Why we chose Chinese school for our children

Foon Yew High School is the one singled out by name by Kulaijaya principal Siti Inshah Mansor who implicated it as a school with Chinese students who do not speak or read Bahasa Malaysia.
It is the only Chinese independent secondary school (ISS) in Johor Bahru. It is also where my two children are studying.

My wife and I had discussed in great length before we decided to send our kids to Foon Yew, which incidentally is my alma mater.
The fact is that I myself speak and debate in Malay with confidence in the Johor state assembly as the opposition leader. Interestingly enough, several special assistants of the Johor Menteri Besar are Foon Yew alumni who deal with the state's Chinese and Malay communities, communicating in both Mandarin and Malay.

Therefore Siti Inshah's sweeping statement that non-Malay students from vernacular schools do not speak Malay at all only proves her own ignorance and bias. After all, her non-Malay students understood her racial slurs well enough to assess her half-hearted apology as coming from a "penipu" and a "pembohong".

She is a classic example of a Biro Tata Negara (BTN) product and how a Malay ultra nationalist like Dr Mahathir Mohamed has ingrained racial prejudice into many Malays. One aspect of this racism is institutionalised towards language policies.

Parent's personal experience

My wife went to a well-known national school in Johor Bahru and has a diploma in Malay Studies. Until today, she still bitterly recalls the racist remarks made by many Malay teachers during her years in school.
Unsurprisingly, she was more adamant than I that our children should not be subjected to the same racial degradation in the national schools that she went through.

This racial taunting has been nurtured as a norm over the years by the powers-that-be through the notorious BTN. The authorities have to be held responsible for the pathetic state of inter-racial relations in the country today.

The Siti Inshah incident has made me realise how much my wife helped our children make the right choice of enrolling in my old school.
It is where we think not only that they could learn three languages, but more importantly that they are subjected to better discipline without going through the mental trauma of being victimised -- some ultra-nationalist Malay teachers utter racist slurs with impunity.
As racial degradation is bad for any child's self-esteem, I have always been determined to make sure my children do not go through what my wife went through studying in national school.

Moreover, I can afford sending my children for tuition in Bahasa Malaysia at a Malay-run private tuition centre as I always believe the best way of learning a language is from its native speakers. They enjoy learning the language from Malay teachers.

Some of the teachers have gone out their way to help my children. But some still hinted at racialism in interpreting Malaysian history, especially in upholding Bumiputeraism, which upset the non-Malay students. My children are still puzzled as to why they are not considered 'Bumiputera' as native-born fourth generation Malaysians.

Malays in vernacular school

After 53 years of Independence, we are still polarised along racial lines, and view each other with great suspicion and prejudices.
Many Malay friends of mine harbour an allegiance to Umno and hence feel obliged to defend Umno's Malay Supremism. Actually, it is an ideology whose creation has very little to do with them personally.
We have to come to terms with several longstanding issues for a sustainable inter-racial relationship in our beloved country, and among these issues is mother tongue education.

Siti Inshah's prejudice towards vernacular schools -- like my old school Foon Yew -- is quite reflective of Umno propaganda which is not only factually incorrect but certainly politically motivated.
If one feels Malays are discriminated in going to vernacular schools, why were Malays and other non-Chinese students given free tuition? Why would halal food stalls be provided in the canteen for them?
Shouldn't a blanket fee waiver for non-Chinese students in Chinese schools be considered as 'reverse racism' against the Chinese students themselves?
Previously Foon Yew High School gave a blanket fee waiver to Malay students. It was only recently that the school decided all students have to pay the same fees due to its ever increasing non-Chinese intake. However, poor Malay students are still entitled to scholarships on individual need assessment.

I myself as a wakil rakyat have recommended a few Malay students for such financial assistance.

In many Chinese independent secondary schools, non-Chinese students are still exempted from tuition fees. If the accusation is true that Chinese institutions are discriminative, why in the world would Malay students be given the same benefit and care in these schools?
Mara and other single-race institutions

A mirror situation to the above would be that Chinese students are welcomed into Mara junior colleges and not required to pay any fees to boot. But this doesn't happen, does it?
Therefore, Malay Supremacists like Dr Mahatir Mohamed and Siti Inshah Mansor need to get their facts correct.

Racial integration can be achieved in any language medium of the education stream if all children are treated equally.
There has been an increase in number of Malay and Indian parents sending their children to Chinese schools not only for acquiring Mandarin, but also for the schools' stricter regimen in teaching science and mathematics.
These non-Chinese parents obviously believe that Chinese schools will help provide their children better job opportunities later in life. This decision indicates that many Malay parents have taken a step forward compared to the Umno supremacists who fail to see a brighter future for their children if they were to be multilingual.

Malay and Indian parents have realized the importance of equipping their children to compete in both the domestic and international job markets. Language competency is also a boost for social mobility.
Language is a skill, and no longer a racial trait anymore in our present 'global village'. This means it is a definite disadvantage for monolingual Malays when competing with multilingual Malays and others in our increasingly cosmopolitan world.

My wife and I are confident that we made the right choice for our children's future.

The knockout punch Najib failed to deliver

Najib - reliance on form rather than substance

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

The much longed-for recognition for Malaysia Day finally came in the form of a public holiday for the entire nation, but it failed to do anything to shore up the political position or the popularity of Prime Minister Najib Razak and his BN coalition.

And for this Najib has to take the blame. Not only has he been hiding behind glitzy public relations that do nothing but burn a hole in taxpayers’ pockets, even his Malaysia Day message was laughed at by the people for perceived cowardice. For while the 57-year old Najib disavowed ‘extremism’ in his speech, he took great care to do it as vaguely as possible so that no one knew what he was talking about or was referring to. Intentional or not, the end result was that no one took him seriously. And that is serious.

Because September 16 could have delivered so much for him and the BN. It could have been their knockout punch to Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and his Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

In 2008, Anwar had promised Malaysians to topple the BN federal government but his complex plan went awry. Unsurprisingly, for months after that, Anwar was mercilessly attacked for being a Mr Talk-A-Lot.

When Najib came to power months later in April 2009, he grandly proclaimed a holiday for Malaysia Day. If he had worked hard, done his job, delivered the reforms he promised, then on September 16, 2010, he could have proudly and justifiably showed the country the difference between him and Anwar.

But sad to say, all that Malaysians saw on Thursday was another public relations show from Najib.

Making use of racial and religious-bigotry

More than a year has passed, but Najib leader has little or even zero to show for it. In Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was voted into the world’s top 10 most respected leaders by Newsweek last month alongside Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah who had urged Muslims “to embrace the spirit of tolerance, moderation and balance.”

By contrast, no mention was made of Najib at all and unsurprisingly the Umno-aligned newspapers and online portals went on a desperate binge to avoid comparison with the Singapore leader. But that doesn’t mean Najib hasn’t hit the international headlines at all. He has - but for the wrong issues and reasons.

In January 2010, thanks to a Najib-sanctioned move to protest the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims, Malaysia became notorious for a spate of attacks against churches. It became associated with the words “rising religious intolerance”.

Even so, did Najib stop to take stock of what he should do as the prime minister of a multiracial country of 28 million people? It appears not, because from this incident was born Perkasa – an Umno splinter group that champions Malay rights in what may say is an extreme way. Last week, a picture of Perkasa’s emotion-choked leaders with arms raised and brandishing daggers was flashed around the world - putting off even more investors and further denting the country's image.

The feedback from the majority of Malaysians and investors may have been the reason why Najib ‘disavowed’ extremism in his Malaysia Day message, but his obvious refusal to be clear about it confirms suspicion that this may be just another public relations exercise.

Final lap - national plunder

Now, in the final lap to the next General Election, public focus is shifting to national wealth and how to prevent unprecedented large-scale plunder by the ruling elite, who might be tempted to make a final grab as the chances of the Pakatan wresting power grow stronger by the day.

The gov't has warned of bankruptcy

Topmost on the list of those being scrutinized - not just by the Pakatan but also civil society leaders, the people themselves and even his own political foes within the BN - is of course Najib himself due to his scandal-plagued record and the power he holds due to his office.

From Malaysia’s purchase of two overly-priced Scorpene submarines to alleged involvement in the latest rash of corporate wheeling-and-dealing over mega-projects such as the national railway and the Iskandar economic zones, Najib may find himself under the spotlight. Just like Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud, whose alleged graft has been splashed out in online magazine Sarawak Report.

No wonder then that Najib has ordered Internet regulator MCMC to crack down on websites and blogs. No wonder too that he has beefed up his public relations team with highly paid staff – all at taxpayers’ expense and for the purpose of ‘un-spining’ the allegations about his ‘secret’ business deals.

So September 16 should not come and go for nothing. For Anwar and his Pakatan, it should have added to their vigor because they know now that after more than a year, their rivals in BN have not been able to narrow the gap at all.

Sadly for Najib and BN, the majority view is still very much that they have done nothing in the past 18 months other than experiment with dangerous racial and religious political games. Not a single measure has been taken to stem corruption, unless the high-profile arrest of Ling Liong Sik is counted as one.

Instead, the politicians of the day are still busily ferreting gold for themselves - possibly as much as they can before they get thrown out either in 2011 or 2012.

We are here, not because we are law-breakers; we are here in our efforts to become law-makers – Emmeline Pankhurst Is UMNO/BN the solution or the problem?

A sense of fullness that money can never buy

By Haris Ibrahim,

I took loads of photographs at the SABM Malaysia Day event yesterday but, as some of you have pointed out to me before, my photos suck.
No, it’s not the camera.
I’m just a lousy photographer.
And yesterday’s event was just too beautiful to not share the same with you through some of the better photos taken by the others, so I’m going to wait for their photos and then try to put together a pictorial for you.
For now, I’ll share something else with you.
The SABM coregroup started work on our Charter some time in March last year.
It took all of some two months and numerous meetings at Ambrose’s house in PJ, drafts and re-drafts, to get that document to what it is today.
In July, last year, we secured a tenancy of what is now known to all of us as Rumah Anak Bangsa Malaysia.
With Charter in hand and a home for SABM, it was time to reach out.
In August, last year, we hosted a round table conference with prospective partners from civil society to share our Charter and the 5 key messages that we hoped they would join us in taking to the rakyat.
From that conference, we have been blessed with some of our firmest friends and allies in our ‘One People, One Nation’ mission.
Malaysia Day, last year, we launched our humble SABM sampan.
From November, last year, through to June, this year, that sampan has made its way to Penang, KL, Malacca, Ipoh, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, JB and Kota Bharu, to deliver our 5 key messages, the most important being that we are all human beings, born free and equal.
What’s driven that sampan?
First, the wishes and encouragement we received from the 250 anak Bangsa Malaysia who joined us in launching the sampan last year.
Thank you all.
Second, the coregroup that has steered the sampan this last year is made up of some of the finest people I have ever had to work with in any endeavour.
I had written last year that the SABM sampan was built “by men and women who, by God’s grace, are free from the shackles of ‘tribal think’. Who look at each other and see, not Malay, not Chinese, not Indian, but fellow human beings, equal and free. Who respect, embrace and celebrate our cultural differences”.
It has been an honour and a privilege working with men and women who have given wholeheartedly of themselves, expecting nothing in return, hoping only to see justice and equality for all our brothers and sisters.
Third, the many beautiful people who have joined hands with us in the course of our journey this last year, bringing with them much needed energy and comradeship to make lighter the task that lies before us.
Since March, last year, up to our Malaysia Day event yesterday evening, at every coregroup meeting, and at every forum, teh tarik sembang session and movie screening that we have organised, again and again, between those who have partaken of the same, God has planted love, tenderness and respect in great abundance.
I am full.

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

1. One reason advanced by the advocates of letting the Ringgit to be traded abroad is that it will encourage foreign direct investment.

2. There was a time when Malaysia practically pioneered encouragement for foreign direct investment. It was even before FDI became popular with many developing countries as a shortcut to economic growth. Malaysia wanted FDI for job-creating labour intensive industries because of the need to create employment opportunities for its workforce at that time. It was really not about growing the economy.

3. For Malaysia at that time, foregoing taxes and even local participation were not important. The Government did not rely on FDI to fill its treasury.

4. The policy of attracting FDI was so successful that it resolved the problem of unemployment until it created a problem of labour shortage. This led to an inflow of foreign workers and the expatriation of billions of Ringgit back to their countries. FDI no longer helped Malaysia's growth.

5. But being used to this easy approach we keep on inviting FDI believing that it would still help with our economy. But let us look at what really happens when there is foreign direct investment.

6. Most people think that there would be an inflow of capital. But actually only about 10 per cent of the capital needed was brought in. The rest is borrowed from local banks, preferably foreign owned banks. It is therefore Malaysian money that is invested.

7. Apart from tax exemption Malaysia also subsidised the operations of foreign owned companies through subsidised electricity, fuel and domestic transportation. Of course the Malaysian workers contribute through their cheap labour.

8. There is another type of FDI which is even less beneficial. This take the form of investments in the stock market. Usually the objective is not to benefit from profits and dividends but from capital gains.

9. When foreign investors buy Malaysian shares, the prices are likely to appreciate. Foreign institutional investors, especially pension funds can easily push up share prices with their repeated purchases.

10. When the prices are high enough the investors would dump the shares and collect capital gains. The local investors would lose money as prices depreciated.

11. During the financial cirisis of 1997-98, foreign investors dumped their shares so as to quickly change the Ringgit into foreign (US) currency before further falls in the Ringgit would give them less foreign currency in exchange. This invariably caused a steep fall in the share prices and Stock Market Index with consequent losses by local investors.

12. The Malaysian Stock Exchange makes money from commissions or the sales and purchase of shares. Consequently they are happy with more selling and buying on the Exchange. They therefore welcome foreign investors in the market. In fact they believe that if short selling is allowed they will make even more money.But these kinds of market activities do not benefit the nation.

13. FDI is double-edged and caution is needed when deciding on encouraging it. Today FDI is not coming into Malaysia because countries such as China, Vietnam, even Thailand and Indonesia offer lower cost of labour. Besides the economic recession in America and Europe mean less capital is available.

14. But what about the Ringgit? How will it affect the FDI? We need to know whether there was a lowering of FDI due to fixing the Ringgit exchange rate in 1998. If there was, was it directly due to the exchange control or other factors like increase in the cost of labour and competition with the above-mentioned low cost countries?

15. Actually when the Ringgit was fixed at RM3.80 to 1 US Dollar, the cost of investing in Malaysia was lower in terms of foreign currency. Now that the Ringgit has appreciated to RM3.20, the cost has appreciated. If we allow free trading of Ringgit abroad, two things can happen.

16. If the Ringgit strengthens then the cost of investment in Malaysia would increase, This would not facilitate foreign investments.

17. On the other hand the currency traders may once again cause the Ringgit to depreciate. This may result in increased FDI. But remember how we went into recession when our ringgit was devalued by foreign currency traders? Do we want to have that crisis again?

18. The present financial crisis in the world is due to the abuse of regulations in the financial market. No positive steps have been taken so far to regulate it. Certainly currency trading remains unregulated and selective.

19. The latest report says that every day currency trading is valued at four trillion dollars, equal to the total output of Germany in one year.

20. Whereas Germany's 4 trillion dollars yearly output creates millions of jobs, businesses big and small and much trade, the 4 trillion a day currency trade creates practically no jobs, businesses or trade. Of course the currency traders make tons of money. In the process we know that they can cause a repeat of the crisis faced by the world when they lose. Why should the world allow such greedy people to put the world at risk.

21. If we fully free our Ringgit the risk of being attacked by currency traders will once again be faced by us. Do we really want to have the financial crisis once again?

22. So I hope the Government will explain why it wants the Ringgit to be traded again. I hope it is not because we want to be good boys who will always do what we are told to do.

Waiting for promises made three generations ago

By Leon Donald

SRI AMAN, Sept 16 — As we celebrate Malaysia Day, my thoughts roll back to my 95-year-old grandfather in Sri Aman.

He has shared many a story with me on how his grandmother brought him to Kuching to meet the Rajah in court, reminisce on the hardship during the Japanese occupation and then continue on the tragedies he had to go through during the early days of Malaysia during the Confrontation and Communist insurrection.

Then he would tell me about the hardship of campaigning with his cousin, the Paramount Chief of the Ibans, the late Tun Jugah anak Barieng, trying to convince the Ibans to agree to the formation of Malaysia.

He must be wondering the same as I, why only now, the government declares a public holiday on September 16?

Malaysia was formed 47 years ago, not 53 years mind you as Umno would lead us to believe, and only now there is an urgency to recognize the date.

For the past 47 years, we in Sarawak and Sabah have seen this auspicious date pass by without any fanfare.

Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak and Tun Ghazali Shafie used to visit Sarawak frequently in the early ‘60s to convince the indigenous people to join and support the formation of the federation of Malaysia.

Strong were their convictions that by agreeing to join Malaysia, the indigenous people would be living a better life.

We — the indigenous people of Sarawak and Sabah are generally categorised as Bumiputera, clustered together with the Malays — however, nowadays I am sad that when leaders in the government, including the prime minister, address the various races in the country, only the Malays, Chinese and Indians are mentioned.

I am always upset when I have to fill forms at government offices. The official myopia regarding the indigenous races of Sarawak is also apparent in a number of forms where applicants have to tick one of the four boxes to identify the racial group they belong to: Malay, Chinese, Indian and Lain-lain.

Is this what we the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak been reduced to: lain-lain and fourth class citizens?

What hope do we from Sarawak and Sabah have in securing government employment if our ethnic identities and names have been omitted from the official records?

Is this present government going to do anything about this?

Will this current administration advocate some form of affirmative action that will help us, the minority in Sarawak and Sabah.

Back then, before the formation of Malaysia, promises were made and study trips were done for the leaders from Sarawak and Sabah, showing them the villages in the Peninsular that had piped water and electricity, promising these developments will all be done in the rural areas once we form Malaysia.

It was these promises that prompted our leaders to campaign vigorously to the people in Sarawak and Sabah to agree to support the formation of Malaysia to the Cobbold Commission and the United Nations Fact Finding Team.

Now we are going into the implementation of the 10th Malaysia Plan.

Many of the leaders that campaigned for the formation of Malaysia have died without seeing piped water, proper roads and electricity reaching their villages and longhouses.

My own longhouse here is without electricity and piped water. I hope I do not have to die first before these developments reach my longhouse.

* Leon Donald is a Sarawak DAP member and plans run for the Sri Aman seat in the upcoming state elections.

Kelantan Umno Has No Problem With Perkasa - Awang

BACHOK, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- Kelantan Umno has no problem with Pribumi Perkasa (Perkasa) as most of its members are from Umno.

Liaison deputy chairman Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin said Umno differed from Perkasa which fought for Malay interests as some were unacceptable to the party.

"Umno has a bigger responsibility to look after the interest of all races," he said at an Aidilfitri function and formation of Bachok Graduates' Associations in Tangok Thursday.

Awang who is also Deputy Finance Minister said Perkasa was like other non-governmental organisations (NGO) that had good ties with Umno.

"In Bachok, almost all Perkasa members are from Umno and some are holding important posts in the NGO," he added.

He said Kelantanese and Umno members should understand that the party believed in moderation and should be wary of manipulation by the opposition.

Pope addresses sex abuse scandal as he starts visit to Britain

Pope Benedict XVI inspects a guard of honour accompanied by Britain's Prince Philip at Edinburgh airport, September 16, 2010.

 

As a sex abuse scandal rocked the Roman Catholic Church, what did Pope Benedict XVI -- then a cardinal and Vatican official -- know, and when did he learn it? Watch the CNN investigation "What the Pope Knew," September 25 & 26 at 8 p.m. ET.

Glasgow, Scotland (CNN) -- The Roman Catholic Church has not been vigilant enough or fast enough in responding to the problem of sexual abuse by priests, Pope Benedict XVI said Thursday.

"These revelations were for me a shock and a great sadness. It is difficult to understand how this perversion of the priestly ministry was possible," he told reporters aboard his plane to Scotland. "How a man who has done this and said this can fall into this perversion is difficult to understand."

He added, "It is also a great sadness that the authorities of the church were not sufficiently vigilant and insufficiently quick and decisive in taking the necessary measures."

British people feel overwhelmingly that the pope has not done enough to punish priests who abuse children, according to a ComRes poll for CNN released as Benedict arrived in the country. Three out of four British people -- and two out of three Catholics in the country -- say he should do more to punish abusive clergy.

Critics of the church were quick to pounce on the pope's remarks.

"It's disingenuous to say church officials have been slow and insufficiently vigilant in dealing with clergy sex crimes and cover ups. On the contrary, they've been prompt and vigilant, but in concealing, not preventing, these horrors," said Joelle Casteix of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

Another campaigner took aim at the pontiff personally.

"The pope affects the stance of a shocked bystander, when in fact he has been for decades the church's central handler of sex abuse cases," said Terence McKiernan of BishopAccountability, a group that tracks reports of abuse by priests.

The pope made the comments as he arrived for a historic four-day state visit to Britain, where the issue of abuse, and the Vatican's perceived lack of response to it, has created anger.

But there was a warm welcome for him on a cold afternoon in Glasgow, Scotland, for the first major mass of his visit.

Tens of thousands turned out to hear him preach, with members of the faithful describing it as a "happy day" and calling it a "great honor" that he had come.

Benedict elaborated in Glasgow on what's expected to be a major theme of his visit, the value of religion in a society that he sees as increasingly secular.

"There are some who now seek to exclude religious belief from public discourse, to privatize it or even to paint it as a threat to equality and liberty," he said in his homily. "Yet religion is in fact a guarantee of authentic liberty and respect."

He also urged bishops to look after their priests -- possibly an oblique reference to the sex abuse scandal -- and warned young people against the temptations of "drugs, money, sex, pornography, alcohol -- which the world tells you will bring you happiness, yet these things are destructive and divisive."

Benedict started his visit in Edinburgh, where he held a meeting with the queen and greeted thousands who turned out to see him on the streets of the Scottish city.

Queen Elizabeth II shook hands with the pope at her Scottish residence near Edinburgh, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, before they sat down for a private meeting. A military marching band played the national anthem God Save the Queen, for which the pope removed his white cap.

The pope used relatively strong language in a speech delivered after the meeting, reflecting on the "sobering lessons of the atheist extremism" of the 20th century.

He reminded the media of its "greater responsibility than most" to promote peace and the spread of human rights, and he reminded the country of its "deep Christian roots" that he said are still present in "every layer" of British life.

"Today, the United Kingdom strives to be a modern and multicultural society," the pope said. "In this challenging enterprise, may it always maintain its respect for those traditional values and cultural expressions that more aggressive forms of secularism no longer value or even tolerate. Let it not obscure the Christian foundation that underpins its freedoms."

Those comments, too, resulted in "disappointment" from the British Humanist Association, which said the notion that atheism "somehow fuels intolerance in Britain today is a terrible libel against those who do not believe in God."

The National Secular Society said British secularism "is not something to criticize, but to celebrate."

"We have rejected dogmatic religion devoid of compassion," the group said in a statement. "In its place we have embraced and included gay people and given them the right to full equality, given women the right to control their own fertility, given scientists a free hand to seek cures for horrific diseases by the use of stem-cell research."

Though a pope has visited Britain once before -- Pope John Paul II in 1982 -- this is considered the first state visit by a pope to Britain because it comes at the invitation of the queen, not the Catholic Church, as was the case 28 years ago.

Benedict's September 16-19 trip is scheduled to include meetings with political leaders, royalty, and bridge-building events with Anglican Church officials. It will culminate in the beatification of British Cardinal John Henry Newman, a Catholic convert who died in 1890 and is credited with helping rebuild Britain's Catholic community.

Assistant Chief Constable Fiona Taylor, of Scotland's Strathclyde Police, said earlier this week that she estimated only 65,000 pilgrims would attend the Mass there, short of an initially anticipated 100,000.

There has already been widespread outcry over the estimated 12 million pounds ($18.7 million) British taxpayers are having to pay for the visit, though Christopher Patten, the prime minister's representative for the papal visit, has pointed out that one day of last year's G-20 summit in London cost 20 million pounds.

Criticism has also focused on the armed police squads needed to protect a religious figurehead previously targeted by attackers.

Along with anger about the Vatican's response to child and sexual abuse, there is criticism over the pope being granted a state visit, given the Catholic Church's attitudes towards gender equality and homosexuality.

Catholic leaders and government officials have defended the trip, with Prime Minister David Cameron saying Britain and the Vatican have "incredibly important work to do together" in promoting a "multi-faith dialogue."

Khir: Perkasa 'bigger' than Umno Youth

Judiciary fails to protect minority rights: Sri Ram

(Malaysiakini) Former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram said today that the judiciary has failed in its duty to defend minority rights.

Since the executive branch is elected by the majority, and as such it represents the rights of the majority, Sri Ram argued that the judicial branch has the duty to protect the rights of the minority.

"It is the judiciary which must fulfill this task,” said the former judge in his speech at the National Conference on Integrity in Kuala Lumpur today.

Sri Ram told the 350-strong audience that if the question was asked on whether the judiciary has performed its duty, the answer he said would be an “emphatic no!".

According to him, this was because the judiciary has become so "executive-minded" that the judges have become creatures of the government.

"The judiciary is so anxious to help the executive... And when you bend the law to help the executive, this results in ridiculous decisions," contended Sri Ram.

He cited examples of the courts reversing decisions through the Federal Court to accommodate the wishes of the federal government.

Sri Ram believed that such interference by the executive was clearly a breach of the doctrine of separation of powers.

The powers to convict and sentence are exclusive to the judiciary and Sri Ram said this role should not be usurped by the executive.

1988 judicial crisis
But more worryingly, Sri Ram contends, is that this failure to protect the rights of the minorities bodes more future ill for Malaysia for the judiciary also holds another higher duty.

"It is up to the judiciary to preserve our constitution," he said.

"And when and if it fails in that function, then the state has failed," warned Sri Ram, who retired from the judiciary in February this year.

He indicated that the failure of Malaysia as a state may indeed be imminent given the deteriorating condition of the judiciary since the 1988 crisis, which saw the sacking of a number of Malaysia's top judges. 

Sri Ram had the distinction of being plucked from private law practice and appointed straight into the Court of Appeals.

He however was stuck in the appellate court for 15 years, with a number of judges who are more junior than him being promoted to Federal Court.

It wasn't until 2009, months before he was due to retired, that he was named a Federal Court judge.

Sosilawati murder: Family of Land Scam

Murder suspect’s sister showing one of their luxury cars

The Traveler, Thursday, September 16, 2010

“If the father can jump 8 feet, the son will jump 16 feet” , is an old Tamil proverb that turned out to be correct in the case of Pathmanaban, the prime suspect in the murder case of cosmetics millionaire Sosilawati Lawiya, her driver Kamaruddin Shamsudin, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, and CIMB Bank officer Noorhisham Mohammad.

The brothers, Pathmanaban and Surinder, learned the ‘Land Scam’ and ‘Ah long’ (money lending) trade from their father Nalliyanan (not sure of the spelling).

According to sources, Nalliyanan was a big time con-man in Banting, Selangor, running his business under ‘Nalli Finance’.

Also, he had a rice dealership license.

He had cultivated strong political connections with several top MIC politicians, including former MIC deputy president S Subramaniam, Sangaran Gopal, Klang Businessman Saminathan and others.

With these connections and having an added advantage of being a ‘Konggu Gounder’ caste, Nalliyanan received special treatments for his Land Scam deals from NESA, a cooperative society founded by MIC and currently headed by S Subramaniam.

NESA approved loans, some still outstanding, beyond the real value of the land.

Since NESA took an injunction against Maika Holdings to stop the sale of its insurance arm owing to irregularities in the deal, NESA is morally obliged to explain if there were any irregularities in the loan approval to their clan and their nexus with Nalliyanan in land deals.

Nalliyanan has been implicated in several other cheating and misappropriation cases. One of them is the misappropriation of Banting Pillayar Hindu temple funds. The case is pending in court.

The family lived a luxurious life from the wealth amassed. Some of the looted money was at least used for his children education.

Pathmanaban and Surinder studied law in Bond University, Australia, where else, the daughter, currently a practicing gynecologist, went to a medical school in England.

Father thought the kids to jump 6 feet but the brothers jumped 16 feet.

“Outwardly, the brothers lived like Jamindhars but actually they lived like Pannayars”, said a businessman familiar with the case.

In essence, Pathmanaban did some charitable work defending foreign workers rights. Many describe him to be humble and ever ready to help the needy.

But those who know him well think otherwise.

“He has high temper and ever ready to punish those who cross his line like a Pannayar”.

Pathmanaban is married to an engineering graduate who is a lecturer at a Community College in Banting but were living separately, the last few months.

Though Pathmanaban received huge publicity from the media and has been branded as the mastermind, the younger brother Surendran, a shrewd man carrying out all the dirty work behind the scene, received little attention.

Surendran, an auditor, accountant turned lawyer, is married to a medical doctor from India. She works in Putrajaya.

So far, Padmanaban’s sister has not been implicated in any of the brothers land scam, money lending and money laundering activities.

However, she had an extravagant wedding reception at KL convention center where the police provided VVIP escort. Why such a treatment for an ordinary citizen?

And, the family seems to own nearly 15 luxury cars.

Supramaniapuram was a box office Tamil movie in recent times directed by relatively a new director. The movie portrays how ordinary street thieves are manipulated by the rich to commit cold blooded murders.

Likewise, Padmanaban and Surindran manipulated the young ordinary criminals to commit heinous crimes.

Certainly, the brothers jumped much further then the father.

Dr M’s racial politics outdated, says Pakatan’s young leaders

Dr M, seemingly getting more and more detached from younger voters, Pakatan leaders think

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers lambasted former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for frustrating the nation’s efforts to move forward, calling his remarks stale and irrelevant to the needs of younger Malaysians.

They said the country should do well focusing on bread and butter issues rather than harp on issues from the 1960s, such as the circumstances surrounding Singapore’s expulsion from Malaysia.

Dr Mahathir, in his latest blog post, had claimed that “Racism in Malaysia is clearly the result of Singapore’s membership of the country for just three years.”

He was responding to the island republic’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, who remarked in his New York Times interview that Malaysia’s inter-racial relations would have been if Singapore were not expulsed from the federation.

PKR’s Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, one of a clutch of rising young political stars in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) stable, sent out this message on his Twitter site earlier this week: “Let’s focus on the future. They’re fighting the cultural wars from the 1960s. We have more urgent battles to fight.”

The first-term Seri Setia assemblyman’s views were echoed by PR colleagues Nurul Izzah Anwar, the DAP’s Liew Chin Tong and Dzulkefly Ahmad from PAS.

The trio observed that Dr Mahathir’s arguments were growing increasingly stale among the younger generation of voters who are more concerned with how Putrajaya handles bread-and-butter issues in an increasingly competitive global landscape.

“Harping on the events of August 9, 1965 won’t resolve anything,” said Nurul Izzah, the eldest daughter of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, referring to the date Singapore was booted out of Malaysia.

The Lembah Pantai MP observed that the long-standing battle between the two former prime ministers had nothing constructive to work on in the way of nation-building today.

“We have to learn the past, but focus on the current if we want solutions.

“What we decide to do today will shape Malaysia’s future; and the current tit-for-tat shouldn’t distract

Nik Nazmi: Let’s focus on the future. They’re fighting the cultural wars from the 1960s. We have more urgent battles to fight.

us from managing issues such as the need for Malaysia to implement economic reforms, improve quality of education in the country and continue to address alleviation of poverty,” she stressed.

Liew, who is Bukit Bendera MP, subscribed to Nik Nazmi’s observation likening the verbal jousts between Dr Mahathir and Lee as an outdated “cultural war from the 1960s” that had no place in the present day society.

“That cultural war has nothing to do with us. I think we have moved beyond the question of if Singapore should be out or in,” said the DAP international secretary.

“I think we should not be distracted by Dr Mahathir. Let him do whatever he wants. He was a racist, and then he was inclusive...he’s changing colours every decade. He should not concern Malaysians pondering their future,” he added.

Liew observed that Dr Mahathir had been racist in his approach in the first half of his term in office in the 1980s but had switched to preaching inclusiveness after he nearly lost to Kelantan prince Tengku Razaleigh in the 1990 general elections.

Political scientist Agus Yusoff echoed the two first-term legislators and called Dr Mahathir’s argument “irrelevant”.

“I disagree with Dr Mahathir’s argument that Singapore is to blame for racism in Malaysia. It’s irrelevant. Why should we care what Lee Kuan Yew says in Singapore or in New York for that matter?” the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) lecturer said.

“What we have to concern ourselves with is what’s happening in our own country. Racism is a problem in Malaysia because there are organisations like Perkasa,” he stressed.

“We don’t have many politicians who support the prime minister’s concept of 1 Malaysia. They don’t even understand what the concept is all about,” he added.

Agus warned that Malaysia would not be able to go far in fighting racism as long as there are political groups championing the rights of a single ethnicity.

“We can’t go far if even in the BN, if there are political groups that fight for only the rights of one racial group, Malay rights, Chinese rights... That’s why racism keeps happening in this country,” he insisted.

Nurul Izzah: What we decide to do today will shape Malaysia’s future; and the current tit-for-tat shouldn’t distract us from managing issues such as the need for Malaysia to implement economic reforms, improve quality of education in the country and continue to address alleviation of poverty.

PAS lawmaker Dzulkefly Ahmad said Dr Mahathir is the nation’s biggest obstacle to racial harmony and pegged him the “Father of All Racists”, paraphrasing minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz’s criticism against the ex-premier in a rare show of support across the political lines.

The Kuala Selangor MP slammed the elder statesman for not owning up to his failure to stop the rift from widening during the latter’s 22 years in office.

“He had 22 years and the longest premiership. What was he doing all those years? He can’t blame an event in history or attribute the problems to another country,” Dzulkefly told The Malaysian Insider.

The PAS central working committee member pointed out that Dr Mahathir’s argument was flawed and only served to highlight the gravity of Malaysia’s inter-racial rift.

“He himself is admitting there is a serious racial divide in no uncertain terms. His only denial is that he is the catalyst for that,” Dzulkefly said.

He pointed out that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was at least “trying to enhance racial relations by taking an inclusive, market-friendly approach”.

He contends the 85-year-old’s patronage of hawkish Malay rights group Perkasa had further fanned racial conflicts here.

“He is now calling for racially-biased politics and reminding the current PM, in fact, coercing the PM not to ever debate those politics and not to marginalise Perkasa for fear of losing the Malay vote,” Dzulkefly said.

The PAS man warned that Umno was at a most crucial political crossroads and its survival to stay relevant with the Malay community depended on whether it would choose Najib’s reform-minded inclusiveness or continue to parade itself as the “most supreme Malay party on Earth”.

Nurul Izzah: We need a true fighter, not a wolf

By Joseph Tawie - Free Malaysia Today

KUCHING: PKR's Puteri Reformasi Nurul Izzah Anwar today gave her clearest indication yet that she is backing Zaid Ibrahim in his quest for the deputy president's post in the forthcoming party polls.

While lambasting “narrow-minded politicians” in PKR, Nurul Izzah said that Zaid, on the other hand, was a leader with vision for the party.

Earlier in her speech to party members in Sarawak last night, she called on them to choose leaders who are committed to the ideals and the principle of the party.

“I don’t mind who you choose as the president and deputy president or as vice president. What is the most important thing is that he or she must be someone who is sincere, and who is committed to the ideals and principle of the party.

“He must be a true fighter,” she added, reminding them that in their efforts to choose leaders, they should be aware of leaders who were just like a wolf wearing a sheepskin.

While she had not named Zaid, or any other leaders, in her speech, she nevertheless told reporters this morning that she would back Zaid as a leader of the party.

She pointed out that Zaid had the necessary leadership qualities to steer PKR forward.
Zaid will be facing off vice-president Azmin Ali for the deputy's post in the party polls. While Nurul Izzah has now openly backed Zaid, Azmin is said to have the backing of Nurul's father and party's supreme leader Anwar Ibrahim.

From Nov 13, all members in Sarawak as well as in Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia would also vote for national leaders for the posts of deputy president, five vice-presidents and members of the supreme council.

“PKR is the party of the future,” Nurul said, pointing out that the party did not want “wolves in sheepskins”.
“It is not the party for people from Semenanjung Malaysia, but for all Malaysians including those from Sarawak and Sabah.

'We need Zaid'
At a press conference before returning to Kuala Lumpur this morning, Nurul, the Lembah Pantai MP, indicated her support for party leader Zaid.

“In my speech I was referring to some narrow-minded politicians at national level, who talked about the interests of certain racial groups only,” she said.

“We need Zaid and under his leadership, KL has progressed so much and he has vision for the party,” she added.

“How can I refer to Zaid as a wolf as I am supposed to be ‘extremely anti Azmin’? she asked.

Meanwhile Azmin arrived today in Kuching to woo Sarawak PKR members to vote for him. Besides Kuching, he would also visit other towns and villages. Sarawak has 29 PKR divisions, while Sabah has 26 divisions.

Azmin declares his candidacy for PKR No 2 post

By Michael Kaung

KOTA KINABALU: A fiery PKR deputy presidential election is assured. Arch-rivals Azmin Mohd Ali and Zaid Ibrahim will face-off for the No 2 post in the party's coming elections.
Azmin announced his candidacy for the post here this morning.

The face-off between the two was always expected but the timing and location of Azmin, a PKR vice president, announcing his candidacy caught many by surprise.

"Why not in Sabah,” he retorted when quizzed by reporters for his decision to make the announcement in Sabah, the state where his rival reportedly has the backing of vice president Dr Jeffrey Kitingan who has openly opposed Azmin.

With Azmin at the press conference were Sabah PKR chairman Ahmad Thamrin, supreme council member Ansari Abdullah and national leaders including Selangor exco member Xavier Jayakumar and Penang deputy chief minister Mansor Othman.

Azmin dismissed suggestion that the tussle with Zaid would split the party and said that he had consulted top party leaders including incumbent deputy president Senator Dr Syed Husin Ali who had declared earlier this week not to defend the post, before making his decision

"I am humbly offering myself for the post of deputy president,” Azmin said at the press conference held at the Shangri La Tanjung Aru Resort here and added that party would consolidate and become stronger before the 13th general election is called.

"I will accept  and respect the decision of the members … I offer my full commitment to the party … my track record has shown that I have stood with it in bad and good times,” he said.

Committed to the cause
He emphasised that he had stood by the party unlike others who chose to leave the party after 2004 general election when it secured only one seat.

"My colleagues and I remained committed to the cause and through hard work and patience, Pakatan Rakyat managed to (win) 81 seats.”

Sabah and Sarawak are seen as kingmakers in case there is a fifty-fifty split in the PKR votes among members in peninsula.

Zaid's ally, the maverick Sabah politician Kitingan, has been trying shore up support for him among a split Sabah PKR.

Kitingan himself is trying to unseat Ansari and division leaders aligned to him in Saturday's (Sept 18) divisional elections.

Malaysia Day doesn't capture Malaysian hearts

By FMT Staff

KUALA LUMPUR: Fireworks lit up the sky at midnight to commemorate Malaysia Day, the latest addition in the country's string of national celebrations. But sentiment on the ground was nowhere as festive.

FMT took to the streets to hear what the ordinary Malaysians thought of Sept 16. The verdict: a cross between confusion and indifference.

R Maniamah, 57, a cleaner at a mall in Bangsar, shook her head when asked if she knew that Sept 16 is a public holiday. As far as she is concerned, she still has to turn up for work.

“I don't know what Malaysia Day is,” she frowned. “Why do we need another day when we already have National Day? Isn't that enough to celebrate our country?”

Baha, 50, a roadside cobbler also in Bangsar, reacted with the same bemusement.

“What's Malaysia Day?” he asked, and then said without waiting for answer, “It doesn't matter because I'll be working anyway. Did you know about this holiday?”

He directed this question to his young customer who reluctantly admitted that she didn't. She told FMT that she was on Hari Raya leave until the end of the week and wasn't even aware that Sept 16 is a public holiday.

Historical chronology

While A Maniam from Ladang Kerling, Hulu Selangor, never heard of Malaysia Day, he was still able to rattle off the historical chronology that led to Malaysia's formation.

After listening carefully to a brief explanation on Malaysia Day, he replied that while it's a cause for celebration in Sabah and Sarawak, it held no meaning for him.

“I work as a security guard seven days a week just to make ends meet,” he said. “I can't afford to take a day off on National Day even because my family needs to eat.”

The father of three confided that he believed such celebrations were just another political ploy to woo the people. To him there is no difference between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat if neither is able to meet the people's basic needs.

“Whether National Day or Malaysia Day, all these celebrations are only for the upper class of society,” he said flatly.

In nearby Kuala Selangor, the fishermen there admitted they only knew of Malaysia Day because it is a gazetted public holiday which meant they wouldn't be able to get petrol subsidies.

“But we don't know what the fuss is all about,” said Omar Abdul Rahman, the director of the Kuala Selangor Fisherman Society. “National Day has marches and parades. We have no idea what is being planned for Malaysia Day. If there is no great significance, then maybe it should just be dropped altogether.”

Stark reminder

For second generation Felda settler, Nur Suhaila Raja Mohammad, 24, Malaysia Day is a stark reminder of East Malaysia's freedom from the British and its merging with West Malaysia.

“I am awed by the determination of the people back then to join arms in creating an independent country,” she enthused before turning sombre. “But to me it isn't any different from National Day if the purpose of Malaysia Day is to celebrate patriotism.”

Rohaya Mat Daud, 24, who resides in Felda Jengka, Pahang, agreed with Suhaila and added that the spirit of patriotism should always be alive.

“The government must use every avenue possible to constantly emphasise and fan the flames of unity beyond a set number of days,” she stated.

"Some Sarawakians are aware, but not everyone is aware of it," said Paul Raja, a Sarawak-based land rights lawyer. “Some are even confused because all this while, they have been told that National Day is the only day for such celebrations."

When asked if the day has helped to recognise East Malaysia's position in the federation, Raja opined that Malaysia Day is only a symbolic act by the federal government minus the substance.

"It's not enough,” he asserted. “Malaysia Day doesn't mean anything to us because what has been rightly promised to us by the 18-Point Agreement has not been fulfilled.

Sarawak's 18-Point Agreement is a list of terms for Sarawak's entry into the Federation of Malaysia. These points include the Borneanisation of the civil service and its representation in Parliament.

"We are asking for the recognition of our position in Malaysia," Raja said. "Otherwise, Sept 16 is just another public holiday."

Sarawakian architect Peggy Wong, 32, summed it up nicely. In her opinion, the significance of Sept 16 lies in the hands of the average Malaysian.

“If you want Malaysia Day to be a significant event and not a mere farce, then make sure you're a registered voter so you can contribute to your country's future and celebrate yourself as a true Malaysian,” she declared. “As for West Malaysians, start learning racial tolerance from East Malaysians before you shout about national unity.”

[By Stephanie Sta Maria, B Nantha Kumar, Patrick Lee, Muda Mohd Noor and Jamilah Kamarudin]

The politics of freedom

By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today

SPECIAL REPORT KUALA LUMPUR: A fight for freedom of expression in a democratic country is an act of absurdity. Unless, of course, that democracy is tainted by the grubby hands of politics and prejudice. And unfortunately, Malaysia's democracy falls under this grimy category.
Freedom of expression has been curtailed under the guise of maintaining national harmony in a multiracial society. But Malaysians have long stopped believing this story.

One of those who sees through this charade is HR Dipendra, project coordinator of the SEA Legal Defence Network. According to him, the “harmony” argument has long passed its expiry date.

“What is being promoted is an elusive harmony – no one knows what it entails,” he said. “The fact is that we already live in harmony, but for some reason this doesn't sit well with the politicians. So they create a fictional world in which addressing other people's 'peculiarities' will lead to widespread riots.”

Dipendra's observation is backed by Dr Farish Noor, a political scientist at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, who stressed that freedom of expression only becomes an issue when it is politicised.

“And in this region all forms of socio-political expression are politicised,” he said. “It is even mundane to talk about freedom of expression. It is akin to talking about the freedom to engage in commerce. Do we argue when we claim the right to open a shop?”

According to the Human Rights Watch (HRW) deputy Asia director, Phil Robertson, the concerns that HRW has about freedom of expression in Malaysia “could fill a legal pad”.

“Prime Minister Najib (Tun Razak's) declaration of needing 'a media... that is empowered to responsibly report what they see, without fear of consequence' has turned out to be just another flash-in-the-pan statement,” he stated. “The practice is nowhere near approaching the promise.”

“What Malaysia has is an increasingly insecure government, facing a political challenge. And instead of engaging in a debate based on innovation, reform, and quality programes, the government employs negative tactics to shut down and shut out other voices.”

Heady times

HRW has long called for a repeal and amendment of four “draconian” laws – the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998, the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 and the Sedition Act 1948.

“We’re particularly worried that the government is increasingly willing to intrude into the previously free space for expression on the Internet where so many Malaysians get their daily news nowadays,” Robertson said. “Even former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who ran roughshod over human rights when he was in office, is saying today that the Internet should not be censored.”

Dipendra recalled the heady times during Mahathir's reign when freedom of expression flourished via the Internet despite government attempts at a clampdown.

Dipendra pointed out that Mahathir's move to promote the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) ironically provided a guarantee of freedom on the Internet. His successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, helped this freedom further along by allowing for more thoughts and ideas to be expressed. Dipendra, however, warned of a potential regression during Najib's rule.

“Najib is made of sterner stuff and if he feels that public opinion is not to his liking, then we will see more clampdowns, especially when the general election draws closer,” he said. “Having said that, I believe that Najib harbours the right intentions. His problem is the people surrounding him who are hellbent on manipulating freedom of expression to serve their own agendas.”

It is these agendas that have led to a blatant prejudice in the practice of freedom of expression. On the one hand, ordinary citizens like 98.8 FM DJ Jamal and rapper Wee Meng Chee, popularly known as Namewee, have been silenced for expressing themselves too freely.

On the other, freedom of expression is very much alive in the voices of Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia and Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali. It is this biased prosecution that has fanned the dismay of many.

“My concern lies with these double standards,” said Farish. “The concern is twofold: When such double standards appear, then some people seem to think they can say whatever they like because they are in the majority.”

“Secondly, the perception of double standards merely reinforces the public view that there is in-built inequality in the governmental system. Ironically, it is precisely such double standards that do the most damage to the public image of governments and ruling elites, though they often do not see this."

HRW, meanwhile, takes solace in what it views as the continued bravery of many people to speak their minds, risk retaliation for speaking up against the government’s interest and continuing to use the Internet to broadcast their views.

“The bottom line is that Malaysia needs to learn to trust its people with their rights, and let them freely express themselves,” Robertson said. “That’s the kind of fundamental sea-change in attitudes that the Malaysian authorities need to continuously reinforce.”

Chinese, Indian firms dominate Asia top 50 list

HONG KONG: Asian economic powerhouses China and India dominated the list of the region's top companies released today, claiming 32 of the top 50 places.

Each country accounted for 16 of the firms on the annual Forbes Asia Fab 50 list. Last year, China also had 16 businesses listed while India had 13.

China's entries included Lenovo Group Ltd, the China Mengniu Dairy Co and SAIC Motor Corp Ltd while India's included Infosys Technologies Ltd, JSW Steel Ltd and HDFC Bank Ltd.

Hong Kong and Taiwan tied for third place with four companies each while South Korea had three and Australia and Japan had two each. Japan topped the inaugural list in 2005 with 13 firms.

Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand rounded off the 2010 list with one entry each -- Indonesia's Bank Central Asia Tbk PT, Olam International Ltd in Singapore and Banpu Pcl in Thailand.

The list released by magazine publisher Forbes Inc was compiled from a shortlist of 936 Asian companies with revenues or market capitalisation of at least US$3 billion (RM9.3 billion).

Ranking criteria included recent financial returns, share price movement and future prospects. The previous five years' revenue, operating earnings and return on capital were also taken into account as were recent financial results and share price movements.

- dpa

Interference in the Malaysian police force

Actually, they took no action against ASP Noor Azizul Rahim Bin Taharim, the ADC of IGP Musa Hassan, because they know that the allegation is true. And if ASP Noor Azizul Rahim was arrested and charged in court then the truth would surface. So they chose to do nothing at all.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

When I signed a Statutory Declaration back in June 2008, they arrested me and charged me for Criminal Defamation. And my Statutory Declaration is just against two junior army officers plus the wife of the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia.

The wife of the Deputy Prime Minister is not a government employee or an official position. She is just that, the wife of the Deputy Prime Minister, of no ranking in the Malaysian government structure.

When P.I. Balasubramanian signed a Statutory Declaration two weeks later, they threatened the safety of his family and made him retract what he alleged by signing a second Statutory Declaration the following day. His second Statutory Declaration 24 hours later contradicted his first one.

This means one of the two Statutory Declarations is false. They did not, however, arrest Balasubramanian and charge him for Criminal Defamation. They did not even charge him for the more serious crime of signing a false Statutory Declaration under the Statutory Declaration Act 1960. Instead, they whisked him out of the country.

A year later, on 28 August 2009, ASP Noor Azizul Rahim Bin Taharim, the ADC (aide-de-camp) of IGP Musa Hassan, signed a Statutory Declaration alleging many damaging things about his boss the IGP. (See the copy of the Statutory Declaration below).

A copy of this Statutory Declaration was given to one-time Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who in turn gave it to ex-IGP Tun Haniff Omar. ASP Noor Azizul Rahim also informed many other people about this matter, as mentioned in his Statutory Declaration.

Either ASP Noor Azizul Rahim is lying or he is telling the truth. Either ASP Noor Azizul Rahim signed a false Statutory Declaration or IGP Musa Hassan is guilty as alleged in ASP Noor Azizul Rahim’s Statutory Declaration.

Either way we will never know because nothing was done about the allegation. No investigation was launched to determine whether IGP Musa Hassan is really guilty as alleged or, instead, ASP Noor Azizul Rahim is guilty of the crime of signing a false Statutory Declaration.

Now IGP Musa Hassan is bellyaching, whining, grumbling and bitching like a crybaby about interference in the police force and about how ‘they’ directed him on how he should run the police force.

Actually IGP Musa Hassan is not totally wrong. The only thing is, according to the ten or so Statutory Declarations signed by various police officers as well as two underworld figures, it is the underworld that directed IGP Musa Hassan on how the Malaysian police force should be run.

Why were these many Statutory Declarations never investigated? If the Statutory Declarations are false then why did they not arrest and charge these police officers and underworld figures for Criminal Defamation like they did me?

More importantly, the Statutory Declaration below was signed by IGP Musa Hassan’s own ADC, not by just any police officer. And many senior police officers plus the ex-Prime Minister of Malaysia were given copies of this Statutory Declaration and are aware of the matter. But still nothing was done.

If the Statutory Declaration below is true then IGP Musa Hassan should by now be sitting in jail. If, however, they are implying that the Statutory Declaration below is false then why was the maker of the document not dragged into court and charged like what they did to me?

Note that my Statutory Declaration is against someone who is merely a wife of the Deputy Prime Minister and therefore someone of no official standing in the government. ASP Noor Azizul Rahim’s Statutory Declaration is against the top cop in Malaysia, the IGP. This makes it more serious and is covered under both the Criminal Defamation law as well as the Statutory Declaration Act 1960.

Let me repeat that. Rosmah Mansor, the wife of the then Deputy Prime Minister, has no official standing in the government. On the other hand, IGP Musa Hassan is the top police officer in Malaysia. You can’t be charged for Criminal Defamation for making an allegation against someone who is not holding a government post (although they did in my case). But you can be charged for Criminal Defamation if you make an allegation against Malaysia’s number one policeman.

Actually, they took no action against ASP Noor Azizul Rahim Bin Taharim, the ADC of IGP Musa Hassan, because they know that the allegation is true. And if ASP Noor Azizul Rahim was arrested and charged in court then the truth would surface. So they chose to do nothing at all.

****************************************

Musa's allegation not to be taken lightly

(Sin Chew Daily) - Outgoing Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan has made an allegation before leaving the office that there is a third party interference in police work.

Why didn't he mention it during his term of office as the IGP over the past four years? In addition, Musa also admitted that there are different factions in the police force and he has actually eliminated many of them.

Since the problems have existed for a long time, and an external force has prevented him from reforming the police, causing him to implemented only 48% of his five-year restructuring plan, as the head of a professional disciplinary force, Musa should report to the higher level once he found out the problems. It is because of the lack of a channel, or poor communication?

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mahmood Adam have both denied Musa’s claims of third party interference in the police force.

However, it is a very serious allegation. The cabinet should make a thorough investigation to see whether there are people interfering in police work in the name of the Home Ministry. The police must carry out its tasks independently and freely. Any interference might prevent the cause of justice.

The inquiry should not only investigate the police but also extends the scope of investigation to protect the independence and professionalism of all law enforcement agencies.

For example, former Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) director-general Shafee Yahya claimed that former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had prevented the ACA in 1998 from investigating the then director-general of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) of the Prime Minister's Department.

In addition, former Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Ramli Yusuff, who has been acquitted of a charge of being involved in business when he was a civil servant, claimed in October 2007 that the high level officers in the ACA, the Attorney-General's Chamber and the police were unfair.

Ramli had accused the ACA of framing his subordinates while the police did not protect them. Three policemen were accused to have involved in forgery when conducting an investigation on a Chinese loan shark in Johor. Ramli claimed that the Commecial Crime Investigation Department took actions against the suspect based on the instructions given by the then deputy minister of the Internal Security Ministry (the current Home Affairs Ministry).

On the other hand, PAS has said that the police had received reports in 2002 and 2005 claiming that former Malaysia Airlines (MAS) chairman had involved in the RM8 billion loss. Ramli had suggested charging the person involved but the authority took no action.

The inquiry must investigate all similar allegations and incidents and develop a set of guidelines and laws to prevent third party interference in law enforcement and prosecution units.

Undeniably, the police has established a professional image, particularly in intelligence gathering, since the British colonel era. In particular cases, such as the destruction of religious places, the police have shown its capability in solving the cases and maintain social stability. In terms of wiping out violent criminals, the police have also shown a high efficiency.

The Malaysian police force is doing much better if we compare it to the error-prone approach used by the Philippine police in rescuing Hong Kong hostages on a bus hijacked in Manila.

However, the role of the police has been on dispute after the March 2008 general election. The government must uphold the images of the police force and other law enforcement units to restore public confidence.

********************************************





 

Ibrahim bersandiwara atau tak faham Perlembagaan

(Harakahdaily) - Penganalisis politik, Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari menganggap Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Negara (Perkasa) tidak memahami inti sebenar Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

Anggapan itu gara-gara inisiatif ekstrem Datuk Paduka Ibrahim Ali mengasaskan Perkasa bagi mempertahankan hak keistimewaan Melayu, bahasa Melayu, Majlis Raja-Raja Melayu serta Islam seperti yang diperuntukkan dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang kononnya sedang dihakiskan oleh pihak 'bukan Melayu' tertentu.

"Lagipun kefahaman Perlembagaan (Persekutuan) oleh Perkasa adalah tidak tepat kerana tidak ada sesiapa  yang boleh memadam peruntukan yang mereka (Perkasa) kata perlu dipertahankan," ujar pakar perlembagaan itu kepada Harakahdaily.

Kata ahli akademik dari Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) lagi, langkah Perkasa itu seakan menghalang kebebasan bersuara rakyat dalam membincangkan isu-isu yang selama ini dianggap sensitif oleh pemerintah.

"Perkasa juga semacam lupa bahawa Perlembagaan memberi hak bersuara selagi ia tidak meminta pemansuhan kedudukan yang sedia ada itu, termasuk Raja, bahasa dan lain-lain," ujarnya.

Walhal, katanya sesetengah isu-isu yang diwacanakan oleh rakyat, khususnya bukan Melayu tidaklah sampai pada tahap membelakangkan Perlembagaan.

Lanjutan itu, beliau mempersoal motif sebenar Ibrahim, Presiden Perkasa menggunakan media untuk meniupkan api perkauman ekstrem belakangan ini.

"Jadi, apa yang hendak dipertahankan?" soalnya.

Beliau turut mempersoal idea Ibrahim pada Ahad lalu yang mahu Perkasa mewujudkan muafakat politik baru, iaitu menerima keanggotaan bukan Melayu.

"Dengan idea ekstrem yang mereka bawa, nak kerjasama dengan bukan Melayu yang macam mana.

"Jadi, macam Perkasa nak buat kerjasama...dengar nama Perkasa pun mereka (bukan Melayu) sudah meluat," ujarnya.

Hari ini, dilaporkan Ibrahim menuduh MCA menguasai Umno pula.

Tuduhan terbaru itu selepas Ibrahim menuduh PAS tunduk pada kemahuan politik para pemimpin bukan Islam dari DAP serta Pakatan Rakyat yang lain.

Tuduhan-tuduhan Ibrahim itu ekoran keengganan pihak masing-masing untuk menerima pelawaan Perkasa, badan bukan kerajaan untuk mempopularkan politik ekstrem Melayu di tanah air.

Manakala, Umno pula dilihat seakan dalam dilema sama ada mahu berwajah liberal atas nama slogan 1Malaysia atau kekal dalam kerangka 'ultra Melayu' seperti yang didesak Perkasa.

Mother of missing toddler believes daughter held captive

MENTAKAB: The mother of missing two-year-old Nisha Chandramohan (pic) still believes that the girl is alive and being held captive somewhere in the country.
Wong Lai Lan, 21, said she and her husband had steadfastly held to this belief since their daughter’s disappearance in early June.
“We pray daily for her wellbeing and go to church every Sunday, hoping for a miracle someday,” she said in an interview.
Wong said that despite the wide publicity by the media and assistance from RHB Group, the MIC and Lanchang assemblyman Datuk Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin, there was still no news of Nisha’s whereabouts.
“As her mother, I have an instinct that she is still alive. I can only pray that whoever is keeping Nisha is being kind to her, and knows that she needs medication for epilepsy,” she said.

Eternal hope: A worried and anxious Wong pining for her daughter in Mentakab in this file picture.

Wong said she and her husband have been driving around during their days off with posters of Nisha, hoping to get new leads.
She also revealed that some people had played pranks by asking for their cellphones to be topped up in exchange for information.
”A man contacted us last Sunday, saying he had seen Nisha but I sensed that he was not truthful.
“We have already suffered enough. Please do not add to our misery,” she pleaded.
Those with information can contact Wong at 016-9323803 or state MIC Youth chief K. Sivakumar at 012-391 3039.

Perutusan Hari Malaysia 2010 Oleh Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim

16hb September 1963, Perseketuan Tanah Melayu bersama Sabah dan Serawak secara rasminya membentuk Malaysia. Makanya kenegaraan Federalisme yang menjadi salah satu dari tiang seri negara sewajarnya menjadi semakin kukuh dan sepatutnya lagi dihormati. Kemasukan Sabah dan Sarawak ternyata membawa dampak yang bukan sedikit kepada negara. Malangnya semangat pembentukan Negara Malaysia dan faham Federalisme yang mendukungnya, malah diiktiraf oleh Perlembagaan Persekutuan pula, kian hari semakin terhakis. Pemusatan kuasa kepada kerajaan persekutuan tidak terbendung lagi. Faham Federalisme, Kedaulatan Undang-Undang dan Semangat Keperlembagaan diketepikan demi mengekalkan kekuasaan elit pemerintah semata. Justeru tidak hairan kita lihat bagaimana negeri-negeri seumpama Kelantan, Sarawak dan Sabah dinafikan hak mereka sungguhpun kaya dengan hasil bumi serta semulajadi. Janji-janji manis ditabur di Sabah dan Sarawak misalnya, kerana ianya dianggap sebagai “deposit” kemenangan ketika mahu memenangi pilihanraya.

Ketidakadilan yang dialami oleh rakyat dari negeri-negeri yang ditindas inilah membuatkan mereka bersikap acuh dan pesimis terhadap hasrat memperkukuh sebuah negara Persekutuan ini. Jelasnya kita tidak boleh menyalahkan mereka dan seharusnya berusaha menjana tenaga, fikiran serta terus beriltizam membasmi penindasan tersebut. Makanya Parti Keadilan Rakyat bersama Permuafakatan Pakatan Rakyat tuntas untuk memastikan keadilan dilaksanakan di seluruh negeri-negeri yang bersekutu dengan negara ini dan berusaha sejajar dengan hasrat murni Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Malanglah negara ini jika pemerintahnya bertindak menyisihkan dan menafikan hak rakyat sendiri kerana berbeza fahaman politik, ras dan kebudayaan.
Kini sudah tibalah masanya seluruh rakyat dari Perlis sehingga ke Johor, dari Kelantan sehingga ke Sabah dan Sarawak menyertai gelora menuntut Perubahan, agar sirna penindasan dan tertegaknya Keadilan. Hari Malaysia ini, bersamaan 16hb September 2010, biarlah ianya dimaknai oleh kita, untuk terus beriltizam dan berusaha mengembalikan Semangat Keperlembagaan agar negara ini “…mencapai taraf suatu bangsa yang merdeka lagi berdaulat sama setimpal kedudukannya dengan segala bangsa seluruh dunia.”

ANWAR IBRAHIM
Ketua Pembangkang Parlimen Malaysia

August 31st Merdeka Day to Sept 16 Malaysia Day – “bumper harvest” of bad news for Malaysia

By Lim Kit Siang,


Never before in the nation’s history has the country been buffeted by such a “bumper harvest” of bad news in the 17 days between Merdeka Day on August 31 and Malaysia Day on September 16.
This plethora of bad news for Malaysia cannot be more detrimental to Malaysia’s ability to escape from her decades-long “middle-income trap” and the terrible fate of a bankrupt nation in 2019 by undertaking a national transformation to achieve an inclusive and sustainable high-income developed nation in 2020.
Today for instance, there are two such bad news.
First is today’s Malaysian Insider story “Investors shun Malaysia for neighbours” which reports:

“Malaysia is now the “least favoured market” in Asia Pacific for investors after nearly doubling its underweight rating from last month, according to a recent Bank of America Merrill Lynch report.
“The country slipped two spots — from 10th place to dead last — in the investment bank’s latest Fund Managers Survey, even as the Najib administration prepares to unveil ambitious economic reforms meant to boost investor confidence.

“The report appears to be the latest indictment of Malaysia’s inability to compete with rival regional markets. In the past decade, the once roaring Asian Tiger has seen its dominant position as an investment destination in Southeast Asia crumble even as neighbouring countries push to the fore.
“A survey last week by the World Economic Forum (WEF) of 139 nations showed that Malaysia had slipped two places in global competitiveness rankings to 26th in the past year, while Indonesia surged 10 places to 44th…
“Elsewhere in the region, China remained the favourite market by far despite an uncertain global outlook. A net 11 per cent of investors expect China’s economy to strengthen, up from -39 per cent in July, according to Merrill Lynch.
“Indonesia, slightly underweight last month, jumped to second place on an overweight call, edging out Hong Kong in the process. New Zealand, Taiwan, South Korea and India remained neutral.”

The second bad news is the release today of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2010-11, regarded as the gold standard in international university performance comparisons, which confirmed the QS World University Rankings 2010 released a week ago that Malaysia’s premier university, University of Malaya, has fallen off the world Top 200 Universities Ranking.
University of Malaya fell from 180th to 207th ranking in the QS World University Rankings 2010 but it is not known what placing University of Malaya has fallen to in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2010-11.
The top 10 universities ranked by Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2010-11 are:

1. Harvard – US
   
2. California Institute of Technology – US
   
3. Massachusetts Institute of TeCochnology – US
   
4. Stanford – US
   
5. Princeton – US
   
6. Cambridge – UK
   
7. Oxford – UK
   
8. University of California Berkeley – US
   
9. Imperial College – UK
   
10. Yale – US
    

Twenty-seven Asian universities are emplaced in the latest THES ranking led by University of Hong Kong (21), Tokyo (26), Pohang University of Science and Technology (28), National University of Singapore (34) and Peking University (37).
The plethora of bad news in the past 17 days from Merdeka Day on August 31 to Malaysia Day September 16 could be discerned from the following headlines or headings:

• September 15 – Najib saddened by rise of extremism in Malaysia (Malaysiakini)
  
• September 15 – “Sabahans losing patience over 20 Points – Maijol” (Borneo Post)
  
• September 14 – ANALYSIS – Malaysia “top-down” reforms set to disappoint (Reuters)
  
• September 14 – Utusan champions Dr M’s views in campaign for Perkasa (Malaysian Insider)
  
• September 12 – Sosilawati and three others brutally murdered and burnt (Malaysiankini)
  
• September 10 – M’sia Today ‘blocked to stop release of documents’ (Malaysiakini)
  
• September 9 – Global competitiveness: M’sia goes down further (Malaysiakini)
  
• September 9 – Malaysian universities falling out of top 200 universities in QS World University Rankings 2010 latest proof that Najib’s NEM are just empty words lacking political will and leadership necessary to effect Malaysia’s economic transformation (blog.limkitsiang.com)
  
• September 4 – Why double standards against Namewee, questioned for over 10 hours, for his anti-racist outburst as compared to treatment for the two errant school principals? (blog.limkitsiang.com)
  
• September 4 – Teo says surau row nadir in her life (Malaysian Insider)
  
• September 3 – Hishamuddin should not act both as prosecutor and judge to pass judgment that Nurul Izzah had committed the offence of sedition, dictating and usurping the powers of the Police, AG’s Chambers and judiciary (blog.limkitsiang.com)
  
• September 3 – Rising racism, 53 years on -David KL Quek (Malaysiakini)
  
• September 1 – Mahathir is the major obstacle to Najib’s 1Malaysia and National Transformation Agenda (blog.limkitsiang.com)
  
• August 31 – Why Police investigating Wee Meng Chee for sedition when there is nothing seditious in his latest 3-minute rap against the Kulai secondary school principal for making racist slurs against students? (blog.limkitsiang.com)
  
• August 30 – The ultimate Malaysian debate: Malaysia or Malaysaja? – Nurul Izzah Anwar (Malaysian Insider)
  
• August 30 – Quo Vadis Malaysia 18 months after Najib’s 1Malaysia slogan? (blog.limkitsiang.com)
  

What is the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak going to do with such a “bumper harvest” of bad news for Malaysia?

One Lady Sabahan's Open letter to the Malaysian Prime Minister

An open letter to the Prime Minister of Malaysia

Dear Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak,


I write to you as a deeply concerned and saddened citizen of Malaysia. For most of the 45 years of my life, I have been proud to be Malaysian. Recently, I have become heartbroken to be Malaysian.


I am profoundly grateful to write this with the support of both my local communities in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo and California, U.S.A., and a larger world community. That said, I take full ownership of and sole responsibility for the views articulated in this letter; I express them from my stand as a mother, an earth citizen and a leader.


I founded and lead a public charity and non profit organization both in Malaysia and in the U.S., to bridge between worlds and build partnerships for ecological conservation. I have been at the front lines of the founding and mobilization of Green SURF (Sabah Unite to RePower the Future), the civil society movement opposing the construction of the 300 megawatt coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu, Sabah, on the edge of the Coral Triangle, one of three of the world's most bio-diverse ecosystems. You know. You signed the 6-nation declaration between Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Solomon Islands to collectively protect this 1.6 billion acres of ocean. You also know of course of your pledge at Copenhagen to reduce carbon emission intensity by up to 40% by 2020. You likely also know that the plant will displace fishing communities who have been there for a long time - irreparably contaminating their livelihoods forever. And if you listened, you would also know that they do not want the "development" that your government is imposing on them.


One of the priorities of Green SURF was to study clean energy alternatives to the coal-plant, and propose them to the government. We collectively invested tremendous time and resources to identify and commission the expertise of Professor Daniel Kammen at Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory of University of California, Berkeley to conduct the Clean Energy Options for Sabah report. We had no notion of the outcome of the study, and results showed that Sabah is in an exceptional position to shift towards clean energy due to the availability of natural resources. We are in fact in an opportune position to lead the nation and the region in clean energy - the kind of leadership the world so urgently needs now. I wonder if you know that Sabah is the last coal power-free frontier of Borneo. FYI, the 5 core NGOs in Green SURF are amongst the largest, oldest and most recognized conservation groups in Sabah and Malaysia - collectively responsible for most of the conservation work in the nation, with partnerships that span the world.



We have tried every avenue available to communicate to you the results of our findings and to engage in discussion about the future of energy for Sabah. After months of unsuccessful attempts to meet with you, I can only conclude that you do not want to meet with us. This confuses and disturbs me. Your words in public are about listening to the rakyat (people) and hearing their views. A sizeable portion of the rakyat of Sabah has been doing everything within their power to be heard by you. To no avail. We have given you the benefit of the doubt that word is not getting to you, and yet we have met with those around you who promised they would convey our message to you. Many months, memos, reports, letters, faxes, emails and phone calls later, and we have not received a single response from you or any member of your administration. We also did our best at state level government, and have huge support from within the government but ultimately the message is that this is untouchable because "ini Najib mau" (Najib wants this).


Sir, my most consistent experience of your administration is stone walls, arrogance and insincerity. I am shocked by the behavior of the leadership of my nation. I find it patronizing, archaic, oppressive, blatantly and self-righteously elitist and top-down. I do not experience your administration as democratic, transparent, open, accountable or responsible. There is a deep incongruence between what you are projecting externally and what we have experienced internally. I can only surmise that you intentionally run your administration in this manner. Otherwise, it would mean that your leadership is incompetent and ineffective.


I am angry, and I am not willing to accept systemic disempowerment of our people. I am writing this open letter as a last resort. Sabahans are speaking up because we are deeply troubled and scared about the fate of our ecological and cultural legacy, and what we will be able to hand down to our future generations. Please show true leadership and listen. You and your administration have much to do to regain a modicum of respect amongst many Sabahans. If 1Malaysia is more than a PR campaign and is truly intended "to provide a free and open forum to discuss the things that matter deeply to us as a Nation", please walk your talk.


Yours sincerely, for the children,


Cynthia Clare Ong Gaik Suan

IC# 650423 12 5708


c.c. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

United Nations General Assembly

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Human Rights Watch

Amnesty International

The Parliament of Malaysia

Suhakam - Human Rights Commission of Malaysia

Professor Daniel Kammen, Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, U.S.A.

FaceBook, Twitter, blogs and websites

Local, national and international mainstream and alternative media


The Universal Declaration of Human Rights(passed by United Nations General Assembly, 1948)Article 21.


* (1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. * (2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country. * (3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.