ARTICLE 1
Tee Keat: PKFZ exposes ‘not even curtain raiser’ yet – February 20, 2012 – Malaysian Insider
Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has threatened to reveal even more names implicated in the RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal after the controversy was highlighted at yesterday’s debate between Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and Lim Guan Eng.
The former MCA president said last night that “none of those names” mentioned in reports lodged with the authorities have been produced before the courts yet.
“Whats happening right now (court proceedings) is not even the curtain raiser. It has not even begun yet!” the Pandan MP told his constituents at a Chinese New Year event.
DAP secretary general Lim took his rival Dr Chua to task yesterday over alleged corruption within Barisan Nasional (BN), singling out PKFZ where former MCA boss Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and his successor as transport minister, former MCA deputy chief Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, face charges of lying to the Cabinet.
The project, initially estimated at less than RM2 billion, more than doubled to RM4.6 billion by 2007. But Dr Chua also insisted MCA is anti-graft “which is why we never demonstrate when our leaders are charged,” an apparent reference to PR’s assembly outside the court here when Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim faced the verdict for his sodomy trial on January 9.
“We have confidence in the law. We never say our leaders are innocent,” the former health minister added, saying he could not comment on the case specifically as it would be subjudice.
But Ong (picture), who was deposed as MCA president by Dr Chua after only 15 months in charge, pledged that he “will see it through… till the end no matter how long it takes. You have my assurance on that.”
‘“This (ongoing events) is nothing compared to what was mentioned in the thick and heavy volumes of reports lodged with police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Prime Minister’s Department which (Bar Council president Lim) Chee Wee is also aware of.
“None of those names mentioned in the reports have been produced before the courts. There was so much and I would like to know if it has been read them yet,” Ong added.
While he was transport minister, Ong had ordered several probes and committees to look into the scandal but was then sacked from Cabinet after he lost the MCA presidency to Dr Chua in March 2010.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Shall we vote for ‘leaving the PKFZ under curtains’ (likely the whole truth would be exposed about PKFZ in time by journos and researchers anyway) if the below 3 items could be granted :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy.
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. . . . amongst other things.
Catching a handful of corrupt billionaires surely cannot be more important than ENDING APARTHEID for an entire nation??? There are 2 ways to work around towards equality though, OTK’s ‘expose corruption method’ (if intended as a method to end apartheid at all . . . I hope) could not be said to be less effective in ending APARTHEID through addressing the UNHCR angle or citizen rights, though the PKFZ issue does distract from the issue of APARTHEID overall.
ARTICLE 2
Adhere to renovation guidelines, says council – by Faizal Nor Izham – Tuesday, January 31, 2012 – 20:44
KLANG: The Klang Municipal Council is urgingl residents to get a copy of the the council’s renovation guidelines before they renovating their homes.
Council vice-president Mohd Iksan Mukri said although the guidelines have been in existence since 1993, not many were aware of them and and there had been a growing number of homes with illegal extensions.
The issue of poorly-planned housing renovations in Klang was brought up at the Klang Municipal Council’s (MPK) e full-board meeting yesterday.
“These renovations, sometimes unauthorised, are usually done to extend the front or sides of a premises. However, the renovation works often tend to disrupt neighbouring houses,” Mohd Iksan said.
He said many such cases had been reported to the council last year, although he was unable to give an exact number.
“We recommend anyone intending to renovate their houses to first contact us and ask for our renovation guidelines, available at RM10.”
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
‘. . . although the guidelines have been in existence since 1993, not many were aware of them . . .’
Aha more Pakatan red tapists! This article seems innocuous enough but it’s intent is CONTROL of the voters again. Look here ‘councilmen’ the GUIDELINES do not exist if the Rakyat say so. The Rakyat does not have to be aware of anything the BN guys wrote in some airconditioned office 20 years ago that Pakatan now throws at the voters that the Rakyat will never wanted to go along even in 1993 with nor wants to pay their tax funds for. Who the hell are the people who wrote the so-called NUISANCE rules? BN. Why the hell is Pakatan throwing these BN written rules at us without amendments?
Have the current Pakatan councillors taken a 66.6% quorum census on whether the guidelines should be passed? If this handful of councilmen is PLACED by political cronies without the Rakyat’s 66.6% quorum vote via Local Council Elections that Pakatan has never kept word on, it is arguable that the ‘gudelines’ INCLUDING the UNELECTED/UNVOTED Klang Municipal Councillors are ILLEGAL and not approved by a 66.6% quorum majority of the voters rather than 1% MPs, this includes the unelected councillor cronies who draw salaries on taxpayer funds even though the Rakyat did not and probably would never vote for them. Amend all voting systems to one-man one vote!
Which political cult of personality, nepotistic and term limitless probably as well (Pakatan is full of unvotable nepotism and term limitless mentality types) placed these idiot writers of guidelines that the majority of the voters did not accept in 1993 when BN was in power? Why have these BN era guidelines not been AMENDED yet and imposed on the Rakyat instead? By extension what makes the current Pakatan installed (instead of voted at 66.6% quorum) Council any different from the 1993 BN council ESPECIALLY if the same guidelines look set to be enforced without majority agreement (that even being subject to the minority of one rule that democratically ensures right to dissent???
The councilman’s salaries do not exist if the Rakyat say so. If the Rakyat do not want to pay a stupid RM10 guidelines copy, the Klang Municipal Council, which is not even there by popular vote and merely installed (not voted at 66.6 quorum at a one-man one-vote paradigm) by Pakatan politicians (much like in 1993 BN installed the same without Local Copuncil Elections – an election promise for GE12 that Pakatan has entirely FAILED to keep), the INSTALLED/UNELECTED Klang Municipal Councillors had better shut up, do their jopb to amend those guidelines and stop harrassing the voters for RM10 like some schoolyard protection money gangster. However, IF the renovation works disrupt neighbouring houses, this shall be determined by the complaints IF ANY (though don’t even try to strawman false complaints by political supporter.colluder cronies to prove a point), not for the Klang Municipal Councillors to re-empt and presume then demand RM10 from the voters for. Private property, private building, NONE of the council’s business unless formal complaints are made.
The Klang Municipal Council had better adhere to a 66.6% quum, not the voters adhere to the Klang Municipal Council ‘renovatrion guidelines’. Where are those Local Council Elections and amendments to BN era local laws? The ‘end of APARTHEID Constitution’ needed amendments?
ARTICLE 3
Start them young, says DPM : Muhyiddin launches interfaith programme, says respect for religions must begin in schools – by Hamzah Nazari – Wednesday, February 22, 2012 – 12:35
HARMONY: Muhyiddin shares a light moment with Sri Aman students yesterday — Pic: Ashraf Shamsul Azlan
PETALING JAYA: To promote interfaith understanding, the National Unity and Integration Department of the Prime Minister’s Department and the Education Ministry have organised the World Interfaith Week.
The programme, which was launched by Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday at Sri Aman Girls Secondary School, is slated to be an annual affair.
Muhyiddin quoted Prof Dr Kamar Oniah Kamaruzaman of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in her book Religion and Pluralistic Co-Existence — The Muhibah Perspective on the five main principles to ensure harmony among religions and communities is maintained:
“Do not interfere and intervene in the internal affairs of other religions and races; acknowledge, understand and respect the differences and sensitivities of other religions and races; practice of sympathy and empathy, being kind to people and treating them the way they like to be treated; cooperate as a society by generating and acting on the parallel ethics for the benefit of all; and uniting in diversity to love the nation by fostering the spirit of loyalty and high sense of patriotism.”
He said that unlike other countries that were plagued by wars, fighting and crises, Malaysians respected each other’s religions and also celebrated each other’s religious holidays.
“Malaysia already practises peace and harmony among religions, allowing it to develop as a country,” he said. He said a country could not develop without peace.
“It is my opinion that we should begin the respect for religions in schools, appreciate our diversity and practise not just tolerance, but acceptance,” he said.
The launch was also attended by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (national unity and performance management) Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, Education Department director-general Datuk Seri Abdul Ghafar
Mahmud, National Unity and Integration Department director general Datuk Azman Amin Hassan, Selangor deputy director of education Mahmud Karim, and students from six schools in the area.
Abdul Ghafar said the early part of the programme took place this month through university-level forums held in Kelantan.
He said but they were looking at organising co-curricular activities that would draw the attention of secondary school students.
Azman Amin said that during the forums on understanding in Kelantan, which involved 18 people from 10 nations, they had also visited places of worship of different faiths.
Selangor State Advisory Committee on Unity member Sanggat Singh Peshi said students had 10 years in school to be influenced by interfaith harmony.
“This year’s theme is ‘harmonise’,” he said, “It is the music of peace and muhibah (goodwill).”
The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Malaysia director T.K. Lee said it is important to acknowledge the fundamental nature of humanity and the consciousness and oneness of mankind. “We should have no prejudice among ourselves as we are the flowers of one garden. No matter race or religion, we are basically one,” he said.
Among the religions that were represented by the programme were Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism and Sikhism.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
“It is my opinion that we should begin the respect for religions in schools, appreciate our diversity and practise not just tolerance, but acceptance,” he said.
The best way to appreciate diversity is voa the 3 items below. Acceptance of APARTHEID is anathema to good governance and democratic freedoms and the UNHCR Article 1 as well as Islam which forbids the Sin of
Asabiya. Tolerance is as implied. The only type of relations which can exist under APARTHEID is tolerance if not other forms of retaliation appropriate to the severity of the apartheid. APARTHEID lite is still apartheid and hence will never be accepted. Also only fools will tolerate APARTHEID. Anyone who has any self respect will fight to end apartehid not tolerate APARTHEID. Perhaps DPM Muddy will consider the UNHCR Article 1 and the Sin of Asabiya since all that wealth already means DPM Muddy only wants power. And power is best achieved by granting :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy.
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. . . . amongst other things.
Paedophillic undertones? For clarity, start them young on DEMOCRATIC non-APARTHEID, UNHCR and Islamic non-Asabiya principles.
The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Malaysia director T.K. Lee said it is important to acknowledge the fundamental nature of humanity and the consciousness and oneness of mankind. “We should have no prejudice among ourselves as we are the flowers of one garden. No matter race or religion, we are basically one,” he said.
Short of saying NO APARTHEID and the 3 items above? Some could say that behind a mouthful of APARTHEID being swallowed or spat out, is making our ‘foodie-faither’ here miss out on the more important parts of what TK (oops Team Killer?!?) Lee intended to say. Say it clear Mr. TK . . .
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy.
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. . . . amongst other things.
Equality is good, even for foodies ya?
ARTICLE 4
‘I don’t want to die useless’ – Hornbill Unleashed – by Aneesa Alphonsus – February 21, 2012
National laureate A Samad Said believes that Malaysians chose to keep their mouths shut, doing nothing; then ‘don’t blame the government. Blame yourself’.
Walk into the National Museum and head into the “Malaysia Now” Exhibit at Gallery D and you will see him among the nation’s literary greats. National laureate A Samad Said, a dimunitive man with a larger than life persona and much revered by Malaysian.
Conversation with him is a surreal experience, more so when he ordered a hot chocolate with an impish smile, dashing the notion that all serious literary people drink coffee – black.
At 76 years old, Pak Samad has the kind of zen persona that makes even his most vitriolic statements sound like poetry. It does then seem odd that he should co-chair the Bersih coalition.
So how did this quiet, unassuming man get involved in one of the biggest demonstrations the country has seen?
Those who saw the photos or who were at the walk in July 2011 are likely to remember for a long time to come, the sight of him walking barefooted to the palace to deliver a memorandum after having lost his slippers in the foray of the demonstration.
After so many years of quiet, why now at this age, did he decide to lend his voice and be a part of such a rally?
A native of Belimbing Dalam, a villager near Durian Tunggal in Malacca, Pak Samad received his early education during the second World War years at Sekolah Melayu Kota Raja (Kota Raja Malay School) in Singapore.
When the war was over, he continued his education at Singapore’s Victoria School and went on to work as a clerk in a hospital.
Pak Samad confessed that he had always wanted to be a writer. He began an unsuspecting career in 1954 by writing short stories, poems, features, dramas, novels and even diaries.
Later, he would get a job with Utusan Zaman in Singapore and other well-known Malay language magazines like Mastika and Remaja. He added that the reason why he wanted to write to much was so that he could chronicle everything he saw as sincerely as possible as seen through his eyes.
His calling as a writer was cemented in the years of 1957 and 1968 when a novel he had written won the consolation prize in a writing competition organised by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
The novel was Salina. Salina was the story of a woman who, due to poverty, finds work in the Singapore’s red light district of the 1950s.
Salina the novel, is today touted as a literary masterpiece, moving in its portrayal of humanity.
Much ugliness in Malaysia
When asked if Pak Samad personally knew a woman like Salina, he proffered that he knew and met many women like her. Salina, he said, was a composition of characters he had met.
“When I was in Singapore in the 1950s, I lived in places like Lorong Lalat before moving to Rangoon road. Both these areas and the surrounding ones like Johor Road and Deskar Road were red light districts.
“The rooms and houses were cheap, so that’s where I stayed,” he smiled.
“It was during this time that I got to know a few waitresses and sex workers. I would say that the character of Salina was a combination of these women I met.”
Salina took Pak Samad to greater heights and his writing career flourished.
As the years began to roll out, he realised that settling to recording and writing what he saw wasn’t enough.
Leaning forward in his chair, he said: “Here there were so many ugly things happening in front of me. I would see unfairness, intimidation, fraud and this moved me a step ahead from what I was used to.
“I saw that after 54 years of independence, we have come to point zero again. We have become racial when we want to win votes.
“I think there’s something wrong somewhere if, after five decades, a nation cannot stand on solid ground; I think it has failed.
“This is why I decide to walk, as you asked me. I wanted to do more than just write about what I saw.”
‘We need sincere leaders’
Pak Samad has his own idea of what it would take for the country to thrive as she should.
It’s a big idea, but he put it simply when he said, “We need sincere leaders with a vision and with a real project in mind to galvanise a nation. We don’t have that right now.”
He added that having said that, it would only be fair to exclude Tunku Abdul Rahman from the equation.
“Tunku Abdul Rahman was the beginner… who started things.
“Tun Abdul Razak may have had a vision but this didn’t quite turn out because he was too pro-Malay.
“After that, everything became rojak… because things became messy; you don’t come to the ideal to have a nation which is now symbolised by a motto – 1Malaysia. That’s what it is – 1Malaysia is just a motto, an advertisement.”
At this point, Pak Samad opened his eyes wide in mock annoyance, then quickly breaks into a smile and laughing heartily he asked, “Do I look angry? I’m not angry. I just act angrily.
“My wife always reminds me to be careful about what I say and write. But I know that whatever I write, there will be repercussions. I have always said that poems are weapons. I even have an anthology out called Puisi Itu Senjata but people don’t read it.”
But Pak Samad’s sense of reassurance is settled in the fact that Malaysians are beginning to voice their thoughts.
He said he believed that the younger generation is making an impact in some of the changes being witnessed. The “old people” he has discounted because they already know who to vote for.
‘Don’t blame the government’
Pak Samad is hopeful that this will eventually bring about the balance which is needed for democracy.
He said that this equilibrium will end what the government is doing by giving abrupt citizenship to immigrants just to make sure they vote for Barisan Nasional.
Why should someone who has just been here for three or five years be given the power to determine the country’s rule is a question he posed.
He said there were millions of other genuine rakyat who are not been given that chance.
“I will come back to the same thing again and again. I’m afraid that Malaysians won’t do their bit.
“If you keep your mouth shut doing nothing, don’t blame the government. Blame yourself,” he stated.
Perhaps it is this dogged determination which he says is part of his personality that has kept him doing what he has all this time.
To those who are not familiar with Pak Samad, fiery is not how one would describe him. But make no mistake that he is.
He doesn’t suffer fools gladly but is still very compassionate about the rights of Malaysians and there isn’t an iota of doubt that this is a man who is in love with his country.
He laughs at his repetitive self and says he knows he sometimes sounds like a broken record.
‘I am still same person’
But he doesn’t mind, of course, because someone has to say something. And at the risk of getting into trouble for it, he is completely at peace with it being him.
Acknowledging that he is in the twilight of his life, Pak Samad expressed a desire to see Malaysia become an example of a new country – harmonious, rich, fair, respectful and dominant in a way that her voice will be internationally respected.
“Some people have told me that I have changed as a person. But I know I am still the same. I do what I do, say what I say and write what I write because I don’t want to die uselessly.
“I want to be able to die knowing that I did something for my country, even if it’s a small part, to bring about the change I hope to see in my lifetime.”
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
National laureate A Samad ‘Onsokumaru’ Said believes that Malaysians chose to keep their mouths shut, doing nothing; then ‘don’t blame the government. Blame yourself’.
Shouting in itself is also quite useless, but to not die useless, Samad should run for election as a independent candidate. Some of us have been sabotaged so severely we may no longer be viable, but Samad, well loved and still very much alive and claiming to be concerned about Malaysia has no reason not to run as a candidate. Die useless? Samad is only as old as Ron Paul U.S. Representative for Texas’s 14th congressional district, Ron Paul is this very day revving up for his presidential candidacy in the USA and Samad talks about dying useless? Pathetic. Little wonder the difference between USA and Malaysia or even apartheid Africa (term limitless Mugabe is 88 years old still clinging to power . . . how about either prescription for Mubarak and Gaddafi, Mugabe?. . . ).
What on earth is Said Samad TALKING ABOUT?!? Twilight of life? Die useless?!? Get off your laureated a$$ and run for candidacy yer privileged coddled fogey! The people need Said as an MP to displace the term limitless nepotists and racists and corrupt running the country! Blame yourself?!? We’ll blame Said for not doing anything!
Drop the frames after this lol . . .
malaysiandemocracy 