Pakatan MPs in favour of anti-GST protest

Pakatan parliamentarians throw support behind Anwar Ibrahim's proposed plan to stage a nationwide protest if the GST is introduced during Budget 2014

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat MPs today agreed to proposal by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim that a nationwide protest should be staged if the Goods and Sales Tax (GST) is introduced in Budget 2014.

“The rakyat will be further squeezed with the implementation of the GST. The price of petrol, flour and sugar are also expected to go up when the Budget is tabled in two weeks,” said Klang MP Charles Santiago

“Instead of increasing prices and implementing the GST, the government should focus more on fighting corruption and stopping the leakages.

“I’m certain that with GST being implemented, the lower and middle income earners will be hit the hardest as the GST will indirectly increase food, medicine, transportation and property prices,” said Charles.

“Since wages are not increasing, more taxes will burden the public and leave them in dire situations,” he added.

Kapar MP G Manivannan is also in favour of a nationwide protest, stating talks will be held to educate the public on the expected significance and implications on the rakyat once the GST is introduced by the government.

He slammed the Barisan Nasional, particularly Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak for acting differently before and after the general election.

On Sunday, Anwar announced that Pakatan will organise nationwide protests if the GST is imposed in the upcoming budget, stating that the imposition will further burden the people.

GST is a value added tax replacing the Sales and Service tax, that will help the government to rake in additional revenues to offset its deficit budget.

Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s (PSM) national chairman Dr Nasir Hashim and Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar (PAS) have also come out in support of the idea and said that they too will join Pakatans’ planned nationwide GST protests.

They added that the government should be humane towards the people who are facing hard times due to the rising cost of living.

Police were brutal, say Kg Hakka victims

A memorandum was handed to Bukit Aman and Suhakam in protest against alleged police brutality towards Kampung Hakka displaced residents.

KUALA LUMPUR: About 30 villagers from Kampung Hakka, Mantin gathered at the Bukit Aman police headquarters today to hand over a memorandum on claims that the Mantin police officers were brutal and bias towards them.

Prior to that, this morning they also handed a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam).

Lead by village head Chong Tze Yaw and other villagers they were very upset on how the police had treated them during a peaceful demonstration last week.

A villager who does not want to be named said that they got a notice from the developer on Sept 25 asking them to vacate their homes in seven days.

“We sought help from a lawyer to appeal against the notice to save our homes, and the hearing is supposed to be on Oct 17.

“But to our surprise the police and developer’s representatives came to demolish our houses on Sept 30.

“This is an old village and more than six generations have lived here and we were very sad and felt helpless,” he said.

He said that the police did not heed to their request for 30 minutes so that their lawyers could be present.

“They refused to listen to our explanation and went on arresting 12 villagers and hurting others in a brutal way.

“I am saddened the way they treated us. Even some elderly people got injured. They slapped a few persons arrested in the police van,” he claimed.

He said he hope Bukit Aman would look into the matter and take necessary action.

He also hoped that his house would not be demolished.

“I am praying hard that won’t happen because the developer is willing to pay RM5,000 only.

“It’s not only my family but 60 families are affected,” he added.

Why no police action on Umno lies?

Lim Guan Eng takes the authorities to task for their inaction against Umno groups and Utusan Malaysia for spreading lies about the DAP.

GEORGE TOWN: Lim Guan Eng took the police to task for their inaction on Umno groups and Utusan Malaysia for lying that his party, the DAP, wanted to set up a ‘Christian state’ in Penang or Malaysia.

The Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary general described the lies as “dangerous and propagation of religious hatred.”

He claimed that Umno groups and Utusan Malaysia had spread lies about the DAP on the flimsy ground that its leaders had attended a closed-door meeting with Christian pastors.

Lim asked why it was wrong to attend a closed door meeting with Christian pastors when DAP leaders had attended such meetings with leaders from other religious groups, including Muslims.

He revealed these Umno groups had even lodged several police reports against the DAP and the Christian pastors.

He said that police investigations into the meeting with Christian pastors, involving Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi, in Penang found that the allegations that DAP wanted to form a “Christian state” was a lie.

Moreover, he noted that Jeff Ooi was a Buddhist, not a Christian.

“Even though police closed the case, no action was taken against these irresponsible groups who spread such lies. Why was there no police action taken against Umno groups and Utusan Malaysia? asked Lim.

He stressed the party and its leaders, including him, had always supported Islam as the official religion of the country.

Lim said the DAP welcomed Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s condemnation of those spreading lies that DAP had tried to propagate Christianity to set up a Christian state in Penang.

“DAP is consistent in opposing any establishment of a theocratic state, including opposing a Christian state. Anwar is correct that there was no truth in such lies against the DAP and I.

“We have been unwavering in our support for the position of Islam in the Federal Constitution as the religion of the federation,” said the Chief Minister.

EXCLUSIVE: Home Minister: With criminals, we shoot first

EXCLUSIVE: Carry on, Zahid tells 'Tiga Line' dons

With criminals, we shoot first, admits home minister

EXCLUSIVE Civil society groups have over the years complained that the police use a shoot-to-kill policy for some criminal suspects.

Such fears appeared to be confirmed after Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi indicated in a speech that it was best to shoot first and ask questions later.

Ahmad Zahid was speaking at a ‘security briefing ceremony with community leaders’ last Saturday in what appeared to be a government function that turned into an Umno affair.

Reporters were unceremoniously kicked out towards the end of his speech and threatened by the home minister against reporting the contents or he would shut down their newspapers.

The threat succeeded in silencing most of the media although Oriental Daily News reported Ahmad Zahid's warning after he made "sensitive remarks". It did not give details of his comments.

Malaysiakini has obtained a 20-minute audio recording of the speech delivered at the Malacca International Trade Centre in Ayer Keroh, Malacca.

Based on the recording, Ahmad Zahid said about 28,000 of more than 40,000 gang members identified are Indian Malaysians and there is nothing wrong in arresting them.

"What is the situation of robbery victims, murder victims during shootings? Most of them are our Malays. Most of them are our race,” he said.

"I think the best way is that we no longer compromise with them. There is no need to give them any more warning. If (we) get the evidence, (we) shoot first.”

Ahmad Zahid then immediately highlighted the fatal shooting of five suspected Indian gangsters in Penang in August and chastised Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy - albeit without naming him - for raising questions about the incident.

"There is a deputy minister ... he disputed me and the police. He (asked) why there were no warning shots first before shooting.

"I said that if you want to be (in) a NGO, resign as a deputy minister. He is not qualified to be a deputy minister," he said to cheers in the room.

Ahmad Zahid also proudly declared that the amendment to the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (PCA) that reintroduces detention without trial was his own law.

"We investigate (criminal cases), we take it to the courts. If there is no evidence, if there is not enough evidence, at least there are still two years’ (detention). That is my new law, there is no compromise.”

The revised PCA allows for indefinite detention without trial for durations of two years at a time.

'Push for cabinet approval'

Ahmad Zahid further boasted about his role in getting the PCA amendments passed in the Dewan Rakyat, including getting speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia on his side.

"The Internal Security Act has been repealed, the Emergency Ordinance has been repealed, the Restricted Residence Act has been repealed, but they (opposition) did not notice the PCA 1959, they did not notice it.

"I discussed (pakat) with the inspector-general of police. I discussed (it) with the ministry's legal adviser, I said this can be used," he said.

After being informed of the limitations of the Act by the police, Ahmad Zahid (left in photo) said he pushed for cabinet approval for amendments to the PCA before tabling it in the Dewan Rakyat.

"I (discussed) with (minister in charge of parliamentary affairs) Shahidan Kassim so that when the time comes (for a vote), the ... speaker would be on our side, the Dewan Rakyat secretary will be on our side," he said.

He then related how the opposition bench, where there are many lawyers, had made their case in the Dewan Rakyat against the amendments during the debate which extended to almost nine hours.

"I am not a lawyer. I was a banker, so I just listened. I did not understand what they said and even if I did I would not want to understand what they said because they were defending gangsters.

"Whoever who defends gangsters, I will surely oppose them," he said.

The home minister rubbished opposition demands to respect the human rights of suspected criminals, saying that the police, too, are entitled to have their human rights respected.

Ahmad Zahid said the Bill was passed without any changes, with a convincing majority of 115 votes to Pakatan Rakyat's 66 votes.

Carry on, Zahid tells 'Tiga Line' dons

EXCLUSIVE Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has tough words for criminal gangs but the home minister appears to have a soft spot for the Tiga Line underworld group, calling them his friends and urging them to do what they needed to do.

Zahid made these remarks at an event in Malacca last Saturday and then threatened journalists present that he would close down their newspapers if they reported his statements.

However, Malaysiakini has obtained a 20-minute recording of the speech, in which Zahid claims to be speaking to Umno delegates in what appeared to be a government function.

The event at the Malacca International Trade Centre in Ayer Keroh began innocently enough, with the home minister declaring the police to be colour blind.
He pointed out that they had checked out 178,217 Malays, 77,104 Chinese, 73,505 Indians and 51,517 other races in a crackdown against the underworld.

Of this, 14,511 were found to be secret society members - 6,171 Malays, 1,701 Chinese, 3,685 Indians and 2,954 from the other races.

But from here on was a strange twist, with Zahid zooming in on Tiga Line and declaring that they really weren't thugs and were in fact some form of benevolent gangsters that only turned up at festivals.

'Tiga Line not thugs'

"The 6,171 Malays, they are not real thugs (samseng), they were Pekida members and were part of the Tiga Line group, Gang 30, Gang 7 - these are festivities (kenduri-kendara) gangsters...

"I tell our Tiga Line friends, do what should be done," he said to loud cheers from the room.

Tiga Line is among a list of 49 secret societies released by the Home Ministry in August and declared unlawful.

Zahid then continued to refer to Tiga Line on a first person basis, stating: "We are not evil, I know, I have checked. We gather during festivals with our siblings, we gather when there are projects, never mind".

"I see here, the candidates here, all four of them are Tiga Line," he laughingly said.

Zahid had in his speech repeatedly referred to Umno supreme council candidate Shahidan Kassim, who was also present, as the "biggest Tiga Line gangster", in a joking manner.

'Malays the biggest victims'

After the apparent out-of-place moment for the home minister, he returned to his tough talk against criminals, saying that he had launched the crackdown against the underworld as he felt insulted by the daily street shootings.

The home minister also appeared to take a racial stance on crime, declaring that Malays were the usual victims.

"The largest drug dealers are Chinese, the smaller ones are Indians and the users are Malays.

"In Internet gambling, the bosses are Chinese, operators are Indians and patrons are Malays...

"Therefore the victims are Malays," Zahid said, adding that he is home minister due to Malay support that made him Umno vice-president.

The event where he spoke was titled 'Security briefing ceremony with community leaders' and the backdrop bore the federal and Malacca government emblems.

While Zahid appeared to be aware of journalists' presence at the event, telling them to omit some of his words midway through his speech, the home minister backtracked towards the end and declared the event a closed-door function.

Journalists there were unceremoniously told to leave as those in room shouted for them to get out. The organisers later reportedly told the journalists that the incident was a "misunderstanding".

Ayer Keroh state assemblyperson Khoo Poay Tiong, who furnished Malaysiakini with a copy of the recording, rubbished the assertion that it was a closed-door event, claiming that media seating had been prepared.

PKR opens fire on Zahid over 'instigation to murder'

It appears that Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has shot himself in the foot with his admission that it is better to gun down suspected criminals without warning.

Apart from accusing the home minister of instigating the police to commit murder, PKR vice-president N Surendran also urged that all previous cases of fatal shootings involving the police be re-opened and the establishment of a royal commission of inquiry (RCI).

"Shooting to kill suspects without warning amounts to murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code. Zahid and the police top brass may now be guilty of abetment and criminal conspiracy to commit murder or culpable homicide; the offences of criminal conspiracy and abetment are punishable under Sections 120A and 107 of the Penal Code.

"In short, the minister is instigating the police to concert and plan criminal acts, with the endorsement of the Home Ministry," added the Padang Serai MP in a statement.

The lawyer-turned-politician said the shooting to kill of suspects without warning was also in complete breach of Malaysia's obligations under international law.

"The Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly states that use of firearms is an 'extreme measure' and should not be resorted to unless the suspected offender 'jeopardises the lives of others'.

"Instead of adhering to this internationally approved code of conduct, Zahid is inciting the police to be trigger-happy when confronting suspects," he added.

Surendran was responding to Zahid's remarks made at a security briefing in Malacca on Friday, which was exposed by Malaysiakini.

Probe Zahid's statement
This unprecedented admission by the home minister, said the PKR leader, came as a shock to the nation.

"It is nothing short of ministerial endorsement of extra-judicial killings by the police; it is incitement and approval of cold-blooded murder by the police force.

"Zahid's statement gives new foundation to the opposition and civil society's long-standing complaint that the police have been shooting to kill in many cases," he added.

Surendran said that all Malaysians were put in grave danger by this unlawful "shoot-to-kill" method of law enforcement.

"In light of Zahid's statement, all previous cases of fatal shootings by police must be re-opened.

"In view of the seriousness of the matter, which involves the lives of ordinary Malaysians, we call for the immediate formation of a RCI," he added.

Apart from this, Surendran also demanded an independent and urgent police investigation into Zahid's statement, which was in clear breach of the law.

Snubbed by welfare dept, disabled man crawls up stairs

A disabled man resorted to crawling up a flight of stairs in a bid to submit a memorandum to the Kulim Welfare Department (JKM) after its director snubbed his association.

When contacted, Padang Serai MP N Surendran said some 50 members from the Persatuan OKU Setia Daerah Kulim had protested outside JKM to voice their grouses about welfare benefits around 1.30pm today.

However, he said Kulim JKM director Rohana Yusof refused to receive the memorandum and instead chose to remain at the department's office on the first floor of the municipal council building complex.

After waiting for over an hour under the hot sun, Surendran said one of the association's committee members, 53-year-old Gnana Pragasan (left), who cannot walk, decided to personally go up to the first floor and hand the memorandum to Rohana.

"With the memorandum in his mouth, he used his hands to climb all the way up and banged the door until the director finally came out to receive the memorandum," he said.

Surendran said the incident today illustrated the welfare department's insensitivity towards the disabled and elderly in the country.

"It is a sucker punch for the disabled community, it is a national shame... the (Woman, Family and Community Development) minister must answer," he said.

Surendran said among the grouses in the memorandum was the fact that the Kulim JKM office was on the first floor where disabled people found it difficult to access.

They were also upset that JKM officers have refused conduct site visits to disabled people who cannot personally visit the department's office for assessment, while others were unhappy that they were not receiving their welfare allowance.

Also present at the scene were Lunas state assemblyperson Azman Nasrudin and PKR legal bureau chief Latheefa Koya.