Thursday, 5 April 2012
Family beats up mother of two girls pregnant with ‘girl child’
A 30-year-old mother of two girls in Andhra Pradesh is battling for life in hospital after a miscarriage in her sixth pregnancy following an alleged beating from her husband and in-laws who want her to bear them a male child.
Munni’s married life of eight years has been lorded
over by a soothsayer who has predicted that only the seventh child in her womb will be a son.
Police have arrested her husband Allahbaksh and in-laws, Rahman and Fathima, from the weaving town of Tenali in Guntur district for tying her to a pole and beating her on the stomach.
Munni fourth and fifth pregnancies had been aborted and one daughter had died soon after birth.
Since no doctor was willing to do the third consecutive abortion, given Munni’s delicate health, Allahbaksh and his parents took charge, said police circle inspector Shaikh Usman.
Munni's neighbours in Balajipeta heard her cries and admitted the profusely bleeding woman to a government hospital on Saturday, where doctors advised shifting her to a private facility.
Munni’s plight came to light on Sunday after she was admitted to a private hospital at Mangalgiri — where her parents live — following complications.
Munni’s family said she had tolerated the torture because she did not want to burden her poor parents. But after the harassment became severe, Munni sent her elder daughter to stay with her parents.
Assembly speaker N Manohar has visited Munni and asked doctors to provide all the necessary care to save her life.
The three accused were produced in a local court and sent to jail. There is no official word on whether action will be taken against the soothsayer.
Munni’s married life of eight years has been lorded
over by a soothsayer who has predicted that only the seventh child in her womb will be a son.
Police have arrested her husband Allahbaksh and in-laws, Rahman and Fathima, from the weaving town of Tenali in Guntur district for tying her to a pole and beating her on the stomach.
Munni fourth and fifth pregnancies had been aborted and one daughter had died soon after birth.
Since no doctor was willing to do the third consecutive abortion, given Munni’s delicate health, Allahbaksh and his parents took charge, said police circle inspector Shaikh Usman.
Munni's neighbours in Balajipeta heard her cries and admitted the profusely bleeding woman to a government hospital on Saturday, where doctors advised shifting her to a private facility.
Munni’s plight came to light on Sunday after she was admitted to a private hospital at Mangalgiri — where her parents live — following complications.
Munni’s family said she had tolerated the torture because she did not want to burden her poor parents. But after the harassment became severe, Munni sent her elder daughter to stay with her parents.
Assembly speaker N Manohar has visited Munni and asked doctors to provide all the necessary care to save her life.
The three accused were produced in a local court and sent to jail. There is no official word on whether action will be taken against the soothsayer.
Gaddafi 'raped countless women during years in power', claims new documentary
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| Victims: It is alleged that Gaddafi's female bodyguards were the targets of his attacks (file photo) |
Late Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi raped countless women during his years in power, according to an explosive new documentary.
German broadcaster RTL is set to screen the controversial programme - which includes interviews with his inner circle - next Monday.
Reporter Antonia Rados said; 'There were many women in Libya spellbound by Gaddafi who wanted to meet him. And when they did he raped them.'
She said that his female bodyguards, who were supposed to lay down their lives to protect him, were also victims.
A prominent Libyan psychologist Dr Seham Sergewa said he knew of at least five of his Amazonian bodyguards who were raped by him.
Rape as a means of subduing the population was also passed on to soldiers and loyal militias who were provided with condoms and Viagra to encourage their assaults.
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| It has also been claimed that businessmen who traded in Libya for were expected to provide 'escort girls' for the dictator during their meetings |
Ms Rados goes on to say in the report that many women were abused by him within moments of meeting.
And he made a point of forgiving rebellious elements in his tribal society if they made 'gifts' of young women to him.
Ms Rados said she met many injured women who, along with their families, were sworn to years of silence over what Gaddafi had subjected them to.
A female Koran teacher told the programme; 'None of these girls at the time would have dared say what happened to them. They would have been killed.'
The reporter also said that businessmen who traded in Libya for fantastic sums knew what their host was about and they were expected to provide 'escort girls' for the dictator during their meetings.
It is also alleged that Ukrainian nurses who were flown in, ostensibly to work in Libyan hospitals, actually ended up aborting the babies of his rape victims.
Gaddafi died during the NATO-backed uprising in Libya on October 20 last year when he was shot after being taken prisoner by rebels. He was 69.
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| Accusation: The documentary claims many women were abused by him within moments of meeting |
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| Shocking revelations: A reporter for RTL claims there were many women in Libya spellbound by Gaddafi who wanted to meet him, but were raped when they did so |
Pakatan says will back Bersih 3.0
They told The Malaysian Insider that after the findings of Parliament’s polls panel were passed yesterday without debate and a minority report dismissed outright, they would have to increase public awareness of alleged electoral fraud.
“This is not the end. If there is no firm action, Bersih 4 and 5 may happen,” PAS vice president Salahuddin Ayub said.
PKR vice president Fuziah Salleh also agreed with the Kubang Kerian MP that the federal opposition would have no problems backing Bersih’s rally at Dataran Merdeka on April 28 as the question of “masterminding” the electoral reforms movement did not arise.
“You think we can control someone like (Datuk) Ambiga (Sreenevasan)?” the Kuantan MP said, referring to the Bersih chief who is also former Bar Council president.
Fuziah, who has led PKR’s taskforce on spotting dubious registered voters, said that the opposition “must create more awareness” as the government has refused to acknowledge the weaknesses in the electoral roll.
“If more people are aware, then we may get a higher voter turnout and minimise the impact of fraudulent voters,” she said.
Bersih confirmed today it will hold its third rally for free and fair elections on April 28 saying it was necessary to warn Malaysians that the country is about to face its “dirtiest” polls to date.
The 84-member coalition expressed its disappointment in the parliamentary select committee on electoral reforms that was formed following the July 9, 2011 rally for free and fair elections which saw tens of thousands flood the streets of the capital.
But Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz told reporters in Parliament today the historic square, where the Malayan flag was hoisted for the first time after independence, is not a lawful gathering point under the recently passed Peaceful Assembly Act.
“Dataran Merdeka has not been gazetted as an area for peaceful gatherings,” the de facto law minister said.
DAP Youth chief Anthony Loke, who sat in the parliamentary select committee on electoral reforms, said his party had yet to officially support the April 28 sit-in but “we support their objectives in principle.”
“The main question here is what is the Election Commission’s (EC) commitment to reform? Has it acted on our interim report or the 42,000 dubious voters highlighted last year?” the Rasah MP said.
The opposition also backed the July 9, 2011 Bersih march despite accusations from certain quarters that the demonstration was masterminded by PR.
Police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowds in chaotic scenes which saw over 1,500 arrested, scores injured and the death of an ex-soldier in a clampdown that earned condemnation for the Najib administration in the international press.
Reveal plans for Indian poor, Pakatan told
Hindraf wants to know the opposition bloc's plans for the Indian poor in the first 100 days should it form the next government.
KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat must explain its plans for the poor Indians if the opposition bloc forms the next federal government, said Hindraf.
“What do you have in store for the Indian underclass in the first 100 days should you take over Putrajaya? We want to know this before the general election to enable the people to decide on their political direction,” said the movement’s de facto leader P Uthayakumar.
Currently, he said, there was a lack of plans for Indians in the Pakatan-administered states of Kedah, Penang, Kelantan and Selangor.
In view of this, Hindraf invited Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang for a gathering in Klang on April 22 to outline their plans.
Uthayakumar said that Hindraf and Pakatan had several things in common.
“We are for a two-party system and a change of government,” he said, adding that the movement was also opposed to “Umno’s racism” and the segregation in the public and private sectors.
“No way are we supporting the Barisan Nasional-Umno regime,” stressed the former Internal Security Act detainee.
KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat must explain its plans for the poor Indians if the opposition bloc forms the next federal government, said Hindraf.“What do you have in store for the Indian underclass in the first 100 days should you take over Putrajaya? We want to know this before the general election to enable the people to decide on their political direction,” said the movement’s de facto leader P Uthayakumar.
Currently, he said, there was a lack of plans for Indians in the Pakatan-administered states of Kedah, Penang, Kelantan and Selangor.
In view of this, Hindraf invited Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang for a gathering in Klang on April 22 to outline their plans.
Uthayakumar said that Hindraf and Pakatan had several things in common.
“We are for a two-party system and a change of government,” he said, adding that the movement was also opposed to “Umno’s racism” and the segregation in the public and private sectors.
“No way are we supporting the Barisan Nasional-Umno regime,” stressed the former Internal Security Act detainee.
New STPM: UK reaction worries Hindraf
The government has not given a satisfactory response to a query about whether foreign institutions will recognise the certificate, says an official of the Hindu rights movement.
GEORGE TOWN: The government has failed to relieve fears that the change in the STPM format will reduce the opportunities for students to continue their education overseas.
According to Hindraf national coordinator W Sambulingam, the Higher Education Ministry has not given a satisfactory answer to his letter seeking clarification from it.
Sambulingam did not give details of his communication with the ministry, but he told FMT that he had also written to foreign embassies and the reply he received from the British High Commission was discouraging.
“Based on the UK reply, I am convinced that foreign institutions are unaware of the changes, let alone willing to recognise the new STPM formula,” he said.
He added that he was still waiting for replies from the foreign missions of India, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
The change in the STPM examination format was announced last March 6 by the chairman of the Malaysian Examination Council, Mohd Noh Dalimin. Instead of the certificate being awarded on the basis of performance in the examination held at the end of the two-year pre-university course, the evaluation will now be based on performance in three school-based examinations spread out over the two years.
Hindraf has described the change as an extension of a racist policy aimed at “further marginalising the already institutionally victimised non-Malay students”. Most Form Six students are non-Malays who cannot gain admission into institutions running matriculation courses for local universities.
“The matriculation examination, considered much less gruelling than STPM, is out of bounds for non-Malay students, thanks to racist Umno,” Sambulingam said.
But he also expressed disappointment with Pakatan Rakyat, saying it had not looked into the issue seriously, “perhaps because the new system will only hurt the poor Indians most”.
GEORGE TOWN: The government has failed to relieve fears that the change in the STPM format will reduce the opportunities for students to continue their education overseas.According to Hindraf national coordinator W Sambulingam, the Higher Education Ministry has not given a satisfactory answer to his letter seeking clarification from it.
Sambulingam did not give details of his communication with the ministry, but he told FMT that he had also written to foreign embassies and the reply he received from the British High Commission was discouraging.
“Based on the UK reply, I am convinced that foreign institutions are unaware of the changes, let alone willing to recognise the new STPM formula,” he said.
He added that he was still waiting for replies from the foreign missions of India, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
The change in the STPM examination format was announced last March 6 by the chairman of the Malaysian Examination Council, Mohd Noh Dalimin. Instead of the certificate being awarded on the basis of performance in the examination held at the end of the two-year pre-university course, the evaluation will now be based on performance in three school-based examinations spread out over the two years.
Hindraf has described the change as an extension of a racist policy aimed at “further marginalising the already institutionally victimised non-Malay students”. Most Form Six students are non-Malays who cannot gain admission into institutions running matriculation courses for local universities.
“The matriculation examination, considered much less gruelling than STPM, is out of bounds for non-Malay students, thanks to racist Umno,” Sambulingam said.
But he also expressed disappointment with Pakatan Rakyat, saying it had not looked into the issue seriously, “perhaps because the new system will only hurt the poor Indians most”.
‘Separate politics and education’
The newly formed DAP Indian Cultural Bureau has called for all parties to de-politicise education
GEORGE TOWN: Political parties in the country should stop politising education policies and aid provided to the poor.
The Penang DAP Indian Cultural Bureau chairman Harvinder Singh said an overdose of politics in such issues threatened whatever progress made to offer basic education to all Malaysians.
He said education should be open to all, and every poor student should be guided and helped.
“Aid or education policies should not be adopted by playing politics, or by relying on race or religion to polarise students here.
“We must separate education and politics if the country wants to move forward and compete on a global scale, ” Harvinder said, adding that if the poor can be helped in education then it is one way to overcome the widening income gap between the rich and the impoverished.
He said the same principle should be applied to aiding the Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools.
All should be helped irrespective of whether they are national or religious schools.
Harvinder was peaking to the media before presenting RM3,000 worth of aid to 10 students, who come from poor Indian families here.
The bureau, which was formed last year to help the poor and promote culture to the younger generation, raised the aid via a donation drive during the recent Thaipusam festival here.
Umno disagrees
Penang Umno Youth, however, disagrees with Harvinder’s stand on education.
The wing’s chief, Shaik Hussein Mydin, said Harvindar may have the best intentions, but as a whole, Pakatan Rakyat which manages Penang does not know the limits to its desire to politicise everything.
“Everything that Barisan Nasional does is evil and Pakatan can do no wrong. Isn’t that a plain and simple form of politicking?”
Shaik Hussein said it was Pakatan which first began to politicise education in this country by preying on the ignorance of Chinese and Tamil school activists over public policies on education.
It has reached a stage where Pakatan officials are heckled, intimidated or jeered upon, he said.
Shaikh Hussein pleaded with Pakatan to stop its constant politicking, as it comes at the expense of nation building and mutual respect.
“Whenever BN points out Pakatan’s shortcomings, the latter refused to admit it and instead threaten its critics with legal suits.”
How can a state be progressive if the government of the day refuses to heed criticism whether it is constructive or negative, he asked.
This leads to a belief that the present state government is afraid to accept criticism, he alleged.
“This is tantamount to having a dictatorial policy,” Shaikh Hussein said.
GEORGE TOWN: Political parties in the country should stop politising education policies and aid provided to the poor.The Penang DAP Indian Cultural Bureau chairman Harvinder Singh said an overdose of politics in such issues threatened whatever progress made to offer basic education to all Malaysians.
He said education should be open to all, and every poor student should be guided and helped.
“Aid or education policies should not be adopted by playing politics, or by relying on race or religion to polarise students here.
“We must separate education and politics if the country wants to move forward and compete on a global scale, ” Harvinder said, adding that if the poor can be helped in education then it is one way to overcome the widening income gap between the rich and the impoverished.
He said the same principle should be applied to aiding the Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools.
All should be helped irrespective of whether they are national or religious schools.
Harvinder was peaking to the media before presenting RM3,000 worth of aid to 10 students, who come from poor Indian families here.
The bureau, which was formed last year to help the poor and promote culture to the younger generation, raised the aid via a donation drive during the recent Thaipusam festival here.
Umno disagrees
Penang Umno Youth, however, disagrees with Harvinder’s stand on education.
The wing’s chief, Shaik Hussein Mydin, said Harvindar may have the best intentions, but as a whole, Pakatan Rakyat which manages Penang does not know the limits to its desire to politicise everything.
“Everything that Barisan Nasional does is evil and Pakatan can do no wrong. Isn’t that a plain and simple form of politicking?”
Shaik Hussein said it was Pakatan which first began to politicise education in this country by preying on the ignorance of Chinese and Tamil school activists over public policies on education.
It has reached a stage where Pakatan officials are heckled, intimidated or jeered upon, he said.
Shaikh Hussein pleaded with Pakatan to stop its constant politicking, as it comes at the expense of nation building and mutual respect.
“Whenever BN points out Pakatan’s shortcomings, the latter refused to admit it and instead threaten its critics with legal suits.”
How can a state be progressive if the government of the day refuses to heed criticism whether it is constructive or negative, he asked.
This leads to a belief that the present state government is afraid to accept criticism, he alleged.
“This is tantamount to having a dictatorial policy,” Shaikh Hussein said.
Bersih to EC: Get cracking or resign
Commission continues to bear the burnt of criticism for its lack of initiative to clean up the electoral roll.
VIDEO INSIDE
KUALA LUMPUR: Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 today kept up its criticism of the Election Commission (EC) for its lack of initiative in looking into fraud in the electoral roll.
Bersih, which organised a mammoth rally last July demanding for free and fair election, announced today its plans to hold another rally on April 28.
One of the pertinent demands Bersih is making this time around is for the EC to resign.
Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga said that the EC has failed in its duties.
“Their duty is to the rakyat, not to serve the government of the day and they have failed. Hence we are asking that they step down,” she said.
While scrutinising the electoral roll, Bersih officials spotted several cases of irregularities which have yet to be explained by the National Registration Department (NRD) or the EC.
Earlier, at a press conference, political scientists Ong Kian Ming of UCSI University and Wong Chin Huat (Bersih Steering Committee member) showed evidence of numerous irregularities in the voter roll.
These irregularities were spotted from the latest voter roll as of December last year.
Bersih said that it found at least 560 cases where people shared the same old IC numbers in the roll.
Wong highlighted and raised doubts over several cases of phantom voters, where he found persons of the same name and similar IC numbers but voted in different constituencies.
Ong highlighted irregularities in the postal voting and pointed out cases where the spouses of army men or police were of the same gender.
Bersih said that these could be clerical errors but it did not rule out a more sinister reason behind these
irregularities.
Ambiga said the main question was not of corrections but the integrity of the roll.
“The EC only cleans up the roll when it is pointed out to them. They have to understand that cleanliness alone is not enough; there needs to be integrity of the roll.
“How can we hold an election when the state of the electoral roll is in this condition?” she asked.
She repeated that if the EC was not ready or was short on resources to look at these irregularities, civil society was ready to do so.
Over the past several weeks, the opposition has also been making many allegations about cases of irregularities in electoral roll.
The EC’s response to these allegations is that it has been cleaning them up but was not working quick enough to the standards of “some parties”.
VIDEO INSIDE
KUALA LUMPUR: Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 today kept up its criticism of the Election Commission (EC) for its lack of initiative in looking into fraud in the electoral roll.Bersih, which organised a mammoth rally last July demanding for free and fair election, announced today its plans to hold another rally on April 28.
One of the pertinent demands Bersih is making this time around is for the EC to resign.
Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga said that the EC has failed in its duties.
“Their duty is to the rakyat, not to serve the government of the day and they have failed. Hence we are asking that they step down,” she said.
While scrutinising the electoral roll, Bersih officials spotted several cases of irregularities which have yet to be explained by the National Registration Department (NRD) or the EC.
Earlier, at a press conference, political scientists Ong Kian Ming of UCSI University and Wong Chin Huat (Bersih Steering Committee member) showed evidence of numerous irregularities in the voter roll.
These irregularities were spotted from the latest voter roll as of December last year.
Bersih said that it found at least 560 cases where people shared the same old IC numbers in the roll.
Wong highlighted and raised doubts over several cases of phantom voters, where he found persons of the same name and similar IC numbers but voted in different constituencies.
Ong highlighted irregularities in the postal voting and pointed out cases where the spouses of army men or police were of the same gender.
Bersih said that these could be clerical errors but it did not rule out a more sinister reason behind these
irregularities.Ambiga said the main question was not of corrections but the integrity of the roll.
“The EC only cleans up the roll when it is pointed out to them. They have to understand that cleanliness alone is not enough; there needs to be integrity of the roll.
“How can we hold an election when the state of the electoral roll is in this condition?” she asked.
She repeated that if the EC was not ready or was short on resources to look at these irregularities, civil society was ready to do so.
Over the past several weeks, the opposition has also been making many allegations about cases of irregularities in electoral roll.
The EC’s response to these allegations is that it has been cleaning them up but was not working quick enough to the standards of “some parties”.
Show your independence, Ambiga
Bersih coalition co-chairman S Ambiga must ban Pakatan Rakyat's top leaders from participating in the April 28 peaceful assembly.
GEORGE TOWN: Bersih 2.0 may have its constitutional right under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution to hold a third peaceful assembly on April 28 at Dataran Merdeka, but its co-chairman S Ambiga must first clarify whether the rally is at the behest of opposition Pakatan Rakyat, said Gerakan politician Baljit Singh.
He said it appeared that the Bersih 3.0 gathering was a pre-planned rally to trigger an election momentum for Pakatan Rakyat.
He raised suspicion that the imminent rally was being organised for Pakatan to gain political mileage. But he is also open to any clarification by Ambiga to assuage his doubts.
The lawyer has reservation on why the Bersih 3.0 rally was announced almost immediately after Pakatan leaders had expressed discontent over the 22-point electoral reforms recommended by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC).
He wondered whether the rally was being hurriedly arranged to rally and galvanise Pakatan leaders and supporters in the wake of the fast approaching general election.
He suggested for Bersih to “ban” Pakatan top leaders from taking part in Bersih 3.0 to show proof that the coalition was an independent and non-partisan movement genuinely seeking to improve the country’s democratic process.
“Its chairperson owes a public duty to clarify that Bersih 3.0 would not be a platform for Pakatan leaders to flex their political muscles,” Baljit, who heads Penang Gerakan legal and human rights bureau, told FMT here today.
Ambiga has said that apart from the movement’s original eight demands, Bersih 3.0 would focus on three key issues. The issues are the resignation of the Election Commission, the presence of international observers to monitor the general election and that the electoral process be cleaned up before the next general election.
Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz has already objected to the venue, saying that Dataran Merdeka was not a gazetted area for peaceful assemblies.
‘Cry babies’
Yesterday, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia approved the PSC report on electoral reforms without calling for a debate and gave three opposition MPs the marching orders.
The Speaker ordered PKR MPs R Sivarasa and Azmin Ali, and PAS MP Dzulkefly Ahmad to leave the House for questioning his stand on not allowing a minority report to be attached with the existing report.
Baljit said Pakatan MPs and Bersih should not behave like “cry babies” as it was not compulsory for the PSC to accept all their recommendations on electoral reforms.
He said that the 22 accepted recommendations looked credible and progressive, though there were still room for improvement.
During the PSC fact-finding mission across the country, he said he had also proposed for a anti-hopping law to ban elected political frogs.
Although his recommendation was not included in the PSC report, Baljit said he was not crying foul.
“It’s so disturbing that the moment Pakatan MPs cry foul, Ambiga swiftly announces another rally.
“Is it coincidence or pre-planned?” asked Baljit, who attended the Bersih 2.0 rally last July.
GEORGE TOWN: Bersih 2.0 may have its constitutional right under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution to hold a third peaceful assembly on April 28 at Dataran Merdeka, but its co-chairman S Ambiga must first clarify whether the rally is at the behest of opposition Pakatan Rakyat, said Gerakan politician Baljit Singh.He said it appeared that the Bersih 3.0 gathering was a pre-planned rally to trigger an election momentum for Pakatan Rakyat.
He raised suspicion that the imminent rally was being organised for Pakatan to gain political mileage. But he is also open to any clarification by Ambiga to assuage his doubts.
The lawyer has reservation on why the Bersih 3.0 rally was announced almost immediately after Pakatan leaders had expressed discontent over the 22-point electoral reforms recommended by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC).
He wondered whether the rally was being hurriedly arranged to rally and galvanise Pakatan leaders and supporters in the wake of the fast approaching general election.
He suggested for Bersih to “ban” Pakatan top leaders from taking part in Bersih 3.0 to show proof that the coalition was an independent and non-partisan movement genuinely seeking to improve the country’s democratic process.
“Its chairperson owes a public duty to clarify that Bersih 3.0 would not be a platform for Pakatan leaders to flex their political muscles,” Baljit, who heads Penang Gerakan legal and human rights bureau, told FMT here today.
Ambiga has said that apart from the movement’s original eight demands, Bersih 3.0 would focus on three key issues. The issues are the resignation of the Election Commission, the presence of international observers to monitor the general election and that the electoral process be cleaned up before the next general election.
Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz has already objected to the venue, saying that Dataran Merdeka was not a gazetted area for peaceful assemblies.
‘Cry babies’
Yesterday, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia approved the PSC report on electoral reforms without calling for a debate and gave three opposition MPs the marching orders.
The Speaker ordered PKR MPs R Sivarasa and Azmin Ali, and PAS MP Dzulkefly Ahmad to leave the House for questioning his stand on not allowing a minority report to be attached with the existing report.
Baljit said Pakatan MPs and Bersih should not behave like “cry babies” as it was not compulsory for the PSC to accept all their recommendations on electoral reforms.
He said that the 22 accepted recommendations looked credible and progressive, though there were still room for improvement.
During the PSC fact-finding mission across the country, he said he had also proposed for a anti-hopping law to ban elected political frogs.
Although his recommendation was not included in the PSC report, Baljit said he was not crying foul.
“It’s so disturbing that the moment Pakatan MPs cry foul, Ambiga swiftly announces another rally.
“Is it coincidence or pre-planned?” asked Baljit, who attended the Bersih 2.0 rally last July.
Malaysian Reform Group Says It's Back to the Streets
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| They might be back |
With the Malaysian election watchdog Bersih planning a third rally for Apr. 28, the stage appears set in Kuala Lumpur for another war of tactics between the government and reformers, who are dominated by the opposition parties.
Ambiga Sreenevasan, the former head of the Malaysian Bar Council who now co-chairs Bersih 2.0, as it is known, told reporters Wednesday that if the government cracks down on protesters, as it did on July 9, 2011, it can expect another massive backlash from voters. That backlash caused Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s personal popularity to fall to 59 percent. His approval rating has since climbed back to 69 percent, according to the Merdeka Centre polling apparatus.
Interestingly, however, Najib’s personal popularity doesn’t appear to extend to his party or the Barisan Nasional, the ruling national coalition. The Merdeka poll found that as many as a third of respondents who said they were satisfied with the prime minister said they were inclined towards the Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition.
Malaysia is now in the throes of preparing for national elections, expected to be called sometime in May or June. A member of the United Malays National Organization told Asia Sentinel that preparations for the election are now in “full swing,” with Prime Minister and UMNO head Najib and his colleagues sifting through the party to find new candidates. As an indication of the collapse of the Chinese votes for the Barisan, the source said seats in Malay areas which were previously allocated to parliamentarians for the Malaysian Chinese Association would be taken back and given to ethnic Malays.
Sreenevasan said she is “assuming that sensible advisers of the prime minister will tell him to refrain from using the same tactics.”
However, it is possible that there will be another confrontation. Mohamed Nazri Abdul Azis, minister in the prime minister’s department and de facto law minister, told reporters later that if the Bersih leaders go through with a plan to sit in at Kuala Lumpur's Dataran Merdeka (Freedom Square), it would be classified as an illegal assembly under the newly-passed Peaceful Assembly Bill.
In the July 2011 confrontation, authorities blocked streets to attempt to foil marchers and used tear gas and water cannons in an effort to disperse them. Some 1,600 people were arrested, with the international media and human rights groups universally condemning the crackdown. It appears there is strong sentiment inside UMNO to do it again.
“If Bersih want to have a street rally, the police will crack down,” an UMNO source told Asia Sentinel “A street rally that can disrupt traffic and get followers from off the street is much preferable to them. It has a better psychological effect to create tension. They definitely will not obey the law and will definitely go for street protest and the government will definitely clamp down and the western media will definitely slam the Malaysian government for being oppressive to its people. (Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim) and opposition leaders will be the Aung San Suu Kyi for May.”
The source accused the rallies of being funded “by foreign NGOs, which are now being frowned upon worldwide. If Anwar thinks that the Arab Spring momentum given by (the US-funded National Democratic Institute) etc., is a good thing and popular with the people, he got it wrong. People are wary of the effects of Arab Spring, street rallies, foreign funded NGOs, and ‘democracy.’"
Najib is a canny political leader, however, and it has to be assumed that he would discourage such a crackdown. He has sought to bill himself as a “transformative figure” in Malaysian politics, telling the country in the wake of the Bersih 2.0 rally and the international opprobrium the government earned that he would seek to repeal several of the most draconian colonial-era laws that have been used against Malaysian citizens, including the infamous Internal Security Act, which allows for what amounts to indefinite detention without habeas corpus. He also promised reforms of the election laws that led to the formulation of Bersih in the first place.
Some reforms have been put in place including repeal of the Banishment Act of 1959 and the Restricted Residence Act of 1933 and discarding three proclamations put in place by the British during the Communist insurgency of the 1950s. Some electoral reforms called for by Bersih 2.0 have also been put in place.
The Peaceful Assembly Bill, as it was named, is not one of them. The bill, characterized by Najib as a reform of the country’s previous laws on assembly, imposes an outright ban on street protest without a license from the police. Written notice of 30 days must be given, thus outlawing spontaneous gatherings. A total of 11 different provisions have been added that the police must approve before a street protest would be allowed.
Among Bersih’s objections to the 22 recommendations for electoral reform promulgated by a select parliamentary committee is a requirement that overseas voters have to return to qualify. Anywhere from 700,000 to 1 million Malaysians are living overseas, many of whom, particularly Indians and Chinese, who left because of religious tensions or lack of opportunity, the majority of whom could be expected to vote against the government. There is also considerable concern about the existence of false or duplicate identities, and about the registration of thousands of Indonesian Muslim émigrés as voters, who could be expected to vote for the government.
Bersih is also asking that the minimum campaign period to be extended from 10 days to 21 to allow overseas voters to receive, mark and return ballots and to allow all candidates, but particularly opposition ones who are stifled n the country’s mainstream press, to get their message out. Bersih is asking for fair and equal coverage of the campaign and parties with no bias. Identification documents for the police and military should be checked for duplicates. They suspect widespread fraud in the electoral rolls. The electoral commission must be strengthened and made less partisan. Gerrymandering of electoral districts should be reformed.
The election is liable to be a close-run thing although the Barisan is believed likely to pull it out on the sheer weight of the ethnic Malay vote. Malays make up more than half of the population. Najib himself, in interviews, has cast doubt on whether the government can reclaim its historic two-thirds margin in parliament. The government lost its margin in 2008 national elections in which it fared the worst since independence.
Najib kata jangan tukar pemandu tengah jalan
Aspan Alias - The Malaysian Insider
4 APRIL — Hari ini Najib Razak mengingatkan semua supaya tidak menukar kerajaan yang merbahaya dalam pilihanraya ini. Katanya “jangan tukar pemandu dipertengahan jalan”. Maksudnya jangan tukar kerajaan dalam pilihanraya ini kerana itu adalah tindakan merbahaya.
Setiap kerajaan bertukar tangan dalam perjalanan. Parti Conservative dan Liberal Democrat telah mengambilalih kerajaan Britain dari Parti Buruh dalam perjalanan. Mana ada kerajaan yang sudah tiada untuk ditukar? Tentulah kerajaan yang sedang berkuasa yang selalu ditukar dan mereka ditukar kerana bersebab, bukan saja-saja untuk ditukar.
Perjalanan mentadbir negara adalah tugasan yang berterusan kepada siapa yang diberikan mandat. Ibarat sebuah bas yang dalam perjalanan jauh, ia disyaratkan supaya mempunyai pemandu gantian (spare driver).
Banyak kemalangan berlaku kerana pemandu itu terlena sambil memandu kerana telah memandu terlalu lama. Maka itulah undang-undang mensyaratkan setiap bas ekspress mesti mempunyai seorang lagi pemandu gantian supaya bas itu dipandu bergilir-gilir supaya tidak merbahayakan penumpang yang sedang tidur lena itu.
Dalam kes kerajaan pimpinan Najib, penumpang-penumpangnya sudah bangun dari tidur dan telah merasakan yang pemanduan Najib sudah cukup merbahaya. Najib memandu dengan tidak mematuhi undang-undang memandu.
Maka penumpang menuntut supaya pemandu ditukar supaya bas tidak terhumban kedalam gaung yang dalam. Pemandunya bernama Najib telah memandu bas itu dengan begitu bahaya kerana penumpang nampak yang pemandu bernama Najib itu sudah nampak hendak terlena.
Najib telah terlena kerana keletihan memandu atau pun tidak bijak memandu. Mungkin pemandu (Najib) ini merasa mengantuk kerana makan terlalu kenyang. Apa pun sebabnya dia mengantuk, pemandu gantian itu perlu sangat untuk mengambilalih pemandu yang lalai itu. Kali ini bas yang tidak berapa baik keadaannya itu wajar dipandu oleh pemandu gantian untuk keselamatan penumpang yang ramai itu.
Pemandu sekarang sudah terlalu lemah dan jika tidak diganti ia mungkin merbahayakan penumpang-penumpang dalam bas panduan Najib ini kedalam gaung yang dalam. Sekarang inipun sudah nampak bas yang dipandu Najib itu sedang terhuyung-hayang kekiri dan kekanan sehinggakan selalu memakan jalan dan lorong bertentangan.
Selama ini kita telah mendengar bas-bas ekspress yang telah melanggar jambatan, “toll-gate” dan kenderaan yang berhenti dan sebagainya yang telah menyebabkan penumpang terbunuh bergelempangan ditepi lebuhraya-lebuhraya kerana pemandunya yang keletihan dan tidak ditukar.
Kita juga banyak mendengar pemandu-pemandu bas yang tidak jujur membuat “duit luar” dengan menjual “spare tyre” serta menjual banyak alat-alat gantian yang ada didalam bas itu serta lari mencuri minyak petrol dan dijual kepada orang luar.
Kita jangan dengar nasihat pemandu yang sedang memandu kita sekarang kerana bas yang dipandunya telah hampir rosak dan tidak berfungsi dengan baik lagi. Cari sahaja pemandu lain supaya bas-bas itu dijaga dan mendapat “maintenance” yang lebih baik. Lagi pun pemandu yang sekarang ini selalu makan sambil memandu.
Jika pemandu sekarang masih memandu maka “premium” insurannya akan terlalu mahal kerana “loading” kepada premiumnya terlalu tinggi, “loading” kepada insurannya itu menjadi tinggi disebabkan risiko yang terlalu tinggi dan merbahayakan bas-bas yang akan dipandunya itu. — aspanaliasnet.blogspot.com
4 APRIL — Hari ini Najib Razak mengingatkan semua supaya tidak menukar kerajaan yang merbahaya dalam pilihanraya ini. Katanya “jangan tukar pemandu dipertengahan jalan”. Maksudnya jangan tukar kerajaan dalam pilihanraya ini kerana itu adalah tindakan merbahaya.
Setiap kerajaan bertukar tangan dalam perjalanan. Parti Conservative dan Liberal Democrat telah mengambilalih kerajaan Britain dari Parti Buruh dalam perjalanan. Mana ada kerajaan yang sudah tiada untuk ditukar? Tentulah kerajaan yang sedang berkuasa yang selalu ditukar dan mereka ditukar kerana bersebab, bukan saja-saja untuk ditukar.
Perjalanan mentadbir negara adalah tugasan yang berterusan kepada siapa yang diberikan mandat. Ibarat sebuah bas yang dalam perjalanan jauh, ia disyaratkan supaya mempunyai pemandu gantian (spare driver).
Banyak kemalangan berlaku kerana pemandu itu terlena sambil memandu kerana telah memandu terlalu lama. Maka itulah undang-undang mensyaratkan setiap bas ekspress mesti mempunyai seorang lagi pemandu gantian supaya bas itu dipandu bergilir-gilir supaya tidak merbahayakan penumpang yang sedang tidur lena itu.
Dalam kes kerajaan pimpinan Najib, penumpang-penumpangnya sudah bangun dari tidur dan telah merasakan yang pemanduan Najib sudah cukup merbahaya. Najib memandu dengan tidak mematuhi undang-undang memandu.
Maka penumpang menuntut supaya pemandu ditukar supaya bas tidak terhumban kedalam gaung yang dalam. Pemandunya bernama Najib telah memandu bas itu dengan begitu bahaya kerana penumpang nampak yang pemandu bernama Najib itu sudah nampak hendak terlena.
Najib telah terlena kerana keletihan memandu atau pun tidak bijak memandu. Mungkin pemandu (Najib) ini merasa mengantuk kerana makan terlalu kenyang. Apa pun sebabnya dia mengantuk, pemandu gantian itu perlu sangat untuk mengambilalih pemandu yang lalai itu. Kali ini bas yang tidak berapa baik keadaannya itu wajar dipandu oleh pemandu gantian untuk keselamatan penumpang yang ramai itu.
Pemandu sekarang sudah terlalu lemah dan jika tidak diganti ia mungkin merbahayakan penumpang-penumpang dalam bas panduan Najib ini kedalam gaung yang dalam. Sekarang inipun sudah nampak bas yang dipandu Najib itu sedang terhuyung-hayang kekiri dan kekanan sehinggakan selalu memakan jalan dan lorong bertentangan.
Selama ini kita telah mendengar bas-bas ekspress yang telah melanggar jambatan, “toll-gate” dan kenderaan yang berhenti dan sebagainya yang telah menyebabkan penumpang terbunuh bergelempangan ditepi lebuhraya-lebuhraya kerana pemandunya yang keletihan dan tidak ditukar.
Kita juga banyak mendengar pemandu-pemandu bas yang tidak jujur membuat “duit luar” dengan menjual “spare tyre” serta menjual banyak alat-alat gantian yang ada didalam bas itu serta lari mencuri minyak petrol dan dijual kepada orang luar.
Kita jangan dengar nasihat pemandu yang sedang memandu kita sekarang kerana bas yang dipandunya telah hampir rosak dan tidak berfungsi dengan baik lagi. Cari sahaja pemandu lain supaya bas-bas itu dijaga dan mendapat “maintenance” yang lebih baik. Lagi pun pemandu yang sekarang ini selalu makan sambil memandu.
Jika pemandu sekarang masih memandu maka “premium” insurannya akan terlalu mahal kerana “loading” kepada premiumnya terlalu tinggi, “loading” kepada insurannya itu menjadi tinggi disebabkan risiko yang terlalu tinggi dan merbahayakan bas-bas yang akan dipandunya itu. — aspanaliasnet.blogspot.com
Ruckus seen to pave way for Bersih 3.0
The Sun
KUALA LUMPUR (April 3, 2012): Barisan Nasional MPs criticised the opposition over the ruckus created in the Dewan Rakyat today over the rejection of a motion to debate the inclusion of a minority report in the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for Electoral Reforms report.
A government MP said the commotion showed the opposition's ill intention and suggested it was a way to "spur" the next Bersih 3.0.
"The way we see the report, (it seems) they have been on an opposing mode from the beginning," said Datuk Idris Haron (BN-Tangga Batu).
"It is their ill intention to portray the committee and the government as not playing their roles effectively, so it's an ill intention and they did it (here) to perhaps bring out to the streets."
Hulu Selangor MP P. Kamalanathan said the pandemonium deprived MPs who wanted to debate the matter.
At a news conference later, Pakatan Rakyat leaders condemned Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia for his decision to pass the report without a debate.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PKR-Permatang Pauh) said PR MPs had come to debate the report, despite its motion to include a minority report being rejected earlier.
"They refuse to endorse the minority report because it exposes the fundamental issue of a flawed electoral roll," he said.
Civil society leaders welcomed the tabling of the report on electoral reforms, and hoped to see it implemented before the next general election.
Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said the recommendations were welcome if they could be implemented before the next general election.
He said some, like the recommendation of a caretaker government might not be implementable.
Syed Ibrahim said he expected more forceful recommendations to clean up the electoral roll.
Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights community mover Edmund Bon praised the recommendations, but said their details and implementation timeline should be revealed.
He said some of the recommendations could require either new laws, rules or constitutional amendments such as the recommendation for pre-registration for 20-year-olds, which he said contravened Article 119 of the Federal Constitution.
Similar views were voiced by Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee chairperson Syahredzan Johan, who called for details as to how the problems identified by the PSC would be overcome.
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) called for the immediate implementation of the PSC's recommendations.
In a statement, Bersih said issues such as electoral roll manipulation, citizenship for foreigners and election offences were not dealt with or in sufficient depth.
It called for a minimum 21-day campaign period, free and equitable media access and monitoring of the electoral roll, including inspecting the electoral roll for multiple-voter addresses. -- theSun
KUALA LUMPUR (April 3, 2012): Barisan Nasional MPs criticised the opposition over the ruckus created in the Dewan Rakyat today over the rejection of a motion to debate the inclusion of a minority report in the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for Electoral Reforms report.
A government MP said the commotion showed the opposition's ill intention and suggested it was a way to "spur" the next Bersih 3.0.
"The way we see the report, (it seems) they have been on an opposing mode from the beginning," said Datuk Idris Haron (BN-Tangga Batu).
"It is their ill intention to portray the committee and the government as not playing their roles effectively, so it's an ill intention and they did it (here) to perhaps bring out to the streets."
Hulu Selangor MP P. Kamalanathan said the pandemonium deprived MPs who wanted to debate the matter.
At a news conference later, Pakatan Rakyat leaders condemned Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia for his decision to pass the report without a debate.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PKR-Permatang Pauh) said PR MPs had come to debate the report, despite its motion to include a minority report being rejected earlier.
"They refuse to endorse the minority report because it exposes the fundamental issue of a flawed electoral roll," he said.
Civil society leaders welcomed the tabling of the report on electoral reforms, and hoped to see it implemented before the next general election.
Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said the recommendations were welcome if they could be implemented before the next general election.
He said some, like the recommendation of a caretaker government might not be implementable.
Syed Ibrahim said he expected more forceful recommendations to clean up the electoral roll.
Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights community mover Edmund Bon praised the recommendations, but said their details and implementation timeline should be revealed.
He said some of the recommendations could require either new laws, rules or constitutional amendments such as the recommendation for pre-registration for 20-year-olds, which he said contravened Article 119 of the Federal Constitution.
Similar views were voiced by Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee chairperson Syahredzan Johan, who called for details as to how the problems identified by the PSC would be overcome.
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) called for the immediate implementation of the PSC's recommendations.
In a statement, Bersih said issues such as electoral roll manipulation, citizenship for foreigners and election offences were not dealt with or in sufficient depth.
It called for a minimum 21-day campaign period, free and equitable media access and monitoring of the electoral roll, including inspecting the electoral roll for multiple-voter addresses. -- theSun
Free legal service for detainees
The New Straits Times
EFFECTIVE Monday, Malaysians arrested and remanded are entitled for free legal service under the National Legal Aid Foundation, said the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong (BN-Sandakan).
Previously, only those with a household income of less than RM25,000 were eligible for financial assistance from the foundation.
The foundation was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Feb 25 last year to ensure all accused persons got a fair hearing in court.
The foundation will provide legal aid and advisory services to all Malaysians for all crimes, except those which carry the death penalty, from the time of arrest to remand and to release on bail.
Last year, 37,597 Malaysians were brought to magistrate's courts and 17,637 were without legal assistance.
A total of 4,436 cases involving underage criminals were brought to the courts but only 515 had lawyers.
EFFECTIVE Monday, Malaysians arrested and remanded are entitled for free legal service under the National Legal Aid Foundation, said the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong (BN-Sandakan).
Previously, only those with a household income of less than RM25,000 were eligible for financial assistance from the foundation.
The foundation was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Feb 25 last year to ensure all accused persons got a fair hearing in court.
The foundation will provide legal aid and advisory services to all Malaysians for all crimes, except those which carry the death penalty, from the time of arrest to remand and to release on bail.
Last year, 37,597 Malaysians were brought to magistrate's courts and 17,637 were without legal assistance.
A total of 4,436 cases involving underage criminals were brought to the courts but only 515 had lawyers.
Muhyiddin: Stop Politicising Chinese Education Issue
KUALA LUMPUR, April 4 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today all quarters should stop politicising Chinese education issues and instead concentrate on efforts to enhance the educational quality and development in all schools.
Muhyiddin, who is Education Minister, said this was crucial so as to strengthen the country's competitiveness in facing the challenges ahead.
On the shortage of teachers in National-type Chinese Primary Schools (SJKC), he said, the government was truly committed and serious in tackling this issue in a prompt and effective manner, and that among the measures taken was the setting up of a special committee headed by Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong to address the shortage of SJKC teachers, last month.
"The move was taken not because of pressure from any quarters," he said in a statement Wednesday.
He added that as a government that cares, it has implemented systematic measures as well as streamlined and continuous policies to address the shortage of SJKC teachers.
"I hope, therefore, that the Chinese community would welcome the short-term and long-term measures announced by the committee on March 20 because the national-type primary schools are never separated from the country's education system," he said.
Muhyiddin said it was important to explain this issue so that the true pictures can be given to counter baseless claim and accusation against the government and the ministry.
"To ensure the smooth running of learning and teaching in SJKC nationwide, the Education Ministry has been striving each year to fill up the vacancies for SJKC teachers," he said.
He pointed out that in 2009 there was a shortage of 4,991 SJKC teachers. The figure dropped to 3,043 in 2010, and to 2,720 in 2011 while for this year, the number was 1,874, he said.
"Of the 1,874, the Education Ministry has appointed 1,482 interim teachers to fill up the vacancies. The shortage of SJKC teachers now stands at 392, and headmasters are allowed to propose the appointment of interim teachers to the state Education Departments to fill up these posts," he said.
Muhyiddin said the ministry allocated 38,047 posts for SJKCs and that until end of January this year, 36,173 trained teachers have been posted in all SJKCs.
"A total of RM1.8 billion is spent annually to pay the salary of teachers and manage the operations of SJKC schools nationwide," he added.
He said the special committee met with Chinese educationist associations and other trust holders on five occasions -- on March 5, 8, 16 and 23 and on April 2 -- to overcome the problems faced by Chinese schools.
He pointed out that during the meeting on March 5, the committee met the Planning and Policy Research Division (BPPDP), Teacher's Education Division (BPG), Education Services Commission (SPP), Malaysian Institute of Teachers' Education (IPGM), School Daily Management Division (BPSH) and SJKC Headmasters Association.
The committee also held a joint meeting with Dong Zhong, Jiao Zhong, HuaZhong and the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) on March 8, 16 and 23 as well as last Monday, he said, adding that Dong Zhong only attended two of the meetings.
"To ensure all decisions of the committee are implemented as agreed, a follow up coordination meeting was held by the committee on March 27 together with the BPPDP, BPG, IPGM and the NUTP, with the BPSH acting as the secretariat," he said.
Muhyiddin said to overcome the shortage of teachers in SJKCs, a total of 1,482 interim teachers have been deployed to all states, while headmasters have been given the greenlight to propose the appointment of the remaining 392, on April 1.
"These interim teachers will serve until the deployment of trained teachers can be carried out, depending on the actual vacancies based on the approved Personnel Management Expenditure Estimate."
He said on March 27, the Education Ministry issued an extension of service for the SJKC's interim teachers, and that to implement this agenda, SJKC headmasters were allowed to nominate those with qualifications to become teachers, with the appointment to be made by the respective state education directors.
On the issue of remedial teachers who have no bilingual capability, and the move by SJKC board of governors to transfer 100 such teachers because of their inability to communicate in Chinese, Muhyiddin said, the ministry s study showed that there were among these teachers who obtained a credit in Chinese language.
"Seven of them are found to have Chinese language qualification, namely two in Melaka (SJKC Chabau and SJKC Pay Hsien), two in Sarawak (SJKC Chung Hua, Sibuti and SJKC Chun Hua, Serian), one in SJKC Hin Hua, Selangor and two in Johor (SJKC Sengkang, Kulai Jaya and SJKC Ban Foo)," he said.
Muhyiddin said that the ministry decided that these teachers who have Chinese language qualification, would remain in these schools while other teachers would be redeployed to national schools starting April 16 as decided by the special committee at its meeting on Monday.
To overcome the shortage of teachers with social studies option, who have no Chinese language qualification, he said, 17 of them with Malay language minor have been posted in Kelang, Selangor, and one of them, who has Chinese language qualification, will remain in existing school, SJKC Chung Hua, while the rest would be move to national schools.
A teacher at SJKC Chabau Melaka has been replaced with a Chinese studies teacher.
On the teaching of Malay and English languages at Level 1 of SJKC Grade A and B, he said, these would be taught by teachers who have Chinese language qualification at least at the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia level.
Muhyiddin said in terms of long-term initiatives, the BPG and IPGM were currently drawing up an option intervention programme for teachers who have not opted for the Malay and English languages, and taught subjects other than Chinese language for more than five years.
These courses are expected to start at the latest by end of this year so as not to affect the teaching and learning process in classes, he said, adding that the government has come up with plans based on the needs of SJKCs, and the mechanism to train not only teachers for the Chinese language but also to deploy more Chinese studies lecturers.
Muhyiddin said at the moment, there are 72 Chinese studies lecturers at IPGMs nationwide, and that the ministry has agreed to take in 30 more to enhance the teacher training capacity.
"The application to become lecturers at IPGMs, including for Chinese studies lecturers, was opened between March 13 and 30. At the moment, the secretariat at the ministry is processing these applications and intake will be made on June 1 this year.
"Intake of lecturers will be made continuously," he said.
To increase the number of trained SJKC teachers, the ministry has also consulted the Education Services Commission and found that among the bachelor degree holders who were interviewed from public institutions of higher learning, 105 of them had Chinese language qualification at the SPM level.
"The ministry, therefore, agreed to appoint them to serve in SJKCs in the near future," he said, adding that the move taken by the government showed that it is sincere in resolving the issue.
"Nevertheless, I've instructed the committee to continue holding discussions and to obtain inputs from all stakeholders, to look into all views and take into consideration all aspects, and find a solution if there are other issues being raised," he said.
Muhyiddin, who is Education Minister, said this was crucial so as to strengthen the country's competitiveness in facing the challenges ahead.
On the shortage of teachers in National-type Chinese Primary Schools (SJKC), he said, the government was truly committed and serious in tackling this issue in a prompt and effective manner, and that among the measures taken was the setting up of a special committee headed by Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong to address the shortage of SJKC teachers, last month.
"The move was taken not because of pressure from any quarters," he said in a statement Wednesday.
He added that as a government that cares, it has implemented systematic measures as well as streamlined and continuous policies to address the shortage of SJKC teachers.
"I hope, therefore, that the Chinese community would welcome the short-term and long-term measures announced by the committee on March 20 because the national-type primary schools are never separated from the country's education system," he said.
Muhyiddin said it was important to explain this issue so that the true pictures can be given to counter baseless claim and accusation against the government and the ministry.
"To ensure the smooth running of learning and teaching in SJKC nationwide, the Education Ministry has been striving each year to fill up the vacancies for SJKC teachers," he said.
He pointed out that in 2009 there was a shortage of 4,991 SJKC teachers. The figure dropped to 3,043 in 2010, and to 2,720 in 2011 while for this year, the number was 1,874, he said.
"Of the 1,874, the Education Ministry has appointed 1,482 interim teachers to fill up the vacancies. The shortage of SJKC teachers now stands at 392, and headmasters are allowed to propose the appointment of interim teachers to the state Education Departments to fill up these posts," he said.
Muhyiddin said the ministry allocated 38,047 posts for SJKCs and that until end of January this year, 36,173 trained teachers have been posted in all SJKCs.
"A total of RM1.8 billion is spent annually to pay the salary of teachers and manage the operations of SJKC schools nationwide," he added.
He said the special committee met with Chinese educationist associations and other trust holders on five occasions -- on March 5, 8, 16 and 23 and on April 2 -- to overcome the problems faced by Chinese schools.
He pointed out that during the meeting on March 5, the committee met the Planning and Policy Research Division (BPPDP), Teacher's Education Division (BPG), Education Services Commission (SPP), Malaysian Institute of Teachers' Education (IPGM), School Daily Management Division (BPSH) and SJKC Headmasters Association.
The committee also held a joint meeting with Dong Zhong, Jiao Zhong, HuaZhong and the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) on March 8, 16 and 23 as well as last Monday, he said, adding that Dong Zhong only attended two of the meetings.
"To ensure all decisions of the committee are implemented as agreed, a follow up coordination meeting was held by the committee on March 27 together with the BPPDP, BPG, IPGM and the NUTP, with the BPSH acting as the secretariat," he said.
Muhyiddin said to overcome the shortage of teachers in SJKCs, a total of 1,482 interim teachers have been deployed to all states, while headmasters have been given the greenlight to propose the appointment of the remaining 392, on April 1.
"These interim teachers will serve until the deployment of trained teachers can be carried out, depending on the actual vacancies based on the approved Personnel Management Expenditure Estimate."
He said on March 27, the Education Ministry issued an extension of service for the SJKC's interim teachers, and that to implement this agenda, SJKC headmasters were allowed to nominate those with qualifications to become teachers, with the appointment to be made by the respective state education directors.
On the issue of remedial teachers who have no bilingual capability, and the move by SJKC board of governors to transfer 100 such teachers because of their inability to communicate in Chinese, Muhyiddin said, the ministry s study showed that there were among these teachers who obtained a credit in Chinese language.
"Seven of them are found to have Chinese language qualification, namely two in Melaka (SJKC Chabau and SJKC Pay Hsien), two in Sarawak (SJKC Chung Hua, Sibuti and SJKC Chun Hua, Serian), one in SJKC Hin Hua, Selangor and two in Johor (SJKC Sengkang, Kulai Jaya and SJKC Ban Foo)," he said.
Muhyiddin said that the ministry decided that these teachers who have Chinese language qualification, would remain in these schools while other teachers would be redeployed to national schools starting April 16 as decided by the special committee at its meeting on Monday.
To overcome the shortage of teachers with social studies option, who have no Chinese language qualification, he said, 17 of them with Malay language minor have been posted in Kelang, Selangor, and one of them, who has Chinese language qualification, will remain in existing school, SJKC Chung Hua, while the rest would be move to national schools.
A teacher at SJKC Chabau Melaka has been replaced with a Chinese studies teacher.
On the teaching of Malay and English languages at Level 1 of SJKC Grade A and B, he said, these would be taught by teachers who have Chinese language qualification at least at the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia level.
Muhyiddin said in terms of long-term initiatives, the BPG and IPGM were currently drawing up an option intervention programme for teachers who have not opted for the Malay and English languages, and taught subjects other than Chinese language for more than five years.
These courses are expected to start at the latest by end of this year so as not to affect the teaching and learning process in classes, he said, adding that the government has come up with plans based on the needs of SJKCs, and the mechanism to train not only teachers for the Chinese language but also to deploy more Chinese studies lecturers.
Muhyiddin said at the moment, there are 72 Chinese studies lecturers at IPGMs nationwide, and that the ministry has agreed to take in 30 more to enhance the teacher training capacity.
"The application to become lecturers at IPGMs, including for Chinese studies lecturers, was opened between March 13 and 30. At the moment, the secretariat at the ministry is processing these applications and intake will be made on June 1 this year.
"Intake of lecturers will be made continuously," he said.
To increase the number of trained SJKC teachers, the ministry has also consulted the Education Services Commission and found that among the bachelor degree holders who were interviewed from public institutions of higher learning, 105 of them had Chinese language qualification at the SPM level.
"The ministry, therefore, agreed to appoint them to serve in SJKCs in the near future," he said, adding that the move taken by the government showed that it is sincere in resolving the issue.
"Nevertheless, I've instructed the committee to continue holding discussions and to obtain inputs from all stakeholders, to look into all views and take into consideration all aspects, and find a solution if there are other issues being raised," he said.
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
France deports 2 Islamic radicals, will expel 3 more
A statement by Interior Minister Claude Gueant said the moves were part of "an acceleration of the deportation procedures of foreign Islamic radicals."
An Islamic militant from Algeria who was involved in 1994 attacks in Marrakech, Morocco, was sent to his home country Monday, the statement said. In addition, a Malian imam was returned to his home country for sermons that promoted anti-Semitism and rejection of the West, it said.
Deportation proceedings also have started or are planned against three others: an imam of Saudi nationality, a militant Islamist from Tunisia and an imam from Turkey, the statement said.
It cited provisions in the law governing aliens and political asylum, saying the statutes "allow this type of decision with regards the 'urgent need for state security or public safety' or 'conduct likely to harm the fundamental interests of the state.' "
According to the statement, other expulsions will occur soon.
Last week, French President Nicolas Sarkozy told French radio that 19 people had been arrested in a series of police raids on suspected Islamists.
The raids came a week after gunman Mohammed Merah, who killed seven people, was shot dead after a long siege in the southwestern city of Toulouse.
Sarkozy, who is running for re-election, said the raids were intended to "deny the entry of certain people to France" who did not share the country's values.
"It's not just linked to Toulouse. It's all over the country. It's in connection with a form of radical Islam, and it's in agreement with the law," he said.
Sarkozy suggested then that more raids would follow, saying, "There will be other operations that will continue and that will allow us to expel from our national territory a certain number of people who have no reason to be here."
Merah was blamed for the killings of three French paratroopers, a rabbi and three Jewish children ages 4, 5 and 7. Two other people were seriously wounded in the shootings.
Merah told police he had attended an al Qaeda training camp while visiting Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to Paris prosecutor Francois Molins.
But his uncle, Jamal Azizi, denied statements by French authorities that Merah was an al Qaeda sympathizer and that he had traveled to Afghanistan or Pakistan to train to use arms.
Honour killings: Man shoots wife for ‘talking’ to his relative
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| “First I killed Habibullah. Then I killed my wife,” says husband, unaware that his wife had survived the shooting and was recovering at Rajanpur DHQ hospital. |
Basti Chachar resident Hafeezullah shot his wife, Parveen Bibi, 17, and relative, Habibullah, suspecting them of having illicit relations.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Hafeezullah said, “I had been following Habibullah after I saw him leaving my home in my absence. I caught my wife, Parveen, talking to him. His relationship to me does not matter. My wife need not talk to my relatives.”
“First I killed Habibullah. Then I killed my wife,” he said, unaware that his wife had survived the shooting and was recovering at Rajanpur DHQ hospital.
DHQ hospital Medical Superintendent Sultan Laghari said, “Parveen Bibi is out of danger but we will keep her at the hospital for a week and monitor her recovery.”
He said she had been shot twice in the abdomen and once in her leg.
Habibullah’s brother Abdul Hameed filed a complaint against three people, including Hafizullah and Parveen’s father Sadiq on charges of murder.
Rajanpur SHO Talib Babar said, “The main accused has been arrested but two others are still at large. They will be arrested soon.”
Habibullah’s body was handed over to relatives after post mortem.
In another incident, Noor Bhari, 20, a resident of Shah Wali, was slaughtered by her brother-in-law Shakal Khan for having ‘loose morals.’
According to the DHQ hospital post mortem report, her legs and then her arms were chopped before she was killed. Her upper body was thrown near the canal while her limbs were buried under a shrub close by. Police recovered these when her husband Hameed Khan led them to the place.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Hameed said his brother, Shakal Khan, had told him to keep his wife at home and accused her loose morals. He said that he had seen Shakal Khan leave from the place were the body was recovered.
Noor Bhari’s brother Shah Meer has filed a complaint against Shakal Khan. The accused had not been arrested by the time this report was filed.
Investigating Officer Shamsher Ali said the accused will be arrested soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2012.
Anwar refused to resolve Chinese school issue in 1987, says Soi Lek
The MCA president said that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had refused to budge on the government’s appointment of non-Mandarin educated principals and senior assistants to vernacular schools in 1987, despite strident protests from Chinese educationists.
By doing so, Anwar, who now leads the opposition, caused Operasi Lalang that same year, he added.
“You must remember that in 1987, Ops Lalang was because of Anwar,” he told reporters at Wisma MCA here after a party presidential council meeting.
“He refused to do anything... So if the Chinese have so much confidence in Anwar, then we should have second thoughts.”
Operasi Lalang saw the arrest of 106 opposition leaders, Umno politicians and Chinese educationists under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
The crackdown — which the government has described as necessary to head-off growing racial tension between the Malays and the Chinese — also saw the printing permits for four papers revoked.
Dr Chua also pointed out that during his time as opposition leader, Anwar “has not said a word” about Chinese education, and claimed the opposition has hijacked the issue for political mileage.
He charged that Chinese education has not been given prominence in PR’s Buku Jingga manifesto, with the exception of some “motherhood statements”.
The former health minister also hit out at rival party DAP for “hijacking” a rally held on March 25 to protest the shortage of qualified Chinese school teachers in the national education system.
DAP was using the issue to create “hate politics”, he said, which ultimately led to the alleged assault of deputy education minister and MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong by a protester at the rally.
“We condemn the violence and abuse directed at Wee Ka Siong. You may not like it but Wee Ka Siong was selected by the government to head the panel to resolve this issue.
“The Chinese should not be hoodwinked into saying the Chinese education issue is because of MCA,” he said.
Dr Chua added that while education is a federal issue, state governments could still extend their help to Chinese schools by giving land and subsidies for temporary teachers as well as electricity.
He also questioned why opposition-led states have not done more in this regard.
“Why have none of them done that? They only give RM5 million, RM3 million and talk around the whole world,” he said.
“MCA has given more than the Penang government... but we didn’t shout about it because we feel it is our responsibility to do so,” he said.
Exciting, challenging for Najib
After three years in office, the prime minister believes people have more confidence in the government
PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak described his three years in office as very exciting and full of challenges.
“We have come a long way in the three years. When we started, we started from a position that was full of challenges, that is the political tsunami and there were lots of sceptism and cynisms.
“But after three years, people have more trust and confidence in the government. The rakyat believed we can deliver and we have delivered,” he told the Malaysian media during a conference today.
Najib, who took office from his predecessor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, is here attending the first day of the two-day, 20th Asean Summit.
He said macro figures looked very promising and the private sector had responded well.
He added that foreign direct investment had reached a record high after 10 years, and a total of RM120 billion in investments were recorded in one year alone.
He said the Gross Domestic Product had reached an all-time high and the government managed to reduce fiscal deficits.
“All these indicate, we have created a fresh momentum over the years. Our GDP has been good. The NKRAs [National Key Result Areas] have exceeded target and the challenges would be to
continue with the momentum because we have achieved much in the last three years.
“Insyaallah (God-willing), give us another five years, we will deliver more,” he said.
Najib added that he was surprised that it had been three years.
“I feel gratified because the Cabinet has been very supportive. I could not have done it alone. My colleagues have supported me all along.
“We have delivered on the promises we have made and that is important. When we promise, we deliver,” he added.
On the challenges he faced on the political front, Najib said the opposition would use every single issue possible, and they were not constructive to find solutions but to prolong issues until the next general election.
“Their mindset is not to seek solutions but to create and prolong issues,” he said.
- Bernama
PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak described his three years in office as very exciting and full of challenges.“We have come a long way in the three years. When we started, we started from a position that was full of challenges, that is the political tsunami and there were lots of sceptism and cynisms.
“But after three years, people have more trust and confidence in the government. The rakyat believed we can deliver and we have delivered,” he told the Malaysian media during a conference today.
Najib, who took office from his predecessor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, is here attending the first day of the two-day, 20th Asean Summit.
He said macro figures looked very promising and the private sector had responded well.
He added that foreign direct investment had reached a record high after 10 years, and a total of RM120 billion in investments were recorded in one year alone.
He said the Gross Domestic Product had reached an all-time high and the government managed to reduce fiscal deficits.
“All these indicate, we have created a fresh momentum over the years. Our GDP has been good. The NKRAs [National Key Result Areas] have exceeded target and the challenges would be to
continue with the momentum because we have achieved much in the last three years.
“Insyaallah (God-willing), give us another five years, we will deliver more,” he said.
Najib added that he was surprised that it had been three years.
“I feel gratified because the Cabinet has been very supportive. I could not have done it alone. My colleagues have supported me all along.
“We have delivered on the promises we have made and that is important. When we promise, we deliver,” he added.
On the challenges he faced on the political front, Najib said the opposition would use every single issue possible, and they were not constructive to find solutions but to prolong issues until the next general election.
“Their mindset is not to seek solutions but to create and prolong issues,” he said.
- Bernama
VK Lingam faces contempt charge
The lawyer had accused a Federal Court panel of plagiarism in a judgment against his clients
PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has decided that lawyer VK Lingam and his clients can be cited for contempt of court for alleging that an earlier panel of the court had committed plagiarism.
A five-man panel headed by Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria today allowed the ex parte application after hearing submissions by Cecil Abraham, representing liquidators of the family investment company Kian Joo Holdings Sdn Bhd (KJH).
Lingam’s 12 clients were the majority contributories of KJH, which a High Court ordered to wind up in 1996. They include See Teow Chuan, the former group managing director of Kian Joo Can Factory Bhd (KJCF). Ooi Woon Chee and Ng Kim Tuck were appointed liquidators of KJH.
In 2009, Lingam’s clients filed an application at the High Court to stop a company called Can-One Bhd from acquiring a a 32.9% stake in KJCF. They failed, but the Court of Appeal subsequently reversed the High Court decision.
The case was then brought to the Federal Court, which on Jan 5 this year ruled that the liquidators could proceed with the sale of the shares to Can-One.
Lingam, acting for the 12, then filed a notice of motion seeking a Federal Court review of the previous panel’s decision. The applicants sought a rehearing of the appeal before a new Federal Court panel.
In the notice of motion, they claimed that the Federal Court, in its written judgment against them, substantially reproduced a written submission by Ooi and Ng without attribution. They alleged that the court did not conduct an independent and impartial review of the evidence and the law.
Today’s panel ruled that Abraham had made a prima facie case against Linggam and his clients.
Arifin said the panel would convene on April 13 to hear Lingam’s submission.
Abraham had submitted that there was no proof of actual bias on the part of the court. “It’s a serious attack on the judiciary and there is no evidence that the Federal Court was impartial in its decision,” he said.
Federal Counsel Azizah Nawawi, who acted on behalf of the Attorney-General’s office, agreed with Abraham.
PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has decided that lawyer VK Lingam and his clients can be cited for contempt of court for alleging that an earlier panel of the court had committed plagiarism.A five-man panel headed by Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria today allowed the ex parte application after hearing submissions by Cecil Abraham, representing liquidators of the family investment company Kian Joo Holdings Sdn Bhd (KJH).
Lingam’s 12 clients were the majority contributories of KJH, which a High Court ordered to wind up in 1996. They include See Teow Chuan, the former group managing director of Kian Joo Can Factory Bhd (KJCF). Ooi Woon Chee and Ng Kim Tuck were appointed liquidators of KJH.
In 2009, Lingam’s clients filed an application at the High Court to stop a company called Can-One Bhd from acquiring a a 32.9% stake in KJCF. They failed, but the Court of Appeal subsequently reversed the High Court decision.
The case was then brought to the Federal Court, which on Jan 5 this year ruled that the liquidators could proceed with the sale of the shares to Can-One.
Lingam, acting for the 12, then filed a notice of motion seeking a Federal Court review of the previous panel’s decision. The applicants sought a rehearing of the appeal before a new Federal Court panel.
In the notice of motion, they claimed that the Federal Court, in its written judgment against them, substantially reproduced a written submission by Ooi and Ng without attribution. They alleged that the court did not conduct an independent and impartial review of the evidence and the law.
Today’s panel ruled that Abraham had made a prima facie case against Linggam and his clients.
Arifin said the panel would convene on April 13 to hear Lingam’s submission.
Abraham had submitted that there was no proof of actual bias on the part of the court. “It’s a serious attack on the judiciary and there is no evidence that the Federal Court was impartial in its decision,” he said.
Federal Counsel Azizah Nawawi, who acted on behalf of the Attorney-General’s office, agreed with Abraham.
Residents want 42-year-old road pledge fulfilled
Tun Abdul Razak first promised a road from Kapit to Kanowit 42 years ago. His son repeated the pledge during the last state election.
KAPIT: The calls for the construction of 71km Kapit-Song-Kanowit road are now getting louder and louder as the more than 120,000 Kapit people are waiting for the federal government to fulfil its promise made more than 40 years ago.
It was the then Deputy Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak who made the promise to build the road in the presence of the Federal Minister of Sarawak Affairs (Tun) Temenggong Jugah Anak Barieng and the people of Kapit when he visited the town about 42 years ago.
Since then several promises had been made by federal leaders.
The latest promise came from Razak’s son and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak during the campaign for the last state election.
When announcing an allocation of RM90 million to construct phase two of the road, Najib said: “I want to help Kapit people. I just consulted the Finance Minister.
“I am the Finance Minister, so I must approve it. It’s not an empty promise. I will fulfil it,” Najib was quoted as saying.
“My father (Tun Razak) was in Kapit 42 years ago,” he said.
Kapit is the only town in the country that is not linked to any town in Sarawak. It depends on the mighty Rajang River as its main mode of transport where scores of high-powered express boats are plying from Sibu to Kapit, passing through towns such as Kanowit and Song and hundreds of longhouses.
After Najib had made the promise, more and more people came forward to demand for the speedy construction of the road.
Lack of development
Jugah’s grandson and the incumbent MP for Kapit Alex Nanta Linggi said in Parliament that “Kapit is one of the remote areas without road linking it to other towns in Sarawak”.
“I don’t want to paint a glowing picture of Kapit, because development is not there.
“All the development promises like the construction of a trunk road are yet to be implemented,” Nanta said, and warned that the Barisan Nasional might lose its rural constituencies which the BN regarded as its “fixed deposit” to the opposition.
State Land Development Minister and president of Parti Rakyat Sarawak James Masing also bemoaned the lack of road development in Kapit.
“We are far behind as we are not connected by road. Our aim now is for Kapit to be connected to the rest of the state by road,” he told businessmen in Kapit.
Indeed the construction of the Kapit-Song-Kanowit road has been the talk of the town following the promise made by Najib.
In fact, it is everybody’s dream to see a road connecting Kapit, Song and Kanowit being constructed, especially now when travelling along the Rajang River by express boats is no longer reliable due to the impoundment of Bakun Dam, which makes certain parts of the once mighty Rajang River shallow and are not passable by express boats.
“The government has been promising the people for the last 40 years to build the road,” said 76-year old Kapit resident Neo Eng Siew.
“I am already old. I just hope one day before I pass away Song will be connected to both Kapit and Kanowit.
Prioritise the road project
The latest to voice the people’s demand is Kapit Chinese Chamber of Commerce (KCCC) which wanted the government to prioritise the road project.
Its chairman Yong Hua Sying said: “Now or never. Strike while the iron is hot. During the walkabout by the prime minister on April 14 he announced RM90 million for the road project between Kapit and Song.
“KCCC welcomed the effort of the government to construct the road to link Kapit-Song-Kanowit and thereon to the rest of the state.
“The first phase of the tender was awarded to construct slightly less than 1.9km of road between Kapit and Sungai Yong. The tender for the second phase to construct 12km has also been called.
“Our stand is for the government to prioritise the road project so that 44km stretch between Kapit and Song could be done quickly,” Yong said.
He was concerned that the road project, if not done quickly, would affect voters who had been urged to remain loyal to the BN candidate.
The current MP for Kapit (Alexander Nanta Linggi) won the seat twice uncontested as the rakyat believed the government would do its best to fulfil their needs.
“We don’t ask for extra. Sarawak gained its independence about 50 years ago.
“On the day of independence, we have dreamt to have the road,” Yong said
Added Neo: “How long more can the people of Kapit and Song wait?”
KAPIT: The calls for the construction of 71km Kapit-Song-Kanowit road are now getting louder and louder as the more than 120,000 Kapit people are waiting for the federal government to fulfil its promise made more than 40 years ago.It was the then Deputy Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak who made the promise to build the road in the presence of the Federal Minister of Sarawak Affairs (Tun) Temenggong Jugah Anak Barieng and the people of Kapit when he visited the town about 42 years ago.
Since then several promises had been made by federal leaders.
The latest promise came from Razak’s son and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak during the campaign for the last state election.
When announcing an allocation of RM90 million to construct phase two of the road, Najib said: “I want to help Kapit people. I just consulted the Finance Minister.
“I am the Finance Minister, so I must approve it. It’s not an empty promise. I will fulfil it,” Najib was quoted as saying.
“My father (Tun Razak) was in Kapit 42 years ago,” he said.
Kapit is the only town in the country that is not linked to any town in Sarawak. It depends on the mighty Rajang River as its main mode of transport where scores of high-powered express boats are plying from Sibu to Kapit, passing through towns such as Kanowit and Song and hundreds of longhouses.
After Najib had made the promise, more and more people came forward to demand for the speedy construction of the road.
Lack of development
Jugah’s grandson and the incumbent MP for Kapit Alex Nanta Linggi said in Parliament that “Kapit is one of the remote areas without road linking it to other towns in Sarawak”.
“I don’t want to paint a glowing picture of Kapit, because development is not there.
“All the development promises like the construction of a trunk road are yet to be implemented,” Nanta said, and warned that the Barisan Nasional might lose its rural constituencies which the BN regarded as its “fixed deposit” to the opposition.
State Land Development Minister and president of Parti Rakyat Sarawak James Masing also bemoaned the lack of road development in Kapit.
“We are far behind as we are not connected by road. Our aim now is for Kapit to be connected to the rest of the state by road,” he told businessmen in Kapit.
Indeed the construction of the Kapit-Song-Kanowit road has been the talk of the town following the promise made by Najib.
In fact, it is everybody’s dream to see a road connecting Kapit, Song and Kanowit being constructed, especially now when travelling along the Rajang River by express boats is no longer reliable due to the impoundment of Bakun Dam, which makes certain parts of the once mighty Rajang River shallow and are not passable by express boats.
“The government has been promising the people for the last 40 years to build the road,” said 76-year old Kapit resident Neo Eng Siew.
“I am already old. I just hope one day before I pass away Song will be connected to both Kapit and Kanowit.
Prioritise the road project
The latest to voice the people’s demand is Kapit Chinese Chamber of Commerce (KCCC) which wanted the government to prioritise the road project.
Its chairman Yong Hua Sying said: “Now or never. Strike while the iron is hot. During the walkabout by the prime minister on April 14 he announced RM90 million for the road project between Kapit and Song.
“KCCC welcomed the effort of the government to construct the road to link Kapit-Song-Kanowit and thereon to the rest of the state.
“The first phase of the tender was awarded to construct slightly less than 1.9km of road between Kapit and Sungai Yong. The tender for the second phase to construct 12km has also been called.
“Our stand is for the government to prioritise the road project so that 44km stretch between Kapit and Song could be done quickly,” Yong said.
He was concerned that the road project, if not done quickly, would affect voters who had been urged to remain loyal to the BN candidate.
The current MP for Kapit (Alexander Nanta Linggi) won the seat twice uncontested as the rakyat believed the government would do its best to fulfil their needs.
“We don’t ask for extra. Sarawak gained its independence about 50 years ago.
“On the day of independence, we have dreamt to have the road,” Yong said
Added Neo: “How long more can the people of Kapit and Song wait?”
Home Ministry rejects HRP’s registration
The Human Rights Party (HRP) will file its third application for judicial review within 40 days following yet another rejection by the authorities.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry today rejected the Human Rights Party’s (HRP) application to be registered as a political entity, more than a month after the KL High Court ordered the ministry to decide on the matter.
Last August, the Registrar of Societies (ROS) rejected HRP’s application, which was submitted in November 2010, on the grounds that the application was not in order and that the party’s constitution did not meet its requirements.
HRP objected to both these claims and took the matter to court. In objecting to ROS’s rejection, the party said that its constitution was 99% similar to the “tried-and-tested constitution” of the 46-year-old DAP and that ROS had refused to state exactly what needed to be corrected in their application.
In a press statement released today HRP pro-tem secretary-general, P Uthayakumar, described the Home Ministry’s decision to reject their application as “historic”.
He said HRP is the country’s first political party to have been rejected. He also accused the government of being politically motivated in reaching this decision.
“This male-fide decision is aimed at stopping HRP from championing equal rights and opportunities especially for the Indian poor, and from contesting in the 13th general election.
“The decision is also in retaliation against (Hindu Rights Action Force) Hindraf for smashing a watermelon at the doorsteps of Putrajaya last week in a mockery of Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak’s ‘nambikei’, he said alluding to the party’s action’s last week.
On March 25, Hindraf smashed a watermelon with the words ‘nambikei’ written on it during a protest at the Prime Minister’s Office to emphasis how the government had broken the Indian community’s trust.
Uthayakumar pointed out that HRP has been awaiting registration for 13 years since it first applied for the registration of Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia (the predecessor of HRP) in 2000.
But he added that this latest setback would not stop them from filing its third application for a judicial review within 40 days.
“It’s not so much a matter of belief that justice will be served by the 1Malaysia judiciary but more of a matter of principle,” Uthayakumar said.
“A total of 46,871 NGOs – the latest being Angkatan Amanah Merdeka (Amanah) – have been registered with ease. Only Hindraf and HRP have been rejected. Does the government fear the resurgence of Hindraf?” he questioned.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry today rejected the Human Rights Party’s (HRP) application to be registered as a political entity, more than a month after the KL High Court ordered the ministry to decide on the matter.Last August, the Registrar of Societies (ROS) rejected HRP’s application, which was submitted in November 2010, on the grounds that the application was not in order and that the party’s constitution did not meet its requirements.
HRP objected to both these claims and took the matter to court. In objecting to ROS’s rejection, the party said that its constitution was 99% similar to the “tried-and-tested constitution” of the 46-year-old DAP and that ROS had refused to state exactly what needed to be corrected in their application.
In a press statement released today HRP pro-tem secretary-general, P Uthayakumar, described the Home Ministry’s decision to reject their application as “historic”.
He said HRP is the country’s first political party to have been rejected. He also accused the government of being politically motivated in reaching this decision.
“This male-fide decision is aimed at stopping HRP from championing equal rights and opportunities especially for the Indian poor, and from contesting in the 13th general election.
“The decision is also in retaliation against (Hindu Rights Action Force) Hindraf for smashing a watermelon at the doorsteps of Putrajaya last week in a mockery of Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak’s ‘nambikei’, he said alluding to the party’s action’s last week.On March 25, Hindraf smashed a watermelon with the words ‘nambikei’ written on it during a protest at the Prime Minister’s Office to emphasis how the government had broken the Indian community’s trust.
Uthayakumar pointed out that HRP has been awaiting registration for 13 years since it first applied for the registration of Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia (the predecessor of HRP) in 2000.
But he added that this latest setback would not stop them from filing its third application for a judicial review within 40 days.
“It’s not so much a matter of belief that justice will be served by the 1Malaysia judiciary but more of a matter of principle,” Uthayakumar said.
“A total of 46,871 NGOs – the latest being Angkatan Amanah Merdeka (Amanah) – have been registered with ease. Only Hindraf and HRP have been rejected. Does the government fear the resurgence of Hindraf?” he questioned.
‘Bowing to Umno’ Speaker draws flak
Pakatan Rakyat MPs blasted Pandikar Amin Mulia for not listening to them and for pushing the PSC report through without a debate.
KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia has come under fire for approving the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) report on electoral reforms without debate.
Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim also condemned Pandikar for not listening to Pakatan Rakyat’s challenge with regard to attaching a minority report.
“It has been allowed in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and Jamaica. He (Pandikar) does not want to allow for a discussion.
“He challenged us three times to come up with a precedent. When we raised this, he didn’t want to listen,” the PKR Permatang Pauh MP told a press conference in Parliament.
Anwar also accused Umno of having a hand in the matter, and suggested that the Speaker was following the ruling party’s demands.
“For me, it clearly shows arrogance (by the Speaker, who) doesn’t want to hear or give space for us to explain, and bows to Umno’s demands,” he said.
Earlier this morning, Pakatan MPs tried to debate a motion to attach a minority report to the PSC’s report on electoral reforms.
However, Pandikar said that there was no precedent in any Parliament within the Commonwealth that
allowed for this.
At the time, he cited New Zealand parliamentary proceedings as proof for his claim but Pakatan MPs claimed that the Speaker was being selective in his examples.
The minority report contained a detailed explanation on fundamental issues, including that of a allegedly tainted electoral roll.
These included the 42,000-plus voters who were not listed in the National Registration Department and Mimos’s (Malaysian Institute of Microelectric Systems) detection of 80,000 voters with similar addresses.
Today, a clearly moody Pandikar claimed that the opposition was not interested in debating the results of the PSC. He then called for a vote, which saw Barisan Nasional MPs voting in favour.
‘Taskforce registering foreigners’
Pakatan’s three PSC members – Gombak MP (PKR) Azmin Ali, Kuala Krai MP (PAS) Hatta Ramli and Rasah MP (DAP) Anthony Loke – said that the committee was a failure because it did not meet its objectives after six months of meetings and public inquiries.
The nine-member PSC also consisted of five BN MPs and one Independent MP.
The Pakatan MPs claimed that adding the minority report was rejected by the PSC during its final meeting on March 28.
“We asked for the report [to be added], but we were not allowed to present [it]. It was rejected during the final meeting,” said Loke.
During the press conference, a disappointed Pokok Sena MP (PAS) Mahfuz Omar said that he had proof of a “taskforce” involved in registering foreigners into the electoral roll.
Adding that he was not given a chance to debate this today, he vowed to raise the matter again tomorrow.
Meanwhile, PSC chairman Maximus Johnity Ongkili said that there was no need for a minority report as Pakatan’s dissent was already recorded in the original report.
He added that EC was in the midst of cleaning its electoral roll. Postal votes, he said, was only for soldiers serving on Malaysia’s borders. Other soldiers, he said, would have earlier voting periods instead.
KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia has come under fire for approving the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) report on electoral reforms without debate.
Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim also condemned Pandikar for not listening to Pakatan Rakyat’s challenge with regard to attaching a minority report.“It has been allowed in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and Jamaica. He (Pandikar) does not want to allow for a discussion.
“He challenged us three times to come up with a precedent. When we raised this, he didn’t want to listen,” the PKR Permatang Pauh MP told a press conference in Parliament.
Anwar also accused Umno of having a hand in the matter, and suggested that the Speaker was following the ruling party’s demands.
“For me, it clearly shows arrogance (by the Speaker, who) doesn’t want to hear or give space for us to explain, and bows to Umno’s demands,” he said.
Earlier this morning, Pakatan MPs tried to debate a motion to attach a minority report to the PSC’s report on electoral reforms.
However, Pandikar said that there was no precedent in any Parliament within the Commonwealth that
allowed for this.At the time, he cited New Zealand parliamentary proceedings as proof for his claim but Pakatan MPs claimed that the Speaker was being selective in his examples.
The minority report contained a detailed explanation on fundamental issues, including that of a allegedly tainted electoral roll.
These included the 42,000-plus voters who were not listed in the National Registration Department and Mimos’s (Malaysian Institute of Microelectric Systems) detection of 80,000 voters with similar addresses.
Today, a clearly moody Pandikar claimed that the opposition was not interested in debating the results of the PSC. He then called for a vote, which saw Barisan Nasional MPs voting in favour.
‘Taskforce registering foreigners’
Pakatan’s three PSC members – Gombak MP (PKR) Azmin Ali, Kuala Krai MP (PAS) Hatta Ramli and Rasah MP (DAP) Anthony Loke – said that the committee was a failure because it did not meet its objectives after six months of meetings and public inquiries.The nine-member PSC also consisted of five BN MPs and one Independent MP.
The Pakatan MPs claimed that adding the minority report was rejected by the PSC during its final meeting on March 28.
“We asked for the report [to be added], but we were not allowed to present [it]. It was rejected during the final meeting,” said Loke.
During the press conference, a disappointed Pokok Sena MP (PAS) Mahfuz Omar said that he had proof of a “taskforce” involved in registering foreigners into the electoral roll.
Adding that he was not given a chance to debate this today, he vowed to raise the matter again tomorrow.
Meanwhile, PSC chairman Maximus Johnity Ongkili said that there was no need for a minority report as Pakatan’s dissent was already recorded in the original report.
He added that EC was in the midst of cleaning its electoral roll. Postal votes, he said, was only for soldiers serving on Malaysia’s borders. Other soldiers, he said, would have earlier voting periods instead.
Indonesia's Shark Fin Trade
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| This is going to empty the oceans |
The lowly reef shark, it seems, is not a very dangerous beast despite its menacing appearance. It grows to be anywhere from 5 to 10 feet in length, constantly hunting squid and shellfish as well as almost any other type of fish haunting tropical reefs.
They are also extremely easy to catch, sometimes swimming curiously up to divers and fishermen. As a result, they have been easy prey for those seeking to provide China with its gigantic and growing hunger for sharks’ fins as the country grows richer and sharks’ fin soup becomes a de rigueur dish at a growing number of banquets, according to Riyanni Djangkaru, the Jakarta-based editor of Divemag Indonesia, in an interview. And 15 percent of the world’s catch of sharks, Djangkaru says – more by far than from any other nation – come from around the 17,500 islands, most of them with teeming reefs, that make up Indonesia. Few other nations, she said, supply anything more than 1 percent of the catch.
“Indonesian sharks are mostly reef sharks, they are not aggressive,” Djangkaru said. “That is why Indonesia has the biggest shark-fin production in the world.” She swims with the animals regularly, she said. They play an important role at the top of the reef food chain pyramid, removing sick and weakened fish from the habitat, playing a vital part in the ecological balance of the reef. The world Wildlife Fund has called reef sharks one of the world’s most important species.
For a decade or more, the world has increasingly caught on to the devastation from shark-finning and made it a cause celebre, partly because of the gruesome practice by some fishermen who catch the animals, cut off their fins and drop them back into the sea to drown, although far more are caught in nets or on hooks.
Campaigns have been mounted in many countries to seek to stop the practice, which is regarded as not only cruel to the sharks but a real environmental danger. But not in Indonesia. At Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, one stall in fact sells sharks’ fin to travelers on their way out of the country. In the western Java city of Bandung, according to Djangkaru, the mayor, Dada Rosada, suggested publicly that Indonesians supplement their diets with shark meat According to a study for the Oceana Foundation, titled, Predators as Prey: Why Healthy Oceans Need Sharks: “As top predators, sharks help to manage healthy ocean ecosystems. And as the number of large sharks declines, the oceans will suffer unpredictable and devastating consequences. Sharks help maintain the health of ocean ecosystems, including seagrass beds and coral reefs. Healthy oceans undoubtedly depend on sharks.”
And so far, although across the world other countries are increasingly outlawing shark-finning in their waters and restaurants and hotels have begun to drop sharks’ fin soup, Indonesia at this point isn’t paying any attention. In addition to supplying China and the Chinese diaspora, Djangkaru says, it has become fashionable to eat shark in Indonesia itself, with warungs, or small outdoor family-run restaurants, have begun serving shark steaks although shark is neither very tasty nor particularly edible.
“In Indonesian culture, they like something fashionable,” Djangkaru said. “In a lot of Indonesian cities, it’s trendy. You can also find grilled sharks, there are shark restaurants, in the rural communities, the little warung across the street, those kinds of habits, it is a trend that is now threatening our sharks.”
Djangkaru and her diving colleagues in Indonesia have become increasingly worried about the devastation to the country’s shark population. The diving industry in Indonesia is growing in numbers and clout because of the country’s vast numbers of island, which make it a divers’ paradise. Diving tourism is growing as well. Divemag has been leading a campaign to try to educate Indonesians on the depredation to the environment that shark finning is producing – and, she says, to point out that sharks’ fin is basically tasteless. It is in fact questionable, she says, why sharks’ fin has become a delicacy, other than because of the taste of the broth, which has nothing to do with the shark’s fin. One Chinese friend posited that because the shark is regarded as the most powerful figure in the ocean, and because it is the fin that provides the power, Chinese believe eating the fin can confer strength and power.
According to a report by Mary O’Malley on the Birya Masr website, the Indonesian shark catch increased from 1,000 metric tons in 1950 to 117,000 metric tons in 2003. The value has skyrocketed as well. Of the 10 most-endangered species of sharks, Djangkaru and a colleague, Priska Ruharjo, recently told an Indonesian television talk show, every one swims in Indonesian waters. Across the planet, Ruharjo said, 99 percent of the world population has been wiped out, a figure that has been disputed by other authorities. Nonetheless, Ruharjo said, 32 percent of all shark species are endangered.
Others dispute these figures, saying the number of sharks killed for their fins is far smaller than advocates of outlawing shark finning say they are, and that banning the shark fin trade isn’t going to help much, since many countries such as Germany, France, Island and Australia have long killed the fish for their meat. The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies held a symposium in Singapore in February at which detractors said claims that 73 million sharks a year are killed for their fins are wildly exaggerated. Some put the figure at as low as 25 million – still a huge number of death sharks.
“Let’s put the blame on Stephen Spielberg,” Djangkaro said, because of the popular producer’s 1975 blockbuster movie Jaws, which stirred revulsion against the animals. “People think sharks are dangerous, if you meet one you have to kill it before they kill you. All over the world, fishermen are fishing for shark fin.”
Although the biggest decline in sharks was found in shark species that tended to stay close to the shoreline, all sharks are at risk, according to O’Malley’s report, which says the Thresher, a deep ocean shark, has fallen in numbers by 80 percent since 1986, Great Whites by 79 percent and that Hammerheads face the worst calamity with an 89 percent drop from 1986 to 2000.
Shark fin exports actually peaked in the mid-1990s, and by 2006 had declined to about half the mid-1990s level, according to O’Malley’s study. That, she said, “certainly suggests a serious decline in shark populations.” As sharks have been depleted in the traditional fishing grounds in the western and central portion of the Indonesian archipelago, the pressure has moved to the east, including the waters of Raja Ampat, which she calls the richest and most bio-diverse marine environment on Earth.
The most important deterrent to the killing appears to be people who actually get into the water with sharks and discover that they aren’t killers, and that in fact when sharks attack people, Spielberg aside, they usually mistake them for seals or sea lions.
Today, eco resorts have started to appear, overcoming the reef shark destruction. According to O’Malley, blacktip reef sharks can be seen cruising across the lagoon in Raja Lampat, and recently were seen mating as tourists spent lots of money to watch. There is world class diving and many of the top sites in Raja Ampat are within a short boat trip. Misool Eco Resort, for instance, is now a luxury dive resort in a tropical paradise. But it’s also much, much more. The resort, she wrote, represents a model of conservation, sustainability and service to its host community. Perhaps shark-watching eventually will catch up with whale watching as a tourist pastime.
Are we Bangsa Malaysia enough?
By Haris Ibrahim,
Pakatan Rakyat does not believe in BN’s racial politics emphasising an old agenda of “a Malay leader taking care of a Malay, a Chinese leader taking care of a Chinese and an Indian leader taking care of an Indian.”"Time has arrived for everyone to take care of everyone, regardless of race, religion and colour,” – YB Lim Guan Eng as reported in Malaysiakini.
______________________________________
On 14th May, 2007, I wrote this in my post ‘Bangsa Malaysia : Cyber Dream?’
Until ‘sons and daughters of Malaysia’ can truly mean each is a brother and sister one to the other who look out for each other at all times and not only when it is ‘safe’, those who continue to dominate us by the ‘divide and rule’, ‘Malays must have political power cos the Chinese hold the economy’ and ‘don’t you dare question our rights’ rethoric will continue to rule the day.
Until you are unable to sleep because there are brothers and sisters languishing as ISA detainees, poor and the impoverished, religiously persecuted, know then that your own desire for Bangsa Malaysia is only skin deep.
Until you are prepared to purge the racist and the apathy in you, Bangsa Malaysia will always remain a dream for you.
______________________________________________
For a long time, I have agonised over writing this piece to challenge my fellow Malaysians. Finally I said to myself – “what the heck? If I don’t do it now, I may not live long enough to see if they really care about the future of this beloved land”.
What better time to challenge my fellow citizens if not the approaching 50th year of nationhood. So here goes.
For too long, we have allowed to our own detriment a “cartel” of self-serving politicians and their coterie of entrepreneur buddies to set the agenda for this nation. They have moulded our thinking and controlled our thoughts, behaviour, responses and actions using the time-tested symbols of manipulation – race and religion!
We readily succumb to their clarion call to defend the race and religion and have fallen victims to our own comfort zone of categorising and stereotyping our fellow Malaysians along these lines. We, without a thought, consciously and sublimely succumb to grand generalisations and condemn our fellow beings based on these categories.
“All Malays are stupid, lazy and dependent on government handouts!”
“All Chinese are greedy, uncouth and are prone to using any means to accumulate wealth!”
“All Indians are dirty, untrustworthy and are prone to alcoholism and criminal activities!”
Unfortunately or fortunately depending on your worldview very little is heard by way of generalisations on Kadazans, Ibans, Dayaks, Melanaus and other minority Malaysians because we ,especially in Peninsular Malaysia, have rarely taken the trouble to know about, let alone understand our East Malaysian brethren.
God forbid, if and when we do so, I am sure some equally ridiculous generalisations will spew forth from our warped minds! And we will spew it with relative impunity with nary a thought!
Just for a moment reflect on these generalisations…..better still say it out aloud!
Can you honestly with a clear conscience say that you have no family member, relation, friend or associate of your so called “racial-religious tribe” that is not stupid, lazy, greedy, uncouth, dirty or untrustworthy? If you can I would really like to meet you and your pure tribe! You really must be specially selected by the Creator.
Have you not ever come across Malays that are intelligent and industrious and self-reliant; Chinese that are generous, civilised and not wealthy; or Indians that are clean, trustworthy and “teetotallers”?
What about the Malay cardiac surgeon who did a triple by-pass on your father and saved his life? What about the Chinese hawker who donated his day’s entire earnings for the tsunami disaster victims? What about the Indian who donated his kidney to save your cousin?
Have you not ever come across, heard of, or befriended a fellow citizen of the “other” tribe who was kind, considerate, generous, moderate, rational and objective etc.
Surely you have but you would in all probability have rationalised it as he or she is “different” because….. You would have subconsciously enumerated a host of reasons not to “upset” your comfortable worldview.
So why do you do it? Because it is so easy when you stereotype and rationalise your way through life using tribal categories. You don’t have to think and waste your precious brain cells. It makes you feel secure. It gives you a warm feeling of oneness, ownership and identity with the ilk of your tribe.
You reinforce your ignorance with equally ignoramus tribe members and everything is honky-dory! The bonding feels good! You feel great wallowing in your misplaced tribal pride.
And of course the cartel has ensured that you continue to muddle along this way because they will always benefit from this tribal mindset. Ah! But have you for a moment reflected on what the cartel does to control and reinforce your thoughts and actions.
Consider these “symbols” of thought control and manipulation so creatively used by the cartel:-
“Bangsa Malaysia versus Ketuanan Melayu”
“Perpaduan Negara versus Perpaduan Ummah”
“Malaysian Malaysia versus NEP”
“Secular State versus Islamic State”
“Bahasa Malaysia versus Bahasa Melayu”
“Bumiputra versus Non-Bumiputra”
“Constitutional Liberties versus Social Contract”
Think! How many times have you fallen for these Machiavellian machinations?
Worse still how many times have you used them to achieve your own ends?
Did you really feel good about yourself?
Did not an “inner voice” say something to prick you?
Of course it did, but you rationalised it anyway!
So my fellow citizens the buck stops with you!
You and only you, can do something about breaking the shackles of tribal group think!
And this 50th Merdeka will be truly meaningful if you take the first step to liberate your mind from the insidious control of the cartel and your respective tribes.
I challenge you not to meekly accept your tribe’s group think and let the cartel’s agenda hijack your mind! Pledge that from this day on – to rephrase Martin Luther King – “I will not judge my fellow Malaysians by the colour of their skin or their religious affiliation but by the strength of their character and the courage of their conviction”.
This Merdeka Day commit to beginning the process to really take charge of your thought processes. Once you have sorted out the obvious “inequities” in your mind, move out of your comfort zone and go forth to “liberate” your family, relatives, friends and tribal members.
And Oh Yes! – don’t forget your fellow Malaysians. They are waiting to bond with you and discover the true meaning of nationhood! – Jayanath Appudurai
BERSIH 2.0: Penipuan pilihan raya akan berterusan
Gabungan pendesak reformasi pilihan raya BERSIH 2.0 kecewa kerana laporan jawatankuasa pilihan parlimen untuk menambahbaik proses pilihan raya (PSC) tidak membawa lima isu utama yang dipertikaikan.
Menurut BERSIH 2.0, lima isu berkenaan ialah:
Manipulasi dalam daftar pemilih;
Skanda undi-untuk-kewarganegaraan di semenanjung Malaysia;
Penguatkuasaan Akta Kesalahan Pilihan Raya 1954 dan mengukuhkan takrid kesalahan pilihan raya;
Rancangan untuk menghentikan ‘politik kotor’; dan
Pemerhati undangan antarabangsa
Sehubungan itu, jawatankuasa pemandu BERSIH 2.0 menyatakan kebimbangannya bahawa penipuan pilihan raya dan perkara lain yang tidak kena “berkemungkinan tinggi” akan berterusan tanpa dibendung.
“Peluang keemasan untuk membetulkan kesilapan dan untuk berbakti kepada rakyat Malaysia buat masa kini dan masa depan, dengan dukacitanya telah berlalu,” kata jawatankuasa itu dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.
BERSIH 2.0 merupakan jawatankuasa yang bertanggungjawab menganjurkan perhimpunan untuk menuntut reformasi dalam proses pilihan raya pada 9 Julai tahun lalu.
Perhimpunan raksasa itu antara lainnya menyebabkan pentadbiran Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak menubuhkan PSC yang disasarkan untuk memberi cadangan bagi menambahbaik proses pilihan raya.
Menurut BERSIH 2.0, lima isu berkenaan ialah:
Manipulasi dalam daftar pemilih;
Skanda undi-untuk-kewarganegaraan di semenanjung Malaysia;
Penguatkuasaan Akta Kesalahan Pilihan Raya 1954 dan mengukuhkan takrid kesalahan pilihan raya;
Rancangan untuk menghentikan ‘politik kotor’; dan
Pemerhati undangan antarabangsa
Sehubungan itu, jawatankuasa pemandu BERSIH 2.0 menyatakan kebimbangannya bahawa penipuan pilihan raya dan perkara lain yang tidak kena “berkemungkinan tinggi” akan berterusan tanpa dibendung.
“Peluang keemasan untuk membetulkan kesilapan dan untuk berbakti kepada rakyat Malaysia buat masa kini dan masa depan, dengan dukacitanya telah berlalu,” kata jawatankuasa itu dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.
BERSIH 2.0 merupakan jawatankuasa yang bertanggungjawab menganjurkan perhimpunan untuk menuntut reformasi dalam proses pilihan raya pada 9 Julai tahun lalu.
Perhimpunan raksasa itu antara lainnya menyebabkan pentadbiran Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak menubuhkan PSC yang disasarkan untuk memberi cadangan bagi menambahbaik proses pilihan raya.
Parliament debate on PSC report on electoral reform – most disgraceful episode and worst blot on Malaysian Parliament in nation’s 55 years
What happened today is the most disgraceful episode and worst blot on the Malaysian Parliament in the nation’s 55 year history.
It all stemmed from the mistake made by the Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin who had rejected an amendment motion by the three Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Members of Parliament on the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reform, Loke Siew Fook (Rasah), Mohamed Azmin (Gombak) and Dr. Mohd Hatta (Kuala Krai) seeking to incorporate a minority report into the PSC final report tabled in Parliament yesterday.
After the PSC Chairman Datuk Maximus Ongkili moved the motion on the PSC report after question time, Loke stood up to object to the Speaker’s rejection in chambers of the amendment motion by the three PR MPs.
Pandikar quoted Parliamentary precedents from New Zealand and the United Kingdom and said there is no such thing as a “minority report”.
When PR MPs responded to Pandikar’s invitation to quote precedents and pointed out that the Speaker had been wrongly advised when he claimed that there is no such thing as “minority reports” in Commonwealth Parliaments, Pandikar refused to review his decision.
Parliament spent close to an hour before lunch recess on the Speaker’s refusal to allow the amendment to the motion on the PSC report so to append a minority report addressing the fundamental issue of a clean and comprehensive electoral roll and this issue continued to dominate Parliament when the House resumed proceedings after lunch with Deputy Speaker Datuk Robert Kiandee in the chair.
Shortly after the post-lunch exchanges, Pandikar made a surprise entry into Parliament and took over from Robert Kiandee and proceeded to suspend three PR MPs Azmin, R. Sivarasa (Subang) and Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor) for questioning the Speaker’s ruling.
This reduced the House to pandemonium with all the PR MPs standing up in protest. This created a din in the House with PR and Barisan Nasional MPs as well as the Speaker shouting at the top of their voices.
Pandikar lost control of the House and hurriedly put Maximum’s motion to a vote without debate, which was allegedly passed with the majority of MPs not knowing what was happening! The House was then precipitately adjourned.
A sad day indeed when many MPs had wanted to debate the PSC report on electoral reform.
Pakatan Rakyat MPs from all the three parties, DAP, PKR and PAS, were prepared for a full debate on the PSC report on electoral reforms, zeroing in particularly on the Election Commission’s failure to ensure a clean and comprehensive electoral roll – the prerequisite for a clean, free and fair elections in the 13th GE.
In fact, only one of the eight Bersih 2.0 demands for clean, free and fair elections is being implemented – on the use of indelible ink.
Even on the 10 recommendations of the PSC interim report, only two have been fully accepted while the others have either been accepted only in part or rejected totally like the Election Commission’s rejection of the PSC interim report proposal for a reconfirmation of voters’ roll in Sabah and the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the serious problem of illegals becoming voters in Sabah.
Under these circumstances, can Malaysians expect the 13th GE to be clean, free and fair in keeping with Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s claim of Malaysia as “the best democracy in the world”?
It all stemmed from the mistake made by the Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin who had rejected an amendment motion by the three Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Members of Parliament on the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reform, Loke Siew Fook (Rasah), Mohamed Azmin (Gombak) and Dr. Mohd Hatta (Kuala Krai) seeking to incorporate a minority report into the PSC final report tabled in Parliament yesterday.
After the PSC Chairman Datuk Maximus Ongkili moved the motion on the PSC report after question time, Loke stood up to object to the Speaker’s rejection in chambers of the amendment motion by the three PR MPs.
Pandikar quoted Parliamentary precedents from New Zealand and the United Kingdom and said there is no such thing as a “minority report”.
When PR MPs responded to Pandikar’s invitation to quote precedents and pointed out that the Speaker had been wrongly advised when he claimed that there is no such thing as “minority reports” in Commonwealth Parliaments, Pandikar refused to review his decision.
Parliament spent close to an hour before lunch recess on the Speaker’s refusal to allow the amendment to the motion on the PSC report so to append a minority report addressing the fundamental issue of a clean and comprehensive electoral roll and this issue continued to dominate Parliament when the House resumed proceedings after lunch with Deputy Speaker Datuk Robert Kiandee in the chair.
Shortly after the post-lunch exchanges, Pandikar made a surprise entry into Parliament and took over from Robert Kiandee and proceeded to suspend three PR MPs Azmin, R. Sivarasa (Subang) and Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor) for questioning the Speaker’s ruling.
This reduced the House to pandemonium with all the PR MPs standing up in protest. This created a din in the House with PR and Barisan Nasional MPs as well as the Speaker shouting at the top of their voices.
Pandikar lost control of the House and hurriedly put Maximum’s motion to a vote without debate, which was allegedly passed with the majority of MPs not knowing what was happening! The House was then precipitately adjourned.
A sad day indeed when many MPs had wanted to debate the PSC report on electoral reform.
Pakatan Rakyat MPs from all the three parties, DAP, PKR and PAS, were prepared for a full debate on the PSC report on electoral reforms, zeroing in particularly on the Election Commission’s failure to ensure a clean and comprehensive electoral roll – the prerequisite for a clean, free and fair elections in the 13th GE.
In fact, only one of the eight Bersih 2.0 demands for clean, free and fair elections is being implemented – on the use of indelible ink.
Even on the 10 recommendations of the PSC interim report, only two have been fully accepted while the others have either been accepted only in part or rejected totally like the Election Commission’s rejection of the PSC interim report proposal for a reconfirmation of voters’ roll in Sabah and the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the serious problem of illegals becoming voters in Sabah.
Under these circumstances, can Malaysians expect the 13th GE to be clean, free and fair in keeping with Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s claim of Malaysia as “the best democracy in the world”?
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