ISA replacement will not impede PDRM, says Hisham

The Malaysian Insider 
by Anisah Shukry

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 — The new law replacing the Internal Security Act (ISA) will not hamper the abilities of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to protect the safety of the public, the home minister said today.

Bernama Online reported Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein as saying the PDRM was satisfied with the new law and was confident they would be able to carry out their responsibility well.

“The [law] cannot be tabled if the police, as the end users who are in charge of national security, are not satisfied with it.

“Thus, I assure you PDRM has declared it is confident that what Prime Minister (Datuk Seri) Najib Razak will present tomorrow is able to guarantee the safety and security of the public,” he was quoted as saying in the report.

He added that the discussions on the replacement for the ISA had begun in 2009 and involved the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, the Bar Council and several NGOs.

“The discussions took into account many issues, including the detention period,” he said.

He also said the Cabinet had agreed to strengthen PDRM in terms of its co-operation, investigation skills, laws, surveillance and two-way relationship with neighbouring countries.

Putrajaya’s Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill 2012 was met with growing criticism over claims that it persists in denying basic liberties, just hours after being tabled in Parliament last week.

The ISA replacement law was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat last Tuesday, removing the government’s option to detain individuals without trial and providing a maximum detention of 28 days for investigation purposes.

Under the ISA, an individual believed to have committed a security offence can be detained for up to two years without trial, on orders from the home minister.

The Bill seeks to provide for “special measures” relating to security offences for the purpose of maintaining public order and security and for connected matters.

The new law also notably states that no individual can be arrested solely for his political belief or any political activity, as promised by Najib last year when announcing a raft of reforms aimed at increasing civil liberties.

But the Bill still allows any police officer to arrest and detain “any person whom he has reason to believe to be involved in security offences” without warrant for 24 hours for investigation.

This led the Malaysian Bar to call for a review of the law which allows a summary of evidence to build a case, as opposed to the evidence itself and gives police power to detain for 28 days and intercept communications without judicial oversight.

“The radical departure from the ordinary rules of evidence may negatively impact on the accused’s right to a fair trial,” Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee said in a statement.

He also noted the Bill’s definition of security offences under Section 3 was “too wide” and urged the government to use a more precise one, as can be found in the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

Two Bangladeshi Workers Die, Three Sustain Injuries After Being Struck By Lightning

GUA MUSANG, April 15 (Bernama) -- Two Bangladeshi workers died, while three others sustained injuries, after being struck by lightning in a rubber plantation in Pos Balau here Sunday.

The dead are Amir Amza, 29, and Mohammad Akterwas, 35, while the three who sustained injuries are Mohammad Robiul Islam, 32, Bashamin, 29 and Lieon, 28.

The Bangladeshi workers were walking through the heavy downpour to get to the workers' quarters, which is located about two kilometres from the plantation, when the mishap occurred at about 3.30pm.

Isa consolidating power in Felda, claims Anak

DIDPs face bleak future

DIDPs? Take note of this term: ‘development-induced displaced persons’ – you will be hearing more and more about such communities across the country including in Penang.

It is actually a global phenomenon, affecting mostly developing countries trying to move up the “development” path – which raises a key question: development for whom? The average person or those with Big Capital?

According to Wikipedia:

Development-induced displacement is the forcing of communities and individuals out of their homes, often also their homelands, for the purposes of economic development. It is a subset of forced migration. It has been historically associated with the construction of dams for hydroelectric power and irrigation purposes but also appears due to many other activities, such as mining and the creation of military installations, airports, industrial plants, weapon testing grounds, railways, road developments, urbanization, conservation projects, forestry, etc. Development-induced displacement is a social problem affecting multiple levels of human organization, from tribal and village communities to well-developed urban areas.

Development-induced displacement or the forced migration in the name of development is affecting more and more people as countries move from developing to developed nations. The people that face such migration are often helpless, suppressed by the power and laws of nations.

The lack of rehabilitation policies for migrants means that they are often compensated only monetarily – without proper mechanisms for addressing their grievances or political support to improve their livelihoods.

Displaced people often internalise a sense of helplessness and powerlessness because of their encounter with the powerful external world, although there are also several examples of active resistance movements against development-induced displacement.

In Penang, at least five communities are facing the nightmarish prospect of displacement:

Air Itam’s Kg Boundary 5 (comprising 23 houses);
Batu Feringghi’s Kg Catteir (1000 houses);
Jelutong’s Estate Syarifah Aloya (72 houses),
Tanjung Tokong’s Kg Mount Erskine (31 houses) and
Tanjung Bungah’s Kg India (145 houses).

On Sunday, Kampung Boundary 5 residents are holding a protest against a developer’s attempt to evict them from Lot 1272 Mukim 16 Sek 2, Geran no. 32296 Daerah Timur Laut Bandar Ayer Itam, Pulau Pinang. The developer wants to build three-storey bungalows.

The residents claim that 46 separate plots on the land were initially rented out to them since the 1960s until 36 of the plots were sold to them.

The residents now claim the landowners sold the land to a developer in 2006 without their knowledge.

The developer apparently took action to remove 10 non-landowners (who owned their houses but not the land), leaving behind the 36 other plots.

A new developer then emerged claiming that it owned the entire land, including the 36 remaining plots.

In 2009, the new developer served the residents a notice to quit.

The residents allege their caveats on the land were mysteriously removed without their knowledge.

In 2010, 13 villagers (one has since dropped out) filed a claim seeking a declaration that they are the genuine purchasers in the 4-acre land of Kampung Boundary 5. [Just 12 residents are left of the 36 plot owners, after the developer compensated 24 plot owners.]

In their suit, the residents listed the two developer firms and five others (the previous landowners) as defendants. The residents allege that both these firms are related and that the transfer of ownership between them was a sham.

The two firms, for their part, applied to strike out the residents’ suit on grounds that the plaintiffs did not have locus standi – which the court disagreed. The High Court in February 2012 dismissed the two firms’ application and ordered the firms to pay costs of RM7000 to each of the plaintiffs.

Meanwhile, the developer obtained an eviction order from a lower court and the bailiff is coming on Tuesday, 17 April.

For their part, the residents applied on Friday for a stay order pending the disposal of their High Court case, and they will know the outcome of their application on Monday.

The developer has increased the compensation amount progressively, but residents claim it is still much lower than market value.

Building Hindu Relationships in Europe

By Kumari Kunti Sherreitt

Between March 27th – 28th, 2012 the Hindu Forum of Europe held its Hindu Leaders Meeting in Radhadesh followed by a Networking Luncheon and a conference at the European Parliament in Brussels.

“Who is teaching the [Hindu] priests?,” “How do we [Hindus] get recognized in our country?”

These are some the questions raised during a two-day event hosted by the Hindu Forum of Europe (HFE) late last month. Some of the major issues faced by Hindus and Hindu groups in Europe include the need for visibility, the need for specialization in their own traditions, and the need for recognition in par to that of other major religions. Some of the issues that were discussed, but most were added to the list of work that the HFE has yet to do. However, it was clear from the event, that there is interest and eager participants in the cause.

After months and months of planning, finally the HFE two-day, jammed packed: Hindu Leaders Meeting, Networking Luncheon, and EU Parliament Conference event had come. The quiet community of ISKCON Radhadesh became a host to a group of colorful, witty and determined members - and members to be - of the HFE.

Arrivals for began the day before the meeting and were stayed in the Radhadesh guesthouse. The Hindu Leaders Meeting started late Tuesday morning (as expected) but eventually when everyone had arrived, the room was full of a diverse yet familiar group of Hindus; Swamis from Portugal, Italy, and the UK and leaders and businessmen of both long-standing and budding Hindu organizations from across Europe, ready to share and unite on a the common goal - of promoting Hinduism in Europe.

After opening prayers led by National Council of Hindu Temples UK Secretary General Dr. Raj Pundit Sharma, there was a get – to – know each other icebreaker, followed by two interactive discussions about the needs and situation of Hindu organizations in Europe led by Bharti Tailor (now HFE president) and Birkram Laubhalsingh (now HFE Vice President). The open discussion generated some interesting points about the standing and the future of the countries represented in the meeting. Officially there were ten countries represented, although in all fairness Pundit Madhu Shastri represented two. The following group work brought new perspectives as well as new relationships to bud within the group. The UK representation was the largest and therefore they were requested to team up with members from other countries, and share insights from their very successful situation there.

Amongst the familiar faces were ISKCON’s own Shaunaka Rishi das and Yadunandana Swami who spoke at the end of the topical discussion session about Hindu education in Europe. Everyone was impressed with the programs that were being offered: both the Bhaktivedanta College and the Oxford Center for Hindu Studies. One of the members of the meeting said it was “this was one of the best presentations I have seen in ten years.”

The later project particularly sparked an avid discussion, questioning why Hindus do not send their children to learn about their own traditions, and rather only to become “engineers and doctors?” There were no definitive answers, yet Shaunaka Rishi das suggested everyone to spread the word about the Oxford Center, the only of its kind in the world, that can be fitted into any Hindu’s study – not just theologians or religious studies majors. (Please visit www.ochs.org for more information about the Oxford Hindu Studies Center.)

Another exciting project that was presented was the “Save Ayurveda” Campaign, presented by Amarjeet Bhamra Ayurveda from the UK. Mr. Bhamra made a trip for this meeting specifically to present this issue of concern. The organization is asking the UK to not allow the Ayurveda to “be divorced from Veda” and created as a separate unit from Hindu traditions. As we speak the campaign is in need of support, as the future of use of Ayurvedic medicine doctors will no longer be legally allowed in the UK and possibly the rest of Europe. Mr. Bhamra is asking for support of this campaign, as it is against the Hindu religion to make such an integral aspect of Hindu culture become lost in lieu of the Pharmaceutical companies. (Please visit the website www.saveherbalmedicine.com for more information.)

That evening everyone enjoyed bhajans in the temple room in Radhadesh and took rest, for the next day was to be a busy one.

Hindu Forum of Belgium’s Networking Lunch

At noon the guests began to arrive at the Fine Arts Center, BOZAR in the center of Brussels, for the Networking Luncheon hosted by the Hindu Forum of Belgium (HFB). Alongside the speeches, there were entertainment, a MOSA (Museum of Sacred Art) display (Radhadesh’s own devotional art museum) and beautiful selection of Indian-Western dishes, catered by Radhadesh and Sri Krsna Caitanya from France. The master of ceremony was Visvambar Caitanya, the HFE secretary, who youthfulness added some light-heartedness and fun to the entire afternoon.

Hrdaya Caitanya, Radhadesh president who was representing the Belgium Council for Religious Leaders, of which is a member of, alongside the HFB President Manik Paul, made a convincing speeches about the necessity of Belgium to be recognized, encouraging the audience to work together toward this goal. This was followed by a speech from Katrina Von Schnurbein, the Advisor at the European Commission for the dialogue with religious communities and philosophical and non-confessional organizations, who spoke about the necessity of such organizations as the HFB to connect with the EU Commission. As Stein Villumstad, General Secretary for European Council for Religious Leaders, the last of the speakers at Lunch who spoke about the type of language differences that insiders of a religion speak and the need to have a foothold in the political arena to best express it from their point of view, congratulated the “successful events” of the HFB and HFE organizations.

A local Belgian group, “Chrysalide” performed an Indian-French fused mix of tabla, harmonium, and guitar ragas with French lyrics to the audience of over 120 guests. Just after Banishree Falisse, a devotional Khayal styled singing artist continued with rhythmic melodies for a captured audience. However, as the event was more than one hour behind schedule, many began to cue up for the awaiting lunch, and so half of the audience returned to their seats to eat their dainty laddhus while Banishree sang.

Everyone who attended the event was given the BBT’s “Hidden Glory of India” book as a gift when they left.

EU Parliament Conference: “Hindu Contributions to the European Project”

The European Union Parliament conference directly followed the lunch that evening. The EU Parliament is just a 10 min drive from the center of Brussels, where the Lunch was held. Most of the EU is still in construction, but this wing of the building is fully functional; its metallic futuristic styled architecture and mood rings toward the hopeful future of the EU.

The guests were personally escorted into the Parliament to the Henry Spaak room, where everyone was treated like members of the EU for the day: recliner chairs, ear-sets for clearer hearing of the speakers on desks, and drinks, all sponsored by Graham Watson, a UK Member of Parliament (MEP) who has interest in the HFE and it’s organization; as he is a member of the Indian Delegation for the EU.

There were many speakers, including some from the Hindu Leaders Meeting as well as the Networking Lunch, however the appearance and speech of MEP Watson toward a deeper connection between the EU and the Hindu faith community was proposed. Mahaprabhu das, HFE General Secretary and ISKCON Communications Europe Director also made a speech in the same direction, explain that the Hindu tradition is an accepting and non-confrontational one, that has no desire to make converts, but rather share the knowledge and wisdom that its scriptures have to offer. Other speakers included the founder of Sevashram Sanga in the UK, Nirliptananda Swami, who explored the role of Hindus in the European society, touching upon the roles of women.

When the conference had finished, everyone was ready and eager to return on the bus home to Radhadesh, after a long and exciting day.

Overall the two-day event was inspiring and promising towards the further development and participation of the Hindu communities in Europe with each other, a definite rarity amongst religious traditions, as it seems working with a stranger is easier than one’s own neighbor in the realm of religious beliefs. But the Hindus groups that have made an effort to join and contribute to the Hindu Forum of Europe are making such steps, and this work has and will continue to pay off.

Ku Li sokong tuntutan Bersih 3.0

Islamic ‘Adult Breastfeeding’ Fatwas Return

Saudi Sheikh Abdul Mohsin al-Abaican

Back in May 2007, Dr. Izzat Atiya, head of Al Azhar University’s Department of Hadith, issued a fatwa, or Islamic legal decree, saying that female workers should “breastfeed” their male co-workers in order to work in each other’s company. According to the BBC:

He said that if a woman fed a male colleague “directly from her breast” at least five times they would establish a family bond and thus be allowed to be alone together at work. “Breast feeding an adult puts an end to the problem of the private meeting, and does not ban marriage,” he ruled. “A woman at work can take off the veil or reveal her hair in front of someone whom she breastfed.”

Atiya based his fatwa on a hadith—a documented saying or doing of Islam’s prophet Muhammad and subsequently one of Sharia law’s sources of jurisprudence. Many Egyptians naturally protested this decree—hadith or no hadith—though no one could really demonstrate how it was un-Islamic; for the fatwa conformed to the strictures of Islamic jurisprudence. Still, due to the protests—not many Egyptian women were eager to “breastfeed” their male coworkers—the fatwa receded, and that was that.

However, because it was never truly rebutted, it kept making comebacks.

For instance, three years later in 2010, a high-ranking Saudi, Sheikh Abdul Mohsin al-Abaican issued a fatwa confirming that “women could give their milk to men to establish a degree of maternal relations and get around a strict religious ban on mixing between unrelated men and women.” But unlike Atiya’s fatwa, “the man should take the milk, but not directly from the breast of the woman. He should drink it [from a cup] and then [he] becomes a relative of the family, a fact that allows him to come in contact with the women without breaking Islam’s rules about mixing.”

Now, a report titled “Kuwaiti Activists: Husband Breastfeeding from Wife not Prohibited,” published earlier this month by Arabic RT (see also Garaa News) opens by announcing that “The adult breastfeeding fatwa has returned once again to the spotlight, after Kuwaiti Islamic activists supported the adult breastfeeding fatwa issued by the Egyptian Salafi, Sheikh Jamal al-Murakbi [different from Al Azhar’s Sheikh Atiya]. This time around, the Kuwaitis examined the adult breastfeeding fatwa in the context of relations between a man and his wife.”

While the Kuwaiti sheikhs all essentially agree that the activity is not strictly forbidden according to Sharia—only “disliked” (literally makruh)—they are divided over the particulars.

• Sheikh Nazim Misbahi, head of the Fatwa Committee of the Islamic Heritage Revival Society in Kuwait, supports the decree, agreeing that “it is not forbidden [haram] for a man to breastfeed from his wife.”

• Sheikh Bassam al-Shatti, a Sharia professor, specifies: “If the husband deliberately sucks to obtain milk from the breast of his wife, this is forbidden; however, if it happens unintentionally during foreplay with his wife, then there is no problem—though it is disliked according to the four schools” of Sharia.

• Sheikh Sa’d al-Anzi stressed that “if the man, while being intimate with his wife, sucks her nipples, it is nothing, considered foreplay; but if the milk reaches his mouth, he should spit out—even if goes down in his stomach,” i.e., vomit.

Consider for a moment the significance of these Islamic edicts: whether women “breastfeeding” coworkers (Egyptian fatwa, 2007), whether men drinking female breast-milk in a cup (Saudi fatwa, 2010), or whether Kuwaiti minutiae concerning bedroom foreplay—such fatwas are reminders of the inescapable strictures of Sharia law: while these sheikhs offers various circumstances and interpretations concerning “adult breastfeeding,” they are all confined to the words of the prophet of Islam.

This is precisely why, despite all the claims that Islam is perpetually being “misunderstood”—by terrorists, by “Islamophobes”—understanding what Islam commands and forbids is actually quite a simple matter: along with the Koran, determine what the prophet said in canonical hadiths.

It is, after all, no coincidence that the above mentioned Kuwaitis, like Sheikh Misbahi, were members of the delegation that recently went to ask Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti about Islam’s position on churches in the Arabian Peninsula: the same source that compelled the Grand Mufti to declare that all churches must be destroyed, is the same source that advocates “adult breastfeeding”: Muhammad and his teachings. All very straightforward, really.

Pakistan: Forced conversions spark anger

Lahore, 13 April (AKI/Dawn) - Prof. Ashok Kumar is not afraid of taking a prominent stance on the Rinkle Kumari issue.

Fear, he says, is secondary compared to what is happening to the Hindu community in Pakistan, in particular Sindh. “We can’t just sit back and watch what our community is going through,” he says.

The recent case of Rinkle Kumari is not altogether an uncommon occurrence. Several young Hindu girls have been kidnapped in the dead of night from their homes, and dragged off to be forcibly converted to Islam, as they and their family members have later alleged. Usually this conversion is accompanied by a signing of the ‘nikahnama’ which strengthens the kidnappers’ side of the story, but still does not provide any kind of proof whether the marriage was done under duress or not.

On Thursday, protesters belonging to the Hindu and Christian communities in Lahore, accompanied by representatives of the Joint Action Committee (a group of social organisations), gathered outside the Lahore Press Club and shouted slogans in response to the slow treatment of the case, venting anger at religious fascism, forcible conversion, and a lack of support from the government.

Ashok Kumar, a professor of Sindhi language in the Linguistics Department of the Punjab University, is one of the protesters.

There are others too, students, professionals, young women, social workers, but the turnout has not been very high.

“We only decided this last night so couldn’t inform everyone on such short notice,” said Shahtaj Qizalbash from AGHS Legal Aid.

But Tanveer Jahan, also a member of the JAC, gives a more direct reply. “When it comes to minority rights, or any such sensitive issue, one just cannot expect any mass participation in Pakistan,” she says.

“You can just forget about the masses.” She says that both sides of the picture are grim – one side which does not support, and only watches the situation passively, while the other side which does come out on the streets but does so for its own vested interests and exploitation. “It is social workers like us who are stuck in the middle.”

“Down with mullah-ism!” shout the protesters, and a small number of drivers slow down on the busy section of the Simla Hill roundabout to see what the commotion is about. While many simply shake their heads and carry on, some are affected nevertheless, like Mehr Muhammad, a contractor.

“It is a sin to take away anyone’s rights like that,” he says, as he stands by watching the protest. “No religion allows this trampling of religious freedom. These girls should not be kidnapped and converted through force…how is it even conversion?” he questions, his brow furrowing over the worrying situation.

But another man has a completely different opinion. “Isn’t it a blessing if anyone is being converted into a Muslim?” he questions.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected two petitions, one filed by Rinkle’s husband, and the other filed by the father of another Hindu girl Dr Lata, from Jacobabad.

The two wanted to meet the girls, but the apex court observed that the two girls should be allowed to make a decision on whether they want to go with their parents or husbands based on a freewill therefore they were sent to Panah, a shelter home run by human rights lawyer Dr Majida Rizvi, where they will stay isolated till the court summons them again. The matter is to be taken up again on April 18.

The matter has been tangled yet further with the alleged involvement of Mian Mithu, a PPP MNA from Ghotki, where Rinkle was kidnapped, and also one Naveed Shah, who was a close associate of Mithu.

“Even when Nafisa Shah and some other PPP MNAs tried to move a resolution against this issue in the assembly, Mian Mithu did not support it,” says Tanveer Jahan. “I simply ask if an FIR has already been lodged against these two then why are they not under arrest?”

Another girl, Asha is still missing and Dr Ashok says: “The state of the Hindu girls being converted is terrible. Since January there have been at least 47 kidnappings. Another point to observe is that this is only happening to young girls, never boys or elders.”

Peter Jacob, worker for minorities’ rights, says this forcible conversion is not restricted to just Hindus and in Sindh. “In the last five years, there have been up to 400 to 500 conversions of Christians. And something equally horrifying, I know of: forcible circumcision of young men in Punjab and one in Balochistan…where are we going, one asks.”

In feudal terms, owning another party’s woman is having the upper hand. That coupled with marriage, gives the perpetrator more strength. No one knows what becomes of many of the girls after being married. Meanwhile, many Hindus feel that they are simply being harassed so they leave the country forever.

“But this is not just an issue restricted to Sindh,” says one. “This protest is meant to be calling out to the whole nation…Why does no one raise their voices for our rights too?” he asks.

Explain Indonesian with MyKad, NRD told

An Indonesian is in possession of a MyKad bearing the same number with that issued to a Kelantan -born taxi driver.

KUALA LUMPUR: An Indonesian has been using a MyKad which is indentical to that issued to a Kelantan-born taxi driver.

Exposing this today, Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar demanded an explanation from the National Registration Department (NRD).

According to him, the MyKad used by the Indonesian carried the same number and name of Rodzi Mohd Noor, except that in the former’s card Mohd was spelt as Mhd.

While Rodzi’s address was based on his home address in Rantau Panjang, the Indonesian man’s MyKad had a Kuala Selangor address.

“This is a very serious matter and the NRD director general should explain how this can happen,” said Uthayakumar during a press conference here.

Rodzi, who was also present, told reporters that he had lost his MyKad in 2000. “I later lodged a police report and got my new Mykad,” he said.

“However, I began to feel suspicious when I could not renew my road tax because there were two traffic summonses issued for a Proton Iswara with the number plate WEE 6037. The car was said to have been registered under my name, but I never used such a car,” he added.

Furthermore, Rodzi said he was blacklisted by a telecommunications company for purportedly not paying his mobile phone bill despite not being a subscriber of that particular service.

When he checked with the Road Transport Department (JPJ), the taxi driver, who now resides in Lembah Pantai, was shocked to discover that there was another person with the same MyKad number.

“With the help of JPJ officers, I cleared the summonses and filed a police report against the Indonesian man,” he said, adding that he had met the culprit in Kuala Selangor but the man managed to escape before the police arrived.

“Not only did he buy a car but he also obtained a driver’s licence under my name,” he said.

Rodzi said that despite three police reports and an official complaint being filed with NRD, no action had been taken.

Meanwhile, Uthayakumar asked how it was possible for an Indonesian to obtain a MyKad without NRD’s approval.

He added that there were numerous cases where illegal immigrants had been allegedly issued with MyKads by NRD.

“We would not be surprised if this ‘imposter’ Rodzi has also registered as a voter and would perhaps vote in the coming election,” he said.

Old poison, new bottle

We want the government to seriously respect our civil and political rights. What we don't want is the feel good factor, says DAP MP Charles Santiago.
COMMENT

By Charles Santiago

Its not easy to figure out what’s happening in Malaysia. We have a government that back tracks on promised reforms, flip flops on decisions and tries to deliver its nonsense on a silver platter to the people.By Charles Santiago

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak croons the country is ready to enter a new era, with heightened maturity – whatever that means is vague because the proposed amendments and dismantling of various laws in Malaysia are merely cosmetic changes.

Malaysia is one of the 16 countries which have not ratified the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). The country’s institutionalised racial discrimination had contributed to a severe brain drain, with 1.4 million people with tertiary education having left the country.

And yet the government has pulled back plans to table a legislation, in Parliament, to do away with hate crimes and weed out racial discrimination. Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, minister in the Prime Minister’s department, attributed this about turn to being able to manage our race relations better.

Last year we saw school teachers and a principal using racial slurs to ridicule Chinese and Indian students. To top that, Malay rights group, Perkasa, was openly inciting racial tension by spewing venom.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community has also come under severe attacks recently. The organisers of Seksualiti Merdeka, an annual festival of talks, shows, forums and film screenings to promote sexuality rights have been targeted, ridiculed and threatened.

In 1994, the government banned anyone who is homosexual, bisexual or transsexual from appearing on the state-controlled media. We have not progressed to curb such explicit hatred against the LGBT community since then.

In 2010, the Film Censorship Board stated it would only allow the depiction of homosexuality if the characters repented or died.

Now we have some segments of society suggesting individuals from the marginalized LGBT community must be banned from appearing on air altogether.

And yet the legislation to root out hate crimes is on the back burner.

‘We want true democracy’

Even though Najib has been trumpeting the fact that he did away with three Emergency Ordinances, we know better as other crucial reforms are simply shadow play.

For example, the Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill is not a radical shift from the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) which allows for indefinite detention. The new Bill still allows for indefinite detention up to 28 days from the 60 days under the ISA.

If this is what Najib means by revamping the judiciary, he better think again for any indefinite detention poses a grave threat to fundamental liberties. And Human Rights Watch candidly sums this up by saying that the failure to bring a detainee before a judge, without any delay, violates international standards for prompt judicial review.

The Bill also gives wide powers to the police. Holding detainees up to 48 hours opens the channel for abusive interrogation. And we have seen one too many cases of police abuse while in detention. Between 2003-2007, there were 1,535 custodial deaths in the country.

Under the new Bill, the police would have the power to intercept communication and conduct searches without judicial warrant. It would also permit the police to unilaterally place monitoring devices on people who are released from detention and allow a blanket provision to deny bail.

Is this how Najib and his government want to treat a matured society? Does the prime minister truly believe that passing off a proposed law which allows for serious infringement on personal and civil liberties as reform would go unnoticed by the people?

We want true democracy. We want the government to seriously respect our civil and political rights. What we don’t want is the feel good factor.

The renowned poet, Hafiz, said “Not even seven thousand years of joy is worth seven days of depression”. Maybe Najib could learn from his poetry.

Charles Santiago is DAP’s MP for Klang.

Settler dies in front of PM’s office

Mohd Nordin Bakri's hope of seeing the prime minister's intervention to resolve his land woes turned tragic when he collapsed and died in front of the PM's office.

PUTRAJAYA: A settler’s hope of seeing a land issue, which has been dragging on for more than three decades, resolved turned tragic when the father of five collapsed and died outside the Prime Minister’s Office here.

What irked his fellow settlers was that the police personnel present did not offer to help while the ambulance only arrived some 20 minutes later.

The deceased Mohd Nordin Bakri, 54, was among 200 settlers from Kampung Serampang Indah (formely known as GATCO) near Jempol, Negeri Sembilan, who chartered four buses and travelled 150km in the hope of meeting Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak yesterday.

They wanted to hand over a memorandum and call for the premier’s intervention into the land matter.

However, they could not meet Najib as he was attending to official matters but managed to hand over the memorandum to the premier’s private secretary Mohammed Amir Haron.

As a six-member delegation met Amir near the security post, Nordin suddenly collapsed and those present rushed to his aid. They carried him to the security post and asked for an ambulance.

“I was very disappointed that medical help came late. After I informed the security personnel and Amir, the ambulance only came more than 20 minutes later,” said Paroi state assemblyman Mohd Taufek Abdul Ghani, who was also present.

“I also regret that despite the presence of a large number of police personnel, none of them offered to give Nordin first aid,” added the PAS leader.

Meanwhile, Kampung Serampang Indah (GATCO) action committee secretary C John told FMT that Amir promised to raise the matter with Najib and issue a reply within two weeks.

On March 28, FMT reported that the settlers held a peaceful demonstration in front of the Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar’s office urging the state leader to intervene and help them.

A total of 400 settlers bought a 10 acre agricultural land from GATCO in 1977. The bumiputera settlers paid RM4,000 and the non-bumiputera settlers forked out RM7,600 for the land.

However in 1983, GATCO declared bankruptcy and the size of the land was reduced to eight acres per settler. In 2004, the land was auctioned. The settlers paid RM320,000 (earnest deposit) to Singam and Young Associates who was the auctioneer.

‘Where is justice for us?’

“When we wanted to pay the second installment, the auctioneer refused to receive the second payment. Later the land was auctioned to Thamarai Holdings Sdn Bhd for RM16 million.

“The basis of our argument is that the government, especially the Negeri Sembilan state government and Menteri Besar Mohd Hasan should take responsibility on the basis that the land originally belonged to the state government,” said committee chairman Abdul Rahman Ali Mohamad.

Under the previous menteri besar, he said, the state government leased the land for 99 years to Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri, Negeri Sembilan (PKNNS).

“Later PKNNS leased the land for 66 years to GATCO. It’s clearly stated in the terms and conditions that GATCO should develop the land for the settlers,” he added.

Rahman said when GATCO went bankrupt, the state government and Dana Harta should have given the settlers the first choice with regard to owning the land.

“We paid the money for the land 35 years ago and now we are willing to pay RM18 million to get back our land. Why did the government allow this to happen? Where is justice for us?” he asked.

Is the Tun hallucinating?

by P Ramakrishnan - Aliran

In an open letter to Mahathir, P Ramakrishnan takes to task the former premier for his outrageous statements about the Pakatan administrations in Penang and Selangor of late.

My dear Tun Dr Mahathir,

I’m at a loss as to whether you are hallucinating or failing to see the reality.

Your views on Penang and Selangor are misconceived and misplaced. You come across as a dishonest politician determined to score political points and mislead Malaysian voters. You do no credit to yourself nor do you live up to your reputation as an elder statesman (Bernama, 29 January 2012).

Your statement, “They have already been given a lot of chances. A lot of unhappy things have happened in Penang, the same (is happening) in Selangor,” does not make any sense at all. “They have been given a lot of chances”, you unreasonably claim.

Pakatan only came to power on March 8, 2008. They have been in office only for four short years. What chances were given to them and who gave them those chances? What are you talking about? What miracles were you expecting them to perform in this short period of time?

Compare their short term of office to the Barisan Nasional’s nearly 55 years of tenure – truthfully and honestly. We can justifiably throw back at the BN the very words you had uttered: “They (BN) have already been given a lot of chances. A lot of unhappy things have happened in Penang, the same (is happening) in Selangor.” This is indeed a valid observation requiring an honest answer from you, dear Tun.

Indeed, 55 years is a very long time. It is more than half a century. The BN have been given all the chances it wanted and needed. But what have the BN achieved during their long tenure in office except undermining our unity and keeping the people apart? Our unity has been destroyed by senseless and thoughtless policies and statements without a care for the welfare of the majority of Malaysians who are peace-loving and poor.

Yes, Tun, if anybody had been given too much chance it is the BN. Indeed, what more can the BN do which they had failed to do during these 55 years? What miracles can the BN now perform to transform this country into a haven for all citizens and provide them with a dignified livelihood?

What do you actually mean by claiming, “They have been given the chance. What’s there left to try. If we allow the situation to deteriorate badly, it will be difficult to repair.”

Your rambling statement, “If we allow the situation to deteriorate badly, it will be difficult to repair” comes across as ridiculous and garrulous. What has the Pakatan done that has brought about the deterioration? What is that they are doing that would render the problem beyond repair? Please be specific and enumerate the wrongdoings of the Pakatan.

Tun, you should not make sweeping claims that are without merit. Many Malaysians are truly disappointed and disillusioned with you and justifiably feel that you have out-lived your usefulness as a political leader. You had your time and you did things the way you wanted to. That period is over and done with. There is nothing more for you to do.

Both Penang and Selangor have attracted the biggest FDI totalling more than RM15bn, which is unmatched by the BN-controlled states. Doesn’t this indicate positively that the Pakatan-controlled states are performing very much better in spite of their short term of tenure and lack of administrative experience and expertise? Honestly, dear Tun, doesn’t that deserve some praise?

You kept everything under wraps and resorted to the Official Secrets Act (OSA) to deny citizens their right to be informed. A lot of scandals and corruption prevailed because they are kept from the purview of public scrutiny and guarded as state secrets.

The Pakatan-controlled states in Selangor and Penang, on the other hand, have promulgated a Freedom of Information Act in order to be transparent and accountable. Tun, isn’t this something that has to be complimented?

Cronies and corruption

Under your tenure for 22 years, many crony politicians became wealthy beyond imagination and without being accountable for their wealth. Elected representatives and cabinet ministers declared their assets only to you and, according to certain well-informed circles, you had used this information to secure their unquestioning loyalty. That was how you had your way – it was your way and no other way!

We are reminded of the episode concerning the removal of Osman Aroff, the then Menteri Besar of Kedah, who had enjoyed the support of the majority of assembly members in Kedah. These assembly members went to see you, dear Tun, to plead for the retention of their MB. You, reportedly saw them individually and after that they all returned to Kedah abandoning Osman Aroff. Rumour had it then that you had a file on each of them and that forced them to fall in line behind you.

Dear Tun, Pakatan-controlled states of Selangor and Penang did something that you wouldn’t dare dream of doing. All their Exco members declared their assets publically. This is something that civil society of Malaysia has been campaigning for, for a very long time, claiming that this would curb corruption and check abuse of governance.

But you would not be persuaded. You wanted to be the sole privy to the corruption and abuse so that you would have absolute control over politicians holding public positions.

Many Malaysians, in the past, have worked loyally and faithfully and had contributed to the progress of this country. These old timers who retired many years ago are forced to struggle to live a hard life with their meagre pensions in these times of hardships. Their counterparts of modern times, on the other hand, draw reasonable pensions to lead a decent life. The hardships suffered by these senior citizens have not been addressed. Their contributions were not even acknowledged.

But the Pakatan government in Penang has been giving out RM100 once a year for the last three years to express their appreciation to these senior citizens. Admittedly, this isn’t very much but the very thought of appreciation really warms the hearts of these people. With the vast resources available to the BN, they are placed in a far better situation to do more to help these unfortunate people. But why, dear Tun, did the BN government not bother doing this? They could have shown a generous face and given more to these people with all the wealth at their disposal. But they did nothing!

Corruption has become so rampant that so much of our wealth is either lost or stolen to the detriment of the nation. Contracts given to crony companies with inflated costs have drained our wealth. Highway toll agreements, the Tajuddin-Malaysia Airlines out-of-court settlement, the rescue of Bank Rakyat and Bank Bumiputra, the reckless forex fiasco in the UK, the bungling Maminco tin-buying spree, to name a few – they have all resulted in the loss of billions of ringgit that could have alleviated the plight of the poor. These are, unfortunately, dear Tun, your legacies that brought terrible hardships for the homeless and the helpless.

Uplifting the people

You wouldn’t have open tenders for projects that would have saved billions of ringgit and secured the services of contractors with ability and proven expertise. That would have prevented some contractors from running away without completing their projects and ensured that buildings wouldn’t collapse because of poor workmanship and inferior materials. But repeated episodes of cheating contractors and uncompleted projects did not seem to disturb the conscience of those in charge. It was business as usual and billions of ringgit were regularly squandered without a care in the world.

On the other hand, now we have open tenders in the Pakatan states and Class F contractors are very happy and contented with this arrangement. According to these contractors, under the previous BN government, one had to have connections to get a contract and one had to give inducements to be considered favourably. Otherwise, getting contracts would have been impossible. But now, with open tenders, the deserving have been rewarded with contracts and they have delivered the completed projects on time. Isn’t this something that has to be appreciated, dear Tun?

Malaysian workers have been struggling for years for a minimum wage policy. The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has been championing this issue for decades. But it was opposed vehemently by the Malaysian Employers Federation, which wanted to reap hefty profits from the sweat of the workers. And the Malaysian government did not have the political will to implement the minimum wage policy. Thus we lost our local skilled workers and builders who left the country to work elsewhere. But the exploitation continues to this day with the employment of foreign workers.

Isn’t it praiseworthy that the Pakatan government in Selangor has implemented a minimum wage policy for all its employees in GLCs as from January this year? They are paid a minimum salary of RM1,500. Shouldn’t the employees enjoy the fruit of their labour, dear Tun?

Farmers in the new villages of Perak who have been tilling the land and growing vegetables and fruit for the country for generations were exploited and kept in a state of uncertainty as to their livelihood as they did not own the land. Every election this became a moot point for the farmers. Whether their TOL would be extended or cancelled was a worrying experience for these farmers. And when the BN wins the election in Perak, the TOL of these farmers would be renewed. The message was very clear. Vote for the BN or your TOL would not be renewed. They were beholden to the BN for the extension of their TOL.

The Pakatan government gave them the land titles and their dignity and freed them from their unnecessary anxiety. The rational was these farmers have been on the land for generations and have been serving the nation with their produce and they deserved the land titles. Isn’t this something wonderful that deserves to be congratulated, dear Tun?

Every voter who dies in Penang and Selangor is given RM1,000 and RM2,500 respectively for funeral expenses. This assistance is greatly appreciated, especially by the poor. For the first time a voter receives something very specific and substantial when he or she dies. This had never happened under BN rule. They bribe the living for their vote and forget them when they are dead. Under the Pakatan rule they take care of the living and the dead! Don’t they deserve a pat on their back, dear Tun?

All this caring and giving must make a great impact on the people. If given more time there will be other good policies that will benefit the people and perhaps make it difficult for the BN to make any headway in the future. Is that what is worrying you, dear Tun? Is this what you meant when you sounded the warning to the BN, “If we allow the situation to deteriorate, it will be difficult to repair”?

You have correctly foreseen the inevitable doom for the BN. You have realised that it will be difficult to undo the good deeds of the Pakatan. In comparison, the BN will be cast in poor light and cursed for neglecting the majority of the deserving Malaysians who are poor. You are seeing what is impending and you have the right to fear the inevitable, dear Tun!

P Ramakrishnan is the past president of Aliran

Dear America: My name is Khan. I'm not a terrorist

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan is one of the most famous men on the planet [Reuters]

He is one of the most famous men on the planet. Adored by millions. His films are almost always box office smashes. But when Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan travelled to the US on Thursday, he was detained by security for two hours while they checked out his "status".

Ironic, considering his biggest hit film was the story of a man determined to visit the US president and give him a very simple message: My Name is Khan and I'm not a terrorist.

The film is a powerful look at what it means to be Muslim in the land of the free and the home of the brave. I wonder if he told Homeland Security that he wasn't a terrorist.

He says he feels angry and humiliated. I know how he feels. In the last three years I have travelled to the US six times. Each time, bar one, I was stopped. I was asked to go to a holding facility and my passport was taken. You are asked to sit down by a polite but hostile official.

Don't use your mobile phone to call loved ones who might be waiting for you. Don't talk to the official who will studiously ignore you. Just wonder what you did to warrant such treatment.

I'm British Pakistani. I hold a British passport. I was born and brought up in the UK. I am not visibly Muslim. My religion or lack of it is my own affair and I don't have a criminal record.

Yet I feel as though that's exactly what I am. A criminal. Each time I sat in this holding facility I looked around at the people sat with me. Tired children. Harrassed parents worrying about what is going on. One time I even saw a near blind old man in wheelchair.

Occasionally I saw Europeans, but the vast majority of the time it was men between the ages of 18-45. I'm taking an educated guess with that figure. I didn't take a poll. They seemed to be of south Asian or Arab origin, and again I'm taking an educated guess.

Male. 18-45. Of south/central Asian or Arab origin. That's a massive demographic to tar with the same brush. Each time I was questioned by a Department of Homeland Security officer I was asked the same questions. What was I doing here? Who did I plan to visit?

Each time they would tell me that the procedure was routine, that they would get me out as soon as possible. From the Middle East, where I am based, to the US is a 14-hour flight. Every time I was tired, hungry and I could feel that I was about to get rattled. But shouting and getting angry would not have helped. These men are just doing the job.

It's the US that has a problem. It's simply in a tailspin when it comes to dealing with Muslims. In New York security cameras are pointed at mosques.

Recently revealed American security files show that if a cafe had a television screening Al Jazeera, then it was worthy of further investigation.

America, and I have seen this in British Muslim communities, is scaring the very people it needs to help it. Good US citizens who pay their taxes, vote and who love the country are concerned about what's happening.

I have a friend. There is nothing Muslim about her other than her name. She swears like docker and parties harder than Kanye West. She is Palestinian American. Even this young New Yorker, who is as American as it gets, right down to her Brooklyn accent, feels scared in the US.

She often says to me "Drink now, you never know when they might arrest you." She’s joking, of course. But "in vino veritas, in wine, truth" so goes the old saying.

Scared in your own country. Imagine what it feels like if you are a visitor and your first introduction to America is a welcome that says "We think you are a person worthy of further investigation". Imagine what it feels to not be able to call your loved ones who wait patiently outside the airport.

Shah Rukh Khan is one of the most famous men on the planet. He had the power of the Indian embassy to get him out of detention. We ordinary mortals are left to our own devices.

The US was brutally hurt by the events of September 11th 2001. But over a decade later it has not learned the lesson that its greatest asset is people.

If future attacks from a tiny but determined minority are to be stopped, then enlist the help and respect of those good people who share the name of the faith with the terrorists, but not their spirit.

Bersih 2.0 desak tukar Pesuruhjaya Pilihan Raya

Altantuya poser: 'She got visa for France in KL'

Can a Mongolian national be issued a visa to enter France while in Malaysia?

The answer is no, says a Foreign Ministry official from Mongolia, who is puzzled that Altantuya Shaariibuu obtained such a visa when in Malaysia - about one or two years before she was brutally killed.

The officer, who was in Malaysia with Setev Shaariibuu (left), the father of the murdered translator Altantuya, said Mongolians must apply for, and obtain, foreign visas in their own country, not abroad.

"There is no way anyone of us can get a visa while in another country. We will be told to return to our country to apply for it," the officer, who did not want to be named, told Malaysiakini.

At a meeting with human rights group Suaram on Monday, Setev had expressed bewilderment that his daughter's visa to enter France had been issued in Malaysia.

"Altantuya told me that she had obtained the visa and would be travelling to Germany before going to France," he said in the presence of Suaram activists, including its director Cynthia Gabriel.

"My daughter told me that Razak (Altantuya's companion - political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda) had requested the assistance of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak (then deputy prime minister and defence minister), and she was issued a visa under the name Amina Abdullah," he claimed.

"All these happened sometime between 2004 and 2005, before her death in 2006," Setev added.

Setev also claimed that Razak tried to obtain a visa for Altantuya to enter Britain through his contact at the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.

He said Altantuya told him that Razak's contact at the high commission had agreed to help her, but then she left Malaysia before she could get the visa.

Who was Amina?

During the 2007 murder trial of the two police officers who were charged with killing Altantuya, the name ‘Amina' cropped up as one of her ‘names' and speculation then was that Altantuya had married Razak and converted to Islam.

However, Setev had at that time refuted the claim, saying Mongolian parents would sometimes address their eldest or first-born child as ‘Amina', which means "my life, my own".

Setev was on a three-day visit to Malaysia to seek closure to his daughter's murder and has been pleading for an end to delays to a RM100 million civil suit he filed in 2007 for sufferings incurred by his family as a result of Altantuya's (right) untimely and cruel death.

He has named Razak, the two police officers who were subsequently convicted of murdering Altantuya - Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar - and the Malaysian government as respondents in his suit.

Razak was acquitted of abetting in Altantuya's murder without his defence being called, and the fact that the Attorney-General's Chambers did not file an appeal on this matter raised eyebrows.

Following Razak's acquittal, human rights NGO Suaram filed a case against French shipbuilder DCNS for allegedly paying kickbacks to top Malaysian officers.

The commissions were said to be for the purchase of two Scorpene submarines by Malaysia in an RM7.3 billion deal inked in 2002 when Najib was defence minister.

Setev has agreed to be a witness in the case, which he claimed is linked to his daughter's grisly murder. The court case has recently opened in France with two investigative magistrates being appointed.

Get Burmaa to testify

Setev also said that the French court should subpoena Altantuya's friend Burmaa Oyinchimeg, who was a witness in the murder trial of the police officers Azilah and Sirul, whose appeal against their conviction and death sentence is set for hearing in August.

Burmaa (centre in photo), who was the prosecution's sixth witness, caused a stir during her testimony when she said she had seen a photograph of Altantuya with Najib and Razak.

Najib has denied ever knowing or having met Altantuya, but Setev had insisted yesterday that he had also seen "with his own eyes" a photograph of Altantuya, Najib and Razak.

However, he said at his meeting with Suaram, Burmaa began fearing for her life after she testified in the Malaysian court and has since fled Mongolia.

Losing your religion?: ‘NADRA should not be deciding people’s faith’

" If a person says he is from a certain faith, NADRA should take his word for it," Executive director of the National Commission for Justice and Peace Peter Jacob.

LAHORE: Human rights activists have criticised the National Database and Registration Authority’s (NADRA) apparent policy to refuse to change ‘Islam’ as a person’s religion in their records.

MPA Rana Asif Mahmood was recently summoned by the courts to answer a petition seeking his disqualification from his Punjab Assembly seat reserved for minorities on the grounds that NADRA identified him as a Muslim in its records.

Mahmood told The Express Tribune that he was a Christian and NADRA had mistakenly identified him as a Muslim because of his name. He said NADRA had refused to rectify the error.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a NADRA official said that while a person could get their religion changed in the records from a religion other than Islam to another faith, the same could not be done if the person wanted to change their religion from Islam to another faith.

“If a person says he is from a certain faith, NADRA should take his word for it,” said Peter Jacob, executive director of the National Commission for Justice and Peace.

He said that he had come across other examples of NADRA misidentifying a person’s religion because of their name. He said that NADRA should rectify such mistakes if an applicant showed proof of their religion. “It’s as simple as showing a certificate from the church, which carries a record of people of the Christian faith,” he said.

NADRA Public Relations Officer Farrukh Mushtaq said though he was not completely sure, it was “very likely” that a request by a person identified as a Muslim to change their religion would not be accommodated.

“My understanding of the matter is that if stated by the person himself that he/she is a Muslim, the religion cannot be changed,” he said. However, he added that it the ID card recipient provided evidence of their religion and established that there had been a clerical error, the request would be entertained.

Mushtaq said that a clerical error was highly unlikely. “Data is cross checked several times in cases of identity card entries,” he said.

He said that once a person applied for an ID card and his particulars were recorded, they were sent a form for attestation. At this stage, the applicant could attest that the information was correct, or report that it was not.

Mahmood, however, said that he had noticed the error in the entry for religion in his attestation form and reported it to NADRA. He said that he received his ID card and it did not mention religion, so he assumed that NADRA had changed its records. However, when his son applied for an ID card last September, he was told that he could not put down Christianity as his religion because the records showed his father to be a Muslim.

Upon approaching NADRA officials for corrections, Mahmood said he was told that there was no provision for changing the religion entry. “I have since realised that many people whose names do not reflect their religion have suffered this problem,” he said.

Human rights activist Khalid Shah said that NADRA should review its policy. “With a stroke of a pen, a man is being forced to call himself a Muslim despite not being one,” he said.

He said that the courts should direct NADRA to rectify errors such as apparently occurred in Mahmood’s case. “Typographical errors costing a person his religion and then not being rectified – that’s very disturbing,” said Shah.

IA Rehman, the secretary general of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, said that there should be an investigation into why Mahmood had been put down as a Muslim in the first place, and why NADRA had refused to change it when Mahmood pointed it out to them. “If he can present evidence that he belongs to the Christian faith, he should not be troubled,” he said.

About NADRA’s policy to not change the religion entry if it were down as Islam, Rehman said it was “unfortunate and a violation of human rights”. He said that the policy appeared to be a reflection of customs prohibiting a Muslim from changing their religion, but it was still a violation of a person’s basic human rights.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2012.

Liow knows about MMC’s racism, says doc

A graduate of a Ukranian university accuses the minister of faking ignorance about the issue.

KUALA LUMPUR: A doctor who graduated from Crimea State Medical University (CSMU) today accused Heath Minister Liow Tiong Lai of lying when he denied knowledge that the government practised racial discrimination when sending students abroad for medical studies.

Dr A Subendran said he met Liow in 2009 and discussed the issue with him. He gave FMT a photograph showing him with the minister taken during the discussion.

“I met him at his office regarding recognition of CSMU by the MMC (Malaysian Medical Council),” he said, adding that he also told the minister of suspicions that the council’s policy on recognition of medical degrees was motivated by racist sentiments.

Speaking to reporters in Parliament on Monday, Liow rejected allegations that the MMC was practising a double standard in compelling students going to universities in Baltic countries to do a foundation course and exempting those going to Egypt and Jordan. The government sends only Malays to the Middle Eastern universities.

Dr Subendran said Liow promised to investigate the allegation of racism during the 2009 meeting.

On Monday, Liow, after denying that there was a double standard, said he would look into the matter.

Dr Subendran described the denial as “great acting” on the part of the minister.

He also said he wrote about the double standard in an email to Liow’s personal account on Aug 14, 2010, with copies to the Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Sidek Hassan and deputy ministers SK Devamany and A Kohilan Pillay. None of them responded, he added.

Dr Subendran forwarded a copy of the email to FMT. In it, he pointed out a 2007 news report about an education consultant explaining that the Sijil Peperiksaan Malaysia was adequate as an entry requirement into Egyptian medical programmes.

“So, it is crystal clear that MMC implements different sets of rules for Malays and non-Malays,” he said.

“But, the question now is, why is Liow pretending to be in the dark when he has solid evidence about the double standard?

“It seems to me that he is forced to lie to the media to save BN’s reputation as it heads for the general election.”

Deaths at NS camps taken lightly?

The NS programme needs a 're-evaluation' and cannot continue under the present circumstances which has left both the parents and trainees worried.


COMMENT



The country’s money-spinning and disastrous National Service (NS) programme has once again made news for the wrong reason. A trainee, R Vinoth, 18, last month died of suspected leptospirosis which is caused by rat poisoning.

Since its inception, the NS programme has been plagued with casualties and problems. Trainees had died due to food poisoning, had been raped, sexually assaulted, drowned and suffered fatal injuries during training.

There was even a racial brawl that broke out among the trainees and still the man who masterminded this ill-conceived programme, the then defence minister and current Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak finds no reason to re-evaluate or simply terminate the NS programme.

Between 2004 and 2008, a total of 339,186 youths had undergone NS training. Statistics show that as of June 2008, 17 deaths had taken place since the NS inception in 2004. Twelve trainees died in the camps and five others died during breaks or within days of completing their training.

Najib, even the present Defence Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, is least disturbed with the fatalities taking place during NS training. That explains Ahmad Zahid’s remark that the government had no plans to review the NS training programme following Vinoth’s death in the Terkok camp in Sungai Siput Utara in March.

“The call to suspend or to review the programme is a step backward. We know certain matters cannot be avoided,’’ was Ahmad Zahid’s reply to a supplementary question from Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) during question time in Parliament.

Is Ahmad Zahid through his “certain matters cannot be avoided” telling parents and future NS trainess that death at the NS camps is unavoidable? That is very creepy, coming from a minister looking after the nation’s safety.

How has re-evaluating or suspending a life-threatening programme become a step backward? It is Ahmad Zahid’s thinking that has to “progress” from its present state.

The most Ahmad Zahid decided to do was to omit water training modules for trainees slated for NS training next month. The Defence Ministry would now consider using swimming pools instead of man-made lakes for future water-based training activities.

Why no concern, Najib?

What will it take for Najib to acknowledge that the NS programme has done more harm than good? He continues to disregard calls for the programme to be axed as according to Najib, “many parties are involved”.

Just who are these “many parties” referred to by Najib? Who really is “benefiting” from the NS programmes – is it the “frightened” trainees or the suppliers of the various periphernalia related to the programme?

Is the NS free of cronyism and corruption? Have certain quarters been awarded lucrative deals in all things related to the NS?

Between 2004 and 2007, a sum of RM2.37 billion was spent on the NS programme. This despite Najib having said that the programme would not cost more than RM500 million a year.

In 2004 some RM608.6 million was spent, 2005 (RM604.8 million), 2006 (RM588.2 million) and in 2007, some RM565 million was spent.

Deaths at NS camps taken lightly

In trying very hard to safeguard the “interest” of those “many parties”, Najib in 2008 revealed his couldn’t-care-less attitude when he dismissed the deaths of NS trainees. The premier said just because 16 participants had died, there was no reason to terminate the NS programme.

To Najib, the 16 deaths represented a mere 0.004% of the 339,186 trainees who had gone through the programme since 2004.

“Out of the figure, 11 trainees died in the camps while another five died outside the camps. Of the deaths reported in the camps, seven were due to illnesses and four due to accidents,” was all that the prime minister could say.

On Feb 15, 2010, NS trainee, Mohd Zulhaili Noraihan, 18, died at the Kem Wawasan Ovai in Papar, Kota Kinabalu. The camp personnel were held responsible over the participant’s death, for their lackaidaisical attitude in providing medical aid.

In January last year, a Sikh NS trainee Basant Singh woke up horrified to see his long hair snipped while he was asleep at the training camp in Penang. No apology was tendered by the National Service and Training Department nor by Najib to the trainee, his family and the Sikh community over the incident which violated the Sikh religious rights.

Making matters worse was Najib’s domineering wife Rosmah Mansor who defended the NS programme. Why did she do that? Is the Najib family a “stakeholder” in the NS programme, that is, the “many parties involved”?

NS needs “re-evaluation”

The NS programme needs a “re-evaluation” and cannot continue under the present circumstances which has left both the parents and trainees worried.

The government’s arm-twisting manner in forcing youngsters to attend the NS training is clearly in the “best interest” of the “many parties involved”. Those who dodge training are liable to a fine of up to RM3,000 and or six months imprisonment. Exceptions are made strictly for those who have physical disabilities or serious medical ailments.

From the original two years to a year and finally reduced to six months, the NS programme was meant to forge camaraderie between the traineees and arrest racial polarisation that has pervaded schools, colleges and universities in Malaysia. Honestly, has the NS succeded in its objectives?

Instead, the lack of counsellors, imbalanced diet for the trainees, poor communication between the various secretariats and the absence of a code of conduct for camp commandants, directors, trainers, facilitators and supervisors have all contributed to NS being a flop.

The National Service and Training Department which comes under the Defence Ministry has failed to solve the most basic of concern, that of hygiene at the training camps, resulting in cases of food poisoning being reported every year.

In January 2009, 155 national service trainees at the Teluk Rubish camp near Lumut suffered from food poisoning after a meal of chicken chop at the camp’s canteen.

In 2005, fears were raised in Parliament about trainees being trained to use firearms, namely the M-16 rifles. Najib had claimed then that it was merely a pilot project but a DAP member revealed that the Parliamentary Select Committee on Unity and National Service had not been informed of the project. The firearms module has since become an official module in the programme.

The trainees are also not required to seek qualified medical opinion when submitting a health status declaration. While they are required to undergo training at government hospitals, this however is not effectively reinforced.

However, these “deficiencies” in the programme make no difference to Najib, who, in trying to portray the NS as a success, had then said:

“I would like to inform the House that the programme has been well-received by the rakyat despite the cases of death. The confidence of the rakyat shows through the applications to voluntarily take part in the programme which has increased from 929 applicants (2007) to 1,137 ( 2008 ).”

Would Najib and Ahmad Zahidi, ike the rest of the parents, face sleepless nights if it was their child drafted to do NS, which ever since its formation has been nothing short of a nightmare?

Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist.

More irregularities as EC continues ‘patch-up’ job

Bersih highlighted more irregularities in the latest electoral roll and repeated its demand for the EC's immediate resignation.

KUALA LUMPUR: Electoral watchdog Bersih today highlighted that there were 15,000 voters in Sabah who were re-registered in Selangor as well, according to the gazetted electoral roll of April this year.

It revealed this while highlighting several other irregularities which it spotted in the gazetted roll.

Specifically, Bersih found 15,520 voters from Sabah and 8,585 voters from Sarawak re-registered in Selangor.

When asked if these could just be the case of voters who have requested for a change of address, Bersih steering committee member, A Subramaniam Pillay was sceptical.

“The point is, these names should not be appearing twice [in the gazetted roll], before re-registering in an area. The EC should first delete [these names] from the list.

“The computer program has as such caught this. Why do we spend so much of money on a programming system which cannot detect such elementary issues?” he said.

When asked for specific cases of these re-registered voters, Bersih said that more information will be given in due time.

Other irregularities highlighted today were:

7, 841 voters were registered under Code 71 in Selangor alone. This code is used to refer to citizens born outside of Malaysia.

Numerous cases of more than 15 people registered under a single address.

In the last quarter of 2011, no deaths were registered in Sabak Bernam, Sungai Besar, Hulu Selangor and Tanjong Karang. (Such cases will be registered under Code 33.) However, a check with National Registration Department (NRD) revealed that death certificates were issued in these constituencies.

No deaths

Elaborating on the irregularities, Subramaniam said that it was highly dubious that there were no deaths in three months in a constituency.

“The data base really needs to be cleared… the EC is merely doing patch-up work here and there when the whole roll needs to be cleaned.

“If a bank’s database is this dirty, all of you won’t put money in the bank because all of your money won’t be secured,” he said.

Bersih steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah, who was also present, said that the point was that these irregularities still persisted.

“These irregularities should not occur… the EC says it is cleaning up the electoral roll but we are still discovering this kind of fraud,” she said.

Bersih repeated its demand for the EC officer bearers to resign immediately because the integrity of the electoral roll has been compromised.

“Instead of securing the one person, one vote, the EC has disenfranchised the rakyat’s votes through its complicity in the fraud shown above,” said the committee’s co-chairperson A Samad Said.

The irregularities have been taken from a study currently underway by political scientist Ong Kian Ming. The study is called Malaysian Electoral Roll Analysis Project (MERAP).

Behind veil of new bill, time bombs tabled

With the media focus being on the bill to replace the ISA, a DAP MP notes that the tabling of amendments to criminal laws went unnoticed.

GEORGE TOWN: The simultaneous tabling of amendments to the Penal Code, Evidence Act and Criminal Procedure Code were ticking time bombs, warned an opposition leader.

DAP Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong said the amendments had shaken public confidence in the Barisan Nasional federal government.

He said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s ticking time bombs were a rude awakening for Malaysians that the BN government had no intention of real change.

He said people’s trust in the government would erode when oppressive laws repealed with so much fanfare were replaced with equally, if not more, abhorrent legislation.

“The time bomb legislation offend the spirit of legal reform,” added the DAP international bureau secretary.

Liew said due to the main focus being on the introduction of the new Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill 2012 (SOSM) to replace the Internal Security Act, the simultaneous tabling of amendments to the criminal laws went unnoticed.

He said the amendments to the Penal Code portrayed a government operating under a cold war siege mentality, giving the authorities near martial law powers.

“BN’s cold war siege mentality is omnipresent,” he added.

The new Section 124B of the Penal Code created an offence known as “activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy”, which was punishable by 20 years imprisonment.

Section 130A defined it as “an activity carried out by a person or a group of persons designed to overthrow or undermine parliamentary democracy by violent or unconstitutional means.”

Under Section 124C, an attempt to commit an “activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy” was punishable by 15 years imprisonment.

Liew argued that the amendments opened the backdoor for questionable convictions violating human rights if misused by an irresponsible government.

“Fears of abuse are raised when a mere attempt to commit the crime is meted out such a heavy punishment,” he cautioned.

Media freedom under threat


He warned that freedom of media and information was under threat with the introduction of Sections 124D, 124E and 124F.

The amendments make it a crime to print, sell, possess or import documents and publications detrimental to parliamentary democracy.

With sketchy definition and a high penalty up to 15 years for printing under the amendments, Liew warned that opportunities were rife for government abuse to clampdown on literature deemed undesirable by the ruling party.

He said the definition “sensitive information” under the new Section 130A (i) was disturbing because it was so broad that it encompassed any document, information or material, whether or not it was classified as top secret, secret, confidential or restricted.

The section must be read together with Part IV of the new SOSM which introduced special procedures relating to sensitive information. It provides for in camera hearing in a trial involving sensitive information.

Under Section 8 (8) of the SOSM, decisions of the court under these procedures were non-appealable.

“This would allow the government to keep sensitive information out of the public eye, not even accessible to the media,” noted Liew.

He alleged that portions or elements of the ISA had also been smuggled into the Penal Code via the new amendments.

Comparatively, he said the words “counsels violent disobedience to the law or any lawful order” in the new Section 124H of the Penal Code were hauntingly similar to the definition of “subversive document” in Section 29 (3)(b) of the ISA.

“The terms ‘counseling disobedience to the law thereof or to any lawful order therein’ are chillingly reminiscent of the definition of ‘terrorist’ in Section 2 of the ISA,” he said.

Malaysia security bill threatens basic liberties: HRW

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia's proposed bill to replace a hated security law that allows indefinite detention without trial opens the door to a range of future abuses, Human Rights Watch warned Wednesday.

In September Prime Minister Najib Razak promised to repeal the colonial-era Internal Security Act (ISA) which in the past had been used against political opponents and suspected terrorists.

Najib, who took power three years ago, has been courting voters with polls expected to be called soon in what will likely be a tight battle against a resurgent opposition led by Anwar Ibrahim.

The new Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill was presented in parliament on Tuesday and if passed next week guarantees detainees access to a legal counsel after 48 hours.

It also prohibits arrest solely on the basis of "political belief or political activity".

"The Malaysian government is putting to rest the long-derided ISA, but it is also setting the stage for future abuses," HRW's deputy Asia director Phil Robertson said in a statement.

"While the new law has improvements, the authorities still hold too much power to detain people on broad grounds, for too long, and without judicial oversight," he said.

Robertson also said the new law would give the police broad powers to conduct searches without judicial warrants and permit police unilaterally to impose electronic monitoring devices on individuals released from detention.

"There are not nearly enough civil liberties protections written into this law," he said.

Robertson said the Security Offences Bill sets the stage for trials with secret witnesses, unlawfully obtained evidence, and continued detention of those found not guilty.

"The government should go back to the drawing board and draft a law with input from civil society that will ensure the protection of basic rights," he said.

Critics have said Najib's reform pledges are ploys to garner voter support after the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition suffered its worst performance ever during the 2008 polls.

© Copyright (c) AFP

ISA removed but sword of Damocles remains

Kim Quek - The Malaysian Insider

APRIL 12 — Many Malaysians may be pleased with the removal of the much-condemned Internal Security Act (ISA), but the sword of Damocles that hangs over the heads of opponents of ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) stays intact.

This is due to the embedment of two key elements in the newly-introduced Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill that will in reality allow arbitrary detention for many years.

These elements are the broad and vague definition of offences that fall under this Bill, and the loophole that will allow prolong and lengthy detention through exploitation of the judicial process.

The definition of security offences

Among the broad range of vague offences included under this Bill, are the threat to public order or security, and disaffection against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

That the vague ground of “prejudicial to public order or security” has been consistently and widely abused in ISA detention in the past is evident from the fact that, except for a few genuine cases, all the more than 10,000 individuals so detained are political dissidents, whose only “guilt” is their opposition to BN.

Prominent among them are Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Mat Sabu, Lim Guan Eng, just to mention a few. Who in their right mind would imagine that these leaders of outstanding integrity and steadfast principles would have done anything that would undermine the security of the nation?

As for offences against the Agong, isn’t it still fresh in our mind that in the run up to the Bersih 2.0 rally last year, the authorities detained six members of Parti Sosialis Malaysia for “waging war against the Agong”? That this is a concocted charge is self-evident when not an iota of evidence has been produced to substantiate the accusation to date.

If BN has thought fit to freely abuse these grounds of detention in the past, when their political power had always been secure, why should we assume that they wouldn’t do it now when their very political survival is hanging on a thread due to the vibrant rise of Pakatan Rakyat and the widespread public disillusionment over BN’s endless mega misdeeds and ineptitude?

Prolong detention through judicial process.

Though the Bill provides for the right of the detainee to go for trial within the first 28 days of detention, he may, however, not see freedom for many years to come. This is due to the provision of Section 30(1) whereby even when the detainee is acquitted by the court, his detention may continue uninterrupted, as the prosecutor is entitled to orally apply for appeal and ask for the detention to continue until all legal processes are exhausted.

Experience in the past tells us that if it so pleases BN, this legal process can take many years.

One example is Anwar’s first sodomy trial, which started in 1999 and ended five years later in 2004, and even that duration was considered shortened thanks to former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s resignation in 2003.

This is evident from the fact that the sodomy trial took four years to travel from the High Court to the Court of Appeal, but only one year from there to the Federal Court where the conviction was overturned in 2004, after Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over as premier in November 2003.

A more recent example is the murder trial of Altantuya Shaariibuu, with which Prime Minister Najib Razak is said to be entangled. The trial started in January 2007, but the appeal has not even heard in the Court of Appeal five years later, and looks set to be further delayed until after the next general election. Obviously, someone up there does not want it to be heard so soon for obvious reason.

There is not the slightest doubt that our judiciary, along with all other state institutions, are subject to illegitimate political manipulation.

With that in mind, how can we be not worried that any of BN’s opponents may be arbitrarily arrested under a pseudo crime in the Bill and kept in prison indefinitely while the legal process goes on endlessly?

No justification for new bill

The point is that the premise upon which the Bill is based as cited in the preamble — that the security of the country is under threat — is false, hence there is no justification to introduce this Bill, following the repeal of ISA.

To justify the Bill, BN has to satisfactorily explain precisely the threats that the nation has been facing.

It is common knowledge that we have not been threatened nor do we foresee threats from any foreign country — not even in the remote future.

Neither is there the slightest evidence of any internal plot from any quarter to overthrow the government by force or to inflict mass violence.

The only possible threat that may justify the introduction of preventive law is international terrorism, for which we must have a precise definition for “terrorism” — unlike the wide ranging and non-defined offences included in the Bill — so as to eliminate abuse of the law. For such guidance, we can look to the existing conventions of the United Nations, which is in tune with universally accepted values.

As for all other offences — even those arising from racial and religious friction — we have ample existing laws to deal effectively with them.

What we lack now is not good laws but good implementation with integrity.

In conclusion, this latest legislative initiative hyped by Najib as “heralding a golden democratic age in Malaysia” in his speech during the installation of the Agong on April 11, is but another gimmick to woo the middle ground ahead of the polls without actually reforming BN’s repressive power.

Malaysia, Britain Concur On Importance Of Moderation In Eradicating Extremism

SEMENYIH, April 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Britain are on the same page with regard to moderation being a key element in eradicating extremism and achieving global security.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak pointed out that it was important to tackle terrorism in the minds of the people first.

"I'm against the use of the word 'war' against terrorism because war is just using military might, and we can't put down extremism, fanatism and terrorism just by using military might," he said when delivering his Global Movement of Moderates (GMM) Foundation special address at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, here, Thursday.

Najib spoke in the presence of his British counterpart, David Cameron, who is on a two-day visit to Malaysia.

The Malaysian leader took the opportunity to drive home the point that Islam was inherently and fundamentally a moderate religion which rejected extremism and respected other faiths.

Najib noted that despite being at the fringes, extremists were the ones who were making the loudest voice and tried to occupy centre stage.

"If we the moderates don't speak up and articulate our views, then people on the fringes and extremists will occupy centre stage. This is where we'll lose out.

"And that's why we've called for the GMM so that moderates across all faiths will speak up, articulate and drown out the voice of the extremists," he said.

Meanwhile, Cameron said he was keen to share the GMM platform with Najib since the latter's visit to London last year where he delivered a speech on this matter at Oxford University.

He pointed out that democracy and moderation went hand in hand, and Malaysia had proven this to be true.

Cameron said democratic foundation was the greatest threat to extremism, and also a vital foundation for moderation.

While stressing that terrorism was not linked exclusively to any one religion or ethnic group, the British leader said Islam and Islamic extremism were not the same.

"They are completely different and we need to be clear on this point. Islam is a religion of peace observed by over one billion people. Islamist extremism is a political ideology.

"It's vital to make this distinction between religion and extremist political ideology because time and again community has equated these two," he said.

Cameron observed that there was a need for the world to be clear that the real divide was between political moderates and political extremists.

"Let's be clear about the reality of the threats we face from Islamist extremists. Terrorist attacks do not represent Islam, and any misrepresentation is a source of great anguish to the vast majority of Muslims," he added.

Rich-poor gap widens across Asia

The divide between the rich and the poor is widening in countries across Asia. 
 
“Of the 28 countries that have comparative data between the 1990s and 2000s, 11 — accounting for about 82% of developing Asia’s population in 2010 — experienced rising inequality of per capita expenditure or income, as measured by the Gini coefficient,” reports the Asian Development Bank.

Source: Asian Development Bank

As the global economy slows, the labour market is expected to soften in Malaysia.
Wage are being suppressed by the policy of importing foreign workers and paying them low wages, and this is aggravated by high levels of household debt compared to disposable income.
Neo-liberal policies are contributing to the trend. Privatisation and higher tariffs for essential services, lower taxes for the rich and large corporations, policies that favour Big Business and removal of subsidies on essential goods and services for the poor have widened the rich-poor divide.
The prices of fruit, vegetables and housing are soaring as well.
Expect conditions to become increasingly difficult for low-income workers.