SUARAM's URGENT ARREST TEAM FOR BERSIH 3.0

For those who are going for Bersih 3 tomorrow. We have given our names and contact numbers.

This what we want you to do:

If you see or witness anyone being arrested at your respective place, please send an sms to the number(s) given.

SUARAM URGENT ARREST TEAM

OFFICE NUMBER: 03 77843525 (DIANE)

NO	TEMPAT	SUARAM PIC	NOMBOR
1	CENTRAL MARKET	NALINI SARAH	019 3043159 018 3181179
2	MASJID NEGARA	SYUKRI	011 15542640
3	JALAN SULTAN	MAISARAH	012 218 7476
4	MASJID INDIA	ANDIKA	016 224 7255
5	BRIEKFIELDS	THEVA	013 384 5740
6	KLCC	HASBEE	014 925 4010

You only have to type:

a. Name

b. IC Number/passport number

c. Police station that the person is being taken to or detained

 SUARAM will send the sms to the lawyers as well as to the our person in charge in office. 

You may also call our office and you can talk to Miss Diane and please give details to her. 

Its easy .... Dont panic when you are arrested by the police or stopped by DBKL. All you need to do is CALM DOWN and Call US!

Kuala Lumpur Readies for Confrontation

Just out for a stroll

Electoral reform protests intend to defy police to occupy the city's central square
The city government in Kuala Lumpur has set the stage for an all-but-certain confrontation with electoral reform protesters for tomorrow, having obtained a court order to keep the marchers out of Dataran Merdeka, the city’s historic Independence Square.

Rejecting the permit to march to the square is a gamble on the part of the government that could turn disastrous, as did a similar march in July 2011, with police assaulting marchers with water cannons and tear gas, blocking major streets and arresting as many as 1,600 people. Pictures of people choking on tear gas and being soaked with water were beamed around the world, earning the government international opprobrium from human rights organizations and various governments.

Hardliners in the national government say that the city has been accommodating, offering alternative stadiums to the marchers, including Merdeka Stadium, which the protesters were barred from in the events of last July, and that the marchers are breaking the law. Police Friday said the participants may assemble outside the square but face police action if they try to enter it. Most observers believe the protesters will try to do exactly that.

The hardliners thus hope that the public will see the marchers as breaking the law and generate outrage by disrupting movement throughout the city. However, the hawks seem unable to recognize that using force could well generate more sympathy than outrage.

In any case, workmen early Friday morning placed barriers around the entire square in the center of the city in an effort to keep the marchers out. The city is described as “locked down” in an effort to stop them from reaching the area. Roadblocks were already causing traffic congestion on Friday afternoon as police began to tighten up against out-of-town arrivals.

The march has been called by Bersih, also known as the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, an amalgam of 150-odd NGOs, many of them aligned with the opposition, demanding electoral reform and alleging they have been frustrated by the provisions offered by the government of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. They also allege that hundreds of thousands of dubious voters have been added to election rolls in recent weeks as the country readies for what are expected to be national elections in May or June.

This time it was the Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail who ordered the march banned as the national government preferred to try to keep at least some distance from the fray. Home Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said on April 23 that the rally posed no threat and did not require excessive presence of the police, adding that Bersih hadn’t gained any traction at that point. However, the banning of the march is being regarded as a sign that hawks at the national level have overruled those who advocated opting for benign neglect.

The government didn’t help its cause earlier this week by allowing only a single day for debate on eight reforms to the draconian Internal Security Act before pushing it through. Also reformers complained that on April 20 the government had pushed through a 3 a.m. amendment removing the right of electoral candidates and their representatives to observe the registration of voters in polling stations on election day. Reformers have also alleged that hundreds of thousands of dubious voters have been registered in recent days as the country readies for its first national elections since 2008.

The episode is regarded by political analysts as a cat-and-mouse game between the government and the electoral reform group, which is perceived to be closely aligned with the three-party Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition headed by leader Anwar Ibrahim, who met with foreign envoys and other western observers, complained that the ruling Barisan Nasional had no intention of allowing free and fair elections.

Bersih said it would go ahead with the protest after being frustrated by the refusal of a Parliamentary Select Committee to accede to recommendations to reform the electoral process. Those recommendations included cleansing the electoral rolls, reforms of absentee voting, the use of indelible ink to mark voters’ fingers after voting to thwart repeat voting, a minimum campaign period of 21 days, and fair access to the media – a proposal almost impossible to fulfill, since the three major political parties own all the major mainstream news outlets, all of which have been reporting negatively on the plans for the protest. Election reformers complained that only the indelible ink recommendation was accepted.

They also complained that the government pushed through a 3 a.m. measure in parliament to remove the right of candidates or their representatives to observe voter registrations on election day so that opposition leaders would be unable to spot phantom voters, and removed a requirement that all printed materials bear the name of the printer and publisher from campaign materials.

If the law is bad, break it

I got a call from a reporter a little while ago to ask my thoughts on the court order obtained by the authorities, banning the Duduk Bantah Bersih 3.0 taking place at Dataran Merdeka.
To explain my point to her, I shared this little episode that took place whilst in I was in London in the 80′s.
Following the Falklands war, information had leaked out that greatly embarrassed the Thatcher administration.
The leaked information was finally traced back to a member of the British civil service, one Clive Ponting.
Ponting was charged with an offence under the Official Secrets Act.
At the end of the trial, the judge DIRECTED the jury, that on the evidence, they must enter a finding of guilt.
I repeat.
The judge DIRECTED the jury to enter a finding of guilt.
What did the jury do?
They found Clive Ponting not guilty of the charge.
And as best as I can recall, no one has since been charged in the UK under the Official Secrets Act again.
What that jury did was to pour scorn on the AG’s decision to prosecute a man for exposing the wrongdoing of Thatcher’s government, the judge for directing a conviction, and the very essence of the Official Secrets Act.
History bears testimony to great leaders who have led men and women to break laws that were unjust.
Rosa Parks broke the law by riding in the front of the bus.
Martin Luther King.
Gandhi broke the British laws that kept the Indians enslaved.
Jesus defied the laws of the day and taught in the synagogues.
Muhammad smashed the idols in Mecca, defying the religious order of the day.
If the law is bad, break it.
If an order or directive, be it of a judge or otherwise, violates our very essence as human beings, defy it.
The tagline of this blog says we are not law-breakers, but we are here to become law makers.
True, but before we can make good laws, we must first be rid of those that serve to subjugate us.

Allow Bersih 3.0 To Go Ahead Peacefully

Concerned citizens call on Prime Minister Najib Razak to allow Bersih 3.0 to go ahead peacefully at Dataran Merdeka on April 28

We the undersigned wish to express our profound disappointment at the numerous obstacles that have been put in place by government agencies, especially the Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) and Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), to prevent the planned peaceful gathering of Bersih 3.0 on 28 April 2012.

We recognise that these agencies are either under the direct control or influence of your government but we are sure that you, as Prime Minister, concur that they should strictly observe and practice administrative neutrality and not be seen to serve the partisan interests of the ruling parties.

It is disheartening and unacceptable to see these agencies behave in a way that is in direct contradiction to your promises of a more open democratic space for Malaysians.

We wish to emphasise that the right to assembly is guaranteed by the Federal Constitution. The only limitation is that such assembly must not be a threat to national security or to public order. There is nothing to suggest that Bersih 3.0 will be such a threat.

We also note with concern that various groups have been making threats against this planned peaceful gathering. Recent events in Dataran Merdeka where students engaged in a peaceful demonstration have been attacked by thugs show that such threats are not to be taken lightly.

You have promised a reformist agenda and we expect you to uphold your pledge. Furthermore due to your power over the bodies mentioned above, we wish to assert here that any untoward incidents instigated by any of these bodies shall be held to be your responsibility.

If you believe in democracy and clean and fair elections, now is the time to prove it. Allow Bersih 3.0 to go ahead peacefully.

Signatories:
A. Bakar Sulaiman
Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa
Datin Marion D’Cruz
Dato Thasleem Ibrahim
Dr Azmi Sharom
Dr. K. J. John
Dr Lim Teck Ghee
Kee Thuan Chye
Malik Imtiaz Sarwar
Prof Zaharom Nain

Reps must think like statesmen

The Star
Putik Lada By H. R. Dipendra

Members of Parliament and Assemblymen can no longer be tribal in their views, and should display the values of duty, utility, and eudemonia.

THE 13th general election is almost upon us. Flags have been hoisted, noises made, slogans exhorted, goodies promised and battle lines drawn.

I am reminded of what George Eliot wrote about elections in her book Felix Holt: “An election is coming. Universal peace is declared, and the foxes have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry.”

A lot is at stake and voters are being asked to make the right decision, as a wrong choice of leaders may have disastrous consequences for the state of the nation and Malaysia’s well-being. Or so it seems.

The fact remains that Malaysians get very excited every five years or so. On the eve of every general election, incumbents and challengers do their best to convince voters that they are the right choice to lead them.

I have lamented many a time that many Members of Parliament (MPs) and state assemblymen go missing after being elected.

For example, in the constituency where I vote, my MP has probably not visited my local area since 2008 and the assemblyman is, quite frankly, in my view, somewhat bigoted.

The point I am trying to make is that as voters, should we not expect more from our MPs and assemblymen?

Should we be content in only dealing with them once every five years or should we demand that they engage us (and the community) at regular intervals, even if they do not agree with our politics?

It should not just be about cutting ribbons, launching some project here and there or attending a parent-teacher function.

It is more than that. It is about getting the consensus and thinking of the voters for important issues affecting the country.

For example, how many MPs actually take the trouble to ask their constituents how they should go about replacing the Internal Security Act, or the new raft of legislation that were passed in record time recently?

How many are people-friendly, representative of the minority and all interests or asked their constituents what they felt about the Budget and how it could benefit their constituency, and how decision-making between the voters and the Government could be improved?

I do not think that it is difficult preparing a simple questionnaire detailing these important issues, circulating them among the constituents, collating them and explaining at Parliament and to the party whip that this is the wish list of the constituency.

We no longer live in an age where we can afford to fully depend on our MPs and assemblymen. We need to constantly monitor and check on them every now and then.

We must demand more from them and remind them that they represent our views when dealing with matters affecting the nation.

MPs and assemblymen must accept the fact that they cannot act or behave in isolation or hold only the view of a select few.

Which brings me to my next question: What should we expect from our MPs and assemblymen?

The vast majority of politicians today cannot claim to be guided by the Merdeka or Indepen­dence socio-political movement. This country has moved and forged well ahead. The fact that we keep on reflecting too much on history can be unhealthy as the future to me holds more importance.

The next generation of MPs and assemblymen can no longer be tribal in their views and must not subscribe to strong racial or religious views.

Candidates should display the values of duty, utility, and eudemonia (state of happiness governed by reason) as paramount features of their candidacy.

Those who can transcend all barriers to ensure that Malaysians as a whole are looked after and are happy ought to be voted in.

I want to see MPs and assemblymen who are smart, articulate, and can hold themselves well on issues. I am selfish in demanding that my MP and assemblyman must be able to think well ahead.

This is extremely important because Parliament requires intelligent MPs who can debate complex and critical pieces of legislation.

We should do away with chest-thumping politicians who champion (often nefariously) a very small minority.

More importantly, I would like to see MPs and assemblymen break through racial, cultural and political divides and show dedication to the community at large.

MPs and assemblymen must inculcate a sense of nationalism among Malaysians, and that as Malaysians we all belong to this country. We must never be merely a necessary contemplation every five years.

Malaysians, too, must play their part. They must hold their MPs and assemblymen to a higher threshold.

While some MPs and assemblymen regularly engage the community at large through Twitter and Facebook (commendable indeed), more effort should be put into engaging all segments of society.

And if I can make one personal demand, it is that all MPs and assemblymen demonstrate empathy for animal protection and treatment.

I am confident that with all these considerations in place, we as a nation will prosper, mature and hold ourselves out well internationally.

James Freeman Clarke once said that “a politician thinks of the next election; a statesman thinks of the next generation”.

We should demand that our MPs and assemblymen act and think like statesmen. And yes, let us all choose wisely come the 13th general election.

> The writer is a young lawyer. Putik Lada, or pepper buds in Malay, captures the spirit and intention of this column – a platform for young lawyers to articulate their views and aspirations about the law, justice and a civil society.

Court Grants Restraining Order Barring Entrance Into Dataran Merdeka

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) -- Police will classify the opposition supported assembly planned for Saturday at Dataran Merdeka as illegal if the organisers and the public insist on gathering there.

Police have obtained a Magistrates Court order barring the organisers and the public from convening at Dataran Merdeka until May 1, said Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Mohmad Salleh.

"Any contravention of the restraining order is an offence under Section 188 of the Penal Code," he told reporters here Friday.

He emphasised that the ban covered not only the organisers and participants but also local and foreign tourists, the public and reporters as well.

Mohmad said however, gatherings at other locations apart from Dataran Merdeka was allowed provided they complied with the Peaceful Assembly Act 2011, which did not allow for any form of procession.

He further informed that following the restraining order, police and Kuala Lumpur City Hall have closed off the roads in the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka including Jalan Raja and Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, as granted by the court.

Police would also close the main roads leading into the capital, if necessary, to maintain public order.

A Bernama survey found Jalan Raja, among the main routes to Dataran Merdeka, closed since noon Friday.

The perimeter of Dataran Merdeka was also fenced with metal barriers and yellow tape to prevent access.

Live – Crowds begin to gather for Bersih 3.0

Video streaming by Ustream

SESI PENDENGARAN AWAM INKUIRI NASIONAL KE ATAS HAK TANAH ORANG ASAL/ASLI DI MALAYSIA

Selamat Sejahtera dan Salam Hak Asasi Manusia!


Rakan-rakan media dan Sidang Pengarang yang dihormati.



Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (Suruhanjaya) akan meneruskan SESI PENDENGARAN AWAM INKUIRI NASIONAL KE ATAS HAK TANAH ORANG ASAL/ASLI DI MALAYSIA pada:

                                 Tarikh:     27 hingga 30 April 2012
                                 Tempat:   Dewan Merak, Kesedar Inn, Gua Musang,
                                                 Jalan Kesedar Inn, 18300 Gua Musang Kelantan
                                  Masa:      9.00 pagi – 5.00 petang

Rakan-rakan media adalah dijemput untuk menghadiri Sesi Pendengaran Awam berikut dan ia terbuka untuk orang awam. Sebarang maklumat lanjut sila hubungi Sekretariat Media Inkuiri Nasional,  Cik Elza Nadiah bt Shaik Sulaiman di talian 03 – 2612 5689 / 010 3447596.

Sekian, terima kasih.

Hindus must be aware of disguised Islamist like Shahrukh Khan and allies….

DETENTION OF SHAHRUKH KHAN AT NEW YORK AIRPORT BEFORE LAST WEEK.
Narain Kataria from New York.

 

Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) is not only a controversial but also a suspicious character. Many people in India believe that SRK is well connected with fishy characters and underworld dons. He has a soft corner, respect and regard for the most dangerous terrorists. In addition to that he is distantly related to present ISI chief and is endowed with Pakistani mentality.

Many people may not be aware of the fact that SRK is a supporter of world’s most dangerous terrorist late Osama Bin Laden. SRK was deeply saddened at the death of Osama Bin Laden. He is an anti-American guy. Shahrukh had described Osama’s death by America’s a “heinous act”!

SRK has great reverence for fanatic Islamic preacher Dr. Zakir Naik who has been banned from entering

U.K. for glorifying terrorism. SRK watches his videos with great zeal and devotion.

Even though almost all the terrorist acts were conducted by radical Islamists all over the world in the name of Allah, this fellow came out with a grossly misleading nonsensical twaddle that “terrorists has no religion”! Readers also should note that SRK and his ilk have never condemned Islamic terrorists who murdered 3000 New York, 200 in Mumbai, 200 in Madrid, 200 in Bali, Indonesia; and 350 in Beslan in Russia.

He is a very good friend of Bollywood Producer Karim Morani whose name recently surfaced in the charge sheet filed by CBI in 2G spectrum scam and was subsequently arrested by the Police.

People in India are in a state of shock after the Times of India reported the new that ISI chief Lt. Gen. Zahir-ul-Islam has tenuous links with SRK. A Pakistani defense analyst Ikram Sehgal told PTI that Zahir-ul-Islam’s father who was a brigadier in the Pakistan Army and Shah Nawaz Khan, who happened to be a major general in the INA led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, was his uncle. SRK is said to have feeble relationship with ISI chief through his late mother Lateef Fatima who was the adopted daughter of Shah Nawaz Khan.

It is very easy to hoodwink Hindus. But it seems that American government knows it very well this guy is playing Al Taqiyya with them. (Al Taqiyya is a part of Islamic doctrine of deception which enjoins on all the Muslims to blatantly lie and cheat non-Muslims in furtherance of Islam.)

SRK is a die hard Islamist. In Feb, 2010, SRK demonstrated Pakistani mentality when he openly supported inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in IPL. He backed out only when his house was attacked and he was asked to leave for Pakistan.

Moreover, the name “Khan” itself is enough to infuriate and raise one’s hackles, taking into account the memories of 9/11 in which radical Islamists crashed their planes into the World Trade Center!

The USA government must be maintaining a dossier on SRK. They may have some secret information about SRK which they may not like to disclose. SRK will be detained every time at least for two hours whenever he comes to USA no matter what the Government of India does.

Indian Americans also believe that Government of India’s over reaction in this matter was utterly unwarranted, foolish, immature and uncalled for.

Narain Kataria,
Writer can be reached at Katarian@aol.com &
(718) 478-5735

Insult to Islam accused's lawyer refers to dictionary in trial

ABU DHABI // The lawyer of an engineer jailed for insulting Islam by referring to "damn" mosques asked the Appeals Court today to look up the word in the Oxford English Dictionary.

The case of JM, a Briton who was working for Abu Dhabi Municipality, is being heard by the Appeals Court for a second time after the Cassation Court ruled its first trial was invalid as there was no translator present.

The engineer, who was in charge of a municipality project to build gardens around mosques, was reported to police by a colleague who claimed he asked: "When will we finish with the damn mosques?" during a meeting.

Yesterday the engineer's lawyer presented an Oxford English Dictionary to the judging panel and asked the court translator to look up the word 'damn'.

"The first meaning for the word 'damned' says: 'According to Christianity, a damned (person) is someone who God is angered with forever... the second meaning says 'damn' can be used for strong criticism in an unofficial way and is a way of expressing anger," read out the translator.

"You were accused of saying 'damn mosques' during a meeting, what do you say about that," the Appeals Court judge asked the engineer.

The defence lawyer interrupted, saying the evidence was invalid and that the case should be dropped.

"We have to carry out our procedures and ask the defendant," the judge replied. "Are you afraid he will say something now that will give us proof? He has already been questioned in court before."

The engineer pleaded not guilty to insulting Islam, insisting he respected the religion. He was originally sentenced to a month in prison by the Misdemeanour Court. At his first appeal trial he said he did not mean to insult Islam or mosques. "I said it out of concern for the project because I wanted to be ready as soon as possible," he said. However the Appeals Court upheld the sentence and the case went to the Cassation Court before being referred back to the Appeals Court.

The Appeals Court will announce its new verdict on April 30.

Lady Gaga warned about offending Muslims during world tour

One Indonesian leader calls on Lady Gaga not to wear provocative outfits.

Lady Gaga has been warned about her provocative outfits ahead of her tour of Indonesia in June.

The multi-million-selling artist, who is on a 110-date world tour to promote her album Born This Way Ball, is currently in South Korea.

Indonesia is the world's biggest Muslim nation and Islamic leaders have said her risque outfits will not be tolerated.

"I call on Lady Gaga to respect our cultural and traditional values. Most people here are Muslims and we cannot tolerate her revealing outfits and sexy performances," the Indonesia Ulema Council leader Amidhan told AFP. "It's better for Lady Gaga to cancel her show in this country if she has no willingness to respect our demand. Please do not destroy our nation's morality and ruin our dignity.".

Lady Gaga - Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta - has courted controversy for appearing clad in outfits made of raw meat or on high heels. Big Daddy, the promoters for the concert in Jakarta, said tickets began selling in early March and were sold out within two weeks.

"We have informed Lady Gaga's management (about these concerns), and they said that they will respect the country where she will perform", said Hanny Marpaung, corporate secretary for Big Daddy.

But he added "we still don't have any clue" about what she will wear.

In the Philippines, a youth organisation urged people to stay away from Gaga's May 21 concert, saying it poses a threat to moral values in Asia's largest Catholic nation.

Laurence Pintero, head of the Manila-based Youth for Christ, criticised the government for allowing the concert to take place. "If the government thinks she is a threat, first and foremost they should stop it," he said. "I think we should be bold. We discourage (people from) attending her concert."

Dataran Merdeka locked down for the next 48 hours

File picture of Dataran Merdeka taken April 24, 2012.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 — Dataran Merdeka will be closed off to the public for the next 48 hours from 6am tomorrow as the authorities move to prevent the Bersih 3.0 sit-in in the historic square this Saturday.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) issued the order after unconfirmed reports said that police have obtained a court order today preventing the use of Dataran Merdeka for a rally.

The move against the electoral reforms movement is seen as a sign that the hawks in Putrajaya have won the day despite their confidence that the rally has no traction.

KL mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail said in a statement that the restriction will be enforced based on Local Government (Dataran Merdeka) (Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur) By-Laws 1992 and Section 65 of the Local Government Act 1976.

He said the restriction will be lifted at 6am on Sunday morning.

DBKL has already barricaded the historic square in the capital city but the electoral reforms group have said it will gather there this Saturday as time was too short to consider other venues.

Putrajaya and DBKL have offered several stadiums, including Stadium Merdeka which was ironically cordoned off during last July's Bersih 2.0 rally.

The police have taken a hands-off approach towards the latest rally with DBKL taking the lead role as it runs the square. The city authorities have just evicted a group of activists calling themselves Occupy Dataran this week, two weeks after they set up a daily camp there.

A similar order last July galvanised a larger turnout in the capital city, with organisers saying nearly 50,000 gathered to walk past road blocks and policemen who shut down the city. But police said only 6,000 took part in the rally and nearly 1,700 were arrested.

Another such order this weekend could push more support for Bersih, which launched the protest as some of their demands were not met when a parliamentary select committee (PSC) made 22 recommendations to reform the electoral process.

The bipartisan panel was formed following the July 9, 2011 rally for free and fair elections that saw tens of thousands flood into the streets of the capital.

The Najib administration was widely condemned for a clampdown on the demonstration in which police fired water cannons and tear gas into crowds during chaotic scenes that resulted in over 1,500 arrested, scores injured and the death of an ex-soldier.

Bersih’s eight demands are: a clean electoral roll, reform to postal voting, the use of indelible ink, a minimum campaign period of 21 days, fair access to the media, the strengthening public institutions, a stop to corruption, and an end to dirty politics.

PR has pledged its full support for this Saturday’s rally, promising to mobilise thousands of supporters to attend the event.

Students charged over flowers, tombstone demo

They will face Universiti Malaya’s disciplinary board on May 3.

KUALA LUMPUR: Three students are facing the wrath of University Malaya authorities for demonstrating with garlands of flowers and a tombstone.

The three—third year Islamic political science student Mohd Syahid Zaini (photo), third year Islamic education student Safwan Anang and first year law student Haziq Abdul Aziz—will face the university’s disciplinary board on May 3 to defend themselves against charges of causing public disorder and embarrassment to the university.

Syahid told reporter today that all three faced the same two charges.

They were among students who participated in Abolish PTPTN protest at Dataran Merdeka last April 14. A group of them marched to an area near the Sogo shopping complex, shouting anti-PTPTN and anti-Barisan Nasional slogans.

They placed on the ground framed pictures of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Noordin, wrapped a garland around each and stuck a tombstone between them.

Syahid is chairman of the Malaysia Bangkit student movement. Safnan and Hazik lead Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia, another student activist group.

“The university is claiming that our actions resemble a Hindu ritual,” Syahid said.

The university is charging them under Section 16c of the Universiti Malaya Methods (Student Regulations) 1999.

Surendran snubs MIC delegation

The PKR vice president was absent from his office when a MIC Youth team went there to collect information about stateless Indians.

PETALING JAYA: A delegation from MIC Youth turned up at PKR headquarters today to collect information about stateless Indians from PKR vice president N Surendran, but left empty handed.

Surendran was not in his office and did not turn up during the half hour that the delegation of five waited for him.

The delegation’s leader, MIC Youth councillor M Saravanan, questioned Surendran’s sincerity in his claim of concern for the plight of stateless Indians.

Last Thursday, Surendran, leading a demonstration at the Parliament gates, said the number of stateless Indians in Malaysia was 300,000, a claim that MIC has scoffed at.

MIC secretary-general S Murugessan, while disputing the figure, offered to work with PKR for the benefit of Malaysian Indians who have been denied their citizenship rights. Saravanan’s delegation went to the PKR office today under his orders.

Saravanan told reporters that only Puchong PKR chairman S Murali was there to greet his team.

“We were informed that the details about stateless Indians are not in the PKR office,” he said.

Saravanan reiterated the MIC position that 300,000 was a grossly exaggerated figure, and he described as “weird” Surendran’s recent statement that he would submit the details to the federal government instead of to MIC.

“It seems like Surendran is living in a jungle and is not aware that MIC is part of the governing coalition,” he said.

“We think he is stressed out after making a false statement to gain Indian support and seeing it backfire.”

He said MIC was ever ready to help anyone facing “MyKad and birth certificate problems”.

According to the National Registration Department, there are 40,000 undocumented Indians in Malaysia.

However, MIC says it has identified only about 15,000 Indians without citizenship documentation since it launched its MyDaftar campaign on Feb 23 last year. Out of that number, 9,529 submitted the relevant application forms and nearly 6,000 have received their documents, party leaders have said.

Jeffrey hails Hindraf chief’s return from exile

P Waythamoorthy will be able to contribute a lot in a personal capacity, says the STAR chairman.

PETALING JAYA: State Reform Party (STAR) chairman Jeffrey Kitingan today welcomed the reported return of P Waythamoorthy, the Hindraf Makkal Sakthi supremo, from five years of exile in London.

Jeffrey said he was looking forward to meeting the latter in Malaysia “to catch up on the last five years”.

“I am sure that he will still be able to contribute a lot in a personal capacity even though he has decided to relinquish the stewardship of Hindraf,” he said. “We need people like him to help create a third force in Parliament.”

He added that Waythamoorthy was a master strategist “able to penetrate and navigate anywhere” and would be an invaluable person in the fight for a better Malaysia.

Jeffrey was commenting on Waythamoorthy’s statement on Tuesday that he was ready to return to Malaysia by Nov 25, or earlier, although he had no valid travel papers to do so.

He was speaking on the sidelines of meetings in Kuala Lumpur with Sabahans and Sarawakians to update them on the political situation back in their home states.

On Waythamoorthy’s passport, Jeffrey urged the Home Ministry to “let bygones be bygones” and re-issue the Hindraf chief with a new international passport.

“The Home Ministry should not have cancelled his passport and leave him stranded overseas,” he said. “It was a desperate act by a desperate government to stop him from speaking out against it in international forums.”

He pointed out that the ploy backfired since the British government granted him political asylum as a human rights advocate and issued him with a UN-sanctioned travel document.

Blessing in disguise

On Waythamoorthy’s decision to hand over stewardship of Hindraf to a new leadership line-up, Jeffrey said that the move “may be a blessing in disguise”.

“Waythamoorthy is more than welcome to join STAR and help set up an autonomous Peninsular Malaysia chapter,” he said.

“STAR in Peninsular Malaysia will be free of political interference and control by STAR in Sabah and Sarawak.”

STAR’s stand was unlike that adopted by Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat in Sabah and Sarawak, he added.

“They are only interested in grabbing our seats in Parliament to further strengthen their political power at our expense.”

STAR deputy chairman Daniel John Jambun, who is also in Kuala Lumpur with Jeffrey, also said Waythamoorthy’s return was a good development.

The mayor’s Bersih 3.0 headache

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail seems to be caught in a dilemma and expressed his frustration to FMT in an interview last night.
INTERVIEW

KUALA LUMPUR: In the game of “chicken”, two drivers would accelerate towards each other on a collision course: one must swerve – and be deemed a coward – or both may die in the crash.

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail, who likened the current deadlock over the use of Dataran Merdeka for the Bersih 3.0 sit-in rally on Saturday to the popular game theory, said that City Hall (DBKL) has already conceded defeat.

“If this was a chicken game, we [City Hall] have already chickened out, because we want to avoid chaos. But they [Bersih 3.0 organisers] are so hardcore. What if anything untoward happens? They’ll blame the government, ” Ahmad Fuad told FMT in an interview last night.

Yesterday, Bersih organisers met with Ahmad Fuad but remained hell-bent on using Dataran Merdeka to hold the protest despite the government’s suggestion to use four different stadiums (Stadium Cheras, Stadium Titiwangsa, Stadium Bukit Jalil or Stadium Merdeka) as alternatives instead.

Ahmad Fuad confirmed that City Hall officers could make arrests if protesters go to Dataran

Merdeka. However, the chief of the city’s local authority took pains to explain that he was, and is still, trying to avoid such a confrontational situation.

“I don’t want to use the word arrest, it’s a very strong word. Plus, I don’t want to pre-empt what’s going to happen on Saturday. Maybe we can still try to talk them out of it, there may be those who are not so kepala batu (stubborn),” he said.

On what to expect on Saturday, Ahmad Fuad said “just wait and see. What will happen… I believe there will be a confrontation. We will take action then.”

He again questioned why the organisers were so adamant in sticking to one location despite his offers to negotiate.

“I told them not to rally but they argued that they can guarantee it to be peaceful. When I asked them how ‘can you really guarantee safety? Anything can happen’. They claimed to have 6,000 personnel who will manage the crowd.”

“But at the same time when we suggested four other alternative locations, they say there’s not enough time to inform their people, and that it’s hard to explain to their people and they can’t control their people. Aren’t those two statements contradictory?”

Distorted information

“They said it’s too late, but we replied on the same day we received their letter. They said they announced it much earlier in the media, but to me, it’s like I told everybody I have a kenduri but I don’t state the venue and time and don’t send out invitations,” he said.

“I’m not convinced by their argument; it’s full of distorted information,” said Ahmad Fuad.

“Why not Stadium Merdeka? They say that Dataran Merdeka is chosen because of its historical relevance, but Stadium Merdeka was where Tunku Abdul Rahman shouted ‘Merdeka’, that’s where you have the spirit of independence,” he argued.

Ahmad Fuad lamented that the organisers turned down his offer of an alternative site despite his willingness to work with the police to help manage the crowd, provide ambulances, parking spaces at the stadium, and even to announce together with Bersih to the media.

“But they insisted [on Dataran Merdeka]. They said that if we don’t agree, they will sit on the roads.”

“Is that what you call peaceful? You would disturb others if you sit on the road; cars could ram into you or would have to avoid you. It’s causing fear. DBKL’s responsibility is not to disrupt the daily lives of people, including those who are not interested in Bersih,” Ahmad Fuad said.

“Why do you want to do things that would cause trouble? Why do you want to break the law? Does it mean that [just because] you have a massive crowd, you can do illegal things en masse? Is the law like that? Unless we [the authorities] close one eye and ignore it,” he said, referring to the Local Government (Dataran Merdeka) (Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur) By-Laws 1992.

The by-law specific to the iconic site prohibits assemblies at the premises and violators can be fined up to RM2,000 or jailed for a year, or both.

He also pointed out that there is the new Peaceful Assembly Act, which officially came into force on April 23, though the enforcement of the law comes under the police.

Racial incidents

Ahmad Fuad said there are those who called him “barua” (idiotic) but he dismissed it, saying: “Yes, I’m a government servant, but you think I have no principles? There are laws. And I’m in charge of enforcing them. If you think the laws are no good, when you [opposition] take over [the government] you can change it.”

“The 1992 by-law is not new. Nobody questioned it. Now suddenly you tell me it’s an irrelevant law or merely a ‘undang-undang kecil’ [by-law]. A small law is still a law,” Ahmad Fuad said.

“I’ve been a career officer for 36 years. My job is to make sure the city is bersih [clean]: how to beautify it, how to keep business going, how to make it work fast. Anybody who takes power, I will do the same thing. There is no difference.”

“Why am I doing all this? I feel responsible, I don’t want unwanted things to happen. You say there won’t be a repeat of racial incidents like we’ve seen in the past, but maybe now it’s not the races clashing but two sides with all races – Malay, Chinese, Indian – who don’t see eye to eye,” he said.

“How can you guarantee there won’t be outside forces? There may suddenly be people who come and sabotage your gathering. Someone start throwing punches, people get angry… We never know and we hope this won’t happen,” he said.

Ahmad Fuad said there are people who are opposed to the Bersih rally, including traders and taxi drivers, and they are the “majority”.

“For me, you need to think of the traders, the person who sells fish. He doesn’t earn much in a day. Rich people never mind, they aren’t affected, but the fish seller would lose his day’s earnings,” he said.

Ahmad Fuad said the gathering would also cause traffic havoc along roads going into the city like Jalan Kuching and Jalan Raja.

‘Don’t provoke people’

“It’s very straightforward, but they [Bersih organisers] are manipulating it. We’ve talked with the advisory council, and as far as we’re concerned, it’s a no for Dataran Merdeka.”

Referring to the Occupy Dataran movement, Ahmad Fuad said that if he had allowed students and activists to stay there, there will be ‘tonnes’ of homeless who will start to sleep at Dataran. “Very syok [nice] you know, then what shall we do?”

He said the same applied to Bersih. “If we allowed this [sit-in at Dataran Merdeka], then all the other NGOs would want to start assembling there. We had actually turned down the anti-gay and Perkasa protests and didn’t even give them any alternative sites.”

Ahmad Fuad also dismissed claims by Bersih that it was apolitical, saying: “You see posters saying we must bring down the government, is that not political?”

“Don’t provoke people. It’s not healthy and not good for the country,” he said.

“But if they are stubborn, we are also stubborn. Everyone wants to show how powerful they are, but ordinary people who don’t want to get involved are affected,” he said.

Ahmad Fuad also described the current situation as “lose-lose”.

“It’s like the prisoners’ dilemma… where two person plotted and stole chickens and both got caught. If they cooperated together, both sentences can be reduced, but if both betray each other, it’s a lose-lose situation. We wanted to avoid this lose-lose situation, but…”

“They [Bersih organisers] claim this is for the rakyat, and that there are over 80 NGOs, but there are other rakyat who are against this. I don’t care if it’s the whole world you represent… you can’t do something that goes against the law. There are repercussions if you break the law. If we don’t care about it, then there might as well be no government,” he said.

‘Achamillai’ Najib sets 5-year target for Indians

During an interview with local Tamil radio station THR Raaga, the premier says he hopes to see vast improvement in the statust and welfare of the community over the next five years.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said today he hoped to see a vast improvement in the status and welfare of the Indian community in the country over the next five years.

Najib said he also wanted to see the Indian community fully integrated into the mainstream of national economic development.

“I hope that within (the next) five years, we will see the improvement of the Indian community,” he said during an hour-long interview with deejays Aanantha and Uthaya on the “Kalakkal Kaalai” breakfast show over THR Raaga radio.

“As you know, our target is to double our income level by 2020, basically to about US$15,000 per capita,” he told the listeners.

“We target better and better, and we will deliver what we promise,” he said.

Responding to a question from a listener, Najib said the government had achieved much for the Indian community over the last two years and there was greater recognition and awareness of problems faced by Indians.

He said new approaches were taken in recognising and tackling these problems, even from the time when he was the deputy prime minister and chaired the Cabinet Committee on Indian Affairs.

“Some of the things done include the allocation for Tamil schools, where it is the largest ever in our history. The latest decision, for example, is (providing) 1,000 additional places in our matriculation colleges, starting from this year. Previously, it was just 500,” he said.

Najib said this was very significant because the percentage of Indians entering universities was rather low, and he hoped that it would go up to a more acceptable level.

“I also announced that 100 top Indian students will be given scholarships to continue their studies at Masters and PhD levels,” he said.

‘Ore Malaysia’ and ‘Nambikai’

Asked by a deejay of the popular Tamil radio station what Tamil words he knew, Najib said he had very basic knowledge like everybody else in that language but he progressed on his own when he introduced 1Malaysia.

“I had to know what 1Malaysia is in Tamil. So, I learned “Ore Malaysia” (means 1Malaysia). When I started engaging more with the Tamil community, and the engagement became very frequent, I picked up other words such as “Nambikai”, which means trust.

“You know, you must have the trust of the community, so that we can move forward together. When I went to the Sri Murugan Centre (SMC), I heard a part of their slogan “Acchamillai” which means, no fear, we must overcome any obstacle to success.

“When I launched the Barisan Nasional convention, I used the Tamil expression, which is a proverb that means to give them a sense that this is a winning team. If this team can’t win, other teams cannot win. And I love to learn more,” he said.

On beating stress and soccer

Answering a question from a caller on the main challenges that he faced daily as the prime minister, he said there were many challenges but time management was critical since there were many demands that needed to be fulfilled.

“You just have to be able to prioritise and be able to cope with the multitude of demands on your time, in terms of appearances, in terms of being in the office, in terms of people wanting to see you, and try to get in a day the maximum amount of work that can be done and results that can be achieved,” he said.

Najib said he wanted to ensure that everything could be translated in terms of productive work, although in politics it did not quite work out that way.

He said that prayers, exercising regularly and doing things that he would really enjoy — like watching his favourite football team play and reading a good book — was his way of combating daily stress.

He also said that the most important thing was to try to block out whatever that was troubling when at home, especially when about to go to sleep.

“Don’t bring problems in the office to the home, and find things that really will relax you and put you in a very relaxed state of mind,” he said.

Asked to comment on the English Premier League (EPL) match between Manchester United and Manchester City on April 30, Najib, who is a great fan of the Red Devils, said it would be a very tough game because the Citizens were also a good team.

Asked about the European Champions League final clash between Chelsea and Bayern Munich, he said it would be a tough match as well.

During the show, the prime minister also took part in the “Battle of the Sexes”, a competition in the programme that requires participants, both male and female, to answer questions and compete with the deejays in a quiz on football.

- Bernama

Ambiga: Our youth have awakened

The Bersih co-chairperson says that the youth movement is a 'wonderful phenomenon'.
EXCLUSIVE

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian youth have awakened and are now bolder in demanding their rights compared to their peers in the past, Bersih 3.0 co-chairperson S Ambiga said.

She said this today during a live interview on FMT RAW by journalist Stephanie Sta Maria in response to a question from a reader.

She was asked if Bersih 3.0 was in any way linked to the two youth movements, namely the students protesting against National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan scheme and the activists who called themselves “Occupy Dataran”.

The two groups have been camping at the historical site for the past two weeks.

“We’re not [linked to them], but I support what they’re doing. This is an exuberance of

youth at its best,” said Ambiga, referring to the determination of the two groups to stay on at Dataran Merdeka despite repeated attempts by the authorities – as well as thugs – to break them.

“My generation – I’m 55 now – has failed the next generation. We didn’t fight hard enough, during our time, when abuses were taking place and when we were losing our rights.”

“The youth now are not waiting, they are fighting for themselves. It is a wonderful phenomenon. I fully support them,” she said.

Ambiga said that “the years of repression in our educational system” could still produce students like this who are prepared to stand up for their rights.

On another matter, she denied a rumour that Bersih 3.0 has been paying people to come for the rally.

“The facts speak for themselves; why do we need to do that when we are selling T-shirts? Let me assure you, we don’t need to pay anyone to turn up. We don’t have the money to do that anyway.”

‘Come with courage’

Ambiga noted that the Bersih 3.0 T-shirts have been selling like hot cakes, but was coy when asked if Bersih 3.0 could really achieve its 500,000 target.

“We never know. We said it’s 500,000 worldwide. Our T-shirts are going out at 1,000 a day, and there are others selling them too,” she said.

Ambiga said that there are now 70 countries worldwide supporting Bersih 3.0 compared to 32 last year, adding that there is a big jump in the number of supporters this time.

“Come in the spirit of Bersih and you won’t be disappointed. Come with courage, don’t worry, and don’t miss out.”

Asked by a reader if the public should boycott the coming general election in a worst-case scenario, Ambiga firmly said: “No”

“I don’t believe in boycotting elections. No matter what happens.

“In fact, we should be coming out in bigger numbers to vote… we want to push for 100% voter turnout because this will mitigate some of the faults in the system. Boycott is not an option.”

Asked about the possibility of Bersih 4.0, Ambiga said the electoral reform group would want to see the government’s responses first.

“What we sincerely want is this: Please, delay the 13th general election until full reforms take place. If we work very hard from now on, putting in some safeguards, we should be able to do that by the end of this year.”

On whether she has considered contesting as a candidate in the coming general election, Ambiga said: “I’ve been asked 50 times, the answer is no. So now the 51th time, it’s still the same.”

Why not? “I’ve never been interested in politics and I will not change my mind on that.”

Is this God’s law?

Whose law is this? Is this God’s law? Or is this man-made law? And if there is no specific verse in the Quran or a specific Hadith that forbids someone from preaching or talking about Islam, can we be subjected to such laws, in particular when these laws are imposed in the name of Islam and action is taken in the Islamic or Sharia court?

NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin

MP charged with teaching Islam without credentials

(Bernama) -- Shah Alam Member of Parliament Khalid Samad was charged in the Syariah Lower Court with teaching Islam without credentials at a surau in Kapar near here in August last year.

Khalid, 54, pleaded not guilty to the offence after the charge was read out to him before Syariah Judge Norafizi Fitri Ab. Manaf.

He was charged with committing the offence at a surau in Taman Seri Sementa, Jalan Taman Seri Sementa, between 10 pm and 11.50 pm on Aug 16 last year. 

Khalid, who is also Selangor PAS deputy commissioner III, was charged under Section 119 (1) of the Selangor Islamic Law Administration Enactment which provides for a fine of up to RM3,000 or a maximum jail term of two years, or both, upon conviction.

Syariah prosecuting officer Mohd Saufi Mastorlani of the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) proposed bail of RM2,500 but Norafizi allowed bail of RM1,500 in one surety and set June 7 for mention of the case. 

Khalid was represented by counsel Muhamad Burok. 

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SEE HERE: Sheikh Imran Hosein Malaysia Lecture Series

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PUBLIC LECTURE BY KAREN ARMSTRONG ON "THE ROLE OF RELIGION IN THE 21ST CENTURY"

As you may be already aware the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) together with International Movement for a Just World (JUST), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) are co-organizing the above lecture on Saturday 16 June 2007, 10.00 am at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

Admission is free.

If you and your friends are interested in attending the above lecture please contact Puan Shazatul (IDFR) – Tel: 21491018 / 21491000 Email: shazatul@idfr.gov.my .

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Now let me get this right.

If you are an ex-Mufti, if you preach or talk about religion, and if you do not have a certificate to do so, you can get arrested. In fact, Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, the previous Mufti of Perlis, did suffer such a fate.

If you are a Member of Parliament, in particular from the opposition, if you preach or talk about religion, and if you do not have a certificate to do so, you can get arrested. In fact, from the above report by Bernama, the Shah Alam Member of Parliament, Khalid Samad, did suffer such a fate.

 

Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani 

 

Dr. Zakir Naik 

But many people, many of them international religious leaders and/or renowned scholars such as Yusuf Islam, Yusuf Estes, Sheikh Imrah Hosein, Karen Armstrong, the late Sheikh Ahmed Deedat, Dr. Zakir Naik, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani, etc., have been coming to Malaysia to preach and talk about Islam. 

And these people did not have any certificate to do so. Yet they were not arrested, mainly because they are not members or leaders of any Malaysian opposition political party.

Are not people like ex-PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, PM Najib Tun Razak, DPM Muhyiddin Yassin, MP Zul Nordin, MP Ibrahim Ali, State Assemblyman Hasan Ali, Senator Ezam Mohd Nor, and many, many more such people not also talking about religion? The list is endless. Why were these people, who also do not possess any certificate, not also arrested?

So what is the issue here? Is the issue about the absence of a certificate or is the issue really that these people are anti-Umno and anti-Barisan Nasional?

You might argue that only Malaysian citizens need a certificate. You might argue that foreigners who come to Malaysia do not need a certificate. You might argue that only those who are anti-Umno and anti-Barisan Nasional need a certificate. You might argue that this is what Malaysian laws dictate. Whatever it may be: is this what is stated in the Quran? Whatever it may be: is there a specific verse in the Quran that dictates this? 

Whatever it may be: is there a specific Hadith that dictates this?

Whose law is this? Is this God’s law? Or is this man-made law? And if there is no specific verse in the Quran or a specific Hadith that forbids someone from preaching or talking about Islam, can we be subjected to such laws, in particular when these laws are imposed in the name of Islam and action is taken in the Islamic or Sharia court?

There is this story about Omar, the second Caliph after Prophet Muhammad, who was one day patrolling the streets of Medina when he saw a youth talking about Islam to a small group of people. Omar called the youth over and asked him to recite the verse, Fatihah. The youth did, to which Omar replied: go ahead and preach but make sure you preach only as much as you know and not more than that. Even Omar, the strictest of the Prophet’s comrades, who used to walk around with a cane and would cane offenders, allowed one to preach Islam, but not to talk beyond what knowledge one possesses.

Man invents these rules and then claim that these are God’s rules. But God never said such a thing. These are all creations of man. However, most times, man invents things and then blame God for it.

And this has been going on for thousands of years. And millions have been killed in the name of God over those thousands of years by people who claim that this is what God wants whereas God had nothing to do with these so-called rules.

Hishammuddin: Police Will Take Necessary Action if Assembly Held at Dataran Merdeka

(Bernama) - Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein said the police would take the necessary action from the security aspects if the organisers of a planned rally at Dataran Merdeka this weekend are adamant about proceeding with it.

"We have already compromised and offered alternative venues to them...but if they choose to be stubborn, it will be up to the police (to take the necessary action," he said.

He said it was the police's responsibility to ensure public order was not threatened by anyone.

"I hope the organisers can assemble at the alternative venues offered in the spirit of political transformation and changes brought about by the government.

As such, all parties should contribute towards building a healthy and mature democracy in the country," he told reporters here today.

Asked on the actions police might take if the rally planned by non-governmental organisations with the support of opposition parties goes ahead at Dataran Merdeka, Hishammuddin said:"It will depend on the actions of the organisers." 

He said police had been instructed to be fully prepared to face any eventuality based on past experiences on similar assemblies.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has denied permission to the organisers to hold the assembly at Dataran Merdeka citing that the square is reserved for national events and instead offered Stadium Titiwangsa, the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium and Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium as alternative venues.

Hishammuddin added that he hoped the organisers of the rally could accept the alternative venues as there was still time to switch locations.

Delegasi antarabangsa bimbang 3 isu p'raya M'sia

 

 Delegasi antarabangsa untuk misi siasatan pilihan raya di Malaysia hari ini mendapati terdapat tiga isu utama kekurangan dalam sistem pengundian negara ini.

Senator Nicholas Xenophon dari Australia berkata, antara isu yang dikenalpasti mengenai tempoh berkempen yang pendek selama 10 hari.

Di Australia kempen sekurang-kurangnya selama 33 hari dan di India dan Pakistan 90 hari, yang mana lebih lama berbanding di sini," katanya pada sidang media selepas mengadakan pertemuan bersama Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz di Parlimen, pagi tadi.

Government urged to facilitate peaceful assembly

The Malaysian Bar calls on the Government — Polis DiRaja Malaysia (“PDRM”) and Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (“DBKL”) in particular — to cooperate with the organisers of the upcoming BERSIH 3.0 assembly in order to facilitate a peaceful gathering this Saturday, 28 April 2012.

 

We reiterate that we support and defend the principle of any individual or group’s fundamental freedom to speak, assemble or walk in order to publicly and openly promote and publicise a cause, if that freedom is exercised responsibly and peacefully.  The right to gather and to speak is not fully respected if it is shunted into the confines of a stadium.  

 

PDRM has demonstrated on various occasions in the past four months, and even prior to that, that it can work with organisers of public assemblies to monitor routes and manage traffic flows to allow participants to walk, and openly and outwardly express their viewpoints to members of the public, in safety.   We commend these positive and salutary examples.  It is thus evident that, with proper liaising and cooperation, it is possible for PDRM and the organisers of the BERSIH 3.0 event, and any other events, to work together to allow for the public to exercise their fundamental rights in a peaceful and responsible manner.

This occurs regularly in more mature democracies, and it has happened in Malaysia.  We urge the Government to take measures to allow, and encourage, such practices to continue.  Let us take this opportunity to promote, enhance and celebrate democracy.

From lessons observed worldwide, it is clear that the voice of the people cannot be silenced.  Our Government (and this includes the Government-appointed DBKL leadership) ignores the wishes and resolve of the people at its peril, and should, instead, rise to the occasion, to embrace and protect its people’s freedoms and rights consistent with a true democracy.  Only then can we have a world-class democracy practising internationally-accepted human rights standards and respected by all.

The Malaysian Bar therefore calls on PDRM to permit all walks and public assemblies, and the activities leading up to them, to take place peacefully and with minimal intrusion and disruption, while ensuring public order and protecting the safety of all participants.

Bar Council will send a team to monitor events on the ground on Saturday.  In addition, a team from the Bar Council Legal Aid Centre (Kuala Lumpur), led by the following lawyers, will provide legal assistance in the event of arrests:

(1) Rajesweri Paramasevam  (012-275 1660)

(2) Lim Chi Chau  (016-228 8142)

(3) Adora Yusof  (019-317 8347)

   

Lim Chee Wee

President

Malaysian Bar

Policeman Shot Dead By Colleague At Istana Anak Bukit

ALOR SETAR, April 26 (Bernama) -- A policeman on duty at Istana Anak Bukit here was killed, believed to have been shot by his colleague, at the guard post of the main entrance to the palace compound Thursday.

Constable Mohd Sobri Mohd Sidek, 22, from Melaka, died at the scene in the 5.45pm incident, due to shot wounds on the face and chest.

He was believed to have been shot with a M-16 rifle.

Kedah police chief Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim said another policeman who heard the shot went to check and saw the victim lying in a pool of blood in front of the guard post.

"The suspect was seen leaving the palace compound in a car," he said when met at the scene.

Ambiga vs Khairy Debate 26 April 2012

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

[Kompilasi] Demi sebuah pilihanraya adil & bersih

Gov't classifying stateless Indians as 'foreigners'

Chegu Bard in Selayang

Fears of Rough Justice in Sampang Blasphemy Trial

   

Shiite leader Tajul Muluk, center, is facing blasphemy charges after reportedly telling students of his Shiite Muslim boarding school that the koran — as they knew it — was not the original text. Legal experts are trying to get his case moved to Jakarta over fears that the trial will spur sectarian violence on East Java's Madura Island, an area prone to Sunni/ Shiite violence. (Antara Photo)

 
The Supreme Court must move the blasphemy trial of a Shiite religious scholar off East Java’s Madura Island to prevent fueling further violence there, a rights group said on Tuesday.

The Alliance for Solidarity Over the Sampang Case, a gathering a legal organizations, said the trial should be moved to a more neutral location.

“We are proposing to the Supreme Court to move the trial to Jakarta. If moved to Jakarta there would be more advocacy groups, media and nongovernmental organizations that could monitor the case,” said Hertasning Ichlas, the coordinator of the alliance.

He said the minority Shiite community in Madura Island’s Sampang district had long felt vulnerable to attack from the large Sunni population there.

More than 300 members of the Shiite community were displaced when a mob of 500 people attacked and burned Shia houses, a boarding school and a place of worship there in December.

On Jan. 1, the Sampang branch of the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) issued an edict describing the teaching of Tajul Muluk, the head of the Shiite Muslim boarding school there, as “deviant.” Two days later one of his relatives, Rois Al Hukuma, reported him to the police for blasphemy.

On March 16, the East Java Police charged Tajul with blasphemy and committing an “offensive action.”

Hertasning said that holding the trial outside Madura would minimize intervention by outsiders, including the Sampang district chief.

“We found that the Sampang district chief used hatred against the Shiite as a campaign tool and this is worrying,” he said.

The alliance also wants the Judicial Commission to monitor Tajul’s trial, he said. The trial opened at the Sampang District Court on Tuesday with the reading of the indictment.

In their indictment, the prosecutors accuse Tajul of blasphemy and insulting Islam, including by telling his students that the sacred Koran was not the original one. He face more than five years in jail if found guilty. The trial resumes next week.

“From the detention to the opening hearing, we felt that there were many irregularities. We also saw a lot of intervention and pressure,” Hertasning said after meeting Judicial Commission members in Jakarta.

He cited among the irregularities the intimidation of judges, witnesses refusing to testify in court and the defense counsel’s work being hindered.

Hertasning said the commission had agreed to sent a team to monitor the trial.

Indonesia: 'Two politicians' sex tape circulated online

Jakarta, 24 April (AKI/Jakarta Post) - A sex tape purportedly featuring two lawmakers from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle is being widely circulated online.

The sex tape was initially published on Tuesday on kilikitik.net, which was suspended shortly after the rumor widely spread.

The male politician reportedly comes from the Central Java electoral district, identified as A.B., while the female politician is from West Kalimantan.

The House of Representatives’ ethics council chairman M. Prakosa, also from the PDI-P, said that he had heard the rumors but has not seen the video.

“It is only rumor. I have only heard it from journalists. It is not clear yet who they are,” he told reporters at the House.

However, the council will further investigate the video to confirm the identity of the couple on the video, he said

“We have to be very careful because this issue is related to someone’s good name,” he added

'Zahid, M'sians will pay your way to Paris'

The defence minister should not cite expenses to dodge testifying at the Scorpene submarine inquiry in Paris, says human rights watchdog Suaram, which filed the case in 2010
Secretariat member Cynthia Gabriel (right) said Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s priority should be accountability and transparency, as Malaysian taxpayers are deprived of this when it comes to military spending.
"Commitment to the truth should be the minister's first and foremost reason to testify in this case, not money," Gabriel told Malaysiakini.
"Besides, he has reneged on his words. Earlier, he said he was willing to testify, but he has changed his mind now. We would like to know what happened to make him sing a different tune.”
The travel expenses would at most be about RM10,000 per night, she said, made up of:

• RM5,500 for the return flight, but not on Malaysia Airlines;

• RM600 per night for accommodation; and

• RM200 for food in a restaurant

Asked if Suaram would pay the expenses, Gabriel said "we are encouraged to learn that Malaysians are willing to raise funds for this case".
French submarine builder DCNS is alleged to have paid illegal commissions to Malaysian officials in the RM7.3 billion purchase of two Scorpene class submarines.
Yesterday, Ahmad Zahid (left) had said that no official or representative of the Defence Ministry will fly to Paris to attend the inquiry.
Bernama had quoted Ahmad Zahid as saying: “Who will pay for ... air tickets, food and hotel accommodation in France?”
However, he said the Malaysian ambassador and military attache in Paris will closely monitor the case.
He added that both he and premier Najib Abdul Razak - who was defence minister at the time of the purchase - are not obliged to comply with orders of the French court, unless a subpoena comes from a Malaysian court.
Najib had snubbed questions when asked if he would testify, saying "I don't need to comment...I don't want to comment, thank you".
‘Something to hide?’
Gabriel said Suaram is "very disappointed" that Najib did not respond properly to the question, while in Penang on Sunday.
"To say he does not need or want to comment shows that he has something to hide," she claimed.
"We reiterate the hope that the Malaysian government will give us its fullest cooperation in this case.
"To know the truth about whether there had been corruption and to seek justice for the death of a Mongolian national on our soil is the right of every Malaysian taxpayer.”
Last Thursday,  the Paris Tribunal de Grande Instance accepted Suaram’s witness list, which names Najib, his close ally Abdul Razak Baginda and Ahmad Zahid.
Najib has previously denied being involved in the case which is allegedly mired in corruption and the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu by members of his security detail then.

DBKL: Bersih to blame for any ‘chaos’ at Dataran Merdeka

The mayor said DBKL would deal with Bersih attendees as it has the Occupy Dataran activists. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 — Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) threatened today to forcefully bar demonstrators from using Dataran Merdeka for this Saturday’s Bersih 3.0 sit-in protest for electoral reforms, with Mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail dismissing the activists as unreasonable.

Both sides stuck to their guns today in an hour-long meeting at City Hall, with Bersih leaders insisting that it was too late to change the venue of the protest from the historic square to Stadium Merdeka.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Bersih representatives, Ahmad Fuad also pointed out that he would hold Bersih responsible if chaos ensued this Saturday.

“Action was taken against those students at Dataran Merdeka. The same action will be taken against (Bersih) if you do the same.

“If there is chaos, blame Bersih,” he said.

Yesterday, City Hall enforcers detained four Occupy Dataran activists, hours after evicting the movement from Dataran Merdeka.

DBKL officers had earlier seized tents and camping equipment belonging to the activists, and put up steel barricades to stop them from camping there.

Occupy Dataran’s stated aim is to reclaim public spaces for the purpose of promoting participatory democracy.

Earlier, Bersih co-chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said the movement was still hopeful that City Hall would changed its stand.

“We have a grave problem here with time; we cannot change the location because it is already Wednesday. Even if we make an announcement by tomorrow, that leaves two days,” Ambiga told a press conference today.

“We believe that if we change the place now, it’s going to cause a bigger confusion. People will gather here (Dataran Merdeka) as well as Stadium Merdeka,” she added.

Ambiga stressed there would be less likelihood of chaos if the rally were to go ahead at Dataran Merdeka as planned.

“If there is any change now, there will be more chaos. There is just too little time to inform people.”

However, Ahmad Fuad dismissed Ambiga’s justification as “unreasonable”.

“If their problem is not having enough time to inform their supporters, we can hold a press conference together to make sure the public knows about our mutual understanding,” he said.

Reiterating the offer of Stadium Merdeka as an alternative venue, Ahmad Fuad said the site has more “historical value” as well as “bigger space, more parking, and seats for them to sit on”.

“Stadium Merdeka is a win-win situation for all.”

Bersih said yesterday it would consider calling off Saturday’s rally if Datuk Seri Najib Razak can guarantee the electoral reform movement’s demands are met before the next federal polls.

The movement said early this month a third rally was necessary to warn Malaysians that the country is about to face its “dirtiest” polls to date.

The coalition said it was disappointed by the recently concluded Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reforms, saying that despite Putrajaya’s repeated assurances and promises, the panel had failed to introduce meaningful reforms to the election system.

The bipartisan panel was formed following the July 9, 2011 rally for free and fair elections that saw tens of thousands flood into the streets of the capital.

The Najib administration was widely condemned for a clampdown on the demonstration in which police fired water cannons and tear gas into crowds during chaotic scenes that resulted in over 1,500 arrested, scores injured and the death of an ex-soldier.

Bersih’s eight demands are: a clean electoral roll, reform to postal voting, the use of indelible ink, a minimum campaign period of 21 days, fair access to the media, the strengthening public institutions, a stop to corruption, and an end to dirty politics.