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Germany urged to freeze Taib’s assets Posted: 20 Jun 2011 03:45 PM PDT   Swiss-based Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) is chalking small victories as it steadily draws the attention of global governments to Taib Mahmud 'ill-gotten' wealth. In a joint statement today, they said: "We are seriously concerned that, as a leading German financial institute, Deutsche Bank is closely cooperating with the highly corrupt and internationally discredited Taib regime. Tashny Sukumaran, Free Malaysia Today Germany, which has been in the forefront on calls for the "effective combating of corruption", has been urged to "freeze all the assets of kleptocrat" Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud. The call for Chancellor Angella Merkel to "clarify business ties" that leading German financial institute, Deutsche Bank, has with Taib comes just over month after Switzerland said it would investigate the matter. Three Swiss and German NGOs wrote to Merkel informing her of Duetsche Bank's lucrative involvement with Taib. The NGOs are Swiss-based Bruno Manser Fund (BMF), a German rainforest advocacy group Rettet den Regenwald and the Society for Threatened People. In a joint statement today, they said: "We are seriously concerned that, as a leading German financial institute, Deutsche Bank is closely cooperating with the highly corrupt and internationally discredited Taib regime. "We feel that this cooperation cannot be in the interest of the German government, which is globally promoting the effective combating of corruption. "We are asking the German government to clarify Deutsche Bank's business ties with Taib and to freeze all his German assets." Describing Taib as "one of Southeast Asia's leading kleptocrats", they alleged that Deutsche Bank has conducted several important business transactions for the Sarawak government. In 2005, Deutsche Bank was the sole bookrunner for the US$600 million listing of Sarawak International Incorporated in Labuan. Before December 2004, Deutsche Bank arranged a US$135 million loan for the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), a state body controlled by Taib. 49-Taib linked companies Deutsche Bank International's Jersey and Cayman branches are administering the Jersey-based Sogo Holdings Ltd, through which several of Taib's family's assets in the US are held. In Malaysia, Deutsche Bank is running joint ventures with Cahya Mata Sarawak (CMS), the Taib family's business flagship, under the names of K & N Kenanga Holdings and Kenanga Deutsche Futures. Deutsche Bank is Germany's largest bank and one of the world's leading financial institutions. Earlier this month, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) confirmed it was investigating Taib for corruption. However, this has been widely said to be merely a symbolic gesture following Switzerland's Financial Markets Supervisory Authority's announcement that it will probe Taib's assets in Swiss banks. Taib, who has been in office since 1981, is also Sarawak's Finance and Planning and Resources Minister. He and his family are believed to have set up a global business empire across eight countries and are allegedly worth several billions of ringgit. In February this year, BMF revealed that there were 49 Taib-connected companies worldwide, including several in Australia, Canada and the United States. The group blamed Taib for the widespread deforestation of Sarawak, alleging that he had gained immensely from logging concessions. READ MORE HERE

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• Missing: The Star's poll showing 99% support for Bersih
• PKR sacks 29 members for various disciplinary issues
• Malaysian opposition vows huge protest for reform
• Perkasa chief Ibrahim makes a U-turn
• ‘Stubborn’ Ambiga out to score political point, says Khairy
• Ibrahim Ali: I was misunderstood
• Malaysia to fingerprint voters to combat fraud
• Perkasa boss slams ‘old cow’ Kit, ‘rich’ Khairy
• Ex-Labuan MP fined for cheating
• Tian Chua to know his fate by next week
• UMNO Blogger warns Chinese away from Bersih

Missing: The Star's poll showing 99% support for Bersih Posted: 20 Jun 2011 08:17 PM PDT   (Harakah Daily) - A poll on the July 9 Bersih rally by The Star's online edition has disappeared after registering more than one million responses. MISSING ... The results of the poll as at 9.30 am today Earlier, Harakahdaily reported that the poll result showed that 99% of respondents were in support of the rally called by electoral reform group Bersih in Kuala Lumpur next month. However, at press time (5.25pm), not only the question has been reverted to an earlier poll about Ron95 petrol purchase by foreign-registered cars, its result was also missing from its archives. Earlier, the result page for the poll showed a page with the message "Record not found". The question on the poll reads: "What is your view on the proposed Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9?", to which 99 percent of the respondents chose the answer "It should be allowed to go on", as opposed to the remaining option, "It should be cancelled". The number of respondents is possibly the highest recorded by any online poll conducted by the online edition of The Star, which boasts of the highest number of visitors among other mainstream dailies with internet presence. The poll comes as the Election Commission made an appeal to Bersih to cancel its rally, saying it would be prepared to hear its demands, an offer snubbed by Bersih chairperson Ambiga Srenevasan who said the time for negotiation had long been over. Earlier, some eighty organisations joined hands over the weekend to renew their support for the rally and urged the police to protect their right to peaceful assembly from threats made by a number of right-wing politicians.

PKR sacks 29 members for various disciplinary issues Posted: 20 Jun 2011 08:10 PM PDT   (NST) - Parti Keadilan Rakyat has released a list of 29 members who have been sacked for various disciplinary issues including contesting as candidates of other parties during the last Sarawak state elections, posting negative comments about party leadership on Facebook and taking part in activities organised by opposing parties. Its disciplinary bureau chairman Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong, who released the list, told reporters that the image of the party in the past one year has been affected due to MPs who left to become independent. Tan also released a list of 10 suspended members and 12 members who received warning letters. The lists, he said, included two groups of people who were marked for disciplinary action after party elections last October and after the Sarawak polls in April. "This is a serious situation especially when we are facing the 13th general elections. It is also the season for choosing candidates so I hope all party members follow our constitution. If you are not satisfied, please use channels available in the party (to present grouses) instead of going to the media," he told reporters at the PKR headquarters here. One of them he said, Thony Badak of Miri, had contested in the Sarawak polls on SNAP ticket while Joyce Lee of Batu Kawan, Penang, was kicked out for making unsavoury comments about PKR on her Facebook page. "She said Facebook was a private (channel for) conversation. But as far as we are concerned Facebook is not private because many people have access to it." "Jonson Chong of Kelana Jaya, he said, was sacked for helping another party campaign in Sarawak in full force," he added The same fate, he said, awaited anyone who had similar disciplinary issues during the next general elections. "We have collaborating evidence from newspapers and YouTube. We sent show cause letters through registered post, emails and SMSes. We will wait 10 working days for them to explain. Sometimes, we have a hearing to give them a chance to explain," he said. Those in the sack list however, will be given two chances to appeal, he said. Wanita PKR chief and Ampang MP Zuraidah Kamaruddin said this was the first time PKR released such lists. "These people still do not appreciate our gesture (not to name them). They continue to accuse us and make all kinds of claims. We want the public to know that they are no longer with the party and they should not be making statements on behalf of the party.

Malaysian opposition vows huge protest for reform Posted: 20 Jun 2011 06:40 PM PDT   (AP) - MALAYSIAN activists demanding electoral reforms vowed on Tuesday to hold a massive demonstration next month, raising fears of clashes with police in what could be the country's biggest street protest in nearly four years. Opposition-backed activists said they expect tens of thousands of people to march to the national palace in Kuala Lumpur on July 9 to demand sweeping changes in polling laws aimed at curbing fraud ahead of general elections widely expected within a year. Two other influential politicians - the outspoken youth leader of Malaysia's ruling party and an independent federal lawmaker - have responded with separate plans for two other counter-demonstrations on the same day, rattling Malaysian authorities who fear a day of widespread disruptions. Malaysian police have said they will try to block all three protests, which have the potential of taking a racial tinge because the supporters of the ruling party and the independent lawmaker are entirely Malays while the opposition ranks are made up of not only Malays but also ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities. Relations between Malays, who form nearly two-thirds percent of Malaysia's 28 million people, and the ethnic minorities have suffered in recent years over complaints by the Chinese and Indians that the Malay-dominated government discriminates against them. Although rallies are not uncommon in Malaysia, simultaneous large-scale protests by rival groups on the same day are unheard of.

Perkasa chief Ibrahim makes a U-turn Posted: 20 Jun 2011 06:18 PM PDT   After stirring the hornest' s nest, Ibrahim Ali claims his words were twisted and taken out of context and that he was merely advising the Chinese community. (Free Malaysia Today) - Now Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali has latched on to politicians' favourite phrase "I was misquoted." On Sunday, he was reported to have made racist threats against the Chinese community. But after stirring the hornest 's nest, he is back-pedalling by saying what he really meant was that he was advising the Chinese community to stay away from the Bersih rally slated for July 9. Ibrahim said he merely "advised" the Chinese community not to participate in the planned rally and denied any insinuations against the community or that a racial clash could occur. The Pasir Mas MP said his observation was that the Chinese community traditionally shied away from joining street demonstrations and his statement merely encouraged them to do the same when the rally was held. "I said it was better for the Chinese to stay home and if they need to, stock up on food… what does that mean? That means that usually, when there are street protests, I do not see the Chinese participating," he told reporters in Parliament here. "The Chinese never participate in street demonstrations as far as I am concerned. So this demonstration… I foresee those participating will be the Malays from PAS, Umno and us so it will be a clash among the Malays… so in order to prevent it from spreading to the other races, I said that it is better for the Chinese to stay back, that is all," he added. Transitional government On Sunday, Ibrahim, who declared himself to be a "war general" leading a counter rally against Bersih, was quoted as saying that his outfit should not be held responsible for any untoward incidents should Bersih continue with its protest on July 9. He was also reported to have warned the Chinese against joining the rally, asking them to stay home and "stock up on food" in reference to the Emergency period imposed during the racial riots of 1969 that left scores dead. It was reported by online news portal The Malaysian Insider whom Ibrahim accused of twisting his words and "spinning" the issue. "The Malaysian Insider twisted my words to say that if the Chinese come out, there will be problems and we will attack them and that is why they should stay at home. I did not mean that… that is the meaning of the idiot from The Malaysian Insider," he said. READ MORE HERE

‘Stubborn’ Ambiga out to score political point, says Khairy Posted: 20 Jun 2011 05:28 PM PDT   (The Malaysian Insider) - Khairy Jamaluddin said today Bersih chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan's refusal to meet the Election Commission(EC) ahead of a July 9 rally is proof that "she is raising the stakes politically." The Umno Youth chief, who will also lead his own public rally in the city on the same day, said that the group pursuing electoral reforms "has scored a moral victory" in forcing the EC to come to the table but was insistent on making a political point. "She is being stubborn. She can be cooperative but she wants to see this take place. If she won't even discuss with the EC before dismissing them as powerless, then it is disingenuous to say you are pursuing reforms," the Rembau MP told The Malaysian Insider. Ambiga had declined the EC's offer to discuss electoral reforms saying the commission had admitted it lacked the authority to act on blatant abuses and that the reforms needed to be tabled in Parliament anyway. Khairy said today that it was meaningless for Bersih to talk about being independent as it clearly was looking to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to champion its cause in Parliament. "Why not meet the EC first, there is still two weeks before July 9? Then decide if any progress can be made. But she is clearly not interested and simply wants to make a political point. "All Malaysians want to avoid a confrontation but she has raised the stakes politically," he added. Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties and activists are gearing up to march next month in the second such rally by Bersih, the first being in 2007 when up to 50,000 were reported to have gathered in the capital, with many being dispersed by water cannons and tear gas fired by the police. READ MORE HERE

Ibrahim Ali: I was misunderstood Posted: 20 Jun 2011 05:24 PM PDT   "I am talking to the reporter. You want to talk to me, you talk to me after this. Do not interrupt me. I can see you after this... bloody idiot," he said. (The Malaysian Insider) - Under attack for his race riot insinuations over the Bersih rally, Datuk Ibrahim Ali came out saying he's "misunderstood" and his statement on the Chinese was advice and not a threat. Repeatedly blaming The Malaysian Insider for twisting his statement on Sunday out of context, an angry-looking Ibrahim told Parliament reporters he is willing to be investigated for sedition since he has done nothing wrong. He explained that when he told the Chinese community to stay home and stock up on food on the day of the Bersih rally, he was not insinuating that they would be attacked or that the gathering would turn into a bloody racial clash. "I said it was better for the Chinese to stay home and if they need to, stock up on food... what does that mean? That means that usually, when there are street protests, I do not see the Chinese participating. "The Chinese never participate in street demonstrations as far as I am concerned. So this demonstration, I foresee that it will be the Malays from PAS participating and then Umno and us so it will be a clash among the Malays... so in order to avoid from it spreading to the other races, I said that it is better for the Chinese to stay back, that is all," he said. The Malaysian Insider reported the Pasir Mas MP as saying on Sunday during he launch of Perkasa's counter-protest against Bersih that the Chinese community should stay indoors on July 9 and stock up on food as "anything could happen". Several lawmakers across the political divide have lambasted Ibrahim for turning the rally, which calls for free and fair elections, into a racial issue. "TMI twisted my words to say that if the Chinese come out there will be problems and we will attack them and that is why they should stay at home. I did not mean that... that is the meaning of the idiot of The Malaysian Insider," he said. READ MORE HERE

Malaysia to fingerprint voters to combat fraud Posted: 20 Jun 2011 05:18 PM PDT   (AFP) - MALAYSIA has unveiled plans to fingerprint voters to combat fraud in the next elections, under pressure from activists planning a mass rally next month over claims of rampant vote-rigging. Opposition parties and electoral campaigners say the July 9 protest will highlight allegations that the electoral process is rife with double-voting and other irregularities that stifle the opposition. The next polls are not due until 2013 but the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, which denies charges that it unfairly influences the Election commission (EC), is widely expected to go to the people by next year. EC chairman Abdul Aziz Mohamad Yusof said it plans to record voters' fingerprints to verify their identities before allowing them to cast their ballots, according to national news agency Bernama. 'Then (a voter) will be considered to have voted, and the individual concerned cannot go to another polling station with the identity card to again cast his or her vote,' he was quoted as saying late Monday. Andrew Khoo from electoral campaigners Bersih welcomed the move but said that technical difficulties could hamper the process as many Malaysian identity cards are believed to contain faulty chips. 'In principle that may well be one of the ways to combat double voting,' he told AFP. 'But we would need to look at how they plan to implement it.'

Perkasa boss slams ‘old cow’ Kit, ‘rich’ Khairy Posted: 20 Jun 2011 05:05 PM PDT   Ibrahim Ali criticises his critics, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin. (Free Malaysia Today) - Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali lashed out at DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang, calling the veteran politician an "old cow". He also took the "rich" Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin to task, and welcomed the latter's call on the police to investigate him under the Sedition Act. Khairy had urged the police to investigate Ibrahim following his comments on Sunday after the Perkasa boss launched Gerak Aman to counter the Bersih 2.0 rally scheduled for July 9. During the launch, Ibrahim had warned the Chinese to stock up on food since anything could happen on that day. His remarks also irked Lim, who criticised the authorities for not acting against Ibrahim. Commenting on this, the Perkasa boss said: "I am very proud to hear the criticisms from Lim. I feel that I am great." "To me, he (Lim) is like an 'old cow' that wouldn't have tender meat even after boiling. We know who Lim is since May 13," he added, referring to the racial riots which took place in 1969. In rebuking Khairy, Ibrahim questioned why Umno Youth was holding a rally without support from MCA, MIC and Gerakan Youth wings. "He is BN Youth leader in name only," he mocked. Khairy had announced last week that Umno Youth would also hold a peaceful assembly on July 9 to submit proposals for reforming the elections. "Umno Youth's assembly without a police permit is also against the law. Is Khairy willing to do that or is it just a gimmick?" asked Ibrahim. 'He became rich fast' The Perkasa boss also accused Khairy of assuming the duties of the inspector-general of police. "Why doesn't Khairy instruct the police to investigate the allegations of money politics against himself that was levelled by the Umno disciplinary committee and his role in ECM Libra? READ MORE HERE

Ex-Labuan MP fined for cheating Posted: 20 Jun 2011 04:08 PM PDT   The Court of Appeal in Sabah has overturned a decision by the Kota Kinabalu High Court to set aside a former MP's conviction and sentence. (Free Malaysia Today) - If former Labuan MP Suhaili Abdul Rahman had any plans of returning to politics with a vengeance, they were blown away when the Court of Appeal ruled against him in a case stretching back more than 15 years. The Court of Appeal here yesterday overturned the High Court's decision to set aside Suhaili's conviction and sentence for failing to declare he was bankrupt when making a loan application in 1996. Federal Court judge Md Raus Sharif, who sat together with Court of Appeal judges Sulong Matjeraie and Mohamed Apandi Ali yesterday, allowed the prosecution's appeal against the High Court's verdict last year. In an unanimous decision, the three judges held that the High Court was wrong in its decision as the criminal offence remained although Suhaili's bankruptcy status was later annulled. "The Sessions Court's decision in convicting and imposing the fine on the respondent (Suhaili) is reinstated," said Md Raus, and ordered Suhaili to pay the RM10,000 fine. The court made the decision after hearing arguments from deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Bache from Putrajaya and Suhaili's counsel Rakhbir Singh. Suhaili, 48, was fined RM10,000 in default one month's jail by Sessions Court judge Duncan Sikodol on March 10, last year, after the former pleaded guilty to acting as a guarantor for a RM110,000 loan and a RM50,000 overdraft sought by Syarikat Saraequity Sdn Bhd to buy an apartment on the second floor of Api-Api Centre here, without informing the Malayan Banking Bhd Kota Kinabalu branch that he was a bankrupt. The charge stated that Suhaili had committed the offence at the bank's premises on April 3, 1996. He was charged under Section 109 (1) (m) (iii) of the Bankruptcy Act 1967 which provides for a jail term of up to two years or a fine, or both. Suhaili filed a notice of appeal on March 16 and the High Court set aside his conviction and sentence and ordered the fine already paid by the latter to be returned. READ MORE HERE

Tian Chua to know his fate by next week Posted: 20 Jun 2011 03:30 PM PDT   House Speaker says he is currently deliberating on the matter and is in consultation with legal advisers. (Free Malaysia Today) - PKR vice-president Tian Chua will know by next week if he will remain as Batu MP, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia said today. Pandikar said he is currently deliberating on the matter and is in consultation with legal advisers and will decide next week after the issue was raised by Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali via a letter. Last week, Minister in the Prime Minister Department Nazri Abdul Aziz said lawmakers from the ruling coalition had initially wanted to submit a motion urging the House to decide on the matter immediately but hit the breaks in the last minute, saying the move was "ungentleman like". MORE TO FOLLOW

UMNO Blogger warns Chinese away from Bersih Posted: 20 Jun 2011 10:29 AM PDT   (TMI) After a similar threat from Perkasa's Datuk Ibrahim Ali Sunday, the Chinese community was yesterday warned against participating in next month's Bersih rally via an email thread making its rounds to several media organisations here. [Watch video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhru48BS82k - MTadmin] The email, sent by a self-proclaimed nationalist and blogger with the pseudonym "Panglima Perang Cyber" (cyber war commander), came with an attached video found on Youtube.com of the infamous May 1998 racial riots in Indonesia that caused the deaths of hundreds. "Are the Chinese in Malaysia willing to accept the same fate as their brethren in Indonesia if our country goes into chaos? "So let us 1 Malaysia Malay, Chinese and Indians reject the Bersih demonstration for the good of our grandchildren. Watch the video below," the email read. The email was delivered to the inboxes of 18 pro-Malay and pro-BN Facebook groups and carbon copied to media organisations like The Malaysian Insider, Berita Harian, Utusan Malaysia, Kosmo! and PAS organ Harakah. The Malaysian Insider traced the writer to a blog site at http://penembak-tepat.blogspot.com/ where he/she described his/herself as a "defender of the country" who fights wholeheartedly for religion, race and the nation in the cyber world". Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/blogger-warns-chinese-away-from-bersih/

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• Perkasa: KJ juga perlu disiasat bawah ISA
• PAS S’gor siap 50,000 ahli, amaran kepada Perkasa
• Amaran pada Perkasa, Pemuda PAS jadi perisai
• Perkasa bakar gambar Ambiga, amaran kepada kaum Cina, pembunuhan beramai ramai

Perkasa: KJ juga perlu disiasat bawah ISA Posted: 20 Jun 2011 06:23 PM PDT Menurut Irwan tindakan itu wajar memandangkan Khairy turut melibatkan diri dalam pertembungan himpunan Bersih 2.0 pada 9 Julai ini. "Jika Khairy menyarankan supaya Presiden Perkasa perlu disiasat, sepatutnya beliau juga perlu disiasat di bawah ISA kerana mahu melibatkan diri dalam himpunan Bersih. "Khairy bukan hakim mahupun Ketua Polis Negara yang perlu mengajar polis dan pihak berkuasa kerana mereka tahu kerja mereka. Sama ada Presiden Perkasa perlu disiasat oleh polis kerana dikatakan menghasut, terserah pada polis," katanya kepada FMT. Sambil menyifatkan kenyataan Ibrahim  diputar belit oleh sebuah portal berita, Irwan mahu melihat berapa ramai pemuda Umno mampu dikumpulkan Khairy. "Wira Perkasa nak tengok berapa ramai pemuda Umno di bawah Khairy dapat dikumpulkan pada 9 Julai ini," katanya seperti menyindir. Tidak hormat Khairy "Pemuda MCA pun tak hormat pada Khairy yang merupakan Ketua Pemuda Barisan Nasional (BN), sebab itu pemuda MCA menolak untuk turut serta pada 9 Julai. Sepatutnya sebagai Ketua Pemuda BN, Khairy perlu menunjukkan ketegasan dan pendirian kerana beliau menang pilihan raya atas tiket Umno-BN," katanya. READ MORE HERE

PAS S’gor siap 50,000 ahli, amaran kepada Perkasa Posted: 20 Jun 2011 03:52 PM PDT Menurut Setiausaha PAS negeri yang baru Mohd Khairuddin Othman, PAS Selangor mempunyai 72,000 ahli  dan dijangka akan menurunkan 50,000. "PAS Selangor akan turun paling kurang  50,000 orang ahli  dalam himpunan Bersih,"katanya  dalam sidang media pertama selepas pelantikan kepimpinan Badan Perhubungan PAS Negeri yang baru. Mohd Khairuddin turut memberi peringatan kepada Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) agar tidak mengwujudkan provokasi ketika himpunan yang diadakan serentak pada 9 Julai ini. Beliau turut menasihatkan agar anak-anak buah  Datuk Ibrahim Ali menjaga tingakah laku sepanjang himpunan diadakan. Selain Bersih, Perkasa dan Pemuda Umno masing-masing akan mengadakan himpunan yang sama pada hari tersebut. "Perkasa jangan cuba buat provokasi, jangan anggap orang yang turun ke jalanan adalah orang tidak bertamadun. "Berdasarkan sejarah, demonstrasi yang dianjurkan PAS tidak pernah berlaku kekecohan dan pada himpunan Bersih yang lalu ia berjalan dengan aman dan tidak ada satu pasu pun yang pecah. Perkasa tidak ramai "Perkasa ini tidak ramai, mereka hanya cakap…kita tunggu dan lihat nanti dan saya minta Perkasa jaga ahli dan disiplinkan ahli dulu," katanya. Bersih bersama Pakatan Rakyat dan aktivis parti bersedia menggerakan Himpunan Bersih 2.0 menuntut pilihan raya adil dan bebas sebagai kesinambungan himpunan yang kali pertama diadakan pada November 2007. Menurutnya, ahli PAS yang turun menyertai himpunan Bersih 2.0 tidak perlu bimbang sekiranya ditahan kerana pihaknya akan menyediakan khidmat guaman. READ MORE HERE

Amaran pada Perkasa, Pemuda PAS jadi perisai Posted: 19 Jun 2011 07:31 PM PDT Ketua penerangannya, Riduan Mohd Nor menegaskan, Pemuda PAS bersedia menjadi perisai kepada rakyat pelbagai kaum yang hadir dalam perhimpunan Bersih 2.0 sekaligus menolak sebarang tindakan provokatif yang cuba diadakan oleh Perkasa untuk menimbulkan suasana tegang dan huru-hara. DPPP, katanya kesal dengan risalah perkauman yang diedarkan Perkasa yang menyebut "Awas!!! Ambiga Wanita Hindu yang Merbahaya". "Ini sudah melampau dan jelas satu penghinaan kepada Pengerusi Bersih, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan dan kaum lain," tegasnya dalam kenyataan kepada Harakahdaily. DPPP juga, ujarnya kesal kerana Ibrahim dalam ucapannya di Kelab Sultan Sulaiman turut memberikan amaran kepada Kaum Tionghua supaya membeli makanan tambahan untuk disimpan di rumah jika Himpunan Bersih 2.0 tidak dihentikan kerana Perkasa akan lakukan apa sahaja bagi menghentikannya. "Mereka mahu lakukan apa? Pukul orang India, pecah rumah dan kedai orang Cina? Bakar rumah ibadat? Atau pijak kepala babi dan lembu di Dataran Merdeka?" soalnya. Soalnya lagi, siapa Perkasa yang mahu melawan kebangkitan rakyat. Tambahnya, apa tujuan mereka membuat ugutan kepada kaum bukan Melayu kerana negara ini milik semua dan rakyat berhak turun ke jalan raya untuk menyatakan tuntutan mereka secara aman. Katanya, DPPP yakin bahawa Perkasa bekerja untuk Umno yang kini terdesak untuk menahan asakan Bersih 2.0. Mereka, ujarnya memperkudakan Ibrahim dan ahli mereka dalam Perkasa untuk mewujudkan suasana huru hara. Menurutnya, Perkasa cuba mengumpan supaya pihak polis membuat tangkap awal termasuk mengunakan akta ISA, malah mereka cuba mencabar polis untuk menangkap pemimpin mereka sendiri sebagai korban untuk menunjukkan keadilan polis dalam bertindak, walhal yang mahu membuat huru hara adalah pelampau Perkasa sendiri. Beliau berkata, DPPP melihat Perkasa cuba untuk mewujudkan 13 Mei kedua, mereka mahu Operasi Lalang berulang. Tambahnya, ugutan-ugutan ekstrim mereka menunjukan bahawa mereka memang kumpulan pelampau yang wajar diambil tindakan oleh pihak polis. "Kenapa pihak polis berdiam bila Perkasa membuat ugutan?" tanya beliau. Beliau mengharapkan polis tidak menutup mata dan telinga hanya kerana Perkasa melaungkan slogan yang kononnya mahu membantu Menteri Dalam Negeri di dalam menghadapi Bersih 2.0. Pemuda PAS, katanya memberikan jaminan kepada orang-orang Melayu dan bukan Melayu bahawa Himpunan Bersih 2.0 akan berjalan dengan aman dan selamat. Beliau mengingatkan semua peserta dilarang membawa sebarang senjata atau melakukan kerosakan dan provokasi. Menurutnya, peserta Bersih 2.0 yang akan hadir diminta menghormati peniaga dan penduduk Kuala Lumpur serta menjaga kebersihan sepanjang himpunan berlangsung. "Ayuh semua rakyat, semua anak muda. Jangan hirau, jangan takut pada pelampau Perkasa. "Tunjukan kuasa rakyat, bersama kita perkukuhkan desakan rakyat untuk memastikan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil dilaksanakan di negara ini," katanya.

Perkasa bakar gambar Ambiga, amaran kepada kaum Cina, pembunuhan beramai ramai Posted: 19 Jun 2011 02:08 AM PDT Presiden Perkasa Datuk Ibrahim Ali menegaskan perhimpunan anti-Bersih 2.0 yang bakal diadakan serentak akan diteruskan dan beliau tidak akan bertanggungjawab atas sebarang insiden tidak diingini. "Cuba bayangkan jika berlaku huru-hara... jika himpunan Bersih 2.0 tidak dibatalkan, saya percaya kaum Cina perlu simpan bekalan makanan. "Ya, apa sahaja boleh berlaku. Dan saya minta agar polis mengambil apa sahaja tindakan dan gunakan kuasa mereka untuk bertindak," katanya pada pelancaran perhimpunan Gerak Aman di Kelab Sultan Sulaiman, Kampung Baru di sini. Bersih bersama Pakatan Rakyat dan aktivis parti bersedia menggerakan Himpunan Bersih 2.0 menuntut pilihan raya adil dan bebas sebagai kesinambungan himpunan yang kali pertama diadakan pada November 2007. PAS telah berjanji akan menggerakkan 300,000 peserta untuk menyokong perhimpunan itu untuk mendesak Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) mengadakan pilihan raya adil dan bebas pada pilihan raya umum ke-13 tidak lama lagi. Dalam ucapan di hadapan penyokongnya termasuk kalangan Cina dan India, Ibrahim berkata Himpunan Bersih 2.0 diadakan kerana gerakan itu mempunyai agenda untuk menumbangkan kerajaan sedia ada dengan mengambil inspirasi daripada apa yang berlaku di Timur Tengah. "Kita tahu tujuan mereka turun ke jalanan, kumpulan ini mahu menimbulkan huru-hara dalam negara, kalau dulu peristiwa 13 Mei (1969) negara diisytiharkan darurat dan Tun Abdul Razak (Hussein) dilantik sebagai ketua negara sementara dan jika ia berlaku nanti adakah perkara sama akan berlaku? "Sebab itu kita tidak boleh berdiam diri, kita tahu orang Cina mengutamakan perniagaan... kita tidak mahu himpunan 9 Julai yang mereka buat ini menunjukkan mereka dapat restu daripada rakyat, kita bertegas dalam perkara ini dan kita bukan mahu melakukan provokasi," katanya. Malah dalam ucapan pelancaran, Ibrahim yang juga Ahli Parlimen Pasir Mas mendakwa Ambiga sebagai ejen Yahudi. "Kita tentang Ambiga bukan sebab dia India tapi sebab dia jahat, Melayu jahat pun ada... Melayu yang jahat juga kita marah. "Siapa Ambiga? Saya percaya dia adalah ejen Yahudi... siapa dia puan guru Ambiga ini," katanya. Selain mengecam penganjuran himpunan Bersih 2.0, turut diedarkan risalah yang berbentuk serangan peribadi terhadap Ambiga dengan perkataan "Awas!!! Ambiga, wanita Hindu yang merbahaya. "Kita sedang berhadapan dengan seorang wanita Hindu bernama Datuk Ambiga Sreevanesan (cehh... anti Islam ini pun boleh dapat Datuk) yang sangat anti kepada Melayu dan Islam yang akan mengetuai perhimpunan Bersih yang kotor sebenarnya. Penyokong Perkasa mengambil bahagian dalam majlis pelancaran Gerakan Aman 9 Julai di Kuala Lumpur hari ini. — Foto oleh Jack Ooi "Wanita Hindu ini adalah pembela kepada kes Lina Joy yang ingin murtad. Beliau selalu membabitkan diri dalam isu-isu murtad kalangan orang Islam, malah beliau semasa menjadi presiden Majlis Peguam sangat agresif menyerang kerajaan BN (Barisan Nasional) kerana diterajui oleh orang Melayu," kata risalah itu. Kata Ibrahim, pihaknya akan menggerakkan 20 bas dari setiap negeri pada 9 Julai ini untuk membantah Himpunan Bersih 2.0. "Percayalah hanya segelintir orang Cina dan India akan sertai Himpunan Bersih 2.0 itu nanti, yang ramai ialah orang-orang Melayu... agenda himpunan ini bukan hendak menuntut satu pilihan raya yang bersih tapi agenda utama untuk menghuru-harakan negara seperti mana yang berlaku di Mesir, Tunisia, Libya dan beberapa negara lain. "Mereka kata pilihan raya tidak adil tapi pada 2008 mereka tawan empat negeri, menang 82 kerusi Parlimen, kalau mereka kata ini tidak adil saya cabar mereka letak jawatan masing-masing dan kita adakan semula pilihan raya," katanya. Selain Perkasa dan Bersih, Pemuda Umno turut akan mengadakan perhimpunan pada hari tersebut. Tegas Ibrahim, himpunan anti-Bersih tidak akan bergabung dengan Pemuda Umno sambil berkata "tidak mahu digelar sebagai himpunan parti politik." "Kita tidak akan bergabung dengan Pemuda Umno, kita ini adalah NGO bukan parti politik dan kita mahu bergerak atas tiket NGO. "Ini keputusan kita, kita hanya bergerak atas NGO bukan parti politik," katanya sambil menambah tindakan Bersih turun ke jalanan bukan kebebasan bersuara yang sebenar. Turut hadir dalam pelancaran itu Ahli Parlimen Kulim-Bandar Baru Datuk Zulkefli Noordin dan bekas timbalan menteri penerangan Datuk Khalid Yunus. Ditanya soal permit, Ibrahim menegaskan jika Himpunan Bersih 2.0 diadakan tanpa permit, maka pihaknya juga akan berhimpun tanpa permit. "Jika Bersih tidak memohon permit kita juga akan lakukan perkara sama, kalau Bersih mempunyai permit kita juga akan mohon permit," katanya.

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Pesanan dari Presiden MCLM/A Message from the President of MCLM Posted: 20 Jun 2011 08:22 PM PDT   Kepada Rakan-rakan Gerakan Kebebasan Sivil, BERSIH 2.0 merupakan antara inisiatif penting, jika bukan paling penting, yang akan berlangsung tahun ini. BERSIH 2.0 merupakan Gagasan untuk Pilihanraya yang Adil dan Bersih dan saya sangat berbangga menjadi ahli dalam jawatankuasa pemandu. BERSIH 2.0 telah secara aktif menyeru reformasi pilihanraya sejak 2005. Perhimpuan BERSIH 2.0 "Berjalan Untuk Demokrasi" yang akan datang akan berlangsung pada 9 July 2011 dengan tuntutan seperti berikut: •    Bersihkan daftar pemilih •    Reformasi undi pos •    Penggunaan dakwat kekal •    Akses media yang bebas dan adil •    Masa berkempen minima 21 hari •    Kukuhkan institusi awam •    Hentikan rasuah •    Hentikan politik kotor MCLM menyokong BERSIH 2.0 kerana kami percaya bahawa perubahan yang kami cari untuk Malaysia hanya boleh dicapai di peti undi. Oleh itu, pilihanraya yang bebas dan adil adalah penting untuk mencapai visi kami kearah Malaysia yang bersatu dan inklusif. Dengan sebab itulah kami merancang untuk berjalan bersama BERSIH 2.0 dan kami menyeru anda untuk menyertai kami. Bersama marilah kita memberitahu Kerajaan dan Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya bahawa kami mengharapkan mereka untuk menegakkan prinsip-prinsip asas demokrasi. Terima Kasih. Dengan ikhlas, Haris M. Ibrahim ----------------------------------------------- Dear Fellow Civil Libertarians, BERSIH 2.0 is one of the most significant civil society initiatives to take place this year, if not the most significant. BERSIH 2.0 is the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections and I am proud to be a member of the steering committee. BERSIH 2.0 has been actively pursuing electoral reform since 2005. The upcoming BERSIH 2.0 rally, "Walk for Democracy," will take place on 9 July 2011, to demand the following: •    Clean the electoral roll •    Reform postal vote •    Use indelible ink •    Free and fair access to media •    Minimum 21 days campaign period •    Strengthen public institutions •    Stop corruption •    Stop dirty politics MCLM supports BERSIH 2.0 because we believe that the changes we are seeking for Malaysia can only be achieved at the ballot box. Therefore, free and fair elections are crucial to our vision of an inclusive and unified Malaysia. That's why we plan to walk with BERSIH 2.0 and we urge you to join us. Together, let us tell the Government and the Election Commission that we expect them to uphold fundamental principles of democracy. Thank you. Warmest regards, Haris M. Ibrahim Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement

EC’s stance fundamentally flawed Posted: 20 Jun 2011 10:07 AM PDT As it is, the quarters that threw all kinds of accusations, allegations, threats and what have you at the citizens have already created a deeper suspicion in the hearts and minds of a wider cross-section of the rakyat. By J. D. Lovrenciear   Are Malaysians being overly inundated with conditions and conditioning that they are beginning to break under that very yoke that goes against human nature? In the wake of the citizens' announcement that they will hold their Bersih 2.0 rally, there were threats, intimidation and challenges thrown at the rakyat. At the extreme we had two quarters hinging on sedition and extremism. One quarter screamed to spill blood. Another is raising the element of fear and pre-empting danger by asking people to stay away and stockpile food. And of course the PDRM are prepared to steam-roll the Constitutional right to peaceful assembly under the claim that it is in the interest of national security. Despite such perils thrown at the rakyat, the citizens have met and made a resolute will to go ahead with their peaceful assembly come what may to demand for the fundamental right of humanity to a fair, just and clean election. Now in response to the citizens' will and determination, we get another boulder thrown into the pathway of true democracy. The mother of all atrocities to date would be the Election Commission's categorical demand that it would only sit down and talk with Bersih organizers provided that Bersih first cancels its plan. One would have expected the EC to immediately put democracy and nation building as a top most priority and in so doing would have invited Bersih to sit and talk first a long time ago. The least it could have done was to act sensitively and call for dialogues even before the anti-Bersih quarters had any chance to make things more uglier for BN and UMNO. In addition to being already so late in the day, EC now rebuts with a categorical condition that citizens should abort their march for democracy plan before they can sit down with EC for discussions. If that is not un-democratic and high-handed what else could it be? And add insult to injury, EC piles a barrage of allegations. All that is only going to make the impasse even wider and it is of no benefit to EC or even to BN / UMNO. Now why is it so difficult to lead with solutions instead of taking on intimidating stances? EC's stand and response is indeed baffling. As it is, the quarters that threw all kinds of accusations, allegations, threats and what have you at the citizens have already created a deeper suspicion in the hearts and minds of a wider cross-section of the rakyat. The EC should have been wiser and seized the opportunity to step forward to convince the rakyat that it is indeed their white-knight for greater democracy. It could have, a long time ago, behaved proactively and forced its way to a sit-down dialogue to help the nation move forward. But today, by its very hostile stance to the Bersih organizers and supporters, it has only further compounded nation building consistent with the fundamentals that are shaping the new world.

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• Ibrahim Ali and a sex-changed UMNO
• Democracy and freedom of expression
• A matter of dignity
• Bersih 2.0- to protest or not?
• Cuti2 or Curi2 Malaysia? A PR failure, nothing more

Ibrahim Ali and a sex-changed UMNO Posted: 20 Jun 2011 04:43 PM PDT Ibrhaim Ali continues to humiliate UMNO and all we can do is say, Ibrahim Ali is harmless and he speaks for the unspeaking Malay. In July, Bersih is organizing a mammoth rally to demand our Elections Commission to conduct its business professionally. That means to ensure elections are fair and transparent. The intended rally has drawn some xenophobic response from various groups. None more exceedingly intolerant than the one shown by Perkasa, the organization headed by one Ibrahim Ali. If Ibrahim Ali is more UMNO than UMNO, what has the real UMNO become? UMNO has undergone a sex change. Probably in Thailand. What has Ibrahim Ali done? He is telling the world that he will mobilize a large number of people to confront Bersih's Rally. He's even talking about a physical confrontation and that he will be at the forefront ready to shed blood. In his self-induced state of hysteria, he has warned the Chinese community not to get involved raising the specter of the racial clashes of May 13 1969. Clearly what Ibrahim Ali is saying is incendiary and seditious. He's openly talking about bloodshed among the races. That's willful and intentional desire to kill other people. It's a murderous threat. Yet the security authorities appear ineffectual to act against Ibrahim Ali. If the government doesn't act against Ibrahim Ali it will be seen as an accomplice with Ibrahim Ali in the furtherance of an act or acts of allowing itself to be held at ransom by Ibrahim Ali. If that is not stupidity on our part, what else can it be? What's happening to UMNO? It's allowing Ibrahim Ali to be its voice? Where is the leadership material? What kind of material is UMNO made of allowing itself to be cuckolded by the incorrigible Ibrahim Ali? Why is UMNO applying kid's gloves on Ibrahim Ali? It must use its knuckle dusters and deal Ibrahim Ali as the law would want to. Quickly. Ibrahim Ali is not an UMNO member and he isn't a liability to UMNO. It's of no consequence to UMNO if Ibrahim Ali is dealt with properly by the laws of Malaysia. Apply ISA or whatever on him. Get him under the sedition laws of this country or whatever. If the government doesn't act against Ibrahim Ali, then it cannot but be seen as impotent. People can carry out threats and other transgressions of violent intent and import with impunity and the government stands back. It's puzzling why the Police has not acted against Ibrahim Ali for such incendiary and seditious remarks. It is also puzzling how he got a permit to hold such an aggressive rally so quickly from the authorities. Yet the same authorities are showing their lead-weighted feet in issuing a valid permit to the organizers of Bersih. READ MORE HERE

Democracy and freedom of expression Posted: 20 Jun 2011 04:13 PM PDT More importantly, I attempted to correct the popular notion that democracy was the cause of liberty. After alluding to Marx' Utopian state, I opined: "The obvious flaw in Marx's theory of a utopian society makes democracy a very alluring alternative. If at all, it pushes to the fore the false notion that liberty is the product of democracy, when in fact democracy is just but one of the many (flawed) ways of protecting liberty. Liberty is not caused by democracy. It rather is the cause for democracy." And I asked some sobering questions: "That brings us to some sobering thoughts. Can liberty be usurped by democracy? Is it possible for a democracy to destroy liberty in itself? In that event, what will happen to democracy? Can it exist without liberty?" I would like, in this article, to expand the theoretical postulation that the  basis of democracy is liberty and freedom, in terms of the freedom of expression of the people in a democratic state. I feel that a deep understanding of this area of the democracy theory is important, more particularly due to the current climate in Malaysia, where BERSIH is planning a rally for electoral reform on the 9th July this year while at the same time, the usual suspects of horror and doom, Perkasa, Ibrahim Ali and their ilk are planning to create disturbances. Democracy, to my mind, starts with an expression of will by the people or a group of people. The will which was being expressed was the will to be represented in the governance and administration of the state which the people formed. That will was expressed through the process of elections. READ MORE HERE

A matter of dignity Posted: 20 Jun 2011 10:42 AM PDT Everyone has his or her idea of what a perfect world is. Some might say that society should be less regulated and more space given for personal freedoms. Others might argue in favour of more regulation and control. Some might expound a more racialist perspective while others may be happy with just a modicum of fairness. Whatever the case, the realities of a societal existence compel us to find middle ground, a state of being where one has as much freedom to be human and to do all things vital to dignified existence as such while respecting the next person's right to do the same. This calls for compromise on the part of everyone who chooses to co-exist in a given society. This compromise necessitates relinquishing the right to 'self-help' to those tasked with administering that society. In Malaysia, that compact is entrenched as an essential feature of Malaysian existence by Constitutional guarantees of fundamental liberties. Though the administering of a society would necessarily involve some measure of regulation, the power of the state to regulate is not an absolute one. Its responsibility to do so is to be balanced against its responsibility to protect those freedoms that define that society. Any intervention by the state, and the character of such intervention, is to be determined by reference to both these considerations. There is however an unfortunate tendency on the part of our government to focus only on the need to protect public order. This often obscures the equally important responsibility of the government to protect the dignity of its citizens. The question that is more often than not overlooked is what is it that gives us dignity. The right to express, either as individuals or as a collective, is a crucial element in what it is that defines us as who we are. In most cases, the power to express ourselves is really all that those of us without access to the corridors of power have. Individuals may be stripped of their belongings and status, they may be constrained in a number of ways, but they do not stop being human as long as they have the ability to express who it is that they are to the world around them. The HINDRAF rally of 2007 illustrates that point clearly. For some, the need to express may be satisfied by their choice of the colour or design of their car, or outfit. For others, the need may be greater. They may wish to say that they are not happy with the state of government or that they are frustrated at the lack of response from agencies charged with administering elections. As much as some may disagree with their view, it is not for anyone to say that they have no right to think or feel what it is they are feeling. In the case of those seeking reform, their right to speak up is reinforced by the fact that Malaysia is a democracy. We elect our governments. For them to have the continued confidence of the rakyat, the integrity of the process by which they have been elected must be seen as being unimpeachable. That does not appear to be case though. Going by what BERSIH 2.0 is saying, a significant number of Malaysians believe that the process cannot be seen as being unimpeachable. This is not just about whether there is electoral corruption or whether there has been ballot stuffing, it goes deeper into the question of whether the system of elections as it is allows us to achieve the aim underlying general elections. Issues have been raised about re-delineation exercises, campaign periods, equal access to mainstream media by all political parties, amongst others. These are undoubtedly significant features of the process that all Malaysians ought be concerned with. BERSIH says that it has attempted to raise these matters with the relevant agencies but thus far its efforts have not got it anywhere and no resolution has been achieved. For this reason, BERSIH says it needs to express itself as a last resort through a rally. Judging by the studied silence or avoidance of those charged with responsibility over elections, it appears to be all that BERSIH, and Malaysians who support its cause, can do. In any modern nation state describing itself as one established on the Rule of Law, there would be no difficulty. BERSIH organizers would be told that they would have to march along a particular route, with a sufficient number of wardens at a particular time. The police would go to great lengths to ensure that those marching in the rally would be safe and would be able to go about their business uninterrupted. And if there were a group of individuals opposed to the BERSIH rally, and wished to march in protest, then the police would direct them to march along a different route. Our government however opposes it and says that the need to preserve public order is more a priority than allowing Malaysians to express themselves on the subject. With impunity PERKASA puts a spin on the matter and asserts that its supporters are happy with the way things are and will endeavour to thwart the BERSIH rally with a counter-rally. Read more at: http://malikimtiaz.blogspot.com/2011/06/matter-of-dignity.html

Bersih 2.0- to protest or not? Posted: 20 Jun 2011 10:18 AM PDT Bersih 2.0- to go or not to go? That must the question popping in everyone's minds especially those who have not attended street demos of that kind before. It's daunting, especially when the Home Minister promises to use the ISA on the Bersih participants caught on 9th July 2011. Not to mention the water canons, smoke-grenades, riot shields and batons awaiting. Some say let the ballot box do the talking, and street protests are not the way. Wangsa Maju had some fair experience in a street demo back in 2008. The demo was held at the DBKL HQ at Jalan Raja Laut and not in Wangsa Maju though. You see, somewhere in May 2008, after the 14th General Election, the DBKL saw fit to demolish about 8 major hawker areas in Desa Setapak and few other areas in Wangsa Maju. The reason for doing so was well, not a new reason- it was over a permit issue which spanned over more than a decade (I think). Yes, the hawkers, who had been operating a long time there, right on Government 'land', did not have the proper permits to build permanent structures. Some of the hawkers alleged that they had tried applying for permits for years but  DBKL never approved them. So on the fateful day of 21st May 2008, while the Wangsa Maju MP was still at a Parliament session, the DBKL came with heavyweight equipment and ran the stalls to the ground. The machinery was so heavy that it left potholes on the tarred road of Desa Setapak. Watch video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J4B3YwRUKI Such operations may be valid from the Town Council's viewpoint especially when it is a permit issue, but it causes more anguish when the demolishing of the illegal stalls are race-selected- ie Chinese stalls demolished but not the illegal stalls own by Malays sitting next to the Chinese-owned stalls. Many people were were saying- 'what the hell is this, DBKL?' Read more at: http://wangsamajuformalaysia.blogspot.com/2011/06/bersih-20-to-protest-or-not.html

Cuti2 or Curi2 Malaysia? A PR failure, nothing more Posted: 20 Jun 2011 10:09 AM PDT The latest little outrage hitting Malaysian shores involves something i deal with professionally on a daily basis -- Facebook pages. The Malaysian Tourism Ministry recently admitted that it had committed RM1.8 million on the development and maintenance of 6 Facebook pages.  KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 -- A whopping RM1,758,432 was spent on developing six Facebook pages to promote Malaysian tourism, the Tourism Ministry said today. Deputy Tourism Minister James Dawos Mamit said this today in reply to a question from Anthony Loke (Rasah-DAP). Each Facebook page cost RM293,072 -- Cuti-Cuti 1 Malaysia, Citrawarna 1Malaysia, Karnival Jualan Mega 1 Malaysia, Festival Pelancongan Seni Kontemporari 1 Malaysia, Kempen 1 Malaysia Bersih and Fabulous Food 1 Malaysia. Predictably, this prompted an uproar from the Opposition and much of the online community. In an attempt to prove how stupid the expenditure was, a satirical page named "Curi-Curi Wang Malaysia" was setup (for free) and practically overnight, attracted 120,000 followers, at least 3 times the number the main Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia page. RM1.8 million for 6 Facebook pages. To the layperson, it seems like an exorbitant sum, especially since setting up a page is free. So where did all the money go to? Another prime example of corruption, kickbacks and Government wastage? Perhaps not, at least if you speak to people who are actually familiar with the media and branding industry.  Don't take my word for it. Listen to what others in the industry have to say. Roberto Cumaraswamy, country head (Malaysia) of digital agency Vocanic: "It always worries me when clients resort to social media marketing because they see it as a cheap alternative, because that is the wrong reason to use it. The reality is that building the page is just the first baby step in the journey of successful user engagement." It isn't free, and it certainly isn't cheap. Pepsi spent US$20 million on a social media campaign. Yup, that includes ONE Facebook page. Closer to home, AirAsia spends nearly ALL of its marketing budget online. Yup, that includes a handful of Facebook pages too. Millions of ringgit, easily. Kelvin Lim, digital strategist at Burson-Marsteller noted that with no clear visibility into the exact scope of work and length of engagement, no one is in any position at this point to say whether the figures are reasonable or otherwise.  However, the amount stated is certainly possible, depending on project complexity, consultant management requirements and marketing spread. "Let's be clear, creating a Facebook page is not the same thing as managing a Facebook campaign," he said.  "When you consider that designers, coders, marketers and engagement crews (all of which contribute to a good Facebook campaign success formula) need to be hired, the appropriate budget has to be allocated," he added. (David) Lian agreed, adding people assume that social media is "free" because the tools appear to be "free", but this discounts the time creatives need to put in to design assets, the technical work needed to ensure proper tracking is done (though Facebook Insights is free), monitoring and community management, advertising, and other costs such as contest prizes which can sometimes go up to RM 1 million. So where does RM1.8 million go? Contrary to popular belief (i.e. a 6 year old kid can setup a Facebook page that will attract tens of thousands of visitors and can turn social engagements into millions of ringgit of tourism revenue and forex), to setup a successful campaign that INCLUDES (though certainly does not end with) an active and well-moderated Facebook page costs big marketing dollars, as Kelvin Lim and David Lian allude to. There is just so many things to do as part of the media pie -- enterprise strategists, media planners, coders, traffic analysts, moderators, designers, IT hardware setup (yes, FB is free, but the scalability of the page for games and other apps require independent hardware setups), project managers, etc. The list is a very long one. And none of it comes free, and in most cases, is quite expensive, relatively speaking. Senior media planners easily make as much as high-end fund managers.   Read more at: http://www.aizuddindanian.com/voi/2011/06/cuti2-or-curi2-malaysia-a-pr-f.html

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Give me one reason why I should march on 9th July 2011 Posted: 19 Jun 2011 04:39 PM PDT Actually I can give you more than one reason. But knowing that many Malaysia Today readers tend to focus on the 'wrong' part of the article rather than what they should be focusing on (just read the comments to see what I mean) maybe I should focus on just one reason. That is easier for most of the smaller brains. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin Now, look at the chart above and tell me what you see. Yes, that's right, Malaysian elections are won through gerrymandering. Okay, in case you are not sure what you should be looking at, look at the figures under the column 'GOVERNMENT' and compare the % seats and % votes columns. Can you see that in terms of votes the Alliance Party of 1959, 1964 and 1969 and Barisan Nasional since 1974 till 2008 never really did that well? The best was in fact during Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's rule in 2004 when Barisan Nasional garnered 63.9% of the votes and again in 1995 (65.2%) just before the 1997 financial crisis and the 1998 political crisis that followed. Nevertheless, even this did not give them two-thirds of the votes (66.67%). The rest of the time, Barisan Nasional (or the Alliance Party) won only 50% to 60% of the votes (except in 1969 when they won less than 50%). However, as you can see, it is seats and not votes which has been giving them the government time and time again. And, as I said, this is because of gerrymandering. The Parliament seats vary from a mere 5,000 voters to over 100,000 voters. Invariably, all those 'smaller' seats are Barisan Nasional seats, in particular Umno, while the 'bigger' seats are those which Barisan Nasional has no hope of winning and which will certainly fall to the opposition. Okay, to make you understand the issue better, it works like this. The opposition can win 100,000 votes and it will be just one seat. Barisan Nasional, on the other hand, also wins 100,000 votes but it will be two or three seats. Now, that is why the opposition wins 50% of the votes but only 40% of the seats while Barisan Nasional's 50% of the votes gives them 60% of the seats. In short, dear readers, this means, based on the present system, the opposition will NEVER form the federal government because it will NEVER win more than 50% of the seats in Parliament (unless it can win more than 60% of the votes, which is quite impossible with that many phantom and postal votes floating around). And this also means we need electoral reforms. We need a law passed that says the variance in Parliament seats should be plus-minus 20%. This means, if the benchmark for Parliament seats is, say, 50,000 voters, then the variance of 20% translates to 40,000-60,000 voters per seat (not 5,000-120,000 like now). Only when this happens would the opposition have a fair shot at forming the next federal government. If not it will never happen (unless the opposition can garner more than 60% of the votes). In some countries this is the law. Some countries make it law that the seats must be plus-minus 15%. In others it is plus-minus 20%. (In fact, in some countries the law says that not less than 30% of the candidates must be women). Only in Malaysia it is plus-minus 95% (gila babi sungguh). So now you know why we need electoral reforms. And now you know why we need to march on 9th July 2011. And this is not about the opposition. It is not about Anwar Ibrahim either. It is about the rights of the people of one-man-one-vote. If Malaysia had direct elections (like in the United States) to elect our Prime Minister, then Najib Tun Razak would never become the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Then, like in America, a non-white (in Malaysia's case a non-Bumiputera) could become the Prime Minister. Alas, in Malaysia we have a system that ensures the Prime Minister will always be someone from Umno and the government will always be an Umno-led coalition. The next question would be: why bother to vote then? Good question. I would urge you to vote so that we can see a strong opposition in Parliament and the emergence of a two-party system in Malaysia. That in itself is reason enough to vote. However, if we can see electoral reforms, then that is another matter. Then we can vote to see a change in federal government. And that is why we need BERSIH and also why we need to support Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan. Electoral reforms will never happen unless the people make it happen. And 'the people' are you and I. We can't depend on just the politicians. Don't forget, at one point of time many now in the opposition were once in the government (and many now in the government were once in the opposition). And when they were in the government did they push for electoral reforms? Or did they take advantage of the unfair system to hold on to power and only now that they are in the opposition they make so much noise about electoral reforms? Trust me, if the opposition takes over the federal government they too would not want to change the system. They will maintain the present system to ensure they remain in power. Why change the present system to one that allows an easy change of government? And many in the opposition who were once in the government exploited the present system and did not utter a word of protest until they found themselves in the opposition. Then only they bising tak habis-habis.

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