Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Immigration Blues
- ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
- Article 153 is not just for Malays but for every Malaysian!
- Is the BN Serious about Race Relations
- MCA implodes, a blow to BN
- Appeal Letter by PLKN Operator to the Prime Minister
- The ensuing Karpal-Ramasamy feud: A weaker DAP in GE13
- Government Removes Restriction on Recruitment of Foreign Workers
- Occupy Dataran to stage 'V for Vendetta flashmob' on New Year's Eve
- Dilemma Najib
- And the Winner is.... Tan Sri Tan Kay Hock...!!!
| Posted: 30 Dec 2011 08:59 PM PST I supposed the warning signs were there, the extensions to his visa getting shorter from 3 months to 2 months then 1 month. He has tried applying for a religous teacher's visa but since he's not attached to any known temple, the move was a non-goer!! By Chuen Tick Teo "John Doe", a British Buddhist monk (he goes by the same Buddhist address, Bhante -teacher) has been a regular feature at the Super Tanker and Lip Seng wet market in Penang on Sundays the last 6/7 years; that is, unless he has to go over to Thailand every 3 months or so to have his tourist visa renewed. One will find him standing by his favourite spots, barefooted, alms bowl in hand by about 7am. The regulars will be offering him via the vendors, vegetables, eggs, fruits, dry foodstuff and consumables. Other market goers will offer likewise whatever food item they like. And, he is very particular about this aspect of Buddhist practice. He does not accept cash on these alms rounds at the 2 markets. Those not conversant with this aspect are politely requested to buy some food item to donate. Yes, Bhante has a racket going on there on Sundays and many ordinary men and women on the street are happy to be part of it. By about 9am, all the items have been consolidated and Chee Ying*, his regular helper will have sorted them out. One portion is for his personal consumption; one portion goes to the Shan's Children Home at Mt. Erskine, Penang; one portion goes to another regular Mr Chan* who distributes them to 6 destitute families and there's always some for the young lad's family that helps him on these alms rounds. (The current distribution model as it is is fluid and was changed over the years.) He makes no distinction between race nor creed and in the years I've known him, I know of a Malay family, 2 Hindu families and a Christian voluntary organisation who have accepted the items Bhante had collected. Bhante will take a puff before setting off in faithful Mr Lim's* car for the journey home to Hong Seng estate. No, he makes no pretense about this worldly habit he has been unable to kick. What you see, is what you get. And, yes, he stays in no regular temple. A supporter rented this place for him so that Bhante can carry out this racket, this sort of providing the channel for ordinary people to do some good that makes an important and immediate impact on someone's life. I supposed the warning signs were there, the extensions to his visa getting shorter from 3 months to 2 months then 1 month. He knows it, his supporters in the know also knows it - that he's flouting immigration rules but the Malaysian government's immigration rules against non-Islamic foreign religous teachers are very rigid. He has tried applying for a religous teacher's visa but since he's not attached to any known temple, the move was a non-goer!! Then, it happened - on 30.12.2011 he was denied entry into Thailand. Bhante has no idea why Thailand is part of the action taken and that he's on the Malaysian Immigration Entry blacklist. Since his visa expires on 31.12.2011, he has been told to leave Malaysia by midnight today. I'm writing this as way to put forward the idea that certain immigration rules pertaining to non-Islamic religous teachers needs to be amended. Yes, I also know there are many bogus monks/nuns/religous teachers around but there must be ways for genuine practitioners to be issued proper/legal visas. I'm writing this to bid farewell and Bon Voyage to this unorthodox Buddhist monk, who in his own way has taught one important aspect of dana, giving in Buddhist practice to many lay people. He harbours hopes of returning but as matters stand now, I don't see it happening any time soon. |
| Posted: 30 Dec 2011 11:37 AM PST 1. In the past few weeks, the MACC has been very prolific. Many advertorials have been published in the main stream newspapers of the MACC's achievements in eradicating corruption. The conviction of former Selangor MB Dato Seri Khir Toyo to 1 year imprisonment seems to boost the MACC's image. 2. The MACC blazed the trail again when on the 21st December 2011, the MACC announced the arrest of five (5) civil servants for bribery in separate places in Kedah. On Tuesday 27th December 2011, the husband of the ex-CEO of the Iskandar Investment Board (IIB), Mohd Amin Suhaimi, was charged in Johor Bharu for corruption. It seems strange that the ex-CEO herself was not charged. Then on Wednesday 29th December, a former IIB senior V-P, Rostam Razali, was fined RM20,000 after he pleaded guilty for abuse of power in disclosing confidential tender price information. Chairman – Social Care Foundation |
| Article 153 is not just for Malays but for every Malaysian! Posted: 29 Dec 2011 08:51 PM PST The simple meaning is that the Agong is the protector of ALL Malaysians, and not just the Malays! So why do leaders like Ibrahim Ali keep harping on this Article 153 as if it is a sacred provision for the Malays only? Are they idiots who can't read? By Daniel John Jambun Datuk Ibrahim Ali just came up with a gem of truth when he said there is no need for a Race Relations Act if people behave. "If everyone behaves, if nobody touches on (Article) 153, nobody questions this and that, condemns this and that, and at the same time recognises the disparity of wealth between Malays and non-Malays, I don't think we need any additional Act," he said. How very true! Out of so many idiotic statements we have heard from political jokers, this one is a real gem of truth. The funny thing is that Ibrahim thinks he said something very brilliant when in fact it is simple truism (truth that doesn't need to be said). Yes, we wouldn't need any law for that matter if everyone behaves. We wouldn't need the police, the security guards, the magistrates and judges, nor the prisons if there were no criminals. We wouldn't need the Speaker in Parliament if every Member of Parliament can behave and not become rowdy or insensitive comedians making fun of women. But who are really behaving badly in Malaysia? Who are those questioning this and that, condemning this and that? I guess only Ibrahim is the luckiest guy in the country because he makes all sorts of seditious and racist statements, misbehaving in a way that he should be arrested and charged in court, but nobody touches him, no national leaders even dare to ask him to shut up. Of the Race Relations Act he said that "We will see the draft of the Act. If it is good for the country, we have no problem supporting it," he said. "But whatever Act is introduced ... it must not encroach upon (Article) 153, Islam as the official religion of the Federation, Bahasa Melayu as the national language, the sovereignty of the Malay Rulers." We all know that there is no question about Islam being the official religion, Bahasa Melayu as the national language or the sovereignty of the Malay Rulers. What I would precisely prefer to talk about is Article 153. It is very tiring to keep hearing political leaders speak about Article 153 as if it belongs only to the Malays. If we read the article in its entirety we will be reminded very clearly that it is not a protection for Malay rights, and neither has it got to do with any so-called social contract. It says that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is responsible for safeguarding the special position of the Malays AND the natives of Sabah and Sarawak, AND the legitimate interest of other communities. The simple meaning is that the Agong is the protector of ALL Malaysians, and not just the Malays! So why do leaders like Ibrahim Ali keep harping on this Article 153 as if it is a sacred provision for the Malays only? Are they idiots who can't read? Or are they stubborn morons who deliberately behave like idiots for the purpose of making political mileage over something that has nothing to do with what they are saying? I fully support Senior Christian leader Reverend Dr Eu Hong Seng who said that Article 153 had been used to bully others, and that it was something that "needed somebody to say it." He told an online portal he had nothing to fear despite the fierce reaction from various Malay groups and denials by the government that Christians or any minority group had been sidelined. He described Perkasa's call for him to be investigated for sedition an example of fear-mongering. It is time somebody said and stood up bravely about it. The Deputy Prime Minister hit back and said the provision was never used to bully anyone. But has he not heard radicals like Ibrahim Ali abusing the provision all the time? How do the non-Malays feel when radicals talk about Malay supremacy or when the DPM himself said he is a Malay first and Malaysian second? The radical groups who idolize Article 153 as if it gives the Malays special rights, privileges, positions and bullying power need to be told to stop the negative attitude. What I see in the Article is something very positive for Malaysians as a whole because to me it is a strong unifying provision, under which we are protected by our King as equal partners in Malaysia. It is NOT a provision to give the Malay superior position. It doesn't give the Muslim the right to bully other people and other religions. Under this provision the Malays have equal "special position" with the natives of the Borneo States. Under it, the Malays are on equal position with the Ibans, the Penans, Bajaus and the Kadazandusuns. We have the same special position of the Malays, so we can tell the Malays like Ibrahim Ali to shut up and grow up if we want to. Advisor, UK-Based Human Rights foundation Malaysia |
| Is the BN Serious about Race Relations Posted: 29 Dec 2011 08:45 PM PST Who will bear the brunt of this new legislation and what has the abolition of the Internal Security Act to do with race relations? By Kua Kia Soong, Director of SUARAM One wonders if the BN government is capable of reform. Soon after the Prime Minister's promises of reform on Independence Day recently, we have seen the new ISA arrests and the new Peaceful Assembly Bill. Now they have announced the introduction of a Race Relations Act in the coming parliamentary meeting as a replacement for the Internal Security Act. They have also announced that there will be an "Anti-Terrorism Act" to replace the ISA. What exactly have they got in mind? Who will bear the brunt of this new legislation and what has the abolition of the Internal Security Act to do with race relations? First of all, the scribes in the Attorney General's office must be aware that the UK Race Relations Act (RRA) 1976 has now been superseded by the new and improved Equality Act 2010? The aim is to bring the RRA legislation in line with European Human Rights legislation and to extend protection to other groups not previously covered, namely, to cover age, disability, gender, religion, belief and sexual orientation. So why does the BN government not want an Equality Act instead since it is an updated legislation of the 1976 RRA?
It is not surprising that PERKASA is objecting to such legislation because "incitement to racial hatred" is a criminal offence under the Act. Under the Act, there is direct discrimination when "someone is treated less favourably than another person because of a protected characteristic".The British Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994 made publication of materials that incited racial hatred an arrestable offence. These include: - Deliberately provoking hatred against a racial group; - Distributing racist material to the public; - Making inflammatory public speeches; - Creating racist websites on the internet; - Inciting inflammatory rumours about an individual or ethnic group, in order to spread racial discontent. The UK Public Order Act 1986 defines racial hatred as "hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to colour, race, nationality or ethnic origins". Section 21 of the Act makes "incitement to racial hatred" an offence to publish or distribute material which is threatening or abusive or insulting if intended to stir up racial hatred…" "Hate crimes" are criminal acts committed as intimidation, threats, property damage, assault, murder or such other criminal offence. They are a type of crime in which the perpetrator is sending a message to the victim and their right to belong to that society. Hate crimes violate the principle of equality between people and deny their right to achieve full human dignity and to realize their full potential. The impact of hate crimes on the greater community cannot be emphasized enough – the social acceptance of discrimination against particular groups in society is an important factor in causing hate crimes to increase.
Clearly, far right racial supremacists who rail about the dominance of their "race" should be reined in by an Equality & Human Rights Commission and dealt with under an Equality Act or the RRA. Thus, the UMNO leaders who were inciting racial hatred and calling for "Chinese blood" at the Jalan Raja Muda Stadium in 1987 before Operation Lalang would have been the prime target for such a law. (See Government White Paper 1988) So would the mob which organized the "cow head" protest over the relocation of a Hindu temple in 2009. When racial incidents do happen, such as the May 13 Incident and the Kampung Medan Incident, the culprits responsible should be swiftly apprehended and charged for murder.
But what has the Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial got to do with race relations? Well, the BN government has through the years extended the ambit of the ISA to claim that any dissident activity or view is a "threat to national security". Operation Lalang was the prime manifestation of this BN logic. Thus, I like several others during Operation Lalang was arrested and detained under the ISA for being a threat to national security. Among the "allegations of fact", mine were for "calling on participants at a forum to support mother tongue education," and "writing a book entitled 'Polarisation in Malaysia: The Root causes'. One can only suppose that the BN government now wants to replace the ISA with a "Race Relations Act" so that they can use it to deal with people who question these aspects of government policy. As with the recent Peaceful Assembly Bill, Malaysians should be prepared for some outrageous provisions in this proposed 'Race Relations Act'. They will say it is modeled after the UK RRA but it will end up letting off the far right fascists and making dissidents the usual quarry. I hope they prove me wrong!
Our Human Rights Commission should extend its jurisdiction to incorporate an Equality Commission. Its work would be to encourage greater integration and better ethnic relations and to use legal powers to help eradicate racial discrimination and harassment. Thus, its ambit would cover racist stereotyping in text books and the press; racial discrimination in the public sphere, employment, education, social services, advertisements. The independent Commission should be empowered to issue codes of practice and invested with powers to conduct formal investigations and to serve notices to furnish information or documents in order to enforce the law. It would then be up to the Malaysian courts to decide on the legality or illegality of such institutions in Malaysian society since 1971, for example, the Bumiputera-only policy at UiTM and other public institutions; the quota system and its implementation; the discounts for Bumiputeras in various economic transactions and other blatant discriminations. For sure, if the BN government uses the UK RRA as a model, they will end up in the dock over the many cases of racial discrimination in our public institutions. Ratify the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Finally, for an administration to convince Malaysians that it is genuinely keen to institute reforms for better ethnic relations and equality, our country should immediately initiate moves to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR). Failure to do so will only arouse suspicion that this BN government is merely hectically doing window dressing before the looming 13th general elections. |
| Posted: 29 Dec 2011 08:40 PM PST By Jackson Ng, Retired Journalist TWO time bombs have exploded in the MCA in the past two days but the mainstream media, especially MCA's mouthpiece, The Star, has down played the news. About 1,000 MCA members from Penang and Johor have resigned en bloc and they cite the loss of confidence in the party leadership as their reason for quitting. The resignations are only the tip of the iceberg and it signals the beginning of the imploding of Barisan Nasional (BN)'s second largest component party. According to a few of those who quit but did not want to be named, more MCA members nationwide are expected to quit in the run-up to the next general election. The mainstream media are down playing the news because it is a major blow for the MCA and BN's preparations for the general election widely expected to be called by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in February or March. Those who quit say they had lost confidence in the MCA leadership because it is led by a scandal-tainted and immoral president, Dr Chua Soi Lek. "Whenever he speaks on any issue, it backfires and is a laughing stock of the people or grassroots. This is because Chua is in no position to talk about issues on morality and integrity. "We cannot continue to be associated with such a leader and his cronies who are only looking after their own interest and positions," said a former MCA member who is known to this writer. Citing recent events and issues, the former member said: "It is embarrassing to MCA for Chua to talk about freedom of the press and freedom of speech. "What is he talking about when the first thing he (Chua) did when he won the presidency by fluke was to place The Star directly under the control of the party. "The paper is now under the overall control of a panel that includes his son (Tee Yong) as a key member. He also appointed his son in government positions. "The MCA leadership is now led by a man who is morally tainted and one who practices nepotism and cronyism to turn the party into his family's empire," he added. Another former member added: "Just watch how MCA implodes in the run-up to the 13th General Election. At least 30 per cent of its members will eventually abandon the party by polling day." In another development, party insiders say Selangor MCA is in shambles following a fallout between Chua and state MCA chief Donald Lim Siang Chai. As the state chief, Lim does not even have the say to decide which seat to contest. Lim is said to be eyeing the Selayang parliamentary seat but Chua already has someone else in mind – possibly a woman candidate. What is telling is that Lim does not even have the confidence to try and wrest back his former seat - PJ Selatan – where he was beaten by PKR's Hee Loy Sian by 5,706 votes in 2008. Party insiders say the backdoor Deputy Finance Minister Senator is now desperate and is manoeuvring to get what he wants. The insiders say it would be most interesting to see how severely Selangor MCA would be split by the Chua-Lim tussle for control of the state. |
| Appeal Letter by PLKN Operator to the Prime Minister Posted: 29 Dec 2011 07:53 AM PST Malangnya sehingga ke hari ini, Yayasan Selangor belum menerima sebarang surat tawaran penyambungan kontrak PLKN daripada pihak JLKN atau Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pertahanan Malaysia, sedangkan pihak kami tidak pernah gagal dalam menyediakan perkhidmatan yang dikehendaki, termasuk penambah-baikan untuk memenuhi SOC JLKN, dan yang terkini Perhimpunan Alumni PLKN 1Malaysia di kem kami, Kem PLKN Ampang Pechah, Kuala Kubu Baru pada 7 November 2011. YAB DATO' SRI MOHD. NAJIB BIN TUN HAJI ABDUL RAZAK sedangkan Kem PL Ampang Pecah adalah milik YS sepenuhnya. 3. Malangnya sehingga ke hari ini, Yayasan Selangor belum menerima sebarang surat tawaran penyambungan kontrak PLKN daripada pihak JLKN atau Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pertahanan Malaysia, sedangkan pihak kami tidak pernah gagal dalam menyediakan perkhidmatan yang dikehendaki, termasuk penambah-baikan untuk memenuhi SOC JLKN, dan yang terkini Perhimpunan Alumni PLKN 1Malaysia di kem kami, Kem PLKN Ampang Pechah, Kuala Kubu Baru pada 7 November 2011. 4. Selaku pemilik Kem PLKN Ampang Pecah, Kuala Kubu Baharu, Yayasan Selangor telah membuat penambah-baikan kemudahan di kem tersebut dan membelanjakan banyak wang ringgit untuk keselesaan pelatih dan Pegawai/Jurulatih/Kakitangan JLKN, antaranya: 4.1 Pagar sempadan baru antara PLKN dan KBS. Tinggi 5' Panjang 1,134'- RM86,840.00 4.2 Generator Set baru - RM120,900.00 4.3 Naik taraf 2 bilik air jadikan bilik rehat Jurulatih - RM286,265.00 4.4 Naiktaraf surau - RM329,690.00 4.5 Bangunan baru Stor Lojistik - RM443,028.00 4.6 Bangunan baru pusat rawatan - RM356,371.00 4.7 Pasang jubin bilik air, bilik kuliah dan turap semula padang kawad -RM489,584.00 4.8 Naiktaraf 2 gelanggang sepaktakraw dan gelanggang bolatampar - RM234,191.00 4.9 Bina kolam aktiviti air - RM1,700,000.00 JUMLAH -RM4,046,869.00 5. Sayugia dimaklumkan bahawa Yayasan Selangor telah menjadi operator PLKN sejak tahun 2004 dan Majlis Pelancaran Kursus PLKN Seluruh Negara juga telah dilaksanakan di Kem PLKN Ampang Pecah, Kuala Kubu Baharu pada tahun 16 Februari 2004 oleh YAB Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi selaku Perdana Menteri Malaysia, yang turut dihadiri oleh YAB Dato' Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak yang ketika itu adalah Timbalan Perdana Menteri merangkap Menteri Pertahanan Malaysia ketika itu. 6. Untuk makluman pihak YAB Dato' Sri, sekiranya kontrak PLKN Ampang Pecah, Kuala Kubu Baharu tidak disambung, kedudukan pekerja dan kontraktor yang berkhidmat dengan kem PLKN ini sudah tentu akan terjejas, antaranya: 6.1 24 Kakitangan Kem (senarai dilampirkan) 6.2 Kontraktor Penyedia Makanan/Caterer Kem PLKN 6.3 Kontraktor Pembersihan Kem PLKN 6.4 Kontraktor Dobi 6.5 Kontraktor Pembersihan Hygine (Tuala Wanita) 7. Untuk makluman YAB Dato' Sri juga, Yayasan Selangor adalah "a non-profit organization", dan semua lebihan pendapatan digunakan untuk menawarkan biasiswa dan pinjaman kepada pelajar-pelajar yang kurang berkemampuan dari luar bandar tanpa mengira kaum dan ideologi politik. Sejak 40 tahun lalu, Yayasan Selangor menjadi tempat bergantung lebih 40,000 orang pelajar miskin dan miskin tegar di seluruh Selangor 8. Sayugia diingatkan bahawa Yayasan Selangor adalah milik Rakyat Selangor dan tidak sewajarnya dihukum akibat percaturan politik kepartian di mana majoriti daripada penerima bantuan pendidikan adalah orang Melayu-Islam. 9. Ketidakadilan ini pasti membuatkan akan membuatkan rakyat lebih benci dengan pemerintah di Putrajaya kini dan tidak mustahil "kebencian rakyat" pasti akan diterjemahkan dalam PRU13 dengan mengekalkan kerajaan di Selangor kini. 10. Segala usaha YAB Dato' Sri untuk merebut kembali Selangor akan pasti gagal disebabkan sikap tidak matang dalam membuat keputusan dalam kes penyambungan Kem PLKN di Kuala Kubu Bharu ini. 11. Sehubungan itu, Yayasan Selangor ingin merayu supaya kontrak Kem PLKN Ampang Pecah, Kuala Kubu Baharu dapat disambung semula sepertimana pengusaha-pengusaha lain supaya persiapan terakhir di sempurnakan menanti kumpulan pertama sesi 2012. 12. Pertimbangan, kebijaksanaan dan sokongan YAB Dato' Sri sangat dihargai dan didahului dengan ucapan jutaan terima kasih. Sekian dan salam hormat. As Salaam, RAJA AMIR SHAH RAJA ABD AZIZ Timbalan Pengurus Besar
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| The ensuing Karpal-Ramasamy feud: A weaker DAP in GE13 Posted: 28 Dec 2011 09:29 PM PST Ramasamy, however, is highly regarded in the Indian community and is seen as a savior of the community which has been abused and exploited by Samy Vellu and MIC and humiliated and insulted by UMNO over many decades. DAP's leadership cannot afford to ignore Ramasamy's prominent standing in the Indian community even though he may not have widespread support in DAP itself. By Ken
The Karpal-Ramasamy feud does not appear to end. In the latest development, Karpal has asked Ramasamy to quit as DCM II. Ramasamy has been accused of unacceptable behavior and talking too much. There is no question that Ramasamy needs to resolve issues internally, talk less and keep away from the media. If only Karpal, as the veteran politician and chairman of DAP, also thought a little before talking, his differences with Ramasamy would not have become this ugly open feud, a gift from DAP to UMNO/BN to attack DAP and Pakatan in GE13. Karpal has escalated matters recently by asking for Ramasamy to be sacked as DCM II. The feud between these two DAP politicians is getting uglier every day. The Karpal-Ramasamy feud has the potential to damage DAP so badly, if it has not done so already, that DAP is unlikely even to come close to its GE12 feat in GE13. What is important is DAP, and not Karpal or Ramasamy. What is critical for the nation is a Pakatan Rakyat win in GE13, and DAP needs to play its part properly and not jeopardize this critical mission necessary to save Malaysia from impending collapse under UMNO/BN. Karpal has the overwhelming support of the DAP grassroots, especially in Penang. He is a veteran politician, a Penangite who has been with the party since the 1970s and who has carefully nurtured the support of the grassroots. Ramasamy is no match for Karpal in the world of politics and does not hold the sway that Karpal has in DAP. Ramasamy, however, is highly regarded in the Indian community and is seen as a savior of the community which has been abused and exploited by Samy Vellu and MIC and humiliated and insulted by UMNO over many decades. DAP's leadership cannot afford to ignore Ramasamy's prominent standing in the Indian community even though he may not have widespread support in DAP itself. If Ramasamy is removed from his post as DCM II, as Karpal is demanding, the DAP is likely to lose substantial Indian votes not only in Penang but also across West Malaysia. The DAP and Pakatan cannot afford to lose Indian votes as their votes will determine the winner in various DAP and even Pakatan seats and other urban/semi-urban seats in West Malaysia. Knowing that Indian support will determine the outcome in many marginal seats in West Malaysia, Najib has been carefully nurturing (bribing?) the Indians since assuming power. Support for him from the Indians has been growing, and even his "Malay-first, Malaysian-second" deputy and other ultra-UMNOputras have been more sensitive to the Indians lately. Najib has given up on the Chinese, knowing that they are firmly committed to DAP and a Pakatan Rakyat goverment after GE13. With the support of a majority of the Malays and a substantial proportion of the Indians, Najib hopes to win back many of the seats UMNO/BN lost in GE12. Given that the Indians have the potential to determine the outcome of many of the marginal seats in GE13, the DAP can ill-afford to sack Ramasamy from his post as DCM II. That would be stupidity at this juncture for DAP as it will drive away substantial crucial votes from the Indians who are already warming up to the ringgits, gifts and sweet promises from UMNO and MIC. Though DAP's support comes mostly from the Chinese, the party has managed to make itself visibly more multi-racial after GE12 through the presence of Indian Wakil Rakyats and ADUNS such as Ramasamy. The party has also been making progress, though slow, in attracting Malays. The party needs to continue this effort in line with Pakatan Rakyat's noble agenda for all Malaysians regardless of race. Loss of Indian support, as a consequence of Ramasamy's sacking as DCM II, will thwart its multi-racial agenda and make UMNO's accusation a reality, that DAP is a Chinese chauvinist party. The majority of Chinese and other Malaysians who are disgusted with UMNO/BN will vote for DAP in GE13 regardless of the candidate. They will, in general, vote for DAP regardless of the background or race of the candidate. There are few DAP candidates, except Lim Guan Eng and perhaps Lim Kit Siang, who can win a seat on his own merit and not because of the DAP banner. Karpal commands significant support in Penang DAP but he still does not command the kind of support required to win a seat on his own merit. Though Ramasamy can only win in GE13 if he stands under the DAP banner, the irony is that the DAP needs him to retain the support of the Indian community to win in many of the marginal constituencies. If Ramasamy is not in DAP's line-up for GE13, other DAP candidates, including Karpal, are likely to lose substantial Indian votes and may end up as losers in GE13. It is therefore in the interest of both Karpal and Ramasamy, and certainly in the interest of DAP and Pakatan Rakyat, that these two politicians set aside their differences and cooperate for a strong DAP and Pakatan Rakyat win. The DAP leadership needs to act wisely and strategically if they hope to at least repeat their GE12 feat. Otherwise the dream of all decent Malaysians - the eviction of UMNO/BN from Putrajaya and the installation of a just and clean Pakatan Rakyat federal government - will remain a dream after GE13 as Pakatan Rakyat cannot win with a weaker DAP, the consequence of the ensuing Karpal-Ramasamy feud. |
| Government Removes Restriction on Recruitment of Foreign Workers Posted: 28 Dec 2011 09:26 PM PST Government has repeatedly stressed that appropriate measures will be put in place to reduce dependency on foreign workers but the latest announcement (Star 28/12/2011) of policy change has created serious doubt in the minds of Malaysians. By Abdul Halim bin Mansor (Sec Gen MTUC) MTUC is seeking an urgent meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister to discuss Home Affairs Ministry's recent decision to allow recruitment of foreign workers in 10 more sectors and 11 sub sectors. It appears that Government's about turn policy on this important issue resulted from pressure from interested parties. Did the Ministry of Home Affairs seek the views of the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR) before lifting the freeze? What impact will this new policy have on employment opportunities for Malaysians? Government has repeatedly stressed that appropriate measures will be put in place to reduce dependency on foreign workers but the latest announcement (Star 28/12/2011) of policy change has created serious doubt in the minds of Malaysians. Government's decision to liberalise has widened the list to include all sectors. For example, about a year ago when the Government imposed restriction on recruitment of croupiers in the country, many Malaysians were successful in securing employment as croupiers. The new policy will immediately shut the door to Malaysians. Minister of Home Affairs appear to be insensitive to the needs of Malaysians. Foreign Worker Recruitment Agencies' needs seem to be given priority and importance than the needs of Malaysian Workers. |
| Occupy Dataran to stage 'V for Vendetta flashmob' on New Year's Eve Posted: 27 Dec 2011 10:27 PM PST
To mark the end of 2011 and the inception of the 2012 New Year, we are calling ALL to Occupy Dataran Merdeka with us on December 31st, 2011, at 11pm. This will be a participatory MASS FLASHMOB, symbolically expressing our common indignation against the many injustices and anti-democratic events that happened in Malaysia in 2011, in contrast to the positive significance of 2011 for the rest of the world. We want to collectively say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH; TIME FOR REAL DEMOCRACY NOW, in 2012!
'V' masks at Dataran Merdeka symbolize resistance against authoritarianism 2011 will go down in history as the Year of Peaceful, Non-Violent Revolutions. It began in Tunisia, culminating in Tahrir Square, Egypt, now undeniably THE iconic image and symbol of human freedom and liberation of the 21st Century. We also saw the uprising of the Indignados (The Indignant movement), occupying Puerta del Sol in Madrid, Spain, giving inspiration to the Occupy Wall Street movement, that began on September 17th. This democratic wave, driven by ordinary peoples on the street, as opposed to leadership by elites the world over, is destined to become the Revolution that will OCCUPY the hearts and minds of the 7 billion persons on earth today, for generations to come. Occupy Dataran, inspired by these events, began to occupy Dataran Merdeka, on a weekly basis, since July 30th 2011. We have been committed to this ideal of embodying the kind of change we want to see in wider Malaysian society, to practice and model a new form of grassroots, non-partisan, non-hierarchical, participatory form of direct democracy, right here in Malaysia. Our Assemblies, meeting every Saturday at Dataran Merdeka, is the concrete actualization of Direct Democracy and Open Participation by Anyone and Everyone, without regard for race, creed or wealth. As the year 2011 draws to a close, dark clouds still hang over the Malaysian sky, no different from the previous years. Undemocratic repression of human rights continue unabated. Malaysians suffer these abuses in different forms and at different levels. It is often hard for the ordinary Malaysian to articulate and give voice to their suffering and plight. Occupy Dataran wants to provide that space and platform for all to channel their outrage and indignation in constructive and meaningful ways. We want every person to find his or her own voice, formulating his or her own demands. Some of these demands may spring from this year's chronology of injustices: the repression of street protests (eg. Bersih 2.0), the passing of the Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011, the Lynas debacle, the continuous land-grab of Orang Asli & indigenous land in Sabah & Sarawak, corruption in government, exploitation and repression of local and migrant workers' welfare & rights, deaths in the MACC, the suppression of academic and student freedoms by the UUCA, etc. To mark the end of 2011 and the inception of the 2012 New Year, we are calling ALL to Occupy Dataran Merdeka with us on December 31st, 2011, at 11pm. We call on ALL to come wearing the mask of V, re-enacting the final dramatic scene from the movie, V for Vendetta. The V mask represents resistance against authoritarianism all over world. This will be a participatory MASS FLASHMOB, symbolically expressing our common indignation against the many injustices and anti-democratic events that happened in Malaysia in 2011, in contrast to the positive significance of 2011 for the rest of the world. We want to collectively say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH; TIME FOR REAL DEMOCRACY NOW, in 2012! Our objectives for this CALL TO ACTION ON DECEMBER 31st are: 1) To reclaim our public spaces and reclaim Dataran Merdeka as an open and democratic space for all peoples to assemble freely and peacefully; 2) To defend and reclaim the fundamental right to assemble peacefully, protest and to occupy our public spaces; 3) To protest against the Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011; 4) To show solidarity with all those who have suffered injustices and violation of their basic rights in 2011; 5) To show our resolve in making 2012 the year of real democratic changes in Malaysia, in all aspects, political, social and economic. We CALL ON ALL to join us on 31st December 2011 and make our DEMANDS loud and clear at Dataran Merdeka. JOM OCCUPY! #OccupyDataran Media Working Group
Note: The Organizers will be releasing the specific details of the 31st December Flashmob soon, via the OcuppyDataran Facebook page, |
| Posted: 27 Dec 2011 10:21 PM PST Dari ekonomi, sosial dan politik semuanya mahu ditransformasikan oleh Najib. Seperti Abdullah, Umno sendiri menjadi batu penghalang kepada program-program Najib. Sehingga kini, Najib masih belum dilihat mempunyai kekuatan untuk meyakinkan Umno untuk bersama gagasan yang ingin beliau bawa. By Amin IskandarMenurut seorang teman yang juga seorang ketua editor sebuah "news portal" terkemuka tanahair, perdana menteri Malaysia selepas Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad berusaha keras untuk melaksanakan program-program ekonomi, sosial dan politik yang dekat dihati rakyat. Ini boleh dilihat dari pengalaman Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Selepas menggantikan Dr. Mahathir, jika kita ingat kembali – Abdullah Badawi berusaha keras untuk melaksanakan reformasi dalam kerajaan pimpinannya. Yang menjadi batu penghalang utama kepada program-program reformasi Abdullah Badawi adalah dari parti Umno sendiri. Golongan "garis keras" yang kuat bersarang dalam parti tersebut sehingga akhirnya, Abdullah Badawi menjadi bahan jenaka. Sabotaj dari dalam Umno menjadi antara punca keputusan pilihan raya umum ke 12 yang menyaksikan majoriti dua pertiga Barisan Nasional (BN) di parlimen dinafikan – beberapa negeri BN terlepas ke tangan pembangkang. Abdullah tersingkir dari tampuk kuasa dan Datuk Seri Najib Razak menggantikannya. Selain gagasan 1Malaysia, Najib menjuarai program transformasi didalam pentadbirannya. Dari ekonomi, sosial dan politik semuanya mahu ditransformasikan oleh Najib. Seperti Abdullah, Umno sendiri menjadi batu penghalang kepada program-program Najib. Sehingga kini, Najib masih belum dilihat mempunyai kekuatan untuk meyakinkan Umno untuk bersama gagasan yang ingin beliau bawa. Panglima Najib Timbalan Menteri Pendidikan Tinggi, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah adalah salah seorang "panglima" kepada program transformasi politik Najib. Tanpa restu dari Najib, tidak mudah bagi Saifuddin untuk bergerak ke tahap ini. Kita dapat melihat bagaimana Saifuddin berani untuk berhadapan dengan mahasiswa, politikus pembangkang dan NGO dalam forum-forum terbuka untuk mempertahankan program transformasi Najib. Saifuddin juga konsisten mempertahankan hak kebebasan mahasiswa untuk berpolitik dan mahukan Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti (AUKU) dipinda bagi menjamin kebebasan tersebut. Untuk saya, jika Najib mempunyai lebih ramai panglima seperti Saifuddin, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) berada dalam bahaya besar. Namun sudah pasti orang seperti Saifuddin tidak disukai oleh golongan garis keras dalam Umno. Peristiwa demonstrasi mahasiswa dihadapan Bangunan Umno di PWTC minggu lalu - dimana bendera presiden Umno ke tujuh, Najib Razak diturunkan dan digantikan dengan bendera kebebasan menjadi satu "bola tanggung" kepada golongan "garis keras" dalam Umno. Saifuddin akhirnya di"smash". Beliau didesak untuk meletakkan jawatan diatas insiden penurunan bendera tersebut. Serangan itu dibuat menerusi mesej-mesej Twitter dan entri dalam blog-blog. Walaupun Saifuddin - juga Ahli Parlimen Temerloh berulang kali mengulangi pendiriannya bahawa kumpulan mahasiswa, yang didakwa menurunkan bendera wajah Najib di pekarangan ibu pejabat Umno harus meminta maaf terhadap insiden tersebut.
Untuk melihat kuat atau lemahnya Najib dalam Umno, kita boleh perhatikan dengan bagaimana perdana menteri mengurus kes Saifuddin Abdullah ini. Jika Najib kuat, beliau pasti akan mempertahankan Saifuddin dan menutup "mulut" golongan keras dalam Umno. Jika Najib dalam keadaan lemah, Saifuddin mungkin tidak tercalon lagi sebagai calon BN di kerusi Temerloh dalam PRU akan datang. Najib sudah pasti tahu, orang seperti Saifuddin mampu untuk memenangi hati orang muda dan mahasiswa walaupun tidak secara keseluruhannya. Mempunyai lebih ramai orang seperti Ahli Parlimen Temerloh ini, akan memperlihatkan kepada masyarakat umum bahawa beliau serius dengan program transformasi dan politik baru. Akan tetapi, ini bukanlah sesuatu perkara yang mudah untuk dilakukan. Abdullah Badawi yang dari awal digelar "Mr. Clean" pun diterajang keluar dari kepimpinan Umno oleh kerana melawan tradisi parti tersebut. Lihatlah bagaimana nasib menantunya yang kini Ketua Pemuda Umno. Walaupun memegang jawatan penting dalam parti, beliau tidak dapat memainkan peranan dalam kerajaan. Pesaing beliau yang kalah dan Naib Ketua Pemuda Umno dilantik menjadi Timbalan Menteri. Begitulah serba sedikit gambaran betapa kuatnya golongan "garis keras" dalam Umno. Inilah dilemma besar yang dihadapi oleh Najib. Jika tidak melakukan perubahan dalam pentadbiran kerajaan, jangka hayat BN semakin pendek. Jika menjuarai perubahan, penghalang utama bukan Pakatan Rakyat (PR) tetapi Umno itu sendiri. Apatah lagi apabila golongan "garis keras" dipayung oleh "Godfather" yang masih mempunyai pengaruh kuat dalam Umno dan jentera kerajaan. |
| And the Winner is.... Tan Sri Tan Kay Hock...!!! Posted: 27 Dec 2011 12:00 AM PST Wow, this is indeed an achievement for our PM Najib's golfing partner, the one and only Tan Sri Tan Kay Hock of George Kent (the water meter maker). YM Raja Petra Kamarudin exposed his plot in Malaysia Today sometime in September, 2011 (see article attached http://malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/34319-how-playing-golf-with-the-prime-minister-can-earn-you-billions), but our great Tan Kay Hock kept smartly quiet, allowed time to lapse so that the short memory of Malaysian Rakyat would forget while he planned and schemed his way to CRBC (Chinese Road & Bridge Corporation) which like his previous horse CHEC (China Harbour Engineering Construction) is also within the Group of CCCC (China Communications Construction Co. Ltd). You can bet your last penny that Tan Kay Hock (perhaps in collaboration with some other buddies and Daim) will not use any name of company connected to him or his family when working with CRBC for fear that his demand of RM500 million will be exposed again. Whatever vehicle is used in this contract, you can be sure that Tan Kay Hock's unseen hand is there, to grab the RM500 million (Rakyat's money); RM300 million for himself and his buddies, and RM200 mllion for Rosmah to buy that returned diamond and more luxury handbags, etc. etc. It must be made known to all Malaysians that neither CRBC nor CHEC has track record of having constructed railroads, let alone electrified double tracking rail. Based on a Google search, these Chinese companies are good for ports, harbours, roads and bridges only. But YM Raja Petra Kamarudin in his article, has said that Najib was bent on giving the contract to CHEC for his golfing partner Tan Kay Hock, come what may. Therefore, since CHEC's plot exposed by Malaysia Today, and Tan Kay Hock could not get into the good books of CRCC (the forerunner) because they know his scandalous approach, he must have got CRBC to agree to his scheme of things. YM Raja Petra Kamarudin had said, "In China, both the givers and the receivers of bribes will be sentenced to death with a bullet in the head plus the cost of bullet charged to the family of the deceased." In this case, we have to prove there is bribery involved first, and if proven, only the Chinese givers will face the firing squad, while they cannot touch our receiver (or his nominees) in Malaysia. We therefore cannot stop what our Najib wants to do for his buddy, and who cares if some Chinese givers get shot in the head? That's not our concern. Behind every cloud however, there is always a silver lining, and we the Malaysian Rakyat will have to pray hard for that silver lining to appear during the coming GE13. When and if that happens, we can review the contract in details, checking every minute payment and commitment. The new Lords of Putrajaya will take all necessary actions to put these culprits behind bars, and cancel the contract (like what Pak Lah did to Mahathir's pet project), and to reopen negotiations with the new President of China, Xi Jinping. Malaysia's name stinks in the global market where Government or semi-government projects are concerned. We have to stop this curse by promoting and assisting The March to Putrajaya. Eye M Fox ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Putrajaya contracts Gemas-JB double-track to Chinese firm By Jahabar Sadiq Editor, The Malaysian Insider December 27, 2011 A worker checks train tracks near a railway station in Yingtan, Jiangxi province March 10, 2008. — Reuters pic KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 27 — Putrajaya has agreed to award a Chinese firm, most likely the Chinese Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) with local partner Gamuda Bhd, a multi-billion ringgit contract to build the 197-km Gemas-Johor Baru electrified double tracking project (EDTP), instead of front-runner China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), sources say. The Malaysian Insider understands the project is worth between RM7 and RM8 billion, after it was put under a mid-term review in the Ninth Malaysia Plan. The Gemas-Johor Baru sector would be the final package for the EDTP, with the other sectors being the Ipoh-Padang Besar and Seremban-Gemas lines. "Putrajaya has decided on China Road and Bridge Corporation after some last-minute lobbying," a source told The Malaysian Insider. Another source said the award could be a wrinkle in Putrajaya-Beijing ties as only CRCC is authorised to tender for rail-related projects abroad. "The decision has been made and will be announced very soon," the source disclosed. Putrajaya and Beijing maintain very good political and business ties, with China taking palm oil and other commodities apart from a flow of goods being traded under the Asean-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA). However, the Penang Second Bridge project has not drawn down a US$800 million soft loan from Beijing while Putrajaya has also rejected a Chinese firm's US$1 billion (RM3.1 billion) redevelopment bid for the Pudu Jail land. But the Gemas-Johor Baru EDTP has always been seen as a project for Chinese companies, the sources said. The project includes building nearly 200km of parallel railway tracks, including stations, depots, halts, yards and bridges and cover systems such as electrification, signalling and communications. This includes a realignment between Pulau Sebang, Melaka and the Gemas section. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said in July that the Gemas-Johor Baru stretch was already in the final stage of design but declined to state if the tender would be open to foreign parties when it is completed by end of the year. He said the EDTP in the northern section was slated for completion by end-2013 and the line to Johor by 2016. There has always been great interest in Malaysia's double-tracking project as it was part of a larger Trans-Asian rail link between Singapore to China. On May 2009, Global Rail Sdn Bhd, a relatively small contractor and its Chinese partner, China Infraglobe, submitted a proposal to Putrajaya to build and upgrade tracks from Gemas to Johor Baru at a cost of RM5 billion. The Business Times reported that the project will be on a private finance initiative (PFI) basis and the plan submitted to the Finance Ministry later in June 2009 was conditional upon signing over mineral rights in Johor State. Kong said last January that the government hoped to appoint the contractor for the project this year and Malaysia is still in the midst of talking with CRCC but nothing had been confirmed yet. He also said two consultants had been appointed, a design consultant and an independent checker, to monitor the project. |
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