Walking to own grave

Funeral Ceremony in Toraja

Rambu Soloq (Rites of The Dead of Tana Toraja)

In Toraja society, the funeral ritual is the most elaborate and expensive event.

The ceremony is often held weeks, months, or years after the death so that the deceased's family can raise the significant funds needed to cover funeral expenses. Torajans traditionally believe that death is not a sudden, abrupt event but a gradual process toward Puya (the land of souls, or afterlife). It is based on a strong belief that the soul of the deceased travels to the land of the south and in this land of eternity, he will need all the requisites of everyday life in the hereafter just like when he was alive in this world.
During the waiting period, the body of the deceased is wrapped in several layers of cloth and kept inTongkonan. The soul of the deceased is thought to linger around the village until the funeral ceremony is completed, after which it begins its journey to Puya.In Toraja a person is not considered dead until this last ceremony and the soul is released to the heavens. It is this celebration that is so absorbing.

To Make a Dead Man Walk
the villages of Tana Toraja were still extremely isolated and difficult to visit, certain people had the power to make a dead man walk to his village in order to be present at his own funeral. In this way, relatives of the deceased were spared the necessity of having to carry his corpse. One particular area, Mamasa.



Now that the King had recognized Bersih, the people are definitely going to walk on the 9th July 2011 to the stadium.

So people like Perkasa, UMNO Youth, UMNO gang bang, Silat stupid warriors and 30 Malay NGOs are truly walking to their grave after 9th Jul! y 2011.< /b>

'PSM arrests a harbinger of more repressive acts'

A Hindu rights pressure group has expressed solidarity with Parti Sosialis Malaysia members who were recently detained under the Emergency Ordinance.

Hindraf Makkal Sakti national advisor N Ganesan (left) said the Umno-led government had executed the same action on its members following a rally in 2007, where its lawyers were detained under the Internal Security Act.

He added that July 2, the day of the detention under the draconian law, is another black day like Dec 13, 2007, when Hindraf lawyers were detained.

Umno's gloves are coming off and they are again showing their real selves, Ganesan told Malaysiakini.

They came after Hindraf for daring to challenge them. Today, they are going after PSM for the same reason."

The six detained include Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, who were among 30 people detained at the Sungai Dua toll plaza in Kepala Batas on June 25.

They were initially arrested under Section 122 of the Penal Code for allegedly attempting to 'wage war' against the Agong.

After their remand order expired on June 30, they were re-arrested under Section 2 (1) of the EO.

The police have alleged that the six are suspected to be involved with foreign elements and have subversive tendencies.

The arrests are part of a nation-wide dragnet against campaigners of a mammoth rally, dubbed Bersih 2.0, planned for Saturday in Kuala Lumpur.

Organisers of the rally planned to submit a memorandum to the Agong to demand electoral reforms.

! 'In cont ravention of constitution'

Ganesan said Umno's action was in absolute contravention of the federal constitution and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Article 10 of the federal constitution unequivocally states that every citizen has the right to freedom of speech and expression, to assemble peaceably and without arms and has the right to form associations.

However, Malaysia is increasingly being run against the will of the people in flagrant contravention of the supreme document, said Ganesan.

He added that Umno is violating all the provisions for citizens' fundamental rights in that document and they are doing it with impunity.

The inspector-general of police, home affairs minister and the prime minister are all complicit in this and many other blatant violations of the federal constitution against the wishes of the people.

Brute force is being applied to simply promote and protect the interests of Umno, he said.

Ganesan said he suspects that these moves may be harbinger of more drastic repressive action in the coming days.

In saying so, he urged the government to immediately release all the PSM activists detained and desist from further repressive acts in blatant violation of the constitution.

He added that the Umno government must abide by all the provisions of the constitution as the party is not above the law.

If Umno does not take heed of this call, the party bears responsibility for making Malaysia a lawless nation, he stressed.

Bersih 2.0: Winners and losers

So it is settled, after weeks of harassment and thuggish behaviour by the government, the people for free and fair elections will gather in a stadium on July 9.

This episode has once again demonstrated how fractious and divided Malaysia is with enlightened and liberal Malaysia on one side and almost facist powers on the other.

Some individuals emerge from this episode with reputations intact, others with image destroyed forever. The Malaysian Insider gives our take on the winners and losers.

Winners

The organisers of Bersih: lets be honest, until a few weeks ago this was a movement at the periphery of most Malaysians. Okay, so some 100,000 people would have marched on the streets on KL. But thanks to the government's blanket arrests, use of draconian laws and decision to behave like a repressive regime, Bersih became a buzzword. Much to the governments chagrin, everyone has forgotten about Datuk T, all the wonderful projects under the ETP. Today, people remember Bersih as the people fighting for clean and fair elections, and the Barisan Nasional (BN) government as the people frightened of free and fair elections.

Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan: She was called names by the prime minister and threatened with having her citizenship revoked by the Malacca chief minister and was under severe pressure from the police and security agencies. But the former Bar Council president did not lose her cool or become rabid like her detractors. She stayed the course and was always civil. Maybe our politicians should take a leaf out of her book.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong: his measured last-min! ute inte rvention gave the government and Bersih face-saving escape routes from confrontation. This is what Malaysians expect of the monarchy: for them to be honest brokers, not mouthpieces for the ruling party. In all likelihood he was asked by the government to issue the statement on Sunday but it does appear that he was unwilling to demonise Bersih.

Malaysian public: in the wake of all this talk of riots and tension, the man in the street was unmoved and unconvinced by the fairytale stories of communist plots and Christian funding a sure sign that the governed are more mature than the government.

Losers

Datuk Seri Najib Razak: he has now agreed to meet Bersih leaders to discuss the venue for their rally. One has to ask why as the PM he did not engage the activists but instead he allowed them to be demonised by his Umno party. The mishandling of the issue also allowed Malaysias image to be tarnished and undid a lot of good work done by good men in the administration. He allowed the hardliners in government and his party to call the shots when he should have been leading from the front.

Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein: where does one start with this major disappointment of a minister? He left many stumped by his illogical statements and his John Le Carre scenarios. He has ambitions of becoming the countrys prime minister. After this performance it is arguable whether he is the best person for the home ministry portfolio.

Datuk Ibrahim Ali: he has been at the forefront of the attacks against Ambiga and Bersih. And he has also tried to turn the issue into one of race, to protect Malay rights. But it became abundantly cl! ear that Bersih 2.0 had the support of many Malaysians from different races. It was not about race after all but the issue of free and fair elections.

The PDRM: the police have made a mockery of the law by arresting people for wearing T-shirts. While it is arguable whether preventive action and detention should still be allowed, arresting people for wearing T-shirts was a ridiculous act. Continuing to detain people under the Emergency Ordinance over the rally is also a classic case of abusing the law. In the end the police should remember that if a permit was granted the rally would not have been illegal. The police must not act as if the country is under siege from its own citizens.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

VIOLENCE DURING WALK: Who benefits?

Firstly, BERSIH 2.0 committee should be congratulated on their wisdom of accepting the offer to have a gathering in a stadium. An offer which I believe was proposed by the RMP several weeks ago and probably reinforced following Ambiga meeting at the palace. The joke is there is now a precedent where an outlaw society is allowed to do a demo legally in Malaysia. This would probably be the first in Malaysia. Whatever it is, people would still be wearing yellow t-shirt to the stadium when they leave their houses i.e. BERSIH will still walk! J LOL

From the onset, BERSIH has been advocating a peaceful walk but BN component parties, independent MPs and instant noodles NGOs has been threatening openly on the use of violence. In fact, the government political leaders has been suggesting and threatening the possibility of violence. Could it be that BN (or maybe Najib) actually wanted the violence and to invoke emergency and instituted control by using MAGERAN? Having such control for an undefined period would be an advantage to BN. It would send the entire opposition politician their political coffin.

When communism theory came out, many laugh. Today, Malaysiakini reported that the police found weapons and BERSIH t-shirts at several locations in Kuala Lumpur, many more laugh in an explosive manner. From what was written, I believe the item was hidden in such a manner for it to be found! There is no motive for BERSIH to do that comparing with groups who had threatened violence. Isnt there a strong possibility that the whole thing was planted to blame BERSIH? The KL Deputy CPO said that the suspect was using a silver Proton Waja. Isnt the police working cars (other than patrol cars) are silver Waja? I think he jump into the conclusion bit too early.

There are many ways to hide weapons without being found. For e.g. the easiest wou! ld be in vehicles with phony number plates that is parked strategically all over the city hours before the event. Without more evidence, I would say this is set up and based on the picture of the weapons; I believe all the parang came from the same shop. As for the T-shirt someone better check the police evidence room to see if all the confiscated T-shirts past week are still there. J

My conclusion is that any violence would not benefit BERSIH either in the short term or the long term and I dont think they are reviving communism. If there is chaos, the probability is that it is caused by BN because they want it badly!

SAMM menerima baik dengan keputusan Saketeriat Pemandu BERSIH 2

Awal petang ini Seketeriat BERSIH 2 telah mengadap DYMM SPB YDPA di Istana Negara. Pertemuan yang amat bermakna ini menunjukkan betapa prihatin Tuanku mengenai tuntutan BERSIH dan pengiktirafan Duli Tuanku terhadap usaha BERSIH mendesak penambahbaikan proses pilihanraya dalam negara. Ini merupakan satu tamparan hebat kepada regim yang begitu sombong dan lansung tidak mahu berbincang serta memburu aktivis BERSIH seperti tidak punya hak warga lansung.

Seperti yang dinyatakan dalam kenyataan SAMM sebelum ini yang mencadangkan agar Seketeriat BERSIH menerima baik titah Tuanku dan menerima cabaran Najib untuk Himpunan diadakan di stadium. Selepas keluar dari Istana tadi Dato' Ambiga memberitahu bahawa Himpunan BERSIH tetap tidak dibatalkan. Sebaliknya Stadium akan dijadikan sebagai tempat berkumpul. Kita akan buktikan kita mampu aman dan bukan bertujuan menjatuhkan kerajaan.

Kini semua tertumpu kepada regim penguasa adakah mereka benar berani membenarkan dibuat secara aman tanpa gangguan di Stadium ataupun sebenarnya mereka takutkan ialah tuntutan untuk pilihanraya itu diadakan secara bersih dan adil.

SAMM mencadangkan Seketeriat BERSIH segera menyatakan persetujuan ini secara rasmi terus kepada Najib (selaku PM) dan sepupunya Hishamuddin (selaku Menteri KDN) dengan syarat, Stadium Negara harus dijadikan lokasi. Jika tidak pun Dataran Merdeka. Himpunan mesti bebas gangguan polis. Serentak dengan pengiktirafan ini semua tekanan dan hambatan kepada aktivis BERSIH harus dihentikan. Semua yang ditahan harus dibebaskan dan semua pendakwaan berkaitan BERSIH dua harus digugurkan.

Aktivis bebas memakai baju atau apa saja warna kuning. pada hari tersebut Kuala Lumpur tidak seharusnya dikepung seperti 'zon perang'. Semua aktivis BERSIH harus dibenarkan masuk secara aman ke kawasan tempat dimana perhimpunan setuju diadakan. Tak kisahlah naik bas, naik motorsikal, basikal atau berjalan kaki.

Kepada aktivis dan anak muda seluruh negara, SAMM yakin tentu akan ada yang berasa kecewa atau ! rendah s emangat hasil pengumuman ini. Namun yakinlah keputusan ini sebenarnya banyak hikmahnya. Buruan akan dihentikan, jalan menuju Kuala Lumpur akan terbuka luas. Ayuh kita buktikan himpunan pasti akan lebih 100,000 orang ini aman dan isunya ialah desakan pilihanraya bebas dan adil. Tunjukkan kita matang politik.

Mana penguasa zalim pun pasti akan terkencing dan menggigil ketakutan bila mendengar laungan hampir 200, 000 orang nanti. Ayuh semua SAMM faham sedikit kekecewaan semua tetapi ambil kesempatan ini untuk menunjukkan protes rakyat terbesar dalam sejarah negara ini. Pasti regim tidak boleh lagi mengatakan mereka mewakili majoriti dan mula belajar mendengar desakan rakyat.

Mengenai jaminan semua akan aman sebelum dan selepas itu sememangnya sedari awal sudah diberikan jaminan oleh penganjur. BERSIH 2007 pasti akan aman, satu pokok bunga pun tidak akan patah kalau polis tidak mengganas.

Kali ini petugas yang cukup dan jauh lebih bersedia telah disediakan demi memastikan semuanya aman dan fokus tertumpu kepada tuntutan pilihanraya bebas dan adil. SAMM seru semua khususnya anak muda untuk bersama di Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur 9Julai nanti. Masa dan tarikh tidak berubah cuma tempat akan diumumkan nanti.

che'GuBard
Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia
5 Julai 2011, 6.38 petang

Jumpa senjata dan dikaitkan dengan BERSIH satu jenaka baru

Polis merampas 20 bilah parang, 36 botol bom petrol dan sejumlah bebola besi dalam serbuan di belakang tokong Cina di Batu 14, Jalan Gombak Lama dekat Shah Alam, malam semalam.

Utusan Malaysia Online dalam laporannya menyebut rampasan itu disyaki berkaitan perhimpunan Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (BERSIH), Sabtu ini.

Akhbar milik Umno itu juga memetik Ketua Polis Selangor, Datuk Tun Hisan Hamzah berkata, taktik digunakan oleh mereka terlibat sama dengan golongan komunis semasa zaman darurat.

Dalam serbuan itu, polis turut menemui 44 baju T berlambang BERSIH 2.0 dan sejumlah lilitan kepala berwarna merah serta kuning yang semuanya disimpan di dalam lima buah beg pakaian dan dua beg plastik.

Sabtu lalu ahli parlimen Sungai Siput Dr D Michael Jeyakumar dan lima anggota Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) ditangkap semula di bawah Ordinan Darurat (EO).

Timbalan Ketua Polis Negara, Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakarberkata penahanan itu adalah kerana mengikut maklumat awal, mereka dikatakan terbabit dengan pihak dari luar negara dan telah diresapi anasir subversif.

Kita tidak menolak kemungkinan penemuan baju T Bersih bersama bahan letupan dan senjata adalah baju T yang sama dirampas sepanjang minggu lalu. Langsung tak masuk akal kalau penyokong Bersih yang lakukan. Himpunan yang dianjurkan tidak ada kena mengena langsung dengan aktiviti keganasan.

Mengulas laporan media hari ini pula mengenai penemuan empat bahan letupan molotov coktail yang diletakkan dalam plastik hitam di Jalan Raja Laut.

Turut ditemui bersama beberapa senjata tajam seperti pisau dan parang serta 15 mercun bola dan baju T tertera perkataan Bersih yang dibungkus dalam plastik hitam dan diletakkan dalam pasu bunga di belakang pusat beli-belah Sogo.

Laporan media itu turut menyebut rakaman CCTV mengenalpasti kenderaan yang dipakai dan nombor plat kereta pelakunya.

Kami menuntut polis membuat siasatan dan mendedahkan identiti penjenayah. Ini tindakan yang tidak bertanggung! jawab.

Manakala pada satu serbuan di belakang tokong Cina di Batu 14 Jalan Gombak Lama dekat Shah Alam, media melaporkan polis merampas 20 bilah parang, 36 botol bom petrol dan sejumlah bebola besi.

Polis turut menemui 44 baju T berlambang BERSIH 2.0 dan sejumlah lilitan kepala berwarna merah serta kuning yang semuanya disimpan di dalam lima buah beg pakaian dan dua beg plastik.

Rakyat Malaysia diseru untuk membuat penilaian secara waras berdasarkan laporan yang dibuat media arus perdana.

Saya yakin rakyat Malaysia berfikiran matang dan mampu membuat pertimbangan wajar. Penerangan kami jelas iaitu mahukan sistem pilihan raya yang bebas dan adil.

Sepanjang kempen dan ceramah penerangan Bersih, tiada wujud langsung saranan untuk membuat kekacauan. Bahkan kita menasihatkan orang ramai untuk patuh kepada undang-undang. Anehnya pihak pemuda Umno dan Perkasa yang sering menggunakan cara provokasi membakar api perkauman. Hasilnya aktivis Bersih dijadikan musuh tetapi polis melindungi hampir kesemua ugutan dan provokasi Pemuda Umno dan Perkasa.

Masih ingat dengan Peristiwa Sauk di Perak tahun 2000? Satu gerombolan tawan kem askar dan larikan senjata dengan tiga pacuan 4 roda. Pas telah difitnah dikaitkan dengan peristiwa tersebut.

Kini setelah pemakai baju kuning ditangkap , pencetak baju kuning direman dan ditertawakan di seluruh dunia kini Bersih 2.0 dikaitkan pula dengan senjata dan bom petrol. Perkara ini akan berterusan bagi menghalalkan apa juga tindakan regim bagi mensenyapkan suara rakyat.

Bersih 2.0 rally in stadium after audience with the King...

Following a meeting with the Agong this afternoon, Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said the NGO coalition has agreed to hold its rally in a stadium.Met outside the national palace after an audience with Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara, Ambiga said the coalition "will cooperate with the government and accept their offer to have the event in a stadium".

"Therefore, the rally on the street will not take place." The movement does not yet know which stadium will be used. This will be announced at a later date.

"We are very grateful for the (audience with the Agong) and will accept the government offer," Ambiga added.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had earlier proposed that Bersih holds its demonstration in a stadium rather than on the streets of Kuala Lumpur. Asked whether the decision reflects a compromise on the part of Bersih, Ambiga said it was, given the circumstances.

Ambiga, Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Zaid Kamaruddin and national laurate A Samad Said had arrived at the Istana Negara gates about 1.55pm.

The trio had earlier refused comment when approached.

Yesterday, Bersih 2.0 submitted a formal request for an audience during which they intend to explain the movement's position and seek the Agong's advice on the rally. Bersih 2.0 had requested for the audience because the Agong had issued a special statement on Sunday night.

The Agong had said that, while it is incumbent on the government to fulfill its responsibilities in a "just and wise manner", street demonstrations would bring more harm than good, even if the original intention is good.

Setelah mengadap Seri Paduka Yang di-Pertuan Agong hari ini, BERSIH 2.0 bersedia mengadakan perhimpunan menuntut pilihan raya bersih dan adil di dalam stadium.

Bagaimanapun setakat ini belum ditentukan stadium mana yang akan digunakan tetapi tarikh pada 9 Julai ini tidak berubah.

Jawatankuasa itu yang terdiri daripada pengerusi BERSIH Datuk S Ambiga, Sasterawan Negara Datuk A Samad Said dan presiden Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) Zaid Kamaruddin mengadap Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin di Istana Negara, petang tadi.

Menurut Ambiga, pada sidang media selepas pertemuan itu, pihak jawatankuasa BERSIH 2.0 berjanji memberikan kerjasama kepada pihak berkuasa. Ditanya wartawan sama ada tindakan itu satu bentuk tolak ansur, Ambiga menjawap 'Ya".

Sebelum ini, sumber yang rapat dengan pihak penganjur, memberitahu Malaysiakini tidak ada ahli politik yang menyertai pertemuan berkenaan. Sejak jam 1.30 petang, ketiga-tiga pemimpin itu menunggu di pondok pengawal menanti untuk masuk sebelum dibenarkan berbuat demikian pada jam 1.55 petang tadi. Kira-kira 15 anggota polis bertugas mengawal keselamatan di pintu masuk Istana negara.

Ahad lalu, Seri Paduka bertitah dalam keghairahan sebahagian rakyat berpolitik bagi menyuburkan demokrasi dalam negara, mereka diminta supaya tidak menjadikan tuntutan demokrasi itu membawa kemusnahan kepada negara.

Tuanku Mizan juga menyeru pihak kerajaan agar melaksanakan segala amanah yang diberikan kepada rakyat secara adil dan bijaksana. Titah Seri Paduka, baginda selaku Yang di-Pertuan Agong tidak mahu melihat negara bermasyarakat majmuk ini berada di dalam keadaan bermusuhan sesama sendiri ataupun sebahagian rakyatnya bermusuh dengan kerajaan atas apa jua alasan pun.

! Sehubung an dengan titah itu, Ambiga berkata gabungan BERSIH 2.0 yang terdiri daripada lebih 60 NGO, akan menghantar permohonan untuk mengadap Seri Paduka.

source:malaysiakini

Ambiga: Bersih to rally in stadium, not on streets

Ambiga: Himpunan Bersih 9 Julai diteruskan, tapi di stadium

cheers.

Bersih 2.0 rally in stadium...

Following a meeting with the Agong this afternoon, Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said the NGO coalition has agreed to hold its rally in a stadium.Met outside the national palace after an audience with Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara, Ambiga said the coalition "will cooperate with the government and accept their offer to have the event in a stadium".

"Therefore, the rally on the street will not take place." The movement does not yet know which stadium will be used. This will be announced at a later date.

"We are very grateful for the (audience with the Agong) and will accept the government offer," Ambiga added.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had earlier proposed that Bersih holds its demonstration in a stadium rather than on the streets of Kuala Lumpur. Asked whether the decision reflects a compromise on the part of Bersih, Ambiga said it was, given the circumstances.

Ambiga, Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Zaid Kamaruddin and national laurate A Samad Said had arrived at the Istana Negara gates about 1.55pm.

The trio had earlier refused comment when approached.

Yesterday, Bersih 2.0 submitted a formal request for an audience during which they intend to explain the movement's position and seek the Agong's advice on the rally. Bersih 2.0 had requested for the audience because the Agong had issued a special statement on Sunday night.

The Agong had said that, while it is incumbent on the government to fulfill its responsibilities in a "just and wise manner", street demonstrations would bring more harm than good, even if the original intention is good.

Setelah mengadap Seri Paduka Yang di-Pertuan Agong hari ini, BERSIH 2.0 bersedia mengadakan perhimpunan menuntut pilihan raya bersih dan adil di dalam stadium.

Bagaimanapun setakat ini belum ditentukan stadium mana yang akan digunakan tetapi tarikh pada 9 Julai ini tidak berubah.

Jawatankuasa itu yang terdiri daripada pengerusi BERSIH Datuk S Ambiga, Sasterawan Negara Datuk A Samad Said dan presiden Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) Zaid Kamaruddin mengadap Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin di Istana Negara, petang tadi.

Menurut Ambiga, pada sidang media selepas pertemuan itu, pihak jawatankuasa BERSIH 2.0 berjanji memberikan kerjasama kepada pihak berkuasa. Ditanya wartawan sama ada tindakan itu satu bentuk tolak ansur, Ambiga menjawap 'Ya".

Sebelum ini, sumber yang rapat dengan pihak penganjur, memberitahu Malaysiakini tidak ada ahli politik yang menyertai pertemuan berkenaan. Sejak jam 1.30 petang, ketiga-tiga pemimpin itu menunggu di pondok pengawal menanti untuk masuk sebelum dibenarkan berbuat demikian pada jam 1.55 petang tadi. Kira-kira 15 anggota polis bertugas mengawal keselamatan di pintu masuk Istana negara.

Ahad lalu, Seri Paduka bertitah dalam keghairahan sebahagian rakyat berpolitik bagi menyuburkan demokrasi dalam negara, mereka diminta supaya tidak menjadikan tuntutan demokrasi itu membawa kemusnahan kepada negara.

Tuanku Mizan juga menyeru pihak kerajaan agar melaksanakan segala amanah yang diberikan kepada rakyat secara adil dan bijaksana. Titah Seri Paduka, baginda selaku Yang di-Pertuan Agong tidak mahu melihat negara bermasyarakat majmuk ini berada di dalam keadaan bermusuhan sesama sendiri ataupun sebahagian rakyatnya bermusuh dengan kerajaan atas apa jua alasan pun.

! Sehubung an dengan titah itu, Ambiga berkata gabungan BERSIH 2.0 yang terdiri daripada lebih 60 NGO, akan menghantar permohonan untuk mengadap Seri Paduka.

source:malaysiakini

Ambiga: Bersih to rally in stadium, not on streets

Ambiga: Himpunan Bersih 9 Julai diteruskan, tapi di stadium

cheers.

Malaysian King Makes Rare Thrust Into Politics...

Malaysia's king made an unusual foray into the nation's volatile political field by urging pro-democracy activists and political leaders to settle their differences before a major protest rally planned for later this week. It was unclear whether the gesture would be enough to ease mounting tensions ahead of possible early elections.

The protesters Monday said they were reassessing whether to hold their July 9 march, organized to publicize demands for equal media coverage for all election candidates and for other electoral reforms, such as halting the past practice of people voting multiple times.

Police say they have arrested about 220 activists over the past week. They include six arrested twicethe second time Saturdayunder an Emergency Ordinance that allows them to be held for 60 days without charge. All are under investigation for plotting to overthrow the government and monarchysome for wearing Che Guevara T-shirts, which are widely sold in street markets across Malaysiaand are popular among young tourists.

The group came under official scrutiny for demanding reforms in anticipation of elections being called by Prime Minister Najib Razak. Fresh elections are required under Malaysian law by spring 2013, but many analysts expect the prime minister to call them much earlier.

Malaysia's constitutional monarch, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, on Sunday issued a rare statement asking both sides to step back from the brink of a broader conflict. Although his official powers are limited, the kingwho carries the title yang di-pertuan agong in Malay, or His Royal Highness is seen by some residents as the highest embodiment of Malay political supremacy, adding weight to his advice.

"The fact is, street demonstrations bring! more ha rm than good," he said. "Instead, we should focus on our main objective to develop this country, and not create problems that will cause the country to lag behind."

Malaysia's predominantly Muslim Malay authorities call the proposed march an illegal act and argue that a multiethnic alliance of opposition parties is attempting to use it to bolster their momentumahead of the vote. Police officials have refused to provide permission for the demonstration to be held.

"Those who love rioting and chaos will take advantage of the situation. This is what we want to avoid," Prime Minister Najib said Monday, according to Malaysia's state-run news agency. He also said the government is willing to let protesters rally at a stadium instead of staging a march though the streets of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's main city.

This multiethnic country has become increasingly fractured along racial lines in recent years, with the ruling National Front losing ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indian voters to a broad-based opposition alliance. Economic problems are also beginning to grow, with inflation recently hitting its highest level in two years.

A rival group known as Perkasa, which is pro-ethnic Malay, is planning a counter-demonstration on July 9, stirring fears of clashes.

On Saturday, the government outlawed the organization behind the initial demonstrationBersih, or "clean"which isn't officially registered. Bersih claims it is a coalition of existing registered organizations.

continue reading here.

source:WSJ

Daripada Tangguh Baik Terima Tawaran Najib?

cheers.

Bernama Has A Bizarre Sense Of Humour

The guiding light of the true journalist: accuracy.

Now this is ironic because Bernama almost NEVER reports any bit of news
accurately, at least where politics is concerned.

Big Thank You

From the hearts of all Malaysians, we wish to say a BIG THANK YOU to the Agong for granting Bersih an audience.

Thank you, thank you.

Grow up and work with Bersih, Najib

By Jeswan Kaur, FMT

An innocent intention to undertake a walk for democracy has got Barisan Nasional, the police, the National Fatwa Council, the Election Commission, the bogeyman of Umno and even a silat grandmaster going hysterical, to the extent of willing to cause hurt to organisers and participants of the Bersih 2.0 rally.

July 9 has become a date synonymous with anarchy and hidden agenda, as far as Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is trying so very hard to imply.

Looks like the impact made by the inaugural Bersih rally on Nov 10, 2007, still haunts Umno. It was said to have attracted between 30,000 to 50,000 people and played a major role in helping the opposition parties win big in the 2008 general election.

The 2007 rally was intercepted by the police using tear gas and chemical-laced water cannons.

Four years later, Bersih 2.0 is going on another rally, on July 9. The aim, as far as its chief S Ambiga is concerned is to clean up the electoral system, to ensure elections are conducted in a just manner.

Still, Bersih 2.0 failed to realise that the heartburn the 2007 rally caused Umno never went away. This explains the hysteria behind Najibs actions this time around to leave nothing to chance, to ensure July 9 favours his leadership as the premier.

All means are being deployed by the Najib administration to ensure the July 9 rally never sees the light of the day. Participants of Saturdays Walk for Democracy are being harassed and hounded with threats of imprisonment, including using the Internal Security Act draconian law against the organisers.

The truth however is that the walk, organised by election watchdog Bersih 2.0 is a cry for clean and fair elections, which to BN and Umno is asking for the impossible, hence all attempts by Umno to thwart the spirits of all those behind the rally.

What however is unforgiving is the way the police treated the 30 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) act! ivists d etained in Kepala Batas, Penang, while campaigning for their Udahlah Bersaralah (Enough already Retire Now) roadshow campaign.

PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan said the 30 were not campaigning for the Bersih 2.0 July 9 rally.

Arutchelvan said the police was mistreating the Hindu detainees, giving them beef to eat, knowing fully well eating beef goes against their religious belief .

People first truth or fallacy

Now, with all the rantings about national unity and harmony by Najib, what does he, the Penang police chief Ayub Yaakob, Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar and Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein have to say about the police brutality being carried out towards the PSM activists detained in what is seen as Najibs way of sending a message to Bersih 2.0 chief, lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan.

The detainees were denied visitation rights, visits by their lawyers, proper medical care and treatment and also basic items like toothpaste and soap.

READ MORE HERE.

Agong perlu minta Najib terima tuntutan rakyat, kata Teras...

Teras Pengupayaan Melayu (Teras) meminta perkenan Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin agar meminta Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak menimbangkan lapan tuntutan dibuat rakyat melalui Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih).

Presidennya Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid berkata pihaknya memohon Yang di-Pertuan Agong untuk menerima rayuan dan aduan rakyat yang menuntut transformasi dalam sistem pilihan raya negara.

Kepincangan yang berlaku dalam proses demokrasi yang terpenting dalam negara iaitu pilihan raya telah menyebabkan rakyat tidak puas hati dan menuntut perubahan, semua tuntutan itu tertera di bawah lapan tuntutan yang dibawa Bersih.

Teras berpendirian Yang di-Pertuan Agong mempunyai kuasa dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan untuk menerima aduan rakyat dan dan mengarahkan Perdana Menteri untuk menimbangkan permintaan rakyat yang sesuai dengan Perlembagaan Persekutuan itu sendiri, katanya dalam satu kenyataan.

Kata beliau, Yang di-Pertuan Agong mempunyai kuasa untuk menerima rayuan rakyat dan rakyat berhak menyampaikan hasrat kepada ketua negara.

Keresahan rakyat mengenai pelbagai hal yang sedang berlaku dalam negara adalah alasan kukuh untuk tuntutan perubahan segera dilakukan.

Bukan sahaja salah guna kuasa dan penyelewengan sangat berleluasa dilakukan oleh pihak yang meneraju kerajaan Persekutuan malah pelbagai fungsi agensi pemerintah telah dieskploitasi untuk kepentingan politik bagi mengekalkan kuasa, katanya.

Kelmarin Yang di-Pertuan Agong bertitah agar setiap permasalahan yang timbul dalam isu semasa merujuk kepada tuntutan Bersih 2.0 diselesaikan secara rundingan dan tidak mengikut perasaan. Baginda juga menyeru kepada pihak kerajaan aga! r melaks anakan segala amanah yang diberikan secara adil dan bijaksana dan yang pentingnya.

Hakikatnya demonstrasi jalanan banyak membawa keburukan daripada kebaikan walaupun niat asalnya baik, titah baginda.

Malah Tuanku Mizan bertitah rakyat harus menumpukan kepada matlamat utama memajukan negara, bukannya mencipta masalah yang membuat negara berada terkebelakang.

Pengerusi Bersih Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, pihaknya berhasrat untuk menghadap baginda sebelum Sabtu ini dan bersedia membatalkan perhimpunan jika diminta berbuat demikian. Ambiga menambah Bersih 2.0 akan menulis kepada Istana Negara untuk meminta perkenan diadakan satu pertemuan dengan Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Lapan tuntutan Bersih adalah agar Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) membersihkan senarai undi, mereformasikan undi pos, gunakan dakwat kekal, akses media yang bebas dan adil, tempoh kempen minimum 21 hari, diperkukuhkan institusi awam, hentikan rasuah dan hentikan politik kotor.

Baca seterusnya di sini.

source:malaysian insider

cheers.

5 steps to ease Bersih crisis by professors

Press statement by concerned academicians

We, the undersigned academicians, wish to express our concern at the deepening political crisis in the country. It is unfortunate that such a crisis is emerging out of a legitimate campaign, initiated by a large number of non-governmental organizations, to institute reforms through their campaign, Bersih, to ensure the conduct of truly free and fair elections in Malaysia.

Since the pursuit of such a campaign is undeniably noble, and timely, we are extremely perturbed that the government has resorted to harsh measures and use of draconian legislation to prevent the organizers from mounting a public rally. We see the need for the leaders of Bersih to persist with dialogue with the bodies responsible for overseeing free and fair elections. However, we also appreciate the argument by the campaigns leaders that such an assembly is necessary since discussions have long taken place, with little progress thus the need for the government to take serious heed of the campaigns recommendations for free and fair elections for which there is considerable support from the countrys citizenry.

We note too that public assemblies and marches in support of causes that have attracted widespread public concern are a common feature of all democratic systems. They are a legitimate expression of the freedom and rights of the citizens of a country. A government that uses the laws, institutions and resources of the state to suppress or repress such activities undermines its own credibility and claim to practicing democracy. The actions of the Government to curb this Bersih campaign will only hurt public perception of the Governments commitment to the freedoms enshrined in the Federal Constitution. Further actions such as the use of the Emergency Ordinance on Bersih supporters will only result in the enhanced perception of a government that re! fuses to institute free and fair elections for fear of losing power, an impression we are certain the government does not want to create.

We urge the following steps to resolve the crisis and restore public confidence in the Governments ability to govern the country fairly and justly.

1. Release all political activists held under the Emergency
Ordinance.

2. Drop all charges against those arrested by the police for Bersih-related offences.

3. Permit Bersih the right to a peaceful march, if the organizers decide to do so. All other public marches should be allowed but with the timing and routes agreed to in advance to prevent any untoward consequences

4. Both Government and Opposition parties, as well as NGOs, to commit their supporters participating in marches and other public assemblies to a code of peaceful and civil conduct

5. Assurance by the relevant authorities that serious consideration is being given to ensure free and fair elections in the country.

Signatories
Associate Prof. Dr. Andrew Aeria
Associate Prof. Dr. Azmi Sharom
Dr. Christopher Chong
Associate Prof. Dr. Sharmani Gabriel
Prof. Terence Gomez
Prof. Lim Teck Ghee
Prof. Francis Loh
Dr. Ooi Kee Beng
Janet Pillai
Dr. Johan Saravanamuttu
Prof. Tan Sooi Beng
Associate Prof. Dr. Yeoh Seng Guan
Prof. Diana Wong

KUALA LUMPUR, 5 July 2011

Filed under: Journalism

5 steps to ease Berish crisis by professors

Press statement by concerned academicians

We, the undersigned academicians, wish to express our concern at the deepening political crisis in the country. It is unfortunate that such a crisis is emerging out of a legitimate campaign, initiated by a large number of non-governmental organizations, to institute reforms through their campaign, Bersih, to ensure the conduct of truly free and fair elections in Malaysia.

Since the pursuit of such a campaign is undeniably noble, and timely, we are extremely perturbed that the government has resorted to harsh measures and use of draconian legislation to prevent the organizers from mounting a public rally. We see the need for the leaders of Bersih to persist with dialogue with the bodies responsible for overseeing free and fair elections. However, we also appreciate the argument by the campaigns leaders that such an assembly is necessary since discussions have long taken place, with little progress thus the need for the government to take serious heed of the campaigns recommendations for free and fair elections for which there is considerable support from the countrys citizenry.

We note too that public assemblies and marches in support of causes that have attracted widespread public concern are a common feature of all democratic systems. They are a legitimate expression of the freedom and rights of the citizens of a country. A government that uses the laws, institutions and resources of the state to suppress or repress such activities undermines its own credibility and claim to practicing democracy. The actions of the Government to curb this Bersih campaign will only hurt public perception of the Governments commitment to the freedoms enshrined in the Federal Constitution. Further actions such as the use of the Emergency Ordinance on Bersih supporters will only result in the enhanced perception of a government that refuses to institute free and fair elections for fear of losing power, an impression we are certain the government does ! not want to create.

We urge the following steps to resolve the crisis and restore public confidence in the Governments ability to govern the country fairly and justly.

1. Release all political activists held under the Emergency
Ordinance.

2. Drop all charges against those arrested by the police for Bersih-related offences.

3. Permit Bersih the right to a peaceful march, if the organizers decide to do so. All other public marches should be allowed but with the timing and routes agreed to in advance to prevent any untoward consequences

4. Both Government and Opposition parties, as well as NGOs, to commit their supporters participating in marches and other public assemblies to a code of peaceful and civil conduct

5. Assurance by the relevant authorities that serious consideration is being given to ensure free and fair elections in the country.

Signatories
Associate Prof. Dr. Andrew Aeria
Associate Prof. Dr. Azmi Sharom
Dr. Christopher Chong
Associate Prof. Dr. Sharmani Gabriel
Prof. Terence Gomez
Prof. Lim Teck Ghee
Prof. Francis Loh
Dr. Ooi Kee Beng
Janet Pillai
Dr. Johan Saravanamuttu
Prof. Tan Sooi Beng
Associate Prof. Dr. Yeoh Seng Guan
Prof. Diana Wong

KUALA LUMPUR, 5 July 2011

Filed under: Journalism

Our affairs Down Under have never been cozier

Bribe probe hits former Malay PM
Nick McKenzie and Richard Baker
July 5, 2011

The Reserve Bank of Australia's banknote firms are suspected of attempting to bribe former Malaysian prime minister Abdullah Badawi in order to get his help to win a $31 million currency contract.

Mr Abdullah is one of a several highly influential Malaysian political figures whom anti-corruption authorities believe Securency and Note Printing Australia firms respectively half and fully owned and overseen by Australia's reserve bank allegedly sought to bribe using part of $4.2 million in commission payments made to two Malaysian middlemen.

Malaysian sources confirmed to The Age that the Australian Federal Police have gathered information about attempts to bribe Mr Abdullah by Securency and Note Printing Australia, which are respectively half and fully owned and overseen by the RBA.

The Age sought comment from Mr Abdullah last night.

Read more here.

[Brought to my attention by Henry Cheong]

Some rights reserved Antares/Magick RiverYou may borrow and/or modify content for your own blog but please credit and backlink, thanks.

Grow up and work with Bersih, Najib

An innocent intention to undertake a walk for democracy has got Barisan Nasional, the police, the National Fatwa Council, the Election Commission, the bogeyman of Umno and even a silat grandmaster going hysterical, to the extent of willing to cause hurt to organisers and participants of the Bersih 2.0 rally.

July 9 has become a date synonymous with anarchy and hidden agenda, as far as Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is trying so very hard to imply.

Looks like the impact made by the inaugural Bersih rally on Nov 10, 2007, still haunts Umno. It was said to have attracted between 30,000 to 50,000 people and played a major role in helping the opposition parties win big in the 2008 general election.

The 2007 rally was intercepted by the police using tear gas and chemical-laced water cannons.

Four years later, Bersih 2.0 is going on another rally, on July 9. The aim, as far as its chief S Ambiga is concerned is to clean up the electoral system, to ensure elections are conducted in a just manner.

Still, Bersih 2.0 failed to realise that the heartburn the 2007 rally caused Umno never went away. This explains the hysteria behind Najibs actions this time around to leave nothing to chance, to ensure July 9 favours his leadership as the premier.

All means are being deployed by the Najib administration to ensure the July 9 rally never sees the light of the day. Participants of Saturdays Walk for Democracy are being harassed and hounded with threats of imprisonment, including using the Internal Security Act draconian law against the organisers.

The truth however is that the walk, organised by election watchdog Bersih 2.0 is a cry for clean and fair elections, which to BN and Umno is asking for the impossible, hence all attempts by Umno to ! thwart t he spirits of all those behind the rally.

What however is unforgiving is the way the police treated the 30 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activists detained in Kepala Batas, Penang, while campaigning for their Udahlah Bersaralah (Enough already Retire Now) roadshow campaign.

PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan said the 30 were not campaigning for the Bersih 2.0 July 9 rally.

Arutchelvan said the police was mistreating the Hindu detainees, giving them beef to eat, knowing fully well eating beef goes against their religious belief .

People first truth or fallacy

Now, with all the rantings about national unity and harmony by Najib, what does he, the Penang police chief Ayub Yaakob, Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar and Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein have to say about the police brutality being carried out towards the PSM activists detained in what is seen as Najibs way of sending a message to Bersih 2.0 chief, lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan.

The detainees were denied visitation rights, visits by their lawyers, proper medical care and treatment and also basic items like toothpaste and soap.

Such is Najibs desperation that a special team from Bukit Aman was brought in to question the detainees for unreasonably long hours. The Bukit Aman team is said to have abused the detainees with racist and foul languages such as pariah.

With so much abuse being meted out by the police, must the rakyat still suffer in silence?

Silat the new weapon

Another character that has joined the bandwagon of angry and disturbed minds is a silat mahaguru or grandmaster. Omardin Mauju of the Pertubuhan Seni Silat Lincah Malaysia is going ecstatically hysterical over the impending July 9 rally.

So disturbed is Omardin that Bersih has not cowered to the BN government ultimatum that he went on to say: We maintain our stand to go to war if they still want to proceed with this illegal rally. I cannot guarante! e I can control the emotions of my members because they have been taught to act when faced with opposition.

Omardin went so as far to say that the exponents were the third line of defence in the country, after the police and military, to ensure national security.

Can Najib, Ismail or Hishammuddin clarify since when Omardin and his band of thugs become the third line of defence when the grandmaster has failed to meet the fundamental principle of martial arts, that of self-defence and not to serve as killing machines?

Why has no action been taken against Omardin for threatening participants of the rally?

Umno arrogant as ever

The move by Bersih 2.0 to undertake a walk to press for a reformed electoral system has been twisted and manipulated as something dirty, so much so that the government propaganda arm, the national television station wasted no time in roping in local actors to condemn the July 9 walk.

One skit has actor Bell Ngasri, Ezany Nizariff and another actor chatting over a drink. Bell starts talking about the rally, saying it will help clean the rakyat. The other encourages them to invite their friends to join the rally until Ezany buts in and shows them pictures of a chaotic street demonstration, saying the rally is illegal and disrupts peace and harmony.

An upset Bell then denigrates Bersih 2.0 saying it is dirty and slams the rally poster down on the table.

A second skit has actress Norseha out with her two children who suddenly cry for food. She looks for foods stalls but all are closed and as she approaches one that is in the midst of closing shop, she asks why the rush to close shop. The stall owner tells her it is the doing of the July 9 rally that has caused all the disruption and instilled fear in people.

Norseha gets all worked up and condemns the walk, saying it is nothing but trouble to the rakyat.

Both skits are Umnos pathetic attempt at discrediting Bersih 2.0 and its rally. Umno, feeling overwhel! mingly t hreatened by the peoples support towards the walk, has proved it will engage in any move however despicable to halt the move towards reclaiming a true and just electoral system.

EC supports anti-Bersih 2.0 booklet

That is not all. A booklet condemning the July 9 rally is now making its way into peoples houses.

What begs an answer is what was this 12-page booklet entitled Tuntutan Bersih Yang Perlu Anda Tahu (The 8 Bersih Demands That You Should Know), published by Gerakan Generasi Prihatin Malaysia (GenPrima) doing at the Election Commission luncheon talk held recently at a leading hotel in Kuala Lumpur?

The booklet was displayed on a table outside the ballroom that was manned by the EC staff, although they were not seen personally distributing it.

Interestingly, the luncheon entitled Bersihs demands what is ECs explanation turned out to be a Bersih-bashing affair by EC deputy chairman, Wan Ahmad Wan Omar.

But then how much more can Umno through BN go on lying to the rakyat? The EC is going about denying that the BN ever indulged in dirty tactics at the polls but the rakyat have become wiser and can tell the wheat from the chaff.

So, best Najib and associates stop insulting the rakyats intelligence and also stop testing the peoples patience.

Come clean, Najib

When Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin who is also the education minister reacted to the word pariah in the school novel Interlok nonchalantly, Najib could not care less.

Now, the Hindu detainees are purportedly forced to eat beef by the cops. What does Najib have to say? Will he deny this incident ever happened?

What about the fact that a local non-governmental organisation Suara Anak-Anak Malaysia turned rowdy in preventing a human rights group from delivering a memorandum seeking the release of PSM activists held in remand in Penang?

Will action be taken against its leader Mohamed Ghani Abd Jiman who turned r! acist to wards the group representative Hui Fei when she refused to hand him a copy of the document, to which he shouted: Who are you? I am Malaysian, how can you distribute such a thing? This is seditious go away, I do not want to see your face anymore. If you do not want to obey the law, go back to your country of origin.

Supported by 10 honchos, Suara Anak-anak Malaysia barked: We need to defend the nations sovereignty. Do not let them in (the police headquarters).

1Malaysia meaningless

Obvious it is that Najibs 1Malaysia slogan is not helping unite the people. The police have no respect for it.

So, best Najib comes clean and sincerely accords the rakyat the due respect they deserve. The country is not a private limited entity reserved for the prime minister and his cronies.

Malaysia is a public limited nation and the stakeholders are the rakyat and like it or not, the BN government and Umno have exhausted their bags of tricks in taking the people for a ride.

Using the various laws to terrorise the people is only going to backfire. All however is not lost for BN provided it is willing to embrace humility and work with Bersih 2.0.

If Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga is willing to bend backwards and change the routes according to those identified by the police, why is it terribly hard for Najib to reflect a similar maturity?

Fifty-three years is a long time to remain in the dark the priority is the nation and the people, is it not?

Nak Biometrik Macamana. Berjuta MYKAD Rosak Angkara Chip Murah

Timbalan Pengerusi SPR, Wan Ahmad Wan Hashim menolak penggunaan dakwat kekal. Hujahnya adalah dakwat kekal ini terlampau kuno dan terkebelakangan. Hanya layak digunakan oleh negara-negara yang tidak membangun ataupun negara dunia ketiga seperti Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Indonesia dsbnya.

Wan Ahmad dilaporkan berkata:

Jelasnya, SPR juga akan memperkenalkan sistem biometrik kerana "kithttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifa tidak mahu pusing balik sejarah untuk calit dakwat," kata Wan Ahmad lagi.

Pengerusi SPR pula system biometrik yang digunakan oleh Kementrian Dalam Negeri (pimpinan Hishamuddin Tun Hussein) akan digunakan oleh SPR. Beliau menerangkan serba sedikit tentang bagaimana sistem itu akan digunakan SPR:

Pemegang kad pengenalan perlu mehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifletakkan jarinya pada alat biometrik dan maklumat yang tertera pada skrin akan sama dengan kad pengenalan yang dibawa. Sebaik disahkan, SPR akan memeriksa sama ada nama pembawa kad pengenalan itu disenaraikan dalam daftar pemilih.

Jika namanya ada dalam senarai, barulah kita berikan kertas undi. Mereka yang sudah mengundi tidak boleh lagi mengundi di tempat lain kerana nama mereka sudah ditanda dalam bank data, katanya pada sidang media, di sini semalam.

Malangnya, mengikut Syed Hamid Albar, pada tahun 2008, sekurang-kurangnya 10% MYKAD yang dikeluarkan Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara adalah rosak. Beliau dilaporkan berkata:

KUALA LUMPUR: About 10% of the 24 million MyKad identification cards issued since 2001 had been replaced after they were found to be faulty.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said most of the cases were recorded this year, with 888,495 replacement MyKad identification ! cards is sued until October.

Oleh kerana pengeluar MYKAD ini adalah syarikat kroni (IRIS) maka mereka bebas mengeluarkan MYKAD mengikut kualiti yang mereka suka.

Tidak seperti kad bank yang tahan lama dan tahan lasak, MYKAD pula menggunakan cip murah yang diimpot dari Taiwan.

Oleh sebab itulah, kadar kerosakan cukup tinggi dan membimbangkan.

Kadarnya kerosakan yang terlampau tinggi menyebabkan kerajaan sedang menimbangkan untuk membuat pertukaran secara menyeluruh pada RMK-10 nanti. Mengikut kenyataan KSU KDN, Datuk seri Mahmood Adam:

Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN), Datuk Seri Mahmood Adam memberitahu Berita Harian, cadangan menggantikan MyKad pernah dikemukakan dalam Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK-9), namun ditangguhkan berikutan kekangan ekonomi.

Kabinet memutuskan penukaran (MyKad) tidak dibuat ketika itu kerana belanjanya besar dan banyak projek lain yang perlu diberikan keutamaan. Ia seterusnya diserapkan dalam Rancangan Malaysia Ke-10 (RMK-10) dan diteliti sekali lagi.

KDN juga sudah mengenalpasti pelaksanaannya, namun belum ada apa-apa keputusan setakat ini dan semuanya bergantung kepada soal peruntukan kerana kita tidak mahu membebankan kerajaan dan rakyat, katanya.

Dengan kata lain:

1.0 Tanpa MyKAD, sistem biometrik tidak boleh diimplementasikan
2.0 MYKAD yang dikeluarkan oleh JPN berkualiti rendah dan bilangan yang rosak
cukup membimbangkan
3.0 Bilangan MYKAD yang rosak adalah dalam jumlah yang berjuta, bukannya sedikit.
4.0 Bilangan kerosakan yang sebegitu tinggi ini menyebabkan kerajaan bercadang
untuk menukar kesemua MYKAD yang telah dikeluarkan oleh KDN selama ini.

Soalan saya pada SPR adalah:

Bagaimanakah SPR mahu mengimplementasi sistem biometrik dalam keadaan masaalah MYKAD masih belum diselesaikan sehingga sekarang?

Menggunakan dakwat kekal JAUHHHHHHH LEBIH SELAMAT DAN LEBIH PRAKTIKAL serta JAUUHHH LEBIH MURAH berbanding biometrik.

Agaknya Pengerusi atau Timbalan Pengerusi SPR ada kroni mereka yang mahu membekalkan alat2 sistem biometrik kepada SPR. Dia tengok IRIS jadi kaya raya "supply" MYKAD kualiti rendah, diorang pun nak kaya jugak. BETUL TAK?

MASYUKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tulang Besi

Housing policy

The government initiatives in launching affordable housing scheme should be applauded. It is a good scheme and it came about because of political competitiveness in trying to get votes. The government also decided to form another agency, called PR1MA to implement the program. I believe there are several other GLC (apart from MHLG) that is already doing housing projects in this country. Why the duplicity? There appears to be lack of creativity in addressing the issue related to housing policy in this country.

Housing is a basic need. In Malaysia, many are using it as an investment tool. I know people who have several units of low cost housing and earned good income from the rental. With the sharp escalation of property prices, many young families no longer can afford to buy a decent house. If a policy of 1 Family 1 Home is implemented in this country, there would be plenty of houses in the market. People who buy multiple houses for investment would have to sell them. It would easily flood the market with several hundred thousand houses today. This could easily be made possible via banking and taxation measures. This manic unreasonable house prices in the market would become more realistic.

At the same time, there are more than 100,000 problematic housing in this country. Majority of this are owned by low income earners as well as first house buyers. Some are waiting for more than 25 years to get their houses. It is a problem that stems from the unfair housing laws that favors the developer in this country. A problem that was created by the government and they are a party to it. MHLG minimal efforts in solving the problem are disheartening where they act as a facilitator. One doesnt need to be a government to be a facilitator. Clearly creativity is lacking in preventing the mushrooming of abandon housing projects. What more when it comes to abandon projects? Many letters has been sent to the PM and the KSN! but the re has been no respond.

Up to 2009, MHLG posted the statistic of abandon houses in this country based on number of houses and buyers involved. Since VICTIMS was born, they realized that we are actually analyzing those data. Now they no longer publish those data. Official request for data has been denied on the basis of the OSA. Is that a responsible act? We suspect it is because, data has been massaged to look good and the true scenario is that it is getting worse. We expect the government to be fair to the people and help those in need of help. If the government cant do that, then we need to find a government that can.