Japan Strengthens its Southern Flank

Troop deployment too close for comfort to China and Taiwan

Alarmed by a Chinese move last year to send a fleet through the Miyako Channel 1,700 km south of Tokyo and into the open waters of the Pacific Ocean for maneuvers, Japan is deploying self-defense forces to an island that overlooks the strategic channel.

Japan’s redeployment also stems from concerns over increasing Chinese assertiveness over the disputed Senkaku chain, known as the Daioyutai to the Chinese. The deployment has not only upset the Chinese but unsettled the Taiwanese as well.

The deployment, to Yonaguni Island, is part of a general trend of transferring forces from Japan's northern flank to the extreme southern flank. Aside from a small contingent on Miyako Island, the southern islands have been totally demilitarized and vulnerable. The establishment of a so-called coastal monitoring unit can be seen as a means of asserting Japanese sovereignty over islands in a region of conflicting claims.

The decision to install a 100-man unit, estimated to cost ¥1.5 billion (US$20 million) and expected to be completed by 2015, is part of a growing trend by the nations that surround China to tighten up their defenses as they increasingly side against what they perceive as the growing belligerence of the region’s biggest country.

Yonaguni, only 28.8 sq. km in size and with a population of 1,700, overlooks the 300-km gap in the so-called First Island Chain, a maritime line running between Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia – all of which would potentially side with the US in case of war with China. If the situation were to turn sour in the West Pacific, it's the Miyako Channel where the US, Chinese and Japanese navies would likely grind together.

While the deployment has been greeted with anger in Beijing, it has also led to concern in Taipei. The island is so close to Taiwan’s east coast that seamen say on a good day they can see it, roughly 100 km east of Taiwan’s eastern town of Hualien.

Yonaguni is close to the resource-rich and strategic regions in the East China Sea that are disputed by Tokyo, Beijing and Taipei, such as the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands (Diaoyutai in Mandarin), which in 2010 witnessed the Japanese seizure of a Chinese fishing vessel for trespassing, setting off a major Sino-Japanese row that culminated in a Chinese threat to cut off rare metals shipments for Japanese industry. Observers say the Yonaguni deployment was chosen in this context. They say Tokyo thinks Beijing's rationale for claiming Senkaku – Chinese fishermen have visited it from time immemorial – could just as easily apply to any of Japan's southern islands, and therefore is shifting its defensive focus from guarding against a Soviet or Russian attack to one coming from China.

Aside from a small contingent on Miyako, the southern islands have been totally demilitarized and vulnerable. The deployment of a so-called coastal monitoring unit can be seen as a means of asserting Japanese sovereignty over islands in a region of conflicting claims.

The first time Japanese military plans involving Yonaguni made headlines in Taiwan was in June 2010. Tokyo had snubbed Taipei by extending its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) – an area where entering aircraft are obliged to radio their intended flight course to the respective country's air traffic controllers – from Yonaguni westwards by 22 km at Taiwan's expense without having given the long-time de facto ally a heads-up. At that time, observers close to Taiwan’s opposition anti-unification Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) saw the move as a sign that President Ma Ying-jeou’s Beijing-friendly policies had distanced Taiwan from the US and Japan, and that Tokyo had accordingly lost its trust in Taipei.

In a recent interview with Asia Sentinel, Lai I-chung, a member of the research body the Taiwan Thinktank, still supported that notion. By strengthening Yonaguni, he said, Japan hasn't so much got Senkaku in mind as hedging at a time when Taiwan is perceived as increasingly falling into China's hands and thus ceases to function as a buffer.

“The decision was already made when Taro Aso was prime minister (Sept. 2008-Sept. 2009) before the flare-up of the Senkaku dispute,” Lai said. Yonaguni's location – well south of Senkaku – suggests that there's no direct connection with that issue. Also, he said, during a possible China-Japan conflict, Yonaguni itself would be shielded by Taiwan anyway.

“It could be Japan's uneasiness with Ma's China-leaning foreign policy. The waters east of Taiwan have become of concern for Japan in recent years, and the frequency of Chinese vessels and aircraft appearing there has significantly been increasing,” Lai said.

Unsurprisingly the Chinese have their own interpretation. Beijing regards Japanese expenditure on maritime construction and reinforcing of islands in the context of Tokyo's covert quest to get rid of the constraints of its Peace Constitution, imposed on the country by the US after its defeat in World War II.

In a recent article published in the PLA Daily, the official daily of the People's Liberation Army, author Liu Liqun listed the deployment on Yonaguni in one breath with Japan's plans to start construction of two helicopter carriers in 2012, the general stockpiling and updating of military technology, the sending of warships to provide logistical support and oil to the US military, as well as the employment of anti-submarine patrol aircraft to cruise the Gulf of Aden.

“These moves to advance Japan's open-ocean strategy completely lay bare Japan's aggressive posture. When Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force was first established, it was just a small naval force to be used for coastal defense. Now, however, it has become the most formidable maritime armed force in Asia, excluding the US Navy,” Liu wrote.

“By deploying the Self-Defense Force to islands in the southwest, […], Japan is going in a dangerous direction.”

Observers say the move's importance is out of proportion to the small numbers. James Holmes, an associate professor at the US Naval War College, said the decision is kills not only two birds with a stone but most likely quite a few more.

“Defending the island itself will obviously be a major purpose of any deployment; stationing forces there would signal China that it couldn't quickly or easily seize it. That's valuable in itself,” Holmes said. “But the passages around the island are also important.”

It was through this passage that Chinese fleet consisting of two guided missile destroyers, three frigates, two Kilo-class submarines and one supply ship crossed the strait in April of 2010 to hold sea-air joint anti-submarine warfare drills near the Okinotorishima Reef. During the exercise, China's ship-borne helicopters once came as close as 90 meters to a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship. The reef lies midway between Taiwan and Guam, home to a major US naval base. Japanese media speculated that China's ships used the drills to map the ocean's bottom over which the US Pacific Fleet would pass in future conflicts on its way to Taiwan.

“Anti-ship missiles positioned on Yonaguni could help close nearby straits to Chinese warships,” Yonaguni said. “This would ease the pressure on the Japanese or Taiwanese east coasts, helping US forces steaming westward gain access to the region. A well-designed force deployment at Yonaguni could provide disproportionate bang for the buck.”

Three things I like about the Peaceful Assembly Bill

More liberty under Najib's administration? Bring it on! (Statue pic source: sxc.hu; Najib image © thenutgraph.com)

MUCH has been said about how undemocratic the Peaceful Assembly Bill is. I beg to differ. On the contrary, three very good aspects of the Peaceful Assembly Bill have been missed by commentators. Here they are:

More religious

The Bill promotes a religious society. We all know how important religion is to ensure that we do not get discouraged by the high rate of inflation, caused entirely by the decadent West due to their blind adherence to the present Jewish financial system. By stipulating that assemblies cannot be held in a close proximity to religious places of worship, we can be sure that more effort will be put in by the government to build more places of worship, so that the space for assemblies can be restricted.

Furthermore, non-Muslims who have been facing difficulty getting approval to build places of worship can heave a collective sigh of relief because they now have one more reason to support their application. By approving more places of worship, the government will be able to restrict more places for assemblies. At long last, the objectives of the government and of the non-Muslim communities would be better aligned.

The authorities will listen to us

The Bill encourages true, participatory democracy. It used to be that our voices are only heard during election time. Once our representatives are elected, then we pretty much have no avenue to voice our grievances until and unless another election comes around.

With this Bill, we all have a positive role to play to object to assemblies that are planned near our place of business or abode. And the likelihood is that the authorities would be responsive to our objections. Can you believe how empowered we would all become? No longer will we be ignored by the authorities. Perhaps our views will even be positively solicited by them. An empowered citizenry is definitely the way to go.

No more gutter politics

The Bill will promote positive values and a positive society. We must all be sick to our stomachs with the kind of gutter politics that we see today. Enough of such nonsense, I say. Here is a Bill that specifically stipulates that in our assemblies, we are not to incite hatred, dissatisfaction or enmity in any way. No more negative politics. We now need to switch gears to only extol the virtues of our wonderful leaders.

Of course, this may pose a slight problem to the opposition, since they have no leader of virtue to speak about. But for the Barisan Nasional (BN), under whose glorious rule we continue to improve by leaps and bounds, to stand heads and shoulders above the rest of the nations of the world, this Bill is a godsend.

(Pic source: johnnyberg / sxc.hu)

Of course, there are still the fence-sitters and naysayers who refuse to acknowledge this truth. These people need to wake up to the fact that we have even successfully defended our SEA Games football gold medal, and realise that we are definitely an up-and-coming nation.

So, kudos to the current government for leading the charge in formulating reforms for our country through the Peaceful Assembly Bill. It is undeniable that the foresight of the current cabinet is most exemplary and commendable. Why, even Barack Obama thinks so. And if Barack Obama has declared it, then who are the rest of us to argue otherwise?

Hidup BN, hidup Umno, hidup Malaysia!

Umno kini parah, akibat buatan pemimpinnya sendiri

Perhimpunan pada disember 2011 akan menjadi penebus pskologi untuk Umno sebelum ia berdean dengan pilihanraya. Ada pengkritik yang berpendapat bahawa keputusan sudah pun dibuat dan Umno tidak dapat diselamatkan. Umno sudahpun dianggap lemah dibawah kepimpinan ini.

Walaubagaimanapun, ramai dikalangan pemimpin Umno akan tetap mengutarakan retorik tidak tidak masuk akal untuk memastikan ahlinya menyokong mereka pada Pilihanraya umum ke 13 yang akan diadakan berkemungkinan besar awal tahun depan. Tidak ramai dikalangan mereka sedar bahawa kebanyakkan ahli mereka sebenarnya gundah gulana memikirkan kepimpinan parti.

Ramai ahli yang sedar bahawa tidak semuanya baik diantara parti itu dengan BN. Imej yang semakin teruk telag menyebabkan kebanyakkan ahlinya menjadi terdesak. Mereka sekarang tidak mempunyai banyak pilihan dan terus menggunakan seks, bangsa, agama dan kesetiaan untuk memenangi hati pengundi Melayu. Strategi itu juga tidak memberikan impak yang baik untuk parti untuk pilihanraya seterusnya.

Delegasi itu nanti, walaupun berasa kecewa, mungkin akan tidak menyentuh mengenai hal-hal yang penting yang merosakkan Umno kerana elemen feudal mereka akan menyebabkan wujud pendekatan laissez-affair dalam politik. Delegasi akan berkemungkinan berdiam diri kerana takut mereka akan dicela sekiranyan mereka mengkritik pemimpin.

Retorik panas daripada delegasi semasa perhimpunan itu akan menjadi seperti icing pada kek yang buruk. Tindakan mengapi-apikan sentiment agama dan bangsa hanya akan menutup kelemahan mereka seraya mengaburi pandangan ahli mereka. Ramai ahli akan tetap menghadiri persidangan tetapi mereka tetap berasa marah terhadap prestasi pemimpin Umno. Kebanyakkan pemimpin mereka sekarang ini sememangnya tidak menyinar langsung.

Mereka sedar bahawa kebanyakkan pemimpin Umno merupakan beban buat parti itu sendiri yang sudahpun berusia 55 tahun dan mereka mungkin juga mahu pembangkang menang dalam pilihanraya seterusnya supaya ini dapat menyedarkan dan membersihkan Umno. Ini adalah harapan terpendam ahli Umno memandangkan mereka tidak boleh dilihat menyuarakan kekecewaan mereka di perhimpunan itu nanti kerana takut boleh di ambil tindakan. Drama-drama dan gimik-gimik perhimpunan itu nanti akan tetap di ketengahkan oleh media kerajaan walaupun orang ramai sebenarnya tidak lagi berminat dengannya.

Menunggang kuda yang salah

Mahathir Mohamad, perdana menteri paling lama berkhidmat seperti suka menunggang kuda tetapi, beliau tidak cukup mengkaji kuda yang suka meruntuhkan tiang sosial masyarakat Malaysia. Beliau sebenarnya telah menunggang kuda yang salah iaitu Perkasa untuk membawa kejayaan kepada Umno dan BN pada pilihanraya umum tahun depan.

Mahathir sedang membuatkan kehadirannya dalam Perkasa dirasai dan mengetengahkan Najib Razak sebagai pemimpin yang lemah dan cuba sedaya upaya mengatur Umno dan BN untuk membaikpulih imej nya sebagai perdana menteri. Najib dilihat oleh ramai sebagai membawa banyak masalah personal dan psikologi bersama beliau. Beliau gagal meredakan kemelut dalam Umno dan Mahathir sedar akan perkara ini.

Mahathir lantang mengkritik polisi kerajaan yang dibuat oleh mereka yang mentadbir selepas beliau – yang dipilihnya sendiri, Abdullah Badawi. Gagal untuk menutup mulut beliau dan tidak mahu melihat Umno jatuh ibarat pokok yang buruk, beliau telah sekali lagi bersuara mengenai beberapa polisi Najib walaupun dengan rasa was-was kerana takut Najib akan jatuh dan Umno juga musnah.

Mahathir sedar bahawa masalah peribadi pemimpin, rasuah yang semakin menjadi-jadi, penyalahgunaan wang cukai, kelembapan ekonomi, ketidak-adilan dan kecekapan kerajaan akan membawa negara kepada kehancuran.

Ahli UMNO yang berharap

Mahathir merasakan bahawa jika dia terus mengkritik Najib dengan keras, UMNO akan hancur dan tidak boleh diperbaiki. Jika dia senyap UMNO akan jatuh. Pada masa-masa tertentu, Mahathir terpaksa menghadapi dilema ini – bukan sebab dia sayang Najib tetapi dia terlalu cinta pada UMNO.

Mahathir juga terhutang budi dengan Allahyarham ayahanda Najib, Abdul Razak Hussein (perdana menteri kedua Malaysia), kerana membawa dia kembali ke dalam UMNO selepas dia dipecat daripada parti pada tahun 1969 oleh Almarhum Tunku Abdul Rahman, perdana menteri pertama negara. Apa lagi, Mahathir juga tidak sanggup melihat musuh politik nombor satunya, Anwar Ibrahim, menjadi perdana menteri - sekurang-kurangnya semasa dia masih wujud. Tidak mengapa jika Anwar menjadi Perdana Menteri selepas kematian beliau. Atas sebab ini, Mahathir telah menyokong Perkasa - menunggang 'kuda' yang salah dan memikirkan bahawa pasukan UMNO yang ditolak ini boleh menyelamatkan UMNO. Beliau telah mencipta satu kesilapan besar untuk dirinya sendiri dan UMNO dengan langkah ini.

Jika dikaji selidik dalam talian ini boleh diambil sebagai penunjuk keadaan, maka UMNO akan menghadapi masalah dalam dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang. Sejumlah besar responden dari kalangan 1879 pengundi Melayu yang berpotensi dan 1657 pengundi bukan Melayu di negara ini (limitasi pengajian: Korpus hanya terdiri daripada mereka yang mempunyai akses kepada Internet) tidak berpihak kepada Mahathir, Perkasa mahupun Ibrahim Ali:

# 1 Apakah Mahathir masih relevan kepada orang Melayu? Ya (29 peratus) Tidak (68 peratus) No response (3 peratus)

# 2 Bolehkah Perkasa membantu UMNO memenangi Pilihan Raya Umum akan datang? Ya (9 peratus) Tidak (83 peratus) No response (8 peratus)

# 3 Apakah Perkasa suatu liabiliti kepada UMNO? Ya (84 peratus), Tiada (9 peratus), No response (7 peratus)

# 4 Adakah UMNO memerlukan Perkasa untuk memenangi pilihan raya umum akan datang? Ya (3 peratus), No (85 peratus), No response (12 peratus)

# 5 Adakah parti-parti komponen Barisan Nasional (di luar UMNO) selesa dengan Perkasa? Ya (1 peratus), No (94 peratus) No response (5 peratus).

# 6 Perkasa menjejaskan peluang bukan Melayu mengundi untuk Barisan Nasional (BN)? Ya (87 peratus), Tiada (3 peratus), No response (10 peratus)

# 7 Apakah Perkasa liabiliti kepada Barisan Nasional (BN)? Ya (93 peratus), Tiada (3 peratus), No response (4 peratus)

# 8 Patutkah Perkasa menjadi sebuah parti politik? Ya (18 peratus), No (54 peratus), No response (28 peratus)

# 9 Apakah Perkasa ikhlas dalam peranannya dalam menyatukan orang Melayu? Ya (5 peratus), No (86 peratus), No response (9 peratus)

# 10 Adakah Perkasamemcahbelahkan orang Melayu lebih daripada menyatukan mereka? Ya (79 peratus), No (11 peratus), No response (10 peratus)

# 11 Adakah Melayu selesa dengan Perkasa? Ya (9 peratus), No (79 peratus), No response (12 peratus)

# 12 Adakah bukan Melayu selesa dengan Perkasa? Ya (2 peratus), No (95 peratus), No response (3 peratus).

# 13Patutkah UMNO berbaik-baik dengan Perkasa untuk mendapatkan semula undi Melayu? Ya (8 peratus), No (83 peratus), No response (9 peratus)

# 14 PAtutkah UMNO menjauhkan diri daripada Perkasa? Ya (87 peratus), Tiada (6 peratus), No response (7 peratus).

# 15 Bolehkah sekiranya Perkasa menjadi satu platform yang lebih baik untuk orang Melayu berbanding UMNO, PAS atau PKR? Ya (4 peratus), No (89 peratus) No response (7 peratus).

Najib dilihat sebagai pemimpin yang lemah

Bertentangan dengan apa yang Mahathir fikirkan mengenai dirinya, kebanyakan pengkritik melabelkan beliau sebagai dinasor dalam politik Malaysia. Kepada rakyat, beliau telah dianggap sebagai sudah melepasi jangka hayat politik beliau, konservatif, tua dan tidak relevan.Mahathir yang keras kepala masih belum mahu menarik brek politiknya walaupun dengan usia tuanya itu dan selepas meninggalkan kerajaan 8 tahun yang lalu – dan ini lebih mengecewakan beberapa pemain muda dalam UMNO, seperti Khairy Jamaluddin.

Banyak lagi dalam UMNO yang tidak berada dalam buku baik beliau, tidak cukup gembira kerana Mahathir mati terhadap mereka. Najib, yang dilihat sebagai pemimpin yang lemah, tidak mempunyai pilihan lain tetapi sedang berhati-hati supaya tidak menyinggung perasaan Mahathir, kerana dia mampu membawa kembali apa yang telah berlaku kepada pendahulunya, Abdullah, perdana menteri kelima Malaysia. Namun, akhir-akhir ini, Mahathir telah agak terganggu dengan beberapa keadaan yang tidak menyenangkan yang berlaku dalam UMNO. Kepada kepimpinan yang ada sekarang, Mahathir tidak akan teragak-agak untuk memberi petunjuk bahawa bagi setiap lelaki yang 'gagal', ada seorang wanita.

UMNO kini dilihat oleh rakyat Malaysia sebagai parti yang lemah dan bersandar sepenuhnya kepada Perkasa untuk memenangi sokongan Melayu yang telah hilang. Sebaliknya, Perkasa, telah dengan jayanya membawa perkauman seraya memberi imej buruk kepada UMNO. UMNO telah membuat kesilapan besar dalam politik dengan memberi gambaran kepada rakyat bahawa Perkasa adalah pasangan sejiwa parti itu dan ini telah menimbulkan kemarahan MCA, MIC dan Gerakan.

Oleh itu, Perkasa bukanlah aset kepada UMNO, ia telah memakan diri sendiri dan ini membuatkan imej BN terjejas dengan teruk. Perkasa - sebuah organisasi yang tidak penting dalam politik Malaysia - juga ditolak pihak yang berpendirian sederhana di dalam UMNO. UMNO dan Barisan Nasional (BN) akan kehilangan undi penting dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang jika Perkasa dibiarkan berbuat sesuka hati dan Mahathir berterusan merungut tentang rasa tidak puas hati mengenai hal-ehwal UMNO.

Mahathir silap dalam analisisnya pada tahun 2008 mengenai hasil pilihan raya umum. BN mengalami kekalahan teruk dalam pilihan raya umum 2008 bukan kerana perpecahan Melayu tetapi orang Melayu sebenarnya bersatu dalam melumpuhkan BN kerana keangkuhan dan ketidakcekapannya.Keputusan pilihan raya bukan sahaja menunjukkan kehadiran perpaduan Melayu di negara ini tetapi juga perpaduan Malaysia yang menjadi petanda baik bahawa Malaysia adalah untuk semua orang.

BN menyerahkan 82 kerusi persekutuan dan lima kerajaan negeri kepada pembangkang dalam pilihan raya Mac 2008 dan ini telah mencerminkan demokrasi yang sihat di negara ini yang dalam jangka masa panjang akan membawa keadilan politik yang lebih baik kepada negara. Kelihatan seperti bukan sahaja sejumlah besar orang Melayu tidak akan menyokong UMNO, malah kebanyakan daripada kumpulan etnik yang lain juga tidak akan mengundi BN pada pilihan raya umum akan datang.

Rakyat Malaysia akan menjadi Bangsa Malaysia

Pilihan raya umum akan datang akan menyaksikan sekali lagi undi perpecahan di kalangan semua kaum di negara ini. Kaum atau agama tidak akan menjadi kriteria utama yang akan menentukan gabungan yang akan mendapat kemenangan. Isu-isu yang akan mempengaruhi keputusan pilihan raya umum yang akan datang adalah ekonomi, rasuah, kadar jenayah yang semakin meningkat, sistem pendidikan yang lemah dan kos hidup yang tinggi. Bangsa dan agama tidak akan menjadi pembolehubah yang penting dalam menentukan gerak balas pengundi. Rasuah, skandal, kepura-puraan di kalangan pemimpin dan keangkuhan – adalah sesuatu yang biasa di kalangan pemimpin-pemimpin UMNO dan BN – inilah yang akan membawa rakyat pelbagai kaum dan agama untuk bersama-sama menggulingkan tuan-tuan politik yang sedia ada di peringkat persekutuan.

Sekali lagi, orang bukan Islam tidak akan teragak-agak untuk mengundi PAS dan orang Melayu juga tidak ragu-ragu untuk mengundi calon-calon yang bukan Islam kali ini. Penekanan secara tiba-tiba Mahathir dan Ketuanan Melayu tidak akan berjaya kerana orang ramai melihat ini sebagai helah politik UMNO untuk terus berkuasa dan kekal angkuh. Atas alasan ini, kelihatan seperti rakyat Malaysia akan menjadi Bangsa Malaysia, yang tidak henti-henti dicanangkan oleh Mahathir semasa tempoh beliau sebagai Perdana Menteri dan idea beliau ini didokumenkan dalam Memoirs (2011). Mahathir seharusnya berasa gembira melihat visi beliau yang akan menjadi kenyataan - Bangsa Malaysia - kini menjadi kenyataan selepas beliau tidak lagi menjadi perdana menteri negara:

"Kita perlu mewujudkan satu bangsa Malaysia yang bersatu padu. Walaupun lahir dari pelbagai kaum, semua rakyat Malaysia telah melihat diri mereka sebagai rakyat dari negara yang sama.Walaupun berbeza asal-usul kita, kita menuju ke arah yang sama. Kita juga mungkin berbeza dari segi politik tetapi kesetiaan dan dedikasi kepada negara tidak tergugat. Kami semua, tanpa pemisah atau had, sebahagian daripada satu Bangsa Malaysia - satu umat Malaysia, satu tapi pelbagai "(p597-8).

UMNO perlu undi bukan Melayu sepertimana ia memerlukan undi Melayu, UMNO tidak boleh dilihat sebagai parti Melayu 'unggul' seperti yang Perkasa atau Mahathir mahukan.UMNO telah mengambil petunjuk dari PAS, PKR dan DAP di mana pemimpin-pemimpin mereka secara rasional berpendapat bahawa parti-parti politik harus memenuhi keperluan masyarakat yang berbilang kaum walaupun terdapat kepelbagaian dalam bangsa atau agama.

UMNO menolak Perkasa yang membuang masa mereka memperjuangkan isu-isu perkauman yang mungkin relevan dalam tahun 1940-an tetapi tidak dalam era ini. Ektrimis kaum juga harus sedar bahawa bangsa Melayu bukanlah baka tulen. Mereka banyak bercampur-campur dan sebahagian besar daripada mereka lebih toleransi kepada orang-orang berbilang kaum dan beragama lain. Orang-orang Melayu moden tidak melihat pada bangsa atau agama sebagai perkara-perkara yang penting dalam politik. Mereka kini mencari pendidikan, ekonomi dan kerajaan yang bebas rasuah untuk membawa Malaysia ke arah di mana semua rakyat akan mempunyai peluang yang sama dalam masyarakat.

Bangsa dan agama tidak akan memberi banyak kesan dalam politik semasa pilihan raya umum akan datang. Malangnya, UMNO, Perkasa, dan Mahathir ketinggalan dalam pemikiran politik mereka. Pluralisme atau perpaduan di dalam kepelbagaian ini yang lebih dikehendaki oleh generasi sekarang- orang Melayu dan rakyat Malaysia secara umum.

Bangsa Melayu telah berubah menjadi orang-orang yang matang

UMNO, PAS dan PKR mungkin tidak mempunyai masalah untuk menarik ahli-ahli komuniti yang berbakat. Melayu tidak hidup dalam kepompong seperti pada tahun 1950-an 'atau sebelum itu. Bangsa Melayu telah berubah menjadi orang-orang yang matang yang sanggup untuk menampung mana-mana parti politik yang boleh membawa kepada sebuah kerajaan yang bersih rasuah.

Pilihan raya umum dijangka akan diadakan sekitar awal tahun depan – akan menjadi suatu tugas yang sukar bagi BN untuk mengekalkan Putrajaya. Untuk BN memperoleh dua pertiga majoriti seperti biasa adalah agak sukar untuuk direalisasi. Ada kemungkinan bahawa BN akan kalah dalam pilihan raya ini dengan majoriti mudah. Rakyat berwajah baru - orang Melayu Cina, India dan Orang Asli sudah bersedia untuk memperbaharui politik dan tadbir urus negara. UMNO dan BN akan berakhir dan menjilat luka-luka mereka sebelum mereka boleh kembali dalam pilihan raya umum masa depan, dan kali ini mungkin dengan pasukan yang lebih bersih.

Sistem dua parti kini semakin serasi dengan jiwa rakyat Malaysia dan ini membimbangkan pemikir UMNO lebih daripada ahli-ahli biasa. Apabila pembangkang semakin popular di kebanyakan negeri, ahli-ahli UMNO akan lebih fokus kepada imej mereka daripada menyatukan parti.

Berjuta-juta ringgit dibazirkan untuk membina imej dan wang yang dibelanjakan untuk rakyat asing untuk tujuan ini mungkin lebih baik digunakan untuk membantu rakyat. Semua akronim hebat untuk pembaharuan ekonomi dan mengherankan minda mereka yang seperti Warren Buffett dan Carlos Slim - belum diterjemahkan ke realiti selepas hampir empat tahun UMNO / BN menjadi kerajaan. Mahathir sedar bahawa tiada apa-apa yang nyata berlaku dalam ekonomi. Apabila tidak banyak langkah yang telah diambil dan ini mengingatkan rakyat Malaysia kepada pemimpin yang terdahulu - Abdullah - yang sedang tidur semasa tugasnya selama hampir dua penggal sebagai Perdana Menteri.

Tiada cara untuk atasi kelemahan

UMNO sangat kuat rasuah sehinggalah ke terasnya kata Mahathir. UMNO akan kucar-kacir dan pilihan raya umum akan datang akan menyaksikan parti itu kehilangan lebih banyak kerusi kepada Pakatan. Terdapat puak dan perbalahan dalaman dalam parti. Ramai yang mengintai peluang menjadi pemimpin-pemimpin cawangan. Terdapat ramai yang mengharapkan UMNO untuk membawa masuk wang dan kontrak untuk mereka.

Laporan Ketua Audit Negara bagi tahun-tahun yang lepas telah menunjukkan bagaimana wang pembayar cukai telah dengan cuai dibelanjakan. Pesalah rasuah telah dilepaskan untuk memelihara imej UMNO dan kerajaan. Dana yang sepatutnya digunakan untuk menghasilkan daging lembu berakhir dengan pembelian kondominium untuk 'lembu suci', begitu juga percutian dan melaksanakan Umrah. Kemelut RM250 juta NFC telah menarik minat yang meluas dikalangan orang awam dan kekecewaan mereka. Pemimpin pula senyap mengenai isu ini.

Tiada siapa dalam UMNO akan mempersoalkan perkara ini kerana setiap ahlinya mempunyai aspirasi untuk menjadi kaya melalui parti. Dari membeli mi Maggie ke kapal selam, rakyat melihat wang pembayar cukai telah disalahguna. Najib terlalu sibuk membina imej peribadinya sehinggakan beliau tiada masa untuk memastikan dana awam dibelanjakan dengan betul.

Mahathir juga bukan penyelesaian untuk UMNO kerana beliau dilihat sebagai orang di belakang kumpulan ekstrimis - Perkasa. MCA, MIC dan Gerakan tidak menyukai Mahathir kerana dilihat mereka sebagai berdiri di atas nama bangsa. UMNO juga secara beransur-ansur menjadi lebih tidak relevan kepada nasib orang Melayu tulen atau pribumi disebabkan campuran India Muslim, Arab, Indonesia dan banyak bangsa asing lain.

Banyak cawangan UMNO kini diketuai oleh mereka yang berfikiran wang dan sesetengah daripada mereka bukanlah Melayu tulen atau yang Asli. Perhimpunan Agung UMNO yang akan diadakan Disember ini akan menyaksikan satu protes senyap daripada wakil-wakil terhadap pemimpin-pemimpin mereka yang sedia ada kerana mereka mempunyai firasat bahawa UMNO dan BN akan mempunyai harapan yang sedikit untuk menang dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang.

UMNO meninggal dunia akhirnya

Kali ini perwakilan UMNO perlu bimbang mengenai imej kendur parti tersebut. Pilihan raya umum akan datang akan melihat sistem dua parti berbalah untuk kuasa yang boleh membawa kepada kematian akhirnya. Kerajaan yang mengamalkan rasuah pasti tidak akan menjadi pilihan rakyat dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang.

Perhimpunan Agung UMNO pada bulan Disember tidak syak lagi akan menjadi suam-suam kuku kerana delegasi takut membangkitkan isu yang menyelebungi parti itu dan memikirkan penyelesaian untuknya. Perwakilan akan menghadiri perhimpunan itu dengan perasaan teragak-agak kerana mereka tidak akan mampu untuk meluahkan rasa tidak puas hati mereka. Seolah-olah mereka tidak gembira dengan kepimpinan mereka dan akan teragak-agak untuk menyuarakan ketidakpuasan hati mereka.

Pelantikan menteri kebanyakkan melalui pintu belakang telah mengecewakan banyak ahli UMNO. Mereka juga melihat pelantikan Ezam Mohd Nor dan Nallakarupan KS - sebagai senator sebagai helah politik untuk menyelamatkan kepimpinan atasan lebih daripada segala-galanya. Ini telah menghina kebijaksanaan kebanyakkan ahli-ahli UMNO dan rakyat Malaysia biasa, dan dianggap oleh rakyat sebagai satu pembaziran wang pembayar cukai.

Ekonomi terus lemah dengan kos sara hidup meningkat. Berjuta-juta ringgit yang dibelanjakan untuk membina imej pemimpin disia-siakan dan tidak memihak kepada akar umbi. Pengundi juga tidak gembira dengan rasuah yang berleluasa dalam kerajaan dan politik berat sebelah dan pilih kasih yang berlaku di dalam BN serta memburukkan imej Umno.

Dalam UMNO, minda Melayu agak feudal dan kebenaran tidak dapat diucapkan secara langsung, terutama apabila ia menyentuh tentang orang-orang diperingkat tertinggi dalam hierarki politik atau sosial. Mereka akan menyimpannya seperti bom masa dalam perasaan dalaman mereka sehingga pilihan raya umum akan datang ia akan meletup. Ramai ahli UMNO akan mengundi pembangkang seperti apa yang mereka lakukan pada tahun 2008 – inilah satu-satunya cara untuk memperbaiki akhlak UMNO dan BN mengenai politik dan tadbir urus yang sepatutnya.

Malaysia Chronicle

Najib’s “clarification” is proof that PAB is the worst and most slipshod bill in 54-year parliamentary history

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s last-minute clarification today of the Peaceful Assembly Bill (PAB) is testimony that the PAB is the worst and most slipshod bill ever drafted in the 54-year history of Malaysian Parliament as well as raising questions about Najib’s bona fides in political reforms and transformation.

Najib blamed Pakatan Rakyat (PR) for “confusing” the public with regard to the 30-day notification requirement.

He said:

“Actually the wording is within 30 days, it can be within five or 10 days but that word led to so much confusion so we decided that 10 days to be specific, so that there will be no doubts.” (The Malaysian Insider)

Najib said the previous 30 days’ notification did not mean a month’s notice was needed.

Najib’s ”clarification” is utterly ridiculous. In fact, Najib is presenting a sorry public spectacle of a Prime Minister who does not know what he is talking about, and even worse does not understand the content of the Bill he introduced in Parliament on Thursday though he described it as “revolutionary”.

It is a terrible reflection of the quality of leadership and governance in Malaysia that the Prime Minister can be so badly advised as to the Bill he presented in Parliament as to cause the Prime Minister to totally mislead Parliament and the country about its import and implications.

I do not believe that Najib has deliberately told a lie about the PAB, but clearly he had been told a lie by his advisers causing him to spread a lie!

I challenge Najib to explain how he could claim that under the PAB, before the proposed amendment tomorrow to reduce the 30-day notice requirement to 10 days, it would be possible to organise an assembly “within five or 10 days”?

Let us take a hypothetical case. Say an organiser wants to hold an assembly on 30th December 2011.

Clause 9 (1) of the PAB on “Notification of assembly” provides:

“An organizer shall, within thirty days before the date of an assembly, notify the Officer in Charge of the Police District (OCPD) in which the assembly is to be held”.

Can Najib explain how the organiser could comply with the PAB if he gives notice to the police “within five or 10 days”, i.e. from 20th December or 25th December?

This is clearly impossible because Clause 12 requires the OCPD concerned to inform “persons who have interests” within 48 hours of the assembly notification and who have five days to communicate to the Police their “concerns or objections to the assembly”. This would have taken up seven days – exceeding the five-day claim by Najib that a proposed assembly could be held.

Under Clause 14, the OCPD has to respond to the notification of assembly within 12 days. Clause 16 provides four days for the right of appeal of the organiser to restrictions and conditions imposed by the police to the Home Minister, who has six days to give his decision.

This means that the quickest an organiser will know about the outcome of his notification of an assembly on Dec. 30 is 12 days after submission of notification, provided the police does not impose restrictions and conditions.

If there are police restrictions and conditions followed by appeal to the Home Minister, the quickest an organiser can clear the bureaucratic notification process is 22 days.

This means that an organiser must give notification at least 22 days before the proposed assembly date or he may not be able to complete the maximum of 22-day bureaucratic notification process.
The words “within thirty days before the date of an assembly” in Clause 9(1) is utterly misleading and meaningless and is no help to Najib to explain how an assembly under the PAB could be held “within five to 10 days”.

Najib should not blame the Pakatan Rakyat for the atrocious PAB drafting but the parliamentary draftsmen, the Attorney-General and his legal officers, as well as the entire Cabinet who have proven to be sleeping on their jobs.

Najib said that under the PAB: “The Peaceful Assembly Act is divided into two categories, for designated areas, they only need to inform the police and there will be people to supervise even if it’s on a short notice.

“For non-designated areas, then it will require a 10-day period so the police can negotiate with the local community to get their views.” (Malaysiakini)

Here is further testimony of the atrocious drafting of the PAB. Where does the PAB say that the police must be informed for assemblies to be held in designated areas? The PAB is silent on the matter.

Najib is offended at the comparison with Myanmar but can he explain why Myanmar can pass a law on freedom of assembly requiring only five days’ notice but Malaysia needs 10 days’ notice?

In actual fact, if Article 10 of the Constitution guaranteeing freedom of assembly as one of the fundamental rights of Malaysians is to have real meaning, the government should not be designating permissible places of assembly, as all areas should be open to Malaysians to exercise their right to freedom of assembly – except for certain designated areas declared/gazetted “out of bounds” for security and other considerations.

The “designated areas” should be places where freedom of assembly is not allowed rather than where freedom of assembly is permitted.

Najib has only provided more grounds why there should be no indecent haste to force through the passage of PAB in Dewan Rakyat tomorrow and that it should be referred to a Parliamentary Select Committee for full, meaningful and mature consultation, consideration and consensus.

FAQs on Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011

Please click here to see the "FAQs on Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011" prepared by Bar Council's Constitutional Law Committee, as well as a comparison between section 27 of the Police Act 1967 (current law on assemblies) and the Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 (which is meant to replace section 27).

Please click here for the Bahasa Malaysia version (Rang Undang-undang Perhimpunan Aman 2011: Soalan-soalan Lazim).

You can also click on the links below to view the:

(1) Bar Council press release entitled “Peaceful Assembly Bill is more restrictive than present law and must be improved” issued on 22 Nov 2011;
(2) Bar Council press release entitled “Broken promise: Prime Minister has not lived up to Malaysia Day 2011 pledge” issued on 24 Nov 2011;

(3) Malaysian Bar’s Memorandum on Peaceful Assembly Bill dated 24 Nov 2011; and

(4) Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011.

Bridge Collapse Death Toll Rises To Eleven, 34 Still Missing

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya

JAKARTA, Nov 28 (Bernama) -- The number of people killed in a bridge collapse in East Kalimantan Saturday has risen to 11 after more bodies were recovered by search-and-rescue teams Monday, according to police.

The Indonesian police headquarters here also said that 34 people are still missing.

Its public relations division chief, Inspector General Saud Usman Nasution, told a press conference here that 34 people were injured in the incident.

The Kutai Kartanegara Bridge collapsed at about 4.30 pm (5.30 pm in Malaysia) on Saturday during heavy traffic, resulting in vehicles falling into the Mahakam river.

The 710-metre long bridge was one of the longest suspension bridges in Indonesia. Its suspended section was 270 metres long.

The design of the bridge is similar to that of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, United States.

Built in 1995 and completed in 2001, the bridge was among the most important links for the land route between Tenggarong and Samarinda and Balikpapan in East Kalimantan.

Many people were shocked at the collapse of the bridge which was only 10 years old.

Scarred and scared, these Pakistani Hindus seek refuge in India

New Delhi, Nov 27, (IANS): Sitting hunched with his face cupped in his hands, 42-year-old Shobhamal dreads going back to Pakistan's Sindh province where he has earned the status of a pariah and ''bore the brunt of being a non-Muslim''.

A group of 146 Pakistani Hindus took refuge at capital's Majnu ka Tilla Sep 8 after crossing the Attari border Sep 4. "I don't fear for my life but for my family. I decided to come here as there is no place for Hindus in Pakistan. Sexual assault, forced conversion, abduction and humiliation is all this country (Pakistan) has given us," Shobhamal told IANS. Shobhamal's 18-year-old son died of cancer here earlier this month.  With their tourist visas expired some two months ago, these people from Bagidi community are reluctant to go back to Sindh where, they say, there is no security of their life and property. Hindus form around seven percent of the total population of Sindh province. "We don't want to go back. We are outcast there. We appeal to the government that please just give us refuge and we don't want any citizenship," rues 45-year-old Ganga Ram. Gang Ram has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, requesting extension of their visas and shelter. They are currently living in 12 tents and share one dilapidated toilet -- but say they don't have much complaints. "We are happy here. Though life is tough here, it's not an ordeal what it used be in Pakistan. There, you bear the brunt of being non-Muslims," said Sagar, a mechanic, who was robbed of all his tools with which he used to make his ends meet. "They force us to convert to Islam and threaten of dire consequences. They abduct our children  and loot our property. If we complain, nobody listens. There, even the prime minister is not safe, let alone Hindus," says Mithalal, who is in his 50s. When this IANS correspondent tried to speak to the women in the community, a sense of reluctance took over. However, a few narrated their ordeal, after much convincing.  "When our husbands are away for work, we keep our doors locked and live in constant fear. We are not allowed to wear vermillion on our foreheads," said Rukmini.                  "We don't eat our food until our children come back as you never know they might be kidnapped or circumcised," said a woman, refusing to reveal her identity.

Kit Siang warns of ‘disaster’ if assembly law passed

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 28 — Lim Kit Siang warned Datuk Seri Najib Razak today of a “political disaster” if he insists on pushing the Peaceful Assembly Bill through Parliament without public consultation.

Echoing calls from civil society groups and other opposition lawmakers, the senior DAP MP said Najib should withdraw the Bill before tomorrow’s debate and form a parliamentary select committee (PSC) to look into public recommendations for amendments.

“Najib should be forewarned that he is heading for another political disaster after his July 9 Bersih 2.0 misjudgment if he rejects the proposal for a PSC on the Bill,” Lim (picture) said in a statement.

“I call on him to reconsider the decision to force the Bill through all three readings in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow as it will be proof that he has not learnt the lessons of his massive misjudgment and mishandling of the July 9 rally,” he added.

Najib mooted the new law to regulate public gatherings following international condemnation over his administration’s handling of Bersih 2.0’s march for free and fair elections.

Just days after it was tabled, however, his Cabinet agreed to amend several contentious provisions in the Bill after complaints that it would further restrict individual freedom.

But Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and several civil society groups, including Suhakam, Bersih 2.0 and the Bar Council, have vowed to continue protesting the Bill, insisting that it go back to the drawing board to include public recommendations.

Lim complained that Clause 16 of the Bill accords the home minister powers as the “final arbiter” to decide if an assembly could be held.

He said such powers should lie in the hands of the judiciary, similar to the Queensland Peaceful Assembly Act 1992, which he said Malaysia’s proposed law is modelled after.

“The Australian home minister and the various Australian state police ministers have no role whatsoever in the decision-making process on freedom of assembly in Australia.

“This is why more time must be given not only to MPs but to civil society, human rights groups and all concerned Malaysians to study the implications of the very badly drafted Bill by referring it to a PSC,” he said.

Lim reminded the government of complaints against bias and discrimination by the police that was listed in the Dzaiddin Police Royal Commission Report, saying that since its findings were released in 2005 public confidence still remained low.

Among the complaints, he said, were that permits granted to opposition parties and NGOs deemed as anti-establishment had come with numerous “ridiculous” conditions.

“There were also complaints that the police do not seem to be neutral and impartial in the granting of permits, as would appear to be the case from their alleged numerous refusals of permits to opposition political parties and organisations perceived to be linked to them.

“There were also allegations that those attending the events were arrested and questioned as to why they did so and why they expressed opposition towards the government,” he added.

But despite the report findings, said Lim, the police have yet to earn respect as an “independent, incorruptible and professional” force.

Interlok dan Siru Kambam (Bahagian 2)

Mampukah tiga wakil dalam faksyen ini berjuang menegakkan tuntutan yang disuarakan penduduk kampung berkenaan?

“Mengapa pengukir veteran itu begitu bodoh? Mengapa dia begitu mudah mengakui kesilapan? Tak bolehkah duduk diam di rumah?”
Demikian bentak wakil Perpena yang mengadakan pertemuan tertutup bersama ketua panchayat di rumahnya.
“Ini adalah soal maruah para pengukir di Siru Kambam! Kita tidak boleh tunduk kepada tuntutan penduduk yang mendesak berhala itu dipinda atau ditukar semata-mata kerana menghina agama Hindu!”
Demikian pula hujah sekutu Perpena yang hadir sama mewakili beberapa pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO).
Akhirnya, keputusan diambil untuk menyembunyikan surat yang diberikan oleh pengukir veteran kepada ketua panchayat. Pengukir yang sedang uzur itu diarah menutup mulut dan tidak mengeluarkan sebarang kenyataan.
Seperti yang saya nyatakan sebelum ini, satu jawatankuasa khas dibentuk dan ia bersidang pada Februari 2011 untuk mengemukakan saranan pindaan yang perlu dilakukan pada berhala Dewa Shiva.
Pada waktu itulah muncul seorang pakar ikonografi yang kurang dikenali masyarakat umum selama ini.
Dia bersama-sama dua lagi pakar bidang – seorang pensyarah Kolej Siru Kambam dan seorang bekas jawatankuasa pentadbiran kuil – dilantik menganggotai jawatankuasa khas berkenaan mewakili penduduk beragama Hindu di Siru Kambam.
Ikonografer itu bersama-sama kumpulan yang diketuainya sudah mula mengumpul pelbagai maklumat berkaitan berhala Dewa Shiva yang menjadi kontroversi sejak Januari lalu.
Maka, dia bersama-sama dua lagi anggota dalam jawatankuasa khas mula memantapkan senarai saranan pindaan yang perlu dilakukan terhadap berhala Dewa Shiva sekiranya ia mahu terus ditempatkan di Kuil Sivaperuman.
Kalau dahulu hanya alat sulit berhala yang menjadi isu, pakar ikonografi pula berjaya mengesan 16 pindaan yang perlu dilakukan pada patung itu sebelum ia layak diangkat sebagai berhala.
Daripada ikonografer itulah saya mendapat tahu bahawa pengukir veteran tersebut ada menyerahkan surat rasmi kepada ketua panchayat.

Balasan pedas
Maklumlah, pakar ikonografi itu mengenali keluarga si pengukir veteran sejak dahulu.
Cuma, katanya, maklumat mengenai surat itu didiamkannya kerana mahu melihat setakat mana Perpena dan sekutunya sanggup memanipulasi keadaan demi kepentingan peribadi.
Kesemua 16 saranan pindaan yang dikemukakan itu dibahas, dihujah dan akhirnya diterima sebulat suara oleh kesemua anggota jawatankuasa khas yang dilantik ketua panchayat.
“Ah! Dulu, wakil PPI hanya mampu tertunduk apabila mendengar segala hujah kami. Kamu ini pula biadab dan berani bersuara,” tegas salah seorang wakil sekutu Perpena yang turut menganggotai jawatankuasa berkenaan.
“Maaf, saya bukan wakil PPI dan saya juga bukan menerima lantikan daripada ketua panchayat untuk duduk diam seperti pak turut.”
Demikian khabarnya balasan pedas yang diberikan oleh ikonografer berkenaan pada akhir mesyuarat jawatankuasa itu.
Pada Mac 2011, ketua panchayat yang turut meneliti dan meluluskan kesemua 16 saranan pindaan itu mengumumkan kepada para penduduk Siru Kambam bahawa pindaan akan dilakukan.
“Seperti yang saya tegaskan lebih awal, berhala Dewa Shiva akan kekal di Kuil Sivaperuman. Bagaimanapun, sehingga kesemua 16 pindaan ini dilakukan, berhala itu tidak akan digunakan bagi tujuan sembahyang.”
Demikian diumumkan ketua panchayat walaupun sekutu Perpena yang ada agenda tersendiri masih tidak berpuas hati.
Kemudian, pada Jun lalu, timbul sedikit kekecohan berikutan pengumuman yang dilakukan pembantu kepada ketua panchayat.
“Kita tak ada masa nak lakukan pindaan pada seluruh berhala. Kita hanya akan gunakan pelekat khas atau kondom untuk menutup anggota sulit Dewa Shiva. Selepas itu, penganut agama Hindu di Siru Kambam boleh menyembah berhala itu seperti biasa.”
Kenyataan itu diselar pakar ikonografi dan kumpulannya yang memang lantang bersuara.
“Apa yang dipersetujui sebulat suara oleh jawatankuasa khas pada Februari lalu dan kemudian diluluskan juga oleh ketua panchayat adalah bahawa kesemua 16 pindaan akan dilakukan. Pastikan kesemua pindaan dilakukan atau gantikan berhala itu dengan berhala lain oleh pengukir veteran berkenaan.”
Pembantu kepada ketua panchayat tidak memberikan sebarang jawapan balas. Khabarnya, kenyataan awalnya itu dibuat sebagai usaha meninjau sama ada penduduk Siru Kambam masih ingat akan apa yang dijanjikan oleh ketua panchayat semasa persidangan rasmi di bawah pohon beringin pada Mac lalu.
Upacara ritual
Kemudian, menyedari bahawa sekurang-kurangnya kumpulan kecil yang diketuai ikonografer itu mempunyai daya ingatan yang sangat menakjubkan dan sukar dimanipulasi, panchayat sekali lagi mengumumkan bahawa pindaan penuh akan dilakukan seperti dijanjikan.
Beberapa individu dari luar – seperti si pemilik kedai buku yang bercuti di Siru Kambam setiap tahun – mengatakan bahawa isu berhala Dewa Shiva di Kuil Sivaperuman hampir sama seperti kontroversi novel Interlok Edisi Murid.
“Oh, tidak! Kontroversi novel Interlok Edisi Murid melibatkan pelbagai pihak pada peringkat kebangsaan,” saya segera memintas. “Isu itu melibatkan Kementerian Pelajaran, Menteri Pelajaran, Perdana Menteri, Barisan Nasional, Umno, MIC, Gabungan Persatuan Penulis Nasional Malaysia (Gapena) dan sekutunya, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) serta pelbagai pihak pada peringkat tertinggi.”
“Bukankah isu berhala ini juga hampir sama?” Tanya pekedai buku itu yang mula-mula datang ke kampung kami selepas membaca buku Unknown Facts About Little Known Siru Kambam.
“Ini cuma isu setempat yang melibatkan panchayat, PPI Siru Kambam, Persatuan Pengukir Berhala (Perpena) dan penduduk di sini. Mustahil dapat disamakan dengan suatu isu nasional yang khabarnya turut dibawa kepada perhatian Yang di-Pertuan Agong!”
Pada Disember 2011, upacara kumbhabhishekam harus diadakan sebagai ritual tahun ini. Maka, berhala Dewa Shiva sepatutnya sudah siap menjalani proses pindaan seperti dipersetujui.
Khabarnya, pindaan sudah dilakukan tetapi tidak secara menyeluruh. Daripada sejumlah 16 pindaan yang dipersetujui sebulat suara oleh jawatankuasa khas dan kemudian diperakukan ketua panchayat, hanya tiga pindaan dilakukan.
Maka, apabila mulastanam di Kuil Sivaperuman dibuka nanti dan penduduk beragama Hindu di Siru Kambam datang untuk bersembahyang, mereka dijangka mendapat kejutan besar!
Saya bertanya kepada pakar ikonografi mengenai perkara itu. Katanya, dia sendiri belum berpeluang melihat berhala Dewa Shiva selepas pindaan dilakukan.
“Tetapi bukankah presiden PPI Siru Kambam baru-baru ini mengatakan bahawa pindaan terbabit sudah diteliti dan pihaknya berpuas hati?” Saya bertanya dengan hairan.
Ikonografer itu tidak menafikan kemungkinan PPI diberi peluang melihat dan meneliti berhala Dewa Shiva yang sudah menjalani proses pemurnian seperti dipersetujui.
“Bagaimana dengan tiga individu – termasuk saudara – yang dilantik mewakili penduduk beragama Hindu di Siru Kambam?”

Dewa Shiva yang belum dimurnikan
Pakar ikonografi itu sekali lagi tidak menafikan kemungkinan pensyarah Kolej Siru Kambam dan bekas jawatankuasa pentadbiran kuil yang dilantik mewakili penduduk beragama Hindu diberi peluang melihat dan meneliti berhala berkenaan yang sudah selesai dimurnikan.
“Bagaimana dengan saudara?” Saya bertanya.
“Sewaktu ditunjukkan kepada saya pada Ogos lalu, kurang daripada empat pindaan sahaja dilakukan. Mungkin pindaan selebihnya sudah selesai sekarang,” katanya dengan nada optimis.
“Tapi saudara belum melihat berhala itu selepas semua kerja pemurnian selesai?”
“Tidak.”
“Dan saudara tidak menandatangani sebarang dokumen mengatakan bahawa saudara sudah meneliti berhala itu dan berpuas hati dengan segala pindaan yang dilakukan?”
“Tentu sahaja tidak!”
Maka, saya sudah boleh membayangkan apa yang bakal berlaku apabila pintu mulastanam di Kuil Sivaperuman dibuka nanti.
Para penduduk beragama Hindu akan tetap terkejut melihat berhala Dewa Shiva yang belum dimurnikan seperti dijanjikan.
Apabila dipersoalkan, Perpena dan ketua panchayat akan menuding ke arah presiden PPI Siru Kambam.
Presiden PPI pula akan menuding ke arah si pensyarah Kolej Siru Kambam dan bekas jawatankuasa pentadbiran kuil yang khabarnya sudah menandatangani dokumen rasmi yang disediakan PPI.
Ya, isu novel Interlok Edisi Murid (mungkin) sudah selesai tetapi lingkaran syaitan – vicious circle – melibatkan berhala Dewa Shiva nampaknya akan berterusan di Siru Kambam.

Turut baca:
Interlok dan Siru Kambam (Bahagian 1)
Uthaya Sankar SB adalah presiden Kumpulan Sasterawan Kavyan yang diasaskan pada 1999. Pengarang ini menulis secara profesional sejak 1992 dan sering diundang ke program sastera di dalam dan luar negara. Beliau memblog di www.uthayasb.blogspot.com.

Death in custody – G Veerasamy (Pandan Indah police station lock-up, 28 Nov 2003)

On 28 Nov 2003, over seven years ago, 52-year old security guard G Veerasamy died in police custody at the Pandan Indah police station.

According to his son, V Suresh, his father had been healthy when he had last seen him at the same police station on 24 Nov 2003, the day of his arrest.  V Suresh was informed that his father had died from stomach pains, but when identifying his father’s body at Kuala Lumpur Hospital, he reportedly saw injury marks on his father’s face.

An inquest into G Veerasamy’s death started on 13 Jul 2004 at the Ampang Magistrates Court.  According to a news report, a doctor from Kuala Lumpur Hospital testified that when G Veerasamy had been brought to her for treatment on the day of his arrest, he had a fractured nasal bone, laceration of the nose and bruises on his back.  Based on those wounds, the doctor believed he had been assaulted.  No further details on the progress or outcome of the inquest were available at the time of writing.

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

Based on the Royal Malaysia Police’s statistics, 85 persons died in police custody between 2003 and 2007 alone.

We express our heartfelt condolences to G Veerasamy’s family and friends on the recent anniversary of his death.

Nazri: Peaceful Assembly Bill will be passed on Tuesday

The Sun Daily

by Hemananthani Sivanandam

PETALING JAYA (Nov 27, 2011): The controversial Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011, which the government has agreed to amend, will be debated at committee level before being voted on in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said there will be eight amendments to the bill and that MPs could bring their proposals for consideration.

“The (tabling of the) second reading has been done (last Thursday by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak) so we will debate it at the committee level in Parliament on Tuesday and it will be voted upon.

“All MPs are welcome to bring their suggestions and if it is okay, we will include it,” Nazri told theSun when contacted.

Asked to comment on plans by the Malaysia Bar Council which plans to organise a Walk for Freedom 2011: Peaceful Assembly Bill cannot and must not become law! on Tuesday, Nazri said the council is free to go ahead with it.

“It’s not my problem. They have to talk to the police but I can assure that it is not going to change in any way.

“The bill has been tabled, will be debated and be passed on Tuesday,” he stressed.

Nazri, who is also Padang Renggas MP lambasted Bar Council President Lim Chee Wee and his former counterpart Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan for organising the walk.

“We will accommodate any amendments (to the bill). That shows we listen to the people. I would suggest to Chee Wee to register the Bar Council as a political party and stand for elections.

“It is easier if they register as a political party, rather than hide under the pretext of an NGO," he said, before quipping that either Ambiga or Lim should stand in his constituency.

It was reported on Saturday that the government will carry out eight amendments to the bill, including amending the controversial Section 9(1) which makes it mandatory for an organiser to give a 30-day notification to the police prior to holding an assembly in an undesignated venue.

Nazri said the 30-day notification is deemed to be too lengthy and the Cabinet decided to shorten it to 10 days.

“The 10-day notification is required because the police will need to engage with the people involved in these undesignated areas.

“For an example, if someone wants to have an assembly in front of (DAP stalwart) Lim Kit Siang's home, we certainly need to ask him because he’s the house owner so that requires time.

“Also, people cannot simply pick places where they want to demonstrate. What if there is a counter-demonstration? This requires (organisers) to inform the police to protect them because suddenly, if a fight breaks out and the police is not notified then the people will blame the police,” said Nazri.

He however said that people are free to demonstrate at any time at designated areas.

“For example at Padang Merbok, it's a designated place, so people can go ahead…no problem,” he added.

Nazri said following the amendments to Section 9(1), other amendments will also be made to four other sections, which involved timeline of notification such as to parties with interests and appeal to the Home Minister.

He added that the government also supported the proposed amendments to Sections 6(2)(b), 7(a)(iii) and 21(1)(c) which involves the removal of the word "discontent" from them.

“The Cabinet feels that we need to drop that word, the fact that people assemble shows that they are unhappy about something so we have decided to drop that word,” said Nazri.

Meanwhile the Bar Council said it would continue with its Walk for Freedom on Tuesday.

Bar Council President Lim told theSun whilst it is “mildly positive” that the government is considering the provisions to the bill, the reduction of the length of time for various notices required under the Bill and omission of the word ‘discontent’ reflects what is fundamentally wrong with the process of the bill

“It is being rushed with unholy haste into law without adequate public consultation. There is no good reason why this Bill cannot go through the same process of a Parliamentary Select Committee as electoral reforms -- both are important constitutional rights,” Lim said.

He also said that according to media reports, the Cabinet is adamant about prohibiting assemblies in motion or processions, except for existing provision on funeral processions.

“This is outrageous! From our research, we know not of any other jurisdictions, which prohibit processions.

“The government cannot now rob us of this right of assemblies in motion which is presently not prohibited in the Police Act.

“The present prohibition of procession robs us of a right which presently exists under section 27 of the Police Act which regulates “assemblies, meetings and processions,” he said.

Lim said in the United Kingdom, a distinction is drawn between static assemblies for which no notice is required and procession (assemblies in motion) for which notice of six clear days is to be given unless it is not reasonably practicable to give any advance notice.

“In Finland, only 6 hours is required. Even Myanmar now has a Peaceful Assembly and Procession Bill which allows peaceful assembly and procession by holding flags with prior permission from the authorities five days in advance,” he added.

Najib Says "Very Important" For BN To Be Re-elected To Deliver Tranformation

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 28 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today stressed that it is "very important" for Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN) to be re-elected in the next general election for the party to deliver the promised transformation.

The Umno president said re-election would also ensure that the nation's vision to be a developed country in 2020 can be achieved.

"We are embarking on this journey -- (of) economic, political and social transformation .... Umno will spearhead the nation's transformation together with our friends in the BN, and we will continue the march towards Vision 2020.

"But we have a little challenge ahead of us. We have to cross the bridge of the next general election. I keep saying it is not unimportant to be re-elected. It is very important to be re-elected. For us to deliver the real transformation, we need to be re-elected," he said.

Najib said this at the opening of the international forum on "Politics of Economic and Social Transformation in the Era of Global Crisis" in conjunction with the Umno General Assembly 2011, here.

Vincent and Danny Tan spread wings in Penang

The Tans are making their presence felt in Penang.
The Tan brothers are involved in two of the biggest deals on the island in recent months.
Vincent’s Berjaya had signed a deal to buy 57 acres of super-prime land from the Penang Turf Club.
Now, younger brother Danny has landed at Bayan Mutiara via Dijaya Corp’s tie-up with Ivory Property. The Penang World City project, which involves a whopping 103 acres of super-prime sea-front land at Bayan Mutiara (between the two Penang bridges) including land to be reclaimed, has a gross development value of RM10bn. (The land was bought from PDC for RM1.1bn.)
Danny has a 31 per cent stake in Dijaya, according to the firm’s 2010 Annual Report.
See this Business Times article.

Arab League votes to impose sanctions against Syria

Cairo (CNN) -- Foreign ministers from 19 Arab League countries voted Sunday to slap economic sanctions against the Syrian regime, officials said.

"All the steps that we are carrying out are to avoid a foreign intervention in Syria. Will we succeed? We don't know. We hope that eventually we will. That's why we keep trying to solve the crisis within the Arab framework. We have responsibilities not only as Arabs but as human beings to stop the bloodshed in Syria," Qatari Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani told reporters in televised remarks.

Iraq and Lebanon abstained from voting, officials said.

The foreign ministers agreed to stop dealing with Syria's central bank, to ban high-profile Syrian officials from visiting Arab nations and to freeze the assets of the Syrian government, according to a senior league official who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The league official said a committee would meet Saturday in Doha, Qatar, to work out details of imposing the sanctions to avoid harming Syrian citizens and neighboring countries. It was not clear how effective sanctions would be if Iraq and Lebanon -- two of Syria's largest economic partners -- do not participate.

Egyptian state television reported that Sunday's vote was the first time the Arab League had taken such steps against an Arab country.

Syrian state television said the move "lacks legality."

"The economic sanction against the rights of the Syrian people indicates a halt in trade and economic relations," the state-run network said.

The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency said demonstrators in Syria's northeastern Hasaka province protested the Arab League's decision.

"The participants condemned the conspiracy hatched against the homeland with the aim of undermining Syria's resistant role," the state agency said.

Qatar's foreign minister said officials were aiming sanctions at Syrian's government, not its people. Such steps are necessary as long as Syria's government refused to allow Arab League observers into the country, he said.

"We are talking about a humanitarian crisis. It is not a political maneuver," he said.

On Saturday, Arab League finance ministers recommended that economic sanctions be levied against the Syrian government for its part in a bloody crackdown on civilian demonstrators, a senior league official said.

Before Sunday's vote, the Syrian Arab News Agency called the move an "unprecedented procedure (that) contradicts the rules of the economic and trade cooperation among the Arab countries and targets the Syrian people."

Damascus had failed to respond to a Friday deadline for it to allow Arab League observers into the Middle Eastern country to monitor the government's response to civil unrest.

The slate of sanctions proposed Saturday in Cairo included barring any private or commercial airlines from the league's 22 member states from flying into or out of Syria. The Arab League is still studying that proposal, the senior league official said Sunday.

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office praised Sunday's "unprecedented" vote.

"We welcome the Arab League's leadership in seeking an end to the horrific violence in Syria," the office said in a statement.

More clashes erupted in Syria on Sunday, with at least 12 people killed, according to the Local Coordination Committees of Syria activist group.

State-run SANA, meanwhile, reported that 25 army and security force members were buried Saturday.

"The martyrs were killed in the line of duty by the armed terrorist groups in the governorates of Damascus Countryside, Homs and Hama," the report said.

"The families of the martyrs expressed pride in their sons' martyrdom ... stressing that Syria will remain steadfast in the face of the conspiracy which targets its unity and stability."

CNN cannot independently verify reports from either side, since Syria's government has restricted access to international news organizations.

The instability in Syria has prompted Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to urge all citizens in Syria to leave, according to the Bahraini news agency BNA. The ministry also said citizens should avoid traveling to Syria for their own safety, BNA said.

Since March, protesters in cities across the country have demanded President Bashar al-Assad's ouster and democratic elections.

The United Nations estimated this month that more than 3,500 Syrians have died in the subsequent government crackdown, said Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Al-Assad's government has consistently blamed armed gangs for the violence.

Saudi religious policeman jailed for molestation

A Saudi court sentenced a member of the Gulf Kingdom’s feared religious police to 50 days in prison and ordered him flogged 158 times for molesting a Saudi woman over the phone, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

The woman had reported the member of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice to his office in the western town of Madina, saying he had tried many times to seduce her over the phone.

“He was suspended and the court sentence will be fully executed although he belongs to the Commission.” Alsaudi daily said, quoting a Commission official.

Pakatan won't back 'Malay PM only' amendment

Candlelight vigil protest against Assembly Bill

Pakatan now ready to form federal govt, says Anwar

JOHOR BARU, Nov 27 – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today that Pakatan Rakyat was now ready to form the federal government after helming five states following the landmark 2008 election.

He said that if the electoral pact had taken Putrajaya three years ago “we may have been careless” but governing the states it won three years ago provided a “training ground” for the fledgling coalition.

“The party has struggled and suffered not one or two years, but over 10 years. If in 1999 we had won, we were not ready,” the PKR de facto leader (picture) said of the election that followed immediately after his sacking as deputy prime minister.

“In 2008, it was our first test to form state government. If we had formed federal government, we may have been careless. It is a training ground.

“We cleaned out the defectors, the dirty things from the party,” he added, referring to the six MPs and five assemblymen who have left PKR since the 12th General Elections.

Two assemblymen who left PKR in February 2009 had caused the fall of PR’s Perak administration.

Anwar said that three years ago, the party had “no strength in Sarawak... Sabah was a mess.”

The Permatang Pauh MP said gains made in April’s Sarawak state election, where it increased its representation from one to three assemblymen, showed the party is “now twice as strong as in 2008.”

“This is the best opportunity since 1957. This is the best opportunity for the people to rise up and change the system.

“If it is really clean and democratic before the election, it is certain Barisan Nasional will lose easily,” he said of polls that the opposition has insisted must only come after electoral reforms currently being discussed by a parliamentary select committee.

Anwar said this when closing PKR’s national congress here, likely to be its last before a crucial election expected soon.

He led an electoral pact with DAP and PAS in 2008 which made record gains, denying Barisan Nasional (BN) its customary two-thirds majority of Parliament after a record 82 opposition MPs were elected.

Dr M’s prescription for Umno

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been trying to shake things up a little in the run-up to the Umno general assembly which he hopes will set the agenda for a big win in the upcoming general election.
Dr Mahathir, more than anyone else, knows that the next general election will determine the survival of Umno. He is shrewd, intelligent and strategic, traits that made him such a dangerous man to his opponents. Part of Dr Mahathir’s longevity has been his talent for reading the ground and his reading is, to quote him, “not good”.

By JOCELINE TAN, The Star

TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s office at Yayasan Albukhary is like one of those penthouse floors but in a minimalist and masculine kind of way. It is sparsely furnished, with lots of wood panelling and floor-to-ceiling glass windows on three sides and has a 3D view of the city.
It is one of his three offices and the space is big enough for a ballroom dancing contest. But the former Premier was more preoccupied that particular afternoon about the mock trial against two famous “war criminals” namely Tony Blair and George W. Bush that had been going on the last few days on the second floor of the building. The verdict was due in about an hour’s time and the interview was, well, to fill the time in between.
Dr Mahathir had been so engrossed making notes on a notepad that he did not notice that a half-eaten piece of nut candy – he snacks on them when his sugar level dips – was being finished off by a line of ants. His handwriting is a graceful cursive and he must be the only man in the building still using a fountain pen.

Umno on his mind: Dr Mahathir wants Najib to win and to ensure the survival of Umno.

The room was rather warm and stuffy but he seemed to prefer it that way and looked as cool as a cucumber in a business suit, striped shirt and grey tie. He looked remarkable for an 86-year-old. He moves a little slower these days but that has not stopped him from having a packed schedule.
He was in Myanmar recently where he met the president Thein Sein and democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who impressed him.
It is rare to hear him say he likes someone, but he admitted: “I like her. She is nice and friendly.”
When teased about having a weakness for “iron ladies”, he said, “You mean (Margaret) Thatcher?”
Caught him there. Actually, I was thinking of Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz whom he had liked for her fighting spirit.
But the lady in his life remains Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali. She came in towards the end of the interview, walking quietly towards the prayer room, as though trying not to be noticed.
The two Tuns have this subtle comfort level between them and he said in a teasing voice, “don’t interview her”. When she looked up, he made a funny face and she sort of rolled her eyes, smiled and walked on.
Dr Mahathir was due to fly off to India on the morning of the Umno general assembly but has delayed the trip so that he could be at the opening where he is assured of the best seat in the house with a Persian carpet laid out for his VVIP feet. He has been at every single opening and closing of the party assembly since Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak took over the party. He is flying home from India to make it for the winding-up by Najib on the last day.
But Blair, Bush and war crimes aside, it is the state of Umno that is constantly at the back of Dr Mahathir’s mind.

Dr Mahathir is reminding Najib that the bigger headache is Umno. If Umno is okay, the business of governing would be a lot easier. Najib has stopped the decline but turning it around is probably taking too long for Dr Mahathir. — DATUK AHIRUDIN ATTAN (ROCKY)

Dr Mahathir is famous for saying it like it is but he is also an expert at throwing curve balls that have people wondering what he is aiming at. And he is a master of political timing. His remarks about Umno the last couple of weeks have been a talking point among the Umno circle.
The remarks were made with an eye on next week’s Umno general assembly. This assembly will set the agenda for the general election and what many in the party see as the mother of all battles.
Dr Mahathir, more than anyone else, knows that the next general election will determine the survival of Umno. He is shrewd, intelligent and strategic, traits that made him such a dangerous man to his opponents. Part of Dr Mahathir’s longevity has been his talent for reading the ground and his reading is, to quote him, “not good”.
Main issues
There are several issues which he is extremely concerned about in the run-up to the election and which he thinks ought to be settled at the Umno assembly.
One is the issue of winnable candidates. Although everyone in the party has been singing the winnable candidate tune, he knows there is resistance on the ground especially among many division warlords who think they are winnable even though they are not. He knows very few will make way willingly and that there will be sabotage.
“It can be done provided you lay the ground. You have to meet them, explain why it has to be a certain candidate. So far, I don’t see it (the groundwork),” he said.
He is expecting the Umno leadership to identify the problematic warlords, call them in and personally tell them about what is needed to win well.
It is in this context that he believes that if the general election is held now, the Barisan Nasional would not do well.
“But if Umno goes to the ground to explain the danger of undermining candidates, the picture will change. Certain Umno leaders and incumbent MPs and assemblymen must accept that they should not contest. They should make it clear now,” he said.
He is urging Umno members not to be afraid to criticise and tell party leaders, especially at the division and branch levels, that they have to correct themselves.
“When you don’t criticise within the party and the party goes on doing the wrong thing, the party will fail. When supporters outside the party see that Umno is not making corrections, they will reject the party. They say it is painful for them to vote for the opposition but they do it, otherwise Umno will not realise it is on the wrong path,” he said.
He is telling Umno not to be complacent, given the feedback that the Malay vote has returned.
As one Umno official pointed out, he is provoking Umno in his usual diabolical style to “prove to us that you have changed.” There has been no real test to show that Umno has really changed. The warlords are still there, their attitudes are still the same.
“You need internally generated criticism in the party. If you don’t criticise from inside, people from outside will do it and those inside will go out to criticise. That’s why you have Perkasa, formed mostly by those unhappy within the party and (who have) moved out to voice their views. Those who left with me have still not been re-admitted,” said Dr Mahathir.
This ties in with another of his concerns – Umno has moved too fast and too far to the middle ground.
Umno’s strength has always been a result of two groups. The first include the right-wingers and nationalists who hold fast to their belief in Malay rights. The hardcore among them feel disenfranchised and have drifted off into Perkasa. They feel that Najib has not done enough for the Malays and done too much for the non-Malays.
The second group comprises those who understand that concessions have to be made and they are more about the party and less about being Malay.
Dr Mahathir understands that in order for Umno to win convincingly, it has to get both groups back on the same page.
It would strengthen Najib’s position in Umno but his dilemma is how to absorb Perkasa without adopting the same ultra-Malay stance. His challenge is about striking the balance between the old and the new politics.
“Dr Mahathir is trying to inject a sense of urgency in Umno. He is reminding Najib that the bigger headache is Umno. If Umno is okay, the business of governing would be a lot easier. Najib has stopped the decline but turning it around is probably taking too long for Dr Mahathir,” said Datuk “Rocky” Ahirudin Attan, a former newspaper editor and political blogger.
One thing that Dr Mahathir makes no bones about is his adversity towards Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. He has yet to forgive his successor and holds him responsible for what he calls “the destruction” of Umno and the Barisan.
The antagonism between them extends to the level of Abdullah’s son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin and Dr Mahathir’s son Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir who reportedly cannot stand the sight of each other. No one can see any closure to this unfortunate affair, and it does say a lot for Najib’s diplomatic skills in maintaining ties with his two former bosses.
The Pakatan Rakyat side has been going on about how Dr Mahathir wants to replace Najib with Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. The story makes good copy but does not make sense.
Most deputies
Dr Mahathir, said one senior journalist, holds the record for having the most deputy prime ministers and also for having pushed out one prime minister or maybe two, if you count Tunku Abdul Rahman.
“I don’t think he wants to set a record for changing PMs,” said the journalist.
The elder statesman’s prime concern is that Umno survives beyond the next election. Like everyone else in Umno, he wants the party to recover its lost ground and he is banking on Najib to lead the Barisan to victory.
If Najib accomplishes that, he is going to be one of the most powerful presidents Umno has ever had. But if he fails, the move to topple him will begin. Until then, Umno is with Najib.
Said Dr Mahathir: “I want Najib to win. He should win together with the party. As the PM, he has done fairly well, he has introduced new ideas but he must also see the whole picture. He thinks the Chinese are not going to give their support but he forgets that his constituents are the Malays.
“I would say I support him. I don’t expect leaders to be perfect, I was not perfect, that was why so many people challenged me. Yes, he is juggling too many balls; maybe he should concentrate on a few.”
Basically, Dr Mahathir sees Umno as a super bus with lots of people on board and he acknowledges that Najib is the best man to take the wheel. Dr Mahathir is just one of the passengers. He is not exactly a backseat driver as some people believe, but he is definitely a passenger with clear opinions about the journey ahead.
His greatest wish is that the next general election should not be Umno’s last ride in the driver’s seat.

Peaceful Assembly Bill – Najib has probably created world history in the speed with which a “revolutionary” bill becomes reactionary within 24 hrs as to require at least eight amendments

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has probably created world history in the speed with which a Bill which he described as “revolutionary” became reactionary within 24 hours as to require at least eight amendments.

On Thursday, Najib told Parliament that the Peaceful Assembly Bill was “revolutionary” and “a giant leap” in the political transformation of Malaysia. But in less than 24 hours, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz was directed by the Prime Minister at Friday’s Cabinet meeting to review and amend the “revolutionary” Bill!

This is the latest proof of the haphazard, insincere and irresponsible manner in which Najib is trying to implement his “political transformation” programme – totally at variance with his pledge that under his premiership, the era of “government knows best” is over and that he would fully consult with all relevant stakeholders and the civil society on major reform measures for the country.

The amendments to the Peaceful Assembly Bill, primarily on and consequential to the reduction of the requirement of 30 days to 10 days for notification to the police for any assembly, are not acceptable to give approval to the Bill as they are not wide-ranging enough as there are also other provisions in the bill which strike at the constitutional rights to freedom of assembly.

Apart from the 30-day notice requirement, other objectionable provisions include the arbitrary powers given to the police to impose restrictive and unreasonable conditions for the holding of assemblies, the role of the Home Minister in cases of appeal, the unconstitutional ban on street protests, the list of prohibited areas or 50-metre vicinity disallowing the holding of assemblies, the ban on underaged children and the onerous and crippling fines for offences under the Bill, etc.

The test of whether the Peaceful Assembly Bill is “revolutionary” and “a giant leap” in the political transformation and democratisation of Malaysia is whether the civil society, human rights activists and the political opposition feel freer and more liberated to exercise the fundamental constitutional right of Article 10 on “freedom of assembly” under the new law or they feel more suppressed, restricted and conscribed than even under the regime of Section 27 of the Police Act 1967.

The Prime Minister must take full cognisance that a former Lord President and the country’s most outstanding and longest-serving Inspector-General of Police had both regarded Section 27 of the Police Act as unconstitutional and undemocratic in violating Article 10 on the fundamental liberty of freedom of assembly – expressed in the Police Royal Commission Report of 2005 of which Tun Dzaiddin was Chairman and Tun Hanif Omar Deputy Chairman.

The Police Royal Commission 2005 had recommended far-reaching amendments to Section 27 to uphold “one of the most basic and indispensable of the fundamental freedoms necessary for the functioning of a democratic society and is provided for in the Federal Constitution” but this recommendation of the Police Royal commission was ignored by the Barisan Nasional government for more than six years.

Now we have the Peaceful Assembly Bill with provisions which are even more inimical to the nurturing of a democratic environment fully respecting the human rights of Malaysians to freedom of speech, expression, association and assembly.

Najib has only one option when Parliament reconvenes on Tuesday if he is serious about his latest slogan of “political transformation” and democratisation – to withdraw the Bill or refer it to a Parliamentary Select Committee to engage all stakeholders, the civil society, human rights groups and the political opposition in a meaningful consultation and full engagement.

Agong Advises Malaysians To Practise Social Moderation

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- Yang di- Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin today advised Malaysians to always exercise moderation in all their practices.

The King said social moderation meant people should act in a civil manner in anything, and not act rashly and cruelly towards anyone.

"The people should also not blow up small disagreements and instead resolve them amicably," Tuanku Mizan said in his speech at the national-level 1433H Maal Hijrah celebration at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, here.

Also present were Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and wife Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.

The theme for the celebration this time is 'Mutual Understanding the Foundation for Unity of the Ummah (Community)'.

The King expressed concern with the current social situation in the country, with people becoming increasingly individualistic, although he was satisfied with Malaysia's economic achievements and rapid development as a developing country.

Tuanku Mizan said he wanted to see noble values such as mutual love and respect being fostered and practised from the home so as to create a loving, united society with a high level of mutual understanding and strong sense of oneness.

"I really hope the spirit of good neighbourliness and oneness will flourish again so that the people in this country can go through their daily lives in a state of increased harmony and love for one another," he said.

Tuanku Mizan also advised the country's multiracial, multicultural and multireligious people to understand each other's needs and to respect the dissimilarities.

Therefore, the King said, he wanted Muslims to be best example in applying the concept of mutual understanding regardless of their status and background.

According to him, only with mutual respect and understanding could a truly united society be created in this country.

"We should know and realise that the country's peace is closely linked to unity of the ummah, as it's impossible for a country to be peaceful if there is chaos in its society," he said.

Tuanku Mizan said he also wanted to see the harmony currently enjoyed to be inherited by future generations.

Jamil Khir, in calling on Muslims in Malaysia and other parts of the world to promote understanding and mutual respect for unity of the ummah, said they should learn from Islamic history, especially how Prophet Muhammad could unite the Muhajirins and Ansars as early as during his flight from Mecca to Medina, which led to the creation of strong, united Islamic community at that time.

"Unity begins with mutual understanding with strong religious faith as the foundation," he said, adding that why this theme was chosen for this year's Maal Hijrah celebration.

At the ceremony, Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Abdul Shukor Husin, 69, who is the National Fatwa Council chairman, was bestowed the National Tokoh Maal Hijrah Award 1433H.

He received RM100,000 from the government, RM10,000 from the Ubaidi Foundation, a medal, plaque and certificate of appreciation.

The recipient of the International Maal Hijrah Award 1433H, Saudi Arabia's Haj Minister Dr Fouad Abdul Salam, 65, was, however, unable to attend today's ceremony. He will receive the award at another date.