Water again.. Selangor

I laughed out loud on my way to the airport when I read the morning papers that
quoted Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said Pahang could build the water treatment plant on a suitable site close to the Pahang-Selangor border if Selangor does not want to build the plant on its side. The UMNO politician in Selangor and the Federal government must be desperate that had to sought the assistance of the Pahang MB to squeeze Khalid. I remember when PR formed the government in Selangor in 2008; the Pahang MB said that they need to review the water transfer project because Selangor is no longer governed by BN.

I had hoped that the Selangor MB replied him and I was elated when I saw the reply as that is what I had exactly in mind. I agree with the Khalid that Pahang can go ahead and build the water treatment there and sell the treated water to Selangor. I guess it would be alright to buy the treated water if the price is right and if there is a need. This way we will know who is right in 2014. Worse case scenario if Khalid is wrong then they has to buy treated water. If Khalid is right, Pahang has just spent money for nothing.

I spoke to a friend that is active in ALIRAN last night. I asked him whether he could convince ALIRAN to organize a debate about the issue and solution about water in Selangor. We should put PAAB CEO and the State Exco in charge of water and get it moderated by a professional person. Based on my reading, the Selangor government is in the opinion that they agree with PAAB on the migration of water assets. The issue is cost. Let us pitted this two together and hear how they priced the water asset that is owned by the state as well as all private water operators in the state. Let us hear their basis and let them address the issue based on facts and not on politics. I think the Rakyat in Selangor deserved to hear the real truth without the politics and judged for th! emselves .

There must a law somewhere that addressed people like Khir Toyo who had deliberately gave away a profitable water business with a profit of RM50-RM80 mill a year to a crony. There must be a law that can be applied to people that has betrayed a state and the people that has entrusted them to power. The Selangor State government should look into this matter seriously. Why isnt the MACC investigating this part of the matter? We need to ensure that people that is given the power to govern to look after the interest of the people first and not their or their friend interest. In a very near future, the Selangor Freedom Information Bill will become law. It will give every single Selangor resident to see how they, their children and their grandchildren have been betrayed.

The water issue in Selangor need to be addressed on the basis of supply and demand. The relationship between state and PAAB must be sorted out professionally on the basis of hard facts. The politics and the legal issue must be addressed separately. As long as PAAB actions are being dictated by politicians then this problem will not see a light in the near foreseeable future. Maybe GE 13 will give the answer.

Letter & Opinion From Joe Public

Thousands attended UMNO's 'Save Selangor' campaign,Pakatan Rakyat in trouble.....

With Umno completing the first round of its "Save Selangor" campaign this weekend, the Pakatan Rakyat-led government is now set to begin its counter-attack to whittle away the issues raised by the opposition. The effort is to be carried out by by the Selangor state communications squad, starting on the first day of the fasting month, which is expected to fall on Aug 11.

Selangor Umno went on the offensive on July 23 in an effort to recapture moneybank Selangor in the next general election. It featured former PKR Youth chief Ezam Mohd Noor, now with Umno, and Selangor Umno deputy chief Noh Omar among the top guns at its 19 ceramah sessions.

Ezam, in one of his early talks, blasted his former mentor and parliamentary opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, describing him as a traitor and a tool for the Jews. Other issues bandied in the Umno talks included illegal sand mining and the water issue.

Selangor Umno divided?

Ironically, former menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo was sidelined in this first phase of the campaign, leading to speculation that Umno Selangor is divided, with one faction led by Noh and the other by Khir.

Umno, through its "Save Selangor Darul Ehsan" secretariat, will be on a one-month break beginning next week and will resume its win-Selangor-back onslaught after Hari Raya in the middle of September.

This is when Khir is also expected to play a bigger role. As Umno takes a breather, the Selangor information officer Badrul Amin Bahron said the Pakatan government would begin its explanation sessions in all mosques in the state.

"We have started printing circulars and woul! d be dis tributing them in response to the allegations made against us. We will also have short religious talks during the sessions," he said.

Badrul Amin, who is a religious scholar, told Malaysiakini that the explanatory sessions would be held in mosques because Muslims frequented mosques during Ramadan. Besides this, he said, Selangor had allocated RM15 million for its efforts to disseminate information and part of this included distributing the state-owned publication, Selangorkini.

"We will print more copies, from 60,000 now to 300,000 copies until after Hari Raya," Badrul Amin, who is also a PKR supreme council member, added.

Umno: Sand not an issue in second phase


Meanwhile, Selangor Umno information chief Shukor Idrus said the state Umno was satisfied that the three weeks of its campaign had shown some significant change in the perception of the people.

"The ceremah sessions held in Klang and Kota Raja saw numbers excess of 1,000 attending, even more than 2,000 in some instances," said Shukor, who is also Kuang assemblyperson.

In the second phase, he said, Umno would not use the sand issue, as it had done during the first phase.

"From the feedback we received, the people have come to accept it. We will focus on other issues in the second phase," he added. - Jimadie Shah Othman

Baca "Giliran Pakatan 'Selamatkan Selangor' " di sini.

source:malaysiakini

Nampaknya Pakatan Rakyat bakal bungkus dalam Pilihanraya ke-13 akan datang. BN gempor semua kubu kuat Pakatan Rakyat dan sambutan orang ramai terhadap roadshow UMNO Selangor sememangnya di luar dugaan(gambar di atas sebagai bukti).

Hadirinnya begitu ramai hinggakan tiada kerusi kosong dan terpaksa ! berdiri dan ada yang bergayut pada dahan2 pokok. Jalanraya pula sesak sepanjang 10km........

cheers.
See What Barisan Nasional Gotta Say?

Political Sandstorm in Selangor: A Case of 2Ks (KI-KT)

August 4, 2010

www.freemalaysiatoday.com

EDITORIAL (August 3, 2010)

Political Sandstorm in Selangor: Sand? Tin? Gold? or Sand-I-Wara?

To make money, all you have to do is dig a hole. A Chinese saying

NEW The sandstorm that blew across Selangor created such a noise that it became deafening. It was so loud that everyone sat up and took notice of the main players on the stage. There was somber Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim reading a script: We discovered several illegal sand mining hotspots throughout the state. In the background, Khir Toyo threw in a line: The state-owned company Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB) had abused its sand-mining permit. Then a chorus of high-pitched voices picked up the refrain: Corruption rampant! Corruption rampant! There was also a cast of several supporting heroes and villains all reciting their version of this tragedy or comedy.

What do the audience make out of it all? By turns, they are amused, disgusted, infuriated. A simple case of sand theft has taken on ominous forms with startling revelations of the misdeeds of the KSSB. The man who first blew the lid off the illegal activities had revealed a very dark side of the state government. But this original playwright, S Manikavasagam, didnt expect a straightforward script to descend into the pit of unsavoury developments. He created a storm that turned into a twister, with several plots revolving around it.

Sand Robbers

Of course, Khalid and his cohorts could not accept the accusation from one of their own party member. They probably thought that no one from their camp would dare undermine a government voted into power by popular acclaim. Nevertheless, one horse had bolted from the stable and washed the dirty sand in public. The government had to act fast it set up a transparent committee and hauled up the scriptwriter. From then on, things could only get worse. The transparent-turned-opaque panel swiftly buried the case in the sand. It found no evidence of misconduct. It was a wrong move. Instead of calming the storm, the summary dismissal whipped up a howling wind, clearing the way for other sand thieves who once ruled the state to enter the scene and create more disturbances.

It was an ugly scene. Insinuations, innuendos, and mud-slinging were the order of the day. There was no sane discussion as each side played a game of one-upmanship. The sand story had even morphed into another breaking news: the miners were actually digging for tin! What next? Gold? Soon a madcap might send yet another sensational news flash: theres an ancient civilisation buried somewhere in the sand pit! Or the owls have discovered a river bed bearing the remains of a dinosaur. The solution to the problem can be simple or complex. If you follow the Pak Lah formula, the answer is easy: just stop the lorries and bring the culprits to book. If you go with the Khir logic, then you have to embark on a roadshow and explain the mystery within the mystery within an enigma buried inside the sand.

Castle in the Sand

The episode is unlikely to end anytime soon because it is taking on the character of a political game. Khir and his ilk want to mine the sand to bring down the state government. Khalid and his workers want to scoop the sand to bring in more revenue to the state coffers. Each thinks he has got the edge over the other. All think the audience will ! buy thei r argument. It is becoming like a sand-i-wara. The sand issue, if it is not solved decisively, can be a major scoring point for the opposition. Khir, suddenly a born-again crusader, will continue to throw sand into the eyes of the state government and blind the public along the way. The Pakatan Rakyat fortress in Shah Alam must be built of sterner stuff if it is not to sink into the quicksand of political expediency. If it is just a sand castle, it will surely crumble in the cut and thrust of partisan politics.

Letter & Opinion From Joe Public

Malaysias Opposition on Trial

Anwar Ibrahim could be headed to prison again on trumped up charges. We urge the U.S. government to speak out on his behalf.
By AL GORE AND PAUL WOLFOWITZ | Wall Street JournalWe come from opposite sides of the political spectrum and disagree about a great many things. However, one issue that brings us together is the case of Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy prime minister of Malaysia who is now leader of the political opposition in that country.Mr. Anwar has been charged under very dubious circumstances with sodomy, a criminal offense under Malaysian law. If convicted, he faces a possible 20-year sentenceeffectively life in prison for a man of 63. His trial, scheduled to resume next week, threatens not just Mr. Anwar but all those in Malaysia who have struggled for a freer and more democratic nation. It is also important for the rest of the world, because it casts a troubling shadow over the future of a nation that should be a model for other Muslim countries.?

Our views of Anwar Ibrahim have been formed completely independently of each other. We do not always agree with his views on foreign policy, but we do agree that as a political leader, statesman and intellectual, Mr. Anwar possesses qualities that encourage hope for the future. These qualities include lucidity and openness to debate and engagement; commitment to principles of accountability and good governance; and a serious concern for the future of his country and the worldnot to mention his extraordinary courage in standing up for what he believes. We are convinced that he is committed to the values of pluralism, tolerance and freedom that are needed for Malaysia to flourish.In the end, what matters is not our opinion of Mr. Anwars character, but the opinion of his fellow countrymen. Malaysians should decide for themselves, through an open electoral process, who they wish to lead them. They should not be deprived of that opportunity by an abuse of judicial power.This is the second time that Mr. Anwar has! been su bjected to a politically?motivated trial on similar charges. The first time was in 1998, when as deputy prime minister and finance minister he dared to mount a challenge to then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed. Mr. Anwar was jailed, beaten severely, and condemned to years of solitary confinement after a trial that was a travesty of justice. That is not just our conclusion. It is the conclusion of the International Commission of Jurists, the International Bar Association, and a number of international human-rights organizations. It was also the conclusion of Malaysias highest court, which overturned the sodomy conviction in 2004, after Mr. Mahathir was no longer prime minister.Mr. Anwar now leads the coalition of Malaysias three opposition parties, which won more than a third of the seats in the parliamentary elections of March 2008. This was the best showing that the opposition had ever managed against the governing coalition led by the United Malays National Organization, the party that has ruled the country for the past 53 years.Three months after the election, Mr. Anwar threatened to call for a vote of no confidence in Parliament and take over the government. He was then arrested and charged again with sodomy. Like the charges 10 years earlier, the timing of these new charges carries the strong odor of political manipulation. And, if anything, the case against Mr. Anwar this time is even less credible and the violations of due process are even more egregious.While Anwar Ibrahim is on trial before the state, the state is on trial before its people and the world. If he were to be convicted, the whole of Malaysias political life and its standing in the world would be damaged. And for what gain? The timing of the trial has led many observers to the conclusion that the objective is to stem the ruling partys loss of popular support. Public opinion polls indicate that the great majority of Malaysians see the charges against Mr. Anwar as politically motivated. In any event, as Mr. Anwar himself would be the f! irst to say, his imprisonment would not extinguish his cause. On the contrary, the movement he began a decade ago will continue to spread.This is a pivotal moment in Malaysias history with consequences that are also meaningful on a global scale. With a population of nearly 30 million, Malaysia is not a small country. But it is also significant as an example of a Muslim-majority country making its way in the world. It has been able, over the first half-century of its independence, to demonstrate that it is possible to achieve economic growth while sustaining a degree of harmony among its religiously and ethnically diverse population.In recent years, however, the country has been sliding backwards, with increasing exploitation of religious and ethnic differences for political purposes. The trial and conviction of Mr. Anwar would intensify these problems by destroying the confidence of millions of Malaysians in the possibility of justice under the law.We urge our own government to make clear the importance the U.S. attaches to the role of the law in sustaining a political process in which justice and freedom are natural allies. We know from experience that sensitive issues of this kind are often best pursued quietly, government to government. But time is running out. A moment of truth is approaching.Two days ago, a judge postponed Mr. Anwars trial in order to deal with charges of an improper relationship between a female prosecutor and Mr. Anwars accuser. This is an opportunity. Malaysias system of governance has the capacity to do the right thingnot only for Anwar Ibrahim, but for the millions of Malaysian citizens who look to him as a spokesman for their aspirations. We urge those in the Malaysian government who will decide this matter to act with wisdom.Mr. Gore was the 45th vice president of the United States. Mr. Wolfowitz was deputy secretary of defense from 2001 to 2005.
Letter & Opinion From Joe Public

Kematian bekas ADUN, naib ketua Wanita UMNO masih misteri......

Misteri kematian bekas Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Permatang Datuk Abdul Aziz Mohd. Noh bersama Naib Ketua Wanita Umno Tanjung Karang, Siti Rohana Ismat dengan kesan tembakan pagi semalam terus menjadi perbualan dengan pelbagai teori dilontarkan. Pelbagai andaian dibangkitkan bagaimana kedua-dua pemimpin Umno Tanjong Karang ini boleh terbunuh sebelum kereta mereka merempuh pembahagi lebuh raya dengan kesan tembakan di bahagian kepala.

Teori-teori yang dibangkitkan dalam pelbagai portal dan blog mendakwa kemungkinan ada pihak ketiga dalam kejadian itu. Ia mempertikaikan kemahiran melepaskan tembakan ngeri dari jarak dekat. Bagaimanapun Ketua Polis Selangor Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar telah menolak andaian sedemikian dengan meminta orang ramai tidak membuat spekulasi tidak berasas.

Katanya, polis tidak menolak kemungkinan kematian Abdul Aziz, bekas setiausaha politik Tan Sri Abu Hassan Omar bersama Siti Rohana adalah akibat tembakan daripada salah seorang mangsa itu sendiri. Kata Khalid, berdasarkan siasatan awal, tembakan dilepaskan dari dalam kereta dan tidak melibatkan orang lain. Polis menemui pistol jenis revolver .38 dalam kereta tersebut yang mengandungi dua peluru hidup dipercayai kepunyaan Abdul Aziz, yang juga ahli jawatankuasa Umno Tanjong Karang.

Hasil bedah siasat menunjukkan terdapat dua kesan tembakan pada kepala Siti Rohana dan satu tembakan di kepala Abdul Aziz. Bekas ADUN itu ditemui mati bersama Siti Rohana, 43, kedua-duanya dengan kesan tembakan, dalam kereta yang terbabas di Lebuh Raya Utara-Selatan berhampiran Sungai Buloh dekat sini kira-kira 11 pagi. Siti Rohana aktif dalam politik dan pernah menjadi pegawai peribadi kepada Abdul Aziz, dan mempunyai sebuah butik pengantin di Tanjong Karang.

Dalam pada itu, Allahyarham Abdul Aziz dilaporkan sepatutnya berkumpul bersama ahli keluarga termasuk adik-beradiknya malam tadi! bagi me raikan kedatangan Ramadan. Majlis berkumpul beramai-ramai yang diadakan seminggu sebelum Ramadan ini merupakan acara tahunan diraikan Abdul Aziz itu bersama keluarga terdekatnya. Ramadan bermula minggu depan.

Namun, majlis makan malam bertujuan merapatkan hubungan keluarga itu bertukar menjadi kenduri arwah berikutan kematian mengejut Abdul Aziz, kata portal Malaysia-instinct. Anak bongsu Allahyarham, Mohd. Anis Hisham, 33, yang kali terakhir beliau bertemu bapanya pukul 9 pagi semalam di rumah mereka di Shah Alam memberitahu:

Kematian ayah mengejutkan saya dan semua ahli keluarga yang lain kerana ia berlaku menjelang Ramadan yang mana kami sudah merancang berkumpul untuk makan di rumah salah seorang saudara di Shah Alam malam ini (tadi).

Mohd. Anis Hisham yang juga Exco Pemuda Umno berkata, sebagai anak bongsu dan lelaki tunggal daripada tiga beradik, beliau memang rapat dengan bapanya memandangkan kedua-dua mereka terlibat dalam politik. Malah, katanya, beliau langsung tidak menyangka bahawa hubungan mereka bertambah rapat sejak akhir-akhir ini merupakan petanda Allahyarham akan meninggalkan keluarga buat selama-lamanya.

Sementara itu, adik Allahyarham, Rasiah Mohd. Noh, 63, berkata, beliau bersama keluarganya yang tinggal di Pulau Pinang datang ke Shah Alam Sabtu lalu semata-mata untuk bertemu dan berkumpul bersama keluarga Abdul Aziz dan dua lagi adik-beradik yang lain sebelum Ramadan.

Acara berkumpul beramai-ramai seminggu sebelum Ramadan menjadi tradisi keluarga kami sejak turun-temurun.

Dalam tempoh tersebut, kami akan bergotong-royong membersihkan kubur emak dan ayah dan mengadakan jamuan makan malam, katanya sambil menyatakan perasaan amat terkilan tidak sempat menemui Abdul Aziz sejak tiba di Shah Alam kerana bercadang menemuinya malam tadi.

Sementara itu bekas Exco Kerajaan Negeri Selangor, Datuk! Chng To h Eng ketika ditemui malam tadi menyifatkan Abdul Aziz sebagai rakan seperjuangan yang mudah mesra dan rapat dengan orang bawahannya.

Saya kenal beliau sejak 1980-an. Beliau rapat dengan para nelayan di Kuala Selangor dan amat bertimbang rasa dan selalu membantu golongan miskin, ujar Chng.

Sementara itu Ketua Penerangan Pemuda Umno Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican menganggap Abdul Aziz sebagai mentor beliau dan kehilangan pemimpin itu sukar diganti.

Allahyarham adalah seorang yang mempunyai very cool minded dan sentiasa meletakkan kepentingan rakyat melebihi kepentingan sendiri, katanya.

Perkara yang sama ditekankan oleh Ketua Pemuda Umno Khairy Jamaluddin yang sedih dengan kehilangan beliau.

source:malaysian insider

cheers.
Letter & Opinion From Joe Public

Malaysias Opposition on Trial, Al Gore + Paul Wolfowitz Vs. Najib Razak, Gani Patail, Musa Hassan et al.

August 4, 2010

Anwar Ibrahim could be headed to prison again on trumped up charges. We urge the U.S. government to speak out on his behalf.

ByAL GORE AND PAUL WOLFOWITZ

From the Wall Street Journal

We come from opposite sides of the political spectrum and disagree about a great many things. However, one issue that brings us together is the case of Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy prime minister of Malaysia who is now leader of the political opposition in that country.

Mr. Anwar has been charged under very dubious circumstances with sodomy, a criminal offense under Malaysian law. If convicted, he faces a possible 20-year sentenceeffectively life in prison for a man of 63. His trial, scheduled to resume next week, threatens not just Mr. Anwar but all those in Malaysia who have struggled for a freer and more democratic nation. It is also important for the rest of the world, because it casts a troubling shadow over the future of a nation that should be a model for other Muslim countries.

Our views of Anwar Ibrahim have been formed completely independently of each other. We do not always agree with his views on foreign policy, but we do agree that as a political leader, statesman and intellectual, Mr. Anwar possesses qualities that encourage hope for the future. These qualities include lucidity and openness to debate and engagement; commitment to principles of accountability and good governance; and a serious concern for the future of his country and the worldnot to mention his extraordinary courage in standing up for what he believes. We are convinced that he is committed to the values of pluralism, tolerance and freedom ! that are needed for Malaysia to flourish.

In the end, what matters is not our opinion of Mr. Anwars character, but the opinion of his fellow countrymen. Malaysians should decide for themselves, through an open electoral process, who they wish to lead them. They should not be deprived of that opportunity by an abuse of judicial power.

This is the second time that Mr. Anwar has been subjected to a politicallymotivated trial on similar charges. The first time was in 1998, when as deputy prime minister and finance minister he dared to mount a challenge to then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed. Mr. Anwar was jailed, beaten severely, and condemned to years of solitary confinement after a trial that was a travesty of justice. That is not just our conclusion. It is the conclusion of the International Commission of Jurists, the International Bar Association, and a number of international human-rights organizations. It was also the conclusion of Malaysias highest court, which overturned the sodomy conviction in 2004, after Mr. Mahathir was no longer prime minister.

Mr. Anwar now leads the coalition of Malaysias three opposition parties, which won more than a third of the seats in the parliamentary elections of March 2008. This was the best showing that the opposition had ever managed against the governing coalition led by the United Malays National Organization, the party that has ruled the country for the past 53 years.

Three months after the election, Mr. Anwar threatened to call for a vote of no confidence in Parliament and take over the government. He was then arrested and charged again with sodomy. Like the charges 10 years earlier, the timing of these new charges carries the strong odor of political manipulation. And, if anything, the case against Mr. Anwar this time is even less credible and the violations of due process are! even mo re egregious.

While Anwar Ibrahim is on trial before the state, the state is on trial before its people and the world. If he were to be convicted, the whole of Malaysias political life and its standing in the world would be damaged. And for what gain? The timing of the trial has led many observers to the conclusion that the objective is to stem the ruling partys loss of popular support. Public opinion polls indicate that the great majority of Malaysians see the charges against Mr. Anwar as politically motivated. In any event, as Mr. Anwar himself would be the first to say, his imprisonment would not extinguish his cause. On the contrary, the movement he began a decade ago will continue to spread.

This is a pivotal moment in Malaysias history with consequences that are also meaningful on a global scale. With a population of nearly 30 million, Malaysia is not a small country. But it is also significant as an example of a Muslim-majority country making its way in the world. It has been able, over the first half-century of its independence, to demonstrate that it is possible to achieve economic growth while sustaining a degree of harmony among its religiously and ethnically diverse population.

In recent years, however, the country has been sliding backwards, with increasing exploitation of religious and ethnic differences for political purposes. The trial and conviction of Mr. Anwar would intensify these problems by destroying the confidence of millions of Malaysians in the possibility of justice under the law.

We urge our own government to make clear the importance the U.S. attaches to the role of the law in sustaining a political process in which justice and freedom are natural allies. We know from experience that sensitive issues of this kind are often best pursued quietly, government to government. But time is running out. A moment of truth is approaching.

Two days ago, a judge postponed Mr. Anwars trial in order to deal with charges of an improper relationship between a fem! ale pros ecutor and Mr. Anwars accuser. This is an opportunity. Malaysias system of governance has the capacity to do the right thingnot only for Anwar Ibrahim, but for the millions of Malaysian citizens who look to him as a spokesman for their aspirations. We urge those in the Malaysian government who will decide this matter to act with wisdom.

Mr. Gore was the 45th vice president of the United States. Mr. Wolfowitz was deputy secretary of defense from 2001 to 2005.

Letter & Opinion From Joe Public

Malaysias Opposition on Trial, Al Gore + Paul Wolfowitz Vs. Najib Razak, Gani Patail, et als.

Anwar Ibrahim could be headed to prison again on trumped up charges. We urge the U.S. government to speak out on his behalf.

ByAL GORE AND PAUL WOLFOWITZ

From the Wall Street Journal

We come from opposite sides of the political spectrum and disagree about a great many things. However, one issue that brings us together is the case of Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy prime minister of Malaysia who is now leader of the political opposition in that country.

Mr. Anwar has been charged under very dubious circumstances with sodomy, a criminal offense under Malaysian law. If convicted, he faces a possible 20-year sentenceeffectively life in prison for a man of 63. His trial, scheduled to resume next week, threatens not just Mr. Anwar but all those in Malaysia who have struggled for a freer and more democratic nation. It is also important for the rest of the world, because it casts a troubling shadow over the future of a nation that should be a model for other Muslim countries.

Our views of Anwar Ibrahim have been formed completely independently of each other. We do not always agree with his views on foreign policy, but we do agree that as a political leader, statesman and intellectual, Mr. Anwar possesses qualities that encourage hope for the future. These qualities include lucidity and openness to debate and engagement; commitment to principles of accountability and good governance; and a serious concern for the future of his country and the worldnot to mention his extraordinary courage in standing up for what he believes. We are convinced that he is committed to the values of pluralism, tolerance and freedom that are needed for Malaysia to flourish.

In the end, what matters is not our opinion of Mr. Anwars character, but the opinion of his fellow countrymen. Malaysians should decide for themselves, through an open electoral process, who they wish to lead them. They should not be deprived of that opportunity by an abuse of judicial power.

This is the secon! d time t hat Mr. Anwar has been subjected to a politicallymotivated trial on similar charges. The first time was in 1998, when as deputy prime minister and finance minister he dared to mount a challenge to then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed. Mr. Anwar was jailed, beaten severely, and condemned to years of solitary confinement after a trial that was a travesty of justice. That is not just our conclusion. It is the conclusion of the International Commission of Jurists, the International Bar Association, and a number of international human-rights organizations. It was also the conclusion of Malaysias highest court, which overturned the sodomy conviction in 2004, after Mr. Mahathir was no longer prime minister.

Mr. Anwar now leads the coalition of Malaysias three opposition parties, which won more than a third of the seats in the parliamentary elections of March 2008. This was the best showing that the opposition had ever managed against the governing coalition led by the United Malays National Organization, the party that has ruled the country for the past 53 years.

Three months after the election, Mr. Anwar threatened to call for a vote of no confidence in Parliament and take over the government. He was then arrested and charged again with sodomy. Like the charges 10 years earlier, the timing of these new charges carries the strong odor of political manipulation. And, if anything, the case against Mr. Anwar this time is even less credible and the violations of due process are even more egregious.

While Anwar Ibrahim is on trial before the state, the state is on trial before its people and the world. If he were to be convicted, the whole of Malaysias political life and its standing in the world would be damaged. And for what gain? The timing of the trial has led many observers to the conclusion that the objective is to stem the ruling partys loss of popular support. Public opinion polls indicate that the great majority of Malaysians see the charges against Mr. Anwar as politically motivated. In a! ny event , as Mr. Anwar himself would be the first to say, his imprisonment would not extinguish his cause. On the contrary, the movement he began a decade ago will continue to spread.

This is a pivotal moment in Malaysias history with consequences that are also meaningful on a global scale. With a population of nearly 30 million, Malaysia is not a small country. But it is also significant as an example of a Muslim-majority country making its way in the world. It has been able, over the first half-century of its independence, to demonstrate that it is possible to achieve economic growth while sustaining a degree of harmony among its religiously and ethnically diverse population.

In recent years, however, the country has been sliding backwards, with increasing exploitation of religious and ethnic differences for political purposes. The trial and conviction of Mr. Anwar would intensify these problems by destroying the confidence of millions of Malaysians in the possibility of justice under the law.

We urge our own government to make clear the importance the U.S. attaches to the role of the law in sustaining a political process in which justice and freedom are natural allies. We know from experience that sensitive issues of this kind are often best pursued quietly, government to government. But time is running out. A moment of truth is approaching.

Two days ago, a judge postponed Mr. Anwars trial in order to deal with charges of an improper relationship between a female prosecutor and Mr. Anwars accuser. This is an opportunity. Malaysias system of governance has the capacity to do the right thingnot only for Anwar Ibrahim, but for the millions of Malaysian citizens who look to him as a spokesman for their aspirations. We urge those in the Malaysian government who will decide this matter to act with wisdom.

Mr. Gore was the 45th vice president of the United States. Mr. Wolfowitz was deputy secretary of defense from 2001 to 2005.

Letter & Opinion From Joe Public

When our shadows are taller than our soul...

by art harun

"And as we wind on down the road,
Our shadows taller than our soul"

Robert Plant: Stairway to Heaven

When our shadows are taller than our soul, at the end of it, we would be consumed with fear. Just as we are nearing death, and we realise that our sins have far outdone our good deeds, we would be consumed with nothing but fear of the judgment day.

That is only to be expected. That is just a part of being a mortal human being.

When I learned about the arrest of about 30 people who attended an anti-ISA candle light vigil at Amcorp Mall last night, the first thought which came through my mind was, why is this government so afraid of the people it wishes to govern?

It is like this government is bereft of any moral standing to govern. Like it fears any kind of expression of feelings by the people. Like it fears any show or display of whatever which may teeny wee bit resembles an opposing opinion or stand.

No wonder even cartoon books lampooning the administration has been banned. Not long ago, even t-shirts bearing some depictions of funny cartoons and logos were seized in Central Market just because they "offend" the powers that be.

I ask on Twitter, when will this government ever respect the people's constitutional rights to assemble peacefully and to express their opinion and themselves peacefully? When?

Why must the peaceful people of Malaysia, who just wish to express their stand against a totally archaic law, which has been abused again and again and again, in a totally peaceful manner be met with riot police, swarming and bearing on them with baton and riot gear?

Just take a look at this video:

This was supposed to be a peaceful candle light vigil to mark the 50th anniversary of the Internal Security Act 1960. In addition, of course the attendees wanted to make a statement that the ISA ought to be abolished. That was all.

What was so threatening about that that they had to be met with riot police in full riot regalia? And why must they be stormed at, swarmed on and dragged like some arm bearing bank robber?

Has this government lost any kind of ability to treat the people with at least some common decency? Has this government no ability to acknowledge the existence of human dignity, some very basic form of rights which the people, as human beings, naturally possess?

Most importantly, has this government lost the plot?

The most sickening thing about this episode is the fact that all of us, members of civil society and the peace loving people of Malaysia, are made to swallow the blatant and nauseating hypocrisy by this government day in and day out.

All of us would remember that when some rabid "mentalites" from Shah Alam marched from the mosque while carrying a bloodied and severed cow head, stomped and spat on it in front of the State Secretariat, no less than our Home Minister said that those people felt "victimised" and that "they had only wanted their voices to be heard".

He then cavorted them, met and sat with them and even had a press conference with them. This government actually cavorted with pure utter racists who were hell bent on creating racial disharmony.

The few policemen who were around that day did not even lift a finger to prevent that shameful act which threw the whole country into a state of international infamy!

Oh, they had only wanted their voices heard.

Well well Mr Home Minister, how about the attendees of the vigils last night? They had wanted to overthrow the government, were they?

ALL THEY HAD WANTED TO DO WAS TO EXPRESS THEIR STAND AGAINST THE ISA IN A PEACEFUL MANNER? (sorry, I have to shout!).

Why must they be treated like some criminals? Who were more threatening? Those people carrying the kepala lembu or the candles?

One would also remember that when some Muslims threatened to have a big demonstration after Friday prayer over the "Allah" issue, no less than the Honourable Prime Minister who said that the government will not prevent such demonstrations. That statement was made knowing full well how the Allah issue was being used to fan racial hatred and how big such demonstrations could be, as it was planned to take place after Friday prayer. (notice how these people just love to turn Friday prayer into a hotbed for demonstrations).

I remember clearly the Honourable Prime Minister saying that the planned demonstrations cannot be stopped because "if people want to demonstrate, there is nothing the government could do"!

And what was the result of that statement? Yes, churches were burnt nation wide. Are we happy?

Why the double standard? Why the talam dua muka?

Why can't some peaceful Malaysians be allowed to have a peaceful assembly to pursue a cause which they thought was worthy of their attention?

What is there to fear?

Some people really have to go back home tonight, stand in front of the mirror and ask him or herself, "what has become of me?"

Time is running out for Malaysia to get its basics right

August 4, 2010

Time is running out for Malaysia to get its basics right

by Dr. Lim Teck Ghee

More evidence has just come in that time is running out for the country to get its basics right if the Malaysian economy is to grow at a respectable pace.

According to the United Nations World Investment Report 2010, foreign direct investment (FDI) for Malaysia has plunged 81 per cent from US$7.32 billion (RM23.47 billion) in 2008 to just US$1.38 billion (RM4.43 billion) last year.

This is further confirmation that despite the many efforts to court foreign investors to invest here, the foreign and local business community is not buying what is being sold to them in terms of the attractiveness of Malaysia as a place to do business.

The latest data must be especially a letdown for Prime Minister Najib Razak who has been active on the international front, attending investor meetings and courting foreign fund managers and foreign business leaders to persuade them to put their money in Malaysia.

There are various important points that we can deduce from the data in the table, and other tables in the report comparing the Malaysia inflows with other countries in the SE Asian region.

• The downturn in FDI is not a one or two year phenomenon but a long term trend. The previous attraction that we had for foreign investors is no longer there, and this is likely to continue in the foreseeable future.

• The trend is not only of diminishing FDIs into Malaysia but for us to do worse than the rest of our neighbors in the region. In 2008 we accounted for 15.5% of FDI flows into SE Asia; in 2009 it was down to 3.7%.

• Short of a complete breakdown in the governments in neighboring countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, we are looking at for! eign inv estors preferring to invest in these countries rather than Malaysia.

• Even if political turmoil and social instability appears to be more pronounced in countries such as Thailand, we are no longer able to compete with them for FDI.

• The outflow of domestic investments is a new trend. This suggests that the country is unable to develop new industries or sustain existing industries to prevent local funds from leaving the country. It also indicates loss of confidence by local business in the countrys economy and politics.

What are some of the implications of this trend of diminished FDI flows? Obviously, if it is not reversed, it will result in less high quality employment generated. The chain effect is more than just jobs lost for Malaysians. It also means that local suppliers will lose out; services such as catering, transport, etc will have a smaller clientele; and the government will collect less in terms of business and income tax and other taxes. In other words, the country may well end up poorer; much poorer.

Even if local businesses step in to fill some of the gap, they will not be able to make up for the loss. Unlike other countries such as Taiwan or South Korea, few import-substituting domestic industries in Malaysia have become world-class export industries. The undeniable fact is that most world-class exporting firms in Malaysia are foreign-owned or joint-venture ones with foreigners providing the crucial technological and market know-how and cutting edge.

Back to the drawing board on FDIs

What this means is that the country needs to go back to the drawing board if it wants to compete for FDI or even to ensure that domestic investors do not flee the country (as they are already doing in droves).

In the past, we have relied on a range of perks to att! ract for eign investors including tax-free pioneer status; investment tax allowances; reinvestment allowances, etc. We had also in the 1980s and 90s a head start over countries in attracting FDI due to our superior infrastructure and at that time our more competitive labour force.

All this has now been eroded. There is similar tax concessions found all over the world.Furthermore, our electricity and water utility costs are beginning to soar, and our worker productivity has stagnated in comparison with other countries whilst wages have gone up.

It does not require rocket science to recognise what is holding back investors whether foreign or local. They include:

NEP requirements and barriers

Rising costs of production leading to lower profits

Low levels of efficiency arising from lack of worker skills, poor R&D and low technological capacity

Most damaging of all to business and investor confidence (although not easily quantifiable) is the rising racial and religious ranting from Malay extremists. Although mainly conducted in the Malay media and targeted at Malay audiences, the new wave of emotive breast-thumping (and occasional posturing with the keris) in the name of Malay dominance and Malay unity surely has not gone unnoticed.

Besides reading the internet news portals for a more accurate gauge of what is taking place in the politics and economics of the country, many savvy business leaders keep close tabs on what is put out in the Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian, as well as over the government Malay language electronic media.

Government dithering on NEM

Foreign investors may initially have been encouraged by the launching of the NEM and would have harboured hopes that this would mean a new economic era of liberalization and higher competitiveness for Malaysia.

The NEM has been silent on any mention of the NEP and has called instead for market friendly, merit-based, transparent and needs-based ! policies . Investors would have inferred from the lack of mention of the NEP in the NEM that this 40-year-old socioeconomic policy would finally be laid to rest.

However, like others, they are now nonplussed by the governments dithering on whether or not to finally abandon this anachronistic policy. They would undoubtedly be especially troubled by the remarkable ability of the Prime Minister to sing a different tune on the subject depending on his audience.

Adding to their worry would be the Prime Ministers speech at the closing ceremony of the first Malay Consultative Council (MPM) congress held at the PWTC on May 30 where Najib stated that the NEM is a trial balloon and the policy has yet to be finalised.

Attaining Vision 2020

In another recent speech, the PM has also begun to back off from his earlier confident claim that the country would be able to achieve Vision 2020 by clarifying that the external economic environment may well derail the achievement of key targets such as per capita income and others.

Of course, foreign investors understand that the external environment, external factors and foreign investors can help the country in its realization of Vision 2020 and the NEMs goals.

However, I am sure they will beg to differ with the Prime Ministers assessment of the critical importance of the external environment. Many amongst them will emphasize that it is the internal environment and internal factors in particular the politicking (and associated rent-seeking) by UMNO that holds the key to the economic fortunes of Malaysia. cpi asia.net

See What Barisan Nasional Gotta Say?

Aliran: BN will loose is now a lame duck

Yeah right

Elections: BN no longer has the upper hand!

P Ramakrishnan, Aliran

This will be a new scenario for BN, notes P Ramakrishnan. It will not have the upper hand in determining its fortune or manipulating the election to suit its purpose.

The Barisan Nasional has been calling the shots all along. That advantage is no longer with the BN. It used to surprise the Opposition by calling for snap elections when least expected, as and when it suited its scheme of things. Now it’s in for a surprise!

There is some talk in the air that the Prime Minister may call for a snap election any time he chooses. Others have it that it may be held simultaneously with the Sarawak state elections. Others believe it may be after the Sarawak elections because the Sarawak results will be a barometer of sorts to gauge the popularity of the BN.

But irrespective of whichever reason may prevail and persuade the BN to go for the poll, it is unlikely that in West Malaysia all the states will have elections simultaneously. In the past when Parliament was dissolved, all the states would also dissolve their state assemblies paving the way for general elections at the same time.

This was the advantage the BN enjoyed: take the Opposition by surprise, force nation-wide elections and stretch the meagre resources of the Opposition. The Election Commission can also be relied upon to announce the shortest possible campaign period throwing the Opposition off guard and giving them almost no time to get their act together to contest the elections.

This time such tactics are not going to work anymore. The BN is in for a real surprise when the 13th general election is called for. The Pakatan Rakyat has announced that it will not dissolve their state assemblies to coincide with the dissolution of Parliament. In other words, the states under the control of PR will choose their own timing to hold elections in their states and that too separately from the elections called for by the BN.

For a change, the PR will be at an advantage and the BN will be without its usual advantage. This would mean that Pakatan will mount a full scale onslaught in the BN states to wrest control of them. Marginal seats will receive the full weight of the PR campaigning. PR can go full steam ahead without any fear of having to defend their states while going on the attack in the BN states.

PKFZ Scandal: More Top Guns to be charged?

August 4, 2010

PKFZ Scandal : More Top Guns to be charged?

by Asia Sentinel

The arrest last Friday of veteran politician Dr Ling Liong Sik as the architect of the mismanagement of as much as RM12.45 billion in the botched construction of the Port Klang Free Zone a year after the scandal first broke raises about as many questions as it answers.

The 67-year-old Ling is a former transport minister and president of MCA for 17 years until 2003, the second biggest component in the BN ruling coalition. One of the MCAs most prominent leaders, he was named a Tun by the king, the countrys highest rank in its odd assortment of royalties, roughly equivalent to a British lord. He is believed to be the first Tun ever to be arrested.

Ling was released after he posted RM1 million in bail and pleaded not guilty to charges of deceiving the cabinet over the valuation and purchase of the 400 hectares of land under the port project, which was conceived during the reign of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as a multi-modal project for an international cargo distribution facility modeled on the port of Dubai in the Middle East.

Unofficially, the government overpaid RM720 million for the land, which was assessed by the Valuations Department at RM25 per square foot exclusive of interest although the department had first valued it as inclusive of interest on deferred payment for 10 years.

The big question is why more top politicians havent been charged in connection with the scandal, although according to some reports the attorney-general is preparing charges against other officials.

The cabinet itself belatedly issued guarantees for loan overruns without the approval of the Finance

What was his role on PKFZ?

Ministry, which Mahathir himself headed at the time as finance minister. It remains to be seen if other politicians are to be charged as well.

Although Ling is the fifth person to be charged in connection with the scandal, the others are relatively small functionaries in a project that appeared to be a smorgasbord of opportunity for political figures to dine at leisure.

According to devastating reports by PriceWaterhouseCoopers and the Parliaments Public Accounts Committee, Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, a company controlled by Tiong King Sing, an influential Sarawak lawmaker and chairman of the parliaments Backbenchers Club, acquired the land for only RM3 per square foot. If the Land Acquisition Act had been used, the land could have been purchased for RM10 per square foot.

The UMNO connection

Chan Kong Choy, like Ling a former MCA leader and transport minister and OC Phang, the former general manager of the Port Klang Authority, were found by the Public Accounts Committee earlier to have issued letters of support and undertaking for the project to cover massive loans without the approval of the Finance Ministry, in effect creating the government guarantees for the loans, which resulted in vast cost overruns. Phang was charged several months ago.

Former UMNO Treasurer Azim Zabidi

A flock of UMNO officials were involved in various roles including the partys permanent chairman, Onn Ismail, his son-in-law Faizal Abdullah, the former party treasurer Azim Zabidi and others.

Others named in the PWC report included UMNO officials Abdul Rahman Palil, Abdul Rashad Asari, Omar < span>Latip and Idris Mat Jani, who served in various capacities either with the development cooperative, the supposedly independent surveyor, the law firm advising Kuala Dimensi or as shareholders in allied companies

The fact that only MCA officials have been charged has raised questions in Kuala Lumpur whether Umno is in effect giving up on the most important member of the ruling coalition.

Kuala Dimensi, having acquired the land for the free trade zone, was appointed to develop it as well. That resulted in cost overruns mounting to the hundreds of millions of ringgit. The Dubai-based Jebel Ali Free Zone, originally appointed to manage the port, gave up and pulled out in 2007, allegedly because of interference from politicians and figures with vested interests, deliberate falsification of minutes, attempts at tax evasion by Malaysian negotiators and other issues. It appears that management was so substandard, according to the report, that the port didnt even have revenue or cost projections.

The PAC alleged that although the government had intended the port to be self-financing, Phang, who had headed the port authority since 1997, had issued a letter of undertaking to OSK Securities Bhd stating that the government would remit funds from budget allocations to a special reserve account for the authority.

The port did not have the approval of either the Transport or Finance Ministries. Much of the RM12.45 billion relates to loan obligations rather than the cost overruns. The Public Accounts Committee found a wide range of conflicts of interest involved in decision making.

Perunding BE Sdn Bhd, under the Quantity Surveyor Consortium appointed to determine the port developments actual cost, was also Kuala Dimensis surveyor. The law firm Rashid Asari & Co, which was involved in two of the four development agreements signed between the authority and Kuala Dimensi, was also involved in the sales and purchase of the original land in 199! 5.

The port authority in October filed civil charges against Phang, alleging that she had failed to comply with Treasury guidelines and safeguard PKAs interest when entering into agreements for the construction of the PKFZ project. The authority has also filed a RM920 million lawsuit against Kuala Dimensi and other parties.

See What Barisan Nasional Gotta Say?

Malaysia is dying slow but surely ...

Time is running out for Malaysia's economy

Dr Lim Teck Ghee, CPI

More evidence has just come in that time is running out for the country to get its basics right if the Malaysian economy is to grow at a respectable pace.

According to the United Nations’ World Investment Report 2010, foreign direct investment (FDI) for Malaysia has plunged 81 percent from US$7.32 billion (RM23.47 billion) in 2008 to just US$1.38 billion (RM4.43 billion) last year.

This is further confirmation that despite the many efforts to court foreign investors to invest here, the foreign and local business community is not buying what is being sold to them in terms of the attractiveness of Malaysia as a place to do business.

The latest data must be especially a letdown for Prime Minister Najib Razak who has been active on the international front, attending investor meetings and courting foreign fund managers and foreign business leaders to persuade them to put their money in Malaysia.

There are various important points that we can deduce from the data in the table, and other tables in the report comparing the Malaysia inflows with other countries in the SE Asian region.

o The downturn in FDI is not a one or two year phenomenon but a long term trend. The previous attraction that we had for foreign investors is no longer there, and this is likely to continue in the foreseeable future.

o The trend is not only of diminishing FDIs into Malaysia but for us to do worse than the rest of our neighbors in the region. In 2008 we accounted for 15.5% of FDI flows into SE Asia; in 2009 it was down to 3.7%.

o Short of a complete breakdown in the governments in neighboring countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, we are looking at foreign investors preferring to invest in these countries rather than Malaysia.

o Even if political turmoil and social instability appears to be more pronounced in countries such as Thailand, we are no longer able to compete with them for FDI.

o The outflow of domestic investments is a new trend. This suggests that the country is unable to develop new industries or sustain existing industries to prevent local funds from leaving the country. It also indicates loss of confidence by local business in the country’s economy and politics.


What are some of the implications of this trend of diminished FDI flows?

Obviously, if it is not reversed, it will result in less high quality employment generated. The chain effect is more than just jobs lost for Malaysians. It also means that local suppliers will lose out; services such as catering, transport, etc will have a smaller clientele; and the government will collect less in terms of business and income tax and other taxes. In other words, the country may well end up poorer; much poorer.

Even if local businesses step in to fill some of the gap, they will not be able to make up for the loss. Unlike other countries such as Taiwan or South Korea, few import-substituting domestic industries in Malaysia have become world-class export industries. The undeniable fact is that most world-class exporting firms in Malaysia are foreign-owned or joint-venture ones with foreigners providing the crucial technological and market know-how and cutting edge.

Back to the drawing board on FDIs

What this means is that the country needs to go back to the drawing board if it wants to compete for FDI or even to ensure that domestic investors do not flee the country (as they are already doing in droves).

In the past, we have relied on a range of perks to attract foreign investors including tax-free pioneer status; investment tax allowances; reinvestment allowances, etc. We had also in the 1980s and 90s a head start over countries in attracting FDI due to our superior infrastructure and – at that time – our more competitive labour force.

All this has now been eroded. There is similar tax concessions found all over the world.

Furthermore, our electricity and water utility costs are beginning to soar, and our worker productivity has stagnated in comparison with other countries whilst wages have gone up.

It does not require rocket science to recognize what is holding back investors – whether foreign or local. They include

• NEP requirements and barriers

• Rising costs of production leading to lower profits

• Low levels of efficiency arising from lack of worker skills, poor R&D and low technological capacity


Most damaging of all to business and investor confidence (although not easily quantifiable) is the rising racial and religious ranting from Malay extremists. Although mainly conducted in the Malay media and targeted at Malay audiences, the new wave of emotive breast-thumping (and occasional posturing with the keris) in the name of Malay dominance and Malay unity surely has not gone unnoticed.

Besides reading the internet news portals for a more accurate gauge of what is taking place in the politics and economics of the country, many savvy business leaders keep close tabs on what is put out in the Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian, as well as over the government Malay language electronic media.

Government dithering on NEM

Foreign investors may initially have been encouraged by the launching of the NEM and would have harboured hopes that this would mean a new economic era of liberalization and higher competitiveness for Malaysia.

The NEM has been silent on any mention of the NEP and has called instead for “market friendly”, “merit-based”, “transparent” and “needs-based” policies. Investors would have inferred from the lack of mention of the NEP in the NEM that this 40-year-old socioeconomic policy would finally be laid to rest.

However, like others, they are now nonplussed by the government’s dithering on whether or not to finally abandon this anachronistic policy. They would undoubtedly be especially troubled by the remarkable ability of the Prime Minister to sing a different tune on the subject depending on his audience.

Adding to their worry would be the Prime Minister’s speech at the closing ceremony of the first Malay Consultative Council (MPM) congress held at the PWTC on May 30 where Najib stated that the NEM is a “trial balloon” and the policy has yet to be finalized.

Attaining Vision 2020

In another recent speech, the PM has also begun to back off from his earlier confident claim that the country would be able to achieve Vision 2020 by clarifying that the external economic environment may well derail the achievement of key targets such as per capita income and others.

Of course, foreign investors understand that the external environment, external factors and foreign investors can help the country in its realization of Vision 2020 and the NEM’s goals.

However, I am sure they will beg to differ with the Prime Minister’s assessment of the critical importance of the external environment. Many amongst them will emphasize that it is the internal environment and internal factors – in particular the politicking (and associated rent-seeking) by Umno – that holds the key to the economic fortunes of Malaysia.

Kapan UMNO Akan Menutup Rumah2 Urut di Melaka?

Noh Omar, selaku jurucakap UMNO Selangor, menyalak-nyalak minta rumah2 urut di Selangor ditutup. Soalan saya kepada Noh Omar adalah bilakah rumah2 urut di Melaka akan ditutup sama?

Di bawah adalah gambar2 saya ambil sewaktu saya berada di Melaka satu masa dahulu. Maaf dipohon kerana gambar diambil pada waktu malam. Secara jelasnya, rumah2 urut bersepah di tengah2 Bandar Melaka. Namun, tiada pun UMNO sebuk untuk menutup rumah-rumah urut ini.

Juga, apabila diinspeksi, senarai barisan ADUN2 UMNO di DUN Melaka, dari 28 ADUN, 18 adalah dari UMNO. Ertinya, ADUN UMNO sahaja sudah cukup untuk mendapat majority 2/3 di Dewan Undangan Negeri Melaka. Kalau tidak percaya, sila semak di Laman Rasmi Kerajaan Negeri Melaka.

Malahan, apa yang akan dilakukan oleh UMNO adalah menyediakan sekolah untuk remaja2 yang mengandung akibat zina..

Sia-sia penguasaan "Melayu Islam" anjuran UMNO di Melaka yang berjumlah 2/3 di DUN Melaka. TIADA USAHA yang jelas untuk mengurangkan zina di kalangan remaja. Dari sumber saya di sekolah2 di Melaka, remaja Melaka menghadapi masaalah yang baru, yakni masaalah pelacuran.

Industri pelancngan yang begitu pesat di Melaka telah memberi peluang kepada pelajar2 sekolah di Melaka untuk melacurkan diri mereka, tidak kira lelaki mahupun perempuan. Maka, saya tak terkejut UMNO mahu menyediakan sekolah untuk remaja. Ini kerana, bukan setakat zina menjadi masaalah, pelacuran pun satu masaalah besar di Melaka di kalangan para pelajar.

Melaka adalah contoh betapa sia-sia menyokong UMNO sekiranya kita mahu melihat syariat dan hokum Islam berjalan. Melaka juga membuktikan UMNO tiada niat untuk menjalankan hokum Allah SWT. Bayangkan, majority UMNO 2/3 di DUN Melaka tidak mahu digunakan oleh mereka untuk menjalankan syariat Allah SWT sehingga pelacuran sudah menjadi masaalah di kalangan para pelajar sekolah di Melaka. Akib! atnya, t erpaksa Melaka menyediakan sekolah2 khas untuk pelajar yang mengandung.

Tak payahlah UMNO sebuk di Selangor. Di Melaka tu masaalah kamu lebih teruk walaupun kamu ada majority 2/3 dalam DUN Melaka.

Tulang Besi



















Noh cabar PAS tutup pusat hiburan, rumah urut
Tue, Aug 3, 2010
Dalam Negeri
KAJANG: Timbalan pengerusi Umno Selangor Datuk Noh Omar mencabar kerajaan negeri menutup pusat hiburan dan rumah urut sepanjang Ramadan.
"Pas Selangor perlu mendesak kerajaan negeri menutup pusat berkenaan jika benar-benar memperjuangkan Islam.
"Tindakan ini perlu dilaksanakan oleh Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Tetap Hal Ehwal Islam, Adat Melayu, Infrastruktur dan Kemudahan Awam Selangor, Datuk Dr Hasan Mohamed Ali, sekiranya parti yang memperjuangkan Islam berkenaan betul-betul ikhlas dalam perjuangannya," kata menteri pertanian dan asas tani itu.
Umno, katanya mendesak dan mencabar PAS bertindak segera bagi menghormati bulan mulia itu.
"Buktikan bahawa Pas tidak berada di bawah telunjuk parti komponen lain, khususnya DAP dalam menangani isu ini dan rakyat sendiri boleh menilai sejauh mana keikhlasan Pas dalam memperjuangkan Islam," katanya berceramah selamatkan Selangor di Kajang, semalam.

Menurutnya, Umno sedia berganding bahu sekiranya PAS ingin bersa! ma-saman ya mendesak kerajaan negeri mengeluarkan larangan operasi pusat hiburan sempena Ramadan.
"Kita sedia berganding bahu mengenai perkara ini dan komitmen kita amat jelas tapi kita kurang pasti apakah PAS sanggup berbuat demikian atau lebih suka mengambil sikap berdiam diri demi menjaga kepentingan politik bersama PR.
"Jangan pula disebabkan demi menjaga kepentingan fahaman politik, mereka sanggup mengabaikan perjuangan yang mereka laung dan hebohkan kepada rakyat sebelum ini," katanya.

Letter & Opinion From Joe Public

Justice cant be chained for long

By Terence Netto

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahims speech on Saturday at the closing of the 15th Malaysian Law Conference was entitled Taking justice seriously.

The title was apposite for what is at stake in the Sodomy II trial which resumes today. Thus far the trial has been characterised by the courts unwillingness to grant Anwar certain procedural niceties, resulting in meager due process for him.

Hence the pertinence of the issue of justice on which Anwar held forth at the law conference and its importance to a democracy.

Anwar rehashed arguments he made familiar in speeches in Malaysia and abroad in recent years on the emphasis placed on justice by the great religions of the world and by renowned theorists of secular reason.

Compelling as these arguments are, he expressed skepticism that they would succeed in moving the powers-that-be to steer by them.

Nevertheless, he expressed confidence that the cause of justice would triumph in Malaysia because, quoting the French writer Anatole France, we are right and because reason is on our side.

Perhaps, it would have been useful if Anwar, who read widely in the six years he spent in prison at the end of the first round of his indictment for corruption and sodomy, had brought up a companion theme to the one on Taking justice seriously.

This could have been Taking evil seriously. Certainly, it would have provided a suitable corollary to his meditation on justice.

As one familiar with the writings of Reinhold Niebuhr, one of the 20th centurys more compelling voices on the ineradicable nature of evil, Anwar would have had things to say that would have illumina! ted his chosen theme: the gravity of justice.

Niebuhrs mot juste: Mans capacity for justice makes democracy possible; mans inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary: which was conspicuous by its absence in Anwars musings on justice would have been an irresistible reference point in a meditation on evil, if attempted.

PM, AG no show

After the high drama of his first indictment and jailing on a sodomy charge in 1999 and his exoneration in 2004, it was felt that the second edition of this drama, begun in June 2008, would have had to have something to it otherwise it would be sheer lunacy to reenact the sorry spectacle of the late 1990s.

But something to it has turned out in the course of the actual trial thus far this year to be like the responses to the Bar Councils standard invitations to the prime minister and attorney-general to their biennial law conference: a no-show by the invitees.

A similar no-show of evidence to convict in Sodomy II, should the trial then not eventuate in acquittal, would have made that meditation on evil, as companion to Anwars musings on justice, well-nigh necessary, retrospectively.

They say humanism is baffled by the deliberate will to evil. Fortunately, in Malaysia we have a weapon to counter deliberately imposed maledictions: the ballot box.

The 13th general election would become the counter weapon of choice in the event Sodomy II resembles the late 19th century trial for selling military secrets of the French infantry officer, Alfred Dreyfus, a case Anwar alluded to in his speech to the law conference.

Dreyfus, though initially found guilty and banished to prison, was eventually exonerated. Thereafter French society was never the same.

Filed under: Human rights, Politics Tagged: Anak Sarawak Bangsa Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, Barisan Nasional, corruption, Malaysia Politics, Pakatan Rakyat, Sarawak, Save Sarawak
Letter & Opinion From Joe Public