TV host 'reassigned' over Najib scorecard - Malaysiakini

All her guest did was to give premier Najib Abdul Razak a 'C' or 'D' rating for his first 100 days in office.

It was enough to see ntv7 talk-show host Florence Looi being issued a warning letter and an immediate transfer to the news desk of the private television station.

Looi, who hosts the popular 'Point of View' current affairs programme, was said to have 'breached editorial policy', according to ntv7 sources.

The two guests on the talk-show, aired on July 5, were author Syed Akhbar Ali and consulting editor Leslie Lau of news portal Malaysian Insider. It was the latter's remarks that landed Looi in trouble.

The sources said she was verbally told that she should not have asked her guests to rate Najib's performance. As Looi is the host-cum-producer of the programme, she was the only one who received the warning letter.

Looi, who is assistant assignment editor, has since been reassigned to cover news, ostensibly because of a shortage of human resources at the news desk

This incident might well seal the fate of 'Point of View', which has just concluded its second season. There has been no announcement yet as to whether there will be a third season.

However, the sources believe that, even if the programme is continued, a new host will be appointed.

Looi refused comment when contacted, while efforts to reach the management were futile.

Ntv7 is one of the four free-to-air private TV stations belonging to media giant Media Prima Bhd which is closely linked to Umno. The other three stations are TV3, 8TV and tv9.

Media Prima has also spiked news about the mansion that former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo is building in Shah Alam. The blanket ban was applied after the ntv7 Chinese news slot at 5.30pm aired the bulletin.

'Only an opinion'

Centre for Independent Journalism executive director V.Gayathry took ntv7 to task for practising self-censorship.

“The comment by the guest on the performance rating is not anything critical, but just an opinion,” she said.

She said that Looi was punished for asking an important question at a time when everyone else was evaluating Najib's performance.

“The show has provided a lot of space of good discussion (and Looi has been doing a good job),” she noted.

Gayathry recalled that, when Najib took office, Media Prima had issued orders to the four television stations not to name political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda when reporting the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case. Razak is Najib's confidante.

”We would like to ask if it is Najib's policy to put people in the TV station to practise censorship,” Gayathri added.

'Point of View' has been broadcast at 6pm on Sundays. Guests are invited from either side of the divide on such hot topics such as the Internal Security Act, language-switch policy, vernacular education, police accountability and the recent PKFZ scandal.

Since Najib assumed power, top media personnel aligned to former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi have been replaced.

Those who had served during the tenure of Dr Mahathir Mohamad have made a return, leading to the perception that there is a return to a more restrictive media environment.

Former New Straits Times group editor Ahmad Talib is now Executive Director, News and Editorial Operations, at Media Prima, as well as the Executive Director (Editorial) of New Straits Times Press.

Former Berita Harian Sdn Bhd group editor Manja Ismail is Media Prima news and current affairs editor, assisting Ahmad.

Deadly blast hits Pakistani school

The blast destroyed an Islamic school and more than one dozen homes in Punjab province [EPA] At least nine people, including seven children, have been killed and scores more wounded after a cache of explosives apparently ignited in an Islamic school in Pakistan, police said. The blast on Monday destroyed the school and more than one dozen homes in a village near the city of Mian Channu in Punjab province, trapping several people under the rubble. The seminary was based in a house in which children were taught the Quran. "It appears that the blast was caused by some explosives placed inside the house," Kamran Khan, the police chief in the area, said. The owner of the home has been accused of recruiting fighters to battle foreign troops in neighbouring Afghanistan, the Associated Press news agency cited Khan as saying. Police have evidence that the home was a meeting point for fighters, he said. The government has ordered an inquiry into the blast. 'Unworthy target' Imran Khan, Al Jazeera's correspondent in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, said the location of the blast was very remote. "The village is off the radar. It hasn't been seen as a target worthy of an explosion of this size," he said. "The size of the crater suggests the number of explosives used was a massive amount. The only time we've seen craters of that size are in major urban centres. "There is a theory developing that the village itself was not the target and that this could have been some sort of arms or munitions dump where an explosion happened quite by accident." The blast comes amid a major offensive by Pakistani troops to drive out Taliban fighters from their strongholds in tribal regions near the Afghan border. While security forces say they have flushed out the anti-government fighters from the North West Frontier Province, an assault is currently under way in South Waziristan to capture Baitullah Mehsud, the Pakistani Taliban leader. The Taliban has vowed to fight back and launch counter attacks.

Khir Toyo expelled

Tukar MB Pun Boleh : Manikavasagam

Sinar Harian Ahad 12 July 2009

Share This Story:

Police will focus on street crimes, says IGP

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 – The police will give priority to to stamping out street crimes, in line with the government commitment to reduce crime and corruption, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan said.

Drastic measures would be taken to address the problem to ensure public safety and security, he said.

“Street crimes like snatch thefts and robberies have a big impact as people are afraid to go outdoors, thus limiting their movements.

“Police want to reduce such crimes which have become rampant,” he said when commenting on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s statement that the government would take measures to check crime.

Musa said PDRM would increase manpower and beat base in public places known to be risky due to the many crimes committed there.

PDRM would also step up cooperate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and related agencies.

He said the anti-corruption campaign was proven effective when two policemen turned down a bribe of RM500,000 recently.

They were offered the bribe after stopping a lorry with 978kg of drugs worth RM280mil on May 2. – Bernama

Police: Ah Long heads could be politically-linked

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 – The police have not ruled out the probability that two key members of Malaysia’s largest ‘Ah Long’ (loan shark) network could be familiar names in the political fraternity.

Initial police investigations have revealed that the two were among six people who had jointly headed the network which had international connections in drug trafficking and prostitution, among others.

The other four heads, including a datuk, are in police custody to facilitate investigations.

Bukit Aman CID director Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin said preliminary investigations on some of the network heads in custody revealed a possible involvement in politics and in other crimes like drug-trafficking, prostitution and illegal businesses.

“The network is so large that it has gone overseas (overseas links) and we need time and public help to cripple it,” he told reporters here, today.

These heads are believed to have used revenue from other criminal ventures to fund and expand their illegal money-lending activities.

Yesterday, police said that four of six key players in the ‘Ah Long’ network, including a datuk, aged between 30 and 56, were arrested.

Mohd Bakri declined to comment further on the arrests. The police have set up a special team involving the federal CID and commercial crime department to track down and destroy the network, right up to its grassroots-level.

Last month, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein declared an all-out war against the ‘Ah Long’ menace and stressed that illegal money-lending activities could not be accepted or allowed to mushroom.

In an unrelated case, the police have recorded statements from several individuals, following a police report that a reporter had gatecrashed into a religious function at a church.

“We have taken statements from the complainants and later, will record a statement from the reporter, as well,” said Mohd Bakri.

On July 8, two Catholics claimed that a reporter had intruded a function at the church in Kuala Lumpur, about two months ago, to probe a claim of Muslim teens being converted at the church. – Bernama

Pas win with bigger majority in Manek Urai by-election will be a clear and unmistakable signal to Najib that his Hundred Day performance and goodies a

By Lim Kit Siang,

I just returned from Manek Urai in Kelantan where I attended the last Pakatan Rakyat ceramah at Kampong Perial last night, which saw a record ceramah crowd for the by-election campaign.

The prognosis is most favourable and a Pas win with bigger majority in Manek Urai by-election than the general elections last year will be a clear and unmistakable signal to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak in two senses:

• That together with the people in the West Coast in Peninsular Malaysia as demonstrated in the three by-elections after Najib became Prime Minister, i.e. Bukit Gantang, Bukit Selambu and Penanti, the people in the East Coast stand as one in their solid support for Pakatan Rakyat in the nation-wide demand for political change; and
• That Najib’s Hundred Day performance and goodies are just not good enough and people expect meaningful reforms in his next 100 Days.

The voters of Manek Urai have a historic mission tomorrow. In the 1978 general elections, when PAS was nearly smashed to smithereens by Umno winning only two State Assembly seats in Kelantan after Pas was thrown out of Barisan Nasional and a period of emergency rule, Manek Urai was one of the two.

In 1978, the voters of Manek Urai were the “saviours” of PAS but tomorrow, the voters of Manek Urai have the mission to be the “saviours” of Malaysia in paving the way for another historic political tsunami in the next general elections for the ending of Umno political hegemony and Barisan Nasional rule at the national level.

Najib’s absence in the Manek Urai by-election is most significant for it is a barometer of Umno’s lack of confidence that it could win in Manek Urai despite the Umno and Barisan Nasional’s politics of 3M – money, mass media and (Federal government) machinery.

If Umno has the possibility of winning the Manek Urai by-election, Najib would have been in the forefront of the Umno by-election campaign in Manek Urai.

It is most regrettable that the Umno and Barisan Nasional by-election commander-in-chief Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had resorted to the old politics of money, inducements and ransom to win voters in Manek Urai when he should be spearheading the new politics of ideas.

As reported by the Star report “Golden offer to voters”, Muhyiddin offered “a new deal to turn Manek Urai into a new development area in Kelantan provided Barisan Nasional wins tomorrow’s by-election”.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the “offer” was not confined to physical development but would also encompass the social and economic well-being of the people.

Muhyiddin said a bridge, estimated to cost between RM7 mil and RM10 mil, would be built to connect the old and new sections of Kampung Manek Urai, which were separated by a river.

Muhyiddin said Manek Urai would be considered “a golden area” of choice by the Barisan Nasional federal government for development of commercial farming of oil palm, rubber, vegetables and other crops – on the condition that Barisan won the by-election.

If this is not the old corrupt politics of bribery and buy-and-sell votes, I do not know what is. It is most deplorable that in the new era of integrity, the new Deputy Prime Minister should resort to such disreputable methods of electioneering.

Muhyiddin should have set a good example of new politics by telling the voters of Manek Urai that regardless of whether Umno wins or loses in the by-election, the Barisan Nasional federal government would respect the right to development of the people in Manek Urai and would build a new bridge for the area.

Muhyiddin may have even violated the laws, both electoral and MACC – but nobody believes that we have the institutional independence in the country for impartial investigations and actions to be taken.

At the minimum, Muhyiddin should publicly apologise for resorting to such old politics of electoral corruption.

Pick Leaders Who Can Win Back Community, MIC Delegates Told

PUTRAJAYA, July 13 (Bernama) -- The 1,400 delegates to the MIC general assembly in September must pick leaders who could win back the 1.8 million Malaysian Indians into the Barisan Nasional (BN) fold, said political analyst and renowned researcher Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria.

"This is most important. MIC politics is not just politics involving the MIC delegates. It is really the question of who will the Indian community trust in the post-March 8, 2008 political tsunami.

"The opposition has outstanding Indian leaders who often transcend their own community and have become flag-bearers for human rights, democracy, justice, fairness, good governance and accountability. Who within MIC can face these political heroes who have captured the Indian hearts and minds?" he said in an interview with Bernama.

At the general assembly, the MIC will also hold the election for the posts of deputy president, three vice-presidents and 23 central working committee members. Long-serving party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu won the MIC presidential election uncontested for a record 11th term in March, this year.

Incumbent deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel, former deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam and party vice-president Datuk S. Sothinathan have announced their intention to contest the party's number two post.

The veep race is still uncertain with several leaders like Human Resource Minister and MIC secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, Federal Territories Deputy Minister and party information chief Datuk M. Saravanan and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk S.K. Devamany, who is also the MIC treasurer-general, expected to join the fray.

Denison argued that the delegates to the assembly must pick a new breed of leaders, "basically new faces who can instil confidence that the party is truly reforming in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's policy reform and also in line with the Indian community's expectations".

"While academic qualifications and experience can be an added value, what is most essential is for men and women with character and high moral values.

"Therefore, the delegates must consider leaders who are free from any scandal or link with gangs or criminal activities, as well as free from financial controversies," said Denison, who is also a Malaysian Human Rights Commissioner.

He said age was another factor to take into account in picking national leaders as too often those who had held their post for long were not prepared to give it up.

"The MIC delegates must elect a majority who are in their late 40's and early 50's. The urgent appeal is to drop those who have held their post for the past 10 to 15 years in the CWC.

"The MIC must take a critical but honest view of this matter. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik have stepped down and allowed their parties to move on with younger leaders," he said.

Denison also warned about the danger of "chores singing" and heaping praises on national leaders with very little room for dissenting views and voices in today's politics. "There must be tolerance for alternative views, especially in a climate where we want innovation and creativity."

He said the delegates must also ensure that the national leadership is more inclusive of all sub-Indian communities such as Tamils, Northern Indians, Telugus, Malayalees and Ceylon Tamils, as well as Indian Christians, Indian Muslims and Sikhs alongside the dominant Hindu leaders.

He also called on them to elect leaders who have clear understanding of the community's expectations and the aspirations of the other communities in Malaysia, instead of those who espouse strong racial and religious views for political expectancy.

"Failure to choose the right political leaders will further impact the credibility of the party and its leadership in the eyes of the Indian community and other communities in Malaysia, and this will further erode the party's role in the community, government and nation.

"Therefore, the time is ripe for the MIC not in its old form but renewed under a new leadership to ride the tide of change with a dynamic prime minister and his public policies. The future of the party is in the hands of the delegates," he said.

High Court refers Mohan Singh's conversion to syariah court

SHAH ALAM, 6 July 2009: The High Court here gave jurisdiction to the Syariah Court to determine if art director Mohan Singh a/l Janto Singh was a Muslim at death, despite his Sikh family's dispute of his conversion.

Judge Rosnaini Saub said the civil court had no jurisdiction to hear the matter based on the Selangor State Enactment and the Federal Constitution's Ninth Schedule.

Both laws state that the syariah court has jurisdiction over persons professing Islam and matters that include declaring whether a deceased person was a Muslim or otherwise at the time of death.

With this ruling, the High Court dismissed an application by Mohan's family challenging the Sungai Buloh Hospital's decision to withhold his body from them pending confirmation by the Selangor Islamic Council (Mais) on his religious status.

The High Court also dissolved its own injunction issued on 1 June 2009 to stop the hospital's release of the body to any party pending a decision on jurisdiction.

Mais will now take possession of Mohan's body from the hospital for burial according to Islamic rites. He will be buried at the Sungai Buloh Muslim cemetery today.

The court also rejected a request by the family's lawyer, Rajesh Kumar, for a stay of the decision pending an appeal to the Court of Appeals. Despite the rejection, Rajesh said he would file an appeal in Putrajaya today.

Mohan's family, comprising his step-father and three sisters, were silent when Rosnaini announced her decision. One of the sisters began crying softly.

However, the family was allowed to take the body to their home in Selayang to pay their last respects before they had to hand it over to Mais later, Rajesh said after the court announced its judgement this morning.

Certificate of conversion accepted

Judge Rosnani decided that Mohan's conversion certificate was acceptable, notwithstanding the dispute by his family.

She found that the purported conversion in 1992 to be a "highly disputed question of fact", but also said that "the applicants' averment that they are not aware of the deceased's conversion to Islam does not mean that the conversion did not take place."

"It is unfortunate that the deceased [did] not [tell] them," she said.

Since the court found that the certificate's existence was "sufficient proof" that he had converted, Rosnaini said that Mohan was therefore a Muslim. His Muslim name, according to the certificate, was Mohammad Hazzery Shah Mohan Abdullah.

She also said that even though the Penang Administration of Muslim Law Enactment 1959, which governed Mohan's conversion in 1992, did not have a provision to regard a conversion certificate as conclusive, it did not mean that the court could not accept the document.

She said the certificate was issued as an administrative practice to record conversions to Islam, and "in [the] absence of any evidence that the certificate is a forgery or was fraudulent, there is no reason why this court should not accept it as proof of conversion".

Lifestyle versus the law

Mohan's family had disputed his conversion through affidavits filed by one of his sisters, Baldi Kaur a/p Janto Singh, who said Mohan had always lived in Selangor. His conversion certificate states that he converted in Penang.

Baldi Kaur also said the family had no knowledge of his conversion as Mohan had lived like a Sikh even after 1992. He married a non-Muslim who bore him a child who was given a Punjabi name. In his marriage register and in his child's birth certificate, he maintained his Punjabi name and Sikhism as his religion.

He also performed Sikh funeral rites for his mother. And there was no change in his identity card details after his purported conversion.

Judge Rosnani said that even if a convert's lifestyle was inconsistent with that of a Muslim's, it "does not alter his status as a Muslim in the eyes of the existing law".

She ruled that even though Mohan converted in Penang, the Selangor enactment deemed anyone who was registered anywhere else as a Muslim a convert in the state of Selangor unless the syariah court declared otherwise.

She also rejected the submission by the family's lawyer that Mohan's conversion was never registered. She cited a letter from the Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department dated 25 May 2009, the date of Mohan's death, confirming that he had converted to Islam and was registered in Penang.

Case law

Referring to the case law raised during the arguments on jurisdiction, Rosnaini said that even if not all parties to a dispute were Muslim, it did not mean that the civil court had jurisdiction to hear the matter.

She said this was especially so if the subject matter was within the domain of the syariah court, such as, in this case, the question of whether Mohan died a Muslim.

She said Article 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution prohibits the civil court from interfering in such a matter.

"Therefore, it cannot be a correct proposition of the law when the applicants' counsel submitted that the civil court shall have jurisdiction over the subject matter because the applicants are non-Muslim," she said.

During submissions, Mohan's family's lawyer had argued based on the case of Latifah Mat Zin v. Rosmawati Sharibun & Anor, in which the judge decided that all parties to a dispute must profess Islam in order for the dispute to be heard in the syariah court.

Where do they go?

Rosnaini acknowledged that Mohan's family had neither recourse in the syariah court because they were non-Muslims, nor in the civil court because it had no jurisdiction over the subject matter of Mohan's religious status.

To this, she said the matter had to be resolved by lawmakers and not by the courts.

She cited Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamed, who was the Federal Court judge in the Latifah Mat Zin case, who, in his judgement said that since neither court had jurisdiction based on the state and federal laws which created them, it was up to the legislators to remedy the situation.

"Either court obtains its jurisdiction from statute, not from the fact that the other court does not have jurisdiction over the matter. ...Where can the applicants go in such a scenario?...It is not the court's function to remedy it," Rosnaini said, quoting Abdul Hamid.

Al Islam breached code of ethics

By Deborah Loh
thenutgraph.com

PETALING JAYA, 13 July 2009: Al Islam magazine clearly violated journalistic ethics when it went undercover at a Catholic mass and partook of the holy communion, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) said today.

"I don't question the subject matter of the story, which was about finding out about alleged conversions of Muslims to Christianity. It is a valid subject as it is the concern of a particular community.

"But the magazine went the wrong way in reporting it by going undercover. It was a clear violation of journalistic ethics," CIJ executive director V Gayathry told The Nut Graph today.

Gayathry "Undercover reporting cannot be the starting point and basis for journalism without trying other traditional methods. In this case, on such a story involving religion and faith, being sneaky by going undercover breeds further misconceptions and misunderstanding.

"If the magazine wanted to know if Muslims were being converted, it should have confronted the church with evidence of the claims, and obtained the church's reply," Gayathry said.

She was responding to the Al Islam magazine article in May 2009 which has outraged many Catholics and some Muslims because the magazine's journalist not only consumed the communion, but also spat it out to photograph it.

Catholics believe that the communion, once consecrated, is the body and blood of Jesus Christ and only baptised Catholics who have prepared to receive Christ can consume the host.

Right of reply

In the Al Islam article, Tinjauan Al Islam Dalam Gereja: Mencari Kesahihan Remaja Murtad, the writer set out to ascertain if claims that Muslims were being converted in churches were true. From his observations, he wrote that he did not see anything of the sort happening, although there were Malay-looking people attending the church services. These he identified as Malaysians from Sabah.

Gayathry added that for stories on controversial subjects such as religious conversions, there was "all the more the need for reporters to be factual".

Magazine cover "You can write in the interest of your community, but it must be done openly and honestly, and with a chance for the other party to respond. The magazine should state how it came to know of such rumours that Muslims were being converted, and what were the facts they have managed to establish," she said.

Ethical journalism would not employ undercover reporting, she added. In past cases where undercover reporting was practised and considered ethically acceptable, they were usually on stories where corruption and abuse of power were being exposed, and where there was no paper trail or hard evidence to furnish as proof.

Because reporting a story involves establishing the truth of a situation, Gayathry noted that journalists had to obtain more than one side to the story and go beyond stated claims.

"A journalist is not a judge, but one, who, based on tips or observations, feels there is something wrong and tries to expose it. In presenting a story, they must go after the person against whom allegations are made to give them the right of reply.

"In presenting the truth as best as one can, more sides of the story must be obtained," she said.

The Nut Graph last week contacted the Al Islam editorial desk but the magazine declined to comment.

Sacrilegious

Bishop Antony Selvanayagam of the Catholic Church's Penang diocese said "to take part in a ritual one is not supposed to, and to write about it" was considered "very sacrilegious as far as our religion is concerned".

Selvanayagam (Source: rc.net) "The story does not help us work towards living in harmony with one another. However, my advice to Catholics is not to [respond] tit for tat. That is not the way. But we cannot just keep quiet either.

"The legitimate course of action to protest is to make police reports, and I hope the Home Ministry will act as police reports have already been made," the bishop said in a phone interview today.

Selvanayagam confirmed that the police report lodged against Al Islam last week was done by two members of his diocese. He said he was not certain as to exactly which churches the Al Islam reporter went to since the article did not name any church.

"We are just responding to the fact that the incident happened," he said.

Catatan Dari Manek Urai

Alhamdulillah, semangat rakyat di Manek Urai kelihatan kental. Sambutan ceramah malam tadi hebat sekali. Pagi tadi saya turun ka desa, menemui jentera PAS dan berhenti menyampaikan pesanan singkat. Azizah masih di sana dan petang ini meraikan petugas KeADILan disana.

Saya menempelak pimpinan UMNO yang terus mengugut rakyat dengan rasuah politik. Jambatan Manek Urai akan dibina pada 15 Julai sekiranya calun UMNO menang, tegas mereka. Apa mereka kira dana negara adalah harta peribadi dan bolih segera dibangunkan menurut titah Nabi Sulaiman?

Dan agak melucukan manakala Menteri Pendidikan menganjurkan sambutan Hari Guru selepas dua bulan dari tarikh kebiasaannya (16 Mei)!

Walhasil balik asal - seluruh jentera pemerintah, penguatkuasa, dan media ikut satu arah, satu Malaysia!

ANWAR IBRAHIM

Police arrest two for “criminally trespassing” as non-Malays/Muslims in University Malaya’s Academy of Islamic Studies

by Nathaniel Tan

Update: There will be a vigil to support the two tonight, 13th July, 8pm - the group will gather at the mamak restaurant in front of the UM KL entrance.

Last night, two individuals - Ong Jing Cheng and Yap Heng Lung - were arrested for “trespassing” in Universiti Malaya. Their “crime?”

Being non-Malay in a “Malays only” area :|

And what area is this that is “Malays only?” - The Academy of Islamic Studies.

Last I checked, it is the duty of Muslims to spread their faith, to encourage an understanding of the religion to non-believers.

So is this “Malays only” (at the pain of police arrest) policy something from Islam? Or something from racist, segregationist UM policies and blur cops?

Are parts of UM - a public university - off limits to people of certain ethnicities or religions?

Is it now illegal to have friends in university of different faiths?

What on earth is going on here?!

Ong and Yap are both deeply motivated activists who work to Malaysia a better place. Their efforts cross racial lines, and for their trouble, they landed a night in jail.

Another ridiculous aspect of this case is how having a draft memorandum aimed at helping crime-fighting efforts was interpreted as subversive when a) it’s in the interests of citizens plagued by crime and b) has absolutely nothing to do with the university.

Bodohnya!

I will be following the case closely and will post up any updates I get on this post. The following is the full statement from DEMA which narrates the incident.

ps- thanks to help from John Lee: Section 447 of the Penal Code is criminal tresspassing, which is defined in Section 441 as “Whoever enters into or upon property in the possession of another with intent to commit an offence or to intimidate, insult or annoy any person in possession of such property; or having lawfully entered into or upon such property, unlawfully remains there with intent thereby to intimidate, insult or annoy any such person, or with intent to commit an offence, is said to commit
“criminal trespass”.” Right. I’m sure that’s exactly what those two intended to do :|

URGENT APPEAL
12 JULY 2009

To all,

Release Ong Jing Cheng and Yap Heng Lung Immediately!

Ong Jing Cheng, (a graduate student from USM, also Secretary of Administration of DEMA and coordinator of EMPOWER) together with Yap Heng Lung (fresh graduate student from USM and Coordinator of Student Politics Department of DEMA) were charged under Penal Code 447 for trespassing University Malaya (UM). Both of them were detained overnight at Pantai Police Station and is believed to be remanded the next day.

We call for immediate release of Ong and Yap because:
1. Both of them were only meeting friends at UM without any other motive or intention.
2. Local universities are public places, not security zone. Public should be welcomed to enter and utilize the facilities in the university.
3. Police is an executive force and they should be accountable and independent. In this case, the police worked in coop with the UM security officers and there was an obvious bias in handling the case by rejecting the request from Ong and Yap to lodge a police report against the security officers.

Background of the Incident

Chronology

Time	Incident
12/7/09 (Sunday) 8.00pm	· Ong Jing Cheng and Yap Heng Lung (two DEMA activists and graduate students from USM) went to University Malaya (UM) to meet their friend at Academy of Islamic Studies (API). Unfortunately their motorcycle broke down before they reach. So they had to walk to their meeting place. · Three UM security guards stopped them and asked their reasons to be there as according to the guards, API is a “Malay place” and therefore Chinese should not be there.
8.15pm	· The security guards contacted another seven officers to come and surrounded Ong and Yap. Ong and Yap were forced to follow the officers back to the security department for trespassing UM. · When Ong and Yap refused to follow the instruction, the officers called the police. · Police came and brought both Ong and Yap to Pantai Police Station.
8.35pm	· Ong and Yap reached the police station. · Police accepted the report from the UM security officers, accusing Ong and Yap as trespassers in UM. · Also, the police found a memorandum of EMPOWER issued to Prime Minister on “Making a Street Safe” on their motorcycle and suspected that they were trying to protest. (*Ong Jing Cheng is a coordinator of EMPOWER-Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor) · Police rejected the request of Ong and Yap to lodge a report on the security guards who harassed them without reasonable excuse.
11.00pm	· Both Ong and Yap were detained overnight by the police and were charged under Penal Code 447.

Abuse of Power
Public Universities are opened zone for public to enter. Security officers of UM should not be intimidating Ong and Yap for trespassing UM because both of them were only visiting a friend at UM. The accuse was not standing on a reasonable ground as the officers claimed that Academy of Islamic Studies (API) is a place for Malay race and any Chinese presented at the venue will be suspected. The responsibility of security officers is to help maintain the order of UM, not abusing one’s power to find fault on targeted people without concrete basis.

The police, on the other hand, should play a role as an independent force to execute the law. In this case, the police was bias towards the UM security officers by only accepting their reports, detaining Ong and Yap without proper investigation.

Demands
Hence, DEMA calls upon the police to release Ong Jing Cheng and Yap Heng Lung and withdraw all charges immediately. DEMA also urges UM authority to take action against the security officers who were not professional and intimidating Ong and Yap without reasonable basis.

What Can You Do?
Fax the sample letter below to Bukit Aman Police Headquarter:
Fax number: 0-322739602
Call Pantai Police Station to ask about the case and demand immediate release of Ong and Yap:
Tel: 03-22822222 or 03-22824786

Released by,
Malaysia Youth and Student Democratic Movement (DEMA)
Lee Song Yong (Secretary of National Affair)
012-6359440
xiumengdema@gmail.com

Sample Letter

Please state your concern and protest and faxing the letter to Bukit Aman Police Headquarter and CC to Vice Chancellor of University Malaya (UM) and Ministry of Higher Education.

To:

Tan Sri Musa Hassan
Inspector-General of Police
Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia
Bukit Aman
50560 Kuala Lumpur.

Release Ong Jing Cheng and Yap Heng Lung Immediately!

We/I from ______________________, oppose the action of the police officers in detaining Ong Jing Cheng and Yap Heng Lung without reasonable basis.

2. We call for immediate release of Ong and Yap because:
i. Both of them were only meeting friends at UM without any other motive or intention.
ii. Local universities are public places, not security zone. Public should be welcomed to enter and utilize the facilities in the university.
iii. Police is an executive force and they should be accountable and independent. In this case, the police worked in coop with the UM security officers and there was an obvious bias in handling the case by rejecting the request from Ong and Yap to lodge a police report against the security officers.

3. Public Universities are opened zone for public to enter. Security officers of UM should not be intimidating Ong and Yap for trespassing UM because both of them were only visiting a friend at UM. The accuse was not standing on a reasonable ground as the officers claimed that Academy of Islamic Studies (API) is a place for Malay race and any Chinese presented at the venue are to be suspected. The responsibility of security officers is to help maintain the order of UM, not abusing one’s power to find fault on targeted people without concrete basis. This will continue to create fear among the students.

4. The police, on the other hand, should play a role as an independent force to execute the law. In this case, the police was bias towards the UM security officers by only accepting their reports, detaining Ong and Yap without proper investigation.

5. We urge the authority to:
i. Release Ong Jing Cheng and Yap Heng Lung immediately.
ii. Withdraw all charges on Ong and Yap.
iii. Take action on security officers of UM who were not professional.

Yours faithfully,

______________
( )

CC:
Ghauth Jasmon,
Vice-Chancellor
University of Malaya
50603 Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSIA
Tel. No : +603 7967 3213 / 3510 / +603 7956 8400
Fax No.: +603 7955 2975
Email: vc@um.edu.my / ghauth@gmail.com

Y.B. DATO’ SERI MOHAMED KHALED BIN NORDIN
Menteri Pengajian Tinggi,
Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi,
Aras 7, Blok E3, Parcel E,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62505 PUTRAJAYA.
Tel : +603-8883 5010
Faks : +603-8889 1952
Emel : menteri@mohe.gov.my

By-Election Results Expected By 8pm Tomorrow

KUALA KRAI, July 13 (Bernama) -- Results of the Manik Urai by-election is expected to be announced as early as 8pm tomorrow, said the Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof.

He said they do not expect any problems in announcing the results early as the constituency was small.

"Our are targetting 85 per cent of the 12,293 voters to vote because 90 per cent of them are farmers, rubber tappers and fishermen, so they are not subjected to a working day.

"The 1,300 outstation voters are not all from the Klang Valley. Most of them are from Kelantan and Pahang, so I hope they can come and vote tomorrow," he told reporters at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Yahya Petra I, here Monday.

He said the campaigning period which started on July 6, had gone smoothly without any untoward incidents that may affect the by-election process.

Abdul Aziz said voter information such as polling centre, polling streams and their serial numbers could be obtained from 25 EC booths opened within 50 metres of the polling stations.

He urged the political parties and candidates contesting in the by-election to abide by the laws set by police to ensure the by-election goes on smoothly.

"The campaigning period which began on July 6, will end at midnight tonight. No campaigning activities are allowed after that. Media organisations are also urged to respect these rules on polling day," he said.

He added that complaints on matters regarding campaigns or the by-election can be made to the EC's operations centre at 09-7471966 or 09-7471998.

Azmin Presses For EXCO Reshuffle

SHAH ALAM, July 13 (Bernama) -- The state assemblyman for Bukit Antarabangsa Mohamed Azmin Ali today continued to press for a reshuffle of the Selangor state executive council.

"The proposal for an exco reshuffle recently does not necessarily mean the sacking of any individuals. Instead the reshuffle can be done by changing the portfolios of existing exco members. It is up to the Menteri Besar to do so," he told reporters during the break in the assembly sitting here Monday.

He said that although Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim had said there would not be any reshuffle in the near future he needed to stress on the roles of the exco in discharging their duties to develop Selangor.

Last Thursday, Azmin, who is also Gombak Member of Parliament called for a reshuffle of the state exco as he was not satisfied with the performance of certain councillors charging that they had failed to develop the state.

Azmin made the statement during the state assembly sitting and was also not happy with the appointment of local government council members which was announced last Monday.

He alleged that the appointments were not in line with the principles and spirit of cooperation among Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), the DAP and Pas.

In another development, Azmin also asked PKR's Wangsa Maju Member of Parliament Wee Choo Keong to provide clarification regarding his allegation that there was a state exco member involved in illegal activities in Selangor.

He said the allegation made by Wee through his blog http://weechookeong.blogspot.com/ needed to be verified as to its truth.

"He just made the statement yesterday and I have not got clarification for the reason behind the statement. I need to have a clarification and Wee has to give a clarification," he said.

Muhyiddin important announcement in Manek Urai

KMM: The Young Malay Union (1938) : part 1

Mustapha Hussain: Malay Nationalism Before UMNO

THE MEMOIRS OF MUSTAPHA HUSSAIN, 1910-1957

Even sadder, Malays could not count on the educated Malays to fight their case as most members of the new Malay elite had become Westernised. Thus, lower rung Malays were helpless to defend their lost rights and could do little to halt the economic onslaught by others.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

KMM, or the Young Malay Union, was founded by a group of radical left nationalists in their late twenties. Influenced by world events and by political events in Turkey in particular, they desired a political body similar to the Young Turks. The word ‘young’ did not preclude acceptance of members of any age group so long as they were “young in spirit.”

KMM wished to enter the arena of local politics as the saviour of nusa dan bangsa (country and people) before the axe of destruction could annihilate them. Homeland Tanah Melayu (The Malay Land), with Malays as its rightful owners, has already been renamed Malaya by the British, with ‘Malayan’ nationals about to inherit what Allah had bestowed on the Malays.

These young nationalists despised every form of colonial oppression. The British, initially accepted as protectors and peacekeepers, had become unbridled oppressors, like other European colonisers. Through their Residential System, policies were subtly introduced from London without giving the Malay Rulers much voice.

One bone of contention was the British policy of allowing tens of thousands of ‘others’ into Malaya. To administer Malaya, the British colonialists brought in educated foreigners from Ceylon, India and Hong Kong to help them exploit Malaya’s economic wealth. They also introduced uneducated workers from China and India. To maintain security, they imported troops from India and Burma. Why did the British not employ more Malays in both government and private sectors? Given a chance, they too would have proven progressive and capable! British excuses that Malays were unqualified and lazy did not hold water.

On top of that, British educational policies were not formulated to guide Malays towards better employment. In the 1930s, Malays only numbered 16 per cent of students in English schools in the Federated Malay States. Malays were, in effect, merely ‘educated’ to become traditional farmers and fishermen whose lives would just be a fraction better than their parents’.

Let me quote a British officer’s statement in the 1920s: “The aim of the Government is not to turn out a few well educated youths, nor a number of less educated boys: rather, it is to improve the bulk of the people, and to make the son of a fisherman or peasant a more intelligent fisherman or peasant than his father had been and a man whose education will enable him to understand how his lot in life fits in with the scheme of life around him.”

The Malays lagged behind in all fields, yet socio-economic policies introduced by the British were not designed to touch Malay lives, especially ‘lower rung’ Malays. They were left to carry on with their traditional lifestyles. No efforts were undertaken to improve the Malay peasants’ miserable standard of living.

We, the “progressive youths”, were fully aware that the British could not be depended upon to upgrade our socio-economic status. In fact, the British were quickly learning to evade the issue of Malay pre-eminence (Ketuanan Melayu).

We felt that if Malays united under the KMM, we could act to assert our rights. KMM could not only ensure peace, prosperity and security in the country, but at the same time, uphold Malay pre eminence and birthrights. In short, KMM would be the saviour of the Malays in their homeland.

The Malays had begun to be suspicious of Chinese immigrants from February 1931 when Penang Consultative Council Member Lim Cheng Ean boldly challenged, “Who says Malaya belongs to the Malays?” The Malay press answered this challenge vociferously, while individuals responded by forming Malay associations in Perak, Selangor and Pahang.

The Malays were, however, less alarmed by the presence of the Indians and the Ceylonese. These two nationalities were only seen as ‘birds of passage’, unlike Chinese immigrants who had become interested in staying on permanently.

Nevertheless, these two races were still looked upon negatively as ‘robbers’ of employment, in both Government Departments and estates. It was Malay labourers who cleared thick jungles to plant rubber seedlings in British estates, but when it was time to tap them, Indian labourers were brought in, replacing Malays.

In the Malayan Railways, positions – right from the highest position of Station Master to the lowest position of Porter -- were monopolised by Indians. Datuk Undang Rembau tried to remedy this social malady, but his efforts died with him.

Even sadder, Malays could not count on the educated Malays to fight their case as most members of the new Malay elite had become Westernised. Thus, lower rung Malays were helpless to defend their lost rights and could do little to halt the economic onslaught by others.

Leftist Malays with KMM hoped to unite the entire Malay population in ‘passive resistance’ similar to Gandhi’s, or, should KMM receive support from student bodies, move in ‘active resistance’ like Burma’s Thakin.

With such noble intentions and aspirations, KMM was founded in April 1938 at a meeting held at the home of Hassan Haji Manan along Jalan Pasar in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of the Federated Malay States. The KMM’s formation was one of the earliest organised efforts by Malays to disseminate political ideas.

The founding members of the KMM included Ibrahim Yaakub (a Malay school teacher turned journalist) from Kerdau, Pahang; Mustapha Hussain (a lecturer at the School of Agriculture of Malaya in Serdang, Selangor) from Matang, Perak; Hassan Haji Manan (a Malay school teacher) from Selangor; Abdul Karim Rashid (a Malay school teacher) from Selangor; Onan Haji Siraj (a Technical School certificate holder) from Ipoh, Perak; Othman Mohd. Noor or M.N. Othman (a Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, Central Workshop clerk) from Tapah Road, Perak; Sulung bin Chik (a Technical School certificate holder and Subordinate Officer in the Railways Department) from Pahang; Bahar bin Abik (a Subordinate Officer at the Government Printers, Kuala Lumpur) from Kuala Lumpur; Idris bin Hakim (a clerk in the Customs Office, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur) from Kampar, Perak; Abdullah Kamil (a journalist) from Kuala Lumpur; Abdul Samad Ahmad (a journalist) from Selangor; Mohamad Salehuddin (a journalist) from Kuala Lumpur and Ishak Haji Muhammad (Pak Sako; a magistrate turned journalist) from Pahang. Most of these active members were Malay educated, but a few had attended English schools.

Ibrahim Yaakub was elected President, proposed by Hassan Haji Manan and seconded by Abdul Karim Rashid. I was made Vice President, proposed by Sulung bin Chik and seconded by Bahar bin Abik. The Working Committee members were:

Secretary I: Hassan Haji Manan
Secretary II: Othman Mohd. Noor (M.N. Othman)
Treasurer: Idris Hakim

The other Central Committee members included:

Abdul Karim Rashid
Bahar bin Abik
Sulung bin Chik Onan Haji Siraj
Ishak Haji Muhammad (Pak Sako)
Abdul Samad Ahmad
Abdullah Kamil

I would like to add that the two big names in Malay left politics after World War II, Ahmad Boestamam and Dr Burhanuddin Al Helmi, were not KMM founder members. Ahmad Boestamam only joined KMM just a few months before World War II broke out.

KMM policies were not in line with the Perak, Selangor and Pahang Malay Associations, which were pro colonial and provincial in outlook. KMM was absolutely anti colonial and fiercely determined to free the ‘Malay Land’ from the British grip. The British Government would be pressured to listen to the Malays and a democratic system of government had to supplant the colonists.

As Malaya’s first political organisation, its leaders were proud to be the first to use the magic word, Merdeka. Appropriately, KMM had a secret meaning, Kesatuan Malaya Merdeka, or Independent Malaya Union, known only to the KMM’s inner circle, consisting of just a few members.

Later, in January 1942, this secret meaning shocked Japanese officers when I (as KMM Vice President) and other KMM members (Onan Haji Siraj, M. N. Othman, Hamzah Alang, Abdul Rahman Tambi, Mohd. Isa Sulaiman, Datuk Wan Daud Ahmad, Saidi Hashim, Kiman, Mohd. Mustafa Ali, Abdul Kadir Adabi, Hashim bin Mat Dali, Naning, Zainal Abidin bin Kassim, Haniff bin Sulaiman) demanded the Japanese commanders proclaim Malaya’s Independence after revealing that KMM’s secret aspiration was Independence. The story of this demand will follow in a later chapter.

Police Force Commission backs extension for IGP

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — The Police Force Commission, which is constitutionally responsible for the appointment and emplacement of members of the police force, has backed a second extension of the service of Tan Sri Musa Hassan as the country’s Inspector-General of Police.

The Malaysian Insider understands that the commission, whose members include top current and retired civil servants and the home minister, wants Musa to remain the country’s top cop when his current contract expires in September.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has still not given his nod yet, however, and is expected to have discussions soon with Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and other stakeholders soon.

So far it is understood that there is a strong sentiment within the administration for Musa’s term to be extended.

Another extension of Musa’s service is expected to draw political controversy.

Over the weekend, the DAP’s Lim Kit Siang urged the home minister not to renew Musa’s contract as the crime rate continues to soar.

Another extension of Musa’s service is expected to draw political controversy. — Reuters pic

According to statistics provided by the veteran parliamentarian, there were 150,000 cases of crime in 2004. This figure ballooned to over 200,000 in both 2007 and 2008 despite Parliament tripling funds allocated to the police under the Ninth Malaysia Plan to RM8 billion.

Lim said that this shows the failure of the Musa to stem the tide of rising crime cases despite an increase in resources.

Musa had reached retirement age two years ago and received a two-year extension of his term.

The original extension was also controversial as it came about after Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail ordered the then Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to close investigations on graft accusations against Musa for allegedly being involved in the release of members of illegal betting syndicates.

Musa was also accused last year by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of being involved in a plot to fabricate evidence during the 1998 investigation of the former deputy prime minister’s black eye beating case.

Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim, the police officer who investigated the black-eye beating in 1998, has also accused Gani and Musa of fabricating evidence in the assault.

Mat Zain’s accusations, contained in a sworn affidavit, have been submitted as evidence in Anwar’s current Sodomy II trial.

Anwar is likely to use the alleged evidence of a previous conspiracy by Gani and Musa against him to back his claims that the current sodomy convict ion is politically motivated.

The exposure in court of such allegations would be damaging to the authorities who are keen on showing impartiality in the prosecution.

It is unclear if the prime minister will take these factors into consideration when he considers whether to give his nod to Musa’s extension.

Musa was first appointed to the post on Sept 12, 2006, succeeding Tan Sri Mohd Bakri Omar.

Musa, a law graduate, joined the service as an inspector on Nov 11, 1969.

Since then, he has held several important posts including as Malacca prosecuting officer in 1973, Bukit Aman Narcotics Division director in 1981 and Kuala Kubu Baru Police College lecturer in 1986.

Musa held the post of Bukit Aman prosecution/criminal law deputy assistant director in 1995 and Johor Chief Police Officer in 2003.

In 1999, he headed the team which investigated the first Anwar sodomy case.

In 2004, he was appointed Criminal Investigation Department director before being made Deputy Inspector-General of Police a year later and then as the Inspector-General of Police the following year.

Buah Pala folks above politics

By SV Singam

The land now called Kampung Buah Pala was occupied by settlers for more than 200 years. Some 150 years ago, David Brown, who then owned the coconut plantation there, gave the land to the settlers for them to continue their farming activity.

A written document exists to prove this. After Brown had returned to Britain, the state government took over the land and proceeded to collect annual temporary occupation licence (TOL) rent from the villagers.

In 1999, the villagers applied for the land to be gazetted as heritage land but the then BN government dragged its feet over the matter and failed (or refused) to take any firm action.

I have no idea how many people were privy to the fact that a developer called Nusmetro Ventures had a plan to develop condominiums on the land occupied by Kampung Buah Pala.

I have no idea as well when the project was launched but I do know that as early as December 2007, even before any land transfer had taken place, prospective buyers were already discussing the launching price and putting down deposits.

In retrospect, it appears that the BN government had no intention of gazetting Kampung Buah Pala as heritage land. Instead, the land was to be sold to a developer to build the condominium project. In the process, BN cronies, including senior state government servants, were to make fat profits.

At the time of campaigning for the general election last year, residents of Kampung Buah Pala claimed that they highlighted their problem to the Pakatan Rakyat candidates who promised to solve the problem if they won the elections.

I have not seen any recorded evidence of the Pakatan Rakyat candidates making that promise but I find it quite believable simply because at that time the DAP did not expect to win outright.

After the Pakatan took over the state government, the plotters behind the scheme had a problem. People within the government administration would lose the lucrative profit they were expecting to make. The crony developer would lose a lot of money already spent on launching the project. Buyers of the condo units would only get partial refunds because lawyers' fees and so on would not be returned.

They would stand to lose lots of money. It was a real mess that the plotters had to clear up, which they did.

Three weeks after Pakatan took control of Penang, the Kampung Buah Pala land was quietly transferred to the Koperasi Pegawai Pegawai Kanan Kerajaan Pulau Pinang for them to sell to Nusmetro Ventures, right under Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's nose.

The initial transfer of the land and the subsequent sale of it took place after the Pakatan government had come into power. They could have stopped it if they had wanted to but had it been stopped, they would have to face the wrath of the buyers of the condos.

On the other hand, if the project went through, only the Kampung Buah Pala residents would be affected.

I suspect this is why the state government closed its eyes until it was too late.

The chief minister is now claiming that the developer had offered a compensation of RM200,000 per residence which the settlers had rejected. The truth is the compensation offered was only RM90,000 and this was accepted by only six of the 41 families living there.

The others rejected the offer not because the money was not enough but because they wanted to stay on the land that had been settled on by their ancestors. They needed the land so that they could continue with their livelihood of rearing cows and goats.

The chief minister has the power to acquire the land. Of course he has to compensate the buyer but his claim that he had to pay RM200 per sq ft is ridiculous.

The land acquisition was done under suspect circumstances. The buyer only has to be paid a nominal sum above the purchase price but no one really seems to know what the actual payout would amount to.

What I can see is the unwillingness on the part of the state government to stop the project. I can understand why the chief minister fears to do that. The buyers of that project together with their relatives and friends would constitute a huge voter block. He cannot afford to antagonise them. He may not be corrupt, but he is a politician. He is in power on the votes of his supporters. He is surely beholden to them.

Everyone is lambasting Hindraf for their confrontational attitude. Well, don't forget that the reasonable negotiating attitude that had been adopted for some 10 years, all the way until that point had resulted in utter failure. If Hindraf had not acted as they did, Kampung Buah Pala would be reduced to rubble by now.

Hindraf has won one month for all parties to come out with a fair solution. Let us see if the Penang Pakatan government has what it takes to address this really difficult issue and fix it.

The Pakatan government may not be guilty of any corruption or illegal action but they are guilty of inaction, which has brought grief to the settlers. It is morally wrong to make it seem like the settlers are greedy and are demanding more compensation. All the settlers are asking for is to be left alone to do what they have been doing for more than 200 years.

The right and proper thing to do is to confiscate all profits made from this nefarious project and use that to compensate the affected parties equitably. If the Penang government is unable to do that for whatever reason, they have to do the next best thing in providing a suitable alternative location.

The settlers are not asking for fancy urban homes or money. They just want to be able to continue with their lives and livelihood. Is that too much to ask?

What I recommend is not impossible to do. It only requires a willingness on the part of the state government to prove that they are truly a people's government and not merely a taxpayer's government.

Exit Blog House, enter Rumah Anak Bangsa Malaysia

Since January this year, a group of like-minded people who first hooked up through cyberspace and then met up in real time, have been working on the Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia initiative.

The e-group that I promised you some time back is now up and running and whilst discussions my be slow, I’m confident that it will pick up once the participants warm up and overcome their initial shyness. If you’d like to get in on these discussions, send me an e-mail at thepeoplesparliament@gmail.com

The Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia website, too, will soon be up and running.

And the last few months has also been spent scouting around for suitable premises to set up a Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia secretariat.

Last Tuesday, in his ‘Goodbye, Blog House’ post, Rocky announced that Blog House in Bukit Damansara, where the first Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia fellowship on 25th August, 2007 was held, was no more. He had handed over the keys to the landlord the day before.

I called Rocky the same day his post was put up. He gave me a contact number that ultimately put me in touch with the owner.

I’ll make a long story short.

The Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia initiative now has a home. Yes, we’ve taken over the premises that Blog House once occupied.

The “Rumah Anak Bangsa Malaysia” signboard should go up sometime this week.

That will tell you how serious my friends and I are in taking the ‘One People, One Nation’ message far and wide.

This weekend, we are organising a consensus workshop.

There’s more in the pipeline.

Look out for announcements in the coming weeks and months.

Hishammuddin should explain why he is supporting the renewal of Musa Hassan as IGP who had led a losing war against crime despite trebling of police a

By Lim Kit Siang,

In his Hundred Day address yesterday, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak identified six key areas for his administration to focus on, viz: crime prevention, combating corruption, providing greater access to quality and affordable education, improving the quality of life for the poor, improving rural infrastructure and upgrading public transportation in the medium term.

It is shocking that after 100 days as Prime Minister, Najib as nothing whatsoever to say on two of the six key areas of his premiership, namely crime prevention and combating corruption, sending out the unmistakable message that they rate very low in his order of priorities and debunking the claim that they rank as the top two items of the six key areas for his administration to focus on.

Despite giving a “blank” message of what he intend to do about fighting crime, the Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan could join in the paeans of praise for the new Prime Minister, as Musa is quoted by New Sunday Times today, saying:

“The police have done their best to tackle crime in the country and we will not let up in our efforts. From January until now, crime has been reduced by four per cent. What’s important is to address street crime such as snatch thefts and wayside robberies.”

This is a meaningless statement from the IGP, especially one who had fought a losing war against galloping crime in the past five years, with the national crime index of 156,315 cases in 2004 (which the Police Royal Commission had described as intolerably high which would only frighten off investors and deprive Malaysians of their fundamental rights to be free from crime and the fear of crime) to shoot through the 200,000 barrier in 2007 and 2008!

This is not the only reason why the country should have a new IGP and why Musa’s lobbying to get his term which expires in September to be renewed for another term should be denied.
Other important reasons why the country needs a new IGP to provide new leadership and vision towards creating a world-class police force are:

(i) Musa’s failure to fully implement 125 Police Royal Commission recommendations particularly to establish the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to create an efficient, incorruptible, professional world-class police force to keep crime low, eradicate corruption and uphold human rights

(ii) Parliament responded to Police Royal Commission Report and tripled police allocations in the Ninth Malaysia Plan to RM8 billion as compared to the previous five years under the Eighth Malaysia Plan – but Musa failed to deliver a world-class police service which could keep crime low, eradicate corruption and uphold human rights.

I understand that Musa’s effort to get his term as IGP renewed for another term after September has got the support of Hishammuddin.

The Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein should explain why he is supporting the renewal of Musa Hassan as Inspector-General of Police (IGP) when the latter had led a losing war against crime despite the trebling of police allocations to RM8 billion in the Ninth Malaysia Plan as compared to the previous five years under the Eighth Malaysia Plan and why he is against the appointment of another top police officer to be the No.1 Policeman in the country.

(Speech 2 at the meeting of DAP State Secretaries, Organising and Publicity Secretaries at Crystal Crown Hotel, Petaling Jaya on Sunday, July 12, 2009)

Chaining The Children of the Poor

by M. Bakri Musa

The ancient Chinese bound the feet of their baby daughters so they would grow up with deformed tiny feet, thus limiting their mobility and participation in life outside the little world of their homes. These women would then be totally dependent on their men.

In rescinding the policy of teaching science and mathematics in English, the government is likewise binding the intellectual development of our children. They and future generations of Malaysians would grow up with warped intellect. They would then be totally dependent on the government, just as ancient Chinese women with tiny feet were on their men.

My friend and fellow commentator Azly Rahman has a more apt and colorful local metaphor; we are condemning future generations to the Pekan Rabu economy, capable only of selling pirated versions of Michael Jackson albums. That would be the extent of their entrepreneurial prowess and creative flair. They are only subsistence entrepreneurs and ‘copy cat’ creators.

Make no mistake about it. The government’s professed concerns for the poor and those from rural areas notwithstanding, reversing the current policy would adversely and disproportionately impact them. The rich and those in the cities have a ready escape; the rich through private English classes, urban children from the already high levels of English in their community.

The most disadvantaged will be the poor kampong kids. That means Malay children. Thus we have the supreme irony if not perversity of the champions of Ketuanan Melayu actively pursuing a policy that would ensure Malay children be perpetually trapped economically and intellectually. I thank Allah that I grew up at a time when the likes of Muhyyuddin were not in charge of our education system. Otherwise I would have been trapped in my kampong.

The idiocy of the new move is best illustrated by this one startling example. In 2012 when the new plan will be implemented, students in Form IV will be taught science and mathematics in Malay, after learning the two subjects in English for the past nine years. Then two years later when they will be entering Sixth Form or the Matriculation stream, they will again have to revert to English.

Pupils in the vernacular schools would have it worse. They would learn the two subjects in their mother tongue during their primary school years, then switch to Malay for the next five while in secondary school, and then switch again, this time to English, in Sixth Form and university!

Had these policymakers done their homework and diligent downstream analysis, such idiocies would not crop up. Then again this is what we would expect from our civil servants. They have been brought up with their minds bound up; they cannot think. They have depended on others to do the thinking for them.

Najib Razak’s flip-flopping on this major national issue eerily reminds me of similar indecisiveness and lack of resolve of his immediate predecessor, Abdullah Badawi. No wonder he supports Najib in this policy shift. Najib should not take comfort in that, unless he expects a similar fate as Abdullah’s. Abdullah was kicked out by his party; with Najib, it would be the voters who would be kicking him out. Public sentiments are definitely against this policy switch.

Failure of Policy Versus Failure of Implementation

The cabinet reversed course because it deemed the policy did not produce the desired results. However, in arriving at this pivotal decision the cabinet failed to address the fundamental question on whether the original policy was flawed or its implementation ineffective.

It just assumed the policy to be flawed. Muhyyuddin and his senior officers relied heavily on the 2005 UNESCO Report which suggests that “‘mother tongue first’ bilingual education” may (my emphasis) be the solution to the dilemma of members of minority linguistic groups in acquiring knowledge.

Muhyyuddin and his advisers seriously misread the Report. It was concerned primarily with the dilemma at the societal level of members of a linguistic minority having to learn the language of the majority (“national language”) versus the need to maintain linguistic diversity generally and minority languages specifically. UNESCO was rightly concerned with the rapid disappearance of languages spoken by small minority groups. The report was not addressing specifically the learning of science and mathematics.

Malay language is not at risk of disappearing; it is the native tongue of literally hundreds of millions. To extrapolate the UNESCO recommendations for Malay language is a gross oversimplification and misreading of the report.

The UNESCO Report does not address the issue of when and how best to introduce children to bilingual education. Later studies that focused specifically on the pedagogical and psychological aspects instead of the sociological and political have shown that children are quite capable of learning multiple languages at the same time. Even more remarkable is that the earlier they are exposed to a second language the more facile they would be with that language. They would also learn that second language much faster; hence second language even at preschool.

The acquisition of bilingual ability at an early age confers other significant cognitive advantages. These have been documented by clinical studies with functional MRIs (imaging studies of the brain). Malaysia should learn from these more modern studies and the experiences of more advanced societies, not from the UNESCO studies of backward tribes of Asia.

The other basis for the cabinet’s decision was ‘research’ by local half-baked and politically-oriented pseudo academics. They should be embarrassed to append their names to such a sophomoric paper. The quality is such that it will never appear in reputable journals. As for the Ministry’s own internal ‘researchers,’ remember that they came out within months of the policy’s introduction in 2003 documenting the ‘impressive’ improvements in students’ achievements!

The one major entity that would be severely impacted by the cabinet’s decision is our universities. Yet our Vice-Chancellors have remained quiet and detached in this important national debate. They have not advised the cabinet nor lead the public discussions. Again that reflects the caliber of leadership of our major institutions.

Had the cabinet decided that the policy was essentially sound but that the flaws were with its implementations, then measures other than rescinding it would be the appropriate response. This would include recruiting and training more English-speaking teachers and devoting more hours to the subject.

What surprised me is that when Mahathir introduced the policy in 2003, he was supported by his cabinet that included Najib, Muhyyuddin, Hishamuddin, and over a dozen of current ministers who now collectively voted to reverse the policy. Likewise, the policy was fully endorsed too by UMNO’s Supreme Council then. Like the cabinet, many of those earlier members are still in that body today. Yet today the Council also voted to disband the policy. Muhyyuddin, Hishamuddin and the others have yet to share with us why they changed their minds. The conditions that prompted the introduction of the policy back then are still present today. This reversal will do not change that.

Najib, Muhyyuddin and Hishamuddin are “lallang leaders,” they bend with the slightest wind change. Unlike Margaret Thatcher’s famed resolve of “This lady is not for turning,” with Najib, Muhyyuddin, et al., all you have to do to make them undertake a U turn would be to blow slightly in their faces. Blow a bit harder and they would scoot off with their tails between their legs. These leaders will never lead us forward.

This reversal will not solve the widening achievement gap between urban and rural students. The cabinet has yet to put forth new ideas on ameliorating that problem. So, just as ancient Chinese women were physically handicapped because of their bound feet, rural or more specifically Malay children will continue to be intellectually handicapped by their warped and small minds, the consequence of this policy shift. Perhaps that is the real objective of this policy reversal, the shackling of the intellectual development of our young so they will forever be dependent on their ‘leaders.’

BN Shows Signs Of Revival: Hishammuddin

KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Bernama) -- Signs of Barisan Nasional (BN) revival in Kelantan are in the air with the renewed spirit shown by the people in the Manik Urai by-election campaign, said Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

"I had met the people of Manik Urai and it is clear that they want to see a BN revival in Kelantan.

"Manik Urai could be the starting point of the changes as the people are aware of PAS narrow politics that would take them nowhere," he said in a statement Sunday.

Hishammuddin, who is also Home Minister, said the people of Manik Urai were still lagging behind and their livelihood hardly changed under PAS.

"They want to lead a better life and have a secured future. This could be seen when the people of Manik Urai openly came out in droves to meet Umno leaders.

"This turn of event is further augmented by the friendly disposition of BN candidate Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat, who has his finger on the pulse of the people.

"And this is an important step towards the transformation of the future of the people of Kelantan," he added.

Hishammuddin said with the support and awareness of Manik Urai voters, the future of the people of Kelantan would be rest assured and BN would be with them in marching towards transformation.

While admitting the relative calm in the Manik Urai by-election campaign to the maturity of the people, he also attributed it to the role played by the police.

He commended the police for maintaining security and public order to ensure that there would be untoward incidents during the campaign and on polling day.

Najib's 100 days in office but he fails to address peoples issues!

At the gathering to mark his 100 days in office, PM Najib has announced a slew of " goodies" .

People like " goodies" and he can expect his approval ratings to go higher than the 65% achieved recently.

But if Najib wants to truly bring about changes, he has to implement more and real changes and not just populist measures or goodies.

For example, I did not see his promise that a Royal Commission of Inquiry will be set up into the PKFZ issue. Should the people be satisfied with just the release of the recent PKFZ Report?

Neither did he promise that he will permanently solve the highway toll rate problem. Should the people be happy with the discount announced? Is this all his government can do ?

There was no promise that his government will abolish draconian laws like the ISA, OSA and the Printing and Press Act.

There are many more promises which the PM has not addressed.

The " what he did not promise"list can go on but what is important is that the people who have voted for change in the last general election must be able to see what the PM did not promise rather than what he has promised.

The nation and the people definitely deserve more than the slew of goodies announced.

Tolak pengumuman olok - olok mansuh PPSMI 2012

By Chegubard,

Baru memasuki gerbang 100 hari sebagai Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak kelihatan masih dalam kepayahan bergelut dengan imej 'hitam' yang mencalar beliau.

Kemasukan semula Tun Dr. Mahathir ke dalam Umno selepas Najib memegang tampuk Perdana Menteri dan Presiden Umno tidak menjanjikan jalan selesa kepada Najib. Ini dibuktikan apabila Mahathir yang seharusnya mendokong Najib mula sudah tidak stabil dan mula menyerang 'manja' Najib. Sila klik sini untuk baca ; Mahathir- 100 Hari Najib, lebih banyak negatif

Kemudian respon Tun Dr. Mahathir kepada tindakan kerajaan Malaysia menasuhkan PPSMI 2012 pula mungkin sedikit menyukarkan Najib. Mahathir dengan jelas menyatakan kurang senang beliau terhadap tindakan pemansuhan PPSMI sehingga beliau membuat undian mengenai isu tersebut dalam blog peribadinya. Sila kklik tajuk untuk baca ; Saya sedih - Mahathir . Ada seorang anak muda Rembau, peminat Vespa (memiliki 4 Vespa) juga penuntut Kolej Risda, Melaka,yang hanya ingin dikenali sebagai Komeng, pernah berkata "Jika Mahathir ada maruah dia seharusnya keluar dari Umno semula"

Isu rasuah (pembelian senjata), isu Altantuya sudah cukup melemaskan Najib isu - isu ini makin semarak dan merimaskan apabila kehadiran Rosmah di sisi Najib lebih menyerlahkan imej negatif dan membebankan. Kesombongan Rosmah mengarahkan Universiti Malaya untuk menyerahkan kes conteng dinding (Rosmah Puaka) kepada Polis telah menyebabkan mood tersusun anti Rosmah terbentuk secara organik di kalangan Mahasiswa Lembah Kelang. Mood ini dijangka bakal melanda mahasiswa seluruh negara. Rosmah dilihat umpama Emelda Marcos yang cukup boros, tamak, sombong. Wajah mereka juga hampir mirip. Jika imej itu berjaya dikekalkan maka Najib mampu 'hancur' kerana Rosmah. Sebelum ini tidak pernah isteri PM menjadi bahan kritikan melampau. Seingat che'GuBard cuma Tun Hasmah yang pernah dikritik kerana kononya pakai rambut palsu itupun kritikan bentuk gurauan yang tak beri kesan terhadap undi.

Kehadiran Nazir Razak (yang menguasai CIMB) dilihat mampu melengkapkan imej calar Najib dengan beberapa tindakan beliau.

Kehadiran blog - blog anti Najib yang diusahakan oleh pihak dalam Umno juga dilihat menjadi ancaman kepada Najib. Menurut seorang teman pemimpin Umno (pertengahan) menyatakan kemungkinan untuk menolak Khairy atau penyokong kuatnya dari terlibat dengan kewujudan blog-blog anti Najib agak sukar kerana trend atau style blog tersebut sama seperti blog - blog yang bersungguh pro Khairy yang wujud bertebaran menjelang pemilihan beliau selaku Ketua Pemuda Umno.

Kembali semula kepada isu PPSMI. Kerajaan (Muhiyuddin) telah mengumumkan baru baru ini mengenai PPSMI yang akan dimansuhkan pada tahun 2012. Dalam kenyataan tersebut beliau turut mengakui bahawa PPSMI tidak pernah mencapai sasaran yang ditetapkan. Maknanya kenyataan Menteri Pelajaran sebelum ini mengenai kejayaan PPSMI adalah bohong. Secara tidak lansung Muhiyuddin mengatakan Hishamuddin membohongi rakyat.

Ramai pula yang menyambut kejayaan memansuhkan PPSMI ini.

che'GuBard ingin meminta semua pihak agar bertenang dan memikirkan beberapa fakta mengenai pengumuman mansuh PPSMI 2012 ini.

Pertama memang benar pengumuman pemansuhan ini adalah tindakan terdesak regim Bn kerana ingin meraih populariti setelah desakan rakyat yang meningkat dalam isu PPSMI ini. Ini juga membuktikan tekanan melalui himpunan jalanraya mempunyai kesan. (sila klik sini untuk lihat perhimpunan anti PPSMI 7 Mac 2009)

Untuk itu tidak ada alasan untuk semua yang anti undang undang zalim 'ISA' untuk tidak sama turun ke Kuala Lumpur 1 Ogos 2009 untuk sama berhimpun secara aman membantah kezaliman ISA. Jika benar berjaya mendapat lebih 100,000 rakyat turun membanjiri jalanraya Kuala Lumpur nescaya ISA mungkin akan dimansuhkan.

Kedua, PSSMI ingin dimansuhkan 2012, mengapa 2012 ?

Menurut Prof. Emeritus Abdullah Hassan, Institut Peradaban Melayu UPSI, beliau punya maklumat menyatakan perbelanjaan PPSMI bukan sekadar RM 4.5 billion sebaliknya menjangkau kepada RM 12 billion. wow !!

Setelah menggunakan sebegitu banyak tetapi baru sedar tidak berhasil ? Mengapa hendak diteruskan untuk sehingga 2012 berapa lagi wang rakyat akan terbazir untuk meneruskan 'agenda' gagal Dr. Mahathir ini...?

Adakah benar Dr. Mahathir marah kerana PPSMI hendak dimansuhkan...? Jawapanya tidak..?

Dr. Mahathir cuma marah sebab dengan pengumuman olok - olok PPSMI nak dimansukan 2012 imej atau ego beliau tercabar....lebih lebih lagi apabila manipulasi (permainan angka) pencapaian anak - anak sekolah di bawah PPSMI dibongkar Muhiyuddin dengan mengatakan PPSMI tak pernah capai sasaran.

Semua tahu PPSMI bukan kerana kesungguhan mengubah dasar sebaliknya alasan kuat mempertahankan PPSMI ialah kerana kontrak, projek dan jumlah wang yang tertanam dalam PPSMI itu. Maka tidak banyak pemimpin Umno berani bercakap menentang PPSMI kerana setiap pemimpin Umno akan ada pemodal dobelakangnya. Ketika pemodal sedang sedap menikmati wang dari PPSMI sudah tentu mulut pemimpin Umno tidak terbuka demi memastikan poket mereka terus terisi.

Semua juga tahu polisi atau dasar pendidikan negara sering berubah ubah. Contohnya semasa Anwar Ibrahim menjadi Menteri Pendidikan, dia memperkenalkan Bahasa Baku. Bahasa baku menjadikan bahasa Melayu mudah dipelajari kerana punya sistem suku kata yang senang dibunyikan. Ini di akui ramai pakar bahasa. Bukan Anwar cipta bahasa baku, bukan Anwar pandai sangat pasal bahasa...tetapi untuk mengangkat bahasa Anwar mengumpulkan pakar bahasa dan mendengar cadangan mereka.

Namun selepas Anwar dipecat, bahasa baku turut terpecat. Bukan itu sahaja Kementerian Pendidikan juga diubah nama kepada Kementerian Pelajaran. Semua yang punya 'bau' Anwar perlu dibersihkan.

Maknanya semuanya boleh bertukar secara total di bawah Menteri yang berbeza.

Yakinkah kita 2012 masih Muhiyuddin menjadi Menteri Pelajaran ? Yakinkah kita bahawa 2012 PPSMI benar - benar dimansuhkan..... boleh sahaja nanti Menteri lain (atau Menteri sama pun) mengumumkan dasar menambah masa P & P subjek Bahasa Inggeris gagal maka perlu dikembalikan kepada PPSMI khususnya apabila telah menang selepas PRU 13 yang akan diadakan sebelum persidangan Parlimen kali pertama dalam tahun 2012.

Kesimpulanya mudah pengumuman olok - olok PPSMI akan dimansuhkan 2012 perlu ditolak. PPSMI perlu dimansukan sekarang juga, atas alasan ;

• jangan bazirkan terus wang rakyat sehingga 2012,
  
• jangan mangsakan terus - terus anak sekolah dengan dasar yang tak pernah mencapai sasaran.

Pengumuman Muhiyuddin jelas menunjukkan cara Regim Bn menangani isu pendidikan. Semuanya ditangani dengan pendekatan politik.

Jangan berhenti ayuh demo lagi !!!

High Chaparral: Hindraf to 'turn the screws' - Malaysiakini

The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) will step up its pressure in coming weeks on the Penang government to preserve Kampung Buah Pala as a state Indian heritage village.

Expressing disappointment that the state government failed to fulfill any of his three demands outlined last week, Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar said the movement would now turn the screws to compel the Penang government to protect the villagers' interests.

During his visit to Kampung Buah Pala Saturday, Uthayakumar spelled out three actions that the state government must take within a week to save the village, popularly known as 'Tamil High Chaparral'.

His demands were:

• Sign a purchase order to acquire the village land from its current landowner, the Senior Civil Servants Cooperative Society (Koperasi Pegawai-Pegawai Kanan Kerajaan Pulau Pinang).

• Disclose findings of its ongoing investigation into the alleged land scam involving the village.

• Reveal the court order on the dissolution of the legally-constituted Brown Housing Trust, which encompasses Kampung Buah Pala.

"We will now step up our struggle to save the village," Uthayakumar told Malaysiakini today.

However, he declined to reveal Hindraf's next plan of actions.

'CM has overreacted'

Kampung Buah Pala in Gelugor is known as the 'Tamil High Chaparral' due to the existence of cowherds, cattles, goats, other livestocks, and Tamil lively cultural features.

The village's 300 residents now face a court eviction order after Aug 2 to pave way for a lucrative condominium project called Oasis.

Oasis' proposed developer Nusmetro Venture (P) Sdn Bhd executive director Thomas Chan has said that the company would demolish and flatten the village after the deadline.

Uthayakumar and his supporters across the country are expected to be at the village on Aug 2 to provide stiff resistance ala a Mexican standoff against the possible 'High Chaparral' demolition.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has said the state government plans to invoke provisions under the National Land Code to stop the developer from demolishing the houses.

However, Uthayakumar remained unconvinced and accused Lim of hiding behind the law to sidestep responsibility to preserve the village.

He reiterated his call on Lim to instead use Section 76 of the NLC read in conjunction with Section 3 of the Land Acquisition Act to acquire the village land from its current owner.

“Lim can end the crisis with just a stroke of a pen … undoubtedly,” he said.

Stressing Hindraf was not racist, he explained that the movement got involved in the crisis because the land dispute touched on social and natural justice.

“Hindraf's struggle was always based on universal human rights, natural and social justice.

“But Lim overreaction to our involvement turned it into a communal issue,” Uthayakumar claimed.

Remembering Micheal

He was lauded and ridiculed. He broke down barriers and built them around himself. He soared to heights unimaginable with his music, and he made the ignominious front page of gutter tabloids worldwide. For Michael Jackson, the spotlight was always present, and the rest of the world followed. That spotlight stayed with him on Tuesday as fans mourned around the world and thousands paid tribute to the King of Pop at a Los Angeles memorial.