Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Jingga 13 Questions Top Leader on Ex-Maid's House in Indonesia
- Fairness Of Court Judgements Come Into Question
- Explosive Altantuya Revelations Coming?
- Chua: The verdict is still open on Chinese support for Barisan
- Wee: PAS in favour of the dark ages
- Pakatan must endorse Johor Demand
- Poll registration law to go
- Chua: I agree PAS condones raping of non-Muslim women
- Amangate: Umno sinks into deeper quagmire
- Kong: DAP is sinful for helping PAS' hudud
- Ahli kesal cubaan sabotaj DAP
- MCA akan terus bangkitkan isu ‘hudud’
- No end to crisis in Kedah
- HK dropped Musa’s case after MACC probe, says Nazri
- Nasha likely to go on baiting PAS
- MCA’s death knell gets louder
- The Choices Before Us - Emigration, Encampment or Engagement
- Discontent in KL: ‘People First’ debunked?
- Umno forms panel to act on errant members
- Tidak salah jadi ‘Cina pisang’
- ABU’s SEAT, MMT and CPT need you. We know you are with us in heart and spirit. ...
- Nazri: I did not interfere with probe
- Siva, Xavier accused of betraying the poor
- Anwar: Straight fights in Penang for 13th GE
- The sins of our fathers
- Senators keen on contesting in polls
- Political funding: A reality check
- After mega dinner, mega disaster awaits the MCA
- EC: Bersih ‘backstabbed’ us
- Can early polls stabilise the country?
- The UEC: An Interminable Election Issue
- Political miscalculations of PAS-Umno saga
- ‘Sarawak’s paper millionaires’
- Another Attempt to Intimidate Lawyers
- The Murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu
- Chua Jui Meng : You have Kisses the Hands of Umno Leaders For Crumbs For 35 Years Long
- 'Settlement' of Nazri's son's case is illegal & perverts the course of justice
- A challenge to civilization: the ‘private’ on ‘public’ domain of human thought and feelings
- When might is right
- Nazri Aziz: Opposition receives political donations too, not just Sabah Umno
- Show me the money!
- Penang PKR will not reveal findings
- Nazri tells Pakatan to ask HK about Sabah Umno’s RM40m
- MRT Corp to award remaining 38 contracts worth RM2b by year-end
- Keeping news free, fair and fun
- This is my country, I’ll not balik Tong San
- Nazri’s son cleared over assault, murder
- PKR must end Azmin-Khalid conflict
- Perkasa wants boycott of Jaclyn Victor
- LGBT a Jewish agenda, says Perkasa
| Jingga 13 Questions Top Leader on Ex-Maid's House in Indonesia Posted: 20 Oct 2012 11:24 AM PDT
(Malaysian Digest) - PKR-linked NGO Jingga 13 has questioned a top politician over how a former maid has managed to afford a luxurious RM100,000 house in Indonesia. Jingga 13 coordinator Fariz Musa, who submitted a memorandum to the office of the said politician yesterday, alleged that the maid could not have purchased the house based on her low income earned in Malaysia.
"Our accompanying Indonesian friends have told us that her house is estimated at RM100,000."
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| Fairness Of Court Judgements Come Into Question Posted: 20 Oct 2012 11:11 AM PDT
Why were they even charged with murder in the first place? This was self defense. Where was the premeditation (mens rea?) to commit murder or to kill someone? OutSyed the Box They say the law is an ass. Looking at some of the judgements being passed by our Courts, maybe some of the Judges are asses too. There must be consistency and fairness in how sentences are meted out. Yesterday the case of the two Indonesian brothers (who are only 22 and 20 years old) who were sentenced to hang for causing the death of a violent robber who broke into their room and then attacked them attracted my attention. I thought it was strange (and grossly unfair) that the victims of a violent robber who were startled from sleep and had to defend themselves would be sentenced to death. What were they supposed to do? Wait for the robber to kill them first? First here is a gist of the story from The Star.
Then today it was more encouraging to read that a few organisations had spoken up against this sentence of death. We thank Allah that there are people who have more conscience in our country. Again here is The Star : Groups: Review death sentence
The three guys were inside their room. A burglar tries to break in, first through the front door, then through the back door. He finally climbs through the ceiling and falls into the room. There is so much determination - the burglar really wanted to break in. Then he attacks the three occupants of the room. One of the occupants runs away. The other two defend themselves, there is a struggle, a fight and the robber dies. Now the robbery victims are sentenced to death? |
| Explosive Altantuya Revelations Coming? Posted: 20 Oct 2012 11:04 AM PDT
(Asia Sentinel) - Retired Malaysian police chief schedules mysterious Bangkok press conference Monday to announce "new revelations" in murder for hire case The Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand announced Saturday that Musa Hassan, who retired recently as Malaysia's national police chief, would hold a Monday press conference in Bangkok with "new revelations" over the 2006 murder for hire of Mongolian beauty Altantuya Shaariibuu. Read more at: http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4913&Itemid=178 |
| Chua: The verdict is still open on Chinese support for Barisan Posted: 20 Oct 2012 11:03 AM PDT  (The Star) - IT is an open question whether the Chinese will vote for the Opposition because recent events have shown a reversal of the trend from the last general election, said MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek. "The verdict is still open this time around as to whether the Chinese will come back to vote for Barisan (Nasional) or they (will still) vote for DAP. "The Chinese voted DAP (in 2008) because DAP kept promoting a self-perpetuating lie that the Chinese are very angry with the Government and they have no choice but to vote for DAP. "But most Chinese who are businessmen, traders and hawkers are also very concerned over bread and butter issues and progress, and for this BN stands tall, way above Pakatan (Rakyat)," Dr Chua told The Star. He also noticed a "positive change" in the attitude of the Chinese towards the MCA and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Citing the MCA's nine mega dinners, Dr Chua said the party had initially targeted just 5,000 people per dinner but the response was overwhelming. "I am surprised but cautious. Prior to this, the people had also been receptive to our roadshows where we provide services like free medical screening. "As for the mega dinners, each guest had to pay RM30 for food and listen to political speeches and nothing else. "This shows the people still have hope in MCA and just want to confirm certain things," he said. He reminded the Chinese voters that Malaysia was a multi-racial country and there was a need to "strike a balance as the country does not belong to any one race". Dr Chua said the Chinese community must not let their "anger" over perceived discrimination and injustices, which had been stoked by the Opposition, to cloud their judgment. "Do not destroy the (present) Government unless you are very sure you can vote in a better government," he said. "But look at the four Pakatan-ruled states. The Chinese can see that their perception that Pakatan is fairer to the community is wrong." |
| Wee: PAS in favour of the dark ages Posted: 20 Oct 2012 05:54 AM PDT The MCA Youth chief says that it was only after the separation of politics and religion that the European countries prospered. Leven Woon, FMT MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong attacked PAS for trying to return the country to the dark ages by implementing a theocratic state, which he said was a feudal political system. In his opening address at the 48th MCA Youth Annual General Assembly meeting today, Wee said that the European countries have spent thousands of years to do away with a political system that combines with religion. "It was only after the separation of politics and religion that saw the birth of the Renaissance and eventually the Industrial Revolution" he said Wee told some 600 delegates that it would be mockery should PAS strive to reintroduce a system that had been abandoned by the world. "We must remember that the democracy and human rights which we have today is the result of the separation of politics and religion. "We must not allow PAS to return us to an age that has long past us. This ideology must be rejected by the people of this country," he said. He also took a jab at DAP's inconsistency on the hudud issue, saying that the party chairman Karpal Singah and advisor Lim Kit Siang once made a strong stance against hudud law, but not the current leadership. "The new generation of leadership in DAP has changed their stand by saying that there is no need to fear an Islamic state as long as you don't steal or rob," he said. Later at a press conference, Wee was asked if MCA's constant harping on hudud issues would translate to Chinese support to BN. Sarawak's SUPP also highlighted the hudud issue but they did not do well in the state election last year. Wee said the opposition's reaction would not have been so great if the Chinese were not concerned by the hudud issue. MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai, who was also at the press conference, believed in the Chinese's wisdom to differentiate between a national election and a state election. "(In a national election), you elect the federal government, where the Federal Constitution is of utmost importance to the nation. You can't allow PAS to become the government to implement such a policy in this country," he said.
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| Pakatan must endorse Johor Demand Posted: 20 Oct 2012 05:51 AM PDT The Johor Friends of Suaram and Hindraf Makkal Sakti said only then will Pakatan get their electoral support. Athi Shankar, FMT The Johor Friends of Suaram and Hindraf Makkal Sakti have come up with a Johor Demand and wants Pakatan Rakyat to endorse it. They say Pakatan must endorse it, if they want their electoral support in Johore In a joint-statement here today, Friends of Suram coordinator, Ang Pei Shan and Hindraf's Y Mohan said Johore Demand constituted three major demands: racism, "nationalisation" of alien workers and Pengerang. Mohan said the NGOs would want pre-election commitment from Pakatan to implement their demands if the coalition took over power in Johor or Putrajaya. Yesterday, he said, the Johore Demand was submitted to the state branches of DAP, PKR and PAS. "Our support for next general election must be on a win-win strategic alliance," Mohan said. The NGOs' main demands were:
They said the unequal provision in Article 153 had given a legal basis for UMNO-dominated Barisan Nasional ruling elites to practise institutionalised racism, create two classes of citizens of Malays and non-Malays. The NGOs said the NEP and bumiputera quota system allowed BN ruling clique and cronies to enrich themselves while the Malays at large remained poor and live in abject poverty. In this era of China and India emerging as big powers, they said any attempt to eliminate Chinese and Tamil education for the 6.96 million ethnic Chinese and 2.07 million ethnic Indians is wrong. The NGOs want the authorities to establish more Chinese primary schools in Chinese dominated areas and Tamil primary schools in Bukit Indah, Mount Austin, Kota Tinggi and other areas in Johore. The NGOs also want authorities to approve the application to revive the Segamat Chinese independent secondary school and give due recognition to United Examination Certificate (UEC) and degree of Southern College University. The groups called on the state government to allocate land for Masai Hindu cemetery, which has now been hit by land shortage. They said this would prevent poor Indian families from falling prey to loan sharks, who collect exorbitant interest on loans taken for cremation. The groups resolutely opposed Project Mahathir because it was highly prejudicial to Malaysian citizenry rights. Through Project M, the groups claimed that Umno elites has legalised illegal immigrants in Sabah and now in Peninsular. According to conservative official statistics, they said three million aliens have been legalised and, issued long-term work permits and identity cards.
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| Posted: 20 Oct 2012 05:47 AM PDT The EC will see that the regulation will be abolished and reviewed after the next general election. Patrick Lee, FMT After the next general election is over, the Election Commission (EC) will do away with a law that governs the registering of voters in Malaysia. Deputy EC chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said that the Registration of Electors Regulations 2002 was littered with problems, causing many public complaints. "Next year, after we're done with the election, we're going to abolish the present law… The EC has decided that there will be a big working committee to go on every point of the law and to improve it," he said. Wan Ahmad said that the law would then be reviewed in full, with help from the Attorney-General's Chambers. He said this while speaking at a National Institute for Electoral Integrity (NIEI) forum today. Wan Ahmad said that Malaysia had the misfortune of having a very complex electoral roll, which he said had been "rolling" ever since the EC was formed in 1958. He added that at least 50% of the names present on today's electoral roll had been registered before 2002. Before then, he said, voter registration was extremely loose. "…forms could be filled up without proper checking. There was no online registration checking. It was completely dependent on the declaration by the person who came to register," he said. Wan Ahmad suggested that this was a reason why the electoral roll was so convoluted; a point of contention by various election watchdog groups in recent months. On top of that, he said that the EC had sacked 250 assistant registrars for not meeting with those they registered before putting them on the rolls. He added that there were 10.7 million registered voters in the 2004 general election, compared with 13.05 million now. As a result, Wan Ahmad hinted at a mountainous workload for the EC. He was also present at the NIEI event to hear the findings of a study that surveyed the accuracy of the current electoral roll. Study results NIEI acting chairman K Shan said that the study showed that 92% of the addresses surveyed were identified as valid. From this chunk, a further 74% were identified as recognisable voters. From this final group, the study determined that only 31% of the voters stayed in the addresses that they were registered under. The survey covered 2,400 respondents across 240 polling districts from 60 parliamentary constituencies. This, Shan said, had resulted in a false representation of the constituency, and would lead to a dilution of "voting wishes". He added that the EC appeared to have a lack of auditing and verification exercises to deal with these matters.
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| Chua: I agree PAS condones raping of non-Muslim women Posted: 20 Oct 2012 05:40 AM PDT The MCA president said there was nothing wrong with Wanita vice-chairman Heng Seai Kie's interpretation of Nik Aziz's statement. Leven Woon, FMT MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek agrees with Wanita vice-chairman Heng Seai Kie for saying that PAS condones the raping of non-Muslim women who do not conform with the Islamic dress code. Earlier today, Heng produced a video showing PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat giving a speech four years ago in which he said that women who do not protect their modesty deserved to be raped. She said that Nik Aziz was instigating the Muslims to rape non-Muslim women. When asked to comment on Heng's statement, Chua said there is nothing wrong for Heng to interpret Nik Aziz's statement that way because rapists do not choose their victims. "When a Muslim rapist wants to rape, it doesn't mean he must rape a Muslim. He can choose anybody. "You cannot say I am not a Muslim, please don't rape me," he said at a press conference after chairing a delegates' briefing session this afternoon. Earlier today, Heng urged MCA Wanita members at the party's AGM to go all out to stop Pakatan from taking power, or risk seeing the implementation of hudud law. MCA Wanita chairman Yu Chok Tow also raised the possibility that all Muslim MPs, including those from Umno, would support PAS' hudud proposal should Pakatan win the next general election. "Due to religious concerns, Umno and PKR Muslim parliamentarians will have no choice but support a [hudud] bill…" she said. On a separate issue, Chua said that Pakatan Rakyat's proposed floor wage of RM1,100 would incur RM10 billion to RM12 billion extra costs to employers a year. He said the proposal would put 1.2 million people out of job and cause unemployment rate to increase.
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| Amangate: Umno sinks into deeper quagmire Posted: 19 Oct 2012 06:52 PM PDT
The S$16 million cash seized on 14th August 2008 was only released at the end of the statutory retention period limit of three years, when ICAC failed to wrap up the case due reportedly to Malaysian government's refusal to extend co-operation in the investigation. If there was no case as claimed by Nazri and Najib, would the Hong Kong authorities have kept the money for the full legally allowable period of three years? Kim Quek Parliament should consider censuring Minister Nazri Aziz for giving completely contradictory answers in parliament within the short interval of one week in respect of the contraband S$16 million cash seized in Hong Kong International Airport which both Nazri and Prime Minister Najib Razak denied that it was Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman's money, claiming it was donation to Sabah Umno. It should also consider rebuking Prime Minister Najib for having irresponsibly denied that the illegal attempt by Michael Chia Tien Foh to board the plane with the contraband cash was not an act of smuggling cash in breach of law, simply because Nazri has made some dubious statements in parliament. On Oct 11, answering MP Chua Tian Chan, Nazri stated that the Attorney General (AG) had decided that corruption was not proven, based on the reports submitted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Nazri further stated that, based on this outcome of MACC's investigation, Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) did not take any further action. However, answering MP Tan Kok Wai on Oct 11, Nazri said investigation carried out on the case was not done by MACC, but by Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), which had subsequently stated that there was no corruption in this case. One moment, it was MACC's investigation that led to AG's verdict of no corruption. But the next moment: no, it was not MACC, but ICAC which investigated and concluded that there was no corruption.
The contradictions are puzzling. Could it be that Nazri thought our AG and MACC's credibility might not be good enough for Malaysians, and decided to attribute the findings to the world famous ICAC noted for its anti-corruption prowess, hoping to get better reception from Malaysians? Otherwise, how could he reconcile the two completely contradictory statements? In fact, Nazri not only has problem reconciling these two different statements, but he also has problems reconciling both these statements against a MACC statement a few days earlier. On Oct 5, MACC's deputy chief commissioner (operations) Shukri Abdul said that investigation on the Hong Kong contraband cash case was still ongoing as its review panel requested for further investigation. Apart from these multiple contradictions thrown by Nazri to parliament, his claim that ICAC has concluded that there is no corruption is also fishy. This is evident from the fact that the S$16 million cash seized on 14th August 2008 was only released at the end of the statutory retention period limit of three years, when ICAC failed to wrap up the case due reportedly to Malaysian government's refusal to extend co-operation in the investigation. If there was no case as claimed by Nazri and Najib, would the Hong Kong authorities have kept the money for the full legally allowable period of three years? In fact, Michael Chia was arrested and investigated for both offences of money smuggling and money laundering.
Sneaking out the country with large amount of cash in breach of law is called smuggling money. I fail to see how Najib could claim it was not smuggling just because his minister Nazri has answered some questions in parliament – and badly answered at that, I must add. Answering a question in a press conference on Oct 19 whether there was any basis to claims that the money was smuggled or laundered through Hong Kong, Najib answered curtly: "No. It has already been explained in parliament". By that, Najib was of course referring to Nazri's duplicitous answers abovementioned. It is most unbecoming of the prime minister to base his answer to such a serious scandal on such a shady foundation. Members of parliament should seek the following from Nazri in parliament, in addition to asking him to explain the many contradictions in his abovementioned statements: 1. Full disclose of the communications between the governments of Hong Kong and Malaysia on this issue; in particular a) whether ICAC has forwarded its findings to MACC including the money flow chart trailing the Sabah timber corruption money all the way to Musa Aman's UBS AG account in Zurich, b) whether ICAC has requested for inter-country co-operation, c) whether ICAC has categorically stated that there was no corruption in the case and that it has ceased to pursue the case further. 2. When did MACC start its investigation, and whether it is still on-going. If so, why it has not been able to complete the task after such a lengthy investigation. 3. What role the AG has played in this case – in relation to the Hong Kong authorities and in relation to the Malaysian government, in particular, MACC. Unless Nazri is forthcoming with satisfactory answers, he should be censured and referred to parliamentary select committee (privileges and power) for further probing.  |
| Kong: DAP is sinful for helping PAS' hudud Posted: 19 Oct 2012 06:01 PM PDT  Delegates welcoming Kong as he arrives at the AGM (The Star) - KUALA LUMPUR: The DAP will become a sinner to the Chinese for helping PAS turn Malaysia into an Islamic state, said MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha. He said the PAS leadership at all levels had repeatedly spoken that they would not give up on hudud, the party's main agenda. The DAP was opposed it initially, but it had slowed down on its criticisms over time, Kong said in his speech at Wanita MCA's 37th annual general meeting here on Saturday. Kong added that the DAP was also told to leave the Pakatan Rakyat pact if it could not accept PAS' agenda. "Why has PAS never stopped emphasising Hudud law, is it part of the common agreement?" said Kong. He said the DAP has been misleading the public by saying that they do not have to be afraid of hudud. Indeed, he said, Islamic state and Hudud law would affect daily life, deprive women of their rights and bring negative impact to the economic. |
| Posted: 19 Oct 2012 05:43 PM PDT
(Sinar Harian) - DAP Parlimen Hulu Langat nafi terlibat dalam mencetak dan menampal pelekat berlogo DAP tertulis 'No Hudud' di bunting program Pas sekitar kawasan Semenyih dan Kajang, baru-baru ini. Samsol berkata, jangkaan mereka daripada 72 cawangan Pas yang ada kemungkinan sekitar 300 ke 400 yang hadir namun kehadiran melebihi jangkaan apabila lebih 500 yang hadir pada program tersebut. "Tindakan pihak yang cuba mensabotaj program ini sebaliknya membangkitkan semangat ahli untuk hadir," katanya. |
| MCA akan terus bangkitkan isu ‘hudud’ Posted: 19 Oct 2012 05:40 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - MCA akan terus membangkitkan isu hudud untuk memastikan rakyat tidak mengundi Pakatan Rakyat (PR) walaupun ia berulang, bagi menyelamatkan Malaysia dari menjadi negara teokratik Islam. "Isu hudud ini adalah penting kerana hukum hudud ini bakal mengubah senario negara ini. "Kita harus menyampaikan mesej ini kepada rakyat, terutama kepada masyarakat Cina bahawa negara teokratik tidak dapat diterima di negara ini," kata timbalan presiden MCA Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai dalam sidang media selepas merasmikan perhimpunan agung Pemuda MCA pagi ini. "Kami akan terus menerangkan kepada rakyat yang kami tidak boleh menerima negara teokrasi dan hukum hudud ala PAS," katanya lagi. Menteri kesihatan itu menemplak kritikan bahawa MCA telah mengulang-ulang isu hudud untuk meraih sokongan pengundi untuk memenangi pilihan raya dengan berkata isu tersebut perlu diulang bagi memastikan undang-undang Islam tersebut tidak diadakan di Malaysia. Turut hadir dalam sidang media tersebut ialah ketua pemuda MCA Datuk Wee Ka Siong. Wee berkata, dahulu DAP lantang menentang negara Islam yang dimahukan PAS, tetapi ia semakin berlembut untuk menawan Putrajaya. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/bahasa/article/mca-akan-terus-bangkitkan-isu-hudud/ |
| Posted: 19 Oct 2012 12:13 PM PDT
Kedah is in the throes of an administrative crisis as tensions between Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak and his state secretary Datuk Rasli Basir worsen amid attempts to make the top civil servant resign. Joceline Tan (The Star) DATUK Seri Azizan Abdul Razak was in a relaxed mood as he mingled with the dignitaries sending off the King and Queen who were leaving for the Haj in Mecca. The Kedah Mentri Besar seems to have recovered from his poor health; he looked steady on his feet and has even put on some weight. But rumours about his tenure continue to irritate him. Last Wednesday, journalists were calling up his office to ask about reports that he was resigning that afternoon. It was completely untrue and the news portal that published the news has since apologised. Azizan has no plans to resign. Instead, he is demanding the resignation of his state secretary Datuk Rasli Basir. Kedah is currently embroiled in an administrative crisis that has drawn parallels to the one that had preceded the appointment of Tan Sri Sanusi Junid as Mentri Besar back in the 1990s. The current crisis has caused the state administration to come to a near standstill and there are endless accounts of how state matters, especially land applications, have stalled for months. At one level, the crisis is about the fallout between the Mentri Besar and the state secretary. At another, it is about PAS trying to assert control over the Kedah civil service. The Mentri Besar and his state secretary have locked horns for much of the past year and witnesses have watched them argue openly at meetings. They are barely on talking terms and Rasli was not allowed to visit Azizan when the latter spent weeks in hospital. Their fractured ties and animosity are an open secret in the state. But it erupted into the open following Rasli's decision to transfer one of his district officers (DO) Ahmad Fisol Md Nor from Kubang Pasu to Kuala Muda. It seemed like a routine transfer but it has erupted into a political issue with PAS politicians claiming that Rasli has no right to order the transfer as Ahmad Fisol is also Kubang Pasu District Council chairman. They said that while the DOs come under the power of the state secretary, district council appointments come under the political purview of PAS. As such, they are claiming that Rasli has overstepped his powers in taking Ahmad Fisol out of his chairman post. The PAS side apparently like Mohd Fisol who is said to be sympathetic to the party's cause. Several district councillors have since staged protests against Rasli, holding up banners calling for his resignation. They are demanding that Rasli reverses the transfer of Ahmad Fisol. However, Rasli is standing firm. But the story behind the story is that PAS had been uncomfortable with Rasli from the day they came to power. Read more at: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/10/20/focus/12198874&sec=focus |
| HK dropped Musa’s case after MACC probe, says Nazri Posted: 19 Oct 2012 11:49 AM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Putrajaya has confirmed that Datuk Musa Aman was only cleared of corruption after Malaysian graftbusters told Hong Kong authorities that a RM40-million cash contribution allegedly meant for the Sabah chief minister was a "political donation" to Umno. De facto law minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz told The Malaysian Insider that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) probe on Musa was initiated after Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) requested for information on the issue. He said the ICAC had asked for MACC's co-operation after Sabah timber trader Michael Chia was arrested and charged with money laundering in 2008 for attempting to smuggle S$16 million (RM40 million) out of Hong Kong. According to media reports, Chia had at the time told Hong Kong authorities that the money belonged to Musa. "MACC agreed to co-operate with its Hong Kong counterparts and found that the money in question was not for Musa's personal use. "The agency then reported back to ICAC with the information and the Hong Kong authority decided to drop the matter and pull its complaint from the Swiss court," Nazri told The Malaysian Insider yesterday. The minister was asked to respond to DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang's accusation that he had been giving conflicting reports to Parliament on which anti-graft authority ― Malaysia's or Hong Kong's ― had first cleared Musa of graft. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/hk-dropped-musas-case-after-macc-probe-says-nazri/ |
| Nasha likely to go on baiting PAS Posted: 19 Oct 2012 11:46 AM PDT
(Free Malaysia Today) - The sooner he is sacked, the better it may be for the party. PAS is playing a dangerous game in its refusal to sack the maverick Nasharuddin Mat Isa over his latest and perhaps most energetic round of Pakatan Rakyat bashing. Even novice political observers can guess the rationale behind the apparent leniency. Having learnt a lesson from PKR's sacking of Zahrain Mohd Hashim and Zulkifli Noordin and its own sacking of Hasan Ali, PAS does not want to play Nasharuddin's game. Like those three other Umno lackeys, Nasharuddin wants to be sacked rather than tender his resignation because the second option will expose him to accusations that he has been bought by Umno to cheat those who voted him to public office. Nevertheless, according to insiders, Nasharuddin's case is slightly different from those of Zahrain, Zulkifli and Hasan. As former deputy president of the party, he is said to enjoy some support from the rank and file, including some members of the Syura Council. PAS does not want to alienate these people. But insiders who are losing patience with Nasharuddin fear that he will escalate his attacks as the general election gets closer in order to help Umno score points with conservative Malays. They note that his audacity has grown following the slap on the wrist that he received for criticising PAS' decision to replace its Islamic state agenda with a welfare state programme. It was for a similar offence that Hasan was sacked. Nasharuddin was merely told to stop making public statements against the change of agenda. He has largely obeyed that order by the letter, but not by the spirit. Indeed, he has grown more vicious in openly questioning the moral validity of PAS' continued cooperation with DAP in the Pakatan pact and, more recently, creating doubts about PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim's Islamist credentials. And he has not been shy of being seen cavorting with Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. When the Syura Council met last month, it was widely anticipated that it would announce some form of action against Nasharuddin. At the very least, some thought, he would be kicked out of that powerful consultative unit of the party. However, party president Abdul Hadi Awang emerged from the meeting only to say that the council did not discuss any action against him. Risk worth taking The council's stance shocked quite a number of members, including some in leadership positions. But a source had in fact told FMT prior to the council session that Nasharuddin was safe because too many of the councillors were "Nasha's men" – that is, leaders who support the proposal for PAS and Umno to form a "unity government". In the last party elections, the so called pro-Erdogan team won most of the central committee positions. But the failure to act against Nasharuddin clearly indicates that the unity-government camp still has control over the PAS leadership, especially through the Syura Council and, some say, the Ulama Council. But then again, as some would argue, the PAS leadership is perhaps merely fearful of a backfire. For sure, if Nasharuddin were to be sacked, there would be no end to Umno's spinning of the issue through its newspapers and the public-owned electronic media. However, if one were to take the long view, it is a risk worth taking. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/10/20/nasha-likely-to-go-on-baiting-pas/
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| Posted: 19 Oct 2012 11:44 AM PDT
(Free Malaysia Today) - The party goes into a crucial annual assembly amidst doubts over its chances of recovery. Chinese voters are no longer asking whether MCA will remain credible as part of the ruling coalition, but whether it will survive even as an opposition party. The general belief is that it will do worse in the 13th general election than the bruising it got in 2008, and most of the blame is placed on Dr Chua Soi Lek's leadership, or rather the lack of it. At the party's 59th annual general assembly this weekend, Chua will no doubt try to boost party morale in preparation for the impending election. Sources familiar with his style predict that he will use emotional rhetoric aimed at imbuing the rank and file with the fighting spirit necessary to pull off the miraculous feat of winning more seats than the party did in 2008. He is also expected to emphasise that he has brought unity and stability to the party, as he has done on many occasions. His detractors in the party say the claim sounds more hollow and frivolous with each repetition. Chua, 65, limped into the MCA presidency in April 2010, carrying a tremendous amount of moral baggage. Since then the party has plunged ever more deeply into the political abyss, with no convincing sign that it will recover any time before the election. Such is the pessimism within a sizeable section of the membership. But many prefer to whisper to each other about their grievances and frustrations rather than discuss them openly, mostly for fear of being accused of disloyalty in the face of a seemingly formidable Pakatan Rakyat, specifically DAP. When Chua took over as the MCA's ninth president, many party insiders regretted, saying the event was an ugly stain on the legacy of the third largest Chinese organisation in the world. They were not referring only to the confession two years earlier that he was the protagonist in a widely distributed pornographic video, but also to his alleged plotting against rivals as he worked his way to the top. Some have said that his political machinations were even sleazier than his sexual indiscretion. Details of the alleged plotting against former presidents Ong Ka Ting and Ong Tee Keat might one day emerge. For now, however, insiders claiming to be in the know would only speak in general terms, perhaps out of love for the party and in the hope that it will somehow tide over these trying times and one day regain its lost glory. Recalling Chua's assertion that he was not interested in any executive position in MCA, they say he was in fact all the while manoeuvring his way to the top, getting himself appointed as Barisan Nasional's chief coordinator, and then contesting and winning the deputy presidency of MCA and eventually the presidency. They accuse him of being behind the "Save MCA Campaign" that forced an open inquiry into a so-called "snoop squad", which in turn undermined the credibility of then president Ong Ka Ting. Glaring favouritism They note that many of the party activists who lobbied for the March 2010 EGM that installed him as party president have been rewarded with ministerial and senatorial posts and top jobs in the party and agencies linked to the party. Others are potential candidates in the coming general election. Such glaring favouritism makes nonsense of his claims of success in uniting the party. Detractors say he had better leave out any talk of unity in his speech this Saturday (today) unless he is not concerned about being called a liar. Like Umno, MCA is facing the grim possibility of losing votes from even its traditional base of supporters. Analyses of figures from the 2008 election show that sizeable numbers of card-carrying members rejected both parties. The question now is not whether those members will return to the fold this time around, but how many more will join them in giving votes to the opposition. What about Chinese voters not affiliated with either MCA or any of the opposition parties – the so-called fence sitters? Since they are not involved in any factional animosity, is there any chance that they are impressed enough by Chua's leadership to give their votes to MCA? "Me and my friends are not supportive of MCA as a party and consider its role as no longer relevant," Gary Lim, a 32-year-old insurance executive, told FMT. Lim, like many voters in his age group, said he resented being treated like a fool by MCA's propaganda machine. Referring to what he described as "distortions and lies" about PAS, he said: "It's as if we're all so ignorant, or we don't have other sources of information. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/10/20/mca%E2%80%99s-death-knell-gets-louder/
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| The Choices Before Us - Emigration, Encampment or Engagement Posted: 19 Oct 2012 11:37 AM PDT
Maybe you are also one of those people who are re-considering your future with Malaysia, or at least the thought has crossed your mind. The way I look at it, we have three choices before us. Thomas Fann I had an interesting conversation with a friend this week about some of the choices made by people we know. Over dinner, my friend related to me about his brother who had worked and lived in France for many years, and how he had decided to return to Malaysia for his retirement only to find out that his citizenship has been revoked. He tried to appeal to the government but was turned down and he returned to France dejected. He also related about his sister's family who also wanted to return but, after coming back for a holiday and looking over the socio-political environment and inequality here, changed their mind. My friend further told me that many people he knows are making plans to emigrate to Singapore or Australia. It was a dinner conversation that left me with a heavy heart because I know that these are not isolated stories but all too common and true, attested to by statistics. For more numbers on immigrants and emigrants, Tindak Malaysia has done the homework for us and you can read about it here. An unnecessary tragedy The economic and social impact from the loss of these citizens are hard to quantify empirically but it would be colossal in the long-term. We are not talking here just about the funds that would flow out with them but also with it their talents. Remember, most are migrating to countries like Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, etc, where migration criteria are stringent. In short, they would only accept the highly educated, most talented or wealthier from us. It is a tragedy made worse because it shouldn't be. In my humble opinion, Malaysia is still one of the best countries to live in. Geographically, we are strategically located in one of the main shipping lanes of the world. Almost all our lands are fertile and arable. We are blessed with an abundance of both renewable and non-renewable natural resources. Our climate, though a little humid, is mostly stable and comfortable and relatively free from natural disasters like earthquakes, typhoons and floods that plague our neighbours regularly. But all these endowments are pale in comparison to our greatest asset, our human resource. As a melting pot, with people from some of earth's greatest civilizations here, we have all the right ingredients to forge a great people and make an impact on human history. But the cooks who are entrusted with cooking this great stew have messed it up for us big time. We have messed it up and people are leaving. Maybe you are also one of those people who are re-considering your future with Malaysia, or at least the thought has crossed your mind. The way I look at it, we have three choices before us. Emigration According to a World Bank Economic Monitor report in 2011, there are more than one million Malaysians living abroad and Singapore absorbed almost 57 per cent or 570,000 of these. Ethnically these are mostly Chinese, though not exclusively. The reasons cited are poor governance and lack of meritocracy issues. In short, they don't see a future for themselves and their children to remain here and our loss is their gain. Some of our brightest are holding high office in Singapore and around the world. Recognising this loss, the government initiated a programme called Talent Corp to attract back those who have left by offering them various incentives to come back. According to Talent Corp's CEO, Johan Mahmood Merican, the greater significance is that 200,000 of the one million Malaysians overseas are tertiary-educated. Since there are about two million tertiary-educated Malaysians in the workforce here, that means one in ten of Malaysians who would otherwise be contributing to Malaysia are living abroad. Johan said, "And it warrants attention because we need this qualified and experienced group for our economic transformation." According to Talent Corp's press release this year, a total of 1,192 Returning Expert Programme applications were approved since its inception 18 months ago. While commendable, it is still a paltry number compared to the 200,000 who are still not returning. Further, in 2010, Deputy Foreign Minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay reported that 304,358 Malaysians had migrated from March 2008 till August 2009 compared with 139,696 Malaysians in 2007. The fact remains that until we address the root causes for people to want to migrate away, the efforts of Talent Corp would gain little traction and the brain drain would continue to our detriment as a nation. Encampment Another option we have if we are not planning to emigrate is to adopt an "encampment mentality". We say to ourselves, "Why bother with what's going on in this country? As long as my family and I are alright, that is all that matters." Perhaps this choice is the one chosen by most Malaysians today and who can blame them? After all, don't we all want a good life for ourselves, free of hassle and concerns? We see inequalities, lack of opportunities and poor governance as road bumps or potholes on the road of life which we would try our best to circumnavigate by being tolerant, closing one eye and resigning to it. Life becomes bearable when we have such qualities and we can manage our blood pressure better by it. We encamp around what we are comfortable with ― social circles that share our language, values, religion and cultures. We build for ourselves nice little "ghettoes" in our nation, where we feel at home with our own kind. Today as we move around in our cities, we see such "ghettoes" where one would be forgiven, if you are an "outsider" you would feel like you have walked into a foreign land. The Chinese have sections of cities and even whole towns where the Chinese culture and language are predominant. Indians have their communities in every cities and towns as do the Malays and the other groups. Actually I hate to use such racial terms to describe ourselves but the fact is, we still see ourselves through such lenses. The encampment is not confined to racial lines but also to social and faith-based lines. The English-speaking, well-to-do crowd from all races get together in their country clubs, the Christians in their own church communities, the Sikhs around their gurdwaras, Muslims in their mosques, Indians in their temples and the poor in their inner city slums. From a human social behaviour angle, the choice to encamp around what we are comfortable with is an instinctive one especially when one feels threatened and vulnerable. Herding together with our own kind gives us a sense of identity and strength, making life bearable and even enjoyable. But this option not only doesn't deal with the larger problem that exists, it adds to the problem in at least two ways. Firstly, the problem of poor governance, corruption, injustices and inequalities remain and the people who profit from it continue to have a free rein perpetuating it. In their hearts (if they have one), they would say, "Please stay in your ghettoes, your churches, your temples, your country clubs, your kampungs and new villages, while we continue to plunder!" Secondly, our ghettoes are a powder keg ready to explode one day. We grow farther and further from each other, pursuing our own cultures, languages and religions. We have become strangers to each other and one day we will see each other as enemies. When the time comes, the same politicians who kept us apart will incite us to fight each other. It will happen, it's just a matter when, not if. We do not want to see an Arab Spring in our beautiful country, where the people are so desperate that they would be prepared to die for a morsel of freedom. And die they did. Will one day my children or grandchildren be as desperate as those Egyptians because of my choice to do nothing now? Engagement There is another choice we can make and that is to actively engage the political process. There are people who say, "I am not interested in politics, it is not my cup of tea." Strange thing is, politics affect your daily life and the cup of tea you are drinking. Instead of saying, "I am interested in politics", I'd rather say, "I am interested in decisions made by politicians that would affect my well-being and that of my children." How can we sit idly by while people elected by and paid by us are passing laws that curtail our freedom and future prospects? Engagement or having a say in our future is not limited to voting in the general elections but it can happen on a daily basis. Some of the ways we can engage the political process are: • Being well-informed of what politicians, government agencies and city councils are doing and whether they are doing their appointed jobs. • Highlighting issues, provide constructive suggestions and feedbacks. • If nothing is done and we are suffering the consequences of failures, we can take the matter further by going to the press, organising petitions, and even protestations. • Report to the relevant authorities any wrongdoings like corruption and abuse of power by government officials. • Supplement and complement the work of government by volunteering for social works like caring for the aged and handicapped, doing new voters registration and serving as polling agents on polling day. • Working together with lawmakers to craft laws that are consistent with the Federal Constitution and that address certain shortcomings in our society. Just be aware that because they are YBs, they would know everything, they still need us. UndiMsia has come out with a book called "Activating Malaysians: The D-I-Y Toolkit", which would be very helpful to Malaysians who choose engagement rather than emigration or encampment. You can read a review of the book here. Conclusion English writer Gilbert K. Chesterton said, "You cannot love a thing without wanting to fight for it." All of us have the freedom to choose between emigration, encampment or engagement when it comes to our future in this nation. As for me and my household, we have chosen to stay and engage as much as we can with the political process as citizens because we know selfishly, that it would affect our lives. Or maybe as Chesterton suggested, it is because we love this country and consider it our home and not just a guesthouse that we can stay or leave depending on the services we are getting. Thomas Fann blogs at newmalaysia.org |
| Discontent in KL: ‘People First’ debunked? Posted: 19 Oct 2012 11:35 AM PDT
(Free Malaysia Today) - From temple demolition to traders, KTM employees to taxi drivers, BN must take note of the growing discontent on the ground. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's slogan of "People First" is nothing but a myth and this is proven true by five groups of people in five instances highlighted below which serve to show that there are quite a number of discontented people in Kuala Lumpur. Therefore this means that all is not 100% well in the Najib administration. The first issue, as above all else, concerns the divine and it pertains to the demolition of the Sri Muneswaran Kaliyaman Temple located in Jalan P Ramlee near Bukit Nanas in KL. On Sept 25, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) had issued a notice that the temple is to be vacated within 30 days so that it can be demolished. According to PKR vice-president N Surendran, Federal Territories and Urban Well-Being Minister Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin has promised that no temples will be demolished. "Why are Indians being treated in this manner?" asked Surendran. DAP's M Manogaran, the Teluk Intan MP, is of the view that "it is very strange that this happens close to the general election and that this sort of incident is not the first time". Indian voters have to take note of this issue. The second issue concerns the privatisation of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) to MMC Corporation Bhd (MMC). The president of KTMB's workers union, Abdul Razak Md Hassan, has informed PKR's Kuala Langat MP, Abdullah Sani, that MMC could not guarantee that no one would be laid off. KTMB has about 5,600 employees. Abdullah Sani has stated that KTMB chairman, who is also the Selangor BN co-ordinator, Mohd Zin Mohamed, would be replaced if Pakatan Rakyat were to form the federal government as the latter was only a politically-appointed person tasked with furthering the interests of Umno, which included advertising the prime minister's picture and message on the commuter train coaches and placing BN flags at the premises of the Shah Alam commuter station. Again, the rakyat's interests have been relegated. Traders in a spot As for the issue involving traders, the night market traders in Kampung Kerinchi have been instructed to move to a spot near the Universiti LRT station. This new trading spot, however, could only accommodate 30 traders whereas the old spot in Kampung Kerinchi could accommodate up to 60 traders. In addition to the above problem, 56 traders have been asked to move out of Kompleks Niaga Utama Bandar Utama Bangsar as this building will be demolished. These traders have turned to PKR's Lembah Pantai MP, Nurul Izzah Anwar, for help in highlighting their plight. So fair, Raja Nong Chik has not been helpful and attempts to meet the Datuk Bandar have failed. A representative of the traders, Fizan Mohd Nor Ar-Jamli, has forwarded a memorandum to the prime minister on this issue. As shown in the above instance, the slogan of "People First" is plain empty rhetoric. Another burgeoning issue concerns taxi drivers. They have a few grouses but one of the major ones concerns the issuance of too many taxi permits and the monopoly of taxi permits by certain quarters. Then there is also the MRT-Jalan Sultan issue where tunnelling works are to be done below the properties in Jalan Sultan, but the property owners prefer the MRT line to be moved to the main road of Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock nearby. Where is MCA's voice in this issue? If "People First" is the philosophy, why are the property owners being inconvenienced? They may even need to move out when the tunnelling works are being carried out. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/10/20/discontent-in-kl-people-first-debunked/
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| Umno forms panel to act on errant members Posted: 19 Oct 2012 11:33 AM PDT
(fz.com) - Umno will form a special committee to act against errant party members to curtail acts of sabotage and treachery in the run-up to the general election, said party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak. "We have decided to take up a proposal mooted by the (party) management committee to empower a special committee to monitor and take immediate action against any party member who commits an act of treachery, sabotages the party or Barisan Nasional candidates," he said after chairing Umno's supreme council meeting on Friday. The prime minister said that the committee will be made up of supreme council members who do not hold other positions in the party as well as members of the disciplinary council. The committee will be overseen by the disciplinary committee chairman, Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismaill. The move will enable the committee to suspend or sack any party member who jeopardises the party's interest, he said. According to Najib, appointments will be made at every division to keep track of the members and update the special committee. "Complaints can also be made online or sent directly to party headquarters," he said Asked on the necessity for a special committee when there is already an existing disciplinary council, the Umno president said: "We want to speed things up. We want to be proactive." |
| Tidak salah jadi ‘Cina pisang’ Posted: 19 Oct 2012 11:28 AM PDT
Proses pencinaan berlaku daripada sekolah rendah sehingga ke peringkat institusi pengajian tinggi. Jika semua ini terus dibiarkan berlaku, tidak ada ertinya nama Malaysia, kerana identiti Malay (Melayu) sudah tidak wujud lagi. Yang ada, hanya menonjol Chinesesia. Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, The Malaysian Insider Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak baru-baru ini mengatakan, Malaysia adalah satu-satunya negara di luar China yang mengiktiraf pendidikan Cina sebagai sebahagian daripada sistem pendidikan kebangsaan. Beliau juga menegaskan, ketika menjadi Menteri Pelajaran, Akta Pendidikan 1996 diwujudkan menggantikan Akta Pelajaran 1961. Akta Pelajaran 1961 amat ditakuti kerana memberi kuasa penuh kepada Menteri Pelajaran untuk menukar sekolah jenis kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) kepada sekolah kebangsaan. Akta Pelajaran 1996, memberikan signifikan amat besar kepada pendidikan Cina. Kerajaan secara langsung mengiktiraf kewujudan Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC), Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SMJKC) dan Sekolah Persendirian Cina (SPC) sebagai sebahagian daripada sistem pendidikan kebangsaan yang bersifat kekal. Sekadar makluman, selepas 1996, lebih banyak sumber kewangan diperuntukan pendidikan Cina. Pada masa itu, terdapat 78 sekolah menengah Cina yang memilih untuk mematuhi silibus dan pengajaran kerajaan dan ia menjadi SMJKC, manakala 60 lagi kekal sebagai SPC. Ini tidak termasuk sejumlah hampir 1,300 SJKC yang diterima masuk sebagai sistem pendidikan kebangsaan. Bilangan SJKC terus bertambah setiap tahun melalui bantuan kerajaan sepenuhnya. Akta 1996 yang lunak ini membolehkan kerajaan memberi bantuan kewangan, fiskal dan sumber perancangan kepada sistem pendidikan Cina. Namun, sedarkah kita bahawa akta ini juga ditentang oleh NGO Cina seperti Dong Jiao Zong, kerana mereka tidak mahu langsung sekolah Cina diganggu-gugat. Mereka mahu beroperasi dengan penuh kecinaan. Najib turut menjelaskan kedudukan terkini permohonan pembinaan sekolah menengah persendirian Cina di Kuantan, Pahang seperti yang dituntut komuniti di kawasan tersebut. Syarat yang dikenakan adalah pelajar-pelajar ini wajib mengambil Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) dan jika pelajar mahu mengambil peperiksaan Sijil Peperiksaan Bersama (UEC), itu terpulang kepada mereka. Kerajaan juga menyediakan peruntukan kira-kira RM100 juta untuk membangunkan SJKC di seluruh negara. Selain itu, kerajaan turut menawarkan biasiswa kepada pelajar-pelajar terbaik UEC dan menyelesaikan segera isu kekurangan guru di SJKC. Itu pun masih ditentang kerana mereka mahu UEC diiktiraf sepenuhnya tanpa mengambil SPM. Sebagai timbal balas, Perdana Menteri menaruh harapan melihat masyarakat Cina di negara ini fasih berbahasa Melayu. Persoalannya, bolehkah harapan Najib ini dipenuhi oleh komuniti Cina, terutama kumpulan ultra kiasu, setelah kerajaan memberi begitu banyak kemudahan dan begitu bertoleransi. Tiada negara di dunia ini yang begitu bermurah hati dan bertoleransi seperti apa yang negara kita lakukan. Persoalannya, kenapa tidak dihargai? Apa jua cadangan kerajaan untuk penambahbaikan sekolah Cina adalah ditentang habis-habisan. Toleransi yang tidak ada tolok bandingnya ini masih lagi diterima. Apa yang dimahukan oleh orang Cina? Apakah mereka mahu tinggal di pulau sendiri seperti Singapura dan sasaran mereka hari ini adalah Pulau Pinang. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/tidak-salah-jadi-cina-pisang-ridhuan-tee-abdullah/ |
| ABU’s SEAT, MMT and CPT need you. We know you are with us in heart and spirit. ... Posted: 19 Oct 2012 11:24 AM PDT
If you are moved to consider helping us, I ask that you email me at abuvolunteers@gmail.com and favour me with a brief resume of yourself. Tell me what you do a little bit about your family, and where you think you might be able to assist us, and the amount of time you think you can give us. Haris Ibrahim I was filling petrol at a station yesterday afternoon. At the filling bay immediately in front, was a young man who was also filling up petrol, who kept looking at me. "You're ABU, right?", he said, smiling. I laughed. Here we go again. "No, I am Haris. I work with ABU", I clarified. "Aiyah, same thing, lah", he shot back. I shook my head, still laughing, got into the car, waved, and drove off. This happens from time to time, I suppose, because, aside from myself, hardly anyone else takes a front line and public position for ABU. No, I'm not complaining, but just stating it like it is. The truth, though, is that, just like any other serious initiative, the success or otherwise of the ABU push to see a regime change at Putrajaya post the 13th GE hinges on the unavoidable need for this. A strong, dynamic, well-equipped and ably manned engine that operates and functions, like that in a well-maintained high-precision motor vehicle, silently and unnoticed. SEAT? That's our Strategic Evaluation & Advancement Team. You know the material that should be coming out soon in relation to issues 2 and 3 that I mentioned in my 'Ops Raya Haji' post? Credit that to SEAT. MMT? Our Media Monitoring Team. CPT? The Counter Propaganda Team. These are just a few of the teams that make up the ABU engine. I've not mentioned the others for obvious reasons. And each day, as we draw closer to GE13, whenever that may be, and factor in information we continue to receive from allies and ground operators, there is an ever-increasing need to set up new teams to undertake new tasks so that the engine can carry this effort into overdrive. At the secretariat, we are stretched. We desperately need more hands and minds. We need as many of you to help us man this growing engine. And like those manning the existing teams, you'll work silently and unnoticed. Good at writing in English, Malay and Mandarin? We desperately need you. You do great graphics? Our media people need your help. You are active in social media? We need you in great numbers. Whatever your skill, we have work that you can surely assist us with. |
| Nazri: I did not interfere with probe Posted: 18 Oct 2012 07:00 PM PDT With public criticism coming hard and fast after the Home Ministry confirmed that his son was in the clear, Nazri Aziz today clarified that he did not interfere with police investigations. Teoh El Sen, FMT Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz has denied accusations that he misused his position to influence the outcome of the criminal investigation involving his son. "I did not interfere at all in the investigations," the de facto law minister told FMT today. However, Nazri declined to comment on the cases itself, pointing out that it would be a conflict of interest to do so given his ministerial position. "I can't comment because that is my son… I cannot be using my government post to say something that may be favourable to my son," he explained. He also said that since the parliamentary reply had come from the home minister himself, and not something from his ministry, he was not in a position to clarify. "The answer [regarding his son] came from the home minster. I'm not the home minister. I wouldn't know anything about it," he added. On a similar note, Nazri also said that he did not blame the public for being interested in the case. "There is nothing I can do. I am a very important person. I am very influential. My children know this and we all [my family] know that their lives will always be affected. We have to face such public scrutiny. This is something we have to accept," he added. The minister said that he did not feel that it was unfair that people questioned the cases. "I don't think it's unfair. When it came out in the papers today, and I just found out, I realised that public scrutiny will always be there. If I cannot take it, I leave politics," he said. Nazri said that neutral parties, such as the police investigators, should clarify the facts of the case. Asked if the media could interview his son, Nazri said: "He would (most likely) be bias, and defend himself. I think there is no need. Go to the neutral authorities. Talk to the police, don't talk to me." On Wednesday, the Home Ministry confirmed that Nazri's son, Mohamed Nedim, was not involved in an assault case in March this year and a murder in 2004. The parliamentary written reply to a question posed by Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo-Burne stated that Mohamed Nedim's bodyguard, and not him, was the one involved in the alleged assault of a security supervisor at a luxury condominium in March 2012.
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| Siva, Xavier accused of betraying the poor Posted: 18 Oct 2012 06:57 PM PDT Former Bukit Raja estate workers tell Pakatan to sideline them. B Nantha Kumar, FMT Former employees of Bukit Raja Estate today accused Subang MP R Sivarasa and Seri Andalas Assemblyman Xavier Jayakumar of betraying them and demanded that they resign their offices. Their spokesman P Mathialakan said the two had made false statements to the media about the allocation of land on which Sime Darby, their former employer, would build houses for them. The long simmering issue made the news again yesterday when the Star quoted a Sime Darby Property (SDP) official as saying that his company had identified an 15-acre plot for houses costing RM77,000 each for 75 families. Mathialakan recalled that both Sivarasa and Xavier had stated that Sime Darby did not allocate 15 acres, but a much smaller plot for the houses. Sivarasa, who has been representing the former workers as their lawyer in the tussle with Sime Darby, was reported to have said that there was never any promise of a 15-acre plot. Xavier, who heads the Selangor executive committee responsible for the welfare of plantation workers, has made a similar statement. "After SDP's statement, we now know who is trying to cheat the poor of their land," Mathialakan told FMT. The former workers have faced a long and bitter struggle to get their houses. In 2007, the Barisan Nasional government in Selangor allocated 15 acres for the houses. However, according to the former workers, after Pakatan Rakyat took over Selangor, it diverted eight of the 15 acres for a project to build luxury homes. "We have a letter from Sivarasa himself that Sime Darby had given 15 acres for low cost houses, Mathialakan said. "But now to the media he says we were not given 15 acres." Claiming that he was not against Pakatan Rakyat, he called on the opposition front's leadership to sideline leaders who were not truthful to the poor. "They have not only betrayed us, but the entire Indian community, which supported Pakatan in 2008," he said. Both Sivarasa and Xavier are PKR members.
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| Anwar: Straight fights in Penang for 13th GE Posted: 18 Oct 2012 06:53 PM PDT
(The Malay Mail) - PAKATAN RAKYAT (PR) leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirms that Penang will see straight fights between the coalition and Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 13th general election. Speaking to journalists after making a courtesy call on Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at the state administration centre in Komtar today, Anwar said the seat PR allocation was almost complete with just one or two seats still being deliberated between PAS and PKR. "Our seat allocation among the three parties here is ninety per cent complete and the status quo of the 2008 election remains. However, there is still dispute over one extra seat. That seat is contentious because it is being coveted by PAS and PKR. "But in the spirit of PR normally all three parties would be involved in the sense that DAP would have to be made aware of the issue, although in the end the issue would have to be resolved between PAS and PKR. "Umno is praying that there would be a split (between the three parties) but we will prove them wrong. So, I can say there would not be a two party contest within PR here," said Anwar who is defacto PKR head. Anwar's statement seemed to have quelled speculations stemming from leaked meeting minutes between Penang PKR chief Datuk Mansor Othman and PKR leaders. In the meeting held in March, Mansor was alleged to have asked his state vice chair Law Choo Kiang to draw up an extra list of candidates for several seats in the off-chance DAP or PAS was adamant at fielding its people on present PKR seats. Since 2008, PAS has been making strong efforts to reclaim the Sungai Acheh state seat on the mainland which the party traditionally contests in but loses to BN in every general election. However, after sacrificing that seat to PKR, who again lost, in the last election, PAS has become more determined to wrest back that seat whilst retaining its present Permatang Pasir state seat, also on the mainland. Anwar also welcomed the idea of DAP fielding Malay candidates in Penang although he saw no reason to prove to BN that the party was indeed multiracial. "DAP has never considered itself to be a non-Malay party and if it wants to field Malay candidates here, I welcome that. They have done in the past. It is not something new. For instance, (the late) Ahmad Nor contested Bayan Baru in 1990. "Perhaps there would be a slight increase of Malay seat allocations by DAP here, Johor, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan. In fact, PKR has also fielded Chinese, Indian, Dayak or Kadazan candidates. "The issue of candidates is decided by the respective parties but we keep each other informed. For instance, Mansor would have to brief Lim as leader of PR in the state about PKR candidates. "Similarly, (DAP national adviser) Lim Kit Siang would signal to me about one or two candidates in other states and to firm up the candidature. That is the spirit of comradeship there. I may lobby for someone but I won't influence the party," Anwar said.
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| Posted: 18 Oct 2012 06:22 PM PDT
Hence liberalism changed Europe. But that only happened when the liberals outnumbered the conservatives. In Malaysia, we shall have to wait until such a time when the liberals outnumber the conservatives. But that time has not come yet. Today, most Malaysians are still conservative. So, until that time comes, we will need to educate the conservatives -- in particular but not confined to the Malays -- and try to turn them into liberals. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin A few days ago, when I spoke about conservatism versus liberalism, some readers did not quite understand what I meant. So let me explain it. I was equating 'conservatism versus liberalism' to Europe of the mid-1800s, the era after the Napoleonic War when it went through a period of turmoil that culminated in the collapse of the Holy Roman and Hapsburg Empires and saw the creation of the Republics of Italy and Germany respectively. Those who held on to 'traditional values' (for example, maintaining the monarchies) were said to be upholding conservatism while those who were pushing for reforms (for example, the abolishment of the monarchies) were said to be fighting for liberalism. Basically, those who resist change are conservatives while those who embrace change are liberals. Of course, depending on how you apply these words, the meaning can differ. Those wearing 'revealing' clothes can also said to be more liberal than those who do not. Those who indulge in 'swinger' activities can also said to be more liberal than those who do not. And so on. By today's meaning, liberals are those who live a more 'open' lifestyle, which some, in particular the religionists, might even interpret as an immoral lifestyle. Hence, in short, the liberals will try something new or go for change while the conservatives want to maintain status quo. And that would be what I mean by the fight between Malaysia's liberals and Malaysia's conservatives -- nothing to do with atheism, agnosticism, free sex, wife swapping, or a LGBT lifestyle. Okay, now that we are clear on what I mean by liberalism versus conservatism, let us explore in what way this applies to Malaysia. And for purposes of this discussion I have titled today's piece 'The sins of our fathers'. Undoubtedly, Malaysia's politics is race and religion driven and we tend to view these types of people as racists, chauvinists, parochial, religious fanatics, etc. Actually, this is not quite accurate. If it were, then every single Malaysian without exception would be a racist, chauvinist, and/or religious fanatic. Those who uphold or give preference to their race, tribe, language, culture, religion, etc., are conservatives, while those who want to discard these 'old values' in favour of a 'new identity' are liberals. They want to abandon their 'old ways' or 'old world order' and migrate to a 'new world' and adopt a 'new world order'. We think we are liberals. We claim to be liberals. But are we? How many would discard 'religious unions', also known as marriages, and choose a civil partnership, meaning 'living in sin' as husband and wife without going through the religious rituals of getting married? In the first place, does Malaysia have any laws that will recognise (and protect) a man and woman who have lived together for, say, at least six months, as being a legally married couple even though they did not have a 'proper' marriage? How many Malaysians would marry (whether officially/legally or unofficially by just living together for at least six months) someone not of his/her same race and religion? Even if they do, one partner would have to convert to the religion of the other partner. For example, seldom will you find one partner remaining a Hindu if married to a Muslim, etc., although there are some rare cases. The fact that most Malaysians would marry someone of their own race/religion and will go through a 'proper' or legal (plus religious) marriage shows that most Malaysians are conservatives and not liberals. Yet they claim to be liberals. Hence, when most Malaysians are conservative by nature (and, of course, by upbringing), it would be very difficult to propagate liberalism when it comes to politics. Hence, also, I would not classify Malaysians as racists, chauvinists, religious fanatics, etc. I would classify them as conservatives. I trust that point is clear and I trust, also, that you will regard this as my interpretation of what Malaysians are. Now, let us try to analyse all that in the context of the current political sentiments in Malaysia. Malays, by nature and upbringing (and also by conditioning and 'brainwashing'), are conservative. They uphold feudalism (a major complaint by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who tried to eradicate this in the 1980s but failed) and they refer to the Rulers as Raja-raja Melayu. Malays also hold dear their traditions and customs (adat istiadat Melayu). And their proverb is biar mati anak, jangan mati adat (let the child die but not let traditions and customs die). Malays (at least most Malays) regard themselves as Muslims first (and Malays second and Malaysian third). Hence Islam is paramount and supersedes everything else -- even democracy, civil liberties, fundamental human rights, etc. Malays, compared to the Chinese, Indians and 'others', are probably the most conservative group in Malaysia. You will find more liberalism amongst the non-Malays -- although this does not mean that many of the non-Malays are not conservative as well. Hence, to understand Malaysian politics, in particular in relation to 'Malay values', this concept has to be clearly understood. If not, you will fail to capture the heart and mind of the Malays. And anyone who wants to 'play politics' without knowing what makes the Malays tick and without knowing how to capture the heart and mind of the Malay is doomed to fail. You may feel that many of my articles over the last year or so are racist in nature. In 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, Malaysia Today focused on revealing the wrongdoings and transgressions of those who walk in the corridors of power. Then, since 2011, Malaysia Today appeared to have shifted its focus. Well, the answer to that is simple. In the beginning (meaning 2004 when Malaysia Today was first launched soon after the 12th General Election), my focus was to address the problems of two elections ago (meaning March 2004). And the 'problem' in 2004 was that the non-Malays did not vote opposition. By 2010, that problem no longer existed. We can safely say that the majority of the non-Malays (at least the Chinese) were already with the opposition. But the situation of the Malays, who since 1990 were divided roughly half-and-half between the ruling party and the opposition, remained more or less the same. The task in hand, therefore, was to swing more Malays to the opposition. But the non-Malays just do not understand the Malay mind. And this was the major obstacle in getting more Malays to vote opposition. In other words, the problem is not Umno. The problem is the non-Malays in Pakatan Rakyat. They are the hindrance to getting more Malays to support the opposition. And the more the non-Malays 'whack' the Malays, the worse it becomes. The non-Malays are actually helping Umno garner Malay support. This is the ironical part of this whole thing. The 'solution' was actually the problem but they could not see this. As I explained, Malays by nature and upbringing are conservative. Hence you need to interact with the Malays as you would interact with any conservative (even if they are Americans or Europeans). And conservatives are traditionalists, religionists, and resistance to change. This was the great difficulty faced by the liberals in Europe in the mid-1800s. This is the same problem being faced by the Malaysian liberals today. Let us take one issue as an example. And this issue is the pre-Merdeka 'Social Contract'. This, of course, is a bone of contention amongst the non-Malays and those from East Malaysia. And this is also why I titled this piece 'The sins of our fathers'. The pre-Merdeka Social Contract was a 'sin' left by our fathers (or grandfathers). Back in the 1940s-1950s, they had agreed on what post-Merdeka Malaya was going to look like. And we, five generations later, have to live with this sin. The conservatives would like to maintain status quo and leave things as they are. The liberals would like this pre-Merdeka Social Contract reviewed and possibly amended or abolished. But then there are more conservatives than liberals. Hence the conservatives are going to win while the liberals are going to lose. And that is the trouble with democracy. In a democracy, the majority will have its say and the minority has to abide by what the majority wants. This may not necessarily mean that the majority are right while the minority are wrong. It just means that when more people want it that way then, right or wrong, things will be done that way. Now can you see what's wrong with democracy? So, when will the liberals outnumber the conservatives, like what eventually happened in Europe towards the end of the 1800s? Meaning, also, when will we then be able to see the pre-Merdeka Social Contract reviewed and possibly amended or abolished? Well, in Europe, that happened when the Europeans 'threw away' religion. You see, the church and the monarchy (God's appointee) shared power and all the land was divided between the church and the nobles. The people were merely serfs who worked the land, which means they were basically slaves. When life became so bad and millions starved to death and lived in extreme poverty, they rose and grabbed power from the church and the nobles. Hence liberalism changed Europe. But that only happened when the liberals outnumbered the conservatives. In Malaysia, we shall have to wait until such a time when the liberals outnumber the conservatives. But that time has not come yet. Today, most Malaysians are still conservative. So, until that time comes, we will need to educate the conservatives -- in particular but not confined to the Malays -- and try to turn them into liberals. But make sure you understand that we are going to meet with a lot of resistance. The conservatives are not going to step aside and allow us a walk in the park. They are going to fight back fiercely. They are already fighting back fiercely in case you have not already noticed. And this is why we are seeing all this race, religion, anti-LGBT, etc., rhetoric going on over the last couple of years or so. This is a sign that the conservatives fear the liberals and are fighting back just they did in Europe more than 150 years ago. It took more than 30 years but eventually the conservatives lost and the liberals won in Europe. It may take as long for that to happen in Malaysia as well. But do not attack the Malay or those non-Malay conservatives. Doing so will just make them resist us even more. They might even become violent if they think they are going to lose. We need time and we need education. In time and with the right education the conservatives will come around to our line of thinking. And when that happens all that we aspire will come true. Well, if it does happen and if it takes 30 years to happen, I will no longer be around. So it will be my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren who will benefit. Therefore I am not doing this for myself but for them. After all, I have maybe 10 or 15 years more to go at the most before I take my last bow. In conclusion, let me repeat what I said. This is not about racism, chauvinism, religious fanaticism, etc. This is about conservatism versus liberalism. So, before you fight, understand what you are fighting against. If not you are never going to win this fight. And then, once we win the fight, we can correct the sins of our fathers. |
| Senators keen on contesting in polls Posted: 18 Oct 2012 03:33 PM PDT
(The Star) - Several prominent senators who are ministers and deputy ministers are expected to stand as candidates in the 13th general election. Among those tipped to contest are Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, MICpresident Datuk G. Palanivel, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Gan Ping Sieu and Deputy Foreign Minister A. Kohilan Pillay. DAP's S. Ramakrishnan is also touted to contest in Johor. It is an open secret that Raja Nong Chik is expected to be fielded in Lembah Pantai, which is currently held by PKR's Nurul Izzah Anwar, who beat incumbent Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil by 2,895 votes in the 2008 general election. "I have indicated to the Prime Minister many times that I wish to contest in Lembah Pantai," he said, unfazed by talk that he would be facing a tough fight there. Gan, who is also MCA vice-president, is touted as a potential candidate for Kluang as he has been seen there attending to people's needs weekly. Gan, 48, said: "Given my age, party positions in national and divisional levels and my desire to continue my political career, it is only natural that I contest,'' he said. According to MIC sources, Palanivel is slotted to be fielded in Cameron Highlands, where he has been making frequent trips. However, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department did not confirm where he would contest.
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| Political funding: A reality check Posted: 18 Oct 2012 02:28 PM PDT
Let's face it. All political parties, including those in the opposition, receive donations and contributions from their supporters. Otherwise how would they carry their vast organisation and nationwide activities, which need to be sustained throughout the five-year gap between elections? Abdul Rahman Dahlan, The Malaysian Insider When Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz recently made an announcement in Parliament reflecting on the decision of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in clearing Datuk Seri Musa Aman of the alleged corruption charges, a cynical smile cracked my face: the opposition must be finding themselves in a very awkward position now. While previously they have had a field day attacking Musa's alleged abuse of power and corruption, the same announcement has coerced them into changing their "attack-with-extreme-prejudice" strategy. A few days after the announcement, the opposition conveniently shifted the attack from Musa to political funding for Umno. Source of the condemnation — this time around — includes calls that such funding is preposterous, labelling such funding as unacceptable and that a royal commission of inquiry must be called in instantly. While I leave the opposition to their agenda, let's peel some underlying truth within the fabric of Malaysian politics. It is not illegal for any Malaysian to give money to a political party of his or her choice — or to anybody for that matter. Should the donor wish to remain under the cloak of anonymity, the request should be respected as long as the donation stays within the confines of the law. But the opposition's world thrives on the axis of inequality and double standards. Allow me to illustrate my point. When the donation falls into Umno's coffer, the source must be revealed immediately. But have you heard the opposition declaring the sources of donation they have received so far? We all know that the opposition, too, receives political donations from all and sundry. How ironic! For instance, take the spanking new multi-million ringgit DAP headquarters in Penang, which the DAP decided to acquire within two years after assuming office in Penang. The Penang DAP headquarters building is reported to have cost about RM3.5 million. According to the Penang DAP chairman, the money was collected through donations. Apparently millions have been collected to date. When I asked a senior DAP leader on Twitter who financed the building, he replied in no uncertain terms that the millions collected were from the DAP's well-wishers and loyal supporters. It is interesting to note that when individuals give money to the DAP, it is called "sincere donation" but when the same treatment is accorded to Umno, the opposition cries "Foul!" and accuses Umno of cronyism, corruption and abuse of power. Ironically, while Musa is accused by the opposition of looting and pillaging Sabah's rich timber areas, it was his incessant drive to protect the timber and the forest from being plundered by the irresponsible few that made him the darling of environmental groups from around the world. These organisations consistently heap praises on Musa's forest conservation programmes. Forest areas are being replanted at a record pace under Musa's watch, making hundreds of thousands of previously logged areas green again within 30 years. In fact, during his tenure as chief minister, Musa gazetted more forest areas with lucrative timber profits and placed them under the protection of the State Assembly to ensure that no chief minister — including himself — could unilaterally give permission to log the protected areas without express approval from the State Assembly! The same fervour is seen in Musa's handling of the state's huge reserves of minerals such as coal, silica, gold and limestone which, if mined, are potentially worth billions to the state's coffer. When asked why he does not utilise these resources, which could potentially increase the state's revenue instead of spending effort and money on his conservation agenda, Musa frankly replied: "Sabah at the moment is already blessed with oil money, so let's keep the forest and minerals for our children's and grandchildren's future." Now if you go by what is being alleged by the opposition in Parliament, you would think Sabah finances were in utter mess — plundered by corrupt leaders and at the same time causing millions of its people to go destitute and live in a broken society. That is far from the truth. The fact of the matter is under Musa as the chief minister, Sabah has grown by leaps and bounds. The cash reserves of the state are at an all-time high, surpassing even the two most industrialised states in Malaysia (Selangor and Penang) and still growing strong as we speak. If the chief minister was corrupt to the core as painted by the opposition, the state would be penniless. It doesn't take a genius to empty the state coffers if one is a "vacuum cleaner" as alleged by the opposition.
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| After mega dinner, mega disaster awaits the MCA Posted: 18 Oct 2012 02:08 PM PDT
Now what has the MCA to say about Utusan's lies and dirty reporting — nothing! The silence of the MCA in response to the racist brainwashing engaged in by Umno speaks volumes about the low quality and lack of backbone of the MCA's leaders — past and present. Koon Yew Yin, The Malaysian Insider It was reported in The Star that several thousand people attended the mega dinner in the Ipoh Stadium, organised by the Perak MCA, on October 14. In his speech, Dr Chua Soi Lek, the MCA president, urged the guests to vote for Barisan National because it had established a solid foundation dating back to independence. He also said that the DAP would not be able to defend the Chinese even if Pakatan Rakyat took over power because it is subservient to PAS and PKR. At the function, Dr Chua presented RM500,000 to 44 Chinese primary schools and six national-type secondary schools or RM10,000 for each school. Various thoughts come to my mind on reading the report of the mega dinner. One is of disbelief that MCA leaders can stoop so low in using public funds for Chinese education in their attempt to win a few seats in the coming elections. But we should not be surprised especially when we look at the MCA's track record in the 2008 general election in Perak where it won only one state and three parliamentary seats. A chairman of one of the Chinese schools told me that he did not attend the dinner because he did not want to appear so stupid as to accept the RM10,000 bribe to vote for the MCA. Learning from the senior partner, electoral bribery appears to be the main item in the standard operating procedure manual of the MCA for the coming election. But unlike Umno in the peninsula, and Taib Mahmud and Musa Aman in Sarawak and Sabah who have billions in their political slush funds, the MCA can only throw out crumbs — such is the party's impotency and poor standing in BN and the governmental system. See No Evil, Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil With regard to Dr Chua's statement that the DAP is subservient to PAS and PKR, it is necessary to remind MCA supporters that almost every act of the Perak Pakatan Rakyat administration before BN unfairly regained control was criticised by the mainstream press, especially by Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian. Chinese readers of the Malay papers and media will be familiar — and must be thoroughly disgusted — with the racist campaign of hate and poison poured out on a daily basis by Umno, the MCA's partner, which owns the mainstream Malay papers. Now what has the MCA to say about Utusan's lies and dirty reporting — nothing! The silence of the MCA in response to the racist brainwashing engaged in by Umno speaks volumes about the low quality and lack of backbone of the MCA's leaders — past and present. We now see that the Malays are being peddled the line that the Pakatan Rakyat is selling out to the non-Malays and that there is a Christian plot to take over the country. These dirty tricks and political spinning have not only continued but have gotten worse. Increasingly racial and religious extremist sentiments are coming to the forefront which all of us need to condemn if our country's social fabric is not to be torn apart. But does the MCA dare to speak out? No, instead it is a party to these dirty tactics. National Education: Monumental MCA Failing It is pathetic to see the MCA going round the country and throwing out crumbs to the Chinese schools. During the past 50 years, not only has the MCA failed Chinese education dismally but it has also been a leading partner in the decline of our national school system. Today our national schools are characterised by regressive language and religious dogmas, dismal performance, low standards and unemployable products. No middle- or upper-middle-class parent — whether Chinese, Malay, Indian or from any community — would want to have their young children schooled in the sekolah rendah kebangsaan and sekolah menengah if they can help it. This national disgrace has the MCA as one of its leading players. The party has held the deputy minister of education portfolio for umpteen years. Can the MCA point to any educational innovation that it has introduced? Can the MCA point to any educational policy of merit, fairness, and tolerance that it has been responsible for since independence? The Chinese deputy minister of education or Dr Chua may be good at giving speeches to Chinese schools and giving out chicken feed funds but when it comes to helping determine the course of national educational policy in key areas, their position is more like that of the office boy. Let's take the National Education Blueprint report. Now what is the MCA to say about the establishment of the matriculation college system which has discriminated against the deserving non-Bumiputeras. Malaysian public universities offer a one-year matriculation programme. These courses have largely catered to the Bumiputera population and are deemed as having a much lower standard, qualifying criteria and final examination requirement for entry into university. This situation is in contrast to that which non-Bumiputera students face as they are required to sit for the much tougher two-year STPM in Form 6. Now how did this system come about if the MCA has not been a willing accessory to the educational discrimination and injustice.
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| Posted: 18 Oct 2012 02:01 PM PDT
Sean Augustin. FZ.com The Election Commission (EC) and Bersih were not always at loggerheads - initially, the commission considered the electoral reform group a partner in striving for better polling process. However, the relationship soured after the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections allowed opposition politicians to shape their agenda, said EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar. In a frank interview with fz.com, Wan Ahmad said he was 'happy and excited' when Bersih was formed in 2006. This, he said, was because he was looking forward to input from civil society when it came to elections, traditionally retrieved from the media, politicians and their officers. But the moment Bersih allowed opposition politicians to take part in its activities, which included street rallies, its objective as a civil society flew out of the window, said Wan Ahmad. The group, he claimed, had evolved into a political party. "Pity, because I admired what she set out to do," he said, referring to Bersih 2.0's co-chairman Datuk S Ambiga, who took up the mantle in July 2011. (The coalition was relaunched in April 2010 as an entirely civil society movement known as Bersih 2.0, unaffiliated to any political party.) Wan Ahmad's aversion to Bersih was also spurred by the allegations against the EC made by the group. "I felt backstabbed," he said, claiming that the allegations hurt more than those made by political parties. Wan Ahmad said Bersih's allegations, including that the EC was pro-government and that it had not implemented recommendations by the Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reforms, damaged the commission's reputation. Naturally,the allegations made the EC review its "relationship" with Bersih, he said. The commission "would not want to deal with them anymore", especially after the street rallies and also because Bersih had turned down invitations to discuss matters raised. "There is no point of talking to people who won't work with us," he said. When contacted, Ambiga said Bersih had initially postponed its meeting with the EC ahead of the Sarawak state election last year. But as the system was "so flawed", she added, talking to the EC was a "waste of time". Bersih, however, is not trying to avoid the EC. "We are still prepared to debate them publicly," insists Ambiga. As for opposition politicians taking part in Bersih's activities, the former president of the Malaysian Bar said that from the outset, the group had also invited those from Barisan Nasional. There was nothing Bersih could do, she said, if politicians from the ruling coalition did not want to take part. "It doesn't mean we support the (opposition) political parties," she added. Bersih has so far held three rallies, the first in November 2007 which attracted an estimated 50,000 people,which is credited with helping to shift the political landscape in the country.
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| Can early polls stabilise the country? Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:46 PM PDT
As it stands, even if Umno-BN keeps its job, Najib may lose his job if he can only deliver some 120-130 seats, apparently the number estimated by all government intelligence sources. Now, can you naively expect a transition within UMNO to be without fireworks and fanfare? Wong Chin Huat (Selangor Times) The Economist ("No Time Like Tomorrow, Oct 6, http://www.economist.com/node/21564248 ) is right in a way to compare Datuk Seri Najib Razak to former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown who lost the election he called too late. A former academic-turn-politician friend of mine who follows British politics closely has said the same for quite some time. I, however, beg to disagree with The Economist that the delay in polls has resulted in heightened partisanship which poisons the national politics. This is in fact a premise that must be examined. Many Malaysians who have suffered political fatigue – especially the business sector – have been calling for elections to be over and done with as soon as possible. Some really hope that the so-called politicking will return to its pre-2008 level. Allow me to pour some cold water: nothing could be more unrealistic than that. The apolitical or depoliticised Malaysia – which Tun Abdul Razak dreamed of – is gone forever and will not return. Having tasted freedom, those tsunami-waken Malaysians are not going back to any illusion of soft authoritarianism. This means any public policies, legislations or development projects forced down the throat of the stakeholders will be vigorously opposed. Not just PAA and Section 14A of the Evidence Act. Not just Kuantan, Bukit Koman, Jalan Sultan (Kuala Lumpur) and Pengerang. As Najib himself recognises, the years the government knows best is gone. Of course, the heightening political tension is caused not just by democratisation. The greater factor is our collective failure to deal with democratisation: this country is moving away from the electoral one-party it has been for nearly 40 years before 2008 but there is not yet a national consensus to accept this new political reality. If there is indeed a national consensus, like that in Myanmar, that democratisation is the order of the day, then an early election will certainly help. The winners will have the mandate to carry out unfinished work or new tasks, while the losers will serve as the loyal opposition and work for a better electoral fortune in the future. But there is none. The abuse of state apparatus to punish opposition supporters and to defame Bersih activists, the rise of political violence, the powerlessness of the police before political thugs - all these just show that the old political system is resisting its demise. What will happen after elections? It really depends on the process and the outcome. First of all, if there is widespread or significant rigging, the public will not stomach that. Secondly, if there is only a slim majority for the winners, if not outright a hung parliament, there may be attempts to entice and counter defections. An affirmative answer to the first question may possibly lead to revolution ala people power, re-election or chronic instability. An affirmative answer to the second question may lead to re-election, coup, counter-coup and/or chronic instability. Will early elections prevent either electoral fraud or an evenly split election? I cannot see how. If there is a likely relation between these and the timing, the direction may well be the opposite. The longer we wait for elections, the more new voters may be registered, and the likelier their votes may offset those of foreigners and phantoms. Also, the longer we wait, the likelier Malaysians may get fed up enough to persuade each other to vote in one direction, hence preventing a hung parliament or a government with a slim majority. But really there is no end to political tensions, political persecution and political violence unless our political class grow mature enough to accept the embryonic two-party system. We need the winners to pledge no persecution of the losers and the losers to pledge their acceptance of the outcome. As it stands, even if Umno-BN keeps its job, Najib may lose his job if he can only deliver some 120-130 seats, apparently the number estimated by all government intelligence sources. Now, can you naively expect a transition within UMNO to be without fireworks and fanfare?
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| The UEC: An Interminable Election Issue Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:30 PM PDT
The fact that the MQA has yet to do a proper accreditation of the UEC when other foreign universities have done so since the Eighties is not saying very much for "1 Malaysia" is it? Dr Kua Kia Soong, Former principal of community-run New Era College, 19 October 2012
In every general election since 1975 when the Malaysian Independent Chinese Secondary Schools' (MICSS) Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) was first run, the UEC has been an election issue. The 13th general election is no exception. I should know about the UEC. When I first came back to Malaysia from my studies in the UK in 1983, I was contracted by the former Chairman of the United Chinese School Committees' Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong), Lim Fong Seng to enable the UEC to be recognized all over the world. This I did with alacrity and within two years, notable universities in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore had recognized the UEC after the standard accreditation procedures. In most cases, their representatives visited our office and the Independent schools of which there were sixty in West and East Malaysia. Occasionally, I went to visit the key educational institutions abroad. Today, more than 400 foreign tertiary institutions around the world already recognize the UEC and our MICSS students are found in countries all over the globe, including France, Germany and Russia. Ever since the Eighties, the National University of Singapore has been poaching hundreds of top UEC students not only for their academic excellence but also for their trilingual capabilities in an effort to balance their other Anglophile Singaporeans.
ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION, NOT RACIAL POLITICS So why has the BN government doggedly refused to recognize the UEC all these years? In 1975, when the MICSS decided to hold its first Unified Examination, the Chinese education leaders were summoned to Parliament by then Education Minister Dr Mahathir and were told in no uncertain terms to cancel the examination "or else…!" They carried on regardless of the consequences and the UEC has been held every year since then without ever springing a leak in any examination papers! Clearly, the reason for UMNO's position is their hegemonic position of imposing a Malay-centric education system with Bahasa Malaysia as the main medium of instruction. It should be pointed out at the outset that BM and English are compulsory language papers in the UEC and many MICSS schools also run the SPM at the fifth secondary year. Consequently, through these years the UEC has become a political issue since UMNO refuses to recognize the MICSS system which is wholly supported by the community and not by the government. The community is thus paying double taxation when, apart from paying income tax, they also financially support this mother tongue education system. Should the recognition of UEC remain a political issue when the BN government recognizes all foreign certificates based on their accreditation by the Malaysian Qualifications Authority (MQA)? How else do foreign students gain admission into our institutions of higher learning? The fact that the MQA has yet to do a proper accreditation of the UEC when other foreign universities have done so since the Eighties is not saying very much for "1 Malaysia" is it? Thus an issue such as the recognition of the UEC should from the very start have been easily handled by the MQA instead of being treated as a political football by politicians all these years. As we have seen in the recent harassment of SUARAM through the government's directive to six government agencies, there should be a standard operating procedure for government agencies such as the MQA to carry out their job – in this case, the accreditation of the UEC – without political interference. The result of the accreditation process should then be made known and the UEC recognized or rejected accordingly. QED!
THE NEW KUANTAN MICSS & UEC As a political gesture to win the Chinese vote, the BN government has recently approved a new secondary school in Kuantan to be governed by the Chinese community there although the letter of approval has stipulated that the new school would run the SPM. The Prime Minister Najib Razak has since said that these Kuantan students can sit for the UEC (The Sun 18 October 2012). The sincerity of the government on this issue is in serious doubt when we bear in mind that to date hundreds of operators have already been given permits to open English-language international schools in Malaysia. Why the glaring double standards? Why do private English-language schools have a special immunity that non-profit-making community-run MICSS cannot enjoy? Dong Zong, under the leadership of Triple Doctor Yap Sin Tian (he has three PhDs!) has tried to maintain a "purist" position by insisting that this new Kuantan school is not strictly an MICSS just because of the stipulations of the approval letter. They have said that therefore, Dong Zong would not allow its students to sit for the UEC. As the person contracted by Dong Jiao Zong to help set up the tertiary-level New Era College for the MICSS in 1995, I see these as hypocritical and double standards. The stipulations for the new Kuantan secondary school are no different from the approval given to New Era College in 1997 – they merely reflect the BN government's (problematic) educational policy. The Dong Jiao Zong leadership did not reject the offer to New Era College then but proceeded to start the college in 1998 according to the curriculum we had planned. It is therefore shocking that even after the Prime Minister Najib Razak has said that these Kuantan students can sit for the UEC and the new stakeholders in the Kuantan school have committed to be an MICSS, the Dong Zong leaders still insist that they will not allow the Kuantan school students to sit for the UEC. Such a legalistic position is reactionary and would make the Father of the UEC, the late Lim Fong Seng turn in his grave. The reasons behind Dong Zong's "purist" position is highly dubious when we consider that some MICSS such as the Kuala Lumpur Chong Hwa, Kuen Cheng and others have been running the SPM concurrently with the UEC all these years. Since when have the Dong Zong leaders been so concerned to strictly follow the government's definition of a MICSS?
MAKING THE UEC WIDELY AVAILABLE From a visionary point of view, Dong Jiao Zong should be lobbying for the UEC to be as widely available as other examination certificates at least in Malaysia and Southeast Asia instead of restricting its currency as in the case of the new Kuantan School. To conclude, the reputation of the UEC will be intact as long as the examination board is professionally run, the quality of the MICSS is maintained and the certificate is associated with academicians and leaders of integrity. Chinese educationists should never fail to bear in mind that, of all the values instilled in students by education, perhaps none is as essential as academic integrity. Academic dishonesty – such as the pursuit of bogus PhDs - is a serious violation of the trust upon which an academic community depends. |
| Political miscalculations of PAS-Umno saga Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:22 PM PDT
The writings on the wall indicate the PAS is probably making a move that will be costly to the Pakatan. Ali Cordoba (Free Malaysia Today) After the 1999 general election, some pro-Umno newspapers hailed a possible Umno-PAS merger, calling it the "union" of the future for the Malay-majority community in the country. PAS has since then been on the threshold of a "real" possibility of re-joining the Barisan National. But at what cost will it take that plunge into Umno's arms? Before 1999 – the reformasi era – PAS was weak with only Kelantan remaining strong in its hands. But that, as we know it, was always an affair of the Kelantan PAS and not a result of any greatness in PAS' national leadership. The Kelantan PAS under Nik Aziz Nik Mat has remained until today the only one that has not been defeated by the Umno-BN machinery. It is the only state that slipped from the hands of Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Umno has never managed to wrest it back. On the national level, PAS has been boosted by its alliance with the reform movement launched by Anwar Ibrahim before his ISA arrest. It is known that the early leaders of the reform movement – many of whom have since returned to Umno – were setting up committees with the help of PAS to free Anwar from jail. PAS – at the national level – was hoping that these "reformasi" elements would join the party in droves and would leave Umno bare. Many did leave but their move to PAS was hijacked by the creation of the Justice Party, better known as Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), in the aftermath of Anwar's beating and his infamous black eye. It could be said that without PKR and Anwar's trials and the calls for reform by the pro-Anwar elements in the country, PAS would have remained a "Kelantan champion" and the party would have had little impact nationally. Those who joined the "tsunami" of the reform movement did so because they saw an opportunity to make personal gains. The 2008 political tsunami swept the country in five states. Among these cunning politicians who joined the reformasi movement, many have since been ejected from the movement, or were worn out by the lengthy fight for power or were attracted by the greed of easy comfort elsewhere. And PAS is bound to join them in this category if it were to jump ship at the last minute. The writings on the wall indicate that PAS is probably making a move that will be costly to Pakatan. PAS-DAP issue However, due to the nature of today's politics and the slippery political landscape in Malaysia, a PAS move towards Umno may not yield the expected result. A PAS-Umno alliance on the eve of the 13th general election may end up being an empty shell. The attacks by Shanon Ahmad and deputy mursyidul am of PAS, Harun Din, against the DAP and Anwar recently are signs of a crack within the PAS leadership. It also shows the impatience that has ruined the peace within PAS. It's clear that many among the PAS leadership do not approve of PAS working together with the DAP. But this opposition is probably based on the possibility that if this issue is exploited, then PAS would join Umno in the end. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/10/19/political-miscalculations-of-pas-umno-saga/
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| ‘Sarawak’s paper millionaires’ Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:20 PM PDT
(Free Malaysia Today) - The state government claims that they have created 2,000 millionaires through the Native Customary Rights JV concept, but others claim they are only paper millionaires. The Sarawak government claims that they have created 2,000 millionaires through the new Native Customary Rights concept but detractors say they are "paper millionaires" Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian says that they are only paper millionaires. He was refuting claims by assistant minister in the Chief Minister's Office (Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development) Mohd Naroden Majais' statement that 2,000 participant in the NCR exercise were now millionaires. Naroden had said that through the NCR land development and new concept through JV, about 2,000 landowners who have 50 acres and above now are holding assets worth a million ringgit. "Therefore, we can say that the scheme has created not less than 2,000 rural Bumiputera millionaires," the assistant minister had said. Bian who is also the Ba'Kelalan assemblyman.said: "His statement is misleading. In terms of acreage you may say they are 'paper millionaires'. "The truth is that they are 'bankrupt millionaires', because they have not been paid their dues by the investors and government agency's agent like Pelita or LCDA (Land Custody Development Authority). Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/10/19/sarawaks-paper-millionaires/
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| Another Attempt to Intimidate Lawyers Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:15 PM PDT
 Roger Chan Weng Keng at #IdolaDemokrasi First, the Brickfields 5. Then,Tharminder Singh by the SC. Shortly after, Fadiah Nadwa Fikri and the MACC. Followed by the 4 Legal Aid Lawyers. Now, they are trying to intimidate LoyarBurok-ker Roger Chan! When will it be you, just for doing your job as a lawyer? Loyar Burok
The following is a press release issued by the Malaysian Bar, originally published here. The Malaysian Bar is concerned to learn that Chan Weng Keng, a lawyer acting for SUARAM, was recently served with a written order by the police to produce documents relating to SUARAM, which is being investigated by various authorities. The Malaysian Bar is perturbed that, once again, the police seek to act in disregard of the well-established legal principle of solicitor-client confidentiality, and tocontinue to harass lawyers and obstruct the ability of a Member of the Bar to execute his professional duties effectively. Such action by the police is oppressive, and constitutes blatant intimidation. It is an intolerable incursion on the independence of the Bar and a severe interference with a lawyer's obligation to advise and act for clients without fear or favour. In addition, such behaviour is an appalling and unacceptable intrusion into a solicitor-client relationship, and makes a mockery of the fundamental principle of solicitor-client confidentiality by which lawyers are bound. It shows a grave lack of respect for the criminal justice system, as the solicitor-client privilege lies at the core of this system. In this instance, a perception has been created in the public's mind that the application of resources into, and the timing of, the investigations of SUARAM, as well as the mobilisation of various agencies in a concerted manner, is due to SUARAM's efforts to have the Scorpene affair investigated, albeit in France. Contrast this with the dearth of investigations by the same Malaysian agencies into the alleged Scorpene affair and Malaysian entities involved. This selective application of resources and legislative provisions, and the clear abuse of our criminal procedure rules will, in the long term, undermine respect for the system of law and order, and damage the proper administration of justice, in this country. The Malaysian Bar is also deeply troubled by the pattern of recurring incidents — involving enforcement and regulatory authorities — of harassment of lawyers, and interference with their professional duties in representing their clients, including the sanctity of the confidentiality of the solicitor-client relationship. This harassment must stop if we are indeed committed to the principle of access to justice and to the rule of law. Read more at: http://www.loyarburok.com/2012/10/18/attempt-intimidate-lawyers/
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| The Murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:10 PM PDT Six years on, troubling questions remain about the Mongolian beauty's death, and who ordered it John Berthelsen, Asia Sentinel It will be six years tomorrow since bodyguards for now-Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak dragged the Mongolian translator and party girl Altantuya Shaariibuu out of a car in a patch of jungle near the Kuala Lumpur suburb of Shah Alam. As she begged for her life and apparently that of her unborn child, they knocked her unconscious, then shot her twice in the head. That was Oct. 19, 2006. According to court testimony, Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, members of the elite Unit Tindakan Khas, both assigned to Najib's office, then wrapped Altantuya's body in C4 plastic explosives and blew her up, possibly to mangle her remains so badly that the fetus would be destroyed. Read more at: http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4908&Itemid=178
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| Chua Jui Meng : You have Kisses the Hands of Umno Leaders For Crumbs For 35 Years Long Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:03 PM PDT
Is a great accusations to claim that UMNO leaders ask Chinese to go back to China where in reality it was UMNO who are generous in giving Malaysian Chinese our Citizenship. PAS call the Chinese including you as KAFIR and you are still happily working with them? Shen Yee Aun We cannot rely on MCA anymore as it has proven to be only a "Yes Man" party to Umno. They only know how to continue to kiss the hands of Umno leaders for crumbs. – Chua Jui Meng 1.You have been in MCA for 35 years and if it is true that your allegations MCA kisses the Hands of UMNO Leaders For Crumbs then you had been kissing them for 35 years of your life. 2.You are also both BN/MCA Malaysian longest serving Health Minister ( your crumbs ) that you had kisses for the last 35 years of your life. Almost half of your life and more than half of our country administration under BN you had kisses their hands. 3. Please do not use the word this is Your Country where this country belongs to all and it OUR country. Sabah's RM40 million Musagate involving the state's timber revenue and Sarawak's multi-billionaire Taib Mahmud are two clear cases of super rich BN-Umno chief ministers who need not be accountable to their current wealth. – Chua Jui Meng 4. When you wanted to bring out about Sabah Musagate and Taib Mahmud issue then you should ask bring out your entire children is driving SLK ,Mercedez and list of luxury cars. Even being able to mingle around in 1 of the Malaysia most expensive night club regularly ( Bintang Palace ) that would easily cost at least a minimum of RM 20 000 per visit ( that is just the minimum ). Where did all their money come from if it is not from their father who had been the longest serving Health Minister in Malaysia ? BN-Umno leaders and their cronies can continue to tell us, the Chinese, to Balik Tong San (Go back to China), but I will not. – Chua Jui Meng 5. Is a great accusations to claim that UMNO leaders ask Chinese to go back to China where in reality it was UMNO who are generous in giving Malaysian Chinese our Citizenship. PAS call the Chinese including you as KAFIR and you are still happily working with them? 6. Why do Pakatan Rakyat have to play up all this racial sentiment? That is why our economy is in tatters with the value of the ringgit shrinking fast (now at RM2.50 to S$1), cost of essentials and living rising and the people living in misery having to struggle to make ends meet daily – Chua Jui Meng 7. When you claim that our cost of living is high then why Penang government under Lim Guan Eng had increases the price of house by 3 times more ? What is not acceptable is about why Lim Guan Eng State Government and also Penang Local Council under DAP administration must impose the increase Why for commercial projects in Penang, the infrastructure contribution is increased from RM7 to RM21 per sq ft for every unit ? Why do infrastructure contribution charge from RM5 per sq ft to RM15 each for housing projects exceeding 15 units per acre in Penang ? Why do the the re-zoning fee had been increased from 25% to 50% on the difference based on the current value ?he fee is not only imposed by the Penang Local council in Penang but even the state government also charges the developer 50% on conversion of state-owned land ? Malaysia is a blessed country with rich natural resources, including oil and gas, and the 26 million citizens should be reasonably comfortable financially. But they are not, especially the rural and urban poor. – Chua Jui Meng 8. Malaysia is among 1 of the lowest rate of poverty rate country in the world. So is not fair when you pointed out the facts where they are still poor people in Malaysian where every single party of the world including the United States , United Kingdom , China , Japan and whatever country you name it will be still having poor people around. I dont see how could Pakatan Rakyat could be so arrogant to claim that if power given to them then there will be automatically no longer having any more poor people around? Read more at: http://1sya.com/?p=2817 |
| 'Settlement' of Nazri's son's case is illegal & perverts the course of justice Posted: 18 Oct 2012 12:59 PM PDT  If a crime is committed, the perpertrator must be brought to court and duly charged. Under our legal system, crimes cannot be 'amicably settled'. N. Surendran, VP Keadilan I refer to the Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein Onn's statement in the Dewan Rakyat on 18.10.12 that the assault case involving the son of Minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz had been 'amicably resolved'. This statement shows blatant disregard by Hishamuddin for the due process of law and the integrity of our criminal justice system. It is unprecedented for the Home Minister to personally approve of such 'amicable settlements', which are against public policy and the rule of law. If a crime is committed, the perpertrator must be brought to court and duly charged. Under our legal system, crimes cannot be 'amicably settled'. Such a 'settlement ' could amount to an offence under section 214 of the Penal Code. By approving of the 'settlement', Hishamuddin may have abetted and connived in an illegal act. Was the investigation compromised simply because the case involves the son of a senior Umno minister? Further, what are the terms of this illegal settlement and did the settlement involve the police, Nazri Aziz or Hishamuddin? The public is entitled to know if the course of justice was perverted in this case. Most importantly, what was the outcome of the investigation upon Mohamed Nedim Nazri under section 160 of the Penal Code? While admitting that the matter was investigated, Hishamuddin deliberately does not say whether Nedim was cleared of the offence. Every citizen, no matter how high or low their social position, is equal before the eyes of the law; the security guard in this case has a right to fair and impartial justice. We call upon the Home Minister to make a full and frank disclosure of the real facts of the case and to re-open the investigation into this assault case. |
| A challenge to civilization: the ‘private’ on ‘public’ domain of human thought and feelings Posted: 18 Oct 2012 12:54 PM PDT
We have arrived on to a new space and time where what is private is challenged on the public sphere and what is public is accessed on a private space and time. It is an emerging experience of humanity's freedom and choice. Terracotta The on-going saga pertaining to the Alvin and Vivian sexually explicit debut on the social and new media is sending majority Malaysians scurrying to new heights and lows of arguments for and against the duo's act, respectively. This episode is of significant interest in the wake of the Malaysian political crossroads that the country has locked itself into currently. It is equally timely given the Prime Minister's recent indication that governments must control the society's thinking in order for achieving progress. Indeed, the Internet has become a defining medium insofar as civilization rates. Through the Internet and its many 'new age' features like Facebook, Twitter, etc. humanity is being challenged out in the open yet within the confines of our own private spaces – be it at home or at work or even at public places like cafes and WiFi outlets. The debates for and against Vivian and Alvin is raging. It will certainly not find a confluence. But we need to reflect seriously about how the networked society is emerging and will eventually set the parameters within which humanity will be operating. A defining benchmark we should not miss is the fact that this new age technology that forces our thoughts and feelings into the public domain called society still keeps our privacy intact as the access to these 'YouTube, Facebook, Twitter' mediums is strictly exercised out of absolute freedom and choice, sourced within our own private space and time and decision or choice. If people google, source and read or view such sites like what the Alvin and Vivian space offers, what gives you that morally virtuous profile to condemn? Likewise, when you have in your private space and time sourced, read and viewed such material, what gives you that morally high ground to promote such materials? There appears to be a paradox here and this is what many non-thinking people are missing. The Internet is here to define the new meanings to freedom, choice, democracy, accountability and engineer a new culture. It is here to take humanity to new experiences and understanding of all that encompasses life – thoughts, words and deeds. It is people like Alvin and Vivian who have become the 'new age' crusaders of thoughts and feelings, challenging our civilization's inventory of logic and emotions. Where it will eventually deposit society is as illusive as how the Internet is developing and how the networked society is emerging. But what is certain in this Alvin and Vivian saga is governments will be challenged; politicians will be tested; leaders will be tried in the public sphere; parents will be battered; religious leaders will be provoked and challenged – it is confrontation, a new conquest of humanity's thoughts and feelings. We are arriving on a new plateau where civilization will be pressured to re-visit and re-write its philosophies. In all likelihood, this will be a trajectory experience – humanity's abandoning of the Socrates, Aristotalian and Platonic philosophies that have long been the basis of many thoughts and actions. The use of draconian and antiquated laws to clip and clamp such ventures as those of the Alvin and Vivian saga will be run-over in time. We have arrived on to a new space and time where what is private is challenged on the public sphere and what is public is accessed on a private space and time. It is an emerging experience of humanity's freedom and choice. In fact this whole episode can be an immense learning opportunity for Malaysia's longest ruling political party too. So hopefully before any of our politicians attempt to open their mouth that often remains disengaged from thinking, better they think twice lah. This is timely advice given the fact that Malaysia is being overwhelmed with the political marshes entrenched around the LGBT prioprity, sex-and-video sagas, and not forgetting the Sodomy trials.
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| Posted: 17 Oct 2012 07:31 PM PDT Not only Malaysians but many in the west -- in particular the United States, Britain, Australia, etc. -- also oppose Malaysia's detention without trial law. They make their opposition very clear and are vey open and vocal about it. Western counties also offer funding to Malaysian NGOs and movements that oppose laws such as the ISA, OSA, Sedition Act, etc. -- draconian laws that violate your civil liberties and fundamental human rights, not to mention the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin How the CIA managed to kill long-wanted Al-Qaeda mastermind Al Awlaki through 'marriage plot' (ANI) - The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) managed to kill one of its most wanted terrorists in the world, Al-Qaeda leader Anwar al Awlaki in a drone strike attack in September 2011, through a fake marriage plot with a Croatian woman. Al Awlaki was linked with 2009's Fort Hood shooting and the foiled airplane underwear bomb that happened later in the same year. The devilish plot to kill al Awlaki revolved around a Danish CIA-Al Qaeda double agent, who was paid 250,000 dollars by the CIA in 2009 to find and deliver a European wife to the terrorist mastermind, the New York Post reports. According to the paper, Morten Storm, the double agent, said that in 2010 he found a Croatian woman named Aminah through a Facebook page setup for fans of al Awlaki, and used the money he got from the CIA to play matchmaker, and through a series of bizarre and chilling videos, text messages, and emails, he helped Aminah entice al Awlaki. Storm said that apparently Aminah's wooing worked because al Awlaki accepted the proposal in a video of his own, saying "If you can live in difficult conditions, don't mind loneliness, and can live with restrictions on your communications with others, that is great." Storm revealed that with the courtship done, al Awlaki invited Aminah to meet up with him in Yeman whereupon the CIA was planning to kill the couple in a drone strike. He was subsequently killed in a CIA drone strike in September 2011. ************************************ When I participated in the anti-ISA demonstration in front of the Kamunting Detention Centre in June 2003 (see pictures below), little did I know that five years later I was going to suffer my second detention without trial and spend time in the very place I was demonstrating against. Malaysians are outraged about Malaysia's detention without trial law that has been around since 1960 and saw an estimated 10,000 Malaysians picked up and locked away merely because they oppose the government and thus are seen as a 'threat to national security'. Yes, anyone who opposes the government is considered a threat to national security and thus loses his/her right to a fair trial. They are no longer innocent until proven guilty. They are considered guilty and once they are locked away they need to prove their innocence if they want to see freedom. Of course, it is harder for you to prove your innocence than for the government to prove your guilt. So the onus is on you to convince the government as to why you should not be locked up. The government need not prove why you deserve to be locked up. Not only Malaysians but many in the west -- in particular the United States, Britain, Australia, etc. -- also oppose Malaysia's detention without trial law. They make their opposition very clear and are vey open and vocal about it. Western counties also offer funding to Malaysian NGOs and movements that oppose laws such as the ISA, OSA, Sedition Act, etc. -- draconian laws that violate your civil liberties and fundamental human rights, not to mention the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). We must certainly commend the west for condemning the Malaysian government and for financing NGOs and movements that fight for civil liberties and fundamental human rights. No one should be punished for any perceived crime until first allowed a fair and just trial in an open court of law and is confirmed guilty beyond any shadow of doubt -- and even then only after the different levels of appeal and pardon have been exhausted. To punish someone otherwise is unjust. It needs western countries to knock some sense into countries like Malaysia. If not we will never see justice in developing countries. Asians, Africans, Middle Easterners, etc., do not understand the meaning of justice, fair and just trial, civil liberties, fundamental human rights, and whatnot. This concept is foreign to them. Hence we need the west. By the way, since 2004, the United States government (the Central Intelligence Agency's Special Activities Division) has made hundreds of attacks on targets in Northwest Pakistan using drones (unmanned aerial vehicles). These attacks are part of the United States' War on Terrorism that seeks to defeat Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants in Pakistan. Most of these attacks are against targets in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas along the Afghan border in Northwest Pakistan. These strikes have increased substantially under the Presidency of Barack Obama. Of course, many non-combatants or 'innocent bystanders' also die in these attacks but these are what the US considers 'collateral damage'. Some innocent people unavoidably need to die in this War on Terrorism. Sometimes entire family members of the targets also die for this 'good cause'. It is good that Malaysian activists have friends like America to help them in their fight against the evil perpetrated by the Malaysian government. And that is why we cannot protest what the Americans are doing. Maybe it is not right to bomb other countries and kill many people just to assassinate one person. But that is war. Okay, maybe war has not been officially declared. But it is not quite like America sends soldiers into another country to kill non-Americans. No humans are involved here, only bombs with engines. Without America's help the ISA will never be abolished. But because of America's concern for fair trials and justice, the Malaysian government has no choice but to review all these draconian laws. And that can only help to make Malaysia a better place. I remember back in form one when my teacher in MCKK who smoked lectured us about the evil of smoking. We all gave him a cheeky grin and he said: do what I say, not do what I do. I suppose that best describes America. Might is, after all, right.
THE JUNE 2003 ANTI-ISA DEMONSTRATION IN KAMUNTING
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| Nazri Aziz: Opposition receives political donations too, not just Sabah Umno Posted: 17 Oct 2012 06:42 PM PDT (Bernama) - The Opposition should not question Sabah Umno's RM40 million political donation from unknown sources because DAP had also received RM3.5 million from supporters to build a new building in Penang said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz. Nazri said it was not an offence for any party, including the Opposition, to receive donations for their political activities. "There is no problem. Any party can receive donations. We understand DAP had also received. But Umno received more because there are more Umno supporters. "Political donations are not an offence. But if it is to become an offence, we are ready to enact such laws," he told Tan Kok Wai (DAP-Cheras) during a question and answer session in Dewan Rakyat here today. The Attorney-General's Chambers had decided that there was no element of corruption in the case against Sabah Umno receiving donations. He clarified that the donation to Sabah Umno was investigated by Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and not the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC). "It was ICAC that investigated and later closed the case. The money was banked into the Sabah Umno account and not to any individual," he said. Nazri who was also asked how many leaders were being investigated by the MACC said a former Menteri Besar, two Members of Parliament, two exco members and two state assemblymen were being investigated. "We cannot reveal the identity of the individuals because it will jeopardise investigations," he said.
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| Posted: 17 Oct 2012 05:47 PM PDT The problem with Malaysia is that it has a Malay Finance Minister so the government cannot see all this. Maybe we should consider appointing a Chinese as the Finance Minister like in the past. We never had problems when Tun Tan Siew Sin was the Finance Minister. Chinese have the ability to look at everything in terms of money and profit while the close-minded Malays can only look at things from the point of view of heaven and hell. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin Soi Lek: Hudud will cause 1.2 million to lose jobs (Malaysiakini) - MCA president Chua Soi Lek claimed that 1.2 million Malaysians would lose their jobs if PAS implements hudud in Malaysia, citing an anonymous SMS. Chua cited various industries that he said would contribute to this alleged massive loss of employment should hudud be implemented, including jobs at gambling resort Genting Highlands, betting outlets as well as massage parlours. He made this claim on his video blog and Facebook today based on a SMS he supposedly received this morning. However, he said he could not verify the sender as no one picked up his call. "This SMS said that MCA talks about hudud but never talks about the jobs that will be lost because of the strict enforcement of hudud in this country," Chua said. "So the figures he gave come to 1.2 million that will be affected if there is a strict interpretation and implementation of hudud in this country." ********************************* Now that makes more sense. It is of no use arguing about freedom of religion, justice, abuse of power, human rights, democratic principles, respect for the constitution, secularism, and whatnot. The normal man-on-the-street would not appreciate all this. At the end of the day it all boils down to what the Chinese would say cari makan. Money makes the world go around. Even war is about money, sometimes hidden behind the camouflage of ideals, honour, defence of the nation's sovereignty, religion, God, and all that nonsense. Ultimately it is about power and territory, and hence money. Arguing in defence of or on in opposition to hudud using theological arguments will get you nowhere. This is because humankind is divided on matters of theology. But everyone will be united by greed. So money will unite us more than politics, race, religion, ideology, dogma, doctrine and what have you. Even the 'fanatical' Wahhabis can work with the 'evil' Jews when it comes to money. They will place their petrodollars in the hands of the American Jews rather than in Malaysia's Bank Islam. That is how uniting greed and money can be. Now MCA is talking. I think MCA will not only retain its 15 parliament seats but it may even see its seats increase to 30 or so if it can talk common sense like what Chua Soi Lek said about hudud. Basically, hudud will result in 1.2 million Malaysians becoming unemployed. Now, that is a lot when you consider that Malaysia's working population is about 10 million. Malaysia will become as bad as Greece. Massage parlours, brothels, discos, nightclubs, bars, pubs, gambling dens, gaming outlets, casinos, etc., will all have to close down. And that would not be good for both the economy as well as for Malaysia's working population. Imagine the financial impact on the country when business takes a beating and 1.2 million Malaysians have to stay home with no income. So we need vice. Vice keeps people employed. It also gives the country revenue. The government can collect all sorts for taxes -- corporate tax, income tax, sales tax, entertainment tax, import tax, etc. In fact, if the government were to approve casino licences (plus licences for discos, nightclubs, pubs, bars, gaming outlets, massage parlours, etc.) for each and every town in Malaysia, can you imagine how much the country will earn and how many more people can get employment? And don't forget the 'underground' or black economy. Police and enforcement officers can be paid low salaries (at a huge saving to the country) because they can receive 'commission' from the vice businesses for 'closing one eye'. Officially, brothels are not allowed in Malaysia and many 'fuck shops' need to masquerade as 'health centres'. Many people go to these so-called health centres not to get healthy but to screw. And the police raid these places and arrest the prostitutes (at least those that do not pay 'commission' to the right people). If prostitution was legalised and brothels were licensed, this would be a great boost to the economy and it will create employment. In fact, we would have a shortage of workers so we would have zero unemployment. Prostitution can actually be a huge industry. The Arabs, Germans, etc., will fly to Kuala Lumpur instead of to Bangkok. Malaysia can overtake Thailand as the vice centre of South East Asia. The problem with Malaysia is that it has a Malay Finance Minister so the government cannot see all this. Maybe we should consider appointing a Chinese as the Finance Minister like in the past. We never had problems when Tun Tan Siew Sin was the Finance Minister. Chinese have the ability to look at everything in terms of money and profit while the close-minded Malays can only look at things from the point of view of heaven and hell. I suppose Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was right when he said that the Chinese are more pragmatic whereas the Malays are emotional and feudalistic. It is time Malaysians acknowledge this fact and learn how to agree with Dr Mahathir when he is right and not disagree with him just because you don't like him. Another interesting point is what Nazri Aziz said (read below). There is no evil in receiving donations. Why do we always question the motives behind these donations, whether it is to Suaram, Umno, or whoever? We always assume that when someone donates tens of millions or hundreds of millions there must always be a hidden agenda or ulterior motive. Hey, I donate to the cancer society. I also donate to the guide dogs for the blind association. I have no hidden agenda or ulterior motive. I do so because I want to help cancer research and to help blind people who need to get out of their homes from time to time. So Umno Sabah received RM40 million in donations. Do you remember about eight years ago Malaysia Today revealed that Umno Sabah received RM100 million to build their RM60 million headquarters in Kota Kinabalu? No one was upset about it then. So why get so upset now, eight years later? In fact, that RM40 million donation issue is not something new. Malaysia Today had already revealed this a couple of years ago. Everyone read this story and just shut up and said nothing. So why scream about it now? Is it because the general election is near? Is that why you all said nothing about it years ago, because there was no general election? Some people complain that Malaysia Today no longer reveals the wrongdoings of the government like back in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 or 2010. I agree that back in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 or 2010 Malaysia Today was actively exposing the wrongdoings of the government. But did anything good come out of it? It was like anjing menyalak bukit (dog barking at the hill). Only Malaysia Today screamed. No one else screamed. So why should I want to waste my time screaming like a mad fellow about this, that and the other when no one cares about it? Malaysia Today revealed more wrongdoings by the government than all the opposition parties combined. At the end of the day nothing happened. But now that the general election is around the corner everyone jumps on the bandwagon and starts screaming. Is all this rhetoric really about wanting to see the correct thing done or is it merely about winning the election? I wonder! There is no longer any honesty in Malaysian politics. ********************************* Nazri sees no evil in RM40mil donation (Malaysiakini) - There is no harm in Sabah Umno receiving the RM40 million 'political contribution' from an unidentified donor, said de facto law minister. "There is nothing wrong with (the) political contribution. "It is not an offence. If you want to make it an offence, you must enact the legislation," Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz told the Dewan Rakyat during Question Time today.
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| Penang PKR will not reveal findings Posted: 17 Oct 2012 04:19 PM PDT (NST) - Penang Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has decided not to make public the findings of its investigations into the leaked minutes of a meeting where its chief, Datuk Mansor Othman, was caught on tape calling Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng a "cocky, arrogant tokong (deity)". Asked if the party would ever make an announcement about the investigations or whether actions had been taken against the person who leaked the minutes, state deputy PKR vice-chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain said: "There is an internal inquiry. We are not going to comment about this matter further. "Comments can be blown out of proportion," he said yesterday. Halim was quoted in news reports late last month that the outcome of the investigation had been passed to the head of the party's disciplinary board, Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong. It has been almost two months since Mansor made headlines for calling Lim names and alleging the party planned to rule Penang on its own after the next general election. Although PKR's disciplinary board had reportedly reached an outcome in its investigations, nothing had been revealed to the press. It was reported in late August that a blog called "Gelagat Anwar" had published the leaked minutes of a meeting chaired by Mansor. The meeting was to discuss seat allocations for PKR's Chinese candidates in Penang for the next general election. Mansor had denied calling Lim arrogant when the news came out, explaining that he meant well when labeling him a "tokong" but late last month, TV3 aired an audio clip of what Mansor had said during the meeting. He had then admitted to saying those words but claimed that he was responding to "leading" questions by those present at the meeting. |
| Nazri tells Pakatan to ask HK about Sabah Umno’s RM40m Posted: 17 Oct 2012 03:59 PM PDT
Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider The Barisan Nasional (BN) government continued today to defend Sabah Umno's RM40 million political donation from an unknown source, with an Umno minister telling opposition lawmakers to refer to Hong Kong's anti-graft agency if they opposed the contribution. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz (picture), in deflecting criticisms against Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman in the Dewan Rakyat, told the House that it is not an offence for a political party to receive donations from any individual. "Political donations are not any offence. If we wanted to say it is an offence, we would have enacted laws against it," he said to uproar from the opposition bench. "If people want to contribute, let them contribute. What is the problem there? "In any case, whether you agree or not... you should ask Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)... they were the ones that investigated and closed this case," added the Padang Rengas MP. Parliament was told earlier this month that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had cleared Musa of graft and money-laundering allegations after finding that the over S$16 million (RM40 million) that timber trader Michael Chia was caught trying to smuggle into Malaysia from Hong Kong was not meant for the chief minister but for Sabah Umno. In a parliamentary reply, Nazri had said that the Attorney-General's Chambers had shelved the matter after finding no element of corruption in the case, which was first raised by whistleblower site Sarawak Report earlier this year. In April this year, Sarawak Report had revealed documents allegedly from Hong Kong's anti-graft agency, the ICAC, showing that a Sabah lawyer was holding some US$30 million (RM93 million) in a Swiss bank account for Musa. READ MORE HERE |
| MRT Corp to award remaining 38 contracts worth RM2b by year-end Posted: 17 Oct 2012 03:45 PM PDT (Bernama)— Mass Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) expects to award the remaining 38 contracts worth approximately RM2 billion by year-end. Its director of Strategic Communications and Public Relations, Amir Mahmood Razak said 47 of the 85 packages worth over RM20 billion had been awarded, with 47 per cent of the projects going to Bumiputera contractors. "The balance of the projects is so big, including some system packages," he told a media briefing on the V2 MRT Viaduct Works from Kota Damansara to Dataran Sunway today. Asked about the MRT Lines Two and Three, Amir said the group had yet to be informed of their progress by the government. "They are still undertaking the feasibility study. I think the plan is to announce the lines at least by the first half of next year. "If the new lines are to be announced by then, we will be able to award some of the new contracts by end-2013. That would be a fair estimate," he added.
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| Keeping news free, fair and fun Posted: 17 Oct 2012 03:30 PM PDT
(FZ.com) - The best life is one that is led with balance; where the heavyweights of politics and the economy stand on even ground with their lifestyle and entertainment counterparts. And that is the essence of fz.com Malaysia's newest online portal makes its official debut today with promises of a wide spectrum of offerings for both the younger and mature audience. fz.com takes a thoughtful and incisive approach to reporting on issues of national and international importance. Yet it will also take walks on the lighter side of life where food, entertainment, sports and features are concerned. But whichever end of the spectrum it traverses, fz.com is determined to uphold its mantra of fair and credible reporting. "Credibility makes for sustainability and on this score, our editorial team is guided by the principles of fair and balanced reporting," says fz.com editor-in-chief Yeap Boo Yam. "We want to present both sides of the story to readers and let them be the judge. We are in this business for the long haul." fz.com's vibrancy also lies in its focus on telling stories through images via its photo gallery and video clippings, generated by the portal's own webcast team and strategic partners. From Oct 18-21, fz.com will hit the road with various launch activities that include free tickets to Jennifer Lopez's "Dance Again" World Tour concert.
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| This is my country, I’ll not balik Tong San Posted: 17 Oct 2012 03:21 PM PDT By right, Malaysia should today be a rich, progressive and prosperous nation. But why is it not so? By Chua Jui Meng, FMT After 55 years of greed, plundering and emptying the national coffer, the Barisan Nasional (BN)-Umno government is now living off borrowings. According to Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Mukhriz Mahathir, the federal debt is at about RM800 billion. That is why our economy is in tatters with the value of the ringgit shrinking fast (now at RM2.50 to S$1), cost of essentials and living rising and the people living in misery having to struggle to make ends meet daily. That is why the rakyat (people) is at a political crossroad and have no choice but to change the corrupt BN-Umno before economic disaster befalls us as a bankrupt country. Sabah's RM40 million Musagate involving the state's timber revenue and Sarawak's multi-billionaire Taib Mahmud are two clear cases of super rich BN-Umno chief ministers who need not be accountable to their current wealth. Malaysia is a blessed country with rich natural resources, including oil and gas, and the 26 million citizens should be reasonably comfortable financially. But they are not, especially the rural and urban poor. In 1992, when I was in China, there were no cars on the roads, only bicycles and motorcycles. Not even Proton cars, don't talk about Mercedes Benz. After two decades, China has overtaken Japan as the biggest economy in the world. BN-Umno leaders and their cronies can continue to tell us, the Chinese, to Balik Tong San (Go back to China), but I will not. I was born in Malaysia, I reside in Malaysia and Malaysia is my country. The Chinese in Johor must rise to give solid support to Pakatan Rakyat in the next general election for a more secure future. We cannot rely on MCA anymore as it has proven to be only a "Yes Man" party to Umno. They only know how to continue to kiss the hands of Umno leaders for crumbs. The Chinese must replace MCA with Pakatan parties whose New Development Policy will see restructures in both Small Medium Industries (SMIs) and Small Medium Enterprise (SMEs). Chua Jui Meng is a PKR vice-president and Johor PKR chief. He is also a former MCA vice-president and an ex-Cabinet member.
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| Nazri’s son cleared over assault, murder Posted: 17 Oct 2012 03:10 PM PDT The Home Ministry has confirmed that the son of de facto law minister Nazri Abdul Aziz was not involved in an assault case in March this year and a murder in 2004. Teoh El Sen, FMT The Home Ministry has cleared a minister's son over his alleged involvement in two criminal cases. This was stated in a parliamentary written reply to a question posed by Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo-Burne. The PKR MP had asked for the results of the investigations against Mohamed Nedim, the son of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz, over the alleged assault of a security supervisor at a luxury condominium in March 2012. Loh had also asked about the murder of one Darren Kang at the Uncle Don restaurant in Sri Hartamas around 2004. On the first case, the Home Ministry said that the assault, classified under Section 160 of the Penal Code, was actually perpetuated by the former private bodyguard of Mohamed Nedim. "The case has been settled amicably by both parties," it added. On the case of Kang, the Home Ministry said investigations by the police had found that Mohamed Nedim was not involved. "In that case, five Thai nationals were found guilty after being charged and convicted for five years by the court," it said. On March 20, it was claimed that Mohamed Nedim assaulted a security supervisor at the condominium in Mont Kiara following a "minor altercation". It was alleged that Mohamed Nedim's actions, where he had choked the supervisor's neck before landing a punch on his head, were captured on CCTV cameras. However, the police later said that the footages showed that the minister's son was not involved.
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| PKR must end Azmin-Khalid conflict Posted: 17 Oct 2012 03:04 PM PDT Swift action by PKR to end the conflict between Azmin and Khalid will portray the party as a truly democratic one. Amir Ali, FMT The conflict between PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, seen as the culprit in a long-standing and shameful political squabbling, and Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim risks destroying the image of the party in the wake of the coming general election. In a democratic party, there will be such conflicts of interest that will arise from time to time but it is rare that such power struggle will spill over in the public arena via the media. The very reason for the usual "secrecy" behind these internal struggles is that political parties tend to act fast in order to nip in the bud any dissension. However, in the case of the Azmin-Khalid conflict which is now focused on the menteri besar's political secretary Faekah Husin, the conflict has been allowed to go on for far too long. In order to end such conflicts immediately, PKR should have created a committee to resolve these issues internally and swiftly. The committee must be composed of the grassroots and party leaders from other states who have the interest of the party at heart, not the interest of any of the personalities involved. It should not involve de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim since he is known to be close to Azmin who was his personal secretary in the past. Party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail should also not be part of the committee as she is said to be close to Faekah. Independent observers, too, can be invited to such a committee to deliberate on the issues involved in order to represent the people's views in such conflicts. The purpose of such a committee will be to listen to the grouses by the leaders in the conflict and the reasons for the differences in their views. The culprit should be punished by the party leadership after the submission of the report by the committee. Murky political waters As part of the punishment, the culprit should be suspended or even fired from all party and state posts in order to send a strong message. It is only through such discipline that PKR will rise as a truly democratic party. This will encourage the masses to see the party in a new light, a democratic one.
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| Perkasa wants boycott of Jaclyn Victor Posted: 17 Oct 2012 02:48 PM PDT
Stephanie Sta Maria, FZ.com Perkasa has called for a blanket boycott of local singer, Jaclyn Victor by Muslims nationwide over her song which it claims is an insult to Islam. The song Harapan Bangsa was uploaded on YouTube on Jan 3, 2012 and contains religious connotations pertaining to the Christian faith. It isn't clear however when the song was recorded. None of her five albums released since 2004 includes Harapan Bangsa and the song isn't listed as a single either. The YouTube video was created by a Kathryn Barry and features images of Christianity, Malaysia and its various races with Harapan Bangsa as background accompaniment. There were no images, however, of Jaclyn performing or recording the song in a studio. In an accompanying write-up, Barry said that she had created the video to "share this beautiful and meaningful song about Malaysia and Jesus". In a statement today, the right-wing Malay NGO said it condemned both Jaclyn and the songwriter for their "insensitivity and disrespect" to non-Christians in the country. Perkasa secretary-general Syed Hassan Syed Ali referred to a particular line in the song that reads: "Bapa, engkau lah harapan negara ini" (Father you are the hope of the nation) and said that it was a clear insult to Islam as the country's official religion. "There is also another line that says "Kau lah satu-satunya harapan di bumi Malaysia" (You are the only hope on Malaysian soil) and this is insulting to all non-Christians since she refers to Malaysian soil," he said. "Do all Malaysians believe in and place their hope in Jesus? The songwriter should have been more aware of the fact that Malaysia is made up of more than just Christians and has a Muslim majority." Syed pointed out that yet another line says "Yesus engkau lah harapan segala bangsa" (Jesus, you are the hope of all races) and questioned why the lyrics were written as such since Muslims have never worshipped Jesus.
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| LGBT a Jewish agenda, says Perkasa Posted: 17 Oct 2012 01:08 PM PDT
The LGBT is a Jewish agenda being pursued by NGOs in Malaysia in an attempt to attack Muslims'. (fz.com) - Malay rights group Perkasa says LGBT is a Jewish agenda being pursued through NGOs in Malaysia that have received support and funds from international Jewish-run NGOs in an attempt to attack Muslims in countries with a Muslim majority. "This is being done by championing what is forbidden under Islamic law. The enemies of the Jews are Muslims," said Syed Hassan Syed Ali, the secretary-general of the Malay rights group. Their strategy, according to Syed Hassan, is to weaken Muslims by influencing some of them to accept the LGBT culture and thus creating conflict among the Muslims. "Then they will be able to take over an Islamic country because its Muslim community is splintered. "In addition, there are a few political parties from the Malay Muslim community that I am certain, want support for their party," he told fz.com. Therefore, said Syed Hassan, some of the Muslim leaders in this country do not view the legalising of LGBT as a serious enough threat to Islam. "It appears that the Jewish representative in this country has had an early victory when the Muslims in the country are unable to see eye to eye in fighting this social ill," he added. Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs approached by fz.com voiced their concern over the threat LGBT makes to the family institution. Although Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers were slightly hesitant to comment on the matter, they argued that there needs to be a more humane approach to issues concerning the community. Lenggong MP Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah has been consistent in toeing party lines against the LGBT issue in various heated exchanges in Parliament over the matter. He acknowledged that individuals have their rights and freedom to express themselves. But he was against LGBT rights as, according to him, they clearly go against the norms of not only Islam but other religious teachings as well. To him, there is also the question of producing a competitive nation in the future. "It will ruin the institution of family. If we want to build a good nation, it has to be made up of good individuals and a perfect family system, He said that opposition to LGBT always existed but the recent increase in attention to the matter by BN lawmakers stemmed from statements made by PR leaders allegedly in support of the movement. "We had to react because certain leaders were lending their support to this small community. Even if they are comparatively small in number, when supported by political leaders, we are afraid that they will grow," he said. He added: "If we don't tackle it now, it will become something normal in society." Minister for Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Datuk Seri Noh Omar echoed similar sentiments, saying human rights must be observed "within the limits of religion". When asked why the government is focusing on such a small community, the Tanjong Karang MP said that the LGBT issue is just another social ill which can harm the current socio-economic make-up of the nation, and thus must be tackled adequately. "They may be small in number but a culture is like fire. When it is small, they are friendly. When it is big it will fight back," he said, adding that the issue has to be curbed before it gets out of hand. |
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