Media blackout/self-censorship under Abdullah as bad or even worse than under Mahathir

The media blackout or self-censorship of unpleasant or unfavourable news under the Abdullah administration is getting as bad or even worse than the 22-year Mahathir premiership.

The latest example is the blackout  in the local media of  a
survey
by the Singapore American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) released on Friday that executives of United  States  companies in Southeast Asia say corruption is a “major impediment” to doing business in  five countries in the region, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Singapore was the only country in the survey where corruption was not considered a major issue.

The lack of predictability and stability in government regulations were also major concerns for American companies doing business in ASEAN countries.

In the survey, 62 percent of the AmCham members expect Southeast Asia to become more prominent in the next two years as it continues its strong economic growth.

The survey, however, also showed that corruption was a major factor for American firms operating in the region. Indonesia was deemed most corrupt, with 86 percent of the survey respondents claiming corruption practices was a major concern. About 72 percent said it is a factor in the Philippines; 67 percent in Vietnam; 63 percent in Thailand; and 51 percent in Malaysia.

This episode is a most adverse reflection both on the media and anti-corruption policies and record of the government, completely at variance with the reform pledge and agenda promised by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that  he will lead not only a clean and incorruptible government of integrity, but also one which is open, accountable, transparent, which respects freedom of information and committed to hear the truth

Malaysians share in the joy that the Prime Minister is happily married yesterday.

They have only one wish, that a happy Prime Minister can impress on his Cabinet and government to  assure the happiness of the people where they can begin to see the fruition of Abdullah’s  reform pledge and agenda, particularly to fight corruption and promote media freedom.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 10 June 2007, 1:18 pm and is filed under
Corruption
,
Media
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


Spot the signs of a  stroke

[Chong Eng, MP for Bukit Mertajam, has forwarded me the following  email on spotting the signs of a  stroke.  If a life can be saved, the posting of this email will be worth it.]

New Sign of a Stroke

Stick out Your Tongue.

STROKE: Remember The 1st Three Letters .. S.T.R.

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:

During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall – she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.

They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food – while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.

Ingrid’s husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital – (at 6:00pm , Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ.

Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don’t die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

It only takes a minute to read this…

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke…totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the “3” steps, STR . Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S * Ask the individual to SMILE.

T * Ask the person to TALK to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE(Coherently) (i.e. It is sunny out today)

R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

NOTE: Another ‘sign’ of a stroke is this: Ask the person to ‘stick’ out their tongue. If the tongue is ‘crooked’, if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke. If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 999 immediately !! and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 10 June 2007, 12:05 pm and is filed under
Health
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


50th Merdeka – end annual “racial polarisation” caused by “fraudulent meritocracy” of varsity student intake

In a week or two, the new student intake for 2007/2008  into the public universities will be announced and Malaysia will again go through the agonizing annual racial polarization caused by the “fraudulent meritocracy” as a result of the use of two completely different examinations to decide on the higher educational future of our children — the STPM and matriculation.

I understand that 40,016  places in public universities will be offered for the new academic year, with racial breakdown of 24,957 or 62.36 per cent for bumiputeras, 12,616 or 31.53 per cent for Chinese and 2,443 or 6.11 per cent for Indians.

DAP MPs have repeatedly called in Parliament for the end of the “fraudulent meritocracy” in the use of two completely  different examinations for university intake and it is a matter of grave regret that  no Barisan Nasional MPs, particularly from MCA, Gerakan, MIC, SUPP, PBS and other component parties in Sabah and Sarawak have dared to support such a call.

The use of two completely different examinations for university student intake –  with the STPM universally recognized as very much more difficult and of higher standard than matriculation — has the most adverse long-term  effects for Malaysia in at least four senses:

	Setback for national unity and nation-building in plural Malaysia, as it provides an annual event causing racial polarization;

	Undermines university quality and  academic excellence which have seen Malaysian public universities plunging in international rankings for top world-class universities;

	Grave impediment in the drive to enhance the nation’s international competitiveness to face the world  challenges of globalization; and

	Promotes public deceit and lack of integrity by perpetuating the fraud that there is no difference between STPM and matriculation.

On the occasion of the nation’s  50th Merdeka Anniversary, let us all  focus on how Malaysians can become more united, harmonious, dynamic and progressive in the coming decades.

Let us  end the annual racial polarization caused by “fraudulent meritocracy” for university student intake by adopting one common university entrance examination from next year, whether STPM or matriculation — which will make the 50th Merdeka Anniversary most meaningful to all Malaysians who are committed to the goals of promoting national unity, restore academic excellence of  public universities, enhance our international competitiveness and most important of all, uphold public integrity by ending the public deceit of “fraudulent meritocracy” based on two different examinations for university student intake.

[Speech (2)  at DAP ceramah in Buntong, Ipoh Barat on Sunday, 10.6. 2007]

                This entry was posted on Monday, 11 June 2007, 12:54 pm and is filed under
Education
,
nation building
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


“It is easy to become a Malay”

DAP MP for Seputeh, Teresa Kok, who is currently in Sabah on a political visit together with Member of Parliament Fong Po Kuan (Batu Gajah), has drawn my attention to the following
Daily Express
report yesterday quoting the Malacca Chief Minister, Datuk  Seri Haji Mohd Ali Rustam as saying
“It is easy to become a Malay”
:

Easy to become a Malay
, says MB

Kota Kinabalu: Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Mohd Ali Rustam said a person who is a Muslim, converses in Malay and follows the Malay traditions is considered a Malay.

“It is easy to become a Malay, ” he told a Press conference after Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman opened the Dunia Muslim Dunia Islam (DMDI) seminar, here, Saturday.

Elaborating on why Musa had said that more than 50 per cent of the State’s nearly three million population are Malays, Mohd Ali, who is also DMDI president, said:

“Even if that person is Chinese or Indian or Kadazan,if they are Muslim or have converted, converse in Malay and follow the Malay tradition, then they are Malays.”

“The Kadazans if they are a Muslim, we considered them as Malays, and if they have not embraced Islam, they are Bumiputeras. It is easy to become a Malay.”

Present were Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin, Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun and Sabah State Secretary Datuk KY Mustafa.

Also present were Indonesian Governor of Riau Province Rusli Zainal, Governor of Riau Archipelago Province Ismeth Abdullah, Governor of Bangka Belitung Province Syamsudin B and Malacca State Secretary Datuk Wira Ismail Salleh.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 11 June 2007, 1:09 pm and is filed under
nation building
,
Sabah
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


King’s two important calls ignored by public service for 3 months

At the official opening of the third session of Parliament on March 19, the new Yang di Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin called for the elimination of corruption and said the monitoring of government projects must be reinforced to ensure they benefited the target groups, particularly the poor and marginalized.

“Wipe out graft, ensure projects well monitored”
 was the headline of the New Straits Times report the next day, but in the past three months, the Yang di Pertuan Agong’s call have been ignored by the public service itself.

On the anti-corruption front,  Malaysia is losing out to other countries in the war against corruption undermining the country’s international competitiveness.

For instance, Malaysia had been well ahead of China in international corruption perception surveys, but China is making leaps and bounds in its anti-corruption drive  as compared to Malaysia which had been backsliding despite the pledge by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to make anti-corruption the main plank of his premiership when he assumed the highest office in the land some 44 months ago.

In one recent corruption survey of Asian nations, the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risks Consultancy (PERC) survey, China has almost caught up with Malaysia and unless Malaysia pulls up its bootstraps, demonstrates  a political will to wipe out corruption and produces results, it will not be long before  Malaysia will be trailing behind China in regional or international corruption perception surveys.

Recent developments do not give cause for optimism that Malaysia can fight off the challenge from China.  For instance, in the past few days alone, there have been news reinforcing the image that China is indeed serious in its anti-corruption drive, however formidable the problem.

There were  reports of one of the most senior Chinese official committing suicide over corruption in three decades,
Song Pingshun
, 61, from Tianjin and the death sentence for the former head of China Food and Drug Administration,
Zheng Xiaoyu
, convicted of accepting bribes from drug companies and dereliction of duty.

On government efficiency and competence, the public service  recently became the butt of  jokes both nationally and internationally,  with almost daily revelations of  one government building or public construction mishap or defect or another, showing a very “sick” public service despite the latest RM8 billion salary revision.

Today, Malaysians are very happy for the Prime Minister who  is happily re-married to Jeane Abdullah  yesterday.

Malaysians hope that Abdullah can make Malaysians as a whole  happy, especially in his important announcement on Thursday (June 14) of a
 new government delivery system
 as he had  pointedly told Ministers, Mentris Besar, Chief Ministers and top government officials last week to be prepared to fully implement the new public service delivery system.

As the Yang di Pertuan Agong’s   call  at the official opening of Parliament in March to wipe out graft and for  a competent public service have been ignored for three months, these two objectives   must top the agenda  of the new public service delivery system which Abdullah is to announce on Thursday.

(Speech at DAP ceramah in Buntong, Ipoh Barat on Sunday, 10.6. 2007)

                This entry was posted on Monday, 11 June 2007, 12:44 pm and is filed under
Corruption
,
public service
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


White Paper – corruption allegations on Johari Baharum and Zulkipli Mat Noor

Deputy Internal Security Minister
Datuk Johari Baharum
has again called  for the outcome of investigations into  the “Freedom for Sale” allegations that he received RM5 million to release three men held under the Emergency Ordinance should be made public.

This is a most extraordinary situation as almost two months have passed since Johari first made a similar call.

The ACA director-general Datuk Ahmad Said Hamdan had said previously when he was acting head of  ACA that investigations on the graft allegations against Johari had been completed by the ACA shortly after the deputy minister  was questioned by ACA officials on March 19 and that the investigation papers were in the hands of the prosecution division.

Why is there a three-month procrastination on Johari’s investigations, when ACA had completed their work as far back as March?

Exactly four  years ago in June 2003, ACA had announced a new three-point  policy on transparency  to be  more responsive towards public demand for information about its investigations, viz:

	The ACA will keep all complainants informed on the status of investigations into their reports if they want it.

	Heads of government departments will be  informed of the decision of the Attorney-General on investigations involving their subordinates.

	The ACA  will issue statements about cases that are still under investigation if it feels necessary, including those already decided by the Attorney-General.

The past four years have proven that this new 3-point policy of ACA  to  address public concern for more transparency are just empty talk and nothing more!

In the Johari Baharum case, why is the ACA and the AG’s Chambers loth to make public the  outcome of the investigations when the subject of the investigations has repeatedly called for a public accounting?

As Parliament will be reconvening next week, a detailed White Paper on ACA investigations on the RM5 million graft allegations against Johari Baharum  for releasing three men under Emergency Ordinance should be tabled in  the Dewan Rakyat next Monday.

In this connection, the outcome of police investigations into the serious corruption allegations made against the then ACA director-general Datuk Seri Zulkipli Mat Noor by former Sabah ACA director and whistleblower Mohamad Ramli Abdul Manan in June last year should also be made public.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan had  said in April that the police had completed investigations into the corruption allegations against Zulkipli after taking statements from 30 persons and that the investigations papers had been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail should explain why he is sitting on these investigation papers whether on Johari or Zulkipli  for months on end without any action being taken.

Gani should include the outcome of investigations into the corruption allegations against Zulkipli in a White Paper on investigations on allegations against high public officials to dispel growing suspicion that the Attorney-General’s Chambers has  become a “black hole” where serious allegations of corruption against high public officials disappear altogether from public view.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 11 June 2007, 3:08 pm and is filed under
Corruption
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


New govt delivery system drowned by KL floods or buried by debris of public building mishaps?

Two Saturdays ago on 2nd June 2007,
New Straits Times
carried a
Bernama
 report quoting the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as disclosing that
a new government delivery system
 would be implemented in 13 days’ time, i.e. Thursday June 14, 2007.

Addressing Kuala Lumpur City Hall officials during a one-day tour of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur on Friday, 1st June, 2007, Abdullah said he had instructed the National Physical Planning Committee attended by all Mentris Besar, Chief Ministers and several Ministers in Putrajaya two days earlier “to ensure that the government machinery is prepared to implement the new government delivery system in 13 days”.

The Prime Minister said:

“I hope the ministers will follow up on this matter. This is important as we only have 13 days to go. We want them to monitor the state of preparedness to carry out the new government delivery system.

“We want them to call up department heads to make sure that everything is in place for the implementation.”

Abdullah said that it was necessary to ensure there were no glitches that could frustrate the people who harboured high hopes following the government’s announcement two months ago that the delivery system would be improved.

With less than 48 hours to go, what is this new public service delivery system which Abdullah had promised 11 days ago?

It is most disconcerting that there are absolutely no signs that any new government delivery system will be launched on Thursday, as all the publicity build-up which would precede any major government initiative have been completely absent.

Have Abdullah’s promise of a new public service delivery system been drowned by the Kuala Lumpur floods on Sunday, which made a total mockery of the RM1.9 billion SMART Tunnel, or has it been buried under the debris of the litany of public building mishaps with ceilings collapsing, walls cracking and internal  floodings from burst water and sewerage pipes?

Or has the Prime Minister been misled and misinformed by his officials about the launching of a new public service delivery system on Thursday, when no such  major government initiative had ever been planned or even  existed?

I was very surprised to read of yesterday’s
Bernama
 report, entitled
“Call For Re-evaluation Of Current Practices To Upgrade Delivery System”
, which quoted the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili calling  for a re-evaluation of current practices to upgrade the public service delivery system.

Addressing the monthly assembly and “meet-the-clients” day of 25 government departments at the Sabah Federal Government Administrative Complex in Kota Kinabalu, Maximus said the re-evaluation should include re-assessing existing work systems and procedures, laws and regulations, equipment as well as the expertise of personnel.

He said: “An efficient service delivery system is important to ensure smooth and effective implementation of national development policies and strategies.”

He  said civil servants must be committed and discharge the task entrusted to them so that they could deliver excellent service to the people.

Maximus is very right — but at the expense of proving the Prime Minister very wrong in announcing two Fridays ago that a new public service delivery system will be launched in 13 days’ time.

How could there be any new public service delivery system when the re-evaluation of current practices to upgrade the public service delivery system has still to be carried out?

The Prime Minister should clarify whether there is going to be any launching of a new public service delivery system in 48 hours’ time on Thursday, as the  faux pax either by him  or by Maximus does not inspire public confidence that Malaysia is heading towards the restoration of  a world-class civil service, despite a RM8 billion salary revision for public employees.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 12 June 2007, 12:07 pm and is filed under
public service
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


PSC on International Affairs to support Rais’ candidature as Commonwealth SG

An all-party  Parliamentary Select Committee on International Affairs should be formed when Parliament meets next week which should have as its first task the lobby for support of other  Commonwealth Parliaments  for the appointment of Datuk Dr.
Rais Yatim
as the next Commonwealth Secretary-General.

At the
April meeting of Parliament
, I had first raised the issue of a Malaysian candidate for the post for Commonwealth Secretary-General to replace the incumbent Donald C. McKinnon, whose term ends in March next year.

Although two contenders have been announced before Malaysia declared its candidacy, namely Maltese Foreign Minister Michael Frendo and Indian diplomat Kamlesh Sharma, it will basically be a two-horse race for the leadership of the 53-nation organization in view of the general understanding that it’s Asia’s turn to hold the post.

The previous Commonwealth secretary-generals have come from other regions, viz:

1.	Arnold Smith (Canada) 1965 — 1975.  (10 yrs)

2.	Shridath Ramphal (Guyana) 1975 — 1990. (15 yrs)

3.	Chief Emeka Anyaoku (Nigeria) 1990 — 1999. (9 yrs)

4.	Don McKinnon (New Zealand) 1999 — 2007. (9 years)

The appointment of Rais as Commonwealth Secretary-General will not only be an international credit for Malaysia, but will be good for the country’s future as a full player on the global stage, whether on the great issues of war and peace, democracy,  human rights, inter-civilisational and inter-religious dialogue, development or environment.

 As the new Commonwealth secretary general will be decided at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala in November,  there is very little time left to promote Rais’ candidacy to ensure  the appointment of a Malaysian  to be the chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Secretariat, the main inter-governmental agency of the Commonwealth.

Ideally, consensus should be secured among Asian Commonwealth nations in endorsing Rais’ candidature, which would mean securing the support of the Indian Government to withdraw its candidature to  give way to Rais Yatim.

I will discuss with the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Parliament on Monday whether the government is prepared to support the establishment of a Parliamentary Select Committee on International Affairs, preferably by way of a parliamentary motion before the end of the month.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 12 June 2007, 11:07 am and is filed under
Foreign
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


Shame and dishonour the culmination of 22 yrs as Works Minister – will Samy resign?

MIC President Datuk Seri
S. Samy Vellu
confessed yesterday that he is too ashamed to meet people, attend meetings or  go overseas as he would be asked about the deplorable state of construction highlighted by the series of government building or public construction mishaps and defects, like collapsing ceilings, cracked walls and internal flooding from burst water or sewerage pipes.

Samy Vellu does not seem to realize that he is not the only victim of the recent spate of construction mishaps and defects as they have also brought  shame,  infamy  and dishonour to the government, 26 million Malaysians and the nation with  Malaysia  becoming  the laughing stock in  the world as a country which boasts of having the world’s tallest twin towers but yet incapable of building or maintaining safe structures like ceilings,  walls, water and sewerage piping.

It is  sad and pathetic that the culmination of Samy Vellu’s 22 years as Works Minister (his first stint from 1979 to 1989 and second stint from 1995 till now with six years as Minister for Energy, Telecommunications and Posts from 1989 to 1995,  totaling close to 28 years as Cabinet Minister) is so shameful and dishonourable, not only for him but also for  the  government,  people  and nation.

Shouldn’t Samy Vellu step down from the  Cabinet to set an example of culture of responsibility for such a dishonourable culmination of his 22 years as Works Minister — failing which, shouldn’t the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dismiss Samy Vellu as Works Minister to allow Malaysia to turn over a new page?

Would there be any Minister who would dare to voice out at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow that Samy Vellu should resign to salvage  the honour of the Cabinet, government, people and nation?

How many Barisan Nasional MPs would dare to openly support the call for the resignation of Samy Vellu when Parliament reconvenes next Monday?

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 12 June 2007, 2:23 pm and is filed under
Parliament
,
public service
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


Procrastinations over Johari/Zulkipli allegations – AG treating NIP as a joke

The National Integrity Plan has become a joke with the three-month dilly-dallying in clearing or charging Deputy Internal Security Minister  Datuk Johari Baharum over  RM5.5 million corruption allegations when  investigations had been completed in the past  three months.

It was some 14 weeks ago that news reports of
“Freedom for RM5m”

(Star 3.3.07)
,
“Pemimpin politik terima sogokan RM5j disiasat”

(Utusan Malaysia 3.3.07)
and
“Probe on ‘VIP’ for Graft”

(New Sunday Times 4.3.07)
 of the RM5.5 million “Freedom for Sale” allegations that Johari had released  three men held under the Emergency Ordinance shocked Malaysians.

The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) director-general, Datuk Ahmad Said Hamdan, was reported by the
New Straits Times
 of April 21, 2007
 as saying that the ACA had completed its investigations into the RM5.5 million  “Freedom for Sale” allegations “shortly after” the deputy minister  was questioned by ACA officials on March 19 and that the investigation papers were  in the hands of the prosecution division.

Yesterday, the
Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail
  said he was still looking into investigation papers on Johari and the former ACA director-general Datuk Seri Zulkipli Mat Noor, adding: “I have nothing else to say. I have to look at certain things more this afternoon.”
(Sun)

This is totally unsatisfactory,  unacceptable and intolerable, raising the question whether the Attorney-General is fully committed to the National Integrity Plan and has placed the upholding of national integrity particularly among the top government leadership as top priority  in the agenda of the AG’s Chambers.

Why has the Attorney-General sat on the investigation papers by the ACA on Johari for some three months, only now talking about having “to look at certain things more this afternoon”, if the AG’s Chambers is serious about the National Integrity Plan?

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, should step in and assert leadership to ensure that the National Integrity Plan which he launched three years ago is taken seriously by the Attorney-General and all  top government officials.

Abdullah must be decisive and act on the RM5.5 million  “Freedom for Sale” allegations — either clear Johari of the allegations or charge the Deputy Internal Security Minister for corruption. If  more time is needed as  investigations to date  are unsatisfactory or incomplete, then direct Johari to go on leave until a definitive decision could be made, whether to clear or charge the deputy minister.

Abdullah should also explain why the Attorney-General is procrastinating over police investigations into the serious corruption allegations made against the then ACA director-general Datuk Seri Zulkipli Mat Noor by former Sabah ACA director and whistleblower Mohamad Ramli Abdul Manan in June last year, as the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan had  said in April that the police had completed the investigations after taking statements from 30 persons and that the investigations papers had been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

As Johari is also a Member of Parliament, I will raise the issue of the procrastination in taking action on  the  RM5.5 million “Freedom for Sale” allegations at the meeting of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Code of Ethics for Members of Parliament  on Monday.

This will the first meeting of the Parliamentary Select Committee since it was established by a motion of Dewan Rakyat on 13th December 2006, tasked with formulating a Code of Ethics for Members of Parliament.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 13 June 2007, 11:41 am and is filed under
Corruption
,
Parliament
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


Samy’s Cheap Wedding Greetings

by Martin Jalleh

Samy had proudly sent to Jeanne and Badawi,

A congratulatory statement in perfect poetry,

So spellbound was Bolehland by his originality.

But damn, a sharp reader of Malaysiakini

Spotted Samy’s true and hidden capability

For from two poems, the Minister did copy.

As shame no longer exists in our country

Slowly but surely, silently, subtly and slyly

Samy sends in his handy press secretary.

“Blame not my master,” said he slavishly

“But blame rather on my lapse of memory.

“The authors I have left out inadvertently!”

Our sympathies, dear Jeanne and Badawi

For being treated to Samy’s cheap publicity

and pathetic excuses of his press secretary.

In light of government’s leaking credibility

Samy should stay focused on his Ministry

And save plagarised poems only for MIC.

(12 June 2007)

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 13 June 2007, 12:05 pm and is filed under
Martin Jalleh
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


Malaysia in US govt list of human trafficking offenders – Hamid should give full details in Ministerial statement to Parliament

Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar should present a Ministerial statement in Parliament on Monday giving a detailed rebuttal to the United States government’s inclusion of Malaysia on its list of human trafficking offenders.

It is not enough for Syed Hamid to brush aside the US government report as
one-sided
for not taking  into account what Malaysia had been  doing or just  to express amazement as to how the US government  could come up with such a report.

The listing of Malaysia in the
US government list of human trafficking offenders
must not be taken lightly.

Malaysians should not be left with  having to accept  either the Malaysian government or the US government claim without the facts, and this is why Hamid should present a detailed Ministerial statement in Parliament fully stating the case for Malaysia as to why it should not  be included in any  list, whether US government or otherwise,  of human trafficking offenders.

In the Ministerial statement, Hamid should give a full report of the exchanges between the two governments on the issue, as there must be considerable interaction between the two governments before the inclusion of Malaysia in the US government  list of human trafficking offenders.  Let the entire file of the bilateral exchanges be made public.

Malaysia was listed  in the latest US annual Trafficking in Persons Report as one of the 16 countries in the Tier 3 ranking, which includes Cuba, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Venezuela.

According to the report, countries with Tier 3 ranking “do not fully comply with the minimum standards (to fight trafficking) and are not making significant efforts to do so,” which makes them eligible for US economic sanctions.

The report said Malaysia was placed in Tier 3 for its failure to show satisfactory progress in combating trafficking in persons, particularly in the areas of punishing acts of trafficking, providing adequate shelters and social services to victims.

It said the Government needed to demonstrate stronger political will to tackle Malaysia’s significant forced labour and sex trafficking problems.

Malaysia was blacklisted despite Parliament  having passed the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill in April, the timing of which had taken  into account the US government’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report.

The bill states that human trafficking will be an offence that carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of up to RM500,000.  It provides protection to victims and severely punishes those who trafficked, harboured or profited from the offence.

MPs would want to know why the enactment of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill in April had proved to be fruitless and resulted instead in Malaysia being included in the US government list of human trafficking offenders.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 14 June 2007, 1:18 pm and is filed under
Human Rights
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


Abdullah’s Vision 2057 – do  the imaginable before talking  about unimaginable

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi  could not have chosen a worse time to broach  his
Vision 2057
for the nation to achieve the unimaginable, when what is imaginable seems beyond the grasp of the Abdullah premiership.

Abdullah is suffering from a grave denial syndrome if he is  not aware that Malaysians are increasingly concerned that under his leadership,  Vision 2020 is not only out of reach, he has also reneged on his 2004 general election promises to lead a clean, efficient, incorruptible, transparent, progressive, just and people-oriented administration prepared to hear the truth from the people.

This is the Vision 2057 that
Abdullah
 painted  last night:

“A hundred years of Merdeka would see this society, this nation achieve the unimaginable. We will have Nobel laureates, truly global corporations, respected and market-leading brands, internationally acclaimed poets and artists, among the largest number of scientific patents in the world and even the best football team in Asia.

“Our students and professors will dominate Ivy League universities and our own universities will be citadels of excellence for international scholars.

“We will be pioneers in alternative energy, drawing on our strength in biofuels. Our cities will be the most liveable on the globe, blending cosmopolitan facilities that are rooted in a tolerant and just societal ethos.

“This is the Malaysia in my dreams for 2057. One hundred years of independence, one hundred years of advancement.”

Abdullah has been badly served by his advisers, who do not seem to realize that the Prime Minister is stretching to the limit  the credulity of Malaysians to paint a visionary picture of Malaysia in 2057  when things in more and more fronts seem to be falling apart, best illustrated by the nation’s  failure in the past 44 months to make the transition from “First-World Infrastructure, Third-World Mentality” to “First-World Infrastructure, First-World Mentality” or to prevent  backsliding to “Third-World Infrastructure, Fourth-rate Mentality, nine-rate Maintenance”.

Yesterday, Abdullah let down Malaysians for more reasons than one.

Firstly, he disappointed Malaysians who had expected him to honour his public announcement two weeks ago that a
new government delivery system
would be launched and implemented yesterday.

Addressing Kuala Lumpur City Hall officials during a one-day tour of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur on Friday, 1st June, 2007, Abdullah said he had instructed the National Physical Planning Committee attended by all Mentris Besar, Chief Ministers and several Ministers in Putrajaya two days earlier “to ensure that the government machinery is prepared to implement the new government delivery system in 13 days”, i.e. on June 14 yesterday.

The Prime Minister said:

“I hope the ministers will follow up on this matter. This is important as we only have 13 days to go. We want them to monitor the state of preparedness to carry out the new government delivery system.

“We want them to call up department heads to make sure that everything is in place for the implementation.”

Abdullah said that it was necessary to ensure there were no glitches that could frustrate the people who harboured high hopes following the government’s announcement two months ago that the delivery system would be improved.

Where is this new public service delivery system which Abdullah promised two weeks ago?

Secondly, Abdullah shocked Malaysians with his response to the United States Government listing of Malaysia among the
human trafficking offenders
, saying that the government had drafted a Bill on human trafficking that would impose severe penalties on the perpetrators of the crime and that he hoped that the Bill would be passed in the forthcoming meeting of Parliament beginning on Monday.

In actual fact, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill was passed by the Dewan Rakyat on May  9, and among the MPs who took part in the debate were DAP MPs Dr. Tan Seng Giaw (Kepong), M. Kulasegeran (Ipoh Barat), Fong Po Kuan (Batu Gajah) and  Teresa Kok (Seputeh). The Bill was passed by the Senate on May 24.

How could the Prime Minister be so misinformed as to make a faux pax as to publicly state that the Bill has yet to be sent to Parliament for passage?

Although the Prime Minister’s mistake was corrected by the mainstream media in the newspapers today, the
error
 had been carried worldwide by international news wires  yesterday and reported by  the  media in foreign countries.

Thirdly, it was also reported yesterday  that the Prime Minister will be making a nine-day official visit to Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy starting next Monday.

This is most shocking as Monday is the reconvening of Parliament. Shouldn’t the Prime Minister be setting a better example to the Cabinet Ministers about giving priority attention to their parliamentary duties instead of escaping from their parliamentary responsibilities by going overseas?  Where is all the talk and commitment to have a “First-World Parliament”?

Fourthly, why the complete silence and inaction  from Abdullah, who is also the Internal Security Minister, about the horrendous reports of crime and lawlessness in the country, particularly in Johore Baru — creating fear and alarm among Malaysians, visitors and investors that the Police have lost control of the crime situation despite the recent RM8 billion  civil service salary revision where the police  are given an additional 20% increase?

                This entry was posted on Friday, 15 June 2007, 9:24 am and is filed under
Good Governance
,
nation building
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


RPK allegations of top police corruption – urgent parliamentary debate next Tuesday

There is no better way to review  the implementation of the Royal Police Commission’s recommendations after two years than to start with the front-page headline of
Sin Chew Daily
street edition for Thursday,
“Police cannot refuse to accept report”
 following reports that in the case of the  abduction-gang rape of a 19-year-old girl and her 22-year-old boyfriend in Johor Bahru on Monday, attempts to make report on the oncoming crime was shunted from Larkin Police Station to Tampoi Police Station and again to Johor Baru Tengah Police Station or the crime could have been averted with prompt police action.

Why is the problem of the police refusing to accept a report still prevalent in the country when it is supposed to have been rooted out for  good two years ago?

When the Royal Police Commission started its public hearings in early 2004,  police refusing to accept reports from the public was a common complaint.

As a result, the then Inspector-General of Police Bakri Omar summoned a meeting of police chiefs from across the country in May 2004  and warned that any police officer who refused to accept a report would be dealt with severely, and this warning was to be communicated to all police officers throughout the country.

But today, this most  basic and elementary  police duty to  accept reports from the public is back again in the public limelight.  Is police reform making progress after two years of the Royal Police Commission Report or are we back to square one?

Sack the police officers in Larkin and Tampoi police stations who refused to take police reports about the ongoing crime resulting in the  abduction-gang rape case in JB on Monday and suspend their superior officers and the perennial problem of police refusing to accept a report would be ended instantly and permanently.

But will this be done, or will the whole charade of public warning to police that they cannot refuse to accept reports from the public be repeated again and again only to be ignored by the police rank-and-file.

The Royal Police Commission has three objectives in its recommendations, viz, to reduce crime, to eradicate corruption and to create a world-class police service  which is human rights sensitive.

The horrendous crimes in Johor Baru, with three shocking  robbery/abduction-cum-gang rape in the last month, has further highlighted the worsening crime situation in the country where Malaysians, visitors and investors are in fear of their personal safety.

There is now a move for a 100,000-signature campaign to restore to the people of Johor Baru their fundamental right to be free from crime and the fear of crime, whether in the streets, public places or the privacy of their homes.

In the past three years, violent crime in the country had doubled instead of being reduced.

As for eradication  of corruption, nobody believes that any dent to this problem in the police force had been made.  In the past, top police officers had denied that corruption in the police was a grave problem, yet in the recent salary revision, the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan inadvertently admitted to this problem when he said there was now no excuse for the problem of corruption in the police force after the pay rise.

I have today given notice to the Speaker, Tan Sri Ramli Ngah under Standing Order 18(2) to move a motion of urgent, definite public importance in Parliament  on Tuesday, June 19, on the serious allegations of corruption and abuses of power against Deputy Internal Security Minister, YB Johari Baharom (Kubang Pasu), Inspector-General of Police and other top police officers on the Internet by both named and anonymous websites, and the failure to take satisfactory action to protect government credibility, integrity and authority.

Some 14 weeks ago Malaysians were shocked by  news reports of  RM5.5 million “Freedom for Sale” allegations accusing the Deputy Internal Security Minister of releasing  three men held under the Emergency Ordinance which appeared on anonymous websites with the heading:
“Datuk Johari — The Most Powerful But Corrupted Deputy Minister”
.

Immediately, the IGP called for an “open and fair” investigation into the allegations, declaring that  the allegations cannot be dismissed as  baseless, until the investigation was  completed.

However, although the Anti-Corruption Agency had completed its investigations into the RM5.5 million  “Freedom for Sale” allegations “shortly after” the deputy minister  was questioned by ACA officials on March 19 and the investigation papers were  in the hands of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, and the Deputy Minister himself had repeatedly called for the outcome of the investigations to be made public, the country is still kept in the dark about the outcome of the ACA investigations.

On June  3 and 9, 2007  the Malaysia-Today news portal carried two articles by Raja Petra Kamaruddin in his series “The Corridor of Power” on organized crime and the Police, alleging corruption and abuses of power implicating the IGP and top police officers, including a RM2 million corruption allegation against the IGP.

What actions have been taken to investigate  the serious allegations against IGP and top police officers in the Malaysia-Today articles?

Is the Police now more human rights-sensitive? The refusal of the Police to accept  the Suhakam inquiry findings that excessive force had been used by the police against protestors at the KLCC demonstration on petrol and power price hikes in May last year and to take disciplinary action against the errant police personnel provides a negative answer.

The refusal of the Police to accept  the invitation to take part in this second-year review of the Royal Police Commission’s recommendations today  is another sign that the Police has still a great distance to go to become human rights-sensitive.

The lack of political will is the cause for the lacklustre response and poor implementation of the Royal Police Commission’s recommendations, particularly its key recommendation for the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

How can there be political will when there is no proper political authority and responsibility for an efficient, competent, incorruptible, professional world-class police service?

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is also Internal Security Minister, but he is an absentee Minister.  The person who is in charge of the police portfolio is the Deputy Internal Security Minister, Datuk Johari Baharom who is waging  a cold-war with the police — so no one is really assuming political responsibility over the police.

The result is setbacks on all three objectives of the Royal Police Commission — to reduce crime, eradicate corruption and create a human rights-sensitive police.

(
Speech at the
“Second Year Review of the Implementation of the Royal Police Commission’s Recommendations”
 organized by Amnesty International Malaysia and SUARAM at Shah’s Village Hotel, Petaling Jaya on Friday, 15th June 2007 at 11 am)

                This entry was posted on Friday, 15 June 2007, 3:41 pm and is filed under
Police
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


Lina Joy case and cancelled “Building Bridges” Conference to feature on 1st day of Parliament

The far-reaching consequences of the Lina Joy case, which was reported in over 1,000 foreign media in the first 48 hours of the judgment, and the last-minute cancellation of the “Building Bridges” Islam-Christianity Interfaith Conference in May will feature on the first day of the Parliamentary question time on Monday.

I will be raising both issues during question time on Monday when asking the Prime Minister what had been done to repair the damage to Malaysia’s international reputation as a model multi-religious nation with the last-minute cancellation of the “Building Bridges”  Islam-Christianity Inter-faith Conference in early May.

Members of Parliament regardless of political party should come forward in the forthcoming parliamentary meeting to ensure that on the occasion of the 50th Merdeka anniversary of the nation, religion should become a positive force for nation-building in promoting inter-racial and inter-religious understanding, goodwill and harmony instead of becoming the reverse.

It must be a matter of concern to all Malaysians  that religious polarization of Malaysians is increasingly a major threat to nation building in the past decade, unless the first three  decades of nationhood when the problem of religious polarization was quite unheard of.

What has gone wrong. Why has religious polarization become worse instead of better, especially when the Islam Hadhari advocated by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is to promote justice, integrity and harmony.

Among the questions which I will be raising in forthcoming Parliament are:

	To ask the Prime Minister why public confidence in government ability to ensure low-crime Malaysia has reached a new low despite earlier favourable public responses to Royal Police Commission Report and to report on implementation of commission’s 125 recommendations, in particular on IPCMC.

	To ask the Prime Minister whether the Cabinet’s misjudgment and mishandling of sexism in Parliament on May 9, 2007 had caused great damage to the good name of Malaysia internationally and what lesson the Cabinet has learnt from it.

	To ask the Minister of Works on the itemized expenditure of the recently announced RM220 million allocation to inspect new government building  in Putrajay as to justify the needs to spend such huge sum from the government’s coffer when the public has no confidence in the quality of works from the Public Works Department (PWD).

	To ask the Minister of Finance to table a progress report on the seeking of an oversea partner for Proton and the required criteria as well as to explain on how the partnership would strengthen the position of Proton not only as a national car-maker, but also as an internationally well-known car-maker.

	To ask the Minister of Health on the investigation on why the ambulances at Kepala Batas Hospital had run out of petrol which caused the death of 31-year-old Yusnita Abas on 13th October 2006 and a report on deaths caused by unsatisfactory ambulance services in the past year and the remedial actions taken.

	To ask the Prime Minister the total costs of Parliament renovation to date and the causes of the spate of government building and public construction defects and mishaps and the remedial actions taken.

	To ask the Prime Minister on whether the government is willing to set up a Royal Commission to investigate the May 13 incident and declassify all official documents in order to reveal the truth as a way to promote racial understanding and enhance racial integration in conjunction with the 50th Merdeka Anniversary.

	To ask the Prime Minister to explain what the government and organisations like  Integrity Institute of Malaysia (IIM) have done to prevent Malaysia’s position in TI CPI from continue to slip which will be mockery for our 50th Merdeka anniversary celebration.

	To ask the Minister of works why the Government has failed to reveal highway privatization agreement with various concessionaires as promised in February 2007 as such failure has seriously affected the public’s confidence in the Government.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 16 June 2007, 3:15 pm and is filed under
Parliament
,
Religion
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


Internet allegations of top-notch graft – notice for urgent motion

15th June 2007

Yang di Pertua,

Dewan Rakyat,

Parlimen.

YB Tan Sri,

Notice under S.O. 18 — Serious allegations of corruption and abuses of power against Deputy Internal Security Minister, Inspector-General of Police and top police officers on the internet by both named and anonymous websites and the failure to take satisfactory action to protect government  credibility, integrity and authority

This is to give notice under Standing Order 18(2) to move a motion of urgent, definite public importance for the Dewan Rakyat sitting on Tuesday, June 19, 2007 as follows:

“That under Standing Order 18(1)  the House gives leave to Ketua Pembangkang YB Lim Kit Siang to move a motion of urgent definite public importance, viz: serious allegations of corruption and abuses of power against Deputy Internal Security Minister, YB Johari Baharom (Kubang Pasu), Inspector-General of Police and other top police officers on the Internet by both named and anonymous websites, and the failure to take satisfactory action to protect government credibility, integrity and authority.

“Some 14 weeks ago Malaysians were shocked by  news reports of  RM5.5 million ‘Freedom for Sale’ allegations accusing the Deputy Internal Security Minister of releasing  three men held under the Emergency Ordinance which appeared on an anonymous website with the heading:  “Datuk Johari — The Most Powerful But Corrupted Deputy Minister”.

“Immediately, the IGP called for an ‘open and fair’ investigation into the allegations, declaring that  the allegations cannot be dismissed as  baseless, until the investigation was  completed.

“However, although the Anti-Corruption Agency had completed its investigations into the RM5.5 million  ‘Freedom for Sale’ allegations ‘shortly after’ the deputy minister  was questioned by ACA officials on March 19 and that the investigation papers were  in the hands of the prosecution division, and the Deputy Minister himself had repeatedly called for the outcome of the investigations to be made public, the country is still kept in the dark about the outcome of the ACA investigations.

“On June  3 and 9, 2007  the Malaysia-Today news portal carried two articles by Raja Petra Kamaruddin in his seires ‘The Corridor of Power’ on organized crime and the Police, alleging corruption and abuses power implicating the IGP and top police officers, including a RM2 million corruption allegation against the IGP.

“What actions have been taken to investigate  the serious allegations against IGP and top police officers in the Malaysia-Today articles?”

Thank you.

Yang benar,

(Lim Kit Siang)

Ketua Pembangkang

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 17 June 2007, 3:11 pm and is filed under
Corruption
,
Parliament
,
Police
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


Socialising with prosecution – Can Altantunya murder trial judge  be sanctioned?

The
admission
 by the Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail that it was a mistake when he decided not to give the court a reason for replacing the entire prosecution team in the Altantunya Shaariibuu murder trial has raised further questions.

Gani said  he had replaced the entire team of prosecutors to ensure a “fair trial” to all parties concerned. He said he had taken Deputy Public Prosecutor Salehuddin Saidin out because he was seen playing “badminton” with trial judge Justice Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin.

He was going to replace Salehuddin with the Chamber’s head of prosecution Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, but later realized that the latter socialized with the judge as well.

Two immediate questions are:

(1)	How many of the DPPs in the AG’s Chambers now play badminton or socialize with judges? Is Gani Patail  going to issue a Code of Conduct for his prosecutors and officers forbidding them from playing  badminton or socializing  with judges?

(2)	Why  didn’t Justice Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin recuse himself from the trial for having socialized with the prosecution?  Does the Judges’ Code of Ethics  forbid judges from playing badminton or socializing with prosecutors?

If so, can disciplinary action be taken against Justice Mohd Zaki  under Article 125(3B) which was amended last year to provide for sanctions to be imposed on judges for breaching provisions of the Code of Ethics?

Or do we have two Codes at variance with each other, one governing judges  allowing them  to socialize with prosecutors while the code governing prosecutors forbid them to socialize with judges?

Article 125 (3B) and (3C) of the Federal Constitution reads:

“The Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the recommendation of the Chief Justice, the President of the Court of Appeal and the Chief Judges of the High Courts may, after consulting the Prime Minister, prescribe in writing a code of ethics which shall also include provisions on the procedure to be followed and sanctions which can be imposed other than the removal of a judge from office under Clause (3), in relation to a breach of any provision of the code of ethics.

“(3C) The code of ethics prescribed under Clause (3B) shall be observed by every judge of the Federal Court and every judicial commissioner.”

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 17 June 2007, 1:16 pm and is filed under
Constitution
,
Court
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


Wipe out JB’s notoriety as capital of crime of Malaysia – 1st step to ensure success of IDR

I will seek an urgent meeting of  the Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights and Good Governance when Parliament reconvenes tomorrow  over the  worsening crime, particularly with  Johor Baru gaining further notoriety as the capital of crime, depriving Malaysians of  their most fundamental liberty of being free from crime and the  fear of crime to be assured of  personal safety and security, whether in the streets, public places or the privacy of their homes.

I will propose that the Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights and Good Governance ask for a meeting with Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan for a special action plan to wipe out Johor Baru’s notoriety as the nation’s capital of crime

It is most regrettable that the Johore Police have blamed the Chinese media for the public outrage over the horrendous crimes in Johor Baru, following  three shocking  gang rape-cum-abduction/robbery  in the last month, viz:

	Early May –  28 year old pregnant woman  robbed and gang-raped in Plentong in the presence of three-year-old son, after robbers had forced their way and drove off the car at a petrol station near Tampoi where the husband had stopped to answer nature’s call.

	5th June  around 10 pm –  A construction contractor and  female companion at a petrol station at Pasir Gudang highway overpowered by three armed robbers who drove off with them as hostages. Both robbed and female victim gang-raped at Kempas area.

	11th June, around 10 pm. —  Armed robbery by three men who  ganged-raped  19-year-old girl and her 22-year-old boyfriend could only watch helplessly because he had been slashed twice.

The police representative who turned up late  for the Johore Baru dialogue yesterday  held in conjunction with the 100,000-signature campaign to reduce crime and  restore personal safety and property security to Johore Baru blamed the Chinese media for blowing up the crime issue, claiming that there had been a 7.9 per cent decline in incidence of crime in Johor Baru.

The Johore Police would lose all respect, credibility  and confidence of the people of Johor Baru if the police authorities maintain the denial syndrome or try to dismiss and trivialize widespread public concerns  and outrage over the  crime situation in the Johore capital, either blaming the Chinese media or looking for other scapegoats.

In Parliament last year, I had specifically spoken about the rampant crime and lawlessness in Johor Bahru.

This is what I said during the
parliamentary  debate
on the 2006 Supplementary estimates in August last year:

“Immediate action and the topmost priority must be taken to multiply the police personnel for Johore Baru to wipe out its notoriety as the capital of crime for the country.

“The police and even Deputy Internal Security Ministers tend to come down hard on the media for their reporting on crime, instead of curbing down on crime, as if the government can ignore rampant unchecked crime so long as it is not reported in the media.

“Such irresponsible mentality must be condemned.  True, a situation where crime is rife and rampant is not only threat to the safety and security of Malaysian citizens, it would drive away investors, tourists and foreign students.  But it is naive to address the problem by curbing media reports on crime, for in the era of information communications technology of instant news, there is no way to hide such a breakdown of law and order particularly in the “black areas”  in the country.

“What is the use of talking about Vision 2020 becoming a fully developed nation when life has become very cheap in Malaysia, with traumatic crimes a common occurrence and the fear of crime and their personal safety and their love ones, whether in the streets, public places or their homes, a haunting and abiding nightmare?

“How can the government expect to succeed in making Malaysia an investment centre, a tourist haven or  an international hub of academic excellence to attract foreign students when the government is incapable performing its most fundamental duty — to ensure the personal safety and security of its citizens and visitors?”

Here, we must ask how the multi-billion-ringgit Iskandar Development Region project can even take off so long as Johor Baru remains the capital of crime of Malaysia?

The Johore Police are not demonstrating their understanding of the public outrage and concern about the rampant crime and lawlessness in Johor Bahru by talking  about a 7.9% decline in crime index, as such  improvement is meaningless to the people in the streets and on the ground.

 I am reminded of a quick poll which I conducted among the over 200 people who attended a public forum to fight crime in Ipoh last year, where over 70 per cent had been a victim of crime or had a member of the family who had been a victim of crime, more than 50 per cent did not lodge police report regarding as waste of time while  almost 100% of the people are worried about crime in their neighbourhood.

I am sure if such a poll is conducted in Johor Baru, the results will be even more alarming and definitely more revealing and accurate than the claim that there is a 7.9% decline of crime index in Johor Baru.

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is the joint chairman of the Iskandar Development Region Authority (IDRA). What is he going to do to wipe out Johor Baru’s notoriety as capital of crime of the nation as the first step to ensure the success of IDR?

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 17 June 2007, 12:06 pm and is filed under
Parliament
,
Police
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


Malaysia “worst human trafficking offender” – notice for urgent motion

18th June 2007

Yang di Pertua,

Dewan Rakyat,

Parlimen,

Malaysia

YB Tan Sri,

S.O. 18 motion of urgent, definite public importance: Inclusion of Malaysia in the United States Government’s 2007  “Tier 3” list of the worst human trafficking  offenders together with nations such as Burma, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Sudan and Saudi Arabia

_____________________________________________________________________

This is to give notice under S.O. 18(2) to move a motion of urgent definite public importance for the Dewan Rakyat sitting on Wednesday, 20th June 2007, as follows:

“That under Standing Order 18(1), the House gives leave to Ketua Pembangkang YB Lim Kit Siang to move a motion of urgent, definite public importance, viz the inclusion of Malaysia in the United States Government’s 2007 Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Report in the  Tier 3 list of the worst human trafficking offenders together with 15 other nations including Burma, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Sudan and Saudi Arabia.

“The inclusion of Malaysia in  the Tier 3 list of the worst human trafficking offenders is a matter of grave shame and dishonour to the nation, which had recently the signal honour of being Chair of three international organizations simultaneously, i.e. ASEAN, Non-Aligned Movement and Organisation of Islamic Conference and is seriously proposing a candidate to be the next Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.

“The reasons cited  for Malaysia’s inclusion in the US Government list of the worst human trafficking offenders are:

	The government of Malaysia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so.

	Failure to show satisfactory progress in combating trafficking in persons, particularly in areas of  punishing acts of trafficking, providing adequate shelters and social services to victims,  protecting migrant workers from involuntary servitude and for not prosecuting traffickers who were arrested and detained under preventive laws.

	The government needs to demonstrate stronger political will to tackle Malaysia’s ‘significant’ forced labour and sex trafficking problems.

“The Foreign Minister has lambasted as ‘ill-informed’  Malaysia’s inclusion in the US trafficking blacklist while the Prime Minister has promised severe punishment for human traffickers.

“An urgent Parliamentary debate on Malaysia’s inclusion in Tier 3 of the US List will be one way to  demonstrate national seriousness with  human trafficking problems as well as to redeem Malaysia’s honour, image and credibility in international society.”

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

(Lim Kit Siang)

Opposition Leader, Parliament

                This entry was posted on Monday, 18 June 2007, 12:39 pm and is filed under
Human Rights
,
Parliament
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


First urgent motion knocked out  — no debate on Internet allegations of top cop corruption

The Speaker, Tan Sri Ramli Ngah has rejected the first of my three urgent motions this week to get Parliament to be relevant and debate issues of grave public importance.

My first urgent motion to debate Internet allegations of top cop corruption was chucked out on the ground that it was not urgent, that the Anti-Corruption Agency was investigating, although it is not clear whether the Speaker was referring to the allegations against the Deputy Internal Security Minister, Datuk Johari Baharom or the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan.

The subject of my urgent motion was – serious allegations of corruption and abuses of power against Johari and Musa  on the Internet by both named and anonymous websites, and the failure to take satisfactory action to protect government credibility, integrity and authority.

There was no explanation why there was prompt investigation in the case of the RM5.5 million “Freedom for Sale” allegations against  the Deputy Internal Security Minister for  releasing  three men held under the Emergency Ordinance although it was from anonymous websites, but no sign of any investigation in the case of serious and specific corruption allegations against the Inspector-General of Police although made by a known Internet source — on the
Malaysia-Today
news portal by Raja Petra Kamaruddin in his series
“
The Corridor of Power”
.

This is all the more regrettable as the former Inspector-General of Police, Tun Hanif Omar was reported in the
Sun
today,
“Act if allegations untrue, says Hanif”
, telling Musa to “take action if the allegations are untrue”.

The
Sun
 reported:

Former IGP Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar said today Musa should be concerned about recent allegations highlighted in a political website as the credibility of the police force will be damaged by such allegations.

“Police work requires credibility and public perception of the police’s ability and willingness to function is extremely important,” Hanif told reporters at a press conference following his induction as an honorary member of the Pudu Rotary Club.

“Thus, the management of public perception of the police force is very important.”

Two weeks ago, it was alleged in a political website that gambling, loan-sharking, drugs and human trafficking in the peninsula was rampant as the authorities have been corrupt and turning a blind eye to such activities.

Asked whether Musa should come out to clarify the allegations, Hanif, who was IGP for 20 years, said:

“I will leave that to him and what he considers important or not. That is a question of perception.

“The IGP, surely, must be concerned if it is being damaged by something like this openly and if the allegations are not true, action should be taken,” he told reporters

Hanif said inaction might cause people to take these allegations as being true and they might believe that the extent of corruption is the root of the problem.

“We may keep on tightening the laws but effective enforcement of the laws is the key (to solve the problems),” he said.

In his column in an English newspaper on Sunday, Hanif who had described the allegations as “exceptionally defamatory” and that ” it won’t not do for the maligned authorities to merely wish them away”.

This is what Hanif wrote in his  Sunday Times column
“Point of View”
 entitled
“THROW OUT THE BAD APPLIES”
 –

I have no time to go to the webblogs but last Thursday a friend told me about the contents of a recent blog that sent shivers up his spine. It is about the alleged extent of organised crime in gambling, loan-sharking, drugs and human trafficking in many states in the peninsula, and the authorities are allegedly ignoring the activities.

The contents are exceptionally defamatory and it won’t do for the maligned authorities to merely wish them away. Every day, more people will read them and say here is the evidence that the US State Department was right in placing us among countries with the worst human trafficking problems.

They will also believe that the extent of corruption is behind the problem. Our Foreign Minister should read them and make certain they are not true or otherwise take it up with the Cabinet.

The burgeoning corruption culture in our country has not really abated, according to some of my friends. One said: “It’s still business as usual. They don’t even bat an eye-lid; it’s one or two per cent, that’s their demand.”

One Datuk from whom I had not even solicited an opinion suddenly turned to me and said: “Nothing has changed.”

Wow, that’s the opposite of Heraclitus’ Panta rei (everything changes)!

“What do you mean?” I asked. “Corruption,” he said. “It costs a lot of money just to network with them and even then you are not yet certain of obtaining approval. To get the approval will cost a lot more. So, how can bumiputra businessmen with a small capital survive? Only the loaded who can throw their money around will get the approvals and become richer.”

So, my friends, which one of you said that corruption is a victimless crime?

I do not think many will buy Hanif’s claim that he had not visited Malaysia-Today to read Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s two write-ups. But that is beside the point, as it is Hanif’s advice to Musa that the IGP must act that matters.

What Musa should do is to  publicly welcome and support the establishment of an independent panel of investigations into the serious allegations of corruption and abuses of power against top police officers, including himself.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 19 June 2007, 1:47 pm and is filed under
Corruption
,
Parliament
,
Police
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


Police lost control of crime – JB & Malaysia: Notice for urgent motion

19th June 2007

Yang di Pertua,

Dewan Rakyat,

Parlimen,

Malaysia.

YB Tan Sri,

S.O. 18 motion of urgent, definite public importance: Recent brutal robbery-cum-gang rapes in Johor Baru sparking  public outcry nationwide over  police failure to control and reduce crime with Malaysians feeling very unsafe in the streets, public places and privacy of their homes

—————————————————–

This is to give notice under S.O. 18(2) to move a motion of urgent definite public importance for the Dewan Rakyat sitting on Thursday, 21st June 2007, as follows:

“That under Standing Order 18(1), the House gives leave to Ketua Pembangkang YB Lim Kit Siang to move a motion of urgent, definite public importance, viz Recent brutal robbery-cum-gang rapes in Johor Baru sparking  public outcry nationwide over police failure to control and reduce crime with Malaysians feeling very unsafe in the streets, public places and privacy of their homes.

“In the campaign for 100,000 signatures to restore to the people of Johor Baru their fundamental right to be free from crime and the fear of crime, some 80,000 signatures have been collected from all over the country from Malaysians in a matter of three days — an expression of frustration and despair that despite repeated promises of a war against crime whether by the Prime Minister and  the Inspector-General of Police, the establishment of the Royal Police Commission as well as increased allocations and salary revision for the police, the violent crime index had worsened in the past three years.

“Unless  the rampant crime and lawlessness not only in Johor Baru, which has become the capital of crime of the nation, but also  in the various ‘black areas” like in Klang Valley and Penang are wiped out, even  Visit Malaysia Year 2007 and all programmes to attract foreign investors, especially as multi-billion ringgit Iskandar Development Region project will be undermined.

“The anti-crime campaign is not racial or political issue but a concern of all Malaysians. Police must not be deflected by some  racialistic SMS to lose  focus on the war against crime, even  to penalize innocents like arrests of SUARAM activists Nyam Kee Han and See Siew Mun, but must work in co-operation with NGOs and  civil society to end the reign of terror caused by rampant crime and lawlessness in JB and Malaysia.”

Thank You.

Yours sincerely,

(Lim Kit Siang)

Ketua Pembangkang

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 19 June 2007, 10:25 am and is filed under
Parliament
,
Police
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


Samy Vellu playing the fool as Works Minister for 22 years?

Works Minister, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu told Parliament during question time that  he would not allow any person to “play the fool” whether in the Public Works Department or among contractors  after the disgraceful litany of government building defects and public construction mishaps  – with collapsing ceilings, cracking walls and floodings in new buildings from burst water or sewerage piping.

This prompted me to ask Samy Vellu whether he had been “playing the fool”  for 22 years as Works Minister to explain the nation’s regression from “First-World Infrastructure, Third-World Mentality” to “Third-World Infrastructure,  Fourth-rate  Mentality and Ninth-class Maintenance”, with Malaysia facing shocking drop in public delivery standards which were unimaginable two or three decades ago.

Samy Vellu had been a Cabinet Minister for almost 28 years, with 22 years as Works Minister.

I asked Samy Vellu whether it was not  time for the country to have another  Works Minister.

At my supplementary question, Samy Vellu blew his top, exclaiming that Ipoh Timur should appoint a new Member of Parliament.

He boasted that whether he had been a Minister for 22 years, 28 years or even 48 years,  it was all because of his capability.

I shot back to remark that whether  Ipoh Timur should have a new MP is not for Samy Vellu to say, and this cannot be excuse for Samy Vellu to run away from his responsibility to be a competent Works Minister instead of seeing standards of public works falling year after year.

I also pointed out that under his leadership, the Indians have become the new underclass in the country with the most political, socio-economic,  educational and citizenship problems.

I had earlier accused Samy Vellu of misleading Parliament when he had claimed that the government had not suffered any additional costs as a result of the numerous problems faced by government buildings.

I  asked how Samy Vellu could make such a claim when he had earlier said himself that it would cost RM22 million to inspect new government buildings in Putrajaya for defects, and the bill would be much higher now that the scope of inspection had been expanded to include government buildings outside Putrajaya.

Why was it necessary for such inspections to take place when it would be unthinkable  two or three decades ago?

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 19 June 2007, 4:20 pm and is filed under
Parliament
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


University student intake – season for frus and despair

University intake for this year is out and its a season for frustration and despair at the injustices of the system.

I received the following sad letter from Clare:

I am writing to voice my dissatisfaction towards the Ministry of Higher Education who rejected my brother’s application into a local university.

When my brother told me that his application was “tidak berjaya”, I was very disappointed. Not that his result is bad, in fact, his result is very good compared to many other students (even better than mine). He got a CGPA of about 3.2 (I got 2.9 back then) and applied for ‘not-so-popular’ business-related courses and he was rejected.

I do not know what to tell my mum when she called to announce the result just now. My parents must be very disappointed, not with my brother, but with the higher education ministry. My brother has gone into exile because of that. I am not surprised if he has developed a mentality that the government is biased towards the handicapped (my brother is handicapped with cerebral palsy-as stated in one of the links in my post)

I do not know who else to turn to, Uncle Lim. Please advise.

I will write to the Higher Education Minister and hope he could do justice in this case.  What is needed is an overhaul of the university student intake system which is just and transparent and not a scandal of a fraudulent system  of meritocracy.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 19 June 2007, 11:14 am and is filed under
Corruption
,
Education
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


“Bocor” scandal not ended – Mohd Said and Bung Mohtar must apologise in Parliament

The
answer
 by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz yesterday that the Cabinet regards the “bocor” scandal involving Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs, Datuk Mohd Said Yusof (Jasin) and Datuk Bung Mohtar Radin (Kinabatangan) as settled is completely unsatisfactory and unacceptable.

In a written  reply to my question, Nazri said:

“The government has reminded everyone, especially members of parliament, and those in high positions to always be mindful and responsible in their actions.

“We hope the issue will serve as an example to all. We regret that the episode happened but we regard this matter as closed.”

It is no use the government expressing “regret” for the episode when the two culprits, Mohd Said and Bung Moktar are openly defiant and unrepentant as evident from their fake apologies, on six grounds:

Firstly, Both of them refused  to make a personal apology to Fong Po Kuan (MP for Batu Gajah), the target of their crude, derogatory, sexist and gender-offensive remarks which women groups have described as “sexual harassment in Parliament”.

Secondly, there was no remorse or contrition in making the apology, even to Malaysian women. Both tendered their apology “if women were offended” — implying that there was nothing wrong with their remarks but with women if they were offended!

Thirdly, they justified their sexist and male-chauvinist attacks at Po Kuan on the ground that they were necessary to defend the government during debates.

Fourthly, the above statement was as good as a declaration that they would have no hesitation in repeating their crude, derogatory, sexist and gender-offensive remarks in similar circumstances in future if they deem it necessary to defend the Barisan Nasional and the Government.

Fifthly, both had lied when they claimed that they had been “provoked” to make the crude, derogatory, sexist and gender-offensive attacks on Po Kuan.  The video footage of this disgraceful parliamentary conduct is up on YouTube, Google and many blogs. On YouTube alone, which received a four-and-a-half star rating, it was viewed more than 61,551 times.

All can see that when Mohd Said and Bung Mokhtar made the crude, derogatory, sexist and gender-offensive remarks, neither Po Kuan nor any  DAP MP was out to insult them or was making “unfounded, baseless claims”, as they were legitimately trying to raise in the House the scandal of Parliament leaking again after a RM90 million renovation less than two years ago!

Both Mohd Said and Bung Mokhtar made the sexist attacks on Po Kuan when there was no provocation —  when totally unprovoked! If both of them could tell such a bare-faced lie when the video footage is available for all to see, how could anyone believe in any of their claims and statements?

Sixthly, they had added insult to injury in humiliating Malaysian women when Mohd Said alleged  that “the incident was manipulated by the opposition who pictured it (the incident) negatively, and made it look different from what really happened in the Dewan Rakyat” while Bung Mokhtar said the incident was blown out of proportion by DAP by highlighting it in the media and dragging along the women’s organizations in the country.

For the Cabinet under these circumstances to maintain that the “fake apologies” of Mohd Said and  Bung Mohtar are adequate and that the parliamentary scandal of the sexist and gender-offensive episode is  “closed” is a contempt of Parliament —  as Nazri and Cabinet Ministers seem to have forgotten that  Parliament under our Constitution and system of government  is a higher institution than Cabinet and not the other way round!

As the sexist scandal happened in Parliament, it must be “settled” in Parliament with proper remedy and not in Cabinet or Barisan Nasional.

The civil society, in a  public forum in Kuala Lumpur in May, unanimously agreed that Mohd Said and Bung Mohtar had been guilty of sexual harassment of Po Kuan and had brought shame and dishonour to Parliament, Malaysian women and the nation’s reputation internationally.

They agreed that the suitable penalty  for the duo is the following five-point punishment:

1.	Six-month suspension as MP.

2.	Six-month community service with women groups.

3.	Donation of the their entire parliamentary allowance during suspension to women groups.

4.	Full apology to Fong Po Kuan and Malaysian women.

5.	If no full apology, the six-month suspension and community service to be extended to 12 months.

The sexist conduct of the Jasin and Kinabatangan MPs in the “bocor” scandal is certainly not closed, and  I call on all MPs, including from Barisan Nasional, to take a stand to demand that proper punishment should be meted out to the two for their gross breach of privilege and unrepentant attitudes to date.

For a start, Mohd Said and Bung Mokhtar Radin must apologise in Parliament both to Po Kuan and Parliament for the crude, sexist and gender-offensive remarks in the “bocor” scandal as Parliament is higher and not lower than the Cabinet.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 20 June 2007, 4:41 pm and is filed under
Gender
,
Parliament
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


Malay keris – Hishmmuddin does not know he was subtly criticised by CYCL 1st Sec Hu Chunhua

During the debate on the  Environmental Quality Act Amendment Bill this morning, I had raised the episode during the recent visit to China by the Education Minister and UMNO Youth leader, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and his meeting with  the First Secretary of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC), Hu Chunhua, when the issue of  Malay keris was raised.

As the BN MP for Ketereh,  Datuk Md Alwi Che Ahmad had again raised the issue of the Malay keris, particularly about its cultural significance, I referred to the  Sin Chew Daily report of 26th May 2007, on Hishammuddin’s hour-long  meeting  with  Hu in Beijing.

During the discussion, Hishammuddin explained that the Malay keris symbolized leadership and unity, and Hu responded, saying what was important was not the Malay keris but  the one who wielded it.

This account of the exchange between Hishammuddin and Hu was given by the MP for Puchong, Lau Yeng Peng, who as Gerakan Youth Education chief,  was also present at the meeting in Beijing.

This report was taken by readers as a very subtle and pointed criticism of Hishammuddin by Hu, who had clearly been briefed of the raging and divisive controversy surrounding Hishammuddin’s unsheathing the Malay keris at two recent UMNO Youth general assemblies heedless of the rights and sensitivities of different communities in the country.

However, it is clear from the exchanges in Parliament this morning, Hishammuddin, Lau and the BN Youth leaders and MPs did not realize that Hishammuddin was being subtly criticized by the First Secretary of the Communist Youth League of China, but took it as a compliment.

I am told that Hishammuddin and the BN Youth leaders were very proud of Hu’s remark.

It is shocking that Hishammuddin and the BN Youth leaders and MPs do not realize that although Hu had used very diplomatic language, the Chinese Communist Youth leader was being quite  critical of Hishammuddin’s wielding of the Malay keris.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 20 June 2007, 4:07 pm and is filed under
nation building
,
UMNO
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


Second urgent motion knocked out — no debate on Malaysia listed as “worst human traffic offender”

My
second
 of three  urgent motions for Parliament this week was rejected by the Deputy Speaker Datuk Lim Si Cheng this morning.

My motion to urgently debate Malaysia’s inclusion  in the United States Government’s 2007 Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Report in the Tier 3 list of the worst human trafficking offenders together with 15 other nations including Burma, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Sudan and Saudi Arabia.was rejected on the ground that it was not urgent.

Most shocking of all, the rejection was received with table-thumping by Barisan Nasional MPs as if they were overjoyed that Parliament is denied an opportunity to clear Malaysia’s good name which had been stained internationally by the shameful listing  of the country mong the worst human trafficking offenders.

When Dewan Rakyat debated the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill on May 9, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, who piloted the bill through Parliament, referred to Malaysia’s being ranked as Tier 2 Watch List in the US Government’s 2006 TIP Report released in June last year.

Nazri did not condemn or challenge the right of the US Government to issue any TIP Report.

In January 2007, the US Government issued a Trafficking in Persons  Interim Assessment “to serve as a tool by which to gauge the anti-trafficking progress of countries which may be in danger of slipping a tier in the upcoming June 2007 TIP Report and to give them guidance on how to avoid a Tier 3 ranking”.

Yet, despite the TIP Interim Assessment and guidance, Malaysia fell into Tier 3 ranking in the TIP 2007 report.

The Malaysian government is not bounden to justify its record to the US Government but it is duty-bound to vindicate its record to Parliament and the Malaysian people.

A Parliamentary debate would have furnished the government an opportunity to clear its name and vindicate its record on this matter — but the government seems to be afraid to make full use of this opportunity provided by the DAP. Why?

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 20 June 2007, 3:32 pm and is filed under
Human Rights
,
Parliament
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


“Bocor” scandal – spread of culture of impunity

All Ministers and Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs should digest the statement  of the European Commission Ambassador to Malaysia,
Thierry Rommel
that there is no proper closure of the sexist “bocor” outrage in Parliament by two Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs, Datuk  Mohd Said Yusuf (Jasin) and Datuk Bung Mohtar Radin (Kinabatangan) and that  it is most damaging to Malaysia’s international reputation.

In a
letter
 to Malaysiakini yesterday, Thierry wrote:

I would wish to convey a third party opinion, prodded by internal discussions, on the possible effects of sexist remarks made by prominent Malaysian citizens on Malaysia’s international reputation.

The short answer to this pertinent question is yes, for a number of reasons.

It is a violation of the spirit of the Universal Human Rights Declaration more so coming from persons who are in a position of influence and power.

Malaysia is a member of the UN Human Rights Commission, further raising expectations of exemplary and ambitious approach to upholding human rights, including gender equality, and fundamental freedoms.

Finally, such remarks have a far greater and adverse impact than some people in position of power care to admit. Witnessing moreover the impunity that has accompanied such remarks, astonishment and disbelief prevail.

This is one further example rebutting the answer  by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri
Nazri Aziz
to my question in Parliament on Tuesday  that the Cabinet regards the “bocor” scandal involving Mohd Said and Bung Mohtar as settled is  wrong, ill-advised as well as completely unsatisfactory and unacceptable.

The issue of the need for a satisfactory and proper resolution of the “bocor” parliamentary scandal precipitated by the crude, vulgar, sexist and gender-insensitive conduct of the two BN MPs, which must include at minimum a contrite and genuine apology by the two MPs to DAP MP for Batu Gajah Fong Po Kuan in Parliament, is necessary not only to protect the good image of Parliament and the international reputation of the country, but to send out a clear message that the era of a culture of impunity for wrongdoers among top Barisan Nasional leaders has ended.

We see around the country government leaders, whether at Cabinet, parliamentary or government level, committing all sorts of wrongs and misdeeds, including corruption and abuses of power, being able to get away scot-free because of the stifling  and most undesirable culture of impunity, where wrongdoers are not punished or do not have to admit wrong with public apology.

So long as such a culture of impunity is allowed to flourish, Malaysia will never succeed to become a “First-World Infrastructure, First-World mentality”  developed nation but will be condemned to  “Third-World Infrastructure, Fourth-Class Mentality and Ninth-Class Maintenance” — and there are more and more recent indications that the country is heading in this direction.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 21 June 2007, 2:41 pm and is filed under
Gender
,
Parliament
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


Abdullah leading a government in disarray

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz is guilty of the height of Ministerial irresponsibility in Parliament when he defended the Deputy Internal Security Minister, Datuk Johari Baharum from RM5.5 million corruption allegations while admitting that he knew nothing about the outcome of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) investigations which have been sumitted to the Attorney-General, Tan Sri Gani Patail.

I am shocked that Nazri could also turn Ministerial responsibility to Parliament “upside down” when he retorted to my query as to the Attorney-General’s decision on the ACA investigations into the RM5.5 million corruption allegations at Johari, by asking why he was being asked in Parliament about the Attorney-General and why I could not ask the question outside.

This is the first time in my experience in Parliament where a Cabinet Minister could be so brazen in his irresponsibility as to challenge an MP why he is posing a question to him on a matter which comes directly under his Ministerial and parliamentary responsibility and   why he did not pose the question to the officer concerned outside the House.

This is a most deplorable precedent in the development of parliamentary democracy and accountability on the occasion of the nation commemorating 50th anniversary of nationhood.

I want to make it clear that I am not making any judgment as to whether Johari is guilty or otherwise with regard to the the RM5.5 million “Freedom for Sale” allegations that the Deputy Minister  had released three men held under the Emergency Ordinance.

I am fully in support of Johari’s repeated public calls for the outcome of  ACA investigations to be made public, especially as the ACA completed its investigations  into the RM5.5 million “Freedom for Sale” allegations “shortly after” the deputy minister was questioned by ACA officials on March 19 and  the investigation papers had been  in the hands of the prosecution division.

What is the cause of the delay of over three months for a decision to be made one way or another by the Attorney-General with regard to the corruption allegations against Johari or the former ACA Director-General Datuk Seri Zulkipli Mat Noor?

It is most regrettable that my urgent motion to debate the procrastination of investigations over  corruption allegations against Johari and Zulkipli on Monday had been rejected.

But why did Nazri take the extraordinary step of pre-empting both the ACA and the AG’s Chambers about the investigations into the allegations against Johari by virtually clearing him of the allegations, when he should have clarified with the Attorney-General as to the status of the investigations so that he could inform the House when asked?

Or are we seeing  a government in great disarray where  the Minister responsible to Parliament on the AG’s Chambers is not in good communications with the Attorney-General, Gani Patail while the Deputy Internal Security Minister, Johari, who is the de facto Police Minister, is waging a running war with the Police leadership?

What type of a government is the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi leading?

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 21 June 2007, 2:21 pm and is filed under
Corruption
,
Parliament
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.


Third urgent motion knocked out — no debate on  rampant crime and lawlessness in JB and Malaysia

My
third
  of three urgent motions for Parliament this week was rejected by the Speaker Tan Si Ramli Ngah  this morning.

My
motion
 today is to have an urgent parliamentary debate on the recent spate of brutal robbery-cum-gang rapes in Johor Baru  which had sparked  public outcry nationwide over police failure to control and reduce crime with Malaysians feeling very unsafe in the streets, public places and the privacy of their homes.

I have never felt more ashamed as a MP when my urgent motion was rejected.

For the past week, Malaysians had been haunted by the spectre of rampant crime and lawlessness which had been highlighted almost on a daily basis by the brutal crimes in the nation’s capital of crime — Johor Baru.

The
Cabinet
 yesterday discussed about the problem of crime and lawlessness in Johor Baru and the country. Everyone is concerned except Parliament!

Why is Parliament so blissfully unconcerned and indifferent about the rampant crime and lawlessness in JB and Malaysia?

All responsible and conscientious MPs regardless of party must feel  very ashamed that Parliament has proved to be so  irrelevant and impervious about the crying  concerns of Malaysians regardless of race and religion, whether in Johor Baru or  anywhere in the country —  about their personal safety and those of  their loved ones,  not to be victims of the crime wave and lawlessness sweeping the country.

Today’s press reported another
two brutal crimes in Johor Baru yesterday
— gang rape of a Malay girl and a Chinese girl, bearing out the headline of
Sin Chew Daily
today
“Any race could be a victim”
!

The Cabinet was
a great disapp
ointment yesterday, as apart from newspaper headlines of Cabinet orders to crackdown on crime in JB, there was nothing new.

The announcement of 400 more cops in the streets in JB and new temporary police stations had already been announced two days earlier by the Health Minister, Datuk Chua Soi Lek.

The people of JB and Malaysia had expected more concrete action from yesterday’s Cabinet meeting but none was forthcoming.

The people of JB and Malaysia want assurances from the Cabinet that actions would be taken where they and their loved ones could immediately feel  safe in the streets, public places and the privacy of their homes and not in the future, whether three or six months’ time.

The people of JB and Malaysia are tired of too many assurances of “actions to be taken” in the past, whether by the Prime Minister or  the Inspector-General of Police  to fight crime but which had proved to be mere  empty words.

Johor Baru, as the nation’s capital of crime, should be declared a “hot spot”  crime area, and there should be a three-month action plan to wipe out JB’s notoriety as the top crime spot in the country with daily public monitoring of the progress of the war against crime in JB.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 21 June 2007, 1:29 pm and is filed under
Parliament
,
Police
. You can follow any responses to this entry through
RSS 2.0
.                You can
leave a response
, or
trackback
 from your own site.