GMI tuntut kem Kamunting jadi 'tugu warisan negara'

No hope for Hindus in this Presidential election in India

Presidential poll in India: How Hindus lost their plot.

~ Upananda Brahmachari.

Behind thy Hand

New Delhi | 30th June, 2012 :: It is now still  summer in Delhi. Heat waves moves from the North to South block. From Parliament House street to Raisina Hills. A Heatwave increase due to the top post of President in the country is slated for July 19 and the result would be out on July 22. The term of the present incumbent Pratibha Patil ends on July 24.

So far nominations from 42 contestants have been accepted as primarily valid for their candidature to be scrutinized for the July 19 Presidential election in which UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee is pitted against Opposition candidate Purno Agitok Sangma  majorly supported by NDA.

In this federal system of democracy India has prompted the presidential magnitude in a stature of  multitude glorification and ornamentation of its constitutional head as a subject of the parliament supremacy. However, the people of this  country still thinks a remedy through its Presidential power  in a havoc threat perception in this nation through parliamentarian corruption,   nepotism, irresponsibility, treachery and all perversions possible in the politics. It is beyond any clarification. But the upcoming two faces in the main fray may not be an ace to trump in this game of hope and respire. Nither Mr. Pranab Mukherjee nor P A Sangma symbolize the people’s hope anyway against  corruption and the coalitions of all obnoxious elements in the national spectrum.

Mr. Mukherjee filed his papers in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi. Other important leaders who accompanied him include Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad, Lok Jan Shakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan, Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh, BSP Parliamentary Party leader Dara Singh Chauhan, DMK Parliamentary Party leader T.R. Baalu, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and Janata Dal (United) general secretary Shivanand Tiwari.

UPA’s nominee was endorsed by a large number political parties—parties like RJD, SP, BSP and Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP, who are supporting the UPA. Mr Mukherjee  has also received the support from other parties like Shiv Sena, JD-U, CPI-M and FB.

The first set of nomination papers in favour of Mr. Mukherjee was submitted by the Prime Minister, Monmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, the Chair Person of UPA. The second set was submitted by senior Congress leader Motilal Vora, while Mukherjee submitted the other two of the total four sets.

The nomination papers were signed by as many as 486 MPs and MLAs, including Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, Congress Legislature Party leaders and PCC chiefs in favour of Mukherjee.

Showmanship of Absurdity

In the contrast, Sangma, whose candidature was propped up by BJD and AIADMK and supported by BJP and some other NDA constituents, had three sets of papers filed in his support.

N Patnaik, CM Odisha filed one set with 108 signatures in Sangma’s favour, another set was filed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa with 120 signatures, while the third set was filed by L K Advani and P S Badal, CM Punjab with 122 signatures of members of the electoral college. Total 350 MPs and MLAs have signed in favour of Sangma.

Mr. Sangma was accompanied, among others by, senior BJP leaders L.K. Advani, Nitin Gadkari, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Shiromon Akali Dal president and Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy and AIADMK Parliamentary Party leader M. Thambidurai.

The electoral college for Presidential election comprises 4,896 members — 776 Members of Parliament and 4,120 Members of Legislative Assemblies, including those of Delhi and Puducherry.

The total value of their votes is 10,98,882 with that of MLAs being 5,49,474 and that of MPs being 5,49,408.

Congress and its allies, including Trinamool Congress, constitute the UPA account for over 4.60 lakh vote value. BJP-led NDA has over 3.04 lakh vote value.

The ‘others’, including parties like Samajwadi Party, BSP and the Left, have over 2.62 lakh vote value.

By percentage Mukherjee deserves 56.17 and Sangma shares 31.7 percentage from general appreaciation.

From the above statistics, the fate of Mukherjee or Sangma is obviously clear with certainly with some ifs and buts.

The Trinmool Congress has not decided yet. There is a question of so-called ’conscience vote’. Another is ‘cross voting’.  The sense of provincialism and racial aspect will take into force. Already propagation from the tribal and Christian lobbies have come to the surface. The Andhra Pradesh Federation of Churches (APFC) has appealed in favour of Sangma as, “He is a Christian by religion; though the members of other Minority communities like the Muslims and Sikhs were given the post of the President not Christians. It is the turn of a Christian now.”

P A Sangma was expelled by his party NCP and her daughter Agatha  (now Union Minister of State, Rural Development)  may also face the same treatment.  Agatha Sangma is charge sheeted with campaigning for her father. In Baster (Chhattisgarh) on Monday 25th June, Union minister Agatha Sangma said it would be a “welcome gesture” if tribal MPs and MLAs voted for her father PA Sangma in the July 19 Presidential election. Aravind Netam, a veteran tribal leader from Jharkhand has been expelled by Congress Party as he had a joint press conference with Sangma before filing his nomination. Netam criticized Congress that the Party did not pay proper attention to the Tribal Welfare and welcomed Sangma as favourable and nominated candidate from the Tribal Forum of India.

Many equations are working stealthily that we don’t know. All will go to Darbar of Sahi Imam and the Darghas without fail. But if you ask anything about the Hindu interest in this presidential election context, you will surely be branded as a communal one in this Hindu Majority Country.

Taking the help of Maratha Hinduvad or Indian Union Muslim League is truly Secular. The Christian sentiments or Tribal demands are also secular enough. But, if you want to raise your voice in favour of Hindutva of Savarkar, Hedgewad or Shyamaprasad, then it is simply communal. Hindus unfortunately succumbed this injustice and tolerated all along. But why?

It is for the maroon Hindu leaderships who have not even any courage to announce a Hindu Presidential Candidate for their own. The line from Nagpur to Jhandelwala has been collapsed. All the Dahrma Sangshad and the Shankara Mutths are either sleeping or engrossed with hallucinations.

BJP, which is branded as a Hindu Party (though it is not a Hindu party nor believes in Hindu Rashtravad) and common Hindus believe as their party, is completely failed to manage a strong Hindu candidate on their own for Presidential election. But, they will not stop their big lectures to save this unfortunate (may call orphan) Hindu Nation.

Hopes of Hindus are being shattered rapidly. Sri Govindacharya, the once proclaimed TT (Think Tank – Chanakya) and present day big luminaries like Dr. Subramanian Swamy, Baba Ramdev, Anna Hazare all proved their differences between gossips and gateways. Their claims are mismatched with their calibers. The tendencies of present day big Hindu leadership are dangerous as they are indulging fatal permissiveness in Hindu Society. Adjustment with identity and self respect is dangerous than anything. In this Presidential poll in India, Hindus lost their plot of any benefit.

Is there any way out? Yes, ray of hope is there. If the small Hindu organizations all over the country join their hand to form a big coalition of alternative Hindu Social and Political Force to compel all the big yawning Hindu Organizations and all political parties to kneel down to this prospective Hindu Nation (Hindu Rashtra), history may be changed then and there.

PAKISTAN: A Hindu girl was forced to convert to Islam and is now missing - the judge and police have sided with the perpetrators

June 30, 2012

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-115-2012



30 June 2012
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PAKISTAN: A Hindu girl was forced to convert to Islam and is now missing - the judge and police have sided with the perpetrators
ISSUES: Forced conversion to Islam, religious intolerance, violence against women, justice system
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Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a 14-year-old girl, from the Hindu religious minority community was abducted by gangsters and forcibly converted to Islam. When a police case was filed against the abductors the girl was produced before a Magistrate's Court by the gangsters to record a statement that she has embraced Islam as her religion. The irony of the judicial process is that the judicial magistrate has accepted her subsequent marriage as legal in spite of the Pakistan law which does not allow the marriage of girls before the age of 16 years. Her age was forged from 14 to 18 by the police and perpetrators before the judicial magistrate who had never asked for evidence about her age.
The father of the victim received information from the police that girl has been shifted to the tribal areas of the Pakistan, close to Afghanistan border for nefarious designs.

The police took five days to file the First Information Report (FIR) providing good time to the perpetrators to manage a forced marriage. The three young sisters, their mother and one brother of the victim were terminated from the employment from the same factory where their sister was employed because the parents of the victim had mentioned the registration number of the car of the factory in which their daughter was abducted.
CASE NARRATIVE:
Rekha alias Pubi (14) was working at a factory for the manufacturing of bottles for beverages at Gadap Karachi, Sindh province. She was abducted by a driver, Mr. Ahmed Nawaz son of Mohib Ali, and factory supervisor, Mr. Asghar Din son of Khadin Shah, in the official vehicle of the factory at 5.30 PM when she was going back to her home with her three sisters and mother. Her father, Mr. Soda, use to pick and drop their family members, three sisters and her mother, from the factory. On the day of the incident, after dropping his two sisters by his motor bike at their house he returned to the factory and was told that Rekha has been forcibly abducted by the driver and supervisor in the factory’s vehicle to unknown place.
The brother, father and mother immediately rushed to the Gadap city police station, Karachi, to file the case of abduction of Rekha. The police refused to entertain the complaint and told them not to worry as she will be returned and the police will take action the next day. When the father and brother insisted that police should follow them as they would not be far from the factory, the police asked for money for fuel for using police van which was not possible from the poor family as they were from the Hindu minority group, the Kohli-Dalit and they have migrated from a remote area of Sindh province, the Mirpur Khas, where they were facing the problems after the recent flood.
The police took five days to file the First Information Report (FIR). The perpetrators and the owner after knowing that on November 5, 2011, the family of the victim successfully filed the FIR they quickly approached a judicial magistrate of Malir city, Mr. Naweed Asghar and took some workers from the nearby Madressa, the Muslim seminary and asked the court to accept the court marriage as Miss Rekha has embraced Islam and has changed her name from Rekha to Aasia. The judge never asked the girl if they did so of her own free will and approved the marriage. Her age was mentioned during the process as 18 because the magistrate told them that Pakistan law does not allow marriage of minors. At this moment the mother and other family member reached the court after knowing that she has been produced before the court but the magistrate did not allow them to meet Rekha. The workers from the seminary have also used force to push the girl into the van which was waiting outside the court. The lawyer from the perpetrators, Mr. Naeem Khan threatened before the magistrate that if they created problems over the change of religion then their two sisters will also face the same situation. The judge just ignored the threats.
Since November 5, 2011 her whereabouts are unknown. On the other hand the owner of the factory has terminated the employment of her brother, mother and three other sisters, who are minors, for mentioning the registration number of the car of the factory, saying that the vicitm’s family is destroying the honour of the factory.
It is also informed by the father of the girl that they have been told by seminary people that the girl has been shifted to a tribal area of Pakistan close to Afghanistan border. He apprehends that like other Hindu girls she would have been sold for nefarious designs.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
This a common factor in the Sindh province that girls from the religious minority groups particularly from Dalit community of the Hindu, are abducted, raped and then sold for prostitutions. The Muslim Madressas along the borders with India are busy in this business and Sindh government though claims that it is in favour of minority rights never acted to stop such activities of the Muslim fundamentalists groups in its appeasement policies.
Every month in the Sindh province it is reported that more than 200 girls are forced to marry after their abduction and when perpetrators are caught or police reports are filed they use the fictitious marriage certificates from Muslim seminaries and courts have to follow them. Even the Chief Justice of Supreme Court has not taken the consent from the three Hindu girls when they were presented before the court and ordered the registrar to take their statement who recorded their statements before the police and so called husbands. Then on Friday prayers the chief justice has congratulated a perpetrator, the so called husband of one Hindu girl for converting the girl to Islam, the photo of the incident was published next day in many newspapers.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write the letters to the given authorities calling them to safe recovery of Rekha and arrest of the perpetrators including the Naveed Asghar, judicial magistrate of the Malir city courts. Please urge them to take actions against those Muslim seminaries who are instrumental in the forcibly conversion to Islam of the girls from the religious minority groups and helping the criminals in the name of Islam. Please also urge them to prosecute the station house officers of the Gadap police station Karachi for his negligence from the official duty and helping the perpetrators for kidnapping and rape of Rekha.
The AHRC writes a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief calling for his intervention into this matter.

To support this appeal, please click here: 
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear ___________,
PAKISTAN: A Hindu girl was forced to convert to Islam and is now missing - the judge and police have sided with the perpetrators
Name of victim:
Rekha alias Pubi daughter of Soda, resident of Chota gate, Baqai medical university road, Gadap town, Karachi, Sindh province
Names of alleged perpetrators:
1.Mr. Asghar Uddin son of Khadim Shah, resident of Beverage bottle manufacturing factory, Chota gate, Baqai medical university road, Gadap town, Karachi, Sindh province
2.Mr. Mr. Ahmed Nawaz son of Mohib Ali,resident of Beverage bottle manufacturing factory, Chota gate, Baqai medical university road, Gadap town, Karachi, Sindh province
3. Station House Officer (SHO) Gadap police station, Gadap town, Karachi, Sindh province
4. Mr. Naveed Asghar, Judicial Magistrate, Malir courts, Malir, Karachi, Sindh province
Date of incident: October 30, 2011
Place of incident: Gadap Town, Karachi
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the abduction of Rekha alias Pubi (14). Rekha is from the Hindu minority group, the Kohli-Dalit. She was abducted by a driver, Mr. Ahmed Nawaz son of Mohib Ali, and factory supervisor, Mr. Asghar Din son of Khadim Shah, in the official vehicle of the factory at 5.30 PM when she was going back to her home with her three sisters and mother.
It is shocking that although her family went to the police immediately they took five days to file the First Information Report which gave the perpetrators sufficient time to approach a judicial magistrate of Malir city, Mr. Naweed Asghar. They attended the Magistrate's Court with some workers from the nearby Madressa, the Muslim seminary and asked the court to accept the court marriage as Miss Rekha has embraced Islam and has changed her name from Rekha to Aasia.
It is appalling that the judge never asked the girl if they did so of her own free will and approved the marriage. Her age was mentioned during the process as 18 because the magistrate told them that Pakistan law does not allow marriage of minors. At this moment the mother and other family member reached the court after knowing that she has been produced before the court but the magistrate did not allow them to meet Rekha. The workers from the seminary have also used force to push the girl into the van which was waiting outside the court. The lawyer from the perpetrators, Mr. Naeem Khan threatened before the magistrate that if they created problems over the change of religion then their two sisters will also face the same situation. The judge just ignored the threats.
Since November 5, 2011 her whereabouts are unknown. I am also aware that the owner of the factory has terminated the employment of her brother, mother and three other sisters, who are minors, for mentioning the registration number of the car of the factory, saying that the victim’s family is destroying the honour of the factory.
It is also informed by the father of the girl that they have been told by seminary people that the girl has been shifted to a tribal area of Pakistan close to Afghanistan border. He apprehends that like other Hindu girls she would have been sold for nefarious designs.
I request your urgent intervention to ensure the safe recovery of Rekha and arrest of the perpetrators including the Naveed Asghar, judicial magistrate of the Malir city courts. Please also take actions against the Muslim seminaries who are instrumental in the forcibly conversion to Islam of the girls from the religious minority groups. Action should also be taken against the station house officers of the Gadap police station Karachi for their negligence of their official duty and abetting the perpetrators in the kidnapping and rape of Rekha.

Yours sincerely,
----------------
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari
President
President's Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel:+ 92-51-9204801-9214171
Fax: + 92-51-9207458
Email: publicmail@president.gov.pk
2. Mr. Raja Pervez Ashraf,
Prime Minister
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk
3. Federal Minister for Human Rights
Ministry of Human Rights
Old US Aid building
Ata Turk Avenue
G-5, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9204108
Email: sarfaraz_yousuf@yahoo.com
4. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: + 92 51 9213452
E-mail: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
5. Mr. Rehman Malik
Minister for Interior
R Block Pak Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 51 9212026
Fax: +92 51 9202624
E-mail: ministry.interior@gmail.com or interior.complaintcell@gmail.com
6. Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan
Governor of Sindh province
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 920 5043
Tel: +92 21 920 1201
E-mail: governor@governorsindh.gov.pk
7. Syed Qaim Ali Shah
Chief Minister
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 920 2000
Email: pressecy@cmsindh.gov.pk
8. Mr. Justice Musheer Alam
The Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
High Court Building
Saddar, Karachi
Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9213220
E-mail: registrar@sindhhighcourt.gov.pk
9. Ms. Nadia Gabol
Minister for Human Rights
Government of Sindh,
Pakistan secretariat, Barrack 92,
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9207044
Tel: +92 21 9207043
E-mail: lukshmil@yahoo.com
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)

Document Type :

Urgent Appeal Case

Document ID :

AHRC-UAC-115-2012

Countries :

Pakistan

Issues :

Women's rights, Child rights, Freedom of religion, Judicial system, Violence against women

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Guan Eng demands police action against Perkasa for threatening safety

KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 — Lim Guan Eng demanded today the authorities act against Malay movement Perkasa for threatening his safety, saying that police inaction would only fuel the perception that they condoned the group’s “violent tactics.”

The Penang chief minister described his run-in with Perkasa members at the Teluk Bahang market in Penang yesterday was another act of “intimidation” by the group when they allegedly threw posters at him.

He also claimed that he had been roughed up by a member of the right-wing Malay non-government organisation (NGO) in the marketplace who had charged at him from the back and would have been injured if a Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporter nearby did not drag him away to safety.

“The failure by police to immediately arrest Perkasa members involved in violence not just against members of the public and reporters but also make direct threats against my personal safety has only confirmed fears that Perkasa can do no wrong because they are supported by Umno and BN,” he said in a statement today.

Lim (picture) pointed out that the incident had happened even though Penang state assembly speaker Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain had informed the police of Perkasa’s plan to hold the demonstration, and had requested for “adequate protection and stern action.”

Lim added that the police’s failure in protecting him only strengthened claims that the authorities could not ensure public safety in light of the spate of criminal attacks throughout the country.

“Despite recording the second highest reduction in crime index as at May 2012 (a reduction of 23 per cent) police have been under scrutiny in Penang due to several high profile crime incidents in Penang in the heritage, tourist and some housing areas,” Lim said.

A spate of high-profile kidnap attempts and robberies — some of them armed — targeting individuals, businesses and even hospitals has raised concern over public safety nationwide.

Last week, a woman was slashed in the head in the car park of the popular Mid Valley Megamall in the Klang Valley, the third reported case in a month of armed robbers seemingly targeting lone women that garnered wide media coverage.

Earlier this month, thieves carted off millions of ringgit in high-end medical gear from several hospitals around the Klang Valley, including from the public-funded University Malaya Medical Centre.

Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has said that the country’s crime rate is not on the rise despite growing concern over public safety, saying that two recent violent crime cases were “isolated” incidents.

PEMANDU, the government’s efficiency unit tasked with reducing the crime rate under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP), had insisted that there has been a drastic drop in such incidences and pointed instead to “unfortunate” media coverage.

But a federal lawmaker from Selangor had questioned the effectiveness of the GTP which singles out Malaysia’s richest state as a ‘hotspot’ for crime reduction after the Home Ministry said crime in Selangor had risen by nearly 12 per cent between 2010 and 2011 or the equivalent of a rise of 39,691 cases to 44,302.

The Home Ministry quickly issued a correction but Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua found that this was at least the third set of crime figures released for his state recently, creating further doubt over the accuracy of the government’s statistics.

But Pua, DAP’s publicity chief, had called on the Home Ministry and PEMANDU to “stop blaming crime on ‘perception’.”

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had two weeks ago said that more must be done to increase public safety, giving his assurance that the government was concerned with “all kinds of violence, including against women”, despite saying that the country’s general crime rate had dipped considerably.

Hired thugs to kill you: email warns Ambiga

An email warns the Bersih chairperson that two gangsters have been hired to 'terminate' her.
UPDATED

PETALING JAYA: Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga has received an email warning her of a threat against her life.

The former Bar Council president told FMT that she received the email yesterday afternoon.

The email with its subject stated as “Beware hired guns out to kill you” claimed that a particular group had contracted two thugs to “terminate” her.

Although she withheld the identities of those mentioned in the email as well as that of the sender, Ambiga however said there were no references to any political parties.

The Bersih leader, who lodged a report with the Travers police station, preferred not to reveal the sender in order to protect the source.

“I will leave it to the police to investigate the matter,” she said.

Ambiga also revealed that police officers had recorded her statement regarding the threat yesterday evening.

Expressing concern for her safety, Ambiga said: “Yes, I am worried and I must be careful. I would need to beef-up security for myself.”

Hate speeches to blame

The Bersih leader also blamed the unrelenting hate speeches targeted at her for such threats.

“Since last year, irresponsible people have been consistently churning out hate speeches against me and this has contributed to the state of affairs.

“The latest episode being the ‘hang Ambiga’ remark [by Umno MP Mohamad Aziz]. These people cannot just say such things and retract them later,” she said.

This was the second death threat the Bersih leader had received. The first was via a mobile phone text message last year.

Ambiga shot to prominence following the Bersih 2.0 and 3.0 rallies, which drew tens of thousands to the streets of Kuala Lumpur demanding for free and fair elections.

Following the latest rally on April 28, she had come under fire from various quarters, including government leaders, with even Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak claiming that the rally was held to topple the government.

Disgruntled traders, who had supposedly incurred massive losses due to the rally, held a burger protest outside her residence while a group of army veterans staged a lewd exercise routine.

Apart from accusations of these protests being politically-motivated, it was also said to be racial in nature since the other leaders in Bersih were not targeted.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector-General of police Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed that a report was lodged.

He said the police were investigating the case under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation.

Dr M warns of minority seeking 'power grab'

 (Malaysiakini) Malaysia will be a failed state should the majority remain silent and allow a minority to assume power through street demonstrations, claims former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

At a forum in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Mahathir said the minority have been increasingly vocal, particularly through alternative media outlets which don’t always get their facts right.

According to a report by Mingguan Malaysia, the Sunday edition of Utusan Malaysia, Mahathir said governments formed from the aftermath of an uprising will face tremendous difficulties.
This is because the new government must take into account many voices before arriving at any decision.

“That’s why we need a general election process. Although it cannot satisfy everyone, but it is more peaceful, well-planned and beneficial to the rakyat,” he said.

Citing recent calls for legal recognition of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender by groups including the national Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), Mahathir said that these demands were made by a minority and if acceded, will be detrimental to future generations.

"It’s not that we are not open-minded, but imagine if homosexuality is allowed. What will happen to the future generations? Should men who have relationships with men and women with women giving birth?

"They are only concerned with their own needs, but never think for the country and the people in the future. This is what we call a dictator (or) selfishness," he said.
Meanwhile, Sinar Harian today reported the former premier telling Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to complete his administration’s five-year mandate to boost public confidence.

He said it is a good thing that Najib wants to “respect the five years mandate given by the people”.

“But then again, if the government is dragging its feet on calling the GE, all sorts of nonsensical demands and requests will emerge, and they will threaten the government with that,” he was quoted saying. 

Nizar to drop federal seat in battle to regain Perak

Nizar said his decision to forego the Johor constituency was not linked to his recent run-in with the state palace. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin will not defend his parliamentary seat in the next general election, saying today he will instead focus on winning back Perak from Barisan Nasional (BN).

The outspoken PAS vice-president, currently Bukit Gantang MP and Pasir Panjang state assemblyman, was appointed as Perak mentri besar when Pakatan Rakyat (PR) won 31 out of the 59 seats in the state assembly back in 2008.

A spate of defections later saw BN taking over Perak, with Umno’s Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir sworn in as mentri besar on February 6, 2009.

“After serving for four years, I thought that I must concentrate my efforts on winning the state. All this time, my efforts and time have been divided between my state and parliamentary seat,” Nizar told The Malaysian Insider.

“If you look at it, Bukit Gantang was not really an election. It was an instant decision, someone passed away, and by the grace of God, I was given the responsibility to defend the seat.

“What I want right (now) is to prioritise, and the priority is on Perak,” he said.

Nizar won the Bukit Gantang by-election on April 7, 2009 where he defeated Umno’s Ismail Saffian and independent candidate Kamarul Ramizu Idris in a landslide victory.

The popular PAS leader denied, however, that his decision to not contest the Bukit Gantang was due to the ongoing controversy over his remarks about the “WWW 1” vehicle registration number that was won by the Johor Sultan in an open tender.

“Frankly, it has nothing to do with it, there is no connection, it’s just prioritising,” Nizar stressed.

Nizar earned the Johor’s palace wrath last month for suggesting the RM520,000 winning bid placed by the state Ruler could be better used to the aid the needy.

He has since apologised and requested an audience with the Sultan of Johor to explain his May 28 remarks that he posted on micro-blogging service Twitter.

Today, Nizar dismissed suggestions that his decision would affect confidence in PR, saying BN would be the most “affected” party in the matter.

“BN will be in a much more difficult decision to face... my decision will mean a greater focus on state, and they will have to step up their game,” Nizar added.

But public anger over BN’s 2009 takeover of Perak appears to have dissipated, with a recent PR poll showing it will win fewer seats in the state now than if snap polls had been called then.

An opinion poll conducted by the state PR shortly after February 2009 found that the coalition would have swept to victory in 40 seats, or with a two-thirds majority in the 59 seat assembly currently controlled by BN with 28 assemblymen and four “friendly” independents.

A similar survey by Perak PR earlier this year showed it would only win 33 seats if polls were held now.

Marina dan Ambiga ‘bertambat bulu’

Jika Marina memilih untuk mencari kebenaran maka tindakan beliau sekarang amatlah benar dan betul.
COMMENT

Oleh Aspan Alias

Dalam politik anak dan bapa juga ada yang tidak sehaluan. Dalam interview Dr Mahathir dengan Mob TV, beliau telah menegur anaknya

Marina supaya berhati-hati dengan tindak tanduknya (Marina) kerana tindak tanduk Marina itu akan menjejaskan parti pemerintah iaitu UMNO serta menjejaskan juga politik ahli keluarga beliau. Mahathir begitu sangsi yang tindakan Marina bergiat dan menyokong Bersih 3.0 dan Bersih yang sebelumnya itu akan menjejaskan politik adiknya Muhkriz.

Pandangan Dr Mahathir terhadap anaknya itu ada benar dan salahnya. Jika Mahathir lebih memikirkan politik peribadi dan keluarga beliau maka kata-kata beliau itu benar dan betul seratus peratus. Memang banyak pun yang memberi pandangan yang Mahathir ini tidak payah diambil pusing nasihat dan kata-katanya kerana anak beliau sendiri telah menunjukkan sikap ‘anti establishment’ dan Marina telah menunjukkan banyak contoh sikap tidak sehaluan dengan kerajaan BN sekarang ini.

Tetapi jika Mahathir mampu memandang dari sudut lain, iaitu sudut memperjuangkan kebenaran, apa yang dilakukan oleh Marina itu patut direstui oleh Mahathir kerana beliau sepatutnya faham yang Marina itu adalah pejuang kepada tuntutan yang di perjuangkan oleh

Bersih dan banyak NGO-NGO yang lain. Mahathir sepatutnya merasa bangga dengan ketegasan anak perempuannya itu jika beliau (Mahathir) mengakui kebenaran yang diperjuangkan oleh Marina itu.

Tetapi nampaknya Mahathir lebih cenderung untuk menjaga kepentingan politik anak lelakinya, Mukhriz dan beliau tidak pertimbangka kebenaran yang diperjuangkan oleh Marina yang mendapat perhatian banyak pihak sambil memberikan sokongan kepada pejuang reformasi pilihanraya itu.

Bagi Mahathir kebenaran dalam isu ini ialah menjadikan Mukhriz sebagai pemimpin politik besar dan sebesar mana pun kebenaran yang diperjuangkan oleh anak perempuannya Marina itu tidak mendapat perhatian beliau. Bagi Mahathir kebenaran itu ialah kuasa dan tidak yang lain. Mahathir semalam mengakui yang beliau akan menyokong Mukhriz jika UMNO menurunkan anak emasnya itu bertanding

disalah satu kawasan DUN di Kedah untuk menjadi Menteri Besar Negeri Jelapang Padi itu.

Warisan politik

Niat Mahathir untuk meninggalkan warisnya dalam politik tanah air itu sememangnya telah dihidu oleh semua orang dan pengakuan beliau itu tidak mengejutkan sesiapa. Malahan mata Mahathir akan tertutup rapat jika beliau meninggal dunia selepas melihat anaknya itu menjadi orang besar negara seperti beliau. Tuduhan ramai terhadap Mahathir yang beliau membuat ‘bising’ sekarang ini adalah untuk kepentigan keluarga beliau.

Mahathir tentunya mahukan anaknya menjadi seperti Najib dan Hishamuddin yang kedua-duanya adalah anak-anak kepada bekas Perdana

Menteri negara. Jika Mahathir berjaya untuk menjadikan anaknya itu pemimpin besar dan akhirnya menjadi Perdana Menteri maka beliau akan berjaya untuk menyambung tradisi yang pemimpin-pemimpin yang akan datang mesti datang dari keluarga bekas-bekas Perdana Menteri.

Itulah sebabnya Mahathir begitu marah apabila Mukhriz mendapat nombor tercorot dalam pemilihan Ketua Pemuda Malaysia apabila undi beliau jauh kebelakang dari undi-undi yang diperolehi oleh Khairy dan Khir Toyo dalam pertandingan itu. Yang Mahathir marah sekali ialah terhadap menantu Pak Lah yang telah berjaya mendapatkan undi tertinggi dalam pemilihan Ketua Pemuda itu.

Akhirnya Marina sendirilah yang berhak untuk memilih diantara kebenaran atau politik adik beradik dalam isu ini. Jika Marina memilih untuk mencari kebenaran maka tindakan beliau sekarang amatlah benar dan betul.

Tetapi jika Marina memilih untuk mementingkan politik bapanya dan adik beradiknya eloklah beliau (Marina) mengikut sahaja kata-kata ayahanda beliau itu. Tetapi saya yakin Marina akan terus memilih kebenaran kerana saya rasa beliau tahu yang kebenaran itu akan timbul akhirnya.

Tetapi jika Marina mengikut kehendak bapanya itu janganlah putuskan hubungan baik dengan Ambiga yang telah terjalin begitu rapat selama ini. Marina dan Ambiga itu bersahabat baik. Baiknya Ambiga dengan Marina itu seperti orang ‘bertambat bulu’. Itu kata orang tua -tua dahulu.

http://aspanaliasnet.blogspot.com

Nesa delegates elect two new directors

Businessman “Oms” Thiagarajan and Makkal Osai GM M Periasamy have been elected to the board while MIC member SVS Vellu and K Kandasamy retain their posts.

PETALING JAYA: Businessman “Oms” Thiagarajan and Makkal Osai general manager M Periasamy were elected into the Nesa Cooperative’s board of directors today.

Six people contested for the four elected directorship posts in one of the largest Indian cooperatives in Malaysia. Another three directors are appointed at the discretion of the Nesa president.

“MIC member SVS Vellu and K Kandasamy also retained their posts as directors of Nesa. Vellu won the highest votes among the delegates,” said Nesa’s lawyer K Saraswathy.

She also said that 233 out of 249 delegates turned up to cast their votes.

Nesa, the brainchild of former MIC president, the late V Manickavasagam, has about 40,000 members.

The cooperative is headed by former MIC deputy president S Subramaniam and the vice president is a PKR member, V Nadarajan.

Saraswathy said the delegates also rejected two motions brought in by the directors, namely the proposal to extend the term for the appointed directors’ post and empowering delegates to choose the appointed directors in the absence of the president.

“The delegates were in a sombre mood due to Subramaniam’s absence,” she said, referring to the former MIC leader who suffered a brain haemorrhage last year.

The doctor decides …?

The doctor knows that the longer the polls is delayed, the worst it will be for BN.
COMMENT

Three days ago, a reporter friend forwarded a text message to this columnist which says that the doctor has taken over Umno and right now the grassroots reports are being forwarded to him.

But the big news is that the doctor is planning to have the polls held in September. This is because it seems that the doctor has got tired of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s feet-dragging and lack of confidence.

Therefore he now enters the fray in order to have things up and running according to his way.

Whether there is any truth or not in the text message is one thing but looking at it logically, it could be true.

Najib has been dragging on the polls date for far too long after initiating it as a guessing game about two years ago.

Before the submarine scandal surfaces to sink the whole of BN, the doctor has made a firm decision to take control of Umno in order to steer the party to safety at the most crucial point in the party’s history.

One must remember that during his tenure as prime minister, the doctor never had this nonsense about the polls date. He called for the polls when he called for the polls: in a decisive manner.

No guessing games, dragging or pussyfooting around. He just executed it, plain and simple. Unlike Najib who makes a great fanfare only to end up in zilch.

The doctor, according to the text message from this friend, is firm in wanting the polls to be held in September. And Sept 1, which is a Saturday, seems to be the ideal date as it is also after the 55th National Day celebrations on Aug 31 when everyone would be proud of the nation’s achievements.

Sept 1 is also more than 10 days after Aidil Fitri which will be celebrated on the third week of August or so this year.

This makes it an ideal time as the Malays who form the majority of the voters would be in a joyous and festive mood and, without anymore animosity, would be more likely to vote BN for “continued prosperity and progress”, which is BN’s well-known slogan.

Thus Sept 1 is the most ideal for the polls to be held as the national budget will be tabled on Sept 28. The budget can then be tailored accordingly but don’t be too sure of getting the goodies if BN wins big as goodies are only due to Pakatan Rakyat’s pressure on BN.

Sept 1 or Dec 1?

Of course, if Pakatan wins the 13th general election, then Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister will have to table the budget and knowing the state of the nation’s coffers, Pakatan will have a momentous task ahead but then it has many good financial experts in its team.

However, if Sept 1 is bunkered, then the next best option is Dec 1 which is also a Saturday. At this point in time, the Indians who have celebrated Deepavali in November will be in a good mood and the Christians too will be feeling joyful in anticipation of Christmas on Dec 25.

At the time of writing this piece, the 13th general election may only be two months away if the doctor has his way.

Najib is the type who wants to make sure that everything is in his favour before he proceeds and not only the doctor but many of the rakyat, especially those in the business community and the manufacturing sector, are fed up with this.

The doctor knows that the longer the polls is delayed, the worst it will be for BN. So he might as well take the initiative to rescue the situation before it gets worst. He can read the current situation well and he sees and knows that it is already beyond Najib’s control.

Najib is focusing on gift-giving to woo the voters but apart from that, the situation around him seems to be falling apart due to the power struggle between the warlords in his camp.

Unlike the doctor who is a very slick and cunning reader of the game, Najib lacks vision, foresight and courage.

Many of this columnist’s Chinese friends have lost confidence in Najib because the Chinese view him as not capable when he cannot even do such a simple thing as dissolving Parliament.

The Chinese reasoning is that when even such a simple thing is beyond him, he will surely be incapable of much larger things such as administering the country.

Based on this factor alone, he should be rejected. One has also to take note that he rejects political debates by saying it is not the Malaysian culture. Does butt-exercise to show one’s disagreement a part of Malaysian culture then?

Najib may have power and authority but his words cannot change black into white. On June 23, he has boasted that he can thrash the opposition with a score of 14-0 but does not suit action to words by dissolving Parliament that very instant. It is due to his weakness that the doctor’s influence is getting stronger.

The doctor has a game-plan and he will execute it in clinical fashion while Najib’s game-plan has gone “rojak” until he even needs to contemplate a second giving of the RM500 cash aid.

Looks like whether it is Najib or whether it is the doctor who is in control, the situation in Malaysia is full of uncertainty. Coupled with rampant corruption, will the nation go bust?

Selena Tay is a FMT columnist.

The return of exiled P. Waytha Moorthy (HINDRAF) to Malaysia

Wong Mun Chee

It is rather fascinating that the Chairman of HINDRAF has taken the decision to forego his asylum status in United Kingdom and return to a possible arrest when he lands in Malaysia on August 1, 2012; more so after filing the class action against the British government on behalf of the Malaysian Indians.

The return of Waytha Moorthy, who is often seen as a pragmatic and the real deal person, may throw the spanners at both the BN and PAKATAN as far as the Malaysian Indian voters are concerned.

Parties and organizations are merely mediums for the goals of the leaders which have mainly been political in Malaysia, let it be BN or PAKATAN, but not to identify a real leader with a goal for the public. We need to at least acknowledge a character like Mr Waytha Moorthy who has fought gallantly in the international arena, while in exile, for the release of the HINDRAF 5 from ISA, bringing the Borneo issues in British Parliament & the United Nations, and even arranging for Anwar’s EDM in British Parliament in 2010.

The act and desire of the HINDRAF Chairman had been greeted well as seen above but whenever HINDRAF raises an issue that concerns the Malaysian Indians, it has been classified racist even by Anwar, the chameleon savior.

Many skeptics and soothsayers run an agenda, like how BN is with their have the government machineries or PR with their $3 billion account of Anwar, but HINDRAF with neither in place is still sustaining through genuine leadership.

The mere fact that HINDRAF continues to hold its own ground and pursue its objective with all the backlash along with the decision by Waytha Moorthy to return to Malaysia even when he faces imminent arrest, characterizes the notion of the movement for the truth that needs to surface beyond politics.

If we are Malaysian, I am sure we do know what the truth is when we see it. The perseverance of HINDRAF has always fascinated me as they continue to struggle and fight and the bold effort taken by their Chairman only shows how shallow the current political leaders are whether it is BN or PR who can only run with the tide for political strength rather than what is morally dutiful to accomplish what is pertinent for the people.

The detractors may come in hoards full, but we need to recognize and acknowledge real leaders as opposed to those who bow for vote counts.

Open letter to the Chief Secretary to the government

Penned by Jayanath Appudurai
___________________________

Dear Chief Secretary,

The ‘Sunday Interview” published in the NST of 24 June 2012 refers.

To the question: “It is said that some civil servants are being influenced by promises made by the opposition. What do you have to say about this?”

You answered: “They should know better. Don’t be taken in by empty promises. As civil servants we must be loyal to the King and serve the government of the day.”

If you had just stated, “As civil servants we must be loyal to the King and serve the government of the day”, no one would have had cause to pick a bone. This would have clearly underscored the cardinal principle of political neutrality on which the Public Service is founded in our system of parliamentary democracy. This is Public Administration 101 that you read as a Cadet PTD Officer at INTAN in 1981.

I am sure by now you are aware of the grave mistake you have committed in boldly pronouncing the first two sentences! A Freudian Slip perhaps, but nonetheless, a damaging one given your exalted position as the Number 1 Public Servant!

Be that as it may, I am confident as a career public servant you will reflect on this in a rational manner and reassure the People that the Public Service under your able stewardship will act in an impartial and professional manner, henceforth.

I believe at some point, in the course of the next 12 months the political neutrality of all public servants, in discharging their onerous duties, will surely be tested. Given the imminent GE13 you will need to prepare public servants to face the probability of change of Federal and/or State government(s).

You need to do two things starting now.

One, as the Chairperson of the Secretaries- General and Heads of Services Meeting, you need to reaffirm and remind that the principle of political neutrality must be upheld at all times, without fear or favour. In turn, all Service Heads including the Army and Police Chiefs, and all State Secretaries must be instructed to convey this important message to their respective personnel.

Two, you need to plan for the smooth transition of power post GE13. In this regard you will be best advised to study how the Civil Service of the United Kingdom prepared itself for all possible scenarios post Election 2010 in the UK. For further information on how admirably the UK Civil Service prepared and subsequently conducted itself in managing the formation of a Coalition Government in the UK please see link below:-

http://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publications/transitions-lessons-learned

I sincerely hope you will take the necessary steps to put in place a comprehensive set of rules and procedures that would reassure the People that the integrity of our democratic polity would not be compromised!

Lastly, I suggest that all transfer of power plans and guidelines be made public prior to GE13 so the People do not have to speculate on outcomes.

The ball is at your feet. I am confident you will deliver to the highest professional standards that all Public Servants must adhere to as prescribed under the Public Service Code of Conduct, and as enshrined in our Federal Constitution.

The People expect no less!

Ancaman DR Kassim Ahmad Terhadap Anwar Ibrahim : Nilai Rendah Seorang Sarjana Melayu

Tiada perkara yang memalukan nilai intelektual yang dijulang tinggi dalam masyarakat, apabila seorang sarjana mencerca seseorang yang lain apatah lagi dengan mengancam menggunakan kata-kata yang mencerminkan kerendahan nilai diri sendiri.

Terdorong dengan ucapan ‘separa sedar’ yang dikeluarkan oleh Dr Kassim Ahmad, Kelab Anwar Ibrahim (AIC) percaya wujud sesuatu yang tidak kena pada nilai diri Dr Kassim sehingga sanggup mengeluarkan kenyataan supaya Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim digantung kerana dituduh mengkhianati rakyat.

Malah dalam wawancara itu, Dr Kassim turut menghina himpunan rakyat pada 1998 yang diketuai oleh Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim sebagai perhimpunan ala Nazi, dan sekaligus menafikan hak rakyat untuk berhimpun dan menyatakan ekspresi terhadap kebobrokkan yang berlaku dalam negara.

AIC menyelar dan mengutuk sekeras-kerasnya kenyataan Dr Kassim Ahmad ini dan kecewa kerana merasakan perkara ini hanya berpaksi kepada kemarahan peribadi dan memuaskan hati sendiri semata-mata, Tuduhan bahawa Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim sebagai dalang yang mengarahkan pengharaman buku tulisannya adalah satu lagi rungutan tidak berasas.

AIC hairan bagaimana seseorang yang terpelajar, dan masak dengan susur galur politik negara boleh dipergunakan sewenang-wenangnya untuk kepentingan politik orang lain. Sebagai mantan Presiden sebuah parti Sosialis, Dr Kassim Ahmad tidak mendapat tempat yang sewajarnya dalam politik Umno apabila menyertai parti itu kemudiannya dan inilah faktor utama yang mendorong kekecewaannya.

MUHASABAH DIRI DAN HIDUP DALAM REALITI

Dr Kassim Ahmad sewajarnya bermuhasabah diri dan hidup dalam kenyataan bahawa tidak ada sesuatu yang sempurna dalam kehidupan sebagai ahli akademik dan politikus. AIC sebagai suara anak muda ingin menolak kebencian yang cuba ditanam oleh Dr Kassim Ahmad bukan sahaja kepada Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, tetapi juga kepada mana-mana individu politik di negara ini.

Sebagai seorang sarjana, Dr Kassim Ahmad harus sedar bahawa beliau sudah diberi peluang yang banyak untuk membuktikan kajian serta pandangannya. Beliau , pada 26 tahun yang lalu telah diberi ruang berdebat dengans seorang lagi tokoh iaitu Dr Ahmad Awang namun gagal meyakinkan umum tentang ideanya yang jelas menolak hadis.

Hiduplah dalam realiti bahawa tidak ada salahnya mengakui kesilapan diri, sebaliknya mengembalikan realiti itu untuk menyumbang kepada pembangunan masyarakat yang lebih baik. Tindakan dan amarah Dr Kassim Ahmad tidak menyumbang satu apa pun ke arah kebaikkan negara, tetapi inilah punca perpecahan dan kegoyangan intelektual yang akan menular dalam masyarakat.

Jika seorang sarjana boleh mengeluarkan satu kenyataan dan ancaman dahsyat, maka tidak hairan negara akan melahirkan generasi yang lebih tersasar pemikiran dan waktu itu Dr Kassim Ahmad pasti termenung memikirkan bahawa inilah jasa yang beliau taburkan dalam benih pembentukkan bangsa.

AIC dengan tegas menolak segala ancaman dan kenyataan keras Dr Kassim Ahmad, dan tidak apologetik untuk mengkritik tindakannya. Sebagai generasi baru, AIC tidak memilih untuk kagum dengan kelantangan Dr Kassim Ahmad yang tiada standard, malah akan melawan sekeras-kerasnya politik dan kenyataan kebencian yang serupa.

AIC percaya seseorang ahli akademik dan sarjana akan datang boleh menjadikan Dr Kassim Ahmad sebagai satu rujukan bahawa tidak semua perkara yang kita lakukan boleh dan berupaya menjadikan diri kita sebagai betul, sesekali berpijaklah di realiti dan terimalah kekalahan pemikiran sebagai pedoman.

GENERASI PENGGERAK ZAMAN

SAIFUDDIN SHAFI MUHAMMAD
Presiden
Anwar Ibrahim Club
Malaysia

Malaysia after regime change

Ooi Kee Beng - The Malaysian Insider


JUNE 30 — A dialogue about something as serious as regime change in Malaysia must examine at least two vast subjects.

Firstly, a thorough and open discussion about the historical conditions under which the Federation of Malaya, and then Malaysia, was constructed is vital to any deep and practical understanding of the strengths and failings of the political structure as it exists today.

Political solutions in times of inevitable change — as was the case in the region in the 1940s and 1950s — are about settlements between those wishing to cut losses and those seeking to maximise benefit. Those less able to make their voices heard were, simply put, left unheard. In such times, negotiations happen under threat, stress and duress; and the solution is a mixture of ad hoc measures and meticulous planning; and a blend of concession and conflict.

In Malaya in the decade after 1945, major actors included shell-shocked British colonial masters recently returned to a scene they did not and could not recognise; the Malayan communists; emergent independence movements stretching from far left to far right led by leaders surprised at their own daring and intoxicated by their apparent historical role; the sultans and rajas, and many more.

The main issues were: The Cold War; the status of the sultanates; the status of immigrants; the nature of the emerging country; the future of British power; and the timing of the transfer of power and to whom. Equally important and often forgotten is the role ideas coming out of neighbouring Indonesia played, and the impact that momentous political events happening in the former Dutch colony — especially the republican revolt in culturally related eastern Sumatra which culminated in the summary execution of aristocrats and others — had on the course of events on the peninsula.

Cutting losses for the British meant giving up the ill-fated Malayan Union almost as soon as it was announced, for fear of a social revolution also taking place in Malaya at a time when the Cold War was heating up. This, the British could not afford.

With the Federation of Malaya in place — an agreement between the British and the Malay leadership, which was highly conservative and supportive of the status quo in comparison to the Malayan Union — the war with the communists could be effectively fought.

At the same time, the related issues of immigrant rights and indigenous rights were solved through the construction of the Alliance, to which independence was given.

When this structure broke down in 1969, the diagnosis was that Malay poverty had not been alleviated and democratic practices had been too extreme. The post-May 13 regime was thus built upon a neutered parliament and a comprehensive nation-building programme fixated with issues of race. By 1990, religion had also become a major political discourse riding on the formidable back of the New Economic Policy.

The Alliance also transformed itself into the Barisan Nasional, which in many essential ways was a totally different creature from its predecessor. The power the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) gained through the new power structure, the new ideology, and the new laws could only grow excessively, and lead to economic and political excesses.

The second requirement in discussing regime change is to understand what the situation is like today, given how past cures to past ailments became addictions, and have locked political discourses into a fixed and shallow pattern, and given how global and national socio-political and socio-economic conditions have developed. In truth, had the latter not changed radically, the need for change that so many feel today would not have been as significant or as intense.

Wishing for change is one thing, but the country’s ability to handle that change is something else. It must be broadly admitted that the need for change was precipitated by the excesses of recent decades that also left the country with weaknesses that it must now remedy if it is to take full advantage of situation in order to leap into a new stage of national development.

Here, there is no need to reiterate socio-economic changes that many believe explain the socio-political processes that have occurred since 1998. It is more cogent instead to identify where effort must now be expended to ensure that a more united and happy country grows out of this transitional period.

Policy-making competition is the new game in town and throughout the country. And it is this that explains why the accelerating call for decentralisation seems so important. Too much centralisation is logically anathema to policy-making competition, simply put.

Aside from decentralisation measures, be these fiscal or not, certain trends need to be enhanced which are necessary if good, clean and effective governance is to be the long-term result. Here, I shall mention two of them.

First, Malaysia needs to continue developing a trustworthy and professional journalist culture that keeps an engaged citizenry informed about what is going on in the country and stimulates in citizens a sense of ownership in the governing of the country. Information technological advancements are already pushing things inevitably in that direction, but raising journalism to a higher professional level is an ethical imperative and a necessity that requires concerted and conscious effort from all involved.

Second, experts and intellectuals need to be brought back to the centre of policy making. Policymaking is too important to be left only to politicians. Politicians need the help of the various types of experts. For expertise to be brought to bear on policy making, you need institutions created for that purpose, either as think tanks, or advisory units within ministries and universities. Outsourcing of thinking to produce political spin is a practice that is demeaning to the citizenry and should be stopped.

What Malaysians need to realise when pushing for change is that the process will require them to discard what they are used to. They will have to rise above lowly feelings of envy, greed and racialism that the past encouraged in them, and instead call upon their nobler sentiments to build a country all can be proud of. — New Mandala

Death in custody – Choong Soy Soy (Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital/Bercham police station lock-up, 30 June 2009)

Three years ago today, Choong Soy Soy died in the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh, Perak. He was admitted into the hospital after having been arrested by the police three days earlier. 

Ipoh OCPD Assistant Commissioner Azisman Alias claimed that Choong Soy Soy had slipped and fallen in the toilet of the Bercham police station on 27 June 2009, where he was being detained after arrest.  He was admitted to hospital when he began bleeding from the nose, and died three days later after falling into a coma.  The police denied any foul play in the incident and termed it as sudden death.

Despite the requirement that all custodial deaths be investigated by inquiries conducted pursuant to Chapter XXXII of the Criminal Procedure Code, it does not appear that an inquest has been conducted into Choong Soy Soy’s death.

Every death in custody must be thoroughly and impartially investigated.  Choong Soy Soy’s death must not be relegated to a mere statistic.

Based on statistics disclosed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, 156 persons died in police custody from the year 2000 until February 2011.

We express our heartfelt condolences to Choong Soy Soy’s family and friends on this anniversary of his death.

King Wants Air Force Officers To Master Modern Technology

ALOR SETAR, June 30 (Bernama) -- Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah today advised Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) officers to master modern technology to be on par with their counterparts from the world's major powers.

He said mastering modern technology was also in line with the Air Force Next Generation (AF-NG) transformation initiative introduced by the RMAF in 2010.

Tuanku Abdul Halim said the RMAF was on track to becoming a dominant air force and one of the few to pioneer modern and state-of-the-art technology.

"To support this aspiration, RMAF officers need to equip themselves with the latest knowledge and skills in various fields to be able to stand equally tall with the air force officers of the major powers," he said at the presentation of certificates to 34 cadet officers at the Air Force College in Kepala Batas near here.

The batch is the 15th and last in a joint programme between the college and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia initiated in 1998. Beginning next year, the intake of RMAF officers would be conducted at the National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM).

The batch also created history when 21 of the trainees were named to the Dean's List and four obtained the first class diploma. All 34 trainees obtained 3.0 and above in grade point average (GPA).

Also present at the event were Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak, Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin and Chief of Air Force Tan Sri Rodzali Daud.

Free ISA 45 vigil held at Lake Gardens

A candlelight vigil calling for the release of 45 ISA detainees was held along a road near the Lake Gardens tonight.

Photographs: NashitaMN
Participants at the vigil held placards reminding passers by that the some of the detainees are believed to be in the 10th day of a hunger strike.



Why are there still ISA detainees when Najib announced last year that the ISA would be abolished?
If anything, the Kamunting Detention Centre should be shut down and turned into a museum piece as a permanent reminder of the human rights abuses under the ISA and a warning to future leaders to never again violate the basic rights of the people. That’s the proposal by the Abolish ISA Movement (GMI).

No Racist Remarks, BN Told

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional members have been warned not to utter racially sensitive remarks that could cause tension among the people.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also Barisan chairman, said the members were also told to refrain from making statements that could cause friction among component party members.

“We remind members not to make statements that hurt the feelings of others,” he said after chairing the Barisan supreme council meeting last night.

Najib dismissed as baseless the Opposition claims that he was delaying polls because of a lack of confidence. “Such a question does not arise. What is important is that we show our capability in continuously defending the rakyat,” he said.

He said the rakyat has given Barisan a five-year mandate to govern, and there is no reason to shorten the time-frame.

“Our level of confidence is based on public support for 1Malaysia- themed programmes and various new products and transformation programmes,” he said.

The meeting, which Najib described as “just a routine meet”, also discussed the programmes and initiatives that have been organised by the Government and the Barisan.

“We spoke about the encouraging response from the people during visits to the ground by myself and the deputy Prime Minister. This shows that the people’s confidence in Barisan Nasional is growing,” he said.

“The council also has taken note that the Government has increased its engagement with various sections of the public. Among them are recent ones like the TR1MA programme with taxi drivers and the UTC (Urban Transformation Centre) initiative in Melaka. We will continue these people-friendly initiatives,” said Najib.

The council meeting was attended by all component parties leaders. - The Star