KUALA LUMPUR: The opposition is expected to file a motion soon to refer Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee for misleading the House on the status of Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy’s passport.
DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said the opposition would immediately study the latest facts on the status of Waythamoorthy’s passport as well as go through the Hansard before filing the motion.
He said Hindraf could prove that its chairperson’s passport was revoked early this year and that the opposition would now seek confirmation whether Syed Hamid had denied in the Dewan Rakyat in June that Waythamoorthy’s passport was cancelled on orders of the Malaysian government.
“Once I confirm he (Syed Hamid) said it inside the House, then it would be a breach of privileges. I’m prepared to move a motion tomorrow to refer the home minister to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee,” he told a press conference.
A host of opposition MPs including R Sivarasa, N Gobalakrishnan, Dr D Jeyakumar, S Manikavasagam, Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and M Manogaran were present at the press conference.
Lim stressed that it was critical to uphold the dignity and respect of the Dewan Rakyat, adding that the opposition was against any ministers or MPs “deliberately telling lies in the House”.
Meanwhile, Hindraf spokesperson RS Thanenthiran yesterday alleged that the home minister had lied when he denied that Waythamoorthy’s passport was revoked as communications between Waythamoorthy’s solicitor and the UK Border Agency (Home Office) proved otherwise.
Holding a document alleged to be from the UK Border Agency, Thanenthiran said the Malaysian authorities had instructed the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur via a letter dated March 14, 2008 to revoke Waythamoorthy’s passport.
“The reason given for the passport revocation was that the Malaysian authorities were seeking to arrest the Hindraf chairman to face criminal charges,” he noted.
He pointed out that a UK immigration officer had advised Waythamoorthy upon his arrival in UK on April 19, 2008 that his passport was no longer valid for travel and was given temporary admission until April 21, 2008, on which date he claimed asylum.
“He (Waythamoorthy) is not allowed to travel outside the UK,” Thanenthiran added.
Thanenthiran said Hindraf managed to obtain such a document under the British Freedom of Information Act 2000 and urged the Malaysian government to return Waythamoorthy’s passport and his rights as a Malaysian citizen.
Earlier, at about 11.30am, some 20 Hindraf sympathisers including its chairperson’s wife K Shanti and six-year old daughter Vwaishhnnavi entered the parliament grounds to submit the document from the UK Border Agency to opposition MPs awaiting them. The sympathisers were seen releasing a few pigeons to symbolise freedom for their leaders held under the ISA.
Parliament authorities initially allowed only five sympathisers to enter the building but later relented and allowed the group to hold a press conference at the banquet hall of parliament instead of the usual lobby area.
The group subsequently left parliament about 12.45pm but was stopped by police the moment they exited the parliament gates.
Their four vehicles were searched and the occupants had their personal details recorded.
Security was tight outside parliament with police and the FRU on standby since early morning but there were no untoward incidents, arrests or demonstrations.
news from: The Edge
24/10/08
PEOPLE'S POWER
There is a difference between UMNO and Barisan Nasional. I want to make it clear that it is not the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, but the UMNO government. It is not the government, but UMNO. Barisan Nasional is a coalition of unequals, not equals. UMNO is the big brother in BN. Therefore UMNO must be held responsible; and more importantly, UMNO must not be allowed to hide behind the BN banner. UMNO is the enemy, not BN. UMNO is a racist party which has perfected the art of divide and rule. If moderate Malays, the natives of Sabah and Sarawak, and the Chinese and Indians unite, then they can vote UMNO out of office.
ReplyDeleteFor decades UMNO has strengthened her position by destroying the independence of the judiciary. So much so that high officials and the Police can almost act with impunity.
I have come to the conclusion that the easy solution is to completely defeat UMNO in the next elections. We have to vote racist UMNO out of office. UMNO is bent on divide and rule, which has affected Malaysia badly. It is for the next generation of Malaysians to undo the damage done to Malaysia by UMNO. There is a dire need for moderate Malays at the political level. There is also a need for the natives of Sabah and Sarawak to form a third force to protect their own interests. Imagine how UMNO had dealt with Sabah; from a rich state, Sabah has been reduced to a poor state subservient to UMNO. There has to be an explanation. The only way is UMNO has to be voted out of office. The younger generation of Malaysians do not like racist politics and UMNO must be taught a lesson by the younger generation by voting UMNO out of office. Please vote for any party but UMNO/BN.
To my Sabah and Sarawak brothers and sisters I tell you that historically UMNO has always avoided a Royal Commission of Inquiry as much as possible many times. Historically, UMNO has misused the Internal Security Act numerous times. Any political party that is an accomplice to UMNO is also the enemy. Any political party that is a co-conspirator to UMNO is also the enemy. To my Sabah and Sarawak brothers and sisters I say that you should form a third force. A third force would require unity among Sabahans and Sarawakians.
To my Sabah and Sarawak natives, I need you to understand some things. Who is a so called bumiputra? Just about any Muslim who can obtain Malaysian citizenship can claim bumiputra benefits. How about the natives of Sabah and Sarawak? When it is beneficial to the Malays, the Malays cleverly put the Malays, the Orang Asli, and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak together. The Orang Asli of Malaya are not even mentioned in the constitution. Who are the bona fide indigenous people of Malaya? There are some who feel that the Orang Asli of Malaya are the indigenous people of Malaya. It may be possible that the Malays have usurped the position of indigenous people of Malaya and excluded the Orang Asli in the constitution. If we allowed the Orang Asli or the natives of Sabah and Sarawak to draft the constitution of Malaysia, it would look very different. So, it all depends on who drafts the constitution.
We have to get into the habit of putting people in office through votes, and removing people from office through votes. Nobody should be allowed to topple the government. We have to institutionalize the multi-party political system, one person one vote, and an independent judiciary.
In the 2004 elections (11th General Election), the voters gave good support to Mr.Abdullah Badawi. But reforms did not come. Why? Probably because UMNO had done well in the elections. If UMNO had done well in the elections, then the election results tell UMNO that the voters are satisfied with the status quo. If the voters are satisfied with UMNO, then no reforms are necessary. In the 2008 elections (12th General Elections), UMNO did not do well, but she managed to win. UMNO did lose the 2/3 majority in the Parliament, but she did win, nevertheless. Will UMNO undertake reforms now? I would not be surprised if she did not. Why should she? UMNO is still the winner in the elections; and she can plan to rise and may even succeed to rise again. So, as long as she wins, she will never undertake the reforms. So, how do the voters get the reforms that they need? The voters will get the reforms when UMNO is completely defeated in the 13th General Elections. If UMNO wins zero seats in the next elections (13th General Elections), then some other party would have to rule Malaysia. Let us call it Party B. If UMNO is completely defeated in the next elections (13th General Elections), then Party B would rule Malaysia. Would Party B undertake reforms? If Party B does not undertake reforms, then voters would know what to do.
There is no doubt that UMNO has used gerrymandering to strengthen herself. If we removed gerrymandering from UMNO, then there would be a reduced UMNO. So the non-UMNO voters of Malaysia have good reasons to vote against UMNO.
It is possible that UMNO has used the Police Force to strengthen herself. The Police Force is required to be neutral. But is the Police Force neutral? I appeal to the Police Force to be neutral.
UMNO is a race based political party and also the big brother of BN. So, the complete defeat of UMNO in the next elections is the only way to get reforms. The complete defeat of UMNO in the next elections is the only way to get a new beginning.
UMNO is inclined to believe that Malaysians cannot do anything if they are in any way dissatisfied. The voters, however, have to send a strong message to UMNO that the voters can do something: the voters can vote.
So, the next step for Malaysians is to completely defeat UMNO/BN in the next elections.