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Tuesday, 22 December 2009

Perlembagaan dan Pemijak Lembu

Loyar Burok
By Syahredzan Johan

This post is reproduced from here.

Saya ingin membuat pengakuan; saya mempunyai hobi yang sedikit luar biasa. Hobi saya adalah menulis rencana yang mengkritik mereka yang kononnya ‘mempertahankan Melayu dan Islam’. Saya ceburi hobi ini kerana sudah rimas dengan sesetengah pihak yang gemar memberi amaran supaya jangan mencabar hak-hak Melayu dan agama Islam.

Kita tidak boleh mengekang kebebasan mereka untuk bersuara. Tetapi apa yang kita boleh buat adalah melawan hujah mereka dengan hujah kita sendiri, berlandaskan fakta dan undang-undang. Sebab itu saya gemar menulis rencana yang mengkritik mereka.

Oleh itu, apabila segerombolan manusia yang memanggil diri mereka Barisan Bertindak Penyatuan Ummah hadir di sebuah balai polis untuk membuat laporan terhadap seorang ahli Parlimen yang dikatakan telah mempersoalkan ketuanan Melayu, saya terus mendapat inspirasi untuk menulis rencana ini. Apatah lagi apabila saya mendengar apa yang mereka katakan.

Rakaman video peristiwa tersebut boleh didapati di internet. Saya merujuk kepada video tersebut dalam menulis rencana ini.

Saya mahu kerajaan Malaysia hari ini bertindak tegas terhadap N. Kulasegaran dengan secara terang mempertikaikan Perlembagaan Malaysia pada hari ini,” kata seorang daripada gerombolan tersebut.

Saya tidak ingat namanya, jadi untuk rencana ini saya akan panggil beliau ‘Pemijak Kepala Lembu 1′.

Yang mana Perlembagaan Malaysia memperuntukan bahawa hak keistimewaan orang Melayu itu tidak boleh dipertikaikan sama sekali. Mempertikaikan hak keistimewaan orang Melayu bermakna mempertikaikan ketuanan Sultan,” sambung Pemijak Kepala Lembu 1.

Saya mahu Menteri Dalam Negara tangkap N. Kulasegaran ini di bawah ISA dan tarik balik kerakyatan dia.“

Wah, yakin sungguh Pemijak Kepala Lembu 1 ini. Beliau tanpa segan silu menggunakan Perlembagaan Persekutuan di dalam hujahnya. Malangnya, amatlah terang lagi bersuluh bahawa beliau tidak tahu tentang apa yang sebenarnya terkandung di dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Beliau telah menyarankan kerajaan untuk ‘menarik balik’ kerakyatan ahli Parlimen tersebut. Jika beliau tahu tentang apa yang terkandung di dalam Perlembagaan, beliau akan sedar bahawa sebenarnya kerajaan tidak boleh dengan sewenang-wenangnya menarik balik kewarganegaraan sesiapa. Malah, kerajaan tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk melucutkan kewarganegaraan sebahagian besar rakyat Malaysia selain sekiranya individu tersebut telah mendapatkan kewarganegaraan negara lain.

Mungkin beliau patut membaca rencana saya yang terdahulu, ‘Kewarganegaraan: Antara retorik dan realiti Perlembagaan‘ di dalam bahagian I dan II.

Taktik Pemijak Kepala Lembu 1 dalam ‘merujuk’ kepada Perlembagaan Persekutuan ini sering digunakan oleh mereka yang sewaktu dengannya. Mungkin mereka mendapat inspirasi daripada seorang Menteri kabinet yang tidak lama dahulu begitu yakin membuat kenyataan bahawa perpindahan sebuah kuil Hindu ke kawasan yang mempunyai majoriti penduduk Melayu-Islam adalah ‘tidak menepati dasar yang termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan’.

Kita bagi dia dua minggu!” sambung Pemijak Kepala Lembu 1. Dua minggu ini adalah supaya ‘N. Kulasegaran’ ini memohon maaf di atas kenyataannya.

Eh, dua puluh empat jam sahaja bagi!” seorang lagi daripada gerombolan itu menyampuk. Untuk tujuan rencana ini kita gelar beliau ‘Pemijak Kepala Lembu 2′. Di kala itu, Pemijak Kepala Lembu 1 menyatakan bahawa dua puluh empat jam terlalu singkat. Akhirnya mereka bersetuju untuk memberikan tempoh masa dua minggu.

Kemudian, Pemijak Kepala Lembu 2 pula mengambil tempat Pemijak Kepala Lembu 1.

Katanya “Apa yang kami kesal di sini adalah kenapa ketuanan Melayu harus dipertikaikan?“.

Saya sebenarnya tidak berapa faham konsep ketuanan Melayu ini. Saya selalu juga membelek Perlembagaan Persekutuan (versi Bahasa Melayu), tetapi tidak pula saya menjumpai istilah ini di dalamnya. Memanglah, saya tahu ada peruntukan mengenai kedudukan istimewa orang Melayu, kedudukan Islam sebagai agama rasmi, peranan dan kuasa raja-raja Melayu serta kedudukan bahasa Melayu sebagai bahasa rasmi. Tetapi tidak pula dinyatakan bahawa ada satu bangsa di Malaysia ini yang menjadi tuan. Malahan, Ketua Pemuda UMNO sendiri telah menyatakan bahawa ‘ketuanan Melayu’ tidak harus digunapakai lagi.

“Sehingga hari ini, orang Melayu terlalu banyak bertolak ansur dengan bangsa-bangsa lain.“

“Jadi kita memberi amaran sekeras-kerasnya kepada mereka dan sesiapa jua yang mempertikaikan hak keistimewaan Melayu, yang mempertikaikan tentang ketuanan Melayu.“

Saya selalu mendengar hujah ini. Di dalam blog-blog dan juga sesetengah media arus perdana. Skrip yang sama selalu diulang semula. Kadang-kadang saya terfikir juga, adakah mereka semua mempunyai buku Malay Ultra for Dummies yang digunakan berulang kali? Saya harap selepas ini gerombolan-gerombolan ini jadi lebih kreatif. Jangan terlalu mengikut buku. Bosan sungguh.

Negara ini asalnya Tanah Melayu,” ujar Pemijak Kepala Lembu lagi, memperagakan pengetahuannya di dalam sejarah negara ini.

Dan mereka-mereka ini boleh kita kategorikan warganegara kelas dua.

Sebelum apa-apa, saya ingin mengulas tentang penggunaan bahasa Melayu Pemijak Kepala Lembu 2 ini. Istilah ‘mereka-mereka’ itu adalah tidak tepat, kerana ‘mereka’ sudahpun merujuk kepada bilangan lebih dari satu. Sebagai seorang yang ingin dilihat sebagai hero Melayu, beliau harus memastikan bahawa penggunaan bahasanya betul. Bahasa berterabur, tetapi ada hati ingin menjadi hero. Seperti kata watak dalam sitkom Pi Mai Pi Mai Tang Tu, “Piiirrraaaahhhh!!!“.

Sambung Pemijak Kepala Lembu 2, “Warganegara kelas satu adalah orang-orang Melayu.“

Seperti saudara seangkatannya, Pemijak Kepala Lembu 1, Pemijak Kepala Lembu 2 juga begitu yakin dengan apa yang dikatakannya. Tetapi setahu saya, Perkara 8(1) memperuntukan bahawa semua rakyat Malaysia adalah sama rata di sisi undang-undang. Bahagian III Perlembagaan Persekutuan berkenaan dengan kewarganegaraan juga tidak menyatakan ada perbezaan kelas di antara warganegara Malaysia yang berbilang bangsa. Saya tidak tahu dari mana Pemijak Kepala Lembu 2 petik hujahnya itu. Mungkin dari buku Malay Ultra for Dummies juga.

Jangan kerana politik, jangan kerana parti, sanggup mempergadaikan hak-hak keistimewaan orang Melayu,” sambung Pemijak Kepala Lembu 2.

Ah, sekali lagi beliau membuktikan kepada seluruh negara betapa cetek pengetahuannya tentang ‘hak-hak keistimewaan orang Melayu”. Jika beliau ada membaca Perlembagaan Persekutuan, beliau akan sedar bahawa Perkara 153 yang memperuntukan tentang kedudukan istimewa orang Melayu tidak boleh dipinda atau dimansuhkan sekiranya tidak mendapat persetujuan Majlis Raja-Raja. Jadi, walaupun Parlimen meluluskan untuk meminda atau memansuhkan Perkara tersebut, ia tidak akan berlaku sekiranya tidak mendapat persetujuan Majlis Raja-Raja. Hujah bahawa sesetengah pihak mahu memansuhkan Perkara 153 ini merupakan pembohongan nombor wahid di negara ini dan adalah sebuah momok yang digunakan untuk menakut-nakutkan sesetengah orang Melayu.

Satu ketika waktu kita tidak mahu sejarah 16 Mei berulang lagi, sorry, 13 Mei berulang lagi.“

Apa yang begitu ironis adalah selepas mengeluarkan begitu banyak kenyataan yang berbaur perkauman, mereka semua kemudiannya menuding jari ke atas sebagai simbol ‘1Malaysia’. Saya rasa, jika Perdana Menteri melihat bagaimana konsep 1Malaysia yang dipeloporinya diputar dan dibelit oleh gerombolan ini, beliau tentu kecewa. Jika saya menjadi beliau, saya akan mencari buku Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang paling besar dan keras dan saya akan lemparkan buku tersebut tepat di muka setiap satu daripada mereka. Tetapi saya bukanlah Perdana Menteri, jadi perkara itu tidak akan berlaku.

Secara jujurnya, saya rasa kita tidak perlulah bazir tenaga untuk berasa marah terhadap kelakuan mereka. Biarlah juak-juak ini memuaskan hati mereka sendiri, biarlah mereka bergelumang di dalam rekaan mereka. Kita boleh ketawakan mereka, sebab mereka begitu yakin dengan dongeng mereka, tetapi saya rasa lebih baik kita kasihani mereka. Kita sebenarnya tidak patut marah terhadap orang-orang yang bodoh lagi jahil.

Namun demikian, saya juga rasa kita tidak boleh biarkan mereka dengan sewenang-wenangnya menggunakan nama Melayu dan Islam serta merujuk kepada Perlembagaan Persekutuan untuk memberi justifikasi terhadap tindakan mereka yang melampau. Untuk itu, kita harus mematahkan hujah mereka dengan menggunakan fakta dan undang-undang. Beri kesedaran kepada mereka di luar sana, yang mungkin percaya dengan kata-kata mereka.

Dongeng kita patahkan dengan fakta. Penipuan kita patahkan dengan kebenaran. Kejahilan kita patahkan dengan ilmu.

Seperti Martin Luther King, saya juga punya sebuah impian. Impian saya adalah supaya gerombolan tersebut membaca rencana ini. Kemudian mereka membelek pula Perlembagaan Persekutuan (atau mendapatkan Buku Panduan Rakyat kempen PerlembagaanKu/MyConstitution daripada Majlis Peguam) dan membaca dengan sendiri peruntukan yang terkandung di dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Saya harap di kala itu, mereka akan sedar betapa jauhnya tersasar hujah mereka pada hari itu.

150m-long skylight comes crashing down at new bus terminal

ImageThe Star
By R.S.N. MURALI and M. AZHAR ARIFF

KUALA BERANG: Another roof of a public building has collapsed in Terengganu, just six months after the roof of the state’s main stadium gave way.

Yesterday, the 150m-long glass roof of the soon-to-be-opened express bus and taxi terminal here collapsed, sending hundreds of sheets of glass crashing down.

Four workers suffered cuts from the broken glass.

Terengganu has been hit by a spate of revelations about buildings with shoddy construction.

Besides the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium (pic right), defects have also been found in the Batu Burok Aquatic Complex and the Sultan Mahmud Airport terminal.

Jangan pertikai sikap profesional polis

Utusan Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR 21 Dis. - Semua pihak tidak harus mempertikaikan sikap profesional pasukan polis yang tidak berpihak kepada mana-mana parti politik ketika menguatkuasakan undang-undang negara.

Bekas Ketua Polis Daerah Baling, Tunku Muzafar Tunku Ibrahim berkata, berikutan sikap tidak berpihak itu, beliau tidak diapa-apakan oleh kira-kira 200 penyokong Pas yang mengepungnya ketika Peristiwa Memali pada 1985.

"Ketika kejadian di Kampung Memali, kereta peronda yang dinaiki saya dikepung oleh penyokong parti berkenaan yang melaung-laungkan ungkapan supaya saya dibunuh.

"Bagaimanapun keadaan menjadi reda apabila ketua kumpulan itu menjerit sambil menyebut, ini Pak Tunku OCPD Baling. Jangan apa-apakan dia, saya biasa berbincang dengan dia, saya tahu dia boleh dipercayai," katanya pada sidang akhbar di lobi Parlimen di sini hari ini.

Sebelum itu, Tunku Muzafar, 67, mengadakan perjumpaan buat kali pertama dalam tempoh 24 tahun dengan Senator Muhamad Yusof Husin yang telah menyelamatkannya ketika beliau dikepung oleh penyokong Pas dalam kejadian di Kampung Memali, Baling, Kedah.

Peristiwa Memali yang berlaku pada 19 November 1985, mengorbankan seramai 18 orang manakala berpuluh-puluh lagi cedera serta beratus-ratus orang ditahan ketika polis melancarkan Operasi Angkara bagi menangkap guru agama, Ibrahim Mahmud atau lebih dikenali sebagai Ibrahim Libya.

Menurut Tunku Muzafar, beliau terhutang budi dengan Muhamad Yusof, 55, yang berjaya mententeramkan keadaan dan menyelamatkan beliau walaupun ketika itu penyokong parti berkenaan berada dalam keadaan marah.

Dalam pada itu, Muhamad Yusof berkata, beliau melaungkan ungkapan supaya Tunku Muzafar tidak diapa-apakan kerana menghargai sikapnya yang adil terhadap semua ahli parti politik.

"Ketika kejadian, saya masih muda iaitu berusia 31 tahun tetapi ini tidak menghalang saya daripada berfikir secara waras untuk menghargai nyawa orang lain," katanya.

Ketika kejadian, katanya, beliau adalah Ahli Jawatankuasa Pas Kawasan Baling.

Beliau yang dilantik sebagai Senator sejak 2008, kini menyandang jawatan Setiausaha Perhubungan Pas Kedah

Enjin RM50 juta hilang. Menteri dan Panglima harus tanggungjawab..letak jawatan!!!

Bukan satu rupanya dua enjin pesawat tempur F-5E TUDM. Ia hilang dalam masa 5 bulan sahaja. Boleh lihat kronologi di bawah seperti yang dilaporkan dalam Berita harian 22/12/2009.

Kronologi kehilangan enjin pesawat tempur F-5E TUDM

• 26Jun 2007 – enjin pertama dihantar keluar

• 1November 2007 – enjin kedua dihantar keluar

• Mei 2008 – enjin disedari hilang

• 4 Ogos 2008 – laporan polis dibuat

• 13 Mei 2009 – kertas siasatan dihantar kepada Peguam Negara

• 25 Jun 2009 – kertas siasatan dipulangkan dengan arahan untuk lengkapkan siasatan

• 18 November 2009 – kertas siasatan dihantar semula.

Kehilangan Enjin ini didalangi oleh 'pihak atasan'. Lihat fakta kes, dari November 2007 tiada data mengenai kewujudan enjin tersebut sehingga enjin hanya disedari hilang pada Mei 2008 dan laporan polis hanya dibuat pada 4 Ogos 2008.

Ini menggambarkan kelemahan sistem keselamatan negara dari November 2007 Enjin hanya disedari hilang pada Mei 2008.

Keduanya ia menggambarkan konspirasi pihak atasan mencuri enjin tersebut dan memberikan masa yang cukup untuk enjin tersebut dihantar keluar dan dijual. Disedari hilang Mei 2008 tetapi laporan hanya dibuat pada 4 Ogos 2008, malah laporan tersebut disembunyikan.

Selepas ini akan muncul pula Malaysia disenaraikan dalam rangkaian pengganas dunia kerana terlibat menjuat peralatan tentera kepada pihak pengganas di pasaran gelap, untuk menutup kemarahan Amerika Malaysia dibawah Najib akan gadai lagi sebahagian kedaulatan negara.

Bila untung regim sapu bila rugi rakyat tanggung !!!

Paling menarik ketika Enjin itu hilang (sila baca: dijual dipasaran gelap) Najib a.k.a isteri Rosmah ialah Menteri Pertahanan dan kini dia Perdana Menteri. Pada ketika itu Panglima Angkatan Tentera Udara yang bertanggungjawab ialah Jeneral Tan Sri Azizan Ariffin yang kini ialah Panglima Angkatan Tentera Malaysia..... jahanam negara !!!

che'GuBard tuduh dua orang ini bertanggungjawab penuh kehilangan (baca: penjualan di pasaran gelap) enjin tersebut. Mereka harus letak jawatan dan dihukum!!!

Scientists capture deepest underwater volcanic eruption on film

Click to play
Underwater volcanic eruption













"It was an underwater Fourth of July -- a spectacular display of fireworks, Pacific Marine Environmental scientist Bob Embley said.

(CNN) -- Scientists witnessed the eruption of the deepest underwater volcano and caught the entire event on film for the first time -- complete with molten lava and sulfur smoke clouds.

The volcanic eruption was filmed by a U.S. robotic submarine more than 1.2 kilometers (4,000 feet) below the surface of the Pacific Ocean near Samoa during an expedition in May this year.

"Since the water pressure at that depth suppresses the violence of the volcano's explosions, we could get the underwater robot within feet of the active eruption.

"On land, or even in shallow water, you could never hope to get this close and see such great detail."

The eruptive area was 1.8 meters across and about 91 meters along the summit.

Scientists have been trying for 25 years to witness an underwater volcanic eruption, but this is the first time it has ever been caught on film.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded the scientists in the hopes of shedding new light on how the Earth's crust was formed and how tectonic plates collide.

While near the volcano, the robotic submarine also collected fluid samples.

"For the first time we have been able to examine, up close, the way ocean islands and submarine volcanoes are born," Barbara Ransom, program director in NSF's Division of Ocean Sciences said.

Gallery: Underwater eruption

"The unusual primitive compositions of the West Mata eruption lavas have much to tell us."

The West Mata volcano is one of the most active underwater volcanos and scientists believe it produces some of hottest lava erupting on Earth.

The volcano is roughly 6 kilometers wide and more than 3 kilometers underwater.

The footage of the underwater explosion comes at a perilous time for residents in the Philippines who are facing the imminent eruption of the nation's most active volcano above ground.

More than 35,000 people have already been evacuated from the base of Mount Mayon, 500 kilometers south of the capital Manila, and authorities are attempting to quickly evacuate an additional 7,000.

Scientists are warning that it is likely the volcano will erupt sometime in the next week.

Gerakan trio

Gerakan’s former president Dr Lim Keng Yaik, Penang chief Dr Teng Hock Nan and national delegates’ conference chairperson Chin Fook Weng have been singled out as leaders destroying the party unity at all levels.

In saying this, former Gerakan vice-president Huan Cheng Guan said Gerakan would head towards an inevitable political demise so long the three politicians continue to dominate and rule the roost in the party.

“These leaders are running the party as if it was their private limited company.

“They are controlling the party president (Koh Tsu Koon).

“Majority of the central committee members are aligned to the former president Lim.

“If this dangerous trend was left unchecked, Gerakan is sure to head towards an eventual permanent death,” Huan told Malaysiakini today.

He said disillusionment among Gerakan members against the trio was the main reason behind their exodus from the party to join him in the newly set up Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM).

Huan, who was suspended for three years by Gerakan since June this year, quit the party last Wednesday and joined newly formed PCM two days ago.

www.malaysiakini.com/news/120223

Yesterday, some 500 members from Machang Bubok branch quit the party, closed down the branch office and joined him in PCM.

PCM president Tang Weng Chew received the membership forms from them.

Huan claimed that Lim, Dr Teng and Chin were crippling and weakening the party from top to bottom.

“The public have already rejected them in the last general election.

“Now Gerakan members too are rejecting them,” said Huan, a former Batu Kawan member of Parliament.

He claimed that Chin was the “main player among the trio” and hit out at Dr Teng for still “dreaming on to become Penang Chief Minister.”

‘Indeed Dr Teng thinks he is the Chief Minister,” said Huan.

He described Koh’s remarks that the exodus of his supporters from the party of would not affect Gerakan as “a mere face-saving political jargon to placate the bruised ego of the party top brass.”

Koh has claimed that the party has some 50,000 members in Penang alone.

www.malaysiakini.com/news/120257

Huan challenged Koh to get to the ground to assess the grassroots sentiments against the party leadership.

He claims that the party leadership was living in the state of denial about the true level of grassroots support to Gerakan.

“Majority Gerakan members are disillusioned with the current leadership.

“They want new leaders to take over the party soon, or else they would leave,” Huan said.

He claims that more Gerakan members would follow him out soon, perhaps another 5,000 of them.

Huan said he and his supporters would consider re-joining Gerakan if the trio – Lim, Dr Teng and Chin, were no longer controlling the party leadership.

“I am not upset with the party, members or other leaders.

“So long the trio is there, I and my supporters would not consider re-joining Gerakan,” he said.

Call 4 external probe on missing million ringgit engine

A DAP parliamentarian has called on the government to conduct an external investigation on the disappearance of the RM50 million F-5E fighter engine.

Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong said given that the Defence Ministry had promised not to “leave no stone unturned”, it was only ideal and appropriate to form either a parliamentary select committee or a royal commission to investigate the theft.

www.malaysiakini.com/news/120202

“An internal inquiry is grossly inadequate on the disappearance of a RM 50 million F-5E fighter engine,” he said in a statement today.

He said internal inquiries have notoriously ensured that the chain of responsibility does not extend beyond low-ranking scapegoats.

He substantiated his claim by referring to Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi statement that “investigations revealed Royal Malaysian Air Force’s logistics system was foolproof. However, the shady activity might have been carried out by staff in the lower rungs in cahoots with outsiders."

Liew pointed out that the F-5E fighter jet engine worth about RM50 million went missing from the Matra 1 warehouse at the Sungai Besi airbase in 2007.

He said the service and maintenance record of the engine was also reported missing, and was believed had been sold to another party in Europe.

He said an external inquiry was crucial not to determine details of the shocking incident but also to uncover the conditions in the armed forces that allowed it to happen.

“An external inquiry would reveal where accountability for such an incident should fall.

“Only then appropriate action can be taken against those responsible,” he said.

The DAP political strategist said the implications of the case struck the heart of the nation’s security.

He said an external probe would also dig deep to unearth whether any other military assets had also been stolen.

“The missing fighter jet engine could just be the tip of the iceberg,” he raised suspicion.

He said the external inquiry shall also determine whether the fighter jet engine and other military assets have been transferred to undesirable parties including Iran.

“If this happens, it potentially poses dangerous global consequences,” said Liew.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the disappearance of F-5E fighter jet engine shows that the country's defence system was not strong.

www.malaysiakini.com/news/120252

He said if such an incident happened in a western country, it would have seen the resignation of its defence minister.

Earlier today Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, formerly a defence minister, said the government had no intention to cover up the case.

www.malaysiakini.com/news/120276

On Saturday, Ahmad Zahid said the engine, worth RM50 million and discovered missing in 2007, had been sold to an international company based in South America.

PRO-MINING ‘GOONS’ HARASS AND INTIMIDATE HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATORS IN INDIA

SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE

21 December 2009


PRO-MINING ‘GOONS’ HARASS AND INTIMIDATE HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATORS IN INDIA


The Dongria depend entirely on the
Niyamgiri Hills for the livelihood. ©Survival
Human rights investigators in India have been harassed and intimidated by large gangs of men apparently paid to stop any outsiders reaching the site of a controversial proposed mine in India.

The men, known locally as ‘goons’, have become increasingly active in villages around the Niyamgiri Hills, Orissa, site of a giant bauxite mine planned by the UK FTSE-100 company
Vedanta Resources. The hills are the ancestral home of the Dongria Kondh tribe, who vehemently oppose the mine.

The gangs, equipped with new mobile phones and motorbikes, harassed the investigators shortly before Pavan Kaushik, Vedanta’s head of corporate communications, wrote a letter to selected journalists.

In the letter Mr Kaushik attacked ‘foreigners’ for ‘freely moving in the region’ and
‘forcedly interacting with tribals’, alleged they were circulating ‘false information’, and asked journalists to ‘do this story’.

Two investigators from
Survival International and a human rights lawyer, Gordon Bennett, were in the Hills gathering evidence on whether the Dongria have been consulted about Vedanta’s plans. The company was recently heavily criticized by the British government, which accused it of breaking guidelines for corporate conduct and said a ‘change in the company’s behaviour’ is ‘essential.’

The Survival team and Mr Bennett were surrounded on three separate occasions by large gangs of men as they investigated the Dongria’s plight. Some of the men were armed with axes, and attempted to take the team’s notebooks and cameras.

Mr Kaushik’s letter also invites journalists to contact the regional Superintendent of Police, who is named as ‘available for interview’. The Dongria and their supporters in India have long accused the local police of acting at Vedanta’s behest. The police were sent late at night to a hotel where they believed members of the Survival team were staying.

Despite the harassment, the Survival researchers and Mr Bennett eventually evaded the ‘goons’, and visited several of the Dongria villages likely to be affected. One of the team, Dr. Jo Woodman, said today, ‘These men have taken it upon themselves to put the Dongria under siege. They are trying to keep outsiders from hearing the strength of the Dongria’s resistance, but they failed: all the Dongria that we met were united in their determination to save their sacred mountain.’

One Dongria elder told the team, ‘Vedanta wants to take our bauxite, but we will not let them take it. We are all together – you and me. Like this we are strong. But if one of us falls we all will fall. You have the language. You can carry our voices to the outside – we cannot do that without your help.’

Mr Bennett and Dr. Woodman are available for interview.


To read this story online: http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/5373

Poor & Homeless Indians, denied DBKL flats in Sentul

Poor & Homeless Indians, denied DBKL flats in the Sentul area where they have been working. For the past four months they have been living at a community hall. (Starmetro 21/12/2009 at page M4)

poor

Poor and working class Indians living among snakes, mosquitoes and centipedes.

Indians living among snakes, mosquitoes and centipedes - read the report below. (Refer The Star 21/12/2009 at page N 49). This is the continuing plight of the poor and working class Indians and what we see in the press and in these columns are just the tip of the iceberg of the problems of the poor and working class Indians – which is being ignored by the UMNO and PR governments. They do not have the political will to address these problems squarely. By highlighting these problems regularly we want to join the dots and show the big picture on these problems. We do not quite appreciate the true magnitude of the problem when we see them individually. As we highlight in our columns we want to continuously bring to the fore those individual problems reported here and there and build an aggregate picture - joining the dots.

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AN OPEN LETTER TO THE LEADERS OF PAKATAN RAKYAT ON THE COMMON POLICY FRAME

pakatan-rakyatIt is one thing to come up with a document like the Common Policy Frame, it is another thing to realize it in practice. What really matters to the people is whether all the leaders of Pakatan Rakyat coalition really understand themselves what is contained in that document with all its implications and whether they really mean all of that.

Let me first first quote from Dato Zaid Ibrahim’s speech

“Pakatan rejects policies that allow for corruption and other financial crimes and abuse of power. In order to ensure sustainable growth, oppressive policies that had only enriched the few should be replaced with a policy that ensures that the poor are assisted regardless of race.”

And I also quote from the CPF Section (3) Social Justice, subsection (B) on religion, with a focus on para 5

3. SOCIAL JUSTICE

B. Religion
Religion and other beliefs practiced by Malaysians should form the basis of unity that is founded on good universal values.

Malaysians have almost fallen into the boiling pot of discord and tension that was caused by manipulation of religious differences.

This should not happen in a genuinely democratic Malaysia, with Islam occupying a special position whilst the rights of other religions are guaranteed.


Pakatan vows to:

…..

…….

5. Ensure suitable areas for places of worship and burial grounds for all religions.

Now let me pose this situation to the leaders of PR and see what the PR leaders would like to do on the matter. This is one issue, may not be large in its scope, but it will be telling about seriousness of the PR leaders in relation to their pronouncements in the CPF. We do not expect a written response. We are interested in seeing the CPF spirit being applied in the situation. This is a test of the pudding, so to speak. Do they really mean what they say in the CPF document or are there some fine print we may all be missing out on.

In Kuala Ketil, Kedah, a Hindu Burial Ground that has been there from before independence is on the verge of being demolished by the Kedah State PR Government because the PR government there wants to build a Kolej around it now. This is development effort, we applaud it. But it is about the method they have chosen to go about this, that raises some questions in relation to the Common Policy Frame. Basically we want to see how the Common Policy Frame relates to the needs, interests and rights of the poor and the marginalized.

1) This Hindu Burial Ground was obviously not considered for preservation at the outset of the Development project by the Kedah State PR government. Otherwise we would not have a problem here now.

Now that the CPF says - ensure suitable areas for places for burial ground for all religions. Should not the State government stop and reconsider what their decision should be now or should theyproceed with the demolishment nevertheless.

Surely “suitable areas” does not mean a definition of suitability for the developer or for the state only. Surely it must mean suitability for the people as well. Therefore the unilateral decision by the PR State Government of Kedah to demolish the existing burial grounds and to merge it with pre-existing other burial grounds is inconsistent with the CPF document. So, should the State PR government pause for a while to review the situation in light of the CPF.

This is a real opportunity for the demonstration of the inclusive values espoused in the CPF. The consideration of the interests and need of all the people and involvement of all the people in decisions affecting them is concrete expression of this inclusiveness. If this not to happen, it raises the question as to what the word “Common” in the Common Policy Frame really means – common to whom, common for what. Is it Common to the poor and marginalized as well or is that common for a select few only?

2) The Kedah State PR Government instead of resolving this issue with the proper representative Association, the Kuala Ketil Tamilar Association, it now calls it haram, (even though it has had several discussions with the association previously until a deadlock happened) is now trying to get around is offering a general offer to each of the poor families RM3,000 there to dig up the graves and move the remains over to the other pre-existing burial grounds.

This is already atrocious in itself. Now with the position of Pakatan on corruption as stated by Dato Zaid Ibrahima and let me quote

“Pakatan rejects policies that allow for corruption and abuse of power. In order to ensure sustainable growth, oppressive policies that had only enriched the few should be replaced with a policy that ensures that the poor are assisted regardless of race.” it makes it all the more urgent and necessary for the Kedah State Government to stop this corrupting act immediately and sit down with the legitimate representatives of the people there and hammer out an equitable and acceptable solution.

Does not the payment of RM 3,000 to each of the poor families while circumventing the Association not amount to corruption. When such inducements are offered to the poor, the response is a given, they are poor. This is exactly the method that has been used to usurp the basic entitlements of the poor and marginalized all these years since Independence. Give them peanuts and take away their fundamental rights.

The UMNO government used exactly this method of corruption by regularly offering inducements to the MIC Mandores and had them forsake the rights and opportunities of the Indians for the last 50+ years. This is what caused the big rebellion among the Indians. This is what the Pakatan seeks to change. So, here is an opportunity. Now what will Pakatan’s position be on this matter?

Sustainable growth and policies that ensure that the poor are assisted regardless of race surely means a permanent resolution to the question of land in so many areas relating to the Indian poor – burial grounds, places of worship, squatter settlements, Tamil schools to name the major areas. In this case, sustainable growth will translate to having a Master plan for all these issues, may be now starting with burial grounds for the Hindu dead in Kedah. This is the substance of sustainable growth – a consideration of all requirements and optimization for the various requirements at planning stages so nothing valuable is compromised, everything is considered and the

right balance is achieved.


This is our request to Pakatan. Please show us that you are serious about the Common Policy Frame. Please show us it is not just a vote-getting device. Show us now, before we vote. Show us you are different from the Barisan in Truth.

Narayanan Ganesan

Pro-Tem Central Committee Member and Advisor to the Human Rights Party

Batu Gajah Kaliaman Hindu temple to be demolished

Batu Gajah Kaliaman Hindu temple to be demolished. In the one year or so of P.R. rule of Perak land was never issued to this Hindu temple or all the other Hindu temples and in particular the 138 Tamil schools in Perak (refer Malaysia Nanban 9/12/09 page 4). And now the new UMNO Perak government wants to demolish it.

P. Uthayakumar


kaliaman

Anwar claims Hadi was misunderstood

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal - The Malaysian Insider

Anwar (centre) says Hadi’s (right) comments yesterday were not taken in context. — file pic

SHAH ALAM, Dec 21 — Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was forced today to play down Datuk Seri Hadi Awang’s remarks yesterday which suggested PAS was not in a hurry to have Pakatan Rakyat registered, claiming his opposition colleague had been misunderstood.

“We have to read his statement in the appropriate context because the decision to register Pakatan Rakyat was in our agreement,” said Anwar, who is also MP for Permatang Pauh.

The PKR de facto leader went through great pains to explain that a misunderstanding had happened, and that Hadi, himself and DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang had already consented to apply to the Registrar of Societies (RoS) for formal registration of the opposition coalition.

Anwar claimed that Hadi’s contention was that the detailed plans of the formalisation had not been agreed to yet and would take time.

Yesterday, Hadi had suggested that the PR coalition was in no hurry to be formally registered, in remarks that appear to indicate PAS’ ideological differences with its political partners remained an obstacle.

“We do not want to act in a hurry to register Pakatan,” Hadi said.

“Pakatan does not necessarily have to become a single party. What is important is for us to bring out what we have in common, and to put off things which we do not agree on,” he was quoted as saying after a special meeting with political bloggers yesterday.

Hadi’s remarks came just a day after the PR coalition held its first ever convention. A common policy framework was also tabled at the convention.

His comments suggested PAS may still have doubts about joining a formal coalition.

This prompted Anwar to go into damage control today.

“There was a misunderstanding here. It is not that it is to be formalised based on the preliminary terms of reference and constitution, which have not been resolved.

“So I think there’s no problem with that, because as far as we are concerned, we are committed to register,” said Anwar.

“What Hadi has said is that because whenever we try to hasten it (the registering process) the RoS will slow it down,” he said.

Anwar also added that, for the time being, PR’s focus would be to concentrate on its policies, and not the formalising of the coalition.

Lawyer for former top cop in the dock

By Debra Chong- The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 — The Sessions Court here today finally heard the trial of lawyer Rosli Dahlan, who is implicated in an ongoing corruption case against former senior cop, Datuk Ramli Yusuff.

Rosli, 48, a partner in Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill, is accused of hiding information on his assets under Section 32 (1) (b) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997. His trial was originally fixed to begin in April last year.

Under the law, Rosli was required to fully disclose all his assets in a sworn statement to the national anti-graft body, then known as the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) within a certain time period.

The ACA was at the time investigating claims that former Commercial Crimes Department (CCD) chief, Datuk Ramli Yusuff, had secretly stashed a fortune worth RM27 million.

Ramli was charged in September 2007 on three counts of failing to disclose his assets, including shares worth RM154,000 in public-listed company Pemaju Industries Berhad, and Telekom.

Rosli, who was then acting for the high-ranking police officer, was brought to book in October that same year.

Ramli’s trial, in its penultimate stage, also took place today but in a separate courtroom and before a different Sessions Court judge, M. Gunalan. He is now represented by veteran lawyer Datuk Shafee Abdullah.

Ramli’s trial started on Jan 15 last year.

Justice Gunalan today fixed submissions for Feb 9 after hearing the testimony from the prosecution’s 35th witness, deputy public prosecutor Anthony Kevin Morais.

Earlier, the bespectacled Rosli stood in the dock before Sessions Court judge Abu Bakar Katar while his wife and children looked on from the public gallery.

The MACC, represented by DPP Zulqarnain Hassan, produced the first of six witnesses, Azmi Ismail, who was at the time of the charge, the ACA director.

Azmi had hand-delivered a notice issued and signed by DPP Morais on behalf of the ACA and dated Aug 24, 2007 which ordered Rosli to reveal all his assets.

But under questioning from Rosli’s lawyer, Datuk K. Kumaraendran, Azmi admitted he did not tell Rosli he was being investigated.

Upon further prodding, the graft buster testified that Ramli was regarded as a suspect in the ACA investigation. Azmi added he did not know how the investigation then was linked Rosli.

At this point, Zulqarnain objected to Kumaraendran’s line of questioning, pointing out that the law does not need the prosecution to state where the information to act came from.

But the defence lawyer countered that it was necessary.

“I’m trying to establish that they do not have any evidence to start with to confirm that Ramli Yusuff is involved in any corrupt practice.

“We’re contending that the DPP has no grounds to believe that any offences have been committed. The report did not mention Ramli Yusuff or anyone for that matter,” Kumaraendran stressed.

The judge then allowed him to continue.

Azmi admitted that Ramli’s name was never stated anywhere and action was taken based on information received from some other source.

Kumaraendran later told The Malaysian Insider that the ACA must have “reasonable grounds” to believe that Ramli could be prosecuted for an offence before they could order Rosli to disclose sensitive information because “lawyers hold other people’s property in trust”.

The trial will resume tomorrow at 9am.

Ong sets up new affairs panel, to be led by Chua

By Neville Spykerman - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 — MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat today announced the formation of a new party affairs management committee.

Speaking after a presidential council meeting today, Ong said the new committee is to be headed by his deputy, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, and four vice-presidents (VPs).

They are Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Datuk Tan Kong Hong.

“The new committee is to look after the affairs and running of the party,” said Ong

Ong added that besides managing party affairs, the purpose of the new committee is to look into the numerous amendments to laws being proposed in Parliament.

He also announced that MCA would be shifting their focus and efforts to identifying and helping poor students at all Chinese Independent schools.

He added that the new party affairs management committee would also be monitoring the RM95 million allocated by the government to build seven new Chinese schools and relocate 13 existing schools, to ensure that the money is well spent.

Liow, who is the health minister, was among three MCA VPs who did not attend the presidential council but Ong said their absence was due to official duties overseas or that they were on leave.

“I know this will not stop many from speculating,” he said.

Among those who present was Dr Chua, who also heads a special committee set up by the central committee (CC), to work out a solution for the party to hold fresh polls.

So far, 13 CC members, among them Liow, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Wee Jeck Seng and Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung, have handed in undated resignation letters to party secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng to pave the way for the fresh elections.

A further eight resignations are needed to fulfil the party requirement that two-thirds CC members resign before fresh elections are automatically triggered.

Dr Chua said he did not table a report at the presidential council today because the deadline for CC members to hand in their resignations is on Dec 25.

“I will hold a meeting after Dec 25 to make the necessary reports to the CC,” he said.

“I know how many more are intending to resign and what I know is what I read in the press.”

DAY 3 – 26 MARCH 2003 (Part 1)

Fernando then took the court through the testimony of Raja Kamaruddin Raja Wahid, a.k.a Raja Komando, who had, in fine detail, revealed how the conspiracy against Anwar originally unfolded and the role he was given in this whole conspiracy.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

“Ummi Hafilda is a prostitute,” said Aziz Samsuddin

Day three of Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal hearing at the Kuala Lumpur Appeal Court hit a high note today when Christopher Fernando read out transcripts of the previous trial that quoted Aziz Samsuddin as saying Ummi Hafilda Ali is a prostitute.

Fernando started by recapping yesterday’s proceeding where he had told the court Ummi had been disowned by the father after she confessed to writing the letter to the Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, accusing Anwar of sodomising Azizan Abu Bakar, one-time driver of Anwar’s wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Ummi’s father, a religious teacher, just before he died, wrote an open letter to the Harakah detailing the reasons he had disowned her and, in no uncertain terms, implicated her as the prime mover behind Azizan.

“Ummi’s father died broken-hearted without ever forgiving his daughter for the role she played in framing Anwar of sodomy charges,” related Fernando.

Fernando had earlier read out Azmin Ali’s (Ummi’s brother) testimony in court that proved she played an active role in the whole conspiracy.

The prosecution never called her to testify in court to rebut this allegation, added Fernando. Instead they expected the defence to call her. The judge, in fact, even mentioned this point in his written judgment.

“But Ummi would have been a hostile witness so it should have been up to the prosecution and not the defence to call her,” argued Fernando.

Fernando said that the court should have invoked Section 114 (g) of the Evidence Act on the prosecution for failing to call a most crucial witness to testify in court.

Fernando then took the court through the testimony of Raja Kamaruddin Raja Wahid, a.k.a Raja Komando, who had, in fine detail, revealed how the conspiracy against Anwar originally unfolded and the role he was given in this whole conspiracy.

“The evidence of this witness will show he was invited to join the conspiracy with a view to topple the Deputy Prime Minister,” said Fernando.

“The meeting was held in the office of Aziz Samsuddin, the Prime Minister’s Political Secretary, on 26 June 1998.”

In the meeting, revealed Fernando, Aziz confirmed that Ummi and Azizan would pose no problem as “Ummi is a prostitute”.

Raja Komando then asked Aziz whether there was any other way to bring Anwar down.

According to Raja Komando, “Aziz replied sodomy would be the best way. Other ways would have no affect.”

“Raja Komando’s role was to manage the political assassination part of the exercise,” added Fernando. “The sodomy allegation was assigned to Ummi and Azizan.”

“Raja Komando was to disseminate the allegation as far and wide as possible. He was also to spread word that Anwar is a CIA agent.”

From what Fernando told the court today, it was clearly established in the meeting Raja Komando had with Aziz Samsuddin that he (Aziz) was the Chief Conspirator and that, while Ummi had written the purported “Azizan” letter to the Prime Minister accusing Anwar of sodomy, Aziz was the one who had edited and redrafted it.

The letter, Fernando said, was based on the book “50 Reasons Why Anwar Cannot be PM” - which somehow found its way into the attaché bags of almost 2,000 delegates at the Umno General Assembly that year.

“The judge did not give this evidence the weight it deserved,” argued Fernando. “He erred, grossly.”

“If he had given the evidence the weight it deserved, would he have arrived at the judgment he did?”

Gag order on Penang BN chairman issue

(Bernama) - Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has issued an order to all Barisan Nasional parties to stop debating the attempt by Penang Umno to force Gerakan to give up the state BN chairmanship.

“No more debates about this,” was Najib’s reply to questions from journalists on the matter, which had been hogging the pages of almost all major newspapers in the country.

Najib, who is also the BN chairman, said this after chairing the sixth Malaysian Aerospace Council meeting here today.

On Saturday, the Penang Umno liaison committee said the state BN chairmanship, currently held by Gerakan, should be given to Umno, the largest political party in the country, as it had more seats in the Penang state assembly than Gerakan did.

But Gerakan refused to give in as it felt that it was the prerogative of the BN chairman to decide on the matter.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and Gerakan president Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon is presently the state BN chief.

Yesterday, speaking to reporters at a function in Shah Alam, Najib said the state Umno’s request was merely a view and that any decision taken on the matter would be in “the BN spirit of consensus.”

People want MACC to catch big fish, not small fry

(The Star) - The time has come for real action from the Government to fight corruption instead of pussy-footing around, said Transparency International Malaysia president Tan Sri Dr Ramon Navaratnam.

He said if the Government continued talking without real action, people would get frustrated and disillusioned and eventually they would lash back via the ballot box.

“Don’t pussy-foot,” he said when commenting on recommendations in fighting graft at the two-day Government Transformation Pro gramme open day last week.

Many members of the public who attended the programme had questioned why the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was only interested in catching the “small fry” and did not seemed to be interested in catching the jerung (sharks).

Corruption Lab leader Datuk Hashim Nordin, who is special officer to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, in his reply had said it was a lot harder to catch the big fish as they tended to be more sophisticated and more professional in their acts.

Ramon said the programme had generated some good recommendations, including calls for the MACC to investigate politicians and businessmen and those who were living beyond their means without waiting for public complaints and for it to report directly to Parliament.

He said the law would have to be amended quickly to reflect the Government’s urgency in fighting corruption.

He said until the “big fish” were taken to court and punished, people would continue to doubt the commission’s sincerity.

Ramon, who is MACC panel of presentation and consultation chairman, said so far no top political leaders have been charged and convicted for corruption.

Citing the Port Klang Free Zone scandal as an example, he said although former Port Klang Authority general manager Datin Paduka O.C. Phang was charged in court, she was not the real “big fish” as there were people in higher levels.

Social Care Foundation chairman Tan Sri Robert Phang concurred that in the PKFZ scandal, bigwigs were named by the Public Account Committee but none of them were brought to court.

“Those implicated must be given a chance to explain in the court, not in Parliament. The rakyat want to know the whole truth.”

He said the PKFZ scandal was an acid test for the Government and there was a need for political will to be executed without fear and favour.

Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye also said that despite many Government announcements to fight corruption, the people have yet to see real results.

Form Royal Commission On Dr M’s ‘Squander

From Malaysia Kini

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should set up a royal commission of inquiry to determine if his mentor, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had ‘burned’ RM100 billion on grandiose projects and corruption during his 22-year reign.

In making this call, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang termed it as an issue of pressing national interest and importance.

Furthermore, he said the move will also reflect on Najib’s commitment to ‘combating corruption’ in his Government Transformation Programme (GTP).

“Will there be any cabinet minister who dare step forward to support such a royal commission of inquiry?” he asked in a statement.

The veteran politician was commenting on the book penned by former Asian Wall Street Journal managing editor Barry Wain, titled ‘Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times’.

Lim said Mahathir should declare whether he would co-operate with such a commission of inquiry to prove that Wain is wrong in blaming him for the legacy of “wasting or burning up” RM100 billion in his long tenure as the fourth prime minister, which works up to an average of RM5 billion a year.

Will the book be banned?

Meanwhile, the opposition leader also asked why the government was holding up 800 copies of the book for more than three weeks.

“There can be no doubt that Mahathir and Najib would have already read the biography.

“Is either of them objecting to the release of the biography and want it banned like Mahathir’s ‘Malay Dilemma’ when it was first published in 1970? This will be the irony of ironies,” he said.

Lim noted that in this Internet era, which is very different from four decades ago in 1970, any ban or censorship of Wain’s new biography will make it even more popular among Malaysians.

He also pressed Mahathir to reveal his thoughts on the matter.

“What is Mahathir’s stand on whether Wain’s new biography on him should be released to the Malaysian public without any more obstacles from the authorities in Malaysia?

“If Mahathir thinks that he has been defamed or maligned by Wain in the new biography, he should avail himself of the legal process to clear his name and reputation and not to support any ban or censorship of the book,” he added.

In his book, Wain penned that the Mahathir administration, which took office in 1981 with the slogan, ‘clean, efficient, trustworthy’, was almost immediately embroiled in financial scandals that “exploded with startling regularity.”

By the early 1990s, he said, cynics remarked that it had been “a good decade for bad behaviour, or a bad decade for good behaviour.”

Press Release: Court of Appeal decision counter-productive

ImageThe Malaysian Bar is disappointed with the Court of Appeal’s ruling last week that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission can question witnesses beyond office hours. The decision, which overturns the High Court’s earlier ruling, is inimical to the protection of witnesses, who have the right to refuse to be interrogated outside of office hours.

The relevant legislation should be interpreted in accordance with the Federal Constitution’s provisions that protect an individual’s fundamental liberty, and in a manner that safeguards human rights and improves the practices of the law enforcement agencies.

We reiterate our position that the High Court’s decision does not preclude witnesses from being interrogated outside of office hours if the witnesses agree to do so, and attend the interview with their legal counsel. The Court of Appeal’s decision, however, condones the MAAC’s practice of compelling witnesses to appear and be questioned, including for long periods of time that stretch beyond office hours, with no option for them to decline.

Witnesses who aid law enforcement agencies in investigations should surely, at a minimum, be accorded the same protection and rights as accused persons, whose right to be allowed adequate rest is guaranteed by Rule 20 of the Lockup Rules 1953. Witnesses would then be encouraged to be forthcoming in assisting with investigations, as they would have no reason to fear the interrogation process or dread being unduly detained for long and unreasonable hours.

It is essential that witnesses, whose testimonies are important in court hearings, not face any actual or perceived intimidation, pressure or coercion during the interrogation process.

We urge the Government to take immediate steps to protect the rights of witnesses and to promote transparent and accountable investigations, which, in the long run, will enhance the credibility of the law enforcement agencies.


Ragunath Kesavan
President
Malaysian Bar

RM 50m RMAF engine “disappears,” despite “fullproof” system

by Nathaniel Tan

I really wish I could find that clip on Youtube.

You ever watch the (eminently enjoyable) Hunt for Red October?

Remember one of the final scenes? Where the Secretary of Defense or something is settling matters with the Soviet ambassador?

Even though it doesn’t catch the fun acting, I’m eminently grateful to Drew, who transcribed:

Ambassador: There is another matter… one that I’m reluctant to…

Secretary: Please.

Ambassador: One of our submarines…an Alfa… was last reported in the area of the Grand Banks…. We have not heard from her for some time.

Secretary: Andrei. (look of disbelief) You’ve lost another submarine?

But of course, tragicomically, truth is stranger than fiction.

In beloved Malaysia, Porsches get stolen from police compounds, and fighter jet engines mysteriously disappear from RMAF bases.

Zahid:

“The investigations revealed RMAF’s logistics system was full-proof. However, the shady activity might have been carried out staff in the lower rungs in cahoots with outsiders,”

Aha!

First, credit to the Bernama reporter who wrote “full-proof,” and the editor that ‘caught’ it. (Perhaps the kind editors at MK should also go through the mistakes in that article again).

a) I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s how Zahid would’ve spelt it, given the chance
b) It’s probably more accurate, in that the BN government is truly incapable of being “fully” there. Or perhaps, no matter how much corruption it eats, it is never “full.”

Also: it appears that some staff were carried out along with the engine during the operation? :|

But grammar Nazi-ism aside, you really have to love Zahid’s reasoning: “RMAF = foolproof, which must obviously be why, low ranking staff and ‘outsiders’ managed to break into it.”

Sigh. Usually foolproof means even a fool can understand and use something. In this case, it probably means even a fool could have walked in and stolen a RM 50 million engine.

RM 50 million of our money. Gone. Just like that.

Does he expect us to believe that the only people who got rich off this affair were a few corporals and ’shady outsiders?’

I think that our mighty submarine, the KD Altantuya, clearly shows that no arms deal of that scale goes down in Malaysia without some fat honcho getting fatter over it.

Fullproof indeed :P