When will we ever learn?

PETALING JAYA: Renowned economist Dr. Jomo Kwame Sundaram believes that financial liberalisation is not the way to go as it has been proven to have little or no effect on economic growth.

Delivering a lecture entitled “When will we ever learn? Has Malaysia learnt the correct lessons from past crises?” he said financial liberalisation had caused a “bleeding of resources from poor to rich countries.”

Dr Jomo, who is the Assistant Secretary General for Economic Development in the United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs, said it would be wrong to credit financial liberalisation for the Malaysian boom in the years before the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

That success was due to palm oil, he maintained.

“Though palm oil could not penetrate Western markets, it did penetrate other markets such as China, India and the Middle East.”

Harking back to the crisis years, he agreed with critics of the International Monetary Fund that it was worng for the latter to impose policy conditionalities for aid.

However, he added, much of the criticism was personalized for political reasons and had since given way to further financial liberalisation.

Since then, it had again been proven that financial liberalisation failed to bring about development, he said.

Instead, it bled out the capital resources of Third World countries. “Half of the capital inflows in the year 2007 went to the US due to financial liberalisation.” he said.

Malaysia, he added, had failed to learn from her successes and failures.

Dr Jomo’s free lecture was organised by the Strategic Information and Research
Development Centre and Youth for Change.

FMT
19/12/09

New Malaysian agenda to topple BN

SHAH ALAM: In a rare show of unity which should set alarm bells ringing in the corridors of power, delegates from three opposition parties agreed on a common agenda to push forward for a new Malaysia in their bid to end Barisan Nasional’s hold on Putrajaya.

The common policy agenda approved by Keadilan, PAS and DAP

may sound like an election manifesto – hefty oil royalties for states, including Sabah and Sarawak, scrapping of tolls for highways in seven years and 50 percent cuts in transport for the elderly, students and the handicapped are just a few of the carrots.

And with elections expected to be held by the end of next year, the document may well serve that purpose, except that it offers a broader insight to the policies and measures Pakatan is pushing for and will surely implement if given the seat of power in Putrajaya.

That DAP and PAS agreed on a wide spectrum of issues, including those pertaining to the rights of Muslims and non-Muslims and their overall acceptance of Anwar Ibrahim as the de facto Pakatan leader, speaks volumes about the new found cohesiveness of Pakatan Rakyat.

Much of the credit in cobbling together the document and coordinating efforts in getting the three parties to agree on the final draft must go to former Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim, now with Keadilan.

But not all quarters are happy with the final product with several DAP leaders calling voicing some reservations over the omission of holding local council elections in the drive towards greater democracy.

But there is still plenty to be proud of, such as pledges for a Race Relations Act and the revamping of the electoral system and the corruption-ridden tender system, to name a few.

Indeed, there’s plenty of meat to give Barisan food for thought.

The government coalition will attempt to brush off the common agenda document as just opposition rhetoric but it should take heed of the price it paid for being over confident in March 2008.

In promising affirmative policies based on need rather than race, Pakatan is sending a strong message that it wants the national wealth to be enjoyed by all and not just the upper echelons of the various communities.

In setting deadlines to end highway tolls, Pakatan is signaling that it has the fiscal wisdom and experience to run the country and introduce sweeping reforms which will overhaul the way the country has been run for decades.

The common agenda document was released by the opposition coalition one day after thousands of Malaysians besieged a government open day event in Putrajaya, posing tough questions about Prime Minister Najib Razak’s rethoric in fighting corruption.

Since taking office, the Prime Minister has been credited with making the right “sound bites” but has yet to walk the talk on many things.

His government has been accused of covering up the Port Klang Free Trade Zone RM12 billion scandal and his own credibility remains tainted over allegations of kickbacks in arms deals and his relationship with murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shariibuu.

The common policy document has set the tone for Pakatan’s struggle in the coming months, as it seeks to assure the rakyat that it has put behind its internal quibbling and spats, and that it is now ready to forge ahead with a clear mission for all to follow.

FMT
19/12/09

Anwar slams Umno for its racism

SHAH ALAM: Pakatan Rakyat leader Anwar Ibrahim has squarely blamed Umno for the country’s deteriorating social and political situation.

The issue that struck the strongest chord with participants at the inaugural Pakatan Rakyat national convention was the growing racism allegedly sanctioned by Umno, followed by complaints of a judiciary biased against the political opposition.

From the top brass in Pakatan all the way down, Umno-instigated racism found its way in speeches and debates with Anwar saying that Barisan Nasional could not meet Pakatan face to face to discuss the rising trend in corruption and abuse of power.

In a highly charged closing speech, Anwar focused on collective affirmative action by the Pakatan coalition members, which is stressed in the Common Policy Framework, and accused Umno-supporting Muslims of promoting racism as a means of holding on to power.

He said Umno and Barisan Nastional could not meet face to face with Pakatan and justify the rising trend of corruption and abuse of power.

In his opening address, Anwar said the rakyat had placed their trust in Pakatan.

“We have to wake up. Our win was not because of our strength or our political ideologies. Our place in the Dewan Rakyat and in state-level rule is because of the rakyat. Thus we should be humbled by our achievements,” he said.

“The rakyat want to try us and test us. We must not betray their trust.”

FMT
19/12/09

The Pakatan Rakyat surprise

The main thing that got Pakatan Rakyat parties winning 82 federal seats and five seats in Election 2008 was the fact that the three parties are not the Barisan Nasional.

Well, the trio – DAP, PAS and PKR – confirmed that today at their first national convention. They are not the Barisan Nasional.

So, what are they? No one really knows but it is a measure of how much people want Pakatan to succeed that many will be disappointed by a lack of flesh in the Common Policy Framework.

After all, a lot of smart people had a hand in drafting it after robust discussions and debates. Perhaps the reality of compromises meant their common stand hasn’t move much beyond what they promised in the Election 2008 campaign.

But there are positives. At least they had a national convention to discuss and finalise the ideas thrown up and out by the three allies.

After all, Barisan has yet to have one in years and many Malaysians are unsure what the ruling coalition that preaches 1 Malaysia actually stand for after 52 years in power.

Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi couldn’t even hold a Barisan convention in his time in Putrajaya. He tried last February but Umno was not interested.

Today, three very different parties with differing ideologies are sitting down and trying to sketch a road map for the country. Even if it is just a doodle on the back of an envelope or ideas that need further thought and refinement.

Has Umno even bothered to ask MCA, MIC, Gerakan or its East Malaysian allies what they think of ways to improve Malaysia?

Even the proposals for 1 Malaysia that was due to be displayed yesterday was stymied by Umno ministers.

In that instance, Pakatan is already a winner. There was no racist rant or reaching for the race card, unlike at an Umno assembly.

The only thing that detracts from that is a lack of details that would turn their document into something tangible and achievable.

But if KPI czar Datuk Seri idris can ask Malaysians to withhold judgement for 12 months after Barisan has been in power for five decades, why shouldn’t Malaysians accede to PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar’s plea for support for the young pact?

After all, they surprised themselves and Malaysia by knocking the wind out of Barisan in March 2008.

They could have more surprises. Good or bad.

MI
19/12/09

Anwar: We have one policy for all

SHAH ALAM, Dec 19 – Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim declared this evening that his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had now achieved something which Barisan Nasional (BN) could not – to have a common policy for all races in the country.

Speaking at the end of PR's inaugural convention here, he said his fledgling coalition of DAP, PKR and PAS could no longer be accused of not having a clear policy.

Anwar argued that the ruling BN coalition had been unable to come out with such a comprehensive policy statement.

Among the highlights of the common platform tabled today were pledges to introduce means-based affirmative action, to bring back judicial independence and to ensure what PR says is people-centric economic policies.

“Many people have said, Pakatan is a weak coalition, with no clear policy.

“Today our direction is clear, I urge my friends to study the document thoroughly, I was in Umno and BN before, let me tell you that BN cannot come out with something like this,” said Anwar.

In his speech, Anwar also said the policy framework was a dynamic document and allows mechanism on the implementation to be worked out later.

“We the elders, we are giving the younger generation the space to improve,” said Anwar, in response to demands made some leaders who asked PR to commit to the restoration of local government elections.

At the press conference after the closing of the convention, Anwar said members of the coalition only had problems with implementing the principles agreed.

“In the three-party talks, nobody spoke up against the democratic process, what we discussed was the method to implement the process,” he told reporters.

“If there is any assumption that some of us are against it then, it is not true,” said Anwar referring to the opposition to the restoration of local elections.

He added that there are many issues on local government elections that needed to be addressed, such as the structure of the councils and their boundaries.

“We take this document seriously,” said Anwar adding that the coalition will also engage with civil society groups to work out the details of the policy framework.

The policy framework was prepared collectively by all the three parties and coordinated by former minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, who is a PKR supreme council member.

It was endorsed and officially adopted by the three parties after a one-day debate by the convention delegates.

MI
19/12/09

Zaid declares the next PR convention will be in Putrajaya

SHAH ALAM, Dec 19 – Datuk Zaid Ibrahim took the floor at the end Pakatan Rakyat’s first ever convention this evening and fired up the party faithful by declaring the pact ready to kick Barisan Nasional (BN) out and wrest federal power.

“The rakyat are tired of racial politics, they are tired of being fooled..I assure you, after this, we will hold our next convention in Putrajaya,” he said, sparking thunderous applause from the crowd who attended today’s convention.

Zaid, the former de facto Umno Law Minister, said today’s convention was testament to PR’s will to put aside their almost irreconcilable differences to serve the voters by replacing what he called a corrupt BN government.

“We were told that we cannot stay together, the supreme leader of Umno, (former premier) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said if we are allowed to govern, everything will be destroyed.

“Of course everything will be destroyed, everything about Umno will be destroyed,” he said.

Zaid had engineered the work on PR’s common policies which was tabled and endorsed at today’s convention.

“We must now look at unity differently. We must cooperate better. If PKR is weak in Kelantan then PAS must help them to be stronger. If PAS is weak in Perak then DAP and PKR must help them be stronger,” he said.

The common platform tabled today is meant to cement a stronger bond between the three PR parties and allow it to go to voters as a single political force.

But it has been tainted by criticism that it was watered down following allegations that PAS and some leaders from PKR had backtracked on their promise to restore the local council elections.

This disappointment was expressed by several DAP top leaders during the course of the convention.

Later at a press conference, Zaid gave a cryptic reply when asked if the common platform that he worked on had been watered down.

“I think the right term is, my draft was longer,” he said.

“But, overall, I agree with the common platform. It’s just that on the common platform issue, there was no rejection but we just have to find a mechanism that would not jeopardise the system itself,” he said.

MI
19/12/09

Shame on you, Court of Appeal, you seem to be without any backbone.

'Somebody should compile all the High Court decisions which went against the government and later overturned by the Court of Appeal.'

Chipmunk: "Day to day" means 'Occurring or done each day'. So Court of Appeal, how do you interpret section 30 (3)(a)? Unless you guys work on rotating shifts or office hours running 24/7, I suggest you stick with what the High Court has ruled.

But knowing BN, they will use the appellate court to maximise their interest. Shame on you, Court of Appeal, you seem to be without any backbone.

Multi Racial: Just look back this year. We don't have to look too far. Every case decided by the High Court judges that is not in favour of the government or Umno, is overturned by the Court of Appeal.

Some of them were done so fast with very short notice like the MB vs MB case in Perak. But when it is the other way around and the opposition appeals, it takes months and years, and it will be complete waste of time as the conclusion is already decided.

KayKay: Somebody should compile all the High Court decisions which went against the government and later overturned by the Court of Appeal. In fact, all these Court of Appeal rulings, few were written judgments.

The Mazu case is a good example. This is how they jam the wheels of justice. Without a written judgment from the Court of Appeal, it's not possible to proceed to the Federal Court.

Foo Wy Len: The same story has repeated once too often. Why bother to have the High Court when even the bookie will never take any bet on the verdict by the Court of Appeal! Get ready for GE13, we will have our say.

Alexander Yuan: Expected that result a long, long time ago. Sigh, some things never change when BN remains in power!

Kgan: Now the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) can carry on with their sleep deprivation Gestapo tactics for opposition members.

MACC is now permitted to interrogate witnesses around the clock, throughout the night if they want. They are also immune from lawsuits. MACC is a cruel joke of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Malaysians before he left office. People had expected a more effective and independent anti-corruption body to replace the ACA.

What they got is an Umno-serving, opposition-chasing, pitiless Gestapo outfit whose officers are above the law.

Paul Warren: "By right, witnesses should be fresh when they are to be interrogated and people should not be subjected to being interrogated late at night."

I say, you don't interrogate a witness. You interview a witness. Anything beyond interviewing behooves an element of coercion and maybe even duress, if not torture in the usual Malaysian context that most of us are inclined to believe.

You interrogate a suspect, of course. A witness, until it is established that he/she might be implicated in a crime, remains a witness and should be only subject to an interview. With ‘kueh' and tea if you don't mind!

But the moment it can be established that the testimony or statement and other evidence adduced during the interview implicates the witness, if there is to be impropriety, the witness should be told that his status has changed to be that of an accused or a suspect. I believe that person will be better prepared mentally to deal with the interrogation to come.

Amaso: Why so hard working when others have gone home? Just wonder why MACC is fighting to work longer hours (in this case round-the-clock) while almost 99 percent of both government and private employees leave office when the time is up.

MACC deserves ‘The World's Most Hard Working Statutory Body' in the Guinness Book of Record

MK
18/12/09

How can the marginalised be expected to inculcate a sense of pride in their national identity?

Malysians are living in an Age of Denial and fast speeding into the Age of Desolation. I hesitate to say the Age of Despair, for despair suggests loss of hope.

And I have faith. Faith, in my fellow Malaysians, moved by a groundswell of anti-racism sentiment.

Over the past few years, the voice of racism has reached a crescendo. Our society does not dare utter the R word. And I blame politicians for not addressing this issue head on. Each expects the next wave of leaders to tackle it. They didn’t or wouldn’t. So, now we succumb to conflict and confusion.

Malaysia is supposed to be the bed-rock of multiculturalism. But the horrid slogan ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) is throttling the other soundbite – ‘1Malaysia’. I don’t like the former and I dislike the latter even more.

Without qualifying ketuanan Melayu, the term is impotent. Similarly ‘1Malaysia’ remains another empty slogan – sounds good, but lacks substance and definition.

Our politicians live in a world pretty much divorced from reality. For decades, they used the race card to divide and rule us. With lives to lead, careers to pursue and mouths to feed, we simply ignored them and carried on earning and living. But things have come to a head. Many working and middle-class Malaysians can no longer contain their disgust.

Ketuanan Melayu = Malay supremacy; 1Malaysia = national unity and ethnic tolerance. You can’t insist on the latter while still persisting with the former. It is a contradiction in terms.

The world is getting smaller but not in the Malay universe. Other nations have dismantled their barriers for a more cohesive society, but we Malays are building our walls faster than we can mouth the words ketuanan Melayu. If we are not careful, we’ll build our walls high enough and thick enough to hem ourselves in. Bricked up from the real world.

It is all a question of perception. The Malays are misguided if they are convinced by the fallacy of ketuanan Melayu. The politicians who expound this idea are self-serving.

They sell this idea to the poor and poverty-stricken Malay, saying that an equal and fair Malaysia will only encourage the non-Malays to remove what little wealth they have. Recipients of this news become petrified, and cling on firmer to the farcical ketuanan Melayu.

As for the privileged Malay, it would be financial suicide to forego the status, prestige and recognition he’s accustomed to.

In reality, politicians are doing more harm to the ordinary Malay and all Malaysians. They only protect their own interests and the interests of those who pander to their wishes.

Cycle of discontent

The wealthy Malay probably constitutes only 3 percent of the Malay population. In relative terms, little, if any, wealth has filtered down to the ordinary Malay.

Gaudy mansions, fast cars, designer clothes, international schooling, holidays abroad, first-class travel, overseas properties, offshore bank accounts, private jets and helicopters are de rigueur for the wealthy Malay.

Of course, the poor Malay aspires to have all these and more. He assumes that the NEP has accorded the rich Malay his correct station in life and rightful place in society.

Can he be so gullible or naïve as to believe that corruption did not figure in any of these vulgar displays of wealth? Those at the top will never relinquish their position. At best, or when it suits them, they will appease those beneath them with a scattering of crumbs.

Thus, from the top and right down to the bottom-feeders, these people are content. But contentment breeds complacency. And complacency breeds contempt.

For every inch that the Malay is entitled to under the current rules, the non-Malay has had to fight for limited spaces in education, job opportunities and wealth creation..

Whilst the Malay has only to sit back and watch things land on his plate, his non-Malay counterpart has had to use his ingenuity to succeed.

Competition brings out the best in people and only the best get selected. But think of the others who are also able but are not chosen. They feel disillusioned and trapped in a system that is unjust and unfair. Disillusionment gives rise to discontentment, which in turn, raises discord..

For every argument that some errant politician makes about non-Malay Malaysians, patronisingly referred to as ‘immigrants’, the non-Malays feel immense betrayal.

No one doubts the allegiance of non-Malays to King and country. But when your sense of loyalty is questioned and tested, then those whose ideals are shattered will emigrate. Much talent has already been exported. It is Malaysia that suffers.. Malays too feel the pain of injustice and discrimination. Many have also jumped ship.

We need to strike a balance between a just and fair social system, economic growth and job creation. We cannot have one section of society maintaining a separate, inward-looking community that feels it is a cut above the rest of mainstream life and whose values are at conflict with it.

How can the marginalised be expected to inculcate a sense of pride in their national identity? Removing their dignity and worth, removes their sense of belonging. Is this the game plan then?

I fail to understand why our leaders refuse to acknowledge that mistakes have been made by others before them and also by themselves. Do they not comprehend that they too can be part of the solution?

There are signs that our politicians and certain institutions are strongly resisting change. They do not wish to inflame the hyperactive sensitivities of certain groups of people. But in doing so, they hold the rest of the country to ransom.

We need to get our country back on track – we need strong leaders. Not those who swan abroad on one pretext or another. We do not need international statesmen.

We need someone here and now, to address pressing domestic issues – maintaining good and harmonious race relations is no longer an optional matter for the majority group.

ABM

17/12/09

Rakyat Wajib Bersatu Menentang GST

Rakyat Malaysia disaran menentang Cukai Barangan dan Perkhidmatan (GST) yang nyata terang-terangan menindas rakyat. Hal ini ditegaskan oleh ketua penerangan PAS Melaka, Sofi Wahab dalam kenyataan akhbarnya hari ini.

Menurut beliau, rakyat tidak kira apa ideology, agama, bangsa dan budaya harus bersatu dalam menyatakan bantahan dan menggesa Kerajaan Pusat menghentikan usaha mereka untuk memperkenalkan GST ini.

“Orang Umno, MCA, MIC, PAS,PKR dan apa jua parti sekalipun akan terpalit dan sama-sama menanggung beban dan risiko jika GST ini diluluskan di Dewan Rakyat,” jelas Sofi.

Beliau yang juga ADUN PAS Bukit Katil pasti GST ini akan membebankan rakyat walaupun kerajaan telah membuat pelbagai janji manis. Kerajaan menabur janji yang rakyat tidak akan terbeban dengan GST ini sekiranya ia dilaksanakan kelak.

“Memang benar kerajaan BN yang memerintah kita pada hari tidak berhati perut dan tiada belas kasihan kepada rakyat. Pada saat dan ketika rakyat dihimpit dengan kesusahan dan penderitaan akibat kenaikan kos sara hidup tergamak mereka menambahkan lagi penderitaan tersebut,” jelas Sofi lagi.

Beliau sebagai berkata, sehingga kini Kerajaan Pusat masih gagal memberi alas an yang kukuh mengapa GST ini perlu dilaksanakan. Kebanyakkan pemerhati politik beranggapan bahawa kerajaan BN sudah kesempitan wang sehingga terpaksa memperkenalkan akta ini untuk ‘merompak’ duit rakyat secara terhormat tanpa memikirkan penderitaan rakyat.

Kerajaan sebelum ini bercadang untuk melaksanakan GST pada kadar 4 peratus dan pengecualian diberikan bagi barangan keperluan. Antara barangan keperluan tersebut termasuklah beras, sayuran, tepung dan gula.

“Persoalannya adakah rakyat hanya makan beras, sayuran, tepung dan gula sahaja, bagaimana dengan barangan keperluan harian lain, sudah tentu ia akan naik harga. Begitu juga dengan perkhidmatan, sudah tentu caj perkhidmatan tertentu akan naik dan membebankan rakyat,” tegas Sofi.

Terdahulu, Menteri Kewangan Kedua, Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah telah membentangkan rang undang-undang di Dewan Rakyat. Bacaan kedua dan seterusnya akan dilakukan Mac 2010.

Husni berkata kerajaan berhasrat untuk melaksanakan GST pada pertengahan 2011, untuk memberi masa yang mencukupi kepada semua pihak untuk bersedia sebelum dilaksanakan.

Erapakatan

17/12/09

Belum Sampai Setahun, Najib Mulai Tergugat

Belum pun sampai setahun Datuk Seri Najib Razak berada di puncak kuasa, kini kepemimpinannya mulai kelihatan tergugat.

Detik cemas pengundian untuk meluluskan Bajet 2010 pada 14 Disember lalu dengan hanya kelebihan tiga undi, nyaris membawa kerajaan BN yang diketuai Najib terbubar.

Pada undian tersebut BN hanya mendapat 66 undi berbanding Pakatan Rakyat 63 undi.

Saat cemas itu turut diakui Yang Dipertua Dewan Rakyat, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia di mana katanya, berdasar kepada konvensyen negara berparlimen, sekiranya bajet tidak diluluskan kerajaan BN terpaksa dibubar dan pilihan raya perlu diadakan.

Selain itu, konsep 1Malaysia dan Salam 1Malaysia yang dicipta perdana menteri juga dipertikaikan banyak pihak.

Difahamkan inisiatif-inisiatif membabitkan konsep 1 Malaysia khususnya berhubung soal perpaduan dan integrasi nasional terpaksa ditangguh berikutan kesukaran mencapai kata sepakat di kalangan menteri Umno.

Keputusan penangguhan itu diputuskan ketika retreat khas yang diadakan di ibu negara Ahad lalu.

Selain itu ramai ulama mempertikai Salam 1Malaysia yang dianggap boleh menjejas aqidah seseorang Muslim kerana cuba merendah-rendahkan salam sedia ada dalam Islam.

Ulama terkenal, Datuk Dr Harun Din menyebut dalam tulisan seperti disiarkan Harakah minggu lalu – Salam 1Malaysia merupakan kerja-kerja sia-sia kerana tidak diberi pahala.

Bekas penyarah Akademik Islam, Universiti Malaya, Mohamad Mustafa juga menganggap Salam 1Malaysia seperti syirik nasional yang cuba menyembunyikan keindahan Islam dengan slogan ciptaan manusia.

“Ucapan Salam 1Malaysia adalah perbuatan bidaah kerana tidak ada dalam amalan Islam, yang ada ialah ucapan salam yang sempurna iaitu “assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakaatuh”.

“Salam 1Malaysia adalah salam nasionalisme yang berpokok kepada nasionalisme, sedangkan Rasulullah saw sendiri tidak pernah mengajar ‘Salam Satu Madinah’.

“Sekiranya mahu melaksanakan Islam dan bukan menjadi penghancur (kepada amalan Islam), berilah salam yang sempurna,” katanya.

Beliau yang juga bekas Yang Dipertua Abim Kelantan turut mempersoalkan konsep 1Malaysia kerana teras penyatuan yang cuba dibawa perdana menteri tidak mempunyai elemen Islam.

“Amerika juga mengajak rakyatnya bersatu di atas dasar United State – satu Amerika, sementara Russia dengan satu Russia, demikian juga dengan ‘United Malay’.

“Persoalan sekarang, aspek penyatuan itu disuruh Islam, tetapi hendaklah dipastikan sama ada penyatuan tersebut atas dasar tauhid atau syirik.

“Bagi orang Islam, sama ada 1Malaysia atau pun tidak, itu tidak kisah, namun konsep ‘1Malaysia’ yang dicetuskan dipastikan sama ada berlandaskan dasar tauhid atau tidak,” katanya yang juga Adun Demit.

Oleh itu katanya, pendekatan 1Malaysia menggambarkan kemuncak kepada ajaran nasionalisme yang meninggalkan agama dalam gerak kerjanya.

Begitu juga katanya, slogan ‘Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan’ nampak elok, tetapi dalam Islam, Allah swt mestilah didahulukan.

“Allah swt mesti didahulukan. Jangan bertindak seolah-olah hak Allah swt tidak ada dalam senarai urusan negara kita sekarang,” katanya.

Harakah
17/12/09

Tian Chua implicates Rosmah in illegal money transaction

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister’s wife Rosmah Mansor (picture) and two Umno-linked corporate figures– Abu Sahid Mohamed and Syed Mohammed Syed Nusrin–are in the spotlight over allegations of illegal money transactions.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat Strategy Director Tian Chua claimed an individual sent RM600,000 to Rosmah through a money changer while she was in Dubai in August last year.

However, he said he was not sure what Rosmah did with the money, but he remarked that she could have used it for shopping as she was “famous for it.”

He told a press conference here that he had a certified letter from Bank Negara to prove that an unidentified individual had illegally transferred the RM600,000 into Rosmah’s bank account.

He claimed that the money transaction by Sahid, the executive chairman of Perwaja Steel, involved RM22.2 million sent to United Kingdom between June and August 2008 through money changer Salamath Ali.

Tian (picture) said the money was for the purchase of properties.

Sahid is also the chairman of both Kinsteel Bhd and the Maju Group of companies as well as the managing director of Maju Expressway Sdn Bhd.

Tian also said businessman Syed Mohammed Syed Nursin wired RM1.19 million to Britain through Salamath Ali, also for buying properties.

Syed Mohammed is the younger brother of new sugar tycoon Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary.

Tian said Bank Negara revoked Salamath Ali’s license as a money changer because he could not provide a valid reason for money transactions and for giving inaccurate information.

He called on Bank Negara to investigate the senders as well as the recipients “and not only the money changers,” saying he had copies of the show-cause letters the central bank sent to the money changers.

He claimed the money transactions were done through the Hawala system, a tight and secretive means of illegal remittance.

“Apart from being fast and easy, the system leaves no trace of the money trail,” Tian said.

Since early this month, Tian has been revealing the names of politicians allegedly involved in corruption and illegal international financial transactions.

On Nov 13, he claimed that Negeri Sembilan Mentri Besar Mohammad Hassan in 2008 remitted RM10 million to London through Salamat Ali Money Changer Sdn Bhd.

On Nov 24, when Lobak assemblyman Loke Siew Fook raised the matter in the Negeri Sembilan State Assembly, Hassan refused to respond or deny that the transaction took place.

FMT
17/12/09

AG & UMNO axis use Courts to stifle Hindraf 25th November 2009 Rally

At first count, 66 Hindraf supporters we prosecuted at the Shah Alam Sessions Court for even attempted murder of one policeman which even a first year law student would know is an impossible offence but Malay-sia’s Attorney General (AG) chooses not to know. To add insult to injury even the senior Sessions Court Judge denied bail to all 66 accused. But then again this is 1 Malay-sia. (The A.G later withdrew the attempted murder charge when an appeal was filed at the Kuala Lumpur High).

Then the Court fixes two weeks to even one month in a row for trial in a couple of months once to stifle these Hindraf supporters. Many Hindraf supporters lost their jobs, families broken up and suffered grave hardships.

Unlike in the US UK and in the Western Civil Society there is no state funded legal aid to cover these hardships on the Legal Principle that a man is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Finally all except nine succumbed to the UMNO state might and weight and ended up pleading guilty not because they are guilty but because of the aforesaid stifling, oppressive and unfair Malaysian Criminal Justice System. (Refer NST 17/12/2009 at page 12 below).

P. Uthayakumar

www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com

Special Branch Operative ASP Vasanthakumar in Action

Please see the video circulating in cyberspace showing how Vasanthakumar is playing out his role as a SB agent. I attach it below.

They call such agents like Vasanthakumar, E3M or something like that - people who have double roles in their lives. In this case this SB agent’s job is to create confusion among the Indians, create disunity among the Indians and destroy the unity that was built up after the 25th of November 2007.

Otherwise how do you explain the fact that he is working aginst the poor Indians there. If he were truly a Hindraf leader, why is he dpoing this. He should really be on their side against the authorities who want to demolish,

In addition he calls the organization that has been looking after the burial site for many years and now fighting the State government from robbing this land from the poor people an illegal organization.

Is Hindraf a legal organization till today. For his benefit he calls himself a Hindraf leader and then goes about decimating other truly people’s organization such as this one, Persatuan Tamilar Kuala Ketil.

This action truely exposes the fact that he is no Hindraf leader but someone who has a distinctly different objective like I have said above. See the video for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a7dMD-aod8

Regards

Namasivayam

HRP

17/12/09

KPI minister, Koh Tsu Koon downplays 1 Malaysia delay as to recent controversy surrounding the Biro Tata Negara (BTN)

PETALING JAYA, Dec 17 — Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon admitted today a delay in the implementation of the government's 1 Malaysia initiatives, claiming it was because Cabinet members wanted to have a bigger say over national unity.

The minister also played down reports that one-third of the Cabinet members had failed to submit their reports for the Key Performance Indicators (KPI).

He argued instead that the Najib administration was moving faster by “any corporate standard” despite the fact that the prime minister had originally promised a KPI review by October.

“All ministers have prepared their reports,” Koh told reporters after opening the government transformation programme open day here.

He claimed that the delay in submitting the reports was caused by Datuk Seri Najib Razak's tight schedule.

“So there is no question about laggard ministers at all,” said Koh.

The Malaysian Insider had reported that 10 ministers had missed the deadline.

“Even this by any standard is considered, very, very fast, if you ask any private sector, they take a while,” he added, referring to the transformation programme open day.

The government today began a public display of planned initiatives for the six National Key Results Areas (NKRA) in order to get feedback from the public.

The initiatives were developed inside labs which were set up for the NKRAs.

The responses will be compiled as part of a 1 Malaysia road map to be released by the end of next month.

On the 1 Malaysia initiatives, Koh clarified that the delay for public display was because many ministers wanted to be involved in the programmes.

“What happens is this whole thing is 1 Malaysia, the six NKRAs are all 1 Malaysia initiatives,” said Koh.

He said that the planned national unity initiatives did not take into account the role of all ministries.

“It is such a big area. Every minister contributes to unity, in the Cabinet workshop, ministers said we don't have enough, we want more,” said Koh.

“Whatever the source said does not reflect what really happened in making the decision,” he added.

Yesterday, The Malaysian Insider reported that the prime minister had failed to get consensus from Umno ministers in implementing racial unity and national integration initiatives.

The failure to reach a consensus has resulted in the Cabinet deciding to postpone the public preview of the 1 Malaysia initiatives which had been scheduled this week along with the display of his other NKRA programmes.

The Malaysian Insider understands the decision to postpone the public display of the 1 Malaysia initiatives was made at a special retreat of ministers here on Sunday.

As a result, the NKRA open day scheduled for today and tomorrow will not include the initiatives related to the 1 Malaysia concept.

The only element that will be on display will be the general framework of the 1 Malaysia concept.

It is understood that the strongest objections came from Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Rais Yatim.

The recent controversy surrounding the Biro Tata Negara (BTN), which had come under heavy fire for propagating racism against non-Malays, had been expected to be a measure to evaluate the effectiveness of Najib's 1 Malaysia laboratories set up by his handpicked minister Datuk Seri Idris Jala.

But the delay in implementing the 1 Malaysia initiatives will put a crimp on efforts to overhaul the BTN, which had initially been agreed on by the Cabinet, as well other race relation issues.

It is understood that in justifying their decision to delay its implementation, Cabinet members were of the opinion that the 1 Malaysia concept should be expanded to all ministries and not just certain ministries and government departments.

MI
17/12/09

Plain truth revealed about our politics and policies which have for so long been falsely glossed by UMNO

The recent spat between former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz is surely the biggest miracle since the 8 March general elections last year.

The two UMNO stalwarts have, in the wake of their bitter battle, left exposed the plain truth about our politics and policies which have for so long been falsely glossed over as being blind to race.

There were no winners in this battle. The sad fact of the matter is that they were both correct in their respective statements. Dr. Mahathir’s statement that UMNO is a racist party because no other race can join is bang on the money. It is in line with one of the many definitions of racism and as close as one will get to the truth about Malaysian politics which is built on foundations of racism.

One of the simplest definitions of racism is prejudice or discrimination based on race. The three so-called leading parties in Government are all race based and in this regard exclusive instead of inclusive and therefore they are racist based on the above definition.

This brings us to the fact that a system of government which subscribes to this “separate but one” style of governing can only offer false hope. In this connection, individual race based parties cannot effectively lead all of us under the 1Malaysia banner because they are each sworn to ensure the triumph of their own people.

What we really have therefore is a government based on compromise where a give and take approach is practiced.
While giving and taking is acceptable where it concerns minor matters, it is quite unacceptable in matters relating to the fundamental guarantees such as equality and rights in respect of education and property.

These are the inalienable rights guaranteed by our Constitution to each citizen and they can never be subject to a give and take approach via policies such as the NEP. Where the fundamental guarantees are concerned, the only policies that work are need based policies which are open to all and blind to race.

Speaking of policies, Nazri’s admission that the National Civics Bureau programme or BTN needs a revamp because it concentrates on Malay supremacy was a long time coming and provides validation to critics who argue that this country is infected with divisive racist policies. The next step is to look into every area from university admissions to the awarding of government contracts and expose all the policies that favour one race over another.

Whatever the reasons behind it, the candidness from Nazri and Dr. Mahathir must be lauded. They may have been fighting but how refreshing it is that the truth has come out.

Let us hope that this sudden generosity towards speaking the truth and recognising racist elements within our country does not abate. The people demand for more of the same from the rest of our politicians.

On that note, could someone from Government please stand up and admit that this country needs the UMNO owned Malay daily Utusan Malaysia as much as it needs a knife in the back or a hole in the head?

The latest incident involves Utusan Malaysia author Zaini Hassan who penned an article titled Tales of Indians in India and Indians in Malaysia. His observations about Indians in Malaysia were downright rude and racist.

To illustrate this effectively, I have translated selected bits of his article which appeared last Wednesday below.

“In Malaysia, only the smart Indians always make noise. They control the Bar Council and now there are many of them in Parliament, not representing the MIC, but representing the DAP and PKR... Never mind. The Malays are not like the Indians, although there are Malays with 'keling' blood, but the soft Malay blood in them is more overwhelming.”

The Malays are not like Indians because the Malay blood is softer than the keling blood. Wow. I’ll just let that sink in without saying more.
This Hitler-esque observation deserves the strongest condemnation from every member of the Government.

Either that or UMNO can continue to mollycoddle this newspaper and get blown away at the next General Election by its own gun because the Utusan Malaysia is currently the most objectionable of all the Government linked political machineries.

The real danger about articles like this from Utusan Malaysia is that it has the potential to stir up the more radical quarters among the Malays such as the infamous “cow-head protesters” into committing further irresponsible acts which serve only to destroy race relations in the country.

So to the rest of the members of Government, please follow the fine examples of Nazri and Dr. Mahathir.

Feud if you must but at the same time go ahead and speak the truth and decry the shackles of racism and divisiveness which bind this country. For the truth will set this country free.

(by DAVID D. MATHEW,MySinchew)
16/12/09

Unitarian mentality, racism, extremism: cat-and-mouse game over the past so many years in Malaysia

We have been playing the cat-and-mouse game over the past so many years.

Unitarian mentality, racism, extremism. All these are mice.

And we are those cats that keep being exhausted by the mice.

The world of cat and mouse has something very much in common with the human world.

They keep changing.

In the past, the mouse used to hide from the presence of the cat, and only went about its business deep at night, when everyone else was fast asleep.

As for the cat, it had developed a habit of staying awake at night, for that was the time it could capture the mouse.

At that time, the master's economic conditions were not that promising, and the cat might not enjoy satisfying meals all its days.

While not really that palatable, the mouse was nevertheless a savoury treat that could keep the cat's stomach filled in those difficult days.

With the master's living remarkably improved over the years, the cat could now look forward to more decent meals. No longer was it necessary for the cat to worry about getting its stomach filled.

The well fed cat began to ignore the mouse that jiggled in front of it. All it wanted in the daytime was to sleep, and caterwaul when the night fell.

A cat that no longer wanted to catch the mouse became nothing more than the master's pet!

Seeing the wonderful opportunity, the mouse boldly snatched up food in broad daylight and couldn't care more about the cat. Moreover, the cat could not be bothered about it either.

As a matter of fact, the cat was not altogther reluctant to catch the mouse. It was just unable to!

The mouse had now become as sturdy as the cat, and even the cat felt threatened.

As a result, the mouse moved about unrestrained day or night.

Back to our human world. The same plot is taking place all around us all the time.

In the past, unitarian mentality, racism and extremism had to be hidden from public vision, or be dressed up first in a presentable outfit before they could be displayed to the public.

In the past, unitarian mentality, racism and extremism were like much dreaded monsters that everyone would try their utmost to stay away.

Unitarian mentality, racism and extremism have since made steady advances, and slowly they eat into every segment of our life--economy, culture, education, sports, politics--everywhere.

It all comes so naturally, so taken for granted.

So, we begin to see people unabashedly proclaim: "I am a 100% racist!"

Without the slightest glossing over, not even a hint of embarrassment or shame.

An era of shamelessness is beginning to show up.

Shamelessness means anyone can trash righteousness, equality, democracy, justice and rationality in his pursuit of endless power and riches.

The cat story teaches us that a comfortable life can kill our vigilance.

The SPM 10+2 issue, the adoption of national school curriculum and additional periods for BM subject in Chinese primary schools etc. are warning us that we cannot afford to back off, and must safeguard our rights and status at all costs, from this very moment.

(By LIM MUN FAH/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)
MSC
16/12/09

What is Ketuanan Melayu?

Ketuanan Melayu" or Malay supremacy has always been a concept that I've never been able to grasp. Not so much what it is supposed to mean--that the Malay race is somehow superior--but rather how it should be so.

Is it a genetic superiority? That somehow, somewhere, laced in the billions of strands that make up a person's genetic code lies that little bit of magic that makes Malays superior. And superior in what way? Physically superior? In the stronger, faster, higher vein? Mentally superior? Smarter, wiser, and all round more intelligent?

Or is a cultural superiority? That the Malay culture is better than other cultures in the country. A culture that makes them more diligent, more responsible, more magnanimous, more generous, more caring, more faithful, more honest, more... well, you get the point.

I also wonder whether the Malays who keep getting this whole supremacy idea rammed down their throats understand it, either. Especially when they get told so many other things that conflict with the notion of their unquestionable racial supremacy.

For instance, they kept being told they are poor. That the non-Malays--Chinese especially--are making money hand over fist while they, the Malays, continue to languish in poverty and misery. They are made to believe that the fruits of their labour are being sucked dry by conniving Chinamen in palatial mansions.

Did nobody stop to ask why the "superior" race is also supposedly economically crippled? Does nobody want to know how it is, with every effort made to provide them with crutches from womb to tomb, that Malays have made no headway in usurping the dirty foreigners as the economic masters of the country?

As an extension of the "poor Malay" spiel, they're also told that they are gullible. They are told that they are being cheated of their birthright--their country raped, its riches plundered (true, but not by who they're told are doing it)--while they are exploited in their lives, and taken for a jolly good ride. Yet in the next breath, they are reminded of their superiority.

How do you consolidate being told that you are superior, for pretty much no reason other than you were born such, while also being told that you are lazy, gullible, and poor?

With so much fervour being shown in protecting "Ketuanan Melayu," I think it's only fair that the purveyors of this noble idea step forward and spell out what the two words encompass.

Just what on earth is "Ketuanan Melayu"? What is it, exactly? How does it work? What does it do?

Because from current evidence, it's very difficult to see just where the superiority is.

There are intelligent, strong Malays just as there are intelligent, strong non-Malays. In the same vein, the Malays also don't have a monopoly on stupidity, either, as it's long been established that stupid is, well, sadly universal and non-racial.

There are rich, entrepreneurial Malays just as there are non-Malays who are the same. And while the top two richest men in Malaysia are a Chinese and an Indian, there are also many, many rich Malays on the list of Malaysia's wealthiest, including a couple of sons of an ex-premier. Bona fide billionaires, those. Or don't they count as Malay?

And just as there are affluent non-Malays, there are also non-Malays--Chinese included--who live in abject poverty. Bad luck and bad breaks don't care what colour your skin is.

Poverty breeds more poverty, regardless of race. This might not be obvious if you only spend your time in places like Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya or Penang; these are affluent areas in and of themselves. But away from the cities, Malaysia's poor only have one colour: grey.

Anyway, I do hope someone will give us an answer as to what "Ketuanan Melayu" really is all about.

I hope even more that the answer will be more concrete than "something nice."

Malaysian Insider
16/12/09

DO WE NEED A THIRD FORCE?

Malaysians have taken umbrage to the absence of 20 Pakatan Rakyat Parliamentarians at the third reading of the Dewan Rakyat recently where Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's first Budget almost did not get passed when it barely got through by a 66-63 vote margin. For the first time, the national budget was approved with such a narrow margin. In parliamentary democracies, a budget that is not passed is equivalent to a vote of no confidence on the government.

This means PR LOST the chance to topple the BN government because the 20 missing PR Parliamentarians could have made a big difference to the outcome of votes. Read more about it HERE and how Tian Chua admitted HERE that it had been a 'planned mission'. To me, it is nothing but a SHAMEFUL and POORLY EXECUTED mission.

All over cyberspace, netizens are demanding for the names of those missing MPs and an apology or rationale for their absence. MPs know the schedule of meetings and are expected to adjust their personal appointments to attend the Dewan Rakyat - a duty expected of all elected representatives. Read more outbursts from Malaysia Today readers at THIS LINK.

This incident shows up the lackadaisical attitude of MPs on both sides of the divide. In short, things do not really look promising at all. Many of us voted for change via the Opposition but there does not seem to be a difference between the two sides safe that one is rolling deep in the grime of alleged corruption and racism. Is it a mistake then to hope that PR can steer the country to the change that we so badly need? Have we all been wasting our time, effort and hopes on PR?

Perhaps the time has come for Malaysians to create a ‘third force’ in Malaysian politics. By definition, it is the political coalition that offers an alternative to two major political parties - in this case, BN and PR.

Instead of banking on a two-party system, we may need an independent political organization that can play a watchdog role on the BN and Opposition government by focusing on developing and advocating reformative and transformative policy proposals. It can actively educate, agitate, organize and lobby to achieve the rakyat's agenda in many ways.

This Third Force can also tip the scale for the power struggle in the two-party system by emerging as a force to be reckoned with. Besides, once there is a third party in the picture, perhaps then BN and PR will be more serious at getting their act together to overcome inherent weaknesses and to reinvent themselves more effectively.

Sim Kwang Yang also wrote about this, in particular about the Sabah scene, AT THIS LINK. Pak Sako also blogged about this topic AT THIS LINK.

For instance, if PR wins in the next polls, the Third Force can unite and work with PR to strengthen its position and to ensure deliverables reach the rakyat. In the event that PR fails to perform, then the Third Force can flex its muscles and ask the PR to shape up failing which it can join BN. In this way, there is an automatic check for any abuse to keep a check on politicians and the political scene could be a more dynamic one as politicians are more likely to be on their toes lest they lose out to the other side.

During elections, a third force would support important third party candidates who have been carefully selected to utilize the option to run independent candidates. A third force would not depend on electoral politics as the sole means of advancing its agenda and winning support.

It could employ non-electoral strategies and tactics such as forums, dialogues, mobilizing or organizing around issues at the local, state and national level as a means of broadening its base to bring about real change via change agents or layman at the grass root level.

The Third Force can also creatively use the Internet to disseminate information, galvanize action and raise much needed funds for its success. All this sounds a tad idealistic because I do not really see a pool of leaders that display the vision, skill and capacity to lead the rakyat.

Realistically, a genuine third force is unlikely to emerge in the near future but I believe the third force must be kept alive as an ideology, as a possible alternative so that all political parties will not be complacent about ground support. Perhaps there could rise amongst the rakyat or NGOs a group which can develop the ideology of the third force to mobilise support. If the political scene does not improve, the idea of a third force has to gain momentum to come into existence, especially in situations when the unity of the nation is jeopardised, the economy starts stagnating and justice, integrity, transparency continue to be jeopardized or if corruption assumes endemic proportions.

The writing is on the wall and warning bells seems to have sounded for Pakatan Rakyat. The leaders had better ensure that they live up to their manifesto even before it is made public. There cannot be any more room for mistakes for if the electorate are fed up, there could be a swing to BN in the next election and by then, we would be doomed. So PR leaders, please wake up!!! We are counting on you for that breath of life to resuscitate and rejuvenate Malaysia.

You had better not let us down! We elected you to the seat of government and we can also vote you out!!

MWS
16/12/09

Where the fuck were the Pakatan Rakyat leaders?

This is the reason why we should not blindly vote for Pakatan Rakyat. As much as we may want change and would like to see Barisan Nasional ousted, Pakatan Rakyat has to earn our votes, not expect to get it without any effort. I want to start by demanding an apology from those 20 Pakatan Rakyat Parliamentarians who are earning their salary without working for it. Then, and only then, will we consider whether they are worthy of our votes.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Fright for BN as Budget passed by 66-63 votes

It was fright night for the BN as the national Budget was passed by a wafer-thin 66-63 majority in Parliament last night.

That’s 48 per cent attendance for the BN MPs and a 77 per cent turnout for the Pakatan reps.

Najib and Ong Tee Keat reportedly had to rush to Parliament to vote – and this was for their “1Malaysia Prosperity for All” Budget.

The Malaysian Insider has the story here (Najib’s budget passed by a narrow 66-63 vote).

It just goes to show how much importance these missing MPs place in Parliament when they can be absent during such a crucial debate and vote.

(http://anilnetto.com/democracy/fright-for-bn-as-budget-passed-by-66-63-votes/)

*******************************************

Tapah MP saves the day for BN

Tapah member of parliament M Saravanan turned saviour for the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday with his vote ensuring the approval of the Supply Bill 2010, better known as Budget 2010.

The drama began late last night when the Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia called for voting for the passing of the bill, deemed to be an important component of the government's expenditure for next year.

The ruling coalition managed to get the bill approved with a one-vote majority, 64 against 63 votes of the opposition bloc, thanks to Saravanan's late-minute vote.

"I had a function to attend in the city last night. During the event, I got a call from someone in Parliament asking me to rush to Dewan and that a voting is being conducted in the Supply Bill.

"It was about 10.40pm when I managed to relieve myself from the function and rushed to Parliament.

"I was in the nick of the time as the Speaker allowed me to cast my vote. To my relief later I learnt that the Bill was passed by a single vote majority," Saravanan, who is also Federal Territories and Urban Well-being deputy minister, told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Najib was called back too

He also thanked his lucky stars, because the function he attended was close-by to the Parliament, enabling him to rush to the Dewan Rakyat within minutes after getting the alert.

The failure to pass the Bill, which is basically the 2010 government budget, would have resulted in the ruling coalition needing to retable the entire budget, resulting in throwing a spanner in the works of development projects planned by the ruling government.

It would also have been as major embarrassment for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who were both in the Dewan Rakyat until late yesterday, as this could have been the first budget not passed by Parliament in the nation's history.

Both Najib and Muhyiddin too had to rush to the Parliament to ensure the budget was approved in their favour.

MK
16/12/09

Kes Nizar: Jamin menang jika di negara lain, Tommy Thomas

Saya menjamin kepada anda. Seandainya kes-kes negeri Perak ini dibicarakan di mahkamah enam buah negara ini, pihak kami (Nizar Jamaluddin) pasti menang! Saya jamin!"

Krisis perlembagaan Perak lantaran daripada rampasan kuasa telah menjadi perdebatan hangat pakar perlembagaan dan peguam antara kedua-dua pihak. Tommy Thomas (gambar kiri), pihak yang mewakili Pakatan Rakyat ketika berucap dalam satu forum anjuran MerdekaReview, menjelaskan bahawa Malaysia sebagai negara Komanwel yang mengamalkan common law, akan merujuk kepada kes penghakiman di Britain, Kanada, Australia, New Zealand, India, malah Eropah dan Afrika Selatan dalam perundangan.

Dengan penuh yakin Tommy Thomas menjamin kepada hadirin, "Saya menjamin kepada anda. Seandainya kes-kes negeri Perak ini dibicarakan di mahkamah enam buah negara ini (Britain, Kanada, Australia, New Zealand, India dan Eropah), pihak kami (Nizar Jamaluddin) pasti menang! Saya jamin!"

Dengan cepat beliau menyambung, "Sememangnya, sekiranya kes ini dibicarakan di mahkamah Zimbabwe, kami mesti kalah!" Hujahnya meledakkan dewan yang dipenuhi kira-kira 250 hadirin dengan gelak ketawa.

Forum "Ke arah mana Perlembagaan? Natijah dari Krisis Perak" (Whither the Constitution? Lessons to be learnt from the Perak Crisis), anjuran MerdekaReview, pada malam 9 Disember, telah membariskan Menteri Besar Negeri Perak Pakatan Rakyat, Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin dan Pakar Perlembagaan Shad Saleem Faruqi sebagai ahli panel.

Malah, Tommy Thomas menggantikan Kevin Tan (gambar kanan) pada saat-saat terakhir, apabila Kevin Tan gagal tampil sebagai panelis kerana polis mengenakan syarat terhadap pensyarah dari Singapura ini untuk mendapatkan Pas Ikhtisas sebelum hadir sebagai panelis.

Walaupun forum ini menyaksikan pandangan pakar perlembagaan dan peguam yang saling bercanggah dalm isu krisis Perak, namun mereka sebulat suara menyetujui bahawa bubarkan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) dan mengadakan pilihan raya adalah penyelesaian kepada krisis Perak.

Shad Saleem Faruqi: Angka yang menentukan

Shad Saleem Faruqi menekankan bahawa angka menjadi penentu dalam politik demokrasi. Oleh demikian, Sultan Azlan Shah telah menyetujui penubuhan kerajaan DAP, PKR dan PAS pada tahun 2008 kerana mempunyai 31 kerusi berbanding 28 daripada BN. Perkara yang sama berlaku apabila Sultan Azlan Shah memberi laluan kepada BN untuk menubuhkan kerajaan apabila BN memiliki 31 kerusi berbanding 28 oleh Pakatan Rakyat pada tahun 2009.

Shah Saleem Faruqi (gambar kiri) berkata, "apa yang menyesalkan, dalam perkara angka ini, PR telah tewas kepada ADUN yang melompat."

Namun, Shad Saleem Faruqi menyetujui bahawa antara penyelesaian yang menjadi pilihan Sultan Perak termasuklah pembubaran DUN, dan menyerah kepada rakyat untuk menentukan kerajaan mereka.

Walau bagaimanapun, Tommy Thomas mempunyai pandangan yang berbeza terhadap 13 isu dalam krisis Perak yang dibentangkan oleh Shad Saleem Faruqi.

Tommy Thomas berkata, dari segi angka, PR telah memenangi 53.8% undi, 31 kerusi dan memerintah dengan majoriti tiga kerusi selepas PRU ke-12. "Seandainya kamu masih ingat Kelantan yang diperintah PAS, mereka telah memerintah dengan hanya majoriti satu kerusi, tetapi berkekalan untuk lebih daripada satu tahun. Oleh itu, majoriti tiga kerusi adalah jarak yang sangat selesa," katanya.

Dengan kata lain, Tommy Thomas tidak bersetuju dengan pandangan Shad Saleem Faruqi bahawa kerajaan PR di Perak adalah pakatan pemerintah yang tidak stabil.

Shad Saleem Faruqi melontarkan pandangan bahawa DAP, PKR dan PAS bergabung secara tergesa-gesa selepas keputusan PRU ke-12 diumumkan, menjadikan kurang wajar untuk Sultan menyerahkan kuasa kepada PR berbanding dengan BN. Namun, Tommy Thomas menyanggah pandangan Shah Saleem Faruqi ini, menganggap bahawa tiada masalah untuk tiga parti PR bergabung hanya selepas PRU ke-12.

Secara terus terang, Tommy Thomas (gambar kanan) menyatakan bahawa situasi di mana gabungan parti untuk membentuk kerajaan selepas keputusan pilihan raya diumumkan adalah sesuatu yang lumrah, dan berlaku di negara misalnya Itali, Jepun dan India. "Jadi, untuk saya, siapa yang membentuk kerajaan gabungan selepas 8 Mac bukan masalah, kerana jawapannya ialah Pakatan Rakyat."

Pakar Perlembagaan Shad Saleem Faruqi telah merujuk kepada beberapa kes di luar negeri, misalnya krisis perlembagaan di Australia pada tahun 1975. Belanjawan yang dibentangkan oleh Presiden Australia ketika itu, Gough Whitlam tidak diluluskan di Dewan Senat, lantas berdepan dengan krisis kerajaannya digulingkan. Namun, Gough Whitlam merancang untuk meminjam wang dengan bank agar kerajaannya boleh terus beroperasi.

Governor-General Australia ketika itu, John Kerr telah melucutkan jawatan Gough Whitlam dengan menggunakan artikel ke-64 dalam Perlembagaan Australia, dan melantik pembangkang, John Malcom Fraser secara terus untuk menyandang jawatan Presiden sementara.

Shad Saleem Faruqi menggunakan contoh di atas untuk menyatakan bahawa Sultan Azlan Shah tidak semestinya perlu kembali ke DUN untuk mengetahui siapa yang telah memegang majoriti, sebelum menentukan Menteri Besar.

Tommy: Ini contoh yang buruk!

Sebaliknya, Tommy Thomas menuduh bahawa contoh yang dipetik oleh Shad Saleem Faruqi adalah contoh yang buruk, "John Kerr hanya mewakili Queen, dan Queen Elizabeth II ketika itu berasa serba salah dan langsung enggan mencampur tangan dalam isu ini, dilihat sebagai 'apa yang John Kerr lakukan tiada kena mengena dengan beta.'"

Apa yang lebih penting, Tommy Thomas berkata, "Saya boleh jamin, tiada Governor-General Australia selepas John Kerr yang mengulangi perbuatan John Kerr. Pengajaran daripada contoh ini adalah jangan belajar daripada John Kerr. Namun, jelas kami tidak belajar daripada pengajaran ini."

Peguam untuk speaker DUN Perak Pakatan Rakyat, V.Sivakumar ini bertanggapan bahawa apa yang berlaku di Perak adalah kudeta, "pertukaran kerajaan tanpa melalui pilihan raya dan pengundian adalah kudeta." Beliau menyifatkan bahawa rampasan kuasa di Perak adalah keadaan yang paling teruk sejak 52 tahun kemerdekaan dan amalan sistem raja berperlembagaan di negara kita.

Beliau menekankan, satu-satunya jalan penyelesaian krisis Perak adalah pembubaran DUN Perak, mengadakan pilihan raya dan menyerah kepada rakyat untuk mengundi kerajaan yang mereka mahu.

MR
16/12/09

Pakar perlembagaan menyetujui Nizar untuk diadili Panel 11 hakim

Pensyarah perlembagaan dari Singapura, Kevin Tan dan pakar perlembagaan tempatan, Shad Saleem Faruqi, bersetuju dengan permohonan Menteri Besar Negeri Perak Pakatan Rakyat, Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin untuk diadili Panel 11 hakim. Shad Saleem Faruqi berpendapat, penyertaan lebih ramai anggota panel hakim akan menjurus kepada penghakiman yang lebih adil.

Nizar Jamaluddin (gambar kiri) yang merayu agar dikembalikan kedudukannya sebagai MB Perak berkata, kes ini bakal menentukan siapa sebenarnya MB negeri Perak, malah keputusannya bakal memberi kesan kepada jawatan Perdana Menteri kelak. Justeru itu, beliau memutuskan untuk memohon agar anggota panel diperluaskan kepada 11 hakim selepas dinasihat peguamnya.

Ketika berucap dalam forum bertajuk "Ke arah mana Perlembagaan? Natijah dari Krisis Perak" (Whither the Constitution? Lessons to be learnt from the Perak Crisis), anjuran MerdekaReview pada malam 9 Disember, Nizar Jamaluddin mengambil contoh satu kes pengedaran dadah yang didengar oleh panel tujuh hakim, dan bertanggapan Mahkamah Persekutuan harus sekurang-kurangnya membenarkan lebih daripada panel lima hakim untuk mendengari kesnya.

Kevin Tan (gambar kanan) yang gagal tampil sebagai panelis, ketika ditemuramah oleh wartawan selepas forum berlangsung, bersetuju bahawa permintaan Nizar Jamaluddin adalah wajar. Kevin berkata, "Jika dilihat kebanyakan negara, secara lumrahnya, apabila berdepan dengan kes yang mustahak, adalah lebih baik jikalau melibatkan lebih ramai hakim. Oleh itu, saya menganggap adalah wajar apabila mereka meminta untuk didengar oleh lebih ramai hakim."

Pada masa yang sama, Kevin Tan mencadangkan agar hakim yang berpengalaman dalam kes perlembagaan untuk mendengar kes Nizar, "saya mengharapkan beberapa orang hakim yang pernah membuat penghakiman untuk kes perlembagaan untuk terlibat dalam kes ini, seperti Richard Malanjum dan Gopal Sri Ram."

"Wajar penghakiman dibuat kemudian"

Profesor Perundangan Universiti MARA, Shad Saleem Faruqi berpandangan bahawa Sultan Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah boleh melantik MB yang baru, memandangkan PR telah kehilangan majoritinya dari segi ADUN-nya. Meskinpun begitu, Shad Saleem Faruqi bersetuju dengan permohonan Nizar, walapun pengadilan Panel 11 hakim tidak pernah berlaku dalam sejarah Malaysia.

Shah Saleem Faruqi (gambar kiri) bertanggapan bahawa Ketua Hakim, Zaki Azmi harus mempertimbangkan permohonan ini, untuk membolehkan perbicaraan yang lebih adil.

Nizar telah memohon agar kesnya diadili oleh panel 11 hakim pada 5 November, namun panel lima hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan sebulat suara menolak permohonannya tanpa sebarang alasan, dan terus membicarakan kesnya.

MB yang digulingkan sejak Februari tahun ini menceritakan perkembangan yang berlaku selepas rampasan kuasa, malah mempertikaikan Mahkamah Persekutuan yang gagal membuat penghakiman segera, menyebabkan "keadilan tertangguh".

Nizar (gambar kanan) berkata, "kami melalui perbicaraan selama enam jam setengah, setelah mendengar hujahan kedua-dua pihak Peguam Negara dan peguam kami. Tetapi, jawapan yang kami perolehi adalah 'penghakiman akan diumumkan pada tarikh yang akan ditentukan kemudian'."

Beliau memetik pepatah, "keadilan yang tertunda adalah keadilan yang dinafikan!"

Namun demikian, Kevin Tan tidak menyetujui Nizar dalam perkara ini, dan menganggap adalah wajar jikalau panel lima hakim yang diketuai Alauddin Mohd Sheriff memerlukan lebih masa untuk membuat pertimbangan. Semasa dalam sesi soal jawab, Kevin meluahkan pandangannya, "saya rasa, jikalau kamu memperolehi penghakiman dengan serta merta, kamu akan berkata, 'Alamak! Mereka membuat penghakiman tanpa perlu pertimbangan pun!'"

Majoriti ditentukan dalam DUN?

Di samping itu, Kevin Tan ketika mengutarakan pandangannya dalam sesi soal jawab, menekankan bahawa penafsiran perlembagaan perlu konsisten dan harmoni untuk memberi makna kepada perlembagaan.

Beliau memetik artikel 16(6) Perlembagaan Negeri Perak untuk menjelaskan pandangannya, "apabila MB hilang percaya daripada majoriti, maka beliau merayu kepada Sultan untuk membubarkan Dewan Undangan Negeri. Namun, jikalau Sultan bertitah, 'tidak, beta tidak akan berbuat demikian', maka tiada pilihan untuk MB ini melainkan meletak jawatan."

Kevin Tan menyusul dengan pertikaian, "siapa pula yang boleh menentukan bahawa MB telah hilang percaya daripada majoriti?" Setelah mengkaji Perlembagaan Negeri Perak, Kevin Tan menyimpulkan, "keputusan bahawa MB telah hilang percaya majoriti mesti ditentukan oleh DUN sendiri," hanya dengan ini Perlembagaan Negeri Perak boleh ditafsirkan dengan wajar.

Shad Saleem Faruqi sebaliknya berpendapat bahawa Sultan tidak semestinya perlu mengenalpasti sama ada MB hilang percaya atau tidak di dalam Dewan Undangan Negeri. Ketika ditanya oleh wartawan selepas forum, Shad Saleem Faruqi sambil senyum berkata, "Malah Sultan boleh memanggil semua ADUN ke istana. Baginda hanya memerlukan beberapa kerusi yang tambahan sahaja."

Mesyuarat bawah pokok, Sah!

Walau bagaimanapun, Kevin Tan menyetujui pandangan Shad Saleem Faruqi yang lain, iaitu dalam situasi Malaysia yang tidak mempunyai Akta Anti-Lompat Parti, wakil rakyat boleh berpaling tadah dalam masa yang singkat. Lompatan dari parti ke parti menjurus kepada kesukaran rakyat untuk mengenalpasti siapa yang disokong oleh wakilnya untuk menjadi MB.

"Jalan yang paling baik untuk menyelesaikan masalah ini adalah membubarkan DUN, dan mencari jawapannya!" kata Kevin Tan.

Kevin Tan disenaraikan sebagai salah seorang panelis dalam forum yang dianjurkan oleh MerdekaReview ini, bersama Shad Saleem Faruqi dan Mohd. Nizar Jamaluddin. Walau bagaimanapun, Kevin Tan gagal tampil sebagai panelis kerana polis mengenakan syarat terhadap pensyarah dari Singapura ini untuk mendapatkan Pas Ikhtisas sebelum hadir sebagai panelis. 【Baca: Polis gunakan alasan "warga asing": Kevin gagal jadi panelis malam ini】

Walaupun rampasan kuasa kerajaan negeri Perak bermula kerana penyeberangan parti tiga orang ADUN, namun peguam untuk speaker Pakatan Rakyat V.Sivakumar, Tommy Thomas bertanggapan bahawa lompat parti bukan satu masalah dalam sistem demokrasi.

Malah, Tommy Thomas (gambar kiri) menganggap usul undi tidak percaya terhadap Menteri Besar mahupun Perdana Menteri adalah sesuatu yang lumrah dalam sistem demokrasi untuk menguji sejauh manakah sokongan terhadap ketua kerajaan itu dari masa ke masa.

Beliau mengungkit insiden bekas Ketua Pembangkang, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail mengusulkan undi tidak percaya terhadap bekas PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Tommy Thomas berkata, "namun speaker tidak menerima, maka pengundian tidak boleh dijalankan dalam dewan. Ini adalah bercanggahan dengan perlembagaan. Speaker tidak boleh menghalang ahli dewan untuk melaksanakan prinsip perlembagaan."

Shad Saleem Faruqi menambah, Peraturan-peraturan Majlis Mesyuarat Dewan Rakyat yang sedia ada tidak menyatakan dengan jelas bagaimana untuk mengusulkan undi tidak percaya, maka pindaan terhadap Peraturan Mesyuarat adalah diperlukan.

Kira-kira 250 orang hadir ke forum ini untuk menyaksikan pertembungan pandangan antara panelis. Walaupun bercanggah pendapat dalam isu-isu tertentu, namun panelis berkongsi pandangan yang sama dalam beberapa isu asas. Selain sebulat suara menyetujui "bubarkan DUN dan mengadakan pilihan raya" adalah penyelesaian kepada kemelut Perak, panelis juga menyetujui bahawa sidang mesyuarat pada 3 Mac di bawah pokok adalah mesyuarat yang sah.

Shad Saleem Faruqi berkata, "tempat tidak penting. Mesyuarat boleh diadakan di mana-mana tempat." Beliau mengambil contoh ketika bangunan Dewan Undangan Negeri Pulau Pinang diubahsuai, mesyuarat DUN bersidang di Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Namun, Shad Saleem Faruqi tidak bersetuju dengan keputusan Sivakumar untuk menggantung sembilan orang ADUN, dengan tanggapan bahawa tindakan ini tidak ada kewajarannnya.

"Sama ada Speakar mahupun Jawatankuasa Hak Dan Kebebasan tidak boleh menggantung ADUN, melainkan ada ADUN yang salahlaku, melanggar disiplin. Oleh itu saya tidak dapat menyokong tindakan Sivakumar untuk menggantung sembilan daripada 59 orang ADUN," kata Shad Saleem Faruqi.

MR
16/12/09

Learning about “hak istimewa orang Melayu”

By Shanon Shah
shanonshah@thenutgraph.com

(Pic by lusi / sxc.hu) DR Harvin Kaur, 25, attended the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) pre-employment induction course in October 2008. A recent medical graduate who started her house officer year in Malaysia, Harvin has since resigned to follow her husband to Australia.

With the ongoing controversy regarding the government-run BTN, Harvin agreed to an exclusive e-mail interview, from India where she currently is, with The Nut Graph about her experiences during the programme.

The Nut Graph will be running a series of three exclusive interviews with former BTN programme participants from a variety of backgrounds. Their testimonies will help paint a picture about what the BTN programmes are really about. Are they racist or do they promote national unity? Are they geared at demonising the opposition? Are they fun and inspiring?

In the past year, The Nut Graph actually approached numerous former participants, but they all declined to go on the record for fear of losing their scholarships or positions. It is therefore timely and important for us to now publish the testimonies of those who agree to go on record. Here, then, is part one of our series on the BTN blues.

TNG: Where did you attend your BTN course?

Dr Harvin Kaur: It was at Kem Bina Negara Besut, Terengganu.

How long did it last?

Five days, four nights.

What was it for?

Pre-employment. The rule is that all new house officers must attend BTN and "kursus induksi" before starting work. However, the date that you start BTN is the date that you officially become a government servant, and you are paid starting from that date.

What would you say was the racial composition of the participants? How many participants were there?

[My estimate is] not less than 100.

At my BTN camp, there were many more Indian [Malaysians], almost 60%, and around 20% Chinese and 20% Malay [Malaysian]. I think the reason for this is that the allocation is done based on university, and I was with a group of Russian and Ukrainian medical graduates — many Indian [Malaysians] go to Russia and Ukraine to study medicine.

What was the racial composition of the trainers and facilitators?

All the facilitators were Malay [Malaysian]. Also, they were all male. I would have preferred it if there was at least one female facilitator.

Did you know the trainers' background or qualification? Were they BTN staff or external consultants?

There were some BTN staff there all day and night. But we also had some other facilitators for when we were split into smaller groups. The facilitator assigned to my group was a teacher.

Describe a typical day's programme during the course, from the time you woke up until the time you went to sleep.

We had to wake up at 5:30am to attend a talk in the surau. The Muslim participants would have arrived earlier for morning prayers, and then we would join them. They talked about religion mostly, but tried to pass it off as "moral education". Males and females were separated by a screen, and the men sat in front, women at the back.

After that, we went to our rooms and got ready, to shower and so on.

At 7am sharp we had to line up according to our groups, very military style, and sing the national anthem. Then we had some kind of sporting activity — one day we ran 1.5km; another day we had a physical test, the kind where you have to bend over and touch your toes, and so on.

We adjourned for breakfast and then had a short break to change clothes, and "classes" started. There were some talks in the main hall, and some days we had our group discussions.

In the evenings, we had some activities. One of the days we went rock climbing, another day we went to the beach, and one of the days we had this challenge trail, where we had to climb over walls and crouch in sand, like a mini military training. The evenings were always fun.

At night we had showertime, dinnertime, and then we met again in the main hall for another ceramah. We usually ended our day at around midnight, [and] went straight to bed.

Military style (Pic by Shariffc / Dreamstime)

Outside of the sessions, was there inter-racial/inter-religious/mixed-gender mingling?

Everyone mingled well. However, every single minute of our camp was in the itinerary, and we had to stick with our group members at all times — during dining, the ceramah, activities. Group members were allocated by the facilitators, and [racially] they divided us as equally as they could.

Were any of the lectures racist in nature? Can you describe one that was particularly disturbing?

There are a few things that stand out in my memory.

One of them was during the smaller group discussions — we were given a task which was something along the lines of: "If there were RM6 billion left to three families, and the will states that it should be divided fairly, how would you divide it? Family A has six children, Family B has three children and Family C has one child."

(Pic by Kuanchong / Dreamstime) A lot of people said it should be divided such that 60% goes to Family A and 30% to Family B and so forth ... I, on the other hand, stated that just because Family C has one child doesn't mean that they should get so little of the money. Each family still needs the basic things — house, car — and half of the money should be divided equally among the three families and the second half should be divided according to the number of children they had. Another participant also had a similar idea, that there shouldn't be such a big discrepancy in the amount of money given.

The facilitator seemed very distressed that we had such ideas and even said to me, "Saya risau tentang Harvin." This might have had something to do with a personality test we did earlier on in the day, but I'm pretty sure it was also due to [my] answer. He stated at the end that the money should be divided according to the number of children, and also that this reflected the proportion of races in Malaysia, and how we allocate the budget, and so on.

Later, when I spoke to some of these participants, they said they had already anticipated such [questions], and didn't want to complicate things or get into trouble.

Also, during one of the ceramah, the process of Malaysia's independence was one of the topics. One point they repeatedly stressed was that during Independence, the Malays agreed to the jus soli principle — those born in Malaya would immediately gain citizenship — and in return the non-Malays agreed to "hak istimewa orang Melayu".

They said non-Malay [Malaysians] should be grateful that they were allowed to stay on.

During the group discussions, the definition of orang Melayu/bumiputera [based on Article 160 of the Federal Constitution] was drilled into our heads.

Were any of these lectures documented? Was there a written syllabus for the course? Or was the content communicated verbally or through other means?

Yes, there was a written syllabus, and we were allowed to borrow the notes to study for our test on the last day. It had a lot of stuff on Independence, and structure of the government, and so on.

The lectures were presented to us in Powerpoint.

For the group discussions, there wasn't a written syllabus. In my opinion, the group discussions were an opportunity for them to kind of tap into our minds and see what we felt about certain issues. The facilitator kept stressing that nothing would leave the room, I think to make us open up more.

How did the course impact you? How did it impact the other participants, from your observation?

Well, the course left me feeling angry, especially about the "hak istimewa" thing. I know what it is, but the way they tried to justify it was ridiculous. I think some people did share the same feelings as me, but we did not discuss this at length so I can't elaborate.

One newfound friend, an Indian [Malaysian] girl, was complying completely with everything our facilitator said. Later I found out she had received scholarships from MIC since [she'd been] in school, and also throughout her medical course. Both her parents were government servants.

Are there any positive things about the course?

Yes, everyone got along well; we made lots of new friends.

The Nut Graph

16/12/09

Legislate proxy voting in Parliament

I refer to the incident in Parliament yesterday, whereby substantial members of Parliament failed to turn up for an important debate and voting of the national 2010 Budget. As a result, the Budget was passed by a thin majority of 66-63.

However, the pertinent issue in the incident is not the thin majority of just three votes. It is the number of absentees of MPs that is mind boggling, from both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.

On record, there are only 129 members out of the whole 222 MPs who attended the debate and voting of the Budget. That’s only about 58% attendance for the debate and voting of an important issue, being the national 2010 Budget.

It is disappointing, as a Malaysian, to see that 42% of our representatives in Parliament failed to attend the debate and vote. So, does the voting yesterday really represent the votes and views of all Malaysian representatives around the country? Or does it just represent the votes and views of only those representatives who attended the sitting yesterday?

This should be an “eye opener” for Malaysians to see how they are represented in Parliament.

It is a known practice around the world that it may not always be possible for all MPs to attend Parliament sittings all the time due to their hectic schedules, in particular those holding important government positions.

There are even some absentees yesterday who are also members of state legislative assemblies. Although it is permitted under the Federal Constitution, it is now questionable whether a person holding the dual positions would be able to effectively fulfill their obligations.

Members of Parliament are actually voted by their respective constituencies and paid by the taxpayers to attend and represent them in the Parliament sittings, no matter how trivial the matter is to be tabled in the sitting. Their failure to be present in the august House would amount to failure to fulfill their obligations, even in situations where there are genuine reasons to serve the people elsewhere, fulfilling duties of national interest or even on medical leave.

Thus, it may be time for our Parliament to consider legislating and implementing “proxy voting” in our Parliament i.e. MPs are entitled to appoint an alternate person to vote on his behalf in Parliament when there is genuine reason for absence. The MPs shall be responsible for the conduct and votes of their respective proxies in Parliament.

This is to ensure that Parliament actually represents the votes and views of all Malaysians in their respective constituencies, instead of just the votes and views of those who attended the sittings.

MM
16/12/09

Gobalakrishnan dan Varatharaju dikenakan denda menyertai perhimpunan Hindraf di kuil Batu Caves, Gombak, dua tahun lepas.

SHAH ALAM, Dis 16 — Ahli Parlimen Padang Serai N Gobalakrishnan dikenakan denda RM1,000 atau tujuh minggu penjara oleh Mahkamah Sesyen di sini hari ini kerana menunjukkan kekerasan jenayah untuk menakutkan pegawai polis dalam satu perhimpunan haram anjuran Barisan Bertindak Hak-Hak Hindu (Hindraf) di hadapan sebuah kuil di Batu Caves, Gombak, dua tahun lepas.

Hakim Hasbi Hasan menjatuhkan hukuman itu selepas Gobalakrishnan dari Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) mengaku bersalah terhadap kesalahan itu. Dia membayar denda.

Gobalakrishnan didakwa sebagai ahli perhimpunan yang menyalahi undang-undang telah menunjukkan kekerasan jenayah untuk menakutkan pegawai polis yang menjalankan tugas di Jalan Besar Batu Caves, di hadapan Kuil Sri Subramaniar, Batu Caves, kira-kira pukul 3 pagi pada 25 Nov 2007.

Dia didakwa mengikut Seksyen 143 Kanun Keseksaan yang memperuntukkan hukuman penjara maksimum enam bulan atau dengan denda atau kedua-duanya sekali.

Fakta kes menyebut, pada hari kejadian, polis mendapati terdapat kira-kira 2,000 orang sedang berhimpun di hadapan pintu besar Kuil Sri Subramaniar dan ketika diminta bersurai, mereka yang berhimpun di hadapan kuil itu tidak mengendahkan arahan itu sambil meluru masuk ke kawasan kuil menggunakan pintu kuil yang telah dipecahkan.

Gobalakrishnan didapati berada di tempat kejadian dan merupakan sebahagian daripada kira-kira 2,000 orang yang menyertai perhimpunan itu. Dia juga telah menunjukkan kekerasan jenayah iaitu dengan mara ke hadapan dan bersorak-sorak sambil mengangkat tangan dalam jumlah yang ramai sehingga menimbulkan ketakutan di kalangan pegawai-pegawai polis yang menjalankan tugas yang sah di sisi undang-undang.

Pihak polis telah mengarahkan mereka yang menyertai perhimpunan haram itu untuk bersurai tetapi Gobalakrishnan masih berada dalam perhimpunan haram itu walaupun mengetahui arahan bersurai telahpun diberikan.

Terdahulu, peguam G.K.Ganesan yang mewakilinya memohon mahkamah menjatuhkan hukuman ringan dengan alasan semasa kejadian Gobalakrishnan bukan seorang anggota Parlimen dan dia hanya dilantik sebagai anggota Parlimen pada 8 Mac tahun lepas.
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Di mahkamah yang sama, turut dikenakan denda RM1,000 ialah seorang mekanik, B Varatharaju, 34, yang mengaku bersalah melakukan kesalahan yang sama.

Gobalakrishnan dan Varatharaju merupakan antara 66 individu yang sebelum ini didakwa terlibat dalam perhimpunan haram anjuran Hindraf itu.

Sehingga kini, daripada 66 individu terbabit 57 daripada mereka telah menukar pengakuan kepada bersalah dan dikenakan denda antara RM750 dan RM850 manakala yang selebihnya masih mengekalkan pengakuan tidak bersalah dan sedang dibicarakan.

Bernama
16/12/09

Adakah konsep 1 Malaysia adalah 1 Malaysia Rakyat atau sebenarnya 1 Malaysia Najib dan Umno?

Laungan 1 Malaysia Najib hanya sekadar retorik — Shen Yee Aun

Perdana Menteri Malaysia keenam Malaysia iaitu Datuk Seri Najib Razak telah melaungkan dan memperkenalkan konsep 1 Malaysia dari hari pertama beliau berkuasa sehingga hari ini. Laungan ini terus diulangi di mana-mana sahaja. Semasa saya mewakili Universiti Malaya untuk Debat Perpaduan 2009 yang berlangsung di Unimas, Sarawak pada 19 hingga 23 May 2009 dan berjaya menembusi peringkat akhir Debat Perpaduan 2009 dan pada ketika itulah saya mengenali konsep 1 Malaysia dengan lebih luas dan terperinci. Hal ini disebabkan saya terpaksa bertungkus lumus mencari dan menganalisis fakta. Lebih-lebih lagi terdapat banyak usul yang berkaitan dengan konsep 1 Malaysia.

Dalam konsep ini terdapat tiga teras utama yang ditekankan oleh Najib iaitu Penerimaan, Kenegeraan dan Keadilan Sosial. Ketiga-tiga teras ini pula akan diperkukuhkan dengan tujuh nilai yang diperkenalkan.

Nilai 1: Budaya Cemerlang

Nilai 2: Ketabahan

Nilai 3: Rendah Hati

Nilai 4: Penerimaan

Nilai 5: Integriti

Nilai 6: Kesetian

Nilai 7: Meritokrasi

Nilai 8: Pendidikan

Teras 1: Penerimaan

Persoalannya kini bagaimana Najib boleh memperkenalkan konsep yang bercanggah dengan perjuangan dan perlaksanaannya? Beliau mahu mengubah asas perhubungan kaum di Malaysia dari konsep toleransi kepada konsep penerimaan. Namun begitu bagaimana konsep ini hendak dicapai sekirannya dasar pecah dan perintah halus Najib terus memecahkanbelahkan masyarakat berbilang bangsa di negara kita? Barisan Nasional sering melaungkan dasar dan idelogi politik mereka adalah sistem politik perkongsian kuasa namun sebenarnya sistem tersebut adalah sistem politik dasar pecah dan perintah dimana ada parti-parti tertentu khas untuk memperjuangkan nasib dan hak kaum masing-masing. Biasanya kita hanya mengenali dasar pecah dan perintah ekonomi British dimana dikatakan Melayu di kampung sebagai petani, Cina di bandar sebagai pedagang dan India di estet sebagai penoreh getah. Oleh itu, apakah bezanya kalau parti Umno untuk Melayu , parti MCA untuk Cina dan parti India untuk MIC? Dasar pecah dan perintah bukan sahaja boleh wujud dalam sistem ekonomi tetapi juga dalam politik.

Teras 2: Kenegaraan

Pada 28 April 2009 Najib mengingatkan mana-mana pihak agar jangan terlalu taksub terhadap tuntutan hak dan melupakan tanggungjawab mereka sebagai warganegara kerana kewarganegaraan bukan sahaja menggariskan hak tetapi juga menuntut tanggungjawab serta di bawah konsep 1 Malaysia, tiada rakyat yang terpinggir daripada mendapat perhatian kerajaan.

Pertama siapakah golongan kaum yang dikatakan terlalu taksub menuntut hak mereka dalam pemikiran Najib? Namun tanpa perlu hurai lebih lanjut kita masing-masing sudah sedia maklum tahu kaum manakah yang dimaksudkan Najib. Jawapannya kepada Najib pula kalau seseorang itu diberikan makanan yang secukup dan sebaiknya dan sudah kenyang adakah orang tersebut akan meminta makanan lagi sedangkan perut sudah kenyang? Berbanding pula dengan orang yang perut mereka lapar sehingga perlu taksub meminta makanan.

Keadaan tersebut menandakan keadaan kaum tertentu yang hak mereka tidak lagi dipenuhi. Jangan hanya sebut tanggungjawab rakyat tetapi tanggungjawab kerajaan dan Perdana Menteri juga penting. Jangan hanya tahu suruh orang tidak menuntut tetapi sendiri tidak juga cuba sedaya upaya memenuhi segala keperluan yang diperlukan rakyat. Bunyi tiada rakyat yang terpinggir daripada mendapat perhatian kerajaan cukup kelakar kerana rakyat di negeri Pakatan Rakyat sudi atau tidak kerajaan bantu? Kita mengkaji rentetan isu dan peristiwa yang berlaku antara Selangor, Kelantan, Perak, Pulau Pinang dan Kedah dengan kerajaan persekutuan sudah boleh menilai sejauh mana kenyataan Najib retorik atau tidak.

Teras 3: Keadilan Sosial

Keadilan sosial rakyat atau keadilan sosial Umno? Kita lihat setelah 52 tahun negara kita merdeka namun segala dasar dan pembahagian yang retoriknya untuk rakyat tetapi akhirnya kroni dan ahli sendiri yang menikmatinya. Kalau benar di bumi bertuah ini ada keadilan sosial rakyat mengapa ramai graduan bijaksana semua berkhidmat di luar negara? Mereka mungkin dituduh tidak setia kepada negara tetapi adakah pemerintah adil kepada mereka?

Bagaimana keadilan sosial rakyat boleh tercapai sekirannya Najib terus memanipulasi hak yang ada pada kaum Melayu untuk terus menindakkan peluang dan hak kaum lain? Tidak pernah kaum lain mempertikaikan hak keistimewaan orang Melayu tetapi Umno sendiri yang selalu mengaburi mata rakyat dengan konsep ketuanan dan keistimewaan Melayu sehingga dipertikaikan tindakan mereka. Pertikaikan kaum lain terhadap tindakan Umno sangat berbeza dengan pertikaian terhadap hak dan keistimewaan Melayu. Kalau benar Umno benar-benar telus mempertahankan dan memperjuangkan keistimewaan orang Melayu mengapa pula ramai orang Melayu yang menentang Umno, ramai Melayu sendiri yang memangkah Umno dalam pilihan raya dan bilangan kaum Melayu dalam Pakatan Rakyat semakin hari semakin bertambah. Hal ini disebabkan perjuangan hak keistimewaan Melayu hanya sekadar laungan retorik dan manipulasi serta eksploitasi yang dilakukan oleh Umno. Mungkin benar ketuanan dan keistimewaan Melayu diperjuangkan tetapi bukan Melayu rakyat dan sebenarnya adalah Melayu Umno dan Najib.

Nilai 1 — Budaya Cemerlang

Bagaimana seorang penculik dan perompak negara boleh mewujudkan budaya yang cemerlang sedangkan segala tindakannya sudah memaparkan budaya sesat? Kita lihat bagaimana wakil rakyat Parti Keadilan Rakyat diculik oleh seorang pemimpin negara dan kita juga lihat bagaimana seorang pemimpin negara merompak hak, undi dan demorkrasi rakyat di negara Perak. Adakah perbuatan ini menandakan satu budaya yang cemerlang atau sebaliknya? Kalian tepuklah dada dan tanyalah selera.

Bagaimana budaya yang cemerlang mampu diwujudkan apatah lagi dicetuskan apabila seorang Speaker dewan ditarik keluar menggunakan kuasa polis yang sudah menodai kemuliaan sesebuah dewan tersebut? Bagaimana budaya cemerlang mampu diwujudkan apabila perlembagaan negara terus diperkosa demi memuaskan hati dan nafsu seorang pemimpin dalam rampasan kuasa yang tidak pernah berlaku dalam sejarah negara dalam zaman pemerintahan kelima-lima Perdana Menteri negara?

Bagaimana budaya cemerlang mampu diwujudkan apabila Cina di China terus disembah tetapi Cina di Malaysia bagaimana pula? Bak kata pepatah Melayu hujan emas di negara orang, hujan batu di negara sendiri dan lebih baik di negara sendiri. Namun tindakan dan perjuangan pemimpin negara tidak berlandaskan kepada pepatah Melayu ini. Sepatutnya Cina China yang emas dilayan seperti batu tetapi Cina Malaysia batu dilayan seperti emas.

Bagaimana kita hendak mewujudkan budaya cemerlang sedangkan negara demokrasi yang bertunjangkan kepada hak kebebasan Persatuan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu digantikan dengan pemerintahan ala komunis? Chin Peng komunis ditentang sekuat hati tetapi tindakan komunis yang menyekat hak kebebasan berhimpun, berparti dan bersuara disekat. Rakyat demi rakyat ditangkap seperti Ang San Su Kyi yang ditahan bawah pemerintahan Junta Tentera. Adakah di Malaysia pula pemerintahan Najib tentera hendak terus diamalkan?

Kalau kesemua persoalan di atas menandakan budaya yang cemerlang maka Malaysia akan cemerlang, gemilang, terbilang dan tidak terbilang.

Nilai 2 — Ketabahan

Barisan Nasional tidak belajar daripada sejarah. Bencana tsunami politik Mac 2008 tidak mampu membangkitkan mereka daripada tidur lena dan alpa mereka. Adakah mereka tabah menghadapi dugaan rakyat? Adakah mereka tabah menerima hakikat perubahan dan transformasi politik yang pertama kali berlaku dalam sejarah tanah air negara? Atau sebenarnya mereka masih terus leka dan lalai dalam mimpi indah mereka?
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Adakah seseorang pemimpin negara tabah menunggu proses peralihan kuasa atau sebenarnya tidak sabar-sabar hendak berkuasa sehingga meja bekas Perdana Menteri Umno ada juga benda-benda jampi? Apakah maksud jampi tersebut dan siapakah yang melakukannya? Mungkin hanya Tuhan yang tahu.

Adakah pemimpin Umno tabah menerima kelemahan bekas Perdana Menteri Malaysia kelima dan sanggup terus berjuang bersamanya sehingga agenda rakyat dipenuhi dan luka Barisan Nasional diubati? Jawapannya tidak kerana ramai pemimpin yang sudah menunjukkan belang mereka meminta dan menyuruh Pak Lah kesayangannya negara meletak jawatan dan mempercepat proses peralihan kuasa. Sedangkan apabila Pak Lah baharu memegang kuasa suatu ketika dahulu disembah dan dijilat namun pada ketika Pak Lah paling lemah disebabkan kelemahan pemimpin bawahannya belang-belang sudah mula timbul untuk meludah dan memaksa Pak Lah ke jalan buntu dalam karier politiknya.

Adakah Samy Vellu tabah mengharungi perubahan yang melanda negara? Adakah Samy Vellu belajar daripada perubahan undi mendadak kaum India terhadap Pakatan Rakyat dan termasuk PAS berbanding MIC? Jawapanya tidak. Kita lihat bagaimana seorang demi seorang dilucutkan jawatannya apabila mereka bangkit hendak menentang Uncle Sam dalam merebut kerusi Presiden MIC. Siapa yang memecahkan masyarakat India daripada dahulu MIC kepada wujudnya IPF? Siapa yang memecahkan masyarakat India yang dahulunya sebelum merdeka hanya satu kepada puak A dan puak B apabila Subramaniam terus dipinggirkan walaupun layak demi memenuhi kepentingan peribadi dan politik seorang individu?

PPP tidak tabah menerima hakikat parti mereka semakin lemah. PPP tidak belajar bagaimana pepecahan dalam parti yang akhinrya mengundang kepada kekalahan seorang Presiden parti di Taiping. Mereka jauh lebih ekstrem apabila wujudnya PPP A dan B yang kedua-dua pihak mendakwa mereka merupakan parti PPP yang sah. Pergolakan kuasa dalam PPP baru-baru ini bagaikan gambar Hindustan yang mungkin akan mendapat lebih banyak anugerah daripada “Slumdog Millionaire” yang mendapat lapan anugerah antarabangsa.

Gerakan juga tidak tabah menghadapi dugaan yang menimba mereka. Mereka telah cedera dengan parah dan ada juga ramai penganalisis politik berpendapat mereka tidak mampu bangkit menawan Pulau Pinang selama-lamanya. Namun ahli mereka terus dimaki dan ditekan apabila bersuara memperjuangkan sesuatu isu yang melanda negara.

Kita juga lihat bagaimana MCA yang terus berdrama seperti wayang TVB Hong Kong antara Presiden dan Timbalan Parti yang tidak ada pengakhiran sehingga hari ini. Kita lihat bagaimana seorang Presiden parti cuba sedaya upaya menjatuhkan Edison Chen Johor Malaysia berbanding memulihkan kembali undi dan kepercayaan kaum Cina yang semakin hari semakin luntur dan pudar.

Tidak apa. Kita anggap sahaja kesemua tindakan Barisan Nasional ini sebagai bentuk nilai ketabahan mereka dalam mengharungi transformasi politik yang melanda negara. Teruskan.

Nilai 3 — Rendah Hati

Bagaimana Umno yang sombong boleh mencadangkan satu nilai yang tidak mungkin diamalkan oleh mereka? Kita lihat bagaimana seorang sepupu Perdana Menteri yang menghunus keris kepada kaum bukan Melayu supaya tidak mencabar kewibawaan Melayu? Persoalannya kini adakah keris itu satu mesej supaya jangan cabar Melayu atau jangan cabar Umno dan dirinya sendiri?

Kita juga lihat laungan perkongsian kuasa retorik Umno selama ini yang tidak penah memberi sebarang tempat kepada parti lain memegang jawatan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Negara. Perkongsian kuasa apa yang dilaungkan oleh mereka?

Ketua Menteri Melaka dengan suara lantang menyeru PPP keluar daripada perkongsian kuasa Barisan Nasional dan juga kenyataan Tuhan juga tidak mampu tengelamkan Umno. Kelakarnya tidak lama kemudian tidak perlu kuasa Tuhan pun dengan kuasa rakyat Umno hampir nyawa-nyawa ikan dalam pilihan raya lepas.

Rendah hati tidak bermaksud wayang yang dilakonkan oleh seorang pemimpin turun ke padang ke tempat awam dan seterusnya surat khabar memaparkan segala kejadian tersebut.

Nilai 4 — Penerimaan

Adakah Umno sedia menerima demokrasi rakyat yang mahukan perubahan politik apabila rakyat di Perak dicantas demokrasi mereka? Adakah Umno sanggup menerima hakikat di sebuah negara demokrasi rakyat bebas bersuara dan berhimpun secara aman apabila mereka terus melakukan penangkapan dan penahanan?

Bagaimana Umno hendak menerapkan nilai penerimaan sekirannya suara dan undi ahli Umno sendiri tidak dilayan apabila perwakilan memilih Khairy Jamaluddin sebagai Ketua Pemuda mereka namun individu yang kalah pula yang dipilih menjadi menteri.

Setahu saya Umno hanya menerima hakikat rakyat sudah tidak mahukan mereka lagi. Oleh sebab itu, mereka tidak berani bertanding di pilihan raya kecil Penanti. Mereka sudah menerima hakikat kekalahan mereka sebelum bertanding.

Nilai 5 — Integriti

Integriti apa sekiannya polis terus menyalahgunakan kuasa mereka yang sepatutnya menjaga keselamatan rakyat dan negara melakukan tindakan yang tidak menghormati Dewan Undangan Perak? Kita lihat bagaimana kematian boleh berlaku di penjara negara tercinta sendiri.

Kita juga lihat indeks rasuah Malaysia yang semakin hari semakin teruk. Apakah rasuah itu lambang integriti? Kita lihat bagaimana Umno sendiri mempertikaian perlantikan Menteri Besar Terengganu dan adakah tindakan ini berintegriti kepada instutisi beraja? Lihat juga bagaimana mereka cuba mengherat institusi beraja ke kancah politik di Perak dan mempolitikkan isu Kesultanan Perak.

Adakah seorang pemimpin Umno setelah 52 tahun negara merdeka berkata Cina adalah penumpang di negara ini merupakan satu tindakan yang berintegriti?

Cina dan India adalah penumpang tetapi itu adalah Cina dan India dahulu. Dahulu sebelum perkongsian kuasa wujud. Dahulu sebelum kontrak sosial wujud. Dahulu sebelum perlembagaan negara digubal. Cina dan India kini lahir dan mati di tanah ini juga maka kita bukan sahaja penetap tetap bahkan merupakan rakyat Malaysia yang sah dan tulen seperti mana yang termaktub dalam perlembagaan dan seperti mana yang diperjuangkan oleh teras 2 Satu Malaysia iaitu kenegaraan.

Nilai 6 — Kesetian

Siapa yang tidak setia dalam isu yang melanda negeri Perak? Siapa yang menjadi punca kepada rakyat mempertikaikan tindakan Raja? Sebenarnya tindakan rakyat bukan menentang Raja tetapi menentang tindakan Umno yang mengherat Raja ke kancah politik.

Mereka tidak setia pada perlembagaan. Mereka tidak setia pada rakyat Malaysia berbangsa Melayu , Cina, India, Kadazan, Iban dan kesemuanya. Mereka tidak setia pada demokrasi. Mereka tidak setia pada hak asasi. Mereka tidak setia pada dewan.

Kesetian apa yang hendak mereka wujudkan lagi?

Nilai 7 — Meritrokrasi

Adakah Dasar Ekonomi Baharu yang terus bernyawa di negara kita menandakan keadaan meritrokrasi? Selaku rakyat Malaysia bukan niat saya untuk mempertikaikan dasar yang menguntungkan kaum Melayu tetapi penentangan saya ini kerana dasar tersebut gagal menguntungkan Melayu.

Dasar tersebut hanya dan terus menguntungkan Melayu Umno dan Melayu tidak mampu berdirikari sekirannya mereka masih hendak berpaut pada Dasar Ekonomi Baharu. Ramai Melayu yang bijak-bijak belaka dan untuk terus membantu mereka adalah penghinaan kepada mereka yang mampu bersaing dengan semua kaum dan dunia tanpa sebarang polisi dan dasar untuk membantu mereka.

Saya rasa semua agama percaya kepada konsep pahala dan dosa. Semakin banyak kita berbuat baik maka peluangnya semakin cerah untuk bertapak di syurga. Semakin banyak yang berbuat jahat akan cenderung dihukum ke neraka. Begitu juga dengan sistem demoraksi. Semakin banyak kita berusaha dan bekerja maka semakin banyaklah peluang di depan mata kita.

Melayu kini tidak perlu lagi dasar Umno untuk membantu mereka kerana mereka sudah mampu berjaya dalam mana-mana bidang di negara kita dan ramai individu sudah membuktikkan keadaan ini. Mengapa hendak terus menjajah minda Melayu dengan DEB? Adakah Umno sedar apabila Melayu sedar mereka sudah mampu berdikari tanpa bantuan Umno dan pada ketika itulah riwayat Umno akan berakhir? Adakah disebabkan ini Umno terus ingin menjajah minda dan kehidupan Melayu supaya terus bergantung pada laungan Umno? Adakah tindakan ini demi memajukan Melayu atau meneruskan kelansungan Melayu Umno?

Nilai 8 — Pendidikan

Sistem pendidikan apa yang terus melahirkan golongan Mat Rempit yang akhirnya ditaja sendiri oleh Putera Umno? Sistem pendidikan apakah sekirannya kadar pengganguran dalam kalangan graduan semakin hari semakin bertambah? Sistem pendidikan apakah yang menyebabkan bekas Menteri Pelajaran sendiri tidak menghantar anak beliau sendiri belajar di bawah sistem yang dirangka dan dijaganya sendiri?

Kata Umno mereka adalah pejuang bangsa Melayu. Keris dihunus demi Melayu. Namun keris dihunus dan ditikam juga kewibawaan bahasa Melayu mereka sendiri apabila PPSMI tidak lagi diajar dalam bahasa Kebangsaan.

Kesimpulan

Akhirnya adakah konsep 1 Malaysia adalah 1 Malaysia Rakyat atau sebenarnya 1 Malaysia Najib dan Umno? Kesemua laungan hanya sekadar retorik politi semata-mata kerana perpaduan kaum tiada akan bermasalah sekirannya ahli politik sendiri tidak mempolitikkan isu kaum demi kepentingan politik mereka sendiri. Segala-galanya hanya fantasi semata-mata sekirannya semua tindakan dan kenyataan bercanggah dengan konsep yang diperkenalkan.

Najib menyatakan 1 Malaysia berbeza dan Malaysia Malaysian DAP . Realitinya sememangnya terlalu banyak perbezaan dan perbezaan adalah perbezaan perjuangan dan cerminan realiti negara. DAP tidak pernah lari daripada perjuangan dan tindakan mereka secara konsisten terhadap Malaysia Malaysian dan segala yang terdapat dalam Malaysia Malaysian merupakan cerminan realiti Malaysia. Itulah perbezaanya.

Shen Yee Aun ialah Setiausaha Pemuda DAP Klang.

MI
16/12/09

BTN: UMNO racist, religious extremist and supremacist.

Hindraf is dead set against the National Civics Bureau (BTN) courses as it demonises the movement’s chairperson P Waythamoorthy in its modules as Public Enemy No 1.

It’s political wing, the Human Rights Party’s pro-tem secretary-general P Uthayakumar alleged that the Nov 25, 2007 Hindraf protests are screened at BTN courses, and an image of Waythamoorthy is shown, captioned as ‘musuh utama negara’ (public enemy number one).

Meanwhile, DAP’s Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson, M Manoharan said he feared for Indian Malaysians as BTN trainees have systematically implemented Umno’s racist, religious and supremacist policies.

“The standard operating procedure is to implement (what is) taught at BTN courses. They are attemping to portray Indians as dangerous and violent people,” said Manoharan.

He said he “now understood” why a backlog in citizenship applications exists, alleging it was for the “for the benefit of the Malays”.

He suggested that to undo the damage by BTN, an alternative course be held which reflects a fair and accurate picture.

‘Khalid has repented’

When asked Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim’s speeches for the BTN, Manoharan said that Khalid has realised his mistake and has regretted since.

Uthayakumar called for formation of a truth and reconciliation commission, which he said “would allow us to undo the past and move on.”

BTN courses have been under scrutiny following revelations that the courses promote racial supremacy instead of national unity. The bureau comes under the preview of the Prime Minister’s Department.

Pakatan Rakyat-ruled state have banned their staff from attending the courses. Selangor is holding a public forum to discuss the ban tomorrow.

The heated debates over the matter prompted Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to instruct all parties, ministers included, to halt the polemics as he plans to review the BTN modules.

HRP
16/12/09

Utusan Malaysia: Messenger of hate and spite on religion and race

Sitting today in a small group international meeting on the subject of the linkages between religion and development being held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, I am engaged in deep discussion on how to build inter-faith synergies that can effectively address the many pressing challenges of the region.

The group of 15 participants from different faiths and religions (I am possibly the sole atheist participant) includes three Muslim activist colleagues. They are the country director of Muslim Aid from Bangladesh; a Muhammadiyah senior lecturer from the State Institute for Islamic Studies in Walinsongo Semarang, Indonesia; and the executive director of Muslim-based organisation Ummah Fi Salam based in Mindanao that has been working on an interfaith programme called “Building Darusalam” or “peace communities”.

Present also is a Muslim senior lecturer from the National University of Singapore who is actively involved with giving voice to professional Muslim women in Singapore.

Our two-day workshop is part of the research programme under way at Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, and the World Faiths Development Dialogue which has to date covered North America, the Middle East, Europe and Africa, and Latin America. More information is available on the Berkley Center website http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu

What I (and others from the non-Muslim faiths) have gotten from our discussions with these Muslim colleagues is not only of their strong conviction in their religion as a religion of compassion, peace and justice; but also of their view of the need for Muslims to stand up and speak out against disrespect, intolerance or injustice, especially in instances when these actions are carried out in the name of the religion against people of other religions and faiths.

As I return to my laptop to review the latest news from the Utusan Malaysia on developments on race and religion in the country, the contrast between the noble values and reasoned and rational statements of my Muslim colleagues here and the “Islamic supremacy” mindset and irrational and provocative ranting of the newspaper editors makes me wonder what version of Islam the Utusan Malaysia is promoting.

The contrast between these Muslim colleagues committed to values of justice, freedom, equality and peace that are common to all religions and faiths, and the Utusan proponents of a racist and religiously warped social order for Malaysia could not be more striking.

In Cambodia for the workshop, these Muslim advocates for inter-faith understanding and reconciliation come from poorer and less developed societies that have much less in the way of material achievement and socio-economic goods. Yet their respect, lack of envy, compassion and positive attitudes towards other religions shines through in their writings, speeches and actions.

In contrast, our Utusan Malaysia and their compatriots of similar ideology are affluent, well educated and come from the most prosperous and powerful Muslim society in the region. From them what we get are messages of hate, spite, narrow-mindedness and intolerance towards the non-Muslim and non-Malay communities in the country. How sad!

Malaysians are deprived of a free media when industry practitioners become too close to the ruling parties and their newspapers are owned by these parties and their cronies.

Journalists like The Star’s Joceline Tan clinch top awards at the inaugural Umno Media Appreciation Night for her writings, and her RM5,000 and notebook prize presented by no less than the Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak himself. Whereas independent news portals are branded “racist” by the likes of Utusan’s infamous Awang Selamat.

Without a free media, distortions like that purveyed by Utusan news editor Noraini Abd Razak, who refers to the great “benevolence” of the federal government in funding other religions, are left unchallenged.

But according to external sources, “the federal government allocated RM428 million to build Islamic places of worship, and RM8.1 million to build Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, and other places of worship for minority religious groups between 2005 and 2008.”

Contrast this with the Selangor state government under Pakatan which in January 2009 alone allocated RM6 million for non-Muslim places of worship.

PAS’s embattled Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin rebutted Utusan, saying that the Umno Malays were attempting to distort all statements and actions taken by the non-Malay politicians in the Pakatan Rakyat in order to create a false impression that they were “anti-Malay”. “They are doing this everywhere and trying to get the Malays to believe them.”

Now I’ve only just read of the threat to use the ISA on DAP state representative Nga Kor Ming for questioning the lack of government resources to other religious houses of worship between the years 2000 and 2008 compared to the RM748.26 million spent on the construction of 611 mosques.

The thought then occurs to me that if the situation was reversed in Malaysia and there was a non-Muslim majority or if another religion was the religion of the Federation, surely these same people would be concerned about the extent to which the state was practising religious equality and the extent of bias and prejudice that may be inherent in official policies against the Muslims.

The Utusan Malaysia articles highlighted above have little in common with the Islamic values and norms of the great majority of the Muslim community in the country.

There was a phrase used by one of my fellow participants earlier today on the need to reach out to “the religious hardliners however much they may appear to be beyond the pale”. Since non-Muslims cannot reach out to them, it is important that more rational thinking Malaysian Muslims do this and not sit by idly while their co-religionists propagate their messages of fear and hate. — cpiasia.net

Dr. Lim Teck Ghee
Mi
16/12/09

Najib’s Indian party set for implosion

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 — The president of the newly-launched Makkal Sakti party, R.S. Thanenthiran (picture), has issued a warning to his political rivals that he will take disciplinary action against six central committee members including the deputy president for tarnishing his image.

However, he said he will leave it to the central committee to make the final decision.

The central committee was supposed to meet today, but it was called off and re-scheduled for Saturday. However, the Saturday meeting was subsequently called off by Thanenthiran, citing safety issue, among others.

"I do not know whether as the president I have the power to take action against my deputy but I leave to the central committee to decide," he told reporters today.

Makkal Sakti was launched last October by Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

It is one of a host of disparate political parties formed from what remained of the Hindraf movement and is currently facing turmoil with a majority of its central committee member calling for its president to quit with immediate effect.

The group of dissidents, led by deputy president A. Vathemurthy, is claiming the backing of more than 15 out of the 27 central committee members.

MI
16/12/09

Suspended Gerakan VP quits party

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional has lost Gerakan vice president Huan Cheng Guan to newly formed Parti Cinta Malaysia.

Huan (picture) told a press conference at Parliament this morning that he no longer had faith in the leadership of Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon.

“So I am quiting Gerakan not only as its vice president but from the party and joining Parti Cinta Malaysia,” said Huan, who was suspended for three years for being critical of the Gerakan leadership.

He said he made the decision because Gerakan leaders refused to withdraw the suspension.

Last week, Huan told the party leadership he would join another party if the suspension was not lifted within two weeks.

Huan said he could not see why Gerakan could not lift his suspension if Umno could lift the suspension of its former Bukit Bendera chief, Ahmad Ismail.

Huan was suspended on June 29, exactly a month after he threatened to quit Gerakan over party leaders’ refusal to learn from the loss of Penang to Pakatan Rakyat.

On Dec 4, the Umno supreme council lifted Ahmad’s three-year suspension, imposed in September last year.

When Huan was suspended, many branch and division leaders threatened to leave Gerakan. Political observers believe large numbers of them will join DAP or PKR.

Branch leaders from Kubang Ulu, Penanti, Sungai Lembu, Telok Wang, Seberang Jaya and Samagagah were among hundreds who have said they would follow Huan out of Gerakan.

FMT
16/12/09

Malaysians to pay 4% GST from 2011

KUALA LUMPUR: The government intends to begin collecting the goods and services tax at four percent in the middle of 2011, Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said today.

This would give all parties 18 months to get ready for the implementation, he told reporters at the lobby of Parliament House after tabling the Goods and Services Tax Bill (GST) 2009 for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat.

Several groups have voiced their opposition to the GST for fear it will raise the cost of living. The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca), while acknowledging the benefits of the tax, has suggested that it be phased in, beginning at a rate lower than four percent, so that the inflationary effects would not be too oppressive.

The bill, tabled for first reading by Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, will replace the sale tax and the service tax currently imposed and collected under the Sales Tax Act 1972 and the Service Tax Act 1975.

The GST is a broad-based consumption tax based on a value-added concept.

Unlike the present sales tax, which is a single stage tax, the GST is a multi-stage tax.

Payment of tax will be made in stages by the intermediaries in the production and distribution process, according to Bernama.

The tax itself is not a cost to the intermediaries and does not appear as an expense item in their financial statements.

GST covers all sectors of the industry and is a tax on final consumption of goods and services.

It is collected through a credit system by which GST incurred on inputs is offset against GST charged on outputs.

Ahmad Husni described the GST as an efficient tax system and said it would replace the current consumption tax in the form of sales tax and service tax.

With the GST, the government would make RM13 billion in the first year, he said

He also said that businesses would save RM4.1 billion in taxes and the export sector would save RM1.4 billion.

“The government’s main purpose in introducing the GST is to make the taxation system more comprehensive, efficient, effective, transparent and business friendly,” he said.

He said businesses were expected to benefit because the cost of doing business would be lower.

The government is proposing to impose the GST at a rate which is lower than the sales tax and service tax rates and to allow certain exemptions, especially on essential goods, he said. These would include agricultural products like padi and vegetables, basic foods like rice, sugar, flour and cooking oil) and fish, beef and chicken, he added.

Ahmad Husni also said companies with yearly revenues of RM500,000 and less would be exempted.

The second and subsequent readings of the bill would be done during the sitting of the Dewan Rakyat next year, scheduled for March.

Ahmad Husni said this was to give the opportunity for everyone to scrutinise the bill to provide feedback.

FMT
16/12/09

The Herald case decision on Dec 30

KUALA LUMPUR: The Herald, a Catholic weekly, will know on Dec 30 whether it can refer to God as “Allah.”

High Court judge Lau Bee Lan today set the date for the decision after hearing lengthy arguments over an application to challenge the Government’s order prohibiting the weekly from using the word “Allah.”

The publisher, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam, 71, filed the application on Feb 16, asking the court to declare that the use of the name is not exclusive to Islam and that the weekly is entitled to use it.

He named the Home Minister and the Government as respondents.

Senior Federal Counsel Mahamad Naser Disa yesterday submitted that any form of misuse of the sacred word would be an insult to the country’s official religion and the Federal Constitution.

“The applicant has failed to prove that the prohibition order resulted in them not being able to profess their religion,” he said.

“The archbishop also failed to show that the use of the word is an integral part of Christianity.”

Lawyer Mubashir Mansor, who acted for six state religious councils, said restrictions under the Federal Constitution were not meant to discriminate but only to ensure the preservation of Islam.

Lead counsel for the applicant Porres Royan submitted that the ban was invalid as it infringed upon the archbishop’s constitutional rights.

Co-counsel Benjamin Dawson said the case was about whether the minister could dictate to a religious group what to call God.

FMT
16/12/09

Consultant calls for referendum on PPSMI

KUALA LUMPUR: Business consultant E.S. Shankar has called on the government to conduct a nation-wide referendum to gauge the people’s reaction on the teaching of science and matemathics in English (PPSMI – Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam Bahasa Inggeris).

Shankar in an interview with FMT yesterday noted that the government had not released any official statistics to back their decision to reverse a policy implemented five years ago under the Dr Mahathir’s administration.

He pointed out that former Prime Minister Tun Dr.Mahathir Mohamad at www.chedet.co.cc in a recent poll managed to gather the feedback of over 100 000 readers, and 86 percent of them voted against the government’s proposed move to abandon the PPSMI.

Shankar was commenting to Dr Mahathir’s reiteration that the current government was making a mistake in reverting to the use of Bahasa Malaysia for teaching Science and Mathematics.

“I don’t think the government understands the importance of English as a language of knowledge when they decided to switch from English to Malay,” the former Prime Minister said.

Recently, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the government had decided to

revert to Bahasa Malaysia in national schools and Chinese and Tamil in vernacular schools from 2012.

Shankar, in supporting Dr Mahathir’s stand, said that government took their decision before the PPSMI’s implementation had a chance to run its full course. He added that the government should give at least 15 to 20 years to see the true effects of the implementation instead of the mere five years that was given.

Shankar also said that many parents are against science and mathematics being taught in Malay. Saying that the rural children will be left behind if English was used instead “is a very weak argument”, Shankar said.

“With the right teachers and methods, anyone can master a language.”

Shanakar stressed that nobody is against the Bahasa Malaysia in the school curriculum; in fact everyone agrees that it should be a compulsary subject. “However, English should be retained in certain areas to keep abreast with the rest of the world,: Shankar said.

Audit executive Serlin Lim (picture) told FMT that although she supports the teaching of science and mathematics in English, she thinks that the implementation should have been done step by step.

“Many colleges and universities are educating their students in English and it is only logical for the use and practice to be started at the lower levels. However, the educators should be well prepared to be able to teach in English,” she said.

Students who were subjected to the change to English from five years ago also agreed with.Mahathir’s views. Siyamala Kamalanathan, (picture) a student in a private collage told FMT that she and many of her friends think that it will be an advantage for students to learn those subjects in English, especially useful when they continue at the tertiary level.

“It will be easier for the students to cope in colleges especially overseas if they are trained in English,” she added.

She echoed Serlin’s view in saying that the teachers should be adequately trained first in order for the teaching of science and mathematics in English to be truely effective.

FMT
16/12/09

'1Malaysia should be changed to 1Melayu'

Salmiah Hassan: As a Malaysian (and Malay), I cannot understand how semi-literates like Zaini and Awang are allowed free rein in what used to be a paper of repute. For one thing, it may indicate the level of thinking in most institutions that seem to be run and ruined by such mediocre people.

No wonder the number of Malays applying to leave the country. You know, I am a product of the Universiti Malaya in 70s and early 80s and I cannot imagine that such an article could even see the light of day. It's is these journalists and organisations that need to be investigated.

Lt Cdr (B)M: Woe betide BN if no action is taken against Awang Selamat and Zaini Hassan. They ought to be in a ISA cell for stoking racial sentiments. BN will be doomed in the next election if the PM is going to condone Utusan Malaysia's dangerous moves.

Remember, the ‘Modern Melayu' are neither stupid nor sleeping. They will teach Umno and Utusan a good lesson soon.

Naren: If the police or the home minister are not going to take action against Zaini for insulting the Indians, the rakyat will have to take action against Utusan and Zaini. This by boycotting Utusan. Don't buy it and ask the Indian vendors not to supply it.

X'roy: The MIC's police report is the biggest joke, I'd like MIC president S Samy Vellu to say something derogatory about the Malays in general and then let's see what happens. He can pick on the man who is his biggest critic now, Dr Mahathir Mohamad and if he does not know what to say, I'll tell him.

Obama: The problem in this country is not race or sodomy or citizenship, etc. The real issue is mismanagement, theft and the conning of the rakyat of the country's wealth by those so-called leaders.

The rakyat are the victims left without justice while the perpetrators walk away scot-free. Utusan Malaysia just cannot think straight on this because they are also partners in the mismanagement.

Cala: What happened to MCA/Gerakan/MIC? Are they not seen as condoning Utusan Malaysia's racist comments by behaving as if they are not around? Are they, like our schoolchildren, are also on school holidays? Are they mute?

Anak Desa: Whether it is Zaini Hassan or Awang Selamat, it boils down to their ‘kurang ajar' upbringing by their parents. It also reflects their ‘pariah' status in society where they try to gain prominence by creating controversial issues. Pity their families.

SusahKes: Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, why so quiet on all these issues? From the ‘frivolous' private investigator P Balasubramaiam to your elegant silence on Umno racists.
Have you, too, caught on Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's ‘sleeping on the job' disease albeit, with your eyes open?

TAS: I wonder what Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Perak BN MB Zambry Abd Kadir and others of the same DKK/ADK have to say. They have no shame or self-respect that they allow an ignorant, half-educated moron to get away with insulting their very existence.

Wong Chee Kong: Mr PM, why your eerie dead silence? Does this mean that you also condone and consent to Utusan's persistence and consistent actions? Silence means consent.

Ganasan Kailasanathan: If Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein cannot decide and act in a fair and just manner against Utusan, it is in the best interest of the nation that he relinquish his post as a minister and MP with immediate effect and pass the baton to some one more capable and dignified.

Ric: Utusan = Umno = Racist!

Gerald Akt: This ‘1Malaysia' concept is very misleading and confusing, Mr Prime Minister. How do you explain about some people and news media raising racial sentiments with no action being taken against them?

Ramachandran Muniandy: To name a few DKKs - Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Abdul Gani Patil, Hassan Merican, Ani Arope, Zambry Abd Kadir, Elias Omar, Haniff Omar, Anwar Ibrahim, Ibrahim Saad, Nor Mohd Yakcop and many others.

I can go more but space doesn't permit me. Please remember that the first Malaysian permanent UN representative was an Indian. So Utusan, please don't tell grandmother stories.

Code10: Dear Najib, it is time to stop the buck here once and for all. If you desire the ‘1Malaysia' concept to succeed, it is time Malaysians stand up now and be counted. Otherwise it is just a slogan lost in the sea of confusion.

Bapak Toyol: Zaini Hassan has a skewed and warped mindset and chooses to remain ignorant. Shame on you. Najib, stop promoting ‘1Malaysia'. 1Malaysia should be changed to ‘1Melayu'.

Pak Ubu: Umno has no more feet left to stand on since it has been shooting itself in the foot for too long. Before it collapses in a rubbery heap, it will do everything in its power to drag everybody else down to gutter level politics.

MK
12/12/09

The Beautiful Face of Malaysia

The beautiful face of Malaysia

True muhibbah - not BN's fake freak show

Meet Bangsa Malaysia

The Great General - Lim Kit Siang

Anwar - the charismatic leader of Pakatan

GL 12/12/09

UMNO-BN regime has neither the political will nor the principles to undo the damage done to this country and institution after decades of misrule.

Well, it looks like I’m not the only one who thinks UMNO-BN are behaving like headless, fascist chickens with their ill-conceived ISA sweep.

Here’s a brilliantly re-scripted satirical video from Kav’s Kollage – adapted from the semi-documentary film ‘Der Untergang‘, originally about the last days of Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich. Kav’s version has been very cleverly re-contextualised for the political situation in Malaysia, and addresses the impending downfall of Das Bee-En Reich.

Congratulations, kamerad Kavi, this is currently the hottest video on the Malaysian net. For anyone who hasn’t seen it yet, enjoy.

On a more serious note: There are very real and disturbing similarities between UMNO and the German National Socialist (Nazi) Party.

UMNO Fascists emulate the Nazis . 12 Sept 2008

Even a cursory comparison between UMNO and the Nazis throws up unmistakable parallels — historical revisionism building up to a constructed myth of racial supremacy, usually packaged behind a facade of ‘nationalism’; the sustained use of violence or threats against minorities to quell dissent; totalitarian tendencies to control information and thought through control of the media and educational institutions; consistent anti-intellectualism, rampant corruption, manipulation of the judiciary and abuse of the police/military to further the ends of the ruling party…

It’s all been done before – by Hitler’s Nazi party in pre-war Germany, and by their contemporaries, Mussolini’s Fascists in Italy.

Hitler and the Brownshirts - Nuremberg

Over 70 years ago – prior to WW2, Hitler and his Nazi party came to power by creating a myth of racial supremacy, systematically manufacturing accusations against the Jews, Gypsies, ‘inferior races’ and other so-called ‘undesirables’ and then launching pogroms against political opponents and anyone who opposed them.

Today, we see UMNO resorting to the same fascist methods to cling to power, using as their weapons the Polis di-raja Malaysia and the Internal Security Act.

IGP Musa Hassan - UMNO Enforcer

UMNO has been exceedingly successful in suborning the police to their purposes. The PDRM have long given up any pretence of being an independent guardian of the law, and instead subordinate themselves happily to the paranoid whims of a fascist regime, becoming UMNO’s blunt (and particularly dense) instrument with which to batter opponents. The PDRM has thus goose-stepped nicely into the jackboots of the Gestapo, trampling our civil liberties underfoot in the much-abused name of ‘national security’.

Gestapo officers

One of the defining characteristics of the German Gestapo (Geheime Staatspolizei – ‘Secret State Police) was a particular power called the Schutzhaft – the power to arrest and detain an individual without trial – usually on trumped-up charges. Like Malaysia’s Internal Security Act, the Schutzhaft circumvented the judicial system and thus removed the ‘problem’ of accountability for the Gestapo. The ‘charges’ that were used by the Gestapo to justify their use of the Schutzhaft ranged from ‘being a Jew’, ‘collaborating with the enemy’, ‘activities against the interests of the Reich’, ‘making defeatist statements’, etc.

The fate of the arrested individual would often be decided arbitrarily by the immediate commanding officer of the Gestapo, and was not subject to judicial review. The usual result for the victim was summary execution or deportation to a concentration camp. Apart from the known victims of the Gestapo, tens of thousands others simply ‘disappeared’ while in Gestapo custody during WW2.

The Gestapo was thus actively used to persecute opposition to the Nazi regime, assist in the persecution of the Jews and to terrorise the populace into submission by thier repressive methods and reputation.

Deputy IGP Ismail Omar

The unquestioning willingness of the PDRM and especially the Special Branch to use extra-judicial methods like the Internal Security Act on opponents of the UMNO-BN regime has exactly the same sinister undertones as the historical Gestapo and their Schutzhaft.

The PDRM have not begun executing victims of the ISA yet (though the unfortunate Altantuya Shariibuu should qualify as a victim) but if left unchecked, it is only a matter of time before the PDRM and their Special Branch offshoot become the new Gestapo – a blunt instrument of repression to prolong the existence of a fascist regime.

This is why regime change is necessary. The UMNO-BN regime has neither the political will nor – it has to be said – the principles to undo the damage it has done to this country and its institutions after decades of misrule. A comprehensive change of government and de-Nazification — I mean de-UMNOisation — programme will be necessary to set Malaysia back on the right track.

Despite the latest ‘assurances’ from Abdullah that the ISA will not be used again even as the current political crisis comes to a head, this is not something we can afford to take for granted. We may even assume that Abdullah is not fully in control of the situation, and that self-interested parties like the UMNO hardline faction and the police command may try to take things into their own hands. It has happened before.

It will be necessary, I think, to maintain a state of high alert over the next few days and be ready to mobilise to defend Anwar and the key Pakatan leaders from the ISA-philic PDRM-Gestapo’s favourite ambush-and-grab tactics.

Let’s see PDRM-Gestapo arrest 20,000 people, 30,000 people, 50,000 people if they can.

A wounded beast is a dangerous beast, and UMNO is grieviously wounded now.

Now, we need to deliver the coup de grace to this beast, as quickly as possible, before the damage to this country becomes irreparable.

GL

12/12/09

Ahmad Ismail: UMNO’s racist thug and poster child for the dangers of inbreeding.

Heaven knows Malaysia has suffered more than her fair share of pustulent bigots, but Bukit Bendera UMNO chief Ahmad Ismail takes the definition of ‘pustulent bigot’ to even more putrid depths, first with his racist tirade against ‘Chinese squatters’ during the Permatang Pauh campaign, and now his equally fetid defiance in the face of public outrage.

The delicious irony is that this inbred, racist thug has done far more damage to UMNO than to anyone else, really. Even better, he’s actually managed to insult his own UMNO leadership as well in the process. It takes real talent to be be able to do all that. Of course, this festering sac of pus pretending to be a human being rationalises that he is doing a great service to bigotkind.

So, the question is: will Badawi and Najib make an example of Ahmad Ismail to stamp out the growing UMNO mutiny (no one expects them to disown the statement and make a real apology to the Chinese and minorities), or will they quietly appease the extremist faction represented by this rabid dog, who after all was only reiterating the racist sentiments so often uttered in the past by UMNO leaders – including Najib himself?

It does not matter now. Either way, great damage has been done to UMNO, and to a lesser extent, BN.

This is what happens when one interbreeds and inbreeds racists and thugs: In its quest for ‘racial supremacy’ UMNO has instead succeeded in producing a new breed of untermenschen – vile, gibbering, inbred creatures dripping with corruption and fattened on the twin poisons of bigotry and ignorance (Much like J.R.R. Tolkien’s Orcs and Uruk-hai); vermin like Ahmad Ismail, Hishammudin, Khairy, Najib, Bung Radin, Nazri Aziz, Adnan Yaakob, Hashim Suboh… the list goes on and on.

Ironically, the fool has inadvertently helped us advance the popular, multiracial platform of Pakatan Rakyat, by highlighting (yet again) the undisguised racism within UMNO. We could spend hours (and we do) expounding the virtues of the Bangsa Malaysia principle – ‘colourblind’ Malaysian multiculturalism – and still be scarcely more convincing than having this vile creature demonstrate for us the dangers of bigotry.

That UMNO should be undone by the rantings of one of its own racist dogs is but poetic justice.

May I suggest that when Pakatan Rakyat reclaims our country from the UMNO-BN regime, we each send a thank-you card to Ahmad Ismail for his ‘help’.

GL

12/12/09

As Usual, MIC have no say in anything, Hishamuddin: Simpang Renggam centre to remain open

SEREMBAN, Dec 11 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein today said that the ministry would not entertain any requests for the government to close down the Simpang Renggam detention camp in Johor.

He said this was because the people who were sent to the camp were those who had violated laws.

“Their detentions have nothing to do with the colour of their skin, political ideologies or religious beliefs,” he told reporters after opening the 89th annual general meeting of the Police Association here today.

The MIC today had asked the government to close down the camp, saying that it had become a breeding ground for more criminals.

Meanwhile, on the proposed amendments to the Internal Security Act (ISA), Hishammuddin said the amendment bill would probably be tabled during the next Parliament sitting.

“So far, I’m very happy with the input. Actually, the ISA controversy revolves mainly around five important issues, including the power of the minister, the fear that the ISA might be used for political purposes, the treatment received by the detainees and their families, and detention without trial,” he added.

Mi
12/12/09

Pak Lah and his ridiculous defence of the BTN

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11— Tun Abdullah Badawi was disappointing in office and just as disappointing out of office. His five years was punctuated by a fear of upsetting Umno even when he knew the party was on a path of damnation.

And even now he is scared of upsetting the party, even though he knows the Biro Tata Negara veered off course a long time ago.

His ministers had told him that the BTN was playing a divisive role but he did not do anything.

So his comments today should be taken for what they are: comments of a former senior BTN official.

He remains so obsessed with trying to avoid upsetting anyone that he has chosen to side with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, by defending the man who hounded him out of office.

The evidence of BTN’s overt racism has been overwhelming.

Course participants — many of them Malay — have come out to offer testimonies of the racist indoctrination that is the BTN.

The Chinese and other non-Malay communities continue to be labelled as “pendatang” or immigrants during such courses which are compulsory for new civil servants and public university undergraduates.

Malays participants are constantly reminded that this country is a “Malay” land which they must strive to defend against the threat posed by their fellow countrymen, the non-Malays.

But Abdullah chose to side with the very same hawks in his party who pressured him to leave office.

He also said today that the BTN courses remain relevant because they promoted the concept of 1Malaysia to the public.

This is a preposterous statement if ever there was one.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia concept, while vague, is ostensibly about promoting racial unity and better sense of belonging to the country among all communities.

To suggest that BTN courses will help promote 1Malaysia is something that boggles the mind.

Abdullah was a former director of BTN, and he claims that it was not racist during his time. But he was told while he was PM that it had become a racist institution.

Now, the current PM, Najib, has been told the same thing, and has directed the programme to be overhauled.

If Abdullah cannot help Najib to reform the BTN, he should perhaps consider staying silent.

MI
12/12/09

mi1: He is playing political games, being good in Mahathir's book, promoting his son in law for DPM post, such an ass hole.

Malaysia is racist country and UMNO is promoting it with full heart, United nation should endorse Malaysia as an apartheid country

Malaysian politics have been rather racial right from the start. The three parties in the original Alliance which gained independence represented the Malays, Chinese and Indians, with Umno being the most dominant.

After the race riots of May 1969, the politics of race became much, much more pronounced especially with Umno’s attempts to redress the imbalance against Malays by drastic measures. It was that which laid the basis for those NCB courses, which often had the agenda of raising awareness of Malay rights, often to the exclusion of Malaysian ones.

It was, according to some of those who attended these courses, rather racial if not racist and while there were some non-Malays who attended these courses, the composition was predominantly Malay and dealt mostly with Malay rather than Malaysian issues.

There could have been yet another agenda. Umno derives its power from Malays and it was necessary for it to continuously court that from the Malays. There is little doubt that the NCB courses were used for this as well. If Umno’s coalition partners did not object, it was because Umno was dominant.

But things are changing. An increasing number of Malaysians are realising the dangers of racial division and lack of unity and feel the need to do something about it – something that will make all Malaysians feel they belong.

Somewhere along the line, we must realise that fighting for Malay rights (or Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, Orang Asli etc rights) does not ever make us more nationalistic — fighting for Malaysian rights does. There is no such thing as a Malay nationalist just as there is no such thing as a Chinese or any other but a Malaysian nationalist.

The day we all realise that, that is the day we will start thinking of ourselves as Malaysians first before anything else. That’s not an easy mindset to build because you have to destroy first the false edifices of more than half a century which extolled championing the rights of individual races.

History teaches us that all of us were at some time or other “pendatang” – it’s a question of when. Even the orang asli came here from elsewhere. Science tells us that we may have all descended from the African Eve tens of thousands of years ago.

And genetics tells us without a doubt that there is no inherent difference in our genes that makes us different in terms of intelligence or ability from anyone else.

Under our skin, our language, our religion and our culture we are much more similar than most of us realise. Education should make us realise all these beyond a shadow of a doubt.

When these are the true lessons that we choose to impart to our children, the process of integration becomes so much easier – we simply point out to them that we are basically the same and that our differences are artificial and perfectly surmountable.

You can debate about how much to help Malays and other disadvantaged communities and how you should go about this so that there is maximum benefit to the community as a whole instead of privileged groups and individuals.

But you should not have to debate about whether you or I or the other is more Malaysian. You are either Malaysian or you are not. The Constitution provides for only one class of citizenship. Measures put in there for the sake of social redress don’t count in terms of citizenship. Period.

A complete revamp of not just the NCB course is necessary but a dire need to change the entire way we look at race and Malaysians. We must emphasise national aspirations and de-emphasise racial ones. We must treat Malaysians equally.

If we help all disadvantaged Malaysians we automatically help disadvantaged communities more. That should be the basic thrust of policy — to help all Malaysians irrespective of race so that eventually race matters little and racism dies.

11/12/09

Three independent minded judges who made rulings displeasing the Barisan Nasional government will be transferred

KUALA LUMPUR: It is confirmed that three independent minded judges who made rulings displeasing the Barisan Nasional government will be transferred and Chief Justice Zaki Azmi (picture) is defending the move.

To be transferred from the High Court’s Appellate and Special Powers Division to the High Court’s Commercial Division from Jan 1 are judges Alizatul Khair Osman Khairuddin, Lau Bee Lan and Justice Mohamad Ariff Md Yusoff.

Zaki said the decision was made three months ago and had nothing to do with the judges’ rulings. It was to expose them to different ambits of the law so that they could be considered for promotion, a news report quoted him as saying.

However, according to The Sun, he admitted that all three had yet to be shortlisted for promotion. But he said their exposure to different specialties would give them experiences necessary to be considered for promotion.

“I assume the inference is (that the transfers are) because they made decisions which did not favour the authorities,” he said in his e-mail to the newspaper.

“ Why is it other transfers do not attract as much interest? Does this mean these judges have to be kept there forever?”

Opposition leaders and civil society have alleged that the Malaysian judiciary is subservient to the ruling Barisan Nasional executive.

They said the recent cases handled by the three judges who made independent rulings clearly indicated the reasons for their transfers.

Alizatul declared on Nov 16 that Umno’s Abu Hassan Sarif was no longer the state assemblyman for Kota Siputeh and ordered the Election Commission to call a by-election. The commission has since filed an appeal.

Last March 6, Lau heard an application by deposed Perak Mentri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin of Pas that challenged the legitimacy of his successor, Zambry Abdul Kadir of Umno.

She ruled that the Federal Court must determine four constitutional questions before deciding who the rightful mentri besar is.

The Federal Court, however, contended that Lau had not followed proper procedure and returned the case to the High Court under Justice Abdul Aziz Abd Rahim, whose decision was in favour of Mohammad Nizar. That decision was overturned on appeal.

Mohamad Ariff on Nov 19 ruled that the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) could not question witnesses beyond normal office hours.

He held that the MACC acted illegally in detaining Kajang Municipal Council councillor Tan Boon Wah of Pakatan Rakyat overnight in a probe concerning the misuse of allocations for state assemblymen. Political aide Teoh Beng Huat was found dead outside the MACC office during that investigation.

FMT
11/12/09

mi1: UMNO's power in bolehland country

MIC wants local 'Guantanamo Bay' shut down

MIC wants the government to close down the infamous Simpang Renggam detention camp in Johor, dubbed Malaysia's Guantanamo Bay, as it has outlived and probably deviated from its purpose of rehabilitating inmates.

Party president S Samy Vellu said MIC felt the detention camp built in 1986 to act as a rehabilitation centre, has become a "breeding ground" for more criminals, especially among the Indians, instead of rehabilitating them.

"Petty criminals who are sent there (the camp) graduate to become hardcore criminals," he told reporters after opening the MIC Youth workshop on crime prevention among Indian youth in Petaling Jaya.

To a question, Samy Vellu said he was aware that several non-governmental organisations also wanted the camp to be closed.

The camp houses detainees held under the Emergency Ordinance and the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985, as well as convicts and remand prisoners.

Relocate inmates to modern prisons

Former detainees, the Bar Council, and the parliamentary caucus on human rights have described poor conditions of detention, overcrowded cells, inedible food infested with worms, limited access to fresh air or exercise, and unhygienic living conditions.

Samy Vellu who visited the camp in 2007 as the then works minister, pointed out that the camp was also overcrowded and inmates were living in "filthy conditions".

It was reported that the camp could only accommodate 2,000 inmates but was now catering for more than 4,000 inmates.

Samy Vellu suggested that inmates who were serving their jail sentences, be relocated to modern prisons such as in Sungai Buloh, while inmates who were yet to be charged in court be brought before the courts to face punishments.

"For inmates who could not be charged in courts for various reasons, we feel they should be made to do community service and transferred to another rehabilitation camp with modern facilities," he said.

The former works minister said during his visit to the camp, he had personally talked to several inmates who complained that they were supposed to be detained for two years, but claimed that the authorities had extended their remand.

Samy Vellu said he was confident Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein would consider the MIC's request or find an alternative solution to it.

Mk

11/12/09

Indians should burn Utusan Malaysia papers openly

By now i am sure you are aware of the latest Utusan Malaysia acticle that condemns not only Msian Indians but also all the Indians around the world. As an Indian, i feel offended by their harsh words, by labeling us kaki kecoh etc.

This is not the first time and it will not be the last time either. MIC/Pakatan/NGOs have made few police reports on this issue but as we all know, no further action will be taken. Well this only happens Bolehland.

So here I would like to propose a suggestion on how to tackle this problem from repeating. As a Tamil say "engge adicha valikummo, angge thaan adikenum" (hit there, where it pain more), my suggestion will be similar to that. As for now, Indians are the main distributor for newspapers in Msia.

I propose that KL/Selangor Indian Newspaper Vendors take this role to teach Utusan a lesson. Boycott the newspaper distribution until they appologise. It can be start in KL/Selangorn then move to whole Msia.

If my suggestion seems to be a liitle harsh, I am sorry. I dont have any confidence on police/Home ministry/AG to take action on this matter.

I hope you can you your influence to request for this boycott. I have tried contacting the President of the association but im getting the " nombor yang anda panggil tiada dalam perkhidmatan' message only.

I hope this will teach them a nice lesson. Show them the powers that we have. Already showed them during 2008, now let's show again.

Hope you can propose this suggestion to the relevant parties.

Penolakan BTN dibuat atas dasar penolakan agenda perkauman

Modul BTN rencam, tidak rasional — Muhammad Hilman Idham

DIS 11 — ISU Biro Tata Negara (BTN) sudah menjadi bualan setiap anggota masyarakat lebih-lebih lagi apabila berlaku pertarungan mulut Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz dan bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Idea dan cadangan Kabinet negara untuk melakukan rombakan modul berkenaan mendapat tentangan Dr Mahathir yang mempertahankan bahawa ia baik dan tidak perlu dirombak.

Idea Dr Mahathir ini kemudian mendapat sokongan kebanyakan pimpinan Umno termasuk Timbalan Perdana Menteri sendiri.

Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) turut mengeluarkan kenyataan pendirian berkenaan isu ini. Mungkin ramai yang menganggap bahawa mahasiswa sekadar ingin turut campur hal-hal politik.

Namun, saya berpandangan bahawa mahasiswa bertanggungjawab untuk turut bersuara menyatakan pendirian mereka kerana mahasiswa adalah antara kumpulan sasaran yang dikehendaki untuk menghadiri sesi BTN.

Suara mahasiswa kali ini selari dengan suara kebanyakan mantan pengendali BTN bahawa BTN adalah program yang tidak sihat. Penuh dengan hal-hal perkauman, memecahbelahkan masyarakat serta menekan peserta untuk taklid pada pihak-pihak tertentu.

BTN adalah sebuah program yang saya kira relevan jika dijalankan dengan modul dan cara implementasi yang baik dan penuh tanggungjawab untuk membangunkan semangat patriotisme dalam kalangan masyarakat khususnya anak muda. Namun, malang kerana ia tidak begitu.

Kebanyakan mahasiswa yang menghadiri program ini kecewa kerana unsur-unsur perkauman masih lagi wujud. Mungkin pengendali belum sedar bahawa landskap politik sudah berubah dan idea-idea perkauman ini sudah mula ditolak keras oleh sebahagian besar masyarakat termasuk juga parti-parti komponen dalam Barisan Nasional.

Namun ada juga mahasiswa yang tidak bersetuju dengan usaha dan pendirian SMM untuk memboikot program BTN ini atas alasan pernah menghadiri dan ia ternyata menarik untuk mahasiswa.

Program BTN mempunyai pelbagai modul dan cara implementasi yang berbeza mengikut latar belakang peserta.

Penyertaan daripada peserta yang keseluruhannya Melayu akan mendapat layanan dan cara kendalian yang berbeza dengan penyertaan peserta yang keseluruhannya rencam dengan keterlibatan pelbagai kaum. Hal ini yang berlaku dalam BTN.

Namun, SMM tetap dengan prinsip menolak segala manipulasi dan agenda perkauman sempit bagi kepentingan sesetengah pihak. Idea membenci sesetengah individu juga adalah perkara yang ditolak kerana ia adalah menggunakan program agensi kerajaan ini sebagai alat untuk meraih sokongan.

Mahasiswa sebagai masyarakat kampus yang terpelajar seharusnya bijak dan sudah layak untuk menyatakan pendirian dan pandangan mereka.

Penolakan BTN dibuat atas dasar penolakan agenda perkauman yang dibawa, idea-idea yang memecahbelahkan masyarakat dan penggunaan agensi kerajaan sebagai alat untuk meraih sokongan politik.

Harus dibezakan parti politik dan kerajaan.

Ini adalah hasil daripada pengalaman kebanyakan mahasiswa yang telah menghadiri program berkenaan.

Sekiranya tetap mahu dipertahankan, ia tidak menjadi masalah yang besar. Sebaliknya kerajaan harus bersedia untuk mendedahkan modul dan cara implementasi yang diguna pakai dalam program ini.

Masyarakat saya kira sudah cukup matang untuk menilai dengan sendirinya.

Mahasiswa juga tidak melihat apa rasionalnya untuk mewajibkan penerima tajaan dan biasiswa kerajaan serta mahasiswa yang akan ke luar negara untuk menghadiri program berkenaan.

Pasti ada sebab mengapa mereka diwajibkan penyertaannya, namun ia tetap ditolak sekiranya ternyata ia dimanipulasikan untuk kepentingan politik pihak tertentu.

Oleh itu, atas semangat reformasi kepada perubahan yang lebih baik dan cocok dengan keadaan dan situasi semasa, saya kira relevan untuk dirombak dan dikaji semula.

Malah, sekiranya turut terbukti bahawa BTN tidak sihat dan digunakan sebagai alat untuk meraih sokongan pihak-pihak tertentu maka ia harus terus dimansuhkan segera.
Mempunyai foto sukan yang hebat? Bolehkah ia memenangi pertandingan foto ini?

Muhammad Hilman Idham merupakan pemimpin Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia.

Mi
11/12/09

'Keling' blood: 'Utusan has immunity'

'If, say, an Indian or Chinese counterpart of 'Zaini Hassan' or 'Awang Selamat' had insulted the Malay community in another paper, the ‘fair-minded' home minister would have no hesitation in shutting down the paper.'

Of noisy Indians and 'keling' blood: Utusan strikes again

Tan Kian Khim: This latest Utusan Malaysia article, combined with the reinstatement of Penang Umno chief Ahmad Ismail will do wonders for Umno's credibility among clear-minded Malaysians.

If, say, an Indian or Chinese counterpart of 'Zaini Hassan' or 'Awang Selamat' had insulted the Malay community in another paper, the ‘fair-minded' Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (who saw fit to personally defend the Umno-backed Shah Alam cow's head hooligans) would have no hesitation in applying the ISA to shut down the paper and arrest the writer for making 'seditious remarks'.

But we all know who pays Zaini Hassan and Awang Selamat's bills.

Lee Tat Fatt: Hello, Mr PM, promoter of ‘1Malaysia'. What have got to say about this? Nothing I guess. But one thing is for sure. If a Tamil newspaper insulted the Malays, we all know what would happen (that's right - they would be classified as a threat to the security of nation).
Acode168: Najib, on one hand you talk about ‘1Malaysia', on the other you use the Umno-controlled media to provoke racial issues amongst the Malays. Please don't think the rakyat are all stupid and blind.

Rayfire: To the Umno-led BN government, you are the pinnacle of double standards. This Utusan Malaysia is raising sensitive issues on a daily basis and you keep quiet. But you go after people who hold candlelight vigils saying they are a threat to the nation.

As for the Utusan journalist, he is continuing his tirade because of immunity provided by the owner of this newspaper. And people like those ‘cow head' protestors who accept it as the gospel truth will go on to harass fellow citizens saying they are second-class citizens.

Habib RAK: DKK apparently stands for ‘Darah Keturunan Keling'. I'm a proud DKK. It's an undeniable fact that my grandparents are from India. Other than the Orang Asli, everybody else in Malaysia is also a DK-something.

They are either ‘Darah Keturunan Cina, Indonesia (Java, Aceh, etc), Thailand, Burma, Philippines, English, Dutch, Portugese, Japan, Arab.

A commentator has pointed out that ‘Melayu' means ‘runaways' in the Javanese language. Thus all of who originated from another locality are Melayu in Malaysia. But I know that all of us are now proud Malaysians and we are doing our best for our beloved country Malaysia.

Only those who have a skewed and warped mindset choose to remain ignorant. Zaini Hassan is just one example of an ignorant (jahil).

Paradox: Zaini and the editor of Utusan Malaysia are another product of BTN. Zaini, I hope one day your daughter will fall in love with an Indian man and marry him.

Karma: MIC is wasting their time lodging a police report. For what? You think the police are so free to drive all the way out to arrest him? There is no promotion benefit for the policemen involved.

The police only act on instructions. They should find time to catch snatch thieves for that would be better.

Nazr: Since most newspapers vendors and distributors are Indians, I suggest they all retaliate by refusing to sell this crappy newspaper. This is the only way to really hurt them.

Chipmunk: The Malays originated in Yunnan, China. They Proto-Malays were also known as Jakun. They were seafaring people. Probably because of their seafaring way of life or trading, they were believed to have lived in coastal Borneo.

They then expanded into Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. A Portuguese historian, Godinho de Eredia, referred to the Malays as Saletes (Orang Selat, or People of the Straits). Hindu influence on Malay culture is historically very great.

A large number of the Malays were Hindus before they were converted to Islam in the 15th century. So Zaini, who is the ‘keling'?

Zainal: Is Zaini Hasan describing Dr Mahathir Mohamad?

Greyhame: No need for words, great need for votes. How I pray that the next general election will come soon.

MK
11/12/09

Sleeping beast strikes again, defending mamak racists,

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 — Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today defended his old nemesis Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and proclaimed that the controversial National Civics Bureau (BTN) “is certainly not racist”.

Dr Mahathir has been attacked by Minister in the Prime Minister Department’s Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz for defending the civics programme.

The continued row has led to Nazri calling Dr Mahathir the “father of all racism” when the former party president told Nazri to resign from Umno because if he were against racism, he should not be in a racist party.

Abdullah refused to be dragged into Nazri’s spat with Dr Mahathir but stressed that BTN as an institution was never racist.

“I am not going to get into that. I want to talk about BTN and to the extent that when I was involved the programme was not racist.

“As far as I know, the history of BTN from then till now was not meant to provide modules which were racist. I was involved in BTN during Tun Razak’s premiership and there was no form of racism in the programme. If any individuals were racist then I do not know but the programmes were not racist.

“During Tun Razak’s era, many programmes were focused on the New Economic Policy and role of students. During Tun Mahathir’s time, many of the programmes were related to Wawasan 2020, so to say that the programmes are racist then it is not true at all. If there are individuals that were racist, then it’s a different matter. As an institution, then it is not racist,” he told reporters at the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM) here.

Abdullah said the BTN is still relevant because it helps to promote and teaches the concept of 1 Malaysia to the public.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders have accused the ruling Barisan Nasional federal government of using BTN to brainwash civil servants and tertiary students to hate the opposition and asked why BTN is not open to public and conducted in secrecy.

Former BTN participants have also revealed that they were not allowed to bring in their mobile phones and other electronic media gadgets while course notes were not allowed to be taken out of the lecture hall.

However, Abdullah claimed that BTN was never held in secrecy.

“It has never been secret. What is so secret about it? I am not aware of documents not being allowed to be taken outside of the lectures.

“When I was involved I know that it was not racist. I also had very specific instructions on what to do on organising courses with booklets, and the list of all lecturers from institutions of higher education to provide lectures,” he said.

He stressed that the issue has been politicised and many of the allegations against the civics programme were mere fabrications and pointed out that opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was also involved in the programme.

“I think there are a lot of stories which are not true here but I must qualify that I was not the only to handle the BTN during that time, there were others also. At one period Datuk Seri Anwar also was looking into BTN.

“I think it is no use for us to debate on this matter because what is important that we want this institution to be continued with the good intention of create awareness of the programmes that the government has brought forward.

“I also heard that there have been proposals for a new curriculum but it only means that new curriculum is inline with 1 Malaysia. Back then it was Wawasan 2020, before that it was the New Economic Policy and I was involved back then,” he explained.

BTN came under public scrutiny recently after Pakatan Rakyat-ruled Selangor prohibited state civil servants and students in state-owned institutions of higher education from attending its courses, claiming that they were an indoctrination process by the Barisan Nasional government and aimed at brainwashing Malaysians to hate opposition parties.

PR leaders and former participants have also claimed that the courses were racist and emphasised the idea of Malay superiority.

MI
11/12/09

mi1: wonder whether he really knows the content of BTN, promoting his son in law for deputy minister's posts

Of noisy Indians and 'keling' blood: Utusan strikes again

The Umno-owned Malay daily Utusan Malaysia has once again trampled on racial sensitivities, earning it another two more police reports.

The reports were filed by MIC Youth's racial integration bureau chief MT Padmanathan and PKR Batu Youth member V Ravindran with the Sentul police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Both parties were incensed by a column published yesterday under the heading 'Alkishah India di India dan India di Malaysia' (The tale of Indians in India and Indians in Malaysia).

Among others, the writer Zaini Hassan said Indians in India and Malaysia are "loudmouthed and always making noise."

He then zeroed in on DAP MP M Kulasegaran for 'making noise' over the special privileges accorded to the Malays.

Zaini penned: "Dia tahukah apa yang dia cakap? Tapi yang pasti kenyataannya itu cukup sensitif dan akan membuat kumpulan lain marah. Tapi seperti biasa orang Melayu marahnya tidak lama."

(Is he aware of what he is saying? One thing is for certain, his statement is very sensitive and will anger others. But as usual the anger of the Malays will not last for long).

"Tak apalah. Orang Melayu tidak seperti orang India, walaupun ada juga Melayu yang darah keturunan keling (DKK), tapi darah Melayu yang lembut banyak menguasai mereka."

(Never mind. The Malays are not like Indians, although some of them have 'keling' blood, but the 'soft' Malay blood in them is more overwhelming).

Noisy...that is their culture

In the article, Zaini also related his experience in visiting India recently, where he witnessed the hustle and bustle of the densely-populated nation.

"India tetap India. Orang India ialah masyarakat yang begitu unik. Jika kita sering tengok wayang Tamil atau Hindi, itulah budaya mereka. Kecoh, kecoh dan kecoh."

(India is India. The Indians are unique. If we watch Tamil or Hindi movies, that is their culture, noisy, noisy and noisy).

"Namun, kita di Malaysia pun ada orang India. Kecohnya pun lebih kurang sama. Mereka ini rata-ratanya terdiri daripada ahli-ahli profesional, peguam dan kini menjadi ahli politik."

(There are also Indians in Malaysia, and the noisiness is about the same. These are the professionals, lawyers and now politicians.)

Last year, Zaini had also attacked DAP MP Teresa Kok, whom he accused of ordering a mosque to lower the volume of its Azan prayers.

The issue had even led to her brief detention under the Internal Security Act.

Kok, who denied the allegation, subsequently filed a suit against the writer.

Public apology sought

In his police report, Padmanathan said the article contained elements that degraded the Indian community.

"Utusan Malaysia has crossed the line. Such statements not only ridicule the Indians, but have the potential of stirring racial unrest," he said, adding that Indian Malaysians are enraged by this.

Padmanathan urged the writer to publicly apologise to the Indian community here.

Meanwhile, Ravindran stated in his police report that the article reeked of racism and went against the 1Malaysia concept espoused by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Also present was DAP's Teluk Intan parliamentarian M Manogaran.

This morning, Human Resources Minister and MIC vice-president Dr S Subramaniam also criticised the daily for using offensive words.
Hindu Sangam also upset

In another development, Malaysia Hindu Sangam president RS Mohan Shan also urged Utusan Malaysia to apologise over its insensitive report.

"We want a public apology," he said.

He also countered Zaini's statement that Indians here were troublemakers.

"We are not troublemakers. We are willing to work with anyone. Zaini is the troublemaker," he said.

Mohan also defended Kulasegaran as a legislator who was defending the rights of the Indian community.

"You cannot consider him as a troublemaker. He and the rest of the Indian legislators were only defending our rights."

MK
10/12/09

If they can't even touch the BTN, how is Najib going to promote 1Malaysia?

The Biro Tata Negara (BTN) controversy has been debated for long. Clearly, the training modules are spreading extreme racism but many people have come forward to defend it. It shows that it is hard to change the thought of many people and it is indeed very difficult to carry out a reform in the country.

In fact, the question is very simple. Since it has been proven that the training modules are not meeting the “1Malaysia” concept, it must be reformed. They must remove extreme and outdated content and introduce new elements so that it is consistent with globalisation. If they find BTN is unable to raise patriotic spirit or bring any benefit after the reform, it has no value of existence any more and must be shut down immediately to avoid wasting the people's money.

The 28-year-old BTN represents a negative force that is against democracy and freedom. It has also brought a tremendous damage to the society. UMNO has been using the same political education, particularly the emphasis on Malay supremacy, over the past 30 years. We can see that the UMNO political education, which has been started since the rule of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has cultivated a lot of party members, whose ways of thinking are actually not consistence with a multi-racial society. As a result, UMNO is difficult to change today.

"If they can't even touch the BTN, how is Najib going to promote his reform agenda?"
Dr M's “contribution” to the country included depleting resources and cultivating many followers of the same kind.

It is worrying that millions of party members have been instilling the wrong values into the people, allowing racism to be deep rooted in the Malay community.

Over a hundred UMNO Youth members launched a protest in front of the Penang state assembly building on 30 Nov and some of them even burned a portrait of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. But so far, no one apologies for the incident. The twelve defendants of the “cow-head” case did not carry out any reflection upon the protest either. Instead, they kicked and stepped on a banner depicting caricatures of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang and Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming with cows' bodies outside the Shah Alam courts.

More shockingly, someone even said that the government should revoke DAP Vice-Chairman M. Kulasegaran's citizenship. It is now the 21st century and citizenship should never be used as a tool for intimidation and it is not a gift for UMNO either. Such remarks have proved that racism has deeply poisoned some people.

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who argued with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz over the BTN training modules, admitted that he is a racist and UMNO is a racial political party. Even if they are racists, they still have to accept that Malaysia belongs to the whole people. Unless UMNO leaders and members are able to abandon the Malay supremacy concept, otherwise, how are they going to realise Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's concept of “1Malaysia”?

The country has been independent for 52 years but its competitiveness is gradually declining. From having rich natural resources, we are now in a plight of having budget deficit for the continuous 13 years and bearing national debt of up to RM260 billion. It shows that racism no longer works. The government and UMNO must change their courses.

Restructuring or shutting down the BTN can be a starting point for reform to prevent further spread of extreme racism, so that the next generation is able to retain a pure heart. If they can't even touch the BTN, how is Najib going to promote his reform agenda?

MSC
10/12/09

Mamak Mahathir Mohamad A/L Kutty Mohamad is a Bloody Racist

"Bloody Racist!"

That was how Mohd Nazri called Dr Mahathir.

And I would like to crown it with a 5-star rating, an absolute top quote of the year!

Recalling what Dr Mahathir said and did during his political career spanning half a century, these two words seem so all-inclusive and appropriate.

And Nazri has enlightened and invigorated everyone of us with the latest nickname he has conferred the former PM.

While being an underclass colloquialism, the English word "bloody" is nevertheless an excellent true-to-life expression applicable by people from the underclass to the intelligentsia and nobles.

The word itself doesn't carry its own meaning; neither does it have a specific word when translated into another language. It is most definitely not "something blood-stained."

It is, of course, a reinforced adjective which can be loosely interpreted as "disgusting," "damned it," or "fxxx," among others.

Of course, the highlight lies with the word that immediately trails it, which if matched properly, should serve to depict the situation in a much more vivid manner.

For instance, the "bloody racist" Nazri has called Mahathir could be understood as--in a lighter way--"the disgusting racist," or--in a heavier manner--"the fxxxing racist."

Is Dr Mahathir a racist? If even his UMNO comrade has said so, that shouldn't be so much a question anymore! And Mahathir has indeed admitted that he is a racist!

It doesn't really matter that much if he was just trying to play it cheap, so long as he didn't drag the country's honour with him.

Sure enough, we have racists all around us, and this is nothing a novelty.

Not if the racist is not having all the power with him!

During his 22-year tenure as the helmsman of the nation, Mahathir indeed messed up inter-racial relationship, so much so that the word "polarisation" has become a common word in many people's mouths.

If we were to hold someone responsible, who else if not Dr Mahathir?

Let's put aside what is now bygone. Anyone with the slightest rationality and common sense would rise up and hit it hard at the national brainwash centre--Biro Tatanegara (BTN)--for chronically instilling racist ideologies and inciting ethnic emotions among its multiracial followers.

Only people like Mahathir and his fellow hawks in UMNO, along with Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian would throw their full support behind BTN and wax lyrical on its "great contributions."

Where lies their motive? Where lies their conscience?

Don't forget: BTN was brought up in the hands of Dr Mahathir.

This "Rosemary's Baby" was indeed Mahathir's blue-eyed baby!

Nazri should be lauded for saying the right thing and finding the right definition for "BR."

The weird thing is, our Chinese and Indian ministers have had their lips largely zipped over the BTN issue!

I am a racist!"

Announced Dr Mahathir.

As if a "racist" was a kind of identity crowned with a halo of great honour!

Was he ignorant, haughty, or simply extremist?

No sound-minded people would openly claim that they are racists, as a sobre man can discern between what is right and wrong.

Racism is most definitely wrong. Indeed, it is a massive blunder in the history of human race.

Politicians of any country, incumbent or having left office, dread being called "racists," and will do their utmost to keep racism at bay.

Former German Chancellor Willy Brandt bent his knees in front of the Jewish Memorial in Warsaw to express his deep disgust for racism as well as the utter remorse of Germans for their past racist acts.

After relinquishing his presidential duties, Bill Clinton set up his office in the predominantly black Harlem neighbourhood in NYC in a bid to strengthen his relationship with African Americans while proclaiming that racism was the last thing on his mind.

That is what a head of state should have.

Before the human race became civilised, distinctions were made on racial lines. Anyone not sporting the same skin colour as me should not belong to my race, and ought to be despised, ahborred, and exterminated.

That was how animosity and heinous wars started.

Even as enmity and killings became more common and intense, human beings found that their problems had not dwindled and the world had not gotten any better.

In their stead, more misfortunes and sorrows were spawned.

As a consequence, humans began to conduct indepth reviews and soul searchings, and gradually diluted hostility and prejudices arising from dissimilar skin colours in so doing. They began to unite and work hand-in-hand across ethnic divides as they forced ahead their great civilisations and progressiveness.

All orthodox religions have encouraged and promoted such a notion of dismantling racial divides and working together for the common good of humanity.

Up till this point, racism has already become an absolute mistake, the scourge of human civilisation indeed.

Mahathir said, with an unmistakable tone of conceit, that he was a "racist."

As a former head of government, his remarks could bring far-fetching impacts to the nation.

Of course, there are still plenty of racists in this world, but they hide their racist notions deep inside them, not to be discovered by any soul or told to the public.

At least these people still know how to feel ashamed. They are well aware that racist notions must never be brought to light or shown off.

With such self-consciousness, the lethality of their racism is at least not so powerful, still not beyond repair!

MSC
10/12/09

Ketuanan Melayu: 'Why so brave now, Keng Yaik?'

SunShine1: Lim Keng Yaik, you should have made this statement when you were in government or are you pretending that this ‘Ketuanan Melayu' only started to exist after you left office? Gerakan, you guys will reap what you sowed. Your demise is nigh.

Foo Wy Len: Lim Keng Yaik are you for real? For years, you were a minister but what did you do. Talk is easy, la.

Nedunchelian Vengu: Too late, my ex-minister. You mean you didn't know about ‘Ketuanan Melayu' when you were in power? The rice has already turned to porridge.

Suaram_Lame_Duck: What is new? Why so brave now? All these ex-ministers only open up and talk when they are no longer in power. Typical. Just like former MCA president and transport minister Ong Ka Ting. When still in government, they kept quiet so as to not offend their political master, Umno.

Teh: Lim should be a stand-up comedian. During his tenure as Gerakan president, he never spoke up against this ‘foul word'. Now he talks big. But even now, he has to say something nice about Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. Just to balance up. Just in case, you know.

13th GE!: Lim Keng Yaik finally grew a pair but a little too late. When you were in power all was good in your eyes. Now when the people have spoken, you want to jump onto that bandwagon. At least, please be an original.

RR: Better late than never. Yes, there is no such thing as a superior race. In a multi-racial, multi-religious society, no single race - even if in the majority - should dominate the other races.

There must always be dharmic policies of justice, equality and meritocracy. This will lead the nation to greater progress and prosperity. Of course, those who are socially and economically disadvantaged must be given the crutches - but not forever as this will only put them in shame.

PM Najib has introduced a good concept of ‘1Malaysia'. He should walk the talk and so must all his Umno ministers.

Spokenthots: Finally, a component of BN has found its pair to say ‘no' to ‘Ketuanan Melayu'.
This call must be supported by all the other BN components to make the mainstay open its eyes in that the era of divisive politics is over with the ushering in of a more inclusive-type politics. Stand up and be counted, and this is required of all Malaysians who support democracy for all.

Cks: Lim, such a call as yours should be directed to your cabinet representative, meaning the ministers in charge for national KPIs. How could you expect the foot soldiers to declare ‘war' when their leader continues to maintain silence?

Ric: Lim only knows how to talk big in front of the press. Tell this to your protege, Koh Tsu Koon.

Brij Jayaram Kathiravelu: Koh Tsu Koon, please take a cue from your predecessor Lim Keng Yaik in stamping your mark as the president of Gerakan. It has been one week since your were questioned in Parliament over the issue of 'Ketuanan Melayu', and your reluctance and failure to address the issue is glaring.

By the way, your statement that the former residents of Kampung Buah Pala were behind the burning of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's poster at the BN Youth- organised demonstration last week at the Penang assembly is downright stupid.

It goes to show that despite a hammering at the ballot box on March 8, you have not changed much.

Habib RAK: Lim Keng Yaik says ‘...if MCA continues to perform badly, then the onus is on Gerakan to do its best in the coming polls'.

Thus, in Lim's mind, Gerakan is a substitute for MCA. He has not realised that Gerakan is not a race-based party for the Chinese like the MCA. This tells me that as much as Lim says he rejects racism, he himself has a racist mindset.

Thanabalan Gurusamy: Ha, ha, ha! Lim Keng Yaik seriously thinks that Gerakan is in a better position than MCA to perform better at the next general election. I like that. He still tickles me!

Tey Khang Fai: Put him (Lim Keng Yaik) behind bars first and see if anybody will bring him shark fin soup. Ask him to debate the matter openly, ask him to talk about it and you'll see he will be the first one to run away.

MK
10/12/09

The Orang Asli deserve more

The Dewan Rakyat was informed this week that the number of Orang Asli students at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels had increased from 25,3543 in 2004 to 26,990 this year for the primary level; from 7,554 to 10,725 in the secondary level, and from 157 to 295 for the tertiary level.

There continues however, to be a high dropout rate among Orang Asli students and that a committee had been formed to identify the problems they faced and also to create awareness, encouragement and the promotion of education.

A few months ago, it was also reported that a minister visiting a Cameron Highlands maternity ward expressed shock to find 11 and 12-year-old Orang Asli mothers.

His concern was that these young mothers were unaware they had to register the birth of their babies. These are not teenage mothers. These are children thrown into motherhood when still in their childhood.

Education still the key

Whilst I agree with him that every birth has to be registered to avoid possible complications in the future, surely the more pressing question has to be why these girls, who basically are children, have become mothers at such a tender age? Education, still holds the key to this dilemma.

In this day and age, it is shocking to find such practices occurring. Whilst I have no wish to intrude on any person’s culture and way of living, I feel that it is wrong for a very young girl to become pregnant.

Mainstream Malaysia has tried to introduce modernity to the Orang Asli. We have plucked them from their natural way of life which is beautiful, tranquil and spiritual and we have tried to adjust them to our way of living, within our community structures.

We have replaced the attap huts that their elders once lived in and given them zinc roofs atop relatively larger sized concrete homes which are hot and stifling during the day and noisy when it rains.

We have given their children schooling but we don’t visibly encourage them or introduce role models from their community to motivate them further. Thus the drop-out rates are high.

We also hear of stories about their children being bullied because they look and talk different and teachers, unaccustomed to them, shamefully ignore them. Our tendency is to look the other way rather than assist the affected children.

We have introduced modern medicine to them which in many cases may have eradicated a lot of common diseases like worm infestation and measles in children, but by taking them away from nature, we prevent many traditional methods of cure from the trees and plant-life which would have helped them heal in the olden days.

Pregnancies a village affair

In years gone by, pregnancies would have been a village effort and affair. Thus the child-mothers witnessed by the minister in the maternity hospital must therefore suggest that the families of these young mothers have embraced modern medicine and medical facilities.

By transplanting the Orang Asli from their natural surroundings, and into urban dwellings, we prevent normal activities like helping the family in the vegetable patch after school or helping the elders gather produce in the jungle.

In those days, being active during the day meant being tired out by nightime.

However, urbanized Orang Asli youth, like any normal youth of today, is easily bored and when night falls, gets hooked on television or drinks heavily and loiter in the streets.

We have introduced modern life to the Orang Asli, in terms of education, health care and job opportunities. But I feel that we have really given them an inferior quality of life.

The attempts to tackle the causes and the consequences of teenage pregnancy need to be speeded up. Various worldwide studies have shown that teenage parents and their children have a lower quality of life when compared to older mothers.

In earlier times, an Orang Asli settlement, the family and community network is sufficient for a child or teenager to raise a family.

But in the present day, if we have introduced them to a modern way of living, then we must stress that children born to a child or teenage mother risks a higher mortality rate. Moreover, the low birth weight of the baby will have an impact on the long term health of the child.

Difficult to be a young mother

The young mother also risks having poor emotional health and well being. They are more likely to suffer from post-natal depression and experience poor mental health over a longer stretch of time, in some cases for up to three years, than older mothers.

A young girl and her baby has a poor economic outlook and future. Teenage parents and their children prolong their living in poverty, as they have had to discontinue their education, their chances of training or obtaining skills and their prospects of employment are much reduced as they have to take care of the needs of a growing family.

During the Emergency, the Orang Asli were placed in settlement camps, to prevent the communists from getting food, labour and intelligence from them. Sadly, several hundred Orang Asli died, more from mental health problems than disease in the overcrowded and sun-scorched camps.

Now, we are still in danger of risking and doing the same with our urbanized Orang Asli.

We have taken a noble way of life away from them. The least we can do is drive improvements in the outcomes of their teenage parents and their children.

Serious consideration must be given in helping the Orang Asli. Let us return the respect and dignity which we have taken away from them. And let their children value and truly treasure their childhood, before embarking on motherhood.

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a non-conformist traditionalist from Ipoh, a chemist and pollution-control scientist by training, with a passion for people and the outdoors, and a strong sense of equality and justice.

MM
10/12/09

Getting to know a racist ex PM called Mahathir

What kind of person is former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad?

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said Dr M is a racist.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin did not agree with Nazri and said it is rather extreme to label Dr M as a racist.

However, Dr M admitted: “I must be a racist if Nazri says I am racist.”

In his view, as a member of a racial political party, Nazri should not fight against racism. Otherwise, he should resign from the party.

According to Dr M's logic, all Umno members must be racists or they have to resign from Umno.

I can't imagine if Dr M's words are completely true.

As I said, I hope that Nazri won't be the lone voice in Umno, as it represents openness, tolerance and eagerness to make progress.

But I can't see any other Umno elite coming forward to support Nazri and criticise Dr M.

Dr M always bears racism in mind as it is indeed a tool that is cheap and good to use.

During the 22-year rule of Dr M, policies that he implemented had a far-reaching impact on the country. To be fair, he made contributions but at the same time, he also did some things inappropriate. And it is in fact a very controversial issue to say whether his contributions are greater than his wrongdoings or his wrongdoings ares greater than his contribution.

Frankly speaking, Dr M is a very controversial former political leader.

Many people write about him. The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) in Singapore had promoted a new book entitled “Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times”. The book has been recognised as the most independent and comprehensive biography of Dr M that explores his ruling style. It is written by Asian Wall Street Journal former editor Barry Wain.

According to Singapore media reports, Wain criticised in his book that “Dr M had undermined state institutions, permitted the spread of corruption and failed to provide for Malaysia’s future leadership”. Wain also said that Malaysia had squandered an estimated RM100 billion on financial scandals under the 22-year rule of Dr M.

He also said that Dr M had intervened and controlled the judiciary, making the judiciary serve him. The book also mentioned how Dr M weakened the country and non-governmental organisations, practised cronyism, pursued huge construction projects, undermined the monarchy and destroyed his successors.

Perhaps, Wain may help us to know about a more realistic Dr M but he may also offend some people, causing a backlash. I wonder whether his book will be published in Malaysia? — mysinchew.com

MI

10/12/09

BTN course creates a racist phenomenon which seeks to divide the multiracial and multireligious community

Ranting about BTN again — Mohsin Abdullah

I thought the issue had been settled and writing about it would be outdated.

"Basi" means stale in Bahasa Malaysia. But obviously it's not. Not yet rather. Thanks to former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. I am talking about the BTN courses, of course. Let's go over it.

First, the Pakatan Rakyat government of Selangor said it had barred all students in state-owned higher learning institutions, civil servants and employees in state GLCs from attending programmes carried out by the National Civics Bureau or Biro Tata Negara, famously known as BTN.

The PR government alleged that the BTN courses are "actually indoctrination process by the BN government." Course participants, it further alleged, "were given booklets which contained content structured to inspire hate against opposition to the government."

The most damning accusation must be this: "It creates a racist phenomenon which seeks to divide the multiracial and multireligious community." This was according to Selangor executive councillor in charge of education and higher education Dr Halimah Ali. Her allegation if true would put the BTN courses in opposition to the values and spirit of 1 Malaysia. However, Halimah's allegations are not new. We have heard them before. Including the accusation that BTN courses "tend to pit one race against another." But it has never been substantiated.

Hence accusations remain accusations and mere allegations. Nothing came out of them and the BTN continued with its courses. But when the Selangor PR government "made noise and came up with their ban," many talked about BTN and the courses it ran. Then the Penang government, also PR administered, decided to go the Selangor way.

Along the way someone from PR (sorry can't remember who) said the PR would come up with its "own courses to replace the ones by the BTN." Huh? Haa? Huh?

I mean if the BTN courses are "no good and divisive", boycott by all means. But please do not try to replace it. Do that and the BN will accuse it as "creating a racist phenomenon" and "structuring content to inspire hate towards the BN." The allegations are being hurled at the BTN now. It will never end. If the BTN course is no good, the PR need to just forget about it and move on.

However, to the BN the BTN courses are good. At least that's what it said when the Selangor government announced its ban. Top BN leaders (no need to name names as we know who they are, having read their statements in the papers) opined that BTN courses are OK. To them the modules "inculcate a sense of patriotism." And "to mould a progressive nation."

With the backing and support of the BN big guns one would have thought the BTN is home and dry to carry on conducting its courses. After all there is "nothing wrong" with the courses.

But then Minister in the PM’s Department Datuk Nazri Aziz dropped a "shocker." He said the BTN courses will be revamped. And the BTN will change its curriculum because it's not in line with 1 Malaysia. And that said Nazri was a Cabinet decision. Great. But while I applaud the decision, it still made me go " Huh? Haa? Huh! again. Nazri's announcement was made only days after BN leaders who are also Cabinet members defended the BTN courses as OK. Huh? Haa? Huh!!

Anyway, with the Cabinet having already made its decision, one would think the issue has been settled. Right? Not really. In came Dr Mahathir. He said there's no need to revamp the course. The BTN modules, he said, should be retained. Nothing wrong with it. Here I go again... Huh? Haa? Huh? What about it not being in line with 1 Malaysia as said by Nazri?

Nazri said the revamp of the courses would go on despite criticism from many parties including Dr. Mahathir.

"They can say what they want but the Cabinet has already made its decision," he was said to have said. That should settle it once and for all. Shouldn't it? Please say yes. I don't want to go Huh?Haa?Huh? again and again. — mysinchew.com

Mi
10/12/09

'C'mon BN ministers, support Nazri'

KUALA LUMPUR – DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang wonders why no Cabinet member from Barisan Nasional endorsed the denunciation of Dr Mahathir Mohamad by Minister in the PM’s Department Nazri Aziz over the former prime minister’s defence of the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) courses.

“It has been said that ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going.’

“Are there any ‘tough’ Minister to endorse a revamp of the divisive, racist and seditious BTN indoctrination course, which had done the nation-building process a great national disservice?” he asked, alleging that Mahathir’s premiership divided the diverse races by promoting racial hatred and ill will among Malaysians.

“Mahathir had said that there is no need to revamp the BTN course ‘as in the current form, they are fine for instilling the patriotic spirit among Malaysians.’

“He claimed the BTN curriculum had helped foster unity as the courses conducted by the agency were attended by Malaysians of all races.

High-handeed an autocratic rule


“Rubbing salt into the wound, Mahathir went on to charge that criticisms against BTN as an exaggeration and insisted that the BTN course had taught participants new values needed to succeed,” said Lim, the DAP advisor and Ipoh Timur MP in his blog.

He said the question of why ‘nobody complained’ could be easily answered.

“His high-handed and autocratic rule brooks no dissent, especially in the public service, with his propensity to abuse his powers against all who crossed his path, including the abuses of draconian laws like the Internal Security Act and the Official Secrets Act,” Lim claimed.

He further asked: “Dare Mahathir fully support a public inquiry into the BTN course concerning serious allegations that it not only failed to instill a patriotic spirit, but was divisive, racist and seditious, creating greater racial polarisation and national disunity in the country?”

Lim said he agreed with Nazri that patriotism was not meant only for the Malays but for all Malaysians.

He added that Nazri could not be more right when he said that ‘You must be a Malaysian, whether you’re a minister or not.’

Deafening silence!

Quoting Nazri further, Lim said: “You must walk your talk. Don’t just, because when you were PM, you wanted everyone to support you, you’re Malaysian and the moment you’re no longer PM, that’s it, only talk about the Malays “

Nazri had said he could not accept Mahathir’s comments on the BTN and labeled the ex-premier as ‘bloody racist.’

Lim said the silence of all ministers from Umno, MCA, Gerakan, MIC and the Sabah and Sarawak parties in the Barisanis ‘so deafening!”

Malaysian Mirror
10/12/09

PKFZ arrests scapegoating exercise where the main culprits still remain free.

Pakatan leaders sceptical about PKFZ arrests

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 — Pakatan Rakyat national leaders were unimpressed and sceptical about today’s arrests made in connection to the RM 12.5 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal, calling it a scapegoating exercise where the main culprits still remain free.

DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang said the arrests were a small move and had yet to prove the federal government’s will to get to the bottom of the scandal that involved bloated land valuations and double charges.

“Although we are seeing some movement, the arrest is a very small piece of a larger picture,” said the Ipoh Timur MP, who has been at the forefront of the Pakatan campaign on the PKFZ scandal.

“And unless there is a greater political will to deal with those responsible for the mother of all scandals and this only touches the surface of the problem,” he told a press conference in Parliament here.

The police, together with graft-busters MACC, today arrested former general manager of the Port Klang Authority (PKA), Datin Paduka OC Phang, along with two others. All three were later charged for criminal breach of trust (CBT) and other offences at the Klang Sessions Courts. The trio were released after posting bail.

So far it is unclear if more personalities — such as former transport minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy or Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who controls PKFZ contractor Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) — will face any action.

PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar brahim speaking to reporters in Parliament also shared Lim’s scepticism over the arrests.

“We welcome this move albeit it being a small move but just as what had happened to Perwaja, the smaller fishes were caught while the bigger sharks escape so in the PKFZ case, I hope this is not the beginning of a cover up on the issue,” he said.

Anticipating public doubt, the Attorney-General has said that the arrests of the three will not be the end of the PKFZ probe.

He said more are expected to be arrested and charged this Monday, with one of them being a KDSB engineer.

MI
10/12/09

Mahathir made BTN course racist, says ex-BTN chief

KUALA LUMPUR: Dr Mahathir Mohamad (picture) is solely to be blamed for transforming Biro Tata Negara (BTN) into an indoctrination bureau, former BTN director Johari Abdul said last night.

After Dr Mahathir became Prime Minister, Johari said, Umno turned BTN totally into an indoctrination machine to maintain Malay loyalty to the party.

In one of the courses, he added, Malay participants were taught to defend the Umno-led government at all costs; they were made to believe that the Malays would become slaves in their own country if the Umno-Barisan Nasional government fell.

Speaking at a PKR forum last night, Johari said the situation got worse after Dr Mahathir sacked Anwar Ibrahim; the BTN then became a tool for demonising all opposition leaders.

Johari said that as a former Umno member he once believed in the BTN programme but later found “something wrong somewhere within [his] conscience.”

When the national civic course was started in the 1970s, he said, the aim was to counter the influence of activists and Islamic movements in universities.

Later, he said, the bureau was used to raise the confidence of Malay students by instilling ideas like Malay supremacy.

The BTN debate is seeing several Umno leaders agreeing with opposition Pakatan Rakyat leaders that a drastic change is required in BTN, but Dr Mahathir is defending the current programme.

FMT
09/12/09

Racists Mamak Mahathir has been speaking only for Malays

Nazri vs Racist Mahathir

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz criticised former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for having inconsistent words and deeds before and after his term of office. When he was in the office, he claimed himself as a Malaysian in order to gain the people's support but after his resignation, he has been speaking only for Malays. Once again, Nazri severely criticised Dr M as a “racist”.

Even though Dr M has abdicated, it seems like among Umno ministers, only Nazri is courageous enough to offend Dr M like that.

Nazri and Dr M are like a pair of foes, although they are not having equal political status and prestige.

I can still remember that after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced his new Cabinet line-up, Dr M had bluntly criticised that two ministers were not appropriate for the positions, and Nazri was one of them. The other one was Deputy Agricuture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum.

I can't remember how Johari responded at that time. But I still clearly remember that Nazri had made a firece counterattack. He said it was a childish behaviour and severely criticised Dr M as a racist. He even gave Dr M “advice” that “it is better for him to stay at home as the people no longer like him.”

This time, it is not surprising when they spit at each other again over the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) controversy.

BTN is a product from Dr M's era. Its racist training modules have long been heard. And now, even Malays can no longer tolerate it. They come forward to expose its ugliness. However, during the authoritarian era of Dr M, many people chose silent protest and dared not to say a word.

Politics will always be Dr M's favourite. He believes that his mission is not yet fulfilled and thus, even though he had stepped down, he still has endless to say. He writes books and blogs and gives public speeches to promote his “Mahathirism” that stresses Malay supremacy. To him, BTN can really help him to complete the unfinished mission!

I don't agree with some points of Nazri’s, but he is “stunning” as he dares to admit that there is something wrong with the BTN training modules and does not agree that the course should be meant only to highlight Malay patriotism. He also thinks that it is ridiculous to mention about Malay supremacy in the course. He is courageous enough to say something that others do not dare to say.

Nazri, who even praised the Pakatan Rakyat government of Penang for committing to fight corruption and promote clean government, indeed shows better the independent thinking of the new generation of Malays compared to Dr M, who simply wants to defend the BTN. Nazri has also shown a more open mind.

In this case, I would like to applaud Nazri. And I hope that his voice would not echo alone in Umno and the Malay society.

As for Dr M, history will judge him fairly. — mysinchew.com

MI
09/12/09

Nazri: Mahathir is ‘father of all racism’

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 — Minister in the Prime Minister Department’s Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz attacked Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad again and called the former Umno president the “father of all racism” as the row between the two men over the controversial National Civics Bureau (BTN) continued.

Nazri criticised the former prime minister for being a hypocrite and said: "Who does Mahathir think he is?”

“If he can comment on others, why can’t I comment on him? Who is he? People kept telling me that he’s been in the government for 22 years. Yes but that’s not right for him to abuse people the way he abused the former PM. You mean to say he was the former PM for 22 years he can do anything he likes? I cannot agree and he’s no longer in the government.

“Last time he told us you must support the government. He was a perfect PM, I never complained. It was only after he retired, he started to attack us. He used to tell us, if one day we become a candidate and if we are dropped, we should not be angry because once that person supported us, now it’s time for us to support them.

“What is he doing now? We all supported him before through thick and thin and yet when he retired, he attacks us even worse than the opposition. Today the opposition doesn’t need to do work. Dr M is the only one attacking us. Everything is not right. During Tun Abdullah’s time, everything was not right but he’s a gentleman, he didn’t argue. Now with Najib, there is something wrong. Does he (Mahathir) want to become a PM?” Nazri told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Nazri said he would never resign because of Dr Mahathir.

“When he wanted to resign before, we told him not to but he wanted to step down. Now he has stepped down, he’s asking me to resign. What for? I’m not going to give him the pleasure of resigning to make him happy because I’m not stupid to fall into his trap,” he said.

Nazri pointed out that if he belongs to a racist party, then Dr Mahathir is the “father of all racism” because he was the president of Umno.

“He’s saying I’m in a racist party so he confirms what I said about him. If he says I’m in a racist party because I’m a member of Umno, then he is the father of all racism, he was the president of Umno for 22 years. It confirms that I said he was a racist. Please give him some other argument lah. As the ex-PM, he should give better suggestions. I feel sorry for him but I will continue,” he added.

Nazri maintained that he was not being disrespectful of Dr Mahathir but pointed out that the former premier should accept that he is also open to criticism.

“This is democracy and free speech. I meant no disrespect to him. It’s just counter-argument to his criticism. There is no need to write to papers to say I’m disrespectful. This is a way out of the argument. Although he is an old man, he got himself involved in a matter that invites criticism from others. Don’t say when I criticise him, I’m being rude,” he said.

He added that Dr Mahathir also criticised the first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman.

“When he criticised Tunku Abdul Rahman, that’s not rude? He taught me. If he does it is OK, but if we do it then it’s rude? In the 1960s he criticised the then PM, so if people do it now, don’t get angry. He’s my teacher,” he said.

Nazri also wondered why Dr Mahathir did not like him since the former premier was the one who appointed him a minister.

“I didn’t force him, I didn’t put a gun to his head and force him. He knows I’m a good minister and I’ve been a minister for three terms. Each time a new PM takes over, there are rumours that I’ll be dropped. I’ve been a minister for 10 years. I only serve the rakyat,” he said.

The former premier and the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department have been at loggerheads over the need to revamp the BTN, which critics charge with cultivating racism instead of its original purpose of nation building.

Nazri had earlier called Dr Mahathir a “bloody racist” for defending BTN courses while reasserting the Cabinet’s earlier decision to overhaul the programme in line with the policy of 1 Malaysia mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Nazri also lashed out at Dr Mahathir yesterday and described the former premier’s call for his resignation from the party as the “most stupid statement” that he has ever heard.

Dr Mahathir said that Nazri should resign from Umno because if he was against racism, he should not be in a racist party.

MI
09/12/09

Singaporean law professor barred from speaking about Perak crisis

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 — A Singaporean law professor, who had previously been critical of the Barisan Nasional (BN) power grab in Perak , has been barred from speaking at a public forum after the police rejected his permit application.

Professor Kevin YL Tan, had followed procedures by duly applying for a police permit to speak at the forum entitled“Whither the Constitution: Lessons to be learnt from the Perak crisis.”

The application was made by the organiser of the forum, online Chinese language news site Merdeka Review.

The organiser was told yesterday that Tan needed to apply for an approval from the Malaysian Professional Centre, or Ikhtisas which is based in the country’s administration capital, Putrajaya.

This process will usually take seven days, before an approval can be provided.

The forum, which includes speakers like ousted Pakatan Rakyat Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, will take place tonight.

MI
09/12/09

UMNO has proved that it is a truly racist party in nature

DAP dares Gerakan, MCA to quit BN over Ahmad Ismail’s return

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 — DAP leaders today challenged leading Barisan Nasional (BN) parties, Gerakan and MCA, to make their stand known on Umno’s decision to lift the suspension of controversial Penang warlord Datuk Ahmad Ismail.

“Are they willing to quit Barisan Nasional?” asked Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran.

Yesterday, The Malaysian Insider reported that former Bukit Bendera Umno chief, Ahmad, who was suspended in September last year for uttering a racist remark, has been reinstated into the party last Friday.

“I am not shocked at all by the decision,” Kulasegaran told reporters in Parliament here.

Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong wondered what message Umno is trying to send when lifting the suspension.

“I want to know the view of Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon as the minister in charge of national integration, and what message Umno is sending,” said Liew.

While Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua said the decision indicates that Umno is not serious in adopting the 1 Malaysia concept.

“Is Umno still holding on to its Ketuanan Melayu ideology, or has it truly accepted the 1 Malaysia concept?” Pua questioned.

He added that 1 Malaysia, which was introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to promote national unity, must also be adopted by Umno.

Ahmad was suspended from the party following a public outcry after he called the non-Malays “pendatang” (immigrants) during the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign, which saw the dramatic return of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Parliament.

His remark had caused damage to the administration of the then-prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who had lost the support of the non-Malays in the 2008 Election.

It also led to Penang Umno’s fallout with its leading partner in the state, Gerakan.

The lifting of his suspension appears to be a move to appease party members who feel that he should not have been slapped with such a long suspension.

It is not likely to cause any ruffles within BN because the main critics against Ahmad — Gerakan and MCA — are now either on life support, or in the throes of infighting.

MI
09/12/09

Dr M transformed BTN to a super-racist agency, says former director

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 8 — Former National Civics Bureau (BTN) director now turned PKR leader Datuk Johari Abdul (picture) claimed that it was Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who made the body a full-fledged racist indoctrination agency, contradicting the former premier who has gone all-out to defend BTN and deny that the body was used by Umno to sow racial hatred.

Speaking at a forum organised by PKR tonight, Johari claimed that prior to Dr Mahathir’s ascendancy as the prime minister, the body, not yet called the BTN, was initially used to counter the influence of anti-establishment Islamic movements in universities in the 1970s.

At the time, the body was headed by another former prime minister, Dr Mahathir’s arch-rival, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. He was not yet a politician at the time but a government officer.

“And when Abdullah became a full time politician, the body officially became BTN and its purpose was to raise the confidence of Malay students who were doing badly academically by instilling ideas like ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy),” said Johari who is also MP for Sungai Petani.

But when Dr Mahathir became prime minister, Johari said the former premier, whom he described as a “shrewd politician”, made full use of the BTN and turned it into a complete Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) indoctrination machinery to maintain Malay loyalty to the status quo.

“One of the courses (under him) was that the Malay participants were taught to defend the Umno-BN government at all cost. If the Umno-BN government falls, than the Malays are made to think that the Malays would be enslaved in their own country.”

“And then it got worse when (PKR de facto leader) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sacked by Dr Mahathir after a fall-out in 1998 and the BTN was then used to demonise all opposition leaders,” he added.

The PKR leader claimed he was speaking from personal experience as a former director of the agency.

And being a former director and also an Umno man, Johari admitted that he too at one point believed in the teachings of the BTN, and its supposed objective to help the Malays but has since “repented.”

“You know within your conscience that there is something wrong somewhere..it is wrong,” he said.

Johari said however that to be fair there was nothing wrong with the agency itself but that it was the syllabus that needed a revamp. He also said that Umno, as a political entity, has the right to do its best to edge out its political rivals.

“But don’t use taxpayers money for that. Finance your own programme,” he said.

The government had allocated RM64 million under the 2010 Federal Budget for BTN and the opposition is currently doing its best in Parliament to get BTN closed.

So far, some influential Umno leaders like Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, and Minister in the Prime Minister Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, have joined in the rising chorus against the agency.

Nazri had also blasted Dr Mahathir as a racist for defending BTN while Razaleigh claimed he too was a victim of the programme when he went against the former premier in the late 1980s.

But the hawks in Umno, through its newspapers like Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia, have come out to defend BTN and blast its critics as attempting to politicise the issue.

MI
09/12/09

Mahathir has created a new Malay generation who are racists, congratulation to him, wish him all the best of luck for him in short years to come.

Tenku Razaleigh: BTN racists propaganda should close down

Ku li: ‘I was battered by BTN’

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 8 – One of Umno’s most respected leaders,Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, has come out to back the closure of the Biro Tata Negara (BTN), saying he was a victim of its controversial courses when he led an opposition front.

“Yes I have heard, I have been battered about in seminars, discussions in BTN,” the Gua Musang MP said when asked if he has been a victim of BTN.

“They said a lot of things,” he replied when asked to elaborate on the nature of the attack against him.

The Kelantanese prince was also a victim of hate campaign during Election 1990, when photograph of him wearing an East Malaysian headgear was widely distributed just days before polls.

The photograph of Razaleigh in the headgear, which bore motif similar to a crucifix, is credited with turning away significant numbers of Muslim votes from Semangat 46, which he led.

The BTN, under the Prime Minister’s Department, runs compulsory courses for civil servants and undergraduates and has been accused of promoting hatred and racism by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders.

“I think BTN should close down, it has been used to promote personality cult and also used for badgering people who oppose the leadership,” he told reporters after delivering his speech at the United Nations Human Rights Day here.

“It’s a waste of money,” said the Gua Musang Umno chief.

The PR-led Selangor government recently imposed a ban on its civil servants and students within its state-run educational institutions from attending BTN courses, while Penang — another PR- governed state — is said to be considering similar action.

But the hawks in Umno, through Malay-based dailies like Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia, have moved to defend BTN and attacked its critics as “traitors” who are trying to politicise the issue.

On Sunday Utusan urged the government not to “bow down” to the opposition on BTN.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz had said that BTN training modules would be revamped to better reflect the 1 Malaysia concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

However former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been defending the BTN courses saying that the criticism against is has been exaggerated.

MI

08/12/09

SHAH ALAM - The infamous 12 "cow-head" protesters have become creative with their tactic. They are now stomping on a poster with the pictures of DAP leaders stuck on cows.

The stomping session was done outside the Sessions Court here after their case was fixed for April 12.

In what many see as a publicity stunt, they displayed a banner with the photos of the heads of DAP leaders Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng and Nga Kor Ming stuck on the bodies of cows in front of news photographers.

They also told reporters that they would be lodging a police report later today against the DAP for questioning Malay rights.

Sessions court judge Hasbi Hassan had earlier fixed the case to be heard over five days between April 12 and April 16 next year.

Incident sparked furore

Six of the 12 have been charged for sedition and illegal assembly while the remaining six for illegal assembly in the cow head protest against the construction of a Hindu temple, which provoked a furore and a debate about the state of race relations in Malaysia.

All 12 were represented by Hashim Ibrahim while Razali Che Ani appeared for the prosecution.

On Aug 28, more than 50 people claiming to be residents of Section 23 in Shah Alam marched from the state mosque to the state secretariat to protest the relocation of a 150-year old temple to their neighbourhood.

They threatened bloodshed, and kicked and spat on a cow's head, drawing widespread public condemnation because the animal is considered sacred by Hindus.

Upping the ante

Having not finished with their tantrums, leaders of the 'cow-head' protesters upped ante by categorising Malays and non-Malays as first and second class citizens later.

Ahmad Mahayuddin Abd Manaf, 36, made the remarks outside the district police headquarters after lodging a police report against DAP's M. Kulasegaran, who said in Parliament last week that the concept of Malay supremacy ran contrary to the prime minister's 1 Malaysia slogan.

He added that that Tanah Melayu is a historic fact, which meant that Malays are the original people.

Ahmad Mahayuddin is one of six charged earlier with illegal assembly and sedition for the Aug 28 cow head protest. Six others were charged with illegal assembly.

MM

08/12/09

Related Articles

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 8 — Taiping DAP MP Nga Kor Ming today slammed the Shah Alam cow-head protesters who categorised Malays and non-Malays as first and second class citizens respectively, saying their attitude smacked of “Jurassic”-era attitude.

The protesters had launched the tirade outside the district police headquarters here, after lodging a report against DAP’s M. Kulasegaran who said in Parliament last week that the concept of Malay supremacy ran contrary to the prime minister’s 1 Malaysia slogan.

Nga said that the protestors did not represent the Malays and were instead an insult to the community.

“According to The Malaysian Insider report, the cow-head protesters who were charged for sedition and illegal assembly stepped on Lim Kit Siang’s, (Lim) Guan Eng’s and my photos. To the best of my knowledge, these people do not represent the Malays,” the Perak DAP Youth chief said.

“The Malays are people who are well natured, peace-loving, friendly and smart. This group of people does not represent the Malays and they are not qualified to represent the Malays,” he told reporters during a press conference.

Nga added that the protesters’ mentality belong to the Jurassic era.

“These type of people, the mentality is still stagnant in the Jurassic era and I believe these are the people who should migrate to ‘Jurassic Park’ because Malaysia is such a beautiful country, just like our tourism’s slogan, Malaysia Truly Asia.

“To ask and to demand a member of parliament to surrender the citizenship only shows how shallow their mindset is. We hope the government, especially the AG’s chambers, will uphold justice and charge them for their act, which is uncalled for,” he said.

The leaders of the protesters revealed that 30 police reports would be lodged against Kulasegaran in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur today, and that they expect it to be a nation-wide exercise with the participation of other Malay groups.

On Saturday, members from Gagasan Melayu Perak (GMP) issued a memorandum warning the Ipoh Barat MP to stop questioning Malay supremacy and the New Economic Policy, to the DAP headquarters in Ipoh.

The Malay ultra nationalist group erected banners demanding Kulasegaran to return to his “homeland” and reminded Malays that the DAP would not uphold their rights.

However, Kulasegaran wants the police to investigate the incident in Ipoh.

“We want the police to investigate the matter in Ipoh first. In fact, they have called me, called my secretary and ask me to come and give a statement. My statement is in the Hansard, whatever I said is there.

“I think the bottom line is that. I have never questioned the rights and the privileges of the Malays or non-Malays because they are all stated in the federal constitution. Ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) is not stated anywhere in the Federal Constitution. That must be clear. It is one of the concepts from Umno Putera,” Kulasegaran explained.

MI
08/12/09

The Murder that Won't Go Away

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib again ducks questions over the death of a Mongolian translator

According to Alexa.net, as many as 1,700 sites are linked to Malaysia Today, whose own uniques run to as many as 100,000 daily readers. The Facebook interviews have circulated by email and have been translated into both Malay and Chinese. A photocopy brigade also copies and distributes translated items in the rural areas that do not have internet. Thus tens of thousands of people have probably seen the interviews.

Asia Sentinel

When reporters sought to question Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur Friday by reporters regarding private investigator P Balasubramaniam's latest revelations implicating Najib's family in covering up the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu, Najib snapped: "I will not entertain any frivolous statement" and asked to move on to the next question.

Balasubramaniam was hired by Abdul Razak Baginda, one of Najib's best friends, to protect him from the 28-year-old Altantuya in 2006 after Baginda had jilted her. In a series of conversations, Baginda reportedly told Balasubramaniam he had in effect inherited the young woman from Najib, who felt that as deputy prime minister it would be unseemly to have her as a mistress. Balasubramaniam disappeared suddenly after making public a statutory declaration giving excruciating details of Baginda's relationship with both Altantuya and Najib.

In a series of sensational exchanges published on YouTube in November, Balasubramaniam surfaced to say that after he had made public the statutory declaration giving the details of what Baginda had told him, he was forced to retract it and to disappear along with his family into India.

Bala alleged that Deepak Jaikishan, who operates a carpet company in Kuala Lumpur and who is a close associate of Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor, had offered him RM5 million (US$1.47 million) and that Nazim Razak, Najib's brother, had threatened to harm his family unless he followed Deepak's instructions to disappear. This happened on July 4, the day Balasubramaniam disclosed his first affidavit. Fearing for the safety of his family, Bala said he had retracted under coercion the allegations linking Najib to Altantuya in a second affidavit the next day, and disappeared immediately with his family until his recent interview, which was captured in video and recorded in transcripts. These were first published in Malaysia Today.

In the interview, Bala described how he and his family had embarked on their fugitive journey to India under the overall direction of Deepak, a rather convoluted and lengthy voyage that saw them passing through or staying for various durations at Singapore, Bangkok, Kathmandu, New Delhi, Madras and eventually Chennai.

Bala gave a detailed description of occurrences supported by factual details that pinpoint the relevant players, locations, times, dates, durations, hotels, monetary figures, checks, bank accounts, etc, which were displayed on the Internet.

Circulated first on Malaysia Today, edited by Raja Petra Kamarudin, the Balasubramaniam interviews created a storm on the Web and were subsequently picked up by Malaysiakini and a flock of other blogs. According to Alexa.net, as many as 1,700 sites are linked to Malaysia Today, whose own uniques run to as many as 100,000 daily readers. The Facebook interviews have circulated by email and have been translated into both Malay and Chinese. A photocopy brigade also copies and distributes translated items in the rural areas that do not have internet. Thus tens of thousands of people have probably seen the interviews.

But against the allegations, Najib, his associates, his family and his government have maintained a deafening silence, at least until Najib dismissed the questions as "frivolous" and not worthy of his response during a press conference after an UMNO supreme council meeting.

Bala's accusation is buttressed by precise facts and details such as checks to Balasubramaniam that were drawn on Kuala Lumpur banks and signed by Deepak that could be easily debunked if false, while Najib and his group have chosen to remain silent in spite of the serious nature of the accusations. Although Najib as prime minister had the power to order an investigation to bring Balasubramaniam to face justice, so far he has not done so, apparently preferring to hope to ride out the accusations.

There are mountains of questions Najib could have answered. Evidence of justice being aborted to protect Najib is found in the numerous irregularities that have occurred before and during the trial of the Altantuya murder. Najib was not questioned despite the fact that the two elite bodyguards who were convicted of the woman's gruesome execution took orders from him. Najib's chief of staff, Musa Safri, by Baginda's admission, sent the two bodyguards to pick her up. The two convicted policemen had no apparent motive to commit the murder on their own.

The judge, prosecutors and even a defence lawyer abruptly replaced without credible reasons shortly before the trial. No motive for the murder was ever raised during the trial.

Both prosecutors and defense lawyer teamed up during the trial to prevent critical evidence being pursued in court, such as reports of a photograph showing Altantuya and Najib taking meals together. Immigration entry records of Altantuya and her Mongolian companions disappeared from the immigration ministry. Bala's original affidavit ws barred from the court without credible reasons.

Baginda, the third accused, who was charged with instigating the murder, was released without his defense being called, leaving open the question of who ordered the killing – especially since a confession by one of the two bodyguards indicated someone was going to pay them RM100,000 to kill her and her Mongolian companions – who were spared after the two went to their hotel to discover the building was protected by CCTV. Instead they chose to pick up Altantuya in front of Baginda's house and drive her to a suburb where she was shot in the head and her body was blown up with explosives.

It is difficult for Najib to this clear himself of the lingering suspicions that have surrounded him and his wife, by waving away inquisitive questions by a curt reply like he gave at the press conference. The latest Bala revelations are regarded as constituting a challenge to the integrity and legitimacy of Najib's premiership, for which he must now account to the nation. The only way to do that without dishonoring his oath of office is to commission a truly independent panel to uncover the truth and account to the nation. It is unlikely, however, that any independent panel would ever be established.

MT
07/12/09

UMNO's racial politics and Brain Drain

The most important asset of a country is not its natural resources, but rather human resources. This is especially true in a knowledge based economy, which of course will be the trend in future if not already the trend in most of the western countries.

My daughter, who is in her final year medicine in Auckland, told me that a team of Singapore recruitment officers have just visited Auckland and talked to the Malaysian students there, offering job and training prospect for the final year students once they graduate. My daughter also told me that over the last few years, quite a lot of her Malaysian seniors, after graduating from medical courses in NZ, have gone to Singapore to work as house-officers and subsequently stayed back in Singapore for their postgraduate training.

Similar teams are sent to Australia and UK for recruiting Malaysians there to work in Singapore.

About a year ago, in one of the articles in Reuters, this was reported:


Malaysia is counting on bright, ambitious people like Tan Chye Ling for its future, to lead it away from manufacturing and into the knowledge age.

But the 32-year-old scientist, a post-graduate in molecular biology, is not counting on Malaysia to look after her future.

‘I felt much suppressed in Malaysia,’ said Tan, who moved to neighboring Singapore, the region’s pace-setter for biotech investment, after a decade of study and research in Malaysia.

‘I have benefited from the better research environment and salary scheme here. Things are much smoother,’ she said by phone from the National University of Singapore where she is studying dust mites and allergies.
Tan estimates that 60 percent of the research teams she works with in Singapore are from Malaysia, despite her country’s efforts over several years to develop a biotech industry.

The Malaysian government unveiled plans last March to spend $553.3 million over five years to boost research, attract foreign investment and build new facilities. But its efforts are wasted unless it can retain more talented people like Tan. ’By the time we have the research environment in place, every other country would have taken a slice of the biotech investment pie,’ said Iskandar Mizal, head of the state-run Malaysian Biotech Corporation which oversees the government’s strategy.

There is a serious problem facing “Malayia” and that is the problem of Brain Drain. Why are Malaysians overseas not coming back to work?

Well, pay may be part of the reasons but is not the main reason. Singapore recruitment team offered Malaysian students there a salary which is a few times they would expect to get in Malaysia….S$40,000 a yr for houseman after tax (equivalent to RM86000) which is about 5 times the pay of a houseman in Malaysia.

But, as I say, pay is not the main problem. The living expenses Overseas is high. And for a person working overseas, the loneliness and the stress level is also high. So not everyone opts to work overseas because of pay. Many would not mind to work for lesser pay if they can stay near to their loved ones.

Why do people choose to work overseas, away from their loved one?

Malaysia has many state-of-the-art hospitals and research centers, which may even be the envy of many overseas countries. But hardware alone would not attract these experts o come home. In the medical fields, I have so many friends /classmates working overseas, many in world renowned centers.

Why do they do that?

Some of my classmates and friends did come back as specialists. After working a few years ( many lasted a few months) , most get disillusioned and went off. There is really not much prospect of career advancement. How many can hope to become a professor, even when they are an acknowledged expert in their field? On the other hand , lesser beings are being promoted to professorship for doing much less.

How many of them can have any say about how things are to be run? How many of them can blend into the local team where the work attitude is vastly different from that overseas?

There is an unwritten rule that even if the person is very good, the head of the team has to be someone from a certain ethnic group who may not even be half as good as him.

In everyday life, some become disillusioned with the corruption, the red tape and “tidak apa” attitude of the officialdom. For an overseas doctor applying to work home, the application can take up to 6 months to get approved, whereas, Singapore sends teams overseas to recruit them on the spot, giving them forms to fill and offering them jobs immediately as long as they pass their final examination. See the difference?

It is the sense of being wanted and being appreciated that make these people stay overseas. Back here, they are often made to feel that they are of a lower class; they do not feel wanted and they do not feel appreciated…. That is the main reason.

For those with children , the education system puts them off. Even school children can feel being discriminated, one glaring example is the 2 systems in PreUniversity education.

All these make them pack their bags and off they go again, leaving behind their parents perhaps, siblings,friends they grew up together, favouite food that is often not available overseas. No one likes to be like this; circumstances and a sense of being recognised for their worth make them go away…It is really sad.

Parents spend huge amount of money educating them, but the ones who benefit are the Singaporeans, the Americans, the Australian, the British and so on. As long as race politics is not done away with, this problem of brain drain will continue and Malaysia will always lack behind the advanced countries, no matter how many twin towers and Putra Jayas we build.

Dr.Hsu
07/12/09

Equal opportunity could bring Malaysians back

KUALA LUMPUR: Giving equal opportunity to all Malaysians in major areas related to health, education and jobs, may help in curbing brain-drain from Malaysia, two young Malaysians who have studied abroad told freemalaysiatoday.

Dentist Sabrina Tan said via email that one of the main reasons she stayed back in New Zealand after completing her studies is that she can opt to work anywhere she wants unlike here in Malaysia, where she would have to work in the government as compulsory service for the first three years. Furthermore, there is equal opportunity open to all job-seekers.


Sabrina who had been staying abroad for eight to nine years, said that the lifestyle in New Zealand is also more relaxing and the country is cleaner and greener. "The people here are also more accepting and friendly," she added, when asked why she opted to not come back to Malaysia.

She opined that people in general go abroad to study for lack of trust in the Malaysian tertiary education system and also because they do not believe that they will get equal opportunity back home.

Speaking on behalf of those in health profession, Sabrina said that removing compulsary government service for foreign educated health professionals may attract them to come back to Malaysia. "Many health professionals I know find it hard to go back to Malaysia because of this, especially if they have a family. Many chose to go to Singapore instead if they wanted to go back to the region," she said.

Blogger Nathaniel Tan, in his blog titled ‘Migration of Malaysians increase exponentially-What’s the real reason’, estimated that one third of his classmates have migrated, and most of them are professionals. He opined that although it’s part of a whole package, people do not just leave their family, home and everything familiar for money and better career prospect.

He added that he believes that most youngsters leave the country as they feel that the country is going nowhere. Discrimination also plays a part besides the perception that the country is so corrupt that there is no more place for honest people, he wrote.

He concluded that the way to bring Malaysians back is by giving hope of a cleaner Malaysia with genuine integrity and unity that goes beyond slogans.

Deputy Foreign Minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay recently told Parilament that the number of Malaysians who have given up citizenship and also those who have migrated have almost doubled this year. He said that 3,800 Malaysians have given up citizenship to date and 304, 358 have been reported to have migrated.

FMT
07/12/09

Hindraf 2nd year commemmoration

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5


Part 6

NE

07/12/09

Will Najib support BTN's racist political propaganda and a blow to his 1Malaysia concept

Will Najib choose the Pak Lah path?

In the ongoing debate about the Biro Tata Negara (BTN), one obvious question is staring the country in the face — will Datuk Seri Najib Razak step up to the plate or will he be another Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi?

In recent days, the Malay-language press controlled by the prime minister’s party has already drawn a line in the sand.

Despite overwhelming evidence of racism, these newspapers have been defending the BTN courses, and are implying that attacks against the National Civics Bureau are akin to an assault on the “social contract” and the special position of Malays.

Some of Najib’s own ministers have also been defending BTN despite the fact that they agreed to a revamp of the courses during a Cabinet meeting just weeks ago.

Among them are Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the deputy prime minister and Umno No. 2 who has become the face of the hawkish forces in the ruling party and government.

Yesterday, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also argued that there was nothing wrong with the BTN.

Complaints against BTN are not new.

The courses, which are compulsory for civil servants and public university undergraduates, are racist political propaganda designed to strengthen support for Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN), the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has alleged.

But PR leaders are not the only ones who have levelled the racist charges at BTN.

Participants, many of them Malays, have come out to accuse the BTN of being racist.

Amid the debate, Najib’s silence so far has been deafening.

He has allowed the reactionary forces in his own party to set the agenda.

And in doing so, he is risking them jettisoning the inclusive agenda of his administration.

So far, the only member of his Cabinet who has made clear the administration’s intention to overhaul the BTN has been Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

Nazri confirmed last week that the Cabinet had already instructed Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Sidek Hassan to revamp the BTN courses.

The revamp was a direct result of a briefing for the Cabinet arranged by Datuk Seri Idris Jala in which Najib and his ministers were told of the racism being promoted by BTN courses.

Among the ministers present at the briefing was Muhyiddin, who sat besides Najib and nodded in agreement to the need for an overhaul.

With the very public campaign to defend BTN by his own party and its powerful newspapers, Najib is now facing the same kind of dilemma which his former boss Abdullah faced.

Despite having the best intentions, Abdullah failed time and again to show his resolve to ensure the success of his reforms.

Desperate not to offend any party, Abdullah tried to compromise and was eventually labelled a flip-flop PM who did not possess the steely resolve to face down challenges.

In the matter of BTN, Najib now has the choice of either bashing through this barrier of chauvinism or become just like his predecessor.

MI
07/12/09

Mahathir Pencetus Salah Guna BTN

MAHATHIR merupakan pencetus kepada salah guna yang terdapat dalam modul Biro Tata Negara (BTN) dalam menyebarkan agenda Barisan Nasional ketika era pemerintahannya satu ketika dahulu. Propaganda mengutuk dan menghina pemimpin-pemimpin pembangkang telah disuapkan ke minda peserta agar tertanam perasaan benci terhadap pemimpin-pemimpin pembangkang yang ada.

“Mahathir sendiri yang telah mewujudkan modul ini, kerana itulah dia tidak bersetuju modul ini dirombak dan mahu ia dikekalkan. Dia adalah pecetus kepada semua ini,” jelas Johari Abdul.

Datuk Johari Abdul yang juga Ahli Parlimen Sungai Petani menjelaskan modul yang terdapat dalam BTN telah digunakan oleh Dr Mahathir pada ketika itu sepenuhnya untuk memburukkan pemimpin-pemimpin pembangkang terutamanya melibatkan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Kerana itu beliau langsung tidak terkejut dengan kenyataan Dr Mahathir yang mahu modul BTN dikekalkan dan tidak dirombak.

“Buktinya, selepas Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dipecat, hampir semua program BTN yang dijalankan oleh penceramahnya kebanyakkannya mencerca dan memfitnah Anwar sedangkan pada ketika itu Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim masih dibicarakan dan masih belum ditentukan bersalah,” jelas Johari yang dihubungi wartawan Erapakatan.

Menurutnya, program yang dijalankan telah mengumpulkan semua pemimpin pembangkang dan melebelkan mereka sebagai pengkianat dan orang yang bakal memusnahkan Negara. Fitnah dan cacian sengaja dilemparkan bagi menanam kebencian rakyat terhadap pemimpin pembangkang yang ada.

“Jika dikira sejak tahun 1998 hingga 2 september 2005, sudah berapa banyak fitnah dan cacian yang dilemparkan kepada Datuk Seri Anwar? Sedangkan pada ketika itu Anwar masih belum ditentukan kesalahannya. Jadi saya memang tidak terkejut sama sekali dengan kenyataan Dr Mahathir yang mahu modul BTN dikekalkan. Ini kerana dia sudah lama menggunakan modul BTN ini untuk menanam kebencian rakyat kepada Datuk Seri Anwar dan pemimpin-pemimpin lain,” jelas Johari lagi.

Baru-baru ini Dr Mahathir telah memberi kenyataan mahu program BTN dikekalkan kerana bagi beliau modul itu cukup baik dalam memupuk semangat kenegaraan di kalangan rakyat.

Isu kursus anjuran BTN mendapat perhatian ramai apabila kerajaan Negeri Selangor baru-baru ini melarang kakitangan awam dan penuntut institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT) milik negeri mengikuti kursus berkenaan berkuatkuasa. Hal ini kerana BTN didakwa sebagai proses doktrinisasi oleh Barisan Nasional (BN) hingga mencetuskan fenomena perkauman, memecah-belahkan penduduk pelbagai kaum, agama dan menimbulkan kebencian kepada pembangkang.

Dari EraPakatan.com

Oleh Roziyah Mahamad

07/12/09

Nazri calls Dr M a racist for defending BTN

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 — Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz called Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad a “bloody racist” for defending the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) courses, and reasserted the Cabinet’s earlier decision to overhaul the programme.

He also slammed Umno’s Utusan Malaysia newspaper, saying its “denial syndrome” was making him laugh.

The minister in the prime minister’s department also repeated his stand “everybody knows what the BTN is,” so there was nothing to hide.

MI
07/12/09

Erti Kebijaksanaan - A BTN Course

The PDF file can be downloded at: http://www.mediafire.com/?zzmg2qj5yy2

Note: Dr Nordin Kardi is now the VC for UUM

MT
06/12/09

gejala rasuah merupakan antara punca secara tidak langsung pengenalan pelbagai cukai

Saya merujuk kepada kenyataan Timbalan Ketua Pesuruhjaya Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) Abu Kassim Mohamed bahawa beliau akan menyediakan beberapa perancangan bagi mengembalikan integriti suruhanjaya itu sebaik mengambil alih kepimpinan SPRM berkuatkuasa 1 Januari 2010.

Saya setuju bahawa ia bukan suatu tugas mudah untuk mengembalikan kredibiliti dan kepercayaan orang awam terhadap SPRM dalam masa yang singkat. Tetapi, rakyat Malaysia secara umum mungkin tidak akan lagi memberi lanjutan masa bagi SPRM untuk membawa tindakan undang-undang terhadap orang yang disyaki terlibat dalam kes rasuah. Oleh yang demikian, masa merupakan suatu faktor penting dalam mengembalikan integriti dan kepercayaan orang awam terhadap SPRM.

Tidak dinafikan, kebanyakan orang awam melihat gejala rasuah sebagai faktor utama yang menyebabkan pembaziran dana kerajaan, peningkatan perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengakibatkan kenaikan defisit bajet.

Saya mempercayai bahawa gejala rasuah merupakan antara punca secara tidak langsung pengenalan pelbagai cukai untuk menambah pendapatan kerajaan, termasuk pengenalan semula 5% Cukai Keuntungan Hasil Tanah (yang kini juga terpakai bagi hartanah yang diperolehi lebih dari 5 tahun), cukai perkhidmatan RM50 ke atas tiap-tiap kad kredit dan cukai barangan dan perkhidmatan (GST) yang akan dibentangkan tidak lama lagi (yang dilihat sebagai membebankan rakyat miskin).

Hakikatnya, gejala rasuah sememangnya membebankan rakyat Malaysia. Oleh itu, kejayaan SRPM untuk menurunkan kadar gejala rasuah adalah penting bagi rakyat Malaysia dan mungkin boleh menyebabkan kerajaan menimbang dan menarik balik mana-mana cukai yang tidak diperlukan terhadap rakyat Malaysia pada masa hadapan.

Justeru, saya ingin mencadang kepada Abu Kasim Mohammed untuk menimbang perkara-perkara berikut selepas mengambil alih jawatan Ketua Pesuruhjaya Suruhanjaya SPRM pada 1 Januari 2010,

1. SPRM secara automatik menyiasat semua penyelewengan atau penyalahgunaan dana kerajaan yang dibangkitkan di dalam laporan tahunan Ketua Audit Negara (samada di dalam kerajaan BN atau PR di peringkat persekutuan ataupun negeri).

SPRM perlu menyiarkan suatu laporan tahunan berkenaan tindakan yang telah diambil oleh SPRM ke atas laporan tahunan Ketua Audit Negara. Sehingga kini, terdapat banyak kegiatan penyelewengan yang disyaki berlaku telah dibangkitkan di dalam laporan tahunan Ketua Audit Negara (sejak penubuhan SPRM) tetapi tiada apa-apa tindakan yang diambil untuk mendakwa pihak terbabit dan kerajaan telah gagal mengambil balik dana yang disalahgunakan.

2. SPRM menyiarkan di dalam laporan tahunannya berapa kes yang telah dilapor kepadanya setahun dan apakah tindakn yang telah diambil. Bagi kes-kes yang SPRM mengambil keputusan untuk tidak mengenakan apa-apa tindakan ataupun tiada tindakan yang diambil selepas enam (6) bulan selepas laporan diterima daripada orang awam, SPRM harus menyenaraikan sebab-sebab bagi kegagalan atau keengkaran mengambil tindakan.

Akhir sekali, saya ingin mengucapkan tahniah kepada Abu Kasim Mohammed yang akan mengambil alih jawatan Ketua Pesuruhjaya Suruhanjaya SPRM pada 1hb Januari 2010 dan semoga beliau akan berjaya menurunkan gejala rasuah di Malaysia.

*Kenyataan media oleh Tan Keng Liang, selaku Ketua Pemuda Gerakan Kedah.

MR
06/12/09

Muslims urged to accept minorities, Anwar Ibrahim

MELBOURNE, Dec 6 — Muslims must tackle injustices and corruption in their own countries before they can point a finger at the West, Australia's The Age newspaper quoted opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as saying yesterday.

''How Islam treats minorities is excessive, no question — Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Jews. We cannot condone injustice. We must condemn atrocities against minorities in Muslim societies and against Muslims in Christian societies,'' he told the Parliament of the World Religions.

He has repeatedly said this in many international conferences leading to the Foreign Policy magazine naming him one of the most influential thinkers in the world. In Malaysia, however, he faces a second sodomy charge a decade after being convicted for the first.

Anwar said Muslim countries faced huge Islamophobia, including an unequal American approach to Israel and Palestine and concerns about nuclear non-proliferation with some countries but not others (a reference to Israel).

But he told the key session on Islam and politics: ''You can't talk all the time about the injustice of the West if you have injustice in your own land, such as Christians and Hindus in Muslim countries.

''Muslims were upset about the treatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib [in Iraq], but what about conditions in Muslim prisons. If you refuse to talk about that you have no standing to talk about the first.''

The parliamentary opposition leader said there was no reason why Islamic parties should not contest elections. ''There is suspicion that Islamic political parties will use democracy as a vehicle and, when they come to power, marginalise other groups and cancel elections. There will be a 100 per cent vote, one time.''

But there were Christian Democrat parties, Hindu parties and Buddhist parties, while Muslim countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Turkey had clear constitutional guidelines. ''So why must Muslims have a secular fundamentalist position? What is important is to ensure that Islamic parties are not factional or unjust when in power.''

Abdullah Saeed, professor of Islamic Studies at Melbourne University, said the question of Islam and politics had been one of the most hotly debated topics for Muslims since the middle of the 19th century.

''At one end of the continuum is the view that it's absolutely essential for Muslims to establish an Islamic state, that Islam is a religion and a state, though Muslims have never experienced this ideal.

''At the other extreme, Islam is simply an ethical and moral system, a relationship between the person and God, with no need for politics.''

Saeed said critics pointed out that an Islamic state was not a traditional idea but a 20th-century construct, while Muslim governments tended to oppress women and non-Muslims, were autocratic and did not respect rights.

Tariq Ramadan, one of Europe's leading Muslim spokesmen, said democracy and Islam were fully compatible, but many Muslims misunderstood secularism as meaning no religion. Secularism in Muslim-majority countries did not mean democracy, but the opposite: dictators.

''It's a question of authority. When it comes to the private sphere, the authority God has over you is private. When it comes to the public sphere, it should be negotiated among the public.'' Ramadan said the idea of collective negotiated authority went back to the Prophet Muhammad, who more than once followed the majority against his own opinion.

Iranian delegate Mahdi Mostafavi said governments should fulfil the main purpose of man's creation and ensure society was obedient to God.

He said Muslims should not be subservient to any power that went against the will of God, who gave governments their legitimacy.

''The government should strive for material prosperity but also for man's exaltation in his humanity. Unfortunately this is neglected by most governments. Within the framework of God's laws, people should be free.''

Questioned by a leading Melbourne Muslim, Rachel Woodlock, about the treatment of Baha'is in Iran, Mostafavi simply denied that any minorities in Iran faced ill-treatment. Woodlock replied: ''You have no credibility at all.''

MI
06/12/09

Remembering 25th Nov HINDRAF Rally, prayers at Rawang Sri Sanggali Karupar Temple

In rememberence of 25th Nov 2007 HINDRAF RALLY, Hindraf Makkal Sakthi had a prayer on 29th Nov 2009 at Agora Veera Bhaktar Sri Sanggali Karupar Temple, Rawang.

HRP

06/12/09

Another racist mamak asshole defending BTN's racists training modules.

Dr M: Don’t mess with BTN

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 — There is no need to revamp National Civics Bureau (BTN) training modules as in the current form, they were fine for instilling the patriotic spirit among Malaysians, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former prime minister was also of the opinion that the BTN curriculum had helped foster unity as the courses conducted by the agency were attended by Malaysians of all races.

“I do not see any reason why the modules have to be revamped... I think it is better to retain the modules,” he told reporters after opening the World Aids Day 2009 here today.

Prior to this, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz had said that BTN training modules would be revamped to better reflect the 1 Malaysia concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The matter came into the spotlight when Pakatan-ruled Selangor recently prohibited state civil servants and students of higher educational institutions owned by the state from attending BTN courses, claiming that they were an indoctrination process by the Barisan Nasional government and aimed at brainwashing Malaysians to hate opposition parties.

Commenting further, Dr Mahathir said he too had given talks at courses organised by the BTN and among the subjects touched on were Malaysian history.

“Sometimes, people cannot understand the underlying value of BTN courses. I do not see anything bad about it, it explains the nation’s history,” he said.

Asked on Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call for independent observers from Australia to monitor the next general election in the country, Dr Mahathir said: “If it is the white man, he will trust. If its Malays, it is otherwise.”

On the government’s plan to introduce the goods and services tax (GST), he said a comprehensive study must be made on it so as not to burden the people.

However, he said it was needed in the long term as the country had to find alternative sources of revenue and not be overly dependent of the petroleum sector.

MI
06/12/09

Selangor DAP man reveals BTN’s ‘racist’ syllabus

SERDANG, Dec 5 — Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah today showed what he claims is the “racist” syllabus for courses by the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) which the federal government has agreed to revamp after an opposition outcry.

Selangor has banned its officials and state-funded students from attending the course which Ean Yong expressed shock over its “racist” contents and denounced it for clearly running counter to the goals of nation-building.

Plucking several passages from the alleged course module, the Seri Kembangan assemblyman read them aloud.

“Our leaders decided to share the country with other races … the British kept pressuring the leaders to prove that the Malays supported their stand … Our leaders allocated as many as 17 seats to other races to compete in the general elections in 1955, even though the other races qualified to compete in only two areas … 15 seats were given to the Chinese (MCA) and two seats to the Indians (MIC). This was an action that perhaps at that time was considered extreme by the original citizens of this country.

“PAS is the one Malay party outside the Alliance that did not cooperate even though the Nation needed unity from the local people to enable this Nation’s independence.

“Finally, if Bumiputera-owned companies did not have the size stated earlier, we cannot hope that other people would absorb the Bumiputera race in their company.”

The eight-page extract, written in the national language on the “Meaning of Wisdom”, is credited to one Datuk Dr Nordin Kardi, the director-general of the BTN.

Ean Yong told reporters he had stumbled upon the document while trawling the web (http://www.mediafire.com/?dzu2imynux) last night when quizzed on the source.

Unable to help himself from taking a dig at the module title, he quipped, “This course makes you wiser.”

He added that he had not personally received any complaints from the public on the BTN course and was not sure if the material is still being used.

The DAP state exco also admitted he had not informed his colleagues of his discovery.

But Ean Yong demanded the minister in charge of the programme must reveal the entire contents of the BTN curriculum and explain its racist nature.

He also insisting that the entire programme be scrapped and replaced by the Selangor government’s initiative.

Dr Halimah Ali, Ean Yong’s fellow exco in charge of education and human development, had earlier this week mooted a Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Social course, — better known by its acronym Spies — to be introduced to members of the civil service.

Though Ean Yong, who is in charge of new village development and illegal factory settlements, gave his solid backing to the PAS exco’s proposal, he also deflected questions when pressed on the state’s readiness to run the Spies programme.

He told reporters Spies was being “studied” by Dr Halimah’s department and to direct questions to her for a reply.

MI
05/12/09

Anwar accuses Rudd of appeasing Malaysia's corrupt leaders

MELBOURNE, Dec 5 — Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has accused Kevin Rudd (left) of appeasing Malaysia’s ‘‘corrupt leaders’’ in the continuing fallout from the Prime Minister’s decision not to meet Anwar.

Anwar, who is in Melbourne to speak at the Parliament of World Religions, said Mr Rudd was acting in the interests of diplomacy butthe snub was unwise and ignored the importance of ethics and morality.

‘‘He was too obsessed with interests of getting the two countries together [and therefore] appease Malaysia’s corrupt leaders,’’ he said.

On a visit to Malaysia in July last year, Rudd praised the country as a ‘‘vibrant’’ and ‘‘flourishing’’ democracy, while the country was gripped by allegations of vote-rigging and corruption.

But the Prime Minister adhered to usual protocols by not meeting with Mr Anwar.

‘‘To use terms like ‘robust democracy’ when the entire battle is against an authoritarian order with all the institutions being corrupt or compromised, that is, of course, an issue,’’ Anwar said yesterday.

‘‘What is worse is when the ruling party establishment highlighted this statement [by Mr Rudd] and used it in their campaign against us.’’

Anwar said he had not sought a meeting with Rudd on this visit to Australia but recently met Foreign Minister Stephen Smith.

He said the Malaysian political system was fundamentally flawed, with police intimidation and no freedom of the press.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court recently rejected an application to have a fresh charge of sodomy against Anwar dismissed.

He said the ‘‘trumped-up’’ charges were a blatant disregard for the law and an abuse of political power, with medical experts saying there was no case.

He is accused of sodomising a male former aide, even though there is no evidence of penetration. Anwar was released from prison five years ago after sodomy charges were overturned.

He was critical of Australia’s military involvement in Afghanistan, questioning whether anything had been learnt from the experience of the first Gulf War. ‘‘We consider that a colossal blunder on the part of President Bush, why do you need to repeat that in Afghanistan?’’ he said.

‘‘Continuing military occupation of a foreign country — including in this case Afghanistan - cannot be condoned.’’

In his conference talk on democracy and diversity, Anwar said democracy could not be forced and must be indigenous with time to mature.

Anwar has also called on Australia to send observers to Malaysia’s next election. — The Age

MI
05/12/09

GLOBAL PROTESTS AGAINST MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT

Time for a change in government

Well done, Sarawak MACC!

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Sarawak has dropped a bomb shell in the Land of the Hornbill by announcing that they have detained seven individuals comprising government servants, contractors, and middlemen who have been linked to a syndicate that abuse millions of federal development funds.

We wish to commend the Sarawak MACC Director Samsiah Abu Bakar for having taken the bold step to start cleaning out the murky water in Sarawak’s public sector.

While many Sarawakians will grumble about the apparent immunity of “big fish” in the Land of the Hornbill, we also believe that the Ten Thousand Mile Long March begins with the first step.
We also expect more arrests to be made in the days to come, as the MACC director has promised. Corruption in high and low places in Sarawak is pandemic, and any move to curb this festering cancer within our body politic must be supported by all Malaysians.

The MACC in Sarawak also have their credibility in Sarawak on the line. In Selangor, Perak, and elsewhere, MACC has been accused of selective investigation and prosecution, targeting only officials of the Pakatan Rakyat state government. Teoh Beng Hock’s tragic death and the ongoing inquest into his demise have cast the national MACC in very negative light.

Graft fighting would be much more effective with accurate and timely inside information from the public. If the Sarawak MACC can demonstrate their determination and resolve in arresting, charging and convicting corrupt officials and businessmen, surely they would entice more civic conscious citizens to come forth with more information elsewhere.
Funds a much welcome addition
Just last week, MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (prevention) Zakaria Jaffar revealed that up to 60% of government development funds for parliamentary and state legislative constituencies have been diverted elsewhere.

Without revealing specific details, Zakaria did mention that the constituency development projects involved building roads, low cost housing, and mosques. He also mentioned cases where contractors double their project sum by double billing the MP and the state assemblymen for the same purpose.

In other cases, contractors were able to secure payment even though the job was not done.
The constituency development fund has been established long ago to enable elected representatives to help their constituents in implementing minor local projects such as roads, bridges, jetty, mosques and even housing that may be overlooked in the macro-development of the state’s infrastructure.

Sarawak is the second poorest state in Malaysia in terns of per capita income, ahead only of Kelantan. The backwardness of the socio-economic infrastructure in Sarawak is notorious, with many people still lacking basic facilities such as water, electricity, roads, and jetties.

The constituency development funds allocated by the Parliament and the Sarawak State Assembly are a much welcome addition to other development allocations in improving minor facilities in the rural communities, for roads, bridges, low-cost housing, jetties, and mosques.
These funds have been voted through Parliament and the Sarawak State Assembly for very specific purposes and in specific areas, and so cannot be hijacked by public officials and elected representatives for other purposes in other areas at their whim and fancy.

Good administration of public finance also dictates that every cent of the development funds that come out of the tax-payers’ pockets must be accounted for. Given Sarawak’s perennial but ravenous hunger for development funding, stealing from Sarawak’s rural poor through corruption is an unforgivable moral crime.

Informed Sarawakians know the extent of rampant corruption at all levels of public life. The link between politicians and businessmen are the staff of legends in numerous coffee shops throughout the length and breadth of this vast resource rich state. Public confidence in the self-policing of government agencies is not high.

Not via internal audit, Mr DCM
Therefore, we disagree with the proposal by the Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Dr George Chan’s proposal to check corruption in state development allocation through internal audit. How do you entice public confidence by asking the cat to watch over some fish?

A better alternative would be to invite the Sarawak MACC or the office of the Auditor General to probe into allegations of corruption in both state and federal departments and agencies, as these are statutory bodies which are meant to be independent of the administrative branch of government.
In this respect, the MACC should also demonstrate they would act against the corrupt without fear or favour. Since the elected representative of any constituency has a great deal of say over where their constituency development funds go, they should also be probed for the irregularities uncovered by the MACC so far.

For the moment though, it may not be prudent to expect too much from the Sarawak MACC. They are a federal agency working in a vast state with very unique political culture. Sarawak politics is a minefield with a phalange of local political warlords who have very sensitive political toes.

Nevertheless, we should give credit where credit is due. The MACC in Sarawak must be commended for their ongoing effort to arrest corruption, even in a minor domain such as the constituency development funds.

MM
04/12/09

Big show of support for Nik Aziz

KOTA BHARU - To counter a protest against Mentri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat by some pro-Umno demonstrators early this week, thousands jammed the streets of Kota Baru for a mass rally to support his leadership in Kelantan.

Despite a drizzle and an occassional downpour, they came from all over Kelantan and neighboring states to gather at Medan Ilmu in Jalan Tok Pati here with banners proclaiming their loyalty and affection for the revered Tok Guru.

Many wore headbands declaring 'We love Tok Guru' and carried banners that include the denunciation of the Federal government's reluctance to give oil royalty to the state.

Among those who took part in the rally were members of PAS and parties friendly to PAS, including groups of supporters representing the Chinese, Siamese and Indian communities in Kelantan.

Present were state executive councillors as well as state party and Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

Another mass rally in KL

Nik Aziz, who is also the PAS spiritual advisor, will attend another mammoth rally in a show of support for his leadership In Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

It will be held at the party's field headquarters at Taman Melewar at 9pm. The event is also to mark the silver jubilee celebrations of the PAS Batu division.

In a related development, it is learnt that PAS supporters waiting to return home from Makkah, where they had performed their haj, had gathered before the Kaabah for special prayers to seek divine guidance to the party's problems.

Several PAS officials and state assemblymen were among the faithful at the prayers on Thursday night, according to PAS newsletter Harakah, which quoted the Kelantan backbenchers' club deputy chairman Zainuddin Awang Hamat.

MM
04/12/09

Malaysia's Economic Stagnation, A Symptom of Its Politics

I would like to commend Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah for his frankness and courage to admit that all's not well with the Malaysian economy. It is a symptom of the local politics.

Politicians and policy makers have largely remained superficial, racist and prefer style over substance.

Despite a long list of slogans, BTN courses and official programmes, the nation is continuing its spiral decline. It does not take long for Malaysia to look behind its back and finds no one else. Recently, an analyst said he would not be surprised to find the country exporting maids in the next 20 years.

Husni said Malaysia's economy has been stagnating for the past decade and is now trailing badly behind its neighbours, calling for "urgent" and wide-ranging reforms.

He added that Malaysia is trapped in a low-value-added, low-wage and low-productivity structure.

While Singapore and Korea's nominal per capita GDP grew within the last three decades by 9 and 12 times respectively, ours grew only by a factor of four.

In a withering assessment, Ahmad Husni said the services sector is underdeveloped, private investment is half the levels before the 1997-98 Asian crisis, and the manufacturing sector is suffering from lack of investment.

There are several worrying signs in the country:

1) Najib administration may have started the ball rolling on NEP liberalisation but his government does not seem to have a comprehensive and convincing post-NEP strategy to address the shortfalls of this policy.

2) Complacency, wastage and incompetency are still the main pillars of the civil sector. Companies, institutions, agencies and departments run by civil workers are not innovative, motivated or service oriented despite endless of courses, programmes and incentives given to them. Most of the government's policy flip-flops are caused by those officers who are not well-versed with public policy initiatives.

3) Low quality and poorly informed policy makers or politicians in the ruling government.

4) Over politicized education system. More students are scoring distinctions but less are capable of critical thinking. Worse, all the government sponsored students are required to attend the controversial BTN courses.

5) Most of us are living and acting like zombies! We do our job without a sense of pride and admiration of our own products and services. We need to put quality, excellence and creativity at the forefront, not just doing the job. Why some companies or government agencies are so unpopular? Its because their people JUST DON'T CARE. Do you?

6) Both corruption and racism must end if Malaysia wants to surge ahead of the rest. It is not easy. It will not be a stroll on the park. Alone, Husni is not enough to change the nation. We need to work together as a society who want to make Malaysia a more competitive economy.

ST
04/12/09

Dangers in jailing Anwar

The more things change, the more they remain the same in Malaysian politics. Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has failed to get a court to strike out a sodomy charge against him, which means the controversial trial that threatens to bump him from politics and land him in prison is set to begin on Jan 25.

It will represent the second time Anwar faces charges of sodomy, which is considered a criminal act in Malaysia’s Muslim majority society. This time, he faces charges of sodomising his 24-year-old former personal aide at a condominium in Kuala Lumpur in mid-2008.

For many Malaysians, there is a sense of déjà vu with the 1999 trial that involved his wife’s chauffeur. But the political landscape has evolved considerably over the “reformasi” years that followed Anwar’s ouster as finance minister from former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s government in September 1998, coinciding with the height of the Asian financial crisis.

For starters, Anwar’s mentor-turned-nemesis, who ruled the country from 1981 to 2003, is no longer in power. He has since emerged as a vocal critic of his self-appointed and later elected successor, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, as well as newly appointed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Since Anwar’s release from prison in 2004, six years after his ouster from government, Anwar has played an instrumental role in bringing together the opposition parties. His efforts helped produce a shock result in last year’s general election: the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition lost its coveted two-thirds parliamentary majority in parliament and five out of 13 states in the federation fell to opposition party rule.

Opposition parties now control only four state governments after the BN wrested back Perak state earlier this year under controversial legal circumstances. But despite such strong-arm tactics, Malaysian politics have become more fluid, with issues of race, religion and corruption intensely debated online and in political talks. No longer is the BN the overwhelming political force it was previously, though it still controls the main levers of administrative power.

The BN parties representing ethnic minorities, such as the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), still reeling after the electoral drubbing they suffered last year, have proven unable to reform or renew themselves. Instead, the MCA is deeply divided by factionalism while the MIC is staring at irrelevance.

Anwar, who re-entered parliament after winning a by-election last August, was instrumental in stabilising and bringing under one umbrella the opposition parties after their unexpected gains in the 2008 general election. He helped establish a leadership council among the three main parties — his PKR, PAS and the DAP — under the banner of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

Meanwhile, Anwar’s unrelenting push for more democracy has captured international attention. An e-mail flier released this week by his office announced that the US-based Foreign Policy magazine listed Anwar among the world’s top 100 global thinkers due to “his persistent challenge to the Muslim world to embrace democracy”. The flier also noted that this year the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Jordan listed him among the world’s 500 most influential Muslims for “dramatically changing the political landscape of Malaysia”.

Those political breakthroughs have paved the way for a two-coalition system that has provided an unprecedented political check and balance on the BN. Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, a cabinet minister who quit last year in protest at the government’s arbitrary use of the feared Internal Security Act to silence dissent, is now leading the process of formalising PR into an electoral entity, similar to the ruling BN coalition.

But the similarities between the two coalitions end there: The BN and the Pakatan have sharply contrasting political approaches. Whereas UMNO is the dominant force in the BN (although decision-making is said to be by consensus), Pakatan offers a collective approach to policy-making.

Even though repressive federal laws are still in place, there has been a democratic opening, felt especially in the four Pakatan-led state governments. Government-owned buildings are now available for use by non-BN political parties and critical civil society groups, which had previously found it difficult to secure such venues for their events. Rarely do riot police mobilise, as they did before, each time Pakatan politicians hold political talks or rallies.


DIMINISHED FEAR FACTOR

That growing democratic space has reduced the public fear factor, where previously many found it more prudent to keep their political opinions to themselves. For instance, tens of thousands marched calling for an abolition of the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) in the streets of Kuala Lumpur in August — prompting the government to announce in its aftermath that it would review and amend the law. Pakatan-led state governments also joined in calling for the ISA’s repeal.

Constrained by a squeeze on federal funding, Pakatan-led state governments have claimed to plug leakages on state and local council expenditure, reduce corruption and implement an open tender system for government contracts, winning plaudits from a public weary of years of BN-led graft and abuse. Pakatan politicians are already looking ahead to build on their gains in the next general election, which some analysts believe could be held as early as 2011.

The BN-led federal government has also lost its long-time monopoly on news and information flows. Increased Internet penetration means that Malaysians are much more aware of issues involving alleged corruption, wastage of state funds and official abuse of power. Some analysts now believe that the “alternative” Internet-based news media, which have sidestepped government controls on the print and electronic media, could now be considered the “mainstream” media based on their large readerships.

The government-owned or controlled media, once regarded as the “mainstream”, continue to haemorrhage readers, especially among the younger, tech-savvy generation. News portals such as the well-established Malaysiakini.com, Malaysia Today and The Malaysian Insider, and new entrants such as the Malaysian Mirror and Free Malaysia Today, are filling the news gap left by government influenced newspapers.

Having lost its monopoly over the print media (television and radio are still tightly state controlled and have extensive reach), the BN government must for the first time compete in the marketplace of ideas and competing arguments, a role that does not come naturally to its traditional patronage politicians.

Many BN federal ministers and elected representatives, including Najib, now make use of blogs to communicate with their constituents. Najib also turned last month to social networking site Facebook and is now a regular on Twitter. His latest tweet: “Now back in Malaysia after overseas visits to US and Chogm [Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting], Trinidad and Tobago. Much work to do!”

It will thus be difficult for the BN to put the genie of democracy back in the bottle. Unlike Anwar’s first trial, it is not only the judges, prosecutors and lawyers who will be scrutinizing the evidence in the new sodomy charge brought against him. Rather it will come under intense and unprecedented public scrutiny through new media outlets.

Much has changed in terms of democracy and accountability between Anwar’s sodomy trial I and sodomy trial II, and the public uproar in reaction to any perceived injustice in the proceedings could make the previous “reformasi” protest movement Anwar sparked over a decade ago look tame in comparison. — AsiaTimes Online

MI
04/12/09

1,016,749 Biro Tata Negara “graduates” to implement UMNOs’ racist policies

UMNO is believed to have spent Millions if not Billions over the years to train 1,016,749 Biro Tata Negara “graduates” to implement their racist and religious extremist discriminatory policies in particular against the poor and working class Indians. In the Mid Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan it was reported that 1,016,749 participants benefitted (“graduated”) from the Biro Tata Negara programmes (Utusan Malaysia Buliten 27/6/08 at page 19).

Our analysis based on the complaints we have received from the ground is that these Biro Tata Negara “graduates” are trained in a standardised fashion to reject especially the poor, illiterate and working class Indians right at the very first counter level stage itself by the counter clerks. For example for Birth Certificates, Identity Cards Welfare and handicapped persons financial help, Socso, low interest government business loans, business opportunities, licences Felda, Felcra, Risda, Fama and Agropolitian land ownership schemes livestock breeding etc.

The clearest example ever is the 150,000 Indian children who have deliberately been denied their birth certificates when the law as per Article 14 of the Federal Constitution states “……… every person born on or after Malaysia Day ……… are citizens by operation of the law.” The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1978 states that “everyone has a right to nationality.” (The Sun 1/12/09 at page 10).

But these UMNO Biro Tatanegara “graduates” have caused not only grave pain and sufferings but also irreparable damage to the lives of especially these third, forth and even fifth generation Malaysian born 150,000 Indian children.

The NST on their 28/11/09 headlines however reports to the contrary.

Even the heart of the ISA Kamuniting prison had been infiltrated by these Biro Tata Negara officers who pulled up only the malay muslims and in their forum instilled hatred against the Indians and Hindraf. This caused discomfort to many of the participants including even some of the Jemaah Islamiah (J.I.) detainees who immediately came back and told us what went on. I had accordingly recorded this incident in my diary.

It was brought to our attention last month that in a civil servants “kursus” and at the end of a video presentation the photograph of Hindraf Chairman P. Waytha Moorthy appears with the sub titles “musuh utama negara”

We believe that even the Malaysia Courts and Judiciary have not been spared.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are believed to be thousands of such direct and indirect UMNOs’ discriminatory race and religious extremist based plans, policies and practices implemented on a day to day basis.

Attrocities of this nature does not take place in any other part of the world except in Malaysia. These kind of discrimination last ended in apartheid South Africa some twenty years ago in 1989 with the end of FW De Klerk’s rule.

We believe that even the Malaysian Courts and Judiciary have not been spared

But Malay-sian Prime Minister Najib Razak to the contrary goes on his One Malaysia propaganda.

P. Utahayakumar.
Secretary General (pro tem)
HRP
04/12/09

Changing MACC, not just its bosses

While most Malaysians would be happy to see the back of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan, his departure will not be the panacea for the many ills of the national anti-graft body.

Ahmad Said was previously the director-general of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) which turned into the MACC last Jan 1, keeping its staff while wielding more powers to fight graft that has been pervasive and pushed Malaysia down the ladder in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index.

Next Jan 1, Ahmad Said will be on five months leave before his official retirement, closing a controversial chapter of his career and the disastrous start to MACC, which was touted as a key pillar of reforms initiated by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi after the historic electoral losses in Election 2008.

But his voluntary resignation won’t change the nature of MACC.

The anti-graft body’s problems and bias appear to be institutionalised from years of being just an agency under the Prime Minister’s Department and now still a commission under the Executive rather than reporting to the Parliament.

One just hast to look at the manner the MACC has given ruling party politicians like Datuk Seri Khir Toyo and Khairy Jamaluddin a free ride despite the Umno disciplinary board warning them about ‘money politics’, the party’s euphemism for corruption. Khir’s Balinese-styled mansion in Shah Alam remains fodder in the grapevine but not a case in their files.

The Teoh Beng Hock inquest has also revealed how the MACC treats its witnesses until it was slapped with a court ruling that restricted it to interviewing witnesses to only during office hours. The commission might sulk and pout or sarcastically claim the fight against corruption is hampered but Teoh’s death is a marker to over-eager interrogation.

And its venture to trap errant politicians in the Perak case is still unfolding in the court case against two former PKR executive councillors. One would think the MACC would fight graft, not tempt or lure officials and politicians to commit the offence.

The years under the executive have made the formerly ACA and currently MACC officials arrogant and belligerent in their tasks that they have no regard for the law or what they define as corruption. In this quest, their dragnet has only netted the small fries, not the big fish that continue to infest Malaysia.

Ahmad Said’s replacement, his deputy Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed, is a career officer and is not expected to make the MACC a dynamic and respected anti-graft body that runs without fear or favour.

That task lies with the Prime Minister. And if Datuk Seri Najib Razak wants to win the next general elections convincingly on his “1 Malaysia. People First. Performance Now” concept, he will have to ensure the MACC is not a paper tiger or the Umno’s cats paw as described by veteran opposition leader Lim Kit Siang.

Najib will have to change MACC for the better, not just its bosses.

Or else his concept will be a joke, like “Bersih, Cekap, Amanah” slogan of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and “Cemerlang, Gemilang, Terbilang” slogan Abdullah had used. Ahmad Said and the MACC are proof that these slogans never translated to anything concrete. And hope is dim it will get any better.

MI
04/12/09

PI Bala wanted by MACC to reveal the murderer of Mongolian beauty Altantuya Shaariibuu

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has asked PKR Youth Chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin to assist them in contacting and locating private investigator P. Balasubramaniam.

Shamsul was called in for questioning by the MACC today after he lodged a report regarding allegations of a cover-up of the Altantuya affair.

MACC has expressed its interest in obtaining a statement from Bala.

Shamsul said he was not in contact with Bala, but believed that he could help by conveying the message to Bala’s lawyer.

Speaking to the media after two hours of questioning by MACC officers, Shamsul denied that his report to the MACC had any political motive.

“This is not mala fide, but is for the interest of the country and (we) want the Prime Minister to be investigated,” he said.

Shamsul also said MACC officials told him the commission would refer the case to the Attorney-General’s office. It is understood that MACC has viewed all the video recordings handed in yesterday and will proceed with investigations after recording the statement from Shamsul this morning.

He expressed the hope that MACC would take action by contacting those whose names Bala mentioned in the video recording, including carpet salesman Deepak Jaikishan and the Prime Minister’s brother Datuk Nazim Abdul Razak.

Shamsul also urged the Prime Minister to come forth to clear his name and settle the issue “once and for all.”

He called for a public hearing on the case to “educate the public about the real issue” behind it.

Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff (picture), who accompanied Shamsul to the MACC office, speaking to reporters, said the case was of national interest and had put “1Malaysia on trial.”

Yesterday, Shamsul and a group of Pakatan Rakyat Youth leaders submitted to the MACC CD recordings of the Bala interview which are available on YouTube and other websites.

In the presence of three prominent lawyers last month, Bala made numerous allegations implicating the family of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and associates of Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor in the Altantuya affair cover-up.

One of the allegations was that he was offered RM5 million by Nazim and Deepak Jaikishan to retract a statutory declaration which claimed that the prime minister had close ties with murdered Mongolian beauty Altantuya Shaariibuu.

FMT

04/12/09

Sabah is riddled with imported racism and religious suspicions by UMNO

KOTA KINABALU: Former Chief Minister Yong Teck Lee is taking on Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in an argument about whether Sabah is better off or worse off since Kuala Lumpur took control of the state’s politics.

Yong, president of the Sabah Progressive Party, said Sabah became one of the poorest states in the country under the rule of Kuala Lumpur.

He said people in Sabah, which was one of the richest in the region, lived in harmony without racial or religious conflicts before Malaysia was formed in 1963.

“Now, apart from being the poorest state, Sabah is riddled with imported racism and religious suspicions,” he said in a statement yesterday in response to Muhyiddin’s claim that Sabah became economically and politically strong under Barisan Nasional Rule.

Muhyiddin made the remark on Wednesday at an Umno-sponsored meet-the-people session in Libaran.

“I read in the news about Yong comparing us (Kuala Lumpur leaders) with British colonial masters,” he said.

“He is out of date and out of touch. There is rapid development in Sabah and its administration is well run.”

In challenging Muhyiddin’s statement, Yong gave examples of how Sabah was ruled by Kuala Lumpur.

He said even the Sabah Head of State had to be advised by the head of the Barisan Nasional in Kuala Lumpur before swearing in the Chief Minister.

“Things got worse when even candidates for Parliament and the State Assembly had to be endorsed by Kuala Lumpur,” he added.

“Hence our political leaders have become subservient to Kuala Lumpur.

“In reality, Sabah has lost whatever autonomy that our founding fathers expected in 1963,” Yong said in reference to the Malaysia Agreement of 1963 between Britain and Malaysia .

As such, he said, it was not wrong to say that political control of Sabah had shifted from the colonial capital of London to the colonial capital of Kuala Lumpur and, now, Putrajaya.

Yong said all local heads of department had to refer most matters to their Putrajaya head offices for decisions.

“A good example is that the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak cannot even employ a clerk without Putrajaya’s assent.”

On the issue of the Borneonisation of the public service as agreed under the 20-point Malaysia Agreement, Yong said it was sad that after 46 years of Malaysia , out of the 81 federal department and 39 agencies, only 38 per cent were headed by Sabahans.

FMT

04/12/09

Najib's Makkal Sakthi party is falling apart

MIC pounces as Najib’s Indian party falls apart

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 — With the newly-formed Malaysia Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP) divided and rival factions at each other's throats, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s plan to win back the support of the Tamil masses from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) appears to be in peril.

Not only has MMSP failed to make an impact among the Tamil working class before and after the expansive and grand Oct 10 launch by Najib, the party is now split, with president R.S. Thanenthiran leading one faction and his deputy A. Vathemurthy leading another.

As they fight and waste precious time, the MIC, which suffered under the long and ineffectual leadership of Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, is increasingly becoming more attractive to Umno which desperately needs to reconnect with the Tamil masses because their votes can “make or break” candidates in about 60 parliamentary constituencies.

The MIC has been reforming and reasserting itself among the Indian masses by taking up numerous issues that it had once shunned for fear of offending Umno.

It has history, incumbency, resources and organisation behind it but is only being held back by the failure of Samy Vellu to quickly hand over leadership to a successor and exit the political scene.

It was largely his arrogance and failure to save Maika Holdings from near bankruptcy that saw Indian voters make up their mind to teach him and the MIC a lesson in Election 2008.

But MMSP has shown it cannot fill the vacuum that the MIC had left behind.

Many leading voices in the Indian community have privately and publicly expressed shock that a seasoned politician like Najib could have given his backing to a “bunch of novices” in MMSP.

The feeling is that none of them have the political experience, acumen and skill to manage a political party, let alone win public support.

“It is easy to start but difficult to sustain,” said a former MIC vice-president. “Politics might look easy but it is really the toughest profession in town.”

“You either have it or you don’t and the Makkal Sakthi people simply don’t have it,” said the veteran politician and former Cabinet minister.

“Even the PPP is becoming more attractive compared to the Makkal Sakthi people… provided the popular Murugiah (deputy minister Datuk T. Murugiah) is given a chance to lead PPP,” the political veteran said.

“Najib should concentrate more on easing out the ‘has-beens’ in MIC, PPP and Gerakan and let new comers take over these political parties instead of forming new ones,” said a former Gerakan leader.

“These political parties might be wounded but they are not dead… they still have life in them,” he said.

The fight in the MSSP is over sharing the money, posts and something called “due recognition” which the rebels under Vathemurthy alleged was usurped by Thanenthiran, his brother, wife, relatives and “close friends.”

Thanenthiran, however, denies the charges and alleges “outsiders” are out to overthrow him and are using his deputy to get him.

Clearly, Samy Vellu is quiet happy with the squabbles in MMSP because he sees it as a rival for the support of the Tamil working class which once had rallied behind the MIC but whose loyalties are now contested by numerous entities — from PKR to DAP and even PAS.

PR leaders like Penang Deputy Chief Minister Prof Dr P. Ramasamy and Hindraf leaders have also all openly labelled Thanenthiran a “traitor” to the Indian community by siding with Umno.

They all want a slice of the Indian votes along with Umno.

In the end the fight between Thanenthiran and Vathemurthy for control of the new party is academic because neither faction has real standing among the Tamil masses and can win them over to Barisan Nasional in substantial numbers.

MI
04/12/09