Saturday 1 May 2010
Restoring the dignity of the monarchy
Whether we shall still see a monarchy come 2050 or by then Malaysia would become a republic is anyone’s guess. But whatever it may be the royal family would be the one who decides this. And the deciding factor would be in how they conduct themselves over these next few decades.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
I have many times been accused of being a royalist. I make no bones about it. Yes, I am a royalist or monarchist. But I am realistic enough to know that if we do not do something about it then the days of the monarchy are numbered.
And I am not only saying this now. I have been saying it since way back in the 1980s during the Constitutional Crisis when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Umno dragged the Rulers through the mud and exposed their so-called wrongdoings. Some of it was true of course. But quite a bit was fabricated and nothing but a pack of lies.
Lies or otherwise, the people believed the allegations and many called for an end to the Constitutional Monarchy and for Malaysia to be turned into a republic. And I told the royal households of Selangor, Terengganu, Perlis, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan and Perak that if they do not change and start behaving, we might no longer see a monarchy come the new millennium.
There was no disagreement. Those present that day, save the members of the Johor, Pahang and Kelantan royal households, agreed that some members of the royal family are misbehaving and that the acts of a few endanger everyone, even those who are not misbehaving. It was agreed that the royal households must not only behave but they must also take to task those who do not behave. In other words, the royal families would police themselves to ensure that the acts of a few do not harm the rest.
This was discussed and agreed 25 years or so ago. Some of those sitting on the throne in the 1980s have now been replaced by their next in line. We were in fact eagerly awaiting the death of those Rulers of the 1980s (not a nice thing to say, I know) so that the new generation could take over. And this has already happened in states such as Selangor, Terengganu, Perlis, Negeri Sembilan and Johor (and probably Kelantan as well if they can resolve their palace crisis).
But have things changed much? Has the change of Rulers seen a change in palace culture? Apparently not! What seems to have happened instead is we are just seeing old wine in new bottles.
The piece by renowned constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari that was published in Malaysiakini today explains part of the problem. You can read the piece below. I have stolen it from Malaysiakini without their permission (but then I have committed worse crimes than that in the past).
The monarchy is suffering from a serious case of a bad image. Malaysians no longer look at the monarchy with respect as in the days gone by. The dignity the monarchy once had is no longer there. If you were to conduct a poll or referendum, you would most likely find that more than 50% of Malaysians would vote in favour of a Republic of Malaysia.
Under Malaysian law, this is a crime under the Sedition Act. If you ask for the monarchy to be abolished you can be arrested and sent to jail. So no one dares say so openly. But in the privacy of their homes or in closed discussions, the majority of Malaysians would admit they see no more use for the monarchy.
Even the majority of Australians, although they do not have a monarchy as such, voted in favour of retaining the Queen of England as their monarch. Most Thais would defend their monarchy to the death. The British, although they are not too happy with the conduct of their royal family, do not want to see a Republic of Britain. But most Malaysians would rather see the end of the monarchy.
The future of the monarchy is in the hands of the Rulers and members of their royal family. The ongoing Kelantan palace crisis and the recent feud between two southern royal households only strengthens the belief of many Malaysians that the monarchy is a relic of the past that no longer works in this day and age.
Whether we shall still see a monarchy come 2050 or by then Malaysia would become a republic is anyone’s guess. But whatever it may be the royal family would be the one who decides this. And the deciding factor would be in how they conduct themselves over these next few decades.
In short, the fate of the monarchy lies in the hands of the monarchs themselves.
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Sultans and mosques: Decree or puppetry?
Renowned constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari sheds some light on the motivation behind the sudden resurgence in the role of Malay rulers' as the head of Islam, long left unpractised, yet suddenly re-appearing under questionable circumstances.
He stressed that while, constitutionally, rulers are the head of the religion, this special position and vested powers must be exercised in accordance with Islamic tenets and independent from the government of the day.
"This is how the [royalty's role] left unregulated by the constitution needs to be understood. Not at the rulers' own whims and fancies," he explained.
Speaking to Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview, the UIA law professor contends that contrary to their role as head of the religion, the rulers' personal character and knowledge about Islam leave a lot to be desired.
"This is too evident and has become a matter of public knowledge," Abdul Aziz said.
What is more puzzling though, "why are the rulers suddenly become so assertive?"
Questions over sultans' neutrality
"Where was the Sultan of Selangor when Khir Toyo issued a directive to prevent tazkirah in the mosques during the Ramadan? What did the sultan do when Toyo demolished a mosque in Bangi and locked one in Batu Tiga some years ago?" he asked.
Abdul Aziz also pointed out the incident in where the Agong suddenly said no to the proposal to put a Penang DCM as the chairman of the zakat fund there.
"As the head of Islam in Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak, why is it that the Agong did not do the same over there. Does this indicate that the other three states are better than Penang?" he asked.
He said that other incidents involving the rulers and religion also took place in Pahang and Perak.
The law professor added that "these are some the things that Perak Regent Raja Nazrin - who two weeks ago reminded that the rulers have complete control over religion - ought to bear in mind."
Abdul Aziz then opined that the 'selective' occurrences of the royalty stepping forward to be the defender of the faith seems to coincide with matters to do with states ran by the Pakatan Rakyat.
"These royal pronouncements seem to have been moved by circles close to Umno, in particular the cases in Selangor and Penang," suggested Abdul Aziz.
But be it in Perak, Selangor, Penang or Perlis, the constitutional law expert is of the opinion that things are moving in Umno's favour, adding, "the rulers seem to be throwing their lot with Umno."
"Where is Raja Nazrin and his father's assertion that rulers stay above party politics?" he asked.
Nothing made this more obvious than in Pahang, he added, "where the sultan already made it clear: support BN!"
The Pahang sultan, as quoted in a Bernama report last year, has exhorted the public to continue supporting the BN to ensure that development continues in the state.
"What they are doing is against the spirit of constitutional monarchy and constitutionalism. Without doubt the rulers are pressing their own self-destruct button."
"Just like in 1992 when the Sultan of Johor's fatal indiscretion eventually saw the rulers' immunity taken away by parliament," said Abdul Aziz.
Not seditious
While he understand that the Malay party might deny this and question any attempt to look at the matter, he said, "the principle remains that under the constitution public functionaries and public powers are subject to close public scrutiny."
"Their exercise must be transparent," said Abdul Aziz, adding that as of now, the rulers and their pronouncements as head of the faith, has been anything but.
As such, he believes that this issue must be looked at and understood by the public at large.
"There is nothing seditious about this, the matter affect the Muslims who are in the majority in the country.
"They have the right to know. It is our duty to explain these issues to them as pertaining to the rules and roles depicted in the constitution."
"After all, we are a constitutional monarchy," he concluded. -- Malaysiakini
Gallery: Heaven and Hell in Nan
A heaven of earthly delights and a celestial cannibalistic hell display vivid revelations in northern Thailand's deceptively tranquil town of Nan. On the grounds of a fabled Buddhist temple, Wat Phumin, doors provide an entrance to either zone.
Hellish misery lurks inside an isolated, amusing, circular building which squats under a cake-like topping of Naga serpents descending from a dome. Inside the white and gold structure, more than a dozen life-sized, weirdly comical statues are frozen in a horror show of blood-soaked sadistic torture. Two rooster-headed humans, squatting on their haunches, appear as mutant slaves who feed bones into a fire to cook three pleading victims.
Next door to this so-called "Hell Dome" is elegant Wat Phumin, with entrance balustrades adorned by two thick Naga serpents. Built at the end of the 16th century as a royal temple, Wat Phumin was renovated in the late 1800s when most of its murals -- depicting aspects of existence in heaven and on earth -- were painted. Details portray religious stories, including Jataka tales of Buddha's reincarnation, which are interwoven with scenes of secular, everyday life in Nan at that time.
Here, we take you on a photographic journey to heaven and hell.
Wat Phumin was renovated in the late 1800s, when most of its murals were painted. In its heyday, this temple was the center of an autonomous Nan kingdom, which dates back to the 12th century.
Historic images also include French merchants and their pale wives.
Unfortunately, many of the paintings are damaged from water and neglect. The cruciform-shaped temple is also punctured by open doors and windows, enabling humid air to continue punishing the artwork. In the temple's center, a cluster of four large Buddhas sit back-to-back, facing in four directions, amid 12 fat teak pillars which hold up the roof.
Built at the end of the 16th century as a royal temple, Wat Phumin was renovated in the late 1800s when most of its murals -- depicting aspects of existence in heaven and on earth -- were painted.
On the streets of Nan, students paint their own murals on public walls, imitating many of the original paintings that are inside Wat Phumin.
Hellish misery lurks inside an isolated, amusing, circular building which squats under a cake-like topping of Naga serpents descending a dome.
A black-haired man, along with a white pig-headed human and another chicken-headed person are all being cooked alive in a huge wok, perched on three large skulls.
A pig-headed human is cooked alive in a huge wok.
A person pours what appears to be hot oil onto the panicked face of a bleeding man.
A nude woman is speared in the back and impaled on a thorn tree, while a black bird pecks at her head.
The proud master of ceremonies sits atop a pillar decorated with human skulls
If all this is way too grim and gruesome, a bit of cosmic balance appears in the sky near the dome's ceiling. Above the abuse, an impassive-faced, robed Buddhist monk gracefully hovers, symbolizing that escape from all of life's suffering comes through the teachings of Buddha.
One of the best ways to know how people lived here during the 1800s is to examine the gorgeous murals which dominate the temple's walls. Thailand's Health Department cited "a crying woman with goiter" in the murals as "historical evidence" of Iodine Deficiency Disorders among villagers dwelling in the Nan Valley, due to a lack of salt in northern people's food 150 years ago.
Among heavenly and hedonistic themes, lovers coyly coo.
A man puffs a cheroot, while wearing a fanciful earring.
Men enthusiastically make music on string and wind instruments.
In its heyday, this temple was the center of an autonomous Nan kingdom, which dates back to the 12th century. Burma's control of vanquished Nan continued until Thai forces established control in the north in the late 1700s. Nan was a vital mid-way point between Chiang Mai in Thailand, and Luang Prabang in Laos. But the Burmese seized and destroyed Nan in the mid-1500s -- burning, looting, and kidnapping residents for enslavement -- and stole one of Wat Phumin's Buddha statues, according to historians.
Burma's control of vanquished Nan continued until Thai forces established control in the north in the late 1700s. But in the late 1800s, France temporarily gobbled up much of the Nan kingdom's eastern territory. The town never recovered. After Thailand regained some of its northern real estate, Nan languished as a remote outpost on the Nan River.
Today, Nan is considered off the beaten path by most foreign tourists, though its tangle of neat, wide, unhurried streets displays prosperity, a peaceful ambiance, and lots of other fine Buddhist temples.
Nan is about 670 kilometers north of Bangkok. One of the easiest ways to travel from Bangkok to Nan is by overnight bus, which departs from the city's Northern Bus Terminal at Mochit. Ask for the "VIP" version which usually includes a spacious seat and an inflatable neck rest, plus a cool beverage and tasty mid-journey hot meal so you can truly enjoy Thai-style vehicular hedonism.
Final curtain comes down on High Chaparral
By Athi ShankarGEORGE TOWN: The Pakatan Rakyat government confirmed that it allowed developers of the Oasis condominium to use the livestock ranch area at Kampung Buah Pala as an access path to the project site.
At a press conference at his Komtar office here today, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng confirmed giving the green light to Nusmetro Venture (P) Sdn Bhd to go through the ranches to reach the project site.
District land office sources confirmed that the ranches were sitting on state-owned land, not the project site.
Despite giving the nod, Lim, however, said he knew nothing about the demolition carried out by Nusmetro at the ranches over the past three days, the latest being today.
On Wednesday, one of the two ranches, owned by cowherd K Sivanandam, was torn down by a demolition team hired by Nusmetro.
This morning at 11.30am, the same demolition team started to wreck the last remaining cow ranch, owned by R Subramanian, in the former Indian traditional village.
The demolition left some 300 cows, goats and other livestock homeless, and straying on the streets in Bukit Gelugor area.
A non-committal Lim said he would leave it to the cowherds and Nusmetro to resolve the dispute.
“Possibly the developer has to remove the ranches because they were blocking the access to the project site,” said Lim.
Suspicion has been growing over past few days that the state government has been tacitly backing the developer to get rid of the ranches, the final remaining symbol of Kampung Buah Pala.
Kampung Buah Pala was once popular called High Chaparral after a television western because of its population of cowherds, cattle, goats and other livestock, unique Indian cultural features and festivities.
The 200-year-old Indian traditional village was demolished last September by Nusmetro, while families were still in
their homes, to pave the way for a posh condominium project called the Oasis.The village demolition has turned out to be a political thorn in the flesh of the ruling Pakatan government.
Like Wednesday’s demolition, Subramanian’s ranch was also demolished by a group of men using an excavator and sledgehammers. The demolition team failed to produce any notice of evacuation or demolition from the authorities to Subramanian before tearing through the ranch.
Yesterday, Penang Island Municipal Council president Patahiyah Ismail confirmed that the council had not issued any notice of evacuation to the ranches and its enforcement unit was not involved in the demolition Sivanandam and Subramanian have been seeking the state authorities’ assistance to find an alternative site to rear their livestock since the village was demolished last year.
However, their efforts have been fruitless until today.
Both are now contemplating selling their cows and starting afresh with a new livelihood.
Kampung Buah Pala, the last traditional Tamil village, was once the main milk supplier for islanders, including to all government hospitals and clinics.
This week’s ranch demolition brings down the final curtain on the once popular High Chaparral and closes another chapter of the Indian community’s legacy on the island.
Demolition High Chaparral - Directed by Kapitan
High Chaparral cows and goats were left strayed on the streets when a developer’s demolition team flattened one of the two livestock ranches in the former Kampung Buah Pala here on Wednesday morning.
The remaining ranch could be demolished tomorrow Friday, its owner had been warned.
According the affected cowherd K Sivanandam, a group of Malay and Bangladesh gangsters ran riot and demolished his ranch about 11.30am using an excavator and sledgehammers.
He even named several trespassers as Johan, Izad, Noordin and Helmi in his police report lodged at Jelutong police station last night.
The four were allegedly were part of the developer’s demolition team that demolished homes and annihilated the Indian traditional village in September last year.
Sivanandam claimed that the gangsters stormed into his ranch and wrecked it without even producing any notice of evacuation from relevant authorities.
The frightened cows and goats fled all over the places fearing the rampage.
“When I asked who they are, they acted aggressively against me and said that they have power to demolish my ranch.
“I was all alone and could not fight back,” Sivanandam told newsmen at the site today.
He estimated his losses at RM30,000.
The demolition team was accompanied several uniformed and plain clothed policemen.
According police sources, they were merely acting on the ‘directives’ of several higher ups in the Pakatan Rakyat state government
However, at a separate press conference, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng as expected was non-committal and claimed that he was unaware about the demolition.
He said that the state government wouldn't interfere in the issue and would leave it to the developer Nusmetro Venture (P) Sdn Bhd and cowherds to resolve the dispute.
Ironically, Lim’s statement indirectly confirmed that the developer carried out the unauthorised demolition.
At another press conference, Penang Island Municipal Council president Patahiyah Ismail said the council had not issued any notice of evacuation to the ranches and its enforcement unit was not involved in the demolition.
Northeast district land office officials also confirmed it and re-affirmed that the cow ranches were sitting on a state land, not the developer’s land.
Kampung Buah Pala was once known as Penang Tamil High Chaparral for its population of cowherds, cattle, goats and other livestock, unique Indian cultural features and festivities.
The 200-year-old Indian traditional village was demolished last September by Nusmetro, while families were still in their homes, to pave the way for a posh condominium project called the Oasis.
Consumer Association of Penang officer NV Subarrow said the developer has no authority to demolish a cow ranch outside his land.
“The authorities must explain this injustice,” he told newsmen.
He said the state authorities should resolve the problem by identifying a suitable alternate site for the cowherds to breed their livestock.
“It’s their livelihood being affected and the state authorities must help them,” insisted Subarrow.
MIC state youth chief J Dhinagaran, who at the scene, suggested that demolition could be retaliation by the state Pakatan government to avenge the coalition’s by-election defeat in Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat.
He said the village demolition and ill-treatment on the villagers by the Pakatan state government featured prominently in Barisan Nasional campaign in the by-election.
He said Kampung Buah Pala was the main reason for Indian votes to sway to BN.
“It’s a vindictive politics played by a vengeful government.
“The demolition was an insult to Hindu religion because cows are scared us.
“It’s a shame and disgrace that the Pakatan government with so many Indian representatives had been so disrespectful to Hindu religion.
“The state government’s arrogance, ignorance and negligence are appalling,” slammed Dhinagaran.
The other cowherd R Subramanian, who rears some 200 cows and goats, said he was warned by the same developer’s gangsters that his nearby ranch would be demolished tomorrow.
Sivanandam and Subramanian are in dilemma now on where to relocate their cattle and livestock.
Producing notice of a meeting with the land district office last month, they said they had been in discussion with the land officers to find an alternate site to relocate and rear their livestock.
“We are not saying we wanted to stay put here.
“We want an alternate site and authorities should help us here,” said Sivanandam and Subramanian, whose family have had been breeding cattle and livestock in the village for more than 100 years.
The remaining ranch could be demolished tomorrow Friday, its owner had been warned.
According the affected cowherd K Sivanandam, a group of Malay and Bangladesh gangsters ran riot and demolished his ranch about 11.30am using an excavator and sledgehammers.
He even named several trespassers as Johan, Izad, Noordin and Helmi in his police report lodged at Jelutong police station last night.
The four were allegedly were part of the developer’s demolition team that demolished homes and annihilated the Indian traditional village in September last year.
Sivanandam claimed that the gangsters stormed into his ranch and wrecked it without even producing any notice of evacuation from relevant authorities.
The frightened cows and goats fled all over the places fearing the rampage.
“When I asked who they are, they acted aggressively against me and said that they have power to demolish my ranch.
“I was all alone and could not fight back,” Sivanandam told newsmen at the site today.
He estimated his losses at RM30,000.
The demolition team was accompanied several uniformed and plain clothed policemen.
According police sources, they were merely acting on the ‘directives’ of several higher ups in the Pakatan Rakyat state government
However, at a separate press conference, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng as expected was non-committal and claimed that he was unaware about the demolition.
He said that the state government wouldn't interfere in the issue and would leave it to the developer Nusmetro Venture (P) Sdn Bhd and cowherds to resolve the dispute.
Ironically, Lim’s statement indirectly confirmed that the developer carried out the unauthorised demolition.
At another press conference, Penang Island Municipal Council president Patahiyah Ismail said the council had not issued any notice of evacuation to the ranches and its enforcement unit was not involved in the demolition.
Northeast district land office officials also confirmed it and re-affirmed that the cow ranches were sitting on a state land, not the developer’s land.
Kampung Buah Pala was once known as Penang Tamil High Chaparral for its population of cowherds, cattle, goats and other livestock, unique Indian cultural features and festivities.
The 200-year-old Indian traditional village was demolished last September by Nusmetro, while families were still in their homes, to pave the way for a posh condominium project called the Oasis.
Consumer Association of Penang officer NV Subarrow said the developer has no authority to demolish a cow ranch outside his land.
“The authorities must explain this injustice,” he told newsmen.
He said the state authorities should resolve the problem by identifying a suitable alternate site for the cowherds to breed their livestock.
“It’s their livelihood being affected and the state authorities must help them,” insisted Subarrow.
MIC state youth chief J Dhinagaran, who at the scene, suggested that demolition could be retaliation by the state Pakatan government to avenge the coalition’s by-election defeat in Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat.
He said the village demolition and ill-treatment on the villagers by the Pakatan state government featured prominently in Barisan Nasional campaign in the by-election.
He said Kampung Buah Pala was the main reason for Indian votes to sway to BN.
“It’s a vindictive politics played by a vengeful government.
“The demolition was an insult to Hindu religion because cows are scared us.
“It’s a shame and disgrace that the Pakatan government with so many Indian representatives had been so disrespectful to Hindu religion.
“The state government’s arrogance, ignorance and negligence are appalling,” slammed Dhinagaran.
The other cowherd R Subramanian, who rears some 200 cows and goats, said he was warned by the same developer’s gangsters that his nearby ranch would be demolished tomorrow.
Sivanandam and Subramanian are in dilemma now on where to relocate their cattle and livestock.
Producing notice of a meeting with the land district office last month, they said they had been in discussion with the land officers to find an alternate site to relocate and rear their livestock.
“We are not saying we wanted to stay put here.
“We want an alternate site and authorities should help us here,” said Sivanandam and Subramanian, whose family have had been breeding cattle and livestock in the village for more than 100 years.
Petronas to develop disputed oil blocks with Brunei
In a statement, Petronas said it had set up a team and had begun negotiations with Brunei to work out the terms for the development of the two areas now known as Blocks CA1 and CA2.
"Both parties are committed to arriving at a mutually beneficial arrangement as soon as possible," Petronas said.
In the four-paragraph statement, the national oil company said the arrangement was made following the exchange of letters between Malaysia and Brunei on March 16, last year.
"This exchange of letters was a culmination of a long-standing issue between the two countries to arrive at a mutually beneficial arrangement, which allowed Petronas to enter into new production sharing contracts for both blocks," it said.
It also said that following the exchange of letters, the production-sharing contracts covering Blocks L and M, which were awarded in 2003 to Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd and Murphy Sabah Oil Co Ltd, were formally terminated on April 7 this year as these blocks were no longer a part of Malaysia.
Blocks L and M were redesignated as Blocks CA1 and CA2 respectively, it said.
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in a blog posting on Thursday, had questioned why the two blocks no longer belonged to Malaysia and said that the loss could cost Malaysia at least RM320 billion in oil revenue.
Mahathir claimed that his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had surrendered the two blocks in exchange for Limbang.
Abdullah, who signed the exchange of letters, clarified that the land and sea agreement with Brunei was approved by the Cabinet and that Malaysia would be allowed to participate in joint development of oil and gas on commercial basis in the two areas for a period of 40 years.
- Bernama
I'm a victim of popularity, says Ibrahim
By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia TodayKUALA LUMPUR: Since creating Perkasa one year ago, Ibrahim Ali has been making headlines with his controversial quips that have now branded him as an “ultra-Malay” and an “extremist”.
But the Perkasa president isn't losing any sleep over his fast spreading notoriety. He is instead amused at how easily he is able to raise hackles by simply being a “misunderstood man”.
According to him, he has been pushed into an unofficial leadership seat because his statements are being given more weight than they deserve.
“Look at how people reacted when I said the government should delay allocations to the Chinese community in Hulu Selangor,” he said. “I am just the Perkasa president. Najib Tun Razak is the prime minister. The choice to delay or not was in his hands yet people reacted like it was in mine.”
“Yes, some of my statements are controversial but people can choose to ignore me because in truth, I am no one. I am just a local boy who doesn't even belong to a political party. Why are they paying so much attention to me?”
“I just speak my mind and suddenly everyone is talking about me. People hate me and accuse me of this and that which has made me even more misunderstood. I am actually a victim of popularity!”
The Perkasa president explained that the core misunderstanding is over Perkasa's mission which he clarified is to fight for Malay rights as stated in the constitution. However, he noted that this has been misinterpreted as a fight against other races and communities.
“Perkasa's fight is on policy matters,” he stated. “We are defending Malay rights within the constitution because we know that the Malays are still lagging behind. They still need affirmative action to get ahead. To deprive the Malays of their constitutional rights is a crime.”
“Look, I share the same opinion as everyone else that if not for corruption and the wastage of billions of ringgit, the government would be rich enough to help every single Malaysian. Unfortunately, that's not the case. But I am not against the government helping other communities. Just make sure the Malay rights are fulfilled first.”
The independent Pasir Mas MP also said that accusations of him being a “chauvinist” are purely politically motivated. He pointed out that he had never faced such accusations when he was an MP during Dr Mahathir Mohamad's era.
“After the 12th general election, there were 200 police reports filed on seditious issues but none of them implicated me. I wasn't a chauvinist, then why am I being called one now? I'm not stupid. I know why this is happening now.”
When asked whether his controversial statements are designed to elevate Perkasa's standing in the political world in preparation of taking it to the next general election, Ibrahim vehemently denied it.
“Perkasa will never be a political party,” he affirmed. “Maybe in the future its members would like it to be one and then it's up to them. But it will never happen under my watch.”
On the same note, he also warned MCA and Gerakan that they have become “victims of DAP”.
“DAP plays a lot on Chinese sentiments, and Gerakan and MCA have been forced to play the same game. But in doing that, they risk losing Malay support.”
Ibrahim went on to share his views on being Malay or Malaysian, Perkasa's role in a globalised world and his friendship with (PKR de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim. Here are excerpts from the interview:
What is Mahathir's role in Perkasa?
He doens't have one. I never consulted him when I formed Perkasa and I swear he never contributed a single sen to the group. He isn't even an adviser. All he did was officiate at our first AGM and you know him – he accepts invitations to all functions. When Chinese groups ask him to attend their functions, no one says anything. When he attends a Perkasa event, all hell breaks lose. But that's fine. All these criticisms are building my resilience and making Perkasa more appealing to Malays.
Are you Malay or Malaysian first?
I am Malay first. Everyone has their own race but we share the common destiny of 1Malaysia. When Najib introduced 1Malaysia, he made it clear that it would not change anything in the constitution. 1Malaysia is a unity slogan. But who turned it into a political one? (DAP supremo) Lim Kit Siang! DAP has twisted it around to say that if you want 1Malaysia it means putting your race aside and subscribing to a “Malaysian Malaysia” policy. This is not right.
What is Perkasa's role in a globalised world?
(Laughs) Let's solve the country's problems first before thinking global.
Anwar and you were once partners in campus, in political struggles and even in the Kamunting detention camp. Is that friendship still alive?
We were friends before. I don't share his political view because it is only focused on him becoming the next prime minister.
The conservative Malays are concerned that Najib is pandering to the non-Malays.
No la, this is only a perception. But despite that, the Malays still voted for (Hulu Selangor MP) P Kamalanathan. The Malays are very good. You will never find Malays in this world like you find in Malaysia. Betul saya cakap!
No change in plight of Penan
KUALA LUMPUR: A scathing two-part report in the Sarawak Eastern Times regarding a UK-film screening of documentary “Penusah Tana” about the Penan community’s struggle has compelled its producer to refute several allegations.Former Star reporter Hillary Chiew, who produced the documentary in 2007 tracing the native community’s struggle, is shocked at veteran writer James Ritchie’s report.
She said Ritchie had never contacted her to verify details of the screening neither did he check with the organisers of the screening. Ritchie in his reports states that the screening was held on April 17 at the BPP Holborn Law School in London.
Below is her rebuttal to Sarawak Eastern Times’ articles by Ritchie.
By Hillary Chiew
On April 14, three days before a film-screening intended for a Malaysian crowd was scheduled in London, the Sarawak-based newspaper, Eastern Time, front-paged a story drawing attention to the event.
It was to be the screening of my documentary film -- Penusah Tana (The Forgotten Struggle).
In a highly unusual publicity of the event, veteran journalist James Ritchie implied that the film presented a false picture of the Penan's long-standing resistance against logging.
Interestingly, he included his interview with Ajang Kiew, the protege of the film, of which the senior Penan admitted to his involvement in past blockades – the peaceful protest method employed by the Penan that has come to symbolise their defence of their forest home in the high-profile international campaign to save Sarawak rainforest.
Notwithstanding the fact that Ajang Kiew has decided that he has enough of the confrontational ways and now preferred to engage in “give and take” discussions, the historical facts remain that he was a veteran blockader as depicted in the film.
As I won't pretend to be able to comprehend the hardship that Ajang has suffered all those years, so I would not judge him for his decision in his old age.
However, I did make it a point at the screening in London to mention that Ajang has abandoned the struggle and no longer heads the Sarawak Penan Association.
Never did Ritchie contact me to verify if indeed his interpretation of the event was correct. Neither did he check with the host of the event that the screening was a campaign against Malaysian timber and oil palm plantation industries as he virtuously proclaimed.
Public outrage
I have never met Ritchie and couldn't have possibly offended him to warrant such a personal attack that was so apparent in the following article the next day in the same newspaper, again on the front-page.
In the second article, he wrote: “Failing in her attempts to sway local public opinion by raising emotional issues such as the alleged rape of Penan schoolgirls, Chiew is now treading on the trodden path of foreign NGOs bent on attacking Malaysian primary industries.”
As was typical of mainstream media reporting, particularly timber company-owned Sarawak newspapers, on conflicts arising from commercial logging in the state for the last quarter century, Ritchie pointed his finger at western media/NGOs evil interference.
Alas, he would be disappointed. Neither was western media invited to the screening nor was there presence of western environmental NGOs.
As for the Penan rape case – public outrage was evident from the number of letters, SMSes, local NGOs and official responses carried in major newspaper and online publications. The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development promptly set up a task force and the police launched an investigation.
The task force's report acknowledged that sexual violation of Penan women and young girls was indeed a problem afflicting the marginalised Penan community. Until today, the police have neither officially announced their investigation results nor decisions on the matter.
Ritchie surely is aware of the Ministerial Penan Task Force Report which incidentally included the testimonies of the two young victims highlighted in my articles.
In the last few years, the plight of the Penan is also documented by the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) in the agency’s own independent investigations which showed that the Penan are worst off today than they were 20 years ago and the underlying cause being the unsustainable logging practices sanctioned by the state.
“Penusah Tana” documentary was premiered in Malaysia in 2007 and screened at numerous venues and is viewable on the website www.whatrainforest.com
'PR lost touch with grassroot Indians'
GEORGET TOWN: In the aftermath of the Hulu Selangor by-election and the many views expressed, Hindraf campaigners see the single most pertinent fact in that Pakatan Rakyat has lost its highly underestimated baseline support – the Indians.
Lacking the influence of Hindu Rights Action Force and Human Rights Party campaigners is seen by them as the main reason for PKR candidate Zaid Ibrahim’s defeat in Hulu Selangor.
HRP adviser N Ganesan contrasts this to the wave of Hindraf support in four states two years ago that he believes led to Pakatan general election success, placing the largest collection of Indian MPs in Parliament.
Ganesan said the results of last two by-elections – Bagan Pinang state seat in Negeri Sembilan and Hulu Selangor – clearly showed that Pakatan was rapidly losing the Indian vote bank without the Hindraf/HRP backing.
“Both seats have sizeable and decisive number of Indian votes. Pakatan failed to capture the majority of the Indian votes and lost both,” he told FMT.
He recalled that Hindraf-inspired Indians strongly backed Pakatan en bloc in the general election of 2008 resulting in Pakatan having a third of parliamentarians and more Indian elected representatives than Barisan Nasional.
“Indian frustration has boiled over to the ballot boxes,” said Ganesan, who is also a political analyst for HRP, alluding to the recent Hulu Selangor by-election.
Two conditions
BN’s P Kamalanathan from MIC won the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat by a 1,725-vote majority on Sunday, polling 24,997 votes against PKR supreme council member Zaid’s 23,272 votes. Indian voters form 19.3% of the constituency voters or 12,453.
Similarly in the Bagan Pinang by-election last October, BN’s Mohd Isa Samad won with a landslide 5,435 majority, garnering 8,013 votes against PAS Negeri Sembilan commissioner Zulkefly Mohamad Omar’s 2,578. There, Indian voters comprised 20.7% of the constituency’s 13,664 eligible voters.
Unlike in the last general election, activists from Hindraf /HRP did not campaign for Pakatan in Hulu Selangor this time.
Hindraf/HRP held firmly to their demand that Pakatan fulfil two conditions in return for their supporting Zaid: that the PKR-led Selangor government allot freehold land to all 98 Tamil schools in the state within next two months, and that Pakatan to stop the practice of Umno and MIC "mandore politics" in the coalition.
“Pakatan refused to budge. As a result, Zaid lost,” claimed Ganesan.
He said Indian frustration against Pakatan was triggered by last year’s demolition of Indian traditional village, Kampung Buah Pala, in Penang, which is governed by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng of DAP.
Marginalised Indians
Ganesan warned that the demolition of the village, once popularly known as High Chaparral, would have a trigger-effect nationwide in the next general election unless Pakatan acted swiftly to stop the rot.
It was time that Pakatan state governments acknowledged their shortcomings and failures to safeguard the rights, interests and benefits of the marginalised Indian community in the respective states, he said.
Pakatan governments in Penang, Kedah and Selangor must implement pro-active, long-term policies to upgrade living standards of the working class Indians, who form the bulk of the Indian community and are largely in the lower income bracket.
Ganesan claims that the outcome of the Hulu Selangor contest would have been different if Pakatan governments have heeded Hindraf/HRP's numerous calls to safeguard Indian interests in their states.
The last two by-election results, he said, revealed that Pakatan secured 70% to 80% each of Indian and Chinese votes, and at least 30% to 40% Malay support to win mixed constituencies. “Even 50% of Indian votes would not be enough,” he said.
He said the only way for Pakatan to win back Indian votes was by forging a political alliance with Hindraf/HRP.
He has ruled out any cooperation with Umno-led BN. “But we would only work with Pakatan if the coalition can assure us of a better future for Indians in the country,” said Ganesan.
Latest tweets on killing of Aminulrasyid
By Lim Kit Siang,
Tq 4support proposal Hanif RCI #Aminulrasyid n police shooting deaths since 2005 Can 4MCA Ministers n MCA Youth support RT @weekasiongmp
04/30/2010 02:14 PM
AG not satisfied with probe #Aminulrasyid killing n sent back police papers This is just unacceptable Set up Hanif RCI into Aminul’s death!
04/30/2010 08:18 PM
Hisham’s useless toothless #Aminulrasyid “special panel” chaired by dep home minister AbuSeman cannot inquire or recommend Utter waste time!
04/30/2010 09:46 PM
#Aminulrasyid SpecialPanel Chairmn AbuSemen: Don’t want politicians-they have special interest. DeputyHomeMinister points finger at himself!
05/01/2010 05:47 AM
#Aminulrasyid Special Panel most useless body ever set up by govt in nation’s history-cannot investigate cannot make recommendations 2police
05/01/2010 05:51 AM
#Aminulrasyid SpPanel Chmn AbuSeman dare not reveal names of all 8members Where’s transparency? Dare not criticise IGP 4ransoming nation Where’s authority n legitimacy?
05/01/2010 05:58 AM
#Aminulrasyid Why IGP ask 4inquest when PAS MP Khalid produced 2nd witness on trigger-happy police shooting n not murder/homicide charge?
05/01/2010 06:21 AM
MCA Youth leader supports Tun Hanif RCI into police killing #Aminulrasyid Will Umno Youth n BNYouth also support? RT @Khairykj @weekasiongmp
05/01/2010 06:52 AM
Msia sends police 2join UNpeacekeeping missions abroad eg Timor-Leste Darfur Kosovo SierraLeone Cambodia #Aminulrasyid Rthey trigger happy?
05/01/2010 07:17 AM
#Aminulrasyid Question 4IGP n Hisham – R all police grilled 2comply w UN Code of Conduct 4Law Enforcement Officials esp re use of firearms?
05/01/2010 07:21 AM
Have not expressed myself clearly When I put tat question I implied our police in UN missions are fully trained But why is there such high rate of trigger-happy police incidents inside country? RT @__earth
05/01/2010 09:36 AM
Tq 4support proposal Hanif RCI #Aminulrasyid n police shooting deaths since 2005 Can 4MCA Ministers n MCA Youth support RT @weekasiongmp
04/30/2010 02:14 PM
AG not satisfied with probe #Aminulrasyid killing n sent back police papers This is just unacceptable Set up Hanif RCI into Aminul’s death!
04/30/2010 08:18 PM
Hisham’s useless toothless #Aminulrasyid “special panel” chaired by dep home minister AbuSeman cannot inquire or recommend Utter waste time!
04/30/2010 09:46 PM
#Aminulrasyid SpecialPanel Chairmn AbuSemen: Don’t want politicians-they have special interest. DeputyHomeMinister points finger at himself!
05/01/2010 05:47 AM
#Aminulrasyid Special Panel most useless body ever set up by govt in nation’s history-cannot investigate cannot make recommendations 2police
05/01/2010 05:51 AM
#Aminulrasyid SpPanel Chmn AbuSeman dare not reveal names of all 8members Where’s transparency? Dare not criticise IGP 4ransoming nation Where’s authority n legitimacy?
05/01/2010 05:58 AM
#Aminulrasyid Why IGP ask 4inquest when PAS MP Khalid produced 2nd witness on trigger-happy police shooting n not murder/homicide charge?
05/01/2010 06:21 AM
MCA Youth leader supports Tun Hanif RCI into police killing #Aminulrasyid Will Umno Youth n BNYouth also support? RT @Khairykj @weekasiongmp
05/01/2010 06:52 AM
Msia sends police 2join UNpeacekeeping missions abroad eg Timor-Leste Darfur Kosovo SierraLeone Cambodia #Aminulrasyid Rthey trigger happy?
05/01/2010 07:17 AM
#Aminulrasyid Question 4IGP n Hisham – R all police grilled 2comply w UN Code of Conduct 4Law Enforcement Officials esp re use of firearms?
05/01/2010 07:21 AM
Have not expressed myself clearly When I put tat question I implied our police in UN missions are fully trained But why is there such high rate of trigger-happy police incidents inside country? RT @__earth
05/01/2010 09:36 AM
Democratic values under threat
By Tunku Abdul Aziz
MAY 1 — I congratulate Barisan Nasional (BN) on winning the Hulu Selangor by-election last week. They mounted the greatest by-election campaign that money could possibly buy, and it appears that money for them did grow on trees. It was no object.
There is no disputing the fact that my favourite candidate, Zaid Ibrahim, lost the contest by 1725 votes.
The people exercised their right to choose the man to represent them in the Dewan Rakyat. That was what they wanted, and good luck to them. They deserve each other. But a question that simply refused to go away, as I watched the campaign unfolding before my eyes, was how much of the Barisan Nasional victory reflected a genuine return of confidence in the BN government, and how much of it had to do with the financial inducements and promises of more goodies where they came from.
Money was scattered with manic abandon like so much confetti at a society wedding? I must confess in all seriousness and fairness that BN had superb organisation where it mattered — on the ground. Their election machinery also enjoyed the great advantage of being lubricated with the best engine oil that money could buy — money itself.
Zaid gave an extremely good account of himself and there was certainly no shame in losing in an unequal contest. The whole apparatus of the Federal Government was ranged against him in Hulu Selangor.
Zaid lost the by-election in circumstances that were a damning indictment of Malaysian society’s declining ethical standards. BN leaders were obviously in no mood to allow the little niggling ethical or moral niceties to stand in the way of their larger design for Selangor.
After many by-election reverses, they finally found a rich harvest, no pun intended, in the Felda oil palm schemes. Years ago, the settlers were persuaded by the BN administration of Selangor to part with their land in a multi-million ringgit development scheme that went sour.
The land owners lost their land and the shirts on their backs. It was a typical greed-driven BN so called ‘fail safe’ get rich quick venture that incompetence, avarice and corruption all conspired to wreck even before the first brick was laid.
These settlers who had waited for their money for the last fifteen years, thirteen of which under successive BN state governments, quivered with excitement when they were told openly that there would be an initial small down payment with the rest on the way if BN won the Hulu Selangor seat.
I wonder what the Election Commission and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chiefs thought about all this business of cash for votes, but I expect they have already decided, in a show of ‘independence’ that they say they are, that it is probably not worth making an issue over such an entrenched Umno cultural norm. Please do not take my word for it, but Umno does not deny that it has problems with money politics. Hulu Selangor is but an extension of that culture. In spite of claims to the contrary by the government, Malaysia is not an open, democratic nation.
That is precisely why the election authorities did not see fit to step in smartly and disqualify the bribe giver and declare Zaid Ibrahim the winner. Evidence of serious breaches of both the elections as well as anti-corruption acts is clear for all to see. I reminded of a saying which goes something like this. “There are none so blind as those who will not see.” The person who coined this could well have been thinking of our EC and the MACC.
An electoral victory it might have been for BN, but to me it is a victory as hollow as it is immoral. If this is an example of BN’s cavalier approach to ethical issues, then we are being short changed on 1 Malaysia. It will remain a mere slogan without strong moral and ethical underpinnings. The financial seduction of voters is a criminal offence, and for Najib to claim that he was not bribing the voters but merely solving their problems is disingenuous, but as I have pointed out on another occasion, Najib does not disappoint us in his ability to perfect the art of the possible. To him, the means justify the end.
The government has admitted to spending millions on a makeover of its image overseas, but it is money down the drain if it persists in behaviour which is patently at odds with international best practice. In this case Mr. Prime Minister, you really have to lead by example or give up 1 Malaysia as a lost cause.
MAY 1 — I congratulate Barisan Nasional (BN) on winning the Hulu Selangor by-election last week. They mounted the greatest by-election campaign that money could possibly buy, and it appears that money for them did grow on trees. It was no object.
There is no disputing the fact that my favourite candidate, Zaid Ibrahim, lost the contest by 1725 votes.
The people exercised their right to choose the man to represent them in the Dewan Rakyat. That was what they wanted, and good luck to them. They deserve each other. But a question that simply refused to go away, as I watched the campaign unfolding before my eyes, was how much of the Barisan Nasional victory reflected a genuine return of confidence in the BN government, and how much of it had to do with the financial inducements and promises of more goodies where they came from.
Money was scattered with manic abandon like so much confetti at a society wedding? I must confess in all seriousness and fairness that BN had superb organisation where it mattered — on the ground. Their election machinery also enjoyed the great advantage of being lubricated with the best engine oil that money could buy — money itself.
Zaid gave an extremely good account of himself and there was certainly no shame in losing in an unequal contest. The whole apparatus of the Federal Government was ranged against him in Hulu Selangor.
Zaid lost the by-election in circumstances that were a damning indictment of Malaysian society’s declining ethical standards. BN leaders were obviously in no mood to allow the little niggling ethical or moral niceties to stand in the way of their larger design for Selangor.
After many by-election reverses, they finally found a rich harvest, no pun intended, in the Felda oil palm schemes. Years ago, the settlers were persuaded by the BN administration of Selangor to part with their land in a multi-million ringgit development scheme that went sour.
The land owners lost their land and the shirts on their backs. It was a typical greed-driven BN so called ‘fail safe’ get rich quick venture that incompetence, avarice and corruption all conspired to wreck even before the first brick was laid.
These settlers who had waited for their money for the last fifteen years, thirteen of which under successive BN state governments, quivered with excitement when they were told openly that there would be an initial small down payment with the rest on the way if BN won the Hulu Selangor seat.
I wonder what the Election Commission and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chiefs thought about all this business of cash for votes, but I expect they have already decided, in a show of ‘independence’ that they say they are, that it is probably not worth making an issue over such an entrenched Umno cultural norm. Please do not take my word for it, but Umno does not deny that it has problems with money politics. Hulu Selangor is but an extension of that culture. In spite of claims to the contrary by the government, Malaysia is not an open, democratic nation.
That is precisely why the election authorities did not see fit to step in smartly and disqualify the bribe giver and declare Zaid Ibrahim the winner. Evidence of serious breaches of both the elections as well as anti-corruption acts is clear for all to see. I reminded of a saying which goes something like this. “There are none so blind as those who will not see.” The person who coined this could well have been thinking of our EC and the MACC.
An electoral victory it might have been for BN, but to me it is a victory as hollow as it is immoral. If this is an example of BN’s cavalier approach to ethical issues, then we are being short changed on 1 Malaysia. It will remain a mere slogan without strong moral and ethical underpinnings. The financial seduction of voters is a criminal offence, and for Najib to claim that he was not bribing the voters but merely solving their problems is disingenuous, but as I have pointed out on another occasion, Najib does not disappoint us in his ability to perfect the art of the possible. To him, the means justify the end.
The government has admitted to spending millions on a makeover of its image overseas, but it is money down the drain if it persists in behaviour which is patently at odds with international best practice. In this case Mr. Prime Minister, you really have to lead by example or give up 1 Malaysia as a lost cause.
Workers gather at Dataran to say NO to GST - Anil Netto
For many of us Workers’ Day is just another public holiday. But for workers at the raw end of development, it is a day to reflect on their rights as workers and their collective strength.
Even as I write, workers are gathering in Dataran Merdeka to commemorate the occasion.
What do they want? This year their principal demand is No Goods and Services Tax. They point out that Najib’s New Economic Model recognises that the gap between the rich and the poor is wide, and the country needs to move away from a low-income model. If that’s the case, why are there plans to introduce a regressive tax like the GST which will burden the poor the most, they ask.
The full list of demands in the May Day declaration endorsed by dozens of Malaysian civil society groups:
Even as I write, workers are gathering in Dataran Merdeka to commemorate the occasion.
What do they want? This year their principal demand is No Goods and Services Tax. They point out that Najib’s New Economic Model recognises that the gap between the rich and the poor is wide, and the country needs to move away from a low-income model. If that’s the case, why are there plans to introduce a regressive tax like the GST which will burden the poor the most, they ask.
The full list of demands in the May Day declaration endorsed by dozens of Malaysian civil society groups:
1. RAKYAT MALAYSIA BANTAH CUKAI GST. CUKAI GST MEMISKINKAN RAKYAT!
Di samping itu, tuntutan-tuntutan lain kaum pekerja ialah:
2. Kekalkan Cukai Korporat di tahap 27 peratus. Pengurangan cukai ini akan menyebabkan pengalihan beban cukai kepada rakyat biasa melalui Cukai GST
3. Gubal Akta Gaji Minima untuk semua pekerja dan mansuhkan polisi gaji murah
4. Wujudkan Tabung Pembuangan Kerja Dengan Segera – Bantuan terus kepada pekerja yang kehilangan kerja. Kerajaan harus memperuntukkan RM0.5 billion untuk mulakan tabung ini dan gunakannya untuk membantu mereka yang dibuang sehingga dapat kerja.
5. Cuti Bersalin 90 hari untuk pekerja wanita.
6. Menandatangani Konvensyen ILO berkenaan Pekerja Rumah dan juga instrumen antarabangsa yang berkaitan dengan perlindungan dan kebajikan pekerja.
7. Pengisthiharan Kesatuan Sekerja secara automatik dan pemansuhan undang-undang yang mendiskriminasi pekerja dan sebarang undang-undang baru bermotif memudahkan pembuangan pekerja oleh majikan.
8. Pastikan tempat kerja bebas daripada diskriminasi terhadap pekerja wanita. Gubal undang-undang Anti Gangguan Seksual.
9. Hak saksama kepada pekerja migran dan pelarian dan perlindungan dari dianiyai oleh pihak Majikan, PDRM, RELA dan Imigresen.
10. Kementerian Kewangan harus mengadakan perbincangan dengan bank-bank untuk menangguhkan dan mengurangkan bayaran bulanan pinjaman perumahan warga pekerja berpendapatan rendah .
11. Sediakan atau Laksanakan Skim Perumahan Rakyat pada harga yang mampu dibeli/dimiliki, lokasi strategik dan selesa untuk golongan yang berpendapatan rendah.
12. Hentikan penswastaan perkhidmatan asas seperti air dan hospital dan hentikan Skim Pembayaran Penuh Pesakit (Full-Paying Patients) di hospital kerajaan dengan segera.
13. Laksanakan Polisi ekonomi yang tidak mengira kaum dan jantina tetapi berlandaskan keperluan. Menuntut suatu model pembangunan yang saksama, yang memberi kepentingan kepada rakyat setempat di mana segala rancangan pembangunan mestilah dibincang dan dipersetujui oleh semua.
14. Iktiraf Hak Tanah Adat Orang Asal di Malaysia dan berikan hak milik kekal serta kukuhkan status tanah Rizab Orang Asli di Malaysia. Rancangan pembangunan tanah Orang Asli hendaklah berasaskan kehendak, keperluan dan aspirasi Orang Asli.
15. Mansuhkan segala undang-undang yang menindas dan mendiskriminasi para pekerja, antaranya ISA, OSA, EO, DDA, Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti (AUKU), Akta Pertubuhan, Akta Penerbitan dan Mesin Cetak.
16. Menuntut suatu sistem kerajaan yang benar-benar telus, bersih, kredible dan bebas dari segala bentuk rasuah, kronisme dan penyelewengan.
Kg Buah Pala DAP & UMNO axis “blood letting” of poor and landless Indian and cattle farmers continues. Vengeful and Revengeful Lim Guan Eng who himself had once been a victim of injustices.
Kg Buah Pala DAP & UMNO axis “blood letting” of poor and landless Indian and cattle farmers continues. Vengeful and Revengeful Lim Guan Eng who himself had once been a victim of injustices.Having ruthlessly demolished the last traditional Kg Buah Pala Indian village in Penang, the DAP and UMNO axis continues with their “blood letting” of the poor, underprivileged and landless Indians in Penang by now demolishing their cow sheds which in any event is outside the developer’s land and which is not the subject of the Developer’s Court Order in their favour.
Towkay Kapitan Lim Guan Eng’s promised Court application to set aside the Court Order favouring the Developer was a mere wayang kulit theatrics and never intended to take off. The very much publicised propaganda of the RM600,000.00 double storey house, a hindu temple and an Indian community hall repeatedly promised by the DCM II Penang Indian mandore on his towkay’s instructions is again another wayang kulit and which is yet to be given to the Kg Buah Pala settlers and neither has the offer been in black and white or at least a guarantee of the same by the DAP Penang state government in the event that the developer does not complete and hand over these double storey houses.
And now to add insult to injury, these poor Indians 100 years old traditional cow sheds are being demolished by using armed DAP Chinese gangsters. 100 cows and 15 calves have now been left roaming around the area with no where to go. K.Sivananthan’s RM200.00 income per day from daily milk has been thrown sand into by the DAP. It is coming to almost one year now but the DAP Penang Towkay Kapitan Lim Guan Eng has refused to at the very least grant alternative land to these Kg Buah Pala cattle farmers.
And after the “show” the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) enforcement team and the UMNO police arrive at the scene.
Lim Guan Eng rightfully should be more blameworthy then UMNO, as he himself had not long ago been a victim of gross injustices and fully knows the pain of being a victim of injustices. But now that he has become the YAB of Penang he may have conveniently forgotten this pain and heartache. (TN 30/4/10 at page 3).
This kapitan towkay and the UMNO axis even caused the death of cattle farmer Murugan a few months ago. Murugan had gone to the Unesco office in Geneva in July 2009 to protest the demolishment of Kg Buah Pala and to have Penang’s Heritage status revoked. Murugan had prematurely passed away at 47 years of age a few months ago immediately after his cattle farm was demolished as he could no longer bear DAP’s injustices, the pain and heartache. This Kapitan towkay Lim Guan Eng’s vengeance and revengeful act is abundantly clear and aggravated and done with impunity.
Penang has a vast land area of 1,033sq kilometers. We now call upon the Penang Chief Minister to grant an alternative ten acre Felda like land scheme with no interest and offering ownership after the offered Penang State government loan is paid up back in full in 15 years times. This offer should be made to all these Kg Buah Pala cattle farmers and all other settlers to at least undo the injustices meted out by this towkay on the poor Indians.Note: Mr Maran of the Penang HRP was at the site to lend support to this cattle farmer. To make matters worse as at press time today (30/4/2010) we have been told that another cow shed belonging to another Kg Buah Pala settler has also been demolished and the area now cordoned off to them.
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice
Kamalanathan is Umno’s mandore, says Hindraf
By B Nantha Kumar (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/
KUALA LUMPUR: Human Rights Party (HRP) has written off fresh faced Hulu Selangor MP Kamalanathan as “Umno’s mandore”.
Its information chief S Jayathas said: “We’re not pining any hope on Kamalanathan.
“Kamalanathan is just another ‘mandore’ who will work for his boss Umno,” he said.
He added that HRP was confident that Kamalanathan will not raise issues related to the community’s woes in Parliament.
“We are sure Kamalanathan will never bring up the discrimination suffered by the Indian community in Parliament,” he told FMT.
He said although the Indian community had high hopes in him, his loyalty lay Umno and not with the Hulu Selangor voters.
“We believe Kamalanathan will not be able to solve the Indian community’s fundamental problems, “Take their welfare problem: more than half of the Indian families in Hulu Selangor are poor.
“What drastic action will Kamalanathan take to eliminate their poverty?” Jayathas asked.
He added that nothing would change as Umno would continue to cheat the Indian minority.
“Kamalanathan is nice but he is also the same as his party boss S Samy Vellu (MIC president) who bows to Umno,” he said.
On Kalamanathan’s comment that Hindraf is dead, Jayathas said: “Kamalanathan should admit that the reason PKR failed was because Hindraf did not campaign in Hulu Selangor.
“If it had campaigned, the Indian votes would surely have gone to PKR’s candidate Zaid Ibrahim,” he said.
BN’s Kamalanathan beat Zaid by a 1,725 vote majority in last Sunday’s by-election.
Hindraf had declined to campaign for Pakatan, claiming that the party had failed to fulfil its commitment to the Indian community in these states since it came into power in 2008.
Despite several attempts to lure Hindraf, it refused to enter the fray, saying it would only help if the Selangor Pakatan government agreed to give all 98 Tamil schools in the state freehold land.
HINDRAF is a stampede for humanity
As social activists, Hindraf started fighting against police custodial deaths under PoliceWatch, then the conversion matter of Moorthy and against temple demolitions under the name of Hindraf, and now on a more broad-based human rights violations and marginalisation of minorities under the Human Rights Party. As it is rights based, naturally it is open to all races. By Hang Tuah
Hindraf is fighting for the poor Indians, not the urban, educated, middle class or rich Indians and similar ones in other races but the bottom 30% who live in small towns, rural areas, those who do not have access to piped
water, education, sometimes electricity, who earn RM 13 a day when even the migrants earn RM 22 per day, those indiscriminately shot at and brutalised in police custody.
It is these Malaysians that Hindraf fight for when the other communities contemptuously shun them as the societal sore even when they are Malaysians!
As it grows and more resources are available, with more non-Indian participation in their effort, Hindraf will broaden its campaign to include all races in their fight against discrimination and marginalization of policies driven by political parties. As of now it restricts itself to only those Malays and Chinese who approaches Hindraf for assistance when they have been shunned by everyone else, including their own race.
Recently, this included a Malay alleged drug addict who died in police custody, and HINDRAF bought a coffin for him when his family could not afford it, as well as the more recent case of Norizan who was shot five times by the police.
Hindraf has given up on the urban English-educated Indians who yearn to be ‘whiteys’, with the typical know how attitude but continue to ignore and disassociate themselves from their poorer and marginalised Malaysian
Indians cousins. There are over 10,000 professional Indians but only a few care for the plight of the poor Indians. These English speaking ‘professional Indians’ prefer to be multi-racial in outlook and socialise with Chinese and Malays, groveling for inclusion and acceptance, not realising that in this racist-centric nation, their own Malay and Chinese ‘multi-racial’ friends have only contempt and disregard for all Indians! Just look at the comments in the cyber world; never an intelligent or a factual argument on the struggle but one that depicts and castigate them with sneers and sarcasm.
Hindraf struggles for policy change in a macro aspect not on an individual micro sense, but which would eventually benefit all communities not just Indians. A policy change benefits all across the board, regardless of race or religion.
Hindraf initiated or shall I say opened the eyes of many, of the desperation of the Malaysian Indians, by action. Not some cyberworld and passive position that many take today. It wholeheartedly supported Pakatan during the GE12 and all it got back for the society it represented was broken promises. Not once since coming to power has PR conferred with Hindraf on policies. Except for the meetings between Waythamoorthy and Zaid outside Malaysia, until today there is no contact with Hindraf, all their letters and petitions have been spurned!
Hindraf does not trust UMNO or PR. Hindraf warns all Malaysians not to trust politicians on either side. These politicians have no intention to resolve the rakyats’ woes, but to ensure that they are in pole position for themselves but never for the poor or the poverty stricken. They just want your support, your votes.
Everyone wants Hindraf to join PR and fight for ‘The Cause’, but no one wants to hear Hindraf’s demands. They simply want Hindraf’s interests to be subsumed to Pakatan’s greater interests for the political front. HINDRAF can’t do that and will not bow to any force as it is only submissive for a humane cause. The reality today in the current state at least within the major three races, Malay, Chinese and Indian is so transparent, and if the Malays who are politically favoured and those Chinese who are economically well placed, or the elite Indians, cannot understand or fail to recognize the depleted state of the Malaysian Indians, then it is them that are a lesser
Malaysian.
Hindraf feels Anwar has done all that he can and there is not much more he can achieve. Perhaps just a few more seats. That’s about all. We need something more to change the government. Hindraf is also embarking on raising Dayak consciousness and Dayak nationalism, and forming a formidable front in East Malaysia.
Hindraf’s demands have to be placed upfront as this is the society that has deteriorated so far in every aspect as the rest Malaysians stood by and watched it happen. We have already seen that PR has no intention to resolve Hindraf’s demands even when they have the power to do so. PR has no idea on what to do in East Malaysia too, we are told; no stated policies, another ping pong game for their political needs.
What more if PR goes to Putrajaya. When they can’t do a simple thing in the states in West Malaysia that they already govern, how are they to address the poor and poverty concerns of the Malaysian Indians?
water, education, sometimes electricity, who earn RM 13 a day when even the migrants earn RM 22 per day, those indiscriminately shot at and brutalised in police custody.
It is these Malaysians that Hindraf fight for when the other communities contemptuously shun them as the societal sore even when they are Malaysians!
As it grows and more resources are available, with more non-Indian participation in their effort, Hindraf will broaden its campaign to include all races in their fight against discrimination and marginalization of policies driven by political parties. As of now it restricts itself to only those Malays and Chinese who approaches Hindraf for assistance when they have been shunned by everyone else, including their own race.
Recently, this included a Malay alleged drug addict who died in police custody, and HINDRAF bought a coffin for him when his family could not afford it, as well as the more recent case of Norizan who was shot five times by the police.
Hindraf has given up on the urban English-educated Indians who yearn to be ‘whiteys’, with the typical know how attitude but continue to ignore and disassociate themselves from their poorer and marginalised Malaysian
Indians cousins. There are over 10,000 professional Indians but only a few care for the plight of the poor Indians. These English speaking ‘professional Indians’ prefer to be multi-racial in outlook and socialise with Chinese and Malays, groveling for inclusion and acceptance, not realising that in this racist-centric nation, their own Malay and Chinese ‘multi-racial’ friends have only contempt and disregard for all Indians! Just look at the comments in the cyber world; never an intelligent or a factual argument on the struggle but one that depicts and castigate them with sneers and sarcasm.
Hindraf struggles for policy change in a macro aspect not on an individual micro sense, but which would eventually benefit all communities not just Indians. A policy change benefits all across the board, regardless of race or religion.
Hindraf initiated or shall I say opened the eyes of many, of the desperation of the Malaysian Indians, by action. Not some cyberworld and passive position that many take today. It wholeheartedly supported Pakatan during the GE12 and all it got back for the society it represented was broken promises. Not once since coming to power has PR conferred with Hindraf on policies. Except for the meetings between Waythamoorthy and Zaid outside Malaysia, until today there is no contact with Hindraf, all their letters and petitions have been spurned!
Hindraf does not trust UMNO or PR. Hindraf warns all Malaysians not to trust politicians on either side. These politicians have no intention to resolve the rakyats’ woes, but to ensure that they are in pole position for themselves but never for the poor or the poverty stricken. They just want your support, your votes.
Everyone wants Hindraf to join PR and fight for ‘The Cause’, but no one wants to hear Hindraf’s demands. They simply want Hindraf’s interests to be subsumed to Pakatan’s greater interests for the political front. HINDRAF can’t do that and will not bow to any force as it is only submissive for a humane cause. The reality today in the current state at least within the major three races, Malay, Chinese and Indian is so transparent, and if the Malays who are politically favoured and those Chinese who are economically well placed, or the elite Indians, cannot understand or fail to recognize the depleted state of the Malaysian Indians, then it is them that are a lesser
Malaysian.
Hindraf feels Anwar has done all that he can and there is not much more he can achieve. Perhaps just a few more seats. That’s about all. We need something more to change the government. Hindraf is also embarking on raising Dayak consciousness and Dayak nationalism, and forming a formidable front in East Malaysia.
Hindraf’s demands have to be placed upfront as this is the society that has deteriorated so far in every aspect as the rest Malaysians stood by and watched it happen. We have already seen that PR has no intention to resolve Hindraf’s demands even when they have the power to do so. PR has no idea on what to do in East Malaysia too, we are told; no stated policies, another ping pong game for their political needs.
What more if PR goes to Putrajaya. When they can’t do a simple thing in the states in West Malaysia that they already govern, how are they to address the poor and poverty concerns of the Malaysian Indians?
Hindraf is convinced that the Chinese and to a lesser extent the Malays, will not sway unless the Indians walk first and create the stampede! The Chinese will not be seen caught voting against the establishment as they have too much at stake as much as the Malay politically, but they will do it if the Indians starts this as the poor and
marginalized poor Indians have nothing to lose in their desperation and despair to seek a better future for themselves in a so-called multi-racial motherland Malaysia in namesake.
marginalized poor Indians have nothing to lose in their desperation and despair to seek a better future for themselves in a so-called multi-racial motherland Malaysia in namesake.
HELLO Pakatan, it was also bribery & corruption in GE12
Of course the commentors now run down the Malaysian Indians ie the poor and poverty stricken how they were bought over as they could have created the swing for a Pakatan victory. Looking at some of the comments, it really makes me wonder what kind and how politically immature these people are and can only blow their hot air without any actual analysis. By R. Shan (Human Being)
It is rather surprising that Pakatan is sounding like an old record that bribery and corruption paved the way for an unknown Mr Kamalanathan further being an Indian to wrestle and defeat the infamous Datuk Zaid Ibrahim in the recent election when the bulk of the Chinese votes more or less voted for Pakatan?
Isn’t bribery and corruption part and parcel of the UMNO machinery? Who are you trying to fool?
Of course the commentors now run down the Malaysian Indians ie the poor and poverty stricken how they were bought over as they could have created the swing for a Pakatan victory. Looking at some of the comments, it really makes me wonder what kind and how politically immature these people are and can only blow their hot air without any actual analysis. Memories do serve us all short to understand the mechanism of politics.
The same bribery and corruption was there in GE12, but the Malaysian Indians created the swing through the involvement of HINDRAF as an impetus on the marginalization & discrimination state of the Indians with humnaity as the concern, where the bribe and corruption did not stop them to vote for the opposition. Don’t these people see this or is it the type of people that are inbred for the politics of Pakatan.
Pakatan, if you win, you claim it is multiracial, if you lose you blame the Indians who were bribed and corrupted like in Bagan Pinang. If such is the case, then you do accept that the Malaysian Indians are the kingmakers how the election goes.
Now, your ardent commentors & followers in their armchair position throw all kind of accusations against the Malaysian Indians for the loss in Hulu Selangor. But let me ask you this. What have they fought for? Are they asking for preference? Are they asking to be treated differently from the rest of the Malaysians? No, they are asking what you can do that is different from UMNO with their lackey MIC.
Pakatan had their chances and choices, but they would rather label the very cause that started the uprise HINDRAF as racist and play politics as opposed to BN who sat silently and watched how Pakatan was burning their own bridges with HINDRAF.
To date, with all the criticism that HINDRAF lays at the path of UMNO after the election, have you seen them chastize HINDRAF as much as Pakatan has or it’s ardent commentors and bloggers? The self destruction of PAKATAN is obvious when they are not able to engage HINDRAF. And this UMNO has learnt that as long as there is a battle between PAKATAN and HINDRAF, UMNO can make it’s own route for the Indians as seen in how quickly MMSP was formed against the will of MIC. Of course, MMSP is nothing but an instrument of UMNO.
Kamalanathan did not win because UMNO is strong, but because PAKATAN is playing politics with the people like what BN has been doing for the last 52 years before their realization after the last election. The realization was created by HINDRAF without bribery and corruption and solely on a humanity pursuit, and BN had taken steps to address these problems and that is why they are by-passing MIC to approach the people directly.
With Pakatan, they seem to be folded in a battle with HINDRAF who can be a formidable ally as they need to realize that HINDRAF has stood aloof beyond politics on the stand that they have taken whether it is UMNO or PAKATAN.
The aloofness of HINDRAF is somewhat misintepreted or manipulated. Before GE12, UMNO with various accusations. Then after GE12, and in particular after the Kg Buah Pala issue, it was the turn of PAKATAN. UMNO has died down, but PAKATAN keeps harping on the racism of HINDRAF.
It is funny. With all the racial criticism of HINDRAF, the PAKATAN fans blame the Malaysian Indians for the loss in Hulu Selangor. What they fail to realize is that the humanity aspect that HINDRAF pursues is not the summer soldiers and sunshine patriots that they seek but a permanent solution that PAKATAN can offer for a humane will for this society that has been sidelined and kicked around for everyone’s personal political will.
Sure, bludgeon me. But I alone cannot make the difference, but we need a community to seek what is the truth and reality on the ground for the humanity that we seek without any political interference or influence for the betterment of the future generation.
Isn’t bribery and corruption part and parcel of the UMNO machinery? Who are you trying to fool?
Of course the commentors now run down the Malaysian Indians ie the poor and poverty stricken how they were bought over as they could have created the swing for a Pakatan victory. Looking at some of the comments, it really makes me wonder what kind and how politically immature these people are and can only blow their hot air without any actual analysis. Memories do serve us all short to understand the mechanism of politics.
The same bribery and corruption was there in GE12, but the Malaysian Indians created the swing through the involvement of HINDRAF as an impetus on the marginalization & discrimination state of the Indians with humnaity as the concern, where the bribe and corruption did not stop them to vote for the opposition. Don’t these people see this or is it the type of people that are inbred for the politics of Pakatan.
Pakatan, if you win, you claim it is multiracial, if you lose you blame the Indians who were bribed and corrupted like in Bagan Pinang. If such is the case, then you do accept that the Malaysian Indians are the kingmakers how the election goes.
Now, your ardent commentors & followers in their armchair position throw all kind of accusations against the Malaysian Indians for the loss in Hulu Selangor. But let me ask you this. What have they fought for? Are they asking for preference? Are they asking to be treated differently from the rest of the Malaysians? No, they are asking what you can do that is different from UMNO with their lackey MIC.
Pakatan had their chances and choices, but they would rather label the very cause that started the uprise HINDRAF as racist and play politics as opposed to BN who sat silently and watched how Pakatan was burning their own bridges with HINDRAF.
To date, with all the criticism that HINDRAF lays at the path of UMNO after the election, have you seen them chastize HINDRAF as much as Pakatan has or it’s ardent commentors and bloggers? The self destruction of PAKATAN is obvious when they are not able to engage HINDRAF. And this UMNO has learnt that as long as there is a battle between PAKATAN and HINDRAF, UMNO can make it’s own route for the Indians as seen in how quickly MMSP was formed against the will of MIC. Of course, MMSP is nothing but an instrument of UMNO.
Kamalanathan did not win because UMNO is strong, but because PAKATAN is playing politics with the people like what BN has been doing for the last 52 years before their realization after the last election. The realization was created by HINDRAF without bribery and corruption and solely on a humanity pursuit, and BN had taken steps to address these problems and that is why they are by-passing MIC to approach the people directly.
With Pakatan, they seem to be folded in a battle with HINDRAF who can be a formidable ally as they need to realize that HINDRAF has stood aloof beyond politics on the stand that they have taken whether it is UMNO or PAKATAN.
The aloofness of HINDRAF is somewhat misintepreted or manipulated. Before GE12, UMNO with various accusations. Then after GE12, and in particular after the Kg Buah Pala issue, it was the turn of PAKATAN. UMNO has died down, but PAKATAN keeps harping on the racism of HINDRAF.
It is funny. With all the racial criticism of HINDRAF, the PAKATAN fans blame the Malaysian Indians for the loss in Hulu Selangor. What they fail to realize is that the humanity aspect that HINDRAF pursues is not the summer soldiers and sunshine patriots that they seek but a permanent solution that PAKATAN can offer for a humane will for this society that has been sidelined and kicked around for everyone’s personal political will.
Sure, bludgeon me. But I alone cannot make the difference, but we need a community to seek what is the truth and reality on the ground for the humanity that we seek without any political interference or influence for the betterment of the future generation.
PAMERAN RANG DAFTAR PEMILIH TAMBAHAN
PAMERAN RANG DAFTAR PEMILIH TAMBAHANPameran Rang Daftar Pemilih Tambahan bagi SUKU PERTAMA TAHUN 2010 mengikut setiap negeri. Tarikh pameran bermula dari 26 April 2010 hingga 2 Mei 2010. Segala tuntutan dan bantahan yang ingin dibuat perlu mengikut Prosedur Membuat Tuntutan Dan Bantahan yang ditetapkan.
SEMAKAN RANG DPT SUKU KE-1 2010
(MENGGUNAKAN NO : KP / TENTERA / POLIS)
1. Kenapa Perlu Dipamerkan Rang Daftar Pemilih?
Rang daftar pemilih mengandungi nama-nama pemilih yang dicadangkan untuk dimasukkan ke dalam daftar pemilih dan nama-nama yang dicadangkan untuk dikeluarkan dari dalam daftar pemilih.
SPR memberi peluang kepada orang ramai terutamanya kepada individu yang memohon untuk bukan sahaja memastikan namanya didaftarkan dalam daftar pemilih tetapi juga maklumat yang diberikan itu adalah betul dan tepat. Selain kepada individu yang terlibat, SPR turut memberi ruang dan peluang kepada masyarakat pengundi untuk menyemak dan memastikan bahawa semua senarai yang dicadangkan untuk dimasukkan atau dikeluarkan adalah benar dan tidak perlu dibantahi.
2. Apa Yang Dipamerkan Dalam Rang Daftar Pemilih?
Maklumat-maklumat yang dipamerkan adalah seperti yang berikut:
(a)
Nombor kad pengenalan pemilih;
(b)
Nama pemilih;
(c)
Alamat pemilih; dan
(d)
Lokaliti pemilih.
3. Di Mana Rang Daftar Pemilih Dipamerkan?
Rang daftar pemilih tambahan dipamerkan di tempat-tempat yang telah diwartakan oleh SPR di setiap negeri seperti yang berikut:
(a)
Perlis
(b)
Kedah
(c)
Pulau Pinang
(d)
Kelantan
(e)
Terengganu
(f)
Perak
(g)
Pahang
(h)
Selangor
(i)
Wilayah Persekutuan
(j)
N. Sembilan
(k)
Melaka
(l)
Johor
(m)
Sabah
(n)
Sarawak
Rang daftar pemilih juga dipamerkan dalam laman web SPR.
4. Apa Perlu Dilakukan Semasa Tempoh Pameran?
Semasa rang daftar pemilih tambahan dipamerkan, orang ramai terutamanya yang telah mendaftar dalam suku tahun tersebut perlu menyemak rang daftar pemilih tambahan yang dipamerkan bagi membuat tuntutan atau bantahan di mana perlu.
5. Tuntutan
Seseorang yang telah memohon supaya didaftarkan dalam daftar pemilih tambahan bagi kawasan pendaftaran ia berkelayakan mendapati namanya telah tertinggal daripada daftar pemilih tambahan yang dipamerkan boleh mengemukakan tuntutan kepada Pendaftar dalam masa 7 hari dari tarikh daftar pemilih tambahan dibuka untuk dipamerkan. Tuntutan dibuat dengan menggunakan Borang B dan disertakan salinan Borang A. Sekiranya tuntutan diterima, nama pemilih akan dipamerkan di pejabat pilihan raya negeri yang berkenaan selama 7 hari. Borang Tuntutan (Borang B) boleh dimuat turun.
6. Bantahan
Bantahan adalah permohonan kepada Pendaftar dalam tempoh pameran oleh pemilih berdaftar dalam kawasan pendaftaran berkenaan untuk membantah kemasukan nama atau pengeluaran nama pemilih dalam daftar pemilih tambahan bagi kawasan pendaftaran berkenaan yang sedang dipamerkan.
Pembantah perlu mengemukakan bayaran RM 10.00 bagi setiap orang yang dibantahkannya dan hanya dibenarkan membantah sebanyak 10 nama sahaja. Sekiranya permohonan diterima, Pendaftar akan terus membuat keputusan sekiranya terdapat bukti yang mencukupi atau menjalankan siasatan awam bagi menyiasat kebenaran bantahan tersebut. Borang Bantahan (Borang C) boleh dimuat turun.
7. Siasatan Awam
Siasatan awam akan dijalankan bagi menyiasat kebenaran bantahan. Dalam siasatan awam Pendaftar boleh memanggil pembantah, orang yang kena bantah atau saksi-saksi lain bagi membantu beliau membuat keputusan. Daftar pemilih tambahan bagi kawasan pendaftaran ini hanya boleh diperakukan setelah selesainya urusan siasatan awam ini.
8. Rayuan
Sekiranya mana-mana pihak (pembantah atau orang yang kena bantah) tidak berpuas hati dengan keputusan Pendaftar dalam siasatan awam, maka mereka boleh membuat rayuan kepada Pegawai Pengadil.
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