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Isnin, 3 Oktober 2011

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

MCA asks voters to forget past

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 07:00 PM PDT

(The Malay mail) - MCA leaders have asked the electorate not to dwell on the past but look forward as the party seeks to rebuild itself after its defeat in the 12th general election.

The party, which won 31 parliamentary seats from 40 it contested in 2004, managed to garner only 15 parliamentary seats in 2008. Its deputy president, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, admitted the problems faced by MCA and denied the party was experiencing denial syndrome.

"We are not the one with denial syndrome and we do not try to say that MCA is supported by the young," he told The Malay Mail.

"We know in that in certain areas, the young have a wrong perception of us, so we have to work harder. We know that we have to change."

Liow explained that MCA is not a party of individuals and stressed the public are waiting for what the party can do in the future.

"This party does not only belong to MCA members but to the Chinese community. The Chinese community has been fighting and supporting this MCA since day one.

"It is a really big asset to the Chinese. Thick and thin, it is with Chinese community. Party leaders can come and go.

"So please protect the party and not because of certain individuals you are willing to destroy the party."

Party vice-president and Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen echoed Liow's remarks when asked about the alleged practices of corruption plaguing the party leaders.

"(Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Najib Razak has asked us to go forward and must not lag behind. Ong Tee Keat is behind, so we must look forward," she said.

MCA  vice-president Donald Lim said the current party leadership was united and ready to face the coming general election, speculated to be as early as January.

"We know we lost so many seats in 2008, partly because of leadership problems. They select who they wanted as candidates and that was part of our downfall in 2008," he said.

 

Muhyiddin tells Perkasa not to jump the gun

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 06:27 PM PDT

(NST) - Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Perkasa should not "jump the gun" on the meeting between three Malaysian personalities with Singapore's top politicians two months ago.

He said Malaysians often held meetings with representatives of Singapore ministries and the People's Action Party to discuss bilateral matters or improve business ties.

"Meetings between Malaysian politicians and businessmen with PAP politicians are a norm," he told a press conference yesterday.

He was commenting on claims by Perkasa information chief Ruslan Kasim about a dinner meeting between businessman Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and several senior PAP leaders.

Ruslan also claimed that a member of Malaysia Airlines board of directors, Datuk Mohamad Azman Yahya, was aware of a secret meeting that took place during the dinner.

Azman, however, has denied any knowledge of the meeting.

Muhyiddin said: "As a Barisan Nasional representative, I often meet PAP representatives to discuss various issues.

"But I do not know if Lim had met the ministers in his capacity as chief minister. Other BN chief ministers also meet PAP leaders in that capacity. They could have met to discuss about business. Let's not jump the gun."

 

ISA repeal delayed to consult stakeholders, say ministers

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 06:18 PM PDT

By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 — The government said today that the Internal Security Act (ISA) can only be repealed in March as it needs to consult and engage with stakeholders to ensure "we get it right".

The replacement of the ISA, which allows for preventive detention, with two new laws was the highlight of Datuk Seri Najib Razak's Malaysia Day address in which he promised more freedom to the public.

But opposition lawmakers have called the delay in repealing the law, which it says Barisan Nasional (BN) abuses to silence dissent, a "cop out" as the prime minister is likely to call snap polls soon after Budget 2012 is passed.

"No, it's a question of engagement and consultation. We want to get it right," Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (picture) told reporters when quizzed on the delay.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz also said that the new laws were now in the hands of the Attorney-General and the government would need to be cautious when repealing the ISA.

"If we have no new law, then we must immediately release terrorists currently detained under the ISA," the de facto law minister told reporters in Parliament today.

When told that the Bar Council has said that no new laws were needed as Malaysia had other legislation to deal with terrorism, Nazri said "that is the Bar's view and it is one which we will look at."

Datuk Seri Najib Razak tabled in Parliament today the repeal of the Restricted Residence Act and the Banishment Act, as announced in his Malaysia Day address to kick off his reform package.

The repeal of the two laws is scheduled for debate on Wednesday.

However, the repeals of the ISA and three emergency declarations were not mentioned in Dewan Rakyat today.

 

 

READ MORE HERE.

 

 

Malaysia Tries to Rein In Private Education Institutions

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 05:55 PM PDT

By Liz Gooch, New York Times

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia's private higher-education institutions are coming under greater scrutiny, with the government imposing a record number of fines on errant operators this year.

Having expanded rapidly in the last 15 years, the private sector is widely credited with increasing access to higher education in Malaysia, but education experts say standards vary greatly.

While some view the increasing number of fines issued to private providers as cause for concern, others say that they are an indication that regulators are doing a more effective job weeding out inferior companies. And some analysts say the government's actions are an attempt to safeguard the reputation of the industry.

In a statement, the Ministry of Higher Education said that while it hoped that the private sector would continue to grow, ensuring that providers offered quality education was crucial.

"The challenges are in striking the right balance between promoting growth in higher education in Malaysia and providing quality education," the ministry said. "This is important because Malaysia is progressing toward becoming a developed nation where knowledge workers are an important element in the agenda for growth and at the same time, Malaysia is also aspiring to become the hub of higher education in the region."

The statement added that while the government hoped that the private sector would expand further, applications for new institutions would be determined based on whether the institution met the application criteria and whether its proposed programs were "aligned to the critical area needed by the country."

The ministry issued fines to 47 private education institutions from January to March this year, following regular audits, inspections and complaints from the public. Last year, 48 institutions received fines throughout the year, compared to 9 in 2009. Institutions were fined for a range of infractions, from making false or misleading statements promoting their institutions to offering unaccredited courses and violating registration regulations such as operating on unregistered premises.

Malaysia's private higher-education sector has expanded rapidly since the government introduced legislation in 1996 to allow the establishment of private universities. Prior to the sector's liberalization, local private institutions offered programs in conjunction with overseas universities but were unable to award their own degrees.

Since 1996, the number of private universities and colleges that offer degree and nondegree courses has grown substantially, with Malaysia now home to 26 private universities, which offer degrees at the bachelor's, master's and doctorate level.

An additional 23 private "university colleges" offer bachelor's degrees only, 5 foreign universities from countries like Australia and Britain have established branch campuses and there are more than 400 private colleges that offer diploma and certificate courses.

Part of the aim of liberalizing the higher-education sector was to help increase access to postsecondary education and bolster Malaysia's "human capital," said Tham Siew Yean, a professor at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies at the National University of Malaysia. She said the postsecondary enrollment rate for Malaysians aged 18 to 23 rose to 44 percent in 2010 from 29 percent in 2003, or students enrolled in any type of higher education.

There are now more students studying in the private sector than in public institutions, with private institutions accounting for almost 54 percent.

Ms. Tham said that there was a "tremendous diversity" of programs and that the provision of government loans for private courses had helped increase the number of students studying in the private sector.

Lee Hock Guan, a senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, said: "For an average student, it's not too difficult to get into higher education nowadays in Malaysia. There are so many places competing for them."

Yet analysts say standards at some private institutions are insufficient while some accuse the government of playing catch-up in its attempt to weed out inferior providers.

"The Ministry of Education does have a problem of quality control," Mr. Lee said, adding that standards varied greatly between private universities. "There are some that are decent but some that are pretty weak."

Employers have long complained that graduates from Malaysian universities, public and private, lack vital talents like communication skills.

"We are getting more and more complaints from employers that they are getting students who are not up to the mark," Mr. Lee said, adding that some institutions enroll students who may not be qualified. "For many of the private universities, they are quite lax because their main thing is they have to enroll as many students as possible in order to generate revenue."

Mr. Lee contends that the government is monitoring the private sector more closely to ensure that Malaysia's reputation does not suffer among prospective international students. Malaysia has set the goal of attracting 200,000 international students by 2020.

"Fearing that there will be a drop in foreign students, that has pressured the government to better regulate the private sector," he said.

Others view the increasing number of fines as a sign that the regulators are doing their job more effectively.

"More fines means they are controlling people who are not doing the right thing," said Molly Lee, a senior program specialist in higher education at Unesco Asia Pacific in Bangkok. "To me it's a good sign from the regulatory perspective."

Ms. Lee, who described Malaysia's private higher-education sector as "dynamic, innovative and competitive," said the country was well equipped to monitor private providers.

"I am sure the concern of quality of private institutions is always there," she said. "I think over time the better ones are gaining a good reputation while the bad ones are being identified by the authorities."

Ms. Tham, the professor, said that stringent regulations governed the private sector but that before the last two years, there had been little information available about private colleges being fined.

"I would say the ministry perhaps may have had problems being able to monitor the large number of providers," she said. "I think that it's good that they are acting on it, that they are able to be more effective in their monitoring."

Hassan Said, vice chancellor and president of Taylor's University, one of Malaysia's oldest private higher-education institutions, which was not among the fined institutions, estimated that only 5 percent of private providers did not comply with government regulations.

"Although the number is small, its impact to the other private providers is pretty bad," he said in an e-mail. "Hence the move by the ministry to impose stricter monitoring of the private sector is timely and should be supported."

Taylor's University, which has 11,700 students, began offering nondegree courses in 1969 and was upgraded to university status last year. The institution began offering degree programs in the 1990s via programs with other universities, before offering its own bachelor degrees in 2006, followed by master's and doctorate programs last year.

Mr. Hassan said that while the lesser-quality providers could make it more difficult for reputable private institutions because " the negative perception by stakeholders will be generalized to the whole industry," students and parents were becoming better equipped to select the quality providers because information about the institutions was widely available.

Parmjit Singh, president of the Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities, said he supported the government's moves to be more vigilant.

"It will bring integrity to the industry," he said. "Over the years, there have been colleges that have popped up. My view is some of them should not have been allowed to be registered."

But Mr. Parmjit said some institutions had made "innocent mistakes" that could result in fines, like not listing the correct course approval code on a brochure.

"One could not generalize and say that all those who have been fined are bad players," he said.

Mr. Parmjit said that the increase in fines was not indicative of any broader trend within the sector and that "market forces" would force poor-quality providers out of business.

"The bottom line is that market forces are in play," he said. "If anyone does a poor job, their time will be limited."

Lawyers insist Najib, Rosmah not key to Sodomy II

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 05:51 PM PDT

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife are not relevant witnesses to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's ongoing sodomy trial, their lawyers claimed today, adding that the duo would not be able to offer any material evidence to the court.

Datuk Hisyam Teh, one of the lawyers representing the prime minister and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in their joint application to avoid testifying, said that the opposition leader has failed to furnish proof that the two were relevant witnesses.

The lawyer said Anwar's application to compel Najib and wife to testify was merely a "fishing expedition" to seek information.

While Najib admitted to meeting Anwar's accuser, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, on June 24, 2008  — two days before the alleged sodomy act — the PM's lawyers stressed that the meeting was not related to events on June 26.

"I cannot give [any] relevant evidence on what has been brought up by the first respondent (Anwar)," said Hisham, who read out excerpts of Najib's affidavit.

Rosmah's affidavit contained the same explanation.

"However, we would like to argue that the meeting on June 24 has no nexus, no connection to the incident on June 26, 2008.

"The first respondent wants the PM to clarify. This clarification, confirmation on what happened on June 24 is not connected to the primary act, which is the charge... the incident was on June 26, not a day before or after," said Hisham.

"They have no legal right to call any person not in possession of material or relevant evidence," said the lawyer. "Where is the connection to the charge?"

MORE TO COME

Raising retirement age will hurt some — Jacob George

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 03:39 PM PDT

(The Malaysian Insider) - The Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam Selangor (CASSA) reads with great apprehension and concern the ongoing debate and proposal for a higher retirement age in Malaysia.

All of us are quite aware that the details of the said proposal are still being ironed out and as such not published.

As a result CASSA, other NGOs and the civil society members are not in a position to advice those who come to us for an opinion.

Neither CASSA nor others serving public and consumer interests have been consulted like the trade unions who appear to be heavily consulted in the formulation of the said policy but the lacuna is that there are millions outside that umbrella who are not a member of any unions and their interests and rights to retire at 55 will be affected in the wake of a decision being made.

Forcing them to immediately resort to the courts for a decision will be unhealthy in the current political and economic climate.

Their arguments hold water as they may have already made retirement plans at 55 and are waiting to withdraw their EPF savings.

Others may say this is a ploy to retain the EPF savings as the government is going bankrupt and this would be create a backlash come GE13.

The pertinent question remains: why should our EPF savings be retained after 55 unless there is a hidden agenda, a clandestine covert plan of action of an ugly kind and dimension.

It is in the interest of the government to allow flexibility for employees to decide for themselves whether they want to retire at 55 or otherwise.

However, the increase of the age limit should not prevent those who have already attained 55 to withdraw their savings.

The arguments put forward by those opposing the move are real.

CASSA supports their contention that there are Malaysians who are not subsidy mentality driven and who have planned their retirement planning with dedication and foresight. They may already have adequate funds in their EPF account, and personal savings and investments, to retire at the age of 55.

Why stop them and cause great dissatisfaction to them.

They may have planned their retirement for years, diligently doing their calculations, extrapolating the EPF contributions and dividends, carefully investing a certain percentage in mutual funds or other plans, where applicable, spending modestly and never overextending themselves like certain cross-sections of the population.

In summary, CASSA supports the contention that:

READ MORE HERE

 

Controversial RFS is back

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 03:34 PM PDT

After a period of silence controversial online radio station Radio Free Sarawak expects to continue its campaign to address land grabs and corruption in Sarawak.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Radio Free Sarawak is back after an almost four months hiatus. It is re-launching this week with an expanded team and greater ambitions.

It kicks off with a two hour daily timeslot from 6 – 8 pm on the shortwave 17560 kHz bandwidth.

Broadcast is also available online via the website www.radiofreesarawak.org .

According to its media release, the RFS "will continue to focus on the concerns and interests of the ordinary people of Sarawak, mainly rural folk, who currently have no access to an independent news source. "

"We will also address urban and Malaysia-wide issues in recognition of its popular following among internet users and listeners from other states," said the statement.

RFS has been credited for the Chief Minister Taib Mahmud-led Barisan Nasional coalition's losses in the mixed and rural constituencies in Sarawak in the April state polls where BN won 55 seats while the opposition made inroads with 15 seats, whilst one seat, Pelagus, went to independent George Lagong.

This was an unprecedented victory for the opposition.

Political analyst had also pointed a distinctive swing in votes for the opposition in rural and Malay-mixed areas in Sarawak.

READ MORE HERE

 

Thumbs up for Community Chest

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 03:27 PM PDT

 

BN leaders say it's time the private sector contributes back to society and laud PM Najib for mooting the idea

(Free Malaysia Today) - Barisan Nasional leaders have praised Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's announcement of setting up a Community Chest to fund vernacular and mission schools.

Last week, Najib revealed that a minimum RM100 million of gambling funds would be channelled to these schools annually through the project.

It would be funded primarily by the profits of gaming company Pan Malaysian Pools Sdn Bhd's returns from its investments and public donations.

The funds would be managed by a board of trustees, chaired by Genting Malaysia chairman Lim Kok Thay.

MIC chief: Schools can approach us

Commenting on this, MIC president G Palanivel said the project would serve to benefit both Tamil and Chinese schools.

"Priority should be given to partially-funded schools," he added.

He also said that MIC's door was open to any Tamil school which wished to receive the funds.

"They can come to us. We will approach the board members for it or the school management can meet the trustees straight," he told FMT.

Whether the programme was mooted due to the government's failure to address the needs of the vernacular schools, Palanivel dismissed the notion saying that the government had always given fair allocation to all schools.

"Now the government is encouraging the private sector to contribute and it's time for the private sector to show some support," he said.

He added that this was not the first time private sector participation was welcomed as even former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad mooted the Caring Malaysia programme to encourage the private sector to contribute to society.

"For some reason, it didn't work out that well then. I believe the government should not be shouldering the responsibility alone," he said.

READ MORE HERE

 

Najib’s reform package underway

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 03:23 PM PDT

In Parliament today, the government is proposing to repeal the Restricted Residence Act and the Banishment Act, and to form the PSC on poll reforms.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak moved to repeal the Restricted Residence Act and the Banishment Act today, fulfilling his vows to implement quick political reforms to improve civil liberties.

At the same time, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz also tabled a motion to form the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on poll reforms.

Najib promised the formation of the PSC after his government received widespread condemnation for its strong-arm response to the July 9 rally that called for Putrajaya to clean up Malaysia's electoral system.

The rally, where close to 1,700 protesters were arrested while scores were injured, was organised by polls reform group Bersih 2.0.

The committee members' composition will reflect current Parliamentary numbers – five from Barisan Nasional, three from Pakatan Rakyat and one independent.

While tabling the motion, Nazri reiterated that setting up the PSC was not a nod to accusation that election in Malaysia was corrupt but instead a way to deflect the allegations.

"The formation of the PSC is to ensure there are no more accusations against the Election Commission," the law minister told the Dewan Rakyat.

The PSC will have six months to look into poll reforms and make recommendations on ways to improve the election system.

The panel's terms of references included all key eight demands made by Bersih, including the possible use of indelible ink, fair access to media, longer campaigning period and the abolishment of postal votes.

Winning back middle Malaysia

The repeal of the two laws are among the slew of political reforms announcements made by Najib on the eve of Malaysia day.

He also made a landmark announcement to scrap the British-inherited Internal Security Act which allows detention without trial.

Najib said the ISA, a law which the opposition claimed BN had thrived on to crush dissent, will be repealed in March next year as his government needed time to draft two new laws to replace it.

READ MORE HERE

 

Dr M: Early polls could break Umno

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 01:31 AM PDT

(The Malaysian Insider) - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today factionalism and internal sabotage continues to plague the ruling coalition's lynchpin, Umno, and warned that having national polls too soon may cost the party dearly.

This is the second time in recent months the former prime minister of 22 years has advised Barisan Nasional (BN) to hold off holding an early general election — previously predicted to take place during the November school holidays — by saying the time was not ripe.

The country's fourth PM told reporters in Kota Kinabalu on May 7 the government has plenty of time to carry out its plans and choose suitable candidates to field for the 13th general election, adding it could stretch this until 2012.

The current mandate expires only in 2013 but political parties have been in election mode since the Sarawak state poll last April.

"If the general election is held now, Umno may lose big because the support and spirit has faded," Dr Mahathir was reported as saying today by Bernama Online.

"Umno still has factions and the split is still critical. If there is awareness, a sense of gratitude and unity, BN can win," the state news agency quoted him further.

Still-influential at 86, the politician urged his Umno colleagues to return to the party's original fight to protect religion, race and country by casting aside self-interest to win the general election.

He advised Umno members to overcome their disappointment at not being picked for the general election, saying they still stood to gain in other ways.

BN lost its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority and four states, including wealthy Selangor and Penang, in Election 2008.

READ MORE HERE

 

Dr Mahathir: Umno members must return to original struggle

Posted: 01 Oct 2011 07:08 PM PDT

(Bernama) - Umno members must return to the party's original struggle for the sake of religion, race and country by casting aside self-interest, to win the general election.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said this was the only way to cure the "backstabbing" disease within the party.

"Previously, Umno members sacrificed anything, including pawning their jewellery, to help the party but now their posts are for landing contracts and to become candidates.

"If the general election is held now, Umno may lose big because the support and spirit have faded," Dr Mahathir told reporters after presenting a talk, 'Bicara Negarawan,' at the premier gathering of Federal Village Development and Security Committee (JKKKP) members here Sunday.

Some 2,000 JKKKP chairman and secretary from the state attended the one-hour talk. Also present were Kedah Umno liaison chairman Datuk Paduka Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah and his deputy Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir, however, said Barisan Nasional could win big at the general election if Umno's disease could be cured.

Asked whether the time was right for general election, he said: "It is unsuitable as lot of things need to be done and Umno is not strong enough."

"Umno still has factions and the split is still critical. If there is awareness, a sense of gratitude and unity, Barisan can win.

On PAS' plan to implement hudud law, Dr Mahathir said they had to resort to this as "they feel that they will lose."

"The country consists of a multi-religious population. If 100% are Muslims, there is no problem.

"Nik Aziz wants to implement hudud only for Muslims and this is not fair. Islam demands justice in all matters."

 

Karpal: DAP never agreed to hudud in T'gganu, Kelantan

Posted: 01 Oct 2011 07:05 PM PDT

(The Star) - DAP chairman Karpal Singh said he is surprised over the statement by Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat that the party had agreed in principle to the hudud legislation which was passed in Kelantan and Terengganu in 1999 and 2003 respectively.

"We never agreed in principle to the legislation," he said at a press conference at his office here Sunday.

"We have nothing against PAS. On larger issues, we are on one mind.

"But we find that PAS' stand on hudud is inconsistent with the Federal Constitution," he said.

Karpal said DAP leaders had made it clear during a meeting with Pakatan Rakyat leaders on Wednesday that the hudud law was not in line with the Federal Constitution.

Asked about his absence at the 60th PAS anniversary celebration in Kepala Batas, Karpal Singh said he did not attend as he was unwell.

"I informed DAP headquarters that I could not attend the function.

"It is not a deliberate attempt on my part to skip the event," he said.

 

Increase in Kinabatangan voters raising eyebrows

Posted: 01 Oct 2011 02:09 PM PDT

By Queville To, FMT

KOTA KINABALU: The unexpected high voter-to-population ratio in the Kinabatangan region on the east of Sabah has raised concerns that non-citizens have made it into the new electoral rolls.

Sabah DAP which sounded the alarm said the ratio had risen to as high as 68% and was abnormal.

MP for Kota Kinabalu Hiew King Cheu noted that a check on the electoral roll revealed that registered voters in Kinabatangan is around 22,000 from a total local population of 32,638, which which makes the population-to-voter ratio at 68%.

"This is very high when compared with many other areas in Sabah. The normal voters-to-population ratio is between 20% to 35% only.

"For example in Beaufort, it is 28,000 voters to 70,000 people (36%), for Penampang, it is 36,000 voters to 130,000 people (28%), and for Beluran it is 20,000 voters to 110,000 people (18%) only.

"It is not possible for a constituency to have 68% of the population registered as voters. Normally, many kampung folks and their young ones are not registered as voters and also many of them are working away from the area. This is even more obvious in Kinabatangan area.

"We cannot understand the situation in Kinabatangan. Maybe someone can explain the high voters- to-population ratio to us."

 

READ MORE HERE.

BN is too big for us but we can cooperate, says Kita chief Zaid Ibrahim

Posted: 01 Oct 2011 02:05 PM PDT

(Bernama) - KOTA BARU: Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita) can cooperate with Barisan Nasional in certain matters although it will not be joining the coalition, said its president Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

He said although Kita had not been offered to be part of Barisan, it was not impossible to establish such cooperaton with Barisan or any other party, except in the general election and in policy matters.

"Whatever it is, Kita will not join BN which is already big, even if offered," he said after delivering a talk at his residence here.

Zaid said Kita was prepared to contest in the general election although it had not yet prepared a full list of candidates.

He hoped the selected candidates would be accepted by the people, especially in Kelantan, to provide the party an opportunity to correct the mistakes of PAS, which he said had failed to develop the state under its rule since 1990.

"Kita wants to boost Kelantan's economy so that it will be strong like previously and where people's problems like lack of water supply and employment were given priority," he said.

On the hudud issue which is still being harped by Kelantan Pas, Zaid said PAS should be focusing on more important matters than on something which he felt would not be implemented.

Zaid said Pas had raised again the hudud issue to actually win back public support in facing the coming general election and not to implement this Islamic criminal law.

 

ADAMANT ON HUDUD

Posted: 01 Oct 2011 11:48 AM PDT

By Sharanjit Singh and Audrey Dermawan, NST

KEPALA BATAS: Looks like there's no stopping Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat from talking on hudud, gag order or no gag order.

In fact, he is pushing the issue further — to make hudud a federal requirement.

The Kelantan menteri besar said he was praying In fact, he is pushing the issue further — to make hudud a federal requirement.

The Kelantan menteri besar said he was praying hard for the opposition grouping to get a two-thirds majority in Parliament as this would pave the way for hudud to be implemented.

The feisty veteran politician said hudud was compulsory in Islam and just as important as other obligations in the religion like praying, fasting, performing the haj and zakat.

Nik Aziz said he was puzzled why Malaysians could accept the death penalty, which was carried out by hanging for those convicted of capital offences but rejected the Islamic law which had very stringent requirements before one could be punished.

He also chided non-Muslims for fearing hudud and fiercely opposing it when the law was only meant for Muslims.

"In Kelantan, we have ruled for 20 years... have we killed a non-Muslim? No. Have we pulled one hair from their bodies? No.

"The law is for the syariah court ... for Muslims. It is not in the civil cour t." Nik Aziz was speaking at a press conference on the sideline of Pas' 60th anniversary celebrations at Dewan Millenium here.

Present were party deputy president Mohamad Sabu and secretary- general Mustafa Ali.

Nik Aziz surprised Pas' par tners in the opposition grouping recently when he resurrected the issue of setting up an Islamic state — the "pillar of Pas' original struggle"— and implement hudud in Kelantan.

He said Pas was ready to have talks with its partners on the idea of an Islamic state and that his state government had laid out the foundation for hudud to be carried out.

This sparked a widely-publicised debate among them, with DAP chairman Karpal Singh questioning why the issuewas being brought up again and reiterating that its implementation was unconstitutional.

The DAP had also threatened to leave the opposition grouping if Pas persisted with its hudud stance.

Nik Aziz said the DAP could choose to do so and said he would not back down from this objective as it had been the pillar of Pas' struggle since the party's inception in 1951.

The opposition leaders held an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the issue but came to no consensus.

In yesterday's function, Nik Aziz said the DAP, although strongly against hudud, had accepted that Islamic law had been endorsed by the Kelantan and Terengganu state legislative assemblies.

Asked if he could see Pas ever working together with Umno, Nik Aziz said the party had done so in the past but had been "kicked out" when they (Umno) got stronger.

"I know you Umno... who you are!" he responded to the question in English, to the amusement of those present at the press conference.

Earlier, Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang reiterated that the party would not force hudud on non-Muslims in the country.

 

Soi Lek: Some BN leaders arrogant ‘bullies’

Posted: 01 Oct 2011 11:44 AM PDT

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider

Some Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders' actions have affected the coalition's image, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek claimed today.

The MCA president said that while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been doing his best to engage with Malaysians, "one or two" BN leaders have tarnished BN's popularity among voters.

"Sadly, it has been perceived that one or two BN leaders are aloof, arrogant, and abusive...they project themselves as a big brother but they are bullies.

"Some are also known to be loose cannons, they get into the headlines for the wrong reasons," Dr Chua (picture) said today during his presidential address at the MCA annual general assembly.

The MCA president did not state explicitly which BN leaders he was referring to.

"For the sake of stability in BN, the MCA has not responded in a way it perhaps should," Dr Chua added.

MORE TO COME HERE

 

Opposition’s job is to say bad and unpopular things, says Dr M

Posted: 01 Oct 2011 10:44 AM PDT

By Farik Zolkepli, The Star

KUALA TERENGGANU: Politicians should not get upset over Penang Chief Minister Lim Guang Eng's alleged statement that Johor is unsafe because the Opposition must make "bad and unpopular" remarks, saidTun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said he could understand Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar's anger over the matter, but insisted that politicians should not blow their top over the issue.

"The Sultan is angry and I understand it as he is the state Ruler. However, politicians should not lose their cool as the Opposition's job is to say bad and unpopular things," he told reporters after attending the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) convocation ceremony yesterday.

He was also awarded an honorary doctorate in science.

The former prime minister was asked to comment on Lim's apology over his alleged statement that Singaporeans were likely to be kidnapped if they went to Johor.

Dr Mahathir said he himself was attacked by the Opposition, including being labelled a dictator and his online blog flooded with negative comments.

"In my blog, depa maki saya (they curse me). If I were to take action (on every single attack), then I won't have time to do anything else.

"Apology or no apology, Lim only did so after being criticised by various parties," he added.

On the Kelantan PAS government's insistence on implementing hudud law in the state, Dr Mahathir said the move was just a political ploy to fish for votes.

"Hudud is a game for PAS and Islam is a game for them as well, as they know they will not form the federal government," he said.

Dr Mahathir said there were many Kelantanese who worked elsewhere.

"Thus, if PAS goes ahead with its plans, then I believe there will not be anyone left in Kelantan," he added.

On certain PAS leaders' pledge to implement hudud in the country if they win the next general election, Dr Mahathir said it could not be done as Malaysia was not a country where its population is 100% Muslim.

"PAS must be realistic as non-Muslims are very important to this country and our economy could collapse if there were no non-Muslims," he said, adding that Islam had never been the focal point of PAS' struggle.

It’s time to lift this veil of beguiling deceitfulness

Posted: 01 Oct 2011 10:23 AM PDT

(The Star) - PAS, hudud law and an Islamic state are the inseparable trio that, of the party's own choosing, would simply refuse to go away.

Last year, PAS rejected any compromise on hudud law despite the DAP's objections.

So much for consultation within Pakatan Rakyat. The issue raged heatedly, then subsided.

Earlier this year, PAS Youth said hudud was no longer a priority, after the party president's keynote speech at the 57th Muktamar downplayed it.

Then speculation of an impending general election grew.

PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat again said hudud law would be implemented nationwide should Pakatan win the general election.

This policy volcano, until then dormant but never extinct, rumbled again. PAS would now make Kelantan an Islamic state through the syariah court system.

Conservative Islamism has returned with all its controversies fully intact, and Pakatan's glaring discrepancies flared again.

Once more, PAS is insisting on an Islamic state despite all the objections.

This is no way to run a party alliance, let alone a multi-ethnic Malaysia with sizeable minorities.

Changing the Constitution to allow for what the world today regards as inhumane punishments, along with vastly disparate forms of legal testimony, is also disturbing.

To pretend that hudud law will not affect non-Muslims is dangerous and nonsensical fiction.

Pakatan has tried to ban entertainment during Ramadan, stop Muslim staff from working in establishments serving alcohol, planned to disrupt music concerts and seen family disputes arise after a family member had undergone religious conversion.

If these issues are trivial or merely "ghostly apparitions", more will emerge when hudud law is implemented.

All Malaysians and even foreign visitors and businesses will be affected, to varying degrees.

Although hudud is contained in the Quran, not all Muslims are clamouring for it.

Meanwhile, PAS has demanded silence from doubters while Pakatan has imposed a gag order on the subject.

Sadly, issues of major national significance are being swept under the carpet by those demanding free speech for themselves and transparency in others.

If hudud law were so much better, it would not be so controversial or should at least be open to free enquiry and debate.

This nation's future is too important to be left in the hands of power seekers who are fundamentally incompatible.

All Have Chance To Succeed Under Malaysian Education System

Posted: 01 Oct 2011 09:43 AM PDT

(Bernama) - PEKAN -- The country's education system provides opportunities to all Malaysians to be successful, said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

He said the system did not discriminate anyone and was in fact much better compared to even those in developed countries as it gave room and opportunities for everyone to succeed.

"What is important is that we expose students to a system which has committed teachers and good parental support so that students will become successful.

"Through our education system, we provide the path to each child to become successful. Success in education produces results within a single generation and there has been successful leaders, corporate figures and others," he said when addressing Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Seri Pekan's Smart Partnership Gathering and Transformation Programme here yesterday.

Najib said there were certain advanced countries where their education systems catered more for the children of the elite with less fortunate groups standing standing no chance of changing their lives of their children for the better.

"In Malaysia, a person's socio-economic status is of no consequence. If have the desire, we can succeed," he said.

The prime minister also praised SMK Seri Pekan for its fine performance despite not being a fully residential school.

He said although SMK Seri Pekan was not a fully residential school, it had succeeded in achieving excellence as a cluster school in the state of Pahang.

"I hope SMK Seri Pekan will go on to achieve High Performance School status," he added.

At the function, Najib also announced a RM500,000 allocation for the school's marching band.

Pakatan to announce alternative Budget tomorrow

Posted: 01 Oct 2011 09:41 AM PDT

By  Syed Mu'az Syed Putra, The Malaysian Insider

KEPALA BATAS, Oct 2 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will unveil its alternative Budget for next year tomorrow, five days before the prime minister tables Budget 2012 in Parliament, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said.

He said the move would allow the public to compare the economic policies of the opposition pact and the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which is under pressure to tackle rising cost of living.

"The committee comprising economic experts from PAS, DAP and PKR has put together our own Budget... in great detail," he said after attending the PAS 60th Anniversary Congress here.

PR's Budget 2012 is expected to include income and expenditure projections, allocations for government ministries and will highlight policy differences between PR and BN.

 

READ MORE HERE.

889,779 foreigners push Sabah to the top spot

Posted: 01 Oct 2011 08:26 AM PDT

(Daily Express) - Sabah has the most migrant workers in the country, recording a 44.7 per cent increase from 614,824 in 2000 to 889,779 in 2010.

Women, Family and Community Ministry Secretary General, Dato Dr Noorul Mohd Nur, said this after launching the Indonesian Workers in Tawau Seminar Findings here, Thursday.

The figures were based on the 2010 Population and Housing Census, which shows 27.7 per cent out of the 3.2 million population in Sabah comprised migrant workers with a majority of them being Indonesians.

"In 2000, Sandakan recorded the most migrant workers (114,230).

However in 2010, Tawau recorded the most (171,409) most of whom are Indonesians," she said.

She said that in the context of the nation's development, especially Sabah, the focus was on legal migrant workers and not illegal migrants.

"A research conducted in 2010 by the Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) in Tawau, which is an agency under the Ministry disclosed three main reasons for the influx. First was for reasons of employment, second was to garner higher income and third was to follow their spouse or relatives who have entered the State.

"Even though the intake of migrant workers has assisted in the economic growth of the nation, the government takes seriously the issues concerning the influx of migrant workers because of the negative implications such as remittances.

"Among steps taken is to monitor and control the number of migrant workers entering the country. However, local employers should also offer more jobs opportunities to the local community.

"There are many employers who prefer employing migrant workers due to the cheaper labour compared to the locals, which deprives our locals from obtaining employment in various sectors mainly plantation, manufacturing and service sectors," she said.

She disclosed that a policy is being formulated by the Economic Planning Unit and the Government on how to ensure local workers are not excluded in these sectors.

Commenting on the implementation of high technology in the sectors, she said: "Employers prefer to take in migrant workers even though they are unskilled due to the cheaper labour.

"Many of the employers do not use high technology because it would mean they have to employ skilled workers which costs higher than unskilled workers.

"If we don't implement technology now, then our country will not achieve our target of being a developed economic nation by 2020," she said.

Towards its end, she said it is important for the State Government to review the employment categories and competency level, which is needed in human resources development.

"This step is necessary because if many of the jobs offered are for unskilled or semi-skilled workers, despite the fact that many locals have achieved tertiary education, then the work generated would not benefit the community.

"In line with the implementation of the Sabah Development Corridor, the State is expected to face a major transformation by 2025," she said.

"The State's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) can by then expect to increase to RM63.2 billion with per capita increasing to RM14,800.

"Based on the analysis by the SDC, the unemployment rate in the State will be decreased to 3.5 per cent and new job opportunities are expected to increase to 900,000 by year 2025," she said, advising locals to grab the job opportunities offered through the SDC.

 

‘Nothing done to stop RM20b yearly losses’

Posted: 30 Sep 2011 06:00 PM PDT

Alternative budget will propose drastic measures to cut on the colossal monetary wastage, says the opposition leader.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Every year, the country suffers about RM20 billion in losses through monetary leakages via corruption, wastage and money laundering, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said.

"But what is the government's action to address it (the losses)? Absolutely nothing," he added.

Quoting international financial reports on the colossal losses, he said the Barisan Nasional government could have carried out various programmes and projects with the money to benefit the people.

"But the government is not doing anything about it. Is the government pro-active in combating corruption?

"Definitely not," Anwar, the PKR supremo, told a sizeable crowd during a forum on development themed "Interaksi Komuniti (Community Interaction) here here today.

Also present were Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman, state executive councillor and Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow, and Penang State Legislative Assembly speaker Abdul Halim Hussain, who is PKR state secretary chief and Balik Pulau division chief.

Others were Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff , Senator Mustafa Kamal Mohd Yusoff and Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Sim Tze Tzin.

As a constructive opposition coalition, Anwar said Pakatan Rakyat would prepare its own alternative people-oriented budget early next week to address the issue and deal with budget deficit.

Pakatan is expected to table its budget to the press after Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who is also the Finance Minister, had tabled the national 2012 Budget at Parliament next Friday.

Anwar indicated that Pakatan's budget would propose drastic measures to cut down on the colossal monetary wastage currently suffered by the country and the escalating budget for the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

READ MORE HERE

 

DAP lawmaker claims offered RM150,000 to run for BN in GE13

Posted: 30 Sep 2011 05:22 PM PDT

Gwee said though he was upset after being suspended he would not accept the BN offer.

(The Malaysian Insider) - A suspended Johor DAP assemblyman today revealed he had been offered RM150,000 and 50 acres of land to quit his party and stand as an independent candidate aligned to rival Barisan Nasional (BN) in the coming national polls.

First-term Bentayan state lawmaker Gwee Tong Hiang said he was approached last Tuesday by a Chinese man claiming to be a representative from the Prime Minister's Department who caught him while he was feeling down over his six-month suspension for alleged power abuse.

The allegation comes on the heels of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's latest charge to win back support from ethnic Chinese voters nationwide, following the dismal performance from the ruling coalition's Chinese parties, notably the MCA, which has been practically written off as irrelevant.

The allegation also recalls the controversial takeover of Perak, which was won in the 2008 general election by the PAS-DAP-PKR pact.

Jepalang MP and Perak state assembly Deputy Speaker Datuk Hee Yit Fong had quit the DAP to become a BN-friendly independent, tipping the balance in favour of the BN.

Najib, who is also BN chairman, carried out a whirlwind tour into enemy territory in DAP-controlled Penang last weekend, but support towards the BN government in Umno-controlled Johor appears to be eroding as well if Gwee's claim is to be believed.

Gwee told reporters the man, whom he named as Wee Pao Chin, had arranged for him to meet Najib in Putrajaya on Monday where the BN chairman would announce the news at a media conference.

He said the RM150,000 would be provided by Putrajaya and would be paid to him in one lump sum through the Wee clan association in order to avoid detection.

He also claimed that he was promised more than RM5,000 a month as extra funds and would be given an office and staff to take care of his constituents if he agreed to quit the DAP.

"Their terms were 'you must stand as independent candidate in the next election to fight DAP candidate'," Gwee, 44, disclosed at the DAP headquarters here today.

The Bentayan state seat is in the Bakri parliamentary constituency and was until 2008 an MCA stronghold. Gwee beat the MCA's Lee Chin Yong in the last general election with a comfortable 2,798-vote margin.

Asked why the BN wanted him as a candidate there for the next polls, Gwee said he was told: "Top management kau-tim [has been fixed]. MCA will not put a candidate in Bentayan constituency."

READ MORE HERE

 

Asri: PAS needs new political framework

Posted: 30 Sep 2011 05:16 PM PDT

Asri said Umno is not the standard for PAS to make comparisons.

(The Malaysian Insider) - PAS needs a new political framework where all of its leaders can be accepted by voters, Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has said.

The former Perlis mufti said the Islamist party needed to think beyond governing a state if it was serious in taking over federal power.

He cautioned PAS leaders against getting involved in issues which can be resolved internally.

"PAS needs a new political framework, PAS needs a bigger framework... Malaysia's framework is not Kelantan.

"Umno is not the standard for PAS to make comparisons, PAS needs to be at a higher place," he said at a PAS forum here last night.

PAS celebrates its 60th anniversary today.

Asri stressed that the party needed to groom leaders which could be accepted by all layers of society if it wanted to remain relevant politically.

"PAS needs to create or groom a leader who is acceptable by not just by the party but also by those outside PAS; if we look there are 60 per cent of voters who are undecided on who to vote for.

"PAS needs a leader like Burhanuddin al-Helmy... great, everyone knows him, some even say he was worthy to become prime minister," he said.

READ MORE HERE

 

Next GE will be all-out ‘cyber war’, Liow warns MCA Youth

Posted: 30 Sep 2011 04:30 PM PDT

(The Malaysian Insider) - The battlefront for the next general election will be an all-out war in cyber space, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai warned MCA Youth leaders today.

The MCA deputy president reminded the party's Youth wing that it needed to embark on a more aggressive online campaign, and that the party's dismissal of the influence of blogs and the Internet in the last general election had contributed to the MCA's loss of parliamentary and state seats.

"To stop opposition parties to continue deceiving the people, efforts for an all-out war must begin now. I call on all Youth members to prepare for cyber war.

"We understand that blogs were a mainpublicity media in the last general election while Facebook and Twitter are expected to become the primary media in the coming general election. MCA candidates cannot neglect the Internet war in the coming general election," he said at the MCA Youth annual general assembly.

READ MORE HERE

 

Iranian Pastor Sentenced to Death: Attorney Hopeful of Acquittal

Posted: 30 Sep 2011 04:19 PM PDT

(Business and law) - The attorney for an Iranian Christian pastor who is facing the death penalty for the crime of apostasy said he is optimistic his client will be acquitted and freed.

Youcef Naderkhani has refused to renounce his Christian faith in a case that has sparked global fury against Iran and appeals for clemency.

According to a report in BBC, Naderkhani's lawyer, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, said there was a 95 percent chance he will be freed.

U.S. House Speaker John Boehner also has already spoken out against Iran.

"While Iran's government claims to promote tolerance, it continues to imprison many of its people because of their faith. This goes beyond the law to an issue of fundamental respect for human dignity. I urge Iran's leaders to abandon this dark path, spare [Nadarkhani's] life, and grant him a full and unconditional release," said Boehner.

Naderkhani, 32, reportedly was born Muslim and converted to Christianity at the age of 19. He became a pastor of a 400-person Church of Iran congregation in the northern city of Rasht.

He was arrested two years ago and sentenced to death in 2010 by a court of appeals. His crime was apostasy, or abandoning his Muslim faith.

Iran's Supreme Court said Naderkhani could be freed if he renounced his Christian religion.

The Right Reverend Michael Nazir-Ali, the former Anglican Bishop of Rochester, told BBC: "As a Christian I can't do that [refute my faith]. In a much lesser way I have faced these questions myself, and I would ask for myself for strength in this situation and courage, and that is what I would ask for him. But at the same time to ask that understanding and compassion and clemency be exercised by those who are in authority."

Nazir-Ali sad Iranians are likely concerned about the growth of Christianity in the country and may want to make an example of Naderhkani.

He added that the death penalty has not been imposed in Iran in such a case since 1990.

Before his last hearing Wednesday, Nadarkhani had been given three previous chances to repent, and all three times he has refused. After his final refusal Wednesday, no verdict has been announced, but many expect that he could be put to death as soon as Friday.

Even if the sentence were commuted, Nadarkhani could still face life in prison. And even if he were released, there would still be danger.

"In Iran about 18 years ago, they had released a pastor, but then came and assassinated him and his bishop later. We cannot stop the pressure," Pastor Firouz Sadegh-Khandjani, a Member of the Council of Elders for the Church of Iran, told the American Center for Law and Justice.

Between June 2010 and January 2011, more than 200 people in Iran were arrested for their religious beliefs, according to Elam Ministries, a United Kingdom-based church with ties to Iran.

In August, a pastor named Haghnejad was arrested for the third time, according to Christian Solidarity. Police also confiscated 6,500 bibles, which Iran's social issues committee deemed were being used to deceive youths.

 

Club knows nothing about Kelantan’s latest move

Posted: 30 Sep 2011 04:10 PM PDT

(The Star) - PAS Supporters Club chairman Hu Pang Chow has claimed that he was "in the dark" over the Kelantan government's plan to implement hudud in the state.

Hu said he had received hundreds of calls from club members asking about Kelantan's hudud plan.

"As it is, even before hudud is implemented (in Kelantan), there are no investments here. Just imagine when hudud is actually put into practice here.

"I would say it would be minus zero investment for Kelantan in the coming years until the general election. I received hundreds of calls from club members asking me about Kelantan's plan," said Hu yesterday.

"The only answer I can give is that as club chairman, I was not consulted or invited to discuss the matter. I am also in the dark over this sudden move by the state government."

Hu said the stalemate in Pakatan Rakyat's stand over the hudud issue also had far reaching consequences for non-Muslims in both the west and east coasts of peninsular Malay-sia.

He said the inconclusive meeting among Pakatan members would affect non-Muslim support not only in religious terms but also the investment climate.

Hu said although Kelantan had stressed that such laws would not affect non-Muslims, such a move, if implemented, would eventually impact them.

"I cannot say much on the investment climate because non-Muslims are a minority in the east coast.

"However, the Chinese would be alarmed by the move."

 

Hudud laws okay in Kelantan

Posted: 30 Sep 2011 04:02 PM PDT

However, FMT readers are confident that it would not be implemented nationwide when Pakatan Rakyat comes to power.

(Free Malaysia Today) - A majority of FMT readers are not seeing red over the implementation of hudud in Kelantan but, at the same time, do not expect hudud to be featured in a Pakatan Rakyat federal government.

In a FMT poll conducted for the past two weeks, some 81 percent or 1,968 out of 2,417 readers, voted that hudud would not be Pakatan's national policy compared with 300 readers who voted "yes".

Only seven percent or 149 voters were undecided on the issue.

The controversy over the implementation of hudud was sparked a fortnight ago when Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who is also PAS spiritual adviser, announced that he wants to implement hudud in Kelantan.

The DAP, a partner in the Pakatan Rakyat alliance, promptly opposed it on the grounds that it is unconstitutional.

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim announced that hudud will not be implemented due to a lack of consensus after a meeting of Pakatan top brass to discuss the hot-button issue on Sept 29.

READ MORE HERE

 

Wall Street protesters march on police

Posted: 30 Sep 2011 01:57 PM PDT

(Reuters) - Protesters who have camped out near Wall Street for two weeks marched on Friday on police headquarters in Manhattan over what they viewed as a heavy-handed police response to a previous demonstration.

The Occupy Wall Street movement, whose members have vowed to stay through the winter, are protesting issues including the 2008 bank bailouts, foreclosures and high unemployment.

More than 1,000 people marched past City Hall and arrived at a plaza outside police headquarters in the late afternoon. Some held banners criticizing police, while others chanted: "We are the 99 percent" and "The banks got bailed out, we got sold out."

Workers from the financial district on their way home watched as the marchers passed, with some saying it was not obvious what outcome organizers of the Occupy Wall Street movement wanted.

Police observed the march and kept protesters on the sidewalk, but no clashes were reported. Police said no arrests were made before the protest dispersed peaceably by 8 p.m. after the march.

"No to the NYPD crackdown on Wall St. protesters," organizers had said on their website, promoting the march. Other online flyers for the march read: "No to Stop-and-Frisk in Black & Latino neighborhoods" and "No to Spying and Harassment of Muslim Communities."

The protest came less than a week after police arrested 80 people during a march to the bustling Union Square shopping district, the most arrests by New York police at a demonstration since hundreds were detained outside the Republican National Convention in 2004.

A police commander used pepper spray on four women at last weekend's march and a video of the incident went viral on the Internet, angering many protesters who vowed to continue their protests indefinitely.

Police have said pepper spray was a better alternative than night sticks to subdue those blocking traffic.

RIGHT TO PROTEST

Friday's crowd appeared to have been boosted by an announcement that the rock band Radiohead would perform at 4 p.m. Later, organizers said on their website, "Radiohead will not being playing. This was a hoax. Please accept our apologies."

"We heard about Radiohead coming here on Facebook," said Alegra Felter, a 34-year-old teacher from Brooklyn who was among the disappointed rock fans.

The protest encampment in Zuccotti Park in downtown Manhattan is festooned with placards and anti-Wall Street slogans. There is a makeshift kitchen and library, and celebrities from filmmaker Michael Moore to actress Susan Sarandon have stopped by to show solidarity.

Asked on his weekly radio show on Friday whether the protesters could stay indefinitely at the private park they call their base, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, "We'll see."

Bloomberg added: "People have a right to protest. But we also have to make sure that people who don't want to protest can go down the street unmolested."

While the protest has been made up mostly of young people, it also has recently attracted the support of a loose coalition of labor and community organizations.

Marty Goodman, a unionized subway worker, said, "Last year we had 900 of our members laid off ... These are our issues too: Wall Street, the banks, layoffs, the struggle that these young people are spearheading is our struggle too."

Among those pledging solidarity were the United Federation of Teachers and the Transport Workers Union Local 100, which has 38,000 members. The unions could provide important organizational and financial support for the largely leaderless movement.

Similar but smaller protests have also sprouted in other cities in recent days, including Boston, Chicago and San Francisco.

Guan Eng wants Najib to apologise for Bumi quota flip-flop

Posted: 30 Sep 2011 01:47 PM PDT

By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 — DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng wants the prime minister to apologise for another "flip-flop", this time over the scrapping of Bumiputera quotas.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday he had not promised to abolish the 30 per cent quota eventually despite media reports to the contrary.

But Lim (picture)pointed out today it was hard to believe state news agency Bernama, which also carried the alleged misquote, would dare to misrepresent the prime minister.

"As it is hard to imagine a government news department like Bernama daring to misquote or misrepresent what the prime minister said, will the prime minister be compelled to apologise for saying the wrong thing?" Lim said in a statement.

Bernama, several online news portals and the Chinese media reported earlier this week that Najib had called for the eventual removal of Bumiputera quotas.

"We want to do away from (with) quotas but we must support them (Bumiputera entrepreneurs) in a way that would allow them to grow," Najib told the Khazanah Megatrends Forum 2011 here on Tuesday night.

The prime minister, however, denied yesterday he had meant for such quotas to be scrapped and that he was merely trying to urge Bumiputera entrepreneurs to be more self-sufficient.

"I did not say we want to abolish quotas, but I said we cannot be too reliant on them," he had said after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting here.

 

 

READ MORE HERE.


 


 

MCA ‘always’ relevant, say party leaders

Posted: 30 Sep 2011 01:36 PM PDT

(The Malaysian Insider) - MCA leaders today lambasted former party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat for saying the party is becoming increasing irrelevant, claiming there is no basis for his remarks.

They denied that the Chinese community had written the party off, claiming that the MCA was on its way to regaining Chinese support.

Ong had told The Malaysian Insider in an interview that the MCA was on the path to irrelevance, and that the Barisan Nasional (BN) component has not heeded the push for reform that saw the party lose 25 of the 40 federal and 59 of the 90 state seats it contested in Election 2008.

He had said the reforms he tried to implement in the MCA "all went down the drain" after he was ousted.

"MCA is always relevant. Although we lost badly in 2008, we still have strong representation within the Chinese community.

"He (Ong) can say what he likes, but he must not eat his own words," said MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Liow said that when Ong was president, he had instructed MCA members to refrain from saying bad things about the party.

"No (we are not irrelevant), MCA has been working hard to ensure support of Chinese," said Liow.

 

 

READ MORE HERE.

 

 

MCA challenges Opposition leaders to justify show-cause order issued to school

Posted: 30 Sep 2011 08:50 AM PDT

(The Star) - MCA Youth has challenged Pakatan Rakyat leaders to justify a show-cause letter issued by the Pasir Puteh Land and District Office (PTJPP) in Kelantan to a Chinese school for celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.

MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said the movement was angry that a festival, which is part of the Chinese community's culture, could be interpreted as "entertainment".

"I want Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng to answer if what they are doing is fair to the Chinese community.

"Since when is celebrating the lantern festival a crime under the entertainment enactment?

"Is this what they mean when they claim respect for different cultures?" he asked during a press conference after the MCA Youth central committee meeting at Wisma MCA yesterday.

Dr Wee, who is also Deputy Education Minister, showed a letter to the press from PTJPP, dated Sept 18, to SJK(C) Kai Chih in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, informing the headmaster that it had held an entertainment event Sept 15 from 8pm to 11.30pm at the school's premises without obtaining a licence or approval.

"In relation to that, the organiser can be punished if found guilty of violating Section 6 (2) of the Entertainment and Places of Entertainment Enactment 1998, which carries a maximum fine of RM20,000 or a five-year jail term, or both," Dr Wee quoted while reading out the letter.

Dr Wee questioned whether PAS is sensitive to the beliefs and culture of the community.

"If they were celebrating the festival, it should not be an issue. We consider this a violation of the rights of non-Muslims, especially the Chinese," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Wee defended the video clip Undilah and said he did not regard it as controversial despite Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim saying it offended certain segments of society.

"We do not regard the message of the video as sparking a Reformasi and it does not contain any hidden message to bring down the Government," he said.

 

MCA heading for irrelevance, says Tee Keat

Posted: 30 Sep 2011 08:34 AM PDT

(The Malaysian Insider) - The MCA is on the path to irrelevance, its former president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said this week ahead of the party's annual gathering this weekend.

He told The Malaysian Insider in an interview that the Barisan Nasional (BN) component has not heeded the push for reform that saw the party lose 25 of the 40 federal and 59 of the 90 state seats it contested in Election 2008.

"MCA is still stuck in the mindset of being gung-ho with statements instead of delivering good governance. It is parroting old polemic rather than delivering reforms asked for by voters.

"If MCA continues on this same old path and psyche, then it is certainly headed for irrelevance. Some have bluntly said we are already irrelevant," said Ong, who was deposed as MCA boss by Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek in a fractious power struggle 18 months ago.

The Pandan MP cited, as examples of "empty platitudes," his successor's threats to quit BN if Umno implemented hudud and to resign from the Cabinet and other government posts if the party does not improve in a general election expected soon.

"I don't see how his threats can lift the party from its doldrums," he said.

The party holds what is likely to be its final general assembly this weekend before federal polls are called.

But despite having three presidents in as many years, the MCA has seen Chinese support continue to shrink in by-elections.

Some analyses state that the Tenang polls held earlier this year saw just 18 per cent of Chinese voting for BN.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak has begun taking over the charge for Chinese votes, spending last weekend dishing out RM15 million to Chinese schools and exempting a Community Chest project headed by Chinese tycoons from tax to help it channel RM100 million a year into vernacular education.

"Najib as BN chief is spearheading initiatives to win Chinese votes, triggering the question of 'where is MCA?' from the public," Ong said.

He said the MCA could not shirk its responsibility as part of government despite Umno's seniority in the ruling coalition.

"How are they justifying their position as minister? Chinese want a level playing field. Ministers must get rid of cronies and monopolies," he said.

Ong cited his 26-month tenure as transport minister where he opened the probe on the RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Zone scandal even though senior officers told him it was a closed case.

"I put aside considerations of whether or not it would implicate Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik or Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy," he said of the former MCA president and deputy who were Ong's predecessors as transport minister.

"I was more concerned about how the party had been linked to that debacle which was a key factor in the March 2008 tsunami," he added, referring to the BN's landmark loss of its customary two-thirds majority in Parliament and five state governments.

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Malaysia in the Era of Globalization #84

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 11:08 PM PDT

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M. Bakri Musa

Chapter 10: Freedom, Justice, and the Law

Society and Individuals

Society and individual may be the two sides of the same coin; nonetheless our attitude or more importantly the attitude of those in power as to which side to be viewed first, involves more than just a simple toss of the coin. The difference between a totalitarian state versus a civil one is that with the former, the individual serves the state; in a civilized society, the state is there for the citizens. This seminal distinction makes all the difference.

The purported supremacy of Asian values that place a premium on societal goals over the dignity of the individual is in reality at best nothing more than a benign manifestation of authoritarian tendencies. It is no surprise that such societies are prone to militaristic and dictatorial tendencies, as demonstrated by Communist China and the Japan of World War II.

Indeed one can guess accurately the state of a nation by seeing how it treats its individual members, especially its intelligentsia and talented members. I see daily reminders of this in America. Visit any prestigious university in the West and you will find brilliant scientists and scholars from the Third World. The more backward the country, the more its citizens are represented. India and China are both backward, but America has an extraordinary number of their talented scholars and scientists.

Many of the "hi-tech" startups in Silicon Valley are the brainchild of Chinese and Indians entrepreneurs. The Egyptian Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry (1999), Caltech's Dr. Ahmad Zewail, did his formative research in America. The Egyptians recognized him only after he made a name for himself. The Pakistani-born 1979 Nobel laureate in physics, Abdus Salaam, too did his pioneering work in the West.

Visit any leading American medical center and you will see many luminaries from such countries as Pakistan, Ecuador, and Ethiopia. While every year America routinely grabs the lion share of Nobel prizes, what is not commonly recognized is that many of these geniuses are foreign born. These talented individuals had to leave their native land to maximize their potential.

When I see how Indonesia treats its gifted writers like Pramoedya Ananta Toer, I am saddened not so much for him but for the Indonesians. Here is a talented writer, God's gift to the Indonesians, and their leaders treat him like a criminal. They fail to respect much less appreciate his precious talent. While eminent American universities like Cornell and Cal Berkeley laud him, back in Indonesia his books are banned. It is instructive that he was nominated by his Malaysian admirers for the prestigious Maysaysay award which he won in1965. Meanwhile back in Indonesia the military rulers were debating whether he should be allowed to leave for Manila to receive the award.

Reading his autobiography, Nyanyi Sunyi Se Orang Bisu (The Mute's Soliloquy), I am struck at how callous and cruel the authorities are towards their citizens. Pramoedya's fate is in stark contrast to how writers are treated in America. For one, their intellectual property is well protected and they get generous royalty payments. Two, they are honored and rewarded with offers from universities to be their writer-in-residence or such similar program. In Indonesia however, Pramoedya was tortured, his private property and invaluable manuscripts confiscated, and he was banished to a remote island.

What Indonesia is saying to its citizens especially its talented ones is this: We do not respect your skills and ability; and if you become too smart, we will show you who is smarter!

The genius of modern Western civilization is its fine balancing between respecting individual freedom and rights on one hand, and the needs of society on the other. A salient feature of Western democracy is the freedom it affords individuals to pursue and fully develop their talent and abilities. Only modern democratic societies have successfully resolved the continuing dilemma of reconciling the needs of the individual with the claims of society. Totalitarian societies that prize the supremacy of society (or more correctly, the needs of those in power) have repeatedly proven to be disastrous failures. The abject failure of present day Islamic societies is precisely because their rulers have subjugated individual freedoms to the needs of society and its leaders. They have confused obedience to the state and its leaders as being the same thing as obeying God. The one common feature of many Third World countries today is their callous disregard for the dignity of their citizens.

The Golden Age of Islam was attributable to the remarkable freedom afforded to individuals. Such freedom resulted in the intellectual fervent that produced such giants as Imam Ghazali, Ibn Rashid, and Ibn Sinne. Historians now recognize the pivotal contributions of these early Muslim thinkers to the later European Renaissance.

To the extent that modern Islamic reformists would like to bring Islam back to those pristine values of the past, especially the respect and dignity for the individual, I am all for it. But present day Islamic "reformists," especially those in the Third World as represented by PAS in Malaysia and the Taliban in Afghanistan, would have their citizens be subjugated by the state. They have the supreme arrogance to believe that their state is divinely sanctioned, and thus holds supremacy over the individual. These leaders ought to be reminded that Islam thrives only in an atmosphere of freedom.

An All-Knowing God (Al-Aleem) has also bestowed upon each person an intellect, akal, and with it the capacity to think and reason. This divine gift is unique only to humans; it enables us to decide between good and bad, right and wrong, and whether to believe or not to believe. With this attribute man is also capable of creative knowledge. In short, man is not a robot. This human potential would be stunted if we do not have freedom in the broadest sense of the word. Or as Mahmoud Taha put it, "free from all the dehumanizing influences of poverty, ignorance, and fear." Today only in Western democracies have these fears been alleviated, and thus only in a democratic system does individuals have the potential to reach their full promise.

Left alone people will do what is best for themselves and their families. The role of the state is to encourage, not thwart, this natural instinct. When individuals progress, so would society.

Next: Personal Liberty in Malaysia

Hudud and the Constitution

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 07:17 PM PDT

It has to be said that Article 4(1) is a problematic provision. While the aim is clear — that is to guarantee order in the constitutional structure — it has been badly drafted. That is why some judges, such as the one in Chia Kin Tze (1958), got it wrong. We were lucky to have Surinder Singh Kanda (1962) where Lord Denning taught us the meaning of constitutional supremacy.

Abu Umar, The Malaysian Insider

There are basically three groups when it comes to hudud law implementation in Malaysia. While PAS has been consistent on the matter, DAP, the Islamic party's partner in Pakatan Rakyat, has been consistent in opposing it together with MCA and Gerakan from the ruling Barisan Nasional.

Meanwhile Umno, the leading partner in BN, has been sitting on the fences.

It is therefore interesting to find Prime Minister Najib Razak — echoing Professor Aziz Bari — saying that elements of hudud law are there already in the legal system. This is quite true given the existence of "moral laws" in the form of syariah criminal laws even though their provisions are not a hundred per cent Islamic.

Whatever it is, that position alone is good enough to put question mark on the assertion of hudud opponents that such a law cannot be put into practice in Malaysia as the Constitution and the legal system it created are both secular.

Indeed there are many provisions in the Constitution that allow the application of Islamic law, eg in the provision of Article 11 on the right to religious freedom when the parties involved are Muslims.

One can also mention the provisions in the state constitution on the qualification of the heirs to the throne, most of which have been taken from the writings of classical Muslim jurists. And whatever one has to say about the impact of Article 3(1), the plain meaning of the provision is that Islam has somewhat become the faith of the nation.

The bottom line of those provisions is that Islam has quite permeated the system. Whether or not Islam has become the benchmark is not quite important. But it looks like that it has either equal or superior status compared to the English common law.

For one thing, the Civil Law Act 1965 clearly provides that English common law can only be applied when there is a lacuna; when there is no law available. In simple terms, English common law is just nasi tambah, not the main course.

The hudud opponents also cite Article 4(1) and the Supreme Court decision in Che Omar bin Che Soh (1988) to say that religious law — or, more specifically, Islamic law — has no place in Malaysia.

It has to be said that Article 4(1) is a problematic provision. While the aim is clear — that is to guarantee order in the constitutional structure — it has been badly drafted. That is why some judges, such as the one in Chia Kin Tze (1958), got it wrong. We were lucky to have Surinder Singh Kanda (1962) where Lord Denning taught us the meaning of constitutional supremacy.

What is important from this landmark case is that all laws, executive decisions and so on must be done within the constitutional constraints. It pretty clear that the constraint that our constitution has in mind is not vague standards such as democratic character or religious contents. What the Constitution requires is simply that the law or the decision must be made by the right authority and that it does not go against any of its provisions.

Now, is there any provision in the Constitution that prohibits the application of Islamic law? This is the one question that has to be dealt before one asserts the need to amend the Constitution to facilitate hudud.

As for the controversial case, the court did not actually say that we are a secular state. The case merely rejected the argument that Islamic law should become the benchmark to determine the legality of laws in this country.

And this is perfectly sound for the law is considered valid so long as it has gone through the right procedure. We can take the law from any source: Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and so on. What is crucial is these materials must pass the test laid down by the Constitution.

Another argument that has been put up to oppose hudud law — as envisaged by Kelantan Mentri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat — is that it would create more divisions and inequality in our society. Perhaps one should remember the right to equality under the Constitution is not absolute. This is evident from Article 8 itself and has been further reinforced by various court decisions over the years.

READ MORE HERE

 

Press freedom, a la MCA

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 06:17 PM PDT

If Chua and the MCA are truly and sincerely in favour and supportive of the real and pragmatic practice of press freedom, advocating the unrestrictive, unregulated, and unreserved media culture in the country, then the very first thing the MCA must do is to divest itself totally of its control of The Star and other related publications, by selling its shares in these media companies to the general public.

Thomas Lee Seng Hock

MCA president Chua Soi Lek has declared that his party wants the current restrictive and oppressive Printing Presses and Publications Act scrapped, to keep up with the increasing public demands for more openness and freedom of expression.

Chua said at the recently concluded 58th MCA annual general assembly that the aspirations of the new generation of Malaysians for a more liberal and democratic society means that the Barisan Nasional government should be bold and confident enough to dump the intolerable piece of harsh and authoritarian legislation, not just make amendments to it.

"We must work towards abolishing the Printing Presses and Publications Act and set a time frame for that. The government has to be bold and confident enough to take such a step," he said.

Chua pointed out that there is no level playing field now in the communication and information arena between the traditional main stream media (MSM) and the fast expanding and influential cyber media.

"The print media is subject to various laws, but the new media seem to have a free hand. There should be no such discrimination," he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had announced in his Malaysia Day message to the nation on 16 September 2011 that the Barisan Nasional administration would amend the Printing Presses and Publications Act to exempt newspaper publishers from the current mandatory obligation to apply for a new printing permit annually.

The MCA proposal to go beyond just making adjustment to the intensely unacceptable and undesirable legislation is certainly commendable and deserving of praise and support.

But, an honest and objective look at the current attitude, policy and practice of the party in the area of press freedom surely exposes the hollowness of the Chua proposal, and the insincerity, and even hypocrisy, of the party leadership.

If Chua and the MCA are truly and sincerely in favour and supportive of the real and pragmatic practice of press freedom, advocating the unrestrictive, unregulated, and unreserved media culture in the country, then the very first thing the MCA must do is to divest itself totally of its control of The Star and other related publications, by selling its shares in these media companies to the general public. At the same time, the party must remove all political appointees currently running the editorial operation of The Star and the party-controlled Chinese newspapers.

Chua Soi Lek should shut up about the issue of press freedom if he is not able to make the MCA give up the control of The Star and other newspapers it currently owns.

The political control of the nation's newspapers is surely the most glaring and conspicuous of a bad press culture, of which the MCA is among the top two culprits, the other being Umno which controls the Utusan Malaysia and other Bahasa Melayu newspapers.

Chua Soi Lek wants to project himself as one who believes in and advocates the practice of a free press culture, yet he is not prepared to lift the political control and abuse of the newspapers owned by the party.

If The Star can publish in full Chua's presidential address at the MCA assembly, it should also publish in full the policy message of DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, if it is truly a free and independent paper, with the catchphrase tagline "The People's Paper".

The political slant in its news reporting and political commentaries is very obvious. Anything spoken by the MCA bosses must be published in full, while anything from the DAP or other opposition groups, especially those critical of the MCA, will not see the light of day.

Editors at the MCA-control newspapers practise self-censorship to ensure nothing detrimental to the party and its leaders is published. Such a bad press culture in these newspapers is largely responsible for the eroding of the independence and freedom of the media in our nation.

I challenge Chua Soi Lek to walk the talk on the matter of press freedom by freeing The Star and the MCA-owned Chinese newspapers from the party control. The test of his credibility and sincerity is not just in the talk advocating a free press culture, but in a determined, decisive, and deconstructive effort to deactivate the political control and abuse of The Star and other MCA-owned newspapers.

Until Chua Soi Lek liberates The Star and other MCA-control newspapers, he has no moral right to talk about the freedom of the press and freedom of expression.

 

Rantings over the great hudud debate

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 03:57 PM PDT

This writer has vehemently argued that for as long as there are leaders in the opposition parties who are bent on saying that this Federal Constitution is secular or Islamic and that the Islamic Penal Code is unconstitutional, Pakatan Rakyat would forever be subjected to this unending acrimonious debate.

Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, The Malaysian Insider

Much as I hate this acrimonious debate on hudud, especially with the general election looming ever so close, I no longer believe that delaying it is going to do any good to anyone either. Not to Non-Muslims, Muslims and much less to Islam.

Conventional wisdom would have it that deferring the debate and focusing on more major issues of a dysfunctional democracy such as gross mismanagement of the nation's wealth and finances, endemic corruption, unbridled crony capitalism, gross income inequality would be in order.

Accordingly, this writer was earliest in reprimanding everyone, especially the PAS and other Pakatan leaders. His frantic attempt, as usual, fell on deaf ears. In no time, Pakatan leaders, nay the entire nation, are embroiled in the debate.

Once again, the "ugly" head of hudud, or such as it were described by many a less-than-friendly commentator, is "splitting" the nation, as if the nation were a one united country prior to the appearance of hudud on the national debate.

This writer would want to believe that, as a nation, we are only united in one cause, i.e. to make this beloved nation of ours, a better place for everyone.

So why should PAS and Pakatan take this issue upfront now?

For obvious reasons.

Allow it to be ventilated; the rantings, the ramblings and all the concerns and anxiety, perhaps misunderstandings. Let it out. Say what you really think of it. Perhaps in the free enterprise of ideas, it can no longer be suppressed anyway.

In the course of this national debate, the conversation has at least brought one unknown fact to the fore i.e. that the Islamic Penal Code is only enforceable on Muslims.

As to how it would be given an iron-clad assurance, as demanded by the Catholic Bishop Dr Paul Tan, who seems friendly with Tok Guru, it has yet to be meticulously articulated.

There are some who proposed that PAS conduct a referendum to assess and determine the level of support of the Kelantanese on the implementation of the enactment, now that Tok Guru's chief ministership has spanned well over 20 years.

The hudud debate has also been instrumental in assessing that there are many non-Muslims who no longer have any fear of hudud, while many more continue to feel terrorised by the mere mention of the word. It has sadly become a rather bad word.

Debate, discourse and the many good writings of scholars and columnists provide useful insights to this once-very-misunderstood-transcendental Law of God, grossly misrepresented and demonised as barbaric and uncivilised.

For once, this writer noted the earnestness of many who wish to understand the wisdom of Islamic jurisprudence beyond its purely punitive dimension. That is both reassuring and informative.

For all these "happenings", I retrospectively thought that this is not that bad after all. Yes, if all sensitive issues of religion and race get to be swept under the carpet, this nation would never be "enlightened".

Indeed, that would be the greatest assault on Reason! Only Perkasa and right-winged religious and racial bigots thrive in the ambience of fear, ignorance and under-siege kind of mentality.

More strategically though, imagine if this polemical topic is to come any closer to the finishing line or during the raging campaign period of the 13th general election.

God forbid, Pakatan would arguably be dead meat. The "master strategist" Tun M has his way of putting a wedge between the Pakatan coalition partners. Already we have witnessed Pakatan leaders all too willing to cross swords openly and the BN-controlled media ever so ready to fan it up.

We, obliviously perhaps, went headlong into the pit in a self-destruct mode. For days, the issue occupied front page of The Star, NST, Utusan, et al; Hudud Feud, Hadi speaks up etc. We have seen enough of these shooting at each other episodes.

Fast forward, we thank God that Pakatan survived the nerve-racking hudud debate in a three-hour closed-door meeting. This writer, who was also a secretariat member of the Barisan Alternatif (BA), a forerunner of the PR, witnessed its demise after PAS launched the Islamic Document.

This grim reminder was very much in our minds in those critical moments during the hudud debate.

Admittedly, this writer would have no qualms revealing the fact that "Islamic state" and "hudud" are the Achilles' Heel of the opposition front; before, in the BA, now, in PR and indeed to eternity.

This writer has vehemently argued that for as long as there are leaders in the opposition parties who are bent on saying that this Federal Constitution is secular or Islamic and that the Islamic Penal Code is unconstitutional, Pakatan Rakyat would forever be subjected to this unending acrimonious debate.

Pakatan's strategic trajectory to Putrajaya

Pakatan has again reasserted its Common Policy Framework (CPF) and of its policy advocacy as spelt out in Buku Jingga or the "Orange Book." Pakatan has again categorically announced its undivided commitment to the Federal Constitution, namely as highlighted by the provisions of Articles 3, 152 and 153 and its resolute vision of bringing about a New Malaysia.

In the context of the hudud debate, PAS and many Muslim constituencies would have hoped for a better treatment and recognition of the work of implementing the Islamic Penal Code — namely the Enakmen Jenayah Syariah 2 (1993), which actually predated the existence of Pakatan Rakyat or in fact the BA. In brief, they wanted it endorsed by the Pakatan presidential council.

That was not to be the case, as collectively decided by the Pakatan presidential council. Implementation of the Islamic Penal Code is not part of the CPF. The hudud debate has revolved around its constitutionality as posited by some legally trained leaders, while others were arguing from the perspectives of politics and strategy, which also invariably concluded that the agenda be best addressed after the 13th general election.

The meeting finally acknowledged and respected the difference amongst parties in Pakatan Rakyat as a democratic alliance particularly with respect to PAS's position on the implementation of syariah law.

Difficult though it may seem for PAS but the DAP would similarly be in a rancorous position should Pakatan allow PAS to take the hudud law on board.

PAS would have to suffer the mockery of the Umno media for failing to convince her Pakatan partners to support its implementation in Kelantan. It would reinforce the notion of PAS being dictated to or saddled by the DAP.

READ MORE HERE

 
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Freedom

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 11:00 PM PDT

What exactly in present day is the definition of freedom and why is it of paramount importance that the Malaysian youths of today recognise, realize, advocate and preserve its intrinsic value? 

By Vivek V. Velan

Mark Twain once proclaimed that "it is by the goodness of God that in our country we have these three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them."

Growing up in a suburban city, it never occurred to me as to how much of an impact a word could carry. One only has to 'Google' the word freedom and will find that such has been made about the literal meaning of this word. In today's modern climate however, the word freedom is often spoken if only in the context of debates and laws which precedes our societal standards and as such very few in the present day actually understands or appreciates the underlying significance and meaning of which this one word holds.

The question then that begs to be answered is what exactly in present day is the definition of freedom and why is it of paramount importance that the Malaysian youths of today recognise, realize, advocate and preserve its intrinsic value.

From the early days of slavery rebellion of the ancient Romans to the rise and fall of Nazi Germany, men have always stood steadfast in their fight against oppression. The term liberty has often more so than not contributed to raging wars, countries dividing and countless lives to be lost. Closer to home, the independence that we enjoy today comes at the expense of our forefathers who gave up everything to liberate our beloved country from the shackles of the British Empire. Fast forward 54 years since then, the connotation of freedom has altered with a shift in paradigm and we now face a far more complex conundrum, a battle to preserve a different kind of freedom against not invaders or conquerors but rather the current regime itself.

Malaysia in all its glory today is plagued with various problems that have hindered its progress and at the same time constrict society's development as a whole. Five decades of being governed by a single party has certainly taken its toll and the end result being the compromise of democracy, basic human rights and freedom of the people.

The political framework in which our country is currently built upon has long since been proven flawed and without going into details, the fact remains that we face a sad disposition being that our alternative is no better than the incumbent government and this has led to many believing that hope is indeed lost for progressive change.

Barring the select few who continue to fight for the cause, we have begun to go into a spiral decline where we simply accept and settle for a flawed system.

The dire plight of our country only came to light after the post-Mahathir era and it was plain to see how the regime in power had breached various articles of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) 1953 including Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Fair Trial to stay in power. Archaic laws such as the Internal Security Act and Emergency Ordinance until recently have been abused to arrest any and all reformists and activists who were not in line with government policies. The media was not to be spared either as laws and sanctions were put in place to block news the government deemed unsuitable for the masses and failure to comply with the rules in place would lead to the revoking of license to broadcast or publish. Furthermore, the Police Act of 1967 is not only in direct violation of Article 12- Freedom of Assembly but also gives law enforcers heightened powers to restrict and regulate the movement of the people.

The recent Bersih 2.0 rally is concrete proof of how basic freedom was violated and for far too long we have been forced to live within the boundaries set by men who were put into power and meant to work for the benefit of the citizens and country.

If ever there were a time to point fingers and ask who is to be blamed for the predicament we now find ourselves in, then look no further than the mirror in front of you. In our quest for domestic luxury and for fear of stepping out of our comfort zone, we have not only forsaken inch by inch our dutiful rights as citizens of Malaysia, we have become afraid to think and question.

A personal favourite quote of mine based on the Gunpowder Treason says that, "the people should not be afraid of the government; it is the government who should fear the people".

There will be those in turn who will ask what is it that can we do as normal citizens? Being a firm believer in moderation, the first issue that should be addressed is how do we break free from the chains of biblical ideologies that have for so long suppressed intellectual thinking, positive reforms and progressive change? Lucid reasoning will tell you that by thinking independently as well as questioning critically, proper check and balance to the incumbent government automatically occurs.

In one of his many speeches, Ronald Reagan said that "freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We cannot pass it to our children via the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same".

Never before have these words held true more so than now as the coming generation of today's youths and the future leaders of our country come to pass. I will not be the first neither will I be the last to state that the only way forward, the only way to champion this noble cause would be to educate the succeeding generation, for a man can be captured, tortured and killed but an idea can never be put to end.

The fight for freedom will always continue and is a never ending one at that. It is a privilege accorded to us by our founding fathers that should always be treasured for only when it is taken away, will you truly cherish its value.

When our actions do not, our fear makes us traitors – Macbeth

* The author is a born and bred Malaysian currently pursuing his LLB (Hons), a diehard Liverpool FC fan and passes his time interpreting the subtle nuances of the many voices of the nation while sipping his daily dose of teh tarik.

Open House in FELDA for Pakatan Rakyat Leaders

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 10:22 PM PDT

By Suara Felda

There's a big raya open house currently happening at Felda Settlements all over Malaysia. The invitation for the open house is only for Pakatan Rakyat leaders all over Malaysia. However, this Raya open house is different from the usual. There is no lemang and ketupat. Instead of being happy and in a festive mood, the Felda people are sombre and gloomy as if they are at a burial ceremony. Perhaps it is also a 'tahlil' ceremony to BN in Felda as well.

Felda citizens would like PR to know that all this while they did not mind PR coming to their house; but now, PR leaders have started bashing and whacking the Felda Management and instigating the settlers to sue Felda.

PR does not realize that the Felda management, staff and settlers need each other and value each other. It is a fact that if a settler dies and leaves his wife and children, he doesn't count on his fellow settlers to look after his wife and children. He would be at peace at the thought that the Felda management and staff will look after them after he has died.

The settlers can sue Felda all they want, but in the end when all dust is settled, the ones laughing to the bank are the lawyers while Felda images and fund will be weakened and taken advantaged of by politicians or even closed down. Who will they look upon then?

The status of a Felda settler and its advantages are secured as long as there is Felda around and well managed. If there is none, they will be in the same dock as any normal Malay village chap. Even other races such as Indian, Chinese and Sabah natives who are in Felda feel much better in Felda than being an ordinary Malaysian citizen.

It is a well known fact that with Felda, you have a lot of advantages. Zero interest house expansion scheme, business loans, contracts, jobs opportunity, education to the highest level and many more. Being in Felda is like being in another world, a special world. In the past, being in Felda means you are scorned by your family and relatives for choosing the unknown, but now many of your families appreciate your decision, share your new found wealth and seek opportunity to enter Felda as a settler. 

Above is one little secret that PR miscalculated to win the votes of the Felda people. If they persistently try to win only through settlers and feel proud that the settlers are now beginning to wave summonses at Felda, they will learn again and again that the most votes they will obtain is 20%. And basically this figure has been the case even when Anwar was a Deputy Prime Minister.

Felda people want to know that PR wants to protect Felda for now and in the future and will be with the management and staff if they are doing the right thing. There is no point of summons after summons if at the end, Felda is no longer around and they lose their entitlement as Felda citizens. That's why the figure will always be that way.

Why UMNO succeeds until now is because they are able to convince the Malays that UMNO is the protector of Malay rights and for Felda people, UMNO says that it is defending Felda from people who like it to be destroyed. It is no secret that people would rather not lose RM100 than to obtain another RM100. The formula to win Felda people is to say that you will lose Felda under Isa and Najib and we are here to rescue Felda. By virtue of Felda you must involve the management, staff and settlers to be succesful.

Now is the time to reconcile the management, staff and settlers and say that PR will protect Felda.

Felda is no longer protected by UMNO. They send a useless guy from Port Dickson to helm the Felda Chaiman's chair with the aim to make Felda as their cash register. Together with his Rosmah-attitude wife, his greedy officers and countless political allies to feed their lust, the useless guy is currently twisting, changing and hijacking every business opportunity and other daily decisions of the Felda management. Never has the Felda management and staff had this kind of rogue chairman before.

Felda people, management, staff and settlers love their current Director General. Humble, polite, soft spoken, intelligent but brave enough to face risks make him popular among Felda people. He is in fact considered one of their own. He can be relied on to protect Felda from opportunists from UMNO especially from the useless guy from the PD camp. This makes the useless guy from PD very angry. He is not used to being tied down from making the ultimate decision as he was the Negeri Sembilan MB, for heaven's sake! He must have thought that while he was Menteri Besar a few years' back, whatever it is in Negeri Sembilan be it in the land, water and air is UMNO's and so does Felda, Felda Holding and other subsidaries, Koperasi Permodalan Felda (Felda Cooperatives), Yayasan Felda, Felda United and other Felda affiliates.

He stomps his feet towards Najib's office and brings along hisr wife, which appears to be Rosmah's evil twin sister and both having husband meet husband and wife meet wife meeting. Probably after watching that special video from Port Dickson with Najib, and commenting how smart Najib looks in the video, Najib grants him his All Entry Passport to Felda akin to Genting or Disneyland's All Entry Ticket.

He planned and schemed with other politicians in Felda's Boardmembers and lured the CEO of Felda Global Venture (whose position will always be filled by UMNO goons who has the most ability to venture Felda fund towards the most ridiculous, money wasting and unprofitable venture) and while the Felda Director General was away performing Umrah at Makkah, he sprang his surprises and showed the Felda Board Members his All Entry Passport.

While he thought that he is the most brilliant UMNO member to hijack a professional board member meeting, he forgot that watching his attitude on behalf of the Director General are the representatives from the settlers and the management.The useless guy from Port Dickson rejoiced at the thought of Felda riches and the skills he used reminiscent of his past skills to woo his current wife. In one stroke, the Felda people lost the Koperasi Permodalan Felda chairmanship to a man who was found guilty of money politics, lost thousands of its lands worth billions currently managed by Felda Plantations to the hand of Felda Global Venture Holding for 60 years, and even lost power over direction and control of a Felda subsidiary by virtue of a new structure which will be announced soon.

The next few weeks are very crucial to the Felda management, staff and settlers. They are waiting for the dreaded news from the sky and expecting mumbo-jumbos term from Isa's blue eyed boy, the CEO of Felda Global Ventures (or fondly known as the President of Felda Global Misadventures) to justify whatever action that is going to be taken to elevate Felda higher, perhaps to the 7th Heaven where all souls of past and present Felda people will go and mourn.

Isa would have never been able to do this without the brainchild of Dr Suzana Idayu and of course his boss, the CEO of Felda Global Ventures, Dato Sabri Ahmad (whose contract is about to expire and had to offer something extraordinary). Of course, a special thank you also goes to Felda Innovation and Youth Director, Mr. Faizoull Ahmad who willingly became the mercenary for Isa as Faizoull has eaten the bait to become the next Director General latest just before election (early next year).

As the saying the dog who bites the hand that feeds him, it is the same from him towards the Felda Director General who elevated him to the Director position and created this new department as a platform for him to propose an innovation and transformation program for Felda and at the same time create a meaningful and balanced Felda youth program.

Last but not least, kudos to the central committee of Majlis Belia Felda Malaysia led by Anuar Manap who without the support and trust of the current Felda Director General, would not be known and be as popular as he is now and even named as a potential candidate for DUN Johor. This young politician, realizing that Isa has been appointed by the Prime Minister as one of the panel to choose DUN and Parliament candidates for UMNO, has quickly asked the support of his central comittee and his two beautiful wives to realign their support to the useless guy from Port Dickson and become honchos of Faizoull, even though it is the current Director General who gave them a lease of life by giving funds and projects, involved in planning for Felda youth future plans and even appointed one of MBFM's central committee as a Felda officer with Grade 44 and emolument of RM6,000 every month.

However, Anuar Manap stumbled at this moment to convince the MBFM grassroots to support the useless guy from Port Dickson, as their grassroots chose to support their own regional Felda management and staff. At the same moment, other Felda youth movements such as Persatuan Usahawan Generasi Felda and Gabungan Wawasan Generasi Felda were inclined to support the Felda management and staff and understood well that the above issue also affects settlers and their futures in the long run.

The above is not just a story. It is a key factor for BN's biggest defeat ever in Felda and the whole nation. The useless guy from Port Dickson has promised that if settlers were to accept him as KPF chairman and other decisions, each settler would receive RM15,000.

To pay 122,000 settlers, he would have to have a minimum fund of RM1.8 billion to do so. This exercise would be funded by the money from the leasing of the Felda Plantation land exercise. What other strategy do you expect from a guilty money politics offender?

Again, as a reminder to PR leaders not to syok sendiri at this crucial moment to whack the Felda management and staff and use the same tactic to instigate settlers to sue Felda as time again and again would tell you that this will only give you 20% of the votes in Felda areas.

Show your support for the Felda management, staff and settlers by bringing them together into this issue and make the fence-sitters and BN voters among management, staff and settlers know and understand this issue. All these news are currently tightly held and barred from leaving the headquarters. However from SB and Seranta reports, the grounds at Felda areas are now shaking hard and in every Felda region, the management, staff and settlers have some idea on this issue and are against it with all their hearts. Some even tore down Najib's and Isa's posters from their walls in anger.

In response to this, the useless guy from Port Dickson has issued a complete stop to all Felda programs until Budget 2012 is announced by the PM. He fears that the Felda management, staff and settlers will converge and release all this information early to everybody and conspire to plan his fall.

Currently, all management and staff are in a curfew state and only his men are allowed to travel and do their own planning and programs. The Director General himself is not spared and he was reported to KDN as trying to instigate a movement among Felda people to topple Najib. It is a cheap tactic to tell Najib that what he, the useless guy from Port Dickson has done to Felda is not wrong and the Felda people currently resents us not because we are wrong but because the Director General instigated them. The result is now the SB is everywhere, following the Director General's car, tapping into his conversations, hacking his emails, attending his functions and he has to videotape every speech in anticipation of any wrongful report to KDN that he plans to topple Najib.

To PR leaders, welcome to Felda's biggest open house. Choose wisely whether to win that mere 20% votes or our 100% votes. Please do tell our people the story above (and others) and let us have it in our face that UMNO no longer defends Felda. They might have accused PR of wanting to break and weaken Felda, but they have shown that they are more creative and better at doing the job.

If you have difficulties in entering any Felda scheme, just tell them that you are acting with the management and staff and try to explain the Felda issue to the settlers. You will find that when you raise the issue above, the management, staff and settlers will sit down together with their families at any Felda scheme all over Malaysia and listen to you defending them.

We also want PR leaders to ask in Parliament regarding the Felda Global Ventures loss that is now nearing RM1 billion. The useless guy from Port Dickson think that the settlers are as stupid as the politicians and will give them big money before the election. Let that be the extra Duit Raya for all, before all Felda people sink the useless guy from Port Dickson and all BN representatives that all this while collects Felda votes including Mr. Prime Minister.

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

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Confessions of an Atheist

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 07:05 PM PDT

You see, I don't believe in god because I don't know how to.

Surely, I can't just pick one religion and go along with its message of salvation, what about other religions? I can't follow every religion known to man as well, for I'd be a very confused person. And I am not that arrogant to think that I am intelligent enough to tell with certainty, which religion is truer than others. While I can choose to go with the majority, but then again, despite being an atheist, I am still affiliated with a religion in official registry; so statistics do lie, don't they?

But of course not knowing which religion is the word of god does not an atheist make. I am an atheist because I know that there is no god, just as much as you know that there is a god; and you can't make me believe, just as I can't make you into a non-believer. You can force me to submit, but that is not faith, now is it?

If you are worried that tolerance for people like me will result in the degradation of morality, I'm afraid that your concerns are misplaced. Atheists are not people who leave religion out of disappointment or angst; we are atheists because we know there is no god. People who are angry or disappointed with god are not atheist because you can't be angry at something that does not exist, that's just silly.

But in case you wonder, I do have a set of morality, but not all of which corresponds with prevailing social norms. For example, I think it is immoral to question what consenting adults do in their bedroom; On the contrary, I do think that civil disobedience is not only a right, but a moral imperative if lex is void of jus.

Most atheists that I know are people of principles; you have to be if you want to call yourself an atheist. Whilst I can't speak for all, I can speak for myself – that I am a responsible, law abiding citizen; I care for my parents and love my country; I would not do onto others what I would not want done to myself; I have made mistakes and will continue to as long as I live, but I do try to recognize my mistakes and when I do, I have regretted and learnt from them.

But I am writing this not only as a confession, but also as a plea for empathy for believers.

You see, I've come to realize that it is rather odd being an atheist. Think about it, we define ourselves by what we are not, not by what we are! It is like saying I'm a non-coffee drinker, I'm a non-smoker or I'm a non-Malaysian. There's just too much negativity built into the concept of atheism, can we really blame people when they shun us?

As such, what do we stand for? Is it truly our desire to see every individual on earth turn from their faith? I personally find it too great a responsibility to turn a person away from his/her religion, as the resulting product of faithlessness can range from great enlightenment to grave disaster. On top of that, the emotional costs in 'preaching' atheism are often too much to pay for our 'perceived gain'. In 'preaching' atheism, you uproot a person's believe system that has been nurtured since young, you are shattering their truth, their foundation all in the name of what? Our version of truth?

Surely you can see that a generous amount of grief, distress, animosity, even hate would result from such an endeavour. And how many of us can engage in intellectual debates without emotional attachment? And when emotions are involved, what are we, atheists reduced to even if we manage to silence our opponents with pure logic – belittling their intelligence, knowledge and exposure?

What joy has ever come from ridiculing your 'inferior'? What dignity has ever come from insulting your 'defeated foes'? No, only regret and remorse awaits in hindsight.

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Religious Harmony

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 06:44 PM PDT

As expected, the Muslim side was somewhat under-represented. This was no fault of the organisers: Muslim religious leaders and intellectuals somehow do not see the value in this kind of discourse and engagement.

That in the nutshell is the problem in this country. Muslim religious leaders generally are fond of taking a hardline approach to issues involving religious discourse. There is no talk, no discussion and certainly no discourse. These hardliners are fond of reminding Muslims that Islam is not for discussion like other religions, and that Muslims must be cautious of attempts to convert them or to subvert their faith. They remind Muslims that human rights, dignity and personal freedoms have "limits" in a country where the Islamic faith is the official creed. This attitude is very unMalay and unIslamic, but regrettably it is the prevailing situation today.

Segregation in schools, where non-Malays attend Moral classes and Muslims attend religious classes, has had its desired effect. Now there is complete distrust and separation between the Muslims and non-Muslims. It has reached a critical point when even teachers are unable convey basic concepts like respect for, and tolerance of, others who profess different beliefs.

Even at the highest levels, our leaders and Parliamentarians have shown themselves to be too scared to discuss and debate these issues in three important bills in 2009: the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993, and the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984. If passed, amendments would have helped resolve issues of conversion and some of the problems faced by parents of different faiths when they divorce.

The amendments would have enabled Muslim converts to file for divorce in civil courts and would have allowed civil courts to decide cases dealing with child custody, alimony, the division of harta sepencarian (jointly-acquired matrimonial property), the religious conversion of children, and the administration of the assets of a Muslim convert who dies before the annulment of his civil marriage(this would also have included rights of burial).

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Termakan budi, tergadai jiwa dan raga?

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 06:37 PM PDT

Itu bukan bodoh, itu membalas budi kata nya. Mereka hanya membalas budi kepada sebuah kerajaan yang telah memberi mereka banyak nikmat kehidupan. Orang berbudi kita berbahasa, demikian natijah dari pendapat nya.

Saya amat bersetuju dengan pendapat pembaca ini. Kerana ini akan bermakna, orang Melayu yang menyokong kerajaan2 di negeri Kelantan, Kedah, Selangor dan Pulau Pinang mesti di lihat sebagai berterima kasih juga. Mereka pun tidak bodoh tapi sekadar berterima kasih. Mereka berterima kasih kepada kerajaan2 yang telah membantu  mereka dalam pelbagai cara. Bukan begitu? Mustahil apabila orang Melayu menyokong UMNO mereka berterima kasih, tapi bila mereka menyokong parti lain, perbuatan tersebut tidak di kira sebagai berterima kasih?

Saya berharap pembaca tersebut tidak bermaksud hanya UMNO sahaja berhak menerima terima kasih dari orang Melayu. Sudah tentu pandangan seperti ini tidak boleh di terima kerana UMNO tidak ada hakmilik mutlak keatas sokongan orang Melayu. Malah dalam pilihanraya 2008, UMNO tidak mampu menyatakan bahawa mereka mewakili suara majorti orang Melayu.  Dalam PRU itu, lebih ramai orang Melayu menyokong parti bukan UMNO. Bagaimana kita mengklasifikasikan mereka? Murtad Melayu? Tidak mengenang budi?

Di sebalik kenyataan yang pious ini sebetulnya terkandung cerita mengenai  pertalian antara rakyat dengan kerajaan. Tersirat dalam kenyataan tersebut ialah bagaimana orang Melayu melihat peranan kerajaan dalam kehidupan mereka. Kalau di Amerika, mesej nya lebih kurang akan berbunyi- jangan soalkan apa negara kamu boleh buat kepada kamu, tanyakan apa yang kamu boleh buat untuk negara kamu. Negara dalam konteks ini, kerajaan lah. Atau gantikan negara dengan istilah kerajaan. Dari sini kita akan lihat pertalian antara manusia dengan kerajaan nya.

Dari komen pembaca itu, kita dapat mengagak bahawa kerajaan di lihat sebagai penjaga dan rakyat di lihat sebagai yang di jaga. Dan itu membawa 2 pengertian besar; Pertama, kerajaan adalah penjaga yang penuh dengan sifat keibuan menjaga anak anak. Kedua, tanngung jawab menentu masa depan kita di serahkan keatas bahu kerajaan.

Mungkin disinilah, iaitu didalam cara orang Melayu melihat peranan dan tempat kerajaan dalam kehidupan mereka, terkandung benih2 kemunduran. Inilah sikap inherent weakness yang kita mesti kikis- yakni menganggap kerajaan itu tempat kita bergantung segala nya dan tempat sumber rezeki hidup. Sikap seperti ini lah yang menyebabkan pemegang tampuk kerajaan membuli kita, angkuh dan sombong kepada rakyat kerdil. Kerajaan itu penaung dan kita yang bernaung , kerajaan itu tuan, kita hamba. Dan kepada si pengampu , konsep kerajaan seperti ini mahu mereka kekalkan. Selagi kerajaan di lihat demikian rupa, ianya memberi mereka a sense of supremacy dan mungkin juga khayalan godlike.

Sikap melihat kerajaan sebagai deity yang mesti di taati dan di puja, paling ketara di kalangan orang Melayu dan UMNO bertanggung jawab memanjangkan sikap yang melemahkan bangsa Melayu. Selagi kita mempunyai sikap yang demikian, selagi itulah kita terus bertongkat kepada kerajaan. Orang Melayu akan jadi tamby yang tertunduk tunduk tidak ada keyakinan diri. Kita tidak boleh meneruskan ketergantungan sebegini kerana dengan melakukan demikian, memberi peluang kepada pimpinan politik yang licik mengeksploitasi ketergantungan kita itu.

Berbalik kepada komen yang di berikan oleh pembaca tersebut, saya tidak menyebut nya demikian rupa- saya hanya memberitahu bahawa pemimpin Melayu membodohkan bangsa nya sendiri supaya mempercayai mereka mempunyai banyak kelemahan. Seolah olah lemah dan tidak bermaya itu adalah kesemulajadian orang Melayu. Mereka di bodohkan dengan tahyul bahawa jalan selamat ialah melalui bergantung terus kepada kerajaan. Dan bukan nya kerajaan yang mana mana tapi suatu kerajaan yang khusus iaitu UMNO. Tidakkah kenyataan seperti ini self serving?

Ini kenyataan yang self serving sebab kerajaan yang di maksudkan itu terdiri dari kerajaan yang di ujudkan oleh satu parti politik khusus sahaja. Tidak kah layak kerajaan dari parti bukan UMNO di jadikan sumber rujukan? Selagi bangsa Melayu terus percaya kepada pembodohan ini, maka bangsa Melayu akan terus menjadi suatu bangsa yang dependent.

Kita mesti konsisten dalam gesaan kita. Jika menyokong UMNO di anggap sebagai terima kasih kepada kerajaan yang memberi faedah serta kemudahan kepada mereka, prinsip yang sama mesti juga di pakai keatas kerajaan2 yang bukan UMNO. Kerajaan bukan UMNO di Kelantan, Kedah, Pulau Pinang dan Selangor semua nya menabur budi kepada orang Melayu. Berdasarkan gesaaan pembaca blog yang saya rujuk, maka orang Melayu dalam negeri negeri ini mesti juga berterima kasih kepada kerajaan2 ini dan terus menyokong mereka. Hanya dengan cara demikian, kita konsisten dalam pandangan kita. Jika menyokong itu bermakna berterima kasih, ia nya mesti di gunakan dalam semua keadaan. Berterima kasih dan mendapat sokongan tidak lagi menjadi hak ekslusif UMNO.

Cuba kita orang Melayu fikirkan. Jika orang Melayu bersikap bergantung kepada kerajaan secara membabi buta, ianya bertentangan dengan piagam seorang manusia yang mereka.

Apakah piagam seorang manusia yang merdeka? Seoarang manusia yang merdeka dan mempunyai jati diri( bukankah pemimpin UMNO sentiasa berkhutbah mengenai jati diri dan yakindiri) meyakini bahawa masa depan mereka adalah tanggung jawab mereka sendiri bukan menyerahkan tanggung jawab tersebut pada kerajaan. Kerajaan bukan lah tuan kepada orang yang menghambakan diri mereka.

Sebuah kerajaan hanyalah suatu wadah dan jalan, bukan nya pemberi nikmat dan keistimewaan jauh sekali sesuatu yang mesti di sembah. Manusia yang merdeka itu bertanya apakah yang mereka dapat lakukan melalui kerajaan untuk  melaksanakan tanggungjawab bagi mencapai matlamat hidup dan yang paling penting sekali melindungi kemerdekaan mereka sebagai manusia. 

Ini titik tolak perjuangan orang Melayu sebenarnya. Kerajaan yang di bentuk oleh PAS, UMNO, DAP atau PKR sekali pun bukanlah tuan kepada kita yang hamba. Bukan mereka sesuatu yang harus kita sembah dan takuti. Kerajaan ialah sesuatu yang kita ujudkan melalui persetujuan atau consensus bersama bukan sesuatu yang ujud diatas kita. Tidak ada wawasan nasional kecuali yang di kongsi bersama oleh rakyat dan matlamat kerajaan adalah matlamat yang di yakini bersama dan yang di perjuangkan bersama. The government cannot impose something over us which we the people find disagreeable.

Dan di sanalah letak nya bahaya kepada UMNO. Sebab UMNO masih kekal dengan mentaliti bahawa dia kerajaan yang menjadi tuan kepada orang Melayu dan bersikap dia pemberi sumber kehidupan kepada orang Melayu. UMNO tiada, orang Melayu mati. Dan UMNO itu Melayu , Melayu itu UMNO.

Mari kita analisa kenyataan yang mengandung 2 bahagian ini- Melayu itu UMNO dan UMNO itu Melayu.

Kedua bahagian kenyataan atau pernyataan tersebut tidak mencerminkan aspirasi seorang Melayu yang berjiwa merdeka. Sama seperti tanggapan orang Melayu terhadap sebuah kerajaan,demikian lah tanggapan orang Melayu kepada UMNO. UMNO itu tunjang kerajaan yang menjadi tuan kepada orang Melayu, UMNO itu penjaga dan kita yang di jaga. Orang Melayu memuliakan UMNO sebagai sesuatu yang mesti di taati malahan di sembah dan apa orang Melayu boleh buat ialah mengharapkan pemberian dari UMNO.

Oleh sebab kepercayaan ini, nilai pemimpin UMNO bersifat sombong, angkuh, membuli dan memandang rendah kepada rakyat. Nilai silai ini di perlihatkan dalam gaya hidup seharian majority pemimpin UMNO. Inilah yang membawa kecundang kepada UMNO dalam pilihanraya yang akan datang.

Bagaimana keadaan begini dapat kekal untuk masa yang lama? Ianya kekal kerana tahap kejahilan dan kesedaran social dan politik orang Melayu relative masih rendah. Dimana tahap kejahilan berkurang, dan kesedaran politik dan social meningkat, pengaruh UMNO menurun.

Nampak nya UMNO hanya mampu ujud dan survive selagi sebahagian besar masyarakat Melayu khususnya kekal dalam kejahilan. Kita boleh lihat di hadapan mata kita sendiri bagaimana kekuatan UMNO menjadi lemah apabila kesedaran rakyat khususnya orang Melayu meningkat. Dalam kawasan bandar di mana kejahilan orang Melayu berkurangan sama ada melalui tahap pendidikan yang di capai atau melalui interaksi sosial yang rancak, sokongan dan keyakinan kepada UMNO merosot.

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