Hari Penjajahan: Polis ugut tangkap anak muda buat perarakan

Antara perkataan yang terdapat pada baju anak-anak muda itu ialah "Apa Anak-Anak Sarawak dan Sabah Mau Lagi?"

KOTA KINABALU : Sekumpulan 20 anak muda Sabah yang cuba membuat perarakan protes tentang apa yang mereka dakwa “Hari Penjajahan” tidak dapat berbuat demikian semalam sebab polis memberi amaran akan menangkap mereka.

Kumpulan berkenaan yang berpakaian t-shirt hitam dan kuning mula berkumpul di depan Mahkamah Tinggi Kota Kinabalu pada jam 8.30 pagi tetapi anggota polis, beruniform dan berpakaian awam, jauh lebih banyak dari mereka.

Tinjauan FMT mendapati kira-kira 30 anggota polis berada di kawasan itu.

Menurut pemimpin kumpulan anak muda itu, Jalumin Bayogoh, mereka sudah memberi notis kepada pihak polis tetapi pagi semalam diberi amaran polis akan menangkap mereka jika berucap atau jika menaikkan sebarang kain pemidang dan membuat perarakan di bandaraya.

“Polis beritahu kami, angkat saja “hailer” terus tangkap. Hasmin Azroy Abdullah yang turut memimpin kumpulan ditarik polis ke van dan diberi amaran yang serupa. Dia hanya dapat sertai kami semula di akhir perhimpunan kami,” kata Jalumin yang juga salah seorang pemimpin Parti Reformasi Negeri (Star) Sabah.

Azroy merupakan Ketua Pemuda parti itu di Sabah. Kedua-dua mereka pernah bertanding bagi kerusi Parlimen atas tiket Star pada pilihanraya Mei 2013 lalu.

Kumpulan itu kemudian bergerak menuju ke Asia City, kira-kira 800 meter dari bangunan mahkamah dan berehat di sebuah restoran di sana, terus di bawah pengawasan anggota polis berpakaian awam.

Antara perkataan yang terdapat pada baju anak-anak muda itu ialah “Apa Anak-Anak Sarawak dan Sabah Mau Lagi?”. Difahamkan perkataan yang sama ada pada kain pemidang yang tidak dibenarkan diangkat.

Baju mereka itu turut menyatakan dulunya Malaysia adalah persekutuan tiga negara tetapi diubah pada 27 Ogos 1976 menjadi 13 negeri menjadikan Sabah dan Sarawak negeri ke-12 dan ke-13 dalam Persekutuan.

T-shirt mereka bagaimanapun mengandungi fakta yang salah sebab menyatakan pada 16 September, 1963 Malaysia mengandungi Sarawak, Sabah dan Malaya sahaja sedangkan Singapura ketika turut masih berada dalam Persekutuan Malaysia.

Singapura hanya diundi keluar dari Malaysia menerusi undi di Parlimen Malaysia pada 1965.

'Stand by your promises on Chin Peng'

Honour your promises and don't try to milk the death of communist party leader Chin Peng for political mileage, a constitutional expert today told the Umno-BN government.


Abdul Aziz Bari said the government would lose its authority if Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Inspector-general of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar continued to vehemently oppose Chin Peng's final wishes for his ashes to be interned in Malaysia.

He reminded them that the 1989 ceasefire agreement between the government and the Communist Party of Malaysia (CPM) was signed by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, with their respective predecessors in tow.

"Stop manipulating the emotions of the army and police veterans. Just put up or shut up!" Abdul Aziz (right), a professor from the International Islamic University of Malaysia said in a press statement.

Khalid had said all checkpoints are being watched to ensure that Chin Peng's body was not smuggled in as Chin Peng was responsible for the death of many police and army personnel during the Emergency.

"Khalid should just shut up or ask his own predecessor as to why the police agreed to sign the truce with the communists," Abdul Aziz said in retort.
'Wrong to reject application'
Abdul Aziz said that with the signing of the 1989 document, Malaysia had tacitly recognised the communists.

"The court was wrong to reject Chin Peng's application to come back. The judges asked for documents to prove his citizenship, like a birth certificate. But they knew that it was during the height of emergency and Chin Peng - rightly or wrongly - was a fugitive," Abdul Aziz said.

He added that the court had asked the impossible from Chin Peng, who had fought British rule.

Noting that even some ex-Umno and BN leaders were also detained in the past for communist activities, Abdul Aziz said that the party should stop "demonising" communists and communism.

Sothinathan's dilemma

ANALYSIS With the announcement by M Saravanan that he would not contest for the MIC deputy president post, the only candidate likely to challenge Dr S Subramaniam in the forthcoming party elections is S Sothinathan.

But Sothinathan is said to be in a dilemma, whether to make a second attempt for the post as he did in 2009 or to position himself as one of the three vice-presidents this year and to move up later in 2016, when the leadership transition in MIC takes place.

In the 2009 party elections, Sothinathan contested as the third candidate for deputy presidency, securing a respectable 280 votes against veterans G Palanivel and S Subramaniam. Palanivel won the contest with 629 votes against Subramaniam who polled 547 votes.

Sources close to Sothinathan said although it is an uphill task to unseat the current deputy president and health minister, Sothinathan may still have a fair chance provided Palanivel's supporters back him for the position.
      
"Most of the delegates who were elected in 2009 are likely to be returned again this year. Sothinathan has a comfortable 280 votes based on the 2009 election results.

"Former deputy president Subramaniam’s 547 votes are up for grabs now because Subramaniam is not going to play any role in this election due to his health condition.

"Sothinathan may be able to secure a substantial portion of Subramaniam’s votes and with these votes if Palanivel throws his support to Sothinathan at the last minute, then Sothinathan may be able to cause an upset by defeating Dr Subramaniam," said a source close to Sothinathan.

However, the question is whether Palanivel would take the drastic step of supporting Sothinathan, going against the peace deal brokered by the prime minister himself.

Palanivel has already announced that he wants Dr Subramaniam (right) to be elected unopposed as deputy president.

Palanivel's key supporters are against the leadership transition and want the current president to continue and are doing everything the can to ensure that the implementation of the so-called leadership transition is derailed.

The only option they have now is to put up a credible challenge against Dr Subramaniam for deputy president and the only candidate who has the capacity to carry out that mission is Sothinathan.

Saravanan is a stumbling block
Another source close to Sothinathan opined: "Sothinathan, knowing very well that this is the last opportunity for him to place himself in MIC's hierarchy, is carefully planning his moves."

"If there is no open support from Palanivel then there is no way he can defeat Dr Subramaniam. On the other hand based on his past experiences with Palanivel he is reluctant to rely on Palanivel to take on Dr Subramaniam.

"Sothinathan is going to keep the MIC circles guessing but at the last minute will announce that he is going for vice-president and thereby he is expecting overwhelming support even from Dr Subramaniam’s supporters.

"His idea is to win the vice presidency with the highest number of votes so that he can stake a claim to be the next acting deputy president when Dr Subramaniam moves up as president," he said.

Sothinathan's reluctance to contest for deputy president also stems from the fact that Palanivel denied him the opportunity to contest in the Teluk Kemang parliamentary seat in GE-13, despite Palanivel promising him that he would be considered.

Sothinathan fears that if Palanivel does not support him for deputy presidency after having filed his nominations, then Sothinathan’s future in MIC is doomed.

Therefore, Sothinathan's supporters are urging him to play it safe by going for vice- president and prepare himself for the next three years to stake his claim for the deputy presidency.

But Sothinathan is also facing another dilemma in the form of Saravanan, the current vice president, who is working very closely with Dr Subramaniam and has stood by the deputy president in the recent tussle for presidency with Palanivel.

Upon Palanivel's departure as president in the first quarter of 2016, Dr Subramaniam would be elevated as acting president and he is expected to appoint Saravanan as the acting deputy president. If Dr Subramaniam does not keep Saravanan as his deputy he may face the wrath of Saravanan's supporters who include S Samy Vellu's hardcore supporters.

In this scenario, Sothinathan would not be able to move up in MIC even though he is elected as the vice president because Saravanan would be a stumbling block.

In the final count, Sothinathan’s supporters ssaid that he would bite the bullet and go for vice- presidency and would try to supersede Saravanan by winning with the highest number of votes.

Probably, that achievement, if it materializes, could become the reason for Dr Subramaniam to choose Sothinathan as his next acting deputy president.

---

J JAY RAJ is a long-serving MIC member with a keen interest in Malaysian politics.

Perkasa: Dead or alive, he must not return

Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali said his group will oppose any attempts to bring back Chin Peng's remains to Malaysia.

In an immediate reaction to the former Communist Party of Malaya secretary-general's death today, he said he was not surprised with Chin Peng's death as he is old and should have passed on long ago.

“As with the issue whether the remains should be brought back or not, in my opinion it should not be. If when he was alive we object to him returning to Malaysia. Even in death, his remains should not be allowed to be buried here," he said.

According the Bangkok Post, Chin Peng, born Ong Boon Hua in 1924, had died at a Bangkok Hospital at 6.20am this morning, due to old age.

To Ibrahim, Chin Peng is not only a communist leader who was violent, but is also a criminal.

He said an individual like the Communist leader should be erased from the annals of the country's history, away from the eyes of the younger generation.

"(The communist insurgency is) a dark moment in the country's history which should serve as a lesson but not the history of a terrorist or criminal who destroy a country.

"It is better for Malaysians to remember the history of Tan Cheng Lock and Tan Siew Sin and others like them and not Chin Peng. It is better to forget Chin Peng,” he said in a text message to Malaysiakini.
Similar sentiments were shared by Senator Mohamad Ezam Mohd Noor on Twitter.

"To the Chin Peng symphatisers - including NGOs and opposition figures - if you want to defend Chin Peng's rights (to return), it is better that you follow his footsteps by leaving and dying outside the country," he said.

Chin Peng is not a M'sian citizen, reminds IGP

Should the government allow former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) secretary-general Chin Peng's remains to return to Malaysia?

For inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar, the question shouldn't arise as, technically, Chin Peng is not a Malaysian citizen.

"Although he was born in Sitiawan, he is not a Malaysian citizen. He never took up citizenship when he joined the CPM. I believe he is happy to be buried where he spent most of his time.

"I'm not sure whether he obtained a citizenship from Thailand, but he is not a Malaysian," said Khalid in a text message reply to Malaysiakini.

Chin Peng had once submitted to the Federal Court that he was born on October 1924 in Sitiawan and never had his citizenship revoked nor was he banished from the country.

He claimed that his birth certificate was lost when he tried to escape from the authorities during the Emergency period.
Chin Peng, born Ong Boon Hua in 1924, was pronounced dead at 6.20am this morning in a hospital in Bangkok.

Judges had more 'scrotal gumption' under Pak Lah

Despite the many criticisms against Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's tenure as prime minister, former Court of Appeal judge Mahadev Shankar said one bright spot of his administration was that the judiciary was in better shape.

Mahadev said that the impact was immediate, as Anwar Ibrahim was acquitted of sodomy charges soon after Abdullah came to power.

"Within the judiciary itself, there was a change. Sure there was a change and I am referring here to the acquittal of Anwar Ibrahim in the Federal Court.

"At that time, you will see the two male judges on the panel had the scrotal gumption to do the justice that the law required them to do," he said during the book launch of 'Awakening: The Abdullah Badawi Years in Malaysia' in Kuala Lumpur.
The Federal Court had overturned Anwar's sodomy conviction on Sep 2, 2004, slightly over 10 months since Abdullah took over from Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister.
Prior to that, Mahedev, who was on the royal commission of inquiry into judicial fixing that was also set up under Abdullah's tenure, said who the judges "worked for" was up to other minds to explore.
Liberating the judges

But under Abdullah he said the former premier's slogan of "don't work for me but work with me" had resonated with the judges.

"(What) Pak Lah did in the judicial field was to liberate the mind of judges.

"To get to grips with what they had to do was the message he said to them: 'don't do anything to please me, just fulfill your judicial oath and that is enough for me'," he recollected.

These words, Mahadev said, got through to many judges to responded to Abdullah's call.
Furthermore, Mahadev said while people may look at Abdullah's administration with disappointment in hindsight, they must ask themselves what did they do when the former premier asked the rakyat to work with him.

He described Abdullah as a prime minister the country needed at that at that point of time. "We needed him to allow the green shoots to grow," he said.

Abdullah had succeeded strongman Dr Mahathir Mohamad who had been premier for 22 years and later turned against his successor and contributed to his early exit in 2009.

The other 'Maha'
Mahadev noted Malaysia Day today also coincided with the Onum celebration by the Malayali people from Kerala.
In a tongue in cheek remark aimed at Mahathir, Mahadev explained that the name "Maha" was common for those from Kerala, but said his name shouldn't be confused with others who has similar sounding name but shared the same heritage.

At a forum later, editors of the book claimed that their title wasn't a mischievous reference to the former premier's tendency to doze off.

Instead, co-editor James Chin said that the title was fitting as many Malaysians were awakened in the Abdullah years and there was even a sprouting of news portals under his tenure.

Echoing this, the other co-editor Bridget Welsh said: "His (Abdullah's) weakness and unintended consequences made Malaysia stronger - there was a dissipation of fear among Malaysians.

"Malaysians became more critical in how they think about issues and were more analytical. That is part of his legacy," she said.

However, while Abdullah moves out of the frame, Bridget said that the country will likely see continued polarisation as Mahathir's influence lingers and drives the polarising forces.

Malaysian theatrical politics

On which direction the nation is moving towards is a guess that will not falter in any sense.
COMMENT

In the good old days, I watched Tom and Jerry, Road Runner and alike on television for entertainment, as cinemas (or rather called theatres in those days) were a luxury. A weekend outing to the theatre was basically to watch Hindi films that took three hours off your life at each visit.

No wonder we remember their plots so well even to-date without much effort.

But today, I amuse myself with Malaysian theatrical politics. Open any news; if you call so, and it puts a smile on your face. The daily dose comes from the evergreen Barisan Nasional government and followed closely by its villain called Pakatan Rakyat.

And like any typical Bollywood art piece, you must have the comedians thrown in. This role is superbly played and led by Perkasa and the uncountable number of non-governmental organisations.

Alas, not to forget the ultra rogues who outwit the intelligence of the average person, i.e. the criminals.

With the near perfect blend of characters, we have put to shame Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Priyanka Chopra and even Datuk Shah Rukh Khan. We have Najib, Anwar, Ibrahim Ali, Rosmah and the ghost of deceased Altantuya in the cinematically charged saga that has evolved into a magnetic soap opera with re-runs over the years.

What have we not?

Mysterious deaths involving C4, untraceable guns and ammunition, mafia like killings in broad day light, convulated kidnapping cases, border infringements, illicit drugs, corruption conspiracies, scandals, sodomies, racial and religious discomfort, street protests, unwarranted speeches, comical reactions and above all a flaccid parliament.

Plenty of court drama as the seasoning. An ideal “masala-mix” that guarantees to satisfy every palate.

Najib being the superhero currently has gone into hiding literally, as the heat of events unfolding around the nation overtakes the race in all media channels. He may be in the recharging mode to launch missiles soon, since the mother of all parties, Umno, is to convene its election around the corner.

On which direction the nation is moving towards is a guess that will not falter in any sense.

Take your pick. The villains are having a field day lambasting Najib from all directions but like a typical Bollywood hero, he seems to be ducking every bullet and sword hurled to him.

Accompanied with multiple summersaults and using his bodyguards, Najib and his love are merrily jetting around the world without a scratch.

Our political environment post-GE 13 is nothing short of a couple running around the garden singing praises of each other. Except here, the two major parties seem to be running and skipping on thorny beds with the roses having lost its color and scent.

Stale and stinking will best fit the current scenario. We are at the episode where comedians are on the run seeking applauds from the audience. Everybody is tired and anticipating Najib to hover his might over the nation and pull it out of the doldrums.

Will he be the shining knight jumping out of an armored carriage soon or will he further hibernate in the summers of Putrajaya?

Reeling out is the opposition who seem to be playing all the musical instruments to rhyme with the songs. They have panoramic eye sight and nothing escapes their vision, no matter how minute or microscopic.

They beat the living daylights out of every issue, be it positive, negative or neutral. They super charge everything to hilt and “carnivalise” issues to the entertainment of its audience.

Has there been any tangible outcome or are we, the public, merely being brought to a musical chair party with the finishing of playing charades?

Our economy is constipated. Crime is in “diarrhoeatic” state. And social bonds among different communities are fast evaporating.

From being a melting pot that once we boasted about, we have soured the broth in every aspect. The ordinary man-on-the-street is merely being entertained with a very heavy price for the ticket.

A movie that has gone terribly wrong and twisted; from its original script. The founding fathers of Malaysia had a different dream and trajectory for the nation.

The audience is being short-changed blatantly and the irony is that there are no refunds for bad movies. Once taken its gone.

Self-claimed movie critic

Of late we have abundant of self acclaimed “movie” critics. Some are constructive and sincere in realigning the story line but some are clearly tainted with ulterior motives.

A good director needs the backing of financially savvy producer, cameraman, light man, dance choreographer; fight coordinator, an effective security around its shooting location, singers and above all a splendid editing team.

Looks like there is an acute need to fill all this vacancies in our movie before it goes nightmarishly wrong that may fit only for theatres in Timbuktoo!

To avoid boredom and mundane story line, there is now a sudden resurrection of Tun, the previous Godfather, as Amitabh did in “Sarkar” (political overlord).

Whipping out his razor sharp writing and oratory maneuvering, Tun just craves to be part of the silver screen again. Plainly put, he is disgusted to the core with the current lead actors and co stars.

His philosophy of a movie is out of the world which befits alien nations. The director, producer, financiar, hero, comedian, composer, lyricists and singer must be a one man show. Only then you can hold the audience long enough to be glued to their chairs.

Tickets are priced for premium four dimension cinemas and honey-laced popcorn comes free; far more during festivities.

No doubt, Tun won mountain full of Oscars and accolades not only locally but universally too for being the avatar for 22 years or so. Nevertheless in his movies, there was never a place for heroines unlike today and he practiced zero tolerance on issues that were not straight sexually.

The making of a new movie is always easier but undoing and retaking a messed and ruffled reel is a daunting task.

We shall wait the “awakening” of the new making. Notwithstanding the downgrading of our masterpiece in acclaimed academies, even sleeping beauty is jumping wagon from Hollywood to get the feel of the happenings.

Silence in no longer bliss. Revealing interviews with sensational intertwining stories that got shelved many years are now resurfacing.

The battle is eagerly being anticipated between “Sarkar” and “Sleeping Beauty”. It may well be known as the hybrid movie which can make or break our superhero if he continues keeping his vocal cords at rest.

Narinder Singh is a FMT team member.

Penulis Tamil juga mangsa royalti

Golongan muda tampil bersuara menuntut hak yang dinafikan sejak dahulu.
COMMENT

Honorarium dan royalti adalah hak pengarang. Perkara ini ditegaskan secara lantang dan berterusan oleh penulis Tamil generasi baru, M Navin sejak tahun 2005.

Perjuangan guru Bahasa Tamil di SJKT Taman Melawati, Gombak itu kini semakin menampakkan hasil, walaupun terus mendapat penentangan hebat daripada kelompok pengarang veteran yang menerajui Persatuan Penulis-penulis Tamil Malaysia.

Saya mengikuti polemik, isu dan kontroversi ini menerusi akhbar-akhbar Tamil tempatan dan media sosial, khasnya Facebook sejak beberapa bulan lalu. Rakan-rakan yang terlibat secara langsung dalam bidang penulisan Tamil juga selalu menyampaikan berita terkini.

Peluang untuk mendapatkan maklumat lanjut muncul apabila saya bertemu Navin di sebuah restoran di Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur pada 7 September 2013.

“Masalah bermula pada suatu majlis pelancaran buku esei mengenai sekumpulan pengarang wanita yang menghasilkan karya Bahasa Tamil, tidak lama dahulu.

“Presiden Persatuan Penulis-penulis Tamil Malaysia, P Rajendran dan Ketua Jabatan Pengajian India, Universiti Malaya, Dr Krishanan Maniam memperkatakan buku itu dalam acara di Kuala Lumpur,” kata guru berumur 31 tahun itu.

Rajendran khabarnya mengeluarkan kenyataan yang melukakan hati kelompok penulis. Katanya, pengarang wanita kaum India di Malaysia dapat menulis semata-mata kerana pengarang lelaki bermurah hati memberikan ruang dan peluang kepada mereka.

Krishanan pula membuat kenyataan bahawa penulis wanita di Tamil Nadu, India sudah mula menghasilkan karya-karya berunsur lucah; dan mujurlah penulis wanita di Malaysia yang menghasilkan karya Tamil tidak berbuat demikian.

“Saya mewakili kumpulan Vallinam menulis rencana balas menyelar kata-kata mereka berdua yang boleh dilihat sebagai menjatuhkan martabat pengarang wanita di Malaysia.

“Kami meminta kedua-dua mereka menarik balik kenyataan yang dikeluarkan semasa majlis pelancaran buku itu. Jika tidak, kami akan memulaukan semua acara anjuran Persatuan Penulis-penulis Tamil Malaysia,” kata Navin yang berasal dari Lunas, Kedah.

Malangnya sehingga kini tiada sebarang maklum balas daripada mereka yang terbabit. Sikap itu menyebabkan khalayak pembaca dan penulis Tamil – khususnya generasi muda dalam kumpulan Vallinam yang diterajui Navin – semakin menyampah dengan sikap Persatuan Penulis-penulis Tamil Malaysia yang diterajui generasi lama.

Mana pergi duit hasil jualan buku?


Secara kebetulan, seminggu selepas kejadian itu, persatuan berkenaan mengadakan majlis pelancaran sebuah antologi cerpen. Cerpen-cerpen Tamil yang terbit di pelbagai media khabarnya dipilih dan dibukukan oleh Persatuan Penulis-penulis Tamil Malaysia tanpa izin pengarang terbabit.

Tiga daripada penulis yang karya mereka termuat dalam antologi berkenaan membuat kenyataan tidak akan menghadiri majlis pelancaran berikutan isu lama yang belum selesai. Mereka ialah Tayagi, K Balamurugan dan Pandian. Ketiga-tiganya pengarang lelaki yang tetap tidak bersetuju dengan kenyataan seksis yang dikeluarkan oleh Rajendran dan Krishanan.

“Tayagi dalam kenyataannya yang disiarkan di media menegaskan bahawa walaupun mereka bertiga tidak akan menghadiri majlis pelancaran antologi berkenaan, bayaran royalti bagi mereka tetap perlu dibayar,” Navin menceritakan kepada saya dalam pertemuan kami.

Permintaan seperti itu sebenarnya adalah sesuatu yang amat baru dalam arena penulisan dan penerbitan karya Bahasa Tamil di Malaysia; sama ada di akhbar, majalah atau buku. Saya menyedari hakikat ini hasil penelitian sejak seawal tahun 1993.

Ketiga-tiga pengarang itu – dengan sokongan kumpulan Vallinam – menegaskan bahawa Persatuan Penulis-penulis Tamil Malaysia sudah pun melakukan kesalahan dari segi Akta Penerbitan kerana menerbitkan karya mereka tanpa izin, persetujuan dan kebenaran.

“Rajendran dan sekutunya amat marah dengan keberanian Tayagi, Balamurugan dan Pandian bersuara menuntut hak royalti. Tambahan pula, sejak awal penulisan Bahasa Tamil di Malaysia, tidak pernah ada pengarang Tamil yang berani membuat tuntutan demikian,” Navin menghuraikan.

Saya berpeluang bertemu Tayagi dan beberapa pengarang lain semasa majlis pelancaran sebuah kumpulan sajak oleh Poongulali Veeran di Petaling Jaya pada keesokan hari dan mereka mengesahkan apa-apa yang diceritakan oleh Navin.

Majlis pelancaran antologi cerpen oleh Persatuan Penulis-penulis Tamil Malaysia tetap berjalan. Sebulan kemudian, selepas asakan demi asakan daripada ketiga-tiga pengarang terbabit, persatuan itu mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa jualan antologi berkenaan dihentikan serta-merta.

“Umum mengetahui bahawa kebanyakan stok buku sudah habis dijual pada majlis pelancaran. Sebagai lumrah dalam dunia sastera Tamil, politikus dan pihak berkepentingan akan membeli buku-buku dengan memberikan sumbangan yang banyak semasa majlis pelancaran.

“Maka, tentu sahaja Persatuan Penulis-penulis Tamil Malaysia sudah mendapat keuntungan yang banyak menerusi antologi yang dicetak dan diterbitkan tanpa izin pengarang,” Navin mendedahkan.

Persatuan penulis Tamil sukar digugat


Maka, katanya, amat mustahil untuk mengatakan bahawa Persatuan Penulis-penulis Tamil Malaysia – yang juga penerbit buku berkenaan – tiada wang untuk membayar royalti dan honorarium kepada penulis.

Oleh kerana amat kecewa dengan sikap serta amalan tidak adil dan kezaliman yang dilakukan oleh Persatuan Penulis-penulis Tamil Malaysia, Tayagi dan rakan-rakannya tidak menolak kemungkinan membuat laporan polis demi menuntut hak.

Perkembangan ini pasti sahaja mengingatkan saya kepada isu penipuan royalti teks Komponen Sastera Dalam Mata Pelajaran Bahasa Malaysia (Komsas) melibatkan beberapa rakan penulis kaum Melayu yang didedahkan menerusi Free Malaysia Today sejak Ogos 2011.

Sebagai pemilik tunggal syarikat ‘Perunding Media, Motivasi dan Penerbitan Uthaya’ serta presiden Kumpulan Sasterawan Kavyan (Kavyan), saya terlibat secara langsung dalam usaha membantu sekumpulan pengarang itu.

Tentulah perjuangan menuntut hak royalti menjadi amat sukar apabila Kementerian Pelajaran/Pendidikan dan menteri sendiri tidak cukup “jantan” untuk tampil membela nasib pengarang Melayu yang tertindas.

Dalam isu melibatkan tiga pengarang Tamil ini pula, tentulah tidak ada gunanya mengharapkan bantuan politikus dalam MIC mahu pun mana-mana menteri dan timbalan menteri daripada kalangan kaum India.

Sejak mendapat tahu kisah penipuan royalti daripada Navin pada 7 September 2013, saya menghubungi pelbagai pihak – termasuk tetapi tidak terhad kepada wartawan, penulis, NGO, jabatan dan politikus – dan khabarnya Persatuan Penulis-penulis Tamil Malaysia memang “sukar digugat” kerana mendapat sokongan pihak atasan.

Namun begitu, bagi saya sebagai individu yang menentang penindasan dan kezaliman, kesalahan tetap kesalahan dan saya tidak teragak-agak untuk bersuara bagi pihak kelompok minoriti yang tertindas.

Berbalik kepada isu melibatkan Persatuan Penulis-penulis Tamil Malaysia, Navin menegaskan bahawa kesalahan pertama persatuan itu adalah menerbitkan (membukukan) karya-karya penulis tanpa izin. Sebaliknya mereka sesuka hati memilih cerpen-cerpen yang tersiar di akhbar dan majalah Tamil tempatan.

Kesalahan kedua adalah bahawa persatuan itu menjual antologi berkenaan dan mendapat keuntungan. Akan tetapi, mereka tidak mahu membayar royalti walau satu sen kepada para penulis terbabit.

Penulis generasi muda berani tuntut hak

Tuntutan dan permintaan bagi bayaran honorarium dan royalti bagi karya Bahasa Tamil di Malaysia adalah sesuatu yang amat baru; sama ada karya disiarkan di akhbar atau majalah atau dimuatkan dalam antologi.

Secara mudah, akhbar, majalah dan penerbit buku Tamil berpendirian bahawa pengarang Tamil tempatan harus berterima kasih dan terhutang budi kepada penerbit kerana sudi menyiarkan karya mereka!

Saya secara peribadi amat menyokong keberanian kumpulan Vallinam yang diterajui Navin bangkit memperjuangkan hak royalti bagi pengarang Tamil di Malaysia.

Navin selaku pemilik Vallinam Publication menerbitkan buku rakan-rakannya sejak tahun 2005. Beliau memastikan pengarang menerima royalti yang setimpal. Budaya etika penerbitan profesional yang diperkenalkan oleh Navin adalah sesuatu yang amat luar biasa dalam bidang penerbitan buku Tamil di Malaysia.

Pada 15 September 2013, tiga lagi buku baru dilancarkan oleh Vallinam Publication; iaitu kumpulan esei oleh Navin, kumpulan puisi oleh Poongulali dan kumpulan cerpen oleh Balamurugan. Navin memastikan rakan-rakannya menerima royalti sebaik buku terbit.

“Suka saya menyarankan kepada para pengarang Tamil supaya memulaukan mana-mana akhbar dan majalah yang tidak membayar honorarium bagi karya kreatif yang disiarkan. Jika penulis terus tunduk, selagi itulah penindasan dan kezaliman akan berterusan,” pinta Navin dengan tegas dan berani semasa diwawancara bagi makalah ini.

Sejak awal, pemuda itu menerima sokongan moral daripada pengarang veteran seperti Dr M Shanmuga Siva yang menyetujui perjuangannya. Kini, Navin mendapat sokongan padu daripada sekelompok rakan-rakan pengarang generasi muda yang turut ada kesedaran tentang hak royalti dan etika penerbitan.

“Saya benar-benar berharap mentaliti pembaca dan pengarang karya Tamil akan berubah. Jangan terlalu mengagung-agungkan Persatuan Penulis-penulis Tamil Malaysia dan menyangka mereka berkorban kerana sudi menerbitkan karya kita.

“Pada realiti, persatuan itu mengaut keuntungan besar dengan memeras keringat para pengarang Tamil,” kata Navin yang pernah terlibat secara aktif dalam persatuan itu sebelum menyedari kepincangan yang wujud.

Saya tidak pasti apakah kerajaan dan kementerian serta agensi kerajaan yang tampil menyalurkan dana dalam jumlah yang besar kepada persatuan penulis Tamil menyedari segala hakikat ini.

Uthaya Sankar SB mengucapkan Selamat Menyambut Onam kepada masyarakat Malayali dan Selamat Hari Malaysia kepada rakyat Malaysia.

Stop attacking DAP, Rayer warns lawyer

Seri Delima state rep Rayer rebukes Ranjit Singh for interfering into a political party internal matters without invitation.

GEORGE TOWN: Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer has demanded a state Bar committee office bearer Ranjit Singh Dhillon to immediately withdraw his two statements made against DAP and its leaders in past two months.

Or else, he would contemplate to refer lawyer Ranjit to the Bar Council for disciplinary action.

Rayer claimed that Penang Bar Committee chairman Farid Abdul Gafoor had told him that Ranjit was not allowed to issue press statements in his capacity as the committee’s criminal law sub-committee chairman.

However, Rayer said Ranjit had issued both press statements, one against Bukit Gelugor MP and DAP chairman Karpal Singh in early August and another against the party today in that capacity.

“Ranjit has abused his position as the criminal law sub-committee chairman.

“According to Farid, Ranjit has not been authorised to talk to the press in his committee capacity.

“He has two options, retract statements and keep quiet, or risked being referred to disciplinary committee,” warned Rayer at a press conference in his service centre in Gelugor here today.

In his earlier statement on Aug 6, Ranjit called on Karpal to declare his assets to prove his innocence over allegations that Opposition Leader and Permatang Pauh MP Anwar Ibrahim had allegedly paid him RM50mil to bribe judges and prosecutors.

Ranjit aired his views following claims by Barisan Nasional candidate for Permatang Pauh in May’s general election, Mazlan Ismail that he had received more than 6,000 letters containing Karpal – Anwar graft allegations.

Ranjit said Karpal and Anwar chose to lodge police reports against Mazlan’s claims to maintain their squeaky clean image.

But he said if Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had declared his assets, there was no reason why Karpal should not.

An English daily today reported Ranjit hitting out at DAP for failing to submit to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) the original 500 letters by delegates confirming their absence in the party’s election on Dec 15, 2012.

“Is DAP defying the ROS in hopes that it would be declared an illegal body?” Ranjit reportedly asked.

He said the letters, which party national organising secretary Anthony Loke on Aug 19 claimed to have, should be made visible to the public.

He said it does not bode well for DAP to sidestep the issue.

He said DAP resistance to follow ROS instructions defied all principles of fair play and lend credence that the party first central executive committee (CEC) was pushed through hurriedly and in suspicious manner.

Referring to these statements, a fuming Rayer rebuked Ranjit for interfering into a political party internal matters without invitation.

“He has no business to comment on our party affairs. He should shut up. He is not a politician,” hit out Rayer, a lawyer by profession and state DAP legal advisor.

When contacted, Ranjit was in no mood to respond to Rayer’s remarks.

“Let it be … Let it be. I’m busy. I have work to do,” said Ranjit before switching off.

‘They lied, Rosli Dhoby not pro-Indonesia’

Documentary evidence showed that British Colonial Office hid truth of how and why Charles Vyner Brooke was assasinated.

KUCHING: The re-emergence of an old incriminating BBC report of famed Sarawak Malay nationalist Rosli Dhoby has irked his family.

Tahar Johnny, a cousin of Rosli, known for his role in the assassination of Sir Duncan Stewart, the second governor for Sarawak, said the later was not pro-Indonesia although he was anti-British.

“Yes, he had a great liking for anything Indonesia. Early in the mornings, he would listen to Indonesian radio broadcasts, and he also liked to read Indonesia books.

“But that was it. He had never mentioned anything about supporting Indonesia to govern Sarawak,” said Tahar, 73 adding that the incident had happened a long time ago and it was not right to kindle “old wounds” especially now that “Sarawak is already peaceful and a better place for its people.”

Rosli was reportedly part of the anti-cessionist movement which was against Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke’s decision to cede the state to the British Crown just after the Second World War.

Rosli, together with his anti-cessionist Rukun Tiga Belas organisation members – Awang Rambli Amit, Morshidi Sidek and Bujang Suntong – had conspired carried out the assassination of Stewart during the governor’s first official visit to Sibu on December 3, 1949.

Rosli stabbed Stewart on his arrival after Morshidi pretended to take pictures of the governor.

The four were subsequently sentenced to death, and were hanged to death on March 2, 1950. Rosli was at the time a 17-year-old lad.

Speaking to FMT, Tahar however admitted to the possibility that there were other conspirators who were sympathizers of the then newly independent and expansion-aspiring Indonesia.

“Some of them (the other members of Rukun Tiga Belas) might have been pro-Indonesia. But I am very sure Rosli wasn’t.

“He indeed had a great admiration for Indonesia, and most likely gained his nationalist sentiments from Indonesia, but he had never mentioned about supporting a union with Indonesia,” he said.

Letter between conspirators

Tahar said further that Rosli had never expressed any aspirations to involve Indonesia in the future of Sarawak.

He was responding to a report by the BBC Radio last year, alleging that a letter between two unnamed fellow conspirators of Rosli had been found, within which they made clear their intentions to help Indonesia to take over British Sarawak.

The existence of the alleged letter, however, was suppressed by the British, amidst fear of hostile reaction from Indonesia. SouthEast Asia was in the midst of pre-war fears.

The British then purportedly linked the assassination to Anthony Brooke, Vyner’s nephew, who was at that time also against Sarawak becoming a crown colony.

In the BBC report dated March 12, 2012, it said former undisclosed documents proved British officials had covered up evidence about Stewart’s assassination, fearing the truth might start a war.

This however, was said to have stained the reputation of Anthony Brooke, who was the “Rajah Muda” or “Crown Prince” for the Sarawak.

Rosli and Morshidi were thought to be members of a group dedicated to restoring Anthony to the throne of Sarawak.

Anthony was never officially informed that the assassination had no connections with him until he died in 2011.

Prior to Sarawak becoming a crown colony, it was ruled by the Brooke Family for more than 100 years.

However, in July 1946, Sarawak became Britain’s last colonial possession, when it was handed over to the Britain by Vyner, in exchange for a £200,000 much to Anthony’s and most Sarawakians’ chagrin.

Indonesia’s eye on Sarawak

Many anti-cession protests were held by the Sarawak people, calling for a return to the Brookes’ rule under Anthony.

When Stewart was killed, suspicions as expected fell on him, alleging him as the leader and center of the anti-cession movement.

The BBC report quoted historian Professor Simon Ball of Glasgow University, of saying that the British had never actually believed Anthony was of any part to assassinate Stewart.

Ball, who had comprehensively researched the assassination case, said evidence showed the ringleaders of the assassination were not acting for Anthony, nor did they have any intention of returning him to power.

Ball had discovered a letter to this effect.

According to Ball, the letter was written by one co-conspirator to the other and in it the correspondents made clear of their objectives of assisting Indonesia to take over Sarawak.

“What they want is freedom as part of Indonesia. So this is the underlying political motive for the killing. It’s not to support (Anthony) Brooke,” Ball was quoted by BBC Radio.

The letter said the British was worried about confronting Indonesia with these new allegations expcially since it was already having to manage insurgency in Malaya.

“So they decided to keep quiet about the fact that this had little to do with Brooke’s supporters and a lot to do with an anti-colonial independence movement, “ added Ball.

He said in the letter marked ‘confidential’, John Higham of the Colonial Office wrote to a colleague in the Foreign Office stating: ‘We have now come to the very definite conclusion that the publication of the correspondence would be dangerous and that it would be undesirable to show it to Anthony Brooke’”

It also mentioned that “the Superintendent of the local Special Branch wrote two weeks later: ‘There is no evidence or suspicion that AB [Anthony Brooke] knew of the intention to assassinate H.E. [His Excellency] The Governor’,”

Malaysia's PM Capitulates to the Hardliners

Najib says 'Bless the bumis'

New benefits reward Malays for May 5 election, saddle the economy for the foreseeable future

The 14 September announcement of an array of new economic benefits for ethnic Malays by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak represents the premier's final post-election capitulation to radical Malay nationalists in the United Malays National Organization.

The new plan signifies a U-turn back to the New Economic Policy of affirmative action for ethnic Malays that were put in place in 1971 following disastrous race riots. Economists are largely in agreement that the policy has saddled the economy for three decades. Najib, an economist himself, has been attempting to undo the policy for three years through his 1Malaysia economic liberalization policy. The new plan will play a major role in UMNO's deliberations at its Oct. 5 annual general assembly and is key to Najib's keeping his job. If nothing else, it is recognition that reform inside the party is dead.

The prime minister has been largely powerless against Malay supremacist forces led by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad since May 5 elections, in which the opposition shocked the ruling Barisan Nasional by winning the popular vote, 50.27 to 47.38%, with the remainder going to splinter parties. The Barisan kept its hold on parliament, 133-89 only because of extensive gerrymandering of parliamentary districts.

Mahathir and the forces aligned with him blame Najib for the Barisan's poor showing because of his attempt to reach out to multi-ethnic voters rather than by inciting the Malay base to capture all potential votes of Malays, who comprise 60.1 percent of the population. As a result, the Barisan captured only about 60 percent of the ethnic Malay vote, taking a drubbing from ethnic Chinese and Indians.

The ensuing insistence on revenge has demonstrated the ruling coalition's rather slippery hold on the concept of democracy, with UMNO cadres demanding that opposition voters be punished for what was regarded as their disloyalty rather than a recognition that corruption, cronyism, rent-seeking, favoritism and growing fear of the Malay supremacists had played a bigger role.

Since the election, the weakened Najib has largely had to bend to the wishes of the Malay supremacists despite the fact that the most virulent of the Melayu Ketuanan (Malays first) candidates, Ibrahim Ali, Zulkifli Noordin and Puad Zarkashi of the supremacist NGO Perkasa, were all rejected by the voters in constituencies in which there were strong Malay majorities.

The demand to punish opposition voters first resulted in a July decision to cut the allocation of public university seats for Chinese students to 19 percent down from 23 percent last year, in line with their representation in the overall population. Indians, who make up about 8 percent of the population, were awarded only 4 percent of the university seats. The rest went to bumiputeras.

The other shoe dropped Saturday when Najib held a widely anticipated press conference to announce the package of new perks in government and finance for ethnic Malays. Najib, also the country's finance minister, said the focus areas would include enhancing bumi equity ownership in the corporate sector as well as asset ownership, according to the prime minister's website.

"The government heard the cries for help from the bumiputeras regarding their level of participation in socio-economic development programs," he said. Targets will be set for quotas for the chief executive officers of government-linked companies (GLCs), including for projects awarded to vendors. To enhance bumiputera equity ownership in the corporate sector, government investment funds will assist bumi-owned companies to be listed on Bursa Malaysia. Other measures will aid bumis in ownership of homes, industrial premises and commercial complexes.

These policies, or ones very much like them, resulted in unqualified ethnic Malays being handed executive positions in GLCs including the state-owned airline, a state-owned construction company and others only to either run them into the ground or to loot them of hundreds of millions of ringgit.

It has also resulted in so-called Ali-Baba companies, in which Alis -- ethnic Malays -- for decades have been handed executive positions in companies run by Babas, the nickname for Straits-born Chinese, creating a relatively wealthy class of ethnic Malays who have lived off their positions without learning the businesses or doing real work, to be treated with disdain and irritation by the executives who make the real decisions. Most economists feel the NEP hobbled the economy, encouraging rent-seeking and enriching a handful of well-placed cronies at the top of the party.

In all, for foreign and domestic investors, these largely signal a dispiriting return to policies that Najib had sought to erase, but who met the virulent opposition of the ketuanan Melayu crowd. Those policies can be expected to put more roadblocks in the way of a dynamic economy, probably permanently crimping Najib's goal of pulling the country out of the so-called middle income trap in which it has been enmired for more than a decade.

It is expected to discourage both foreign and domestic investment and spurring both capital flight and immigration by qualified ethnic minorities seeking advancement elsewhere. Already, according to a World Bank study, at least 1 million Malaysians live permanently overseas.

Najib's announcement of the policy takes place against the backdrop of a worsening racial situation, which the respected news portal, in an editorial last Friday, said has never before "been this bad, this widespread, this debilitating and potentially irreversible for Malaysia."

Since the election, the drumbeat of racial hatred, fanned by the Malay-language broadsheet Utusan Melayu, which is wholly owned by UMNO and which can be considered its mouthpiece, has grown ever more powerful, with ethnic Indians and Chinese, particularly Christians, coming under withering criticism.

It can only be expected to get worse on Oct. 5, when the UMNO annual general assembly gets underway. The conclave has always featured strident calls for emasculating the political and economic power of the Chinese and has always portrayed the ethnic Malays as economic and political victims done out of their rightful place in a country where other races are interlopers.

Najib, initially thought to be in danger of losing his job as premier, as Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had done before him, is expected to survive the AGM as both UMNO president and prime minister, sources in UMNO say, partly because there is nobody who is either ready or wants the job, and partly because Najib is now wholly a captive of the Mahathir wing of the party.

The wild card is that this year for the first time, because of party changes engineered by Najib, all 160,000 UMNO rank and file will vote for the top positions in the party. Prior to this year, the voting was confined to top cadres from each of the party's districts, representing the larger numbers. This time, the party will learn for the first time how deep the resentment runs against the losses the party underwent in the 2013 general election.

Takziah Kepada Keluarga Mendiang Chin Peng

Satu episod sejarah negara berlalu dgn pemergian Chin Peng, mantan SUA Parti Komunis Malaya (PKM). Sejak era penjajahan Inggeris sehingga kemerdekaan, negara terpaksa bergelut dengan penentangan bersenjata komunis. Ramai yang terkorban atau sengsara termasuk dari pasukan keselamatan akibat pertarungan lebih tiga dekad itu. Dan adalah nyata bahawa rakyat kita umumnya menolak gagasan dan ideologi komunis.

Namun mendiang Chin Peng juga akhirnya memilih jalan perdamaian setelah gagal dalam perjanjian Baling 1955 dengan Almarhum Tunku Abd Rahman. Beliau mewakili bekas penggerak PKM, bersama Rashid Maidin memeterai perjanjian damai dan gencatan senjata dengan kerajaan pada tahun 1989.

Maka atas pertimbangan tersebut juga lah, berikutan perjanjian persahabatan negara Malaysia dan China, kami telah menggesa kerajaan mengizinkan beliau menziarahi keluarganya di Sitiawan. Takziah kami ucapkan kepada keluarga mendiang Chin Peng.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

A lone voice warns fellow judges against “obedient judiciary”

The Malaysian Insider  by V. ANBALAGAN

It has been awhile since a senior judge has so publicly reminded his own peers of their oath to preserve, protect and defend the Federal Constitution - and that they should not be bullied by government leaders and Parliament.

But that's exactly what happened when a judge wrote his dissenting opinion on a high-profile appeal recently against the conviction of several activists for illegal assembly.

This is the first time in the history of Malaysia that a judge - Datuk Dr Hamid Sultan Abu Backer (pic) - has held that the requirement for a permit to assemble peacefully under the Police Act 1967 is unconstitutional.

Hamid said that in this case there was a requirement under Section 27 of the Police Act to obtain a permit, but in that process the police could not refuse to grant the permit.

Five former university students were arrested under the charge of unlawful assembly in 2001. They were fined RM3,900 each by a magistrate's court four years later. They challenged this but six years later the High Court let the conviction stand.

The ex-students then took the challenge to the Court of Appeal. Last week, two of the three judges hearing the appeal ruled that the convictions should stand.

Court of Appeal judges Datuk Seri Mohamad Apandi Ali and Datuk Linton Albert were in the majority. Apandi, in his 50-page judgment, said there was no merit to the appeal as the Police Act did not prohibit the right to a peaceful assembly and police were duty-bound to maintain security and public order.

But Hamid dissented, leading the defence lawyer Edmund Bon to hail this judge's decision as a "consolation" as he wrote a very strong dissenting judgment.

"Hopefully constitutional lawyers can pursue this matter before the Federal Court in future cases," Bon said on the court steps after the judgment.

In his dissenting judgment, Hamid said it is a fallacy to believe that the judges had lost their judicial power, following an amendment to the Federal Constitution in 1988.

He said that any unlimited power vested with the executive, which may compromise the fundamental guarantees enshrined in the Constitution, must be struck down by the courts.

"It is not for the judge to say that the dignity of his office has been stripped by Parliament and accept that the court has no judicial power," he said.

He said an obedient judiciary could not stand as a defender of freedom and would result in there being no rule of law. Judicial power was vested since the inception of the Constitution and cannot be removed, he added.

Hamid said it was for the public to initiate steps to arrest the progress of an obedient judiciary and ensure that the judiciary was independent to protect the Constitution.

"An obedient judiciary will indirectly promote all form of vice, which in all likelihood will destabilise the nation as well as harmony and security," he said in his 77-page, wide-ranging judgment.

Hamid also drove home the point that the view of those who said that judicial power may be removed by Parliament is "purely based on emotional burst of novice interpretation of the Constitution".

He said it could not be so, especially when the oath of the office of judges was to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.

Hamid said any attempt to remove judicial power would be against the basic pillars of the Constitution.

"Basic structure jurisprudence also did not permit Parliament to undermine the doctrine of separation of powers among the legislature, the executive and the judiciary," he added.

In essence, he said, Parliament cannot legislate to force the courts to be servant to the executive. - September 13, 2013.

Former foes hold no grudges against Chin Peng, they want to move on

by Eileen Ng and Diyana Ibrahim - The Malaysian Insider

Two former policemen who fought Chin Peng and his communist troops have called on the public to move on, with one saying that he was sad over the death of a “friend”.

Former Special Branch deputy director Tan Sri Yuen Yuet Leng who led the fight against the communists, said he has come to terms with the Malayan Emergency and considers Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) leader Chin Peng a friend.

“I lost a friend, an enemy who became a friend. Rest in peace my friend,” said Yuen.

After the signing of the 1989 Peace Accord in Haadyai, Thailand, between CPM leaders and government officials representing Malaysia and Thailand, both Yuen and Chin Peng were seen talking and joking with each other, surprising those who were present.

One of them asked Yuen, “Don’t you have resentment against this man?” – referring to the feared Communist leader.

“I turned to Chin Peng and asked him whether he wanted to answer the question. He said no and asked me to answer instead.

“I said: we tried to kill each other (previously) but today, we are alive and in Haadyai, so where’s the resentment?” he told The Malaysian Insider in a telephone interview today.

Yuen said there were no hard feelings between them as each was working for the people in their own way.

As they grew older, he said, they were respectful and less antagonistic towards each other.

“When we were both young, we fought against each other very hard because of differences in ideologies. But after the peace accord was signed, we understood each other better,” he said.

Three years ago, Yuen sent a book, “The First Emergency Revisited” to Chin Peng for the latter’s birthday.

Yuen described Chin Peng as an intellectual and not a hardcore killer as he was portrayed to be.

“Unlike some of his comrades, he still had his humanity,” he said.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who fought the communists as a police officer, described Chin Peng as a “professional”.

Wan Junaidi said he and Chin Peng were “professionals” who believed in different political ideologies.

“I was doing my job and he was doing his,” said Wan Junaidi, who is president of the Sarawak Ex-Policemen Association.

Asked to comment on his death, Wan Junaidi said, “I felt nothing. There was no sentiment. It (the death) meant nothing to me personally,” he said.

“Yes, I was sad when my men got killed. But I was also trained by a commander who taught me to be a professional. I was just a policeman doing my duty against people who broke the law. There was no sentiment.

“I never tortured those communists we captured nor hurt any of them, unless he stood armed before me and I had no choice but to shoot.

“I guess it was the same with Chin Peng,” he added.

Wan Junaidi, however, agreed that Chin Peng’s death would be the passing of another chapter in the history of Malaysia. – September 16, 2013.

Agong Launches Sarawak Islamic Complex

KUCHING, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Monday launched the opening of Sarawak Islamic Complex in Jalan P.Ramlee here.

His Majesty also named the complex as the 'Majma' Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah'.

The idea to build the complex was mooted by Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud with the aim at making it a symbol of unity and harmony among the multi-ethnic people in the state.

The 17-storey complex was built at a cost of RM100 million and is the new landmark of the city.

It comprises 12-storey office spaces, two-storey library, three-storey commercial podium, with restaurants and food court, as well as parking lots.

It also has a multi-purpose hall with a capacity up to 2,000 people.

The construction of the complex was also a continuation of the Sarawak Islamic Council (MIS) Endowment Project implemented by the Sarawak Baitulmal Fund.

Apart from MIS, other departments that will operate from the complex are the Sarawak Islamic Religious Council Department, Sarawak Mufti Department, Sarawak Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM), Resident's Office and Kuching District Office.

-- BERNAMA

Miss America 2014: Miss New York Nina Davuluri Crowned Winner

Miss America contestant, Miss New York Nina Davuluri reacts after being chosen winner of the 2014 Miss America Pageant as 2013 Miss America Mallory Hagan places a tiara on her head in Atlantic City, New Jersey, September 15, 2013. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

 

Miss New York Nina Davuluri has been crowned Miss America 2014; she is the first American contestant of Indian origin to win the pageant.

Davuluri was crowned Miss America 2014 at the annual pageant that took place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on 15 September.

Davuluri, 24, is also the second consecutive Miss New York to win Miss America title. She succeeded Mallory Hagan, who crowned her the winner of 2014 at the pageant’s finale.

During her first press meet after winning the pageant, Davuluri praised the Miss America Organization for being “diverse” and not going the stereotyped way of choosing a winner.

“I’m so happy this organization has embraced diversity,” Davuluri, who made it to the top five finalists after performing a classical and Bollywood fusion dance during talent competition, said. “I’m thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America.”
A total 52 contestants vied for the Miss America 2014 title at the pageant’s finale. Besides Nina Davuluri, the other four contestants who made it the top five finalists were Miss California Crystal Lee (runner-up), Miss Oklahoma Kelsey Griswold, Miss Florida Myrrhanda Jones and Miss Minnesota Rebecca Yeh.

Miss America pageant, which is known as a “scholarship pageant” rather than a beauty pageant, awards scholarships to young contestants from the 50 US states as well as the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands. The primary prizes for the winner of the coveted title and her runners-up are scholarships to the institution of their choice.

Nina Davuluri wants to pursue a career in medicine and she said she will apply to medical schools with the help of the scholarship amount she won at the pageant.

The Miss America Scholarship programme, developed by the Miss America Organization, is the largest provider of scholarship money to young women in the world. In 2010, it made available more than $45m (£28m) in cash and scholarship assistance.

Have a look at the photos from crowning moments of Miss America 2014 pageant:

Nina Davuluri reacts with runner-up Miss California Crystal Lee (L) as she is chosen as winner of the 2014 Miss America Pageant. She is crowned by Mallory Hagan, Miss America 2013. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

Davuluri, 24, won the 2014 Miss America Pageant on Sunday, giving the prize to Miss New York for the second year in a row. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

Nina Davuluri performs a traditional Indian dance during the 2014 Miss America Pageant. She is the first contestant of Indian origin to win the pageant. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

Miss New York Nina Davuluri (R) answers a question from host Lara Spencer during the 2014 Miss America Pageant. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

Nina Davuluri reacts as she is chosen to move on while competing in the Miss America Pageant. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

The reactions continued as she is announced the winner of the coveted title. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

Nina Davuluri (in yellow) celebrates with other contestants after being crowned Miss America 2014. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

And here comes the final walking moment of Miss America 2014, Nina Davuluri posing for the shutterbugs at the end of the pageant. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

To report problems or to leave feedback about this article, e-mail: s.sinha@ibtimes.com

Ex-CPM leader Chin Peng passes away

Former Communist Party of Malaya secretary-general Chin Peng passed away today at a hospital in Bangkok. He was 89.
According to the Bangkok Post, he was pronounced dead at 6.20am.
Chin Peng, born Ong Boon Hua in 1924, is reviled by the Malaysian authorities over CPM's insurgency which left many Malaysians dead and ended only in 1989 after a peace treaty was signed.
However, some historians said Chin Peng has his place in history as he had led communist forces against the Japanese invaders and British colonialist.
The peace treaty resulted in Chin Peng living in exile in Southern Thailand. He has made unsuccessful attempts at convincing the Malaysian court to allow his return.
Chin Peng first rose to prominence when he took to the jungles to fight against the Japanese under the auspicies of the Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA).

He had also assisted the British against the fight, earning him the award as officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).
Some were not allowed back

The award was later withdrawn when the Communist Party of Malaya under Chin Peng set his sights on the British when they returned to power following Japan's surrender in Malaya.

Emergency was declared on June 16, 1948 after the CPM attacked and killed three European plantation managers and the party was outlawed a month later.

The open hostilities lasted for 12 years until 1960 when the emergency was lifted and the CPM's guerilla war fizzled with Chin Peng and his men fleeing to Southern Thailand.

The CPM finally laid down its arms in 1989 and one of the terms of the peace agreement was for the former CPM members to be allowed to settle in Malaysia.

Since then, some communists such as Shamsiah Fakeh (left) were allowed back in the country.
However many others like Rashid Maidin and Abdullah CD, like Chin Peng, were denied entry despite the peace agreement. 

Another bumi booster, but why are they still behind?

The BN may have announced a series of new race-based measures to boost the economic situation of the bumiputeras, but who is to be blamed for the community falling behind even after almost a half-century of affirmative action?

Seri Setia state assemblyperson Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad asked this today, pointing out that the only suspect is Umno, which together with its coalition partners have ruled the country since independence.

"The prime minister (left), deputy prime minister and their Umno party owe an explanation to all Malaysians - whatever their race or religion - as to why the bumiputera community has remained so weak under their stewardship?

"Umno has after all been in power - via the Alliance and BN - since Malaya became independent in 1957 and the formation of Malaysia in 1963, some 56 years at the helm of the country," he said in a statement today.

Despite Umno often using its bumiputera agenda as the party's cornerstone struggle, the bumiputera community remains in a precarious position, said Nik Nazmi, who is also Selangor state assembly deputy speaker.

Furthermore, he pointed out that the bumiputera in Sabah and Sarawak have continued to fall behind.

Just as bad, Nik Nazmi said the socio-economic gap within the bumiputera community too was increasing.

The blame lies solely on Umno, which has proclaimed itself as champions of the Malays, said the young politician.

‘Mismanagement and corruption'

In truth, Nik Nazmi said the bumiputeras lagging behind is due to BN's mismanagement and corruption.

"All Malaysians are paying for the failed policies of this government and its predecessors - who were more concerned with spin rather than substance, preferring to throw money at problems in the hope that they would go away," he said.

The key, Nik Nazmi said, was to make the bumiputera community stable and prosperous without the need of constant state intervention, which is unlikely to be the case with the latest measures that Prime Minister Najib Razak unveiled yesterday.

In describing the new measures, he said, "Albert Einstein once defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and hoping for a different results."

"Malaysia - bumiputera and non-bumiputera alike - desperately need a new way of governance to move this country forward," he added.

Bapa tiri: 'Inikah cara Islam?'

Sanjeevan: "I felt the bullet going in.."

Developer intimidate to demolish Ladang Bukit Raja

MAIS: Woman willingly converted to Islam

Contrary to Madinah Kanniamah's claim, Majlis Agama Islam Selangor clarifies that she had converted to Islam on her own free will

PETALING JAYA: Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (MAIS) secretary Misri Idris said today that Madinah Kanniamah had voluntarily embraced Islam, shooting down claims that she was converted without her knowledge.

Misri said that the Muslim Welfare Organisation Malaysia (Perkim) had proof that she had gone through the necessary procedures to convert to Islam.

“Records show that she had embraced Islam at Perkim in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur. MAIS had officially registered her as a Muslim on Aug 3, 1983,” said Misri.

On Sept 5, FMT reported that an illiterate Hindu woman had been converted to Islam without her knowledge and only found out about it through the National Registration Department (NRD).

Madinah said she was in a relationship with an Indian national, at the age of 19, who claimed to be a Hindu. She lived with him and later found out he was a Muslim.

He had taken her identification card (IC) on the pretext of opening a bank account for her and later returned it with a Muslim name.

The man absconded and Madinah found out later that her IC indicated her as a Muslim.

Years later, she married a Hindu man in a customary wedding as the later feared that he would have to convert to Islam if the marriage was registered.

She now has five children from her marriage, four of them without MyKads as she feared that they might be registered as Muslims. Only the eldest has a MyKad and registered as a Muslim.

‘We follow procedures’

Misri said that it is part of the legislation to explain the two ‘kalimah syahadah’ to the person wanting to convert to Islam.

The syahadah is is an Islamic creed which declares belief in the oneness of God and acceptance of Muhammad as God’s prophet.

“It is part of the legislation, it must be done. The person in charge of the conversion bears the responsibility to explain the two ‘kalimah syahadah’.

“The person converting to Islam will then have to read it out themselves willingly,” he said.

Misri claims that Madinah had performed the mentioned acts and put her thumbprint on the required documents, agreeing to convert to Islam willingly in the presence of two witnesses.

“This is a standard procedure at MAIS and other institutions which convert individuals to Islam, it’s very uniform.

“We therefore deny all allegations by Madinah and assure the people that we follow all procedures as set by the law of the land and ‘Syarak’ law,” he added.

Misri said he hopes this clarification will give a clearer picture to the public that MAIS will not force a person to convert to Islam and that all standard procedures are adhered to.

“This is our stand and we hope this will clear all the confusion on this issue,” he said.

‘We are fair and doing what is right’

Najib Tun Razak also says the government does not have any evil intent or prejudice against other races in the country.

SHAH ALAM: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has urged the people not to misconstrue the Bumiputera economic empowerment policy, saying its implementation does not trample on the interests of other groups or deny their rights.

On the other hand, he said, it is implemented in line with the government’s desire to continue to create new wealth so that all Malaysians can share the benefits in a fair and equitable manner.

“Certainly! We are doing what is fair, we are doing what is right, and we are doing what is equitable.

“It means that we do not have any evil intent or prejudice against the other races,” he said at the launch of the Bumiputera Economic Empowerment Council here today.

Najib stressed that the government is responsible for all Malaysians of all levels regardless of background, whether they are Bumiputeras or non-Bumiputeras, Muslims or non-Muslims.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said history has proven that since the implementation of the New Economic Policy, not just the Bumiputeras but all Malaysians have shared the benefits of the nation’s economic development.

“Clearly, we have done this not by taking, or denying, the rights of anyone, but through the creation of new wealth and maintaining sustainable economic growth,” he said.

The Prime Minister said since Independence, all plans and policies related to Bumiputeras have been formulated with the nation’s multi-racial composition in mind.

No one can deny the Bumiputeras’ central position in the national agenda, he said, adding any national initiative which does not take into account or ignores the Bumiputera agenda would not be fair and equitable.

Najib stressed the importance for all quarters to understand that the government is always aware of the Bumiputera agenda as the national agenda.

“This is because, if the rights of the majority Bumiputeras are not taken care of and they feel threatened or marginalised, the country will not enjoy peace and stability, and we would not be able to achieve our dream of becoming an advanced and peaceful nation by 2020,” he said.

Najib also criticised some politicians who he said are constantly stoking the racial fires, putting fear in the people.

“Like it or not, if we are not careful we can be influenced by outside sentiments through these internal adventurers and puppet masters, we will also feel the heat, and if they are not curtailed, Malaysia as a sovereign and independent nation will in the end be destroyed,” he said.

Khalid: Police not racist

As justification, the IGP points out that 15,000 Malays were arrested compared to 3,000 Indians under Ops Cantas

KUALA LUMPUR: Allegation that the police were being racist, targeting only a certain ethnic group in the on-going Ops Cantas is baseless and malicious, IGP Khalid Abu Bakar said today.

He said the allegation is untrue as police statistics show otherwise, where Malays make up the majority of those arrested under the special operation, initiated to curb gangsterism in the country.

“Malays are the most arrested. A total 15,000 people compared to Indians, about 3,000 people. Is that racist? Do not accuse us of being racist as this is a dangerous accusation.

“We are doing our duties according to the law and we are colour blind. In the case in Malacca, the police killed two suspects, we did that because the suspects were violent, we can’t be reading ‘pantun’ to them before acting,” Khalid was quoted by Bernama.

He said off those arrested under Ops Cantas, at least 130 people would be charged under the Societies Act 1966.

“About 50 people would be charged under the Crime Prevention Act…for various offences we will use the appropriate Acts.

“However we are still not satisfied with what we have achieved from Ops Cantas…this initiative and various other initiatives would be undertaken to reduce crime.

Saravanan backs police action

He said Ops Cantas now will concentrate on nabbing “heads” of secret societies and charging them under various laws including the Money Laundering Act.

Meanwhile, MIC vice president and Youth and Sports deputy minister M Saravanan backed the police in acting against gangsters under Ops Cantas.

He said the operation mounted by the police since Aug 17 will help curb gangsterism among Indian youths, adding that the operation would increase people’s trust in the police.

“It was a good move to ‘clean up’ our youths and credit should be given to Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on his firmness to carry out this operation.

“Although there are parties who are unhappy with the operation, I call on them to give full cooperation to the police in order to ensure our youth, the hope of our future, will one day be the backbone of the country,” he said after the opening of Astro Badminton Camp in Ayer Keroh, Malacca, today.

Saravanan said the police should not be left alone to execute the operation and that the public should play a more active role in providing information to aid them in preventing crime, especially among youths.

- Bernama

Najib showers post GE rewards on bumiputera

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today unveiled a slew of measures to prop up the bumiputera community, including requiring government-linked companies to set bumiputera participation targets.

"I want chief executive officers in all government-linked companies to set targets for bumiputera participation, including procurement by vendors," he said to a hall of over 2,000 people at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Shah Alam this morning.

Declaring the institution where he stood as a symbol of bumiputera education, the prime minsiter made no apologies in pointing out that the measures were a response to the strong Malay and bumiputera support in the last general election.

"Based on the support by the Malays and bumiputera in the recent 13th general election, therefore today, the government will do a quantum leap to execute concrete and swift strategies and approaches.

"We call this the Bumiputera Economic Empowerment. All this is to safeguard Malays and bumiputera, from then, now and forevermore," Najib said.
More specifically though, the move appears to be an attempt to pander to the right-wing Malay nationalist groups that lashed out at the government after the general election for attempting to placate the Chinese community, which ultimately did not deliver support for the ruling coalition.

Najib appeared to acknowledge this, saying, "After the last general election, we heard all kinds of complaints, concerns and unhappiness raised by the bumiputera community about their future and direction.

"Yes, we have indeed heard you, we hear you loud and clear," he said.

In acknowledgment of similar strong support for the ruling coalition from Sabah and Sarawak, the prime minister repeatedly pointed out that the "bumiputera" he meant included those in the two Borneo states.

'Goodies galore'

Najib then proceeded to announce five thrusts aimed at helping the community, namely in education, equity, non-financial assets, entrepreneurship and government delivery.

Aside from a slew of training programmes and allocations for education and entrepreneurship, he announced the creation of Amanah Saham Bumiputera 2 (ASB2) by Perbadanan Nasional Bhd, with 10 billion units, to improve bumiputera equity.

Furthermore, he said, the Projek Perumahan 1Malaysia (PR1MA) will also boost the construction of affordable housing specifically for   bumiputeras to improve acquisition of non-financial assets.

Also, among the measures, a bumiputera coordination unit will be set up at every ministry to help improve their participation, particularly in the area of procurement.

Najib also promised bumiputera participation in RM22 billion worth of Petronas projects over 25 years as well as forthcoming mega-projects such as the Menara Warisan and Bukit Bintang City Centre.

Following the race-based announcements, Najib stressed that the measures would not be at the expense of other communities in the country.

"We are doing what is right and what is equitable," he said after earlier pointing out that Chinese household income was almost 50 percent higher than bumiputera households.

Delhi gang rapists sentenced to death

Four men convicted over roles in rape and murder of 23-year-old woman in Delhi last year.


An Indian court has sentenced four men to death for the gang rape and murder of a student in the capital, Delhi.

Mukesh Singh, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Thakur and Pawan Gupta were convicted on Tuesday of the December attack of the 23-year-old woman, a crime that unleashed a wave of public anger over the treatment of women in India.

The woman died two weeks after the attack of internal injuries. which led to violent protests across India and new laws against rape.

Judge Yogesh Khanna said on Friday the case fell in the "rarest of rare category and warrants the exemplary punishment of death", rejecting pleas for lighter sentence.

"In these times, when crime against women is on the rise, the courts cannot turn a blind eye toward such gruesome crimes,'' Khanna said in announcing the sentence.

He said the attack "shocked the collective conscience'' of India.

The four men faced either life imprisonment or death by hanging.

'We did our job'

One of the convicted men, 20-year-old Vinay Sharma, broke down in tears as the sentence was announced.

As the news broke, crowds inside the building and outside the courtroom roared with cheers and applauded the judgement.

The prosecution team congratulated each other, with lead lawyer Dayan Krishnan saying: "We did our job. We are happy with this sentence".

Like all death sentences, Khanna's order must be confirmed by India's High Court. The men can appeal their case to the High Court, as well as to the Supreme Court, and ask the president for clemency.

The victim's family, along with numerous politicians and government officials, had long called for the men to be executed.

The father of the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said the family was also satisfied.

"I am very happy our girl has got justice," he told reporters inside court flanked by his wife and sons.

Earlier, protesters outside the court had demanded that the four men must be hanged.

The case has been closely followed across India, seen as a reflection on rampant mistreatment of women and the government's inability to deal with crime.