Wednesday, 22 January 2014
No sorry, I will not bow to Umno, says kangkung flash mob organiser
Lee
speaking to The Malaysian Insider at his service centre in Alma,
Penang. -
The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, January 21,
2014.
(TMI) While thanking DAP for its concern and support, Machang Bubuk assemblyman Lee Khai Loon fell short of taking Lim Kit Siang's advice that he should consider an apology for his controversial "I love kangkung" flash mob which has angered some Malay groups in Penang.
The Parti Keadilan Rakyat rep is standing his ground, reiterating that he will not bow to "Umno's racial and bullying tactics".
Lee said the most important thing to do now was to tackle the price hike issue and to pressure Putrajaya to listen to the people.
"I want to stress that the most crucial matter now is to continue the people's movement to protest against the price hikes and Putrajaya's plan to implement the goods and services tax (GST) next year.
"I am grateful to (DAP adviser) Lim Kit Siang for his suggestion (that I apologise) and concern. I also thank my colleagues in the state PR backbenchers committee, non-governmental organisations and my voters for their support.
"As a Pakatan Rakyat elected rep, I am angry and worried that the racial sentiments played up by Umno and its supporters will divert our focus from the real issue," he said in a statement this evening.
Lee was responding to Lim, who had suggested that he should consider apologising for holding the flash mob to prevent extremists from using the incident to incite more racial hatred.
Lim had said that Lee should "consider an apology" as there are certain quarters, including him, who see the latter's actions as "excessive, offensive and insensitive".
"An even more important consideration is not to allow irresponsible quarters to look for excuses to distort and manipulate incidents to escalate racial and religious hatred to create another May 13 in the country," Lim had said in a statement earlier today.
Lee had sparked controversy when he and others 'fed' kangkung to an effigy of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the flash mob in Alma last Wednesday.
He has since been accused of insulting Najib and the Malays.
Two protests against Lee were held last weekend in Seberang Jaya and Alma. The two events also saw local Umno leaders making fiery speeches with the crowd shouting racial taunts. Some carried banners warning of another May 13-like racial riots.
Lee said the public was unhappy with what Umno did at the protests.
"This means the racial card, often played, is no longer effective and Malaysian politics is becoming more progressive and mature."
On his flash mob, Lee said it was meant to be a symbolic gesture to get Najib to be more aware of the people's feelings as a result of the price hikes.
He said there was no intention to insult anyone.
"The flash mob was merely a response to the price hike issue that affects everyone, regardless of race," he said.
He added that PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu had said that, as a Malay, he did not feel offended by the flash mob.
"Therefore, I will not bow to Umno. The party is the one that started what happened (at the rallies)," he said. - January 21, 2014.
Ramasamy to speak on genocide in Sri Lanka
Penang's deputy chief minister vows to keep fighting for Tamil self-determination
PETALING JAYA: Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy will take his fight for Sri Lankan Tamils to Britain at the end of this month with a paper he will present at a conference organised by the British Tamils Forum (BTF).
He told FMT he would speak on “structural genocide” in Sri Lanka as his contribution to the international conference, which will focus on the allegation that the government in Colombo is engaged in grabbing land owned by Tamils.
He said the act of uprooting a community from its traditional lands was a form of genocide.
He affirmed that the issue of Tamil rights in Sri Lanka was close to his heart and vowed that he would continue to speak out on it on the international platform.
He said the Malaysian government could not be depended on to champion the rights of displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka because “it is run by a bunch of cowards.”
Ramasamy sits in the six-member Constitutional Affairs Committee of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). It was this committee that produced the blueprint of LTTE’s proposal for an interim self-governing authority in the northeastern part of Sri Lanka. It was submitted to the Sri Lankan government in 2003, when the civil war in that country was still raging.
The war, which began in 1983, came to an end in May 2009 with the defeat of the LTTE.
“Since then,” Ramasamy said, “the Sri Lankan government has not committed itself to reconciliation.”
Referring to the theme of this month’s conference, he said it was unfortunate that the issue of land grabs in Sri Lanka had not received the press coverage it deserved.
“Putting a Buddhist temple on a Hindu temple, even though not physically but culturally and geographically, is part of structural genocide,” he said.
He maintained that the only way to resolve the Sri Lanka issue was to grant the Tamils the right to govern themselves in a state separate from the Singhalese-majority country.
“The Tamils should have an independent state,” he said. “ It’s impossible for the two races to stay together.”
PETALING JAYA: Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy will take his fight for Sri Lankan Tamils to Britain at the end of this month with a paper he will present at a conference organised by the British Tamils Forum (BTF).He told FMT he would speak on “structural genocide” in Sri Lanka as his contribution to the international conference, which will focus on the allegation that the government in Colombo is engaged in grabbing land owned by Tamils.
He said the act of uprooting a community from its traditional lands was a form of genocide.
He affirmed that the issue of Tamil rights in Sri Lanka was close to his heart and vowed that he would continue to speak out on it on the international platform.
He said the Malaysian government could not be depended on to champion the rights of displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka because “it is run by a bunch of cowards.”
Ramasamy sits in the six-member Constitutional Affairs Committee of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). It was this committee that produced the blueprint of LTTE’s proposal for an interim self-governing authority in the northeastern part of Sri Lanka. It was submitted to the Sri Lankan government in 2003, when the civil war in that country was still raging.
The war, which began in 1983, came to an end in May 2009 with the defeat of the LTTE.
“Since then,” Ramasamy said, “the Sri Lankan government has not committed itself to reconciliation.”
Referring to the theme of this month’s conference, he said it was unfortunate that the issue of land grabs in Sri Lanka had not received the press coverage it deserved.
“Putting a Buddhist temple on a Hindu temple, even though not physically but culturally and geographically, is part of structural genocide,” he said.
He maintained that the only way to resolve the Sri Lanka issue was to grant the Tamils the right to govern themselves in a state separate from the Singhalese-majority country.
“The Tamils should have an independent state,” he said. “ It’s impossible for the two races to stay together.”
Human rights in M’sia: ‘A tale of two Najibs’
Malaysia in 2013 was marked by Najib promising legal reforms before the GE and restoring repressive laws after it.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian government backtracked significantly on human rights after the May 2013 general election returned the ruling coalition to power with a significantly smaller majority, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2014.
The passage of new repressive laws, arrests of opposition activists, and greater repression of political speech marked the apparent end to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s proclaimed reform agenda.
“Malaysia in 2013 was marked by a ‘tale of two Najibs’ – promising legal reforms before the election and restoring repressive laws after it,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
“Since May the government has cracked down on basic rights, curtailed free speech, and charged activists for organizing peaceful protests.”
In the 667-page world report, its 24th edition, Human Rights Watch reviews human rights practices in more than 90 countries.
Syria’s widespread killings of civilians elicited horror but few steps by world leaders to stop it, Human Rights Watch said.
A reinvigorated doctrine of “responsibility to protect” seems to have prevented some mass atrocities in Africa.
Majorities in power in Egypt and other countries have suppressed dissent and minority rights. And Edward Snowden’s revelations about US surveillance programs reverberated around the globe.
In Malaysia, previous progress on human rights was reversed by the passage of repressive new legislation, Human Rights Watch said.
The amended Prevention of Crime Act, enacted in October, allows administrative detention without trial and limited grounds for appeal, restoring some of the abusive practices that had been in the recently abolished Internal Security Act and Emergency Ordinance.
Malaysia’s government continued to bring dubious criminal charges against its political opponents, Human Rights Watch said.
The authorities pursued an appeal, extending the politically motivated prosecution of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim on trumped-up “sodomy” charges.
Prominent opposition and civil society activists are now awaiting trial for violating the Sedition Act, an abusive law that Najib had previously said would be revoked.
At least 43 people await charges on violating notice provisions of the Peaceful Assembly Act connected to opposition Black 505’s post-election rallies, ensuring trials will continue through much of 2014.
Suaram and other human rights groups faced hostile investigations and unsubstantiated accusations by the government-controlled media.
Despite government claims about rising crime rates, public confidence in the police was shaken by at least 12 high-profile cases of deaths in police custody.
The government strongly resisted calls to create an independent oversight body, such as the Independent Police Complaints and Reform Commission first recommended by a royal commission in 2005.
In 2013, statements by senior government officials publicly condemning lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, heightened discrimination by the public.
Malaysia did not use its membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council from 2010 to 2013 to improve its commitment to international human rights treaties and processes. Malaysia has only ratified four international human rights conventions to date – among the lowest in the region.
“The Malaysian government responded to its electoral setback by curtailing rights rather than respecting them,” Robertson said.
“In the coming year Malaysia’s leaders need to urgently reverse that trend, and recognise that promoting and protecting the rights of the people – including political opponents and outspoken activists – is their clear obligation.”
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian government backtracked significantly on human rights after the May 2013 general election returned the ruling coalition to power with a significantly smaller majority, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2014.The passage of new repressive laws, arrests of opposition activists, and greater repression of political speech marked the apparent end to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s proclaimed reform agenda.
“Malaysia in 2013 was marked by a ‘tale of two Najibs’ – promising legal reforms before the election and restoring repressive laws after it,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
“Since May the government has cracked down on basic rights, curtailed free speech, and charged activists for organizing peaceful protests.”
In the 667-page world report, its 24th edition, Human Rights Watch reviews human rights practices in more than 90 countries.
Syria’s widespread killings of civilians elicited horror but few steps by world leaders to stop it, Human Rights Watch said.
A reinvigorated doctrine of “responsibility to protect” seems to have prevented some mass atrocities in Africa.
Majorities in power in Egypt and other countries have suppressed dissent and minority rights. And Edward Snowden’s revelations about US surveillance programs reverberated around the globe.
In Malaysia, previous progress on human rights was reversed by the passage of repressive new legislation, Human Rights Watch said.
The amended Prevention of Crime Act, enacted in October, allows administrative detention without trial and limited grounds for appeal, restoring some of the abusive practices that had been in the recently abolished Internal Security Act and Emergency Ordinance.
Malaysia’s government continued to bring dubious criminal charges against its political opponents, Human Rights Watch said.
The authorities pursued an appeal, extending the politically motivated prosecution of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim on trumped-up “sodomy” charges.
Prominent opposition and civil society activists are now awaiting trial for violating the Sedition Act, an abusive law that Najib had previously said would be revoked.
At least 43 people await charges on violating notice provisions of the Peaceful Assembly Act connected to opposition Black 505’s post-election rallies, ensuring trials will continue through much of 2014.
Suaram and other human rights groups faced hostile investigations and unsubstantiated accusations by the government-controlled media.
Despite government claims about rising crime rates, public confidence in the police was shaken by at least 12 high-profile cases of deaths in police custody.
The government strongly resisted calls to create an independent oversight body, such as the Independent Police Complaints and Reform Commission first recommended by a royal commission in 2005.
In 2013, statements by senior government officials publicly condemning lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, heightened discrimination by the public.
Malaysia did not use its membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council from 2010 to 2013 to improve its commitment to international human rights treaties and processes. Malaysia has only ratified four international human rights conventions to date – among the lowest in the region.
“The Malaysian government responded to its electoral setback by curtailing rights rather than respecting them,” Robertson said.“In the coming year Malaysia’s leaders need to urgently reverse that trend, and recognise that promoting and protecting the rights of the people – including political opponents and outspoken activists – is their clear obligation.”
Demolition of illegal food stalls in Teluk Bahang turned ugly
and an enforcement team were roughed up by locals and members of several non-governmental organisations today.
In the 10.15am incident, some 50 officers and workers from the Southwest District Office, Land and Mines Office, Works Department and the Penang Island Municipal Council were surrounded by a mob protesting the operation.
Spotted in the crowd were members of Perkasa, Persatuan MukaBuku, Pekida and Al-Ehsan, who had come in support of the traders.
Southwest district police chief Supt Mohd Hatta Mohd Zin said the situation turned unruly when talks between the traders, led by Teluk Bahang Hawkers Action Group chief Mohd Rizal Zainal Abidin, and district office staff broke down.
He said the traders and locals there started acting aggressively towards the enforcement team when the order was given to proceed with demolition of the stalls.
“Police managed to break up the scuffle while the demolition was forced to stop,” he said in a text statement when contacted by the media.
Mohd Hatta said a police report was later lodged and investigations will be done under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing public servants in discharging their duties.
It is learned the district office had issued notices to 16 stall owners to vacate the 40 stalls along the road in Dec 23 last year.
Second Open Letter to Najib and Cabinet – Are BN leaders prepared to work with PR leaders to ensure that there could not be another repetition of May 13 riots in Malaysia?
For the second time this year, I am taking full advantage of the Age of Information Technology which enables the instant communication of information with information travelling at the speed of light to pen this Second Open Letter this year to the Prime Minister and all Cabinet Ministers just before their third Cabinet meeting of the New Year of 2014.
Members of the Cabinet who have not read or not informed of this Second Open Letter before the Ministers meet for their third Cabinet meeting later this morning clearly belong to the dinosaur epoch and are not fit to be in the Cabinet – and the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak would have a very strong reason to get rid of these dead-wood and half-past six Ministers in a Cabinet reshuffle.
In my first Open Letter to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet before their first Cabinet meeting on 8th January 2014, I urged the first Cabinet meeting to send our a clear and unmistakable message to end the national drift and loss of leadership and direction to create an united, harmonious, just, and competitive and great Malaysian nation.
I zeroed in on the nation’s quintuplet of crisis which warranted priority and immediate attention by the Cabinet, viz:
• Firstly, the crisis of nation-building and national unity because of the worst racial and religious polarization in the nation’s history – making a mockery of Bangsa Malaysia in Vision 2020 as well as Najib’s signature policy of 1Malaysia;
• Secondly, the deepening economic crisis caused by avalanche of price hikes culminating in the introduction of the GST at six per cent in April 2015;
• Thirdly, the crisis on the corruption front with no signs that there will be a serious campaign to fight “grand corruption” and end the colossal waste, extravagance and misuse of public funds.
• Fourthly, the crisis of deteriorating national educational standards to the extent that both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have studiously avoided talking about Malaysia’s poor performance in 2011 TIMSS and 2012 PISA; and
• Fifthly, the crisis of security and safety of citizens, investors and tourists as the police has not yet understood the meaning of “democratic policing” and is still guided by the colonial mentality with “regime-protection” as the top police priority, when it should be to keep citizens, investors and tourists free and safe.
Two weeks have elapsed since my first Open Letter to the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Unfortunately, the leaderless, headless, clueless and rudderless drift of the Najib government had continued in its aimless direction in the past two weeks, with no resolution in sight for the quintuplet of five crisis.
In many aspects, the national situation has got worse in the past fortnight.
For instance, the Cabinet has yet to reaffirm the 10-Point solution endorsed by the Cabinet in April 2011 to resolve the Bible controversy, with the Cabinet divided on the 10-Point Solution as the Deputy Prime Minister and other Cabinet Ministers seem to have broken ranks from the 10-Point Solution.
And for the last 10 days, Najib and the Cabinet had been devastated by the “kangkung tsunami” reducing their authority and credibility to smithereens, being the butt of “kangkung” jokes, videos, satire, comedies, sketches, spawning products like Kangkung Fried Chicken, Burger Kangkung, McKangkung and even crossing international boundaries to become embarrassing “kangkung-rate” international news in BBC, Channel New Asia, Singapore Straits Times, Jakarta Post, etc.
The “kangkung” craze has also gone viral on the Internet, with three videos attracting over 1.2 million hits on YouTube alone: the “kangkung remix feat, Najib” by Yuri Wong crossing 735,000 hits, the “Ucapan Najib ‘kangkung’ hangat di alam maya” video in second place with over 410,000 hits while the Effing Show #99 “Let Them Eat Kangkung” seems set to be the hottest item of the “popteevee” series, with over 125,000 hits in five days.
What is most deplorable is the “May 13” threat coming out of the closet during this period seeking to incite and racialise an issue which has nothing to do with race but is about the unhappiness of all Malaysians, whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans or Ibans about the government’s arrogance and indifference to the people’s sufferings as a result of the price hikes.
An example of this irresponsible and dangerous incitement of racial and religious hatred, tension and conflict are the Penang UMNO demos on Saturday and Sunday over the earlier “kangkung” flash mob by PKR Assemblyman for Machang Bubuk Lee Khai Loon where kangkung was stuffed into the mouth of a cardboard cutout of the Prime Minister.
Penang UMNO and their allies distorted the “kangkung flash mob” protest against the Prime Minister as an attack on the Malay Prime Minister by the Chinese – which is a perversion of the truth.
As the PAS Deputy President, Mohamad Sabu has said: “I’m a Malay and I don’t feel insulated.”
It is the height of irresponsibility and even criminality in plural Malaysia to distort an issue about price hikes which affect all Malaysians into a racial issue of the Chinese disrespecting the Malays.
There are however Malaysians who feel that certain boundaries should not be crossed in any protests, like the offices of the Prime Minister, the Parliamentary Opposition Leader, the Chief Minister or Mentri Besar which should continue to receive due and proper respect if political discourse and disputation are to kept within civilized bounds – a view held by Malaysians regardless of race or religion.
When I suggested that Lee should consider apologizing for the “flash mob” incident for disrespect to the office of Prime Minister, I never for one moment suggested apology to samseng (thugs) as I fully agree that no one should bow down to threats or any form of violence.
I have been asked whether those who showed disrespect to the former Bersih co-ordinator Ambiga Sreenivasan for the disgusting “butt dance” or to the Penang Chief Minister for the equally abominable shit cake and funeral incidents. Yes they should, but it is not for me to say so publicly but for those responsible for these deplorable unMalaysian actions.
As Lee has decided on his course of action, let us move on.
What the Cabinet this morning should be concerned about is the systematic campaign by a group of irresponsible and reckless elements to incite racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension to create another May 13 situation to destabilize the country, as happened over the past weekend.
Is the Cabinet today prepared to take a firm stand to put a stop to the continued incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension as well as to all the saber-rattling to create another May 13 situation?
Or to be specific, are Barisan Nasional leaders prepared to work with Pakatan Rakyat leaders by having a Leaders’ Summit to ensure that there could not be another May 13 incident in Malaysia as well as to reach a consensus on the quintuplet of national crisis facing the country to restore national and international confidence in the country?
(Third 2014 Cabinet Meeting “Open Letter” to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers in Kuala Lumpur Wednesday, 22nd January 2014 at 2 am)
Members of the Cabinet who have not read or not informed of this Second Open Letter before the Ministers meet for their third Cabinet meeting later this morning clearly belong to the dinosaur epoch and are not fit to be in the Cabinet – and the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak would have a very strong reason to get rid of these dead-wood and half-past six Ministers in a Cabinet reshuffle.
In my first Open Letter to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet before their first Cabinet meeting on 8th January 2014, I urged the first Cabinet meeting to send our a clear and unmistakable message to end the national drift and loss of leadership and direction to create an united, harmonious, just, and competitive and great Malaysian nation.
I zeroed in on the nation’s quintuplet of crisis which warranted priority and immediate attention by the Cabinet, viz:
• Firstly, the crisis of nation-building and national unity because of the worst racial and religious polarization in the nation’s history – making a mockery of Bangsa Malaysia in Vision 2020 as well as Najib’s signature policy of 1Malaysia;
• Secondly, the deepening economic crisis caused by avalanche of price hikes culminating in the introduction of the GST at six per cent in April 2015;
• Thirdly, the crisis on the corruption front with no signs that there will be a serious campaign to fight “grand corruption” and end the colossal waste, extravagance and misuse of public funds.
• Fourthly, the crisis of deteriorating national educational standards to the extent that both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have studiously avoided talking about Malaysia’s poor performance in 2011 TIMSS and 2012 PISA; and
• Fifthly, the crisis of security and safety of citizens, investors and tourists as the police has not yet understood the meaning of “democratic policing” and is still guided by the colonial mentality with “regime-protection” as the top police priority, when it should be to keep citizens, investors and tourists free and safe.
Two weeks have elapsed since my first Open Letter to the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Unfortunately, the leaderless, headless, clueless and rudderless drift of the Najib government had continued in its aimless direction in the past two weeks, with no resolution in sight for the quintuplet of five crisis.
In many aspects, the national situation has got worse in the past fortnight.
For instance, the Cabinet has yet to reaffirm the 10-Point solution endorsed by the Cabinet in April 2011 to resolve the Bible controversy, with the Cabinet divided on the 10-Point Solution as the Deputy Prime Minister and other Cabinet Ministers seem to have broken ranks from the 10-Point Solution.
And for the last 10 days, Najib and the Cabinet had been devastated by the “kangkung tsunami” reducing their authority and credibility to smithereens, being the butt of “kangkung” jokes, videos, satire, comedies, sketches, spawning products like Kangkung Fried Chicken, Burger Kangkung, McKangkung and even crossing international boundaries to become embarrassing “kangkung-rate” international news in BBC, Channel New Asia, Singapore Straits Times, Jakarta Post, etc.
The “kangkung” craze has also gone viral on the Internet, with three videos attracting over 1.2 million hits on YouTube alone: the “kangkung remix feat, Najib” by Yuri Wong crossing 735,000 hits, the “Ucapan Najib ‘kangkung’ hangat di alam maya” video in second place with over 410,000 hits while the Effing Show #99 “Let Them Eat Kangkung” seems set to be the hottest item of the “popteevee” series, with over 125,000 hits in five days.
What is most deplorable is the “May 13” threat coming out of the closet during this period seeking to incite and racialise an issue which has nothing to do with race but is about the unhappiness of all Malaysians, whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans or Ibans about the government’s arrogance and indifference to the people’s sufferings as a result of the price hikes.
An example of this irresponsible and dangerous incitement of racial and religious hatred, tension and conflict are the Penang UMNO demos on Saturday and Sunday over the earlier “kangkung” flash mob by PKR Assemblyman for Machang Bubuk Lee Khai Loon where kangkung was stuffed into the mouth of a cardboard cutout of the Prime Minister.
Penang UMNO and their allies distorted the “kangkung flash mob” protest against the Prime Minister as an attack on the Malay Prime Minister by the Chinese – which is a perversion of the truth.
As the PAS Deputy President, Mohamad Sabu has said: “I’m a Malay and I don’t feel insulated.”
It is the height of irresponsibility and even criminality in plural Malaysia to distort an issue about price hikes which affect all Malaysians into a racial issue of the Chinese disrespecting the Malays.
There are however Malaysians who feel that certain boundaries should not be crossed in any protests, like the offices of the Prime Minister, the Parliamentary Opposition Leader, the Chief Minister or Mentri Besar which should continue to receive due and proper respect if political discourse and disputation are to kept within civilized bounds – a view held by Malaysians regardless of race or religion.
When I suggested that Lee should consider apologizing for the “flash mob” incident for disrespect to the office of Prime Minister, I never for one moment suggested apology to samseng (thugs) as I fully agree that no one should bow down to threats or any form of violence.
I have been asked whether those who showed disrespect to the former Bersih co-ordinator Ambiga Sreenivasan for the disgusting “butt dance” or to the Penang Chief Minister for the equally abominable shit cake and funeral incidents. Yes they should, but it is not for me to say so publicly but for those responsible for these deplorable unMalaysian actions.
As Lee has decided on his course of action, let us move on.
What the Cabinet this morning should be concerned about is the systematic campaign by a group of irresponsible and reckless elements to incite racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension to create another May 13 situation to destabilize the country, as happened over the past weekend.
Is the Cabinet today prepared to take a firm stand to put a stop to the continued incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension as well as to all the saber-rattling to create another May 13 situation?
Or to be specific, are Barisan Nasional leaders prepared to work with Pakatan Rakyat leaders by having a Leaders’ Summit to ensure that there could not be another May 13 incident in Malaysia as well as to reach a consensus on the quintuplet of national crisis facing the country to restore national and international confidence in the country?
(Third 2014 Cabinet Meeting “Open Letter” to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers in Kuala Lumpur Wednesday, 22nd January 2014 at 2 am)
Noorfadilla case: Triumph and Tribulations
LoyarBurok by Wei Meng Lim-Kabaa
As published in LoyarBurok on 20 Jan 2014.
A
critical analysis of the case of the pregnant teacher who sued the
government for gender discrimination, and what Malaysia must still do to
ensure it meets its international obligations
The decision of the High Court (Shah Alam) in the case of
Noorfadilla bt Ahmad Saikin v Chayed bin Basirun & Ors [2012]
1 MLJ 832, HC gave a boost to women’s rights in Malaysia, and injected a
much needed breath of fresh air, more broadly, to human rights in the
country. [LB: An appeal by the Government against the decision was subsequently withdrawn.]
The
decision situates women’s rights squarely in the domain of human
rights. Further, in opining that it is the Courts’ role to “promote the observance of human rights”,
the decision helps further strengthen the role of the judiciary as the
ultimate safeguard to individuals’ fundamental rights enshrined in the
Constitution. Significantly, notwithstanding the absence of an enabling
statute incorporating the 1979
Convention on the Discrimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
into domestic law, the Court had no hesitation to apply the relevant
law in the Constitution on the basis that the Constitutional amendment
incorporating the word “gender” in Art. 8(2) was made in order to comply with Malaysia’s obligation under the treaty.
The
Court went to some length on this point, referring even to Parliament’s
Hansard. This may well be the first time a Malaysian court applied
international law to interpret a provision in the Constitution in such a
direct manner, as opposed to a subordinate legislation. In wielding the
authority of the Court to use an international binding treaty for the
interpretation of the relevant provision in the Constitution, the Court
reached a protective outcome for an individual, as well as help Malaysia
fulfil its obligations under international law. In this way, the Court
has put the rule of law, national and international, and supremacy of
the Constitution on ever firmer footing.
The
Court’s innovative approach is praise-worthy, particularly in view of a
number of fairly negative earlier court decisions on the issue of
pregnancy as a form of gender discrimination against women. There are
significant arguments which could have defeated the plaintiff’s claim of
gender discrimination. Firstly, on the face of it, the authorities’
refusal to hire the plaintiff was not on the basis of the plaintiff
being a woman; rather it was due to her pregnancy, which per se, is not a
protected characteristic. Secondly, the concept of “reasonable classification” or “intelligible differentia”
continues to lurk and was in fact raised by the defendant. Putting the
two together, it might have been argued that there was no
discrimination against the plaintiff in relation to other women who are
also pregnant, as all pregnant women would not have been hired.
However,
this is clearly against the underlying rationale for women’s right to
non-discrimination. The Court used Art.1 in CEDAW to interpret the
meaning of “gender” in Art. 8(2) of the Constitution. This clarified in
no uncertain terms that the conceptual dimensions of this Constitutional
term concern the non-discrimination of women against men, so as to
enable women’s rights to be recognized and enjoyed or exercised “on the basis of equality of men and women”.
Since this is the rationale, then, clearly “gender” in relation to
Art.8 (2) is not susceptible to the concept of “reasonable
classification”.
There are indeed, and rightly so, Court decisions to the effect that broadly, Art. 8(2) is not subject to the concept of “reasonable classification”
as opposed to Art. 8(1) relating to equality before the law. These
decisions were cited by the High Court in this case. Drawing from the
High Court’s decision, and pending legislation to provide a definition
of “gender discrimination”, it may be argued that all claims by women based on “gender discrimination”
should be understood as set forth in Art. 1 of CEDAW. It is only fair
that women be not disadvantaged against men because of women’s
biological traits. In particular, as regards pregnancy, husbands,
families and communities also benefit from child bearing. Employers
will be put to pains, but as in this case, on a balance between
institutional convenience and individual fairness, fairness should come
out ahead.
The
decision has been lauded by a broad spectrum of civil society. Clearly
the judiciary has a key role to play in defending women’s rights in the
country. Yet, it is important to highlight the part played by the
Executive arm of government, without which the advancement of women’s
rights in the country could be an overwhelmingly daunting task. It may
be noted from the decision that not only did the Court refer to CEDAW,
but also to international meetings attended by the Government as
demonstrative of the latter’s “commitment” to CEDAW.
Indeed,
as early as the mid 1970’s, coinciding with the time when CEDAW was on
the way to being adopted by the United Nations, but well before acceding
to it, focus was already given by the Executive to women’s role in
development, and a number of government entities were established for
this purpose, such as the National Advisory Council on the Integration
of Women in Development, and the Women’s Affairs Secretariat. The
discourse on equal rights of women as a social group, evolved
subsequently as a logical development. The various efforts culminated
in the creation of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community
Development in 2001, which then played a lead role to effect the
amendment to Art.8(2) of the Constitution.
Encouragingly,
recent statements of Malaysian delegates to the United Nations General
Assembly as well as to the Commission on Status of Women reiterated the
Government’s continued commitment to improving the status of women in
the country. Equally important is the role played by NGOs and other
advocacy groups which serve as the grass roots champions particularly
with their expertise and knowledge. Their role is acknowledged and
highlighted in various official statements of the Government which
expressed appreciation for the support provided by these groups. What
this illustrates is that ensuring the effective implementation of
women’s rights is a national effort; the Executive and Civil Society
need to work together while the Judiciary will serve as the ultimate
defender.
Still,
the Court’s decision did leave some unanswered questions. In its
ruling, the Court appears to indicate that it would not have been able
to intervene had there been a “policy” on not employing a
pregnant woman. The Court found, as a matter of fact, that there was no
such a policy and went on to rule that the act of the authorities in
refusing to employ the plaintiff is in violation of Art.8 (2) of the
Constitution. The question is: what if there were such a policy? Would
not the Court have declared such a policy unlawful under the
Constitution as much as the actual act of refusing to employ the
plaintiff was?
Another
issue which may warrant further clarification concerns the
specification in the government circular that there is no entitlement to
maternity leave. The Court used that specification to additionally
support its reasoning that there is no policy bar on employing pregnant
women, as otherwise, a specification on maternity leave would not be in
the circular. Yet, the Court did not deal with the issue that
non-entitlement to maternity leave could be a form of unlawful
discrimination against women employees: Art. 11(2) (b) and Art. 5 of
CEDAW would have provided support for this point. One is now left
wondering how the plaintiff is going to take off from work for the
delivery. Considering that maternity is not sickness, and women at work
should not be disadvantaged against men to have to avail of sick leave
for delivering children, the issue of entitlement to maternity leave
could have been clarified, even if as “obiter”.
The
inclusion of ‘gender’ as a protected characteristic in the
non-discriminatory provision of Art.8(2) of the Constitution, a
provision fundamentally concerning ‘equality before the law’, has put
women’s rights on sound legal footing, and sent a strong political
message in support of women’s rights . However, Art. 8(2) itself is
limited in ambit with the proscription on gender discrimination covering
only “appointment to any office or employment under a public authority”, and the “administration of law”
in certain economic related sectors. There are many more areas which
require legal coverage, including gender discrimination in employment in
the private sector. There is no good reason why private employers
should not be held to account for discriminatory practices against women
which undermine the right to equal employment opportunities and equal
treatment of women in the work place. Art. 11 of CEDAW, so copiously
referred to by the Court, does not make any distinction between public
and private employment.
Additionally, other provisions in the Constitution would also require amendments. These include notably:
Art.12 in relation to education where the provision on non-discrimination in the field of education, should include “gender” as a ground, in line with Art.10 of CEDAW; Art. 13, in relation to property rights, which could benefit from a clear specification on equal rights of men and women over all matters concerning administration of property, in line with Art.15(2) of CEDAW. Equally important are provisions in the Constitution relating to citizenship where the scheme of right to pass on citizenship remains heavily male biased. If Art. 9 (1) of CEDAW were to be fully implemented, Malaysian women should be able to pass on their nationality to foreign husbands, in the same way Malaysian men could pass on their nationality to their foreign wives.
Apart
from the above, many other areas need to be advanced, as already called
for by the Bar Council and advocacy groups. Key among these is the
enactment of a subordinate statute to adopt CEDAW into Malaysia’s legal
system. Such a law could provide a definition of gender discrimination
as stipulated in CEDAW, and set out a framework, based on CEDAW’s,
where further legislative processes and other implementation action is
needed. The concerned fields are vast covering legal status; political
and public life; economic, civil, and social sectors, as well as
marriage and family life.
Significant progress has already been made over the years. Just to name a few:-
The conferring of equal rights of parents over guardianship of infants under the Guardianship of Infants Act 1961; Equal rights in the area of social security under the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969; and Equal rights of married couples in income taxes.
Legislative
advancement needs to continue. More daunting challenges lie in the
implementation of CEDAW at the practical level. A comprehensive review
is provided in the
Malaysian NGOs’ 2012 Alternative Report on CEDAW which makes important reading.
In
as much as there is unfinished business at the national level, there is
also unfinished business at the international level. Consideration
should be given to lifting the remaining reservations on the specific
provisions in CEDAW. In regard to Art. 9(2) of CEDAW relating to equal
rights of women to pass their nationality to their children, there are
no obvious reasons for not enabling Malaysian women to pass on their
nationality to their children in the same way as Malaysian men could.
The final frontier remains women’s rights in the area of marriage and
family relations falling primarily under Art.16 of CEDAW in regard to
which Malaysia has retained a number of reservations.
Admittedly,
Malaysia is a country with communities steeped in religion and culture,
and advancement of women’s rights in the area of family life needs to
be undertaken bearing in mind sensitivities. Yet, if women’s’ equal
rights with men are to be truly meaningful, the Executive arm of
Government needs to make bold moves in sync with a changing environment
to modernize, and ensure that women’s potential is maximized in family
life just as in all other areas, for it is in the area of family
relations that women are most vulnerable to subjugation and inferior
treatment.
Tuesday, 21 January 2014
Thaipusam ignites racist rants on Twitter
The annual Thaipusam festival never fails to bring traffic at Batu Caves and its surrounding areas to a crawl.
The Hindu homage to Lord Muruga draws more than a million people, among them devotees, tourists and Malaysians of all faiths.
Since
taking over the reins in 2003, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has
also made it a point to visit the iconic Batu Caves temple on Thaipusam,
which is a public holiday in several states.This year, Thaipusam fell on a Friday (Jan 17), which is also the day that Muslims perform their Solat Jumaat in mosques.
And the traffic congestion as a result of Thaipusam saw a slew of racist and derogatory remarks made on Twitter.
Among others, one tweet says: “Bodoh punya keling (derogatory term for Indians) paria baruah anjing! Thaipusam kau, kau cuti. Aku nak pergi Solat Jumaat, kau tak bagi. Keling sakai anjing.”
(Stupid pariah Indian dogs. It is your Thaipusam, you go on leave. I want to go carry out Friday prayers, you do not allow. Keling sakai dogs.)
'Politicians to blame'
Screen captures of these messages have now gone viral.
Observers have blamed politicians from race-based parties for the regression in racial ties due to the playing up of racial and religious sentiments to garner votes.
Umno and its leaders often shoulder the lion’s share of the blame.
Some have claimed that Umno has chosen to up the racial and religious ante as its leaders are aware that it is the only formula that can ensure the party continues to remain in power.
Prior to this, MIC lodged a police report against a Facebook user, "Man Namblast", who posted a status on Jan 18 that read: "Berpuluh ribu syaitan sedang berarak menaiki tangga Batu Cave." (Tens of thousands of devils are marching up the steps of Batu Caves).
Jam-packed police reports over Hindus ‘syaitan’ remark
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20: A Facebook post addressing Hindus as ‘syaitan’
(demons) has caused an uproar among Malaysians of all races for its
insensitivity, especially to the Hindus, whom had just celebrated
Thaipusam.
On Friday, a Facebook user named Man Namblast allegedly posted “berpuluh ribu syaitan sedang berarak menaiki tangga bt caves” (tens of thousands of demons are marching up the stairs at Batu Caves).
The
remark aimed on Hindu devotees, who celebrated the Thaipusam festival
at the Batu Caves Murugan temple, has offended and provoked the public’s
outrage.
The Facebook page was removed entirely, when checked by The Malaysian Times (TMT).
However, a screenshot of the post is being circulated and has gone viral in media and social networks.
Frustrated
with the racial remark that insulted the Hindus and Thaipusam, the
public, various NGOs and political parties are lodging police reports
nationwide.
Datuk Seri G. Palanivel
MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel told TMT
that it was a foolish remark that has offended the Indian community and
has called upon the police and the Malaysian Communication and
Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to take stern action without any delay.
“Issues that can harm the unity in this country shouldn’t be tolerated.
“It is not our culture and it is very unacceptable,” the Natural Resources and Environment Minister said.
“The matter is going viral everywhere and the police and relevant authorities must take action immediately,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Indian Education Transformation Association (MIETA) chairman A. Elangovan, who also made a police report on the matter, told TMT that it was an irresponsible post and has triggered anger of many.
“No religions have the rights to humiliate the others. Thaipusam is a recognised festival in this country and it has to be respected by all.
“It is a racist remark that can threaten the unity among the multiracial community in Malaysia.
“I
believe with the police reports lodged nationwide the police and MCMC
will take action on the irresponsible Facebook user,” he said.
A. Elangovan
MIC YOUTH WILL TAKE IT TO COURT
Meanwhile, MIC youth chief C. Sivarraajh said that the wing will take the matter to the court if no action are taken regarding the post by Man Namblast.
“If police refused to take any action against the user, MIC youth will sue and drag him to the court on our personal capacity.
“No apology accepted,” he stressed. The wing has also lodged a police report.
C. Sivarraajh
MIC Puchong youth secretary K. Gunalan said police report has been made by the division
youth against Man Namblast hoping the authority will take immediate
action as a lesson for those irresponsible racial remarks made in social
media.
“Should
the authority fail to take further action, we shall not hesitate to
proceed with legal action as mentioned by National MIC Youth Leader,” he
said.
The
Malaysian Hindu Youth Council (HYO) committee members will also lodge
report, today, against the Facebook post that insulted the Hindus.
Its secretary-general A. Tharman said that police reports will be lodged by the members of the movement in all states.
A
police source confirmed that various complaints have been received and
more reports are expected on the matter by NGOs and civilians as their
part to fight for their community’s rights.
A saddened devotee, who preferred to be unnamed, told TMT that such remark in social media was a disappointing act.
“It
is very sad to see certain individuals making fun of other religions.
Wonder what good feel they get in insulting the others?” she asked.
“The police have to put a full stop for such reckless remarks,” she added.
Mohd Ismail said that “Every ethnic in this country has the rights to practice their culture freely.
“Any critics over the religious matters have to be harshly punished,” the 23-year-old engineering student said.
AS SERIOUS AS ‘BAH KUT TEH’ FIASCO
While,
another devotee said that the matter has to be taken seriously by the
police and government, as it can pollute the country’s harmony.
“This
is a national issue. Actions have to be taken like how the authorities
reacted towards the controversial Alvivi couples,” he said.
The Alvivi pair, Alvin Tan Jye Yee and Vivian Lee May Ling, was charged at court despite their action of posting a message ridiculing Ramadan and pornographic images on their blog.
Tan,
25, and Lee, 24, came under fire making a seditious posting on their
Facebook page by uploading a photo of themselves eating bak kut teh (a pork dish) with the greeting Selamat Berbuka Puasa with bak kut teh (fragrant, delicious and appetising) together with the halal logo.
Lament for a vanishing genre
The time S Thayaparan got that elusive blend down to a gem was when he fused a spot of reminiscences about the admirable conduct of a nazir agama (chief of religious affairs) he knew in the armed forces in the 1970s with critical scrutiny of a call by Umno types in 2011 for more representation for ulama in their party’s supreme council.
The piece sang from its ‘intro’ - as they say among journalists - to its conclusion with an eloquence that prompted this reviewer to recall what a famous poet said on encountering the work of another: “I wanted to go to the man that wrote it and say something.”
Unfortunately, that piece - actually, it was a letter that appeared in theSun
- is not among the compilation of articles ‘No Country for Righteous
Men’ that Thayaparan wrote during a two-year (2011-13) stint for Malaysiakini, though it was the best of a slew of missives from him that had enlivened the theSun's letters column and got him an invitation to write for the portal.Had Thayaparan’s letter praising Warrant Officer Haji Mohd Said as a multicultural exemplar been included in ‘No Country’, it would have served as useful basis to suggest why that piece was memorable while much of what has been included here is ephemeral.
The latter description, though, is no reason to resist engagement with this collection, subtitled ‘Essays in a Culture of Offendedness’, which can also be seen as a 383-page jeremiad on the evanescence in Malaysian life of what may be called the ‘pluralistic personality’, of which Mohd Said was a quintessential embodiment.
In our multiracial, multicultural and multi-religious country, the pluralistic personality approaches others to study their differences from him/herself, is willing to discover that learning comes by way of a certain humility, displays a certain hesitance to judge others too quickly, is equipped with watchfulness for possible errors in one’s own perceptions, and has a capacity for laughing at foibles that does not sour into cynicism about underlying values.
That personality, examples of which abounded in the 1960s and 1970s, spawning period of Thayaparan’s self-enriching discovery of his multifarious milieu, is almost extinct these days.
In its stead is a profusion of one-dimensional types who wall themselves away, smugly satisfied with the monisms of race or religion.
Is
it a surprise that in the latter environs, the culture of easily taken
umbrage is rife, leaving a sociopolitical commentator like Thayapayan (left), of evident distaste for this prickliness, exposed to the ire of one-dimensional partisans of our social spectrum?In this straits it helps that this former naval commander who read law while in service can dish it out as well as he takes, maybe even better.
The racial and other shibboleths he took on in his letters to The Sun were splendid cuts to the bone of the issues involved, leaving readers with the feeling that it is not good for one’s self-esteem to be in Thayaparan’s editorial cross-hairs.
Editorial miscue
It must be said, though, that an excess of the polemical strain in a writer detracts from a columnist’s craft. The latter’s job is to try to get behind the news, to understand the personalities and forces that hog it, to give a wider perspective to the events making the headlines.
The difficulty of shining a steady columnar light on newsy developments that are can spurt and twist confusingly is exacerbated by the short attention span of readers. TS Eliot captured this attention deficit disorder thus: “Readers of the Boston Evening Transcript/Sway in the wind like a field of ripe corn.”
In pursuit of one shift in the gusts, Thayaparan tracked Hindraf’s P Waythamoorthy (left)
in the immediate prelude to last May’s general election, an effort that
left the columnist with a sour aftertaste as the Indian rights’
exponent made a deal with the BN that was either going to be a stunning
coup or a sellout - more the latter it has now transpired.It’s easy to be wise in hindsight. But had Thayaparan been in the reporting business before graduating to column-writing, he conceivably would have been aware of the number of Hindraf’s early enthusiasts who had already left the movement to join the opposition, especially PKR.
That fact would have raised suspicion that Waythamoorthy was posturing on behalf of remnants of a NGO whose main drivers had already left to join what they felt were more effective political vehicles for the aspirations of the Indian Malaysian poor.
Hindraf, in the time that Waythamoorthy was on a theatrical fast simultaneous with a lookout for a deal with either of the two political coalitions vying for Indian support in the upcoming polls, was by early 2013 a shell of the body that had jolted the Malaysian political landscape with an impressive demonstration in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25, 2007.
Thayaparan’s editorial miscue on Waythamoorthy was a minor blemish in an otherwise energetic and arresting engagement with the socio-political concerns of Malaysians, the heightened focus of intensive debate in web news portals, blogs and newspapers after the general election of March 2008.
This mostly “digital democracy”, as Muss Hitam (right) put it, was among the beneficial aftereffects of that political tsunami when BN lost its supermajority in Parliament.Six years on from that landscape churning event, historians and commentators may plausibly argue that there is now a pre-2008 period to modern Malaysian history and a post-2008 phase to it - seminal was the impact of the 12th general election.
In the future, scribes wishing to make sense of this bifurcation would find ‘No Country’ a useful guide. They are certain to be enlarged and even entertained by what they find.
They may not always agree with the author’s views and evaluations, but perhaps that would only encourage them to share his conviction - that the waning of the multicultural archetype in our society is a suicidal loss of our essence.
TERENCE NETTO has been a journalist for four decades now. He likes the profession because it puts him in contact with the eminent without being under the necessity to admire them.
‘No Country’ will be launched tomorrow.
Perkasa: Kangkung furore can spark May 13 repeat - Malaysiakini
Its information chief Muhammad Zahid Md Arip said the issue has become racial and is against Malaysia’s multiracial society.
Many people, Zahid (right in photo) said, are seen as disrespecting Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on this issue.“The May 13th incident may repeat itself if people want it to happen again. If the kangkung issue goes too far, it is not impossible that it might,” the Perkasa information chief reportedly said in a press conference today.
He was asked to comment on yesterday's protest by Umno and its allies with banners put up reading, 'Kerana mulut pemimpin DAP, 13 Mei 1969 terjadi. Mahu lagi ka?' (Because of DAP leaders, May 13, 1969 occurs. Do you want a repeat?)
The protest organised by Umno yesterday was in retaliation to the flash mob protest held by PKR Machang Bubuk assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon, for questioning Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 'kangkung' remarks.
Najib was ridiculed by the people for saying that “people did not thank the government when the prices of kangkung dropped”.
'Ignore Anwar'
Zahid also wants the country's Foreign Ministry to reject opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's demands of an explanation on why he was barred from entering Japan yesterday.
“No
need to waste time checking on this. I am surprised he found fault with
Wisma Putra when Wisma Putra does not have anything to do with
immigration (issues). Anwar (right) went there without informing Wisma Putra,” he was quoted to have said.“(Only) when he is barred, (does) he try to contact Wisma Putra,” added Zahid.
Zahid further said that this is not a big issue but that it was further exploited by Anwar.
This, he stressed, shows Japan does not need Anwar.
“Anwar sees this as an opportunity to get cheap publicity, and think he is great. This issue is not that big but Anwar had used it to his own benefit,” said Zahid, who was notably once with PKR.
Perkasa kata sensitiviti umat Islam perlu dihormati
Penganut agama lain dilarang menggunakan kalimah Allah.
PETALING JAYA: Perkasa menjunjung kasih yang tidak terhingga atas titah Yang Dipertuan Agong bahawa kalimah Allah adalah hak eksklusif orang Islam.
Menurut Presidennya, Datuk Ibrahim Ali, penganut agama lain dilarang menggunakan kalimah Allah.
“Sensitiviti umat Islam perlu dihormati dan ini adalah amalan di Persekutuan Tanah Melayu zaman berzaman dan Malaysia,” kata beliau dalam satu kenyataan kepada FMT.
Beliau berharap dengan titah ini semua pihak menghormatinya dan ianya akan membantu keharmonian kehidupan seluruh rakyat Malaysia.
“Sebelum ini Raja Raja Melayu sebagai ketua agama Islam negeri telah bertitah yang sama dengan tegas dan jelas,” kata beliau.
Ibrahim yang juga bekas ahli parlimen Pasir Mas berharap pihak berkuasa dapat mengambil tindakan yang tegas kepada mana-mana pihak yang menggunakan kalimah Allah seperti yang dilakukan oleh JAIS baru-baru ini.
“Konsep 1Malaysia bukannya Malaysian Malaysia tetapi bertunjang kepada asas perlembagaan negara,” katanya lagi
PETALING JAYA: Perkasa menjunjung kasih yang tidak terhingga atas titah Yang Dipertuan Agong bahawa kalimah Allah adalah hak eksklusif orang Islam.Menurut Presidennya, Datuk Ibrahim Ali, penganut agama lain dilarang menggunakan kalimah Allah.
“Sensitiviti umat Islam perlu dihormati dan ini adalah amalan di Persekutuan Tanah Melayu zaman berzaman dan Malaysia,” kata beliau dalam satu kenyataan kepada FMT.
Beliau berharap dengan titah ini semua pihak menghormatinya dan ianya akan membantu keharmonian kehidupan seluruh rakyat Malaysia.
“Sebelum ini Raja Raja Melayu sebagai ketua agama Islam negeri telah bertitah yang sama dengan tegas dan jelas,” kata beliau.
Ibrahim yang juga bekas ahli parlimen Pasir Mas berharap pihak berkuasa dapat mengambil tindakan yang tegas kepada mana-mana pihak yang menggunakan kalimah Allah seperti yang dilakukan oleh JAIS baru-baru ini.
“Konsep 1Malaysia bukannya Malaysian Malaysia tetapi bertunjang kepada asas perlembagaan negara,” katanya lagi
Education first, politics second, says deputy minister
Kamalanathan says that political differences should be set aside and local universities used as research source for better contribution to the country's development.
GEORGE TOWN: Political differences should be set aside when it comes to issues involving academics and knowledge sharing, said deputy education minister P Kamalanathan.
Cooperation is important, to ensure that all will receive the same education benefits from research conducted by universities even though they are located in the opposition states, he said at Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) main campus in Minden Heights, today.
“By right, there should not be any room for problems in cooperating with each other despite having different political ideologies and directions in terms of academics,” he said.
Kamalanathan who is also Hulu Selangor MP, described universities in opposition-led states as an education hub.
He was responding to questions on whether USM faced difficulties in getting cooperation from the Pakatan led Penang government in various areas.
“When we make academics as a priority for all, such issues should not even arise. If there is, then the problem lies with them.
“So if anybody finds cooperating with USM a problem, then the problem starts with themselves,” he told a press conference during a campus visit.
Earlier, Kamalanathan attended a briefing on the university’s plans to strive for further academic excellence.
Asked whether USM had been approached to give input on state policies and state projects involving the environment, namely the underwater tunnel and hillslope development projects, Kamalanathan said it was impossible to give input when input was not asked from them (USM), even if the university had the specialisation and a host of experienced consultants.
USM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Omar Osman was however quick to add that all the university’s researchers are made available online and through journal publications.
“We conduct researchers to reach out to all quarters across all divides so it is up to them to make this as their reference in all subject matters,” he said.
He said that the university has a healthy platform of cooperation with the private sector, entrusted with carrying out 33 researchers in the electrical and electronics industry for 17 private companies amounting to RM8.5mil in Penang and other places.
“We’re now in the midst of strengthening more industrial ties through post graduate research funded by the government and private firms.
“We look forward to closer ties and cooperation from the industrial sector, to strive towards further excellence of the prestigious APEX status university so that the university can contribute towards the country’s development, better,” Omar added.
In terms of patent files, Omar said that the university has seen an increase from 50 patent files to 250 patent files in the last five years.
“Our top focus now is to look into ways to commercialise the products designed and formulated by the university,” he said.
GEORGE TOWN: Political differences should be set aside when it comes to issues involving academics and knowledge sharing, said deputy education minister P Kamalanathan.Cooperation is important, to ensure that all will receive the same education benefits from research conducted by universities even though they are located in the opposition states, he said at Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) main campus in Minden Heights, today.
“By right, there should not be any room for problems in cooperating with each other despite having different political ideologies and directions in terms of academics,” he said.
Kamalanathan who is also Hulu Selangor MP, described universities in opposition-led states as an education hub.
He was responding to questions on whether USM faced difficulties in getting cooperation from the Pakatan led Penang government in various areas.
“When we make academics as a priority for all, such issues should not even arise. If there is, then the problem lies with them.
“So if anybody finds cooperating with USM a problem, then the problem starts with themselves,” he told a press conference during a campus visit.
Earlier, Kamalanathan attended a briefing on the university’s plans to strive for further academic excellence.
Asked whether USM had been approached to give input on state policies and state projects involving the environment, namely the underwater tunnel and hillslope development projects, Kamalanathan said it was impossible to give input when input was not asked from them (USM), even if the university had the specialisation and a host of experienced consultants.
USM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Omar Osman was however quick to add that all the university’s researchers are made available online and through journal publications.
“We conduct researchers to reach out to all quarters across all divides so it is up to them to make this as their reference in all subject matters,” he said.
He said that the university has a healthy platform of cooperation with the private sector, entrusted with carrying out 33 researchers in the electrical and electronics industry for 17 private companies amounting to RM8.5mil in Penang and other places.
“We’re now in the midst of strengthening more industrial ties through post graduate research funded by the government and private firms.
“We look forward to closer ties and cooperation from the industrial sector, to strive towards further excellence of the prestigious APEX status university so that the university can contribute towards the country’s development, better,” Omar added.
In terms of patent files, Omar said that the university has seen an increase from 50 patent files to 250 patent files in the last five years.
“Our top focus now is to look into ways to commercialise the products designed and formulated by the university,” he said.
‘May 13 warning banner not Umno’s’
Penang Umno denies any link with the 'May 13' banner brought during the recent protest there.
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Penang Umno today distanced itself from the controversial and provocative banner of ‘May 13′ put up during a protest march on Saturday against PKR’s “kangkung flash mob” held here last week.
Insisting on Umno’s innocence, party state deputy chairman Reezal Merican Naina Merican instead blamed the Machang Bubok assemblyman Lee Khai Loon-led flash mob of inciting anger among local Malay groups.
He clarified that Umno was not the organiser of the protest in Seberang Jaya which was reportedly joined by 600 to 700 protesters from various Malay-based groups, including local Umno leaders.
“Umno had no control over the protest, protesters and their banners,” he told FMT via telephone.
He insisted that neither Umno nor its leaders backed the putting up of the provocative ‘May 13′ banner or condoned any form of violence in the country.
He explained that the six Umno divisional leaders were present at the demonstration merely to express their anger against Lee for organising a flash mob insulting Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
Apart from Reezal, who is also the Kepala Batas MP, state Umno secretary Musa Sheikh Fadzir and Tasek Gelugor division chief and MP Shabudin Yahaya were also present.
“We were there because the person humiliated was Umno president.
“We don’t know who brought the banner.
“Those who joined in the protest were with different state of minds, ranging from extremely angry people to calm and moderate ones.
“It’s not fair to blame Umno just because some leaders were present.
“It was beyond our control. We were not the organisers. We just joined it,” stressed Reezal Merican, adding that he only knew about the rally via social network, Facebook.
Lee inflamed the demonstrators
Saturday’s demonstrators vented their anger against Lee for allegedly insulting Najib by stuffing
kangkung into the premier’s effigy during a flash mob held outside a wet market in Alma, under Machang Bubok state constituency last Wednesday.
Chanting “Allahu Akbar” and “Hidup Melayu” (Long live the Malays), they marched about 1km towards the Sunway Carnival Mall with banners.
The banners read: “Because of DAP leaders’ mouth, May 13, 1969 happened… Want some more?”, “Insulting the PM is like insulting the Malays”, “Penang Malays survive by eating kangkung”, “ABCD – Asal Bukan Cina DAP” and “DAP is the enemy of Islam”.
Insisting that he would never support violence, Reezal Merican however, blamed Lee for inflaming the demonstrators.
If not for the PKR representative’s provocative flash mob insulting Najib, Reezal Merican said the demonstrators would not put up the ‘May 13′ banners.
“I am not defending the individual who put up the banner.
“Wrong is a wrong. But Lee is also equally guilty. Lee’s action caused the protest and the May 13 banner.
“Lee’s extreme provocative flash mob invited such extreme reaction,” he insisted.
Reezal Merican anyway welcomed police investigation into the banner issue. He also challenged Lee to organise similar flash mobs to gauge public support.
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Penang Umno today distanced itself from the controversial and provocative banner of ‘May 13′ put up during a protest march on Saturday against PKR’s “kangkung flash mob” held here last week.Insisting on Umno’s innocence, party state deputy chairman Reezal Merican Naina Merican instead blamed the Machang Bubok assemblyman Lee Khai Loon-led flash mob of inciting anger among local Malay groups.
He clarified that Umno was not the organiser of the protest in Seberang Jaya which was reportedly joined by 600 to 700 protesters from various Malay-based groups, including local Umno leaders.
“Umno had no control over the protest, protesters and their banners,” he told FMT via telephone.
He insisted that neither Umno nor its leaders backed the putting up of the provocative ‘May 13′ banner or condoned any form of violence in the country.
He explained that the six Umno divisional leaders were present at the demonstration merely to express their anger against Lee for organising a flash mob insulting Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
Apart from Reezal, who is also the Kepala Batas MP, state Umno secretary Musa Sheikh Fadzir and Tasek Gelugor division chief and MP Shabudin Yahaya were also present.
“We were there because the person humiliated was Umno president.
“We don’t know who brought the banner.
“Those who joined in the protest were with different state of minds, ranging from extremely angry people to calm and moderate ones.
“It’s not fair to blame Umno just because some leaders were present.
“It was beyond our control. We were not the organisers. We just joined it,” stressed Reezal Merican, adding that he only knew about the rally via social network, Facebook.
Lee inflamed the demonstrators
Saturday’s demonstrators vented their anger against Lee for allegedly insulting Najib by stuffing
Chanting “Allahu Akbar” and “Hidup Melayu” (Long live the Malays), they marched about 1km towards the Sunway Carnival Mall with banners.
The banners read: “Because of DAP leaders’ mouth, May 13, 1969 happened… Want some more?”, “Insulting the PM is like insulting the Malays”, “Penang Malays survive by eating kangkung”, “ABCD – Asal Bukan Cina DAP” and “DAP is the enemy of Islam”.
Insisting that he would never support violence, Reezal Merican however, blamed Lee for inflaming the demonstrators.
If not for the PKR representative’s provocative flash mob insulting Najib, Reezal Merican said the demonstrators would not put up the ‘May 13′ banners.
“I am not defending the individual who put up the banner.
“Wrong is a wrong. But Lee is also equally guilty. Lee’s action caused the protest and the May 13 banner.
“Lee’s extreme provocative flash mob invited such extreme reaction,” he insisted.
Reezal Merican anyway welcomed police investigation into the banner issue. He also challenged Lee to organise similar flash mobs to gauge public support.
The Najib-Anwar Weakly Show
It came as a surprise to many people that Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak and Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim have been holding “secret negotiations” for a unity government. If the “Edge Review” is to be believed, for the last eight months both sides have been involved in secret meetings to discuss forging a unity government of sorts, with the powerful Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi leading the talks on Najib’s behalf. We can only guess that Anwar’s many close confidantes and advisers led Pakatan’s side of the discussions.The “Edge Review” also revealed that the negotiations have not been going well, and it seems that Anwar has lost hope of a successful outcome. Internal attacks against Najib seem to have surged lately, suggesting that powerful groups within UMNO are not keen on such a pact with their sworn enemy, the Pakatan Rakyat. The “Edge” quoted a prominent, UMNO-linked businessman as saying that Najib’s position is politically weak, one from which he’s unlikely to get the endorsement of warlords in his party.
I am disappointed that the talks are not succeeding, as I’m certain many Malaysians are. When the idea was mooted by no less than the Prime Minister himself, I sang his praises. Here is a party leader and PM who, despite enjoying an overwhelming majority, still felt it was necessary to start talking to the Opposition to address the many difficult issues facing the nation. So why have the talks not worked? Was it because they were not, in the end, about national unity, but about keeping alive the political lives of two politicians who can no longer offer anything useful or exciting to the people of this country? This is unlikely because Najib has a strong majority and a large-scale rebellion in UMNO against him is unthinkable, even one led by the irrepressible Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad.
There is a chance the talks have not been successful because the Opposition proved to be too demanding. Could they have asked for too many Cabinet posts? Perhaps even the powerful Finance Minister’s portfolio? Did they ask Najib to step down at end of this term? What is most exasperating to ordinary people like you and me is that we have to keep guessing about possibly one of the more significant and defining moments in our democratic history, i.e. when the Government and the Opposition were at last talking to one another.
It’s not necessary for such meetings to be held in such a clandestine fashion. The public should be kept informed of the agenda and progress of these talks. If there had been some transparency, we could have at least avoided all the speculation and rumour-mongering.
In today’s world political talks are held openly – at least in a democracy they are. Unfortunately, in this instance we have not been kept informed, not even of the broad outline of the issues to be resolved. What has been on the table for discussions? Were they issues of interest to the people, such as the state of the economy, education, low wages and unemployment, the widening gap between income and wealth of the rich and poor, declining living standards, the oversupply of toll roads, the behaviour of the Muftis, the “Allah” issue and corruption, for instance? That’s what the unity talks should at least try to address, with both sides making the effort to arrive at some hard decisions together.
But if the talks are about Najib’s and Anwar’s political survival then of course the issues would be different. Who will become Deputy PM? Will we need more than one DPM? The very attractive Finance Minister’s portfolio would also be up for grabs by both sides. I am only speculating here as there is no other way to get more information (this is my pre-emptive warning to Anwar not to accuse me of reading nothing else but Utusan Malaysia).
I wonder what assurances or commitment Najib asked from the Pakatan. It’s not inconceivable that the new private jet will be allowed to remain in service, and that Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor will continue with her “diplomatic overtures” overseas, which I can understand, given the quality of our Ambassadors appointed under Najib.
In the end, what the country needs is leaders who communicate constructively with the rakyat on substantive issues, in the spirit of candour and openness. There must be transparency and a willingness to be truthful when dealing with hard decisions. Otherwise, forget about unity talks.
The public needs to know how much more of the subsidy will be reduced, if at all. Will the Government consider capping toll rates? What steps will Najib and Anwar agree on to stop price hikes on goods and services? Will the PM and his Ministers personally undertake some austerity measures to show credibility? Will Anwar and his team offer support for some of these measures? Will Pakatan stop politicking on some of the agreed issues? These are what the people expect from their political leaders in national unity talks.
They expect leaders from both sides of the political divide to come to an agreement on difficult economic and social issues. They expect these political leaders to show that the public’s interest supersedes their own. At the moment however, we are still not getting that message from the two star performers in this weakly show.
Mahathir Wing of UMNO Turns The Screws on Najib
Pressure is continuing to rise against Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, the latest in the form of an exclusive interview with Mahathir scion Mukhriz in the Malay-language newspaper Berita Harian Sunday expressing concern that the ruling national coalition could lose the next national elections under Najib’s guidance.
Mukhriz’s statement, carefully couched to describe Najib’s economic policy in doing away with subsidies as “correct but unpopular,” is being regarded as an open volley against the prime minister fired by the wing of the United Malays National Organization loyal to former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. On the same weekend that Mukhriz was giving the interview with Berita Harian, former Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin, a long-time ally of the elder Mahathir, spoke to members of the suburban UMNO division in Kuala Lumpur that he once headed to say largely the same thing – and add that “It is up to you to ask him to step down."
The pressure so far is coming from within Najib’s party. Despite steeply rising prices, there has been little pressure for angry citizens to take to the streets.
The elder Mahathir and Daim have been extremely critical of Najib since the May 5 national election, in which the Barisan Nasional lost the popular vote to the opposition for the first time since 1969 but prevailed in the parliament through gerrymandering and the first-past-the-post voting system.
Mukhriz, now the chief minister of the state of Kedah, said defeat in the next election, due in 2018, is a real possibility if the prime minister continues with his “present policy of correct but unpopular decisions.”
Those “correct but unpopular decisions” revolve around cuts in subsidies that have resulted in sudden and dramatic bounces in the price of many staples, including petrol, chicken, vegetables, prawns, sugar and, according to the UMNO-owned Malay Mail, kangkong, also known as water spinach or morning glory, which grows wild on roadsides and waterways. Najib drew widespread derision recently when he responded to criticism over rising prices by saying the price of kangkong had fallen. Malaysians began mocking the prime minister as being out of touch, a complaint that made it all the way onto the BBC news.
In a translation of Mukhriz’s remarks by The Malaysian Insider, a Kuala Lumpur-based news portal, the 49-year-old Mukhriz said that “Barisan Nasional's performance in the last general elections shows that we have not fully regained the [people’s] confidence. I am very worried that although we have implemented good policies, we have ignored the issue of popularity. If the voters already have a negative perception of Barisan Nasional, it will not matter whether we have done the right thing or not."
With national and intraparty elections out of the way last year, the government acted to reverse a flock of subsidies that have driven the country’s fiscal debt close to the statutory limit of 55 percent of GDP and are a source of growing international concern by investors and economists. Those subsidy costs were compounded by a flock of government pay raises and programs designed to lure ethnic Malays into voting for the Barisan. During the campaign, Najib also assured voters in his election manifesto there would be no major rises in the cost of living.
“Economically, cutting the subsidies was astute, but politically it has been disastrous,” said a longtime UMNO member. “For now Najib has to realize the situation on the ground. He and his cabinet have lost touch with reality.”
Najib’s holiday visit to the US gaming mecca of Las Vegas – with gambling anathema to Muslims – has also drawn widespread criticism in UMNO, as has the luxurious lifestyle of the premier’s wife Rosmah Mansor.
The prime minister is unlikely to be driven from power, however, unless there is a groundswell in the local divisions of the party to call for an emergency general meeting to pass a no-confidence vote. He was reelected president of the party, the country’s biggest, by acclamation. He controls a strong majority of the 40-member Supreme Council, either through his own loyalists or through those aligned with former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who have made common cause with Najib against the Mahathir wing. Nor will the rebels attempt to oust him through a no-confidence vote in the parliament, which would result in the near destruction of the party.
Part of what is contributing to the prime minister’s staying power is that there appears no one on the horizon who is prepared to take him on. Mukhriz is regarded as too young, and was turned down by the rank and file in intra-party elections to become one of the party’s three vice presidents. Muhyiddin Yassin, the current deputy prime minister, is 66 years of age and is expected to retire from politics after his current stint. Khairy Jamaluddin, Abdullah Badawi’s son-in-law, is only 38 and in any case is regarded as a deeply polarizing figure.
The elder Mahathir himself is increasingly mentioned as possibly coming back, either as an “advisor” along the lines of Lee Kuan Yew, the “minister mentor” in Singapore until he retired from politics, or as prime minister, a move that would send shudders through the minority community in Malaysia because of his increasing alignment with Perkasa, the ultra-nationalist Malays-first organization headed by Ibrahim Ali.
The only alternative is to take the route Daim appears to have embarked on, a Kuala Lumpur-based political observer said, and that is to go to the grassroots of the party and seek to embarrass him enough to force him to step down voluntarily.
In any instance, with no one strong enough to challenge the prime minister, the continuing prognosis for debilitating infighting within UMNO seems the most likely scenario. But there also appears little scope for the opposition, headed by Anwar Ibrahim, to take advantage of the situation. Pakatan Rakyat, split between three strikingly dissimilar parties with different ethnic agendas, seems ill equipped to be able to capitalize.
Boos, doubts stalk Najib after kangkung ridicule
There
are some in Umno who want Najib to go, believing that the next election
will be lost because of rising cost and drift in the country's
leadership. - The Malaysian Insider pic, January 20, 2014.It doesn't seem to be getting any better for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak after a week of being ridiculed for talking about falling vegetable prices amid rising living costs.
There is talk among the Umno elite of moves to push out the party president, who won more seats for the party but also lost more for Barisan Nasional (BN) in Election 2013. His men also swept the party elections last December but his position now looks shaky as dissent rises inside and outside Umno.
And yesterday, the boos were louder than the cheers when Najib presented the winner's medal to badminton star Datuk Lee Chong Wei when won his 10th Malaysian Open singles title in Kuala Lumpur.
On the same day, the Umno-owned Berita Minggu carried an interview with Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir who expressed concern that the ruling BN might lose in the 14th general election if Putrajaya continued implementing unpopular decisions.
"Defeat is a real possibility if Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak continues with his present policy of correct but unpopular decisions, especially issues concerning the rising cost of living."
"If Putrajaya continues to ignore the rakyat's grouses and complaints, Barisan Nasional will find the 14th general election a tough nut to crack," the youngest son of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad told the Malay daily which is controlled by Najib's
appointees.
On Saturday, former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin (pic, right) gave the same line in a closed-door briefing at the Merbok Umno division meeting in Dewan Kismec in Sungai Petani, Kedah.
Sources said the former Merbok MP was a guest of honour at the briefing where he spoke about Putrajaya's failure to control goods prices or review highway toll agreements to extend concessions rather than allow charges to rise.
It is learnt Daim also criticised the Cabinet's failure to explain issues, the government for cutting subsidies rather than cutting expenses for things that did not appear to benefit the people, and ignoring the fact that higher civil service wages and allowances would influence prices.
Sources said Daim predicted that BN would lose the elections if it was held now, saying it continued to rule due to Malay support, but Putrajaya had spent more to attract the Chinese vote to no avail as the community would not support it.
Najib is following the wants of advisers to determine policies which will bring loss to the Malays, a source quoted Daim as saying.
"The conclusion is... the government under PM's leadership is not effective and will cause BN to lose power in administering the country in the coming elections," he added.But there is no bunker mentality yet in Putrajaya over such criticisms although the Prime Minister understands that there is unhappiness against the government's efficiency arm Pemandu and the use of consultants, with critics urging Najib to take charge of the situation.
The view from Putrajaya is essentially this: the so-called critics are among those who fleeced the country with their policies and shenanigans while in power, so why should the PM or the cabinet take them so seriously?
But there are some in Umno who want him to go, believing that the next election will be lost because of rising cost and drift in the country's leadership. They want someone better to take charge, said a Putrajaya insider, but not many names have cropped up as yet.
"They want him out sooner than later, how, nobody knows," said a businessman with links to the Umno elite.
"So we wait and see if the boos can snowball to something bigger or Najib stays the course," he added. - January 20, 2014.
Former Sodomy II investigator cries foul after barred from Bar
Malay Mail
by IDA NADIRAH
by IDA NADIRAH
KUALA
LUMPUR, Jan 17 — Former police investigating officer Jude Blacious
Pereira is unhappy with the Bar Council for objecting to him practising
law.
He
said he had received a letter from the council in November withdrawing
its objection against him being admitted as an advocate and solicitor.
However, he was surprised the matter was brought up on Wednesday in the High Court, which allowed the council’s objection.
“It
is not fair for the Bar Council to go against me and judge me based on
the Brickfields case,” said Pereira, who was the investigating officer
in the second Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sodomy case,
“I did not act on my own accord but acted while I was under the police force.
“I will appeal and leave this to the court. Let them decide.”
Pereira questioned why he was allowed to go through seven months of chambering without any objection from the council.
“Up
to my third call they did not object, so why is it that at the last
minute they are the pulling the carpet under my feet?” he asked.
Pereira
said he failed the first time he sat for the Ethics and Professional
Standards examination organised by the council but passed when he sat
for the paper again and obtained a certificate.
“I was looking forward to practising law. It is the only thing I am good at,” he said.
High
Court judge Datuk Zaleha Yusof, who struck out the petition by Pereira
to practise law, allowed the Bar Council’s notice of objection and
notice of caveat against admitting him as an advocate and solicitor.
After
retiring from the police force as a superintendent, Pereira had applied
to practise in Ipoh where he completed his chambering.
Lawyer
Pavendeep Singh, representing the Bar Council, said the Bar had the
right to object to Pereira because he was found “not to be a credible
witness” during a human rights case last May, based on the Human Rights
Commission inquiry.
The
case involved the arrest of five lawyers at the Brickfields police
station on May 7, which was later found to be in violation of human
rights due to mala fide (acting in bad faith).
Pereira was one of the two top police officers responsible, along with OCPD Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid.
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