruling state Barisan Nasional coalition in 2009 continued to unfold with the focus being on Chief Minister Musa Aman.

Elements within Umno said to be aligned to Musa turned their guns on smaller coalition members like LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) who in turn called for him to step down.

Within Sabah Umno itself, talk emerged of a power struggle with Shafie Apdal, the powerful Umno warlord from the east coast of the state, going head-to-head with billionaire Musa.

A money-laundering investigation initiated by Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in 2009 continued unabated with several alleged close associates of Musa being questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

To ward-off increasing criticism, Musa unveiled a RM4 billion budget with a pledge to boost economic growth in a state believed to have the highest number of poor.

Autonomy demand

The state opposition's prodigal son, Jeffrey Kitingan, having quit politics a year ago to form his NGO, United Borneo Front, went on a statewide campaign dubbed 'Tea Parties' to drive home his message of political autonomy for Sabah and Sarawak.

They were well-received and prompted calls for him to form a new party to push the 'Borneo Agenda'.

Activists from the state also travelled to Europe and former colonial master, Britain, to appeal for support for a reappraisal of the Malaysia Agreement (1963) that they claim has been ignored by the Malaysian government.

Kitingan rounded off the year by announcing he was rejoining politics through the Sarawak Reform Party (Star) which would form an alliance with his UBF and fellow locally based parties like SAPP, Usno and the Sabah People's Front (SPF) party to contest in the impending 13th general election.

Kitingan also called on local BN parties to abandon the ruling coalition and join his Borneo alliance to fight for the state's autonomy.

Oil and gas hub

After years of neglect, the state started making efforts to boost its presence in the nation's oil and gas industry apart from being a mere exporter following further large discoveries of the resource off its coast.

However, the RM2.4 billion job to build a fuel terminal in Kimanis, just outside the state capital, caused widespread criticism among local politicians and industry players who questioned the federal government's commitment to helping develop the state.

They were particularly angered that companies based in the peninsula and Sarawak were awarded projects in Sabah and local companies sidelined.

People's power

Ordinary people in the state won a resounding victory when the government U-turned on a plan to build a coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu following sustained protests by people from all walks of life.

They had united to block the project and their unrelenting campaign spearheaded by environmental groups and NGOs shook the government until it backed away from the project.

Locals had demanded to know why Sabah's oil and gas resources were being exported and 'dirty' power production in the form of imported coal was being forced on them.

That victory helped spur ordinary citizens to protest against unpopular ecological and environmentally damaging activities in the state.

A plan to build a massive, multi-storey commercial complex a few metres from a famed, over 100-year-old clock tower that was deemed a heritage building raised a hue and cry that saw government authorities back-pedalling.

It spurred a group of city-dwellers to form Heritage Sabah, an NGO dedicated to preserving the last vestiges of the state's history.

Two ordinary citizens gained wide support after they filed a suit against the city's authorities for allegedly approving the project. The case is on-going while the authorities say no decision has been made yet whether the project will be allowed to go ahead.

The use of social media networks to pressure the authorities from pursuing unpopular projects also gained strength following the coal-plant and clock tower fiasco.

The Bersih 2.0 rally for electoral reform while not on the scale experienced in Kuala Lumpur was nevertheless marked in the state capital by scores of young activists some of whom were detained by police but remained undeterred.

Ghost of 1976

The plane crash that took the lives of Chief Minister Fuad Stephens and 11 others some 35 years ago on June 6, 1976 continues to haunt state politics and politicians.

The man who replaced Stephens, Harris Mohd Salleh filed a civil suit against former chief minister Yong Teck Lee for allegedly defaming him when he called for a reinvestigation of the crash following Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's revelation last year that he was asked to disembark the flight by Harris just before the doomed craft was about to take off.

Harris is claiming that Yong, a lawyer by training, and his party, SAPP, slandered him by calling for the re-opening of the crash files based on Razaleigh's revelation as by doing so allegedly insinuates he was involved in the crash. The hearing is on-going.

Land grabs and religious conversions

Hundreds of native villagers, mostly poor farmers around the state are furious that the state government has given plantation companies preference in land applications especially in areas that they claim to have cultivated for decades and in some cases generations.

The government in turn claims that the villagers have encroached into state land and forest reserves and was forced to evict them. Several legal suits have been filed over native customary land rights and are pending in the courts.

In the scenic village of Tambatuon in Kota Belud district, the villagers are up in arms over a plan to build a dam which will submerge their villages.

The government claims that the villages must be sacrificed for the sake of turning the district into the rice bowl of the state with a steady supply of water.

The villagers said they will not move setting the stage for a confrontation.

Religious conversions have also been a a rising concern this year.

There have been increasing complaints concerning children in pre-school, primary and secondary schools in the interior of Sabah being pressured to convert to Islam. Many of these students have to live away from their homes and as such live in government run hostels where indoctrination allegedly happens.

Also the overzealousness of the state Islamic authorities has affected everyone. Over the years the state Mufti issued a fatwa (ruling) prohibiting non-Muslims from using 32 words in Bahasa Malaysia in their teaching and in the propagation of their belief. Some of those words are "Allah", "Quran", "Fatwa" and "Syariah".

Earlier this year the federal government seized several titles in a Christian bookshop and bibles containing the word 'Allah".

Education, environment and wildlife

Sabah perennial problem of poor performance among its students has spawned loud calls for self-determination. BN state minister in charge fo education, Masidi Manjun in July, broke ranks and urged the federal-based Education Ministry to leave it to Sabah to handle their own educational development.

He claimed it was the only way to improve education standards in Sabah. Students in Sabah have one of the lowest in terms of achievement in the country. Much of this is due to the problems related to teachers.

On environment, the scores of palm oil plantation companies operating in the state have been accused of ignoring state laws in pursuit of profit increasingly isolating and endangering wildlife unique to Sabah including the pygmy elephant, orang utan and proboscis monkey.

Apart from failing to provide corridors for animals to move freely pocket to pocket of remaining rainforest areas in the Kinabatangan area, plantation companies have also been accused of clear felling forests right up to the banks of rivers, a practice prohibited by state environmental laws.

Such is the destruction that the Sabah Environmental Protection Association has suggested that the state authorities start enforcing the law stringently and imprisoning recalcitrant plantation managers to prevent the wanton destruction of the state's remaining rainforests.

READ MORE HERE

 

Ringgit set for first annual decline

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 01:43 PM PST

(Bloomberg) - Malaysia's ringgit was poised for its first annual decline in three years on concern growth in Southeast Asia's third-biggest economy is slowing.

Gross domestic product will rise 5 percent to 5.5 percent this year, compared with an earlier estimate of 5 percent to 6 percent, the government said on Oct. 7. "There is going to be a risk" to Malaysia's economic growth should Europe's credit crisis worsen, central bank Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz said on Nov. 15.

The ringgit dropped 3.4 percent this year to 3.1695 per dollar as of 9.13 a.m. in Kuala Lumpur, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The currency advanced 0.3 percent today.

"The ringgit and most emerging-market currencies in Asia declined because of the unresolved debt crisis in Europe," said Calbert Loh, head of treasury at Bangkok Bank Bhd in Kuala Lumpur. "I'm looking at the 3.05 to 3.20 range to the dollar in the first quarter."

 
Five-year government bonds rose this year. The yield on the 4.262 percent notes due September 2016 fell 31 basis points, or 0.31 percentage point, to 3.22 percent, according to Bursa Malaysia.


An eventful year for Najib

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 10:01 AM PST

The year 2011 has been a challenging one for the prime minister at home and abroad.

IIUM's four-year study pointed out that Najib's popularity among the Malays shows a marked improvement from 35 percent in 2008 to 59 percent in 2011, an increase from 33 to 45 percent among the Chinese and from 41 to 62 percent among the Indians.

By Ali Imran Mohd Noordin, Free Malaysia Today

Though 2011 has been a challenging year for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, both at the domestic and the global front, it was still an eventful year.

At the domestic front, Najib continued with the transformation programmes while addressing the ever-changing aspirations of the people. He continued with radical changes including abolishing the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA).

At the global front, the economic decay of the West in particular has created new challenges in promoting the national economy. The prospect of an impending global recession prompted Najib to thread a cautious path in managing the country's financial resources.

Nonetheless, Najib, known for his tenacity and unwavering commitment, took on the task of leading the country based on his mantra – "People First, Performance Now".

The year witnessed numerous bold transformation initiatives by the "Father of Transformation" based on the 1Malaysia aspiration that has been the hallmark of Najib's initiatives.

It is apparent that many of his efforts are showing results. The people too in general appreciated his strategies and public approval on Najib's leadership has improved tremendously.

A popularity study by Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (IIUM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) indicated greater approval for Najib from all races in the country.

IIUM's four-year study pointed out that Najib's popularity among the Malays shows a marked improvement from 35 percent in 2008 to 59 percent in 2011, an increase from 33 to 45 percent among the Chinese and from 41 to 62 percent among the Indians.

A similar study conducted by UPM this year on the minorities – Indian Muslims, Portuguese, Baba Nyonya, Orang Asli, Siam and Chitty – found a total of 54.2 percent of the minorities giving their thumbs-up for Najib.

1Malaysia brand

Just mention the rhyming acronyms – KR1M, PR1MA, MR1M, BR1M and the latest KIR1M – they immediately refer to Najib's effort to touch base with the people, especially the needy.

The KR1M or the Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia are retail outlets offering daily necessities at affordable prices, up to 60 percent below other retail outlets.

The whole idea is to reduce the burden of urban poor, with KR1M offering daily necessities like rice, egg, milk, flour and chili sauce. Also available are frozen items, diapers and detergents.

KR1M is further complemented by Kedai Ikan Rakyat 1Malaysia (KIR1M) launched this month, offering fresh seafood at prices 30 to 40 percent lower than prevailing market price.

Menu Rakyat 1 Malaysia (MR1M) ensures the man on the street enjoys a meal worth up to RM2 for breakfast and RM4 for lunch.

As at Dec 16, the number of vendors who joined the MR1M scheme had roughly doubled, with 1,155 MR1M outlets opened all over the nation, compared with 611 when launched last July.

In the latest move, the MR1M outlets would be available at all higher education institutions starting with Universiti Malaya.

The 1Malaysia Public Housing Project (PR1MA) was launched on July 4 as a strategic initiative to fulfil the housing needs of the people, especially the urban middle-class.

In Putrajaya, under the programme 560 affordable homes priced between RM120,000 and RM150,000 in Precinct 11 were allocated for local youths with household income below RM6,000. This project is expected to be extended to other places like Johor Baru and Penang.

The 2012 Budget allocated RM100 to every school student and book vouchers worth RM200 for undergraduates. The government's goodwill was further extended with the RM500 hand-out under 1Malaysia Public Assistance (BR1M) for households earning less than RM3,000.

Making the transformation a reality

Realising that the people have been yearning for positive changes, a number of transformation programmes has been launched. Among them is the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) that puts Malaysia on the path to emerge as a high income nation by 2020.

One of the 85 programmes implemented in 2011 is the Small Retail Outlet Transformation Programme (TUKAR) to help modernise small-time retailers and help them to compete with other players.

The programme is expected to contribute RM5.56 billion and create 51,540 employment opportunities.

On the whole, all the ETP initiatives launched in 2011 are expected to contribute RM150 billion and create more than 300,000 employment opportunities by 2020.

The government transformation, too, is showing results. Malaysia was listed on the 19th spot among the safest country index, a significant improvement from the 38th spot in 2008.

The same index also picked Malaysia as the safest country in Southeast Asia and fourth safest spot in the Asia-Pacific region, behind New Zealand, Japan and Australia.

One of the seven National Key Result Areas (NKRA) is reducing crime.

Najib etched his name in the nation's history when he repealed the controversial Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) and Banishment Act 1959.

He also said that the Restricted Residence Act 1933, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 would be reviewed. The move was welcomed by most, within and outside the country.

Also on review is Section 27, Police Act 1967 that provides discretionary powers to the police to control and issue permits for rallies.

The latest, and another landmark decision by Najib, is the amendments to Section 15 of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971, allowing undergraduates to join political parties upon reaching 21 years of age.

READ MORE HERE

 

Bersih 2.0: It’s 50k, and a big success

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 08:55 AM PST

In this last week of 2011, we will be re-publishing selected stories carried in FMT throughout this year. We find that these stories still remain relevant in the present context.

Undoubtedly the Bersih rally on July 9 was one of the biggest stories for 2011. Reproduced here is a July 9 report of a post-rally press conference from the organisers who were happy with their rally despite intimidation from the authorities.

Tarani Palani and Tashny Sukumaran, Free Malaysia Today

Bersih 2.0 has called its rally a "big success", but added that it is just one more step in the long walk towards free and fair elections.

Speaking at a press conference here, Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Subramaniam Pillay said the rally exceeded expectations.

"It's a big success but this (fighting for electoral reforms) is not a one day event. It was sucessful beyond expectations," he said, adding that the objective of raising awareness had been achieved.

Bersih 2.0 believes that the crowd could have been as big as 50,000 but conceded that reporters would be able to judge the number better.

Bersih 2.0 also condemned the arrests of more than 600 people, including that of its chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

'Ambiga says she's fine'

Steering committee member Andrew Khoo said he had received a text message from Ambiga stating that she was fine.

"She said that she was okay and that her phone battery was dying and that she wants to save it for important messages," he added. She is expected to be released later today.

Meanwhile, national laureate A Samad Ismail said that another date would be fixed to hand over a memorandum to the King on electoral reforms.

"We tried to head towards the palace several times, but the police kept turning us away and threatened us with arrest," he said.

Samad also criticised the police for acting in a "cruel" manner. "I saw them randomly firing tear gas at the crowd," he said.

One of the questions posed during the press conference was whether the rally had been multiracial, to which the steering committee replied that people of all races had participated.

READ MORE HERE

 

MILF-PRON Special Report for 2011: Malays under threat

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 08:50 AM PST

If these rumours were proven true (and who's to say that they aren't?) then it was obvious that the secular democrats in the DAP are truly in collusion with the godless heathens in CPM to put a Christian priest into the highest executive office in the land.

Yusseri Yusoff, The Malaysian Insider

As the year draws to a close, the researchers at the Malaysian Institute of Learning Foundation for Political Research On Nationalism (MILF-PRON) have decided to release a special report for public consumption on a very important issue, that is the threats which threaten the Malays such that they are constantly feeling threatened.

There is absolutely no doubt that 2011 has been the most threatening year for the survival of the Malays in their own land — which includes Malaysia, southern Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, parts of South Africa and the Liverpool docks.

The challenges that have come the way of the Malays from every direction have put all hard-working and grafting Malays at risk of once again being colonised by (or at the very least, under the protection of) foreign powers, whether physically, emotionally or, even especially, spiritually.

Before the year started, there was a letter allegedly written by an MCA member complaining about the volume of the azan coming from a mosque 1km away from where he normally sleeps. Since this is an issue that would crop up every few months or so, the Malays did not feel very threatened going into the new year.

However, there was brief excitement when former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad claimed that the Malays in Kampung Baru would end up like the Malays in Singapore if they (the Kampung Baru ones) were not careful.

This claim was greeted with some concern, even though a small segment of the Malays in Kampung Baru opined that it wouldn't actually be too bad a thing. At least, they would already have an MRT system working in the area, if nothing else.

The claim from the former PM was in response to a book published by a former PM of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, in which he wrote, among other things, the Malays in Singapore should be "less strict" about observing their religion.

And so, at the start of February, a Malay NGO in Singapore called for Lee Kuan Yew to be detained under the republic's Internal Security Act for being seditious. The minister mentor, in a display of restraint, did not bother to respond.

In the meantime, Mahathir said in a talk on the "Malay race and the future" that Malaysians as a whole need to accept that the country belonged to the Malays. He felt that the people of the nation have to "be sincere and accept that the country is Tanah Melayu."

In a separate statement, he also took the opportunity to call PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz a, well, opportunist who was willing to forsake his Islamic beliefs for political mileage. This then led to Nik Aziz accusing Mahathir and his party, Umno, of oppressing the Malays.

This was then followed up by Utusan Malaysia claiming that Nik Aziz prefers the company of Lee Kuan Yew to that of the Malays nationalists who fought for the freedom of the nation.

Nik Aziz, in response to something else entirely, said that he did not ask to be born a Malay, adding that it was pure coincidence that he was born in Malaysia.

At this juncture, it was still unclear as to the nature of the threats that threaten the Malays, apart from being run over by statements which make no sense whatsoever.

Which then brings us into March where Mahathir said that the Malays are not immigrants, even if they originally came from the Arab peninsula, India, Indonesia or anywhere else. He also pointed out that "those who support racist statements by the opposition are the real racists."

Not wanting to be left out, Singapore's minister mentor then made a statement in which he felt that his observation that the Malays in Singapore needed to be integrated better into the rest of the country may possibly be outdated and therefore he stood to be corrected.

Since he was no longer threatening, no Malay NGO called for him to not be detained under the ISA.

While Mahathir continued his series of warnings to the Malays by warning that the Malays could end up like the Palestinians who sold their own country out to the Jews, a new threat to the Malays reared its ugly head — Kentucky Fried Chicken could possibly be out of Malay hands.

Based on an unconfirmed rumour, it was said that the majority owner of KFC in Malaysia, Kulim Bhd, could be sold off to a non-Malay company and therefore this would constitute a major threat to the ability of Malays to consume chicken fried in 11 secret herbs and spices.

The owners of Kulim Bhd, Johor Corp, denied the rumours.

When asked whether they were the ones responsible for spreading the rumour, the owners of the Radix Fried Chicken chain refused to comment. They did however say that Radix Fried Chicken contained more that 11 herbs and spices as well as Tongkat Ali and quite possibly ginseng. For a stiffer fried chicken experience, presumably.

In April, the simmering controversy regarding the import and distribution of Bahasa Melayu (or more likely Bahasa Indonesia) bibles, referred to as "The Alkitab Controversy", came to a boil that no one seemed capable of lancing. With the Sarawak polls looming, the government decided to allow the release of said bibles that had been held back by Customs.

The existence of these bibles was clearly a threat to the faith of the Malays, given that — according to a few mullahs — the Malays are clearly so easily trapped into converting into Christianity and thus commit apostasy simply because they know how to read in their own language.

That the Alkitab can easily be read and downloaded digitally via the Internet onto PCs, tablets, phones and wristwatches seemed to be less threatening than the actual physical books, all of which are clearly stamped with the words "Untuk Kegunaan Penganut Kristian Sahaja."

In addition to the Malay Bible, the mufti of Perak also identified another Christian plot to convert impressionable Malays, this time using dance. Specifically, poco-poco. His fatwa banning poco-poco caused a stir, and a few twisted knickers among the Malays, not all of whom live in Perak. This prompted the National Fatwa Council to convene a special meeting to discuss the fatwa.

Rumour had it that the council instructed several military personnel to demonstrate the poco-poco, and after deep deliberation the council decreed that the dance is not threatening to the Malays. The mufti of Perak remained adamant, however, saying that his department had studied the issue and found that the dance incorporated moves originated by Jamaican Christians.

The additional rumour that the National Fatwa Council was planning a trip to the Caribbean to investigate the gyrating Jamaican Christians themselves has not been substantiated.

The "Christianisation of Malays" threat is to remain a recurring theme throughout the rest of the year, for as we go into May …

A report appeared in Utusan Malaysia saying that a couple of bloggers have uncovered a plot by a group of pastors in Penang to create a Christian Malaysia — by installing a Christian prime minister. Apparently, at the invite of the DAP, what seemed on the surface to be a dinner in appreciation of either the the DAP being in Sarawak, or Sarawak pastors being in Penang, a pledge was allegedly made by those present to work towards getting a Christian to be made PM of the country.

While this already presented a clear and present threat to the Malays and the sovereignty of the land, the situation became even more precarious when it was alleged by Datuk Ibrahim Ali of Perkasa that former members of the Communist Party of Malaysia were also involved in the dastardly plot to replace Islam as the official religion of Malaysia.

If these rumours were proven true (and who's to say that they aren't?) then it was obvious that the secular democrats in the DAP are truly in collusion with the godless heathens in CPM to put a Christian priest into the highest executive office in the land.

At this point, it was clear that there was an unholy trinity comprising secularists, communists and Malay-speaking Christians threatening the unity, harmony and prosperity of the Malays.

On a brighter note, though, it seemed that KFC would still remain in Malay hands.

READ MORE HERE

 

Vote opposition, says Zahid Hamidi

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 08:44 AM PST

Defence Minister and Umno Vice President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has asked Malaysian voters to vote opposition to show their disappointment with the government. Ahmad Zahid urged Malaysians to reject the present government, which has not shown any changes and only makes promises that are never delivered.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Vote BN To Show Frustration Against State Govt

(Bernama) - The people of Selangor must show their disappointment with the state government leadership by giving their mandate to the Barisan Nasional (BN) to lead the state again, said Umno vice-president Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The people of Selangor were seen to begin to realise and were rising up to reject the present state government which had not shown any positive change except to make promises during their ceramah, said Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Defence Minister.

"This fact has become a reality in Selangor. They are angry, (they) regretted the outcome of the last general election due to their anger against a certain people and the local leader in their areas."

"As such, the resurgence of BN in Selangor especially under the leadership of the Prime Minister as the Selangor BN chairman, will rebuild the people's support for the BN," he said when opening the 'Love Selangor Carnival' organised by the Selangor BN at i-City, here last night.

Also present were 'Love Selangor Carnival' operations director Mohd Zin Mohamed, Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Chua Tee Yong and senior Selangor BN leaders.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said the carnival was a catalyst to evaluate to what extent the programmes organised by the BN were getting public support.

This was apparent from the presence of 100,000 visitors to the carnival after two days and the figure was expected to rise to 300,000 by Saturday.

The four-day 'Love Selangor Carnival' which began on Wednesday will climax with the 2012 New Year Eve celebration which will be launched by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
 

Anwar plans 'innocence' tour as trial verdict nears

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 08:30 AM PST

(Sydney Morning Herald) - THE Malaysian opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, is planning a whirlwind tour of his country next week before the verdict in his controversial trial on a sodomy charge.

The outcome of the trial, which has captivated Malaysia, will help shape the future of the majority-Muslim country of 28 million people as it struggles to break away from a system of race- and religion-based politics.

Mr Anwar, 64, a father of six, who was once heir-apparent to the former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, says while he is ''optimistic'' of walking free on the charge of having consensual sex with a 23-year-old male aide in 2008, he is a ''political realist'' and ''ready to accept the worst''.

Under a British colonial-era law criminalising consensual sexual acts between people of the same sex, Anwar faces up to 20 years' jail if found guilty when the Kuala Lumpur High Court announces the verdict on January 9.

Human rights groups have called for the charge to be dropped and the law revoked.

''The Malaysian government uses its outdated sodomy law to slander political opponents and critics,'' the deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, Phil Robertson, said.

''Whether or not Anwar Ibrahim engaged in consensual 'sodomy' is irrelevant … it's time to reject this law and end the farcical theatre that promotes discrimination based on sexual orientation and destroys people's lives,'' Mr Robertson said.

Malaysia's Prime Minister, Najib Razak, has moved to open the country's political system before elections next year, including a promise to scrap the harsh Internal Security Act.

The accusations against Mr Anwar emerged shortly after he had led the opposition to unprecedented gains in parliamentary polls against the ruling coalition that has governed the country for five decades.

''These are trumped-up charges,'' Mr Anwar told journalists. ''It is another coincidence that the verdict comes so close to elections.

''The aim is to deny me the chance to participate in the elections. A lot of people pray that I should be acquitted.''

Anwar said that during the tour, beginning on Tuesday, he will reiterate his innocence.

During the marathon trial, which began in February last year, Mr Anwar delivered a long courtroom tirade accusing the trial judge and government of conspiring to send him ''into political oblivion''.

''It is a vile and desperate attempt at character assassination,'' he told the court. ''They can do all they want to assassinate and sully my character and threaten me with another 20 years in jail, but, mark my words, they won't be able to cow me into submission.''

Quoting the Koran and Shakespeare during a one-hour courtroom speech, Mr Anwar accused the trial judge, Mohamad Zabidin Diah, of demonstrating a ''complete lack of impartiality''.

Mr Anwar's lawyers called a series of expert witnesses who raised doubts about the credibility of forensic evidence presented by prosecutors.

An Australian forensic expert, Brian McDonald, told the court that DNA testing and labelling was not up to international standards and was riddled with errors.

This is the second time Mr Anwar has been embroiled in a sex trial. He lost his post as deputy prime minister in 1998 after being charged with sodomising his family's former driver and abusing his powers to cover up his actions - both of which he denied.

Two years later he was found guilty and sentenced to nine years' jail. The conviction was overturned in 2004.

While in jail Mr Anwar suffered severe facial injuries from a beating by a senior police officer.

His lawyers claimed rights violations against him including lack of access to legal counsel and witness harassment.

Anwar's aide Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan initially filed a complaint that Mr Anwar had forcibly sodomised him.

Police charged Mr Anwar with having consensual sex after it was determined his bad back would have made him incapable of forcing himself on Mr Azlan, who has not been charged.


Civil service as Umno’s fixed deposit or game buster

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 08:21 AM PST

ALIRAN

Will civil servants fall for what appears to be an extra large carrot being dangled in front of them in the form of pay rises ahead of the general election, wonders Lim Teck Ghee?

The new civil service renumeration scheme recently announced by the government provides civil servants pay rises of between 7 per cent and 13 per cent. Coming just before the elections expected soon, it is clearly intended to influence the outcome of the elections. Umno leaders see members of the civil service not only as their fixed deposit but also as the key game changer in the elections.

Will the generous pay rise make a difference in voting patterns of civil servants in the country? At first glance, it appears a politically astute move given the disproportionate weight of civil servants in the voting population and the high voting rate that has been associated with this segment of voters.

If we add up the 1.2m civil servants and family members and assume that there is an average of 3-4 voters per civil servant household, this provides a total of 4-5m voters out of the 12m registered voters. The fact that over 80 per cent of civil servants are Malays means that whichever party can win over the Malay civil service vote will take over the reins of political power in the country.

Will this group of voters fall for what appears to be an extra large carrot being dangled in front of them? Already the mainstream papers are carrying the mandatory follow up reports of how appreciative the teachers, police and other government staff are with this government recognition of their contribution to the country's development and progress through the new salary scheme.

This, together with the earlier sustained bashing of DAP Tony Pua's suggestion that the number of civil servants be reduced, appears to have given a decisive edge in the battle for civil service votes to Umno and the Barisan.

Will pay increase move backfire on Umno?

But is it a certainty that the civil service vote will continue to be in the pockets of the present government? Evidence is conflicting. The present generation of civil servants – Malays and non-Malays – are a great deal more discerning and demanding of their elected leaders and the policies needed. They, as with other voters in the country, are aware of how the government is courting their vote and will go to the voting booths fully concerned about the government's and opposition party's record on the issues that matter most to them – whether it is in ensuring a rise in their standard of living or fighting corruption or abuse of power. In fact, the timing of the salary increase – so close to the elections – could very well backfire on the government as it can be seen as a blatant attempt to bribe their way into power, with civil servants as their tool.

What could also prove to be problematic for the government are the finer details of the new remuneration system and pay increase, and how it affects each civil service voter. Precise details of the pay increase and how it will apply to each grade are not available yet. According to the Public Services Department Director General, the increases will be based on four principles: hierarchy; talent and experience; position and subject matter; and performance.

READ MORE HERE

 

Adam Adli — student activist, villain, folk hero

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 08:12 AM PST

(The Malaysian Insider) — Adam Adli Abdul Halim would have just been another student activist until his act of bringing down a banner bearing a picture of Datuk Seri Najib Razak during a peaceful demonstration drew more media attention than the cause itself.

Following the incident, what started out as a small student protest for academic freedom on December 17 has now escalated into a growing movement of undergraduates, university lecturers and members of the public, uniting and demanding the government repeal the controversial Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA), which strictly prohibits political activities on campuses.

File photo of Adam Adli (centre) speaking to the press in Kuala Lumpur on December 23, 2011. — Picture by Jack Ooi
It had also put the 22-year-old student of the Sultan Idris University of Education in the public limelight, drawing both admiration and disapproval alike.

Despite his sudden catapult to fame and accelerated awareness of the UUCA, Adam Adli remains unfazed and hopes this exposure "will be the end of our 40 years of unfinished struggle".

"Academic freedom will be another big cause to be fought together in the struggle to rebuild our corrupted country... It is just as important as other issues discussed in society," he told The Malaysian Insider.

"Many people, including the students, have never heard of academic freedom, UUCA, and 'magna carta' (a Bill drafted by students to replace the Act) until this (incident) happened. (Now), it seems that even the pro-government bloggers are struggling to understand our cause," he said.

The self-professed rebel stands by his actions and reiterates "lowering the banner was a sign of protest".

"But another reason unnoticed was, if I didn't lower the banner, how on earth would I be able to raise the academic freedom's flag?" he asked.

"It was two birds with one stone. It was a sign of protest on (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's) policy on students and universities and also a sign of victory for the many hours of protest on that day."

Adam Adli said his interest in student activism dates back to 2010 when he was banned from campus elections for participating in Demonstrasi Air 2009, a protest against the Selangor water price hike.

"Since there, there was no turning back for me. The reason is clear: we need to prove to the people that we, as students, are part of the people and system. We want to represent the people," he said.

"Students had their role in history of fighting for the people, thus within this short time we would like to carve our own history. But first we have to free the students and universities, then we will prove to the people what can we do for the country," he added.

READ MORE HERE

 

Harakah hits back at Hasan Ali

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 08:03 AM PST

(The Star) - PAS organ Harakahdaily has hit back at embattled party leader Datuk Dr Hasan Ali for accusing it of twisting facts when claiming he had apologised to spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat in a recent closed-door meeting.

The publication ran a piece online Thursday carrying a transcript of its interview with Nik Aziz, highlighting excerpts to back an earlier article quoting the Kelantan Mentri Besar as saying that Hasan had apologised to him at the Tuesday night meeting.

Written in Malay and backed by a video clip, the contentious line read: Datuk Hassan Ali menarik balik kenyataan-kenyataan dia yang sensitif. Ini tanda kelelakian dia, anak jantan. Kita buat salah, bila kita sedar buat salah, tarik balik, minta maaf. Ini ajaran agama. Bukan senang manusia buat salah nak tarik balik, bukan senang. Tiba-tiba dia ni tarik balik.

(Datuk Hasan Ali retracted his statements that were sensitive. This is a sign of his manliness, a real man. We make mistakes, and when we realise we make mistakes, we take it back, apologise. This is what religion teaches. It is not easy for people who do wrong to take it back, not easy. Suddenly he took it back.)

Late Wednesday, Hasan issued a statement denying that he had apologised to Nik Aziz at their meeting in Kota Baru, saying he retracted his comments on the party's welfare state policy and apologised to party leaders during a press conference at his residence on Dec 24.

He said he was disappointed with Harakahdaily for claiming such, adding that he had reminded them "many times" not to twist facts which could create confusion and disunity.

Hasan's spat with the party organ is the latest to hit the former Selangor Pas commissioner, who has been at loggerheads with party colleagues over the past several weeks for criticising their leadership.

Both he and former deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa also got in trouble for pushing for a revival of unity talks with arch-rival Umno.

 

Appeal Letter by PLKN Operator to the Prime Minister

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 07:53 AM PST

Malangnya sehingga ke hari ini, Yayasan Selangor belum menerima sebarang surat tawaran penyambungan kontrak PLKN daripada pihak JLKN atau Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pertahanan Malaysia, sedangkan pihak kami tidak pernah gagal dalam menyediakan perkhidmatan yang dikehendaki, termasuk penambah-baikan untuk memenuhi SOC JLKN, dan yang terkini Perhimpunan Alumni PLKN 1Malaysia di  kem kami, Kem PLKN Ampang Pechah, Kuala Kubu Baru pada 7 November 2011.

YAB DATO' SRI MOHD. NAJIB BIN TUN HAJI ABDUL RAZAK
Perdana Menteri Merangkap Menteri Kewangan,
Pejabat Perdana Menteri,
Bangunan Perdana Putra,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62502 Putrajaya.
 
PENYAMBUNGAN KONTRAK SEBAGAI PENGUSAHA KEM PLKN AMPANG PECAH, KUALA KUBU BAHARU - RAYUAN KETIGA
 
Didoakan semoga YAB Dato' Sri sentiasa dalam keadaan sihat walafit dan  menerajui Kerajaan Malaysia yang kita kasihi dengan Adil & Bijaksana.
 
2.       Adalah difahamkan bahawa beberapa pengusaha/operator lain telah menerima surat sambungan kontrak PLKN selama setahun sehingga 31 Disember 2012, termasuklah DIA Holdings Sdn. Bhd. yang menyewa Kem Temasya Rimba Templer milik Kerajaan Negeri Selangor, walaupun tempoh sewaan tapak tersebut akan berakhir pada 1 March 2012 akan datang dan belum dibaharui/dilanjutkan,

sedangkan Kem PL Ampang Pecah adalah milik YS sepenuhnya.
 
3.       Malangnya sehingga ke hari ini, Yayasan Selangor belum menerima sebarang surat tawaran penyambungan kontrak PLKN daripada pihak JLKN atau Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pertahanan Malaysia, sedangkan pihak kami tidak pernah gagal dalam menyediakan perkhidmatan yang dikehendaki, termasuk penambah-baikan untuk memenuhi SOC JLKN, dan yang terkini Perhimpunan Alumni PLKN 1Malaysia di  kem kami, Kem PLKN Ampang Pechah, Kuala Kubu Baru pada 7 November 2011.
 
4.       Selaku pemilik Kem PLKN Ampang Pecah, Kuala Kubu Baharu, Yayasan Selangor telah membuat penambah-baikan kemudahan di kem tersebut dan membelanjakan banyak wang ringgit untuk keselesaan pelatih dan Pegawai/Jurulatih/Kakitangan JLKN, antaranya:
 
4.1     Pagar sempadan baru antara PLKN dan KBS. Tinggi 5' Panjang 1,134'-    RM86,840.00

4.2     Generator Set baru - RM120,900.00

4.3     Naik taraf 2 bilik air jadikan bilik rehat Jurulatih - RM286,265.00

4.4     Naiktaraf surau - RM329,690.00

4.5     Bangunan baru Stor Lojistik - RM443,028.00

4.6     Bangunan baru pusat rawatan - RM356,371.00

4.7     Pasang jubin bilik air, bilik kuliah dan turap semula padang kawad -RM489,584.00

4.8     Naiktaraf 2 gelanggang sepaktakraw dan gelanggang bolatampar - RM234,191.00

4.9     Bina kolam aktiviti air - RM1,700,000.00
         
JUMLAH -RM4,046,869.00 
 
5.       Sayugia dimaklumkan bahawa Yayasan Selangor telah menjadi operator PLKN sejak tahun 2004 dan Majlis Pelancaran Kursus PLKN Seluruh Negara juga telah dilaksanakan di Kem PLKN Ampang Pecah, Kuala Kubu Baharu pada tahun 16 Februari 2004 oleh YAB Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi selaku Perdana Menteri Malaysia, yang turut dihadiri oleh YAB Dato' Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak yang ketika itu adalah Timbalan Perdana Menteri merangkap Menteri Pertahanan Malaysia ketika itu.

6.       Untuk makluman pihak YAB Dato' Sri, sekiranya kontrak PLKN Ampang Pecah, Kuala Kubu Baharu tidak disambung, kedudukan pekerja dan kontraktor yang berkhidmat dengan kem PLKN ini sudah tentu akan terjejas, antaranya: 
 
6.1     24 Kakitangan Kem (senarai dilampirkan)
6.2     Kontraktor Penyedia Makanan/Caterer Kem PLKN
6.3     Kontraktor Pembersihan Kem PLKN
6.4     Kontraktor Dobi
6.5     Kontraktor Pembersihan Hygine (Tuala Wanita)
 
7.       Untuk makluman YAB Dato' Sri juga, Yayasan Selangor adalah "a non-profit organization", dan semua lebihan pendapatan digunakan untuk menawarkan biasiswa dan pinjaman kepada pelajar-pelajar yang kurang berkemampuan dari luar bandar tanpa mengira kaum dan ideologi politik. Sejak 40 tahun lalu, Yayasan Selangor menjadi tempat bergantung lebih 40,000 orang pelajar miskin dan miskin tegar di seluruh Selangor
 
8.       Sayugia diingatkan bahawa Yayasan Selangor adalah milik Rakyat Selangor dan tidak sewajarnya dihukum akibat percaturan politik kepartian di mana majoriti daripada penerima bantuan pendidikan adalah orang Melayu-Islam.
 
9.       Ketidakadilan ini pasti membuatkan akan membuatkan rakyat lebih benci dengan pemerintah di Putrajaya kini dan tidak mustahil "kebencian rakyat" pasti akan diterjemahkan dalam PRU13 dengan mengekalkan kerajaan di Selangor kini.

10.     Segala usaha YAB Dato' Sri untuk merebut kembali Selangor akan pasti gagal disebabkan sikap tidak matang dalam membuat keputusan dalam kes penyambungan Kem PLKN di Kuala Kubu Bharu ini.
 
11.       Sehubungan itu, Yayasan Selangor ingin merayu supaya kontrak Kem PLKN Ampang Pecah, Kuala Kubu Baharu dapat disambung semula sepertimana pengusaha-pengusaha lain  supaya persiapan terakhir di sempurnakan menanti kumpulan pertama sesi 2012.
 
12.     Pertimbangan, kebijaksanaan dan sokongan YAB Dato' Sri sangat dihargai dan didahului dengan ucapan jutaan terima kasih.
 
 Sekian dan salam hormat.
 
As Salaam,
 
RAJA AMIR SHAH RAJA ABD AZIZ
Timbalan Pengurus Besar

 

Ministry calls up editor on use of word Allah

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 09:49 PM PST

(Daily Express) - The Home Ministry called up the Chief Editor of Nanyang Siangpau concerning the use of the word "Allah" in an article published by the Daily.

Deputy Secretary-General (Security) of the ministry Datuk Abdul Rahim Mohd Radzi said the article carried the word "Allah" in the form of a logo in the article entitled "Hudud Law Becomes Controversial Issue" on page A8 on Dec 27, 2011 and the article "Hudud Law Raises Concern for Non-Muslims" on page A8 on Dec. 28, 2011.

"The showing of the word is clearly against Section 7 (1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 which can appal the people and jeopardise public peace," he said in a statement.

He said the Ministry also issued a show-cause letter to Nanyang Siangpau following the publication of the word which could cause tension and confuse the Malaysian public.

"KDN (Home Ministry) will take stern action on any press which commits this offence in future based on the provision in the Act," he said.

 

Nurul Izzah & Chegubard backstabbed by PKR insider!

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 09:35 PM PST

KTEMOC KONSIDERS

Extract from The Malaysia Insider (TMI) - Despite claims, Zaid says not rejoining PKR:

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim today denied rumours that he would be rejoining PKR, saying that allegations of discussions between him and Nurul Izzah Anwar on the matter were untrue.

The KITA president was responding to the contents of a letter being circulated on blogs, which alleged he had met the PKR vice-president to discuss his return to the Pakatan Rakyat leadership.

Before making any comments, please reflect carefully on what I wrote in January 2011, in a post titled The Poison within PKR - Part III wakakaka (extracts follows):

In spite of my hero Karpal Singh condemning Zaid, I have written in support of the latter – see my previous post Zaid Ibrahim - suffers no fool gladly.

When he was in PKR at the time leading to the party polls (before he tossed his hat into the election ring) Zaid Ibrahim was criticised for being erratic because one moment he said he would not challenge the deputy presidential post IF (initially) Nurul Izaah took up the challenge*, then (subsequently) IF Khalid Ibrahim did so, and the next (only when both Nurul and Khalid didn't) he took up the challenge.

* Azmin Ali went into a panicky tizzy when Nurul casually mentioned her interests, and 'advised' Nurul against it because people would talk. Bet you Anwar had a few private words with Nurul

The standard anwaristas' cries against Zaid Ibrahim were his inconsistencies (in supporting Nurul, then Khalid, before standing as a candidate himself), and their accusations unimaginatively attacked Zaid for his lust for power.

But I didn't see any inconsistency in Zaid's manoeuvrings. In fact there was a very consistent objective in his support for firstly, Nurul, and subsequently Khalid Ibrahim, before he personally challenged Azmin Ali in the party election. That objective was to prevent Azmin Ali from coasting home on an Anwar-provided free ticket into the deputy president post. He wanted Azmin Ali stopped!

Yes, Zaid was invincibly against Azmin Ali, the man for whom Anwar Ibrahim instructed Nallakaruppan to stand aside in a party VP contest some years back, and which drove Nalla out of the party in angry frustration. Nalla would have easily won that VP position because of the strength of his Indian supporters in PKR.

Subsequently, Zaid resigned from PKR for what he saw as unacceptable, unsalvageable and unforgiveable dodgy party polling to ensure the election victory of a favoured son. And he wasn't the only one to complain. In another of my January 2011 posts Gobalakrishnan leaves the poison behind I wrote:

So the virtually impossible has happened - Gobalakrishnan, once PKR's chief bodek-er of Anwar, has resigned from PKR in disgust. Who would have ever predicted this prior to the recent party polls - a poll which had led many party stalwarts as well as notable and neutral socio-political observers to question the integrity of its process.

Silence from the party leaders, or their caught-with-pants-down inability to reply the challenges by the complainants have invited the inevitable destructive implosion.

And instead of pressuring the party leaders to be fully accountable, predictably, the moronic PKR fanatics lambasted Gobala as a snake, frog, UMNO-MIC mole, running dog and with various animal appellations. Will they do likewise to other complainants like Chegubard, Jonson Chong, Mustaffa Kamil as they did to Zaid Ibrahim, Gobala, Nallakaruppan, etc?

READ MORE HERE

 

Merdeka sudah, tapi jiwa masih terjajah

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 09:32 PM PST

ASPAN ALIAS

Rakyat sedang menghadapi terlalu banyak masalah yang berat akibat kelakuan dan sikap pemimpin kerajaan kita yang tidak mempunyai disiplin kepimpinan serta pemikiran. Sebagaimana yang telah selalu saya katakan masalah yang kita hadapi ini berpunca dari masalah kepimpinan negara.

Sekarang ini kepimpinan negara sedang menghadapi krisis keyakinan yang paling getir dalam sejarah kemerdekaan negara. Krisis ini sudah lama menular tetapi kerajaan dan parti yang memerintah masih boleh menyangkutkan kesinambungan kuasa yang dipegangnya melalui saki-baki sokongan dan kuasa yang masih berada di tangan mereka.

UMNO tidak lagi mempunyai kepimpinan yang jitu kerana akhir-akhir ini krisis keyakinan ini ditokok dan ditambah oleh isu-isu baru, kesemuanya berkait dengan salah guna kuasa dan rasuah. Tidak ada pertembungan di antara dua atau lebih dalam UMNO berkaitan dengan perjuangan. Semuanya kena-mengena dengan wang ringgit dan laba harta yang tidak berkesudahan.

Selepas isu NFC dengan Sharizat, timbul pula isu Awang Adek dan sebelum itu isu menteri yang menjaga agama yang tidak amanah menggunakan wang zakat untuk membayar kos guaman peribadinya. Sharizat pula menambah lagi dengan berkata tidak ada pemimpin dalam kabinet atau parti yang tidak bermasalah. Ini semua berlaku dalam beberapa minggu ini dan jika hendak diluruti sejarah satu dekat yang lalu timbul pula wang rakyat dan negara telah dilarikan keluar negara sebanyak RM1 trillion.

Sekarang ini kita tidak lagi menyebut jumlah yang berbillion. Kini kita menyebut jumlah kecurian yang berjumlah trillion-trillion ringgit. Masyaallah, rupa-rupanya negara kita negara kaya sehinggakan dalam tempoh sepuluh tahun sahaja sebanyak RM1 trillion telah dibawa lari ke luar negara oleh mereka yang tidak bertanggungjawab kepada negara.

Bila berfikir tentang isu satu trillion ringgit yang dilarikan keluar negara ini, saya teringat kepada gerakan mencapai kemerdekaan negara dulu. Pemimpin-pemimpin kita dahulu telah berusaha untuk melepaskan negara dari cengkaman penjajah British. Tidak payah kita ulangi proses dalam mencapai kemerdekaan itu.

Tetapi apa yang hendak saya sentuh ialah salah satu matlamat penjajahan British dahulu ialah kerana British telah mengaut kekayaan negara kita untuk di bawa ke Britain dan Britain telah dapat membangunkan negaranya dengan menggunakan hasil mahsul tanah-tanah jajahannya termasuk Persekutuan Tanah Melayu.

Kita menuntut kemerdekaan dari British dan kita berjaya mendapatkannya. Setelah merdekanya negara salah satu yang pimpinan kita lakukan ialah untuk membawa kembali syarikat-syarikat perladangan, perlombongan serta semua syarikat-syarikat besar-besar ini yang telah mengalirkan sumber kekayaan negara kita ke Britain. Itu dasar kerajaan kita untuk mempastikan hasil mahsul negara berkisar di dalam negara ini.

Pada penghujung pimpinan Tunku A Rahman , dan seterusnya semasa pimpinan Tun Razak serta Hussein Onn pimpinan-pimpinan ini telah membawa masuk Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah sebagai arkitek dan pelaksana kepada proses mengembalikan harta kekayaan negara yang mengalir ke luar negara terutamanya ke Britain kembali ke negara kita dahulu

Semasa bangsa Melayu dan bangsa-bangsa lain di negara ini masih tidur lena dalam isu ini, Tengku Razaleigh dengan kebolehan teknokratnya telah membawa kembali syarikat-syarikat ini bermula dengan membawa balik Tradewind Bhd, Harrison and Crossfield yang sekarang ini di beri nama Golden Hope, Sime Darby (perladangan) London Tin (sekarang MMC) serta Guthries pada 7hb septembar 1981.

Kejayaan cemerlang Tengku Razaleigh inilah yang menyebabkan politik beliau dimalapkan oleh pemimpin yang cemburukan kebolehan beliau itu. Zaman itu jugalah zaman pemimpin berkelibar dalam UMNO dikuburkan oleh kerana keenakan kuasa yang sedang dirasakan oleh setengah pemimpin yang rakus dalam UMNO.

Itu usaha kerajaan kita dengan semangat kebangsaan pimpinan negara kita. Tetapi sejak itu kepimpinan negara tidak memberikan keutamaan kepada mengekalkan kekayaan negara kita untuk berada di dalam negara. Sebaliknya melalui kerja hina rasuah dan menyalah gunakan kuasa keadaan telah terbalik.

Sejak dari itu di atas nama membangunkan negara maka pimpinan kita telah membiarkan kegiatan merompak harta kekayaan negara oleh kaum kita sendiri dan sejak sepuluh tahun yang lalu, sebanyak RM1 trillion telah di curi dan dibawa keluar negara. Sebenarnya kerja ini telah berlaku sejak pertengahan pimpinan Mahathir pada penghujung tahun lapan puluhan dahulu.

READ MORE HERE

 

Eleven NGOs Lodge Police Reports On Free Anwar Campaign

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 09:30 PM PST

(Bernama) -- Eleven non- governmental organisations (NGOs) in Pahang today lodged police reports on the move by the opposition parties to hold a campaign and stage a "Free Anwar" gathering on Jan 9.

A spokesman for the NGOs, Ngah Ismail who is also the secretary of the Pertubuhan Kebajikan Islamiah dan Dakwah (PEKIDA) Kuantan district, said the reports were made to protest against and prevent the "Free Anwar" campaign which was described as a provocation on the court case involving Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"The gathering shows as though our country has no law and they can also be perceived as breaking the law and acting in contempt of the law.

"It may also lead to chaos, unrest and disunity among the people of Malaysia," he said when met at the grounds of the Kuantan district police headquarters, here Thursday.

Among the NGOs making the reports were PEKIDA, Pertubuhan Kerabat Pusaka Merong Mahawangsa Malaysia Wilayah Timur, Beserah youth association, and Bukit Setongkol youth association.

Meanwhile in KUALA LUMPUR, a Malay right-wing movement, Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa), lodged two police reports urging for an investigation on the mastermind for the Jan 9 gathering as well as the statement by a priest who questioned Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.

The report against the Jan 9 gathering was made by Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali while the report against the priest was made by his deputy, Datuk Abdul Rahman Abu Bakar.

The reports were lodged at the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters at about 2.30pm.

The High Court will decide on Jan 9 on the case against Anwar who is charged with sodomising his former personal assistant, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, three years ago.

Meanwhile, Abd Rahman said police should investigate the statement by the priest recently which carried seditious elements and could jeopardise racial harmony.

Last week, the chairman of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship, Dr Eu Hong Seng questioned Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, saying that it was akin to 'bullying' if it only protected the rights of one group.

 

The ensuing Karpal-Ramasamy feud: A weaker DAP in GE13

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 09:29 PM PST

Ramasamy, however, is highly regarded in the Indian community and is seen as a savior of the community which has been abused and exploited by Samy Vellu and MIC and humiliated and insulted by UMNO over many decades. DAP's leadership cannot afford to ignore Ramasamy's prominent standing in the Indian community even though he may not have widespread support in DAP itself. 

By Ken

 

The Karpal-Ramasamy feud does not appear to end. In the latest development, Karpal has asked Ramasamy to quit as DCM II. Ramasamy has been accused of unacceptable behavior and talking too much. There is no question that Ramasamy needs to resolve issues internally, talk less and keep away from the media. If only Karpal, as the veteran politician and chairman of DAP, also thought a little before talking, his differences with Ramasamy would not have become this ugly open feud, a gift from DAP to UMNO/BN to attack DAP and Pakatan in GE13. 

Karpal has escalated matters recently by asking for Ramasamy to be sacked as DCM II. The feud between these two DAP politicians is getting uglier every day. The Karpal-Ramasamy feud has the potential to damage DAP so badly, if it has not done so already, that DAP is unlikely even to come close to its GE12 feat in GE13. What is important is DAP, and not Karpal or Ramasamy. What is critical for the nation is a Pakatan Rakyat win in GE13, and DAP needs to play its part properly and not jeopardize this critical mission necessary to save Malaysia from impending collapse under UMNO/BN.

Karpal has the overwhelming support of the DAP grassroots, especially in Penang. He is a veteran politician, a Penangite who has been with the party since the 1970s and who has carefully nurtured the support of the grassroots. Ramasamy is no match for Karpal in the world of politics and does not hold the sway that Karpal has in DAP. Ramasamy, however, is highly regarded in the Indian community and is seen as a savior of the community which has been abused and exploited by Samy Vellu and MIC and humiliated and insulted by UMNO over many decades. DAP's leadership cannot afford to ignore Ramasamy's prominent standing in the Indian community even though he may not have widespread support in DAP itself.

If Ramasamy is removed from his post as DCM II, as Karpal is demanding, the DAP is likely to lose substantial Indian votes not only in Penang but also across West Malaysia. The DAP and Pakatan cannot afford to lose Indian votes as their votes will determine the winner in various DAP and even Pakatan seats and other urban/semi-urban seats in West Malaysia.

Knowing that Indian support will determine the outcome in many marginal seats in West Malaysia, Najib has been carefully nurturing (bribing?) the Indians since assuming power. Support for him from the Indians has been growing, and even his "Malay-first, Malaysian-second" deputy and other ultra-UMNOputras have been more sensitive to the Indians lately.  

Najib has given up on the Chinese, knowing that they are firmly committed to DAP and a Pakatan Rakyat goverment after GE13. With the support of a majority of the Malays and a substantial proportion of the Indians, Najib hopes to win back many of the seats UMNO/BN lost in GE12. Given that the Indians have the potential to determine the outcome of many of the marginal seats in GE13, the DAP can ill-afford to sack Ramasamy from his post as DCM II. That would be stupidity at this juncture for DAP as it will drive away substantial crucial votes from the Indians who are already warming up to the ringgits, gifts and sweet promises from UMNO and MIC.

Though DAP's support comes mostly from the Chinese, the party has managed to make itself visibly more multi-racial after GE12 through the presence of Indian Wakil Rakyats and ADUNS such as Ramasamy. The party has also been making progress, though slow, in attracting Malays. The party needs to continue this effort in line with Pakatan Rakyat's noble agenda for all Malaysians regardless of race. Loss of Indian support, as a consequence of Ramasamy's sacking as DCM II, will thwart its multi-racial agenda and make UMNO's accusation a reality, that DAP is a Chinese chauvinist party.

The majority of Chinese and other Malaysians who are disgusted with UMNO/BN will vote for DAP in GE13 regardless of the candidate. They will, in general, vote for DAP regardless of the background or race of the candidate. There are few DAP candidates, except Lim Guan Eng and perhaps Lim Kit Siang, who can win a seat on his own merit and not because of the DAP banner.

Karpal commands significant support in Penang DAP but he still does not command the kind of support required to win a seat on his own merit. Though Ramasamy can only win in GE13 if he stands under the DAP banner, the irony is that the DAP needs him to retain the support of the Indian community to win in many of the marginal constituencies.

If Ramasamy is not in DAP's line-up for GE13, other DAP candidates, including Karpal, are likely to lose substantial Indian votes and may end up as losers in GE13. It is therefore in the interest of both Karpal and Ramasamy, and certainly in the interest of DAP and Pakatan Rakyat, that these two politicians set aside their differences and cooperate for a strong DAP and Pakatan Rakyat win.  

The DAP leadership needs to act wisely and strategically if they hope to at least repeat their GE12 feat. Otherwise the dream of all decent Malaysians - the eviction of UMNO/BN from Putrajaya and the installation of a just and clean Pakatan Rakyat federal government  - will remain a dream after GE13 as Pakatan Rakyat cannot win with a weaker DAP, the consequence of the ensuing Karpal-Ramasamy feud.

Government Removes Restriction on Recruitment of Foreign Workers

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 09:26 PM PST

Government has repeatedly stressed that appropriate measures will be put in place to reduce dependency on foreign workers but the latest announcement (Star 28/12/2011) of policy change has created serious doubt in the minds of Malaysians.

By Abdul Halim bin Mansor (Sec Gen MTUC) 

MTUC is seeking an urgent meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister to discuss Home Affairs Ministry's recent decision to allow recruitment of foreign workers in 10 more sectors and 11 sub sectors.

It appears that Government's about turn policy on this important issue resulted from pressure from interested parties.

Did the Ministry of Home Affairs seek the views of the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR) before lifting the freeze? What impact will this new policy have on employment opportunities for Malaysians?

Government has repeatedly stressed that appropriate measures will be put in place to reduce dependency on foreign workers but the latest announcement (Star 28/12/2011) of policy change has created serious doubt in the minds of Malaysians.

Government's decision to liberalise has widened the list to include all sectors. For example, about a year ago when the Government imposed restriction on recruitment of croupiers in the country, many Malaysians were successful in securing employment as croupiers. The new policy will immediately shut the door to Malaysians.

Minister of Home Affairs appear to be insensitive to the needs of Malaysians. Foreign Worker Recruitment Agencies' needs seem to be given priority and importance than the needs of Malaysian Workers.

(ABDUL HALIM BIN MANSOR)
SECRETARY GENERAL

Tiada kebebasan untuk fitnah

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 09:24 PM PST

Nampaknya masih ramai yang keliru dan tidak dapat membezakan maksud kebebasan bersuara dan fitnah. Ramai penulis-penulis blog dewasa ini yang menganggap melemparkan fitnah itu sebahagian daripada kebebasan bersuara.

By Amin Iskandar

Baru-baru ini, Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, menang dalam kes saman fitnahnya terhadap Utusan Malaysia.

Mahkamah Tinggi Pulau Pinang mendapati akhbar milik Umno itu bersalah memfitnah Lim Guan Eng dalam sebuah berita yang bertajuk "Kebiadaban Guan Eng" yang diterbitkan pada 20 Disember 2010.

Mahkamah memerintahkan Utusan untuk membayar RM 250,000 kepada Guan Eng dan RM 25,000 lagi sebagai bayaran kos.

Kisah ahli politik dan saman mereka terhadap akhbar, blog atau ahli politik yang lain bukanlah sesuatu perkara baru di Malaysia.

Ketua Pembangkang, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim pernah menyaman ramai pihak kerana mendakwa mereka memfitnah dirinya. Anwar pernah menyaman mantan perdana menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dan kerajaan Malaysia.

Anwar juga pernah menyaman ketua pemuda Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin dan ramai lagi.
Oleh kerana banyak saman dilakukan oleh pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat kepada golongan yang memfitnah mereka, persoalan ditimbulkan oleh sesetengah pihak, apakah tindakan saman menyaman ini bertentangan dengan prinsip demokrasi dan kebebasan bersuara?



Buku Jingga

 


Laman Suara Pakatan Rakyat (www.suarapakatanrakyat.com) pada 19 Disember lalu menimbulkan persoalan ini terhadap Exco Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan, Datuk Husam Musa yang kini sedang menyaman pemilik blog Ruang Bicara Faisal dan Kickdefella kerana didakwa memfitnah dirinya dalam penulisan mereka.

Naib presiden PAS itu menyaman sebanyak RM 500,000 kepada pemilik blog Ruang Bicara Faisal dan RM 5 juta kepada penggendali blog Kickdefella.



Menurut laman web tersebut, tindakan Husam menyaman kedua-dua penulis blog tersebut bercanggah dengan prinsip Buku Jingga yang mengatakan:

"Kebebasan rakyat untuk berkumpul dan menyatakan pandangan mereka juga disekat dari pelbagai arah; baik yang melibatkan rapat umum mahupun di laman internet. Ada ura-ura pentadbiran sedia ada mencari jalan untuk mengetatkan kawalan mereka terhadap internet, memandangkan ia satu-satunya jalan yang berkesan menyebarkan maklumat alternatif kepada rakyat."

Persoalan seperti ini pernah juga dibangkitkan oleh sesetengah pihak satu ketika dahulu apabila Anwar dan Lim menyaman akhbar. Kata mereka, kebebasan bersuara belum terjamin jika Pakatan memerintah.

Penulis berkesempatan untuk menemuramah ringkas Husam melalui telefon untuk mendapatkan jawapan beliau mengenai kritikan laman web tersebut terhadapnya.

Menurut exco kanan tersebut, beliau bukanlah antidemokrasi atau kebebasan bersuara apatah lagi untuk mengkhianati prinsip Buku Jingga yang dipersetujui bersama oleh parti gabungan dalam Pakatan.

"Blogger atau penulis boleh menulis apa-apa sahaja kecuali fitnah. Jika berani memfitnah, mereka juga harus berani untuk berhadapan dengan tindakan yang bakal diambil," katanya.
Menurut Husam lagi, beliau tidak mempunyai masalah untuk dikritik kerana beliau percaya kritikan itu baik bagi seseorang untuk memperbaiki dirinya. Yang beliau tentang adalah fitnah dan tohmahan.

"Dalam Islam sendiri, fitnah adalah satu dosa yang besar. Fitnah itu dosanya lebih besar dari membunuh. Islam memberi ruang kepada orang yang difitnah untuk membersihkan dirinya.

"Saman adalah salah satu kaedah untuk saya membersihkan diri. Sebagai seorang Muslim, maruah dan itegriti adalah sesuatu perkara yang penting", kata Husam.

 

Read more at: http://www.aminiskandar.net/2011/12/tiada-kebebasan-untuk-fitnah.html

 

Nurul Izzah nafi surat beracun

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 06:16 PM PST

(Harakah Daily) - Naib Presiden PKR, Nurul Izzah Anwar menafikan kandungan satu surat layang beracun yang sedang tersebar dalam internet sekarang.

"Ingin saya jelaskan di sini bahawa dakwaan dalam surat tersebut adalah palsu dan tidak benar," kata Nurul dalam satu kenyataan ringkasnya hari ini.

Nurul dipercayai mengulas satu surat beracun (email) yang diedarkan kepada ahli-ahli PKR yang mendakwa beliau sedang memujuk Datuk Zaid Ibrahim menyertai PKR semula.

Dalam surat itu, Nurul dikatakan berjanji kepada Zaid untuk diberikan kerusi parlimen Petaling Jaya Selatan.

Ekoran itu, surat itu mengajak ahli PKR membantah tindakan Nurul Izzah itu.

Pagi tadi, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim menafikan beliau bertemu dan berbincang dengan Nurul Izzah sebagaimana yang didakwa surat itu.

"Saya tidak tahu apa-apa tentang dakwaan ini sebab sejak meninggal PKR, saya tidak berhubung langsung dengan Nurul (Izzah Anwar) ke, Anwar (Ibrahim) ke atau pun Kak Wan (Datuk Seri Wan Azizah).

"Jadi jangan kaitkan saya, dia orang kena selesaikan lah sendiri masalah mereka," kata Datuk Zaid Ibrahim kepada laman web The Malaysian Insider.

Nurul dalam kenyataannya hari ini juga meminta semua rakyat Malaysia jangan melayan surat itu.

"Saya menggesa semua rakyat Malaysia untuk menumpu segala usaha demi merealisasikan Malaysia yang lebih baik," katanya.

 

Ibrahim Ali sees plot to disrupt Sodomy II verdict

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 05:54 PM PST

(The Malaysian Insider) - Datuk Ibrahim Ali alleged today of an attempt to organise a mass gathering on January 9 to disrupt the High Court here from delivering a verdict in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial, and warned the assembly could cause chaos and unrest.

The Perkasa president claimed to have received text messages and obtained leaflets of plans for a big gathering in front of the High Court next month, and urged the police to investigate the matter immediately.

"I believe there is an attempt by a group to spread leaflets to have a gathering at the High Court on January 9 to disrupt the trial process of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy case.

"To me, the move is clearly in contempt of court, disrespectful of the law and constitution, and can cause public unrest and endanger the safety of the people," he told reporters here.

According to the Malay rights leader, the leaflets contained messages like "Free Anwar 901", "Lawan tetap lawan" and "Rakyat Hakim Negara."

Predicting Anwar's supporters would trigger chaos on the day, Ibrahim said "the police need to investigate the matter to ensure the safety of the people and the country is guaranteed."

"Probe who is behind this plan for a gathering and take strict action against them. Don't let them take the law into their own hands."

READ MORE HERE

 

Perkasa: Rev Eu’s Article 153 remarks ‘politically motivated’

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 05:53 PM PST

(The Malaysian Insider) - Malay rights group Perkasa today accused a senior Christian leader of creating intercommunal friction with his remarks on the constitutional protection for Bumiputeras, claiming the speech was politically motivated.

Calling it "provocative", Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali claimed of a link between Reverend Dr Eu Hong Seng's controversial Christmas Eve remarks and an impending general election.

"I believe Dr Eu's statement is politically motivated in light of word of elections being around the corner. There is a political motive here to confuse the people into thinking that the government has not been fair to other races.

"That is Dr Eu's motive. Article 153 cannot be questioned... there is a political motive (to) erode Malay rights," Ibrahim told reporters here.

The National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) chairman had said on Christmas Eve that the Federal Constitution's Article 153 was akin to "bullying" if it only protected the rights of one group.

Article 153 states that it is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's responsibility "to safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other communities in accordance with the provisions of this Article".

In his speech, Eu had stressed that he did not have problems with rights of the Malays and the Sultans but "what irks many of us are the 'shifting rights'" of the majority.

His remarks prompted demands from Perkasa chief Ibrahim for Eu and others like him to be probed by the police.

Ibrahim along with Perkasa deputy president Datuk Abdul Rahman Abu Bakar and 30-odd Perkasa members lodged a police report against Eu based on an article by The Malaysian Insider and several other publications.

The Pasir Mas MP said Eu's remarks should be viewed by the police seriously, as it was said at a gathering that included non-Malay Barisan Nasional political parties like MCA and Gerakan as well as opposition parties DAP and PKR.

Abdul Rahman pointed out that Article 153 protected not only the rights of Malay, but also Bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak, many of whom are Christian.

He said Eu's statement was seditious, and urged the police to charge the Christian leader under the Sedition Act.

READ MORE HERE

 

Ex-judge Arifin Jaka dies

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 05:52 PM PST

(The Malaysian Insider) - Former Court of Appeal judge Tan Sri Arifin Jaka died earlier this morning at the Serdang Hospital here, English daily The Star reported. He was 78.

The cause of his death is as yet unknown.

Arifin (picture) shot into the limelight as the trial judge in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's first sodomy indictment in 1999 against the former deputy prime minister's family driver, Azizan Abu Bakar.

Born in 1933 in Rembau, Negri Sembilan, Arifin was one of six children in a family of rice farmers.

He won a scholarship to read law in London and, upon his return in 1970, entered into the judicial and legal services. He set up his private law firm in 1976 and dabbled in politics for a while before quitting it after losing in the 1978 general election for the Terentang state seat against Umno's Yazid Baba.

He became a judicial commissioner in 1992 and was appointed to the High Court two years later.

 

Despite claims, Zaid says not rejoining PKR

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 05:50 PM PST

(The Malaysian Insider) - Datuk Zaid Ibrahim today denied rumours that he would be rejoining PKR, saying that allegations of discussions between him and Nurul Izzah Anwar on the matter were untrue.

The KITA president was responding to the contents of a letter being circulated on blogs, which alleged he had met the PKR vice-president to discuss his return to the Pakatan Rakyat leadership.

"I do not know anything about these allegations. Since leaving PKR, I have not been in touch with either Nurul (Izzah Anwar), (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim) or Kak Wan (Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail).

"So do not connect me to this; they have to settle their own problems," Zaid (picture) said today.

The letter circulated online claimed that Nurul Izzah had offered Zaid to contest the Petaling Jaya Selatan seat in the next general election. The seat is now held by PKR's Hee Loy Sian.

Online portals and blogs, including Malaysia Today, have claimed the letter was written by Nurul Izzah's political enemies within PKR, following speculation that she would become PR's future candidate for prime minister.

Zaid was once in the running for PKR's deputy presidency against Azmin Ali and Mustapha Kamil Ayub before he pulled out and quit the party last year.

READ MORE HERE

 

Perkasa lapor polis kempen bebas Anwar, paderi Eu

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 05:45 PM PST

Ahli Parlimen Pasir Mas itu mahu polis menyiasat serta mengambil tindakan sewajarnya terhadap individu yang merancang kempen tersebut.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Presiden Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) Datuk Ibrahim Ali hari ini membuat dua laporan polis di Ibu Pejabat Daerah (IPD) Dang Wangi di sini dengan disertai 30 anggotanya.

Laporan pertama berhubung kempen 'Bebas Anwar 901′ yang dijadual di adakan di perkarangan Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur, Jalan

Duta di sini pada 9 Januari ini dan laporan kedua, berhubung tindakan paderi Dr Eu Hong Seng mempersoalkan Perkara 153 Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

Mahkamah Tinggi dijangka akan membuat penghakiman pada hari itu berhubung kes Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang didakwa meliwat bekas pembantunya, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan di kondominium Desa Damansara pada 26 Jun 2008.

Ahli Parlimen Pasir Mas itu mahu polis menyiasat serta mengambil tindakan sewajarnya terhadap individu yang merancang kempen tersebut.

Ujarnya, "perbuatan mereka dengan mengajak rakyat untuk turun itu sengaja akan mencetuskan huru-hara. Biarkan kes berjalan tanpa gangguan. Sebagai rakyat yang waras mereka sudah matang untuk membaca keputusan yang akan diberikan.

"Sebagai ahli dewan rakyat, saya membuat laporan untuk mendesak polis menyiasat siapa perancang kepada cadangan mengadakan perhimpunan 9 Januari seperti risalah yang ditaburkan. Polis hendaklah mengambil tindakan dan guna kuasa mereka untuk menyiasat siapa perancang kempen agar Malaysia selamat," katanya.

Kenyataan Eu tidak bertanggungjawab

Sementara itu Timbalan Presiden Perkasa Datuk Abdul Rahman Abu Bakar, pula mendesak kerajaan supaya mengambil tindakan ke atas paderi Dr. Eu Hong Seng di bawah Akta Hasutan 1948 kerana mempertikai Perkara 153 Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

Ini berhubung kenyataan Eu yang juga Pengerusi National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) itu pada majlis minum petang di sebuah gereja di Subang Jaya, Sabtu lalu itu berbentuk provokasi, menghasut dan tidak bertanggungjawab.

READ MORE HERE

 

The end may be near for Rama

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 05:42 PM PST

DAP grassroots demand that he sue Makkal Osai besides The Star.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Beleaguered Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy has failed to impress his critics in his attempt to clear his name by threatening to sue The Star over a controversial news report.

The critics—mostly DAP grassroots leaders—want him to disprove allegations of violating the party's code of conduct by suing Makkal Osai as well.

They are giving him 48 hours to do so, failing which they will lodge a police report against the Tamil daily for criminal defamation.

They also want Ramasamy to heed DAP chairman Karpal Singh's call to quit his position as second deputy chief minister.

The grassroots group first called for legal action against Makkal Osai last week. They blame a Nov 28 article in the daily for the current public spat between Karpal and Ramasamy.

The paper appeared to have retracted the article in a "clarification" it carried on Dec 14. It said Ramasamy did not issue the press statement that claimed he had selected three DAP candidates for the coming election.

"If it was not Ramasamy, who was it?" said a grassroots leader. "The party should get to the bottom of this."

The Star, in its Dec 23 article, quoted Ramasamy as saying that there was a plot to oust him because he turned down requests for projects and favours from the party grassroots.

The report prompted Karpal's call for his resignation.

Ramasamy has since accused The Star of publishing a "baseless and frivolous" report.

Whispering campaign

Even if Ramasamy manages to clear his name, the DAP grassroots are in no mood to allow him to remain in Penang. They have started a whispering campaign to send him back to his hometown of Sitiawan and contest a seat in Perak.

Some have suggested that he be fielded against a top Indian leader from Barisan Nasional.

READ MORE HERE

 

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net
 

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