Bersih kicks off voter turnout campaign

The electoral reform watchdog says a 100 percent turnout would strengthen democracy.

KUALA LUMPUR: Electoral reform watchdog, Bersih 2.0, launched a programme called “Jom 100” to increase voter turnout for the 13th general election.

Bersih 2.0 chairman S Ambiga said: “A 100 percent turnout would strengthen democracy and mitigate gerrymandering and electoral fraud.”

At a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here, she also said that 100 percent voter turnout would allow the people to re-shape the future of Malaysia.

She added that the Jom 100 programme is geared towards educating voters on their rights and importance of casting their voters.

Ambiga also urged overseas-based Malaysian voters to return and vote in the general election.

“If the Election Commission (EC) doesn’t make arrangements at the embassies, please come home and vote.

“Some are already looking into that possibility,” she said following a High Court decision to dismiss a case by six UK-based Malaysians to compel the EC to allow them to vote as absent voters.

Jom 100 will kick off after the Chinese New Year holidays next week with a focus on rural constituencies. The campaign will start in Kuala Terengganu on Friday.

Ambiga also welcomed the government, political parties and NGOs to jointly embark on this non-partisan campaign.

“We are more than happy if the government enabled people to vote. We welcome political parties to spread the word. We have been in collaboration with other NGOs,” she said.

Ambiga, the former Bar Council president, said there are more than three million eligible Malaysians who are not registered voters.

To question, she also did not rule out the possibility of a Bersih 3.0 rally if the demands of Bersih 2.0 are not met before the next general election.

“We are trying all those things – negotiations with the EC, the Parliametary Select Committee (PSC) on election reforms – but if the recommendations are not fulfilled, do not rule out Bersih 3.0,” she said.

She also said holding the general election before Bersih’s demands are met meant that the government had “no respect for the PSC, Parliament and the people”.

Ambiga announced the appointment of national laureate, A Samad Said, as Bersih co-chairman and Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia chairman Ahmad Shukri Razak as Bersih 2.0 committee member.

Tentang Seks, Pentas dan Negara

Naskhah teater turut menjadi senduk untuk Ann Lee dan rakan “masak-masak”nya memperkatakan pelbagai isu semasa.
COMMENT

Saya tidak berpeluang menonton “The Vagina Monologues” karya Eve Ensler yang diarah oleh Ann Lee sebelum dan selepas pementasannya diharamkan di Malaysia suatu masa dahulu.

Namun, apabila mendapat tahu bahawa buku “Sex, Stage & State: Kuali Works Plays” yang memuatkan tujuh skrip yang dihasilkan Ann Lee dan rakan-rakan “kuali”nya akan dilancarkan di Bali, Indonesia pada 7 Oktober tahun lalu, saya tidak melepaskan peluang untuk hadir sama pada majlis eksklusif itu.

Sebenarnya, kebetulan saya berada di sana kerana menyertai Ubud Writers & Readers Festival dan majlis pelancaran buku berkenaan adalah sebahagian acara sampingan festival.

Buku setebal 297 halaman ini diterbitkan oleh Parama Adhi Perkasa, Jakarta pada September 2011 dan amat sesuai dijadikan koleksi peminat teater bermutu tanpa mengira kewarganegaraan.

Sharon Bakar dan saya menghadiri majlis pelancaran “Sex, Stage & State” di Rumah Valentine, Ubud antara lain kerana mahu memberi sokongan moral kepada Ann Lee dan rakan-rakannya yang giat mengangkat martabat teater di Malaysia.

Beliau yang lahir di Tawau, Sabah serta mendapat pendidikan di Universiti Westminster dan Universiti Oxford, pernah menjadi penyampai berita di Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM). Malah, di situlah persahabatan kami bermula.

Di Rumah Valentine pula, saya turut berpeluang bertemu Goh Soon Siew, Foo May Lyn, Kathy Rowland dan Jo Kukathas yang merupakan antara orang kuat yang terlibat dengan Kuali Works secara langsung atau tidak langsung.

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Jo Kukathas hanya rakan saya di ruang siber menerusi Facebook. Saya mengenali dan mengagumi beliau manakala beliau tidak mengenali saya, demikian andaian saya pada mulanya).

Pengarah, penulis dan pelakon teater ini juga pengarah artistik di Instant Cafe Theatre Company. Terkini, Jo Kukathas mengarah teater “Parah” karya Alfian Sa’at yang dijadual dipentaskan di Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC) pada 1-5 Februari 2012.

Kathy Rowland pernah saya temui suatu ketika dahulu – entah di mana; kami berdua sudah lupa dan kami kadang-kadang berkomunikasi menerusi e-mel.

Pertemuan di Rumah Valentine pula membuka ruang dan peluang untuk kami semua duduk berbual tentang pelbagai perkara: sastera, seni, politik, makanan dan rakyat.

Berbalik pada “Sex, Stage & State”, kesemua tujuh skrip yang termuat di dalamnya adalah bahan dokumentasi yang penting; khususnya dalam meneliti “suara” golongan aktivis teater – khasnya wanita – dalam mengetengahkan “women’s issues – that is, anything under the sun” seperti yang menjadi pegangan Kuali Works sejak ditubuhkan pada 1994.

“Happy Families” yang ditulis dan diarah oleh Ann Lee pada 18-22 November 1993 berlatarkan Sabah dan mengangkat tema penderaan seksual. Kisah disampaikan menerusi pengalaman sekumpulan kanak-kanak yang baru mula mengenai makna “dewasa”.

Petikan teater ini turut dipersembahkan oleh Ann Lee, Foo May Lyn dan Jo Kukathas semasa pelancaran buku di Rumah Valentine. Mesej yang terkandung dalam teater itu merentas zaman, batas geografi dan budaya. Sesiapa sahaja boleh menjadi “mangsa”.

Mke Tyson

“Kuala Lumpur Knock-Out” yang pertama kali dipersembahkan di Panggung Eksperimen, Kuala Lumpur pada 6-11 November 1996 bukan sekadar kisah seorang “minah kilang” yang bercita-cita menentang Mike Tyson di gelanggang tinju.

“Ternyata Ann Lee mendapat idea daripada peristiwa seorang politikus penting pada waktu itu yang dilaporkan mengadakan hubungan sulit bersama seorang remaja wajah umur.

“Tidak lama kemudian, beberapa lagi politikus tampil membuat pendedahan mengaibkan mengenai remaja itu hingga akhirnya tumpuan media yang dikuasai politik sudah berpindah daripada kisah seorang politikus merogol gadis bawah umur kepada kisah gadis tidak bermoral,” kata Kathy Rowland sewaktu memperkatakan skrip berkenaan.

Teater “Sang Kancil – the Mousedeer that Roared” yang ditulis bersama oleh Ann Lee dan Foo May Lyn juga ada kisah tersendiri yang mungkin kurang diketahui orang.

“Apabila pementasan teater itu sudah bermula, Kuali Works mendapat panggilan telefon daripada seorang individu yang memperkenalkan dirinya sebagai Inspektor Nathan dari Bukit Aman dan mahu tahu di mana saya berada.

“Skrip teater itu adalah berdasarkan insiden yang berlaku ke atas Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim pada 1998. Maka, saya rasa terancam berikutan panggilan telefon itu. Akibatnya, saya tidak bermalam di tempat yang sama selama beberapa hari kerana bimbang ditahan di bawah ISA,” Ann Lee menceritakan.

Sang kancil

Kathy Rowland turut memuji kemampuan dan keberanian Ann Lee dan Foo May Lyn mengadun kisah tradisi dan isu politik semasa dengan mengangkat watak Sang Kancil yang berjaya memanipulasi sekumpulan buaya tetapi kemudian mendapati dirinya terpinggir dan hilang moral akibat perbuatan sendiri.

Sedutan teater berkenaan yang dipersembahkan oleh Foo May Lyn pada 7 Oktober 2011 membuktikan kekuatan skrip dan kehebatan lakonannya dalam membawakan watak Sang Kancil yang sesungguhnya adalah gambaran orang politik tertentu yang licik menipu rakyat.

Dalam perkembangan lain, hakim Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Mohamad Zabidin memutuskan pada Isnin minggu lalu bahawa Anwar tidak bersalah, lalu mengarahkan beliau dibebaskan dan dilepaskan.

Segera saya membaca semula skrip kisah “Sang Kancil” dengan penuh minat dan dengan interpretasi yang berbeza; khususnya selepas menerima e-mel daripada Ann Lee dan Kathy Rowland pada hari berkenaan berkaitan keputusan kes di mahkamah.

Monolog “Hang Li Poh – Melakan Princess” ditulis dan diarahkan oleh Ann Lee pada 8-14 Julai 1998 serta menampilkan Mew Chang Tsing sebagai pelakon tunggal memegang lapan watak.

Skrip berkenaan kini sedang dalam proses terjemahan untuk dipersembahkan di Indonesia kepada khalayak yang lebih besar. Malah, beberapa teater yang diusahakan Kuali Works turut mendapat pengiktirafan antarabangsa.

Teater “From Table Mountain to Teluk Intan” lebih berupa kisah diri Shahimah (Charmaine W) Idris, wanita Melayu kelahiran Cape Town, Afrika Selatan yang ditikam di tempat letak kereta di Kuala Lumpur pada 1997.

`Nostalgia zaman kanak-kanak’

Kisah itu pertama kali dipentaskan di Kuala Lumpur pada 2-21 Oktober 2000. Kemudian turut dipentaskan pada New York International Fringe Festival pada 15-21 Ogos 2002.

“Tarap Man” yang dipentaskan di Kuala Lumpur pada 5-9 Disember 2007 sekali lagi menggunakan latar negeri Sabah. Bagaimanapun, teater ini tidak lagi berciri “nostalgia zaman kanak-kanak” seperti “Happy Families”.

“Aashi, seorang wartawan kanan, ditukarkan ke Malaysia Timur kerana tidak tunduk pada permintaan sang ketua yang ada motif politik. Dengan berlatarkan negeri kelahiran Ann Lee, teater ini berjaya mengungkapkan ketegangan politik yang wujud antara kerajaan pusat dan kerajaan negeri pada waktu itu,” Kathy Rowland menghuraikan.

“Perpustakaan” pula sebuah teater tanpa dialog. Saya masih terbayang-bayang aksi lucu Jo Kukathas yang melakonkan watak pustakawan semasa majlis pelancaran “Sex, Stage & State” tempoh hari!

Di luar daripada lingkungan buku ini, karya-karya yang diterbitkan oleh Kuali Works turut diperkatakan secara akademik dalam pelbagai buku dan jurnal antarabangsa; antaranya “The Routledge Concise History of Southeast Asian Writing in English” (2010) dan “The Drama Review” (2002).

Hasil tulisan Ann Lee turut dimuatkan dalam “Body 2 Body: A Malaysian Queer Anthology” (2009), “March 8: Time for Real Change” (2010) dan “Malaysian Tales: Retold & Remixed” (2011).

`Ratu Sukan’

Bermula dengan pementasan “Colour Blind” karya Karen Kuah pada 1996, Kuali Works yang ditubuhkan pada 1994 sudah menjayakan pementasan 17 teater.

Kathy Rowland yang menulis pengenalan pada buku “Sex, Stage & State” menyebut bahawa syarikat itu juga pernah menerbitkan siri televisyen “Ratu Sukan” sempena 100 tahun pencapaian cemerlang wanita Malaysia dalam bidang sukan.

Dari 1996 hingga 1999, Kuali Works turut menganjurkan siri seminar dan bengkel khas bagi wanita dalam pelbagai bidang seni, termasuk pengurusan kewangan dan penerbitan teater.

Agak malang bahawa pada akhir tahun 2010, Kuali Works terpaksa ditutup atas pelbagai faktor. Namun, walaupun “kuali” sudah ditutup, penulisan sejarah perkembangan teater Malaysia tidak akan lengkap tanpa menyebut nama syarikat itu.

Memiliki senaskhah “Sex, Stage & State” pula umpama memiliki secebis daripada serpihan sejarah itu sendiri yang tidak ternilai harganya.

As I said, it’s about history

Today, Hang Li Po, Hang Tuah, etc., are debunked. Tomorrow, it could be others whom are said to have also existed will be debunked. And, for thousands of years, millions of people have been killed for not believing in events that never happened and in people who never existed.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
History books to stick to facts

‘Hang Li Po, Hang Tuah did not exist’

I think it was probably ten years or so ago that I wrote about the probability of Hang Tuah and his cohorts being a mere myth. The other possibility is that if they did exist, then they were all Chinese and not Malays -- bodyguards of the Chinese princess, Hang Li Po.

Of course, the Malay ‘nationalists’ were outraged at my suggestion. Even renowned historians did not utter such a possibility. How can I, with no PhD to my name, come to that conclusion?

I suppose it is all about whether you have a PhD to your name. If you do not then what you say matters not and is of no significance. In fact, you are not qualified to make comments if you are not a certified ‘authority’.

My reasoning (yes, I apply reasoning, as what we were taught to do in the Philosophy of Religion course that I recently took) is that if Hang Li Po was Chinese then the rest of the Hang tribe must have been Chinese as well. If Hang Li Po was Chinese, how can Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu all be Malays?

The next point is on the special Silat (martial arts) that the five ‘Malay’ warriors were said to have practiced. It was a Silat that no one had ever seen before and is said to be more powerful than the traditional Silat that the Malays practiced.

My argument was that it must have been Chinese Kungfu and not Silat. That was why the Malays had never seen it before. And the fact that Hang Tuah and gang beat the shit out of the Malays was probably because it was a very unique form of Kungfu, more superior to Silat.

I mean, Silat is full of dancing before the exponent moves in for the kill. In Kungfu, you just step in and beat the daylights out of the dancer before he knows what hit him.

The next point is about the story regarding Hang Tuah going over to Indonesia as an envoy of the Sultan of Melaka. The story goes that when he was there they tried to get him drunk so that they can beat him up. However, never mind how much liquor they gave him, he held his liquor well and did not fall down drunk. When they made their move on him, Hang Tuah beat the shit out of his attackers, sober as hell.

Now, if Hang Tuah drank liquor and could hold his liquor well, this means he could not have been Malay. First of all, he drank. Secondly, he must have been a regular drinker to be able to drink so much and still stay sober enough to beat off his attackers.

Anyway, I was basing my reasoning on the stories that we were told. Now it appears that all these stories were myths after all. Yet, Malaysian historians and history being taught in Malaysian schools told us that all these stories were true and that all these people existed even though there is no tangible evidence to support the theory of their existence.

This is exactly what I have been saying about religion. Hang Tuah and whatnot are supposed to have existed a mere few hundred years ago when they already had recorded history. Yet, today, that has been put to question. What about stories of people and events that were supposed to have happened thousands of years ago at a time when there was no recorded history and when stories were passed down through the generations by word of mouth? Would there not be even more reason to question these so-called ‘facts’?

When I talk about religious history most would respond with dogma. They will quote verses from the Bible or the Quran to counter my arguments. What these people can’t seem to understand is that they are arguing theology. And there is a big difference between theology, history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, etc.

Theology is based on dogma, not on history or whatever. And the belief in dogma is based on faith, not evidence. If you demand evidence to support dogma, then the dogma would be demolished. You must accept dogma based on the lack of evidence. Hence it is called faith, the belief in the unseen or the unproven.

It will be impossible to engage when we are not on the same page. I talk about one thing and you talk about another. And you apply reasoning in circles to argue your case. I would be even more blunt in saying that you can’t use a lie to support a lie.

For example, you tell someone that Raja Petra Kamarudin says he is a Prophet of God. Someone then asks you: how do you know this? You reply: it is written in this book. This person then asks you: who wrote this book? You reply: Raja Petra Kamarudin wrote this book.

This would be called reasoning in circles.

Or, you reply: it is written in this book. This person then asks you: who wrote this book? You reply: it was written by someone 200 years after Raja Petra Kamarudin died. You ask: where did this person get the information since it was written 200 years after Raja Petra Kamarudin died? You reply: the information was passed down by word of mouth over almost ten generations.

If you want to believe that Hang Tuah, or whoever it may be, did exist and that this is what they are alleged to have said and done, carry on. No one is stopping you from believing what you want to believe even if you want to believe in the tooth fairy. Just do not force others to also believe the same thing and then arrest them and send them to jail on charges of heresy if they do not also believe what you believe.

That is the issue here.

Today, Hang Li Po, Hang Tuah, etc., are debunked. Tomorrow, it could be others whom are said to have also existed will be debunked. And, for thousands of years, millions of people have been killed for not believing in events that never happened and in people who never existed.

Why I disagree with ABU

Anas Zubedy

With all due respect to those who are promoting ABU (Anything But UMNO/ Asalkan Bukan UMNO) especially Haris Ibrahim, someone who I have high regard of; a genuine change agent– I do not see ABU’s approach as the right way to go. I would like to offer an alternative point of view.

Let me explain.

When we try to use an all-or-nothing approach, we are essentially giving license to the other side to slack.

An effort like ABU takes the assumption that everyone in UMNO is bad and everyone in the opposition is good; but what if the UMNO candidate fighting for the same seat is a better candidate, who should we vote?

An all-or-nothing, blanket approval or dismissal for any party is like giving a blank cheque to the candidates and the party. I see it as an irresponsible, unthinking way to choose our MPs and ADUNS.

While I support the ideals ABU wants to promote, it is the approach I find questionable. For the change we want we cannot be in a hurry. Some may see that we need to reduce UMNO’s influence in order to change our nation for the better, but we must be careful with our action, lest we throw the baby out with the bathwater.

This is why a more balanced approach is needed. We ask people to be thinking voters, to scrutinize individuals from all parties, and choose the best among them, not the party. If the non- UMNO candidate is better, by all means choose him or her. But if the UMNO candidate is better, he or she deserves our vote.

We must understand that while the backing of a good structure, processes and systems (of political parties) can help an MP/ADUN perform well, an excellent candidate without a good party will still be able to serve the rakyat with heart and soul. It is like an excellent teacher in a school without amenities and support. That is why we must give foremost consideration to the individual calons, not his/her political party.

Instead of taking an all-or-nothing blanket approach, an approach that is based on reason, conscience and the Constitution is recommended. We must not allow any candidate or party a free ride. A ‘No Free Rides’ campaign is the better approach. In that way we will get only the best people as MPs and ADUNs.

We need to change Malaysia in the right way towards the right goal. It will be slow but sure. Let’s do it one MP at a time.

Finally, the ABU campaign has a longer term danger. It promotes the kind of unthinking decision making process that is potentially destructive. This campaign may be the catalyst for more unthinking divisive positions like ABC – Asalkan Bukan Cina or Asalkan Bukan Christian, or ABK - Asalkan Bukan Kafir, etc etc.

Is this the way we want to go?

India Looks At Israel Gas

Plenty to burn

Political as well as natural resource development in the deal
India and Israel, already partners in areas such as defense, counter-terrorism and agriculture, could extend it to gas in the wake of huge findings in the so-called Levant Basin in water 1,675 meters deep off Israel’s coast.

The Israeli discovery, made in 2010, goes some distance towards solving a knotty political problem for India as well as taking care of some of its energy needs, as well as altering slightly the balance of energy production in the middle east and making Israel a player.

Driven by US demands, India has been seeking ways to cut down on energy imports from Iran and to build on relationships with Saudi Arabia as well as other parts of the Middle East and Africa. New Delhi’s other efforts to procure natural gas via pipelines from Iran, Myanmar or Turkmenistan are also stuck due to multiple reasons related to security, transit fees, competition from China and strategic factors.

Israel and India have explored possibilities of Israel exporting gas to India, given its rising needs, especially in the wake of inadequate domestic output. Gas consumption is increasing rapidly across sectors in India that include auto, power, industry and households.

The offer of gas to India was made by Israel’s minister of finance Yuval Steinitz during his New Delhi visit last month, when he met with high-ranking ministers and officials, including finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and India’s national security adviser Shivshankar Menon.

Steinitz has been quoted in the media to say that Israel and India engaged in talks about a potential gas deal. “Israel will be to receive delegations from India to discuss the issue,” he said.

Indian and Israeli officials again reportedly discussed ways of getting the gas to India last week, when foreign minister S M Krishna’s visited Jerusalem. The gas find is not without its problems. Lebanon has claimed the basin may extend into Lebanese waters although no action has been taken as yet. The two countries have fought four wars since 1949 and have had long periods of hostility.

Although Israeli officials say the Dalit and Tamar gas fields are within Israel’s contiguous economic zone, Israel has never signed nor ratified the United Nations Law of the Sea, promulgated in 2002, which is designed to set sea borders between maritime nations. CNOOC, China’s National Offshore Oil Corporation, which has energy concerns equal to India’s, is also negotiating an interest in the Tamar field.

Win Win Scenario

Though Israel has been an energy deficient nation for years, good gas potential has been discovered at the Leviathan and Tamar fields over the last couple of years.

Leviathan field reserves are estimated at 16 trillion cubic feet of gas, valued over US$160 billion, with production expected in 2016 – one of the biggest offshore finds in more than a decade, according to industry analysts. Tamar reserves stand at 8 trillion cubic feet, with production expected next year.

Israel is today estimated to be sitting over 400 bcm of gas. The bonanza, off the country’s north coast, has the potential of earning the country huge export revenues.

India, meanwhile, meets bulk of its oil and gas needs via imports. Over the recent years the country has been seeking to diversify its energy import basket to reduce dependence on a few nations. In the case of gas India is working with Algeria and now Israel beyond the usual imports from Qatar and Oman.

India’s gas demand-supply gap has turned out to be much more than envisaged due to the failure of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) KG-D6 block to meet the gas output envisaged. The gas being produced at KG-DG is less than half the 80 mmscmd that was predicted.

India's natural gas output, meanwhile, is about 120 mmscmd while demand stands about 220 mmscmd and expected to double in five years time. The country imports about 45 mmscmd expensive LNG that still does not take care of the needs.

New Delhi is thus backing efforts to tap unconventional gas such as coal bed methane, underground coal gasification and shale. Gas from Israel is an option that India does not want to lose out.

India-Israel Ties

Though relations between India and Israel have been impacted by the complex Arab-Palestine politics, Jerusalem and New Delhi now share a good comfort level in doing business, with bilateral trade over US$5 billion.

One reflection of strong ties between the two countries is the rising defense supplies by Israel to India.

Over the past few years Israel has matched and overtaken India’s traditional arms suppliers Russia, Sweden, France and UK, in the supply of armaments that have ranged from missiles to air defense systems, missiles and radars.

Progressive Indian states such as Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab, meanwhile, closely collaborate with Israel in agriculture, horticulture, water management and sprinkler systems.

These positive developments have co-incidentally happened even as Washington has removed sanctions on export of dual use technologies to India that harked back to the Cold War era.

Impositions connected to India testing nuclear weapons in the 70s and again in the 90s have also been withdrawn.

Over the past five years, America has opened doors to India to purchase US armaments, nuclear reactors to produce electricity and is closely involved with New Delhi’s efforts to produce shale gas.

India and America have grown closer as strategic partners in the region to nullify the influence of China, even as Arab nations have opened channels of communication with Israel.

America also does not want to lose out on the enormous potential of doing business with emerging economy India.

In this context, Indo-Israel energy relations are sure to be endorsed by America that has otherwise opposed India’s efforts to tap the enormous hydrocarbon resources of Iran.

Washington has issues with Tehran’s insistence on pursuing an independent nuclear program that it fears comprises building of atom bombs. Due to pressure from America, India has opted out of the ambitious Iran-Pakistan India (IPI) gas pipeline as well that Iran and Pakistan continue to pursue.

The option of shipping LNG from Iran has also not worked out to the levels expected. Companies such as explorer Oil & Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and private major Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) have consciously reduced their investment and oil and gas trade exposure with Iran to avoid inviting US sanctions.

It could be opportune for Israel to step in.

(Siddharth Srivastava is a New Delhi-based journalist. He can be reached at sidsri@yahoo.com)

HAK MERAYU

1. Dalam sejarah kehakiman di Malaysia, Anwar menang pertandingan membuat “appeal” atau rayuan terhadap keputusan mahkamah yang dikenakan kepadanya.

2. Selama empat tahun kita tidak dengar lain selain daripada appeal Anwar terhadap keputusan mahkamah berkenaan dirinya dalam kes Saiful.

3. Awal-awal lagi dituntut supaya hakim ditukar kerana kononnya berat sebelah. Dengan itu perbicaraan ditangguh sementara tuntutannya ditimbang oleh mahkamah. Masa berbulan-bulan berlalu kerana mahkamah terpaksa menentukan tarikh untuk mendengar rayuannya.

4. Setelah diputus yang hakim berkenaan boleh dengar rayuannya, ada lagi rayuan yang dikemukakan.

5. Jika keputusan yang dibuat baru-baru ini mendapati Anwar bersalah, percayalah ia akan membuat appeal kepada Mahkamah Rayuan (Appeal Court).

6. Jika Appeal Court bersetuju dengan keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi, maka Anwar akan rayu kepada Federal Court.

7. Jika Federal Court mengesahkan keputusan oleh High Court dan Appeal Court, maka Anwar akan tuntut untuk kesnya dibawa kepada Special Court.

8. Tetapi apabila Anwar didapati tidak bersalah kerana tidak ada corroborating evidence, hak mangsanya untuk membuat rayuan dipertikaikan.

9. Apakah dalam negara ini pembesar pembangkang mempunyai hak istimewa bahawa keadilan hanya berlaku apabila ia didapati tidak bersalah?

10. Apakah dalam negara ini mangsa yang kerdil tidak berhak kepada keadilan sehingga dia tidak boleh merayu untuk didengar oleh mahkamah yang lebih tinggi?

11. Apakah di negara ini keengganan pembesar pembangkang mengangkat sumpah bukan sahaja di masjid dengan menjunjung Al Quran tetapi semasa dibicara dalam mahkamah biasa tidak mempunyai apa-apa makna terutama kepada orang Islam, dan sumpah laknat oleh si kerdil juga tidak boleh diambilkira?

12. Atau apakah menjadi satu daripada perjuangan Pakatan bahawa apa yang disarankan oleh Anwar dalam BBC bahawa undang-undang negara ini sudah lapok dan perlu ditukar kepada kebebasan untuk meliwat mengikut liberalisme Barat?

DSAI Begins Legal Action Against Utusan Malaysia

I refer to certain reports published in the Utusan Malaysia newspaper on January 17^th 2012 alleging that the Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had made statements in a BBC interview calling for the legalizing of homosexuality.

These reports are defamatory, scurrilous, politically motivated and gutter journalism of the lowest kind.
In the BBC interview, the Opposition Leader whilst calling for review of archaic laws, went on to state that “we, Muslim and non-muslim generally believe and are committed to support the sanctity of marriage between man and woman in Malaysia. We do not promote homosexuality in the public sphere and domain”. Thus the Utusan Malaysia report is completely and blatantly false.

The UMNO-linked Utusan Malaysia newspaper has consistently published false, mischievous and scurrilous reports against the political opposition. Indeed, politically motivated and dishonest media reporting has become the norm among many mainstream media organizations such as Utusan Malaysia.

This dismal state of affairs has been created, fostered and encouraged by the Barisan Nasional government.
In view of this, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has in the public interest begun legal action against Utusan Malaysia. Through his solicitors, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has on 17.1.2012 issued a demand notice against Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Bhd which is the proprietor of Utusan Malaysia

newspaper and against the Editor of Utusan Malaysia, demanding retraction of the above allegations, an apology and damages. He brings this action as a matter of principle and in vindication of the people’s right to fair media reporting.
Issued by,

N. SURENDRAN

VICE PRESIDENT
KEADILAN

People's Well-being Is BN's Main Agenda: Muhyiddin

TAWAU, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- Ensuring the well-being of the people is Barisan Nasional's (BN) main agenda in the quest to turn the country into a developed nation by 2020, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

This was clearly spelled out in the 2012 Budget tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak last year along with numerous initiatives and programmes for the benefit of the people, he added.

"This means that no one will be left out of the social net provided by the government. We don't discriminate, we provide assistance irrespective of race, religion or creed. Every citizen of 1Malaysia will be assisted.

"The BN-led government is doing this to provide comfort to the people," he said at the handing over of 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) for Tawau and Kalabakan constituencies here.

Muhyiddin said that apart from the various assistance such as the RM100 for school students, RM500 in BR1M for households earning RM3,000 or less a month and RM200 in book vouchers for university students, there were many other facilities given by the government which the people might not be aware of.

For instance, he said, the government spent RM22 billion a year for essential goods subsidy to ensure prices were controlled and lower than the prices which the people would have paid without the subsidy.

He said the government also spent about RM300 million a year to subsidise sugar prices and RM10 billion for fuel.

"If petroleum companies were to impose the market price for diesel and petrol, the RM10 billion would have to come from our pockets. But do you know who paid for this RM10 billion? The government is the one paying it.

"So isn't the BN a good government?" asked Muhyiddin, to which the audience responded in a resounding "yes."

He took to task the opposition which he said had deliberately refused to acknowledge the deeds of the BN government and instead resorted to accusing it of being unfair and not helpful to the people.

Muhyiddin added that the people themselves were reaping the benefit from the assistance provided by the government.

Revealed: Survival International alerted Andaman authorities to human safaris two years ago

Vehicles queue to enter the Jarawa reserve along the Andaman Trunk Road © G Chamberlain/ Survival

The Andaman authorities were alerted to the existence of human safaris two years ago by Survival International – but the problem has continued.
On January 11, 2010, Survival wrote to the Lieutenant Governor of the Islands, warning him that ‘a number of tour operators are promoting tours which include sightings of, or encounters with, the Jarawa tribe .’
Survival received no response to the letter or subsequent appeals, even after launching a boycott of the Andaman Trunk Road with local organization Search.
In July 2011, Survival wrote again as a matter of ‘great urgency’, in response to ‘severe international concern about the Jarawa’s predicament and the threat that tourists pose’, but still the problem continued.
Four months ago, a complaint was also lodged by social worker Arvind Rai Sharma, after he saw a tour company’s promotional video of Jarawa women and children being ‘humiliated in front of tourists’.
Speaking to Survival, he said, ‘I personally handed in the letter to the Andaman authorities, and met the Director of Tribal Welfare. But they still did not take my complaint seriously, even though it was such a sensitive matter’.

Tourist films Jarawa on the Andaman Trunk Road © Survival

Survival’s Director Stephen Corry said today, ‘It’s extraordinary that the local government appears only now to realize the extent of these ‘human safaris’. Survival first wrote to the administration in 2010 to highlight the issue. If they’re serious about finally tackling this problem, they need to close the Andaman Trunk Road, ten years after the Supreme Court told them to. It’s the only real solution.’
Read Survival’s letters to the Andaman administration from 2010 (pdf, 294 KB) and 2011 (pdf, 229 KB)
Read Arvind Rai Sharma’s letter to the Andaman administration (pdf, 5.3 MB)

MACC invited to vet declarations in Judiciary’s bid to graft-proof operations

The Star
by SHAILA KOSHY and QISHIN TARIQ

PUTRAJAYA: The Judiciary is the latest institution of public interest wanting to further graft-proof its operations by inviting the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on board.

Chief Justice Tan Sri Arifin Zakaria, who issued the invitation yesterday, said judges had nothing to fear if their work was clean.

Justice Arifin said judges of higher courts would be required to declare their assets soon and the MACC called in to check the information if there were allegations.

“I'm sure all of you have nothing to fear so we have to work together with MACC on this matter,” he said during the third day of the Conference of Judges here.

The move would affect judges in the Federal Court, the Court of Appeal and High Courts and judicial commissioners.

Under Section 9 of the Judges Code of Ethics 2009, a judge shall declare in writing all his assets to the Chief Justice of the Federal Court upon his appointment or any time thereafter, if required so.

At the conference, the Chief Justice also reminded judges to maintain the independence of the Judiciary and not put up with any interference in reaching their verdicts.

“But there are other interferences one of them may be your spouse. So, make sure there are no discussions,” he quipped.

The statement by Justice Arifin came just three days after MACC advised mega project owner MRT Corp not to consider a bid by a French company that was still under investigation for alleged corruption.

MRT Corp, the project owner of the multi-billion ringgit Klang Valley MY Rapid Transit, had asked MACC to help keep a hawk's eye to ensure that there was no corruption, especially in the procurement process.

Various groups lauded the move by Justice Arifin and suggested ways of cooperation.

Malaysian Bar president Lim Chee Wee said allegations of financial impropriety against judges would be easier to deal with if MACC audited their assets as soon as they were declared.

“This has been one of the many issues discussed by the Judiciary and the Bar on how to improve public confidence in the Judiciary,” Lim said.

He said allegations although without documentary evidence, so far as the Bar Council was aware impacted negatively on the image of the Judiciary, especially “when lawyers and litigants claim that they have bribed judge(s)”.

Retired Court of Appeal judges Datuk Shaik Daud Ismail and Datuk K.C. Vohrah said they had never been asked to declare their assets as judges.

“But I think it is a good idea,” said Vohrah in an SMS from overseas.

Former chief justice Tun Zaki Azmi said he declared his assets to the Chief Secretary's Office when he was appointed to the Federal Court in 2007.

“I asked new judicial commissioners to declare their assets to me when I was CJ.”

Chairman of Asli's Centre for Public Policy Studies Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam described Justice Arifin's announcement as “important” in judicial leadership.

However, he suggested that judges, Cabinet members and Members of Parliament declare their assets to an independent commission instead, adding that they should also be declaring their liabilities.

Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights founder Edmund Bon asked for declared assets by the judges to be made public “to a certain extent”.

Girls being raped and tortured

“I saw two of my daughters being raped in front of me,” an old lady from Essa Nagri told The News. “It is considered that Chooras have no integrity.” She says that around midnight, men from other areas start gathering in their neighbourhood. “They are usually drunk. They choose which home they will plunder.”

She adds that one night they stormed into her home and raped two of her girls, while she “was locked in another room hearing their cries for help”. “I am a widow without any financial prospects, but I did go to the MPA representing us. What good is he if he can’t do anything to protect us?” The fear to report these cases is such that at first, no one even admits that an incident of rape or torture has taken place.

Forcible conversions

Within the past three months, nine women have been abducted and forcibly converted to Islam. MPA Javed adds that the purpose is not to gain good deeds, but to sell them. A majority of the Christian girls converted are married, he says.

According to reports he received from different areas of the city, the abducted women are later sold to feudal lords in Sindh and Punjab. Citing a recent example, Javed says that in Essa Nagri, a 23-year-old married girl was forcibly remarried to a 60-year-old Muslim man, who was notorious for selling girls.

Javed said that the man was known to be pious, but had a side business of selling Christian girls. He says many people apart from him knew the truth. The only information that the family received was by a phone call through which they were informed by somebody that their girl is in Punjab.

He points out that there is a judgment by the Lahore High Court which clearly states that a “married Christian woman cannot be remarried to a Muslim even if converted,” but these cases do not even go to the police to be challenged in the high courts.

Brothel beside a church

Ayub Goth, near the Meteorological Department, is another area known for ethnic and religious discord. The Christians living in the area complain that a brothel was recently established right beside a Catholic church in the area.

In the evening women from outside are brought by “some people.” Residents say that these people have enough political clout to ensure that no one dares raise a finger.

Chaudhry, a former councillor of the area, says that the residents have grown tired of squabbling for space and now offer their prayers in a school right behind the church.

Munawar Baig, a resident of the area, says that if the same thing occurred in a Muslim dominated area, it would have been “treated differently”.

“We are not going anywhere,” says Abraham Masih, an 80-year-old resident of Ayub Goth. “We were born here and we’ll die here. I cannot preach with a gun, I can only pray for such people.”

“I have read the Bible as well as the Holy Quran and know for a fact that the religion does not use force on any one. It is not meant to make lives miserable for other people. If only those who cry about knowing the religion would understand that,” adds Javed.

Alien Serial Rapist in France Asks Victims Their Nationality and Religion Before Raping Them

On 23 December this man raped two blonde-haired, blue-eyed women in Paris then another two days later in Étampes (Essonne). The police had numerous photographs and CCTV images of this man but did not release them until the story was picked up in a magazine called Le Nouveau Detective (The New Detective) and then the newspaper Le Parisien, which published an artificial photofit image of him.



Le Parisien said that the detective division of the French police was "observing the strictest silence in this affair" which was described as "very sensitive".

This is yet another example of European police forces putting the lives of Europeans at greater risk for political purposes. They feel they have some kind of professional obligation to prevent the release of information that might cause Europeans to question the wisdom of allowing their countries being colonised by third-world immigrants. We saw exactly the same thing in the case of the Paki rape gangs in Britain. Of course, as I have written about before, this behaviour is imposed on the police by Council of Europe directives.

This man is considered very dangerous. He has shown himself to be very violent but at the same time, he has spoken to his victims a great deal, notably asking them their religious affiliation or their nationality.

"He also wounded the adolescent with several blows of the knife before trying to strangle her. He becomes very violent when the victims struggle. It seems he only attacks young European women, with light-coloured hair and blue eyes. He also apologised to them after having raped them and stabbed them. This type of behaviour is very troubling."

Jelajah Hasan Ali dedah 'parasit' PAS

NFCorp: Credit card bills were ‘business development expenses’

MACC officers arrive at NFCorp’s office in Kuala Lumpur, December 23, 2011. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 — The National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp)’s management today admitted that money from the federally-funded project was used for credit card expenses, but maintained that these were solely for business purposes.

Earlier today, PKR alleged that Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s family had used nearly RM600,000 from the NFC project funds to pay for their credit card bills in 2009.

The party’s strategic director, Rafizi Ramli, said in a statement today that the Wanita Umno chief’s husband and three children, all of whom sit on the NFC board, used funds from the RM250 million cattle farming project to pay credit card bills averaging over RM10,000 per month each across the year.

In response, NFCorp executive director Wan Shahinur Izmir Salleh said that the credit card expenses were “corporate cards” and used for “business development purposes.”

“There are no personal expenses as alleged. The business development expenses by the four directors reflect the magnitude of its multi-million ringgit sales,” he said in a statement.

Wan Shahinur said that all the relevant facts were with the authorities, and added that the company would soon clarify other “misnomers and distortions that have affected public perception of the company.”

He also denied allegations that NFCorp’s directors had been paid “unjustifiable salaries”, saying that they were earning “nowhere near” the figures alleged by some parties. He also pointed out the authorities had the necessary information and bank statements for verification.

“The highly exaggerated figures first emerged from a mysterious prank blogger who had drawn the media’s attention to it. Since then, the blogger has disappeared and his erroneous post continues to be picked up by the public,” he added.

In the past two months, PKR has repeatedly accused Shahrizat’s family of abusing public funds, including spending at least RM27 million to buy land and property unrelated to cattle farming.

Rafizi said today NFC released RM182,525, RM160,673, RM127,900 and RM122,402 to pay credit card bills belonging to Shahrizat’s husband and NFC chairman, Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh, and her three children respectively in 2009.

The women, family and community development minister took three weeks’ leave last week to allow the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to probe the allegations.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced on Saturday that NFC’s assets have been frozen but Wan Shahinur, who is Shahrizat’s son, yesterday said it was “business as usual”.

Wan Shahinur also pointed out today that the Auditor-General’s report had never stated that the NFC project was in a mess, claiming that it was a false and mischievous allegation.

Anwar a hit in Umno stronghold

Pakatan launches its Negri Sembilan election manifesto in Gemas, where the NFC farm is located.

GEMAS: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim last night attracted his biggest crowd in Negri Sembilan in recent memory when he launched the Pakatan Rakyat election manifesto for the state.

Estimates put the size of the audience at more than 6,000 people, which was a remarkable number because Gemas is one of the strongest Umno fortresses in the state and the Tampin District Council had torn down hundreds of posters and banners advertising the event.

Before this, no Pakatan Rakyat figure has been able to attract more than 4,000 to an event in Negri Sembilan. The largest crowds before last night were at events in the Pakatan strongholds of Seremban and Rasah.

In his speech, Anwar repeated his challenge to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to an open debate in response to the latter’s oft-repeated remark that Pakatan was making empty promises.

“I tell you again, we will reduce fuel prices the day after we take over Putrajaya,” he told the multiracial crowd.

“In two weeks, we will reduce the electricity tariffs. We will give an ultimatum to the independent power producers to come up with new rates within two weeks.

“We will abolish the highway tolls.

“But Najib says I’m making empty promises. Let us run the government and we’ll show you. If Najib thinks I’m bluffing, let us have an open debate and let the public decide who is bluffing.”

‘Please save the country’

Also at the event were PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, state PAS commissioner Mohd Taufek Abdul Ghani, state PKR chairman Kamarul Baharin Abbas and state DAP chairman Loke Siew Fook.

Malays, Chinese and Indians stood shoulder to shoulder listening as Anwar spoke on diverse subjects, ranging from local concerns to his sodomy trial to national issues such as bad governance and systemic corruption.

Gemas is where the beleaguered National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) has its farm. Speaking about PKR’s series of exposé of alleged corruption in NFC, Anwar said it was unfair that the government charge only two percent interest on its loan to the corporation but double the rate on loans given to civil servants.

“Please save the country before it goes bankrupt,” he told the crowd. “The government must be changed in the coming general election.”

According to Tampin PAS chief Zakaria Khalim, Gemas, which hosts a large army camp, has 19,369 voters, including 3,384 postal voters.

Gemas is a state seat within the parliamentary constituency of Tampin. There are six Felda schemes in the area, giving Barisan Nasional a great advantage in any election as Felda folk are known to be hardcore Umno supporters.

Each of the Felda schemes had about a thousand voters.
“Gemas has never been an easy place for us to get support,” Zakaria said.

Strategic reasons

However, he added, the NFC scandal might have opened the eyes of voters in the area, including the Felda settlers.

“Tampin Umno is feeling the heat,” he said. “All of a sudden, the sleeping Tampin Umno is awake. Lately, we have been prevented from having our ceramahs, even at the Repah DAP service centre.

“Somehow, for strategic reasons, the Negri Sembilan Pakatan Rakyat council decided to launch the election manifesto in Gemas.

“Our nightmare started last week when all the posters, buntings and banners along the Tampin-Gemas federal road were torn and removed by the Tampin District Council.”

The removal of the materials resulted in a fight last Monday between district enforcement officers and five Tampin PAS members. Police arrested the PAS five, who included information officer Zainil Suboh, and held them in remand for three days.

“My men were returning from Gemas after sticking the posters, when they noticed a few guys tearing them down,” Zakaria said. “When they approached the vandals, they tried to run away and a fight ensued.
“Both sides lodged police reports, but my men were remanded for obstructing civil servants carrying out their work.

“The issue here is why did they try to run away, why weren’t they in uniform and why didn’t they show their identification?”

No Indian face in Pakatan banners

Pakatan and DAP members feel that the omission was not a mistake, but a deliberate attempt by Pakatan leadership to show that only Malays and Chinese counted in the coalition.

GEORGE TOWN: There was no Indian face in the Pakatan Rakyat banner displayed at its national convention in Alor Setar last Saturday .

And this has riled up Pakatan and DAP Indian members. They feel that the omission was not a mistake, but a deliberate attempt by Pakatan leadership to show that only Malays and Chinese counted in the coalition.

The DAP Indian members are angry that their party supremo Karpal Singh pictorial montage was not included in the banner.

It was Karpal, as a lead counsel, who fought and got Anwar Ibrahim acquitted from the Sodomy II charge last Monday.

“How could Pakatan leadership forget Karpal?” they asked.

Human Rights Party secretary-general P Uthayakumar said that Barisan Nasional, for all its shortcomings, at least showcased Indian faces.

But by omitting an Indian face altogether from its official banner, he said Pakatan had indicated of things to come if it were to capture Putrajaya.

He claimed it was reflective of Pakatan future policies to undermine and sidestep Indian representation at the highest level of its decision-making hierarchy.

“Pakatan Malay and Chinese leaders demonstrated that they will make do without constructive Indian representations if they have federal powers,” alleged Uthayakumar.

He said Pakatan may have omitted Indian face because its leaders thought they can make do with only Malay and Chinese votes.

He reasoned that it was maybe because Indian community does not form a majority in the country’s 222 parliamentary constituencies despite having 715,099 registered voters as of general election 2008 electoral roll.

Since 1957, he alleged that Umno had has gerrymandered constituencies, with sizeable Indian population, to politically paralyse the community.

Sungai Petani, Padang Serai, Batu Kawan, Ipoh Barat, Bagan Datoh, Teluk Intan, Hulu Selangor, Kuala Selangor, Kota Raja, Klang, Teluk Kemang, Rasah and Cameron Highlands are among seats in question.

Compared to Sabah’s 25 federal and 60 state seats with 837,584 registered voters, he noted that Pakatan leaders have shown more political zest to look into the north Borneo state affairs.

Meanwhile, Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M Manoharan has been receiving calls since Saturday over the Pakatan banner.

He said the callers, including his constituents and Pakatan supporters, raised questions on whether “Pakatan was only interested in Indian votes, not Indian representations let alone their problems”.

Interview CNBC:Malaysia Opposition Leader: ‘Racist Policies Must End’

Five tests whether International Conference on Global Movement of Moderates is meaningful and Najib qualifies to be regarded as the voice of moderates in Malaysia

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak is to launch and institutionalize “the Global Movement of the Moderates” at the inaugural International Conference on the Global Movement of the Moderates in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

In international conferences in the past two years, whether at the United Nations General Assembly or in Europe, Najib had kept to the theme calling on the moderates of the world to unite against extremists.

However, when he returns to Malaysia, he has allowed the forces of extremism, unreason and falsehoods a field day to the extent that Malaysia had never been more polarised on ethnic and religious grounds in the first three years of a Prime Minister than under him in the history of the nation.

Tonight, I want to put forth five tests to determine whether the International Conference on Global Movement of Moderates is meaningful or an exercise in hypocrisy and double-talk and whether Najib qualifies to be regarded as the voice of moderates in Malaysia.

Firstly, Najib must salvage his signature 1Malaysia policy, which he promulgated on becoming the sixth Prime Minister – to create a Malaysia where every Malaysian regards himself or herself as Malaysian first, and his race, religion, geography and socio-economic status second.

In March 2010, in response to my challenge in Parliament, the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin rubbished Najib’s 1Malaysia policy, declaring that he is Malay first and Malaysian second.

If after two years, Najib is unable to bring his Deputy Prime Minister into line to unequivocally and unconditionally support his signature 1Malaysia policy, it is a terrible reflection of his failure as Prime Minister and as voice of moderation in Malaysia.

Secondly, let him declare at the International Conference on Global Movement of Moderates tomorrow that he will spearhead a national campaign to end gutter politics and the politics of lies, falsehood and incitement which have seen their worst manifestation in 54 years of Malaysian nationhood in the 33 months he became Prime Minister.

DAP for instance is accused by UMNO leaders and apparatus as anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Malay Rulers when these are downright lies and falsehoods.

Is Najib prepared to be the voice of moderates against the forces of extremism to end gutter politics and the politics of lies, falsehoods and incitement in Malaysia?

Third, let Najib declare at the International Conference of Moderates tomorrow that Utusan Malaysia, the official mouthpiece of UMNO, will immediately be transformed into a Voice of Moderation instead of being the strident voice of extremism and lies, undermining Malaysian nation-building in the process.

Fourthly, let Najib announce that he and all UMNO leaders will not use the threat of May 13 in the forthcoming 13th general elections or any future general elections to create fear and distrust among the voters.

Fifthly, let Najib make a public commitment that as a moderate to make Malaysia “the best democracy in the world”, he and all UMNO leaders will fully and peacefully accept the electoral verdict of Malaysians in the 13th general elections, including a change of government in Putrajaya and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the seventh Prime Minister to head a Pakatan Rakyat federal government.

He should retract his “crushed bodies, lives lost” declaration (“walau berkecai tulang dan juga badan, walau bercerai jasad dari nyawa”) to the Umno General Assembly two years ago to defend UMNO in Putrajaya, as a moderate will not conceive of any “crushed bodies, lives lost” in a peaceful democratic general elections where the will and verdict of the electorate is regarded as supreme and sacred.

[Speech at the Negri Sembilan Pakatan Rakyat Public Ceramah in Gemas to launch the PR Negri Sembilan Manifesto on Sunday, 15th January 2012 at 10 pm]

Kugan's mum claims RM100mil in damages

CJ: Senior Judges Cannot Influence Decision Made By Lower Court Judges

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- Senior judges cannot influence the judges of the High Courts and subordinate courts in arriving at their decision on court cases, said Chief Justice Tan Sri Arifin Zakaria.

He said a police report could be lodged if there were attempts of interference.

"Appellate court judges and Federal Court judges cannot influence the decision of a magistrate. Nobody at all, even the Chief Justice cannot talk to the magistrate.

"If I were to tell the magistrate to decide one way, it is an offence," said Arifin at the closing of the Judges Conference held at the Putrajaya Marriot Hotel, here Monday.

"Nobody is above the law, said Arifin.

The chief justice said appellate court judges and Federal Court judges appointed as managing judges to oversee the administration aspect in the High Courts and subordinate courts could not interfere with the decision-making of the high court judges and subordinate court judges.

Arifin said the practice of having managing judges to oversee the administration at the lower courts would be retained.

"This is because it is good practice. The court of appeal judges and Federal Court judges are experienced judges and they would assist and guide these judges," he said.

He said managing judges were appointed to monitor the number of court cases that were being fixed for hearing in a day as well as how many cases were disposed off to ensure expeditious administration of justice.

The system of having managing judges was introduced by former Chief Justice Tun Zaki Azmi replacing the previous system where a judge with similar seniority was designated to manage the courts.

Arifin also said the second judges conference would be held in the middle of the year for the judiciary to see how far it had progressed.

Meanwhile, Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif said there would not be any expansion on the number of judges to sit on the appellate panel to hear criminal and civil cases.

He, however, said he would consider constituting a panel comprising more than three judges in exceptional cases if there was an application made by parties in the case.

At the opening of the Legal Year 2012 held on Saturday, Arifin announced that effective January this year, all criminal and civil cases at the Federal Court would be heard by a panel comprising five judges as compared to three previously.

He said the increase in the number of judges to sit on the panel was aimed at improving the quality of judgments and decisions.

‘Hang Li Po, Hang Tuah did not exist’

Historian Prof Khoo Kay Kim says that the Ming dynasty's records do not mention the princess or the famous warrior. He also points out that early Malaysian history is based on stories.

PETALING JAYA: According to history, Chinese Princess Hang Li Po was the fifth wife of Malaccan Sultan Mansur Shah who reigned from 1456-1477.

During this period, there was also the legend of the Sultan’s five famous warriors, Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu. It is a tale of friendship and loyalty, which every Malaysian had heard.

However, renowned historian Prof Khoo Kay Kim told radio station BFM this morning that Hang Li Po and the five warriors never existed.

Speaking to FMT later, he explained: “The Chinese Ming dynasty of the 16th century does not have records on them. These are very well preserved records.”

The KDU college chancellor also said he had read the writings of two Western historians and another prominent historian Wang Gung Wu on the Ming records which did not mention the characters either.

“History must be based on empirical records. Historians must only accept written records,” he said, adding that empirical records available here were at best “skanky”.

“There is no evidence in the Malaysian records,” he said. “These are stories. Early Malaysian history is based on stories.”

“We have had many stories. Only recently historians have taken the trouble to research the early Malaysian history period. A lot of stories accepted in the past cannot be proven,” he added.

Khoo also told FMT that there are rumours that the Malacca kingdom was founded in 1292 even though there were records to prove that it was formed in the 15th century.

He added that the government had instructed the syllabus committee to go through the school history syllabus to rectify the errors.

The syllabus, said Khoo, would be introduced in the year 2014.

Protest to protect Bangladesh Temple properties from the Jaws of Islamic Land Sharks.

Dhaka Hindu Human Chain against Temple Land Grabbing by Muslims.

Muslim Syndicates forcefully grabbing Hindu Temples, Trusts and Shrines in Bangladesh.

Press Release in Bangla

HE NEWS DESK DHAKA || 15th January, 2012 :: A big protest and a huge human chain were conducted by the minority Bangladshi Hindus today on 15^th January, 2012 on the very day of Makar Sankranti festival in protest of land grabbing over the Hindu occupation, especially from the Hindu religious sites all over BD (Bangladesh) by the Muslims goons and land grabbing syndicates.

Over thousand Hindu protesters today came down to streets before Press Club Dhaka, Bangladesh and blocked the roads for hours with a demand of to arrest of the perpetrators engaged with such nefarious and forceful land grabbing from the minority Hindus in some under the nose of Police and Administration too.

Three prime organizations namely ‘Moth Mandir and Debbottor Sampatti Raksha Committee’ and ‘ISKCON Dhaka’ and ‘Sree Sree Radha kanto Jeo Temple’ committee jointly organized the  Manabbondhan (Human Chain) and Protest rally  demanding the safety and security of  Hindu and Buddhist Temples and immediate arrest and punishment of the land grabbers and responsible criminals without any delay.

From the Press Release it is known that the 200 years old SREE SREE RADHA KANTO JEO TEMPLE at 222 Lal Mohan Saha Street, Sutrapur, Dhaka, Bangladesh was established by one rich Hindu business man named Mathura Sha Banik in his own land for the purpose of the Seva & Puja (daily offering and services to the God deity) of his ancestral deity of SREE SREE RADHA KANTO DEV JEO, but he could not be able to register the landed property in due time in the name of Revered Deity due to his sudden death. Afterwards, his four sons Gobinda, Ananda, Moni Mohan & Nadia Chand duly registered all these 22 Cottha of land to the Deity Divine as Devettor Property on 11/09/1889 through a Deed bearing No. 2735. Form then an un-interrupted Puja has been conducting with full veneration and active participation of all concerned.

But, since 2008, some notorious Islamist groups headed by the land shark and terrorists like Hazi Islam, Sarowar Hossian Alo, Ibrahim Molla, Arif Mallu have jointly been trying to grab many Hindu Shrines and its property in Dhaka (Capital of Bangladesh), old Dhaka area and adjacent places by ransacking the Hindu temples, bombing and looting of Hindu properties time and again. The perpetrators made fake deeds to capture the SREE SREE RADHA KANTO JEO TEMPLE and attacked the temple and its inmates on 11-08-2010 with bomb sword and other lethal weapons. A diary was also made then for the protection of the Temple properties and its inmates. It may be mentioned that the world famous Hindu Organization and prime Vaishnava Order ISKCON is presently looks after the premises of this complex and consequently ISKCON is also being targeted by the Muslim fundamentalist with a deadly design.

In March 2011, the land sharks threatened that Hindu Temples will not be allowed in Islamic Republic Bangladesh, and Hindus cannot be allowed for any religious program publicly henceforth. The resident Hindus and many Hindu organizations retaliated then vehemently and registered a diary for this in Ramna Model Police Station vides GD NO. 1842 dt. 28.03.2011. But the threatening is still going on and the present BD Govt rather is allowing the land shark Muslim Fundamentalists by not arresting them to stop teir designs to capture many heritage and old Hindu Shrines at Goal Ghat, Jolapur, Ranking Street, Woari and Tipu Sultan Road. It is reported that the present “Sanai Community Center” of Hazi Islam at Woari area is built after a force encroachment of Manik Ghosh Trust property. The Sankha Nidhi Temple complex of Tipu Sultan Road or the ISKCON complex at Swamibag Road are also under the scanner of these fundamental Islamic groups who want to drive away all Hindus from Bangladesh under a severe persecution and conspiracy of ethnic cleansing.

But with the protest of today, the Govt. of Bangladesh can take justified steps to protect the religious rights of non Muslim minority if they think fit to do so.

The organizers urged the International Hindu Community to support the cause to protect religious rights of the Hindus including the safety and security of Hindu Math and Mandirs. The interested persons can contact in the address below:

ISKCON Swamibag Ashram
79/1 Swamibag Road, Swamibag, Dhaka.
Dhaka-1100, Bangladesh
Phone: 088-02-7122488, 088-02-7122747
Moth Mandir and Debbottor Sampatti Raksha Committee, Bangladesh.
79, Swamibag Road, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Phone: 088-02-7122488, Mobile: 088-01730059211, 01716136070, 01911012249.

ndonesian Islamists wreak havoc screaming for a Sharia state

JAKARTA — Hundreds of protestors attacked the offices of Indonesian Home Ministry in Jakarta on Thursday, pressing the government to ban alcohol countrywide and to turn the country into an Islamic state.
 
Indonesian Islamists stormed the Home Ministry complex in Jakarta and wreaked havoc inside
Indonesia is a secular state with no official religion. It is the most populous Muslim nation in terms of population, and most of its citizens are moderates. Radical Muslim groups however, have in recent years formed syndicates to raid bars, nightclubs and the office of Indonesia’s Playboy magazine.
Around 500 angry protesters, including members of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) and Islamic People’s Forum (FUI), stormed government office complex in Jakarta to protest a proposal to revoke anti-alcohol rules, damaging a security post, car park and glass panels before threatening to conduct sweeps on bars and beat up customers, Indonesian news agency Kompas reported on Thursday.
Indonesia has bylaws that regulate the sale of alcohol in the country. Under the regulations, alcohol is classified into three categories: A (with an alcohol content of 5% or less), B (above 5% to 20%) and C (above 20% to 55%). The sale of alcohol classified as B and C is limited only to places such as hotels and restaurants, while alcohol classified as A, such as beer, is being sold anywhere.
The new proposal to cancel the bylaw will allow sales of Class B and C alcoholic drinks elsewhere.
 
Indonesian radical group FPI, Osama bin what.
Protesters outside the interior ministry in the city’s main square wore white robes with the word “mujahideen” emblazoned on their shirts. “President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono must issue a decree to ban alcohol and to cut alcohol distribution in Indonesia to zero percent,” said FPI field coordinator Awit Mashuri.
“We will defend anti-alcohol bylaws and we will fight anything that is against the interests of Islam in Indonesia to make it a pure Islamic state,” Zulfi Syukur told the cheering crowd, many of whom pumped their fists in the air and shouted “jihad”, or holy war.
 
Indonesia Home Ministry complex – aftermath
FPI wants to transform Indonesia into an Islamic state with Sharia as its legislature. The group has launched a series of violent vigilante attacks since 2000, with targets including the US embassy and nightclubs.
The Indonesia Home Ministry responded angrily to the attack, Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi said the ministry would “evaluate” both the the FPI and the FUI. “If necessary, we will freeze them,” he said. The Constitution may respect the right of these groups to exist, he said, but they need to obey the law. “We have decided to take two courses of action,” Gamawan said.
However, it is questionable whether any action will really be taken against the FPI. The Muslim organization is believed to have the backing of both the National Police and the military. The group’s growing aggressiveness is worrisome to human rights groups, who say that the Islamist organization is nothing more than a collection of nearly uncontrollable thugs.

Critics say President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s attitude was reflected in the Oct. 7, 2010 appointment of Timur Pradopo, who has strong ties to FPI, as national police chief. Based on a Wikileaks report in the leaked US diplomatic cables, it was claimed the FPI receives funding from the police.
The FPI has often resorted to violence, ransacking bars, threatening pork sellers and attacking peaceful demonstrations. It has also tried to prevent Christian churches from being built in communities near Jakarta.
Indonesia’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but the country has struggled to deal with a radical fringe of extremists who have carried out numerous attacks including the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people.

Transforming Indonesia into an Islamic state however, may prove challenging. Since its inception in 1945, Indonesia has been guided by a nationalist philosophical construct known as the Pancasila rather than a state religion. Any establishment of Shariah-inspired state may risk the secession of almost the entire Eastern Indonesia, most of them Christian-majority, and the famed island of Bali, which is 92% Hindu. Ethnic and religious tensions had resulted in the separation of East Timor into an independent country in 1999, and Indonesia currently has active secessionist movements in both Christian Maluku and West Papua.

Last Ponggal for Kampung Railway Sentul?

MCA believes can oust Guan Eng from Bagan

Lim secured the Bagan seat with a 22,000-vote majority in 2008. — File pic

BUTTERWORTH, Jan 15 — MCA today expressed confidence in edging out Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng from his Bagan seat in the coming polls, despite the trouncing the party took there in 2008.

Bernama Online reported MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Liow Tiong Lai as saying that voters in Bagan were now “open to accept Barisan Nasional (BN)”, adding that his party’s chosen candidate would give the opposition pact a run for its money.

“We already have a candidate for the Bagan constituency, but I cannot reveal who.

“MCA is confident that this person can do well against DAP’s candidate as Bagan wants someone who is hardworking and responsible,” Liow was quoted as telling reporters here tonight.

“We will fight DAP’s candidate to the very end and I’m sure that the people of Bagan are now open to accept BN after they’ve seen what we’ve done for them,” he added.

Lim, who is also DAP’s secretary-general, defeated MCA’s Song Choy Leng for the Bagan parliamentary seat in Election 2008 with a 22,070-vote majority.

The popular leader also led his party’s state chapter to a historic win in Penang, which was one of the first states to fall into opposition hands during the 2008 political tsunami.

After clinching the Air Puteh state assembly seat with a 4,061-vote majority, Lim was appointed to the post of chief minister, unseating Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and effectively ending the latter’s eighteen-year reign.

In November last year, Koh announced that he would refrain from contesting in the coming polls, silencing calls from party members and the opposition for him to take on his arch-nemesis Lim by facing him in Bagan.

Analysts have repeatedly predicted Lim’s tenure would continue after the 13th general election, said to be held soon, due to his prudent management of the state’s finance and persistence in ensuring his principles on competency, accountability and transparency (CAT) are adhered to in all administrative matters.

All sound and fury but no substance

The Pakatan convention made all the right noises but it appears that the alliance is not yet prepared for the coming general election.

ALOR SETAR: The third Pakatan Rakyat convention which ended yesterday saw a resurgent Anwar Ibrahim envisioning a “Malaysian Spring” sweeping through the country, where the politics of conscience, and not self-preservation, will be the order of the day.

Speaking at the Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium here, he said that Malaysian leaders must follow their conscience and do what is right and not for personal glory.

“I envisioned a Malaysian Spring dawning,” Anwar said in a veiled reference to last year’s Arab Spring movement which saw a few long-serving Middle East regimes falling by the wayside in the face of widespread anger of ordinary Arab citizens.

A “Malaysian Spring” has been his most often used line since his acquittal of a sodomy charge last Monday.

Earlier, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, in a typically fiery speech to the delegates, called for the removal of the corrupt Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

His father, DAP doyen Lim Kit Siang also spoke about a Malaysian Spring, saying the time has come to finally dethrone the ruling Barisan Nasional after decades of abuse of power.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat spoke about how Islam can bring about justice and prosperity in Malaysia.

A frail-looking Nik Aziz said tongue in cheek about Umno’s overtures to form a Malay unity government with PAS: “I know who you (Umno) are.”

Same ‘old record’

These are the few words of English that the cleric uttered in public, although those in his inner circle claimed he is quite proficient in the language, as he does read English newspapers in the private comforts of his office and home.

Then there were the second-echelon Pakatan Rakyat leaders, namely Kuala Selangor MP Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, DAP Youth head Anthony Loke, Kelantan executive councillor Husam Musa who spoke about what Pakatan would do when in power.

Dzulkefly tocuhed on the practicality and usefulness of the “Orange Book,” which spells out Pakatan’s pledges for the next general election.

About 50,000 people thronged the stadium to hear sound and fury from the speakers. But for some it was like listening to the same “old record”.

However, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail saw the gathering as a chance to woo fence-sitters in preparation for the next national polls.

For some observers and delegates, this one-day convention turned out to be a non-starter, simply because there was nothing of substance to indicate that the Pakatan alliance is ready.

Some delegates expressed the hope that the convention would be the rallying point for Pakatan to galvanise its troops for the “mother of all general elections”.

But they were quite disappointed when they heard the speakers spout only stale topics.

Most of the delegates were seen just going through the paces, with some preferring to walk around and pose for photographs rather than listen to the speeches.

Lacking in substance

Only former Bar Council president S Ambiga caught the attention of the press as she challenged Pakatan to come out with ways on how to deal with corruption effectively.

Later, Ambiga told the press that the Election Commission was not doing enough on electoral reforms.

She proposed that foreign observers be invited to monitor the election’s proceedings.

Pakatan seems to be lacking in substance as it does have any idea on how to take the alliance forward, said part-time blogger Ahmad Noordin, who blogs about social issues.

There is no denying that Pakatan has a strong support base, but still it must reach out to the fence- sitters including the older generation, who have yet to embrace the young leaders, he said.

A DAP Malay leader said the core issue is about turning into reality the well-meaning intentions or policies of Pakatan.

“We fail to implement our great ideas or policies upfront,” he said..

However, he believes that Pakatan can deny the BN its two-thirds majority and may go on to form the next government.

But not everybody has the perseverance like Anwar or DAP chairman Karpal Singh to soldier on, he added.

An observer, Jusof Mohd Hafiz, a teacher, said that he expected to hear new ideas on how to combat the high cost of living but instead, he was presented with a summary of Pakatan’s past achievements.

“We are more interested in the present and the future,” he said.

Another take on border smuggling

These so-called 'smugglers' should be congratulated for helping lower the cost of living for those residing at the border.
COMMENT

Recently the New Straits Times ran a front-page article on brazen smuggling at our borders with Thailand and Indonesia.

In its report, an NST team which joined several Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) covert surveillance operations found that agencies tasked with foiling smuggling attempts were closing an eye to the movement of price-controlled goods by foreigners and Malaysians.

According to the paper’s report, this is costing the government hundreds of millions of ringgit annually. Goods smuggled ranged from diesel, petrol, liquefied petroleum gas to sugar, cooking oil and flour.

The “exposé” was followed by another front-page article the next day with the screaming headline “For RM10, smugglers can breeze in and out” (Jan 3, 2012) and the sub-headline “Corruption is rampant among law enforcers at border checkpoints”.

There has been no response yet from the higher authorities to these sensational reports. But if the NST editors are expecting Malaysians to pat them on the back for being a crusading paper, they are hopelessly wrong.

Let me provide another point of view.

What is NST’s real agenda?

Highly placed officials and politicians have confided to me that the NST is getting out of control by running these articles which are calculated to bring the government agencies and top brass into disrepute.

Their job should be to focus on bringing down Anwar Ibrahim and the Pakatan Rakyat opposition parties, not to invite attention to minor and trivial issues.

I fully agree. In addition, I have to point out that what the NST has described as smuggling is technically correct but a view taken from a biased perspective. A more holistic political economy approach is needed to explain the activity before jumping to rash conclusions.

What we are seeing at the border can be characterised as an adaptation of the long established and traditional people-to-people economic exchange, without the repressive hand of the state to extract duties and taxes.

According to the American social scientist, James Scott – whose acclaimed book, “Weapons of the Weak: Everyday Forms of Peasant Resistance”, incidentally, was based on work in the Muda area of Kedah – “the Brechtian or Schweikian forms of resistance… are an integral part of the small arsenal of relatively powerless groups”.

The said forms of resistance include such acts as foot-dragging, dissimulations, false compliance, feigned ignorance, desertion, pilfering, smuggling, poaching… and so on. “These techniques, for the most part quite prosaic, are the ordinary means of class struggle. They are the techniques of ‘first resort’ in those common historical circumstances in which open defiance is impossible or entails mortal danger.”

These so-called “smugglers” are in fact taking a big risk of breaking the law to facilitate the exchange. Rather than being condemned, they should be congratulated for helping lower the cost of living for those residing at the border.

As to the damage to the Malaysian economy, let’s have a more enlightened view.

Many of the beneficiaries are our Muslim brothers and sisters living on the other side of colonial borders arbitrarily imposed on us. If the British, French and Dutch had not concocted their nefarious slicing up of the region, we may be living with those now on the other side of the border as one big happy family.

Now that colonialism has come and gone, if we can help our Thai and Indonesian kin have access to cheaper goods, why not? Can we not close one eye, especially as these are poorer folk than us? Why begrudge our Narathiwat and Pattani or north Kalimantan relations especially when they are already feeling the oppression of their own central government?

If we close both eyes to this activity, Malaysians will not only be seen as charitable neighbours but we can also proudly claim to be doing more than our fair share for the common Asean good.

Beating up customs officers

The NST articles also went to great lengths to beat up our Jabatan Kastam Diraja officers. Come on. This is not only unpatriotic but also unfair. These customs officers receive only a few ringgit of duit kopi for standing in the sun the whole day to help facilitate this exchange.

Let’s also not forget that these same officers also facilitate the cheap influx of fragrant beras Siam, fruits and other Thai commodities into our country without having the taxman extract his pound of flesh, and having the Defence Ministry appropriate the revenue to buy Scorpene submarines.

Without them, we will not be enjoying our nasi lemak special at bargain prices. So let’s appreciate these men in brown who have to put in long hours at isolated and faraway border outposts protecting our national security. Let’s not carp about the couple of hundred ringgit extra taken home that comes with their job.

Yet another perspective

According to one friend, I and my highly placed Barisan Nasional and civil servant colleagues have missed the entire point of the NST exercise. This is because the two articles are a smokescreen to distract readers’ attention away from the large-scale bribery and looting of the country’s resources that is taking place.

According to him, enormous sums of money amounting to millions and billions of ringgit – not the paltry sums mentioned in the NST article – exchange hands. These vast sums are not slipped furtively hidden between customs papers in the scorching heat at god-forsaken spots but openly in cool air-conditioned coffee houses and hotels in Kuala Lumpur or outside the country at some luxurious resort.

Mainstream media have never highlighted these scandals and never will. But they are making up for this failure to live up to Clark Kent investigative journalism by going after the ikan bilis and making readers think that the NST is really a “people’s paper”.

The friend who believes I missed the point of NST’s exercise made the final deflating rejoinder that my academic background has led me to over-intellectualise the smuggling activity and to overlook the most important reason for the two articles. On further thought, he may be right.

Lim Teck Ghee is the director of Centre for Policy Initiatives.