Housing policy II

In my previous write up, I said that housing is a basic necessity and it is should not be an investment tool. When it comes to investments, there are many avenues out there and there isnt any need to focus on houses. Unfortunately many people own houses as part of investment strategy and the one with money will buy more houses and will push up property prices further.

The answer to these issues does not lies with RPGT per se. Even with RPGT, investors with holding power will continue to buy houses and make money out of it. Using the principle that 1 family 1 home and a house should not be for investment, I believe we could actually resolved this artificial shortage of houses in the country. We also need to ensure that when foreigners buy a house in Malaysia, they will be subjected to certain kind of levy that represents a percentage of the SPA price.

Some simple suggestions on how to manage this includes (1) Having a central registry of house ownership and (2) Implement the 1 house 1 family unit immediately. This will immediately drop the number of houses meant for investment and it will make more houses available to meet the public needs. To those that have more than one house, they need to divest their houses within a predefined period. I suggest 5 years.

During this period, they property will be subjected to commercial assessment rates as they are not being used as a home but more as an investment vehicle. Those houses that were divested within the period should be exempted from RPGT. For those who failed to divest the house will be imposed further burdening taxation.

As for the low cost houses, my observation is that many are tenants rather than owner occupied. People who rent the house should be given the right to buy the house at a fixed price. Low cost house price need to be fixed so that people will not take adva! ntage of the houses meant for the poor. Owners who owned low cost houses and keep them empty for a predefined period (say 6 months) have to sell their units to a state owned corporation for onward sale to the deserving people.

View This Poll
customer surveys

Lend me your ears

Najib said he wants to listen to the people.

But his ears are close.

How do you as MALAYSIANS MAKE HIM LISTEN.

This song for 9th July 2011

Dedicated to all Bersih Supporters

We have to do what is right.

No-one can shut us.

Today is our day

Ego, Stupidity or Smart

Now that Bersih had already met with the Agong. Bersih has taken a step backwards to accommodate the Government. But the Government refused to compromise. Whether it is because of their egos or what they have already planned to do on that day. Najib said he allows Bersih to gather at the stadium to shout all day long. But he does not mean it. Hishammuddin insist that anything Bersih is illegal. And riot instigator IA said he already got his men namely the 30 Malay NGOs, Silat Group and Mat Rempit to have a rally at any Stadium. The polices ORDER from above said must continue to clamp down on anything Bersih and no permit is to be given. Stadium everywhere suddenly happens to be taken up.

Everything Bersih and 9th July 2011 is NO! NO!

IAs Malay Rally is on the 9th July 2011. Any Stadium that IA wants on that day is no problem and police permit, he already got blanket approval. So actually what does that means?

Najib, Hishammuddin and IA are going ahead to teach us a lesson on the 9th July and they are prepared to let it continue till 11th July 2011 before making an announcement. So what is this announcement that will threaten ALL MALAYSIANS?

Agong or no Agong, UMNO is taking this opportunity to show WHO IS THE BOSS?

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Press Briefing

OHCHR PRESS BRIEFING NOTE Malaysia

Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Rupert Colville
Location: Geneva 5 July 2011

Malaysia

OHCHR has recently been receiving reports of a crackdown by the Malaysian authorities, including harassment, intimidation, arrests and threats, targeting members of the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) in the lead-up to a peaceful demonstration scheduled for this coming Saturday, 9 July. According to reliable sources, at least 150 people have been summoned, arrested or charged, including a number of opposition Members of Parliament.

The authorities have also reportedly arrested activists simply for possessing Bersihs distinctive yellow T-shirts and campaign pamphlets. We are very concerned about the various measures that are being taken by the authorities to restrict freedom of expression in Malaysia, including preventive detention, and the Governments decision to reportedly declare Bersih an unlawful organization.

We call on the authorities to release all those being detained for peacefully exercising their freedom of expression. We also urge the Government to take steps to repeal preventive laws, including the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance of 1969, as already called for by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

For more information or interviews, please contact spokesperson Rupert Colville (+41 22 917 9767 or rcolville@ohchr.org ) or press officers: Ravina Shamdasani (+ 41 22 917 9310 or rshamdasani@ohchr.org ) or Xabier Celaya (+ 41 22 917 9383 or xcelaya@ohchr.org )

Siapa Nak Tangkap Hishamuddin Atas Tuduhan Derhaka Kepada YDP Agung?

NOTA EDITOR: Dengan bersahaja sahaja Hishamuddin Tun Hussein menderhaka kepada Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Sultan Mizan. Yang hairannya, pihak Polis tidak pula mengambil tindakan terhadap Hishamuddin.

Di manakah keadilan yang selama ini kita harapkan dari Barisan Nasional?

Segalanya hanya pembohongan yang nyata.

Hisham: BERSIH 2.0 masih haram
Jimadie Shah Othman Jul 6, 11 3:34pm

Walaupun telah mengadap Yang di-Pertuan Agong semalam, Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein berkata, BERSIH 2.0 masih sebuah pertubuhan haram.

NONE"Ia masih lagi diharamkan. Tiada sesiapa mengatasi undang-undang. Hanya bila berjumpa dengan Tuanku tidak bermaksud ia halal," katanya.

Beliau juga berkata, pengharaman gabungan NGO itu sebelum ini dibuat dengan mengambil kira pelbagai aspek, termasuk atas nasihat peguam negara.

Bercakap pada sidang media di kementeriannya di Putrajaya hari ini, Hishammuddin bagaimanapun tidak dapat mengesahkan sama ada BERSIH 2.0 akan diberikan permit untuk perhimpunan di stadium Sabtu ini.

Walaupun ditanya berulang kali, beliau tetap menegaskan bahawa KDN dan pihak polis konsisten dalam menegakkan undang-undang negara.

Katanya, sebelum keputusan dapat dibuat, BERSIH hendaklah memohon permit terlebih dahulu dan barulah perkara lain dapat dibincangkan.

azlan"IGP (ketua polis negara) sudah jelaskan. Semua urusan mesti ikut undang-undang. Seksyen 27 - (Akta Polis) sebut mesti ada permit.

"Biar mereka pohon. Polis akan pertimbangkan permohonan itu," katanya ketika ditanya sama ada permit polis tidak diperlukan kali ini.

Hishammuddin juga berharap pihak BERSIH tidak terus meletakkan syarat lain kepada pihak kerajaan.

Dalam masa yang sama, tambahnya, penguatkuasaan, termasuk tangkapan pencegahan akan berjalan seperti biasa.

"Saya percaya begitu. Ia masih haram dan masih jatuh (tertakluk) bawah undang-undang negara. Kita konsist! en," kat anya ketika ditanya sama ada tangkapan akan diteruskan jika perlu.

Beliau juga mengambil kesempatan mengingatkan supaya peserta perhimpunan pada 9 Julai ini tidak mengambil kesempatan untuk berarak.

"Kalau mereka tetap berarak, ini dikira derhaka kepada raja," katanya sambil menegaskan pihak polis tidak akan teragak-agak mengambil tindakan.

WAO fully supports Bersih 2.0

FMT LETTER: From Mok Chuan Lian, via e-mail

As one of the 62 NGOs that make up the coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0), the Womens Aid Organisation (WAO) fully supports the decision of the Bersih 2.0 steering committee to hold the 9 July rally calling for clean, free and fair elections in a stadium.

That the Agong agreed to meet the chair of the Bersih 2.0 steering committee, Ambiga Sreenevasan, yesterday indicates official recognition of the importance of the aims and objectives of Bersih 2.0.

We welcome the Agongs willingness to send a reprensentative to the stadium to accept the memorandum of Bersih 2.0 detailing the eight demands for electoral reform.

The fulfillment of Bersih 2.0s eight demands is essential to ensure public confidence in the electoral system and Malaysias system of government.

These demands are to clean up the electoral roll, reform postal voting, use indelible ink, establish a minimum campaign perios of 21 days, ensure free and fair access to the media, strengthen public institutions, get rid of corruption and put a stop to dirty politics.

The police must not hinder citizens from exercising their right to peaceful assembly as enshrined in the Federal Constituition to attend the public gathering on 9 July.

All those currently in detention for supporting Bersih 2.0 must be released immediately and the harrasment and intimidation of Bersih 2.0 supporters must cease.

As a member of the UN Human Rights Council, the Malaysian government has obligations to protect the rights of those within its borders. The Malaysian government must stop its persecution of citizens who are attempting to exercise their fundamental rights of freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom of speech and expression.

Instead of engaging in the current crackdown against its own citizens, we urge the government, and the Election Commision, to consider and constructively engage with Bersih 2.0s reasonabl! e demand s for electoral reform.

WAO will be exercising our fundamental human rights by attending the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9, and we encourage all to come and support the call for a vibrant and transparent democracy for Malaysia.

The writer is president of WAO

Ke mana hilangnya Melayu?

(Diterbit di Sinar Harian, 5 Julai 2011)

Sasterawan Negara Allahyarham Dr Usman Awang atau nama penanya, Tongkat Warrant dalam puisinya bertajuk Melayu menulis:

Orang Melayu itu kaya falsafahnya,

Akar budi bersulamkan daya,

Melayu itu orang yang bijaksana,

Nakalnya bersulam jenaka,

Budi bahasanya tidak terkira,

Kurang ajarnya tetap santun,

Bila mengampu bijak beralas tangan.

Itulah orang Melayu, dalam marah ada sendanya. Tetapi melihat apa yang berlaku hari ini, adakah sesetengah orang Melayu itu masih boleh digelar kuat agama, kaya adat, penuh tatasusila lagi mulia serta budiman?

Mana hilangnya sifat orang Melayu pemimpin-pemimpin kita yang hanya mementingkan kuasa dan sanggup melakukan apa sahaja untuk kekalkan kuasa yang ada. Bagaimana kita boleh terus menerima mereka yang telah hilang kemelayuannya dan ciri-cirinya seperti digambarkan oleh Usman dalam sajaknya yang sama:

Melayu itu berani jika bersalah,

Kecut takut kerana benar,

Janji simpan di perut,

Selalu pecah di mulut,

Biar mati adat, Jangan mati anak.

Jika ini menjadi inti pati roh bangsa mana mungkin perbuatan mereka bergelar pemimpin Melayu ini boleh diterima lagi.

Adakah 15 juta orang Melayu berasa bangga dan terus memberikan mandat kepada pemimpin seperti ini yang hanya guna gelaran Melayu untuk kepentingan politik sempit serta perompakan ekonomi rakyat demi kelompok kroni mereka sendiri?

Lihat bagaimana mereka ini menggunakan adegan lucah untuk menyerang maruah orang yang bukan! sahaja dituduh, malah dipertontonkan secara terbuka di semua saluran dikuasai internet, akhbar, televisyen, bahkan juga mahkamah untuk disaksikan anak-anak kecil dan warga emas yang sepatutnya dipelihara maruah dan rasa hormat. Siapa sebenarnya yang berterusan mencemar nama Melayu?

Bagaimana pemimpin Melayu terus mencemar dan mengotorkan maruah Melayu, yang sudah kotor yang pernah dituduh mencabul gadis sunti atau yang rasuah politik wang dihadiahkan dengan kedudukan tinggi badan-badan kerajaan milik rakyat. Siapa sebenarnya yang berterusan mencemar nama Melayu?

Dengarlah bagaimana pemimpin Melayu dipanjangkan umur oleh Allah SWT selepas serangan jantung yang sepatutnya bersyukur dan bertaubat atas dosa-dosa lalu seperti ugutan fitnah dan kekerasan terhadap hak rakyat, terus diberikan laluan dan perlindungan undang-undang, terus bersuara curang berdegar-degar menyebarkan fitnah. Siapa sebenarnya yang berterusan merendahkan martabat Melayu?

Tanpa mengira halal atau haram menggelapkan wang rakyat beratus bilion untuk kegunaan keluarga melalui pemberian kontrak atau pembelian harta rakyat dengan harga tinggi yang tidak masuk akal terus berlaku. Siapa sebenarnya yang berterusan merompak bangsa Melayu? Berjuta-juta rakyat dimufliskan, sengsara dengan kos sara hidup melambung, gaji mendatar, peluang pekerjaan mengecil, hutang pendidikan dan peribadi menggunung, kontrak dan penswastaan bersubsidi berat sebelah, bayaran hasil ladang warga Felda yang mencurigakan, tanah warisan yang dirampas dan seribu lagi beban yang dipaksa dipikul oleh rakyat sedangkan pemimpin Melayu BN dan keluarga serta kroni mereka makan tanggung dan melepas cangkung. Siapa sebenarnya yang berterusan memufliskan Melayu?

Bagaimana kita boleh berterusan menerima pemimpin-pemimpin Melayu yang ini terus memenjarakan jiwa, politik dan ekonomi Melayu dengan hujah-hujah kuno, melaungkan ketuanan Melayu yang tidak diperjuangkannya untuk terus kekal memegang kuasa, mempertahankan keluarga, kroni, dan ko! cek mere ka sendiri.

Pemimpin-pemimpin Melayu BN ini bukannya mempertahankan maruah dan nama baik bangsa Melayu yang terus-terus diulit dengan kemiskinan, dibelenggu dengan hutang, diperhambakan untuk kepentingan pemimpin dan terus disogok dengan cerita-cerita dongengan serta terus dipinggirkan di desa yang penuh dengan kesengsaraan. Sudahlah Politik bangsa dikotorkan, ekonomi bangsa pula lagi dijahanamkan ini kan pula maruah, harga diri dan roh bangsa pula yang mahu terus diperkosa dengan pemerintahan Negara Polis yang anti-demokratik berwajah dan bernamakan Melayu.

Mana perginya keberanian kita?

Mana perginya maruah kita?

Mana perginya keimanan kita?

Mana perginya harga diri kita?

Mana perginya kita?

Dan kita kembali kepada bait-bait nukilan Tongkat Warrant dalam sajaknya itu tadi, sebagai azimat pembekal semangat di hari-hari yang semakin merunsingkan ini:

Jangan takut melanggar pantang

Jika pantang menghalang kemajuan;

Jangan segan menentang larangan

Jika yakin kepada kebenaran;

Jangan malu mengucapkan keyakinan

Jika percaya kepada keadilan.

Cukuplah!

Its so stupid to say that this has to be the work of Bersih...

Would you believe that the findings of weapons, explosives and Bersih yellow colored T Shirts by the police in KL recently is the work of the Bersih organizers or its supporters?

And do you not see how irrational and stupid the police were in pointing their ten fingers and declaring that this has to be the dirty work of Bersih?

Wasnt I right in saying that the Special Branch officers today are no longer of the caliber of those officers of the 60s and the 70s?

I am not a full fledged intelligence trained retired military officer, but having seen and worked with some Special Branch officers of the 60s and 70s, I think by preempting that the loot to be the work of Bersih, even without making a thorough investigation first, is arguably stupid and dumbfounded. Special Branch officers of yesteryear's and the many that I am personally acquainted with would not have come out with such a preposterous conclusion.

Anyone with a bit of common sense would not want to do what the supposedly perpetrators did for the following reasons:

1. Placing the loot at a conspicuous place to be easily noticed by the public.
2. The timing for placing the loot is also not right. If someone seriously wants to create problems, they would do it at the very last minute and in the most secured place.
3. Surely, the perpetrators has to make sure that their act is not seen by anyone. They would have to surveil the area first before doing their job.

What is most amusing is the claim that several Bersih yellow shirts were also found among the loot. My guess is that these shirts must be the ones taken by the police in their raids or stripped off their owners during the arrests. My common sense tells me that it is merely a ploy to reinforce the police claim that it is indeed an act perpetrated by Bersih or its supporters. I dont buy this kind of bluff my dear friend.

If at all it was Bersih that had placed the loot and had intended to use it during the rally, the Bersih supporters do not need the shirts anyway; they would have worn the Bersih shirts before joining the rally itself. Why rush to wear the Bersih shirt the very last minute?

Please, I have had enough of this nonsense. Now that PM Naijb has allowed the rally to be held at the stadium, lets all join hands; Bersih, dissenting and pro-Bersih NGOs, the opposition parties, Perkasa, UMNO Youth, police and all like-minded citizens, and together we gather in peace and harmony, to show our solidarity and demands for an election reform. Is this wrong?

And to Home Minister Hishamuddin, I am yet to hear you annul the order that the Bersih 2.0 rally an illegal assembly. The same goes to the IGP and his Deputy. And why dont all of you join us in this peaceful rally? I am quite sure the people will offer you a bunch of roses. - Mohd Arshad Raji

(Blogger Mohd.Arshad Raji is retired army officer)

source:mindnoevil.blogspot.com

Polis kaitkan bom petrol, parang dengan BERSIH

cheers.

Anwar loses third bid for judge's recusal...

Anwar Ibrahim failed to reverse the sodomy trial judge's refusal to recuse himself when the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal today.

The three-member panel headed by Justice Hasan Lah was unanimous in allowing the prosecution's preliminary objection today.

"The application does not fall within the ambit of decision under Section 3 of the Courts of Judicature Act, said Justice Hasan.

"Hence, it is unwise for us to disturb the ruling. We upheld the High Court decision and dismiss the appeal. We will provide the detailed grounds of judgment later.

The other two judges were Justice Abdul Malik Ishak and Justice Ahmad Maarop.

Defence lawyer Karpal Singh immediately applied for a stay of proceeding for the matter will be heard at the Federal Court.

"In the event, Federal Court allows our appeal there will be a waste of public funds in the trial. Judge seating in the own court, he submitted.

However, Justice Hasan rejected the stay application, pointing out that the decision had been unanimous.

Also present in court were Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah, Penang assemblyperson Jagdeep Singh Deo, Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson M Manoharan and Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar.

This was the third attempt by Anwar to obtain the recusal of KL High Court judge Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah, who is presiding over the sodomy trial.

Earlier attempts had followed the court's decision not to reprimand Utusan Malaysia, not abiding by a Supreme Court decision, and 'threatening' Karpal with contempt.

Anwar, 63, is charged with sodomising Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 24, at the Desa Damansara condominium in Bukit Daman! sara bet ween 3pm to 4pm on June 26, 2008.

source:malaysiakini

Permohonan Anwar lucutkan hakim ditolak lagi
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/169049

Article On Asian Democracy In The Australian

Asian democracy crusades take root

By Gerhard Hoffstaedter

Bersih 2.0 has eight demands that ought to make elections fairer and more transparent, among them the use of indelible ink as well as the strengthening of public institutions and wiping out corruption. Clearly, the latter are aspirational demands and the former commonsense ones that the electoral commission could feasibly act upon without controversy.

The electoral commission chairman, Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof, however, has accused Bersih 2.0 and its chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan, a former Bar Council president, of being supported by opposition parties and thus being political.

The government is trying to hinder this rally as it is seen as an opposition ploy to undermine the government parties. Reactionary movements such as Perkasa, an NGO that aims to keep Malay special rights in Malaysia, are seizing on this and portraying Bersih in a racial (political) light. They claim the rally will cause chaos in Kuala Lumpur. Perkasa, with several other right-wing organisations, has called for an alternative demonstration to counteract the electoral reform push. Their posturing is meant to discourage Bersih marchers.

Why would anyone want to stop any movement toward electoral democracy and a transparent electoral process?

The main reason is that "clean" politics would diminish UMNO's stranglehold on federal parliament and the considerable government's coffers. Already, the government has responded with mass arrests, declaring Bersih 2.0 illegal.

In addition, Bersih is in effect telling the world the current Malaysian government is corrupt and that elections in Malaysia are corrupt. No government likes to hear this from their own citizens, and it will be instructive to see how the government responds to Bersih's demands. It has wielded the usual tactics of delay and con! tainment , recently arresting key political figures in the campaign.

Read the whole article on the web, it's too good to miss.

MCA man: Council collection rate inflated - star.com.my

MCA man: Council collection rate inflated

PETALING JAYA: The Hulu Selangor District Council is inflating claims of its assessment collection, claims Selangor MCA state liaison committee secretary Wong Koon Mun.

The Kuala Kubu Baru assemblyman said the council's boast of an 80% collection rate was surprising because past records showed only half that amount was collected.

There are at least three residential areas under this local authority where over 50% of the houses are vacant. Therefore, the local authority's claim that it has the highest assessment collection in Selangor is misleading, said Wong in a statement yesterday.

He said the three residential areas Bukit Beruntung, Bukit Sentosa and Taman Bunga Raya had a total of 48,000 houses but only 30% of them were currently occupied.

According to past records, more than 50% of the house owners in these areas did not pay their assessment because they were unable to collect rent from the vacant property, he added.

He asked why the council was citing lack of funds as the reason for being unable to undertake road and drainage repair works if they had such a high collection rate.

So, for the Pakatan Rakyat state government to claim an 80% collection rate contradicts its own statement that Hulu Selangor is one of five local authorities running on a deficit.

The Pakatan Rakyat government has forgotten that the rakyat are still waiting for a 20% reduction in assessment, said Wong.

BUAT HIMPUNAN BERSIH 2.0 DI SEMUA STADIUM DI SELURUH NEGARA

Yang di-Pertuan Agong telah pun bertitah. Titah baginda itu wajar dipatuhi oleh semua golongan rakyat. Kita sedang menanti reaksi UMNO/APCO terhadap titah tersebut. Kita juga sedang menanti reaksi pendokong BERSIH 2.0 terhadapnya. Sekali gus kita menyaksikan campur tangan istana dalam kes kecelaruan politik di Malaysia masa kini.

Perlukah BERSIH 2.0 dibatalkan? Meskipun ketika rencana ini ditulis, kita belum mendengar apa-apa jua perkhabaran daripada mana-mana pihak, BERSIH 2.0 perlu diteruskan. Perhimpunan itu perlu diadakan secara besar-besaran. Di mana? Di seluruh negara kita ada banyak stadium. Adakan perhimpunan BERSIH 2.0 di semua stadium yang ada di negara kita. Tidak kira stadium besar, sederhana, atau kecil. Himpunkan semua rakyat yang terdiri daripada orang Melayu, Cina, India, dan lain-lain. Perhimpunan itu perlu diadakan secara berperingkat-peringkat bermula dari Kangar, Perlis hingga ke Semporna, Sabah selagi lapan tuntutan itu tidak dipenuhi.

Beritahu mereka lapan tuntutan BERSIH 2.0 itu. Biar UMNO/APCO tahu bahawa niat sebenar BERSIH 2.0 bukan untuk menggulingkan kerajaan atau menentang Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Biar UMNO/APCO tahu bahawa semua peserta perhimpunan BERSIH 2.0 tidak kurang ajar seperti mereka yang berdemonstrasi di Pulau Pinang itu. Biar seluruh dunia tahu peserta perhimpunan BERSIH 2.0 cerdik dan bertamadun.

Apabila sampai Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13, kita pakat-pakat pangkah Pakatan Rakyat demi menamatkan pemerintahan UMNO/BN. Jom ubahhhhh!!!

Nik Aziz: Wherever rally held, BN is embattled

PAS Murshidul Am Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, welcoming Bersih's latest decision to move its July 9 rally to a stadium, suggested that the venue of the rally was secondary compared to the people's awakening about the abuses committed by Barisan Nasional.

"Wherever the Bersih rally is held on July 9, I am confident that this is a manifestation of the people's uprising against the evil political game and lies by Barisan Nasional/UMNO," said the Kelantan Menteri Besar, who is currently in Makkah to perform the Umrah (lesser pilgrimage).

Nik Aziz echoed Pakatan Rakyat's statement expressing support over the decision by Bersih today. PAS, PKR and DAP however called on the BN government to reciprocate by releasing those detained during the crackdown on Bersih sympathisers over the past two weeks.

Nik Aziz expressed confidence that the Agong would act as the protector of the people and said any attempt to manipulate the Rulers would be futile.

"UMNO and Barisan Nasional can forget about using the insitution of the rulers to stay in power. All their efforts to cover up the crisis in the electoral system will come to naught because the people's awareness has reached a peak," he added.

Earlier today, Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan, national laurette A.Samad Said and IKRAM representative Zaid Kamaruddin, emerged from an audience with the Agong, announcing they would take up the government's offer to have the rally in a stadium.

The decision is believed to be taken following threats of violence on participants, as well as an attempt to orchestrate a riot by UMNO's offshoot Perkasa with a view to put the blame on Bersih.

Such a suspicion! was fue lled by a report today of the police's seizure of Molotov cocktails, weapons together with Bersih T-shirts, all of which were hidden at several spots in the city centre.

source:harakahdaily

Walaupun di stadium Bersih 2.0 akan dapat sokongan, kata Nik Aziz

MB Khalid tawar stadium Selangor untuk Bersih 2.0

cheers.

Bring about a healthy democracy

The King has issued a statement on the developments surrounding the proposed Bersih 2.0 rally for free and fair elections. What do we make of it?

It is quite clear that he is not in favour of the rally proceeding on July 9, although he does say that the original intentions of street demonstrations can be good. This, read together with his acknowledgement of the political fervour of a section of the people to bring about a healthy democracy (menyuburkan demokrasi) in our country, indicates he is not condemning Bersih 2.0.

He is aware that the people are involved (even though it constitutes a section), and what they desire is something positive, i.e.menyuburkan demokrasi.

He is, however, concerned that street demonstrations bring more bad than good and he wants it ensured that the peoples democratic demand does not bring destruction to the country.

He advocates that whenever a problem arises, we as a civilised society should (hendaklah) resolve it through consultations.

What has been the effect of the Kings statement on the parties involved?

Prime Minister Najib Razaks first reaction is to offer Bersih 2.0 the opportunity to protest in a stadium. This is the most accommodating posture he has struck since the controversy began. In doing so, Najib has now come to legitimise Bersih without openly saying so, although only a few days ago, his Home Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, had declared Bersih 2.0 an illegal organisation effective July 1.

Najibs offer indicates he has lost the battle of wills against the movement for electoral reform and is now scrambling to save face by making this offer. But its not good enough. He has done too much damage; he has used an atom bomb to annihilate ants through his unreasonable, even maniacal arrests of people in the past week.

The worst is alleging that the 30 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members arrested in Kepala Batas were waging war against the King, and subjecting six of t! hem to d etention under the Emergency Ordinance.

The King has not, figuratively speaking, slapped Najibs face, but he has tapped him on the shoulder by saying in his statement, I also urge the Government to carry out everything that is entrusted to it by the people in a just and wise (bijaksana) manner.

The words just and wise can be read as a reminder to the government that it has been using unfair and sometimes inane tactics over the past week. The most inane would be either alleging that the PSM 30 were resurrecting communism or declaring Bersih 2.0 illegal.

Najib is like the head prefect who has been caught out by the headmaster and is now being told to carry out his duties within the school rules.

It is noteworthy that the King uses the line, entrusted to it by the people. It issues a very important reminder to a government that has become arrogant and unmindful of the rule of law, which is evident in its arbitrary arrests of people over the past week, in one case for simply wearing a yellow T-shirt.

It is further significant that the King says he does not want to see animosity develop between the communities in our plural society or a section of the people being enemies with the Government, on whatever grounds.

This could be alluding generally to the racial drumming of Perkasa,Utusan Malaysiaand even Dr Mahathir Mohamad that has contributed to racial tension of late, and specifically to Perkasas role in inflaming the Bersih 2.0 rally by wanting to counter it and issuing veiled threats of violence.

The reaction on the part of Bersih 2.0 is to seek an audience with the King. Opposition political parties have indicated that they want to be included, but on no account must Bersih 2.0 allow this. It has all this while maintained that it is a movement that is led and initiated by civil society; it should remain so.

If the King grants the audience, what Bersih 2.0 might request is for him to advise the prime minister to initiate negotiations with it! and the Election Commission on carrying out electoral reform. If this is not forthcoming, Bersih 2.0 should still have the option of holding its rally on July 9.

But what if the King does not grant Bersih 2.0 an audience soon enough? This would then pose a quandary for the NGO. Should it then proceed with the rally on July 9? When it comes to that, Bersih 2.0 would have to answer the ultimate question: Does it listen to the King or to therakyat?

Ours is a constitutional monarchy; on political matters, the King can offer advice but it is up to the listener to accept it or not. However, many Malaysians are still infected with a feudal mentality and to them, going against the Kings advice is tantamount toderhaka.

It is this that Bersih 2.0 will have to guard against, because if it were to be brandedpenderhaka, a fair part of the sympathy it has been getting so far through the government crackdown will be obliterated.

On the other hand, it could be comforted by the thought that Perkasa and Umno Youth have said that if Bersih 2.0 goes ahead with its rally, they would also go ahead with theirs. This would expose them to accusations ofmenderhakaas well, so Bersih 2.0 would not be alone.

However, the best course for everyone might well be negotiation, at which a timetable should be set for the electoral reform process to take place, before the next general election is held. But before going to the negotiating table, Bersih 2.0 should be given due recognition, which means Hishammuddin must revoke his order of illegalising it.

This is a prerequisite; otherwise it will make the government look silly negotiating with an illegal organisation. But even if Hishammuddin refuses to admit his high-handed mistake, Bersih 2.0 may have already been legitimised by the Kings call for consultations, and of course, by Najibs offer of holding the rally in a stadium.

Furthermore, the six PSM detainees should be released immediately, and the charges against the ! other 24 PSM members dropped. As it is, charging them with associating with an illegal society does not seem right. Bersih 2.0 was declared illegal several days after they were arrested; how could they have looked into the future to predict it would become illegal?

The next few days will be interesting to watch. The clash of wills between Bersih 2.0 and the government (with Perkasa and Umno Youth as secondary players) may now be raised to a higher level.

Najib may not want to give in for fear of appearing weak, and Bersih 2.0 may feel it has right and therakyaton its side.

It will take an impartial referee who has the countrys best interests at heart to arbitrate the matter and bring about a satisfying solution.

KEE THUAN CHYE is the author of March 8: The Day Malaysia Woke Up, which won 3rd prize in the Popular Readers Choice Awards. It has also been translated into Chinese.