Olympics Will Close With A Thunderous Party

by The Associated Press

August 12, 2012

LONDON (AP) — Party! Party! Party!

London is preparing to close out a two-week festival of sports in Olympic style, with a thunderous celebration of British music, from the classical compositions of Elgar to the classic rock of The Who.

A star-studded closing ceremony Sunday night will be long on fun — a dancing, stomping, psychedelic exaltation of what Britain does best, exporting a head-shaking amount of talent to the world.

The spectacle, which artistic director Kim Gavin promises will be “the best after-show party that’s ever been,” will have something for everyone — the Spice Girls, George Michael, Annie Lennox, Muse and many, many other stars mixed in.

There’ll be plenty of fireworks and colored lights, acrobats, gymnasts, drummers, supermodels and other surprises to keep the crowd — and a television audience of tens of millions — entertained late into the night.

The best seats are for the 10,800 Olympic athletes, who will march in as one and form what Gavin has described as a human mosh pit on the field. Queen Elizabeth II, who made a memorable mock parachute entrance at the opening ceremony, will be on hand.

Eight minutes have been turned over to Brazil, host of the 2016 Rio Games, which promises an explosion of samba, sequins and Latin cool. Following tradition, London Mayor Boris Johnson will hand the Olympic flag off to his Rio counterpart.

There will also be speeches by International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge and London organizing committee chief Sebastian Coe, and the extinguishing of the Olympic flame.

What a way to end a games far more successful than many Londoners expected. Security woes were overcome, traffic and transportation nightmares never materialized, and Britain had its biggest medal haul since 1908.

The United States was poised to edge China in both the gold medal and total medal standings, recapturing the gold-medal title it lost four years ago, but Britain will finish third in golds.

And while the games may have lacked some of the drama and grandeur of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, there were some unforgettable moments.

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt became an Olympic legend by repeating as champion in both the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints. Michael Phelps ended his long career as the most decorated Olympian in history. British favorite daughter Jessica Ennis became a global phenomenon with her victory in the heptathlon.

Female athletes took center stage in a way they never had before. American gymnast Gabby Douglas soared to gold, the U.S. soccer team’s made a dramatic march to the championship. Packed houses that turned out to watch the new event of women’s boxing. And women competed for Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei took part for the first time.

And then there was Oscar Pistorious, the double-amputee from South Africa running on carbon-fiber blades, who didn’t win a medal but nonetheless left a champion. And sprinter Manteo Mitchell, who completed his leg of the 4×400 relay semifinal on a broken leg, allowing his team to qualify and win silver.

Coe refused to anoint the games “the best ever,” in the phrase former International Olympic Committee chief Juan Antonio Samaranch used to describe almost every games. But he declared himself “very, very pleased.”

He said the closing ceremony didn’t aim to be profound, not even the irreverent romp through British history offered by Danny Boyle’s $42 million spectacle on opening night.

The theme for the close, Coe said, could be summed up in three words. “Party. Party. Party.”

Organizers tried to keep the ceremony under wraps, but details leaked out in the British media. The Who, George Michael, Muse and Ed Sheeran have all said they will take part in the show, which will include performances of 30 British hit singles from the past five decades — whittled by Gavin from a list of 1,000 songs. Annie Lennox, Pet Shop Boys, and Fatboy Slim will also be there to get people dancing.

Gavin said Saturday the show would open with a tribute to the “cacophony” of London life, with a soundtrack ranging from the late Edward Elgar, composer of the “Pomp and Circumstance” march, to The Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset.” Frontman Ray Davies is expected to perform the 1960s song, a love letter to London.

Details emerged through tips and photos coming out of the rehearsal venue, an old car plant in east London. While creators of the opening ceremony could rehearse for weeks inside the stadium, Gavin and his team had less than a day between the end of track and field competition and Sunday’s ceremony. Not a lot of time to practice a show with multiple sets, pyrotechnics and 3,500 volunteer performers.

The Spice Girls were photographed dancing atop black London taxis, so a rendition of their biggest hit, “Wannabe,” seems likely. So does an appearance by surviving members of Queen, whose “We Will Rock You” has been ever-present at the games.

Some athletes who skipped the opening ceremony in order to rest for upcoming competitions said they wouldn’t miss the closing extravaganza for the world.

“I am so excited,” said American teen sensation Missy Franklin, who took home five swimming medals, including four golds. “I think it is the perfect way to end the entire journey.”

Added Brenda Villa, a member of the gold-winning U.S. water polo team: “We just want to have fun and kind of put an end to this magical tournament.”

___

Follow Paul Haven on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/paulhaven.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 12 August 2012, 7:57 pm and is filed under
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Utusan’s
“Haram Sokong DAP”
 campaign  conceived by Umno anti-national extremists who are prepared to repudiate the legacy of the first three Prime Ministers

Utusan Malaysia is completely unrepentant of its
“Haram Sokong DAP”
 campaign launched five days ago, continuing today to  carry commentary and reports to justify its campaign.

It is clear that Utusan’s
“Haram Sokong DAP”
 campaign is conceived by UMNO anti-national extremists who are prepared to repudiate the legacy of the first three Prime Ministers, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak and Tun Hussein.

This is because those behind Utusan’s
“Haram Sokong DAP”
 campaign cannot be so naïve politically as not to know that the next target of the
“Haram Sokong DAP”
 campaign will be the first three Prime Ministers, as the DAP’s stand that Malaysia is a secular state with Islam as the official religion is exactly the stand taken by Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak and Tun Hussein in the first 24 years of the nation’s history  from 1957 – 1981.

If the UMNO strategists who approved and launched the Utusan’s
“Haram Sokong DAP”
 campaign  did not realize that their attack on DAP could be extended into an attack on the first three Prime Ministers on the very same grounds, then these highly-paid UMNO strategists are not worth their money and should be sacked immediately.

Of course, Mahathir can and has  distinguished himself from the first three Prime Ministers in the
“Haram Sokong DAP”
 attack by claiming that he had on Sept. 29, 2001 at the Gerakan national delegates’ conference made the unconstitutional declaration that Malaysia is an Islamic state, an unconstitutional declaration which was given instant endorsement by the MCA and Gerakan leadership at the time.

Let me ask Mahathir whether by indirectly distinguishing himself from the first three Prime Ministers , is he in fact giving his endorsement to Utusan’s
“Haram Sokong DAP”
 campaign?

So far only a middling UMNO leader has spoken up to dissociate himself from the irresponsible, despicable, anti-national and seditious
“Haram Sokong DAP”
 campaign of Utusan – the Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, who said that it is “not necessary” to declare it is “haram” for Muslims to support DAP as this is merely about differences of opinion in politics.

Saifuddin said: “This is not about what is permissible and not permissible, as in criminal offences. This is only politics.

“If we don’t agree, we can always use our persuasive power to defuse, to rebut or to bring forward our ideas.”

I congratulate Saifuddin for his sense of fairness and for speaking as a true Malaysian.

But Saifuddin is the lone voice in UMNO/Barisan Nasional as no other UMNO/BN Ministers or leaders had dared to publicly dissociate themselves from Utusan’s despicable, irresponsible, anti-national and seditious
“Haram Sokong DAP”
 campaign despite being the blackest spot in  the history of Malaysian journalism, calculated to create racial and religious distrust and illwill as well as to undermine national unity.

If there is a competition for the most anti-national newspaper in the country, Utusan Malaysia will win hands down with its
“Haram Sokong DAP”
 campaign.

If Datuk Seri Najib Razak is not prepared to take firm action to deal with Utusan’s despicable, irresponsible, anti-national and seditious
“Haram Sokong DAP”
campaign, then the Prime Minister has forfeited the right to propagate his 1Malaysia policy or preach Wasatiyah or a moderate approach to religion.

Even worse, he would be demonstrating that he has not only failed to be a Prime Minister for all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region, or class, he is unable to prove that he is Prime Minister for all factions and groups in UMNO and Barisan Nasional.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 12 August 2012, 3:34 pm and is filed under
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Aliran – “Piss Off”

By Martin Jalleh

                This entry was posted on Monday, 13 August 2012, 3:40 pm and is filed under
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Fatal flaw in the RM180 million allocation to Indians

By
Jeyaseelan Anthony
 | Saturday, 11 August 2012 01:55

CPI

Recently our Prime Minister had announced an allocation of RM180 million to uplift the economic standing of the Indian community. It was indeed a major announcement and a big step forward on the part of the government to help the Indian community. However in practice whether this allocation will help Indians in the long run is doubtful.

Malaysia is still plagued by discriminatory policies which favour the majority Bumiputra races. Announcing an allocation is rather easy but making the money usable for business or social purposes is another.

Take for example a real incident highlighted by Senator Dr. S. Ramakrishnan recently and I quote it here.

“One of my cousins wanted to import goats from Myanmar sometime in 2006. When he went to the Customs and Agriculture department for permits to import, he was told that he can only import under a Bumiputera name. My cousin then went looking for a trusted Bumiputra partner to import goat or at least lend his name for that purpose and he managed to find one. He imported goat and sold it in Malaysia. After the first import the Bumiputera partner went to Myanmar and started importing himself. My cousin lost a reliable source of supply and income.

“This is how many small time Indian businessmen incur losses and face difficulty in doing business in Malaysia. My cousin was so frustrated that he brought many friends to the Hindraf rally on 25th November 2007. He also has buses transporting workers. He has to get a Bumiputera to get a permit and pay a monthly fee to him for doing nothing. No other country in the world has this kind of cunning and malicious restrictions on its own citizens to do business.”

Article 153: Intent, spirit and unfair implementation

Many non Bumiputras face this problem. All this is done in the name of Article 153 of the Federal Constitution which provides for preferential treatment in favour of the Bumiputera. Let’s take a look at what Article 153 is all about.

It is implicit in Article 153(1) that “It shall be the responsibility of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA) to safeguard the special position of the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interest of other communities”.

To set the record straight, the phrase ‘legitimate interest of other communities’ means that it does not allow simply any kind of preferential treatment in favour of the ‘Bumiputera’. It is not a ‘blank cheque’ but it merely confers limited powers on the government and Parliament, pursuant to Article 153, to derogate from the principle of equality and equal protection of the law.

The implementation of Article 153 has often been the bone of contention as many have argued that its implementation has been at expense of the other races in Malaysia. For example, although Article 153 provides for quotas only for the issuance permits and licenses to the Bumiputera, however, even government commercial contracts have been awarded solely to Bumiputera companies, which is clearly not sanctioned under the Federal Constitution. Even government linked companies (GLCs) and statutory bodies assign their work solely to Bumiputera companies and some major banks assign their legal work only to Bumiputera legal firms.

GLCs and local authority procurement and infrastructure building contracts are mostly given to Bumiputera companies. For example, local authority contracts for infrastructure building are solely given to Class F (not to forget the other types licenses like Class A etc under the purview of the Finance Ministry) licensed contractors, which is a type of license only given to Bumiputra contractors although nothing in Article 153 of the Federal Constitution permits Parliament to restrict business and trade solely to Bumiputras for the purpose of reservation of quotas.

The issuance of vehicle AP’s solely to the Bumiputra is another example of a policy and system that is unconstitutional as it is against Article 153.

I now question how is the 180 million allocation useful to the Indian community in view of these restrictions?

Allow me to digress here: The majority of employees at the GLCs and some major banks are Malay Bumiputeras although the Federal Constitution only provides for reservation of quotas in the public service. Ethnic quotas are imposed on private companies by government agencies and licensing is used as a way to get private companies to observe Bumiputera quotas, a policy which is clearly against the Federal Constitution as Article 153 only provides for reservation of quotas in the public service.

Although Article 136 of the Federal Constitutionprovides for impartiality in the public sector, there have been complaints by the non-Bumiputeras in the various government departments that they have been deprived from getting promotions or have been sidelined in favour of Bumiputera candidates. This explains why the non-Bumiputeras shy away from seeking employment in the government sector and unfortunately it also explains the current brain drain that is currently plaguing our country.

These are several examples where the implementation of affirmative action policies has clearly gone beyond the limits of Article 153 of the Federal Constitution and has gone wrong. The problem that is quite apparent here is that although the Yang Dipertuan Agong, after acting on advice of the Cabinet, is bound to give binding directions to the relevant authorities to ensure the reservation of quotas in the public sector, scholarships and permits or licenses in favour of the Bumiputera, no one knows for certain what the percentage of the quotas are. Is it 50%, 70% or 95% in favour of the Bumiputera?

It is surprising to note that the Prime Minister had announced this RM180 million allocation without even looking at the realities on the ground. I believe that the weaknesses of the government’s policies must be repaired first before announcing any allocations to uplift any community. With the type of restrictions and limitations pervading the non Bumiputera communities under the guise of Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, it would not be difficult to realize that the allocation given to the Indian community for business purposes will be futile.

Deterioration in race relations: What is the cause?

It cannot be denied that the improper and arbitrary application of affirmative action policies as provided under Article 153 has contributed significantly to the deteriorating race relations in Malaysia. The deprivation of equal opportunities has caused racial tensions to run high in recent years. Therefore in order to improve race relations between the Bumiputera and the non-Bumiputera in Malaysia there should be legislative intervention.

The number of quotas and restrictions and qualifications in favour of the Bumiputera are not well defined or specified under the Federal Constitution. This loophole has led to the unfair, unbalanced and unreasonable implementation of Article 153. A race relations law must be introduced in Malaysia in order to remedy the imbalances and unfairness that has led to discrimination.

The intention and purpose of Article 153(1) when read as whole clearly provide for a balance between two competing interests, namely the protection of the special position of the Bumiputera and at the same time safeguarding the legitimate interest of other communities as well.

However ambiguity arises when one realizes that the scope and meaning of the words “legitimate interest of the other communities” are not defined in the Federal Constitution. Even the courts have not decided on this issue as the scope and ambit of provisions like Article 153 has not been litigated before in Malaysia, in the way it has been done in the USA and India. This lacuna in the Federal Constitution poses a problem to good race relations in Malaysia. This is where I believe that an effective and well drafted Race Relations Act is needed.

Reasons for Enacting Race Relations Law

A comprehensive race relations law will provide the balance that the original drafters of the Federal Constitution had intended when they inserted the words “legitimate interest of the other communities” into Article 153 of the Federal Constitution. A law on race relations would help prevent discrimination and promote equality in all spheres of life which affect Malaysians from all the different races.

There are two sides of the coin in support of this argument. On the one side, the Bumiputera are protected from discrimination and at the same time their special position under the Federal Constitution is also preserved. On the other, the non-Bumiputera are also protected against discrimination in the spirit of protecting the legitimate interest of other communities as provided under Article 153.

A race relations law will not affect the special position of the Bumiputera as widely believed by many i.e. a reasonable reservation of quotas can still be maintained in the areas specified under the Federal Constitution but if there are areas where a particular racial group is under represented in a particular trade or work area then the governing authority on race relations or the minister tasked to manage and regulate race relations under a race relations legislation will be empowered take remedial actions to solve the problem.

The Race Relations Act 1976 and the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000 (now replaced by the Equality Act 2010) in the UK, for example provides for such measures. A Race Relations Commission can be created under the Act to implement the provisions of the Act and ensure the enforcement of the Act.

In fact the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong under Article 153 is bound to act on the advice of the Cabinet or a Minister acting under the authority of the Cabinet. As such if the Cabinet or the Minister finds that there is indeed under representation of a particular racial group in a particular vocation or trade or sector and decides to take remedial actions, the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong is bound to act on that advice.

The current system clearly shows that the Bumiputeras are over represented in many areas of employment in the public sector, in the government and the local authorities, in government and local authority procurement and in the public universities, etc. This over representation has created a perception that the government is imposing exorbitant and unreasonable reservation of quotas in the areas mentioned in the Federal Constitution.

Surely, this is not what the Reid Commission had intended. In fact it is clear from the wordings of Article 153(1) that the drafters of the Federal Constitution did not envisage a system where reverse discrimination would be the order of the day.

The time has indeed arrived to see whether implementing quotas under affirmative action provisions are the way to go in light of the fact that globalisation has created a more competitive world where meritocracy is the order of the day, as compared to the time when the Federal Constitution was drafted in 1957 in particular Article 153. Affirmative action should not be cause for economic stagnation. In fact the Reid Commission had intended that the communal-based policies would be eventually eradicated from the country’s political and economic spheres.

Malaysia aspires to become a high income nation and to achieve this status we need to do away with raced-based policies that are currently plaguing our system. The only way to create a conducive and market friendly business environment and to get the private sector to be the catalyst for the creation of a high income nation is to ultimately eliminate race based policies in all sectors of business and society.

________

*
Jeyaseelen Anthony is an Advocate and Solicitor (non-practicing) and was also a member of the Bar Council Law Reform Committee. He is a now a consultant fellow attached to the Faculty of Law, University Malaya. He is also a local councillor at Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 13 August 2012, 10:32 am and is filed under
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Internet Blackout Day on 14 August gaining momentum

CIJ Release

13 August 2012

Kuala Lumpur — Malaysian civil society’s latest effort in campaigning against the newly introduced Section 114A to the Evidence Act 1950 — Internet Blackout Day – is gaining momentum and has received more endorsements from prominent websites, Netizens and politicians.

Bar Council has confirmed taking down their website (http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/) to support this while the Democratic Action Party (DAP) is shutting down all websites administered by them and will not be updating their Facebook and Twitter accounts all day on 14th August, 2012. Tech-savvy DAP politician Lim Kit Siang and lawyer/avid Twitter user Edmund Bon have both vowed to go offline for 24hours.

Bloggers who have pledged to support a pop-up to promote the Stop 114A campaign include Marina Mahathir, Hishamuddin Rais (Tukar Tiub), Uppercaise, Nat Tan, Niki Cheong, Anil Netto, Juana Jaafar, Sarawak Bloggers, Fahmi Fadzil, myasylum etc.

Internet Blackout Day pop-up is also being supported by news sites Free Malaysia Today, Malaysiakini, Digital News Asia, The Nut Graph, bfm, Merdeka Review, and party organ news sites Harakah Daily and Keadilan Daily. Supporters from commercial/entrepreneurial sector include lelong.com.my, entrepreneurs.my, nexusmediaworks and MOL. From the online resources & community sector, cari.com.my, anixekai.com, LoyarBurok, mobile88, jbtalks and edu.joshuatly.com

The pop-up will also appear on these civil society organisation websites: SUARAM, Women’s Aid Organisation, ALIRAN, Kajian Politik untuk Perubahan (KPRU), Research for Social Advancement, Relevant Facts, Sparkling Analysis (REFSA), Sinar Project, SEACeM, Tindak Malaysia, Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF), Lawyers for Liberty, Perak Women for Women, Empower, Women’s Centre For Change, All Women’s Action Society (AWAM), Sisters in Islam (SIS) and more.

On Twitterverse, the campaign is also supported by @sultanmuzaffar – who has 248,119 followers and @klubkiddkl with 223,105 followers.

The Blackout Day has also received international attention — highlighted in tweets by popular whistle-blower WikiLeaks and global digital freedom NGO Access Now.

Scheduled for 14th August, the Internet Blackout Day initiative is aimed to create awareness among Internet users about the negative impact of the amendment on online expression. Malaysia’s first Internet Blackout Day takes its cue from similar efforts in the United States and New Zealand in support of internet

On 14th August, internet users who visit participating websites will see a pop-up window which contains the message of the campaign. In addition, Netizens can change their profile pictures/avatar on Twitter and Facebook to black or use downloadable images provided by CIJ.

Section 114A, otherwise known as Evidence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2012, was passed by Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara in April this year and was gazetted on 31st July by de facto law Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.

The amendment has raised concerns from many parties such as lawyers, activists and Internet-based businesses. Under Section 114A, an Internet user is deemed the publisher of any online content unless proven otherwise. It also makes individuals and those who administer, operate or provide spaces for online community forums, blogging and hosting services, liable for content published through its services. This presumption of guilt goes against a fundamental principle of justice – innocent until proven guilty – and disproportionately burdens the average person who may not have the resources to defend himself in court.

The amendment’s wide reach will affect all internet users, websites which provide space for online comments, and any business premises which give free Wi-Fi access to their customers.

In addition, the new amendment was passed despite the fact that existing laws — including the Computer Crimes Act 1997, Sedition Act 1948, Defamation Act 1957, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 — have been used to arrest and charge in court those who commit defamation, criminal defamation, fraud and sedition online.

For more information about the Internet Blackout Day and to take part in the campaign please visit:

1. the official blog at stop114a.wordpress.com

2. the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/evidenceamendmentact.

3. Stop 114A’s Twibbon page for Twitter: http://twibbon.com/join/Stop-114A

4. Stop 114A’s Twibbon page for Facebook: http://twibbon.com/cause/Stop-114A/facebook

For additional information, please contact CIJ via e-mail at
[email protected]
 or call us at 03-4023 0772.

Background to the Campaign

The Internet Blackout Day is part of a campaign to call for the withdrawal of the new Section 114A in the Evidence Act 1950, otherwise known as Evidence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2012. It began on 31 May, 2012 when CIJ launched an online petition to call on the government to withdraw the Evidence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act. The petition, which received more than 3300 signatures, was handed over to the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department V.K. Liew in Parliament on 26 June, 2012.

CIJ also organized a public forum on 12 June, 2012, entitled ‘Section 114A Evidence Act: Crime-busting or Online Control?’ with a lawyer, an online activist and tech experts discussing about the repercussions of the amendment.

On Aug 11, 2012, CIJ, with National Young Lawyers Committee and Pusat Rakyat LoyarBurok co-hosted a discussion on legal implications of Section 114A with three lawyers and Member of Parliament and Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 13 August 2012, 10:27 pm and is filed under
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Isu haram undi DAP: ‘Utusan tak serik’

Zairil Khir Johari

Malaysiakini

Ogos 9 2012

ULASAN

Walaupun sudah dua kali didapati bersalah oleh mahkamah kerana menyiarkan laporan-laporan yang berunsur fitnah terhadap ketua menteri Pulau Pinang merangkap Setiausaha Agung DAP Lim Guan Eng, akhbar Utusan Malaysia tampaknya masih tidak serik.

Dengan tajuk sensasi,
“Haram sokong DAP”
 pada muka hadapan serta laporan susulan di muka surat dalaman, Utusan Malaysia telah menyiarkan beberapa tuduhan liar seperti yang dipetik di bawah:

Adalah haram dan berdosa untuk umat Islam menyokong DAP yang secara terang-terangan menentang penubuhan negara Islam serta pelaksanaan hukum hudud.

Beliau berkata, agenda perjuangan DAP berbeza dengan MCA dan MIC dalam Barisan Nasional (BN) yang digolongkan sebagai bukan kafir harbi iaitu tidak membawa kemudaratan kepada kedudukan Islam dan umat Islam.

“Perjuangan DAP tidak terima Perlembagaan negara, mereka mahu sama rata Islam dan bukan Islam, kuil dan masjid juga mahu sama rata…”

(Dipetik daripada “Haram, berdosa undi DAP”, mukas urat 5, Utusan Malaysia 8 Ogos 2012.)

Adalah jelas di sini bahawa laporan tersebut bermotif politik dan bertujuan untuk menabur fitnah dan implikasi bahawa:

1.DAP merupakan parti yang haram.

2.DAP tidak menerima Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

3.DAP merupakan parti kafir harbi.

Tuduhan bawa implikasi DAP kafir harbi

Umum mengetahui bahawa DAP merupakan sebuah parti pelbagai bangsa yang sah atau “halal” dari segi undang-undang.

Perjuangan DAP pula berteraskan prinsip-prinsip keadilan, ketelusan, kebenaran, kesaksamaan dan demokrasi, sepertimana yang diperjuangkan parti-parti rakan dalam Pakatan Rakyat yakni PAS dan PKR.

Selama 46 tahun sejarahnya, tidak sesekali pun DAP diharamkan atau dibatalkan pendaftarannya. Tambahan juga, sekian lama ini DAP telah berjuang di bawah kerangka kenegaraan Malaysia sebagai sebuah demokrasi berparlimen yang mengamalkan sistem Raja Berperlembagaan.

Prinsip perjuangan DAP bukan sahaja terpahat dalam perlembagaan parti, tetapi juga diulangi dalam Deklarasi Shah Alam, iaitu suatu ketetapan yang telah dipersetujui dalam persidangan kebangsaan parti awal tahun ini.

Antara lainnya, wakil-wakil kebangsaan DAP telah menegaskan “komitmen untuk mempertahankan sistem Demokrasi Berparlimen dan Raja Berperlembagaan dengan Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong sebagai ketua negara.

DAP komited untuk menjunjung Perlembagaan Persekutuan Malaysia sebagai undang-undang yang paling agung negara dan meluhurkannya dalam semangat merdeka 1957 dan Perjanjian Malaysia 1963.”

Oleh itu, dakwaan bahawa DAP merupakan sebuah parti haram yang menolak Perlembagaan Persekutuan itu jelas merupakan fitnah dan tohmah semata-mata.

Laporan Utusan Malaysia tersebut juga membawa implikasi bahawa DAP adalah parti kafir harbi, hatta menjadi musuh yang ingin memerangi Islam.

Tidak musuhi mana-mana agama

Ini merupakan satu tuduhan yang sangat berbahaya dan jelas dilakukan dengan niat untuk mengapi-apikan sentimen perkauman dan agama.

Apakah asas untuk tuduhan sedemikian memandangkan DAP tidak pernah memusuhi mana-mana agama?

Malah, DAP jelas mendukung agama Islam sebagai agama Persekutuan dan pada masa yang sama ingin memelihara kebebasan rakyat untuk mengamalkan agama-agama lain, seperti yang termaktub dalam Artikel 3 dan 11 Perlembagaan.

Justeru, tuduhan sedemikian tidak mempunyai asas langsung serta berunsur hasutan.

Untuk mengelak daripada sebarang kekeliruan dan ancaman yang mungkin timbul akibat tuduhan-tuduhan palsu yang tidak bertanggungjawab oleh Utusan Malaysia, saya telah membuat laporan polis di Ibu Pejabat Daerah, Jalan Patani, Pulau Pinang pagi tadi.

Walaupun kecewa dengan tindakan lidah rasmi Umno, khususnya dalam bulan Ramahan yang mulia ini, saya pasti bahawa rakyat Malaysia tidak senang termakan dengan umpan hasutan yang cuba dimainkan oleh Utusan Malaysia.

Lagipun, suratkhabar milik Umno ini sudah pun beberapa kali dibuktikan memfitnah oleh mahkamah.

——————————————————————————–

ZAIRIL KHIR JOHARI setiausaha politik kepada setiausaha agung DAP.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 13 August 2012, 6:55 am and is filed under
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‘Kafir harbi’ umpama lampu hijau untuk membunuh

Maszlee Malik

Malaysiakini

Ogos 12 2012

Saya ingin merujuk kepada kenyataan Abdullah Samaah yang dikeluarkan oleh Utusan Malaysia berkaitan haram menyokong DAP kerana mereka merupakan kafir harbi.

Istilah kafir harbi merupakan istilah fiqh yang membawa konotasi suasana zaman perang di antara wilayah Islam di zaman dahulu dengan negara musuh.

Kafir harbi adalah merujuk kepada negara musuh yang berperang dengan Muslim di mana darah mereka adalah halal ditumpahkan kerana ianya di dalam suasana perang, di mana kafir harbi itu sendiri berusaha membunuh umat Islam.

Kafir harbi adalah wajib diperangi di peringkat negara di atas dasar peperangan.

Di zaman ini, warga atau rakyat bukan Islam yang tinggal bersama umat Islam tidak dikira sebagai kafir harbi. Malah pengklafikasian harbi atau dhimmi yang digunakan oleh ulama klasik telah diperbaiki oleh ulama moden, memandangkan negara-negara moden mempunyai konsep kewargenegaraan yang memberikan hak dan tanggungjawab yang saksama di antara Muslim dan bukan Islam.

Pengkelasan Abdullah Sama’ah bahawa DAP adalah kafir Harbi adalah tidak tepat sama sekali, malah membahayakan. Beliau seolah-olah memberikan lampu hijau untuk umat Islam memerangi parti DAP dan membunuh ahli-ahli dan kepimpinannya.

Bahkan di dalam DAP terdapat juga di kalangan pemimpin dan juga ahli mereka yang Muslim. ‘Fatwa’ Abdullah yang direstui oleh Utusan itu juga memberikan konotasi bahawa umat Islam di Malaysia sekarang hidup dalam suasana peperangan dan permusuhan dengan rakyat bukan Islam.

‘Fatwa’ liar dan membahayakan seperti ini perlu dibendung. Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan perlu berani menegur beliau dan juga Utusan kerana mencetuskan provokasi yang berkemungkinan akan membuka jalan bagi para ekstrimis bangsa dan golongan subversif untuk menumpahkan darah ahli-ahli DAP.

Saya menggesa agar pihak keselamatan segera menahan Abdullah dan membuat siasatan terhadap kenyataannya yang berbau ekstrimisme dan boleh menyemarakkan api perkauman sekaligus menggerakkan para penggganas di atas nama Islam untuk bangkit melancarkan jihad membunuh ahli-ahli DAP.

Sudah tentu kita tidak mahukan pertumpahan darah berlaku di antara kaum di Malaysia. Tindakan perlu diambil ke atas Abdullah.

Pihak media, terutamanya Utusan Malaysia sepatutnya lebih peka dengan laporan mereka. Mereka hendaklah tidak menjadi agen kekacauan dan ketegangan kaum, sebaliknya sepatutnya menjadi agen keharmonian dan perpaduan kaum.

Mengeluarkan tajuk berita utama di muka hadapan seperti yang telah berlaku hanya akan membuka ruang kepada pelampau perkauman untuk menghalalkan darah ahli-ahli DAP di atas nama jihad. Ini perlu dielakkan demi menjaga kesejahteraan negara Malaysia yang kita cintai bersama.

——————————————————————————–

Dr Maszlee Malik merupakan seorang pensyarah di UIAM.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 13 August 2012, 1:59 am and is filed under
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Konsep kafir harbi-zimmi, satu penjelasan

Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty

Ketua Penerangan, PKR

11 Ogos 2012

Sesungguhnya, di bulan Ramadan yang penuh dengan kerahmatan Ilahi ini, kita dikejutkan dengan pandangan seorang Tok Guru yang mendakwa bahawa umat Islam di Malaysia haram menyokong DAP kerana DAP menentang hudud and tidak mahu mendaulatkan Islam. Tuan Guru Haji Abdullah Sa’mah, seorang guru pondok dari Geting, Tumpat, Kelantan, berhujah bahawa umat Islam di negara ini tidak boleh menyokong PAS dan PKR justeru kedua-dua parti tersebut bersekongkol dengan DAP.

KEADILAN berpendirian bahawa konsep kafir harbi (boleh diperangi dan dibunuh) serta kafir zimmi (patuh kepada pemerintahan Islam) perlu diperjelaskan kepada umum secara lebih tepat. Ini bagi memastikan supaya konsep ini difahami  mengikut perkembangan semasa bersesuaian dengan perkembangan dunia pemikiran Islam yang bersifat global. Sebenarnya, begitu ramai figur ulama dan cendekiawam Islam yang telah memberikan pandangan mereka yang lebih bersifat kontemporari berasaskan pemahaman yang nyata mengenai perbezaan di antara syari’ah dan fiqh serta menganalisis fiqh berasaskan realiti semasa (fiqh al-waqi’),

Sheikh Rashid Ghanoushi  (Ketua Parti al-Nahdah, Tunisia), yang kini menjadi penasihat kepada Kerajaan baru Tunisia, dalam beberapa tulisan ilmiahnya menyatakan bahawa idea kafir harbi dan kafir zimmi serta kewujudan Negara yang boleh diperangi (dar al-harb) memang relevan pada zaman keagungan empayar Islam di masa yang silam.  Namun, pada hari ini, ketika umat Islam tergabung dalam sebuah entiti dunia yang terbahagi di antara warga Muslim dan bukan Muslim yang berimbangan serta semakin bersifat global, maka kedudukan kafir harbi dan kafir zimmi sudah tidak praktikal lagi. Justeru, beliau menganjurkan konsep al-muwatinun (kewarganegaraan) diguna pakai sebagai alternatif yang praktis.

Fahmi Huwaidi, seorang pemikir Islam dari Mesir, secara khusus, menyetujui pandangan Sheikh al-Ghanoushi. Beliau telahpun menghasilkan sebuah karya yang berjudul “Muwatinun La Zimmiyyun” (Kewarganegaraan Bukan Zimmi). Karya beliau yang bersifat ijtihadi dalam konteks pemikiran politik Islam semasa ini, amat bermanfaat untuk di telaah secara kritis guna meleraikan polemik yang sedang digembar-gemburkan ini.

Shaikh Taha Jabir al-‘Ilwani (Iraq), Munir Shafiq (Jordan), Shaikh Faisal Mawlawi (Lubnan), Shaikh Jaafar Idris (Sudan) turut membahaskan tajuk ini dengan memberikan pandangan yang serupa.  Umumnya, mereka bersetuju bahawa konsep-konsep berkaitan – kafir zimmi, kafir harbi dan kafir musta’min – memang dicipta oleh para ‘ulama fiqh silam dalam membahaskan isu-isu fiqh siasah syariah. Walaubagaimanapun, bagi mereka ia wajar dikaji semula kesesuaiannya dalam konteks sistem politik dunia pada masa ini yang sentiasa dinamik dan berkembang.

Lebih menarik lagi, disarankan agar semua pihak mengkaji perkembangan terkini yang sedang berlaku di bawah kerajaan baru Mesir yang dipimpin oleh Dr Muhammad Mursi (seorang tokoh Ikhwan al-Muslimun). Beliau dan rakan-rakannya sedang berusaha untuk merealisasikan konsep kewarganegaraan Mesir yang sama rata (al-muwatinun al-misriyyun al-musawuun). Di bawah kerangka ini,  konsep kafir harbi dan kafir zimmi dalam mengklasifikasikan rakyat telah tidak menjadi relevan lagi.  Hasilnya,  semua warganegara Mesir (Muslim, Kristian Koptik dan penganut agama minoriti lain), berhak mendapat perlindungan yang sama rata di bawah Perlembagaan Mesir.

Adalah jelas, cara UMNO menggarap persoalan ini dengan menggunakan pandangan Tuan Guru Haji Abdullah Sa’mah di atas adalah ketinggalan zaman dan tidak menepati perkembangan politik dunia Islam semasa. Kita berpandangan bahawa melalui laporan Utusan Malaysia tersebut, UMNO kini telah memulakan kempen pelampau agama demi mengekalkan kedudukan mereka.  Sesungguhnya, sekiranya pendekatan ini diteruskan Negara yang dicintai ini akan berada di ambang krisis yang besar.

Adalah amat mengaibkan, selepas diamanahkan mengurus Negara selama 54 tahun, demi mengekalkan kuasa, UMNO terpaksa menggunakan pendekatan lapok ini, dengan menjadikan orang Melayu berada dalam keliru dan bingung.  Sikap ini juga akan menjadikan masyarakat bukan Islam menjadi tersepit dan cemas. Akibatnya, perhubungan diantara rakyat Malaysia yang pelbagai kaum dan agama ini akan menjadi tegang. Apakah agenda tersembunyi UMNO dengan sengaja menimbulkan polemik ini?

KEADILAN berpandangan bahawa dengan sikap yang diperagakan ini, nyatalah UMNO telah begitu terdesak dan bengkrap dalam menarik sokongan rakyat Malaysia seluruhnya, sehingga terpaksa memperalatkan pandangan seperti ini sebagai alat propaganda politik murahan. Jelas dan nyata, UMNO tidak layak lagi diamanahkan mengurus Negara selepas PRU ke 13 nanti,  kerana telah kehilangan arah,  hilang kawalan diri dan tandus formula mengemudi rakyat kearah kegemilangan masa depan. Wallahu’alam. .

                This entry was posted on Monday, 13 August 2012, 8:49 am and is filed under
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Piss off, Tanda Putera filmmakers!

By
P Ramakrishnan
 | 12 August 2012

Aliran

It is a wonder how the makers of the film, Tanda Putera, raked up an incident in our history that had never been documented or talked about. In fact, such an incident never even took place!

Yet, the producer-director, Shuhaimi Baba, claims that the events depicted in the movie are based on established truth. “My team and I did a lot of research, such as studying documented materials and photographs, to make sure the scenes were backed by historical facts,” she asserted on 4 August 2012.

But where was it documented and by whom that Lim Kit Siang had urinated on the flagpole (in the compound of) the Selangor Menteri Besar’s residence while at the same time shouting a racial slur? Which photographer captured this alleged despicable act being committed?

We need to ask some simple questions:

Can anyone just wander into the Menteri Besar’s residence, pee on the flagpole and quietly walk away?

Isn’t the Meneri Besar’s residence gated and guarded?

If this incident had actually taken place, why hadn’t anyone mentioned it over the last 43 years? Was it classified under the OSA?

If Kit Siang had committed this unmentionable act, wouldn’t they have finished him off politically long ago? He wouldn’t have survived this alleged sordid episode! No sane person would have supported him!

How could this incident have taken place when Kit Siang had irrevocably established the fact that he was not in Kuala Lumpur on 11–13 May 1969?

Was Kit Siang a delinquent or educationally subnormal or mentally deranged to have committed this shameful act?

Knowing Kit Siang, would anyone believe that he would be that foolhardy to commit this insane act?

The answers to these questions are simple and straightforward. This incident could not have taken place at all! Shuhaimi Baba should not attempt to apply artistic licence to an episode that is as serious and dangerous as the nation’s bloody 13 May 1969 riots!

Kit Siang is known to have walked the straight path of decency by observing the norms of good conduct. Without such an unblemished record it would not have been possible for him to have remained as the longest-serving Opposition Leader in our parliamentary democracy.

But why is this incident – without doubt a figment of the imagination – projected as something that has taken place to denigrate and degrade him?

Is it because – as many tend to think – the DAP has evolved into a formidable force posing the fiercest challenge to the BN by threatening to wipe out the MCA? Is it because of this fear that the makers of this film have chosen to be part of this political ploy to save Umno?

It is despicable that lies are being invented and history is being distorted to serve selfish interests to preserve power and position.

This disgraceful conduct also poses a challenge to the electorate: Are we going to condone lies and deceit or will we have the moral courage to punish the BN – or more specifically Umno – for this unforgivable lie and rotten conduct at the 13th General Election?

________

P Ramakrishnan, the immediate past president of Aliran, now serves on the Aliran executive committee

                This entry was posted on Monday, 13 August 2012, 3:20 pm and is filed under
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RCI must give priority to purging phantom voters

By
Kim Quek
 | August 13, 2012

The Malaysian Insider

AUG 13 — Sabahans should reject the terms of reference of the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Illegal Immigrants proposed by Prime Minister Najib Razak because they fail to address the issue of purging the state’s electoral roll of phantom voters.

The entire eight-item terms of reference are marked by hypocrisy and evasion of the real issues.

Item after item is centred on “whether” there are illegal identity cards or citizenship granted, and “whether” there are illegally registered voters in the electoral roll, when the whole world knows that the Sabah electoral roll is heavily infested with illegal immigrants who have been illegally registered as voters.

There is already abundance of incontrovertible evidence produced in court as well as in books recording details of clandestine campaigns to massively infuse these phantoms into the electoral roll so as to enable Umno to grab political power in Sabah; so why still keep up the pretence that such a phenomenon is an hypothesis that requires exhaustive investigations to establish its veracity?

Other items concentrate on the “standard operating procedure” of issuing ICs and citizenship to immigrants and its possible improvement, as well as the “social implication” arising from such issuance of ICs and citizenship.

Investigation of these issues will of course throw further light on a calamity that has plagued Sabahans for decades, but will it really relieve the heartache that has long been tormenting the suffering Sabahans?

CORE ISSUES LEFT OUT

Truth be told, Najib’s proposed realm of investigations is way off the mark. It misses the bull’s eye by a wide margin.

For instance, what about Sabahans’ democratic right to elect the government of their choice, which has been robbed from them by the massive presence of these phantom voters? Not a single word on cleansing the electoral roll in the proposed terms of reference.

And what about Sabahans’ social, economic and security plight arising from being apparently outnumbered by these immigrants? Also, not a word on measures to alleviate these predicaments which have reached crisis proportion.

Under the circumstances, one cannot help but wonder: is this RCI an ad-hoc election tactic to diffuse the mounting fury of Sabahans ahead of election or is it an act of contrition that signals a genuine change of heart by Umno to start treating Sabahans with decency and justice?

The answer is obvious, judging from Umno’s shameful history of callous disregard for the welfare of Sabahans, to the extent of virtually selling off their home land to foreigners, who have not only stripped Sabahans of their democratic rights through adulterating the electoral roll, but have also jeopardised Sabahans’ social and economic well being as well as threatening their very survival through sheer numerical superiority of the immigrants.

Knocking on the doors of Sabahans with this half-baked RCI package at this eleventh hour of an election is taken as election trickery. The general feeling is that “it is too little, too late”.

The only saving grace that I can think of for Najib to salvage Umno’s tattered image is for him to incorporate into terms of reference for the RCI measures to rectify the electoral roll as well as an agenda to alleviate current hardships which should include an orderly repatriation programme and measures to stop further influx of such immigrants.

SOVEREIGNTY NOT NEGOTIABLE

In view of the imminence of election, cleansing of electoral roll must be pushed through with the utmost urgency, for which an independent audit team of recognised integrity must be formed immediately to dig into the files in the NRD (National Registration Department) and the Election Commission to identify phantom citizens and phantom voters respectively, and have them purged. This auditing team will make regular progress reports to the RCI through public hearings.

On top of that, and as proof of Umno’s sincerity, Najib must give his solemn pledge that he will not call the next election until a properly cleansed electoral roll is completed for use in the polls.

Sovereignty of a free and independent people is a non-negotiable issue.

Umno must return sovereignty to the people of Sabah — before the election, not after; or face their wrath, which in all likelihood will result in Pakatan Rakyat taking over the rein of government by the next election.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 13 August 2012, 4:00 pm and is filed under
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SUPREME STUPIDITY!

By Martin Jalleh

Umno supreme council member Nazri Abdul Aziz declares that Anwar Ibrahim’s efforts to entice Sabah BN leaders will not affect BN (Mkini, 12 Aug 2012).

He then adds: “If Anwar want to take those who will not be fielded by (BN), go ahead. Anwar is also a frog because he left Abim (a Muslim youth movement) for Umno and then to PKR.

“It is no surprise that he takes in his own kind. The frog will accept another frog.

“Anwar’s political journey has made him ‘Bapa segala katak (King of frogs)’

Fact No. 1: Abim is not a political party. Therefore there was no hopping involved. Furthermore Anwar was invited by Dr Mahathir to join Umno!

Fact No. 2: Anwar did not leave Umno, he was sacked by Dr M and the Umno Supreme Council.

Fact No. 3: He did not jump into PKR, he formed it!

Fact No. 4: Nazri’s political journey has made him an idiot!

                This entry was posted on Monday, 13 August 2012, 10:44 am and is filed under
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We are the descendants and the inheritors, Nazri!

By
P Ramakrishnan
 |  11 August 2012

Aliran

It is a ridiculous to claim that only Umno. MCA and MIC have the right to decide the Merdeka Day theme because the founding members of these parties fought for and won Independence for the country.

This was stated by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz. It is well known that his forte is in making statements that have very little merit!

Every Malay, every Chinese and every Indian was not a member of these communal parties then. Is he trying to assert that without the support of the vast majority of these communities who were not members of these parties, Umno, MCA and MIC successfully negotiated with the British for our Independence?

Common sense will dictate that there was no need for them to be members of any political party to support a just cause. Just because they were not members of any political party at that time that did not invalidate their support and influence in the quest for our freedom. Without the tacit support of the majority of people who were not members of these political parties, we could not have attained our freedom.

These people may not have been members of political parties, but many of them were not just ordinary people. They too were involved in societies and welfare organizations and wanted Independence for our country. There were civil society groups and the All-Malaya Council of Joint Action (AMCJA), the Kesatuan Melayu Muda (KMM) and the Persatuan Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya or PKMM – all involved in the fight for Independence. It was the sum total support of everyone that secured our freedom from colonial rule.

Today we may not be members of Umno, MCA or MIC but all of us are the legitimate descendants of that generation who played a significant role in the struggle for Independence. What was achieved then is also our heritage. This heritage is not the sole monopoly of Umno, MCA or MIC. All of us are inheritors of that heritage. Let this be not forgotten!

As citizens of Malaysia, we also have a right to be consulted and have the right to propose a theme for the Merdeka celebrations. To deny this responsibility – as the BN government is trying to do – is to display sheer arrogance of power and nothing else!

Thousands of Malaysians have rejected the theme and logo chosen by the BN government on the grounds that it smacks of Barisan Nasional’s political propaganda and it is absolutely unbecoming on this occasion. The Merdeka celebration must be above politics and must remain as a celebration that brings all the citizens together to rejoice in the memory of 31 August 1957.

But the BN government is being obstinate in wanting to go ahead with its decision for petty political reasons.

This is totally unnecessary. The BN’s stubbornness is alienating a sizeable number of Malaysians from jointly celebrating this auspicious occasion in the true spirit of Merdeka. That is a pity!

________

P Ramakrishnan, the immediate past president of Aliran, continues to serve on the Aliran executive committee

                This entry was posted on Monday, 13 August 2012, 10:39 am and is filed under
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Why is Shafie Apdal telling  bare-faced lie that UMNO does not use religion for politics when it is so easily debunked by UMNO/ Utusan’s
“Sokong DAP Haram”
 campaign in past 6 days?

I am astounded by the growing  frequency and the increasing number of instances of Umno/Barisan Nasional leaders abandoning principles, scruples and elementary ethics just to score political points with the approach of the 13th general elections.

The closer the approach of the next general elections, and the more uncertain and even more desperate UMNO/BN leaders feel about their electoral prospects in the next  general elections, UMNO/BN leaders have shown their preparedness to be even more unscrupulous, unprincipled and unethical than in the past in their attempt to remain in power.

Yesterday for instance Umno vice president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal was caught red-handed telling a  bare-faced lie when he said in Kota Belud that UMNO does not use religion for its political interests.

How could Shafie make such a preposterous claim when it could be so easily debunked by UMNO and Utusan Malaysia’s irresponsible, seditious and anti-national
“Haram Sokong DAP”
 campaign in the past six days?

Is Shafie denying that the Umno/Utusan
“Haram Sokong DAP”
 campaign is the most recent and blatant example of UMNO misusing religion for its political interests, completely heedless and reckless of the its pernicious consequences of fanning racial and religious illwill and undermining national unity in plural Malaysia?

Or is Shafie claiming ignorance about the irresponsible, seditious and anti-national
“Haram Sokong DAP”
 campaign carried out by Utusan Malaysia in the past six days?

I am still intrigued as to how the UMNO/Utusan strategists and propagandists could conceive the
“Haram Sokong DAP”
 campaign for two reasons:

Firstly, why
“Haram Sokong DAP”
 does not arise in the past 45 years of the DAP’s political history, but suddenly it is now
“Haram Sokong DAP”
 when down the decades,  the DAP has been consistent in its  stand that Malaysia is a secular state with Islam as the official religion? Is this an admission that UMNO is losing out in the open battle of ideas and has to resort to the politics of lies and fear to secure voter support?

Secondly, is the ground being prepared for UMNO extremists to attack or repudiate the legacy of the first three Prime Ministers, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak and Tun Hussein as the DAP’s stand that Malaysia is a secular state with Islam as the official religion is the same as those of the first three Prime Ministers?

On becoming Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has preached the concept of Wasatiyah or the moderate approach to Islam, even setting up the Institut Wasatiyah.

Najib should explain whether the Utusan’s
“Haram Sokong DAP”
 is in line with his Wasatiyah concept or otherwise, and if the latter, what is he doing to stop the Utusan’s irresponsible, seditious and anti-national campaign.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 13 August 2012, 2:47 pm and is filed under
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‘Childish, extreme’ to stop Muslim backing for DAP

Malaysiakini
 | 3:15PM Aug 14, 2012

Perlis mufti Juanda Jaya has described Islamic teacher Abdullah Sa’amah’s claim that it is haram for Muslims to support DAP as “strange”, “extreme”, “childish” and “outdated”.

In an email interview, Juanda said such views should not be taken seriously because they are not reflective of Islamic teachings, and are not in line with the federal constitution and democracy.

“Thus, those who highlight and give room to such extreme and anti-democratic views, and who are inclined towards causing arguments in a peaceful country like Malaysia, have an attitude that is very disappointing,” he said.

Juanda was replying questions on whether Abdullah’s comments have any basis and if these could have any impact on society.

He said Malaysia is a plural society and Muslims should vote for those who fulfil the needs of Islam and who can bring stability to the country.

“Malaysians, especially Muslims, must understand that nation building is our joint responsibility. It is not just the work of politicians,” he said.

Abdullah, a religious teacher in Tumpat, Kelantan, rose to national prominence after Utusan Malaysia ran back-to-back front page reports last week on his call for Muslims to reject DAP.

‘Not smart move’

Juanda said he considers Abdullah’s attempt to classify DAP as “kafir harbi” (enemy of Islam) as a declaration of war against non-Muslims, a move which he described as “tidak cerdik” (not smart).

“Muslims should rightfully see themselves as umat dakwah (proselytisers) who are actively trying to spread Islam to non-Muslims, so they understand Islam better based on the Quran and the Hadith,” he said.

“Islam is not rough nor does it seek arguments with non-Muslims… The image of Islam can be tainted by extremists.”

Abdullah was little known until his comments were given prominence, and led to a chorus of similar calls from other teachers.

Strangely, Abdullah had said that, while it is wrong to support DAP, it not harmful for Muslims to support MCA and MIC, because these parties support a “Muslim government” and have cooperated well with Umno.

“DAP’s struggle is not acceptable under the federal constitution. They want equal treatment for Muslims and non-Muslims, for temples and mosques to be treated the same,” Abdullah reportedly said.

“It’s compulsory for Muslims in PAS, Umno and PKR to reject DAP, which is looking for a way to control the country through the ballot box.”

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 15 August 2012, 8:52 am and is filed under
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Does it takes a blackout, sir?

 — Jaleel Hameed

The Malaysian Insider

Aug 14, 2012

AUG 14 —  Thank you, Mr Prime Minister, for realising the effects of the Internet Blackout Day today.

But, sir, how did this come about? Why does it take an uproar for your ministers and government to snap into action.

Well, not the government. Only you, sir, and a few other lawmakers, figured it out but that too way after Section 114A of the Evidence Act was passed.

Is this People First, Performance Now?

Because tonight, sir, you reaffirmed that people come first.

“I have asked Cabinet to discuss section 114A of the Evidence Act 1950. Whatever we do we must put people first,” you said on Twitter.

See, sir, you have to watch what’s going on now within your government and supporters, including the sycophantic cybertroopers who support anything done by your colleagues without thinking about it.

Fact is, your ministers are also not thinking deeply when they propose such laws and amendments like S114A.

Your administration must be careful, sir, and engage the people and experts before drafting silly laws that presume guilt rather than innocence. It makes the enforcement’s job easier but it is an injustice.

Don’t you think sir?

See what happened now. Your tweet that the Cabinet will discuss this law smacks of a flip-flop, a U-turn. You don’t need this, sir, because there has been a number of reversals since you took office.

So do us and yourself a favour, sir. Don’t let it slide into a blackout protest for you to finally take action. Make sure your administration engages the public and come up with laws that nurture and make Malaysia better, not laws that curb our freedom.

You want our support, sir. Not our anger to bubble and push you out of office. Get your colleagues in line to make sure people come first and performance is now, not after a furore like today.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 15 August 2012, 12:31 am and is filed under
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Historic triumph 4Msian online democracy

Tweets
@limkitsiang

12:01am

Historic triumph 4Msian online democracy – 24hr Internet Blackout Day initiated by CIJ 2demand repeal of repressive S114A Evidence Act 1950

12:02am

“I have asked cabinet 2discuss S114A” – Najib acknowledges power of solidarity of online Msian community w sea of black on Msian cyberspace

12:02am

Law needed 2deal with slanderous offensive incendiary postings lies falsehoods 2incite hatred illwill agnst individual group race religion

12:03am

But NO 2any law which acts as internet censorship 2violate responsible legitimate freedom of expression online n persecute innocent ppl

12:03am

Outcome of historic “Internet Blackout Day” – Online community should be fully involved/consulted in framing any internet legislation

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 15 August 2012, 12:10 am and is filed under
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Mat Zain’s letter to IGP on “Statutory Declaration Bala Menggugat Kewibawaan PM Najib”

Mat Zain bin Ibrahim | 15 Ogos 2012

Kepada;

YDH Tan Sri Hj.Ismail Hj.Omar,IG,

Ketua Polis Negara,

Polis Di-Raja Malaysia,

Bukit Aman.

YDH Tan Sri,

STATUTORY DECLARATION BALA MENGGUGAT KEWIBAWAAN PM NAJIB.

Saya amat mengalukan dan teruja dengan kenyataan YB Dato Seri Mohamad Nazri Aziz(YB Nazri) Menteri di-JPM, memperakukan komitmen Kerajaan menyiasat  pendedahan RPK berkenaan pembikinan dan kandungan affidavit P.I.Bala, sepertimana yang dilaporkan dalam media pada 12 Ogos.

Sekiranya pendedahan RPK sedemikian itu diberi perhatian serious oleh Kerajaan, maka saya percaya pendedahan yang saya telah buat berkaitan pemalsuan dan penipuan, yang dilakukan oleh Gani Patail dan Musa Hassan juga tidak diketepikan.

Lebih-lebih lagi saya adalah Pegawai Penyiasat kes yang terlibat dan telah memberi perakuan terbuka, bersedia memberi keterangan “no holds barred” dalam Tribunal jika diadakan.Saya sarankan Tan Sri merujuk kepada Surat Terbuka saya bertarikh
27.6.2011
 yang saya percaya sangat jelas.

Sebelum membincangkan berkaitan SD Bala,sukacita saya mengingatkan sekali lagi berkaitan janji YB Nazri di-Parlimen pada 30.3.2011, akan memaklumkan hasil siasatan beliau berkaitan status harta berjumlah RM 40 juta, yang dikatakan diperolehi  oleh Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik secara rasuah dan salahguna kuasa.

Jika mengesahkan fakta semudah yang jelas seperti diatas ini, masih belum dibuat oleh Kerajaan setelah 17 bulan memberi perakuan, maka berapa lamakah rakyat boleh mengetahui keputusan penyiasatan lanjut pemalsuan berkaitan SD Bala pula, yang belum dimulakan itu.

Harapan rakyat.

Saya percaya orang ramai yang mengikuti perkembanagn perkara ini, mengharapkan sebarang penyiasatan berkaitan SD Bala itu akan meliputi juga persoalan mengapa Gani Patail enggan mengenakan pertuduhan terhadap Bala, sedangkan beliau sendiri mengaku SD kedua beliau itu adalah palsu. Malahan, Bala berani mencabar Peguam Negara mengenakan pertuduhan keatasnya.Perkara ini juga ditimbulkan dalam Parlimen dalam bulan Jun 2011.

Anehnya terdapat beberapa kes dimana keterangannya cukup lemah tetapi orang yang disyakki masih dituduh. Terdapat juga kes dimana keterangan dipalsukan semata-mata untuk menuduh seseorang mengikut sesuka hati Peguam Negara.

Penjelasan Gani Patail bahawa SD Bala itu akan hanya menjadi kesalahan jika tujuan pembikinannya adalah untuk digunakan dalam sesuatu prosiding kehakiman, bukan sahaja mengelirukan, malahan boleh dianggap sebagai keyataan palsu untuk memperdayakan rakyat.

Seksyen 193 Kanun Keseksaan sangat jelas menerangkan bahawa membuat SD palsu adalah suatu kesalahan jenayah, tidak kira sama ada pembikinannya adalah untuk tujuan digunakan di-Mahkamah atau untuk lain-lain tujuan. Yang beza hanya dari segi hukuman. Jika untuk digunakan di-Mahkamah, dendanya ialah penjara 7 tahun, manakala bagi kegunaan lain-lain hal pesalahnya boleh dihukum sehingga 3 tahun. Perbuatan itu tetap suatu kesalahan jenayah.

Tawar menawar untuk membuat SD ketiga?

RPK turut mendedahkan peristiwa tawar-menawar untuk mendapatkan Bala membuat satu lagi SD. Jika dilakukan menjadikan tiga kesemuanya SD yang akan diikrarkan oleh Bala. Selain itu beberapa nama personaliti tertentu dikaitkan dalam perbuatan tawar menawar ini.

Saya menyatakan bahawa barang siapa dengan secara curang, mendorong atau menggalakkan mana-mana orang mereka keterangan palsu adalah kesalahan jenayah serius dan sepatutnya pihak berkuasa mengambil tindakan yang sewajarnya dengan segera, tanpa mengira siapa yang terlibat.

Gani Patail juga memaksa seorang Doktor mereka tiga keterangan palsu.

Saya telah mendedahkan beberapa kali bahawa dalam penyiasatan insiden mata-lebam,Gani Patail telah mendorong malah “memulas tangan” dan memaksa seorang Perunding Pathologist, Dr.Abdul Rahman Yusof menyediakan tiga(3) laporan perubatan palsu berkaitan kecederaan Anwar Ibrahim.

Ketiga-tiga laporan yang dipalsukan itu bukan sahaja berada dalam tangan pihak berkuasa, malah dalam tangan YAB Perdana Menteri sendiri sejak bulan Februari 2009.

Sangat mendukacitakan, jika setelah segala bukti pemalsuan dan penipuan itu didedahkan kepada Perdana Menteri sendiri, sejak tiga tahun setengah yang lalu, beliau masih belum dapat membuat sesuatu keputusan. Kini Kerajaan cuba pula mengalihkan pandangan rakyat kepada isu lain yang tidak tentu kesudahannya.

Kesan SD Bala terhadap kewibawaan PM Najib.

Berdasarkan penegasan Bala dalam SD beliau yang pertama diikrarkan pada 3.7.2008, kita boleh menyimpulkan bahawa, bukan sahaja PM Najib pernah berjumpa dan kenal dengan Altantuya Shariibuu, malah mempunyai hubungan yang intim dengan mendiang wanita Mongolia itu.

Selagi SD Bala tersebut itu tidak dicabar kesahihannya di-Mahkamah, maka selagi itu kenyataan Bala sedemikian boleh diambil sebagai benar. Malah Mahkamah Persekutuan sendiri telah memutuskan dalam satu kes tahun 1996 bahawa jika penegasan mustahak dalam sesuatu affidavit tidak dicabar, maka penegasan tersebut hendaklah dianggap sebagai telah diakui benar.

Penafian menerusi akhbar atau sekalipun PM Najib telah mengangkat sumpah dalam Masjid, tidak menggugat kesahihan SD pertama Bala itu. Jauh sekali jika penegasan Bala dinafikan oleh pihak ketiga.

Kini terserah kepada PM Najib,sama ada untuk mencabar kesahihan penegasan Bala di-Mahkamah ataupun membiarkan sahaja begitu dan mengaku segala penegasan Bala dalam SD pertama itu yang termasuk mengenai hubungan PM Najib dan Altantuya Shariibuu adalah benar.

Abdul Razak Baginda terlepas dari tali gantung semata-mata kerana affidavit beliau enggan dicabar oleh Pendakwa Raya.

Tindakan terhadap Bala kerana membuat SD palsu.

Apa pun keadaanya,Polis wajib mengambil tindakan terhadap Bala kerana membuat SD kedua yang palsu. Bala sendiri yang telah membuat pengakuan terbuka SD kedua beliau itu adalah palsu, manakala SD pertama sebagai benar.

Jelas Gani Patail telah hilang keupayaan untuk menyempurnakan fungsi jawatannya dan sewajarnya disingkirkan. Ketidakupayaan Gani mungkin disebabkan beliau sedar yang beliau sendiri bergelumang dengan perbuatan memalsukan dan mereka keterangan palsu.

Kesalahan membuat SD dan affidavit palsu adalah kesalahan dibawah Kanun Keseksaan. Saya berpendapat kes ini lebih sempurna dikendalikan oleh Polis dan bukan SPRM.

Jika SD Bala diuji dengan affidavit Razak Baginda, ada kemungkinannya yang affidavit Razak mengandungi penegasan palsu. Berdasarkan beberapa keterangan baru yang muncul sedikit demi sedikit berkaitan perbicaraan kes rasuah Scorpene di-Paris, telah menampakkan beberapa kenyataan Bala dan Razak Baginda dalam SD dan affidavit masing-masing meragukan, khususnya penegasan mereka berdua berkaitan dengan Altantuya Shariibuu.

Nasib Azilah Hadri dan Sirul Azhar.

Dua warga polis diatas, sedang menunggu hukuman gantung sampai mati. Sekiranya mereka berdua sememangnya bersalah, maka itu adalah hukuman yang setimpal dengan perbuatan mereka mengikut undang-undang.

Sekiranya kedapatan salah mereka adalah disebabkan keengganan Pendakwa Raya mencabar kesahihan affidavit Razak Baginda, ataupun pihak pendakwa menyembunyikan keterangan-keterangan material daripada pengetahuan Mahkamah, atau pun apa-apa ketinggalan yang disengajakan oleh Peguam Negara semasa perbicaraan, untuk melepaskan Razak Baginda, maka Tan Sri akan dipertanggung jawabkan sekiranya berdiam diri.

Kita sama-sama tahu bahawa pemalsuan,merekacipta keterangan palsu dan pendakwaan berpilih dan lain-lain pernah didakwa berlaku dan adalah tidak mustahil ianya berlaku lagi dalam perbicaraan kes bunuh Altantuya.

Janganlah hendaknya pucuk pimpinan PDRM membiarkan pihak mana sekalipun, menjadikan Pegawai atau angguta Polis sebagai haiwan sembelihan.

Salam sejahtera. Selamat Hari Raya Eidul Fitri, maaf zahir batin.

Yang benar,

Mat Zain bin Ibrahim.

15.08.2012.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 15 August 2012, 11:37 am and is filed under
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Najib to Reassess Malaysian Web Law

By
SHIBANI MAHTANI
 | August 14, 2012, 11:50 a.m. ET

The Wall Street Journal

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak took to microblogging site Twitter on Tuesday to say that he will ask his government to reassess a new law that critics say could restrict online freedoms.

Throughout the day, Malaysians surfing popular blogs and some political websites were greeted by pop-up banners and blacked-out pages prepared as part of a concerted campaign against section 114A, a controversial amendment to the country’s Evidence Act. The law holds owners of Wi-Fi connections or editors of blogs or forums legally accountable for any seditious or defamatory material spread through their accounts or websites.

A series of prominent websites, including those of the Malaysian Bar Council, the opposition Democratic Action Party, and news portals Malaysiakini, Free Malaysia Today and BFM Radio, were either blacked out voluntarily or featured a pop-up message: Stop 114A.

In the early evening, Mr. Najib responded on his personal Twitter account, saying “I have asked Cabinet to discuss section 114A of the Evidence Act 1950. Whatever we do we must put people first.”

Activists say the new law, enacted this year, is vague and could unfairly punish average Internet users. Critics say it makes too many individuals liable for seditious content, including business owners who provide Wi-Fi access. The law also assumes guilt “unless the contrary is proven,” which activists say unfairly burdens ordinary Internet users who may be unable to defend themselves in court.

Tuesday’s campaign, which was scheduled to end at midnight, echoed similar protests in the U.S. against the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA. That proposed law was opposed by online giants including Google Inc., GOOG +1.31% Wikipedia and Mozilla, some of whom blacked out their websites for 24 hours in January.

“With individual postings, you always have to be responsible, that is fair. But for the first time, an intermediary can also be responsible [for defamatory or seditious postings],” said Masjaliza Hamzah, executive director of Malaysia’s Center for Independent Journalism, one of the first petitioners against the amendment. “That is the most glaring of the injustices with regard to this law.”

A spokesman for the Malaysian government said the amendment to the Evidence Act “aims to protect victims of Internet-based attacks such as cyberbullying” and “allows Internet-based crimes to be more easily traced, so that people cannot perpetrate attacks on individuals under the cloak of anonymity.”

“However, in light of some public concern, the Prime Minister has asked the cabinet to discuss the amendment to ensure that the interests of all Malaysians are put first,” the spokesman said.

The law, which was debated in Parliament this year and took effect July 31, has also been opposed by some voices within Mr. Najib’s ruling National Front coalition, including Member of Parliament Khairy Jamaluddin, also chief of main United Malays National Organization party’s youth wing, and Deputy Minister of Higher Education Saifuddin Abdullah. Both have called for the amendment to be repealed or reworked. When the law was being debated, members of parliament from both the opposition and the ruling coalition voted for it to be passed.

Some observers said that besides civil liberties and online freedoms, the amendment to the Evidence Act could also have a significant impact on Malaysia’s small business community, particularly tech start-ups that rely heavily on social media and increased dialog to flourish in a competitive market.”This is bad for the start-up community,” said Colin Charles, a tech entrepreneur involved in open source software. “The old philosophy was that you were just a carrier [of negative comments], but now you have to prove otherwise. Every news portal has comments, and every start-up website wants to engage with users—it is almost impossible to keep track of all the conversation.”

Mr. Charles said the new laws would be particularly harmful to small business owners and entrepreneurs, many of whom would find themselves financially stretched when engaging a legal team.

A Facebook campaign page against the new law has received more than 42,000 ‘likes’ since Monday, with more than 60 websites choosing to black out their pages or include pop-ups Tuesday warning people against the amendment. Activists said their ultimate objective is to get the government to withdraw the amendment, and indicated they will step up campaign efforts in coming weeks.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 15 August 2012, 8:59 am and is filed under
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Siapa kafir harbi?

By
Aspan Alias

15 Ogos |The Malaysian Insider

Setakat ini belum ada apa-apa tindakan pihak kerajaan terhadap pihak yang memfatwakan DAP sebagi parti untuk ‘kafir harbi’. Sikap kerajaan membiarkan perkara ini terus menerus di sebut oleh pihak tertentu yang ‘desperate’ ini, membawa tanggapan yang pihak kerajaan BN hari ini tidak prihatin terhadap sensiviti rakyat berbilang kaum dan agama dalam negara ini.

Tidak ada sesiapa berhak untuk melebelkan pihak yang menyokong dan bermuafakat dengan DAP bagi kebaikan negara menggelarkan mereka sebagai kafir. DAP merupakan sebuah parti politik yang terdaftar secara halal dengan pendaftaran pertubuhan dan parti itu telah menjunjung segala peruntukan yang tertulis di dalam perlembagaan negara. Hanya pihak Umno sahaja yang cuba menafikannya.

Ulamak sesat yang memberikan fatwa itu wajar di ambil tindakan kerana ia merupakan satu tindakan memecah belahkan rakyat berbilang agama dan kaum dan ini merupakan tentangan secara ‘direct’ terhadap agama suci kita. Memecah belahkan masyarakat merupakan tindakan yang tercemar dari pandangan agama suci kita, kerana kita di tuntut untuk saling menghormati diantara semua puak dan bangsa serta agama.

Kita mesti menerima hukum agama kita secara ‘total’ dan bukannya mengambil setengah yang sesuai dengan mereka (Umno) dan membuangkan setengah yang lain yang terkena kepada batang hidung mereka sendiri. Jika kita tidak menerima keseluruhan dari 6666 ayat dalam Quran itu maka kita boleh persoalkan keimanan kita sendiri kerana mempercayai Quran secara ‘total’ itu merupakan salah satu dari rukun iman yang enam itu. Kalau di ambil semua nilai dan hukum agama kita, kita boleh melihat dengan jelas yang Umno sendiri melakukan banyak perkara yang kafir.

Rasuah itu adalah kafir, menyalahgunakan kuasa itu kafir, memfitnah itu kafir dan memecah belahkan rakyat itu adalah kerja kafir. Malahan tindakan ramai orang meninggalkan BN khususnya Umno itu ialah kerana tindakan-tindakan yang kafir yang dilakukan oleh mereka. Banyak kroni di dalam Umno itu sendiri mempunyai sikap dan sifat Qarun di zaman Firaun dahulu. Mereka tidak berhenti-henti mengumpulkan harta yang banyak tanpa had dengan menggunakan wang rakyat dan negara.

Sebaliknya di pihak Pakatan Rakyat mereka lebih ‘sensitive’ terhadap kehendak agama-agama di negara ini dengan melakukan banyak perkara yang dituntut oleh agama-agama khususnya agama Islam. Islam membenci rasuah dan sudah jelas kerajaan DAP P Pinang telah memunafaatkan kuasa yang ada kepada mereka mentadbir negeri itu dengan tahap rasuah yang paling rendah dan hampir kepada tahap sifar. Sesiapa boleh menafikannya tetapi kenyataan tetap kenyataan.

Bagi seseorang yang bertuhan dan beragama, yang penting ialah nilai Islam dan agama itu dilaksanakan dengan sungguh-sungguh. Tidak guna kita menjadi muslim tetapi tindakan kita semuanya menentang agama secara terbuka dan tidak meng’addin’kan agama itu. Kita mesti tuntut agar kerajaan mengambil tindakan terhadap mereka yang mengeluarkan fatwa mengikut nafsu dan nafsi amarah mereka kerana islam yang tulin itu adalah lembut dan sejuk untuk semua orang menerimanya dengan ikhlas dan jujur.

Islam itu sentiasa memberikan kesejukan dan bukannya kepanasan seperti kepanasan api neraka.  Saya merupakan ahli kepada DAP dan saya tidak kurangkan kemelayuan saya atau mengurangkan Islam saya.

Saya tahu yang penting ialah saya sentiasa mengingatkan diri saya dan keluarga saya supaya terus menerus bertawajjuh dan bertawassul kepada Rasul dan Tuhannya sentiasa. Apa gunanya menjadi ahli kepada parti yang dianggotai oleh orang-orang Muslim seperti Umno, sedangkan tindakan pemimpin-pemimpin mereka selalu bertentangan dengan kehendak agama anutan mereka.

Saya tidak berhak untuk memunafikkan sesiapa kerana hanya Tuhan sahaja yang berhak untuk melakukannya, tetapi jika kita tarbiah syariat dengan betul saya hanya berhak setakat mengingatkan sesiapa yang terlibat supaya jangan melakukan perkara-perkara yang munafik. Saya ingin mengingatkan diri saya dan semua pihak yang munafik ini merupakan satu dosa yang tidak terperi besarnya.

Setakat yang kita ingat Umno lah yang menolak hukum hudud. Jika Umno menerima hukum Islam secara total Dr Mahathir tidak sepatutnya menolak hudud dahulu. Kita masih ingat dengan jelas penolakan itu.

Semua parti dalam BN menolak hudud. Seburuk-buruk Pakatan masih ada niat dan usaha untuk melakukannya. Hanya setakat ini Putrajaya itu masih berada dalam tangan BN sehingga pilihanraya yang akan datang.

Itulah sebabnya saya selalu mengulangi kata-kata ‘the worst of Pakatan Rakyat is a lot better than the best of BN’. Banyaklah penyokong Umno marah dengan kenyataan saya ini tetapi saya tidak peduli kerana apa yang saya katakan itu adalah perkara yang benar.

Pakatan DAP, PAS dan PKR wajar diberikan peluang kali ini setidak-tidak buat lima tahun yang akan datang untuk membuktikan kemampuan mereka merobah segala-gala yang tidak baik kepada keadaan yang dituntut oleh agama kita.

Rakyat boleh mengembalikan kepada BN jika PR jelas lebih buruk dari BN. Tetapi PR akan mampu memberikan bukti itu jika Putrajaya berada ditangan mereka (PR). Selepas itu rakyat boleh menilainya kembali kerana setiap lima tahun rakyat mempunyai kuasa untuk mengunahnya.

Barulah kita akan tahu siapa yang kafir harbi itu.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 15 August 2012, 6:16 pm and is filed under
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When was Malaysia’s destiny hijacked?

Stanley Koh | August 14, 2012

FMT

Why does a debate on patriotism, deriving from the Greek word, ‘patriarch’ meaning ‘fatherland’ can easily shake, rattle and roll human reactions?

COMMENT

The uncertainty about this nation’s future is not just leadership styles and differences in governance that may be changed but allegiances and loyalties on both sides of the political divide.

Naturally, August brings about the seasonal topic of “patriotism” like the seasonal Malaysian fruit king, durian, making its odour and thorny presence felt at the right time. Nobody is immune.

But time has also given “patriotism” many meanings to different people even as unscrupulous politicians use the definition in their rhetoric to gain favourable political mileage.

The concept of “loyalty and patriotism” to the nation has always been a touchy issue particularly in the formative years of the nation, before and after independence.

It reared its ugly head occasionally when rank and file Umno leaders at the party’s annual general assemblies belittled and questioned the loyalty and patriotism of non-Bumiputera communities, labelling them as “pendatang” or migrants despite generations being born here.

Why does a debate on patriotism, deriving from the Greek word, “patriarch” meaning “fatherland” can easily shake, rattle and roll human reactions?

Is it just a feeling of being Malaysian in a manner that either you love it or leave it type of sentiment? Does it apply to those Malaysians who are often critical of their government but yet love this country not necessarily in a blind or unquestionable way?

Or does it mean that if you see something wrong with your country or your government but not do anything about it – makes you qualified as a patriot?

A country is as good as its government.

“I am a concerned Malaysian who loves this country very much and I cannot bear to see this country turn into another anguish May 13 incident.

“That is why I am taking this opportunity to contribute a bit of my views on the New Economic Policy,” read the nine-page letter penned in 1989 by Malaysian Tan Lai Soon to Ghazali Shafie who was appointed to head the National Consultation Council under the Mahathir administration.

Ghazali, who passed away on Jan 20, 2010, previously served in the Alliance-Barisan Nasional Cabinet including the Home and Foreign Affairs portfolios from the time of Tunku Abdul Rahman to Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The letter dated March 16, 1989 from Tan who hailed from Johor expressed the writer’s deep disappointment with the socio-economic developments at a time when the Mahathir regime was tackling the polemic challenges of the Bumiputera policy fuelling a deepening racial polarisation and deviations in the NEP’s implementation.

Tan wrote: “I remember during my younger days, there was no such thing as Bumi and non-Bumi and all Malaysians irrespective of their race and religion lived happily and went about freely without the slightest feelings of polarisation.”

“When I was in Standard Three to Five, most of my school friends were Malays and Indians and during the interval [school recess], we went out in groups to coffeeshops or to stalls to have our food.”

Fondly recalling his nostalgic school days, Tan added, “We sat at the same table with different types of food and there were no comments such as halal or non-halal. We did not have strange feelings among ourselves.”

Indeed, vividly in the memories of many older generations which patriotic Malaysians unashamedly acknowledged were happy moments for being true Malaysians during the time of Tunku.

Where did it go wrong?

Did something go wrong? Was there a turning point which changed the course of this nation’s destiny? Did someone or any event hijack the appointment of our nation’s destiny inspired by our Founding Father Tunku’s dreams of a truly united nation?

Is his dream still in sight? Or have our younger generation of leaders forgotten the spirit and momentous moment this nation has ever known – our independence from British colonial rule of divide and rule?

The strong firm voice of our first prime minister reverberated across Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 31, 1957.

Was the following parts of Tunku’s speech deemed prophetic today as we ponder upon his words:

“Whereas, in the course of human history, no nation, in order to salvage itself, will ever remain static for a long time. It will be compelled to decide on one of two directions, to go forward or backwards. This depends on the ability and adaptability of that nation in facing changes and developments.

“When the people are in a state of complete complacency with the present status they tend to fear anything that may produce changes.

“They will suspect any move or anybody who comes out with new ideas or inventions. But since human history is a history of changes and developments of making things better and more perfect, this type of self-satisfied nation will be left further and further behind and eventually disappear and remain only to be revealed by future historians.

“For us we are lucky that our nation is endowed by the grace of God with fortitude, courage and dignity. We were once a nation with great national heritage.

“…and with God’s blessing shall be for ever a sovereign, democratic and independent state founded upon the principles of liberty and justice, and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of the people and the maintenance of a just peace among all nations…”

Should we relate the definition of “patriotism” to those words spoken by our founding father on the day of independence?

Even to astute-thinking Malaysians, these were hard questions as truthful answers could be discomforting and hurting.

Who would be brave enough to point out whether our nation was heading towards a spectacular failure or a raging success?

Are we polarised by divide-and-rule policies? Have we achieved or fully fulfilled the principles and spirit of liberty and justice?

Is this nation governed with the peoples’ interest at heart by a government seeking the welfare and happiness for its people for its own power preservation or just before every general election?

Or was Tunku’s appointment with the nation’s destiny inevitably hijacked and diverted to a different course?

Answers in the next GE?

A defunct news magazine, Asiaweek, narrated on June 16, 2000, an important event which occurred in June 1981, which many considered the major turning point of our nation’s destiny.

“Tears flowed at the United Malays National Organisation general assembly as delegates said farewell to their president and Malaysia’s third prime minister, mild mannered former army captain Hussein Onn.”

A great patriot, Hussein had many advices on leadership. “Power is given to us, not to lord over others, not to improve our standing nor to enrich ourselves.”

After his stepping down, his party was heading contrary to his advice, “Without integrity, a leader will use his position as a commodity to peddle influence and to achieve status, name and riches.”

A onetime dropout from the party his father founded in 1946, Hussein became premier in 1976 upon the death of his brother-in-law, Tun Abdul Razak. But after the surgery at the start of the year, Hussein signalled he would step down.

“The victory hug at the Umno meet went to a 55-year-old physician, whose rise had been both controversial and spectacular. Mahathir Mohamad had been expelled from Umno after the 1969 riots when he lost his seat in the general election and spearheaded an attempt to depose the country’s founding patriarch, Tunku Abdul Rahman.

“Wrote Mahathir at that time – ‘Glorying in its massive strength’ the government has become contemptuous of criticisms and is no longer able to feel the pulse of the people.’”

Was this the turning point of the nation’s destiny which saw Tunku’s vision crumbling as the nation become more polarised and materialistically corrupted?

Samuel Johnson, a British author and major contributor to English Literature published a critique of his view of “false patriotism” titled “The Patriot in 1774”.

Known for his famous statement, “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrels,” Johnson was critical of false patriots.

Malaysians today should ask themselves this question: Can patriotism become a primary measure of a politician’s character and loyalty in today’s landscape? Should Malaysians be loyal to the nation in contrast to a ruling regime?

And should Malaysians continue to be patriotic to the nation or to a government adulterated by a system of patronage and accused of lacking accountability and transparency?

Will these answers be reflected in the outcome of the next general election? Only you, as patriotic Malaysians, as a collective conscience to the nation can truthfully respond to these questions.

Stanley Koh is a former head of MCA’s research unit. He is a FMT columnist.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 15 August 2012, 9:02 am and is filed under
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‘Malaysians know what’s right and wrong’

By
Anisah Shukry
 | August 16, 2012

Free Malaysia Today

 KUALA LUMPUR: It is a rare sight when the fiery spokesperson for free and fair elections – S Ambiga – is rendered speechless. But that was what happened when she was presented with over 10,000 signatures from Malaysians in support of her work.

Ambiga was stumped and the only word which initially kept rolling out was ‘wow’.

But her laughter and happiness was infectious as she perused the large banner which had numerous signatures scrawled on both its sides.

“This is really precious to me! I am totally overwhelmed by the number of signatures,” gushed the Bersih co-chairperson once she recovered from her surprise.

Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran, who presented the banner to Ambiga in her office along with Sungkai state assemblyman A Sivanesan, said it “was worth the effort to garner the support.”

He said that collecting the signatures had not even been his idea; on the contrary an earnest member of the public had approached him with the suggestion.

Relating the incident which spawned the banner, Kulasegaran said: “When I was at the market, someone walked up to me and said, ‘how could something like this happen to Ambiga?’

“The man told me that as an MP, I should go around the country to gather support and signatures, which I did!

“It was really fabulous, the support was fantastic. I had party leaders as well as ordinary folks from all races wanting to be part of this change and wanting an end to this harassment [against Ambiga],” the Perak DAP vice chairman said.

The member of public had been alluding to the lost list of harassment Ambiga had endured from authorities, politicians and even veteran members of the national army.

‘This made my year’

According to Kulasegaran, what was even more touching was when members of the public asked if they could donate money.

“Usually, people run away when they think we are asking for donations. But this time we had people, old and young, asking us, ‘do you need money?,” he said.

When asked whether he had faced any obstacles in collecting the signatures, he replied: “The only obstacle was people coming to me too late with their signatures!”

Ambiga, who was draped in a yellow shawl which symbolised the official colour of the Bersih coalition, said she was speechless over the bravery shown by her supporters, adding this (pointing to the banner) “made my year.”

“I’m speechless! They wrote their names, their IC numbers, their phone numbers… they aren’t afraid at all. It’s amazing!” she marveled as she flipped through endless pages of her supporters’ signatures and contact details.

“But actually I shouldn’t be surprised,” she added thoughtfully.

“Everyone should please stop insulting the intelligence of Malaysians. I really think the government should sit up and pay attention.

“It truly shows that the public knows what is right and wrong, and the fact that they are willing to take the additional step of showing they know from right and wrong, that is very touching.

“The Malaysian public is setting the standard for decency, not the government,” she added.

‘Malaysians unhappy with hate speech’

Ambiga also said she considered the pledges as not being about her, but about the fact that Malaysians were tired of the “encouragement of hate speech”, which she said was becoming a dangerous trend.

In June, an Umno lawmaker had famously called for Ambiga to be hanged for her “treasonous” act of organising the April 28 rally, comparing her to leaders of the Al-Ma’unah militants who tried to overthrow the government in 2000 and were sentenced to death by hanging for “waging war against the King.”

“Shouldn’t we also hang Ambiga for treason towards the Agong? Traitors should be punished as harshly as possible,” Sri Gading MP Mohamad Aziz had told Parliament.

He was later ordered to withdraw his remarks by Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker. He did so but not before launching into an attack against the DAP for being a “racist” party.

Ambiga had also endured an attempted break-in at her office in May, and became the target of several groups comprising army veterans and burger sellers who had staged protests in front of her house to voice their discontent over the Bersih rally.

Meanwhile, the government is suing Ambiga and nine Bersih committee members for RM122,000 over the damages incurred during the April 28 rally. It is also seeking a declaration that Bersih 3.0 had violated the Peaceful Assembly Act.

But Ambiga said today the support she received from Malaysians “more than makes up for it.”

“I have people sending flowers and gifts to my office every weekend. The expression of the hearts and minds of the people is so valuable to me,” she said.

When asked whether she would be hanging the banner in her office, Ambiga laughed and said: “I have so many of these signatures, so it will have to take turns on my wall!

“But this is something money can’t buy, and I shall treasure it forever,” she said, smiling broadly.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 16 August 2012, 6:12 pm and is filed under
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