ARTICLE 1
What is Ramadan? — Muhammad Nazreen – July 21, 2012
JULY 21 — Recently, I read an article by Tariq Ramadhan entitled “What Ramadan teaches us”. It poses a very significant subject for us to contemplate. Does Ramadan empower Muslims to be respected in that sense of “holier than thou”? From the very beginning, we have failed to conceive that Ramadan is a pride of humility. From the pride of humility then comes faith. And Ramadan paves a magnanimous way for us to revamp our faith. Ramadan is not as a simple as abstaining ourselves from food and drinks. It teaches us to appreciate the value of humanity and to uphold dignity of man.
Ramadan should be respected as a commemoration of social struggles. As a month of fasting, Ramadan gives us insights on how to celebrate the marginalised, becomes a voice to the voiceless and a champion to the oppressed. These are the essences of the holy month of Ramadan. It is a journey of the mind that was predetermined by God to embrace commonalities between the privileged and the needy. By of all means, humanity is a true path to seek divine love. Without humanity, Ramadan is meaningless. Ramadan excites everyone of us to attain the profound command of spirituality as said by Mahatma Gandhi: “I learned from Husayn how to be wronged and be a winner, I learn from Husayn how to attain victory while being oppressed”.
Ramadan unveils vast meanings for us to share. First, the tradition of fasting is prescribed in many religions before and after Islam. Yet, the practices might be diversified but they entail the same meaning — virtue of wisdom. It compels every single of us to renegade the values of tolerance between us. It attributes ample evidence to transcend religious boundaries and brings a vivid and concise explanation of what religions should be respected. Of all differences, we resemble common things in embracing diversity as a universal norm.
Ramadan has created a stream consciousness for us to rethink the system. For instance, consumerism becomes a major hindrance for the development of the marginalised poor. So, Ramadan gives us chances to impose a radical structure on how we look at our society. Did we manage to capture the context of Ramadan? It juxtaposes us to sober up on how the poor are mistreated by the inequalities of the economic system. During this fasting month, we are encouraged to give more and get less. Perhaps, this might be an implicit message that we can learn from Ramadan. As economic repercussions loom everywhere, and capitalism marks its end, Ramadan bears a benevolent claim from society that we need a philanthropic nation.
Ramadan is a privilege for all of us to reaffirm our faith and belief, and disdain for our corrupted state of mind from overwhelming our conscience. It is proved in the verse below that the beauty of Ramadan is an authoritative consideration that was given by God to utilise our own reasoning. And Ramadan has never been an excuse for us to demand respect from others but it is how we build our own respect towards them. As the Quran speaks:
“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan), he must fast that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not fast must be made up) from other days. Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him” (2: 185).
As the verse speaks, it clearly intends an egalitarian manner irrespective of identity and race. It bolsters feasible attempts to exert a strong understanding of its purpose to contrive the future challenges of modernity. As what Tariq Ramadhan said: “Human beings must undertake the fast in a spirit of seeking nearness to the Unique, of equality and nobility among their fellows, women and men alike, and in solidarity with the downtrodden. The core of life thus rediscovered is this: to return to our hearts, to reform ourselves in the light of what is essential, and celebrate life in solidarity.” And this might help us to redefine what is Ramadan.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
And yet the writer may espouse low minded apartheid. Speak for :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;to assuage doubts on the high mindedness of Islam. Speak clearly and then stand for election on the above if a sincere Muslim and a world citizen not intending to control non-Muslims by placing Islam above all other religions.
ARTICLE 2
Kit Siang asks why Hisham not aware of JI, communism threats – by Clara Chooi – July 21, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 — DAP’s Lim Kit Siang today labelled Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein the “lousiest” Home Minister in history for claiming ignorance when the police Special Branch unit had alleged of communist and terrorist elements in Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
The Ipoh Timor MP asked Hishammuddin how he could have been kept out of the loop of such information when the unit comes under the direct purview of his ministry.
“It is the most cowardly, craven and irresponsible response from Hishammuddin… Is Hishammuddin admitting he is the lousiest Home Minister in the nation’s 54-year history?” Lim (picture) said in a statement here.
Hishammuddin was quoted in the media yesterday as saying that he was unsure if Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terrorists and former communists have infiltrated PR parties PAS and DAP as claimed Special Branch chief assistant director of the E2(M) national social extremist threat division Mohd Sofian Md Makinuddin on Thursday.
“I’ve not received any information so far, so I cannot say if it’s true and that’s all I can say for now.
“Because information below the radar is very sensitive and may come from international agencies, which we cannot share with the public until it is verified,” he was quoted as saying by national news agency Bernama.
Lim asked if the minister would have issued a similar response and claim ignorance if Mohd Sofian had made similar allegations against Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties like UMNO, MCA or MIC.
“Of course not!” the veteran politician said.
He reminded that apart from claiming of JI and communist elements in PR, Mohd Sofian had also told the media on Thursday that he has given some 300 talks exposing alleged security risks presented by PR parties.
“Imagine a Home Minister who does not know what his top Special Branch officer had been doing in public talks for some two years?” Lim pointed out.
He added, however, it was highly unlikely that Mohd Sofian had acted independently when going public with his claims for this would then mean that the latter had committed a breach of civil discipline.
Lim said Mohd Sofian should be sacked from the Special Branch if he had not obtained clearance from his superiors in the government before issuing such press statements like “an unguided missile”.
PR lawmakers have since denied Mohd Sofian’s claim, saying the allegation was likely aimed at negating BN’s chances in the coming polls.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Ingenuous pretences by creating (indirectly threatening) with non-existent threat means that Kit Siang who revelled in the 1969 riots is intending some seditious action. Being a participant of the last riots and an MP, and related and likely funded by PAP (which is why DAP MPs cannot declare assets – PAP also being likely a Communist sympathiser of some sort, though playing the US side for fools as well), Kit Siang needs to be taken in for questioning for raising and instigating violent Communists. I believe that Hishamuddin (doubtless with access to neurotech access) who knows what threats are in Malaysia, will want to find out what Kit Siang is talking about.
Just to remind all Malaysians though. Cuba, South Africa, China and Russia ARE Communist states although peaceful and semi-peaceful ones. Would BN’s MCA and Gerakan like to initiate better relations between mainland and Malaysian Chinese by the opening of CPCC clubs and PLA youth camps in Malaysia?
Multipolar World Order – Because hegemony of uncontrolled Capitalism results in wealth backed fundos, plutocrats and term limitless oligarchs and nepotists that destroy democracy.
ARTICLE 3
Hanif panel failed to ask: Who ordered the violence or did the police lose control – BERSIH – Written by Bersih 2.0 – Thursday, 19 July 2012 14:55
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections 2.0 (BERSIH 2.0) views the recent statements by former chief of police Tun Hanif Omar in which he termed the allegations of police brutality as “unprofessional” as a weak response in the face of numerous eyewitness accounts of violence from the authorities during the 28 April peaceful assembly.
Hanif said that Kuala Lumpur Chief Police Officer Datuk Mohmad Salleh, who was observing through monitors in the Bukit Aman control centre, saw police handling the protesters in an unprofessional manner but does not acknowledge the brutal and excessive force used by the police as depicted in the medical reports of some protestors.
He also said that the police officers on duty had not been given specific instructions or SOPs on how to deal with the media and that the panel was trying to get the police to declare whether they received the three United Nations guidelines on treatment of the media and handling of crowds, among others.
Hanif should realise that the police surely receive their instructions from those higher up; thus, the IGP and Home Minister are also responsible.
Not merely about SOPs: Who is RESPONSIBLE for the violence
The response from IGP Tan Sri Ismail Omar that SOPs for police handling of the media would be issued “soon” fails to concretely address the concerns of the public and international community who witnessed many instances of violence directed at the media during the gathering.
On Hanif’s renewed call for the BERSIH 2.0 steering committee to meet with his panel, BERSIH 2.0 reiterates its objections to the panel itself as well as to Hanif’s appointment as its chairman and will not engage with it due to the biasness and composition of the investigative panel.
We also wish to remind the authorities that the unanswered question still remains – who is responsible for the untold violence upon participants of the peaceful assembly that occurred after the first tear gas was fired?
Peaceful protesters were beaten repeatedly
As depicted in the on-going public inquiry by Suhakam, evidence based on medical reports of some who were detained by the police appears to show that some members of the police force were out to punish those who wore BERSIH 3.0 t-shirts, anti-Lynas t-shirts or any yellow t-shirts, by inflicting excessive and completely unjustified violence on them.
Some detainees were attacked at the time of arrest, when they were in shops dining, or about to board LRTs while others were attacked after arrest and despite the absence of struggle. Some were alleged to have been assaulted by over 30 police personnel. Many speak of having to “run the gauntlet” of police personnel and beaten repeatedly before being loaded onto police trucks.
Vengeance: Who gave the order or did the police lose control
The brutality suggests that a segment of the police force on duty that day had acted with vengeance against BERSIH 3.0 participants whether due to orders given to them or because they had lost control. There are too many reports of police officers who were wearing blue police uniforms but without their names and police identity numbers so as to prevent the victims of violence from identifying the perpetrators of police violence. This cannot be taken lightly by those in power.
In addition to BERSIH 3.0 participants, it must not be forgotten that more than 12 photographers and journalists were assaulted, intimidated or detained by police while reporting the rally, and cameras, memory cards and video equipment were taken away.
People are fed up with the government’s lip service
As such, it is disappointing to see the Home Minister merely repeating the government’s stance that the panel’s findings of police violence only supported the Government’s position on the need to have mass gatherings in a controlled environment such as a stadium. BERSIH 2.0 remains firm that those in power must remember their first duty is to protect the constitutional freedom of citizens to assemble peacefully.
Thus, BERSIH 2.0 wishes to repeat its call for the establishment of an independent police commission such as the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to investigate any allegations of police misconduct and violence in a manner that is credible and fair in the eyes of the Malaysian public.
Anything less than this will not be acceptable for a public that has grown weary of lip service and the people will not hesitate to make this clear during the next elections.
Keluar Mengundi, Lawan Penipuan!
Salam Bersih!
BERSIH 2.0 Steering Committee
Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0)
The Steering Committee of BERSIH 2.0 comprises:
Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan (Co-Chairperson), Datuk A. Samad Said (Co-Chairperson), Ahmad Shukri Abdul Razab, Andrew Khoo, Arul Prakkash, Arumugam K., Awang Abdillah (Kuching), Dominic Hii (Sibu), Dr Farouk Musa, Hishamuddin Rias, Liau Kok Fah, Mark Bujang (Miri), Maria Chin Abdullah, Niloh Ason (Kuching), Richard Y W Yeoh, Dr Subramaniam Pillay, Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon, Dr Wong Chin Huat, Dato’ Yeo Yang Poh and Zaid Kamaruddin.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
The questions are irrelevant and cannot be answered. Why is BERSIH not challenging apartheid but disturbing the public like this? Who ordered violence can only be interrogated from rioters (who would be better off as private candidates instead of following BERSIH around like lost goats) and the police who were present. The Hanif panel cannot ask questions which cannot be answered here. BERSIH is being vexatious and pro-opposition, the whole strawman method has the stench of PR all over it. Is that all BERSIH can do? Antagonise the Hanif panel instead of engaging them? But not field a single candidate? BERSIH has hijacked :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;to become a self promotionary exercise that led by smiling crocodiles that accept apartheid and extreme religion. BERSIH IMHO as suspected, is more and more a STRAWMAN out to get innocent and brave Malaysians (who would be better off running AGAINST BOTH BN and PR as indie candidates) to expose themselves to possibility of injury and arrest in violent rallies led by strawmen NGOs.
Run for candidacy instead as private candidates for MP or Assemblymen instead. Ambiga was the one who killed Nizar’s MBship in Perak when Ambiga was Bar Council President, Samad who knows is a front for racism posing as a BERSIH person (note that Samad has yet to directly condemn apartheid or forced religion and say anything against any big timers on so many other money related crony enrichment related issues).
All this while they smile and slither avoiding the above 3 issues on the back of real efforts of real activists. Stop rallying with BERSIH and run for election or pool resources to field candidates INDEPENDENT of and not associated with listed strawmen who do not even want to run for MP or Assemblymen below :
Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan (Co-Chairperson), Datuk A. Samad Said (Co-Chairperson), Ahmad Shukri Abdul Razab, Andrew Khoo, Arul Prakkash, Arumugam K., Awang Abdillah (Kuching), Dominic Hii (Sibu), Dr Farouk Musa, Hishamuddin Rias, Liau Kok Fah, Mark Bujang (Miri), Maria Chin Abdullah, Niloh Ason (Kuching), Richard Y W Yeoh, Dr Subramaniam Pillay, Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon, Dr Wong Chin Huat, Dato’ Yeo Yang Poh and Zaid Kamaruddin.
The Rakyat can do without the above false flaggers and Hanif has shown enough patience with DAP’s self serving nonsense politics, term limitless and undemocratic nepotism . . . though Hanif is no saint for certain, for Hanif has not addressed apartheid in any honest manner either BERSIH issues notwithstanding.
ARTICLE 4
Going fishing? Wanna land a haul? Wear an ABU T-shirt! – Posted on July 10, 2012
Flew back from Labuan yesterday wearing my Asalkan Bukan UMNO t-shirt. Got dirty looks from some, the thumbs up from others.
Landed at the LCCT, headed home and had to immediately send the car to the workshop.
Sigh!
Another bill on the way!
Had to cab it back to the office.
Still wearing the ABU t-shirt.
Ten minutes into the drive, the cabbie, a Malay, whose age I later found out to be 55, had to ask.
“Encik tak sokong UMNO, ke?”.
I threw back a question.
“Encik sokong UMNO?”.
Saya bukanlah penyokong UMNO, tapi saya takut dengan pembangkang. Takut kuasa jatuh kat tangan Cina”, he replied.
Decided to run by him a reply to a similar situation I faced after an ABU ceramah in Kuala Terengganu earlier this year.
“Awak setuju, tak, rasuah di negara in sudah sampai tahap kritikal?”, I asked.
“Ala, kalau pembangkang jadi kerajaan pun sama. Semua orang politik, kan.”, he shot back.
“Tapi yang berkuasa sekian lama ini UMNO / BN, kan? Yang berasuah hingga kekayaan negara terus lesap, dan harga barang naik sehingga hampir 50% rakyat hidup susah UMNO / BN, kan?”, I asked.
He remained silent.
I asked his age and if he had any grand daughters.
Told me his age and said he had 2 grand daughters.
I asked how old the youngest was.
9 years old, he told me.
I then asked him if he remembered Noor Suzaily Mokhtar.
He said he did not.
I asked him if he remembered the case of a young Malay girl almost 10 years ago who was raped and murdered in a bus by the driver in the morning.
“Ingat. Kejam betul pemandu tu”, he said. shaking his head.
“Pemandu tu Melayu, kan? Bukan Cina, bukan India, kan?”, I asked.
Again, he was silent.
“Ok, saya nak tanya abang. Kalau cucu abang nak hantar sekolah dengan bas sekolah, sekarang ada dua pilihan. Pemandu bas sekolah Melayu yang disyakki ada tabiat pegang-pegang dan sentuh gadis muda, dan seorang pemandu lagi Cina agama Buddha yang tidak ada tabiat ini. Abang pilih mana?”, I asked.
Again, silence, and then he said, “Ok, saya faham”.
Sudah 40 tahun UMNO liwat dan rogol orang Melayu tak cukup, ke? Tak nak selamatkan cucu kita daripada dirogol dan diliwat UMNO lagi?”, I asked.
Silence.
“Orang Melayu di Kuantan merayu supaya kilang Lynas dihentikan. Kerajaan UMNO hiraukan, ke? Tahi UMNO di Penang siapa yang bersihkan? Kerajaan pimpinan Guan Eng, kan? Sampai bila abang nak terus diperangkapkan dengan politik kaum UMNO?”, I pressed.
“Encik bila nak ambil kereta dari bengkel?, he asked.
I was caught off guard by his question, and asked him why.
“Stesyen teksi tadi selalu ramai pemandu tunggu nak ambil penumpang. Encik singgah sembang dengan mereka, boleh? Mereka perlu dengar ini. Boleh?”, he explained.
I am having lunch with a group of them tomorrow.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Other than trying to sound clever, playing with words and allegorisms not even near half a sophism, People’s Parliament looks set to be the biggest non-entity in Malaysia despite the ‘educated state’ of the people AND followers. If People’s Parliament does not field at least 10 candidates for all the resources People’s Parliament has, People’s Parliament is but a sad clown spouting nonsense on the sidelines instead of picking a constituency or few to run in. Over qualified (probably rote study) strawmen poseurs with money based degrees and Phds. trying to be intelligensia. Critical thought and serious minded people would be PLANNING to remove BN and PR by now.
People’s Parliament however only has smart alec comments trying to sell t-shirts. The foreign street worker probably does more in sales of t-shirts and real effects on society. Who knows the story-article isn’t even real and just made up by People’s Parliament people trying to sell tshirts! Defunct despite the resources and networks and for mere pennies and somewhat ineffective Orwellian minded advertising. Not a candidate by GE13? Then at least 1 blogger might potentially well be more effective than this entire so-called People’s Parliament . . .
ARTICLE 5
Munafiq, munafiq, munafiq! – Wednesday, 18 July 2012 RPK
The three Umno personalities who led the charge against the Rulers were Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Deputy Prime Minister Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Ghafar even said that criticising the Rulers is allowed and is not considered sedition. It only becomes sedition if you ask to abolish the Monarchy and turn Malaysia into a Republic. Other than that it is allowed and is not sedition.
NGOs lodge reports against trio over insult
(THE STAR) – Some 50 members from two non-governmental organisations here have lodged police reports against three people alleged to have insulted the Johor Ruler recently.
The members from the Islamic Welfare and Sermon Organisation of Malaysia (Pekida) and Bukit Naning Youth Association also staged a peaceful protest at three locations in Bukit Naning yesterday.
The protests, which began at about 2pm, were held at Dataran Air Hitam in Bukit Naning, in Air Hitam and along the Air Hitam-Yong Peng road.
The members then marched to the Bakri police station where three of their members lodged reports against blogger Syed Abdullah Syed Hussein Al-Attas, Ahmad Shukri Kamaruddin and Haziq Abdul Aziz.
A representative of the groups, Abdul Aziz Sharip, said Johoreans could not accept what the three had written in their blogs, Facebook and Twitter about Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.
He said the authorities should impose deterrent penalties on them to prevent others from insulting and disrespecting the Malay Rulers.
************************************************
I feel bloody sick in the stomach when these Melayu haprak start foaming at the mouth and make police reports, organise demonstrations and ‘pledges of loyalty’ sessions, etc., in defense of the Monarchy.
It is not that I am anti-Monarchy. On the contrary, I am pro-Monarchy — although I believe that the Rulers should be subjected to criticism when they do wrong. It is just that I am anti-munafiq (hypocrites). And do we have so many munafiq amongst these Malays who are allegedly upholding Islam.
If they are really upholding Islam then they will know that the Rulers can be tegur. Tegur is the Malay culture of pointing out the mistakes that you make, which comes under the doctrine of amar makruf nahi munkar, a very important principle of Islam — in fact, mandatory for all Muslims.
I suggest these Malays go study the kitab of Imam Ghazali. Sheesh, they got the cheek to tell me not to talk about Islam because I am not learned enough about Islam to talk about it. It is they who are jahil (ignorant) about Islam, not me.
Of course, tegur does not mean you can insult the Rulers. Not only should you not insult the Rulers, you should not insult anyone for the matter, the Rulers included. Insulting is not tegur, which many Malaysians do not seem to understand, Malaysia Today readers not exempted.
Around 30 years or so ago, it is these same Malays from Umno who launched a campaign to run down the Rulers. The non-Malays knew better than to join the Ruler-bashing frenzy, though. The non-Malays knew that bashing the Rulers would invite a backlash. So the non-Malays very wisely stayed neutral, although the Gerakan President, Lim Keng Yaik, joined in the Ruler-bashing frenzy, complete with saliva spraying from his mouth as he lambasted the Sultan of Pahang.
The issue is: the Umno Malays were not trying to tegur the Rulers to point out the mistakes they were making. They were spinning lies about the Rulers. That is the issue I was opposed to. If it were a genuine tegur then I would not have minded. But they were spinning downright lies about the Rulers.
The three Umno personalities who led the charge against the Rulers were Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Deputy Prime Minister Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Ghafar even said that criticising the Rulers is allowed and is not considered sedition. It only becomes sedition if you ask to abolish the Monarchy and turn Malaysia into a Republic. Other than that it is allowed and is not sedition.
That was what happened in the 1980s. It was a Ruler-bashing fiesta. And Umno said this is not a crime. It is not wrong to criticise the Rulers when they do wrong. This is what Umno said. But they did not criticise the Rulers. They spun lies about the Rulers. And they said that this is allowed, nothing wrong in that.
Munafiq, munafiq, munafiq!
The TV stations showed footages of a Chinese towkay’s house in Batu Feringgi in Penang and said that this was His Highness the Sultan of Selangor’s lavish bungalow (His Highness was the Raja Muda then), paid for with the taxpayers’ money.
Lies!
The TV stations showed footages of Rumah Kedah in Northam Road (now called Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah) in Penang and said that this was His Highness the Sultan of Kedah’s lavish bungalow, paid for with the taxpayers’ money.
Lies!
Actually Rumah Kedah was an old run-down pre-war house (not at all lavish), which belonged to the (Umno-led) Kedah State Government for the use of the Kedah State Government officers who visit Penang.
Lim Keng Yaik, the Gerakan President, then went on TV to relate how ‘Tengku’ Wong and His Highness the Sultan of Pahang scammed hundreds of millions of Ringgit worth of timberland in the State of Pahang.
Lies!
‘Tengku’ Wong was actually the business partner of the Menteri Besar, Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob, currently the Governor of Melaka.
What happened was that Khalil gave loads of timberland to ‘Tengku’ Wong and he told the Pahang State EXCO that ‘Tengku’ Wong was the Sultan’s business partner and that the Sultan had instructed the land to be given to him. Of course, no one in the EXCO dared oppose it or dared question the Sultan about it. Hundreds of millions was scammed in this manner and the slime-ball is now the Governor of Melaka as ‘punishment’ for what he did.
Ghafar then revealed that more than RM116 million worth of various ‘negotiated’ contracts meant for Bumiputeras were given to ‘Tengku’ Yong of Terengganu, the business partner of His Highness the late Sultan of Terengganu. RM116 million was about 30 years ago so imagine how much that is worth today.
The Menteri Besar of Terengganu, Dato’ Seri Amar Di Raja Tan Sri Haji Wan Mokhtar Ahmad (S.S.M.T., P.S.M., S.P.M.T., D.A., D.P.M.J., K.M.N., J.P., P.J.K.), then revealed that he had received a ‘Surat Kuning’ (‘Yellow Letter’) from the Palace instructing him to give these contracts to ‘Tengku’ Yong’s company and that ‘Tengku’ Yong was His Highness the Sultan’s business partner.
Lies!
‘Tengku’ Yong was actually Wan Mokhtar’s business partner. Then, when this matter ‘exploded’ and we from the Terengganu Malay Chambers of Commerce confronted Wan Mokhtar, he denied he had said he had received a ‘Surat Kuning’ from the Palace. He then accused us of spreading lies and that this was an opposition conspiracy to defame him. After that, those who confronted him were targeted for ‘assassination’ and Umno told me to get out of Terengganu and go back to Selangor. (Yes, 30 years ago back in the 1980s I was already on Umno’s ‘death list’).
Then Anwar Ibrahim accused His Highness the Sultan of Kelantan of stealing a Lamborghini from the Customs warehouse in Subang and of importing cars without paying tax.
Lies!
Actually, Rulers have a quota of seven tax-free cars, while Raja Mudas have three, and His Highness the Sultan of Kelantan was still within his quota. Anwar then said that the Conference of Rulers had not approved his Highness the Sultan’s quota. Another lie. The quotas have nothing to do with the Conference of Rulers. The State Government approves these quotas and the State of Kelantan was then under Umno. Hence Umno had approved His Highness the Sultan of Kelantan’s quota.
See how they spun all these lies 30 years ago back in the 1980s? And the few cases I mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg. There were many more cases. And they were all lies meant to make the Rulers look bad.
And do you know what? Because of these lies they spun about the Sultan of Kelantan, the voters of Kelantan took the side of the Sultan and in 1990 the Kelantanese voted for PAS-Semangat 46 and kicked Umno out. Until today Umno can’t take back Kelantan, and I hope they never will. I hope the people of Kelantan will remember what Umno did to their Sultan.
Hidup PAS!
And that is why most of the Rulers do not support Pakatan Rakyat, in particular PKR. The Rulers have never forgotten or forgiven Anwar and those ex-Umno people in PKR who went on a Ruler-bashing orgy 30 years ago. The Rulers do not trust Anwar and those Melayu from PKR who were once in Umno and who dragged the Rulers through the mud.
The Rulers have no issue with PAS, though. DAP did not whack the Rulers, no doubt. But they stood aside and enjoyed seeing Umno whack the Rulers. Hence, although DAP can claim to have stayed ‘neutral’, they did not protest the lies being spun about the Rulers. But PAS stood by the Rulers. Thus the Sultan told the voters to kick out Umno and give Kelantan to PAS.
So can we stop all this nonsense? Today, these Melayu are pretending to be defending the Rulers. Actually they were the ones who introduced the culture of lying about the Rulers. As I said, tegur is okay. That is the Islamic thing to do. But lying is certainly not on, not only for Islam but also for any religion for that matter. And these are all a bunch of lying hypocrites who should be shot.
Hidup Raja!
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Hidup PAS? Hidup Raja?
If in context, no problem. If taken out of context, and knowing what RPK is like, I’d say RPK was tacitly approving Hudud-Fundamentalism AND increasingly-looking-like Crypto-Apartheid in the last 2 ‘hidups’. Good info on all the monstruous nepotists, term limitless oligarchs, and racists but once again, RPK’s duplicity stinks of crypto-racism no end. Munafiq is supporting a political party that wants to implement limb hacking for stealing.
And if not for the way PAS is run, we might as well be talking to the Japanese gangster Yakuza who at worst (and even no longer practicing) only took the little finger at most, Hudud is extreme though any who are brainwashed enough to put on an explosive suicide belt would not think much of limb hacking, the mindset of Hudud is akin to terrorism, and Allah is supposed to be merciful, whats so merciful about removing people’s limbs or depending on terror to ensure good behaviour in society? This must come from one’s own voilition , not by fear of limbs being hacked off. Macabre though probably bloodthirsty enough for the Vampire/Zombie fan set. And RPK tacitly endorses PAS? Please don’t go ‘hidup’ without considering the implications and undue encouragement to people who are already incapable of introspection of their bloodthirsty natures . . .
ARTICLE 6
Malaysia owes development to ‘promises fulfilled’, says Najib – by Mohd Farhan Darwis – July 17, 2012
Najib proclaims “Merdeka” seven times as a symbolic nod to the upcoming independence celebrations.
KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today said that the development now enjoyed by Malaysia is due to the Barisan Nasional (BN) government fulfilling its promises to Malaysians.
Najib said the BN government was also behind the country’s transformation from an agriculture-based economy to an industrial-based one with the aim of progressing towards a high-income, developed status.
“We are developed and successful because the government has kept its promises to the rakyat throughout its 55 years of rule.
“We promised a united country. We guaranteed transformation from agriculture to a country of industry, and now that of a developed high-income country,” said Najib in a speech at the launch of the “Kibar Jalur Gemilang” event in conjunction with Merdeka Day celebrations.
Despite the opposition’s claims that this year’s Merdeka theme smacked of political motives, Najib said the “Fulfilled Promises” theme was chosen as the BN government he helms had succeeded in delivering all its promises to Malaysians.
BN had also used the same slogan in its nationwide Fulfilled Promises Tour by focusing on the contributions and assistance extended to Malaysians.
“We made many promises to the rakyat, BR1M, Menu Rakyat 1 Malaysia, including the already-launched 1 Malaysia Textiles Store, and more,” he said as he officiated the programme held in conjunction with August 31 independence celebrations in Little India in Brickfields, an Indian-majority area.
Besides Brickfields, the programme will also be held at two locations important to the other two major races, namely Malay stronghold Kampung Baru and China Town on Jalan Petaling, a predominantly Chinese area.
“Under the 1 Malaysia banner, we need a single platform for all races. We have proved this, including for the Indian community. We have shown that most of the Indian community’s problems have been addressed.
“We will continue this fight, and what we find important for Indians and other races will be upheld by the government, “ said the prime minister.
On ending his speech, Najib loudly proclaimed “Merdeka” seven times as a symbolic nod to the upcoming independence celebrations.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
The promise to review Bumiputra Malays Special Privileges in 1972 was not kept 15 years from 1957 as per the Reid Commission. Development was only due to colonial legacies and infrastructure. Malaysia has fallen behind most of ASEAN. Apartheid is for LIARS who do not keep promises. Malaysia owes development to unaware export markets, NOT ‘promises fulfilled’, promises of BN (especially Reid Commission end of Bumiputra APARTHEID Privileges) have been left unkept instead.
ARTICLE 7
Migrant worker gets eight months’ jail for molest – July 16, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — A Pakistani security guard was jailed eight months by the magistrate’s court here today, on two counts of molesting a 55-year-old housewife last month.
Atif Shahzad, 29, was jailed six months on the first charge and eight months on the second charge for the offences committed at the highway project site at Blok 13, Flat Sri Johor, Cheras here between 9.50pm and 10.10pm on June 28, this year.
Magistrate Erry Shahriman Nor Aripin ordered the sentences to run concurrently from the date of arrest on June 29.
Atif Shahzad, however, claimed trial to a third similar charge on the victim at the same place, date and time.
The case was fixed for August 1 for mention.
S. Malini Anne was deputy public prosecutor while the accused was unrepresented.
In another court, a karaoke centre manager claimed trial to molesting an underage female student.
A. Alexender, 28, is accused of committing the offence on the 16-year-old at the Karaoke Song Box centre at Wangsa Walk Mall, Seksyen 5, Wangsa Maju, Sentul here at 4.30pm on May 30.
He also claimed trial to putting a 16-year-old boy in fear of injury when extorting him into surrendering his identity card and mobile phone at the same place, date and time.
Magistrate Parvin Hameedah Natchiar set August 13 for mention and allowed him bail of RM5,000 in one surety, with a restraining order against approaching the complainant. — Bernama
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
The taxpayers do not need this burden on the prison contractor system. The police should get the molested woman to slap the worker in front of the police station (for purposes of embarrassing the molesting worker back) and then send all parties packing. The court need not even involve itself, the people should not even pay months of prison to enrich the ‘Prison-Contractor/Supplier Complex’. The worker molests the woman. Woman slaps the worker back. End of story. The boss or foreman at the construction site could even administer the justice here though preferably with police oversight. WHY should the Rakyat pay for the magistrate court hearing, or the prison system with their taxes for what foreign workers do which could be corrected with the above suggestion in a few minutes, old Western ‘Sheriff’ style???
ARTICLE 8
Opaque tender awards scaring away foreign investors, says PAS man – July 15, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 — Putrajaya’s less-than-transparent system of awarding contracts for mega public projects appears to be putting off foreign firms from investing in Malaysia more than any street rally within the country could, PAS MP Dzulkefly Ahmad has warned.
The opposition lawmaker noted that international engineering firms were tempted by Malaysia’s burgeoning railway infrastructure projects worth up to RM160 billion that are up for grabs as announced recently by the Land Transport Commission but decided to hold back due to the deepening controversy over the nearly RM1 billion tender for light-rail transit (LRT) expansion works in the capital city.
“The case of the Ampang-LRT is now unfolding and the allegation that Najib and the MoF (Ministry of Finance) have a hand into this matter is now under serious scrutiny by all.
“Not the least is by the international bidders who have spent millions [of ringgit] to be partaking in what was earlier thought as a level-playing field for all,” Dzulkefly (picture) said in a statement to The Malaysian Insider this week.
The Kuala Selangor MP was referring to allegations that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also finance minister, had interfered in the tender and awarded the lucrative contract to a consortium of engineering companies led by local firm George Kent, one of three bidders that failed both the technical and commercial evaluations for the RM960 million contract.
The government was to announce the winning bid for the project last month but has delayed doing so.
Sources told The Malaysian Insider that only five of the eight bidders passed the technical and commercial evaluation stage but project owner SPNB finally recommended one of the two South Korean consortiums in the running — PDA Consortium — as the other consortiums were said to not have complied with all conditions.
“There are a lot more dealings shrouded in mystery than meet the eyes,” Dzulkefly, who heads PAS’ research unit, said.
He noted speculation was also rife that the contract for another LRT expansion project, on the Kelana Jaya line, will be given to a less-qualified company, bucking state-owned Syarikat Prasarana Nasional Bhd’s (SPNB) decision to award it to the Ingress-Balfour Beatty consortium, being the lowest bidder and the most technically-skilled.
SPNB is the government agency overseeing the rail projects.
“It is this and not Bersih or anti-Lynas (groups) that are chasing away foreign direct investments,” Dzulkefly was quoted as saying by his party’s paper, Harakah, in a similar report today.
Malaysia, which is seeking to break out of the middle-income trap and leap into the ranks of high-income economies, is targeting a foreign direct investment (FDI) of RM33 billion this year.
The Najib administration has gone on the offensive against several domestic movements including electoral reform lobbyist Bersih and a grassroots group Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) that are seen by pro-establishment groups as jeopardising Malaysia’s draw as an investment hub.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
There is no open tender at all. BN is putting on a show so that Malaysia may appear democratic instead of crony led. BN is a disgrace where ethics or open economy is concerned. We might as well be in Soviet Era Russia where contracts were GIVEN instead of tendered for. There is NO OPEN TENDER in Malaysia, only crony GLCs and bad politics and bad laws on the back of Hudud and APARTHEID. Malaysia is a total failure but has adopted all the democratic trappings that are staged to con foreign investors into thinking well of Malaysia. There is no open tender at all! Just fronting to tale your deposits and generate some air traffic! PAS’s great flaw of Hudud cannot be balanced by ethics and prevention of nepotism though the latter 2 are very difficult to foster in all but the best secular parties. Still PAS does set an example, even as PAS fails completely on apartheid and fundamentalism issues. PR’s hegelian dialectic alongside BN! Vote 3rd Force!
ARTICLE 9
So how about a room where mums can breastfeed babies? – July 15, 2012
JULY 15 — These days where I shop is dictated by where the nearest nursing room is located. And lucky me, there seems to be a boom in baby-friendly businesses in town.
This city may not seem to welcome babies and it doesn’t on most counts. I leave my stroller at home because pavements are far too narrow and clogged with pedestrians. Loud noises and bright lights startle at every turn, as if to say NO BABIES ALLOWED.
Fluffy clouds and soft lighting make for a cosy nursing experience at Tiny Footprints.
I occasionally nurse out in the open and while I tend to go unnoticed, I often feel some try too hard to NOT look. Plus as baby gets older and more curious about its surroundings, incidents of accidental exposure increase. And before you say “nursing cover”, it is summer time and way too hot to be underneath one, even if it has a wired neckline to allow air to circulate.
These are reasons why I now sniff out nursing rooms like a hound.
When I nursed my older child four years ago, it was any Starbucks or Pacific Coffee, but at $30 (RM12) a pop and other patrons sharing my table, I would sometimes seek out the privacy of a bathroom stall which was far from ideal.
This time around, with baby number two, I am happy to report that the situation has improved.
Newer shopping malls usually have one dedicated nursing room per floor. Malls developed by MTR Corporation tend to be more family-friendly so one can expect a decent nursing room.
The facility in the Elements mall in Kowloon has a five-star hotel feel to it, with an open section for nappy changing and a cushioned bench as well as a separate room for breastfeeding. The bench is perfect for dads who wish to bottle feed their babies while affording other mums to breastfeed in privacy in the adjacent room. My only gripe was that it was freezing in there.
I’ve also checked out the facility at the Queen Mary Hospital (public hospital) and while sparse, ticks the boxes for comfort and privacy. It is located on the ground floor and anyone can walk in to use it.
Perhaps striking the perfect balance are the two latest baby boutiques on the scene, Baby Central in Aberdeen and Tiny Footprints in Central.
These boutiques have carved out the most charming and cosy nursing nooks within their store’s premises, ensuring mums who pop by to shop can also have a rest and feed bubs.
Baby Central’s Katherine Regan has noticed that Hong Kong retailers are becoming more aware of their customers’ needs and as such an increasing number of nursing rooms are being made available across the city.
Regan, a mother of two, found it virtually impossible to find a comfortable nursing room.
Sharing her experience, she said: “A few shopping malls now provide nursing rooms but they are quite basic and inside the toilets so it’s not the nicest experience. Others are just simply so small that you can feel claustrophobic. I used the hotels if I needed to breastfeed!”
Like Regan, Tiny Footprints owner Caroline Williams found it difficult to find a place to feed her daughter, unlike in Australia where she is originally from.
Naturally, this experience came in handy when conceptualising Tiny Footprints. “We pretty much built the store around the concept of somewhere quiet to feed in the heart of central, and tried to make a sanctuary for parents to relax and pick up essentials at the same time,” she said.
A separate area to change and wait, perfect for hands-on dads and a private nursing rooms (right) at the Elements mall.
Although there are new shopping malls popping up all the time (and hopefully with better nursing rooms) in Hong Kong, the problem is they tend to have only one nursing room per floor at best. Now what would happen on a weekend when families descend upon malls?
One mother found out the hard way when she found a long queue to use the nursing room. “On average each mum would take 15 minutes. If there are 10 mums ahead of me, my hungry baby would have to wait 150 minutes to be fed!”
When she did get into a room, there would always be someone banging the door, asking her to hurry up. She very quickly gave up using these rooms, opting instead to feed under a nursing cover.
“The people who design these facilities have to understand that babies can’t wait in line. Build more cubicles,” she suggested citing nursing rooms in Singapore malls that feature a row of cubicles.
La Leche League leader Therese Tee is all for new mothers using nursing rooms to gain confidence to breastfeed but stresses that nursing in public is legal in Hong Kong.
“At the end of the day, the more normal breastfeeding is perceived, meaning more mothers doing it and especially in public, the more ‘normal’ it becomes and if everyone is accustomed to seeing it, mothers may not feel like they need to run into a nursing room,” she said.
For nursing mums planning a trip to Hong Kong, view a list (http://chattybrain.com/index.php/hong-kong/changing-nursing-breastfeeding-facilities/) of the best nursing rooms in HK voted by Chatty Brains Hong Kong. (http://www.fhs.gov.hk/english/files/reports/babycare.pdf).
The Hong Kong International Airport website (http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/passenger/arrival/t1/airport-services-facilities/nursing-room.html) lists 32 nursery rooms equipped with changing and feeding facilities.
Basic baby care facilities are also available at government buildings. See here (http://www.fhs.gov.hk/english/files/reports/babycare.pdf).
Suggestions for a cosier nursing room experience, by Katherine Regan:1. It’s difficult feeding a baby on a hard plastic chair. Provide a comfortable armchair.
2. Keep the nursing room separate from the toilet. Keep them clean as well. There should be baby nappy change facilities in the same room and a basin for mum to wash her hands. A proper nappy bin should be provided to keep bad odours at bay.
3. Soft lighting instead of harsh bright light. Walls painted a soft pastel colour instead of bright white. Small things make a big difference.
* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Ask for end of APARTHEID first then for breast feeding rooms. Women can be so short sighted and Human Rights unaware at times. (Hey Bloomberg, this one of yours?)
ARTICLE 10
Statement by Nicole Tan Lee Koon, Secretary of DAP Seremban Branch – LETTERS/SURAT – Sunday, 15 July 2012 Super Admin
Nicole Tan Lee Koon ???, Secretary of DAP Seremban Branch is saddened and disappointed that a Chinese leader like Chua Soi Lek (CSL) has shown contempt for the Malaysian voters’ democratic right to scrutinise leaders through open debates. Only in a Third-World-Malaysia can public debates and thus public scrutiny be ignored, denied and suppressed, especially before the general elections. By Athenian principles and John F. Kennedy’s standards, CSL has committed a crime !
CSL recently made statements on 8th of July, 2012 in The Star (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/7/8/nation/20120708165703&sec=nation) and 11th of July, 2012 in Mysinchew and Bernama (http://www.mysinchew.com/node/75317) and The Star (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/7/10/nation/20120710190053&sec=nation), respectively that he will not be debating Lim Guan Eng (LGE) again as it is “a waste of time” and that Najib need not debate with Anwar as “he is a proven leader”. CSL can only get away with these kind of utterances if he thinks Malaysians have Third World mentality like him.
Open debate is a platform for the Malaysian voters to judge whether the candidates are electable. John F. Kennedy quoted “No president should fear public scrutiny of his program, for from that scrutiny comes understanding, and from that understanding comes support or opposition; and both are necessary… Without debate, without criticism, no administration and no country can succeed, and no republic can survive. That is why the Athenian law makers once decreed it a crime for any citizen to shrink from controversy”. Hence, CSL has shown contempt for the Malaysian voters’ democratic right to scrutinise leaders through open debates.
Elections of governments or wakil rakyats are part of a country’s democratic process. To be a leader or Chief Executive Officer of a company one needs to have the proper qualifications and track record. Basically, a good Curriculum Vitae. What more to be a leader of a country? Hence, leaders/potential leaders need to be put under public scrutiny in terms of qualifications and track record.
Gone are the days of leader-centricism where the rakyats are supposed to be grateful to the leaders and follow the leaders blindly. Now, we need people-centric leaders, i.e leaders who are willing to be subjected to public scrutiny. Just look at the current Presidential Debates between Mitt Romney and Obama. It is opined that Najib as the PM of Malaysia (albeit without a mandate) should open himself to public scrutiny by debating with Anwar. Election is about trust and allowing the Rakyat to vote for the best candidate in terms of their character, knowledge and past deeds. By debating, we can judge whether they can articulate their policies well or not. The downside of an open debate is that ghosts of the past may come to haunt the debaters i.e their past misdeeds may come back to haunt them of which they do not have the answers. All the skeletons in their cupboard will be exposed and they have nowhere to hide. For example, CSL was dumbfounded when confronted by the questions about Nazri calling MCA “the battered wives” and the privatization of the Penang port.
CSL and Najib’s denial and suppression of open debates and public scrutiny will cause the Malaysian voters to speculate that they fear the raising of scandalous issues like Mongolia, Altantuya, Scorpene, PKFZ, Teoh Beng Hock, Ahmad Sarbani, Kugan, etc. Similarly, in Negeri Sembilan, the failure of Dr Yeow Chai Thiam to openly debate with Anthony Loke will raise much speculations that he fear the raising of embarrassing issues of his past record as the wakil rakyat in the Jimah constituency. Like the JE disaster; more than 100 people’s death; destruction of all pigs farms; termination of pig rearing activities; the JE trust funds and MCA Humanitarian Funds; repeated failure of election promises to reinstate pig farming; the failed integrated pig rearing centre; the plight of the pig farmers cum investors; and the location of Bukit Nanas near Bukit Pelandok as the sole national Toxic Waste Management Centre. The only way to avoid the unchallenged conclusions is for Dr Yeow willingly and happily, to openly debate Anthony Loke without making silly and stupid excuses and conditions.
13th of July, 2012 (Friday)
Nicole Tan Lee Koon
Secretary of DAP Seremban Branch
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Shame on Nicole, and honest Malaysians are full of disgust for Nicole, I hope more incapable Malaysians like Nicole will not come out and sabotage the real 3rd Force leaders. The Rakyat is no longer so easily conned by DAP’s failed promises and lies of mouthpieces like Nicole Tan! RPK what is this LIAR doing on your website?
By Athenian principles and John F. Kennedy’s standards AND the failure of DAP to keep campaign promises, DAP and the term limitless family blocs in DAP have committed a crime ! Political activists have been compltely side lined, their ideas stolen, laws left unamended and a string of abuse of power instances typifies DAP. DO NOT support DAP, Malaysia voters! DAP also intends Hudud and TERM LIMITLESS feudal fiefs in government so long as the retain power – they sacrifice the minorities for PAS’s Hudud!
DAP has not kept almost 90% of campaign promises, refused to amend laws, shamelessly demanded in collusion with BN 750K in funeral funds, LIED about declarations of MP assets bait and switch style, lied about local council elections and placed DAP cronies as EXCO instead of quorum voted locals! This woman Nicole Tan fetting DAP is a political prostitute, who is betraying the Rakyat by speaking as if DAP has hounourably kept to the promises that won DAP the representation DAP has now that DAP has npt. DO NOT support DAP, Malaysia voters! Support 3rd Force which is made from the below coalition :
Proposed 3rd Force Coalition
ARTICLE 11
The road to inhumanity is paved with apathy — Tay Tian Yan – July 14, 2012
JULY 14 — The passerby showed up, telling the world what he saw on that day.
Why didn’t you offer a helping hand seeing the woman lying badly injured on the floor?
“I was afraid (that) if I moved a little closer, I would be seen as the culprit “
If you knew she was still alive, would you try to help?
“I didn’t have a cellphone with me, and there were no others around. No way I could help.”
Did you feel bad just walking away like that?
“No. I was really short of time then.”
The passerby’s answers portray his crude candidness and the astonishing indifference of our society.
Not offering a hand to avoid trouble and for fear of being misunderstood (as the killer snatch thief?).
Not offering a hand because of not knowing how to (not even how to shout “tolong,” or move the victim to the roadside, or use a public phone, or seek help from others, or slow down the hurried pace…).
Not feeling bad for ignoring the dying woman because of one’s own tight schedule (which is more important than another individual’s life).
If things have gone this far, what else can we say?
Perhaps it is not just that passerby who would think this way, or pretend not to see the urgent need to save a life, or not feel bad for not trying to help…
We don’t have to point all our fingers at that passerby (and that’s why his identity has been withheld here), as there are many others who will act the same way.
Given such cultural background, doing a good deed and saving a stranger’s life could be compromised and even obliterated if the same does not do us any good at all.
As if that is not enough, it doesn’t even have any moral implication and has absolutely nothing to do with our conscience, not anything that requires us to bow down our heads when walking in a public street and yet still affords us a peaceful sleep at night.
So then why should anyone offer a hand to help? Rightly so, but if we should allow humanity to be brought down to such pathetic levels at the expanse of personal interests, this society of ours is no longer “human.”
I believe the genes of benevolence and righteousness do have a place in human nature, which would mobilise us to help. That said, the overpowering selfishness and utilitarianism in our society have altered and distorted the value system of many.
Our society should be one that inspires people to do good and help.
We don’t need to act like Batman, though, putting on a mask while doing justice.
But if we live in Batman’s Gotham City, caring only about our own business and not appreciating what Batman has done, there wouldn’t be any who is keen to take on Batman’s role. — mysinchew.com
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Stand against apartheid with a clear voice if you can Tay. From what I remember, Tay has been unable to even speak against apartheid, much less help the dying. The simple stuff first remember?
ARTICLE 12
Politicians, not police, ‘damaging’ country, says ex-top cop – by Amin Iskandar – July 14, 2012
Musa said he had commissioned a third party to review crime statistics during his tenure as IGP.—File pic
KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 ? In the face of public fears over security, Tan Sri Musa Hassan turned the heat on politicians whom he said were damaging the country by unfairly accusing police intelligence of spying on citizens instead of fighting crime.
The former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) refuted PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s allegation last week that the police Special Branch (SB) was spending more effort to spy on the public than combating crime, which she based on parliamentary papers from two years back showing the unit had used its manpower to produce reports on the activities of more than 700,000 Malaysians.
“The police keep the peace and security of all and whoever takes care of national security, he has to monitor.
“That means monitoring has to be done not only on criminals but also on politicians who want to damage the country, and (those who) are always damaging the country are politicians,” the 60-year-old told The Malaysian Insider in an interview this week.
Musa, who spent 41 years in the force and retired as its top policeman in 2010, has been credited with capturing Mas Selamat Kastari, one of the region’s most wanted terrorists, who escaped Singapore’s maximum security Whitley Detention Centre in 2008 and remained at large for over a year until May 2009.
But Musa’s record has also been blemished by allegations of conspiring with the Attorney-General and fabricating evidence over PKR de facto chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s “black eye” incident in 1998 when the latter was sacked as deputy prime minister on twin charges of corruption and sodomy.
He has filed a defamation suit against Anwar, which is fixed to be heard on October 16.
The retired policeman stepped into the spotlight again this week and urged the federal government not to mask crime figures, as pressure over a recent spate of high-profile reports of kidnappings, assaults and robberies in public areas and in broad daylight have put the home minister, the current IGP Tan Sri Ismail Omar and the government’s efficiency unit, Pemandu, on the defensive.
Musa pointed out that if crime were not on the rise, top-ranking officials and ministers would not need to hire bodyguards.
The ex-policeman had also suggested the government appoint a third party to conduct an independent review of the country’s crime rate and produce its own statistics, saying that he had roped in Universiti Sains Malaysia researchers to prepare crime statistics during his four years in office as IGP.
Last week, PKR had demanded the government redirect the SB towards fighting crime instead of spying on the public, telling a press conference on July 3 that the police intelligence unit had produced 382,000 reports on the political activities of Malaysian citizens and conducted 351,000 security clearance checks in 2010, based on the allocation for the force in Budget 2012.
The former IGP said politicians are not immune from the law, whether they are from the ruling party or the opposition.
“Her allegation is not right. Police monitor everything including politicians,” he said.
“If (the politician) does something that threatens national security, then we (the police) must act.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Arrest all APARTHEID and TERM LIMITLESS and NEPOTISTIC politicians at once!
ARTICLE 13
Now in Selangor, ALL races can buy PKNS properties with 7% discount – Written by Maria Begum, Malaysia Chronicle – Friday, 13 July 2012 09:47
Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers have tabled a landmark motion allowing the Selangor Economic Development Corporation or PKNS to open up a 7% special discount reserved for Bumiputera to all races born in Selangor, who wished to buy homes built by the state-owned property developer.
According to a Bernama report on Thursday, Speaker Teng Chang Kim had announced the motion received majority support at the Selangor state assembly, where the Pakatan holds 33 seats, compared to the 20 held by Prime Minister Najib Razak’s BN coalition.
The motion was submitted by DAP assemblyman for Kota Alam Shah M Manoharan and supported by Lau Weng San, the DAP MP for Kampung Tunku, at the Selangor state assembly.
Malaysia Chronicle
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Better than nothing but this is NOT the same as :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Gratuituous lying, limitless terms and self praise here only shows how lame and 3rd world Malaysia is.
ARTICLE 14
Blame and hate politics widely practised in DAP, says Tunku Abdul Aziz – Sunday, 08 July 2012 Super Admin
(The Star) – Former DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim has described the party’s politics as that of “blame and hate”.
He said his dramatic departure from politics had made him see clearly the futility of his trying to accommodate people whose values he was uncomfortable with.
“Taking a break from the politics of blame and hate was undoubtedly the best decision I ever made. I realised within two months of becoming a card-carrying party member that I had thrown in my lot with the wrong crowd,” he wrote in his weekly column in the New Straits Times.
“I felt a sense of blessed relief. I found myself released at last from the tyranny of DAP’s unfettered hypocrisy,” wrote Tunku Abdul Aziz.
Tunku Abdul Aziz wrote that he must have been “both absolutely mad and arrogant” to think that he could make “an impression on DAP’s thinly-disguised Chinese chauvinism.”
He said that after observing the party in all its subtleties for almost four years, there was little doubt over the party’s real interests.
“Malay voters have few misgivings about voting for MCA but they are not too sanguine about their future at the hands of what they see as a repressive and, in spite of noisy protestations to the contrary, an undemocratic party,” he wrote.
He said DAP could not be regarded as a multi-racial party as yet and urged Malays to be cautious of the party until it truly changes its outlook.
He said the Malays in the party were merely tools for DAP to push forth its sham multi-racial identity.
“DAP is a party caught in a time capsule and for all its public utterances, it cannot by any stretch of imagination be regarded as a multiracial party. The reality is that the role of top Malays in particular is purely intended to lend credence and legitimacy to its multiracial pretensions,” he added.
Tunku Abdul Aziz also narrated how DAP had tried to woo a prince into the party by promising to make him (the prince) a mentri besar.
However, he said he told the party the plan was a non-starter as the prince’s father was the Ruler of the state.
Apparently the party approached him directly and offered a federal post instead, which the prince declined.
Tunku Abdul Aziz described the episode “a shallow diabolical DAP plot at its best.”
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Lead the proposed 3rd Force Tunku Abdul Aziz, for the below 3 items. BN and PR are hopeless and littered with bad politics and bad politicians . . .
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
ARTICLE 15
May 13 WON’T HAPPEN AGAIN, 3rd Force proponent and CM of the REAL ISSUE (of ENDING APARTHEID) slams ‘low-class, irresponsible’ Kit Siang – Written by @AgreeToDisagree – Saturday, 21 July 2012 12:53
I challenge the DAP Term Limitless Oligarch and Nepotist Lim Kit Siang to prove he is a responsible political leader and Malaysian nationalist when raising the spectre of May 13 wanting to prevent any recurrence and not indulging in the low- class, irresponsible, unscrupulous and contemptible double politics of fear and race to preserve DAP / Pakatan Rakyat in power at all costs in the next general election.
It has been reported that at a national youth conference held in Parliament yesterday, Muhyiddin called on the young generation to be united in order to ensure the country remains stable and peaceful and to avoid a repeat of the May 13, 1969 trageedy.
Muhyiddin was quoted as declaring at the conference: “We don’t want May 13 repeated.”
3rd Force will do all it can to prevent recurrence
On behalf of 3rd Force, let me officially respond by declaring that we in 3rd Force do not want a repeat of the May 13 tragedy by DAP’s hand and we pledge to do all we can to prevent any such recurrence.
3rd Force offer to co-operate and work closely with UMNO and Barisan Nasional to ensure that there will be no repeat of May 13 in the next general election, and Malaysians are entitled to ask how there could be a repeat of the May 13 tragedy if both political coalitions – Barisan Nasional and 3rd Force – sincerely pledge to work together in the national interest to prevent any such recurrence?
I confess I am concerned at the way Lim Kit Siang raised the spectre of May 13, which had been used in the past decades to create fear among voters as part of the scare tactics to force voters to vote for UMNO and BN, as it raises the question whether the DAP Term Limitless Oligarch was giving an assurance that there would be no May 13 recurrence or he was subtly threatening that there could be another May 13 if DAP loses power!
Could there be another May 13 in the next general election? My answer would be a strong NO.
Without going into the debate as to who should be held responsible for the May 13 tragedy in 1969 (and there are diametrically conflicting accounts and versions of who should be held responsible and this is why right from the beginning after the May 13 riots, 3rd Force and I had called for an independent Royal Commission of Inquiry into its causes) the circumstances today are completely different from those prevailing 43 years ago in 1969.
The most important difference between 1969 and the 13th general election is the emergence of a multiracial multireligious naional coalition represented throughout the country to peacefully and democratically challenge DAP/Pakatan’s hold to power in Opposition State – as the 3rd Force coalition of KITA, JATI, MCLM (whats left of MCLM), PCM, Borneo Front, Konsensus Bebas, HRP/Hindraf and PSM, ABU, PRS, STAR etc.. is a Malaysian coalition of all races, religions and regions in Malaysia unlike Christian-DAP or Hudud-PAS ore racist BN!
Only the most irrespnsible, anti-national and treacherous elements in our country can try to distort and misinterpret a 3rd Force victory in the 13GE as victory of one race against another, as to justify wild thoughts tinkering with the idea of anther May 13, when any victory for 3rd Force will be a Malaysian victory representing all races.
Is Lim Kit Siang sincere when he declared “We don’t want May 13 repeated”.
If so, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should break his silence and answer the question I had posed to him many times in the past three years – whether he would declare clearly and unequivocally that he would accept the verdict of the people in the 13GE, including the election of a 3rd Force government in ALL Pakatan Rakyat held states to replace the Pakatan Rakyat and that he would personally ensure and facilitate a peaceful transition of federal power for the first time in the nation’s history, to tell the world that Malaysia has becoome a normal democracy and even en route to become, in Najib’s own words, “the best demoracy in the world”!
Marah is the 3rd Force adviser & CM (of the REAL ISSUE of ENDING APARTHEID) . Let the voteres remove TERM LIMITLESS Nepotists and pro-APARTHEID racists and lapdogs by voting 3rd Force!
ARTICLE 16
LOW-COST housing: Teng refutes Guan Eng’s claim – Saturday, 21 July 2012 15:11
PROOF- State BN chief shows memo on building houses for the poor on 1.97ha in Jalan Burmah
NIBONG TEBAL- THE state Barisan Nasional has hit back at Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng over his claim that the previous administration did not make provision for low-cost housing to be built on the prime land at Taman Manggis in Jalan Burma, George Town.
Its chairman, Teng Chang Yeow, yesterday produced a copy of a 2003 memo from the then director of Housing and Local Government of the state secretary’s office to the then State Secretary to back his claim.
Teng said according to the memo, the initial plan was to build two blocks of People’s Housing Project (PPR) on a 1.97ha plot of land located at the junction of Jalan Zainal Abidin-Lorong Selamat in Jalan Burmah.
However, Teng said based on a standardised plan that was similarly adopted by the Federal Government, only one 18-storey block of flats could be built then, while the remaining plot of land was to be kept for future development.
“Based on the memo, the architect concerned had recommended that a 16-storey additional block could be built on the remaining piece,” Teng told reporters at former Bukit Tambun assemblyman Lai Chew Hock’s office in Simpang Ampat here yesterday.
He added that the matter was further discussed by the then Housing Committee in the state executive council on April 29, 2003 and June 24, 2003.
“The committee had subsequently agreed that a block of flats under the People’s Housing Project (PPR) with rental should be ideally developed there.
“So my original statement is true and I stand by it.”
Teng was commenting on Lim’s claim that that the previous administration had not made any provision for public housing to be built on the land which had since been sold to a private buyer by the DAP-led state government.
On Thursday, Lim alleged that the state BN’s claim was “completely untrue”. He was reported as saying: “The land was not reserved for public housing. Despite that, we have been looking at whether it can be used for affordable homes.”
Lim had claimed that his administration decided that the land was too small and not feasible for public housing and instead identified a 4.45ha site in Jalan S.P Chelliah to build affordable homes.
Teng had earlier said it was unbecoming for the current state government to scrap the original plan to build PPR homes at the site in favour of a 30-storey private medical specialist centre.
Teng said he had also discovered that the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) had received a planning permission application for the construction of a 30-storey building on Lots 305, 306, 313 and 314 at the Jalan Zainal Abidin-Lorong Selamat junction, Section 16, George Town.
“I found this after running an online search on the council’s One Stop Centre. So my question now, is whether the state government is willing to scrap the plan to build the 30-storey building?
“If the same plot of land is deemed as not feasible to build a 18-storey block of affordable homes, then how could it accommodate the proposed 30-storey building?” he asked.
Teng said the the state and MPPP should stop twisting facts.
– New Straits Times
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Either Gerakan or DAP is a LIAR here.
ARTICLE 17
WHAT SAY YOU: Hisham shaping up to be the “lousiest” Home Minister ever – Written by Lim Kit Siang – Sunday, 22 July 2012 08:47
It is the most cowardly, craven and irresponsible response from Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein who is proving to be the lousiest Home Minister in the nation’s history.
How can a responsible Home Minister claim ignorance when a top Special Branch officer could go public to make the most damning allegations against Federal opposition parties as claiming that Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terrorists and communists are infiltrating PAS and DAP respectively to stand as candidates in the next general election when there is no basis whatsoever?
All that Hishammuddin has got to say on the serious allegations by Special Branch’s assistant director of the E2 (M) national social extremist threat division head Mohd Sofian Md Makin is that he was “not sure” about the alleged infiltration of Islamist terrorists and communists into Pakatan Rakyat, that “I don’t have the relevant information at the present moment.Therefore, I cannot say whether it is true or not. I can only say this much, this topic is very sensitive.”
Would this be Hishammuddin’s response if Sofian had publicly alleged that terrorists and communists have infiltrated into UMNO, MCA, Gerakan, MIC, and the BN Sabah and Sarawak parties to stand as candidates in the next general election?
Of course not!
How can Sofian proceed without Hisham’s OK
Is it conceivable that a responsible and diligent Home Minister would not have been informed or his approval sought before a top Special Branch officer go off on a rampage against the Federal opposition and that he would be completely clueless what Sofian was saying?
Was Sofian acting unilaterally and arbitrarily without getting clearance from the Inspector-General of Police and the Home Minister to make the “political attacks” on the Pakatan Rakyat? If so, Sofian had not only committed a gross breach of civil service discipline, he is guilty of an anti-national act and should be suspended immediately from his Special Branch position before he could do more mischief!
No sane or sensible person would believe that Sofian was acting independently on his own bat, like an unguided missile.
Brainwashing the public
This is confirmed when Sofian told the press that he had given some 300 talks exposing the security risks represented by Pakatan Rakayat parties which he accused of being ” anti-government”.
This would mean Sofian had been poisoning and brainwashing the minds particularly of the students and the young generation of Malaysians with his lies, falsehoods and ridiculous conspiracy theories for may be two years assuming he gives a talk an average if once in three days.
Sofian is the archtypical example of a “national social extremist threat” his division iss supposed to be monitoring!
Imagine a Home Minister who does not know what his top Special Brabch officer had been doing in public talks for some two years?
Is Hishammuddin admitting he is the lousiest Home Minister in the nation’s 54-year history?
Lim Kit Siang is the DAP adviser & MP for Ipoh Timur
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
2 terms up so moot point. But Lim Kit Siang is the LEAST democratic and porbably LOUSIEST MP in Malaysia’s history 1 year longer than Mubarak in power, more than a decade more than Mahathir, PLACED own son Lim Guan Eng as CM without vote or quorum, and DAP is full of family blocs to boot!
In comparison of ‘worsts’ Lim Kit Siang could be doing as much harm to the nation and corrupting potentially goodly, non-nepotistic and ethical 10s of 1000s of Chinese/Christian voters’ mindsets democratically with the nepotism and politics of expedience, setting a bad example by not keeping campaign promises, than Hishamuddin might have done with the occasional murderous outburst or general racism against the population of non-Bumis here in Malaysia! One subverts and corrupts, is undemocratic, term limitless and power mongering, the other a racist who has clamped down on all races including his own. Who is worse indeed!
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Any who do not accept or promote the above are UNVOTABLE. So that makes BN and PR unvotable as compared to fresh and term limir respecting, non racist 3rd Force.
ARTICLE 18
TRUE COLORS OF TUNKU AZIZ: Be man enough, he tells Guan Eng – Saturday, 21 July 2012 15:16
BE MAN ENOUGH- If innocent, the Penang chief minister should deny the allegation
THE latest tittle-tattle to surface, intended to titillate the imagination of the public, has thrown Lim Guan Eng, the stroppy chief minister of Penang, completely off balance.
He is, despite his carefully cultivated air of bravado, thoroughly devastated by the innuendos and sniggering goings-on everywhere in Penang’s normally staid society.
I am told he has become a changed person. Obviously it does not take much to penetrate the chink in his armour.
This is evident from his savage reaction to even a perfectly innocent press enquiry about the sudden departure of his special officer from the dizzy heights of the inner sanctum of power and prestige at Komtar.
There was never really any suggestion, by the press, of impropriety on his part but the man with never a hair out of place seems uncharacteristically flustered.
The fact of the matter is that he has lost his cool: getting hot and bothered under the collar at the mention of Ng Phaik Kheng’s name. This behaviour, unfortunately, lends credence to the age-old saying, “there is no smoke without fire”.
These days, the chief minister of Penang lives in a pressure cooker environment. It is not from choice, naturally. This is not the sort of place that someone as supremely confident of his power and infallibility would opt to be.
He is, apparently, savvy enough to know that even as he is taking on all comers, he is falling into the very pit that he is so good at digging for his unwary political opponents or, for that matter, anyone who disagrees with him.
He is acutely aware of what is politically at stake. He knows the score.
The question now is whether Lim would have the courage and integrity to do as Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek had done earlier. He took responsibility for his action. If Lim had not done what the rumours claim, then the Soi Lek ethical benchmark does not apply.
Life is unfair. We set impossibly high standards of behaviour for people occupying high elected political office that we would never dream of imposing on ourselves.
The reason for this is that the likes of Lim offer themselves as professionally and ethically suitable candidates to provide principled leadership.
Come to think of it, it is not an unreasonable expectation of the great unwashed and the chattering masses, like you and me. It is obvious where his duties lie.
It is about time that the highest elected political position reverted to the Penang-born and bred state chairman of the party.
It is ironic that Penang, which has produced thousands of talented men and women in every field, must depend on a politician who is part of a travelling family political circus.
Lim is generally credited with giving a new twist and a sharper edge to the ancient pastime of blame and hate, a black art form much in vogue within DAP, and at which he has become rather accomplished, with unlimited practice time from day one of succeeding the Gerakan-led administration.
The man’s natural propensity to adopt intransigent and provocative urban guerrilla tactics in dealing with the press has not endeared himself to them.
I notice that even the once sympathetic Chinese language papers have had enough of his belligerent, bullying behaviour. His familiar, “I will sue you if you print this” cuts no ice, no sir, not any more.
Lim says he puts great store by his CAT (Competency, Accountability and Transparency) governing principles and here is his chance to show that CAT is not a mere political slogan and that he intends to live as chief minister by the CAT principles of governance.
My advice to him is to be true to at least two of those principles that he has been hawking, namely, accountability and transparency.
I am told by a DAP insider that a highly placed leader has circulated to his central executive committee colleagues his view that it is better in all the circumstances for Lim to deny completely any involvement in the matter.
Lim, if you are totally innocent, by all means deny the press speculation but in the unlikely event you have had romantic links with the lady in question, admit it like an honourable man.
True leadership is about making hard choices when the natural temptation is to slink out through the tradesman’s entrance. A little undignified, I should think.
– New Straits Times
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
End Apartheid or GTFO of Dewan! The Rakyat do not want to hear anymore stories about who’s f – – – ing who! We have the best porn stars for that sort of thing, not the slack jawed f@99ots and their politico-hags!
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Don’t encourage Lim Guan Eng or an endless back and forth by engaging in this sort of banter Tunku! Could someone from UMNO just bribe these Malaysian ‘Lewisnskis’ to do an expose so that LGE can be removed? Tedious funeral fund on back of taxpayers beneficiary of nepotism has not ended apartheid yet . . . Meanwhile Tunku Aziz could lead 3rd force and end the apartheid, who knows on the back of the above 3 items, the PM’s seat for Tunku could well be assured where all Malays including the well fed UMNO-putras with not a single need (they have everything), in the country are stricken with racism or indecision to modernise Malaysia by the 3 items . . . meanwhile also remind the Rakyat that MPs and CMs only have 2 terms and should GTFO of Dewan after that, not drag the country in meaningless back and forth discussing sex with interns at Dewan, female or male or inbetween . . . and all kinds of nonsense and low minded racism and corruption!
ARTICLE 19
Archaic Laws Will Not Lead To A Safer Society – Lim Chee Wee – Tuesday, 24 July 2012 16:46
The Malaysian Bar is dismayed by the increasing attempts to blame the rise in the crime rate (in the state of Selangor and elsewhere) on the release of those detained under the now-revoked Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1969 (“EPOPCO”, popularly referred to as the “EO”).
In recent times serious questions have arisen about the efficacy of the EPOPCO. There have been numerous complaints of its abuse, including the use – or threat of use – of the EPOPCO by the police as a means of extorting money from innocent victims. Wrong people were incarcerated or made subject to restricted residence under the EPOPCO, while those who were actually involved in crime remained free and mobile. The fact that those detained under the EPOPCO were not required to be formally produced before the courts of this land helped facilitate this abuse. While the press sometimes referred to those detained under the EPOPCO as “criminals”, it must be remembered that none of them was ever convicted in a court of law. Even when those involved in crime were in fact detained, invariably these were “small fry”; the “big fish” continued to elude and evade being apprehended.
Thus the effort to attribute the worsening (perceived or real) current environment to the release of the EPOPCO detainees is without sure foundation. Those who perpetuate and repeat such views, without the support of any actual evidence, are acting irresponsibly.
The simple truth remains: crime prevention requires solid policing. The existence of the EPOPCO for over 42 years has meant that inadequate and incomplete investigative practices and policing procedures have become prevalent.
A poor workman blames his tools. The police should not seek the excuse that because an unjust and unfair law that allowed for detention without trial and restricted residence is no longer at their disposal, criminal activities are perceived to be on the increase. And that consequently, the only way to address this negative development is to bring back repressive laws and slow the pace of law reform.
The Malaysian Bar totally disagrees with this view. The Malaysian Bar urges the Honourable Prime Minister to stay the course in respect of the path of law reform that he has undertaken, and to continue to remove outdated and unjust laws, and repeal unfair and prejudicial provisions of the criminal statutes.
The rule of law, together with proper policing and transparent law enforcement agencies, are the best way to tackle the issue of crime. Rather than nostalgically harking back to a bygone era and archaic legislation, law enforcement officials should focus on better training, greater responsiveness, and higher professionalism to make our streets and neighbourhoods safer. The Government must provide the necessary resources in order for the police force to have all necessary and legitimate resources at its disposal to battle crime.
LIM CHEE WEE is President of the Malaysian Bar
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Keep talking and doing nothing like strawmen? What is the law for when even the Reid Commission’s Special Privileges are somehow neglected or un-usable by Bar Council to end the APARTHEID of Bumiputra with? Lee shouldn’t whine and protest as if Bar Council was an unknown armchair blogger without the funding or legal power to stand against any bad MPs from either BN or PR. File lawsuit backed by the UN or world law bodies to abolish EPOPCO, and also file lawsuits for :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;or both President of the Bar Council and Bar Council Committee should step down for more proactive lawyers that will file the above lawsuits.
ARTICLE 20
WHAT SAY YOU: Hisham shaping up to be the “lousiest” Home Minister ever – Written by Lim Kit Siang – Sunday, 22 July 2012 08:47
It is the most cowardly, craven and irresponsible response from Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein who is proving to be the lousiest Home Minister in the nation’s history.
How can a responsible Home Minister claim ignorance when a top Special Branch officer could go public to make the most damning allegations against Federal opposition parties as claiming that Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terrorists and communists are infiltrating PAS and DAP respectively to stand as candidates in the next general election when there is no basis whatsoever?
All that Hishammuddin has got to say on the serious allegations by Special Branch’s assistant director of the E2 (M) national social extremist threat division head Mohd Sofian Md Makin is that he was “not sure” about the alleged infiltration of Islamist terrorists and communists into Pakatan Rakyat, that “I don’t have the relevant information at the present moment.Therefore, I cannot say whether it is true or not. I can only say this much, this topic is very sensitive.”
Would this be Hishammuddin’s response if Sofian had publicly alleged that terrorists and communists have infiltrated into UMNO, MCA, Gerakan, MIC, and the BN Sabah and Sarawak parties to stand as candidates in the next general election?
Of course not!
How can Sofian proceed without Hisham’s OK
Is it conceivable that a responsible and diligent Home Minister would not have been informed or his approval sought before a top Special Branch officer go off on a rampage against the Federal opposition and that he would be completely clueless what Sofian was saying?
Was Sofian acting unilaterally and arbitrarily without getting clearance from the Inspector-General of Police and the Home Minister to make the “political attacks” on the Pakatan Rakyat? If so, Sofian had not only committed a gross breach of civil service discipline, he is guilty of an anti-national act and should be suspended immediately from his Special Branch position before he could do more mischief!
No sane or sensible person would believe that Sofian was acting independently on his own bat, like an unguided missile.
Brainwashing the public
This is confirmed when Sofian told the press that he had given some 300 talks exposing the security risks represented by Pakatan Rakayat parties which he accused of being ” anti-government”.
This would mean Sofian had been poisoning and brainwashing the minds particularly of the students and the young generation of Malaysians with his lies, falsehoods and ridiculous conspiracy theories for may be two years assuming he gives a talk an average if once in three days.
Sofian is the archtypical example of a “national social extremist threat” his division iss supposed to be monitoring!
Imagine a Home Minister who does not know what his top Special Brabch officer had been doing in public talks for some two years?
Is Hishammuddin admitting he is the lousiest Home Minister in the nation’s 54-year history?
Lim Kit Siang is the DAP adviser & MP for Ipoh Timur
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
2 terms up almost 5 times over, so moot point talking as if 90% of the campaign promises were kept. Lim Kit Siang is the LEAST democratic and porbably LOUSIEST MP in Malaysia’s history being 1 year longer than Mubarak in power, more than a decade more than Mahathir, PLACED own son Lim Guan Eng as CM without vote or quorum, and DAP is full of family blocs to boot!
In comparison of ‘worsts’, Lim Kit Siang could be doing more harm to the nation and corrupting potentially goodly, non-nepotistic and ethical 10s of 1000s of Chinese/Christian voters’ mindsets democratically than Hishamuddin might have done with the occasional murderous outburst or general racism against the population of non-Bumis here in Malaysia! One subverts and corrupts, is undemocratic, term limitless and power mongering, the other a racist who has clamped down on all races including their own. Who is worse indeed!
ARTICLE 21
The 222 idiots we have in Parliament – NO HOLDS BARRED – Raja Petra Kamarudin – Sunday, 22 July 2012 Super Admin
Is Communism a threat to Malaysia’s security? If so then why are we still friends with China, Cuba, etc., and why can their citizens come to Malaysia and our citizens go to their country? Is this not a threat to our national security? If the answer is no then what is wrong if Malaysians become Communists? We are friends with Communist countries. We can go to Communist countries and they too come to Malaysia. So where is the danger?
Okay, maybe we do not have 222 idiots in Parliament. Maybe we have only 200 idiots in Parliament while the rest are not idiots. But that is bad enough. The fact that almost two-thirds of the Members of Parliament are from Barisan Nasional and the rest from Pakatan Rakyat means that the idiots come from both sides of the political divide.
And this is what concerns me — that the stupidity is not confined to just those from the government.
While it is the ‘duty’ of the opposition to oppose anything and everything that the government does and says, and while it is the ‘duty’ of the government to do the same concerning the opposition — at least as far as Malaysians politicians are concerned in their very narrow-minded way of looking at things — there should be certain things that they agree on when it concerns the good of the nation. However, in the case of Malaysia’s Parliament, this can never be.
And this is a great disservice to the Malaysian voters who sent these people to Parliament.
Let us take the matter of haram (that which is forbidden by Islam). It is haram for Muslims to drink liquor. In fact, the ruling of haram is not only regarding the drinking of liquor but also serving, buying, keeping, profiteering from, giving as presents, etc. In short, Muslims cannot be associated with liquor in any way, not just from drinking it.
Hence the State and Federal Religious Departments conduct raids to arrest Muslims who drink plus to arrest Muslims who work in establishments that serve/sell liquor. Not only you can’t drink but you can’t work in such places that deal in liquor as well.
Considering, according to the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, Islam is the religion of the Federation, and if this is the law, then I have no problems with that. Until such a time the Constitution is amended we shall have to live with that law, whether we consider that law a good law or a bad law. The law is the law, as they say. Of course, they also say that the law is an ass, but that would be another discussion for another time.
As I said, I have no problems with this if that is the law. But I do have problems with this when the law is applied to only the establishments owned/managed by non-Malays while the establishments owned/managed by Malays are exempted from this law.
For example, I have personally seen Malaysia’s national airlines, MAS, serving liquor to Muslims. And I saw this even during the month of Ramadhan when these Muslims are supposed to be fasting and should not be drinking water let alone liquor. And the MAS personnel who were serving these Muslim customers are Muslims as well.
So what do we have here? Muslims working in a Malay-managed and Malaysian government-owned airline serving Muslims liquor during the ‘holy’ month of Ramadhan. Is this double standard? What excuse can the government offer for the ‘exemption’ given to MAS that would never be given to a bar or pub owned by, say, a Chinese?
Can you see how confusing this is? And what are the 222 Members of Parliament doing about this? Nothing!
Next point. Malaysian Muslims are forbidden from following the Shia dogma. Many Malaysians who embraced Shi’ism have been arrested and sent for rehabilitation. It is a crime for a Malaysian Muslim to become a Shia.
But it is only a crime to become a Shia if you are a Malaysian. If you are a foreigner it is not a crime. Why is that? What is wrong with becoming a Shia? Is Shi’ism dangerous? Is it a deviant sect? If Shi’ism is forbidden then it should be a crime not only for Malaysians but also for everyone, non-Malaysians included.
I mean: Malaysia wants to ban gay entertainers from entering the country. If you are gay then you are not welcome to perform in Malaysia. A gay lifestyle is forbidden. Both the Malaysian Prime Minister and the Malaysian Opposition Leader agree on this (at least there is one thing that they agree on). So gays are not welcome in Malaysia as it ‘sends the wrong message’ to the Malaysian youth.
However, while gays are not welcome in Malaysia, Shias are not subjected to the same ban. We send Malaysian gays to prison. We send Malaysian Shias to prison. We ban foreigners who are gay. But we don’t ban foreigners who are Shia. This is the part that I do not understand.
Iran has an Embassy in Malaysia. Malaysia has an Embassy in Iran. Iranians who are Shias are allowed into Malaysia. Malaysians are allowed into Iran. But we arrest and jail Malaysians who become Shias. And we don’t arrest and jail Shias who are not Malaysians.
Can you see how confusing this is? And what are the 222 Members of Parliament doing about this? Nothing!
In May 1974, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, who became Malaysia’s Second Prime Minister in September 1970, visited China. In December 1989, the Malaysian Government and the Communist Party of Malays (CPM) signed a Peace Treaty in Hat Yai, Thailand. Hence the ‘war’ (called ‘The Emergency’) officially ended.
In the past, Malaysians were forbidden from travelling to Israel, South Africa, Cuba, China and Russia. Now, Malaysians are only banned from travelling to Israel. South Africa, Cuba, China and Russia are now our friends. Only Israel is still our enemy.
But Cuba and China and still Communist. However, they are no longer our enemies. Tun Razak went to China in 1974 when the ‘war’ was still on. It was only 15 years later in 1989 that the ‘war’ officially ended.
Hence we became friends with China even while the ‘war’ was still on. But Communism was banned in Malaysia. However, we could become friends with Communist China even though we were still officially at war and even though China backed the ‘war’ and gave refuge or political asylum to the CPM leaders.
Then, 15 years later, a Peace Treaty was signed and hence ended the war. Malaysians can go to China and Chinese can come to Malaysia. Malaysia has an Embassy in China and China has an Embassy in Malaysia. But Communism is still banned in Malaysia until today.
Okay, so gays are enemies. Shias are enemies. Communists are enemies. And, in Malaysia, gays, Shias and Communists are arrested and jailed. But Iran and China are not enemies. Only Shias and Communists are.
Can you see how confusing this is? And what are the 222 Members of Parliament doing about this? Nothing!
Is Communism a threat to Malaysia’s security? If so then why are we still friends with China, Cuba, etc., and why can their citizens come to Malaysia and our citizens go to their country? Is this not a threat to our national security? If the answer is no then what is wrong if Malaysians become Communists? We are friends with Communist countries. We can go to Communist countries and they too come to Malaysia. So where is the danger?
The government makes it seem like Communism is only associated with the Malaysian Chinese or China. Actually there are many Communist countries or Communist governments/coalitions all over the world (China, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, North Korea, Cyprus, Nepal, Brazil, Peru, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Syria, Ukraine, Uruguay, etc.). And we are friends with all of them.
And have a look at the picture below and see how many Malays are amongst the CPM leadership. The CPM is not a Chinese thing at all.
Abdullah CD third from left in a group photo with Chin Peng (centre) and members of the CPM’s 10th Regiment (from left) his wife Suriani, Rashid Maidin, Abu Samah Mohd Kassim, Ibrahim Chik and Abdullah Sudin.
It is time that we lifted the ban on Communism. Sure, the Communists were once our enemy and the ‘war’ in Malaysia took a heavy toll on members of Malaysia’s security forces/police plus on the civilian population. There were many victims of the The Emergency. But don’t forget, The Emergency was prolonged not just because of the CPM but also because of China and Vietnam who supported the CPM in their effort to topple the government. If we have forgiven China and Vietnam why is Communism still banned?
If the objection to unbanning Communism is because of the death and destruction that The Emergency brought to the country, then the Japanese too should be banned because the Japanese Occupation of Malaya brought more misery to the country compared to The Emergency. I can’t understand why the Japanese are not treated the same way that the Communists are. After all, did not the CPM help the British fight the Japanese during World War Two?
Can you see how confusing this is? And what are the 222 Members of Parliament doing about this? Nothing!
******************************************
Ex-police chief: Unfair to keep out Chin Peng
(Malaysiakini, 30 November 2009) – Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) leader Chin Peng, 85, has a right to return to Malaysia at least on a social visit, said former inspector-general of police Abdul Rahim Noor.
This, he said, is provided for in the Hatyai Peace Accord signed on Dec 2, 1989 between the CPM and Malaysian government to end some 40 years of communist insurgency.
“I go strictly by the spirit of the agreement. First of all, (it) covers all levels of CPM members from the bottom-most to the highest-most,” he said in an interview to mark the 20th anniversary of the treaty on Wednesday.
“If you consider Chin Peng as the highest leader in the hierarchy, then it covers (everyone from him) right to the bottom-most (personnel).”
Chin Peng, who real name is Ong Boon Hua, was born in Sitiawan, Perak, but now lives in southern Thailand. His recourse to the Malaysian courts to be allowed to return has failed, and the government has since reiterated that he is barred from doing so.
Abdul Rahim, 66, said the terms allow those born in then Malaya to return home if they chose to.
“But they had to give the government indication within 12 months from the date of the peace agreement, whether they (would) come back or not.
“Those who failed to do so, or (who) for some reason (felt) they didn’t want to come back (permanently), would still be allowed to come back any time on a social visit, but not for good to settle down in this country.
“I think it is on this basis of the agreement that a vast majority of them were allowed (to return), young and old.”
The peace treaty was signed by Chin Peng and Rashid Maidin (representing CPM) and Abdul Rahim and Megat Junid Megat Ayub (then deputy home minister) who represented the Malaysian government in Hatyai, Thailand.
Abdul Rahim expressed surprise at the government’s refusal of this right to Chin Peng, as well as the recent court decision to block his return.
“I don’t know if Ching Peng did apply to come back within the specified period of time – the 12 months effective from the time of the peace agreement.
“Assuming that he did not apply to come back within that period, based on the agreement he should (still) be allowed (in) on a social visit.”
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
While informative on the whys of whats going on for some of us, RPK needs to read the UN Charter on LGBT rights and not tacitly endorse discrimination against this UN protected group. Old generation people (RPK is almost 70, don’t be fooled by that irreverence, RPK is not youth minded or oriented at all, looks more like cantankerousness . . . ) are so hateful. LGBTs mind their own business, here we have people like RPK (also Anwar who probably is ‘closeted’ but sacrifices LGBT for power madness) who probably indulged ‘something’ but pretends to be holier than thou and attack LGBT.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_orientation_and_gender_identity_at_the_United_Nations
The tone of this article by RPK does not comply with UN requirements against crypto-discrimination in articles like these. Old people are such biased and narrow trouble makers. No holds barred? More like ‘all held up’ and ‘all bars surrounding’ with RPK’s not too subtle propaganda.
ARTICLE 22
It’s not about your stand but which direction you are moving – NO HOLDS BARRED – Wednesday, 25 July 2012 Super Admin
Hence, as I said, this is not about your stand but which direction you are moving. Followers will ask you about your stand. Leaders will ask you about which direction you are moving. And the fact that many ask me about what my stand is rather than in which direction I am moving shows that most are followers and not leaders. And leaders are too busy moving to waste their time explaining to followers the difference between taking a stand and moving.
People have asked me about where I stand. That is a very old-fashioned way of thinking. You should no longer be asking me about my stand. This is not about where I stand but about in which direction I am moving.
Standing is unproductive. You go nowhere if you merely stand. You have to move. Only by moving will you get to where you want to go. Furthermore, if you merely stand while others are moving that would mean you are moving backwards.
It is not that you are literally moving backwards. You are actually not moving at all. But since others are moving while you are standing still, that would mean you are moving backwards in a figure of speech sort of way.
Hence don’t worry about my stand. It is which direction I am moving that matters. And I know in which direction I am moving although it may not be too clear to you.
Other than the direction you are moving, the speed at which you move also counts. Some people stay behind. Others just follow the herd and move with the crowd. Then there are those who move ahead of all the others.
If you trail behind then you are lagging behind all the others. You become a spectator of history. If you move with the herd then most likely you are moving in the same direction and at the same speed as the others. This is the normal tendency when you move with the herd. Others dictate the direction and speed, not you. You merely become part of history. However, if you are moving ahead of the others, then you determine the speed and direction. In short, you become the trendsetter. You make history.
Trendsetters are normally the leaders. They set the pace and direction. Those who move with the herd have no mind of their own. They just follow what others do. And, of course, those who trail behind are people with no future. They do not even follow the herd. They play safe. They will go in only when it is proven safe and most likely there would be nothing left for them.
People who ask you where you stand would usually be people without any pioneering spirit. They stick to what is familiar to them. And when they see you moving in a direction that is alien to them, they will ask you where you stand.
They ask you this because they cannot understand that you are not standing but are moving. But because they are standing and you are not — you are moving — they confuse this as you taking a different stand from them. They do not realise that you are not standing at all but are moving. Hence your move is interpreted as a different stand to theirs.
People live in comfort zones. And comfort zones are those that you know and are familiar with. Moving out of this comfort zones is, well, uncomforting, for these types of people. They prefer to stand still and remain in their perceived comfort zone. So when you move they regard this as taking a different stand to theirs. It does not click that moving does not translate to taking a different stand.
A stand is what you begin with. It is where you start. Let us take religion as one example. Every human being has a stand when it comes to religion. You start with two possible stands. One would be you have a religion. The other would be you have no religion.
If you have no religion then there are, again, two possible stands. One would be you do not believe in God. Then your stand would be you are an Atheist. The other would be you do believe in God (or at least in some sort of higher power). Then your stand would be you are an Agnostic.
If you do have a religion then there would be many possible stands. For Malays this would be broken down into two stands. One, you believe in Islam and are a Muslim. Two, you do not believe in Islam. That means you are not a Muslim but are a Jew, Christian, Zoroastrian, Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, etc. (there are numerous choices).
These are all stands. That is what you start with. But then, stands alone are not enough.
Let me give you another example:
Say, your stand is you do believe in God. And, say, your stand is you do have a religion. Then, say, your stand is you believe in Islam. So where do you go from there? You cannot just stand still. You need to move in a certain direction.
If you do not move and instead just stand still then you will be a Muslim in name only. You will not be a practicing Muslim or a learned Muslim. You are a Muslim who just stands still.
Hence, while your stand is clear — you are a Muslim who believes in God — you need to move in a certain direction and at a certain speed to define your Islam. You not only learn and try to understand what your religion represents but you also learn and try to understand how you and your religion can fit in to society so that you and your religion become compatible and relevant to this day and age.
If you do not do this then you and your religious beliefs would be left behind. You take a stand and you just stand there. But the world is moving in a certain direction and at a certain speed. How do you are your religion keep up? Better still, how do you and your religion chart the direction and set the pace so that it is ahead of everything? That is the stuff that pioneers are made of.
It is the same with politics. You take a stand and your stand is you are either pro-government or pro-opposition. But that, again, is just the start. Thereafter you need to move. You need to decide on the direction and the pace that you move. You either just follow the others or you try to move ahead of the others.
Pioneers will never follow the herd. They chart new territories. And because of this those with herd mentality will imagine that you are actually taking a different stand to theirs. They can’t comprehend that this is not about stands. You are not standing. You are moving.
Hence, as I said, this is not about your stand but which direction you are moving. Followers will ask you about your stand. Leaders will ask you about which direction you are moving. And the fact that many ask me about what my stand is rather than in which direction I am moving shows that most are followers and not leaders. And leaders are too busy moving to waste their time explaining to followers the difference between taking a stand and moving.
You can enlighten enlightened people. You cannot enlighten people who do not see the light. Hence it is a waste of time trying to explain to people who take a stand but do not move that taking a stand is moving backwards when others are moving but you only take a stand.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Hey old man, WHOS a leader? Who dares claim leadership over a democracy of equality (much like Bumiputras or Islamists claiming supremacy over other races?) 2 terms and GTFO. Everyone is a leader. Lets remove those who are term limitless so that EVERYONE has a chance at being leader. In fact, the REAL LEADERS would not presume to think themselves leaders but, LEAD by example (which virtually no ‘leader’ in Malaysia has done BY stepping aside AFTER 2 terms at nmost so that other people can be leaders) by stepping aside after 2 terms or whenever something bad happens as in the flooding in Beijing recently saw the Mayor graciously vacate the post like true gentleman ( . . . though a promotion after leaving the post seems absolutely inappropriate . . . )!
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/07/25/crisis-management-failure-as-beijing-mayor-resigns/
The current crop of ‘leaders’ in Malaysia though are so ‘term limitless needy’ and clinging on to power and worse still cannot change laws, cannot end apartheid and cannot help the people, that anyone who votes for such people musty be stupid or on the take. End the AP, learn that Forced Conscriptions are bad, know Crony Capitalism is bad, and know that asking for funeral funds is bad, and that term limitless family blocs in parliament DESTROY DEMOCRACY and hence TERM LIMITS should be applied.
A real leader would improve democracy not cling on to power like a Mubarak or raise Election Deposits so that a plutocracy forms, (indirectly they prevent the POOR people from running for election when they refuse to raise and ratify bills to LOWER ELECTION DEPOSITS (ideally there shoukd be a gaggle of candidates from all classes running every election at all levels, with 2 termers bowing out gracefull like gentlemen) – PREVENTING DEMOCRACY for the lower wealth classes or even minority groups (LEARN about Gandhi’s ‘Minority of One’!), in collusion with banks and ratings agencies or commodities markets that inflate so that wealth levels cannot rise and on top of that even dare demand raises that are already many times above average wage! Wealth distribution and political paradigms as of now are failures.
There are no leaders in a TRUE DEMOCRACY, fette those who have contributed DURING their 2 terms could allow for non-participatory democracy but DO NOT ALLOW them any more powers via unlimited terms. A true leader would step aside for younger persons after 2 terms or in Ghafar Baba’s case step aside ENTIRELY instead of destroying democracy with limitless terms and family blocs and Vehicular AP or Toll Concessions, or National Service type laws.
ARTICLE 23
This is from the Peninsular Gold Ltd website:
Peninsular Gold Limited, a company incorporated in Jersey, is the holding company that owns via its two wholly-owned Malaysian subsidiaries namely, Raub Australian Gold Mining Sdn Bhd (RAGM) and S.E.R.E.M Malaysia Sdn Bhd (SEREM), gold exploration rights and conducts mining activities in the Raub District of the State of Pahang, Malaysia. Raub is Malaysia’s most historic gold mining centre that has produced over 1million oz mostly from underground operations over the period 1889 till 2004.
The Group’s mining and exploration interests are all located in Malaysia’s Central Gold Belt, which hosts the majority of Peninsular Malaysia’s gold occurrences, including the Raub, Selinsing and Penjom gold mines in the State of Pahang.
Peninsular Gold Limited is the first Malaysian-controlled gold mining company that is listed on AIM (Alternative Investment Market), London. The Group is being led by Dato’ Andrew Kam Tai Yeow as its Chairman and Chief Executive.
Who is Andrew Kam?
Dato’ Andrew Tai Yeow Kam, a Malaysian citizen, was educated in England having attended Mill?eld School in Somerset and the University of Buckingham where he graduated with a law degree. He was admitted to the Malaysian Bar in 1988. He practices at Kam Woon Wah & Company, Kuala Lumpur. Apart from his legal practice, he has extensive entrepreneurial and management experience. In 1991 he was involved, as a founding director and shareholder in the development of a 440MW independent power plant in Port Dickson, Malaysia…. (Kam Woon Wah was secretary general of the MCA in the 1960s.)
And who are among the shareholders of Peninsular Gold?
Amongst the dignitaries who attended the formal Listing ceremony was Her Royal Highness, Princess of the State of Pahang, YAM Tengku Nong Fatimah Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, the daughter of the Sultan of Pahang. The Princess and family are also shareholders of Peninsular Gold Limited.
A company search of RAGM in 2007 revealed that among its directors was Muhammad Moiz, an ex son-in-law of the Sultan of Pahang.
What’s more, the company has been granted preferential tax status:
The Raub project has been awarded Pioneer Status by the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority, the Malaysian government’s principal agency for the promotion and coordination of industrial development in Malaysia. The Pioneer scheme provides tax incentives to selected companies, and is intended to encourage investment in Malaysia. Participation in the scheme will benefit the Raub project’s economics to a substantial degree.
They extract the gold and they are given a whole lot of tax relief while the communities around worry about the health risks. Neat. Who is subsidising whom?
Commentator Comments :
Antares says: 3 July 2012 at 11.33pm
@Stephanie… you mean the Racket Club surely? 🙂
Bukit Koman residents, with the help of environmental NGOs, have been fighting this hideous and highly polluting industry before it even began operations. There have been mysterious deaths surrounding this issue (at least two pioneer members of the Bukit Koman residents action committee have died since the campaign began, both were relatively young). PDRM, as usual, intimidated the protesters and SB have them under surveillance. Ng Yen Yen, the MP in charge of the area, has been abusive, elusive and arrogant towards the Bukit Koman protesters. Why is this project immune from public scrutiny and why have they been given tax-exempt status? …The same ugly pattern can be seen in the case of Lynas. Australian mining knowhow, local political connections … sickens one to the core to witness such unmitigated greed and insensitivity!
ARTICLE 25
Activist’s death sparks more fears in Bkt Koman – Andrew Ong & Kuek Ser Kuang Keng – 5:17PM May 2, 2009
The death of an environmental activist in Kampung Baru at Bukit Koman, Raub, has heightened residents’ fears over controversial gold mining activities taking place near this village in Pahang. Chong Sow Pin, 63, was found dead on Tuesday at his orchard some 8km from the village where about 300 families call home. He is among the founding member of the ad hoc Action Committee Against the Use of Cyanide in the mining operations.
Police Banned Green Shirts in Bukit Koman
Bukit Koman residents have been protesting for years against a gold mine using cyanide to mine gold. Recently the local police banned the residents from wearing green T-shirts which bear the campaign logo ” No Dirty Gold : Cyanide Membunuh “. Watch video here:
Facebook:
<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ban-Cyanide-Mining-in-Bukit-Koman-%E6%8A%97%E
5%B1%B1%E5%9F%83%E4%BF%9D%E5%AE%B6%E5%9B%AD/227046040672240>
Ban Cyanide-Mining in Bukit Koman
Ong Jing Cheng
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
Penang Branch Coordinator,
63B-01-07, University Heights,
Jalan Sungai Dua,
11700 Penang.
Tel / Fax: +6 04-6582285
Mobile phone: +6 012 7583 779
E-mail: suarampg@…
http://suarampg.blogspot.com/
In 2008, a U.S. expert in mining contamination had visited the area and concluded that the gold mine did not comply with international standards and could cause long-term contamination. The gold mine, uses the ‘carbon-in-leach’ method and consumes 400 tonnes of sodium cyanide a year when any other non-poisonous chemical methods could be used.
Koman Anti-Cyanide Protest
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Hey idiots voters. Stop voting for rich or connected people or refusing to field independent candidates, or running as private candidates for MP and assemblyman. Get the people to vote for an candidate that will end the mining.
ARTICLE 24
Malaysia’s Green Movement Goes Political – By Anil Netto
Joint rally for clean politics and clean environment in Kuala Lumpur. Credit: Khim Pa/IPS
PENANG, Malaysia, Jul 21 2012 (IPS) – Three years ago, Sherly Hue lived the life of a typical career woman in Kuala Lumpur, working as a marketing executive promoting building materials. But one day, she received a phone call from her worried parents that would forever change her life.
Hue’s parents, who were looking after her four-month-old son in Bukit Koman, a small village of 300 families in Raub, in the central state of Pahang, requested that he be relocated to Kuala Lumpur. A gold mining company had started operations in Raub and her parents felt it was no longer safe for the baby to remain in the village.
In 2008, a U.S. expert in mining contamination had visited the area and concluded that the gold mine did not comply with international standards and could cause long-term contamination. The facility, only 200-300 m away from the village, uses the ‘carbon-in-leach’ method and consumes 400 tonnes of sodium cyanide a year.
In Kuala Lumpur, Hue sat up and took note. ”I searched on the Internet for cyanide in gold mining and found a lot of cases and accidents in many countries – even without spillages.”
Hue quickly relocated her son and her mother to Kuala Lumpur, while her father, a retired contractor-turned-smallholder, decided to remain in their village to tend to his plantation.
There was no turning back for Hue. “After I found that this project appeared harmful, I approached the secretary of the committee (opposing the gold mining operations).” She put her marketing experience to good use and proposed to the committee that it should print booklets for an awareness-raising campaign.
Hue, now 34, is vice-chairperson of the Pahang Raub Anti-Cyanide Gold Mining Committee and a key figure in Malaysia’s blossoming environmental movement.
On Oct. 9 last year, the group participated in a landmark gathering, dubbed Himpunan Hijau 1.0 (Green Gathering), at a beach in Kuantan, capital of Pahang, to endorse the ‘Earth Charter’.
A paragraph from the charter encapsulated the vision for the new green movement. “Let ours be the time remembered for the awakening of a new reverence for life, the firm resolve to achieve sustainability, the quickening of the struggle for justice and peace, and the joyful celebration of life.”
Among civil society groups and activists supporting the launch were those opposing a controversial Australian rare earth refinery run by Lynas Corporation in Kuantan and those opposing high tension power cables in Rawang, central Selangor state. Also attending was the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) and a group of indigenous ‘Orang Asli’ people.
Four months later, on Feb. 26, a second gathering, Himpunan Hijau 2.0, was held, focusing largely on the campaign to oppose the Lynas Corporation refinery. This time, some 15,000 people from all over the country converged on a field in Kuantan in what was the largest environmental gathering in Malaysian history.
But even these large gatherings were topped by Himpunan Hijau 3.0, when some 20,000 ‘green shirts’ gathered on Apr. 28 in the shadow of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre towers in an event timed to coincide with the third Bersih rally to push for electoral reforms. The splash of Himpunan Hijau greenies in a sea of over 200,000 yellow-shirted Bersih supporters captured national attention.
The mammoth rally rattled the administration of Prime Minister Najib Razak. Police responded with heavy handed action, including using military-grade razor wire to barricade a public square, firing numerous volleys of tear gas and chemically laced water into the crowds and even assaulting protesters.
At the Himpunan Hijau 3.0/Bersih 3.0 rally especially, it was evident that the environmental movement had come of age, touching a chord among many young people like Sherly Hue. How did this happen in a country where the green struggle was until last year, very much in its infancy?
Dr. Khim Pa, one of those spearheading the Penang-based People’s Green Coalition, a group of environmental activists that participated in Himpunan 3.0, marvels at the newfound awareness.
”Young people are more attuned to these environmental issues. They had been brought up on a constant diet in school on the need to recycle refuse and old newspapers. The conservation movement had also created general awareness. Young people were exposed to campaigns to plant trees, protect wildlife like the orang utans and tigers, and conserve rivers,” Pa said.
From here, young people simply made a logical leap in deduction, he believes: “They have made the connection – on the one hand there is a general movement to create awareness about the importance of conservation but on the other, you are allowing in toxic industry. The young people can make the link.”
Hue herself believes the Internet, especially social media networking sites like Facebook, played a major role. ‘Previously, youths were not interested and did not dare to come out (to protest); they were more interested in playing games and shopping,” she notes.
But Facebook disclosed a lot of information that young people could not read in the mainstream media. ”These issues caught their attention and worked on their emotions to pay closer attention to these social issues,” she says.
”But it was the anti-Lynas campaign that really grabbed attention, especially over the issue of radioactive waste,” she said.
The Himpunan Hijau and Bersih rallies have not escaped the attention of the authorities. A senior police ‘special branch’ assistant director was reported as saying the police were concerned over opposition parties and non-government organisations which “play up controversial issues and incite the public to hate the government before the general election”.
He said opposition parties were supporting the Bersih, green and other protests with one eye on the coming polls, which must be held by next June at the latest, though the prime minister may call a snap general election anytime.
Khim Pa said the green movement is now enmeshed with the yellow-shirted electoral reform push. “The whole country has woken up to this problem of environmental degradation.”
Toxic industries in the developed nations have found that they can move their dirty or toxic operations (such as aluminium smelters) to developing countries where environment standards or enforcement or both are lax, says Pa. A dermatologist by profession, Pa points to the high incidence of skin problems in Raub.
This relocation to developing countries is often facilitated by local intermediaries or cronies, or through the involvement of local partners. Pa believes that many Malaysians have now come to realise that without clean electoral rolls, they have no hope of voting in a new government that is responsive to their concerns.
Hue concurs: ”I believe our elected representatives play an important role in highlighting issues in Parliament. If the representative does not stand with the people, we have to replace the person. But if the electoral process is not clean, our right to vote becomes useless.”
Meanwhile, the marketing executive-turned-activist will no doubt be looking forward to Himpunan Hijau’s next major focal point on Sep. 2 in her hometown of Raub.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Keep your own election records, street by street and let the records be available on internet (1 page for every voter with maps of entire streets if needed, perhaps vetted and backed by Commissioner of Oaths letters) so that whatever electoral process is used, there can be no cheating. There are 40K or less people in Raub. Shouldn’t be too difficult to organize a system like that. A group of 100 people could easily cover 40,000 signatures street by street, IC copy by IC copy if needed to remove any bad MPs. To be even safer, get UN or NAM monitors to oversee. The low tech method and transparent open vote method appears to be safest now.
An Idea for an Online Based “Constant State of Voting” System – Candidates can sign up for RM150, voters can shift or wothdraw votes at the post office any day, and everyone can check who the voted for or at least know who their neighbours voted for. Best of all number of terms (2 term limits!) can be clearly seen. The MP who sat there doing nothing will be quickly voted out, no need to wait for 4 years by which then damage has been done. For example an MP or Assemblyman chooses to destroy privately built awnings instead of amend by-laws, in an instant that MP or Assemblyman could be voted out by instant withdrawal of voters. No need to wait 4 years!
malaysiandemocracy 