Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- The credibility of AES
- Launched: Book on polls irregularities
- Don’t be Duped by BN’s Bread and Circuses
- Dr M’s attack on Najib tactical, say analysts
- Perception and relativism
- Negative sentiment takes down Petronas
- Malaysia and Safe Sex
- Khalid Ibrahim says local council reform is top priority
- MCA-DAP bawa ‘agenda besar’, dakwa Hasan Ali
- MB Kedah dedah penyelewengan projek BN
- Mufti Perak: Tegur pemimpin jihad paling besar
- 'Kami bukan Ayatollah', Pas jawab Dr Asri
- MCA: Reveal their location
- PAS Youth holds protest outside Wisma MCA
- The last lap
- Ecuador fears for Assange health, seeks UK safe passage
- Politicians ARE servants of people
- Muhyiddin’s boys target Nov 30
| Posted: 25 Oct 2012 11:02 AM PDT
The PAS-backed Kempen Anti-Saman Ekor uncovered that many of the 831 locations where AES cameras would be set up were incredulous, with some of them located in the middle of the sea and jungle. Lim Sue Goan, Sin Chew Daily The drawbacks and weaknesses of the Automatic Enforcement System (AES) have been gradually revealed and if the Road Transport Department (RTD) does not make a comprehensive review, the AES might not be able to achieve the desired objectives due to the lack of credibility. The PAS-backed Kempen Anti-Saman Ekor (Kase) uncovered that many of the 831 locations where AES cameras would be set up were incredulous, with some of them located in the middle of the sea and jungle. Some Internet users teased that these AES cameras were used to capture speeding fish and beasts. If it is confirmed to be a mistake made by the RTD, it will once again expose the weakness of no proper planning for the AES. It was reported earlier that among the locations where AES cameras would be installed, five of them were located at 30km/h zones and some with inconspicuous or without a signboard to warn motorists about the cameras. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha later said that the 831 locations were only a proposal that could still be reviewed. The problem is, who had provided the information for the authority to examine and determine the locations? Was it the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), the contracted companies or the police? The latter should be the one who knows where traffic accident black areas are located. The AES is a good plan, but it has been continuously questioned, due to a few factors. The people cannot understand why the AES is handed over to private companies, instead of having a group of experts in the Transport Ministry to manage the system. Without having a clear picture about the content of the contracts, the amount of profit earned, the background and qualification of the private companies are speculated. The credibility of the AES reduces when law enforcement is connected to business. The accuracy of the AES has also been questioned. Although Miros claimed that the AES system and instruments are complying with the Weights and Measures Act of Malaysia and all authentication procedures are based on the international standard developed by the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML). However, has it been tested and verified by foreign experts? The AES execution is inhumane and it is not in line with the concept of people first. Motorists receiving AES summonses could only appeal to courts. The Transport Ministry should have considered that some motorists might be innocent, including those whose vehicle registered numbers are embezzled and those who have sold their cars without changing the owner's name. The RTD can actually handle such appeals immediately and it is not necessary to bring them to courts. Most crucially, not like other countries where only the rich can afford to drive, most motorists in Malaysia are middle and low-income earners due to the poor public transport infrastructure. The RM300 flat fine of the AES summonses is absolutely politically incorrect. Since there are so many doubts about the AES, I believe that some motorists will challenge the system in courts, just like some property owners have challenged the Indah Water, and eventually, many people refuse to pay the sewage charges. Since only 14 AES cameras have been installed so far, the Transport Ministry should immediate conduct a comprehensive review to avoid more mistakes when the system is fully implemented. The Transport Ministry can actually learn from the experience of other countries. For example, France stresses on both punishment and education to reduce car accident deaths. The country has installed another 1,000 radar speed detectors in highways of different levels and imposed heavier penalties for speeding. At the same time, the country also strictly enforces traffic laws and driving test, improve road infrastructure and release traffic information through electronic display signs. We can not rely only on a single method or system to reduce road accidents. The AES will not be able to change the outcome, if human factors remain unchanged. |
| Launched: Book on polls irregularities Posted: 25 Oct 2012 11:00 AM PDT
(fz.com) - "We have so many inspirational stories when we look at the Malaysian electoral role. Grandparents rise from the death and vote without visiting their grandchildren, same-gender marriage is allowed the Malaysian armed forces," he said in jest, referring to numerous reported allegations of electoral irregularities. A book on irregularities that occurred during the 16 by-elections since the March 2008 general election has been launched. "Democracy at Stake?, Examining 16 by-elections in Malaysia, 2008-2011" is edited by political scientist and Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Wong Chin Huat and Soon Li Tsin. The short analysis pieces on the series of by-elections, written by journalists, activists and researchers, highlight instances where state resources of both the Barisan National and Pakatan Rakyat were misused for political gain, among other irregularities. Speaking during the book's launch at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall last night, co-editor Wong was quick to point out that the data presented was outdated as there have been allegations of new irregularity on a daily basis. He hopes the book would, however, serve as a reminder of the reality on the ground to both elites and the masses. "We have so many inspirational stories when we look at the Malaysian electoral role. Grandparents rise from the death and vote without visiting their grandchildren, same-gender marriage is allowed the Malaysian armed forces," he said in jest, referring to numerous reported allegations of electoral irregularities. Read more at: http://fz.com/content/launched-book-polls-irregularities |
| Don’t be Duped by BN’s Bread and Circuses Posted: 25 Oct 2012 10:56 AM PDT
Nicole Tan Lee Koon, Secretary, Seremban branch, DAP NS The term "Bread and Circuses" (Latin: panem et circenses) is a figure of speech for a fake sense of satisfaction or the "feel good" factor. In the case of politics, the phrase is used to describe the garnering of public approval through manipulation and/or the instant/quick mere satisfaction of the shallow requirements of the citizens. In other words, as "panadols" for quick fixes. Juvenal (a Roman poet) defined it as "a simplistic motivation of common people". The phrase is taken to describe a populace that no longer values civic virtues and the public life. To politicians, it connotes the winning formula for the survival of the Roman Republic for centuries. Both the Roman Republic and China's Han dynasty lasted for 500 years. The former used "bread and circuses" whilst the latter was an absolute monarchy. Instead of winning the citizens' approval through excellent public service and policies, the Roman Republic gave cheap food and entertainment. The Roman Republic provided the bread and circuses in order to order to keep the Roman citizens from becoming too discontent with their lives. The Roman government provided the citizens with enough food (bread) so they wouldn't starve and enough entertainment (circuses) so they would be amused. Hence, the Romans elected them again and again. BN's breads are the 1Malaysia goodies and handouts (BR1M Part 1 & 2, free tyres for taxi drivers, smart phone allowances for young adults, FELDA's RM15,000, pay rise for civil servants, etc). BN's latest " bread" was announced by Najib : "Najib Announces RM2.98 Billion for Sabah next year" (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/najib-announces-rm2.98b-for-sabah-next-year/). BN's circuses shows are the alphabet soup management (ETP, GTP, NKRA etc); not forgetting tarring the roads before any General elections. Another great circus show was Najib's "groundbreaking" announcement in his Malaysia Day's speech. He said the government shall repeal the 3 Emergency Declarations and the draconian statutes like ISA, Printing Presses and Publications Act and Banishment Food (or bread) for thought : is BN using the age old formula of "Bread and Circuses" to survive another general elections? Are we gullible enough to allow that to happen again? N.B : Steven Sim's article "Is A Country A Brand?" also touches on bread and circuses. |
| Dr M’s attack on Najib tactical, say analysts Posted: 24 Oct 2012 07:56 PM PDT Only the rural Malays will buy the former premier's attempt to rally the electorate behind the ruling coalition with communal politics. Syed Jaymal Zahiid, FMT Dr Mahathir Mohamad's attempt to scare the Malays through communal politicking will not work, said analysts who viewed the former prime minister's recent criticism against the Najib government as "tactical". Yesterday, Dr Mahathir, the influential former Umno president, speaking at the 2012 Malay Economic Congress, called Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration "weak" and hinted that it was making too much concessions to non-Malays. Malaysia's longest-serving premier argued that the country's majority race is now divided and is fast becoming a "beggar" dependent on the support and sympathy of the minorities. This was the second time Mahathir had openly criticised Najib just ahead of the 13th general election, but he said current premier cannot take the blame alone. He cited Malay disunity as key to the current government's predicament. Political observers noted that Mahathir's strategy had often been used in the past, but the tactic may still be effective in driving the Malays away from the opposition. "This is apparently a scare tactic. It may work on the rural Malays but not the urban Malays," said analyst James Chin of Monash University. "If you look at the key institutions of the government, they are still held by the Malays," he said, adding that much of Mahathir's race rhetoric has the least impact on an informed and decided electorate. But Chin agreed with the view that Mahathir's attack on Najib may not all be strategic and that the former premier, who was instrumental in the ousting of the latter's predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, is indeed unhappy with some of the current government's policies.
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| Posted: 24 Oct 2012 07:05 PM PDT Now, before we embark upon this part of our discussion, let us first be clear about the difference between needs and wants. The NEP is supposed to satisfy our needs. It is not about pandering to our wants. Needs are necessities. Wants is greed. We have to understand the difference or else we can never come to a consensus as to whether the NEP has succeeded or has failed. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin The Great Hudud Debate is still raging. And it will continue to burn right into the next general election and beyond mainly because we are standing on different platforms to debate this issue. In short, we are not on the same page and unless we get onto the same page it is impossible to come to any consensus. The proponents of Hudud are using the religious/theological platform to forward their views. The opponents are using the legal/constitutional platform. How can any consensus ever be reached unless the proponents and opponents first come to an agreement as to whether they want to debate Hudud as a religious/theological issue or as a legal/constitutional issue? This is the first bridge we need to cross and unless we can cross that first bridge there is no way we can hope to cross the second bridge -- that is reach a consensus on Hudud itself. Are the politicians from both sides of the political fence really that stupid? Or are they actually very clever and that is why they are able to confuse Malaysians by debating an issue using different 'wavelengths' knowing that the debate will continue indefinitely with no resolution possible? It could be that the politicians are not stupid but are very clever. They are not really seeking a resolution. They just want this debate to go on forever as a convenient political weapon that can be resurrected every time a general election comes along. If they come to a consensus then the issue would be resolved and it can no longer be used as a political weapon. Hence better that they continue this debate as it is and keep using it again and again. If we use the religious/theological platform to debate Hudud then the proponents of Hudud are right. If we use the legal/constitutional platform then the opponents of Hudud are right. In other words, both sides are right and both sides are wrong. In other words, also, there is no absolute right and absolute wrong. Right and wrong are mere perceptions and relative to the comparison you are using. It all depends on what you are comparing it to. But when we use absolution we will always see right as wrong or wrong as right, a mere perception we have created in our minds. I know at this point I may have 'lost' some of you, especially those who admit that they read only part of my articles and then start posting a comment as if they fully understand my message. Yes, there are a lot of those types of readers in Malaysia Today. They read just the heading or just a few paragraphs and then come to a conclusion as to what they think I am trying to say and then start posting comments. We have to grasp the fundamentals of the concept I am talking about -- perception and relativism -- if we want to comprehend what I am saying. I am not sure how to demonstrate how this concept works to make you better understand it but allow me to try. A few nights ago, I looked up to the sky and told my wife how beautiful the moon looked. It was so round and so bright. The moon also appeared so much bigger here in Manchester than back in Kuala Lumpur. A couple of weeks ago, if I had looked up to the sky, I would have told my wife, "There is no moon tonight." Actually, a couple of weeks ago, if I had looked up to the sky and told my wife, 'There is no moon tonight," I would have been wrong. There was a moon. The only thing is I could not see it. Hence my correct statement should have been, "The moon is there but we can't see it." The moon is always there. It is never not there. Sometimes we can't see it. Sometimes we see it as a half moon. And sometimes we see it as a full moon. But how we see the moon is subject to how the sun's light is reflected onto the moon. The 'existence' of the moon, therefore, is subject to the sun. Without the sun there would not be a moon the way we perceive it. The moon looks beautiful/romantic only because the sun makes it look beautiful/romantic. So the moon is very dependent upon the sun for its beauty. On its own the moon is 'powerless' to radiate its beauty. Hence the moon cannot exist in isolation. The moon can only exist if the sun exists or else it will be 'invisible' and therefore 'non-existent'. Without the sun no lovers can walk in the romantic moonlight. In fact, they are not even walking in the romantic moonlight. They are walking in the romantic sunlight reflected onto the moon and bounced back to earth. My point in this moonlight example is: how do you see things? Do you see things as you want to see them or in relation to something else? Even the so-called moonlight is not what you think it is. But are you able to see it for what it is (meaning sunlight) or do you see it for what you think it is (meaning moonlight)? Okay, next example. You may have noticed over the last few days the Malay Chamber of Commerce, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, etc., were all talking about the economic situation of the Bumiputeras. I will not go into the details because I think you know what I am referring to. So maybe I can use that as my second example. The consensus of the Malay businessmen and the Malay politicians is that the Bumiputeras have not quite succeeded as the government and the Malay Chamber of Commerce had hoped they would since the launch of the New Economic Policy (NEP) 42 years ago in 1970. This statement is both right and wrong. Again, as in the Hudud debate, there is no absolute right and absolute wrong. When you talk about the economic success of the Bumiputeras what are you comparing it to? If you are comparing the current economic success of the Malays to what it used to be in the 1950s, or pre-Merdeka, then the Malays have certainly come a long way. They have improved in leaps and bounds. But if you are comparing the economic success of the Malays to that of the non-Malays, in particular the Chinese, then the Malays are definitely being left far behind. Now, when the NEP was launched, what was the objective of that policy? The policy had dual objectives. One was to reduce the gap between the haves and the haves-not. The other was to reduce the differential between the various races. So, in that sense, it is not a 'Malay' policy. But the NEP was not only about the creation of wealth. It also included many other issues or targets such as housing, financial security, employment, education, health, etc. In short, the NEP was not just about more money in the pockets but about a better quality of life, and not just for the Malays. Now, before we embark upon this part of our discussion, let us first be clear about the difference between needs and wants. The NEP is supposed to satisfy our needs. It is not about pandering to our wants. Needs are necessities. Wants is greed. We have to understand the difference or else we can never come to a consensus as to whether the NEP has succeeded or has failed. We need clothes on our back. We need a roof over our head. We need food on the table. We do not need a Porsche. We do not need a RM10 million mansion on a hill. We do not need USD150,000 Birkin handbags. Those are what we want, not what we need. Okay, so have the Malays improved economically since 55 years ago? Are more Malays educated and receive better health care now compared to 55 years ago? If you are comparing the Malays of today to the Malays of 55 years ago then certainly the Malays have benefited from the NEP and have a better quality of life now than they did 55 years ago. But then the Malay Chamber of Commerce and the Malay politicians are not comparing the Malays of today to the Malays of 55 years ago. If they did then Umno/Barisan Nasional has succeeded in improving the lot of the Malays. They are comparing the Malays of today to the non-Malays of today, in particular the Chinese. And if you use that comparison then the Malays are definitely still left far behind. So which comparison is a fair comparison then? Should we compare Malays to Malays -- Malays of today to the Malays of 55 years ago? Or should we compare Malays to non-Malays -- Malays of today to the Chinese of today? This is the same argument as: do we talk about Hudud as a religious/theological issue or as a legal/constitutional issue? Hence my first example regarding the moon. Do we look at the moon in isolation and gauge its beauty by the light, roundness and size? Or do we look at the moon in relation to the sun and understand that its beauty is subject to the reflection of the sun? And would lovers no longer find it romantic to walk in the moonlight once they understand that the moonlight is actually the sunlight and not the moonlight because the moon has no light? We Malaysians love to quarrel and argue. And we pretend that all these quarrels and arguments are actually intelligent and intellectual debates. But we never get to resolve these conflicts because we are arguing about the opposite sides of the same coin but think we are both seeing the same side of the coin. Hence debates related to race, religion, politics, development, the economy, etc., would go unresolved. And the politicians know this. It is not that they don't. For example, Umno and Barisan Nasional will compare Malaysia of 55 years ago to Malaysia today to argue that the government has succeeded in bringing development and prosperity to Malaysians. Okay, if you compare Malaysia 55 years ago to Malaysia today then I have no disagreement with that argument. Certainly Malaysia has improved in leaps and bounds. But what if I use another comparison? What if I compare Malaysia today to what Malaysia could have been had the country been better managed these last 55 years, or even just these last 30 years? Using that scenario would we see a highly successful Malaysia or a less successful Malaysia? Note I have not used the phrase 'a successful Malaysia' to 'a not successful (meaning failed) Malaysia'. Instead, I have used the phrase 'a highly successful Malaysia' to 'a less successful Malaysia'. In the first comparison I would be comparing success to failure. In the second comparison I am saying that both are successes, only that one is more successful than the other. Hence, even if I want to agree with the government that Malaysia is a success and not a failure, I can still argue about the degree of success -- and 'less successful' compared to 'more successful' can be interpreted as failure. The government is right in that Malaysia today is successful if compared to Malaysia 55 years ago. I am also right when I say that Malaysia today could have been better had it been better run so in that sense it is not successful. The government is both right and wrong while I am also both right and wrong. What makes right become wrong and wrong become right all depends on what comparisons we are using and what yardstick we use to measure success and failure. So, are the Malays successful or unsuccessful? Did the government do a good job or a bad job? Is Hudud a religious/theological issue or a legal/constitutional issue? Is the moonlight beautiful and romantic or is it merely the sunlight reflected on the moon that gives an appearance/impression it is beautiful and romantic? Yes, I know, this article is already so cheong hei. Actually I can write another 20 pages if I want to but I know most of you have no time for proper discussions. You only want to read articles that whack people and call people all sort of nasty names. So I will stop here and conclude this article by saying: don't waste your time arguing about Hudud or the NEP or whatever. This argument has no ending unless we first agree what platform we are using in debating these issues. Unless the platform is resolved then the debate is a non-starter. How to resolve anything when one talks about the cruelty to the dog while the other talks about the colour of the dog collar? |
| Negative sentiment takes down Petronas Posted: 24 Oct 2012 05:47 PM PDT
(Jakarta Post) - Malaysia-based oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has suspended most of its gasoline stations in Indonesia amid depressed sales, a move seen by many as partly influenced by persistent negative public sentiment toward the neighboring country. Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's downstream director Umi Asngadah said on Wednesday that 15 out of 19 Petronas fuel stations had been closed down.
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| Posted: 24 Oct 2012 05:45 PM PDT  Slip a condom on, in the condominium(Asia Sentinel) - As a conservative Islamic society, Malaysia frets over teenage sex and the spate of unplanned babies left on doorsteps by unwed young mothers. Read more at: http://asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4926&Itemid=189 |
| Khalid Ibrahim says local council reform is top priority Posted: 24 Oct 2012 04:21 PM PDT
Amin Iskandar, The Malaysian Insider Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim vows to reform local councils and make it Selangor government's topmost priority if he is re-elected to lead the state. "I want to reform the local councils, but I am pressed for time." "Local councils should be the state government's operator in managing cities, and should have the ability to create an environment where citizens can feel that they own the city," Abdul Khalid (picture) told The Malaysian Insider in a recent interview. According to Abdul Khalid, he wants Selangor citizens to be proud of their cities, much like Londoners. "To have a great city, we need a great mayor, just like how Londoners are proud of their mayor, the one with the uncombed hair," he said. London Mayor Boris Johnson is well-known for his unruly hair, and has become the pride of Londoners after the city successfully organised the 2012 Olympic Games. According to Abdul Khalid, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is among the best local councils in Selangor, in addition to having the highest revenue. "I recently launched a report about MBPJ which collects revenue of nearly RM300 million. The majority of residents in MBPJ are also graduates, with reasonable income. "The problem, however, is that currently Petaling Jaya residents do not feel that the city is theirs, they see Kuala Lumpur as theirs instead, and Petaling Jaya is only a place where they go home for the night. "This is what I want to change, so Petaling Jaya residents can feel that Petaling Jaya is theirs," he explained. Abdul Khalid believes that in order to reform local councils, there was a need to change the public's mindset over their role. "When we involve the public in the discussions to develop a city, they will feel a sense of ownership and will not hesitate to pay any fees or taxes needed for the good of the council. "They will feel proud if their city is clean and safe, proud of its cultural performances and sports teams, football teams, for example," he added.
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| MCA-DAP bawa ‘agenda besar’, dakwa Hasan Ali Posted: 24 Oct 2012 04:10 PM PDT
Nizam Zain, Sinar Harian Bekas Pesuruhjaya Pas Selangor, Datuk Dr Hasan Ali mendakwa MCA dan DAP mempunyai "agenda besar" di sebalik pendirian kedua-dua parti itu dalam soal hukum hudud. Secara tidak langsung kata beliau, ia mampu menarik sokongan masyarakat Cina kepada MCA dan DAP disebabkan pandangan dan kritikan yang dilontarkan pimpinan mereka selari dengan kehendak, kemahuan dan tuntutan masyarakat berketurunan Cina.
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| MB Kedah dedah penyelewengan projek BN Posted: 24 Oct 2012 04:04 PM PDT
Roslinda Hashim, Sinar Harian Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak mengambil pendekatan 'menyerang balik' pemimpin Barisan Nasional (BN) yang sejak kebelakangan ini sering menyalahkan Kerajaan Negeri, terutama dirinya berhubung dakwaan penyelewengan, berdasarkan Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2011. Beliau yang sebelum ini mengambil sikap berdiam diri, kini tampil mendedahkan empat projek bawah kerajaan BN yang gagal sehingga menyebabkan Kerajaan Negeri menanggung beban hutang yang banyak.
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| Mufti Perak: Tegur pemimpin jihad paling besar Posted: 24 Oct 2012 04:00 PM PDT
Robiatuladawiyah Abd Rashad, Sinar Harian Mufti Perak, Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria berkata, menjadi satu keperluan untuk menegur pemimpin yang gagal menjalankan tanggungjawabnya dengan baik dan ia juga harus dianggap sebagai satu "jihad paling besar." Beliau berkata, tugas itu wajib kepada semua umat Islam terutama yang mempunyai kelebihan. "Golongan ulama memang perlu tegur pemimpin, saya juga tegur pemimpin, hampir ke semua Perdana Menteri pernah saya tegur termasuk Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (Mursyidul Am Pas). "Memetik hadis Nabi, menasihati pemimpin yang zalim adalah jihad yang paling besar. "Tugas itu perlu dimainkan oleh semua orang tetapi selalunya dilihat sebagai tugas ulama kerana mereka mempunyai kelebihan," katanya kepada Sinar Harian. Menurut beliau, kelebihan itu bukan sahaja daripada ilmu yang dimiliki ulama terbabit tetapi termasuklah peluang yang lebih mudah untuk bertemu dan bercakap dengan pemimpin itu. Kelmarin, bekas Mufti Perlis, Prof Madya Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin berpendapat boleh menegur pemimpin tetapi perlu secara tertib. "Kritik kesalahan dan pengurusan itu tapi pilih perkataan yang elok seperti manusia yang bertamadun. Sebut perkataan yang tegas dan bermaksud," katanya pada siri Wacana Sinar Harian ke-15 bertajuk Peranan Ulama Menasihati Pemimpin. Harrussani berkata, ada orang menggunakan medan syarahan atau media massa menegur pemimpin. Katanya, teguran yang dibuat perlulah secara beradap dan tidak menyinggung perasaan individu yang ditegur itu. "Semua orang ada egonya, jadi adalah lebih baik menggunakan cara yang bersesuaian untuk menegur orang itu supaya tidak mengguris hatinya. "Kalau kita mahu tegur cara tugas mereka, boleh menulis surat untuk menasihatinya dan jika punya kesempatan, bertemu secara terus adalah lebih baik," katanya. Katanya, mereka yang menegur seseorang itu melalui ucapan dianggap sebagai mengumpat. "Kita tidak perlu menegur orang itu sehingga memberi aib kepadanya. Gunakan cara yang lebih diplomasi," katanya.
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| 'Kami bukan Ayatollah', Pas jawab Dr Asri Posted: 24 Oct 2012 03:57 PM PDT
Nurul Aini Mohamaed Ali, Sinar Harian Pas memberi jaminan tidak akan sama sekali akan menjadi pemimpin-pemimpin bergelaran Ayatollah Iran jika diberi mandat memerintah Kerajaan Pusat kelak kerana parti komponen Pakatan Rakyat (PR) itu sentiasa mengamalkan sikap terbuka kepada semua pihak tanpa mengira fahaman politik. Sambil menghargai pandangan bekas Mufti Perlis, Prof Madya Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, pemimpin-pemimpin Pas yang dihubungi Sinar Harian Online berkata parti berusia lebih enam dekad itu tidak pernah mengamalkan pendekatan tutup pintu kepada pandangan dan teguran mana-mana pihak. Ayatollah adalah gelaran tertinggi diberikan kepada ulama Syiah Iran. Mengulas teguran Asri itu, Naib Presiden Pas, Datuk Mahfuz Omar berkata, sekiranya diberi mandat memerintah Putrajaya kelak, mereka tidak akan sekali-kali menjadi seperti pimpinan Ayatollah. Katanya, sedia ditegur dan dikritik akan terus menjadi asas perjuangan parti itu. "Saya rasa Dr Asri sekadar membuat peringatan yang jujur dan ikhlas, tiada niat lain dan saya hargai peringatan yang diberi itu. "Jika dilihat sekarang ini pun, media arus perdana hari ini kerap memutar belit fakta yang kami beri, tetapi kami tidak pernah melenting, malah memberi reaksi yang baik dan sentiasa positif," kata beliau. Kelmarin, Asri, yang dari semasa ke semasa menganalisis perjalanan politik negara, menggesa Pas agar tidak mengamalkan pendekatan politik negara Teluk itu jika berjaya mandat memerintah Putrajaya kelak. Bagaimanapun beliau tidak memberi contoh khusus yang berkemungkinan Pas akan menjadi sebagai kepimpinan Ayatollah. Beliau berkata, kalau ada yang bermentaliti bahawa orang agama yang berkuasa tidak boleh ditegur, negara akan menjadi lebih korup dari sekarang. "Saya rasa ini satu masalah dalam Pas, masalah sekarang ini, Pas belum menjadi pemerintah, tetapi kalau kita tidak bahas hari ini, kita akan jadi seperti Iran, yang mana pemimpinnya Ayatollah tidak boleh ditegur dan disentuh," katanya. Mahfuz yang juga Ahli Parlimen Pokok Sena berkata, tidak perlu melihat terlalu jauh atau melihat corak pemerintahan Pas di masa hadapan, corak pemerintahan Pas sekarang ini pun tidak pernah mengambil sikap 'tutup pintu' jika dikritik mana-mana pihak. "Kami pun sedia maklum, bukan semua pemimpin Pas mahir dan arif dalam semua perkara, justeru teguran juga penting," katanya. Beliau juga menambah, jika teguran yang dibuat itu merupakan sesuatu yang baik, mereka sedia menerima walaupun berbeza faham politik. Seorang lagi Naib Presidennya, Salahuddin Ayub turut sepakat dengan Mahfuz menyatakan parti itu sentiasa terbuka untuk menerima sebarang kritikan daripada mana-mana pihak. "Berdasarkan pengalaman saya dalam Pas, mana-mana ahli bebas memberi pandangan dan teguran masing-masing kerana kami sentiasa berpaksikan semangat demokrasi. "Jika dalam mesyuarat perwakilan atau mesyuarat bulanan, semua ahli bebas memberi kritikan kepada pemimpin, tiada masalah," katanya. Beliau juga menambah yang rata-rata keputusan yang dibuat oleh parti itu juga adalah berdasarkan teguran. "Cara ini kami telah amalkan sejak lama dulu dan setakat ini, kami sentiasa terbuka dan saya rasa tidak mungkin kami akat bersikap seperti Ayatollah jika memerintah Putrajaya kelak," tegas beliau tetapi pada masa yang sama menghargai teguran Asri semalam terhadap Pas. Katanya, ia satu peringatan positif.
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| Posted: 24 Oct 2012 03:04 PM PDT
(The Star) - Selangor MCA has demanded for details on an Opposition MP's claim that the Opposition-led state government had built 23,637 affordable houses for the rakyat. Selangor MCA chief Datuk Donald Lim said he wanted Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and the state government to reveal the location of these houses and who were eligible to buy them. Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday, Lim, who is Deputy Finance Minister, said information on these affordable houses should be advertised in newspapers, including the criteria on eligible buyers. On Tuesday in the Dewan Rakyat, Lim accused the state government of failing to build any affordable houses for the people since it took over in 2008. His comment led Tony Pua (DAP Petaling Jaya Utara) to protest that Lim was misleading the Dewan with his statement. Pua said the state government had built a total of 23,637 units of affordable houses priced at below RM100,000 each. Lim said recent data revealed in the Selangor state assembly showed that the state government built "very little" affordable houses that it was "almost nothing". Based on the data, only 287 out of the 23,637 units are completely built and occupied while 16,998 have yet to be constructed. The rest are still under construction. Lim urged Pua to check his facts and hoped the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) would change its policy on housing.
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| PAS Youth holds protest outside Wisma MCA Posted: 24 Oct 2012 02:58 PM PDT Protest note: Tan (left) receiving the memorandum from Khairul (third from left) at Wisma MCA. Looking on are PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akhin (second from right) and PAS information chief Idris Ahmad (second from left). (The Star) - A group of PAS Youth members held a protest outside Wisma MCA to demand an apology from party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek over his statement on hudud. PAS Youth secretary Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil claimed that Dr Chua had "gone overboard" by saying that 1.2 million people would be jobless if hudud were to be implemented in the country. "He also stated last week that eight of 11 countries that implemented hudud were known to be corrupt, unstable and unsafe. This statement has hurt the sensitivities and beliefs of Muslims in the country and is highly inappropriate," he said after submitting a memorandum demanding an apology, which was received by MCA Youth secretariat officer Leonard Tan Soon Huat. The memorandum also urged Dr Chua to respond or publicly apologise within a week, failing which PAS Youth would seek an audience with the King. Tan told reporters later that he would submit the memorandum to the MCA central committee for the next course of action.
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| Posted: 24 Oct 2012 02:50 PM PDT
Three factors will, however, clinch the elections for Pakatan. One is the voters' current restless mood. They are tired of the wait – never has the people of this country waited for so long, and they have been dragged along like a puppet on a string by the Prime Minister. ZAID UNTUK RAKYAT On the advice of my doctor, I've been avoiding stressful activities for several months. Now I feel sufficiently rested to start writing again. Just the other day, Selangor UMNO confidently predicted that it would win 32 seats in the upcoming General Election, while an UMNO Division leader from Kelantan told me that the Barisan Nasional already had 28 seats in the bag. These assessments by BN leaders are wildly unrealistic. Taken with the Prime Minister's desperate plan to dispense another round of cash handouts in January, I am now convinced more than ever that the Pakatan Rakyat will form the government after the next General Election. Elections are around the corner and in racing parlance the contestants are now "in the straight". In this last stretch, it's important for parties not to make mistakes. The winner will, in fact, be the one who makes the least number of errors during this last lap. The BN has an easier task in this respect because there are only one or two leaders who are allowed to speak for the Government. Most of the time it's the Prime Minister, who takes centre stage on TV and in the newspapers. Even Rosmah has been kept quiet and is less visible nowadays. Pakatan, on the other hand, is less structured, and Parliamentarians in the PR coalition can say anything they want. This can give rise to costly mistakes, unless they refrain themselves from making controversial statements, especially on Islamic issues. Three factors will, however, clinch the elections for Pakatan. One is the voters' current restless mood. They are tired of the wait – never has the people of this country waited for so long, and they have been dragged along like a puppet on a string by the Prime Minister. While the Westminster model gives the PM the discretion to dissolve Parliament, it was not placed there for him to show off this power. It was meant to enable the PM to call for elections when all participating parties are ready, and when other stakeholders like the election monitoring group and the police are ready. When all parties are ready a date should be announced a year or so before elections are held. This collective readiness will ensure the people's maximum participation, which will hopefully result in a genuine mandate for the next government. That's what the PM's discretion in fixing the date is for. It's not a trick to be used to gain an unfair advantage over opponents. It's not meant to be used as a tool to surprise, tire or bankrupt them. The BN will pay a heavy price for this dilly-dallying, as the people are not amused. The second factor in Pakatan's favour is their obvious strength in Peninsular Malaysia. With the exception of Johor and Melaka, BN parties are struggling everywhere. The state governments of the four Pakatan states have done well in the last four years, and there is no reason for them to lose. Lim Guan Eng and Khalid Ibrahim have shown incredible strength in managing the two important states, despite all of the BN's efforts to topple them. Pakatan are also making strong gains in Terengganu, Perak and even in Pahang. I believe they will have majority seats in the Peninsular and that should be enough for them to be in the comfortable front row to negotiate with East Malaysian Parliamentarians as to who should form the Federal Government. There is no love lost in politics.
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| Ecuador fears for Assange health, seeks UK safe passage Posted: 24 Oct 2012 02:40 PM PDT (Reuters) - Ecuador is worried about the health of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and has asked Britain to guarantee him safe passage from its London embassy to hospital if he needs medical treatment, a senior Ecuadorean diplomat said in Moscow. Assange, an Australian, has been holed up inside Ecuador's embassy in central London since June to avoid extradition to Sweden to face rape and sexual assault allegations. British authorities say Assange will be arrested if he sets foot outside the embassy. The apartment building, located just behind London's famed Harrods department store, is under constant police surveillance. "Assange has grown noticeably thinner, and we are very concerned about his health," Voice of Russia radio quoted Vice Foreign Minister Marco Albuja Martinez as saying in comments confirmed by the Ecuadorean embassy in Moscow. "If he falls ill, we will have to choose between two alternatives: to treat Assange in the embassy or hospitalize him," Albuja Martinez said. "This is a very serious situation and it can affect Assange's human rights." Ecuador has asked the British Foreign Office for a document that would enable Assange to enter hospital safely if necessary and return to the embassy with refugee status, the Voice of Russia quoted Albuja Martinez as saying. The Foreign Office said it was unaware of Assange's health problems. "Ecuador have not told us that Mr Assange is ill. However, were they to do so, we would consider the matter," said a Foreign Office spokesman. Ecuador granted Assange asylum in August and said it shared his fears that he could face charges in the United States over the publication by WikiLeaks in 2010 of thousands of secret US diplomatic cables. When he appeared on a balcony of the building to address supporters in August, Assange appeared tanned and in good health. But a BBC reporter who saw him recently described him as "a very pale man" in a story broadcast on Sunday. Assange broke the conditions of his bail when he entered the embassy after running out of legal options to avoid being sent to Sweden. Speaking about the safe passage request he said Ecuador had lodged with the Foreign Office, Albuja Martinez said his country was pleased that Britain "did not reject it outright". "We will not put pressure on them and will patiently await an answer, so that Assange can receive medical treatment if necessary," he was quoted as saying in Moscow.
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| Politicians ARE servants of people Posted: 24 Oct 2012 02:34 PM PDT Politicians who refuse to digest the truth that their bona fide political masters are the rakyat have no business calling themselves as 'wakil rakyat'. The bitter truth is that politicians like Nazri and Shahrizat very conveniently dismissed the fact that they are nothing more than servants of the rakyat; all because a red carpet is rolled out each time they attend an event does not make them important, in the true sense of the word. Jeswan Kaur, FMT Veteran politician Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz has gone on record to say that he is a very important person and is very influential, proving to the rakyat that his self-conceit has blinded him to the very essence of serving the rakyat. This "interesting" remark came about after Nazri told FMT last Friday that he had no hand in the outcome of the criminal investigation involving his son Mohamed Nedim. On March 20, Mohamed Nedim made news for the wrong reason when he allegedly assaulted a security supervisor at a luxury condominium. It, however, did not take long for the incident to die a natural death when the Home Ministry on Oct 17 declared Mohamed Nazri's son innocent, shifting the blame on Mohamed Nedim's former bodyguard instead. The Brickfields district police chief Wan Abdul Bari was then quoted as saying: "This is a minor case. We have already completed investigation. I do not know why and how another person (Mohamad Nedim) was dragged into this. It is a clear-cut case involving a bodyguard and a security guard." Mohamed Nedim was also cleared of any wrongdoing that led to the murder of one Darren Kang at the Uncle Don restaurant in Sri Hartamas in 2004. In Malaysia's "Bolehland", such verdicts no longer shock the rakyat. What, however, gets their goat is when politicians like Nazri no longer show any interest in looking after the people's welfare. Instead, Nazri's pompous claim that "I am very important person and am very influential" is a slap in the face of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's "people first" propaganda. No politician, no matter his years of experience in politics, should have the audacity to brag of being important and influential, for doing so only reflects his insincerity in serving the rakyat. It appears that Nazri, the de facto law minister, is either ungrateful or has forgotten who his real "masters" are, that is, the people of this nation; a shame that 40 over long years in politics failed to humble him. Politicians are servants of the rakyat Had Nazri, the Padang Rengas MP, not received the rakyat's trust, would he and his family be leading the life of the rich and famous, with his son Mohamed Nedim painting the town red in his luxurious Porsche and armed with his father's business cards? Did the rakyat choose Nazri as their representative so that he could one day boast of his so-called eminence and power? If Nazri is one of the many politicians whose arrogance supersedes the original agenda of working for the people, it is time the rakyat rejected the likes of him. It is amazing how politicians of this country waste no time upon joining politics in amassing a fortune. With mansions for home and a fleet of luxury cars to boot, these politicians get busy "working" for themselves and not the rakyat. Prior to this, it was Mohamed Salleh Ismail, chairman of National Feedlot Corporation and husband of former women, family and community development minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who allegedly misused the RM250 million government loan meant for cattle breeding to purchase upscale condominiums in the affluent Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, and in Singapore besides buying a posh Mercedes Benz and two plots of land in Putrajaya. Shahrizat then defended herself from allegations of being an "accomplice" by virtue of her being a minister by saying that she and her family led independent lives, each having no idea what the other person was up to. Did the rakyat buy Shahrizat's feckless retort? Far from it as the public furore that ensued resulted in Shahrizat's senatorship not being renewed, forcing her on April 8 to vacant her minister's seat and trying hard to remain politically relevant as Wanita Umno chief. The bitter truth is that politicians like Nazri and Shahrizat very conveniently dismissed the fact that they are nothing more than servants of the rakyat; all because a red carpet is rolled out each time they attend an event does not make them important, in the true sense of the word. On the contrary, the red carpet and VIP treatment is simply a gesture of respect from the humble rakyat which the politicians have sadly taken for granted.
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| Muhyiddin’s boys target Nov 30 Posted: 24 Oct 2012 02:29 PM PDT According to Muhyiddin Yassin's camp, campaigning in December will give BN a strategic advantage, given that the middle-class and Christians will be distracted. Toffee Rodrigo, FMT Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin's boys want the general election this year. They are pushing Muhyiddin to pressure Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to dissolve Parliament by Nov 30. Muhyiddin's supporters feel Nov 30 should be the latest date, or else Umno and Barisan Nasional will be in trouble. According to them, campaigning in December will give BN a strategic advantage. The strategic advantage they are talking about is in East Malaysia. A December poll, they believe, will give the Christians (read opposition) less time to campaign, they will be busy with Christmas and have little time to dwell on politics. And this will be good for the BN as far as Sarawak is concerned as the natives will be also too busy with the festivities to seek out the alternative media. They will thus depend on the propaganda dished out by the government-controlled mass media especially the radio and TV. In West Malaysia, the middle class, which is seen to be anti-establishment, will be busy taking holidays. Many of them may not be around even to vote if the election is called in December. And this is what BN needs to win back states like Selangor and Penang. The Christians in West Malaysia, too, will have little time having to prepare for Christmas, schooling for the children and holidays and may not be around in their respective constituencies. Muhyddin may get the boot Najib, on the other hand, does not think so. He believes he is gaining ground with the Christians and needs their support. Najib reckons MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek's peddling of the hudud around every nook and corner will compel Christians to opt for the BN even though many in their ranks deplore the BN. Now within Umno there are two groups with different views. Muhyiddin's supporters are convinced that Najib is just wasting time as he knows this is his last term. Muhyiddin himself is growing increasingly frustrated. He is confident of an even worse showing for Umno-BN than in 2008. He is sure to make moves to push Najib out sooner than later. Najib, meanwhile, is fully aware of his plight but does not see himself being ousted the way former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi went. Najib is as such preparing to remove Muhyiddin from the deputy's position and has in mind Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to replace him. Najib believes Zahid has done a good job in handling the Suaram onslaught against him and he wants to reward Zahid. And Najib has precedence to support him.
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From far right: co-editors Soon Li Tsin, Wong Chin Huat and Pak Samad flanked by the panel speakers. 
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