Under-fire Ahmad Zahid says tough stand on crime based on “universal humanitarian” grounds

Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) defended his tough anti-crime stand which has been strongly criticised by politicians and civil society.

In a live 20-minute interview with news channel Astro Awani today, he said, his tough, no-nonsense stand was based on "universal humanitarian" grounds.

Ahmad Zahid explained that "humanitarian" in his context meant safeguarding the rights of both civilians and policemen, who were victims of violence.

The minister, who is under fire for endorsing a "shoot first" policy, added that the amendments to the Prevention of Crime Act (PCA), another sore point among politicians and rights groups, were because he is "answerable to Allah".

"Shootings every day, murders almost every week. This needs to be dealt with," he said.

"If I don't do something, not only will the public question my credibility, but on Judgement Day, Allah will question me. My biggest responsibility is to take care of the rakyat."

Ahmad Zahid, however, did not comment on his "shoot first" policy which he had made in a statement at an Umno function in Malacca last week.

He said he respected all opinions but questioned why was the focus only on legal aspects.

"What about humanitarian aspects?" he asked.

"Has any opposition MP or human rights activist visited the family of a police officer who died while on duty recently?"

On the PCA, Zahid said the critics were afraid that it would replace the repealed Internal Security Act, Emergency Ordinance and Restricted Residence Act.

"Those are for criminals, who should be the enemy of all, opposition or not, NGO or not," he said, insisting that the PCA will not be used against political opponents and that there should be "no fear over differing opinions".

Zahid: 'Shoot first' remark refers to Penang shooting

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claimed his infamous "shoot first" remark was in reference to the fatal shooting of five suspected mobsters in Penang on August 19 by the police.

"I was referring to what happened in Penang, where five (suspected) criminals were killed by the police, because according to information (obtained from police) intelligence (revealed) that (the suspects) were armed.

"I said that the statement by a deputy minister was that to fire warning shots before the actual ones.

"I think that is not the SOP applied by the police because the (suspected) criminals were armed.

"Is the police only allowed to defend themselves after they are shot? If that is the case, surely a lot of police will die if we do so.

"What I have stated (in Malacca) was the readiness of the police because early information suggests that the criminals must be eradicated.

"To me, 'shoot first, ask questions later' does not arise. This is wild statement made by 'them'," he said.

Following this, the interviewer sought to confirm if the shooting happened after the intelligence gathering was "100 percent" sure that they were armed, to which Zahid replied in the affirmative.

Zahid added that some of the suspected criminals from the group that was shot in Penang had escaped to Perak but an operation against them had to be called off because women and children were present.

"Because we don't want collateral damage to others. We didn't highlight that. If we did, they will spin it into something else," he told Astro Awani in an interview today.

Challenge to Bar Council

Ahmad Zahid said the context of what he said would have been made clear if a certain news portal had published his controversial speech in its entirety.

Zahid was referring to Malaysiakini's report on Monday on his recent speech on Saturday in Malacca, where he ordered journalists not to report his speech, while threatening to close down any newspaper that did not comply.

During his speech, Zahid said Malays were often the victim of crime and that "the best way is not to compromise with them. Don't give them warnings. (Once) we have evidence, we shoot first."

This portion of the speech can be heard here, while the full recording of the speech can be heard here.

Although Zahid never made it explicitly clear at the time that the "shoot first" remark referred to the shooting in Penang, he did immediately segue into criticising deputy minister P Waythamoorthy for claiming that the police should have fired warning shots first.

However, Zahid claimed in his interview with Astro Awani that his criticisms against Waythamoorthy and the "shoot first" remark was intertwined.

During the interview, Zahid also challenged the Bar Council to take action against him under the Sedition Act 1948.

Zahid: I'm doing this for humanity and Allah

Under fire for endorsing a 'shoot first' policy by the police, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi justified his strong anti-crime stance on "universal humanitarian" (kemanusiaan sejagat) grounds.

In a live interview with Astro Awani, today, he added that the amendments to the Prevention of Crime Act (PCA) criticised by rights groups, was done because he is "answerable to Allah".

"Shootings every day, murders almost every week. This needs to be dealt with. If I don't do something, not only will the public question my credibility, but on Judgement Day, Allah will question me," he said.

By "humanitarian", Ahmad Zahid (left) said he is thinking of the rights of victims of crime and police who are victims of criminal violence.

"My biggest responsibility is to care for the majority of the rakyat. I appreciate differing views from the Opposition, bloggers and news portals.

"In this emancipation and transformation process, all opinions are celebrated, but why must we only focus on the legal aspects? What about humanitarian aspects?" he asked.

Chiding disregard for police welfare, he pointed out that not a single human right defender or opposition MP visited the family members of a police officer who died in the line of duty recently.

"They (the critics) feel the PCA is replacing the Internal Security Act, Emergency Ordinance and Restriction Residence Act. This is for criminals, who should be the enemy of all, opposition or not, NGO or not," he said.

He also insisted that the PCA will not be used against political opponents and there should be "no fear over differing opinions".

The 20-minute interview on Analisis Awani, however, did not touch on the minister's endorsement for police to shoot down suspected criminals, even before they are charged in court.

Ahmad Zahid made international news, and has been slammed by rights groups, after a recording of him saying that at a government event, was made available to Malaysiakini.

Extrajudicial killings barbaric, says MIC leader

There is no room for extrajudicial killings in a civilised nation, says MIC treasurer Senator Jaspal Singh.

Even in the Old West, Jaspal saind, wanted posters for outlaws would give their would-be captors the option of bringing them in 'dead or alive'.

"If it is indeed true that the home minister has said that suspected gangsters in Malaysia would be shot without warning, then it is a very disturbing statement indeed," he noted.

Jaspal (left) was responding to the remarks made by Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during an event in Malacca that suspected criminals should be shot first.

The MIC leader pointed out that the most obvious argument against such a precipitate policy was that the suspected criminal might be innocent, have been set up or framed.

"In such a case, the state would be executing, without trial, an innocent man. If indeed the suspect is guilty, that is still no justification for killing him in cold blood. He can be arrested and charged if there is proof," Jaspal added.

If there was a lack of evidence, he said, the amendments to the Prevention of Crime Act had armed the Home Ministry with the option of detaining suspects without trial for two years.

"What is the point in voting for the PCA amendments if such murderous tactics are going to be employed?" he asked.

Jaspal pointed out that the best possible criminal justice system in the world was the one practised today, where an accused, particularly one facing capital punishment, is given every opportunity to defend himself and to appoint the lawyer of his choice.

"The death sentence can only be pronounced by the court in strict accordance with the law. No other individual may carelessly appropriate for himself so awful a power.

"If such is allowed, we will become and be viewed as a barbaric nation. We may or may not reclaim our streets from the strutting thugs, but we would have lost our soul as a nation.

"The police force is well-trained and equipped to handle all kinds of criminals. A 'surrender first' policy would be the way to go,"
he added.

'Don't give crime a racial twist'

Jaspal was also surprised that the home minister (right) could imply that crime victims were mostly Malays while the "villains" were Indians or Chinese.

"I do not believe there is any truth in this and I am sure there are no statistics to back up such claims. There are only victims and perpetrators and it should not be turned into a racial issue.

"In the case of a large number of Indians involved in gangsterism, the government should look into the root causes. It is a well known trend throughout the world that gangsterism and underground activities prevail among the marginalised communities.

"The Indian community in Malaysia is no different. They have been left out of mainstream development," he added.

While Jaspal said he understood that this was the "silly season of party elections" and outlandish statements from politicians intent on casting themselves as race champions were expected, however, "it was wrong to demonise the Indians in this cynical political game."

“This would strain the fragile fabric of our inter-racial relations, and it is downright irresponsible,” he warned, calling on Zahid to explain himself as the people have been quite alarmed.

Charge Zahid with instigating murder, say lawyers

The home minister's call to the police to gun down suspected criminals has earned the wrath of a group of legal eagles who demanded that Ahmad Zahid Hamidi be arrest and prosecuted for instigating murder.

In a statement today, Lawyers for Liberty said it was both "deeply concerned and disturbed" by the criminal nature of Zahid's "shoot first" remark.

"It is disturbing that our home minister has given his endorsement to all law enforcement officers to mete out death sentences to suspected offenders on the street, without due process.

"It is evident that the home minister is unaware of the basic concepts of the rule of law that underpin our justice system and has chosen to trample on the federal constitution and human rights.

"Fundamental principles of the right to life, liberty, fair trial, due process and innocence until guilt is proven are concepts that appear to be alien to the home minister, which is a cause for alarm for all Malaysians," said the group's legal/campaign coordinator Michelle Yesudas.
Najib must act
Yesudas also noted that Zahid's stand was reflected in his adamant views on welcoming back detention without trial, by taking ownership of the draconian amendments to the Prevention of Crime Act.

By encouraging law enforcers to "shoot first", she said, the home minister was effectively ordering policemen and officers to disregard the criminal justice system, due process and was legitimising the cold-blooded murder of "suspects" without them being brought before a court.

Furthermore, Lawyers for Liberty found it ironic that a minister so bent on curbing gangsterism with preventive detention laws and "shoot to kill" policies did not hesitate to befriend the gangsters of Tiga Line.

"His statement disregards and disrespects the tragic deaths of many innocent Malaysians and their long suffering families, such as Aminulrasyid, the Glenmarie Trio, the Cheras Trio, Dinesh Dharmasena and Pua Bee Chun, to name a few," said Yesudas.

Lawyers for Liberty also called on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to take stern action against ministers who display such disregard for human lives and civil liberties.

The organisation was responding to the controversial remarks made by Zahid during an event in Malacca last week.

Dr M wants ministers to quit due to their failures

With the recent revelation of the government’s incompetence and mismanagement in the Auditor-General’s Report 2012, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed wants the respective ministers to resign due to their failures.

Speaking in a press conference after visiting the MRT Cochrane underground station, he said that the government must correct the mistakes highlighted in the report, and should charge the people concerned “or they will lose their jobs, including the ministers”.

“You know in Japan, when a plane crashes at an airfield, the transport minister has to resign.

“(But) in Malaysia, (the minister will say) that’s not my business. I hope to see more resignations,” said Mahathir.

He also jokingly said that he decided to resign as the prime minister because of his failure.

“I resigned because I failed,” he quipped.
Noting that the same mistakes also happened in other countries, Mahathir opined that the Auditor-General’s Department should be strengthened so that it can constantly monitor what is happening regarding the mistakes pointed out in the report.

“We should follow-up and see whether corrections have been made or not, identifying the mistakes and hoping the people will correct their errors,” he added.

Won’t Najib say anything?

What is causing Umno leaders such insecurity that makes them desperate enough to want to spill blood among Malaysians?
COMMENT

The spirit of muhibbah Malaysians so very cherished once upon a time is now a thing of the past. Living in Malaysia in today’s time entails putting up with racist and selfish politicians who have seemingly embarked on a ‘divide and rule’ agenda.

It is not just the present Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who has earned the wrath of the rakyat for his pernicious remarks over ”Indian gangsters hunting down the Malays”.

There is also the deputy prime minister who is also the Education Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin. Like Zahid, the DPM has never shied away from revealing his ultra Malay sentiments, never failing to make the non-Malays uncomfortable with his ‘ganyang’ (crush) the Chinese and Indians remarks.

Then there is Mohd Ali Rustam, the former chief minister of Malacca who serves as the classic example of the ‘sour grapes’ idiom when he blamed the Chinese for his defeat in the May 2013 general election and later accused the Chinese of allegedly being involved in illegal businesses.

Zahid’s predecessor, Hishammuddin Hussein too was all gung-ho about ‘defending’ Malay rights and privileges. He broke all traditions by hinting severe repercussions via the keris should anyone dare touch on the Malay sensitivities.

Just why are these politicians going berserk over their religion and all-things Malay is mind boggling.

What is causing them such insecurity that makes them desperate enough to want to spill blood among Malaysians?

The people have not forgotten Hishammuddin’s rantings and threats to the non-Malays. Neither will the rakyat forgive Muhyiddin for trying to incite the Malays against the Chinese and the Indians.

And now, it is Zahid with his irresponsible act of blaming the Indians for “hunting down” the Malays.

Among others, Zahid in a speech in Malacca last Saturday reportedly stated that it was okay for the police to proceed with a ‘shoot first’ policy against suspected criminals if they had the evidence.

Zahid added that the majority of gangsters were from the Indian community and the victims were Malays and therefore there was nothing wrong in arresting or shooting them.

While the Umno vice-president’s speech is still drawing a slew of reactions with some declaring it as “racist remarks”, the man who claims he has the rakyat’s best interest at heart is silent, a ‘standard operating procedure’ Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak seems to hide into.

‘Lawless’ to Umno politicians

More often than not it is the Umno politicians who continue to act brashly, breaking all rules and cultural sensitivities.

The reason why they thrive on playing bullies is because they believe they enjoy some form of immunity. To blame the minority community of turning murderers against the dominant race is a very dangerous presumption, one which definitely makes the racial harmony agenda a joke in the eyes of the rakyat.

The latest racial tension caused by Zahid has prompted calls for him to be removed as the Home Minister. But will Najib adhere to them? Or for that matter what are the chances that Najib will take any action against Zahid?

DAP MP Teresa Kok has defined Zahid’s remarks as “extremely dangerous views” while others see it as an “abuse of power” and as “insensitive remarks”.

However, in the typical Umno fashion, there is no way Zahid will be shown the door by Najib. And nothing is going to change as far as the Umno politicians are concerned – they are going to continue harassing, threatening and insulting the non-Malays.

What next for the non-Malays?

Former Malaysian Bar head S Ambiga says it is time Umno’s partners under the Barisan Nasional coalition made an exit from the party ‘out of self-respect’.

The question is do Gerakan, MIC and MCA have enough self-worthiness left to dump Umno for greener pastures? Is this latest racial attack by yet another Umno politician not humiliating enough for the trio?

Ambiga who is also electoral watchdog Bersih co-chairperson is puzzled as to why Umno’s allies in BN, the country’s federal ruling political force, rather keep their mouths shut, stay put in the ruling coalition and tolerate such despicable behaviour.

“After hearing the home minister, I really want to know what MCA and MIC are doing in BN. Have some self-respect please and walk out!” she said in a Twitter posting on Tuesday.

Walking out en masse is not a difficult step, not when enough verbal abuse and insults have been endured. But sadly, MIC, Gerakan and MCA have become Umno’s ‘Pavlov’s dogs’, unable to think for themselves.

Until Umno’s allies in BN come clean and accept the fact that they have withstood enough humiliation from Umno, there is no stopping the United Malay National Organisation in damning the ‘lain-lain’ (other) races in the country.

Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist.

Sanjeevan probed by Bukit Aman police

MyWatch chairman is being investigated for a tweet that said the bullet recovered from his body was the type used by the police.

PETALING JAYA: The police are investigating MyWatch chairman R Sri Sanjeevan over a tweet on Sept 30 in which he said that the .38 bullet recovered from his abdomen was similar to that used by the police.

Sanjeevan said he received information from a police source but declined to name the officer for security reasons.

A team of four senior police officers from Bukit Aman and Ampang district police took 45 minutes to recorded the statement from Sanjeevan at the Tropicana police station.

Present at the the interrogation was PKR Legal Bureau head Latheefa Koya.

Police are also investigating the anti-crime activist for extortion after three reports were made against him.

In the first report on Aug 17 in Triang, Pahang, a shopowner said two Indians posing as Special Branch (SB) officers approached him to collect protection money.

Two more similar reports were made in Bahau, one in June by a cake shopowner and the other on Aug 26, by a massage parlour operator.

According to Latheefa, the police interrogators did not show the content and the names of the complainants.

Sanjeevan remained silent throughout the interrogation.

Latheefa said there was no direct link in all the three reports because Sanjeevan’s name was not mentioned by the complainants.

“Police are investigating only on suspicion and why are they doing this after his attempted assassination?,” she asked.

Latheefa said there were no arrest made on Sanjeevan’s hitmen, but the police were quick to investigate him on something baseless.

“Are they trying to frame him because he exposed some corrupted police officers from Malacca and Negeri Sembilan?” she asked.

The interrogators said Sanjeevan would be further questioned by investigating officers from Pahang and Negeri Sembilan as there could be an identification parade to further assist the case.

The MyWatch chairman calls this a further harassment by the police and trying to delay his case.

Sanjeevan said he wanted an answer from the police on his attempted assassination and not to throw baseless allegations on him.

The anti-crime chief’s father, P Ramakrishnan, said he was disappointed with the police for not making any arrest on his son’s attempted murder.

He also said he had not received a copy of the ballistic report on the bullet that was taken to Cheras Forensic Laboratory.

Ramakrishnan showed a SMS received from IGP Khalid Abu Bakar that the Bukit Aman police had taken over the investigation and would do the best to arrest the hitmen.

“But so far no one was arrested,” he said, hoping the police will carry out their duty in a professional manner.

Sanjeevan was shot in the abdomen on July 27 at his hometown, Bahau, Negeri Sembilan by two men on a motorcycle.

Memorandum to IGP to protest NGO leader’s arrest

Kampung Bunga Raya longhouse residents' recent peaceful protest saw the arrest of an NGO leader, leading the residents to hand a memorandum to the IGP today in protest of the arrest.

KUALA LUMPUR: Led by NGO Malaysian Tamilan Today, Kampung Bunga Raya longhouse residents submitted a memorandum to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) at Bukit Aman today in protest of the NGO vice-president’s recent arrest.

Insp Nurleen Hannah Abdullah of the Communications Department of the Police Headquarters, Bukit Aman received the memorandum on behalf of the IGP, from the 20 residents who turned up.

In the memorandum, the group demanded an explanation from the police over the arrest of the NGO vice-president K. Gunasekaran during a peaceful assembly at the settlement on Monday.

The assembly was held to protest their eviction from the longhouse which was supposed to be their temporary shelter after they were uprooted from their homes also in the area for development with the promise that low-cost flats would be built for and sold to them at a discount.

The 118 families had been squatting at the longhouse for 22 years without the promised low-cost flats in sight and moves from the government, political parties and developer to resolve the issue.

A police officer who turned up at the event told the crowd to disperse, which led to a squabble between Gunasekaran and the officer when the former asked for his identification, leading to the former’s arrest.

Following Gunasekaran’s arrest, 23 longhouse dwellers lodged a police report against the police themselves for what they claimed were police intimidation and unlawful arrest.

Following his arrest, Gunasekaran urged he IGP to investigate the matter claiming that the police was abetting the developer in oppressing the longhouse residents.

MIC’s ‘hidden hand’ manipulates div polls

There are claims that ineligible candidates and even bankrupts were allowed to contest and win in division polls with the “hidden hand” of top MIC leaders.

PETALING JAYA: Certain MIC party leaders have manipulated the outcome of the division polls, said a party source.

This was following allegations that the winners are not even eligible to contest in their division elections.

A senior party leader told FMT that the leadership’s decision to uphold the election results for the posts of Kota Raja division chairman and Petaling Jaya Selatan youth chief had created unhappiness among party members.

It is reported that Taman Maznah branch chairman S Sandirashegran, is elected as the new chairman for Kota Raja division after defeating incumbent RS Maniam in a straight fight.

While in Petaling Jaya Selatan, A Premnath, the party youth wing deputy secretary, was elected as division youth leader after his opponent pulled out as a sign of protest.

A veteran leader from Selangor, who wish not to be named, claimed that both Sandirashegran and Premnath are not qualified to contest.

According to him, Sandirashegran is alleged to be a bankrupt since 2010, while Premnath does not meet the criteria set in the party constitution.

The source also forwarded a set of documents to FMT via email to prove his allegations.

The documents, dated Oct 4, 2013, shows Sandirashegran, who is better known as “Taman Maznah” Sandiran, was declared a bankrupt by the Department of Insolvency on Jan 19, 2010.

“Article 93 of the party’s constitution reads that under the Registration of Criminals Act, 1967, a party member who is declared as bankrupt is prohibited from contesting any post in the party elections,” said the source.

“Thus, Sandiran is not eligible to contest. But, a ‘hidden hand’ helped him to contest,” he added.

When contacted, Sandiran claimed that he has settled his debt. However, he said he wondered why the Insolvency Department had not update his status.

“I will pursue this matter legally,” he told FMT.

‘I am qualified’

In Premnath’s case, he was not eligible to contest the division youth chairman post as he did not meet the criteria. The candidate for division youth chief must hold a branch youth leader’s post for at least one full term.

But the documents provided to FMT indicates that Premnath has not held any post since joining MIC, until he transferred his membership from Selayang to the Petaling Jaya Selatan division.

“He joined MIC before 2008, in deputy minister P Kamalanathan’s branch as an ordinary member. However, later he transferred his membership to Petaling Jaya Selatan,” said the insider.

“A check on the list of 2009-2012 for the youth membership also shows that he has not served as branch youth chief for one full term. Hence, he is not qualified to contest in the elections,” added the party insider.

The source also urged party secretary-general A Sakthivel to come out in the open and clarify the allegations.

When contacted, Premnath dismissed claims that he was ineligible to contest for the division youth post, stressing that he was a MIC branch leader in the last term, from 2010 to 2013.

“I was the deputy youth leader for the Petaling Jaya Barat MIC branch in the previous term. Based on party regulations, a deputy youth leader or the youth leader is eligible to contest for division youth leadership,” he said.

He also cited Article 44.1 of the party constitution to support his case.

Article 44.1 reads: “Only members of the division youth council and delegates to the divisional youth delegates’ conference shall be eligible to stand for election for in the mentioned in by-laws 43.2 and 43.3. Provided, however, that candidates desiring to contest for the post of divisional youth leader must have served as branch youth leader or branch deputy youth leader for at least one full term (three years)

Premnath said he had also obtained a letter from MIC youth secretary C Sivaraajh to confirm his eligibility to run for the division youth post.

“And if I was not qualified, my nomination papers would not have been accepted during the polls,” he said.

Now Shahidan defends another Malay gang

After 'Tiga Line' was labelled as benevolent gangsters by the home minister, an Umno supreme council candidate says Gang 30 is a charity organisation.

PETALING JAYA: In the wake of Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi calling ‘Tiga Line’ as benevolent gangsters and his friends, another Umno leader has stepped up to defend Gang 30.

Minister in Prime Minister’s Office Shahidan Kassim claimed that Gang 30, which was declared an illegal outfit, is a charity organisation offering assistance to poor Malays during festivities and burials.

Shahidan, who is also the former Perlis menteri besar, said that Gang 30 were merely practising Malay culture and tradition.

However in August, the Home Ministry, had listed Gang 30 as an illegal secret society. In addition, the ministry also listed the group in the Top 5 of illegal secret societies among 49 secret societies.

Apart from Tiga Line, the other Malay secret societies named by the Home Ministry were Double 7 and Gang 30. Only three Malay gangs were named by the ministry.

Tiga Line and Gang 30 are believed to have links with Malay NGO Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Pekida), which in turn is strongly linked with Umno.

The two groups are alleged to be involved in drug distribution, car-jacking and night-club protection.

At a security briefing with community leaders last weekend, Zahid was reported as saying that the Tiga Line members were not thugs and endorsed their activities.

In a Malaysian Insider report yesterday, Shahidan claimed that he was not aware the existence of Tiga Line and suggested that Ahmad Zahid Hamidi may have been referring to Gang 30 instead.

Critics have slammed Umno leaders such as Zahid for playing up the race card in order to gain support for the Umno polls on Oct 16.

PPR units available, applicants told otherwise

FMT discovered there were 20 vacant units during a visit with an applicant and her family who are staying in her mum's unit at the site, confirming that there are empty lots.

KOTA DAMANSARA: People’s Housing Project (PPR) flats applicants claimed that they have to endure long wait for their units despite lots of available units.

FMT surveyed the site and found that there were about 20 vacant units at PPR Section 8 in Kota Damansara and the applicants told FMT that no reason was given for the delay.

A 24-year-old mother of two, Nitya Chandiran, whose total household income was about RM1,200, said she and her family had been living in her mother’s unit at the PPR Section 8.

“My husband is also living with us and we had applied for a unit in the same place. However, we were told to wait for two years,” Nitya told FMT.

When she approached the local town council Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya’s (MBPJ) office on the matter, she was told that individual PPR management offices are in charge of unit allocation.

And when she checked with the management office, she was told that she had to wait as those who applied for units two years ago were still waiting for their lots.

“The management office staff also told us that many were rundown units. Since we are living in one of those flats, we know that there are some decent vacant units,” Nitya said, adding that she was willing to repair a rundown unit if she was given one.

However, another applicant Malathi Rajoo, 44, said there were many vacant units, and that he believed that one person had taken a number of the available units.

“We have seen Indonesians living here and probably they had been sub-renting it from someone,” she said.

Malathi Rajoo, who took FMT on a tour of the area, also explained that some houses are used to store junks when it could be used as homes.

“PPR flats are for the poor and if the rich are renting it out, then it defeats the purpose of building these flats. Irresponsible parties are commercialising it,” she added.

Another applicant, Parimala Mukeyah, 31, was also in the same boat of being told to endure a long wait for her unit.

“My husband is sick and I am working to support my family. All I need is a flat to bring up my three children and to nurse my husband back to health. We are currently staying with our extended family and urgently need a place of our own,” she said.

Parimala who worked in a school canteen to support her family had applied for a unit three months ago but was told by the management office that there was no available unit.

‘Najib would not boycott CHOGM’

An ex-parliamentarian claims that the PM would not do so because human rights means little to the Putrajaya administration.

GEORGE TOWN: A former parliamentarian claims that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak would not boycott the coming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka because the Tamil sentiments and human rights issues mean little to the Putrajaya administration.

Indeed, former Teluk Intan MP M Manogaran said Malaysia would do all it could to please the Sri Lankan government despite the civil war past between Sinhalese-dominated Sri Lanka government and Tamil minority population living in the northern peninsular of the island republic.

He recalled that Najib had previously remained silent on the strong protest from Malaysian Tamils and other Malaysians in 2012 to object the participation of Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapakse in an economic forum in Johor Baru. Eventually Rajapakse himself decided not to attend the forum.

He also noted that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was the first government leader to announce that he would not attend the 23rd CHOGM to be held in Colombo between Nov 15 and 17.

Harper – who was in an official visit to Malaysia just last week – has stated that Rajapakse and his government must first answer for the human rights violations in Sri Lanka.

Manoharan insisted that Rajapakse must answer for the war crimes he was accused of although no formal charges had been brought against him.

“Will the Malaysian Prime Minister follow the Canadian Prime Minister’s footsteps?

“It is highly unlikely because Tamil sentiments and human rights issues are of little importance to Malaysia,” Manogaran said in a statement here today.

He also called on the CHOGM to be either moved to another country or cancelled altogether to avoid the whole Commonwealth from being “tainted with the blood of innocent victims” if the summit went ahead as scheduled in Colombo.

He said the attendance of leaders of Commonwealth countries in the Sri Lanka summit would be a slap in the face of people who loved peace, democracy, good governance and justice.

Until May 2009, Manogaran said over 60,000 Tamil civilians had been killed by the Sri Lanka forces.

Inflicting maximum damage

He claimed that until today, the Sri Lanka government had been carrying both open and covert operations to inflict maximum damage on the Tamil community in northern Sri Lanka.

He cited the UN expert panel’s report, the Channel 4 news on the killing fields of Sri Lanka, UN High Commissioner for Human RightsNavi Pillay’s report as well as the recent documentary “No Fire Zone” as irrefutable testimonies of Rajapakse’s and the Sri Lanka security forces’ atrocities.

“Any leader attending the summit on Sri Lankan soil will be a party to the atrocities of Sri Lanka,” Manogaran said.

He also expressed disappointment that India would not boycott the summit in a bid to stop Sri Lanka from moving closer to China.

But he said India had failed to realise that Colombo was closer to Beijing than New Delhi.

He also claimed that the New Delhi administration had little concern and care for Tamils in Sri Lanka and even those in Tamil Nadu.

He insisted that as South Asia region power, India alone could stop the human rights violations in Sri Lanka.

“But India will fumble again, just as how it deals with Pakistan, Kashmir and China,” Manogaran said

Singapore PM criticizes U.S. `game of chicken'

(CNN) -- Singapore's prime minister openly criticized the United States over the government shutdown and ongoing deadlock over the debt ceiling, calling them "problems you have created for yourself in a game of chicken."

In an interview with CNN's Patricia Wu on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Americans "are unable to get their act together," and that Washington's behavior sends a "negative signal which will last much longer that the shutdown."

The government shutdown led U.S. President Barack Obama to cancel his attendance at the APEC Leaders' summit just days before he was meant to arrive. The summit finishes today in Bali, Indonesia. Aside from Taiwan, Obama is the only leader missing among the 21 economies of the APEC group, which together account for half the world's output, 45% of its trade and 3 billion of its inhabitants.

The U.S. government is also facing an October 17 deadline to raise its debt ceiling or risk a possible default.

Prime Minister Lee said he was more worried about the long-term message the U.S. was sending than the prospect of a direct hit to U.S. growth.

Asked if the U.S. would benefit from a system like Singapore's -- where government ministers are paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries -- Lee said he believes his country runs a clean system in which officials are paid "what their job is worth."

He criticized the conflicts of interest that result from the "revolving door" between the United States government and the private sector. Lee is paid more than $1 million to serve as Singapore's prime minister.

Singapore is heavily dependent on exports and trade, so the fate of the city-state is closely linked with the health of the U.S. economy. Both Singapore's property and stock markets have boomed over the last few years as investors flooded in seeking higher returns thanks to loose liquidity from the U.S. Federal Reserve and China.

The prime minister said he is comfortable with Singapore's footing as the United Stated considers turning off the flow of easy money.

"The emerging economies, many of them are concerned. They didn't want the money to slosh in. They are afraid when the money sloshes out, but the tapering has to take place and we have to be able to manage it," Lee said.

He also expressed concern over the stiffening tone in territorial disputes between Asia's power players, including Japan and China.

"It is very hard for any government to give up what it has claimed, because it will lose face and standing and domestic support, so you can only manage these issues, you cannot solve them," Lee said.

Unethical to report Ahmad Zahid speech as it was for closed-door meet, says Shahidan

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said it was unethical of the media to report on the recent controversial statement by Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, saying it was made in a closed-door event.

"It was very unethical of the media and disrespectful because it was a closed-door event and not for public consumption.

"What right did they have to write a report about a closed-door event?" he told The Malaysian Insider.

The contents of Ahmad Zahid's speech at the event have sparked an outcry from opposition leaders and rights activist, after he allegedly said police would not hesitate to shoot suspects of crime first and ask questions later.

Shahidan (pic), who was present at the function, told The Malaysian Insider that the issues discussed at the event were about national security and not to be revealed to the public.

"It was to discuss ways to curb crime," he said.

Shahidan then chided the media for “twisting the facts”.

"The facts were twisted and the report gave the impression that those who attended the function were not good," he said.

He claimed he was not aware of the existence of the Tiga Line gang that Ahmad Zahid had reportedly mentioned in his speech, while saying that he knew of Gang 30 which he described as a charity organisation involved in attending festivities and burials.

"I don't know about Tiga Line gang, maybe Datuk Zahid was referring to Gang 30. They are not gangsters, they help to organise festivities and burials," he said.

The Tiga Line was among 49 secret societies listed by the Home Ministry last August in the wake of a spike in gun-related crimes involving rival gangs.

Shahidan, in defending Gang 30, said they were merely practising Malay culture and tradition.

Ahmad Zahid, in his speech, a recording of which was uploaded on a news portal, said that 28,000 of the 40,000 gang members were identified to be of Indian ethnicity, and that there was nothing wrong in detaining them.

"What is the situation of robbery victims, murder victims during shootings? Most of them are Malays. Most of them are our race.

"I think the best way is that we no longer compromise with them. There is no need to give them any more warning. If we get the evidence, we shoot first," Ahmad Zahid reportedly said. - October 9, 2013.

Bumiputera perlu berdikari dan tidak meminta-minta, kata tokoh korporat Melayu

Bumiputera perlu berdikari, kata Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hasim ketika berucap di majlis Jaringan Usahawan Nusantara Sedunia. Gambar The Malaysian Insider oleh Afif Abd Halim, 9 Oktober, 2013.
Tokoh korporat Melayu, Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim menggesa supaya Bumiputera berdikari dan tidak bersikap meminta-minta bantuan semata-mata daripada kerajaan sekiranya mahu berjaya dalam bidang perniagaan yang diceburi.

Bekas Presiden dan Ketua Eksekutif Johor Corporation (JCorp) itu berkata, Bumiputera wajar berusaha sendiri dan membuang sikap terlalu bergantung kepada bantuan.

"Orang Melayu dan Bumiputera mesti berdikari dan jangan meminta-minta bantuan daripada kerajaan dan mereka perlu usaha sendiri.

"Tidak boleh bergantung 100% kepada kerajaan, mungkin pada awal memulakan perniagaan boleh dibantu, tetapi selepas itu perlu berdiri sendiri,” katanya ketika berucap pada majlis Jaringan Usahawan Nusantara Sedunia di Hotel De Palma, Ampang pagi ini.

Muhammad Ali secara sinis turut mengkritik Ketua Pengarah Eksekutif (CEO), Datuk Abdul Rahim Hassan yang mengatakan Pinjaman Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usaha Niaga (Tekun) memang ditubuhkan bagi membantu ahli Umno sahaja baru-baru ini.

"Macam pinjaman Tekun, kerajaan beri pinjam tapi ada yang tidak bayar balik," katanya.

Semalam, PKR juga mendakwa ahli Umno yang meminjam daripada Tekun masih gagal menjelaskan hutang sebanyai RM1 bilion.

Muhammad Ali bagaimanapun berkata, beliau tidak menolak kepentingan untuk memajukan ekonomi Bumiputera tetapi ia mesti juga tidak merampas hak orang lain, yang perlu diagihkan secara sama-rata.

"Kita perlu tingkatkan ekonomi Bumiputera tetapi jangan merampas hak orang lain," katanya.

Beliau yang juga Presiden Dewan Perdagangan Islam Malaysia (DPIM), beberapa kali menekankan mengenai jihad ekonomi mengikut lunas agama Islam, dan ia tidak eksklusif kepada suatu kaum sahaja atau bersifat perkauman.

"Jihad ekonomi sebenarnya tidak eksklusif dan bukan perkauman.

"Bukan hanya membela kaum Melayu dan Bumiputera, tetapi terdapat juga kaum Cina dan India miskin, bukan hanya membela kaum-kaum tertentu sahaja," katanya.

Muhammad Ali berkata, kemelut ekonomi dan ketidakseimbangan global yang berlaku di seluruh dunia ketika ini berpunca daripada pengagihan kekayaan yang tidak seimbang dan tidak adil, dengan yang kaya bertambah kaya.

"Sebagai contoh dengan pergolakan ekonomi dunia sekarang yang tidak aman dan stabil, ini semua kerana pengagihan tidak seimbang.

"Pengagihan perlu, tidak boleh yang kaya semakin kaya sehingga wujud jurang luas," katanya merujuk kepada pergolakan ekonomi di Amerika Syarikat dan krisis di negara Arab.

Terdahulu, Muhammad Ali ketika menyampaikan ucapannya berkongsi pengalaman dan cabaran yang dihadapinya semasa berada dalam bidang korporat, dan berkata, setiap usahawan perlu belajar daripada kegagalan dan tidak berputus asa.

Bulan lalu, Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak mengumumkan pemerkasaan ekonomi Bumiputera dengan memperkenalkan lima langkah bagi memperkasa kumpulan tersebut berikutan pegangan ekuiti korporat masih belum mencapai tahap 30% sasaran dan golongan itu kini masih dalam tempoh transformasi sejak empat dekad lalu.

Bagaimanapun, pengkritik melihat pelan baru Najib itu bukan untuk membantu golongan Bumiputera sebaliknya lebih digunakan untuk membantu kroni mereka dalam Umno.

Agenda itu juga dilihat sebagai kesinambungan kegagalan dalam pelaksanaan Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) yang diperkenalkan pada 1971 kerana dikaitkan dengan masalah rasuah yang melebar. - 9 Oktober, 2013.

'What about rights of cops, crime victims?'

Under fire for his "shoot first" policy, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has questioned why his critics are not defending the rights of those who fall prey to criminals.

"Where is the human rights for police and victims of robbery, shootings and murders. Why are human rights defenders not upholding this? Human rights only applies to criminals?" he asked in a terse tweet.

The tweet does not appear to refer to anything in particular, but comes after a barrage of criticism against him following Malaysiakini's report on a leaked recording of his speech.

Zahid has been silent since the report on Monday, where he was exposed to have condoned the practice of shooting suspected criminals instead of arresting them.

He was also recorded as saying that he would go all out against people who defended criminals.

His critics, including international body Human Rights Watch, has called for his sacking over the remarks which has even made news outside Malaysian borders.

His remarks also prompted the civil society to call for investigations into all extra-judicial killings by the police.

Among those shot dead in recent years were several youths, including 14-year-old Aminulrasyid Amzah. All were all accused of attacking police before being gunned down.

Then Selangor police chief and now Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar claimed that Aminulrasyid, who died in a hail of bullets, tried to ram into the police and carried a parang in the car he was driving.

MCA boss regrets Zahid's rants

As the clock ticks down for the Umno election, the candidates, as in the case of Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, appear to be playing the race card with increasing frequency.

Expressing regret over this development, MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek (right) reminded Umno leaders that they represent all Malaysians and not just the Malay community.

“Because of the Umno election, a lot of senior Umno leaders, in order to consolidate their support, have resorted to racial profiling... for instance on crime.

“They have not shown themselves to be truly Malaysian leaders. This does not augur well for the nation,” he told Malaysiakini.

However, Chua, when asked about Zahid’s controversial call for the summary execution of suspected criminals, attributed it to overzealousness.

“Perhaps, in his excitement, Zahid was shooting from the hip,” he said.

On the same note, the MCA president stressed that to gun down suspected criminals instead of arresting them was an affront to justice and the rule of law.

“I disagree with this... it will not inspire confidence in the police force,” he added.

Commenting on Zahid’s threat to close down newspapers, Chua also reminded the home minister that this was the 21st century, and there must be space for dissenting views.

Since 2008, MCA had been struggling to remain relevant and one of the reasons why the Chinese electorate had shunned the party was because of its association with Umno.

MCA leaders were seen as being unable to stop their compatriots in Umno from launching racial tirades, thus giving the impression that BN was a coalition of unequals.

Following the disclosure of Zahid’s outburst, Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan (right) was among those who called on MCA and MIC to severe ties with Umno.

Speaking at an event in Malacca last week, the home minister made a series of incendiary remarks, and warned journalists not to report them or he would shut down their publications.

Since then, Zahid has drawn flak from various quarters, with some pointing out that he was encouraging the police to commit murder.

'Zahid safe from law despite implied extra-judicial killing'

Even though Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been accused of endorsing extra-judicial killings by telling the police to "shoot first" when dealing with suspected criminals, the minister himself is unlikely to face any legal repercussions.

Former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim said this is because the home minister was effectively expressing a government policy and is therefore not liable to legal action.

"I do not believe legal action is appropriate or feasible, for he was espousing government policy," he told Malaysiakini when contacted via email yesterday.

Instead, Zaid said, the solution would have to be a political one.

"What the public can do is to reject the government he represents. Only political action is possible, not legal," he said.

However, Zaid noted that in the context of the home minister's right-wing ethnocentric party, his politically incorrect remark is popular.

'Popular for Umno'

"Unfortunately he is well liked by Umno. So (the) more extreme his position, the more popular he becomes," he said.

The Bar Council said yesterday that Zahid's statement could be interpreted as an endorsement of extra-judicial killing and that he may have committed sedition.

In a separate statement, MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu described Zahid's statement, which also contained racial references, as "disappointing".

"Zahid had earlier assured members of the public that the police are colour-blind. His latest remark, if not read out of context, is most unbecoming.

"Crime and law enforcement have nothing to do with colour," Gan said.

'Alliance sustained insurgency to keep CPM in jungle'

The Alliance government may have had to pander to British interests during the Baling Talks in 1955, but it had many chances to broker a peace deal with the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) soon after Independence.

However, PSM’s Sungai Siput MP Dr D Jeyakumar hypothesised, the nation's leader Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj did not do so as the Alliance wanted to keep the CPM in the jungles, and away from electoral politics.

“I’ll make the argument that the Alliance was prepared to accept casualties among Malaysian soldiers, because it knew that the communists could not win, and would only be able to cause some disruption if sidelined (in the jungle).

“But if (the CPM) contests in elections, they could dislodge the Alliance government. This means it was a class decision, and it is a fact Malaysians have got to see,” Jeyakumar said.

As such, he said, those questioning the casualties sustained during the insurgency after 1957 should consider that the Alliance government and the British shared a greater part of the blame.

Jeyakumar (right) told a PSM-organised forum on Chin Peng in Kuala Lumpur last night that this is apparent as the 1989 Hatyai Peace Accord between Malaysia, Thailand and the CPM contained all the demands the CPM made in 1955.

The Alliance, he said, could not have acceded to these demands in 1955 or even 1958, but its successor, the BN government, could have signed it in 1989 as the CPM’s influence had then decreased significantly.

He noted that the Baling Talks materialised when CPM offered negotiations, following the Alliance’s 1955 sweeping polls victory on two promises - Independence by 1957 and the end of the communist insurgency.

But Tunku likely had his “hands tied”, as he had to show to the British he was not pro-communism and that Independence would not mean nationalisation of British assets.

“When (then Utusan Melayu editor-in-chief) Syed Zahari later asked Tunku if he was disappointed that the Baling Talks broke down, he said, ‘No, I’m not as I never wanted it to be a success’,” Jeyakumar said.

British proxy

While Jeyakumar gave the Tunku concessions for the failed Baling Talks, fellow panellist and social activist Lee Ban Chen said Tunku acted as a “British proxy”.
Lee said Tunku did not budge on conditions set prior to the talks - for CPM members to abandon arms, surrender and be investigated - despite CPM’s concessions.

“The CPM were willing to compromise, by laying down arms and abandoning their ideology, which to me is a big compromise... but they were also asked to do something impossible - to surrender.

“This was a big insult to those who had fought against the Japanese and British imperialists,” Lee (right) said.

The Tunku’s uncompromising stance, he said, forced a “civil war” in Malaya and then Malaysia, resulting in casualties among CPM members, and police and army personnel.

“However, I believe the sacrifices of CPM members and their supporters are far greater, in numbers of death and casualties, being exiled, sentenced to death and villagers who were forced into new villages to live like in a concentration camp.

“The sacrifices on the part of the communists are several-fold more than that on the part of the government,” Lee said.

IGP: Police have no executive powers under PCA

The police have no executive powers under the Prevention of Crime Act (PCA) which was approved by Dewan Rakyat recently, said inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar.

He said the PCA was different from the Internal Security Act (ISA) described by some parties as draconian.

“The significant difference is from the aspect of powers... actually the ISA vested absolute power on the executive while in the PCA, the full powers are  with the judiciary and review board.

“From the initial capture, first 24-hour arrest is by police, followed by 21 days remand ordered by a magistrate and the next 38-day remand approved by the president of the Sessions Courts and thereafter the board, and if there are unsatisfactory matters, they can be brought to court,” he said after a cheque presentation by the Kota Baru Residents Association (POKB) in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

At the ceremony in Bukit Aman, Khalid received a cheque for RM10,500 from POKB adviser Mohamad Fatmi Che Salleh to be handed over to Atiqah Mohd Rosdi, the widow of Sgt Zal Azri Abd Somad who was killed while on duty in Malacca on Sept 23.

Khalid stressed that the most important thing was that the PCA is targetted at organised crimes.

He said information sessions with the people or with related parties would give a clear picture on both acts.

The Prevention of Crime 2013 Bill which allows detention without trial was passed by the Dewan Rakyat last Thursday.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in a blog was reported to have lleged that PCA was draconian and went against the constitution.

Asked on the police’s preparations for the Sungai Limau by-election,  halid said an assessment team had been sent to check and evaluate the areas there.

The Sungai Limau seat under the Jerai Parliamentary constituency fell vacant ollowing the death of its incumbent, former menteri besar Azizan Abdul Razak, on Sept 26.

- Bernama

Anwar: Send Zahid to law school

Opposition leader says the home minister is in need of 'basic training in law' following latter's 'shoot-first' policy on suspected criminals

PETALING JAYA: Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi needs to be schooled in basic law, said PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim in response to the former’s “shoot first” policy in dealing with suspected gang members.

“Zahid needs to attend basic training on basic law,” Anwar said, at a press conference held at the party headquarters today.

Over the weekend, Zahid was reported saying that the police need not give warning to criminals before opening fire on them.

“I think the best way is that we no longer compromise with them. There is no need to give them any more warning. If (we) get the evidence, (we) shoot first,” Zahid was reported as saying.

Anwar described Zahid’s blanket statement as “very dangerous” as it gives an impression that the police could act arbitrarily with no regard to the rule of law.

“Of course when you’re talking about police dealing with armed criminals, the authorities have the right to defend themselves.

“But you cannot give a blanket statement to shoot first. It is a very dangerous statement,” said the former deputy prime minister.

Najib’s silence upsetting Malaysians

Asked to comment on the surge of racist and religious slurs being uttered by government leaders, Anwar attributed it to the Umno polls, scheduled for Oct 19.

“Lately, the issue of racism and religious bigotry has escalated. Why blame the Chinese and the opposition for your faults?

“Who squandered the funds of the people? Who are the rich Malays? Who are the one that get the big contracts? They are all Umno cronies,” said Anwar.

He added that there was a need for all races to work together to overcome racial prejudice in the country.

On Umno, Anwar said that the leaders have this impression that “the more Malay they become, the more support they get”.

“And Prime Minister Najib (Tun Razak) has said nothing on the racial slurs, causing anger among young Malaysians.”

HRW wants Najib to act against Zahid

Human Rights Watch wants Najib to remove Zahid for disregarding right to life and racial claims. Also, DAP's Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng lodges a police report against Zahid over his remarks.

PETALING JAYA: The government should act to ensure that the Home Minister’s support for the police to “shoot first” when apprehending criminal suspects is not police policy, Human Rights Watch said today.

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi made remarks in a speech in Malacca on Oct 6, 2013, that showed gross indifference for the right to life and the rights of the country’s minority populations.

In his speech, Zahid claimed that 28,000 of some 40,000 gang members in the country were Indian Malaysians who prey on the majority ethnic Malay population.

In an audio recording made public, he was quoted as saying said, “What is the situation of robbery victims, murder victims during shootings? Most of them are our Malays. Most of them are our race. I think that the best way is we no longer compromise with them. There is no need to give them any warning. If [we] get the evidence, [we] shoot first.”

Human Rights Watch called on Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to remove the Home Minister for the discriminatory remarks which disregard the right to life.

“Home Minister Zahid is Malaysia’s top law enforcement official, yet he is promoting the illegal use of lethal force,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

“Prime Minister Najib should be clear he won’t tolerate such statements or unlawful practices, which show a callous disregard for basic rights.”

Various incidents suggest that Malaysian police have at times adopted a “shoot first” policy, Human Rights Watch said. For example, in a predawn raid in Penang on Aug 19, police shot and killed five ethnic Indians who police alleged were secret society members.

Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar announced the men opened fire after police ordered them to open the door, an account that was contradicted by P Waythamoorthy, deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Office. Photos of the bodies suggest that the men were shot at point-blank range.

In April 2012, police in Cheras fatally shot three men who police alleged had robbed a jewelry store. The three, Noor Azman Othman, Aidi Noor Hafizal Othman, and Saufi Ahmad, had multiple wounds, particularly to their heads, with Noor Azman shot a total of eight times.Contrary to the police accounts, a second postmortem strongly suggested the wounds were from shots at a close range with a downward bullet trajectory, indicating the men were either kneeling or lying on the ground when they were killed.

A “shoot first” policy by law enforcement personnel violates international human rights law and standards.

Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is widely accepted as reflecting customary international law, states that “everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.”

Principle 1 of the United Nations Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions provides that “executions shall not be carried out under any circumstances,” nor may “[e]xceptional circumstances… be invoked as a justification of such executions.”

The UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement states in article 3 that law enforcement officials should “use force only when strictly necessary and to the extent required for the performance of their duty.”

Principle 9 of the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials provides that “intentional lethal use of firearms may only be made when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.”

“Killings of criminal suspects by Malaysian police suggest that Zahid’s disturbing remarks may already reflect the practice of some law enforcement officials,” Robertson said. “Too many people have died in a hail of police bullets for Malaysia’s leaders to continue to sit on their hands.”

In another development, DAP’s Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng has lodged a police report against Zahid over his remarks.

In the report lodged at the Jinjang police station last night, Lim wants the Home Minister to be investigated immediately, and arrested if necessary.

Khalid, Zahid have ‘no sense of accountability’

A Sabah MP has lambasted Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his 'henceman' IGP Khalid Abu Bakar for their arrogant dismissal of public concern.

By Shaimon S Jumadi

SANDAKAN:- Sandakan MP Stephen Wong has criticised government leaders for issuing arrogant statements to genuine concerns expressed by the public including the opposition.

Urging these leaders to behave in a civilised manner, he said there was absolutely no reason why the people had to withold their shock and affront at the findings of the Auditor-General Report 2012.

“This government must stop being arrogant and self-centered. Answer queries sensibly, ” said Wong alluding to the Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar’s recent comment on the loss of 44 weapons, 29 police cars and 156 handcuffs and other numerous items amounting to a total of RM1.33 million which were detailed in the audit report.

Describing the IGP’s remarks as “ridiculous and totally unacceptable”, Wong said as head of police … “has shown no sense of responsibility, accountability and has failed to acknowledge the wrong-doings of the police force.”

“By claiming that the weapons might have “fallen into the sea”, he has made himself a laughing stock to the entire nation.

“Can the Rakyat and the world accept such a ridiculous response?” he asked.

Wong also said that the Minister of Home Affairs Ahmad Zahid Hamidid was no better when he allegedly warned reporters not to raise further question on the issue.

“Is this the way for a Minister, who is responsible for the Home Affairs of the country, to discharge his duty for the country?

“His action of intimidating the reporters who were merely doing their jobs, is totally uncalled for and unacceptable.

“The Minister of Home Affairs and the IGP should address the public in a humble manner.

“They should apologise to the rakyat for the wrong-doings of the police force and acknowledge the poor standards and weaknesses in the police force,” he said.

Wong further added that the rakyat were generally forgiving but the current “arrogant dismissal” of their concerns by the leaders was “utterly disappointing”.

“Let me remind the Minister and IGP that they are all public servants.

“They are not above the law, and are totally subject to legal actions for any of their negligence or misconduct in any form.

“They are subject to public scrutiny and i advise them not to abuse the power given to them,” he said.
- See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/10/09/khalid-zahid-have-no-sense-of-accountability/#sthash.ZjtQ6cQl.dpuf

Investigate all police killings

Hindraf calls for a royal commission of inquiry into police killings based on the recent admission by the Home Minister of his tacit crime busting policies.
COMMENT

By N Ganesan

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is creating very dangerous tendencies within Malaysian society with what are totally irresponsible statements, firstly total violation of the freedom to life and liberty contained in the Federal Constitution, and secondly inflammatory given the racial profiling contained in it.

This calls for an urgent reset if we are not to get into more serious trouble.

Implying that since crime affects the Malays and so it is serious is a grave implication. The dangerous part for Malaysian society is that statements such as these, coming as they do from a senior minister in government and senior leader in Umno, opens up all kinds of possibilities for the most right wing elements in government and party, the underworld aligned with the ruling elite and the racially bent elements in our society.

They are all being given open licences to muscle their positions along this racial line and extend what the Home Minister has implied, deeper into the fabric of our society.

The statement from the Home Minister that “I think the best way is that we no longer compromise with them ( the suspects). There is no need to give them any more warning. If (we) get the evidence, (we) shoot first.” This is clearly a violation of the supreme law of the land.

We have to conclude from these statements that what we have been fed, up to now, is a pack of lies that the police were independently responsible for the shooting and killing of suspects.

The admission by the Home Minister that he gives the orders, lays bare the true source of the decisions to shoot and kill.

Given the numbers of shootings and killing around, in the words of international law, this works out to crimes against humanity and therefore the minister is not only in violation of Malaysian law, he is violation of international law as well.

To maintain the esteem of Malaysia in the community of nations and also for us to exorcise our country of these bedeviling tendencies, Hindraf calls upon the government to set up a royal commission of inquiry to investigate all the police killings that have occurred in the past.

This is to attempt to move the country truly forward instead of pursuing these regressive policies and laws.

This may look like a tall call given the trend of things, nevertheless it requires that human rights defenders speak up no matter. Otherwise we would be condoning the eventual death of human rights in our country.

The writer is Hindraf’s national advisor.
- See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/10/08/investigate-all-police-killings/#sthash.hdwxNmQz.dpuf

‘Zahid should quit and join Tiga Line’

An anti-crime activist has hit out at Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for saying that the secret society, Tiga Line, were his friends.
UPDATED

PETALING JAYA: Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi should resign and join the secret society Tiga Line for having a soft spot for the gang, said Peoples Welfare and Rights Organisation (Power) president S Gobikrishnan.

At a government forum in Malacca on Saturday, Zahid said Tiga Line members were not thugs because they get-together during kenduri (big gathering) and at big projects.

This was revealed in a 20-minute speech recorded by a participant of the forum which was closed to reporters half way through Zahid speech.

The home minister said Tiga Line were his friends and “urging them to do what they needed to do.”

Zahid said in jest that Umno supreme council candidate Shahidan Kassim as the biggest Tiga Line gangster during the function.

In August, the Home Ministry revealed the list of 49 illegal secret societies, including Tiga Line, consisting of Malays.

Gobikrishnan said Zahid’s remarks was a political stunt for the Umno vice-presidential elections and could be a tactic to gain more Malay support to clinch an easy win against his rivals.

However, he said the Zahid’s “shoot-first” policy to tackle serious crime should be used to bring down the real thugs.

The anti-crime activist added that Zahid had insulted his own race by stating that Malays were the biggest patron of internet gambling, drugs and prostitution.

Proving to be a Malay hero

Malaysian Indian Progressive Association (MIPAS) secretary-general S Barathidasan slammed Zahid for making such insensitive statements just to gain political mileage and was unfit to be a minister.

Barathidasan said the home minister was trying to be a Malay hero before the Umno elections.

He said Tiga Line was a secret society and questioned why Zahid was saying the gang members were not thugs.

“Is he rallying to gain support from Tiga Line members for his Umno vice-presidential elections?” asked Barathidasan.

He said during the Mahathir era, the home ministers were more decent and better mannered but not anymore under Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

“It looks like Najib has lost control of the ministers,” he said.

Suaram says sack Zahid

Meanwhile Suaram coordinator R Thevarajan said the government should establish a special inquiry to investigate the personnel behind the Three Line Gang, their connections with Umno and the home minister, apart from sacking Zahid from his ministerial post.

Thevarajan also hit out at Zahid for coming across as a racist in the meeting as he was seen instigating his Umno audience with racist imputations by stereotyping gangsters and crimes, attributing the gangs to be headed by Chinese, the operators to be Indians and the victims to be Malays.

“Such ignorant and bigoted prejudices show that Zahid is not only unfit to be a minister but should be dealt with under the law for his rabid racism,” he said.

He also said that Zahid, by claiming that the police had been told to implement the ‘shoot-first’ policy, had only confirmed what Suaram had been saying for years – that the police are trigger happy.

In the meeting, Zahid had allegedly that “if there was enough evidence, the police would shoot first”.

“This gaffe by the Home Minister calls for a complete overhaul of the standard operating procedure of the Malaysian police force before more people are shot dead.

“It is indeed a sad day as while the prime minister pays lip service to reform and transformation, we have a Home Minister who secretly supports gangsters, who is a rabid racist and who does not understand the meaning of the rule of law,” added Thevarajan.

He said that Najib should immediately sack Zahid as Home Minister.
- See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/10/08/zahid-should-quit-and-join-tiga-line/#sthash.Fdb26caC.dpuf

Dr M wants Science, Maths in English

He recounted a recent incident when 333 graduates went for a job interview and only seven were employed because the rest couldn't speak English.

KANGAR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is concerned over the poor grasp of the English language among students as it will adversely affect their future.

The former prime minister said there were some graduates from institutions of higher learning who did not master the language, resulting in them not getting a place in the employment sector.

Speaking to reporters after delivering his keynote address at the 2013 Asian University Presidents Forum (AUPF) at Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) Pauh Putra campus near here yesterday, he said those who mastered English were readily accepted.

For example, he said, recently 333 graduates of institutions of higher learning were called for a job interview related to information technology.

“However, only seven were recruited as the rest did not know English.

“Some of them even requested that the questions during the interview, which was conducted in English, be translated into Malay!,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said, while he was a fighter for Bahasa Melayu since 1947, he was pragmatic as English could not be sidelined.

He hoped English would be widely used in science and mathmetics for the future of the students.
He said certain words and terms were difficult to translate, especially for science, and should be maintained with the use of English for the subject.

Prior to that, in his address, he also stressed on the use of English for Science and Mathmetics in school.

Did Zahid play out Pakatan over PCA changes?

ANALYSIS Pakatan Rakyat MPs have been left feeling ‘misled’ by Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in relation to the cabinet’s apparent ‘willingness’ to consider their revisions to the Prevention of Crime Act (Amendment and Extension) Bill 2013.

Events over the final 24 hours in the Dewan Rakyat before the Bill was passed last Wednesday proved to be a stark contrast to signals that Pakatan MPs had been receiving since Monday - that the cabinet may consider accepting some of their revisions.

On Tuesday their representative - Gombak MP Azmin Ali (left) - met the speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia and expressed concern with the way the Bill was being rushed through, and was advised to approach Zahid to try and defer the Bill.

He then confirmed getting an indication that the debate would run until Thursday, the final day of this sitting, and that the other 12 accompanying Bills would be deferred.

But Zahid caught the opposition bench unawares by wrapping up the second reading on Wednesday evening and then pushing on with passage of the Bill late that night.

This happened at a time when many opposition MPs were absent from the House, presumably anticipating that the committee stage would take place only on Thursday. Only 66 of them were present.

In winding-up the debate, Zahid (right) barely answered any concerns or arguments raised by the opposition, swatting these away with one-sentence replies. All 10 of Pakatan’s revisions were bluntly rejected.

On Saturday, he shed some light on the process when speaking at an event in Malacca, when he called the amended PCA Bill "my law".

"I (discussed) with (minister in charge of parliamentary affairs) Shahidan Kassim so that when the time comes (for a vote), the ... speaker would be on our side, the Dewan Rakyat secretary will be on our side," he was recorded as telling his audience.

‘Two-faced Zahid’

Yesterday, one Pakatan parliamentarian described the process as a “conspiracy by the government”, while another expressed certainty that the absence of some opposition MPs was part of the calculation.

"This is what we can call the tyranny of the majority. There's nothing else that describes this,” he said.

PKR's Kapar parliamentarian G Manivannan said the tone of parliamentary proceedings on Tuesday and Wednesday alone were enough to display Zahid’s "two-faced" nature.

Saying that the Dewan Rakyat had rushed through a Bill that serves Zahid’s "personal interests", Manivannan labelled him a “shameless minister”.

"Some BN MPs voted for the Bill without even knowing its ingredients. How can you do that when you are responsible to your people?" he asked.

Shortly before the vote in the House was ratified, Azmin had sarcastically congratulated Zahid and told him that he would "definitely" win the Umno vice-president's post now.

Contacted yesterday, Azmin agreed that Pakatan was "misled" to a certain extent, but argued that the Executive had also misled the Dewan Rakyat.

This is because the amendments are not in line with provisions in the federal constitution, he said.

"This Bill was rushed through (because of) the (upcoming) Umno general assembly,” Azmin claimed.

“Many Umno MPs have communicated to me privately that (Zahid, as home minister) needs to be seen as being tough on crime. But they are not sure if the minister will execute the powers (under) this Bill after the assembly.”

Going by Zahid's boast in Malacca and the reaction of his mainly Malay audience, Azmin may not be too far off the mark in terms of the likely impact on the Umno polls.

But the party’s representatives in the Dewan Rakyat must surely come from another planet if they are 'not sure’ if Zahid will enforce the amended provisions, including detention without trial.

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RAM ANAND is a member of the Malaysiakini team.

Retract 'shut down' threat, Chinese editors tell Zahid

The Chinese newspaper editors association has urged Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to retract his threat to close down newspapers.

In a statement issued yesterday, the editors expressed regret over the minister's remarks made during a briefing in Malacca.

The association also noted that the event was a "security briefing ceremony with community leaders" and carried the federal and Malacca government emblems, therefore it clearly was a government function.

Even if Zahid chose to campaign to retain his vice-president post in the coming Umno elections at the government event, which he later claimed was a closed-door meeting, the editors said he should not have made improper remarks and threats against the journalists.

The association said race relations in Malaysia had been deteriorating steadily since the May 5 general election, with certain politicians raising sensitive issues to gain political mileage.

"As a member of the cabinet, one should speak and act cautiously and should not threaten to close down newspapers," the association said in reference to Zahid's threat.

The association comprises senior editors from Sin Chew Daily, China Press, Nanyang Siang Pau and Guang Ming Daily.

Zahid had told the reporters present at last Saturday’s event to leave and warned them against reporting his remarks.

The threat succeeded in silencing most of the media, although Oriental Daily News and Guang Ming Daily reported his warning, which they said came in the wake of his "sensitive remarks". However, there was no elaboration on this.

Malaysiakini reported parts of his speech after obtaining a 20-minute audio recording from DAP Ayer Keroh state assemblyperson Khoo Poay Tiong.

Gerakan: Zahid must clarify or retract 'shoot first' assertion

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi must clarify or retract his statement that it is okay for the police to shoot criminals first and ask questions later, a Gerakan vice-president said today.

A Kohilan Pillay warned that such a statement would "institutionalise" abuses by the police, raise public furore and would completely destroy the already poor reputation of the police force.

"By using such a policy, the government is once more demonstrating its sheer arrogance towards the people who are crying for a competent, not an abusive police force.

"This will only anger the people more, causing the reputation of the force, which is already in the gutter, to plunge deeper," Kohilan (left) said in a press statement.

Calling it "unbecoming of a minister," he said Zahid's statement also flies in the face of Malaysia's human rights obligations.

"Gerakan and other-like minded parties" are therefore sceptical about giving more power to the police.

A controversy arose last week when Gerakan and MCA turned around to vote in favour of the Prevention of Crime Act (PCA) Amendment Bill despite earlier protests.

DAP's Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming called Gerakan and MCA "coffeeshop heroes" who didn't walk their talk.

Gerakan retorted back, asking why some Pakatan Rakyat MPs were also absent in the voting that saw the amendments to the PCA law, which give police the power of detain without trial for two years, passed by Parliament.

Pakatan MPs in favour of anti-GST protest

Pakatan parliamentarians throw support behind Anwar Ibrahim's proposed plan to stage a nationwide protest if the GST is introduced during Budget 2014

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat MPs today agreed to proposal by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim that a nationwide protest should be staged if the Goods and Sales Tax (GST) is introduced in Budget 2014.

“The rakyat will be further squeezed with the implementation of the GST. The price of petrol, flour and sugar are also expected to go up when the Budget is tabled in two weeks,” said Klang MP Charles Santiago

“Instead of increasing prices and implementing the GST, the government should focus more on fighting corruption and stopping the leakages.

“I’m certain that with GST being implemented, the lower and middle income earners will be hit the hardest as the GST will indirectly increase food, medicine, transportation and property prices,” said Charles.

“Since wages are not increasing, more taxes will burden the public and leave them in dire situations,” he added.

Kapar MP G Manivannan is also in favour of a nationwide protest, stating talks will be held to educate the public on the expected significance and implications on the rakyat once the GST is introduced by the government.

He slammed the Barisan Nasional, particularly Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak for acting differently before and after the general election.

On Sunday, Anwar announced that Pakatan will organise nationwide protests if the GST is imposed in the upcoming budget, stating that the imposition will further burden the people.

GST is a value added tax replacing the Sales and Service tax, that will help the government to rake in additional revenues to offset its deficit budget.

Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s (PSM) national chairman Dr Nasir Hashim and Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar (PAS) have also come out in support of the idea and said that they too will join Pakatans’ planned nationwide GST protests.

They added that the government should be humane towards the people who are facing hard times due to the rising cost of living.