ISA removed but sword of Damocles remains

— Kim Quek

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 12, 2012

APRIL 12 — Many Malaysians may be pleased with the removal of the much-condemned Internal Security Act (ISA), but the sword of Damocles that hangs over the heads of opponents of ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) stays intact.

This is due to the embedment of two key elements in the newly-introduced Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill that will in reality allow arbitrary detention for many years.

These elements are the broad and vague definition of offences that fall under this Bill, and the loophole that will allow prolong and lengthy detention through exploitation of the judicial process.

The definition of security offences

Among the broad range of vague offences included under this Bill, are the threat to public order or security, and disaffection against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

That the vague ground of “prejudicial to public order or security” has been consistently and widely abused in ISA detention in the past is evident from the fact that, except for a few genuine cases, all the more than 10,000 individuals so detained are political dissidents, whose only “guilt” is their opposition to BN.

Prominent among them are Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Mat Sabu, Lim Guan Eng, just to mention a few. Who in their right mind would imagine that these leaders of outstanding integrity and steadfast principles would have done anything that would undermine the security of the nation?

 As for offences against the Agong, isn’t it still fresh in our mind that in the run up to the Bersih 2.0 rally last year, the authorities detained six members of Parti Sosialis Malaysia for “waging war against the Agong”? That this is a concocted charge is self-evident when not an iota of evidence has been produced to substantiate the accusation to date.

If BN has thought fit to freely abuse these grounds of detention in the past, when their political power had always been secure, why should we assume that they wouldn’t do it now when their very political survival is hanging on a thread due to the vibrant rise of Pakatan Rakyat and the widespread public disillusionment over BN’s endless mega misdeeds and ineptitude?

Prolong detention through judicial process.

Though the Bill provides for the right of the detainee to go for trial within the first 28 days of detention, he may, however, not see freedom for many years to come. This is due to the provision of Section 30(1) whereby even when the detainee is acquitted by the court, his detention may continue uninterrupted, as the prosecutor is entitled to orally apply for appeal and ask for the detention to continue until all legal processes are exhausted.

Experience in the past tells us that if it so pleases BN, this legal process can take many years.

One example is Anwar’s first sodomy trial, which started in 1999 and ended five years later in 2004, and even that duration was considered shortened thanks to former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s resignation in 2003.

This is evident from the fact that the sodomy trial took four years to travel from the High Court to the Court of Appeal, but only one year from there to the Federal Court where the conviction was overturned in 2004, after Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over as premier in November 2003.

A more recent example is the murder trial of Altantuya Shaariibuu, with which Prime Minister Najib Razak is said to be entangled. The trial started in January 2007, but the appeal has not even heard in the Court of Appeal five years later, and looks set to be further delayed until after the next general election. Obviously, someone up there does not want it to be heard so soon for obvious reason.

There is not the slightest doubt that our judiciary, along with all other state institutions, are subject to illegitimate political manipulation.

With that in mind, how can we be not worried that any of BN’s opponents may be arbitrarily arrested under a pseudo crime in the Bill and kept in prison indefinitely while the legal process goes on endlessly?

No justification for new bill

The point is that the premise upon which the Bill is based as cited in the preamble — that the security of the country is under threat — is false, hence there is no justification to introduce this Bill, following the repeal of ISA.

To justify the Bill, BN has to satisfactorily explain precisely the threats that the nation has been facing.

It is common knowledge that we have not been threatened nor do we foresee threats from any foreign country — not even in the remote future.

Neither is there the slightest evidence of any internal plot from any quarter to overthrow the government by force or to inflict mass violence.

The only possible threat that may justify the introduction of preventive law is international terrorism, for which we must have a precise definition for “terrorism” — unlike the wide ranging and non-defined offences included in the Bill — so as to eliminate abuse of the law. For such guidance, we can look to the existing conventions of the United Nations, which is in tune with universally accepted values.

As for all other offences — even those arising from racial and religious friction — we have ample existing laws to deal effectively with them.

What we lack now is not good laws but good implementation with integrity.

In conclusion, this latest legislative initiative hyped by Najib as “heralding a golden democratic age in Malaysia” in his speech during the installation of the Agong on April 11, is but another gimmick to woo the middle ground ahead of the polls without actually reforming BN’s repressive power.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 12 April 2012, 7:35 pm and is filed under
Human Rights
,
ISA
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.


Lynas issue: Not learning from bitter experience

— Richard Pendragon

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 12, 2012

APRIL 12 — Every Malaysian should know that Australia has a land mass 58 times bigger than peninsular Malaysia. But the Australian government and people have not permitted rare earth processing to take place on Australian soil.

With a population that is vigilant and a government that answers to the people, Australia dares not permit a rare earth plant because the health and environmental risks are too high. Why does Malaysia – a country with less scientific and engineering expertise – think it is all right to go ahead with the plant?

The USA has closed most of its mines, and so has China. In inner Mongolia, vast tracts of lands and thousands of square kilometres have been rendered hazardous, with toxic runoffs destroying everything in their path, and with high radioactivity, tainting and polluting precious water supplies.

This chain reaction will continue for thousands of years.

It is a scene that Chinese officials do not want the world to see. Several villages close to rare earth plants have already been relocated because of pollution.

Malaysia is now planning to build the world’s largest rare earth plant. This is truly madness of the highest order. We must remember the Chernobyl meltdown which was not supposed to have happened and similarly too the Fukushima nuclear plant meltdown in Japan.

Peninsular Malaysia would be dead meat if any unexpected catastrophe happens.

Bukit Merah

The history of the rare earth industry in Malaysia is little known to most Malaysians. Most Malaysians in fact think that the Lynas project in Pahang is the first time Malaysia has been associated with this industry.

Few Malaysians actually know that there was a rare earth plant in Bukit Merah, Perak, which has been closed some 10 or more years ago, following a ruling by the High Court of Malaysia that the company involved was in negligence, and that the radioactive waste generated by the plant was dangerous and had to be removed and secured in a safe place away from people for hundreds of years.

The evidence of the hazardous legacy of this rare earth plant is still present in our midst as a reminder to every one of the risks involved. All you need is to take a trip to Bukit Merah and you will see the existence of a restricted site where the toxic radioactive waste has been stored in specially engineered concrete cells, and entombed deeply in a repository, to prevent any leakage of radiation from the radioactive waste for the next few hundred years.

The company that was involved in the rare earth plant was called Asian Rare Earth Sdn Bhd (ARE). This was a joint venture established between Mitsubishi Chemical Corp (MCC) of Japan, Beh Minerals Sdn Bhd, the local partner and the government, through Tabung Haji in the early nineties.

ARE was based in Menglembu, Ipoh and the joint venture was founded on the basis that the local partner  would supply the raw materials (tailings from the many tin mines in Perak) and MCC would provide the technology and expertise to extract the rare earth minerals, by a cracking process.

In this cracking process, along with the extraction of rare earth minerals such as Monazite, Xenotime, Zircon, Yttrium etc, a waste product called thorium hydroxide is produced and this substance is radioactive.

Experts brought in to present evidence in support of the court hearing against ARE testified that prolonged exposure to radiation leaked from the radioactive waste materials from ARE’s rare earth plant would be harmful to the health of the residents living in the Menglembu area, where the plant was located.

ARE was subsequently closed and wound up.

The shareholders of the company had to engage a highly specialised radioactive waste management consultancy firm from the US, called Dames and Moore, to relocate, treat and dispose of the radioactive waste from the dump site in Menglembu to a safe repository. The cost of the whole exercise ran into hundreds of millions of US dollars to contain radiation leak from the radioactive waste.

Meanwhile local residents have blamed the ARE refinery for the high numbers of birth defects and leukaemia cases within the last five years in a community of 11,000 — after many years of local history with no leukaemia cases. Seven of the leukemia victims have died.

Some of the surviving residents of Bukit Merah are still plagued with severe health problems. Until this very day, the Malaysian authorities refuse to acknowledge that the radioactive waste was responsible for the sudden escalation of health problems among the residents

Today, the government is the official custodian of this repository in Bukit Merah. This site in Bukit Merah is declared as a restricted and dangerous dump site for radioactive materials but a curtain of official silence has descended on it.

Learning from Bukit Merah

Has the government not learnt from Bukit Merah or will corporate profits, lack of transparency and accountability, and cronyism trump responsible and ethical governance?

The Lynas project is likely to be a replay of the ARE fiasco but on a much larger scale. The Lynas project involves the shipment of rare earth raw materials from Australia to Malaysia, and the extraction of the rare earth minerals in the rare earth plant in Gebeng. The cracking process to extract the rare earth minerals will similarly produce thorium hydroxide.

Little attention has been paid to the containment process of this hazardous radioactive waste which will be generated once the Rare Earth Plant comes into production. Notwithstanding the high risks nature of the Lynas project, there are few benefits that Malaysia could gain by having such a hazardous project on our shores.

Lynas and its crony local contractors and shareholders will be the major beneficiary from such a project. They will be able to export the rare earth minerals at a huge profit and enjoy a 20-year tax holiday since the project is approved and supported by the Malaysian government.

At the same time they will leave behind a whole lot of radioactive waste on Malaysian soil, free from the stringent environmental scrutiny and monitoring found in developed countries.

Apart from creating a handful of jobs in the Gebeng area, the only people who stand to benefit from this project other than Lynas owners and shareholders, are the people who build the cracking plant in Gebeng and those who supply chemicals to the plant for the cracking process.

Who are these stakeholders and why have they continued to remain in the dark and unaccountable?

Malaysians must ask the question: “Why did the Government approve the Lynas project?” It does not seem to make any sense when:

The Malaysian court under the same government has ruled that the rare earth plant, in the case of ARE, is regarded as hazardous. The evidence is there to be seen by everyone in Bukit Merah where the repository is located. “

The benefits gained by Malaysia from the Lynas investment are very little relative to the risks involved. Whilst the profits of the project go to Lynas (untaxed) and the few Malaysian companies that are involved in the construction of and the provision of supplies to the Gebeng rare earth plant, the radioactive waste will remain in Malaysian soil for hundreds of years.

The argument that with proper containment, the risks will be rendered harmless, does not hold. Containment, as we know and have seen, is only as good as when there is no accident. Look at Chernobyl and Fukushima. These nuclear reactors are all supposed to have adequate and radiation leak-proof containment features approved by so called international experts.

All Malaysians must ask the government why the Lynas project was approved in spite of the history of ARE and the lack of economic justification of how this project could benefit Malaysians relative to its high and unacceptable risks.

All Malaysians must stand together and demand the closure of the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP).

Unacceptable risks of thorium

“No monetary returns of whatever Foreign Direct Investment and its spinoffs can outweigh possible radiation and/or other health risks, which can wreak harm on our citizens, perhaps for as long as the half-lives of some of the extremely toxic radionuclide waste products —which in some cases might be ‘forever’!”

Dr David KL Quek, President, Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), May 26, 2011

One of the most contentious issues with the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant is the thorium (Th) by-product. Exposure to Thorium can cause cancer posing serious risks to workers at the LAMP and surrounding communities. Studies have shown that inhaling thorium dust causes an increased risk of developing lung cancer, and cancer of the pancreas. Bone cancer risk is also increased because thorium may be stored in bone. Thorium has a half life of 14 billion years and is easily transported and spread through wind and water.

Lynas will be processing 10 times the amount of ore compared to the ARE. Despite Lynas’ public proclamation of “Zero Harm” commitment there is no foolproof containment measures for such toxic residue for workers onsite at the LAMP. It should be noted that the ores that Chinese miners were exposed to in Bayun Obo Rare-Earth and Iron Mine contained 400 ppm of thorium. The rare earth oxide concentrates that will be arriving shortly at Kuantan port will have 1600 ppm of thorium. The US Public Health Service (1990) reports that the natural background level in soil is typically 6 ppm of thorium.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 12 April 2012, 8:11 pm and is filed under
Lynas
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.


Repeal of pernicious and draconian ISA long overdue but new replacement of security laws raise grave concerns about human rights abuses

The tabling of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill 2012 to repeal the 52-year  Internal Security Act which vests pernicious, draconian and undemocratic detention-without-trial powers on the Executive  which could be extended every two years is welcome as it is long overdue.

This is the victory of the decades-long struggle for democracy and human rights which have been waged by patriotic Malaysians cutting across race and religion, many paying a heavy price in terms of personal liberties – culminating in the pledge by the Pakatan Rakyat for the repeal of the ISA.

However, the replacement of the slew of new security laws in the four bills presented to Parliament, namely the Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill 2012, the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill 2012,  the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 and the Evidence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 raise grave concerns about new human rights abuses  which must be met and addressed by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak if Malaysia hopes to approximate to be “the best democracy in the world” – practising “a functional and inclusive democracy where public peace and prosperity is preserved in accordance with the supremacy of the Constitution, rule of law and respect for basic human rights and individual rights”.

The Internal Security Act has stunted the growth of democracy in Malaysia. What is there to guarantee that although the ISA powers of indefinite detention-without-trial is repealed, the new provision limiting detention without charge to 28 days “for purposes of investigation” without judicial review will not be the new bane for democracy and human rights in Malaysia?

Several proposals in the new bills have adverse impacts on fundamental human rights particularly with regard to personal liberty and privacy as well  the rule of law.

These include the powers to the police to impose electronic monitoring devices on individuals released from detention, delays of 48 hours before the suspect has access to a lawyer, and powers to police to make an arrest without a warrant if the officer merely “has reason to believe” that the person may be involved in security offences, many of which are vaguely defined.

The Security Offences Bill also provides for trials with secret witnesses, unlawfully obtained evidence and continued detention of those found not guilty.

Of great concern is the new offence created by the Penal Code Amendment Bill under section 124B – “Activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy” where “Whoever, by any means, directly or indirectly, commits an activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy shall be punished with a imprisonment for a term which may extend to twenty years”.

Section 124C provides for a jail sentence “which may extend to fifteen years” for the offence of “Attempt to commit activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy”.

This is followed by five other sections on offences relating to “activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy, ranging from “printing, sale, etc. of documents”, “possession of documents”, “importation of document and publication”, “posting of placards”, “receipt of document and publications”, all carrying hefty penalties of maximum jail terms from five to ten and even  15 years.

Section 130A (a) defines “activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy” as “an activity carried out by a person or a group of persons designed to overthrow or undermine parliamentary democracy by violent or unconstitutional means”.

These new-fangled offences relating to “activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy” with their heavy penalties constitute  grave threats to the  healthy growth and development of democracy and human rights in post-ISA Malaysia – especially with the unreformed key national institutions like the  judiciary and police which have yet to regain public confidence in their independence, integrity and professionalism.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 12 April 2012, 8:21 am and is filed under
Human Rights
,
ISA
,
Pakatan Rakyat
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.


So, what happened to separation of powers?

— Justice Seeker

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 12, 2012

APRIL 12 — In reaching her decision on the Lynas matter, High Court judge Rohana Yusof obviously was not interested in the separation of powers or the raison d’etre of a court system which is the attainment of justice.

I just read her reasons for not giving the residents leave to challenge the Atomic Energy Licensing Board’s decision to give Lynas a temporary operating licence to run its controversial plant in Gebeng.

She said that as a parliamentary select committee and the minister of science and innovation were handling two separate hearings, it would not be proper for the courts to give the 10 residents their opportunity for judicial review.

Rohana then went on to say that it would not be proper to circumvent Parliament and the minister. Really?

She was also concerned that there could be “confusion and embarrassment” if the court’s decision was different from the ministers.

Once again, really?

Surely it is not the court’s concern whether in seeking justice and truth, embarrassment befalls anyone. The nature of an adversarial system is that in any matter, there is a winner and a loser. The court’s only objective is to ensure that justice is served and not to put up illusory argument of Parliament proceedings and some ministerial review taking precedence over judicial review.

It is frustrating when the small man cannot even get his foot into the courtroom to make substantive arguments against AELB’s decision to give Lynas a TOL. Maybe Rohana does not know that the select committee only comprises BN reps and it is the BN government which approved the Lynas project.

Also, Maximus Ongkili is in BN.

Is it even reasonable to expect that the anti-Lynas lobby will get a fair hearing from the select committee or Ongkili?

And now they have been deprived of taking their case to court. The threshold for a leave application is really low and it is a shame when courts deny Malaysians their right to judicial review in a matter of national interest.

Just as an aside, the Parliament Speaker routinely says sub judice to block any discussion of matters which may embarrass the government and now a judge is saying that it is not appropriate to hear a case because Parliament is discussing the matter.

What a wonderful tandem. My advice to Putrajaya is that beware of making people angry and frustrated.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 12 April 2012, 7:53 pm and is filed under
Judiciary
,
Lynas
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.


Is the Tun hallucinating?

by
P Ramakrishnan

Aliran

12 April 2012

In an open letter to Mahathir, P Ramakrishnan takes to task the former premier for his outrageous statements about the Pakatan administrations in Penang and Selangor of late.

My dear Tun Dr Mahathir,

I’m at a loss as to whether you are hallucinating or failing to see the reality.

Your views on Penang and Selangor are misconceived and misplaced. You come across as a dishonest politician determined to score political points and mislead Malaysian voters. You do no credit to yourself nor do you live up to your reputation as an elder statesman
(Bernama, 29 January 2012)
.

Your statement, “They have already been given a lot of chances. A lot of unhappy things have happened in Penang, the same (is happening) in Selangor,” does not make any sense at all. “They have been given a lot of chances”, you unreasonably claim.

Pakatan only came to power on March 8, 2008. They have been in office only for four short years. What chances were given to them and who gave them those chances? What are you talking about? What miracles were you expecting them to perform in this short period of time?

Compare their short term of office to the Barisan Nasional’s nearly 55 years of tenure – truthfully and honestly. We can justifiably throw back at the BN the very words you had uttered: “They (BN) have already been given a lot of chances. A lot of unhappy things have happened in Penang, the same (is happening) in Selangor.” This is indeed a valid observation requiring an honest answer from you, dear Tun.

Indeed, 55 years is a very long time. It is more than half a century. The BN have been given all the chances it wanted and needed. But what have the BN achieved during their long tenure in office except undermining our unity and keeping the people apart? Our unity has been destroyed by senseless and thoughtless policies and statements without a care for the welfare of the majority of Malaysians who are peace-loving and poor.

Yes, Tun, if anybody had been given too much chance it is the BN. Indeed, what more can the BN do which they had failed to do during these 55 years? What miracles can the BN now perform to transform this country into a haven for all citizens and provide them with a dignified livelihood?

What do you actually mean by claiming, “They have been given the chance. What’s there left to try. If we allow the situation to deteriorate badly, it will be difficult to repair.”

Your rambling statement, “If we allow the situation to deteriorate badly, it will be difficult to repair” comes across as ridiculous and garrulous. What has the Pakatan done that has brought about the deterioration? What is that they are doing that would render the problem beyond repair? Please be specific and enumerate the wrongdoings of the Pakatan.

Tun, you should not make sweeping claims that are without merit. Many Malaysians are truly disappointed and disillusioned with you and justifiably feel that you have out-lived your usefulness as a political leader. You had your time and you did things the way you wanted to. That period is over and done with. There is nothing more for you to do.

Both Penang and Selangor have attracted the biggest FDI totalling more than RM15bn, which is unmatched by the BN-controlled states. Doesn’t this indicate positively that the Pakatan-controlled states are performing very much better in spite of their short term of tenure and lack of administrative experience and expertise? Honestly, dear Tun, doesn’t that deserve some praise?

You kept everything under wraps and resorted to the Official Secrets Act (OSA) to deny citizens their right to be informed. A lot of scandals and corruption prevailed because they are kept from the purview of public scrutiny and guarded as state secrets.

The Pakatan-controlled states in Selangor and Penang, on the other hand, have promulgated a Freedom of Information Act in order to be transparent and accountable. Tun, isn’t this something that has to be complimented?

Cronies and corruption

Under your tenure for 22 years, many crony politicians became wealthy beyond imagination and without being accountable for their wealth. Elected representatives and cabinet ministers declared their assets only to you and, according to certain well-informed circles, you had used this information to secure their unquestioning loyalty. That was how you had your way – it was your way and no other way!

We are reminded of the episode concerning the removal of Osman Aroff, the then Menteri Besar of Kedah, who had enjoyed the support of the majority of assembly members in Kedah. These assembly members went to see you, dear Tun, to plead for the retention of their MB. You, reportedly saw them individually and after that they all returned to Kedah abandoning Osman Aroff. Rumour had it then that you had a file on each of them and that forced them to fall in line behind you.

Dear Tun, Pakatan-controlled states of Selangor and Penang did something that you wouldn’t dare dream of doing. All their Exco members declared their assets publically. This is something that civil society of Malaysia has been campaigning for, for a very long time, claiming that this would curb corruption and check abuse of governance.

But you would not be persuaded. You wanted to be the sole privy to the corruption and abuse so that you would have absolute control over politicians holding public positions.

Many Malaysians, in the past, have worked loyally and faithfully and had contributed to the progress of this country. These old timers who retired many years ago are forced to struggle to live a hard life with their meagre pensions in these times of hardships. Their counterparts of modern times, on the other hand, draw reasonable pensions to lead a decent life. The hardships suffered by these senior citizens have not been addressed. Their contributions were not even acknowledged.

But the Pakatan government in Penang has been giving out RM100 once a year for the last three years to express their appreciation to these senior citizens. Admittedly, this isn’t very much but the very thought of appreciation really warms the hearts of these people. With the vast resources available to the BN, they are placed in a far better situation to do more to help these unfortunate people. But why, dear Tun, did the BN government not bother doing this? They could have shown a generous face and given more to these people with all the wealth at their disposal. But they did nothing!

Corruption has become so rampant that so much of our wealth is either lost or stolen to the detriment of the nation. Contracts given to crony companies with inflated costs have drained our wealth. Highway toll agreements, the Tajuddin-Malaysia Airlines out-of-court settlement, the rescue of Bank Rakyat and Bank Bumiputra, the reckless forex fiasco in the UK, the bungling Maminco tin-buying spree, to name a few – they have all resulted in the loss of billions of ringgit that could have alleviated the plight of the poor. These are, unfortunately, dear Tun, your legacies that brought terrible hardships for the homeless and the helpless.

Uplifting the people

You wouldn’t have open tenders for projects that would have saved billions of ringgit and secured the services of contractors with ability and proven expertise. That would have prevented some contractors from running away without completing their projects and ensured that buildings wouldn’t collapse because of poor workmanship and inferior materials. But repeated episodes of cheating contractors and uncompleted projects did not seem to disturb the conscience of those in charge. It was business as usual and billions of ringgit were regularly squandered without a care in the world.

On the other hand, now we have open tenders in the Pakatan states and Class F contractors are very happy and contented with this arrangement. According to these contractors, under the previous BN government, one had to have connections to get a contract and one had to give inducements to be considered favourably. Otherwise, getting contracts would have been impossible. But now, with open tenders, the deserving have been rewarded with contracts and they have delivered the completed projects on time. Isn’t this something that has to be appreciated, dear Tun?

Malaysian workers have been struggling for years for a minimum wage policy. The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has been championing this issue for decades. But it was opposed vehemently by the Malaysian Employers Federation, which wanted to reap hefty profits from the sweat of the workers. And the Malaysian government did not have the political will to implement the minimum wage policy. Thus we lost our local skilled workers and builders who left the country to work elsewhere. But the exploitation continues to this day with the employment of foreign workers.

Isn’t it praiseworthy that the Pakatan government in Selangor has implemented a minimum wage policy for all its employees in GLCs as from January this year? They are paid a minimum salary of RM1,500. Shouldn’t the employees enjoy the fruit of their labour, dear Tun?

Farmers in the new villages of Perak who have been tilling the land and growing vegetables and fruit for the country for generations were exploited and kept in a state of uncertainty as to their livelihood as they did not own the land. Every election this became a moot point for the farmers. Whether their TOL would be extended or cancelled was a worrying experience for these farmers. And when the BN wins the election in Perak, the TOL of these farmers would be renewed. The message was very clear. Vote for the BN or your TOL would not be renewed. They were beholden to the BN for the extension of their TOL.

The Pakatan government gave them the land titles and their dignity and freed them from their unnecessary anxiety. The rational was these farmers have been on the land for generations and have been serving the nation with their produce and they deserved the land titles. Isn’t this something wonderful that deserves to be congratulated, dear Tun?

Every voter who dies in Penang and Selangor is given RM1,000 and RM2,500 respectively for funeral expenses. This assistance is greatly appreciated, especially by the poor. For the first time a voter receives something very specific and substantial when he or she dies. This had never happened under BN rule. They bribe the living for their vote and forget them when they are dead. Under the Pakatan rule they take care of the living and the dead! Don’t they deserve a pat on their back, dear Tun?

All this caring and giving must make a great impact on the people. If given more time there will be other good policies that will benefit the people and perhaps make it difficult for the BN to make any headway in the future. Is that what is worrying you, dear Tun? Is this what you meant when you sounded the warning to the BN, “If we allow the situation to deteriorate, it will be difficult to repair”?

You have correctly foreseen the inevitable doom for the BN. You have realised that it will be difficult to undo the good deeds of the Pakatan. In comparison, the BN will be cast in poor light and cursed for neglecting the majority of the deserving Malaysians who are poor. You are seeing what is impending and you have the right to fear the inevitable, dear Tun!

P Ramakrishnan is the past president of Aliran

                This entry was posted on Friday, 13 April 2012, 5:28 pm and is filed under
Mahathir
,
Pakatan Rakyat
,
Penang
,
Selangor
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.


Repeal of ISA a hollow victory

T Vicknaraj | Apr 12, 2012

Letters

Malaysiakini

The ambiance in Malaysia in April 2012 is both celebratory and festive due to the recent policy changes pertaining to Malaysian’s civil and political rights; and yet there is a strong sense of scepticism and mistrust at the ground level among the civil society movements, opposition politicians and the general population.

The general population’s feeling denotes a strong awareness that that this year possesses a crucial landmark in our nation’s history, as the concepts of participatory and parliamentary democracy are being negotiated and boundaries of civil and political rights are being rebranded, redesigned and rehashed in light of the impending general elections rumoured to be held in June 2012.

The stakeholders who are active in this negotiation for democracy are the political parties from both side of the divide, the ever growing civil society movements like Bersih, NGOs and the young adult population (gen X and Y), all of whom have a crucial say on how this political drama unfolds.

This mixed feelings and confused euphoria is justified.

The Malaysian federal government under the leadership of Premier Najib Abdul Razak, has been in the forefront of bringing about certain positive changes which caused some initial euphoria.These include;

1. The affirmation and acceptance of the resignation of a minister whose reputation had been tarnished by a billion dollar ringgit feedlot scandal;

2. The support for certain reforms in electoral laws and policy via the Parliamentary Select Committee findings (most of which were initially mooted by the Bersih 2.0 movement which was initially deemed illegal by the federal government in 2011)

3. The recognition and legitimising of the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28th; and

4. The repealing of the infamous Internal Security Act which legitimised detention without trial of suspects.

However it is no surprise that this noble move and message from the federal government that it seemingly has adopted tolerance for open and sincere debate is questioned by the masses who view new found democratic faith with scepticism and mistrust.

The reason for this negative perception is clear, this is because the proposed legislative reforms introduces new draconian offences which are laden with uncertainty, it is also introduced new concepts without much debate, laden with preconditions and more importantly it has not shifted or enlarged the notion and the concepts of parliamentary / democratic participation as it were before.

Simply put, the current position is very draconian and is targeted to regulate and curtail the use of the internet and social-media participation in advancing participation in democracy and calling for accountability of governance.

‘The Devil lies in the details’ and with social media, a rampant cyber-democracy and informed voters these details are being elucidated and discussed in the Internet and social media notwithstanding the ‘blackout’ from government controlled mainstream media.

One of the main critiques lies with the repealing of the Internal Security Act and the introduction of the proposed Security Offences bill 2012 and the Amendments of the Criminal Procedure Code and the Penal Code, which allows for a whole new array of offences relating to political activities that affect the concept ‘of parliamentary democracy’.

Sadly this concept is not clearly defined. The unintended consequence of these proposed reforms also seems to curtail and censor the use of a free and uncensored internet, which reneges from a promise and guarantee made by the government in the 1990s to ensure the unfettered use of an uncensored internet.

It is also rather disappointing to note that notwithstanding that the building blocks of a healthy, vibrant and modern democracy is built on freedom of speech, expression and association, the proposed legislation seem to curtail these very rights that are needed for a healthy democracy.

A cumulative reading of these bills indicates that the government has no serious interest in facilitating open debate especially since there is no accountability in the bodies empowered to administer and enforce these legislation.

Also, the bill strengthens and empower authorities to legitimately snoop in cyber-space targeted at social media which are the key tools used by the civil society movements to engage and debate about the future of democracy in Malaysia.

Perhaps this is not the intent of our policy makers, or perhaps due to poor communication; the government’s noble and good intentions have gone unnoticed and misconstrued.

But as the saying goes; ‘the road to hell is paved with good intentions’. Therefore it is suggested that clarity is the only solution for this dilemma.

While it is understood that that a variety of factors that need to be taken in to consideration in safeguarding our democracy, that no freedom is absolute and that every citizens has a duty to exercise their rights within the law or social norms, it is noted that there is an equally important and trite concept that regulations and policy introduced by the executive that impede, curtail and regulate fundamental freedoms of expression, speech and association of citizens needs to be crystal clear, applied with careful considerations of judicial overview and strict adherence to evidential procedure and respect of court rules and norms.

This core respect of the use of executive power and its limits on the citizens needs to be ‘jealously guarded’preserved and maintained, no matter what the cost.

The reason for this absolutism is crucial because, if we as a society allow such changes and reform to go unchecked; our society’s adherence and respect of an accountable and responsible government and respect to the rule of law is at risked of being dissipated.

For the sake of our nation, it is suggested and reiterated tihat the politicians and policy makers from both side of the political divide restudy and debate these proposed legislations wth candour and care, minus the unnecessary politicking and also take in to account the public comments rather than hastily pass the legislation through parliament.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 13 April 2012, 9:49 pm and is filed under
Human Rights
,
ISA
,
Najib Razak
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.


The foreigners can go fly kites

 — Syed Feisol

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 12, 2012

APRIL 12 –  We are on our own. This is what Malaysians who want to save this country from the corrupt regime of the Barisan Nasional have to realise.

Not too long ago, former Aussie PM Kevin Rudd praised Malaysia as a robust democracy. Can you imagine calling Malaysia a robust democracy? But the people in Canberra will do anything for business or some strategic interests, including sacrificing so-called sacred principles of democracy.

Today, the British PM lauded Najib Razak for the cosmetic surgery on the ISA, he probably wants Malaysia to go ahead and purchase the Typhoon jets.

This is my message to Opposition politicians, non-governmental organisation and Malaysians for change: screw the foreigners.

No Aussie or British or US politician is going to lift one finger even if there is clear-cut evidence of cheating at the coming polls.  They want the status quo where they can lord over Malaysia, occasionally patting the government on the back for “being moderate” and prey on the voracious appetite of incumbent politicians for cash and project inducements.

I never thought I would see the day that Malaysians are being “threatened” by foreigners. I suppose the great Mahathir Mohamad the champion of the developing world has lost his tongue.

The Aussie diplomats have been giving veiled threats that Malaysia’s reputation as a investment destination will be hurt if the government backs out of Lynas deal. That is a pack of lies because though MIDA may have given the chaps from Australia all sorts of incentives, not all the licences have been approved yet or issued.

But such is the sellout nature of our government leaders that they even allow some Aussie businessman called Nicholas Curtis to periodically “caution” them about Malaysia’s future as business destination.

Can you imagine, so spineless are our so-called leaders that some businessman from Australia is lecturing them on how a concerted political campaign against the Lynas plant is hurting Malaysia’s reputation.?

It almost feels like as if we are a colony.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 13 April 2012, 7:59 am and is filed under
General
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.


Guan Eng: Minimum wage not enough to improve living standards

By Clara Chooi

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 14, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 — Lim Guan Eng told Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today that his much-awaited minimum wage policy was insufficient to improve living standards without total reforms to the country’s economy, education and workforce policies.

The Penang Chief Minister said the new wage floor of RM1,100, to be announced this April 30, must come hand in hand with higher productivity jobs, increased female participation in the workforce and “accelerated structural reforms” to the economy aimed at reducing corruption and plucking leakages.

However, Lim added that although the new wage floor to be announced by Najib was purportedly due to opposition pressure, DAP would welcome the announcement.

Malaysians, he added, have “high expectations” of Najib.

“Malaysia is in sore need of structural economic reforms to make us more competitive, transparent, efficient as well as reduce leakages caused by wastage and corruption.

“Structural economic reforms such as open competitive tenders, full disclosure of contracts and personal assets of Ministers as well as a performance-based delivery system must carried out,” he said in his Tamil and Vaisakhi new year message today.

Lim added that to create higher productivity jobs, the country’s education system must also undergo reforms to build better human talent.

He again slammed Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for the latter’s recent claim that Malaysia’s education standards were superior to that of the UK’s, Germany and US, saying the latter was in “denial syndrome”.

“The Malaysian education system is in crisis. Unless we can inject merit and performance back into our education system, Malaysia risks being left behind by neighbouring countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam,” he said,

On increasing women participation in the workforce, Lim said this could only be achieved if there is no gender discrimination in salaries and promotion opportunities.

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) said on Tuesday that negotiations over a minimum wage policy have ended Najib will announce the government’s decision on April 30.

The umbrella body representing 800,000 workers from 390 labour unions had told a press conference that last month’s National Wages Consultative Council meeting was the last round for stakeholders to air their views and it is now up to Putrajaya to decide on a final policy.

“There are no more talks after this. The Attorney-General will look through the legal aspects and the Cabinet will decide,” MTUC president Khalid Atan said.

He added that the prime minister is expected to announce the policy in a live television broadcast on the eve of Labour Day.

Najib had said on April 2 he will announce a floor wage policy by the end of the month despite stakeholders still deadlocked over whether benefits can be considered part of a floor wage.

The Malaysian Insider reported that employers and workers argued in a recent National Wages Consultative Council meeting over whether allowances and other benefits can be included as part of a base wage expected to be set at RM900 and RM800 for Peninsular and East Malaysia respectively.

The committee, which advises the government on wage policy, had met on the back of small-medium industries (SMIs) warning that 80 per cent of active businesses could fold under a blanket floor wage, cutting four million jobs from the labour market.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 14 April 2012, 7:01 pm and is filed under
Education
,
Labour
,
Lim Guan Eng
,
Najib Razak
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.


Hoping for winds of change

Aneesa Alphonsus | April 14, 2012

Free Malaysia Today

Malaysians want to see the country taking a turn for the better after the 13th general election, although some feel it will be the same old story.

FEATURE

If you’re going to ask any Malaysian this question, “What are your hopes for the government post- general election”, you’d better get ready for an onslaught of opinions, emotions and cynicism – not necessarily in that order.

In the case of Manaf Abdul Samad, it was just cynicism when he opined, “It doesn’t matter who wins, because all of them are the same. You ask me what my hopes are? I can’t even bring myself to say it because right now, it would sound funny because it’s all wishful thinking. Yes sure I’ll vote, but to be honest, I don’t think I’ll get to see what I hope for in my lifetime.”

Coaxed out of his reluctance with the promise of another hot Nescafe into sharing his thoughts, the 62-year-old Manaf gives in.

“The biggest mistake Barisan National made is to have underestimated Malaysians, using all kinds of scare tactics to make us feel that there will be chaos should a new government come into power. We are not stupid. Many of my peers agree that we allowed the government to do what it has because we trusted them and we gave them due respect.

“Many people are terkejut [shocked] when they hear that we are speaking up. My friends abroad are surprised and say that they never thought we had it in us. My reply to this is always the same – we have always had it in us, but we have been patient for too long. The fight was always there and the government shouldn’t have thought lowly of its people. So if you ask me what are my hopes for the new government, I would say that it should recognise that we are smart and that we should be treated fairly and not be taken for fools who will not fight back,” he said.

There are, however, Malaysians like Hameed Hamzah, a 50-something business owner, who feels that one party will do better than the other. He speaks passionately about a Pakatan Rakyat government which will bring a new dawn in Putrajaya, convinced that there will be an abundance of honesty, transparency and accountability – the holy trinity of what good governance should be all about.

Hameed is asked if he is being overly positive. He is also made aware that when a government is overthrown in what is considered a democracy, it becomes quite difficult to ensure the utopic government he has in mind. Hameed rubbishes the notion and is steadfast in his belief that a holistic change is possible.

“My hope for the government after the 13th general election is that we would once and for all be rid of corruption in all its forms. It has become an institution of sorts just like nepotism has. Yes, I am aware that the party I support has had its fair share of money politics and shady deals. But things are changing, you know There is more integrity now. I am not asking for a miracle from the elected government, but only that they take the time to really listen to what we want and carry it out,” he said.

Peaceful government

Lina Teng, a 39-year-old medical practitioner, says it’s hard for her to have any thoughts about what she hopes for, post-general election, because her mind keeps panning to possible riots – of the racial kind.

Having grown up listening to her parents speak about the racial riots of May 13th 1969, Lina is already planning for what she feels is the inevitable.

“If you asked me what my hopes are, I would tell you that I want a peaceful government, one that prides itself on keeping its people safe. There are times when I have felt like the government, or the prime minister to be specific, is holding all of us at ransom. I say this because I feel like they want to win at all and any cost,” she said.

Concerns over a racial riot seem to be the most worrying thought prevalent in the minds of a number of people interviewed. Lina says even with a well-paying job, a home of her own and a pantry filled to the brim with groceries – “just in case something happens” – she still feels unsettled that the past will repeat itself when this thought comes to mind.

“There was an incident when a ‘leader’ of a certain political party raised the keris and screamed for blood all in the name of protecting a particular political party that championed a particular race. If this wasn’t bad enough, along came another individual who was so brazen in proclaiming that a bloodbath would happen to keep BN in power… So I’m sure you can appreciate why I have little hope, or even dare think about what I can hope for,” she stated.

Add to this numerous other incidents that will make for a hotbed of scandal, shock and secrecy. There were episodes worthy of horror stories – dismembered cow’s heads, blood-spilling gore and pig’s ears, saucy sex tapes, religious conversion claims and, let us not forget, the mysterious deaths of those in police custody or under interrogation.

Home-grown talent

Yandaro Al Amien (picture above, right), 33, an entrepreneur said the biggest travesty of justice is the government denying basic electoral reform rights to the same people who elected them into power.

“My hopes and what I want from the government after the general election is a long list. I am so sick and tired of seeing both parties play the blame game – it’s enough and the time has come to focus on direction rather than who has the bigger ego,” he said.

“Our education system is also in shambles – it’s another hot mess and we are lagging far behind in terms of quality and result. Have you seen the kind of fresh graduates we get? It’s frightening because they can’t even string a proper sentence in English and common sense is non-existent.

“I want a government that will cut out all this crap about Ketuanan Melayu [Malay supremacy]… it’s this kind of talk that makes the Malays fall back behind in the first place. I want a government that gives more access to press freedom and also one that is transparent. On a personal level, I would really like to see history lessons at schools taught based on facts and truth, not on government agenda,” he said, adding, “So be it if Hang Tuah was a Chinese. What’s the big deal?”

Earnest Bat, 33, (picture left), head of communication of a private company, has a tongue-in-cheek wish for what he hopes to see in a new government and states it simply enough: “I hope for a government that is run by smarter and more savvy people who do not take offence to tights and tutus, using these innocent garments as cause for political debate. I don’t think that’s too much to ask, do you?”

But perhaps the most poignant of all hopes expressed comes from a fellow writer who said that her hope, post-13th general election, is for Malaysia to be given a real opportunity to explore its potential and reach it – that Malaysians abroad will return home because the country is finally a nurturing ground for home-grown talent.

The winds of change might just bring this about and who knows, Manaf might see it happening in his lifetime after all.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 14 April 2012, 12:17 pm and is filed under
Elections
,
Pakatan Rakyat
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.


Who ‘owns’ Dataran Merdeka?

Jeswan Kaur | April 14, 2012

Free Malaysia Today

It is annoying how the ruling government is going in a roundabout manner to kill off the April 28 rally.

COMMENT

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Aziz has curtly asked electoral watchdog Bersih 3.0 to obtain consent from the owners of Dataran Merdeka if it insists on using the site for its April 28 sit-in protest.

Now that is new. Who really “owns” Dataran Merdeka? And each time the federal government or big-wig corporate companies uses the square to organise events, do they too seek perrmission from the “owners”?

It is annoying how the ruling government is going in a roundabout manner to kill off the April 28 rally, sparing no effort in trying to wear down Bersih 3.0 which is not about to scout for another location.

Bersih 3.0 steering committee chairperson S Ambiga is determined to proceed with the sit-in protest at Dataran Merdeka due to its historical relevance to the people’s struggle for independence and a democratic Malaysia.

“We do not agree that there is a necessity to change the venue to other places,” she said in a statement.

Ambiga added: “We certainly do not see any reason why Dataran Merdeka is unsuitable in the light of the many events that have recently been held there, including 205th anniversary of the Royal Malaysian Police [PDRM].”

But Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein is unwilling to cooperate and instead wants Bersih 3.0 to be “sincere” and “realistic” and compromise on the location.

Hishammuddin is contradicting himself when, on the one hand, he says the government does not view the April 28 rally as a security issue and, on the other, objects to Dataran Merdeka being chosen as the venue.

If the Bersih 3.0 April 28 protest is no security threat as claimed by Hishammuddin, then there would be no reason to make matters difficult for the coalition. And unlike Bersih 2.0 and “all things yellow” which were banned, Hishammuddin will also see to it that Bersih 3.0 would not suffer the same fate under the excuse that it was inciting people and creating an atmosphere of unrest.

Hishammuddin has cautioned Bersih 3.0 that the rally would only be given the greenlight if it does not break the laws, which translates to not being stubborn in holding the rally at Dataran Merdeka.

As was the case with its July 9, 2011 “Walk for Democracy” rally, the election watchdog has yet again given its commitment in working with the police to ensure its April 28 rally takes places smoothly.

Ambiga hoped the police would assist in facilitating the traffic flow on April 28 for Bersih 3.0 as the authority did for several public gatherings.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin remains firm that Bersih 3.0 discusses with the police to determine a suitable place that guarantees the rally will not interfere with the daily lives of the people.

Government in no mood to help Bersih 3.0

The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government is sending out a false message that it is not against the Bersih 3.0 April 28 rally but the truth is otherwise. By refusing to allow the election watchdog to use the Dataran Merdeka as its preferred venue, the government is doing what it did to Bersih 2.0 during its July 9, 2011 rally.

Eventhough Bersih 2.0 had planned to march through the streets of Kuala Lumpur on July 9, the coalition after consultations with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, decided instead to organise the “Walk for Democracy” at Merdeka Stadium.

But the venue compromise by Bersih 2.0 was far from being appreciated by the BN government. The demonstrators were unable to congregate at Merdeka Stadium as they were forced to disperse by police who were heavily deployed throughout the city. Then, police arrested more than 1,600 demonstrators including Ambiga and several opposition figures.

The police had also detained six Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members, including Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, for 60 days under the Emergency Ordinance in relation to the July 9 rally.

But come April 28, should the BN government use a high-handed approach in cracking down on the gathering as it did during July 9 last year, Ambiga warns that an international condemnation was likely, a stark reminder of the castigation that the federal government suffered at the hands of the global community vis-à-vis the July 9 rally.

Hopefully, Najib has put on his thinking cap and is all ears to what Ambiga is saying. To play “hide-and-seek” with Bersih 3.0 will worsen matters and further malign the already tainted BN government.

BN has to ‘grow up’

Thus far, the BN government’s reaction to the coming April 28 rally has been far from favourable and marks a sign that its leadership has yet to “grow up”.

Instead of cooperating and giving Bersih 3.0 the benefit of doubt, the Najib administration has come out with nonsensical demands or remarks which tell that BN has either failed to learn or refused to learn its lesson from the July 9 episode.

It is still not too late for the federal government to take cognisance post-July 9 and ensure that democracy is no longer manipulated to suit the agenda of the “powers-that-be”.

Najib has hinted that the 13th general election is not far away and this, to Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson and national laureate A Samad Said, makes the April 28 sit-in protest all the more necessary, for it served to warn the rakyat that Malaysia was about to face its “dirtiest” polls ever.

That is not all. Should Najib and his cousin Hishammuddin get busy plotting ways and means to extinguish the April 28 protest, they should bear in mind the shame their “conspiracies” would bring to the nation.

Ambiga had put it well when she said that it was “shameful that Burma can propose a more democratic law,” referring to Myanmar’s military-dominated Parliament which passed a law last year allowing citizens to protest peacefully with five days’ notice instead of the 10 required here under the Peaceful Assembly Act, which Ambiga said despite being passed in Parliament recently had yet to be given an “effective” enforcement date.

Looks like Najib has forgotten the basic tenets of democracy which include personal liberty, the practice of electing representatives to make laws and a legal system based on a constitution – all which for a long time now have been exploited and abused by the “powers-that-be”.

Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 14 April 2012, 8:54 am and is filed under
Bersih
,
Elections
,
Hishammuddin
,
Najib Razak
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.


Bersih 3.0 wants to sit down and protest

by Dahlia Martin

The Malaysian Insider

 Apr 15, 2012

APRIL 15 — Malaysian election watchdog Bersih 2.0 (Bersih) announced that 28 April 2012 is the date for a third gathering for clean and fair elections, but already a succession of politicians and officials have criticised the move. So far, though, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has kept mum.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s department (and de facto Law Minister) Nazri Abdul Aziz was the first to attack the sit down protest plans, saying that the proposed venue Merdeka Square had “not been gazetted as an area for peaceful gatherings”.

One politician from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) labelled it a “ploy” by the Opposition, and Electoral Commission (EC) deputy chairman Wira Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said Bersih’s plans were “rushed, hasty and troublesome to people.”

The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms, formed in response to the second Bersih gathering in July 2011, had only just released a report, Wan Ahmad said, and the EC had yet to study the report’s 22 recommendations.

Wan Ahmad’s point about the PSC report is the only tweak in the rhetoric that’s been employed in attacking Bersih since 2007, the year the first Bersih protest was held.

Similarly, there has been little change in the message from Bersih. Concerns over vote-buying, electoral fraud, and a media stranglehold by BN drove the initial protest plans. Specifically, Bersih mentioned there being addresses with multiple (often tens) of voters (making room for phantom voters), the postal voter roll being separate from the main electoral roll (again allowing for phantom voters), reports of non-Malaysians being granted citizenship in exchange for their votes, and the independence of the EC (a 1962 amendment to the constitution meant parliament determined the terms of office for EC members).

But many critical events have taken place in the intervening years, which make this persistent stance against electoral reforms on the part of BN politicians appear both incredulous and an omen of worse things to come.

When then-Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi made comments on the 2007 effort — the day before the planned gathering and in a fairly cursory manner, in a winding-up speech he was giving at his party’s general assembly — he too spoke of the event disturbing the peace of the rakyat, or people, and questioned the legality of the protest.

Months later, general elections saw BN lose its two thirds majority in parliament for only the second time since Malaysia’s independence. Despite retaining a simple majority, the result was widely regarded as a “defeat” for BN.

Although none of the Bersih demands had been met, with the EC actually adopting and then publicly scrapping at the last minute plans proposed by Bersih to use indelible ink to identify voters and prevent identity fraud, many noted the impact of the first Bersih protest on the election results.

Badawi, who had led the government to “defeat”, was quickly pressured to resign. His deputy, Najib, succeeded him, and projected a reformist image which steadily increased his support.

Rumours of another general election soon began circulating, and with that an awareness that there’d been no electoral reform since the first protest. A second gathering was organised, and 1,667 people were arrested. Najib’s swift vow to “not budge at all” and the harsh crackdown on demonstrators saw him lose ground with the electorate.

Some estimates have 50,000 people attending that second gathering in Kuala Lumpur (there were also Bersih rallies in 38 cities across the world). Under pressure for reform and on the receiving end of international condemnation, Najib set up the PSC on electoral reforms in October.

Early this month, the PSC released a report into their findings. The speaker in the Dewan Rakyat, or House of Representatives, passed the report with no debate before putting an early end to the session.

Critics pointed to the refusal of the Speaker to also accept an Opposition proposal of a minority report, despite the argument of there being precedence for such a move in other similar parliamentary democracies. The minority report would have included dissenting views from Opposition members of the PSC.

The PSC report included a recommendation that addresses with more than 50 voters be investigated, and also an acknowledgment that non-Malaysians were being granted citizenship in exchange for a vote, though they limited the problem to only happening in the East Malaysian state of Sabah.

Unifying the postal voter roll with the main electoral roll was not detailed, nor were plans to make the EC independent of parliament. Electoral rolls would still not be challengeable in a court once certified by the EC, and the EC would retain the power to modify the electoral roll, without public inspection and objection procedures such as those provided for supplementary rolls (that is, the list of new voters).

Concerns were also raised that the PSC report continued to disenfranchise voters not in the boundaries of their constituency on election day. Distance voting was not mentioned, and although overseas voters did have their voting rights affirmed, the campaign period was thought too brief to allow overseas voters to send and receive their postal ballots.

In addition, many of the recommendations in the report did not carry timelines – meaning it was possible that a proposed reform might not be implemented in time for the next general election.

Bersih has responded quickly to the prospect of what they call the “dirtiest” ever elections Malaysia faces in its call for an April 28 global protest.

Meanwhile, the PSC report has failed to reinstate Najib to his position as reformer amongst increasingly cynical voters. — New Mandala

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 15 April 2012, 1:48 pm and is filed under
Bersih
,
Elections
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.


Chua Soi Lek keletihan kerana kaum Cina telah muktamad menolak MCA

— Aspan Alias

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 15, 2012

15 APRIL — Chua Soi Lek semasa berada di Johor Bahru semalam telah menzahirkan perasaan kecewa beliau kerana kaum Cina tidak menyokong MCA sedangkan MCA telah begitu banyak berjasa kepada bangsanya selama ini. Orang Cina katanya, memilih untuk memberikan pujian dan sokongan terhadap pembangkang yang kata beliau tidak ada jasa kepada negara selama ini.

Bagi saya, Chua Soi Lek (CSL) begitu naïf pandangannya terhadap politik dan sejarah yang melatar belakangkan keadaan ini. Pada asasnya orang Cina memang sudah lama tidak menyokong PERIKATAN dan seterusnya selepas Perikatan di ambil alih oleh BN pada tahun 1974 dahulu. Orang Cina hanya memberikan sokongan terhadap parti kerajaan semasa pilihanraya 1955 sehingga PRU 1965 sahaja.

Semasa hendak mencapai kemerdekaan dahulu parti Perikatan ditubuhkan yang terdiri dari Umno yang mewakili orang Melayu, MCA yang mewakili orang Cina dan MIC yang mewakili kaum India. Pergabungan ketiga-tiga parti inilah yang membawa kepada kemerdekaan yang dipimpin oleh Umno pada tahun 1957 dahulu.

Dalam lain-lain perkataan, semua kaum telah berjasa untuk mendapatkan tarikh pengisytiharan Kemerdekaan itu, iaitu pada 31hb Ogos 1957 dahulu dan Perikatanlah yang telah menyudahkan kerja-kerja perjuang Kemerdekaan sebelum wujudnya Umno dahulu. Sebelum wujudnya Umno, gerakan untuk mencapai kemerdekaan telah bermula dan kita tidak boleh melupakan nama-nama seperti Pak Sako, Ahmad Boestamam dan lain-lain yang ramai itu.

Mari kita pendekkan cerita. Daripada PRU yang pertama lagi MCA merupakan rakan kongsi Umno dan MIC yang telah bekerja keras untuk memberikan sokongan kepada Perikatan dan dalam PRU itu Perikatan telah memenangi 51 kerusi dari 52 yang dipertandingkan. Calon Perikatan tunggal yang kalah ialah Hj Sulaiman Palestin. MCA juga telah mendapat sokongan semua kaum Cina dan didalam pilihanraya 1959 dan 1965 kaum Cina masih memberikan sokongan kuat kepada Perikatan. Semasa itu kaum Cina lah yang telah memberikan sokongan kepada MCA sehinggakan Perikatan mendapat kerusi terbanyak di Parlimen.

Parti-parti dalam Perikatan ini mempunyai keahlian yang berdasarkan kepada kaum. Matlamatnya ialah untuk Umno mendapatkan sokongan orang Melayu, MCA dari sokongan kaum Cina dan MIC untuk mendapatkan sokongan dari kaum India. Formula ini telah berjaya untuk mendapatkan kemenangan yang besar kepada Perikatan.

Umno bertanding dikawsan-kawasan Melayu dan MCA bertanding dikawasan-kawasan bandar yang kebanyakkan pengundinya dari kaum Cina, MIC walaupun tidak ada tempat yang mempunyai pengundi kaum India terbesar tetapi telah diberikan beberapa kerusi yang bercampur-campur komposisi kaumnya. Itulah formula dan resipi kejayaan Perikatan semasa itu.

Tetapi keadaan berubah dan pada PRU 1969 kaum Cina telah menarik sokongan dari MCA dan telah menjejaskan prestasi Perikatan dan dalam pilihanraya itu Perikatan terutamanya MCA telah kehilangan banyak kerusi dan kaum Cina telah mengalih sokongan mereka kepada parti yang baru iaitu parti Gerakan yang baru ditubuhkan oleh Syed Husin Al-Atas dan Gerakan telah mendapat kuasa untuk membentuk kerajaan Pulau Pinang.

DAP telah mendapat beberapa kawasan ditengah-tengah bandar di Lembah Kelang dan Lembah Kinta. Kota Melaka telah dimenangi oleh DAP dengan calonnya Lim Kit Siang. PAS juga telah menambah beberapa kerusi termasuk kerusi Kota Setar di Kedah yang telah menewaskan Dr Mahathir Mohammad, calon Perikatan semasa itu.

Selepas PRU inilah MCA tidak lagi mendapat sokongan sepenuhnya dari kaum Cina. Ini yang Chua Soi Lek mesti ingat supaya tidak mengumpat kaumnya dengan sewenang-wenangnya. Semasa itu Soi Lek belum pun wujud dalam politik MCA di mana-mana peringkat sekali pun.

Hasil dari pertumpahan darah diantara kaum pada 13 Mai 1969, 3 hari selepas pilihanraya itu, negara telah mengisytiharkan penubuhan Majlis Tindakan Negara (MAGERAN) dan Parlimen telah digantung. Tun Abd Razak selaku Timbalam PM semasa itu, telah menjadi Pengarah MAGERAN yang diperuntukkan oleh Ordinan Dharurat. Kuasa sepenuhnya ada pada Tun Razak dan beliau mula melaksanakan tugas untuk menggubal daar-dasar baru dengan matlamat yang satu’ iaitu perpaduan nasional.

Banyak dasar-dasar bary digubal untuk mencapai perpaduan nasional itu tetapi kita hanya sentuh tentang politik yang berkaitan rapat dengan matlamat perpaduan nasional tadi. Tu Razak telah memanggil kesemua parti politik untuk bergabung dibawah apa yang kita sekarang kenali sebagai Barisan Nasional (BN) Di semanjung parti Gerakan bersetuju untuk menyertai BN untuk bersama Umno, MCA, MIC supaya tidak banyak pertentangan di antara parti-parti dalam negara ini, kerana pertentangan parti itu bermakna pertentangan diantara kaum.

Justru untuk menjaga representasi dalam kerajaan MCA terpaksa dibela oleh Umno (orang Melayu) dengan memberikan pemimpin-pemimpin tertinggi MCA turun bertanding dikawasan yang majoriti pengundinya orang Melayu. BN tidak mahu pemimpin-pemimpin utama MCA kecundang kerana kaum Cina mempunyai pilihan seperti DAP sebagai wadah perjuangan mereka.

Itu sebabnya kita perhatikan Presiden MCA bertanding dikawasan Labis dan MIC bertanding dikawasan Segamat, Johor. Pemimpin-pemimpin besar MCA tidak bertanding dikawasan majoriti pengundi dari kaumnya sendiri. Oleh itu Soi Lek mesti faham yang MCA selama ini hanya boleh selamat dikawasan majoriti pengundinya dari kaum Melayu. Penolakan kaum Cina terhadap MCA memang sudah lama. Kalau tidak masakan pemimpin-pemimpin utama parti itu hanya bertanding dikawasan majoriti pengundi dari kaum Melayu.

Rungutan Soi Lek itu agak tidak tepat. Beliau bersungut seolah-olah selama ini orang Cina memberikan sokongan padu kepada MCA sedangkan yang bersatu padu memberikan sokongan kepada MCA adalah kaum Melayu. Hanaya segelintiran kaum Cina yang menyokong parti itu selama ini bertindak menarik sokongan terhadap MCA sekarang ini.

Apabila orang Melayu sudah ramai yang menolak UMNO maka MCA juga mendapat tempiasnya maka MCA pada hari ini hanya menunggu masa untuk pecah belah dan akan kecundang di dalam PRU yang akan datang ini. Tuduhan MCA yang ramai diantara calon-calonnya tewas dalam PRU yang lalu adalah oleh kerana Umno itu ada asasnya. Itulah sebabnya ada suara-suara dalam MCA sendiri mahukan MCA tidak lagi menjadi sebahagian dari BN.

Yang MCA patut marahkan ialah Umno kerana jika Umno kecundang kali ini maka MCA akan terkubur dalam politik negara. Sekarang trend yang ada ialah rakyat berbilang kaum sekarang sudah letih dengan isu perkauman yang dimainkan oleh Umno dan juga MCA. Mereka tahu sentimen perkauman yang diperbesarkan oleh Umno atau MCA itu hanyalah sebagai taktik menakut-nakutkan orang Melayu dan Cina yang jika BN kalah maka akan timbul huru hara dan jelas isu itu tidak termakan oleh rakyat sekarang ini.

Rakyat mahukan perpaduan diantara kaum, maka mana-mana pihak yang memainkan isu perkauman secara automatik ditolak oleh rakyat. Rakyat berbilang kaum tidak mahu lagi bergaduh diantara mereka semata-mata kerana di hangatkan oleh parti-parti dalam BN.

Rakyat berbilang kaum kini mahu bersatu tetapi mereka mahu bersatu diluar BN. Itu pun sebabnya parti-parti dalam PR mendapat sokongan kerana ‘attribute’nya sebagai parti-parti berbilang kaum.

CSL patut memahami yang orang Cina bukannya tidak sayang kepada MCA tetapi mereka lebih sayangkan perpaduan yang hanya boleh dirasai diluar BN. Selagi mereka menyokong BN selagi itulah lagu-lagu lama yang bersifat rasis itu berkumandang dimainkan oleh Umno dan MCA. Itu sebabnya orang Cina memberikan sokongan padu kepada DAP kerana sifat DAP sebagai parti berbilang kaum.

Orang Cina telah mengambil keputusan untuk menyokong pihak yang tidak memainkan isu perkauman dan agama lagi. CSL sepatutnya melakukan introspeksi dirinya sendiri dan cari jalan untuk membetulkannya walaupu kita tahu jawapannya yang sebenarnya; MCA seperti Umno tidak mungkin berubah.

Nampaknya biarlah rakyat yang melakukan perubahan tu. — aspanaliasnet.blogspot.com

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 15 April 2012, 1:32 pm and is filed under
DAP
,
MCA
,
UMNO
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.


Dr M: Now a good time for polls

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 15, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak should call for a general election while he is confident of victory, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

The former prime minister also said that time was running out before Najib would be forced to hold national polls mandatorily.

“If we think we can win, we can call the election. If the people give us a good support, that’s the time to call the election,” Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying in a Bernama Online report.

“Even now, it looks good,” he continued.

Prime Minister Najib is expected to call for an early general election soon to allow Barisan Nasional (BN) to take advantage of the positive mood following a slew of cash handouts and a civil service pay increase.

The Malaysian Insider understands the election may be held as early as June with Parliament expected to be dissolved in mid-May.

The window within which Najib retains control over the timing of the election is now narrowing.

“I think it (election) won’t be too long into the future because there isn’t much time left; we only have until middle of next year,” Dr Mahathir said today.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 15 April 2012, 9:20 pm and is filed under
Bersih
,
Elections
,
Mahathir
,
Najib Razak
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.


Guan Eng holds forth on Economics 101

Terence Netto | Apr 14, 2012

Malaysiakini

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng gave a little homily on institutional economics on the occasion of state government awards to top students and schools in the 2011 STPM examination.

Lim told his audience of proud parents and top-scoring students at the award ceremony in Komtar today that the Pakatan Rakyat government’s clean and effective administration conduced to higher rewards for its citizens.

As example, he cited the RM500 rewards to the 50 top-finishing students in the state in the STMP examination of last year, up from RM400 given to top scorers in 2010.

The monetary awards were inaugurated in 2009, a year after the DAP-led Pakatan government came to power in Penang.

“The reason we can give more this year is simple: we run a government that is not corrupt,” he said.

“Because our governance is competent, accountable and transparent, we can show a surplus of income over expenditure enabling us to plough back progressively higher benefits to the people,” he explained.

Lim went on to list the escalating range of recipients of annual state government handouts to Penang residents, from senior citizens (60 years and above), the bereaved, university entrants, and year one and four schoolchildren, and year one and four secondary school students.

He said that it was not for nothing that Penang was the top state in terms of gaining the highest quantum of manufacturing investment among Malaysian states for the years 2010 and 2011.

“We have gained that ranking because of our clean governance and we intend to stay that way to make Penang a clean, green, healthy and safe place for people to invest, work and live,” he claimed.

M’sian students fail to enter Harvard

Lim derided the view that the education system in Malaysia was superior to ones in United Kingdom and Germany and noted as reproof the failure of Malaysian students to gain entry into Harvard University for the second year in succession.

He said that Thailand and Vietnam had bested Malaysia in this respect, sending more students to the world’s premier tertiary institution.

He urged the top-scoring STPM students, whom he envisaged would proceed to the study of medicine, law, engineering, accountancy and architecture, to pursuits that would require a multidisciplinary orientation.

To fortify his point, he cited US President Barack Obama’s nominee for the post of World Bank president, Jim Yong Kim, a medical doctor who went on to head the World Health Organisation HIV/AIDS programme and to co-found Partners in Health, an NGO that did good work combating the scourge of tuberculosis in the Third World.

Jim went on to be president of Dartmouth College, a prestigious academic institution in the US.

Lim told students that the “world was their oyster” and that they should steer by a compass that would lead them to be trailblazers, more than just successful professionals.

“After your have qualified, come back to Penang to make this state a green, clean, healthy and safe place in which to live and work,” advised Guan Eng.

The bulk of the 50 recipients who all obtained 4As in the STPM were from Jit Sin Secondary in Bukit Mertajam, the top scoring school in the state, and from Chung Ling chapters in Georgetown and Butterworth.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 15 April 2012, 7:55 am and is filed under
Corruption
,
Economics
,
Education
,
Lim Guan Eng
,
Penang
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.


Keep Bersih 3.0, Bersih!

Letters

by Beh Sai Kong

15/04/2012

Dear brave friends,

Malaysians as a whole are fair-minded people. Our penchant for neutrality is admirable. We do whatever we can to preserve and promote the virtue of neutrality and have repeatedly shown that we were prepared to do battle with whomever or whatever to prove our sense of neutrality.

But as with many other virtues, we can be neutral to a fault. There is a time and place for any virtue which ordinarily should be upheld and welcome for the good that it brings to a given situation. But a virtue that is invoked and deployed under certain circumstances may cease to be virtuous and can become a fault instead.

As an ardent supporter of BERSIH 1.0,  BERSIH 2.0 and now, BERSIH 3.0, I wish to say that BERSIH as a brand name is presently walking into a trap that is not surpising but nevertheless fatal.

Good people can and sometimes do paint themselves into a corner in much the same way as some participants of BERSIH 2.0 found themselves cornered by the riot squard where to escape the optimum effect of tear gas they had to try to make a dash for open space.

The time for neutrality rightly was sincerely employed and offered by BERSIH in its 2.0 edition. Both sides of the parliamentary divide were invited. One side accepted, fully participated in BERSIH 2.0 and even provided its own trained and disciplined personnel to keep the peace; the other side not only spurned the sincere invitation but threw all the forces it could muster  to stop, wreck and yes, neutralise the impact of BERSIH 2.0. In a sense, the latter acted “honorably “ in that while it was at that time conceiving and getting its plan to compromise the integrity of the electoral roll, it acted the part by opposing BERSIH 2.0 tooth and nail. That much credit I must give them . They didn’t believe in the cause of BERSIH 2.0 and they comprehensively fought it.

There is a time gap between BERSIH 2.0 (held on 9 July 2011) and the coming BERSIH 3.0 (to be held on 28 April 2012). During the intervening period, we Malaysians have learned, again not surprisingly, that the electoral roll has been alarmingly skewered to favour one side of the parliamentary divide as to seriously prejudiced the chances of the other side in the forthcoming electoral war.

That is the very reason why BERSIH has rightly called for all fair-minded and concerned Malaysians to a sit-down demonstration in its 3.0 edition.

Now, dear brave and righteous BERSIH (no irony or sarcasm intended), please let us ask ourselves that if indeed the electoral roll has been gravely compromised and the very conduct of the forthcoming general elections itself may be seriously and rightly questioned for this and other reasons, WHICH SIDE of the parliamentary divide is RESPONSIBLE?

Make no mistake, only ONE side of the parliamentary divide can be responsible for such a dastardly act for the very simple reason that the other side is as much powerless to commit such an act as it would be foolish of them to do so for very obvious reasons.

So, to invite both sides of the parliamentary divide to come for BERSIH 3.0 is like inviting, if I may say so, Robert Mugabe and Hosni Mubarak or Kim Jong-un to bersih-like demonstrations in their own respective countries.

When I sit down at BERSIH 3.0 with my concerned country men, women and children, I don’t want to be sitting beside anyone who is in any way involved or supportive of the mass fraudulence perpetrated and perpetuated by the powers that be within a hundred miles of my battered and cheated self.

The time for neutrality is past. In this day and time, a neutral stance applied to the Malaysian political scene by us fair-minded, good-hearted civil society community is to pour oil onto the side of the parliamentary divide that is the poor relation of the powerful, unscrupulous, unashamed and unrelenting stop-at-nothing, victory-at-any-cost side.

The last thing that our nation of suppressed and oppressed country men and women need since 1957 and 1963 is for our civil society pious sense of neutrality to give room for the wrong side to do even more harm.

We must not just keep our electoral roll and the conduct of our general elections BERSIH; we must KEEP BERSIH 3.0, BERSIH!

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 15 April 2012, 8:28 am and is filed under
Bersih
,
Elections
,
Letters
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.


DAP says MCA minister dismantling steps to uncover PKFZ scandal

By Shannon Teoh

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 16, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 — The DAP today accused Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha of conspiring to reverse previous efforts to reclaim losses from the RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.

Publicity chief Tony Pua claimed the Port Klang Authority (PKA), which comes under the Transport Ministry, has decided to withdraw all legal action against turnkey developer Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) for failing to carry out RM1.6 billion in work.

He said the MCA secretary-general “is doing everything in his means to dismantle and reverse all painstakingly agreed steps to get to the bottom of the scandal and cover up for all guilty parties.”

The Petaling Jaya Utara MP said in a statement the suits related to “double and fictitious billings for works never carried out and excessive charges to PKA.”

Pua claimed that PKA has agreed to proceed to arbitration instead despite the “obvious criminality of the alleged offences” by KDSB, whose then chief executive was Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, the current Barisan Nasional (BN) backbenchers’ chief.

“Kong and new PKA chairman Datuk Teh Kim Poh have conspired to reverse the decision as well as many other decisions which were taken previously by PKA,” he said.

He added that this decision came despite the courts already ruling last year in favour of PKA against KDSB’s appeal that the matter be resolved through arbitration.

A three-man Federal Court Bench chaired by then Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Arifin Zakaria had decided last June that the suits be tried in the Shah Alam High Court.

He said the Lumut MP has also directed that all payments which are due to KDSB be paid to the latter’s bondholders despite the decision to withhold payment by the previous PKA board.

“By proceeding to pay KDSB, PKA is basically jeopardising its own interest by making such payments before the court has decided as to whether such payments are due. The payment amounts to nearly RM700 million annually and has since been paid promptly by the current PKA,” Pua said.

The project, initially tagged estimated at RM1.1 billion after it was mooted by then Transport Minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik in 1997, more than quadrupled to RM4.6 billion by 2007.

A position review by top accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) revealed in 2009 that the total cost including interests from debt repayments could reach RM12.5 billion.

Since December 2009, six individuals have been charged in court including Dr Ling, an ex-MCA president, and his successor as transport minister, former MCA deputy chief Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, who are accused of lying to the Cabinet.

The Sun also reported today PKA has withdrawn its complaint to the Bar Council against Rashid Asari & Co in a conflict-of-interest case when preparing the sale and purchase agreements on behalf of PKA for the PKFZ project.

The complaint and suits against KDSB were filed by Datuk Lee Hwa Beng who was PKA chief from March 2008 to March 2011.

The former Subang Jaya assemblyman for the MCA will release his book, “PKFZ: A Nation’s Trust Betrayed”, tomorrow and has said details revealed so far are “only the tip of the iceberg.”

                This entry was posted on Monday, 16 April 2012, 6:44 pm and is filed under
PKFZ
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.


Guan Eng: BN apology needed for ISA closure

By Clara Chooi

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 16, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 — Lim Guan Eng today pushed the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) to issue a public apology to all “victims of the ISA (Internal Security Act)”, insisting that this was the only way to prove the government’s sincerity in repealing the controversial preventive law.

Lim, who was himself an ISA detainee during Operasi Lalang in 1987, told the Dewan Rakyat today that so long as BN refuses to apologise, its proposed repeal of the Act would be merely be a “evil ploy” to continue wielding the law’s powers under a different guise and form.

The DAP secretary-general noted that many provisions in the Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill still infringe basic human rights although the element of “detention without trial” is scrapped.

“Is BN ready to openly apologise to all victims of the ISA?

“As long as it refuses to do so to seek closure, it raises doubt that abolishing the ISA today is merely a game and an evil ploy to continue using the Act but in a different guise and form,” he told the House when debating the Bill.

“This black mark of the ISA in our history must be buried forever and this cannot be done if the government does not apologise and guarantee that such iron-fisted laws like the ISA will not be repeated,” he added.

Lim related to the House his personal experience under the 1960 law that was enacted to fight the communist insurgency, noting that he had only been 26-years old and just elected as the Kota Melaka MP during his 1987 detention.

“Even at this raw age, I was accused of threatening national security… at my age of 52 today, am I not a greater threat then?” he asked.

During his detention, Lim continued, he was interrogated repeatedly and pushed to admit that he was involved in “subversive” activities.

“The 60-day solitary confinement process is difficult to endure because our lives are placed in the hands of just a few police officers who could do whatever they want with me,” he said.

“I was placed in a small blue room without mirrors and a fan that did not move.

“I was not allowed to sleep for more than 24 hours and made to sit on a bench. A police officer would shout in my ear every time I [was] about to fall asleep, forcing me to repent,” he related.

“But I was among the lucky ones because I was not beaten violently like what was done to our Opposition Leader (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) and many others,” he said.

The Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill, proposed to replace the ISA, removes the government’s power to detain a person indefinitely without trial and reduces the maximum detention period from two years to 28 days.

The newly-proposed Bill is among the slew of legislative reforms mooted by the Najib administration as a part of its promise to increase civil freedom.

Joining his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners in opposing certain provisions in the Bill, Lim pointed out today that the police are still accorded arbitrary powers to arrest a person for up to 28 days based on mere suspicion that he or she had committed a security offence.

This, he said, infringes upon a person’s rights under the Federal Constitution.

“If any person can be detained for 28 days without being brought before a magistrate, where is the guarantee that this person would not be tortured by the police during this period?

“And who can endure torture for 28 days? Why is the government and police so afraid to bring this person before a magistrate?” he said.

Lim also pointed to another provision in the Bill that allows for a public prosecutor, through an oral application to court, to keep an accused under remand for the full term of his or her trial, until all avenues of appeal are exhausted.

“Elements of the ISA still exist in this Bill,” he said.

“By continuing to instil fear amongst the people, there is false liberty or no liberty at all, but BN continues to exercise tyranny over Malaysians.”

Debate on the Bill continues tomorrow.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 16 April 2012, 7:47 pm and is filed under
ISA
,
Lim Guan Eng
,
Parliament
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.


Let’s be adults, YAB

— Aspan Alias

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 15, 2012

15 APRIL — Merasakan diri sendiri itu sebagai hebat dan “invincible” itu merupakan kesilapan yang susah hendak diperbaiki oleh seseorang yag mempunyai sifat itu. Jika mereka yang jenis ini menjadi pemimpin mereka akan dianggap sebagai pemimpin sombong dan selalunya pemimpin seperti ini akan memandang rendah orang lain dengan begitu mudah. Hasilnya akan timbullah masalah kepimpinan (leadership crisis) yang tidak sepatutnya berlaku.

Krisis ini sememangnya boleh diatasi hanya dengan menjadi pemimpin yang merendah diri. Saya tidak dapat mencari sebab kenapa seseorang itu apabila menjadi pemimpin dia menjadi sombong dan tidak mahu merendahkan diri dihadapan rakyat pimpinannya. Orang lain semuanya bodoh dan dia sahaja yang betul dan benar.

Di negeri saya, Negri Sembilan, ada pemimpin besar yang tidak mahu merendah diri kerana pangkatnya besar dan wang ringgitnya banyak, walhal “it doesn’t cost him even 10 cents to be humble”.

Beliau ini merasakan dirinya itu datang dari syurga (paradise). Jika ada yang tidak bersetuju dengannya dia akan menjawab dengan sombong, “ah, dio tu bukan boleh mendalamkan air pun”. Semua orang lain tidak boleh mendalamkan air. Ramai juga yang datang memberitahu saya yang beliau menganggap saya sebagai pemimpin nyamuk sahaja.

Saya tahu saya bukannya seorang pemimpin, tetapi saya tahu untuk menilai siapa yang boleh memimpin. Saya tahu saya bukan seorang yang pandai tetapi saya pandai menyelam air dalam tunggak.

Saya tahu saya ini bukan orang kaya tetapi miskin, tetapi saya tidak fakir dari segi pemikiran. Tetapi saya tetap bersabar melihat dan mendengar telatahnya yang pada saya menjadi penyumbang kepada kejatuhan parti yang dipimpinnya.

Saya tidak sepatutnya menjadi bahan ejekannya kerana yang patut ditumpukan ialah untuk menautkan kembali Umno yang berpecah belah dibawah kepimpinannya. Saya bukan lagi berada di dalam parti pimpinannya dan kekurangan kredibiliti kepimpinannya merupakan salah satu sebab yang banyak kenapa saya tidak mahu berada didalam jemaah yang haru biru itu.

Walaupun saya bukan pemimpin seperti beliau, tetapi ramai diantara ahli-ahli parti yang dipimpinnya itu datang menemui saya acapkali dan mereka tidak segan silu mengkritik beliau. Namun saya tetap berdiam kerana masih ada rasa pertalian persahabatan dengannya walaupun saya tidak berada lagi di dalam parti pimpinannya.

Kadangkala terasa juga sakitnya apabila orang mengkritik beliau, kerana maklumlah saya bukan mengenali beliau dari jauh tetapi mengenali beliau dari dekat… sedekat dekatnya. Saya tidak pernah menyusahkan beliau secara peribadi sejak beliau menjadi Ketua Eksekutif dinegeri adat kami itu. Saya tetap sedaya upaya untuk membezakan diantara politik dengan perhubungan peribadi. Saya berharap beliau juga bersikap begitu memandangkan beliau adalah seorang “social climber” yang berjaya.

Saya mengambil keputusan untuk menulis sedikit tentang isu ini kerana saya telah dihujani oleh banyak pertanyaan dari orang Umno yang datang menemui saya. Mereka bertanya samada benar atau tidak yang saya pernah berpesan kepada beliau melalui pemandunya yang saya meminta beliau menjaga kereta MB itu baik-baik kerana selepas pilihanraya nanti saya akan mengambil alih tugas beliau.

Kenapa beliau memilih untuk berbohong kepada orang ramai di belakang saya? Saya tidak pernah berkata begitu dan saya tidak pernah mengenali pemandu beliau. Saya pun tidak pernah pergi berjumpa dengan beliau sejak beliau menjadi MB.

Lagi pun bila pula saya beritahu beliau yang saya bercita-cita untuk mengambil alih jawatan beliau? Kali terakhir saya berjumpa setelah bertahun-tahun ialah semasa beliau datang kerumah kami di kampung kerana menziarahi jenazah cucu saudara saya yang meninggal, kalau tidak silap saya lima bulan yang lepas.

Saya kecewa mendengarnya kerana beliau cuba memesongkan pandangan orang ramai terhadap saya dan fitnah ini datang dari seorang sahabat yang pernah menjadi teman minum di warung-warung sebelum beliau menjadi orang besar yang bergelar dan bernama itu.

Untuk makluman beliau, saya masih lagi minum di warung-warung tempat beliau minum dengan saya dahulu. Di situ sahaja tempat yang saya masih mampu untuk membasahkan tekak saya.

Akhirnya melalui blog kecil saya ini saya memohon kepada YAB itu supaya menjadi lebih dewasa sedikit. Saya bukan orangnya yang mampu menggugat beliau. Saya hanya seorang pejuang jembel sahaja dalam politik di NS itu.

Saya tidak ada nama dan tidak ada gelaran besar-besar untuk membuatkan beliau hilang akal untuk bercakap bohong terhadap diri saya yang begitu kecil dan kerdil ini. Politik itu politik juga, tetapi jangan biarkan politik itu menjadikan diri kita seperti kanak-kanak yang masih merah kulitnya.

Kapada beliau saya sedar yang saya hanyalah seorang pemimpin nyamuk seperti yang beliau anggap terhadap saya itu. DAN saya juga memang tidak boleh mendalamkan air. Saya mengaku itu semua, tetapi jangan buat cerita bohong terhadap diri saya.

Let’s be adults, YAB.

Salam. — aspanaliasnet.blogspot.com

                This entry was posted on Monday, 16 April 2012, 7:28 am and is filed under
Elections
,
UMNO
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.