PR-Hindraf Pact on the Cards

By Terence Netto,

SINGAPORE: Following a cordial meetingP.-Waythamoorthy in Singapore yesterday, Hindu Action Front (Hindraf) chairman P. Waythamoorthy and Pakatan Rakyat’s Zaid Ibrahim are optimistic that an understanding can be achieved between the two groups.

Pakatan Rakyat is the opposition coalition that groups PKR, DAP and PAS, the three parties that collectively denied the ruling Umno dominated BN government of its two-thirds majority in Parliament in the March 2008 general election.

zaid-ibrahimThe meeting between Waythamoothy and Zaid was initiated by individuals concerned to secure Hindraf’s backing for PR at the next general election (GE13) which is expected to be called much earlier than its due date in 2013.

It was held in Singapore because Waythamoorthy cannot return to Malaysia, his passport having been revoked by the Malaysian government in April 2008. He travels on a United Nations document issued by the British Government which granted him political asylum last year after the revocation of his passport.

Presently, he resides in London where he fled after five Hindraf activists, led by its founder P. Udayakumar, who is Waythamoorthy’s elder brother, were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in December 2007. All five detainees were released shortly after Najib Razak became Prime Minister last April.

Following the two-and-a-half-hour meeting between Waythamoorthy and Zaid in a hotel off swank Orchard Road, Zaid emerged to say he saw no difficulty in PR accommodating the essence of the Hindraf programme in its Common Policy Framework.

“An enlightened affirmative action programme would accommodate the concerns of Hindraf over the condition of the Indian Malaysian poor,” said Zaid in remarks to FreeMalaysiaToday immediately after hearing out Waythamoorthy.

“I was pleasantly surprised to discover from what Moorthy had to say that Hindraf’s demands are not extreme and are worthy of incorporation into the CPF,” he said.

To the question about the demand for the abolishment of Article 153 of the Federal Constitution affecting Malay rights, Zaid replied: “I told Moorthy not to go down that path, that even if you abolish the article a racist government would find ways to implement a warped version of it.”

“Moorthy came round to my argument that we should not try to exorcise phantoms but instead focus our energies on alleviating the plight of marginalised groups in Malaysia, period,” asserted Zaid.

“A PR government is determined on eradicating poverty irrespective of race or religion. It is how we will go about achieving this radical goal that is the subject of debate and argument,” he added.

As for Hindraf’s demand that the Federal government allocate RM50 billion over a five-year period for such Indian Malaysian concerns as aid to Tamil schools and training for the unskilled, Zaid said: “I told him that a demand like that straightaway constrains us in ways that will only expose us as inept and myopic.

“I held that we will use fiscal measures to address the plight of the marginalized in Malaysia such that there will be dedicated programmes to eradicate poverty,” explained Zaid.

Zaid has been tasked by PR to coordinate the drafting of the CPF in preparation for the GE13. In recent weeks, Zaid has led the effort to get PR registered with the Registrar of Societies.

With PR now a going concern, Zaid felt that a meeting with Hindraf’s chairman to explore common ground would be a further step in gaining the corporate body traction among marginalised groups.

Waythamoorthy said he agreed to meet Zaid because he recalled that the latter was the only Umno politician, at the height of Hindraf’s agitation for Indian Malaysian rights in November 2007, to suggest that the group deserved to be listened to.

Zaid, then MP for Kota Baru, was a member of a vaguely dissident group in Umno that included Shahrir Samad and Razaleigh Hamzah.

“I felt that that comment made him a person with whom we could discuss our concerns and come to some understanding,” said Waythamoorthy in separate remarks to FreeMalaysiaToday after the meeting.

Did Zaid’s spurning of Hindraf’s demands on Article 153 and a specified allocation of RM50 billion for Indian Malaysian concerns leave Waythamoorthy cold?

“Firstly, those demands were made in our eighteen-point programme to the prime minister in August 2007,” he explained.

“Those two were not implacable demands and they served the purpose of divesting Umno of its imperious ways. Consider how those demands and the gathering we held in November that year stirred Malaysians to vote for change in March the following year,” he argued.

“Those demands were a cry for attention and it succeeded in galvanizing people to react in favour of change. Now some parties are refuting that Hindraf’s demands and its demonstration of November 2007 were not the propelling events that they were,” he lamented.

“But I’m relieved to find that Zaid Ibrahim is not among the deniers. Instead he has affirmed us in our essential needs and if he can translate these concerns into the CPF, I don’t see why we can’t work together electorally,” he said.

Post discussion, the cordiality between the interlocutors for Hindraf and PR was enhanced over dinner that Zaid hosted at the hotel where he stayed.

“I’m glad I met him and we must take things forward from here,” was Zaid’s postprandial conclusion.

Let’s split hairs today

But abolishing the ISA will not be the end of our problems since there are so many other laws that the government can use against political dissidents and those who oppose Umno and Barisan Nasional. And if there are not enough such laws Parliament can always pass more laws.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

‘Junior’ reporters often ask me my stand on the Internal Security Act (ISA). That’s actually quite a stupid question to ask me because I am sure by now many already know the answer to that question.

I remember when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad first retired and the reporters asked him now that he has retired will he be spending his time playing golf? If the reporters had done their homework they would have known he is anti-golf and he said so back in the early 1980s when he first became Prime Minister.

Dr Mahathir replied why should he be so stupid as to hit the ball and then go chase after it when it was already with him in the first place?

When asked what his favourite football team is, Dr Mahathir replied why do 22 people chase after one ball? Just buy them one each.

Actually, only 20 people chase the ball. The other two stand in front of the goalpost and try to stop the ball from getting in. They don’t chase after the ball. So Dr Mahathir does not know his football.

So there are some things you do not need to ask, especially if you already know the answer to the question. Or at least do your homework first before interviewing someone.

Anyway, back to the issue of my stand on the ISA. I normally tell the reporters that I am not opposed to the ISA as such. I am opposed to the abuse of the ISA. So it is the implementation or abuse that I am more opposed to, not the actual law itself.

For example, the Umno people argue that Malaysia still needs the ISA to protect the rights of the Malays. That is stupid. How do you reconcile that statement when most of those detained under the ISA are Malays? At least now, although in the beginning it was targeted against the Chinese, in particular the Chinese Communist terrorists. But that has now changed. Now it is the so-called Islamic ‘terrorists’ who are subjected to the ISA.

Talking about Communists, it looks like Ronnie Liu is now accused of being a Communist. Hell, he is sure being accused of many things -- from having links to the underworld to being the protector of pimps and prostitutes. They certainly are trying very hard to bring him down through all sorts of allegations.

Do you know that Communism comes from the word commune or community? And communes or the community are what Islam is all about. Those from the community are referred to as an ummah. In fact, Islam stresses on the importance of the ummah and Muslims refer to each other as Ummah Islam.

Islam teaches its followers that those who travel must travel in a group and someone from that group must be appointed the leader of the community. When you eat don’t eat alone but in a group or community. You get more pahala or credits that way. When praying do not pray alone. Pray in a group or community. You also get more pahala when praying in a group compared to praying alone.

Islam also makes it mandatory to pay the tithe or zakat and fitrah. This is so that those less fortunate in the community can share the wealth. The rich look after the poor in the community. That is the Islamic way. And sharing the wealth is also the way of Communism.

Actually, Islam is all about the ummah or community. This is basically because, in the old days, for security reasons people used to live in communes -- both for personal safety as well as financial security. So you can’t separate Islam from community living or communes. And, as I have always argued, Islam is, in a way, Communism.

So Communism is not new. It is not 100 years old as many believe. It is actually 1,500 years old. Only that it was not called Communism back in the old days but was called ummah. But the spirit of the commune or community living always existed in Islam just like it does today in ‘modern’ Communism.

So they accuse Ronnie of being a Communist. Well, then good for Ronnie because that would make him more Islamic than the 15 million Malays who claim to be Muslims. But whether Ronnie is a Communist terrorist is another matter. No one likes terrorists, whether Communist or Muslim. And terrorism is not confined to Communists. There are as many Muslim terrorists as there are Communists, maybe even more now since Communism is almost dead while Islam is growing.

So let us understand the difference between Communists and terrorists. There is nothing wrong with the first and many things wrong with the second. I am not confirming that Ronnie is a Communist. But even if he is there is nothing wrong with that. Being a Communist just means Ronnie believes in looking after the community. And so does Islam.

Okay, back to the subject of my stand on the ISA. What’s the use of opposing the ISA when it is not the law that is at fault but the abuse of the law? What was the original purpose of the ISA? It was to oppose the insurgency during the Malayan Emergency.

Well the Emergency is now over. The Communist Party of Malaya signed a peace treaty with the government 20 years ago on 2nd December 1989. So the Emergency has officially ended. But the ISA still remains. And it is now used against political dissidents and those who oppose Umno and Barisan Nasional.

That is what makes it wrong.

But abolishing the ISA will not be the end of our problems since there are so many other laws that the government can use against political dissidents and those who oppose Umno and Barisan Nasional. And if there are not enough such laws Parliament can always pass more laws.

So abolishing the ISA is no guarantee that life would be better. What we need to do is to ensure no one gets a two-thirds majority in Parliament. And we must also ensure that all Acts of Parliament require at least a two-thirds majority vote. A simple majority will not do. Then, if any new Acts of Parliament need to be passed, it will need both sides to vote on it -- the government backbenchers as well as the opposition.

However, to achieve this, we first need matured Parliamentarians. Government backbenchers must vote using their conscience, not along party lines, while the opposition must also be matured enough to not oppose for the sake of opposing but support government bills if they are good.

Therefore it all starts from the maturity of those we elect into office. And unless we first achieve this then there is no use arguing about the laws passed in Parliament when the problem lies with the quality of our lawmakers.

That is the most crucial thing that needs to be addressed first. Then we can argue which laws need to be repealed and which need to be amended and whether any new Acts of Parliament need to be passed to address the problems this country is facing.

There are those who want Article 153 and all those other oppressive, suppressive and racial-based Acts to be repealed. Again, what’s the use of doing this if the government is bent on abusing the system and continues to perpetuate state-endorsed racism? Even if Article 153 is abolished it will still not end racism in Malaysia. It will look like racism has ended but they can still find many other ways in which to oppress and suppress the non-Malays.

What we need instead is an anti-discrimination law passed as an Act of Parliament like what they did in Indonesia in late 2007. Make racism a crime punishable in a court of law. And pass a class action law where any Malaysian can take the government to court through a class action suit. Currently, they will use the no-locus-standi ruling on you and throw your suit out.

And, of course, this brings us back to the most crucial issue of all, the Judiciary. If we have a fair and independent Judiciary then the government will have to behave itself because then we can take the government to court. So all these laws mean nothing if there is no proper way to implement them or avenues to challenge them in court.

For example, if we had a good Judiciary, even the ISA can be challenged. And a fair and independent judiciary would look at both the spirit as well as the letter of the law. And based on the spirit of the law there is no way anyone can be detained under the ISA even if it remains in the law books.

When the ISA was passed by Parliament in 1960 it was a specific law, specific to combating the Communist insurgency during the Malayan Emergency. Since the Emergency has since officially ended with the signing of the Peace Treaty in Thailand 20 years ago, the ISA becomes not only irrelevant but also unenforceable. And a good Judiciary will free anyone detained under the ISA.

As long as the Judiciary is not independent and does the bidding of the political masters the government does not need the ISA -- so even if it is repealed it matters not. They can always send you to jail for sodomy even if the doctors come to court to testify that you have erectile problems and can’t get it up.

The final thing I want to talk about is the Malay Mail report below. The Malay Mail has announced it is joining Dr Mahathir’s effort to declare war a crime. I think JAKIM, JAWI, JAIS, JAKUN and whatnot need to investigate this and charge Dr Mahathir and the owners/editors of the Malay Mail for a crime against Islam. These people are going against the Quran and should be sent to jail.

Understand one thing, in Malaysia it is against the law to speak against Islam or preach anything considered opposed to Islam or the Quran. Now, this is not my law. This is what they say is the law. I may not agree with this but since it is the law then it is the law.

You see, even the Quran has not declared wars as illegal. In fact, when talking about wars, the Quran says there may be certain things you abhor but which are necessary. So are these people not ‘amending’ the Quran by trying to get wars declared illegal?

Yes, when it comes to the opposition they use Islam as the excuse to get them. Let’s see what they do to Dr Mahathir and the Malay Mail for trying to declare illegal what even the Quran has not declared illegal. And the Quran does say Muslims must not declare illegal what Islam makes legal and vice versa.

Hey, Islam also declares corruption as a crime. According to Sheikh Imran Hoesin, bribery is riba’ and the sin of riba’ tantamount to the sin of sexual intercourse with your own mother/father. This is not what I say. This is what they say.

In the last sermon of the Prophet in Arafah, the Prophet declared that racism is forbidden. But the Malaysian government practices racism even though Islam declares it illegal and even though they declare Malaysia an Islamic country.

So there are many things that we sidestep and pretend is not happening.

By the way, I am not saying that I support wars. I just wanted to be naughty by bringing up this subject to show that most times they do things for public consumption whereas there are many real issues that need addressing but are conveniently ignored.

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

‘Malay Mail’ joins move to make war a crime

FORMER Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has called for continuous support in highlighting the nation’s efforts to make war a crime.

“The Press has to make people understand that just because war has been around for 7,000 years, it does not mean it’s a right thing to do,” Dr Mahathir said.

“I won’t be around to see a world without war, but what we are doing today is to create it (a world without war) and something we should not allow to perpetuate,”

Dr Mahathir, who chairs the Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War (KLFCW), said.

He was speaking at a “thank you” lunch at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya yesterday for all involved in the International Conference Tribunal to Criminalise War and Exhibition from Oct 28 until Oct 31.

He said the conference and exhibition was a success, judging from the massive public support as well as the presence of foreign speakers and visitors. Events like this should be continuous, he added.

During the lunch, Malay Mail chairman Datuk Ibrahim Mohd Noor presented RM30,000 to KLFCW.

The amount was raised by Malay Mail from advertisements in the paper during the conference and exhibition, and was a show of support for the foundation and its cause.

Also present at the lunch were Malay Mail chief operating officer Endie Shazlie Akbar, editor-in-chief Ahirudin Attan, New Straits Times managing editor Nuraina Abdul Samad and Berita Harian group editor Datuk Mior Kamarul Shahid as well as committee members and volunteers who took part in the four-day event.

Volunteers who attended the function shared the same views of the former prime minister that war should be made a crime.

Student Tharan Gunaseelam, 24, said the effort should be continued to make more people aware of war, and its brutality.

“If more people know about it, they will realise that war is a crime against humanity,” he said. Another student, Melinda Tiong, 20, said she looked forward to volunteering for events and causes such as this as she wished to be a part of the movement to create a war-free world.

“War should be a crime. Mass killing is something we should not condone,” she said. – Malay Mail, 10 November 2009

Umno MPs want MACC to probe Tee Keat

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani - The Malaysia Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 — After recently asking Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat to resign for not performing, Umno’s Sri Gading MP Datuk Mohamad Aziz is now demanding the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigate the minister’s role in the double-tracking project.

Mohamad (picture) claimed that the railway board did not authorise the purchase of “out of commission” diesel trains for the project but Ong had used his “minister’s power” to approve the purchase.

“I want the minister to answer. He hardly shows up. Is he busy with his personal work or busy with his responsibilities?

“The deputy minister said there was not enough funds, but why did the ministry buy old trains? You don’t have the money but you bought worn out trains at a more expensive price then the other countries?” he asked.

Mohamad added that the MACC should “drag” Ong to court if he was guilty of corruption.

“MACC said they will investigate every member of parliament but investigate this minister first,” he said.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had recently announced that it was planning to investigate the RM6 billion double-tracking project, after recent revelations that the project had been managed poorly, resulting in losses amounting to more than RM1 billion so far.

According to this year’s audit report, the government may have to bear part of the RM1.14 billion loss in the 179km double-tracking rail contract between Rawang and Ipoh as the project was poorly managed.

Mohamad was not the only Barisan Nasional (BN) backbencher unhappy with Ong.

During the winding up of the budget debate today by Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Robert Lau, Arau MP Datuk Ismail Kasim also questioned the purchase of the diesel trains because it did not follow the standards and specifications of the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) board.

Ismail pointed that the trains were not approved by the board and the managing director was terminated when the agreement was signed.

“What is the rationale of buying at a price of RM30 million when Costa Rica and Argentina had purchased diesel trains that are 20 years old at a price of RM10 million? Why spend at a time when the government is trying to save?” Ismail asked.

Tenggara MP Datuk Halimah Mohd Sadique questioned why the minister purchased the nearly ”out of commission” trains when KTMB was already using electric trains.

“What is its life span? Is the maintenance cost low? Can the government guarantee that the cost of maintenance is in accordance with the trains age?” Halimah asked.

Halimah also asked if the existing railway tracks had to be modified to accommodate the diesel engines.

BMW XPo. 3 days only. Click for details.

The Rawang to Ipoh (southern) double-tracking and electrification project was completed in 2008 while the Ipoh to Padang Besar portion was proposed in 2002 as a continuation of the existing tracks.

In 2003, former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that the government had decided to postpone the project which drew heavy criticism from his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

However, the project was revived when then Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that the Cabinet Committee on Public Transport had decided to revive the shelved northern section double-tracking project in 2007.

The project was awarded to Gamuda Berhad and MMC Corporation Berhad.

The major stakeholders of Gamuda and MMC are Raja Datuk Seri Eleena Sultan Azlan Shah and Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary respectively.

Police deny ‘shoot-to-kill’ accusation

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 — Police have categorically denied that they engage in “shoot-to-kill” practices, with Criminal Investigation Department Director Datuk Mohd Bakri Mohd Zinin saying in all cases where criminals have been gunned down, the police were fired upon first.

“When police officers shoot, they do not shoot to kill, but rather they shoot to stop the deadly force threat.

“It is clearly within the right of the police to act in self-defence and protect the lives of innocent bystanders,” he said in a statement.

He was commenting on the shooting of five robbers in Klang two days ago following allegations that the police had used indiscriminate force resulting in the death of the five men.

“In this particular case, there was a high speed car chase where the robbers tried to force the pursuing police vehicle off the road while firing shots indiscriminately at them. The police had no choice but to return fire,” he said.

He said no one raised a hue and cry when police officers were killed or seriously wounded by criminals in the course of discharging their duties.

“When no one appears to care, the implicit message is that the lives of police officers are expendable.

“It is thus left to the police to defend the actions of our men in blue who risk their lives daily when facing with the new breed of violent criminals who will not hesitate to shoot at the police and innocent civilians,” he said. — Bernama

Pakatan mends rift with Hindraf?

The new Free Malaysia Today portal has a scoop about Zaid Ibrahim ’smoking the peace pipe’ (figuratively-lah) with Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy in Singapore.

Kenyataan Saksi Utama Kes VK Lingam

Statement by Ms. Jayanthi L.G Naidu, former secretary of Datuk VK Lingam

10 November 2009

I had heard in the media the announcement by Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz that the MACC had cleared Datuk VK Lingam and Tun Eusoff Chin of any wrong doing or corruption, I also read that the MACC had closed the case on the investigation into the New Zealand holiday taken together by Datuk VK Lingam and Tun Eusoff Chin in 1994 because they could not locate a key witness.

As for the inability to locate a key witness as alleged, I have been contactable at all times. The ACA/MACC officers have at all times been able to contact me earlier for my statements. After the press announcement by Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz reported on 23.10.09, I called the MACC and asked who was the key witness that they were looking for. They were unable to answer me.

I gave a full statement in 1998 regarding this New Zealand trip to the former ACA ( now the MACC ), some of which I repeated in the Royal Commission proceedings. After the Royal Commission proceedings, I gave another statement to the MACC in the presence of my lawyer En Amer Hamzah Arshad. Amongst the matters I told the ACA/,MACC and the Royal Commission were that VK Lingam and Eusoff Chin and families’ holiday trip to New Zealand in 1994 was planned and paid for by VK Lingam. On the instruction of VK Lingam, I had assisted to book and pay for their air tickets in accordance with their itinerary. The documents and holiday photographs have all been given to the ACA and the Royal Commission.

In my evidence before the Royal Commission, I also described how the judgment delivered by Datuk Mohktar Sidin in the Vincent Tan v MGG Pillai libel case was written in the office of VK Lingam. I was amongst the various staff present in the office assisting in the process by photostating and looking for the cases. The written draft judgment with corrections in VK Lingam’s handwriting and other related documents was given to the Royal Commission and ACA.

I am also aware of a few other incidents in VK Lingam’s office where VK Lingam (and other lawyers) have also written or assisted the writing of draft judgments which included such cases like Ayer Molek where he also appeared as counsel for one of the parties. I was aware that the judgments were being drafted as I was present in the office but not assisting directly.

On the instructions of VK Lingam, I have at least on three occasions withdrawn large sums of money (accompanied by a bodyguard) between RM100,000 to RM300,000 which I then wrapped in gift boxes with the understanding that they were to be hand delivered by others to individual judges. On one occasion, I saw one of these money boxes being placed together with a box containing a cake to be delivered to a judge.

I also told the Royal Commission that in 1998 after I had given my statement, the ACA officers told me then that they could not proceed with the case because it involved top government people.

10

Nov

Penjelasan Menteri Tidak Munasabah

By Anwar Ibrahim 7 Comments

Categories: Anwar, Isu Semasa and Malaysia

Semalam seharian saya di parlimen, mendengar para menteri menjawab persoalan dan penghujahan mantap dari ahli-ahli Parlimen Pakatan Rakyat. Tampak berani dan membanggakan sekali apabila ahli parlimen Pakatan bingkas menafikan jawapan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri; bahawa SPRM tidak menemui sebarang salah laku VK Lingam dan mantan Ketua Hakim Negara, walhasil adik Lingam sendiri membuat pengakuan. Dalih kononnya saksi utama tidak dapat dikesan pastinya tidak mampu diterima akal sihat. Bukan kah kita sering angkuh mendabik dada pasukan polis negara antara yang terbaik seantero dunia?

Tambahan lagi jawapan menteri menggesa kita memisahkan di antara prinsip moral dan undang-undang! Alahai tidakkah ini menyebabkan rakyat hilang rasa hormat, bukan sahaja kepada institusi kehakiman, bahkan juga institusi Parlimen itu sendiri. Kita masakan lupa ungkapan “korek, korek, korek.”

Malamnya saya menghadiri acara anjuran Kerajaan Negeri Selangor di Dewan MPAJ. Program diskusi belanjawan ini merupakan susulan dari yang berlangsung di Dewan MPPJ tempoh hari. Turut serta Dr Tan Seng Giaw, Dr Hatta Ramli dan Sdr. Yaakob Sapari, Ahli Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri Selangor. Saya berpeluang mengupas dua karya ahli ekonomi klasik dan pemuka Pencerahan Skotlandia itu; Wealth of Nations dan Theory of Moral Sentiments. Jarang sekali wacana ekonomi di rantau ini membandingkan kedua-dua karya tersebut bagi mendapat gambaran jelas pemikiran Adam Smith, seorang filasuf yang sering disalah anggap.

Harus diingat Smith merupakan seorang ahli falsafah moral di Universiti Edinburgh, karya awalnya Theory of Moral Sentiments, berusaha mengungkapkan betapa kesejahteraan masyarakat juga dimungkinkan akibat dari kehendak perseorangan. Beliau tidak menolak kesejahteraan juga berpunca dari rasa hormat dan berbakti kepada masyarakat. Adam Smith memberi perhatian untuk merungkaikan kebejatan monopoli kerajaan dan makarnya dengan saudagar-saudagar kaya. Bagi beliau itulah kerosakan yang membinasakan. Asalkan mereka berkomplot, ianya membuahkan hasil yang tidak sihat sekaligus merugikan rakyat.

Nah! Pemerhatian berabad usianya masih mengesankan dan memberi pengajaran. Perhatikan sahaja Laporan Audit Negara, skandal seperti Landasan Keretapi Berkembar bakal menelan sejumlah RM 1.4 billion akibat dari kegelojohan dan ketamakan. Manakala skandal PKFZ, sekiranya diteruskan juga, akan menelan wakg rakyat bernilai hampir RM 12 billion! Makar sebegini, demi kepentingan keluarga dan tembolok taulan malah menyingkirkan negara jauh dari pemulihan apatah lagi pertumbuhan.

Sayugia menjadi peringatan jangan semberono menukilkan angka, ketika Dato’ Sri Najib beriya-iya membuat kenyataan negara akan mencatatkan pertumbuhan sekitar 9 %, sekonyong konyong memperbetulkannya dengan menyatakan pertumbuhan hanya sekitar 6%. Jangan sesekali bersambil lewa mengurus ekonomi negara! Sedangkan Bank Dunia melaporkan, Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar(KDNK) akan mengalami penguncupan sekitar 2.3 dan hanya pada tahun hadapan mencatatkan pertumbuhan sekitar 4.1%.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah

1. Saya baru-baru ini telah tulis sedikit dibawah tajuk "Hukum Allah" berkenaan apabila sesuatu yang didakwa adalah hukum Allah samada benar ia adalah hukum Allah. Saya dikecam hebat oleh orang yang mungkin lebih terpelajar dalam agama. Nampaknya agama Islam di Malaysia ini tidak boleh disoal barang sedikit pun, walaupun untuk mendapat penjelasan.

2. Saya berdebar hati apabila membaca yang Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin bekas mufti Perlis ditangkap dan dibawa ke balai polis. Dia dilepas dengan ikat jamin polis.

3. Seramai 30 anggota polis dan 20 lebih anggota Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS) telah melakukan tangkapan ini. Ternampak seolah-olah Dr Asri ini seorang penjenayah besar yang mungkin mengganas apabila ditangkap. Tetapi beliau tidak pula memberontak. Sebaliknya beliau turut sahaja tanpa bantahan yang keras.

4. Kemudian akhbar melaporkan kes terhadapnya belum pun disediakan. Apakah tidak ada "due process" dalam penguatkuasaan undang-undang Islam di negara ini. Apakah mereka yang diberi kuasa dalam melaksanakan hukum Islam boleh dengan sewenang-wenangnya menangkap sesiapa sahaja.

5. Teringat saya akan "Islam Hadhari" yang saya dimaklum adalah Islam yang sesuai untuk zaman ini, iaitu Islam moden. Apakah ia sebahagian daripada kepercayaan ahli Sunah wal-Jemaah? Jika Ya maka orang Islam di Malaysia hendaklah masuk Islam Hadhari. Jika tidak apakah tindakan yang perlu diambil oleh penguasa agama Islam terhadap ajaran Islam Hadhari?

6. Selain dari itu saya juga keliru apabila membaca tulisan seorang pengkritik Dr Asri bahawa satu dari kesalahannya ialah beliau cuba berpandu kepada Al Quran dan Hadith dan tidak kepada ijma ulama ahli Sunnah wal jamaah.

7. Walaupun kita diberitahu ulama adalah pewaris Nabi tetapi mereka bukanlah Nabi. Mereka hanya manusia biasa walaupun terpelajar dalam agama Islam. Manusia biasa boleh membuat kesalahan termasuk kesalahan mentafsir. Sebab itulah terdapat banyak tafsiran yang amat berbeza antara mereka sehingga berlaku permusuhan dan peperangan antara pengikut mereka. Ini bermakna ada diantara tafsiran mereka yang mungkin tidak betul.

8. Di negara kita ini pun terdapat banyak perbezaan pendapat walaupun kita semua menerima ajaran ahli sunnah wal jamaah imam Shafii. Diantara sembilan negara dan satu wilayah di Malaysia terdapat banyak perbezaan dari hukum dan ajaran Islam. Hendak tentukan Hari Raya pun terdapat perbezaan pendapat.

9. Tentu jelas perbezaan pendapat tidak menjadikan seseorang itu sudah terkeluar dari arus perdana Islam sunni. Sudah tentu jika dikaji pendapat ulama yang mengikut ajaran sunni di negara-negara lain akan terdapat lebih banyak perbezaan.

10. Hanya kerana adanya perbezaan pendapat yang tidak besar tidak sepatutnya menyebab tuduhan bahawa seseorang itu sudah tidak lagi turut ajaran sunni. Apatah lagi perbezaan pendapat itu dialas dengan hujah-hujah yang berasas kepada Al Quran dan Hadith.

11. Semasa saya kecil lukisan rupa manusia dan binatang, penggunaan lampu letrik di dalam masjid dan kegunaan kereta bermotor untuk jenazah dilarang. Tetapi semuanya dianggap halal sekarang. Sekali lagi ajaran Islam dalam kaum sunni juga boleh berbeza dari satu masa ke satu masa.

12. Saya tidak nafi ajaran sesat ala Arqam, Ayah Pin dan Rasul Melayu perlu diawasi dan disekat. Tetapi janganlah penguasa agama terlalu ghairah hendak haramkan syarahan agama oleh orang yang tidak sebulu dengan mereka tanpa membuktikan ajaran itu memang bertentangan dengan Islam.

13. Jawapan kepada saya tentulah saya jahil berkenaan agama Islam dan tidak berhak bercakap berkenaan dengannya. Yang tidak akan dijawab ialah yang mana satu yang saya perkatakan ini adalah tidak berasas kepada kenyataan.

14. Janganlah terlalu cepat nak tangkap orang.

Justice for Tian Dinner, feat. DSAI et al, 14/11, 8pm, Selayang Jaya

by Nathaniel Tan

Seriously. Tian did not bite a cop. And no magistrate should consider solely the testimony of a cop who beat up a detainee just because he admitted to police brutality.

Your support is needed!

Date: Saturday, November 14, 2009
Time: 8:00pm - 11:30pm
Location: Selayang Jaya Market
Price: RM50 per person

Speaker: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Ketua Pembangkang), YB Tian Chua (MP Batu),YB William Leong (MP Selayang), YB Sivarasa (MP Subang), Chua Jui Ming (Former Minister Of Health), YB Teng Chang Kim (Speaker of Selangor State)

Further more information please contact with Mr Chee : 0123096671

Nik Aziz Denies Bai'ah In PAS

KOTA BAHARU, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat today refuted the existence of the bai'ah (oath of loyalty) which has caused a controversy in the party.

The Kelantan menteri besar said the issue was deliberately raised by certain quarters who were envious of PAS struggle, which he said was starting to be accepted by the public.

"Actually PAS is envied by Muslims themselves, and because we have grown in strength recently, there are groups who try to undermine our position. The issue of bai'ah does not arise at all in Kelantan," he told reporters here Tuesday.

He was commenting on the issue following a recent disclosure by Shah Alam Member of Parliament Khalid Samad, from PAS, that the bai'ah oath of allegiance requires elected representatives to divorce their wives should they jump party.

Meanwhile, in KUALA LUMPUR, PAS president Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang said the party would not take any action or give any further explanation on the issue because the party considered it settled.

"There is no need for investigation because the bai'ah doesn't exist," he said when asked by reporters at parliament lobby.

He added that the matter was raised by the media and not by PAS members.

Selangor State Assembly Approves RM392 Mln To Buy Talam's Debts

SHAH ALAM, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- The Selangor State Assembly on Monday agreed to approve an additional budget of RM392 million to Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) to buy the debts of Kumpulan Talam with the state government, said Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

He said the grant will enable MBI to buy Talam's debts worth RM392 million with the state government and consequently allow it to take over the debt collection of Talam from the three subsidiaries of the state, namely Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd, Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd and Yayasan Pendidikan Selangor.

He said this at a press conference here after the state assembly was adjourned.

The housing company owes the three state owned subsidiary companies RM392 million in connection with several joint property development projects carried out the last 10 years.

"Starting now, MBI will be able to carry out its plan to ensure that Talam pays their debts and the entire collectons are expected to beef up the state government's funds," he said.

Prior to this, the total amount owed was never acknowledged in full or recorded with details in the accounts of the state companies.

Abdul Khalid said: "The previous state government has never made any efforts to collect the debts and if immediate action is not taken, the debts could be written off."

With the approval of the additional budget, it will make it easier for MBI to collect the debts from Talam within three months.

He said the state government will help Talam with its development projects to enable it to pay its debts to the state government but if it fails to do so, it can no longer be able to carry out development in the state.

Abdul Khalid said there were three or four more companies on which the state government will be taking action in order to collect their payments.

He said the 2010 Budget will be tabled tomorrow.

Umno Not Behind Cow Head Procession - Khalid

SHAH ALAM, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said Umno members involved in the cow head procession in front of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah building acted as individuals.

He told Ng Suee Lim (DAP-Sekinchan) that the state government could not do anything more since some of them had been charged in court for the procession.

Ng, in his supplementary question, wanted Khalid to identify those involved in the cow head procession to protest the relocation of a temple.

About 200 people, mostly residents of Section 23, Shah Alam took part in the procession on Aug 28.

Khalid disagreed with Ng's statement that Umno was a racist party and was behind the procession. He called on the party to disband.

He said it was important for Pakatan Rakyat to show strength in representing various races and that it could administer better and with transparency.

To the original question by Yap Ee Wah (BN-Sungai Pelek) on action taken to restore racial harmony, he said the state government had considered the interest of all quarters including the right to free speech and religious beliefs.

In Kelantan, PAS sacks blogger

Sheih loses job in witch-hunt. Socio-political bloggers in Malaysia aren't easily shocked, but news about Nik Aziz terminating Sheih's contract with the Kelantan Chief Minister Inc [PBMK] has rattled many. I've been trying to call the Kickdefella blogger to know what's the story but for now I suppose I will have to read between the lines of his latest posting Penamatan Kontrak Serta Merta.

If I get his meaning right, Sheih may have been sacked for allegedly reporting corrupt practices in PBMK to 1. the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commisison and 2. an UMNO assemblyman. Sheih has denied having committed those sins and is expected to call for a press conference in Kota Baru tomorrow. [The MACC raided PBMK and questioned its CEO, who is Nik Aziz's own son-in-law, last week].

The movie director, who achieved blog-fame for using movie posters on his blog to take jabs at Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when he was PM (the name of his blog was inspired by Pak Lah), joined the PAS state goverment of Kelantan one year before the March 2008 by-election where he used the media, especially the new media, to help improve PAS' appeal to Malaysians outside Kelantan.

Pertemuan Anak Muda di Bandung

Hari ini bertolak ke Bandung. Bertemu dengan YB Tian Chua di LCCT yang juga destinasinya ke Bandung untuk menyertai program yang sama.

Dari 10 - 13 Nov akan berada di Bandung bersama berkumpul dengan aktivis anak muda yang menjadi barisan depan menggerakan massa dalam kebangkitan rakyat REFORMASI 1997.

Dijangka ratusan aktivis (penggerak massa) akan berkumpul dari seluruh pelusuk Indonesia dan turut serta aktivis progresif dari beberapa negara seperti German, Malaysia dan banyak lagi.

Pertemuan 'kecil' ini akan menjadi medan lontaran idea mencari titik temu gerakan dan penilaian dan pemikran semula gerakan reformasi dengan menjadikan gerakan di Indonesia sebagai 'basis'nya.

Teringat kalam, Nurkholis (teman sekelas ketika di SungKongHoe University)..... anak muda yang didepan jatuhkan regim Suharto...malangnya anak muda tidak siap...tidak berani mengambil alih kuasa..hanya berani meruntuhkan kuasa...malangnya si tua yang menggantikan si tua.....

Salam dari Bandung

Brain-drain impedes investment in Malaysia

UPDATED VERSION. INVESTORS choose their centres of operations carefully, often by prioritising the proximity to human capital as a rule of thumb.

This investment requirement triggered a dilemma in Penang, which had recently lost out on a multi-billion ringgit foreign investment because it could not guarantee the adequate supply of experienced electrical and electronic (E&E) engineers.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is also a Paeliamentarian, recently told the House of Representatives that the state lost US$3 billion (RM10.2 billion) worth of foreign investment because it could not commit to supplying 1,000 engineers to the investors.

While rival political parties were swift to capitalise on the issue to criticise the Chief Minister for letting go a vast opportunity, the issue had exposed a new reality in Malaysia -- the country's position in global competitiveness.

It was imperative of Chief Minister Lim to clarify as Penang is considered as the country’s Silicon Valley. “I didn’t turn down their investment but they did not want to come because I could not give them a guarantee,” he was quoted in Singapore's Straits Times as having told The Star recently.

This difficulty in getting bulk numbers of experienced engineers in specific fields was acknowledged by the Human Resource Minister today.

The Penang Chapter of the Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) today said that of the 1,350 engineers on its register, only 260 were trained in the field of E&E.

Penang hosts major manufacturing plants that carry international marques in the E&E industry, including Intel and Advanced Micro Devices, and photonics player like Osram Opto Semiconductors and medical device producer B.Braun.

Last year, Penang obtained RM10.2 billion worth of FDI, in contrast to the national total FDI of RM46 billion.

Brain-drain vs. Brain-gain

To give the issue a perspective and a context, I was actually contacted by the Straits Times on the same issue in my official capacity as the Chief Minister's Chief of Staff.

The issue we faced was that the specifications laid down by the potential investor from Europe were tough to be met with a guarantee.

It was a huge task to guarantee a steady supply of over 1,000 experienced E&E engineers in one go as most of them were currently employed in industries already entrenched in Penang.

I had grounded my observation based on supporting data from the state Human Resource Department and the Northern Chapter of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM).

Nevertheless, I also indicated that by recruiting foreign talents -- some suggested India for its English-speaking competency -- to fulfil the headcounts required may be contradictory to the objective of nurturing our human resource capital in the long run.

More importantly, I attributed the shortage of experienced E&E engineers to the decades-old brain-drain -- the exodus of good talents from Malaysia -- to the benefit of neighbouring economies. This was somewhat supported by a sidebar story in the Straits Times on the same day.

According to the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) quoted in the story, there are 785,000 Malaysians who work overseas, and an estimated two out of every three among them are likely to be professionals.

The MEF added that of the Malaysian professionals who work abroad, 44 per cent are in Singapore and 28 per cent in other parts of Asia, with the rest residing in other parts of the world.

It appeared that the government was well aware of the brain-drain issue as in 2000, it had launched a programme aimed at wooing them back to the country with offers of tax and duties exemptions. Professionals targetted included doctors, engineers and IT experts.

However, response had been lukewarm. The MEF said only 770 respondents were approved since then, which translates into an average of 85 each year.

That probably prompted the same government to announce a brain-gain programme recently.

On October 23, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced in his maiden budget speech that said new incentives will be offered to attract foreign talents. Besides making it easier for them to apply for permanent resident status, visas would also be granted automatically to working and dependent expatriate family members within 14 days.

However, critics were skeptical of the success as things often boil down to salaries and expectations.

Shamsuddin Bardan, the executive director of MEF, which is an umbrella trade body for 4,000 private-sector employers, pointed out that it all boiled down to salaries.

He gave an example: A senior engineer working in the US could make about RM30,000 a month, compared to about RM20,000 in Malaysia. The pasture was greener elsewhere, hence the exodus.

On the political ground, the opposition has long highlighted the serity of the brain-drain effect. The hypothesis had been that Malaysian professionals ventured overseas due to higher pay beyond Malaysia, and equal opportunity offered to the best talents irrespective of race and religion.

Meanwhile, the standard of the command of English among new entrants in the job market had been waning, largely due to the country’s education system that produced umemployable graduates.

Messages to cops land politician's son in trouble

By V. Shankar Ganesh & Jassmine Shadiqe

The son of a murdered MIC politician is being investigated for criminal defamation after he accused police of protecting several suspects in the investigations into his father's murder.

Former Tenggaroh assemblyman Datuk S. Krishnasamy's son, Raj Kumar, had allegedly sent text messages and emails to police criticising their inability to solve the murder.

Raj Kumar's targets were Johor police chief Datuk Mokhtar Shariff and Johor Baru (south) Criminal Investigation Department chief Deputy Superintendent Nor Hisham Mohammad.

So far, three police reports have been lodged by Johor police against the engineer.

The latest report against Raj Kumar was lodged by Mokhtar on Oct 15 after he accused police of protecting several people allegedly involved in the murder.

The email was sent to the Johor police portal and addressed to Mokhtar.

Johor CID chief Datuk Amer Awal said police yesterday obtained an order to investigate from the public prosecutor and began investigations for criminal defamation.

They sent a team up north to Raj Kumar's office in Bayan Lepas, Penang, where they seized his laptop and handphone.

Amer said ever since Krishnasamy's murder, the family had been in constant contact with police for updates on the investigations.

They had questioned why police had released suspects who had been detained to facilitate investigations.

Amer said Krishnasamy's murder investigations were still ongoing and police had not closed the case.

Krishnasamy, who was state deputy MIC chairman, was gunned down at the party's office in Jalan Segget here by a man on Jan 11 last year.

The 61-year-old was shot as he entered a lift.

Meanwhile, Raj Kumar said he was questioned by police two days after Deepavali.

He said the reports against him alleged that he had defamed police.

He said he sent the text messages after failing to get a proper response from police over the investigations.

"All they kept telling me was that they were still investigating the case. It has been more than a year since my father was murdered."

He many suspects were arrested and released and to date, no one had been charged with his father's murder.

"I did not mean to insult the police. I was just pouring out my frustrations. Now action is being taken against me."

Raj said the family were the victims and they had been suffering without any closure to the case.

PR-Hindraf Pact on the Cards

By Terrence Netto, Free Malaysia Today

A meeting to explore common ground between Hindraf’s chairman and Pakatan Rakyat coordinator Zaid Ibrahim issues in an understanding that could see both work together with GE13 in mind.

Following a cordial meeting in Singapore yesterday, Hindu Action Front (Hindraf) chairman P. Waythamoorthy and Pakatan Rakyat’s Zaid Ibrahim are optimistic that an understanding can be achieved between the two groups.

Pakatan Rakyat is the opposition coalition that groups PKR, DAP and PAS, the three parties that collectively denied the ruling Umno dominated BN government of its two-thirds majority in Parliament in the March 2008 general election.

The meeting between Waythamoothy and Zaid was initiated by individuals concerned to secure Hindraf’s backing for PR at the next general election (GE13) which is expected to be called much earlier than its due date in 2013.

It was held in Singapore because Waythamoorthy cannot return to Malaysia, his passport having been revoked by the Malaysian government in April 2008. He travels on a United Nations document issued by the British Government which granted him political asylum last year after the revocation of his passport.

Presently, he resides in London where he fled to after five Hindraf activists, led by its founder P. Udayakumar, who is Waythamoorthy’s elder brother, were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in December 2007. All five detainees were released shortly after Najib Razak became Prime Minister last April.

Following the two-and-a-half-hour meeting between Waythamoorthy and Zaid in a hotel off swank Orchard Road, Zaid emerged to say he saw no difficulty in PR accommodating the essence of the Hindraf programme in its Common Policy Framework.

“An enlightened affirmative action programme would accommodate the concerns of Hindraf over the condition of the Indian Malaysian poor,” said Zaid in remarks to FreeMalaysiaToday immediately after hearing out Waythamoorthy.

“I was pleasantly surprised to discover from what Moorthy had to say that Hindraf’s demands are not extreme and are worthy of incorporation into the CPF,” he said.

READ MORE HERE: http://freemalaysiatoday.com/

Siasat Ghani secara terbuka, baru Mahkamah bebas

(Harakah Daily) - Demi memulihkan semula kebebasan mahkamah, Ahli Parlimen Shah Alam Khalid Samad mencadangkan beberapa individu yang dilihat bersekongkol dengan pihak eksekutif disiasat secara terbuka.
Ianya termasuk menyiasat beberapa dakwaan yang dikaitkan dengan Peguam Negara, Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail sendiri.

"Selagi Peguam Negara tidak dibersihkan, selagi itu mahkamah turut akan dilihat tidak bebas dari pengaruh eksekutif (kerajaan)," ujarnya.

"Kalau nak bersih, tak perlu tutup-tutup (siasatan), tapi perlu terbuka kerana ia lambang integriti mahkamah."

Ujarnya, kesangsian raktar terhadap Abdul Ghani merupakan salah satu sebab Mahkamah tidak dilihat bebas.

"Sekiranya Peguam Negara sendiri menerima kesangsian sama ada di mahkamah atau di luar (mahkamah), maka beliau sendiri seharusnya dibersihkan terlebih dahulu dari kesangsian tersebut, tidak boleh dilihat kebal," jelasnya

Beliau yang juga AJK PAS Pusat berharap kerajaan tidak lagi menubuhkan suatu suruhanjaya untuk menyiasat Abdul Ghani secara tertutup, seperti sebelum ini.

"Ianya tidak boleh dilakukan dengan hanya menubuhkan suatu suruhanjaya, kemudiannya disiasat secara tertutub lalu diumumkan seseorang yang didakwa itu tidak bersalah, tidak (melakukan) jenayah dan sebagainya," jelasnya.

Beliau turut menyentuh kes VK Linggam yang dianggapnya sebagai bukti mahkamah di Malaysia tidak bebas.

"Mereka tidak boleh menganggap kesangsian pada VK Linggam atau mana-mana hakim yang terbabit adalah masalah moral yang bersifat peribadi, kerana rakyat melihat kes-kes berkaitan dan hakim-hakim tertentu itu sebahgaian dari wajah kebebasan mahkamah," Jelasnya.

"Persepsi ini bukan hanya diberikan (oleh) saya atau ahli parlimen pembangkang yang lain, ianya (kes VK Linggam) diperkata oleh banyak pihak di luar negara sendiri."

Dalam pada itu, beliau juga mengakui bahawa usaha menjadikan mahkamah benar-benar bebas adalah sesuatu yang mustahil.

Ianya kerana soal perlantikan, pengajian dan perjawatan masih menerima lagi dilakukan secara langsung dengan pihak eksekutif.

Pun begitu, Khalid berpendapat bahawa mahkamah dan pihak eksekutif seharusnya bersikap profesional, termasuk mendakwa pihak-pihak yang disangsikan terbabit.

"Yang penting, mereka sendiri mesti berusaha memperlihat kebebasan mereka dan mesti memenangi kembali kreteria ini (kebebasan Mahkamah)," jelasnya.

"Memang tiada sesiapa pun yang sempurna, tetapi mahkamah tidak boleh dilihat cacat disebabkan seorang dua (inividu) ini (termasuk Abdul Ghani)."

"Sekiranya mereka yang terbabit tidak mampu dibersihkan dari sangsi umum, mereka ini perlu dilucutkan jawatan atau mahkamah sendir perlu lantik seseorang yang lebih layak."

Tambahnya lagi, mahkamah di Malaysia tidak perlu berubah sehingga mewujudkan sesuatu yang disebut Penghakiman Majmuk – Peguam Negara mesti majmuk demi mengelakkan perlanggaran nilai integriti seperti dakwaan terpilih.

"Saya tidak rasa kita perlu sampai sebegitu (Penghakiman Majmuk), Sekurang-kurangnya Peguam Negara perlu menjawab segala kesangsian itu di Parlimen," jelasnya.

"Jawapan Menteri berwajib tidak memadai, malah dilihat lebih banyak melindungi dia (Peguam Negara) dari menyelesaikan kesangsian (mahkamah tidak bebas)."

Semalam, Khalid mendesak Kerajaan mengemukakan bukti bahawa mahkamah di Malaysia telahpun bebas dari pengaruh eksekutif pemerintah.

Menjawab soal itu, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (JPM) Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz meminta semua pihak bersabar dengan beberapa usaha pemulihan yang dilakukan kerajaan sehingga sekarang.

"Bukan kita tidak mengambil tindakan tegas (dan) cepat, saya kata kesan (dari tindakan) itu memakan masa sikit, tindakan telahpun kita (kerajaan) ambil, berkesan itu (hasil tindakan kerajaan)," jelasnya lagi.

Liow still No 2, says former MCA legal adviser

By Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 — Former chairman of MCA’s legal bureau Datuk Leong Tang Chong today claimed that Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (picture) is still the party deputy president as the Registrar of Societies (RoS) never reinstated Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek to the post.

“The RoS merely said that from the information supplied by Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek, ‘we are of the view the post of deputy president is not vacant’,” Leong told a press conference showing a copy of the letter from the RoS.

The RoS’ letter was in response to Dr Chua’s request for clarification on his status after he was reinstated as MCA member at the party’s EGM last month.

Dr Chua was earlier suspended from the party by the central committee.

Leong, who now acts as legal adviser to Liow, said the health minister had written to the RoS yesterday asking it to review its decision.

Ong continues to hold on to the party presidency despite losing a confidence vote during the MCA EGM on Oct 10.

He has now aligned himself to Dr Chua — his fiercest enemy — with the two men agreeing to a “greater unity plan” which critics say is merely to carve the party out for the two and their supporters.

During the Oct 10 EGM Dr Chua had his membership reinstated but delegates did not specifically return him as deputy president.

The EGM’s outcome caused the central committee to appoint Liow as the party’s No 2.

“Earlier RoS said it has no jurisdiction, after that complete U-turn,” said Leong, who was recently sacked as MCA’s top lawyer by Ong after disagreements with the party president.

He also said that the central committee had decided after last month’s EGM not to let the RoS interfere in party matters.

On the request for another EGM by Liow’s faction, Leong said the MCA constitution allows the requisitionists to issue notices for the EGM if the secretary-general fails to do so.

MCA secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng had rejected the call for an EGM by 16 central committee members aligned to Liow.

Leong also explained that the resolution for the EGM, calling for fresh party polls, is constitutionally valid.

Ong, too, had earlier planned to call for an EGM to allow fresh party polls, but abandoned the idea in favour of what he called the “Greater Unity Plan” — the actual details of which remain a secret between Ong and Dr Chua.

Pakatan presents key witness for Lingam-Eusoff NZ trip

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 — Pakatan Rakyat MPs today presented the alleged key witness that may support their claims that senior lawyer VK Lingam and former chief justice Tun Eusoff Chin had planned their New Zealand trip together.

They hope the alleged key witness, Lingam’s former secretary Jayanthi Naidu, will prove that the government is attempting to cover up the scandal which has raised suspicions about possible collusion.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had said there was no case to answer and that she (Jayanthi) could not be located. It had also said that Lingam had not broken any laws for fixing judicial appointments as there was no evidence he had a hand in the appointments.

Lingam had claimed he was not the person captured in a video that opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim showed in 2007, claiming it was proof that judicial appointments were fixed during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s reign as prime minister.

PM says Malaysia still lagging in industrial advancement

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal - The Malaysian Insider

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 10 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today that Malaysia needs a new paradigm if it wants to catch up with developed nations in terms of industrial advancement.

He was speaking at the 12th MSC International Advisory Panel Meeting (IAP) earlier this morning.

The prime minister said a system which drives high performance at all levels of society will be put in place soon. One of these is the rolling out of an advanced national communications infrastructure which promises to connect 1.2 million households with a high speed broadband network.

“We will be rolling out an advanced national communications infrastructure by wiring up 1.2 million households and business premises with fibre-optics so that Internet subscribers can get speeds of between 10MBps (megabytes per second) to 1GBps (gigabytes per second),” explained Najib.

While acknowledging the fact that Malaysia had achieved success in the past by growing an industrial base and expanding its agricultural sector, he emphasised that more measures were needed to boost the economy and that the country can “no longer rely on what had worked for us in the past.”

The premier feels that the way forward is the New Economic Model that will successfully transform the economy into a full-fledged industrial-based one.

There are no details yet on the new model as it will only be officially launched at the end of the year. However, today Najib gave hints on what this new approach would be like.

“We have already embarked on a comprehensive reform of our capital markets as well as introduced sweeping measures to liberalise our services sector.”

He also stressed on an intimate, people-centric approach through the use of ICT, citing his 1 Malaysia website as an example of how Malaysians can interact directly with him and air their opinions or grievances.

“No economy can claim to be developed without having a significant technological component... this brings us to MSC Malaysia, an initiative which was conceived as a platform for developing world-class ICT applications and also serves as a seeding ground for Silicon Valley-type entrepreneurs,” explained Najib.

“I hope we will be able to work out a set of strategies for MSC Malaysia to be incorporated in our New Economic Model, so that we can realise our desire to be a developed high income nation by 2020.”

UMNO MPs’ “ambush” for OTK foiled by Minister’s absence

The ambush by several UMNO MPs for MCA President and Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat last night during his Ministry’s reply in the government winding-up of the 2010 budget debate was foiled when the Minister was absent.

The reason given by the Deputy Transport Minister, Datuk Robert Lau, who stood in for the Minister, that Ong was “busy” with the official visit of the Chinese President Hu Jintao as Ong is the “Minister-in-attendance”, did not go down well with the UMNO MPs concerned as Hu’s visit would only begin the next day.

Led by Umno MP for Sri Gading, Datuk Mohamad Aziz, at least three UMNO MPs questioned Ong for the RM28 million purchase of second-hand DMUs (diesel multiple units) by Keretapi Melayu Bhd (KTMB) instead of EMUs (electrical multiple units).

Mohamad even asked the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the Transport Minister for the DMU decision, which is the first time a Barisan Nasional backbencher had called for anti-corruption investigation into a Barisan Nasional Minister.

With Ong’s absence, no proper answer was forthcoming from the Deputy Transport Minister.

On the RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Zone scandal, Lau hid behind “sub judice” as excuse to decline any explanation or accountability on the “mother of all scandals”.

Becoming a Muslim radical

By Deborah Loh
thenutgraph.com

Maajid Nawaz (Pic courtesy of Quilliam Foundation)

BRITISH-BORN Pakistani Maajid Nawaz , 31, is director and co-founder of the London-based Quilliam Foundation, which describes itself as the world's first counter-extremism think-tank. Based in London, the foundation was founded by "former leading ideologues of UK-based extremist Islamist organisations".

Once a member himself of the international pan-Islamist radical but non-violent group Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT), Maajid and his foundation now challenge extremist ideology. They do this through debates, lectures and research to explain the difference between Islam as a religion and Islamism as a political ideology.

Quilliam's work involves engaging with university campuses, communities, and governments. The foundation also works in Pakistan, where Maajid once recruited for HT, to reverse the tide of extremism among youths. Though banned in many Arab nations, HT is allowed in the United Kingdom, and is said to have a wide network internationally, with a large following in Southeast Asia. It exists openly in Malaysia and Indonesia.

The Nut Graph met Maajid during the Alliance of Youth Movements 2009 summit in Mexico City where he agreed to share the story of his journey into extremism and out of it. In this first of a two-part e-mail interview, Maajid talks about the factors and experiences that made him a radical.

TNG: Tell us your experience of being recruited by Hizb ut-Tahrir. How old were you? What approach and ideology did they use, and what made you join them?

Maajid Nawaz: As a third-generation British Muslim, I was raised in an integrated and well-established family; four of my mother's siblings are doctors. I had absolutely no problem making friends and was in the highest sets in school, later going on to study law at university. As a British-Asian teenager growing up in Essex, I always had a sense of being different. In fairness, this was not due to the majority of people around me, but the actions of a minority of organised racists who made life exceptionally difficult for all around me.

(Pic by sateda / sxc.hu) By the age of 15, I found myself having to flee random and unprovoked knife attacks, and witness friends being stabbed before my eyes. There were arrests but no charges; apparently, they had "friends" in the police.

Institutional racism was something I knew existed before the phrase itself was coined. The first time I was arrested in an armed raid was on the streets of Essex. Aged 15, I had been playing pool with friends until late. As I was being driven home, we were shocked at being pursued by police helicopters shining spotlights on our car. The road had been blockaded and we found ourselves staring down the barrel of machine guns. I was arrested at gunpoint for "suspicion of armed robbery".

Unknown to me, earlier in the day my friends had been innocently playing with a plastic pellet gun. A poor old lady had decided that brown children playing with plastic pellet guns could mean only one thing: they intended to rob a bank. I still remember the look on my mother's face when she came into the police station. We were kept overnight and the following afternoon we were released without charge and with a sheepish apology.

I initially dealt with such incidents by associating with a counter-culture inspired by American rap music. In the 1990s, this was an underground scene that we felt provided a voice and identity to those who were not being seen or heard. This was the beginning of my politicisation, and by now I was already inclined to being anti-establishment.

As time passed, I became more aware of identity issues and world conflicts. The Bosnian genocide struck a chord like no other. Here were white European Muslims being identified solely as Muslims and being slaughtered for it. This genocide coincided with an emerging trend in rap music, whereby American rappers began to identify explicitly as Muslims and mixed samples of Malcolm X's speeches into their music.

Memorial to the victims of the Bosnian genocide in Srebrenica (Wiki commons)

Sadly, at this critical juncture, there was no guidance forthcoming from the mosques on such identity issues. In those days, most mosque imams — including my own — were born abroad, ill-educated in both religion and other subjects, misunderstood our culture and could not even speak English.

It was during this period of my life that a member of HT, a young medical student from my hometown who had been recruited while studying at university in London, started explaining HT ideas to me. My premature politicised mind was ripe to receive an ideology that advocated a black and white solution to the problems I had grown up with. The tactics these people used were to avoid mosques and instead look for sympathisers at youth clubs and universities. Our conversations did not revolve around religion, but rather around politics. Islam was presented to me as an ideology.

The idea that I was not a Muslim in the religious sense but rather in a larger political context appealed to me. The question "Who are you actually?" is what really got me. It continued in that way: "Are you British? Of course not, they'll never accept you. Are you Pakistani? The colonial powers created Pakistan 50 years ago and gave you a Pakistani identity. If you really want to be yourself, you have to refuse the identity they want to give you." These questions were the core of their indoctrination, which fascinated me.

What did your work with the party involve for the 14 years you were with them? Have you ever taken up arms?

As I got more involved with HT activities, from attending secret cell meetings to distributing leaflets that called for jihad in "occupied lands", I conflicted with Muslims at mosques and, most worryingly, my own parents. I recall with horror being chased out of a northern town by members of the mosque congregation and their imam for distributing HT leaflets outside the mosque. My parents detested seeing those same leaflets in their home. But I was undeterred. For me, Muslims, including my parents, had misunderstood their ideology.

This was an ideology like no other. Religion had been merged with politics in such a way that we worshipped God through our political activities. Where our minds could not grasp a certain idea, we were coaxed through scripture. Where scripture did not bolster a certain notion, we were convinced through rational argumentation.

(Pic by dcubillas / sxc.hu)The result was a potent mix of political and philosophical stances seemingly justified by religious scripture with the aim of liberating the Muslim nation, or ummah, whose minds had been colonised. The result was producing young men and women who were prepared to give up everything for the sake of a political ideology and go to a religious paradise. I had finally discovered who I was. I was a sharp, ideological Muslim whose mission was to create a new world order.

However, it is important here to say that HT is a non-terrorist party. They do not, and we did not, take up arms against non-combatants. However, this is not to say that they are peaceful. As members of the group, we believed in the religious necessity of convincing the armies of democratic and non-democratic Muslim-majority countries to instigate military coups against their regime. Military coups are inherently a violent act, and when they occur against a democratic regime they are a violation of international law.

I took on board this ideology as my own, propagating it through campuses and across borders until it consumed my life. In 1994 we took over the Students' Union of Newham College. I was elected as president of the union and my entire committee were HT activists. We proceeded to radicalise the campus to such an extent that regrettably, one of our supporters ended up murdering a non-Muslim student on campus by plunging a machete through his heart. The man convicted for the murder acted beyond the strict guidance of HT, yet his actions demonstrate the way in which HT ideology can create an atmosphere where such violence can brew. The entire students' union committee, with me at its head, was expelled from the campus in one clean sweep.

I continued my studies and eventually ended up at the University of London to study Law and Arabic. In 1999, while still at university and at the tender age of 21, I was sent by the group's global leader to Pakistan to export HT there. Pakistan had by then acquired a nuclear bomb, and it was felt that HT's "caliphate" would vastly benefit from being a nuclear power. Once having achieved my aims in helping to set up HT Pakistan, I returned to the UK in 2000. I was then again asked to set up the Pakistani branch of HT in Denmark. From Monday to Friday I would study at university, and on the weekends I would fly out to Copenhagen to set up cells for HT in that city. My travels eventually ended in Egypt, post-9/11, where my activities finally caught up with me.

Arrested in Egypt, then a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir (Courtesy of Maajid Nawaz)

What are the factors that cause a person to be radicalised? Is poverty, as we are often told, a root cause of terrorism?

There are many factors that come together which Islamists then manipulate and construe through a meta-narrative of a struggle between Islam and the west. Grievances, as in my story, do push angry people to seek alternative solutions.

Islamists will use an individual's experiences of racism, colonialism, poverty and concerns about foreign policy, as well as any questions they may have about their own identity, to support the Islamist ideology and justify terrorism. However, without the existence of this ideology, the grievances [would be] expressed through normal channels of youth anger and sub-culture. The way in which that ideology combines with grievances is the root cause of terrorism.

Islamism is a modern ideology masquerading as an ancient religion. As such, it shares a common trait with many other constructed ideologies. This trait is its fundamental, theoretical justification for change regardless of circumstances. Ideologies do not merely provide "solutions" to perceived problems; they provide a framework within which to define problems in the first place.

By doing this, they effectively "discover" problems where there may be none, and can act as an obstacle to solving other problems when the solution doesn't fit certain dogma. Islamism is formed by superimposing certain western political paradigms onto the religion of Islam. The absence of such modern Islamist notions in Muslim political systems and society is subsequently equated to the absence of Islam itself. Whatever institutions are found in place are subsequently described as Kufr (disbelief), which must be overthrown as a religious obligation.

Herein lies the problem. Islamism is not driven by a sense of material injustice in this life. It is driven by an ideological agenda that will seek change regardless of such material injustice. For Islamists, the absence of Islamism is itself the injustice. All [human]-made legislation is considered to be oppressive, and only divine legislation is capable of liberating [humans] from such oppression. Any material problems, such as poverty, crime or conflict, are hence not primary reasons for Islamist radicalisation, they are simply convenient recruitment tools used to further destabilise those who rule by [human]-made legislation.

Contractor demolishes structures on govt land?

By Anil Netto

A cowshed located on what is believed to be government land next to the site of the flattened Kg Buah Pala was demolished by private contractors this afternoon.

The contractors are believed to be linked to the developer of the Buah Pala land, Nusmetro.

A journalist and another eye-witness contacted me and raised the question: why is a private contractor demolishing structures believed to be standing on government land (state or federal?), when government officials are nowhere to be seen?

Some 200 cows and goats are now wandering around the site.

This is your law

Off the Edge
By Malaysian Bar Council (Constitutional Law Committee)

After decades of marginalisation by being selectively used for politically expedient ends, the Federal Constitution receives a proper public introduction

AS THE BAR Council embarks on the PerlembagaanKu/MyConstitution campaign to encourage greater public appreciation of the Federal Constitution, four members of the Bar’s Constitutional Law Committee share their thoughts on why they do what they do, and why the Federal Constitution of Malaysia is a really good thing to get to know. Firdaus Husni is working to spread word of the campaign online; Shamala Balasundaram is co-writing an introductory ‘Rakyat’s Guide’ booklet to the Constitution in non-legalese; Kwan Will Sen is working on the launch; and Grace Wong co-leads the campaign online.

As young professionals embedded in the Malaysian legal system, what can they tell their fellow Malaysians about the Constitution, which is perceived very differently along Malaysia’s racial, linguistic and rural-urban divides? What these young lawyers have to say about the country’s basic law may not resonate in some quarters, a fact not lost on them.

Malaysian Muslims stand in line to enter the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya near Kuala Lumpur May 30, 2007

‘It is frustrating to hear people say that the Constitution is just for lawyers or politicians, or that it has no relevance in their lives,’says Shamala Balasundaram. ‘But why would they think otherwise?’ she adds pointedly. ‘I wasn’t taught much about the Constitution in school. I’ve never heard of a public consultation on proposed amendments to the

Constitution. Yet, the Constitution does affect my life – it tells me I’m a citizen, it recognises my rights, it gives me the power to vote for my leaders.’

Firdaus Husni notes the lack of a ‘sense of belonging’, that Malaysians in general do not claim the Constitution for their own. It’s ‘an intangible sort of feeling,’ adds Kwan Will Sen: ‘As cliché as it sounds, you can’t love someone if you don’t know him or her. I am proud of my Federal Constitution and I am passionate about introducing it to those who don’t. That is essentially what this campaign is all about, the get-to-know. And I am driven by my role as a “match maker”.’ Excerpts from the conversation: Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, in a speech delivered on October 16, said that the Constitution may be open to subversion if we forget that the Constitution belongs to us, protects us all, underwrites our nationhood, and we fail to defend it. Do you agree with this?

SB: I think the statement is far too diplomatic. The Constitution has been subverted. In 1988, for example, Article 121 of the Constitution was amended to remove significant power from the Courts. On one interpretation, the Courts now only have power given to them under federal law (in other words by Parliament) as opposed to power given by the Constitution itself. It shows that the amendment was bulldozed through with little care for its wider implications or for the legitimate concerns of those who rose in protest.

The Article 121 amendment and many other unjustified amendments took place, because only certain segments of society – lawyers, some politicians, social commentators – actually knew what was happening, took an interest, and had the avenue to speak out in dissent. They were in the minority. It was easy to label them as ‘the opposition’, ‘lawyers’, ‘NGOs’ and be dismissive. Imagine though if housewives, teachers, engineers, businessman, labourers, farmers – every segment of society – spoke up, whether for or against a proposed amendment? Not so easy to label and dismiss them all.

WS: Ignorance and naivety is the biggest threat to our country.

Once someone thinks that it’s okay not to care or know the Constitution, a domino effect takes place ....

Within the Constitution are safeguards to protect us all. Once the rule of law undermined, all that is left of the Constitution is simply a document without its ‘spirit’. The day that happens, we should start to think about a revolution, for real.

Firdaus Husni, Shamala Balasundaram, Kwan Will Sen and Grace Wong

GW: I completely agree with Tengku on this. The public at large seem to have forgotten that they are entitled to turn to our Constitution for answers whenever they feel that their rights and liberties have been violated. Most of us are aware of the existence of the Constitution but are ignorant of its contents ... [of] their rights under the Constitution, which is the supreme law of our country. The [aim of the PerlembagaanKu/MyConstitution campaign] is to ... provide an avenue for the public to turn to when they [have questions about the Constitution].

Should the Constitution be static and unchanging in its original form or should it be fluid and change according to the times?

FH: It shouldn’t be static. It should encompass a societal approach towards issues, nurturing national progress rather than hindering it, and a consensual interest of the general public rather than of a certain group of society. Hence, the description of the Constitution as a document for all.

SB: The Constitution has been amended so many times already, so the question of letting it remain in its original form doesn’t arise.

I think the possibility of change to the Constitution must always be left open. There are many potentially positive changes that can be made to our Constitution. For example, it may be significant to entrench a right to health care, education and privacy in our Constitution.

However, the power to amend has been abused time and again and that is a real concern. The amendment to Article 121, for example, eroded the system of checks and balances envisioned in the 1957 Constitution. Then there was the peculiar amendment in 2007, simply to increase the retirement age of the Election Commission chairman from 65 to 66!

The Constitution is the foundation for Malaysia. Any change to it must be undertaken only after close study, public consultation and with proper regard for its implications.

WS: Being a man-made document, it is bound to have deficiencies. Realistically, there ought to be some space for changes to be made.

It should not, however, be amended merely to accommodate the changing times, [but] out of necessity. Careful deliberation and proper planning must be given credence.

The Constitution is the charter that holds our future and must not be compromised simply by the whims and fancies of the two-thirds majority in Parliament.

People change. But that doesn’t mean the Constitution has to.

GW: The Constitution lays down the backbone of our rights and establishes the structure, procedures, power and duties of the government. I say it is the backbone because any laws made in Parliament must be made in accordance with the Constitution.

On one hand, it is important that this document should not be allowed to be amended according to the whims and fancies of the law-makers. This is to safeguard the Constitution from being used as a tool of manipulation and oppression. On the other hand, the Constitution, which is also referred to as a living document, should reflect the changes within society. So it is necessary for the Constitution to be amended in times of need, while ensuring that such amendments cannot be used to anybody’s personal advantage.

If you had the power to make one amendment to the Constitution, what would that amendment be?

FH: Adding more safeguards against amending the basic structure of the Constitution, which forms the spirit of the document ... what its framers had originally intended [it to be] for the nation. When the basic structure is eroded without justification, the people will lose respect for the supreme law of the land.

SB: I would amend the Constitution to provide that future amendments to the Constitution may be by way of referendum only – direct democracy in action. Proposed amendments would have to be justified directly to the people. There would have to be publicity, public debate and public consultation – all the things we don’t see today. We the people, whose Constitution it is, would be able to vote for or against change to this fundamental document affecting our lives.

WS: The preamble.

Including a preamble which states the purpose and direction of the FC (Federal Constitution) adds character and colour to the FC.

For instance, in the Constitution of the United States of America, its preamble states, ‘We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility.... do ordain and establish this Constitution...’

We can work on something along those lines and set a preamble which encompasses the Federal Constitution as a whole. With the preamble, we will be reminded of the core values
that makes Malaysia who she is, lest we forget.

GW: The Constitution provides for the fundamental rights of the people and it should not be amended according to the whims and fancies of the lawmakers. If I had the power,
I would not amend the Constitution itself. I’d much rather see changes in the execution of the principles of the Constitution, that is to say, amend the laws enacted so that they harmonise with the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution.

The PerlembagaanKu/MyConstitution campaign kicks off on November 13 at the Bar Council Auditorium at 3pm. Members of the public are invited and free to attend. Please email Ms Lim Ka Ea at kaea@malaysianbar.org.my. You can also follow the campaign online via:
www.myconstitution.com
www.malaysianbar.org/constitutional_law_committee
www.facebook.com/MyConstitution
www.twitter.com/MyConsti
www.youtube.com/user/PerlembagaanKu