Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Doc goes on hunger strike
- Explain, Bersih 2.0 tells ‘bad boy’ Tian
- MCLM candidate steps down
- ‘Respect Sabahan nativity’
- PR says no to 'problem-ridden', 'costly' biometric system
- PM announces 7th NKRA - tackling rising living costs
- RCI + inquest = ‘big, big mess’
- BN MPs want more funds ahead of polls
- Tussle over UDA’s plans for Pudu Jail
- Muslim women barred from working as GROs in Kuantan
- Teoh’s death: ‘Four new leads for police’
- EC no. 2 grilled in public over 'powerless' claim
- Is BN injecting ‘voters’ into Sarawak?
- Punish Bersih or risk losing support, Utusan warns BN
- Kuan Yew warns of two-party system pitfalls
- The ghosts of Mahathirism
- Ambiga wants non-partisan committee for electoral reform
- Ahead of polls, Najib’s last card is the budget
| Posted: 27 Jul 2011 06:33 PM PDT Dr Michael D Jeyakumar's wife reveals that the PSM leader will go on a hunger strike until all the six are charged or freed. (Free Malaysia Today) - Detained PSM leader Dr Michael D Jeyakumar has started a hunger strike since this morning until all the six party activists held under the Emergency Ordinance are released or charged, said his wife today. R Mohana Rani, who had tried to change her husband's mind, said the police have not budged from their original stand despite the PSM six cooperating during interrogation. "He (Jeyakumar) believes that the police and government have their own agenda and aims. "He has given his full cooperation since being remanded," she told FMT, adding that her husband signed three reports, including a 45-page report in Penang where he was first arrested. Now, the authorities had prepared an 80-page report, but Jeyakumar decided not to sign it as he considered the investigation futile. Apart from the Sungai Siput MP, the others under detention are PSM deputy president M Sarasvathy, central committee members Choo Chon Kai and M Sukumaran, Youth chief R Saratbabu and Sungai Siput branch secretary A Letchumanan. They were arrested in Kepala Batas on June 26 while distributing leaflets calling on the public to support Bersih 2.0′s demands for free and fair elections. The authorities later accused them of waging war against the King. They were then re-arrested on July 2 under the EO which allows the police to detain suspects for up to 60 days. Meanwhile, PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan could not confirm if Jeyakumar had started his hunger strike.
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| Explain, Bersih 2.0 tells ‘bad boy’ Tian Posted: 27 Jul 2011 03:40 PM PDT
Tian Chua finds himself in the hot seat following a Bersih 2.0 video of him charging at the FRU. (Free Malaysia Today) - PKR vice-president Tian Chua has been asked to explain a video clip that clearly showed him leading a charge at the FRU during the Bersih rally on July 9. The clip (below) showed the crowd facing off with the police at the KL Sentral tunnel moments before multiple rounds of tear gas were fired at them. Tian Chua was seen standing in the front while the Bersih 2.0 leaders were seen urging the crowd to move back. Then Tian Chua counted down from three to one and led a charge straight at the FRU who fired at them. The clip was uploaded by Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Haris Ibrahim on his blog earlier today. The blog post entitled, "Confirmed: Tian Chua was a bad, bad boy!" demanded an explanation from the Batu MP. "Tian Chua, you have some serious explaining to do," Haris wrote. "You showed disrespect to the Bersih 2.0 leadership that was present there, especially (Bersih 2.0 chairperson) Ambiga (Sreenevasan) and you were leading the rally. "More importantly you took it upon yourself to alter a peaceful rally to one of aggression, and in doing so, put many out there at risk to life and limb," he said. Tian Chua declines to comment When contacted, Tian Chua declined to comment on the video and repeated his earlier statement that he would only respond to an official police charge against him. "I don't think it it appropriate for me to comment on this video clip," he said. "If the police have evidence then they should charge me and I will defend myself in court." The clip however was included in the police version of the Bersih rally. That version was screened to the media last week during which the police pointed out that Tian Chua had provoked them into firing the tear gas. "I'm very troubled by the video," Haris told FMT. "When I saw the line of FRU on that day I suggested to Ambiga that we ask the crowd to sit and that the Bersih 2.0 leaders peacefully approach the FRU. "I didn't hear the countdown nor the call to charge. All I heard was the sound of shooting. Two days later eye-witnesses told me about Tian Chua's actions, I read FMT's report of the police screening and I recently received this video clip," he said. Bersih 2.0 leaders condemned the police for the unprovoked firing but an upset Haris pointed out that Tian Chua's actions now exonerated the FRU and validated police claims of crowd aggression. uFWduXFANAI
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| Posted: 27 Jul 2011 03:03 PM PDT
Haslinah Yacob bows out of MCLM due to a clash of priorities and unpreparedness for politics. (Free Malaysia Today) - The Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) has lost one of its four candidates for the 13th general election after Haslinah Yacob withdrew her candidacy last month. Haslinah, who was introduced as MCLM's third candidate in January, was the movement's first female candidate and was scheduled for deployment with the others in March. The 49-year-old former Awam president was reportedly handpicked by MCLM president Haris Ibrahim for her dedication to grassroots and advocacy work on women's rights and empowerment. FMT understands that she was slated to contest in Wangsa Maju where she would have faced incumbent Wee Choo Keong. However, Haslinah decided that she was unprepared for the political arena and informed the movement that she was pulling out last month. "I made the mistake of taking on two new things this year; the candidacy in January and the opening of a women's shelter in April," she told FMT. "Suddenly I found myself being stretched too thin and I was overwhelmed by the demands from both sides. I had to ask myself which one took priority and it was the shelter." Haslinah also admitted that she belatedly realised the challenges that came with starting from scratch in an unfamiliar constituency. A decade of social work had taught her that making inroads into the grassroots was a lengthy process and speeding it up in time for the general election was simply not feasible. "It was a a very difficult decision but I truly felt that I would be short-changing MCLM and my constituency if I went ahead," she said. "I believe someone else would be able to better serve the constituents at this point." "I'd also like to make it clear that this has nothing to do with MCLM and I continue to support the movement and its ideology a hundred percent. "It was a personal decision and yes, I'm very disappointed with myself."
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| Posted: 27 Jul 2011 11:59 AM PDT (FMT) - LAHAD DATU: Children from Chinese-native parents in Sabah are decrying the National Registration Department's (NRD) unwillingness to specify their mixed ethnicity in their MyKad applications. Sources here said the NRD required Sino-Kadazans or Sino-Dusuns to choose between Chinese, Kadazan, Dusun or Murut ethnicity for their MyKads. NRD is insisting that the community use the generic term "Sino-Native" in the documentation. The policy has angered the mixed Chinese-native community in the state. They have refused to subscribe to the NRD ruling and are demanding that their particular native groupings be recognised. Kadazan, Dusun or Murut communities are inherent to Sabah. Sensing an implosion following a recent complaint by a Chinese association in Ranau, Sabah deputy chief minister Yee Moh Chai said it was not right for the federal government to deny Sabahans of mixed parentage their nativity. "In Sabah by virtue of its traditions, customs and beliefs everyone recognises the existence of Sino Kadazan, Sino Dusun and others because inter-marriages here are norm. "They exist and you cannot deny it. If a Sino Kadazan wants to be known as Sino Kadazan then we must respect it. "If it is a fair system that we want in this country, then NRD should only register the people's name minus the particulars like race and religion. It (documents) should only state their nationality as 'Malaysian". "If you want other particulars to be included then you must include all categories and not be selective, " he said recently. 'Right treatment' Yee said as far as Sabah was concerned there were many things that were being done here and that was not done in other parts of Malaysia. "I think they (peninsula) must recognise and learn from us in terms of harmony and living together. It is the 1Malaysia ideology promoted by the Prime Minister," he added.
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| PR says no to 'problem-ridden', 'costly' biometric system Posted: 27 Jul 2011 10:29 AM PDT (Harakah Daily) - Pakatan Rakyat today rejected the Election Commission's plan to introduce biometric system in the coming general election, saying the system was not only too costly, but has no check and balance as well as fraught with problems of implementation. In a joint statement signed by PAS's election director Dr Hatta Ramli, DAP International secretary Liew Chin Tong and PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli, PR however pointed out that the move, which drew instant approval from prime minister Najib Razak, had vindicated allegations of phantom voters and multiple voting. Inconsistencies
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| PM announces 7th NKRA - tackling rising living costs Posted: 27 Jul 2011 09:59 AM PDT By Azril Annuar, The Sun PUTRAJAYA (July 27, 2011): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak announced today the seventh National Key Result Area (NKRA) – to tackle the rising costs of living. Najib said the cabinet made the decision as the government does not want the people to suffer from the rising cost of living which has already begun affecting them. "When we first came up with the first six NKRA two years ago, there was no global phenomena on the rising cost of food items. The first six NKRA were initiated after studies were conducted on what the public wanted and needed. "Now that the phenomena on the rising costs of living have become an issue impacting the lives of everyday Malaysians, we have to respond to alleviate the burden and suffering of our people," he said, at a press conference held at his office today. Najib said the 1Malaysia clinics, the 1Malaysia chain of sundry shops and the Tukar programme will now be part of the seventh NKRA. "Pemandu's expertise will be utilised to help the various agencies and ministries involved in items, food items or services concerning the public. It will also be involved in organising labs with the ministries," he added. One of the steps to be taken by the government is to study the supply chain and look at what can be done to "liberalise" it. "Perhaps we will allow for more imported goods and items to add to the market supply. Secondly, we could also open up unused empty fields for food production. We might also find a cheaper alternative on livestock feed," he added. Najib said the newest NKRA will not only cover food items but also other necessities. The first six NKRA are: reducing crime index; poverty eradication; improving urban public transport, combating corruption, education and improving infrastructure in rural areas. Earlier, he held a dialogue session with a number of iconic figures tasked to engage the public in the 1Malaysia Online Roundtable discussion. "It was a very productive discussion. They brought up important suggestions for our consideration. We'll try to respond accordingly. They also want to be involved in the follow through process later. "One of the benefits of this discussion is that we're able to get and feel the pulse of the people," Najib said, adding certain ideas and suggestions raised might be used in the formulating of government policies. Amongst those attending the dialogue were football pundit Serbegeth Singh, celebrity host Aznil Nawawi, ISIS CEO Datuk Dr. Mahani Zainal Abidin and celebrity Lisa Surihani. On the recommendations made by the Royal Commission of Inquiry regarding the late Teoh Beng Hock's case, Najib said: "We will make operational changes to the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) in terms of the training. It's been stated that the training is inadequate and we will strengthen it. "Management of witness will adhere to a new set of guidelines and also with respect to the three who have been named in the report, it's up to MACC and police to make further investigation and the Attorney General to decide on the next course." During the discussion, Najib said he will be cheering Harimau Malaya on their grudge rematch tonight against Singapore at Dewan Wawasan in Kubang Pasu, Kedah with around 10,000 members of the public. He apologised to National Football Team Coach K. Rajagobal for not being able to make it to the game at Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil. "We have a big group here and they're listening to our conversation and they are behind you and Harimau Malaya. I'm sure you'll be able to rise to the occasion and the country is behind you all the way. "I'm sure you have some things (planned) to overcome our two goal loss," he added. |
| RCI + inquest = ‘big, big mess’ Posted: 27 Jul 2011 09:42 AM PDT By Teoh El Sen, FMT PETALING JAYA: The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into Teoh Beng Hock's death, which released its findings in a report last Thursday, has created a "big legal mess" by generating more questions than answers, said prominent human rights lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar. Malik, who represented the Selangor government during the inquest and RCI, said rather than serving its original function to bring a closure to the issue, there are now different conclusions by the RCI and inquest. "What has resulted is a big, big, mess. We have now a coroner's decision and a RCI's, which are saying different things. In law, the coroner's findings is the determinative one," the National Human Rights Society president told FMT. Malik said the three Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers – Negri Sembilan MACC director (then Selangor MACC deputy director) Hishamuddin Hashim and two enforcement officers Mohd Anuar Ismail (then the investigating officer) and Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus, who are being internally investigated for allegedly driving Teoh to suicide – would most probably make the same argument (that the RCI finding is inferior to a court finding) if they were brought to court. "Both findings (RCI and inquest) are inconsistent. The inquest ruled out a suicide and said there were insufficient evidence to come to a finding of homicide. It also accepted that there were pre-fall injuries on Teoh, but the RCI totally ignored all that," said Malik. Malik said before the Selangor government and lawyers of Teoh's family decided to pull out of the RCI, they suggested and raised concerns over the "dual" findings that would eventually emerge but their arguments fell on deaf ears. "The RCI then should have stood down until the outcome of the revision (on the inquest) had been done away with. Or, the Attorney-General should have withdrawn his application to revise the inquest decision to push for a suicide finding and all parties to start off on a clean slate. But that was never decided on," he said. "At the end of the day, the A-G, who recommended for both a revision and most probably also advised the government to hold the RCI, was asking for two different sides," he said. "Also, the RCI decided to ignore all the evidence in the inquest and reboot the whole case… and it seems that somehow everyone got a second chance to restate their case. They (the commissioners) should not have done that; (RCI chairman) James ( Foong) could have found a way to include the coroner's findings," he added. 'There's no certainty' Malik expressed his disappointment that the RCI now gave rise to more uncertainty than definitive answers. "Where do things stand right now? There's no certainty. What we have now is a whole mess of uncertainty," he said. "Has the RCI served its function? From the very beginning, the decision not to hold a RCI before an inquest was ill-conceived, and having a RCI as a knee-jerk reaction to public anger was also not well-thought out," he said, adding that the original intention of having a RCI was because of public anger and lack of confidence in the inquest's findings. "The RCI was more of a political resolution rather than a legal one," he said.
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| BN MPs want more funds ahead of polls Posted: 27 Jul 2011 09:38 AM PDT
KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers have told coalition leaders that the government must ensure more funds trickle down to their constituencies instead of concentrating on big-ticket projects like the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) construction in Kuala Lumpur if the ruling coalition wants to receive a strong mandate in the next general election. The Malaysian Insider understands that the matter was raised during a meeting on Monday night between 100 BN federal lawmakers and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. The lawmakers argued that if Putrajaya could set aside funds for the MRT project, a similar amount should be given to generate economic benefits in more constituencies. While the BN representatives said they "understood" the purpose of the MRT project, some of them felt that development projects within "rural" constituencies should be given top priority. MPs who attended the briefing told The Malaysian Insider that many had voiced out concerns that further announcements and implementation of "mega" projects would pose a financial constraint in funding to constituencies. It is understood that some BN leaders present at the meeting had requested an extra RM1 million in allocation of funds on top of the estimated RM1 million usually allocated annually and signed by the district officer of a particular constituency. "There was a general feeling that it (MRT project) is costly, and that the money could be used for the time being for constituencies for smaller projects. One MP needs millions to do a project in his or her constituency," a BN source told The Malaysian Insider. There is controversy over the estimated cost of the MRT project, which some reports have pegged to be as high as RM50 billion, although the authorities have said the cost cannot be finalised until the MRT alignment is confirmed. But Umno MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan stressed that while BN MPs were very frank with their suggestions during the meeting, none of them voiced out any disagreement with the MRT project. "Everyone present that evening understood what the MRT was for; questions and points were just raised to strengthen arguments to allow more allocation... it's only as far as MPs who serve in rural areas feel that development projects in their own areas should have been given priority. They were quite frank in giving their input. "It was not about objection towards MRT, it was about more about wanting more funds to spend on a constituency. They are just saying that the money could have instead been used in rural areas, but the government has a different view about the economy," he told The Malaysian Insider.
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| Tussle over UDA’s plans for Pudu Jail Posted: 26 Jul 2011 06:39 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - The Urban Development Authority efforts to trim its debts and raise money for its affirmative action programmes is being hampered by politics with the Finance Ministry stalling on the UDA Holdings board's recommendation of a China-based company to redevelop the Pudu Jail land. The Malaysian Insider understands that the government is facing pressure and lobbying from politically-connected local companies who are keen on taking part in the deal. UDA Holdings has recommended China-based Everbright International Construction Ltd as its partner for the redevelopment of the 8-hectare Pudu Jail site. Sources say that the shortlisting process has been completed and Everbright's bid is in excess of RM2 billion, three times the value of the land. "This is 30 per cent higher than the next best bid," a source told The Malaysian Insider. The Edge reported yesterday that the finance ministry is due to decide from a shortlist of five companies in yet another defining moment for the agency that was formed after race riots in 1969 to ensure Malays have a bigger stake in the urban economy. But the highly-placed source said that UDA's board has alreadyselected the best bid and are waiting for the go-ahead from the finance ministry. "There is no more shortlist. The finance ministry is trying to delay in hopes that the Chinese firm will pull out because it's not worth the hassle. But they are having trouble finding a good reason to reject the bid as the board has decided on the best offer," the source said. The Najib administration last week rejected UDA's sale of 3.56 acres of prime land in downtown Kuala Lumpur to 54 per cent Bumiputera-owned Nadayu Properties Bhd, formerly known as Mutiara Goodyear Development Bhd, for not having sufficient Bumiputera holding. The decision over the Pudu Jail site will be yet another test of Datuk Seri Najib Razak's commitment to economic liberalisation. UDA had come under fire recently from Malay hardliners in Umno, Perkasa and Utusan Malaysia for allegedly abandoning the Bumiputera agenda by not appointing Bumiputera joint-venture turnkey investors for the proposed Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC) on the Pudu Jail site located on prime land in the heart of the capital's Golden Triangle.
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| Muslim women barred from working as GROs in Kuantan Posted: 26 Jul 2011 06:36 PM PDT (Bernama) KUANTAN: Muslim women will be barred from working as guest relation officers (GROs) or waitresses in entertainment outlets in the state capital from next year. Kuantan Municipal Council (MPK) president Datuk Zulkifli Yaacob said the decision was unanimously approved at the MPK full council meeting Wednesday and the enforcement date would be determined later. He said the decision was prompted by a call from the Pahang Islamic Religious Department (Jaip) to forbid Muslims from working at entertainment premises that served alcoholic drinks. "A study found that 85 percent of employees of entertainment premises in the capital are Malays, who are Muslims, and they are exposed to alcoholic drinks. "In addition, it contributes to the negative perception of Islam. Although Muslim GROs might not be drinking, but they had to serve alcoholic beverages to their customers," he told reporters after chairing the MPK full council meeting here. Zulkifli said raids jointly conducted by Jaip, the Customs, police, the Immigration Department and the MPK found that many employees of entertainment outlets, including Muslims took alcoholic drinks. "The MPK will also step up joint operations against Muslims drinking alcoholic drinks in public," he added. - Bernama |
| Teoh’s death: ‘Four new leads for police’ Posted: 26 Jul 2011 06:33 PM PDT
By Teoh El Sen, FMT PETALING JAYA: DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang yesterday urged police to re-open investigations into the death of former political aide Teoh Beng Hock based on four new "leads" that the recently released Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report revealed. Lim, the Ipoh Timor MP, said police should be investigating Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers for perjury based on the report's finding that named most of the MACC officers as "liars". "Apart from two brave and truthful souls from Selangor MACC – Azeem Hafeez Jamaluddin and Azian Umar – the report virtually dismissed the rest as a pack of liars led by (then Selangor MACC deputy director) Hishamuddin Hashim, the "mastermind" of the massive and unjustified operation which resulted in Teoh's death," he said. (Azian and Azeem were lauded as brave in the report as their testimony had supported the finding that MACC officers had been instructed to lie by their superiors.) Lim said the report's "most scathing… indictment of the character and testimony" of the officers is "fertile source for the formulation of multiple perjury charges against Hishamuddin and other MACC officers in giving false testimony at the RCI". Under Section 193 of the Penal Code, this provides for a maximum sentence of seven years jail and fine on conviction. Lim, speaking at the "Teoh Beng Hock Royal Commission Inquiry Report – Where is the promised truth?" forum last night, challenged Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail to arrest and charge Hishamuddin based on the following paragraph in the report: "The evidence adduced showed that the MACC officers were prepared to go to great lengths to lie. One glaring example is that of Hishamuddin, a very senior officer, who was overall in charge of Lim said that based on this paragraph alone, a charge could be framed against Hishamuddin. 'A pack of liars He added that the RCI could not have been more condemnatory of Mohd Anuar Ismail, who was appointed investigating officer of the operation by Hishamuddin. Lim quoted another paragraph from the report, which said:"Anuar lied about the role he played in order to cover up for HH. And on top of these factors, he was a trusted senior officer of Hishamuddin who was prepared to sacrifice himself for Hishamuddin…" Calling MACC Selangor officers "a pack of liars" (apart from Azeem and Azian), Lim said the RCI report findings meant that "they had lied all the way from the initial police investigations into Teoh's death to the inquest and the RCI about what happened to Teoh on the fateful days of July 15 and 16, 2009″.
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| EC no. 2 grilled in public over 'powerless' claim Posted: 26 Jul 2011 02:40 PM PDT  (Harakah Daily) - "We are powerless" and "we don't make decisions" summarise the explanation by Election Commission deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar yesterday's packed public dialogue organised by Malay daily Sinar Harian at the Shah Alam headquarters of its publisher Karangkraf. Titled "What next after July 9", the forum, moderated by NGO activist Wan Saiful Wan Jan, also featured Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Shamsul Amri Baharuddin.
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| Is BN injecting ‘voters’ into Sarawak? Posted: 26 Jul 2011 02:17 PM PDT By Joseph Tawie, FMT KUCHING: Is the infamous 'Project M' which legitimised illegal immigrants by the thousands in the 1990s in Sabah making its way to Sarawak? Is Umno-Barisan Nasional using the current amnesty programme as a cover for a surreptious plan to consolidating its grip for good in the state? According to sources here, the April state polls had forced Umno-Barisan Nasional to take stock of opposition influence in the rural and rural interiors of Sarawak. In the past BN had seen Sarawak and Sabah as its 'fixed deposit' and was convinced that as long as these states delivered the seats, Putrajaya will remain with BN. However in the April 16 state polls, opposition mustered an unprecedented 45% of the overall votes and that shook BN's confidence. Political analyst Bridget Welsh, in a post-polls analysis, had noted that much of the swing occurred in the rural Malay heartland. BN buckled further under this shocking revelation. Sarawak DAP, upbeat over its 12 state seat victory in the April polls especially in mixed constituency, immediately declared that it was going to contest in the rural areas in the next election further stoking BN's fears. Already word is that BN will lose 10 parliamentary seats including four in the rural areas in the coming general election. Project M tip-off That, added a DAP source, is however only if the field is level, and a recent developement is worrying DAP. Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen claims he's been tipped-off about a possible move by the federal government to introduce the 'Project M' in Sarawak. "I have received information last month that the BN government is planning to introduce the 'Project M' in Sarawak. "I hope my information is not correct. "Nevertheless, we in the opposition will monitor the situation regularly and check the list of new identity card holders with the National Registration, and voter registration with the Election Commission. "We know the situation in Sabah. Because of the 'project M' local Sabahans have now become foreigners in their own state as more and more immigrants are given Malaysian identity cards. "That is why its population has surged. This must not happen in Sarawak," said Chong. He pointed out that this strategy had allowed the federal government to grab back Sabah from the opposition Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) in 1994. "PBS ruled Sabah for nine years after toppling the Berjaya government in 1985. "That problem is still haunting Sabah until this day," he said, adding that Sabah's immigration problems have gone beyond the point of redemption. Putarajaya at all cost FMT recently reported that plans were allegedly afoot in Sabah to legitimise yet another 50,000 illegals. Sources told FMT that 20,000 of them were to be retained in Sabah while 30,000 were allegedly meant for pockets outside of the state. Rumours are that Umno wants these newbies to be placed in Kedah, Terengganu and Johor – the last two believed to have a 50:50 chance of falling to Pakatan Rakyat. According to sources in Sabah, Umno president Najib Tun Razak is desperate to keep Sabah and Sarawak.
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| Punish Bersih or risk losing support, Utusan warns BN Posted: 26 Jul 2011 02:06 PM PDT
By Melissa Chi, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 — The Barisan Nasional administration must penalise the outlawed Bersih 2.0 movement and the people behind it or risk losing electoral support for its perceived weakness, the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia said today. "The government needs to learn from this incident. To ensure peace and public safety, the authorities should immediately act against the troublemakers. Don't waste the support of more than 4,000 non-governmental organisations and individuals who have lodged police reports against Bersih. "The delay in taking action against the organisers and supporters of the illegal rally on July 9 can erode the people's support because the government is seen as unable to implement the law. So, do not send the wrong message to the people, (that you are) afraid to take any action against the opposition leaders and Bersih organisers," the Malay-language daily wrote in an editorial today. Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Ismail Omar announced two days ago that Bersih 2.0 marchers arrested during the July 9 rally will be charged soon for taking part in what the authorities have classified as an illegal assembly, with the police confident of wrapping up investigations this week. Police arrested nearly 1,700 people, including Bersih 2.0 chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, and Pakatan Rakyat leaders during the rally for electoral reforms. Ismail was cited as saying two days ago by state news agency Bernama that his men were still looking into the issues played up by various individuals, saying that there are some who continued to make statements that did not portray the actual situation that day. "Police chief Tan Sri Ismail Omar had said that a thorough investigation regarding the rally is expected to complete this week. But more importantly is that immediate action is taken, including charging those who were involved. "As long as there is no legal action against the Bersih organisers who had triggered chaos in the capital city recently, it will seem like they are free to continue to spread accusations during their political talks," the editorial continued. City police obtained a court order banning 91 individuals from entering Kuala Lumpur on July 9, while almost 200 were picked up prior to the rally. The police have released all those arrested except for six Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members, including Sungai Siput MP Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj, who are being detained under the Emergency Ordinance for allegedly attempting to wage war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
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| Kuan Yew warns of two-party system pitfalls Posted: 26 Jul 2011 12:00 PM PDT
By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysia Insider KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 — Singapore's influential founding father Lee Kuan Yew has spoken out against a two-party system, warning that it could cause weak governments even as opposition parties make gains and democracy flourishes across Southeast Asia.
The former prime minister of the island republic said in a recent interview with China Central Television (CCTV) that the progress made by Singapore since it was established in 1965 should not be taken for granted or that "what has been achieved is always secure", adding that poor governance would cause it to "spiral downwards." "I believe once you have weak, ineffective government, the whole progress you have made will spiral downwards. But the majority of people believe it is secure for them, so now they have ideas about the West, two-party system," Lee said. Singapore's general election in May saw its opposition make record gains, claiming six of 87 seats as the ruling People's Action Party saw its popular support drop by nearly seven percentage points to 60 per cent. Developments across the region, especially Lee's former countrymen in Malaysia denying Barisan Nasional (BN) its customary two-thirds of Parliament in 2008, are said to have stirred up a political awakening on the island. Years of mass popular protests have also toppled a military-backed regime in Thailand while Indonesia has blossomed into a global giant after democratic reforms in the late 1990s. In the interview, Lee noted that Singaporeans now desire a "First World Parliament," which was the slogan of the opposition Workers' Party that took six seats at the May 7 polls. "Their argument is simple. A First World country must have a First World Parliament. A First World Parliament must have a First World opposition. Then you can change dice. I think if ever we go down that road, I'll be very sorry for Singapore,' he said.
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| Posted: 26 Jul 2011 11:02 AM PDT By Stanley Koh, FMT Is Mahathirism back with a vengeance? Recent events do make it seem like the Najib regime has decided to adopt the former prime minister's authoritarian style in saving its flagging political fortunes. It has resorted to using draconian laws and shameless propaganda in the face of an awakening electorate and increasing exposures of its misdeeds. The government seems to have ignored the strong signal given by the 2008 election result that Malaysians want more democratic space. And what was Bersih 2.0's July 9 rally if not a reaffirmation of that demand? But instead of using the occasion to promote his much-vaunted liberalist image, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak seemed to have done what Dr Mahathir Mohamad would have done—crush them and damn what the world says. After May 13, 1969, Mahathir ominously proclaimed: "There is not going to be a democracy in Malaysia. There never was and there never will be." He was speaking then as a critic of the government, but during his 22-year tenure as prime minister, he seemed to have applied himself to ensuring that his prediction would be realised. Khoo Boo Teik, in his Paradoxes of Mahathirism, wrote: "Certainly Mahathir did not balk at using authoritarian means to restore his control over mass dissent in October 1987. Then he professed to lament the irresponsibility of misfits who had abused his liberalism, not unlike how, after May 13, 1969, he spoke of the immaturity of the people as an obstacle to the full practice of democracy." The Mahathir era witnessed the full exploitation of repressive laws, notably the Internal Security Act and the Police Act. The latter law requires police permits for public gatherings. This condition was stringently enforced against opposition groups but ignored for government parties. Things have not changed. Mahathir's government amended the Societies Act in 1981 and the Official Secrets Act in 1986 to constrict further the arena of public debate. It also consistently exploited its two-thirds majority in Parliament to make constitutional amendments aimed at strengthening its political position. Money politics It was also during the Mahathir era that the Malaysian judiciary lost its independence and respectability. Mahathir tried to keep whittling away at that independence even in the last years of his tenure. In 1999, he was quoted as suggesting that the judiciary needed further reform because judges "tend to favour" the opposition. The practice of "money politics" deepened its roots during the Mahathirism era. Scholars Graham K Brown, Siti Hawa Ali and Wan Manan Muda wrote in their research paper on Policy Levers in Malaysia: "Initially, under the guise of the 1971 promulgated New Economic Policy, the regime developed a fearsome machinery for dispensing patronage to supporters of the government. This money politics involves both state and private funds the BN parties control between them, a massive corporate empire that operates on the individual, corporate and even state level. The abuse of public funds is often unabashed."
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| Ambiga wants non-partisan committee for electoral reform Posted: 26 Jul 2011 10:51 AM PDT By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider SHAH ALAM, July 26 — Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan today proposed that the Election Commission (EC) set up a special committee to discuss issues concerning electoral reform following public outcry over the existing electoral system.
The Bersih chairman said that the committee should comprise both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) representatives as well as representatives from NGOs. "Is the EC prepared to set up a committee to look into all issues, and maybe in three months' time come up with a report on how the electoral roll can be set up?" she asked today during a public forum with EC deputy chairman Datuk Wira Wan Ahmad Wan Omar. But Wan Ahmad did not once respond to her suggestion throughout the entire forum, choosing instead to reiterate that the EC carried out its duties accordingly and should not be held responsible over the implementation of any reform demands. "The EC is open to suggestions. We will invite all parties to hear the suggestions, and also any NGOs who are truly 'ikhlas' (honest)," he said.
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| Ahead of polls, Najib’s last card is the budget Posted: 26 Jul 2011 10:47 AM PDT
By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 — With less than two years left of Barisan Nasional's (BN) mandate, hopes of an opportune time for federal polls are slim for Datuk Seri Najib Razak as dissent grows and the economy remains sour. Politicians from both sides of the divide told The Malaysian Insider that with a cash-strapped Treasury struggling to maintain subsidies in the face of surging inflation, the prime minister should announce an election budget at the end of the year and dissolve Parliament soon after. Analysts also believe that while heightened racial rhetoric has recovered some Malay support for the ruling coalition, it is a zero-sum game that is delivering centrist voters to Pakatan Rakyat (PR). "We should have a good budget first. Tun Abdullah Badawi didn't have such a budget and then called an election," said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, referring to the former prime minister who was forced to step down a year after BN recorded its worst showing ever in Election 2008. PKR deputy president Azmin Ali agreed, pointing out the economy was still lagging behind Putrajaya's six per cent growth target, only recording 4.6 per cent GDP growth in Q1 and is expected to remain under five per cent until June 2011. "In two years, things can't get much better. But the question is with the government already short of funds, what can BN promise in its next budget?" the Gombak MP told The Malaysian Insider. Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng went further, saying "things are going to get worse for Najib." "There is no point waiting. The economy is going to be tougher in 2012 and meanwhile, no logical government will allow the likes of (Malay rights group) Perkasa and Utusan Malaysia to run rampant. It shows that Umno ultras are asking for a bigger slice of the pie. Najib is losing the middle ground," he said. Pulai MP Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said this was due to the ease with which issues could be politicised post-Election 2008. "It doesn't matter what is the timing. Whenever it is, the opposition will just play up an issue for votes. Najib should just ensure the party machinery is ready because from now to 2013, nothing much is going to change," the Umno division chief said.
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