While Malaysia celebrated its 51st anniversary of Merdeka (Independence) from Britain in 2008, the Malaysian government continued to arrest and detain individuals without charging them or putting them on trial under the Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA), the legacy of a colonial legislation enacted to combat the communist insurgency in Malaya in the 1940s and 1950s.
The ISA was originally enacted to succeed emergency laws aimed at combating the communist insurgency in the 1940s and 1950s. It was also used against political dissidents, students, and labour activists. Since then, the ISA has been used against those who commit acts deemed to be “prejudicial to the security of Malaysia” or threatening to the “maintenance of essential services” or “economic life.” The government determines which acts fall into these categories and, using a strained interpretation of the legislation, has detained scores of individuals under the ISA in cases that would normally require prosecution.
Under the ISA, detainees are subject to an initial 60-day detention period in special police holding centres, allegedly for the purpose of investigation. No judicial order is required for such detentions. The locations of these holding centres are kept secret, and detainees are transported to and from these centres in blindfolds. Visits by family members are purely discretionary and, contrary to Article 5(3) of the Federal Constitution, detainees are denied access to lawyers. During the initial detention period, detainees are commonly subject to torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
At the end of the 60-day period, the Internal Security Ministry may release a detainee on restrictive orders, or order further detention without trial for a term of two years. The ministry can renew the two-year detentions indefinitely. Detainees may also be released with or without conditions at any time during detention. Conditions can include restrictions on activities, movement, residence, and employment; orders to remain indoors during certain hours; and prohibitions against holding public office or taking part in political activities. Detainees who are issued two-year detention orders are held in the Kamunting Detention Camp (KDC) in Perak.
In recent years, the Malaysian government’s justification of detentions without trial has been highly contradictory. For example, it has criticised the United States government for detaining two Malaysians without trial in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in 2006, yet continue to invoke such legislation to detain persons without trial in Malaysia. The Prime Minister appeared to be unaware that indefinite detention without trial continues to be used extensively in Malaysia.
Abolish ISA Movement (AIM)
The AIM which is better known in Malaysia as Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) is a coalition consisting of 83 organisations made up of non-governmental organisations, political parties, human right bodies, labour unions, women and student movement. It was launched on 30 April 2001 when 10 human rights activists (reformist or reformasi) were detained on unproven charges.
The two main objectives of GMI are to work towards the abolishment of ISA and to demand for the release of all ISA detainees on the premise that no one should be detained without trial.
In order to achieve these objectives, the GMI has launched several campaigns to create public awareness through press statements, exhibitions, demonstrations, forums, intellectual discourses, signature campaigns, publishing of books, distribution of pamphlets etc. Other key elements employed for the publicity of the GMI campaign include lobbying at the national and international level, filing legal proceedings, establishing the Family Support Centre, communicating with the media, fund-raising etc.
What you can do?
1. Please write a protest letter to the Prime Minister of Malaysia to condemn the arrest under the ISA and call for abolishment of the ISA.
2. You may also send postcards to the detainees in detention centre to show to them that we are with them.
3. You may contact the secretariat of AIM to get involve or support any of their activities.
Enalini Elumalai
Suaram
PEOPLE'S POWER
East Malaysia holds the key for PKR's takeover bid
Wan Azizah: We promise an interesting performance at the Sarawak state election that will be held in 2009, God willing.
SHAH ALAM: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is casting their eyes towards Sabah and Sarawak in their bid to takeover the government, promising petrol royalties and greater East Malaysian participation in federal participation.
PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail told the party's national congress today, "PKR is actively restructuring our operations and forging strong ties with the new generation of Sabahans and Sarawakians to ensure a better victory in the future."
Wan Azizah: We promise an interesting performance at the Sarawak state election that will be held in 2009, God willing. Photo by Chu Juck Seng
"We are committed to our promise of returning 20% of petroleum production proceeds in Sabah and Sarawak to the peribumi as well as giving them a more active role in the federal government if we govern the country," she added.
"I am confident that this marks the beginning of a movement for change in Sabah and Sarawak.
"We promise an interesting performance at the Sarawak state election that will be held in 2009, god willing," she said.
Revisiting the 12th general elections, Wan Azizah lamented irregularities in the election process and lashed out at Barisan Nasional (BN).
"Today, we see BN component parties in disarray, pointing fingers and clawing among themselves because they have not recovered from the defeats but is still in a state of denial.
Calling the unprecedented election results "the people's victory", Wan Azizah said that it was a big moral defeat for the Barisan Nasional government and a result that has altered the landscape of Malaysian politics.
Wan Azizah said that if the Pakatan Rakyat alliance - which also includes DAP and PAS - was successful in capturing Sabah and Sarawak during the elections, they would have "certainly formed the federal government."
The Pakatan Rakyat needs to secure the crossover of at least 30 parliamentarians to form a simple majority and takeover the federal leadership, having won 82 of the 222 seats in the previous elections.
Wan Azizah also slammed the power transition plan from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to Deputy Prime MInister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
"The transfer of power will not bring any positive change in the breakdown of the country's main governing institutions such as the judiciary, police force, anti-corruption agency and parliament," she said.
Meanwhile, Ngemah state assemblyman Gabriel Adit urged all PKR members to cooperate in increasing the party's foothold in Sarawak, warning that BN is not easily defeated in that state.
"BN Sarawak is not weak, let me tell you, we have to strengthen ourselves," he said.
Adit contended on an independent ticket during the previous election and has since joined PKR, bringing with him almost 12,000 new members.
PKR claims to have almost half a million members.
Between four to five thousand people packed the Malawati Stadium this morning for the second day of PKR's national congress, which comprised of 1927 registered delegates and 1200 observers.
Today's session saw the attendance of prominent Pakatan Rakyat leaders, including PAS secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, DAP chairman Karpal Singh, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) leader Datuk Yong Teck Lee.
A surprise guest this morning was former minister in the prime minister's department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.
Selangor chief minister Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and Perak chief minister Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin were also present.
PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was escorted into the stadium at 10.10am by a marching band and was greeted with a standing ovation, chants of "Reformasi" and a flurry of banners
Chua Sue-Ann
The Edge
30/11/08
Malaysia government sued over seized Christian CDs
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: A Malaysian Christian is suing the government for allegedly violating her religious rights after airport officials seized Christian educational CDs that she brought from Indonesia, the woman's lawyer said.
Customs authorities in this Muslim-majority country confiscated eight CDs from Jill Ireland when she flew back to Kuala Lumpur on May 11 after a trip to Jakarta, her lawyer, Annou Xavier, said late Thursday.
The Home Ministry informed her in a letter that the CDs were seized mainly because their cover titles contained the word "Allah," which is prohibited in non-Muslim religious material, Xavier said.
Ireland wants the Kuala Lumpur High Court to issue a declaration allowing her to transport any religious material for her own personal use, Xavier said.
The court on Thursday scheduled Jan. 30 for a preliminary hearing.
Government lawyer Suzana Atan declined to comment on details of the case, but noted that authorities have barred the use of the word "Allah" except for Muslim publications.
Malaysia's constitution guarantees freedom of worship for non-Muslims, who make up more than one-third of the country's 27 million people.
However, minority Buddhists, Christians and Hindus have increasingly voiced allegations of religious discrimination due to incidents in recent years such as the occasional demolition of Hindu temples by state authorities.
The government last year ruled that non-Muslims cannot use the word "Allah," an Arabic word that is a synonym for "God" in Malaysia's national language.
The ban has sparked criticism by Christians who use it to refer to God in their Malay-language Bible and other publications. A Malaysian church and Christian weekly newspaper have launched court actions to challenge the ban.
Government officials have expressed concerns that using "Allah" in Christian literature could confuse Malaysia's Muslims and draw them to Christianity.
sourec: IHT
30/11/08
Customs authorities in this Muslim-majority country confiscated eight CDs from Jill Ireland when she flew back to Kuala Lumpur on May 11 after a trip to Jakarta, her lawyer, Annou Xavier, said late Thursday.
The Home Ministry informed her in a letter that the CDs were seized mainly because their cover titles contained the word "Allah," which is prohibited in non-Muslim religious material, Xavier said.
Ireland wants the Kuala Lumpur High Court to issue a declaration allowing her to transport any religious material for her own personal use, Xavier said.
The court on Thursday scheduled Jan. 30 for a preliminary hearing.
Government lawyer Suzana Atan declined to comment on details of the case, but noted that authorities have barred the use of the word "Allah" except for Muslim publications.
Malaysia's constitution guarantees freedom of worship for non-Muslims, who make up more than one-third of the country's 27 million people.
However, minority Buddhists, Christians and Hindus have increasingly voiced allegations of religious discrimination due to incidents in recent years such as the occasional demolition of Hindu temples by state authorities.
The government last year ruled that non-Muslims cannot use the word "Allah," an Arabic word that is a synonym for "God" in Malaysia's national language.
The ban has sparked criticism by Christians who use it to refer to God in their Malay-language Bible and other publications. A Malaysian church and Christian weekly newspaper have launched court actions to challenge the ban.
Government officials have expressed concerns that using "Allah" in Christian literature could confuse Malaysia's Muslims and draw them to Christianity.
sourec: IHT
30/11/08
Anwar Ibrahim Keynote Address at PKR 2008 Congress
Ladies and gentlemen.
Your sacrifices have shaped the course of this nation.
Your tears for friends and loved ones imprisoned without trial; your pain in enduring your families being torn apart; and the anguish seeing your
businesses and livelihood ransacked.
This is the price that we have all paid to build a better Malaysia.
But I stand before you, humbled by your courage, overwhelmed by your loyalty, and inspired by your extraordinary feats.
From a dark cell I felt your pain. I cried when your freedom was taken from you. And today I share your pride and joy; that we are gathered here to celebrate the historic event our fellow Malaysians brought forth on March 8 - a Brave New Dawn.
I welcome the new faces among us. When we formed this party we knew a day would come when we would open our doors to a flood of Malaysians joining us on this noble mission. Your presence marks the beginning of a new phase for our party and for our nation.
I marvel at the support we have earned from our nation’s youth and women. You have given us hope that Malaysia’s future will fall into the hands of a generation that cherishes democracy and will continue the fight for freedom and justice.
With this Congress we embark on a major exercise to refocus and reorganize the party to reach new levels of discipline and new heights of effectiveness. We will take steps to ensure that our call for justice is heard loud and clear from the northern reaches of Perlis to the southern tip of Johor and all the way to the shores of Sabah and Sarawak.
Yet it was not too long ago that many believed this party had no future. They poured scorn on our aspirations and laughed at our dreams. Some even said we would just disappear!
They said multi-racial politics were impossible and our vision for a unified nation had all but expired. There are some whose conviction wavered and who believed that the ship upon which we were sailing may not reach its destined shore. To those who harbor doubt I say: trust in the wisdom of the people and trust not the pundits and cynics bent on supporting a corrupt and decadent establishment.
The desire for change is unstoppable. The people can no longer tolerate the abuses of the current government that affront us each day. The prevailing order prevails no more.
Never in the country’s history have Malaysians in such great numbers exercised their right to vote out of office such an entrenched institution. Never before have the people set aside their racial and religious identities and called in a single voice for a Brave New Dawn.
Our successes in 2008 are immense and we should be immensely proud. After two successful elections we have a proven that the Pakatan Rakyat coalition is strong and unified, working together hand-in-hand for change.
We have also witnessed a government under siege and a ruling party in disarray. We have seen them strangle and suffocate the democratic process and we have seen them ignore the crisis of an economy in turmoil.
Yes there have been setbacks. We skirted with destiny on September 16th and despite our best efforts our march to victory has been delayed. I empathise with you and with the people of Malaysia. We are all forced to further endure the slings and arrows of an incompetent government that has lost touch with the people. Although our promise has not yet been fulfilled, the Pakatan Rakyat leaders and I remain committed to the agenda for change and our tenacity has never been stronger.
I call upon you to aspire — as only we united in our quest can — to A Brave New Dawn: Where every child has the right to quality education and every family feels safe at home and in their streets. Where we can believe what we read in the newspapers and what we watch on the television. Where the country’s leaders will be honest, where justice prevails and where judges cannot be bribed.
I ask of you first as Malaysians and second as members of Keadilan, let us prepare ourselves with a renewed resolve and the courage of conviction that with our efforts a thousand flowers of freedom will yet bloom in Malaysia.
To my fellow citizens in the Pakatan States, you have humbled me with your support and I thank you. I say to you – let us work together to bring forth a new order and a better quality of life; a new measure of confidence in the accountability of government. I ask you to bear with us; the challenges we face cannot be overcome in a single month and some may take more than a year to redress. Much has been accomplished already, and soon our State Governments will report regularly their accomplishments and their plans for the continued development of our states.
To those living outside the Pakatan States the task before you is formidable. You believe in Keadilan and you believe that with Pakatan Rakyat the future of the country can be great. Yet you live in the stronghold of Barisan Nasional. We need your unwavering commitment and we need you to work harder than ever before so that Pakatan Rakyat’s banner can be raised throughout Malaysia.
We in Pakatan Rakyat will continue to protect the rights of every Malaysian including the Malays and Bumiputeras, and strive to bring forth greater quality of life for all. We will reach out to our friends in Sabah and Sarawak - Ibans, Kadazahns, Dayaks. Your cry for help has been ignored. We in Pakatan Rakyat say we hear you and we will support you.
Members of Keadilan: Your work has brought our people together. Look around you. Our ancestors might not come from the same place. But we are citizens of this nation and we each want this country to move in the same direction to make it a better home for our children and grandchildren who we hope will be living together peacefully. And for them we wish a nation that is prosperous where they can obtain a good education and find a decent job to support their families.
These are Malaysian problems. They are not just Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Dayak or Kadazans problems. They are ones that affect Sabah and Sarawak the same way that they matter to people living in Selangor, Penang, Kelantan or Johor. They are problems that we all face, day after day. And will continue to face unless we work harder for change.
Today our nation is confronted with monumental challenges. The economy is in virtual crisis. Violent crime in our cities and villages has never been more pervasive. More Malaysians are jobless, or will lose their jobs in the coming year then ever before in our history. Our education system is crumbling just like the buildings in which our children attend school. Billions are wasted every year in blatant corruption while the poor and arginalized are left hoping for some reprieve.
We have called this gathering to celebrate our success but I am now calling you to arms. Let us renew our commitment. Let us resolve to build on what has been accomplished this year and make Malaysia great once again.
Let us fulfill our promise to our friends in Pakatan Rakyat, DAP and PAS, to build a strong partnership. We have shared aspirations for the country and we are stronger as a coalition than the sum of our parts. Together we will win the hearts and minds of the entire nation.
Thank you.
ANWAR IBRAHIM
PKR expects more election victories
SHAH ALAM: Parti Keadilan Rakyat declared that the opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat expects to win more seats in Parliament.
PKR vice president Azmin Ali said the party is now preparing to face by-elections in Pensiangan and Kuala Terengganu.
An election court in September quashed Tan Sri Joseph Kurup’s victory, who won uncontested in the March 8 general election and a by-election is expected pending an appeal by Barisan Nasional.
Yesterday, two term Kuala Terengganu MP Datuk Razali Ismail passed away while playing badminton.
“I believe Kuala Terengganu will become Pakatan Rakyat’s seat,” said Azmin at a public rally here today.
“The seat belongs to Pas. We accept the decision made by the Pakatan leadership and will fight to ensure our victory,” he added.
In the last general election Pas candidate Mohamad Sabu was defeated by 628 votes. An independent candidate, Maimun Yusuf lost her deposit.
The PKR election director also told thousands of party supporters at Malawati Stadium that the party has activated its machinery to face the Sarawak state election.
He said that people’s mood in the state has changed compared to during the last state election in 2006.
“We were chased out by the people then, as we are a Peninsular political party, but now they have become receptive to our struggle,” he said while praising Ngemah state assemblyman Gabriel Adit who joined the party two weeks ago.
Prior to Adit’s admission into the party, Dominic Ng of Padungan was PKR’s sole representative in the Sarawak assembly.
Azmin also reiterated the party’s stand that it would continue its struggle to topple the BN government and declared that the opposition coalition would take over Putrajaya soon.
“After March 8, the people keep asking for a change, we heard them during the Permatang Pauh by-election. We won with a bigger majority. The Malays who were threatened chose to be with us,” said Azmin.
themalaysianinsider
30/11/08
PKR vice president Azmin Ali said the party is now preparing to face by-elections in Pensiangan and Kuala Terengganu.
An election court in September quashed Tan Sri Joseph Kurup’s victory, who won uncontested in the March 8 general election and a by-election is expected pending an appeal by Barisan Nasional.
Yesterday, two term Kuala Terengganu MP Datuk Razali Ismail passed away while playing badminton.
“I believe Kuala Terengganu will become Pakatan Rakyat’s seat,” said Azmin at a public rally here today.
“The seat belongs to Pas. We accept the decision made by the Pakatan leadership and will fight to ensure our victory,” he added.
In the last general election Pas candidate Mohamad Sabu was defeated by 628 votes. An independent candidate, Maimun Yusuf lost her deposit.
The PKR election director also told thousands of party supporters at Malawati Stadium that the party has activated its machinery to face the Sarawak state election.
He said that people’s mood in the state has changed compared to during the last state election in 2006.
“We were chased out by the people then, as we are a Peninsular political party, but now they have become receptive to our struggle,” he said while praising Ngemah state assemblyman Gabriel Adit who joined the party two weeks ago.
Prior to Adit’s admission into the party, Dominic Ng of Padungan was PKR’s sole representative in the Sarawak assembly.
Azmin also reiterated the party’s stand that it would continue its struggle to topple the BN government and declared that the opposition coalition would take over Putrajaya soon.
“After March 8, the people keep asking for a change, we heard them during the Permatang Pauh by-election. We won with a bigger majority. The Malays who were threatened chose to be with us,” said Azmin.
themalaysianinsider
30/11/08
Umno’s Arif Shah mulls joining PKR, could become Penang DCM
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government welcomes everyone to join the coalition, amid speculation that Seberang Jaya Umno assemblyman Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah had been offered the post of deputy chief minister if he joined PKR.
However, Lim declined to comment on whether any such offer had been made to Arif Shah, who was the losing Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate in the recent Permatang Pauh by-election which saw the return of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Parliament.
Lim was commenting on a report in the New Sunday Times today which reported speculation that Arif Shah was unhappy with the state Umno leadership, and was considering an offer from PKR to join the state government.
One of the two deputy chief minister’s posts is now held by PKR. The current PKR deputy chief minister is Penanti assemblyman Fairuz Khairuddin.
“Pakatan Rakyat component parties welcome everyone who wants to join based on the principles of justice, respect for rule of law, human rights, social economic justice,” said Lim adding that he was just making a general statement.
Lim also refused to comment when asked whether he was planning to replace the Deputy Chief Minister I.
“I have not received any report from PKR, as the DCM I post is decided by the party,” said Lim.
He added any recommendation for the position can only be made by PKR, the DAP’s partner in the Penang government.
In an immediate reaction, Arif Shah said chances of him joining PKR was still low.
“I have to discuss with Guan Eng first as I want him to feel comfortable. PKR offered me, they are welcoming me. But it is not an easy decision.
“There are many things to sort out and I have to face them one by one. Before my departure, if there is any, I will talk to the national leadership,” said Arif Shah when contacted.
Arif Shah added that it would take some time for him to make up his mind.
When asked whether he was offered any position, Arif Shah said: “That is not important, I need a platform to deliver my service.”
Adib Zalkapli
The Malaysian Insider
30/11/08
However, Lim declined to comment on whether any such offer had been made to Arif Shah, who was the losing Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate in the recent Permatang Pauh by-election which saw the return of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Parliament.
Lim was commenting on a report in the New Sunday Times today which reported speculation that Arif Shah was unhappy with the state Umno leadership, and was considering an offer from PKR to join the state government.
One of the two deputy chief minister’s posts is now held by PKR. The current PKR deputy chief minister is Penanti assemblyman Fairuz Khairuddin.
“Pakatan Rakyat component parties welcome everyone who wants to join based on the principles of justice, respect for rule of law, human rights, social economic justice,” said Lim adding that he was just making a general statement.
Lim also refused to comment when asked whether he was planning to replace the Deputy Chief Minister I.
“I have not received any report from PKR, as the DCM I post is decided by the party,” said Lim.
He added any recommendation for the position can only be made by PKR, the DAP’s partner in the Penang government.
In an immediate reaction, Arif Shah said chances of him joining PKR was still low.
“I have to discuss with Guan Eng first as I want him to feel comfortable. PKR offered me, they are welcoming me. But it is not an easy decision.
“There are many things to sort out and I have to face them one by one. Before my departure, if there is any, I will talk to the national leadership,” said Arif Shah when contacted.
Arif Shah added that it would take some time for him to make up his mind.
When asked whether he was offered any position, Arif Shah said: “That is not important, I need a platform to deliver my service.”
Adib Zalkapli
The Malaysian Insider
30/11/08
Arif Shah: I can't take this abuse any more
BUTTERWORTH: A month after losing the Umno divisional chief battle, Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, who was the Barisan Nasional candidate in the Permatang Pauh by-election in August, admitted yesterday that he was facing the biggest dilemma in his political career.
The Seberang Jaya assemblyman (pictured right) said he was now at a crossroads between staying in Umno or joining the Pakatan Rakyat state government.
Arif Shah said he was seriously considering his future in Umno following what he described as the "blatant power abuses" by the Umno Permatang Pauh division leadership.
The two-term assemblyman, the only Yang Berhormat with an ISO 9001-certified service centre, is the only Umno candidate in the division who survived in the March 8 general election.
In a tell-all telephone interview with the New Straits Times yesterday, Arif Shah said he could no longer stand the alleged abuses by division chief Datuk Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid.
Jalil had lost his Penanti state seat in the general election. Umno had also failed to wrest Permatang Pasir, the other state seat under the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency, from Pas.
Jalil, however, retained his Permatang Pauh division chief's post in a three-cornered fight in October against Arif Shah and former division deputy chief Datuk Pirdaus Ismail, by a mere 18-vote majority.
Arif Shah, who shot to fame after being picked to face Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat but lost, said he was still an Umno loyalist but was deeply disturbed by the behaviour of the division leaders.
"I acknowledged his (Abdul Jalil) victory in the division election but the oppression and abuse against me as a branch chief and an Umno assemblyman is despicable."
Arif Shah claimed that Jalil and certain leaders at the divisional level had taken measures to demoralise him and denied his position as an Umno assemblyman.
"After retaining his post, Jalil and his team have become very arrogant by adopting a 'winner takes all' attitude.
"They are behaving as if Umno belongs to them and not the members and they have gone to the extent of turning the division into Umno Sdn Bhd, with Jalil playing the role of a chief executive officer."
He said at a recent Permatang Pauh division committee meeting -- of which he was not invited to attend -- it was decided that an Umno assemblyman did not need to attend the meeting unless he was asked to do so by the division chief.
"This is a blatant violation of power as the Umno constitution clearly states that an Umno assemblyman is required to attend divisional committee meetings."
Arif Shah claimed that the last straw was when he received a letter from the division office last week informing him that Umno assemblymen were barred from making contact with branch leaders in the division without the knowledge of the division chief.
"How can I function effectively as an assemblyman under these circumstances?"
Arif Shah hoped the Umno disciplinary committee and state Umno liaison committee would thoroughly investigate reports on power abuse in the division.
He claimed that he had been previously deprived in many ways by Jalil but the recent "abuses" had forced him to reconsider his future in Umno.
Arif Shah admitted that he had been approached by PKR leaders. Rumours are rife that he had been offered the deputy chief minister's I post.
"I am an Umno loyalist and I have been with the party through thick and thin in serving the rakyat.
"However, the abuses and oppression of power by certain leaders at the divisional level are blatant insults to me, as a party member, an assemblyman as well as an individual."
On rumours that he was spotted at the PKR convention in Shah Alam, Selangor, Arif Shah admitted that he was in Shah Alam but only to visit his son who was studying at the Universiti Teknologi Mara main campus.
Meanwhile, state Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah advised Arif Shah to write to the state leadership if he was unhappy.
"At least, we will have some basis for investigations," Rashid said.
Asked if he was aware of any problems in the Permatang Pauh Umno division, Rashid said: "As far as I am concerned, I do not see any major problems which ought to be investigated."
Rashid also warned Arif Shah to abide by the rules.
"If he is asked not to attend meetings, he should abide by it and understand the situation. I do not see any problems with that."
When contacted, Jalil said he was not aware of any problems in the division.
"I don't know anything. All I want to say is that he (Arif Shah) is an Umno member and an assemblyman... as if he doesn't know the rules."
Jalil added that Arif Shah was free to make any allegations.
Adie Suri Zulkefli and Audrey Dermawan
NST
30/11/08
Soi Lek stands by his words amid Umno attacks
KUALA LUMPUR: MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said today he stands by his view regarding the concept of Ketuanan Melayu, or Malay supremacy, despite heavy criticisms from Umno leaders.
Umno leaders have lashed out at Dr Chua, pointing out to him that Ketuanan Melayu was not a joke to be taken lightly.
The Umno-owned Mingguan Malaysia also ran a banner headline today with the words "Do not question" (Ketuanan Melayu).
Dr Chua's statement last week that he accepted Malay leadership and not Ketuanan Melayu has also embarrassed his party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat who has distanced the party from such a stand in an effort to prevent an Umno-MCA row.
Dr Chua's argument for more equitable power sharing in BN appears designed to place pressure on Ong to be more vocal in his dealings with Umno.
It is also the first clear sign of how an ongoing spat between the MCA's top two leaders is beginning to spill over into the party's ties with Umno.
"We accept Malay leadership. But there has been a change in the political landscape where we have more of a two-party system.
"BN parties will do well if it starts to champion national and not just racial issues," he told The Malaysian Insider.
Dr Chua said BN parties must think as Malaysians now because issues which affect any single community affect all Malaysians as well.
His statement has come under considerable attack, especially from Umno leaders.
Today's Mingguan Malaysia quoted Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein as saying that "it is better that BN component party leaders join the opposition if they want to drag up history and facts."
Said his Umno colleague Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar: "Other communities should stop criticising the concept of Malay Supremacy because it is not a joke to be taken lightly."
The controversy over Dr Chua's assertion of a master-servant relatuionship between Umno and MCA appears to have brought back into focus the assertion of some BN parties that Umno is too dominant.
However, the Umno response has been, and continues to be that sensitive race relations issues should not be openly discussed.
The controversy is also a reflection of the difficult balancing act BN finds itself in since the March 8 elections saw the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) alliance of PKR, DAP and Pas deny them for the first time their two-thirds majority in Parliament.
Since then the PR alliance, led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has pushed the argument for more inclusive politics, while trying to portray BN as a racially divided coalition dominated by Umno.
This is not the first time Dr Chua has called for a more equitable partnership with Umno, nor is it the first time he has described ties between Umno and MCA as that of master and servant.
During the campaign for the recent MCA party elections, he won the deputy presidency largely on the platform of change and reform of the BN, and his latest statement appears to be a continuation of that stand.
Leslie Lau
The Malaysian Insider
30/11/08
Umno leaders have lashed out at Dr Chua, pointing out to him that Ketuanan Melayu was not a joke to be taken lightly.
The Umno-owned Mingguan Malaysia also ran a banner headline today with the words "Do not question" (Ketuanan Melayu).
Dr Chua's statement last week that he accepted Malay leadership and not Ketuanan Melayu has also embarrassed his party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat who has distanced the party from such a stand in an effort to prevent an Umno-MCA row.
Dr Chua's argument for more equitable power sharing in BN appears designed to place pressure on Ong to be more vocal in his dealings with Umno.
It is also the first clear sign of how an ongoing spat between the MCA's top two leaders is beginning to spill over into the party's ties with Umno.
"We accept Malay leadership. But there has been a change in the political landscape where we have more of a two-party system.
"BN parties will do well if it starts to champion national and not just racial issues," he told The Malaysian Insider.
Dr Chua said BN parties must think as Malaysians now because issues which affect any single community affect all Malaysians as well.
His statement has come under considerable attack, especially from Umno leaders.
Today's Mingguan Malaysia quoted Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein as saying that "it is better that BN component party leaders join the opposition if they want to drag up history and facts."
Said his Umno colleague Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar: "Other communities should stop criticising the concept of Malay Supremacy because it is not a joke to be taken lightly."
The controversy over Dr Chua's assertion of a master-servant relatuionship between Umno and MCA appears to have brought back into focus the assertion of some BN parties that Umno is too dominant.
However, the Umno response has been, and continues to be that sensitive race relations issues should not be openly discussed.
The controversy is also a reflection of the difficult balancing act BN finds itself in since the March 8 elections saw the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) alliance of PKR, DAP and Pas deny them for the first time their two-thirds majority in Parliament.
Since then the PR alliance, led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has pushed the argument for more inclusive politics, while trying to portray BN as a racially divided coalition dominated by Umno.
This is not the first time Dr Chua has called for a more equitable partnership with Umno, nor is it the first time he has described ties between Umno and MCA as that of master and servant.
During the campaign for the recent MCA party elections, he won the deputy presidency largely on the platform of change and reform of the BN, and his latest statement appears to be a continuation of that stand.
Leslie Lau
The Malaysian Insider
30/11/08
PPP will pull out of Barisan if ISA not amended: Kayveas
KUALA LUMPUR: The PPP will pull out of the Barisan Nasional if the Internal Security Act is not amended before the next elections, party president datuk M.Kayveas said.
“I have to follow what the youth and wanita divisions have proposed to PPP and they want the ISA to be abolished.
“As a responsible party I told them ‘let’s go halfway’ and ask for the amendments of the act so that it does not become a draconian law imposed on innocent citizens,” he said while opening the youth and wanita party elections.
If the Barisan, he added, was seriously thinking of rebranding, then it should amend the ISA.
“The Barisan has to make changes before the next general elections. It is suicidal if we do not plan the next general elections.
“The problem with the Barisan was its success in the past 50 years. Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.”
“The March elections has already shown what the voters are looking for in good governance and multi-racialism.
“The Barisan has conducted numerous post mortems at all levels to gather input on what went wrong and why the voters rejected Barisan.
“The solution has always been multi-racialism but to date Barisan is still caught in its own political racial configuration – that what is being spoken is not being implemented fast enough.”
PPP’s Wanita leader Josephine Anne said that it would too late to speak of multi-racialism by the time the next election takes place.
“The Barisan has to act now and fast track development programmes for all races and must show our sincerity and start now by uniting the parties in the Barisan.
“The Barisan must work towards a common society to regain the confidence of the Rakyat, and not just offer lip service and continue to use the racial card to promote and project the different races for one’s own political standing.
“In this age and time we cannot continue to pit one race against the other and talk about unity,” she added.
PPP’s youth leader T. Murugiah said that theparty did not support the use of the ISA against the ordinary citizens of Malaysia.
“The ISA was designed to handle a terrorist threat and should be used only for that purpose.”
M. KRISHNAMOORTHY
Star Online
30/11/08
“I have to follow what the youth and wanita divisions have proposed to PPP and they want the ISA to be abolished.
“As a responsible party I told them ‘let’s go halfway’ and ask for the amendments of the act so that it does not become a draconian law imposed on innocent citizens,” he said while opening the youth and wanita party elections.
If the Barisan, he added, was seriously thinking of rebranding, then it should amend the ISA.
“The Barisan has to make changes before the next general elections. It is suicidal if we do not plan the next general elections.
“The problem with the Barisan was its success in the past 50 years. Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.”
“The March elections has already shown what the voters are looking for in good governance and multi-racialism.
“The Barisan has conducted numerous post mortems at all levels to gather input on what went wrong and why the voters rejected Barisan.
“The solution has always been multi-racialism but to date Barisan is still caught in its own political racial configuration – that what is being spoken is not being implemented fast enough.”
PPP’s Wanita leader Josephine Anne said that it would too late to speak of multi-racialism by the time the next election takes place.
“The Barisan has to act now and fast track development programmes for all races and must show our sincerity and start now by uniting the parties in the Barisan.
“The Barisan must work towards a common society to regain the confidence of the Rakyat, and not just offer lip service and continue to use the racial card to promote and project the different races for one’s own political standing.
“In this age and time we cannot continue to pit one race against the other and talk about unity,” she added.
PPP’s youth leader T. Murugiah said that theparty did not support the use of the ISA against the ordinary citizens of Malaysia.
“The ISA was designed to handle a terrorist threat and should be used only for that purpose.”
M. KRISHNAMOORTHY
Star Online
30/11/08
Kuala Trengganu by-election a referendum on Najib, Anwar and Pas
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 - Get ready for a monster of a by-election in Kuala Terengganu.
The death of Deputy Education Minister and Barisan Nasional MP Datuk Razali Ismail has set the stage for an electoral contest which will not alter the overall position of power in Malaysia but is pregnant with meaning for all the major players of politics here.
# Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak:
By convention, the deputy prime minister heads the BN machinery during by-elections. But this will be no ordinary jaunt for Najib. The Opposition will turn the contest into a referendum for the country’s prime minister-in-waiting and there will be no place for him to hide from the insults and gloomy analyses if Pakatan Rakyat snares the parliamentary constituency seat.
Kuala Terengganu will be different from the last contest in Permatang Pauh for a sprinkling of reasons.
Reason 1: Unlike Permatang Pauh, this is a seat which has been held by BN for the last two elections, albeit tenuously. In 1999, at the peak of the fallout over the sacking of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from government, Pas candidate Dr Syed Azman Syed Nawawi thrashed BN’s Datuk Abu Bakar Daud by a yawning margin of 14.448 votes.
Four years later, the popular Razali was fielded as a candidate there and he regained the seat for the ruling coalition by 1,933 votes. He retained the Kuala Terengganu seat by 628 votes on March 8.
In short, except for 1999-2004, this seat has been owned by the BN. In contrast, Permatang Pauh has been Anwar’s stronghold and remained in the hands of his proxy when he was in jail or ineligible to contest.
Reason 2: When BN contested the by-election in Permatang Pauh in August, there was still uncertainty over Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi’s future as prime minister. Blame for Anwar’s stunning victory was laid at his feet with pundits and Umno politicians saying that the PM’s unpopularity on the ground and lack of leadership were reasons for the limp performance of the Umno machinery.
Well, Abdullah is on his way out and a defeat for BN in Kuala Terengganu, or even a victory by a smaller margin than 628 votes, will have to be borne by Najib alone.
This by-election will not be about Abdullah’s track record (that story is done and dusted). This contest will be a bellwether of Najib’s ability to galvanise the troops on the ground and convince the voters that he is the future of the country. If BN does not deliver in Kuala Terengganu, he will not be able to seek refuge behind Abdullah’s weaknesses. Not this time.
# Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim:
Despite the brave talk at the Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s congress and festival of rhetoric about taking over control of the Federal Government, the Opposition leader knows that there have been more question marks over his ability to keep Pakatan Rakyat together in the last month than at any time after March 8.
It is not just BN politicians or the mainstream media that have raised red flags over his statements. Even the foreign press - longtime supporters of his more open and inclusive agenda - are settling down to the belief that Anwar will have to play the role of Opposition leader till the next general election.
Anwar needs a strong showing in Kuala Terengganu to inject fresh belief and enthusiasm into a coalition that has yet to agree on a common platform and is in danger of self-destructing over ideological differences.
Still, the consummate political player knows that one victory could lift the mood in Pakatan Rakyat, reduce BN’s comfort zone in Parliament by another seat, and put BN and Najib on the defensive.
More importantly, a strong showing by the Pakatan Rakyat in Kuala Terengganu will convince Malaysians that reverses suffered by BN/Umno in March were not solely due to Indians and Chinese voting with their feet, but also the result of more discerning Malay voters, even in rural Malaysia.
Kuala Terengganu is a 90 per cent Malay constituency. On a more personal level, this by-election is a battle of Anwar versus Najib. The battle between the man who believes that he is destined to become the prime minister against the man who has the top job in his clutches.
# Parti Islam SeMalaysia (Pas):
Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, Datuk Mustafa Ali and the powerful Terengganu faction of Pas have had a difficult time living down the loss of state to BN in 2004.
After just one term in office, they were booted out. And despite all the brave talk of wresting control of the state on March 8, spurred no doubt by infighting among Umno politicians in Terengganu, Hadi and his team still failed.
In the months following Election 2008, the Terengganu faction has had some difficulty exerting their influence on the party. They have had some serious reservations over Anwar’s tactics and have favoured a rapprochement with Umno. But they have had to yield to those in Pas who believe that it better to work with Anwar and the Democratic Action Party than with the “cruel and greedy’’ people of Umno.
Another defeat for Pas in Kuala Terengganu could end Datuk Mustafa Ali’s tenure as the election strategist of the party and blunt any offensive the Terengganu faction is planning to launch before next year’s party assembly.
Bookmark Email This LUMPUR, Nov 30 - Get ready for a monster of a by-election in Kuala Terengganu.
The death of Deputy Education Minister and Barisan Nasional MP Datuk Razali Ismail has set the stage for an electoral contest which will not alter the overall position of power in Malaysia but is pregnant with meaning for all the major players of politics here.
# Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak:
By convention, the deputy prime minister heads the BN machinery during by-elections. But this will be no ordinary jaunt for Najib. The Opposition will turn the contest into a referendum for the country’s prime minister-in-waiting and there will be no place for him to hide from the insults and gloomy analyses if Pakatan Rakyat snares the parliamentary constituency seat.
Kuala Terengganu will be different from the last contest in Permatang Pauh for a sprinkling of reasons.
Reason 1: Unlike Permatang Pauh, this is a seat which has been held by BN for the last two elections, albeit tenuously. In 1999, at the peak of the fallout over the sacking of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from government, Pas candidate Dr Syed Azman Syed Nawawi thrashed BN’s Datuk Abu Bakar Daud by a yawning margin of 14.448 votes.
Four years later, the popular Razali was fielded as a candidate there and he regained the seat for the ruling coalition by 1,933 votes. He retained the Kuala Terengganu seat by 628 votes on March 8.
In short, except for 1999-2004, this seat has been owned by the BN. In contrast, Permatang Pauh has been Anwar’s stronghold and remained in the hands of his proxy when he was in jail or ineligible to contest.
Reason 2: When BN contested the by-election in Permatang Pauh in August, there was still uncertainty over Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi’s future as prime minister. Blame for Anwar’s stunning victory was laid at his feet with pundits and Umno politicians saying that the PM’s unpopularity on the ground and lack of leadership were reasons for the limp performance of the Umno machinery.
Well, Abdullah is on his way out and a defeat for BN in Kuala Terengganu, or even a victory by a smaller margin than 628 votes, will have to be borne by Najib alone.
This by-election will not be about Abdullah’s track record (that story is done and dusted). This contest will be a bellwether of Najib’s ability to galvanise the troops on the ground and convince the voters that he is the future of the country. If BN does not deliver in Kuala Terengganu, he will not be able to seek refuge behind Abdullah’s weaknesses. Not this time.
# Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim:
Despite the brave talk at the Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s congress and festival of rhetoric about taking over control of the Federal Government, the Opposition leader knows that there have been more question marks over his ability to keep Pakatan Rakyat together in the last month than at any time after March 8.
It is not just BN politicians or the mainstream media that have raised red flags over his statements. Even the foreign press - longtime supporters of his more open and inclusive agenda - are settling down to the belief that Anwar will have to play the role of Opposition leader till the next general election.
Anwar needs a strong showing in Kuala Terengganu to inject fresh belief and enthusiasm into a coalition that has yet to agree on a common platform and is in danger of self-destructing over ideological differences.
Still, the consummate political player knows that one victory could lift the mood in Pakatan Rakyat, reduce BN’s comfort zone in Parliament by another seat, and put BN and Najib on the defensive.
More importantly, a strong showing by the Pakatan Rakyat in Kuala Terengganu will convince Malaysians that reverses suffered by BN/Umno in March were not solely due to Indians and Chinese voting with their feet, but also the result of more discerning Malay voters, even in rural Malaysia.
Kuala Terengganu is a 90 per cent Malay constituency. On a more personal level, this by-election is a battle of Anwar versus Najib. The battle between the man who believes that he is destined to become the prime minister against the man who has the top job in his clutches.
# Parti Islam SeMalaysia (Pas):
Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, Datuk Mustafa Ali and the powerful Terengganu faction of Pas have had a difficult time living down the loss of state to BN in 2004.
After just one term in office, they were booted out. And despite all the brave talk of wresting control of the state on March 8, spurred no doubt by infighting among Umno politicians in Terengganu, Hadi and his team still failed.
In the months following Election 2008, the Terengganu faction has had some difficulty exerting their influence on the party. They have had some serious reservations over Anwar’s tactics and have favoured a rapprochement with Umno. But they have had to yield to those in Pas who believe that it better to work with Anwar and the Democratic Action Party than with the “cruel and greedy’’ people of Umno.
Another defeat for Pas in Kuala Terengganu could end Datuk Mustafa Ali’s tenure as the election strategist of the party and blunt any offensive the Terengganu faction is planning to launch before next year’s party assembly.
The death of Deputy Education Minister and Barisan Nasional MP Datuk Razali Ismail has set the stage for an electoral contest which will not alter the overall position of power in Malaysia but is pregnant with meaning for all the major players of politics here.
# Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak:
By convention, the deputy prime minister heads the BN machinery during by-elections. But this will be no ordinary jaunt for Najib. The Opposition will turn the contest into a referendum for the country’s prime minister-in-waiting and there will be no place for him to hide from the insults and gloomy analyses if Pakatan Rakyat snares the parliamentary constituency seat.
Kuala Terengganu will be different from the last contest in Permatang Pauh for a sprinkling of reasons.
Reason 1: Unlike Permatang Pauh, this is a seat which has been held by BN for the last two elections, albeit tenuously. In 1999, at the peak of the fallout over the sacking of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from government, Pas candidate Dr Syed Azman Syed Nawawi thrashed BN’s Datuk Abu Bakar Daud by a yawning margin of 14.448 votes.
Four years later, the popular Razali was fielded as a candidate there and he regained the seat for the ruling coalition by 1,933 votes. He retained the Kuala Terengganu seat by 628 votes on March 8.
In short, except for 1999-2004, this seat has been owned by the BN. In contrast, Permatang Pauh has been Anwar’s stronghold and remained in the hands of his proxy when he was in jail or ineligible to contest.
Reason 2: When BN contested the by-election in Permatang Pauh in August, there was still uncertainty over Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi’s future as prime minister. Blame for Anwar’s stunning victory was laid at his feet with pundits and Umno politicians saying that the PM’s unpopularity on the ground and lack of leadership were reasons for the limp performance of the Umno machinery.
Well, Abdullah is on his way out and a defeat for BN in Kuala Terengganu, or even a victory by a smaller margin than 628 votes, will have to be borne by Najib alone.
This by-election will not be about Abdullah’s track record (that story is done and dusted). This contest will be a bellwether of Najib’s ability to galvanise the troops on the ground and convince the voters that he is the future of the country. If BN does not deliver in Kuala Terengganu, he will not be able to seek refuge behind Abdullah’s weaknesses. Not this time.
# Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim:
Despite the brave talk at the Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s congress and festival of rhetoric about taking over control of the Federal Government, the Opposition leader knows that there have been more question marks over his ability to keep Pakatan Rakyat together in the last month than at any time after March 8.
It is not just BN politicians or the mainstream media that have raised red flags over his statements. Even the foreign press - longtime supporters of his more open and inclusive agenda - are settling down to the belief that Anwar will have to play the role of Opposition leader till the next general election.
Anwar needs a strong showing in Kuala Terengganu to inject fresh belief and enthusiasm into a coalition that has yet to agree on a common platform and is in danger of self-destructing over ideological differences.
Still, the consummate political player knows that one victory could lift the mood in Pakatan Rakyat, reduce BN’s comfort zone in Parliament by another seat, and put BN and Najib on the defensive.
More importantly, a strong showing by the Pakatan Rakyat in Kuala Terengganu will convince Malaysians that reverses suffered by BN/Umno in March were not solely due to Indians and Chinese voting with their feet, but also the result of more discerning Malay voters, even in rural Malaysia.
Kuala Terengganu is a 90 per cent Malay constituency. On a more personal level, this by-election is a battle of Anwar versus Najib. The battle between the man who believes that he is destined to become the prime minister against the man who has the top job in his clutches.
# Parti Islam SeMalaysia (Pas):
Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, Datuk Mustafa Ali and the powerful Terengganu faction of Pas have had a difficult time living down the loss of state to BN in 2004.
After just one term in office, they were booted out. And despite all the brave talk of wresting control of the state on March 8, spurred no doubt by infighting among Umno politicians in Terengganu, Hadi and his team still failed.
In the months following Election 2008, the Terengganu faction has had some difficulty exerting their influence on the party. They have had some serious reservations over Anwar’s tactics and have favoured a rapprochement with Umno. But they have had to yield to those in Pas who believe that it better to work with Anwar and the Democratic Action Party than with the “cruel and greedy’’ people of Umno.
Another defeat for Pas in Kuala Terengganu could end Datuk Mustafa Ali’s tenure as the election strategist of the party and blunt any offensive the Terengganu faction is planning to launch before next year’s party assembly.
Bookmark Email This LUMPUR, Nov 30 - Get ready for a monster of a by-election in Kuala Terengganu.
The death of Deputy Education Minister and Barisan Nasional MP Datuk Razali Ismail has set the stage for an electoral contest which will not alter the overall position of power in Malaysia but is pregnant with meaning for all the major players of politics here.
# Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak:
By convention, the deputy prime minister heads the BN machinery during by-elections. But this will be no ordinary jaunt for Najib. The Opposition will turn the contest into a referendum for the country’s prime minister-in-waiting and there will be no place for him to hide from the insults and gloomy analyses if Pakatan Rakyat snares the parliamentary constituency seat.
Kuala Terengganu will be different from the last contest in Permatang Pauh for a sprinkling of reasons.
Reason 1: Unlike Permatang Pauh, this is a seat which has been held by BN for the last two elections, albeit tenuously. In 1999, at the peak of the fallout over the sacking of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from government, Pas candidate Dr Syed Azman Syed Nawawi thrashed BN’s Datuk Abu Bakar Daud by a yawning margin of 14.448 votes.
Four years later, the popular Razali was fielded as a candidate there and he regained the seat for the ruling coalition by 1,933 votes. He retained the Kuala Terengganu seat by 628 votes on March 8.
In short, except for 1999-2004, this seat has been owned by the BN. In contrast, Permatang Pauh has been Anwar’s stronghold and remained in the hands of his proxy when he was in jail or ineligible to contest.
Reason 2: When BN contested the by-election in Permatang Pauh in August, there was still uncertainty over Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi’s future as prime minister. Blame for Anwar’s stunning victory was laid at his feet with pundits and Umno politicians saying that the PM’s unpopularity on the ground and lack of leadership were reasons for the limp performance of the Umno machinery.
Well, Abdullah is on his way out and a defeat for BN in Kuala Terengganu, or even a victory by a smaller margin than 628 votes, will have to be borne by Najib alone.
This by-election will not be about Abdullah’s track record (that story is done and dusted). This contest will be a bellwether of Najib’s ability to galvanise the troops on the ground and convince the voters that he is the future of the country. If BN does not deliver in Kuala Terengganu, he will not be able to seek refuge behind Abdullah’s weaknesses. Not this time.
# Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim:
Despite the brave talk at the Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s congress and festival of rhetoric about taking over control of the Federal Government, the Opposition leader knows that there have been more question marks over his ability to keep Pakatan Rakyat together in the last month than at any time after March 8.
It is not just BN politicians or the mainstream media that have raised red flags over his statements. Even the foreign press - longtime supporters of his more open and inclusive agenda - are settling down to the belief that Anwar will have to play the role of Opposition leader till the next general election.
Anwar needs a strong showing in Kuala Terengganu to inject fresh belief and enthusiasm into a coalition that has yet to agree on a common platform and is in danger of self-destructing over ideological differences.
Still, the consummate political player knows that one victory could lift the mood in Pakatan Rakyat, reduce BN’s comfort zone in Parliament by another seat, and put BN and Najib on the defensive.
More importantly, a strong showing by the Pakatan Rakyat in Kuala Terengganu will convince Malaysians that reverses suffered by BN/Umno in March were not solely due to Indians and Chinese voting with their feet, but also the result of more discerning Malay voters, even in rural Malaysia.
Kuala Terengganu is a 90 per cent Malay constituency. On a more personal level, this by-election is a battle of Anwar versus Najib. The battle between the man who believes that he is destined to become the prime minister against the man who has the top job in his clutches.
# Parti Islam SeMalaysia (Pas):
Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, Datuk Mustafa Ali and the powerful Terengganu faction of Pas have had a difficult time living down the loss of state to BN in 2004.
After just one term in office, they were booted out. And despite all the brave talk of wresting control of the state on March 8, spurred no doubt by infighting among Umno politicians in Terengganu, Hadi and his team still failed.
In the months following Election 2008, the Terengganu faction has had some difficulty exerting their influence on the party. They have had some serious reservations over Anwar’s tactics and have favoured a rapprochement with Umno. But they have had to yield to those in Pas who believe that it better to work with Anwar and the Democratic Action Party than with the “cruel and greedy’’ people of Umno.
Another defeat for Pas in Kuala Terengganu could end Datuk Mustafa Ali’s tenure as the election strategist of the party and blunt any offensive the Terengganu faction is planning to launch before next year’s party assembly.
30/11/08
Hema Kassipillay, Malaysian found dead in Mumbai Taj room
MUMBAI, Nov 30 - Hema Kassipillay, the Malaysian woman who had been reported missing since the terror attacks in this city on Wednesday, was found dead yesterday.
The body of Hema, 51, who had stayed at the Taj Mahal Hotel, scene of the worst of the militant attacks, was found by a medical team in her room at 6pm (9.30pm in Malaysia).
The burnt and decomposed body was found in Room 637 on the 6th floor, which was burned down by the terrorists when they seized the hotel on Wednesday evening.
Hema, who was from Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, is believed to have died of smoke inhalation. A post mortem conducted at Sir Jamshedji Jeejibhai Hospital found no injuries on the body caused by gunshots.
According to a friend of her family, who spoke to Bernama on condition of anonymity, Hema’s body was identified by her husband, K. Sivakumaran, from the jewellery on her.
Hema’s body was removed from the hotel after Indian Black Cat commandos had killed the last of the militants earlier. Her remains are expected to be flown to Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
Hema, who was with a German insurance company based in Kuala Lumpur, had arrived in Mumbai on an official trip.
The hotel was seized by a band of terrorists on Wednesday night, a day after Hema had arrived. She was scheduled to have returned to Kuala Lumpur on Dec 5.
Bernama
30/11/08
The body of Hema, 51, who had stayed at the Taj Mahal Hotel, scene of the worst of the militant attacks, was found by a medical team in her room at 6pm (9.30pm in Malaysia).
The burnt and decomposed body was found in Room 637 on the 6th floor, which was burned down by the terrorists when they seized the hotel on Wednesday evening.
Hema, who was from Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, is believed to have died of smoke inhalation. A post mortem conducted at Sir Jamshedji Jeejibhai Hospital found no injuries on the body caused by gunshots.
According to a friend of her family, who spoke to Bernama on condition of anonymity, Hema’s body was identified by her husband, K. Sivakumaran, from the jewellery on her.
Hema’s body was removed from the hotel after Indian Black Cat commandos had killed the last of the militants earlier. Her remains are expected to be flown to Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
Hema, who was with a German insurance company based in Kuala Lumpur, had arrived in Mumbai on an official trip.
The hotel was seized by a band of terrorists on Wednesday night, a day after Hema had arrived. She was scheduled to have returned to Kuala Lumpur on Dec 5.
Bernama
30/11/08
Is Malaysia is still a safe place, motion against IGP Musa Hassan
I find the complacent attitude of the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan in his speech in Penang yesterday claiming that “Malaysia is still a safe place”, coming on the heels of the recent remark by the Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung that the worsening crime in the country was a “misperception” of the people, most irresponsible, deplorable and unacceptable.
It makes a mockery of the Police Royal Commission set up five years ago by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to create an efficient, incorruptible, professional world-class police service to keep crime low.
I have just returned from Xiamen where “a safe city” was one of its best-selling assets. During my first night in Xiamen, I was struck by the confident assurance given by the local guide that visitors can go about the town at night as it is very safe from crime.
This selling point was again highlighted in my short visit to Gulang Islet, the scenic and alluring tourist isle with a small population of over 10,000 people but which attracts more than four million tourists a year. Visitors were assured that crime against tourists was virtually unheard-of on the island!
My disgust at the IGP’s complacent and irresponsible attitude about galloping crime in the country is all the more pronounced after my visit to Xiamen and Gulangyi.
I will move a RM10 salary cut motion against the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan to censure his failure to curb and control the endemic crime situation in Malaysia in Parliament in the current 2009 Budget debate under the Home Ministry next week.
Lim Kit Siang
It makes a mockery of the Police Royal Commission set up five years ago by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to create an efficient, incorruptible, professional world-class police service to keep crime low.
I have just returned from Xiamen where “a safe city” was one of its best-selling assets. During my first night in Xiamen, I was struck by the confident assurance given by the local guide that visitors can go about the town at night as it is very safe from crime.
This selling point was again highlighted in my short visit to Gulang Islet, the scenic and alluring tourist isle with a small population of over 10,000 people but which attracts more than four million tourists a year. Visitors were assured that crime against tourists was virtually unheard-of on the island!
My disgust at the IGP’s complacent and irresponsible attitude about galloping crime in the country is all the more pronounced after my visit to Xiamen and Gulangyi.
I will move a RM10 salary cut motion against the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan to censure his failure to curb and control the endemic crime situation in Malaysia in Parliament in the current 2009 Budget debate under the Home Ministry next week.
Lim Kit Siang
Peralihan kuasa bermakna, tukar pemimpin yang perasuah dan tidak bermoral - Anwar
Foto Wan Zahari Wan Salleh
SHAH ALAM: Ketua Umum Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KeADILan), Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim menyatakan erti peralihan kuasa adalah menukar pemimpin yang perasuah dan tidak bermoral kepada pemimpin yang bersih.
Namun, ujarnya peralihan kuasa yang diusahakan kerajaan Umno/BN hari ini tidak sedemikian kerana pemimpin yang menggantikan ialah di kalangan mereka yang perasuah, zalim dan maksiat.
Beliau berkata demikian ketika menyampaikan ucapan khas sempena perasmian Kongres KeADILan di Stadium Malawati Shah Alam hari ini.
Antara pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat yang hadir ialah, Naib Presiden PAS, Dato' Paduka Husam Musa; Menteri Besar Perak, Dato' Seri Ir Nizar Jamaluddin; Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Kahlid Samad; Penasihat DAP, Lim Kit Siang; AJK PAS Pusat, Dr Lo Lo Mohd Gahazali yang juga ahli Parlimen Titiwangsa; Ahli Parlimen PAS Shah Alam, Khalid Samad; Karpal Sing (DAP) dan Teresa Kok.
Beliau juga menyamakan sikap suka menafikan di kalangan pemimpin Umno/BN sama seperti sikap Preisden Amerika, George w Bush yang suka membuat penafian.
Ujar beliau lagi, kerajaan Umno/BN hari ini semakin parah dalam memacu kebajikan rakyat kerana mereka lebih berusaha untuk memacu ekonomi sendiri.
Katanya lagi, hal ini menyebabkan rakyat bertambah muak dan natijahnya hari ini rakyat menolak kepimpinan Umno/BN yang korupsi.
"Rakyat ada pilihan samada hendak kekalkan sisitem yang perasuah, yang mengekalkan ISA, yang meminggirkan kaum miskin, atau rakyat boleh memikirkan perubahan seluruhnya, kalau ini berlaku kita akan benar-benar merdeka, itu pilihan yang ada pada rakyat," katanya.
Beliau percaya jika kepimpinan Umno/BN meneruskan kepimpinan negara hari ini, wang rakyat akan terus dirompak dengan pelbagai alasan termasuk kononnya atas dasar komisen.
Justeru jika rakyat mahu merubah semua kemelut yang ada dalam kepimpina kerajaan hari ini, rakyat perlu mengubahnya segera dan dengan keazaman PAS, KeADILan dan DAP, pastinya perubahan ini boleh berlaku.
Di akhir ucapannya, beliau mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Presiden PAS, Tuan Guru Dato' Seri Abdul Hadi Awang yang kini sedang menjalankan ibadah haji, atas kerjasama yang kukuh selama ini.
Beliau juga menyampaikan ucapan terima kasih kepada Penasihat DAP, Lim Kit Siang dan Chen Ma Hin selain Karpal Singh, Naib Presiden PAS, Dato' Husam Muda dan Setiausaha Agung PAS, Dato' Kamaruddin Jaffar yang sudi hadir dalam perasmian kongres kali ini.
Ucaoan Anwar sebentar tadi mengakhiri perasmian kongres dan kongres ditangguhkan sementara untuk berehat menjamu selera sehingga jam 2.30 petang yang disambung dengan ucapan perbahasan perwakilan.
Wan Nordin Wan Yaacob
Harakah Daily
30/11/08
Tan Yee Kew kata ramai orang samakan Anwar dengan Obama?
Foto Wan Zahari Wan Salleh
SHAH ALAM: Bekas Ketua Wanita MCA, Datin Paduka Tan Yee Kew dalam ucapan aluannya sempena Kongres KeADILan hari ini menyatakan ramai orang menyamakan kegigihan Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim sama seperti Presiden baru Amerika Syarikat, Barrack Obama.
Ujarnya, kegigihan Anwar dalam bekerja bagi memastikan isu rakyat terus diutarakan dan nasib rakyat terus terbela sama seperti juga kegigihan Obama dalam berkempen pada pilihan raya presiden Amerika beberapa minggu lalu.
Anwar yang menggalas tugas sebagai Ketua Umum KeADILan tidak pernah jemu untuk berusaha memastikan parti dapat berjalan dengan baik dan kebajikan rakyat terbela, ujar Tan yang juga Ketua Penerangan KeADILan Selangor.
Beliau memuji kegigihan kepimpinan Pakatan Rakyat dan KeADILan yang tidak mengira waktu berusaha untuk rakyat setiap hari dari pagi hingga ke larut malam.
Beliau tidak melihat situasi ini dalam kerajaan BN semasa menyertai pentadbiran kerajaan Umno/BN sebelum ini.
Apa yang pasti katanya, apa sahaja yang pernah dikemukakan oleh rakyat sebelum ini kurang mendapat perhatian oleh pemimpin Umno/BN.
Sebaliknya pemimpin KeADILan berusaha bersungguh-sungguh memastikan kebajikan rakyat akan terbela, ujarnya yang baru sahaja menyertai KeADILan selepas keluar dari MCA.
Antara Pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat yang hadir dalam upacara perasmina kongres di Stadium Malawati Shah Alam hari ini ialah, Naib Presiden PAS, Dato' Paduka Husam Musa; Menteri Besar Perak, Dato' Seri Ir Nizar Jamaluddin; Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Samad; Penasihat DAP, Lim Kit Siang; AJK PAS Pusat, Dr Lo Lo Mohd Gahazali yang juga ahli Parlimen Titiwangsa; Ahli Parlimen PAS Shah Alam, Khalid Samad; Karpal Sing (DAP) dan Teresa Kok.
Wan Nordin Wan Yaacob
Harakah Daily
30/11/08
Anwar says march to victory has only been delayed
Dr Munawar Anees (second, left), Datuk Zaid Ibrahim (centre), Sabah Progressive Party president Yong Teck Lee (second, right) and other guests listening intently to a speech by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the PKR annual national congress today. — Pic by Choo Choy May
SHAH ALAM: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim admitted today his plans to topple the Barisan Nasional (BN) government had been foiled but he did not say whether he had abandoned the idea of engineering defections to take power.
"Yes, there have been setbacks. We skirted with destiny on Sept 16 and despite our best efforts our march to victory has been delayed. I empathise with you and with the people of Malaysia," the PKR de facto leader said at the party national congress here.
"We are all forced to further endure the slings and arrows of an incompetent government that has lost touch with the people," he added.
Speaking before 2,000 party delegates at the PKR annual congress, Anwar took the opportunity to rally his supporters and attempted to redefine his promise for change.
"Although our promise has not yet been fulfilled, the Pakatan Rakyat leaders and I remain committed to the agenda for change and our tenacity has never been stronger," said Anwar to loud cheers from the crowd.
His fighting words to the party faithful come amid a sense of waning momentum on the part of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) challenge to the BN federal government.
The BN's transition plans, which will see Datuk Seri Najib Razak take over as prime minister from Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi next March, has brought renewed stability to a BN government which was badly shaken by the resurgent opposition boosted by the March general election results.
"I ask you, first as Malaysians and second as members of Keadilan, let us prepare ourselves with a renewed resolve and the courage of conviction that with our efforts a thousand flowers of freedom will yet bloom in Malaysia," declared Anwar.
He also urged party members in BN-controlled states to work harder to ensure the party's victory.
"To those living outside the Pakatan states, the task is formidable. You believe in Keadilan and you believe that with Pakatan Rakyat the future of the country can be great. Yet, you live in the stronghold of Barisan Nasional. We need your unwavering commitment and we need you to work harder than ever before so that Pakatan Rakyat's banner can be raised throughout Malaysia," said Anwar.
The Permatang Pauh MP, who was welcomed with Malaysian multicultural dances as he walked into the Malawati Stadium here, also reminded the delegates of the party's extraordinary performance in the last general election.
"Our successes in 2008 are immense and we should be immensely proud. After two successful elections we have proven that the Pakatan Rakyat coalition is strong and unified," he said.
Anwar is expected to address a public rally later this evening to explain why he had failed to form the federal government on Sept 16.
Adib Zalkapli
The Malaysian Insider
29/11/08
Wan Azizah says Najib will be no different from Dr Mahathir
SHAH ALAM, Nov 29 – PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail today likened the incoming administration of Datuk Seri Najib Razak to something "which is no different from the old regime" of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Articulating a widely held view that the impending departure of Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi next March has already seen a return of "Mahathirism," she said the new administration will bear many similiarities with that of Dr Mahathir's.
She told more than 2,000 party faithful assembled for the PKR congress here that she expected more arrests under the Internal Security Act (ISA), more corruption and the continued erosion of public institutions, all of which she said were the hallmark of the Mahathir era.
"The transition plan between the prime minister and his deputy will not bring any positive changes to the damage done to the judiciary, the police, the Anti-Corruption Agency and parliament," she said.
The PKR No.1 also reminded party members to go back to the basic principle of fighting for "justice for all" now that the opposition was only one step away from defeating the formidable Barisan Nasional government.
She said that the party must lead the opposition towards forming the next federal government. She noted that the half a million-strong multiracial and multireligious party held a very important position in the three-party opposition.
Welcoming a large group of delegates and observers from Sabah and Sarawak, she stressed it needed to grow stronger and include all the different races and places.
Wan Azizah said she expected the party to pull off what she said would be an incredible performance at next year's Sarawak state election
"The party constitution must be updated and its leadership more visionary, sensitive and responsible," the party president told a stadium full of delegates and observers at its fifth national congress here today.
The soft-spoken lady then announced a special party convention for next February, to take place just before Abdullah's promised handover of office to Najib.
Wan Azizah said that PKR must lead the opposition in forming the next federal government even though it was younger than Pas and DAP.
The party is only 10 years old but it has half a million members, she said, adding that a large number of Malaysians had given it their votes in the last general elections because they believed in its multicultural message.
The March victory had united the opposition, giving them more chances to truly represent the people, said Wan Azizah. While Pakatan Rakyat has yet to be made a formal coalition, she said it was commited to fight for the rights of all races.
They had signed a "communique" affirming their commitment to the provisions in the Federal Constitution including the positions of the Malay rulers, the special status of Malays, the national language and Islam, she said.
"We are even ready to restore the immunity of the rulers based on the spirit of Constitutional Monarchy," Wan Azizah declared.
Dubbed "Ibu Reformasi", the wife of Opposition icon Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed the party must grow stronger and include all the different races and places.
Debra Chong
The Malaysian Insider
29/11/08
Articulating a widely held view that the impending departure of Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi next March has already seen a return of "Mahathirism," she said the new administration will bear many similiarities with that of Dr Mahathir's.
She told more than 2,000 party faithful assembled for the PKR congress here that she expected more arrests under the Internal Security Act (ISA), more corruption and the continued erosion of public institutions, all of which she said were the hallmark of the Mahathir era.
"The transition plan between the prime minister and his deputy will not bring any positive changes to the damage done to the judiciary, the police, the Anti-Corruption Agency and parliament," she said.
The PKR No.1 also reminded party members to go back to the basic principle of fighting for "justice for all" now that the opposition was only one step away from defeating the formidable Barisan Nasional government.
She said that the party must lead the opposition towards forming the next federal government. She noted that the half a million-strong multiracial and multireligious party held a very important position in the three-party opposition.
Welcoming a large group of delegates and observers from Sabah and Sarawak, she stressed it needed to grow stronger and include all the different races and places.
Wan Azizah said she expected the party to pull off what she said would be an incredible performance at next year's Sarawak state election
"The party constitution must be updated and its leadership more visionary, sensitive and responsible," the party president told a stadium full of delegates and observers at its fifth national congress here today.
The soft-spoken lady then announced a special party convention for next February, to take place just before Abdullah's promised handover of office to Najib.
Wan Azizah said that PKR must lead the opposition in forming the next federal government even though it was younger than Pas and DAP.
The party is only 10 years old but it has half a million members, she said, adding that a large number of Malaysians had given it their votes in the last general elections because they believed in its multicultural message.
The March victory had united the opposition, giving them more chances to truly represent the people, said Wan Azizah. While Pakatan Rakyat has yet to be made a formal coalition, she said it was commited to fight for the rights of all races.
They had signed a "communique" affirming their commitment to the provisions in the Federal Constitution including the positions of the Malay rulers, the special status of Malays, the national language and Islam, she said.
"We are even ready to restore the immunity of the rulers based on the spirit of Constitutional Monarchy," Wan Azizah declared.
Dubbed "Ibu Reformasi", the wife of Opposition icon Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed the party must grow stronger and include all the different races and places.
Debra Chong
The Malaysian Insider
29/11/08
MP: RM8 bil wasted on IPPs
Kuantan PKR parliamentarian Fuziah Salleh has blasted the government for what she alleged as wasting RM8 billion of public funds by paying independent power producers (IPPs) for unnecessary access of backup energy.
“IPPs receiving payment from the government for producing back-up energy at a 40 percent rate are making access profits when 20 percent is enough,” she told reporters outside the Dewan Rakyat today.
Fauziah is also unhappy that the government has been lagging in responding appropriately to the issue.
Earlier in the Dewan Rakyat, Deputy Energy, Water and Communication Minister Joseph Salang revealed that Tenaga Nasional Berhad had paid 13 IPPs some RM43 billion for energy including the reserves from 2004 up to May this year.
Salang said he was not informed of any agreement in the power purchasing agreement (PPA) that IPPs are instructed by the government to produce 40 percent of reserve energy.
However, he admitted that there are excesses pertaining to the percentage of reserve energy the country has but denied that this was caused by the agreement.
“We hope that we can reduce this access when there is an increase in demand for the use of energy and this will happen if we see our economy develop vibrantly and hope we can reduce the access to 20-25 percent,” Salang told the House.
According to Fuziah, out of the total amount, RM13 billion were spent on the 40 percent reserve energy and should the government ask the IPPs to produce only the 20 percent required, RM8 billion could have been saved.
She also described the response from the ministry as “disappointing”.
“Salang’s admission that there was access in standby capacity but refused to claim responsibility by giving excuses like it was not in the PPA is utterly irresponsible,” she said.
“The people are currently bearing the burden of high power tariff and the government should not let the people bear (the access cost of the reserve energy) through the tariff,” the MP stressed.
Put a leash on the IPPs
Fuziah also said it was shocking to hear the deputy minister saying that the government would “scheme up ways to use the access of energy” instead of resolving the matter responsibly by reducing the tariff or saving it.
Other Pakatan Rakyat MPs present at the press conference, R Sivarasa (PKR-Subang) and Dr D Jeyakumaraj (PSM-Sungai Siput) also slammed the shabby response given by Salang.
“Salang said that the government is waiting for ways to use up the access reserve energy but the people are still paying a lot for electricity due to the high tariff,” said Sivarasa.
The MPs urged the government to review the PPAs with the IPPs.
“I urge them to be more responsible in the matter and stop burdening the people. Enforce an assessment on these IPPs that have been acting without any accountability and stop paying for the excesses of energy,” Fauziah added, on behalf of her colleagues.
source: malaysiakini
“IPPs receiving payment from the government for producing back-up energy at a 40 percent rate are making access profits when 20 percent is enough,” she told reporters outside the Dewan Rakyat today.
Fauziah is also unhappy that the government has been lagging in responding appropriately to the issue.
Earlier in the Dewan Rakyat, Deputy Energy, Water and Communication Minister Joseph Salang revealed that Tenaga Nasional Berhad had paid 13 IPPs some RM43 billion for energy including the reserves from 2004 up to May this year.
Salang said he was not informed of any agreement in the power purchasing agreement (PPA) that IPPs are instructed by the government to produce 40 percent of reserve energy.
However, he admitted that there are excesses pertaining to the percentage of reserve energy the country has but denied that this was caused by the agreement.
“We hope that we can reduce this access when there is an increase in demand for the use of energy and this will happen if we see our economy develop vibrantly and hope we can reduce the access to 20-25 percent,” Salang told the House.
According to Fuziah, out of the total amount, RM13 billion were spent on the 40 percent reserve energy and should the government ask the IPPs to produce only the 20 percent required, RM8 billion could have been saved.
She also described the response from the ministry as “disappointing”.
“Salang’s admission that there was access in standby capacity but refused to claim responsibility by giving excuses like it was not in the PPA is utterly irresponsible,” she said.
“The people are currently bearing the burden of high power tariff and the government should not let the people bear (the access cost of the reserve energy) through the tariff,” the MP stressed.
Put a leash on the IPPs
Fuziah also said it was shocking to hear the deputy minister saying that the government would “scheme up ways to use the access of energy” instead of resolving the matter responsibly by reducing the tariff or saving it.
Other Pakatan Rakyat MPs present at the press conference, R Sivarasa (PKR-Subang) and Dr D Jeyakumaraj (PSM-Sungai Siput) also slammed the shabby response given by Salang.
“Salang said that the government is waiting for ways to use up the access reserve energy but the people are still paying a lot for electricity due to the high tariff,” said Sivarasa.
The MPs urged the government to review the PPAs with the IPPs.
“I urge them to be more responsible in the matter and stop burdening the people. Enforce an assessment on these IPPs that have been acting without any accountability and stop paying for the excesses of energy,” Fauziah added, on behalf of her colleagues.
source: malaysiakini
Form a shadow cabinet by March, Anwar told
Eighteen civil society organisations today called upon Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim to set up a Pakatan Rakyat shadow cabinet as soon as possible to prove that they are ready to govern when the need arises.
They said that Anwar must present his team of shadow ministers not later than his rival Najib Abdul Razak announces his line-up in March.
Najib is set to take over as the prime minister next March following a transition plan agreed with the present Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Anwar's opposition alliance made historic inroads in the March general election by denying Barisan Nasional its long held two-thirds majority in the Parliament.
The opposition parties - named Pakatan Rakyat after the general election - also won four states, and retained Kelantan in the polls.
Anwar himself was voted into Parliament in August after a 10-year absence when he won the Permatang Pauh by-election.
In an interview with Malaysiakini just before the Permatang Pauh by-election Anwar had said that he would make the formation of the shadow cabinet his priority after the by-election.
However, there has been no official news from Pakatan on the shadow cabinet although there were speculations that the parties - PKR, PAS and DAP - had agreed to ink a common agenda which could lead to the formation of a shadow cabinet.
Three compelling reasons
The 18 civil society organisations today said in a statement that it was important for the Pakatan to form a shadow cabinet as it indicated the opposition's readiness to take over the task of governing from the incumbent government.
The organisations said there were three compelling reasons for Pakatan to announce its line-up as soon as possible.
"First, it facilitates division of labour amongst Pakatan parliamentarians and provides stronger check and balance to BN frontbenchers.
"The public has no idea now which Pakatan parliamentarian can speak authoritatively on a particular policy domain like labour, education or environment," they said.
They added that the assignment of portfolios would also enhance the participation of civil society and individual citizens in public policy formulation.
Secondly, they argued, that a shadow cabinet also helped to consolidate the policy position of Pakatan component parties.
"This would reduce public confusion which often happens now when the parties contradict each other in public," they said.
And finally, the 18 argued that a shadow cabinet can help both synchronise some common policies of the five Pakatan-ruled states and coordinate the federal and state branches of Pakatan coalition.
They said that the public deserved to know the Pakatan policies on preservation of water catchment area, on access to public information and on local elections.
Make it the top priority
"We call upon Anwar to make formation of shadow cabinet his top priority from now to March 2009.
"Nearly nine month after the March elections, Pakatan which has vowed to take over the federal executive power via crossover of BN parliamentarians must now be prepared to show that they are not only interested to govern, but able to do so," they said.
PKR, the mainstay of Pakatan, and of which Anwar is the de facto leader, will be hold its annual meeting over the weekend.
Anwar is expected to raise the issue of his failure to topple the government as he had earlier promised.
Among the organisations that endorsed the statement included All Women's Action Society (AWAM), Center for Independent Journalism (CIJ), Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC), Group of Concern Citizen, Suaram, Women's Aid Organisation and Youth section of KLSCAH.
excerpts from malaysiakini
Tajudin’s antics shows up BN
PASIR SALAK in Perak is honoured in our history as the site of a 1875 Malay rebellion against British colonial rule that was later brutally put down.
The rebels were killed and survivors exiled to such far off places as Seychelles.
In the news: Tajudin courts controversy at Parliament sittings.
Numerous memorials, mausoleums and artifacts have been erected in Pasir Salak to remember their brave deeds.
It is an important site in the heritage itinerary and an exalted place but the current Pasir Salak MP Datuk Tajudin Abdul Rahman is apparently not doing justice to this significant constituency with his abandoned behaviour in Parliament.
He courts controversy at Parliament sittings with his crude language, ill-concealed hostile manners and constant baiting of opposition MPs and with his lewd and gender-insensitive remarks.
Tajudin uses words like kurang ajar, ke**** and even “bloody bas****” without any qualms, sparking furious exchanges in the House.
He might enjoy the publicity and notoriety but his antics are seriously tarnishing Barisan’s already battered image as an arrogant and insensitive coalition.
On Wednesday, Tajudin reportedly made overtly lewd remarks when Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching was debating on the failure by the Barisan to fulfil promises made to develop vernacular schools.
Earlier, Tajudin described Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran as a “bloody bas****” and challenged him to settle scores outside Parliament.
Last month, he unprecedentedly challenged Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to take action against him and got away with it without even a rap on his knuckles.
For some unknown reason, Tajudin is apparently picking on Kulasegaran and they often clashed, always drawing other MPs – from both sides – into the fray, sparking mayhem in the House.
“I really don’t understand why he is picking on me but I am not frightened or rattled,” said Kulasegaran.
“I speak for all Malaysians when I speak in Parliament, he probably speaks to a small group of like-minded people.”
(One MP speculated that a probable reason is constant eye contact because when Tajudin stands to debate the first person he sees in Dewan is Kulasegaran and vice-versa.)
PKR’s Azmin Ali, who was labelled “dumb” by Tajudin on Wednesday said: “This is too much. If it is only once or twice it is forgivable, but every time he opens his mouth, he shows no respect for anyone.”
Tajudin’s antics have also upset many Barisan parliamentarians who are also surprised he gets away without rebuke or sanction.
“We are forced by Barisan’s ‘one for all, all for one’ rule to either defend him or keep silent,” said a Barisan MP from Sarawak.
“The standing of the Barisan, the Government and Parliament is tarnished.
“People have ridiculed me and labelled Parliament a circus because of the fracas,” said the non-Muslim MP.
“Barisan is paying a heavy price because of the boorish behaviour of a few MPs.”
“We need to reform but some MPs are frozen in time and are becoming a liability to the rest of us,” said another Barisan parliamentarian, adding that some MPs want to take the matter up with Barisan whip Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“Although such MPs are few, they dominate Parliament and their antics dominate the media,” he said.
“They gain in notoriety but the Barisan suffers.”
Because he is not punished, Tajudin has gained a reputation as an “untouchable” unlike Gelugor MP Karpal Singh who is often suspended for staying the course on issues dear to his heart.
While the ruckus involving Karpal Singh tells the people how hard the Opposition is working, the antics of Tajudin and his like is showing the reverse – that even after the landmark March 8 vote, it is business as usual for the Barisan.
BARADAN KUPPUSAMY
The Star
29/11/08
Zaid, Teck Lee attend PKR congress
SHAH ALAM, Nov 29 – The appearance today of former de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Yong Teck Lee will certainly fuel speculation about their political futures.
Zaid resigned from the Cabinet of Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi in September in protest against the arrest of a number of people under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Yong's SAPP left the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition at the height of rumours over the possibility that government lawmakers were planning to defect en masse to the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
Said Zaid today: "I am still an Umno member. The opposition are not enemies. They just have different views."
He said his presence to hear Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's address to more than 2,000 party faithful "shows that I am interested in politics."
The former minister said he did not expect to be sacked for appearing at the PKR congress.
The presence of the two men will be seen as a boost to PKR and the PR coalition who are trying to revive the flagging momentum of their push to topple the BN government.
The Malaysian Insider
29/11/08
Zaid resigned from the Cabinet of Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi in September in protest against the arrest of a number of people under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Yong's SAPP left the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition at the height of rumours over the possibility that government lawmakers were planning to defect en masse to the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
Said Zaid today: "I am still an Umno member. The opposition are not enemies. They just have different views."
He said his presence to hear Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's address to more than 2,000 party faithful "shows that I am interested in politics."
The former minister said he did not expect to be sacked for appearing at the PKR congress.
The presence of the two men will be seen as a boost to PKR and the PR coalition who are trying to revive the flagging momentum of their push to topple the BN government.
The Malaysian Insider
29/11/08
Malaysian Judge Chin tells why he’s retiring early
KOTA KINABALU: Justice Datuk Ian Chin, who revealed the existence of a boot camp for judges, said he decided to go for early retirement as work had become “very stressful.”
In a media statement distributed after attending a farewell gathering with Kota Kinabalu High Court staff yesterday, he said he no longer enjoyed working as a judge since last year.
“Suffice for me to say that all too often I found myself in circumstances where I had to make a stand which may be regarded as in defiance to a directive or instruction from my superior, which was very stressful to me,” he said.
Justice Chin had said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had made thinly veiled threats against judges at the Judges Conference in 1997. He said Dr Mahathir threatened to sack judges who did not support him. Dr Mahathir has denied the claims in his blog.
Justice Chin, 60, tendered his resignation on July 16 and will leave office on Dec 1.
Acknowledging that his early retirement could be described as resignation, Justice Chin noted that only judges who had served for 15 years were entitled to full pension.
“I started as a Judicial Commissioner on March 1, 1992 and was made judge in August 1993. This meant I would have served 15 years as a judge after August 2008.
“It was not until Aug 22, 2008, that the law was amended to regard the period served as Judicial Commissioner as having served as a judge,” he explained.
Justice Chin said he had found a position overseas. But that job meant that he had to leave before August, which would have resulted in him forfeiting his pension.
“I was of the view that I was giving up too much and so I forewent that opportunity,” he said, adding that his leave was approved two months from September to November, giving him the right to a full pension with the exact date of retirement left open.
“Then I was assigned to an election case which resulted in such furore that it added to my unhappiness to continue working as a judge,” he said, adding that this led him to set the date for his early retirement.
The Star
29/11/08
In a media statement distributed after attending a farewell gathering with Kota Kinabalu High Court staff yesterday, he said he no longer enjoyed working as a judge since last year.
“Suffice for me to say that all too often I found myself in circumstances where I had to make a stand which may be regarded as in defiance to a directive or instruction from my superior, which was very stressful to me,” he said.
Justice Chin had said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had made thinly veiled threats against judges at the Judges Conference in 1997. He said Dr Mahathir threatened to sack judges who did not support him. Dr Mahathir has denied the claims in his blog.
Justice Chin, 60, tendered his resignation on July 16 and will leave office on Dec 1.
Acknowledging that his early retirement could be described as resignation, Justice Chin noted that only judges who had served for 15 years were entitled to full pension.
“I started as a Judicial Commissioner on March 1, 1992 and was made judge in August 1993. This meant I would have served 15 years as a judge after August 2008.
“It was not until Aug 22, 2008, that the law was amended to regard the period served as Judicial Commissioner as having served as a judge,” he explained.
Justice Chin said he had found a position overseas. But that job meant that he had to leave before August, which would have resulted in him forfeiting his pension.
“I was of the view that I was giving up too much and so I forewent that opportunity,” he said, adding that his leave was approved two months from September to November, giving him the right to a full pension with the exact date of retirement left open.
“Then I was assigned to an election case which resulted in such furore that it added to my unhappiness to continue working as a judge,” he said, adding that this led him to set the date for his early retirement.
The Star
29/11/08
A non-Muslim perspective on controversial fatwa's
Fellow Citizens,
Over the last few weeks, I witnessed much verbal battles online and elsewhere where some non-Muslims took potshots at the fatwa's and Muslims telling them to butt out as it does not concern them, many political leaders came out saying that the non-Muslims should not be concerned as it does not affect them.
Some even chastised Terence Fernandez of The Sun for giving his views , which in my opinion were very pragmatic and non-confrontational.
I abstained from posting a single opinion as I am neither Muslim nor a Yoga practitioner, but as a citizen living in a multiracial multireligious country I realize that it is not so easy compartmentalize these issues.
My understanding is that a fatwa is an Islamic religious ruling, a scholarly opinion on a matter of Islamic law.( please correct me if I am wrong) people who pronounce these rulings are supposed to be knowledgeable, and base their rulings in knowledge and wisdom. They need to supply the evidence from Islamic sources for their opinions, and as has pointed out by some scholars can come to different conclusions regarding the same issue. Harris Ibrahim in his peoples parliament blog also pointed out an instance where a fatwa issued was revoked several years later, in his story about Pak Ahmad.
He also points out that it is a fineable and jailable offence under section 9 & 12 of the syariah criminal offences act 1997 which includes flouting a fatwa. So it is not only about using ones god given conscience as a guide. I also understand that Muslims are expected to follow fatwa's but not obliged to do so. In short it between you and god. Thus it puzzles me that the fatwa is enforceable under the syariah act.
Is our Fatwa council comprised of members who have the stature to give such edicts, or are they merely yet another tool under the ruling government’s payroll?
Is it not odd that the fatwa council took unilateral action without consulting other Islamic bodies whether NGO's, opposition linked ulama or the rulers?
The fatwa council is under the jurisdiction of the Prime Ministers department, directly or indirectly influenced by UMNO who in turn control 35% of Parliament,
So how far are they represented by 60% of the population who are Muslims?
Should there be a more inclusive consultative approach where the view of a more diverse group is consulted before it is announced to the world?
That is a matter for Malaysian Muslims to decide.
As a non-Muslim citizen however my concerns are as follows :-
1) The effect of investment inflows into the country including tourism due to investors pessimism over frivolous fatwas, this affects us all regardless of religious affiliation.
2) Overzealous enforcement officers inconveniencing non-Muslims by hanging around health clubs and demanding to see identification, in the past it made us an international laughing stock when they asked an American couple for their marriage license, they have proven in many incidents to be anything but tactful. This encroaches on personal privacy.
3) Using such fatwa's to frame Muslim opposition MP's on trumped up charges, this will be a setback to the constituents (including non Muslims) whom they represent.
4) The ruling government who has the fatwa council under its payroll, twisting their arms to issue such fatwas to scare non-Muslim voters into abandoning opposition Islamic party PAS, I cannot help but notice the escalation since PAS extended the olive branch by formally ratifying its non-Muslim wing, it seems that they are killing 2 birds with one stone by trying to show that they are more Islamic than PAS at the same time trying to erode PAS non-Muslim support. I for one see this whole episode as possibly politically motivated with far reaching ramifications.
5) Its divisive effect over citizens, as it is in some instances we are divided in schools, eateries because of the religion we profess or the food we eat, must we be separated by the exercises we do as well ?
6) Will civil rights activists be arrested under ISA, for declaring a fatwa unconstitutional?
7) Will the ruling government through its control of the Fatwa council issue specific Fatwa's against groups who dissent against them politically?
As you can see we are not islands unto ourselves, everything is interconnected, more so in a country where the non-Muslims are a whopping 40% of the population. Fatwa's are the prerogative of the Islamic community, but justice, knowledge & wisdom cannot be claimed exclusively by any group.
Not discussing these issues openly or excluding some groups from the discussions will only give a cosmetic semblance of order and stability when in fact it will be a veritable timebomb when it permeates into civil society and causes dissatisfactions.
Having said that Malaysians must learn to discuss issues rationally without seeing everything as a win or lose situation, we need to learn the meaning of agreeing to disagree.
I am reminded of this quote by Pastor Martin Niemoler :
When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent;I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent;I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews, I remained silent; I was not a Jew.
When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out.
Vijay Kumar Murugavell
Over the last few weeks, I witnessed much verbal battles online and elsewhere where some non-Muslims took potshots at the fatwa's and Muslims telling them to butt out as it does not concern them, many political leaders came out saying that the non-Muslims should not be concerned as it does not affect them.
Some even chastised Terence Fernandez of The Sun for giving his views , which in my opinion were very pragmatic and non-confrontational.
I abstained from posting a single opinion as I am neither Muslim nor a Yoga practitioner, but as a citizen living in a multiracial multireligious country I realize that it is not so easy compartmentalize these issues.
My understanding is that a fatwa is an Islamic religious ruling, a scholarly opinion on a matter of Islamic law.( please correct me if I am wrong) people who pronounce these rulings are supposed to be knowledgeable, and base their rulings in knowledge and wisdom. They need to supply the evidence from Islamic sources for their opinions, and as has pointed out by some scholars can come to different conclusions regarding the same issue. Harris Ibrahim in his peoples parliament blog also pointed out an instance where a fatwa issued was revoked several years later, in his story about Pak Ahmad.
He also points out that it is a fineable and jailable offence under section 9 & 12 of the syariah criminal offences act 1997 which includes flouting a fatwa. So it is not only about using ones god given conscience as a guide. I also understand that Muslims are expected to follow fatwa's but not obliged to do so. In short it between you and god. Thus it puzzles me that the fatwa is enforceable under the syariah act.
Is our Fatwa council comprised of members who have the stature to give such edicts, or are they merely yet another tool under the ruling government’s payroll?
Is it not odd that the fatwa council took unilateral action without consulting other Islamic bodies whether NGO's, opposition linked ulama or the rulers?
The fatwa council is under the jurisdiction of the Prime Ministers department, directly or indirectly influenced by UMNO who in turn control 35% of Parliament,
So how far are they represented by 60% of the population who are Muslims?
Should there be a more inclusive consultative approach where the view of a more diverse group is consulted before it is announced to the world?
That is a matter for Malaysian Muslims to decide.
As a non-Muslim citizen however my concerns are as follows :-
1) The effect of investment inflows into the country including tourism due to investors pessimism over frivolous fatwas, this affects us all regardless of religious affiliation.
2) Overzealous enforcement officers inconveniencing non-Muslims by hanging around health clubs and demanding to see identification, in the past it made us an international laughing stock when they asked an American couple for their marriage license, they have proven in many incidents to be anything but tactful. This encroaches on personal privacy.
3) Using such fatwa's to frame Muslim opposition MP's on trumped up charges, this will be a setback to the constituents (including non Muslims) whom they represent.
4) The ruling government who has the fatwa council under its payroll, twisting their arms to issue such fatwas to scare non-Muslim voters into abandoning opposition Islamic party PAS, I cannot help but notice the escalation since PAS extended the olive branch by formally ratifying its non-Muslim wing, it seems that they are killing 2 birds with one stone by trying to show that they are more Islamic than PAS at the same time trying to erode PAS non-Muslim support. I for one see this whole episode as possibly politically motivated with far reaching ramifications.
5) Its divisive effect over citizens, as it is in some instances we are divided in schools, eateries because of the religion we profess or the food we eat, must we be separated by the exercises we do as well ?
6) Will civil rights activists be arrested under ISA, for declaring a fatwa unconstitutional?
7) Will the ruling government through its control of the Fatwa council issue specific Fatwa's against groups who dissent against them politically?
As you can see we are not islands unto ourselves, everything is interconnected, more so in a country where the non-Muslims are a whopping 40% of the population. Fatwa's are the prerogative of the Islamic community, but justice, knowledge & wisdom cannot be claimed exclusively by any group.
Not discussing these issues openly or excluding some groups from the discussions will only give a cosmetic semblance of order and stability when in fact it will be a veritable timebomb when it permeates into civil society and causes dissatisfactions.
Having said that Malaysians must learn to discuss issues rationally without seeing everything as a win or lose situation, we need to learn the meaning of agreeing to disagree.
I am reminded of this quote by Pastor Martin Niemoler :
When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent;I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent;I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews, I remained silent; I was not a Jew.
When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out.
Vijay Kumar Murugavell
Anwar dominates even as PKR looks to widen base
Former PRM president and now PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali said that while Anwar was fundamental in inspiring the birth of a new movement, it is not entirely true that PKR is a one-man show.
You can be forgiven for believing that you have walked into someone’s fan club instead of a political party headquarters on arriving at Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) head office near the Tropicana Golf & Country Resort here.
The moment you step into the elevator, you are greeted by two photos of a grinning Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
On one side is Anwar flashing his trademark smile on a 1997 Time magazine cover which said he was ready to take over as Malaysia’s prime minister. Barely a year later he was sacked and jailed after a big fallout with his boss Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad amidst the Asian financial crisis.
Look the other side and Anwar flashes the same grin again with his arms folded over a smart grey suit on a Newsweek cover “To Hell And Back” after the March general election which revived his aspiration of becoming PM.
But is PKR all about the rise and fall of the former deputy president of Umno? Can the party go beyond Anwar after its surprising success on March 8?
Information chief Chua Tian Chang (better known as Tian Chua) admits the party is centred on its enigmatic leader. “In fact, PKR or Parti Keadilan Nasional (as it was known before merging with Parti Rakyat Malaysia or PRM) was set up following the Free Anwar movement,” he said. “Picking up on the strong sentiments of people disgusted by what had happened to Anwar, PKN was formed. Together with the partnership of Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) and Democratic Action Party (DAP), we won five seats (in 1999).”
Tian Chua, however, was quick to point out that the party continued to persist despite not having Anwar to lead them in the 2004 general election. “In fact, for the most part of our 10-year history, Anwar has been behind bars,” he noted.
Former PRM president and now PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali said that while Anwar was fundamental in inspiring the birth of a new movement, it is not entirely true that PKR is a one-man show.
“During that period (1997-1999), there were already groups agitating on issues. But the Anwar saga showed if justice can be denied to a deputy prime minister, it can happen to anyone,” said Syed Husin. “Anyway, most of the current policies (though inspired by Anwar) were more clearly defined during his incarceration,” said Syed Husin.
Both Tian Chua and Syed Husin were equally confident that should Anwar end up in jail again, PKR would not be found floundering. Anwar is facing another sodomy charge.
“For one, we’ve more up-and-coming leaders than we did in 1999,” said Syed Husin. “The party is on a stronger footing structurally, as well as financially.”
People’s anger after Anwar was first jailed was clearly reflected in the 1999 election, said Syed Husin. “Imagine how it would be in the next election if he is jailed again?” he said. “The added anger would fuel another upsurge and Pakatan Rakyat will become the next federal government.”
Tian Chua, who has traded his protest tee-shirt for a suit and tie after winning a seat in parliament, noted that in 1999 the party had no MPs, no finances and did not even have a proper office. “But today, we are part of the government in five states, with our own resources and an army of leaders and members. If we could survive then, we would surely carry on now.”
Syed Husin, who was detained for six years under the Internal Security Act, summed up the Anwar puzzle very well. “Anwar is a unique leader. He is a strong spokesperson, a symbol and a recognised leader for PKR, who is also the voice of many people,” he said. “But no party will die just because its most famous leader is not with them.”
More importantly, said Syed Husin, Anwar has manifested himself in PKR’s policy orientation and that is his biggest contribution to the party.
Not just another multi-racial party or coalition
Besides the Anwar factor, PKR’s strongest pull factor has been its multi-racial approach to politics. And although, according to Tian Chua, a huge chunk of its 500,000 members are Malays, the party has sought to find a middle ground when dealing with issues affecting Malaysia’s different races.
Replacing the Ketuanan Melayu (Malay superiority) concept with Ketuanan Rakyat (People’s power), PKR’s message is more palatable to the non-Malays.
Crediting his former student with this, Syed Husin added that this was why his former party, PRM, decided to merge with PKN in 2003.
“Although there were opportunities for merging with some of the other multi-racial parties, we hung on. On top of our similarities with Keadilan, we were most attracted to the justice and democracy it preached,” said Syed Husin.
Speaking of cooperation and democracy, Syed Husin pointed to the Pakatan formula. Chinese-majority DAP, Islam-based PAS and multi-racial PKR are poles apart in their ideologies and approaches to governance.
“But in the Pakatan formula, everyone is an equal partner. Unlike the Barisan Nasional coalition, matters are not dictated by one dominant party,” said Syed Husin. “Pakatan has a very consensus-based relationship.”
William Leong, a corporate lawyer who is now MP for Selayang and PKR treasurer, concurs.
“In BN, Umno decides and the other parties just nod. But in Pakatan we argue and fight until we come to an agreement,” he said.
“Decision making sometimes may not be as fast as in BN but ultimately, it is not unilateral either. There is also an understanding among us that each party has the right to voice their opinions.”
Leong added there was also more coordination between Pakatan parties. Using the Permatang Pauh by-election as an example, he said BN had mini camps of Umno, MCA, MIC and Gerakan everywhere. Even the ceramah was done separately.
“But in Pakatan, whenever a ceramah is held, you can see leaders and workers from all three parties working together,” said Leong.
On whether a formal Pakatan coalition, similar to BN, is on the cards, Leong said: “That is certainly the aspiration but we are not pushing it now.”
What’s in store moving forward? A lot, going by Syed Husin, Tian Chua and Leong’s claims.
Assessing the party from a financial perspective, PKR treasurer Leong noted a huge change in donors’ behaviour. “While in the past, many people were shy or concerned about associating themselves with PKR, they are no longer worried,” he said. “Individual and corporate sponsors are ready to contribute. The difference was most notable during the Permatang Pauh by-election.”
The excitement Pakatan has created has now spread to East Malaysia. “During the dinner we held in Sarawak earlier this month, 4,000 people turned up,” said Leong, who is already working on a budget for the next Sarawak state election.
For Tian Chua, the future is theirs for the taking. “The emergence of a genuine second party in the region is nothing new. Be it South Korea, Indonesia or Thailand, changes in the political landscape have already taken place. All that is left are the People’s Action Party in Singapore and BN in Malaysia. So it is inevitable that change will come here too,” said the man, images of whom sitting defiantly in front of a water cannon truck in 1999 are as unforgettable as his leader’s black-eye pictures.
Syed Husin was more careful to note that the future is about strengthening party structure and organisation. But he, too, could not contain his excitement about the party’s future. “If you look at the MPs in parliament now, you’ll see that Pakatan easily has the younger and more dynamic collection of leaders,” he said.
That may be true, but for now, a grinning Anwar pretty much remains the domineering force of the party. And this will be evident at the party’s annual assembly which begins tomorrow.
Chan Kok Leong
The Edge
Syed Husin tells PKR to stress multi-racialism
SHAH ALAM, Nov 28 - PKR’s No 2 told its youth and women’s wing members today to shape up and reach out to the growing number of Malaysians looking for a multi-racial and multi-religious party to represent their needs in a changing world.
Dr Syed Husin Ali told the two wings that now was not the time to rest on its laurels even though they had won big at the March general elections as the victory came from the people’s support rather than the party’s own efforts.
He said that its political rivals, especially Umno, was fanning racial and religious fires because they were threatened by the opposition’s climb to power in five states.
He reminded them that the Pakatan Rakyat plan to take over the federal government was still on track even though the leadership was keeping quiet on when it will happen.
“The lesson learnt is that we talk about it, it alerts undesirable elements,” the deputy president said at PKR’s annual general meeting for its youth and women wings here today.
themalaysianinsider
28/11/08
Dr Syed Husin Ali told the two wings that now was not the time to rest on its laurels even though they had won big at the March general elections as the victory came from the people’s support rather than the party’s own efforts.
He said that its political rivals, especially Umno, was fanning racial and religious fires because they were threatened by the opposition’s climb to power in five states.
He reminded them that the Pakatan Rakyat plan to take over the federal government was still on track even though the leadership was keeping quiet on when it will happen.
“The lesson learnt is that we talk about it, it alerts undesirable elements,” the deputy president said at PKR’s annual general meeting for its youth and women wings here today.
themalaysianinsider
28/11/08
Bersihkan anasir BN dari negeri Pakatan
Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) menggesa kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat di lima negeri dengan tanpa banyak alasan segera “membersihkan kerajaan negeri daripada anasir BN”.
“AMK dengan ini memberikan peringatan kepada kerajaan-kerajaan negeri Pakatan Rakyat. Jangan berdolak-dalik dengan seribu satu alasan. Pembersihan kerajaan daripada anasir BN mesti dilaksanakan tanpa bertangguh,” kata ketuanya Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin.
“Kita tidak boleh terpukau dan terpedaya dengan pemimpin dan ahli BN yang bertukar kulit hanya semata-mata untuk terus membolot peluang, tanpa menghayati falsafah perjuangan kita, tanpa menunjukkan komitmen untuk menghayati prinsip-prinsip perjuangan yang kita dukung.”
Shamsul Iskandar mengkritik kerajaan gabungan PKR, DAP dan PAS yang didakwanya “cuai melaksanakan janji” untuk membuat pembersihan dalam pentadbiran “sehingga ke akar”.
“Sekarang rakyat telah memilih kita. Rakyat mahu kita melakukan perubahan. Salah satu perubahan yang telah kita janjikan ialah untuk membersihkan kerajaan daripada kebobrokan Umno-BN.
“Kenapa setelah rakyat memberikan kita amanah, kita cuai untuk melaksanakan janji ini?” katanya ketika menyampaikan ucapan dasar ketua angkatan muda PKR dalam kongres tahun pergerakan itu di Stadium Malawati, Shah Alam hari ini.
Berhubung perkara itu, beliau menambah, kebergantungan kerajaan Pakatan terhadap birokrasi kerajaan dan jentera BN hari ini “menjadi lelucon dan sesuatu yang malang”.
“Pergantungan kepada birokrasi semata-mata, atau lebih malang kepada aparat-aparat BN, sudah tentu tidak memadai. Sudah barang tentu menjadi lelucon untuk kita terus membiarkan anasir-anasir BN berleluasa dan mengakar di dalam kerajaan-kerajaan negeri yang dipimpin Pakatan.
“Selama ini kita mengkritik mereka sebagai (pengamal) rasuah, khianat kepada amanah rakyat dan sebagainya.
“Kita mengambil risiko, bermati-matian menentang mereka di dalam pilihanraya kerana kita mahu menggantikan mereka dengan pemimpin yang berintegriti di semua peringkat,” kata Shamsul Iskandar di depan hampir 600 perwakilan AMK.
Beliau turut mempersoalkan ahli-ahli parti itu yang diketepikan dalam jentera kerajaan negeri Pakatan dengan “alasan bukan-bukan”, termasuk tiada pengalaman.
“Pemimpin-pemimpin utama PKR terdiri daripada mereka yang mempunyai kelayakan yang sangat cemerlang. Profesor dan pakar di dalam pelbagai bidang.
“Kenapa sehingga ke hari ini mereka masih tidak diangkat memainkan peranan utama memberi sumbangan dalam perencanaan dan operasi kerajaan-kerajaan negeri?” katanya.
Dengan nada amaran, Shamsul Iskandar berkata, sekiranya terdapat pemimpin kerajaan Pakatan yang teragak-agak, takut kepada risiko dan perubahan, pergerakan itu tiada pilihan selain menggantikan pemimpin itu.
“Sekiranya ada pemimpin-pemimpin kerajaan negeri Pakatan teragak-agak, gentar untuk membuat perubahan, takut kepada risiko; kita tidak ada pilihan selain menuntut perubahan dalaman untuk menggantikan mereka dengan pemimpin yang benar-benar mampu memimpin dan membuat keputusan.
“Kerajaan mesti dipimpin, bukan semata-mata diurus,” katanya.
Beliau dalam ucapannya itu bagaimanapun tidak menamakan dengan jelas pemimpin yang dimaksudkannya itu.
Dalam sidang akhbar selepas ucapannya itu, Shamsul Iskandar menjelaskan, penyertaan AMK dalam jentera pentadbiran kerajaan negeri dibuat Pakatan dapat menilai semula keberkesanan masing-masing selepas lapan bulan memerintah sejak Mac lalu.
Beliau menafikan tuntutannya itu difokuskan kepada peluang perniagaan semata-mata.
“Peluang itu saya buat (gariskan secara) umum. Bukan sekadar peluang perniagaan, (tetapi juga) peluang dalam struktur kerajaan negeri, (dan) peluang dalam institusi-institusi pendidikan.
“Peluang dalam perniagaan itu, apa masalahnya kalau ada keuntungannya kepada rakyat. Yang kita tolak, perniagaan yang ada (unsur) rasuah, penyelewengan dan korup,” katanya.
Ketua AMK itu menafikan pergerakannya terpinggir dalam kerajaan-kerajaan negeri Pakatan.
“Tidak, (desakan) itu hanya penegasan AMK. Saya tidak berasa terpinggir,” katanya.
“Apabila perubahan dilakukan, kita tidak boleh mengelak. Mereka (rakyat) telah memilih kita (dalam pilihanraya umum lalu). Takkan kita hendak katakan tidak boleh buat, tidak ada pengalaman. Kita kena lakukan sesuatu.”
malaysiakini
28/11/08
“AMK dengan ini memberikan peringatan kepada kerajaan-kerajaan negeri Pakatan Rakyat. Jangan berdolak-dalik dengan seribu satu alasan. Pembersihan kerajaan daripada anasir BN mesti dilaksanakan tanpa bertangguh,” kata ketuanya Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin.
“Kita tidak boleh terpukau dan terpedaya dengan pemimpin dan ahli BN yang bertukar kulit hanya semata-mata untuk terus membolot peluang, tanpa menghayati falsafah perjuangan kita, tanpa menunjukkan komitmen untuk menghayati prinsip-prinsip perjuangan yang kita dukung.”
Shamsul Iskandar mengkritik kerajaan gabungan PKR, DAP dan PAS yang didakwanya “cuai melaksanakan janji” untuk membuat pembersihan dalam pentadbiran “sehingga ke akar”.
“Sekarang rakyat telah memilih kita. Rakyat mahu kita melakukan perubahan. Salah satu perubahan yang telah kita janjikan ialah untuk membersihkan kerajaan daripada kebobrokan Umno-BN.
“Kenapa setelah rakyat memberikan kita amanah, kita cuai untuk melaksanakan janji ini?” katanya ketika menyampaikan ucapan dasar ketua angkatan muda PKR dalam kongres tahun pergerakan itu di Stadium Malawati, Shah Alam hari ini.
Berhubung perkara itu, beliau menambah, kebergantungan kerajaan Pakatan terhadap birokrasi kerajaan dan jentera BN hari ini “menjadi lelucon dan sesuatu yang malang”.
“Pergantungan kepada birokrasi semata-mata, atau lebih malang kepada aparat-aparat BN, sudah tentu tidak memadai. Sudah barang tentu menjadi lelucon untuk kita terus membiarkan anasir-anasir BN berleluasa dan mengakar di dalam kerajaan-kerajaan negeri yang dipimpin Pakatan.
“Selama ini kita mengkritik mereka sebagai (pengamal) rasuah, khianat kepada amanah rakyat dan sebagainya.
“Kita mengambil risiko, bermati-matian menentang mereka di dalam pilihanraya kerana kita mahu menggantikan mereka dengan pemimpin yang berintegriti di semua peringkat,” kata Shamsul Iskandar di depan hampir 600 perwakilan AMK.
Beliau turut mempersoalkan ahli-ahli parti itu yang diketepikan dalam jentera kerajaan negeri Pakatan dengan “alasan bukan-bukan”, termasuk tiada pengalaman.
“Pemimpin-pemimpin utama PKR terdiri daripada mereka yang mempunyai kelayakan yang sangat cemerlang. Profesor dan pakar di dalam pelbagai bidang.
“Kenapa sehingga ke hari ini mereka masih tidak diangkat memainkan peranan utama memberi sumbangan dalam perencanaan dan operasi kerajaan-kerajaan negeri?” katanya.
Dengan nada amaran, Shamsul Iskandar berkata, sekiranya terdapat pemimpin kerajaan Pakatan yang teragak-agak, takut kepada risiko dan perubahan, pergerakan itu tiada pilihan selain menggantikan pemimpin itu.
“Sekiranya ada pemimpin-pemimpin kerajaan negeri Pakatan teragak-agak, gentar untuk membuat perubahan, takut kepada risiko; kita tidak ada pilihan selain menuntut perubahan dalaman untuk menggantikan mereka dengan pemimpin yang benar-benar mampu memimpin dan membuat keputusan.
“Kerajaan mesti dipimpin, bukan semata-mata diurus,” katanya.
Beliau dalam ucapannya itu bagaimanapun tidak menamakan dengan jelas pemimpin yang dimaksudkannya itu.
Dalam sidang akhbar selepas ucapannya itu, Shamsul Iskandar menjelaskan, penyertaan AMK dalam jentera pentadbiran kerajaan negeri dibuat Pakatan dapat menilai semula keberkesanan masing-masing selepas lapan bulan memerintah sejak Mac lalu.
Beliau menafikan tuntutannya itu difokuskan kepada peluang perniagaan semata-mata.
“Peluang itu saya buat (gariskan secara) umum. Bukan sekadar peluang perniagaan, (tetapi juga) peluang dalam struktur kerajaan negeri, (dan) peluang dalam institusi-institusi pendidikan.
“Peluang dalam perniagaan itu, apa masalahnya kalau ada keuntungannya kepada rakyat. Yang kita tolak, perniagaan yang ada (unsur) rasuah, penyelewengan dan korup,” katanya.
Ketua AMK itu menafikan pergerakannya terpinggir dalam kerajaan-kerajaan negeri Pakatan.
“Tidak, (desakan) itu hanya penegasan AMK. Saya tidak berasa terpinggir,” katanya.
“Apabila perubahan dilakukan, kita tidak boleh mengelak. Mereka (rakyat) telah memilih kita (dalam pilihanraya umum lalu). Takkan kita hendak katakan tidak boleh buat, tidak ada pengalaman. Kita kena lakukan sesuatu.”
malaysiakini
28/11/08
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