| A blog posting urging the state authorities to probe the alleged sexual abuse of young Penan women in Sarawak’s Baram has angered Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu Numpang so much that he singled out the blogger for criticism at the state cabinet meeting yesterday. The blogger, Joseph Tawie, a former police press liaison officer and now freelance writer, accused state leaders of trying to cover up the controversy in his blog, The Broken Shield. “If there are some truth, then the truth will have an embarrassing effect on our (state) government leaders.” According to rumours, the land has been given to a company owned by an individual who is related to a state government leader. |
Friday, 17 October 2008
Penan sexual abuse: DCM Jabu ticks off blogger
According to a state cabinet minister who asked not to be identified, Jabu also expressed his displeasure at 
The blogger also referred 
PAS leader, 26 others arrested during demolition
(Malaysiakini)A total of 27 people, including a local PAS leader and three women, were arrested in Kampung Baru Plentong Tengah, Johor Bahru, for attempting to stop the demolition of the squatter settlement.
Also arrested was the villagers' action committee chairperson Jameon Abdullah and secretary Taslim Nani.Contacted on his mobile phone later, Taslim said they were taken to the Johor Raya police station. He also revealed that Sameon had fainted when the police arrested him.
According to Taslim, the police had arrested them when they held hands and formed a human barricade on the road leading to the village inhabited by about 2,400 people.
He said PAS Johor state liaison committee member Syed Othman Syed Abdullah was also picked up.
Predominantly Malay village
The demolition exercise was carried out after the developer Bukit Lenang Sdn Bhd obtained a court order.
He said that the houses which have been demolished so far are vacant units.
It is learnt that some 100 Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel and some 200 police personnel, including those in plainclothes, were deployed in the area.
The predominantly Malay Kampung Baru Plentong Tengah - considered similar to Kuala Lumpur's Kampung Baru - is believed to have been in existence for nearly three decades.
Meanwhile, lawyers John Fernandez, Kuna Nadesan and Mathews George are attempting to meet with those arrested.
When contacted earlier, Fernandez said the lawyers were not allowed to meet with the detainees or the investigating officer.
At about 8pm, all 27 were released on RM1,000 police bail each. They have been ordered to appear at the Johor Jaya police station on Oct 31.
Hindraf ban: Opposition to benefit
Criticising the ban, he said the opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat would capitalise on the issue and lure more Indian Malaysians into its fold.
Sivakumar also took Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar to task for claiming that Hindraf had incited hatred between the races."Miba is unhappy to learn of the minister's version that Hindraf has been inciting hatred. This is not true, the focal point is about rights and equal treatment for all," he told Malaysiakini.
Sivakumar also disagreed with the minister over his assertion that Hindraf had tarnished the nation's image in the international arena.
"Miba feels that the arrest and continued detention without trial of the five Hindraf leaders and others under the Internal Security Act is the main reason the international community looks down on Malaysia.
"This is what that has damaged the reputation of the country in the eyes of the world," he said.
Last December, five Hindraf leaders, P Uthayakumar, R Kenghadharan, T Vasanthakumar, M Manoharan and V Ganabatirau were detained under the ISA shortly after a mammoth protest which saw some 30,000 Indian Malaysians taking to the streets of Kuala Lumpur in protest
Recently, the movement came under fire after its leaders and supporters visited Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's Hari Raya open house to convey their opposition against the security law.
Protracted dissatisfaction
Meanwhile, Sivakumar felt that banning Hindraf would do little good for the ruling coalition as it failed to address the core issues.
"Banning Hindraf is one thing, but the mother of all Indian protests which happened in the March 8 general election, the Makkal Sakthi (people’s power), is the feeling of being sidelined under the New Economic Policy for far too long."It is about the desire to be treated equally and to be given a fair share of opportunities in the civil, business and education sectors as well as the need to respect their places of worship in terms of indiscriminate demolitions," he said.
"These are the grouses of the community, no one can imprison this spirit," he stressed.
On the same note, the Johor-based businessman called on all state leaders to emulate Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman in dealing with the problems faced by the Indian community.
Although he is a BN leader, Sivakumar said, the menteri besar has taken a personal approach to the woes faced by the community by continuously meeting with Indian-based NGOs and resolving their grievances.
"This is the best method of approach which all state heads should adopt. They should try to solve the problems of the grassroots irrespective of ethnicity," he added.
Let police and court decide
In a related development, Syed Hamid said the government would let the police and court to decide on the action to be taken against Hindraf.
He said the police would carry out a thorough investigation and it was up to the court to pass sentence if they were found guilty.
The government would not tolerate any extremist group regardless of race or religious background as the government had taken action against Al-Arqam, Al-Ma'unah and Kumpulan Militan Malaysia in the past, he said.
"The government's priority is to protect the security of Malaysians," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
The home minister reiterated that Hindraf activities had consistently broken laws, and their illegal demonstrations turned violent and incited racial hatred.On the open house visit, he said: "They disseminated messages that could cause racial and religious tension. They created fear among the people. They even threatened people's lives."
"Although the government is willing to listen to the people's grievances and even utterances of unpleasant words, it cannot tolerate groups that propagate extremism and stir up racial and religious tension."
He said the Indian community was not neglected in this country as they were quite well represented with 14 Indian members of parliament, 21.4 percent in the legal fraternity, 18.4 percent in the field of medicine and their overall income was 1.2 times higher than the income of the Malays.
With regard to those living under the poverty line, the Indians comprised 2.9 percent, Chinese 0.6 percent and Malays 8.3 percent, he said.
Syed Hamid added that there was a ratio of one temple to 149 Hindus and one mosque to 2,300 Muslims in this country.
Asked why only now the government banned the group, he said the government had to first carry out a thorough investigation.
On the timing of the ban prior to Deepavali on Oct 27, the home minister said it was the duty of the government to protect peace and stability in this country at all times.
Help the needy community
Suhakam: Prove Hindraf a threat
“Suhakam is of the opinion that a ban on Hindraft will not resolve the issues being championed by this group of individuals and therefore encourages the relevant agencies to address the genuine grievances which are socio-economic in nature,” said commissioners Simon Sipaun, Michael Yeoh and Denison Jayasooria in a joint statement.
They were concerned that the ban would further alienate the group from mainstream Malaysian society and asked for the ban to be rescinded.
The trio want the government to produce evidence of the movement being a threat to public order and morality - a feeling shared by others.
“It was cowardice and arrogance - a clampdown of genuine voices of dissent,” said DAP Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran.
“Its (18-point) demands should indeed be incorporated into the national socio-economic policy,” he said - critical of Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar for not informing Parliament beforehand.
Ostrich behaviour
Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong characterised it as the government “burying itself in the sand like an ostrich” and losing further Indian support.
"The government should understand that with or without Hindraf, the community was unhappy with the way their cultural, religious and basic needs were trampled on," he said.
Liew lambasted socio-economic policies which marginalised the lower income groups in Malaysia, making many Indians, Malays and Chinese living in abject poverty.
“The government had kow-towed to demands made by a small group of Umno right-wing advocates to ban Hindraf,” he said.
Civil rights activist and former Gerakan leader Dr Toh Kin Woon called it distasteful and ridiculous since they are banning a NGO struggling for disenfranchised Indians.
“If the federal government is sincere, it’ll find the root causes of Indian dissatisfaction, rather than to resort to such harsh actions,” he said.
Toh argued that poor Indians - not unlike other ethnicities - lack upward social mobility opportunities, and are mired in generational poverty. Therefore the government should work with Hindraf to address the issues.
“Declaring Hindraf illegal will not only resolve the problem, but exacerbate the situation,” he summed up.
Hindu Action Network (HAN) chief coordinator G Mugunthan asked Syed Hamid to clarify his decision.
“Hindraf was never an armed struggle. It was a harmless movement championing the cause of marginalised minorities and protesting against repressive security laws,” he said, repeating similar calls to revoke the ban.
Save Ourselves secretary BK Ong questioned the legal basis of the decision.
“Without such evidence, the charges are rather unfounded and libellous,” he said adding that the reasons behind the decision were questionable.
He postulated that if Syed Hamid was doing this because of Hindraf’s illegal assemblies, then Umno and PAS too should be banned for their NEP demonstrations in Penang and Bar Council’s forum intrusion in Kuala Lumpur respectively.
“Ban on Hindraf was blatant prejudice and injustice.
“Is this the sign of things to come after the Umno leadership change?” he asked.
Ahimsa movement
“If the movement was a threat to national security, then former Indian independence hero Mahatma Gandhi’s Ahimsa movement should also be deemed as a terrorist organisation,” said United Hindu Religious Council (UHRC) deputy president AK Suppayah
He believes the ban was a bad omen for the BN federal government, just like how police brutality at the Nov 25 Hindraf rally last year led to their electoral losses in March.
Bayan Baru MCA division vice-chairperson Ooi Chuan Aik felt that the government should have adopted a softer approach.
Anti-ISA Movement (GMI) chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said the ban would not change the situation since the issue was about managing and engaging’ Hindraf and its demands.
Penang Makkal Sakti Welfare Association (Pemaswa) deputy chairperson MC Pitchay views the ban as part of government strategy to quell the community’s insurgence against injustice and discrimination.
“The government may have a hidden agenda to establish a camouflaged pro-BN NGO in Hindraf’s mould to hoodwink the Indian community,” he said.
PAS national unity chairperson Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said the government should have dealt with the movement professionally and not politically, calling on the accusations against the movement to be heard in court.
He also invited Hindraf to move into mainstream civil rights struggles in the country and to appear less as an extreme Hindu movement.
Hindraf's exiled leader suspends all activities
Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Waythamoorthy today said that he was suspending all activities of the movement as a result of the ban by the government.
"I have instructed our coordinators to suspend all activities. I am also urging all our sympathisers and supporters not to take part in activities that is claimed to be organised by Hindraf from today onwards," he told Malaysiakini.
He urged them to await further instructions from him on the movement's next course of action.
"We are presently taking legal advice on this matter as well," he said.
Waythamoorthy also urged supporters to wear orange-coloured t-shirts over the weekends to show their support for Hindraf
Earlier in a statement, Waythamoorthy described the government's decision to ban the movement as a cowardly act.
“It is meant to suppress and oppress the minority Indian (Malaysian) community and the prime minister should step in and revoke the decision,” he said in a statement from his London base.
“Hindraf represents a very deep feeling experienced in the hearts and souls of millions of Indians both locally and internationally,” he added.
The self-exiled leader said Hindraf’s struggle is to highlight the plight of Indian Malaysians who have been systematically marginalised, adding that the government does not understand this.
“Hindraf represents the Indian commoner, the hardworking oily-faced man who is made fun of in the streets, the man whom people step on, the man who walks past you, yet you notice him not.
“They all do not wither away with this illegal declaration. The government obviously has a primitive understanding of the situation. They cannot see a genuine problem within a significant section of Malaysian society."
ROS investigated Hindraf
The lawyer compared the movement with the French and American civil revolutions and, more pertinently, with the abolition of apartheid in South Africa.
He claimed that Hindraf’s struggle had raised the self-worth of all Malaysians.
“We demand dignity and equality for each and every Malaysian, which cannot be abandoned and diluted for the glory of the Umno-led government intent on stirring racial tension and maintaining the status quo,” Waythamoorthy added.
The government, however, has rejected claims that the ban is about the ethnicity or the faith of Hindraf followers.
“The government denies racial or religious bias in banning Hindraf. It is up to the police to decide what action to take against those associated with the movement,” English-language daily Star today quoted Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar as saying.
Announcing the ban yesterday, the minister explained that the decision was made after the Registrar of Societies investigated the movement, and his ministry found that “Hindraf had (been) and was being used for unlawful purposes and posed a threat to public order and morality".
Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, president of the national human rights society Hakam, said the ban was unnecessary and showed a lack of sensitivity to the minority community which shunned the government in March elections.
"Hindraf is more a wave of consciousness than an organisation and in declaring it illegal the government has possibly alienated the Indian community even more," he told AFP.
Koh: Listen to their woes
In a related development, Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon expressed hope that despite the ban on Hindraf, the cause of the movement will be given due attention by the authorities.
"The issues affecting the Indian community brought up by Hindraf and other NGOs should be quickly and properly addressed," he told a press conference at Parliament House today.
He said a cabinet committee on the Indian Malaysian community chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has already implemented a few policies, although the outcome will take time to be seen.
"We hope this (ban) will not stifle the freedom of expression by individuals, groups and legally registered organisations. It is an important hallmark for the society to allow for freedom of expression and association" stressed Koh.
He was met by reporters after attending a BN management committee meeting chaired by Najib. The deputy premier and other BN leaders left without speaking to reporters.
The meeting had discussed the rebranding of BN among other aspects, but Koh declined to reveal details.
RCI to clear Najib of swirling allegations - why silence from DPM?
Firstly, let me praise the new de facto Law Minister, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz for his prompt seven-hour response to my parliamentary speech on the 2009 budget yesterday on the outcome of investigations into Anwar Ibrahim’s police report against the Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail for fabricating evidence over his “black eye” incident ten years ago.
Nazri’s prompt response should be an example to all Ministers with regard to serious allegations whether made in or outside Parliament if the government is serious about accountability, transparency, integrity and good governance.
I raised many issues in my 2009 budget speech in the past two days which have caused a tsunami of crisis of confidence affecting the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister-in-waiting, the Attorney-General, the Inspector-General, the judiciary on a whole spectrum of issues whether on anti-corruption, human rights or nation-building.
For instance, I had called for the immediate resignation of the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan for failing in his most important task to reduce crime and make Malaysians, investors and tourists feel safe again in the country, and instead, he appeared to be more interested in being a lobbyist or canvasser for mega police projects like the mega police helicopter and the RM4.2 billion wireless digital “E-Police Force Solution”.
I have also given other reasons for my call on Musa Hassan to resign as IGP to allow the Deputy Inspector-General Police to take over in order to boost the service morale of the police rank-and-file.
Why has there been no equally prompt response like my call for the resignation of Gani Patail to resign as Attorney-General in Parliament yesterday?
Similarly, I had called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry to clear the Prime Minister-in-waiting, Datuk Seri Najib Razak from all the allegations and innuendos haunting and hounding him, including the C4-murder of Mongolian Altantunya Shariibuu, defence commissions for the French Scorpion submarines and the Russian Sukhoi jetfighters so that Malaysians, regardless of political differences, can feel proud of him as the nation’s sixth Prime Minister next March with regard to his undoubted honesty, reputation and integrity, why is there no prompt or instant response?
It has been reported from Barisan Nasional backbencher sources that Najib has this morning again denied any abuse of power in the Altantunya murder case – referring in particular to the exchange of SMS messages between him and Abdul Razak Baginda’s lawyer, Datuk Shafee Abdullah – the facts of which have not been denied by Najib.
Why then is Najib not prepared to take up the challenge to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to categorically clear him of all the allegations swirling around him – it is no exaggeration to say that no top political leader in the country in the nation’s 51-year-history had been haunted and hounded by so many allegations and all very serious ones as now the case with Najib?
If Najib has nothing to hide – and he has been making such an assertion – why is he not accepting the opportunity of a Royal Commission of Inquiry which would clearly him categorically and definitively, not only in the eyes of Malaysians but the international community?
Let me come now to Nazri’s response.
I said in Parliament yesterday that I have been informed that the Solicitor-General has come to the finding that the Attorney-General had abused his powers in the fabrication of evidence in Anwar’s “black eye” incident ten years ago.
Nazri denied and said that the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) is still investigating Anwar’s police reports on the matter against the Attorney-General and the Inspector-General of Police.
What is pertinent is Nazri’s admission that he had not contacted the Solicitor-General.
Unless there is a stronger rebuttal, I stand by what I said in Parliament.
What is of public interest is why the authorities are taking so long to complete investigations into Anwar’s report against the Attorney-General and the outcome.-LimKitSiangBlog
Company Director Sues Nallakaruppan For RM 10 Million
The suit by L.Balasupramaniyam was filed at the High Court registry here by his counsel, R.S. N.Rayer.
In his statement of claim Balasupramaniyam said that the report lodged at the Seberang Jaya police station accused him and several others of threatening Nallakaruppan and his workers at the MIUP operations room between 9pm and 10pm on Aug 19.
He said that he was on a business trip to Thailand between Aug 18 and 20.
As a result of the report, he was detained for investigation at the Bandar Perda police station and released on Aug 23 on police bail.
Balasupramaniyam claimed that the detention had affected his image as a company director and subjected him to mental and emotional stress.
He is seeking special damages totalling RM10 million besides general, aggravated and exemplary damages.
Rayer told reporters that a notice of demand dated Sept 9 was sent to Nallakaruppan seeking a retraction of the allegation in the police report and a public apology.
The suit was filed after Nallakaruppan failed to do meet the demand within the specified period, he said.
-- BERNAMA
*******
MIC To Continue Efforts To Have Detained Hindraf Leaders Freed
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- MIC will continue efforts to secure the freedom of five leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) who have been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) since December last year, said its president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu.
He said MIC was pursuing the matter on humanitarian grounds and also because of requests from the detainees' families.
"We are sympathetic to their plight," he told reporters after chairing a meeting of MIC's central working committee (CWC) at the party's headquarters here today.
Samy Vellu said this in response to the government's action in banning Hindraf yesterday.
The five detained are R. Kengadharan, 41, M. Manoharan, 47, V.Ganabatirau, 35, P. Uthayakumar, 47, and K. Vasantha Kumar, 35.
Asked if the ban would further erode support for the party, Samy Vellu said MIC had its own strength in fighting for the interests of the Indian community.
"I don't think anything will push the Indians away," he said.
He also disagreed that the ban had caused the community to "lose their voice", saying the government had formed a cabinet committee specifically to hear grievances and solve problems the community was facing.
Samy Vellu said he would be raising to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak several matters concerning the community including the situation of 22 Tamil schools planned to be built at a cost of RM30 million but now had encountered problems because the cost had risen to over RM100 million.
He added that the MIC would hold its Deepavali open house on Oct 27 at Dewan Merdeka, Putra World Trade Centre here from 10am to 1pm.
-- BERNAMA
***
Action On Hindraf Should Be Example To Others
TAWAU, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- The government's move to outlaw the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) should be a signal to organisations in the country to always follow the nation's laws, said Sabah Assistant Finance Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan.
Supporting the action, although he felt it was late in coming, the Apas state assemblyman said if the government had not acted more serious problems could have arisen later.
"If the government did not act, it could lead to a bad situation, as the group can spark racial and religious tensions," said Tawfiq, who is also Tawau Umno division chief. He was speaking to Bernama here today.
He was commenting on Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar's statement that Hindraf had been banned.
According to Tawfiq, Hindraf supporters' disturbance at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's Hari Raya open house was not Hindraf's first such act and it could cause racial and religious tensions if not dealt with early.
"Actually the government should have acted earlier but its give and take attitude was taken advantage of by Hindraf to become bolder," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Pakatan leaders condemn Hindraf ban
"There are a lot of coalitions and non-governmental organisations which have emerged and bring up all sorts of issues. It is strange why Hindraf has become the only target," said the Tumpat MP.Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar yesterday revealed the decision to ban the movement after the ministry was satisfied with the facts and evidence which showed that "Hindraf had (been) and was being used for unlawful purposes and posed a threat to public order and morality".
Recently, Hindraf had come under fire for going to the ministerial Hari Raya 'open house' to deliver a message to free five of its leaders detained under the Internal Security Act.
According to Kamaruddin, this is the reason why the movement was banned.
"(But) their decision to make Hindraf an illegal body following the 'open house' visit is clearly against the principles of democracy and rights," he stressed.
Meanwhile, M Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) also condemned the decision by submitting an emergency motion to Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia to discuss the matter.
The speaker said he will decide on this by Monday.
Next ISA target?
Tian Chua (PKR-Batu) who also present said Pakatan leaders are worried that more civil society activists could be targeted and detained under the ISA following the ban.
He said that Hindraf could follow in the heels of Jemaah Islamiah (JI), where more than 80 alleged supporters of the Islamic movement had been detained.
"This (the ban) is a threat to civil society. There could be a mass arrest of activists who can be classified as Hindraf supporters.
"Now we are worried if more people and civil society activists could be targeted and be detained under ISA. That is why we are very concerned," he added.Kamaruddin said the ban could also become a smudge on democracy and the prime minister's reforms as the former has promised to do his best in his last five months in power.
"But now he has decided to take this drastic action on a peaceful open house move that was not something done in the middle of the night or creeping into the compound in his residence.
"There were also no reports of any violent act committed by them (Hindraf) towards anybody, let alone the prime minister that day," he added.
R Sivarasa, who also attended the press conference said the ban sends a "wrong and negative message about democracy in the country."
Other Pakatan leaders present at the press conference were Tony Pua (DAP-Petaling Jaya Selatan), Hatta Ramli (PAS- Kuala Krai), M Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai) and S Manikavasagam (PKR-Kapar).-malaysiakini
Anti-Najib campaign turns racial
Consultant Editor
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 - The campaign against Datuk Seri Najib Razak has taken racial and religious overtones.
Malaysia Today, the website once operated by jailed blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, published today what appeared to be a doctored picture of Najib performing religious rites dressed as a Hindu priest.
Accompanying the photograph was an article accusing Najib of using the services of a "faith healer, spiritual leader and voodoo master," known as Guruji.
This latest attack, posted anonymously, appears to be an attempt to drive a wedge between Najib and his most powerful constituency, the Malays.
By appealing to base racial instincts, the campaign against Najib invites comparisons to a similar strategy used successfully for the benefit of the Barisan Nasional coalition in 1990.
In the 1990 election campaign, with the Opposition apparently making inroads into BN strongholds, a photograph showing Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah wearing an East Malaysian headgear was widely distributed just days before polls.
The photograph of Tengku Razaleigh in the headgear, which bore motif similar to a crucifix, is credited with turning away significant numbers of Muslim votes from Semangat 46.
Now, Najib finds himself the brunt of what appears to be a similar campaign.
In the Malaysia Today article, he is alleged to be using Guruji to "neutralise" his enemies. It also alleges Najib and his wife are taking part in Hindu rituals.
The posting is the latest in what is turning into a campaign against Najib which has intensified since Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced he would not defend his Umno presidency next March.
Abdullah's decision appears to pave the way for Najib to become Umno president, and by convention the prime minister if BN remains in power.
Last week, the website posted a series of text message exchanges between Najib and Datuk Shafee Abdullah, the lawyer who initially represented Abdul Razak Baginda, who was eventually charged for abetment in the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Razak is a confidante of Najib and the SMS exchange appeared to imply the possibility that the deputy prime minister had interfered in investigations.
Najib has denied any abuse of power despite widespread criticism from Opposition parties who have called for an official investigation.
This week, a separate posting on Malaysia Today also published a letter from a local defence contractor alleging irregularities in the awarding of a contract to Eurocopter by the Defence Ministry while Najib was still the minister in charge.
PM Abdullah, who recently took over the defence portfolio, said yesterday he would be asking for a thorough briefing on the matter from Defence Ministry officials.
But despite the campaign against him, Najib remains the favourite candidate to become the next Umno president.
Government says no bias against Hindraf, opposition baffled by ban
By Shannon Teoh and Debra Chong
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 - The federal government today denied any racial or religious bias in banning the Hindu Rights Action Force yesterday.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said this today in response to the outcry from opposition parties over the outlawing of Hindraf.
He said it is now up to the police to take action against those who continue to associate with the local pro-Indian rights movement.
"The government's priority is to protect the security of Malaysians," he told reporters at his office, here.
He reiterated that Hindraf activities had consistently broken laws, and their illegal demonstrations turned violent and incited racial hatred.
Pakatan Rakyat MPs are, however, baffled by the Federal government's move. In a joint statement at Parliament today, the opposition coalition condemned the Home Ministry decision and its use of public order and national security as its rationale.
The statement read by Pas secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar commented that there were "hundreds of other civil rights movements in the country", many of which were also unregistered including supporters of Internal Security Act detainee Raja Petra Kamarudin who attended the Cabinet Hari Raya open house.
"We are puzzled as to why only Hindraf was singled out?" he queried, referring to Tuesday's questioning of Hindraf leaders by police concerning their presence at the open house.
"We urge the government to stop oppressing any civil rights movements. We also urge the government to release all ISA detainees and abolish the ISA," the Tumpat MP said.
PKR information chief Tian Chua echoed this call.
"Following this action, we might see more people and civil activists targetted and detained under the ISA," the Batu MP said.
Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang told The Malaysian Insider that the step is "counter-productive as the organisation is already not registered" in the country.
"It only sends out a message to Malaysian Indians that the government is completely unsympathetic and hostile towards you.
"It is utter folly. It shows how the government is completely clueless as to how to deal with a very real problem," the DAP parliamentary leader said.
R. Sivarasa, the MP for Subang, called it a "big mistake on the part of the government."
"Totally unwarranted, complete over-reaction," he emphasised.
The PKR vice-president stressed that the ban would only worsen the already vulnerable racial ties among the different ethnic groups.
"As Anwar says, the way to deal with Hindraf is to sit down and listen to them," he said, referring to opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's advice.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng also released a statement condemning the ban as vengeful and politically motivated "for contributing towards BN's loss of Indian votes in the last general
elections."
The Penang Chief Minister added that Syed Hamid's logic that Hindraf exploited racial issues is "perverse."
"Would Syed Hamid apply his own reasoning by banning UMNO, MCA or MIC?
"The government should act consistently by outlawing all racist organisations since promoting the interests of only one ethnic group is by its nature and character anti-Malaysian and not contribute to racial harmony," he concluded.
Ipoh Barat MP M. Kula Segaran has also submitted an emergency motion "over the unjust, unwarranted and ham-fisted ban of Hindraf" to the Speaker under Standing Order 18 (1) and hopes it will be debated on Monday.
In a press conference, Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon took a softer stance on the issue.
He noted that as Hindraf's application to be registered had been rejected, the organisation was now "illegal" in the context of the Societies Act but that the issues brought up by Hindraf should and are
being addressed.
He explained that issues facing Indians are being addressed by a special Cabinet committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak that has implemented important measures although the results have not been immediate.
"I hope this will not stifle the freedom of expression by individuals and groups and legally registered organisations in voicing out their grievances as this is a hallmark of a democratic society," he added.
Ex-Umno lawyer is new CJ
Zaki was for many years the legal counsel for Umno and had also served on the party's Disciplinary Committee.
The Malaysian Insider understands that the Rulers Conference meeting in Kuala Terengganu has consented to the appointment.
Zaki replaces Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamed who retires tomorrow. His elevation comes just one year after his controversial appointment as a Federal Court judge.
He has the distinction of being the first ever person elevated directly from the Bar to the Federal Court. Soon after his appointment to the Federal Court, he was made President of the Court of Appeal.
DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang was among those who urged the government against considering Zaki for the Chief Justice position, pointing out that it would herald another judicial crisis because of his close association with Umno.
The appointment of the Chief Justice is made through the recommendation of the outgoing Chief Justice to the Prime Minister. The PM in turn advises the Conference of Rulers on the appointment.
Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Alauddin Mohd Sheriff and Federal Court judge Datuk Ariffin Zakaria were reportedly among those being considered for the job.
Rulers: Do not question social contract
Following is the press statement in full issued by the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal, Engku Tan Sri Ibrahim Engku Ngah. :
"Press Statement issued by the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal on the role of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Malay Rulers regarding the special privileges, position, eminence or greatness of the Malay Rulers, Islam, Malay as the national language, the special position of the Malays, and genuine interests of the other communities in accordance with the Federal Constitution.
"The Malay Rulers who attended the meeting of the Conference of Rulers conferred on the issuing of this special joint press statement today.
"The Malay Rulers hold the constitutional role to safeguard the special privileges, position, eminence and greatness of the Malay Rulers, safeguard Islam, Malay as the National Language, and the genuine interests of the other communities in Malaysia.
"The actions of certain quarters in disputing and questioning these matters, which formed the primary basis for the formation of Malaysia and are enshrined in the Federal Constitution, had caused provocation and uneasiness among the people.
In retaliation, several quarters particularly Malay leaders whether in the government or non-governmental organisations as well as individuals had expressed their dissatisfaction and anger against those who had made the statements and reports and organised the forums.
"Among the reasons identified for these to have occurred is the cursory knowledge of those concerned regarding the historical background as to why these provisions were enshrined in the Federal Constitution and the influence of their attempts to implicate the principles of impartiality and justice without regard for the historical background and social condition of this country.
Narrow political interests are also a cause.
"Unless this phenomenon is arrested immediately, it can lead to disunity and racial strife that can undermine the peace and harmony which has all this while brought progress, development and success to the nation.
"As such, it is necessary for the Conference of Rulers to emphasise and remind all quarters of these constitutional provisions besides giving emphasis to the assurance of safeguarding the genuine rights of other communities.
It has to be emphasised that each provision in the Federal Constitution has undergone the process of discussion, consideration, consultancy, sacrifice and compromise of the highest degree for what has been championed, discussed, considered, benefited from as well as agreed to by all quarters concerned, until the realisation of the provisions in the Federal Constitution which are known as the Social Contract.
It is not proper to dispute and question this Social Contract and more so to subject it to a review or change because it is the primary basis of the formation of Malaysia.
Therefore, it is appropriate for the Malay Rulers to remind that there should never be any attempt ever to test and challenge issues related to the Social Contract.
"Truly, the leaders of the pre-independence era were insightful - far-sighted. They brought along with them the Malay Rulers for the negotiations to claim independence.
The Institution of the Rulers was retained and legally enshrined in the constitution of an independent Malaysia.
The Institution of the Rulers was accorded eminence, was positioned at the apex of Government, as the head of the country and the states, as a protective umbrella, ensuring impartiality among the citizens.
The Institution of Rulers takes on the role of being a check-and-balance factor to untangle complications, if any.
"The Conference of Rulers also calls on the Malays to be united to safeguard the privileges, position, eminence and greatness of the Malay Rulers, safeguard Islam, Malay as the national language, and the genuine interests of the other communities in Malaysia as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
It has to be emphasised that this agenda is more important and foremost than political or factional interests.
"Non-Malays should not harbour any apprehension or worry over their genuine rights because these rights are guaranteed under the Federal Constitution and provisions of the state constitutions of Malaysia contained in Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.
"It is hoped that with this emphasis, all confusion among the people regarding these matters can be contained and an atmosphere of peace, harmony and mutual respect can continue to exist among the people for the maintenance of order in the country."
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, attended the meeting today.
His Majesty was accompanied by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The two-day meeting, which ended today, was chaired by the Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah.
All the Rulers and Yang Dipertuas Negeri attended the meeting except the Rulers of Pahang, Johor, Terengganu, Perlis and Negeri Sembilan.
The Sultan of Pahang was represented by the Regent of Pahang, Tengku Mahkota Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah; the Sultan of Johor by the Tunku Mahkota of Johor, Tunku Ibrahim Ismail Sultan Iskandar; the Sultan of Terengganu by the President of the Regency Advisory Council Raja Tengku Sri Panglima Raja Tengku Baderulzaman Sultan Mahmud.
The Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan by the Regent of Negeri Sembilan, Tunku Naquiyuddin Ibni Tuanku Ja'afar; and the Raja of Perlis by the Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail.
Also present were the menteris besar and chief ministers except the Sarawak chief minister who was represented by State Planning and Resource Management Minister II Datuk Seri Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
The Keeper of the Rulers' Seal, Engku Tan Sri Ibrahim Engku Ngah, said matters related to defence, security, the national economy, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong scholarships, and proposals on the appointment of the Chief Justice, President of the Court of Appeal and Chief Judge of Malaya were discussed at the meeting. - Bernama
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Hindraf-PRESS STATEMENT
Declaring Hindraf as an illegal organization will in any case not banish the spirit that created Hindraf . Hindraf represents a very deep feeling experienced in the hearts and souls of millions of Indians both locally and Internationally.
This dastardly and ludicrous attempt by the Home minister to declare HINDRAF as an illegal organisation clearly indicates that the UMNO led government is at the end of their wit and shows that Malaysia is indeed a police state under the pretext of democracy.
The UMNO led government continued use of the sanctity of illegitimate laws such as ISA, Sedition Act, and now the Societies Act with their predatory acts against HINDRAF is a desperate attempt to silence legitimate voice of democracy.
The UMNO led government enjoys demonizing and bullying us on the pretext of law, public order, National security when all we are fighting for is to address the true and real condition of the downtrodden Malaysian Indians who have been systematically marginalized, suppressed and oppressed.
The UMNO government is not able to understand the phenomenon of Hindraf. Hindraf represents the Indian commoner, the hard working oily faced man who is made fun of in the streets, the man who people step on, the man who walks past you yet you notice him not. These are the people whom Hindraf represents – the marginalized and downtrodden Indians. They all do not wither away with this illegal declaration. The Government obviously has a primitive understanding of the situation, they cannot see a genuine problem within a significant section of the Malaysian society.
Look at the annals of history – when the people begin to demand what is truly theirs no governing elite have been able to stop them – take the French revolution, the American revolution, the anti-colonial and liberation movements through the first half of the 20th century and then the liberation of Africa in the late 20th century culminating in the abolition of apartheid in South Africa.
HNDRAF is peoples’ mass movement that seeks the moral and spiritual truth for the oppressed Malaysian Indians against the tyranny of the UMNO led government.
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HINDRAF's movement has raised the self worth of every individual in Malaysia and demand that the dignity and equality for each and every Malaysian cannot be abandoned and diluted for the glory of the UMNO led government whose only intention is to stir racial tension and maintain their status quo.
HINDRAF will not flinch with these threats and will continue its struggle against the UMNO regime in Malaysia as we can no longer be cowed nor are we any longer afraid. It is the people's mass movement for moral and spiritual truth on the basis of humanity against the tyranny of the current ruling government.
It is only fair for the Prime Minister to advise his Home Minister to revoke the order.
Waytha Moorthy
HINDRAF – CHAIRMAN
The Malaysian zero sum game
COMMENTARY
By Leslie LauConsultant EditorOCT 16 — The government's hostility towards the Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf), culminating in the outlawing of the organisation, and Utusan Malaysia's war with Teresa Kok has hardened the position of the nationalist Malay right behind Umno.
But it will have done Umno and the Barisan Nasional few favours in winning back the hearts and minds of Malay moderates or the support of the Chinese, Indian and other non-Malay communities.
By targeting Kok, Utusan and the nationalist Malays are hoping to rally the community against the “threat” of the Chinese DAP, as represented by the Seputeh MP.
Cheras Umno division head Datuk Wira Syed Ali Alhabshi has even set up a Tabung Azan to aid Utusan against the RM30 million defamation lawsuit filed against the paper by Kok.
His reasoning was that a lawsuit against Utusan was an act of hostility against all Malays and all Muslims.
Even Malaysian Press Institute chief executive officer Chamil Wariya made a thinly-veiled attempt at attacking Kok by writing a short story published last week in Utusan in which the protagonist, described as an anti-Malay female MP, is assassinated.
The jury is still out on whether such tactics by the more extreme forces of Umno will work in regaining Malay support lost to the opposition in the March general election.
But it is not likely to help the BN get back any of the non-Malay votes it lost.
The outlawing of Hindraf will certainly do no favours for the BN in engaging the disillusioned and disenfranchised of the Indian community.
By labelling the Hindraf as terrorist and extremist, the government hopes to galvanise the support of moderate, law-abiding conservative Malaysians.
But it runs the risk of allowing the Indian issue to fester, of hardening the stance of more extreme forces and turning a loosely-organised front into a legendary, mythical group united against the BN.
Already, a perception audit survey conducted by the independent Merdeka Centre a few months ago, before the Datuk Ahmad Ismail incident or the Hindraf Hari Raya episode, suggested that non-Malay support for the BN remained low.
Alarmingly, some of the findings also showed Malaysians remained highly suspicious of each other.
Some 37 per cent of non-Malays and non-Muslim Bumiputeras polled said they agreed that “the ultimate goal of Malay politicians is to restrict non-Malay cultures and religions”.
A total of 40 per cent of Malays and Muslim Bumiputeras polled believed, on the other hand, that “the Chinese and Indians are quietly planning to take over the country”.
Ultimately, the government’s hardline position against Hindraf and Utusan Malaysia’s war against Kok will appeal to such suspicions Malaysians have for each other.
The continuing suspicions we harbour against each other become justification for a curb on the discussion of “sensitive issues”.
But will curbing such discussions help repair race relations? Will it unite the races behind the BN?
Or will race relations in Malaysia forever be a zero sum game?
-themalaysianinsider
Najib again denies abusing power in Mongolian murder case
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak again denied any abuse of power in in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case, telling Barisan Nasional MPs today that his associate Abdul Razak Baginda would be free if there was any interference.
“Najib said there is no abuse of power. If he did, Razak would be free,” a BN lawmaker told The Malaysian Insider after the breakfast meeting outside Parliament with Najib who, as BN chief whip, holds regular strategy meetings with the coalition’s lawmakers.
The deputy prime minister made similar denials two days ago as he tries to quell a fresh storm of allegations swirling around the case after Malaysia Today carried a report detailing what it alleged was an exchange of text messages between Najib and prominent lawyer Datuk Shafee Abdullah.
The lawyer initially represented Abdul Razak who was eventually charged with abetting two police officers in the murder of Altantuya in 2006.
Opposition politicians and critics have seized on text message exchanges published in the Malaysia Today news portal, whose editor Raja Petra Kamarudin is detained under the Internal Security Act and is facing criminal charges of sedition and criminal defamation related to the murder case.
In one SMS, Najib allegedly tells the lawyer that Razak — his advisor — “will face a tentative charge but all is not lost”.
Malaysia Today said this message raises some questions about Najib’s role in the case. “Why did he mention ‘tentative’ charge and that ‘all is not lost’ for RB (Razak Baginda)? How would Najib know this before Razak was charged? These are important questions which will have ramifications, not just on this case but far beyond,” a posting on the website said.-themalaysianinsider
Hindraf: Our spirit will not be banished
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — Banning Hindraf will not banish the groundswell of emotion, says its chairman P. Waytha Moorthy.
In a press statement, the organisation’s leader-in-exile said that “declaring Hindraf as an illegal organisation will in any case not banish the spirit that created Hindraf” and called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi “to advise his Home Minister to revoke the order.”
“Hindraf represents a very deep feeling experienced in the hearts and souls of millions of Indians both locally and internationally,” he claimed.
Yesterday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar announced the outlawing of the movement, saying Hindraf would continue to pose a threat to public order, the security and sovereignty of the country as well as the prevailing racial harmony.
“The decision to declare Hindraf an illegal organisation is not based on one or two of its activities that are in contravention of the law but covers all the actions it has taken since being formed,” he said.
Waytha Moorthy, who has been in exile in Britain since his fellow leaders, the “Hindraf 5”, were detained under the Internal Security Act, called the decision “dastardly and ludicrous”.
He added it showed the government is at its wit’s end and that “Malaysia is indeed a police state under the pretext of democracy" as it has used the ISA, Sedition Act and now the Societies Act to silence a “legitimate voice of democracy”.
“The Umno-led government enjoys demonising and bullying us on the pretext of law, public order and national security when all we are fighting for is to address the true and real condition of the downtrodden Malaysian Indians who have been systematically marginalised, suppressed and oppressed,” he stated in the e-mail.
“Hindraf represents the Indian commoner, the hard working oily-faced man who is made fun of in the streets, the man who people step on, the man who walks past you yet you notice him not.”
This current saga has developed against the background of Hindraf’s presence at the Cabinet Hari Raya open house, where over 200 supporters attended to beseech Abdullah to free the Hindraf 5.
On Tuesday, three other Hindraf leaders — S. Jayathas, K. Selvam and K. Shanti, Waytha Moorthy’s wife — were requested to present themselves at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to have their statements on the incident recordedARAH EKONOMI KAPITALIS
Kita tidak nampak mereka kerana mereka semuanya bersarang di Wall Street New York dan di City of London. Mereka bebondong-bondong tetapi tidak bergerak. Mereka hanya mengalihkan angka dana mereka melalui internet. Tidak ada wang ringgit yang masuk, tetapi jika mereka menang 'judi' maka harta dan titik peluh kita ke kantung mereka. Inilah yang berlaku pada tahun 1997 dahulu.
DARI JELEBU
Hishamuddin Rais
Hari ini ekonomi kapitalis sedang menghadapi satu krisis yang amat besar. Kemungkinan dunia kita hari ini di bawa kembali ke zaman meleset sama seperti tahun 1929 dahulu cukup cerah.Ahli-ahli Dewan Congress Amerika telah meluluskan dana negara sebanyak 700 bilion dolar untuk membantu lembaga-lembaga bank yang berkemungkinan jatuh muflis. Di Britain Gordon Brown telah juga meluluskan 500 bilion sterling pound untuk tujuan yang sama. Sebuah lembaga penyimpan/peminjam dana – Northern Rocks – telah di hak miliknegarakan oleh kerajaan Parti Buruh Gordon Brown.
Dari mana asal usul krisis yang menghimpit ekonomi kapitalis ini ?
Semua ini berpunca dari asas ekonomi kapitalis yang mengajukan dasar neoliberalisma. Ertinya ekonomi kapitalis yang mengenepikan peranan daulah/state dan membuka pasaran bebas. Amerika Syarikat negara kapitalis terunggul di dunia telah mengenepikan sistem wang yang bersandarkan emas. Ini berlaku pada tahun 1971 apabila Presiden Nixon memansuhkan Bretton Woods Agreements.
Perjanjian ini dimansuhkan ketika kuasa imperial Amerika sedang melancarkan perang kolonial terhadap Vietnam, Laos dan Kamboja. Perang Indo-China ini telah membocorkan dan mengkoyak rabakkan ekonomi Amerika. Berbilion dolar telah digunakan dalam usaha sia-sia untuk mengalahkan gerakan nasionalis di bawah pimpinan Ho Chi Minh. Perang memerlukan perbelanjaan yang amat tinggi – nyawa dan harta benda.
Yang menjadi ganti Bretton Woods Agreements ialah Dolar Amerika. Negara-negara kapitalis terutamanya negara di Asia, Afrika dan Latin Amerika telah di paksa menerima pakai 'fiat money' yang hanya bersandarkan kepada kekuatan ekonomi Amerika. Justeru semua jual beli diantara negara-negara kapitalis terutama jual beli bahan bakar petrolium wajib menggunakan dolar Amerika.
Hasil awal dari tindakan dasar ekonomi ini telah menyelamat ekonomi Amerika yang mula merundum pada tahun-tahun 70'an. Ekonomi kapitalis Amerika dapat bernafas semula dan berkembang.
Rupa-rupa langkah Presiden Nixon itu hanya untuk membeli masa. Tiga puluh tahun kemudian semuanya berulang kembali. Amerika kini sedang melancarkan perang kolonial terhadap Iraq dan Afgahnistan. Kalau pada tahun 1971 Perang Vietnam melimpah ke Laos dan Kamboja, kini tahun 2008 Perang Iraq/Afghanistan telah melimpah ke Iran dan Pakistan.
Sebelum serangan ke atas Iraq bermula, Rumah Putih secara 'romantik ' telah memberi anggaran 50 bilion dolar sebagai belanja perang. Hari ini angka resminya telah mencecah hampir 600 bilion dolar. Perang di Iraq memerlukan 300 juta dolar sehari. Ada yang menganggarkan diantara 1 hingga 2 bilion dolar seminggu akan digunakan di Iraq.
Seorang pakar ekonomi Linda Bilmes dari Kennedy School of Government di Harvard, dan Joseph Stiglitz pemenang hadiah Nobel laureate Ekonomi yang juga bekas penasihat ekonomi Bill Clinton telah meletakkrer44+++aaaan harga 2 trilion dolar sebagai belanja perang di Iraq hingga ke hari ini.
Justeru peperangan di Iraq dan Afghanistan ini sedang mengancam ekonomi Amerika dan ekonomi dunia kapitalis – sama seperti ancaman di zaman Perang Vietnam dahulu.
Dalam masa yang sama dasar neoliberal juga telah memberi ancaman yang sama. Banyak peraturan jual beli, peraturan urus niaga yang menjaga kepentingan negara-negara kecil telah di lupuskan atas paksaan perjanjian World Trade Organisation ((WTO ) atau atas nasihat Bank Dunia.
WTO dan Bank Dunia adalah dua lembaga yang di wujudkan oleh kuasa imperial Amerika untuk memastikan kepentingan ekonomi Amerika berjalan lancar tanpa ganguan. Dua lembaga ini mengajukan dasar-dasar neoliberal dan memastikan pasaran dibuka seluas mungkin untuk kaum pemodal.
Peraturan dan perjanjian yang dilihat tidak menguntungkan kaum pemodal akan dihapuskan. Negara-negara Dunia Ketiga tidak dapat bertahan dari serangan dasar PENSWASTAAN yang dipaksakan ke atas mereka oleh WTO dan Bank Dunia.
Selain dari belanja perang dan dasar neoliberal ini - ekonomi kapitalis juga sedang berhadapan dengan masaalah struktur sistem kapitalis ini sendiri. Di zaman meleset tahun 1929 dahulu, Amerika tidak berperang tetapi berhadapan dengan masaalah keyakinan terhadap lembaga-lembaga bank.
Kali ini keyakinan terhadap lembaga bank datang kembali bersama bencana perang – dua-dua datang sekali harung. Memang betul jika diperhatikan ekonomi kapitalis ini ada putaran jatuh/bangun setiap sepuluh tahun – 1974 – 1988, 1997, 2008 - tetapi kali ini bebeza. Ini bukan pusingan krisis sepuluh tahun sekali lagi. Ianya lebih dari itu.
Dunia kapitalis bukan sahaja berhadapan dengan pengeluaran yang berlebihan (surplus production) malah strukturnya telah hampir hancur. Rakyat dunia tidak lagi mahu menerima dolar sebagai wang tukaran. Apabila dolar tidak lagi di yakini, maka nilai dolar jatuh.
Dalam suasana nilai dolar jatuh, Federal Reserve – badan swasta yang berhak mengeluarkan dolar – mengambil jalan pintas. Federal Reserve terus mencetak dolar untuk dijadikan bahan export utama Amerika. Hasilnya ada lambakan dolar di pasaran dunia. Bila dolar melambak maka nilainya semakin merosot. Ini samalah seperti apa yang pernah terjadi kepada ibu dan ayah kita dengan Duit Batang Pisang di zaman Jepun menjajah Tanah Melayu pada tahun 1941-1945 dahulu.
Untuk memastikan dolar terus di terima pakai, kuasa imperial telah menggunakan ancaman kekuatan tentera untuk memastikan jual beli terutama bahan bakar petrol akan terus dinilai dengan dolar. Harus dingati salah satu sebab kenapa Saddam Hussein dijatuhkan ialah kerana Saddam telah meninggalkan dolar dalam hal jual beli minyak. Iran, yang kini dianggap musuh, telah juga meninggalkan dolar dan beralih kepada Euro dalam hal jual beli minyak petrol. Langkah yang sama juga sedang diambil oleh Russia. Langkah meninggalkan dolar negara-negara ini terus membantu penurunan nilai dolar.
Satu lagi musibah yang sedang menyerang sistem ekonomi kapitalis ialah munculnya – perniagaan bentuk baru. Perniagaan ini bukan membuat sesuatu atau menghasilkan sesuatu barangan. Kalau kita memotong getah, hasilnya ialah getah. Kalau kita memburuh menanam padi hasilnya ialah beras.
Perniagaan bentuk baru- tidak membuat apa-apa barangan - ianya hanya membuat spekulasi tentang tentang harga barangan masa depan dan nilai mata wang dari sebuah negara ke sebuah negara. George Soros, nama yang dikenali di Malaysia hanya salah seorang dari beratus-ratus peniaga bentuk ini.
Perniagaan ini lebih tepat kalau kita kenali sebagai – berjudi/betting. Berniaga mata wang ini tidak produktif. Ianya tidak menghasilkan apa-apa barangan/products. Jenis perniagaan ini muncul hasil dari dasar neoliberalisma. Perniaga jenis ini akan berbondong ke hulu ke hilir dalam dunia global mencari pasaran untuk berjudi.
Kita tidak nampak mereka kerana mereka semuanya bersarang di Wall Street New York dan di City of London. Mereka bebondong-bondong tetapi tidak bergerak. Mereka hanya mengalihkan angka dana mereka melalui internet. Tidak ada wang ringgit yang masuk, tetapi jika mereka menang 'judi' maka harta dan titik peluh kita ke kantung mereka. Inilah yang berlaku pada tahun 1997 dahulu.
Dalam masa kurang lebih 6 bulan krisis ekonomi kapitalis ini akan sampai kepada kita. Di Amerika dan Eropah pada masa ini sedang berhadapan dengan zaman meleset. Rakan niaga kita di Amerika Utara dan di Eropah akan mengurangkan permintaan. Apabila ini berlaku maka banyak pabrik dan kilang akan ditutup. Banyak yang akan hilang pekerjaan.
Inilah hakikat krisis ekonomi global kapitalisma.
Sekarang para pemimpin kita wajib membuat satu dasar ekonomi baru yang bersandarkan kepada ekonomi pertanian. Bumi Hijau seharusnya dijadikan dasar oleh Pakatan Rakyat. Bumi Hijau bermakna kita mengajukan penanaman bahan-bahan makanan dan bukan pembuatan barangan. Apabila zaman meleset sampai kita memiliki beras yang cukup. Kita memiliki sayuran, ikan, daging, bijirin dan buah-buahan yang cukup.
Kita pasti tidak dapat makan Proton. Kita tidak dapat makan komputer chips kerana ianya bukan potato chips. Dengan asas ekonomi pertanian yang kukuh pasti sedikit sebanyak akan dapat membantu orang ramai dari dilanggar zaman meleset yang akan sampai tidak lama lagi.
3,500 years of the Sedition Act
It is clear that the Sedition Act can solve all our problems. The Sedition Act, properly and seriously implemented, would result in the entire world sharing just one religion. There would not be so many religions, which, today, are the source of most of the world's problems.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
There is an old law which many Malaysians do not realise still exists in this country. This law is called the Sedition Act. How old is this law, you may ask. Trust me, it is very, very old.
The Sedition Act was already around 3,000 or 3,500 years ago during the time of the Egyptian Pharaohs. At that time a man called Musa -- namesake of Musa Hitam, Musa Aman and Musa Hassan; who are all the exact opposite of the Musa of old Egypt -- received a message from God. And the message is that the Pharaoh is not God, as he believed he was, and Musa was to go tell him so.
Of course Musa was scared because he was aware of the Sedition Act and anyone who disputes that the Ruler of Egypt is God will be dealt with severely. So Musa asked God for permission to bring his brother along since his brother had the gift of the gab and was able to 'spin' just like the Bloggers of modern days. Knowing that a lot of spinning would be required to counter Pharaoh's claim of divinity, God agreed and Musa and his brother then went and confronted the Pharaoh.
The Pharaoh asked Musa what are the credentials to become God. Musa then replied that God gives life and God takes life. The Pharaoh then sentenced Musa to death thereby 'taking his life'. The Pharaoh then commuted the death sentence thereby 'giving back' Musa his life.
"So I have just taken life and given life," argued the Pharaoh. "That means I am God."
That was certainly a very smart move indeed. So what is the moral of this story? Simple. If the Internet and Blogs had been around 3,000 or 3,500 years ago, the Pharaoh would have been the King of Bloggers since he is the best spin-doctor in history.
But Musa insisted that the Pharaoh was not God and this resulted in the Pharaoh invoking the Sedition Act on him. Any act to make the people hate or turn against the Ruler is an act of sedition and punishable under the Sedition Act. However, Musa did not play fair. He skipped bail and escaped from Egypt and this resulted in the new nation of Israel being created. And, ever since, this has been the cause of great turmoil and countless deaths. If the Pharaoh had arrested Musa under the Sedition Act and had not allowed him bail then, today, there would be no turmoil and chaos in this world and we would all be living in a peaceful world, in particular in the Middle East.
Slightly over 2,000 years ago, another person by the name of Isa came along. This was Isa The Man, not ISA the Internal Security Act. Isa too was seditious and he turned the people against the Rulers. Of course Isa was not really that successful because he only had about a dozen followers, not even enough to form an Umno branch, which requires more members than that. But the Ruler made the great mistake of making a martyr out of Isa and his support grew, until today where he has more than one billion followers.
That was certainly not a very smart move indeed. So what is the moral of this story? Simple. Never make a martyr of someone who commits the crime of sedition, as then his or her following will grow beyond controllable proportions.
1,400 years or so ago, another man came along. This man was called Muhammad (but he had only one Muhammad in his name, not like today where we have people with two Muhammads in their name). For ten years he tried turning the people against the Rulers of the tiny state called Mekah. Finally, the Mekah government could stand it no longer and they tried arresting Muhammad under the Sedition Act.
But Muhammad managed to escape to another small village called Medina. Within 12 years this village grew into a city and they managed to build a large army and then went back to Mekah to topple the government.
That was certainly a very smart move indeed. So what is the moral of this story? Simple. Never allow anyone who commits the crime of sedition to escape to another country, as he or she can then build up a large army and come back to topple the government.
These examples of Musa, Isa and Muhammad have taught the world a thing or two. Firstly, never allow anyone to commit the crime of sedition. Secondly, sedition is not about punishing someone for lying. Sedition is about punishing someone who tells the truth. And that was demonstrated in Penang not too long ago when Marina Yusoff was found guilty of sedition for telling the truth -- yes, she proved that she had told the truth and had not lied. Marina Yusoff wrongly thought that if she could prove she was telling the truth she would escape punishment. Little did she realise that the Sedition Act does not punish you for lying. It punishes you for telling the truth. And Musa, Isa and Muhammad too told the truth so they are all rightfully guilty of sedition.
600 years or so ago, the English King decided to make it illegal to speak against the Ruler. God appoints Rulers as Rulers, argued the King, and to oppose the Ruler or speak ill of the Ruler is seditious and you can be arrested and your ears will be cut off. So many people who did not bodek the King were arrested and punished under the Sedition Act.
62 years ago, Malayans too started opposing the British Monarchy. They did not like the British proposal to form the Malayan Union. The Malays then got together and formed an amalgamation of the many Malay movements, societies and associations, which they called Umno. And through Umno the Malays began to make seditious statements in their many road-shows that criss-crossed the length and breadth of Malaya.
As the movement gained momentum and Umno started winning the support of the Malayan population, the British decided in 1948 to introduce the Sedition Act, more than 500 years after it was introduced in England. That was of course 60 years ago but the Sedition Act did not achieve its purpose. Finally, in 1957, Malaya managed to gain independence from Britain in spite of the Sedition Act.
Today, the Sedition Act that was introduced to punish Malayans who speak against the British still remains. But there is no longer a British Colonial government ruling Malaya. Today, Malaya is Merdeka and is now called Malaysia. But the law that makes it a crime to speak ill of the British still remains even though no one speaks bad about the British any longer other than Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who was Prime Minister of Malaysia for 22 years and who managed to get Margaret Thatcher's knickers all twisted into knots.
Sigh….if the Pharaoh had been serious about the Sedition Act then there would be no Jews today. And if there were no Jews then there would be no Isa; so there would be no Christianity. And if the Mekah government too had been serious about the Sedition Act there would be no Islam today. And since there would be no Jews, Christians and Muslims, then all 26 million Malaysians would today still be Hindus, like they were more than 600 years ago. And since we would all be Hindus there would be no problems and therefore no need for Hindraf. And as there would be no Hindraf then Barisan Nasional would not have done so badly in the 8 March 2008 general election.
It is clear that the Sedition Act can solve all our problems. The Sedition Act, properly and seriously implemented, would result in the entire world sharing just one religion. There would not be so many religions, which, today, are the source of most of the world's problems.
Malaysians must be able to look at the Sedition Act in this light. Against the backdrop of the Sedition Act being able to prevent the growth of new religions such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam -- which would result in world peace -- then the Sedition Act is good. But because the Rulers since 3,500 years ago failed to ensure that no one escapes the Sedition Act, today, we have so many religions that have divided the world and which have created a lot of conflicts that have resulted in so many deaths.
And remember, the Sedition Act is used to punish those who tell the truth, not those who lie. If they lie then there are so many other laws we can use against them.
Transkrip Perbahasan Belanjawan 2009
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Saya persilakan Yang Berhormat Permatang Pauh untuk memulakan perbahasan.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Assalamualaikum warahmatullahhiwabarakatuh, salam sejahtera Tuan Yang di-Pertua. Izinkan saya mengucapkan rasa hormat kepada Tuan Yang di-Pertua memberi kesempatan berbahas di hadapan Tuan Yang di-Pertua yang saya kenal sebagai orang yang pendekar dan petah berbicara, berbahas sendiri.
[Timbalan Yang di-Pertua (Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar)
mempengerusikan Mesyuarat]
Saya juga ingin menyatakan penghargaan kepada bekas Menteri Kewangan, Perdana Menteri, Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi kerana membentangkan Belanjawan Negara bulan lalu. Meskipun terdapat perbezaan dasar yang ketara di antara kami dalam Pakatan Rakyat dan Perdana Menteri, bekas Menteri Kewangan, saya ingin melahirkan rasa hormat dan menghargai usaha beliau sehingga dapat membentangkan satu belanjawan dalam keadaan krisis yang besar yang hampir melanda pada ketika itu.
Hanya setelah setengah purnama berlalu, keadaan negara bertambah meruncing. Keadaan dianggap sudah sampai ke tahap parah. Persoalan yang pertama yang harus kita bahaskan, adakah wajar untuk kita meneruskan perbahasan tentang satu belanjawan yang sudah ketinggalan melihat kepada unjuran, akta, data, satu setengah purnama yang lalu dengan keadaan sekarang. Apakah wajar Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat di dalam Dewan yang mulia ini diminta untuk terus berbahas satu belanjawan yang sudah tidak realistik, tidak menepati fakta dan tidak mampu mengangkat ekonomi dan menyelamatkan negara kita dari kemelut ekonomi yang kian meruncing.
KIt Siang: Solicitor General's findings implicate AG
|
In July, Anwar said in a police report that Abdul Gani and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan, who was the investigating officer for the case 10 years ago, had fabricated evidence relating to the case. |
©Traders have social obligation to cut price, says PM
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 - Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today that the traders should voluntarily lower the prices of goods in line with the drop in the fuel retail prices without waiting for the government to act.
"It is their social obligation," the prime minister told reporters after attending the closing of the Merdeka Spirit Programme 2008 and the opening of Akademi Kenegaraan at the National Civics Bureau in Jalan Bellamy here.
Yesterday Abdullah announced a reduction of 15 sen in the price of petrol to RM2.30 a litre and 20 sen to RM2.20 for a litre of diesel, effective today.
Abdullah also took a swipe at some consumer associations for leaving it to the government to monitor and overcome the problem of high prices of goods without lifting a finger to help.
"They don't do anything and this is something that should not have happened. If these consumer associations want the government to supervise the prices of essential goods, they should cooperate with the government," he said.
He said the consumers associations were very powerful and they should use that power to teach their members how to handle traders who sell goods at high or unreasonable prices.
Asked whether he was advocating that consumers boycott traders who charge exorbitant prices for essential goods, he said it was up to the consumers because "we cannot teach them what to do."
He gave an assurance that the government would take action against traders who quoted excessively high or unreasonable prices for their goods but said that it needed the cooperation of consumers.
The prime minsiter also said that he had instructed the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Samad to meet the representatives of consumer associations to discuss the matter.
Asked whether reducing the fuel prices in stages or a little at a time had made it difficult for traders to make adjustments to the prices of essential goods, he said the government had decided to lower the fuel prices according to what was happening in the international market.
"I hope that the people will understand and work with the government in this matter," he said.
He also advised them to grow their own food like vegetables in efforts to overcome the increase in the prices of goods. – Bernama
Muhyiddin dismisses talk of ‘Dr M the Mastermind’
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 – International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today dismissed talk that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad orchestrated the increasing popularity of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and him (Muhyiddin) so that they could be the future leaders of the country.
“I don’t think you need to be in any way confused because you see us together (with Mahathir). The fact that we meet in certain functions doesn’t mean that there are major developments happening,” he told reporters after co-chairing the 1st Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Trade and Investment Committee Meeting here today.
Muhyiddin said this when asked by a reporters whether Dr Mahathir had a Role to play in determining the future leaders of the country.
“He (Mahathir) still is respected as an elder Malaysian statesman. You people also have high regards for him. I don’t think we can deny that fact. But to what extent he has influence in terms of the administration, I think that is something that Datuk Najib should be able to manage,” he said.
He said Najib had the requisite experience to manage the country and had worked in the previous cabinet with Dr Mahathir.
“I was also in the old cabinet and now a member of the present cabinet. I think a blend of past experience together with that of the present is important,” he said.
Najib and Muhyiddin are the frontrunners for the president and deputy president posts for Umno’s upcoming elections in March next year. By convention, Umno president and deputy president become prime minister and deputy prime minister respectively.
Meanwhile, when speaking to reporters at Puteri Umno’s Aidilfitri open house here, Muhyiddin said experience and capability should be the main criteria when nominating candidates for leadership posts and not the factor of age.
“As long as the person is healthy, has a sharp mind and is capable of handling the job, one’s age, old or young, should not be the main concern,” he said when asked to comment on remarks by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin that the old should make way for the young.
At the same function, Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin told reporters that he was confident of making the cut to contest the Umno Youth chief post.
Asked about the slow pace of nominations for him at Umno Youth’s ongoing delegates meetings, Khairy said : “Maybe because I have been said to have become the underdog now.”
He has garnered 19 nominations and is trailing behind Umno Youth executive council member Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir who has picked up 40 nominations, two more than the 38 nominations to be eligible to contest. Of the others in the fray and after 72 divisions have held their meetings, former Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Khir has obtained 12 nominations while Perlis Umno deputy chief Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin has just one.
– Bernama
Hindraf Declared An Illegal Organisation
In a statement issued here, Syed Hamid said the decision to declare Hindraf as an illegal organisation was made following the ministry being satisfied with facts and evidence that showed Hindraf had and was being used for unlawful purposes and posed a threat to public order and morality.
"Based on powers vested under Section 5(1) of the Societies Act, Hindraf from today is declared an illegal organisation," he said.
He said the order was being made as a result of monitoring and investigation on the organisation's activities by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) and Home Ministry, since Hindraf's inception.
Syed Hamid said if left unchecked, Hindraf would continue to pose a threat to public order, the security and sovereignty of the country as well as the prevailing racial harmony.
"The decision to declare Hindraf an illegal organisation is not based on one or two of its activities that are in contravention of the law but covers all the actions it has taken since being formed," he said.
Syed Hamid said Hindraf had all the criteria of an organised movement because it had filed for registration with the ROS on Oct 16 last year.
he application had yet to be approved but Hindraf had actively exploited the Indian community to organise illegal assemblies and street demonstrations without permits to the point of causing a segment of the community to rise up against the government and also hatred among the Malays and Indians in the country, he said.
"Hindraf has also tried to secure support from foreign countries for the purpose of pressuring the government to bow to its demands," he added.
Syed Hamid advised the public to distance themselves from Hindraf and not participate in any way in any of its activities.
-- BERNAMA
**************
lim kit siang
Hindraf ban - retrogressive/vindictive hampering nation-building healing process
The banning of Hindraf by the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hamid Albar must be deplored in the strongest possible terms.
It is a retrogressive, vindictive and petty step which will hamper the nation-building healing process vital for Malaysians to feel one and united people again.
Instead of reaching out to the Malaysian Indian community to resolve the root political, socio-economic, cultural and religious causes which have made Malaysian Indians an alienated and aggrieved community as the new underclass in the country, ham-fisted measures to ban Hindraf will only aggravate the disaffection among the Indian community.
Coming in his last five months as Prime Minister, the ban on Hindraf is also testimony to the failure of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to take nation-building to a new and more mature level.
DAP MPs will raise in Parliament the undemocratic and myopic ban on Hindraf.
After the March 8 general election, BN MPs from all the BN component parties pledged to be more outspoken to protect the rights and interests of all communiies.
I invite MPs from all the BN component parties to join with Pakatan Rakyat MPs to take a common stand – to demand that the Home Minister revoke the ban on Hindraf and to call on Abdullah to give top priority in his last five months as Prime Minister to end the polarisation process by heading an all-party parliamentary committee to address the long-standing and legitimate grievances of the Malaysian Indians.
Hindraf turns up at Anwar’s open house
Hindraf and Makkal Sakthi supporters had a great time at Anwar’s open house (Photo credit: abinesh.com)
More surprise guests showed up at Anwar’s open house, this time in KL on Sunday. Blogger Abinesh reports:
The exact same group visited Dato Sri Anwar’s PKR Hari Raya open house last weekend at Kelab Sultan Sulaiman at Kg Baru. Like the previous open house, the group met outside the venue where they were chatting up the other Malay friends wishing them “Selamat Hari Raya“, with the passers-by wishing them the same and some chanting “Makkal Sakhti” (back at them) in the process. How do I know, you may ask? I was there!
They were greeted outside by YB S Manikavasagam and YB Zuraidah Kamaruddin and eventually started making their way into the venue of the celebrations.
As they were walking in, there was applause for them and the other Malaysians were chanting “Makkal Sakhti!”, and Hindraf supporters were wishing everyone “Selamat Hari Raya”. They went in and greeted the PKR leaders and, when DSAI and Datuk Seri Wan Azizah came out to greet them after finishing their prayers, they handed DSAI a Raya card, gift and a letter. They then moved out of the main canopy area where (some of them) went to get some food to eat while others enjoyed the company of friends that were there as well.
(Later they) took some pictures at the field with a brilliant view of KLCC behind it - together with some of the law-makers - and left the event. I witnessed the proceedings and it was very peaceful, light-hearted, fun and very Malaysian! There was no drama, and everyone went back happy!